
When: November 11-18
Where: Florida
Registration: Will open soon – sign up for trip updates here.
Join us at Disney World this fall and experience all four theme parks, an educational experience, add-on group events, and more!
(NOTE: Details are still being finalized and are subject to change.)
Disney World Tickets
Our 6-Day Premium tickets are $625 per person, ages 3 and up.
They include:
- Admission to all four Disney parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios) for 6 days. (Read through all of my FAQs below for details about how our tickets work.)
- Park Hopper Option – You can hop to another park starting at 2:00 pm each day. (Subject to park capacity, see the Park Experience page for more information.)
- 6 Fun Visits to be used at:
- Water Parks (only one water park is usually open during our travel dates)
- Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course or Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course (round must start before 4:00 pm, 1 visit per day at either course)
- ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex (excluding special events)
- One round of FootGolf at Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course (Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday after 2:30 PM, subject to availability)
- A private group educational experience
- A private group event
- Access to optional add-on events (group breakfasts, dessert party, dinner party)
- All taxes and fees
Our tickets are valid seven days before and after our main group dates (November 4 to November 25), but you’re required to attend the educational experience that will be planned sometime between November 12-17.
Tickets will be digital/mobile, accessible through the My Disney Experience app. A cell phone using Disney’s free MagicMobile service or a MagicBand (if you have one) will be required to access your tickets and enter the parks.
Group Event
We’re still working out the details for our group event, but it’ll likely be similar to past events. The size of our group will determine what the event will be – larger groups can add attractions, character meet and greets, etc. (I’ll update event details as soon as possible.)
Educational Experience
Attendance is required at our educational experience. It will be scheduled sometime between November 12-17. (One day, likely 2-3 hours long.) You won’t be able to get our tickets if you don’t attend. (We don’t have details yet, but it’ll likely be a presentation. I’ll update as soon as possible.)

Add-On Group Events
You’ll receive information about how to register for these events after your ticket registration and payment have been processed (when registration opens). Capacity for all add-on events is limited.
Epcot Dessert Party
Sunday, November 12 – 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm (times subject to change)
Join us for our private dessert party at Epcot! We’ll enjoy a variety of Mickey-themed desserts and soft drinks as we watch Epcot’s fireworks show! After the fireworks, you’ll be escorted to your choice of two attractions, Frozen Ever After or Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
Pricing available soon.
NOTE: Timing is subject to change. Space is limited (at the party and the attractions).
Pandora Breakfast
Tuesday, November 14 – 5:45 am to 8:00 am (times subject to change)
Join us for breakfast at Satu’li Canteen, a Pandora dining facility adorned with Na’vi art and cultural items. After breakfast, you’ll be escorted to ride your choice of two attractions, Flight of Passage or Na’vi River Journey.
The cost is $36 per person, ages 3 and up, if you choose Na’Vi River Journey and $58 per person if you choose Flight of Passage.
Spots are limited. Park reservations and tickets are required.
NOTE: Since Flight of Passage is a premium ride, Disney charges an extra attraction fee. Na’vi River Journey isn’t considered premium, so there’s no extra fee for that. Please check height requirements before making your choice. Families can split up, and one adult do Flight of Passage with older children, and the other adult do Na’vi River Journey with the younger children.
ANOTHER NOTE: Timing is subject to change. Disney likely won’t provide transportation this early, so you may have to provide your own. See my FAQs below.
Soarin’ Breakfast
Wednesday, November 15 – 7:15 am to 9:00 am (times subject to change)
Dine with sharks, dolphins, and stingrays! Our breakfast area at Epcot features large panoramic windows where we can watch more than 6,000 sea creatures swim by as we eat. After breakfast, we’ll be escorted to ride Soarin’.
The cost is $36 per person, ages 3 and up. Children must meet height requirements for Soarin’. Spots are limited. Park reservations and tickets are required.
NOTE: Timing is subject to change. Disney likely won’t provide transportation this early, so you may need to arrange your own. See my FAQs below.
