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Book Your Disney Cruise Early

Book Your Disney Cruise Early

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Everyone loves a good deal, and lately with Disney Cruises, they have been hard to come by. If you ignore the “discounts” like half off your Disney Cruise deposit (you still have to pay the other half, just later on rather than right now), Disney Cruise discounts have been nonexistent since Fall, 2013. Plus, it looks like Disney Cruise won’t be releasing discounts any time soon, so any way you can save money when you book your Disney Cruise is welcome.

Please note, if you are a Florida Resident or qualify for Military discounts, Disney has been releasing weekly discounts for you. These cruises are usually short notice (less than 2 months), but the discounts can be pretty decent. Check with us over at Mouseketrips, we would be happy to check on those discounts for you if you qualify. 

So, while there are not any discounts coming anytime soon (safe assumption), how do you get the best deal?

Book your Disney Cruise Early

By far the best way to get the lowest price on a Disney Cruise is took book as early as you possibly can. Today, Disney Cruise Line announced their Fall 2017 itineraries, and they will be available to book starting tomorrow, Wednesday, May 25, for both Gold and Platinum Castaway Club Members. On Thursday, May 26 all of the new cruises will be made available to the general public. So, if you are thinking about one of those new Fall cruises, get it booked this week.

Let me explain. Each cruise has a limited number of staterooms available. They can’t add more if the cruise is really popular. The Disney Dream and Fantasy have about 1,250 staterooms they can sell each cruise. Rather than just setting a price for the cruise and every pays the same price, Disney Cruise has tiered pricing. The first 100 or so (that number is made up) staterooms that are booked are in tier 1 pricing, which is the cheapest. Once they reach the limit of tier 1 rooms, then the prices of every stateroom onboard go up to tier 2 pricing, and the dance starts over again. Once their sell another 200 staterooms (again, a made up number), the price goes up, and so on. The price increase can be significant. Not only do the prices keep increases as the ship fills, Disney never goes backwards, the prices never drop.

So, what you want to do is book as early as you possible can, and there are several reasons why you should book early.

Disney Cruise

Why you should book your Disney Cruise Early

  1. You get the best price. Booking early guarantees you the best price available. If you wait a few weeks, the price may or may not go up, but it definitely will not go down. Book early and then feel fantastic during those elevator rides while everyone is talking about how much they had to spend since they booked last minute.
  2. You get your choice of staterooms. Once a cruise starts booking and staterooms fill up, it gets harder and harder to get the category and stateroom you want. Even connecting rooms, especially on the two older ships, get nearly impossible to find. Book early, you can have your choice of just about any stateroom.
  3. Main Dining. Main, or early dining, is very popular. If you must eat ever day between 4:30, then you definitely don’t want to get stuck with second dining, which starts around 8PM each night. Your tummy is not going to be very happy with you. Main dining fills up quickly, and once full, you just have to hope someone cancels and you get lucky and get their spot.
  4. Refundable Deposit. While Disney Cruise has a pretty strict cancellation policy, as long as you cancel before the penalty period starts, you get every single penny of your deposit back. So, book today and even if you have to cancel in a year, you aren’t out any money. Make sure you are fully aware of your final cancellation date, as they vary by cruise, and can be anywhere between 75 and 120 days before sailing. Triple check in and have it on your calendar. It is usually the day your final balance is due, but not always. You can see a rough outline of important dates for your Disney Cruise here, but don’t rely on it, ask your travel agent: Important Dates when Booking a Disney Cruise
  5. Just that much more time to plan! I feel sorry for the saps that book a cruise two weeks before hand, they don’t get any anticipation time to enjoy it!

