Disneyworld Quick Tips – Booking Tips To Keep You Flexible

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October 16, 2010

Disneyworld Quick Tips – Booking Tips To Keep You Flexible

There are as many ways to book a Walt Disney World vacation as there are people booking them (not really but there are lots of ways to do it). You can book your entire package right away, you can book room and tickets with no dining plan, you can book a Platinum plan with everything, etc. Here is how I do it and since I start planning far in advance, why I do it that way.

You can make a “room only” reservation 499 days in advance of your planned check out date. It requires a 1 night’s room cost deposit to hold the reservation. One thing to be aware of, since you will be crossing years, the deposit as well as the initial estimate of your total room charge will be determined by charging the rack rate for the most expensive season of the year. You can convert it to your planned visit date rate once the rates for the year of your travel are released by making a call to Disney.
This assures your room availability and is particularly important if you travel during a busy time of the year so the room will be there for you.
You can add things such as tickets or the dining plan to your reservation at any point just about up until check in date with no additional charge (officially, Disney says there may be a charge for adding but there rarely is) .To be on the safe side make sure you make your plan changes prior to the 45 days before check in date. If you stay with room only you can cancel or modify up to 7 days prior to check in with no penalty (another reason for room only). As the travel date gets a bit closer I look at the available discounts (free dining, Passholder discounts, Buy 4 get 3 free, etc.) that Disney may or may not offer and make my decisions. When I’m confident I will get the most for my money and the available discounts fit our travel style I call and add the appropriate item.
People wonder what happens if you commit to your reservation and Disney suddenly offers a better discount? All you have to do is call them and they will change your reservation to the new discount and if a refund is appropriate they will reverse the charge to your card. They are very happy to do this so don’t hesitate but make sure that the new discount actually is better. You can request these discount changes at any time.
If you purchase a package initially, the rules are different as well as the time frames. Things can get very complicated. For this reason I recommend you use a Disney Specialist Travel Agent no matter how you book. I use one and it takes a lot of worry out of missing the best deal. There are a lot of good ones out there but my TA is one of the very best. There is normally no charge for their services but be sure to ask. Remember – Always Use A Disney Specialist!!!

Enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!

Ken

Ask a Disney Question: Tickets for the taping of the Christmas parade.

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 16, 2010

Ask a Disney Question: Tickets for the taping of the Christmas parade.

I received a couple of questions this week about how guests can view the Christmas parade taping. They’ve changed it from year to hear, so please be aware that this information could all change. As soon as we get concrete details about the process this year, we’ll put it on up on the site and on Facebook. Here’s what we know.

First, based on last year, Disney usually announces when you can apply for tickets sometime in October. You’ll apply online and then in mid-November you’ll receive an email with further information if you’ve been selected. When you receive that email you’ll pick a time, either in the morning or afternoon, on any (or all) of the three days.
This year’s parade tapes on December 3rd and 4th, with the 5th scheduled as a make-up day.
The parade is taped in segments. You may see the same performance over and over.
If you’re primarily interested in the shows and can only attend one day, choose Friday.
When you go to register, it will likely say that sign up is open until a day or two before the parade. This is technically true, but in reality tickets are snatched up right away. When it’s announced, sign immediately.
Sign up is free and includes park admission for the rest of the day.
In year’s past, tickets were limited to pass holders; this is no longer the case. Anyone may apply to watch the parade.
Even if you don’t have a ticket, you can still come into the parks and see some of the filming. I’ve heard people say they were able to watch performances pretty easily, but keep in mind that cast members will keep non-audience members out of the roped off areas.

Good luck! As soon as we hear more details we’ll post them.

Have a Disney question? We have answers. Write us at Chip and Co. We answer every question.

Help Wanted: My Disney Dream Job

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 16, 2010

Help Wanted: My Disney Dream Job

You know you’re a Disney nut when your ideal retirement plan involves moving to Orlando and working at the Walt Disney World Resort. On days when my job is particularly stressful, I retreat to my “happy place” and weigh my options. If I could choose any Disney dream job, what would it be? And the best part is the list of contenders can change on any given day. Here’s today’s list of my top five Disney dream jobs.

