Want an affordable vacation at the Magic Kingdom? You may just have to turn to black magic these days.
At the end of February, Disney announced that it would be following Universal Studios' lead and instituting a system of "surge pricing." So just like Uber, it will be jacking up its rates when demand is high - which is almost 20 percent of the time at Disney World. At its Orlando, Florida, theme park, a daily ticket will soar from $105 per adult to a whopping $124 for "peak" periods. Alas, those peaks fall when most families want to go: the spring-break period of March 11 to April 2, and square in the middle of summer vacation (May 27 through July 23).
Prices at Disney's other properties also will be rising; at Disneyland the jump will be from $95 on regular days to $114 when the park is busy.
Yes, kids' entry fees are slightly less, but you become an adult in Mouseland at the tender age of 10 - a surprise to many parents.
Still want to go and aren't willing to sacrifice your kid's college fund for the experience? Here are a few down-and-dirty ways to save:
(1) Don't stay at a Disney hotel: This may sound counterintuitive, since Disney offers free airport transfers to its properties and perks like the "Extra Magic Hours" (a time when only hotel guests can stay on at the parks). But prices at nearby hotels and condos are often a fraction of what you'd pay for similar quality lodgings on-site at Disney; and you'll have far less costly food options available to boot (especially if you get a place with a kitchen).
(2) Take advantage of the "Armed Forces Salute": This is the deepest discount the company offers, and it is available several months a year (usually the end of summer until mid-December) to folks who are on active duty or have served in the U.S. military. In all, traveling under this program can save visitors 30 to 40 percent off the cost of resort stays and park-hopper passes.
(3) AAA Discounts: Though they're not as good as they used to be, sometimes membership in the automobile club can shave a few dollars off your costs. Check.
(4) Linger Longer: Even with surge pricing, your per-day ticket costs will go down the more days you commit to seeing Disney parks. Just be sure you're getting ALL your time. It's usually a waste of money to buy a ticket for the day you fly in or out, as you'll miss a good half a day of fun (and be warned: if you're buying tickets over the phone, Disney operators are trained to upsell you to buy as many days as possible, whether or not that's in your best interest).
(5) Go in the off-season: You'll not only spend considerably less on entry tickets, but the cost of hotel rooms can plunge by 25 percent or more. That's also the time when other discounts pop up, many of which you'll find on the excellent blog Mousesavers.com.
Note to the reader: Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip. The information in this column was accurate when it was released, but prices are competitive, sometimes limited and can always change without notice.
Pauline Frommer is the Editorial Director for the Frommer Travel Guides and Frommers.com. She co-hosts the radio program The Travel Show with her father, Arthur Frommer and is the author of the best-selling Frommer's EasyGuide to New York City.
