Thursday's Tip

Perhaps it's because of the upcoming ticket price increase (OK, "rumored" ticket price increase), but I seem to be thinking quite a bit about tickets lately--when to buy, where to buy, what type to buy...

So, today's tip is: DO THE MATH when it comes to tickets. As I mentioned, if tradition holds true Disney ticket prices will increase this Sunday, August 2. But did you know that you can purchase tickets for WDW years in advance? Even without the No Expiration feature, tickets only begin to expire 14 days after the first use (not after purchase). That means you can buy tickets today for a trip two years from now! (FYI, this is not the case for Disneyland, and those tickets have a pre-printed expiration date.)

So, what exactly do I mean by "do the math"? First, to figure out your needs, answer questions such as:

• How many days will we visit the parks?


• Do we want to park-hop?


• Will we visit the water parks or DisneyQuest?


• Will we be returning to WDW for another trip in the future?

With Magic Your Way tickets, you can add the Park Hopper or Water Parks & More features even after purchase for a flat fee. You can also add the No Expiration feature after purchase, but this feature gets exponentially higher the more days that are on the ticket (and even if you've used all by one day on the ticket, you'll still pay the full upgrade fee).

So...if you're fairly certain you'll be returning to the World in the next few years, you might consider a multi-day ticket (twice the length of your intended stay for the current trip) with No Expiration added. Ticket prices tend to increase every year, so this is almost always the best deal for return visitors. (And it's always a bonus on your next visit when you already have that expense covered!) But, if you think you'll be returning to WDW within the same calendar year, an Annual Pass might actually be a cheaper ticket for you. Same goes if you're planning to stay more than, say, 10 days. (In addition, there are many "perks" for Annual Passholders.)

You can check out all the WDW ticket options here, and you can find discounts on many of these options here. Be sure to do your research--and the math!--before you purchase tickets.

Centralized FastPass Distribution?

Last week, Disney tested the idea of putting FastPass machines for all attractions within a park at one central location. The test park was Animal Kingdom, the location was near the iconic Tree of Life (more specifically at the FastPass machines formerly used for "It's Tough to Be a Bug," and passes were available for Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Dinosaur.

No word yet on how the testing worked out or if Disney will eventually implement this system. Certainly, there are pros and cons. Guess we'll have to wait and see!

Thursday's Tip

Spent my morning out getting freebies and bargains (so many of those to be had, from groceries to cosmetics to school supplies!), so today's tip is coming a little late in the day. This one might cause some controversy--not everyone will immediately see its benefit--but my family are firm believers in it: buy a clear plastic backpack to take into the park. Why? you ask. First, it makes getting through the security check a breeze! While others are unzipping every pocket or compartment, you are quickly waved through with a glance and a smile. (Seriously, we have had several security guards comment on how much they appreciate our clear backpacks.)

Another great reason is that it makes it easier to find whatever you're searching for. Here's where the controversy comes in: some say it's also easier for thieves to spot desirable items. While this is true, we never carry cash in ours, and the only big ticket items are our cameras--which are heavy enough that I'm pretty sure we'd feel if someone lifted them from the backpack. It's a calculated risk we're willing to take--especially after it rained every day of our last WDW trip. While others were scrounging through their bags for rain ponchos, we simply glanced in, pulled them out, and were covered within 30 seconds!

Finally, the plastic backpack keeps items dry (or at least dryer than a cloth one!) in the rain and on water rides. For extra assurance, we put our cameras in zipper bags before putting them in the backpack.

Trust me on this one: a clear backpack is a worthy pre-vacation purchase that won't disappoint!

Jungle Cruise Featured in Weird Al Video

Just for your Monday morning grins...


Skipper Dan

Thursday's Tip

One thing I've noticed over and over on our trips to Walt Disney World is that there are wonders around every corner! Sometimes we get so caught up in seeing everything that we forget to capture that memory on film (or, as is now the case, digitally). Today's tip is: take pictures! OK, so this is a no-brainer. But, more specifically, take pictures with people in them at those iconic spots around the park.

So often, we get home from a Disney vacation to discover that most of our pictures are of things rather than people. But my favorite pictures are always those of the whole family together at a classic WDW location. Here are a few of my favorite posed picture locations in the Magic Kingdom:

• by the flower beds at the opening gate, with the train station behind you


• in front of Cinderella's Castle (nothing more classic than this)


• next to the "Partners" statue of Walt and Mickey at the castle hub


• on board Dumbo (this one requires some planning)


• at Cinderella's Wishing Well (near the castle)


• on the observation deck at Splash Mountain (preferably as the "splash" occurs)

And here are a few for the rest of the World:

• at Epcot's entrance, with Spaceship Earth in the background


• by the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom


• in front of the Sorcerer's Hat at Disney's Hollywood Studios


• inside the red phone booth at the Great Britain pavilion (Epcot)


• riding Tower of Terror--again, this takes planning! (DHS)


• digging in the Bone Yard (AK)


• by the entrance sign to your family's favorite ride/attraction

These are just a few of our favorites. What are yours?

