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SPLIT STAYS AT DISNEY WORLD

10/16/2013

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Staying at 2 Different Resorts During Your Trip!

 

With all the wonderful resorts to choose from at Disney World, many of my clients find choosing a resort to be the hardest part of planning their trip!  Disney does such a fantastic job creating comfortable, fun and magical resorts at every price point that it can be really hard to choose just one!  Some of my clients decide not to choose—and they decide to stay at 2 different resorts during their trip.  Did you know that booking a stay at more than one Disney resort actually has an official name?  That’s right, it’s called a “split stay!” This is a really fun idea—it can save you $$$ and can really add some extra magic to your trip!   It takes some extra planning too, but don’t worry—your Dream Maker will handle all the details for you!

When is a Split Stay at Good Idea?

There are lots of reasons why my clients decide on a split stay.  I’ll share some of them here so you can see if a split stay might work for you!

Budget

For my clients who dream of staying at a deluxe Disney resort but don’t want to pay for a deluxe resort their whole trip, a split stay can make their dream a reality!  I have clients who begin their trips at a value or moderate resort, and then end their trips at a moderate or deluxe.  Some even try a villa for a couple of days!  The basic idea here is to balance the budget by staying at one less expensive resort and one more expensive resort for a few days each.

Variety

I work with many clients who go to Disney every year or so.  They’ve enjoyed the resorts they’ve tried so far and are eager to try as many Disney resorts as they can.  These clients love the idea of a split stay!     I have clients that want to see what it is like to stay near Epcot and be able to walk there from the Beach Club.  Other clients want to try a family suite at Art of Animation for a couple of nights.  I even have a friend who collects pins from each resort where she has stayed, and selects her split-stay resorts so she can add those pins to her lanyard!  Whatever the reason, trying different Disney resorts is a lot of fun!

Availability

Sometimes, my clients are disappointed because the resort they really want doesn’t have availability for their entire vacation.  This can be a good time to consider a split stay.  You can stay at your first choice resort when it is available, and try another one to complete the trip.

Pleasing all the people, all the time!

Does your daughter dream of a Royal Room at Port Orleans while your son wants to stay in a Pirate Room at Caribbean Beach? A split stay can make everyone happy!  I’m working with a client now who is considering starting her trip in a Little Mermaid room at Art of Animation to please her young daughter, then moving to a Cars Family Suite (also at Art of Animation) for the second half of the trip to please her son—and to have room for a grandparent who is joining them just for that part of the trip.

Meeting Family/Friends for Part of Your Trip

Are the grandparents or aunts/uncles/cousins joining you for part of the trip?  Adding more family to the vacation may change where you want to stay during that part of the trip.  In my family, it is important to stay nearer to the parks when the grandparents join us, and also to have more on-site dining options available to make it easier to get around. 

Late Arrivals

Sometimes, clients arrive into Orlando quite late on the first night of their stay.  They don’t want to pay a higher resort price just to sleep there!  In this situation, staying at a less expensive resort that night when you’ll only be sleeping there and not really enjoying the resort amenities can make a lot of sense and save you some money too.

These are all compelling reasons to consider a split stay at Disney World. 

Things to consider when booking a split stay:

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Two reservations

When you book a split stay, you’ll be making 2 separate reservations and you’ll get 2 separate confirmation numbers, and at travel time, you’ll have 2 sets of travel documents.  You’ll also need to make 2 separate deposits.  Your Dream Maker will help you with all these details, including making your Magical Express arrangements arriving into one resort and departing from the other.

Order of Resort Stays

Which resort comes first during your stay?  This is totally up to you, but I usually advise clients to stay at the nicer hotel last.  I also work with my clients to plan their park visits around the location of their resorts so they get the most from each location.

Moving From One Resort to the Other

Did you know that Disney will take care of this for you?  Yup!  All you need to do on the day you’re changing resorts is bring your bags to bell services  and tell them you’re moving resorts.  They will tag your bags for delivery to your next resort and give you luggage receipts so you can claim your bags there later.  Super easy, and you can get right to the park of your choice.  Later that day, take a Disney bus/monorail/boat to your new resort, check in and go to bell services to either claim your bags or ask that they be delivered to your new room.  Keep in mind this transfer can take a few hours, so pack what you’ll need for the day in your backpack.  Also, remember that you’ll need to plan some time into your schedule for packing and un-packing mid trip.  

Park Tickets and Dining

This is where a split stay can get tricky, but not to worry!  Your Dream Maker can help you sort through the choices, find the best deals and take care of the details.  Just keep in mind that if you want a Disney dining plan for both parts of your stay, you’ll need to book separate packages at each resort with room/tickets/dining so you can do so (because to get a dining plan, you must also purchase tickets).  

