Wordless Wednesday: Walt Disney World Goes Irish

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Today’s Wordless Wednesday post highlights the St. Patrick’s Day celebration at Raglan Road in Downtown Disney. Great food and lots of Irish music adds up to tons of festive fun!

Got a Disney Vacation Fund? Tips for Filling That Piggy Bank!

I thought for today’s post, it would be nice to chat about some ideas for starting…or adding to...your Disney vacation fund. After all, we have spent weeks talking about all kinds of tips and strategies for having an affordable Disney vacation, but even the cheapest trip still requires a way to pay for it.

So today I want to share some things that my family has done, as well as a few ideas I have come across in my internet wanderings.

• Credit card rewards. I already have mentioned how much we love the benefits of the Disney Visa rewards card. I have honestly found that the rewards that I accrue over an entire year or so, can pay for significant parts of our trips. And even if you don’t plan to visit Disney World that often, you can use those Disney rewards for all kinds of Disney products: merchandise, videos, shows etc. If you have kids, and credit cards work for your lifestyle, consider this card. But don’t overlook other cards you may have: many offer all kinds of rewards that can be used on your trip. Discover, for example, actually accrues dollars. Others add Frequent Flier miles and such. If you are getting any kind of rewards, look into saving them up and applying them to your trip.

• Pennies, pennies, pennies! Yup, we have a coin jar, and you won’t believe how much change a family of 3 saves up over the course of a year! The thing about this strategy that I love is, it really is money that is not “missed”….we don’t really think about all those coins sitting around, and don’t really use them for anything else (well, except for my daughter’s college laundry, but that’s another story )

• Have a yard sale. OK, I really like this for two reasons: we get rid of stuff we don’t need, and we get money for it in the process. Added bonus: have your children create their own section of the yard sale with stuff they really need to part with, have them be responsible for selling their own items, and they can put their profit towards their own Disney fund. Clearly the kids need to be old enough to comprehend this process, but trust me, it is highly effective.

• Disney gift cards. This is where planning in advance can really pay off, because they make great little gifts throughout the year. Valentine’s Day? Nothing sweeter IMHO. Easter? Perfect size for an Easter basket. Christmas? The original stocking stuffer. Plus, getting them throughout the year, in small denominations, allow you to budget easily for your trip.

• This last one I personally have not done, but know people who have: “Vacation Club” accounts at your local bank. This is a variation on the old Christmas Clubs where you deposit a small amount each week and at the end of the year you have quite a little nest egg. You can do this for vacations too, and the nice thing about this is, “out of sight, out of mind”.

So, find your piggy bank and start saving! A little bit every day or so, and you may be surprised how much it adds up to by the time you leave!

Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. Final Thoughts: Keeping the Magic Alive

This is the final post in my blog series: Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. You can read the rest of the posts here.

I get many questions from people who are thinking about visiting Walt Disney World and want Disney World vacation tips and suggestions. Disney vacation planning can be very involved and confusing as well, so the goal of this series is to start at the beginning, and look at everything you need to think about, in the general order you need to think about it. Each week’s post will be numbered and link to all the others so that, when complete, you will have a guide with all the steps and information you need to plan your own Disney magic.

Well, you’re back home. Hope you had a wonderful time and if you are like we are, you are already thinking about your next trip…

Once your trip is over, we’re not technically talking about planning an affordable Disney vacation, but most folk return from a magical trip and want to “keep the magic going”. With that in mind, what are some affordable ways to do that?

Well, let’s talk about all those pictures you took to start.

Don’t just upload them to your computer and leave them there! And don’t print them all out and then keep them in a shoebox!

Pick out your favorites and create “photo” gifts for your family or yourself! Calendars, mugs, mousepads and more can create smiles for your loved ones for a long time. My personal favorite: slideshows of my favorite pictures become my computer’s screensavers and remind me of wonderful vacations every time my computer goes to sleep.

And don’t forget to frame a few of your favorite pictures too! I have a line up on my mantel from each of our family trips to Disney World and it is so special to see how we have all changed over the years…especially our daughter.

