Disney World On The Cheap

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2012 DISNEY ON THE CHEAP

10 Days for $1,000 a person including airfare? Definitely!

Table Of Contents

1. Disney World On The Cheap? Really!

2. INITIAL PLANNING

3. TRANSPORTATION

4. WHERE TO STAY

5. PARK TICKETS

6. DINING

7. PARK TOURING

8. SHOPPING AT DISNEY WORLD

9. PACKING FOR THE TRIP

10. CUT TO THE CHASE, HOW DO YOU SAVE THE MOST?

11. EXPERT DISNEY PLANNERS AND TRAVEL AGENTS

1. Disney World On The Cheap? Really!

I am not any kind of Disney expert, but I am good at making every vacation dollar count. The tips in this blog are focused on saving money – getting the most fun for the least dough.

The key to saving money, no matter what you are trying to accomplish, is to do your homework. Whether it’s buying a new dishwasher, clipping coupons for your weekly trip to the grocery store, or planning a once in a lifetime vacation for your family. Even if you aren’t pinching pennies, wouldn’t it be nice to have some money left over in the vacation account, maybe allowing for an extra week of fun somewhere else? Or maybe use it to splurge on a really special once in a lifetime activity during your stay?

Sure, sometimes it makes sense to pay the price and stay at a higher quality resort, or spend a bit more on your airline tickets so you don’t have to deal with a few hour layover, but making informed decisions on these things still makes sense.

There is something very satisfying about seeing other people on vacation who have chosen to spend way more money, but are having exactly the same (or maybe not even as an) experience as we are.

I used to be embarrassed to eat our bag lunch at a Theme Park when “everyone else” was spending $100 to feed their family burgers and fries, but I finally came to the realization that no one cares what we are eating, and I’d rather be eating my PB&J at a great Theme Park rather than sitting at home because we couldn’t afford the park tickets plus a day’s worth of food.

If you really are committed to providing your family with a wonderful experience without tapping into your savings or resorting to credit cards, you’ll need to commit to spending a decent chunk of time planning and searching for deals, and then have good willpower while you are on vacation.

So, are you ready to save?

Save These Links

The first saving step is easy, save these links for easy access by making a Disney World file in your

browser’s Bookmarks, and add all these to that file:

General Links:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/  (Official site for Disney World)

www.wdwinfo.com (categorized info on anything Disney)

General Disney World Planning:

Start here: www.easywdw.com (best planning resource on the web, and it’s free!)

or

www.tourguidemike.com I used to recommend Tour Guide Mike exclusively, but the site is becoming dated, and most of the information is available for free at www.easywdw.com.

www.Mousesavers.com (Information on all Disney discounts, resorts, car rentals, etc. sign up for their monthly newsletter)

Specific Park Planning:

www.willCAD.org (park maps)

www.stitchkingdom.com (defi nitive guides to Photopass, a refurbishment calendar that will send you email updates)

www.wdwent.com (park entertainment schedules updated regularly and available for your iPhone and Blackberry)

Dining:

www.allears.net (includes menus for nearly all the restaurants)

http://www.dvcrequest.com/dining_plan_calculator.asp (dining plan calculator, shows daily cost of each dining plan option)

http://www.dadsguidetowdw.com/walt-disney-world-dining-plan.html (more complex dining calculator – use this to determine if a dining plan will save you money)

Transportation:

http://fuelcostcalculator.aaa.com/ (Use this to budget your total fuel costs if you are driving)

www.ourlaughingplace.com (Park transportation calculator – getting from point A to point B at Disney World – decently accurate)

http://www.autoslash.com/ (Car Rental discount notifications)

http://www.southwest.com/ (Southwest Airlines)

http://www.airtran.com/Home.aspx (Airtran)

http://www.bing.com/travel/?cid=homenav&FORM=Z9LH5 (Bing Travel – Check their Travel Predictor and use their email alerts)

http://www.yapta.com/ (Yapta tracks flight prices and notifies you of price changes via email or text message)

Off-Site Resorts:

www.hotwire.com (save 25 – 60% off on room rates)

www.priceline.com (Name Your Own Price can save you up to 70% off)

http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?showforum=3 (Better Bidding – a site that shows you how to get the most from Priceline)

http://www.wyndhambonnetcreek.com/ (Popular off-site property with condo-style options)

http://www.windsorhillsrent.com/ (homes to rent near Disney World)

Where To Start – How about some fun facts?

~ Walt Disney World is the most visited attraction in the world – in….the….world. Wow. In 2007, 46.9 million people visited the mouse.

~ Attendance for each park in 2007: Magic Kingdom 17,000,000, EPCOT 11,000,000, Hollywood Studios 9,500,000, Animal Kingdom 9,500,000.

~ Luckily the place takes up nearly 40 square miles, so everyone’s not crammed together.

~ It takes 20 minutes just to drive from the Park entrance to Magic Kingdom.

~ There are about 30,000 hotel rooms on Disney Property. Compare that to 67,000 rooms in Las Vegas.

~ There are 33 resorts and hotels located on the Walt Disney World property. Of those, 23 are owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company.

Help! There’s Too Many Options!

For most people, planning their first Disney World trip can become overwhelming. There is a strong desire to simply turn it over to a travel agent and hope for the best. However, for the budget-minded traveler, options are our friend at Disney World. If you do your homework, you can pick the right time to go and the right way to tour, prices are cheaper and parks can be relatively crowd free. The trick is to know when to go and how to tour.

Disney planning can be severely overwhelming, but it’s so worth it. If you spend a bunch of time planning, you will be guaranteed to have a relaxing, fun and cheap vacation once you get there!

Most people don’t plan. If you do, you will be ahead of the curve.

Like a big test, students who study reap the most rewards!

Cheap Disney Vacation? Isn’t that an oxymoron?

Well, cheap is relative. I guess I figure value for dollar, and in that case, yes you can have a cheap Disney vacation! Saving on the “big four” expenditures is possible: Hotel, Park Tickets, Airline Tickets and Food.

When the two of us go, it’s usually for 9 or 10 days. I try to keep our total expenditure to around $2,000 for everything. We’re not tightwads, but we do want to take more than one vacation a year, so we’re ‘minimalist’ vacationers! We focus on the things that make us happy, and try not to fall into money traps that can ruin a budget (like buying soda and bottled water at sporting events).

2. INITIAL PLANNING

When to Go, and for How Long

WHEN:

Before you actually decide, check out this easywdw.com page which shows each month, room costs,

and how busy the parks are. You’ll find lower prices and smaller crowds during slower seasons.

Any time kids are in school is best. Slowest seasons are October/November, and again in mid January

to mid February. Busiest times are Christmas and Spring Break. The week of Christmas/New Years and

the weeks of Spring break are the BUSIEST. Don’t go there!

Slow is relative – even during the slowest season, there’s still tens of thousands of people at the parks every day! Don’t worry, there are ways to avoid crowds (see www.easywdw.com)

HOW LONG:

There are 4 major parks in Disney World – Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. There are also 2 water parks, 2 mini golf courses, multiple big golf courses, some really awesome restaurants, water activities (boat rentals, fishing, etc), other activities at the various resorts, and Downtown Disney. It’s impossible to see everything in one trip. To see ‘the best of the best’ and not be totally exhausted, you will want 2 days in each park, plus one day of rest. 9 days – not counting your arrival and departure day.

Once you know When and How Long,

1a. Go to www.easyWDW.com and read the sections “Best of Disney World”, “Crowd Calendar” for your specific month, then “Daily Best Parks to Visit”. If you’ve got more time, read everything else too!

1b. If you are a planning freak, join www.tourguidemike.com, this $20 investment will pay you back in the time and stress you save at the parks. Note: some information on the site is outdated, but touring the TGM way is still the best way to fly!

1c. If you’d rather have a paper guide (or something for your Kindle or Nook), purchase The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World 2011 (Unofficial Guides) of the thousands of Disney books out there, this one seems to have the best overall information in an easy, fun to read format.

