Thrifty Thursday: Guilt-Free Tours

I visit Disney World a lot. But it never feels like a lot because, during each visit, I find something new and exciting to explore or discover. Recently, I experienced my first Disney tour–Segway Around the World Tour–and I’m super excited to try some of the other offerings.

But I’m not made of money, which is why I was so excited to discover that Disney’s tours are available at a range of price points, from insanely expensive to reasonably priced to free. Yes, free. 

Is there anything thriftier than free? (Staying home, I guess … but that’s not any fun.)  Read more

Cast Member’s Corner: It’s Fast, It’s Free, It’s Air Conditioned!

People tend to wonder what the best way to get around Walt Disney World is.  They wonder if getting a taxi is the best bet, or driving their own or rental car.  Some even wonder about those purple public transportation buses.  What most people may not realize though is that Disney has it’s own transportation.  The Disney buses, boats, and monorail.  You don’t have to stay on property at one of the many Disney resorts to take advantage of these methods of transportation either. Read more

Thrifty Thursday: All You Care To Cheap

Chef Mickey'sSurprise! I’m writing about breakfast again.

Here’s the premise: it’s expensive. Especially if you’re looking for a buffet that’ll offers lots of options for your hungry troops. Take a look at these numbers (adult prices listed): Read more

Be Our Guest: Yes, Virginia, There is a Way to Save on Disney Theme Park Tickets

Ed.: I am thrilled to welcome a very special guest today, Lisa Battista, author of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers. An expert in planning Disney vacations with little ones…and a budget…in mind, Lisa is here to offer some thoughts on saving money on tickets. Thanks so much Lisa for visiting! 🙂

Previously, my family’s Disney ticket strategy was to schedule at least two vacations a year using Annual Passes. Some years this meant a fall and spring trip while other years found us arriving 358 days after our previous vacation to complete our travel within one calendar year. Our really fortunate years combined both vacation scenarios. Throw in a long research weekend for Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney world with Preschoolers and my husband and I make good use of our annual passes. Read more

Thrifty Thursday: Eat This, Not That for Dinner in Downtown Disney

After a long evening of shopping, you need a hearty, filling meal to face the long bus ride back to your resort, am I right? I scoured Downtown Disney to find some ways to cut costs on several classic menu items.

Half Chicken

The Expensive Version 
At T-Rex Café, $19.99 will get you half of a rotisserie chicken, slow-roasted and served with your choice of sides (garlic mashed potatoes are among the options).

The Less-Expensive Version
In the Marketplace area, WolfGang Puck Express serves up half of a rotisserie chicken covered with garlic butter and rosemary and served with mashed potatoes for only $16. 

Potential Savings: $3.99 Read more