Magical Memories and Disney Dreams

Saving for a Disney Vacation

2013-10-04T07:45:00.001-07:00

How much will a Disney Vacation cost? This is a questions I get almost daily. I wish there were a simple answer that I could give everyone, but it is not that easy. There are a lot of variables that go into determining the price that you will pay for your ideal vacation. Just because a friend spent X number of dollars on their Disney vacation, that does not mean that you can expect to pay the same. What your family sees as important for their Disney experience may not be the same things that are important to your friend's family.

So what goes into determining the budget? Like I said, there are a lot of variables that can determine your vacation budget. Here are a few of the questions that I have to ask before I can begin to give you an estimate...

How many people are in your family?- The number of people in your family will be very important in determining which set of Disney resorts we will explore for your vacation. A family of 4 can stay at any resort, but if you have a family of 5 or 6, well, that changes our direction a bit. There are options at all price points that can accommodate a family of this size, and there is always the option for 2 rooms. It just comes down to what is right for your family.
How old are your children?- The magic numbers to remember with a Disney vacation are 3 and 10. Any child under the age of three will not require the purchase of a ticket to enter the park, and they will not be required to purchase a Disney Dining Plan, if you choose to add one to your travel package. They may eat from an adult's plate or buffet FREE of Charge! (A 2 and a half year old can have a great time at Disney. They may not remember when they met Mickey for the first time, but you sure will! Oh, and another great memory you will make is the memory of how much you saved by going just before they turned three!) Once a child is 10 years old, they are now an adult (just don't tell them that!). They will pay the adult rates for tickets and dining.
What type of resort do you prefer?- There are several categories to choose from at Walt Disney World. From Value resorts, all the way to Deluxe and Deluxe Villas Resorts, there is some thing for everyone. So what is the difference and how can I figure out what works best for my family? That's where I come in. Give me a call, or email me tammie@alkartravel.com, and tell me what you would like to ideally see in a resort. Are you just looking for a place to keep your stuff, and a place to lay your head? Then a Value resort may be perect. Looking for a little more, but still looking to stay on budget? Then a moderate may be the right choice. The slightly larger rooms, table service dining, and pools with slides may be just what you are looking for when planning your first "real" family vacation, and Disney's Moderate resorts offer all of that, at a friendly price. Are you an advid traveler? Do you want to close to the action, and have amenties such as spas, several table service options, room service and more? Then one of Disney's Deluxe, or Deluxe Villa resorts, is where we will start our search. Finally, are you looking for Concierge access, and VIP Tour opportunities? Contact me to find out how to book one of the VIP rooms on property. These book very quickly, so planning ahead is a must!
How would you like to spend your day?- The best way to save on Disney tickets is by adding multiple days to your pacakge. So we need to think about how many days would you like to visit the park, and whether or not a Magic Your Way base ticket (1 park per day) is the right choice for your family. We also need to consider adding the Park Hopper option, or the Water Park and More Option. Are you the type of family that wants to stay in one place all day or you do you want to be more flexible? Would you like the ability to visit one park in the morning, but spend a few evenings dining at some of EPCOT's international restaurants? If so, then the Park Hopper may be right for you. Are you an avid Disney traveler, or someone with a lot of time to vacation? Then you may want to add the Water Park and More Option. It is really all up to you. I will help you to determine which ticket is the best fit for your lifestyle and budget.
Finally, when do you want to travel?- This is probably one of the most important things in determining price. If you will be traveling during peak season, such as Spring or Winter Break, then you can expect to pay considerably more than someone travling during off peak times. There is a much greater chance of booking under a special promotional rate when you are able to travel off season. When traveling during Breaks, you can expect to pay more. It is that simple. Not sure when you should take your family? Contact me, and I will help you to target a time of year that is right for you.

So now that you know what goes into determining the budget for a Disney vacation, Let's start planning. You can send your questions or thoughts to me at tammie@alkartravel.com, You can also Message me though my Facebook page: Magical Memories Family Travel I can't wait to help you build a magical vacation!

2012-12-10T13:37:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I have to be the first to admit, I'm not great with technology. That can clearly be seen in my attempt to start blogging. I would forget how to log in, I'd lose track of what I had thought to post next, and so on. But this week I attended an event that changed the view I had on blogging. While at the New Fantasyland Grand Opening Press Event I meet several people that used technonolgy to it's fullest, and I learned something. It's not about mastering the technology, it's about sharing what's on your mind, and being honest in your thoughts and feelings. If you speak from the heart, that's all that matters.

By now, many of you know that I am a Disney Nerd. This is a title I embrace. My love for all things Disney started as a child, and as I have become a mother, the love has only grown. It's not all about Princesses, and Mickey Mouse for me. It's about the feeling I get when I spend time with my family visiting the resorts, the parks, the cruise ships and more. They say that you should find something you love, and make it a career, and thanks to some good friends of mine, that is exactly what I have been able to do. For about two years I have been living my own version of a Disney dream by helping people plan their dream vacations, sharing ideas and knowledge gained through training, first hand park visits, and quite frankly, trial and error. And what can I say, I love it. I love everything about it. I get to talk Disney all day long, without looking insane. (Ok, maybe I look a little insane when I talk non-stop about how special I think a cartoon mouse is, but that's a chance I'm willing to take.)

