Since we are The Affordable Mouse, I thought this would be the perfect way to open up Mouse Resort Friday – a quick run through my favorite value property, Disney’s Pop Century.  It’s a fun place to stay, and won’t crunch your pocket book.

Pop opened in 2003, and has 2,880 colorfully decorated guest rooms sectioned into different decades.  The 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s are all represented by giant pop culture icons, as well as by dances crazes, toys and games.   Also adding to the theme are three heated pools, the 60s Hippy Dippy Pool (shaped like a flower), the 50s Bowling Pool (shaped like a bowling pin), and the 90s Computer Pool (shaped like….well, okay, you get the message).  Located adjacent to the lobby are the Fast Forward Arcade and the Everything Pop shop and food court.   The food court offers many tasty options, including a Special of the Day. 

We normally stay in a moderate resort, but since we visited rather close to Christmas, we chose to scale back a bit on cost, and this was the best option for us.  We were NOT disappointed.  The rooms were clean, housekeeping was prompt and courteous, and the grounds were immaculate.   We wanted for nothing while we visited, and had no complaints. 

Disney’s Pop Century Resort is located near Epcot Center, and if you play your cards right (or book your room in the right location), you’ll be able to stand on your balcony and view Epcot’s fireworks from Illuminations at night.   The room I requested also overlooked Hourglass Lake, and featured a walking/running track alongside the water….very nice.

If you’re trying to get the best bang for your buck, this is your resort.  It’s newer than the other properties, and has its own bus service; the other values share a bus.  Not a big deal, you say?  Well, it is at park closing when you’re tired, your children are unhappy, and your feet – even more unhappy.   Pop really gives you everything you need, while being on grounds, taking advantage of extra magic hours, free Disney transportation, and a myriad of other mouse perks that can only be experienced at a Disney property.

Ears to ya, DeAnna

Find out how the FREE services of a Disney World travel agent can make planning your Disney vacation simple…and for a limited time, get a FREE Disney gift card when you book your trip with me! ($2000 minimum package cost)

DeAnna, along with her husband and teen-age son, lives in Wiggins, Mississippi, and has a passion for all things Disney. She is always eager to share the knowledge she has gained from her many trips to Walt Disney World, and has helped numerous people in their vacation planning to realize it’s not an unattainable dream. Her must-dos on every trip are Pirates of the Caribbean, Rockin’ Roller Coaster & a stolen moment of quiet with her “Boyz” (as she affectionately calls them) having a pastry from Boulangerie in Epcot World Showcase’s France. Disney is so much a part of her life, that she & her husband were married in front of Cinderella’s Castle, and she says it doesn’t get any more magical than that……

As we near the end of this year, and look ahead to a brand new, shiny New Year, it’s also the perfect time to start thinking about planning that next Disney vacation. After all, is there any better New Year’s resolution than visiting one of the Disney parks, or maybe finally taking that long-dreamed-about Disney Cruise?

So with that in mind, I thought it was the perfect time to re-run portions of an article that I wrote last spring about taking those first steps towards making your Disney vacation dreams a reality. I hope you find it helpful! Happy New Year…..and happy planning!  

I always tell folks that there are 3 basic keys to making an affordable Disney vacation happen: planning, budgeting, and an open mind. With these three things guiding you, you can really take all the aspects of a Disney vacation and change each as needed until you have a vacation you can afford.

In fact, I like to think of it as putting the pieces of a puzzle together to create a beautiful picture. In this case that picture is your dream of a Disney vacation only with this puzzle there is no right way to put those pieces together! The only right way is the one that makes your dream a reality! Saving money on a Disney vacation is about choices and in some instances, trade-offs: if you want or need to spend more in one area, then work to reduce costs in another. Start with making a realistic budget, and then consider the following:

When Are You Going?

It may seem as if this goes without saying, but knowing when you can go has a huge effect on the cost of your vacation: some times of year are simply more expensive than others. Typically holidays and school vacations are the most expensive of all….so if you have any flexibility at all, try to schedule your trip during the cheaper times of year if you can.  If you can’t do that, then know that you will be moving other puzzle pieces around this one, in order to make it all work. But no worries, it will all work!

