Sure, you like Disney and all, and all your friends contact you every time they plan a Disney vacation for tips and tricks, but are you obsessed with Disney?
Signs you are obsessed with Disney
You always dress as a Disney character for Halloween, and usually have your costume picked out months in advance.
You have a Disney themed phone case.
You get personally offended when anyone compliments a theme park other than Disney.
Your profile picture is you with a Disney character
You have a Disney tattoo (or two, or three)
You have a Dole Whip scented air freshener in your car
You have a Disney character as a spirit animal
You once had a friend that went to Disney and didn’t get a Dole Whip. They aren’t your friend anymore.
Your only bucket list item is visiting every single Disney theme park
You own a Disney coffee mug (or two, or three)
When you go to karaoke, it is a Disney song or bust
Every single one of your favorite foods can only be found at Disney
Your pet is named after a Disney character
You have more Disney themed clothes than regular clothes
You still own all of your Disney VHS tapes
You know all the lyrics to both Pirates of the Caribbean and “it’s a small world”
Your ringtone is a Disney song
You see Hidden Mickeys on a daily basis, regardless of where you are
You own a Disney antenna topper
Your license plate cover is from Disneyland
You have a Disney themed room in your house (or two, or three)
You wouldn’t date someone if they didn’t love Disney as much as you
You haven’t actually use a Disney map in a long time, but insist on bringing home copies after each trip
You own Mouse Ears (or two, or three)
You have a Disney countdown calendar for your next Disney trip
Your retirement involves working for Disney
You have a Disney sticker on your car (or two, or three)
You have mailed yourself a postcard from Castaway Cay or one of the Disney parks
You think anything Mickey shaped tastes better
You learned Spanish by riding the monorail
You can tell the difference between Chip and Dale
You own Disney themed pajamas
You check your Disney app for wait times, even when you are just sitting at work
You insist on calling all the Walt Disney World resorts and theme parks by their original names (Hello Dixie Landings!)
You know where all the ride cameras are located
It doesn’t matter where you are in the Magic Kingdom, you will only use the Tangled bathrooms in Fantasyland
You have planned a new Disney trip while on a Disney trip
You have a collection of unused FastPasses
You have called one of your kids by the name of a Disney character
All of your family photos are from Disney vacations
You have been on all four Disney cruise ships
You know how to correctly pronounce Castaway Cay
You have considered moving to Orlando, more than once
You have a Disney cookbook (or two, or three)
At work, people just know you as the “Disney Lady”
You have a Disney themed email address
You are annoyed at non-Disney hold music
You always wonder “what would I be doing if I was at Disney right now?”
People have quit asking you were you are going on vacation
You change the theme of your Disney VISA card every few months
Everyone loves a good deal, and lately with Disney Cruises, they have been hard to come by. If you ignore the “discounts” like half off your Disney Cruise deposit (you still have to pay the other half, just later on rather than right now), Disney Cruise discounts have been nonexistent since Fall, 2013. Plus, it looks like Disney Cruise won’t be releasing discounts any time soon, so any way you can save money when you book your Disney Cruise is welcome.
Please note, if you are a Florida Resident or qualify for Military discounts, Disney has been releasing weekly discounts for you. These cruises are usually short notice (less than 2 months), but the discounts can be pretty decent. Check with us over at Mouseketrips, we would be happy to check on those discounts for you if you qualify.
So, while there are not any discounts coming anytime soon (safe assumption), how do you get the best deal?
Book your Disney Cruise Early
By far the best way to get the lowest price on a Disney Cruise is took book as early as you possibly can. Today, Disney Cruise Line announced their Fall 2017 itineraries, and they will be available to book starting tomorrow, Wednesday, May 25, for both Gold and Platinum Castaway Club Members. On Thursday, May 26 all of the new cruises will be made available to the general public. So, if you are thinking about one of those new Fall cruises, get it booked this week.
Let me explain. Each cruise has a limited number of staterooms available. They can’t add more if the cruise is really popular. The Disney Dream and Fantasy have about 1,250 staterooms they can sell each cruise. Rather than just setting a price for the cruise and every pays the same price, Disney Cruise has tiered pricing. The first 100 or so (that number is made up) staterooms that are booked are in tier 1 pricing, which is the cheapest. Once they reach the limit of tier 1 rooms, then the prices of every stateroom onboard go up to tier 2 pricing, and the dance starts over again. Once their sell another 200 staterooms (again, a made up number), the price goes up, and so on. The price increase can be significant. Not only do the prices keep increases as the ship fills, Disney never goes backwards, the prices never drop.
So, what you want to do is book as early as you possible can, and there are several reasons why you should book early.
Why you should book your Disney Cruise Early
You get the best price. Booking early guarantees you the best price available. If you wait a few weeks, the price may or may not go up, but it definitely will not go down. Book early and then feel fantastic during those elevator rides while everyone is talking about how much they had to spend since they booked last minute.
