If you’re in any Facebook travel or mom group, you’ve probably seen the question: “Do I really need a travel agent?” And my answer is a big, enthusiastic YES! Why wouldn’t you take advantage of a totally free service? That’s right—my planning help is completely complimentary, no different in cost than if you were to tackle the planning alone. But the perk? I’ll likely help you save money with an extra set of eyes watching for discounts and sales.

When you work with me, it’s like having a best friend who’s all-in on making your trip seamless and magical. I keep you updated on all the discounts, stay up late and rise extra early to snag your dream reservations, and have an expansive list of trusted vendors. Plus, if anything unexpected comes up, I’ll be the one calling and waiting on hold to sort it out—so you don’t have to.

Beyond that, using my services means you’re supporting a local small business! And yes, the suppliers pay me, so you aren’t covering any extra cost for that. Basically, you get to put me to work for you for free!

Ready to join our travel-loving community? Join our Facebook Group and share it with friends:

And if you’re curious about planning a trip, feel free to reach out—it’s completely free!

Planning your Disney Cruise is all about knowing when and how to book, and which magical perks to seek out. Here’s a guide to help you set sail with maximum value.

When to Book

The golden rule? Book as early as possible. Disney Cruise Line prices typically rise as ships fill up, so locking in your trip at the initial release of booking dates can yield the best rates. If you’re already on a Disney Cruise, here’s a tip: Book your next cruise while you’re still onboard! It’s a great way to snag exclusive discounts and onboard perks.

Promotions: Not Really

Disney doesn’t typically offer last-minute deals or major discounts. Instead, they have occasional seasonal promotions, like discounts for Florida residents, military personnel, or Canadian travelers. Check if any of these apply to you to save a bit more.

When to Sail

Different cruise destinations shine at different times of the year. Here’s a quick guide:

• Bahamian and Caribbean Cruises: Sail in late January or early February and September through early December for lower prices and quieter ships.
• Alaska Cruises: The best weather is usually in June and July, but for fewer crowds and potential savings, May and September can be great options.
• Europe and Mediterranean Cruises: These trips are typically cheaper at the start and end of the summer season, such as May or September when the weather is still warm but prices are a bit more budget-friendly.

Money-Saving Tips

• Warehouse Discounts: Check membership clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club for cruise discounts and bundled vacation packages that can include onboard credits or other perks.
• Popcorn Bucket Refill Deals: Disney fans know the value of a souvenir popcorn bucket! Buy one early in your cruise, and you’ll save on refills at a lower price throughout your trip.
• Special Discounts: Don’t forget those Florida resident discounts, military specials, and other limited-time offers Disney releases throughout the year.
• Sail the Classics: Classic Disney ships, like the Magic and Wonder, sometimes offer lower fares than newer ones, plus they have their own nostalgic charm and classic Disney amenities.
• Choosing the Ship: Consider which Disney Cruise ship fits your style and budget. The Magic and Wonder (classic ships) often have slightly lower rates compared to the Dream and Fantasy (newer ships) and the newest Disney Wish with its upscale experiences and activities.
• Use a Travel Adviser: Working with a Disney-specialized travel planner like Travel Treasures with Trish can save you time, ensure you’re getting all available discounts, and help with all the extras (plus, it’s completely free to you!).

Ready to set sail? Let’s chart a course for magical memories and value-packed adventures on Disney Cruise Line!

As part of my mission to explore new, affordable travel options, I recently took Breeze Airways, a low-cost airline launched in May 2021, from Pittsburgh to Ft. Myers. Although Breeze isn’t as widely known as Spirit, their fares start at an impressive $39 for one-way flights—perfect for those who love to save on travel!

Flying out on Halloween, I was pleasantly surprised by the comfortable seats, convenient device charging stations, and genuinely friendly staff. Breeze also offers two-seater and three-seater options, plus a streaming platform loaded with free movies and TV shows accessible from your device—a fantastic touch for a budget airline!

As expected in this budget-friendly class, snacks and sodas come at an additional cost, but coffee and water were complimentary. And they served real, fresh-brewed coffee—no powdered cream here, just real cream packets and sugar options, brewed on the cart right in front of you,  which I appreciate.

The return trip wasn’t quite as smooth. We faced some delays, and a small mix-up with our party member’s birthdate required a trip back through security to the Breeze desk. Delays are part of travel, and some delays, like waiting for a parking slot on two out of three landings, are beyond any airline’s control.

So, would I fly with Breeze again? Yes! For me, flights are just the beginning of the adventure, and spending less on airfare means more room in my budget for the actual vacation. Although Breeze’s budget model is different from JetBlue (even though they share a co-founder), it’s perfect for travelers looking for quality without breaking the bank.

Our Disney World Crowd Calendar is here to help you find the best times to visit the parks in 2024! With lower crowd levels, you’ll spend less time waiting in line and more time soaking up the magic. Since Walt Disney World crowds vary throughout the year, choosing your travel dates wisely is key!

We’ve created this crowd calendar to show you how busy each Disney theme park will be every day of the year. Our predictions for park attendance over the next 12 months will help you pinpoint the ideal months, weeks, and days for your next vacation. Plus, our Disney crowd calendar updates monthly, featuring the rest of 2024. Be sure to check back often for the latest updates!

Curious about how we predict the crowds at Disney World? Our method uses past attendance data to forecast future crowds at Disney’s four amazing theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. With these estimates, you can hone in on the best dates for your Disney vacation and make the most of your magical experience in the coming year!