Server at La Hacienda de San Angel. Epcot’s IllumiNations is hands down the best nighttime fireworks show at Walt Disney World and there’s no convincing me otherwise. Being able to experience it night after night from inside La Hacienda de San Angel sounds just about perfect. My enthusiasm and my stint as a server at a local soda fountain during high school should qualify me, right?
Help at Special Diets. I am fortunate to be able to experience food without giving a second thought to the ingredient list; I just prefer that I can pronounce it all. My godson is not so lucky and suffers from food allergies which make dining out a bit more stressful and complicated for his family. Some families don’t even dare to dream about a vacation because they fear they won’t be able to safely dine away from home and that is sad to me. Disney World, with its Special Diets ([email protected]; (407) 824-5967) group, goes all out to provide a safe and tasty dining experience for all guests. Being able to help families plan wonderful dining experiences without the worry would be a very fulfilling Disney dream job.
Greeter on Main Street USA. I dare you. No, I double dog dare you to find someone who doesn’t crack a smile after seeing the enthusiastic greeters on Main Street U.S.A. welcoming guests to the Magic Kingdom with their white Mickey gloves right after rope drop. Being able to spread that kind of joy and happiness qualifies as a Disney dream job.
Go Incognito. My husband and I cannot help but dream both big and small when we visit Walt Disney World. There’s a lot of fun to be had in thinking up pie-in-the-sky ideas on how to make an unsurpassed vacation destination even more extraordinary (Wish we could take credit for the Magical Express with our concept of a monorail from Orlando International Airport to Disney but…we can’t.) On the other hand, as ordinary guests we also think about small changes that could make the guest experience even better. So Ms. Crofton, if you’re ever looking for a couple to spend their days experiencing the Walt Disney World resort and making suggestions, we’d like to apply for the job. We’ll even work for cheap. A couple of annual passes and free dining should do it.
Data Analysis. I’ve made no secret that I love crunching numbers and analyzing data. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. But really, what is normal? from a dream job perspective, it seems to me that Walt Disney World has a treasure trove of data from length of customer stays, to touring patterns, and everything in between. Think about all the data that becomes available every time you use your admission ticket, print a FASTPASS, use a Disney Dining Plan credit, or make an ADR. The list goes on and on. I can hardly contain myself just thinking about the incredible experiences and tweaks to the customer experience that could be made by mining this data. Improving customer experiences by analyzing how people vacation at the Walt Disney World Resort would be a Disney dream come true.

There you have it – my ideal Disney jobs. What’s your dream Disney job?

Lisa M. Battista is the author of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers When she’s not chasing after her little ones, you can most likely find her at the beach or in the kitchen trying her hand at a new recipe. You can follow her on Twitter @DisneyExplorer or become a fan of Beyond the Attractions on Facebook.

Photo Credit: Big Cash Maker

This article was featured on this months edition of the Dismarks Blog Carnival. For more great Disney content from other Disney Bloggers check out the link here.

Best Things I Love About Disney – Walt Disney One Man’s Dream

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 16, 2010

Best Things I Love About Disney – Walt Disney One Man’s Dream

I think I’ve mentioned the three things it takes for an attraction to make my “favorites” list, they are the back story, the quality of the theme, and the ride itself. This attraction made the list without really having any of these things. The back story is not needed because the attraction is the story. A theme is not needed because reality and history is the theme. There is no ride at this attraction. How did it make the list?

This attraction is the story of Walt Disney and his dreams and how they grew with him. It explores how his upbringing and experiences as a child shaped his dreams and ultimately led to the dynasty of magic that we have all grown to love. After you explore the attraction, there is a movie presentation called “One Man’s Dream”, a very moving experience.

Plan on spending a reasonable amount of time here just to look at and appreciate all of the priceless artifacts of all types located in the attraction, all of which are somehow related to Walt Disney himself. There are literally hundreds of things, all worth looking over and studying. This is an attraction designed for both the true Disney fanatic (me/us) and those who may be at Walt Disney World for the first time and don’t really know what brought about that thing called Disney.

There aren’t a lot of “whiz bangs” and what Walt liked to call “weenies” (things that grab your attention) and younger kids may get a bit impatient but anyone from 10 to 110 will enjoy this attraction. After you ride Toy Story Midway Mania and get your Fastpass for your next ride stop by Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream, it is absolutely worth your time. Enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!

Ken

Sick at Disney – Really?

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 16, 2010

Sick at Disney – Really?

