I am starting a new Saturday feature. I love helping you all save as much money as possible and learn as much as you can about Disney. I get asked a lot of questions in the comments, on Facebook and via email and sometimes, try as I might, I miss your questions and I hate that.
So I am inviting you to post any question you have about Couponing, Disney or anything else on this post. I will post the answers next Saturday.
Hi Kristin!
I know there is no ‘right’ or ‘perfect’ age for Disney but just curious on your opinion on when it would be best to take our boys. They are 3 & 4 right now. We would be going in the winter (which is when they have birthdays too).
We want to wait until at least next year when they are 4 & 5. But we keep going back and forth on which is the best ages – 4 & 5, 5 & 6, 6 & 7, or 7 & 8. Obviously the older they are, the “easier” they will be as far as walking, etc. But the benefits of going before age 5 & 6 is that they aren’t in school yet so they don’t need to miss any school.
But what I’m really wondering – I know there is stuff for every age and just the pure wonder of Disney will be exciting for them, but don’t want to wait too long so that they are in a weird age category where the kid stuff (rides, etc) is too young for them but the big rides, etc are too old for them. Does that make sense? Especially since they are boys. I’m sure every kid is different but I especially wonder if they wont be as “excited” about Mickey, etc once they hit the 7 & 8 age. Or maybe even sooner?
Just curious your thoughts on this. Like I said, I know there is no RIGHT age to take your kids and it varies per person but just curious what your thoughts/opinions are on this.
Thanks!! : )
Hi Kristin!
We recently decided to get our son involved in our Disney savings. We want to use his good behavior with a monetary reward system. Depending on the good deeds done, we’ll add change to the Disney Jar. This way, he’s earning his own spending money.
Have you gotten your kids involved in growing the fund? If so, how?
Hi Kristen,
Thank you soo much for taking all your time to helping us get the better deals. You do such a great job with your website. I love your website. It is filled with a lot of ideas and tips and I love to see your fund grow so that you can enjoy Disney as well. Thanks:) My question is DVC are they worth the purchase? I now have a goal to go to Disney parks every year if possible since my boys and I are fanatics to Disney and I know I will be going at least for a week and I am starting to wonder if its worth the investment. Also, I noticed they have DVC resales so they are cheaper from the ones purchased directly from Disney but don’t know what the difference is. Thanks
My teenage daughters and I love Disneyland and have visited dozens of times (we are from So. California). For years they have been asking to go to WDW and it looks like we will be going this Summer. :) We are super excited but I haven’t been able to do as much research as I wish. I want to make this fun for everyone, since my husband (who barely tolerates theme parks, even though he is being a good sport on this trip) and 2 year old son will be going as well. I have a lot of questions but I’ll just ask the most pressing at this time.
First, when is a good time to go during Summer? I am a teacher, so I’ll be off from Mid June to Mid August. We are planning to be there 10 to 12 days.
Is the cost of a flight the same if I book it through the Disney website as a package or is it cheaper to do it separately?
Also, do you recomend off-resort accomodations or a WDW resort? I am trying to weigh price, room size and convenience on this one.
Thanks for your help.
Ana, we are from southern california w/ Disneyland annual passes also and went to WDW last summer in August. We went for 10 days and it was fun but it was really hot. We went at the end of August as our kids weren’t in school yet and most of the kids at WDW seemed to already be in school. The heat is a lot hotter than we are used to and it did rain every day so I want to try to go at spring break next time as the California spring break we have in April is later than those on the east coast. You can google temperatures but it is also hot in July. We found it cheapest to book our flights directly and we used Southwest. If you book ahead, there is one flight a day that you do have to stop but not change planes from LAX which was easier with our kids.. Lots of people on the various Disney sites that people writ on liked staying on the resort property as it is something you never get to do since you are local as Disneyland probably. I liked the feature that your husband could stay back and relax in the room if he didn’t feel well or wanted to sleep in ( have to keep him happy too!) and you could take the bus with your young child and he could easily meet up with you later using the free bus system. I told my teenagers that they could also use the bus system without me as they are comfortable how to ask Disney workers for help, etc. but they never wanted to go off on their own anyway. I know Kristen can answer this but I thought I would offer my 2 cents since we did a similar trip last summer.
If we go and buy tickets from Undercover tourist and then once we use the ticket once, upgrade them to an annual pass- would we save money doing that? I love your blog, so much good info and you are so organized and approachable. I don’t know how you do it all!
I know you love Pop Century and because of your recommendation we will be staying there this May. How do you format your fax in order to get as many of your request met as possible.
Thank you,
Mike
My cousin is moving to California in a couple years! We’ve been talking about a Disney trip with our families after they’ve moved & are settled.
My husband & I had been discussing whether it would be wiser to buy tickets each time we went — or just splurge on the annual passport.
My question is — Can my cousin upon moving, buy our passports to get the California state resident discount?
The difference on Disney’s website shows $499 for the premium vs. $199 for the basic CA state resident one. That’s a good chunk of change in savings when it’s two adults & two kids.
