Other Disney World Discounts and Deals

LAST UPDATE: 3/14/13

Here you’ll find out how to get other Disney World discounts for all the “extras” that can really add up when you vacation at Walt Disney World — items like parking, stroller rental, Internet access and lots more! Discounts are available for a lot of the “small” things at Disney World, but sometimes it can be hard to find those deals. Search no more!

I update prices whenever I become aware of changes, but prices on this page are always subject to change.

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FREE & Cheap Stuff to Do at Walt Disney World

I have a whole page of fun things you can do for very little cost while at Walt Disney World, and without paying any park admission! This is very useful if you only have a partial day available (maybe the day you check in or out, for instance) and don’t want to use up a whole day on your admission ticket. Click here to read more.

Finding the Places on this Page

Quite a few of the locations mentioned on this page are off Disney property. You’ll usually need a car to get to them. If you own an auto GPS receiver (or are considering the purchase of a GPS unit), this is a great use for it!

Best of all, there is an exclusive FREE MouseSavers Points of Interest file you can upload to your Garmin, TomTom or Magellan GPS unit, which will help you navigate to pretty much anywhere mentioned here on the site.

Share Expenses

Reader Marya C writes, “One great way I have found to save money is to team up with other families and share expenses. We have done this and are sharing the cost of transfers (we will pay less to take a limousine to the airport than we would just to park!). Rather than use expensive babysitting services at the parks, we may have each adult couple take a babysitting night so others can go out… the cost of two families splitting the tab for a minivan and condo would make the trip very affordable. I have always found that vacationing with friends keeps everyone on check. The kids do not get that ‘stuck in a hotel with my sibling’ syndrome and having a friend there to break up the monotony is great.”

Souvenirs

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Buy in Advance

If you have kids, you know that they will probably be seized with a case of the “I wants” when they get to the Disney parks, because there is all kinds of neat merchandise cleverly placed at the conclusion of every ride. One solution is to take advantage of sales and bargains at DisneyStore.com before your trip and put your purchases away. Then pack the goodies in your suitcase and dole them out to the kids when you get there. Click here for current DisneyStore.com discount codes and coupons.

Give Your Kids a Budget

One way to do this is to give them Disney Dollars or Disney Gift Cards for birthdays, Christmas, etc. before your trip. Encourage grandparents to do this, too. You can’t spend Disney Dollars or Disney Gift Cards anywhere but Disney, and kids will have a lot of fun picking out souvenirs from their own “money.”

A variation on this comes from MouseSavers.com reader Linda: “One thing I am doing before we go, is paying my kids half their allowance in Disney Dollars. I know there will be things they want to buy and I won’t, so this way, they are saving (forcibly) to buy the things they will want. The kids love it, and some weeks request all Disney Dollars!”

Watch for Sales and Mark-Downs

I have fairly frequently seen small sale racks at the Disney World resort hotel shops — look in the back of the store or ask the clerks. On a couple of occasions I’ve purchased items that were marked down as much as 50%.

Starting in 2009, I started seeing a few items on sale or marked down in the theme parks. However, I think most of the excess merchandise goes to the outlet stores.

Annual Passholder Discounts

10% off Passholder discounts on Disney merchandise apply at most Disney-owned-and-operated merchandise locations throughout the Walt Disney World Resort.

Please note: some merchandise locations, including the China, Japan, and Morocco Pavilions at World Showcase in Epcot and most locations in Downtown Disney, are not operated by Disney and thus do not offer this discount. Certain items are always excluded, such as gift certificates, Disney Dollars, videos, food items, film, film processing, and various collectibles.

For non-Disney merchandise, ALL Passholders can get discounts at select locations in Downtown Disney and Animal Kingdom. Participating locations:

Please note: many of these shops exclude certain merchandise from the discount. In most cases the discount only applies to regular priced merchandise.

Disney’s Visa Discounts

Disney’s Visa cardholders can save 10% on select merchandise purchases of $50 or more at World of Disney in Downtown Disney. It may apply at some theme park merchandise locations as well, so if you have one of Disney’s Visa cards, always ask about the discount. A $50 minimum pre-tax single transaction purchase is required to receive discount.

Present and use one of Disney’s Visa cards at time of purchase. Not valid in combination with other offers, discounts, promotions or with any previous purchase.

Discount is not valid on purchases of various items including ticket media, gift certificates, Disney Gift Cards, Disney Dollars, DVDs, sundries, many collectibles and select merchandise.

Also, see below for information about a FREE souvenir available to Disney’s Visa cardholders.

Disney Vacation Club Discounts

Disney Vacation Club members get 10% off at all Disney owned-and-operated merchandise locations throughout the Walt Disney World Resort.

Please note: some merchandise locations, including the China, Japan, and Morocco Pavilions at World Showcase in Epcot and most locations in Downtown Disney, are not operated by Disney and thus do not offer this discount. Certain items are always excluded, such as gift certificates, Disney Dollars, videos, food items, film, film processing, and various collectibles.

For non-Disney merchandise, DVC members can get discounts at select locations in Downtown Disney, Epcot and Animal Kingdom. The list of DVC member non-Disney merchandise discounts is extensive and the amount varies by location; the best way to check current discounts is either on the DVC member website, which offers a printable PDF, or by looking through the Member Perks booklet provided at check-in.

