What's in the Bible Discount

We've got some great promotions to share with you from What's in the Bible! Our families have enjoyed What's in the Bible DVD's for a while now, and if you haven't checked them out, now is the time! Follow the link for a Valentine's Day discount!

Mixes, Mixes, Mixes by Melissa at RedFly Creations!!

My brother, sister and I all have "twin" cousins.  Meaning we are the same gender and same age. My sister's twin cousin also has a website redflycreations. I love her quality posts. You can read more about her on her website.  She recently had a post on Mixes that I thought would be a wonderful compliment to our Meal Swaps and Once a Month Cooking. She is graciously sharing with us!!

Take It Away, Melissa:

In my attempts to save money and streamline my meal planning I decided to investigate homemade baking mixes. I decided that I was going to invest the initial costs and see if it saved me money in the long run, hoping as well, that all the mixes once baked, tasted good.

I decided that I would invest $20 and purchase these containers at Walmart. I am very thankful I did. I believe they were each about $3. All but one of the mixes did not fit in the 1 gallon containers. The baking mix was about double. So, I put the remainder of the mix in a tupperware and stored it in the freezer.

Because these mixes were to put together to make baking quicker and easier, I decided to also print out the recipes for each one on these tags and hang them on the back of the mix jar. Then I would also have the recipe handy, and wouldn't have to take the time finding the recipe each time I wanted to use it.

Using the same template, I created labels for the front as well. Feel free to print the recipes and labels out for your own personal use. I printed the labels on label paper and the recipes on card stock so they would hold up better.

I settled on 6 mixes that I thought would be helpful to our family. So far the only mix I haven't tried is the cornbread mix. We are very happy with all the rest!

Brownie Mix:

8 cups sugar
6 cups flour
2 cups cocoa powder
1 1/2 Tbsp baking powder
1 Tbsp salt

To Make:
(this is the recipe that is on the tag)
(just lightly mix the ingredients, if you beat them a lot it gets too much air in the eggs and gives more of a cake-like texture.)

2 1/4 cups brownie mix
2 eggs beaten
1/3 c melted butter
2 tsp vanilla
Pour into an 8x8 " pan. Bake for 30-35 min at 350*



All Purpose Quick Mix:
5 lbs flour (20 cups)
4 c. dry milk
3/4 cups baking powder
2 Tbsp salt
1 Tbsp Cream of Tartar
5 cups vegetable shortening

(you should not use margarine or butter in substitution for the shortening unless you are going to refrigerate your mix)

To Make:

Biscuits3 cups quick mix
3/4-1 cup water
Bake for 10-12 min at 450*

Shortcake
3 cups quick mix
2 Tbsp sugar
3/4 cup water
Bake 10-12 min at 450*

Coffee Cake
3 cups quick mix
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup water
1 tsp vanilla
(optional: add 1/2 cup sour cream to make it creamier)

Filling1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup butter

Preheat oven to 350*. Combine quick mix and sugar. Mix in egg, milk and vanilla. Add dry ingredients. Prepare filling by mixing dry ingredients then cut in the butter. Spread half of the cake mix, half of the filling, then the other half of the cake mix, then the other half of the filling in an 8x8 pan. I used a 2" deep pan and it filled the pan to the top. So, you could probably use a larger pan and the cake would be just a little thinner. Bake for 40-50 min. (mine was done in 30 min.)

The original recipe I found only had half the filling recipe and used it only in the middle. The coffee cake really needed some sweetness sprinkled on the top though. So I double the filling and sprinkled the other half on the top----much better!!




Homemade Tortilla Mix: (I just made half of this recipe)
16 cups flour
2 Tbsp baking powder
2 Tbsp salt
1/2 cups shortening

To make:
2 cups of tortilla mix
1/2-3/4 cups of water

Divide dough into 15 little balls and cover with plastic wrap. Let them rise 10-15 min. Roll them out as thin as you can get them. Fry on a dry, hot griddle, about 2 min. on each side or until little brown spots begin to appear.

The consistency you are looking for in the dough is almost like play dough. If it is too crumbly they will not roll out well. That is why the water amount is so varied. Depending on the humidity of the day, you will need more or less.



Perfect Pancake/Waffle Mix:

8 cups of unbleached flour
2 cups nonfat dry milk
1/2 cup sugar
3 Tbsp baking powder
1 1/2 Tbsp baking soda
2 tsp salt

To Make Pancakes

2 cups mix

1 3/4 cups of water or milk
1 egg
2 Tbsp vegetable oil

To Make Waffles
2 1/2 cups of mix
2 cups of water
3 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil



Corn Bread Mix:

4 cups flour
4 cups yellow cornmeal
2 cups dry milk
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup baking powder
1 Tbsp baking soda
2 tsp salt

To Make:
1 1/4 cups Cornbread Mix
1 egg beaten
1/2 cup water or milk (butter milk is even better!)
2 Tbsp oil

Pour into 8x8" pan. Bake 12-15 min at 425 *



Muffin Mix:
12 cups flour
4 Tbsp baking powder
1 Tbsp baking soda
2 tsp salt
4 1/2 cup sugar

To Make Plain muffins

2 3/4 cups mix
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 cup oil

Bake 15-18 min at 400*

Optional Streusel Topping

1/2 cup of flour
1/2 cup of brown sugar
2 tbsp butter

Cut the butter into the flour/brown sugar mix. Pour half of muffin mix into half of muffin cups. Sprinkle half of the streusel, then cover with the rest of the muffin mix, and finally top with the rest of the streusel.