Sci-Fi Breakfast
Thursday, November 16 – 6:00 am to 8:30 am (times subject to change)
Watch campy sci-fi clips as we breakfast under the stars at the Sci-Fi Dine-In at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Afterwards, we’ll be escorted to one of two sci-fi attractions (your choice): Star Tours – The Adventures Continue or Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
The cost is $36 per person, ages 3 and up, if you choose Star Tours and $58 per person if you choose Millennium Falcon.
Spots are limited. Park reservations and tickets are required.
NOTE: Millennium Falcon is considered a premium ride, so Disney charges an extra attraction fee. Star Tours isn’t considered premium, so there’s no extra fee for that. Children must meet height requirements.
ANOTHER NOTE: Timing is subject to change. Disney likely won’t provide transportation this early, so you may need to arrange your own. See my FAQs below.
Fantasmic Dinner Party
Thursday, November 16 – 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm (times subject to change)
Join us for dinner at Hollywood Studios and watch our favorite mouse battle Disney villains in the Fantasmic laser and light show! Our group will enjoy our own private patio to eat dinner and watch the show together.
We’ll have mesquite roasted chicken, barbeque pulled pork, mashed red skin potatoes, buttered corn, salad, rolls, watermelon, cookies, brownies, water, and soft drinks.
The cost is $62 per person, ages 3 and up. Spots are limited. Park reservations and tickets are required.
NOTE: Timing is subject to change.

Group Resorts (optional)
We have group rooms at four Disney resorts, from November 9-19, 2023.
Prices include all taxes and fees. You’re required to pay a one-night deposit when you reserve the room, with the balance due on arrival.
If you want to stay at one of our group resorts, please note it on your registration form and I’ll email reservation information after I receive your payment for tickets. (You’re not required to stay at a Disney resort to join our group.)
Value Resorts
- All-Star Movies (standard) – $140.97 per night
- Pop Century (standard) – $183.26 per night
Pop Century and All-Star Movies are value resorts, with smaller rooms than the moderate and deluxe resorts. The beds are queen-size, but one is a pull-down murphy bed. Rooms accommodate up to 4 people.
Pop Century is a Skyliner resort. Disney’s aerial gondola will take you to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and other places.
All-Star Movies is not a Skyliner resort but is less expensive.
Moderate Resort
- Port Orleans Riverside (standard) – $258.19 per night
- Port Orleans Riverside (5th-person) – $271.35 per night
Port Orleans Riverside is a moderate resort. These resorts are more spread out, so you’ll have to walk farther to get to transportation, food court, etc. (They do have an internal shuttle, though.)
Rooms are larger than value resort rooms, with two queens, accommodating up to 4 people. However, if you have five people in your party and one is an infant, Disney will usually allow 5 people in their standard (4-person) room – just ask when you call.
Their 5-person rooms have a small murphy bed (5 feet x 3 feet) that can accommodate a 5th person under the age of 9.
Port Orleans Riverside is not a Skyliner resort.
Deluxe Resort
- BoardWalk Inn (standard) – $551.25 per night
BoardWalk Inn is a deluxe resort, with larger rooms than the value and moderate resorts. Rooms accommodate up to 5 people, with the addition of a day bed.
Deluxe resorts aren’t as spread out as moderates and aren’t as loud (noise-level and theming) as value resorts. They have more restaurants, on-site amenities, and more elaborate pools than values and moderates. Also, during the 50th Anniversary celebration, guests at deluxe resorts have access to extended evening hours at selected parks. However, all of these perks are reflected in the much higher price.
Disney doesn’t list the BoardWalk Inn as a Skyliner resort, but the Skyliner station at Epcot is within walking distance (and you don’t need to enter the park to board it).
For more information about our resorts, pros and cons of staying on or off property, and more, see the FAQs below.
Payment & Refund Policy
- I accept personal checks, BillPay checks, and Zelle online transfer (if paid in full – no split payments).
- I can’t accept PayPal, Venmo, credit cards, Disney gift cards (for tickets or special events – see below about using them for our group rooms), or other payment methods, including money orders.
- If you have Disney rewards points or gift cards, you can use them to pay for your group room. However, you have to reserve your room with a credit card, and it will be charged one night’s deposit. When you arrive, you can apply your rewards points to pay for the stay and get a refund on your card for that first night.
