How to plan a budget-friendly trip to Walt Disney World
The biggest ticket items on a Disney World vacation are your resort room and theme park tickets. The travel method you use to arrive in Disney World will also affect your overall budget; if you live three hours away and can bring your own car, your trip will automatically be less expensive than if you have to fly to Florida to visit the park.
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Instructions
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Order the free Disney parks vacation planning DVD to familiarize yourself with the theme parks and resorts available for your trip.
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Visit the Disney World vacation planning website and choose a value resort for your trip. The value resorts include the All-Star Movies, All-Star Sports, All Star Music and Pop Century. These are the most budget friendly hotels to stay in and around Disney World.
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Choose your dates. For a budget friendly trip, pick dates in the value season, which includes September, October, November and January. Avoid major holidays and holiday weekends for the best prices.
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Decide what type of tickets you want. The least expensive option is a "Magic Your Way" pass that allows you to enter one of the four main theme parks each day. Don't add the "park hopper" option, or the water parks option if you are on a budget.
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Book your trip at least 6 months in advance using Disney's online or telephone reservations system at (407) WDISNEY. Allow at least an hour to book your trip, and be prepared to pay a deposit equal to one night's lodging at your chosen resort. You will be able to pay for your trip in installments if desired, as long as the balance is paid 30 days before your arrival.
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Purchase your tickets direct from Disney in advance. Purchasing before you arrive allows you to save 5 to 10 percent per ticket over the general admission price.
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Tips & Warnings
As of 2011, onsite Disney resort rooms range from $88 to over $600 per night, depending on the resort you choose and the time of year.
Bring along your own bottled beverages and snacks; as of 2011, a bottle of water was $2.50 in the Disney theme parks.
Look for advertised specials throughout the year. While these change frequently, Disney traditionally offers a free dining promotion each fall, which can save you quite a bit on meals and snacks once you arrive.
Never buy second hand Disney tickets, they are not transferable, and a fingerprint scan is required to verify the ticketholder's identity.
References
- Photo Credit Kevin Winter/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
