Coupon for Beauty & the Beast Now Available

If you own a previous version of Beauty & the Beast and are a member of Disney Movie Rewards, you can now access a coupon for $10 off the Diamond Edition DVD/Blu-ray Combo Pack that releases October 5! Just log into your DMR account and enter the full UPC code from your current edition in the space where you would usually enter codes. This will bring up a banner that you can click to print your coupon.

Some of the features of this new Diamond Edition are:

• Digital restoration with enhanced High-Def picture and sound


• Enchanted Musical Challenge game


• Bonjour, Who Is This? game


• Making of Beauty and the Beast


• A new Beauty and the Beastmusic video featuring Jordin Sparks

This will make a great holiday gift for kiddos--or nostalgic adults!

Packing...

I'm finally packing in earnest this week, and I can honestly say that the process gets easier with each trip. Case in point: before previous trips I might have panicked if I found myself with less than a week to do the actual "nuts-n-bolts" packing for a Disney vacation. But because I have done this so many times, and because I use a very detailed packing list, and finally because I keep some essential (and Disney-specific) items tucked away in our "Disney tub" between trips, the process is less daunting than it could be. Don't get me wrong--we take a LOT of stuff and it's still a lot of work. But I guess I'm a pro at it by now.

This week, instead of my usual "Thursday's Tip," I'll be sharing a special "How I Pack" segment. I hope you'll find it helpful. Then, after a final "Friday Photo" as we leave town, I'll bid you adieu for a week. IF (and that's a capital IF) I happen to squeeze in some time with free wifi (perhaps at the McDonald's near the All-Star resorts!), I'll try to drop by and report how the trip is going. And again, IF I find time between now and Friday, I'll try to have a couple of posts scheduled through next week, so I don't loose all my readers while I'm away for a week. But if the stars don't align and this doesn't happen, I promise to make up for it with loads of trip report posts when I return!

Tangled Merchandise

Look what we found at Target this past weekend:





We also saw a Rapunzel doll in our local Kroger store! Though the movie won't be out until November 24, Tangled is making its mark on stores already. My girls were thrilled to see a new princess adorning the shelves of their favorite toy section. My oldest, especially, was entranced by this Rapunzel wig:



She's planning to save the dimes she gets for feeding and taking out the puppy! (At $19.99, she'll be saving for a while.) I hope to report back next week with some Disney Parks exclusive merchandise!

Trails End Alters Lunch Menu

Trail's End, the Ft. Wilderness eatery best known for its down-home buffet, will be switching it up for lunch, beginning today. Instead of its traditional buffet, they'll be offering a lunch menu that includes many of their popular items: grilled pork chops, fried chicken and waffles, chili, and sauteed catfish. Wilderness S'mores and warm sticky buns are among the dessert offerings.

It is uncertain if this is a temporary change. But if you're a fan of all-you-care-to eat, you'll be glad to hear that breakfast and dinner will remain buffet meals.

Characters Getting a Hollywood Makeover

Minnie has gone Hollywood...and she's not alone. Six characters will be getting an old-Hollywood-glamour makeover for their meet-n-greets near the  Hat in Disney's Hollywood Studios. Minnie and her BFF Daisy will be draped in beautiful evening gowns, while Donald sports a fedora. Goofy is rumored to be donned in a tuxedo, while even Chip and Dale will join the evening wear revolution by wearing ties.

Tarps have already gone up to "gussy up" the meet-n-greet area around the giant hat, with a new film-themed backdrop. No word yet on when this Old Hollywood transition will be complete.

Friday Photo

As promised, here is a pic of my daughter in her new Disney Princess eyeglasses. The frame style is "Belle"--fitting for a girl who recently made her theatrical debut in Beauty and the Beast! All of the Disney Princess frames were really cute, but we thought these really fit both her face and her personality. So far she's enjoying her new look and seeing details that she hasn't been able to see in quite some time!

Thursday's Tip

Our trip is just over a week away, and I'm frantically packing and planning! One thing we're going to make a point to do is head over the Disney's Hollywood Studios before Star Tours closes for refurbishment on September 8.



