Disney Vacation Planning

Thrifty Thursday: Disney Rewards Visa Character Meet ‘N’ Greet

Brenda Affordable Disney Vacations, Disney Vacation Planning, Princesses With a Plan, Saving Money at Disney World, Thrifty Thursday, What to Do at Disney World , , , , 2 Comments

One of the perks I have always enjoyed about being a Disney Rewards Visa cardholder is the Character Meet ‘N’ Greet opportunity at Epcot. Susan and I will be taking advantage of this FREE opportunity during our trip next week. 🙂

It is very easy to get your free photo with special Disney characters and it is a wonderful memory to treasure for years to come. Even if you plan on making this a “cash only” trip, take your DRV card just for this purpose. You will be glad you did. Here is all you do: Read more

Tuesday Disney Tips: Downtown Disney

Brenda Disney Vacation Planning, Tuesday Disney Tips, What to Do at Disney World , , , , 0 Comment

Being what is known as a “veteran visitor” to Walt Disney World, there are traditional practices we tend to follow because they become part of what makes our trips so special. For instance, our first park is always Magic Kingdom and we always plan a trip to Downtown Disney. Read more

My Favorite Disney Things: The People You Meet

Nancy Disney Vacation Planning, My Favorite Disney Things , , , 0 Comment

We started a series a while back about our Favorite Disney Things. It was a fun way for all of us at The Affordable Mouse to share some of the things that we just LOVE about our favorite place to be…..and I would like to add a new one today. 🙂

I was trying to explain to someone the other day exactly WHY we go back to Disney again and again. As I shared how friendly people are when there… I realized that this is truly one of my favorite Disney things!

Yes, I know there are a lot of folks that are clearly not having a magical day while they are at Disney. But by and large, I really think that those people are the exception. In my experience, most people are the opposite….they are warm, friendly and helpful. In fact, I have honestly not ever found another place where the vast majority of people are just so…..happy. And I’m not talking about just the castmembers either, although they are a very special group of people.

I am talking about the people that you strike up a conversation with while waiting in line. You know, we’ve met some pretty cool people by just asking the simple question: “Where are you from?” We waited in the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad line once with an Imagineer and his young daughter, who were just spending a Sunday afternoon like you or I would, visiting Disney World. What a really nice guy….and what great stories he had to share! I love meeting people this way, and honestly, it makes waiting in line go a lot quicker.

I am also talking about the people that you chat with on the buses at the end of the day. I know I know, there are some pretty hot, cranky, sweaty people at this point each night. But there are also some really nice people, adults as well as teens, who are quick to give up their seat for a mom who has a sleeping child in her arms.

And I am also talking about the folks who jump in to do “random acts of kindness” whether it is giving away a FastPass that they aren’t going to use, or offering to take a group picture for a family, or giving up a seat waiting for the parade so that a little one can be up front for a good view.

Having lived near major cities my entire life, I grew up learning “not to talk to strangers” but at Disney, people look each other in the eye, smile, and say “good morning” or wish one another a Happy Birthday, or congratulate newlyweds. I realize that it’s a different situation….but that is actually my point. It IS different from the life that most of us live, and that is truly one of the things I love about Disney! You don’t walk around worrying about strangers at Disney: everyone else is just another Disney friend.

I’m not entirely sure why this is, but I guess that Disney magic just brings out the best in most people…..and to me, that’s one of the most magical things that Disney does.

Find out how the FREE services of a Disney World travel agent can make planning your Disney vacation simple…and for a limited time, get a FREE Disney gift card when you book your trip with me! ($2000 minimum package cost)

Thrifty Thursday: The Contents of My Disney Post-Trip Suitcase

Brenda Disney Vacation Planning, Princesses With a Plan, Saving Money on Souvenirs, Thrifty Thursday , , , 2 Comments

My next Walt Disney World vacation is in only 13 days and I am already making a list of all the items I plan to have packed into my checked bag on the way home. There are many items I feel I need to grab and, since I do have adult-onset ADD, I even have to make a list for this. I don’t want to call it a “shopping list” because I have an aversion to shopping. So, here is a list of the items which will make up the contents of my post-trip suitcase:

  • Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party merchandise, which can only be purchased during the party.
  • The first of many collectibles for my new grand-princess, Aleyah’s, brand new Disney collection. Thank you for replying to Tuesday’s post with your ideas, and thank you especially to Richard Trethewey. After receiving all your great suggestions, I called my son and asked him his opinion of my final 3 choices (pins, mini-snowglobes, and Precious Moments) and he chose MINI-SNOWGLOBES. He chose these for 2 reasons: I have a large snowglobe collection so hers would be like mine but for her size (how cute) and he said that someday he will build her a cabinet to hold all her special snowglobes from Mimi (the nickname they are calling me) so I will be purchasing her first mini-snowglobe this trip – a Mickey of course.
  • Several varieties of candy from Goofy’s Candy Co. This will be important to a brand new holiday tradition. It will be the authentic Disney items I will include in my new holiday decorating tradition of creating an in-house, old-fashioned candy store.
  • An ornament for my hubby, one for each of my kids, and one for my new grand-princess for this year’s tree.
  • A 2011 pin from Port Orleans Riverside.
  • A 2011 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party pin.
  • A Muppet t-shirt with Animal on the drums that my oldest son, Johnnie, saw several years ago in the parks – hope I can find it.
  • An Ariel travel mug which was available on disneystore.com for a very short period of time. I hope I can find one in the park for Kristen.
  • 40th Anniversary Mickey Ears for my collection.
  • New Grumpy boxers for my hubby, Butch, and something special for my youngest, Josh.
  • Mementos collected during the trip.
  • A photo album for the pics from this trip.
  • A Mickey business card holder for my desk.
  • Giveaway items for upcoming site giveaways on my personal blog, Ideally Disney.
  • Confirmation for reservations made on a bounce-back offer (keeping my fingers crossed).

Anticipating every aspect of the trip just adds to the excitement of going to Walt Disney World. One thing is for sure, the contents of my suitcase on the way back will far outweigh the contents on the way there, literally. What better reason is there to check a bag?

Bringing some Disney home is the best way to hold onto great memories while tiding you over until your next visit. So, what will make up the contents of your post-trip suitcase?

Find out how the FREE services of a Disney World travel agent can make planning your Disney vacation simple…and for a limited time, get a FREE Disney gift card when you book your trip with me! ($2000 minimum package cost)

Brenda is a native Texan born and raised on the Gulf Coast. She visited Disney World twice as a teenager and always dreamed of growing her family Disney. She took her first-timer husband and their three children to Disney World in 2000 and they now spend every Thanksgiving there. Brenda writes with a comedic twist on various Disney topics. She will be sharing tips she has learned during her travels and also hopes to enlighten people on little-known freebies that Disney has to offer. She wishes she could have met Walt Disney and considers herself to be a student of Walt. In parallel to his dream it is her wish that everyone would take at least one trip to Disney World in order to share in its magic with their families.

Tuesday Disney Tips: What’s In Your Disney Collection?

Brenda Disney Vacation Planning, Saving Money on Souvenirs, Tuesday Disney Tips , , , , , 5 Comments

I know this seems strange as my Tuesday Disney Tip usually has a tip or two from me to you, but I am having the devil of a time trying to figure out about Disney collectibles and I really need your help.

I have an extensive collection of Disney snowglobes (some are pictured here). I truly enjoy looking at them and turning on the lights, and enjoying the music and motion. You may have read about my favorite in my “Disney Favorites” article. Read more