- Payment for tickets is due within 7 days of the date I send your confirmation email, so please don’t register until you’re able to pay in full. I can’t hold spots.
- If you stay at one of our group resorts, you’ll pay Disney for that separately after I process your payment for tickets (one night deposit, then the rest when you check in).
- If you add on any of our special group events, you’ll pay for them separately after I process your payment for tickets.
- These tickets and special events are nonrefundable and aren’t transferable. Disney is getting less flexible about refunds for these discounted tickets, so even if I was able to get a refund for you in previous years, I likely won’t be able to moving forward. Don’t believe Disney cast members who say our tickets can be transferred to future dates. They can’t – the tickets expire after our group dates. (We had several families who were stuck with unusable tickets last year because of this.) So, if something happens and you have to cancel, let me know as soon as possible. I’ll do the best I can for you, but no guarantees.
- Please register only if you accept Disney’s current policies and any changes that may occur up to and during our dates.
- Your signed registration and payment acknowledge your understanding and agreement with my cancellation and no-refund policy.

Important to Know
If you haven’t been to Disney World since pre-COVID, a lot has changed. You need to know how everything works before you register and pay for your tickets. Read Disney’s current Park Experience and health information before registering.
Please also read my Disney World FAQs (below) and this entire page before emailing me with questions or registering.
Hurricane Policy
November is still hurricane season in Florida. Disney will work with us on a case-by-case basis in the event of a direct hit (or anticipated direct hit) from a hurricane right before our arrival or during our stay. There are no guarantees, but they’ll almost definitely refund unused tickets. If the tickets are partially used they’ll work with us to finish the use of the tickets. If there’s heavy rain from a hurricane, they won’t refund our tickets – we’ll just have to deal with the rain. I’ll do my best on your behalf if there’s an event that impacts our stay, but there are no guarantees. Please register with this in mind.
FAQs
Dates, Registration, Holding Spots, Adding People
What are the dates for this trip? What dates are the tickets good for?
Our group dates are November 11-18, 2023.
Our tickets are valid 7 days before, and 7 days after our group dates (from November 4-25) so you have some leeway on your travel dates. However, you’re required to attend our educational experience. It will be scheduled on one day beginning November 12 through November 17. If you can’t be there during those dates, please don’t register.
When is the registration deadline? Do I have to pay by August 31?
The registration deadline is August 31 in order to give us plenty of time before parks start to reach capacity. All payments will be due within 7 days of the date I email your confirmation with payment information.
I don’t have the money to pay for my tickets yet. Can you hold spots for me?
I can’t hold spots, but we won’t run out of tickets as long as you register by my registration deadline.
However, we may run out of spots for special events and discounted group rooms. Also, due to the park reservation system, entry to the theme parks may become limited as we get closer to our travel dates.
Don’t stress about this, though. Just register as soon as you have the money and are certain you want to go.
I want to register now, but I may want to add my spouse (or whoever) later. Can I do that?
So many people did “partial registrations” last year (in order to lock in a Disney room at our group rate, I suspect), that it doubled my workload. Please wait until everyone is confirmed to go – then register. I will only allow add-ons on a limited, case-by-case basis.
Can we do your group events if we don’t get your tickets? (We have an annual pass, Florida resident ticket, military ticket, cast member ticket, or other ticket.)
Disney doesn’t allow anyone to participate in any of our group events without purchasing our tickets.
Tickets, Water Parks, What’s Included
Are these hopper tickets? Are water parks included in our tickets? Is miniature golf included in our tickets? Is the educational experience included in our tickets?
Yes to all of the above. Everything listed in the “These premium tickets include” section above (near the top of the page) is included in our tickets.
Does Disney limit tickets? Do you ever run out of tickets? Should I register early?
Disney has never limited our tickets, so we’ve never run out of tickets. However, due to park capacity issues, I may have to stop registration before my deadline of August 31.
Don’t stress about ticket or park availability. However, register when you’re certain you’re going and have the money in hand. After I receive your payment, you’ll be able to reserve a discounted group room (if you want one), add on any optional events you want to do, and reserve parks each day of our trip.
