Some Smart Ways to Save for Your Disney Vacation

We all want to go on vacation, am I right? But we don't all have extra money sitting around to pay for the fabulous trips we envision. Some people save lots of money with extreme couponing. I personally don't have the time and patience for that, but here are some simple steps anyone can follow to save some money to make your Disney Dreams Come True

1) Start a Disney Fund
With so many other things going on, it's hard to set aside money for Disney. I know I find that if I leave money in my checking account, it will somehow get used up, but if I actually put it aside, I magically get by without it. Set aside a savings account, an envelope, a Mickey cookie jar, a mattress, whatever works and physically put your Disney fund $$ into it.

2) Put money into the fund every week
It can be as little as the extra change in your pocket, or as much as an unexpected bonus or birthday gift. If you planned to go out to dinner but decide you would rather use that money for a special meal at Disney World, actually take the money you would have spent and put it in the envelope/jar/mattress. If you got a $10 gas card from a shopping rewards program like I just did, take $10 out of your gas budget and put it in that envelope. The savings add up. If you're worried you might spend the cash in a moment of weakness, buy Disney gift cards and put them into the envelope, which brings us to #3.

3) Buy Disney gift cards using a Target Credit/Debit card to save 5% on your vacation!
Disney accepts Disney gift cards anywhere credit cards are accepted. This includes paying for your actual vacation, but they can also be used for food and souvenirs in the park. Where does Target come in? Well if you have a Target Credit or Debit card you automatically get 5% off all purchases on your statement.(Target Redcard Rewards). If you use your Target card to buy Disney gift cards at Target stores, you'll automatically save 5% on your vacation! Be sure to pay off the balance immediately to avoid interest.

If you have a Kroger where you live, you can also purchase the gift cards there and get fuel points to save big on gas purchases. Put that savings into your Disney fund and buy even more gift cards!

4) Consider getting a Disney Rewards Visa or other rewards credit card.
Depending on which level you get, whether it's the regular fee-free Disney Rewards Visa, or the $49 a year Premier card, you can earn 1-2% back on your qualifying purchases on the Disney Visa. Your rewards can be put on a Disney rewards card, which like a Disney gift card, can be used to pay toward your vacation or to buy anything you need onsite or at the Disney Store. There are other credit cards with higher percentages on rewards, but the Disney Rewards Visa has some other key benefits such as 0% interest for 6 months on qualifying vacation packages, savings on tours, and Disney merchandise purchases, advance booking opportunity for some promotions and more. Many Disney fans put all of the household bills on the Disney Visa and then pay it off each month to rake in the maximum points.

5) Be a savvy online shopper.
Many people shop online for convenience and savings. With just a few extra clicks, you can be on your way to BIG savings without much effort.

ALWAYS go through a cash back site like EBATES when you're doing your shopping. Not only can you get a percentage of cash back from online retailers, but there are also coupons available exclusively for ebates members. I've gotten over $800 in cash just for buying exactly what I'd already planned to buy. All I had to do was click through ebates.

You should also ALWAYS search for coupon codes when shopping online. Sites like Retailmenot.com have many coupon codes. You can also just do a google search for the site you want to shop and "coupon code" or "promotional code". This is another way I've managed to save hundreds of dollars with just a few clicks.

Where have you found ways to save for your Disney vacations? Is there an online site or shopper rewards program that has fed your Disney fund? Let me know in the comments!

For more information about how to get the most for your Disney dollars, email me at dreamsdocometruetravel@gmail.com or visit my page  at http://www.facebook.com/dreamsdocometruetravel
or Request a FREE no obligation Quote. Select Jennifer Kern as your agent.

Five Disney Tips That Also Apply to Life

Photo by Tom Bricker at Disney Tourist Blog

1) If everyone is going to the right, you should go left. Veer away from the crowd and you may get to your destination faster.

At Disney World there are often two queues for each cash register, two ways to go for each ride. It may feel safer to follow the herd (usually going to the right), but if you dare to break from the crowd, you'll be rewarded with a shorter wait time.

Similarly, in life, it may seem like the way everyone is doing things is the right way. Don't be afraid to take your own path. It's probably the better one for you.

2) Get Up Early

At Disney World, you'll miss out on hours of riding your favorite rides with short lines if you don't get there in time for park opening, or rope drop. How about your life? How many opportunities are missed by hesitating? When you know you want something, get up, go for it, and be first in line.

3) Take Small Children by the Hand

And as the jokes goes, they don't even have to be YOUR children. Just like taking your children's hands at Disney World keeps them close and safe, so you don't lose them, every day we need to remember the little ones in our lives who look up to us, who need to be kept close and safe. Think of all we can gain every day by pointing out the wonders of the world to little ones and experiencing them again through a child's eyes.

