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DISNEY WORLD HOTEL DEAL APRIL 18 THROUGH JULY 10, 2021

Disney World has a room rate deal that makes hotel savings available compared to regular prices for stays most nights beginning April 18, 2021 and going through July 10, 2021. (A similar deal for stays beginning before April 18 is here.)

The deal must be booked by May 27, 2021, and availability might be limited.

Savings range from 15% to 30%, and mostly are higher at the more expensive resorts.

Value resorts offer savings of 15%.

Moderate resorts offer savings of 20%.

Deluxe resorts offer savings of 30%.

Disney Vacation Club resorts –also known as Deluxe Villas–offer savings of 15% to 30%.

More on this April-July 2021 deal is here. You can book it directly, or through the long-time travel agent partner of this site, Kelly, who can also check to see if you are eligible for any other deals, and figure out which would be best for you.

Contact Kelly using the form below:

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Welcome back to Fridays with Jim Korkis! Jim, the dean of Disney historians, writes about Walt Disney World history every Friday on yourfirstvisit.net.

YOUR PERSONAL DISNEY LIBRARY (36)

By Jim Korkis

• Polishing the Dragons by Jeff Blyth

The title of Polishing the Dragons refers to making sure that every detail, no matter how small or seemingly inconsequential, looked marvelous when filming the 360 degree film Wonders of China: Land of Beauty, Land of Time for the China pavilion at Epcot.

At nearly 250 pages, Polishing the Dragons by Jeff Blyth, the director of not only this film but also several other Circle-Vision films for Disney, is a fascinating glimpse into the challenges of making this film that played for twenty years at Epcot as well as ten years at Disneyland.

At the time the film debuted on opening day at Epcot in 1982, people realized how amazing it was to catch such an overwhelming glimpse of the beauty of China, since the Disney film crew were the first non-Chinese outsiders to be allowed to film certain sites, and had to carefully maneuver through government restrictions.

In 2003, the film was replaced by a newer film entitled Reflections of China that incorporated some of the footage from the original film, and was also directed by Blyth.

Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World: The Official Vacation Guide stated about the Wonders of China, “Every step of the way, the film crews were besieged by curious Chinese, even in empty Mongolia. For the Huangshan Mountain sequence, which lasts only seconds, the crew and about three dozen hired laborers had to carry the 600-pound camera uphill for nearly a mile.

“The Chinese government would not permit Disney cameramen to shoot aerial footage in some areas, so Chinese crews were sent aloft to record the required scenes, first on videotape and later—after approval from the Disney director in charge of the project—on film.”

The book is very well put together, with a distinctive kinetic “feel” to the cover and interior pages. The conversational tone of the text is very appealing and gives an intimate insight into the mind of the filmmaker and why certain decisions were made.

The book contains 400 full color photographs from the author’s personal collection. The book is an expansion of a personal journal that Blyth kept for decades, which is an exciting revelation since it could mean future books chronicling some of Blyth’s other work for Disney.

Blyth’s work on Wonders of China led to more work for Disney, including The Eternal Sea (at Tokyo Disneyland), American Journeys (at Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom, and Tokyo Disneyland), and Portraits of Canada for EXPO 86 (also EPCOT).

Blyth directed the 1989 feature film Cheetah, a G-rated family adventure filmed on location in Kenya for Disney Studios, executive produced by Roy E. Disney.

He also directed the most ambitious Circle-Vision production ever made, From Time to Time, a premiere opening day attraction at EuroDisneyland (later Disneyland Paris). This film, with a few revisions, also played as The Timekeeper at Tokyo Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom.

I admit that I was a little hesitant that I might not enjoy a book just dedicated to a film that disappeared from Epcot years ago, but I found it fascinating once I started reading, because it comes across as a very personal journey with both amusing and frightening anecdotes, like one of the crew falling into Qianhai Lake, one of the most polluted but historic lakes in China. Obviously, the information about this film will never appear elsewhere or in this great detail.

For fans of original Epcot, Circle-Vision films, or China itself during a particular period of time, this book is definitely a “must have”. I still recommend it for others as well to add to their personal Disney libraries.

*  *  *  *  *

Thanks, Jim! and come back next Friday for more from Jim Korkis!

In the meantime, check out his books, including his two new books,  Vault of Walt Volume 9: Halloween Edition, and Hidden Treasures of the Disney Cruise Line.

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2021 RESORT PRICE SEASONS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

The material below shows Walt Disney World resort hotel price seasons at different times of the year in 2021.

Resort prices can be more than twice as high during some periods as they are at others. The information on this page helps you identify lower and higher cost periods.

