If you are visiting Disney World in March 2012 it is always good to know what events are happening and which rides and attractions will be closed for refurbishment. Planning ahead is always a good idea when you vista Walt Disney World. The more you know before you go, the more you will enjoy your vacation! We have tried to be as accurate as possible with these dates but things do change, so if you are visiting in March always check schedules before you arrive.

All photos by hubsterdisney

Is March a good time to visit Walt Disney World?

In early March crowds do tend to be relatively low and the weather is usually great with an average temperature of 78 degrees. March of course brings Spring Break so expect the crowds to be heavier, particularly around the week of March 10th when many schools are on vacation.

Which Disney World Rides are Closed in March 2012?

One of the most popular rides with young children is Dumbo The Flying Elephant and this will be closed until March 12th 2012. You will want to warn the little ones about this to avoid disappointment. The Magic Carpets of Aladdin is close by and is exactly the same type of ride, but for many it just isn’t the same!

Another Magic Kingdom headline ride Big Thunder Mountain is close for refurbishment until May 27th. This is a very popular ride in the park so the fact that it is closed may mean that crowds are heavier in that area and that the lines for the adjacent ride Splash Mountain are longer. As always with the popular rides get a Fast Pass if you can and this will cut down the amount of time that you spend in line.

The Studio Backlot Tour in Disney Hollywood Studios is closed is closed from February 13th to March 9th 2012.

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon is closed until March 18th but Blizzard Beach is open if you want to enjoy one of the water parks. This doesn’t tend to have too much effect on crowd levels as traditionally attendance at the water parks is lower in these winter months.

Disney World Restaurant and Resort Facility Closures for March 2012

One of the restaurants in Epcot’s Italy, Tutto Italia Ristorante will be closed until April 28th 2012. The Plaza Ice Cream Parlor in Magic Kingdom is also closed until March 28th.

If you are a guest of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa then you will want to know that the pool slide will be closed from February 6th and reopen on March 3rd. The pool itself is still open, it is just the slide that is being refurbished.

Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival

This is a very popular annual event in Disney’s Epcot park and runs from March 7th to May 20th 2012. No separate entrance ticket is needed – it is included with your general admission to Epcot. The park is beautifully decorated with flowers and spectacular topiary designs.

This popular Flower Power Concert Series is held at the weekends at the American Gardens Theater in World Showcase. Performances are at 5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.

March 9th to 11th Jose Feliciano
March 16th to 18th Starship Starring Mickey Thomas
March 23rd to 25th The Guess Who
March 30th to April 1st The Spinners
April 6th to 8th Chubby Checker & The Wildcats
April 13th to 15th Paul Revere & The Raiders
April 20th to 22nd The Turtles Featuring Flo & Eddie
April 27th to 29th Chuck Negron, Formerly of Three Dog Night
May 4th to 6th The Orchestra Starring Former Members of ELO
May 11th to 13th Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone
May 18th to 20th Davy Jones

There are also HGTV celebrities scheduled to present the concert series as follows:

John Gidding from HGTV’s Curb Appeal: The Block – March 9th to 11th
Sabrina Soto of The High/Low Project – March 16th to 18th
Jason Cameron from DIY Network’s Desperate Landscapes and Man Caves – March 23rd to 25th
Camille Styles who is an HGTV.com Entertainment contributor – March 30th to April 1st
Dan Faires of HGTV.com’s DanMade and Fan Favorite HGTV Design Star Season 5 – April 6th to 8th
Brandon Johnson who is host of HGTV’s My Yard Goes Disney – April 13th to 15th
Meg Caswell, of Meg’s Great Rooms is presenting April 20th to 22nd
Monica Pedersen from HGTV Dream Home Tour 2012 and Designed to Sell is presenting April 27th to 29th
Antonio Ballatore, HGTV’s The Antonio Treatment – May 4th to 6th
To be determined – presenting May 11th to 13th
Genevieve Gorder of Dear Genevieve and HGTV Design Star – May 18th to 20th

Have a wonderful vacation if you are visiting Walt Disney World in March 2012.

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Are you celebrating your birthday at Walt Disney World and want some ideas of things that you can do to make the day special. Disney World is a great place to spend any day but it is always a lot of fun to spend your birthday at the parks. So what is there to do on your birthday?

Photo by expressmonorail

Disney World Free Things to Do on Your Birthday

If you are staying at one of the Disney World resorts then always tell the Cast Members at the time you make the reservation and at the time that you check in that someone is celebrating a birthday. They will usually ask you what your favorite Disney character is and arrange for something special like balloons and perhaps even a small cup cake or dessert treat to be brought to your room. I have done this many times – sometimes it works and sometimes not but it doesn’t hurt to try.

