Wednesday, July 22, 2009

How we afford to go to Disney...

There are lots of people that don't quite understand all my tricks to make Disney "more affordable", so here is a random post about some of the things we do...

Free Dining - We have done this a few times now in late August (my wife is a teacher, so we usually go in the summer anyway), and the savings is hard to beat. This year we just booked a Magic Your Way - One Day Ticket, and we are going to take that to Guest Relations to upgrade to our Annual Passes when we get there. (*Note the Free Dining Offer requires you to purchase a ticket as part of the package).

Dining Plan when it isn't Free - We typically don't buy the Dining Plan when we have to pay for it. Instead we find that a big meal every other day or two is plenty (especially if we have a car, and can eat offsite a couple of times)... Although, when we go next year I might try the Quick Service Dining Plan which is relatively new...

Getting to WDW/Car Rental - We usually Drive to Walt Disney World if it is a longer trip of 9 Days or so, because we save money driving offsite to eat lunch, do the laundry, or buy food for breakfast... I do the normal airline price hawking for airfare if needed... If we decide to get a rental car (which is rare) then I usually take the Disney Magical Express from the airport to the hotel, because they handle luggage etc, and then I go to Downtown Disney and walk across the street to one of the hotels to rent a car from them (which I have pre-booked), because I no longer need a van to carry luggage and people, but just a car big enough for the family. It takes a little bit of logistical work, but it really isn't too bad, because the family eats lunch at Downtown Disney while I get the car, and then pick them up.

Annual Passes - This is the biggest money saving tip around if you are going to go to Disney more than 10 days in any calendar year. I think my record was like 31 or 32 days in one calendar year, and I live in Michigan :) We are buying our Annual Passes this August, and then we will go for sure next summer (probably late June or early July), and squeezing in a Spring Trip is as easy as Driving down, finding a decent hotel price (onsite or offsite), and eating for the week. In addition to having saved money on your tickets you can get some good rates on Disney Hotels (not guaranteed) at different times through-out the year. I watch http://www.mousesavers.com for all the latest deals, and sample prices from this fall were a Value Resort Room for $64+tax... If you decide to stay offsite then you can use your Annual Pass for free parking (listed as a current benefit, but always double check this).

Tables in Wonderland formerly Disney Dining Experience - (available to Annual Passholders only) - This card gives you a 20% discount off of food and non-alcoholic beverages, and you can purchase it for $75 as an AP holder. A couple of nice dinners easily pays for it, and that chicken nugget basket at the Pop Century food court goes from $7.69 to $6.15, so it really can add up over a few trips...

I still recommend MouseSavers.com for lots of other tips, because they cover everything :)