I thought it would be fun to start a “Wordless Wednesday” featuring some of the most interesting photos from Walt Disney World. This week’s entry, courtesy of Walt Disney World Facts, showcases Lady and the Tramp from the Epcot Flower and Garden Show, which is going on now through May 16.

I get many questions from people who are thinking about visiting Walt Disney World and want Disney World vacation tips and suggestions. Disney vacation planning can be very involved and confusing as well, so the goal of this series is to start at the beginning, and look at everything you need to think about, in the general order you need to think about it. Each week’s post will be numbered and link to all the others so that, when complete, you will have a guide with all the steps and information you need to plan your own Disney magic.

It should be no big surprise that “souvenirs” can be huge budget busters and are one of the quickest ways I know to kill any hopes for an affordable Disney vacation. Especially if you have little ones, the cries for “Buy me this” and “I want that” can be very hard to ignore. So here are a few things that we have found that help keep our souvenir spending from getting out of hand.

1. I am a big fan of setting a daily spending budget…even for kids. On our first trip, our daughter was seven, and we set aside some money each day that was “hers” to spend as she wished. It was not a lot, I promise you, but having her own money to use, meant that when she used it up, she was done for the day. No complaining, whining, or begging. Once it was gone, it was gone.  And it worked.
2. There are a lot of quite inexpensive options for souvenirs! Pressed pennies, postcards, pencils, pins all are quite affordable and can actually be the start of a new collection for a child that gets added to on each vacation. Kids love to collect things!
3. Consider bringing some “souvenirs” with you, or have a box shipped to your hotel. Many families have found that kids love to get a surprise from Mickey when they wake up every morning, and these little surprises can minimize the need to beg for things in the parks.
4. Two words: character autographs. Hugely popular, and really, about as cheap as you get! Bring something other than a book, like a tee shirt, or hat and give the character a sharpie to sign with: instant souvenir that will be cherished for years.
5. Take your own pictures, or give your camera to a castmember to photograph your entire family. You don’t have to pay for Photopass pictures to get your entire group in a picture.

These are just a few ideas, but believe me a little creativity, can go a log away towards keeping your souvenir budget in check. Fun does not have to be expensive! The best souvenirs you will come home with will be your memories…and those don’t cost a thing….but are truly priceless.

I get many questions from people who are thinking about visiting Walt Disney World and want Disney World vacation tips and suggestions. Disney vacation planning can be very involved and confusing as well, so the goal of this series is to start at the beginning, and look at everything you need to think about, in the general order you need to think about it. Each week’s post will be numbered and link to all the others so that, when complete, you will have a guide with all the steps and information you need to plan your own Disney magic.

When talking about affordable Disney vacations, it is easy to get so caught up in all the attractions, rides, major shows etc. that one can easily overlook the many fun things to do at Walt Disney World that are free….or almost free.

One thing that I have tried to do with The Affordable Mouse is to show that, while Disney CAN be expensive, it does not HAVE to be. The topic of today’s post will show you just how many things you can do at Disney World that won’t cost you additional money beyond what you are spending for room, food, tickets, and transportation.

OK, in no particular order then:

1. Check out the Disney resorts. Whether you are staying on or off Disney property, you owe it to yourself to visit the resorts. Each of them offer a wealth of fun and interesting themes, and you may be amazed at how much time you can spend just wandering around and taking in all that they have to offer. Plan your visit around dinner if you like and try out some of the restaurants or food courts at the resorts too!
2. Related to number 1, but really in a category all it’s own: visit the Animal Kingdom Lodge to animal watch. There are a number of animal observation stations where, believe me when I say that you can  spend a lot of time being mesmerized by all of the animals there.
3. Visit the Boardwalk. Not necessarily the resort (although it is great) but the actual Boardwalk where all kinds of fun and interesting things are happening. Yes, they are not all technically free, but relatively speaking, the cost of renting a bike or surrey for example is minimal compared to how much fun you will have!
4. Take time to smell the roses…literally. We have been to Walt Disney World 11 times and counting and every time we visit we STILL see/find something that we never saw before. Disney loves detail, and some of my favorite memories center around exploring gardens, topiaries and such that sometimes just get passed by in the rush to get to the next ride before the line gets too long.
5. Ride the monorail. It’s  a must do on every vacation we have at Disney World. And for more fun, ask the Cast Member on duty if you can ride “up front”. If you are the first one to ask, they may say yes and I can tell you, that is one fun ride. Plus your kids will get a “Co-Pilot” certificate as well.
6. Pin trade. Yes I will readily admit that pin trading CAN get out of hand and cost a lot of money, but really for a minimal investment, your kids (and you) can start a really fun and interesting hobby. We began our collection during the Millenium Celebration when it was raining every day and night…so we just pin traded. Castmembers love to pin trade with park guests and kids get a real kick out of trying to get specific pins. You don’t have to make it heavy-duty or expensive to start. Set a budget of one or two pins/per day, or get some on eBay before you arrive. And then have fun!
7. Epcot has the KidCot fun stops where children create fun masks and activities at each of the World Showcse countries. What a great way for kids to create, and learn a little about each nation…without them even realizing they are learning!
8. Ride a Segway. Yes you can sign up for an actual tour that is not particularly cheap, but you can get a quick “lesson” …and photo op….at Innoventions at Epcot. Just keep in mind there is a height limit on this and parents sign an “injury waiver” beforehand.
9. Ride the boats that go from Epcot to Hollywood Studios, or around World Showcase Lagoon. Fun, and a great way to cool off when it’s hot.
10. Pools. Pools. Pools. Oh and then there are the pools. Unless you are visiting during the cold weather months, most of the Disney resorts have fabulous pools, and many are open to “pool hopping”: just make sure you check with your resort first if you plan to try out another pool, as some resorts are closed to pool hopping. And even if you are not staying at a Disney resort, most Florida hotels realize the importance of pools for their guests.

I could go on and on, but this is already a pretty long post, so I think I’ll leave it at that for now. There are tons of great “free” things to do on your affordable Disney vacation. If you have “free” ideas of your own, please share!

I get many questions from people who are thinking about visiting Walt Disney World and want Disney World vacation tips and suggestions. Disney vacation planning can be very involved and confusing as well, so the goal of this series is to start at the beginning, and look at everything you need to think about, in the general order you need to think about it. Each week’s post will be numbered and link to all the others so that, when complete, you will have a guide with all the steps and information you need to plan your own Disney magic.

Up to this point we have been discussing the steps for planning an affordable Disney vacation that need to be done well in advance. As I have shared frequently on this blog, if you want to save money, you need to plan ahead.

Now, it’s time to get ready to go! Whether you are leaving in a few days, or in several months, hopefully you will find these next few blog posts to be helpful.

So finally, after months of planning, you’re going to Disney World! Woohoo!

Before you go though, there are some things you will want to think about.

• Check the weather and pack accordingly. Please don’t assume that Florida is always sunny and hot. The summers frequently have rain showers, and winter can actually get cold! Not packing for the weather will mean that you end up buying ponchos, scarves, hats, gloves, sweatshirts, and possibly even coats at Disney….and I can promise that is NOT affordable at all.
• Go to the Disney World website and check the park hours. Even better, print them out so that you know when you can visit each park. If you will be staying on Disney property and can take advantage of Extra Magic Hours, note that as well. No point in being able to get in the parks an hour early if you sleep in those mornings!
• While you’re on the Disney website, make note of which attractions/rides are closed during your visit. Part of planning an affordable Disney vacation is making the most of your time. Don’t waste your time walking to rides that aren’t even open.
• Get some snacks etc. to bring with you. Whether for the trip, in your hotel, or even to bring with you to the parks, bringing snacks from home can definitely save you money…and possibly be healthier as well.
• I’m a list maker and when it comes to a trip like this, I think having a list is one of the best ways to make sure you keep costs under control. Lists mean you are less likely to forget things….and remember, anything you forget, you will have to buy there. Whether it is clothes, or Advil, if you have to buy it at Disney, it’s gonna cost you a lot more.
• Do you have little ones? Consider bringing your own stroller…or rent one from a stroller company in the Disney area. Renting strollers at the Disney parks will definitely cost you more. Just keep that in mind.