2. Go to www.themouseforless.com and sign up for her free newsletter. It’s got all the info on discounts and specials. She only sends it out once a month.

3. Go to www.disneyvacations.com and order the free vacation DVD. There’s great information, is fun to watch, and will also get you on the mailing list for possible ‘special’ discounts.

4. Apply for the Disney Visa Card If you’re good about paying off your cards right away, this one pays you 1% in Disney dollars, plus other park perks. It also makes you eligible for room discounts.

5. Do not call Disney or your Travel Agent and book the first “deal” you see on TV. Package deals may be your cheapest option, but you’ll only know after you’ve done all your homework and decided exactly what amenities and ticket options you need.

4. TRANSPORTATION

Air Transportation

Now that you know your general travel dates, go to Bing and take a look at what is currently available. Also check each airline’s private website to see if there are any lower priced options or discounts being offered.

Use Bing’s Price Predictor to see if you should purchase now, or wait. Generally, ticket prices go down Monday – Thursday, and are higher over the weekend. Watch your flight dates for a few weeks at least and see how the prices go up and down. There is usually somewhat of a pattern.

The experts say Tuesday at 3pm Eastern is the best time to buy airline tickets.

The cheapest day to actually fly is Wednesday. The most expensive days to fl y are Friday and Sunday. You can save plenty if your travel days are flexible.

You can see ticket prices for all the major airlines on Bing, but you’ll need to go direct to Southwest and Airtran websites to view their prices. If either of these companies are available in your area, you definitely want to check them out as they are usually among the least expensive.

Most airline’s websites have an option to view fares by month – so you can see exactly what flight dates are least expensive.

If you’re not as worried about what time of the day you will travel, or what airline, you can use Priceline Name Your Own Price, or Hotwire. Keep in mind you will be locked into whatever flight you’re offered, no exchange or refunds!

Save money when flying by bringing empty water bottles and powdered drink mix through security, then fill and add mix on the other side.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines usually has their best deals show up at about 3 months prior to flight date, then about 1 month prior.

There are three ways to keep up with fares on Southwest, I use all three.

1. www.southwest.com choose ‘book a flight’. Type in your dates, and airports (PDX=Portland, MCO=Orlando) and see what’s available.

2. On the Southwest main page, click ‘special offers’, and sign up for email ‘click and save’ (upper right-hand corner).

3. Download Ding! Be sure to select your home airport, then choose any other cities you’re interested in (like, say, Orlando?)

HINTS – SOUTHWEST AIRLINES:

1. Book any flight (even non-refundable), and if the price drops later, you can easily request a travel voucher for the difference (select ‘View or Change your Flight” on the main www.southwest.com page). Vouchers are good for another flight and must be used within a year. Be sure to save the email with your voucher numbers.

2. Check in online 24 hours before your flight. Southwest doesn’t do assigned seating, just assigned boarding (A group, B group, etc). The closer you are to that 24-hour mark, the better your seat choice will be!

3. What about your return flight? Go to the front desk at your Disney resort (or Guest Services in any park) 24 hours before your return flight time and ask them to check in online for you (don’t forget to bring your confirmation number!).

4. If you’d rather not hassle with online check-in, you can pay an additional $10 per person and use Early Bird Check In. This may be worth the extra money for your return flight (who wants to worry about getting online at just the right time when you’re busy having fun in the parks?)

AirTran

Now that Southwest has acquired AirTran, we anticipate that they will merge their online ticketing at some point, but as of now they are separate.

AirTran is still working under their own rules – namely a $75 change fee (Southwest doesn’t charge change fees), and a baggage fee (Southwest does not charge baggage fees). Be sure to factor in baggage fees when determining if AirTran is cheaper than Southwest in areas where both are available.

Ground Transportation

Once you’ve landed in Orlando, you’ve still got to get to Disney World, which is about 20 miles away.

You have a few options here. We’ll cover them from least to most expensive.

Disney’s Magical Express

Guests who are staying at a Disney Resort and flying in to Orlando International Airport get free bus transportation to and from their resort via Disney’s Magical Express.

Luggage service is also included if you choose to use it. Disney will pick up your luggage from the airport and deliver it to your resort within 3 hours of your arrival.

Car Rentals

Usually when you get ready to take any kind of vacation that includes airline travel, the next thing you do is rent a car. Disney is definitely different in that even though the “World” is huge, and the airport is 20 minutes away, renting a car is not necessary because of the excellent Disney transportation network. If you are staying at a Disney resort, you can spend your entire vacation without ever sitting behind the wheel of a car. Disney will pick you up at the airport, provide free bus transportation around Disney World, and return you to the airport.

Because we are talking specifically about doing Disney as cheaply as possible, we absolutely do not recommend renting a car if you are staying on site. If you hate public transportation, feel like you need to get away from all that Disney magic for a little while every day, or are planning on visiting other Theme Parks, then you least expensive option will probably be to stay off site and rent a car.

If a grocery stop is the only reason you feel you need a car, there are other options which may be less expensive (see Dining chapter).

If you are staying off site (not on Disney property), you will need a rental car. Some off site hotels boast a Disney World shuttle service – these are not reliable and will waste too much of your valuable park time.

Bring your own GPS unit instead of paying $10 a day for one.

Deals

Determine the smallest car your family and your luggage will fit into, don’t automatically rent a van simply because that is what you drive at home. Minivans are usually the most expensive rentals to obtain, switching to a midsize or compact can save you hundreds in rental fees.

Check car rental prices through Travelocity or Expedia first to get an overview of what you will be paying, then check the following:

www.autoslash.com to check for discounts.

http://www.mousesavers.com/rentalcar.html#wdwneed has deals specific to the Orlando area.

Also check: Corporate Discounts (if a family member’s office has any), AAA discounts, Costco discounts.

Car Rental companies usually allow you to reserve a car without entering credit card information, this is a great tool and will allow you to “lock in” good rates without worrying about hidden charges.

Limo Services

If you need groceries, you have a few options: Rent a car, use a grocery delivery service (see Dining chapter) or use a limo service.

Most limo services in Orlando include a 1/2 hour grocery stop. Price for the ride is typically in the $70 range one-way, with two way service around $120.

Two services that are highly recommended are Southern Elegance http://southernelegancelimousines.com/ and Happy Limo http://www.happylimo.com/

In-Park Transportation

Disney’s transportation system is massive, and can be confusing at times. It is usually very efficient, however just like your morning commute, things might happen that create unexpected delays.

Prior to their first visit, most people have a difficult time getting their head around the fact that Disney World is about the size of a city and has a daily population of at least 50,000 visitors! Transportation from Disneyland to California Adventure means walking out the front gates of Disneyland, walking across a courtyard and walking in to California Adventure – a trip of maybe 5 minutes if you take your time. Transportation from Magic Kingdom to Animal Kingdom will require a long walk from the Magic Kingdom turnstiles to a bus stop, waiting for a bus, riding the bus and getting off at Animal Kingdom, then another long walk to the actual turnstiles -the whole trip usually takes at least 30 to 45 minutes!

Bus System

The free Buses at Disney World are a well-designed system, and relatively easy to use. Getting to the parks and back is extremely simple. At the Value resorts the bus stops are segregated by park, along with another bus stop that serves Downtown Disney, the Waterparks, and ESPN Sports Complex. The Moderate and Deluxe resorts will not have designated lines for each park, you’ll just watch the front of each bus that pulls up and jump on the correct bus.

When you get to the parks, in most cases where the bus dropped you off is where they will pick you up to return to your resort. Each resort has its own queue at each park, find the right queue again and you’re off.

Monorail

There are TWO monorails at Disney World. One goes from Magic Kingdom to three resorts: Polynesian, Grand Floridian and Contemporary. The other takes you from the Ticket and Transportation Center (the ‘staging area’ for Magic Kingdom) to Epcot.

Boats

At Magic Kingdom there are Boats from Magic Kingdom to/from The Grand Floridian and Polynesian, and two other boats travel to/from The Wilderness Lodge and Ft. Wilderness.