What Disney Deals Are Available?

When people ask me what is the cheapest way to plan their Disney vacation, I always tell them “it depends”. The thing about this Disney vacation puzzle that we’re putting together is, as I have already said, there is more than one way to put the puzzle together.

There are so many factors that go into planning a Disney vacation that you really need to be prepared to do some comparisons. So get out that trusty calculator, and once you have your budget and know when you will be traveling (or at least the general time of year or month) then start with looking at the promotions that Disney offers for that time. Get a quote. Add in one of the Disney Dining Plans if you think it might work for your family, and compare the costs with paying for your food out of pocket. And look at each of the Dining Plans too, because it may be that a different “level” of plan (Quick Service for example) might be more cost effective than another for your family.

Remember the 3 keys: planning, budgeting, and an open mind? This is where that open mind is crucial. You may “think” you know what will be least expensive, but until you actually run all the numbers, you can’t know for certain. And people are surprised about what is actually cheapest for them all the time!

How Will You Get There?

I always recommend trying to make a decision, at least a tentative one, about your transportation as soon as possible. You don’t necessarily have to book your travel, but having a pretty solid idea of how you are going to get to Disney World….and how much it will cost….is important to know at the beginning, preferably before you book your accommodations or package. This way, you can play with the puzzle pieces a bit more, if necessary until you make them fit with your budget.

Another benefit of doing this early: start watching for ways to save money at the beginning. If you are flying, figure out what your likely carriers are and get on their promotional email list, and/or become Facebook or Twitter fans. Many discounts are given out this way that the general public never knows about. Giving yourself enough time on this part will allow you to jump on a promotion when it becomes available.

Don’t Forget the Tickets

Most people who are not getting a package, try to save money on their Disney park tickets, and it is possible to save a little on the actual cost, by using an authorized Disney ticket broker….but it won’t be a huge savings. What may save you more money is having an “open mind” (again!) about the type of ticket that you buy: maybe you save by not getting a Park Hopper, or the Water Parks Fun and More option. Or perhaps you will benefit from a package promotion where “Kids Play Free”, so that you are saving on your ticket costs that way.

This puzzle piece has a little flexibility…but not much. Whatever you do, as we discussed before, never buy tickets from eBay or Craigslist: tickets that have been partially used are non-transferrable, and you can’t be sure that there are really ANY days on the tickets at all until you get to the gate. Which is too late to do anything about it.

And Then There’s Food

This is a puzzle piece that you can move around a LOT, as there are many ways that you can save money on your Disney dining. Dining plan options, bringing food with you, eating off-site, cooking/eating in (a benefit of having a condo or house with a kitchen!) are just a few ways that you can potentially make your trip more affordable.

So as you can see, with planning, that trusty budget and an open mind, you really have all kinds of ways that you can shift and adjust the puzzle pieces of your vacation until you create your Disney dream.

As Walt Disney himself, was fond of saying: “If you can dream it, you can do it!”

Find out how the FREE services of a Disney World travel agent can make planning your Disney vacation simple…and for a limited time, get a FREE Disney gift card when you book your trip with me! ($2000 minimum package cost)

Find out how the FREE services of a Disney World travel agent can make planning your Disney vacation simple…and for a limited time, get a FREE Disney gift card when you book your trip with me! ($2000 minimum package cost)

Karen grew up in the Boston area and traveled to Disney World many times with her parents and sister. Always staying at the Fort Wilderness Cabins gave the trips a feeling of a home away from home. It also started the tradition of attending the Hoop Dee Doo Review on each trip! Somehow that show sparked her interest in the Disney College Program. Which she did in the fall of 2002, working as a hostess @ Captain Jacks in Downtown Disney. Now as an adult, Karen finds herself traveling to the parks on a yearly basis! Photography has always been a hobby of Karen’s, but over the past few years it has become her passion. It’s even taken her to her favorite place! The Make a Wish Foundation sent a family to Disney for a week and Karen was lucky enough to be their photographer of choice! She got to tag along and photograph their memories being made. She hopes to get that experience again someday! You can find more of Karen’s photography on her site www.KPportraits.com.

