On this page you'll find answers to dozens of frequently asked questions about Walt Disney World, including information about vacation planning, tickets, hotels and more!

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General Planning

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Help! Where do I start?

If you have never been on a Walt Disney World vacation (or it has been a long time), it's understandable why you might feel overwhelmed by all of the information on this site. The best place to start is with the step-by-step planning guide.

When are the best (and worst) times of year to go to Walt Disney World?

Nothing affects the value of your vacation as much as WHEN you choose to go! Trust me, this is the most important decision you'll make in planning your vacation.

During certain peak times, the parks will be terribly crowded and the hotel rates will be sky-high. You'll be able to do about half as much as you expect, and it will cost you -- both in money and in precious time.

By contrast, if you go at an off-peak time, the parks will be uncrowded and the room rates will be lower. You'll be amazed at how much more you can do in a day, when you are not fighting huge crowds.

		The best times to go to Walt Disney World are: Mid-November and mid-December. The weather is usually cool but pleasant, the Christmas decorations are up, special events are running, and the crowds are usually moderate. The first week of December used to be a good time, but various events during that time now cause crowds. Second week of January through mid-February. It's cool (sometimes even a bit cold) at this time of year. This is one of the least busy times of year and hotel prices are lower. However, usually some rides will be closed for refurbishment at this time of year. The first week of January can be busy due to extended holiday vacations and the Walt Disney World Marathon. Avoid any holiday weekends. First three weeks of May. The weather is warm in May, but usually not unbearably so. Crowds and hotel prices are moderate. Disney is including the last week of May in its Summer rates in 2008, so it will be more expensive, but I would still expect it to be less crowded than peak summer. Avoid Memorial Day weekend, which will be crowded. Late August and entire month of September (even Labor Day weekend). It will be extremely hot, and this is peak hurricane season. Plan on taking afternoons off and visiting water parks. Crowds are low. Off-site hotels usually have their rock-bottom deals during this period, and Disney has offered "free dining" packages in this time frame each year since 2005. During special events that interest you. Bear in mind that events held on major holidays usually attract significant crowds, however. The worst times to visit Walt Disney World are: December 26-31. This is the most crowded and most expensive time of year. Mid-February through mid-April (or later, depending on the date of Easter), especially holiday weekends including President's Day and Easter. Expect huge crowds, high resort prices and expensive airfares, but usually very nice weather. Midsummer (June through early August). Expect it to be very busy and extremely hot. To maximize your experience, plan on hitting the parks first thing in the morning. After lunch, take an afternoon break, then return to the park in the late afternoon/early evening. 11:00 am to 4:00 pm is the hottest part of the day and ironically the most crowded, too. Other holidays. Among the other busy time periods are Thanksgiving week and any national holiday with a 3-day weekend (except Labor Day weekend). During special events. Some don't create a lot of crowds, but some do. Click here to see a detailed list of the most expensive and most crowded periods for 2008. Some less-known events that may affect crowds, park hours and/or traffic at Walt Disney World: Cheerleeding/Twirl/Dance Competitions - Various dates each year, especially January-March. These usually don't have a lot of impact on the in-park crowds. The issue is that the Value resorts (All-Stars and Pop Century) play host to hordes of girls who can be extremely loud -- so you may want to avoid those resorts during competitions. Some of these events take place at Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular in Disney's Hollywood Studios, so that attraction might be closed. Some of the competitions include College Cheerleading & Dance Team National Championships (January 18-20, 2008), National Dance Team Championship (February 1-3, 2008), National High School Cheerleading Championship (February 8-10, 2008), National All Star Cheerleading Championship (March 7-9, 2008), Cheerleading and Dance Worlds (April 26-27, 2008), UCA/UDA Thanksgiving Day Parade (November 25-28, 2008), Twirlmania (February 13-16, 2009), Contest of Champions Nationals (February 28-March 1 and March 6-8, 2009). Mardi Gras Week. February or March (varies annually: February 24, 2009). Many New Orleans schools have all or part of this week off, so families leave town the weekend before the holiday and head to Disney World in droves. Grad Nites - Usually the last two weekends of April. (2008 dates: April 18, 19, 25, 26; 2009 dates: April 17, 18, 24, 25) Private parties for graduating high school seniors are held from 10:00 pm through 4:00 am at the Magic Kingdom (note that starting in 2009, the parties move to Disney's Hollywood Studios, so the following info does not apply to 2009). On Grad Nites, Magic Kingdom closes to the public at about 6:00 pm. From 8:00 pm on, avoid the area around the Magic Kingdom as hordes of buses will tie up traffic for hours. Also, be aware that some resort guest rooms facing the Magic Kingdom may be affected by amplified music coming from the park until 4:00 am. If you're staying at one of the Magic Kingdom resorts on a Grad Night, you may want to ask for a room on the opposite side from the park. Gay Days. First week of June (2008 dates: June 3-9). Visit GayDays.com and OneMightyWeekend.com for more info about the two organized events. At most, only one park per day will be more crowded than normal; often there is no discernable effect on crowds. "Jersey Week" - Usually the first or second week of November. The New Jersey schools have a teachers' convention (upcoming convention dates: November 6-8, 2008). Lots of people pull their kids out of school for the whole week and add on the weekend before and/or after, taking this opportunity to go to Disney World in the "off season." New Jersey is the single biggest market for Walt Disney World -- you do the math! ABC's Very Merry Christmas Day Parade footage is taped for 2 or 3 days in Magic Kingdom, usually shortly after Thanksgiving (2007 dates: November 30-December 1). The exact dates aren't usually released until sometime in the fall. Unless you want to watch the production process, you may want to avoid Magic Kingdom on these days, because it creates crowd problems. Also, on those days some shows or parades may be cancelled or rescheduled. The Christmas Day Parade is broadcast on ABC on December 25 each year. Pop Warner Week - The Pop Warner Superbowl and National Cheer & Dance Championships are held at Disney World in early December (tentative 2008 dates: December 6-13). The Value resorts and some of the Moderate resorts will be FULL of kids (both football players and cheerleaders). Expect a lot of noise if you stay there. This event can cause crowds and there have been some unfortunate incidents, including violent fights between teams.