Ticket prices also vary by date. Much of the time, you’ll find higher ticket prices at when resort hotel prices are also higher, but there are nuances to this, as the hotel market is more competitive, and for moderates and deluxes in particular, are affected by both the tourist and convention markets. 2021 Disney World ticket prices are here.

In the below, I compare 2021 hotel prices over the year for each hotel class to that class’s lowest price of the year. I don’t have as many different hotels in the analysis set as I do most years, because many key hotels have not yet re-opened.

Grouping of dates is based on “price seasons,” a grouping tool Disney World no longer makes public, but which can be identified analytically, and named (sorta) based on past practices. Disney charges based on the actual price of the actual nights, so if your visit straddles price seasons, you’ll pay the prices of each price season.

The charts average prices over the next seven nights, by arrival date.  This eliminates what would be otherwise be incomprehensible bumpiness from Thursday/Sunday and/or Friday/Saturday upcharges. For exact prices by night by room type by date, see MouseSavers.com here.

Price patterns over the year are similar to those of prior years, with the exception of the fourth quarter, when–compared to the rest of the year–they are higher in early October, and do not get quite as low as they used to get after Thanksgiving into early December–while still being low these dates than the holiday dates before and after.

One distinct change that affects the early October pattern is that October 1 and October 2 see a new set of higher prices, which I have named the “Anniversary Season” in honor of Disney World’s 50th anniversary–expected to be celebrated beginning October 1, 2021.

2021 DISNEY WORLD RESORT PRICE SEASONS: VALUE RESORTS

When a range is given, the higher end applies to Fridays and Saturdays, and the lower end to Mondays through Wednesdays. Sundays and Thursdays vary, but are typically closer to the lower end. Disney’s Pop Century Resort prices used to illustrate value resort prices.

• The lowest prices of the year–the value season–begin 1/3/2021
• 40% higher prices–RunDisney rates–begin 1/7/21
• Lowest prices of year–the value season–begin 1/10/21
• 40% higher prices for the Martin Luther King Jr. long weekend begins 1/15/21
• Lowest prices of year–the value season–begin 1/18/21
• 55% higher –the spring season—covers 2/11/21
• 80% higher for the long weekend of Presidents Day begins 2/12/21
• 50-80%% higher –the spring season—begins 2/15/21
• 80% higher–RunDisney rates—begins 2/18/21
• 30%-65% higher–the regular season–begins 2/21/21
• 50-80% higher–the spring season–begins 3/5/21
• 85% higher–the Easter season–begins 3/28/21
• 50-80% higher–the spring season–begins 4/11/21
• 65% higher –RunDisney rates—begins 4/15/21
• 30-60% higher–the regular 2 season–begins 4/18/21
• 65% higher over the Memorial Day long weekend begins 5/28/21
• 40-65% higher–the summer season–begins 5/31/21
• 70% higher over the long 4th of July weekend begins 7/2/21

• 40-65% higher–the summer season–begins 7/5/21
• 25-55% higher–the summer 2 season–begins 8/8/21
• 15-40% higher–the fall season–begins 8/22/21
• 55% higher over the long Labor Day weekend begins 9/3/21
• 15-40% higher–the fall season–begins 9/6/21
• 30-60% higher–the fall 2 season–begins 9/12/21
• 75% higher—the Anniversary season—begins 10/1
• 30-60% higher–the fall 2 season–begins 10/3/21
• 70% higher over the long Columbus Day weekend begins 10/8/21
• 30-60% higher–the fall 2 season–begins 10/11/21
• 20-50% higher–the fall 3 season– begins 10/24/21
• 50% higher–RunDisney rates, I expect—begins 11/4/21
• 20-50% higher–the fall 3 season– begins 11/7/21
• 60% higher over Thanksgiving begins 11/20/21
• 20-50% higher–the fall 3 season–begins 11/27/21
• 30-55% higher–the fall 4 season–begins 12/3/21
• 55-90% higher–the holiday season–begins 12/10/21
• 100% higher–the holiday 2 season–begins 12/17/21
• 110% higher–the holiday 3 season–begins 12/26/21

2021 DISNEY WORLD RESORT PRICE SEASONS: MODERATE RESORTS

When a range is given, the higher end applies to Fridays and Saturdays, and the lower end to Mondays through Wednesdays. Sundays and Thursdays vary, but are typically closer to the lower end. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort prices used to illustrate moderate resort prices.

