Thursday, July 29, 2010

Disney IS an affordable vacation (Part II)

Yesterday we discussed staying at Disney. Today we will delve into the benefits and pitfalls of staying off Disney property.

With all of the conveniences that staying on property offers, some people find that distancing themselves from the magic each night allows them to "recharge" as well as save some money. There are a lot of beautiful resorts and hotels within a short driving distance of Disney. There are a number of hotels located in the Downtown Disney area, which is adjacent to Disney, but the hotels are not Disney themed. Some of the surrounding resorts even offer complimentary shuttles (we will discuss these at a later time). Finding a good deal on a hotel room in the Disney area is quite easy. Occasionally we have used online hotel booking services such as Priceline, Travelocity, or one of the other reputable sites. We have had great luck with these.

There are pitfalls to staying off property that must be addressed before making your final decision. First, you must examine your travel budget and decide which would be most affordable for you. Once this decision is made, you must decide if dealing with parking fees (currently $14 per day) and procedures will be an annoyance to you. Once you park your car you must then take a tram to the front entrance of Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, or EPCOT. The procedures for Magic Kingdom are a little different. After you park, you take the tram to the Ticket and Transportation Center. From there you take the Monorail or the Ferry to the entrance of Magic Kingdom ( a mile and a half away). Don't forget to consider whether the drive back and forth to your hotel will be bearable or if it will be a hindrance to you.

Now that we have weighed the options of staying on or off property, take some time to consider which you would prefer. If you have any questions feel free to ask. Just use the comment area. We will discuss the financial issues with each in the next installment. Have a magical evening!

To be continued....

Tip Of The Day

Pressed pennies are inexpensive and fun souvenirs. You can't beat 51 cents per coin. They even make books to keep them in!

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