If you have been following this series, you should have already made your budget, decided when you are going, how you are getting there, food options, and where you are staying for your Disney World vacation. Today we will be discussing the importance of hiring an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.

What is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? An Authorized Disney Vacation Planner is a travel agency who has received special training and recognition from Disney. Whether you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World or a trip on a Disney Cruise, we know Disney vacations inside and out!

Why should you hire an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? First of all, our services are FREE for you to use! We are commissioned by Disney, so Disney pays our commission, not you! You can also pay for your Disney vacation as you go, similar to a lay away system. All you need is a $200 deposit to secure your reservation. After that, you can make payments as you please. Your package must be paid in full 45 days before your check in date.

Destinations in Florida also offers many other FREE perks for our guests. Our most popular is FREE discount watch. Say, for example, when you make your deposit for your Disney vacation Disney does not have any discounts available for your travel dates. We will discount watch for you. When a discount becomes available, we will apply that discount to your account on the first day it is available and alert you of your savings! We also offer FREE itinerary planning. As soon as it becomes available, we will let you know the park hours for your travel dates and what the expected crowd levels will be each day. Based on this information, we can help you plan which park will be best to visit each day of your vacation. We can also help with Disney Dining services. We can suggest the best restaurants for your picky eaters or your family members with special dietary needs. We can even make your dining reservations for you up to 180 days in advance! We will also send a few magical surprises for the children in your family to get them excited about your trip!

This concludes our saving for a Disney vacation series. Is there anything we missed? Any other questions you might have? Are there any other destinations you would like to learn more about? Leave a comment below with your questions. If we get enough questions in, we will try to do a question and answers post next week.

Alexia is a Disney Specialist with Destinations in Florida. When she is not helping to plan magical vacations, you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Get FREE DINING if you book a Disney Resort Package between 8/25 and 9/27 – click here for a quote!

 

This year, cow appreciation day at Chick-Fil-A is Friday July 12th.  It also happens to be my soon-to-be 4 year old’s birthday!  A few years back I had made the kids each a cow hat to wear, but since then we have had a couple more kids.  This year we are also going simple and creating our own cow masks and doing spots all over.

Here are a few ideas I came across to enjoy Chick-Fil-A on the cheap:

• Cow Mask Printable
• Another Cow Mask Printable

For the body, simple wear a white shirt and pin or tape spots all over.  You could even take some yarn and braid a tail to pin to your behind.  Possibilities are endless!

What are ways you have dressed like a cow before?

 

We are already knocking out the list we created about fun things to do this summer!  We aim to have the most fun possible this summer and make tons of memories.  Here’s an update as we work to conquer each and every one:

1. Play in the sprinkler
2. Make our own bubble solution and blow bubbles
3. Roller skate
4. Go on a hike
5. Ride bikes
6. Go to playground
7. Library summer reading
8. Go to a play
9. Summer movies at theater
10. Put on swimsuits and wash the van
11. Make and eat popsicles
12. Visit a friend
13. Go for icecream at night in our pajamas
14. Sleep under the stars
15. Make a bonfire and roast marshmallows
16. Plant flowers
17. Make our own icecream
18. Visit Grandma’s house
19. Fly a kite
20. Jump rope
21. Paint our own shirts
22. Put together a huge LEGO city
23. Play a board game
24. Bird watch
25. Make a fort out of the couch and blankets
26. Work on our sticker mosaics
27. Put on a play
28. Make a treasure hunt
29. Campout in living room
30. Visit a fire station
31. Go to the zoo
32. Turn on music and dance
33. Have a picnic
34. Go to the lake
35. Write a journal about summer activities
36. Make an obstacle course
37. Create a terrarium
38. Go to a museum
39. Have a yard sale
40. Make a time capsule
41. Paint
42. Learn something new
43. Geocache
44. Watch the sunrise/sunset
45. Water gun fight
46. Play with the dog
47. Hop in the car and go back roads to discover something new
48. Write a poem
49. Invite friends over for a cookout
50. Make a new friend

What have you done so far this summer?