When people ask me which Disney resort is my favorite, I usually hesitate giving the answer because I love so many of them for so many different reasons. I love the Epcot resorts because of their location and love Animal Kingdom Lodge because of the peace and serenity. I love Caribbean Beach because it is just so fun, and makes me think I am in the Caribbean!

But all things being equal, for a beautiful resort with amazing theming, I vote for Wilderness Lodge as my true favorite. It is an amazing depiction of a traditional Pacific Northwest lodge that is so successful in this effort that if you visit, you WILL forget you are in Florida. Even in the middle of the summer.

So what makes Wilderness Lodge so special?

photo via http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshmcconnell/3277064210/

Well for me, loving Disney design and details the way that I do, I find this resort to be the ultimate example of the brilliance of the Disney Imagineers.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge was designed after the Old Faithful Lodge of Yellowstone National Park. And really, the minute you walk in the door, it really feels like you have left Florida totally.

photo via http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshmcconnell/3276243307/

Start in the magnificent lobby, with it’s 80 foot tall fireplace, and cozy rocking chairs. What a great place to just sit and relax! Especially during the holidays with the enormous Christmas tree that takes up the entire lobby area…it manages to take your breath away and be cozy at the same time.

photo via http://www.flickr.com/photos/mike_miley/4218247041/

photo via http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcorduroy/3138597252/

Here you will find Pacific Northwest totem poles, amazing wood carvings, teepee chandeliers and so much more. Take the time to really check things out, because the details are amazing….and sometimes surprising. For example, the totem pole outside the general store has Disney character carvings!

photo via http://www.flickr.com/photos/tjung/5832212403/

One of the things that is pretty neat is the small stream that starts right in the lobby. The stream leads outside to one of the things that Wilderness Lodge is quite known for, and it’s way cool: an real geyser that is reminiscent of Old Faithful. Here, the Fire Rock Geyser shoots up every half hour from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. Head past the pool area, and you can’t miss it: it shoots up 120 feet in the air!

photo via http://www.flickr.com/photos/tjung/5832212133/

While this is a Deluxe hotel, don’t let that stop you from considering a stay here. There are a number of ways to make a stay here fit in your budget. And even if you aren’t able to stay at Wilderness Lodge, I highly recommend you plan time for a visit. Of course, everyone suggests you visit during the holiday season, and I agree: Christmas and Wilderness Lodge go hand in hand. Still, any time of the year is a good time for a visit. There are, of course, a couple of great restaurants: Artist Point, which is a signature dining experience (and well worth it!), and Whispering Canyon Café (which is TONS of fun…ask for ketchup!)

Just be sure to allow extra time to explore…and don’t forget your camera!

Find out how the FREE services of a Disney World travel agent can make planning your Disney vacation simple…and for a limited time, get a FREE Disney gift card when you book your trip with me! ($2000 minimum package cost)

So let’s take a few minutes today and discuss some things to think about when it comes to Disney properties specifically…because while there are certainly other options, the vast majority of people are probably interested in staying with Disney.

And for good reason.

Disney offers a number of benefits to staying with them. Free transportation to the parks, as well as Disney’s Magical Express, that will transport you from and back to the airport will save you both time and money. Other Disney “perks” like “Extra Magic Hours” are a nice way to get additional time in the parks. Plus Disney offers the Disney Dining Plans to those buying a Disney resort package…..including the popular Free Dining promotion that should never be overlooked when planning affordable Disney vacations.

Then there is “the Magic factor”.   Arguably the most important thing that a Disney property provides, that you will not have if you stay off-site, is that 24/7 immersion in the Disney “magic”. And for many people, that’s a big deal!

So you want to stay with Disney? Then let’s talk about your options.

Briefly, Disney basically has four categories of hotel accommodations: Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villas.