Of course, the reverse is also true, and a split stay can be really great for clients that don’t want to pay for a Disney dining plan for the whole length of their stay.  Remember, that Disney rules require you to have the same package components for the entire length of your stay.  To get around this, you can book a package with dining at just one of the resorts during your split stay!  There are lots of ways to plan this, so consult your Dream Maker for the best options for you.

So what do you think?  Would you like to try a split stay on your Disney trip?  All of us here at Mickey’s Dream Vacations can help you plan one so that you can save some money and enjoy the resorts of your dreams!  

By, Nancy Surridge, Dream Maker with Mickey’s Dream Vacations

nancy@mickeysdreamvacations.com

Facebook:  Mickey’s Dream Vacations by Nancy

845-369-4958 



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Save Up To 35% on Stays at Select Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

10/15/2013

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Walt Disney World Resort Savings January to April 2014

You can save up to 35%* at select Walt Disney World® Resort hotels for stays most nights Jan. 5 - March 5, 2014 and March 14 - April, 12, 2014!








 Save up to 35% at

·         Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts,

·         Disney's Beach Club Resort Villas,

·         Disney's BoardWalk Inn & Villas,

·         Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge (standard/pool view rooms),

·         Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa,

·         Disney's Polynesian Resort,

·         Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa,

·         Disney's Old Key West Resort,

·         Disney's Contemporary Resort and

·         Disney's Wilderness Lodge (standard/woods view)

Save up to 25% at

·         Disney's Coronado Springs Resort,

·         Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort,

·         Disney's Port Orleans - Riverside and

·         Disney's Fort Wilderness Cabins

Save up to 20% at

·         Disney's All-Star Sports Resort,

·         Disney's All-Star Music and

·         Disney's Pop Century Resort

Offer expires Dec. 31, 2013

Don’t Delay!  These offers will book up fast!

Contact Mickey’s Dream Vacations for assistance with booking your Disney World vacation!

Your Dream Maker will compare discounts to find the best deal for you!

* The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Length of stay requirements may apply. Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same room. Additional per adult charges apply if more than two adults per room. Advance reservations required. No group rates or other discounts apply.

Excludes 3-bedroom villas and campsites and is not valid at Disney's Art of Animation Resort – The Little Mermaid rooms or The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

Nancy Surridge
Dream Maker
845-369-4958
nancy@mickeysdreamvacations.com




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Santa Claus is Coming! 

10/14/2013

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Where to meet Santa in Disney World!

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Santa part of the meet and greets at the Main Street flag pole and he appears in Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. 

Epcot®
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the American Adventure pavilion during Holidays Around the World between Nov. 23-Dec. 30.   Santa’s from around the world will be in their respective countries telling stories of Christmas, including Father Christmas in the United Kingdom and Père Noël in France.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios®

Santa Goofy greets guests daily in Goofy’s Winter Wonderland on the Streets of America during theOsborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights now through Jan. 6.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park

Santa Goofy is also meeting daily at Goofy’s Wild Wonderland in Camp Minnie-Mickey with his pals Mickey and Minnie (dressed in their holiday attire).

Downtown Disney

At the Marketplace, you'll find Santa Claus waiting to greet you at his chalet in front of the World of Disney store. You can take your own pictures or use PhotoPass:

November 16, 2012 - December 24, 2012 (Santa Claus)

December 25, 2012 - December 27, 2012 (Santa Goofy)


Get a quote today to get started planning your holiday getaway!



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ALL ABOUT: Disney’s PIN Codes

10/10/2013

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Disney sometimes sends out postcards and emails that offer deeply discounted Walt Disney World resort rates to the recipient.  

These mailings include special codes that can give the recipient great savings on their Disney vacation!

Have you heard of the term “pin code,” but wondered what it was, exactly? Well, here’s the deal:    

A pin code is a discount offered by Disney that’s personal to the individual whose name it comes in.  To use the code

to take advantage of the discount on a new or existing booking, Disney will check to be sure that the name AND the address of the person using the offer

matches their records.  You can’t “share” a PIN code with a friend or family member, and you can’t “borrow” one either. 


When can you get a pin code? These codes come out several months prior to the promotions that Disney offers to the public and they are usually

room discounts or free dining offers. These special offers can be an indication of the kind of offers the general public will receive in the near future,

but they generally cover a broader span of dates. Also, room discounts under a pin code are often better and cover more room categories

than discounts offered to the general public. In the case of free dining, sometimes the only way to get this offer is via a PIN code. 

That’s why everyone wants to get a PIN code from Disney!


Can you ‘save’ your code until you’re ready to go to Disney?  Not quite.  Disney’s PIN code offers almost always include a specific window

of time during which you must book the offer, and a corresponding window during which you must travel.

How does Disney decide who will get a pin code?  I’m not sure anyone but the marketing gurus at Disney really know the answer to this. 

Looking at recent PIN code and public offers, you can begin to see that Disney’s marketing strategy is changing from what it has been in the past. 

