First time Disney travelers might be intrigued by the street vendors around Lake Buena Vista and Kissimmee selling used Disney World tickets. The attraction is obvious, save 50% or more off the price of your park tickets by purchasing someone’s “leftovers”.

For example, let’s say a family purchased a 7-day Magic Your Way ticket and only visited the park 5 days during their stay. Now technically there are 2 unused days still left on the pass. Even if they did not purchase the No Expiration option, the tickets are still valid up to 14 days after their first use.

Sounds like a great way to take advantage of unused tickets – right?

Well it might sound like a good idea when pitched by a fast-talking street salesman, but the truth is that all used Disney tickets are a scam. The only thing you’ll get from buying them is a big fat hole in your wallet.

Here is what you need to know…
- For starters, the practice of selling used DW tickets in Florida is illegal, but the market is still very much alive thanks to scammers who try to exploit innocent tourists.

- Disney World tickets work like credit cards. They have a magnetic strip that identifies the purchaser and proper ID must be provided in order to redeem them. If your ID does not match the ticket’s information then you will not gain entry to the park.

From the Disney World website:

“Please note that all Magic Your Way Tickets are nontransferable and must be used by the same person on any and all days. The person who uses the ticket for the very first time must use the ticket for its entirety. Any tickets that are transferred are in violation of this restriction and are invalid for admission.”

- Only Disney ticket computers can tell whether or not is valid, and how many days are left on the pass.

- The majority of discounted tickets sold on eBay and Craigslist are actually used passes. There is no legitimate way for anyone to offer significant savings on tickets without losing money on the deal. Thus, if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is.

So in short, steer clear of anyone selling used tickets. The absolute safest place to buy your park tickets is directly from Disney World. It simply is not worth risking your vacation to save a few bucks, especially when there are so many other ways to save at Disney World.

If you are not familiar with Disney Photopass it is a free service offered throughout Disney parks where professional photographers take snapshots of your family that can be purchased later in a variety of different formats.

The obvious advantage here is having great looking pictures shot onsite at the most memorable destinations within the parks. All you need to do is grab a free photopass card when your picture is taken and keep it with you on your vacation. The photographers will scan your card after each picture and you can view them anytime at DisneyPhotopass.com. Most families will continue to bring their digital cameras to capture action shots or other non-park related photos, but it makes sense to take advantage of the photopass service because you are only charged for if or what you buy.

Photopass photographers use professional quality cameras and allow for multiple poses to be shot at each location. Each park has between five and eight photo stations, typically located by main entrances, primary attractions, and Disney character meet-and-greets. You can also add character dining photos to your account provided you purchase them at the event.

The best deal in our opinion is the PhotoCD which includes all of the pictures posted to your account in JPEG format with a copyright release. This means you can have the pictures printed at places like Walgreens and even use them in cards or novelties printed by a third party. You add Disney themes and borders to them at the website or at one of the Photo Centers located in the park.

The standard price for a PhotoCD is $149.95, but if you pre-order before your trip using this link you get $50 off that price. You can also opt to save more with this promotion by bundling a Disney Photo Book to the offer.

$100 for unlimited access to professional photographs of your family is a sweet deal if you have room in your budget. Just make sure you register your pictures within 30 days or they will be deleted from the system!

Family vacations are full of great memories and it is always fun to bring home a couple of souvenirs to remember your trip by. There is no shortage of gift and souvenir stations at Disney World, but you will certainly pay a premium on anything you buy inside the park.

Of course you can avoid the markups at the Disney World gift shops by mapping out a strategy beforehand. In fact, DW veterans know there are plenty of other options out there. To help you save money in this department we have put together this guide to finding cheap Disney World souvenirs…

Cheapest Stores for Disney World Gifts:

Disney’s Character Premiere Store at Orlando Premium Outlets
Located about 15 minutes NE of Disney World, the Character Premiere Store is a popular destination for Disney World tourists. Most of the items are closeouts from the main resort, so the quality and prices are good.