Another fun and free thing to do is go to Guest Services at the parks and ask for a Birthday Pin. This is a fun keepsake but also when you wear this most Cast Members will say Happy Birthday to you when they see it. If you have an autograph book with you the characters will often put a special birthday greeting in there for you.

Disney Celebration Cakes

If you are dining at any Disney World restaurant or staying at a Disney World resort you can order a customized cake for a birthday or other special celebration. Call 407-827-2253 for customized cake orders and give at least 48 hours notice. The cake can be delivered to your room or any Disney full service restaurant.

If you just want a 6″ celebration cake you can order these at the check in podium of any Disney restaurant. You can also order these via your concierge or front desk at any Disney resort if you want it to be delivered to your room. They do not need to be ordered in advance like the customized cakes. The cost for this celebration cake is $21 plus tax and gratuity.

If you do not want to buy a cake then mention the fact that there is someone with a birthday in your party at any Disney restaurant and they will usually bring a small cup cake with a candle in it for you.

Goofy Party Central

If you want to celebrate a child’s birthday with a party at Disney World then Goofy Party Central is a great option. Parties are held every day by advance reservation in a special party room at Goofy’s Candy Company in Downtown Disney. All parties are 90 minutes long and are for guests aged 3 and up. To reserve your party call 407-WDW-BDAY.

The rate for Goofy Party Central for up to 12 guests is $367.38. You can add up to 3 more guests for $25 each. Each party includes 2 hosts, invitations and thank you cards for your guests. There are 2 theme choices for your party:

The Perfectly Princess Party

Perfect for your little Princesses birthday when she will receive a crown, a sash, a boxed glass slipper and mylar balloon. Guests play Perfectly Princess party games, decorate a special treat and receive an autographed picture of Cinderella, a glow necklace and a balloon.

Goofy’s Scien-Terrific Birthday Bash

A Goofy themed birthday party for your special day. The birthday child will receive a Goofy gum ball machine and a mylar balloon. Guests play Goofy games, decorate a treat and get a Goofy glacier cup. They will receive special glow glasses, a party balloon and an autographed picture of Goofy.

Celebrate at a Special Disney World Restaurant

There are lots of amazing Disney World restaurants to choose from for your birthday celebration. Whatever your age there is something that you will really enjoy for your special day.

For younger children a special character meal is a great idea. Here is a guide to the choices available:

Disney World Character Dining

There are plenty of choices for the adults too. Here is a guide to the very best:

Top 10 Most Romantic Restaurants in Walt Disney World

However you celebrate your Disney World birthday you will be sure to have a magical and memorable day!

It really pays to know exactly which Walt Disney World Passes to buy. There are ways to get discounts on Walt Disney World tickets but you do have to be careful that you buy direct from Disney or through an authorized ticket seller.

The first thing to decide is exactly which pass you need for your vacation. If you use this guide to Walt Disney World passes it gives you a step by step system so that you can make the right choices and make some savings. Once you understand the basics it will be much easier to decide which Magic Your Way ticket is for you.

A Basic Guide to Walt Disney World Passes

You can buy a Disney World Base ticket for one day and right up to 10 days. Each ticket is valid for a visit to one of the four Disney World theme parks per day until the ticket expires. The ticket will expire either when you have used up all the days on your ticket or 13 days after the first day you used your ticket, whichever is the earlier.

The tickets are not transferable to anyone else. Ever. They will have your name printed on them and you will have to give a finger scan when you go through the turnstiles.

As you will see from the prices in the table below, the more days you buy the cheaper the per day price becomes. Once you get past the 3 day ticket prices then the per day add on price is less than $10. These are the prices you would pay at the Disney World Gate. All prices include tax and are current for January 2012.

Days

Adult

Child (aged 3 to 9)

1

$90.53

$84.14

2

$178.92

$165.08

3

$247.08

$227.91

4

$258.80

$238.56

5

$267.32

$247.08

6

$275.84

$255.60

7

$284.36

$264.12

8

$292.88

$272.62

9

$301.40

$281.16

10

$309.92

$289.68

Once you have decided how many days you need then you can think about whether or not you want one or more of the available add on options: a Park Hopper, a Water Park Fun and More option and a Non Expiration Option.

Do I Need a Disney World Park Hopper Ticket Option?

The Base ticket allows you to visit one theme park per day (either Magic Kingdom, Disney Hollywood Studios, Epcot or Disney’s Animal Kingdom). So if you just have a base ticket and go to Magic Kingdom in the morning then this is the only park you can enter on that day with that ticket.

If you think that you would like to visit more than one park per day then the Park Hopper is a good choice. The add on cost is $37.28 with tax for 1 day $58.58 with tax for 2 days or more. The more days you have on your ticket the cheaper the per day rate. If you have a 10 day ticket the per day price is just $5.58 but if you have just 2 days the cost is almost $30 per day.

