Friday Disney Savings Round-Up for 7/2/2010

In This week’s Disney Savings Round-Up:

Be sure to check out the great sales at DisneyStore.comExpedia.com and Travelocity for some super deals! Also, note the one at  Hotels.com that will be ending shortly. In addition, all the information from the current Disney promotions is noted below as well.

DisneyStore.com Savings and Promotions

Get FREE Shipping on your entire order at DisneyStore.com with Promo Code: FREESHIP Expires 7/5!!

And their Twice Upon a Year Sale has been extended!! Don’t miss the chance to Save up to 50% on over 400 items!

Don’t forget: Buying Disney items at home BEFORE your Disney trip is a great way to save money. :)

And you can now save $50 when you become a Disney Rewards Visa Cardmember at DisneyStore.com

Expedia.com Special Promotions

This is a great way to add some money to your vacation: Get a $50 prepaid MasterCard® card with a 3+ night stay at participating hotels! – Expires 7/27/10

In addition, you will want to check out the Expedia Summer Vacation Sale: New Deals & the Lowest hotel prices of the season! – Expires 7/27/10

Plus, they have a sweet Orlando Package Deal: Hotels from $53; Flight + 4 Nights from $319 – Expires 7/21/10

Travelocity Special Promotions

Travelocity has a great promotions that is still valid.

Orlando Makes Me Smile! $50 off a 3+ night GoodBuy hotel booking to Orlando, Use PROMOCODE: SMILE50. Ends 7/31/10.

Hotels.com Special Promotions

Hotels.com’s Family Sale offers savings up to 40% on a number of “family friendly” locations including a number of great properties near Disneyland in Anaheim, as well as the popular Sheraton Vistana near Walt Disney World. Please note that this promotion expires 7/5/10

Walt Disney World Savings and Promotions

  • Book a Disney Vacation Package and Get FREE Dining!  Now available for everyone!: Travel between August 15 and Oct. 2. Stay at a Value Resort and receive Free Quick Service Dining Plan. Receive Free Basic Dining when you stay at a Moderate or Deluxe Resort. Minimum 3 night stay, with 2 day ticket.  You must book by August 14. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.
  • Stay through August 14, 2010 Get a 15%-30% discount off regular room rates. You should know that some blackout dates do apply and that not all rates are available at all resorts. You must book by 8/14. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.
  • Stay August 15, 2010 through Oct. 2, 2010 Get a 30%-40% discount off regular room rates. You should know that some blackout dates do apply and that not all rates are available at all resorts. You must book by 10/2. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.
  • Kids Stay and Play for Free“: This special offer has been extended and is now valid for stays most nights May 2 – Oct. 2, 2010. Purchase a 4 night/5 day Magic Your Way vacation package (room and theme park tickets) and a child (age 3-9) stays in the room and gets a 5 day park pass for Free. This is basically providing free tickets for one child of this age…or two if there are two adults in the room…which can be a substantial savings! To receive the package deal, you must book by August 14, 2010. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.
  • Military Discount of up to 40% on select Disney Resort rooms, for stays most nights through Sept. 30, 2010. You must book through July 31, 2010. In addition, active or retired members of the military can get a 4 day park ticket for $99. For more information visit the Military Special Offer page on disneyworld.com.
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My Thoughts About Disney Vacation Club Are at Chip and Co. This Week

Have you ever wondered about all the talk about Disney Vacation Club? And have you especially wondered if buying into Disney’s timeshare could be an investment that might actually be a savings to you in the long run?

My family wondered about those things for quite some time. Finally, we did some research, discussed the pros and cons of DVC, talked to a number of owners…and then sat down with a calculator to see if it might just be an affordable Disney vacation choice for us.

I talk about how we did this…and the results…over at Chip and Co. this week. Stroll on over and read about our experiences…and then be sure to let me know your thoughts about DVC. Might this be an affordable option for you?

You can read the article right here: Could the Disney Vacation Club be Right for Your Family?

I look forward to seeing you over there! 🙂

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Disney World Fun Outside of the Parks

My last post for this month of talking about making the most of your Disney vacation, will discuss all those “other” things that you can do at Disney World. Because believe it or not, there are a lot of fun, interesting, and in many cases quite affordable things to do beyond just visiting the parks. (I’ll let you in on a secret: there are so many really cool things to do at Disney World, that is what keeps many folks going back again and again….we have yet to see/do it all.)