• The lowest prices of the year–the value season–begin 1/3/2021
• 20% higher prices–RunDisney rates–begin 1/7/21
• Lowest prices of year–the value season–begin 1/10/21
• 20% higher prices for the Martin Luther King Jr. long weekend begins 1/15/21
• Lowest prices of year–the value season–begin 1/18/21
• 35% higher –the spring season—covers 2/11/21
• 55% higher for the long weekend of Presidents Day begins 2/12/21
• 30-45% higher –the spring season—begins 2/15/21
• 55% higher–RunDisney rates—begins 2/18/21
• 25%-40% higher–the regular season–begins 2/21/21
• 30-45% higher–the spring season–begins 3/5/21
• 60% higher–the Easter season–begins 3/28/21
• 30-45% higher–the spring season–begins 4/11/21
• 55% higher –RunDisney rates—begins 4/15/21
• 25-45% higher–the regular 2 season–begins 4/18/21
• 50% higher over the Memorial Day long weekend begins 5/28/21
• 25-35% higher–the summer season–begins 5/31/21
• 45% higher over the long 4th of July weekend begins 7/2/21
• 25-35% higher–the summer season–begins 7/5/21

• 25-40% higher–the summer 2 season–begins 8/8/21
• 25-40% higher–the fall season–begins 8/22/21
• 50% higher over the long Labor Day weekend begins 9/3/21
• 25-40% higher–the fall season–begins 9/6/21
• 35-50% higher–the fall 2 season–begins 9/12/21
• 60% higher—the Anniversary season—begins 10/1
• 35-50% higher–the fall 2 season–begins 10/3/21
• 50% higher over the long Columbus Day weekend begins 10/8/21
• 35-50% higher–the fall 2 season–begins 10/11/21
• 30-50% higher–the fall 3 season– begins 10/24/21
• 50% higher–RunDisney rates, I expect—begins 11/4/21
• 30-50% higher–the fall 3 season– begins 11/7/21
• 50% higher over Thanksgiving begins 11/20/21
• 30-50% higher–the fall 3 season–begins 11/27/21
• 40-50% higher–the fall 4 season–begins 12/3/21
• 45-60% higher–the holiday season–begins 12/10/21
• 80% higher–the holiday 2 season–begins 12/17/21
• 85% higher–the holiday 3 season–begins 12/26/21

2021 DISNEY WORLD RESORT PRICE SEASONS: DELUXE RESORTS

When a range is given, the higher end applies to Fridays and Saturdays, and the lower end to Mondays through Wednesdays. Sundays and Thursdays vary, but are typically closer to the lower end. Disney’s Yacht Club Resort prices used to illustrate deluxe resort prices.

• The lowest prices of the year–the value season–begin 1/3/2021
• 25% higher prices–RunDisney rates–begin 1/7/21
• Lowest prices of year–the value season–begin 1/10/21
• 25% higher prices for the Martin Luther King Jr. long weekend begins 1/15/21
• Lowest prices of year–the value season–begin 1/18/21
• 40% higher –the spring season—covers 2/11/21
• 50% higher for the long weekend of Presidents Day begins 2/12/21
• 40-50% higher –the spring season—begins 2/15/21
• 50% higher–RunDisney rates—begins 2/18/21
• 30% higher–the regular season–begins 2/21/21
• 40-50% higher–the spring season–begins 3/5/21
• 50% higher–the Easter season–begins 3/28/21
• 40-50% higher–the spring season–begins 4/11/21
• 40% higher –RunDisney rates—begins 4/15/21
• 30% higher–the regular 2 season–begins 4/18/21
• 35% higher over the Memorial Day long weekend begins 5/28/21
• 20% higher–the summer season–begins 5/31/21
• 30% higher over the long 4th of July weekend begins 7/2/21

• 15% higher—the summer season 2—begins 7/5/21
• 5-10% higher—the value season 2—begins 8/20/21
• 20% higher over the long Labor Day weekend begins 9/3/21
• 5-10% higher—the value season 2—begins 9/6/21
• 30-35% higher–the fall season–begins 9/17/21
• 45% higher—the Anniversary season—begins 10/1
• 30-35% higher–the fall season–begins 10/3/21
• 40% higher over the long Columbus Day weekend begins 10/8/21
• 25-40% higher–the fall 2 season–begins 10/11/21
• 35-40% higher–the fall 3 season– begins 10/29/21
• 40% higher–RunDisney rates, I expect—begins 11/4/21
• 25-40% higher–the fall 2 season– begins 11/7/21
• 45% higher over Thanksgiving begins 11/23/21
• 25-40% higher–the fall 2 season–begins 11/27/21
• 30-50% higher–the fall 4 season–begins 12/3/21
• 45-55% higher–the holiday season–begins 12/10/21
• 75% higher–the holiday 2 season–begins 12/17/21
• 80% higher–the holiday 3 season–begins 12/26/21

OTHER KEY PAGES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD

• Where to stay–the Basics
• Where first-timers should stay
• Reviews of all the Disney World resorts, based on my 160+ stays in them

Kelly, the long-time travel agent partner of this site, can book your Disney World vacation at any Disney World hotel!  Contact her using the form below.