If possible, get that cruise planned ASAP, there isn’t one reason why you should wait. Well, if you are military or a FL resident, and you are only going on the cruise if you see a discount, then wait and see. For the rest of you, you don’t have any reasons.

disney travel agent

Why You Should Use a Disney Travel Agent

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Let’s face it, anyone can book a Disney vacation by going online, pricing out a few options, and clicking the “book” button, and your are done. Easy as pie. But should you? I have been a full time travel agent since 2002, and the thousands of people I talk to each year, I have yet to meet one person that couldn’t benefit from booking with a Disney Travel Agent rather than booking their trip directly online with Disney. Sure, you think you have been to Disney a ton and know everything, but trust me, there are plenty of ways a Disney Travel Agent can help you out.

Why you should use a Disney Travel Agent

  1. Absolutely not cost to you. Most Disney Travel Agents, Mouseketrips included, never charges you an extra fee for anything. If you look up a package online, our prices will never be more than what you can find with Disney. Since our services are free, there aren’t really any excuses to not use a Disney Travel Agent.
  2. You can retain complete control. Even though use decided to use a Disney Travel Agent to help you book your Disney vacation, your retain complete control over your reservation, or you can allow your agent to have some control over it, totally up to you. Some people have been planning Disney trips for decades, and like to make dining, fastpass+ and other reservations all by them selves, and they can.
  3. Best Prices. Disney releases discounts basically year round, and they often release several discounts for any particular date. We follow Disney discounts every single day, and we are always checking your reservation to make sure you get the absolute best deal. Sure, you can always find out about discounts by yourself, but I can promise you Disney isn’t going to find out about one and call you up to let you know that they applied it for you. You never have to worry about getting the absolute most for your money.
  4. Your Agent. As agents, we act on your behalf, and we are always on your side. We make sure your reservations are 100% correct, that all of your transportation, dining and other reservations are made on time and are perfect for your family. If there are any issues, we are on your side and fight to get them resolved for you.
  5. Experience. Personally, I have stayed in every single Disney Resort, been on every single Disney Cruise ship, done several Adventures by Disney and experienced every single Disney restaurant and theme park. I have been there and done that, and continue to do so. I have visited Disney with little kids, tweens, teens and just adults. It is rare that I find a client that is planning a trip that I have not already experienced. That goes for all the Mouseketrips agents too, they all have considerably more Disney experience than you do (if that isn’t true, I would like to talk to you about working for us).
  6. Authorized. Your Disney Travel Agent should be an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner (Mouseketrips is), which means they are recognized by Disney for the expertise and experience in planning Disney vacations.
  7. Service. Your Disney Travel Agent should take care of every single thing with your Disney vacation (though we usually leave airfare to the clients). That would include dining reservations to weddings at sea and everything you can imagine in between. Nothing will be missed that might lessen your Disney vacation.
  8. Convenience. Your Disney Travel Agent is just a quick phone call or email away (of text, facebook message, tweet or whatever other way you communicate). Have you ever tried to call into Disney when it is busy? Wait times can be hours and hours, and all on your dime. Ever tried to email Disney? Good luck.

So, let me sum that up. Easier, cheaper and more convenient. Seems like a no brainer.

Disney Things May 13

5 Disney Things You Should Know This Week – May 13, 2016

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Each Friday, I provide 5 Disney things all Disney fans should know from this past week, just in case you missed them. This week was a very, very slow Disney news week. Here are the super important Disney news items for this week:

Disney Dollars Ending

RIP Disney Dollars

While many of us assumed Disney Dollars had died years ago, they hadn’t. Disney announced yesterday that Disney Dollars would no longer be for sale as of May 14, 2016. While Disney and consumers had moved to Disney Gift Cards years ago, many people still purchase Disney Dollars as souvenirs of their Disney vacation. They will be missed.

For more information: R.I.P. Disney Dollars

Custom MagicBands

custom magic bands

Walt Disney World announced this week that their on demand printing system that has been used for smart phone covers and other items now is able to make custom MagicBands for guests. Not only now are you able to choose your favorite attraction to be on your MagicBand, you can also add your name right there on the band. Not only can you choose from attractions, but some long closed attractions are included such as Mr Toad’s Wild Ride and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Plus, you can also choose from a few Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean characters. Of course, Disney can add in any additional artwork at anytime, so watch for additional options in the future. Custom MagicBands start at $24.99, $32.99 if you add your name to the band.

