It's Been awhile!

Ok guys. I have been absent from doing what I love because we have moved. Sadly it is even further from Disney World but we are going to try and make the best of it. We are all pretty bummed about not being able to go this December!! However this has immediately forced us to plan for a two week trip next year. Nothing like an entire year to plan your trip. I will be consumed with all things Disney and it will fly by. I Hope!

I am hoping that between now and then, Disney will offer some great rates on Magic Your Way packages for us to choose from and apply to our Disney vacation next year. Maybe they will offer free dining again. We so wanted to use it this time but we just couldn't swing it.

Anyhow, I am back and I will be looking for more great info and tidbits for you guys to use when you plan your next big Disney World trip. Don't forget to check back for great planning tips and information.

Have a great day,
Kristi

BTW, WE MISS YOU GUYS!!!!!

Newest Released Disney Codes

Fall FREE Dining Package Offer

THIS INFO IS FROM MOUSESAVERS.COM

You can get FREE dining when you book a full price Walt Disney World vacation package for check-ins most nights 9/29/09-12/17/09 (11/25/09-11/28/09 may be blacked out). To qualify, you must purchase a vacation package that includes at least 3 consecutive hotel nights at an official Walt Disney World resort, plus at least a one-day theme park ticket.

With this offer:

If you stay in a Disney Value resort, you get the Magic Your Way Plus Quick Service Dining package for the price of a regular Magic Your Way package. For those staying in a Value resort, this deal saves a family of four (2 adults, two kids ages 3-9) $77.96 per day -- the cost of adding the Quick Service Dining Plan to a basic vacation package.

If you stay in a Disney Moderate or Deluxe resort, you get the Magic Your Way Plus Dining package for the price of a regular Magic Your Way package. For those staying in a Moderate or Deluxe resort, this deal saves a family of four (2 adults, two kids ages 3-9) $101.96 per day -- the cost of adding the regular Dining Plan to a basic vacation package.

To qualify, you must purchase a regularly priced Magic Your Way package consisting of at least a 3-night stay at an official Walt Disney World resort hotel, PLUS at least a 1-day Magic Your Way Base Ticket.

If you want, those staying in a Value resort can upgrade to the regular Dining Plan for just $10 per adult per night and $2 per child (3-9) per night, or to the Deluxe Dining Plan for $42 per adult per night and $12 per child (3-9) per night; those staying in a Moderate or Deluxe can upgrade to the Deluxe Dining Plan for $32 per adult per night and $10 per child (3-9) per night. (The upgrade fees represent the usual price difference between the various dining plans.)

You can also add the "Wine & Dine" Plan to this package, at full price.

Some important advice if you book a "FREE Dining" package: Be sure to set up Advance Dining Reservations as soon as possible. In past years all of the table service restaurants have been completely full during the "FREE Dining" promotion period. It was almost impossible to get a table for a full-service meal on a walk-up basis. To ensure that you will be able to enjoy all the benefits of the Dining Plan, you really need to pre-reserve every single table service meal during your stay.

You must book this offer by 9/26/09. The number of packages available is limited. Suites are excluded from this offer. No group rates or other discounts apply.

UK residents can book this package through a US-based travel agency such as Small World Vacations, or they can choose an alternate version of this package.


Value Resort Magic Your Way with Quick Service Dining Plan KHF

Magic Your Way upgraded to regular Dining Plan OCQ

Magic Your Way upgraded to Deluxe Dining GXY

Moderate/Deluxe Resort Magic Your Way with regular Dining Plan NAR

Magic Your Way upgraded to Deluxe Dining EVR

Magic Your Way upgraded to regular Dining and Wine & Dine Package EYX

Magic Your Way upgraded to Deluxe Dining and Wine & Dine Package FPT

Things we think are mandatory when packing for Disney World!

These are some of our number one things parents should never go to a park without, especially in the summer since most people ride more water rides in the summer. However, we ride water rides all year long! Who could pass up Kali River Rapids? So when planning the perfect Disney World trip, keep them in mind.

