Hi Laura! We are planning our first Disney cruise in May, and we are so excited! Although I haven't personally been on a Disney cruise yet, I know from my training that are absolutely wonderful! Disney Cruise Line offers destinations to the Caribbean, Alaska, and the Mediterranean (just to name a few). In the last few years, they've added two brand new ships (the Dream and the Fantasy), both with 14 decks! The Disney Cruise Line is known for its Broadway-caliber nightly entertainment, varied activities for all ages, exciting port excursions (including its own private island oasis in the Caribbean, Castaway Cay) and, of course, its high level of customer service. Is there anything specific you'd like to know about a Disney cruise?

I book MYSTIC LAKES RESORT twice a year... minutes from all Disney gates - but best of all YOU CAN BOOK ONE OF 1,000 CONDOS (off season) for $39 per night. For a few bucks more you can get the two bedrom two bath, full kitchen, patio under air, big screen TVs and full kitchens. Last year it was $39 per night plus a flat $150 for the entire length of your visit to upgrade to the huge luxury condo. Check out the websites and floor plans - you will flip!!

Now... is it Disney???

No.

But who cares??

Get out and see the entire area... the food is diverse in Orlando and far less $$$ than the Disney properties.

Oh. Lest I forget. Very few kids.

Can you bring your kids??

Yes.

But frankly, I got tired of all the kid poop (with no adult supervision) in all the pools at the Grand Floridian - at $500 per night.

Hi there "Farmington Hills Curmudgeon"! Offsite lodging can definitely be a good options, especially for larger families. It IS important to check the location and reputation of the hotel (hotels south of the convention center on International Drive are generally very safe and reputable), but these hotels do provide a (sometimes cost-saving) alternative to staying on Disney property, especially for guests traveling without children. I plan to tackle this topic in my next post, actually, so stay tuned!

I can tell you that the property is spotless. Each building has its own pool. Washer and dryer in each unit. The master suite has an enormous luxury bath area, jacuzzi tub, shower, and double sinks. We go straight from the airport and pick up groceries. Again. The best news is that you are minutes from all parks.

That's great! I did not mean to imply that all other properties outside of the area that I mentioned are unsafe. I just meant that it's important to research an offsite hotel before you book! I definitely think that offsite hotels provide a great alternative for people who do not wish to stay in the "Disney bubble" for their entire vacation!

LOL. I had to laugh!!

MYSTIC LAKES in Minnesota
MYSTIC DUNES in Florida

My two "MYSTIC" favorites!!

And at my age - I really hate it when I get to Orlando and program MYSTIC LAKES into the GPS and can't seem to find MYSTIC DUNES near The Magic Kingdom!!

In the meantime, Meredith, I hope you take a few minutes next time you are at Disney and go visit the property. My ex-wife tries her best to put together Disney vacations but stops when her budget flies out of control with Disney Hotels. I just can't get through to her that you have to look outside the box and see that Disney can be downright affordable. I buy the park tickets in the books of ten. If I am not mistaken - that runs about $45 per day for all parks and the tickets never expire.

I will be sure to do that! I'm always telling people that Disney World can be very affordable, and offsite lodging CAN be one way to do that (if you do it right). Have a great day.

Hi Bill! I'm so glad that you enjoyed your Disney cruise so much! Thanks for your comments.

My family also went on a Disney Cruise this summer. I couldn't agree with Bill more. We went on a 4 night cruise and it was amazing. Disney's private Island, Castaway Key was the highlight. I would recommend it to anyone.

Hi there! First and foremost, rest assured that crime is almost nonexistent on Disney World property; in fact, it is one of the safest vacation destinations in the world. The Walt Disney World Resort area spans 47 square miles and includes 26 resort hotels, four theme parks, two water parks, and intricate transportation system, and countless restaurants--all of which are completely safe. Outside of the Walt Disney World resort area, most hotels and restaurants south of the convention center on International Drive are very safe. Orlando is a big city, and like all big cities, crime does happen, but I would definitely not classify Orlando as "dangerous". That being said, it's always important to take personal safety precautions when traveling.

I don't think you're trying to argue with me at all. I will also present some facts from my perspective. This year, Forbes listed the most dangerous cities in the nation, and Orlando didn't even make the list. Furthermore, Disney World PROPERTY is arguably one of the safest vacation destinations in the world; crime is almost nonexistent on the resort. And I'm truly sorry that you've had negative experiences in Orlando. But I will speak from my personal experience as well, and I can honestly say that, of all the times we've been to Disney World, I have NEVER encountered a homeless person asking for money, NEVER had anyone come up to my car, and NEVER felt threatened in any way. I have also never heard from a client that they had any of these experiences.

Of course, again, it's always prudent to take personal safety measures when traveling anywhere, and there are certain areas of Orlando that I would not visit, but the Disney World resort area is definitely not one of them. I have always felt very safe with my children when we vacation at Disney World, as have countless of my friends, family members, and clients.