You get your choice of staterooms. Once a cruise starts booking and staterooms fill up, it gets harder and harder to get the category and stateroom you want. Even connecting rooms, especially on the two older ships, get nearly impossible to find. Book early, you can have your choice of just about any stateroom.
Main Dining. Main, or early dining, is very popular. If you must eat ever day between 4:30, then you definitely don’t want to get stuck with second dining, which starts around 8PM each night. Your tummy is not going to be very happy with you. Main dining fills up quickly, and once full, you just have to hope someone cancels and you get lucky and get their spot.
Refundable Deposit. While Disney Cruise has a pretty strict cancellation policy, as long as you cancel before the penalty period starts, you get every single penny of your deposit back. So, book today and even if you have to cancel in a year, you aren’t out any money. Make sure you are fully aware of your final cancellation date, as they vary by cruise, and can be anywhere between 75 and 120 days before sailing. Triple check in and have it on your calendar. It is usually the day your final balance is due, but not always. You can see a rough outline of important dates for your Disney Cruise here, but don’t rely on it, ask your travel agent: Important Dates when Booking a Disney Cruise
Just that much more time to plan! I feel sorry for the saps that book a cruise two weeks before hand, they don’t get any anticipation time to enjoy it!
If possible, get that cruise planned ASAP, there isn’t one reason why you should wait. Well, if you are military or a FL resident, and you are only going on the cruise if you see a discount, then wait and see. For the rest of you, you don’t have any reasons.
The Deluxe Villa resorts at Walt Disney World are a strange lot. Since they are technically Disney timeshare resorts, most of the people who stay there are owners, or guests of owners. A few people are normal Walt Disney World guests that stay there by paying for their room just like any other Walt Disney World resort. The deluxe villa resorts, for the most part, offer studio, one and two bedroom villas (most have a very limited number of three bedroom villas). If you have a larger group and want to stay in one “room”, the villas are exactly what you are looking for. In addition to the size, you also get a full kitchen in the one bedroom villas and larger (the studios all have a kitchenette). The one bedroom and larger villas also have in-room laundry facilities as well as a living room. If you are just looking for a place to sleep, I would take a look at a Value resort, it may fit your needs and budget a bit better. But if you are looking for comfort, convenience and class, the deluxe villa resorts are the way to go.
What is My Favorite Disney World Deluxe Villa Resort?
This is a hard one. I have stayed at every Deluxe Villa resort at Walt Disney World, with the exception of the new Polynesian Bungalows. They are spendy, and I am having a hard time rationalizing spending $2,000 per night for a hotel room at Disney. I have been in the Bungalows, and they are stunning. Based on the room alone I would recommend them, if you have the cash, but they are so expensive they are excluded from my top spot.
I narrowed my choice down to three options, Beach Club Villas, Bay Lake Tower and the Villas at the Grand Floridian. All three are great options, and for my family, the Beach Club Villas is usually the choice since it ticks most of our boxes, but personally, my favorite Deluxe Villas resort is Bay Lake Tower.
Walt Disney World Deluxe Villa Options
At Walt Disney World, there are 10 deluxe villa options (plus surely more coming), so choosing the best one is not easy:
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village and Jambo House: Escape on your own African safari adventure at this magnificent Resort hotel. Inspired by the traditional African kraal, the horseshoe-curved design offers exquisite views of lush savannas—where over 30 species of African wildlife freely roam. Delight in dazzling pool areas, exciting animal programs and all the comforts of home in our spacious Studios and multi-bedroom Villas.
Disney’s Saratoga Springs: Inspired by historic Saratoga Springs—a late-1800s’ New York retreat famous for its spas and horse racing—this charming, Victorian-style Resort hotel is nestled between rolling golf course greens and the shimmering Village Lake. Delight in stately Studios and multi-bedroom Villas, dazzling pools and a spa. You can also explore the fun activities and exciting dining options of Disney Springs, just a boat ride away.
Disney’s Old Key West: Experience the romance of the Florida Keys at this tranquil community of Conch Flats—a sprawling island hamlet with shimmering waterways, swaying palm trees and manicured golf-course fairways. Delight in sun-soaked pools, casual dining and such amenities as fully equipped kitchens or kitchenettes. A peaceful tropical paradise, Disney’s Old Key West Resort is also just a boat ride away from the excitement of Disney Springs
Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge: Recalling the 1860’s railroad hotels of the American West, The Villas offer the comforts of home amid the rustic beauty of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Dine on traditional Pacific Northwest cuisine, explore trails through lush meadows and delight in the enchanting Silver Creek Springs Pool. Just a breezy boat ride to Magic Kingdom park, this Resort hotel celebrates the ethos of traditional craftsmanship and the great outdoors.
