Need more ways to save money on your Disney trip? Here are some additional travel-related discounts and deals that can add up to big savings when you are planning a Disney vacation!

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Trip Insurance

It is especially important to buy trip insurance for a cruise or vacation package, because you have to pay the entire cost in advance and you won't get a refund if you have to cancel right before your scheduled departure. With hundreds or even thousands of dollars at stake, it's worth it to protect the investment.

It is absolutely critical to buy insurance if you will be taking a Caribbean cruise during hurricane season (between June 1 and November 30). While cruise ships can easily outrun and sail around hurricanes, ports and airports often close, which can affect your travel plans in a big way. If you don't have insurance, you will be out of pocket for related expenses, such as renting a car to get to a new port or to get home from a port where you hadn't expected to disembark. And if you can't make it to the ship, the cruise line has the right to say "tough luck" and keep your money!

It's super-important to buy insurance if you will be visiting Walt Disney World on a package vacation during peak hurricane season (roughly the months of August and September). Don't underestimate the potential of hurricanes to create major problems even in an inland location like Orlando. Walt Disney World was directly affected by two hurricanes in 2004 (Frances and Jeanne) and one in 2005 (Wilma). Two hotels located on Disney property (but not operated by Disney) were virtually destroyed by the 2004 storms; one didn't reopen until 2010!

While Disney's own resorts weathered the hurricanes very well, guests were stuck in their rooms for up to 36 hours and many had major travel problems because airports were closed. Disney did waive "no-show" fees for a few dates, but those whose trips began before the specified dates (but whose travel plans overlapped with the hurricane) or just afterward were out of luck. Many people had similar problems with their airfares. The airlines allowed highly restrictive changes for certain dates without extra fees, but many of those who had to reschedule could not work within the airlines' narrow rules and just had to suck up the extra cost.

Perhaps the most important coverage included in a trip insurance policy is trip cancellation and interruption insurance, which can protect your investment if you have to cancel your vacation at the last minute (or come home early) due to illness or injury. Depending on the policy, you may be covered if you cancel for other reasons, such as jury duty, terrorism at your destination, or even unemployment.

Emergency medical coverage and medical evacuation insurance are very important if you become ill or injured during the trip. A lot of medical insurance policies do not cover you outside of your home country. Plus, evacuation insurance will help to pay for an emergency flight, which would be hugely expensive if you had to pay for it yourself. This can be very worthwhile, especially if you will be visiting developing countries, which is common on cruises. Personally I would not be comfortable with the care provided in most Caribbean hospitals, for instance, and would much prefer to be flown to the US for treatment.

Delayed baggage insurance will help you pay for replacement clothing if the airline sends your suitcase to Timbuktu and you need something to wear in the meantime. Supplemental baggage insurance will pay a predetermined amount if an airline or cruise line loses your luggage completely. When you consider the high cost of the formal wear you may be taking on a cruise, and how little airlines and cruise lines tend to pay for lost luggage, supplemental baggage insurance becomes a wise move. (Some higher-end credit cards provide extra baggage insurance, so check with your card issuer before paying extra for this coverage.)

Disney sells trip insurance, but it's expensive and it has major exclusions: it doesn't cover pre-existing conditions or delays (even weather delays) on air travel you arrange yourself. (Air travel arranged through Disney is covered.) You can almost always get better insurance than Disney provides, and at better rates, by buying it elsewhere.

Be aware that in most cases, trip insurance will provide slightly less coverage (usually by adding exclusions on pre-existing conditions) unless you buy it within about 14 days of paying your DEPOSIT on the vacation package or cruise. So be sure to purchase it right away, once you've committed to the trip.

		Where to Buy Trip Insurance If you have kids under 18, consider using Allianz (formerly Access America) for your trip insurance. Kids are included FREE in the Classic Plan, which is a rare and valuable benefit. If you buy that policy within 14 days of making your first payment/deposit on the package, it will also cover pre-existing conditions, unlike Disney's coverage. If the Allianz policy isn't a good fit for you, a great place to comparison-shop for trip insurance is InsureMyTrip.com, where you can see side-by-side policy information and rates for major, reputable insurance companies. I have used InsureMyTrip.com myself to buy trip insurance for several trips. I saved a substantial amount and got much more comprehensive coverage than Disney's policy would have provided.

Entertainment Book

Entertainment Book is published annually in different editions for various major cities around the US. The book gives you discounts on local restaurants and entertainment, hotels nationwide, rental cars nationwide, certain theme park admissions, and more. See below the yellow box for more details on what the book includes.

Each Entertainment Book has coupons for many local full-service restaurants (typically 2-for-1 meals or 50% off), plus fast-food and casual dining coupons. If you plan to use restaurant coupons, pick the book for the area where you plan to eat.

