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

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worst and snootiest boss (played by Meryl Streep), sends her assistant on an impossible errand – to get a copy of an unpublished Harry Potter manuscript for her twins to read on the train to Grandma’s. Her assistant, Andy, pulls some strings to get it, then comes into Miranda’s office,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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The Affordable Mouse is Celebrating a Birthday!

I am excited to be celebrating our First Birthday this week! One year ago I made the decision to move The Affordable Mouse from a little blog with occasional posts to a “grown-up” website and blog. Just a year later, we have grown to be quite the community, with a Facebook page now as well, that is closing in on having 350 fans…and growing!

As I begin our second year, it is a great time for me to share with you a few things that I am working on, that will all hopefully be finalized before the end of 2010…as well as some ideas I have for the coming year:

  • Website re-design: As our community has grown, it is important for me to be able to provide a better way for you to find the information that you need to save money at Disney World. In addition, I have things that I have been wanting to add to the site as well 🙂 so this is the perfect time to for me to do some re-designing. My plans are that the finished product will be done before Christmas and once complete will provide an improved experience for you! Stay tuned for details!
  • Affordable Disney Dining Guide: This project that was born as a result of your responses to a survey that I ran in the spring, is in the editing stages now, and so is nearly finished! I currently expect to release it as an e-book right after the 1st of the year, just in time for your 2011 vacation planning!
  • The Affordable Mouse Community: In many ways, this part is the most important to me, because it is at the heart of why I started The Affordable Mouse in the first place. My vision for this site has always been one of a community of Disney World-lovers, where ideas, tips, and suggestions for saving money on a Disney World vacation are shared. I may have started it….but my hope over the coming years, is that this site and blog will eventually grow into a place where anyone who needs help making Disney vacations affordable, can come to ask questions. Our online “family” is pretty diverse: many of you are experienced Walt Disney World veterans, with many visits under your belt…but many of you found us because you are brand new, and looking for help. And one of the things that I love about Disney folk…is that we are a friendly, helpful sort of folk, willing to share advice and provide help to other Disney folk! 🙂

So, it is my hope, in 2011, to grow The Affordable Mouse community by getting more of YOU involved! Our Facebook      page is certainly a start, where a number of you already comment and share ideas, and I hope that will continue to expand. But beyond that, please feel free to ask questions there as well, and don’t be shy or worry about it being a “dumb” question: we’ve all been there once! Please also share your thoughts and ideas by commenting on our daily blog posts: I would love to see some real conversations begin to start in the comments every day! If you have experience with the topic, please share. If you have something helpful to add, please share that too!

It is here with the Blog that I am truly hoping to grow our community! As you know, Brenda recently began contributing articles on a weekly basis and she has done a wonderful job of adding an additional viewpoint, as well as some fresh, new ideas. I would love to expand on this and have more of you share your expertise as well! So if you like to write, and would be interested in contributing articles to The Affordable Mouse blog, please let me know! Send me an email at nancy@theaffordablemouse.com and let me know your background and Disney “history”. Professional experience is certainly not required: what is needed however, is a love for Walt Disney World, and an interest in sharing ways to save money on a Disney vacation.  It is also not necessary to contribute weekly either: if you just wish to share an article once or twice a month that would be awesome too! (Please be aware though, that this is, unfortunately, not a paid position: your only pay will be sharing the Disney magic with others. 🙂 )

Lastly, I would really love to know what ideas YOU have for growing our Disney World money-saving community! Message boards/forums? Monthly podcasts or webinars? YouTube videos? Something else? Please let me know your thoughts: Growing our community is one of my goals for 2011, but clearly it can’t be done without you! So send me an email, post on the Facebook page, or comment on a blog post and let me know your ideas for creating a sharing community!

Thanks so much for reading, and thanks so much for making 2010 such an amazing year for The Affordable Mouse! “Meeting” all of you is something that I am truly thankful for…and I can’t wait to see what great things 2011 has in store for all of us!

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

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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It’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow

Well actually next week to be precise! 🙂

I am excited to share that there will be some awesome additions to our blog lineup starting next week, thanks to the help from a special Disney friend who will be joining The Affordable Mouse!

I would like to introduce you to Brenda! 🙂

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. Just like Nancy, she loves helping others to plan their Disney family vacations and hopes that anything she offers here will help people to reach that goal. Her new dream is to one day retire so she and her husband can purchase a motor home and live half the year at home and half at the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds.

Some of you may know Brenda from the articles she also writes for Chip and Co. She is an awesome writer and is *very good* at knowing how to have an affordable Disney vacation. 🙂 Needless to say, I am thrilled to have her join me on The Affordable Mouse.

