Need more ways to save money on your Disney trip? Here are some additional travel-related discounts and deals that can add up to big savings when you are planning a Disney vacation!

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Trip Insurance

It is especially important to buy trip insurance for a cruise or vacation package, because you have to pay the entire cost in advance and you won't get a refund if you have to cancel right before your scheduled departure. With hundreds or even thousands of dollars at stake, it's worth it to protect the investment.

It is absolutely critical to buy insurance if you will be taking a Caribbean cruise during hurricane season (between June 1 and November 30). While cruise ships can easily outrun and sail around hurricanes, ports and airports often close, which can affect your travel plans in a big way. If you don't have insurance, you will be out of pocket for related expenses, such as renting a car to get to a new port or to get home from a port where you hadn't expected to disembark. And if you can't make it to the ship, the cruise line has the right to say "tough luck" and keep your money!

It's super-important to buy insurance if you will be visiting Walt Disney World on a package vacation during peak hurricane season (roughly the months of August and September). Don't underestimate the potential of hurricanes to create major problems even in an inland location like Orlando. Walt Disney World was directly affected by two hurricanes in 2004 (Frances and Jeanne) and one in 2005 (Wilma). Two hotels located on Disney property (but not operated by Disney) were virtually destroyed by the 2004 storms, to the extent that one of them has still not reopened as of 2009.

While Disney's own resorts weathered the hurricanes very well, guests were stuck in their rooms for up to 36 hours and many had major travel problems because airports were closed. Disney did waive "no-show" fees for a few dates, but those whose trips began before the specified dates (but whose travel plans overlapped with the hurricane) or just afterward were out of luck. Many people had similar problems with their airfares. The airlines allowed highly restrictive changes for certain dates without extra fees, but many of those who had to reschedule could not work within the airlines' narrow rules and just had to suck up the extra cost.

Perhaps the most important coverage included in a trip insurance policy is trip cancellation and interruption insurance, which can protect your investment if you have to cancel your vacation at the last minute (or come home early) due to illness or injury. Depending on the policy, you may be covered if you cancel for other reasons, such as jury duty, terrorism at your destination, or even unemployment.

Emergency medical coverage and medical evacuation insurance are very important if you become ill or injured during the trip. A lot of medical insurance policies do not cover you outside of your home country. Plus, evacuation insurance will help to pay for an emergency flight, which would be hugely expensive if you had to pay for it yourself. This can be very worthwhile, especially if you will be visiting Third World nations, which is common on cruises. Personally I would not be comfortable with the care provided in most Caribbean hospitals, for instance, and would much prefer to be flown to the US for treatment.

Delayed baggage insurance will help you pay for replacement clothing if the airline sends your suitcase to Timbuktu and you need something to wear in the meantime. Supplemental baggage insurance will pay a predetermined amount if an airline or cruise line loses your luggage completely. When you consider the high cost of the formal wear you may be taking on a cruise, and how little airlines and cruise lines tend to pay for lost luggage, supplemental baggage insurance becomes a wise move. (Some higher-end credit cards provide extra baggage insurance, so check with your card issuer before paying extra for this coverage.)

Disney sells trip insurance, but it's expensive and it has major exclusions. For instance, the Disney Cruise Line policy does not cover pre-existing conditions. Disney's insurance won't cover lost vacation days caused by most airline delays. There are many policies available from other companies that will cover these things. You can almost always get better insurance than Disney provides, and at better rates, by buying it elsewhere.

Be aware that in most cases, trip insurance will provide slightly less coverage (usually by adding exclusions on pre-existing conditions) unless you buy it within about 14 days of paying your DEPOSIT on the vacation package or cruise. So be sure to purchase it right away, once you've committed to the trip.

		A great place to comparison-shop for trip insurance is InsureMyTrip.com, where you can see side-by-side policy information and rates for major, reputable insurance companies. I used InsureMyTrip.com myself to buy trip insurance for an upcoming cruise. I saved about $25 and got much more comprehensive coverage than Disney's policy would have provided.

Entertainment Book

Entertainment Book is published annually in different editions for various major cities around the US. The book gives you discounts on local restaurants and entertainment, hotels nationwide, rental cars nationwide, certain theme park admissions, and more. See below the yellow box for more details on what the book includes.

