Vacation Silvanaparedes

For anyone planning a Disney World vacation it is vital that you know and understand their “seasons.” As with the rest of the world they do indeed have four distinct seasons, but Disney seasons are not based on climate. Rather they are based on statistics of vacationers’ habits and average attendance at the theme parks.

The four seasons are:

• Value Season

• Regular Season

• Peak Season

• Holiday Season

Timing is the key to a truly enjoyable Disney vacation. Attending during the peak seasons means you will spend an inordinate amount of time in the long lines and will pay top dollar for everything. Consider each season and then plan accordingly.

Value Season

The value season can be broken into three blocks of time:

• January 1 through mid-February

• All of September through the first week in October

• Thanksgiving Sunday through mid-December

The very best of the three is after the Thanksgiving weekend up to the week before Christmas.

Attendance is the lowest during the Value Season because of school schedules and winter weather. Hotel rates will be lower and better deals are available from Disney than at any other time of the year. Also keep in mind that with smaller crowds, you will spend less time in lines, and have more quality time to enjoy the parks.

Winter in Central Florida can be warm or freezing – sometimes within only a few hours of each other. Come prepared.

Regular Season

What is known as the regular season is broken into two blocks:

• Mid-April through August

• October through Thanksgiving Saturday

Summer is often the only time a family can plan a Disney World vacation. If that’s true in your case, the first two weeks of June and last two weeks of August will be the best choice.

Summer means not only larger crowds, but extremely hot days, and those pesky afternoon showers that seem to arrive like clockwork. A word of caution: if you have preschoolers or babies, avoid summer if at all possible.

Peak Season

Spring Break dictates the time of Disney’s Peak Season and it occupies one block of time:

• Mid-February through mid-April

Even though Spring Break draws incredible crowds (as does spring events of President’s Day week, Mardi Gras, and Easter) the weeks in early April usually have light attendance. March is the typical month for Spring Break. Factor these events into your pre-planning.

Holiday Season

This season means Christmas Magic at the Magic Kingdom with special decorations, shows, and activities. It takes in only one block of time:

• Mid-December through December 31

Many families have made Christmas morning at Disney World a family tradition. This, however, takes much pre-planning since most hotels fill up fast – both those on-site and off-site, and there will be few, if any, bargains. If the Christmas magic is what you’re looking for, visit during the post-Thanksgiving Value Season. The breathtaking decorations are all in place, but the crowds and prices will be much lower.

Trade Offs

As with anything there are trade-offs in choosing the off-seasons. The first is shorter hours. In the fall the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and MGM may close as early as 5 PM. The evening parade in the Magic Kingdom may only be scheduled on the weekends.

Refurbishing of many of the attractions takes place during the off-seasons and they may be closed. Again, it’s a trade-off. Check ahead and see if those closings will upset your plans. You will still be shaving about one-third off the time spent waiting in lines which means you’ll have more time to visit more attractions. If a few are closed, so what?

Weekends

Contrary to popular belief, weekends are often the slowest days because many people travel to and from Disney World on weekends. That means Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays are the busiest days. (The exception to this rule includes Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach and River Country, since they are popular with the locals who frequent them on the weekends.)

Hours

Operating hours can be tricky to keep up with as Disney World bases their opening and closing times on the crowds. If heavy crowds are expected, they open early and close late. If the crowds are lighter, the opposite is true.

A general rule of thumb is during summer and during holidays the theme parks stay open late – sometimes as late as 11PM or midnight. In the winter, the park closes around 6 or 7 PM.

On certain days, Disney will open the Magic Kingdom early to those staying at a Disney resort. If they expect larger than usual crowds, they may open the parks to everyone 30 to 60 minutes before the scheduled time. The key is: always arrive early.

Of course, that’s a rule that everyone knows – but the truth is, most don’t do it. An early arrival truly will maximize your time, as you may be standing at the end of Main Street while the other tens of thousands are still creeping along I-4 highway.

Keeping in mind the “seasons of Disney” as you plan, will ensure that your Disney World vacation will be a dream vacation. Not a nightmare.

