Cheap Disney
Learn how to plan an inexpensive trip to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
Did you know that the Walt Disney World resort in Orlando, Florida is a big place? I mean a really big place? It contains four complete theme parks, two water parks, dozens of restaurants and hotels, and more than 20,000 acres of fun.
In that wonderful and expansive area there are nearly unlimited entertainment opportunities. It is possible to get some good deals you can get a cheap Disney vacation. But it is only possible if you do some planning and make some tradeoffs in advance.
Planning ahead to get a deal at Disney is a good idea. It is a well-known fact that The Walt Disney Company does things right. And that often means high costs. A vacation to Walt Disney World much more like a week on a cruise ship than it is a night out at the movies. While I personally think the price is fair for the quality and variety that you get, the cost is still high.
So how can you save some money and get a cheap Disney vacation? Compare food, travel, hotel, and ticket costs.
Compare travel costs
One of your first decisions will be whether to drive or fly. With gas prices changing so much, it is a good idea to spend a few minutes calculating the cost of both options.
There is a quick and simple way to determine who much it will cost you to drive.
1 - Go to http://maps.google.com/. Enter your "City, State to Disney World, Orlando, FL". For example, enter "Columbus, Ohio to Disney World, Orlando, FL".
2 - Google maps will tell you that how many miles the trip will take. In this case, it is about 1,000 miles.
3 – Calculate the cost: If you get 25 miles per gallon, and gas costs $2.50 / gallon, your cost to drive would be:
1,000 miles / 25 miles/gallon = 40 gallons
40 gallons X $2.50 / gallon = $100.00 each way
So your round trip cost is about $200 to drive. If you have a large family, driving may be much less expensive than flying.
However, when you drive you need to remember to add in other expenses you may not have when flying, such as:
- Overnight hotel stays (probably $100 - $150 per night)
- Extra food cost
- Road tools
- Use of your car vs. renting a car
Take a few minutes to compare the cost of driving vs. flying.
If you decide that you want to fly – either because of cost or convenience - be sure that you purchase your flight tickets 21 or more days in advance so that you can get the best price.
Compare food cost
It can be a lot of fun to eat at Disney World. There are some wonderful restaurants with entertaining themes. Where else can you eat in a 1950’s kitchen (at the 50’s Prime Time Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios) or eat in a futuristic lounge complete with an alien singer (at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom).
While it can be fun, it can also be pricey to eat at Disney World. If you eat there, plan on the quick service (the nice term for fast food) costs being about two times as much compared to what you might pay in a normal restaurant which is not on Disney property.
A good way to save some cash is to eat a big breakfast before you go to Disney for the day.
Another money-saving idea is to go to a nearby restaurant not operated by Disney, or buy food at a local grocery store. However, remember that it can take some time to get from the theme park to an outside restaurant (remember how big Disney is!), so normally eating off-site at the beginning or end of the day makes the most sense.
Compare hotel costs
It can also be fun to stay at a Disney resort. The hotels have great themes and also provide extra bonuses available only to guests – such as extra hours in the morning or evening at selected theme parks, and free bus transportation around Disney property (See this article about Disney's Magical Express). But those perks come at a cost.
There are many nice - and very reasonably priced - hotels just outside the Walt Disney World resort area in a city called Kissimmee, where there are many cheap Disney alternatives. You can find great dials on hotels near Disney on the internet and using tourist books that you can find at the rest stops along most Florida highways.
Compare ticket costs
Unfortunately, there really aren't very many ways to get cheap Disney tickets. However, with some advanced planning you save a little. Be sure to purchase your tickets in advance. And do some research so that you can make an informed choice about what ticket options make the most sense for you. Plus, by planning ahead, you won’t have to wait in line to make your purchase at the theme park ticket counter.
There is plenty to learn about Disney tickets. Read this article about Disney Ticket Options. And read this article titled "Do cheap Disney World tickets really exist?"
Remember, by planning ahead and comparing costs you can not only have a more relxed trip but you can also save a bundle!
A cheap Disney trip is possible. Just follow the tips on this page and plan ahead.
Have fun on your vacation to the Walt Disney World resort in Florida!
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