While there are clearly some differences among these categories in terms of size, location, amenities, and cost, all Disney resort properties share in those great perks described above. And when deciding on the most affordable option, you certainly need to take all of that into consideration.

As to the resorts themselves, Value resorts such as All-Star Music or Pop Century offer fun themes, food courts, smaller rooms, and the lowest prices on Disney properties. They are also typically located farthest away from the theme parks. An important note here are the All-Star Music suites that enable a larger family to stay in one “room” although you should do a cost comparison to see if this is most economical to you. The new Art of Animation resort, opening in 2012 will also offer a large number of family suites, in fun themes like Nemo, Lion King, and Cars.

The Moderate resort category, as the name implies, is “in-between”. These resorts, like the Caribbean Beach, or Port Orleans also have food courts, have slightly larger rooms, typically more elaborate pools, and are usually a little closer to the parks.

The Deluxe category hotels, which include properties such as the Polynesian, Yacht and Beach Club, and Disney’s flagship Grand Floridian, are the closest to the parks, have the largest rooms and most luxurious amenities, and do not typically include the “food court” option. They are also the most expensive….most of the time. I say this because they are also the properties that, when Disney offers resort discount promotions, are most likely to be discounted the heaviest because they do not book up as quickly. This is where having some flexibility as to when you are traveling can be beneficial: it is certainly possible to be able to stay at a deluxe resort during non-peak times for less money than a moderate during peak times.

The final category is the Deluxe Villas which are really a “different” category entirely, because they are Disney Vacation Club properties that are not booked by vacation club owners. These properties can be perfect for larger families since they include one and two bedroom villas that have kitchens. Again, depending on the time of year and potential promotion available, when considering your family’s needs, a Deluxe Villa can be an affordable option for your family.

So many choices when it comes to where to stay at Walt Disney World! What is your favorite Disney resort? Let us know in the comments below!

Want help planning your Disney vacation? Find out how the FREE services of a Disney World travel agent can make it all simple…and save you time and money too!

But the truth is that not everyone will be able to take advantage of this promotion. For some, their travel dates are not part of the promotion and they may not be able to move their trip.

And for others, frankly, they may save more money using a different discount or promotion.

“What’s that you say? There are ways that I can save on a Disney vacation other than Free Dining?”

Yes there are.

While Free Dining is probably the most popular promotion that Disney offers, they do also periodically run room-only offers that at times, can be a great savings. They are not always offered, and the percentage off will typically vary on the different resort levels, with the greatest percentage off usually being on the Deluxe, then Moderate, and the lowest discount on the Value resorts. Still, depending on your family’s eating habits, comparing Free Dining to what you would save on a Room-Only promotion can be worth it to at least check.

Room-only discounts can be hit or miss though, with the discount offered at times being tremendous, and at other times, “meh”. You have to do the math to really see how it works for you.

Then there are the elusive Pin Codes. Brenda wrote a fantastic article for us a while back explaining how Pin Codes work….and a number of ways to increase your chances of “getting one”.  Should you be fortunate enough to receive a Pin Code, be sure to read the details carefully: they usually have to be used by a certain date….and it would really be a shame to get a great offer and not be able to take advantage of it because you missed the date! As with Room-Only discounts, sometimes the offer is fantastic, and other times not so much. Yes, you will want your calculator again to do the comparisons.

Does comparing all these offers cause your eyes to glaze over? It can get confusing and overwhelming trying to see what will be best for you! After all, not everyone is a spreadsheet kind of person. But the good news is, YOU don’t have to be: that’s a big part of what a Disney World travel agent can do for you! Part of what we do to help our clients is to compare all available offers to see what will save them the most money…and then to continually monitor for them when new offers come out, to see if we can save them more money!

My clients don’t have to ask me to do this for them….I do it automatically.

So whether you use a travel agent to help you, or you are doing it yourself, just know that, if Free Dining doesn’t work for you, no worries: you can still save money on your Disney vacation!

Want help planning your Disney vacation? Find out how the FREE services of a Disney World travel agent can make it all simple…and save you time and money too!

