Great Disney Vacations

What are the various Walt Disney World resorts in Orlando?  How many of them are there?  What kinds of rates do they offer?  Where are they on the Disney World property?

Lots of questions there; let’s see if I can help answer them.  First I’ll cover costs, then where they are located.  By the time I’m done, you’ll see how many there are!

Walt Disney Resort Pricing

There are four main categories of Walt Disney World resorts in Orlando.  They are:

• Value:  Least expensive, can be under $100/night.
• Moderate:  A little more money, generally between $130-$200/night.
• Deluxe:  Luxury surroundings and prices, generally $250 and up a night.
• Vacation Club:  Priced in the Deluxe category, these are timeshares with sizes from studio to three bedroom villas.

So those are the pricing categories; now let’s see where they are located around Disney World!

Animal Kingdom:

These are the resorts located in the Animal Kingdom area, and their pricing category:

• All-Star Movies (Value)
• All-Star Music (Value)
• All-Star Sports (Value)
• Animal Kingdom Lodge (Deluxe)
• Coronado Springs (Moderate)
• Pop Century (Value)

Downtown Disney

These are the Walt Disney World resorts in Orlando that are near to Downtown Disney

• Old Key West (Vacation Club)
• Port Orleans, French Quarter (Moderate)
• Port Orleans, Riverside (Moderate)
• Saratoga Springs (Vacation Club)

EPCOT

Here are the EPCOT-area resorts; some are so close you can actually walk to EPCOT!

• Beach Club (Vacation Club)
• Boardwalk Inn (Vacation Club)
• Caribbean Beach (Moderate)
• Yacht Club (Deluxe)

Hollywood Studios

Alas, there aren’t really any resorts close to Hollywood Studios.

Magic Kingdom

Lots of resorts in this area!  They are both some of the oldest and the newest, and they are:

• Cabins at Fort Wilderness (Moderate)
• Contemporary (Deluxe)
• Grand Floridian (Deluxe)
• Polynesian (Deluxe)
• Wilderness Lodge (Deluxe)
• Wilderness Lodge Villas (Vacation Club)

One neat thing is that the Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian are right on the monorail loop to the Magic Kingdom and with a transfer, to EPCOT.  Can you say “convenient”

And Finally…

…there are three other resorts that are not traditional or in two cases, even Disney!

• Fort Wilderness Resort Campground (Magic Kingdom area, Value and below)
• The Swan (EPCOT area, roughly Moderate)
• The Dolphin (EPCOT area, roughly Moderate)

These final two, the Swan and Dolphin, are not actually owned by Disney World, although they are on Disney property.  But they do have the same resort benefits as do the “real” Disney resorts.

So there they are:  all the Walt Disney World resorts in Orlando!  To get more details on any or all of these resorts, check out the Walt DIsney World resort hotels page.

It’s tough to choose just one of these wonderful resorts for your Disney vacation.  Which one will you pick?

The Disney Fort Wilderness resort is a wonderful place to camp, yet still be close to all that Walt Disney World has to offer.  From the immpeccable Disney service, to a well-laid out campground, to being close to the attractions — what could be more fun?

About Fort Wilderness

Fort Wilderness is the official Disney World campground.  Located on Disney property in the Magic Kingdom area, it has space for both RV and tent camping.  While the lots are a little close by, Disney has done a great job to make the sites feel secluded.  Not to mention shaded!

Fort Wilderness has been around for quite awhile.  I remember my grade-school class taking a weekend camping trip there….hmm, I’m showing my age, but that had to be in the early 70’s.  But even then, it was a magical place.

Booking at the Disney Fort Wilderness Resort Campground

Your best bet it to book directly with Disney World.  Check out the Fort Wilderness page at the Disney World website to check dates and prices.

Keep in mind that especially in the summer season, the campground can pretty much be booked up.  You’ll have better luck in the cooler months (which are really best for Florida camping anyway).

What’s Special Here?

