Having spent 55 days at a DisneyWorld theme park in the last 6 years, I think I'm beginning to qualify as a DisneyWorld expert. In particular, I'm a very cheap person. I spend 1 month per year in Florida. That can be very expensive. Not for me. Here's 10 tips for reducing your costs while increasing your fun.
Get the 10-day Pass
A 1-day pass to DisneyWorld starts at $67. Two-days is $132. That means your second day cost $65. Three-days is $192. The third day cost $60. Four day is $202. The fourth day cast $10. Yes, you got that right. The fourth day is $10. The fifth is $4. The sixth thru tenth are $2. A 3-day pass is $192 and a 10-day pass $216. In other words, you pay $24 for the last 7 days of a 10-day pass.
Pay $100 per Night
The first time I went to DisneyWorld (as an adult), I paid $200-300 per night to stay in a hotel room. That immediately triggered the thought in my head about just how cheap RVs are. I now pay less than $100 per night at a very high class campground and I stay for about 14 nights. In other words, I'm saving about $2000 per year. I stay at Fort Wilderness, which at $100 per night is the most expensive campground I stay at. You can get even cheaper. Lake Louisa State Park cost $21 per night. And I'm sure there are plenty of other campgrounds in Florida in the same price range. If you don't have an RV, then don't worry, you can rent an RV and they will set it up on site for you.
Think Fastpass
If you like rides, then think Fastpass. Before you enter the theme park, know which fastpass you need to get. Enter the park and get your fastpass. When you get the fastpass, note the time you can get your next fastpass and get that fastpass ASAP. Repeat. When you are waiting for a fastpass interval, then go on some rides where the lineup is smaller. A good fastpass strategy is the difference between 20 rides and 5.
Pack a Lunch
Counter service meals at DisneyWorld is McDonalds, but you don't pay McDonald prices, you pay Disney prices. Pack a few sandwiches and you'll save yourself $5 per day per person.
Skip Universal and SeaWorld
You are going to DisneyWorld and you are paying $200 per person for tickets. It's not out of your way to go to Universal or SeaWorld, but it's another $60 per person. We've gone to SeaWorld from time-to-time, but lately we decided that it's not much different then our local sea park. We haven't been to Universal, but it also doesn't seem much different from our local theme park. Disney is magic. Univeral and SeaWorld are same and a waste of dollar unless you live in Florida.
Skip the Water Parks
Disney has two water parks which are likely two of the best water parks in the world. Nevertheless, they are water parks. My kids have done the water parks and they really like swimming, but they enjoy the average swimming pool about the same as the Disney water parks. Unless you got money to burn, then save yourself the money.
Pass on Options
Disney offers a lot of options on your tickets. I've tried the Park Hopper option, the Water Parks and friends have tried the No Expiry. I don't think any of them give you any benefit or save you any money. The Disney theme parks are big enough that park hopping really isn't necessary. It'll take you 2 hours to switch parks, so any gain is lost in time. If you get the 10-day pass, then park hopping is not really valuable. On the other hand, if you have 2 days to enjoy Disney, then park hopping might be good for you.
Start at the Back
If you arrive in the morning, then understand that most people enjoy their day at Disney by moving either clockwise or counter-clockwise around the park. In other words, the far back of the park is empty for the first hour or two. Start there and you'll enjoy an extra ride or two in the morning.
Later is Better
In part contradiction to the last item, the line-ups get smaller later in the day. By about supper time, the lineups get smaller and smaller. On the other hand, by supper time, the fastpasses are long gone. For rides that don't have fastpasses, your best bet is later in the day. The later, the better.
Magic Hours
If you happen to stay at a Disney resort, then pay attention to magic hours. These are extra hours where only Disney resort goers are allowed on the rides. These hours happen in both the morning and night. You get more hours at night. The lineups during Magic Hours are almost non-existent.
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Wednesday, April 4, 2007
10 DisneyWorld Vacationing Tips
Having spent 55 days at a DisneyWorld theme park in the last 6 years, I think I'm beginning to qualify as a DisneyWorld expert. In particular, I'm a very cheap person. I spend 1 month per year in Florida. That can be very expensive. Not for me. Here's 10 tips for reducing your costs while increasing your fun.
Get the 10-day Pass
A 1-day pass to DisneyWorld starts at $67. Two-days is $132. That means your second day cost $65. Three-days is $192. The third day cost $60. Four day is $202. The fourth day cast $10. Yes, you got that right. The fourth day is $10. The fifth is $4. The sixth thru tenth are $2. A 3-day pass is $192 and a 10-day pass $216. In other words, you pay $24 for the last 7 days of a 10-day pass.
Pay $100 per Night
The first time I went to DisneyWorld (as an adult), I paid $200-300 per night to stay in a hotel room. That immediately triggered the thought in my head about just how cheap RVs are. I now pay less than $100 per night at a very high class campground and I stay for about 14 nights. In other words, I'm saving about $2000 per year. I stay at Fort Wilderness, which at $100 per night is the most expensive campground I stay at. You can get even cheaper. Lake Louisa State Park cost $21 per night. And I'm sure there are plenty of other campgrounds in Florida in the same price range. If you don't have an RV, then don't worry, you can rent an RV and they will set it up on site for you.
Think Fastpass
If you like rides, then think Fastpass. Before you enter the theme park, know which fastpass you need to get. Enter the park and get your fastpass. When you get the fastpass, note the time you can get your next fastpass and get that fastpass ASAP. Repeat. When you are waiting for a fastpass interval, then go on some rides where the lineup is smaller. A good fastpass strategy is the difference between 20 rides and 5.
