Author: Tim

  • October 2026 Newsletter

    October 2026 Newsletter

    2027 Disney & Universal Offers and When to Book

    The new 2027 Disney offers are here for Walt Disney World, Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line, along with new deals at Universal Orlando. Whether you’re planning around a school break or can travel any time, now is a great moment to start. And planning with us is always free.

    Tim and Jenny Sayler of The Mouse Your Way Travel

    Thank you for being part of The Mouse Your Way family. Whether we’ve planned a trip together or you’ve just reached out with questions, we’d love to help make your next vacation magical.

    — Tim & Jenny

    2027 Disney and Universal offers are available now

    Savings for 2027 trips are here

    New offers are out for Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line. Ask us which offer fits your family’s dates and destination.

    Offers have limited inventory and their own rules. Tell us your dates and we’ll find the one that fits. Already booked? We’ll check whether a new offer can lower your price.

    Curious what’s out there? You can browse Walt Disney World’s official special offers and Universal Orlando Resort, then let us do the comparing for you.

    Planning around school breaks

    Winter break

    Late December. Close, but still possible. Reach out this week. A trip reveal makes a great Christmas gift.

    Spring break

    March 2027. Book now. The new Disney, Universal and Disneyland offers all cover March.

    Summer break

    June–July 2027. Book now for the most choices. Disney packages run to July 28, and cruises are booking.

    Spring break 2028

    Disney Cruise Line. Sailings are already open. Cruises book far ahead, so reserve early for the best stateroom choice.

    No kids in school? You’ve got the best dates.

    Couples, empty nesters, grandparents and friends can travel while school is in session, when crowds are lower and lines are shorter. Ask us about the quietest weeks for your destination.

    When to book for the best choices

    The earlier you start, the more hotels and staterooms you can choose from. Here’s our rule of thumb for each destination.

    Walt Disney World: plan 9 to 12 months out to make the most of 2027 Disney offers
    Universal Orlando: start planning 9 to 12 months out for the most hotel choice
    Disneyland Resort: start planning 6 to 9 months out for the most hotel choice
    Disney Cruise Line: start planning 12 to 24 months out for the most cabin choice

    Booking closer in? It’s usually still possible, just with fewer choices. We’ll tell you what’s open for your dates.

    Expert planning at no cost to you

    $0 planning fee

    Disney and Universal pay us, not you. Same price—or even lower—than you would find on your own.

    The right offer

    We match your dates to the best deal.

    Savings checks

    After you book, we keep watching for new offers that lower your price.

    When you book with us, or send a friend our way, you help our small family business grow. That’s the best thank-you we could ask for.

    Want a head start? Grab our free planning guides: Disney Vacation Planning Guide · Universal Vacation Planning Guide

    Let’s plan your next trip

    Contact us

    Email tim@themouseyourway.com · Call 800-883-1535 ext. 24

    Thank you for being part of our travel family. We look forward to planning your next vacation with you very soon.
    — Tim & Jenny Sayler, The Mouse Your Way Travel

  • Is a Disney or Universal travel agent really free?

    Is a Disney or Universal travel agent really free?

    Yes. Planning your trip with us costs you nothing, and you pay the same price you would booking it yourself. We get asked “what’s the catch?” all the time. There isn’t one, and here is exactly how it works.

    How travel agents get paid

    We are compensated by Disney, Universal and the cruise line directly, not by you. The price is the same one you would pay booking it yourself, and you might pay less!

    We don’t charge a planning fee, and there is no cost to ask for ideas and pricing.

    What you get at no extra cost

    • A plan built around your family. The ages of your kids, favorite characters, ride tolerance, budget and pace all shape what we recommend.
    • The details that eat up planning time. Resort selection, dining reservations, and Lightning Lane or Express Pass strategy.
    • Ticket advice. We help you right-size your tickets so you’re not paying for park days or add-ons you won’t use.
    • A second look at the numbers. We run the numbers on dining plans so you know whether one actually saves you money for how your family eats.
    • Help during your trip. If something comes up while you’re traveling, you can reach us. You’re not on your own once you check in.

    The part most people don’t know

    Once you book, we keep watching your reservation. If a new discount, promotion or lower package price comes out before your trip, we check for it every day and help you take advantage when it saves you money. Doing that yourself means checking websites over and over for months.

    Who we are

    We’re Tim and Jenny Sayler, a husband-and-wife team based in Indiana, and we have been booking Disney and Universal vacations since 2007. Learn more on our Meet Tim & Jenny page.

    Common questions

    Do I pay more if I book through a travel agent? No. The price is the same as booking directly.

    Is there a fee to ask for a quote? No. Tell us about your trip and we’ll follow up with ideas and pricing, with no cost and no obligation.

