You are planning a vacation to Disney World and are probably staying at Shades of Green to enjoy the discounts available to military personnel. But the only time you can go is spring break or summer vacation.
Just thinking about the lines at those times are enough to make most people reconsider Disney's "Happiest Place on Earth" slogan.
Do not fear: Tour Guide Mike is online to make your trip more about fun and less about congestion.
Peter Pan may believe in fairies, but I put my stock in Tour Guide Mike. Through his Web site, I managed to navigate my wife and three kids through Disney World during spring break without a glitch. We went on all of the rides many times over, never facing more than a five to 10-minute wait. I'm not pulling your leg. Tour Guide Mike is an expert, and using his suggestions made every moment in Magic Kingdom, well, magic.
Tour Guide Mike charges $21.95 for his complete package of suggestions, timed to the exact dates you plan to visit. In a nutshell, the site takes into consideration average crowds, early entrance programs, special events, late park hours, the works, and then tells you which park to visit on which day.
For example (and I am not about to give away Tour Guide Mike's program), if Magic Kingdom or Epcot, for example, opens an hour early, avoid that park. Like lemmings, most vacationers will flock to the park that opens early, leaving other parks relatively less crowded.
Another suggestion is to eat lunch at 11 a.m. when the restaurants are empty instead of noon when they are packed.
Tour Guide Mike's program touches on those two tips and more. I went through all of his suggestions and then mapped out in detail which parks I would visit each day. And I can honestly report that we saved hours that otherwise would have been spent standing in lines.
In addition, Tour Guide Mike rates the rides, restaurants, even the bathrooms - providing suggestions on where to and not to eat in the park. Walt Disney World is massive, and I appreciated having a tour guide at my online disposal.
Beyond Tour Guide Mike, there are other things to save when visiting - such as your money.
The most important part of budget travel to Disney World is advance planning. Research and book your transportation, accommodations, meal plans, character dining, and theme park tickets as far in advance as possible for maximum savings and to make your visit more pleasant.
Let's start with air travel to Orlando and hotel. Airfares and hotel rates are least expensive from mid-January through February and September to October. Spirit Air, JetBlue and AirTran have some of the cheapest flights, but it pays to research and compare. Keep in mind that you may see a bump in demand and prices during President's Day week when some school districts are closed.
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground accommodates everything from RVs to tents; rates start at $41 per night. The value resorts - Disney's Pop Century and Disney's All-Stars Movie, Music and Sports - have rooms as low as $82 a night, and the moderate resorts - Disney's Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside - have rooms starting at $145. These prices are available during what Disney calls its "value season'' as opposed to peak season. The next value season begins Aug. 5 for those resorts and July 29 for the campground.
The Disney resorts also offer Disney's Magical Express, which consists of free round-trip transportation from Orlando International Airport with baggage delivery. Hotel guests can continue with free transportation by using Disney buses, ferries and the monorail system to visit theme and water parks and Downtown Disney. I really enjoyed this option because all of the guesswork was taken out. The buses are comfortable and stop at only one or two hotels so you don't have to visit 10 just to get to your own resort.
For military personnel (both active and retired) and their families, there is the Shades of Green resort on Disney property. Room rates are determined by military grade. Details can be found at www.shadesofgreen.org or by calling (888) 593-2242.
If you're staying at a Disney property and driving to the theme parks, Disney will waive the $10-a-day parking fee.
AAA members who book a Disney vacation package through the automobile club's travel service can receive a voucher for preferred parking in the "Diamond Lot" at Walt Disney World and can get discounts at certain hotels and restaurants. Details are available at http://www.aaa.com.
Check out the dining plan when you stay at a Disney World resort. You can save 40 percent per person when you purchase the Magic Your Way Package plus dining. The plan includes one table service meal, a quick service meal and a snack, per person for each night of your stay. To book, call (407) 939-7500. Disney is offering a free dining plan with a stay at certain resorts Sept. 2-Sept. 22; go to http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ and search for "free dining plan." This is also a great plan for teen-agers, because once on the plan it gives teens a set amount they can eat.
Disney's ticket options can be bundled in a variety of ways to suit your preferences and schedule. You can add a Park Hopper option for $45 a person that allows you to jump from park to park. A Water Park Fun & More option runs $50 a person. Also, you can buy a non-expiration option that lets you use unused days from your original ticket at a future time. For ticket information, call (407) 939-1289.
If you plan more than one Disney visit within a 365-day period, it might be cheaper to purchase an annual pass - $434 for ages 10 and up, $382 for ages 3-9. In comparison, a three-day ticket for guests 10 and up with a Park Hopper option is $237. Passholders get free parking at theme parks and are eligible for periodic discounts at certain hotels.
You also can earn Disney Rewards with the Visa card from Chase. Everyday purchases can be redeemed for Disney hotel stays and theme park tickets. Log on to www.Disney.com for more information.
Finally, MouseSavers.com is not an official Disney site, but it compiles all sorts of helpful tips, news about discounts and deals, and a basic rundown of choices at Disney along with links to other helpful Web sites and a list of frequently asked questions - www.mousesavers.com. Deals recently featured on MouseSavers.com include an Orlando Entertainment Book for $9.99 featuring discounts on other area theme parks including Universal and SeaWorld along with coupons for car rentals and restaurants.