How to Get a Cheap Disney Vacation
The words "cheap" and "Disney" don't go well together. Disney provides a quality vacation, but it's quality that you'll pay for. Fortunately, there are ways to save money on your Disney vacation. Trip-planning books can be very helpful; even if they're out of date, the general information and tips are still relevant. With a little bit of work, you'll be able to save some money.
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Instructions
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Sign up for the free email newsletter at Mousesavers.com. Sent out on the 15th of each month, it's packed full of helpful information, tips and discounts.
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Travel off-season. Disney and the numerous hotels and resorts in the area all offer substantial discounts. The highest prices of the year will be during the summer, Thanksgiving week, Christmas week and the weeks surrounding spring break. Avoiding those times will save you money.
Search for the lowest price possible for your hotel online, but make the reservation over the phone. Have the online amount in front of you when you call, and then ask the operator for the lowest price possible. If it's not the price you saw online, ask for that price. One of the advantages of traveling off-season is that hotels have rooms that they need to fill; an empty room earns them nothing.
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If you're flying to Florida, you might want to take advantage of "Disney's Magical Express," a service where Disney picks you up at the airport and also provides transportation around the parks, saving you the expense of having to rent a car. The drawback to the service is that you must stay at a Disney hotel, which is more expensive than some of the budget hotels in the area. Many budget hotels offer transportation to the theme parks, but it's on their terms, not yours.
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Bring your own food. Many hotels have a small refrigerator in the room, but if they don't, you can always use a cooler. If your hotel doesn't offer a free breakfast, a box of cereal and milk is a lot cheaper than the fast food restaurant next door. Walt Disney World in Florida doesn't mind if you bring snacks into the parks, but Disneyland in California discourages it. Return to your hotel mid-afternoon for a late lunch or early dinner, then head back to the parks. Your basic ticket allows you to return to the same park throughout the day, Disney's "Park Hopper" option allows you to visit the different parks on the same day.
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Consider attending a timeshare pitch. You'll see them all over the place---stands offering free or discounted tickets to the parks. With a little bit of negotiating, you might be able to get one or two days' worth of free tickets for the entire family. Be warned, though; the pitch is high pressure. You'll most likely be asked to make an on-the-spot decision, and the deals seem tempting at the time. Don't consider this option if you give in easily.
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Tips & Warnings
Choose your tickets carefully. The "Park Hopper" option allows you to visit more than one park in a single day, but if you're planning on spending all day in one park, it's not necessary. Buy tickets based on the number of days that you'll be there, and don't add the "Water Parks and More" option in Florida unless you're sure that you'll use it.
The price of souvenirs adds up quickly. Use cash instead of a credit card. It's easier to stick to a budget, and you won't have to pay for it later.