Each Entertainment Book has coupons for many local full-service restaurants (typically 2-for-1 meals or 50% off), plus fast-food and casual dining coupons. If you plan to use restaurant coupons, pick the book for the area where you plan to eat.

		Entertainment Book Offers MouseSavers.com readers get 35% off 2009 Entertainment Books! Offers in the 2009 Entertainment Books are good from the time they ship through November 1, 2009. Enter your own zip code to buy your local Entertainment Book, or zip code 32830 for the Orlando book, or zip code 92802 for the Disneyland area book. Regular price for the 2009 Orlando, Florida (Disney World area) Entertainment Book is $30. Regular price for the 2009 Orange County, CA (Disneyland area) Entertainment Book is $40.

ALL 2009 Entertainment Books, regardless of which region you choose, contain the following discounts that are useful for Orlando or Anaheim vacations:

• 5% off any American Airlines fare over $150, worldwide. Excludes a few holidays. Each code is good for up to 6 people. You get the code by visiting the Entertainment web site after purchasing the book.

• Discounts of up to 50% off regular "rack rates" at hotels nationwide, including many major chain hotels near Disney World and Disneyland. Note: Disney-owned hotels don't participate in this program. Sometimes hotels are participating but are not listed in the book, so always ask.

• Discount coupons for major car rental agencies, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and National. Some of these coupons can save you $25 or more on your rental!

• Discounts on admission to LEGOLAND California and Knott's Berry Farm -- great if you're planning side trips to those parks along with a Disneyland visit.

• Two coupons, each good for $5 off a $20 food, beverage or merchandise purchase at Planet Hollywood (there's one in Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World).

• 50% off coupon for Disney on Ice (in most, or possibly all, Entertainment Books - definitely in the 2009 Orlando and Orange County, CA books).

Disney Rewards® Visa® Card

With the Disney Rewards® Visa® Card, you'll earn "Disney Dream Reward Dollars" equal to 1% on purchases charged to your card. Disney Dream Reward Dollars may be redeemed for most Disney merchandise, park tickets, hotel nights, food, etc. at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts -- including theme parks -- and Disney Cruise Line, Disney Store, Disney Catalog and DisneyShopping.com.

Disney Rewards® Visa® Cardholders receive various benefits at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Cardholders also sometimes receive special onboard credits on Disney Cruise Line.

As a cardholder you may receive special deals on other Disney products and services, such as Disney's Broadway and Disney on Ice shows, DisneyShopping.com merchandise and other exclusive merchandise.

Disney Rewards® Visa® Card advertises that you'll pay no interest for 6 months on cruise packages or ticket-inclusive Disney vacation packages when you or your travel agent book through Disney Cruise Line or the Walt Disney Travel Company and charge the package to your Disney Rewards® Visa® Card prior to arrival.

There is no annual fee on the Disney Rewards® Visa® Card. Cardmembers are covered with Visa Platinum benefits plus added premium benefits to enhance shopping and travel.

American Express

Disney and American Express severed their official relationship as of December 31, 2002. Since that date, American Express cardholders have no longer received any special benefits at Disney theme parks, and the American Express Membership Rewards program no longer offers Disney passes or packages as reward options.

However, Membership Rewards points can be used for other elements of a Disney vacation, including airfare. Plus, American Express is the ideal travel card, with lots of extra features that make it really appealing. For instance, American Express cards include rental car insurance, the Global Assist Hotline (24/7 medical, legal, financial, travel and other emergency assistance), access to exclusive travel discounts and more.

American Express Cash Back Credit Card

A great option is the Blue Cash® from American Express card, which gives you up to a 1.5% rebate on all purchases, and up to 3% on purchases at supermarkets, gas stations, drugstores and home improvement stores. They advertise "up to 5% cash back," but that's only if you carry a balance -- naturally the interest will end up costing you more than the rebate. If you have to carry a balance, though, at least you're getting an introductory APR of 0% for 6 months (after that it goes up to a variable rate) and you're getting some of that interest back in rebates. There is no limit to the rebates you can earn each year. This card has no annual fee.

American Express Charge Cards With Membership Rewards Program

American Express also its own Membership Rewards program that allows you to earn points that can be used toward many travel (and other) rewards, including free airfare and hotel rooms. The Membership Rewards program is associated with traditional American Express charge cards, which do not provide "revolving credit." You generally must pay them off monthly.

