Welcome back!
In this post, I'll be talking about the many ways to go about saving a lot of money using different discounts available to most people. The discounts I'll be covering are as follows:
- Booking a package through The Walt Disney World Resort either online (http://www.disneyworld.com) or by phone (407-939-5277)
- Booking a trip with "Free Dining"
- Booking a trip with "Room Discounts"
- Booking a trip with a limited offer such as "Play, Stay and Dine"
- Booking a trip with a "Military Discount"
- Booking a trip through becoming a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member
- Booking a trip by renting DVC points from a club member
- Booking a trip using a "Pin Code"
- Booking a trip while you're already there, a "Bounceback" or a "Dummy Date"
- Booking a trip while being a Florida Resident
- Booking a trip while being an Annual Passholder
- Booking a trip with discounts being a "Disney Visa Holder"
- Booking a trip while being a "AAA" member
- Booking through sites like Expedia, or Travelocity
- Booking trips through a site affiliated with Disney Travel Planning, such as Dreams Unlimited (http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com), Undercover Tourist (http://www.undercovertourist.com/disney), Small World Vacations (http://www.smallworldvacations.com), and MouseSavers (http://www.mousesavers.com).
I know it's a lot of information, but sometimes a discount that
may seem like a great idea, might not save you as much money as another available discount!
LET'S DIVE IN!
BOOKING YOUR TRIP THROUGH DISNEYWORLD.COM OR BY CALLING IN --
Booking your package through The Walt Disney World Resort online or on the phone is usually the way most people who are first timers go. Sometimes, it's the better route to go, because it's directly through the company and it's the easiest way to get everything together through Disney. On Disney's site, there are usually links for discounts or different things going on through the parks and the resorts.
BOOKING YOUR TRIP WITH FREE DINING
Yearly (or so it has been), there has been free dining offered to Disney's guests. This is usually a great way to save, but not necessarily the cheapest way for the money you're willing to spend. Sometimes, getting free dining can give you the ability to upgrade to a moderate or deluxe resort with the money you're going to save. These offers are available through Disney's site, calling in & through outside travel agencies (we'll get to that later) and other places.
BOOKING YOUR TRIP WITH ROOM DISCOUNTS
As stated in the free dining explanation, sometimes the best way to save money is to get a room discount. These can be from 10% - 30% depending on the level of resort you're staying at. And sometimes, the discount may pay for the dining plan! Check these prices through Disney's site, calling in or through outside agencies (again, we'll touch on this later...).
BOOKING YOUR TRIP WITH LIMITED OFFERS
Sometimes, in the wonderful world of WDW (Walt Disney World) booking, there are offers that become available that are incredibly awesome. This past end of winter/early spring, for example, there was an offer available called "Play, Stay and Dine". There were a block of dates that these were available, and it was a HUGE savings. It allowed me to book a trip with a deluxe resort and quick service for the same price as a peak value and no dining plan!
BOOKING YOUR TRIP WITH A MILITARY DISCOUNT
Disney loves to thank our veterans, so they offer military discounts of all sorts. There is a discount on tickets, this information is taking directly from the Disney World site...
"
Walt Disney World Resort is saluting U.S.
military personnel by offering Disney 4-Day Military Promotional
Tickets for just $169 each, plus tax. The Park Hopper Option is
included, so you can come and go as you please through all 4 theme parks
each day of your ticket!
Purchase through September 24, 2014 and receive
admission on any 4 days from September 29, 2013 through September 27,
2014, with the exception of the following admission blockout dates and
locations:
- December 20 to December 31, 2013: Not valid at any theme parks or gated attractions
- April 13 to April 20, 2014: Not valid at any theme parks or gated attractions
- July 4, 2014: Not valid at Magic Kingdom park
And if you’re looking for a little extra magic, add the Water Park Fun & More option for just $29 more, plus tax."
BOOKING YOUR TRIP BY BECOMING A DISNEY VACATION CLUB MEMBER, OR RENTING DISNEY VACATION CLUB MEMBER POINTS FROM SOMEONE
This is an incredible way to enjoy WDW at it's finest, yet not saving any money. There are monthly dues as well as yearly. There are plenty of different people (using a website. I prefer The DVC Rental Store. It's SO easy to use, and it's user friendly. Not to mention there isn't a deposit to check availability! VISIT THEM TODAY, http://www.dvcrentalstore.com) offering their DVC points up for rent! Yes, YOU can get a chance to save thousands, and stay at a deluxe DVC member suite!
If you decide to become a new DVC member, a place to check is Disney, obviously. But there are other people out there wanting to SELL their DVC points! The most awesome site I've found for this is site (http://dvc-resales.com/DVC-point-charts.htm DVC Resales are an awesome group of people who have the know how and tools to make your buying easy and affordable!)
