When planning the ultimate dream vacation to a place as exciting as Walt Disney World, families consider important factors such as the costs of the vacation. Nowadays, people want to provide great experiences for their families, without the high price tag attached. Fortunately, there are several ways to keep costs low while planning a Disney vacation. To start, save money to make your Disney vacation even more affordable by reassessing your monthly bills, and getting estimates such as car and home insurance quotes to get cheaper rates. By comparing prices and checking for travel deals, you can also be ahead of the game. Some factors to consider when traveling on the cheap are methods of travel, lodging, transportation, meals and Disney tickets and events.
Travel
Deciding what time of year, and which dates to travel can work well for your budget. Weekend travel tends to be higher than travel during a Monday through Thursday trip. Airfare is also cheaper during certain times of the year. Taking a trip to Disney in the Fall is generally cheaper than traveling during the peak season.
Lodging
There are multiple lodging options when planning a Disney Vacation. You will also want to consider the number of people in your party. Check discounts at the Walt Disney World Resort, hotels and vacation homes. For Disney properties, value season is the time when you will usually pay less for lodging.
Transportation
Disney World is located in Orlando, Florida. So transportation can get pricey for those residing outside of Florida. So the first step needs to be finding the most economical way to get to Orlando. Out of many travel methods, driving is usually the cheapest. Driving a car and putting gas in the tank, along with keeping up with maintenance should not be too pricey unless you are renting a car instead of using your own. If you want to take a faster route then check roundtrip airfare rates on airfare comparison sites. They tend to find the best rates available during your time of travel.
Meals
Food can take a great portion of a family’s finances. For a Disney vacation, consider planning ahead with meal plans. You can even pre-pay for most meals, which makes budgeting and planning even easier. Booking special meals, such as the character meals, can also be planned months in advance. This will allow you to stretch your budget out, over time.
Disney Tickets and Events
To get into the park, you’ll need to secure your family’s tickets for park entrance, as well as for any special events. For families, with young kids, children under 3 are able to get into Disney World theme and water parks at no cost, while older kids, up to age 9 get discounted admissions. Only plan to purchase tickets for the dates, and amounts of parks you will be planning to visit. Tickets can be purchased far in advance, or on the day you plan to go to the park. Check for any special offers to see which deals you can apply to help with trip costs. Also note that most Disney event tickets, such as the Very Merry Christmas Party are an additional cost from the regular park ticket. Taking the time to budget and plan for extra costs can help save you money in the long run, because you will be better prepared. If you can find a Disney package that bundles similar components for less, you can be sure it’s a great deal.
Remember, a Walt Disney World vacation does not have to break the bank or your budget. Use tips and suggestions to help you save the most money, while still experiencing an enjoyable vacation. The most important thing to do on a dream vacation is to assess what are the most important things to do, and have fun while doing so!
Author: Damien Justus