At the EPCOT International gate you will find a boat to Hollywood Studios and back with stops at The Boardwalk, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Dolphin and Swan Resorts. This is a slow leisurely tour, and walking can be faster, but it’s fun and relaxing anyway.

Moderate resorts Port Orleans, Saratoga Springs, and Old Key West have boat transportation to/from Downtown Disney.

General Disney Transportation Information

You are welcome and encouraged to check out the other Disney Resorts. However, there are no resort-to-resort buses. Take a bus to a park, then a bus (or monorail, or boat) to the resort. Return by taking a bus (or monorail, or boat) to a park or to Downtown Disney, then back to your home resort.

There is no transportation directly to or from the parks and Downtown Disney. There is bus service to and from all resorts and Downtown Disney.

Staying at a Disney resort is the ONLY way to get transportation directly to the Magic Kingdom. If you drive yourself, or use off site transportation, you will park at the Ticket and Transportation Center, where you will then take the Monorail or a boat over to Magic Kingdom – Walt wanted it to look and feel like Magic Kingdom was on an island, and so your ‘regular’ approach looks just like it is!

Have I completely confused you? Our Laughing Place has a transportation wizard to help you figure out how to get from point A to point B www.ourlaughingplace.com

5. WHERE TO STAY

Two options here, most people think ‘off site’ will be cheaper than ‘on site’ (on Disney World property). If you’re going during peak times, or if you have a family of 5 or more, then off site may be cheaper. However, with discounts, a family of 4 can stay at a Disney resort in Disney World for $79 a night during value season.

On Site Resorts

Disney offers 5 value resorts, 5 moderate resorts, 8 deluxe resorts and 8 Deluxe Villa (home away from home) resorts. There are also options to rent “points” and stay at Disney Vacation Club locations. Disney loves to give you options!

In between On Site and Off Site are those resorts which are located on Disney property, but are not owned by Disney. These utilize their own transportation system (some do offer in-park bus service through Disney). These include the Swan and Dolphin resorts, Shade of Green (for active military and their families), and the resorts at Downtown Disney.

Off Site options run the gamut from fleabag dives to beautiful large condo-style homes in gated communities.

Least Expensive Options

On Site (Value): If you have a family of 4 or less, are flying to Disney World, and can live mainly on food that doesn’t have to be heated.

Off Site (condo or suite): If you have a family of 5 or more, are driving to Disney World, and plan on eating in your room or preparing food to bring into the parks.

If you have a family of 5, these are your least expensive options on-site: One room at Port Orleans Resort Riverside Alligator Bayou with a pull-out trundle, followed by two rooms at a value resort, a family suite at All Star Music, cabin at the campground. Also, several of the deluxe hotels’ standard rooms sleep five with the Contemporary Garden Wing usually being the cheapest.

On Site Advantages

No rental car needed. Disney’s free Magical Express will pick you up at the airport, drop you off at your hotel, then Disney free transportation will take you anywhere on property. Magical Express will take you back to the airport when your vacation is over.

That special Disney ‘feel’. You’re part of the Magic all the time.

Room and service quality are guaranteed.

Even if you do get a rental car, you won’t pay for parking on Disney property.

Your room key can also be your park ticket, and your credit card all in one. When you check in you can choose how inclusive you want your “Keys to the Kingdom” to be. If you do choose to use your key as a charge card, still bring your driver’s license with you into the parks, as some stores will ask to see extra identification.

On Site Disadvantages

Small rooms.

Families of 5 or more are required to rent a suite or two rooms.

You are stuck at Disney unless you choose to rent a car or get a Taxi.

Money Savers – On Site

AAA members may be eligible for discounts on packages that include room and tickets. If you are a member, check there first (call your AAA office and ask for their Disney World Specialist, or check the list at the bottom of this page).

Check the deals at DisneyWorld.disney.go.com/specialoffers

Use a Disney Specialist travel agent (see the list at the end of this booklet). These people are trained in all things Disney, and will be sure you get the best price possible, and will update you on any new discounts that become available.

Hints – Disney Value Resorts

There are five Value hotels at Disney World, Pop Century, All Star Music, All Star Sports, All Star Movies, and Art of Animation.

General room layout of all these resorts is the same, they average 260 square feet, are available with one queen or two double beds, have a shower and toilet separate from the sink, include fl at screen TV and wifi .

There is no microwave or coffee maker in your room. Pop Century has “beverage cooler” refrigerators (no freezer portion).

You can request a refrigerator at the resorts that don’t have them in every room – but it costs $10 a day.

There are small microwaves in the food court area of each resort that you are free to use for your own cooking – popcorn, soup, water.

Value resorts are very spread out (Pop Century has 2,880 rooms in multiple 3-story buildings). Try to request a room close to the food court and bus stops, you’ll be walking enough anyway.

Off Site Resorts

It is a bit difficult to generalize about the various benefits and disadvantages of off site options around the Disney World area, simply because there is such a wide variety of options.

Generally though, if you are traveling to Orlando by air, have a family of 4 or less, and are willing to share one room, even with the cheapest hotel off site, staying on site during the Value season will be less expensive because all your transportation costs are taken care of.

Off Site Advantages

Cheaper for larger families, or if you want to cook your own food.

More flexibility if you want to do something besides Disney.

Condos in gated communities can be relatively inexpensive for large groups. Many include private pools and are very nice.

Off Site Disadvantages

You’ll need to rent a car, and you will pay $14 a day for parking at the parks (don’t forget to factor this in to your room costs when figuring what will be cheaper).

Off site park shuttle services are a major hassle, and don’t provide service often enough, never count on them, no matter what the hotel tells you!

Transportation time can cut into your park experience.

Quality can be anything from wonderful to cockroach central – and with condos especially it’s impossible to be sure what you’re getting unless you spend a bunch of time researching your choices – or have a good travel agent.

Some neighborhoods are not very ‘nice’. Be sure you’re in a safe area.

Money Savers – Off Site Resorts

For the cheapest price on off-site hotels, and if you only need one bed (nothing else is guaranteed) use Priceline name your own price, or try Hotwire for a slightly higher price but more control. We’ve used Priceline and Hotwire on numerous occasions and we’ve ALWAYS been overwhelmed by the quality of the hotel.

Private Homes and Condos can be rented through places like Homeaway.com. The only problem with dealing direct is that as a buyer you have little protection if there are problems.

6. PARK TICKETS

Although it sounds backwards, park tickets are the FINAL thing to purchase (well, okay, besides groceries!). Because there are very few discounts on tickets, and those discounts usually occur with ‘package’ deals, you will want to have everything else in your itinerary figured out before you buy tickets.

Sometimes the best deals are available as a room/ticket package (through Disney or AAA).

Don’t purchase park tickets for your arrival or departure days, unless you get in before noon, or your return flight leaves after 5pm. If you do have energy and time on these days, use them for water parks, Downtown Disney, or visiting other resorts.

So, what sort of tickets are you going to use?

Disney offers ‘Magic Your Way’ tickets, and the options can be overwhelming!

Ticket Options

1. Base Ticket – gets you in to ONE park (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom) each day. You cannot combine Base tickets (use two in one day for different parks), but you can leave your chosen park and return to it later the same day.

All tickets must be used within 14 days of the first use date – this means that you don’t have to go to the parks each day you are there – if you have a 10 day pass you could be at Disney 4 days, then go to Sea World one day, take a rest day, then head back to the parks on day 7 of your vacation with 6 days still left on your Disney ticket.

From this Base Ticket, you can purchase these options:

2. Park Hopper – Allows you to ‘hop’ to any park each day. Start at Magic Kingdom, hop to Hollywood Studios, end at EPCOT.

3. Water Parks and More (WP&M) – Entrance in to the water parks, Disney Quest, or a round of golf at Disney’s 9 hole Oak Trail Golf Course. You receive a specifi c amount of ‘tickets’ for these attractions with your Base ticket if you choose this option – for instance, a 10 Day pass with this option will include 10 WP&M passes. This means you could go to Magic Kingdom in the morning using your regular base ticket, then go to the water park in the afternoon with one of your WP&M option virtual ‘tickets’, then go to Disney Quest in the evening with another of your WP&M ‘tickets’. This would leave you with 8 more virtual ‘tickets’ for the remainder of your trip. Confused yet?

