Tips on how to get the biggest bang for your buck.

 
  Going to Disney World can break the bank, but there is ways to go and do it without taking out a mortgage.  Compared to any other vacations spots Disney is already more bang for your buck.  Anyone can book a vacation and spend tons of money but the trick is to do it for less.  I love a bargain.  I have gone to Disneyworld may times over for under $100 a day including airfare, transportation to the resort and back to the airport and to the parks, my room, tickets, and my food for the entire stay.  My last trip in Dec. 2011 for 8 days with the above included cost me $700.00.  This was at Christmas time!  Now that is a bargain. How do I do it.  Read on my friend.  I am willing to give up all of my tips as I feel everyone should experience Disney in their life time. It really is the time of your life.
     The time of the year is one cost that you can control.   You can order a free dvd planning kit from disneyworld.  It will give you the info you need to decide when to go.  It list hotels and pricing. Disney has different prices for different times such as weekends are more expensive, as are holidays.  Disney has different levels of resorts.  I have stayed in the deluxe, moderate and value.  To me personally pop century is my favorite. Which is in the cheaper end.  It still has Disney quality in service with an affordable price,  It is great for families but caters to the older folks as well.  Don't get me wrong Animal Kingdom lodge is great, you really  do think you are in Africa.  If you can swing it and don't mind paying more to just sleep and swim then go for it. All of the value resorts are just that, more bang for your buck.  The best value.  You get all of the benefits that Disney offers for staying in the park at a reasonable price.  Pop is under $100 most nights.  You just can't beat it. You can put up to 4 people in your room, Yes you can fit in 4 adults.  The usual is 2 adults and 2 children but 4 people is 4 people.  Disney will charge you $10 per extra adult over 2, but that is still a bargain.  I go with different friends and found it is like having a pajama party for a week or more.  Big fun.
     Your next biggest price will be tickets.  The longer you stay the less you pay.  Stay less than a week and it will cost more per day.  The way I look at it if you are paying to get to Disney World and back home that is one cost.  It is not going to change if you just stay a few days or 10 days.  The tickets get cheaper per day the longer you stay.  My advice is to stay at least a week but 8-10 days is best.  Base tickets cover one park each day.  If that is all you are going to do fine just get the base ticket,. but if you have a dinning plan and move from park to park get the park hopper.  I have gone several times and never used the park hopper.  Then there is the no expiration extra, which I never get as I always use my days up.  Last is the water parks, I found that I used this the least only going once at each trip.  The extra fee is more than just one days admit so I stopped adding it to my base ticket.  You can always upgrade and add on to your ticket as long as you still have days left.  So if you want to spend more days than one at the water park then add it on while you are there.  Disney raises ticket prices usually before fall so booking ahead for the next year will give you todays prices.

Hollywood Studios

   Now that you have your tickets the next step is to decide on how you will feed yourself.  Disney has dinning plans and I have a page on dinning that I am working on.  Here are a few tips if you won't be buying the meal plan.  First thing to remember is that for the last few 5 or so years Disney has offered free dinning on certain dates.  This is your best bargain,  Value resorts get the counter service and the other resorts get the one sit down meal and one counter meal.  They all get one snack and just recently Disney has added the refillable mug to its packages.  If you are going on dates that do not include the free dinning you can still eat well on a budget.  You can buy the meal plan and I feel it does save money if you eat a lot and want everything all paid for in advance.  It is more food than the average person can eat.  I have gone several times and paid out of my pocket.  I found that it cost around $200 for 8 days.  That is including sit down meals one regular and a character meal.  I brought food with me from home.  My instant oatmeal, good bread for toast and some fruit and nuts.  Trail mix is easy to bring.  I once went with my girlfriend and her 3 children.  We packed a suitcase full of food, peanut butter, jelly crackers etc.  oh and water. I still pack bottles of water in my suitcase.  At $2.50 to $3.00 a bottle this can save some change.  You can get free water in all of the parks just ask at any restaurant or kiosk selling food.  It will save you big bucks.  I saved my party of six $60 or more a day just on water.  You can have breakfast in your room, you can buy a refillable mug for your drinks while you are at your resort.  Have your big meal in the parks, then sandwiches or something light for your next meal.  I always looked at the food cost this way.  I am going to eat no matter where I am even at home I have to buy my food.  So paying for food is no big deal.  The body needs it just like your car needs gas.  You have tons of choices some more expensive than others.  If you save on one end you can splurge on the other end.  So off to the next adventure.  Becky B