Last night we went Lightenin’ Bug Catchin’.  Or Firefly Catching – whichever you call it.  We call it both.

My kids wanted to  make sure everyone knows how to catch these little bugs “properly”.Here are instructions on How to Catch a Lightenin’ Bug according to my kiddos.

1. Go out right before dark and watch for little lights.
2. Run toward the little lights.
3. Catch them by putting your hands together.
4. Don’t clap your hands too hard when you catch one or you might squish ’em.
5. Put them in a jar to watch them light up but don’t forget to let them go later.
6. Yes, it is sad to let them go, but you can catch them again tomorrow!

What do you call these critters? Lightening Bugs or Fireflies or something else?

This post is by my friend Alexia.  Alexia is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner for Destinations in Florida. When she is not helping plan magical vacations you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.  Get the best price on your Walt Disney World Vacation Package… Guaranteed! Get FREE DINING if you book a Disney Resort Package between 8/25 and 9/27 – click here for a quote!

If you have been following this series, you should have already made your budget, decided when you are going, how you are getting there, and where you are staying for your Disney World vacation. Today we will be discussing ticket options.  This can be a little tricky since there are so many options and because ticket prices vary.

Your first ticket option it the base ticket. The base ticket will allow you entry to one park for one day. The option is ideal for families who have small children or who are visiting for the first time and do not wish to be overwhelmed by visiting more than one park in one day. A one day base ticket for adults (anyone ages 10 and over) will cost about $89.00 per person. A one day base ticket for children (ages 3-9) will cost about $83.00 per person. Children 2 and under are free. The price of the ticket might vary slightly depending on the time of year you visit. This is where things get a little tricky. The more you stay, the less expensive ticket prices per day will be. For example, say you stay for four days so you can spend one full day at each park. A four day base ticket for adults will cost about $64.00 per person per day. A four day base ticket for children will cost about $59.75 per person per day. If you are planning a longer trip, a 10 day base ticket for adults will cost about $31.80 per person per day. A 10 day base ticket for children will cost about $30.00 per person per day. If you are planning on staying longer than 10 days, purchasing an annual pass will save you the most money.

What if you want to visit more than one park in one day? The Park Hopper option would be the best option for you and your family. The Park Hopper ticket option will allow you to visit two, three, or even all four parks in one day. This option is ideal for several different families such as those who have older children who wish to ride all their favorite thrill rides in one day, those who are traveling during special events such as the Epcot Food and Wine Festival and wish to see the Eat to the Beat concert series every night, or those who wish to view their favorite parade or fireworks display at their favorite park every day. To add on the Park Hopper option, you will need to add an additional $57.00 per ticket to your base ticket option.

The Water Park and More option gives families the option to visit one theme park and some of the many other extra entertainment options Disney has to offer every day.  The Water Park and More option will allow ticket holders entry to Disney’s Blizzard Beach, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, (Disney’s two water parks) ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex, DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park, Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course, Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course, and Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course. This option is ideal for families who want to take a break from the parks and play golf, play video games, or splash at one of the water parks. To add on the Water Park and More option, you will need to add an additional $57.00 per ticket to your base ticket option.

What if you are the adventurous family who wants to experience anything and everything in a single day? There is a bundle ticket with the Park Hopper and Water Park and More option for you! This ticket option includes everything mentioned above.  This option is ideal for families who wish to split up and do their own then then meet up for lunch and/or dinner or families who want to experience different activities throughout the day. To add on the Park Hopper and Water Park and More option, you will need to add an additional $79.00 per ticket to your base ticket option.

Which ticket option works best for you and your family?

We have 4 kids.  I don’t quite consider that a large family, but I know many people do.  We have friends with 9 kids, 6 kids, 5 kids, etc so really we are a small family compared to them.  Nevertheless, we have found some tricks from our friends that help keep us organized.

For our children, we have decided to assign each of our kids a color.  Our oldest is orange, 2nd is blue, 3rd is pink, and 4th is purple.  This works great for us.