OK, there are a few last minute things to keep in mind as you get ready to leave for your Walt Disney vacation! My next two posts will focus on being at the parks…and ways to have “free fun” while there!

I get many questions from people who are thinking about visiting Walt Disney World and want Disney World vacation tips and suggestions. Disney vacation planning can be very involved and confusing as well, so the goal of this series is to start at the beginning, and look at everything you need to think about, in the general order you need to think about it. Each week’s post will be numbered and link to all the others so that, when complete, you will have a guide with all the steps and information you need to plan your own Disney magic.

Up until now, in our Step-by-Step Planning Series, we have been talking about aspects of your vacation that need to be thought about as early in the process as possible, if you want to be able to have an affordable Disney vacation. Ideally, most of the previous steps should be researched, decided, and in many cases booked from 4-6 months before your vacation. If you are planning to travel during a high-traffic season, like the Christmas holidays, closer to 6 months is best.

From here on out, I’ll be talking about some other aspects of your vacation that are part of your vacation budget, but don’t have to be decided on quite so early.

Today’s post will deal with tickets, another major expenditure…which is why you want to make sure you are not spending more than you have to.:)

Basically, there are two parts to this discussion:

1. Where you can get Disney parks tickets
2. Where you should NOT buy Disney parks tickets

Let’s briefly discuss the first one:

You can purchase Disney World park passes through Disney, or through an authorized Disney ticket broker. Those are the only two avenues you should consider if you want to be confident that you are getting actual Disney park tickets.

If you are purchasing a Disney resort package, your tickets will be part of that package, so you are good to go! But if you are booking your room individually (no package) at a Disney resort, or staying off-site at a non-Disney hotel, vacation home, villa, or condo, then you will need to order theme park tickets.

You can do this through the Disney website. Or you can get Disney theme parks tickets from a broker. There are a number of reputable brokers that you can purchase tickets from safely, and save some money. Not huge amounts, but enough to make it worth it, especially if you will be staying for several days, and have a number of people in your party.

The company that I have personally used, and recommend highly is Undercover Tourist. Their prices are great, their service is even better, and they are completely reputable. I would not recommend them otherwise. And their website does a great job of breaking down the Magic Your Way ticket structure and that alone makes them pretty awesome.

As to where you should NOT buy Disney theme parks tickets? Well, every place else….

I really can’t emphasize this part enough. Be very, very careful here, as unfortunately, many, many people get burned every year trying to save money on tickets, only to find that their “tickets” were worthless.

So steer clear of eBay, Craigslist, or any website or seller that offers prices that seem too good to be true…because they probably are. Look at the fine print as well, and make sure you are not agreeing to sit through a lengthy timeshare presentation in order to get those tickets…unless you really want to lol.

If you want to learn more, you can a basic overview on the Discounted Tickets page.  In addition, I discuss how to determine a reputable Disney ticket broker in this post. And to learn more about where you should not buy Disney tickets, you can read more in this post.

I get many questions from people who are thinking about visiting Walt Disney World and want Disney World vacation tips and suggestions. Disney vacation planning can be very involved and confusing as well, so the goal of this series is to start at the beginning, and look at everything you need to think about, in the general order you need to think about it. Each week’s post will be numbered and link to all the others so that, when complete, you will have a guide with all the steps and information you need to plan your own Disney magic.

In the last post, I discussed how to use the Disney Dining Plan as a way to help you have an affordable Disney vacation.  Today I want to share some additional tips, ideas, and strategies that can help you save money on food at Walt Disney World.

Let’s start by saying that you CAN spend a lot on your meals on your Disney vacation…but you don’t HAVE to.  Here then, in no particular order, are 10 ways that you can cut your meal costs for a truly affordable Disney vacation.

