How Do I Start Planning a Trip?

Today we're taking it back to the beginning - I mean, waaaaay back. Let's talk about the basics of HOW to start planning your trip. We've already gone over the questions that you need to ask yourself so let's assume that you've figured out where you want to go, the length of your trip, how you're going to get there, and an idea of where you might want to stay. Next, let's break it down based on the major travel components:

• In most cases, if you are more than 4 months away from your preferred travel date then you've got quite a few options available to you. I recommend signing up on airfarewatchdog or any other travel site that will monitor airfare and alert you when the price drops. This is important because many airlines won't lower prices until 1-2 months before your trip. In fact, Huffington Post reported that 47 days is the magical number to get the lowest rate on your airfare. However, you can still feel confident in checking for package deals more than 1-2 months out because you may find a steal. 

• If you know that you want to stay at a Disney resort hotel, then I recommend booking it 2-3 months ahead of your intended travel date because that is historically the timeframe that Disney releases discounts. If it makes it any easier to remember, book your room the season before the season you plan to travel (so if you're going in fall, book in summer). Remember, you can always book your hotel, park tickets, dining plan, and extras on Disney's site with only a $200 deposit. You can also purchase airfare from the Disney site but it has to be paid in-full at time of booking and they typically don't offer any discounted fares compared to the other big name travel sites. 

• If you don't want to stay at a Disney resort, then check out hotels.com to see other properties in your desired location. This is a great way to a) see all of the options at once, b) find the hotel you want and then go to that hotel's website to check for discounts, or c) find the hotel you want and then see if hotels.com has the "pay at hotel" option. For option b, sometimes you'll see that an individual hotel website will offer a better rate for booking straight from them or they may have options to give you free extras - whether it's a free room night, free passes to an area attraction, or some other incentive. Regarding option c, I've actually used this perk myself and it's very handy. You typically won't have to pay a deposit but I've seen a couple of hotels that will require one. If you find one that doesn't then you will enter your card number to guarantee the hotel room but nothing will leave your account until you actually check in. Super helpful for people planning a trip without immediate funds available! 

• Park tickets are the most flexible option for the entire trip. Prices don't usually vary too much, but sometimes Disney will offer a deal to get an extra day for free (typically on the passes for 3 or more days). You can get tickets from any major travel site, the Disney site, a few 'discount' retailer sites (I only recommend using Undercover Tourist for Disney World and aRes Travel for Disneyland), or wait til you get to the park and purchase at the entrance. Other attractions in the area will typically work in the same fashion, unless you want to catch a popular concert that may sell out.

• If you need a rental car, then I recommend working it into a package deal with your airfare or going to an individual site and searching for a deal from your destination airport. You can do a Google search for "rental car discount" and find a discount code for pretty much any major rental car company. Budget Car Rental is especially good at giving out discounts and they even offer a little extra discount for paying in advance. If you aren't planning to pay for the rental at time of booking, then you can opt to pay for it at the time you pick it up - again, a great option for anyone that doesn't have immediate funds available. Remember, most car rental agencies will charge a deposit on the card you're using for the rental and if you plan to use a debit card then they will do a credit check before allowing you to take a vehicle. If you want to use a debit card but don't have great credit then I recommend using Dollar Rental Car because they often won't run the credit check OR if you pay a deposit online then they have to give you a car anyway (I got this information directly from a Dollar rep on my last trip). One last tip about rental cars - try to fuel up your vehicle as far from the tourist areas and airports as possible. Those places are usually super expensive, especially the gas station located near Disney Boardwalk on Disney World property.

Hopefully we've covered everything you need to know about finding the best deals for every detail of your trip. Remember, if you're expecting to dine on Disney property then you'll need to make those reservations 180 days out for Disney World and 60 days out for Disneyland! 

Disney World Caribbean Beach Resort Review

Wow it's been two weeks since the last post! I wanted to give everyone (myself included!) a little break from all of the information. I know planning a Disney trip can be exciting but it's a job in itself. This post will be a departure from the previous line of information as I prepare to give you my honest review of Walt Disney World's Caribbean Beach Resort.

