Some great news, as runDisney has announced the return of in person races, including the 2022 Walt Disney World Marathon for the 50th Anniversary! This post shares the announcement, plus details about what changes are in store, and more. After a year of virtual races, runDisney is in the early planning stages to once again […]
The post 2022 Walt Disney World Marathon & More Announced by runDisney! appeared first on Disney Tourist Blog.
It’s a big day here in the Magic Kingdom as Casey’s Corner has finally reopened to guests for the first time since the parks shut down last year. Announced by Disney yesterday afternoon, hungry and eager guests were ready to get their hotdog cravings satisfied. Ropes were initially set up for guests to enter the queue. Cast Members are ecstatic for their restaurant’s reopening today. The ropes were removed shortly after, opening up the space. Cast Members emerge from the […]
The post PHOTOS: “PLAY BALL!” Casey’s Corner Officially Reopens to Guests at Magic Kingdom appeared first on WDW News Today.
Thinking of going on vacation this year, either to Disney World or somewhere else? Well, one of the big things you’ve got to decide is where to stay.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
There are a variety of options available for travelers including standard hotels and Airbnb options. Maybe you’ve specifically looked at staying in an Airbnb for a variety of reasons (the amenities available at those properties, the size of the places you can rent, etc.). But, if you are looking at Airbnb options, you might find yourself paying more than you originally expected.
According to the New York Times, Airbnb’s financial filings have revealed that the “average daily rate of an Airbnb rental increased 35 percent in the first quarter of 2021,” compared to the same quarter for 2020. That’s right, Airbnb prices are seem to be going up in a lot of places.
Market Watch has also noted this change. According to an article reprinted by Market Watch, average daily rates for short-term rentals through Airbnb and Vrbo spiked in April to $245.42. This is up 16.6% compared to April of 2020, according to a report by a vacation rental data company.
Hotels on other other hand, had an average daily rate of $113.54 for the week ending in May 15th according to the article posted by Market Watch. That was up from 2020 but still below the average rate in 2019 for a comparable period of time.
©Airbnb
Business Insider notes, however, that gross bookings this quarter are still 21% below pre-pandemic levels, but Airbnb is expecting “brighter days ahead.” Specifically, Airbnb has seen growing interest in summer travel. Business Insider notes that this signals an “impending travel boom as pandemic restrictions lift and COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues.”
Despite this lower amount of gross bookings, prices are going up.
©Airbnb
Business Insider shares that average rates were up in the first quarter of 2021 as well as during the 4th quarter of 2020. In fact, average rates were up 13% during the company’s 4th quarter of 2020 compared to the same time in 2019.
So, what’s the deal? If gross bookings are still below pre-pandemic levels, why are Airbnb prices increasing? Well, it looks like there are several reasons.
The New York Times notes that part of what’s happening is that as demand starts to increase (particularly for summer travel as restrictions ease and the vaccine continues to be distributed), “companies that once had to compete for customers are now dealing with an overabundance of them.” In the case of Airbnb, the increasing demand for summer getaways is being met with a shortage of available listings.
©Airbnb
Market Watch notes that there are some other factors potentially at play as well. First, it seems people are opting for larger properties. Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst from Atmosphere Research Group, notes that being able to rent an entire house, condo, or villa offers benefits that some travelers might find important like more space, potentially an area to use as an office, a kitchen, and more.
Added privacy and the ability to avoid shared facilities (like shared elevators or lobbies) can also be a benefit for some. An individual at another research firm noted that in many cases staying in a short-term rental offers the same comfortable amenities people like from their own homes.
©Airbnb
Second, while many hotels are reopening, Market Watch notes that some of them still cannot offer the same services they used to previously because many are short-staffed. So, that may be driving some to stay in short-term rentals that can offer them the comfort of home.
Market Watch also shares that another reason might be causing this increase in cost — location. Properties outside of dense urban areas are reportedly very popular on Airbnb and other rental services. Many of these properties may be second homes for those who typically live in larger cities. But, some of the owners of these properties may have left their city homes to go live in their second homes due to the pandemic.
©Airbnb
Some people may still be residing in these second properties as remote work has become more available and thus they may not feel the need to return to their property in the city. This then causes a drop in the supply of options in these popular areas, driving up the price of those options that are available.
