Disney - On a Budget II
Message boards can be a wealth of information especially if it is an active community. When you visit Disboards.com, you will find there are many different “boards†within the site. You don’t have to jump in and interact if you aren’t comfortable, you will learn plenty from just lerking and browsing. Then when you get a bit more comfortable, jump in and ask away. You will be amazed at how helpful the folks on this board are. They are true Disney lovers and experts. If you are planning your vacation and interested in which dining plan works best for your family, or which character breakfast features your favorite characters, then you will want to check out Disney Restaurants on the Dis. For those of us planning a trip with our families, they have the Disney for Families on the Dis. Here you will find all things family oriented in Disney. Are you a camper? Then there is Camping at Disney World on the Dis. There are forums for just about anything you can think of including a Budget Board which will help with tips on saving for and at Disney World. You will also find boards for Disney Cruise Line as well. Each of the boards offer tremendous informaotin that can be invaluable for planning and enjoying your trip….and for the least amount of money possible.
You will find there are many activites that you can enjoy for little to NO money while visiting the mouse. To help in planning your trip I’m going to give you a listing of those activites for different areas of the resort/parks. The below activities were gathered from Mouse Savers.
Disney's Boardwalk
Disney's Boardwalk is built around a lake and is beautifully themed to be reminiscent of Cape May or Coney Island in the 1940s. It's fun just walking around and enjoying the atmosphere! If you are staying on Disney property, you can use Disney transportation to get to the Boardwalk. If you drive to the Boardwalk, you can get a FREE 3-hour parking permit from the lot attendant. While some of the restaurants are open at lunchtime, the best time to visit the Boardwalk is after sunset. It's beautifully lit up.
Some of the FREE and inexpensive things you can do at Disney's Boardwalk:
- Often there are street performers (jugglers, comedians, fire-eaters, jazz ensembles, etc.) -- stroll around and watch them!
- There are lots of vendors selling inexpensive food treats.
- You can try your luck at a carnival-style game (small cost).
- Sit and watch the Friendship Boats come and go.
- For a small cover charge you can visit Jellyroll's (a dueling piano bar featuring sing-a-longs to your favorite pop tunes).
- Check out Atlantic Dance Hall, which has dancing to DJ-spun Top 40, usually with no cover charge.
Downtown Disney
If you like to shop (or window shop), you'll enjoy this attractive shopping and restaurant zone, which also offers some great FREE entertainment. If you are staying on Disney property, you can use Disney transportation to get to Downtown Disney. If you are staying at a Downtown Disney hotel, you can take the bus or walk. Otherwise you'll probably need to drive or take a taxi. Parking is FREE.
Some of the FREE and inexpensive things you can do at Downtown Disney:
- Check out the wonderful interactive fountains where children (and adults who have the guts) may enjoy playing and getting wet.
- The Lego Imagination Center has a FREE 3,000-square-foot outdoor play area filled with thousands of LEGO blocks, plus some absolutely amazing and huge Lego sculptures for you to admire!
- Check out the FREE magic demonstrations at the Magic Masters shop -- learn a card trick!
- Most of the restaurants are quite expensive, but you can get a meal (sandwich, side and drink) at Earl of Sandwich for under $10 per person.
- Visit the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop and enjoy a sundae (about $6.25) or shake (about $3.95).
Disney's Resort Hotels
Every one of the Disney hotels is themed and some of them are literally breathtaking. All of the Moderate and Deluxe resorts, especially, have extraordinary theming and are well worth a visit. You can take Disney transportation from any of the four theme parks to any of the resort hotels. If you drive to one of the resorts, you can get a FREE 3-hour parking permit from the gate attendant.
- The pools are amazing: at Coronado Springs the pool looks like a Mayan ruin; the Stormalong Bay pool at the Yacht/Beach Club includes a huge "shipwreck" that contains a slide; the pool at the Wilderness Lodge starts as a "spring" in the lobby, passes under a bridge, then cascades down a waterfall into the pool and ends in a geyser that goes off once an hour! (Note that use of the pools is for the hotel's guests only, but you can certainly walk around and "ooh and ahh" for a few minutes.)
- The Deluxe resort lobbies also have amazing elements and displays that fit with the theme, and a few (including the Grand Floridian) sometimes have a pianist performing.
- If you're looking for a fun photo opportunity, consider visiting the All Star resorts or Pop Century. These hotels feature enormous "pop culture" icons. Take a family photo in front of a 35-foot Buzz Lightyear!
- Several of the resorts, including Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian, and Yacht Club, offer FREE tours that are open to any Disney resort guest (whether you are staying at that particular hotel or not). Some of the tours require a reservation, so inquire in advance.
- Fort Wilderness is Disney’s Camping resort. This is where you will want to find yourself one evening during your stay….taking FREE Disney trasportration to get there is easy from any other resort or park. Once you get there you will be treated to Chip and Dale greeting guest and enjoy smores while watching a movie outdoors. This is just another example of Disney fun that doesn’t cost a fortune!
