Author: Nancy

Disney Savings Round-Up for August 20, 2010

Nancy Uncategorized , , , 1 Comment

In This week’s Disney Savings Round-Up:

Disney announced some NEW promotions this week including an additional FREE Dining promotion for much of 2011. See below for details!

You can get some great savings from using Restaurant.com at selected Disney property restaurants! In addition, Expedia.com is still running summer sale that expires at the end of August. And be sure to also note the great sales at Hotels.com, and Travelocity for more ways to save money. PLUS the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin are having a great promotion for the month of September as well!

Restaurant.com Promotions

Did you know that you can use Restaurant.com Gift Certificates to save up to 60% off on some meals at Walt Disney World? When you go to the Restaurant.com site and enter “Lake Buena Vista, FL” into the search field, you will find the following Disney property restaurants participating: Todd English’s bluezoo, House of Blues,  Garden Grove,   Kimonos,  Shula’s Steak House , and Il Mulino New York Trattoria.

Get 70% off Restaurant.com $25 Gift Certificates! Use code STEAK at checkout through 8/23/10.

You can also use Restaurant.com Gift Certificates for local restaurants or any place you happen to be traveling. We have used the certificates on a number of occasions: it’s easy and it is a great way to save money! This is a great chance to stock up for gifts, and get a few for yourself,  in addition to using some for your Disney vacation.

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Promotions

Book the beautiful Walt Disney World Dolphin, a 4-star Disney Resort, September 1 – 11 including Labor Day Weekend starting from only $99!
Rates from $109 September 16-21, and September 26-28. Rates from $149 September 22-25.

Book the beautiful Walt Disney World Swan, the Dolphin’s sister 4-star Disney Resort, September 1 – 11 including Labor Day Weekend starting from only $109! Rates from $119 September 16-21, and September 26-28. Rates from $169 September 22-25.

Must be booked by Sept. 3, 2010. Book online using rate code TZOO

DisneyStore.com Savings and Promotions

Halloween will be here before you know it! Find great discounts on your favorite Disney Costumes at Disney Outlet!

Don’t forget: Buying Disney items at home BEFORE your Disney trip is a great way to save money. :)

And you can save $50 when you become a Disney Rewards Visa Cardmember at DisneyStore.com

Expedia.com Special Promotions:

You can still save up to 40% on hotels with Expedia’s  Summer Sale – Expires 8/31/10

You may also want to take a look at the Family Getaways for special deals on  the top 10 family vacations of which, of course, the Orlando area is one! Save up to 40% on hotels! – Expires 8/21/10

Travelocity Special Promotions

You might also want to check out this promotion to see if it is a savings for you:  Find Top Secret Hotels in Orlando and save up to 45%.

Hotels.com Special Promotions

Summer Sale – Save up to 40% on hotels. Plus book 4+ nights at select hotels and get a free Flip™ camcorder! Use code FLIP5 at checkout.

Walt Disney World Savings and Promotions:

  • Book a Disney Vacation Package and Get FREE Dining!  NEW DATES ADDED Through 2011!!: Book a full price 3-night or longer vacation package for stays most nights 10/1/10 – 10/7/10, 10/22/10 – 10/28/10, 11/12/10 – 11/18/10, 11/27/10 -12/2/10, 12/10/10 – 12/21/10, 1/1/11 – 1/5/11, 1/9/11 – 1/13/11, 1/21/11 – 2/3/11, 2/11/11 – 2/17/11, 2/25/11 – 3/3/11, 5/27/11 – 6/2/11 and 8/19/11 – 9/29/11. Stay at a Value Resort and receive Free Quick Service Dining Plan. Receive Free Basic Dining when you stay at a Moderate or Deluxe Resort. Minimum 3 night stay, with 2 day ticket.  You must book by December 20, 2010. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.

