My family loves Disney parks. We started traveling there as a couple without children (and vowing never to go with kids under 7...never say never...), then pregnant, then pregnant with a toddler, then with 2 toddlers, then with 2 preschoolers. Sometimes we travel to Disneyworld a couple years in a row, sometimes we skip a year, sometimes we go to Disneyland twice year! Did I say we love Disney parks?!
I have a lot to say about doing Disney. So, to avoid information overload, I'm going to try and stick to a particular aspect in each post. Currently I'll be talking about gaining information for your trip.
One of the best resources for discounts and general information that I know is www.mousesavers.com. Her information is up to date, and well organized. There are often added discounts for readers from certain hotels or ticket brokers. I recommend signing up for her newsletter, and you'll be kept in the know with the most up to date information via your in-box each month.
After I've checked mousesavers for discount information when planning a Disney trip, I then check general prices with Expedia and on Disney's website.
I then like to check airline prices, usually via Alaska, Southwest and American. I like to use Alaska and Southwest's fare calendar search since I'm usually flexible about my travel days. I also might check Hotwire or Expedia for a general idea on minimum hotel prices. This is just to give me a general idea of costs.
When tallying up my costs to decide if and when I can afford my Disney trip I use a general weekly food figure that has proved successful for my family. Remember this is my family, and your mileage may vary.
I can tell you that my family consists of 2 adults and 2 small children, and we are often conservative while dining out to save money. We usually split meals, and eat out sometimes just once daily. My figure is $300. I would say a number for 2 meals at counter service restaurants in the parks with 2 adult and 2 children's meals would run appx. $430 for a week. To get an even more thorough understanding of food prices, and what's available, you can check out the menus at allears.net. There are menu items and prices for Disneyland and Disney world categorized by park area or resort.
Now that I'm informed on general costs, I visit disboards. This is a very active forum community. Please do remember that personal opinions are just that. Not just on my recommendation, but also when reading reviews and forum threads. Everyone is different, your mileage may vary. But, within this forum you will find trip reports, food reviews, questions and answers, and the ability to ask other Disney experts your own questions, whether it be about the availability of gluten free food, which hotel to pick, which hotel wing to request, the availability of characters at a meal, or directions to the park from your hotel. The people here are very knowledgeable about their parks.
Another great tool I use for when I'll be driving around is google maps. It's helpful for me to see the lay of the land before I get someplace, it makes me familiar with the road names and directions as well as informs me about restaurants and accommodations.
I also like to use touringplans to help me decide when to go. The author of The Unofficial Guide to Disney World and books has been tracking crowd data for years. Now he has a website with that information, most of it accessible only to subscription holders. It's usually worth the 7 or 12 dollars to me because we travel with a detailed daily itinerary, his information on touring itineraries for the parks is valuable to me. I also plan which parks to go to based on his crowd data. If it's a 10-I'll stay away. We typically like to go to the parks when they are a 4 or below. Preferably a 1 or 2. There is also a lines app for your phone if you are gadgety.
That's the bulk of where I get my information, and those sites prove to be useful for each Disney trip I take.
Next up I'll cover ticket choices.
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