Pack a Lunch
Counter service meals at DisneyWorld is McDonalds, but you don't pay McDonald prices, you pay Disney prices. Pack a few sandwiches and you'll save yourself $5 per day per person.
Skip Universal and SeaWorld
You are going to DisneyWorld and you are paying $200 per person for tickets. It's not out of your way to go to Universal or SeaWorld, but it's another $60 per person. We've gone to SeaWorld from time-to-time, but lately we decided that it's not much different then our local sea park. We haven't been to Universal, but it also doesn't seem much different from our local theme park. Disney is magic. Univeral and SeaWorld are same and a waste of dollar unless you live in Florida.
Skip the Water Parks
Disney has two water parks which are likely two of the best water parks in the world. Nevertheless, they are water parks. My kids have done the water parks and they really like swimming, but they enjoy the average swimming pool about the same as the Disney water parks. Unless you got money to burn, then save yourself the money.
Pass on Options
Disney offers a lot of options on your tickets. I've tried the Park Hopper option, the Water Parks and friends have tried the No Expiry. I don't think any of them give you any benefit or save you any money. The Disney theme parks are big enough that park hopping really isn't necessary. It'll take you 2 hours to switch parks, so any gain is lost in time. If you get the 10-day pass, then park hopping is not really valuable. On the other hand, if you have 2 days to enjoy Disney, then park hopping might be good for you.
Start at the Back
If you arrive in the morning, then understand that most people enjoy their day at Disney by moving either clockwise or counter-clockwise around the park. In other words, the far back of the park is empty for the first hour or two. Start there and you'll enjoy an extra ride or two in the morning.
Later is Better
In part contradiction to the last item, the line-ups get smaller later in the day. By about supper time, the lineups get smaller and smaller. On the other hand, by supper time, the fastpasses are long gone. For rides that don't have fastpasses, your best bet is later in the day. The later, the better.
Magic Hours
If you happen to stay at a Disney resort, then pay attention to magic hours. These are extra hours where only Disney resort goers are allowed on the rides. These hours happen in both the morning and night. You get more hours at night. The lineups during Magic Hours are almost non-existent.
Get the 10-day Pass
A 1-day pass to DisneyWorld starts at $67. Two-days is $132. That means your second day cost $65. Three-days is $192. The third day cost $60. Four day is $202. The fourth day cast $10. Yes, you got that right. The fourth day is $10. The fifth is $4. The sixth thru tenth are $2. A 3-day pass is $192 and a 10-day pass $216. In other words, you pay $24 for the last 7 days of a 10-day pass.
Pay $100 per Night
The first time I went to DisneyWorld (as an adult), I paid $200-300 per night to stay in a hotel room. That immediately triggered the thought in my head about just how cheap RVs are. I now pay less than $100 per night at a very high class campground and I stay for about 14 nights. In other words, I'm saving about $2000 per year. I stay at Fort Wilderness, which at $100 per night is the most expensive campground I stay at. You can get even cheaper. Lake Louisa State Park cost $21 per night. And I'm sure there are plenty of other campgrounds in Florida in the same price range. If you don't have an RV, then don't worry, you can rent an RV and they will set it up on site for you.
Think Fastpass
If you like rides, then think Fastpass. Before you enter the theme park, know which fastpass you need to get. Enter the park and get your fastpass. When you get the fastpass, note the time you can get your next fastpass and get that fastpass ASAP. Repeat. When you are waiting for a fastpass interval, then go on some rides where the lineup is smaller. A good fastpass strategy is the difference between 20 rides and 5.
Pack a Lunch
Counter service meals at DisneyWorld is McDonalds, but you don't pay McDonald prices, you pay Disney prices. Pack a few sandwiches and you'll save yourself $5 per day per person.
Skip Universal and SeaWorld
You are going to DisneyWorld and you are paying $200 per person for tickets. It's not out of your way to go to Universal or SeaWorld, but it's another $60 per person. We've gone to SeaWorld from time-to-time, but lately we decided that it's not much different then our local sea park. We haven't been to Universal, but it also doesn't seem much different from our local theme park. Disney is magic. Univeral and SeaWorld are same and a waste of dollar unless you live in Florida.
Skip the Water Parks
Disney has two water parks which are likely two of the best water parks in the world. Nevertheless, they are water parks. My kids have done the water parks and they really like swimming, but they enjoy the average swimming pool about the same as the Disney water parks. Unless you got money to burn, then save yourself the money.
Pass on Options
Disney offers a lot of options on your tickets. I've tried the Park Hopper option, the Water Parks and friends have tried the No Expiry. I don't think any of them give you any benefit or save you any money. The Disney theme parks are big enough that park hopping really isn't necessary. It'll take you 2 hours to switch parks, so any gain is lost in time. If you get the 10-day pass, then park hopping is not really valuable. On the other hand, if you have 2 days to enjoy Disney, then park hopping might be good for you.
Start at the Back
If you arrive in the morning, then understand that most people enjoy their day at Disney by moving either clockwise or counter-clockwise around the park. In other words, the far back of the park is empty for the first hour or two. Start there and you'll enjoy an extra ride or two in the morning.
Later is Better
In part contradiction to the last item, the line-ups get smaller later in the day. By about supper time, the lineups get smaller and smaller. On the other hand, by supper time, the fastpasses are long gone. For rides that don't have fastpasses, your best bet is later in the day. The later, the better.
Magic Hours
If you happen to stay at a Disney resort, then pay attention to magic hours. These are extra hours where only Disney resort goers are allowed on the rides. These hours happen in both the morning and night. You get more hours at night. The lineups during Magic Hours are almost non-existent.
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