New! Disney Vacation Account - set up payments to your future Disney vacation!

Enjoy your vacation knowing that you saved in advance!

http://disneyvacationaccount.disney.go.com

^^ This DISNEY website will help you plan and pay for your Disney Vacation! It is an official Disney website.

1. Estimate your Budget
2. Create a Plan
3. Track your Progress
4. Book your Vacation

To estimate your budget, you must know where you want to go! Disney World in Florida, Disneyland in California, Disney Cruise, etc. It has links to help you decide how much your resort and tickets, food and dining, souvenirs, and airfare will be! If you only want to save up for the resort or tickets, just leave the others balance $0.

Then, create your plan! Decide what month and year you want to visit Disney (you aren't booking the vacation, you are just setting a date that you want your vacation completely paid for). You will still have to book your vacation when you decide when to go! You can book over a year in advance. You can use this vacation account to help you pay for your vacation up to 5 years in advance! 

Set up a payment plan! Enter in the total amount you want to save, and how often you want payments made into your Disney account! - Monthly, weekly, every 2 weeks, or one time payment. Enter in your card or bank information so your Disney account can draw money for you vacation!

Track your savings progress, check your balance and manage your account! Whether you want to save more or less, or take your vacation sooner or later, this tool will help you update your goals at any time.

To pay for your vacation, simply give the Disney clerk your vacation account number when you check in, or over the phone when you call to book or make a payment!

You can request a refund at any time! There are no fees or interest costs. It is very simple and straight forward. No catches!

You'll be eligible for a $20 Disney Gift Card for every $1000 you spend on qualified vacation purchases with your Disney Vacation Account prior to December 31, 2015 (date subject to extension), up to a total $500 in Disney Gift Card(s) per household. Your Disney Vacation Account must be active for a minimum of 120 days at the time of spending in order to receive this bonus. Request your Disney Gift Card(s) 4-6 weeks in advance of your vacation date to allow time for delivery to your mailing address. 

Disney Daily Tip #3 - Character Dining

Every child loves the Character Dining, but your wallet does not!


The best time and the cheapest time to dine with the characters is breakfast!


Example: you take your princess to see Cinderella and all the princesses at Cinderella's Royal Table inside the castle at Magic Kingdom. If you book early, you will be let inside MK before the park opens! When the park does open, you will be done with your meal, and first in line to your favorite attractions!


If you book a late breakfast - 10:30 AM - then you can treat it as lunch!

Tips for flying to Disney World

1. The best tip is to ship items to your Disney Resort ahead of time! Look up the address to your resort - it is on the Disney Website (click on Places to Stay). Example is below. Once you arrive, tell the cast-member that you mailed items there. I would mail items 2-3 week before you arrive! Below is an example:  

ATTN: First & Last Name
c/o Disney's All-Star Sports Resort
1701 West Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Arriving: D/M/YR
Resort Confirmation Number


     2. If you need a stroller, check the airlines website and find out if they will check the stroller as luggage for a charge. Southwest Airlines will check car seats and strollers for free as long as there is a child flying.
  
     3. Make sure you sign up for the free Magical Express pick up from the airport to your Disney Resort.  Call (407) W-Disney or (407) 934-7639 to add this to your current reservation or to tell them your flight information.


    4. Before you book your reservation and flight, check and see if there are any package deals. A lot of times you can pay for flying and get a Disney resort room night for free!

How to visit WDW on a budget & save money!

A vacation at Disney World can be expensive! However, there are ways you can save money!

1. Go off season! Disney always has discounts for resorts in January and spring. Avoid going during holidays because the resort hotels price per night is 3X more than regularly.
2. Buy your tickets from a discount wholesaler - the Walmart in Orlando sells tickets cheaper than WDW, but they don't sell annual tickets! Undercover Tourist sells tickets also! These places have licenses to sell Disney tickets.
3. Florida residents get a big discount on tickets; you must show proof of residency!
4. Stay at a Disney Value resort - All-star start at $85 per night. The Art of Animation is my favorite value because of the story-rooms. Free transportation if you stay at a Disney Resort hotel.
5. Book your reservation over a year in advance
6. Bring your own camera instead of relying on Disney PhotoPass.
7. Bring your own stroller if you have young children! A single stroller rental is $15 per day or $13 when you book a multi-day rental.
8. Bring your own snacks and drinks. Refill water bottles at the water fountains! If you really want to save money, bring lunch with you!
9. To stay on budget, buy Disney gift cards (you can design them online for free). If you have $50 to spend on souvenirs, buy a $50 gift card. You can also use these gift cards to buy meals and snacks!
10. If you want to eat at a Disney restaurant, eat a late lunch (before 2 pm) so you get the lunch price, and you won't be hungry for supper.
11. Try to wait and buy souvenirs at discount stores such as walmart, or even at Downtown Disney. Annual Pass holders receive discounts at Downtown Disney and they get free parking at the theme parks.
12. Children under 3 have free admission! Children 3-9 have discounted admission.
13. Order the Free Disney planning DVD from https://www.disneyvacations.com/dv/en_US/VacationPlanningDVD/index?sourcecode=18179&CMP=ILC-DPFY13Q1FY13LeadGen0003
14. Wear the free buttons if it is your birthday, anniversary, or first trip! You'd be surprised the free gifts you will receive!
15. Buy tickets for special events - Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween, Very Merry Christmas Party - The day they go on sale! As time passes, the ticket prices increase!
16. Sign up for email coupons for the restaurant at Downtown Disney at http://www.mousesavers.com/walt-disney-world-vacation-discounts-and-deals/disney-world-meal-snack-drink-discounts-coupons/#coupons