1. Cook/eat some meals in your room. If you are staying in a vacation home, villa, condo, or even a hotel suite, you will probably have access to a kitchen. Use it to do some simple cooking. Even if you have a traditional hotel room, you should be able to have a small refrigerator: get some milk, juices, and even some lunchmeat and cheese to keep in it. We have done this and had cereal in the morning before leaving for the parks, and made some sandwiches to bring with us for a quick, easy, and inexpensive lunch.
2. Bring your own snacks, juices, water etc. Not having to pay park prices on these things will save you a lot of money…plus it is so much more convenient to just grab a bottle from your backpack instead of standing in a long, hot line.
3. Consider sharing meals, especially if you have little ones who don’t eat much. Disney portions are usually quite large and sharing…whether between 2 kids, or an adult and child…will not leave anyone hungry. This works, by the way, whether you are eating counter service or table service.
4. Speaking of table service, are you planning some sit-down meals? Look for buffets, as you will get more for your money! Or think about having your table service meals for lunch: you will still get a lot of the same delicious food options but at lunch prices rather than dinner prices.
5. Consider foregoing table service meals altogether and just eat quick service. Many families find that this is the best way to go with small children, as there are no long waits for food, and the meals tend to be more “kid-friendly”.
6. Eat some meals away from Disney. Non-park restaurants may be less expensive than those you find in the parks.
7. Consider off-site hotels that offer free breakfast.
8. If staying off-site, ask your hotel for local restaurant discount coupons or promotions. Or invest in a local Entertainment Book for restaurant coupons.
9. Check local Florida/Orlando websites for discount coupons for eating establishments.
10. As mentioned last time: If offered, try to book a Disney Package during any Free Dining promotion. It will save you a LOT of money.

OK, so there you go, 10 easy ways that you can pare down your food budget on a trip to Disney World. Clearly, all will not apply in all situations, but you should be able to use a few on your vacation, and when it comes to trying to have an affordable Disney vacation, every little bit helps!

I get many questions from people who are thinking about visiting Walt Disney World and want Disney World vacation tips and suggestions. Disney vacation planning can be very involved and confusing as well, so the goal of this series is to start at the beginning, and look at everything you need to think about, in the general order you need to think about it. Each week’s post will be numbered and link to all the others so that, when complete, you will have a guide with all the steps and information you need to plan your own Disney magic.

Now that we have covered some of the major and most expensive portions of your trip…lodging and transportation…let’s talk about food.

One of the best ways to help have a truly affordable Disney vacation is to plan your meals economically. This post will discuss one of the most popular ways to get the most out of your food budget: using the Disney Dining Plan.

On the Disney Dining Plan (DDP), if you have reserved a Disney package, you can have the option of pre-paying for most, if not all of your meals, by choosing one of several plans. (Please note that having a Disney package is a requirement, unless you have Annual Passes or are Disney Vacation Club members.)

With the Quick Service Dining Plan, you get two quick service meals and two snacks per person, per day, and one resort refillable mug per person, per package. With the basic Dining Plan, you will have one table service, one quick service, and one snack per person, per day. And finally, there is the Deluxe Dining Plan, offering 3 table or quick service meals and two snacks per person, per day, plus a refillable mug for each person per package.

So basically, there is a Plan for whatever your budget is.

Since we enjoy a table service meal each night, our family has purchased the basic Dining Plan on each of our last several trips and it is a huge saving for us. We use the counter service meal (entrée, drink, and dessert) for lunch, the table service meal (entrée, drink, dessert) for dinner, and we use the snack credits for either breakfast…or eat light in our room. For us, it is usually way more food than we can usually eat, and so often get our dessert at dinner “to go” since we are so full. Other times we choose fruit and/or muffins for our lunch or dinner desserts and use these for snacks later or breakfast. We have experimented with the plan a number of different ways, and no matter how we do it, we eat very well, have food left over to bring home (snack credits purchase great edible “souvenirs” J), and we save money.

How then does the Dining Plan help us have an affordable Disney vacation?

Currently, the basic plan costs from $41.99 to $46.99 (depending on the time of year) per adult/per day, which for our family of 3 is usually less than we would have spent out of pocket just for dinner itself. So clearly, it is a huge cost-saver for us.

Will it be for your family? Possibly, depending on your family size, eating habits, time of year etc. In other words, like most other things related to planning an affordable Disney vacation, you’ll need to do the research and then do the math. J Compare all levels of the Dining Plan: if you have small children, you may find the Quick Service Plan to be more suited to your family’s needs than the basic or Deluxe Plan.

