Disney on the Cheap and the Clock - Part Two

Part Two: Souvenirs, Travel, and maximizing your time in the parks.

When you're considering going to Disney World for your next vacation, and you're on a budget, you don't just want to think about saving money. You want to think about what saves you time AND money.

Here are some more suggestions for saving you both money and time and Disney World.

Souvenirs: avoid the gravitational pull!

Almost every ride at Disney World empties into a store. Every pavilion in the World Showcase at Epcot has a huge selection of gifts and souvenirs. Everywhere you look there's something to buy and someone who really wants to sell it to you. It's easy to get caught up into the magnetic pull to buy, particularly when it's thrust in your face every second of your vacation. Before you know it, you've got your arms filled with things no one will ever look at again off Disney property.

How do you save time and money with souvenirs?

• Give every family member a budget. Make sure everyone knows ahead of time how much money they have to spend on souvenirs. Be firm on the budget. Once you get to Disney World it'll be quite easy for everyone (yes, EVERYONE) to start whipping their heads in every direction, chiming in with 'I want that! I want that! I want that!'
• Give every family member a limit on the number of souvenirs they can buy. Perhaps they only get one thing, or one piece of clothing and one stuffed animal. This way instead of picking up objects blindly, they have to be on the look out for what they really want.
• Designate one day as buying day. This is the real time saver. Instead of being slowed down every time you exit a ride, designate one specific time where everyone gets their souvenirs.
• Find the Disney outlet stores. If you have a car, you can go to an outlet store like Character connection and purchase Disney merchandise at a discount.

Travel: When should you go?

If you have some flexibility in your travel dates, you'll definitely save money. Disney World has 'seasons' (Value, Regular, Summer, Peak and Holiday) and the price of Disney hotel rooms change depending on the season. Your time will certainly be better used in the parks during Value season when there will be lower crowds, than in Holiday season where parks will be at peak capacity.

When you're looking at flights, there's no need to go with the tried and true airlines for your flight fares. Search low fare sites like Kayak or Expedia to get the bet price. When you use these sites, just make sure you read the fine print and know exactly what the change or cancellation policy is. Both your time and money will be wasted if you book a flight you can't use.

If you're booking direct from an airline, check their policies out as well: will you be able to change your flight if you find a lower fare? Southwest has a great cancellation policy, there's no fee and it's easy to transfer your money from one flight to another.

Another travel tip: to fly or not to fly

You may think it's cheaper to drive to Florida. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. Weigh all your options when you compare driving to flying: compare the money spent on the road, with the time it will take you to get to Disney. How long is the trip? Will the days spent driving take away from your vacation enjoyment? Will you have to rent a hotel room along the way? How much is gas? How many meals will you be eating on the road?

Park Tickets: Maximize your Time!

There's no denying it, Disney park tickets are expensive. So, make sure you get the most out your money. There are many ways to save time and make those tickets worth their weight in gold.

• Use Fast Pass instead of waiting in the stand by line.
• Go as early as you can in the morning. Less crowds, cooler temperatures.
• Use the morning and evening extra magic hours.
• Find out if there's a special event at one of the parks, and stay away from that park on that day!
• Go on rides during parades.
• Bring comfortable walking shoes. No flip flops will do, Disney is big and there is a lot of walking. Many a Disney vacation has been ruined because of sore, aching feet. To that end, be prepared for a lot of walking! Many vacationers underestimate the amount of time you spend on your feet at Disney.

And here's one that may seem like it wastes time but is in fact does the exact opposite....

If you're staying at a Disney hotel take a break in the afternoon. Go back to the hotel, nap, swim. Believe it or not, this is the one tip that will absolutely maximize your time in the parks. It's all about the recharge. It's impossible to do all of Disney in a day, and if your vacation is in the summer it's doubly impossible to push the family in intense heat. Push too hard and everyone will end up miserable, which is no vacation at all. Go out early in the morning, and then go out again at night. The warmer the weather, the later the parks are open so you won't have lost any enjoyment time. And with everyone recharged, you'll have twice as much fun.

Disney can be expensive but there is a lot of entertainment value for your time and your money. Plan it right and you'll come out a head with a minimal bill, time well spent and a great vacation.