    Do you only plan Disney trips? No. We plan Disney (Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Aulani and Adventures by Disney) and Universal (Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood).

    What if the price drops after I book? We check for new offers, and if one applies to your reservation and you qualify, we help you take advantage of it.

    Get started for free

    Grab our free planning guide for your destination: Disney Vacation Planning Guide or Universal Vacation Planning Guide.

    Or reach us directly at tim@themouseyourway.com or 800-883-1535 ext. 24.

    Discounts, promotions and booking details change, and not every offer applies to every reservation. We confirm what is current for your dates.

  • How Much Does Disney World Cost for a Family of 4 in 2026?

    Disney World is a dream vacation — and one of the bigger financial decisions a family will make. So before you start planning, the most important question is: what’s this actually going to cost us?

    After 19 years of helping families plan Disney vacations, we can tell you that the answer depends heavily on the choices you make. A family of four can spend anywhere from around $3,500 to $12,000+ on a Disney World trip. That’s a wide range — so let’s break down exactly what drives the cost and what a realistic trip looks like at different price points.

    The Four Big Cost Buckets

    Every Disney World trip has four main expense categories: park tickets, lodging, food, and extras. Let’s walk through each.

    1. Park Tickets

    In 2026, Disney World uses date-based ticket pricing — what you pay per day depends on when you visit and how many days you buy. For a family of four (two adults, two children under 10), here’s what to expect for a 5-day ticket:

    • Budget dates (January, late August): ~$90–$110/person per day → ~$1,800–$2,200 total
    • Moderate dates (most of fall, early December): ~$115–$130/person per day → ~$2,300–$2,600 total
    • Peak dates (spring break, Thanksgiving, Christmas): ~$150–$185/person per day → ~$3,000–$3,700 total

    2. Where You Stay (The Biggest Variable)

    Lodging is where costs swing most dramatically. Disney’s on-site resorts fall into three tiers:

    TierExamplesTypical Nightly Rate (Family of 4)
    Disney Value ResortsPop Century, Art of Animation$175 – $280 / night
    Disney Moderate ResortsPort Orleans, Coronado Springs$280 – $420 / night
    Disney Deluxe ResortsGrand Floridian, Polynesian, Beach Club$500 – $1,200+ / night

    For a 5-night stay: Value resorts run $875–$1,400 total; Deluxe resorts run $2,500–$6,000+. Off-site options (vacation rentals, Good Neighbor hotels) can run $100–$200/night — cheaper, but you lose transportation perks and the full Disney immersion.

    3. Food

    Disney food is expensive — no way around it. A table-service dinner for a family of four runs $80–$150. Quick-service meals are $15–$20 per person. A realistic daily food budget is $100–$150, for a 5-day total of $500–$750.

    The 2026 Kids Eat Free dining offer can change this math significantly for families with children ages 3–9. Reach out and I’ll run the numbers for your specific situation.

    4. Extras (Where Budgets Quietly Balloon)

    • Lightning Lane Multi Pass (line-skipping): ~$15–$35/person per day
    • Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique makeover: $90–$450 per child
    • Special ticketed events (Halloween, Christmas Party): ~$115–$185/person
    • Souvenirs: budget $20–$50 per child, per day if you want to be realistic 😄
    • Flights + ground transportation: varies — don’t forget to include this!

    Three Budget Scenarios: What a 5-Day Trip Really Costs

    Budget Trip: ~$3,500–$5,000

    • Value resort, mid-season dates
    • Mostly quick-service dining, no dining plan
    • Skip Lightning Lane and special events

    Mid-Range Trip: ~$6,000–$8,500

    • Moderate resort, standard fall dates
    • Mix of quick-service and 2–3 table-service meals
    • Lightning Lane Multi Pass most days
    • One special event (Halloween or Christmas Party)

    Splurge Trip: ~$10,000–$14,000+

    • Deluxe resort (Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Beach Club)
    • Holiday or spring break dates
    • Disney Dining Plan or premium restaurant reservations
    • Full Lightning Lane coverage + premium extras

    The #1 Way Families Overpay

    Most families who plan their own Disney trips overpay in one of two ways: booking at the wrong time, or missing promotions they qualified for. Disney regularly releases deals — free dining, room discounts, extra days on tickets — that can save $500–$2,000 on a trip.

    As an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner with 19 years of experience, I monitor these offers constantly and apply them to existing bookings the moment they’re released. My planning service is 100% free to you. I’m paid by Disney, not by you.

    Ready to know what YOUR trip will cost? Contact us for a free, no-obligation Disney trip quote → tim@themouseyourway.com or call (800) 883-1535, ext. 24

    The Mouse Your Way Travel  |  Authorized Disney Vacation Planner  |  19 Years of Experience