Disney World Vacation Planning Services for Busy & Frustrated People

Disney is marketing one promotion under three or four different names:  Early 2016 Offer, Magic Together Offer, and Disney Junior Offer; before that, it was as a Disney Visa offer.   Okay, in all fairness, the Disney Junior offer is ever-so-slightly different because families with preschoolers and get a small bag of promotional items and activities.  (The "Stay, Play and Dine" offer actually is a different promotion.)   It makes sense to craft your message to reach different types of guests; so much sense, in fact, that I thought I would do the same thing with the services we happily provide to all of our clients....

Click Here for a List of /current Disney Discounts & Promotions

 Option 1: "I hate all of this ?#&%! Technology!" Service -  This service is for people that find it just infuriating that Disney now wants you to set up a "My Disney Experience" account, book dining and FastPass+ online, customize Magic Bands, and download an app.  It can be so frustrating, especially if you don't have a teenager handy to do it for you.   Book your Disney vacation through us and our agents will happily do almost all of it for you and they'll walk you through anything you absolutely have to do on your own.  We even offer the Unofficial Guide to Disney World - a printed guidebook - as a thank you gift option to help with your plans.  We still send printed documents and printed copies of the theme park touring plans to you via the U.S. Postal Service and we're happy to discuss your plans and needs over the phone.   

Option 2: "I'm Too Busy for All This Advance Planning" Service - Doesn't Disney realize that the kinds of people who go to Disney World have jobs and families? Do they seriously expect you to research resorts, plan every dining reservation six months in advance, research the best FastPass+ options and then book them at midnight exactly 45 days prior to arrival? Who has time for that?!? If you feel this way, you will definitely want to utilize the services of our agents who eat, sleep and breathe this stuff and can do most of it for you. We can help narrow the choices down to those that are a good fit for you and can book dining and FastPass+ on your behalf.  Do you mill your own flour or sew all your own clothes? Of course not, and there is no good reason not to let us do the leg work for you, especially since our services are free when you book your trip through us.    We'll have everything ready to go when your vacation rolls around.

 Option 3: "Help! I'm Trying To Plan Everything For My Extended Family" Service - Group trips can be a wonderful and memorable experience but they do present some very real vacation planning challenges as you try to juggle different ages and different vacation styles.  Having a travel agent that specializes in Disney destinations is a huge help in this situation because we really do know the resorts, restaurants, and theme parks very well and we can help you create plans that include everyone's priorities and that address everyone's needs. 

 Option 4: "I've Already Booked My Trip but Now I'm Overwhelmed!" Service - It is true that our services are completely free when you book your Disney vacation through us but we may still be able to help if you booked your trip yourself.   1) If you booked through Disney less than 30 days ago and have not paid your trip off in full, we can probably still be added as the agent of record on your existing reservation and you'll get all the benefits we offer just as if you'd booked with us in the first place.   (2) If that isn't possible, we can look at your needs and let you know the fee for helping with reservations and itineraries.  

We can also offer "My Wife Told Me to Plan This Thing" services, "I need a Disney Buddy who is as excited as I am" services, and services for people with allergies or any number of special situations.  Just tell us what you need and we'll let you know how we can help.

Click here to book or for a free, no-obligation vacation quote

Build A Better Mouse Trip brings a lot of experience and expertise to your trip.  Our agents will help you select the right resort for your budget, plan a great "Best Days" itinerary, help with all your restaurant questions and FASTPASS+ reservations, and provide fantastic theme park touring plans that will keep you ahead of the crowds and out of the long lines.  Our services can help you whether you are driving or flying.  We book directly through Disney and Universal and we do not charge a fee or service charge of any kind which means that you get every available benefit without paying extra.  

• One travel agent who really knows Disney World & Universal Orlando and who gets to know you and includes your priorities in every step of the trip planning process.

• Expert answers and honest opinions to help you with resort, activity and restaurant selections.

• We'll book dining reservations on your behalf - subject to availability.

• We'll give you excellent Disney and Universal theme park touring plans that keep you ahead of the crowds and out of the long lines. Click here to read more about touring plans.

• You always get the best available price

Request a quote today – we use the same quote request form for Disney World or Universal Orlando.  Just skip any stuff that doesn’t apply and one of our agents will be in touch with you soon to help you plan your next adventure.   This isn’t a commitment, it is just the easiest way to get the conversation started. There's never any pressure and we're always happy to answer your questions.

Click here to book or for a free, no-obligation vacation quote

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Day of the Dead traditions at Disney World and Disneyland / Dia de los Muertos

The Mexican Day of the Dead(Dia De Muertos) tradition is observed on from October 31 to November 2nd and it is a time of honoring departed loved ones.   It has roots in Aztec beliefs that say that the souls of departed loved ones can return for a brief time. 

Click here to read more about Day of the Dead traditions and origins. 

Dia de Los Muerto at Disney World

Certain elements have been incorporated into the "Gran Fiesta Tour with the Three Amigos" ride in the Mexico pavilion at Epcot.  Skeletons and skull masks (called calacas) are a a recognizable part of modern Day of the Dead celebrations. (Did you notice the Donald Duck pinata under the arch, in the background of the picture below?)

