Magic Bands

Disney has created a great new program for their Disney Resort Hotel Guests. They have rolled out MagicBands. These are waterproof bracelets that everyone in your party will receive before you leave for your vacation. You will also get to personalize these bands on MyDisneyExperience. Here, you will choose from eight different colors: red, purple, blue, green, pink, yellow, orange and gray. You can also choose which name you would like to be one everyone's band. I chose a pink one that says "Mom".

So here is what these MagicBands will do:

• When you arrive at MCO (Orlando International) and head down to the Magical Express (Disney bus that takes you to your hotel), you used to have the travel vouchers that came in the mail. These were very easy to lose, and were just one more thing to keep track of. Now, your MagicBand will serve as your voucher to get on the bus!

• These will be your room key. No more swiping your Key to the World Card. You just touch your MagicBand to the hotel room door, and you unlock it!

• These will also serve as your theme park tickets. They are waterproof, so no worries when you have a day at Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach!

• Okay, I know, there is more!! The MagicBands will also be used for your Disney Dining. So, when you check out or at the end of your meal,  scan your bracelet and it will deduct your meal allotments.

• You will use your bands for your FastPass+ also. This is great because you can schedule your FastPass attractions before you even leave home! They will load to your MagicBand. Then at your scheduled time, head to the attraction and scan your Magic Band! No more paper FastPass to lose!

• Okay, last but certainly not least. You can link your credit card to your MagicBand, so you can make in park purchases! No worry, you will also have to enter a pin at checkout, so no one can steal your band MagicBand and make purchases. Also, you will not have to worry about the kids being sneaky and grabbing that extra large pixie stick you said no to!







The stroller dilemma....................

Should we or should we not bring our own stroller?

If you have kids, trust me, you need a stroller at Disney World. Not only are you constantly walking, but with the heat, it can be a lot on little ones. I choose to bring our stroller, not only do I find it more convenient, but it saves lots of money. Disney has stroller rentals (follow link) at all of it's parks. 

Single Stroller:

Daily: $15

Multi-Day (Length of Stay): $13

Double Stroller:

Daily: $31

Multi-Day (Length of Stay): $27

There is also a local company Kingdom Strollers, who also rent out strollers. They also will deliver to your hotel for free. Their Stroller prices are as follows:

 Single Stroller:

• 1-3Night Rental:$40.00/$45.00 Total
• 4-7Night Rental:$60.00/$65.00 Total
• 8-10  Night Rental:        $80.00/$85.00 Total
• 11-14Night Rental:$100.00/$105.00 Total

Double Stroller:

• 1-3Night Rental:$50.00 -$60.00  Total
• 4-7Night Rental:$70.00 - $80.00 Total
• 8-10NightRental:$90.00-$100.00  Total
• 11-14Night Rental:$110.00-$120.00 Total

If you fly to Orlando and do not bring your own stroller there are several things to remember. You will not have the stroller at the airport. To me this is not good at all. With your carry-on bags and kids who do not want to walk, this is a set-up for an airport melt down. It also makes it a lot less stressful to have the kids in the stroller and not wondering in front or behind you in crowds with lots of strangers. Disney resorts are large, just taking the kids to the park or down to the pool could be a hike in itself.  Yes, you will have to fold up and lug the stroller in the buses to/from the parks. We have never had an issue, even with our double stroller. So, my advice, BRING YOUR OWN STROLLER!!!

Your Disney World vacation photos

When you take your family to Disney World, you want to capture every magical moment, right? Disney has photographers everywhere. In front of the Castle, with all of the characters and scattered everywhere in between. Now, on certain Disney World rides/attractions they have cameras set up to snap your picture at the height of the excitement. That drop on the Tower of Terror, that fun ride on the Mine Train and that stomach in the air drop on Splash Mountain, just to name a few. As you exit the ride, you come to a counter where you can purchase the photo. There have been so many times I have passed on a great picture, just because it is super expensive! Disney has a program called Memory Maker. This rolls all of your attraction and throughout the park photos into one account. Then, you purchase a digital copy of all of your photos. If you purchase at least 3 days in advance it is just $149. It sounds like a lot, but trust me it is totally worth every penny! Memory Maker costs $169, if you do not buy in advance. Now that Disney offers MagicBands, this band/bracelet will be what the photographer or the person behind the counter at the attraction scans to save that photo to your Memory Maker account. Photos usually upload to your My Disney Experience App pretty quickly for viewing. How convenient is that!!??