Wal-Mart on Turkey Lake Road
Located NE of Disney World by about 20 minutes, this particular Walmart is not only handy for stocking up on essentials, but it is also a great place to find cheap Disney World souvenirs. How cheap? Well, we’ve seen reports of $7 DW t-shirts on some of travel forums!

International Drive Flea Market
For those looking for a little bit of everything, the Flea Market on International Drive in Orlando is just the place. With over 400 booths in one building, you’ll find everything from purses and furniture to toys and Disney World memorabilia. Click the video below for more information on this eclectic shopping destination…

Simple Strategies to Maximize Your Souvenir Budget:

- Kids love to get autographs from the theme park characters. Plan ahead and save money by making your own autograph books using generic notebooks decorated with Disney stickers.

- Buy the light up bracelets and gadgets for considerably less from vendors outside the parks.

- Have a kid who likes to dress up? Save on over-priced costumes and make-up stands inside Disney World by making or buying a costume before going to the park.

- Set aside a souvenir allowance amount for each kid in your party. This controls costs and teaches an important lesson in budgeting!

- One creative idea that will last throughout your park travels is collecting pressed pennies. There are a number of penny presses around the park that will turn your penny into a lasting memento of each ride/attraction.

You can buy Disney World pressed pennies books for about $10 each in the gift shops. After that you simply need to bring some rolls of quarters and shiny pennies with you on your travels. Your kids will have fun searching for penny presses of their favorite rides and shows, and they had a blast searching out their favorite characters.

- Pin trading is another popular activity while at Disney World. As you probably guessed, pins purchase inside the theme park are significantly more expensive then those available from other sources. If you plan ahead you can buy a small lot of them off eBay for about $1 each and your kids can trade them in the park.

These are just a few of our favorite ways to save money on your vacation with cheap Disney World souvenirs. Feel free to share your ideas in the comment box below!

Anytime you have a destination as popular as Disney World you are going to find those who try to illegally profit from its good name.  These scam artists know how badly parents want to take their kids to Disney and they use this innocent desire to prey on them.  Luckily the Disney company is always on the lookout for fraudulent offenders, and they are quick to prosecute anyone involved in suspicious behavior.  That being said, you should still familiarize yourself with the common traps that are used on Orlando tourists.

Bait and Switch
Not necessarily a scam as much as a colossal waste of time is the timeshare salesmen who offer discounted tickets to Disney World in return for listening to their pitches.  While it may sound like a small price to pay for tickets that are either free or heavily discounted, it simply is not worth it.  The bottom line is these timeshare seminars can run between four to six hours long and the pressure to buy is overwhelming.  You are much better off enjoying your time with the family instead of wasting it in a hotel conference room.

Fake Tickets
Every year Disney goes through great lengths to insure their park tickets are difficult to copy, but there will always be someone with the technology to give it a try.  This is why it so important to buy from a reputable source.  Beyond the Disney website you can also buy tickets at Orlando tourist information stops and reputable travel agencies like AAA.  Take the time to familiarize yourself with how a real ticket should look.  If you have any doubts then hold back until you find a vendor you can trust.

Contract Terms
Another thing to be cautious of is the contractual terms of your vacation package.  Some sneaky agencies will include ridiculous payment terms in their contracts that are difficult to manage.  What happens is some people will miss a deposit or payment and their entire vacation will be cancelled without refund.  The vendors lure unsuspecting buyers in with cheap prices and offer an “easy payment plan” that is designed to confuse or trick them.  Since the packages are sold at a loss, the goal is to get you to miss a payment so they can keep your money and cancel the reservations.  This typically only happens with discount vendors like those you find on eBay.  Again, make sure you understand the complete terms of the sale before making the purchase.

Fake Coupons
You will find hundreds of opportunities to buy Orlando coupon books while you are planning your vacation.  They claim that by spending $25 to $50 on the coupons you will save hundreds of dollars.  The problem is that most of the discounts are valid during the peak tourism season or else they are only good at second-rate hotels and restaurants.  The fact is that you shouldn’t have to pay for coupons.  Just do your homework before traveling to find the best deals available during the season you will be visiting Disney World.

