Disney World for Less - Doing Disney World on the Cheap

A family trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida can be expensive. From getting there, staying there, and spending there, a family of four can easily spend thousands of dollars for a trip to see Mickey Mouse.

Here are some tips to help you save money, from where to stay, to getting around, to eating.

Hotels

Staying at the Walt Disney World resort can cost over $500 a night at one of the Deluxe Resorts (Disney's Contemporary Resort Hotel, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney's Polynesian Resort, or Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge). However, in recent years, Disney has been expanding into the budget market with the opening of what they call "Value Resorts."

These hotels are all on property and offer guest the same benefits as those staying at one of the more expensive hotels (such as use of the transportation system and the service that delivers your purchases directly to your hotel room) . Value resorts are not as fancy as the Deluxe Resorts, and sometimes feel like a roadside motel, but with rates starting at $84 per night, they are a great option for the budget conscious traveler. The Value resorts at Disney World include Disney's Pop Century Resort, Disney's All-Star Movie Resort, Disney's All-Star Music Resort, and Disney's All-Star Sports Resort. To find out more, check out my article on the Value Resorts, http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/768029/guide_to_value_resort_hotels_at_walt.html

Another great way to stay on Disney property is to stay at the little advertised Fort Wilderness Campground, a campground on Disney property and only minutes from the Magic Kingdom. The campground features camping sites as well as cabin for rent. Campsites with hookups start at only $42 per night while cabins start at $255 per night. At only $42 per night, camping at Walt Disney World is the cheapest option for staying on property while still enjoying all of the benefits of being a guest at Walt Disney World.

Transportation

Getting to Disney World from the Orlando International Airport is now easier than ever! With Disney's Magical Express service, you can take a bus directly to the Walt Disney World Resort - for free (if you're staying at a Walt Disney World hotel). You can even go straight to the theme parks and have your bags taken to your hotel room. Disney offers this service to get you to their property and keep you there since a trip to Universal Studios or Sea World requires a car or a taxi. So, if you're not planning on staying at a Disney hotel and not leaving Disney property, then you don't have to pay anything for transportation.

And once you're at Disney World, and a guest in one of their hotels, then use of the extensive Walt Disney World transportation system is free. That means you can travel to and from your hotel and the theme parks, water parks, shopping areas, and other Disney World hotels all for free. Unlimited use of the monorails, boats, and busses are a benefit for staying on property.

Eating

Eating at Disney World's theme parks can be expensive and the food uninspiring (the notable, exception, however, are some of the World Showcase restaurants at Epcot - which are still expensive, however).

Early mornings are the best times to explore the theme parks as the crowds are thinner and the weather is cooler. Rather than sit down and eat an overpriced breakfast and miss the chance to explore the parks, pack some breakfast bars or pick up some croissants and eat them on the way to the parks.

For lunch and dinner in the parks, your best bet is the counter service (fast food) locations. While a burger and fries ma set you back $10, you can usually get a large slice of pizza for a just a few bucks.

If you're in the Magic Kingdom, head over to Frontierland and get a jumbo turkey leg from the cart across from the Country Bear Jamboree. While it may look barbaric to eat, it's actually rather large and can satisfy most any appetite. And over at Epcot, the Coca-Cola exhibit offers free samples of difference Coke products from around the world. The fizzy lemonade from Zimbabwe is good, but I would steer clear of "Beverly" the odd, bitter tasting drink from Italy.

Parking

Parking your car at one of the Disney World theme parks costs $11 per day. Although, if you park hop, you only pay $11 once per day and can park at any of the theme parks. The best way to avoid the parking free is to stay at a Walt Disney World hotel and use the transportation system free for guests to go directly to the theme parks.