If I was a Disney Princess, I would make a proclamation that no loyal subjects of Disney World, whether child or adult, could get sick during their visit to the most magical place on earth. Alas, however, I am merely a commoner who happens to know for a fact that visitors do indeed get sick and/or injured sometimes while visiting Disney World.

Thankfully, Disney has spent countless hours thinking of ways to cater to us and provide us with the maximum possibility of having a wonderful trip despite the curves life sometimes throws at us. In each of the four theme parks, you will find First Aid Stations which are fully staffed with medical professionals. Here, they can treat minor injuries like sunburn, blisters, golfer’s vasculitis (which is a nasty-looking but harmless rash I get on the base of my legs every time I visit). The first aid stations are located in the following areas:

Magic Kingdom – next to The Crystal Palace restaurant on Main Street, U.S.A.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios – near Guest Services on Hollywood Boulevard, west of the entrance to Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park.

Epcot – at the Odyssey Center near the bridge between the Future World area and the World Showcase area.

Animal Kingdom – behind Creature Comforts and near the Pizzafari quick-service restaurant in the Discovery Island area.

The first aid stations are very clean and everyone is very nice. They do not carry medications nor do they have a pharmacy but if that is what you need, they will refer you to other avenues for help.

One of the choices for more serious illnesses, if you are staying on property, is to call down to the front desk and have them contact one of the local doctors to make a house call to your hotel room. The good thing about this option is that you can wait in the comfort of your own room. But, be aware that this option may be costly and may not be covered by your insurance.

Alternatively, you might just want to drive to the nearest clinical facility. The two walk-in clinics with the closest proximity to Disney are Centra Care and Buena Vista Urgent Care. Centra Care is located at 12500 South Apopka Vineland Rd. They are open from 8 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. They have a shuttle for patients staying at local hotels. Buena Vista Urgent Care is located at 8216 World Center Drive, Suite D. They are open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends. Thankfully, I have not had to use either of these facilities but, if I ever do, a review will surely be provided in the form of another blog.

Should you be faced with a very serious illness or injury that requires treatment at the Celebration hospital, Disney will provide complimentary transportation for you to get there. If you need an ambulance, just dial 9-1-1 and emergency services will send an ambulance to take you to the nearest hospital or treat you at the property.

I hope you will never need to seek medical care but, if you do, I am hopeful that one of these options will get you to feeling as good as new in no time.

True Treasures are in the Memories

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 16, 2010

Two years ago, in September 2008, we had a devastating hurricane hit the Texas Gulf Coast. Being born and raised on Galveston Island, I am used to the threat of storms and I have had to evacuate quite a few times in my lifetime. Thankfully, I know what to do in preparation for leaving my home and all that I own in order to get my children and myself to a safe place.

My husband and eldest son both have to stay during a storm as part of their employment. So, in taking the reins and doing what I know I must do, I secure a hotel reservation at the town that will be our temporary home. Once we have somewhere to go, I begin to pack up the things I believe are of the utmost importance. This includes all the insurance papers, paperwork on our mortgage, accounting files, etc. I also pack up birth certificates, social security cards and special gifts I have been given by special people. Most importantly, I pack pictures of my family and friends that I could never replace.

When we evacuated our home in September 2008 to escape Hurricane Ike, I had 8 Disney photo albums and 3 Photopass DVDs in the back of my car. All the memories of our family are living in the pages of those Mickey adorned books. All my cherished memories of times I never want to forget are just sitting in there with no idea as to their importance.

When I look at what is most precious, it is always my family and memories of our times together. Looking at pictures of my children on the rides or my husband and I hugging in front of Cinderella’s castle or my mom and me laughing over a stupid hat I have tried on are the treasures of my life — the treasures that can never be replaced.

Where are your treasures? Were they found at Disney World too?

And to think…it all started with my mom!

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 16, 2010

When I was fifteen years old, my mom and stepdad took my sister and I on our first visit to Disney World. We stayed at the Contemporary Resort and we really liked it. We spent most of our time laying out by the pool, but I do remember going to the parks and I remember how I really enjoyed the luau at the Polynesian Resort. Even while we were there, I did not have any idea how that first visit would direct my life in the future.

They took me and one of my friends back for a second visit when I was 17. We spent the whole time at the parks and it was a really fun time. Still, it did not seem to impact me in a way that was life-altering. I wasn’t thinking to myself, one day I am going to get married, have children, and bring them here.

