Thursday's Tip

Today's Thursday's Tip is of the "know before you go" variety: check park hours, ride height requirements, and entertainment schedule before you go to WDW. Most guests have got the first one down, but if you aren't one of those planners, you might find yourself stuck in the Magic Kingdom on a day that it closes early for a special event. And you definitely need to get a full day of fun in, right?

Height requirements are especially important if you have a little one who is adventurous. Don't want Junior to get all excited about Space Mountain, only to discover that he's still 1/2 inch shy of being able to ride. Sad. :(

That last one is probably the one most people forget. Did you know that not all parades, fireworks, and other entertainment happen every single day in the Parks? In fact, until recently, Fantasmic! was on a very limited schedule or two or three shows a week (thankfully, it's back to a daily schedule now!). And when there are special events, such as Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, the Magic Kingdom often has no evening parade or Wishes fireworks presentation. By checking the entertainment schedule, you can plan which days to spend in which Park, allowing you to make the most of your time at Walt Disney World.

Upon arrival at WYou can get a copy of the Times Guide for each of the Parks at the front desk of your Disney resort. This should have the most up-to-date information

John of the Jungle Contest

I think this contest is tons of fun! Did you know that Pixar chief John Lasseter got his start with Disney as a Jungle Cruise skipper at Disneyland? It's true! And if you're a lucky Park guest who just happened to be in the Land in 1977 or 1978, and if you were fortunate enough to have John as your skipper on the Jungle Cruise, AND if you had the forethought (or just the touristy tendency) to take a photo of Skipper John...well, you just might win a trip to Disneyland for the Grand Opening of Cars Land, as well as a private cruise with Skipper John as he reprises his former role. How fun is that?!?

Watch this video for more details.

Fall Dining Date Changes

In this post, I told you about a limited free fall dining promotion. It would seem that Disney has shifted the eligible dates just a bit, and I wanted to share the new dates with you. Here are the new dates, along with the previously published dates:

• October 1--6, 2011 (was October 2--8)


• October 22--November 3 (was October 23--November 5)


• November 12--17 (was November 13--18)


• November 26--December 1 (was November 27--December 3)


• December 10--15 (was December 11--17)


• January 8--12 (was January 8--14)


• January 21--February 2 (was January 22--February 4)


• February 11--16 (was February 12--18)


• March 3--8 (was March 4--10)


• March 24--29 (was March 25--31)

All the same rules and minimum stays/ticket purchases apply.

DMR "Purchase"

You may remember that I was able to get a free High School Musical bike for my daughter's birthday in July by redeeming my Disney Movie Rewards points. If you're not a member of Disney Movie Rewards, you really should be. You get free stuff just for going to see Disney movies and/or purchasing them on DVD or Blu-ray. And you're doing that already, right? Why not be rewarded for it!

Last week, I cashed in another 1750 points to purchase Season 1 and Season 2 of the Kim Possible series on DVD.



My oldest daughter, Reagan, became interested in Kim Possible when we did the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure at Epcot. But, of course, the show is no longer running on Disney Channel. Reagan has been watching clips of the shows on Disney's website, and she just can't seem to get enough of it. So, I thought this would be a great little surprise for her to watch on the drive to Disney World in a few weeks.

Speaking of our trip, the official countdown is exactly 19 days until we arrive at Walt Disney World (18 until we start our trip). We can't wait!

Beverage Price Increase--Ouch!

Here's yet another reason to carry your own beverages into Walt Disney World: prices for soft drinks (sodas...pop...cokes...whatever you happen to call them in your region of the country) at many of the restaurants throughout the Parks have just gone up from $2.19 and $2.49 to $2.59 and $2.89 each! (That's a 40 cent price increase, for those of you who are math-challenged.) There doesn't appear to be an increase yet on bottled water, milk, coffee, or juice at this point, but I wouldn't be surprised to see that soon.

Friday Photo

We're heading to Indiana today to visit Grandma & Grandpa (my parents). This photo, featuring Grandpa, is from Presley's first visit to WDW.

Thursday's Tip

I'm not a big hat wearer--at least not when I'm touring the Disney Parks. To me, it's just one more thing to keep up with--am I right, moms? Still, after an afternoon rain shower at WDW (which is an almost-daily occurance in Central Florida), it's nice to have something to cover my bad hair. (I also find that hats help keep those cheap plastic rain ponchos in place on your head!)

