How To Save Money On Your Disney Vacation

How To Save Money On Your Disney Vacation

Disney is a magical place. Once you go, you join the ranks of people starting the countdown until the next visit. Unfortunately, Disney is not always the cheapest of vacations. But, there are some tips and techniques you can use to help ease the financial frustrations. Whether you’re planning your first visit to Disney or one of many return trips, there are always ways to save money. Here are a few simple ideas to make the trip easier on the wallet:

Book Off-Season

The busiest times at Disney are during holidays and the beginning and end of summer. With that being the case, you can usually get a steal of a deal by booking a vacation opposite of any of those times. For instance, you can get almost half off if you schedule a trip just after the school year starts or even the second week in January after the big holiday rush. What you’re basically doing is watching the school calendar and going against the typical vacation times. This may take a bit of planning, but the cost savings are well worth the effort.

Off-season travel not only saves you money on the hotels, resorts, and parks, but it also allows for a more enjoyable experience.

Instead of waiting in line for hours and hours, you walk straight up to a ride or attraction with hardly a wait at all.

Vacation Packages

Booking a Disney vacation package is a great way to save money. Not only do the packages allow you to group everything together, it also allows you to customize your Disney vacation to fit your monetary needs as well as fitting the attractions you want to see. Disney packages will typically save you money on transportation within Disney World, as well as savings on hotel or resort prices, and even food.

The two biggest savings, food and hotel, are the main reasons most people decide to go with a vacation package. If you choose to indulge in a character dining experience, for instance, your bill could easily be well over $100. A dining package adds value by giving you a low flat rate for your dining plan. It doesnt matter if your bill for dinner comes to $5 or $150, you pay a flat fee for the plan. Many families enjoy the fact that there are no loose ends or unknown expenditures for dining. Your dining package will also save on snacks and quick meals, which, just like a gas station candy bar, can add up very fast.

Get the Most for Your Money

Another way to save money at Disney is to take full advantage of all the perks, such as extra hours, formally called magic hours, for which the park stays open to those who reside at a Disney Resort. There are also travel savings, such as buses which take you in between each park, saving money on parking and gas. There is also a monorail and boats, which will not only take you between the parks, but will give you an exciting tour of the entire park.

Conclusion

Of course, these are just a few ways to take advantage of Disney World savings. While there are many other ways to reduce your expenses, these tips are great places to start with serious savings right off the bat. If you want to go to Disney for the first time, or the hundredth time, hop online and see what kind of deals you can come up with. Chances are, with a few of these deals, Disney is more affordable than you could ever imagine.

Top 7 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Cruising Dollar

Top 7 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Cruising Dollar

Whether youre a cruising veteran or a newbie without sea legs, you want to get the biggest bang for your cruising buck. The best tip is to be aware of all the extras charged to your room and dont go over budget. Many people do not realize that all-inclusive does not usually include alcoholic beverages, which can be pricey. Many internet forums discuss ways to smuggle a bottle of their favorite in their luggage but there are much easier ways to stretch a dollar:

1. Off-Season: You cant really write about saving money without mentioning that booking during the off-season or shoulder period can save you and your family a bundle. Do your research and choose your dates wisely.
2. Cellular: Bring your cellular phone; you may need it at the airport, but dont use it on the ship. Unless your cellular plan is very lenient, a phone call here and there could cost you more than the cruise itself. Call your provider for details before you leave dry land.
3. Laundry: Generally, your ship has a full-service laundry and dry cleaning service to take care of all their passengers needs.

   

   Whether youre a cruising veteran or a newbie without sea legs, you want to get the biggest bang for your cruising buck.
   CC image courtesy of smilepak

   Convenient, but with a price tag attached. You can avoid this expense buy bringing your favorite detergent, encased in a zip top bag, as well as a dryer sheet or two. Find the coin laundry on board and get out of the sun for an hour or two.

4. Excursions: Do your research. You can save a ton of money on many cruise-sponsored shore excursions by booking them yourself. Its not complicated; in fact, if you can handle booking a cruise, then you can handle booking an excursion.
5. Coffee: Just like on land, specialty coffee drinks can be an expensive habit. If you still want to treat yourself while on vacation, some cruises offer a coffee card for a reduced, set price that can bring the cost of your caffeine fix down considerably. A similar product is also available for soda on many ships.
6. Upgrades: When you check in and get your room keycard, ask to be upgraded. If there are available rooms (and if you smile nicely), the staff is usually happy to move you to a bigger and better room at no additional charge.
7. Buy stock: Ok, this is a little out-of-the-ordinary, but if you invest in the stock market, you may want to look into buying shares in a cruise line. The general rule of thumb is that they offer shareholders a discount, which is a nice little perk.

Enjoy your first cruise but remember to keep your eyes open for deals as well as for overpriced items. Nothing ruins a trip faster than an empty wallet.