Saving a Buck at Disney

Let me start with a confession - I'm cheap. Not just frugal, cheap. But in my defense - I'm cheap so that I can better afford trips to Disney with my family. I rely on store brands and sales on a daily basis to make sure we have money in the 'Mouse account'.

Earlier today, Disney released some Fall room and package discounts, which got me thinking about some sage advice for saving money at Disney. None of this is necessarily new information, but I think it bears repeating because Disney can cause sticker shock if you're not prepared.

1. Think you'll need it? Bring it. Sweatshirts cost up to $80 at Disney and ponchos are $10. Save yourself a bunch of money by bringing your own from home. A poncho at your local sporting goods store should run around $5.

2. Don't eat your money. Kind of like my dietician friends who tell me "don't drink your calories", food is one of the most expensive parts of a Disney vacation. If you have a spouse who isn't hell bent on eating at a restaurant three times a day while on vacation (can you guess that mine isn't very suggestable?), consider packing some snacks, water, even a picnic lunch when touring the parks.

3. Window shop at your own peril. Like so many things that Disney does well, the window displays at every retail location are meant to draw you in and take your money. I've been known to duck into a shop to cool off on a hot day, and it takes all of my self control NOT to buy something.

4. Rent points. It will pain my travel agent friends to read this, but renting Disney Vacation Club (DVC) points through a resale service like dvcrequest.com or dvc-rental.com is a great way to save a lot of money and still get a deluxe accommodation for your family.