Budget-Minded Vacationers Have Many Ways to Save by Staying at Walt Disney World Resort

Disney's Pop Century Resort

The newest value-priced resort, the 2,880-room Disney's Pop Century Resort, takes Walt Disney World guests on a nostalgic journey through the fads and crazes of 20th century pop culture. Four-stories-high Rubik's Cubes, 65-foot-tall bowling pins and a Big Wheel "big enough" to seat an 877-pound "child" are just a few larger-than-life icons that can be found across the resort's property.

In contrast to the enormity of the icons at Disney's Pop Century Resort is the hotel's price structure: It is one of the lowest on Disney property. Room rates as low as $82 per night make "living large" quite affordable.

Disney's All Star Resorts

Walt Disney World Resort first introduced the "big" value-level resort experience -- priced below its moderate and deluxe accommodations -- with the opening of Disney's All-Star Resorts, beginning in the mid-1990s. Disney's All-Star Resorts feature more than 5,000 "value-category" rooms starting at the huge deal of $82 per night (based on season). New family suites at Disney's All-Star Music Resort average $218 per night, sleep up to six people, and include amenities such as a master bedroom, kitchenette, two full baths, two flat-screen TVs and more.

The icons celebrating movies, sports and music are also huge at Disney's All-Star Resorts, where guests can find a 38-foot-tall Buzz Lightyear and a 25-foot-tall Woody hanging around the Toy Story buildings of Disney's All-Star Movies Resort . . . "Cowboy" boots big enough to fit a size 270 foot doing the two-step in the courtyards of Disney's All-Star Music Resort . . . and a football helmet at Disney's All-Star Sports Resort -- so big that the player (in proper proportion) would be over 200 feet tall.

More For Your Money

There are many other cost-cutting advantages for the "value-minded" guest, aside from the great accommodations and prices of Walt Disney World value hotels:

• Guests of 22 Disney owned-and-operated hotels using Disney's Magical Express can check their bags at their hometown airport, bypass baggage claim at Orlando International Airport and board state-of-the-art motor coaches to the Vacation Kingdom, where their bags "magically" appear in their room upon check-in. Disney's Magical Express is a complimentary service.

• Disney hotel guests who want the convenience of a more-inclusive "cruise-style" vacation can purchase the "Magic Your Way" Package Plus Dining. For each night of their resort stay guests can enjoy two meals and a snack at more than 100 select restaurants throughout the Walt Disney World parks and hotels.

• Kids under age 3 are provided free admission to all Walt Disney World theme parks.

• Kids aged 17-and-under stay at no additional charge in their parents' room (up to the designated room capacity).

• Guests save on gas and parking fees by using the Walt Disney World transportation system of buses, monorails and water launches available to them -- at no additional charge.

• Quenching a vacation-long thirst is easy: Guests can purchase a mug themed to their resort that will become a keepsake when the holiday ends. During their length of stay, they can continually refill the mug at the food court self-service beverage island at their resort.

• Golfers have special door-to-door transportation between Walt Disney World owned-and-operated hotels and Walt Disney World golf facilities.

Value in a theme park vacation isn't just measured in dollar signs. At Walt Disney World Resort, there are other "economies." Here's a sampling:

• Extra Magic Hours -- Each day, one of the four Walt Disney World theme parks opens for Disney resort guests one hour early or stays open up to three hours after general closing, providing exclusive time in the parks to experience select attractions and meet and greet Disney characters. In addition, both Disney water parks offer an Extra Magic Hours benefit, opening one hour early daily for Disney resort guests. While valid admission for the parks and a Resort ID are necessary, there is no additional charge for the extra hours of theme park and water park fun.

• FASTPASS -- Launched in mid-1999 to rave reviews -- and with no additional charge -- Disney's FASTPASS system enables guests to avoid lines at the most popular attractions. Issued to a guest with the swipe of a park ticket, each FASTPASS allows the guest to return to an attraction during a one-hour window with little or no wait.

• Tip Boards -- Located near the center of each of the four parks, tip boards are good planning tools for guests enabling them to get around in the most efficient way. Tip boards feature up-to-the-minute readouts of wait times at all of the parks' attractions. Cast members are on hand to lend assistance.

Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., is a complete year-round vacation destination offering theme parks, recreation, nightlife, shopping and dining and a range of themed resorts. Guest information is available by calling Academy Travel at 609-978-0740. 

Academy Travel is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
Specializing in Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney Vacations
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