Stockup all year for vacation necessities on CLEARANCE!!!!

If you plan your trip one year in advance, you can take advantage of buying a lot of your vacation necessities on clearance.  My family usually visits Disney World between March and May. Orlando, with the exception of a few months in the winter, is very warm.

• If you have small children, it is easy to guesstimate what size they will be wearing the next season. At the end of the summer, well really when the stores are rolling out school clothes, watch for the summer clothes to go on clearance. You can scoop up lots of cute outfits for really cheap for your kids to wear on your next vacation!  I love to buy the kids a new outfit for everyday we will be in Disney. I know, it sounds silly, but remember frugal but fabulous! Sometimes two outfits,  especially for the little ones, who will get dirty.
• Look not only for clothes, but for sundries like sunblock and sunblock sticks, aloe vera gel, packs of disposable swim diapers, rubber swim diapers, etc.. These things also go on clearance at the end of the summer and will stay good through your next trip. I have found that Target will have these things at great prices around early September.
• If you shop at Target, watch the dollar bins they have in the front of the store. Here you can score little coloring packs, books and puzzles for the plane ride. Also, sometimes they have little spray bottles that are great to fill with water for your children to use when they are hot at the parks.
• Remember that arm floaties, water shoes, and goggles also go on clearance at the end of the season.  These are great to get on the cheap and you can give them to your kids as extra Christmas presents, then just put them in your vacation stash until your trip!
• Periodically throughout the year, stores will have cute kids carry-on luggage on clearance also. Yes, I am name dropping Target again! They have great things all year long. So, if you get bored, grab a popcorn and soda and stroll through the isles! You never know what you can find for your family on sale or clearance to put away for your next trip!

Using your tax return to pay for your vacation

Using your tax return to pay for the parts of your family vacation that you have not saved for is a great idea. Now, I only recommend this if you have stayed on budget and have been smart with paying down your debts all year. If you plan your trip one year in advance and have saved a certain amount every week, you will most likely not have to use the whole tax return. I aim to save enough throughout the year to buy our plane tickets, for us that is $1000-$1200. Also, if you use your Disney Gift Cards that you will receive for birthdays, holidays and other special occasions, you can use these to pay down your vacation package.

When you are on a tight budget all year, it is so easy to take that tax return and spend it in a blink of an eye. Usually, it is spent on going out to eat, clothes, and lots of other things that we do not treat ourselves to all of the time. Then, when it is all gone, you regret not spending it on things you REALLY needed. So, my advice to you, stick to your budget as close as possible and be very smart with your money. When tax time comes around, use your tax return to pay for the rest of your vacation package. Any money left after paying for your vacation should be put into savings.  You will always have bills, need to fix that one last thing in your home, or need that newest bag or pair of shoes. But, your children are only given one childhood, so make it as magical as possible!

Quick Service eats at the Disney Resort Hotels

There is nothing better than a good quick service restaurant at your hotel. When you have small children, you need to have that option for Breakfast, Lunch during a swim break, or for Dinner after an early quit from the parks. Grabbing a few Mickey waffles or a hot breakfast platter is the way to start your day off right.

 

Unfortunately,  The Deluxe Disney Hotels lack in great quick service options. I have found that even though they may have a quick service, like The Mara at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, the menu is not as extensive as some moderate resorts.

 

My favorite quick service resort food court is Old Port Royale food court at The Caribbean Beach Resort.  This dining option offers a variety of kid and adult friendly menu items. It also won  me over by serving the kid's meals in a pail with shovel. When you have some down time, there are white sand beaches scattered throughout the resort. You can relax in a comfy hammock, while the little ones build away in the warm sand.

 





Make your kids Disney Tee Shirts!

