Disney Deluxe Resorts on a Budget??

Guest Affordable Disney Vacations, Disney Vacation Planning, Saving Money at Disney World, Saving Money on Accommodations , , , , , 1 Comment
Disney's Polynesian Resortphoto via http://www.flickr.com/photos/disneyworldsecets

A trip to Walt Disney World is a dream come true for many families. While Disney has thought ahead and greatly accommodated all travelers’ needs by creating resort categories, we all know that being able to stay at a deluxe Disney resort would make that magical dream vacation all the more magical. Believe it or not there are ways to stay at a deluxe Disney resort and stay true to your Disney vacation budget.   My family has been blessed to be able to visit Walt Disney World almost every year. While we always stay on Disney property we do not always stay deluxe. What I can tell you is that when we do stay deluxe I make Disney’s Polynesian Resort my home.

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Thrifty Thursday: Mickey’s PhilharMagic

Brenda Thrifty Thursday , , , , 2 Comments
Mickey's PhilharMagicPhoto courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/clydeorama

One of my family’s favorite attractions at the Magic Kingdom is Mickey’s PhilharMagic. This indoor show is all about Disney; a fantastic example of Disney 4-D at its best!

During our recent trip, we were within a large crowd in Fantasyland, waiting for the cast members to drop the ropes following the Wishes fireworks show. We decided to head to Mickey’s PhilharMagic as it only had a 5-minute wait at the time. We noticed a man struggling to keep his daughter (approximately 4 yo) and his son (approximately 2 yo) entertained while trying to struggle with more patience himself. We suggested that they head to the PhilharMagic, too. He said he had not been inside asked what it was, so we told him it was a great show and that we thought the kids would love it. When we left the theater, we found him at the exit and asked him how they liked it. He said they loved it and thanked us for suggesting it. I thought I would take a few minutes today to share some information about this great FREE show as well.

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Wordless Wednesday: Summer Dreams at Disney’s Hilton Head Island

Nancy Wordless Wednesday , , 2 Comments

It’s March. Winter’s days are numbered. In parts of the U.S. spring has already sprung and in the rest of the country, it will be “springing” soon. Here in the Affordable Mouse house, we’re thinking summer vacation…and while we won’t be visiting Disney’s Hilton Head resort this summer, fond memories of a magical vacation last summer are keeping us warm until summer officially arrives. 🙂

Tuesday Disney Tips: Tools for Getting Around at Walt Disney World

Brenda Disney Vacation Planning, Tuesday Disney Tips , , , 2 Comments

Last week in Tuesday Disney Tips, Brenda shared some great information on the different types of transportation at Disney World, and how to use each. This week, she is back to provide some helpful tools and tips to make the most of your time getting around the Disney parks.

There are two valuable tools I use that have helped me out when planning my transportation at Walt Disney World: a copy of the WDW Resort Area map and a PDF file I created of WDW Travel Times.

The WDW Resort Area map is a great tool to use when planning the best routes to get you where you are going. As you can see, each resort is labeled as being located in a certain area (MK resort, Epcot resort, AK resort, or DHS resort).

Used in combination with the WDW Travel Times, a listing I made of the approximate time it takes to get from each resort to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Downtown Disney, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, you should be able to figure out the approximate time to get from your starting point to your destination. In my times list, I have listed the quickest method to travel, whether bus, monorail or boat. Using the map and the list of travel times, let’s check out some scenarios:

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Yes, You CAN Change Your Dining Plans While ON Your Disney World Vacation

Nancy Disney Vacation Planning , , , , , , 5 Comments

There is a lot of time and energy that goes into planning meals for your Disney vacation. Researching the many different options, finding out what your family would like, checking menus, picking the best times (and reserving them if possible), and then of course figuring out how to pay for it….are all part of the process.

(Now I do realize that many people prefer not to do that much planning when it comes to meals on their vacation…but I am guessing that if you are reading this, you are probably not one of them. 🙂 Nevertheless, if you are one of those people, keep reading….because this article will be of interest to you too. )

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