No childhood is complete without a trip to Disneyland in California, or Disney World in Florida. But a voyage to the House of Mouse can add up quickly, and before you know it, your attempt to give your children a memorable family vacation with Minnie, Mickey and the gang can turn into an empty wallet. Read on for UltimateCoupons’ tips to save on your Disney vacation with help from Orbitz.
Choosing a Time of Year is Critical
Certain times of year, like the holidays, spring break, and summer vacation, are good times to book a Disneyland or Disney
World vacation on Orbitz.com, but not necessarily the best time to travel there. Why? The theme parks will be especially crowded, which means you’ll be waiting in extra long lines to get into rides and attractions. Kids (and adults, for that matter) who end up waiting in long lines in hot Southern California or Florida weather get whiny, tired, and hungry, fast, so you may end up spending more money on impulse food, drink, and souvenir purchases to keep the troops happy.
Solution? Book your travel when the hot deals are offered, like a 5 day park ticket for the price of a 3 day park ticket, but make sure in the fine print of your Orbitz.com travel deal that you can travel during an off-peak month like February or September.
Make Like a General and Have a Battle Plan
Just wandering aimlessly around Disney World or Disneyland is fun, sure, but much like making your kids wait in long lines, having no structure to your days opens up opportunities for impulse spending. Check out the park websites ahead of time for information on the rides you and your kids just have to visit, and write a plan out on your smartphone or a theme park map. Plan to visit certain theme areas, like Tomorrowland or Frontier Land, on specific days of your trip. Don’t forget to poll your family to see which rides and attractions they’re most excited about: If it’s a super popular ride like the Finding Nemo submarine voyage at Disneyland, you’ll want to make sure you visit it right when the park opens in the morning to avoid the crowds. You can also take better advantage of the FastPass system to skip lines if you’ve planned what rides you’re visiting and when.
In addition to plotting where you want to visit in the park each day, use the park maps to determine lunch, snack, and restroom locations. If your kids know exactly where you’re going and when you’ll be stopping for breaks, they’ll be able to budget their energy better and be less cranky – which makes for a happier parent!
Be the Annoying Person Who Brings Their Own Food
Going out to eat when you’re on vacation is tons of fun, but when you do it for three meals a day, plus snacks, for a week, it adds up to more than you’d spend on a month’s worth of groceries at home. Source out the location of a grocery store near your hotel and utilize it to the fullest: Pick up disposable paper plates, plastic cutlery & cups, and paper towels, plus basics you can store in your hotel room fridge. Milk, water, cereal, cold cuts, bread, fruit, veggies, cheese and crackers will all serve you well. If you’re driving to Disneyland or Disney World, you can even pack a cooler full of groceries and top it up with ice over the course of your vacation. Take water bottles and non-squishable snacks like energy bars into the park with you so no one’s blood sugar runs too low.
Of course, part of the fun of an amusement park is fair-style food like churros and hamburgers, so plan for it! When you’re plotting your route through the theme park, check out the restaurants in each area and see which ones your family wants to visit most. Aim to eat at least one meal or snack at a park restaurant or snack stand each day, so the kids don’t feel deprived.
Souvenir Shacks = A Financial Sand Pit
Who doesn’t love getting a t-shirt, stuffed animal, or poster to commemorate a trip? We all do, so it’s natural to want to buy your kids some fun Disney souvenirs. One Mickey Mouse ears hat can turn into a giant lollipop, a Tinker Bell t-shirt, a Buzz Lightyear action figure, ballons, jewelry, you get the picture. Give each child a set budget for souvenirs (i.e. $25 or $50) and let them have at it, but remind them that once the money’s gone, it’s gone. It’s especially good to make your kids do some extra chores to earn their souvenir money for the trip, so they appreciate their new knick knacks even more.
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One Response to “4 Secrets to Doing Disney on the Cheap”
Janet: I had no idea you had such a great blog! Wow! I am not sure if you had not mentioned it or if I had just not remembered. Great post!