The "DIS" in Disney isn't for discount

Let's face it - even a budget a trip to Walt Disney World is pricey. You can rent a house or stay in a hotel. Cook meals in, eat out off site or eat on Disney property. You can juggle your costs, but its still thousands of dollars by the time you're done.

No matter what you do tickes are almost impossible to find at a discount. For several years Disney offered a free day in exchange for a day of volunteerism or on an individual's birthday. What a great advertising campaign! Almost everyone would love a free day at Walt Disney World... at least on paper. In reality these were not great savings to the individual as Disney only discounted value of the lowest cost day - not the value of the most expensive day (the first day). So, on a 7 day ticket you saved about $8.00.

In all fairness, if Disney gave away 1,000,000 of these days then they lost $8,000,000 in potential revenue (or more if people only went for 1 day to maximize the value.) However, each of those people undoubtedly ate something at a park, picked up a souvenir or two... Disney made back their money, I'm sure.

Assuming I've done the math correctly, here are my findings regarding ticket prices on a 7 day ticket for 3 adults & 1 child without park hopper (as of April 29, 2012):

UNDERCOVER TOURIST $1,024.00+ tax & shipping included= TOTAL $1,024.00

Kissimmee Guest Services with promo code  $1,017.53  +7% tax $10.00 shipping =TOTAL  $1,098.76

DIS website  $1,049.00 +7% tax +Must pick up tickets at a Disney will call window= TOTAL $1,122.43

Disney Store in GA $1,049.00 +7% tax+take from store = TOTAL $1,122.43

Kissimmee Guest Services no code $1,049.00+ 7% tax+ $10.00 shipping = TOTAL $1,132.43

Walt Disney World online site $1,049.00 +7% tax+ $15.00 shipping= TOTAL  $1,137.43


The best deal was from Undercover Tourist - a total of $113.43 savings from the Walt Disney World site. That's a pretty nice meal somewhere while you're on vacation.

My Disney Essentials Kit

My friends all think I'm a little silly with my Disney preparations. I can't help myself! I love Disney and getting ready for the trip is all part of the fun as far as I'm concerned.

This year I'm lucky enough to have a friend who will be traveling to Disney World at the same time that we are. We're not traveling together or staying together - our trips just happened to overlap. So, naturally, I felt compelled to include her in my Disney planning. Consider it a little pixie dust...

I made us each a Disney Essentials kit. These kits contain small items that I've found helpful while visiting Walt Disney World parks. Everyone has a different idea of what is absolutely essential and what is overkill. There are a lot of things I could have included in these mini-kits, but didn't for cost or space reasons. I was able to pick up must of these items with a quick trip to WalMart and DollarTree. The small items fit easily into a purse or backpack. Each "kit" cost about $10 to put together.

Here's what I put into each:

• Sunscreen Stick
• Mickey Mouse Band Aids
• Crystal Essence deodorant wipes (let's face it, the most magical place on Earth is also one of the sweatiest places on Earth)
• SafetyTats & a Sharpie pen in case a child wanders off...
• Eco friendly labels for cups, etc.
• Personal battery operated fan
• Tiny bottle of bubbles for waiting in lines (combine with the personal fan for real magic!)
• Individual packets of powdered drink mix (to add to free cups of ice water available at any quick or counter service restaurant)
• Glow sticks, bracelets, etc. for nighttime parades
• Wet wipes
• Hand sanitizer