Thrifty Thursday

Thrifty Thursday and Delectable Disney Snacks: Take My Advice, Share!

Brenda Saving Money on Food, Thrifty Thursday , , , , , , 1 Comment

Sorry to all the guys out there but I have to confess here and now that I love watching what I call “foo foo” movies, like Legally Blonde, Confessions of a Shopaholic and the like. They are familiar and fun so I can pop them in the DVD player, turn it on and go about doing other things because I know what favorite parts to watch.

There is a line in one of them that always makes me chuckle. In The Devil Wears Prada, Miranda Priestly, the world’s worst and snootiest boss (played by Meryl Streep), sends her assistant on an impossible errand – to get a copy of an unpublished Harry Potter manuscript for her twins to read on the train to Grandma’s. Her assistant, Andy, pulls some strings to get it, then comes into Miranda’s office, puts the copy down on her desk and when Miranda sees it, she says “One copy. What are my twins gonna do with that? Share?” That line always makes me laugh.

Sadly, that is exactly how my family feels about dessert. My mother baked beautiful desserts when I was growing up and she passed that love of baking onto me. I live in a family of sweet tooths and I am embarrassed to admit that I am head molar!

When we were at the Animal Kingdom recently, we decided to use our snack credits for the day at the Kusafari bakery. Aside from the fact that Kusafari is one of the very few places that serves real coffee (not Nescafe), we had been looking forward to savoring their wonderful treats for months in anticipation of our trip. When we got to the counter, four of us ordered the Zebra cupcakes and one ordered the White Chocolate Elephant cupcake (pictured below). We were reeling with anticipation for a bite of one of these delectable delights and we were really hungry by that time, having had a large breakfast but no lunch.

A quick description will give you a general idea about the sweet goodness of these tantalizing treasures. The Zebra Cupcake is moist yellow cake topped with mounds of super rich and creamy buttercream icing. It has homemade white and dark chocolate shavings all over the top and is delightful. The White Chocolate Elephant Cupcake is rich chocolate cake filled with chocolate cream and then topped with a light buttercream frosting and toasted coconut.

After I took these pictures, we all took bites of our treasures and commented on how yummy, moist and rich they all tasted. We were almost singing with enjoyment. After our third bite, we were giving each other that “how-am-I-ever-going-to-finish-this look.” We ate all we could, as we did not want to waste any of it and, once we threw away the rest, we all agreed that we indeed should have shared.

Trust me, if you get one of these scrumptious creations, plan to cut it into fourths. Taking my advice will do three good things for you: it will save you from sugar shock, give you some snack credits to use on other great treats, and save you from the guilt of throwing away a portion of such a wonderful treat.

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Thrifty Thursday: Treasured Photos in All the Best Locations

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I am sure you have noticed that the PhotoPass photographers are set up in all the very best locations throughout the parks. Whether it is right in front of Cinderella’s Castle, at the entrance to Epcot next to the monorail, in front of the Sorcerer’s hat or Expedition Everest, or countless other great locations in the parks they are positioned in all of the prime locations. If you did not receive a PhotoPass card in your travel package, they will gladly give you one free of charge to carry with you in order to take advantage of all the best photo opps with your family.

I love having all of our memories captured on film. I have photo albums full of Disney memories and I treasure each one of the pictures with my family. Professional photographs can be expensive, though, and that is why I think the very best thing about the PhotoPass photographers is that they are happy to take a picture using your personal camera as well. All you have to do is hand them your PhotoPass card as well as your personal camera and they will take all the pictures for you. This is especially welcome to the person in your family who is usually responsible for taking photographs and never actually appears to be on the trip.

Personally, I appreciate the fact that Disney offers this service to their guests, rather than making families feel that they must purchase photos they really cannot afford. It is just another free little extra they have decided to throw in to make everyone’s trip more memorable.

I usually do purchase some of the PhotoPass pictures, especially for special photo gifts, but I like knowing I don’t have to. Take advantage of this free service the next time you are in the parks and keep smiling!

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.

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Thrifty Thursday: The World of Disney Podcasts

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Our friend Brenda is celebrating Thanksgiving in Disney World. She shared a few thoughts with us before she left… 🙂

While you are reading this blog, I am either on my way to, or have arrived at, my favorite destination in the world – Walt Disney World! For the first time this year I will be doing something brand new while we are on our seventeen-hour road trip. I will be listening to podcasts. 

For those of you who don’t know me, you might say that I am a little technologically-challenged. I know how to use my computer, Iphone, etc. but when it comes to knowing how it all works I haven’t got a clue. Thankfully, my husband sets it all up for me and I just push the buttons. One thing I do enjoy about technology, though, is having information at my fingertips quickly. 

Recently, I was introduced to podcasts when my friend Chip at Chip & Company wrote a blog about 2 Lonely Deeks joining MouseChat.net for a podcast. I listened to it and then I listened to some more. I really liked it. I know that for most people it is not a new concept, but for those like me it is a great new discovery. I love that I can listen to whatever I want (Disney-related content), whenever I want (all the time), and however I want (on the computer at home or on the Iphone, Ipod or MP3 player everywhere else). 