Birnbaum Guide Discount

Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World 2013 has coupons in the back for the following Downtown Disney merchants:

Mr. Potato Head Hints

A popular souvenir is the all-you-can-fit-in-a-box Disney-themed Mr. Potato Head toy. This toy is available at many locations at Walt Disney World. For a flat rate you get as many parts as you can manage to fit into the provided box, as long as it closes and is not bulging.

Here are some hints for getting the most for your money when buying this toy:

Lego Store Promos

The Lego Imagination Center in Downtown Disney normally participates in the Monthly Mini Model Build (usually first Tuesday of the month, starting at 5:00 pm), where kids ages 6-14 can build and take home a FREE mini model!

Click here to see upcoming events at the store, and be sure to click under the Store Calendar section to get the PDF file with the monthly calendar, which often has coupons.

Disney Outlet Stores Close to Disney World

You can get deals on Walt Disney World theme park merchandise at nearby Disney outlet stores:

For Walt Disney World souvenirs such as t-shirts, sweatshirts and mugs (and sometimes more exotic stuff), you can’t beat the prices at the outlets. Sometimes you will even find current merchandise that is still be offered in the parks, at up to 50% off.

In general, to get to the outlet centers you will need a rental car or else you’ll have to take a taxi. However, many non-Disney hotels offer free shuttles to Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores where Character Corner is located – click on the link to see the schedule.

The Character Premiere and Character Warehouse stores are operated by Disney (the staff wears Disney badges and the stores sell Disney passes — plus you can pay for merchandise with Disney Dollars if you wish). The Character Corner store is independently operated and the merchandise and ambiance are not as good.

Inexpensive/FREE Souvenirs

Pressed pennies are fun to collect. Each location (and there are many throughout the parks and resorts) has a different design, and the process of “squishing” a penny is fun to watch. Cost is typically 51 cents (you supply the penny and pay .50 to press it). There are also pressed quarter machines, which of course cost you more! Guest Relations can usually provide a list of all of the locations for the pressed penny and quarter machines, along with the images available at each of the machines. Disney also sells inexpensive pressed penny/quarter books that you can use to store and display your treasures. Thanks to Sandy C and Jessica G for additional info.

Susan H of Port Neches, TX suggests this fun and inexpensive souvenir: “On our past visits to WDW we have let our kids send themselves postcards from each park. Buy your postcards off property for something like 3/$1.00 and bring along lots of stamps. A really fun way to do this would be for the child to write themselves a note about who they met that day and mail the card late in the day. Or you could get a character to autograph the card.”

FASTPASSes and other paper memorabilia – MouseSavers.com reader Jeff has another great suggestion: “Fastpasses are great to collect, as well as old passports and vouchers etc. You can try and collect them all, get the holiday passes, blank end-of-roll Fastpasses, Fastpasses printed upside-down, etc. At the end of the day with unused Fastpasses you can collect them for free and even have a relevant character sign it. (Sharpie markers work best so they can use the whole Fastpass for the signature because, obviously, it’s hard to sign with big gloves.)”

Autograph book – Many children really enjoy meeting the characters and getting their autographs. For this you only need an inexpensive autograph book (or storybook – see below) and a fat pen (markers are ideal) that the character can grip easily. Autograph books can be ordered in advance of your trip from DisneyStore.com.

Personalized storybook – If you will be attending a character meal, purchase a storybook featuring characters that will appear at the meal. For instance, if you will be eating breakfast at Storytellers Cafe, get a book with Chip and Dale in it. (Alternatively, get a single book with lots of characters in it, so you can use it as an autograph book throughout your trip.) Buy the book in advance and take it with you. BookCloseouts.com often has beautiful hardcover Disney storybooks at 50% off. When you go to the character meal, or as you tour the parks, bring along a big pen and have the characters sign in the book. Later you can also paste photos of your child with the characters into the blank pages at the back of the book. Now you have a nice souvenir that you can actually use after the vacation (unlike the Disney autograph books), because you can talk with your kids about the characters who signed the books and look at the pictures when you read it! Thanks to Sulan D for the idea.

FREE souvenirs are available at several Epcot locations:

Disney’s Visa cardholders get access to an exclusive Character Meet ‘n’ Greet with a FREE keepsake photo. Cardmember Meet ‘N’ Greet operates daily between 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm at Innoventions West at Epcot. Must present a valid Disney’s Visa card for entry and limited to 6 people per card. Operating time, days of the week, location and appearance of Characters may vary and are subject to change without notice. Subject to availability and location capacity. Offer includes one complimentary 5×7 keepsake photo per valid cardmember account.

Shipping Souvenirs Home

If you live outside of Florida and you’re buying a lot of souvenirs (especially expensive artwork or collectibles) at Disney World, consider having them shipped home directly from the shop. Disney will not charge you the sales tax on your purchase, though you will have to pay for shipping (which costs $8.95 and up). Shipping rates are high, so you’ll need to spend at least $150 or so in one shop for this to be worthwhile.

The front desk of the Disney resorts can help you with shipping things home. There is a surcharge on the regular cost of shipping the items, but this is very convenient.

If you would like to arrange your own shipping, there are two locations that are pretty convenient to the Disney property, though you’ll need a car to reach them:

Disney’s PhotoPass

Disney’s PhotoPass presents Walt Disney World guests with a way to capture treasured moments. Using professional digital equipment, photographers take photos of guests throughout the theme parks. Guests receive a Disney PhotoPass that links all of their vacation photos together into one online account for easy online viewing and sharing. Guests can use one PhotoPass for their entire vacation or get a new PhotoPass each time they take a photo.

