13 Free and Money Saving Tips and Tricks for Planning Your Disney World Vacation

Any vacation can be expensive, but with careful planning ahead as well as a little research you can save money on your next Disney World vacation on almost every aspect of your trip from getting to Disney to your wonderful World of Disney week.

Money Saving Tips for Your Disney World Vacation

Airfare can be expensive so drive and don't fly, if you can. This way you save on both airfare and car rental fees. Make your road trip and adventure with games, special activities and planning lots of fun stops along the way.

Got AAA? You may want to. Not only does it offer discounts on tickets to Disney World attractions but you may need it on your road trip.

One of my favorite ways of getting a discount ticket to Disney World is by making a donation to benefit the Walt Disney Pavilion at the Florida Hospital for Children. As a thank you for your donation you will receive a special package that includes one or more Disney World One Day, One Park tickets (or eight or more One Day Park Hopper tickets), plus additional benefits, depending on your level of donation. You get tickets and help out a very worthy cause! Visit the Florida Hospital for Children donation website to find out specific levels of gift giving and for more details.

Purchase an Entertainment book and use the coupons included to help you save money when dining out or for entertainment. There are thousands of coupons, and believe it or not you can actually sell it on eBay for another family to use after you return. Just make sure you are honest about the coupons and discounts that you have used.

Restaurant.com can help with dining expenses, but I recommend waiting until you get to Orlando before purchasing any items. You can usually get a $25.00 gift certificate for a little as $2.00 or as much as $5.00, but it's important to check with the hotel staff or make a call to make sure that the restaurant is still in business.

Free Money Saving Tips, Tricks and Helpful Hints for Planning Your Disney World Vacation

Start your Walt Disney World Orlando vacation planning by ordering this free planning DVD. With your video guide, tour four of theme parks, two water parks and get a sneak peek at many of the Disney World Resorts. You also get help choosing your accommodations and a pocket size travel planning to take on the road with you.

Order your free Walt Disney World customized map where you can highlight those points of interest that are must see and do. It can take up to three weeks to get your map in the mail so, again planning early is important. Or you can print your own copy at home.

The free Disney Vacation Connection keeps you and your family connected right from your desk or laptop computer with interesting and entertaining activities like polls, quizzes, countdown clock and wallpapers. It also lets you know of any special events or offers at Walt Disney Resort, Disney Cruises, and Adventures by Disney.

Do you have a Android or iPhone? Make your travel while at Disney so much easier with the free app from Undercover Tourist that helps with storing reservation information, wait times, detailed maps, and even GPS for several of the Orlando area parks. You can even store your parking information so you never get lost again and let the kids play a fun tile game while you are waiting for dinner to arrive. You can even take pictures of each of your tickets! Purchase it online or in the apps marketplace. If using an Android look for the term PHUNWARE.

But that's not all that is available on your iPhone and Droid for free, look for these apps: Totally Tangled which offers a tile game based on Disney's latest Princess Rapunzel and featuring photos of Pascal. You may also want to download the free Radio Disney app (and hand the kids the headphones) so that they can listen to all their favorite songs from Disney movies and television shows.

Those with an iPhone and iPad will also appreciate these free apps from Disney: The Toy Story Read Along is a free read along experience with games, music and coloring pages based on the movie. For the older children download the free TRON app set in the combat areas of the digital grid from the movie.

With these apps for your smartphones you may even be able to keep the children entertained and in anticipation of your arrival at Walt Disney World. Who knows they may even sit still the whole flight?

"A penny saved is a penny earned" especially when it comes to planning and executing your Walt Disney World Orlando vacation. Let these helpful tips and tricks get you to where "dreams really do come true" without needing a treasure chest or the need to sell the family jewels.

Need more ideas to help you with your next travel adventure with children? Read Tips for Parents Traveling with Two and 15 Safety Tips for When Your Family is Out and About.

Sources:

Personal experience

iTunes

Droid Phone Marketplace

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