Even before we decided to go to Disney World for our “last minute before school starts family vacation” I had stopped by our local Half Price Books on South Lamar and bought three different guide books about the place. Before I had even looked at a printed page I had spent innumerable hours on the web comparing prices of packages, airfares, ticket options, hotel options – the combinations were mind boggling.
Expedia seemed to have the best options and was the only one of the big three (along with Orbitz and Travelocity) which would even let me book a trip less than a week in advance.
I spent a good amount of time on “third party” web sites reading their discussion forums for tips and first person reviews from recent visitors to find out about the best places to stay, the attractions most appropriate for young children, and of course, where to get the best deal.
More than a few people recommended a travel agency called All Seasons Travel as the place to consult when it all became too overwhelming. I checked out their web site and was quickly convinced that they are the Disney experts they claim to be and their customers post raves about.
A desperate call to their 1-800 number gave me a kind and patient fellow named Keith whom I can’t say enough nice things about. Keith came through with an awesome package and we will be staying at a much nicer resort thanks to his knowledge. Don’t let anyone tell you that travel agents are obsolete with the rise of the internet. I programmed his number in my cell phone this evening in case things don’t go according to the itinerary.
While searching the web I came across a few sites which proved very helpful in learning more about the House of Mouse, and am still in awe at the amount of detail the folks who create, maintain, and traffic these sites devote to the Disney Empire. I guess they would have the same impression about those of us who avidly follow the world of Apple and Macintosh events.
A great place to get tips about discounts and deals related to Disney is MouseSavers.com.
One thing you will discover after booking your hotel and airfare is that you need to make reservations for meals at Disney World, especially if you want to dine with some of the Disney characters. This is far more complex and requires much more advance planning than any novice could ever imagine. Fortunately, The Priority Seating Planning Guide comes to the rescue. Did you know that to eat breakfast with Cinderella requires a phone call made within scant minutes of 7 AM 90 days ahead of when you want to be there? Or that if you want to experience the “Hoop De Doo Musical Revue” you need to plan ahead two YEARS?
Time to get some sleep so I won’t be dozing on the plane tomorrow while I should be studying our remaining dining opportunities …
