Disney Vacation Planning

Oh I get this question alllll the time! I am talking to friends or co-workers and they are planning their first vacation to Disney World: “What is the BEST way to plan a Disney vacation?” they ask me….

Well, it depends… After all, Walt Disney World is enormous, with 4 major theme parks, several “minor” theme park attractions, dozens of resort hotels, restaurants and various eateries, etc. etc. etc. You need to consider so many variables:

• what time of year are you planning to visit?
• age(s) of children?
• first visit?
• transportation plans(will you have a car with you?)
• budget?

And so forth. As I said, lots to consider when discussing the best way to plan a Disney vacation. Because, as with so many things in life, there is just not one easy answer.

Or, then again, maybe there is =)

Because, really the best way to plan a Disney vacation is to have a plan!

Yes, that’ right: PLAN to plan. Sounds crazy, but it actually makes a lot of sense. And that’s because, with Disney World being sooo big, with soooo many people visiting at the same time you are, and with the costs involved, you are doing yourself…and your family…a major favor when you take the time to plan ahead where you want to go, how you want to visit, discuss where you want to eat, and a whole host of other things.

Of course, if you have never visited Walt Disney World before, then you need some help. The Affordable Mouse website and The Affordable Mouse Blog are great starters. But you also owe it to the success of your Disney vacation, and the sanity of you and your family, to invest in a good guidebook or two.

Now I know that, if you are like me, there is just not a lot of time left in the day for reading, but I do have several favorites that will be helpful for you. The great thing is that, while being filled with great information, they are not the size of a major city’s phone book, and are simple, fun, and easy reads. I will share details about each one in the coming days, but if you want to check them out now, you can click here.

There’s a lot of Disney planning information out there. My goal with The Affordable Mouse and The Affordable Mouse Blog, is to gather the best information in one place, to help as you discover the best way to plan a Disney vacation.

Have a magical day!

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!