There’s a show that people travel from all around the Disney property to see — the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue.  And with good reason — it’s a blast!

 Not only a vaudeville-style show, but the dinner is all you can eat, so you won’t go away hungry.  Think fried chicken, ribs, corn on the cob, biscuits…oh-oh, I’m getting hungry just talking about it!

At any rate, this is a very popular show, so book well ahead of time.

There’s also character dining, found at Mickey’s Backyard BBQ.  It’s a buffet-style dinner hosted by the Disney characters you know and love.   I never could figure out why people liked the character dining until I tried it myself — now I don’t visit Disney without one, they’re so much fun!

There is a campfire sing-a-long with Chip ‘N Dale, horseback trail rides, bike rentals and more at the Disney Fort Wilderness resort campground!

Getting Around From the Disney World Campground

Naturally, you can take the complimentary Walt Disney World transportation system to get around the Disney property.  Travel is by bus to most locations, but you can get to the Magic Kingdom by ferry.

If you enjoy camping, why not stay at Disney’s Fort Wilderness?  You’ll get the fun of camping, plus the convenience of staying next to the theme parks.  Not to mention that special Disney magic!

No, I’m not the Walt Disney World official site (but thank you if you thought I was).  I’m just a Florida resident who used to work at Disney.  And I like providing good information for people who do plan to visit Walt Disney World.

But wait!  Here’s a link to the Walt Disney World offical site.  On it you can book your vacation, look up ticket and resort prices.  You can review the various resorts (which are awesome, I might add), to pick the one best for you.

Find out about the various theme parks!  You can look up the dates and times for fireworks, as well as park hours, up to six months in advance.  You can also get a glimpse of theme park maps there; just think, you can plan out what you want to see before you even get there!

So there’s plenty to see over at the Walt Disney World official site.  But when you’re done, why not come back and visit with me for awhile, too?  Love to have you back!

So just how can you get discount Walt Disney tickets for Orlando?  Seeing as Disney World isn’t exactly inexpensive, making the most of your dollars sure does help!

Let’s take a look at some ways to get those Orlando Disney tickets!

Buy Walt Disney World Travel Packages

There are all kinds of Walt Disney World travel packages, and the vast majority feature discounted tickets.  However, keep this in mind; there are few discounts for visits of one or two days.  To start seeing the price per day go down, they get better at three days, then really start decreasing at 5 or more days.

If You’re a Florida Resident…

…you’re eligible for a 10% discount on your tickets.  However, you must be a Florida resident (i.e. a Florida driver’s license or state of Florida official ID) to get the discount.  You can only get this discount in person, and they will check your ID.

In addition, if you are a student at a university or college in Florida, or a member of the armed services stationed in Florida, you can also receive the discount.  But once again, bring your IDs and they will be checked.

As Part of a Convention

If you’re a member of an organization that has a convention at Disney World, very often special ticket pricing will be available to you.  However, you will likely be required to actually attend the convention in order to get the rates.

Buy Online

Buying your discount Walk Disney tickets online will often shave a little money off the ticket price.  But keep an eye for shipping charges, so that it doesn’t eat up your savings.

Take a Timeshare Tour

Yes, there are still places out there that will sell you discount Disney World tickets for sitting through a timeshare spiel.  You will still have to buy the tickets, although at a deep discount.  If you decide to go this route, find out ahead of time if the ticket is only good for that day or if it’s good for the following a well.  If you have an afternoon appointment to listen to the sales pitch, and your ticket has to be used that day, is it really a deal?

Buying Discount Walt Disney Tickets — A Summary

Your best bet for a discount is to buy your tickets as part of a vacation package.  Next is to buy a ticket for 3 or more days, to see a discount on the per-day price.  If you’re a Florida resident, you get an automatic 10% discount.  You can buy online, go as part of a convention or listen to a timeshare presentation.

Have a great time at Walt Disney World!

Getting Disney World resort discounts can sometimes be more of an art than a science.  But there is one thing for certain; to get the lowest room rates, you need to go during the Disney World “off season”.  And you’ll pay the most during the busiest Disney times.

