By Kwin Mosby
If you think a Disney World vacation is out of your reach, maybe you should think again. Travel Channel has a few helpful tips on how to save money on lodging, tickets, food and transportation from the airport and around Disney World to make your magical dream trip become a reality.
1. Disney's Port Orleans Resort
You can book a vacation package for a two-night, three-day stay at one of Disney World's moderate resorts. The Port Orleans Resort package includes two nights of lodging and three-day tickets with the park-hopper option for $450.
2. Magical Express
Families don't have to rent a car or collect their bags at the airport when landing in Orlando. Disney's Magical Express is like having the combination of a car service and luggage valet all wrapped up in one. All you have to do is check your bags at the airport, and they are magically waiting for you when you arrive at your Disney hotel. Be sure to request your Magical Express luggage tags when you make your reservations. Don't worry about transportation to the hotel; a bus will pick you up at the airport and take you right there.
3. Disney Value Seasons
Looking for a cheap family getaway? You and your family can head to Walt Disney World during the off-season when lines are typically shorter and the weather is more comfortable. The rates are usually lower from January to February; for a few weeks in April and May; mid-August through September; and between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
4. Magic Your Way
Sign up on the Disney World website to receive announcements of special offers. Magic Your Way is a new program that offers visitors options a la carte. You can choose to add what you wish instead of buying a package that might include elements that you don't really want.
5. Three Pricing Categories
Disney offers three pricing categories for hotel accommodations. There are hotels like the Pop Century with rooms for less than $100 a night. Coronado Beach is in the intermediate category with rooms ranging from $100 to $150 a night. Disney also has more exclusive hotels, like the Grand Floridian Hotel, and other high-end accommodations, like extended-stay condominiums with their own kitchens and living rooms.
6. Rider Swap Tickets
These tickets allow one parent to ride with his/her child and then, when the ride is over and without having to wait in line again, the other parent can ride with the child using a Rider Swap ticket. Systems in place at Disney World like the Rider Swap program provide ways to get more entertainment in less time, which equals more bang for your buck!
7. Extra Magic Hours
Another great way to maximize your family time at Disney World is to arrive early in the morning before the crowds get larger for better ride experiences. You and your kids will have an opportunity to hop on rides a lot more quickly without having to wait in long lines. It gets even better if you are Disney resort guests. Disney only offers Extra Magic Hours to guests, which allows them to get into parks early or stay late on certain days. Now that's a way to maximize your fun!
8. Park Hopper
For an additional charge per ticket, Park Hopper allows you to visit multiple parks in the same day. The charge is only applied once. The more days you stay, the less it costs per day. A one-time charge for Park Hopper is $45 per ticket.
9. Free Transportation
Disney not only has complimentary transportation to and from the airport, but they also provide transportation between all their resorts and parks. There¿s a whole system of monorails, buses and even boats that can take you from place to place at Disney World. Just riding the monorail is a thrill for kids. You may even be allowed to sit up front with the driver if you ask nicely.
10. Fast Pass
With Fast Pass, you show up at a ride, put your park ticket in the designated Fast Pass machine, and out comes a Fast Pass ticket that tells you to come back at a specific time (for example, 2:30-3:30). The ticket acts as a placeholder, which is great for families who don't want to spend an hour or two waiting in line at a popular attraction. You can only get one Fast Pass ticket every two hours. Popular rides can run out of Fast Passes, so try to get one early.
11. Lower Cost Activities
Another way to save money when vacationing in Disney World is to take advantage of the lower-cost recreational activities. For example, a family of five can book a Magic Your Way package that includes a four-day, three-night stay in a cabin with lots of room at Disney World's Fort Wilderness Campground. By choosing a three-day theme-park admission with the Water Park Fun and More option, the family can enjoy five days of fun for slightly more than the cost of three. So check for the special deals and packages for extra savings.
12. Free Admission
Still pinching pennies and need to know how to save more money at Disney World? There are all kinds of things to do at Downtown Disney that don't require a park ticket. When staying at one of the Disney resorts, you and your kids can head to Design Quest and experience a digital nirvana, free of charge. On a hot Florida day, Disney World's water parks, such as Typhoon Lagoon, can be just the ticket to keep the kids cool. A ticket here costs about half of what a theme-park ticket costs. That's great news for a family on a budget.
13. Hotel Pools
The water parks cost less than the theme parks, but the pool at your hotel is free. Of course, your kids would probably love the super-mega-crazy slides at the water parks, but they might be just as happy playing Marco Polo near your hotel room.
14. Disney Dining Plan
Another big-ticket item when traveling is food. Families can take advantage of some of the counter-service buffets that are generally all-you-can-eat. If you're really into food and you're a big eater, then definitely go with the Disney Dining Plan. A family of four can save up to 30 percent on this plan. If you do their specific meal plan, you can save a lot of money.
15. Budget for Children
It's recommended to give older children a budget for the length of the vacation, saying, "You have 'x' amount of money, so spend it wisely." Not only will it keep your budget in check, but it's also a great lesson for them on how to spend their time and money wisely.
16. Room Key Purchases
Another nice perk that comes with staying on Disney property is that you can use your room key to buy things and then have your purchases delivered to your hotel. You can go all around the resort and use the key. No credit card. No ID. It's less to carry, less to think about and really convenient.
17. Photo Pass
A service offered at Disney World that's more of a memory saver than a money saver is the Photo Pass. This is a great feature for families that don't have a free hand to take pictures. You can go to any Disney photographer and ask for the Pass. They take your picture, they give you a pass and you carry it around with you. Anytime you see another photographer, you can get your picture taken. At the end of the day, you can get all your pictures printed out, or select the ones you want online and have them sent to you.
