Your Guide to Affordable Family Fun WALT DISNEY WORLD WITHOUT THE WALLET WOES
For years, a visit to Walt Disney World felt like an essential part of the American upbringing. There’s nothing quite like taking a picture with Mickey Mouse, the unique water smell in the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, or the night-time fireworks spectacle over Cinderella Castle. However, the cost of a Disney vacation has increased significantly in recent years, and features that helped make the trip more magical, like free transportation to and from the airport, are a thing of the past. Many families struggle to save enough money to travel to Orlando to visit Disney World. Thankfully, cost-saving strategies can help get you and your loved ones in front of the castle. HAVE A PLAN FOR SNACKS AND MEALS BEFORE ARRIVING AT THE PARK. Disney parks are well-known for their world-class restaurants and food options, but with good quality comes a higher cost. A soft pretzel shaped like Mickey Mouse with cheese sauce costs more than $8; buying more than one adds up quickly. Disney allows you to bring your own snacks and nonalcoholic beverages into the park, so consider taking advantage of that. Make a budget, research the restaurants beforehand, and have everyone pick out what they want to eat so you know exactly how much food will cost.
In this second of two articles on Col. (Retired) Scott Kirkpatrick, a decorated war hero and successful military leader, he sets forth three lessons of leadership that worked well for him.
The art and science of leadership is a process that inspires others to achieve their maximum performance and potential. Three primary leadership lessons worked well for me in my 28-year military career as a field commander in six combat tours of duty and as Commandant of the Army Inspector General School. These same principles apply to other professional environments, including business and sports. First, it is important to debunk the myth that there is such a thing as a natural-born leader. It’s true that some people are more gregarious and extroverted by nature than others, and those people are a little more likely to get people to do things for reasons beyond their personal interests. Most people have embedded skills, something that makes them unique in some way. Education and the right environment can help them realize those skills.
AVOID DISNEY HOTELS. Disney’s hotels have different price tiers. Deluxe resorts like Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge usually cost around $500 a night. Moderate-tier resorts like Disney’s Coronado Springs can run anywhere from $250–$500, depending on the season. And the value resorts usually stay under $250 a night. However, if you were to stay at a non-Disney hotel, you’d pay a fraction of the price while still being close to the parks. CONSIDER HIRING A TRAVEL AGENT. This might sound counterproductive if you’re trying to save money, but Disney works closely with various travel agencies to help park-goers cut costs and reduce stress. They will help plan every aspect of your trip
Think about a successful salesperson. They didn’t wake up one morning, roll out of bed, and start convincing other people to buy their products. The truly gifted ones succeeded because they believed their product had value and built a process to communicate that value to customers. They built that process through data-driven trial and error, post-event analysis, and, most importantly, through synthesis. What worked and didn’t, and how do we improve next time? That’s the synthesis. Leadership is no different. Leaders must believe the initiative they are leading has value, and they must develop a process to communicate that value to various individuals. What is a leader’s product? It is their vision, intent, values, and training strategy. Who are their customers?
and ensure you get all meal reservations and Lightning Lanes your family wants. They’re also the first to know when discounts go live,
so they can ensure you get resort and ticket prices at the best value.
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