It wasn’t until I had my first child and fell so in love with him that I wanted him to experience everything wonderful in life, everything happy and beautiful. I wanted him to experience Disney World.

We struggled financially and the chance of being able to take him was really just a dream. Being a working mom and dealing with all the guilt associated with that, I had started one tradition with him that I always stuck to. I used to take him to McDonald’s every Friday after Kindergarten class. McDonald’s always had promotions going where you peeled something off your cup to reveal a possible prize. Wouldn’t you know it – I won a trip to Disney World! There was only one problem. When reading through the fine print, I found out they covered the resort and tickets but the winner had to cover transportation to and from and meals. Well, that wasn’t going to happen because we couldn’t afford meat for the freezer nor less traveling and meal expenses for Disney World. So, we couldn’t go. I placed that winning ticket in my bible and never talked about it. It is funny that years later when I mentioned it all to my dad, he was dumbfounded at how silly I was for not realizing that he would have covered the traveling expenses if he had known.

Still, something inside me was just determined to take my son to Disney World. My ex-husband had what I considered to be a bingo obsession. He would play bingo at the local hall waiting for that one big hit. He always asked me to go but I never would. Several months after the McDonald’s let down, though, I decided I would go. I told him before we went that if I won anything, it was going into a Disney trip fund and would be used only for that purpose. Wouldn’t you know it, I won $500 the first session and then $500 the second session. I didn’t make any friends that night, as you might have guessed, but there was one thing I did make — enough money to take my son, my step-son, my husband and myself to Disney World.

I planned the trip out very carefully. We saved a lot by driving from Texas to Florida. We stayed off-site at a hotel in Kissimmee that I cannot even remember the name of now, and we purchased tickets without the park-hopper option. We ate cheaply and didn’t splurge on souvenirs but I cannot remember one moment when everyone was not smiling. It was a dream come true! A dream that I believe was planted in my heart twelve years before during my first trip to Disney.

I married my current husband in 1992 (who incidentally was my high school sweetheart during my first visit at 15). We had a son in July 1993 and the dream started all over again. When he was old enough, we would take my son, my step-daughter and our new baby boy to Disney World. I told my husband how important this dream was to me and, thankfully, it became important to him too. I really wanted to share that magical place with him as well.

Money was tight but we planned a trip for June 2000. I remember being so excited but nervous at the same time. What if my husband didn’t like Disney World? This might be my last trip – EVER! I planned everything to be as economical as possible but with some frills like park-hopping. Thankfully, my husband fell in love with DW as much as I had. Now, it is the only place we go. Appropriately, my mom has gone on many of our trips with us and those have undoubtedly been the best trips for all of us. Our family has grown up Disney and I believe it was meant to be that way.

My children are now 25, 20 and 17. One day in the next few years, I will probably be looking into the eyes of my very first grandchild with the same dream in my heart – that one day I will take him or her to Disney World. I hope I am afforded the time to do just that. But, I know that just as my mom started this Disney lover on a journey of a lifetime, I have offered the same to my children and believe that whether I am here or not they will carry on the tradition.

So, today, I would like to thank my mom not only for giving life to me but for starting me on the path of a wonderful, happy life. I love you mom!

Best Things I Love About Disney – Toy Story Midway Mania

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 16, 2010

Best Things I Love About Disney – Toy Story Midway Mania

I’m hooked!!! It may be a throwback to my younger days when you could go to a church carnival and actually play many of the types of games on this charming attraction (telling my age???). I had my first exposure to Toy Story Midway Mania (TSMM) last year and have taken every possible chance to experience it since then, it’s wonderful!! It’s not just the ride but the queue itself with giant toys and replica sections of Andy’s room which is wonderful.

Best Things I Love About Disney – Toy Story Midway Mania

I was fascinated with the giant Mr. Potato Head which is voiced by one of my favorites, Don Rickles. It probably grabbed my attention because I had a full Mr Potato Head set when I was a kid (again, many years ago!!!). Believe it or not, back then we used real potatoes.

Best Things I Love About Disney – Toy Story Midway Mania

As you go through the queue the full Toy Story back story fills in and then you get to the ride – fun, fun, fun! You play the games and compete against your ride partner for personal glory and then you do it all over again as quickly as a Fastpass or the standby line will let you.

