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Author Archives: Nancy
5 Quick Tips for Saving Money on Food at Disney World
It’s no huge secret that food can end up being one of the major expenses on a vacation to Disney World. Yet there are a number of ways that you can plan your meals and save money. Probably the most well-known option is the Disney Dining Plan, especially if you are able to take advantage of the very popular Free Dining promotion.
But if your travel plans don’t allow you to visit during Free Dining, no worries, there are still a few things that can save you big money on your Disney vacation food budget.
- Make sure you have a frig or mini-kitchen in your room. Many hotels near Walt Disney World offer mini-suites with a small kitchen in them, and in addition to having more space, the frig and microwave can be extremely useful. If you are staying on Disney property, even in the basic hotel rooms, you can request an in-room refrigerator if there is not already one. We always use the frig to store milk, juice, water, and some easy breakfast basics. Bring or buy some cereal or bagels, and you have a healthy, inexpensive breakfast each morning. Plus it is a time-saver too, when trying to get to the parks bright and early each day. If you make it a habit to return to your room each afternoon, take the in-room meals a step further and get some easy lunch fixings too: you have now provided two meals per day for substantially less than what you would pay in the parks. Even if you don’t return to your room, with a small cooler that you can store in a locker at the parks, you can bring lunch with you. Splurge on a nice dinner and you won’t feel deprived at all, and will in fact feel quite proud of how economical you are!
- Use a Grocery Delivery Service like Garden Grocer for all of our Disney World Grocery Needs! Garden Grocer Inc. is a local online grocery delivery company based in Central Florida. They have 4800+ products to choose from, and will deliver right to your Resort! Shop online, complete order and they do the rest! We deliver to homes, offices, hotels, resorts and vacation homes.
- Bring snacks with you. Simple trail mix, crackers, some fruit, all help provide a healthy, and cheaper alternative to lots of expensive snacks in the parks. Bring your own water as well: you will save a boat-load of money, plus you will always have water when you need it, which is important on those hot summer days in Florida! Refill when passing water fountains and you will be fine. 5 Snacks to pack in a cooler for WDW.
- Think about sharing meals, especially if you have young children. Disney does not have a problem if you want to split a table service meal, and many folks often divide a counter service meal between multiple kids, or parent/child. In our experience, Disney is extremely generous with food proportions, so splitting meals saves dollars and also creates less waste, and that’s a good thing. Another option is to take the leftovers with you if portable, and put them in your…you guessed it…in-room frig for lunch the next day.
- You can eat off-site and save money as well. If you are staying off-Disney property, ask at your hotel for local restaurant discount coupons or promotions. Or try looking for online coupons/promotions through local Florida/Orlando websites. Consider sites like restaurant.com. You may even find it to be cost-effective to buy a local Entertainment Book for restaurant coupons.
What are some ways that you have found to save money on food at Disney World? Let us know in the comment section below.
Related articles
- Disney World Quick Tips – Don’t waste money on a buffet (chipandco.com)
- Disney World Quick Tips – Try something new (chipandco.com)
Christmas, and New Years at Disney World: Planning for the Crowds
Do you have plans to visit Walt Disney World this holiday season over the Christmas/New Years break? If so…and if you have never been to Disney World during this time period I want to share some thoughts with you today.
First the good news: this is a wonderful and magical time of year to visit Disney World. There are many festive decorations, holiday-themed attractions and entertainment, and an energy that all combine to make it a memorable way to spend a holiday. We’ve gone for New Years twice before, and will be doing so again this year and can’t wait: there is no better place to ring in the New Year than at Walt Disney World!
Now the bad news: it is crowded. Very, very crowded. Think “oh-my-gosh-where-are-all-these-people-coming-from?” crowded. Believe it or not, some of the Walt Disney World parks can…and do…close to capacity during this time of year. If you are going during the extremely busy Christmas/New Years holidays, it is vitally important that you understand this and plan for it.
So let’s talk a bit about how Disney closes the parks first. Disney uses a 4 Stage phasing in for park closings. While I have read different variations on exactly how it works the central idea basically is this:
- Stage 1: In this first phase the parking lot is closed and you will only be admitted using Disney transportation.
- Stage 2: The ticket windows are closed (including automatic Ticket Vending Machines) so in this phase, if you don’t already have a ticket for that park, you will not get in. Guests who are re-entering the same park on the same day will be admitted, as will Disney resort guests, Annual Passholders, and guests already holding Park Hoppers.