Keeping Track of the Kids Just Got Easier

I LOVE this idea! We all have them in our cars now, so why not put one on your kid to keep track of him/her at a theme park? I'm talking about a GPS, of course, and now you can rent one for your Walt Disney World vacation. The cost is just $7.50 per day ($6.75 if you rent 2 or more), and they're only active for the days you rent them--meaning you won't be charged for the days in transit.

Here's a staggering statistic for you: 27% of kids under the age of 8 will get separated from their parents at a theme park! If your kid is prone to being that one in four, you'll want to check out Big Leap GPS here.

Update: Since I saw this product YESTERDAY, the price has gone down to $4.00/day! What a deal! Reserve yours today.

New Resort Mugs

A new design of the refillable mugs sold at all Walt Disney World Resorts is now available. Like the most recent version, these mugs are no longer resort-specific and are priced at $12.99, which gets you free refills at any of the resort food courts. Disney seems to change the mug design at least once or twice a year (probably so that we'll all buy new ones each visit!), but I've seen mugs that were several years old--and from the wrong resort!--being filled up at food courts too. Any way you look at it, these mugs are a great deal for a multi-day resort stay.

Rumored Ticket Price Increases

OK, so even though this is a rumor, you can pretty much guarantee that Disney ticket prices will increase every year. The web is abuzz with rumors that the next increase will come on or around August 2--less than three weeks from now. If you're planning an upcoming trip, now would be a great time to pre-purchase those tickets! Here's a tip for free: Magic Your Way tickets expire 14 days from the first time you use them, not 14 days from purchase. Which means you can purchase tickets now (at this year's prices) for a trip next year!

You can always purchase tickets directly from Disney for full price. OR, you can purchase them from a reliable ticket broker for a discount. I recommend are Undercover Tourist. Periodically, these brokers run specials wherein you can purchase multi-day tickets at a considerable discount, such as "Buy a 3-day MYW ticket and get 3 days free" or some similar deal. It pays to check back periodically to see what current deals are in place.

Thursday's Tip

Following in the style of last week's tip, this week I'm sharing a whole grouping of tips on painless ways to save for your Disney vacation. First and foremost, start a designated vacation fund, preferably six months to a year before the big trip. Whether it be a special savings account, a coffee can on top of the refrigerator, or just a section of your checkbook register that you designate, keep this money separate and don't touch it! The amount you'll need to save will depend on the size of your family, the length of your stay, and your ability to snag the best deals! (But I would start with a minimum of $1,500 for a family of four...and I did say "minimum.")

Here are some ways you can "live cheap" and save up some extra cash for your trip:

• Sign up for a Disney Rewards Visa (only if you can responsibly use credit cards and pay off your balance each month, of course). I use reward credit cards for almost all of my everyday purchases--clothing, groceries, gas, etc. I always pay the full bill when it comes in, so I end up making money off the deal. The Disney Visa rewards you with 1% of your purchases in the form of Disney Dream Dollars that can be used at your local Disney store or at Walt Disney World--including your resort stay, food, shopping, tickets and more! In addition, there's usually a reward for signing up (mine was a $40 Disney gift card!), and there are numerous member benefits, including a special character greeting at Epcot with a free 5 x 7 photo.


• Start couponing! This is my new favorite hobby. There are several websites (see my favorites here and here) that pair current grocery and drug store sales with readily available coupons (either printables or those from your local newspaper), so the work is minimal. Since I've started couponing, my savings on each transaction is almost always greater than what I spend. In fact, I'm disappointed if it's not! Most stores list your savings at the bottom of the receipt, so it's easy to calculate what you've saved and put that amount in your vacation account--your reward for being a savvy shopper! Another great bonus of this plan is that I often get items for pennies or even free. When I do, I try to set a few aside for a food pantry or local shelter. Everyone benefits!


• Substitute one meal out per week with a "poor man's dinner." For our young family of four, we spend about $25 or more every time we eat at a table service restaurant. That's $100 or more per month. Instead, get creative with pantry items like rice and beans, and you can drop that price down to less than $5--and have leftovers! Here's a great site for ideas.


