Free Complimentary Airport Transportation Service

At both Walt Disney parks, transportation from the airport to your hotel is something you’ll have to arrange and pay for yourself, this is unless you are staying at a Disney owned-and operated resort at Walt Disney World or Disneyland, in which case you have the option of using Disney’s free Magical Express services. These complimentary airport transportation services, known as Disney's Magical Express Transportation, is complimentary round trip airport transportation and luggage delivery for Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels. So you can begin your vacation the moment you step off the plane. It also alows you to bypass baggage claim and avoid the hassle of having to find transportation and drive, as Disney's Magical Express service transports you from Orlando International Airport to your Walt Disney World Resort hotel, and deliver your bags to your room. For more information go to Disneyworld.disney.go.com/Planning-Guides/in-depth-advice/Airport-Service

It's in the Card

Contact the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau Inc. at 800-643-9492 or www.go2orlando.com, and request the Orlando Magicard. The card saved us up to $50 a night on a hotel and entitled us to discounts on a rental car.

Bring/Buy Your Own Child/Baby Stroller

Bringing your own stroller will save you quite a bit of money and ensure that you have the stroller available all the time, such as when you’re going to and from your hotel. (If you will be using Disney’s transportation system, keep in mind that you will usually have to take your child out of the stroller and collapse the stroller while on buses, monorails and boats.)

Another thing to consider if you bring your own stroller is the hassles of getting it to Walt Disney World, particularly if you are flying. (You can “gate check” a stroller, which saves some of the work – just bring your stroller right to the gate at the airport. It will be tagged and put into the cargo hold from the gate.)

If you want to avoid the hassle of transporting a stroller on a plane, maybe consider buying a cheap one upon arrival and giving it to another lucky family or a charity when you leave.

Or you could possibly buy a stroller in advance and have it shipped directly to your hotel. This has the advantage of saving you money AND being less of a hassle (seeing as you won’t have to transport it to Disney yourself). At the end of your trip, either give the stroller to someone or put it back in the shipping box and have the hotel ship it home for you. To ship it to a Disney hotel, it should be addressed as follows:

Hold for guest: (write the full name under which you made the reservation)

Check in date: (insert date)

Hotel’s name and address (which will appear on your confirmation form)

Most people who bring their own stroller recommend a cheap umbrella-style one. They are lighter, making them easier to get on and off buses, and you won’t worry as much about the possibility of the stroller being stolen. (It’s not unheard-of for strollers to go missing in the parks, so it’s a good idea to put something personal on yours. At minimum, write your last name on it using a permanent marker.)

Make the most of it!

Try to to schedule your Walt Disney World vacation around one of Disney’s highly acclaimed annual events and festivals, many of which are included with the price of admission such events include; Epcot's International Flower & Garden Festival, Disney's Hollywood Studio's Star Wars Weekends, Epcot International Food & Wine Festival and Festival of the Masters and Holidays Around the World. These events are all great and will keep you more then entertained through the day, Possibly more depending on the event. You have to figure it's the same amount of normal attractions plus about a day's worth of extra attractions. I know this to be very true with the "Stars Wars weekends". Where Hollywood studio's open's it's doors to Star Wars geeks from around the globe. Just the Star Wars celebrities, shows and other extras and it's hard to get in the normal day at Disney in. Defiantly worth the price of admission.

Free Disney Services

Below I have a list of freebies I know are available at the moment (however, it’s subject to change) that you can take advantage of!

• Disney Maps- Great for scrapbooking pages.

• Disney Vacation Planning DVD- a great way to get your family excited about an upcoming trip. It’s also a good way to learn about new events/offers at the resort!

• Cupcakes- On your birthday, several restaurants in the resorts will give you a cupcake for free!

• Pins- Birthday, First Trip, Anniversary, Just engaged, Just Married and Family Reunion are available at Guest Services, or at check in at your Disney Resort. They are free- so just ask!

• Tour of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

• Drawing class at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Kids activities at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• Campfire Sing-along and movies at Disney’s Ft. Wilderness Lodge

• If you’re staying on site- Disney’s Magical Express will pick you up at the airport, and Disney transportation will take you throughout the resort by bus or boat.

• In downtown Disney, you can get a free sample of chocolate at the Ghiradelli Chocolate Shop!

• If you buy something in the parks and are staying on site, the item will be shipped to your room or resort gift shop for free!

Be A Happy Camper.

Do you have a tent or an RV? If your family likes to rough it, and in Disney terms, that can mean not only electricity and sewer, but even cable TV and internet, so you can cut your lodging bill to as little as $48 a night at the Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. There’s a ton of inexpensive fun to be had, thanks to two heated outdoor pools, tennis, horseshoes, shuffleboard, fishing, bicycling, boating, pony rides and horseback trail riding, and nightly wagon rides around the resort. And hands down, the most beloved tradition is the nightly campfire sing-a-long and marshmallow roast with Chip ’n Dale, followed by a G-rated Disney double feature on a huge outdoor screen under the stars.

