CHAPTER TWO
BACK TO YOUR DASHBOARD
Chapter 1
That trip you've been rolling over in your mind? It's time to make it happen, for real this time. If you're like me, you get overwhelmed when you think of your trip all at once. What most people don't realize is the biggest step - booking your trip - is actually the easiest.
Some of you may have already booked your trip, and that's okay. There may be some things in this chapter that could be useful to you, like setting up your My Disney Experience account. If not, click through to Chapter Two.
You ready? Start by watching the video below where I review everything in this chapter. If you have a sleeping babe on you, you can skip the video and read on. Whatever works for you, my friend.
Love, Dana
Looks best fullscreen!
Chapter 1 Video: Booking Your Resort
SHOW 2023/24 calendar
It makes sense that "when's the best time to visit Disney World?" is a popular question. The answer is: it depends.
It comes down to three factors: crowd levels, weather, and festivals/holidays.
Our family likes the spring and fall, mostly for the weather and EPCOT's festivals. To avoid crowds, we stay away the week of Thanksgiving + the week of Christmas.
To see all of these factors in one place, check out my calendar below. I also love the traditional crowd calendar from Undercover Tourist.
01.
Decide When to Visit
Average High/Low Temp: 71°/52°
Average Rainfall: 6 days/month
Most crowded:
January 1st-9th
Least crowded:
January 17-27th
Events: runDisney (5-8th), EPCOT Festival of the Arts (13th). SKYLINER CLOSED 22nd-29th
January 2023
2023 Calendar
Average High/Low Temp: 80°/65°
Average Rainfall: 7 days/month
Most crowded:
March 11th-31st
Least crowded:
March 1-10th
Events: EPCOT"s Flower + Garden Festival starts (1st) Spring Break season begins (11th)
March 2023
Average High/Low Temp: 86°/63°
Average Rainfall: 7 days/month
Most crowded:
April 1-17th
Least crowded:
April 18-28th
Events: TRON opens (4th) Easter Sunday (9th), runDisney (13-16th)
APRIL 2023
Average High/Low Temp: 75°/54°
Average Rainfall: 7 days/month
Most crowded:
February 18-26th
Least crowded:
February 1st-10th
Events: Festival of the Arts ends on President's Day (20th) Princess 1/2 Marathon (23-26th)
February 2023
Average High/Low Temp: 72°/58°
Average Rainfall: 4 days/month
Most crowded:
May 19-21, May 26th-31st
Least crowded:
May 1-12th
Events: Mother's Day (14th)
May 2023
Average High/Low Temp: 80°/68°
Average Rainfall: 4 days/month
Most crowded:
Weekends
Least crowded:
None
Events: Independence Day, EPCOT"s Flower + Garden Festival ends (5th)
JULY 2023
Average High/Low Temp: 82°/69°
Average Rainfall: 5 days/month
Most crowded:
August 1st-6th
Least crowded:
August 7st-31st
Events: TBD
AUGUST 2023
Average High/Low Temp: 79°/66°
Average Rainfall: 5 days/month
Most crowded:
Weekends
Least crowded:
None
Events: TBD
JUNE 2023
2023 Calendar
Average High/Low Temp: 79°/65°
Average Rainfall: 4 days/month
Most crowded:
September 2nd-4th
Least crowded:
September 6-30th
Events: Labor Day (4th), Events TBD
SEPTEMBER 2023
Average High/Low Temp: 63°/50°
Average Rainfall: 4 days/month
Most crowded:
November 19-27th
Least crowded:
November 1-10th
Events: runDisney Wine & Dine (2-5) Thanksgiving (23rd) Events TBD
NOVEMBER 2023
Average High/Low Temp: 82°/63°
Average Rainfall: 5 days/month
Most crowded:
December 16th-31st
Least crowded:
December 1st-15th
Events: Christmas + New Years Eve, Events TBD
DECEMBER 2023
Average High/Low Temp: 73°/60°
Average Rainfall: 5 days/month
Most crowded:
Weekends, 6-9th + 31st
Least crowded:
October 16-30th
Events: Halloween, Events TBD
OCTOBER 2023
2023 Calendar
Average High/Low Temp: 71°/52°
Average Rainfall: 6 days/month
Most crowded:
Least crowded:
Events: runDisney (3-7th)
January 2024
2023-24 Calendar
Average High/Low Temp: 80°/65°
Average Rainfall: 7 days/month
Most crowded:
Least crowded:
Events: Spring Break season starts
March 2024
Average High/Low Temp: 86°/63°
Average Rainfall: 7 days/month
Most crowded:
Least crowded:
Events: runDisney (18-21st)
APRIL 2024
Average High/Low Temp: 75°/54°
Average Rainfall: 7 days/month
Most crowded:
Least crowded:
Events: runDisney Princess (22-25th)
February 2024
If you're like the millions of families visiting Walt Disney World from out-of-state, you need a place to stay. There are two options: what Disney-goers refer to as "on-site", meaning at a resort owned by Disney + select other hotels or "off-site". This would include hotels in the Orlando area, or an Airbnb.
Choosing the best resort for your family is a balancing act based on location, availability, and budget. Ask yourself:
What parks are we most excited about?
How much do we plan on spending?
What size room do we want?
ACCESS TO
EARLY ENTRY
02.
