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10 Money Saving Tips for your next Disney World Vacation

August 6, 2011 by Chip Leave a Comment

Want to take the kids to the Walt Disney World Resort, but don’t want to break the bank? With a little planning it can be done: here are ten ways to save on your next Disney World Vacation.

Stay at a Disney Value Resort – While on property you still get all the extra’s as someone staying at the larger resorts. Such as Disney Transportation, extra magic hours, Disney meal plans, and much more. The rooms might be a little smaller but your just there to sleep right?
Stay at a resort or vacation home off Disney property. If you have to there are plenty of decent hotel rooms available all around Lake Buena Vista. If you have a larger family (more than four people), the savings are even greater. You can get a vacation home with a private pool for a week but remember you will need your own transportation.
Watch for Disney Promotions. Supposedly Disney will be running a Free Dining Program for October through December which is excellent for saving money! Who doesn’t love free food? Lately Disney is almost always running some sort of discount on their website. (Keep in mind Chip and Company constantly keep you up to date on current Disney promotions so check back with us often) Also Disney is known to send out special promotions via postcard and email. How do you get them to send you one? Its a mystery, but signing up to receive one of their vacation planning videos and registering at www.disneyworld.com will help. Read my previous article on the elusive Pin Codes here.
Purchase a dining package. Disney offers dining packages to guests staying at their resorts. These packages have to be booked in advance and you can save 30% or more on your dining if you buy one of these plans. Essentially the dining plan is a meal plan that you pay for in advance. Sorta like a lay-away. Check out this article talking about to Meal Plan or Not To Meal Plan.
Travel during the “off” season. Disney resort and dining prices fluctuate depending on what time of year it is; the same trip over Christmas week will cost you a whole lot less the first week of December. There is much debate when the off season is. One guideline to follow is when school is out it will be busy. If you check on a Disney Cruise you will see the same trip almost double for Spring Break or in the Summer. OY!
Use Magical Express. If you are staying at a Disney resort you have access to Magical Express, a free transport from the airport and back. This will save you on renting a car, taxi or hiring a limo to transport you.
Eat meals outside the Theme parks. Plan to eat at least one meal a day in your room, breakfast being the most obvious choice. Most Disney rooms come with an in-room fridge or access to get one (make sure of this in advance if you aren’t staying in a Disney resort) You can stock it with milk, yogurt, fruit, water or drinks. Add a loaf of bread, some peanut butter, cereal and breakfast pastries and you will save a good bit of money. Use those snack credits! If you are staying off Disney property you also have access to all the fast food restaurants and buffets in Orlando. I love Sweet Tomatoes! We even make a pilgrimage here even if we are staying on site! This is another expense category where renting a vacation home has an advantage a kitchen. With a kitchen you would be able to eliminate a lot of your eating-out expense; however, you also have to look at how much time you are spending driving back and forth to your room from the parks. Oh and the cost of parking everyday. For more check out How to Park at Disney for Free.
Flash your Military ID. If you are an active or retired member of the military, there are lots of discounts available to you. To start with, there is Shades of Green resort, a resort on Disney property only for the military; it is a really nice resort, and the prices are even nicer. You are also eligible to get discounts on other Disney resorts and on tickets.
Join AAA. There are several ways to save at Disney if you are a member of AAA. You can save on your room and on your admission tickets. The only downside to this is that you have to purchase a AAA Membership first.
Save on airfare. All of the carriers that fly in and out of Orlando airport offer decent rates if you do a little research and plan far enough ahead you can save some good money. Check the airports actual website opposed to the travel Discount sites. For example in Greensboro Allegiant Air is not listed in Expedia but offers flights for $29, 39, and 49 if you fly on certain days of the week.

I hope this list will help you save some much need money on your next Disney Vacation. If you have some tips you would like to share let us know in the comment section below.

Filed Under: Original Articles, Tips &Tricks, Tips and Tricks, Top 5/10 Tagged With: disney, Saving Money, Tips and Tricks, vacation

Top 5 tips for interacting with a Disney Addict

July 30, 2011 by DisneyDiva 15 Comments

Disney Addicts are just like you. They just have more pairs of Mickey Ears.

