How I Got This Sweatshirt at Disney World for FREE!!

On my last trip to Disney, I planned to not buy any souvenirs as this was a work trip and I already felt a little guilty for not taking my kids. But I still came home with this super cute sweatshirt! And it didn’t even cost me anything. How did I do it?

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First of all, even though you can do online checkin weeks in advance at your Disney resort, always go by the front desk when you arrive. It’s never guaranteed but you might get a Cast Member looking for the next awesome family to upgrade. And I always go and reset my PIN for my MagicBand so that I can charge on it.

But even better, you can ask about forgoing Mousekeeping (Disney-speak for housekeeping) while you’re there. I did just that and got a $30 Disney gift card for opting out! (This isn’t a guaranteed perk, but so far everyone that I know that has asked about it has received it)!

Before you go telling me you can’t stay in a dirty hotel room for a week, I bet you can! As much as I try, I don’t get around to cleaning our bathrooms at home more than every 2 weeks so a few days isn’t anything new for us.

Plus you can call the front desk at any time and ask for more towels or linens. They will happily take your dirty ones away also.

The other reason I used to love Mousekeeping is that they brought fresh toiletries and the little bottles of Disney shampoo/conditioner/soap were the best. But now, in an effort to reduce plastic waste, the resorts don’t have the individual bottles anymore. Most of the resorts (if not all at this point) have bottles attached to the wall that you just pump out. At first I was sad to see those little bottles go, but then I remembered my stash of them at home that’s at least 5 years old and I never use them. I’m either a hoarder or just so nostalgic that I can’t stand the thought of not having them, that has caused me not to use them up. (Let’s go with nostalgic).

There was also something nice about knowing that no one would be coming in the room. I always feel like I have to “pick-up” a bit so Mousekeeping doesn’t know what a slob I truly am.

Of course, I wasn’t lucky enough to find this sweatshirt for $30 (I was at Disney World after all), but I had my Disney Visa reward money to make up the difference. Be sure and take advantage of that program too!!

Want more tips about how to save for Disney or earn perks? Please contact me! I’m happy to share my secrets when I plan and book your trip. And guess what… My services are FREE also!

Click this link to contact me and let’s get started on your trip!!

Magical Honeymoons

This weekend I had a great time manning a booth at a local bridal show.  My intent was to offer my services to book honeymoons for the visiting brides.

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I know that Disney isn’t the first destination that comes to mind when considering a honeymoon trip, but I was surprised that most of the brides I spoke to hadn’t even considered it.  Reasons varied, but it mainly came down to it being a “kid’s vacation” and cost.

So this post is intended to show you that it can be affordable and it’s certainly an appropriate destination whether you have kids or not.

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First, the cost…  The beauty of a honeymoon trip is that you’re only paying for 2 people!  So instead of paying for a whole family for plane tickets, hotel, park tickets, food and souvenirs, you’re already cutting costs by it just being the 2 of you.  May not seem like a big deal now, but when you’ve got 3 kids like I do, you realize just how much those little rugrats cost!  

Of course, you’ll want to return to Disney when you have kids since the experience is completely different and wonderful with them, but enjoy the cost savings without kids at this point in your life.

So for an example, here are some prices for a Disney World vacation coming up this Spring.  These prices include 5-night accommodations and 4-day Park Hopper Tickets:

All-Star Movies - $1700

Coronado Springs - $2200

Animal Kingdom Lodge - $3000

Compared to a lot of honeymoon destinations, those prices are downright cheap.  

So the other reason people hadn’t considered Disney is due to there being a lot of kids around which may make it a bit less romantic than a trip to an adults only beach resort.  OK, so yes, there will be kids around.  But if you know where to go, you can find your own romantic spots and really not notice the kids.  I can help you find out about those spots!!

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There are so many AMAZING restaurants at Disney World, I can’t begin to list them all.  Here are a few of the most romantic though.  

Le Cellier

Jiko - The Cooking Place

Monsieur Paul

Victoria & Albert’s

All of these restaurants are what my kids would call “fancy” and they have no interest in eating there.  Granted you might run into a family that takes their kids there but they would be expected to sit quietly and eat and I doubt you’d even notice them.

These are just a few of the restaurants - there are tons more.  There are also great night-life spots on Disney’s Boardwalk like a dance hall and a dueling piano bar.

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Sure, Disney can be exhausting if you are like me and run from attraction to attraction.  But it doesn’t have to be that way if you’re looking for more ways to relax after a busy season leading up to your wedding.  Check out this previous post about ways to relax at Disney and do some of them.  The resort pool is a great place to relax during the day.  It’s basically kid-free since they’re all at the Parks!

Be sure and announce the fact that you are on a honeymoon - wear cute shirts or hats.  At the very least, you've got to stop by Guest Services for a Just Married button.  You’ll feel like a celebrity with all of the special attention you get from Cast Members!!