How can I make our Disney World vacation extra special?

While every Disney World vacation should be a blast, if you're celebrating a special occasion, want to inject a little romance, or just plain want to do something extra, I do have some ideas for you.

• To learn more about what Disney can offer for your special occasion (birthday, anniversary, etc), click here.

• For interesting and unusual activities and experiences, most of which are very inexpensive, click here.

• For info on special events and festivals that may be taking place during your visit, click here.

• Want romantic ideas for a Disney World vacation? Visit the Romance page at MouseWeddings.com.

I saw a web site or an "e-book" that says it can save me a ton of money on my vacation -- if I pay for it.

There are several web sites out there that claim they'll share the secret of saving big money on Disney vacations. The thing is, they want you to pay a monthly or annual fee for the information. I have investigated many of these sites, and at the risk of tooting my own horn, I can honestly say you'll get more and better information right here on MouseSavers.com -- for FREE.

Likewise, there are many "e-books" being sold on eBay, claiming to share exclusive secrets about how to save money on your Disney vacation. Many of these "e-books" are selling copyrighted material from MouseSavers.com and other useful (and FREE) web sites like Deb Wills' allearsnet.com. Some of the "e-books" on eBay are literally nothing more than a list of links to various web sites. Quite a few of the "e-books" I've checked out contained outdated, erroneous or just plain wrong information. I've even seen a couple that advocated fraudulently acquiring a Florida ID (which is a felony) in order to buy discounted tickets!

In short, don't waste your money.

I have a disability or health issue and may need special accommodations. How can I get more information?

Here are three great resources for anyone with a disability or special need who plans to visit one of the Disney theme parks:

1. Teri's Disney Travelers' Disability FAQ - a wonderful FREE resource for those with disabilities (and their friends and family) who are planning a trip to Walt Disney World. Lots of great links to additional information, too.