This attraction is HUGELY popular so I recommend you head there at rope drop and get a Fastpass, then get in the standby line to ride right away. You can then take in another attraction or two and come back with your Fastpass. If there are still Fastpasses available at that time, grab another one so you can get another ride later in the day. Believe me, it’s worth the effort. Enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!

Ken

Beauty and the Beast Book & Bluray Review

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Chip

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October 16, 2010

“Tale as old as time” and “Beauty & the Beast on Bluray” is unlocked from the Disney Vault and is now available for purchase! George from Imaginerding and was able to read through and watch this classic tale. He shared with us on his all new Disney Video Blog “2 Lonely Deeks” what he thought of these 2 great Disney tales.

Check out the video below and be sure to comment and let us know what you think about this classic Disney tale.

Ask a Disney Question: Which week in December is best?

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 16, 2010

Ask a Disney Question: Which week in December is best?

This question comes from Joan, who asks:

I am undecided on which week to visit this December. We are currently booked for Dec 5-11 because I am hoping that week will be less crowded (no free food). They are offering free food beginning Dec 10 but not the week we chose. What do you think?

Joan, thanks for your question. I see this question a lot. Traditionally, early December was one of the slowest times of the year. Unfortunately that’s changed with all the promotions and events that take place (not to mention the amazing weather most of the time), and while you won’t find huge crowds, you won’t walk onto every attraction either. The biggest difference between the two weeks, and the thing that seems to make people question their choices, is free dining and Pop Warner. Pop Warner is national football and cheerleading competition for kids that runs from December 4th through the 11th. Most of the 16,000 participants and their families and coaches will stay on Disney property. Free dining is not offered during this week.

As far as crowd levels in the parks are concerned, the first and second weeks are almost identical. This might be a surprise given that Pop Warner is in town, but the kids rarely come into the parks during the day so they don’t really have a big impact on crowds. I’ve been during Pop Warner weeks and haven’t even noticed them. You may however notice a difference in attendence levels at the Christmas parties held in the Magic Kingdom during that week. They haven’t announced it yet, but I believe this year that December 7th is the night Pop Warner families will be given a discount for the party, so keep that in mind. It usually means a sold out event. If you want a really detailed picture of crowd levels, check out the Touring Plans’ crowd calendar. You have to subscribe, but they’ll give you a projection of the crowd levels for that month based on years of data. It’s well worth the $10. Send me an email if you’d like to know what else the subscription gives you or just check out the site. It’s very user-friendly.

Free dining gets people into the resort, but it doesn’t make the crowds in the parks bad because this is traditionally a slow week otherwise. What it does is fill up the restaurants, so if you don’t already have advanced dining reservations, you may find them hard to come by, as most people will have made their reservations at the 180-day mark. The inability to get a reservation can give you the perception that the parks are very crowded when they aren’t.

One thing to consider is where you’re staying this week. The Pop Warner kids will be staying at the All Stars and at Port Orleans (at this point, word is both Riverside and French Quarter, although that may change). Overflow guests can end up at Coronado Springs and the Caribbean Beach Resort. They rarely stay at the deluxe resorts or at Disney Vacation Club properties. While the kids are generally just being kids, you should know that many guests have found that they keep odd hours and can be loud, so you may want to avoid these resorts during Pop Warner.

Finally, one of the most important considerations is what kind of discount you can get either of those weeks. Free dining is usually a good bet if you usually stay at a value and travel with a party of three or four. If you stay at a deluxe resort, go for the best room discount you can get. Moderates will take a little numbers crunching to determine which is the better deal.

Overall, you should be happy with the crowds either week. Just keep in mind where the Pop Warner kids are staying and possible discounts. Let us know what you choose and how it works out. Take care.

Got a Disney question? We have answers. Write us at Chip and Co. We answer every question.

Chris writes here and at Everything Walt Disney World.

Oldies But Goodies…Communication Wins The Day!!

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 16, 2010

Oldies But Goodies…Communication Wins The Day!!

A visit to Walt Disney World is almost always a wonderful adventure and experience. You can visit as an individual, a couple, a group of peers, or a multi-generational family group. As an individual, communication is not really an issue in that you just do what you want when you want and no one else is affected. As a peer group, you are likely visiting because of a common interest such as the Flower and Garden Festival or the Food and Wine Festival. In these instances the itinerary is often pre determined and group leaders or managers handle any issues that may come up. This leaves the family type visits where communication can be a critical issue.