Because the Disney resorts are immensely popular (and so very convenient), they rarely have much in the way of discounts, especially if you are booking last minute (within 2 weeks of your planned stay).  When it comes to last minute prices, the discounts tend to be on the more expensive suites that may have remained unbooked.

Disney World Resort Discounts and Time of Year

Here is a rough breakdown of the different rates you can expect at different times of the year at Walt Disney World in Orlando.  The seasons are listed from the least expensive to the most expensive:

• Value tends to be January 1 through the middle of February; the end of August through the beginning of October.  Also the first two weeks in December.
• Regular is generally the end of April through the end of August; from the beginning of October up through Thanksgiving.
• Peak is between the middle of February through the end of April.
• Holiday is between Christmas and New Year’s.

And the differences are fairly substantial; there can be a $60 difference for the same room, between the Value and Holiday rates.  Multiply that by the number of days you plan to stay, and it can eat up your cash faster.

You can sometimes find discounts online, from travel brokers.  Since the cost for a quote is free, it may make sense to check around.  But don’t expect there to be a large discount (although any discount is good).

There are also a few other “secret” discounts you can read about in the ebook The Ultimate Walt Disney World Savings Guide.  I bought the ebook, have used it, have saved money and recommend it.

Florida residents are eligible for an additional discount but you have to call Disney directly, and call at least 4 months in advance.  They only reserve a few discounted rooms for us Floridians.

There you have it — the Disney World resort discounts!

There’s actually more than one Disney All-Star resort — there are three (or four, depending on how you count them).  They are all Disney value resorts, which means they have the lowest room prices of all the resorts on the Walt Disney World property.

So what are these Disney All-Star resorts?  Let’s take a look.

All-Star Movie

The Disney All-Star Movie resort has a total of 1,920 guest rooms, so it’s large and spread out.  And as you might guess, Disney movies is the theme!  You’ll see more-than-life-size figures from Toy Story, 101 Dalmations and more.

The Disney All-Star Movie resort is located near the Animal Kingdom theme park.

You can check out this link for more information about the All-Star Movie resort.

All-Star Music

This resort is just as large, with 1,920 guest rooms plus 56 family suites.  The suites are great when you have more than four people traveling together (as Disney allows only 4 people per room).  But if you want one of the suites, plan to book way ahead of time, as they are very popular.

Music is the theme here, with calypso, jazz, country, rock and broadway are all represented here.  This resort is also located in the Animal Kingdom area.

Here’s more information on the All-Star Music resort.

All-Star Sports

This lively resort hotel at Disney offers sports (naturally) for its theme.  Consider surfing, football (American), baseball, basketball and tennis for the various rooms and buildings.  Yes, this resort also has 1,920 rooms and is also located in the Animal Kingdom area.

Here’s lots more information about the All-Star Sports resort at Disney World.

Pop Century Resort

OK, it’s not really a Disney All-Star resort, but it is a value resort, the same as the All-Stars.  And it does have similar amenities, rooms, etc.  The Pop Century celebrates some of the icons of our culture — Play Doh, Walkmans and Big Wheels to name three.  This is the largest of the value properties, with 2,800 guest rooms (whew!).  That means you can expect lines, and that the property is very spread out.

I’ve got more information for you on the Pop Century resort.

The Disney All-Star Resort

There they all, all the value resorts!  As you can probably guess, because they have the lowest prices, they are also the first to book up.  Plan on booking a few months ahead of time, especially if you plan to visit during the busy season.

Enjoy your stay at a Disney All-Star resort!

OK, so why should you buy Disney World hopper passes (also known as park hopper passes)?  For that matter, what are they?  Here’s why they can be a great option, especially if you are staying at a Disney World resort.

Basically, Disney World hopper passes allow you to visit more than one theme park in a day.  Without the park hopper option, you can come and go as often as you please for one day at one park.

