Thrifty Thursday: Personalized Ground Plan

Melissa Sue Disney Vacation Planning, Saving Money at Disney World, Thrifty Thursday , , , , , 1 Comment

Want to remember your last Disney trip but don’t want to break the bank on expensive souvenirs or PhotoPass cd? When you get home, there’s one amazing, FREE souvenir that you can personalize and order straight from The Mouse.

Disney’s Customized Maps are beautiful, full-colored, 14×20″ renderings of the Parks (one for each of Disney World’s four main gates)–each attraction is marked with a pin, and you can select which pins are highlighted.  Read more

Free Disney Dining and Room Discounts!

Nancy Affordable Disney Vacations, Dining at Walt Disney World, Disney Dining Plans, Disney Vacation Planning, Saving Money at Disney World, Saving Money on Food , , , , 1 Comment

Are you ready for FREE food at Disney World?  FREE DINING, the most popular Disney World discount is now available!

 

Here are the details:

  • Travel dates 9/2/13 – 9/25/13
  • Must purchase a package that includes a minimum of 3 nights accommodation at a Disney Resort and a minimum 2-day Base Ticket
  • Guests at a Disney Value Resort receive the Quick Service Dining Plan for free. Guests staying at a Disney Moderate or Deluxe Resort receive the Basic Dining for free.
  • You can upgrade from the Quick Service to the Basic Dining for an additional $19 per adult per night and $3 per night per child.
  • Book by 7/31/13.
  • Offer excludes campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, 3-Bedroom Villas, and Little Mermaid Rooms at Art of Animation Resort. Read more

Wordless Wednesday: Right Down the Middle of Main Street USA

Karen Uncategorized , , , 1 Comment

“We’re walkin’ right down the middle of Main Street USA!!!” And wouldn’t you like to be right there with these happy folks? 🙂

Find out how the FREE services of a Disney World travel agent can make planning your Disney vacation simple and STRESS FREE! And for a limited time only, receive a FREE Disney gift card for qualifying Disney vacation packages! Ask for details!

Karen grew up in the Boston area and traveled to Disney World many times with her parents and sister. Always staying at the Fort Wilderness Cabins gave the trips a feeling of a home away from home. It also started the tradition of attending the Hoop Dee Doo Review on each trip! Somehow that show sparked her interest in the Disney College Program. Which she did in the fall of 2002, working as a hostess @ Captain Jacks in Downtown Disney. Now as an adult, Karen finds herself traveling to the parks on a yearly basis! Photography has always been a hobby of Karen’s, but over the past few years it has become her passion. It’s even taken her to her favorite place! The Make a Wish Foundation sent a family to Disney for a week and Karen was lucky enough to be their photographer of choice! She got to tag along and photograph their memories being made. She hopes to get that experience again someday! You can find more of Karen’s photography on her site www.KPportraits.com.

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Tuesday Disney Tips: Monorail Rundown

Brenda Disney Vacation Planning, Tuesday Disney Tips, What to Do at Disney World , , , , 1 Comment

The monorail system at Disney World opened with the original complex on October 1, 1971. It is one of the best, and certainly most fun, methods of transportation at Walt Disney World. In fact, it is my favorite mode of transportation. Once you are familiar with how the monorail system works, I hope it will fast become one of your favorites too. Read more

Ask Amy: Mother’s Day with Mickey

Amy Disney Vacation Planning, Disney Vacation Tips, What to Do at Disney World , , , , , 1 Comment
Photo via http://www.flickr.com/photos/lrargerich/2238291992/

Last year I asked my colleague – let’s call her Marie – “How was your Mother’s Day?” She paused and then said “Pretty much the same as Father’s Day.” Don’t make this mistake, my Affordable Mouse friends. Let’s treat mom right! Note to my husband: the following ideas apply to any day at Disney, not just Mother’s Day!

Mother’s Day at Walt Disney World
I polled my sister and a few friends with the question, “If you were at Walt Disney World for Mother’s Day, how would you want to spend your day?” Their most frequent replies include:

Sleep In: This popular answer certainly resonated with me! For many moms, sleeping past 6 am is a luxury. I know, it’s hard to snooze late at Walt Disney World when there is so much to do (we usually try to get up early and make rope drop). But let’s consider a more relaxing agenda for Mother’s Day morning. Cost: Free!

Dining: In keeping with the low-key morning theme, how about a relaxing dining experience? My sister voted for a quieter experience, noting “I’m not sure I would want to deal with characters in the morning.”

Mickey waffle
Photo courtesy of Adam Bartlett

Room Service

  • Splurge: If your resort offers in-room dining, why not order breakfast-in-bed for that special mom? Currently available at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, BoardWalk, Beach Club, Contemporary, Coronado Springs, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Polynesian, Yacht Club and Wilderness Lodge Resorts.
  • Spend a little: Room service ala the family. Perhaps Dad or the kids can make coffee and fetch a Mickey waffle from your resort’s counter service restaurant?

Late Breakfast, Early Lunch or Brunch

  • Splurge – Table Service Dining: Try the Kona Café in the beautiful Polynesian Resort. While this restaurant can be a bit nosy, the Tonga Toast ($12.99) and Kona Coffee ($2.99) may be worth it. Later, take a stroll around the resort’s grounds and enjoy beautiful foliage and views of the Magic Kingdom Park and Seven Seas Lagoon, then slip onto the relaxing water taxi for a trip to the Magic Kingdom.
    • More suggestions: The Wave…of American Flavors in the Contemporary Resort. Healthy cooking with both ala carte and buffet options
    • Sanaa in the Animal Kingdom Lodge: Savor an early lunch while watching animals on the savannah: perfect for those looking for a slightly different menu and unique experience.
  • Spend a little: Try some of the more calm counter service experiences, like pastries from Kringla Bakeri og Café in Epcot’s Norway. Just don’t make mom juggle the food trays.

Flowers and Gifts

  • Splurge: Send mom exquisite flowers and gift baskets from Disney Floral and Gifts. Delivery is available to your resort or anywhere on the Disney World property.
  • Spend a little: Create a special sweet treat at Goofy’s Candy Company in Downtown Disney.

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot: Lucky you! This acclaimed festival runs through May 19 and offers something for all ages. 

Spa

Ask Amy kids

I hope this posting has generated some interesting ideas for you and your family. As always, this list is not exclusive – so chime in with your ideas and inspirations! I’d especially love to hear from moms with older kids, families celebrating with multiple generations or those making mom’s day great at home.

From all of us at The Affordable Mouse, Happy Mother’s Day!

See you next month, Amy – aka Maggie and JM’s mom

 

Find out how the FREE services of a Disney World travel agent can make planning your Disney vacation simple and stress-free!

Amy works as a college administrator and instructor in the Philadelphia area, where she lives with her husband and two children. She visited Walt Disney World for the first time as an adult for a conference. But Amy truly caught the “Disneybug” when she traveled with her young daughter. Amy loves all things travel and especially enjoys trip preparation and strategy: trying to find the best deals, exploring new resorts and restaurants, and planning an extra something special for each trip.

Want to know when Disney announces special savings and deals? Sign Up to Learn About the Latest Disney Promotions!