Have you ever thought of creating a scrapbook? While this can be an expensive and detailed hobby, it does not have to be. In fact, it can be as simple as you like. Collect “things” from your trip: park passes, maps, room keys, confetti, napkins, you name it! Be creative. Add some character autographs and your favorite pictures, jot down some of your best memories, and voila! A treasured memory book that you can look at time and time again to relive your wonderful Walt Disney World vacation.

Then there are your videos. One of the more fun things we have done, is to schedule a video night…but instead of renting a movie, we watch our vacation. Pop popcorn, make a night of it reliving the Disney fun. We have shared so many laughs remembering fun Disney World times!

Lastly, I also like to keep the magic alive with music. I tend to buy CDs of park music while I am there, but you can also download Disney music from iTunes, or buy the songs when listening to a Disney podcast or streaming webcast. Burn a CD of your favorites, and you can visit the parks any time you want…even when sitting in a traffic jam!

I hope you have found this series on all the steps in planning an affordable Disney vacation to be helpful! As always, please let me know if you have any questions, as I am happy to help!

Have a magical day!

Wordless Wednesday: Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is Thinking Spring!

I thought it would be fun to start a “Wordless Wednesday” featuring some of the most interesting photos from Walt Disney World. This week’s entry, courtesy of Walt Disney World Facts, showcases Lady and the Tramp from the Epcot Flower and Garden Show, which is going on now through May 16.

Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. Part Eighteen: Fun and Cheap Souvenirs

This is part eighteen in my blog series: Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. You can read the rest of the posts here.

I get many questions from people who are thinking about visiting Walt Disney World and want Disney World vacation tips and suggestions. Disney vacation planning can be very involved and confusing as well, so the goal of this series is to start at the beginning, and look at everything you need to think about, in the general order you need to think about it. Each week’s post will be numbered and link to all the others so that, when complete, you will have a guide with all the steps and information you need to plan your own Disney magic.

It should be no big surprise that “souvenirs” can be huge budget busters and are one of the quickest ways I know to kill any hopes for an affordable Disney vacation. Especially if you have little ones, the cries for “Buy me this” and “I want that” can be very hard to ignore. So here are a few things that we have found that help keep our souvenir spending from getting out of hand.

1. I am a big fan of setting a daily spending budget…even for kids. On our first trip, our daughter was seven, and we set aside some money each day that was “hers” to spend as she wished. It was not a lot, I promise you, but having her own money to use, meant that when she used it up, she was done for the day. No complaining, whining, or begging. Once it was gone, it was gone.  And it worked.
2. There are a lot of quite inexpensive options for souvenirs! Pressed pennies, postcards, pencils, pins all are quite affordable and can actually be the start of a new collection for a child that gets added to on each vacation. Kids love to collect things!
3. Consider bringing some “souvenirs” with you, or have a box shipped to your hotel. Many families have found that kids love to get a surprise from Mickey when they wake up every morning, and these little surprises can minimize the need to beg for things in the parks.
4. Two words: character autographs. Hugely popular, and really, about as cheap as you get! Bring something other than a book, like a tee shirt, or hat and give the character a sharpie to sign with: instant souvenir that will be cherished for years.
5. Take your own pictures, or give your camera to a castmember to photograph your entire family. You don’t have to pay for Photopass pictures to get your entire group in a picture.

These are just a few ideas, but believe me a little creativity, can go a log away towards keeping your souvenir budget in check. Fun does not have to be expensive! The best souvenirs you will come home with will be your memories…and those don’t cost a thing….but are truly priceless.

Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. Part Seventeen:Fun Free and Almost Free Things to Do

This is part seventeen in my blog series: Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. You can read the rest of the posts here.

I get many questions from people who are thinking about visiting Walt Disney World and want Disney World vacation tips and suggestions. Disney vacation planning can be very involved and confusing as well, so the goal of this series is to start at the beginning, and look at everything you need to think about, in the general order you need to think about it. Each week’s post will be numbered and link to all the others so that, when complete, you will have a guide with all the steps and information you need to plan your own Disney magic.

