The Affordable Mouse

Disney Tips- What Should I Take and What Should I Leave?

Kelly — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:45:39 +0000

If you are like me you are a planner. It is very important to be prepared when traveling to Disney because poor preparation can make or break the enjoyment of your vacation. When preparing for your days at the parks it may be helpful to know what you can take into the parks and those things that you should leave behind.

Things you can bring into Disney Theme Parks and Water Parks:

Sunscreen
Snacks
Nonalcoholic beverages
Coolers that measure 24” long x 15” wide x 18” high or smaller.
Strollers
Wheelchairs

It is important to keep in mind that all baggage will be inspected at park entrance.

Things you should leave behind:

Alcoholic beverages
Wagons
Skateboards
Scooters
Inline Skates
Strollers larger than 36”x52”
Coolers larger than 24”long x 15”wide x18” high
Folding Chairs

The lists above are official lists that are approved by the Walt Disney World Travel Company. Now, how about a list of unofficial items that we think that you should have with you when you venture out to the parks? Enjoy!!

Hand Sanitizer
Band-Aids ( Make sure you have various sizes)
Autograph books
Large grip pens for the characters..they can’t sign with small pens.
Safety Pins
Camera
Extra SD cards
Extra camera batteries
Zip-lock bags
Ponchos
Small water bottle for each traveler. These can be easily refilled.
Gum
Key to the World Card or Ticket holder/lanyard. You are always using your tickets so be sure they are easily accessible.
Baby wipes…even if you are not traveling with babies. You can use them to cool off, clean off stains on your clothes, wipe your hands after rides, and clean off surfaces.

We would love to know what essential items you bring with you to the parks. Comment below and we will add your suggestions to our list!!

Find out how the FREE services of a Disney World travel agent can make planning your Disney vacation simple…and for a limited time, get a FREE Disney gift card when you book your trip with me! ($2000 minimum package cost)

Kelly, her husband, and three children live in the Chicagoland area. Kelly has been traveling to Walt Disney World since the age of two. She considers Walt Disney World to be her primary vacation destination. With 20 plus trips under her belt she still enjoys researching and learning new things about the most magical place on earth! Kelly began Disney Guru in August of 2010 with the vision of sharing fun vacation tips and magic with all fans of Disney World.

Thrifty Thursday: How About a FREE Disney Sundae?

Kelly — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:45:38 +0000

Many thanks to Kelly for sharing one of her great Money Saver tips with us, from her blog, Disney Guru today!

We just recently got back from a wonderful trip to Disney World. I just love that every time I am there, we learn new things!!! We stayed at Pop Century so this tip is for all of you Pop stayers out there. If you don’t stay at Pop but you know of a similar deal at your home resort please do share your findings in the comments section below.

When you are on the Disney Dining Plan and you order a quick service meal, you get 1 meal, 1 drink and 1 dessert of your choice. This usually consists of some sort of cake or ice cream bar. Did you know that at Pop they have a bakery section that serves up some wonderful made to order Sundaes? Did you know you can get one of those Sundaes instead of what is offered in the food court area? Well you can!!

When you check out simply tell the cast member that is checking you out that you are going to get your dessert later. He/She will stamp your receipt with a dessert time stamp good for 90 minutes. You can then enjoy your meal and head on over to the bakery, where you can order a Sundae with all of the fixings. It is sooooooooooo yummy!!! We did this almost every day!

*Tip I asked and was able to use my receipt past the 90 minute time slot. It never hurts to ask. :0)

Wordless Wednesday: Skip or Don’t Skip?

Karen — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:45:26 +0000

Are there attractions that you must do every trip? Even if you’ve experienced it every single past trip? Spaceship Earth is one that you shouldn’t miss if you’ve never been to Walt Disney World! Even if the line looks long, it moves very fast and it’s a nice, cool, relaxing ride everyone should try! So, don’t skip it!!