Think carefully about whether or not you will use a Park Hopper. If you have a family of 4 you will add over $200 to the cost of tickets. For some the Park Hopper is a great option. You could go to Animal Kingdom in the day and then travel to Magic Kingdom at night to see the fireworks for example. But be aware the park hopping does take time. Depending upon where you are transferring to and from it can take over an hour to park hop. Not so much fun if you are already tired from a day walking around the parks.

The Park Hopper decision is a very individual one. It is always a good idea to plan before your Disney World vacation so give some thought to what you will do each day and see if a Park Hopper is the right option for you.

Disney World Water Park Fun and More

This adds $58.58 to a Base ticket no matter how many days are on the ticket. It allows you admission to Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex, or a round of golf at Oak Trail.

You get a pre set amount of admissions depending upon the amount of days on your Base ticket. So if you have a 4 day ticket you get 4 admissions, a 9 day ticket you get 9 and so on. The only exception is with a 1 day ticket you get 2 admissions.

As with all Disney Magic Your Way tickets this will expire after 14 days ( so day of use plus 13 days). As a general rule if you are going to visit these places twice then you will save money on a separate admission price.

Disney World Passes Non Expiration Option

This can be a great choice but be very careful with what you decide here as the add on price is considerable.

Days

Adult

Child (aged 3 to 9)

1

n/a

n/a

2

$26.63

$26.63

3

$37.28

$37.28

4

$79.88

$79.88

5

$122.48

$122.48

6

$138.45

$138.45

7

$170.40

$170.40

8

$207.68

$207.68

9

$234.30

$234.30

10

$239.63

$239.63

A non expiration option can be great value if you know that you are returning to Walt Disney World. For example if you visit in 2012 and buy a 10 day ticket with a non expiration option and use 5 days this visit, you will still have 5 days to use when you return. That would be cheaper than buying two 5 day Magic Your Way passes. But it is rumored that most of the non expiration options are never used. As it adds so much onto the Base Ticket price you do have to be sure that this is a good option for your visit.

Disney World Ticket Upgrades

You can upgrade a Disney World pass within the first 14 days (day of first use plus 13 days). So if you decide after a couple of days that you really do want that Park Hopper option then you can go back to the ticket window and pay the upgrade cost. Once the ticket has expired you cannot upgrade. Also remember you can never down grade. So if you buy a Water Park option and then only visit once you cannot get a refund.

Walt Disney World Annual Passes

Disney World offers several different types of annual pass including special passes for Florida Residents. For more information about this I have written a guide at:

Disney World Tickets for Florida Residents

As a rough guide if you are planning on visiting 11 days or more in a year then an Annual Pass offers savings over a Magic Your Way ticket. Some annual passes also have benefits such as discounts on merchandise and perks such as free parking which can also add up to significant savings. There are also sometimes offers of discountson Walt Disney World resorts for annual passholders.

An annual pass which will give you access to all the four theme parks for one year is $552.74 for adults and $509.07 for a child aged 3-9. Renewals are offered at a discount.

A deluxe Disney Annual Pass is $691.19 for adults and $636.87 for children aged 3 to 9. Renewals are also offered at a discount. This ticket will allow you access to the main four parks, the water parks and Disney Quest.

Where Not To Buy Disney World Passes

There are scams out there. Lots of them unfortunately so you do need to be aware of them. Only ever buy direct from Disney World (either at the gate or online) or from Authorized Disney Ticket Agents.

Disney World tickets are never transferable so if someone is offering you un expired days off tickets or you are looking at sites like eBay or Craigslist just do not go there. Never, ever buy a Disney ticket unless it is from an authorized source. It is illegal to sell tickets in this way and every year someone is arrested for doing just that. Do not be a victim of these scams.

Discount Walt Disney World Passes

There are safe places to buy discount Disney World Passes. You can buy direct from Disney or an Authorized ticket dealer. Click below to look at the discount prices for this highly reliable ticket seller:

Discounts on Disney Park Tickets!

Savings vary according to which ticket type you buy but it can save your family a lot of money.

They key to saving on Walt Disney World Passes is understanding which ticket you really need and then buying it from a safe source. With this guide you now have everything you need. If you have any questions just leave me a comment below.

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There are so many Disney World hotel resorts to choose from that it can get overwhelming when deciding where to stay for your vacation. Which Disney hotels are the very best? Of course it depends upon many things, which theme,location and of course budget suit you best. Here is my own Top 10 Disney World hotel selection.

Photo by expressmonorail

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

This has to win the top spot for unique hotels not just in Disney World but in the whole of North America. There really aren’t many places where you can step out on to your balcony and watch a giraffe or a zebra walk on by. This Deluxe Disney hotel is built around around a huge savannah where animals freely roam. As soon as you step into the lobby you feel as though you have stepped into a very different, and very relaxing world. It is a perfect haven away from the non stop activity of the theme parks.

