By doing some extensive research, the Family Travel Forum staff have come across several ways to save money on your vacation, with these exclusive Walt Disney World tips.

When to go.

Despite the location, Disney World is exposed to many different weather conditions, so it's good to go when Florida isn't too hot (October and April-May), or too cool (November to January are coolest) and rainy (July-August); bad weather can put a damper on a great family vacation. However, it's usually the least crowded and costly time to go. For each resort category, seasonal rates vary by date, but basically the "value season" is after New Year until mid-February, August and September, and from after Thanksgiving until mid-December.

Take Advantage of All Discounts.

A time honored tip for on-site hotel guests is to purchase special freely refillable theme mugs ($11.99 at our 2007 visit).  Everyone in the family can carry their own and save a lot on drinks at the hotels around Disney World, where they cost a few dollars each.

Also, use your club discounts.  Organizations such as the AARP or the AAA often have drive-and-stay promotions, including bargain admission ticket prices and hotel rates that have been arranged with Disney.

There's a little known dining plan in effect at Disney, for families who book a theme park package (see their site for information on the "Magic Your Way" program which allows you to buy the type/duration of admission tickets and hotel plan suited to your needs).  In brief, this Dining Plan gives every family member a virtual coupon book valid for 1 Table Service Meal (sit down, waiter service restaurant), 1 Quick Service Meal (fast food outlets in the parks) and 1 Snack (as it sounds) each day. You can save up to 40% off on the total cost of meals, yet still enjoy the Disney Signature Dining and Dinner Show experiences, by exchanging two Table Service meals per person for one of these special events. On-site hotel guests will have this program loaded into their hotel room keycard, which also serves as a charge card at all the resorts; your receipt tracks all meal spending. We witnessed a certain amount of confusion among participants, because it's hard to know if the side salad is included -- or is an additional entree -- in your particular plan, but if you can just relax and go with it, and get pleasure out of watching the kids plans exactly what snack they can afford each day, then it's a good value. 

Plan ahead.

This is key to seeing the most during your stay, as little ones and family elders will wear out after a full morning of sights and theme park rides. If you stay in a WDW property, you can start early, then go "home" and relax and return for the evening activities. Whether you have this advantage or not, we recommend that every family try Disney's new "Customized Disney Vacations" online. Go online at www.disneyworld.com, choose "My Vacation Planner," register at no cost, then tell this computerized helper about your family or interests (such as ages of kids, interest in Princesses or adventure rides) -- and the magicians at Disneyworld will mail you back a customized map of each theme park which an "X" to mark the attractions they feel are most suited to your family's needs, nearby restaurants and other facilities. That will surely help to organize your day, and it makes a great souvenir. After all, saving time is saving money.

Free Tourist Information.

Contact the Orlando Convention & Visitors Bureau ( 800/972-3304) for information on all area hotels and current promotions. Order your free Orlando Magicard, with up to $1000 in coupon savings on restaurants, other local attractions and sightseeing. Go2Orlando.com is another very useful website.

Getting Around.

Not everyone can afford to stay at a resort on the monorail route. Unfortunately, we've heard dozens of horror stories involving the public bus service at the resorts and between the theme parks.  Some people say that the buses never took more than 10 minutes to arrive; others have waited on line while buses fill up and depart; many families have to catch the second or third ferry when the parks are busy, and others say that your family may be stranded in the park late at night, waiting up to an hour for a bus to arrive.  It's hard to figure out which is the exception and which is the rule, so it's advisable to bring along a car, or rent one, particularly for families at the far-off moderately priced and value resorts.  Although parking may offer some challenges, it's free and gives you some added flexibility.

Package Your Visit.

Ask your travel agent or search the Internet for the many Orlando packages offered by tour operators and airlines. You may be able to save a lot by combining air tickets with the operator's preferred Disney hotel, and get perks such as free Park Hopper passes, depending on season.

There's Always a Hotel Special.

You can stay "on campus" at a non-Disney hotel, too. There are seven independent hotels in WDW on Hotel Plaza Boulevard or on Lake Buena Vista Boulevard opposite Downtown Disney, which enjoy some of the same on-site WDW privileges, often at lower rates. They offer early or late access to the theme parks, and several of them host their own character breakfasts. These include the Hilton, Doubletree Guest Suites, Regal Sun Resort (formerly the Grosvenor Resort), Hotel Royal Plaza, Best Western Lake Buena Vista, Buena Vista Palace and Holiday Inn Orlando . You can check on special promotions through a travel agent, at each chain's website (links above), or by calling the Walt Disney Travel Company at 407/934-7639.

The Kissimmee-St. Cloud area surrounding Orlando is filled with hundreds of budget accommodations within easy reach of the theme parks. Some favorites include Holiday Inn's Nickelodeon Family Suites Resort Lake Buena Vista (1877/NICK-KID), a mid-priced, 24-acre property with 800 customized suites with kitchenettes. Every Family Suite second bedroom is stocked with bunk beds, a pullout sleeper, complimentary sleeping bags for extra siblings, TV, VCR, phone, and Nintendo player. Other perks include guest laundry, free breakfast buffet and free shuttles to WDW.

If suite hotels appeal, there is a conveniently located Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista and a well-priced Homewood Suites by Hilton. The Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort Lake Buena Vista ( 888/HOLIDAY) has well-furnished, large rooms and a very nice pool. Their wonderful "Kidsuites"are large double rooms where a king-size bed is separated by a themed 3/4 wall (Wild West fort, castle, etc) from a kids' area with bunk beds and other imaginative touches. The Holiday Inn Main Gate East, an older and smaller resort in Kissimmee that's well maintained, is also recommended for its good value Kidsuites and convenient location. 
 

This information was compiled by the FTF staff from family travelers' comments. We welcome your opinions at ftf@familytravelforum.com.