It’s no surprise that the “Happiest Place On Earth” does not come cheap. On top of that, if you are from Canada like me, you also have to worry about exchange rates on the dollar. I have heard of people spending tens of thousands of dollars letting their kids have this magical experience. I would like to give you some tips and tricks to make a Disney World vacation affordable. There are so many options to choose from you really need to ask yourself a few questions:
- How much can I afford?
- How am I going to get there?
- What do I really want to see?
- When can I go?
TIP#1 – Getting to Disney World
One of the biggest expenses will be your travel arrangements to actually get to Orlando. Unless you are within a reasonable driving distance, you are going to have to fly. This is where you will need to make some smart choices. Airlines are pretty smart and they know when their customers are willing to pay top dollar for a seat. So how do you outsmart them, planning ahead.
Most airlines offer their cheapest flights at the least convenient days/times. If you are travelling down to Orlando on March Break, you will probably pay the highest rates. Also, if you can only travel from Saturday to Saturday, you will definitely pay more. Try and book your flights on a Tuesday or Wednesday.Typically, you will pay the lowest rates.
The larger the city you fly from the cheaper your tickets will be. I live in Eastern Canada and we drive about 3 hours away just to get a cheaper flight. The last thing you want to do is spend all your money getting there. If you plan ahead of time, you can look for some great airline specials around Holiday’s.
Typically, you will find your best flight deals on a Tuesday evening around 2am EST. This is when the airlines reset their systems and upload new flights you can usually find the cheapest flights. If you are able to, try and book your flights between 60 days and 54 days before your departure date. At this point, the airlines are dropping their rates trying to fill their seats. It’s a really balance between booking too early (defiantly paying too much) and too late (late bookings can be very expensive).
Orlando International Airport is huge. Depending on where you are flying from, it may be your only option. Personally, we travel across the border and fly from a “B” airport. These are typically smaller airports that have flights going to smaller airports around large cities. In Canada, there is very little competition for cheap flights and there are always connecting flights which tend to make travel an all-day event. We usually are able to get a direct flight just outside Orlando (Sanford International Airport) which is just a short 40 minute drive away from Disney World.
Regardless of what airport you decide to fly into, make sure you do your homework. A little time researching flights can save you a bundle.
If you are going to be flying out of another city, parking at the airport can get pretty expensive. Depending on when you are travelling, the airport you are departing from may have an offsite parking lot. These are usually cheaper than the lots directly outside the terminal. Most of the offsite lots do offer shuttle service to and from the offsite lots, so I find it very convenient. Another option is finding a hotel in the area that offers free shuttles and parking is included in your rates. If you are flying out early in the morning or late, these options might really make sense. Another great benefit of using a park, stay and fly is weather. If you are leaving in the winter, the last thing you want is to drive in the elements. Use this opportunity to start your vacation a little early.
TIP#2 – What time of year am I going to Travel.
If you are looking for a deal, you probably don’t want to head to Florida for Spring Break or around Holiday’s. You can usually find some deals in January or February, but keep in mind that temperatures can be very unpredictable. Most of us don’t want to take our kids out of school to travel, but if you want to get the best deals, that’s exactly what you should do.
Traveling in May or June will give you great weather and the prices are definitely going to be cheaper. Ideally, you are going to want to go sometime between September and November. Some of the best deals offered through Airlines, Car Rentals and even Disney will come late in the year.
Another benefit to traveling late in the year is Disney will have some special Magical Events in progress. Starting in early September running through the end of October, Disney will host “Mickey’s No So Scary Halloween”. This is a separate ticket you will need to buy, but comes in much cheaper than a regular day at Disney. Disney will close the park to daily ticket holders early (Usually 7pm) and only those who have purchased a separate ticket will be able to enjoy the event. Even if you don’t go to Disney that day, your event pass will allow you to enter the park around 4pm and you can enjoy all the rides until the park closes (usually around 11:00).
If you are traveling in November or December, the Magic Kingdom is transformed into a winter wonderland for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Just like the Halloween party, these are separate tickets, but you will get an experience you won’t soon forget.
No matter what time of year you decide to travel south, just realize it will play a big factor in the price you will pay for your trip.