Rooms in Animal Kingdom Lodge are not the largest at an average of 344 square feet, but if you get a savannah view this really makes up for the smaller space. The only downside is the location of the hotel as it is the most remote of all the Disney hotels. It is next to Animal Kingdom park but you have to take Disney transportation or rent a vehicle to drive there – there is no walking path.

If you are looking for something very different then Animal Kingdom Lodge should certainly be very close to the top of your list.

For a complete guide, lots of pictures and advice on how to pick the best rooms:

Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

If you are looking for a Disney hotel with a great location and sleek modern design then look no further than Disney’s Contemporary Resort. This is one of the original Disney World hotels and has recently undergone a complete refurbishment. You can’t get any closer to the Disney Magic Kingdom monorail – it actually runs through the hotel lobby! The rooms have contemporary design and are a generous size at an average of almost 400 square feet. Many of the rooms have great views of Bay Lake, Seven Seas Lagoon, or of course the most coveted of Magic Kingdom.

The downside for some is that it simply isn’t ‘Disney’ enough. The decor lacks those essential Disney touches for some.

To learn more go to:

Disney Contemporary Resort

Art of Animation Resort

This one doesn’t even open until May 2012 but this is already in this Top 10. The much awaited new Disney Value resort is themed around some of the most popular recent Disney movies: The Lion King, Finding Nemo, Disney Pixar Cars, and The Little Mermaid. The Value resorts are a great choice for guests on a budget. Here you will find great motel style accommodation at a reasonable price, with all the advantages of staying on a Disney resort.

The Art of Animation Resort is likely to be the most popular not only because of it’s beautifully themed rooms but also because it offers a new kind of accommodation. The relatively budget friendly family Suites which will sleep up to 6 guests.

All of the Value resorts are very popular. They have a huge amount of rooms and are spread out over a big area. You can walk a long way to the pool, the bus stops and the counter service restaurant. But if you can live with all of these things you will get a Disney resort room at a budget price.

To find out more

Disney Art of Animation Resort Hotel

Disney Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

Photo by express monorail

The Grand Floridian is the most luxurious of the Disney hotels. Located on the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon it is ideally placed for access to the Magic Kingdom. Style and elegance are the influences here. Themed around the magnificent Victorian sea side resorts you will feel as if you belong whether you are wearing a dinner jacket or a Goofy Hat.

The rooms at the Grand Floridian are a very generous 440 square feet on average, and many have great views over the Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom. The resort has 2 beautiful swimming pools, tennis courts and of course the full service spa.

The Grand Floridian has some of the best restaurants in Disney World including Victoria and Alberts and Citricos. It is also home to one of the best character buffets at 1900 Park Fare.

Here is a guide to this deluxe Disney Hotel

Disney World Grand Floridian

Walt Disney World Wilderness Lodge Resort

The Wilderness Resort is another deluxe Disney hotel. This is perhaps the most architecturally stunning of all of the Disney resorts. It is modeled after the Old Faithful Lodge in Yellowstone National Park and has a wonderful welcoming and relaxing atmosphere as soon as you arrive. It makes you feel as though you are in one of the great National Park lodges even though you are only minutes away from Magic Kingdom by bus or boat.

The rooms are beautifully furnished but at 340 square feet on average are the smallest of all the deluxe Disney resorts. The Wilderness Resort has all the features that you would expect from a luxury resort including 2 great swimming pools one of which has a water slide.

Artist Point is an excellent restaurant which has a great setting at Wilderness Lodge. There are other casual dining choices too although these are not as extensive as at other deluxe resorts.

Whilst it is a beautiful setting and close to Magic Kingdom, the Wilderness Lodge is the most isolated of all of the Magic Kingdom resorts. The access to the theme parks is by boat (to Magic Kingdom) or bus. If you are looking for the most convenient in terms of transportation then consider one of the Disney monorail resorts.

For a complete guide with full details of rooms and facilities click here:

Walt Disney World Wilderness Lodge Resort

Disney Coronado Springs Resort

The Coronado Springs resort is a great option for those guests looking for a Disney moderate hotel. With almost 2,000 rooms in three themed beautifully landscaped areas the resort is set around a 15 acre lake Lago Dorado. Originally designed to attract conference business this resort does have a slightly different feel to it than other Disney moderate resorts.

The rooms at 314 square feet are a good size (not much smaller than standard rooms at the deluxe Wilderness Lodge). All of the rooms are located in motel style buildings. All rooms were renovated in 2009.

The Coronado Springs main pool has a wonderful Mayan pyramid theme and features a 123 foot long Jaguar Water Slide. There are also 3 other quieter pools.