Thinking about this reminded me of a great tip for little ones: if your child isn't quite tall enough to ride Star Tours, ask the Cast Member at the entrance to the line if you can do a "Flight Check" instead. (If the parks are especially busy, know that this may not be an option.) A Flight Check is essentially the Star Tours ride without the motion. No, it isn't quite as exciting, but at least your little one will get to ride instead of being entirely left out. This is also a great option if someone in your party gets motion sickness, as the simulator-style rides are particularly harsh in that respect.

We'll be taking our "Last Tour to Endor" in just over a week!

Chef Mickey's Adding Lunch

To combat the throngs of guests taking advantage of Free Fall Dining, Chef Mickey's has added a lunch buffet that is currently available through August 28 and then again September 19-30. Traditionally of the World's most popular character breakfasts, Chef Mickey's lunch buffet is open from 12:30-2:30 on the aforementioned dates, and prices are $28.75 for adults and $15.97 for children. The menu is basically the same as the normal dinner menu: soup & salad bar, carving station, an array of pastas and vegetables...your basic Disney buffet.

Though the character breakfast is one of our favorites, we've never had lunch or dinner here. But the character interaction is great (the Fab 5 are almost always included), and this restaurant is much roomier and feels a bit more relaxed than, say, the princess meals at Cinderella's Royal Table or Akershus in Norway. Definitely a great choice for families with small children!

Accolades for Disney

It's no surprise that Disney Parks, Resorts, and products (especially those involving technology and "thinking outside the box") continue to garner awards. Here are a few recent honors:

• Fodor's Travel has announced its 2010 Choice Gold Awards. The Grand Floridian was among the top 10 resorts honored as Best Destinations Wedding Hotel. For the category of Best Hotels for Kids and Families, the All-Star Movies, All-Star Music, and All-Star Sports Resorts were honored.


• Walt Disney World (with a nod to its Ft. Wilderness Campground) has been recognized yet again by the Good Sam Club as the most RV-friendly Tourist Attraction/Amusement Park/Museum. Since its introduction in 2002, Walt Disney World has been a perennial winner of the Welcome Mat Award, which recognizes businesses that offer top service to RV enthusiasts.


• Disney's new handheld device for guests with disabilities (mentioned in this post) was presented with the New Product Award by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the engineering profession and society.

Thursday's Tip

Heaven forbid you should ever get sick on a Disney World vacation. But if it should ever happen, here's a tip: create a "where to find it" page with locations of nearby clinics, pharmacies, or even a discount store where you can find a large selection of over the counter items. This will get you started:

Walk-In Clinic: Walgreens Take Care Clinic @12100 S Apopka Vineland Rd., Orlando, 32836

Pharmacy: see Walgreens above or the one at 5935 W. Irlo Bronson Hwy., Kissimmee, 34746; OR, to have a prescription or basic pharmacy items delivered to your resort, contact Turner Drug @ 407-828-8125 (they charge a nominal delivery fee and do not accept insurance, but some insurance companies will reimburse with receipt)

One-stop shopping: Wal-Mart Supercenter @ 4444 West Vine St., Kissimmee, 34741

On my "where to find it" page, I also have listings for souvenir shops, outlet malls, favorite restaurants, etc. I'd much rather have this info at hand and never need to use it than to be frantically searching for it when a need arises. Preparedness makes for a much more relaxing vacation!

More Dooney & Bourke Bags Now Available

There are new additions to the Disney Parks-exclusive Dooney & Bourke handbag line.From the Disney Sketch Collection, there's are new cross-body bags and wristlets with Disney Park theming (both Disneyland and Walt Disney World are featured in the pattern). Here are the new ones:





Very cute! I could see my daughters being all over the wristlets. But I'm still happy with my Faces of Mickey pouchette...can't wait for it to arrive!

