The Hole in the Pocket Walt Disney Trip
Ways to Come Home with Cash Leftover

Kids dream about going to Walt Disney World/Land sometime during their childhood.  If you are at the point in life where you’re thinking of taking your children to the most magical place on earth, but are afraid you may wash out your savings, here are some tips to ensure you come home with cash in your pockets.

Start to save months in advance.

Start saving for your trip months prior to your actually departure.  This way you will have a nice amount of spending money without having to worry if it’s going to cut into the next month’s budget.  You’ll need to plan for transportation costs, hotel accommodations, food, entertainment, as well as if you have things at home that need assistance such as pet care. 

Shop around for the best deals on transportation.

If you are flying, research all airlines and online travel sites such as www.expedia.com, www.traveldealslive.com or www.orbitz.com.  Although direct flights are ideal, they may come with a higher cost, so keep that option available as well.  If you need to rent a car, research companies so you find the best deal such as www.enterprise.com, www.hertz.com or www.avis.com to name a few.  

Research package deals. 

Surrounding hotels want to accommodate you and your stay at their hotel, so they are going to try and make your stay enjoyable as possible.  Research each of the surrounding hotels to find the best accommodations that meet your needs.  Maybe you want to ensure you have a free shuttle that takes you to and from the parks, perhaps you want discounted tickets to the parks, or maybe you want to ensure your kids stay free and eat free.  Whatever it is, there are plenty of options if the right research is done.

Food

The parks raise food prices to the max, so instead of eating what seems to be all unhealthy food, go grocery shopping once you get to your hotel, and store it in the refrigerator.  If the hotel room doesn’t come with one, a disposable cooler always works.  This way, you have plenty of snacks, juices, etc instead of spending tons of money at the parks.  Pack a backpack for the day and you’re on your w ay. 

Other general tips

Don’t forget to apply sun block through out the day even if it doesn’t seem that hot out. 

Store your cash somewhere safe.  A tight pocket is ideal because someone can’t snatch it out of your hands, and it won’t fall out during the rides. 

Buy a disposable camera.  This way, you don’t have to worry about your own camera being lost or stolen. 

Let your children decide on one or a few (depending on your budget) souvenirs.  Let them look around throughout the day, and when they find the item they want most, let them have that.  This saves you from buying every stuffed animal, costumes and apparel, and gadget in sight.  Say no. Although it may be difficult to do this, let your children know of the things that matter most, and what may not be so important ten minutes later. 

This trip is meant to be something your children remember for years, a time to bring the family together, and most of all have fun!