All of the Disney theme parks and attractions are within a short drive, with Blizzard Beach and Animal Kingdom being the closest. The eating choices are rather limited though. The Maya Grill is probably one of the most disappointing of all of the Disney resort restaurants. The Pepper Market offers counter service dining.

Disney Coronado Springs Resort

Disney Beach Club Hotel and Resort

The Beach Club is themed around a turn of the century New England style resort. It is ideally located within walking distance to Epcot, a short boat ride to Disney Hollywood Studios and a bus ride to all other Disney World attractions. At 381 square feet the rooms are not the largest of the deluxe resorts but they are a good size.

One of the major attractions of Disney’s Beach Club is Stormalong Bay which it shares with it’s neighbor The Yacht Club. Stormalong Bay is regarded by most as the very best swimming pool of all of the Disney hotels and resorts. The pool, with it’s lazy river and water slide, became so well known that Disney had to impose extra security measures so non guests couldn’t use it! Now Stormalong Bay has a fence around it and you need your room key to access the area.

Disney’s Beach Club resort has it’s own restaurants including the very lively Cape May buffet restaurant. You are within very easy walking distance of many of Disney World’s best restaurants including all of the Epcot World Showcase dining choices and The Board Walk restaurants.

Here is a complete guide with pictures and more details

Disney Beach Club

Disney Caribbean Beach Hotel

The Disney Caribbean Beach hotel is another great choice if you are looking for a moderate hotel. It is well located close to Epcot, Disney Hollywood Studios and Downtown Disney. This Caribbean themed hotel has a very up beat feel about it – it is an idea family orientated Disney hotel which has great motel style accommodation.

Like the Coronado Springs it is a very large resort with 2112 rooms on a 200 acre site. And just like Coronado Springs all the buildings are located around a 45 acre lake. This is perhaps a better choice for families for a moderate resort as it is rather more lively and colorfully themed than Coronado Springs. The disadvantage over the Coronado is that most of the Caribbean Beach rooms have 2 Full beds and not 2 Queens like the Coronado.

A major attraction of the Caribbean Beach resort is the Pirate themed rooms. These are in one of the buildings only and are of course priced at a premium.

Kids will love the Pirate themed central pool, and the adults may appreciate the quieter pools scattered around the resort.

For a complete guide go to:

Disney Caribbean Beach

Disney Polynesian Hotel Resort

Yes this is yet another of the deluxe Disney monorail resort hotels. They just can’t be beaten on location because of the easy access to Magic Kingdom and Epcot via the monorail. The Polynesian is located next to the Grand Floridian on the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon. The theme of the lushly landscaped Polynesian is the South Seas and so you will find lots of tropical landscape, a sandy beach, and exotic waterfalls.

The Polynesian Resort has the largest rooms of all the Disney hotels at 410 to 476 square feet. A disadvantage though is that not all of the rooms have balconies. The Polynesian rooms also have great views. Some over the tropical pool, but others have great views over the Seven Seas Lagoon and Magic Kingdom.

The pool is small but very nicely themed and landscaped. The Nanea Volcano Pool is one of the nicest of any of the Disney World resort hotel pools with a waterfall, a slide and even a volcano.

There are some good restaurant choices both within the resort and of course within easy access by taking the monorail to the parks or the other resorts close by. The Polynesian is also home to the very popular dinner show The Polynesian Luau.

For a complete guide which includes how to find the very best rooms see

Polynesian Resort Disney World Florida

Disney Boardwalk Villas

Photo by express monorail

No Top 10 of Disney World Hotels would be complete without at least one of the Disney Villa Resorts included on the list. The Disney villas are a great choice if you have a larger party or are just looking for more space.

Disney’s Boardwalk Villas have an excellent location within easy walking distance of Epcot and a short boat ride to Disney Hollywood Studios. You can reach all of the Disney World theme parks, water parks and Downtown Disney by bus.

There are 383 Boardwalk Villas including studios, one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom Grand Villas. They are part of the Disney Vacation Club but they can also be booked by non DVC members.

The Luna Park Pool has a 200 foot water slide, there is a health and fitness facility and clay tennis courts available for use of Boardwalk Villa guests. There are lots of great Disney World restaurants within very easy reach on The Boardwalk, at Epcot World Showcase and in the other neighboring Disney resorts.

Whichever Disney World Hotel Resort you choose you can be sure of excellent themes, attention to detail and that very special Disney service.

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Once again Disney has announced special discounts on room rates for the beginning of 2012 at the Walt Disney World Resort Hotels. There are 2 separate offers which offer different savings.

Offer 1

You need to book by Jan. 22, 2012, for stays most nights February 21st to March 8th, 2012. Book by February 28th, 2012 for stays most nights April 13 – May 24 and May 28 – June 14, 2012.