When talking about affordable Disney vacations, it is easy to get so caught up in all the attractions, rides, major shows etc. that one can easily overlook the many fun things to do at Walt Disney World that are free….or almost free.

One thing that I have tried to do with The Affordable Mouse is to show that, while Disney CAN be expensive, it does not HAVE to be. The topic of today’s post will show you just how many things you can do at Disney World that won’t cost you additional money beyond what you are spending for room, food, tickets, and transportation.

OK, in no particular order then:

1. Check out the Disney resorts. Whether you are staying on or off Disney property, you owe it to yourself to visit the resorts. Each of them offer a wealth of fun and interesting themes, and you may be amazed at how much time you can spend just wandering around and taking in all that they have to offer. Plan your visit around dinner if you like and try out some of the restaurants or food courts at the resorts too!
2. Related to number 1, but really in a category all it’s own: visit the Animal Kingdom Lodge to animal watch. There are a number of animal observation stations where, believe me when I say that you can  spend a lot of time being mesmerized by all of the animals there.
3. Visit the Boardwalk. Not necessarily the resort (although it is great) but the actual Boardwalk where all kinds of fun and interesting things are happening. Yes, they are not all technically free, but relatively speaking, the cost of renting a bike or surrey for example is minimal compared to how much fun you will have!
4. Take time to smell the roses…literally. We have been to Walt Disney World 11 times and counting and every time we visit we STILL see/find something that we never saw before. Disney loves detail, and some of my favorite memories center around exploring gardens, topiaries and such that sometimes just get passed by in the rush to get to the next ride before the line gets too long.
5. Ride the monorail. It’s  a must do on every vacation we have at Disney World. And for more fun, ask the Cast Member on duty if you can ride “up front”. If you are the first one to ask, they may say yes and I can tell you, that is one fun ride. Plus your kids will get a “Co-Pilot” certificate as well.
6. Pin trade. Yes I will readily admit that pin trading CAN get out of hand and cost a lot of money, but really for a minimal investment, your kids (and you) can start a really fun and interesting hobby. We began our collection during the Millenium Celebration when it was raining every day and night…so we just pin traded. Castmembers love to pin trade with park guests and kids get a real kick out of trying to get specific pins. You don’t have to make it heavy-duty or expensive to start. Set a budget of one or two pins/per day, or get some on eBay before you arrive. And then have fun!
7. Epcot has the KidCot fun stops where children create fun masks and activities at each of the World Showcse countries. What a great way for kids to create, and learn a little about each nation…without them even realizing they are learning!
8. Ride a Segway. Yes you can sign up for an actual tour that is not particularly cheap, but you can get a quick “lesson” …and photo op….at Innoventions at Epcot. Just keep in mind there is a height limit on this and parents sign an “injury waiver” beforehand.
9. Ride the boats that go from Epcot to Hollywood Studios, or around World Showcase Lagoon. Fun, and a great way to cool off when it’s hot.
10. Pools. Pools. Pools. Oh and then there are the pools. Unless you are visiting during the cold weather months, most of the Disney resorts have fabulous pools, and many are open to “pool hopping”: just make sure you check with your resort first if you plan to try out another pool, as some resorts are closed to pool hopping. And even if you are not staying at a Disney resort, most Florida hotels realize the importance of pools for their guests.

I could go on and on, but this is already a pretty long post, so I think I’ll leave it at that for now. There are tons of great “free” things to do on your affordable Disney vacation. If you have “free” ideas of your own, please share!

Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. Part Sixteen: Getting Ready to Go!

This is part sixteen in my blog series: Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. You can read the rest of the posts here.

I get many questions from people who are thinking about visiting Walt Disney World and want Disney World vacation tips and suggestions. Disney vacation planning can be very involved and confusing as well, so the goal of this series is to start at the beginning, and look at everything you need to think about, in the general order you need to think about it. Each week’s post will be numbered and link to all the others so that, when complete, you will have a guide with all the steps and information you need to plan your own Disney magic.

