Luckily Disney World does offer a flexible and interest fee payment plan for all packages purchased directly through the Disney World website and reservation line.  Although it is not officially called a “payment plan” it offers many of the same benefits.  Best of all, it applies to anyone who signs up.

How It Works
Disney World allows you to plan and book your vacation package by putting up a $200 deposit.  After this point you are free to make payments in any amount and whenever you want.  There is no interest or additional costs to sign up for this feature.  The only requirement is that your total vacation package must be paid in full 45 days before your trip.

Since there are no penalties or fees if you pay within the allotted time, you can customize your payments to fit within your budget.  This works especially well for people who are expecting tax returns or work bonuses to fund their Disney vacation.  They get the opportunity to plan their trip today and pay for it later.

You can use Disneyworld.com to manage the finances for your Magic Your Way vacation package. Once you have registered you can keep track of how much you owe and even make payments directly through the website.  You can pay the entire balance at anytime before 45 days prior to your arrival.

This is a great alternative to the hefty interest rates that credit cards have, and the flexible terms means you won’t accrue fees for unexpected events that prevent you from making your payment.  Of course you will lose your $200 deposit and any credited payments if you default.  But as long as you have the means to pay on time then there is no better way to take the anxiety out of paying thousands of dollars for your trip to Walt Disney World.

Note that this only applies to Magic Your Way packages purchased directly through Disney World.  The payment terms are not available for single ticket purchases or separate hotel room reservations.

The promotion launched to the public on March 30th and includes most check-in dates from August 16, 2009 through October 3, 2009. Packages must be purchased by June 21st. Free dining will extend past the October 3rd date, as long as you check in October 3rd or before. As with all Disney promotions, this offer is subject to availability.

The upgrade gives you a Magic Your Way Plus Dining package for the price of a regular Magic Your Way package. You must purchase a regularly priced Magic Your Way package consisting of at least a 3-night stay at an official Walt Disney World resort hotel, AND a minimum of a 1-day Magic Your Way Base Ticket.

You can also chose to upgrade to the Deluxe Dining Plan for just $32 per adult per night and $10 per child age 3-9 per night. The Deluxe Dining Plan includes three meals a day at your choice of table service or counter service locations. Table service meals include an appetizer on the Deluxe Dining Plan. The Deluxe Dining Plan also includes two snacks per day and one refillable mug for each ticket holder.

Even without the upgrade, a family of four will save just over $100 per day with this promotion. You’ll likely save even more however because you won’t need to budget as much for your meals during your vacation. The Deluxe Dining Upgrade is a steal at $32 per adult since it covers all of food needs while at the park.

No other discounts can be combined with this offer. Reservations are limited. Please note that gratuity for table service meals are not included.

Here is how the promotion works:

- Customers must purchase a 4 night / 4 day Magic Your Way package at the regular price.  These vacation packages include accommodations at a Disney Resort and a Magic Your Way Base Ticket that gives each member of your travel party entry to one Disney Theme Park every ticket day.  You can upgrade your package to include things like Park Hopper Passes and Dining options.

- You must book your vacation by March 29, 2009 and your stay must fall between 4/27 - 5/18, 5/23 - 6/6, and 6/22 - 8/15/09.  There is a limited amount of discount packages offered for each time, but Disney does not disclose how many are available.

- The base package includes a stay at one of the Disney’s value resorts.  If you upgrade to either Disney’s Old Key West Resort or Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa you will also receive a $100 gift card valid at most shops and restaurants within the park.  Rooms in these resorts include amenities like kitchenette with microwave, mini-refrigerator, wet bar and coffee maker.

- Estimated total cost for a family of 2 adults, 1 junior, and 1 child who stay at a value resort is just under $1400.  This includes one theme park ticket per day, hotel accommodations, shuttle transportation to and from the Orlando airport, and transportation throughout the Disney World Resort.  This is an average family cost of $200 per day.