Disney Princess Kids' Glasses

My oldest daughter is getting glasses. My husband and I have both had Lasik surgery, and he started wearing glasses at about her age, so it was no big surprise to us when she failed her eye chart exam at the pediatrician. Today, we visited the optometrist and ordered these adorable Disney Princess glasses for her.



The frames are named after the various Disney Princesses, and this particular style is Belle--particularly fitting, since she just finished doing the musical Beauty and the Beast. She is thrilled and has asked me about a hundred times today when she will get them. Hoping to have them by the end of the week.

WDW Discounts Through September 2011

Yes, you read that correctly--September of next year! The first big news is that Free Dining will be available through September 2011. Of course, there are block-out dates galore, but, still, this is unprecedented. Unprecedented, I say! Here are the details:

• Valid for stays select nights October 1, 2010 through September 29, 2011.


• You must book a 4-night/5-day stay including tickets at a Walt Disney World Resort.


• At Value Resorts, you will get the Quick Service Dining Plan; Moderate and Deluxe Resorts will offer the Basic Dining Plan.


• Blocked dates: Oct. 8-21, 2010; Oct. 29-Nov. 11; Nov. 19-26; Dec. 3-9; Dec. 22-31; Jan. 6-8, 2011; Jan. 14-20; Feb. 4-10; Feb. 18-24; March 4-May 26;  and June 3-August 18.

In addition, there is a free gift card discount available through February 2011. Here are details:

• Valid most dates October 3, 2010 through February 16, 2011.


• You must book a 5-night/5-day stay including tickets at a WDW Resort.


• Gift cards will be in the following amounts: $200 for a Value Resort stay; $300 for a Moderate Resort stay; and $500 for a Deluxe Resort or Villa stay.


• Blocked dates: November 24-26, 2010 and December 26-31, 2010.

Finally, there is a room-only discount for fall/winter. Details:

• Valid most dates October 3, 2010 through February 16, 2011.


• Discounts are as follows: 25% off stays at Value Resorts; 30% off stays at Moderate Resorts; 40% off stays at Deluxe Resorts and Villas.


• Blocked dates: November 24-26, 2010 and December 26-31, 2010.

As usual, none of these discounts can be combined. Your best bet is to take your own family's needs and the dates of your trip into account, then simply "do the math" to figure out which discount is best for you. If you'd like help sorting through this information, Affording the Mouse is available for vacation consulting. Email me for more info: affordingthemouse (at) att (dot) net.

Happy Birthday to Me...a Little Early

OK, so my birthday isn't for another month or so, but I just bought myself something that I have been wanting for a while now...a Dooney & Bourke purse. But not just any D&B--this one has Mickey's face all over it. It's part of the Disney Parks merchandise line that you can now purchase at DisneyStore.com! And, of course, I used the free shipping code for purchases over $50 (SHIPFIFTY) and a $25 gift card I earned from SwagBucks (if you're not familiar with SB, see my widgit at the right to join...I earn gift cards and all sorts of goodies just for using it for web searches!), making it just around $40 shipped (with tax). I can't wait to get it--it will ship in about a week! What do you think?

Friday Photo

Let us say goodbye to the lovely glass and porcelain shop--or rather, the Glas und Porzellan shop--in the Germany pavillion of Epcot. The shop closed last month to make way for a new candy shop, Karamelle-Kuche, set to open in late September. The new shop will sell delicious items such as caramel apples, caramel covered strawberries, and caramel corn. Though the Glas und Porzellan store was lovely, I'm OK with the change. Mmmm...caramel!

Thursday's Tip

I'm finally (FINALLY!) beginning to pull together a touring outline for our trip in a few weeks. I'm notorious for planning early, but this year with drama camps and birthdays and starting our homeschooling adventure, I haven't had time to do much. But getting in touring mode has led me to a simple tip that can save you a LOT of time in the parks: Always have a FastPass in hand. Always.

It's not even hugely important as to what attractions said FP is for (although I use a complex matrix to decide for our trip...OK, that may be an exaggeration). Hold on to the FP until it's convenient for you to use it, but as soon as the time window on it arrives,  get another FP. You can have a whole fist full of FP's, as long as their time windows don't overlap. The point is, for every FP you use, that's time you're saving in line! 