For those of you who are not Disney Addicts this addiction may seem confusing and overwhelming. The idea that someone would choose to take every vacation at the same location might challenge you. “What is the big deal?”, you might ask yourself, “Isn’t Disney just a sweltering hot, packed-out theme-park full of kiddy rides and over-priced fast food?”

What you must understand is that to a true Disney Addict, every trip to Walt Disney World or Disneyland is a homecoming. To the Disney Addict WDW and Dland is where they belong; where they can be themselves and be surrounded by magic.

Disney Addicts are somewhat of a mystery to the rest of the population and so I wanted to give you my top 5 tips for interacting with the Disney Addict in order to make your relationship healthier.

TIP 1 – Clothing: You should make every effort to not call a Disney Addict “weird” simply because they wear ties with mickey heads to board meetings, or mickey-shaped earrings while having a night on the town. Do not call attention to the fact that every t-shirt they own has a Disney Character on it. Instead of lambasting them when they return from their vacation with a new pair of plush Mickey costume gloves, you should look for more discrete Disney based gifts to give them for holiday gifts. There are many purses, socks, scarfs, dresses and other items with mickeys “hidden” into the pattern that will allow the individual to show their Disney pride in more subtle ways.

TIP 2 – Food: Part of the addiction to Disney World/Disneyland centers around an obsession with specific Disney-park foods. I have a friend who is a stage-four Disney Addict (65+ trips and he’s 24 yrs old) who swears there must be “crack or something in Casey’s Corner Hotdogs”. He has told me many times he will be driving down the street and suddenly have an overwhelming urge to book a trip just thinking about the hotdogs. My friend Suzanne Broughton swears that the Disneyland Corndog is THE addiction of choice for Dlanders and even got the scoop in her video The Disneyland Corn Dog Story. For my husband (pictured above) its the Dole Whip that triggers his irrational need to book a trip to WDW. You can help to quell this addiction by learning to make replicas of these foods at home. Our very own Chip wrote an article on How to Make your own Dole Whips , and as you saw in the Disneyland Corn Dog Story its an off-the-shelf batter that is used to make the Disneyland corn dogs. Spring for a mickey-head-shaped waffle maker and try giving your Addict small reminders of “home” with Disney Park-like foods.

TIP 3 – Technology: You should never point and laugh when you discover that a Disney Addicts computer screensaver contains nothing but photos from past Disney trips. Nor should you mock them when their Facebook status contains at least one mention of how many days until their next trip. Don’t be surprised when every bookmark on their computer is a Disney blog such as Tips from the Disney Diva or Chip & Co . Technology allows Disney Addicts to feel a part of the magic in the time in-between trips. It both feeds and satisfies their addiction simultaneously. Take me for example, I’m working through my Disney “DT’s” by blogging tips that allow me to live vicariously through those planning their vacations. Whenever you run across a great article send it to your Disney Addict friend and help them through technology.

TIP 4 – Polite Conversation: Disney Addicts lose all concept of time when talking to other people about their Disney Vacations. You should be careful when making small-talk with the Disney Addict to never mention anything Disney related unless you genuinely want to talk to the Addict about it. Make sure you have a plan of how you will exit the conversation gracefully once you are tired of talking about how many times their kid threw-up after riding Expedition Everest. The worst thing you can do to an Addict is act like Disney World/ Disneyland is stupid and not worth talking about, or that they are crazy for going so many times.

TIP 5 – Planning Trips: To A Disney Addict planning a trip to WDW or Dland is an ART FORM. No, they can’t just show up and figure out that day what to do. Yes, they really do need to book the dining reservations 180 days in advance. No, they don’t need a park map. It doesn’t make them weird, well maybe a little weird, but it makes YOUR trip to Disney a whole lot more enjoyable because they know what the plan is before you arrive. So if they’re sleeping, eating, and speaking Disney 24/7 and its getting a little old try saying something more like “I know you are excited about our trip, I am to, I trust you to plan it, you don’t have to discuss every element with me. I enjoy the surprise of the trip!” instead of “Shush! I’m sick and tired of hearing about this stupid trip!” OK? Remember all this planning is actually a method the addict uses to elongate the trip itself. When Addicts start packing a month ahead of the trip it makes me them feel like the trip has already begun. So let them plan, really, what can it hurt?

