Follow Me On Twitter

Parents Help Your Kids Learn ABC's and Spelling
Premier learning tools help kids excel.

Parent To Parent Archive

Parenting Advice

Parenting Humor

More Parenting Articles

Parenting Blog

I see more and more families asking themselves this question. Of course those ads that make you think it could actually be affordable are a driving force. Lots of parents remember their own first time at Disney World, and want to provide that experience for their kids. And then there's those parents who never got to go to Disney. Along with the peer pressure, all their friends in school are taking a week off here and there, missing school even, to go to Disney. And this is the time of year where the pressure really ramps up, doesn't it? It's winter, there's Spring Vacation (I remember where I grew up, we had both a February and an April vacation, so those parents have double the pressure, don't they?)

It's cold here, it's warm there. We need a family vacation that will be fun for every one. There's so much to do for all ages, all kinds of budgets... You can stay in the resort, right on the monorail and not think about transportation at all (my favorite option, but not exactly the cheapest). You can stay in the resort, but a little further, maybe a bus ride away from the Magic Kingdom. You can stay off property, and there your choices are multiplied exponentially. Oh, and let's not forget about the camping options, either, especially as we get closer to spring time, when the weather becomes absolutely perfect. Disney's Wilderness Resort has camping inside the resort, and of course, the RV parks are all over Florida.

There are budget hotels, motels, close by and further away. Time shares and rental condos that have full or partial kitchenettes so you can save money on meals (and eat better, too!) can be found just about anywhere. Sure, saving money takes more work, such as preparing your own meals, but if you have picky eaters you can be sure they won't go hungry. And if you have dietary restrictions, or are just trying to eat healthy, bringing your own food solves a lot of problems there.

Do you want to swim in a pool? Then you start with the time of year and some weather reports, then find your perfect accommodations that fit within your budget. Sure, you will adjust your vacation budget several times as you estimate travel expenses, lodging, meals and souvenirs, and the big ticket item: admissions fees to all the fun you can afford.

When you choose to stay inside the Disney resort, you are required to purchase some Park passes to cover your stay, since technically, you're already inside the resort. Those who opt to stay off property have a little more leeway, and can maybe search for better deals. Research your options carefully, even checking out ride height requirements to avoid disappointments for the shorter members of the family.

By all means, get the inside scoop from your friends and family who've already been there, remembering that the resort makes changes all the time. The Disney World site also has its own Moms Panel (http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/ ) with over 15,000 answers to all your questions. And if you can't find it, there's a search option or you can go ahead and ask your own question, to get a detailed reply. To get the complete story, the ugly as well as all the beautiful, head to AllEars.net. The Dining pages alone are possibly the most comprehensive guide to all you can eat at Disney.

The Disney vacation is not for everyone. The hefty price tag compels you to try to get the most bang for your buck, and that takes planning. Every intricate detail, from luggage tags to park maps to "how-to's" for everything from dining reservations to the best time of day for Space Mountain, all can found with just a few keystrokes. So if it's Disney you want, then take the time and Plan Ahead for your Disney Dream Vacation.

photos Courtesy of Disney^TM

Comments

Name

E-mail (Will not appear online)

Homepage

Title

Comment

To prevent automated Bots form spamming, please enter the text you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.