Please read this to see why park reservations are important. If you go to Disney without park reservations, you won’t be able to go to any of the parks. If you wait until our registration deadline, one or more parks may be unavailable. Check Disney World’s current park availability calendar here.
When will I receive my ticket numbers? When can we reserve park days?
I’ll email ticket numbers on a first-registered, first-served basis beginning in August. Tickets will be digital/mobile, accessible through the My Disney Experience (MDE) app. A cell phone using Disney’s free MagicMobile service or a MagicBand (if you have one) will be required to access your tickets and enter the parks.
When you receive your tickets, you’ll be able to reserve your park days through your MDE account.
Can I get more (or fewer) park days on our tickets?
Disney doesn’t offer our group discounted tickets with more than 6 days, and you can’t add days to your tickets while you’re at Disney.
However, even if you plan to stay at Disney more than six days, our tickets will likely be all you’ll need. There are other places to spend your time that don’t require a ticket: Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney) has a lot of shops, restaurants, and activities, as does the BoardWalk area.
Since we have premium tickets, we also have six fun visits to the water parks, miniature golf courses, etc., during the trip. They’re separate from park days, so you can use them on days you’re not going to the parks.
I’m offering only one ticket type from now on. If you’re staying fewer than six days, consider using one day on your ticket to go into a park on your arrival day to watch the fireworks, and/or use a day to visit a park on your departure day to enjoy your favorite attraction one last time.
How do we qualify for these tickets?
Attending our educational experience is what qualifies you for our tickets. If you don’t attend, Disney can either deactivate your tickets or charge you the difference between our discounted group tickets and their regular tickets.
Will everyone in my party get the discounted tickets?
Everyone in your party will get the discounted tickets, but each family unit must register and pay separately (grandparents, single aunt, adult sibling can be included on your registration).
Ask others in your travel party (sister’s family, best friends and their children, etc.), to register separately and note that they’re your guests in the comments section of their registration.
Can we use MagicBands with these tickets? Do we get MagicBands with our tickets? Are MagicBands free?
You’ll be able to add our tickets to MagicBands via the My Disney Experience website. I’ll email more information about that when I email your ticket numbers.
Disney no longer provides free MagicBands to their resort guests. If you have a MagicBand from a previous trip, you can use it for our fall trip. (Make sure it’s still “active” in your MDE account).
Are these FastPass tickets? What is Genie+ and Lightning Lane?
The FastPass system no longer exists. It has been replaced with Genie+, a paid add-on that is similar(ish) to the previous FastPass system. It’s new and gets mixed reviews, so there may be changes before our dates. Here’s more information about how it currently works.
If you want to add Genie+ to your ticket, you can do that on a day-by-day basis through your MDE (My Disney Experience) account. If you don’t need it for a specific day or specific park, you won’t have to pay for it that day.
Price, Payment Options, Discounts, Refunds
Is the ticket price per day, or per ticket?
The price is per ticket, not per day.
Do I have to pay in full upfront? Do you have a payment plan?
Full payment for tickets is due within 7 days of the day I confirm your registration. Please wait until you’re able to pay in full before you register.
Payment for our add-on group events is through my online payment system. (You’ll receive more details about that after I receive your ticket payment.)
If you stay at a group resort, you’ll pay Disney for that separately and can make payments. (You won’t be able to reserve a room until you’ve registered and paid for your tickets. Any room reservations made before making payment will be canceled without notice.)
What payment methods do you accept for tickets?
I accept:
- Personal checks
- Bank checks
- BillPay checks (not PopMoney) through your bank
- Zelle online transfers through your bank (as long as it’s paid in one transfer – no split payments)
I can’t accept:
- Money orders
- Credit cards
- PayPal or Venmo
- Disney gift cards for tickets or special events, but Disney accepts them (and reward points) for group rooms. You’ll have to reserve your room with a credit card, and it will be charged one night’s deposit. However, when you arrive, you can apply your rewards points/gift cards to pay for the stay and get a refund on your original credit card for the first night.
- Other payment methods not listed in my “I accept” section.
How much is our discount?