So now you have some tips to interacting with a Disney Addict. They are people and should be treated as such, even though they are obsessed with mice, ducks, dogs, dwarfs, and weird dog-like animals with buck-teeth. Good luck!

Kristin, Tips from the Disney Diva

Filed Under: Parks & Resorts, Tips &Tricks, Tips and Tricks, Top 5/10, Walt Disney World

Disney World Quick Tips – Disney Food for Less

July 29, 2011 by Chip 1 Comment

Planning, Budgeting, and Saving for Walt Disney World Vacations are a way of life at the Chip and Co Household. I am constantly looking for ways to save some extra money so I can make yet another trip to our home away from home.

Today I am going to teach you some Quick Tips and tricks to really maximize your money while still taking full advantage of the food at the Walt Disney World Resort.

We all love Kona Cafe. I for one fell in love with Tonga Toast. But did you know just downstairs in the Polynesian Resort at Captain Cooks you can get Tonga Toast for a lot less. Great to grab when you are in a hurry. As you can see in the picture above the menu is pretty limited and there is no Kona Coffee.
Starring Rolls Cafe in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is my favorite snack shop in all of Walt Disney World. I have confirmed this from several sources that if you ask one of the Cast Members behind the counter would it be possible to get a piece of Grapefruit Cake from the Hollywood Brown Derby if they are not to busy they will walk over and grab you a piece. I would be very polite and not get upset if they don’t have the time to do it. I am going to try this on our next trip and let you know how it goes.
Every time we have gone to Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory at the Port Orleans Resort it has not been busy. What would make me venture all the way out to this resort you might ask? The Beignets of course! Hot, fresh, and delicious! They are a very inexpensive treat and a good way to start the day.
Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge is my favorite buffet. I love the fusion of Asian and Indian cuisine. Having good friends who are from South Africa we have tried many of these dishes before ever eating here. One dessert talked about a ton all over the internets is the Zebra Domes. But how can you get some ZD’s without having to get the full buffet at Boma’s? Stop by Mara’s of course! Stop by and pick some up to take back to your room for later
Another trick you can try is goto restaurants that serve a la carte or have a menu you can order from. Split appetizers or find where they serve up a fruit trey and split it. For example at the Grand Floridian Cafe you can easily split several items or meals to save money.
Drink water instead of Pop, Juice, or Coffee. Bring Mio Water Enhancers to flavor up your water or Star Bucks makes single serving packets to make your own coffee. If you ask any server at a Table Service restaurants for hot water they will bring it for you free of charge.

Well that is all I have for now. These are some of the tricks I use when I visit Walt Disney World. Our next trip we are paying out of pocket so I really need to stretch our dollar much further than previous vacations where we did the Disney Dining Plan.

If you have any Quick Tips let me know in the comment box below.

Filed Under: Best Disney Food, Dining Plan, Favorite Disney Foods, Food, Quick Tips, Snacks & Treats, Tips &Tricks, Tips and Tricks, Top 5/10

Mark Your Calendar! August 16th Reservations Open for Food & Wine Festival!

July 23, 2011 by guest blogging 2 Comments

Sound the alarms! 7am on August 16th reservations will open for special events at the 16th annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. The festival runs September 30th to November 13th and offers something for every taste bud.
The Food and Wine Festival brings foodies from all over the world to interact with celebrity chefs, join tastings, enjoy seminars and more.

Certain special events are available at each festival and due to the popularity of each, reservations are necessary.