2. Disney's official information about help for those with disabilities at Walt Disney World.

3. PassPorter's Open Mouse for Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line (formerly titled PassPorter's Walt Disney World for Your Special Needs) is very useful for many people planning a vacation at Disney World. Among the special needs it covers are hearing and visual impairments, mobility issues, ADHD, autism, dietary issues such as allergies and vegetarianism, many medical conditions, pregnancy/breast-feeding, size (tall/big) and age (infants and seniors).

Hotels and Vacation Packages

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When will new discounts become available?

I wish I knew! The resort and vacation package discounts are somewhat unpredictable. Only Disney knows when (or if) the next ones will come out. I have no crystal ball -- I can't predict what Disney may decide to do.

However, you can get a general idea of the historical trends. To assist you in planning future trips for which discounts have not yet been released, check out my chart of release dates for the deepest discounts (including discount codes, Annual Passholder rates and Florida resident rates).

In addition, here are some general observations about future discount availability:

When offered, "room only" discounts for the general public, Annual Passholders and Florida residents are usually relatively last-minute. Don't expect to get a big discount way in advance -- typically the discounts are released 2-4 months in advance. Sometimes the discounts are restricted to certain resorts or room types.

Vacation package discounts are sometimes released a little earlier, but seldom more than 6 months in advance.

Naturally, Disney only offers discounts on its resorts when it has a significant number of rooms to fill. Therefore the most popular dates and resorts are typically not discounted.

Some additional observations:

• I have NEVER seen a discount offered for resort check-ins between December 27 and 31 (and discounts for December 26 check-ins are extremely rare). That is the busiest time of year at Disney.

• Easter week, Thanksgiving week and other major holiday periods are often "blacked out," meaning most discounts don't apply at that time. Sometimes AAA discounts have been available at these times, however.

• Suites are VERY rarely discounted. I can only think of one time it has happened, and it was for the All Star Music Family Suites in September, which is the lowest-occupancy month of the year.

• Concierge level rooms can sometimes be obtained at a discount, and the luxurious villas at the Disney Vacation Club resorts (i.e. Villas at Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk Villas, Beach Club Villas, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs and Animal Kingdom Villas) are discounted at times.

Discount codes must be thought of as a "clearance sale" -- if you want the discount, you have to be willing to take what's left over! It's important to be flexible with both dates and hotels, and to be persistent in calling back periodically to see if anything has opened up.

When will next year's room rates or vacation package prices be released?

Hard to say. Only Disney knows for sure. However, you can get a general idea of the historical trends. To assist you in planning future trips for which rates have not yet been released, check out the list of past release dates for "rack" (full price) room rates and vacation packages.

If you book a "room only" reservation for next year before the official rates are released, your deposit will be based on this year's Peak Season rates. When the correct rates are released, your reservation will be adjusted to reflect them.

Is it possible to use more than one discount for the same reservation?

No. You may choose only one discount.

If you are making a "room-only" reservation, you can use ONE discount, be that a discount code for the general public, AAA rate, Annual Passholder rate or Florida resident rate. You may not use the discounts in conjunction with one another.

"Room-only" discounts (i.e., AAA, Annual Passholder, Florida resident, general public discount codes) cannot be used with vacation packages. Sometimes there are special discounts on vacation packages, however.

Thanks to Alex B for suggesting this topic.

Should I reserve now, or wait until the discounts come out?

You should book a "room only" reservation as soon as you know when you'll be traveling, so that you are sure you have a room at the time you want to travel. Disney allows resort bookings up to 550 days in advance, though exact pricing doesn't become available until about midway through the year prior (so 2009 rates probably won't be available until mid-2008). Just contact a travel agent or call the Disney Reservations Center at (407) W-DISNEY (934-7639) and make a "room only" reservation.