If you are planning a Disney World vacation for you and your family then there are five key mistakes that you will want to avoid. They are not appreciating the size of the Resort, staying off property, not making dining reservations, trying to squeeze too much in and not doing any planning. Here’s how you can avoid making the same mistakes to make sure your family have a vacation they’ll remember forever.

1. It’s twice the size of Manhattan

Did you know that the Walt Disney World Resort is twice the size of Manhattan? Well you do now! The first mistake people make when heading out to Disney on vacation is that they expect it to be like Six Flags. They certainly get a shock when they arrive at the gates and discover that there are four themeparks, two waterparks, miniature golf, championship golf courses, a shopping village and more hotels and world class restaurants than you can shake a stick at.

2. Staying off property won’t work for everyone

Now some Disney World stalwarts will insist that you have to stay in a Disney World hotel to truly experience the magic. I have to disagree. There are advantages to staying on Disney property including free transportation to and from the theme parks and that Disney magic which extends to your hotel, right down to the shampoo!

But for some people staying off property can also have its benefits. If you have a large family then you will often find it cheaper to rent a private house than to try and squeeze into one hotel room. If you’re travelling on a budget then having your own kitchen can cut the cost of meals. You will of course need to factor in the cost of a rental car, parking at the themeparks and the time it will take you to travel to and from the parks.

3. If you want to eat then you need to book

If you do decide to stay on Disney property then you need to think about what you would like to eat and where. It’s no good to just turn up at a restaurant when you start to feel hungry, reservations need to be made 180 days in advance. Yes you read that right; Advanced Dining Reservations need to be made either by calling Guest Services or by heading to the Disney website six months before you travel.

4. Fourteen into seven just won’t go

People ask me why I continue to visit Walt Disney World year after year, and the answer is that after all this time I still haven’t seen everything there is to experience. One of the biggest mistakes people make is to try and cram everything into a seven day trip. The result? They end up worn out and grumpy and wonder why on earth they thought a Disney vacation was a good idea!

You need to accept that you will not see everything there is to see in one trip and instead make a list of your “must sees” and “must dos”.

5. Fail to plan and you could ruin your vacation

A trip to Disney World certainly isn’t cheap so I guess you’ve had to do some saving up to be able to take your family. So my question to you is; why would you spend thousands of a dollars on a vacation and then not spend some time researching the Resort and drawing up a list of things you really want to do?

The people who have the most amazing Disney vacations, and then want to return year after year, are those who enjoy planning their trips as much as they love taking them.

Any kind of “top 10″ list is bound to be subjective. There’s no way around it. It is impossible to account for everyone’s tastes and address every possible variable of a vacation and a resort. However, the following “Top 10 All-Inclusive Vacation Destinations” turn up again and again in listings on the Internet and in travel magazines, too. To make sure you are making the right choice, you should talk to as many people as you can who have actually been to the resort you are considering.

The idea of all-inclusive vacations is not that old, but it has caught on like wildfire because it takes much of the worry out of trip planning. It is not likely you could put together a vacation package for less than the “all inclusives” charge, but not everyone goes this route to save money. The high-end resorts of the all-inclusive variety are pricey, but there are also some bargains to be bad if you do not expect five-star amenities at three- or four-star prices. The following are not in any particular order, but many are clustered in the Caribbean because of its longstanding popularity.

1. Goldeneye Resort, St. Mary, Jamaica: James Bond fans have made the Goldeneye a top pick in many resort listings. This Jamaican retreat was built by Bond novelist Ian Fleming in the 1950s and he is said to have written 14 of his “007″ thrillers there. The “short report” on Goldeneye is that it is “a magical place” that provides simple luxury along with carefree, casual comfort. Many celebrities flock to this spot for the privacy, and Goldeneye’s main beach is clean, uncrowded and private with fluffy white sand and warm, crystalline waters. The 007 cachet, great privacy, good food and fabulous grounds combine to make Goldeneye a favorite all-inclusive resort.

