Take in Disney World — on a budget

updated 12:36 p.m. ET May 21, 2007

ORLANDO, Fla. - 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. (You may also 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 for 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.)

One advantage to staying at a Disney property is access to extra Magic Hours. Each day, one of the parks opens early or stays open later for resort guests only.

Disney's Magic Your Way package runs less than $1,600 for a family of four staying six nights, seven days, at a value resort, and includes theme park tickets. For vacation packages, call 407-939-7675.

The Disney resorts also offer Disney's Magical Express, which consists of free roundtrip 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.

Slide show   Disneyland through the years “The Happiest Place on Earth” has delivered fun for young and old alike for more than five decades. more photos

Another possibility is to use a search engine like Expedia.com to book a package of airfare, hotel and car rental, depending on your needs.

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 at shadesofgreen.com or 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.

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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 at aaa.com.

If you're driving to Florida along the Eastern seaboard, Amtrak's Auto Train departs from Lorton, Va. (off Interstate 95 just south of Washington, D.C.) at 4 p.m. and arrives at Sanford, Fla., (less than a one-hour drive from Disney World on Interstate 4) the following morning at 8:30 a.m. The train ride includes dinner, a movie and snacks, and a continental breakfast. There's a 10 percent discount for AAA members and you can use American Express Rewards when booking your Auto Train reservation. Amtrak has frequent specials, including kids riding free. I've booked an Auto Train round trip (11 months in advance) package for a family of five and a vehicle for $585. For reservations, visit amtrak.com or call 800-872-7245.

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