In the past, Disney offered discounts to a broad group of consumers.  Today, Disney (like many other brands) is marketing directly to certain groups of consumers

rather than releasing lots of broad offers to the general public. Often Disney will target certain regions of the country, or certain neighborhoods of certain cities.  

All the data they collect at their websites and now with the Magic Bands helps Disney target their desired consumer.

Which resorts and room types are included in these offers? Disney is being cagey about what resorts and room types they include in all their offers. 

We are seeing more resorts and room types being excluded and we are seeing more limited quantities of rooms included in the offer---meaning Disney isn’t offering ALL

the rooms in a particular category, only some of them.  This is very frustrating for your and for us as your travel agents!  We think this is happening because

when PIN code offers come out, they do such a great job of selling rooms at resorts like Art of Animation and Port Orleans, that those rooms don’t “need” to be

included in the offers to the general public.  That’s why we are telling our clients to book these new offers quickly—because availability really is very limited!!

So, how do you get a PIN code from Disney?  Everyone has ideas about how to increase your chances of getting one.  

Most of these ideas include one basic principle:  Sign up at the Disney site!  Here are some others:

·         Go to Disneyworld.com and create an account.  

·         If you already have a Disneyworld.com account, make sure your profile includes your CURRENT address and the email address you are currently using. 

·         Check your SPAM folder for emails from Disney! 

Other great ideas to increase your chances of getting a PIN code include

·         requesting the FREE vacation planning video,

·         ordering customized Disney World maps and

·         signing up at DisneyStore.com. 

·         Disney Visa Cardholders frequently get great offers just before offers are given to the general public too.

Please don’t worry that having a trip already booked decreases your chances of getting a PIN code---this is NOT TRUE! 

My colleagues and I have some clients that get PIN codes all the time and we have lots of clients that have never gotten one.  Faith, Trust, Pixie Dust…and making sure you and your spouse are signed up at Disney.com with your current info can help!

What do you do if you’ve booked a trip with Mickey’s Dream Vacations and you get a PIN code in the mail or in your email? 

Call your Dream Maker with the 16 digit number in the offer along with the name and full address on the mailing.  We’ll apply the PIN to your booking and save you $$!

Are you one of the lucky ones?  Did you get a PIN code?  Email or call your Dream Maker at Mickey’s Dream Vacations today and we’ll help you use your code to save you money on your dream vacation!


Nancy Surridge

Mickey's Dream Vacations

Authorized Disney Vacation Planner

845-369-4958

nancy@mickeysdreamvacations.com
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Save up to $600 on your next Disney World Vacation!

10/9/2013

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Walt Disney World Play, Stay & Dine Jan 5-March 5 2014

Enjoy an unforgettable Walt Disney World® Resort vacation! Experience Disney Theme Park fun and excitement, stay right in the middle of the magic at a Disney Resort hotel and please your palate with delightful dining. 


Book with Mickey’s Dream Vacations and your Dream Maker will take care of every detail of your trip—at no additional cost!



Save up to $600 for a family of 4 on a 5-night/6-day room, ticket and dining plan package at select Disney Resort hotels for stays most nights January 5, 2014 through March 5, 2014.*

Book now through December 31, 2013!  Get a quote today! 

For example, purchase this 5-night/6-day package for a family of 4 that includes tickets, the
Disney Dining Plan and a standard room at a Disney Moderate Resort hotel—valid for stays most nights January 5 through January 8, 2014, January 12 through January 16, 2014 and January 20 through February 12, 2014—for just $2,606. That’s a savings of $600!

Or, save $400* (based on a family of four) on a 5-night, 6-day Walt Disney Travel Company Magic Your Way Package Plus Quick Service Dining at select Disney Value Resorts.

This special offer is valid for the Disney Resort hotels listed below.  We can customize a quote to fit you family’s needs. Other dining plans are also available.

Booking Dates:
Oct. 8 – Dec. 31, 2013

Travel Dates:
For stays most nights Jan. 5 – March 5, 2014. Subject to availability.

Don’t delay! With savings this huge, rooms will fill up fast!

Contact Mickey’s Dream Vacations for help booking your Disney World vacation!

Your Dream Maker will compare discounts to find the best deal for you!

* Sample package price based on 2 adults, one junior and one child for a 5-night/6-day
Magic Your Way room, ticket and dining plan package. Savings based on non-discounted price for the same package. The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Tickets are valid for one theme park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use. No group rates or other discounts apply. Advance reservations required.

Offer excludes campsites and 3-bedroom villas and is not valid at Disney's Art of Animation Resort or The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

Excludes alcoholic beverages and gratuities. Children ages 3-9 must order from children's menu if available. Some Table-Service restaurants may have limited or no availability at time of package purchase

Nancy Surridge

Mickey's Dream Vacations

Authorized Disney Vacation Planner

845-369-4958

nancy@mickeysdreamvacations.com





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