They usually have your address on file to send you offers and other info so what address would you use? You don’t need to buy the premium, you could buy a deluxe passport. The southern calif. passes are intended for southern california residents and they do check the zip code when you buy them. The souothern california has a lot more block out days including most of the summer whereas the deluxe can be used in the summer but not on saturdays in the summer and for about 6 months of the year.
Hi Susan
We live in Washington. So I figured I would send her our money to purchase our tickets using her So Cal address. We’ve never been to Disney,so I didn’t know if they’ll check my ID and see the WA address and take away my passports or if she could get in trouble for providing out of staters with cheaper tickets by utilizing her address… Neither of which would I want to happen of course.
We plan on visiting her and her family at least 2-3 times a year while they are living there (military family), so it seemed more logical to get annual tickets… But if I could get a bigger discount by having the right connection, evenbetter ya know?
PS: I’m not concerned about summer block out dates. Us Washingtonian weren’t built for 90+ degree weather. Haha! We’d most likely go during the rainy season, fall and Dec or Jan before or after the holiday black out dates.
Hi Kristen, this year me and my husband are going back to Disney for our 10 year anniversary, its also where we spent our honeymoon.
My question is I have a Disney gift card, can I use that on food in Disney World, specifically the Food and Wine at Epcot.
Thanks for all that you do!!
Mine doesnt exclude anything on th back of my card I have used it at a restuarant on disney property and to buy souveniers in the past
I love your site! I would like to know if you have any Disneyland trips and/or travel deals? Living in Montana the flights are way cheaper to California than Florida.
Thanks for all you do!
I have a family centered blog too, my question to you is regarding posting pictures of you or your family. Are you ever hesitant to post photos of them? I personally love that you post photos of your experiences, it makes your blog more personable, but I can’t seem to make the leap into putting them out there, any suggestions?
Does your husband like Disney as much as you? Do you have any ideas on how to make husband’s like disney more? I love disney and would go there every year if I could. My husband prefers to take vacations to other places. I feel like I am constantly trying to convince him to go to Disney. Hopefully when my 2 year old gets old enough to beg it will get easier. :)
ditto
im the opposite. Im the one who doesnt like DISNEY that much I prefer, (like your husband) to take vacations to other places or even other country or Puerto Rico or las vegas!!!
Curios if you have any tips for booking airline tickets? We are going in December to DW and trying to figure out when to buy my tickets…southwest hasn’t even released that far out yet, but other airlines have already increased a little over the last month. Nervously trying to figure out what I should do so I don’t blow most of our budget on just flying…although it looks like I will. thanks
I was in the same predicament for our cruise in may and since booking it in early march southwest has put tickets reduced twice so sign up for email and wait until like 2 months prior to your trip. i know as of this past december that southwest did a discount ticket for travel the starting the week after thanksgiving and first weeks in december until like the 20th. So keep your eyes out and check once it get like 4 months in advance
Kristen, DH and I love your site thanks so much for all that you do!
We’re looking at getting WDW annual passes for 2013 and would love to know what’s the best/cheapest way to go about getting these? Are trips in 2013 so far will be in Feb. and Dec. so I know we shouldn’t get the AP until end of Dec. 2012. We are thinking of getting the AP with waterparks & more. I just would like to get the best price as the is our first time for AP.
TIA Becky
Becky,
I have researched WDW AP for our family and have found that they are approximately $50.00 cheaper if you buy them through Triple A Auto Club. Once you get the passes you are also eligible for AP member discounts (like room discounts). We plan on buying passes within the next couple of weeks and I’m anxious to see if the discounts will be available before the passes are activated at the parks. Does anyone else know if they are?
Michele
Thanks Michele,
We have AAA, so that would be awesome. I’m specifically looking forward to have the room discount as that’s how we would be able to go as often next year! :)
I purchased my tickets last year before the rate increase in June. I signed up through the http://www.mousesaver.com website for the newsletter. Once I got the newsletter, I clicked on it to save about 5% more off the already discounted prices at Undercover Tourist. I received my tickets within a few weeks.
I have seen a lot of people on the Dis boards recommend undercover tourist also. I bought our universalt studios Orlando tickets from them and they were delivered promptly as promised and they worked great.
This year, my son and I are going to be going to Typhoon Lagoon water park one day during our trip. However, my husband and my daughter don’t want to come with us. Is there anything fun on the Disney property that you would suggest doing? We are staying at the Boardwalk hotel and will have a ticket to the parks.
I hear that the mini golf is fun. I have a friend who takes her little ones and its fun for both dad and daughter
Hi, first of all I want to say THANKS for all of the great coupons and free items you post for all of us on Facebook. I have received so many free items and great coupons because of you! I introduced my daughter and some of her friends to your page, and they feel the same…..THANKS!!
My question is…..we are planning a trip to Disneyland in early November, Do you know of any specials, or when they may be offered? I do have a Chase Disney Visa card, and receive some offers from them, but have found that getting the room and tickets seperate can sometimes save you money.We always go during the weekdays to avoid the large weekend crowds. Any ideas would be helpful, and greatly appreciated.
Nancy
I always check mousesavers. com as they always keep up to date on the latest Disneyland discounts.