One thing I do want to mention at the start is that not all of these things are free or even necessarily inexpensive. But I mention them because one or more may very well appeal to you or your family, and it may be worth a trade-off with something else instead. Planning an affordable Disney vacation is very much about choices: you choose what is most important to you and your family, and make up for it in other areas.

OK? Here we go then, my list of favorite things to do outside of the parks…

  1. Downtown Disney: Can you imagine an entire area that is pretty much devoted to just eating and shopping? Disney sure has lol! This is a great way to spend an afternoon, evening, or even an entire day if you like. There are lots of great restaurants, many of which participate in the Disney Dining plan so that is nice. There are even more stores….and so this is my caveat to keep this affordable: go with the amount of money you are willing to spend…or willing for your kids to spend. Leave the credit cards back at your room. The enormous World of Disney store is my personal place to buy souvenirs, as they have most of the things you will find in the parks…plus a lot more. (Note that they don’t have EVERYTHING, so if you come across something in your travels that you *must* have, especially if it is unique, you should probably not assume it will be at World of Disney, and just get it when you see it instead.) Now there are a few things that are at Downtown Disney that are not shopping or eating related though. Which brings me to…
  2. Disney Quest: think video games on Disney Imagineer-induced steroids. If you have teens…especially boys….they will love spending a day here. The admission here is less than a day at the parks, and depending on how you structured your Disney Magic Your Way tickets, you may have the option to visit here without paying extra. While it’s not my personal cup of tea, DH and DD loved it when they visited….although DH ended up with a headache at the end of the day, so if you are not fond of loud noises, then bring the Tylenol with you. 🙂
  3. Did you know that miniature golf is an option at Disney World? In fact, you have two choices: Fantasia Gardens and  Winter Summerland. Cost for each is $12 per adult and $10 per child ages 3-9.
  4. To cope with Florida’s heat, think water parks. If you are visiting during the summer months, you may very well want to take a day to visit Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach, Disney’s two fantastic…and very popular….water parks. Both are separate admission, unless you have the “Water Parks and More” option on your tickets. With slides, lazy rivers, and giant pools among other things, each park is guaranteed to cool you off in the most fun way possible. You should note though: the available chairs at each water park do get “taken” relatively early in the day, so if you want to go and just camp out in a chair while your family is on the go, plan to get there when they open.
  5. Fishing and boating: Yup Disney has these too! With the lakes, lagoons, and canals that are in or near each of the parks and many of the resorts, you will find lots of options for spending time on the water if you like. Whether it is renting a small boat at one of the resorts, or reserving a fishing excursion on Bay Lake, if you want water fun, Disney has it. You can check this out for more information for information on speed boats, or this for information on fishing.
  6. Rent a bike, four-wheel surrey, or carriage! Several resorts offer this option and some, like the Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness, have the picturesque trails to go with them.  Learn more here.

There’s your quick overview of a few more ways to get the most out of your Disney visit. You can check out this page for the full list of all the “other things” Disney World has to offer. While I could easily write an in-depth post about each of these, (and I may at some point!) this will at least give you an idea of what else you can do to have fun at Disney World. Affordable Disney vacations are all about getting value and there are a number of ways that you can add value to your visit without adding significantly to your cost. The bottom line is this: you don’t have to go to the parks every day to have fun at Disney World!

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Disney Fun From Around the World: Week of June 21, 2010

I have an interesting collection of cool blog posts for this week, including a couple from new “budget” blogs that I found this week. Have fun reading…. I know I sure did!

From Inexpensively comes this great article with all kinds of ….well….Tips for Traveling Inexpensively 🙂

Madame Deals has some excellent ideas for Saving Money While Eating Out on Vacation and these tips can definitely apply to eating at Disney World!

Speaking of eating at Disney World, the Disney Food Blog has another mouth-watering post about “The Best Thing I Ever Ate at Disney!”: Breakfast (Why am I always hungry after reading her posts?)

This next post is humorous, and not exactly an affordable Disney vacation tip. But if you heard the news of Disney building new, multi-million dollar mansions on Walt Disney World property, and were bummed as most of us were about the price tag….then you will love this from The Disney Chick who offers thoughts for us paupers who will NOT be moving there:  Golden Oak: If You’re Not Rich, Then Why Are You Reading This?

