Disney just released new free dining dates for Disney Visa cardholders from September - December 2012. These deals are usually released to the public soon after, so be on the lookout for that if you're thinking of going to Disney this Fall. You cannot beat a free dining deal! Once the offer goes public, you can find it at http://www.waltdisneyworld.com/ under Special Offers.
Also, starting today, you can book 2013 Disney vacations on http://www.waltdisneyworld.com/. Quick tip: You can go ahead and book your vacation for the dates you have in mind, and if a deal comes out between now and then, you can apply it to your already existing reservation!
It's a great time to start thinking about a trip to Walt Disney World!
Until next time...
Disney Diva
Showing posts with label Disney Rewards Visa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Disney Rewards Visa. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
You CAN afford it!
So many people have told me "I'd love to go to Disney World, but I just can't afford it!" It is my mission to assure you, a Walt Disney World vacation can be affordable! For our family, a week at the beach costs about the same thing as a week at Walt Disney World. We have paid upwards of $200 a night for a hotel in Myrtle Beach during the summer, and that doesn't even count what we spend on food and entertainment. When we go to Disney World, tickets and dining are included in the total price of our vacation package (we always get the dining plan). That includes a resort stay in a Walt Disney World resort, park tickets (regular Magic Your Way), plus dining, and we don't usually pay much more than $200-$300 per day.
So here are my budget planning tips:
1. Don't buy park tickets for every day that you're there. We usually reserve a couple of days for down-time. We go to Downtown Disney, resort hop (visit other resorts), or just hang around the pool at our resort.
2. Don't buy park hopper passes. Yes, it is nice to be able to park hop, but when you're planning on a budget, it is just not worth it. We still come and go to the parks as we please, but we just leave and come back to the same park in the same day. We just aren't able to go to 2 (or more) parks in the same day. No big loss to me.
3. Save on dining. If you are planning to do character meals, or table service meals, go with the Disney Dining Plan. It is well worth it. If you are just planning to grab a bite whenever you get hungry, you're probably better off without it.
4. Shop for deals. You can check out Special Offers at waltdisneyworld.com. This is where you can find room discounts, or special offers like free dining or ticket discounts. You can also use websites like mousesavers, and knowbeforeugo.com to find discounted tickets, if you're not using a vacation package.
5. Compare prices. When I help people plan a trip for their budget, I create a spreadsheet where I lay out prices and options like dining plans, resorts, and number of tickets. That way they can see all the different options they have within their budget. For example, maybe you could stay in a moderate or deluxe resort with no dining plan for about the same price as staying in a value resort with the dining plan. Try different options and find which one works best for your needs and your budget.
6. Try the Chase Disney Rewards Visa card. You get 6 months with 0% interest to pay off your vacation, plus you earn Disney Rewards points for any purchases you make. You can save up your points to pay for future Disney trips! I'm not a big supporter of credit card use, but I use this card for everything, and just pay it off at the end of every month.
With a little effort, you will find that you can plan a trip to Disney World on your budget. So get started planning your magical vacation!
Until next time...
Disney Diva
So here are my budget planning tips:
1. Don't buy park tickets for every day that you're there. We usually reserve a couple of days for down-time. We go to Downtown Disney, resort hop (visit other resorts), or just hang around the pool at our resort.
2. Don't buy park hopper passes. Yes, it is nice to be able to park hop, but when you're planning on a budget, it is just not worth it. We still come and go to the parks as we please, but we just leave and come back to the same park in the same day. We just aren't able to go to 2 (or more) parks in the same day. No big loss to me.
3. Save on dining. If you are planning to do character meals, or table service meals, go with the Disney Dining Plan. It is well worth it. If you are just planning to grab a bite whenever you get hungry, you're probably better off without it.
4. Shop for deals. You can check out Special Offers at waltdisneyworld.com. This is where you can find room discounts, or special offers like free dining or ticket discounts. You can also use websites like mousesavers, and knowbeforeugo.com to find discounted tickets, if you're not using a vacation package.
5. Compare prices. When I help people plan a trip for their budget, I create a spreadsheet where I lay out prices and options like dining plans, resorts, and number of tickets. That way they can see all the different options they have within their budget. For example, maybe you could stay in a moderate or deluxe resort with no dining plan for about the same price as staying in a value resort with the dining plan. Try different options and find which one works best for your needs and your budget.
6. Try the Chase Disney Rewards Visa card. You get 6 months with 0% interest to pay off your vacation, plus you earn Disney Rewards points for any purchases you make. You can save up your points to pay for future Disney trips! I'm not a big supporter of credit card use, but I use this card for everything, and just pay it off at the end of every month.
With a little effort, you will find that you can plan a trip to Disney World on your budget. So get started planning your magical vacation!
Until next time...
Disney Diva
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Special Events
There are a number of special events that happen at Disney World seasonally. They are fantastic, and if you happen to be there during one of these events, you'll definitely want to take part! The one I can't wait to see for myself is Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party! You must have a special ticket for this event, and they have offered discounted tickets to Disney Visa cardholders for events like these in the past. But it is completely magical! Holiday parades, characters decked out in their holiday best, free hot cocoa and cookies, snow on Main Street USA...It is not to be missed! Staying on the topic of Christmas, Epcot also has a candlelight processional that I hear is amazing. Celebrity hosts narrate the Christmas story with a mass choir to create an unforgettable holiday experience. This event does not require a ticket, but you can get reserved seating with a lunch or dinner package.
In the Fall, Magic Kingdom also offers Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. This is another ticketed event where kids (of all ages!) can dress up in their costumes and trick-or-treat around the Magic Kingdom. Characters are decked out in their Halloween attire and villains who are scarce at other times of year make special appearances. There is a Boo to You parade featuring the Haunted Mansion characters as well! It is all a bit of not-so-scary fun!
There are other special events held around the year. Magic Kingdom's Night of Joy is coming up soon on September 9-10 featuring Christian music artists. They also host the marathons in January and February, Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival has amazing topiaries in the Spring-last year they had Lightning McQueen and Tow-Mater right at the entrance to World Showcase...so cool! And of course, Epcot's Food and Wine Festival in the fall where you can enjoy food and drink specialties from around the world! Hollywood Studios has Osborne Family's Spectacle of Lights at Christmas with millions of lights, and in the summer, Star Wars Weekends for the Jedi in your family!
To find out more about special events at Disney World, click here.
Have you attended any of these events? I'd love to hear from you!
Until next time...
Disney Diva
In the Fall, Magic Kingdom also offers Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. This is another ticketed event where kids (of all ages!) can dress up in their costumes and trick-or-treat around the Magic Kingdom. Characters are decked out in their Halloween attire and villains who are scarce at other times of year make special appearances. There is a Boo to You parade featuring the Haunted Mansion characters as well! It is all a bit of not-so-scary fun!
There are other special events held around the year. Magic Kingdom's Night of Joy is coming up soon on September 9-10 featuring Christian music artists. They also host the marathons in January and February, Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival has amazing topiaries in the Spring-last year they had Lightning McQueen and Tow-Mater right at the entrance to World Showcase...so cool! And of course, Epcot's Food and Wine Festival in the fall where you can enjoy food and drink specialties from around the world! Hollywood Studios has Osborne Family's Spectacle of Lights at Christmas with millions of lights, and in the summer, Star Wars Weekends for the Jedi in your family!
To find out more about special events at Disney World, click here.
Have you attended any of these events? I'd love to hear from you!
Until next time...
Disney Diva
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