    • Summer/Early Fall Room Discounts: Stay August 15, 2010 through Oct. 2, 2010. Get a 30%-40% discount off regular room rates. You should know that some blackout dates do apply and that not all rates are available at all resorts. You must book by 10/2. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.
    • Fall/Winter Room Discounts: NEW DATES ADDED Through 2011!! Stay October 3, 2010 through November 23, 2010, November 27, 2010 through December 25, 2010, and January 1, 2011  through February 16, 2011. Get a 25%-40% discount off regular room rates. You should know that some blackout dates do apply and that not all rates are available at all resorts. You must book  by November 21, 2010. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.
    • Get a FREE Disney Gift Card for up to $500 when you book a full price vacation package, including hotel room and theme park tickets. Stay October 3, 2010 through November 23, 2010, November 27, 2010 through December 25, 2010, and January 1, 2011  through February 16, 2011. You must stay at least 5 consecutive hotel nights with at least a 2-day Base Ticket. Value resorts receive a $200 Disney Gift Card. Moderate resorts receive a $300 Disney Gift Card. Deluxe/Deluxe Villa resorts receive a $500 Disney Gift Card. You must book  by November 21, 2010. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.

    Hope you find some great Disney savings this week! 🙂

    Who Wants Some Disney Giveaways?

    Nancy Uncategorized , , 3 Comments

    If there is one thing I love to do, it’s to go shopping. 🙂

    And going shopping while on vacation is even better. So it should not be a big surprise that I came home from Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort with a few souvenirs…..but the cool thing is that they are for you!!! 🙂 🙂

    So this is to let you know that next week, I am going to have a series of giveaways each day, Monday through Friday. One item each day. Now to make it fair, as I have Disney friends all over the internet, I am going to target different places each day for the giveaway:

    Monday, Wednesday, and Friday will be for fans of  my Facebook page.

    Tuesday will be a special Travel Tuesday blog post for readers here on The Affordable Mouse.

    And Thursday will be a special giveaway on Twitter.

    Now there is a “little” catch: to be eligible for each day’s giveaway, you will have to do something, like answer a question, provide a tip, share a favorite….something like that. No biggies, so no worries, it won’t be hard, I promise.

    Hopefully, just a lot of fun!!

    And if you want to increase your chances of winning, then before next week, go to Facebook and *Like* us, and go to Twitter and *Follow* us. 🙂

    Alrighty then! Get the word out, share with your friends, and we’ll have some fun and prizes happening next week on The Affordable Mouse!

    Photo courtesy of topsistasites.

    Wordless Wednesday: JAMMin’ Along at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival

    Nancy Food and Wine Festival, Wordless Wednesday , , , 0 Comment

    As August winds down and September gets ready to make an appearance, within a few weeks the Epcot Food and Wine Festival will be starting. For those of you who are lucky enough to be planning a trip during this especially delicious time of year, don’t overlook the entertainment that is available as well! Sometimes folks will just pop up right beside you as you are walking along, and before you know it, you are clapping, singing, and laughing along. Take these energetic fellows for example: they are the JAMMin’ Chefs, and if you see them setting up their impromptu kitchen, be sure to take a minute to check them out….But I warn you now, watch out or you will find yourself part of the show! 🙂

    Great Places to Eat That Are Out of the World (Disney World that is)

    Nancy Saving Money on Food , , , 0 Comment

    There are a number of reasons why you might want to eat off Disney property: visiting attractions that are not Disney (yes, you might want to do that 🙂 ), price, convenience if you are staying off Disney property….all of these things just might have you looking for some great places to eat that are out of the (Disney) World.

    Fortunately, you will have thousands of choices, as the Orlando area is, of course, a major tourist destination, offering locations for most major chain restaurants, as well as many, many “local” options as well. So no matter what you and your family like, or where you are, chances are you will have a number of choices.

    Saving money is also likely, as prices, even in restaurants that rival Disney’s top dining choices, will still be lower than Disney’s. So eating off property, if you want to do so, can help you reduce your food budget.