Here is a sneak peak at the events that will be open for reservations on August 16th:

First Bites Opening Reception (Sept. 29, 6:30-9 p.m.)
“3D” Disney’s Dessert Discovery (Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov. 4, 11)
Taste, Shake and Indulge Like the French Grand Marnier Tasting and Interactive Experience (Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29, Nov. 5)
Epcot Wine Schools (Oct. 9, 16, 23, 30, Nov. 5)
Culinary Adventures in Signature Dining (Oct. 6, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 27, 30, Nov. 1, 2, 3, 7, 10)
Kitchen Memories, formerly Celebrating Family & Friends in the Kitchen (Sept. 30, Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov. 4, 11)
Cheese Seminars (Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Nov. 5, 12)
Party for the Senses (Oct. 8, 15, 22, Nov. 5 and 12 at new times: 7:30-10 p.m.)
Food & Wine Pairings (Mondays, Tuesdays)
Sweet Sundays (Oct. 2, 9, 16, 223, 30, Nov. 6, 13)

Additional special events will include Italian and French pairings and lunches, as well as Mexican tequila events. To make reservations call 407-WDW-FEST (939-3378).

For event details visit disneyworld.com/foodandwine.

If you haven’t made your reservation for Food and Wine Festival, Pixie Vacations has an exclusive promotion. Mention this offer when you book your Pixie Promo with Michele and receive a $25 Disney gift card!

HGTV Joins the 2011 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival (chipandco.com)
Reservations Open Aug. 16 for Special Events for Epcot International Food & Wine Festival (chipandco.com)

Mark Your Calendar! August 16th Reservations Open for Food & Wine Festival!

Filed Under: Best Disney Food, Deals, Dining Plan, Drinks, Events, Food, News, Planning, Planning 101, Promotions, Tips &Tricks, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: Epcot International Food and Wine Festival

Choose the Magic Kingdom Resort Monorail instead

July 23, 2011 by DisneyDiva 13 Comments

This week on my blog, Tips from the Disney Diva, I am running a series on tips specifically for people staying “off-property” (not in a Disney World resort). The Diva’s have stayed both on and off property many times and know you have to plan differently when you are parking your car at Magic Kingdom than when you are taking Disney Transportation.

One of the things I thought I’d save and share exclusively with my Chip and Co. readers is the value of choosing the RESORT Monorail instead of the EXPRESS Monorail when heading to and from the Ticket and Transportation Center and Magic Kingdom.

OH, the EXPRESS is fine and dandy when you’re NOT trying to get to MK for the Park Opening Ceremony (aka rope drop) or trying to get back to your car after Wishes! Fireworks. It’s true that the odds of having not one, but TWO fanny- packs shoved indiscriminately in your face is significantly lower at, say…10am or 5pm, but when the monorail-tire-rubber hits the ~~road~~ large concrete pillar thingy from 7:30am-9:00am and 10:30pm-12:00am, all bets are off.

For those of us that would like to lessen the time we are stuck having two children sit in our lap with some big fellas booty two inches from their faces, I would encourage you to consider boarding the RESORT MONORAIL instead.

In the morning when we board the RESORT Monorail loop my children point & laugh at the already sweating (at 8am) Disney guests standing in a (bordering-on-insane) line for the EXPRESS. We are stretched out in an often empty section until we get to the Polynesian. We normally pick up people at the Polynesian, but there are usually still enough places for people to sit. Then at the Grand Floridian things get tighter, but normally only for the sections in the middle. I have found that if you’re willing to walk the extra 15 steps to a section further away it is possible to not have a single person standing the entire ride. And of course, by the time things are getting uncomfortable from the Grand Floridians on-board you’re already at Magic Kingdom.

The evening is the reverse. The RESORT MONORAIL line is long, as it is for the EXPRESS, but realize that you are losing many people at the Contemporary and usually everybody has a place to sit, save a few dads, by the time you exit at the Transportation and Ticket Center.

It also seems to me that those willing to pay the big bucks to stay on the monorail loop are less likely to cram themselves in like sardines on the monorail. Of course, they have other options like boats, buses and walking to lessen the pressure to get on the Monorail.

Is it longer to ride the RESORT monorail? Perhaps by 5 minutes maximum, but 5 minutes more for fewer whiffs of man-sweat more than pay off for a Diva like myself! Try the RESORT monorail next time and let me know what you think!