Planning Tips

Staying Off Property at Disney World

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Our Experience Staying Off Property at Disney

Would we do it again?

On our last Disney World trip, we had the opportunity to stay off property in nearby Reunion, FL. Reunion is a luxury rental area that’s about 15-20 minutes from all of the Disney parks. The area boasts several beautiful golf courses, restaurants and pools – allowing for a little break from the Disney bubble.

This was our first time staying off property, and I honestly wasn’t sure how I would feel about it. We LOVE staying on property (we’re Disney Vacation Club Members, so we must love it!). I always tell my clients how great it is to stay in the Disney bubble because you feel the magic every step of the way on your trip. 

That being said, I was pleasantly surprised about our off property experience. We were in a two-bedroom condo in the Reunion Grand, which is the large tower (and the only tower) in the area. All around the tower are luxury homes and condos, so this had more of a hotel feel upon entering. We went straight up to our condo on the third floor, facing out onto a beautiful golf course and best of all, facing the DISNEY PARKS! It was easy to spot a few popular landmarks on the horizon: Spaceship Earth at Epcot, Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios, Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom, and the hot air balloon at Disney Springs. If the fireworks were running, we would have been able to see ALL of them from our balcony. Pretty magical if you ask me!

Check out the Incredible Vacation Home’s Be Our Guest Tower HERE (where we stayed!)

 

My two biggest concerns were 1) missing the Disney magic and 2) driving to the parks. Re: missing the magic, it was different, but given the parks close so early right now, it was nice to have somewhere spacious that felt more “homey” to come back to in the evening. My second concern, driving to the parks, was pretty nonexistent! I think part of it being so easy was due to the low crowds, but driving took the same amount of time as Disney transportation. It was nice having our own car (a little extra mask-free time!) and we definitely took advantage of having one – we went to the grocery store to get some more basics for the condo and explored a little more outside the Disney bubble (we visited Celebration!). 

I love a good pro/con list, so I came up with our top 3 in each category that we felt would be best for clients (they don’t necessarily apply to us!)…

Pros

  1. The value! It’s a fraction of what you’d pay to stay on property – especially for large groups.
  2. Extra amenities! Who doesn’t want their own private pool, Star Wars movie theater, Cars Land arcade or Frozen bunk beds?!
  3. Safety and health during COVID! If you’re uncomfortable with taking Disney transportation or staying on property, this is a great way to maintain your social distance. Having your own vehicles and space is a huge perk.

Cons

  1. Extra costs for rental car & parking at the parks. It’s $25/day to park for non Annual Passholders and DVC Members (we had free rental car days to use and are Annual Passholders, so we were very lucky with this!)
  2. Having to drive everywhere yourself. There is something to be said for the convenience of Disney transportation, and I feel like we have a love/hate relationship with it – we love being able to walk to Epcot from the Beach Club but hate waiting for the bus home after the Magic Kingdom fireworks! On the flip side, with the low capacity and shortened park hours, it was easy and convenient driving everywhere.
  3. Different feel from staying on property in the Disney magic. All of the little things that make up your Disney experience (i.e. for me it’s the Must Do Disney show with Stacey and for Ben it’s the Disney shampoos…lol) feel like they’re missing if you stay on property frequently. BUT, there are different magical touches to the rentals with the themed rooms and movie theaters 🙂

One other Con *IF* FastPasses come back. If you stay off property, you are able to book them 30 days out instead of 60 days (if you were to stay on property). If you have an expert planner helping you though, this isn’t a problem!

So the million dollar question: would we stay off property again? 

The answer is YES. We are lucky enough to travel down to Disney frequently, but we would definitely mix up our stays with some off property rentals (or when we run out of DVC points!).

 

 

 

Is off property the right option for your vacation?

Send us a message and we’d love to help figure out the best option for YOUR family and YOUR vacation!

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Disney 101 Planning Tips

When is the BEST Time to Go to Disney?

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So when IS the BEST time of year to visit Walt Disney World? 

I get this question so frequently from friends and clients. The truth is, it’s different for everyone because there are so many factors that go into it! Crowds, price and weather are the three biggest factors for people, so I’ve provided a chart below to give you an idea of what each month of the year looks like at Disney. 

Here are my recommended steps to follow to help you determine when to go with your group. Ideally, it’s good to book your trip about 9-12 months out, so keep this in mind! 

1. Ask yourself, what factor is the MOST important? 

Is it crowds, price or weather? Or something else completely? Take a look at the chart below to help you out!

2. Think through the travel logistics. 

What else is going on in your lives then? Is it the kids’ break, or will you need to take them out of school? What activities are in session then? Will the kids be tall enough to ride certain attractions, or should we wait six more months?

3. Start to check availability and pricing.

This is where a travel agent comes in – they can start to check resort availability and pricing for locations on and off Disney property. 

Crowd, Price & Weather Calendar Snapshot

*Keep in mind, any holiday weekends will typically see higher crowds, even if it’s a “low” month. ALSO, Disney is never “quiet” anymore – there will always be crowds, it’s just that the level of crowds will just vary.

This calendar is meant to be a high level snapshot to help you determine broadly which month makes the most sense based on your priorities. Once this gives you an idea, more research should be done (or call me!).

Once you’ve booked your trip, reach out to WDW Park Planners to help plan the day-to-day of your magical vacation! 

Question? Contact me today!

Planning Tips

Ideal Disney Vacation Planning Timeline

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How far out should you actually book your Walt Disney World vacation? With all of the advance work that is now required to go to Disney, the further out you book your trip, the better.

Here are the key planning dates to keep in mind when thinking about going to the Happiest Place on Earth:

499 Days Out: You Can Start Booking Your Disney Resort

The official window for making Disney resort reservations opens 499 days out from your arrival date. This is about a year and four months, so pretty far in advance. It is not necessary to book this far out, but it can be beneficial if you plan on going during a peak season like the holidays or Spring break.

7 Months Out: Contact WDW Park Planners for planning help!

If you’re using my Park Planning Service, you’ll ideally want to have your resort booked by the seven month marker. This gives time for us to confirm your trip logistics (who’s traveling, your Disney “must dos,” etc.) and for me to map out a recommended trip outline for your group (which parks you’ll visit on which days).

180 Days Out: Your Advance Dining Reservation Window Opens

It’s important to have your vacation outline determined before this window opens. That way you’ll know which parks or resorts you’ll be dining at on which days. The window opens at 7am ET, so I get up extra early for my clients to make sure they get all their top restaurant choices for their vacation!

60 Days Out: If Staying On-Property at Disney, Your Fast Pass+ Window Opens

One huge perk of staying on-property for your Disney vacation is that your window for booking Fast Passes opens 60 days out from your trip, instead of the typical 30 days for non-property guests. That means you have a better chance at getting the popular rides and good time slots. Disney has affiliate resorts that they extend this perk to, so be sure to check out the full list of resorts HERE.

Park tickets need to purchased and linked to your account in order to book your Fast Passes. This booking window also opens at 7am ET, so I get up early for my clients to ensure they have the best chance at getting the best Fast Pass+ selections possible (I’m a pro at this!). Fast Passes are available for the full duration of your trip when the window opens.

30 Days Out: If Staying Off-Property, Your Fast Pass+ Window Opens

Same goes here if you’re staying off-property – the window opens at 7am ET to make your selections. Make sure your tickets are purchased and linked to your account before this date hits!

Before you know it, you’ll be saying, “I’m going to Disney World!” Any questions about these dates or the best time to go, just send me a message below and I’d be happy to help!

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