But how do you keep up with your hat while you ride Thunder Mountain Railroad? Thursday's Tip: bring a carabiner. It's a funny word, right? But these little multi-purpose clips are great for keeping up with anything from your cap to a set of keys. They come in a variety of shapes/sizes, and they often have extra features such as a compass or flashlight attached (as in the picture below). I try to take along a few extras to clip miscellaneous items to either my belt loop or purse--or even the stroller, when we were still taking one into the Parks.  (My kids even use them to keep up with their ever-growing Silly Bandz collection!) Here are a few of our favorite caribiners in action:

Disney Fund Update

As I have mentioned, we are a homeschooling family. Yesterday, as part of math class, we counted our current Disney fund. Yes, even the five-year-old did her share--she sorted the coins (sorting is an important kindergarten skill!) and counted the loose pennies (all 36 of them!). She also counted the rolls of coins, although her third-grade sister had to do the multiplication (six rolls worth two dollars each = $12, etc.). So, here's the breakdown of what we've saved so far, along with the grand total:

• $79.91 in loose change


• $55 in Disney gift cards


• $130 in gas cards


• $45 in food/restaurant gift cards (for the trip there and back)


• $50 American Express gift card (can be used almost anywhere)


• $17.48 from recent product rebates


• $176 Disney Visa Rewards Dollars

Grand Total: $544.39 saved!

And we only started saving in earnest this month, although we had been collecting loose change for quite some time, and the Disney Rewards Dollars were accruing since our last trip to WDW in September 2010. Still, I'm impressed with how quickly it's adding up (almost $200 since the beginning of August).

As I've said before, we're not trying to save the entire cost of our trip (that would be nearly impossible, considering how late we started). We're just trying to avoid the jolt of a huge credit card bill when we return home from vacation. Our goal was to get over $500, which we've already surpassed. I think we'll shoot for $650 now, given our success thus far. With tickets already purchased, and deposits on our resort stay, our actual out of pocket at the time of our trip will be considerably less shocking that it would otherwise.

How about you? How are you doing on your Disney Vacation savings?

D23 Videos

I intentionally didn't post much about the D23 Expo that happened over the weekend--mainly because I am not a D23 member. And since the membership fee is a little pricey (and it's hard for us "regular" folks to adjust our travel schedule around their dates of their Expo), I feel that focusing on helping people get to Disney World at an affordable price is better use of my energies. Still, I'd be lying if I didn't tell you I was reading the fan sites and paying attention for any big announcements that had to do with the actual Disney Parks.

Sadly, there weren't any great revelations in that department. But I did see these two brief videos that I thought were worth sharing. (There are a lot more lengthy videos out there, if you care to see them. Just do a quick search on "D23 Expo" and you'll find tons of updates.) The first is a quick trip around the new Fantasyland model that was on display at D23.  The other is a virtual ride on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Both videos are very short, but offer a teaser about what's coming soon to the Disney Parks.

Designer Princesses

Have you seen the new Designer Collection of Disney Princess dolls (or "fashionista princesses," as my girls call them) and accessories? These are more of the collector variety--not so much the kind you want to give to your four-year-old to play with every day. I'm rather taken with them myself, and I simply adore the precious little designer clutch (at only $19.50, it's a real bargain in Disney terms).



You can view the entire collection--with more to come soon--here.

Halloween Shop Now Open: Free Shipping

The Disney Store Halloween Shop is officially open, and you can get free shipping on your entire order when you purchase an item from the Halloween collection. Use promo code TREAT at checkout to get the discount.



I'm in love with the new deluxe Rapunzel costume, but I'm not quite ready to shell out $149.50 for it. Besides, my girls would just fight over who got to wear it. What's your favorite Disney costume?

Friday Photo

My daughter found this Hidden Mickey under our piano (long story...she was reading upside down nearby). The Mickey is actually upside down, but I've turned the picture so that you can see it more clearly.

Thursday's Tip

Coffee lovers have long lamented the lack of good coffee throughout Walt Disney World. Sadly, Nescafe reigns supreme at most WDW eateries. (A few exceptions with "real" coffee: most of the coffee carts in the Parks; most of the kiosks in Epcot; The Writer's Stop and Starring Rolls Cafe--Studios; Crystal Palace--MK; Tusker House--AK; Boma and Jiko--AK Lodge; Coffee Bar and The Wave--Contemporary; Maya Grill and Pepper Market--Coronado Springs; several spots in the Grand Floridian; Artist Point and Trail's End--Ft. Wilderness; and my personal favorite, the Kona Cafe and Kona Coffee Bar at the Polynesian.) When in doubt, ask before ordering!

