Author: Nancy

Ok, I admit it, I am sooo excited!

As someone who loves Disney vacations more than just about anything (well maybe not chocolate, but it is close), if I can’t be traveling to Walt Disney World, I want to be able to talk about it to those who are going themselves. Living vicariously through the fun of others I guess. =)

In any event, what I am excited about is the debut of my new website, The Affordable Mouse. I made the decision to create this site out of my desire to share with others many of the resources that I have used over the years to plan our own affordable Disney family vacations.

Our family just loves visiting Disney World so much that we try to go at least once a year, and often more than that if we can. But since we are, sadly, not related to Bill Gates, going to Disney this often requires careful planning and bargain research. There is a lot of time that goes into this, as there are literally hundreds of books, travel guides, websites and message boards devoted to Disney planning. I can honestly say that I have spent many hours reading about discount Disney vacation planning well into the wee hours of the night. It’s a tough job, but hey, someone’s gotta do it!

However, as I have talked about planning affordable Disney family vacations to my friends over the years, I realized that most people don’t have that kind of time. They want to go to Disney, their kids are dying to meet Mickey, but they think they can’t afford it, and/or don’t have the time to research all the information, ideas, tips, and discounts that are out there if you have hundreds of hours to devote to looking for them. Or if they do go, they end up paying way more than they needed to!!

So, that’s how The Affordable Mouse was born. I am taking what I have learned over the years, and creating a resource center with the best tips that I know of, for planning a discount Disney family vacation. You will benefit from MY hard work, there is no doubt about it!

So hop on over to The Affordable Mouse, and take a look. I will be adding new information as I find it, and will keep you posted on the latest developments here on The Affordable Mouse blog.

Have a magical day!

One of the things that makes me so sad is when people tell me that they would love to visit Walt Disney World, but can’t because it is too expensive. It just doesn’t have to be that way! My family is living proof that it is possible to visit Disney World, and to do it affordably.

Think about it:

Is your family begging to visit Disney World this summer, but you figure it will cost too much, especially in this economy?

Would your little girl just love to have breakfast with Cinderella, and be a princess for a day?

Is your son wishing he could go to infinity and beyond with Buzz Lightyear?

Don’t give up your family’s dream of a Disney vacation because you think it’s not affordable.

It is possible to save hundreds if not thousands of dollars on a Disney vacation for your family! You CAN plan a trip filled with magical memories for you and your children. And you won’t have to spend weeks surfing the internet for the best Disney discounts, tips and strategies for saving money.

You can find all the savings information for planning your own discount Disney family vacation in one place, at The Affordable Mouse. Filled with helpful advice, you will find everything you need for planning a discount Disney family vacation that is truly magical.

You DON’T have to disappoint your kids this year! Learn how you can create a vacation of a lifetime for your family, and not go broke in the process.

Every time we start planning a Disney World vacation, one of the first questions is always, “Where are we going to stay?” In fact, after deciding WHEN to go, WHERE to stay is usually the most important question. My advice to those who might be thinking about this for their first Disney visit, is “It’s all about the research”. Check out your options. Have an open mind. Consider EVERYTHING. Then, and only then, after you have done the math, see what is your most affordable option.

Most people know that Walt Disney World area offers a wide array of choices from hundreds of off-resort properties to many options on Disney property itself. The consensus is that it is always cheaper to stay off-property. Well, sometimes yes and sometimes no. It can actually vary, depending on a number of things: time of the year, size of your family, and need for transportation while there all factor in your decision.

The time of year that you travel makes a big difference. Looking to go when the kids are out of school, either over the summer or on Christmas break? Neither will be your most budget friendly, although with continued economic problems in tourist-hungry Orlando, there are a lot of great deals for the coming summer months, both on Disney property as well as in the hundreds of off-site hotels and motels. Research this carefully, preferably far enough in advance to have a number of choices.

The size of your family plays a part too: if you have a number of kids and one motel room won’t do, you will need to look for a larger “suite” or multiple rooms. The Walt Disney resort has 3 “levels” of accommodations, and often offers excellent discounts and packages, especially on some of their larger, “deluxe” properties that can feature one and two bedroom suites. Be sure to look at their “value” properties as well: it is not unusual for some of these to be part of promotions for as little as $60/night. In a case like this, two rooms could end up being less expensive than one in a different location. In addition, there are many options off the Disney property. Besides traditional hotel/motel choices, consider renting a vacation home, condominium, or time-share. If you need the space, do the math: it can be a definite cost-saver and will go a long way in achieving an affordable Disney family vacation.

You will need some sort of transportation while there. You can stay with Disney and use their free resort transportation, consisting of buses, monorail, or boats. If you are off-site then you will need a way to get to the parks: find out if your hotel/motel has a free shuttle. If not, or if you are staying in a private property, then factor in the cost of renting a car or van.

Once you do the math for all of these, then compare to the other options to see what the most affordable option for your Disney family vacation will be. You may be surprised to find out that traveling to Walt Disney World can be in your budget after all!

Let me start by saying that my family and I looove Walt Disney World! Learning about Disney is one of my favorite hobbies. Traveling to the World is another. In fact, my husband teases me that I am always happiest when I am planning a Disney World vacation. True that!

BUT, and this is a biggie for us, and probably for most of you: a Disney World vacation is not cheap……..or can it be?? Turns out that, while yes, there are a lot of expenses associated with a Disney vacation, it IS possible to have an affordable Disney family vacation.

In over 10 years of Disney visits, I can honestly say that the best way to plan a Disney vacation….especially if you want to save money….is to PLAN to plan! Sounds crazy, but let me explain.

A vacation to Walt Disney World is truly like no other. Amazing, overwhelming, exhausting, exhilarating, you name it. But to enjoy it, and not be overwhelmed BY it, you need to do some research. Do some reading. Compare costs. PLAN to plan! Can you just throw it all together, show up at the parks and go? Sure you can! Is your family likely to get frustrated and cranky? And will you be likely to pay a lot more for your Disney vacation by just throwing it all together and hoping for the best? ABSOLUTELY! I have seen it time and again, and I have heard “trip reports” from people who visit Disney just like this. What do they say when they return? “Spent a fortune”. “Not worth it”. “Never again”.

OK, so what do we do that they don’t? We PLAN to plan! You see, we love visiting Disney World way too much to only go every 5 or 6 years! So, in order to “feed our habit”, we have to plan a discount Disney family vacation. If it’s too expensive, we don’t go. We want to go. So I have learned a lot of amazing, cost-cutting tips, as well as some fabulous “insider” information that has gone a long way in helping us to save money on our Disney World trips. The Affordable Mouse is a resource that I have created to be a source of great information for planning a magical Disney World vacation…affordably. I have learned a lot over the years, and am so happy to be able to share what I have learned with others. Kind of spreading my own little version of “pixie dust” you might say! 🙂

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