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I’d love to help you plan your Magical trip - with or without kids.  I promise I’ll make it stress-free and remember, my services are always free!!  Give me a call!

 

What NOT to Buy on a Disney Trip

Disney vacations are magical, wonderful, memorable...  and cheap?  No, you've never heard anyone say that I'm sure.  To be honest, trips to Disney are expensive.  You can save money here and there, but as a whole, it does cost a bit more than an average family vacation.  Totally worth it I believe!  

But since the upfront cost of the vacation is a bit higher than other places, it's always wise to look for areas in which you can save money.  I've blogged about saving money before, but in this case I want to specifically talk about items you're better off buying before seeing the "Welcome to Disney" sign, both for cost and convenience.

Ponchos - you may think of California or Florida as always sunny and warm but it does rain.  In Florida, we usually get rained on often.  When the rain starts is not the time to go searching for a poncho.  Besides the ridiculous costs of them at the parks, you don't have them right with you.  I go to the dollar store and buy one per person per day and throw one for each of us in our backpack each morning.  They're lightweight so it's not a pain to carry them around.  And they're cheap enough to be considered a "one-time-use" item so I don't try to fold them up and carry them after it's rained.  We just toss them in the trash and go.  

Sunscreen - along the same lines as ponchos, the cost of sunscreen is crazy.  Besides, I like to put it on before we even leave the room in the morning so that we're set for a while.  And if you have anyone in your group that is sensitive to some ingredients, it's nice to have your own brand that you know works for them.  

Water Bottles and Flavor Packets - I always carry a water bottle for each family member to save us time as well as money.  No waiting in a line for drinks - we can just grab the water from the backpack at any time.  (I bring a sharpie with us to put our initials on the bottles - you might want to do this if you don't relish the thought of sharing your germs.)  The flavor packets come in super handy for kids who may not like the way the water tastes - I don't think it's bad but it may not be what you're used to.  I also have a Diet Coke addiction so need my caffeine fix fairly often.  Did you know they make flavor packets with caffeine?  You're welcome.  Just don't mix yours up with the kids' packets!

Hand Sanitizer - We have a certain germaphobe in our family that won't touch anything that anyone else may have touched.  He doesn't hold the bar on the bus, won't touch handrails...  But at an amusement park, sometimes you do have to pull down on a safety bar or just hang on!  Disney does a good job of providing hand sanitizer throughout the parks but it's just more convenient to carry a little bottle of it in your bag.

Medications and First Aid - Disney also has first aid stations but pretty much just one per park.  If you have a blister, the last thing you want to do is walk back a mile from where you are to get a band-aid.  Carry a few in your bag along with over-the-counter pain medication and you'll save yourself from buying them at sky-high prices in the closest gift shop that is within limping range.  

 

Souvenirs/Disney Merch - While you are going to want to make a purchase of a few Disney souvenirs, you can make your kids happy by sneaking in a few you buy ahead of time.  Just hide them in your suitcase and once they go to sleep at night, put them out and say Mickey left them.  Won't stop every meltdown but if you tell them there might be a prize that next morning, it might curb some of the greedy gimmies.  One thing I never miss out on, though is the Disney candy from Goofy's Candy Co.  Goofy makes the best licorice of all time!  

If you're going to Disney, you'd make me the happiest travel agent of all time if you pick me up a bag of this.  Can't get it elsewhere.  Do yourself a favor and get one for you too!!  :)

If you're going to Disney, you'd make me the happiest travel agent of all time if you pick me up a bag of this.  Can't get it elsewhere.  Do yourself a favor and get one for you too!!  :)

Want to plan a trip to Disney to get me some licorice?  Call me and I'll give you a free quote!!

Disney World for Less than $2000 for a Family of Four? Yes!

 

The main reason that people tell me they aren't traveling to Disney World is the cost.  While I admit it can be pricey, you can make a couple of choices that will lower the cost.

It sounds great to stay in a Moderate or Deluxe resort (and I highly recommend you do if you're able!).  But if cost is stopping you, consider a Value resort.  They are still on Disney property so you don't lose any of the perks of that.  And Disney customer service is the highest standard no matter which resort you choose.  Cleanliness and safety are top-notch across the board.

Here is an example of affordability...  I pulled up a quote for the following:

  •  A family of four - 2 adults and 2 kids, ages 4 and 6
  • June 5 - June 10 (5 nights lodging)
  • All-Star resort (Music, Sports or Movies)
  • 4-day base Theme Park Ticket
  • Complimentary Magical Express
  • MagicBands
  • My support and knowledge to enhance your experience

The cost of this family's trip would be $2333 at today's prices for everything listed above.  My family has taken a quick trip to Dallas or Kansas City that has set us back nearly that amount.  

I can't guarantee at the time that you wish to travel that there will be a special, but this price is not based on any of the current Disney specials.  It's the current standard rate for a summer vacation.