So from this point forward I am changing things up. I am going to talk about my experiences from a Mom's point of view. What we liked, what we hated, what needs to change and what we can go without experiencing. I welcome you comments and questions. If you need to know something about planning a trip, post a comment here, or on my Facebook Page: Magical Memories Family Travel and I will do my best to respond in a way that provides you with a clear view of what I have experienced.

Sharing the Magic- Where to start when selecting a family reunion resort

2012-01-30T11:14:00.000-08:00

Meeting Chip at the Chip and Dale's Campfire Sing A Long
Fort Wilderness Campground.

When you hear, "We're going to Disney World!" what do you envision? Mom, Dad and kids running through parks all day chasing after characters? That could not be farther from the reality that has come to pass as of late. The new vision of a Walt Disney World vacation often involves young families and grandparents sharing in a vacation of a lifetime.

We remember our childhood trips to Walt Disney World as we saw them through our eyes. We remember the attractions we rode and characters that we met. We think of the parades, excitement and sounds all around us. Now we want to revisit with our children, and who better to guide us in making our memories than the parents that took us there in the first place. Their memories are so different than ours. We remember meeting Mickey, but they remember the look on our face when we first saw him. They can be a great guide in building those memories that last a lifetime.

The Cabins at Fort Wilderness offer a
room to sleep 2 in a double bed AND a set of bunk beds in one room.
There is also a pull down "Murphy bed"in the seperate living room area.

Walt Disney World offers a great opportunity for families to plan that once in a lifetime vacation that can include parents, siblings, grandparents, cousins and more. With the construction of Disney's Art of Animation resort there are more options than ever that can accommodate larger, or extended families. There are family suite accommodations available at the Value resort level, rooms that sleep 5 in the Moderate resort category, along with Wilderness Cabins that offer separate sleeping area for family members as well as a full kitchen. Then there are the fabulous Disney Vacation Villas that are available in the Deluxe category. These offer everything from a smaller studio room, all the way to an amazing three bedroom Grand Villa. Let us not forget about the wonderful Treehouse Villas at Saratoga Springs. These are essentially individual vacation "homes"nestled in the trees.

There many opportunities to Share the Magic with family members. Choosing the Disney resort that suits your needs is just the start. Look for upcoming posts about Entertaining the Masses- There is something for everyone at WDW and Dining with family.

Don't be intimidated by Walt Disney World's Size!

2011-11-29T12:59:00.000-08:00

Don’t be intimidated by the scope of Walt Disney World. With a little planning, and some of the great tips that I will give you we can make this trip both exciting and relaxing.

Cousins from across the country meet
for the first time at Walt Disney World!

Firstly, I recommend that you get a multi day park hopper ticket. This will allow you to visit a number of parks each day. You can start you day with breakfast at the Magic Kingdom, lunch with the lions at Animal Kingdom, and finish your day with great meal at one of EPCOT’s amazing restaurants. This will also give you the opportunity to revisit some of your favorite attractions without having to purchase separate admissions to each park.

Then there is Disney’s Fastpass system. Select rides in each park offer Fastpass “reservations” to all park guests. You simply find a ride with a Fastpass symbol on your map, and go to their Fastpass kiosk. You will insertyour park ticket into the machine and you will be issued a return time voucher for each ticket inserted. For example it may read return anytime between 10am-11am. After 10am you will return to the ride and present your reservation tickets to the Fastpass attendant. (*Mind that you will need one ticket per guest wishing to ride.) They will then direct you to the *generally shorter Fastpass by pass line where, in a matter of a few moments, you will likely be riding through the attraction, having circumvented the sometimes lengthy Spring Break lines.

Older children enjoy the late nights at Magic Kingdom!
The crowds ae lighter, so they can ride the attractions
over, and over, and over.....

As a Walt Disney World Resort guest you will also be eligible to take advantage of Disney’s “Extra Magic Hours”. On average one park will open 1 hour early each day, strictly for guests stay at Walt Disney World resorts. In the evening one, or more of the parks will usually be open a few hours past public closing for WDW guests. This can often be until at least 1-2am during peak times of year. You will find that taking advantage of “Extra Magic Hours” can substantially decrease crowd levels, especially if you go at night.

I recommend that you TAKE A BREAK EACH DAY! Returning to your resort to take a nap, or a swim is so beneficial. You resort will have great amenities that you should not bypass. Taking a few hours each day to enjoy some family time, recharge yourself, and taking a break from the sun & crowds can make all of the difference in the world!

And lastly, enjoy yourself! Live in the moment! This is truly a magical place. You need to slow down as see it through your children’s eyes. This is not just any vacation, this is Disney World. You are building a family memory that will last a lifetime. Your children will always remember when Cinderella gave them a kiss, or when they got to have a light saber fight with Darth Vader. Don’t miss these moments. They are golden. Don’t get wrapped up in getting it all done, focus on enjoying what you are doing. If you miss a parade, there will be another one tomorrow. If you take the time to slow down and smell the roses you be surprised to find Tinkerbell sprinkling pixie dust on them.

tammie@alkartravel.com