Think of it this way – your base ticket is a key to get in to the parks for a specifi ed number of days – if you have the Base ticket that means ONE park each day. If you have Parkhopper that means as many parks as you want each day. The WP&M option adds a specifi c number of virtual ‘tickets’ to your base pass. Hand in a virtual ‘ticket’ for admission to one activity, then hand in a second virtual ‘ticket’ for admission to another activity. In theory, you could use up four virtual tickets in one day by going to the two water parks, playing golf, then hitting Disney Quest.

4. No Expiration Option – means what it says. Add this option and any unused days will never expire. Usually not a cost effective option. If you plan more trips, a season pass will probably be cheaper.

5. Annual Passes – If you will be visiting the parks for more than 10 days, or more than once in a year, an Annual Pass may be your least expensive option. Annual Passholders are also eligible for special room discounts, shopping discounts, free parking at the parks (even if you aren’t staying on site), and other perks. Some people will purchase a single Annual Pass for one family member so they can be eligible for discounts and free parking. If you think an Annual Pass may be a good option for you, check out this fact sheet: http://www.easywdw.com/forums/showthread.php?66-Thinking-of-an-AP-Look-here-first!!!

6. YES Program Tickets – If you have a school-aged child (1st-12th Grade), your entire family is eligible for YES program tickets, which offer a significant reduction of regular ticket prices. You can get 3-Day to 10-Day Base Tickets. Park Hopper and Water Park Fun & More options can also be added. However, the No Expiration option is NOT available with these tickets and cannot be added. The eligible student will attend a 3-hour class, subjects vary from chemistry to photography, there are plenty of options to choose from. These popular programs fill up fast, so call as far in advance as possible to book. http://www.disneyyouth.com/individual-enrollment/overview/

Money Savers – Tickets

No matter where you buy, ticket prices are usually within a few dollars of each other (with the exception of the YES program tickets). For regular tickets, AAA will usually have the cheapest price, followed by www.undercovertourist.com, then Disney online (sometimes the company you work for also has discounts available). The only way to really save on tickets is when you purchase with some sort of package deal with the room – like AAA offering the WP&M option at the base ticket price when you book a room.

Undercover Tourist lists their ticket prices including tax. Disney does not list tax until you add the tickets to your shopping cart and continue to the checkout page of the website.

Not sure if you’ll use the Park Hopper or WP&M option? Purchase the ‘base’ ticket, you can add any of the options at any time while you’re there. You can also upgrade your ticket to a season pass if you wish.

TAKE A PICTURE – take a digital photo of the back of everyone’s park ticket so the number can be clearly read (or write down the numbers). Do the same with your Photopass card (see below). This way if the cards get lost, replacements are possible!

7. DINING

Before we do anything else, you need to think about what kind of food family you are. Do you love to eat at restaurants, do you hate sack lunches? Is it more of a hassle to sit down and wait to be served, or is it more of a hassle to make up sandwiches the night before?

Food in Disney World isn’t hugely overpriced for most things, but sit-down (table service) restaurants for dinner will set you back at least $35 per person including tip. Counter service restaurants are much cheaper, about $10-$15 per person.

The thing is, with few exceptions, Disney dining offers good food, but not really great food. Although reading restaurant descriptions and reviews may set your mouth watering, in most cases you can find similar (or better) food at your local restaurants for much less money.

If you are going to Disney World specifically to eat, then one of the Dining Plans will save you money. If you are going to Disney World to experience all the wonderful attractions and activities the place has to offer, then food is the one thing you can really save money on.

A quiet and relaxing lunch in an air-conditioned restaurant sounds like a wonderful way to recharge your batteries after spending the morning touring the parks, but in reality, most of the Disney restaurants are anything but quiet – they’re vibrant and busy places. Returning to your room for some pool and nap time, then an early dinner you make yourself can not only save money but get everyone rested up and ready for more park time that evening.

Changing diet and eating habits while on vacation can lead to stomach troubles, problems sleeping, and general crankiness. Sure, have that ice cream sundae, but don’t follow it up with a churro, a large Coke, and some nachos. Who wants to spend vacation time rolling around on the floor begging for more Pepto Bismol?

Finally, eating takes time. If your time in the parks is limited, then making smart choices about how you spend that time is important. Factor in at least 1 to 2 hours for every Table Service meal, plus travel time if that meal is not in the park that you happen to be enjoying at the time.

Disney Dining Plan

Some travel agents love to add the Disney Dining plan to your reservation. They will try and talk you in to this “money saving” option, which sounds very good on the surface, but in reality is usually only a good deal for very few people.

Disney has three levels of dining plans; Basic, Deluxe and Platinum. Gratuities are NOT included with any of them.

Basic (Quick Service) Dining Plan: Includes 2 counter service meals and 1 snack per person per night of your package stay. Also includes a refillable mug for your resort.

Plus (Deluxe) Dining Plan: Includes 1 table service meal, 1 counter service meal and 1 snack per person, per night of your package stay. Also includes a refillable mug for your resort.

Plus Deluxe (Platinum Option) Dining Plan: Includes 3 full meals (your choice of table service or counter service) and 2 snacks per person, per night of your package stay.

You can read about all the options here http://www.easywdw.com/forums/showthread.php?145-Dining-Plan-Questions-Stop-herefirst!!!

Here is a tool here to help decide if it’s right for you http://www.loonbeam.com/DisneyDining.htm

Disney offers “free” dining at different times during the year. This option cannot be used with any other room discount. If you are staying at a Value resort and can get a 20% off room rate, this will be your better option. If you are staying at a Moderate or Deluxe, it is possible that the free dining will save you more money than the room discount. However, if you bring your own food and only purchase snacks and a few special meals at Disney, this will always be your least expensive option.

The Platinum dining plan offers a massive amount of food, and takes a huge chunk of time out of your day. Even if money is no object, unless your greatest wish is to eat your way around Disney World, most people end up skipping many meals on this plan and wasting tons of money.

Dining Reservations

Dining reservations can be made up to 180 days out if you are staying at a Disney resort, you read that right, SIX MONTHS. If you are going during a busy season, and/or want to eat at the most popular places, you really have to think ahead! Some restaurants require a $10 per person deposit which is only refundable if you cancel at least 24 hours before your reservation time.

You need to make reservations for every table service meal you are planning, no exceptions. Occasionally, during a less busy season, you may be able to get a table without a reservation, but it is rare. You can make reservations online here: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining/ or by calling 407-WDW-DINE

Don’t make reservations until you have determined what days you’ll be visiting each park (see Chapter 7).

Character meals. These are special dining opportunities that will give your kids guaranteed time with certain Disney characters.

If your kids really love Princesses or can’t leave without seeing Mickey, this may be the best way to do it. You can find the complete list of Character Dining options here http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/listing/?sortBy=nG:hasDiningExperienceFacet&fv_222815=on

One final thing about Disney dining reservations – they aren’t really reservations in the way that we normally think of them. A typical reservation is an actual table that a restaurant has your name on for a specific time frame. Disney’s “reservation” is essentially a place in line. In most cases, you will wait 15 to 30 minutes for a table. In some cases the wait can be longer.

Dining Hints:

It’s all Coke products on Disney property, if you have a Pepsi fetish, you’ll have to bring your own!

Find reviews and other information at http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining.htm, and check out menus and prices at www.allears.net

Dining with Cindy – Do you dream of Breakfast with the Princesses in Cinderella’s Castle? You’ll have to plan early. You MUST make reservations as soon as possible for this restaurant. Plan to pay; cost is $60 pp for adults, and more than $35 pp for kids.