- Stage 3: Only those who are Disney resort guests or Annual Passholders will be admitted.
- Stage 4: The park is closed to all incoming guests. There is no incoming transportation of any kind.
So what does all this mean to you? Just know that, despite those crowds, you can still have a magical vacation. Here are some tips to help you do so:
- Go for the experience, not the number of rides and attractions. Have a very short list of “must-sees” because you will find lines for the big-names like Soarin’ to grow rapidly (like hours long wait times). FastPass will be your new best friend. Use it wisely though, and note return times, because FastPasses will be gone for the day very quickly….so don’t expect to arrive at noon and be able to get a FastPass for Space Mountain. At that point, you will be in stand-by lines for some rides that will be several hours long. Which brings me to….
- Go early. Yes you can sleep in and try to go to the parks later in the day, but that strategy can cause several problems. For starters, the later in the day, the longer the lines for everything. If you do have a number of rides/attractions that you really want to experience, the best way to make sure you do so is to be at the parks when they open. Another reason to go early is to make sure you actually get in to the park of your choice in the event that it closes.
- Having an advanced dining reservation (ADR) in a specific park, will NOT get you into a park if it is closed. Even if you have written confirmation. If you really care about eating a specific place…or have a credit card guarantee…make sure you get into the park early enough in the day and don’t leave.
- I have seen discussions that being a Disney resort guest guarantees that you will get into the parks, and that is not quite true: as you can see, it is entirely possible that a specific park will be closed to even Disney resort guests. If you are staying on Disney property, and have a ticket, what you *are* guaranteed, is entry into A park….just not necessarily the one you want. So again, if the park you go to matters to you at all, go early.
- This phased closing is also not permanent: parks will re-open again once enough people leave to reduce the crowd level in a park, usually later in the afternoon. So if you go and a park is closed, you can certainly try back later.
- Know the odds. By that I mean that Magic Kingdom is far more likely to close than Animal Kingdom. So if you can, consider doing Magic Kingdom as early in the day as possible, and then hop over to Animal Kingdom later.
- If you will not be a Disney resort guest and unable to use Disney transportation, plan very carefully and absolutely make sure you get to the parks early.
- Consider Park Hoppers. If there is a time of year these are worth it, this is it.
- Be prepared for lines…for everything. This means attractions, food, and restrooms.
How has this translated into our family’s experiences? Well, I will say that using the above strategies, we have fared well. For most of the time we have been there, we have been successful at going early, leaving in the afternoon, and returning later for dinner. And yes, we have heard of the parks experiencing various stages of closing during our stays: most often Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios, which makes sense as they are the smallest parks.
Now, New Year’s Eve is an entirely different story, and our two times there have been different experiences as well. Both times we made the decision to spend New Year’s Eve in Epcot because it’s our favorite park….and because we figured it could handle the crowds the best. Our first year doing this, we had no problem visiting earlier in the day, leaving, and then returning for dinner.
However, our last time was a completely different story. After starting our day at Epcot around 10, we had planned to leave later and return for dinner as we had done previously. However, after learning that castmembers at the gate were telling guests that if they left they might not get back in (Stage 3-4!) we decided to stay the day. It was long, but with a little nap on a blanket (and a rain storm that really cleared the park out around dinner time) it was all good, and we had a great time!
Visiting Walt Disney World on Christmas/New Years is not for the faint of heart….but with the right expectations, some patience, a sense of humor and a little pixie dust, it can be a truly magical way to spend your holidays. 
Nancy, her husband and college-age daughter live in the Baltimore MD area, but consider Walt Disney World their second “home”. She started her site, The Affordable Mouse, as a way to share ideas about how to plan affordable Disney vacations. She will be posting live updates from her family’s upcoming New Year’s Disney vacation on The Affordable Mouse facebook page.
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- Making Disney Holiday Magic Affordable (theaffordablemouse.com)
- “Walt Disney World Pro” iPhone App Updated with Newest Information, Photos and More (chipandco.com)
Top Disney Vacation Gifts to Make the Trip Easier
Wondering what to give a friend or family member who is planning a big vacation to Disney World (or anywhere else for that matter)? Or perhaps it is you taking the big trip and people need gift ideas for you? Either way, Christmas gifts are the perfect way to help make future traveling a bit easier, less stressful, and just more fun. Here are few of my favorite travel essentials that will make great gifts for anyone:
A GPS: Anyone planning a big drive to Walt Disney World…or who will be renting a car at Disney World needs to have one of these. Those of us who grew up with “maps” are especially in awe of how helpful a good GPS can be. And if you have an older one like we do, this is the perfect time to upgrade to a new model, as the prices are rarely cheaper than you will find right now.
