BARB BARRETT/The Luminary A tea was held with Princess Belle at the Hughesville Area Public Library on June 29. Children decorated tiaras, played games, and danced with Belle after she read them two Princess stories. Another princess tea is being planned for the winter.

MUNCY – All budgets can work to organize a trip to Disney World according to Muncy resident, Kate Frey who has been taking her family to the theme park every year for the past ten years.

With proper planning and some tricks of the trade, Frey is always available to share her travel tips and ways to reduce costs.

There are strategies to avoid 30 minute to 2 hour lines, said Frey who also works for PennDot and loves to travel. The first thing she recommends is that if there is a disability involved, to go first through guest services to acquire proper ID.

“The size of Muncy is less than one square mile,” said Frey as she spoke to several at the Muncy Public Library last month. “Disney World is over 43 square miles.” There are 25 hotels to choose from, over 300 places to eat, and transportation from the Orlando airport to Disney is free. “Disney can hold 160,000 people per night,” she added and the park attracts 52 million visitors per year year.

“Summer is off season,” she said and recommends going in February or right before Thanksgiving for lower lodging rates. “Avoid Christmas and New Year’s,” she recommends. Halloween is an excellent time as well and starting Nov. 1st everything is decorated for the holidays. “Parties for Halloween start in August.”

BARB BARRETT/The Luminary Kate Frey of Muncy spoke at the Muncy Public Library on economical ways for traveling to Disney World. She will be speaking again on Tuesday, July 30 at 6 p.m.

Disney is not only for kids, but adults and seniors too, and there are options to get there. Driving is a long day if one leaves at 5:30 a.m. to get there by 8:30 p.m. The best rates for flying are through Harrisburg, Baltimore, Trenton or Newark according to Frey who also represents Mad Hatter Adventures, a travel agency.

The auto train is another way and one can board their own vehicle.

“Look for local offers, daily specials and park at your hotel and take free shuttles.” Lodging is “kid-friendly” offering three levels from value to moderate to upscale. The monorail is free and will stop at 3 of the resorts.

The new Star Wars theme will open Aug. 29. “Keep in mind, Disney is a theme park, not an amusement park,” Frey announced.

Discounts can be applied to reservations. All children under the age of 3 are free, and all rides are family oriented. Magic bands and fast passes can be obtained in advance. Check with any Disney resort to see if they are offering them at discount or any for free. One can get 3 fast passes per day per person, and it is best to get them 60 days ahead of time.

Disney gift cards purchased with discounts also help reduce fees. Ice water is free, but a soda will cost $4. Most entertainment is free, and yes with the proper advance planning, one can experience the magic of Disney for a lot less than they think was possible.

Frey will be speaking again at the Muncy Library on Tuesday, July 30 at 6 p.m. to discuss more tips and share her experiences with Universal Studios, also in Orlando.