If you belong to the Auto Club, you might as well see if you can get the AAA discount on your "room only" reservation now, in case nothing better comes along. AAA rates come out about mid-year for the following year, so 2009 rates probably won't be available until mid-2008.

"Room only" reservations can usually be changed later to reflect any discount codes or Annual Passholder discounts, if they become available. However, only a certain number of discounted rooms are released for each code or discount. If those are all taken when you call, you will not be able to switch to the discounted rate, even though you already have a reservation.

If a discounted package is released later and you are interested in changing from "room only" to a package, you may have to book the package and then cancel the "room only" reservation.

Don't book a full-price package now if you are planning to look for "room only" discounts later. All packages have restrictive rules about cancellations and changes. Also, some of the package elements (especially airfare and insurance) are usually nonrefundable.

If I already a reservation, can I add a new discount?

Maybe. If you have made a full-price "room only" reservation and it is more than 5 days before you're supposed to check in, you should be able to change the reservation to reflect any available discount. However, only a certain number of discounted rooms are released for each code or discount. If those are all taken when you call, you will not be able to switch to the discounted rate, even though you already have a reservation.

If you have made a full-price vacation package reservation, it still may be possible to take advantage of a new discount, but it's much trickier:

• "Room only" discount codes or Annual Passholder discounts cannot be applied to packages, so you're going to have to cancel the package to get those discounts. If you have at least 45 days before you're supposed to check in, you can probably cancel the package reservation without penalty. After that date you'll pay a penalty fee. Certain parts of packages are usually not refundable, including trip insurance and airfare. I would recommend that you first book a discounted room and then cancel the existing package reservation.

• If a discounted package becomes available for the same hotel, room type and dates you have already booked, they may be able to switch you to the new package, and you would get either a refund or a credit on your room account. If the hotel, room type and dates you have booked are not available with the discount, but you are willing to be flexible in order to save money, you may be able to switch your package to a different hotel, room type or dates that will qualify. If you have at least 45 days before you're supposed to check in, you can probably change the package reservation without penalty. After that date, there's usually a penalty of $50 or more for changing the package.

If you booked through a travel agent, the agent must make any changes to your existing reservations. The same general rules given above will usually apply.

Can I get the Dining Plan with a room-only reservation?

No. Unless you are a Disney Vacation Club member staying at a DVC resort on points (see below), the Dining Plan is only available as part of a Magic Your Way vacation package that includes both a hotel stay and admission tickets for each person in your party.

Here's a trick for those who already have tickets or an Annual Pass: you can buy a Magic Your Way vacation package of any length and include only a 1-Day Base Ticket in your package. (In other words, you do not have to purchase a ticket that matches your length of stay.) So if you already have tickets or an Annual Pass but you want the Dining Plan, it still might be worth your while to buy a vacation package with a 1-Day Base Ticket. As long as you don't use the 1-Day Base Ticket, it will not expire and can be applied later toward the purchase of a more expensive ticket. If you are an Annual Passholder, for instance, you could apply the value of the 1-Day Base Ticket toward your next Annual Pass. (However, Annual Passholders may find the Disney Dining Experience card is a better and more flexible deal for them.)

Disney Vacation Club members (and their guests) may purchase the Dining Plan in conjunction with a stay at one of the Walt Disney World DVC resorts, when staying on points. DVC members are not required to purchase a package or tickets to qualify, as long as they meet the other rules (DVC resort only, and only on a points stay). This is the only exception to the usual package purchase requirement.

What's the deal with "Free Dining"?

For the past several years, during a select period of the year, Disney has offered a free dining plan when you purchase a full-price vacation package that includes hotel room and tickets. The "free dining" offer has ONLY been made for travel in late August and the month of September.

Disney offers this plan as an incentive to get people to visit Disney World at a time when Southern schools are back in session, which causes the theme parks and hotels to empty out. Additionally, that period is peak hurricane season and extremely hot and humid.