MouseSavers.com readers report that the quality of PhotoPass shots is highly variable, since some of the photographers are better than others. Occasionally there is a glitch and photos are lost by the system (or the photography equipment fails). So if it is really important to get an excellent shot of a particular event or experience, be sure to take your own photos, too! Also, reader David F points out that “every photographer (and just about any other cast member) was more than willing to use our camera to take a picture after they did the PhotoPass shot. They do not seem to be restricted to only doing the PhotoPass pictures.”

Hint: when you are given PhotoPass cards (used at most locations) or tags (at the water parks), you should immediately use your cellphone camera or digital camera to take a photo of the code on the cards/tags, just in case you lose them. (Or if you don’t have a camera, use your mobile phone to text the code to yourself.) If you lose a PhotoPass card or tag, Disney will do its best to locate your photos based on the last time and location where you had activity in the system, but sometimes it can’t be done. Don’t take a chance on losing your vacation memories when a simple photo could have prevented it! Thanks to Margit M, who learned the hard way, for this important suggestion.

Although Disney’s PhotoPass replaces the old photo system at Walt Disney World Resort, guests are still able to view and buy their vacation photos at Disney Photo Centers throughout property.

Better yet, instead of having to wait in line at a Photo Center for their photos, guests can view, share and order their photos online at DisneyPhotoPass.com. At DisneyPhotoPass.com, guests can also add decorative borders and other Disney-themed elements to their pictures. There is no charge for obtaining a PhotoPass or viewing or sharing your photos online. The cost of ordering prints from DisneyPhotoPass.com starts at $14.95.

Be aware that you must register the serial number(s) of your PhotoPass(es) online within 30 days or they expire. Your photos are taken off the website exactly 30 days after you register, so don’t wait too long!

PhotoCD

You can purchase all of your Walt Disney World PhotoPass photos on one CD for $169.95. The PhotoCD grants you a copyright release so that you can print the photos yourself. It can be purchased at three Walt Disney World locations: Camera Center at Epcot, M. Mouse Mercantile at Grand Floridian and Toontown in the Magic Kingdom. It can also be purchased at DisneyPhotoPass.com. If you purchase online you can crop photos, add borders and character enhancements, etc., before ordering the CD.

I received this interesting information about the PhotoCD from MouseSavers.com reader Ann F: “it doesn’t matter how many photos you take, they will all be on the CDs when you order them. I’ve ordered one CD with almost 700 photos and I’m ordering one today that has 800 photos. I’ve heard of someone ordering the CD and there were 1200 photos. They do only put 300 [photos on each] CD, so you’ll get several CDs [even if you only place one order].”

  • Pre-order your Walt Disney World PhotoCD and save $50! It costs $119.95 through this link.

PhotoCD only includes photos taken after purchase of this offer. Photos within your Disney’s PhotoPass account prior to this purchase are not included. The pre-order creates a credit for the CD in your PhotoPass account. If you change your mind after pre-ordering (for example, if you don’t have enough good photos on your PhotoPass account to make the CD worthwhile to you, or you just change your mind), you can get a full refund within 90 days of the pre-purchase, as long as you have not actually ordered the CD. Thanks to Andrea G for info.

PhotoPass+

New as of April 2012 is PhotoPass+, a package that includes all your PhotoPass photos on a PhotoCD (you get a code in the package that you can use later to order the CD online), digital downloads of select attraction photos, dining photo print packages, a gallery CD with more than 400 stock photos and a lanyard, all for $199.95.

PhotoPass+ is sold at PhotoPass viewing stations throughout Walt Disney World, or in advance (see below). You can put up to a 14-night vacation on this package.

Participating attractions for PhotoPass+ include Splash Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n Roller Coaster, Expedition Everest and Dinosaur.

Participating Character dining locations for PhotoPass+ include Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show, Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue, Cinderella’s Royal Table, Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, 1900 Park Fare, Chef Mickey’s, ‘Ohana (breakfast) and Tusker House (breakfast). (Note that the photo print packages at Cinderella’s Royal Table and Princess Storybook Dining are already included in your dining cost, so this adds no value in that respect, but it does allow you to add the photos from those restaurants to your PhotoCD.)

  • Pre-order your Walt Disney World PhotoPass+ and save $50! It costs $149 through this link.

Order AT LEAST 14 DAYS PRIOR TO YOUR VACATION! They will send you a physical package with a voucher that you need to take with you on your trip.

Drugstore Items and Groceries

While you can pick up a few odds and ends (milk, juice, bread, bandaids) at the shops in any of the Disney resorts and many off-site hotels, the prices will be very high and the selection limited. Here are a few places you can go for your basic necessities that are very near Disney World and Downtown Disney. In most cases you will need a rental car or a taxi to reach these stores.

Hess Gas Stations

Disney has several on-property Hess stations, including one right across the street from Downtown Disney and one across the street from Disney’s BoardWalk Resort. Many MouseSavers.com readers have written me to say that the Hess stations have reasonable prices on soft drinks, beer and bottled water. They also carry a variety of pre-made food items, including pizzas and subs. If that’s all you need, you might just want to grab your items at Hess and skip the supermarket. If you need any other groceries, Hess isn’t a great bet: readers report that selection is very limited and some prices (i.e., for a half-gallon of milk) were actually higher than the prices in the Disney hotel shops.

