So one of the first reactions I get when talking about our trip to Disney World is, "I would love to take my family, but it is SO expensive!". While that can be true, like any vacation, with a little knowledge, planning and a willingness to make it happen, you too can visit the most magical place on Earth. And you definitely should!
There are a few reasons I suggest booking FAR in advance. One is that if you book a Disney vacation package, you can put down a $200 deposit and then make monthly payments up until 30 days before your trip. If you book well in advance, that takes a few thousand dollar trip and turns it into manageable monthly payments. It also gives you more time to adjust your budget, i.e. cutting back on Starbucks, eating out, weekly trips to Target, etc. In addition, there were several discounts offered during our time frame, however, because we had booked in advance, we were already getting the best deal as prices had jumped several times by the time they offered discounts which were on those higher prices. Booking in advance also allows you more choices as certain rooms/hotels book up fast.
Another way we saved on our trip is by paying for the entire thing with Disney gift cards from Target. By using my Target Red Card, I saved 5% on the entire trip. I also purchased the discounted gift cards to use as spending money while we were there. They are accepted pretty much everywhere for pretty much everything. Apparently Meijer has gift card sales that are just as good if not better, but they are not local to me. Sam's Club & BJs have discounted gift cards as well, but I have found them to be less of a savings.
My other suggestion for saving on your trip is to purchase your airline tickets with credit card points. We got a Southwest Credit Card about a year before the trip and we used it for EVERYTHING except the mortgage. Then we used the points to booked our flights. For 3 tickets from Houston to Orlando, I only paid $33.60 in taxes.
Lastly, don't be afraid to stay at a value resort. We stayed at Art of Animation and found the accommodations and amenities more than sufficient for our stay. I would definitely stay there again.
So are you ready to start planning your trip?
So how do you get started? You need to decide when you want to go. I recommend choosing dates that are over a year out. We booked 14 months ahead. You can Google "best time to visit Disney World", but these days there seems to always be something going on from conferences and competitions to festivals and events. However, we went November 10-16 and found the crowds to be manageable and the weather to be very comfortable.
Another way we saved on our trip is by paying for the entire thing with Disney gift cards from Target. By using my Target Red Card, I saved 5% on the entire trip. I also purchased the discounted gift cards to use as spending money while we were there. They are accepted pretty much everywhere for pretty much everything. Apparently Meijer has gift card sales that are just as good if not better, but they are not local to me. Sam's Club & BJs have discounted gift cards as well, but I have found them to be less of a savings.
My other suggestion for saving on your trip is to purchase your airline tickets with credit card points. We got a Southwest Credit Card about a year before the trip and we used it for EVERYTHING except the mortgage. Then we used the points to booked our flights. For 3 tickets from Houston to Orlando, I only paid $33.60 in taxes.
Lastly, don't be afraid to stay at a value resort. We stayed at Art of Animation and found the accommodations and amenities more than sufficient for our stay. I would definitely stay there again.
So are you ready to start planning your trip?
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