Hi, there!
Autumn, I am just thrilled to hear you're planning a visit to the
Walt Disney World Resort. You've come to the right place for tips and advice. We'd love to help you plan a magical stay!
To start, I recommend exploring
Disney Resort Hotel Packages. Staying at a
Disney Resort hotel will keep your family immersed in the magic of Disney storytelling even when you're not in the theme parks! With over 25 Disney Resort hotels to choose from, you're bound to find the perfect fit for your family's unique needs, interests, and budget. Your most affordable options will be the Value Resorts. My favorite hotel in this category is
Disney's Pop Century Resort. Your 12-year old will appreciate this unique hotel's larger-than-life nods to pop culture, and your little one will love the character theming in the room! When I'm planning my family's Disney vacations, I like to compare vacation offers to help me decide on the right package. To do this, begin by adding a Disney Resort hotel stay to your online cart. Once you have the hotel added, you can select a ticket package. When you view your cart, you'll see the option of adding up to two additional vacation packages, and then you see them side by side for comparison!
After you've settled on the right Disney Resort Hotel Package for your family, I recommend completing the booking process. To book your vacation package, you only need a $200 deposit. The balance doesn't need to be paid in full until 30-days prior to your arrival! Booking your vacation package now would give you several months to work on saving for the balance and additional expenses like souvenirs and meals.
While the balance of your Disney Resort Hotel Package isn't due until 30-days ahead of your stay, you may make payments towards your balance, in any amount, at any time. Making monthly or biweekly payments towards your balance will certainly help whittle it down in manageable chunks. You can make payments online by logging in to your
My Disney Experience account and clicking on the "Make a Payment" link that's just below your confirmation number. You can also call the Reservation Team at (407) 939-1936 if you would prefer to make payments over the phone. A friendly Cast Member there will be happy to assist you!
One money-saving trick that I love is purchasing
Disney Gift Cards. You can often get a significant discount on Disney Gift Cards if you purchase them from warehouse club stores like Sam's Club or Costco. At Target, RedCard holders can save 5% off the purchase of Disney Gift Cards! What seems like a small savings there can really add up, and every little bit helps, right? My dear friend and fellow Panelist,
Kristen, has some great tips about buying and using Disney Gift Cards. Be sure to check them out!
I hope this was helpful, Autumn. When you're ready to use My Disney Experience to make
dining reservations and daily itineraries, come back and see us! We're happy to answer any new questions you may have!
Ashley