Related to the Dining Plan, there are a few additional things you should know:

1. Disney has offered for the past few years, a package promotion in late summer/early fall that includes the Disney Dining Plan for FREE. Yup, you have that right: FREE FOOD. This is seriously a huge cost-saver, and if your schedule allows traveling at that time of year, you should really consider it. Now there are no guarantees, but in the current economic climate, and since Disney has offered this the past several years now, it is reasonable to think that they MAY offer it again this year. Stay tuned.
2. While you don’t have to pay for the Dining Plan when you reserve your package, and so technically it is not something you need to decide early in the planning process…..this is so important…..IF you are planning to get the Basic Plan and so have table service meals…you absolutely need to think about what restaurants you will want to eat in, and make your reservations (Advanced Dining Reservations) well in advance. Disney currently starts accepting  ADRs 6 months in advance, and if you are visiting during any of the busy seasons…or during Free Dining…if you don’t reserve well in advance, you risk not eating where you want.  I just can’t stress this part enough…when it comes to Disney table service restaurants during high-traffic seasons, the early bird definitely gets the worm.

So your action plan for this week for planning an affordable Disney vacation: look at the Disney Dining Plan and see if it can save you money!

I get many questions from people who are thinking about visiting Walt Disney World and want Disney World vacation tips and suggestions. Disney vacation planning can be very involved and confusing as well, so the goal of this series is to start at the beginning, and look at everything you need to think about, in the general order you need to think about it. Each week’s post will be numbered and link to all the others so that, when complete, you will have a guide with all the steps and information you need to plan your own Disney magic.

So once you get to Walt Disney World, how are you going to get around? What kinds of transportation options do you have for an affordable Disney vacation?

Basically, your options will depend on whether you are staying on Disney property and can take advantage of Disney’s free transportation from the airport and to the theme parks…or will you need a rental car and/or rely on other transportation options.

If staying with Disney, you will have access to a great transportation system consisting of buses, boats, and monorails. Disney’s Magical Express provides travel from Orlando International Airport to and from each of the Disney resort properties. Especially nice with this, is the fact that you can even have Disney handle your luggage, allowing you the chance to get to the parks quicker. All of this is no-cost, reliable, and relatively hassle-free. While there are circumstances where Disney transportation is not the most efficient use of time (the buses do typically service more than one resort property at a time, and going from one hotel to the next can be time consuming), by and large, if you are staying on Disney property, you really don’t need the additional cost of a rental car.

If staying off-property or in a vacation home, then you will need to make other arrangements. Many hotels near Disney World offer free shuttles to the theme parks. But you will still need to get there from the airport if flying. And if there is no free shuttle, then you will need a rental car.

Taxis and limousine services can prove, believe it or not, to be an affordable option to get from the airport, as can a shared airport shuttle. As for getting around once you are at your hotel, there are a lot of choices for rental cars.

If you decide to rent a car at the Orlando airport, you will have the choice of 8 different car rental companies. In addition, you will find that there are car rental locations on-site in Disney World as well as at several hotels in Downtown Disney. This makes renting a car for a day or two, if you would like to visit neighboring theme parks, convenient and hassle free.

The best way to get a good rate for a car rental is to be persistent and check the rental companies’ rates on a regular basis. Register for the “preferred renter” option at each company in order to save time when picking up your car, and to get money-saving discounts. Don’t be afraid to book with a company when you see a good rate: if you get a better one later on, there is no penalty for cancellation. Doing this can, over time, save you several hundreds of dollars if you are keep trying. Be sure to check sites like Travelocity and Expedia to compare rates. And feel free to check the cost for a larger vehicle than you think you need: sometimes the companies have more requests for small cars than they can handle, and so the larger vehicles are seriously discounted as a result.

As with most everything when traveling to Disney World, if you want to have an affordable Disney vacation, you need to do some research and be sure to plan well in advance to save the most money.

I get many questions from people who are thinking about visiting Walt Disney World and want Disney World vacation tips and suggestions. Disney vacation planning can be very involved and confusing as well, so the goal of this series is to start at the beginning, and look at everything you need to think about, in the general order you need to think about it. Each week’s post will be numbered and link to all the others so that, when complete, you will have a guide with all the steps and information you need to plan your own Disney magic.

