There's a common misconception that you either have to earn a six-figure income, or take out a second mortgage on your home to afford a Disney World vacation. Neither is true. Some careful, wise planning can get you the Disney World vacation of your (children's) dreams. Travel: Orlando is serviced by planes, trains and automobiles, so depending on where you call home, you may have more than one option on how to get there. Flying is most vacationers option of choice, and Disney seems to favor this, offering Magical Express, a free transportation and luggage service to and from the airport when you stay at one of their hotels. Driving can wrack up added expense, too, and not just in gas prices. Parking at any of the Disney parks costs $11 per day. Some of the non-Disney Orlando attractions also charge for parking. Taking the train doesn't get you free transport to and from the station, either. So, if getting there is more important than the scenery along the way, and it's more than a few hours' drive from your home to Orlando, flying is probably your best option. Accommodations: Disney has several levels of resorts, from Deluxe Villas to Value. There's even a campground. While each level of resort offers the same price range, the style, choice and type of accommodation within each level varies greatly. At the Fort Wilderness cabins, for example, you'll pay a bit more for your cabin, but you'll have a full-service kitchen, along with a patio and grill, which could save you money on dining in the long run. Disney's value-priced resorts, the All-Star class, offer fewer amenities, such as one restaurant/dining facility per resort and fewer recreation opportunities. Some features you might consider standard in a moderately-priced hotel chain, such as min-refrigerators in each room, cost extra. If your Disney stay is a short one, perhaps the "budget" motel atmosphere of Disney's value tier resorts won't mater that much. For a longer stay, or a nicer one irregardless of length, you might be better off staying at a moderate-tier resort. There are five to choose from. If you'd rather not stay at a Disney resort at all, there is a strip of motels and hotels in Kissimmee on the Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway. You can pick and choose there, or use a hotel chain's "stay points" if you have them. Magic Castle Inn and Suites is nearer the parks, and also offers free transportation to and from the Disney theme parks. However, for nearly the same price, a Disney value tier hotel will get you a bit more in the way of Disney "magic". Dining: Every traveler knows that after getting there and staying there, eating while you're there is a big bulk of your vacation budget, irregardless of the destination. Disney does try to help its guest trim the costs of their food budgets by offering Dining Plans. The simplest one entitles every one in your guest party to two quick-service meals and 2 snacks a day. Quick service meals are offered in "fast-food" type or buffet style settings throughout the theme parks and resorts. The grandest way to eat on a Disney Dining package is the Deluxe Dining package. That one gets you 3 meals a day, your choice of table setting or quick service, along with your two snacks. Several "tip" guides reveal that the dining plans are good if you and your family are big eaters. For picky preschoolers, chronic dieters or those who just don't eat a lot may want to opt for other dining arrangements, as the portions provided in the dining plans tend to be large. Entertainment and Recreation: Not all of the entertainment happens within the grounds of the various parks. Many of the resorts offer bicycle, boat and water sport rentals. At Port Orleans resorts you can hire a horse-drawn carriage. Several of the Disney resorts offer fishing holes, where you can use an old-fashioned cane pole and drop a line in the water. (NO trophies to take home, though, as Disney fishing is all catch and release.) Each Disney resort from the moderate tier on up offers walking/jogging trails, hot tubs, and other outdoor recreation opportunities. Some of these come at cost. Others don't. Of course, even the value tier resorts have pools and playgrounds. Take a ride on the monorail or water taxi/ferry boat for nothing at all. Watch the water parade float by from the beach at Fort Wilderness resort. Or catch the evening show at your resort's lounge. Orlando and the surrounding area offer a great many possibilities for keeping yourself occupied, outside of the mouse's houses. There are water parks, mini-golf, beaches, shopping, movies, night clubs and much more. There IS more to Orlando than just Disney, you know. Packages and Special Offers: Undoubtedly, the best way to save on a Disney vacation is to take advantage of all the special offers and packages available. Combining your dining, room and park admissions into one package can save 30 to 50% over doing it a la carte. (The dining plan alone can save as much as 30% off your food bill.) Taking advantage of "off-season" pricing can help, too. Disney's "value" season starts right after Labor Day, as most families are back in school and back at work. The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, too and after the holidays in January and February, can see a dramatic drop in prices and increase in availability of rooms, restaurant reservations and show tickets. When you go to Disney may become as important to your budget as how long you go and where you stay! Disney World vacations can accommodate almost any family's budget, so don't give up hope. With a little research into your options, and a little wise planning beforehand, you can have a wonderful Disney vacation on a little bit of money!
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