Hi Damon,
Congratulations on your first Walt Disney World vacation! As someone who has vacationed at Walt Disney World on every kind of budget you can imagine, I can assure you that your vacation will be filled with Magic no matter how lavish you decide to go.
In my experience, having a date set is one of the best motivators for me for saving for my next Walt Disney World vacation. When choosing your date, I find that the tickets and Disney Resort hotel rooms are less expensive during certain times of the year and I usually try to vacation during those times as they are usually times of lower attendance too. Win-win! In general, vacationing after the first of the year, in early May, late August through early October, early November, and early December are some great times to visit. The key to finding the most economical rates is to avoid the week leading up to and including a major holiday, spring break, and during the summer months when schools are on break. You can still find some great rates during the other times too, but in general that is what I have found.
One way to save up for vacation is to purchase
Disney Gift Cards and to request these as gifts for birthdays and holidays. Some retailers offer Disney Gift Cards at a slightly reduced rate, so it's a good idea to check with any stores that you frequent, especially those which have memberships like Sam's Club or Costco.
If you make a reservation for a
Disney Vacation Package which includes Disney Resort hotel accommodations and Disney Theme Park tickets, you are able to
Pay a Deposit and then make payments according to your budget. Vacation package final payment is due 30 days prior to your check in date.
Another way to save money on your Walt Disney World vacation is to periodically check the
Special Offers page and see if any offers are applicable for your visit. If you already have a reservation, you still may be able to apply a special offer to your existing reservation. However the offers are usually limited in quantity so it's a good idea to call as soon as you see one that fits your vacation reservation to see if it can be applied to your reservation.
Have a Magical vacation Damon! We look forward to hearing from you again as you plan your next Magical adventure.
Brenda