To Make Blueberry Muffins
2 3/4 cups of muffin mix
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
1 cup blueberries
1 tsp vanilla

Bake 15-18 min at 400*



The final cost:

$20 for the containers @ $3 each
$ 6.36 for the 20 lbs of flour
$2.38 for a large container of Baking Powder
$2.19 for 4lb sugar
$4.00 for shortening

All the other ingredients I already had on hand. Probably the most expensive item, if you don't already have it in your pantry, is the powdered milk.

So about $35 total. Only about $14 if you take out the containers. Not bad considering you have the equivalent of about:

8 brownie mixes
6 muffin mixes
8 cornbread mixes
5 pancake/waffle mixes
8 tortilla recipes that make at least 15 tortillas each
8-9 shortcake/biscuit/coffe cake mixes

So, let's say I spent a total of $20 (because of counting in the cost of the items I already had on hand) then it would be about $.46 a mix. Not bad!

How about you? What mixes have you used? Are there many that you continually make?

Kid's Eat Free at Chili's on August 6, 7, 8 with this Coupon

I received a voucher for Kid's Eat Free at Chili's on August 6, 7, 8 with the ability to share with friends.  We love to go there because when we go out to eat we typically let the kids share some of ours or they share with each other. At Chili's the menu is very kid friendly and they can pick their drink, main entree, and side.  They absolutely love it.

Click away and let your kids enjoy the freedom of their own kids meal!!

The Kids love choosing their Entree, Side and Drink

Back to School Supplies at Staples - Go Now!!

I tried to go to OfficeMax first. They had some good deals advertised, and I was excited about them. Unfortunately, when I got there, the completely empty bins interspersed thoughout the store were the only way to tell what the deals were. 
So, I left empty handedand thinking I'd try Staples.  THAT WAS EASY!

I LOVE free stuff.  Do I know what I am going to use these Post-It Lables for? Absolutely not, but worse case scenario I can give them to my kids who would love to post something :)

$.25 for two bic pens!

With this coupon it would be free.
Save $1.00 off any two Bic Stationary Products

For $.10 who can't get excited about buying their kids a tissue travel pack? Alright I did do a $.40 impluse buy!

They had quite of few of their deals at the front of the store. Five mechanical pencils for $.50.

Four Expo markers for $1.00. I like to get these because so many activities are available for young kids on white boards. However, it's hard to have a proper grip with the big Expos.

They even had multiple colors available.  I like to use a different color for each subject.

At my house the kids love to draw and write. I have one color for each of them. Natalie is purple and Noah is blue, simply because those were the only two colors in stock last year. This year I had my choice of colors. It works well because they know that they can do whatever they want in their notebook as long as it has their color. It saves me from getting them paper everytimo do something, and I don't have all these little papers to save!

~Julia

Update ** Here's what my rebates look like. That was easy!! When you enter your rebates,

if you have two of the same product the online

system knows how many you have, so you 

do not have to enter it twice.

Rebate 1: Up to $2.99 Rebate on 3M Label Pads (Select SKUs) at Staples Stores ONLY Rebate Check for $2.99  • Arrives in the mail like a regular rebate    check • You can deposit in your bank account    or cash it • Items Purchased:1 I would like to see another option for my reward [PayPal] Rebate 2: Up to $5.99 Rebate on a HammerMill Copy Plus Copy Paper 8.5 x 11 Ream (SKU 122408) at Staples Stores ONLY Rebate Check for $11.98  • Arrives in the mail like a regular rebate    check • You can deposit in your bank account    or cash it • Items Purchased:2 I would like to see another option for my reward [PayPal]

Becoming a Secret Shopper or Mystery Shopper

Ever wondered about being a secret shopper and how it works? Here's how I got started...

I found a company that claimed for a fee they would give you access to legitimate companies that conduct secret shops. I paid the $25 annual fee with my credit card knowing that if it was a scam or I thought the service was bogus I could cancel my card. The $25 turned out to be a good investment.

Several hundred companies were listed on the website. No information was available on who their clients were, meaning where would I be secret shopping. The only way to get that information was to apply with each company and then look to see what geographic areas they covered and what companies they serviced.

Since then I found this website http://mysteryshop.org/member-companies. When you click this link, you can see all of the companies that are registered with the Mystery Shopping Providers Association or MSPA. They are basically certifiying that the companies listed are not a scam. This link http://mspa.jobslinger.com/exec/sfs/jobboard let's you put in your zip code and a time period (I would start with a week), to see what shops are listed on the job board. That does not include all jobs, but just the jobs that have been posted with MSPA.  This is a great way to get started because you know that the company has shops in your area.

The application process typically intails providing your information and completing several paragraphs about why you would like to be a secret shopper. What they are actually looking for is can you type in complete sentences using spellcheck. They do not want to have to go through your report fixing gramatical errors. Because they are mostly the same questions, if I needed to type a long response I typed and saved in it a word document and tweeked it for my next application.

When you first start with a company, it is more time consuming because you need to be sure that you do things the specific way they want it done. After you have conducted shops for them, you become comfortable with their procedures and you are able to spend less time.