But if you're staying at one of the resorts that don't serve fresh brewed coffee, what are you to do to get your morning started? I've known some folks who took their own coffee pot and favorite coffee with them. (Moderate and Deluxe Resorts do have an in-room coffee pot, but Values are sadly lacking.) But now, thanks to the coffee shop on every corner, you have another option, which translates into our Thursday's Tip: pack some Starbucks Via.



Yes, it's still instant coffee. But when compared to the Nescafe served around the World, there really is no comparison. The Via are quite good, and they come in a variety of brews. Coupons for Starbucks Via are readily available also. They come in several sizes (packaged in individual servings), and I usually get them at a cost of around $.50 to $.75 per cup. Any restaurant in WDWwill give you a cup of hot water free. A cup of terrible Nescafe is going to set you back around $2 and up, so you're saving money AND getting better coffee--win/win!

Disney Joke of the Day

I just read this one on Facebook, and while I'm not one to typically forward and share things, this one has a Disney connection and made me laugh out loud. So...here goes:

Mahatma Gandhi, as you might know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail, and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him...wait for it...

 

a super-calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.

 

Art of Animation Suites: First Look

Hop on over to the official Disney Parks Blog to see photos of the new Art of Animation Resort family suites. Three words: A. Maz. Ing.  My girls are crazy for the Finding Nemo rooms! Which are your favorite?

The Art of Animation Resort is now taking reservations for the suites for stays beginning June 2012. The standard family rooms will be available in late 2012.

Make Reservations for Food & Wine Events Now

Disney is now accepting reservations for special events (seminars, talks, tastings, etc.) for Epcot's 2011 International Food & Wine Festival. Some of these events include the First Bites Opening Reception, Sweet Sundays, The Discovery of Chocolate (my first choice!), and Mixology Seminars. The festival runs from September 30 through November 13. You can make your special event reservations by calling 407-WDW-FEST.

Hidden Mickey

This morning at Zumba, a woman in front of me was sweating in a Mickey pattern! No kidding--there was a perfect Hidden Mickey on her lower back at the end of the workout. I would have taken a picture, but...well, I thought she might find that in poor taste. (And you probably don't want to see that either, do you?)

Friday Photo

In about 5 weeks, we'll be there! Just. Can't. Wait!

Halloween "Sneak Peek"

Have you seen the sneak peek of the new Disney Store Halloween collection? Is it embarrassing for me to admit that I want this? I'm guessing it doesn't come in my size. Check out the other great costumes and accessories here!

Thursday's Tip

I'm a big proponent of saving money by taking food and drinks into the Disney Parks. Topping our list of items that we typically take into the Parks is bottled water. We usually buy a case (on sale, of course!) at home and take it along with us. Each morning we pack at least one bottle per person. We tend to drive to the Parks and often keep a cooler in our car to refresh our water stash midday. (These are all bonus tips--enjoy!)

But this year, we're doing something different. Thursday's Tip: take a filtered water bottle to WDW. I had read many reviews from Disney devotees who are hooked on water bottles with built-in filters, but until recently, I hadn't seen these in stores (and they were a little pricey online, especially when you factored in the shipping costs). But lately, I've been seeing several varieties of bottles with filters in stores, so we decided to try the "Brita Bottle on the Go."



This retails for around $10 (but you can find them for $7 or less with coupons), and the filter lasts for about 2 months. My husband has been trying this out at work for the last few weeks--we have excessive algae in our water this time of year in Tennessee, and his office doesn't have a filtering system. His assessment is that the filter works quite well, but he is a bit concerned with the possibility of leakage around the rim. Hoping that isn't an issue, but we tend to keep everything in ziplock bags anyhow.

Our plan is to take 2 Brita bottles and share them. (We may pack a few small plastic cups for the girls, since they aren't crazy about squeeze bottles. They should fit over the top of the bottles for compact packing in our bag.) This should also cut down on the weight we carry into the Parks! I'm kinda psyched about having a little extra space in our car too (minus the case of water we usually bring). More space for shoes--yay!