		Entertainment Book Offers For a limited time only, get 2012 Entertainment Books for $12 plus FREE shipping! 2012 Entertainment Books are valid from the date received until November 1, 2012 (except for some coupons that expire later, as noted below). Enter your own zip code to buy your local Entertainment Book, or zip code 32830 for the Orlando book, or zip code 92802 for the Disneyland area book. Regular price for the 2012 Orlando, FL (Disney World area) Entertainment Book is $35. Regular price for the 2012 Orange County, CA (Disneyland area) Entertainment Book is $40.

ALL 2012 Entertainment Books, regardless of which region you choose, contain the following discounts that are useful for Orlando or Anaheim vacations:

• $10 off any American Airlines fare worldwide. You get one code per book, and each code is good for up to 6 people traveling together. You get the code by logging into the Entertainment website after purchasing the book. Expires 12/14/12.

• Discounts of up to 50% off regular "rack rates" at hotels nationwide, including many major chain hotels near Disney World and Disneyland. Note: Disney-owned hotels don't participate in this program. Sometimes hotels are participating but are not listed in the book, so always ask.

• Discount coupons for major car rental agencies, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and National. Some of these coupons can save you $25 or more on your rental! Rental car coupons in the 2012 books expire 6/30/13.

• Discounts/deals on admission to SeaWorld Orlando (combined with Aquatica), Legoland Florida, Legoland California and Sea Life Aquarium -- great if you're planning side trips to those parks. All of these attraction coupons expire 12/31/12.

The 2012 Orlando, FL (Disney World area) and Orange County, CA (Disneyland area) Entertainment Books contain many coupons for restaurants in those areas, including:

• A coupon for $5 off a $20 at Rainforest Cafe (locations in Downtown Disney at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, and at Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World).

• Multiple 2 for 1 coupons for Wetzel's Pretzels (locations in Downtown Disney at Disneyland and Walt Disney World).

See the Disneyland and Walt Disney World pages for more details on Entertainment Book dining and snack discounts near those locations.

Entertainment Book Mobile Membership

The new Entertainment.com Savings Membership allows you to use a phone app (available for iPhone, Android, Blackberry or mobile website) to access Entertainment Book-type deals. The app is FREE, but the membership costs $30 per year.

For a limited time you can get the Entertainment.com Savings Membership at an introductory price of $19.99.

Pros

• The app allows you to access local deals for restaurants, shopping, entertainment and attractions throughout the US and Canada. So instead of buying a separate book for each city where you plan to use local coupons, this one app gives you access to them all. The app defaults to your current location, but you can choose any other zip code / postal code and it will show you deals in that location.

• When you click on a deal, the app clearly shows how to redeem it by showing one or more icons: book (meaning you have to go to the actual Entertainment Book for that area and pull out the coupon), card (meaning you have to show the membership card from an actual Entertainment Book), mobile (meaning you can just show the mobile coupon to the merchant right on your phone) and/or print (meaning there is a printable coupon available on the Entertainment.com website). Most deals are printable.

Cons

• The national deals that are printed in all Entertainment Books (see above) do not appear in the app, except for the hotels. However, you can't redeem the hotel deals without a physical Entertainment Book card, which comes only in an actual Entertainment Book. You can probably access some of the other national coupons from the Entertainment.com site once you join, but since they are not in the app, they're hard to find.

• Few of the deals are truly "mobile." (There are a few you can just pull up on your phone and show the merchant, but not many.) Most require you to print a coupon, which you can't do directly from your phone. You can email yourself a link from the app, but then you'll have to retrieve the email from a device connected to a printer, and physically print out the coupon. Thus the app has very little utility when you're out and about with your phone.

If you already own a 2012 Entertainment Book, you can download the app for FREE and use it. This gives you access to local deals throughout the US and Canada, so it's worth doing if you travel. To get the app, log into Entertainment.com, make sure your book is registered on your account, then scroll all the way to the bottom left corner and click on "Download Mobile App." Once the app is installed on your phone, log into the app using your Entertainment.com login, and you're all set.

Bottom line: at this time it's better to buy an Entertainment Book and then get the app for FREE. That gives you the best of both worlds: access to all the national offers in the book; an Entertainment Book card that you can use for many deals listed both in the book and in the app; all the coupons in the book; printable coupons on Entertainment.com for local offers around the US and Canada; and access to the mobile deals on the app.

Disney's Visa Cards

With the Disney Rewards Visa Card (issued by Chase Bank), you can earn "Disney Dream Reward Dollars" equal to 1% on purchases charged to your card. Disney Dream Reward Dollars may be redeemed for most Disney merchandise, park tickets, hotel nights, food, etc. at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Stores and DisneyStore.com.

Disney Rewards Visa cardholders receive various benefits at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, such as discounts on backstage tours. Cardholders also sometimes receive special onboard credits on Disney Cruise Line.

Cardholders sometimes get a 3-day jump start on the general public when discounted vacation packages are offered for Walt Disney World. On a few occasions in the past, cardholders have had exclusive access to special Disney World vacation package offers that were never made available to the general public, but this is pretty rare.

As a cardholder you may receive special deals on other Disney products and services, such as Disney's Broadway and Disney on Ice shows, DisneyStore.com merchandise and other exclusive merchandise.

