Are you visiting Walt Disney World in the near future? You choice of accommodations will play a large role in having an affordable Disney vacation. Knowing all your options will help you make the best choice for your family and your budget.
As you make a choice on where you will stay on your Disney World vacation, you should consider several things: the time of year you are visiting, the size of your family, and whether you will need transportation while there.
Some times of year, like the summer, holiday weekends, and Christmas/New Years are the busiest for the parks, and so tend to be the most expensive for the Disney resort properties. It is also not unusual for Disney resort rooms to be sold out during these times of the year, especially if you are planning on short notice. Because of this, at these times, you will typically find off-Disney properties to be your most affordable options.
Consider also the size of your family, since if you have a number of children, you may need more than one motel room. If this is the case, you may find that “suites”, villas, or rental homes may be your best choice for affordable accommodations.
You will also want to think about how you will get around to the theme parks. If you stay with Disney, you will be able to use their free resort transportation. If you stay off-site, then you will need to see if your hotel/motel has a free shuttle, or you will need to rent a car or van.
Now, what choices will you have then for accommodations at Disney World?
More and more families are turning to vacation homes or condos for their Disney World vacation. This type of property will allow more space for your family, typically sleeping from 4-16 people. If your family requires multiple hotel rooms, this option will mean a cost savings for you. Plus, with access to a kitchen, you will be able to prepare and eat in for some meals if you wish, which will also save you money.
Another option is to choose an off-site property. Staying in a non-Disney hotel/motel will likely cost less, possibly much less than a Disney World resort property. But make sure that this is truly the most economical option for you, but finding out if the hotel offers things like free breakfast, or free park shuttles. See if you will need a car rental.
What about Disney World resort properties? Disney typically offers a number of “perks” to their resort guests that can make this the most affordable choice for you in some circumstances. You will not have to worry about transportation as Disney’s Magical Express buses will transport you to and from the airport, and their extensive resort transportation system will get you to the theme parks…saving you quite a bit of money. Plus Disney offers “Extra Magic Hours” which provides you more time in the parks than non-resort guests. And with the regular promotions that Disney offers, you may find that a Disney vacation on-site can actually be extremely affordable.
After you decide where you want to stay, but before you book, check out some different pricing options, whether on or off Disney property. Websites like Expedia and Travelocity often have better prices than the ones you get directly from Disney or the off-site hotel. And don’t forget to check for AAA or AARP discounts, or similarly teacher discounts: the Walt Disney World Swan and Walt Disney World Dolphin regularly offer these.
You can have a very affordable Disney vacation. By taking the time to research all of your accommodation options, you can make certain to choose the most economical one, and so to create magical memories…but not necessarily expensive ones.
Nancy Bobby has been traveling to Disney World for over a decade. Her favorite resource to save a great deal of money on a Disney vacation has been the Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide. Get help with your own affordable Disney family vacation and receive her free Disney vacation guide at her blog www.theaffordablemouse.com.