Disney’s Boardwalk Villas: Timeless elegance meets old-fashioned charm at this waterfront Resort hotel. Delight in saltwater taffy-colored cottages, private courtyards and picturesque gardens—plus the ragtime sounds and carnival pastimes of the exciting Coney Island-style boardwalk. Reminiscent of turn-of-the-century Atlantic City, Disney’s BoardWalk Villas is located within walking distance to both Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Disney’s Beach Club Villas: Leisure, elegance and romance abound at this charming New England-style beach hotel—in easy walking distance to Epcot and a boat ride to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Enjoy the pools, spas and lagoons of Stormalong Bay, and the many amenities shared with Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts.
Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows: Escape to an enchanting oasis of swaying palms, white sandy beaches and tropical surroundings that evokes the languid spirit of the South Pacific. Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows makes its home at one of the original—and legendary—Walt Disney World Resort hotels.
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort: Warm luxury meets modern elegance at this lakeside Resort hotel just walking distance to Magic Kingdom park. Delight in Studios and multi-bedroom Villas, kitchens or kitchenettes and dramatic views that may include old-growth cypress trees, the shimmering Bay Lake, the lush courtyard or Cinderella Castle. Enjoy white-sand beaches, enchanting pools and award-winning dining—plus the extensive offerings of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, connected by the convenient Sky Way Bridge.
The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort: Revel in Victorian-style splendor and enjoy the comforts of home at this elegant Disney Resort hotel. Stay in a stately deluxe studio or multi-bedroom villa. Indulge in a luxurious massage at the full-service spa. Unwind on the beach as fireworks light up the sky over Cinderella Castle. Just one stop to Magic Kingdom park on the complimentary Resort Monorail, this timeless marvel evokes Palm Beach’s golden era.
In addition, Disney is currently building additional units and on water cabins at the Wilderness Lodge. Once finished the current Villas at Wilderness Lodge will be renamed Boulder Ridge Villas while the new villas and bungalows will be named Copper Creek Villas & Cabins. There will be two separate resorts at Wilderness Lodge, similar to Animal Kingdom Lodge.
What Makes Bay Lake Tower Special
Bay Lake Tower Bedroom
Location, location, location. Bay Lake Tower is built between the Contemporary Resort and the Magic Kingdom. Most rooms have a fantastic view of either the Magic Kingdom or Bay Lake. Unless Disney someday builds a resort inside the Magic Kingdom or Epcot, I can’t imagine a better spot for a resort.
Transportation Options. So many options. You can easily walk directly to the Magic Kingdom in just a few minutes. You can also grab the resort monorail to go to the Magic Kingdom or Epcot right in the lobby of the Contemporary. There is also bus service that will take you just about anywhere on property and a boat launch that serves the Magic Kingdom as well as the Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness. Especially when you are in the Magic Kingdom at night, it is so nice to have multiple options to get home. If you aren’t dead, walk home in just a few minutes. Feeling tired? Take the monorail or a boat back for a leisurely ride. If you are staying elsewhere, you may be reliant upon the buses, and those lines can get LONG once the park closes.
The Rooms. The rooms at Bay Lake are different than any other deluxe villa resort. Since the building is somewhat of a semi-circular tower, the rooms that face outward are fan shaped, so the area where the windows and balcony are located are huge. This makes for great views in all directions. Plus, the decorating and feel of the rooms is just spectacular. Each two bedroom villa features an extra bathroom in the living room area, which is great if you have anyone that has to sleep on the fold out couch or chair in the main room, they have their own bathroom.
What are the downsides of Bay Lake Tower?
Bay Lake Tower is not perfect, it does have a few drawbacks:
Studio rooms: In deluxe villa resorts, the two bedroom villas are made up of a one bedroom villa and a studio combined. When you have a 2 bedroom villa, that second bedroom (studio) isn’t perfect, but it is just fine. However, if you rent just a studio, beware that it is TINY! They have built out a kitchenette/closet area in the room, and past that there is usually a queen bed and a fold out couch. Once you fold out the couch, there is basically no walking or storage room for anything, it feels much smaller than a value resort room. If you are thinking of a studio at Bay Lake, just pass, and book a standard room at the Contemporary, they are usually about the same price and are much better.
Decor: While I love the decor at Bay Lake, I can understand that it isn’t for everyone. Since it is associated with the Contemporary Resort, the decor is on the contemporary side. If you want more traditional decor, you can’t beat the Villas at the Grand Floridian, they are down right stunning inside.
Cost: The deluxe villas are pretty expensive if you are paying for them (even if you are an owner). They are never a way to save money for a larger group, and you will pay deluxe prices, these are deluxe villa resorts after all. A two bedroom villa is usually in the $1,000 – $1,500 per night range, so a week stay there is not cheap.
Bay Lake Tower Kitchen
While I would be more than happy staying at any Deluxe Villa resort, if given the choice, I would stay at Bay Lake Tower just about every time.
Have you stayed at Disney’s Bay Lake Tower?
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