Based on past years, I expect the "free dining" offer for 2008 to be released for Disney Rewards® Visa® Cardholders on April 7, 2008 and for the general public on April 10, 2008. The travel dates for which the offer would apply are expected to be August 24-September 20, 2008. While there is never any guarantee that Disney will continue to offer any particular discount, this one has been extremely popular and has been offered each year since 2005.

The resort discount code you list isn't working for me!

All of the resort discount codes on MouseSavers.com have been checked out carefully and come from legitimate published sources such as Disney newspaper advertisements, faxes sent to travel agents by Disney, Disney web sites, etc.

While I’m not infallible, I can tell you that when someone writes to tell me a code didn't work, it almost always turns out to be one of three things:

1. The person who wrote me is trying to use a code for dates or resorts for which it is not intended. This is just plain not going to work.

2. There are no rooms at that rate remaining in the system for the particular combination of dates you want at the hotel you want. (Typically Disney holds a limited number of rooms for each code.) It's best if you have some flexibility in your travel dates and/or choices of hotel. If you can't get your first choice, you can always try calling back from time to time, since rooms are released frequently.

3. It might be a problem with the reservations agent. Some of the agents at the Disney Reservations Center are more knowledgeable and helpful than others. If you have double-checked a code and made sure that it covers the resort and dates you want, but the person who answers the phone is telling you it won’t work or doesn’t exist, politely end the call and try again. There are hundreds of agents, so it’s very unlikely you’ll get the same one twice. 

If you talk with three different Disney agents and they all agree that the information about a particular code or discount on MouseSavers.com is wrong, please email me so I can make a correction.

Where should I stay?

That's a complicated question that depends on your preferences as far as cost, location, convenience and more. I really can't make that decision for you, but here is some information that may help:

• If you want to know more about Disney's resorts, visit my page that compares them and explains why I think some are better than others.

• I've picked some excellent non-Disney hotels, which I call my MouseSavers Preferred Hotels. Go here to learn more about them.

What's the difference between the Disney resorts, the Swan & Dolphin, the Downtown Disney hotels, and other hotels?

In addition to the obvious differences in terms of theming, proximity to the theme parks, etc., each of these hotel types has a different level of special privileges.

Privileges available when staying at one of the Disney resorts (Value, Moderate, Deluxe, Disney Vacation Club and Ft. Wilderness cabins & campsites):

• Access to Extra Magic Hours

• Ability to use Disney's Magical Express (free transportation and luggage transfers to and from the airport)

• Ability to make up to ten days of Advance Dining Reservations starting 180 days prior to check-in.

• Unlimited free use of the excellent Disney transportation system (buses, boats and monorails) which connects all of the Disney resorts to the theme parks and Downtown Disney, and connects the Disney resorts to each other.

• FREE parking at all of the Disney theme parks (you'll be given a parking permit at check-in).

• Charging privileges - you can charge most purchases in the Disney resorts and theme parks to your room key.

• Package delivery - have theme park purchases delivered to your Disney resort.

Privileges available when staying at the Swan and Dolphin hotels:

• Access to Extra Magic Hours

• Unlimited free use of the excellent Disney transportation system (buses, boats and monorails) which connects all of the Disney resorts to the theme parks and Downtown Disney, and connects the Disney resorts to each other.

• FREE parking at all of the Disney theme parks (just show your room key).

• Package delivery - have theme park purchases delivered to your Disney resort.

Privileges available when staying at the Downtown Disney hotels:

• Access to Extra Magic Hours - Hilton in the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort ONLY - the other 6 Downtown Disney hotels DO NOT participate.

• Unlimited free use of the very good Downtown Disney bus system, which connects the Downtown Disney hotels to the theme parks and Downtown Disney. Downtown Disney buses do not go to the Disney resorts. (If you have a valid multi-day pass, you can use Disney's transportation system once you are at one of the theme parks or Downtown Disney.)