Traveling as a couple can have pitfalls if there is no communication. In our case, the planning and arrangements are all mine. I do it all – BUT – this planning is not done without several key sit downs to find out what my wife has in mind for special experiences, dining, shopping, etc. We have done this enough to know when these sit downs need to happen such as when I get the least crowded park charts from Tour Guide Mike and the 180 day Advanced Dining Reservations window approaches. Even very early in the planning we sit down to determine our vacation length and time frame as well as our pick of our Disney Resort Hotel for the visit. With both of us having equal input the vacation always goes smoothly. Let’s face it, I have learned that after 33 years of marriage – if she is happy, we are both happy!!!

Multi generational family groups are where issues can really rear their ugly heads. Different generations have different wants and needs and they all need to have input. Everyone needs to feel that they have a part in the planning even if they don’t initially express a desire to participate. Quick Hint – we (Oldies) may not initially show an interest but as the visit approaches the excitement will grow and the more we learn about Walt Disney World the more input we will likely have. There is generally one family member who becomes the planner and the doer. This person is different in each family for different reasons but is normally someone who knows about Disney in general or Walt Disney World in particular whether they have visited there recently or not. This should be the person who initiates the communication among family members. Even if family members are spread out, the age of cell phones and computers has made this not only easier but very inexpensive. Here are some suggestions to begin the input process:

Make sure everyone has the same information to begin planning. I suggest ordering the Disney planning video for each separate portion of the family group as well as a solid travel guide. For this, I lean towards the Passporter’s Walt Disney World guide book because it is well organized, concise, and easily usable. I buy a new one every year whether we are visiting Walt Disney World or not. The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World is another excellent book and has TONS of information. It is probably best used by more experienced visitors.
Solicit everyone’s input on a regular basis. Telephone calls and e-mails are especially handy for this. It is the responsibility of the planner/doer to give serious consideration to all suggestions.
Don’t be afraid to revise your plan and then do it again based on everyone’s input. This may seem like it will be a huge task but as time approaches and people learn more about the upcoming visit things will solidify and you will find that most people really have the same basic interests.
Once the plan is in place, send copies to all of the family groups for their review and input. You can then revise as necessary.
THIS ONE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT Make sure that everyone understands that communication doesn’t end when the visit begins. Particularly with us, your family’s Senior members, we may have on site needs that others do not. Our bodies are different in our sixties, seventies, and eighties than they were in our fifties. We may have stamina and/or mobility issues. We may have some difficulties monitoring our medication needs. I think our biggest issue though will be a desire not to have an impact on the visit because of our personal issues or needs. PLEASE make sure your senior family members understand how important it is let someone know!!! Holding back on a potential crisis need is self defeating and can have a negative impact on both health and family relationships. Also, please make sure that the rest of the family members understand that they need to take any issues very seriously and deal with them immediately.

Communication is the key to a successful multi generational visit to Walt Disney World. The communication needs to start in the earliest planning stages and continue throughout the entire visit. Enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!

Ken

Ask a Disney Question: Adding More Dining to Your Package.

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 16, 2010

Ask a Disney Question: Adding More Dining to Your Package.

This question comes from Audra, who asks: “Can I buy a 6 day MYW package w/dining if I am only staying 5 days, and use the remainder of my (day 6) meals on a different day that I will be at the park?”

Thanks for your question. We always appreciate when our readers write in. You can only purchase as many days of dining as as you pay for nightly stays. So if you buy a five night package, you’ll be given five days of dining. All those credits need to be used by midnight on the day you check out, but they do not have to be used on specific days. You can in theory use all your credits in one day, not that that would be possible. Because I have small children, I tend to go through the snack credits pretty quickly, for example. Or we’ll eat at a couple of two-credit table service places in the beginning and then no TS restuarants until the end of the trip. The plan is very flexible that way.

As I mentioned in my email to you, you can always add days to your park tickets. So say you’re staying on site only four days, but you’d like to visit the park for ten days because you’ll still be in Orlando. You can add those days as long as you’re in the 14-day window, and it will be cheaper with each consecutive day.

Hope this helps!

Got a Disney question? We have answers. Write us at Chip and Co. We answer every question.

Chris writes here and at Everything Walt Disney World.