These are just a few of the scams you will find targeted to Disney vacationers.  Since thieves and con artists are always testing new methods you should be leery of any deal that is too good to be true.  The simplest way to avoid getting taken is by buying through agencies you trust.  This isn’t limited to just Disney as there are plenty of travel agencies and online suppliers that have solid reputations.  Just be sure to do your research before handing over your credit card.

Family vacations to Disney World are a special treat for everyone.  While there is no question you will have a great time with everyone, there is always a budget element that comes into play.  No one wants to put too many restrictions on their vacation, but you also don’t want to go broke in the process.  Here are some tips to making your Disney World Vacation more affordable.

Consider a Rental Home
There are plenty of hotels to choose from in the Disney World area, but they can be very expensive during peak times.  One option to avoid these exorbitant fees is to research rental homes in the Orlando.  There are always plenty to choose from and most are only 10 minutes away from the park.  Not only is the rent cheaper, but you will be able to cook your meals which will save you hundreds.

Save on Souvenirs
Everyone is going to want to take back a little piece of Disney with them from your trip.  This is expected, but you set some round rules to avoid being bombarded with requests.  If you child is old enough then you can give them an allowance and explain that this is all they get.  If you have small kids, then it is best to promise them something in the last couple days of your trip.  Tell them to shop around and find which item they really want.  If possible, do your souvenir shopping outside of the park for more affordable options.

Always Call for the Best Deals
No matter where you buy your accommodations and Disney World park tickets from, make sure you actually speak to a customer service agent.  Online bargains can be tempting, especially when they offer instant access, but you would be surprised how much you can sometimes save by talking with an operator.  They know what is available, and they also have the power to customize reservations to fit your needs and budget.

Do Your Research
Nothing will ever save you as much money on your Disney vacation as research will.  Not everyone has the luxury to plan way in advance, but those that do should be using the internet to shop for bargains.  There are also books like the Disney World Savings Guide that are perfect for first time visitors to Disney World.  Everything you need to know about saving money is laid out in this excellent resource.

You can make Disney World affordable, but the only way to achieve it is by planning ahead and knowing what to expect.  Don’t be afraid to look at options outside of the Disney World Park.  This is where many of the cheapest options are located.

Some methods of saving money at Disney World require a little more advanced planning, but the dividends can pay off well. A great example of this is using the Disney Rewards Credit Card to earn points towards your vacation. These points are redeemable in a number of different ways. 

Here is an overview on how the system works:

The Disney Rewards Visa earns a one percent rebate on all of your purchases. This includes purchases at restaurants, gas stations, online, and anywhere else that accepts Visa. At the end of each month your rebates are automatically converted into Disney Reward Dollars. To give an example, you would receive one reward dollar for every $100 spent on combined purchases.

There are a number of different options for redeeming your Disney Rewards Dollars, including retail items such as Disney DVDs, toys, and clothing. But for those who are planning a Disney World trip, the rewards can also be used for accommodations at Disney hotels, or for admission credits to Disney World. There is a maximum accumulation of 750 Rewards Dollars per year, but that would mean spending $75,000 worth of charges (unlikely for most people). All Rewards Dollars are valid for up to five years after they are awarded. 

Another great feature of this card is the six-months no interest option available on the purchase of certain Disney Vacation Packages. By using your card to purchase your vacation, you essentially save another one percent with the points earned, and you save off the interest charges. Cardholders will also find a handful of other savings opportunities within the theme park when paying with their Disney Rewards Card. At the time of this writing, there was a special bonus offer for a $15 Disneystore gift card for new applicants. 

By planning ahead and using your card to make all of your family’s purchases, you could save hundreds of dollars off your Disney vacation. Of course you should always be careful to avoid interest charges since they might wipe out the value of any reward you receive.