Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Some Smart Ways to Save for Your Disney Vacation

We all want to go on vacation, am I right? But we don't all have extra money sitting around to pay for the fabulous trips we envision. Some people save lots of money with extreme couponing. I personally don't have the time and patience for that, but here are some simple steps anyone can follow to save some money to make your Disney Dreams Come True

1) Start a Disney Fund
With so many other things going on, it's hard to set aside money for Disney. I know I find that if I leave money in my checking account, it will somehow get used up, but if I actually put it aside, I magically get by without it. Set aside a savings account, an envelope, a Mickey cookie jar, a mattress, whatever works and physically put your Disney fund $$ into it.



2) Put money into the fund every week
It can be as little as the extra change in your pocket, or as much as an unexpected bonus or birthday gift. If you planned to go out to dinner but decide you would rather use that money for a special meal at Disney World, actually take the money you would have spent and put it in the envelope/jar/mattress. If you got a $10 gas card from a shopping rewards program like I just did, take $10 out of your gas budget and put it in that envelope. The savings add up. If you're worried you might spend the cash in a moment of weakness, buy Disney gift cards and put them into the envelope, which brings us to #3.


3) Buy Disney gift cards using a Target Credit/Debit card to save 5% on your vacation!
Disney accepts Disney gift cards anywhere credit cards are accepted. This includes paying for your actual vacation, but they can also be used for food and souvenirs in the park. Where does Target come in? Well if you have a Target Credit or Debit card you automatically get 5% off all purchases on your statement.(Target Redcard Rewards). If you use your Target card to buy Disney gift cards at Target stores, you'll automatically save 5% on your vacation! Be sure to pay off the balance immediately to avoid interest.

If you have a Kroger where you live, you can also purchase the gift cards there and get fuel points to save big on gas purchases. Put that savings into your Disney fund and buy even more gift cards!

4) Consider getting a Disney Rewards Visa or other rewards credit card.
Depending on which level you get, whether it's the regular fee-free Disney Rewards Visa, or the $49 a year Premier card, you can earn 1-2% back on your qualifying purchases on the Disney Visa. Your rewards can be put on a Disney rewards card, which like a Disney gift card, can be used to pay toward your vacation or to buy anything you need onsite or at the Disney Store. There are other credit cards with higher percentages on rewards, but the Disney Rewards Visa has some other key benefits such as 0% interest for 6 months on qualifying vacation packages, savings on tours, and Disney merchandise purchases, advance booking opportunity for some promotions and more. Many Disney fans put all of the household bills on the Disney Visa and then pay it off each month to rake in the maximum points.

5) Be a savvy online shopper.
Many people shop online for convenience and savings. With just a few extra clicks, you can be on your way to BIG savings without much effort.

ALWAYS go through a cash back site like EBATES when you're doing your shopping. Not only can you get a percentage of cash back from online retailers, but there are also coupons available exclusively for ebates members. I've gotten over $800 in cash just for buying exactly what I'd already planned to buy. All I had to do was click through ebates.




You should also ALWAYS search for coupon codes when shopping online. Sites like Retailmenot.com have many coupon codes. You can also just do a google search for the site you want to shop and "coupon code" or "promotional code". This is another way I've managed to save hundreds of dollars with just a few clicks.

Where have you found ways to save for your Disney vacations? Is there an online site or shopper rewards program that has fed your Disney fund? Let me know in the comments!


For more information about how to get the most for your Disney dollars, email me at dreamsdocometruetravel@gmail.com or visit my page  at http://www.facebook.com/dreamsdocometruetravel
or Request a FREE no obligation Quote. Select Jennifer Kern as your agent.

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