2. Sandals Royal Bahamian, Bahamas: As a chain, the Sandals Resorts have been voted “World’s Best” for the past 10+ years by travel professionals worldwide. Many longtime travel agents, who should know, believe that Sandals does “all-inclusive” better than anyone, and they should – they invented it. Sandals does everything with an unsurpassed emphasis on quality, so it is by no means a “budget” destination. This particular Sandals resort – with its offshore island, eight restaurants, seven pools, valet service and Rolls-Royce airport shuttles – will meet the demands of the most discriminating travelers.

3. Sandals Antigua Resort & Spa, Antigua: Situated on Dickenson Bay, the island’s premier (and most famous) beach, this is the chain’s “romantic getaway.” It offers Caribbean village charm plus the refinement and luxury of a world-class, all-inclusive resort, and was voted the “World’s Leading Honeymoon Resort” for four straight years. Crystal clear air and winding paths welcome you to hidden hammocks for the happy twosome.

4. Secrets Excellence, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic: Situated far from city crowds on a remote portion of Caribbean shoreline – in its own palm tree forest, no less – Secrets Excellence has everything from live stage shows, hot and happy Latin American music for dancing, a casino and horseback rides on the beach. It is perhaps the perfect adult playground, with two giant pools featuring swim-up bars a world-class spa/fitness center for workouts or relaxing massages. The resort is an adults only destination with a perfect beach and plenty to do – or not.

5. Gala Resort, Mayan Riviera, Mexico: This classically Mexican getaway is truly different, unique in every way, and proud of it. Gala offers an unparalleled vacation adventure, and its staff is committed to your enjoying your stay beyond all expectations. Featuring deluxe accommodations, attentive service, superlative dining, and activities for guests of all ages, the Gala Resort is a world-class destination that will be everything you expect, and probably more.

6. Beaches Negril, Negril, Jamaica: Set on 20 lush, jasmine-scented acres, on a prime stretch of Negril’s world-famous, seven-mile beach, this resort is both charmed and charming. You are immediately enveloped in the awesome natural splendor, and when you factor in the gourmet dining, creative activities and first-class amenities, you just might think you’ve found paradise on earth.

7. Franklyn D Resort, Runaway Bay, Jamaica: The Franklyn D Resort wins many recommendations based on its family-friendly atmosphere and layout. This, in fact, is the resort that invented the “vacation nanny,” who will look after you, your kids and your suite. The “FDR” is small and intimate, while still offering every amenity and doing so in a world-class manner. The resort has a special kids’ buffet, decent adult food, an average beach and modest suite furnishings. In many visitors’ opinions, the vacation nanny and staff make up for any and all shortcomings.

8. Royal Hideaway, Playacar, Mexico: This is a small gem of a resort with just 178 rooms, but there is a full activities program on a gorgeous, first-class property. Six restaurants, complete concierge service and doting poolside attendants bring a touch of luxury to the surroundings, and the champagne at check-in time signals you are in the right place. The stunning beach and the “seriously five-star” food service round out the attractions. “Classy and relaxing” is the way one reviewer described it. Although the whole family is welcome, the resort does cater to couples.

9. Harmony Club, Bermuda: The traditional Bermudan “cottage-style” architecture communicates intimacy at this private country resort. In a fabulous setting of exquisite gardens, this classic resort is near Bermuda’s famed beaches, accessible to Hamilton’s shops and nightspots, and boasts an abundance of elegance and a complete list of the expected amenities. Not too large, not too small, many guests have concluded that Harmony Club is “just right.”

10. Iberostar Bavaro, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic: This is another all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana with high ratings from guests and good write-ups at the travel sites. The complex is dotted with buffets and restaurants, with cuisines from around the world. The disco is designed to emulate a DC6 airplane, with the nose acting as the DJ booth and the wings serving as the bars. Many visitors claim the Iberostar Bavaro has the best beach in the country, with flawless white sand and bright, turquoise waters. The individual villas are ensconced in lagoons with gardens overflowing with tropical flowers and palms. There are nine restaurants and a cozy casino, to boot.