So starting next week, Brenda will be offering two blog posts most weeks: Tuesdays will be a Disney Tips feature and on Thursdays she will share great Disney World “freebies“.

Coinciding with this change is the addition of a new permanent page to The Affordable Mouse: Disney Savings and Promotions. This page will replace the weekly Disney Savings Round Up that I have been doing every Friday, and will be easily accessible at any time by just clicking it right at the top of the page. 🙂 Having this be a permanent page will also allow me to keep it more updated for you, as promotions frequently arise throughout the week, and I hate to bombard you with emails about them all the time. So instead, I will update that page as needed, always highlighting the latest promotions in RED so you can find them quickly. (I will also update our Facebook page for you as they come up as well, just as a heads up, so you don’t miss out.)

Lastly, I will be moving the Disney Fun From Around the World blog round-up to Fridays, as a great way to end the week.

I am really excited about some of these changes, as they will provide you with more great ideas and ways to save money at Disney World, and also are the beginning of some fun things that I hope to have in place for you by the end of the year. As always, thanks for your support!

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Disney Savings Round-Up for October 1, 2010

Looking for some great deals to help you have an affordable Disney vacation? Keep reading to see how to save some money on your next trip to Walt Disney World:

Disney has a NEW FREE Dining promotion for much of 2011. See below for details!

You can get some great savings from using Restaurant.com at selected Disney property restaurants! Plus, start your Halloween and Holiday shopping with the promotions at Disneystore.com. In addition, be sure to also note the great sales at Hotels.com, and Travelocity for more ways to save money. 

Restaurant.com Promotions

Did you know that you can use Restaurant.com Gift Certificates to save up to 60% off on some meals at Walt Disney World? When you go to the Restaurant.com site and enter “Lake Buena Vista, FL” into the search field, you will find the following Disney property restaurants participating: Todd English’s bluezoo, House of Blues,  Garden Grove,   Kimonos,  Shula’s Steak House , and Il Mulino New York Trattoria.

This week’s promotion: 

You can also use Restaurant.com Gift Certificates for local restaurants or any place you happen to be traveling. We have used the certificates on a number of occasions: it’s easy and it is a great way to save money! This is a great chance to stock up for gifts, and get a few for yourself,  in addition to using some for your Disney vacation.

DisneyStore.com Savings and Promotions

Halloween is a month away! (I know, I can’t believe it either!) If your little ones (or you) plan to be a favorite princess, fairy, pirate…or Mouse, you can save some money: Get $10 off select costumes at Disney Store. Expires 10/5!

To find the right Disney costumes: Dress Up In Dreams – Find Exclusive Disney Costumes in the Halloween Shop

PLUS: Start that Holiday Shopping early while you’re at it. Check out the Disney Store Sale. Save up to 50% on your favorite Disney Items!

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

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

Travelocity Special Promotions:

Be sure to check this out to see if any might be a savings for you: Top Hotel Deals in Orlando

Hotels.com Special Promotions

Fall Sale: Save 30% on Major Hotels This Fall! – Expires 10/11/10

Walt Disney World Savings and Promotions:

  • Book a Disney Vacation Package and Get FREE Dining!  NEW DATES ADDED Through 2011!!: Book a full price 3-night or longer vacation package for stays most nights 10/1/10 – 10/7/10, 10/22/10 – 10/28/10, 11/12/10 – 11/18/10, 11/27/10 -12/2/10, 12/10/10 – 12/21/10, 1/1/11 – 1/5/11, 1/9/11 – 1/13/11, 1/21/11 – 2/3/11, 2/11/11 – 2/17/11, 2/25/11 – 3/3/11, 5/27/11 – 6/2/11 and 8/19/11 – 9/29/11. 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 December 20, 2010. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.

  • Summer/Early Fall Room Discounts: 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”.
  • Fall/Winter Room Discounts: NEW DATES ADDED Through 2011!! Stay October 3, 2010 through November 23, 2010, November 27, 2010 through December 25, 2010, and January 1, 2011  through February 16, 2011. Get a 25%-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 November 21, 2010. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.
  • Get a FREE Disney Gift Card for up to $500 when you book a full price vacation package, including hotel room and theme park tickets. Stay October 3, 2010 through November 23, 2010, November 27, 2010 through December 25, 2010, and January 1, 2011  through February 16, 2011. You must stay at least 5 consecutive hotel nights with at least a 2-day Base Ticket. Value resorts receive a $200 Disney Gift Card. Moderate resorts receive a $300 Disney Gift Card. Deluxe/Deluxe Villa resorts receive a $500 Disney Gift Card. You must book  by November 21, 2010. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.
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