Goodings Supermarket

This store has exactly one thing going for it: it’s extremely convenient to the Downtown Disney hotels. You can actually walk to it if staying in one of those hotels. While Goodings used to be a “gourmet” market, it has really gone downhill in recent years and now offers a very poor selection (perhaps slightly better than a convenience store) and high prices. It’s located at the intersection of Hotel Plaza Blvd and Apopka/Vineland Road (SR 535). You can’t miss it — Hotel Plaza Blvd dead-ends into the Crossroads Shopping Center where the supermarket is located.

Walgreens Drugstores

In addition to the usual pharmacy items, Walgreens stores have a huge selection of general merchandise (including picnic supplies, cold drinks, cheap flip-flops, etc) at normal prices. There are two very close to the Downtown Disney area:

Turner Drug

Turner Drug will deliver to area hotels for a small fee. If you’ve forgotten a prescription or other standard pharmacy item, call them at (407) 828-8125 to arrange delivery. They do not accept insurance. Some health insurance companies may reimburse you later if you send in your receipt.

Winn-Dixie Supermarket

Winn-Dixie has a good selection including a deli, in-store bakery, pharmacy, and 1-hour photo services — all at non-resort prices. You may want to get a free Winn-Dixie Customer Rewards Card (print out the application online or ask for one at the store) in order to take advantage of the many special prices that are only available to card holders.

The closest Winn-Dixie to Walt Disney World is located at 11957 S. Apopka/Vineland Road (SR 535), about 3 lights north of the intersection with Hotel Plaza Blvd and just north of the intersection with Lake Avenue, on the east side of the street.

MouseSavers.com reader Dianne C has this excellent suggestion: “I obtained a Winn-Dixie shopping card, as recommended on your website. I found out before leaving that Winn-Dixie posts their new weekly ad every Thursday through the following Wednesday at www.winn-dixie.com. I was able to plan meals based on their sales and could then figure out what items to bring from home. (If a recipe calls for 3 or 4 spices, I measure out the amounts and put them in a small snack size zip-lock bag.) It was truly a HUGE money and time saver.”

Publix Supermarket

Publix has an excellent selection, including a whole section of British foods and a very appealing deli area (the sandwiches look excellent). You don’t need a shopper’s card to get discounts here, which is nice for non-locals. It’s easily reachable from both Downtown Disney and the southern end of International Drive, but the location is a bit obscure. The address is 8145 Vineland Avenue and the phone number is (407) 238-9924.

Tolls and Gas

Tolls

There are two major highways you can use to get from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Walt Disney World. Both are tollways.

The easiest and best route is to use Greeneway (SR 417). This road is uncrowded and makes a straight shot to Walt Disney World. Depending on where you exit, the tolls will total about $3 to $4 each way.

Hint: When I’m driving from the airport, I usually exit Greeneway (SR 417) at World Center Drive (SR 536). Getting to that exit costs $3.00 in tolls. Exiting here puts you directly on World Center Drive, a major (non-toll) highway that goes straight into Disney’s parks and resorts. Also, just after you exit at World Center Drive (SR 536), you have the option of making a right turn on Apopka/Vineland Road (SR 535), which takes you to the Downtown Disney area. Be sure to consult a map, though — if you’re staying on the far side of Walt Disney World (i.e. near the Animal Kingdom or Magic Kingdom), it may save you time to stay on Greeneway (SR 417) and pay more in tolls.

If you really want to cheap out, use Beeline Expressway (SR 528) and connect to I-4 South. You will pay less in tolls. However, this route often puts you in traffic jams and it is not as direct.

Gas Stations

Disney has several on-property Hess stations with low gas prices. In fact, the Hess prices are usually the lowest in the Orlando area. There’s no need to drive way off property to get gas.

I have always used one of the Disney area Hess stations to gas up my rental car before heading back to the airport and I have never been charged for additional gas by the rental agency — the gas gauge is always still on “F”. So remember to gas up before you get on the highway back to the airport!

On your way to the airport, a good place to gas up your car is the Hess station located immediately before you get on Greeneway (SR 417) from World Center Drive (SR 536). The actual street address is 7900 World Center Drive and it is just west of International Drive (note that Google Maps does not display the location correctly). The gas prices here are usually the best in the area and it’s much cheaper and more convenient than buying gas close to the airport.

If you want to gas up closer to the airport, exit Greeneway (SR 417) at Landstar Blvd, which is the last exit before the airport exit, and turn left. There is a 7-11 about a block up on the right, with normal gas prices. Note that you will have to pay a cash ramp toll at this exit, so have some quarters with you.

The nearest gas station to the airport (“Landing Strip” aka “Suncoast Energy” on Semoran Boulevard, just north of the airport) is a complete rip-off. This station habitually charges nearly TWICE the normal price for gas and does not have signs to let people know the prices before they pull in. You won’t realize you’re paying a ridiculous price unless you look closely at the pump!

Parking

Parking at the theme parks is $14 per day ($15 for campers or trailers). If you will be leaving the parking lot and returning on the same day, or even parking at another theme park on the same day, be sure to save your receipt. You won’t have to pay again, because only have to pay the fee once per day. MouseSavers.com reader Adam S notes that it’s often fastest to “pay with your credit card at the parking booths. Disney’s credit card system at the parking booths is lightning fast and I’ve always got my receipt faster than any attendant can make change for cash.”

