| The Walt Disney World park admission, hotels, and | | | | and prices. I update it continually and I also have a blog |
| food costs can become very expensive very quickly! | | | | which I update daily with updates that pertain to |
| In an effort to entice families, there are now many | | | | Disney, Universal, Sea World, Orlando, and saving |
| Disney World vacation packages available, but upon | | | | money on their vacations. |
| closer inspection, these all inclusive Disney World | | | | Griffiths |
| packages aren't always a great deal. | | | | What are the 5 top most expensive errors that |
| This is why I have sought out an expert to help identify | | | | families make when going on a Walt Disney vacation? |
| how to take your family to Walt Disney World without | | | | Goode |
| bursting your vacation budget. Kelly Goode, author of | | | | Well, every family is different, so I hate to label them |
| "A Mom's Miserly Guide: Orlando, Disney & | | | | with "errors," but if you force me I have to say that |
| Universal on $25 a Day!", has generously offered to | | | | these are the most common ways families deny |
| share some of her tips when planning a Walt Disney | | | | themselves savings: |
| World family vacation. | | | | 1. They travel at peak times, as opposed to taking the |
| Griffiths | | | | kids out of school for a day or two. Value season |
| Your guide to planning a family vacation in Orlando for | | | | decreases prices tremendously. |
| $25 a day is such an intriguing concept! How did you | | | | 2. Families think that the only way to see Disney is to |
| come up with this idea and how long did it take you to | | | | stay at a Disney Resort, and quite often they are the |
| write the book? | | | | most expensive accommodations to be found. |
| Goode | | | | 3. Discount airfares aren't secured because people |
| Having been a travel agent for over 15 years in Florida, | | | | aren't comfortable with purchasing discount airfares on |
| and an avid Disney World fan, I sensed the need long | | | | the Internet - and they aren't savvy to the sales. (My |
| ago for a comprehensive, realistic guide for families to | | | | book helps with this tremendously) |
| save money when visiting Orlando and Disney World. I | | | | 4. Families don't take advantage of theme park |
| learned that people dream about and plan these | | | | discounts, whether that means going through a special |
| vacations for years in advance, and it broke my heart | | | | operator, purchasing tickets online, or just taking an |
| to hear and see people struggle to afford their | | | | extra step or two to find discounts. |
| vacations when there were actually cheaper ways for | | | | 5. Parents aren't aware of the restaurant and food |
| them to enjoy their Disney Dream Vacation. The book | | | | savings they can get from various venues in Orlando. |
| took about a year to write, but it is an ongoing project | | | | Hundreds of vacation dollars can be saved with |
| due to the constant changes in Orlando and the theme | | | | coupons, kids-eat-free locations, and special planning. |
| parks. | | | | Again - my book helps in all these areas! |
| Griffiths | | | | Griffiths |
| When you say that you can go to Walt Disney World | | | | A Walt Disney vacation could easily cost thousands of |
| for $25 a day is that per person or is that based on a | | | | dollars in a week if a family hasn't planned an |
| family of four, two adults and two children? | | | | appropriate budget. How far in advance do you |
| Goode | | | | recommend families plan their Walt Disney vacation to |
| Families can visit Walt Disney World on $25 a day - | | | | ensure that they are squeezing every dollar |
| and that is for real. The $25 is a per person rate and is | | | | effectively? |
| based on real hotel choices, car rental choices, and | | | | Goode |
| discount tickets. I actually have a chart in my book that | | | | Planning is very important because everything from |
| shows exactly how families can achieve this goal. All | | | | the dates, to the airfares, to rental cars, hotel |
| families may not, of course, only spend $25 a day | | | | accommodations and theme park tickets come in to |
| because they may want different hotel choices, | | | | play. I believe a family should start about 9 months out, |
| different theme park choices, or various restaurant | | | | but continue to be flexible when searching for the |
| choices that increase their vacation budget. My book, | | | | ultimate savings in vacation dates. |
| however, allows families to see how they can achieve | | | | Griffiths |
| this vacation on this basic budget and move up if they | | | | What impresses me most about Kelly's Walt Disney |
| like. | | | | vacation guide is that she doesn't accept any sort of |
| Griffiths | | | | payment from the companies that she recommends. It |
| How often is the ebook updated with information? I | | | | really adds credibility to the guide as well as offering a |
| know that when I seriously consider buying such a | | | | 100% guarantee. Being creative with budgeting for |
| guide, I worry that the information is dated. | | | | vacation can often be part of the vacation experience! |
| Goode | | | | The more you plan in advance, the more likely you will |
| As I mentioned, the book is an ongoing project | | | | be able to stay on budget while creating memories for |
| because it must be constantly updated to give people | | | | your family. |
| the new information they need on hotels, attractions, | | | | |