Doing Walt Disney World on a Budget

Who doesn't love Disney? I believe that everyone should experience Walt Disney World at least once in their lifetime. Preferably, as a child. It will be one of the most memorable trips your children will ever have! It could also end up being one of your most memorable trips, due to the expenses and the dent it could leave on your credit card statement.

I will go through some of the best ways to save a buck or two, from the obvious to the not-so obvious.

First of all, consider when you will be visiting Walt Disney World. The best time to visit, for great rates and lower crowds, is during the off-season. This will be a time when most schools are in session, with January and September being the best months to find good deals.

Most of us do not live within walking distance of Disney World, so we need to consider travel expenses. Are you planning on driving or flying? Try www.expedia.com or www.cheaptickets.com for discount airfares.

Where will you stay once you reach Orlando? To get the true Disney feel, you may want to stay on-site in one of the Disney resorts. The Value Resorts (All Star Music, All Star Sports, All Star Movies, Pop Century) are the cheapest, but again, this can depend on the season. These resort rooms are also very child-centered. So, if you don't have kids you may not like the atmosphere. One of the best ways to save money is to stay off-site. A regular hotel can be as much as half the price as a Disney resort room.

Food is a huge expense when traveling. Granted that everyone likes to eat out every once in a while, but the money adds up fast when you have to do that for three meals a day plus snacks. To cut some of the cost, try to find a hotel with a kitchenette. A few bucks for a homemade breakfast beats $30 or more for a resort breakfast. Also, you could stay in a hotel that offers a complimentary continental breakfast. When you do eat out, try to eat off of the Disney property. Again, huge savings within walking distance.

Walt Disney World will allow you to carry in a backpack. Load this up with anything and everything you can possibly think you will need. If something happens and you need to buy something on-site, you can expect to pay a lot more for it. A few things to include: snacks (granola bars, peanut butter sandwiches/crackers, bananas, apples), bottled water, sunscreen, hand-sanitizer, baby wipes, band-aids, Tylenol, your own autograph book and pen, and extra camera batteries.

Florida is known for it's varying weather conditions. You can save a little bit of money by being prepared for this and pack your own ponchos and umbrellas. Include these in your backpack if the weather is calling for rain.

One of the last big expenses for travelers is souvenirs. Rather than spending time and money looking through the massive gift shops in Disney, try shopping for Disney memorabilia before your trip. You can shop your local Disney Store or on-line and find many of the same items that you would find in the resort. Also, the Orlando area is full of Disney Outlet Stores and gift shops. A special idea for your kids could be to wrap pre-bought gifts and sign the gift card from Mickey Mouse (or other favorite Disney character). Before you depart the hotel for a day of fun, leave these gifts on your child's bed. Upon returning, your child will find a special gift from a special friend. It will mean more to them than something that just mom or dad bought.

Try some of these cost-saving ideas and I hope you and your family enjoys your next trip to Walt Disney World. Actually, you can use these ideas for any vacation you may decide to take.

Walt Disney World Mom's Panel, disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/questions.aspx

Fritscher, Lisa, disneyworld.orlandovacation.com/articles/wdw-on-a-budget.php, Disney World on a Budget, Orlando Vacation