On another note, Lisa from Chip and Co. has some great ideas for Date Night at Walt Disney World (My DH and I have done this…it is *wonderful* 🙂 )

And lastly, my weekly shameless plug for My posts at Chip and Co. this week: Making Sure Your Disney Vacation Souvenirs Don’t Break the Bank and How to Create a Disney Vacation Scrapbook Without Really Trying

That’s it for this week Disney friends! Have a wonderful weekend!

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Friday Disney Savings Round-Up for 6/25/2010

In This week’s Disney Savings Round-Up:

There are a number of sales at DisneyStore.comHotels.com and  Travelocity that will be ending within the week: be sure to take advantage of them before they are gone. In addition, all the information from the current Disney promotions are noted below as well: note that the final day to book the Disney Visa promotion is June 30!

DisneyStore.com Savings and Promotions

DisneyStore.com has two fantastic promotions that will be ending in a few days. Be sure to check them out before they expire:

Their Twice Upon a Year Sale helps you to Save up to 50% on over 400 items! This sale ends June 27 so make sure you don’t miss out!!

And in honor of the premiere of  Toy Story 3 when you buy any Toy Story item you will get FREE Shipping on your entire order. Use Promo Code: TOYSTORY This promotion has been extended to June 30!

Don’t forget: Buying Disney items at home BEFORE your Disney trip is a great way to save money. :)

And you can still save $25 when you become a Disney Rewards Visa Cardmember at DisneyStore.com (** See special Disney promotion below for Disney Visa cardmembers!)

Travelocity Special Promotions

Travelocity has several promotions that are still valid. Be sure to note the dates that each offer ends.

Be a Kid Again in the Sunshine State. Orlando Getaways From $299 from Travelocity! Offer ends 6/30.

Orlando Makes Me Smile! $50 off a 3+ night GoodBuy hotel booking to Orlando, minimum $400 spend. Use PROMOCODE: SMILE50. Ends 7/31/10.

They also have a great deal on car rentals: Get up to 33% off Weekend Rentals from National! Offer ends 6/30!

Hotels.com Special Promotions

Hotels.com’s Family Sale offers savings up to 40% on a number of “family friendly” locations including a number of great properties near Disneyland in Anaheim, as well as the popular Sheraton Vistana near Walt Disney World. Please note that this promotion expires 7/5/10

Walt Disney World Savings and Promotions

  • Book a Disney Vacation Package and Get FREE Dining!  Now available for everyone!: Travel between August 15 and Oct. 2. Stay at a Value Resort and receive Free Quick Service Dining Plan. Receive Free Basic Dining when you stay at a Moderate or Deluxe Resort. Minimum 3 night stay, with 2 day ticket.  You must book by August 14. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.
  • Stay through August 14, 2010 Get a 15%-30% discount off regular room rates. You should know that some blackout dates do apply and that not all rates are available at all resorts. You must book by 8/14. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.
  • Stay August 15, 2010 through Oct. 2, 2010 Get a 30%-40% discount off regular room rates. You should know that some blackout dates do apply and that not all rates are available at all resorts. You must book by 10/2. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.
  • Kids Stay and Play for Free“: This special offer has been extended and is now valid for stays most nights May 2 – Oct. 2, 2010. Purchase a 4 night/5 day Magic Your Way vacation package (room and theme park tickets) and a child (age 3-9) stays in the room and gets a 5 day park pass for Free. This is basically providing free tickets for one child of this age…or two if there are two adults in the room…which can be a substantial savings! To receive the package deal, you must book by August 14, 2010. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.
  • Disney Visa Card members can book the “Kids Stay, Play, and Dine Free” package. This special offer has been extended and is now valid for most nights through Oct. 2. It includes a 4 night/5 day Magic Your Way vacation package with room, park tickets, and the Quick Service Dining Plan is included for free. You have until June 30 to book this offer. To book, call 407-934-7639 or your travel agent. (**Don’t have a Disney Visa card yet? See the special promotion below through DisneyStore.com.)
  • Military Discount of up to 40% on select Disney Resort rooms, for stays most nights through Sept. 30, 2010. You must book through July 31, 2010. In addition, active or retired members of the military can get a 4 day park ticket for $99. For more information visit the Military Special Offer page on disneyworld.com.

That’s all for this week. Happy Savings everyone!

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