1. Disney:
I know that some families don’t like the long wait times and crowds of people at Disney, but our family loves the “Magic.” Our kids love the rides, and we’ve learned to navigate the crowds with fast passes, for the most part. With the fireworks, Mickey Mouse, warm weather and thrill rides, who can resist the fun?
A few tips: Arrive early when the parks open and go on the rides with the longest wait times first. Then, use your fast passes later in the day when the crowds are bigger. Don’t forget to enjoy some of the great shows that Disney puts on. My favorite is the Lion King show at Animal Kingdom in Orlando.
Budgeting: A few years ago, I found a way to take our family of five to Disneyland, California, for less than $2,500. We purchased direct flight tickets from Denver to LA and stayed at a Disney good neighbor hotel, which was only three blocks from Disneyland so we didn’t have taxi/transportation fees. We purchased the Disney meal plan, which included a princess dinner and a character breakfast.