Favorite Disney Travel Planning Tips (this is before you travel)

Plan * Plan * Plan!   These are some things that should be planned out several months in advance.

• Decide what time of year is best.  Do you have school schedules to work around or will you have the flexibility to travel in the value season (Yes, even Disney has some off season or value season).
• How long do you feel comfortable being away?  This depends on commitments at home such as those left behind, pets and the biggie – MONEY!  Would it be practical to spend 10 days, if you will worry about cost constantly?  Or would a 4-5 day trip work better and free up your budget to enjoy it more that Disney has to offer?
• Next start reading and surfing the web.  There are many valuable forums and priceless information online – check out the Disney Vacation Planning Worksheets available right here at The Affordable Mouse – they are easy to use and covers all aspects of your trip.  Start a folder with important information to keep with you at all times.  This could be an online folder or if your old school – a folder to carry with you.

Favorite Tips for Choosing Where to Stay

Don’t get lost in “hotel-land” and on-site / off-site; start with the basics to narrow the list.

• To us the most import factor is money. The value hotels on-site are our favorite; they are less expensive, eliminate parking fees and are more convenient. Off-site hotels can be less expensive, but is it worth it after adding the cost for parking fees and extra time getting to the parks?  Where you stay will also depend on if you are able to drive or fly.  Flying to WDW and then staying off-site could prove to be pricey.  Off-site hotel shuttles do not follow the same time-frames as Disney Transportation, so add to your travel time from hotel to park and back.  Be sure to check the hotels to confirm if they do have shuttles and their schedules.
• What is the age group involved?  While the Value hotels can accommodate 4 people comfortably, if you have 5 people over the ages of 12, this isn’t a good option.  There are a limited amount of family suites available for larger groups, but be sure and check early.  We have found adjoining rooms work well most of the time.
• Is this a special occasion trip – would it be a special treat to stay at a moderate or deluxe hotel?  If springing for a more expensive hotel, do you plan to spend less time in the parks and more time around the hotel pool?  If you are only at the hotel from mid-night to 7 each morning – is this worth it?  I prefer a moderate if I will be at WDW a little longer and not going to the parks every day.

Favorite Touring Tips & Strategies

I have a stack of books that I have kept year after year.  And each one has notes written everywhere though-out the book.  These are invaluable to me for sharing with others.  Just this week I sat down and used an older book for my son’s girlfriend.  They are making their first trip as adults to The Food and Wine Festival this year.  Are you jealous?  I am!

• Get everyone involved making a list of their favorite rides / things to do – keeping the list down to the top 5 in each park.  This gives you a loose agenda and will keep you from wasting time.  There is nothing worse than waking up in the morning and saying “what-do-you-want-to-do-today” and get an “I-don’t-know – doesn’t-matter-to-me” response!
• Fast Pass!   These are a life saver – grab them first thing upon arriving at the park for the most popular ride.  The fast pass will give you an hour window of when to return.  This allows time for rides or shows in between, thus accomplishing more than the ole’ “Let’s start here and work our way around trap”.  Fast Pass entrances move much quicker then the queue line.  If it is your first time on a ride, skip the fast pass – you will miss the great queue areas!  Save the fast pass for your 2^nd time around!
• Plan on splitting your days into early morning and then evenings.  It allows for a break during the hottest part of the day to rest, chill out at Downtown Disney or take a cooling dip in the hotel pool.  The parks tend to crowd up during the middle of the day also.

Favorite Disney Dining Tips

Disney has so many options, from their quick service to their sit down meals.  We generally plan for one nice sit-down meal during each trip.  A great tool available online is Magical Meals, the affordable Disney Dining Guide.

• Everyone in the party is allowed to have some input on where to eat.  Children’s menus are available at all locations, so no one gets left out.   Advance Dining Reservations for sit-down meals can be made 180 days out.  Another good reason to plan ahead.
• If you’ve saved enough on the travel and hotel – think about a character meal.  There is something available for everyone whether you are a pirate or princesses.  Don’t worry – age doesn’t count here.  Our favorite is the Crystal Palace for Pooh, Tigger and Piglet.
• We have found a decent breakfast works best for us and then plan on an early dinner.  Two meals are the norm for us – we drink plenty of water but don’t eat a lot.  Eating dinner early gives more options, since the nicer restaurants fill up quickly during the normal dinner time.

