Vacation Planning Tips

(try saying that title five times fast!)

You came to Orlando to go to the parks. You thought you and your party might just arrive at the gate and buy a ticket for the day, and then see what mood grabs you tomorrow?

Well, that's one way of doing it. However, as we've mentioned elsewhere, tickets will be one of your big costs for your trip. If you can save some money here, it might be well worth your time. So how do you save money on tickets?

1. Plan Ahead Ok, ok. True confession? I do make a spreadsheet and plan our activities day-by-day. It's color coded. It has our restaurant picks. It has the parade schedules and fireworks times. (No, it does not plan out a walking path thru the parks, thank you very much! =)

   We post that spreadsheet on the refrigerator door (What? Your hotel doesn't have a fridge? tsk...tsk) and then ... we mostly don't follow it. Consider that plan the "soft" plan. Yes, we have reservations, but we can cancel. Yes, we've planning on hitting EPCOT on Tues, but we can switch.

   The point is, we know ROUGHLY how many days we'll be at the parks, so we can buy tickets that minimize the cost. Why? Because per day costs go down for every day you add to your ticket.

2. Plan Ahead, Pt. 2 If you know you'll be coming back to Disney (and I'm smiling as I write this -- you may not think you'll be back, but truly, it's that much fun!), you might consider this: Disney raises their prices every year. So?

   You can buy tickets that don't expire.

   That means you can buy a 5 day ticket, and if you use four days, the fifth will be good next month, next quarter, next year, next decade (ok, you get the point). Is that good? It's $64/day for a 5 day ticket, but $48/day for a 10 day ticket.

3. Plan Ahead, Pt. 3 If you decide you may be back this year, you may consider whether an Annual Pass may work for you. Annual Passes allow entrance to the parks year round. They're more expensive up front, but depending on the number of days you'll be at the parks, it may be cost-effective (plus annual passholders receive other benefits, such as free parking).

   Ok, are you ready for some options?

4. Options Now that you know how many days you'll be spending at the parks, consider which of the following options you want to attach to your ticket:

   * Park Hopper® option
   * Water Park Fun, & More option
   * Park Hopper® AND Water Park, Fun & More option
   * No Expiration option

5. Park Hopping Confused yet? Hang on, there are a few more options! If your plans call for moving between one park and another in the same day, you'll need to buy tickets with the Park Hopper option ($52 plus tax per ticket). That's nice, if you want to see a fireworks show or have dinner reservations in another park. If you can avoid park hopping, however, you don't need to buy that option.

6. More Fun Than ... Disney has other attractions too, and rather than pay at the gate, you can add a number of these admissions to your ticket. This ticket will still be used for the number of days on the ticket to enter the 4 major Disney parks, but you will also receive EXTRA ADMISSIONS, which can be used at the following attractions;

   • Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
   • Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park
   • Disney's Wide World of Sports® Complex
   • DisneyQuest® Indoor Interactive Theme Park
   • Disney's Oak Trail Golf Course (a relaxed nine-hole walking course)

   The number of extra admissions differs depending on the number of days your ticket is good for. Here's a breakdown;

   • 3 Day ticket – 3 EXTRA ADMISSIONS
   • 4 Day ticket – 4 EXTRA ADMISSIONS
   • 5 Day ticket – 5 EXTRA ADMISSIONS
   • 6 Day ticket – 6 EXTRA ADMISSIONS
   • 7 Day ticket – 7 EXTRA ADMISSIONS
   • 10 Day ticket – 10 EXTRA ADMISSIONS

   The "Water Park Fun & More" extra admissions DO NOT have to be used on the same day you visit the 4 major Disney parks. For example, if you purchase a 4 day ticket with the "Water Park Fun & More" option, you will have 4 days to visit the 4 major Disney parks, plus 4 extra admissions that can be used on separate days, resulting in a total of 8 DAYS of fun. However, unless you purchase the "No Expiration" option, the ticket will expire 14 days after the first day of use.

Confused? Fear not - our intrepid reservations staff is here to help. Call them now at (800) 571-2410.

This summer at SeaWorld, the nights are cooler and the atmosphere is hotter! SeaWorld AfterDark transforms daytime favorites into nighttime spectacles.

