TripHip - Travel Tips and Advice for Traveling on a Budget

Saving money on vacations is not always easy. Even when you plan carefully, unexpected costs come up. If you plan a little extra cash for emergencies and you plan ahead for your vacation, you may end up coming home with extra cash.

There are two ways to save on souvenirs. Rather than going in with the kids and not knowing what you will buy (in which case, you may have to deal with whining and fighting), go in with a plan. Either allocate a specific amount to each child (if they are young, hold onto the money for them) or plan what they can purchase ahead of time.

In the first scenario, you tell the child what they get (say $30) and they can use it at their discretion until it’s gone. This is a good plan for older children who more readily understand that if they’ve spent all their money on snacks, they won’t get a t-shirt.

The second plan works well with younger kids (especially since they can’t keep track of money). Sit with them and discuss what they want and come to a consensus where each child gets the same thing ( both get a t-shirt and a souvenir cup) or agrees they have the same value( both the get the t-shirt and one gets a key chain while the other gets a light-up pen). Kids often whine “he got more than me.” This plan should alleviate most of that.

Traveling in the off-season is always the best way to save cash. It is true in Disney World too. You can save a bundle by going either in the very beginning or end of summer, or try the winter. Florida is still lovely in winter and less of a crowd means less aggravation. It also means cheaper prices.

Ahh, Walt Disney World: every child’s dream vacation. It can be a nightmare for adults who don’t properly plan. If you are taking a trip to Disney World, doing a little research and planning will save time and money in the long run, especially when taking small children.

Food is costly in Disney World. Even if you plan on having dinner in the park, snacks and beverages are also pricey. Bringing a backpack with a built-in cooler is a great way to save money on food. Using ice packs will also help keep food cold. You can pack juice boxes, chips, fruits, and bottled water or soda. Plus it will save you time because you won’t have to wait in food lines.

Visit Disney’s website and explore the rides offered in each park. If you only have a day or two to enjoy the place, planning is essential. Knowing what your kids can and can’t ride will save you time in line. Go over it with your children and make an itinerary that provides fun for everyone. Plan seat buddies in advance so there is no arguing in line either.

Bring along vacation basics. Stores in Disney World, like every major attraction charge an arm and a leg for everyday items. Pack cameras and film, sunscreen, and baby items. This will save you a fortune.

Another simple tip is the use of fastpasses, which reduce line waits. If you stay in a Disney World Resort, there are perks. For one thing, guests get early access to the parks. You can also save money by purchasing, and sticking to, a Disney meal plan. The most basic plan entails two fast meals, a sit-down meal, and a snack each day for each person. Depending on how long you plan to stay, you could save money this way.

A new system for ride waiting is the FastPass, but it might not be the miracle you've been waiting for at the ultra-busy Disney parks.

The idea is basically that you get a FastPass ticket at a busy attraction, which then reserves a place for you later in the day. A time is printed on a ticket for you. You just come back at that time, and breeze right in. Sounds awesome, but its misleading. For one thing, if lots of people are getting FastPasses, there can be just as long a line in the FastPass lane as the regular one.

Also, your "come back later time" can be several hours later. And the way the system works, you can only have one FastPass at a time (you swipe your admission pass to get them, and it does keep track). So you could get a FastPass for a busy ride at 10am, and not be able to get anymore of them for any other rides for 5 or 6 hours, when you finally get a chance to use the Pass.

I'm not saying the system has nothing to offer, just be cautious when planning a trip to Disney. Even with FastPasses, expect plenty of waiting in line.

Did you know you can get free admission to one Disney park on your birthday? Now there's a gift you won't want to exchange.

You need to go to the Disney home page (disneyparks.disney.go.com) and register in advance, at least 2 weeks. You'll get a confirmation email which you need to print out and bring to the park with you.

If you are using a multi-day ticket and don't really need a free day, you can swap out your gift for special birthday FastPasses, gift cards for merchandise or even a 1-day ticket to be used later.

Families traveling to Walt Disney World need their time for fun, not for handling last-minute vacation dramas. A little planning goes a long way to ensuring that guests get the most out of their vacations. Follow these simple tips to ensure a pleasurable vacation.
Buy everything in advance. If you know for sure that you are going on this vacation, purchasing everything as early as possible ensures that you get the best available deals. Shop around. Look at budget travel websites, visit Disney’s site, or try a travel agent. It always pays to search for the best deal.

Since Disney is offering a free day’s pass for people who visit on their birthdays, it is possible to take advantage of a nice discount if you go during a time when the family has lots of birthdays. Three of my sisters have birthdays within a two-week period. If we planned our trip right, we would save on three admissions.

Birthday discounts may not always be possible. However, there are other ways to save money.

Instead of staying at the hotels, guests can stay at the Disney camping area. It is less costly than a hotel room and families can cook out instead of paying for dinner in a Disney restaurant. Pack the coolers before you leave and you’re all set.