COFFEE: Okay, I have to bring up Disney Worlds dark ugly secret. They don’t serve ‘real’ coffee! Most locations have Nescafe, a coffee-like substance. It’s not horrible, but it’s not that great either. You can get ‘real’ coffee at some Espresso stands, and a few table service restaurants. Or, bring your own coffee maker or french press.

Refillable mugs are available for $14 each – choose from coffee, cocoa, tea, soda, sports drink. These are good for your resort only, not the parks. They are only a “deal” if you use them at least 8 times during your stay.

Bringing Your Own Food

You have a few ways to get groceries to your resort. Options vary in price depending on how much food you will be buying.

Generally, if you are staying on site, using a grocery delivery service will be the least expensive option. Obviously, if you have a rental car or your own car, doing your own shopping will be cheapest.

Grocery Delivery Services: Wegoshop ( http://www.wegoshop.com/location/wgs-location15.htm ), or Garden Grocer ( http://www.gardengrocer.com/ ) will do the shopping for you and deliver to your resort. We have always been very satisfied with Wegoshop.

Amazon, Costco, other Online services: If you will only be needing drinks and very basic snacks, it is possible to buy from Amazon or Costco and have the order delivered to your resort.

Limo Service with a Grocery Stop: (See Ground Transportation, Chapter 3) If you have very picky eaters, food allergies, or other reasons why you need to do your own shopping, this service will give you 1/2 hour at a large grocery store to do so.

Rent a Car: If you can get a rental car for less than $70 for your stay, then this will be a cheaper option than the Limo Service, but still more expensive than using a Grocery Delivery service.

Bring Food From Home: Pack everything in an extra suitcase (liquids and perishables are not recommended), then use the extra suitcase for souvenirs on the return trip. This may work fine in tandem with Amazon for liquids, but take baggage fees into account when deciding if this option will work for you.

What Foods Work Best?

What works for you and your family will be determined by what you enjoy eating, if you have a refrigerator in your room, and if you feel comfortable using the microwave at your resort’s food court or if you will be bringing a hot pot or other water heating device.

We bring a hot pot (search “Hot Pot” on Amazon for options, we have the Rival 32-ounce) and have a refrigerator in our room.

Refrigerators (or “beverage coolers”) at the Disney resorts are tiny, if you think you’ll have many items that need to stay cold, add a Styrofoam cooler (under $10) to your grocery list and fill it with ice every day.

Even if you will be eating park food during the day, save money and time by eating breakfast in your room. You can heat water for oatmeal (bring an electric kettle, or use the food court microwave), or do Pop Tarts, breakfast bars, fresh fruit, or bagels. This saves time and money.

Be careful not to over-buy. Work out exactly how much each person eats during an average day and plan accordingly.

Below is a list of items that we generally have delivered by our grocery service:

Bread: Rolls, Bagels, Loaf of Bread

Dry Goods: Pasta, Instant Oatmeal, Instant Rice or Mashed Potatoes

Canned Goods: Soup (non-cream varieties work best), Peanut Butter, Jam or Jelly, Pasta Sauce

Dairy: Margarine, String Cheese, Cream Cheese, Milk, creamer (for coffee if you make in-room)

Drinks: Water, soda, beer

Snacks: Chex Mix, Goldfish Crackers, Smartfood Popcorn (pre-popped), Cookies, Jello or Fruit with Jello, Granola Bars

Vegetables & Fresh Fruit: Oranges, Apples, Grapes

We also bring certain items from home that are easy to pack and cheaper in bulk. These items are:

Costco Dried Fruit, Candy (licorice, chocolate, caramel, etc.), Nuts, Trail Mix, Crystal Light, Parmesan Cheese, Folger’s Coffee Singles or Starbucks Via

Bag Lunches in the Parks

There is some misinformation out there regarding bringing food into the parks. You are welcome to bring in anything except alcohol and glass containers. You can carry ANY soft-sided bag into the parks, as long as it is small enough to fit into a locker (17”H x 9”W x 16”), and doesn’t have wheels. This includes softsider or backpack coolers.

There are two ways to carry your food: Bring a backpack (carry it all day) or small soft side cooler (rent a locker and store it).

Pack protein-rich foods like pb&j sandwiches, powerbars, nuts, etc. Also crackers, something sweet, and something to drink.

If you aren’t purchasing soda or bottled water, bring Crystal Light singles and add to the fl at-tasting Florida water to make it more palatable. You can get a free cup of ice water at any counter service restaurant, just pour it into your bottle and add the Crystal Light.

Dinner Ideas

Okay, so everyone’s been walking around the parks all day, and now you’re back at the room, it’s time for dinner, and the entire family is famished. They don’t want to share a cup-o-noodles with their sister, they want REAL FOOD!

Make a habit of having one adult go to the Food Court and get food – that keeps kids from seeing and wanting everything on the menu.

So, how do you provide a good dinner without breaking the bank?

You have a few options. Of course, if you have a car you can drive to McDonalds. Without that option, your next best bet is to purchase something at the Food Court of your Resort and add other things from your own food stash to make it into a real meal. Buy a grilled sandwich or entree to split and then heat some soup. Or buy some stir fry and make instant rice. Buy soup and make a sandwich to go with it. Split a burger and make instant mashed potatoes as a side.

The goal isn’t to make the family feel like they’re on a starvation diet, but just to stretch your dining budget as far as possible. Be sure to have plenty of everyone’s favorite snacks and goodies on your grocery list. A gooey cookie that Mom doesn’t allow at home can go a long way to make kids think of this as a treat rather than some sort of weird punishment.

If it’s possible to do it within budget, plan one or two special in-park meals towards the middle of your trip. These can be counter service at one of the excellent locations in Epcot’s world showcase, or Table Service at one of the less expensive options like The Plaza in Magic Kingdom.

Downtown Disney has two relatively inexpensive dining locations – the Earl of Sandwich offers an excellent sandwich for a cheap price (hold the sides and the drinks), and Pollo Campero has family-size side dishes for around $4 each that you can combine for an inexpensive family meal.

8. PARK TOURING

Determining the Best Days for Each Park

Before you make any dining reservations or other plans, you’ll need to decide what days you will be in each park. To do this, to go EasyWDW.com, look at the right of the page and scroll down until you see your month and year listed under “Crowd Calendar”. Click on that, read the entire post and print the calendar. Be sure that as often as possible, the park days you choose are most recommended.

I know it seems sort of strange to be worrying about crowds if you are going during a slow season, but during the slowest times of the year, there are still plenty of people at Disney World, add the fact that the slow season has fewer dining options, shorter park hours, and may have some major attractions closed for refurbishment, and you can still see wait times of over 60 minutes on some of the most popular attractions during certain times of the day.

Standing in a 60 minute line for a 3 minute ride is not optimizing your vacation dollars!

Building a Touring Plan

Once you’ve determined what days you be in what parks, and have a general idea of what attractions you are interested in experiencing, you will want to build a touring plan. This isn’t some commando raid that will require drill-team precision, but simply a guide to keep you focused on what you want to do, and the order it can be done in to minimize waits.

You can download our list of four charts showing every park attraction, short description, if a ride has FastPass, motion sickness quotient, recommended order to visit, and space for you to enter your own notes. https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B_0y0z2w3JhGN0UyU0x4Nmp0Ums

Print these off and use them to start creating your touring plan. Don’t forget to include any dining reservations or other activities you’ve reserved.

If anyone in your family experiences motion sickness, there is still plenty for them to do at Disney World. Attractions that may cause motion sickness issues are marked with an M and then 1, 2, or 3 on the charts. M1 is the most likely to cause problems, M3 attractions are extremely unlikely to cause any trouble, and attractions without a number won’t cause any issues. Some movies have sections which were filmed from the air, these “swooping” views may disorient some people, simply look down quickly as soon as this occurs, wait 30 seconds, then look back up and the offending clip should be over. If you want to try a ride that may affect a group member, leave it until the last ride of the day.

View the park maps (see links in Chapter 1), and read ride descriptions here http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/. If you have children who frighten easily, YouTube videos can be a great help in deciding if they are ready for a specific attraction.

