As a Disney vacation specialist, one of the most frequently asked question I receive is, "When is the best time to visit Disney World?"  Below are some answers to frequently asked questions on this subject:

What are the busiest and least busy times of the year?
Although special events, promotions and other unpredictable factors may influence Theme Park attendance levels, the following list highlights historic attendance trends throughout the year. Note: All holiday reference is specific to the United States (U.S.)

Lowest Attendance:

• January (except New Year's Day) until just prior to Presidents' week in February (third Monday)
• The week following Labor Day until just prior to Thanksgiving (U.S.) week
• The week following Thanksgiving (U.S.) until the week prior to Christmas

Moderate Attendance:

• After Presidents' week in February (third Monday) through early March
• Late April through early June (except Memorial Day weekend)
• The first part of Thanksgiving (U.S.) week

Highest Attendance:

• Presidents' week in February (third Monday)
• Mid-March through Late April ("Spring Break")
• Memorial Day weekend
• Mid-June through Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day (US) and weekend
• Christmas week through New Year's Day

During regular attendance periods, the Theme Parks tend to be the busiest on the following days:

• Magic Kingdom® Park: Monday, Thursday and Saturday
• Epcot®: Tuesday and Friday
• Disney's Hollywood Studios™: Sunday and Wednesday
• Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

What will the weather be like during my Walt Disney World® Resort vacation?
Although we cannot tell you exactly what weather to expect during your vacation, here are the average high/low temperatures, followed by the average rainfall in inches for the Orlando, Florida area during the three-month periods indicated. All Guests are encouraged to review upcoming forecasts for the Orlando area prior to departure.

• January - March 74/51ºF 2.1 in.
• April - June* 88/66ºF 2.7 in.
• July - September* 91/73ºF 3 in.
• October - December 78/58ºF 3 in.

*The summer months generally have high humidity.

Maybe you are thinking, "but the only time I can visit Disney World is during the busiest times of the year".....No worries! When you book with White Glove Destinations we will provide you with an itinerary plan for free!  This service will you show you which theme parks to visit each day so you can get the most out of your vacation. Our itinerary plan will help reduce wait times for rides/attractions at Walt Disney World too! Plus, we will continually track your reservation to ensure you are receiving the lowest available rate for your travel dates, even after you have booked!

Contact White Glove Destinations at 281-380-3437 to learn more or visit us online now for your free Disney vacation quote!

With more than 50 lounges in Walt Disney World hotels and three of the theme parks (no alcohol is served in Magic Kingdom), you can sip beers and wines from around the globe, French champagnes and bartenders' specialty drinks like a Watermelon Martini at Crew's Cup Lounge at Disney's Yacht Club Resort.

Here are some favorites:

Victoria Falls at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. Down a flight of stairs from the lobby, this mezzanine lounge serves wine and spirits imported from Africa, including Windhoek beer from Namibia and Imoya Brandy from South Africa. The specialty drink is a Victoria Falls Mist, with tangerine, melon and banana liqueurs. There's also Kenyan coffee and hand-picked loose teas from Asia, Africa and Europe.

Mizner's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. A live orchestra plays nostalgic Big Band sounds just outside the doors of this lounge tucked away on the second floor of the hotel. The lounge's namesake is architect Addison Mizner, whose designs launched a "Florida Renaissance" in the 1920s, so the sophisticated drinks are apropos: champagnes, caipirinhas, mint juleps and cosmopolitans, along with nine vodkas, seven different single malt scotch whiskeys and after-dinner cognacs and ports.

Kimonos at the Walt Disney World Swan. Elegantly decorated in dark teak with silk kimonos on the walls, you can sample more than 15 kinds of sake along with beer and wine. The sushi bar is a five-star attraction, but you also can order tempura, teriyaki and other Japanese starters. The real fun begins with karaoke at 9 p.m. nightly.

Beers are the center of attention at Crew's Cup at Disney's Yacht Club Resort, with more than 30 on the menu, from Red Stripe from Jamaica to Guinness Draught from Ireland and Yuengling Lager from Pottsville, Pa. Signature martinis and coffee drinks laced with spirits are popular, too. The lounge has a limited menu for a light dinner.

At Epcot World Showcase, you can sip your way around the world, with favorites that include imported beers at Rose & Crown Pub in United Kingdom and at Sommerfest at Germany, margaritas in Mexico, and Grand Marnier orange slush in France.

Tune-In at Disney's Hollywood Studios, next door to 50's Prime Time Cafe, looks like a family den from the '50s, with black-and-white TVs and campy retro furniture. You can choose kitschy drinks from "Dad's Liquor Cabinet" like Uncle Tim's Melon Margarita, Scooter's Long Island Iced Tea or an Electric Lemonade. Beer and wine is offered, too.

Dawa Bar adjacent to Tusker House Restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Sit in the shade and sip a hard-to-find Tusker Beer from Africa or Safari Amber, brewed just for Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. South African wines are on the drink menu, too, along with cocktails like Lost on Safari with rum and fruit juices.

Rix Lounge, a nightclub venue at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, features house music, specialty drinks, tapas-style appetizers and rotating entertainment. State-of-the-art lighting and sound systems create a first-class, fresh, contemporary and sophisticated ambiance. The menu features an array of signature martinis, mojitos and margaritas.

Contact us to learn more about Disney for grown-ups or to book your Disney vacation package!

Characters Phineas and Ferb  from the hit Disney Channel series “Phineas and Ferb” now greet guests of all ages in a new interactive meet-and-play experience at Disney’s Holllywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The characters appear near Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano in the theme park. (Gene Duncan, photographer)

Contact us to learn more about character interactions at Walt Disney World or to book your Disney vacation package online!