All require the ability to either scan or upload pictures. At the minimum a receipt and at the most pictures of the building.

Most of the time you come and go without anyone knowing that you are a secret shopper and with specific instructions not disclose who you are. Only once was I asked if I would be comfortable saying I was a secret shopper.

The rates paid vary. The companies will email when they have a shop available.  If the due date is getting close and they are desperate to get a spot filled, sometimes they will call and offer a bonus. The bonus is usually between $5 to $10.

I do not schedule shops outside of my normal geographic area.  I look at how much I get paid an hour. You have to read the material before you shop, conduct the shop, and debrief (fill out the paperwork online). As a result, I am not willing to add drive time to my time.

Do not get too involved. Meaning, sometimes I would either talk too much or let the sales clerk talk too much. I would leave frustrated because it took a lot longer than they suggest the shop should take. I have now learned that I need to get in and get out. I may lead with, "I have a lot of errands to run today, but I thought I'd stop by and quickly...(whatever)." Always be honest, but let them know you don't have all day in a kind way.

Secret shop for things you are already doing or would like to do. For example, I secret shop for restaurants because then I can take my family out to dinner for the cost of a tip. I had not been getting my eyes checked and one of the secret shops was for a LensCrafters eye exam. If I would like to make a trip to the Outlet Mall near us,  I will go online and check to see if there is a shop I can do to offset my gas there and back.

Maybe you want to save for a family vacation, have some extra spending money, or just get out of the house! Secret shopping is not lucrative, but if you know what your purpose is and use it that way you will have a very positive experience.

If you want to get started, I recommend that you pick a company and apply. Applying with multiple companies at the same time can be a little confusing.

Here are the companies that I currently use and a brief description of what I did.

Maritz Mystery Shopping:

Chase Bank: Call and ask for information on a credit card. They mail you information. Then I visit the location and ask the same thing. Scan or take pictures of the materials they give you and complete the questionaire on the visit. This shop paid $12.

BP Gas: Get gas and buy something in the store. I was reimbursed for $3 in gas and up to $2 in the store. Then I was required to tell her that I was a shopper and take pictures of the interior and exterior of the building. This shop paid $8.

US Post Office: I was sent a package in the mail. I mailed that package and answered the questions on the service I recieved. I was reimbursed for the receipt I uploaded, and I was paid $8.50.

SecretShopper:

Bennigans: I am asked to take at least one other adult with me, but not more than six in my party. We need to order two different entrees. We are asked to know the timing of the meal, including, when we are greeted, served drinks, order, served food, and leave. I am reimbursed up to $20 for lunch and up to $25 for dinner. No other compensation apart from what is spent at the restaurant.

Beyond Hello: Birch Run Premium Outlets

Outlet shops are farily uniform. You go in and look around. They have some specific things they are looking for their employees to do. You report on those and make a purchase.  They ask you to wait at least thirty minutes before you return the item you bought if you want to return it. The pay is around $8.

LeCruest, Tommy Hilfiger, Columbia Outlet

Happy Shopping!! ~Julia

Disney on a Dime (Part 2)

On the Contemporary Resort's Balcony

Everything Disney that You Can Do... for FREE!

Say you're on a pretty tight budget, maybe you've driven down to Florida and are staying with family, maybe you've flown down but don't have a lot of cash left to splurge. There is plenty you can do to give your kids a taste of Disney magic while spending practically nothing! In this post, I'll cover some free Disney options, finding Disney tickets, visiting the parks with small children and a summarized description of the parks. Happy planning!! 

The Disney Monorail

Polynesian Resort

• Downtown Disney
• Free parking
• Lots of things to see and take in. Hands-on lego displays and a huge lego store. A huge Disney store, complete with princess outfits and the princess hair and make-up boutique (which is NOT free - but they will wave their magic wand and sprinkle pixy dust on your head for free if you ask!!). 
• Lots of places to eat including the Rain Forest Cafe and other fun places - for a price...
• Small train and carousal that kids can ride for a fee.  
• Free nightly entertainment and/or "dance party" for kids at the stage by the water.
• Boat rides from one side to the other for free when running.
• 2 Splash pads - take a change of clothes or a bathing suite and enjoy the water fun for free!

Train - Downtown Disney

• The Monorail
• Monorail stations can be found at many places, including Epcot, The Grand Floridian Resort, Polynesian Resort, and Contemporary Resort. Google Disney monorail routes for diagrams and maps. Riding the monorail is free, parking outside of a monorail station should be free in most cases - most likely at a resort parking lot.
• Ride the monorail around - because it's fun! Take in all the free scenery out the window which includes glimpses of Epcot, the Magic Kingdom (Cinderella's castle, Space Mountain, etc) and several resorts.

Splash Pad - Downtown Disney

• Resorts
• The Polynesian
• Walk through the front entrance into a tropical paradise and even if you are not staying as a guest, you will be greeted with an "aloha" and a free flowered lei necklace!
• The Polynesian also offers prime viewing of the nightly fireworks over Cinderella's castle. Sit for free on their sandy beach, and take in the fireworks, complete with the same musical program that can be heard live at the Magic Kingdom.

Downtown Disney

• The Contemporary
• Offers a great view of the castle from their balcony on the floor directly bellow the monorail station.    