With a Disney park hopper option, you could visit all four parks in one day for one ticket!  (While I wouldn’t try that, it is possible.)

A Typical Disney World Day (No Hopper)

Let’s use Animal Kingdom for this example.  You get up early and wolf down some breakfast, just so you can get to the park when it opens.

After fighting the crowds at the gate, the Animal Kingdom opens before you.  Map in hand, you rush to the first of your “must see” attractions.  Success!  Off to the next ride!

As the day goes on, you start getting tired.  Your feet start hurting and gosh it’s hot!  The lines are getting longer and longer.  If you have children, they are probably getting pretty cranky now, but it’s only 2 PM and the park is open until 7!  So you press on.

By 5 PM everyone is cranky and hungry and there are still rides you haven’t gone one.  And what — Animal Kingdom doesn’t have fireworks?  Oh no!

A Day With Disney World Hopper Passes

Since you’re staying at a Disney World resort, you sleep in a little more, have a nice breakfast and take the complimentary Disney transportation to Animal Kingdom.

Map in hand, you stoll off to the first of your “must see” attractions, and you have a blast!  Off to the next ride!

Round about 3 PM, you’re getting tired, your feet hurt and you’re hot and sweaty.  The kids are tired and starting to get cranky.  How about back to the hotel for a dip in the pool and maybe a quick snooze before dinner?

After the cool pool, a power nap and dinner, you’re ready to take on Disney again!  This time, you head over to the Magic Kingdom to see the electric light parade and fireworks — not to mention ride a few rides.  It’s open until 9 PM, so you have several hours to play.

The Disney Park Hopper Difference

So, which sounds like the more relaxing vacation?  Okay, so my example was if you were staying on the Disney property.  But even if you were, and didn’t have the park hopper pass, let’s continue with the Animal Kindgom example.

If you go back to the resort for a dip in the pool, power nap and a quick dinner, it’s maybe 5 PM or so by the time you’re ready to go back.  If Animal Kindgom is only open until 7 PM, you have very little time left in that park for the day.

Is the Park Hopper Pass Right for You?

It is an extra cost, added to your ticket.  If you’re just going to be at Disney World one or two days, I don’t recommend it –just pick the park with the longest hours (usually Magic Kingdom or EPCOT) and see it for the day.

At three days the extra cost is better, and starting with four days, the park hopper pass is a bargain!  It’s a great way to relax on your vacation and see what you want to see, when you want to see it.

(And yes, we always add the Disney World hopper passes when we buy tickets.)

So, what exactly is the best time to plan a visit to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida?  For my money, it’s when the crowds have diminished and the weather gets better.  And if you’re staying in the Disney resorts, it’s when the prices go down!

Personally, I like the middle to end of September, October and January for my favorites — they have all three (fewer crowds, better weather and lower prices). 

However, if I take money out of the picture, and I just look at crowds and weather, it’s easier to name the times that I wouldn’t go.  They are: 

• The weeks before and after Easter.
• Anytime in June or July.
• From the week before Christmas through January 3rd.

These times tend to be super-busy, and the summer is hot and humid as well.

August is tricky — the weather is still hot and humid, but by the middle of the month, the crowds have all but disappeared. 

(When I worked at the Magic Kingdom, I could gauge the crowds by how many cash registers we had going at once.  By the middle of August we were down to about 4.  In June and July we had all 12 going!)

Anyway, looks like Disney World is anxious to spread the news about times with fewer crowds.  I came across this link today at the official Disney World website:  best times to go.

So, if your schedule is flexible, do consider visiting Disney during one of its off-seasons for crowds.  You’ll find it’s a whole different Disney!

I’ve decided to upgrade my blog, so that you’d be able to find the information you need faster, so make a note of the new address:   http://blog.great-florida-vacations.com

I plan on lots of neat info for this blog, to compliment the Great Disney Vacations site.  (And if you’ve been to GDV before, I’m in the process of giving it a whole new look and feel!)

So welcome to the blog and I hope you enjoy it!