Tips for Saving Money? About This Page:

[thinkpink]

Just trying to think how we can get back to the world ASAP! Would you be willing to share the best ways to save money? IS it buying AP with room only tickets? Disney VIsa? Do share!

[Caldercup]

I think your first stop should be at Mousesavers.com and sign up for their newsletter. They will give you great info.

The way an Annual Pass saves is if you know you'll be in the parks for more than 10.5 days (within a 365-day period) and would get a park hopper. The discounts are GREAT, but they aren't guaranteed. However, if you plan to book a "room-only" reservation, then you can always keep an eye out for AP room discounts (usually announced here and also on Mousesavers.com) and call back to apply it. You can then purchase an AP (or upgrade whatever tickets you purchase to an AP.)

I personally think I save quite a lot when I book everything separately -- but, I'm also a Disney Visa cardholder and have gotten great deals on packages through them. Again, it's worth signing up for the Visa just so you have it if they announce a promotion (like this Fall's Free Dining + room discounts.)

For tickets, I recommend the Mousesaver's newsletter subscriber link to the extra savings at the ticket brokers, usually UndercoverTourist.com. (They're great -- I've used them several times!) Just know that UndercoverTourist.com shows "total" prices with tax and includes shipping. Most other brokers just show the pre-tax price and shipping is extra. Usually, UndercoverTourist.com comes out as the least expensive and the Mousesaver's subscriber savings adds an additional discount of a dollar or two.

For my family's eating needs, the dining plan doesn't save us much because we're not big eaters and tend to like breakfasts more than dinners. But, many others here find it a great deal for them -- especially those with kids 9 and under and for non-stop-eating-machine teens. (We are AP holders and can join the dining membership, formerly known as the DDExperience and now called "Tables in Wonderland", for a 20% discount on all table service meals.)

As for saving the funds in the first place, there's a great thread down in the Budgeting forum.

Good luck - I hope you get the funds together quickly and can be in your happy place soon!
Eileen

[chezp]

I agree about signing up for the Mousesavers newsletter if you want tips on how to save money.

[SARH7]

I am all about saving money....I booked through AAA and got a great price...$2800 for 9 nights at a mod, basic dining plan and MYW passes for 2 adults and 1 child. This did not include airfare. I was happy with the price. Then a few months ago, Disney released a discount code. My AAA TA applied it to my package and we saved an additional $400. I was ecstatic! With airfare, our entire trip is $3000 for a 10 day trip. We splurged a bit on this trip...normally we don;t stay so long and we usually do a value...but for our 10th anniversary, we thought we'd do it up right!

The best way to save money is to travel during value season, stay at a value resort, skip table service meals and do basic passes, no hopping.

[Fortissimo]

I agree about signing up for the Mousesavers Newsletter. If you decide against an AP, the newsletter often has a link to Undercover Tourist and great deals on passes.

The Disney Visa can also get you discounts. I personally don't think the Disney Visa Rewards program is that great for us as it is only $1 on every $100 in charges; however, it works for many others quite well. While we do have the Disney Visa, we only have it for the hope of a great deal the next time I get to go to WDW.

AAA also has good benefits. The only available room discount on my last trip was the AAA discount. It more than paid for the cost of the membership.

The DDP would cost us more money that it would save us because I am not a big eater on vacation. We only eat an occasional sit-down meal. I would visit Restaurant Dining Menus from Walt Disney World to compare prices and menues to see if the DDP would be right for your family.

Request a WDW planning video. This might trigger a PIN discount code either on a postcard or in an email from WDW. I have received some great discounts from these PIN codes. (My cat Caesar even got a discount code once!)

Like Eileen, we book everything seperately because that is what saves us money. Price out packages vs. room only, plus tickets and meals to see what is best for you family.

Good luck!

[mickeymombecky]

We use AP's cuz we're there 14 days a yr at least. We eat breakfast in the room, pack snacks for the parks, and limit the souveniers bought. We save our change and use it for a special lunch. Lunches are cheaper! Food is a huge portion as everyone knows. Try to keep non-perishable foods in your room/or have a fridge.

For us, food is the biggy. Avoiding the splurging and snacking is a great way to save.

[Mary_Maas]

We just got back from a trip Aug/Sep and I wanted nothing more than to turn around and do it again; however, reality of the birthdays, holidays, and cold weather (my husband makes his living outdoors) has set in and I'm now wondering if we can even afford our yearly trip in March - when we don't stay on property because it's a little cheaper.

But, I do find it easier for me in a crunch (and there's been plenty of those) to buy our park tickets - each one individually - at a time spaced well apart from when I have to pay for the resort. Then, all we have to worry about is travel costs and spending money when it's crunch time. If we have to opt out of a trip (which, knock on wood, has never happened yet) I'll just save the park tickets for our next planned vacation.

[tdandboys]

I also went to the local library and got the Disney book, "Disney on a Dime," it has a lot of great ideas in it.