Fireworks from the Polynesian

• The Grand Floridian
• A beautiful hotel to stop in at. Not much to do for free, but if you're willing to put out money to eat, it's a very nice place to have breakfast, lunch or dinner.

• The Animal Kingdom Lodge
• A highly recommended stop! If you're staying at a value resort, this is a fun place to visit for a change of pace (bring your refillable cup with you). Eat at their "quick-service" dinning room, the "Mara." The African Stew is amazing! 
• Take it all in, go for a walk around, it's huge! Straight out back from the main entrance is an entire African savannah, complete with viewing areas. You're guaranteed to catch Giraffes, Zebra, maybe an elephant and all kinds of birds and flamingo!
• The Animal Kingdom Lodge also has a very nice play structure and on certain nights, they have a camp fire going where you can roast s'mores.     

Disney Tickets  

Start the process of procuring Disney tickets, way in advance. I have to say, the secret for us is no secret - it's called prayer! God always seems to provide for us above and beyond what we need, and He amazes us time and time again with the ways He provides funding for our trips. Now, with that said, there are still things you can start doing. Throw out a message to all your friends on facebook way in advance. Chances are, you know someone who lives in Florida or works at Disney. If not that, you know someone who knows someone who knows someone who's related to someone who works there! One year, my grandma "just happened" to get in touch with a distant relative (twice removed or something like that), that mentioned her adopted daughter was working at Disney and could probably get us in for free. Disney employees generally get a certain number of free passes each month that they are free to use as they please. This distant relative that we had never met, got us VIP parking in the "Disney Cast and Crew" parking lot, 1 day park hopper tickets for 4 of us and free wheelchair rental for my grandma.

It can't hurt to throw it out there that you are going, and see if anything comes through! There is not a whole lot of sense in buying up tickets in advance anyways, so just wait to see how God may provide. Buying tickets on ebay or craigslist is a risky move. There may be no way of telling if the tickets are legit or active. Once used or activated, Disney now links your fingerprint to a ticket so it cannot be passed on to another person! Tickets also expire after a while unless the "no expiration" feature was paid for. Keep a watch out for Disney promotions on their official site http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/ one year, they ran a promotion that if you came on the day of your birthday, it was free! I went with my daughter and parents that year and my mom got in free (she also got a button that said "it's my birthday" and every Disney crew member greeted her throughout the day with a birthday hello). One year, Disney ran a volunteering promotion. My husband and I signed up on their official site to volunteer at a food bank in our area, for a few hours. We were sent free tickets and when we got there we had buttons that said "i volunteered!" These types of promotions are generally announced at the beginning of the year, and do fill up fast. For example, the volunteering promotion was for the first million people I think, and we got in right at the end as it filled up by late February!

We've never used them, but I've been told Undercover Tourist is an official spot for discount tickets. Disney usually offers pretty good military incentives and discounts which can be found on their official site. Mouse Savers is a good place to go as well, for info, tips and advise on discount tickets. AAA may be able to get you a discount on a multi-day pass. Florida residents can only get discount tickets for themselves that are non-transferable. The only exception to this is that Grandma and Grandpa may be able to get away with buying Florida resident priced tickets for their grandkids who have no official ID - "But you didn't hear that from me!" said one very nervous Disney employee I spoke with.

My Rank and Comparison of the Parks 

(in a Nut Shell)

1. The Magic Kingdom: Classic Disney! You don't really feel like you've been to Disney World till you've been there. Princesses, magic, warm fuzzies, happy rides based on Disney animated movies, Pirates of the Carribian, etc. They have an awesome and moving fireworks display over Cinderella's castle each night - brought to you by Tinker Bell. There are rides for every age - including the most little kid-friendly rids as well as a few roller coasters and thrilling rides for older kids
2. Hollywood Studios: We went here on our most recent trip. A ton to see and do! More than we remembered there being, actually. Not so much princess themed, like the magic kingdom, more Pixar, Disney Junior and then Star Wars, Muppets, etc. A good variety. It's like they've added in the Disney Junior specific stuff to appeal to younger kids, because in the past their big draw has been the Star Wars ride and stunt shows like the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. There are more show type attractions here than rides. We found this to be a welcomed change from the Magic Kingdom, which is the only park we had visited for the past few years. There was something for everyone, including plenty that our 5 year old, 3 year old AND 1 year old all enjoyed! 
3. Epcot: We always disliked going here as kids, but my parents loved it! We always referred to Epcot as the boring, educational side of Disney. They've added more kid friendly stuff in recent years, but a lot of it is more educational, cultural, sea life/science related. The big draw is World Showcase, where you really do feel like you're taking in a quick tour around the world and getting a fun sampling of the best places to stop, shop and eat from all different cultures. 
4. Animal Kingdom: I've actually never been here (aside from a stop at the Animal Kingdom Lodge). I have heard from numerous people that it is pretty small in comparison with the other parks, but really nice. We can never get over the fact that based on how small it is in comparison with the other parks, it is still the same price! You could totally pass on going and just visit the Animal Kingdom Lodge for free - and still see a bunch of animals.