Karen grew up in the Boston area and traveled to Disney World many times with her parents and sister. Always staying at the Fort Wilderness Cabins gave the trips a feeling of a home away from home. It also started the tradition of attending the Hoop Dee Doo Review on each trip! Somehow that show sparked her interest in the Disney College Program. Which she did in the fall of 2002, working as a hostess @ Captain Jacks in Downtown Disney. Now as an adult, Karen finds herself traveling to the parks on a yearly basis! Photography has always been a hobby of Karen’s, but over the past few years it has become her passion. It’s even taken her to her favorite place! The Make a Wish Foundation sent a family to Disney for a week and Karen was lucky enough to be their photographer of choice! She got to tag along and photograph their memories being made. She hopes to get that experience again someday! You can find more of Karen’s photography on her site www.KPportraits.com.

Terrific Tuesdays: Disney Resort Hopping

Shannan — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:45:20 +0000

One thing my family tried on our last trip to Walt Disney World was resort hopping. Since we went around Christmas, all of the resorts were decked out in holiday decor.

Our first stop was the Swan and Dolphin Resorts, they aren’t Disney owned resorts, but they have many of the same luxuries and benefits as the Disney Resorts. The main lobby of the Swan had numerous trees with matching decor. As we headed through the back lobby towards the Dolphin resort, there was a Santa and train scene made completely of chocolate! Over at the Dolphin, the outside walkways were lined with trees covered in multi-colored lights. We took the escalator up to the second floor lobby where a beautiful tree made of white poinsettas blue lights stood. It was gorgeous.

Next we took the boats over to the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts. Outside there were poinsettia filled pots and decorated trees. As we headed into the Yacht Club Resort, we noticed the lobby tree was decorated with lighthouses and sailboats. There was also a working carrousel made of gingerbread. Each horse was named and there were hidden Mickeys scattered around it. The tree at the Beach Club Resort was adorned with starfish and mermaids.

During this trip we made a few ADRs at resorts so we could check out the decor there and “kill 2 birds” in the process. Our first was at the Whispering Canyon Cafe inside the Wilderness Lodge. The room doors open to the inside lobby and all of the balconies were trimmed with greenery. The lobby tree was gorgeous and decorated with bears, teepees and antlers. After we finished our meal, we took a stroll over to the camping sites at Fort Wilderness. Man these folks go all out! There were lights and Disney inflatables everywhere.

Our next resort hopping venture was the monorail resorts. First stop- The Polynesian. This place is beautiful, even without the holiday decorations. Mickey, Minnie and Goofy were dressed in their Christmas best and greeting in the lobby! We hopped back on the monorail and headed to the Grand Floridian. Grand it is! The lobby had a gorgeous Victorian tree and the famous life-sized gingerbread house over to the side. Here you can purchase various gingerbread treats. On the night we were there, bell ringers and carolers were singing in the lobby.

We had breakfast at Chef Mickeys. On the monorail ride, as you head towards it, you notice the HUGE Mickey shaped wreath adorning the side of the building. This resort is also where we found a rather large gingerbread tree, standing 17′ tall and 6′ wide.

We had a great time checking out these resorts, as they are beautiful no matter what the season is. Hopefully on our next trip we can hope around to the ones we missed!

Shannan is a mom that was born and raised in rural Tennessee. She tells us: “I live with my husband and 3 of our 5 children. Travis is 24 and is father to my grandbabies, Emma and baby Judson. I can’t wait to start sharing Disney with them. Dusty is 22, Clay 12, Zachary 10 and Erin is 8. I clean houses to make money to fund my magical trips. I went to Disney the first time as a teen and couldn’t wait to start introducing my own children to the magic. We took our 3 youngest in 2004 and that started it all. We have been 3 times since then and have our first Christmas trip planned for this December. Usually my parents accompany us on the trip and I have to research and plan for things that will suit various ages in our party of 7. Each time I go, I try new experiences in lodging and dining so I can share it with friends and family that seek my advice on trip planning! Disney is definitely my first choice in vacation destinations. Hopefully there is a Disney surf and turf vacation in our future!“

Running with Disney: A Newbie’s Thoughts on Disney Marathon Weekend

Nancy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:45:54 +0000

As I have mentioned previously, one of the reasons we chose the week we did for recent our Disney World vacation, was because it was Marathon Weekend, and our DD was participating in the 5-K. This was a totally new experience for all of us, Disney veterans that we are, and I have to say that learning about an entirely new facet of Disney was fun and fascinating. It was also inspiring…but more on that later.

