Disney Travel Secrets - How to do Disney

507 - Last week we covered the best and worst times to visit Walt Disney World. But what if your only options are Spring Break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or summer? This episode is for you. Millions of families visit during the busiest weeks of the year and have an amazing time. The difference isn't luck. It's a plan.

START PLANNING HERE

First, a quick Disney update. Magic Kingdom has switched from Halloween to Christmas, and the holiday parties are almost here. Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios opens November 7, and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party starts November 8. Both are close to sold out, so we share our pro tip for getting tickets once you're already in Orlando.

Then Rob & Kerri share the 7 strategies they use themselves and recommend to their clients:

1. Pick your Big 3. Choose your family's top three must-dos for each park and plan around them.
2. Stay on property. Skip the traffic outside the Disney bubble, get 30 minutes of Early Entry, and look at Deluxe resorts for Extended Evening Hours.
3. Use Lightning Lanes. Guests staying on property can book for their whole stay 7 days out. Budget for them, and consider Premier Pass or a VIP Tour for big groups.
4. Book dining at 60 days. Reservations open online at 6am Eastern. Go for the hardest-to-get restaurants first, and pre-order mobile order meals while you're on your way to the park.
5. Watch park hours, parties, and big events. Party nights, parades, and fireworks can mean shorter lines.
6. Don't let the crowds get in your head. Take a midday break, carry snacks, find the quiet corners, divide and conquer, and have a bail-out plan.
7. Don't plan off Facebook or AI. Disney changes too fast. Lightning Lane alone has changed several times in 2026. A good Disney travel agent costs you nothing extra.

And a bonus #8: have fun, it's still Disney!

Next week: River cruises with Adventures by Disney.

Thank you for more than 3.3 million downloads over nine and a half years. This Thanksgiving month, we're thankful for YOU!

Want someone to build your busy-season plan, from Lightning Lane picks to dining? Reach out to our agents at Creating Magic Vacations. There's no extra cost to you.

506 - When Is the Best Time to Go to Disney World in 2027? The Crowd Calendar Secrets Most People Get Wrong!

Think the 4th of July is one of the busiest weeks of summer at Disney World? Think again! Join Rob and Kerri Stuart as they break down the best and worst weeks to visit Walt Disney World in 2027. They also bust the biggest crowd myths, including why the 4th of July has been the slowest week of summer four years in a row, and why the week after New Year's is one of the busiest weeks of the year.

START PLANNING WITH US HERE!

The Busiest Weeks of 2027: New Year's, Presidents' Day, Spring Break & Easter, Summer's "Twin Peaks," Fall Break, the little-known "Jersey Week," Thanksgiving, and Christmas

The Best Weeks to Visit Disney World in 2027: Mid-January, early February, early March, after Easter, late May, the 4th of July, late summer, October, and the week after Thanksgiving

How to Use Disney's Annual Passholder Blackout Calendar: Why blackout dates are basically Disney telling you when they expect the biggest crowds, and why you should watch the day a blackout ends

runDisney & Holiday Weekends: How Marathon Weekend, MLK, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day and Labor Day affect crowds

What's New at Disney World in 2027:

• Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom with Encanto and Indiana Jones
• Monstropolis at Hollywood Studios
• Lakeshore Lodge, the new Disney Vacation Club resort, opening July 1, 2027
• Carousel of Progress returning with a whole new timeline

• Why you should wait 4–6 weeks after a new ride opens
• How Florida resident ticket deals cause "use it or lose it" crowd spikes
• Which Christmas Party night to skip (and which one to book instead)
• Why picking the right week can save you money, with Christmas and New Year's Eve tickets up to $229
• How to plan smarter when you're locked into a busy week like spring break

• Disney World crowd calendar 2027 insights
• Best time to visit Disney World advice
• Disney World vacation tips for crowd-free planning
• Disney travel hacks for busy families
• Disney vacation planning strategies for 2027

Whether you're totally flexible or locked into school breaks, this episode shows you how to find your perfect Disney week. And remember the golden rule: the best week to go to Disney World is the one you actually take!

Coming Next Week: How to navigate the parks during the busiest times, with rope drop, Lightning Lane strategy, park hopping and more.

Hosts: Rob & Kerri Stuart – Disney travel experts broadcasting from Windermere, Florida, right next to the House of Mouse

Episode: #506 | Air Date: October 26, 2026

Ready to plan your 2027 Disney vacation? The agents at Creating Magic Vacations will build your whole plan around your dates!