Favorite Tips for Saving Money

I haven’t found anyone out there that doesn’t enjoy saving money when at WDW.  It is my goal to show everyone that Disney can be affordable; you just have to do your homework.

• Purchase passes based on how long you stay.  Don’t buy more of a pass then you will really need.  Decide if the park hopper is better or one park per day.  The park hopper will cost more, but if you like the idea of doing everything, then moving on then the one-park per day choice is better.
• Carry water with you – bottles are easily refillable. Water fountains are everywhere.  For those who do not like the taste of Florida water – try the flavor packets.  These are easy to carry, change the taste and eliminate the “I’m thirsty” all day.  Cokes don’t hydrate like water does, especially in the hot Florida sun.
• Start a souvenir savings.  When my son was just 7, he collected over $150 in change before we left. He never asked me for money, knowing he could spend his on whatever he wanted!   Even as adults, we set aside money for souvenirs.  Orlando has several outlets that have Character (Disney) outlets, where you could find some real treasures.

Don’t be afraid to start conversations about Disney whether online or running errands.  Some of my best conversations started while standing in line at a store.

Want help planning your Disney vacation? Find out how the FREE services of a Disney World travel agent can make it all simple…and save you time and money too!

Debbie and her husband live in Collegedale, TN where her youngest son is going to college. She is a huge Disney fan who dreams of someday retiring and working as a tour guide at Walt Disney World. She has enjoyed many trips to WDW with children, grandchildren and sometimes adults only. It is her ultimate goal to make sure everyone who visits WDW has the same magical time that she enjoys every time she visits.

Favorite Disney Travel Planning Tips (this is before you travel)

I always say that planning your Walt Disney World vacation is an attraction in itself. Planning your trip is what starts to get you pumped for the day you depart.  It is VERY important to plan your trip in advance, especially if you are a new Disney traveler. Planning helps you budget better, get more bang for your buck and feel like you got the most for the money. Do you see a theme here? Money!!!

• Hop online and join a Disney forum- I like Intercot.com it is a wonderful community of thousands of Disney lovers that are ready to help answer any questions that you have regarding your trip. The people on these forums bleed Disney….(yes, you will find me on there too) they love to talk to you all about your trip. Don’t be shy…introduce yourself and start asking!
• Understand the size of Walt Disney World-It is HUGE! You will be doing a lot of walking and I recommend spending some time researching a good shoe option. If you have angry feet, you may not have such a magical trip.
• Make a top 5 list- My family and I create a top 5 list of things that we would like to do at each park.  This way if we are able to do more than 5 things at that park for the day…we feel like we accomplished a lot.

Favorite Tips For Choosing Where to Stay

Where you chose to stay can truly impact your vacation from budget to comfort level. The first thing that should dictate where you chose to stay is budget. Know in advance how much you are willing to spend on your vacation. A large portion of your spending money will go towards your resort.  Next, think about other trips you have taken in the past…what did you enjoy about your past vacations? What was the theme of past resorts you have stayed at? Disney has 22 resorts on property and I can guarantee you that at least one of them is ready to become your Disney home.  Here is what helps us to decide:

• Price is HUGE! We would much rather have a longer stay at Disney in a value resort, then a shorter stay at a Deluxe resort. This is up to the family that is traveling and their travel needs.
• As our family has grown over the years we have opted to stay at the value category which allows us to makes yearly trips to Disney.
• Ambiance- We love being fully immersed in the Disney ambiance. For us that means lively atmosphere, whimsical decorations and a fun time!! This is why our resort of choice is Pop Century.