BETTER Dining Reservations
buy individual lightning lanes early
Disney resort + select hotels guests are allowed in the parks 30 minutes before official park opening, everyday. Find a list of which resorts + attractions are included here.
Guests staying at a Disney hotel, Swan, Dolphin, or Shades of Green can book Individual LLs at 7am. Everyone else has to wait until park opening - by then they could be gone!
Everyone can make dining reservations 60 days before their stay. Resort guests can book up to 70 days before.
I'm going to encourage you to stay at one of the resorts on Walt Disney World property. Why?
For us, we think about location above all else. Being able to walk back to your resort after a long night of fun + fireworks is a luxury. Taking the boat to Hollywood Studios with a hot coffee in my hand is always a highlight. Having other transportation options other than buses is just...well, nice.
To see all the transportation options for each resort, DOWNLOAD THE TRANSPORTATION BUNDLE
Location, location, location.
Walt Disney World Resorts
Disney World Resorts are separated into four categories: value, moderate, deluxe and deluxe villas.
ANOTHER BENEFIT OF STAYING DELUXE: On select nights, guests staying at a Deluxe Resort have access to Extended Evening Hours. Learn more here!
Value
MODERATE
DELUXE
DELUXE VILLAS
DELUXE VILLAS
MODERATE
DELUXE
Value
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Beach Club
BoardWalk Inn
Contemporary
Grand Floridian
Polynesian Village
Riviera Resort
Saratoga Springs
Wilderness Lodge
Yacht Club
DELUXE VILLAS
Value
MODERATE
DELUXE
DELUXE VILLAS
DELUXE
MODERATE
Value
Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House + Kidani Village
Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary
Beach Club Villas
BoardWalk Inn Villas
Boulder Ridge + Copper Creek Villas at Wilderness Lodge
Riviera Resort
Old Key West Resort
Polynesian Villas + Bungalows
Saratoga Springs
Villas at the Grand Floridian
DELUXE VILLAS
ANOTHER BENEFIT OF STAYING DELUXE: On select nights, guests staying at a Deluxe Resort have access to Extended Evening Hours. Learn more here!
WHAT TO KNOW
Did you know Disney travel agents are completely free? I've learned a LOT about travel agents over the past 2 years and let me tell you: there is a travel agent for everyone. Here are some things you'll want to know before reaching out to an agent.
Should You Use a Disney Travel Agent?
03.
Things you'll need to know before requesting a free travel quote
- Your approximate budget
- Dates you're considering
- How many people are going
- If you need a room, tickets, or both
- Any interest in special events or other celebrations
BACK
04.
It's time to make this real! There are 3 options to secure your trip: a room-only reservation, a vacation package, or using Disney Vacation Club points. Here's how they compare:
Book Your Resort. Like, Really Book It.
Save around 30%
Due in full + no cancellations
Can't use a free travel agent
Park tickets are purchased separately
Rent DVC Points
my favorite
Deposit: 1st night's cost + balance due at check in
Tickets can be added later or through a third-party
Can be made up to 499 days beforehand
Room-only
Reservation
1
A way to save even more...
You'll see a section on every DVC broker site called "dedicated" or "confirmed" reservations. These are reservations that have already been booked, but for whatever reason can't be filled.
These are locked in and guaranteed with the room and dates aaaand come at even more of a discount!
Better for last minute trips, or if you're more flexible with your travel dates.
Room, ticket + vacation packages are available for all of 2023.
Packages for 2024 haven't been released yet, but this is usually around the summer. I'll keep this spot updated as news trickles in.
If you want to rent DVC points - my favorite way - you can book that up to 11 months before you want to visit.
In addition to a park ticket, you'll need a reservation to enter the park of your choosing. Check Walt Disney World's theme park reservation calendar here. They can sell out for certain parks on popular days, so make sure there's plenty of availability before you commit to your stay!
If you're booking last minute...
Create Your My Disney Experience Account
“My Disney Experience” is a section of Disney World’s website where you create a profile and control ALL of your vacation plans: tickets, dining, Genie+ (we'll go over this) and more.
If and when you purchase your park tickets on the Walt Disney World website, everything should automatically link to the MDE (My Disney Experience) account you use to complete your purchase. Watch the video above and learn how to set up your profile so you're ready to go!
05.
Checklist
CHAPTER 1
Decide When to visit
REQUEST DVC POINT RENTAL
CREATE A MY DISNEY EXPERIENCE ACCOUNT
BOOK THE ROOM!
yes
no
You're on your way to creating the vacation of your dreams, I can feel it! This first chapter takes a lot of brain power - you got this!
continue to chapter 2
CHOOSE YOUR RESORT
USING TRAVEL AGENT?
yes
no
Have you cross-referenced your dates?
Be sure to check Disney's park reservation calendar before you commit to anything. We'll cover more of this in Chapter 2, but park reservations are needed in addition to your park ticket. On very popular days - like Halloween - they can sell out for certain parks.
To really triple-check your dates, do a quick search for: "Disney World events during (enter month)." I've been on trips where I've completely missed that it was Veteran's Day, or wondered why are there so many cheerleaders at our hotel?? Make sure you know what's happening the days of your visit so you can prepare.
Does travel insurance make sense for you?
If the past few years have taught us anything it's to expect the unexpected. Travel insurance may be a good idea if you're worried about being grounded due to snow, hurricanes, etc. I like this website if I feel like I need insurance.
