Amazon Mom - FREE Shipping

Hey there Disney Friends!!

I just wanted to pass along this terrific deal!  I know it is not completely Disney related, but hey it can save you money....money that you can use for Disney, so there I related it!!  :-)

Amazon Mom is a great service provided by Amazon.com.  When you sign up you get 3 months of FREE Amazon Prime Membership.  So what's so great about Amazon Prime?  Well you get FREE 2 day shipping!  And there is no minimum.  That's right, FREE!  Now regularly with Amazon you can place an order and if it is over $25 you can get FREE super saver shipping.  And that is great, I love it and use it all the time.  But what is even better - how about no minimum and have it get her in 2 days instead of 3-5?! 

You can extend the 3 months free by purchasing $25 or more in the baby store.  Every $25+ purchase earns you another month.  So you could end up with 12 months (that's the max) of Free Amazon Prime.  My time ran out, but I do need to buy a few packages of diapers and a birthday present for my nephew so I am hoping those purchases will bump me back in for a couple more months!  I had it at Christmas time and LOVED it!!

Amazon Mom - sign up here

Tangled is coming out soon!!! - March 29th!

I personally cannot wait for Tangled's release! Emma and Owen LOVED it. And so did I. I think it was a very cute movie and had great songs. Amazon has it for preorder and it is $16.99. The price could come down more so keep your eyes out for deals. If you see it for a better price please let me know!

Tuesday Tip - Photopass

Smile Disney lovers!!

My tip today - use the photopass photographers to your advantage!! Yes they can snap your picture and upload it to your photopass, but you can also get them to take your picture with your camera! How many vacations have you been on when one of you is not in the picture because you are behind the camera? No more!!! They are EVERYWHERE! At all the hot spot picture locations.

Another tip that I have not taken advantage of, but know others who have is to get the photopass CD. You can prepurchase it on disneyphotopass.com for $99 or get it once you get home for $149. http://www.disneyphotopass.com/previsitoffer.aspx
It gives your the copyright to all your photos taken so you can print them anywhere for much less! Considering the price of a 5x7 it is quite the deal!

Autograph Tips

One of the benefits of booking with me is you will get a giftcard ($7.50 per child) to be able to purchase a Authentic Disney Parks autograph book as seen here. We usually get a new one every trip. It's just one of the things my kids love to do! I know of some people that make their own at home or buy just a notebook. There are other fun ways I have seen people collect autographs from their favorite Disney characters that I am thinking of trying on our next trip - one is getting them on a hat or a T-shirt. Be sure to bring a sharpie marker with you if this is your plan!
We get the majority of our autographs at character meals. But I have been known to stand in the lines if they aren't too long. In fact for some characters this is the only way. Think Tinkerbell....we waited about an hour to meet this famous fairy!!! Her home was once in ToonTown in the Magic Kingdom. Sadly Toontown is gone now. I know my kids and I will miss it. It was a great character meeting area - Princesses and Fairies were here along with other random caharacters and of course this was the place to meet Mickey Mouse.

You can easily find Character Meeting spots on your park maps and by signs throughout the parks. Some signs will even specify what character and the time frame you will be able to see them. Another way to locate character meet and greets and their times of being there is to look at the Times Guide you can pick up upon entering the park and at many concession stands throughout the parks. (These are also helpful in locating park hours, parade and show times, etc.)

Preschool Fun!

So do you have a little one that LOVES Disney Junior - previously Playhouse Disney? Well I know I do! And because of this one of our favorite places to eat is Play and Dine at Hollywood and Vine! In the past they had the Little Einsteins Leo and June and and oldie but goodie - Jojo and Goliath form Jojo's Circus. On our last trip Leo and June were still there, but Jojo was gone.

While we missed Jojo, my kids were excited about the new addition of Special Agent Oso and Handy Manny!!

The kids get to meet the characters as they come to the table. You can get pictures - as you can see above - and can get autographs from their favorite characters. Also the kids get to join in on a dance party with the characters a few times during the meal.

It is a buffet and the character meal is available for breakfast and lunch. Dinner at Hollywood and Vine does NOT include the characters, so keep this in mind when making dining reservations!

After you finish your meal head on over to Disney Junior LIVE! A live show with all your favorite Disney Junior characters. Recently added was Jake and the Neverland Pirates. (This part of the show replaced My Friends Tigger and Pooh.) Featured in the show is Little Einsteins, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny and Jake and the Neverland Pirates. I have not seen the updated show as this just happened, but I am sure it is just as good if not better than it was before! Please note - the seating for this show is on the floor. There are some benches along the back wall, but know this going in!

 

I hope you enjoy the meal and the show!! It truly is one of our favorites!!

Tuesdays Tip - Strollers

For me strollers are a HUGE neccesity with small children. I am talking 6 and under AT least! My daughter will rarely sit in it for long periods of time anymore - she is 5 and a half now (can't forget that all important half!) - but man oh man at the end of the day that stroller comes in handy. When she isn't using it, well sometimes we will just leave it parked in the land are we are in or we use it to tote all our stuff. Now my 3 year old - I couldn't make it in Disney without my stroller!!
Some people don't like to bring a stoller with them though. They don't want to deal with it in the airport if they are flying or have it take up space if they are driving. Totally understandable, but here is a money saving tip: DO NOT RENT FROM DISNEY!!! They really are a rip off on pricing and if those kids are tired as you are trying to get to your form of transportation at the end of a LONG day or worse if they are sleeping, you have to turn that baby in as you exit. Well that walk and wait in line can be made even LONGER with a sleeping child (dead weight) or the cranky kid that just woke up or is too tired to stand. Not to mention they aren't the most comfortable looking things. (See picture!)
So what to do? Rent from an off site location! They will drop it off to your resort! It is cheaper (WAY cheaper) than Disney and you get to keep it with you at all times. At the end of your trip they pick it back up. I have never used this service, but have heard people mention it on the disboards.com. Check out the family board and see what people there recommend as far as a company goes. Me I just bring my own. I LOVE my strollers - I have a Maclaren Quest and a Graco Travel System - the biggie that holds all the good stuff! It is just my preference. :-)

Worst Blogger Ever

Hi everyone!

I know I am the worst blogger ever, but since I still haven't gotten any real followers yet, no biggie right?!

My goal this year is to get this blog on a regular posting schedule and to get some good regular followers!!

My other goal to SAVE you money and help you plan your Disney trip for FREE!!! One way to do that - get down to Disney the beginning of May - LOW LOW crowds according to the Crowd Calendar on TouringPlans.com and a price that is right!

A Family of 4 - 2 adults and 2 children ages 3 to 9 - can go to Disney World for 4 nights and 5 days with park hopper tickets, hotel stay, and quick service dining for just under $1700!!!! Let me tell you I am tempted - are you???!!!