Are you considering driving to Walt Disney World? While many folks may dread the idea of traveling long distances with their family, there can be a number of reasons why this might be the perfect choice for an affordable Disney vacation for your family.

First of all, you will probably save money. At one time I would have said “always” but as gas prices have risen, if you absolutely want to go the cheapest way, you will need to compute the cost of gas (and possibly a night or two in a motel along the way) vs. the cost of airfare. There are certainly times, depending on potential available airfares, that you could fly cheaper. But most of the time, especially if you have a large family, driving will save you money.

And not just on the gas vs. plane tickets issue will you save money: by driving, you will have your car available, so no rental car is necessary. Having your car will allow you to pack things like food, snacks, water, and pretty much anything else you can think of. With the food and water especially, it will be a savings for you to bring them from home, especially since bringing snacks will save you money in the parks. And if you are bringing little ones, bringing your own stroller will save you the cost of renting one while at Walt Disney World.

Now what are some ways to make this drive a pleasant “family time”? Plan ahead for activities: put together “travel bags” with different games for the kids. Many folks bring out a new item every hundred miles or so. Built-in DVD players can be a godsend for keeping little ones entertained: see how many Disney movies you can watch on the way! Plan frequent stops to stretch legs and let off some energy. Play “road games”. Bring along books on CD, as this can be a great way to pass time much faster than you realize.

Driving to Walt Disney World can present some challenges, but it can definitely be a wonderful way to create some special family memories, and have an affordable Disney vacation as well!

I get many questions from people who are thinking about visiting Walt Disney World and want Disney World vacation tips and suggestions. Disney vacation planning can be very involved and confusing as well, so the goal of this series is to start at the beginning, and look at everything you need to think about, in the general order you need to think about it. Each week’s post will be numbered and link to all the others so that, when complete, you will have a guide with all the steps and information you need to plan your own Disney magic.

On our first visit to Disney World with our then 7 year old daughter, we made the decision to take the train. I had grown up traveling by train when I was young and loved the sense of adventure. And since we live in the Baltimore/Washington area, we had the ability to use Amtrack’s Autotrain, which allowed us to take our car with us. We wanted to have a car, and found out that doing this was a great way to help us have an affordable Disney vacation. We took the train down, and drove home at the end of our trip and found out we loved the train! On our second trip we again used the Autotrain, only this time we drove down and took the train home (it was VERY nice to relax and not worry about driving at the end of a Disney World vacation!).

So if you are interested in doing this and you live on the East Coast of the US, what should you know?

First of all, you will have a couple of options as to trains as well as seats/accommodations. If you choose the basic train, you will make a number of stops along the way, so be sure to look at the travel time on Amtrak’s schedule to see how long it will take…and realize that it may actually take a bit longer than estimated. It is nice if you can time the trip for overnight so you wake up the next morning in Florida, ready to go! There are several stops that are close to Disney World: Sanford, Orlando, and Kissimmee. From each of these stations you can arrange for a taxi to take you to your hotel, or from Sanford and/or Orlando, you can rent a car.

For the Autotrain, it goes from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL in about 15-16 hours, departing around 4 p.m. and arriving the following morning. While this version may seem pricier, it will include the cost of transporting your car, as well as dinner and continental breakfast the following morning. Plus you have the added bonus of being able to bring with you as much “stuff” as you want for no additional charge, provided it can fit in your car.

With both options, you have the choice of just buying a seat, or a compartment. While seats are clearly the least expensive option, you will want to make sure you will be comfortable sleeping pretty much upright for the night, and that you don’t mind not having any real privacy for the duration of your trip.

But if you plan ahead, a compartment may be an affordable option. Compartments come in various “sizes” to accommodate different family needs, often including toilets, and always including dinner and continental breakfast.  This is what we chose and it was so much fun and very relaxing. We brought games, read, talked, enjoyed the scenery, and watched dvds.

If you decide to go by train, be sure to watch Amtrak’s site regularly, and check out their specials. Once you book, continue checking, since if your cost goes down, they will usually refund the difference.

Traveling by train is a totally unique experience, and can really help you have an affordable Disney vacation. If you have never done it before and have the chance, I highly recommend it!