Do you see the Donald Duck banner? This is a Disney-fied version of a folk art called Papel Picado, which means punched or perforated paper, and are usually made by punching or cutting designs into tissue paper, using small chisels. They are used to decorate a lot of events but skeletons and the color pink are a common theme in banners used in Day of the Dead altars.

Dia de Los Muerto at Disneyland

From September 15 to November 2, 2017, the Plaza de la Familia at Paradise Gardens in Disney California Adventure (Disneyland) is inspired Dia de los Muertos and the movie "CoCo" and will feature storytellers, songs from the movie, Folklorico dances and Mariachi Divas.   Authentic Mariachi music will be presented at the Paradise Gardens Bandstand along with delicious Mexican foods available for purchase.   Click here for more information

In Disneyland park, guests can head over to Frontierland from September 15 to November 2, 2017 to join the festivities.   Zocalo Park will have a musical trio of iconic calacas (skeleton figurines), brightly colored flowers and Calaveras-style face painting.  You can enjoy dtasty mexican food at Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante.

Click here for a Disneyland Vacation Quote

Planning a Disney Vacation?

You'll definitely want to subscribe to our free newsletter. You will receive a link to 40 great Disney World Freebies in your welcome note and several helpful “how-to” e-guides over the next week. Unsubscribe at any time.

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Everything You Want To Know About Disney Toilet Paper But Were Afraid To Ask

Exclusive Investigatory Report!

Some time ago, I read a blog by a Disney fan who has stayed at several Disney World hotels and I was struck by the comment that they always bring their own toilet paper to the value resorts because the rolls in the value rooms are of lower quality.   As the mother of four kids, I am just grateful when we're not out of toilet paper and had never noticed this detail despite having stayed at lots of Disney resorts of all levels lots of times.   Clearly some investigative work was in order....

Disney Deluxe, Moderate & Value Resorts...It's Not Just About Room Size

Walt Disney World Resort in Florida has three main categories of hotels: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe.  I did a comparison of rack rate of standard rooms for one night (December 9, 2014) and, as expected, there is a wide range of prices:  Pop Century (value) - $108 / Port Orleans Riverside (moderate) - $181 / Polynesian Resort (deluxe) - $454.  As you would expect, the value rooms are the smallest and the deluxe resorts have the largest rooms.   The pools and dining options are more elaborate at deluxe resorts and value resorts don't have coffee makers in the rooms. Value resorts have double beds but moderate and deluxe resorts have queen beds.  These details are interesting, I suppose, but it turns out that the most important benefit to spending an extra $300 per night is the difference in the toilet paper,  The deluxe resort (I think this is Disney's Yacht Club but don't remember for sure) have thicker, quilted toilet paper; Disney's Port Orleans Riverside has fairly thick toilet paper that isn't quilted; and Disney's Pop Century had thin, single-ply toilet paper that won't win any softness awards. I can't help but wonder what Goldilocks would have to say about the whole thing.  If you're checking into a Disney World resort sometime soon, don't hesitate to send the name of the resort and a picture of the toilet paper in the room to me; the world deserves to know the truth about Disney toilet paper!

 

Did You Know....

Stitch's Great Escape opened in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom on November 16, 2004.  It seems that Stitch went a little crazy with excitement and he TP'ed Cinderella's Castle in celebration of the grand opening.   The castle was cleaned up and returned to it's previous condition by the next morning.

 

What About Disneyland?

Disneyland Resort in California only has three official hotels and they are all deluxe level resorts.    I stayed at the Disneyland Hotel in June and completely forgot to take a picture specifically of the toilet paper but I was able to crop down this photo from my room's restroom.  You'll have to make your own assessment of the toilet paper quality.  Disney partners with what they call "Good Neighbor" hotels and the toilet paper there will vary by hotel chain.   I did find the an painted sign in the Frontierland area of Disneyland advertising 100% Splinter Free toilet paper, which seems like a good thing and, frankly, something I didn't even know I should be worrying about.   I do have a favorite Disneyland restroom; it is at Disney California Adventure park behind King Triton's Carousel.  It is my favorite because you can hear the cars from the California Screamin' roller coaster pass overhead.  I have never done this but I think you should definitely throw your hands up and scream at the top of your lungs while using the restroom here just to get the full bathroom roller coaster experience.  Not only will it be fun for you but it will add some extra excitement for the folks in the adjoining stalls too.   Who knows, you may even get to meet Disney security!

Disneyland Hotel toilet paper.

Well, folks, I think we've gotten to the bottom of this important topic.  I hope that reading this article didn't leave you wiped out.  :-)

This article was originally printed in our September 29, 2014 newsletter.   If you do not receive our free newsletter, just click here and scroll to the bottom to subscribe or fill in the form at the bottom of this page.  We will never share or sell your contact information and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Build A Better Mouse Trip is an independent, Disney-focused travel agency specializing in Disney destinations.   We book directly through Disney but are not employees of the Walt Disney Company.  We are a "fee free" travel agency, meaning that you never pay a service charge or any other fee to have our expert agents help you plan the best Disney Vacation ever.

Planning a Disney Vacation?

You'll definitely want to subscribe to our free newsletter. You will receive a link to 40 great Disney World Freebies in your welcome note and several helpful “how-to” e-guides over the next week. Unsubscribe at any time.

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