Pass Holder Discounts

Seasonal and Annual pass holders, don't for get to show your passes for special 10% - 15% discounts and offers on dining, car rentals, merchandise, backstage tours, entertainment, sports and recreation (including spa treatments). These discounts are not only good at parks but at resorts as well.

Visit Free Attractions.

Check out some of the free things to do at Disney World such as strolling around Disney’s Boardwalk and Downtown Disney Area, or hiking through the Disney Wilderness Preserve. Downtown Disney is an awesome collection of stores, shops, bars and restaurants. A family could easily spend an entire day here and never run out of things to do. Disney's Boardwalk is very similar and designed after the boardwalks that were famous during the turn of the 20th century along such coastal cities as Coney Island, New York and Atlantic City, New Jersey. Stroll along Disney's BoardWalk during the day to explore the unusual shops and restaurants. When the sun cools down, the nightlife heats up with street performers, food vendors, midway games and lots of live entertainment. Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort is one of the original accommodations at Walt Disney World Resort. Nestled on 750 wooded acres of lush pine and cypress trees and surrounded by quiet trails and gentle wildlife, like deer and rabbits, you'll feel as though you're far away from the bustle of modern civilization—even though you're right in the middle of the magic at Walt Disney World Resort. More than just a campground, Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort offers an array of amusements and activities that you can only find at Walt Disney World Resort. From themed dining —like the popular Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue—to activities with Disney Characters—like the nightly Chip 'n' Dale "Sing-a-Long and marshmallow roast—magical experiences abound.

Pass On The Park Hopper

When buying your Disney World tickets, you are given the option to purchase a upgrade to a "Park Hopper". While a standard ticket gives access to just one theme park, with a park hopper add-on, you can visit multiple parks — Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom — all in one day. Add a Water Park Fun & More option, and gain access to your choice of water parks, such as Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach, in one day as well. These add-ons may look like a bargain. At the time of this writing, the Park Hopper costs $35 per person and the Water Park Fun option costs $57 per person on top of your ticket price. But buyer beware, your family might not even need admission to the extra parks. Each Disney Park is beyond massive, and certainly has enough attractions to entertain a family for the span of a day. Are you really going to need to visit two or three parks within eight hours? Not to mention travel time between parks. So, Why not hold off on buying the Park Hopper until you decide you really need it. The cost will be the same whether you order the add-on online ahead of time or not.

Buy Your Souvenirs Elsewhere

Who doesn’t love a pair of Mickey ears or Goofy hat? Buying Disney souvenirs, however, can be very expensive when purchased from any of the on-site gift shops or stands. If your kids have a case of the “I wants,” wait until the end of the day and head to a nearby department store or one of the many souvenir shops near the park. You’ll likely find many of the same souvenirs as you will in the park, but at a much cheaper price.

Pack Drinks and Snacks

Bring a backpack into the park, filling it with snacks such as chips, packaged peanut butter crackers, beef jerky ect. Also and most importantly pack a couple of bottles of water, freezing them the night before is a great way to go, don't worry by the time you’ve purchased your ticket and start walking around, they’ll have started to melt and will be icy cold. Buying drinks at Disney can get pricey, average $2.50 for a bottle of water, so it pays to bring a few of your own. Disney restaurants always offer a free cup of water. So if you’re totally parched, head to one of the eateries and ask for water only. If you end up buying a soda or drink look for the souvenir cups, they usually run around $7 but you’ll get free juice and soda refills all day long and the kids have a cool glass to take home. If you decide to eat at the parks, consider lunch. Lunch is cheaper at many of the eateries. Eating breakfast before you hit the park is always a good idea too. Now as far as dinner goes, if you are staying at a hotel consider bringing something and eating at your room. Many hotels offer microwave in the rooms. This saves money and can also work as a great way to escape the heat before returning for the night time fireworks displays. Especially when you have small children.

Stay In "Off-site" Resort

Sure, Disney World and Disneyland offer a tons of resorts and hotels that are on-site at the parks, but they can be very pricey. And if you are looking to save a little money, check out other hotels that are within five miles of the park, you’ll probably find that they’re several that are much cheaper, and most also offer perks like in-room refrigerators and a continental breakfast. By finding a hotel with these extra amenities, you can keep your kids entertained after hours, keep your own snacks, meals and cold drinks, and, most importantly, fill up on a healthy breakfast before you set foot in the park. It is often a good idea to check out travel sites for hotel reviews to find the best deal on one that’s a few miles away from the park, but offers a free shuttle to Disney to make up for the distance. Riding a couple of minutes both ways can help save major bucks in parking at the parks.

Plan Disney Trip For The "Off-Season"

If you really want to score the best ticket discounts at Disney? Plan your trip anytime from September till a couple weeks before Christmas; then from January through March will likely get you the most substantial ticket discounts. Nearby hotels and on-site resorts offer discounted rates also this time of year, and as an added bonus, the parks will usually be less crowded, meaning more time on rides and less time to get cranky while waiting in the blazing sun.