Privileges available when staying off the Disney property (all other Walt Disney World-area hotels):

• None of the above. Many hotels off the Disney property have "scheduled" transportation to the theme parks -- typically 2 departures in the morning and 2 return buses in the evening -- and no transportation to Downtown Disney or Disney resorts. (If you have a valid multi-day pass, you can use Disney's transportation system once you are on Disney property.)

I have more than four people in my party. How can I find reasonably-priced accommodations?

For those who want or need more space than you'll find in the typical hotel room that accommodates a family of four, there are options in three categories: Disney's resorts, non-Disney hotels located on Disney property, and off-site hotels.

By the way, if you will have a large group (8 or more), you may want to read my reunion tips and the information about Grand Gatherings.

Disney's Resorts

A family of 5 or larger can be surprisingly expensive to accommodate at a Walt Disney World resort, because Disney's hotels aren't geared toward large families! Ironic for a "family" destination, but true.

The standard Value resort rooms sleep 4. Most standard Moderate rooms also sleep 4; the only exception is the Alligator Bayou section of Port Orleans Riverside, where you can get rooms with a trundle bed that will sleep a 5th (small) person. Some, but not all, standard rooms at Disney's Deluxe resorts sleep 5; at the Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge, you'll have to pay an upgrade to get a room that sleeps 5. Most of the new 1-bedroom units being built at Animal Kingdom Villas will sleep 5, but the room rates are very high (you do get a full kitchen with these, however).

One thing to bear in mind: Disney doesn't count a child under 3 who sleeps in a crib in its room occupancy limits. You can add one baby to the room without additional charge. So if your family includes a baby, you can subtract one person from your count.

I'm occasionally asked if Disney is "strict" about room limits. The answer is yes. Disney didn't invent the limits; they are dictated by the Fire Marshal, based on the square footage of the room. The limits are for your own safety and comfort.

If you want to stay on Disney property with a family larger than 5, you will need either two rooms, a family suite at All-Star Music (sleeps 6), a cabin at the Ft. Wilderness Campground (sleeps 6) or a 2-bedroom villa at one of the Disney Vacation Club resorts (sleeps 8 or 9 and has a full kitchen, but this is very expensive).

If you have a big family, want to stay at a Disney resort, but need to keep your costs down, I would recommend getting two connecting standard rooms at a Value resort. That will give you beds enough for up to 8 people (2 per bed). It is also the least expensive way to go (less expensive than a cabin or 2-bedroom villa), and has a major advantage because you will have two bathrooms. Another option for about the same cost is a family suite at All-Star Music, which sleeps 6 and includes a small kitchenette.

Non-Disney Hotels

There are a couple of nice options that are on Disney property (in the Downtown Disney area), but not operated by Disney:

• Even the standard rooms at Hotel Royal Plaza in the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort will sleep 5 on two double beds plus a single-sized loveseat that pulls out.

• Only one hotel has reasonably priced 1-bedroom suites that will accommodate 6 people: DoubleTree Guest Suites in the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort, which is one of the Downtown Disney hotels. These suites also include a mini-fridge and microwave.

Off-Site

Outside of Disney property, there are some excellent options:

• The upscale Caribe Royale Resort and its less expensive sister property Buena Vista Suites both offer 1-bedroom suites that sleep 6, and you get a mini-fridge and microwave. Buena Vista Suites includes a full hot breakfast buffet in the rate. The Caribe Royale also offers fabulous 2-bedroom villas that sleep 8 and beat Disney's prices by a mile.

• SpringHill Suites Orlando in the Marriott Village has "studio suites" that sleep 5 people and include a mini-fridge and microwave, plus FREE hot continental breakfast is included in the room rate.

Are vacation homes or "villas" a good bet when visiting Walt Disney World?

There are dozens of companies and hundreds of individual homeowners out there on the Internet offering rental vacation homes (also called "villas") in the Orlando area. I get many questions about this option, which on the surface sounds like an appealing way for families (particularly larger families) to save some money on accommodation.

