MyMagic+ Archives - Listen to Lena

As I sit in my home office, banging away at my keyboard, the light coming in through the window is hurting my eyes. Because it’s bright white. All over. As in, everything outside is covered with snow. Waaa!!!

Also? I’ve been having dreams. Dreams about cold, creamy Dole Whip – the soft-serve pineapple miracle you can only find at select Disney Parks. Could it be because just one week ago, we were in sunny, warm and perfectly balmy Orlando, enjoying one of our best family vacations at Walt Disney World Resort?
Yeah, probably so.

As we arrived at the Contemporary Resort (our home away from home), I was surprised to find the hotel teeming with guests; you see, the wait times at the park suggested we were actually in “low season”.

“It’s the conferences,” a cast member said. “When the parks are empty, conference resorts are full.”

By why are the parks remarkably less busy in the months of January and February? All vacation planning websites point to February as being one of the best times to visit Walt Disney World due to the smaller crowds. And for Canadians, while the weather is *only* on the 20’s… it’s NOT in the -20’s, you feel me? So what gives?

It turns out that January and February are sandwiched between the Christmas holidays and March Break – two of Disney’s busiest stretches – and therefore, often overlooked in family vacation planning. And, because the beginning of the year is also considered “winter” in the sunshine state, many travellers opt for the intense heat of the Caribbean to ease their cold weather suffering.

But today, I want to show you why it’s the perfect time of year to experience Walt Disney World Resort. If you’re thinking of booking a last minute vacation or planning for next year, here’s what you need to know.

The Pros

First, knowing that any vacation to Walt Disney World can be a sizable investment in time and money, let’s discuss the benefits of visiting over the winter.

1. Discounted Hotel Rates. Of course the very first point is that you can save money! The second week of January right through to the middle/end of February is considered value season at Walt Disney World. Staying at a resort hotel is attractive due to the cost savings – anywhere from 10-30% per family – and your choices for hotels and rooms are even greater if you plan ahead. …

(I wish I could take the credit for that awesome title, alas, I found it right on the Walt Disney World website. Which means even they know it’s super, and are totally owning it. You go, Disney.)

Here’s the thing. My mother taught me to always measure twice, cut once. Which I’m sure was her fancy way of saying Why don’t you try planning a little, Lena. But come on, mom, where’s the fun in that? It’s much cooler to leap in with both feet.

Except, then I became a mother, and I realized what she was trying to tell me all along – life’s a lot easier when you plan ahead. And this notion can be applied to almost anything, whether it’s planning dinner for the week, planning the car pool rotation, or planning your family vacation.

Especially when planning your family vacation.

You may have heard that a Walt Disney World family getaway requires planning skills akin to Martha Stewart circa 1990. And yes, while it’s important to make the most of your time together – especially when you’re visiting somewhere as magical as Disney Parks – the feedback I’ve received time and time again is that it can be *slightly* overwhelming.

The resort. The theme parks. The meal plan. The extras.

So, where do you begin? With MyMagic+.

MyMagic+ gives you unprecedented control of your vacation and makes it easier than ever to enjoy time with the people who you care about the most. Listen up folks, because I’m about to change the way you think about planning a Walt Disney World vacay. Consider this your magical tutorial.
magic-kingdom-00-full First, go on and book your trip! Figure out your travel dates, the resort hotel you’d like to stay at (check out my review of the Art of Animation if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option) and buy your park tickets. You know, the standard stuff that makes up a Disney vacay. Then, take your Walt Disney World vacation to an all-new level, making it uniquely yours. …

Winter Escape: Walt Disney World!

A Super New Way to Make the Most of Your Disney Vacation