20% off All Star Sports, All Star Music, Pop Century, Fort Wilderness Cabins, Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, Polynesian, Grand Floridian and Standard view rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge

25% off Moderate Resorts Coronado Springs and Caribbean Beach.

30% off Yacht and Beach Club, BoardWalk Inn, Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Villas, Boardwalk Villas, Saratoga Springs and Old Key West.

5% off most other resorts, including suites at the Deluxe resorts.

Offer 2

Book by 21st January for stays from 9th March to 31st March 2012 and from 25th May to 27th May 2012.

15% off All Star Sports, All Star Music, Pop Century, Fort Wilderness Cabins, Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, Polynesian, Grand Floridian and Standard view rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

20% off Coronado Springs and Caribbean Beach.

25% off Yacht and Beach Club, BoardWalk Inn, Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Villas and Boardwalk Villas.

30% off Saratoga Springs and Old Key West Resort.

5% off most other resorts, including suites at the Deluxe resorts.

As with any Disney World room discount offers there are subject to availability.

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The excitement is building as the opening of the Disney Art of Animation Resort Hotel gets closer. Disney has just announced that the resort will open in stages. The first Art of Animation Resort rooms will be available on 31st May 2012. The final phase will open in December 2012.

Here is a video showing how the details of the Art of Animation Resort are taking shape

The Art of Animation Resort has 4 distinct themed areas all taking inspiration from Disney Pixar movies.

All of the 260 square feet standard rooms will have a Little Mermaid theme. They sleep up to 4 guests. These standard rooms are based on the design in the All Star Resorts. Demand for these rooms is likely to be very high as this is of course the newest Disney Value Resort and it has a theme which young children are really going to love. Current pricing ranges from $94 to $179 per night. If you want a preferred room these have a premium of $10. They are exactly the same in design as the standard rooms but have a better location within the resort (closer to the pools or bus transportation).

One of the most popular room choices is the family suite. The suites will be in The Lion King, Finding Nemo or Disney Pixar Cars themed areas.

These family suites will sleep up to 6 guests in a 520 square feet suite. The design of the family suite has a separate bedroom with a double bed. There is also a living room which has a single sleeper couch and a double sleeper sofa. There are also basic kitchenette facilities of a refrigerator, coffee maker and microwave. These Art of Animation Resort rooms are bound to be very popular with families who are looking for more space but do not have the budget for a Disney Resort Villa. The family suites are priced from $248 per night in low season.

As you can see from the video the attention to detail at the resort is going to be amazing. The Art of Animation resort is sure to prove very popular with families with young children. The 3 themed swimming pools will be a large part of the attraction to the resort (and most likely be very busy at peak times). The main pool is named The Big Blue and has a Finding Nemo theme. The Big Blue is located in the Finding Nemo section of the resort so these rooms are likely to be very popular. There are 2 other swimming pools available too: The Cozy Cones in the Cars themed section and Flippin Fins Pool in The Little Mermaid section. These pools are smaller and are likely to be quieter than the main pool (if a pool in a Value Resort can ever be quiet)!

The Art of Animation Resort will have access to Disney bus transportation and there will be bus stops throughout the resort. There is a main quick service dining venue but details have not yet been announced. As with all the Disney Value Resorts there will not be a full service restaurant on site.

The Disney Art of Animation Resort is likely to be hugely popular and bookings are already going extremely well even before the first phase of the resort opens in May 2012. If you want to ensure that you get your first choice of room then make sure to book as far ahead as you can. Particularly if you want one of the Family Suites.

Disney Magic Kingdom Hotels

If you are visiting Walt Disney World in January 2012 here is a guide to what is happening in the parks at that time including parades, special events and ride closures.

Disney World Ride and Attraction Closures for Refurbishment in January 2012

It is always best to be prepared for which attractions will be closed when you visit, so here are the scheduled refurbishments for January 2012.

In Magic Kingdom the very popular Dumbo ride will be closed from January 9th to February 17th. You do need to warn the younger children about this as they may be disappointed. An alternative ride is The Magic Carpets of Aladdin which is very similar to Dumbo.

Also Big Thunder Mountain in Magic Kingdom will be closed for refurbishment from January 9th to 27th May 2012. This is a major attraction which will be closed for quite a considerable time. Expect Splash Mountain to have longer lines as it will take up some of the capacity of guests who would have been riding on Big Thunder Mountain.

The Plaza Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street in Magic Kingdom will be closed from January 4th to March 27th 2012.

The only closure in Epcot for January will be Tutto Italia Ristorante in the Italy World Showcase Pavilion which will be closed from January 7th to April 30, 2012.

If you are visiting Disney Hollywood Studios in January and early February 2012 you will be disappointed to find out that Fantasmic! will not be playing for much of the time. It will be dark from 9th January to 12th February 2012.

Also in Epcot the Sounds Dangerous Soundstage is open only seasonally and due to low attendance is unlikely to be open for any of January.