Valet parking at Disney Deluxe resorts is $15 per day, plus tip. If you decide to use valet parking, be sure you are issued a hangtag or receipt. It will allow you to valet park at any resort at no additional charge (except tips) for the rest of that day.

The following guests get FREE valet parking at the Disney Deluxe resorts (but still should tip):

Self-parking at the Disney Deluxe resort hotels remains free of charge, and it is free to drop off your luggage at the front entrance of the hotel and then proceed to self-parking.

If you buy a Walt Disney World vacation package (or sometimes even just Hopper passes) through AAA, you will receive a “Diamond Lot Parking Certificate,” which does not give you free parking, but does give you close-up parking at the major parks. Note that if you arrive near opening time, the regular parking spaces are often closer than the AAA spaces. Also, the trams don’t run to the AAA areas of the parking lots, since they are considered to be within walking distance. Some blackout dates (major holidays) may apply to the AAA certificates.

Phone Calls

Long Distance from Hotels

Believe me, you don’t want to direct-dial any long-distance calls from a hotel. You will pay through the nose! Virtually all hotels add huge surcharges to long-distance calls. It’s a big profit center for them. The law requires that phone charges be prominently posted — there should be a rate card next to the phone in your hotel room. Be sure to study it carefully, because hotel policies and charges vary widely.

The most obvious way to avoid the long-distance surcharges at most hotels is to use a cell phone if you have free roaming and long distance.

Another option is to use a phone card, because phone cards provide long-distance access through a toll-free number and most hotels don’t charge for toll-free number calls.

Internet Access

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Dial-Up Access

All of Disney’s resorts have data ports on the phones. If you want to access the Internet from your hotel room using the data port, you’ll need a dial-up account. There is no charge for calls to local numbers.

Off-site, you’ll find that pretty much any decent hotel in the area will have data ports on the phones. If you want to access the Internet from your hotel room, you’ll need a dial-up account. Hotels vary widely on how much (if anything) is charged for local and toll-free calls, so be sure to check before using dial-up access.

High-Speed Internet Access

Disney Theme Parks

All four theme parks now offer FREE wi-fi (wireless Internet access) in the parks. The network is called Disney-Guest.

Disney Hotels

The Disney hotels now have FREE wi-fi (wireless Internet access) in the guest rooms, plus various public areas, such as the lobby, bus stops and main pool deck. The wired (Ethernet) access in the hotels has been discontinued.

The Ft. Wilderness Campground does not have wi-fi and it’s unknown if wi-fi is planned there: in the meantime, wired access is still available at the Campground and it is now FREE.

Off-Site

Most other hotels near Walt Disney World do offer high-speed Internet access in their guest rooms. Typically the fee is around $10 per night, but this varies widely. Because the type of access and the cost (if any) is constantly evolving, it’s best to call the hotel you are considering to get the current details.

FREE Wi-Fi Locations:

Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex offers FREE wi-fi. You usually have to pay admission to get into the complex, but the Official All-Star Cafe and some other areas near the main entrance (such as the gift shops) do have coverage and can be accessed without buying admission. Click here for more info.

All of the Osceola County Public Library branches have FREE wi-fi access. The West Osceola Branch Library at Water Tower Place #21, 6070 W. Irlo Bronson Highway (Hwy 192) in Celebration is the closest to Walt Disney World and some of the other branches are within easy driving distance. No printing is possible through the wireless connection.

Panera Bread offers FREE wi-fi (and yummy sandwiches). The closest Panera to Disney property is at 8600 Vineland Avenue. Call (407) 842-1300 for hours.

Starbucks has FREE wi-fi at its three free-standing locations near Disney property:

MouseSavers.com reader Scott C points out that Downtown Kissimmee is a wi-fi hotzone – click here for a coverage map.

Orlando International Airport (MCO) has FREE wi-fi throughout the terminal, and at the Cell Phone Parking Lot (10536 S. Access Rd.) Thanks to Seth N for info.

Without a Laptop

Disney’s resorts that have conference centers (Beach Club, Contemporary, Coronado Springs, Grand Floridian and Yacht Club) have public Internet access available. It is expensive — roughly $10 for 15 minutes. Limited hours — ask at the front desk.

The Dolphin has a 24-hour Business Center that includes three computers with high-speed Internet access. The Swan has a smaller Business Center that only has one Internet-connected computer and is open limited hours. At either center there is a per-minute charge, which you must pay by credit card. Ask at the front desk for directions to the Business Centers.

If you just want to do some limited surfing, DisneyQuest and Innoventions in Epcot have terminals with FREE Internet access, but the sites you can access are heavily restricted. I’m not sure if you can even get to web-based email accounts, for instance. Naturally you’ll need an admission ticket to enter either of these locations.

Many local hotels have high-speed access that does not require a laptop, either provided in the guest rooms through a TV-based system, or more frequently in the form of a Business Center with an Internet-connected computer you can use for a fee. Because the type of access and the cost (if any) is constantly evolving, it’s best to call the hotel you are considering to get the current details.

New!Visit a public library. All of the Osceola County Public Library branches have FREE Internet access. The West Osceola Branch Library at 305 Campus Street in Celebration is the closest to Walt Disney World and some of the other branches are within easy driving distance. Anyone can sign up to use the computers for free, though you may have to wait awhile. You have the option of a 15-minute or one-hour time slot. Printing is available for a small fee. (The Orange County Public Library system, which includes Orlando, does offer Internet access, but does not have any branches that are very close to Disney World. It charges a fee for a 7-day Internet pass for anyone who is not a county resident.) Thanks to Erica B for the suggestion.