To start, let me give a little bit about what the Disney Marathon weekend offered. There were 3 “major” races (along with some fun “family” races): the 5-K which was billed as the Family Fiesta 5-K on Friday, the Half-Marathon on Saturday, and the full Marathon which was on Sunday. What amazed me was the number of people…and I mean THOUSANDS of people who participated in these events. And what was even more amazing to me….a total non-runner….was how many people participated in more than one race!! To clarify, this is how long these races are:

The 5-K is about 3 miles
The Half Marathon is 13.1 miles
The full Marathon is 26.2 miles

And there were a LOT of people who did all 3!! You do the math…..

(If you don’t have your calculator handy, that would be over 42 miles folks!!!!)

And everyone gets a medal for participating. Even more fun is that they even recognize those who do both the Half and full Marathons with a special medal just for them: the “Goofy” medal. (There is an unofficial name for those who do all 3….it is the “Dopey” lol…but no medals for them, which seems kind of sad to me….)

Anyway, when we arrived at Walt Disney World on the Thursday before the races, we along with thousands of marathon-goers, went to Disney’s Wild World of Sports Complex, so our DD could pick up her registration packet. We were concerned about bus transportation there, but really, it’s Disney, why were we worried? Disney of course had special transportation running to all marathon events from all resort hotels all weekend, and in our experience, the transportation was pretty efficient.

Before we knew it, we were at Wide World of Sports where we got our first taste of the size and popularity of this event. There were thousands of people there, registering, picking up their packets, and participating in the Health/Fitness Fair that was going on. My personal favorite part was the sign-making area, where family members could prepare signs to cheer on their runners, which DH and I, of course, did! This was so much fun, to see children making signs that said things like “You can Do It Mom!” and “Run Fast Dad”…..I started to get a feel for how inspiring this weekend would turn out to be for me, as I saw how proud so many of these kids were of their parents!

We tried not to stay out too late that night, as our DD had to be at Epcot at 5:30 a.m. (!) on Friday for the pre-race. Of course, we were hardly the only ones on the bus that morning, as there were MANY entire families participating in the 5-K, including people who planned to push strollers in the race! In fact, the entire 3^rd wave of starters was scheduled to be those who walked or were pushing strollers. Cool fact: those “in” the strollers apparently got a medal too!

Disney of course, knows how to put on a show, so the “pre-race” festivities, while meant to help get everyone warmed up and excited, also consisted of a fun DJ, and character appearances, in this case the Three Caballeros. It wouldn’t be Disney without a character photo-op or two.

Before we knew it, our DD had to go line up, so we wished her good luck and made our way over to the finish line to watch for her. There was a grandstand set up for those who wanted to watch: for the Half and full Marathons, you had to purchase a seat to watch, but for the 5-K, anyone could sit there, so it was nice to be able to see so many of the finishers. It was so great to see so many kids running…many who were running a lot faster than the adults lol!

Finally we saw our DD run by and we waved our signs and shouted and hollered: we were so excited! She got her medal, we gave her hugs and then headed back to Kidani Village to shower and get ready for a celebration breakfast at Boma. What an awesome and fun experience and I have to say that doing my own 5-K is a goal of mine now!

There she goes!!!

What is especially cool about this weekend is that it is easy to feel a “part” of things throughout the weekend for the big races too! For example, we passed many of the marathoners along their route on the bus to Epcot on Sunday morning…..and were so excited when an entire family, signs in hand, spotted their dad on the road along side the bus! They were on their way to cheer him on at the end….but they got a little extra magic by seeing him along the way.

