If you’re anything like us, you’re dreaming of taking your kids to Disney whether it’s for the first time or twentieth time. I (Jackie) take my kids to Disneyland once a year, sometimes more. Even then I’m constantly planning and dreaming of the next trip. Where am I going to stay next time? At what time of the year are we available to go?
I’ve partnered up with my friend Bobbie over at Marvelous Mouse Travels to bring you everything you need to know about planning your next trip to Disney (land or World). First I want to introduce Bobbie. She is a mama of 2 kiddos, a boy and a girl, and a lover of everything Disney. She frequents Disney World more but loves both locations. Bobbie’s favorite thing about Disney is the traditions she built with her family as a child and now being able to share that with her children and see the joy in their eyes. This is why she’s decided to become a Travel Agent specializing in Disney. She loves helping others create lasting memories during their Disney experience by using her expertise and knowledge of the parks and resorts. Best part…her services are completely free to you.
Beginning your trip can be daunting. Most people worry about the cost of a Disney trip while others feel lost as to where they need to go, what they need to eat and ways to get the most for their money. Let’s start with a some frequently asked questions:
- Should I stay on or off property?
This depends on what each person is looking to get out of their experience. Consider what you’re getting staying on site at Disney World: transportation to and from park and airport included, Magic bands provided for free, and lots of extra Disney experiences you couldn’t have if you stayed off site. When making this decision, make sure you add up these costs if you decide to stay off site to make sure it’s worth it. - What is the Memory Maker package?
This is a package you pay for up front to have Disney take all the photos for you. There are photopass photographers around almost every corner of the parks. This package costs $169 if you pre-purchase, at least 3 days prior to your trip, otherwise the cost is $199. If you decide to forego this option you will have to pay for each individual photo that you want which typically cost around $20-25 per photo. - How early should I book my trip
Packages are released the summer prior to the next year (for example all 2019 dates will be released the summer of 2018). Depending on your financial situation it is always recommended to book out as far in advance as possible, preferably 6 months or more. Planning far out in advance gives you plenty of time to pay for the trip in smaller increments. All you need to book a trip is $200 down; the rest isn’t due till 30 days out. The other reason you’d want to book far out in advance would be the ability to book dining 180 days in advance which you would need to do in order to do specialty dining such as Cinderella’s Castle. - Should I purchase a dining plan
If you plan on eating out for every meal and snack then the dining plan is beneficial for you. If you are planning to bring your own snacks/meals and have a small budget for meals the dining plan may not be for you. We also recommend forgoing the meal plan if you have children that don’t eat complete meals by themselves. When you have children that are between the ages of 3-6 they usually share with their siblings. The dining plan requires you purchase the plan for all tickets bought, you cannot purchase for 2 tickets when you’ve reserved 4 tickets total. In this case you would end up spending more on your kids then if you pay out of pocket. - What are the differences in dining plans
The quick service option give you two fast food meals and two snacks per ticket per day with a refillable. The table service option gives you one fast food meal, one table service meal, two snacks and a refillable mug per ticket per day. The dining plan doesn’t include tips. - When is the best time to go to Disney?
Easy…when school is in session parks will experience smaller crowds. Take into account holidays, which are typically peak crowd numbers. If you’re able the lowest crowd times are January-April, September and the couple weeks following Thanksgiving. Check out our posts for upcoming events and new things coming to Disney World and Disneyland to help make this decision.
Bobbie has put a few trips together to give you an idea of how affordable your next trip can be:
- Disney World trip for a family of 4. Stay at the All Star Resort with 4 day (one park per day) tickets per person, roundtrip airport transportation along with roundtrip park transportation, and magic bands all for only $2200.
Are you planning a trip for Disneyland? If so, check out these posts: Planning a Disney Trip and Tips for making the most out of your Disneyland Trip.
