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.

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.

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.

Don’t buy souviners every day. Being in the magical location of Disney makes it hard to resist buying every cool item you see. Spending can really get out of control this way. I would strongly suggest waiting until your last day to buy your souviners. This way you can make the best decision fo what you will spend your money on, since you have had time to see everything that’s out there.

Make sure you are clever and careful with your food costs. You can eat breakfast in the hotel, and then pack lunches and take them into the park with you. Disney allows you to bring your own backpacks, you don’t even have to sneak it in! We saved so much money doing this. Wouldn’t you rather spend your money on souviners? Once you eat your meals, that money is gone, souviners are forever!

Make absolutely sure to find every available discount and coupon. You can always count on there being discounts somewhere, you just have to look for them. The internet is a great help with this. We were fortunate enough to buy our park tickets at a nice discount at a local grocery store right in Orlando.

Be sure to vacation during the “off” season. Of course this may prove difficult since you have to pull the kiddies out of school, but you can put an educational spin on things by having them write a report about what they experience in Disneyworld. This way the days they miss will be excused. Being in Disney World during the off season can save you a huge chunk of cash.

www.affordabledisneyworld.org

Do all of your research before booking your vacation. The most common mistake made by first-time Disney vacationers is allowing the excitement of their trip to lead to impulse decisions. Most reservations involved with your vacation will require some sort of security deposit. Failing to investigate all of your available options could lead to unnecessary expenses. Unfortunately, if you do find a better deal, you will likely lose your deposit from the original reservation.

Create a comprehensive budget for your vacation. It is impossible to find the best deal for your family unless you know how much you have to spend. Estimate the costs associated with all aspects of your vacation. This includes obvious categories such as lodging and travel, but should also take into account expenses associated with park admission, rental cars, dinning, souvenirs, and fun money. Remember that all of these items typically cost about 30% more in the prime Disney tourist zones. You will become a better shopper once you have an understanding of your family’s needs and financial limitations.

Consider using a Disney vacation package, but beware of the fine print. Vacation packages are a great way to streamline the costs of a Disney World vacation. Disney offers a number of different options within their Magic Your Way packages. Each option offers different levels of inclusive costs, such as lodging, park tickets, and meals. While this can be a great alternative to the pay-as-you-go strategy, the items included with each package tend to have strict restrictions. Make sure you are able to use all the package benefits in the time you will visit Disney. Too many people waste their money by upgrading to packages with features they will never use.  This is the trap that marketers hope you will fall into - leaving hundreds of unused dollars on the table.

Explore the many different options available outside of Disney World. The area surrounding Disney world is filled with great attractions and alternative lodging options. Becoming familiar with them will open up many avenues to saving money on your vacation. Consider spending two or three days directly on-site of the park and then transferring to a cheaper off-site hotel. This will not only save you money on lodging and dinning, but it will also add some new excitement to your vacation.

Planning ahead is the most crucial part of securing the cheapest Disney vacation. It is amazing how many people simply sign up for the first package offer they find on the internet. This is not to say that these families won’t have fun, but the smart shopper can greatly enhance their vacation with a little research. If you are unfamiliar with the resources available online, or simply don’t have the time to bargain shop; then visit disneyvacationspecials.com. Here you will find all of the information you need to make informed planning decisions for your Disney World Vacation.