Business Insider has noted that larger homes and non-urban destinations are categories that often already had a higher average rate, so this increase only brings prices even higher.
©Airbnb
And demand for short-term rentals in big cities previously declined because many tourist attractions were unavailable for months.
Business Insider also notes that more people have started to travel in large groups due to COVID-19, which lends itself to renting larger properties, leading to higher average daily rates.
©Airbnb
Things are starting to look up for short-term rentals according to Market Watch. They note that “U.S. short-term rental demand has recovered to pre-pandemic 2019 levels, according to AirDNA. In April 2021, demand increased by 66.4% over 2020 levels and 5.4% over 2019.”
So, that’s a look at what things are like in general for Airbnb, but what do thinks look like in Florida specifically and around Disney World? Well, Visit Florida has an entire page dedicated to the impact of COVID-19 in the state.
According to one of their charts, demand for hotels in April of 2021 (as compared to 2019) is down about 1.7%. That means Florida itself is already nearing 2019 levels in terms of hotel demand.
©Visit Florida
What about vacation rental bookings? In May of 2021, as compared to data from 2019, new vacation rental bookings were down 29.62%. So, there’s still a bit of catching up to do there in terms of the sheer number of bookings.
©Visit Florida
What about Airbnb prices? What do those look like right now for the area surrounding Disney World?
©Airbnb
Well, we ran a quick search for a weekend stay from July 15th through the 18th and the average nightly price was around $250. We don’t have any historical data to compare that to. But we can compare that to current Disney World hotel prices.
©Airbnb
When we ran a search for a Disney World hotel stay during the same dates, the cheapest option available was Disney’s Pop Century Resort for $189.27 per night with a special summer savings offer. After that, the prices were quite high with Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort as the next cheapest at $637.07 per night.
©Disney
So, while Airbnb prices may be going up on average (particularly in places outside urban areas and for larger properties, which appear to be in greater demand with less supply than before), you may still find that the deals are better than hotels in SOME places. It all just depends.
On average, Airbnb prices are going up. So, whether your future travels bring you to Disney World or elsewhere, just keep in mind that your vacation might cost you more than it did last year, and potentially more than it did prior to the pandemic.
©Airbnb
It’s important to keep this in mind, particularly as you make your budgets and start to send aside funds for your trip.
We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more news and tips that can help you with your future vacations and let you know what we find!
With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today!
Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. 
Have you ever stayed at an Airbnb? Tell us in the comments!
The post Your Next Airbnb Stay Might Cost You MORE Than You Expect first appeared on the disney food blog.
TOMORROW (July 1st) fireworks return to Magic Kingdom (with Happily Ever After) and EPCOT (with EPCOT Forever)!
Happily Ever After (February 2020)
So far, we’ve seen some fireworks testing taking place in both parks ahead of the return of these shows. And we’ve seen Tink flying high up in the sky again! But, you might be wondering if anything with these shows has changed. Recently, we got an update on one part of the pre-show announcement for Happily Ever After in Magic Kingdom that is now a bit different.
Ahead of Happily Ever After beginning, there is typically a pre-show announcement. Previously, this pre-show announcement included the phrase “ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls,” when welcoming guests and alerting them to the upcoming fireworks. Specifically, it contained the phrase “ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, dreamers of all ages.” But, it looks like this pre-show announcement has now changed.
Happily Ever After is Coming Back SOON!!!!
Recently, the.dis posted a video on Instagram about some fireworks testing taking place in Magic Kingdom. In the video, you can hear that the pre-show announcement no longer contains the phrase “ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.” Instead, it skips that portion and now simply states “Good evening, dreamers of all ages.”
Happily Ever After Fireworks From the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage
When the fireworks return tomorrow, we’ll be sure to keep you updated and bring you along for the exciting journey so you can witness the magic from wherever you are. We’ll let you know if we spot any other changes and share all of the latest news with you. Be sure to stay tuned for more updates!
With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today!
Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose.
Will you be visiting Disney World on July 1st for the return of fireworks to the parks? Tell us in the comments!
The post Disney World CHANGES Fireworks Pre-Show Announcement first appeared on the disney food blog.