The Numbers Are In--But What Do They Mean?

"The Daily Disney" section of the Orlando Sentinel has an article regarding Disney's earnings this quarter. Trying to decipher the numbers is a bit like reading Portugese to me, but I'm always interested in what experts have to say about the numbers--and what they likely mean for the consumer.

Disney has been making a gradual shift from the deep discounting of the last few years, but I'm happy to read that Robert Iger is keeping the deep discount door open, should our economy weaken. "We'll take a look at holiday bookings as the year progresses. It's way too early to predict, … [but] my gut, based on the trends we've seen this past year, is it's not something that we'll necessarily have to do quickly." After the rollercoaster the stock market has taken this past week, it would seem that just about anything can happen.

To read the full article, click here.

Grand Floridian Spa Temporarily Closing

The official word from Disney is that the Grand Floridian Spa will be closing on September 19 for 18 months due to a "planned renovation." Most Disney watchers are attributing the closure to the impending construction not-yet-officially-announced DVC Grand Floridian Villas.

On a personal note, the closure comes while we're at WDW--and staying at the Grand Floridian! No, I didn't have real plans to go to the spa...but, hey, it's my 40th birthday...ya never know. True spa lovers need not fear: there are two other spas on property--one at Saratoga Springs and another at the Swan/Dolphin Resorts.

Grand Gatherings No More

Walt Disney World will cease to offer "Grand Gathering" experiences beginning January 28, 2012. These unique dining and entertainment events designed especially for parties of 8 or more include the Good Morning Gathering, Safari Celebration Dinner, International Dinner, and the IllumiNations Dessert Party.

Anybody out there ever done a "Grand Gathering" event? Will you miss these experiences?

New Phineas & Ferb Movie Premieres Tonight

My girls have been anticipating this night for weeks! (Yes, thank you, Disney Channel, for promoting new shows MONTHS in advance so that my kids can ask me every day, "When is ___________ coming on?") Now, the time has finally come for the premiere of Phineas & Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension, the original Disney Channel movie. It airs tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central (obviously, on the Disney Channel). We'll be watching with our popcorn on our laps, I'm sure.

But don't worry if you have big Friday night plans--Disney has a history of airing these things until you're quite sick of them! (Did I say that?) Seriously, there should be several other opportunities to catch the boys in action. Happy weekend, everyone!

Friday Photo

It's coming down. Well, actually, most of it is already down. Disney is in the process of turning this former Skyway Station (and most recently a stroller parking area) into new bathrooms for Fantasyland. These will replace the rather small bathrooms near Peter Pan, and the walkway will be extended there as well. While to tower to the right still remains, the structure you see in the back of this photo is now gone. This is what the Skyway Station looked like in October of 2010.

Thursday's Tip

We've never been big on budgets around our house--at least not in the formal sense. We do track our spending and keep a tight rein on what's coming in and going out financially. We don't have any debt except for the mortgage on our home, and we intend to keep it that way. And so, when vacation time rolls around, we typically pay for it as it comes.

But this year, we decided to do something a little different. For one thing, we were presented with the possibility that there might be more than one Disney vacation in our near future--nothing definite, but a possibility. So we started thinking about where we might get the extra money. Unwilling to delve into our savings, we decided to begin a designated Disney fund. To make it more fun, I decorated a glass vase for our savings. Here's what it looks like:





What is going into our fund? For starters, loose change. You can see that we've already rolled a LOT of coins, all found loose in the bottom of my husband's nightstand. (He hasn't been saving them, per se; he just hates carrying around coins.) We also add any gift cards we receive--American Express, gas cards, or Disney gift cards. Just before our trip, I'll also gather up any unused restaurant gift cards that I've earned through survey companies, and we'll use those to help pay for food as we travel. And although these don't fit into our vase, we are also accruing dollars from our Disney Rewards Visa, and those will be added to the final fund. (We typically use the Disney Rewards gift card to pay for our food inside the Parks--less keeping up with cash and/or credit card receipts.)

We have about 6 weeks left to save. I know we won't save the full cost of the trip by then, but even if we only have to pay half of it from our bank account (we've already paid for tickets and a portion of our resort stay), that will be great! (And that will put us that much closer to saving for our next trip--whenever it will be.) I'm hoping to share with my readers our full cost for this trip, along with the money we saved. Remember, this is my 40th birthday trip, so we're splurging a little. This won't be my signature "Disney on the Cheap" trip, but I think you'll still see how frugal I can be--even when I'm treating myself!

