Category — w. Most Recent Stuff

AND THE WINNER IS…

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest for submitting the best idea for a topic for this site to cover!

You submitted tons of great ideas, many of which will eventually find their way onto the site.

(All the entries are in the comment section of this page.)

But one submission addresses a problem that almost everyone has, and suggested a way to simplify solving it.

That submission is Ted’s suggestion to create a Resort Picker.

Ted wins the prize, a free night at a moderate resort, provided by my travel agent friends at Destinations in Florida!

THE WINNING IDEA: A RESORT PICKER [Read more →]

ACT FAST TO CATCH AN EXPIRING WALT DISNEY WORLD PROMOTION

One of Disney World’s 2011 discount programs, with room rates up to 30% off, and covering travel dates through April 16,needs to be booked by February 13th.

You can find more details about this Disney World promotion on Disney’s website here.

Other 2011 Disney deals and discounts are available for much of 2011 through October 1.  Details can be found  here.

DISNEY WORLD DISCOUNTS GOING AWAY?

Interestingly, Disney’s Q1 earnings call–held on February 8–suggested a continued rebound in the Disney World parks.

Evidence includes growth in attendance and spending, hotel occupancy in Q1 up to 85% and Q2 hotel bookings almost 3 percentage points higher than last year–and the Disney Dream being already 89% booked!

This suggests to me that Disney will continue to scale down its recession-related discount programs, so grab what’s offered while you can!

I’ve updated my Walt Disney World Crowd Calendar to reflect recently-released August Disney World operating hours.

You can find it here.

On a related note, the folks at TouringPlans.com have always noted that a good touring plan (they offer hundreds) can help tame even the busiest of days.

Those using one of this site’s itineraries are set–but everybody else should check out TouringPlans.com!

A post from their blog illustrates the value of a touring plan really well—click here to read the post.

OVERVIEW: THE VILLAS AT DISNEY’S WILDERNESS LODGE FOR FIRST TIME VISITORS

Update June 2014: after a refurb that ended in May, Villas at the Wilderness Lodge studios now sleep 5–the fifth on a “fold down twin.”

The fold-down was not added to One Bedroom Villas, so these still sleep 4.  I’ll have my own measurements and photos after my visit in August 2014.

Most room options at the Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (a Disney Vacation Club resort) are wonderful places for returning visitors to Walt Disney World to stay.

For typical first-time visitors, I don’t recommend the Disney Vacation Club resorts.

That said, these “DVC” resorts can be a great choice for first time visitors with large families, needing extra sleeping spaces, or looking for a more comfortable place to stay.

Among the Disney Vacation Club resorts, the Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge ranks first overall for first-time visitors, but specifics vary a little for larger families.

THE DISNEY VACATION CLUB RESORTS

[Read more →]

OVERVIEW: AUGUST 2011 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

This page reviews August 2011 Walt Disney World crowds, prices, deals and discounts, weather, and operating hours, and ends with week by week summaries.

[Read more →]

Don’t miss out on your chance to win a free night in a moderate resort!

For how to enter the contest, see the details on this page.