Favorite Touring Tips and Strategies

The way you tour the parks is solely based upon your personal needs in the parks. My family spends so much time planning before we travel; from dining, to resort choice, flights, room decorations…that we do not like to stick to too much of a schedule once we are there.  The way we like to tour is based upon what we feel like for that particular day. Here are some of the deciding factors that help us decide what to do for the day at Walt Disney World.

• Rope Drop- We are HUGE rope drop fans. We just love seeing that early morning show and being the first people to enter the park. Don’t get me wrong…we are not normally early morning risers, but the thrill of being at the park first thing is just amazing to us!!
• Extra Magic Hours- I know that many touring strategy books will tell you to avoid the parks that have EMH for the day. We actually do the exact opposite…we go in for the kill. :0) We find that we truly enjoy spending that extra special time in the parks. And we are always able to tackle that top 5 list during EMH.
• Morning- I know this is a general tip. Let me tell you…if you can get yourself to wake up early and hit the parks when they open, you will accomplish more between park opening and lunch then you could all day long. By 11 AM we are ready to beat the lunch crowd and eat. By noon we are back at the resort for a catnap/swim.  Until dinner where we do it all over again. J

Favorite Disney Dining Tips

Planning dining is our favorite part of planning a Disney trip. We love to try new foods…even the kids do!! We love to research Disney menus before we make our Advanced Dining Reservations and this helps us decide where we should eat.  I highly recommend visiting Allears.net for a fully updated list of menus and dining locations.  Here are a few ideas:

• Try something new- You are on vacation…try not to limit yourself to the same old foods that you are used to.  We love to see our kids try new things and say that they actually like it. On our last trip my daughter tried escargot in France and loved it!!
• Make dining an attraction by choosing a location that offers a dinner show and a plethora of food. One location that my family LOVES is Biergarten. Not only do you get a show that keeps the kids entertained but they have some fun adult beverages and a full buffet that is sure to please anyone. In addition, it is only 1 dining credit if you happen to be on the Disney Dining Plan.
• Do a little research on how to get the best snack credits. When used properly, you can get a small meal for that little snack credit that you have. We are always on the hunt for something new and adventurous when it comes time to get a snack…can anyone say “cream cheese stuffed pretzel?” Yummmmy!!!

Favorite Tips For Saving Money

Do your Disney homework. Know how your family likes to travel and research ways to have the best trip that suites your needs. My family likes to eat…so naturally we always save money for the Disney Dining Plan. I could not afford to feed them the way they like if we did it any other way. Maybe your family likes to shop…if that is the case then put a good portion of money aside that will allow you to get in some quality shopping time.  Here are some ways that we save money in the parks:

1. All of us are on a souvenir budget….yes even me. :0) Before we leave for Disney World we go to the Disney  Store (if you don’t have one you can go online) and purchase Disney Gift Cards in the amount of money we saved for shopping.  This is a great way to hold my family to the budget and also allow them to get some things that they would like to have.
2. Seems to be a theme but do your research. There are ways to get things at Disney for a lower cost. Just a few weeks ago Nancy posted an article all about getting great Disney staple items for less money…you can read it here.
3. Follow blogs just like The Affordable Mouse. Disney bloggers are by far the most dedicated bloggers around…we are committed to the integrity of Disney’s name and also bringing you the best money saving information around.  Following is after all, they way I gained all of my Disney knowledge. :0)

Thank you so much for visiting with us this week. I would love to know all about your favorite tips for Disney travel.

See ya real soon!! ~ Kelly

Want help planning your Disney vacation? Find out how the FREE services of a Disney World travel agent can make it all simple…and save you time and money too!

Kelly, her husband, and three children live in the Chicagoland area. Kelly has been traveling to Walt Disney World since the age of two. She considers Walt Disney World to be her primary vacation destination. With 20 plus trips under her belt she still enjoys researching and learning new things about the most magical place on earth! Kelly began Disney Guru in August of 2010 with the vision of sharing fun vacation tips and magic with all fans of Disney World.