 

Every time we go to Disney, I surprise the kids with their own special tee shirt. It is super easy and cheap! Get the kids matching colored shirts. If you have a baby, get them a coordinating colored onsie. Buy black iron on patches, and puffy paint. I like to stick with red, black, white and sometimes some blue. Trace and cut out a Mickey head shape. Iron that onto the shirt. Use the puffy paint to add a fun message, the same on all shirts. Keep the shirts hidden until right before you leave. Your kids will love this surprise, and everyone at  the airport will think it is so cute!

 

Save the below Mickey Mouse head outline to your pictures, then open it in word. You will be able to adjust the size. Then print it out to use as a template for your tee shirt iron on patches.

 

 

 

 

Getting to Disney

I live in the North East, so my travel help to you will be tailored to getting to Orlando from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont. Here are some of my travel tips for you:

• Do not book your flight to far in advance. If you do so, you will most likely end up paying to much. Travel experts say to book domestic flights two months ahead of time. If you are traveling on a major holiday, book as soon as possible.
• Do not book last minute flights, way to much money!
• Southwest is the only airline that still offers free checked bags. Southwest offers 2 free checked bags (best when traveling with small kids).  
• Try to hitch a ride to and from the airport. Ask a friend, or a member of your family to drop you off and pick you up. This will save you from having to pay for parking at the airport! 
• If you have a  HHonors™ account, you can exchange your points towards your JetBlue airfare.

I prefer to fly JetBlue, they have TV screens on the back of every seat. This is great for the kids! Make sure to pack your own head phones or ear buds, this will save you from buying them on the plane! Also, the JetBlue terminal at Logan in Boston has a little play area for the kids. This is a great way for them to get out any energy they have before boarding the plane!

Best ways to save for your Disney World vacation:

• Start a "Disney" jar. Every time you or your kids find change on the ground when out and about, even a penny, save it and put it in the Disney jar. When you come home from the store with loose change, put it in the Disney jar. If you receive a rebate via mail, Disney jar it. Yard sale, sold something on Craigslist for $5? Disney jar it! Get it? Any little bit helps! Your kids will love helping out! Your bank will give you free change rolls. Every month, sit with your kids and count out the change, then roll it with them. This is a great way to teach your little ones to count and learn quarter, nickel, dime, penny!

• For birthdays or holidays, ask friends and families for Disney gift cards. These cards can be used for everything Disney, Hotel, tickets, meals, shopping, even to rent a boat or bike, or to go fishing at your resort! Then, put them in your Disney jar!
• If you have a Target Red card, you can save 5% when you use it to purchase Disney gift cards.
• Save a little every week. I know, I get it. With daycare costs, groceries, gas, shoes, socks, lunch money, that 10th birthday gift you have to buy for a child you have never  even met. It is so hard to find any extra money to put away. Even if it is $10 or $25 a week, it adds up. Especially when you PLAN AHEAD!!! If you know a year in advance that you are going to take those kiddos to Disney, save a little each week! For example: If you decide in April that you will take the kids next April school vacation. You put aside $25 a week, no matter how painful it is. You will have saved $1000 at the two month mark before your vacation. Use it to buy your plane tickets!
• My favorite way is so simple. Now, I am done and over using my credit cards for everything! I learned that lesson, thank God, when we were in our early 20's. But, I do have a Disney Rewards Visa. This is what I do. My husband gets paid every two weeks. I have a grocery budget, a gas budget, a family entertainment budget, my cable, my oil, my daughter's gymnastics, dog and chicken food(yes, we have chickens), etc. I take all of that money out of the paycheck and make payment in that total amount to my credit card. Then, I use my Disney Rewards Visa to pay for the things listed above. You are charging it, but you are immediately paying it off, so it cancels out any negatives. DO NOT use your credit card for things you do not have money for! Every $100 you put on you Disney Rewards Visa, you earn $1 Disney Dream Dollar. Does not sound like a lot, but it adds up! Do you know if you are going to buy a washer, a pool for the kids, a hotel stay for a friend's wedding? Take the cash, pay it towards your credit card, and use the credit card to for those purchases to earn Disney Dollars! Again, I only use my credit card if I have the cash on hand to make that certain purchase. Do not use that card unless you have the cash to immediately pay it off! Remember, we are only using it to earn rewards, not to dig a hole we cannot get out of!

