Many people think of a family vacation to Walt Disney World in Florida as a once-in-a-lifetime event.
But with some careful planning it is possible to make Disney World an affordable vacation destination that you can return to year after year.
Here are some tips and secrets to help you save money on that upcoming trip.
1.
Use a specialist travel agent There is absolutely no need to pay the rack rate for a room at a Disney World Resort when there are so many special offers on throughout the year; you just need to know where to find them.
You could choose to book your vacation yourself and then spend time surfing the Internet looking for the latest offers, or you could choose to book through a specialist Disney travel agent.
These agents are your personalised assistants who will not only help you book your vacation in the first place, but will then keep an eye out for any offers that you can use to reduce the costs, automatically applying them to your booking without you even having to think about it.
2.
Take a trip during off season My husband and I love to travel to Disney World in early November; not only is it much cheaper to visit during off season, but the crowds are also lighter so we get to experience much more.
Disney's low seasons are late August through to the end of September, late October through to the week prior to Thanksgiving, post Thanksgiving through to the week before Christmas, and then January through President's Day week.
3.
Forget about renting a car If you are staying on Disney property then you don't need to spend money on car rental.
The complimentary Magical Express coach service will take you and your luggage from the airport to your Resort hotel and then back again at the end of your vacation.
You then have access to the free Disney Transportation services made up of buses, boats and the monorail system which will transport you from your hotel to the theme parks, water parks and the Downtown Disney shopping village.
4.
Refill a mug If you like to drink coffee or soda then you should invest in a Refillable Mug.
These mugs can be used at the quick-service restaurants at your resort and for around $12 are excellent value, especially for thirsty kids.
5.
Pack your own snacks Bring a suitcase filled with light snacks such as crackers, chips and cereal to help you save money each day in the parks.
On your return trip you;ll find that empty suitcase useful for souvenirs.
The Garden Grocer service will allow you to order groceries online and have them delivered to your resort.
Have cases of water shipped to your room to save money buying bottles in the parks.
You might also want to consider breakfast staples like cereals and milk to help you all get moving much more quickly in the morning.
Eating breakfast in your room will allow you to get to the park gates while everyone else is waiting to be served in the restaurants.