A closer option (but still requiring a car) is to go to FedEx, which offers quite a few terminals with high-speed Internet access, at per-minute rates. The nice thing is that you can also print things out and of course get copies here. This is a good place to ship stuff, too, of course. The store is open 24 hours a day on weekdays and until midnight on weekends. It’s at 12181 S. Apopka Vineland Road (SR 535), less than a mile north of the intersection of SR 535 with Hotel Plaza Blvd and just north of the intersection of SR 535 with Palm Parkway, on the east side of the street. Phone number is (407) 465-0085.

Borrow From Your Disney Hotel Instead of Buying

If you are staying at one of Disney’s Walt Disney World resort hotels, you can request the following items from the front desk (note that certain resorts will already have some of these items in the room):

Thanks to Binnie B, Grace, Lisa M, Dwayne O and Rachel D for the info.

Special Occasions

Don’t be shy about mentioning special occasions — honeymoon, birthday, anniversary — to the reservations agent, front desk, waiters and other Cast Members. There is no guarantee that you’ll get a special treat, but it does happen. When we stayed at the Wilderness Lodge on our honeymoon, we received a bottle of champagne in our room after we mentioned the occasion to the desk clerk. We have also been given free dessert at Disney World restaurants on at least four occasions, after mentioning a birthday or anniversary.

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Birthday Buttons

MouseSavers.com reader LeCarla R points out that on your birthday, you can go to “Town Hall in the Magic Kingdom and tell them it’s your birthday …. you get a special pin to wear, and you get a ‘phone call’ from a character (my daughter ‘talked’ to Goofy). When we went to the Crystal Palace to eat, the waitress noticed her pin and brought her a birthday card signed by all the ‘Pooh’ characters and they brought her a special birthday cupcake, complete with candle! Later, a Cast Member noticed her pin and offered her a pin from his lanyard, and told her he usually traded, but that was her birthday present! With the birthday pin, lots of other ‘magical’ events can happen!”

The reader above mentioned her daughter was given a pin. Normally they’ll give you a badge-style button.

Birthday Parties

Prices listed below are subject to change at any time.

The Neverland Club at Disney’s Polynesian Resort offers two party packages for 10-50 guests, each including 2 hours of fun at The Neverland Club, pizza, drinks and a birthday cake. The basic package offers a choice of theme (pirate, princess, Tinkerbell, Lilo & Stitch, sports or Mickey & Minnie) and choice of party activity like face painting or a craft project, for $25 plus tax per child. The premium package includes all of the basic features plus two half-hour appearances by a favorite Disney character, for $53 plus tax per child. You must book at least 72 hours in advance. Call (407) WDW-BDAY (939-2329) for more information.

Cinderella’s Royal Table (restaurant in the Castle in Magic Kingdom) offers the “Her Royal Highness” birthday package for little princesses. The package includes a balloon featuring six Disney princesses, a tiara adorned with crystals, and a special 6-inch round cake (chocolate or vanilla, personalized with Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, or Tiana). The Her Royal Highness package costs $90 plus tax and 18% gratuity ($112.05 total). The package cost is on top of admission to Magic Kingdom and the regular Cinderella’s Royal Table meal package. For more information about this package, call (407) 824-4477 or email wdw.crt.special.events@disney.com at least 7 days in advance of the event.

Goofy’s Candy Company at Downtown Disney Marketplace offers birthday packages. The packages are called Goofy’s Scien-Terrific Birthday Bash or the Perfectly Princess Party. Each 90-minute party includes up to 12 guests total (including the Birthday Boy or Girl) and lasts 90 minutes, all for $344.99 plus tax. Up to 3 more guests can be added for $25 each plus tax. These packages include specially created invitations, private party room decorated with balloons, paper plates and napkins, “create-a-treat” at the table (choice of apples, rice krispie treats, pretzels, marshmallows or cupcakes), themed party games, autographed 5×7 photo of Goofy or Cinderella for each guest, customized Goofy’s Glacier frosty concoction for each guest, and a helium balloon for each guest. Goofy’s Scien-Terrific Birthday Bash includes multicolor light-up glasses for each guest and the Birthday Guest receives a bubblegum machine and a whole pound of selected candy. The Perfectly Princess Party includes a light-up Cinderella coach necklace for each guest and the Birthday Guest receives a hand-blown glass slipper, a tiara and a “Birthday Princess” sash. Call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463) to reserve.

Guests of all ages can book a Birthday Celebration Cruise that lets them set sail on Disney’s waterways aboard a pontoon boat and a VIP viewing of a fireworks spectacular — either Illuminations at Epcot or Wishes at Magic Kingdom. The boat accommodates 8 to 10 people and costs $371.13 as of February 2011. The package includes a driver, light snacks (bags of chips, pretzels and popcorn, water and soft drinks), plus themed decorations (banner and balloons). These boats can be booked for pick-up from the Contemporary, Fort Wilderness, Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge or Yacht and Beach Club marinas. If you want other food or beverages, including birthday cake, you can order them at additional cost through the resort’s Private Dining department. Call (407) WDW-BDAY (939-2329) for more information.