Yes, you read that right! Disney World actually has a cake hotline you can call to order a speciality cake to help you celebrate your special occasion. Much like the Cake Boss or Charm City Cakes, Disney bakers will whip up extraordinaire cakes with amazing fondant decor and toppers.  

During my recent visit to Walt Disney World, I pre-ordered what Disney calls their Cinderella Slipper Dessert, for my mom's 70th birthday celebration at Cinderella's Royal Table.   The slipper is made from your choice of white or milk chocolate with a filling of chocolate mousse. For only $12.95 this is a great way to add a little magic to your celebration.

Disney also offers pre-made celebratory cakes at most of the sit down restaurants on property.   These pre-made cakes can be ordered right at the podium of the restaurant with no advance notice!

To contact Disney's Cake Hotline, call 1-407-827-CAKE or Contact Us for more information!

Sunset Safari at Disney’s Kingdom Lodge offers up-close encounters with exotic creatures

Guests staying at the lodge can enter a serene animal reserve for an up-close encounter on the Wanyama Safari. Just before sunset seven nights a week, guests board a specially designed vehicle that explores the resort’s three savannas. Guests get picture-perfect views of more than 200 mammals and exotic birds and then partake in a savory South African feast at the resort’s signature restaurant, Jiko-The Cooking Place. The 3 ½-hour experience, including dinner, is $170.

For more information on this or to book your Disney vacation, Contact Us Now!

Did you know that as a Disney Resort guest you can park for free anywhere on Disney World property?

Duffy the Disney Bear came into existence when Minnie Mouse, in 2004, sewed a special cuddly teddy bear as a gift for Mickey to take on his world travels.   The story goes that Mickey traveled the globe with Duffy as his trusty companion.

Duffy, the Disney Bear is for sale at Epcot theme park and select locations at the Walt Disney World Resort. Since Duffy is exclusive to Disney Parks, he is not available for sale online. Won't you make Duffy your travel companion too?

Contact us to learn more about Duffy the Disney Bear or to learn more about Walt Disney World Resort!

LOVE IS IN THE AIR FOR DISNEY VALENTINES -- Beloved Disney character couples are "feelin' the love" at Walt Disney World Resort during Valentine's month. Against the fairytale backdrop of Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom are Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Aladdin and Jasmine, Belle and Beast, Price Eric and Ariel, Cinderella and Prince Charming and Donald and Daisy Duck. (Photo: Gene Duncan/Disney)

Learn to hula dance at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, where complimentary classes take place most days in the resort’s lobby. Auntie Kaui, a hula dancer and instructor with 50 years experience, leads most of the classes offered Monday through Saturday at 3:45 p.m., and Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. until noon. Weekday classes are geared toward the younger set, with leis and grass skirts aplenty, while the Saturday morning lessons encourage guests of all ages to do the hula shake.  And whether guests stay for five minutes or the full two-hour Saturday classes, they’ll learn a variety of chants and dances from such tropical locales as Hawaii, Tahiti and more.

Contact us to learn more about this or to book your Disney vacation!

1. Rent a Stroller: Rather than lugging a stroller (including on and off of parking lot trams and buses), parents with young children can rent stroller for the day’s use in any of the four Walt Disney World theme parks.  Tips for renters: (1) opt for a length-of-stay rental, which saves some money; (2) keep your receipt; if you’re park-hopping during the day, drop off the stroller when you’re leaving a park and use your receipt to obtain a stroller when you enter another park.

2. Baby Care Centers:  Baby Care Centers are located in all four Disney theme parks and feature private rooms with rocking chairs for nursing mothers, diaper-changing rooms, and feeding rooms with highchairs, bibs and plastic spoons.  There are even diapers, formula and teethers for sale.

3."A rider swap" program lets both parents enjoy a ride – one parent waits with the child while one parent rides a ride.  Afterwards, the other parent can board the ride with minimal wait time, ask any castmember at the attractions for this special rider swap option.

4. Special Guide Map:  Special guide maps are available at Guest Relations in all the theme parks, focus on where you can find the characters, attractions, entertainment and interactive activities of special interest to young children.  

5. Theme Park Guide Maps: available in English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish and Portuguese and times guides for shows, character greetings, parades and fireworks are available at Guest Relations locations in each park.

6. Disney’s FASTPASS: Guests can avoid waiting at designated popular attractions in all four Walt Disney World theme parks.  At the entrance to attractions offering FASTPASS, two times are posted: approximate wait time using the normal queue, and return time for FASTPASS holders currently being issued (at no charge to park guests).  If the wait is long, guests can choose to obtain a FASTPASS ticket with an assigned return time (an hour-long window) and then use the time until then for other experiences in the park.  Upon returning to use their FASTPASS, the guest experiences little or no wait time to enter the attraction. Guests who decide to forego a popular parade frequently discover it’s a time to experience a popular attraction with less wait.

7. Mid-Day Breaks:  Especially in the heat of the summer, a mid-day break will be a welcome break from the sun, heat and crowds. Crowd levels at Disney theme parks will be at it's highest around 2pm. I highly recommend arriving at the theme park of your choice about 15 to 20 minutes prior to park opening and enjoying the park until about 1pm. Shortly after lunch is a good time to head back to your resort for a mid-day break. By doing so, you will miss the busiest part of the day at the theme parks. After a refreshing swim or nap, it's time to head back to the theme park for dinner and visit more attractions.

Contact us for additional Disney World tips or to book your Disney vacation!