*Please note that the information below is my own personal advice and is in no way connected to the Walt Disneyworld Resort or the Disney company in any way.

Congrats! You are going to Disneyworld! It is the vacation of a lifetime and you are on your way! If you are staying at one of the resorts on Disney property you probably already have your tickets purchased along with your room. This is an excellent option! Ticket and room packages are usually at a discount. If you have not purchased your tickets with your room here are my top five suggestions.

1-Check with any organization you are a member of before leaving home! Disney does NOT offer any discounts at the gate (with the exception of a military promotion for retired and active military that ends December 23, 2009). Most people are members or AAA. They offer some of the largest discounts on multiday tickets, especially if you are a Florida resident or are planning on visiting the water parks along with the traditional theme parks. You will not have to show your AAA card when you get to Disney but you will have to stop by a ticketing window to get your tickets validated in their computers. So if mom or dad are members have them go to their AAA office and purchase your tickets.

2- DO NOT fall prey to the ticket scammers of central Florida when you arrive. Driving around the Kissimmee area you will see signs all over the place that say "We buy and sell used and unused tickets." Disney uses a ticket tagging system that links tickets to their owner when you walk through the gate for the first time. The "used" tickets that are sold at these places are already linked to someone else and will not let you through the main gate. Disney cannot help you as it is a violation of law to use someone elses ticket.

3-If you have an empty day to sit through the two hour seminar at one of the timeshares in the area go ahead and do it. Westgate resort is one of the large timeshares and will usually give you two free one day tickets for sitting through their two hour speil. You have to sign a contract that says you will sit there for two full hours before you can get your tickets. The one day tickets they give you have to be redeemed at the ticketing window at Disney and can be upgraded at that time. It will save you $80 a person. Just remember to keep an eye on your watch at the meeting- they will try to keep you longer than you have agreed. These resorts also sometimes offer Touch-of-Magic tickets. These are GREAT tickets! If you are planning on visiting two theme parks and one water park they are a great deal! The downside- if you decide to visit a third day you will not be able to add days to your ticket and will have to pay a full one-day ticket price.

4- HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Disney is giving free admission to one park on your birthday this year (though it is not publicized if you go to guest relations at a water park they will honor it there instead of the theme parks). Not the day before, not the day after, on the actual day of your birth. Most people don't realize that this ticket is also upgradable.Just remember your drivers liscense, passport, or birth certificate for the kids!

5- Talk to the ticketing Cast Member!! I cannot stress this enough. Even if you bought your tickets somewhere else stop and talk to a live person! The Disney Cast is very well trained in their craft! They know every ticket type there is out there! Sometimes people think that the cast is looking out for the company and not their guests. (Trust me Vacation Planners (as they are called at Disney) are trying to save you money!) There are all sorts of options that can be added to your tickets that people outside of Disney do not receive training on. You can get two days at the water parks for $50 as opposed to one day for $48. Tickets get cheaper the more days you play at Disney. It is cheaper to visit Disney for four or more days than to visit one day at Disney, one at Universal.... etc... etc...

To summarize: Check for discounts with organizations you belong to, plan your trip around someone in the family's birthday, don't fall victim to the scams, and TALK TO THE CAST! Good Luck!