Probably the most inspiring thing to me though was being in World Showcase later that afternoon, as the final marathon finishers were making their way around the course. My thoughts about what kind of person it takes to do a marathon were forever shattered that afternoon as I saw people completing a race of over 26 miles that one would never think could do such a thing:

Seniors in their 70s
People with leg braces and one who had a prosthetic limb
People wearing Weight Watchers shirts who had clearly worked very hard to be able to achieve this accomplishment
Husbands and wives holding hands as they completed the race, inspiring each other to finish, in some cases literally holding the other person up in order to finish together

And then there were those who ran for a cause: cancer, leukemia, alzheimers, Give Kids the World, and more….they ran or walked, not for themselves but for a greater cause.

We sat down and watched the last finishers. We shouted encouragement, cheered, clapped and waved, as the final few made their way towards the end. And everyone stood and gave a standing ovation to the last person, broad smile in place, as she walked around World Showcase waving to all, knowing that she had DONE IT!

I loved Marathon Weekend. It was new, it was fun, it was inspiring….it was magical.

Disney Fun From Around the World: Week of January 23, 2012

Rachel — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:45:36 +0000

Happy Saturday Disney Friends! What fun, relaxing things do you have planned for your weekend? Hopefully there’s a little Disney planned! And to get you started, why not take a few minutes to get caught up on all the Disney news that Rachel has found for you! Sounds like the perfect thing to get your weekend started! Enjoy!

Disney Cast Members will now be allowed to sport goatees and beards, within reason. Inside the Magic posted the details.

The Disneyland Hotel celebrated the end of a two-year renovation. The Disney Parks Blog details the changes and upgrades.

The Disney Parks Blog has details on Disney Cruise Line’s itineraries and new ports for 2013.

Jenn at The Disney Moms wrote a great post about travelling to Walt Disney World while pregnant.

Chip and Co. shared the details on Disney’s discounts available exclusively for military families.

The Disney Fantasy sets sail in March. The Disney Insider has all the details on Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship.

If you’re planning a date night at Walt Disney World, the Disney Food Blog has suggestions for the most romantic restaurants at WDW.

If your departure from WDW is later in the day, Walt Disney World for Grown-Ups has a few suggestions of things to do that day to get the most out of your vacation.

That’s it for this week! Have a magical weekend and thanks for sharing part of it with us!

Rachel is a Virginia native who now lives in Louisiana. She is married with two children, ages 5 and 3. After dreaming and wishing for several years, her family had their very first Disney vacations this year and are now addicted to researching and planning—whether for themselves or for others. They now plan to visit the parks at least once a year.

Disney Outside the Parks: The Sweet Side of Disney

Belinda — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:45:50 +0000

photo via http://www.flickr.com/photos/harshlight/4526941119/

I am so excited to be hosting this new series called, Disney Outside the Parks! Disney has such a big impact on so many lives and the magical memories that we create with our loved ones stays with us forever. The one thing most of us dread about a Disney vacation, is coming home. A lot of people don’t realize that although they are no longer in Walt Disney World, they can still enjoy the magic of Disney. How you ask? That’s what I am here for! To show you ways and share ideas on how you and your family can bring the magic of Disney into your daily life!

Let’s kick it off with the sweet side of Disney. We all love Disney treats and one of our favorites is the custom made rice krispy treats that you can get at Goofy’s Candy Co. My husband and I had always come back home craving these little sweet treats and so we found a way to have Goofy in our own kitchen! Below you will find the steps to create your own custom rice krispy treats!

Items Needed: Box of rice krispies cereal, Bag of marshmallows, big barks of cooking chocolate, any candy coating you prefer, Popsicle sticks, large mickey cookie cutter. Make the rice krispy treats according to box. Let cool and lay flat on counter. Make sure you cook chocolate exactly according to package. This was the tricky part, cooking with chocolate is very delicate, if you don’t get it at the exact temperature, it won’t work. It took a few tries, but we got it! Press the mickey head cutter into the rice krispy’s to make the heads. Insert sticks into the bottom. Dip the tips of the ears into the chocolate then into your favorite topping. QUICKLY, put on waxed paper topped plate and into very cold freezer for about 15 minutes or so. Keep checking on it. You’re all done!

We hope you have as much fun making these as we did! Remember, just a little Disney at home, makes everyday magical!