Keywords: best time to visit Disney World 2027, Disney World crowd calendar 2027, worst time to go to Disney World, least crowded Disney World weeks, Disney World 4th of July crowds, Disney annual passholder blackout dates, runDisney Marathon Weekend, Tropical Americas, Monstropolis, Lakeshore Lodge, Disney World vacation tips, Disney travel secrets, Disney vacation planning

505 - Think Disney is too expensive? Think again! In this episode of Disney Travel Secrets, Rob and Kerri Stuart say what nobody else will. Disney pricing hasn't changed as much as you think, but our spending habits have. If you're wondering how to afford a Disney vacation, how to pay for a Disney World trip, or how to save money for Disney, this episode is for you.

START PLANNING YOUR VACATION HERE

Disney Cruise Line Updates

• The Disney Believe maiden voyage sold out before it reached Silver and DVC members
• Why refundable deposits aren't allowed on maiden voyages and concierge cabins
• Why building Castaway Club status matters
• Meet the Disney Imagination, a new Wish-class ship homeported in Japan, sailing 2- and 3-night cruises

How to Plan and Pay for Your Disney Vacation

• Sell unused items on Facebook Marketplace and Vinted to grow your vacation fund
• Get the whole family involved with a reward system and a visual savings chart
• Find duplicate streaming subscriptions and hidden credit card perks (with help from AI)
• Make monthly payments on your Disney vacation
• Put work bonuses and tax refunds straight into savings
• Small lifestyle swaps, like cooking at home and making your own coffee, that add up fast
• The Disney Inspire Visa card: our experience with the sign-up offer and annual fee
• Year-end tax planning and building an annual vacation budget with your financial planner
• How sharing your budget with a Disney travel advisor can stretch it further

Whether you're planning your first Walt Disney World vacation, a Disneyland trip, or a Disney cruise, these Disney money-saving tips will help you get there.

Special 2027 Group Trips: Two river cruises and Nat Geo Galápagos charters are open for booking now, with monthly payments available. Check the link below for details.

Ready to plan your next Disney vacation, by land or sea? Reach out to Rob and Kerri or a Creating Magic Vacations Travel Advisor!

🎙️ New episodes every Monday since 2017. Original air date: October 19, 2026.

#DisneyTravelSecrets #DisneyVacation #DisneyOnABudget #DisneyWorldTips #DisneyCruiseLine #DisneyBelieve #DisneyTips #SaveMoneyForDisney #DisneyPodcast #HowToDoDisney

504 - Welcome to Episode 504 of Disney Travel Secrets! It's Columbus Day, the start of Fall Break for many families, and National Travel Advisor Awareness Week, so give your travel agent a shout-out and tag us!

Let us help you plan your next vacation

In this episode:

• Holiday dates at Walt Disney World: The season runs November 13 through January 6, while EPCOT's Festival of the Holidays runs November 27 through December 30.
• Holiday overlays: Rock 'n' Roller Coaster gets an Electric Mayhem holiday playlist and Alien Swirling Saucers adds four festive tunes, both starting November 4 at Hollywood Studios. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has three holiday songs at EPCOT.
• Now booking: November and December 2027 at Walt Disney World. Holiday suites and premium rooms go fast, and a $200 deposit locks you in.
• 7 hidden Disney Cruise experiences:
  1. The Ship Tour (free, ages 16+, and how to snag a spot)
  2. The Kids Club Open House on embarkation day
  3. The Drawing Class
  4. Towel Animal and craft classes
  5. Meeting the Storytellers on the Wish Class ships
  6. Scavenger Hunts and the Detective Agency
  7. A DIY Art Tour
• Bonus: The hidden chandelier reflection on the Magic, Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy, and exactly where to stand to see it.

Links mentioned:

• Plan your vacation with Creating Magic Vacations:
• Get on the Disney Believe VIP List
• Galápagos small group trip (December 2027) interest list.
• Interested in becoming a travel agent? Join Our Team
• Follow Creating Magic Vacations on social

New episodes every Monday since March 2017. Until next time, have a magical day!

503 - What kind of vacation would you take if money were truly no object? We're not talking about a Disney World suite, Adventures by Disney, or even a two-story Disney Cruise Line suite. In episode #503 of Disney Travel Secrets, Rob and Kerri Stuart celebrate their 17th wedding anniversary by dreaming big and breaking down four over-the-top National Geographic Expeditions trips that circle the globe by private jet.

🔗 Join the Galápagos interest list 🔗 Danube full-ship wine cruise 🔗 Plan your next trip: CreatingMagicVacations.com

Each of these luxury trips flies on a VIP-configured Boeing 757 and includes accommodations, meals, drinks, gratuities, laundry, and excursions led by National Geographic experts such as photographers, videographers, and anthropologists, with presentations even happening in the air between stops. Rob and Kerri cover the route, the best fit traveler, standout experiences, and pricing for each:

✈️ Around the World by Private Jet: 26 days from Washington, D.C. to Machu Picchu, Easter Island, Samoa, the Great Barrier Reef, Angkor Wat, Kathmandu, the Taj Mahal, the Serengeti, Petra, and Marrakech. The ultimate bucket-list trip.

