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Category Archives: Tips and Tricks
Disney World Quick Tips – Budget Considerations For Your Trip
There are very few people who visit Walt Disney World without having to carefully plan and budget their available funds. I use a very measured and logical (at least to me) approach for budgeting each of our visits. First – I always try to start early enough so I can plan how much money we can put aside on a monthly basis to meet our needs. We go often enough and have enough separation between visits so that we now have a permanent savings plan that covers all of our requirements.
Once you have an idea of how much you will have available you can then budget. Make sure that you consider everything. This is a list of the things we consider:
- PLANNING MATERIALS: This would cover guide books and any subscription websites you use. Remember there are a lot of free websites i.e. Chip and Co and Passporter where information is available either on the site or in a site’s discussion boards.
- AIRFARE OR OTHER TRAVEL: This can be a significant and variable expense. Be sure to consider baggage fees and perhaps parking fees at the airport. These things can add up quickly. Also remember that there is transportation from the airport and back but Disney’s Magical Express is both excellent and FREE.
- RESORT HOTEL: This can also be significant and remember that Disney does not add the 12.5% tax on the base prices they herald on the site or advertising. You won’t see this until you actually total up. There are a lot of choices so you have to pick the resort that meets your physical and monetary needs. By the way, the All Star Resorts are in a different county and the tax is 13%.
- PARK TICKETS: Pretty straight forward budgeting here, just don’t buy options you will not use. Also please remember, when you see a ticket price, it does not include the 6.5% tax until you total up.
- MEALS: This can be difficult to budget accurately and everything depends on your family’s likes and eating habits. The various dining plans offered by Disney make budgeting food much easier if you can find one that meets your needs. Fear not, most people do well with at least one of the plans. Depending upon when you visit the Dining Plan might be free – be sure to ask!!
- SHOPPING AND OTHER EXTRAS: This is the most difficult category and only you know your family well enough to come up with a budget. I would suggest a daily limit and allow each individual to either spend it each day or carry it forward so they can do or buy whatever they want.
This isn’t comprehensive by any means but just a group of ideas so that you can feel confident that you haven’t missed anything in your budgeting process. As always, enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!
Ken
Related articles
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Disney World Quick Tips – Signature Restaurants And Maximizing The Dining Plan
We are huge fans of the Signature restaurants at Walt Disney World. The free dining offer available for at least the first 9 months of 2011 (with some blackouts) is an opportunity to take advantage of these restaurants at an absolutely minimal cost.
You can upgrade the free dining offer from the Disney Dining Plan to the Deluxe Dining Plan for $33 per adult per day. That may seem like a lot but let’s look at the differences between the plans:
DELUXE PLAN -
Three Table Service Credits per night for each person
Two Snack Credits per night for each person
One complimentary Refillable Mug per person
Table Service meals include Appetizer, Entree, Dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage
STANDARD PLAN-
One Table Service Credit per person per night
One Quick Service Credit per person per night
One Snack Credit per night per person
Complimentary Refillable Mug not included
Table Service meals include Entree, Dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage (Kids 3-9 get appetizer also)
Even on the surface, $33/day is a bargain if you enjoy food. When you start to look a bit deeper you can see that if you use the plan wisely and take advantage of the Signature Restaurants (two Table Service Credits per meal) the extra money you spend is an unbeatable value.
Here are some options to consider:
- Eat breakfast Out Of Pocket and use the extra Table Service (TS) credit at one of the Signature Restaurants.
- Use a TS credit for breakfast and use snack credits for a quick meal in the parks and the extra TS credit for a Signature Restaurant.
- You can do the above interchangeably or any other way you like since the credits are yours to use as you please. You can even use TS credits for a Quick Service meal if you choose.
Upgrading is also useful if you plan on attending any of the Dinner Shows. They are also 2 TS meals and the only real restriction is at the Hoop De Doo Review where you can only use the credits for Category 2 or 3 seating except at the 9:30 PM show where they can be used for Category 1 seating. One more thing to remember about the dinner shows, these are the only Dining Plan meals where gratuities are included.