This is a controversial subject and I have received a ton of e-mail from people who have rented vacation homes. Overall, I don't see much of a pattern: e-mails regarding vacation homes tend to run 50-50 pro and con. Some people are extremely enthusiastic about their experiences with vacation home rentals and have reported to me that they were very happy with this option. (Sadly, when I've followed up on some of the glowing letters I've received on the subject, I learned a few were sent by "shills" who own or manage such homes.) I've received about an equal number of letters from renters who have been extremely disappointed with the experience.

I have decided not to feature rental vacation homes on MouseSavers.com. That's partly because of the mixed reports I've had from readers, but it's mainly because I have done considerable in-person research on vacation homes. Without identifying myself or revealing my connection wi th MouseSavers.com, I have viewed a lot of homes and had extensive conversations with property managers and individual owners. Some of the homes were much nicer than others. However, I came away from my research feeling uncomfortable with recommending any particular company or individual.

A little background: There are hundreds (perhaps thousands) of vacation homes in the Orlando area. In fact, I think it's safe to say the market is flooded with such properties, which is why the rentals are often relatively cheap. A lot of the owners are residents of the UK, though some Americans also own rental homes. The homeowners typically vacation in Florida for one month per year and let a property management firm rent out the home for the rest of the year. A lot of the property management companies that service vacation home rentals are also real estate agencies that are in the business of selling vacation homes.

The majority of vacation homes are located in Kissimmee, a town neighboring Orlando, where you will find rows and rows of tract homes that are mostly used as rentals. While there are significant exceptions, on the whole the Kissimmee homes tend to be cheaply furnished and a little tattered around the edges. Most of them are pretty ordinary and don't offer much in the way of luxury, other than (usually) a pool.

There are some luxury homes in other areas of Orlando, which charge much higher rents. You may end up paying as much per night as you would for a luxury hotel. If you really want extra space, these may be worth looking into. Personally at that price level I'd prefer the services of a fine hotel, but others feel differently.

Don't count on the "10 minute" drives to Walt Disney World that all of the vacation home rental companies seem to advertise. The drives are usually more like 20-30 minutes in normal traffic. (You might be able to get to Disney World in 10 minutes from some of the homes in the middle of the night, if you hit all the lights.)

While I'm sure there are many honorable people who rent out their own homes, renting directly from the homeowners is something you must carefully research. Homeowners are usually not professional property managers and in some cases they are also not local residents. Unfortunately, if anything goes wrong, it can be difficult to get any problems fixed and/or money refunded, particularly if the owner lives out of the area.

If you'd like to rent a vacation home, my advice is to proceed with extreme caution and get plenty of references. If you luck into an exceptional vacation home rental, I'm sure it can be a great value.

I get many e-mails from vacation home owners and management companies who want me to promote their properties on MouseSavers.com. Sorry, but at this time I don't have the time or inclination to check out any more vacation homes. I wish you good luck with your rental business.

Are there any pet-friendly hotels in Orlando?

All three of the official hotels at Universal Orlando (Portofino Bay Resort, Hard Rock Hotel and Royal Pacific Resort) are pet-friendly. While they don't have a size limit on the pets, there is a pet fee and they my limit the number of pets per room and in the hotel overall. It's best to call in advance and make sure they know you are bringing your pet(s).

Some designated campsites at Disney's Ft. Wilderness Campground allow pets. There is an extra charge of $5 per day. There is a kennel at Ft. Wilderness where you can keep your pet when you are in the theme parks.

Other Orlando-area hotels that do allow some pets include Sheraton Safari (dogs up to 80 lbs), Holiday Inn Express Lake Buena Vista (40 lb limit; pet fee applies) and Country Inn & Suites at Calypso Cay (not sure of size limit; pet fee applies). Be sure to call and double-check their policies.

TripAdvisor says one of your recommended hotels is terrible!

This is actually not a frequent question, but occasionally I do hear from someone who is really worried about staying at one of the MouseSavers Preferred Hotels because of something they read about the hotel on TripAdvisor.