BOOKING YOUR TRIP USING A PIN CODE
These Pin Codes are usually found in an email once you've stayed on Disney property. But there are other instances too. I've got a friend who received one, but was only affiliated with the Disney company through an ESPN website. These are special offers tailored specifically to the last stay you had, but aren't necessarily for a specific date.
BOOKING YOUR TRIP WHILE YOU'RE AT WDW
This is called a Bounceback booking, or a dummy date. These are offered at different kiosks at the resorts and sometimes in the parks. I've seen a couple in EPCOT, but I spent most of my time there, while I was working. These are bookings with discounts because you're planning your next vacation before you even leave! My aunt has booked a bounceback while on a cruise, but she had done this before the change Disney made. Before you could use the dates anytime, but now there is a 180 day use policy. You must book within 180 days of your trip there.
BOOKING YOUR TRIP WHILE BEING A FLORIDA RESIDENT/ANNUAL PASSHOLDER
If you live in the great state of Florida, you are able to get a discount on tickets for The World. Here are the current Florida Resident Specials from Disney's website:
*LIMITED TIME SPECIAL FOR FLORIDA RESIDENTS
"Visit one theme park per day, valid at any one of the 4 Walt
Disney World theme parks from January 4 to April 11 and April 20 to June
6, 2014.
- 3-Day Discover Disney Ticket
$129.00 plus tax
- 4-Day Discover Disney Ticket
$149.00 plus tax
Blockout dates at Magic Kingdom park only: February 15 to February 16, 2014; April 20 to April 25, 2014; and May 24 to May 25, 2014."*OFFER FOR FLORIDA RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR"Enjoy access to one theme park per day and discover the many wonders that await!
- 3-Day Ticket
$179.00 plus tax
- 4-Day Ticket
$199.00 plus tax
Blockout dates apply**. Expires 6 months after first use or by December 17, 2015, whichever comes first.
Want to avoid blockout dates?"*FLORIDA RESIDENT ANNUAL PASS PROGRAM Down payments on all five options are $106.00, and the costs monthly range from $7.06 to $44.87. Read the entire list here (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/florida-residents/passholder-program/)BOOKING YOUR TRIP WITH YOUR DISNEY VISAChase Bank offers a Disney Visa Card, with several different awesome pictures on them. But other than looking cool, they offer a lot of awesome discounts and freebies through the program. Chase offers the information on this (https://disneyrewards.com/vacation-perks/ or https://www.chase.com/online/Credit-Cards/disney.htm) and they also include how to get the card, along with the long list of perks you get with the card. The best part? IT'S ABSOLUTELY FREE!BOOKING YOUR TRIP WITH AAABeing a AAA member gets you a lot of special things on the road, but did you know you can get great discounts through their vacation planning offers?! Yeah, I said the same thing. No! BUT -- my grandfather took his kids and grand kids (12 of us -- at the time it was considered a Grand Gathering) on a once in a lifetime vacation to Disney World and a 4 day cruise! He booked it through AAA in 2008 and saved over 50%! All you have to do is go to this site (http://www.aaa.com/scripts/WebObjects.dll/ZipCode.woa/wa/route?area=Disney) and type in your zip code! It's THAT simple.BOOKING YOUR TRIP THROUGH TRAVEL SITES (EXPEDIA & TRAVELOCITY)This is something I would save for the very last attempt at saving money. I've heard great things, and I've heard stories of nightmares. 15 minute layovers, flight delays with no credit back... Listen Frugal Mice, make SURE that if you book something like this and they offer trip and travel insurance... BUY IT. Sure, you'll spend a little more money, but you'll be thankful you did, especially during hurricane season! It seems to me that both sites offer the same rates, and even the exact same website... with different names. I looked up prices for a 7 night stay with two adults, a child at age 10, and a child at age 2 and it came up to $2,700 total for flight and hotel. How much you save is up to what you want to add to your package.BOOKING YOUR TRIP THROUGH OUTSIDE COMPANIES This is probably the best way to have someone else plan your trip and get the most personal experience. These people are usually Disney lovers and make a living planning your vacations! My favorite sites for these experiences are Dreams Unlimited (http://www.dreamsunlimited.com), Mouse Savers (http://www.mousesavers.com), Undercover Tourist (http://www.undercovertourist.com/disney), and Small World Vacations (http://www.smallworldvacations.com). They are almost always available to talk to online or through the phone. When I hear more things about different sites, I'll post them, and their phone numbers as soon as I get the information!I'm sure it's a lot of information to take in, but don't let the stress of so many options bring you down! IT'S YOUR VACATION, you will make it the best you can, and with this info, save some money as well!Thanks, and until next time...QOTD: What is your money saving advice? SEARCH... CONSTANTLY AND CONSISTANTLY. The best way to find the best prices is to compare them, and to compare them often. I check Disney's site, their specials, us.lastminute.com, and several other boards. Make sure you talk to someone if you have questions. Call Disney, they're so awesome, and they're there to help.DAYS TO GO TO DISNEY; WHEN IT'S NOT SO CROWDED