Fastpass is something you will need to understand in order to minimize your wait times. Read up on the basics here http://www.easywdw.com/category/worth-2/fastpass-worth-2/ . One person in your group can be the designated “FastPass Volunteer”, and can take everyone’s tickets then run and get FastPasses for a ride while the rest of your group does something else.

Some families like to arrive early, tour for half a day, take a rest and eat lunch at their resort, then return to the park in the late afternoon. Other families would rather arrive early and stay until 3pm, then leave and have the rest of the day to relax at their resort. You can do a mix of the two options, but unless you have an extremely high energy family, we do not recommend staying at the park from the minute it opens until closing time. Touring this way can lead to cranky people and a frustrating and tiring vacation.

Really effective park touring is an art form. Some people have perfected it, and many of them are happy to share their experience with you. The topics on www.easywdw.com are the place to start, then head over to their forums at http://www.easywdw.com/forums/forum.php for help with your specific plan.

Character Meet & Greets

Your kids are going to want to say hi to Mickey, and maybe Pluto, and probably Cinderella, and gosh, there’s Daisy Duck! Oh, and did you know they sign autographs? Yes, of course they do. Disney sells an autograph book for that for around $15 a pop. Or you can buy an inexpensive version at Walmart or Ebay, or make your own (check the internet for projects like this one http://www.joann.com/disney-autograph-book/xprd830887/ )

If you are unsure if your kids will want autograph books, I’d recommend purchasing or making some cheap ones and bringing them along (with pens) just in case.

Pin Trading

As if seeking out autographs isn’t enough work, there’s also Pin Trading if you or your family are so inclined. You’ll see Cast Members (Disney employees) everywhere wearing lanyards with pins attached – and you can trade with them for free! Oh, but you have to buy that lanyard and those pins.

If you think your kids will enjoy pin trading, do not wait to arrive at Disney World to supply this new activity, if you do, you’ll be paying a minimum of $25 for a lanyard and four pins. Extra pins start at $4 and can go up to $15 or higher for limited editions.

Save money by purchasing the lanyards and pins through trusted sellers on Ebay. One that always comes highly recommended is http://www.ebay.com/sch/jeffreyyoung/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

Pin trading can be a really neat way for kids to interact with adults, and some Cast Members wear special green lanyards that have pins that are specifically for trading with kids.

Read up on the basics of Pin Trading before you go: http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/Etiquette122004.pdf

Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure and Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom

Epcot (Agent P / Kim Possible) and Magic Kingdom (Sorcerer’s) have interactive treasure hunt games in which you are given a device (cell phone with Agent P, Cards with Sorcerer’s) which gives you clues about a location in the park, once you arrive at that location, your interaction will cause something to occur (a video will play, or some animatronic will pop up).

Agent P / Kim Possible (attraction will change names from Kim Possible to Agent P in mid-2012) can be done in 15-20 minutes and is a fun break for kids who are becoming bored with touring World Showcase.

Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom is much more involved, and can take hours to complete. For this reason, we don’t recommend it unless you have plenty of days scheduled in Magic Kingdom and have run out of other things to do. Another thing to consider, even though your first pack of cards are free, other packs are available for purchase. There are avid traders who may approach your children and try to find out if they have rare cards.

Photopass

You know all those tourist traps where they’ve got the annoying phalanx of photographers ready to snap your photo and charge you $30 for the results? That’s not the Disney way! Okay, when you fi rst walk in to a park on your fi rst morning, you will see photographers – but they won’t accost you. Don’t ignore them – walk right up and tell them you need a Photopass card. They will take pics, as many as you wish, then scan a plastic card and hand it to you – this is your personal Photopass card which you will hand to all the Disney photographers anywhere in the ‘World.

Once you get home, you will enter your Photopass numbers online and then decide if you want to purchase any of the photos – you can also buy a CD with all the pictures.

Photopass photographers will also take pictures with your camera. Is that cool or what?

If you are traveling with a large family group, are celebrating a special milestone, or never have any good pictures of your family, pre-purchasing a Disney Photopass CD may be a good use of funds. Be certain to research your options before making a choice, but especially for families with young children, Photopass can allow you to simply enjoy the moment without having to remember to take pictures.

For a definitive guide on Photopass, go here www.stitchkingdom.com/disneysphotopass/

What to Bring to the Parks

Your goal here is to pack everything you might need during the day to avoid having to purchase it while you’re there. On the other hand, we don’t want you to be slogging through the parks looking like a pack mule, so we have to find a happy medium.

FAMILIES WITH KIDS

STROLLER – If your kids have outgrown a stroller recently, you’ll want to bring it along ‘just in case’. They’ll be happy you have it by the second day! Airlines do not charge baggage fees for a stroller if you check it at the gate (be sure to confirm this with your airline). Stroller rental prices at Disney have gone through the roof, better to bring your own. If bringing your own seems like too much of a hassle, you can rent from https://www.magicstrollers.com/order/index.cfm.

ID TAGS – Make it easy for the Disney Cast Members (employees) to reunite you with a lost child by attaching a name and cell phone number to your kids. Keep in mind that your child will have to show the information to the Cast Member, the Cast Member won’t be able to turn out a shirt tag or check underwear labels! Some people purchase shoe ID tags, or silicone bracelets like those offered here http://www.mypreciouskid.com/products/wearable-id-products.html. A less expensive option is to create your own using Shrinky Dinks. A basic design will take you less than 10 minutes to create, and doesn’t take any art skills at all. We’ve produced an easy how-to guide here: http://pjguides.wordpress.com/creating-childrens-id-tags-using-shrinky-dinks/

HANDHELD GAMING DEVICES – Some waiting is inevitable, whether it’s standing in line for the bus, or waiting for the fireworks to begin. Having something for the kids to do can decrease the whine factor. The up-side to a gaming device is its size and weight, the down-side is that if your kid breaks or loses it you are out some money. Your other option is a favorite toy (with no small parts), a cheap MP3 player, or digital camera of their own.

A FEW SURPRISES – Reduce meltdowns in stores by having a few small “presents” that you’ve purchased in advance at the Dollar store and that you can magically hand out when the kids are in the “I want that!” mode. Glow sticks are also good if you’re planning on staying for any nighttime shows.

ELECTRONICS

COMMUNICATION – Even if you don’t plan on your group splitting up, carry your cell phone and be certain to turn up the ringer (shut it off during shows) or carry it close to your body so you can feel it vibrate. It is easy to get separated and finding each other in a sea of people can be frustrating. Be careful about minutes if your phone plan charges roaming fees for Orlando.

MOBILE APP FOR EASIER TOURING – Disney World offers a mobile application for your browser-enabled phone: http://disneyparksmobile.com/mobilewebsite/. Many of its features only activate once you enter the park, but once you’re there, it can be very helpful to view FastPass return times.

CAMERA – If you don’t already have an extra battery for your digital camera, now is the time to buy one. Check Amazon for deals, but beware of extremely cheap Chinese-knockoff batteries. Some are okay, some won’t hold a charge. Also be certain to have a large enough memory chip. We recommend downloading photos to your laptop every night, but if this isn’t a possibility, have at least one 2 GB memory card for a basic digital camera, and a minimum of 10 GB if your camera takes HD video. A neck lanyard keeps the camera safe and ready to go, or use a wrist strap at minimum (you don’t want to drop the camera on Safari, do you?)

iPhone as camera – sure, your phone is fine for catching unexpected moments, but the lens quality isn’t up to the task of all the low light and fast movement you’ll see at a Theme Park, bring your regular camera if you have one.

WATER PROOFING

PONCHOS OR RAIN COATS – If you aren’t going during the summer monsoon season, Florida still gets its fair share of the wet stuff. Expecting sunny skies and being unprepared for rain will mean you’ll end up spending eight bucks each for Disney ponchos. If you already have high quality rain PROOF (not just resistant) jackets that are long enough to cover your rump, these will always be more comfortable and easy to wear than rain ponchos, and will double as your windbreaker on cooler

days. However, if you don’t have rain coats , then purchase Coleman rain ponchos from Walmart for around $3 each (in the camping section). The really cheap $1 ponchos are so thin that they are usually only good for one ride before they rip.