As of 4/5/2023, our tickets are $178 less than Disney’s regular 6-Day Park Hopper Plus tickets. And Disney’s regular tickets don’t include the educational program, private group event, or access to special add-on events, so our discount is even more.
Can you give me an estimate?
I can’t give you an estimate because each family wants different things. There are no hidden charges – what you see is what you get. All prices include tax.
Ticket prices are $625 per person, ages 3 and up. An educational program and our private group party are included in your ticket. So, start with the price of your ticket, then add:
Add-On Group Events:
- Epcot Dessert Party – will update pricing soon
- Pandora Breakfast – add $36 or $58 per person ages 3 and up (depending on which attraction you choose)
- Soarin’ Breakfast – add $36 per person, ages 3 and up
- Sci-Fi Breakfast – add $36 per person, ages 3 and up
- Fantasmic Dinner Party – add $62 per person, ages 3 and up
NOTE: You’ll register and pay for these events separately through my online payment system after I process your ticket registration and payment.
Optional Group Hotels:
- All-Star Movies (standard) – $140.97 per night
- Pop Century (standard) – $183.26 per night
- Port Orleans Riverside (standard) – $258.19 per night
- Port Orleans Riverside (5-person) – $271.35 per night
- BoardWalk Inn (standard) – $551.25 per night
NOTE: You’ll pay for hotels separately (to Disney) after I process your ticket registration and payment.
If something happens and I have to cancel, can I get a refund?
Our tickets and special events are nonrefundable and nontransferable. Disney is getting less flexible about refunds for these discounted tickets, so even if I was able to get a refund for you in previous years, I likely won’t be able to moving forward.
If something happens and you have to cancel, let me know right away and I’ll see what I can do for you. No promises, though.
I’ve never mailed this much money to someone I don’t know. Can I trust you?
You can trust me, but don’t take my word for it. My About Us page has more information about my trips and how you can determine if I’m trustworthy. You can also read the featured post on my Facebook page, where a lot of families shared their experiences about traveling with me.
Educational Program, Optional Add-Ons, Group Party, Group Questions
Can you tell us more about the educational experience this year?
I’ll post the time, location, and more details about the experience when everything is finalized. Attendance is required. Save a park day on your ticket for this event. I’ll update this as soon as possible.
Will you run out of spots for any of the add-on special events or our private group event?
Capacity at my add-on special events is limited and we usually run out of spots. After I receive your payment, I’ll email links to register and pay for our add-on special events if spots are still available.
Capacity for our private group event is much higher. However, depending on the size of our group, we may reach capacity. Families who register for the trip after we reach capacity will be waitlisted. I’ll do the best I can to accommodate everyone who wants to go.
Can I register for tickets first and add special events later? Is it possible for only some of our party to do a special event?
You’ll pay for tickets first, then register for special events later. You can add special events up until my registration deadline (August 31), if spots are still available.
If only some of your party want to do a special event, just make it clear on your registration form who’s doing what.
Can we do the educational experience and/or group events if we don’t get your tickets? (We have an annual pass, Florida resident ticket, military ticket, cast member ticket, or other ticket.)
Disney doesn’t allow anyone to participate in our educational programs or group events without purchasing our tickets.
Do we have to stay together as a group?
You are required to attend the group educational experience. That’s the only time you have to stay with the group.
We have optional add-on events for our group (breakfasts, dessert party, etc.), and a private group party (also optional).
Everything else is on your own.
Can Disney accommodate food allergies or kosher requests at your special events?
Disney is great about accommodating any food allergies we’ve thrown at them. They can usually accommodate kosher food requests, but it costs extra.
In order to make sure your allergies, issues, requests can be accommodated, you must list them on your registration form. I’ll let you know if Disney can’t accommodate them before you pay.
Disney Parks, Skipping Days, Fun Visits
If I visit Magic Kingdom and Epcot on the same day, does that count as 2 park days?
It will count as one park day. You have hopper tickets, so you can visit two or more parks in one day, it still only counts as one park day. This is important if you want to spend the day at Animal Kingdom, then hop over to Epcot for our Dessert Party. Or whatever.
