The Disney Strategy

I know, I know, its my second Disney post.  But, get used to it.  I love that place with a passion.  And not because I love to whirl around on Dumbo 18 million times with my kids.  The entire Disney concept immerses you in a world of near-perfect customer service.  Did you know that the employees, during their training, are told how to make magical moments happen?  They are TRAINED to do things that make incredible stories just for you and your family!  If you've had that happen to you while there, please post and tell your story.

My daughter and one of our favorite princesses

A-N-Y-H-O-O

The real reason that I am writing is because I know at least half a dozen families planning or contemplating a trip right now.  Many of them feel like their heads are going to explode with the details.

Disney seems to lose its magic somewhere between seeing the commercial where Cinderella's Carriage arrives at your front door and actually planning a trip to the Happiest Most Behemoth Place On Earth.  You feel slammed with details.  At the same time as you are trying to set a budget, you are thinking about where to stay, and that makes you wonder if you should drive, and that makes you think of rides, and which parks to go to, and how to meet Cinderella, and where to eat...bam!  ALL at one time. 

Let me help you.  I won't go into many details, because that would mean writing a book.  But let me give you the 4 Stages of Planning a Disney Trip.

1.  SET A BUDGET

We have several spreadsheets that come up with every possible scenario.  Staying on-site in a Disney hotel without the Dining Plan.  Staying on-site with Dining Plan.  Staying off-site but having to pay parking daily at the parks.  Staying off-site in a condo versus a hotel room.  We look up Disney Menus and get an idea of what our daily meals will cost.  We estimate (be realistic here) how much we will spend on souvenirs daily.  Typically, for us, a short 2-Park/3Day visit means staying off-site and buying our food.  Our longer Disney Extravaganzas end up being more cost-efficient when we stay on-site, somehow.  I don't know...spreadsheets don't lie. It seems very Un-Magical, but it takes your mind off that stuff when you are actually on vacation.  AND it will determine the next Stage.

2.  DETERMINE WHEN AND WHERE

Do NOT skip right to which meals to plan so that you can meet Mickey Mouse.  Don't do it, you hear me!  Stick with the boring things first!  Try to avoid Summer, but if you can't, try to go at the very beginning or tail end.  Especially if you are from Georgia, you can sneak in there in late May/early June before most schools are out and not have record high crowds.

Lots of websites and books can help you determine peak and slow seasons.  September and January/February are our favorites, and, yes, we are those naughty parents that pull our kids out of school.

Even during slow seasons, avoid all holidays.  President's Day may not be celebrated at your office, but it pushes Disney crowds to full capacity!  And, from personal experience, skip it the week of Mardi Gras.  APPARENTLY all of New Orleans escapes the crowds by destroying other people's peaceful Disney vacation...bitter...

Disney's Pop Century - An Economy Resort

This is the time to get online and research the different Disney Resort options, as well as any condo or hotel options in the surrounding area.  Its best to stay on-site for the entire experience, but nice hotels have to lure you away by offering very cheap rates for beautiful rooms and suites. If you are on a tight budget think off-site or Disney's Economy Resorts.

NOW....you can make that magical call to Disney and book your vacation!!!!!   You can also take a little breather before moving on to the next step.

3.  DETERMINE WHICH PARKS YOU WANT TO VISIT AND WHEN

Its important to have a strategy.  Again, it sounds stressful, but working it out on the front end will make your actual trip worth every penny!  There are 4 Disney Parks.  Magic Kingdom really deserves 2 days, if you can do it.  Epcot is a full day and alot of walking.  You may want to build in a Rest Day after Epcot.  Animal Kingdom closes at 5pm, so you have time to relax in the evening.  Hollywood Studios is not a full day if you have small kids.  There's alot of great stuff to do there for little ones, but its mostly geared toward pre-teens and older.

Really, it should be its own country

Our first time, we were overwhelmed by where to go.  SO, we made another spreadsheet:)  We listed all the rides in each park and rated them on which were our favorites.  It was obvious that we needed two days at MK and could maybe even cut out Hollywood Studios since our kids were really young.

Please, do yourself a favor, and make a schedule.  Disney is huge.  And you paid alot of money to be there.  And no one wants to use their brain on vacation.  Use your brain now.  Determining a schedule is also mandatory if you want to have sit down meals...

4.  MAKE YOUR DISNEY RESTAURANT RESERVATIONS

Sanaa

With so many Character Meals (where you meet princesses and other characters) and the surprising lack of sit down restaurants, you HAVE to reserve your seats ahead of time.  You can start calling 90 days before your trip. (Edit:  It is now 180 days!)  This is why having a schedule is important.  If you try to make reservations before determining which day you are in the park, your head will be liable to explode again.  Reservations go for non-character meals, as well.  Any sit down restaurant where the food is served to you needs a reservation.  Make a calendar with your top 2 or 3 options for each day, then make the call.   The Disney folks are wonderful to work with.  Please call before going online.  I once could not find ANYTHING available on a particular day.  That poor woman searched and searched for me, and found me a new, little-known restaurant outside Animal Kingdom called Sanaa.  It is now our absolute favorite Disney restaurant.

There you go!  You've planned your trip!  Was that so hard?  Of course, now there is forming a strategy for getting to all your rides once in the park, figuring out if you need a stroller, knowing what to bring into the park with you, etc., but that's small potatoes with  many online resources to help.  Plus, your local Yankee Peach is ALWAYS willing to give endless advice and thoughts on the matter...for free!