From one cranky old guy to the other - I can tell you that every mile you venture away from Disney property may become an issue. But even way back when I had more money - we rarely stayed at Disney properties and when we did there were too many kids. For a five star hotel - The Grand Floridian was a full on nightmare.

We were supposed to stay a week but stayed one night and packed up. We saw the manager in the lobby and bitterly complained about the noise. We told him flat out that we wanted all of our money back including food expense. He basically scoffed and wished us well, but as we were loading up at valet parking, he walked out, appologized (did I spell that right?), and gave us all of our money back.

Well. That is what I would expect from Disney, but I would never go back. Not when you can get a huge 3-4 star condo 5 minutes down the road for a fraction of the price.

OK. Cranky rant over.

"Farmington Hills": I completely agree that onsite Disney hotels are not the "best fit" for every guest. Offsite hotels are a great alternative, especially for people who are not traveling with children! I am assuming that the hotel you are referring to is the Mystic Dunes Resort (the Mystic Lakes is in Minnesota). This is a timeshare, correct? For the right demographic, this definitely could be a good choice.

I am sorry that you had such a negative experience at the Grand Floridian, but many of my clients absolutely LOVE that resort and did not have the same issues with noise that you did. I am glad that the Grand Floridian refunded your money, but I am not surprised (Disney is renowned for its customer service, and they will bend over backward to please their guests).

Again, offsite hotels can be a good choice for certain guests, provided that they do their research (or contact a good travel agency who can assist them with this research) to ensure that they are booking the right hotel for them.

Absolutely! I totally agree that it's important to use common sense whenever you're traveling anywhere. I was simply clarifying that Disney World itself is safe, and that other areas of Orlando are safe, too. And I didn't mean to imply that Forbes is the BEST source of information; I was simply pointing out that there are TONS of sources out there with different lists. Thank you so much for your comments, "Frustrated Old Man"! It's always good to get another perspective. Have a great night.

Thanks, Debra. I learned so much about Disney cruises when I was training to become a travel consultant, and I cannot tell you how excited we are to go in May! I'm looking forward to experiencing this other side of Disney!

While I agree with Gerry's initial comments, Meredith, I'd like to offer some "chick to chick" advice that it's probably not worth your effort to try to respond to veiled accusations from folks who can't even be bothered to use their real names when posting comments.
Whoever feels aggrieved by the fact that you are a travel agent/consultant providing free advice about traveling e.g. to Disney (or anywhere for that matter), the point has already been made and re-made ad nauseum. It is now reaching a point where some folks just want to keep harping for the sake of being accusatory. Let it roll off. Anyone who feels the same as them will cheer "hear hear!!" and anyone who feels you are being treated unfairly will silently shake their head and mutter "tsk tsk"

Thanks, Laura. I appreciate it!

Gingers get away? hum, wasn't that the trav agent, where the crew on Gilligan's Island went through.... think so ......... might I add about Orlando, have a place there, the Brazilians are there in out summer, since it is a winter get away for them, told all my daughters friends, safer to interact back here in Michigan then down there, since all the foreigners have to do the day after is get out of the country, and you are but a memory..... and not accountable ... thank God for the gates, and they are passed that vulnerable time. we are campers, if nothing else all the kids were taught to observe and be aware............

all the pools close at 2300, they were to be back at the villa, by 2315, then we could do other teen age things........ when the next day was an off day........ the orientals seemed for the most part travel in groups......... very little or no interacting w / Americans, but those english boys and the braz.'s thought is was Fat Tuesday on the beaches of Rio D. every day/night.......... very forward and not discrete.. out right asking for favors.......... over at the well known splash city park, off Disney site, it was very hard as a dad to stand a ladder with a Briz. chic in her barley legal pc of dental floss on, right at your eye level ............. now I am not a prude....... but with the family? at suit required park......... lol... my wife would laugh, whats the matter? hard not to look....... oh shut up...... just wait.......

Hi Susie! You're right--Disney World itself is in Lake Buena Vista, but many people refer to Disney World as being in the "Orlando area", so it can get confusing. You're right about the "packs of ten" comment also. I didn't catch that earlier. Coincidentally, I plan to discuss ticket options in my next blog!

Your comment about the chefs is spot-on. Disney is well-known for its allergy-friendly chefs. My son has a peanut allergy, and I'll never forget the first time we ate at a buffet at Disney. I was worried because buffets are so tricky when it comes to allergies, but the chef walked me through the buffet personally and even offered to make something for my son separately. It definitely took a load off of my mind!

Thanks for the support!

3 hollow, harmless grenades shells, found by a custodian in a trash can in a parking lot used only by employees. Breaking news?

Happy New Year, "Frustrated"! Good to hear from you again!

LOL. And folks think that I am grumpy????

Oh that's good...

Haha! Oops! You know, since you mentioned Mystic Dunes, I've heard about it several more times!! Definitely going to check it out when I'm down in Orlando!