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DISNEY WORLD NEXT WEEK: JANUARY 2 TO JANUARY 10, 2021

The material below details next week’s Disney World operating hours, Extra Magic Hours, parades, and fireworks.

Things are … a little different… as Disney World re-opens.  See this for park previews and key insights.

OPERATING HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 1/2-1/10/21

The Magic Kingdom will be open from 8a-9p 1/2, 8a-8p 1/3 through 1/9, and 9a-7p 1/10

Epcot will be open from 11a to 8p 1/2, 11a-9p 1/3 through 1/9, and 11a-8p 1/10

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open from 9a-7p every day

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open from 8a-6p every day

EXTRA MAGIC HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 1/2-1/10/21

There will be no Extra Magic Hours until further notice.

PARADES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 1/2-1/10/21

There will be no parades until further notice.

FIREWORKS AND EVENING SHOWS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 1/2-1/10/21

Some brief incidental fireworks happen at various times at Magic Kingdom.

Otherwise, there will be no evening shows until further notice.

SHOW SCHEDULES FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD 1/2-1/10/21

See Steve Soares’ site here. Click the park names at its top for show schedules.

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I’ve color coded the start dates of the various base ticket lengths in Disney World’s date-based ticket pricing system to indicate less and more expensive ticket dates in 2021, compared to prices in all of 2021.

The prices I show are pre-tax, per ticket day, and rounded to the nearest dollar. For 2021, I left out 1 and 2 day tickets, as they are of less interest and technically harder to color code.

In what follows, compared to other dates for the same ticket length

• The more and the darker the green, the better
• The more and the darker the red, the worse.

Dates with black text on a white background are everything else–you can think of them as “typical” or “average” for that ticket length. The technical details on how I color coded are at the end of the post.

I begin with an overview of the year see you can see the flow of 2021 price colors in one spot, and then move to two-month calendars.

If you compare 2021 colors to 2020 colors, you’ll note that while the rough calendar of reddish and greenish periods is the same as 2020, there are more red dates in the fourth quarter of 2021 than I have ever seen before.

JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2021 DISNEY WORLD TICKET PRICES

MARCH AND APRIL 2021 DISNEY WORLD TICKET PRICES

MAY AND JUNE 2021 DISNEY WORLD TICKET PRICES

JULY AND AUGUST 2021 DISNEY WORLD TICKET PRICES

SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER  2021 DISNEY WORLD TICKET PRICES

NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2021 DISNEY WORLD TICKET PRICES

TECHNICAL DETAILS OF COLOR CODING

For each ticket length:

• Ticket prices approximately in the bottom 10% have darker green fill and black text, with the very lowest bolded
• Ticket prices approximately in the next lowest 10% have a lighter green fill and black text
• The next approximately 10% of prices has white fill and green text
• Dates with prices approximately in the 70th to 80th percentile have white fill and red text
• Prices approximately in the 80th to 90th percentile have a light red pinkish fill and black text
• Prices in roughly the top 10% for the year have a darker red fill and black text, with the very highest bolded
• Every other price in between has black text and white fill.

Note that my work is largely based on the rounded per-day prices Disney published. As a result, the “10%” breaks are not exact. Prices shown are also pre-tax.

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DISNEY WORLD OFFERS TWO FREE TICKET DAYS FOR MUCH OF 2021

Walt Disney World has a “two free ticket days” deal available that can be booked beginning January 5, 2021, covering arrivals many nights between January 8, and September 25th, 2021.

The deal requires a regular-priced stay in one of Disney World’s hotels. While it is marketed (for example here) as adding two days to a three day ticket on a four night stay, two days of free tickets are also available for longer stays.

Given how Disney World prices multi-day tickets, however, the highest savings are on shorter tickets. For example, at current 2021 ticket prices, two free days are worth between $107 and $153 each if you get two free tickets on top of a starting three day ticket, but are worth only (on average during the period) $30-55 each for longer ticket lengths.

There’s more on this deal here.

Once January 5th rolls around, you can book it directly from Disney, or the long-time travel agent partner of this site, Kelly, can book it for you. Kelly can compare it to other deals that might be available for you and suggest the best one. Contact Kelly using the form below.

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