DVD Player: Road Trip! Few words strike more fear into the hearts of parents everywhere than these two little words. Mental images of backseat fights, and threats of “Don’t make me come back there!” immediately come to mind. Of course there are a number of ways to make the time pass (and I’ll talk about another one shortly) but one of the most successful is movies. Having car DVD player can save everyone’s sanity….and with some well-chosen Disney movies, you can get everyone “in the mood” while you’re at it!
But what if you’re not driving, but still want to keep the troops entertained while waiting in the airport…or even on the flight? Portable DVD Player to the rescue!!
And to make sure that everyone is happy when your kids want to watch Monsters Inc. 4 times in a row, don’t forget the headphones. Just sayin’.
Travel Kiddy: Back in the day, before it was possible to bring movies along with you in the car to entertain the kids, I made a trip to the toy store before every trip, to make a travel fun bag for our daughter. Filled with lots of fun games and things to keep her entertained, the travel fun bag made our trips much happier for everyone. Even now, while movies are great, there will be times when it’s time to turn the thing off and do something else. And Travel Kiddy is the perfect solution: travel fun bags already created, filled with hours and HOURS of entertainment for little ones and big ones too! The Travel Kiddy site is divided into different ages, and even includes a section for puzzles and games for older kids and adults. Not sure what would be best for someone else? They even sell gift certificates. This is a great site with tons of great travel items already packed and waiting to leave on vacation with you. No need to make your own.
So there you go, gift suggestions for making the trip to Walt Disney World happier for the kids….and therefore happier for the adults. Whether it’s for your family, or for someone on your gift list, I hope these gift suggestions will help. Happy shopping!
Nancy, her husband and college-age daughter live in the Baltimore MD area, but consider Walt Disney World their second “home”. She started her site, The Affordable Mouse, as a way to share ideas about how to plan affordable Disney vacations. She will be posting live updates from her family’s upcoming New Year’s Disney vacation on The Affordable Mouse facebook page.
Related articles
- Best Holiday Gifts: Luggage and Bags for the Disney Lover (chipandco.com)
- Christmas Gift Ideas For Your DCO (Disney Crazed Oldie) (chipandco.com)
Best Holiday Gifts: Luggage and Bags for the Disney Lover
Essential for any Disney vacation are those items you will need to “keep stuff in”, that is luggage, backpacks, tote bags, and diaper bags. The thing is, while these things are necessities, why not add a little “Disney” to something that is basically functional….and make it fun? The benefit of this is, of course, bringing the Disney love along with you PLUS having that happy Disney reminder day in and day out after you get home!
With that in mind then, here are some of my favorite Disney travel accessories (a few of which may end up on my Christmas wish list for our upcoming Disney World trip):
Disney Princess Luggage: On our first trip to Walt Disney World, one of the things that our daughter (then age 7) was most excited about was having her “own suitcase”. She would have loved the princesses on the outside. I would have loved the hard case and wheels that make it easy for little ones to take care of their own bag.
Disney Rolling Light-Up Buzz Lightyear Luggage: The solution for little boys, this case will help future Space Rangers to easily travel to Disney World, or Infinity and Beyond, whichever they prefer.
Blue 3-Piece Rolling Disney Luggage Set: For the grown-up on your list (or maybe you?? :) ) I personally really like this 3 piece set for the sizes available and especially like that the duffle is wheeled. Plus, I love the blue color too. Yeah…this one’s going on my Christmas wish list.
Black 3-Piece Disney Rolling Mickey Mouse Luggage Set: This one’s for the person who really wants to have their Mickey on when traveling. One of the things I really like about this set is that you can EASILY pick out your luggage at baggage claim at the airport. :)
Tinkerbell Diaper Bag Backpack – Adjustable Shoulder Bag: Know someone who will be traveling to Disney World with a little one? A Disney diaper bag is a great gift idea. I love all the pockets on this one as well as the fact that it can be either a shoulder bag or back pack.
Disney Mickey Mouse Tote Bag: Having a tote bag of some sort is essential at the parks. At 15” x 17” this bag is roomy and it has a nice interior zippered compartment which I really like. Plus it’s just plain fun…..and also going on my Christmas list!