With Disney Rewards Visa, you pay no interest for 6 months on cruise packages or ticket-inclusive Disney vacation packages when you or your travel agent book through Disney Cruise Line or the Walt Disney Travel Company and charge the package to your Disney Rewards Visa Card prior to arrival.

There is no annual fee on the Disney Rewards Visa card. There is no limit on the maximum number of "Disney Dream Reward Dollars" you can earn with this card.

There is now a Disney Premier Visa Card (also issued by Chase Bank) that has a $49 per year fee but gives you the potential to earn more points and provides an additional redemption option. With this card you earn "Disney Dream Reward Dollars" equal to 2% on certain purchases (gas, groceries, restaurants and most Disney locations) and 1% on everything else. With the Disney Premier Visa Card, you can redeem your "Disney Dream Reward Dollars" for statement credits toward airline tickets as well as the usual Disney rewards. This card is worthwhile for only a very few people, since you have to spend $4900 per year on gas, groceries, restaurants and Disney vacations just to break even on the fee (vs. holding the no-fee version).

Many other credit cards have better rewards and better travel benefits than the Disney Rewards Visa Card or the Disney Premier Visa Card. However, if you are a regular visitor to Walt Disney World, you may find it worthwhile to get the no-fee Disney Rewards Visa card just to take advantage of early access to discounted vacation packages, and/or the 6 months no-interest offer when charging your vacation to the card. Otherwise, there are better cards.

Frequent Stay Programs

Virtually every large hotel chain has a frequent stay program. It is very worthwhile to sign up for these free programs. Some hotel chains will give you room upgrades, when available, because you belong to the program. Others offer special amenities (i.e. free Internet access) and/or give you a special in-room treat or gift, just for being a member. And some programs allow you to accumulate points that you can exchange for all kinds of things.

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Starwood Preferred Guest

Starwood operates Sheraton and Westin hotels, including the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels located on Disney property. You can join the Starwood Preferred Guest program for FREE. This allows you to accumulate Starpoints for free nights at over 1,000 participating Starwood hotels and resorts in nearly 100 countries, including Sheraton, Westin, Le Meridien and other brands, with no blackout dates. Starpoints can also be exchanged for free flights on most airlines.

Elite level Starwood Preferred Guest members may receive benefits such as free upgrades at check-in, free Internet access, late check-out and bonus points with every stay.

		Great Way to Get FREE Travel: Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express I have a Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express and get a lot of FREE travel every year by using the card to pay for all of our day-to-day expenses. That spending earns Starpoints, which can be redeemed for FREE nights at over 1,000 hotels and resorts worldwide and for FREE flights on over 350 airlines, with no blackout dates. I pay the card off every month, so the only cost to me for the Starpoints is the $65 annual fee. The Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express is my personal favorite of all the rewards cards out there, and it won the 2011 SmarterTravel® Award for "Best Travel Rewards Card." Get the card today and earn a Starpoints® BONUS: 10K with your first purchase and another 15K when you spend $5k within 6 months – enough for up to 6 free nights at a Category 1 or 2 hotel. Earn at least 4 Starpoints per eligible dollar at participating hotels & resorts, and 1 Starpoint for every eligible dollar spent everywhere else. $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $65. Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by American Express. Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of American Express, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through American Express Affiliate Program.

Hilton HHonors

If you stay at Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn or Homewood Suites on a regular basis, you should definitely join Hilton HHonors. Membership is FREE and the Hilton HHonors points you earn can be exchanged for free Disney tickets for Disneyland and Walt Disney World, Hilton family hotel stays or frequent flyer miles in certain airline programs.

Elite level HHonors members may receive benefits such as free room upgrades at check-in, free Internet access, complimentary breakfast or other amenities and bonus points with every stay.

Marriott Rewards

If you stay at Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites, SpringHill Suites or Marriott Vacation Club properties on a regular basis, you should enroll in Marriott Rewards. Membership is FREE and you can choose to accumulate Marriott Rewards points (redeemable for hotel stays) or frequent flyer miles.

Elite level Marriott Rewards members may receive benefits such as free room upgrades at check-in, free Internet access, lounge access, complimentary continental breakfast, and bonus points with every stay.

Points.com

If you have frequent stay points in more than one program and you'd like to consolidate them so you can use them, consider signing up for Points.com. This is a FREE program that allows you to trade various points and miles between programs, including American Airlines AAdvantage® miles, Delta SkyMiles®, Priority Club® Rewards and more. You'll be able to get the most from airline, accommodation, frequent shopper and savings reward programs to which you already belong!

American Express

Disney and American Express severed their official relationship as of December 31, 2002. Since that date, American Express cardholders have no longer received any special benefits at Disney theme parks, and the American Express Membership Rewards program no longer offers Disney passes or packages as reward options.

Disney Club

The Disney Club offered many discounts to members, including savings on hotel rooms, tickets, and meals. Unfortunately it was completely discontinued as of December 31, 2003.

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