ZIP LOCK BAGS – Pack a couple of large (2 gallon) baggies so you have a place to stash that dripping wet rain gear without getting the rest of the stuff in your backpack wet. Also bring smaller ziplock bags for your electronics if you don’t have a waterproof place to store them.

FIRST AID

Every park has a First Aid station that is staffed by medical professionals, although there is no physician on site. They offer a large variety of nonprescription medications in both children and adult strength, and an assortment of band-aids, all of which are available for no cost. They even have baby powder available, if the heat is causing you to chafe!

You can also pack a tiny first-aid kit that includes a few band-aids, some liquid band-aid, a needle and thread, a few safety pins, and a glasses repair kit (if anyone wears glasses). Include a small bottle with a few aspirin, tylenol, antacid, antidiarrheal, and advil, along with any specialty medications you require.

Spray on sunscreen is available in small tubes that are easy to pack. Lotion-type sunscreen does a better job, but feels so yukky on sweaty skin that you’re better off getting a lightweight spray that you’ll use more often.

CLOTHING

Layers for the win! Weather is a changeable thing in Florida, so you may leave your resort in 40 degree temperatures, have things heat up to over 80 during the day, then finish the night with a light rain shower and cooling back to 40. We’ve toured the parks on below-freezing days wearing windbreakers, polar-fleece pullovers, shirt, jeans, and lightweight knit gloves. As the weather warms during the day, you can remove and pack the pullover and gloves, then the windbreaker.

Wear comfortable and breathable walking shoes with good socks. The average person walks 8 miles a day touring Epcot – your feet will be tired!

WALLET, OR SOMETHING ELSE?

One option is to remove all but your essential cards from your regular wallet, and bring just your driver’s license, one credit card, and your Park Tickets/Room Keys. You’ll also need room for any Fastpasses you collect. Your other option is to have a lanyard that can carry all these things and is easy to keep track of. Other than a lanyard around your neck, the tough thing is to find a place that is very secure, but still quick and easy to get to so you can access your park tickets and Fastpasses.

If you do carry the wallet in your pants, we recommend only a zippered pocket. Sure, your wallet stays put during work, but how many times are you launched into the air at speed, doused with water, or thrown upside-down while working at the office?

LADIES, LEAVE THE PURSE AT HOME

Unless you have a backpack-style purse, a lightweight and small backpack will serve your park needs much better than any purse, it will be more secure, and if it gets dirty you can just throw it in the washing machine.

LUNCH

Don’t forget your lunch, drinks, and snacks!

Lockers – To Rent or Not To Rent

If you have a large family, the idea of poor Dad schlepping a heavy backpack full of food around all day, especially in the heat of summer, doesn’t sound all that appealing. If you are not going to have a stroller, renting a locker is a good option. Locker rentals to store your bag lunch do cost money, but it’s a small price to pay compared to eating at restaurants. The downside is that every time you get hungry, you will need to walk back to the lockers.

Large Locker (size varies, but smallest is 17”H x 9”W x 16”): $7.00 per day plus a $5.00 key deposit which is refunded when the key is returned. There are also small lockers for $5 a day.

Lockers can be accessed as often as you like.

When visiting more than one theme park on the same day: Return the key for the $5.00 deposit and get a receipt. Present the receipt at the next park, pay the $5.00 key deposit and you’ll have a locker for the remainder of the day.

Another option besides renting a locker is to evenly distribute the load amongst everyone in your group. If your kids can be trusted to keep track of a backpack or fanny pack when getting off and on rides, they can carry their own water and a snack.

If this is not an option, at least have each adult carry a pack and split up the weight as evenly as possible. If you are one adult with two or more children, carrying water may not be an option due to weight. In this case, take advantage of drinking fountains and free ice water at counter service restaurants.

9. SHOPPING AT DISNEY WORLD

DON’T BLOW THE BUDGET!

You’ve scrimped and saved and pinched every penny, you’re eating PB&J for a week, but you LOVE that shirt and it’s only $34.

What do you do? Well, it’s not realistic to ignore the fact that you are going to want souvenirs from this wonderful vacation. You might also have people back home that are watching the family dog or watering the houseplants that may enjoy a little something from your trip. Here’s a few options to keep spending to a minimum.

Determine a Souvenir Budget per person. Give each family member $20 or $30 to spend as they wish. Some people use Disney Gift Cards, but I think cold hard cash is easiest. Have individual envelopes for each family member, and put change and receipts back in the correct envelope when a purchase is made. When the envelope is drained of money, then you know you’re done souvenir shopping!

There are some items which are only available at specifi c parks or resorts – these will have a hang tag that reads “Walt Disney World”. Items which are more generic and may be available outside of the parks (or online) will be labeled “Disney Parks”. If you want something that you are not likely to see thousands of people wearing, stick with items tagged “Walt Disney World”.

Downtown Disney has a store called Marketplace Fun Finds which includes Disney merchandise at different price points. Everything I’ve seen there is also available at the same price elsewhere, so it’s not really a discount store.

However, they do have $9 Grab Bags which can be a fun way to guarantee your kid will get more than $10 worth of Disney stuff for a decent price. Unfortunately there are no “boy” and “girl” options.

If you have a car, you can shop at the Disney-owned Character Premier at the Orlando Premium Outlet Mall. http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=17. This store has the best selection of authentic Disney World merchandise at very good prices.

Unless you’ve purchased tickets with the Water Parks and More option and you are headed to Disney Quest, I’d recommend avoiding Downtown Disney if at all possible. It is packed with stores that carry overpriced merchandise, none of which is exclusive to Disney World, and much of it that is extremely enticing to kids.

LEAST EXPENSIVE SOUVENIRS

Food items are some of the least expensive souvenirs you can buy, and make great gifts. All the stores carry a wide variety of treats that can fit any budget.

Collectible pins start at $4 and can be a great way to remember a special ride or your favorite park. Be sure to read the pricing chart (pins are color coded) so you don’t accidentally grab a $15 pin. A small assortment of pins, along with tickets and a few pictures can be placed in a shadow box and hung on the wall as a neat reminder of your visit.

Coffee Mugs and other kitchen utensils. Coffee mugs usually are around $10 and are a fun way to remember your trip with something you’ll use every day. Mickey re-useable ice cubes, mickey chip clips, and plenty of other little accessories also can make smart choices – if it’s something you’ll actually use!

DON’T CARRY YOUR PURCHASES

If you do buy anything in the parks, have purchases sent from the store directly to your resort if you’re staying on-site. You must allow 2 days for delivery, so shop early on in your trip.

10. PACKING FOR THE TRIP

Don’t buy anything that you’ll only use on this one vacation. Whether it is a new swimsuit or those cute “Smith Family Reunion” tee shirts that you make yourself, if it’s only getting one use, it’s not a smart buy.

That said, there are certain things that you will want to bring that should be free of defects and comfortable enough to suit your needs: Shoes, backpacks, stroller, luggage that won’t be destroyed by baggage handlers and that has rollers so you won’t be carrying it long distances.

If you don’t have these things, you’ll need to either budget for them (shoes), or see if there’s anyone you can borrow from (luggage).

Packing light will be helpful in a few ways. First, you’ll be able to save on baggage fees. Second, an over-stuffed bag will be more likely to get damaged in transit. Third, you won’t give yourself a hernia.

GOOD SHOES ARE ESSENTIAL

Bring at least 2 pairs of very comfortable walking shoes. Bring Blister Block https://www.bandaid.com/couponBlisterBlock.jsp and New Skin http://www.newskinproducts.com/ . Use Blister Block every day before you put your shoes on. New Skin is great to cover cuts and blisters in wear areas (like feet!).