- Food and airline costs are not included, although you can upgrade to the dining package for about $19 per person / per day.

- You must book directly through the Walt Disney World website or reservation line.  The booking code for this offer is IUZ.

So if you assume a $1200 cost for round trip airline tickets, your total comes to $2600 for travel, lodging, and park admissions.  This is definitely a great deal, especially when you compare it our Disney Vacation Budget Example.

If you have been considering a trip to Orlando this summer then now is the time to take advantage of this offer.  You will have to be flexible with your dates depending on availability, but it is worth it in the end.

Here is how the promotion works:

- You have to register at the Disney World website and enter the birthdays for each family member that might use the discount.

- After registering, you will be directed to a confirmation page that you can print out at home.  Disney will also send you an email two weeks before each birthday that can also be used as a confirmation.

(Note: you don’t have to register to receive free admission as long as you have a valid ID when you enter the park.  However, unregistered participants will have to fill out the form in line so save yourself the time and headache by registering in advance.)

- There are other birthday specials available if you have already purchased a package or multi-day park ticket.  You can choose from ONE of the following:

1. A special birthday FASTPASS that lets you bypass long lines for certain attractions within the park you visit on your birthday.
2. A one-day Magic Your Way base ticket that can be used any time until your next birthday.
3. A birthday fun card in an amount equal to the price of a one-day Magic Your Way base ticket.  These are good for merchandise, recreation or fun activities at select participating locations at Disney World.  This card is only valid on the actual date of birth and any unused balance will expire the next day.

- Only adults over the age of 18 may register family members, and each participant receiving free admission must be accompanied by a registered adult who has proper identification.

If you are getting ready to plan your Disney vacation then it only makes sense to try and time it around this birthday promotion if possible.  Not only will it save you money, but we can’t think of a better way to spend a birthday then with Mickey Mouse and the Magic Kingdom!

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort has all the features of a great campsite with the added bonus of being close to the main Disney attractions.  You can integrate your stay at Fort Wilderness with many of the Magic Your Way Packages as well.  Best of all, campsite rates start at $45 per night, which makes this by far the cheapest lodging option within the Disney properties.

Some of the basic features included with your stay include access to several conveniently placed Comfort Stations.  Each station has toilet facilities, private showers, laundry facilities, ice machines, and pay phones.  This is in addition to hookups at each individual campsite such as water, charcoal grill, picnic table, 20 amp/120 Volt, 30 amp/120 Volt, 50 amp/250 Volt outlets, sanitary disposal system, and the availability of safety keeping boxes.  This is a well run campground with the cleanliness and quality you would expect from the America’s largest theme park.

Camping at Disney World adds a special element to your vacation that most families will never get to experience.  The Fort Wilderness property has a host of fun activities all to itself.  You’ll find horse trails, boat rentals, tennis courts, playgrounds, bike rentals and swimming pools right on the campsite grounds.  Entertainment options include campfire sing-a-longs and entertainment dinner shows like the “Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue”.

As many RV veterans already know, traveling the country and staying at campsites is a great way to meet new people.  When you combine the experience with a visit to Disney World it truly makes for special family vacation.  Of course not everyone is open to living outside the comforts of modern technology, but those who enjoy being closer to nature can save a substantial amount of money on their hotel and travel bills.

Of course no one wants to ruin their vacation by staying at a second-rate hotel where they are constantly concerned about cleanliness and safety.  Luckily there are several options near Disney World that offer competitive prices and some great features.  Here is our list of preferred cheap hotels for Disney vacationers.

*Keep in mind that these selections are based on value.  These hotels will serve as a perfect place to get your rest after a long day of sight-seeing, but they are not “full service” hotels.*

Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort

This movie-themed resort at Walt Disney World Resort offers a fun, cinematic approach to a Disney vacation. Located at Walt Disney World Resort, this 1,920-room hotel is comprised of 10 buildings themed around popular Disney movies, such as Fantasia and 101 Dalmatians. Larger-than-life icons from the films decorate the courtyards and public areas. One outdoor pool continues the Fantasia theme while another is located in a Mighty Ducks’ ice hockey–themed area.