Disney has announced FREE Dining for select dates in Fall 2011 and 2012. Here are the details:

Offer is valid for check-ins 10/2/11-10/8/11, 10/23/11-11/5/11, 11/13/11-11/19/11, 11/27/11-12/3/11, 12/11/11-12/17/11, 1/8/12-1/14/12, 1/22/12-2/4/12, 2/12/12-2/18/12, 3/4/12-3/10/12 and 3/25/12-3/31/12. Some dates and/or resorts may have extremely limited availability.

• Stay at select Disney Value resorts and get the 2011 Quick Service Dining Plan or 2012 Quick Service Dining Plan for FREE.

• Stay at select Disney Moderate, Deluxe and Deluxe Villas resorts and get the regular 2011 Dining Plan or 2012 Dining Plan for FREE.

The package includes:

• Accommodations in a select Walt Disney World resort hotel (3 nights minimum, 14 nights maximum)

• Walt Disney World theme park Base Tickets (2 days minimum; can be upgraded to include add-ons such as Park Hopper and/or Water Park Fun & More at an additional cost)

Book by 10/29/11. No group rates or other discounts apply. Excludes suites, campsites and 3-Bedroom Villas.

Want more information? Contact me for a FREE no-obligation quote to see how affordable your next Disney vacation can be!

Free Planning Help

Probably the biggest myth out there, is that using a travel agent will cost the client more….and frankly, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the services of a Disney World travel agent are free to the vacationer, as travel agents are paid by the company that they book with. So when using a travel agent, the client gets tons of help, Disney expertise and planning knowledge….for free. It’s a win-win situation for the Disney vacationer!

Saving Money

Working with a Disney travel agent is not only free, but in many cases it will save the client money both in the short term as well as the long term. One of the reasons I was so excited to do this, was to have the ability to know about all available Disney promotions and deals, guaranteeing that my clients are saving the most money possible. After all, I founded The Affordable Mouse, so you know I am all about saving money!

So it has been very gratifying to work with folks whose vacations ended up costing almost a third of what they were expecting, simply because they came to me for help. I consider saving people that much money a huge success! And since my agency, Destinations in Florida, often offers special group packages/rates just for our clients, I have the ability to share those great deals as well.

Perhaps the part that is the nicest for clients, is knowing that their Disney World travel agent is always monitoring their trip, and when new promotions come out, the agent will automatically re-book their trip if it will save them money. Even for a Disney veteran who keeps up with all the latest Disney news, and is aware of when discounts come out….it’s very nice to know that they don’t have to take the time to crunch the numbers and get on the phone with Disney to re-book….their agent is doing all of that for them.

Resorts and Dining and Tickets Oh My!

Clearly there is a lot involved in planning a Disney vacation. For the person that is new to Disney, having the guidance and help of a Disney World travel agent can be a huge relief. From the minute that someone contacts me, I am available to discuss resort options, dining, tickets, where to go and when, and a whole host of other important Disney planning questions. Planning a Disney vacation is overwhelming when you have never done so before….and even if you have, it takes a lot of time…which is something that many people just don’t have. So even if you are a Disney veteran, and have an idea of what you want your trip to be like, having someone take care of all the details is very helpful. Let’s face it: wouldn’t you rather sleep in at 180 days out from your trip and have your Disney World travel agent book your ADRs for you?

Let’s Talk Experience

There are a lot of amazing and wonderful travel agents out there, but when you’re going on a Disney vacation, you need a Disney travel specialist. I hear all the time from folks who have “talked to an agent at XYZ” who told them information about Walt Disney World that is just not true….or the person was very vague because they clearly didn’t know Disney.

Well a Disney World travel agent knows Disney, and if you’re going to the expense of planning what you hope will be a truly magical vacation for your family, why not use someone who will plan your trip as if it were their own?

I have to say that I truly love what I am doing. I get such a thrill out of knowing that families that I have worked with are creating special and lasting Disney memories on their vacations…and that I have had a very small part in helping them to do so stress-free, and affordably. Kind of like spreading a little of my own pixie dust, one trip at a time!

Want help planning your Disney vacation? Find out how the FREE services of a Disney World travel agent can make it all simple…and save you time and money too!