Caribbean Beach Resort

The decision to book Caribbean Beach Resort for my 2014 vacation was completely involuntary. I had already selected travel dates in late February and wanted to wait for the room-only discounts to pop up. Anyone trying to plan a vacation at the beginning of the year probably knows that there are a few obstacles - such as spending money over the holidays - that can make the process more difficult than it should be. I had originally planned to book a Port Orleans resort but by the time I had the cash to snag the hotel (because I was booking through Orbitz), the only resort available was Caribbean Beach. It's not that I didn't want to stay there, just that it was not my first choice at the time. I got a great deal, though, and only ended up paying about $150/night. If you aren't utilizing the deposit option on Disney's website, then you definitely should keep updated on the travel site discounts.

Create an account on ebates.com and you could earn cashback on your booking! Be sure to check the details on the offers but you can get a bit of your money back just for clicking to the website from the ebates site first. I've earned over $120 in cashback over the past year just by using the ebates plugin for Chrome browser! (please note, I am not affiliated with ebates whatsoever - I just love how easy it is to use!)

_________________________________________________________________________________

The physical check-in process at a Disney hotel is quite tedious. The lobby is often full and nearly everyone has a question about something. Thankfully the process is more electronic now and you don't even have to stop by the lobby to check-in anymore but in 2014 that wasn't the case. I waited in the lobby for nearly 45 minutes just trying to get checked in but the staff was very friendly and treated each person with the same candor. Finally my room was assigned to my MagicBand and I was off to the Jamaica building!

I should probably warn you here that Caribbean Beach Resort is the most spread out of all the Disney World hotels. That means lots of walking if you're stuck in a remote building such as Trinidad South. Take a look at the map for a better idea:

I was a little worried about being assigned to Jamaica but it was actually one of the better buildings on the property because it was a shorter walking distance to the common building (via the bridge across the lake) and it was the first stop on most of the theme park buses. 

As soon as we parked, we knew we were going to like our stay. The buildings are all very bright and tropically decorated. There was definitely an island feel about the property with lots of greenery. Each building has its own 'quiet' pool nestled nearby.

We paid for a standard room with a king bed and found that it was ample space for two people. I would imagine that a family of five or more would probably get cramped in the standard space with two beds. There was a towel Mickey folded and waiting for us on the bed (in true Disney fashion!) and the whole room felt warm and inviting.

A mini-fridge is tucked away in the television console/dresser space but a microwave is not available, which I hope will change in the near future. The curtain divider for the vanity area is a nice touch because it allows three spaces of privacy (the bathroom, vanity area, and bedroom) for family members that need to get ready at the same time. 

After settling into our room, we decided to explore the property with a walk across the island, known as Caribbean Cay, to the Old Port Royale common area. 

The first thing we noticed was the white sandy beach. Swimming is not allowed but there are plenty of beach activities and hammocks to make it worthy of visiting. Caribbean Cay is a beautiful little island situated in the middle of the property. Here you can find a playground and several little romantic hideaways. You can spot Old Port Royale from the island (as pictured above), with its bright theming and will typically hear noise of splashing from the main resort pool located to the east of the building. It is here that you will find the food court, a casual restaurant, and bike rentals. There were watercraft rentals available at the time of our stay but I've since heard rumor that they aren't available anymore.

Following the theme of the resort, the food court area is very colorful. I expected it to be crowded because the property is so large but we never had any issues with waiting in line. The food is decent, pretty much the same as what you can find at any quick service spot in the parks. I found that the bakery/deli area was the best place to stop for a snack and was typically restocked with new sandwiches and sweets pretty often. 

We really enjoyed our stay at Caribbean Beach Resort, which is a surprise considering we weren't incredibly hyped about being 'stuck' with this option initially. The size of the property makes it more peaceful because everyone is spread out. Disney really nailed the feeling of a vacation-within-a-vacation with this resort. You can stay at Caribbean Beach and feel like you're in the islands or come back to reality and hit up the parks. There is so much variety available that I know anyone visiting this resort will love it as much as I do!

Stay tuned and I'll give you another review of my most recent Disney World trip - and my stay at Port Orleans French Quarter!

FREE things at Disney!