    Things to Keep in Mind

    Eating at non-Disney restaurants will require transportation to get to them. If you are staying off property, you may very well already have access to a car, so that won’t be a problem. But if you don’t have a car, you will still find a number of great choices right in Downtown Disney….just a short Disney bus ride away.

    The other thing to think about is that you can save a bit more by using the discounts offered by Restaurant.com or the Entertainment book. I also always recommend becoming a Facebook “fan” of any local places where discount coupons may be offered exclusively for those on Facebook: we have been very successful in getting some surprise discounts this way. Also, if you are staying in a non-Disney hotel, ask at the front desk about coupons for local restaurants as well.

    Popular Choices to Consider

    While you clearly will have many choices, Disney fans all over the internet have their favorites. Here are a few:

    • Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney is the choice of many. Hot sandwiches and salads are large, and prices are reasonable. They also have some great options for breakfast sandwiches if it is convenient to where you are staying.
    • Panera Bread is a personal favorite of ours for reasonable prices and freshly made (and delicious) soups and salads.
    • Sweet Tomatoes is within walking distance of several of the Downtown Disney hotels, and offers a salad bar and all-you-can-eat buffet with lots of choices for a reasonable price.
    • Ghiradelli for some delicious…and affordably priced…..ice cream options. (Check for a coupon on the bottom of your receipt for a discount on your next visit.)

    In addition to these popular choices, I recently asked for some recommendations on our Facebook page and on Twitter. Here are a few of our readers’ favorites:

    • Chris: I used to love Sonny’s BBQ when I lived in Tallahassee and I usually try to go there when I’m in Orlando.
    • Emily: Chipotles and Earl of Sandwich
    • Kristin: Chevy’s!!!! Very kid friendly!!
    • Tammy: Bahama Breeze 🙂  Sit outside, with the fresh Florida air…There is one on I drive, and one on Vineland Avenue in Lake Buena Vista (that’s the one I go to). I don’t often eat outside of the world, but when I do, this is the place – food is really fresh, and the atmosphere puts me right in the islands. (ed. Note: Bahama Breeze is quite popular and does not take reservations, but you can “call ahead” to put your name on the seating list.
    • Amy reiterates: Use Restaurant.com for several DTD restaurants, as well as others nearby.
    • And from Twitter, @disneynine: The Olive Garden most definately! And any of the all you can eat buffets, Ponderosa a personal favorite. Also TGIFriday!

    Thanks to our readers for their recommendations! Now I would love to hear what your favorite places are to eat that are “out of the World”?

    Be Our Guest: The Disney Chick

    Nancy Be Our Guest , , 0 Comment

    The Affordable Mouse is on vacation this week, at Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort. While I’m gone, I am featuring some of my favorite Disney bloggers, for your reading pleasure. We’ll be back next week with the usual schedule….along with a trip report, pictures, and a few surprises. 🙂 Until then, enjoy today’s Guest Blog!

    We’re wrapping up our Guest Blogs this week with a visit from The Disney Chick.  I love Amanda’s blog, as she always has a fresh, humorous take on things at Disney, and frequently has me literally laughing out loud at how funny….and true….the situation is. Today’s post is a perfect example: The Five People You Meet in Line at WDW. While she wrote this a couple of months ago, I still think of it regularly, as it describes perfectly, those folks you meet when you visit Walt Disney World. If you have been, then you know. If you haven’t, you will find out…… 🙂

    Walt Disney World: it’s a jungle out there. To help you cope, I’ve compiled a short field guide of people you will likely encounter while waiting for your favorite ride.

    The Inchers – These people thrive in attractions like the American Idol Experience, Mickey’s Philharmagic, or Muppet Vision 3-D, where an entire group enters at once versus a traditional line. When presented with such organized chaos, the Inchers will drift toward the periphery of the crowd and proceed to – you guessed it – inch their way towards the front, positioning themselves directly in front of the auditorium doors….
    You can read the rest here: The Five People You Meet in Line at WDW