Tag Archives: Disney Travel

The Vacation Initiative – Saving Money For Disney Trips

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IMG_3278A Disney vacation is an investment.  It’s an investment of both time and money and, I like to think, an investment in creating family memories that last much longer than things (like the latest video game or the trendiest jeans).  Oh, there are plenty of ways to save money on your Disney vacation (a post on that at a later date), but I want to talk about saving money FOR a Disney vacation.  If you are the kind of Disney fans we are – saving for that all important dose of Disney becomes a way of life.  It doesn’t feel like “doing without” or “making sacrifices” it’s just doing what needs to be done to get where you want to be.  

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Cruising in the Caribbean

I wish I could say I’ve joined the extreme couponing bandwagon and get all our household goods virtually free.  Yeah……no.  Our methods of saving are not of the “extreme” variety but save money they do and here’s a list of a few that come to mind today:

I take my lunch to work everyday – usually leftovers.  No eating out at lunch unless it’s a special occasion.  Raymond works close to home, so he spends his lunch hour at the house – eating leftovers and taking Junior out for a mid-day run around the yard.  If you think about eating lunch on a workday at a modest $5 a lunch for 50 weeks of the year for the two of us, we’re saving about $2,500 a year!!!

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The Mediterranean in the south of France

We rarely eat out in general.  Before launching the Vacation Initiative, we ate at a sit-down restaurant at least once a week (usually every Saturday) – now it’s more like once a month (if that).  I’m not counting our standing Friday night carry-out pizza from the only pizza joint nearby with a drive-through window – it’s Junior’s big night out, going with us to pick up that pie, and I wouldn’t dream of denying him the pleasure.  I enjoy cooking very much and cook enough hearty meals that there are some pretty tasty leftovers to take care of lunches all week long.

We grow our own herbs and vegetables.  I don’t consider myself a “living off the land” kindaIMG_1667 girl (hello…I was raised in the city!), but living in Louisiana, married to a dreamy guy who knows agriculture – planting a kitchen garden is so easy, it’d be silly not to do it.  I grow parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme (are you singing along?) and also basil, mint, and oregano.  Raymond takes care of the spring and summer supply of things like peppers, mixed salad greens, tomatoes, corn, zucchini, eggplant, and butternut squash.  I don’t do canning, but I do freeze veggies and am so appreciative of being able to reach in my freezer and make butternut squash soup during the winter – it’s great!

IMG_1003I learned to groom the dog.  Go ahead – I laugh when I think about it too, but the investment in some electric clippers and dog shampoo sure paid off in spades when Junior grew to 60 lbs and it cost $100 per grooming visit.  Because he’s part standard poodle, our little guy must be clipped regularly or he becomes a huge, shaggy, matted mess!  Just today he got a haircut and he looks pretty cute if I do say so myself.  I’d say I’m saving conservatively $600/year.

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Holidays at Disney World

Finally – as you’ve seen if you’ve visited my little Disney blog before – I make my own Disney Christmas ornaments and decorations.  And, as I’ve mentioned, I do not buy craft supplies at regular price EVER.  I also like to make scrapbooks of our Disney trips…not super fancy ones like those incredible scrapbook artists make, but simple ones that allow Megan and Joseph to look back at those good times and remember.  Remember how we were as a family through the years, remember the incredible things we saw and the adventures we had and hopefully, dream about the day they can share those happy times with their own children.

Share your tips for saving for Disney vacations!

First Disney Cruise? This One’s for YOU – Door Décor!

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IMG_0605If you are preparing to set sail on your first Disney Cruise, there are two things you need to know about:  Door Décor and Fish Extenders.  Once you know about them, your participation is purely optional, but they’re both a great way to add a little extra fun to your Disney Cruise experience.

Today I’ll cover Door Décor – come back tomorrow for the rest!

Door Décor – I highly recommend this.  Super easy and extremely beneficial!  All you really need to do is bring along a couple of Disney magnets to slap on your stateroom door.  G’head, ask….what?  WHY!?!

Two reasons, #1:  Yeah, think about it, all those doors look just alike…hundreds of them!  Customizing your stateroom entrance for the duration of your stay makes it ever so much easier for kiddos and adults alike to stop in the right place along that looooooong corridor (no need to try so hard to memorize that cabin number!).