4) Stop and smell the roses

Discussing Disney World with many people over many years I always hear that people can have taken several trips to Disney World, even dozens, and have missed all of the small details. At Disney World, stop to pull Indy's Rope, take a stroll through the English garden at EPCOT, or just sit on a bench enjoying the sights, sounds, smells, and all of the joy around you. Just like a Disney vacation seems to go by in an exhausting whirlwind, how many of our weeks seem to go by as a blur? Spend some time each day appreciating the season, the color of the sky, the scent of clean laundry, your spouse's smile, or the precise age your child is. He'll never be this age again, and neither will you. Enjoy it!

5) You can't do it all

I've been to Disney World many, many times and I have seen many things, but I have not seen every attraction, beaten every mini golf hole, nor eaten at every restaurant, nor will I, and that's ok.

Your vacation is most enjoyable when it's not a long checklist, and so is life. Both are best enjoyed when you appreciate the moment you're in. Maybe I'll never ride Astro Orbiter, or be an Astronaut, but I'm very happy enjoying the rollercoaster I'm on and the company along for the ride.

Live in the moment

For more information about planning memories to last a lifetime, email me at dreamsdocometruetravel@gmail.com or visit my page a thttp://www.facebook.com/dreamsdocometruetravel

Five Magical Reasons to take an Adults-Only Trip to Walt Disney World

Disney World is a wonderful vacation spot for families, but it's also a great place to go if you don't have children, or if you want to leave the kids at home. Here are just a few reasons Disney World is a great vacation location for adults only.

1. You can travel at the best times of year.Many families are restricted to traveling when school is out. As we know, these are the most crowded - and often the hottest- times of year. Not only can you get substantial savings by going to Disney World in the off-season, but you can enjoy special events such as the Food and Wine Festival and Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party in October, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Osbourne Lights, and Holidays Around the World in December, or the Flower and Garden Festival in the Spring without having to face summer heat and crowds.

2. You get to be a kid again, but with adult freedom!I'm sure many people remember childhood Disney trips with fondness, but they also remember having to go wherever the whole family wanted to go, eating whenever your little brother wanted to eat, or having to interrupt your touring plan for 5 different bathroom breaks. When you're an adult, you get to go where YOU want. You get to do what you want to do. Want to ride Expedition Everest 5 times in a row? You can, without having to do a child-swap. Want to eat a Mickey Premium bar for lunch? No one's going to stop you!Instead of taking the photos while your child meets Mickey, you can be the one to run up there and hug him yourself! Traveling as an adult with your partner or friends is a whole different experience than traveling with your parents or your own children.

3. It's easier to get a dining reservation for 2.The Disney Dining Plan makes it easier than ever to plan your food budget for Disney World, and makes it easy to try many of the over 200 fantastic eateries at The World. With the restaurants more popular than ever, it can be difficult to get an ADR (Advance Dining Reservation) for a large group. However, if you're traveling as a couple, you can often get tables for two at top eateries just a few weeks or months ahead of time.

4. You get to take your time.I'm as big a park commando as the next gal, but I have learned over the years that Disney World is something to savor. When it's just the two of you, you can slow down for a nice meal at California Grill, watching Wishes! fireworks away from the crowds. You can eat and drink around the world at EPCOT, especially at the Food and Wine Festival, where you can savor food and adult beverages from over 2 dozen countries. Don't forget to slow down and take in all of the details, like the large train display at the Germany pavilion, or the amazing exhibitions in the Japan pavilion.

5.Disney World is Romantic!There's a reason Disney World is a top choice for engagements, weddings, honeymoons and anniversaries. I need to write another post, or 10 other posts to even scratch the surface, but you and your love can have everything from exquisite signature dining and private dining, to horse and carriage rides, to couples massages, Disney really has it all. My honeymoon was a split between a caribbean island and Disney World. I actually felt the honeymoon spirit more at Disney World. We wore the Bride and Groom "ears" of course and we got so much attention from Cast Members and fellow guests alike. We got a special dessert at Tokyo Dining, a "Congratulations" card at Boma, and lots of attention from the Princesses at Cinderella's Royal Table. We had a great time taking PhotoPass pictures, especially when the photographers kept asking us to kiss and "hold that pose!"

There's a lot you can add to a Honeymoon package as well. This is a great time to enjoy all that Disney World has to offer with a Deluxe, Platinum or Premium Dining Plan. You may know can enjoy the fireworks from California Grill, or a one of a kind experience at Victoria and Albert's, but did you know that you can arrange for a special private open-air dining experience at the Grand Floridian? You can also arrange for a special dessert to be sent out to surprise your sweetie, such as a special occasion cake or the Cinderella's Slipper Dessert. On our honeymoon, my Prince surprised me with a basket including champagne, mickey flutes and chocolates sent right to our room. With Disney World there is no limit to the romantic dreams you can make come true.

For more information on couples-only trips, magical honeymoons and anniversaries, email me at jkern@mmvagent.com or visit my page at http://www.facebook.com/dreamsdocometruetravel
or Request a FREE no obligation Quote