Another example using a current special that Disney is running is even less.  If your travel dates are in the Fall, you might be able to use this special (based on availability):

  • A family of four - 2 adults and 2 kids, ages 4 and 6
  • August 20 - August 25 (5 nights lodging)
  • All-Star resort (Music, Sports or Movies)
  • 4-day base Theme Park Ticket
  • Complimentary Magical Express
  • MagicBands
  • My support and knowledge to enhance your experience

The cost of this vacation package is $1971 at today's prices!  

You can always upgrade to a Moderate or Deluxe resort, and depending on the special available, it may not be much more.  You can also spend a little more if you want a Park Hopper ticket, but if you don't plan to do more than one park per day, then the base ticket is a great deal.

Give me a call or shoot me an email.  I'd love to check prices for your situation!!

 

 

How to AVOID Spending Your Life Savings on Your Trip

The first option sounds crazy but you can do it!  Drive to Disney rather than fly.  I know this sounds nuts if you're not close to a Disney Destination, but we live in Oklahoma - which is SADLY nowhere near Disney - and we survived the road trip.  You may get sick of being in the car together but there are lots of memories to be made along the way!  Here are a few pics from our road trip.  Whatever your path to Disney, there are sure to be some sights to see.

Besides saving money on the travel portion, you'll have your vehicle with you.  This saves you on taxis or shuttles if you're planning to head over to Universal for a day.  You'll also have everything you need with you.  I tend to overpack, but I hate buying something on vacation that I already own just because I couldn't fit it in my luggage.  If you're in your own car, you can take tons more than on a flight.

It's not for everyone and as my kids get older and need less equipment, I have to admit that flying is preferable (especially now that Andrew is okay with flying - if you missed that video, click here!).  But if saving money is a priority, the travel portion of a trip to Disney is a huge cost that can be cut.

The second place to save money is on your food bill.  If you eat out each and every meal, you're going to come home with a huge bill.  First, try to find a time when Disney is offering free dining.  I will always post on my website when that deal comes out!  

If you're going at a time free dining isn't offered, you can still save big bucks.  We order breakfast items, snacks and drinks from gardengrocer.com and have it all delivered to our room on the day of our arrival.  Disney will hold your cold items in cold storage so order anything you'd like - it will be kept until you check in.  Except for the one morning of our trip that we head to the best breakfast in the world at Tusker House Restaurant, we eat in our room before heading out.  For a family of 5, that's a big savings.  

We also take water bottles into the park along with flavor packets.  You can always go to Quick-Service food locations for free cups of water if you don't want to carry your own.  But you'll most likely have to wait in line and I like having a bottle that I can drink from whenever I want, seal back up and hop on a ride.  I also take granola bars and easy snacks with us.  Don't get me wrong, I have to have my Dole Whip and Mickey ice cream bars but can get away with only buying one snack a day.  You'll walk a lot and get pretty hungry.  Hungy = grumpy in our family so snacks really help.  Having some in our bag saves money, time and sanity!

If your family eats several big meals a day and you don't want to have to carry your own food around, do look into the dining plans.  It sometimes works out a bit cheaper than buying meals individually.  And it's always nice to have pre-paid for your food and not be facing a large bill after you're home.  Please let me know if you want more info about the dining plans and I'll help you decide if it's right for your trip!

I'm not suggesting you lie, but if you're celebrating ANY occasion near your trip, let me know.  In the pics above, I had mentioned it was my birthday when making dining reservations and each restaurant made a big deal of it, with confetti, cards and FREE dessert.  Free is good.

The third cost savings tip is to buy souvenirs before leaving home.  I know it doesn't sound as fun as purchasing authentic Disney Parks items, but trust me, it's a whole lot cheaper.  Dollar Tree and Target have a lot of Disney items that are super cheap.  Be sneaky and buy them without your kids.  Hide them in your luggage and each morning before heading out to the parks, give them one of the gifts.  

Another way we kept our kids from begging for EVERYTHING in every gift shop (there are hundreds), was to give them each their own Disney gift card before travel.  You can put just a few dollars or as much as you want on the card, but the point is that there's a set limit.  Once the money is gone, it's gone.  My kids knew the amount before we left and were amazingly careful with how they spent the money.  There wasn't a single meltdown over wanting something they couldn't have.  It can even be a great incentive pre-trip - offer to add money to the card based on behavior.  They can also add their own money to it if they're savers like I hear some kids can be!  :)

Get your Disney shirts, hats, and autograph books before you go.  I even made shirts for Luke and I on our last trip and it was fun to have Cast Members point them out.  There are a few things you just can't get anywhere else, so save a little in the budget for those fun items (specifically for me - Mickey shaped licorice from Goofy Candy Company!). 

There are so many ways to save so don't let the cost be a deterrent from checking into a trip.  It can be as affordable or once-in-a-lifetime as you want.  Please request a quote today to find out!