MouseChat.net is done “talk show style” by true Disney fans (the best kind of people in my opinion). Each week they produce a new one to bring all of us up-to-date Disney news and information about events going on now and in the future. They also cover reviews of Disney restaurants and resorts. I am purposely not listening to any more of them before I leave so I can save them for the car ride. 

The site shows that they take questions from people but, without even asking, I had some questions answered for my current trip just by listening to sessions they have already published. I got great information about the Give A Day, Get A Day Fast Pass I will be using, as well as a review of the new Via Napoli restaurant at Epcot that I have been dying to try. 

Each person on the podcast speaks from their personal experiences and opinions on the latest offerings at Walt Disney World. Plus, moms are the ones helping to do the post cast, so I got all the information from a mom’s point of view! 

I really enjoy being able to get Disney information this way. I like that I can pause it or rewind it if I get a phone call or need to hear an important detail again. The fact that I can listen to people talk about Disney while I am cooking dinner, walking in the mornings or driving to work (or Disney World) is the best idea I have heard in a long time. The icing on the cake is that IT’S FREE! Give them a listen; I bet you will love it too!

(Editor’s Note: There are TONS of great Disney podcasts! In addition to MouseChat and 2 Lonely Deeks, you may also enjoy the Inner Mouse, and Lou Mongello’s WDW Radio Podcast. And please feel free to share YOUR favorites in the comment section below! 🙂  )

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.

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Thrifty Thursday: Free Family Fun

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I love playing tricks and pranks on my family. It doesn’t matter where we are, be it at home or at Disney World, I get a kick out of playing with them. If we were cartoon characters in Toontown, I would make sure we were armed with an ample supply of cream pies, banana peels, trap doors, seltzer bottles and squirting flowers with which to torment one another. The fact that we are not in Toontown doesn’t mean we have to let that stop us. It also doesn’t matter to me that my baby is now a senior in high school and my oldest is 25. I treat them in the same loving way I always have – I terrorize them!

When we visited Disney World in 2000, it was June so it was very hot. I went to my local discount store before the trip and bought us each a spray water bottle to help keep us cool throughout the day. When we would take a rest break, it never failed that one of us would take out our spray bottle and, once the crowd parted the line of fire, start the attack! We had so much fun and those are great memories.

We always visit during the Fall season now so I don’t take spray bottles even though I think we would still have just as much fun with them. There is one way in particular I can still get my fix when I am at the parks with my family: surprise squirts. There are two opportunities for this free play time that I am particularly fond of: one at the Flying Carpets of Aladdin ride in the Magic Kingdom and one at the bridge over the Kali River Rapids ride at Animal Kingdom.

At the Magic Kingdom, just find the large gold camel that is turned away from the magic carpet ride in Adventureland. He has a bad spitting habit – especially with my kids around (tee hee). I think it’s a shame how my camera only stops working when they pose for a picture right in his path. Then I have to make them pose in front of him again for a retake.  Thankfully, they are good sports and they let me annoy them once in a while.

We also really enjoy the Kali River Rapids at the Animal Kingdom, unless it is 50 degrees outside. When I sacrifice my fun and sit out I always find my favorite spot on the bridge right before the end of the ride. There is a button there that you can press to make the elephant spray water on the riders below.

There are endless opportunities for fun at Disney World, as long as you know where to look. Don’t forget to look for these two spots during your next trip and have a great time!

The cost of a little imagination, free; the value of creating memories together, priceless!

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.

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Thrifty Thursday: Disney Rewards Visa 0% Financing for 6 Months Deal

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Sometimes timing your Disney vacation is about more than crowds and special rate offers. If your finances are anything like mine, there are certain times of the year when it is just a little easier to pay for a vacation. For my family, this is usually in the Spring — after the Christmas charges have been paid and our tax refund has arrived.

Unfortunately, we are not Spring travelers, as Spring Break crowds and costs are usually a little more than we are willing to go for. We love traveling in the Fall but with the cost of beginning another school year, coupled with the holiday season, it really isn’t feasible for us to pay for a vacation during that time.

Thankfully, the Disney Rewards Visa card has a “zero percent interest for up to 6 months” offer on Disney vacations booked through the Walt Disney Travel Company, your travel agent, or online at Disney sites. This allows us to travel for Thanksgiving and not pay for it until the Spring. This is one of the card perks and is our whole reason for having the card; and it has worked out great.

I am far from being an advocate for credit cards but if you use it strictly for the purpose of buying yourself a little time, it can be a lifesaver. Make a budget for your trip and stick to the limits of what you will be able to pay once your 6 months is up. Then pay it all off before the interest gets charged.

Sometimes saving for a vacation ahead of time is too difficult. Taking advantage of this offer gives you a hassle-free, interest-free alternative. You can find out if this idea might be right for you by visiting information at Disney Rewards Visa. And if you apply at DisneyStore.com you can save $50 when you become a Disney Rewards Visa Cardmember .

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.

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