However, due to current park capacity restrictions, you have to wait until 2:00 pm to hop to a different park and will be admitted only if it’s not at capacity. Here’s more information about how park hopping works right now.
Can I skip a day at the parks?
Park days don’t have to be consecutive. You can go one day, skip the next, go the next, and the next, then skip the next two, or whatever. Just stay within the date range of the tickets and make sure you save a day to attend the mandatory educational experience during our group dates.
Are Fun Visits included in our tickets, or will we get separate tickets?
Your Fun Visits are included in your tickets. You’ll scan to enter a water park or miniature golf course the same way you would scan into a park (with your MagicBand or MagicCard).
Do I have to use the Fun Visits on the same days I visit the parks? Do I have to use a park day before I start using my Fun Visits?
Fun Visits are separate from park days – you can use them throughout the validity dates of our tickets. They don’t have to be used on days you visit the parks. You don’t have to use a park day first.
Can I visit a water park and a miniature golf course on the same day? How about both miniature golf courses on the same day?
You can do a round of miniature golf in the morning and visit a water park in the afternoon. This counts as two visits.
You can visit a water park in the morning, leave for lunch, then come back to the same waterpark in the afternoon. This counts as one visit because you’re coming back to the same water park.
You can’t do more than one mini golf course on the same day, and the round must begin before 4:00 pm.
Will both water parks be open during our travel dates?
Disney usually closes one of the water parks for refurbishment during fall/winter. Typhoon Lagoon is usually open during our dates, but Blizzard Beach was open during 2022 (with a “Frozen” theme – everyone loved it!).
Hotels, Transportation, Dining Plan
Where to Stay – Resort Information and Advice
2023 Group Resorts and Rates
- All-Star Movies (standard) – $140.97 per night
- Pop Century (standard) – $183.26 per night
- Port Orleans Riverside (standard) – $258.19 per night
- Port Orleans Riverside (5-person) – $271.35 per night
- BoardWalk Inn (standard) – $551.25 per night
Price includes taxes and fees. (Disney has recently stopped charging overnight parking fees at their resorts, so that’ll save us some money this year.)
Our discounted rate will be available from November 9-19, 2023. If you want more nights before and after, you can ask them when you reserve your group room. If they’re able to add them, they’ll be at the regular rate (not the group rate).
You don’t have to stay at one of our group resorts to get our tickets – you can stay wherever you want.
Notes about staying at our group Disney resorts (or another non-group Disney resort):
- Disney resort guests who purchase Genie+ are currently able to reserve lightning lane entrances earlier than off-property guests.
- Buses (and the Skyliner – if you stay at Pop Century or BoardWalk Inn) will transport you around Disney property relatively frequently throughout the day. Port Orleans Riverside also has a water taxi to Disney Springs.
- No parking fee at the parks (saving you $25 per day).
- You’re in the middle of the magic, and Disney does “magic” very well.
- You’re able to visit Disney’s parks during extra magic hours.
- Value resorts (Pop Century and All-Star Movies) are louder in noise level and theming than moderate resorts, less spread out, and rooms are smaller (but beds are queen-size now, one is murphy-style and can be stored during the day).
- Moderate resorts (Port Orleans Riverside) are quieter in noise level and theming than value resorts, more spread out, and rooms are a little bigger than the value resorts (two queen beds).
- Deluxe resorts (BoardWalk Inn) are less spread out than the moderates, quieter in noise level and theming than the values, have more restaurants and on-site amenities, and more elaborate pools than values and moderates. Also, during the 50th Anniversary celebration, deluxe resort guests have access to extended evening hours at selected parks.
Notes about staying off-property:
- If you pay for Genie+, you won’t be able to reserve your Lightning Lane entrances as early as Disney Resort guests.
- Depending on the hotel, an off-property hotel will probably be less expensive for what you get.
- Depending on the hotel, they may have bigger rooms for a lower price than Disney resorts and may accommodate larger families less expensively.
- Some hotels offer free breakfast (of varying quality).
- They’re not usually themed as well as Disney’s resorts, and it may not feel as “magical.”
- They may not have the same level of customer service as Disney resorts.