Reason #2:  This is a fun and creative way to show your love for Disney with a minimum investment.  I make my decorations at home by buying some Disney scrapbooking supplies – some things I arrange on colored paper before I put some magnets on the back (buy a self-sticking roll of magnetic “tape” and cut it as you need it).  Some things are great just as they are, just slap a piece of magnet on the back and VOILA!  Custom Disney Door Décor.  Be as simple or as fancy as you like, but really, you’re going to feel sad (guilty even) when you see all those cool doors aIMG_2059nd yours is blank.  Note:  magnets are the only way to go as Disney Cruise Line will not allow you to use tape on the doors.

On our last Disney cruise, I made a new decoration for each cruise port and changed them out as we sailed along.  I’m an amature when it comes to door decorating – some people have the most amazing, personalized, laminated, professionally crafted stuff on those doors!  Don’t be intimidated!!!  Do as much or as little as you care to do – just do it.  Because I said so.  And also because when your kids are running down the corridor and always know which door is yours, you’ll thank me.

Link to Fish Extender Information

Vacationing at Disney World – Magical Aromas?

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IMG_5124Over the years there has been quite a bit of chatter on the Internet about the different scents people experience during a visit to Disney World.  If you look hard enough, you can even find suggestions for how to bring some of those smells home (certain candles, air fresheners, bath products, etc.)…I’m going to look into some of these and get back to you.  Anyway, whether it’s your first visit to Disney World or your 10th, there are a few smells you can’t help but notice.  The really cool thing is, the next tIMG_3280ime you smell THAT smell, it’ll make you happy; immediately evoking memories of your Disney World vacation!

Main Street USA – freshly baked goodies.  No matter what time of year or what time of day – when you walk down Main Street in the Magic Kingdom, you will smell the delicious smell of baking cookies.  To me it actually smells a bit like the waffle cones they sometimes bake in ice cream stores.  However your own sniffer interprets it, you can’t deny that the Main Street-smell is fantastic!  Puts a smile on my face every single time I smell it.

Staying with the Magic Kingdom, let’s talk about the smell in Mickey’s PhilharMagic…pretty darned super!  If you’ve ever experienced this magical 3D marvel, you know what I’m talking about.  It’s the smell of the berry pie that floats right by your face as Lumiere belts out “Be Our Guest”!  Oh, how I love that smell!  It’s not the only reason to adore Mickey’s PhilharMagic, though, so if you haven’t had the pleasure, add that attraction to your must-do list.

Moving on to Epcot, more great places to engage the old schnozzola await (wait…did I really just say IMG_0940that?).  Space Ship Earth is a great place to start.  As you’re riding along, the smell of Rome Burning is an awesome detail in this attraction!  I tend to forget about it until it happens, then I’m thinking, “Oh, how COOL!” whenever we get to that part – probably not appropriate to the seriousness of the tragic losses Dame Judi Dench is busy describing in my ear, but there it is.

Ask anyone whIMG_5052o’s been there about the smells of Disney World and they’ll be quick to mention Soarin’ if they’ve been on this extraordinary attraction in The Land at Epcot.  There also tends to be some lively discussions when the subject of Soarin’ smells is brought up about the exact number of different scents there are to be enjoyed in Soarin’ – this seems to be up to the individual smeller – I am 100% positive I smell both orange groves and evergreen trees at different parts of the experience…as for any other scents that may be there, I’ll let you decide for yourself. There’s one more smell at Epcot I want to mention.

Over in World Showcase.  I strongly suggest you stop in Germany’s Karamell-Kuche!  At last, something to smell AND taste!  Take the time to look around while you’re enjoying the smell of caramel and you’ll be tempted to try a IMG_0941taste of one of the many treats offered in this shop (owned by the makers of Wherther’s Original Caramels).

At Animal Kingdom, another 3D show offers another smelly experience.  This one isn’t quite like the others I’ve mentioned, but certainly adds to the entertainment of, “It’s Tough to be a Bug”!  Beneath the Tree of Life is the theater for this 9-minute show filled with some truly amazing details that include a very special smell.  You’ll just have to try it for yourself if you’re there.

This list is by far not complete.  There are many other aromas (good and bad) to experience at Disney World….What are some of your favorites?