ECONOMY IS FADING - A FEW QUICK TIPS ON SAVING AT WDW

Juat a few ideas to save on your trip this year in this awful ecomony.

1. Book a less expensive resort. It may not be exactly what you want, but how much time do you actually spend in your room. If staying in the parks, a value resort may be further away from each park, but you can rent a car and get between parks and resorts faster than using a bus (and the rental cost is much less than booking the high priced rooms in the luxury resorts).
2. Have a large family? Driving down may be much cheaper than flying even with the cost of gas, and possibly an overnight stay on the way down.
3. Cut back on the food. Select restaurants more carefully, awful expensive snacks (bring your own), and maybe not have the appetizers and desserts.
4. Buy gifts for yourself on the last day rather than spending each day you are there.
5. Eat at restaurants where tips are not required.
6. Skip the extra parks and extra park packages. Swim at your hotel rather than paying to go to the water parks.
7. Use the free transporation provided by WDW to go to and from the airport. It may not be as fast as renting a cab, but it is less expensive.
8. Bring rain ponchos and umbrellas from home rather than buying them on the grounds.
9. Skip the alcoholic beverages - they add up your costs very quickly.
10.Splurge on boating, golf, breakfast in bed, tours, and other extras on your next trip - the ecomomy has to get better. And you will have something special to look forward to when you come the next time.

Remember that there is so much in WDW to enjoy that you do not have to do everything on each trip, and you can save hundreds of dollars if you are thrifty.

WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR - MAYBE

Thinking about going to WDW in 2009? This seems like the time to book your trip.

But, buyer beware time is also here. Pricing for some packages is not complete in many cases until January 1. Consequently, the packages and pricing you see on the site now, may not apply. And they will of course go up, or the package will change (usually meaning you get less for your money than you may have expected).

This is not blaming WDW for increases - they have to come sometime - and WDW is consistant about the January 1 date each year.

However, as a consumer in this troubled econmomic time, you may not have the extra to spend for increased prices that will occur next year. So, you might want to just wait and see, or just plan on spending more than the currently listed prices.

Also, read the fine print when booking packages. Tips, taxes, and so on, can start to add up if not included. And many of these perks that once came with packages are not eliminated. Once again, just be careful to read the fine print, and actually print it out. Remember that if something is not in writing, it doesn't exist.

If you plan to go to WDW, and do want to save money, maybe a less expensive resort on the property can suffice. A less expensive meal plan might be appropriate - do you want to eat in the best restaurants all the time. And the top end packages, do not save you money unless you use all the options and facilities available. Therefore, getting a high end package is not for everyone.

Remember also to get the most out of your trip. Get there early on the day of arrival, and leave as late as possible when you are departing. You are paying good money for a day at WDW - get your real value. Don't forget that you can have the resort hold your bags until your room is ready when you arrive - so you can go to the parks before you have your room. The reverse is true when leaving - they will hold your bags after you check out (at least that is the current policy).