Keep Believing ~Belinda

Belinda is a Disney Vow Renewal Bride, and a massive Disney addict. In her words: “I am happily married to my high school sweetheart and we have two four legged kids, our cat Simba and our dog Harley. My husband and I have been to Disney 16+ times, been aboard Disney Cruise Line 5+ times and have had a vow renewal wedding aboard the Disney Magic! We have a room in our home we call our happy place. It is wall to wall Disney and nothing more. Not a day goes by that I’m not in my room basking in the happiness that only Disney can create. My hope is to share with all of you, the love and passion that I have for Disney while embracing the magic of Walt’s dream. I am honored to be a contributor for The Affordable Mouse, and look forward to helping spread a little Disney magic.”

Thrifty Thursday: Don’t Miss the Fireworks!

Brenda — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:45:38 +0000

Thanks to Nancy for this great photo of Illuminations!

I was talking to a recent Walt Disney World visitor the other day. We talked about everything she and her family did on their trip and how much they all enjoyed Disney. When I asked her what they thought of the fireworks shows, she said they had not seen them. They had gotten up each day and went to the parks as early as possible, but had “pooped out” before the fireworks were to start and went back to the resort before they began each evening. It became very important to me to make sure you all know that you should not miss this important part of a Walt Disney World trip.

If you are heading to the parks early each day, take a midday break and go to your resort for some R&R or a nap. Then, head back to the park late afternoon or early evening and stay to enjoy these spectacles of magic in the parks. Whether it is Wishes at the Magic Kingdom, Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios, or Illuminations at Epcot, they are all well worth hanging in there for and, believe it or not, they will rejuvenate your spirit. The resulting extra endorphins will give you renewed energy.

Here is a description of each of these must-do shows:

Wishes

Wishes Nighttime Spectacular is the biggest, brightest fireworks extravaganza in the history of Magic Kingdom park. Hosted by Jiminy Cricket, and highlighted by Tinkerbell flying through the sky from the castle, it tells a great story.

Jiminy guides Pinocchio, Cinderella, Ariel, Peter Pan and other beloved Disney characters through a fantastic tale accompanied by a wonderful and magical musical score which plays in sync with the fireworks show. Added features of pyrotechnics and special effects make this spectacular show a Disney-style fantasy where you will discover that wishes really do come true.

The fireworks schedules vary by season, so be sure to see the Times Guide when you enter the park for exact dates and times. The show can be viewed throughout the Park, but to see Tinker Bell flying in the sky, a view from the front of Cinderella Castle is best.

Fantasmic!

Fantasmic! has been temporarily closed for refurbishment, but will be re-opening on February 13, 2012. Fantasmic! is an awesome 25-minute fireworks and water show that brings together all of your favorite Disney Characters.

The show stars Mickey Mouse, of course, as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice; as well as many other classic Disney characters from Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Aladdin, Pinocchio, The Lion King, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Tarzan, and more. But when the Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs gathers such classic villains as Ursula, Cruella de Vil, Scar, Jafar and a larger-than-life Maleficent to turn Mickey’s dreams into a nightmare, leave it to Mickey and the power of imagination to save the day.

This show uses over one million gallons of water and 50 costumed performers. The Imagineers combine explosive pyrotechnics, shimmering laser lights and dazzling dancing water effects with beloved Disney songs and animation. This show is a musical extravaganza of sight and sound, and is full of surprises.

Fantasmic! is performed on select nights only, so be sure to check the Times Guide at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for show times. Fantasmic! is an outdoor show and, thus, is also subject to cancellation due to inclement weather. Also of note is that guests sitting in the first couple of rows may get wet during the performance.

Illuminations: Reflections of Earth

IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth is definitely my family’s favorite. It is a mesmerizing spectacle of fireworks, lasers and water that features a rousing soundtrack. IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth is a 14-minute, live pyrotechnic show that brings together the past, present and future of our planet and its colorful nations.