 

For mealtimes, we have bought 2 of the Munchkin Feeding Sets.  They come with a bowl, cup, and plate in our children’s colors plus the color green.  Green we use for friends that come over or in case we ever have another.  With each kid having their color for plates, it has helped a ton so each kid gets what they need.  For example, my 2 year old needs her meat cut smaller and of course eats smaller portions than my almost 10 year old, and my 6 year old has allergies.  No accidental mixups!

With each kid having a color, we make sure that everything they need is that color such as their toothbrush.  Otherwise I’m sure we would forget which toothbrush belongs to which kid.  It makes keeping 4 toothbrushes separate much easier.  The girls hairbrushes are also in their colors.  This works especially when hairbrushes are left around the house – I know which child did it

From a very young age, they are taught what their color is and our 2 year old has a firm grasp on her purple color.  Every once in a while, Dad will forget and mix the 2 little girls colors up, and our 2 year old is usually the one that corrects him.

What are your tips for keeping up with multiple kids and keeping their personal items separate?

 

Lately I’ve really been bombarded with how fast the kids are growing up.  Waaay too fast.  Lightening fast.  In another month and a half, my oldest will be a 10 year old.  Scary.

As time has been flying and we’ve been crazy busy the past couple of months, I realized I had turned into a No Mom.  What’s a No Mom?

“Mom, Can I paint”
“No, I just cleaned up”
“Mom, Can we go to the park?”
“No, I’m too tired”
“Mom, Can we make cookies?”
“No, I don’t have time.”
“Mom, Can we read a book?”
“No, I have to call the bank”.
“Mom, Can I get a pet Snake?
“NO!!!”

Okay, the last one is justified, but the rest were just a matter of not wanting the hassle.  That’s a No Mom.  And yes, I often times can be a No Mom without even realizing it, especially when things are crazy.

This week, my goal is to be a Yes Mom.  Whatever their little hearts request, within reason, will be a Yes.  Now, it may not be an immediate yes, but I’m going to try my best to just have fun this week.

“Mom can we go get icecream?”
“Sure, right after rest time”
“Mom can we eat pizza for dinner?”
“Yes, that sounds great.  How about you help me make the dough”
“Mom, can I play in the sprinkler?”
“Sure, but we have to limit it to 20 minutes so we don’t waste too much water”
“Mom, can we stay up late to catch fireflies?”
“Sure.  To make sure you won’t be too tired to stay up, I’ll need you to lay down for a bit after lunch to rest”
“Mom, can we go to Disney World?”
“Absolutely!  Now we have to convince Dad and save money for a year”

See what I mean?  Every reasonable request even if you have to agree to do it on another day, time, or have to limit it.  Or make them think about the reason you can’t do it immediately.

Now I’m not one to give in to every little fancy or tantrum, but I also realize that the past couple years have been very stressful, chaotic, and tiresome and I have been saying No far more than Yes.  Right now, I think my kids need a Yes Mom.   So YES, we just painted and made a mess.  And YES, we had carrot cake for breakfast.  And YES, we can go to the store in our mismatched dress up clothes.

Have you ever tried being a Yes Mom?  How did it work out for your family?

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there!  And to all the moms that work hard at being both Mom and Dad.  Have a great day!

As many of you know, my grandfather passed away in March after a very short battle with lymphoma.  When going through his stuff, we came across this gem:

If there is such a thing as an antique coupon, I think this one counts!  No barcade, but a stamped number on it.  And check out this note on the back that still totally applies:

Far too often do people abuse the system now, so this really made me smile seeing this on an old coupon.  And again, use coupons properly

On Saturday, my mom, sister in law, and I went to a Firearms for Females class.  If you’re interested in firearm safety or how to shoot, check with your local county and see if they offer something similar.

Our class was completely free, paid for with drug money.  It was pretty fun learning the laws and they being able to shoot the sheriff’s guns along with my personal one.

I didn’t do half bad

 

Also most counties offer free gun safety locks if you need one and ask them.