The best time to visit Disney World hinges on several factors, including the weather, how it fits into your busy schedule, and, of course, the crowd levels at the theme parks. After all, who wants to spend their day waiting in long lines when you could be having fun on the rides?

Crowd calendars forecast how busy each theme park will be on any given day throughout the year. By analyzing data from previous years, these calendars help us pinpoint which parks will have the shortest wait times and which ones might be busier. While not every traveler can plan their trip around the least-crowded dates, having this information can be super helpful. Knowing what to expect allows you to plan accordingly and make the most of your magical Disney experience!

Our Disney World Crowd Calendar uses a fun rating system of Let’s go!, Not bad!, and We’ve got this! We gather this information using historical data from the past several years, and we also consider various factors like seasonal events and new attractions opening in the parks. While ride refurbishments and temporary closures don’t usually impact crowd levels, they are typically scheduled during the quieter times of the year.

Keep in mind that past attendance figures aren’t always a perfect indicator of future crowds, so there may be slight differences between our predictions and actual crowd sizes. We strive to provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date forecasts so you know what to expect when you arrive at Disney World!

Walt Disney World’s parks are typically least crowded during:

• January 2nd until just before Presidents’ Day week (the third Monday in February)
• The week after Labor Day until just before Thanksgiving week
• The week following Thanksgiving weekend until the week before Christmas

These quieter times often coincide with parents planning their Disney vacations around school schedules and the summer heat. Labor Day marks the start of the school year for many U.S. families, making the month following it one of the least crowded times of the year. If you don’t mind the higher temperatures and humidity, July and August can also be good options for visiting!

Walt Disney World parks generally see their highest attendance during:

• Presidents’ Day week (the third week in February)
• Spring Break, which runs from mid-March through late April
• Memorial Day weekend and throughout summer (mid-June through Labor Day)
• Thanksgiving week
• Christmas week through January 1st

Weekends are typically busier than weekdays, with Mondays and Fridays often seeing slightly higher crowd levels than Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

The difference between a “least crowded” day and a “most crowded” day can be quite significant.

What Are Crowds Like on Least Crowded Days?

On the least crowded days, you might find that you can walk straight through the line for several quickly loading rides! Many mid-tier attractions will have wait times of about 10-15 minutes, while the most popular rides, like roller coasters, may have waits around 30 minutes. Dining is generally easy to navigate, with short waits at quick service spots and the chance to snag same-day reservations at some table service locations.

What Are Crowds Like on Most Crowded Days?

On the most crowded days, even rides that usually load quickly might have wait times of 15-45 minutes, with popular attractions occasionally exceeding 60 minutes. Thankfully, the implementation of theme park reservations and other entry restrictions has reduced many of the nightmare scenarios we used to see, such as 3-5 hour waits on Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve. Dining can be trickier on crowded days, with longer waits (and sometimes needing to “hover” for an empty table) at quick service restaurants during peak hours. Same-day reservations at table service spots may not be available.

Should I Avoid the Parks on Most Crowded Days?

These scenarios are just representative samples; individual days can have their own quirks. You might experience shorter waits on a “most crowded” day or longer waits on a “least crowded” day.

While it’s always best to plan your trips during less crowded times whenever possible, we know that work and school schedules don’t always allow for that. If you find yourself visiting during busier times, don’t worry—you can still have a fantastic vacation! Just be sure to plan ahead and take advantage of all the tools available to you—like extended park hours, advance Park Pass reservations (when required), advance dining reservations, Lightning Lane, and our Disney World Crowd Calendar—to make the most of your time in the parks!

If you need help planning and booking your magical Walt Disney World vacation, then please contact Trish at Travel Treasures With Trish. Her services are always helpful and totally free of charge. Call 412-973-4321 or click the button below for a free, no-obligation price quote today!

When Are the Best Days to Visit Walt Disney World?

The best time to visit Disney World hinges on various factors, including the weather, individual travel schedules, and, of course, the expected crowd levels at the theme parks.

Our Disney travel planning experts analyze past park attendance data, special events, attraction openings and closures, travel trends, weather patterns, and other elements to forecast future crowds at Disney World’s four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios.

We’ve taken some of this data and compared the average temperatures predicted for each day with the expected crowd levels. We converted temperature ranges (in Fahrenheit) and average crowd levels into scores between 1 and 5. These temperature and crowd scores were then weighted and combined to create a total score out of 100, helping us identify the best days to visit each park.

Based on our crowds-to-weather scores, we found a few specific days throughout the year that offer the best balance for visiting each park at Walt Disney World. For instance, Magic Kingdom historically has three ideal days: October 26th, 31st, and November 1st. Epcot boasts six perfect days: October 24-26 and 31, plus November 1 & 2. Hollywood Studios has five top days: October 24-26 and 31, plus November 1. Animal Kingdom tops the list with twelve best days: October 23-27, October 30 – November 3, and November 7-8. Interestingly, many of these optimal dates overlap across parks, highlighting that the last week of October is a fantastic time to visit Disney World.

Of course, crowd levels can fluctuate from year to year, and weather may not always align with averages.

So, why should you pay attention to these scores? Trish explains:

“By analyzing data from recent years, Disney crowd calendars help us pinpoint which theme parks will have the shortest and longest lines, making it easier to find the best times to visit for fewer crowds and lovely weather. While not every traveler can plan their trip around the least-crowded dates, this tool is still super valuable! Knowing what to expect allows you to plan ahead and make the most of your magical Disney experience!”

Still worried about crowds? Have some other questions on your mind? No need to fret—there’s a way to get expert assistance at absolutely no extra cost!