Orlando News and Advice
Disney World for Less
Most people who come to Orlando come for one reason: Disney World. But there are also countless families who avoid Orlando for that same reason. Let’s face it. Mickey and his friends can be a bit pricy. But they don’t have to be. There are several ways you can cut corners (and slash prices) when it comes to visiting the mouse’s house. And none of them involve cutting out the fun. Here are several tips for making your Disney World vacation affordable while still making priceless memories.
1. Consider roughing it. Disney offers their own campground, which proves to be a much more economical option for some families. Offering cabins and campsites, rates at Fort Wilderness start as low as $43 a night for campsites. In addition to lower lodging costs, guests will also be able to take advantage of free entertainment each night as Chip and Dale host their very own marshmallow toasting campfire sing along.
2. Play like an All-Star. Consider staying at one of Disney’s low-budget facilities like All-Star Movies, All-Star Music, All-Star Sports or Pop Century. Staying at one of these motels still allows you to retain the magic of being on a Disney property (with easy free transportation to and from the park) but at a much more economical rate. Starting as low as $99 a night, there rates are hard to beat.
3. Be careful when purchasing your tickets. It can be tempting to want to purchase one of the hugely popular combo tickets that allow you to visit multiple parks. But seriously evaluate which parks are really going to be of value to you before splurging on pricey tickets. If you plan on spending most of your time at the Magic Kingdom, while only taking one day to venture somewhere else it might be cheaper to purchase the other ticket separately.
4. Don’t underestimate the free items Disney offers to guests of their resorts. Resort guests get many added benefits that may be worth more than what you can save by trying to do it another way. For those traveling to Disney by air, staying at a Disney resort provides you with free ground transportation and baggage service from Orlando International Airport. Dubbed, Disney’s Magical Express this service is one of Disney’s best kept secrets. So ask about it when you book your hotel room. Guests of Disney also have several options for free transportation to and from the theme parks and water parks (so you can save on a rental car). And guests of Disney resorts are also allowed into the park one hour before it opens to take advantage of rides that might be seriously crowded later in the day.
5. Consider staying in a suite. Whether you are staying at a Disney resort, or another local option, you may want to stay in a suite with a small kitchenette so you can avoid spending money on breakfast. Just visit a grocery store or bring some bagels from home and you can save your family an average of $50 a day just by choosing not to buy breakfast. 6. Don’t purchase souvenirs inside the parks. In the nearby Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores you will find the famous Character Outlet store where you can purchase most of the same Disney paraphernalia that you will find in the theme parks, only for a much lower price. So consider visiting the outlet to make sure they have what you want before your last day at the theme parks. That way you can make sure you save big on toys, gadgets and the like.