EXTRA SPACE FOR YOUR RETURN FLIGHT

Walmart sells a duffel bag for under $7 that zips into itself and folds fl at. Bring it with you and stuff it with dirty clothes on the way home, use the extra space in your regular luggage for the souvenirs. Definitely do not buy one if your airline charges for baggage, or this will be your once-in-a-lifetime air travel experience.

COOKING UTENSILS

Because you’ll be preparing food in your room, you’ll need the following (at minimum):

Can Opener, sharp knife, one or two microwave safe plastic bowls with venting lid that are large enough for whatever you’ll be heating, serving bowls, plates, spoons, knives, forks (these can be disposable – or plastic camp gear works really well), salt and pepper, other spices, dish soap and dish cloth or scrubber, hot pot. Also bring a bunch of ziplock baggies for sandwiches and other daily munchies, and a few chip clips (can be used as clothes pins if needed).

MEDICATIONS

Bring enough of every possible medication you might need in a large enough quantity to cover you for the duration of your trip, especially prescription meds. Although you can have medication delivered, they will not bill your insurance and you’re out of pocket costs can be a real vacation-killer. We recommend day and night-time cold medications, antidiarrheal, pepto-bismol, something for fever, something for aches and pains. Liquids aren’t a good idea, capsules and pills are better.

LAUNDRY

Purex makes a 3-in-1 Laundry sheet which includes laundry detergent, fabric softener and dryer sheet in one. Because they aren’t liquid, they are legal for carry-on luggage, and won’t ever spill or leak. Some people have had trouble with spotting using these with synthetic fabrics, but tearing off the white (fabric softener) end before tossing the sheet in the washer avoids this problem. Your other option is if you use powder detergent, simply pour some in a ziplock baggie, then double-bag before packing it. There are change machines in the laundry rooms so you do not have to bring quarters.

STAY ORGANIZED

You’ll be cramming the family into a small space in your resort room, anything you can do to stay organized in that space is a good thing. Bring a laundry bag if you have one, or a plastic garbage bag works fine. You can hang it on a doorknob. If you have a small fabric shoe organizer that has hook at the top, this can be hung on a coat hook in your resort room and used to store shoes and other small items.

ALCOHOL

Beer and Wine can be purchased along with the rest of your groceries. If you want hard alcohol, your least expensive option is to bring it with you. Nalgene containers will not leak, and are best for packing liquids for flight. Don’t trust the original bottles.

IT’S A THEME PARK, NOT A FASHION SHOW

You don’t want to look like homeless people while touring the parks, but you also don’t want to arrive for your week’s vacation with 21 pieces of luggage. Bringing a different outfit for every family member for every day of vacation isn’t necessary. Jeans can be worn more than one time before washing, so can sweatshirts. Some lightweight clothing can be easily hand washed (use your dish soap) and hung to dry overnight.

Take some time and assess your family’s wardrobe. Select items that don’t show stains easily, are relatively wrinkle-resistant, and that the owner enjoys wearing. Florida’s high humidity means knit cotton is not as comfortable as woven cotton, or better yet, polyester “wicking” fabrics. Try to work with what you have. It’s not cost effective to buy clothes for vacation if they’ll be little used any other time of the year. Especially difficult are bathing suits, which can be expensive off-season – if you do need one, check your local JC Penney or online at Lands End for good prices even in the middle of winter.

Be certain to pack at least one of each of the following, even if the weather report doesn’t seem to warrant some of these items:

Jeans, shorts, short sleeve shirt, tank top, layering long sleeve shirt, heavier long sleeve sweatshirt or polar fleece shirt (for winter visits), lightweight knit gloves, hat (if you wear one), windbreaker/rain coat. Disney World has been known to sell out of those $60 sweatshirts when they get an unseasonable cold spell, so be prepared for the unexpected and you’ll save money.

PROPER PRINCESS WEAR

If your little girl is crazy about princesses, and loves dressing up, you may want to splurge on a princess or fairy dress. Even if she doesn’t think about it before your visit, she’s sure to mention it after seeing dozens of other girls her age dressed up in the parks. Don’t wait until you get to the parks to buy, the prices there will make you think you’re buying the whole castle and not just a dress. Look locally for deals at Walmart, shop www.etsy.com for hand-made creations, from http://www.littledressupshop.com/princessdresses, at JC Penney, or sign up for special deals at www.disneystore.com. The genuine Disney dresses and most of those approved by Disney will be quite scratchy and many girls won’t wear them all day. The hand-made versions may be about the same price, but will be much more comfortable to wear, or if you do have a scratchy dress, bring a lightweight tee shirt and shorts to wear underneath.

One dress will be enough. Your daughter can wear it every day to the parks if she wants, you’re the only ones who will know she’s wearing the same dress (it’s not like the “real” princesses change very often either – they’re always wearing the same thing!)

WATER PARK AND POOL NECESSITIES

If there is any chance you will be visiting a water park, or spending time at your resort’s pool, be sure to bring swim suits, water shoes, rash guard shirts, and maybe a few inflatable water toys that don’t take up much room. Also for water park visits, bring a 2 gallon ziplock bag to store wet suits on your way back to your resort. You can borrow resort towels for use at the Water Park rather than rent them, just make sure they all are returned to the room!

MAKE A LIST AND CHECK IT MORE THAN TWICE

You can access our travel checklist here https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B_0y0z2w3JhGN0UyU0x4Nmp0Ums. This is a base list that will start you thinking about everything you need to bring. Print it off, put it on a clipboard with a pen and place it wherever your “packing area” is in your house. If you have a guest room in your house, that bed is a great place to begin staging everything you’re bringing. Most items can be gathered early on, with underwear and some clothing having to wait until just before you leave. Try to do as much as possible as early as possible so you can budget for anything you need to get, and so you’re not left with mounds of packing to do in the days before you leave.

CUT TO THE CHASE, HOW DO YOU SAVE THE MOST?

Go during Value season. Fly Southwest Airlines. Stay at a Value Resort. AAA room and ticket package (check everyone else first too!). No rental car. Bring your own food and drinks for breakfast, lunch and most dinners. Plan ahead – bring meds for colds and flu, have the right clothes, bring hard alcohol if you want it, have food needs taken care of – doing this means you won’t be buying overpriced staples at resort “convenience stores”.

Planning is the key. The more you plan, the better time you will all have, and the more money you will save.

11. EXPERT DISNEY PLANNERS AND TRAVEL AGENTS

So, you’ve read all this and you’re thinking, “I have a life! I can’t spend all this time planning and making reservations, this is crazy!” Well, have I got the deal for you. How about someone who will ask you a bunch of pertinent questions about what your family wants from this vacation, then put in tons of hours to make all the magic work for you – all for free? Sound like a deal? Then you need a Travel Agent that specializes in Disney!

All these folks are guaranteed Disney fanatics and know what it takes to make the most of your Disney dollars:

Hilary: Independent Travel Expert partnered with Mouseketrips. Email for a quote: Hilary@mouseketrips.com or on facebook at  http://www.facebook.com/luvsthemousetravel

Jill Dowdy: A travel consultant with Mayfair Travel. As an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, Jill can plan magical vacations for you to the Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line, or any of the Adventures by Disney, all complimentary. jill@mayfairtravel.com or on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Jill.Dowdy.travel?sk=info

Brenda: An independent travel agent who specializes in Booking Disney vacations exclusively. She loves all things Disney and loves to help people plan their magical vacations. Email: magicaldreamvacations@msn.com or on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/TAinVA-Magical-Dream-Vacations/199991176682145?sk=info

Cheryl L. Kutchmark: Beaches & Dreams Travel Co. cheryl.beachesanddreamstravel@yahoo.com

Keri Vita, LBAC Travel, Inc. http://www.lbacmagicaldestinations.com/ 
keri@lbactravel.com

Help Around The Mouse is a service that will plan your park itinerary, saving you time and the hassle of doing it yourself. A great service for a good price!

www.HelpAroundtheMouse.com    Email: Info@HelpAroundtheMouse.com

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Photos, maps, text, and online content © Pamela Falcioni 2012

Disney World name, product names and logos are © The Walt Disney Company. All Rights Reserved