BTW, here's what we have in our vase so far:

• $66.65 from loose change


• $50 American Express gift card


• $55 in Disney gift cards


• $20 in gas gift cards


• approximately $176 in Disney Reward dollars

for a grand total of $367.56--not too shabby considering we just started a few weeks ago. Hoping to hit the $500 mark by our trip.

Free Dining for Select Dates Through March

As expected, Disney announced free dining today for select dates this fall. What we weren't expecting was to also have some dates through spring on the list! Here are the eligible dates:

• October 2–8, 2011


• October 23–November 5, 2011


• November 13–19, 2011


• November 27–December 3, 2011


• December 11–17, 2011


• January 8–14, 2012


• January 22–February 4, 2012


• February 12–18, 2012


• March 4–10, 2012


• March 25–31, 2012

As always, availability is limited, and you'll need to book a minimum of 3 nights in a Disney Resort (maximum of 14), as well as purchasing a minimum 2-day Park ticket. You'll get the Quick Service Dining Plan for stays at Value Resorts, and the regular Disney Dining Plan for stays at Moderate or Deluxe Resorts. You can upgrade to a better dining plan by paying the difference in cost. All packages must be booked by October 29, 2011.

Learn About DVC and Get Free Stuff

Yesterday, I was surprised when FedEx stopped by our home to deliver a letter. (I didn't remember ordering anything that small recently...what could it be?) I went from surprised to excited when I saw that the letter was from Disney...and then I remembered! It was my $25 Disney gift card from the Disney Vacation Club.



For years, I have been considering...planning...even hoping to tour one of the DVC properties while on vacation at Walt Disney World. But when it comes down to it, the lure of the Parks is too strong--I'm just not willing to give up my precious touring time to see what it's all about. But a couple of weeks ago, I got an email inviting me to learn more about the DVC from the comfort of my very own home. For my time, I would be rewarded with a $25 Disney gift card. Of course I called the number right away!

No matter how you dress it up, the DVC is a timeshare. So, honestly, I was expecting a hard sell. Not so. In fact, I probably asked a few questions that made my presentation last a bit longer than average. (I actually did want to know more about the program!) And while I wasn't keeping an eye on the clock, my best estimate is that I was on the phone with the DVC representative about 10 minutes. Really. He offered to send me more information on the actual price breakdown of everything--which I accepted--but there was absolutely no pressure to make any sort of decision or move forward in any way. This was probably the most low-key sales presentation I've ever experienced.

All that to say, while you may not have the opportunity to do a DVC presentation over the phone like I did, you might consider popping over to one of the many DVC kiosks on Disney property the next time you visit. In the past, I have been offered everything from Disney gift cards to special FastPasses to tour one of the DVC properties. Most of the time, the actual tours take a couple of hours--but the rewards tend to be greater (I was offered a $75 gift card on one occasion--sadly, our schedule was packed).

If you want to maximize your chances of being offered a phone tour of the DVC, consider requesting information about it. Also, it helps if they know you are a regular visitor to Walt Disney World. To learn more about DVC and order your informational DVD, click here.

Tink & Fairy Friends Get Permanent Home

Since Toontown closed, our poor Fairy friends have been shuffled around a bit. But it seems that has come to an end as "Tinker Bell's Magical Nook" opened in Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom. The decor and experience is nearly identical to what guests might remember from  Tink's Toontown hangout, except that the area only accommodates two fairies at a time, rather than three. Most recently, Tink has been hanging out with Vidia, but I believe we'll see all our Fairy friends in the Nook from time to time.

The entrance to this somewhat hidden character meet-n-greet is between the Adventureland bridge and Aloha Isle (home of the ever-popular Dole Whip). While I'm still lamenting the loss of what would have been an elaborate Pixie Hollow section of the new Fantasyland expansion, I must admit that the Magical Nook is a decent alternative. I love seeing Disney spread their characters out a bit more--eventually having Princesses in Fantasyland and Fairies in Adventureland will help with crowding and wait times. And maybe Adventureland is where Tink belongs, considering her true origins (and, no, I don't mean her origins in the Fairy movies...I'm talking Peter Pan).