If you truly enjoy fine dining and exceptional food I encourage you to consider the ideas presented here. As I mentioned, upgrading Free Dining to Deluxe Dining is an opportunity to try meals at restaurants you might not ordinarily consider. Because it’s Disney, things are always subject to change so you might want to take advantage of this while you can. As always, enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!
Ken
Disney World Quick Tips – Ten FREE Things To Do At Walt Disney World
Yes, there are quite a few things you can do while you are at Walt Disney World for free. Free is not generally a word associated with anything Disney but if you look, these things are there at no cost!! Here is a quick outline of ten things that run the gamut from FUN to USEFUL.
- Boat Ride From Downtown Disney To Port Orleans – If you look at the above picture you can see just how beautiful and serene this ride is It takes 20-25 minutes each way and the entire route looks much like this.
- Free Coca Cola Products - Club Cool is a cool (temperature) place to take a break from the heat and sample free Coca Cola products from around the world. Many of them are excellent but if you can con someone to try a drink called Beverly, have your camera ready for the reaction.
- Monorail Rides – Too often, the Monorail is looked at as transportation only. It’s actually a fun and relaxing way to pass some time. If you happen to be going to one of the Monorail Resorts, the Magic Kingdom, or Epcot it also meets your transportation needs – two for none so to speak.
- Entertainer Bob Jackson At Port Orleans Riverside – Bob Jackson provides music and comic antics for an evening of fun at the River Roost Lounge at Port Orleans Riverside. There is no cost for the entertainment but you may be inclined to have a beverage or two (drinks are not free – but you knew that).
- Music In The Grand Floridian Resort Lobby – Depending on the time of day and day of the week you can usually find either a talented pianist or a full dance orchestra playing in the lobby. This is a marvelous way to relax and unwind.
- Electrical Water Pageant – This happens nightly on the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. It is a group of lighted and decorated barges with accompanying music that passes by the Polynesian at around 9:00 PM and works its way past the Grand Floridian and then over to Bay Lake where it passes the Wilderness Lodge and ends up passing Fort Wilderness at approximately 9:45 PM. Very neat!! You can view them from the nearest beach or dock.
- Free Character Photo For Disney Visa Cardholders – In the Innoventions West building between 1:30 and 4:30 PM daily you can have a meet and greet and get a free 5×7 picture if you are a Disney Visa cardholder. Just show your card to get into the meet and greet.
- Storytelling At The Animal Kingdom Lodge - Each evening at the firepit at Arusha Rock outside the lobby, there is a storyteller who spins tales of Africa. If it’s rainy, they move the whole thing inside to the indoor firepit. Check with the Cast Members at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for the exact time because it varies by season.
- Free Entertainment On The Boardwalk – There are roving entertainers of all types each night on the Boardwalk. They are all free for your enjoyment and generally begin their performances at around 6:00 or 6:30 and go until 10:00 or 10:30 (people staying at the Boardwalk Inn have to sleep you know).
- Free Package Delivery To Your Resort - Items purchased while touring can be delivered to your resort for free. Just tell the cashier that you want them to go to the resort before they begin ringing your order. They say to allow 24 hours but I generally allow two days if you are leaving soon.
There you go!! So now you know that there are at least 10 free things at Walt Disney World. There are actually a lot more but 10 is a good starting point! As always, enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!
Ken
Oldies But Goodies…More Than Buses Part 1
There are a lot of folks who think that the only way to get from point A to point B at Walt Disney World is by using the bus system. There are many other ways to get around and this week and next I’ll try and address those alternatives. First of all, the Disney bus system is incredibly efficient and handles the majority of the needs of visitors beautifully. Even for us, the Oldies, the bus service provides a break from the heat (if not always from the crowds) and a worry free way to get from place to place.