#1 We always pack an extra pair of the girls underwear & a light pair of shorts or pants in a ziploc in the bottom of the backpack. They take up almost no room and are such a relief when they have to keep walking around the park after getting soaked on Splash Mountain. It is a wonderful feeling knowing you do not have to listen to the whining about their legs rubbing together. Plus they never even have to suffer through this. That's the best part!

#2 During the summer months we also pack a light pair, and I mean light pair of flip flops for each of us for the same reason, you know if the tennies get wet. We normally put the flops on for the ride but sometimes we just bite the bullet and get soaked. Having the spare pair of shoes usually gets us back to the room without walking in soggy kicks. Wrinkly toes are not good!

#3 Always pack your headache meds or whatever meds you may need daily in ziplocs too. Keeps them dry. It's a really good thing!

#4 Put the camera in a ziploc too!

You may have noticed a theme here. PACK THE ZIPLOCS! The are very necessary. You can keep anything dry. Small or large it's your choice but don't forget them!

Fun things you can do help the planning along

Once you get the ball rolling, or at least the idea bubbling around in your heads. You should do a few things that Disney world offers. One of them is get your Vacation Planning DVD. This dvd will give you a complete tour of all 4 of the theme parks and over 23 of the Disney Hotels. It will also help you decide which plans are best for your with a lot of helpful tips and tricks. It also gives a lot of details about all of the unique and special parties and events happening at Disney World right now. Including the Bibidi Bobidi Boutique, we did this and the girls LOVED it! You will also get plenty of footage of the most popular rides and shows. That is the best part! So order yours today, it's a great surprise in the mail!

Another wonderful gift from Disney is the Customized Disney maps. We got these a couple of years ago and they were pretty cool. My kids freaked out when they got them in the mail and saw their last name on them. They still get them out today and plan their routes around "The World"! They are very charming in a very Disney way. You get to go online and mark all of your favorite rides, shows, stops and restaurants. Then when they arrive they are already noted on the maps. They are pretty awesome to have for a keepsake. I know my kids will still love them years from now. Just another of the many reminders of their trips to Disney World as kids.

What will you celebrate?
If you are visiting in 09' you can also go to the Disney website and register your birthday. In case you do not know yet, EVERYONE GETS IN FREE ON THEIR BIRTHDAY! This is absolutely fabulous. We just happen to have kids who's birthdays are just around the corner so they get to go for free. It is so cool to them. You get to print out a certificate and all. You do have to have legal proof of your b-day when arriving. No problem! We are also fortunate enough to be Disney World Season Passholders, in this case they will get a gift card in the amount of their park ticket back. Even better! Go online and register today!

One last thing I want to mention. Disney does not offer this, you have to do it yourself, but it's pretty easy to do. Go to the local bookstore or library and read some books about Disney. There is 'bound" to be one you will like enough to bring home and plan with. It makes for a good hands on reference while planning. Try to get as current as possible, older dated ones will not give you all the details you need, however they are packed with great information about rides that stays pretty common through most books. Look for the Passporter books, they are great for keeping menus and flyers in order along with planning your trip. They are very helpful. They make great scrapbooks for afterwards too! Over planning is impossible!!

This is one of my favorite logos by Disney.

Using Travel agents

To use a travel agent or not? I think it depends on what you want, need and how much time you have to spend researching the plans for your Disney vacation. I normally like to do all of my booking and planning myself. I find it to be rather easy and I enjoy being on hold and listening to Disney music. My kids think it is great when we have to call Disney World. It's really up to you in the end. So have fun!

I have a couple of links to travel companies that are worth mentioning and say they can get you great deals. I hear about all their wonderful vacations everyday over at Intercot.com. I like to check out Magical Journeys to see what great deals they can get me. Another one is Our Laughing Place Travel. They are always happy to help and have great reviews. There is Small World Vacations too. Their name just makes me happy! Don't forget to visit Disney Destinations too. They will surely get you there!

Each of these types of travel companies usually provide some "extra magic" for your vacation. Some have the refillable mugs included while others offer special various different Disney lanyards. There are a lot of perks to going through an agent. Do your research!

I am still compiling a list of these since I only find them as I go simply because I have not had to use a Disney travel agent. If you know of a good Disney Travel agent to add to the list, please include it in your comment. I would love to visit their site, I have lots of friends to refer!