Disney Dooney & Bourke Black Tassle Tote: I will readily admit that this does NOT qualify as affordable….but it is gorgeous, and one can hope, right? Disney’s Dooney and Bourke collection is extremely popular and there are many different designs, patterns, and sizes that are available. And while this bag may or may not be in Santa’s budget this year, there are some smaller items like wallets, wristlets and such that can help you be stylishly Disney. But if we’re going to dream….then this is the one I’m dreaming of…..
Hope you found some great Disney Holiday gift items for your favorite Disney traveler…or for your own wishlist! Happy shopping!
Nancy, her husband and college-age daughter live in the Baltimore MD area, but consider Walt Disney World their second “home”. She started her site, The Affordable Mouse, as a way to share ideas about how to plan affordable Disney vacations. She will be posting live updates from her family’s upcoming New Year’s Disney vacation on The Affordable Mouse facebook page.
Related articles
- Disney Holiday Gift-Giving: Luggage and Bags Disney Style (theaffordablemouse.com)
- Disney World Planning Tips for when the Parks are PACKED! (chipandco.com)
10 Tips for Surviving the Christmas/New Year’s Holidays at Disney World
It’s the most wonderful time of the year at Walt Disney World! Decorations, music, special events and tons of festivities have been part of the celebration at the Disney parks for over a month now, but many will be having their first chance to enjoy the season Disney-style over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. If you will be traveling to Disney World for your Christmas or New Year’s vacation, here are 10 quick tips that you should know that will help you make your visit as magical as possible.
- Start with a simple thing: check the weather forecast before you leave home. Florida can get surprisingly cold in the winter and has in fact been experiencing below-normal temperatures for most of this past month. Many folks are caught by surprise at this. If you don’t bring warm clothes from home, you may be forced to pay Disney park prices for sweaters, scarves and gloves…..and that is going to be a major budget-buster.
- While the beginning of December typically features lower crowds than other times of the year, as Christmas approaches, the crowd levels increase…to the point where the week between Christmas and New Years is the busiest week of the entire year. If you plan to be at Disney World during this week, then keep this in mind, ESPECIALLY if you are not staying on Disney property: go EARLY to make sure you get into the park of your choice. And have a plan to visit your most important must-dos (especially those that are very popular) first thing. Later in the day, the wait times for the major attractions will be an hour or more, and spending your time waiting in lines is not fun at all. Which brings me to….
- Make very good use of FastPasses. Expect the big attractions to have all Fast-Passes gone for the day by lunch so plan accordingly. Getting to the parks early will help you get the FastPasses you want for later in the day…and avoid those hour-plus wait times.
- Check the schedule of events and activities before getting to the parks so you don’t miss seeing what you want to see! There is a lot going on, but Disney provides you with a schedule for everything for that week, so take a look at it each evening for the next day, and plan your time around those events that are important. Don’t wait till you get to the parks…or you may end up missing out! Make sure you note when Holiday events are ending as well, especially if you will be there in early January and are hoping to see something specific. Decorations start coming down right after New Years….so be prepared if there is something specific you want to see.
- Be sure to make ADRs. At no week during the entire year is this more important. Not doing so will make your choices for restaurants and times extremely limited. I can’t stress this enough, having seen many folks scrambling to find a table service restaurant for dinner at the last minute……and unable to do so.
- Visit the Disney resorts to see decorations. They are amazing, fun, creative…and FREE!
- The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights are unbelievable and you won’t want to miss seeing them. But the crowds can be very heavy early in the evening, so if possible, try to go during Fantasmic or at the very end of the evening when there are fewer people. It is much more enjoyable when it is not wall to wall people. Note that the last night for the Osborne Lights is January 3.
- Don’t miss the Holiday Storytellers at Epcot’s Holidays Around the World. It is a great way to celebrate the season by learning about the customs and traditions of countries all around the world! The last day for the Storytellers is December 30.
- Try to get some evening PhotoPass pictures, as the lights and decorations will provide you photo memories unlike any you get at the rest of the year.
- Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, set low expectations for what you HAVE to see and do. You will probably not get to everything on your list, and that’s ok. This is, in many ways, the best time of the year to go with the flow, and take the time to enjoy the many OTHER things that Disney offers during the Holiday season. Focus on the Holiday Magic that is only there during this time of the year, share the season with your family, have patience and a sense of humor…..and enjoy the experience!
Related articles
- Top 10 Holiday Things at Disney World (chipandco.com)
- Things You Need to Know Before Your First Walt Disney World Vacation (chipandco.com)