Shown atop the World Showcase Lagoon, it features breathtaking fireworks, laser-light effects, dramatic fountain barges, bursts of fire, and an awesome musical score. The highlight of this show is the appearance of the world’s first spherical video display system—the 350,000-pound Earth Globe. This is an inspirational and amazing show which tells the story of our planet in 3 acts:

Act 1: Chaos — Bear witness to the explosion at the dawn of time that brings about the creation of Earth, where you are invited to observe the Inferno Barge, a liquid-propane mechanism launching balls of fire 60 feet into the air.

Act 2: Order — Behold the glowing Earth Globe as it glides peacefully to the center of the lagoon, illuminated with—and celebrating—the famous faces and achievements of our time.

Act 3: Meaning — During this final act, the Earth Globe blossoms to reveal a torch and the glow of a thousand fireworks and laserlights that fill the night sky in a shimmering kaleidoscope of color and sound, propelling us into the future.

IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth can be viewed anywhere throughout the World Showcase that offers a clear view of the World Showcase Lagoon. It runs nightly, but be sure to check the Times Guide at Epcot the day of your visit for show times. An important note is that IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth is an outdoor show and, thus, is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather. My advice is that if it should be cancelled during the night you plan to be there, attend on a different night if at all possible.

Disney has put a great deal of thought, time and money into creating these magnificent shows. They are an important part of the Disney magic and are created to be enjoyed by families spending time together in love at Disney. This is some of the best FREE time you will spend at Disney so, no matter what, don’t miss them!

Brenda is a native Texan born and raised on the Gulf Coast. She visited Disney World twice as a teenager and always dreamed of growing her family Disney. She took her first-timer husband and their three children to Disney World in 2000 and they now spend every Thanksgiving there. Brenda writes with a comedic twist on various Disney topics. She will be sharing tips she has learned during her travels and also hopes to enlighten people on little-known freebies that Disney has to offer. She wishes she could have met Walt Disney and considers herself to be a student of Walt. In parallel to his dream it is her wish that everyone would take at least one trip to Disney World in order to share in its magic with their families.

Wordless Wednesday: A Disney Game Plan!

Karen — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:45:46 +0000

Do you tend to map out a game plan when you visit the parks? Or do you prefer to just plan your day as it happens? If you’re a first time guest at Walt Disney World, it could save you time and energy if you map out which rides you’ll hit first and what is located nearby in case you need to grab a Fast Pass and wait for an attraction!

Terrific Tuesdays: Sailing Away on Disney World’s Boats

Shannan — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:45:48 +0000

One thing my family enjoys doing while at Walt Disney World is looking at the scenery a little differently than others do. Most people think that you need to rush to places by monorail or bus transportation. Though sometimes we do, we also like to go by boat.

Our first Disney boat experience was when we stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter. From here you can travel by small ferry boat to Port Orleans Riverside or Downtown Disney. The boats leave the dock, which is located on the backside of the resort along the Sassagoula River, approximately every 20 minutes during the day time hours and every 10 in the evenings. The captains of these boats usually give a little bit of the area and river history and tell you about the scenery that you pass along the way.

Our next boating venture was at the Swan and Dolphin Resort. There, they have a ferry that can transport passengers to the Beach and Yacht Resorts or to Disney’s Boardwalk. These ferries are a bit larger than those at the Port Orleans docks. Also on our most recent trip we took the large ferry from the ticket and transportation center to the Magic Kingdom. This ferry is the largest of all with two levels to choose from. It does take a bit longer to get to your destination, but you’re on vacation so why rush it?

There are also many attractions that use boats as a means to take you from scene to scene. My favorite, Pirates of the Caribbean, It’s A Small World, The Jungle Cruise and the Adventures of the Three Caballeros just to name a few.

And don’t forget about the magnificent Liberty Belle at the Liberty Square Riverboat. This is a paddle wheel steamboat that lets you take in beautiful scenery of Native Americans, pirates and wildlife and catch backside glimpses of Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Haunted Mansion. There are three levels to this boat where you can choose to stand and see the scenery as it circles Tom Sawyers Island or rest your feet. The 17 minute trip is about a half of a mile cruise.

There are also rentals available at other resorts and locations for paddle boats and pontoons. So take a different view the next time you visit and see what you have been missing