Up to this point we have been discussing the steps for planning an affordable Disney vacation that need to be done well in advance. As I have shared frequently on this blog, if you want to save money, you need to plan ahead.

Now, it’s time to get ready to go! Whether you are leaving in a few days, or in several months, hopefully you will find these next few blog posts to be helpful.

So finally, after months of planning, you’re going to Disney World! Woohoo!

Before you go though, there are some things you will want to think about.

• Check the weather and pack accordingly. Please don’t assume that Florida is always sunny and hot. The summers frequently have rain showers, and winter can actually get cold! Not packing for the weather will mean that you end up buying ponchos, scarves, hats, gloves, sweatshirts, and possibly even coats at Disney….and I can promise that is NOT affordable at all.
• Go to the Disney World website and check the park hours. Even better, print them out so that you know when you can visit each park. If you will be staying on Disney property and can take advantage of Extra Magic Hours, note that as well. No point in being able to get in the parks an hour early if you sleep in those mornings!
• While you’re on the Disney website, make note of which attractions/rides are closed during your visit. Part of planning an affordable Disney vacation is making the most of your time. Don’t waste your time walking to rides that aren’t even open.
• Get some snacks etc. to bring with you. Whether for the trip, in your hotel, or even to bring with you to the parks, bringing snacks from home can definitely save you money…and possibly be healthier as well.
• I’m a list maker and when it comes to a trip like this, I think having a list is one of the best ways to make sure you keep costs under control. Lists mean you are less likely to forget things….and remember, anything you forget, you will have to buy there. Whether it is clothes, or Advil, if you have to buy it at Disney, it’s gonna cost you a lot more.
• Do you have little ones? Consider bringing your own stroller…or rent one from a stroller company in the Disney area. Renting strollers at the Disney parks will definitely cost you more. Just keep that in mind.

OK, there are a few last minute things to keep in mind as you get ready to leave for your Walt Disney vacation! My next two posts will focus on being at the parks…and ways to have “free fun” while there!

Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. Part Fifteen: Know How to Save Money on Disney Parks Tickets

This is part fifteen in my blog series: Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. You can read the rest of the posts here.

I get many questions from people who are thinking about visiting Walt Disney World and want Disney World vacation tips and suggestions. Disney vacation planning can be very involved and confusing as well, so the goal of this series is to start at the beginning, and look at everything you need to think about, in the general order you need to think about it. Each week’s post will be numbered and link to all the others so that, when complete, you will have a guide with all the steps and information you need to plan your own Disney magic.

Up until now, in our Step-by-Step Planning Series, we have been talking about aspects of your vacation that need to be thought about as early in the process as possible, if you want to be able to have an affordable Disney vacation. Ideally, most of the previous steps should be researched, decided, and in many cases booked from 4-6 months before your vacation. If you are planning to travel during a high-traffic season, like the Christmas holidays, closer to 6 months is best.

From here on out, I’ll be talking about some other aspects of your vacation that are part of your vacation budget, but don’t have to be decided on quite so early.

Today’s post will deal with tickets, another major expenditure…which is why you want to make sure you are not spending more than you have to.:)

Basically, there are two parts to this discussion:

1. Where you can get Disney parks tickets
2. Where you should NOT buy Disney parks tickets

Let’s briefly discuss the first one:

You can purchase Disney World park passes through Disney, or through an authorized Disney ticket broker. Those are the only two avenues you should consider if you want to be confident that you are getting actual Disney park tickets.

If you are purchasing a Disney resort package, your tickets will be part of that package, so you are good to go! But if you are booking your room individually (no package) at a Disney resort, or staying off-site at a non-Disney hotel, vacation home, villa, or condo, then you will need to order theme park tickets.