Personally, if I were doing 2 days I would do a day at the Magic Kingdom and a day at Hollywood Studios. Also, I'd pass on any of the fancy "park hopper" options. There is plenty to see at each park and it just kills tons of time traveling from park to park. The only time I could see this being worth it, was if you were purchasing a multi-day pass, and the cost of adding a park hopper option was not considerable - you could feasibly stay as late as possible at say, the Magic Kingdom, then hop over to Epcot, which is usually open later, to catch their fireworks as well! This is under the assumption you are not way too tired out after being at the Magic Kingdom all day.

Disney really makes it worth your while if you are going for multiple days. The price jump from each additional day once you've already bought a 3 day base ticket becomes smaller and smaller. My only note of caution with this is, if going with small children, any more than 1 day at a time will be very tiring! I remember doing multiple days as an older kid myself, but we have only ever done 1 day at a time with our young kids. To get your money's worth by staying a full day at any of the parks, is one looong day of excitement! Young children will no doubt become cranky and over-stimulated. I think kids age 7 and up would probably do fine for multiple days. I think my siblings and I were close to our teen years when we enjoyed going for multiple days in a row without tiring. But the trick with young kids is not to overstay the fun. If doing more than one day, give yourself a day in between to rest!

Tips for Going with Young Children 

Some people say not to do it - they say it's not worth your time - they say to wait until your kids are older when they'll remember it... But it is possible, and enjoyable to go with young kids! 

First off, my kids do remember going (in detail!) and they are very young. It's also most enjoyable when they are young enough, uninhibited, and free to allow their excitement out in loud and adorable ways! Kids are also free up till the age of 3 (and they don't ask for proof of age, birth certificate, etc). So...

• Go rested, prepared and relaxed! You do need to have a plan, if there are specific rides you definitely want to hit. Otherwise, the day will get away from you and you may end up missing a lot. However, there is hardly time to get EVERYTHING in by the end of the day - so try not to stress about doing it all. Make your own Customized Map on Disney's site to plan the spots you really want to hit.

• 2 years ago we went with an infant, a 2 year old and a 4 year old. That year we took an infant carrier and an umbrella stroller (so the infant could give mommy a break by sitting in the stroller while the 2 year old walked a bit). This past time we just took a stroller for the now 1 year old and the 3 year old walked the whole time. Whatever you do, know that your stroller will have to be left on long extended times throughout the day while you are away on rides. In other words, don't take a stroller you will be heartbroken over losing.

• Almost all rides at the Magic Kingdom can be enjoyed while holding an infant in your lap. We went with my grandma the year my oldest child was born. She was 3 months old and we had the silly fantasy of getting her picture taken with Mickey or something adorable like that. We were really just excited to have a kid to use as an excuse to go to Disney World (never mind she was only 3 months old)! We went on every ride there and she did fine. We took a stroller for her and when it was time for her to nap or nurse, I would fined a quiet corner somewhere and sit with her a while - which was a nice little time out during a long day.

• Know your kids. There are few rides and experiences that have frightened our kids over the years, but that is their nature. If your kids are easily startled or frightened, there are definitely rides you may want to stay away from. The map you receive for each park is pretty good about pointing out these intense rides and areas.

• If going on the off season, you will definitely want to dress in layers or pack a sweatshirt for at night, it can get rather chilly once the son goes down.

• We have splurged a few times by making reservations at a "character dining" restaurant in the park. We ate our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches the rest of the day, but for one meal, strategically timed at mid afternoon, we were able to sit in a nice air conditioned room, have good food and entertainment for the kids when they were just starting to get really tired and cranky. It worked really well the year I was pregnant and the 2 kids were pretty young. It was a welcomed break and bonus - it happened to rain outside while we stayed dry inside. You HAVE to have reservations for these types of restaurants, so plan ahead. You also have to cancel within 24 hours or you'll be charged a good amount of money. 

• Disney does have very nice Baby Care Centers available at each park - to change an infant, sit to nurse, warm a bottle, etc.

• Check out the Mom's Advice Panel for a great source of Q and A's.

• Take tons of pictures! They are so cute at this age.

Money Saving Tips for the Parks

• Pack your lunch and snacks! I remember hating it as a kid - why did my mom always have to pack those stinkin peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?? Obviously I understand it now, and wow does it make a difference. You're already (most likely) paying an arm and a leg to get into the park, why not stop the spending there? If you've got a stroller, you have plenty of space to store stuff. Otherwise, carry a back pack or plan on renting a locker. Pack light, but go prepared.

• Why not let your daughter dress like a princess or your little boy like a pirate? They wont be the minority. Many little girls will arrive each day dressed in their best princess attire. Many will have paid out big bucks to get a princess make-over. You don't have to, just plan ahead. Bring your own dress, crown and accessories. She will be referred to all day long as "princess" by Disney staff and she will love it!  

•  Take the "photo pass" cards when they offer them to you. These are free and you are under no obligation to purchase anything. However, if by chance you were to lose you camera or something crazy like that, you may be really glad you did have them take your picture a few times and put it on a card. Not only that, but they will gladly take your camera and snap a "professional" shot with it as well, but for free! So if you don't know who else to trust handing your camera to, know that they will gladly do it.

Where to Start

• There is so much info available right on Disney's official site. Info on special rates, promotions, events, when to go, what to do, what to see. Sign up to receive a free Vacation Planing DVD - Your kids will love watching it and planing along with you!