Most purchases earn one Membership Rewards point per dollar spent, but you'll earn two Membership Rewards points per dollar at stand-alone supermarkets, gas stations, drugstores, the U.S. Postal Service or when you use your card to pay your wireless phone bill.

Membership Rewards points can be exchanged for frequent flyer miles in many airline programs, including Continental, Delta, Southwest and US Airways.

You can also exchange Membership Rewards points for points in many hotel "frequent stay" programs, which you can use for free hotel rooms. Among the programs that allow exchanges are Hilton HHonors, Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest.

Another Membership Rewards redemption option is the Richard Petty Driving Experience at Walt Disney World.

American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Card

The American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Card automatically includes the Membership Rewards program. It provides great travel benefits such as the Global Assist® Hotline, as well as access to "Gold Card Events" (you get to buy tickets to many concerts and plays ahead of the public). No annual fee for the first year - $125 thereafter.

		Apply for the American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Card and earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® bonus points when you spend $500 in 3 months - redeemable for a $100 gift card!

American Express® Platinum Card

If you like paying off your bill every month and do a lot of travel, I highly recommend the American Express® Platinum Card. We have the business version of this card and really enjoy all of the benefits, especially the Fine Hotels & Resorts program offered by American Express Platinum Travel Services, which provides fantastic extras (upgrades, free breakfast, and more) at many 4-star and 5-star hotels around the world. We also like the fact that it gives us free access to many airport clubs and lounges.

This very high-end card has no pre-set spending limit and includes a host of benefits like By Invitation Only® Events - access to exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime events available only to Platinum Card members. We attended one of these in New York and it was spectacular. You also have access to "Gold Card Events," which allows you to buy tickets to many concerts and plays ahead of the public.

The Platinum Card also includes Membership Rewards First®, which is the same as the regular Membership Rewards program, plus you get exclusive access to a private collection of rewards and experiences featuring luxury retail, lifestyle, and world-class travel from premium brands.

The annual card fee for the Platinum Card is $450 -- a lot of money, but if you stay in expensive hotels or sail on the top cruise lines, the card can more than pay for itself in one trip. You can click here to read my article about how we took advantage of the card's benefits on one cruise.

		Apply for the American Express® Platinum Card and earn 25,000 Membership Rewards® bonus points when you spend $1,000 in your first 3 months of Cardmembership - Redeemable for one round-trip domestic airline ticket!

Frequent Stay Programs

Virtually every large hotel chain has a frequent stay program. It is very worthwhile to sign up for these free programs. Some hotel chains will give you room upgrades, when available, because you belong to the program. Others offer special amenities (i.e. free Internet access) and/or give you a special in-room treat or gift, just for being a member. And some programs allow you to accumulate points that you can exchange for all kinds of things.

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Starwood Preferred Guest

Starwood operates Sheraton and Westin hotels, including the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels located on Disney property. You can join the Starwood Preferred Guest program for FREE. This allows you to accumulate Starpoints that can be redeemed for hotel stays or exchanged for frequent flyer miles in almost every major airline program. Also, Preferred Guest members are more likely to get free upgrades at check-in, late check-out and other benefits.

		The Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express allows you to earn one Starpoint for each eligible dollar spent. You get double Starpoints at participating Starwood properties and retail partners. This is a great way to build up your points painlessly. No annual fee for the first year and $45 thereafter. New cardholders get up to 25,000 Starpoints®! Earn 10,000 Starpoints® with your first purchase – enough for up to 3 free nights at a category 1 or 2 hotel. Earn an additional 15,000 Starpoints when you spend $15,000 in 6 months.

Hilton HHonors

If you stay at Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn or Homewood Suites on a regular basis, you should definitely join Hilton HHonors. Membership is FREE and the Hilton HHonors points you earn can be exchanged for free Disney tickets for Disneyland and Walt Disney World, Hilton family hotel stays or frequent flyer miles in certain airline programs.

Marriott Rewards

If you stay at Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn, TownPlace Suites, SpringHill Suites or Marriott Vacation Club properties on a regular basis, you should enroll in Marriott Rewards. Membership is FREE and you can choose to accumulate Marriott Rewards points (redeemable for hotel stays) or frequent flyer miles.

Disney Club

The Disney Club offered many discounts to members, including savings on hotel rooms, tickets, and meals. Unfortunately it was completely discontinued as of December 31, 2003.

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