The water parks always close over the winter for refurbishment – whilst one is closed the other will be open. If you are visiting in January then Blizzard Beach will be open but Typhoon Laggon is closed from 4th December 2011 to 17th March 2012.

Disney World Magic Kingdom Parade in January 2012

If you possibly can then you should always try and catch Disney’s Main Street Electric Parade in Magic Kingdom. It will be performed most nights in January 2012 but will not be run on 8th, 11th, 13th, 15th, 17th, 18th, 22nd, 24th, 25th, 27th, 29th, and 31st January.

Disney has a very good idea of which days will be the highest attendance days – so expect the days when the Electric Parade is scheduled to be the busier ones in Magic Kingdom.

Disney World Hotel Refurbishments

These closures generally only affect Disney World hotel guests but are worth noting.

The Disney Grand Floridian Resort Spa closed in September 2011 and will remain closed for 18 months. The fitness center is still open.

In the Polynesian Resort the sand beach is being refurbished from 24th December to 10th January 2012.

Walt Disney World Special Events January 2012

The major event in January 2012 is the Walt Disney World Marathon. This event is held every year in January and this year various races will be held in the theme parks from 5th January to 8th January 2012. This is a popular event and will mean that attendance at the parks is heavier than you may expect at this time.

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The Disney Magic Kingdom hotels offer luxury and an unrivaled location for those wanting to stay near The Most Magical Place on Earth. The Magic Kingdom hotels are all in the category of Walt Disney World deluxe resorts.

Here are the Disney World hotels closest to Magic Kingdom. Most are on the monorail system with the exception of Wilderness Lodge which is accessed by boat or bus transportation to the park.

Photo by Expressmonorail

Disney’s Grand Florida Resort Hotel and Spa

The most luxurious of them all. This is Disney’s flagship deluxe resort. If you are looking for the best location, largest rooms, fabulous swimming pools, recreation, dining and even a spa then this could be the resort for you. The huge lobby is the very picture of elegance and relaxation but you will feel at home here dressed in a dinner jacket or shorts and a Mickey Mouse hat.

The Magic Kingdom is easily accessed from the Grand Floridian by the monorail or the resort boat. You can be in the Magic Kingdom in minutes. Very convenient for visiting the park in the morning, coming back to the hotel for a short rest and then heading back out in the evening.

Here is a guide to Disney World Grand Floridian

If is also very easy to access Epcot from any of the Disney Magic Kingdom hotels. Travel to the Transport and Ticket Center on the monorail and then catch another monorail to Epcot. All other parks are accessed on the Disney bus transportation system from the Magic Kingdom resorts.

Disney Contemporary Hotel and Resort

A very unique Magic Kingdom hotel. The Contemporary Resort actually has the monorail run right through the lobby area. You can’t get much more convenient than this as the monorail will transport you in minutes to the Magic Kingdom.

The Contemporary Resort has 2 distinct sections. The Tower building with the monorial running through it, the main lobby and the restaurants. The separate building is the Garden Wing. Different view options are offered including of course the most coveted (and expensive) Magic Kingdom view.

The Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is part of the Disney Vacation Club and offers studio, one, two and three bedroom villas. These can be booked by anyone – you do not have to be a Disney Vacation Club owner. Rates start at around $450 per night for a studio right up to around $2000 a night for a 3 bed villa.

For more details here is a Disney Contemporary Resort guide.

Disney’s Polynesian Resort Hotel

If you are looking for a tropical resort paradise just minutes from Magic Kingdom then the Disney Polynesian Hotel is a great choice. The rooms are amongst the largest of any Disney resort including the Grand Floridian. There are lots of view choices including some Magic Kingdom views.

There are some good dining choices and the Polynesian is home to the very popular dinner show Spirit of Aloha Polynesian Luau.

The Magic Kingdom is easily reached from the Polynesian by either monorail or boat.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort

Walt Disney’s WIlderness Lodge Resort is not part of the monorail system but has easy access to the Magic Kingdom by boat. The resort is one of the most stunning architecturally of all the Disney hotels. Step into the lobby and you step into a different world – far removed from the crowds of the theme parks. This deluxe Walt Disney World resort takes it’s inspiration from the Old Faithful Lodge in Yellowstone National Park.

Guests can choose between the hotel rooms of the resort or the larger Disney Wilderness Resort Villas. At a standard 340 square feet the rooms at Wilderness Lodge are a little on the small side so if this is a consideration you should look to one of the other Magic Kingdom hotels.

The Wilderness Lodge has some great dining choices including the highly regarded Artist Point.

If you are looking for a very relaxing atmosphere and beautiful surroundings then you should consider Disney Wilderness Lodge.