For those with really, really deep pockets, the party-planning experts on the Walt Disney World Resort Sales team can turn one spark of imagination into a fully-themed creative bash with detailed décor and entertainment. Expect to pay many thousands of dollars for these over-the-top events. A “Villain” party at Disney’s Hollywood Studios might feature a crypt entrance, an eerie Tower of Terror bellhop host and gifts sent by favorite Disney villains. An “Under the Sea” party might include appearances by characters from Disney’s animated classic “The Little Mermaid,” a band playing Disney songs and a “bubble cave” party space lit in deep-water blue with ocean sound effects. Call (321) 939-7129 for more information.

Special Occasion Cakes

Prices listed below are subject to change at any time.

You can order special cakes for delivery to your resort room or to be served after your meal at a Walt Disney World restaurant.

Hint: if you will have access to a car, order and pick up a decorated cake from Publix supermarket. The quality is excellent and the prices are much better than Disney’s. They even have some Disney cake designs.

Special Surprises: Flowers, Room Decorations and More

If you want to have flowers, gift baskets or even a decorated Christmas tree sent to your Disney resort room, the “official” florist is Walt Disney World Florist. They can do special romance baskets, sprinkle your bed with rose petals, leave a surprise Mickey on the bed for your child — you name it! Their quality is excellent but the prices are high. (For instance, the Disney World Christmas trees, delivered directly to your resort room, cost in the hundreds of dollars for a decorated 3 1/2 to 4-foot tree.) Visit their website or call (407) 827-3505 for more information.

Honeymoon and Anniversary Buttons

Town Hall and some Guest Services desks may have badge-style buttons for those celebrating an anniversary or honeymoon. If you’re celebrating something special, it’s worth popping by and mentioning it. When you’re wearing a button you may find you’ll receive extra attention from at least some Cast Members.

More Romantic Ideas

Want more romantic ideas for a Disney World vacation? Click here for ideas on great places to propose, romantic places to eat and fun things for couples to do.

Taxes

Most of Walt Disney World is in Orange County, where the sales tax rate is 6.5% and the hotel tax rate works out to 12.5% (6.5% sales tax + 6% resort tax).

Disney’s All Star Resorts are in Osceola County, where the sales tax rate is 7% and the resort tax is 6%, so the hotel tax rate at those three hotels is 13%.

Strollers

Disney rents strollers at $15 per day for a single, $31 per day for a double. (Yes, seriously!)

Strollers rented from Disney can only be used in the park where they were rented. If you “hop” between parks on the same day, you’ll have to turn in your stroller at the first park, then get a new stroller at the next park.

Disney’s stroller rental system is inconvenient since you won’t have a stroller once you leave the parks. That means no stroller at your resort.

Multi-Day Stroller Rental Discount

There is a discount for prepaid multi-day stroller rentals from Disney: $13 per day for a single, $27 per day for a double. A multi-day rental will also save you time, because you’ll be given a receipt that allows you to go up to the cast member dispensing the strollers, have them stamp your receipt, get your stroller and you?re off! No more waiting in the long cashier line to pay for a daily rental. Thanks to Julie S and Lisa C for additional info.

MouseSavers.com reader Melissa W notes that when buying a multi-day rental, “the days do not have to be used consecutively. We were told that they have seen people come back the following year or years even and still use unused days. Also, most of the time you do not have to wait in the line to pay for the stroller rental, rather just in line to actually pick up the rental and have your stroller tickets date stamped.”

Hold on to your receipt! If you misplace your stroller, present the receipt and they’ll replace it without charge. Also, the fee covers rental for the whole day, even if you “hop” between parks on the same day. So if you start the day at one park and then move on to another park later, keep your receipt from the first park and present it at the stroller rental. They’ll issue you a stroller at the second park without additional charge.

Best Deal on a Rental Stroller – Magic Strollers

I personally recommend renting your stroller from Magic Strollers, a service from a very reliable company I’ve been recommending for years, Owner’s Locker.

Magic Strollers’ rental rates are lower than other stroller rental companies I’ve checked out. Their strollers are much less expensive than the Disney strollers, which can’t be taken out of the parks. Unlike some other companies, there is no minimum rental period — you can rent for however many days you need!

  • For single strollers, Magic Strollers charges $15 for the first day and $8 for additional days (plus tax).
  • For double strollers, Magic Strollers charges $25 for the first day and $9 for additional days (plus tax).

As you can see, renting from Magic Strollers can save you a lot of money — like $110 on a one-week double stroller rental.

Plus, you’ll have the stroller to use during your entire vacation, not just in the theme parks! Magic Strollers delivers for FREE to almost any Orlando/Lake Buena Vista/Kissimmee area resort, hotel or condo.

Magic Strollers rents top-notch Baby Jogger City Mini Single and Double strollers, which are simple to fold, comfortable and easy to steer. Every stroller comes with a “parent console” (cup holder and Velcro compartments) and is delivered in a canvas travel bag to protect the stroller from dirt and damage.

Magic Strollers uses Ecolab commercial cleaning and sanitizing products between each rental.

Scheduling your stroller rental is super easy with Magic Strollers, and you’ll be informed every step of the way:

  • You get a rental confirmation email when an order is placed. The confirmation email has a link that will allow you to edit your reservation or cancel it if needed. (See the Magic Strollers site for change/cancellation policies.)
  • 14 days prior to arrival you’ll get a confirmation email that your credit card has been charged.
  • When the stroller is delivered to your hotel, resort or condo, you’ll get a text to your cell phone.