There is also a children’s wading pool and arcade on site, along with a gift shop, playground, and laundry facilities. A food court with five stations offers a variety of American fare in a casual atmosphere.

Disney’s Magical Express: Guests of this resort are eligible for complimentary Disney’s Magical Express service. Motor coaches pick up guests at Orlando International Airport and drop off at Walt Disney World Resort hotels, while Disney staff members pick up bags and deliver them straight to guestrooms.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Open since December 2003, this Epcot resort is a whimsical time capsule of 20th-century pop culture.  Disney’s Pop Century Resort spans 177 acres in the Disney’s Wide World of Sports Area. This Disney Value Resort Hotel is a celebration of 20th-century pop culture, with a focus on iconography of the “Classic Years”—the 1950s through the 1990s. The buildings are fashioned as time capsules of the way Americans lived, worked, and played during these five decades.

Icons include jukeboxes, bowling pins, and Lady and Tramp (from the Disney movie, Lady and the Tramp) near the 1950s buildings; Play-Doh, Duncan Yo-Yos, and characters from The Jungle Book near the 1960s buildings; Big Wheels and eight-track tapes near the 1970s buildings; Sony Walkmans, Rubik’s Cubes, and Roger Rabbit near the 1980s buildings; and laptop computers and cell phones near the 1990s buildings.

The resort has three heated pools with themes, a children’s pool (unheated), an arcade, and a playground with a Goofy water feature. In addition there are laundry facilities on site and a 7,000-square-foot retail area in the resort’s Classic Hall. Guests receive complimentary bus transportation to and from the Walt Disney World® Theme Parks.
 
Includes access to Disney’s Magical Express shuttle service.

Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
 
Located within a mile of Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, this sports-themed resort offers energetic fun for fans and families. This 1,920-room hotel is comprised of 10 buildings themed around various sports. Larger-than-life athletic icons—such as football helmets and basketball hoops—decorate the courtyards and public areas. The main pool, Surfboard Bay, offers a fun surfing motif while the Grandslam Pool has a baseball theme. There is also a children’s wading pool and arcade on site, along with a gift shop, playground, and laundry facilities. A food court with five stations offers a variety of popular American fare in a casual atmosphere.

Includes access to Disney’s Magical Express shuttle service.

 Hotel descriptions provided by www.Expedia.com

Sample Disney Vacation Budget:
- Smith Family - 2 adults and 2 children under 9 years old
- Traveling from Cincinnati, OH
- 6 day / 5 night vacation
- Christmas 2008: Leave 12/28/08 - Return 1/2/08

Travel Costs:

- Direct Fight Airline Tickets (round trip) = $2168.00

- Full-Size Rental Car (located in airport terminal) = $627.87

- 3 Bedroom Suite at WorldQuest Resort (1 mile away) = $1314.00

Park Admission

- 3 Day Magic Your Way Park Hopper Ticket
  2 Adults @ $261 each & 2 Kids @ $228 each = $978.00

- 1 Day Admission to Universal Studios
 4 Tickets @ $73 each = $292.00

Food Budget and Misc.

- Food ($70 adults per day & $40 kids per day) = $660.00

- Souvenirs ($60 per day) = $360.00   

- Gas for Rental Car = $100.00

- Emergencies and Special Treats = $500.00

 Total Disney Vacation Budget   $6997.87

A couple things to note about this particular example…

- The food budget is a little high, especially if you bring snacks with you.  Nonetheless this budget allows for flexibility in your dinning selections.

- If you do a little research you can find complimentary alternatives to renting a car.  However, having a car lets you explore more of the Orlando area and is much more convenient then waiting for shuttles.

