I find no matter where you go in life, online, etc the biggest dream vacation desires are to have Orlando vacations. I think it’s the lure of going to the theme parks because I really can’t find any other lure. It’s hot, the threat of hurricanes is almost year round, and there is no beach without having to drive at least an hour either east or west. Orlando is completely landlocked. But as you have read I am a huge Disney fan so I definitely can see the strong desire to go. Unfortunately, not everything there is cheap so let’s talk on how you can cheapen up your vacation to a budget friendlier destination. Here are my tips and tricks that I have learned over the years from my Disney vacations:
- You don’t have to stay on site to go to Disney. In fact many people do not. It is much cheaper to stay slightly off property and drive in each day or stay at a hotel that offers free shuttles to the parks. Last time my family and I went we stayed at a timeshare not too far away and were able to have a real breakfast, pack sandwiches for lunch as well as a few snacks for during the day, and just eat one meal at the parks. We felt so much healthier and happier doing this.
- You know those stupid glow sticks they sell at Disney and other theme parks and Mardi Gras parades? You can pick them up from the Dollar Tree or at Academy (yes the sports store) for $1 or less each! It is much cheaper than the marked up park prices. Buy ahead and pack them in your backpack.
- Souvenirs: No matter what you tell yourself you are going to want to buy some or your kiddos will want them. Why not think ahead and prebuy “presents from Tinkerbell or Mickey”? If you are going to Disney watch Disneyshopping.com or the Disney Store and buy things on sale. Then you can leave “gifts” each night for your kiddo to find when they wake up. They will be so excited over what Tink and Mickey leave that they will be less likely to bug you at the parks since they won’t know what they are getting next!
Posted under
Disney,
Travel by Catherine on July 1st, 2008 9:49 am
Disney announced on Sunday (kind of an odd day) that they will start using Flogos as part of the overall Walt Disney World theming in Orlando. What are Flogos? Well they are like foamy clouds or balloons (soap bubbles & helium) that are formed into shapes like corporate logos and are flown over the geographic area requested by the client. In the case of WDW, Disney plans to have Mickey Mouse Shaped “flogos” released into the air starting in July/August. Sounds pretty cool to me.
Now if you are wondering about how flogos came into existence here is what I have found from various press releases:
A special-effects entrepreneur from Alabama has come up with a way to fill the sky with foamy clouds as big as 4 feet across and shaped like corporate logos — Flogos, as he calls them. Francisco Guerra, who’s also a former magician, developed a machine that produces tiny bubbles filled with air and a little helium, forms the foam into shapes and pumps them into the sky.
If you visit flogos.net you can click on the mickey mouse link and watch a video of the Mickey heads being launched into the sky or you can just check out the photo below. I can’t wait to see if they have any going in September when I am there. These might be the best hidden mickeys ever!
I remember growing up and each Sunday at 6pm ABC would show a Disney movie as part of their Wonderful World of Disney series. Somewhere along the lines ABC and Disney quit doing this and a void was created. Lately, I’ve noticed Disney movies playing on Saturday nights on ABC. As usual, I did a google search and found that Disney has restarted their Wonderful World of Disney night on ABC. This time around it is being held on Saturday nights rather than Sunday nights. Either way I am excited especially since Mike and I are usually home on Saturday nights and unsure what we should do or watch. Now we can just flip the tv to ABC and watch a fun Disney movie!
Here is the upcoming schedule so you can plan a family night with your loved ones:
- July 5th -> Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen
- July 12th -> The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
- July 19th -> Freaky Friday
- August 2nd -> Peter Pan
All shows begin at 8EST/7CST and are of course on ABC!
Yes you are reading that correctly. On September 27, 2008, Disney will shut their doors to the popular night clubs that line Downtown Disney’s Pleasure Island. Over the course of the next year Disney will be turning what is Pleasure Island into a mix of dining and shopping - to be announced in the future - that will entertain Guests of all ages.
Why is Disney doing this? Well based on guest feedback, it was determined that Disney should be more family friendly everywhere. While I will admit I have been to the clubs on Pleasure Island before and have been less than impressed. Actually, sad that I paid for admission to go. But at the same time I understand and appreciate that there is (now was) a place adults could go without being in a family environment. It seems based on many message boards I go to that there is a large majority of Disney fans that believe all of Disney should cater to those with kids only and Disney is listening. I guess if I want to enjoy a nightclub scene while on vacation I’ll just venture over to CityWalk at Universal.
Maybe Pleasure Island wouldn’t have been doomed had it been built on one side of Downtown Disney rather than between the West End and the Marketplace. Maybe it wouldn’t have been doomed had Disney patrolled the area better and kept out the bad element. But then again maybe falling attendance was to blame. One will never know the real answer.
Currently there is a petition going around online to keep the Adventurer’s Club open (comedy club). If you are a fan and want your voice heard make sure to click the link and sign the petition. Disney is known for reading message boards and keeping up with things that are said online so you never know. Your signature could make a difference.
Adventurer’s Club Petition
Posted under
Disney,
Travel by Catherine on June 24th, 2008 6:13 pm
Hello there fellow Disney fans. If you need an excuse to get down to Disney this summer and are meeting resistance from your male significant other or kiddos maybe you can use this tidbit of information to help you out.
Thanks to the allearsnet.com weekly newsletter I found out that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be training again this year at Disney.
July 26-August 14: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will come back for their seventh NFL training camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. The team’s daily practices are free and open to the public, with the schedule often incorporating two-a-day sessions in the morning and afternoon.
Sounds like a fun and free thing to do while you are visiting the mouse this summer. From what I can understand this is usually something that recurs at Disney every year so if 2008 is not in your plans keep this in mind for 2009. You can cheer for your favorite team and have some fun in the parks!