• Skip the morning latte. You could pay nearly $5 for the venti "souped-up" version at your local coffee house, or you could have an "unloaded" cup of coffee at home for mere pennies. In a month, you could save as much as $150. (Might I recommend Dunkin' Donuts coffee, which is quite economical and has won taste tests against more expensive brands.)

Those are just a few ideas. Think outside the box and come up with your own!

First-Ever Fatality on WDW's Monorail

Monorail service at Walt Disney World is currently down due to a fatal accident that happened Sunday morning at approximately 2:00 AM near the Ticket & Transportation Center (TTC). Two monorails collided, and the 21-year-old pilot of one of them was killed. The other pilot was not seriously injured, nor were any passengers. You can read the full story here.

Disney spokesman, Mike Griffin, released this brief statement: "Today, we mourn the loss of our fellow cast member. Our hearts go out to his family and to those who have lost a friend and co-worker. The safety of our guests and cast members is always our top priority. The monorail is out of service and we will continue to work closely with law enforcement to determine what happened and the approximate next steps."

Our prayers are with the driver's family, as well as the entire Disney community.

Update: Monorails were back up and running at 2:00 PM on Monday after safety testing.

Hall of Presidents Is Up and Running

Happy Independence Day, America! Walt Disney World is celebrating in style with several special events today in its various parks. (Of course, every day is a celebration at WDW!) Of particular interest this July 4 is the re-opening of The Hall of Presidents. As you may know, HOP closed nearly nine months ago for the installation of our newest president. Soft openings began last week, and the new--and improved?--HOP is now open and fully operational!


The Hall of Presidents is one of my favorite attractions, not just because it is a great nap spot for the toddler set (but it is!), but because it gives guests a rare glimpse at life-like figures of each American president. (Where else can you see what John Tyler or Martin Van Buren probably looked like?)

From all reports, the new version is fairly true to the original, with a few positive updates. First, signage offers a new name, The Hall of Presidents: A Celebration of Liberty's Leaders. There are also additions to the memorabilia in the atrium, including a display of gowns worn by First Ladies and a pair of presidential boots worn by Dubya. The show itself follows the same general format as before (movie opening, followed by introduction of all the presidents in order). One pretty big change: George Washington delivers a little speech and introduces our current president. (Washington had no speaking role in the previous version.)

Now, as to President Obama's animatronic figure, I had heard that this was to be the most sophisticated presidential animatronic thus far. Since he's the most familiar to us all at this point in history, Imagineers knew they had to get facial expressions and gestures just right. Reports from those who have seen the show say that Disney is right on the money with this one! (But I must admit, as someone who has only seen photos, I don't think it looks just like BO. Just my opinion; judge for yourself.)
Still, I'm excited to see the 2.0 version of this classic attraction on my next visit to the World.

Thursday's Tip

Today's tip is about purchasing souvenirs--and it's actually several tips rolled into one. First, the "before you go" tip: you can purchase a variety of Disney-related kiddie toys (and even Disney-themed snacks) at your local dollar store. Dollar Tree has jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, crayons, workbooks, and more with Disney Princess, Winnie-the-Pooh, and other Disney character theming. For my own kids, I usually purchase one little surprise per day of our trip. For around $10, the kids get a whole bundle of fun treats!

For bigger items upon arrival, there are several locations I recommend. The Kissimmee-area Wal-marts have a large selection of reasonably-priced Walt Disney World souvenirs. This is your best best for non-theme-park-but-still-Disney-themed T-shirts, mugs, etc. Another great source for this type of merchandise is the Character Outlet at the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores (15629 S. Apopka-Vineland Rd. in Kissimmee). You'll find a few more unique items here than at Wal-Mart, but not quite the variety or quantity.

But if you want Walt Disney World official theme park merchandise, you must visit Disney's Character Premiere at the Orlando Premium Outlets (8200 Vineland Drive, Kissimmee). This Disney-owned store is where you'll find heavily discounted merchandise that is slightly out of date. For example, I purchased a 2008 WDW T-shirt on our most recent trip for about $3. In its heyday, this shirt would have gone for around $25 in the parks. Character Premiere is also a bargain haven for pin traders. (I purchased a TinkerBell Fairies pin for my daughter for around $4, simply because it had the 2008 release date of the movie printed on it. Original retail was likely $15-20.)



Of course, even a cheap-o like me will shell out full price for the perfect iconic souvenir. Mickey ears are still available for purchase only on Disney property or through http://www.disneystore.com/.