Ride the Monorail
Take the "inner" Monorail that circles the three Monorail resorts (Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian). This is a great way to orient yourself and get a look at the resorts and an overview of the Magic Kingdom. You can get off and explore each resort, or just enjoy the ride and the view. Cost to ride the Monorail: FREE.
Take a Boat Ride
This is enjoyable any time of day, but particularly beautiful and romantic at night.
- Cruise the loop around Crescent Lake, which visits Epcot, Boardwalk, Yacht/Beach Club, Swan/Dolphin, and Disney's Hollywood Studios without going into the parks.
- Take the boat that visits the Magic Kingdom, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge and Ft. Wilderness, or the boat that visits the Polynesian, Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom (and you can get off at the Magic Kingdom and wander along the lake outside the gates, or hop on the monorail).
- Cruise from Port Orleans to Downtown Disney and back, along the Sassagoula River.
- Cost for any of the above: FREE.
Take an Evening Carriage Ride
You can take a 25-minute carriage ride at certain resorts for $35. The rides are offered nightly between 6:00 and 9:30 pm. Carriages can accommodate up to 4 adults, or 2 adults and 3 children (9 and under). Call (407) WDW-PLAY (939-7529) to reserve. Resorts offering the carriage rides:
- Port Orleans Riverside (departs in front of Boatwright's Dining Hall)
- Fort Wilderness (departs in front of Crockett's Tavern at Pioneer Hall)
- Saratoga Springs Resort
You can take a 45-minute wagon ride around Fort Wilderness Campground certain resorts for $8/adult, $5/child (ages 3-9). The rides are offered nightly at 7:00 and 9:30 pm and depart from in front of Pioneer Hall. No reservations taken -- just show up and pay cash.
Food and Drink
Eat at an inexpensive but well-themed restaurant. At many of the Disney World resort hotels it's possible to have a light meal or snack for about $10 per person (plus tax & tip at the sit-down locations) while soaking up the atmosphere. (Don't forget, most of the bars and lounges also serve snacks.) Here are the dining locations where you get the most theming or entertainment for the lowest cost:
- Animal Kingdom Lodge - Mara
- Boardwalk Inn - Boardwalk Bakery, Seashore Sweets, Spoodles (tapas, flatbreads), Spoodles Pizza Window, Big River Grille & Brewing Works (appetizers, light entrees)
- Contemporary - Food and Fun Center (best arcade games)
- Coronado Springs - Pepper Market, Rix Lounge, Siesta's Pool Bar & Grill (pool bar open to guests of the resort only)
- Dolphin - Dolphin Fountain and Snack Shop (live 50s entertainment)
- Grand Floridian - Garden View Lounge Afternoon Tea (order a pot of tea and one or two items a la carte)
- Old Key West - Olivia's Cafe (lunch only)
- Polynesian - Kona Cafe (lunch only), Captain Cook's Snack & Ice Cream Company
- Port Orleans French Quarter - Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory (try the beignets and/or the gumbo!)
- Port Orleans Riverside - Riverside Mill
- Wilderness Lodge - Whispering Canyon Cafe (light lunch only)
- Yacht & Beach Club - Crews Cup, Beaches and Cream, Hurricane Hanna's Grill (at Stormalong Bay pool - open to guests of the resort only)
Have a drink at one of the wonderful themed bars and lounges in the Moderate and Deluxe resort hotels.
- Most of the bars and lounges also serve snacks or light meals, some of which are excellent quality for the money. For instance, the snacks at the Territory Lounge at Wilderness Lodge come out of the Artist Point kitchen, while Crews Cup at Yacht Club serves an inexpensive but substantial menu including burgers. The River Roost at Port Orleans Riverside has appetizers and steak sandwiches, not to mention an excellent sing-along pianist performing several nights a week.
- Animal Kingdom Lodge - Victoria Falls
- Boardwalk Inn - Belle Vue Room
- Contemporary - California Grill Lounge (great place to watch Magic Kingdom fireworks)
- Coronado Springs - Francisco's
- Dolphin - Lobby Lounge (live pianist in the evenings)
- Ft. Wilderness - Crockett's Tavern
- Grand Floridian - Mizner's Lounge, Summerhouse
- Old Key West - The Gurgling Suitcase
- Polynesian - Tambu Lounge
- Port Orleans French Quarter - Scat Cat's Club
- Port Orleans Riverside - River Roost (live sing-along pianist some evenings)
- Swan - Kimono's Sushi Bar (karaoke in the evenings)
- Wilderness Lodge - Territory Lounge
- Yacht & Beach Club - Crews Cup Lounge, Martha's Vineyard
Disney is an incredible vacation and one that can be done on a budget. If you have any additional tips or great resources, I would love to hear about them. In the meantime, happy planning!
Posted by Kelly on October 20, 2010 Tags: Travel Savings
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