Here's my strategy: As soon as you arrive at the park of choice, go immediately to a FP machine and get one. The one you choose depends on the park, which attractions your family can't miss, and which attractions are most popular. If you're in the Magic Kingdom, for example, I'd recommend one of the mountains. If you pick up a FP first thing in the morning, your time window for returning is going to be pretty early. That's great, because you can get another FP as soon as that window arrives, meaning you'll get more FP's per day, which means you'll spend less time overall waiting in line!

Guests need not return to the FP attraction at the time stated on the FP. In fact, you can go anytime after the window opens. So, your touring doesn't have to hop, skip, and jump all over the parks in order to use up your FP's. But if you always have one in hand, you'll always have a backup plan if your favorite attractions get really backed up!

And don't forget to give away any unused FastPasses if you're leaving a park early! (Pay it forward, people!) There are so many more specific, intricate FP tips I could offer, but that would take pages. To put it simply, if the question is To FastPass or not to FastPass? the answer is always YES!!!

Harmony Barber Shop Now Accepting Appointments

If you're a long-time reader, you've probably read mention of one of my favorite "hidden gems" in the Magic Kingdom, the Harmony Barber Shop. Honestly, until I learned about it and was looking for it, I didn't know it existed either! In this real working barber shop, you can get anything from a baby's first haircut (complete with first Mickey ear hat) or a wacky colored gel and confetti 'do! Regular haircuts start at $20 for adults and just $14 for kids--a real bargain by Disney standards.



Until now, interested guests had to take their chances by waiting in line at opening. With only 3 chairs, and hours of 9-6 daily, the shop only serves about 400 guests per week...so you might find yourself waiting a while. No more! Now, guests can call 407-WDW-PLAY and make an appointment at the Harmony Barber Shop. Or, if you're already on-site, any cast member with access to Disney's A LA CARTE system (found at resort desks, guest relations, and other areas throughout the property) can help you make a reservation.

Hmmm...I wonder if the HBS could do something with my mop? Might just be worth a try!

2011 Disney Dining Plan Prices Released

Disney has released pricing for its 2011 Dining Plans. You can add the "Wine & Dine" feature to any of the plans below for an additional $39.99 per day. I've added hyperlinks to Disney's detailed explanation of each of their plans.

Plan	adult (per day)	child (per day)
Quick Service Dining Plan	$34.99	$11.99
Dining Plan	$45.99/$47.99	$11.99/$12.99
Deluxe Dining Plan	$78.99	$21.99
Premium Dining Plan	$169.00	$119.00
Platinum Dining Plan	$229.00	$160.00

[Note: price variance is due to seasonal pricing.]

Vero Beach and Hilton Head Discount for Disney Visa Members

If you're  a Disney Rewards Visa cardholder, you probably already know about the latest discount available exclusively to you. If you're not a cardmember, you should be! With your Disney Rewards Visa, you earn 1% on all purchases in the form of Disney Dream Dollars. These DDD can be spent at all the Disney Parks, as well as the Disney Store and other related locations. On our last trip, I used my DDD for food in the parks. This time, I've accumulated around $150 since our last trip in October. But I digress...back to the discount!

Cardmembers can save 35% on a stay at either Disney's Vero Beach Resort or Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort, for most nights Aug. 23 through Nov. 24, 2010. For specifics and to book, click here.

[Not a Disney Visa member? Drop me an email at affordingthemouse (at) att (dot) net for your personal referral code.]

PeopleMover Is Back!

Some of us will always remember it as the WEDway PeopleMover (named after WED Enterprises, what Imagineering was once called). Most recently, we've been calling it the TTA, short for Tomorrowland Transit Authority. But now it seems Disney is giving in to our nostalgia and creating a hybrid name: the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover. While I'm loving the fact that they're bringing back the "PeopleMover" title (because, honestly, I never really stopped calling it that in my own mind, anyhow), the excruciatingly long name begs the question, What will people really call the attraction?If I had to venture a guess, I'd say it will simply be called the PeopleMover. That's what I'm going with, anyhow. No matter what you call it, it's still a relaxing way to cool off and see most of Tomorrowland in the process--a must-do attraction for my gang!