For more information: Artwork Added to Retail MagicBand on Demand Stations at Walt Disney World Resort

7 New Restaurants opening in Disney Springs this Week

 

disney Daily Poutine

As a new section of Disney Springs opens this weekend, there is a large group of restaurants that are opening for the first time, including a Poutine place! Check out all the great options!

  • D-Luxe Burger: Grab a classic cheeseburger or go for something indulgent like the El Diablo Burger with chorizo, fried banana peppers, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato and chipotle mayo. There’s a veggie burger too. Plus gelato shakes, fresh-cut fries and more from the Disney chefs.
  • Amorette’s Patisserie: Classic and contemporary cakes and pastries are the stars in this high-end pastry shop where guests can watch pastry chefs decorate signature cakes in the on-stage finishing kitchen. From a classic macaron or crisp, light pavlova to the ultimate chocolate-chocolate chunk cookie, Amorette’s is a dessert lover’s dream come true.
  • The Daily Poutine: This kiosk brings the Canadian classic to guests with four varieties of toppings on hot, crispy French fries: Classic, with beef poutine gravy and Cheddar Cheese curds; Latin with fried yucca, black beans, pulled pork and queso fresco; Italian with bocconcino mozzarella and Bolognese sauce, and French with mushroom cream sauce and Gruyere cheese. Pair them with a lemonade, draft beer, sangria or fountain sodas.
  • B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co.: A kiosk with artisan sausages by Disney chefs – the Three Little Pigs with a Reuben dog, black bean salsa and chili cheese; Portuguese Sausage with pickled vegetable slaw and chili mustard; Sweet Hot Sausage with peppers, onions and marinara; Bavarian Sausage Sandwich with a mini-meterwurst, braised red cabbage and spicy brown mustard on a pretzel roll, and Italian Veggie Sausage with peppers, onions and marinara. Add a draft beer or fountain soda.
  • YeSake: At this unique kiosk, try a Sake Cosmo Freeze or Sake Bourbon Slush among other offerings. Global eats range from the Great Wall with Chinese-style pulled pork to a Sombrero with ground beef, pico de gallo, guacamole, cheese and corn chips. Cold beer too.
  • Morimoto Asia Street Food: A new walk-up window on the patio offers sushi, donburi rice bowls and bao tacos, plus snacks: such as takoyaki (octopus, nori, okomiyaki sauce), Morimoto sticky ribs, curry rice croquettes, pork egg rolls and taiyaki (snapper-shaped pancake filled with sweet adzuki red bean paste). Also on the menu: popping boba tea and an assortment of Asian-influenced beers and beverages.
  • Sprinkles: Look for handcrafted cupcakes, slow-churned ice cream and homemade cookies at Sprinkles, dubbed the first cupcake bakery by the Food Network. Options include vegan, gluten free and sugar free, and seasonal flavors.

Special Disney Cruise Merchandise

Disney Cruise Transatlantic Disney Cruise Alaska

If you happen to be sailing on a Disney Cruise this summer, specifically on one of the Transatlantic or Alaskan Disney Cruise, you are in for a treat, special merchandise. Items include shirts, pins and stuffed animals all themed after your particular cruise. There is also special merchandise for the Panama Canal cruise and I am sure that later this year we will see more stuff for the European cruises too. Make sure to take your wallets along with you.

‘Inside Disney Parks’ Newscast

Disney has released a new ‘Inside Disney Parks’ Newscast, a video roundup of changes to the Disney Parks. Episode 1 was released this week, and gives you a great idea of what to expect at Disney this Summer. This episode covers Animal Kingdom at night, the Jungle Cruise Movie, Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters grand opening in Disney California Advnenture and much, much more. Enjoy!

Did I miss any Disney news this week that should have been included?