TIP#3 Accommodations
You can stay right onsite with Disney which can be very convenient for getting to and from the parks. These hotels are very kid friendly with lots of colorful themes and great pools. If you are able to stay at a value resort, these typically will cost you around $125/night. Keep in mind that these room usually come with a fridge and microwave, but then you will need to get most of your meals from a Disney Restaurant. Depending on the length of your stays, these meals can add up quickly and blow your budget. On certain times of the year, Disney will offer free dining plan if you purchase your tickets and stay onsite. Definitely something to look out for if you are staying at a Disney Hotel.
The best value is usually found from what is known as a “Good Neighbors Hotels”. These hotels are not owned by Disney, but offer close proximity to the parks and most will offer free shuttle service to all the parks. A number of these hotels will also offer a free breakfast (full buffet) which will also save you some money on your trip. I have stayed at a few of these hotels and honestly, they are clean, well-priced and
offer great amenities. Most of these hotels range from$100-$125/night. Well worth the money.
Lastly, you can stay offsite. The accommodations offered in Orlando are vast and you can usually find some great deals. Some of these will offer full kitchens which will really help keep costs down. If you can buy groceries and cook the food yourself, you can bring it with you to the parks. Planning meals ahead will go a long way to staying within budget.
TIP#4 – transportation
If you are one of the lucky few who are able to drive to Disney, you already have that covered. For those who are flying into an airport in Orlando, you will need to either rent a vehicle or take Disney’s Magical Express. As with accommodations, there are a number of Car Rental options you can explore.
If you are staying in a Disney Property and flying into Orlando International, you are able to use the Magical Express which is all you will need. Not only do they pick you up and take you to your hotel, they also get your luggage at the airport and bring it directly to your room. The convenience of this service is second to none, but leave it to Disney to make things easy. If you are flying into other airlines around Orlando, this option will not be available to you.
Renting a vehicle in Orlando can be very easy and if you are persistent, you can usually get a great deal. Unlike flights, rental car companies prices can vary from day to day. My best suggestion about rental cars is make sure you go with a reputable company. You will find some low rates with companies like Thrifty, Dollar or Payless, but I have read some terrible reviews about trying to return cars from these companies. Make sure that you do your homework and read reviews before you buy.
One thing to consider is Orlando has a number of Tolls. When you go to pick up your rental vehicle, they are going to try and sell you the SunPass. I have had them tell me that Tolls in Orlando do not accept cash and you will be charged a large amount if you do not purchase their pass. This is not true, every Toll booth accepts cash. Most of the Tolls have tellers who can make change, but I have come across a few that only take exact change. Make sure you have some smaller bills and change if you are going to pass on the electronic SunPass.
TIP#5 – Park Tickets
If you have never researched the cost of tickets for Disney World, brace yourself, they are expensive. Unlike the other topics covered above, finding a deal on these tickets are few and far between. If you are willing to sit through a half day presentation on why owning a time share will change your life, there may be some deals out there, but my advice is just to realize the cost and try and save on other parts of your vacation.
The good news is, if you are going to go to all the parks, the price goes down significantly depending on the amount of days you will be visiting Disney. Here is an example:
Adult 1 Day Pass to Magic Kingdom = $119.00/day
Adult 7 Day Pass to All Parks = $410.00 ($58.58/day)
The moral of this example is, even though tickets can be expensive, if you are going to visit Disney World, you are going to need your tickets. I have seen a number of people purchase 7 day passed to Disney World and only stay for a week. Let’s say you fly out on a Saturday at 12:00. Odds are you will not arrive in Orlando until at least supper time (probably later), get your luggage, pick up your rental car, drive to your hotel and check-in. Now it’s probably 8:00 at night, do you really want to take another 45 minutes to get to the Magic Kingdom for the cost of a single day ticket, probably not. This also applies to your last day, unless you are taking a late night flight, you will need to check out of your hotel and since you should be at the airport 2 hours before you leave, that does not give you much time in the parks.
If you are like most people, you will go for up to a week. The first and last day will be for traveling, don’t waste your money on a ticket that you may or may not use. Opt for the 5 day ticket. You may only save $40.00, but if you are travelling with four people, that’s a $160.00 you could use elsewhere. Take your first and last day to explore your hotel or the surrounding areas.
TIP#6 – It’s time to plan.
If you ask anyone who has travelled to Disney World, half the fun is going to Disney. The other half comes from months of excitement while planning your trip. Take it from someone who is addicted to travelling, make this a family event. There is so much to see and do, let your kids tell you what they want to do. Disney will also send you a FREE DVD Planning Video and you can watch this with your kids to get some great ideas on what to do while you’re there.
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