All of the Disney Magic Kingdom hotels offer easy access to the park. Unlike non Magic Kingdom resort guests you do not have to go though the Transport and Ticket Center so you save a great deal of time in your journey to and from the park. This collection of deluxe hotels is amongst the finest in Walt Disney World – so the most difficult thing is choosing which one is best for you.

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Windsor Palms Resort Kissimmee is an excellent choice if you are looking for a vacation home so close to Walt Disney World that you can drive there in just 8 minutes. Choosing a Disney World vacation home can sometimes get confusing. So I made this fun video about how to find the very best one!

Windsor Palms Resort is located just 3 miles from Disney World in the popular Kissimmee area. This means that Windsor Palms is one of the very closest to Disney World – here are the genuine driving times:

Animal Kingdom 8 minutes
Magic Kingdom 20 minutes
Epcot 20 minutes
Hollywood Studios 15 minutes

You really can’t get much closer to Disney World than that without staying on the Disney resort itself.

There are so many advantages to renting a vacation home.

Space

Most hotel rooms in Orlando will give you around 300 square feet of space. Even the smallest of vacation homes are going to give you so much more space than that. My Windsor Palms 5 bed conservation view home is around 2250 square feet. Everyone has their own bedroom and there are even 2 King master bedrooms.

Luxury

Why share a swimming pool when you can have your very own? Take some time with the family to relax and just have fun around the pool. Many guests say that this is their very favorite thing about renting a Windsor Palms vacation home.

This is one of the most amazing pools on Windsor Palms. This conservation view is priceless. The privacy that it gives you is a very rare feature. Also this is one of very few homes to have solar pool heating. Not only is it great for the environment but it also means that your pool will be up to 10 degrees warmer than others, without needing to turn on the electric heat.

Fun

A very popular feature of this Windsor Palms vacation home is the 2 themed bedrooms. There is a Disney Princess themed room.

And with the very successful launch of Wizarding World of Harry Potter we designed this very special themed room.

There is even a games room with pool table, foosball, air hockey and plenty of things for the kids to play with. One of the most popular toys is the new train table!

It Saves You Money

The cost of a Windsor Palms vacation home is probably less than you think. But not only do you save on the nightly cost, as the house has free parking, free phone calls and free internet then you save on all of those extras which many hotels add on these days. The nightly rate is all you pay at the EverythingMouse Windsor Palms villa. No hidden extras.

If you want you can also save money by eating at the house. Even if you just eat breakfast in your vacation home this can add up to savings of hundreds of dollars for a family.

Windsor Palms Resort Kissimmee

Windsor Palms Resort facilities are free to use for all of our guests.

Community Clubhouse
Large Community Pool
Children’s Pool and Playground
Tennis Courts
Fitness Room
Basketball and Volleyball Court
Video Games Arcade
Pool Tables
Sundry Store
Shuttle to Disney World (fee charge)
58 seat private movie theater for guests

Our Windsor Palms home is a short walk from all the facilities.

If you want to know more just visit

Windsor Palms

and

Windsor Palms Resort Kissimmee

Disney has just released photos of the much anticipated Art of Animation Resort Rooms. The latest Disney Value Resort will have almost 2,000 rooms. It will offer both standard rooms which sleep 4 and Family Suites which will accommodate up to 6 guests. Opening in 2012 the Art of Animation Resort is now taking bookings.

Disney’s Art of Animation has four themes which are all taken from popular Disney and Pixar movies.

All of the standard rooms will be in The Little Mermaid section of the Art of Animation Resort.

If you are looking for a family suite to sleep up to 6 guests then you can choose either Disney Pixar Cars, Finding Nemo or The Lion King themed rooms.

Disney Art of Animation Cars Themed Rooms

The Art of Animation suites are a good size at 520 square feet. Each has a master bedroom with a double bed. There is a separate living room with a double sofa bed and single couch bed.

Art of Animation Finding Nemo Themed Rooms

The Finding Nemo family suites in the resort may prove to be the most sought after. Not just because of the cute theme but also because the Finding Nemo buildings are closest to the largest swimming pool on the resort and also closest to the main building which houses the lobby and the quick service dining restaurant.

The family suites at Art of Animation also have 2 bathrooms and a small kitchenette. Perfect for a larger family or group who want value accommodation on Disney World property.

Disney Art of Animation Lion King Family Suites

The Lion King section will no doubt prove to be popular. One of the most successful Disney movies of all time has just been released in 3D so a whole new generation of younger movie fans will be introduced to the story.

Art of Animation The Little Mermaid Rooms

The Little Mermaid section of the resort has 260 square feet of space and can accommodate 2 adults and 2 children. The rooms are not particularly large at 260 square feet but as you can see they are of course wonderfully themed. Rates for the Art of Animation Little Mermaid standard rooms start at $94 per night for a Regular Season weekday night rising up to $179 per night.

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