Disney Websites

If you sign up for the www.mousesavers.com emails, they will have a link for www.undercovertourist.com where you can purchase tickets for cheaper (they pretty much save you the 13% tax)

There is a book called "Disney on a Dime" you could try with lots of tips and info.

Hope you guys have a magical time!

www.disneyworld.com usually has the best deals for hotels/meal breaks. (If you are looking to stay on property, which if you can swing it, I suggest you do.) There is always some sort of deal and often times if you pay for the room, you get the meal plan for free (meaning 2 meals a day are paid for). As for tickets, I really don't know if AAA or someplace like that is cheaper (we buy season passes), but it's worth a shot! You could also see if they have some sort of deal, but I have been told it's normally not any better than Disney's. We own one of their timeshares, and go every year, so feel free to PM me if you have any other questions! :) Have fun!

Hi N., We have taken the kids twice now and have used a book you can get at any bookstore called Passporter. It has awesome tips. The couple that puts it out are Disney freaks and know EVERYTHING there is to know about Disney! And I would definitely suggest staying on property the first time. It's probably a little more expensive, but knowing you have transportation to and from the parks is great.

Good luck and have a great time!

C. K

N.,

Right now Disney is offering a free meal package if you book by the end of this year. You only need to put down a $200.00 deposit to hold the vacation package and will need to paid for I think 45 days before you arrive. You can make payments on it until the 45 day mark. Also this would include your room, tickets and 2 quick service meals and 2 snacks if you stay at one of the Value Resorts or 1 table service meal, 1 quick service meal and 1 snack if you stay a Moderate Resort. We have found the meal packages to be worth using especially if they are free!

To save on money in the parks you can bring your own snacks and it would be good to bring water, fruit snacks, nuts anything the kids would like to nibble on and would save you money and not have buy those types of things in the parks, which can added up day after day (but also, with remember with the free meals you also get a snack which can be anything from ice cream to a bottle of water and you can get them in the park or at your hotel).
Also Disney restaurants provide a lot of food when you do eat at one, so if the kids are smaller you could more than likely share a meal between two kids and/or some of yours with one smaller child (on any meals you might have to purchase or if you don’t go with the free meal plan). Also if you can use the buffet places as you get a lot to eat and they are kid friendly and have a lot of children foods, like mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, etc. You can also book a dinner at one, like Hollywood and Vine and then get preferred seating for Fantasmic later that night and not have to wait in line.
The idea of “pre-purchasing” some items at Disney is also a great idea. There is a Disney Outlet not far from WDW (http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=17) and they sell items from the parks much cheaper, it might be last season’s things, but who cares. We went there last year before we checked into our hotel and bought the kids each something so that we would not have to spend more at the parks to get them something. You could also purchase a few things from the Disney Store to surprise them with as you see things go on sale. A few years ago when we went I made them each a lanyard before we left and give to them when we got there (and we put the pouches on the end to hold the tickets and Fast Passes all of which I got on eBay for a fraction of the cost). I figured out each of their favorite characters, got them that person on the lanyard and then purchased a mess of pins to put on them, all from eBay. Then we limited them to getting one or two at each park. We also gave them each their own Disney Gift Card with I think $25.00 or so on it so they could only spend what they had an no more.
If the kids are small, take advantage of the park that opens early and then take a break during the day and go back to the park that stays open late, that is the advantage of the Hopper Passes. Also use the Fast Pass system, pick an attraction you would like to really do, get a Fast Pass, you have an hour window to use that Fast Pass, before going on that attraction, get another Fast Pass for the next one you want this way you are a step ahead (you can get a Fast Pass every hour after getting your first one). Only one person has to go to the Fast Passes they just need all the tickets when they go.
When you to the first park, get your photo taken by the Disney Photo people, they will give you a Disney Photo Pass card (kind of like a credit card) and you use it when ever you see a Disney Photo person and have them take your photo. They even use them around the characters. When you get home you can log on and check out the photos and only purchase the ones you what and you can also add borders and dates. Disney has made it official! The ability to pre-purchase Disney's PhotoPass CD for $99.95 has returned and is available to everyone; this will allow you to get every photo that is taken at the park and including the ones that you can “add” by adding borders, dates, etc. http://www.disneyphotopass.com/previsitoffer.aspx (I think this is still good I used it in September before we left and it worked.)
I also have a spreadsheet that I made for my boss when she took her daughter a year ago, I have updated some of it recently for someone and would be happy to send it to you, if you would like it just let me know. We went in Oct. with our son who is in the Coast Guard and daughter-in-law and Dec. with our youngest and his girlfriend (he is in the Air Force, stationed in Abilene, TX), so for the last couple of months every pay day we go to the Disney Store and add 25.00 to a Disney Gift Card so when we get there that will be our spending money, we have also been doing it for each of our sons (using their money) so they also will have one to use. Also let me know if you have any other questions as we have driven down many a year.

I am sure you will have a wonderful time!

J.

I don't have an answer to the question you posed. However, I would like to inform you that spring break is the busiest time at Disney World. I took my daughter (now 8) to Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios during her school's spring break last year. Magic Kingdom was so full that everyone in our party - including my daughter - had a miserable time. We only managed to go on two rides in six hours. Epcot and Hollywood Studios were more tolerable, but still difficult. For example, it was impossible to see the fireworks over the lake at Epcot, from any vantage point we could find. I will never again go during spring break, or at any very popular time. I just wanted to convey this information to you, mostly because I wish someone had told me!