There are a LOT of food options in Disney World.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Whether you’re in the parks, in Disney Springs, or at a Disney World Resort hotel; you’re likely going to have some serious options when it comes to dinner! Well, Disney just introduced a NEW option to feed the whole family, and it comes with a heftier price tag… .
Yesterday, Disney announced that the Disney Family Night Dinner would debut as a new offering today and now we’re taking a look at how much this meal costs — a whopping $79 or $89!
©Disney
WHEW, that price seems pretty intense for one meal; that is until you remember this offering serves 3 to 4 people. That means the price is around $19.75 or $22.25 per person which is pretty in line with some Disney food offerings.
Add in that the meal is three courses AND includes an original card game and it starts to seem a little less shocking.
©Disney
The Centertown Market version of the meal that you can pick up at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is $79 and includes roasted Jamaican-style chicken, fried yucca, cilantro rice, vegetables, Caribbean pull-apart rolls, and decorate your own Mickey and Minnie Cookies.
©Disney
The Gasparilla Island Grill version of the meal that you can pick up at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is $89 and includes a garden salad, lasagna, Mickey-shaped cheese or pepperoni pizzas, and Minnie cheesecake.
©Disney
So, are these family dinners worth the price tag? We’ll have to see! They’re available every day starting today from 5PM to 10PM at the above locations, and you can bet we’ll be bringing you a full review! Let us know your thoughts? Would you pay $90 for this meal?!
With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today!
Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose.
Do you think this meal is worth the price? Tell us in the comments!
The post Would You Pay for the New Family Take Out Dinners in Disney World? first appeared on the disney food blog.
Who’s excited for new The Simpsons content on Disney+? The streaming service has revealed that the Springfield crew will star in an exclusive, original, Marvel-themed short “The Good, The Bart, and The Loki.” (Please note this article contains affiliate links. Your purchase will support LaughingPlace by providing us a small commission, but will not […]
The post Eat My Asgardian Shorts! “The Simpsons” Star in a New Marvel-Themed Short Coming to Disney+ July 7th appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.
Those who enjoy participating in runDisney marathons at the Walt Disney World Resort will be thrilled to know that in-person races are back beginning in the fall of 2021!
The 2021/2022 season will include the following four events:
runDisney is reminding participants that COVID-19 guidelines may change before the return to on-site running and that race weekends may not include every element from previous years.
Some new opportunities for runners have been announced as well:
The 2021 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend will kick off the season with its theme, Wickedly Delicious, celebrating four favorite Disney villains. The weekend will include a 5K, 10K, half marathon, and Disney Two Course Challenge (both the 10K and the half marathon). The Post-Race Party will cap off the weekend so runners can celebrate their accomplishments with family and friends at EPCOT with exclusive, after-hours access to the park and the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival.
For all the information on pricing and registration dates, head over to runDisney.com.
Disney just released resort discounts at Disney World Resorts. Check out all the details, including exclusive Passholder early booking dates. New Discounts Earlier this morning, Disney announced a new resort offer just for Florida residents. With this offer guests can book Disney’s Pop Century Resort for as low as $149 per night (excluding taxes). Be sure […]
The post New Disney Offer Gives Annual Passholders Early Booking Window appeared first on KennythePirate.com.
Disney World has been open for guests for nearly a year following the closures in 2020, but all in-person runDisney events have been suspended. While virtual, at-home events have taken place, runners have anxiously awaited for the marathons to once again take place in Orlando.
©runDisney
At long last, we finally have some exciting news to share after Disney dropped a little teaser video yesterday!
Disney has announced today that in-person runDisney marathons will be returning to Disney World this fall to kick off the runDisney 2021-2022 season!
©Disney
The four races that will take place this season (in person!!!) are:
©Disney
runDisney has also announced that this year might have some modified aspects of the events in response to the global health crisis, but that some new offerings will be available too. We’ll have more info for you soon!
©Disney
We will be following along with all of the latest news and updates from runDisney, so be sure to check back often for all of the important information you’ll need to once again lace up your running shoes in Disney World!
With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today!
Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose.
Will you be running in Disney World this year? Tell us in the comments!
The post NEWS: In-Person runDisney Races Are Returning to Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog.
