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Do you have a trip to Walt Disney World planned for the near future? If so, are you wondering how to best have an affordable Disney vacation? Your accommodations will be a large part of your vacation budget, so it is important to know your options so that you can make the best choice for your family.

Several things will affect your choice of accommodations at Disney World. When you go, whether you will need transportation while there, and even the size of your family will all need to be taken into account.

Some times of year, like the summer, holiday weekends, and Christmas/New Years are the busiest for the parks, and so tend to be the most expensive for the Disney resort properties. It is also not unusual for Disney resort rooms to be sold out during these times of the year, especially if you are planning on short notice. Because of this, at these times, you will typically find off-Disney properties to be your most affordable options.

Consider also the size of your family, since if you have a number of children, you may need more than one motel room. If this is the case, you may find that “suites”, villas, or rental homes may be your best choice for affordable accommodations.

You will also want to think about how you will get around to the theme parks. If you stay with Disney, you will be able to use their free resort transportation. If you stay off-site, then you will need to see if your hotel/motel has a free shuttle, or you will need to rent a car or van.

So what are your options then for Disney World accommodations?

It is becoming more frequent for families to choose vacation homes or condos for a Disney World vacation. With this type of property, you will have more space for your family, sleeping anywhere from 4 to 16 people. If your family size usually means multiple hotel rooms, then this option may be your most affordable. In addition, you will have the use of a kitchen which will allow you to prepare meals and even eat in if you wish, a definite cost savings.

Another option is to choose an off-site property. Staying in a non-Disney hotel/motel will likely cost less, possibly much less than a Disney World resort property. But make sure that this is truly the most economical option for you, but finding out if the hotel offers things like free breakfast, or free park shuttles. See if you will need a car rental.

What about Disney World resort properties? Disney typically offers a number of “perks” to their resort guests that can make this the most affordable choice for you in some circumstances. You will not have to worry about transportation as Disney’s Magical Express buses will transport you to and from the airport, and their extensive resort transportation system will get you to the theme parks…saving you quite a bit of money. Plus Disney offers “Extra Magic Hours” which provides you more time in the parks than non-resort guests. And with the regular promotions that Disney offers, you may find that a Disney vacation on-site can actually be extremely affordable.

The last thing you should do before booking, is to compare different pricing options, whether you are staying on or off Disney property. With discount travel websites you can often get a better price than the one offered directly by Disney or the off-site hotel. You should also check for discounts through organizations, and if you are a teacher look into that as well. The Walt Disney World Swan and Walt Disney World Dolphin frequently offer good discounts for teachers.

It is possible to have a very affordable Disney vacation. Careful research and comparison of all of your accommodation options will help to insure that your vacation will be remembered for the fun you had, and not the money you spent.

Nancy Bobby has been planning Disney World vacations (and saving money on them) for over ten years, and has experienced 12 (and counting) family trips to Walt Disney World. Her favorite resource for saving hundreds of dollars on a Disney vacation has been the Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide. Get help with your own affordable Disney vacation and receive her free Disney planning guide at her blog http://www.theaffordablemouse.com.