Happy Planing! 

Be sure to check out my first installment of this post: 
Disney on a Dime (Part 1)

I welcome comments and any additional questions you may have!!

Disney on a Dime (Part 1)

My family, and my husband's family alike, are pretty big Disney lovers. Our childhoods were sprinkled with a healthy dose of Disney animated classics and visits to Disney World. Now, with a family of our own, my husband and I absolutely love watching our kids faces light up when we tell them we're going to Disney World! Nothing beats the fuzzy feeling you get while watching your little boy rub noses with Piglet or your daughter gasp in amazement at Cinderella's castle. We've done it plenty of times over the years, and I've been asked on numerous occasions how we've done it on a budget. So here it is, everything I can think to write about saving money on a Disney vacation!

Budgeting

We live on a $30,000/year salary. We don't have much by way of savings or vacation funds. Because of that, many times our trips are fairly spontaneous and thrown together based on deals that come up, ticket prices, gifts, and many random ways that God provides. We also have been blessed by an amazing family that has helped us out in different ways over the years. We also have family in strategic areas (Florida, NJ), so many times our trips are based around these areas to incorporate free housing! I just read somewhere that there is a growing trend in today's economy, to tack on vacation days to business trips, making them dual purpose. We do that at times too. If my husband has a conference to attend, we will save on gas by tagging along and spend an extra day as a family doing something fun.

Our budget for vacations has always been summed up in a phrase: 
"As cheap as possible" 

There have been a few times we've set money aside that was received as a gift, etc. Other times we will come up with money by selling things on craigslist and ebay. I sold a gold necklace from an old boy friend one time, we've also sold guitars, baby items, furniture, books, toys, etc. We also cash in credit and debit card reward points for gift cards that can be used on the trip.

When to Go

When determining the best time to visit Disney World, we usually always shoot for the off season - when crowds and costs are both lower. Start by checking a crowd calender like this one: yourfirstvisit.net If staying at a Disney Resort, they will tell you right on the resort page when their "value season" is: all-star-movies-resort/rates-rooms We have historically gone somewhere between mid February to mid March. Of course the weather is always iffy that time of year. It usually averages in the low 70's, which is still an upgrade from snowy Michigan that time of year!

Preparing the Kids

This has nothing to do with budgeting, but it will help ensure the investment you are making in your trip provides a positive return! 

While planing for this last trip we took to Florida, we had some strong reservations about taking our youngest daughter, then 14 months. She was just reaching the age where she was getting into everything, very active, very strong willed and independent. Because she was still so young, we had not had to be incredibly firm with her yet for any reason, and very rarely had to discipline her. The thought of attempting to sit by the pool and keep track of the 3 and 5 year olds while the 14 month old darted out in every direction did not seem appealing.

Because of this, we decided to put her through baby boot camp. We started really cracking down on her attitude - when she would fuss or start throwing a fit, we would be extra quick to discourage it. We also made her sit for longer times in her seat at the table and practiced sitting still with her on our laps for longer periods of time. The attention to detail paid off and she was great on the trip! Preparing for a trip is a great time to buckle down in the areas you may be slacking off as a parent. Kids notoriously get crabby and uncooperative on vacations because they without fail get the message that the world now revolves around them! Vacations are fun, and we usually do a lot of things that are centered around the kids, so of course they're going to start acting a little spoiled. We try to keep that in mind and start being extra cautious of it a couple months before leaving. Tighten up on things that have been slipping through the cracks and attitudes or behaviors that should not be acceptable. This is assuming you are already practicing good parenting skills and that your kids are somewhat well behaved and respect you enough to listen. If you struggle excessively at home with your kids, then it may not be time to reward their behavior with a trip to Disney World. On the other hand, for many people, a parenting tune up before a trip can help ensure the trip is enjoyable for everyone!

Getting There

You basically have 2 options - driving and flying. We've done both and both have their pros and cons. From Michigan, the drive is about 19 hours without stops. AAA's Fuel Cost Calculator currently estimates this round trip to cost us $515.58 in our mini van. If you're going to drive, calculate the cost of fuel, one night at a hotel (unless you want to drive straight through - which we've done and vowed we'd never do it again!), the cost of meals while on the road and gas while you're down there touring around. Once you have a good handle on the cost of driving, you can weigh it out against the option of flying. Ticket prices seem to be higher right now,  but there have been years we've scored $9 flights on spiritair.com which made flying a no brainer. If you fly, you have to factor in the price of car rental while there, unless you have relatives in the area or are staying at a Disney resort which provides free shuttle services! Other sites to check: expedia.com hotwire.com orbitz.com delta.com airtran.com southwestair.com

Option #1 Driving:

We went to Florida with some friends one year on the challenge to get there and back by spending the littlest amount of money possible. We drove straight through the night to cut out the hotel cost. We packed coolers full of food and never once paid for a meal. If you do plan on stopping for the night, don't book a hotel in advance because you never know how far you'll actually want to push yourself. Grab up a discount hotel book from the nearest rest stop along your route and call ahead to verify vacancy. Plan ahead by packing a small hotel bag within easy reach, rather than take all your luggage in. Keeping things to a minimal also lowers your chances of picking up hitchhikers (aka bed bugs).

