Credit Cards -- Credit cards are a safe way to carry money and provide a convenient record of all your expenses. You can also withdraw cash advances from your credit cards at banks or ATMs, provided you know your PIN. If you've forgotten yours, or didn't even know you had one, call the number on the back of your credit card and ask the bank to send it to you. It usually takes 5 to 7 business days, though some banks will provide the number over the phone if you tell them your mother's maiden name or some other personal information.

Disney parks, resorts, shops, and restaurants (but not most fast-food outlets) accept five major credit cards: American Express, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa. Additionally, the WDW and Universal resorts will let you charge purchases made in their respective park shops and restaurants to your hotel room, but you must settle up when you check out. You will want to keep track of your spending as you go along if you choose to do this so you won't get a big surprise when you get the total bill.

ATMs -- The easiest and best way to get cash away from home is from an ATM (automated teller machine). The Cirrus (tel. 800/424-7787; www.mastercard.com) and PLUS (tel. 800/843-7587; www.visa.com) networks span the globe; look at the back of your bank card to see which network you're on, then call or check online for ATM locations at your destination. Be sure you know your personal identification number (PIN) before you leave home and be sure to find out your daily withdrawal limit before you depart.

ATMs are located on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom and at the entrances to Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, and Animal Kingdom. They're also at Pleasure Island, in Downtown Disney Marketplace, at Disney resorts, and in the Crossroads Shopping Center.

There also are ATMs near Guest Services at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and SeaWorld.

Inside most of the theme park entrances, you'll find park maps showing the locations for all ATMs. If this isn't the case when you visit, look for the maps at Guest Relations or Guest Services desks near the entrances, or at most inside-the-park shops.

Outside the parks, most malls have at least one ATM and they're in some convenience stores, such as 7-Elevens and Circle Ks, as well as in grocery stores and drugstores. There are frequently extra charges for using non-bank ATMs or bank ATMs not affiliated with your home branch. Depending on your institution, those charges can range from $1 to $3.50 per transaction -- the average is $2.75 across Florida.

Be very careful when using ATMs, especially at night and in areas that are not well lit and heavily traveled. Don't let the land of Mickey lull you into a false sense of security. Goofy and Pluto won't mug you, but some of their estranged neighbors might. This is a big city, and its crime rate is the same as others. When entering your PIN at an ATM, make sure you shield the keyboard from others in line. And if you're using a drive-thru, keep your doors locked.

In addition to getting cash out of an ATM, you can also buy Disney dollars (currency with the images of Mickey, Minnie, and so on) in $1, $5, and $10 denominations. They're good at WDW shops, restaurants, and resorts, as well as Disney stores everywhere. This is a great way to give a preset allowance to kids for their souvenirs. If you have any of these dollars leftover, you can exchange them for real currency upon leaving WDW, or keep them as a souvenir. Note: Pay close attention if you have a refund coming. Some items, such as strollers, wheelchairs, and lockers, require a deposit, and Disney staffers will frequently use Mickey money for refunds instead of the cash. If you don't want it, just let them know and they'll be happy to give you real cash.

Traveler's Checks -- Traveler's checks are something of an anachronism from the days before the ATM made cash accessible at any time. Traveler's checks used to be the only sound alternative to traveling with dangerously large amounts of cash. They were as reliable as currency, but, unlike cash, could be replaced if lost or stolen.

These days, traveler's checks seem less necessary because most cities have 24-hour ATMs that allow you to withdraw small amounts of cash as needed. However, keep in mind that you will likely be charged an ATM withdrawal fee if the bank is not your own, so if you're withdrawing money every day, you might be better off with traveler's checks -- provided that you don't mind showing identification every time you want to cash one.

You can get traveler's checks at almost any bank. American Express offers denominations of $20, $50, $100, $500, and (for cardholders only) $1,000. You will however, pay a service charge ranging from 1% to 4%. You can also get American Express traveler's checks over the phone by calling tel. 800/221-7282; Amex gold and platinum cardholders who use this number are exempt from the fee.

Visa offers traveler's checks at Citibank locations nationwide, as well as at several other banks. The service charge ranges between 1.5% and 2%; checks come in denominations of $20, $50, $100, $500, and $1,000. Call tel. 800/732-1322 for information. MasterCard also offers traveler's checks. Call tel. 800/223-9920 for a location near you. AAA members can obtain Visa checks without a fee at most AAA offices or by calling tel. 866/339-3378.

You can cash traveler's or personal checks of $25 or less (drawn on U.S. banks, if you have a driver's license and major credit card), and exchange foreign currency at SunTrust Bank, 1675 Buena Vista Dr., across from Downtown Disney Marketplace. The bank also has an ATM. It's open weekdays from 9am to 4pm, and until 6pm on Thursday (tel. 407/828-6106).

Online Ticketing -- The Orlando theme parks have jumped head first into the Internet discounting game. Disney (www.disneyworld.com), Universal (www.universalorlando.com), and SeaWorld (www.seaworld.com) offer price discounts for online ticket purchases. Note that you must purchase tickets from your home (not from a laptop or hotel business center once you have arrived). There are some additional restrictions: Universal's passes must be purchased at least 7 days in advance of arrival. In SeaWorld's case, even single-day tickets have to be ordered at least a week in advance.