The first thing you have to do when you go on a trip is choose the dates, of course. Walt Disney World Resort is overflowing with promotions, so I keep an eye on them regularly to get my hands on the famous deal that interests me most. This time, I had the meal cards that gave me a credit of US$50 per night. I loved it. It’s often what guides me for my dates. However, there’s also the child aspect. When you travel with them, school vacations can come into play, and let me reassure you, even outside school vacations, there are always a ton of kids around…
Bear in mind that there are all kinds of promotions all year round, and we can apply them even after you’ve booked (subject to eligibility criteria). Isn’t that magic? So don’t just stop at that when choosing when to go to the Walt Disney World Resort.
Another thing I pay attention to is the current event: is it Christmas, Halloween, a particular festival at EPCOT, a princess race, etc.? An event I want to attend or avoid at all costs because of the crowds. This year, I absolutely wanted to experience Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom park, so I chose my stay based on this aspect. However, there was one thing I hadn’t thought of… the weather!
In August, the heat is overwhelming and the humidity can curl even the straightest hair, I swear. It’s hard to tolerate, which makes it hard to enjoy the moment. In the afternoon, I was unable to stay in the park and would return to the hotel to enjoy the pool. When I say extreme heat, it’s not just on the body, it’s in the shoes too. It feels like your feet are burning on the asphalt. Even in the evenings, I’ve missed a few shows due to the heat and accumulated fatigue. In short, in my experience, my favorite times of the year are November and February.
Once the date is chosen, you call your favorite consultant. As for me, for my personal travels, I book my flights and then my hotel with the park days. As soon as that’s done, I start building my Excel budget file, because I like to control my spending and make sure I get the most for my money. In my experience, I always end my vacations within $100 of my estimate, and I’m very happy with that! In this file, you’ll find everything: my flights, my suitcases, my hotel, my choice of parks, meals, souvenirs, transportation and even my dog’s daycare! That way, no unpleasant surprises! I’m happy to share it with any of my customers who want it. *Just click on the Get a Quote button and ask for my file, and I’ll be happy to share it with you*.
In the same Excel file, I prepare my weekly meal planner. I choose all my restaurants in advance and even look at each one’s menu to see what I’m going to order. I make a note of it and leave with my personal menu for the week, which I carry with me throughout the trip.
This is an excellent practice for several reasons. Firstly, I know in advance what I’m going to eat, so I know how much I’m going to spend. Secondly, when I’m there, I already know what I’m going to order, so I save time, and if it’s “quick service”, I can use the “mobile order” earlier in the day, so I save even more time! Finally, all too often we eat large quantities just because we’re hungry when we order, so we want everything on the menu. This doesn’t happen when you’re ready, because you don’t even have to look at the menu to be tempted. This way, you avoid a hard blow to your stomach and wallet. Try
not to fall asleep in a line-up when you’ve eaten like there’s no tomorrow…
It also makes for slightly healthier choices. In my next article, I’ll share my menu and my culinary experiences.
When my budget is ready, I look at the restaurants I’ll need to book 60 days in advance and put them in my diary as a reminder. Most of the time, I choose a maximum of 3 restaurants with table service. That’s enough for me, because it takes up too much time in my day. I prefer fast food. Reminders in my calendar ensure that I don’t miss the
booking window for the most popular restaurants.
In your case, you’re in luck because your advisor is doing this follow-up for you and won’t forget you! I’ll even help you make reservations if needed.
A month before I leave, I make a list for my suitcase to see if I’m missing anything.
As I only travel with hand luggage, I often need to buy small items, so my list ensures I don’t forget anything. I use the compression cubes to store my clothes and save space, it’s great!
Finally, throughout the year, I keep up to date with what’s going on locally, changes, new products, special offers, and so on. I love this part of my job, both for myself and for my customers.
I make the rounds of the official Walt Disney World sources that we receive daily, then of the social networks and the best Youtubers, which enables me to give the best service but also to enrich my knowledge for my next trips. You see, in my case, the promotion was the meal card, but then there was the accommodation promotion, where I had to do some calculations to see which offer was the most advantageous. That’s what I do for you, every time it moves, and it moves all year long!
You’ll understand that many of the steps mentioned above are done by your wonderful travel consultant so this is simply to give you a glimpse of my own preparation and a bit of what I do for you. A trip to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, doesn’t happen at the last minute like an all-inclusive.
It takes experience, knowledge and preparation, and that’s exactly why advisors are so important.
Even for my personal stays, I spend hours and hours planning everything. At one point on my last trip, my partner looked at me and said, “Okay, now I understand how much time you put into this!
The aim is to minimize wasted time (being in the right place at the right time), get more bang for your buck and then maximize magical memories.
What’s more, this service is free – what more could you ask for! Your next step would be to visit our website, and request a
quote!
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