When you’re ready to depart, call Bell Services and have them collect the stroller in its travel bag. They’ll take it to a storage area where it will be picked up by Magic Strollers!

To read an unsolicited testimonial for Magic Strollers from a MouseSavers.com reader, click here.

Bring/Buy Your Own Stroller

Bringing your own stroller will, of course, save you quite a bit of money and ensure that you have the stroller available all the time, such as when you’re going to and from your hotel. (If you will be using Disney’s transportation system, bear in mind that you will usually have to take your child out of the stroller and collapse the stroller while on buses and boats.)

Another consideration in bringing your own stroller is the hassles of getting it to Walt Disney World, particularly if you are flying. (You can “gate check” a stroller, which saves some of the work – just bring your stroller right to the gate at the airport. It will be tagged and put into the cargo hold from the gate.)

If you want to avoid the hassle of transporting a stroller on a plane, you might consider buying a cheap one upon arrival and giving it to another lucky family or a charity when you leave.

Or buy a stroller in advance and have it shipped directly to your hotel. This has the advantage of saving you money AND being less of a hassle (since you won’t have to transport it to Disney yourself). At the end of your trip, either give the stroller to someone or put it back in the shipping box and have the hotel ship it home for you. To ship it to a Disney hotel, it should be addressed as follows:

Hold for guest: (write the full name under which you made the reservation)

Check in date: (insert date)

Hotel’s name and address (which will appear on your confirmation form)

Most people who bring their own stroller recommend a cheap umbrella-style one. They are lighter, making them easier to get on and off buses, and you won’t worry as much about the possibility of the stroller being stolen. (It’s not unheard-of for strollers to go missing in the parks, so it’s a good idea to put something personal on yours. At minimum, write your last name on it using a permanent marker.)

Wheelchair/ECV Rental

Regular (unpowered) wheelchairs can be rented at each theme park for $12 per day. Disney offers a discount for multi-day wheelchair rentals (works out to $10/day). You can’t take the wheelchair out of the park — so if you spend the first half of your day at the Magic Kingdom and then want to go over to Epcot, you’ll have to turn in the wheelchair at the first park and get a new one at the second park when you arrive. However, you only pay the rental fee once per day — if you show your receipt at the second park, you will not have to pay a second time. It’s often cheaper and more convenient to bring your own collapsible wheelchair along.

If you need to use an “electric convenience vehicle” (ECV) — also known to some as a “scooter” — to get around Walt Disney World, be aware that the rental is quite expensive ($50 per day plus $20 deposit) and you can’t take the vehicle out of the park — so if you spend the first half of your day at the Magic Kingdom and then want to go over to Epcot, you’ll have to turn in the ECV at the first park and try to get a new ECV at the second park when you arrive. However, you only pay the rental fee once per day — if you show your receipt at the second park, you will not have to pay a second time. That assumes there is an ECV available at the second park when you arrive, however — they can be in short supply.

In general it’s a better deal to rent an ECV from an outside firm. Not only is it less expensive, it also guarantees that you’ll have the ECV available all the time, and you won’t have to keep switching vehicles as you move from park to park. For more great info for those with disabilities who are planning a trip to Disneyland, including suppliers of rental ECVs, I recommend Teri’s Disney Travelers’ Disability FAQ.

Medical Needs

If you have a life-threatening medical emergency while at Walt Disney World, of course you should call 911. But what if you have a kid with an ear infection, or something like that?

If you are staying at a Disney resort hotel, you can contact the front desk and they will help you make arrangements to visit an urgent care center or have a doctor make a “house call” to your hotel room. Be aware that this will probably be costly and may not be covered by your insurance.

If you want to go directly to an urgent care center, the two closest to Disney property are:

There are at least three companies that provide “house call” doctors to Orlando/Kissimmee/Lake Buena Vista area hotels, homes and villas:

I have not used any of these services so I can’t vouch for their quality.

If you need something from a pharmacy (forgotten prescription, etc.) see above.

Child Care / Babysitting

Prices listed below are subject to change at any time.

Disney Child Care

Disney’s child care locations accept potty-trained children ages 3-12 and are open 4:30 pm to midnight. Cost is $11.25/hour with a 2-hour minimum. Includes food, supervised activities. To reserve, call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463) at least 24 hours in advance.

Disney Child Care locations are: Simba’s Cubhouse at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Sandcastle Club at Beach Club Resort, Harbor Club at BoardWalk Resort, Mouseketeer Clubhouse at Grand Floridian Resort, Never Land Club at Polynesian Resort and Cub’s Den at Wilderness Lodge.

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels’ Camp Dolphin

Camp Dolphin accepts potty-trained children ages 4-12 and is open 5:30 pm to midnight. Includes your child’s meal, supervised activities and a supervised trip to the game room. Regular price is $10.00/hour. Call (407) 934-4241, or drop by the day before (but it fills up fast!). Click here for more details.

Kids Nite Out

Kids Nite Out is a private in-room babysitting service that is available 24/7 at the Walt Disney World resorts. Cost is $16.00/hour for one child + $2.50/hour for each additional child, plus gratuity. 4-hour minimum. There is an additional $2.00/hour charge after 8:59 pm, and a one-time transportation fee of $10.00 is applied to each bill. Additional fees may apply for holidays and special events. Call (800) 696-8105 for reservations.