- You won’t be able to participate in Disney’s Extra Magic Hours.
- You may feel disconnected from the group.
- If driving to the parks, parking will be an extra $25 per day.
- If you don’t have a car, transportation to the Disney parks won’t be as convenient. Even if your hotel offers a shuttle, it may go only to the parks (not to Disney Springs, Water Parks, or other Disney areas). And it’ll almost certainly be less frequent, with longer wait times than Disney transportation. To make it worse, hotels often share shuttles, making many lengthy stops along the way. Many travelers end up unexpectedly renting a car (or getting Ubers or Lyfts) due to the inconvenience and hassle, so factor the price of a rental car or Uber/Lyft rides into your budget, even if you don’t think you’ll need it.
My advice:
- Choose the accommodations that best fit your needs and budget – a Disney resort, off-site hotel, timeshare, rental, campground, whatever.
- If you won’t have your own car and don’t want to rent one or arrange for Uber/Lyft rides, a Disney resort will most likely be your best bet. The extra money you spend will be offset by no parking fees (currently $25 per day at the parks), and much better transportation options (more convenient, frequent, and less time-consuming than off-site hotels, regardless of what the off-site hotels advertise – trust me on this).
- If you want to be in the middle of the magic, choose a Disney resort. (Disney does “magic” very well.)
- If you have a camper, consider Disney’s Fort Wilderness campground (but use your own transportation to get to the parks – the Fort Wilderness bus system is slow and cumbersome).
- If you’re on a tight budget, will have a car, and don’t mind being more removed from the magic, choose an off-site hotel near Disney property. Look for one that offers a good free breakfast at the hotel (saves money and time). If you have a camper, consider an off-site campground.
- Don’t buy into the myth that you’ll spend all your time traveling to parks if you don’t stay at a Disney resort. The Disney parks, resorts, water parks, and Disney Springs are spread out over miles. Even guests who stay at Disney resorts have to drive to get to the different areas (or use Disney transportation). Many off-site hotels are located near Disney property (or even inside Disney property in the Disney Springs area), so you probably won’t have to drive much farther than we will.
- Choose whatever is best for your family’s budget and preferences. You’ll have a great time regardless of where you stay.
How do I reserve a group room at Pop Century, All-Star Movies, Port Orleans Riverside, or BoardWalk Inn?
I’ll send you the information you need to reserve discounted rooms at our group resorts after I receive your payment. Rooms are first-registered/paid, first-served, but I have a large room block this year, so don’t stress.
You won’t be able to reserve your room until after I receive your payment. I will cancel (without notice) any reservations in our group block made before I receive payment or made by families who are not in our group.
Can my family of 5 stay in one of your group rooms instead of getting two rooms?
If one of your children is an infant, then you can likely stay in a standard room at Pop Century or All-Star Movies. Otherwise, you’ll likely need to get one of our 5-person rooms at Port Orleans Riverside or BoardWalk Inn. Ask them when you call to reserve.
The Disney website is saying there are no rooms available at the resort I want during our group dates. Are you sure rooms are available for our group?
Rooms are available for our group regardless of what the Disney website says. They won’t show as available because they’re being held for our group and can be reserved only through our group.
Can we stay extra nights at our group hotel?
Our group reservations are for November 9-19. You may be able to reserve extra nights before and after, but they likely won’t be at the discounted rate. (Double-check this when you reserve your room – sometimes they’ll add days at the group rate.)
How much is parking at the theme parks and resorts?
Parking at the theme parks is $25 per day if you’re not staying at a Disney Resort. (It’s free for resort guests.) If you hop parks, the fee covers all the parks you visit that day.
Disney recently stopped charging for overnight parking at their resorts.
Do I have to stay at a group resort in order to get group tickets?
Our group rooms are completely optional. You can stay wherever you want, on Disney property or off.
I’m staying at a Disney Resort, but I won’t have a car. How do I get around during the day?
Disney provides transportation to the parks, water parks, and Disney Springs during times they’re open to the public. Here’s more information.
I’m staying at a Disney Resort and want to do your private breakfasts. Does Disney transportation run that early?