Common Disney World vacation myths:

• It is way too expensive and financially out of reach.
• You have to wait until your children are that "perfect" age.
• It will be too stressful and you want a relaxing vacation.
• It is cheaper to stay off site and not on Disney property.
• You should rent a car
• The dining plan is not worth it

Lets tackle these one at a time, shall we??

• The first is not entirely a myth. If you do not plan properly and "wing it", yes, you will pay way to much. But, that is said for everything now-a-days. I will post several tips on saving and paying for, secrets on the best ways to spend your budget, and lots of other little tid bits to help you go to Disney, not only for 3 or 4 days, but for a week. Yes, trust me, you can afford it!
• Second, there really is no perfect age! My first child first visited when he was 10 months, my second when she was 11 months old. My third, well she will be 9 months, when we go again in April. Yes, we all enjoyed ourselves, no it was not miserable! I know they will not remember their Disney firsts, but we will. Let's face it, when they are that young, it was really for me and hubby! But, just trying to make a point. Disney, if planned right, is perfect at any stage of childhood! I will post several child friendly tips and secrets!
• Third, Disney is what you make it. If you are a total stress case to began with, then I can assure you, every aspect of your life is stressful. The key to a stress free Disney vacation is to not over do it! This is key for when traveling with children!  Many of the Disney resort hotels, offer several "down time" activities for when you are not at the parks.
• Fourth, it is not cheaper to stay off property, once you add in all of the onsite Disney perks. Okay, I am going there.  We will not stay at chintzy hotels. Yes, I said it. You may be able to get that $49 hotel room in Kissimmee, but do you really want to stay there, no.  Yes, it has a bed, but no, it probably is not the cleanest. Also, it is not going to be that stress free, magical Disney vacation. Trust me, been there done that when I was younger and did not know any better.  EWWW..... I try to forget!
• Fifth, do not rent a car!!!  Part of the fun is flying into MCO(Orlando international) and hoping onto Disney Magical Express.  Also, when staying on site at a Disney hotel, their buses bring you to and from all of the parks! No need to pay for any parking!
• Sixth, if you go to Disney without the Disney Dining Plan, you will not have a full belly! It is sooooooo expensive to eat there! You would blow your budget and have to tell your husband he would have to order a burger, no steak for him!

First things first....

Why take your children to Disney World?

• Your children are only little once. Let's face it, they have the rest of their lives to be grownups. We, as parents, have only a few of those precious and innocent years to make as magical as possible. The "Disney Magic" that comes with everything Disney World has to offer, is the perfect place to harness that!
• I have lots of friends and family who decide to do the annual rent a lake cabin, or they go camping. That is also a wonderful way to bond with your children. But, on the other hand, watching your child tell people their version of their Disney vacation is priceless! I can guarantee that your child will talk about your Disney World vacation all year long. But, not just talking.  "Mom, remember when...", "Mom, that sounds just like....", "Mom, when are we going back?". These kids are reminiscing. They are recalling all of the special and fun moments, that can only be made at Disney World.
• Let's not forget the "Magic". This is, for me, what draws me to Disney. We (my husband and I), never got the privilege of going to Disney as kids. We first went when we were about 19, and every year since! It was a wow factor the first few times. Now, with three little ones, it is that a million times over! Watching your children's faces the first time they see the castle. Or the first time they go on a "safari". The first time they meet their favorite Disney character. Priceless, priceless, priceless! As your children go, year after year, they are still just so amazed. It is like Christmas morning the whole vacation. That, my friends, is Disney Magic!

Welcome!!

Welcome to Frugal Disney. I am creating this blog to serve as a helpful guide for families with children, who want to know the ins and outs of an affordable Disney World vacation. Every few days I will post on subjects that will help you start to save, plan and enjoy your family vacation to Disney World, yes even with small children!

I have learned throughout the years and many Disney World vacations, many money, time and sanity saving tips. You can give your family magical family memories. Give your kids bragging rights that every kid wants and dreams of. Most importantly, enjoying your child's one and only childhood, with and alongside them.

Thank you for visiting this blog. I hope that you are a frequent visitor . I also hope that this information will be your stepping stone to many magical family memories!