- The Universal Studios trip is obviously optional, but it can be fun to see other sites outside of the Disney World resort area.

- The December time frame is considered peak season at Disney World.  Cheaper rates on flights and hotels can be found in off seasons like February, April, September, and October.

We will try to post quarterly examples like this to show the available rates during different seasons.

Disney World Website
The most obvious place to begin your vacation planning is at the main source.  The Disney World site is filled with information for first time visitors that will save you money.  You can view the pricing for Magic Your Way Packages, park tickets, and rates for the dozens of Disney hotel and resort options.  The only thing that can be confusing is trying to estimate the cost of your trip.  There are so many features you can add to their packages that it can be difficult to keep track of the best deals.  Of course if you get too confused you can always call their reservation line.

Orlando Convention and Tourists Bureau
You should not limit your trip to Orlando to just Disney World.  There are tons of great family attractions in this city and the tourist’s bureau offers great deals on all of them.  Not only will you find coupon codes and promotions to save money at hotels, but they also have discounted tickets to all of the major theme parks.  A good rule of thumb is to plan an excursion away from the Disney grounds once every three days you are in Orlando.  While there is plenty to do in Mickey’s home, there are also some great alternatives located just minutes away.

FloridaOrlandoTickets.com
If you are looking for some of the best theme park vacation packages then this site is a must see.  They have tickets, tours, and plans for every major attraction in the Orlando area.  The only downside is that their stock tends to sell out quickly during the busiest seasons.  Even so, you are sure to walk away with some great ideas for places to visit during your stay.

Expedia
One of the largest travel sites on the internet is a good place to go for awesome hotel and flight prices.  They don’t sell Disney World packages or tickets directly, but you will find substantial savings for off-site accommodations.  Our number one tip for saving money at Disney is to stay outside of the theme park.  There are so many hotels and home rentals in the Orlando area that it is ridiculous to pay the inflated prices found within the park.  Use Expedia to book your flight and hotel and then buy your park tickets at Disney or one of the discount suppliers listed here.  This is an easy way to shave hundreds of dollars off of your tab.

How It Works
The Disney Dinning Package includes one quick service meal, one snack, and one table service meal for each night of your stay.  Quick service meals are offered at the park and are similar to what you would find in a fast food combo menu.  Snacks include ice cream treats, popcorn, and soft drinks.  Table service options are offered at different sit-down restaurants throughout the park.

The meals included in your vacation package are cumulative; meaning that you can use them at anytime during your stay.  For example, you can redeem three snacks per person on one day and use two table service meals the next.  You will receive a dinning card that stores your allotment of meals and is used by the cashiers as payment.  All service charges and gratuities are included with the price.

If you are interested in special food options like Character Dinning and Disney Signature Dinning, a handful of locations offer the opportunity to redeem two table service meals as full credit for one meal.  Keep in mind that reservations are necessary for the most popular attractions.

The Cost
A three night Magic Your way Package with Food costs about $450 per adult, $325 per child under 18, and $200 per child under 10.  For six night stays, the price increases to $700, $425, and $250 respectively.  This is a pretty good deal as it averages about $35 per day for food per adult.  Most people would find it difficult to eat under that budget without the package deal.

Is It Right For You?
There are several things to consider before purchasing the dinning option.  Are you willing to accept the restrictions of eating at only those places that are approved under the plan?  You should also consider how many character dinning experiences you plan on attending.  There are only a few approved locations that accept the 2-for-1 meal plan exchange rate, and your kids might not be as interested in these options.  Review this guide to dinning plan locations for more information.

Overall, the food packages offered at Disney World can be a great budget saver for the right family.  It is nice to be able to plan most of your food costs before you go.  You can also help control costs by bringing snacks and beverages in the park as long as you don’t mind carrying them around all day.  The best plan is to use a mix of both options.  This will help you save money and prevent anyone from going hungry while on your vacation.