I know it's difficult to make a decision about a hotel, particularly when you are traveling from a distance and not familiar with the area. That's exactly why I developed the MouseSavers Preferred Hotels program. I only recommend about a dozen hotels in the Orlando area, out of hundreds. Click here for more information about how they are selected.

I visit all of the MouseSavers Preferred Hotels regularly, on both announced and unannounced visits. On average I visit them twice a year, and I stay at them on a rotating basis. I also pay attention to the extensive feedback I receive from my readers about the hotels, which is overwhelmingly positive. I sincerely believe you can rely on my recommendations.

The problem with TripAdvisor is that absolutely anyone can write a review, including the hotel's competitors, the hotel's own staff, people who are completely unreasonable, and those who have an axe to grind. Guests who were unhappy are more likely to post reviews than those who had a good stay.

On TripAdvisor I've seen multiple reviews that were obviously written by the same person about the same hotel stay (even though this isn't officially allowed). Naturally that totally messes up the hotel's rankings. I've seen more than one review that was a complete fraud: information in the review was so factually inaccurate that I doubted the reviewer had been within miles of the hotel.

So while I do look at TripAdvisor sometimes, I take the reviews with several grains of salt. At minimum, I recommend ignoring the very low and very high reviews and looking at those in the middle, as well as the overall ranking.

Tickets

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How can I find out if old tickets are still valid or still have days left on them?

Unfortunately, there is no way to find out in advance how many (if any) days are left on your old tickets. You will have to go to Walt Disney World and take the tickets to Guest Services. It's best to do this at the theme parks -- the concierge desks at the resorts apparently operate on a different system and may not show any remaining "plus" features on the tickets.

Magic Your Way tickets (issued January 2, 2005 and later) are only good for 14 days after their first use unless you purchased the "No Expiration" option for the tickets.

Unused theme park admissions and "plus" features on the old Park Hopper tickets issued prior to January 2, 2005 never expire.

Can I share a ticket with another person?

No. Disney World tickets are nontransferable. Only one person can use each ticket. Disney uses a biometric finger scan system (which takes a partial fingerprint) that prevents you from selling or sharing a ticket.

Can I use my ticket for two theme park admissions in one day?

Only if you purchase the Park Hopper option.

Because of the price structure of Magic Your Way tickets, which cost only a little more for extra days, in many cases it would seem to be cheaper if you could just add extra days to a ticket and use up two admissions on one day, instead of paying for the Park Hopper option. (For instance, buy a 6-day ticket and use two admissions per day for 3 days.) But Disney won't let you do it.

The entrance gates are programmed to prevent you from using a Magic Your Way ticket without the Park Hopper option at more than one park on the same day. The gate attendant will stop you and instruct you to go to the ticket booths and buy the Park Hopper option if you want to get into the second park.

You can enter the same park multiple times on the same day with any ticket, however.

You say Undercover Tourist offers lower prices than Disney, but Disney's prices seem lower.

It can seem that way at first glance. The reason is, the prices displayed on the Disney website do not include tax of 6.5%, which must be paid regardless of where you live. The tax is added later in the ordering process.

Undercover Tourist prices already include taxes and shipping. Once you add the tax, you will always find that multi-day Disney World tickets are cheaper through Undercover Tourist.

The "secret" newsletter prices for Undercover Tourist seem to be the same as their regular prices.

No, there really are lower prices from Undercover Tourist if you go through the "secret" newsletter link.

The reason you're seeing the same prices is that a "cookie" is set on your computer when you visit through the newsletter link. If you go directly to the Undercover Tourist site afterward, the cookie causes your screen to display the MouseSavers Newsletter rates.

However, if you delete cookies and/or close down your browser, reboot your computer and return to the Undercover Tourist site without clicking through on the special link, you will see the regular "general public" prices, which are higher.

When you're on Undercover Tourist's private page for MouseSavers Newsletter subscribers, you will see this at the top: "Welcome Mouse Savers enjoy your special prices." When the general public comes to the Undercover Tourist site, the message and the special prices are not visible.

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