You can do this through the Disney website. Or you can get Disney theme parks tickets from a broker. There are a number of reputable brokers that you can purchase tickets from safely, and save some money. Not huge amounts, but enough to make it worth it, especially if you will be staying for several days, and have a number of people in your party.

The company that I have personally used, and recommend highly is Undercover Tourist. Their prices are great, their service is even better, and they are completely reputable. I would not recommend them otherwise. And their website does a great job of breaking down the Magic Your Way ticket structure and that alone makes them pretty awesome.

As to where you should NOT buy Disney theme parks tickets? Well, every place else….

I really can’t emphasize this part enough. Be very, very careful here, as unfortunately, many, many people get burned every year trying to save money on tickets, only to find that their “tickets” were worthless.

So steer clear of eBay, Craigslist, or any website or seller that offers prices that seem too good to be true…because they probably are. Look at the fine print as well, and make sure you are not agreeing to sit through a lengthy timeshare presentation in order to get those tickets…unless you really want to lol.

If you want to learn more, you can a basic overview on the Discounted Tickets page.  In addition, I discuss how to determine a reputable Disney ticket broker in this post. And to learn more about where you should not buy Disney tickets, you can read more in this post.

Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. Part Fourteen: 10 Easy Tips to Reduce Your Food Budget

This is part fourteen in my blog series: Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. You can read the rest of the posts here.

I get many questions from people who are thinking about visiting Walt Disney World and want Disney World vacation tips and suggestions. Disney vacation planning can be very involved and confusing as well, so the goal of this series is to start at the beginning, and look at everything you need to think about, in the general order you need to think about it. Each week’s post will be numbered and link to all the others so that, when complete, you will have a guide with all the steps and information you need to plan your own Disney magic.

In the last post, I discussed how to use the Disney Dining Plan as a way to help you have an affordable Disney vacation.  Today I want to share some additional tips, ideas, and strategies that can help you save money on food at Walt Disney World.

Let’s start by saying that you CAN spend a lot on your meals on your Disney vacation…but you don’t HAVE to.  Here then, in no particular order, are 10 ways that you can cut your meal costs for a truly affordable Disney vacation.

1. Cook/eat some meals in your room. If you are staying in a vacation home, villa, condo, or even a hotel suite, you will probably have access to a kitchen. Use it to do some simple cooking. Even if you have a traditional hotel room, you should be able to have a small refrigerator: get some milk, juices, and even some lunchmeat and cheese to keep in it. We have done this and had cereal in the morning before leaving for the parks, and made some sandwiches to bring with us for a quick, easy, and inexpensive lunch.
2. Bring your own snacks, juices, water etc. Not having to pay park prices on these things will save you a lot of money…plus it is so much more convenient to just grab a bottle from your backpack instead of standing in a long, hot line.
3. Consider sharing meals, especially if you have little ones who don’t eat much. Disney portions are usually quite large and sharing…whether between 2 kids, or an adult and child…will not leave anyone hungry. This works, by the way, whether you are eating counter service or table service.
4. Speaking of table service, are you planning some sit-down meals? Look for buffets, as you will get more for your money! Or think about having your table service meals for lunch: you will still get a lot of the same delicious food options but at lunch prices rather than dinner prices.
5. Consider foregoing table service meals altogether and just eat quick service. Many families find that this is the best way to go with small children, as there are no long waits for food, and the meals tend to be more “kid-friendly”.
6. Eat some meals away from Disney. Non-park restaurants may be less expensive than those you find in the parks.
7. Consider off-site hotels that offer free breakfast.
8. If staying off-site, ask your hotel for local restaurant discount coupons or promotions. Or invest in a local Entertainment Book for restaurant coupons.
9. Check local Florida/Orlando websites for discount coupons for eating establishments.
10. As mentioned last time: If offered, try to book a Disney Package during any Free Dining promotion. It will save you a LOT of money.

OK, so there you go, 10 easy ways that you can pare down your food budget on a trip to Disney World. Clearly, all will not apply in all situations, but you should be able to use a few on your vacation, and when it comes to trying to have an affordable Disney vacation, every little bit helps!

Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. Part Thirteen: Decide if the Disney Dining Plan is Right For You

This is part thirteen in my blog series: Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. You can read the rest of the posts here.

I get many questions from people who are thinking about visiting Walt Disney World and want Disney World vacation tips and suggestions. Disney vacation planning can be very involved and confusing as well, so the goal of this series is to start at the beginning, and look at everything you need to think about, in the general order you need to think about it. Each week’s post will be numbered and link to all the others so that, when complete, you will have a guide with all the steps and information you need to plan your own Disney magic.

Now that we have covered some of the major and most expensive portions of your trip…lodging and transportation…let’s talk about food.

One of the best ways to help have a truly affordable Disney vacation is to plan your meals economically. This post will discuss one of the most popular ways to get the most out of your food budget: using the Disney Dining Plan.

On the Disney Dining Plan (DDP), if you have reserved a Disney package, you can have the option of pre-paying for most, if not all of your meals, by choosing one of several plans. (Please note that having a Disney package is a requirement, unless you have Annual Passes or are Disney Vacation Club members.)

With the Quick Service Dining Plan, you get two quick service meals and two snacks per person, per day, and one resort refillable mug per person, per package. With the basic Dining Plan, you will have one table service, one quick service, and one snack per person, per day. And finally, there is the Deluxe Dining Plan, offering 3 table or quick service meals and two snacks per person, per day, plus a refillable mug for each person per package.

So basically, there is a Plan for whatever your budget is.

Since we enjoy a table service meal each night, our family has purchased the basic Dining Plan on each of our last several trips and it is a huge saving for us. We use the counter service meal (entrée, drink, and dessert) for lunch, the table service meal (entrée, drink, dessert) for dinner, and we use the snack credits for either breakfast…or eat light in our room. For us, it is usually way more food than we can usually eat, and so often get our dessert at dinner “to go” since we are so full. Other times we choose fruit and/or muffins for our lunch or dinner desserts and use these for snacks later or breakfast. We have experimented with the plan a number of different ways, and no matter how we do it, we eat very well, have food left over to bring home (snack credits purchase great edible “souvenirs” J), and we save money.

How then does the Dining Plan help us have an affordable Disney vacation?

Currently, the basic plan costs from $41.99 to $46.99 (depending on the time of year) per adult/per day, which for our family of 3 is usually less than we would have spent out of pocket just for dinner itself. So clearly, it is a huge cost-saver for us.

Will it be for your family? Possibly, depending on your family size, eating habits, time of year etc. In other words, like most other things related to planning an affordable Disney vacation, you’ll need to do the research and then do the math. J Compare all levels of the Dining Plan: if you have small children, you may find the Quick Service Plan to be more suited to your family’s needs than the basic or Deluxe Plan.

Related to the Dining Plan, there are a few additional things you should know:

1. Disney has offered for the past few years, a package promotion in late summer/early fall that includes the Disney Dining Plan for FREE. Yup, you have that right: FREE FOOD. This is seriously a huge cost-saver, and if your schedule allows traveling at that time of year, you should really consider it. Now there are no guarantees, but in the current economic climate, and since Disney has offered this the past several years now, it is reasonable to think that they MAY offer it again this year. Stay tuned.
2. While you don’t have to pay for the Dining Plan when you reserve your package, and so technically it is not something you need to decide early in the planning process…..this is so important…..IF you are planning to get the Basic Plan and so have table service meals…you absolutely need to think about what restaurants you will want to eat in, and make your reservations (Advanced Dining Reservations) well in advance. Disney currently starts accepting  ADRs 6 months in advance, and if you are visiting during any of the busy seasons…or during Free Dining…if you don’t reserve well in advance, you risk not eating where you want.  I just can’t stress this part enough…when it comes to Disney table service restaurants during high-traffic seasons, the early bird definitely gets the worm.

So your action plan for this week for planning an affordable Disney vacation: look at the Disney Dining Plan and see if it can save you money!