Option #2 Flying:

When making the decision to fly, we always start by checking the list of airlines flying out non-stop. Making stops or changing planes is basically not an option for us with 3 kids - it's not fun! Spirit, Delta and Airtran are some of the only airlines with non-stop flights from Detroit to Orlando, so we start by frequenting their sites (and when I say frequenting, I mean checking in daily!). Airlines can run deals and promotions at any moments notice - Spirit has been known to offer some crazy good deals, especially to "$9 Fare Club" members, which is totally worth the cost of membership if you know you will be utilizing it. Delta is a "Disney preferred" airline which means they are in direct communication with Disney and can streamline certain parts of your travel to a Disney resort, but it's not absolutely necessary to use them if staying at a Disney resort.

Be on guard, airlines are sneaky these days with all their hidden fees. Spirit wont end up being any cheaper than Delta if you end up paying out big bucks for all your checked bags and carry-on's. The key is to pack light! The general rule, even with kids, is to pack everything you think you need - then cut out at least half of it. Use the biggest bag possible and pack everything for the whole family in that one bag. Stay up-to-date on air travel policies, carry-on restrictions (liquids and gels), and what special policies apply to travel with small children and infants. Children fly free under the age of 2 if they are sitting in your lap (sometimes a baby bjorn or moby wrap makes this easier - but they may make you remove it during takeoff and landing). Strollers and infant carriers can be checked right at the entrance to the plane (for free) and will be waiting for you when you get off. If you really want to carry a car seat onto the plane (because you need it for a car ride at your destination), it has to be up to airline codes, otherwise children are not required to sit in them. Disney buses and shuttles do not have infant or children seats (and actually, they don't even allow them!). When we fly and stay at a Disney resort, we check one big bag (stuffed to the maximum weight capacity) and carry-on as little as possible. We take one small stroller for the baby, which gets checked plane side and no car seats.  

The Airport
I think the key to surviving an airport and flying experience with young children, is to go into it relaxed, prepared, carry very little and look as cute as possible! I cannot stress that last one enough. On the way to Florida this year, we had it all together. We had packed light, we were organized, we were in good moods. The kids were unbearably cute with their rolling suitcases and Disney plush dolls in hand. Every grumpy TSA official we encountered took one look at us and smiled, started talking in a warm cuddly voice and opened up a special line to smooth out our security process. On the contrary, our way home we were over-packed, flustered and grumpy. We went into the trip stressed and it continued to be a stressful experience.

When going through security, stay calm. You may feel rushed because of all the people behind you, but don't rush. Everyone is pretty understanding of the challenges small children can bring. Send your most valuable things through last so they don't end up sitting unattended for several minutes without you. Wear shoes that easily slip off (sandals!), new regulations allow children under 12 to keep theirs on. Have your liquids in a zip lock bag. Declare bottles and sippy cups - small amounts of liquid like this is allowed, but may need to be tested. Our experience has been pretty good with these things as most TSA officials would rather not be at the center of the next big media scandal involving kids and security. Identification is not needed for children, but have your ID's handy at all times and be sure to have an "infant in arms" noted on your boarding pass.

The plane ride itself can be enjoyable with a little preparation. Take books, portable DVD players, iPods, candy, etc. Be prepared with special treats to keep kids happy at all cost (you don't want to be that family)! If flying with an infant, be sure to have a bottle or pacifier handy to help their ears. Be sure to have small children use the bathroom right before boarding - airplane bathrooms can be a horrifying experience!

Where to Stay
Unless you have relatives in the area and plan on staying with them (which is obviously the cheapest option and one that we've enjoyed on numerous occasions!), you'll be looking into hotels or condo/home rental in the area. I've known many people who have gone down in large groups and rented homes in the Orlando area or condos on the beach. For the past couple years, we have thoroughly enjoyed staying at Disney's All Star Movie Resort which is part of the Disney value class of hotels. My husband has attended a youth pastors conference in Orlando for 2 years now, and what we discovered was that the All Star Movie Resort's price per night was actually cheaper than the hotels that the conference was recommending he stay at! So, our family has tagged along for the ride and enjoys time at the resort while daddy is away at the conference. Of course my grandparents have driven over from Lakeland, FL and met up with us there for a few days, and my husband's parents have flown in to join us as well!

Like any of the Disney hotels, your stay there includes the complimentary shuttle service from the airport to the hotel. This has made it possible for us to fly, without spending any money on car rental. Once at your resort, you can also hop on a Disney bus to any of the other resorts, Downtown Disney, and any of the theme parks that are owned by Disney. My husband and his parents, who have stayed at some of the most expensive Disney resorts over the years, have all been very impressed with the value resort. Prices fluctuate a little bit based on the season. By going late February or early March we have paid as little as $70 a night and no more than $90. I have seen the price go as high as $130 during peak season. By checking in on the same day as my grandparents, we were able to get a Florida residents rate (just by having them with us) that dropped our price down considerably.


Keep an eye on Disney's site for Special Offers on hotels and dates that are less expensive. Disney does some very nice package deals that include meals, tickets, hotel stay, etc. We have never used these deals because we figured we could still spend less by coming up with our own meals vs. using their meal plan for 3 meals a day. Watch their promotions, however, because there have been times they've advertised adding on free meal plans, etc. to your hotel reservation.