SeaWorld AfterDark showcases the park in a whole new light, with a nighttime rock n' roll extravaganza, a high-energy Shamu show, a hilarious sea lion show and a mystifying fireworks finale. That's in addition to being able to experience all that's awesome day and night, like Manta, up-close animal encounters and spectacular shows. SeaWorld AfterDark begins May 29 and continues through August 15.

Whether day or night, SeaWorld is the place to be this summer for a one-of-a-kind experience, including:

MANTA
Experience what it’s like to spin, glide, skim and fly with the largest of rays when riding Manta – by moonlight, an even more extraordinary sensation. A seamless blend of up-close animal encounters with a head-first, face-down flying roller coaster thrill ride, Manta is an adventure only SeaWorld could create.

SHAMU ROCKS
Shamu Rocks is a spectacular rock ’n roll killer whale show that wows audiences of all ages. This show is a high-energy concert of unprecedented proportions, combining awe-inspiring killer whales with a stunning light show and music from some of the hottest rock stars in the industry.

SEA LIONS TONITE
SeaWorld’s popular sea lion comedic duo takes the laughs into the night. Hilarious hijinks ensue in this evening show as the park’s talented sea lions, otters and walrus parody other favorite SeaWorld shows and attractions.

REFLECTIONS: FIREWORKS AND FOUNTAIN SHOW FINALE
SeaWorld comes to life in a spectacular celebration of soaring fountains and dazzling fireworks. Through the thrilling and inspirational music of SeaWorld’s most popular shows, families and friends will experience a wondrous connection that lights the night like never before.

Where to stay, where to stay?
One of the first decisions you'll need to make as you plan your trip to Walt Disney World is where to stay. Orlando boasts a lot of choices here (including a few from Disney itself), so let's see if we can help make the decision a little easier.

First Things First
Whether you're a Disney veteran or a first-timer, you probably have some idea of what this vacation is going to be like. Is this a weekend dash with a few friends, a romantic first/second/third honeymoon (Orlando is in the top three destinations for honeymooners!), or the family vacation to beat all family vacations? Take just a moment, and think about the answers to the following questions:

• What is my budget?
• How far in advance am I planning?
• How many people are in my party and what are their ages?
• Do we want to all stay together in one room or suite or villa?
• What hotel amenities are important to me?
• Will I have a car?
• Will I be spending most of my time visiting Disney attractions, or will I be visiting non-Disney attractions too?

On again, off again
Some reviewers make a big deal of the on-property/off-property distinction. Here's our take -
During the planning stages of Disney World, Disney began to experiment with building and running their own hotels. Today, 24 are owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company. Grouped into three levels (Deluxe, Moderate, and Value), they range from sprawling resort (Grand Floridian) to campground (Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground).

"Well, gee," you ask, "wouldn't everyone want to stay ON site at a Disney hotel?"

We're glad you asked!

Some Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Choice
On-site Advantages:

* Getting to and from the parks is generally easier.
* Immersed in Disney Magic 24 hours a day.
* Disney resorts offer wonderful theming.
* Priority on tee times on Disney golf courses.
* Room-charge privileges throughout WDW.
* Merchandise delivery to your Disney hotel.
* Magical Express transportation to/from airport to WDW Resort at no charge
* Able to purchase Disney Dining Plan.

On-site Disadvantages:

* Rooms are more expensive.
* Availability of budget-priced rooms is limited, especially at the last minute.
* Dining is generally more expensive.
* Getting to and from area's non-Disney attractions may be more difficult.
* Going from resort to resort relying on Disney Transportation can be long and/or a hassle.

Off-site Advantages:

• Generally better/larger accommodations for the same or a lower price.
• Better access to restaurants, shopping and other non-Disney attractions.
• NOT immersed in Disney Magic 24 hours a day.
• In a villa, full kitchen/full laundry can mean $$$ savings.
• Many off-site hotels offer discounts to non-Disney attractions and restaurants.

Off-site Disadvantages:

• On peak holidays, parking lot(s) at WDW might be closed.
• Off-site guests must pay for parking at Disney theme parks if they drive unless they have an Annual Passport.