🏝️ Oceans and Islands of the World: 24 days from Oahu to Malta with stops in Palau's Jellyfish Lake, Komodo National Park, Australia, New Zealand, the Seychelles, and Muscat. Perfect for snorkelers and island hoppers.

🦍 Wildlife of the World: 23 days from Singapore to Rome with Borneo, India's Ranthambore, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Madagascar, a South African safari, and mountain gorillas in Rwanda. A dream for Animal Kingdom lovers and wildlife photographers.

🕌 The Silk Road by Private Jet: 20 days along ancient trade routes through Istanbul, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and more. The "entry-level" private jet trip for history buffs and seasoned travelers.

Plus, Rob and Kerri share a fall weather tip for Walt Disney World, an update on their full-ship Danube river cruise in July 2027, and announce a December 2027 Galápagos Islands group trip with National Geographic-Lindblad. The ship holds fewer than 30 guests, so join the interest list for early booking incentives!

Whether you're newly retired, dreaming about a once-in-a-lifetime luxury vacation, or a Disney fan planning to visit every Disney park and sail every Disney ship, this episode will show you what's possible in travel.

Keywords: around the world by private jet, National Geographic Expeditions, private jet tour, luxury travel, bucket list trips, dream vacation, luxury vacation podcast, Disney travel podcast, Disney vacation planning, Adventures by Disney alternative, around the world trip cost, Galápagos cruise, Lindblad Expeditions, Silk Road tour, wildlife safari trip, Taj Mahal, Machu Picchu, Easter Island, Rwanda gorilla trek, travel agent podcast

502 - "Where should we eat at Disney?" It's the question Rob & Kerri Stuart get asked more than any other, from clients, agents, and friends at dinner. In episode #502 of Disney Travel Secrets, they finally answer it. There are no sponsored picks and no internet "top 10" lists. These are just the restaurants the Orlando-local Disney travel experts actually go back to again and again, in the parks, at the resorts, and off property.

Let's Plan your Disney Vacation! START HERE

🏰 IN THE PARKS:

• Animal Kingdom: Yak & Yeti's legendary ahi tuna nachos. The price has nearly doubled, but the portion hasn't shrunk!
• Hollywood Studios: The Hollywood Brown Derby for the famous Cobb salad or filet mignon, plus the walk-up reservation tip for parties of two
• EPCOT: Shiki-Sai in the Japan Pavilion for tuna with ponzu and sushi rolls, and Le Cellier for special occasions
• Magic Kingdom: Jungle Navigation Co. Skipper Canteen for its great menu and even better theming

🏨 AT THE DISNEY RESORTS:

• Steakhouse 71 at the Contemporary for the best French onion soup on property (and the "$100 lunch" rule)
• Wailulu Bar & Grill at the Polynesian's Island Tower, for one of the best burgers on or off property
• The Turf Club at Saratoga Springs is reopening this week. Is it next on the list?

🍕 OFF DISNEY PROPERTY (Save Money!):

• Gator's Dockside for 2-for-1 drinks, wings, smash burgers, and the best place to watch the game
• Piesano's for pizza, calzones, and chicken marsala
• Pizzeria Uno for the best lunch special around

🎉 ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:

• Celebrating 17 years of marriage (sharing an anniversary with Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, October 1st!)
• Why their anniversary trip isn't to Disney, and Baby's first vacation
• A brand-new segment, RK Fun Facts: meet the real Rob & Kerri behind the scenes (hint: it involves an 8:30 bedtime 😴)
• Is the Disney Dining Plan worth it? When it makes sense for budgeting and character meals

Perfect for:

• Families planning a Walt Disney World vacation
• Disney foodies looking for the best restaurants
• First-time Disney visitors wondering where to eat
• Annual Passholders and locals
• Anyone trying to save money on Disney dining

📱 Subscribe for weekly Disney tips, hacks, dining reviews, and vacation planning secrets from Orlando locals in Disney's backyard, every Monday since 2017!

#DisneyWorld #DisneyDining #DisneyFood #BestDisneyRestaurants #DisneyWorldFood #DisneyTips #DisneyVacation #WDW #DisneyPlanning #AnimalKingdom #HollywoodStudios #EPCOT #MagicKingdom #DisneyHacks #OrlandoFood #DisneyTravel

501 - Disney just quietly rolled out an AI-powered trip planner built with Google Cloud — and Rob & Kerri break down 10 reasons why letting AI plan your Walt Disney World vacation could actually ruin it. From ride closures and Lightning Lane strategy to reading your family's real needs, discover why a real Disney travel agent still beats a chatbot every time.