 Why We Like Disney's All Star Movies Resort

• Free transportation to and from airport, to and from parks
• Giant Toy Story figures, 101 Dalmations, Fantasia, etc. the kids love the whole place!
• You get the same Disney perks and service as you would at a more pricy Disney resort
• Large pool with Mickey fountain and small kiddy pool with splash pad (I'm not sure that other value resorts have this area for small children). There are plenty of lounge chairs and tables with umbrella near by - we sat here many days while the kids swam, and ate our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches there for lunch :)
• Cafeteria style food court. We ate one meal a day here and were able to split 2 adult size meals or a large pizza between the 5 of us, which allowed us to spend only $20.
• The refillable cups - which are expensive at first (around $14) but we only bought 2 and refill them endlessly for the whole family during our entire stay. This would be our coffee in the morning, pop, water and tea all day long. They can be used at any of the Disney resorts (but not the theme parks unfortunately), so when we visited Animal Kingdom Lodge one night for dinner, we took the cups! We even brought ours back the following year (shhhh) and used them again. Yes, we actually asked ahead of time, and the kind of answer we get from many Disney employees is something like "this is what I am supposed to tell you" and then "you didn't hear this from me, but go ahead and do it." Are we cheap or what?
• Up until now, you could pay $10 a day to get a fridge in your room (which allowed us to keep milk, yogurt, meat, cheese, etc. for meals) or request a "medical fridge" which got you one for free. While we were there this past time, we noticed they were installing permanent fridges in many rooms, which made us think they would now be included?
• The whole place is so much fun, our kids would have been content to just stay there and do other free things in the area without paying money to actually go into the parks. You get the real feel of Disney World just by staying there.
• The staff is very friendly and accommodating - they will do everything in their power to give you an enjoyable stay.
• There are connecting rooms available - but cannot be reserved ahead of time or guaranteed. We stayed one night in separate rooms from my grandparents and when a connecting one came available, were moved over to it. It was worth it! Overall, the staff just wanted to do what we wanted and made the process very smooth.
• There is a decent size arcade/game room and good size Disney store on the grounds. 
• The rooms are nothing special. They are fairly small with two queen beds. But the decor is cute, they are kept very clean and the housekeeping service is very nice! If the housekeepers are not too overbooked for the day and have extra time to spare, they do a fabulous job of sprucing up your room Disney style. One lady took all the toys in the room, including my daughters princess dress, to create a window display that greeted us when we returned! There are always cute little animals or Mickeys formed out of the towels, which the kids love.
• Pack and Plays are provided, so that is one less thing to have to bring with you!
• Disney tickets can be purchased right at the front desk and added right onto your room key.
• Each park has a day of the week that offers "extra magic hours" for those staying at a Disney resort. This could add an extra hour onto the beginning or end of your day in the park.
• On certain nights, Cartoons are shown on a big screen down by the pool.
• They have a very nice playground with sand, right next to the kids pool.
• They have a very nice laundry facility which makes packing light all that easier. This is located right next to the kids pool, so I had laundry running while still keeping an eye on the kids. 

Other Things to Note...

• I am not totally clear on how many they will allow in a room there at the All Star Movies due to fire codes. The first year we were there, we had 2 adults, a 2 year old, a 4 year old and an infant. This year, everyone was a year older but we still counted our 14 month old an infant. I am not sure what the age cut-off is where they would count the infant as a 5th person and potentially not allow it. You could possibly sneak around this by leaving the 5th person off the registration, but they have to be accounted for to get transportation to and from the resort, or to use the extra magic hours at a park. 
• When using the Disney transportation, plan on it taking a full hour from the airport to the resort. This is the one draw back, but still a really nice perk.
• We paid $10 extra a night (and thought it was worth it) to be guaranteed a spot in one of the 3 closest buildings to the pool and cafeteria. These three buildings include the Toy Story building, Fantasia and 101 Dalmatians. There is no map of the grounds for this resort, but you can visit googlemaps.com and look up Disney All Star Movies Resort to find maps and more pictures than Disney even has on their site.
• There are 3 All Star Resorts: Movies, Music and Sports. All 3 are located side by side and are in walking distance of each other. You could feasibly visit the pool or arcade at the other resorts if you really wanted to - and take your refillable cup with you! 
• For a change of pace, we hopped on the Disney shuttle and ate dinner one night in the food court over at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We took our refillable cups there too and ate for the same price we had been paying at our resort, but got a change of scenery. The Animal Kingdom Lodge comes highly recommended by us as well (to visit for free!), but more on that in my next installment. 

One Last Tip!

• Kids will inevitably see all kinds of things at the Disney resort and inside the theme parks that they want, and they will beg you for them. Rather than spend big bucks there, I like going prepared with our own special Disney toys, activities and clothing! Shop around ahead of time for deals. We take our own Disney toys, all the makings for a princess outfit including dress, crown, "pixy dust" and jewelry, Disney pool toys, floaties, and Mickey ears! Our kids have warn the same Mickey and Minnie hooded sweatshirts that Grandma bought them, for the past 3 trips to Disney! We still get inquiries about them while there, and we have to say - sorry, they're from Walmart in New Jersey!

Check out Disney on a Dime (Part 2)

          FREE Things to Do at Disney

          Disney Theme Park Tickets

          Theme Park Comparisons and Tips

          Visiting with Young Children