OK, so I have Disney on the brain these days. I've mentioned before that I could probably be a Disney travel agent at this point, since I've visited just about every official and unofficial Disney vacation planning site. Here are my top 10 favorite trips for having an inexpensive, fun Disney vacation experience:
1. ALWAYS take a digital picture or photocopy of the back of your tickets as soon as you get them. (There's a code on them that allows you to replace lost or stollen tickets--but only if you know the number.)
2. Bring your own bottled water and snacks. Disney doesn't care--seriously--as long as you stop short of packing an entire cooler. This saves both money and time, as you can can snack while in line for attractions instead of waiting in a long line for a snack.
3. Make ADRs (Advanced Dining Reservations) as early as possible! Many Disney restaurants accept ADRs as far out as 180 days before your visit...and you need to have them that early for the popular character meals, such as Cinderella's Royal Table.
4. Do at least one character meal. Yes, they can be pricey. But the personal attention from the characters and princesses will save you an hour or two in line for meet-n-greets later.
5. In the Magic Kingdom, go to Fantasyland first if you have little ones. Dumbo and the other slow-loading rides seem to get backed up by mid-morning.
6. Take a stroller if your child is 5 or younger. Disney is big...huge, really. That's a lot of walking for little legs. Besides, you can hang cameras, bags, etc. on the handles as you walk.
7. Know ride restrictions before you go. There's nothing worse than having to explain to your three-year-old why he can't ride Space Mountain--as he's standing there looking at it.
8. Shop around and sign up for email newsletters. Often, you can get last-minute deals in the off-season. Don't immediately go for Disney's packages. They can be hassel-free and sometimes are a great deal--but not always. Two of my favorite sites are mousesavers.com and allearsnet.com.
9. Take extra______ (fill-in-the-blank: camera batteries, film, sunscreen, medicine, etc.) You will pay an arm and a leg for anything within 10 miles of Disney property. But, oddly enough, the Hess gas station on Disney property is one of the least expensive in the area.
10. Take time to relax and enjoy. Don't schedule yourselves so tightly that you don't have time for unexpected diversions, because they are everywhere at Disney.
1. ALWAYS take a digital picture or photocopy of the back of your tickets as soon as you get them. (There's a code on them that allows you to replace lost or stollen tickets--but only if you know the number.)
2. Bring your own bottled water and snacks. Disney doesn't care--seriously--as long as you stop short of packing an entire cooler. This saves both money and time, as you can can snack while in line for attractions instead of waiting in a long line for a snack.
3. Make ADRs (Advanced Dining Reservations) as early as possible! Many Disney restaurants accept ADRs as far out as 180 days before your visit...and you need to have them that early for the popular character meals, such as Cinderella's Royal Table.
4. Do at least one character meal. Yes, they can be pricey. But the personal attention from the characters and princesses will save you an hour or two in line for meet-n-greets later.
5. In the Magic Kingdom, go to Fantasyland first if you have little ones. Dumbo and the other slow-loading rides seem to get backed up by mid-morning.
6. Take a stroller if your child is 5 or younger. Disney is big...huge, really. That's a lot of walking for little legs. Besides, you can hang cameras, bags, etc. on the handles as you walk.
7. Know ride restrictions before you go. There's nothing worse than having to explain to your three-year-old why he can't ride Space Mountain--as he's standing there looking at it.
8. Shop around and sign up for email newsletters. Often, you can get last-minute deals in the off-season. Don't immediately go for Disney's packages. They can be hassel-free and sometimes are a great deal--but not always. Two of my favorite sites are mousesavers.com and allearsnet.com.
9. Take extra______ (fill-in-the-blank: camera batteries, film, sunscreen, medicine, etc.) You will pay an arm and a leg for anything within 10 miles of Disney property. But, oddly enough, the Hess gas station on Disney property is one of the least expensive in the area.
10. Take time to relax and enjoy. Don't schedule yourselves so tightly that you don't have time for unexpected diversions, because they are everywhere at Disney.
And Tink wants to add, "Don't forget the Pixie Dust!"
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