Disney can’t guarantee transportation that early, and most likely won’t provide it. Ask Guest Services at your hotel what your transportation options are so you’ll know whether you have to arrange your own (Uber, Lyft, taxi, etc.). Also, Disney’s Minnie Van service has a partnership with Lyft.
I’m flying into Orlando. How do I get to Disney World?
Disney discontinued their Magical Express service in 2022. Here are some transportation options.
What about Disney’s Dining Plan?
Disney isn’t currently offering the dining plan (free or paid). However, it may return before our travel dates, so here’s more info:
Disney doesn’t allow multiple discounts, so we can’t add the free dining plan to our room block. However, free dining isn’t really free. Keep reading this section for more information.
The dining plan (whether free or not) isn’t as much of a bargain as it used to be. You currently have to pay for multi-day park tickets that include either Park Hopper or the Park Hopper Plus option to qualify for the free dining. Some resorts are excluded from this offer and certain room categories may not be available. Also, there are fewer dates available now for the free dining plan.
You have to stay at a Disney deluxe resort to get the regular dining plan. You can stay at a value or moderate resort and get the quick service plan and then upgrade to the regular dining plan for an extra fee per person, per day, but that just increases the cost of the “free” dining.
Also keep in mind that the dining plan (whether free or not) doesn’t include gratuity. Meals at Disney restaurants are very expensive, so their gratuity is also very expensive. In some cases, the gratuity we paid for a Disney “free” meal was the same or more than what we paid for an entire meal for our family off-property.
We did the math and found that we could get our discounted tickets, pay out of pocket for our dining, and come out with a better deal. We’ve done this for the past 10+ years (after doing the free dining for 5 or so years prior to that), and find that we actually eat better, and enjoy our meals more.
We park in the off-property restaurant’s parking lot and walk right in, with no reservations, and are usually seated immediately. The atmosphere is always better – quieter, less hectic, and more leisurely paced. And the food has been better than comparable Disney restaurants. (In our opinion, the quality and portion sizes at Disney’s restaurants have decreased over the years due to the free dining.)
Every family is different, though, so I encourage you to check out your options and do the math for your own family and circumstances. The dining plan has changed so much now that it may not be the best deal for your family, either.
Other Common Questions
How long have you been doing this trip? Do you do this trip every year?
I’ve done this trip every fall* since 2006 through my Carolina Homeschooler website, and then moved it to my Traveling Homeschoolers website in 2016. Sometimes I do a spring trip, too.
*Except for fall 2020, when Disney canceled our trip due to COVID.
Is November a good time to go? Is it crowded?
November is my favorite time to visit Disney. We have cooler weather (usually averaging in the 70s), lower humidity, and a lower chance of rain than in the summer. There’s a Christmas/holiday feel, with Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival as an added bonus.
It’s more difficult to predict crowd levels at Disney now due to special promotions, date-based pricing, and park capacity issues. But crowds are usually lower when we go.
Can I call Disney directly and reserve all of this?
You’ll have to get your tickets and reserve all group events through me. If you want to stay at one of our group resorts, I’ll give you our group contact information to reserve your room after I receive your payment. (Any rooms reserved in our block before I receive payment will be cancelled without notice.)
Will you do a Universal trip this year, too?
We do a Universal trip every fall and spring. Here’s more information.
Before You Register
- Please read my FAQs above, and this entire page, before emailing me with questions or registering.
- Each family must register separately (grandparents and older siblings of students should be included in the same registration). If your extended family wants to attend (your brother, his wife, and school-aged children, for example), please ask them to register and pay separately.
- You can choose your own arrival and departure date, but your stay must include our educational experience. If you can’t attend our educational experience, please don’t register.
Want to join us?
- Registration will open when all details have been finalized. Sign up for trip updates here.
- If you don’t receive a confirmation with payment information within 5 days, please email me.
- Payment for tickets will be due within 7 days of receiving my confirmation email. (Payment for special events will be through my online payment system after I receive payment for your tickets.)
- I’ll email a confirmation when I receive your payment and send you periodic trip updates via email.
- And that’s it! Email me if you have any questions.
