Oh goodness, can I just say that I am excited? I am so excited! After 3 whole months of not visiting Disney World, we will be going for a few days this next week. The hotel is not booked and the trip is not yet finalized, but I am still counting the days. Jumping the gun a bit? Possibly, but all the details can be ironed out at any time!
Seeing that there is no way of getting Disney off the mind, I may as well make use of my one track vision and make a Disney centered post. The hubs and I have recently made some pretty big purchases that have caused us to revamp our budget, this includes our Disney budget as well. Since this has made me look at Disney through more money savvy eyes, let me share what this new vision has taught.
Use What You've Got
Like car insurance, Disney gives discounts for the strangest things. Are you a AAA member? Tell them. Live in Florida or California? Bring it up. Coming with a large party? Make sure they know. All of these can mean big things for you in the way of discounts, specials, and more. Yes, Disney vacation planners are meant to make Disney money, but they also need to make sure your vacation is the best and most magical it can be. This can be pretty difficult to do if you feel swindled out of cash the entire trip.
Work with the Disney vacation planners to make sure that the hotel, dining, and ticket package you get is the best for your budget.
Call Them
This may feel a bit repetitive, but calling Disney is a much better way to plan a vacation than online. I love booking everything for our vacations online, but when it comes to Disney, there is no way. The Disney staff are great at looking for deals and tend to get me accommodations for about 30% less than the site states. That is completely worth the 5-minute hold time and the whole having to talk with a human bit.
Hotels
There are plenty of options when it comes to Disney hotels and each option works for different people. Yes, staying on Disney property does mean that you will be paying a premium, but, it could be completely worth it. Remember, admission to the parks is not all you will be paying for, there is still the parking fee of $14 dollars a day and the fee most hotels surrounding Disney charge for having a car. If you have a car and do not have a pass that allows free parking, you could be paying $40 per day to park at the parks and at the hotel. Very few Disney hotels charge for parking (I think Swan and Dolphin may be the only ones) and if you are a hotel guest, you can hop on a bus or boat to get to any park for free. If you are driving yourself, staying at a Disney hotel could save you forty cool ones per day. If you are traveling by air, you could be saving the price of a rental car (Disney will pick you up from the airport) and the price of parking said car... This will probably save you more than the Disney hotel will cost.
Still not ready to dive-in for the total Disney experience? No problem, there plenty of ridiculously cheap hotels within 10-minutes of the parks. If you are not one who needs all the i's dotted and t's crossed, I would recommend the app Hotel Tonight. This app gives daily deals on hotels in a ton of metropolitan areas, including Orlando. When using this app we have paid an average of $75 dollars per nite. Beware though, since these are lightning deals, there is no way to reserve a certain room type or ensure you can have that deal for more than a few nights. This is a great option for those traveling on a whim, but may not be best for the family of six.
Sorcerers and Pins
If you have children and are visiting Disney World on a budget, Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom and pins may be your new best friends. I have been on my share of Disney trips with small children who see those shops and those princess dresses and cannot help but beg for them the entire day. Sound familiar? One great way that I have heard to combat this is through pins. Disney pins can be purchased at almost any Disney shop and usually do not cost more than $20. These pins can also be traded with cast members or fellow Disney visitors. For some reason, children seem to go crazy over collecting Disney pins, so much so that they go straight for them upon entering a shop. Incredible. Combine this with those genius parents who make a one pin per day/trip rule and you have money saving down to a science.
For those who have children too old/young for pins, funds that do not allow $20 souvenirs, or kiddos that laugh in the face of funny metal objects, you may have a Sorcerer on your hands. This is not a bad thing. Magic Kingdom has an incredible game that I am completely addicted to. In this game, sorcerers are on a quest to help Merlin fight some of our favorite Disney villains and protect the Magic Kingdom from Hades' rule. This is an interactive game that can be played at portals on Main Street, Adventureland, Frontier Land, and Fantasyland. The best part is that the game and all the cards are free. Free! Decks of cards can be obtained once per day or when you have beaten the game. The game can be played on beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels to ensure that every age range enjoys it. This has become one of my favorite ways to spend time in the magic Kingdom. It is great if you hate rides or long lines but enjoy games, trading, and all around fun.