I think every kid dreams of hearing those magical words from their parents, “We’re going to Disney World.” But I think most parents would agree that the thought of financing such a trip is more often the cause of parent nightmares then glittery dreams. How can parents make their children’s dreams come true without breaking the bank? Planning is the key to having that vacation you want at the price you can afford.
First look at your timing and see what the best times are for you and your family to travel. The cost of airline tickets can greatly vary depending on time of year. Once you have a time line you can begin to narrow down your options, and options there are. If you are traveling in the summer you may opt to skip the hotel all together and stay in Disney’s very own Fort Wilderness Resort and campground.
At the campground you can choose from traditional camp sites, RV or motorhome parking, air conditioned/heated cabins and they are now even big rig friendly. But no matter the time of year Disney has a resort to fit your budget. You can find all the on park resorts listed here at www.simplymagicalvacations.com or by visiting www.disneyworld.disney.go.com. It’s important to know what options you want in your vacation before you make your final lodging choice.
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Do you need a meal plan? How long do you want to stay? Are there any special attractions or events you want to attend? Look at each of these questions carefully because you could wind up paying more if you don’t put them in a package at the beginning. For instance going with a less expensive lodging option may seem like the best idea up front but you may get a more inclusive meal plan with a more expensive lodging option. We all know that the cost of food on any vacation can eat up (no pun intended) a good deal of vacation available funds even more so when you are at a theme or adventure park. A good meal plan can be worth its weight in gold and although they may seem pricy at first, take a minute to add up what the cost would be if you anticipate eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the park.
In the past it may have seemed more economical to stay at a hotel off the resort since prices to stay in the park were generally very high, but that is no longer the case. In fact you could very well wind up paying more by staying off the resort because of all the perks that resort stays include. Besides admission to the Disney parks and meal plans many packages can now include, extended park hours for resort guests only, show passes for park special events, and transportation options. All of these options would be added expenses if you choose to stay in a hotel off the park grounds. So before you think you can’t afford to stay inside the resort make sure you add up all of your expenses to see if a package deal wouldn’t be a better fit.
Once you know when you want to travel, where you want to stay and what options you want with your package take a look at the final price tag and see where it falls into your vacation budget. Then you can add or subtract options until you get just the right fit. Then start saving if you haven’t already, break it down into weekly or monthly savings goals and watch the excitement build toward that day you can finally say hey kids…..”We’re going to Disney!”
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Great introductory article to saving at Disney World! Jessica is right, with the proper planning and budgeting, a Disney family vacation is definitely doable.