Work with a human to plan your Disney Vacation - start here

Plus in this episode: Epcot's Festival of the Arts gets its longest run ever (Jan 15 – Mar 1), new Flower & Garden Festival dates (Mar 10 – May 31), the full Candlelight Processional presenter lineup with Neil Patrick Harris, 2027 after-hours event news, a shoutout to the Coach store team in Disney Springs, and an "Are You Serious" tour of a Bay Lake Tower Grand Villa.

Whether you're planning your first trip or your fiftieth, this episode is packed with insider insight you won't get from an algorithm.

#DisneyWorld #DisneyAI #WaltDisneyWorld #DisneyTravelAgent #EpcotFestivals #CandlelightProcessional #DisneyPlanning #DisneyTips #DisneyVacation #WDW

500 - After 500 consecutive Mondays (yes, we've never missed one — not even during a hurricane), Rob & Kerri Stuart are pulling back the curtain on how Disney Travel Secrets actually started — and how it turned into Creating Magic Vacations, the travel agency they run today.

Let us help you plan your Disney Vacation - START HERE

If you're here for Disney vacation planning tips, you'll get plenty — how their "top 3 rides" strategy beats stressful rope-drop plans, why flexibility (not a rigid schedule) makes for a better Walt Disney World trip, and how going live at Disney Parks years ago shaped everything they teach today about Disney World vacations and Disney travel planning.

But this episode is also for anyone wondering how to start a podcast — because Rob & Kerri didn't start with a plan. No studio, no equipment budget, no business strategy. Just a microphone, a dining room table in St. Petersburg, Florida, and a meeting with podcasting mentor Pat Flynn that changed the direction of their entire career.

In this episode you'll hear:

• The three moments (2012–2016) that led to starting a Disney podcast in the first place
• Why going from TV hosts to podcasters felt like a "downgrade" — until it wasn't
• The Pat Flynn conversation that convinced them to buy a podcasting course on the spot
• How going live at Disney Parks on Periscope proved there was an audience hungry for Disney content
• Why 500 episodes later, they still believe "the show had a plan for us," not the other way around
• The real answer to: does a podcast actually help you start a business? (Spoiler: Creating Magic Vacations wouldn't exist without it.)

Whether you're planning your next Disney World or Disneyland vacation, thinking about becoming a travel agent, or you've ever thought about starting your own podcast, this milestone episode has something for you.

🎧 3,200,000+ downloads. 675 episodes across two shows. Almost 10 years of consecutive Mondays. Thank you for being part of this journey.

Connect with us: Join the Disney Travel Secrets Superfans group | Follow us on Instagram | Ready to plan your Disney vacation or explore becoming a travel agent? Reach out to our team at Creating Magic Vacations.

499 - There's a suite tucked into the turret corner of Yacht Club that most Disney veterans don't even know exists, and a three-bedroom Grand Villa at Grand Floridian big enough to sleep a small army. This week, Rob and Kerri pull back the curtain on the secret suites of Walt Disney World — the ones that never show up in a normal room search, from the Yosemite Suite at Wilderness Lodge to the two-story Royal Asante Suite at Animal Kingdom Lodge to the overwater Bora Bora Bungalows at Polynesian.

CLICK HERE TO START PLANNING YOUR NEXT DISNEY ADVENTURE

Plus: Disney Cruise Line opens 2027/2028 bookings to everyone starting September 8th (and why the Wish's transatlantic barely made it to Platinum), why Rob and Kerri are finally heading back to the Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic after a few years away, and what it really takes to 5X your travel agency with Creating Magic Vacations.

498 - Big news, Disney cruisers — the fall 2027 and spring 2028 itineraries just dropped, and Rob & Kerri are breaking down everything you need to know before you book.

BOOK YOUR DISNEY CRUISE HERE

In this episode, they cover the exact booking dates by Castaway Club tier (Pearl members, you're up first!), which ships are sailing from which of the seven ports — including standout options like a 12-night transatlantic crossing on the Disney Wish from Southampton to New York, a 14-night Panama Canal repositioning cruise, and a can't-miss Halloween sailing on the new Disney Destiny out of Fort Lauderdale. They also dish on Disneyland 2027 bookings now being open, share a fun fan encounter from their Walt Disney World trip, and offer their prediction on where the brand-new Disney Believe will make her debut. Whether you're chasing Alaska, the Southern Caribbean, or a Panama Canal bucket-list sailing, this episode will help you know exactly when and where to book.