I'm a theme park expert & these common Disney booking mistakes cost visitors HUNDREDS | The Sun

THE pressure to make a once-in-a-lifetime Disney theme park holiday the best experience can be overwhelming.

But rushing the booking process means visitors make mistakes that cost hundreds.

According to Oliver Brendon, CEO of AttractionTickets.com, there are some tricks holidaymakers can use to get more for their money.

Here, he shares with Sun Online Travel the pitfalls to avoid and the hacks to use…

Not being organised

“Every Disney park in the world now requires a reservation to gain entry – as soon as you get your tickets for Walt Disney World, you can start booking the park days online at MyDisneyExperience.co.uk.

"Being organised on the day of your visit to a Disney park is equally important, as some of the most popular rides such as the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot are only available to people who have booked a slot for the ‘virtual queue’.  

"Availability for the virtual queue opens every day at 7am and people with a park reservation can book a slot for the popular rides at this time.  

"If you don’t manage to join the virtual queue at 7am, you can try again to join the virtual queue at 1pm on the My Disney Experience app although you need to be inside the park to book the 1pm availability."

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Not considering all the factors when deciding whether to stay on-site

“Staying at an on-site hotel is invariably more expensive than a similar quality off-site hotel or villa, but it does have advantages that need to be weighed up against the higher price, for example:

  • No need to rent a car because you can use the Disney transportation system
  • No need to pay the car parking charges of $25 per day
  • 30-minute Early Park entry is available to all onsite guests, which enables you to visit the most popular rides in the park first and usually means that the wait time is very short.  Guests at Deluxe Disney resorts also get extended hours in the evening on select nights at select parks.”

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Booking during peak times

“The busiest times at Walt Disney World are Spring Break (March), Easter holidays (April), US school holidays (June to mid-August) and Christmas (Mid December to 2nd January).  

"If you need to travel in the summer holidays, the second half of August will be considerably quieter and cheaper than July or early August because the US schools tend to go back between the 10th and 15th of August.  

"The domestic market determines how busy the parks will be so if you can avoid US school holidays or public holidays, you will get better deals and there will be fewer queues.  The absolutely quietest time to visit is the first two weeks of September.”

Not considering a villa

“It may be a reflex to want to stay in a nice hotel close to the parks or on-site, but it’s important to consider how much time your group or family will spend at the hotel vs at the park.  

"If you will be wanting to spend every waking moment in the parks, a villa will be significantly cheaper than hotels, especially for larger groups.”

Never taking a break

“The parks at Walt Disney World are open for a long time each day –  specific opening times vary by day and season but usually, they are open for between 10 and 12 hours each day.  

"It is always best to get there early and before the park opens, as the first hour will be the quietest of the day.  

"Once you’re tired, take a break and go back to your accommodation for a rest, a swim or for lunch (which will be cheaper than eating in the park), as you can always go back to the park again in the evening for the fireworks and for some more rides.  

"You can manage your day and your ride times on the My Disney Experience app to allow for a break."

Not booking in advance

"Booking tickets in advance is now absolutely vital because you need to pre-book the park days and this can only be done once you have your tickets.

"If you wait to buy tickets in Orlando, you will likely not get access to the Disney parks."

Booking without cancellation protection

“Nothing is worse than purchasing a holiday and then being unable to go – whether it comes included or with a fee, getting cancellation protection is definitely worth it.”

Not taking advantage of special offers

“The beauty of shopping around and taking advantage of ticket specialists means that they often have so many offers that you can redeem before or during your stay.

"From free extra nights to food and drinks offers, these freebies can make your experience extra special."

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