The first alternative, surprisingly enough, is walking!! I walk for exercise on a regular basis and have noticed that a large percentage of the folks out there walking are from our age group – Oldies! Seniors love to walk, at least a lot of them do, and there are places at Walt Disney World where walking is sometimes quicker than other transportation options, plus, it’s better for you. Take a look at the picture above. This sign is very close to the Contemporary Resort and the walk from there to the Magic Kingdom is a pleasant 10-12 minute stroll. Other walkways run from the International Gateway at Epcot to the Epcot resorts. The walk to the Beach Club is fairly short but a bit longer to both the Boardwalk and the Yacht Club. All of these strolls are very manageable for folks without mobility issues. Perhaps the most surprising walkway runs from the Boardwalk area to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It is a solid 15-18 minute walk at a steady pace and may be a bit much for some but generally is not that difficult. The nice thing about this walk is that it is never crowded and runs along the same waterway that the Friendships use. It’s a very pleasant way to relax. We all know that walking in the theme parks is a way of life at Walt Disney World and the additional mileage you would put in on these strolls may be too much. If you feel able, give them a try but if you don’t, please don’t push it.
Another favorite alternative is the Monorail of course. It is ideal for those folks staying at the Magic Kingdom Resorts where a lot of the Oldies gang stays. There is nothing easier than walking out the front door of your resort (except of course at the Contemporary where you don’t even leave the building) and catching a smooth and comfortable ride to the Magic Kingdom or one of the other resorts. Perhaps my favorite Monorail loop runs from the Transportation and Ticket Center (T&TC) to Epcot and back. You can get to the T&TC by driving, bus, or either of the other 2 Monorail Loops. The first of those Loops runs clockwise and stops at the Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Magic Kingdom, Contemporary and the T&TC. The express loop runs counterclockwise from the T&TC to the Magic Kingdom and back to the T&TC. When you get to the T&TC just follow the signs to the Epcot Monorail and sit back to enjoy the approximately 20 minute ride to Epcot. Just a quick hint, if you want a great view of Spaceship Earth sit on the right hand side of the cab as you face the front of the Monorail. For a view of the World Showcase, sit on the left. I’ve noticed that there are quite a few Seniors who just like to ride the entire Epcot Loop as a way to take a break from the parks.
These are a couple of alternatives and I will address what appears to be the most under used method next week. The numerous opportunities for boat travel are particularly attractive to us Oldies because it is such a pleasant and unhurried way to get from place to place. As always, enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!
Ken
Disney World Quick Tips – Please Don’t “Wing It”
Most of my friends and acquaintances know how I feel about everything Disney and when they decide they are going to visit Walt Disney World they always ask what I think. I’m always excited for them and I ask them about their plans for resorts, parks, meals etc. You would be surprised to hear how often they say the six scariest words in the world to a Disney planner like myself – “We’re just going to wing it!!” ARRRRRGH!! That just makes my teeth itch!!
That’s when I attempt to work with them to explain the size and dynamics of that place we love, Walt Disney World. These are some of the things I discuss with them:
- SIZE – Because we are out west, most of my friends say that they used the “wing it” approach when they visited Disneyland and were successful. I first explain to them that Walt Disney World is 47 square miles and employs some 55,000 (not 5,500) Cast Members. Vacationing at a place like that is not something you approach casually.
- DIMENSION – The Disneyland fans are accustomed to there being 3 Disney resort hotels, not the 20+ hotels located on site at Walt Disney World. The 2 theme parks and Downtown Disney in Anaheim becomes 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, multiple Championship golf courses, Downtown Disney on a grand scale etc. It’s generally at this point that I have their attention.
- DINING – This is the one thing that the “wing its” pay the least attention to. I can’t tell you how many folks have no concept of the Advance Dining Reservations system and complain after their return that they didn’t get a decent sit down meal because all the restaurants were full. After I explain exactly how good most of the table service restaurants are and with the advent of dining plans (particularly when free dining is in effect) they are almost always booked to capacity they begin to understand that also.
I’m pretty confident that most of the folks reading this are not “wing its” (a term of endearment) but have friends who are. The whole point of writing this is to encourage those of you who hear the dreaded six words from friends or relatives take the time to let them know some of the ins and outs of a Walt Disney World vacation. Let them know about the myriad of information available, starting with this site, Chip and Company. Spend some time with them so that they too can enjoy their Walt Disney World vacation as much as we do. As always, enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!
Ken
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