This is a “garden view” room at the Grand Floridian.
Every trip to the mouse house I learn something new. On this Disney World trip I learned a hack about finding the best Disney World Resort Rooms in your booked category. Best of all, it takes no time and costs only $16.
In the past I’ve recommended a $16 Touring Plans annual subscription as a no-brainer investment to save time in the parks. However, on this last trip for Traveling Mom I found it’s good for much more than ride planning. I had input my dates for an upcoming trip and about a month beforehand I received an email from Touring Plans titled “New Alert: Are you staying in a WDW hotel for TMOM?”.
I clicked through the email to my subscription dashboard and found the most wonderful feature. Touring Plans has detailed floor plans of every single Disney World Resort categorized by room type, many with photos. You can search on your booked room type to see Touring Plans suggestions for room requests. Here’s the best part- Touring Plans will fax the room request for you!
By spending 5 minutes with the site I was able to achieve a canal view room at Old Key West. I was booked into a standard room and could have just as easily gotten a parking lot view.
The room in the photo above is the “garden view” at the Grand Floridian. Monorail view for a garden price? I’ll take it!
Another sample:
Sunrise from the hallway in front of room 7856, Art of Animation
At Art of Animation I scored a 4th floor lake view. At Sunrise I dragged two chairs out into the hallway and enjoyed the sunrise.
Wanna learn more Disney World Hacks? Check out my eBook!
Have you successfully moved up a category to the best Disney World Resort room by letting Touring Plans do the work? I’d love to hear your results in the comments.
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How crazy awesome is that?! I love Touring Plans and will definitely look into this for my next trip! Thanks!
Glad to hear it can help.
Love Touring Plans! Have you tried their dining reservations alert? It let me know when dining ressies were cancelled, allowing me to nab lunch at Be Our Guest only a week out.
Nice! Another great feature I never knew about.
Love the reservation finder!!!!! You can even use it free: create a free “basic access” account username and password. I buy the annual subscription though- it’s soo worth it!!!
Hi Ren,
Good to know- I thought the res finder was specific to the premium account. Thanks for sharing- I agree it’s totally worth it.
I’m not familiar with Touring Plans, will have to check it out!
If you book your vacation through Small Worlds then you will actually get a year subscription to Touring Plans for FREE!!
Thanks for the tip. I’ll bet a lot of travel agents throw in a Touring Plans sub- or at least they should!
How do you request a particular room number? When you check in? Thanks!
Hi Amy,
The request goes through with the touring plans fax. It requests a specific block of room numbers based on a room you like. I definitely wouldn’t wait till check in as rooms are assigned about five days before and you want the flexibility of not having to check in at the desk. Your magic bands are your room key and you can just go straight to the room.
I LOVE Touring Plans! I renew my subscription to it yearly. I use it for rooms, dining, fast passes, you name it!
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