Friday Photo

I'm feeling a little nostalgic today. Here's a pic of my youngest daughter's first trip to WDW. This was taken near Playhouse Disney Live on Stage! at the Studios. I kinda miss the days of JoJo's Circus in our house. We've moved on to Good Luck, Charlie and Sonny with a Chancemostly. But I really loved JoJo and her giggly personality. So much that I actually bought a JoJo costume for my daughters. (The oldest, below, wore it for Circus Day at preschool, and my youngest wore it for Halloween the next year.) So, today you get a bonus photo:



Is that cute, or what? JoJo, I sure do miss you!

Thursday's Tip

Do I have any readers who are scrapbookers? Surely, I must! And if you're like me, you probably often stroll through Michael's or JoAnn's or your local scrapbooking store in search of the latest and greatest Disney-themed materials for your next book. I shudder to think about how much I've spent on stickers, stamps, punches...but I almost ALWAYS buy on sale and/or use a coupon! (Still gotta be frugal!) But I digress...



Today's tip: save your receipts, unused FastPasses, tickets, Key to the World, or even promotional materials that you get at WDW for your scrapbooks! One easy way to do this is to empty your pockets, purse, or backpack at the end of each touring day and see what might be appropriate to use in a scrapbook.  I put these items in a zipper bag (gallon size) for safe keeping until I get home. I've used pieces from park maps, promotional materials, and even pressed pennies in my scrapbooks. Used tickets and my Key to the World almost always make the cut. These items are a nice addition to your photos, stickers, and embellishments, and it's always great to repurpose items you were going to toss anyhow!

New Ticket Prices Effective Thursday

Here's the breakdown of the new ticket prices that are effective tomorrow, August 5. Prices do not include tax.

	Base Ticket	Base Ticket		Park Hopper or Water Parks			No Expiration
	Ages 10+	Ages 3-9		$54
1 Day	$82	$74		$54			NA
2 Day	$162	$146		$54			$22
3 Day	$224	$202		$54			$28
4 Day	$232	$209		$54			$67
5 Day	$237	$214		$54			$95
6 Day	$242	$219		$54			$106
7 Day	$247	$224		$54			$142
8 Day	$252	$229		$54			$182
9 Day	$257	$234		$54			$209
10 Day	$262	$239		$54			$213

Ticket Prices To Increase Thursday

OK, so I know I told you here that a ticket price increase was expected for last Sunday, but Disney has thrown everyone for a loop and postponed the increase until Thursday. (Hey, what can I say? The precedent of several years was enough to convince this Disneyphile!) But, this time I really, REALLY mean it--get your tickets today!!!

Your tickets don't begin the expiration countdown of 14 days until first use...which means that you can buy tickets TODAY for a trip next spring. And if you're buying non-expiring tickets, then of course it stands to reason that buying them now is a great idea. Prices are expected to go up $3-$22, depending on the length of the ticket. Park Hopper and Water Parks & More options will increase nominally from $52 to $54.

Annual pass prices are also increasing on Thursday, so consider purchasing those if you expect to visit WDW more than, say, 10 days in the coming year.

Tangled Comes to Disney Parks; Belle Says Goodbye

If you're a fan of Storytime with Belle, the interactive story time that takes place in the Fairytale Garden next to Cinderella's Castle, you'll want to visit the Magic Kingdom before September 12, when this fun little show will be going away. Taking its place, beginning October 15, is a "play and greet" experience with Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, the stars of the upcoming animated film Tangled.

Also getting in on the Tangled action is the Magic of Disney Animation Tour at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Most of the windows that previously held Toy Story 3paraphernalia have now been dressed with Tangled goods. Sketches, story boards, character outlines, and more are there for your viewing pleasure. I look forward to checking out this new exhibit on our visit next month.