Part of this blog's purpose is to share how you can save money at Disney. While there is a price tag attached to most things related to a vacation, you'll be surprised at the free and (very) cheap deals you can find if you know where to look. I'm going to break these items down by park to eliminate any confusion.

BOTH RESORTS

• It's a well-known, but highly under utilized, fact that you can bring your own snacks into the parks. At over $2 per bottle, it is definitely recommended that you bring your own water or other beverages. Keeping food on-hand is also a good idea, especially if you prefer to eat light or healthy. Disney has many fresh fruit options and other healthy alternatives but you'll need to find a kiosk specializing in those items or a quick-service location with the healthy choices listed.

• If it's your first trip to the park, or you are celebrating a special occasion, be sure to tell a cast member at the front of the park and they'll get you a nifty pin to commemorate the occasion. It's free! 

• Souvenir penny machines are fun for kids and typically cost less than a dollar to use. Both Disneyland and Disney World have these machines located all over the parks so keep an eye out if this is something you collect.

• Visit the resort hotels. This probably sounds weird - I know I was skeptical before I did it myself. This is a great practice to make if you're interested in staying at a specific hotel sometime in the future but want to check it out first. It's also a fantastic way to find great restaurants and keep the family moving on an adventure of exploration. The Disney hotels are themed incredibly well so you'll be sure to find new, fun decor at each location.

• Venture to Downtown Disney. Sure, it's a hub of shopping and entertainment but it's also a fun area with FREE live music and street performances. 

• You don't need a Disney-branded signature book to meet the characters and obtain their autographs. Bring your own notebook or a blank t-shirt/hat to create your own keepsake. 

• Pin trading has an initial cost but can be free once you've built up a collection - just walk up to any cast member with pins and offer to trade! Note: beware of eBay and other discount retail or bidding sites. Your pins must be authentic in order to trade.

• Ride the monorail! It's included in your park ticket, so why not take advantage of the one place you can sit for more than 3 minutes and let your family enjoy the view. This is a wonderful way to take a break without your kids realizing it's a break :)

DISNEY WORLD

• Head over to the Boardwalk where you can watch live street performances or enjoy inexpensive snacks from the To-Go Cart (think corn dogs, fried ravioli, mozzarella sticks).

• If you have a vehicle, take a 20 minute drive to the Disney Wilderness Preserve. Admission is free (donations accepted) and you can enjoy the 2 1/2 mile nature trail while observing plants and animals.

• Epcot is an extra special place to find great souvenirs for children because they have a program - dubbed Kidcot - with 11 stops around the World Showcase that feature arts and crafts.

• Visit the Disney Character Warehouse at the Orlando Premium Outlets for closeout prices on park souvenirs! This store is owned and operated by Disney so you are guaranteed to be purchasing actual Disney merchandise. T-shirts can be found for as cheap as $8-$10 each - compared to $20+ at the parks, that's a steal!

• Attend the Animation Academy at Hollywood Studios and learn how to draw your favorite Disney characters. Admission is free and you can take your sketch home as a nice souvenir (and memory!)

• The LEGO store mini model event occurs once a month and offers a free mini model to participants. Check the LEGO site for specific dates. 

DISNEYLAND

• The Anaheim Garden Walk is right down the road on Katella Avenue and boasts a movie theater, several restaurants, and plenty of retail shops. It's a great outdoor mall with plenty to do and see.

• California Screamin' in Disney's California Adventure offers a discounted picture after the ride - for only $1, you can have a digital copy of the picture sent to your phone or email.

• The Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop offers a free sample of Ghirardelli chocolate to any person that enters the shop.

• The Boudin Bakery in Disney's California Adventure offers a free bakery tour and a sample of fresh sourdough bread. The tour lasts about 10 minutes and typically isn't crowded.

• The performers in New Orleans Square in Disneyland typically hand out free Mardi Gras beads for kids enjoying the music.

• Shrunken Ned and Pirate Red cards can be obtained from the fun machines located in South Sea Traders (Adventureland) and Pieces of Eight shop (New Orleans Square) for 50 cents each. These machines feature an animated figure that talks or sings and then gives out a collectible card.

Feel free to share your free or cheap tips so we can all save money on our next Disney trip!