Disney Archives • Page 2 of 5 • Disney Mom at Home

The CHEAPEST Disney Souvenir – And How it Can Create Years of Memories

February 3, 2018

One thing is for sure, very little about a Disney Parks vacation can be considered cheap! I wrote a post a while ago talking about all of the things you can get at Disney for free, but really none of them would count to my kids as souvenirs they would choose to bring home.

This, however, totally feeds their soul and is one of the things they look forward to the most about our Disney vacations. And the best part is, it’s almost FREE! So, what is this magical gem, you ask? PIN TRADING!

Now if you’ve ever looked at the price of a pin at the Emporium on Main Street you are thinking “ok lady, you’re nuts, these pins are $15 each!” And you are totally right! They are crazy expensive, which is exactly why I would never buy them, unless they were really special!

So, how do we come home with an awesome pin set for free after each trip? We trade! Never heard of pin trading? Let me fill you in on the basics.

*Each cast member wears a lanyard or pin board full of tradable pins.

*Green lanyard-wearing cast members can only trade with children

*They let you trade any pin on their lanyard or board for any pin on yours – no questions asked!

So the reason I say that this is the CHEAPEST souvenir instead of a FREE one is because there is the initial investment on the pins! Like I said before, I’m not shopping on main street to get those pins (and the ones I would buy I certainly wouldn’t be trading!) There are two great ways to start pin trading:

Purchase a pin starter pack from Disney. This includes your lanyard and a handful of pins to get started. It’s around $30, which is not a bad price and you are getting nice pins from the start. However, you only have a few pins to work with.
Purchase a lot of pins on Amazon, eBay, or another site. This is what we did. I was VERY, VERY careful to only purchase from sellers with excellent feedback that don’t sell scrapper pins. Scrappers are cheap versions of real pins, but have noticeable differences making them fake. I bought around 50 for $30 and split them between the two girls and it came with two lanyards. Perfect.

When we originally got our pins, they were awesome and we were so excited to comb through them. There were a bunch of them that we ended up keeping for our pin boards, but most of them when on the lanyards for trading.

The best part about pin trading is you don’t need a park ticket to do it! Everywhere on Disney property cast members are wearing lanyards and trading. One of our best experiences was on the monorail! We were just riding and resort hopping and a handful of cast members who were earning their ears jumped on to go to the Magic Kingdom. They all had brand new pins! Lily was in heaven and we got quite a few really awesome, new pins, including the Lion King and Finding Dory!

Another awesome experience was sitting on Main Street waiting for the parade to begin and the guest services lady walked past and happened to have the Ariel high heel on her lanyard. Lily snatched that up so quick, the lady was cracking up!

Not only do we love doing this in the parks, we enjoy it just as much when we get home! It gives us something to talk about, where we got each pin, what we were doing, and how special and different each one of them is!

Our last trip, when we started trading, I was dead set against ever buying any pins, but now that they’ve become a permanent display in our home, this trip I did let the girls splurge and buy a special one at Castaway Cay and at the Character Warehouse! And our dear friend Cara bought them the anchor set on the cruise ship.

When we get home, we update our pin boards that are hanging in the girl’s room and pick out any pins we want to trade that were previously hanging. Those pins we add to our lanyards and we’re all set for our next adventure to Disney!

And if you get really into it, there are monthly subscription boxes where you can order mystery pins to be delivered to your house each month! Thankfully we’re not there yet, but you never know…

Are you into pin trading? Do you think it’s something your family would enjoy like ours?

5 Must-Do’s When Planning a Disney Cruise

November 30, 2017

We’ve only been on one other Disney Cruise and it was during the Disney Dream’s inaugural year. It was magical and wonderful being on a brand new ship! It was our second cruise, the first was a Carnival cruise for our honeymoon, and believe me when I tell you it was pathetic compared to our Disney cruise!

We were lucky enough to cruise with 13 of our closest friends. We were all adults so we spent plenty of time in the adults-only areas and didn’t bother too much with the kid areas on the ship.

Fast forward six years, and we are getting ready to surprise our kiddos with their first Disney Cruise for Christmas! The really exciting thing is that all 13 of our friends are going too – only with all of their kids! It will certainly be an awesome time, but I feel like a newbie all over again planning.

Here is what we learned so far:

BOOK EARLY – Unlike many other cruise lines and vacation destinations, prices do not go down the closer you get to your sail date. In fact, they often go up! When we booked our first cruise, we booked two weeks after our friends because we had just finished our Disney World wedding and weren’t sure we could swing the trip. We ended up paying almost $1100 more than they did for the same exact room! Booking early can definitely save you money! Lesson learned here, believe me!
Arrive Early – One of the things we make sure to do is to arrive at least a day before the cruise. This way, if anything happens and your flight is delayed, you are still able to make it on the ship! There would be nothing worse than being stuck in an airport 1000 miles away as your ship pulls out of port without you. Already being in Orlando the day you set sail means you are guaranteed to get there in time! Arriving to the port early is also a good idea. While you may have to wait until they start boarding, knowing you’re there with everything you need reduces anxiety and helps you relax for the trip!
Enjoy the Ship – Sure, it’s tempting to just eat in the buffet area for dinner. I mean, who really wants to leave the pool to get dressed for a big sit-down meal. Here’s the thing, especially on the shorter cruises, it is necessary! Every dining room on the ship is uniquely themed and seriously can’t be missed! Even on days where we could stay later at port, we always made it to dinner just for the fabulous experiences. And the food! My goodness, the food is ridiculously good – and all you can eat! Don’t plan on losing weight on this vacation! See the Shows – Another thing tempting to miss are the shows on the ship. While every cruise line offers nightly shows, Disney offers Broadway-style night time shows! They are out-of-this-world! On the Disney Dream (which is the ship we’ll be sailing on!), they are currently doing a brand new production of Beauty and the Beast. It’s based off the live-action screenplay and from the YouTube behind the scenes videos I’ve seen, looks like it’s going to be great! Seriously, don’t miss them!

Spend all day at Castaway Cay – One of Disney’s best kept secrets is how magical Castaway Cay is. On our last cruise, we spent the entire day at Serenity Bay, which is the adults-only beach. It was everything you would expect an island in the Caribbean to be! White sand ran right into a perfectly turquoise ocean. We saw Barracuda and giant sting ray just swimming along beside us. What we didn’t get to do was to snorkel in the family section where there are plenty of hidden mickeys, nor did we play on the children’s playground in the ocean. We’re really looking forward to the girls getting to do that on the cruise! They are going to love it. Another really cool thing we are going to do is to run the Castaway Cay 5K! Unfortunately you have to be 10 to run it, so the girls can’t participate, but I think Kev and I can knock it out quick! Don’t worry, we’ll let the kids play with our medals, so they won’t be too sad!

Pirate Night! – I mean, you’re on a ship so anything called Pirate Night should be something to look forward to, right? Pirate Night was like nothing I’ve ever seen! There are pirate dance parties, characters out, a special pirate menu at dinner, and the night ends with fireworks off the back of the boat! While pirate night on our last cruise was awesome, this time it’s going to be even better seeing it through our kids’ eyes! Don’t forget to bring your pirate outfits (you can buy some accessories on the ship too!), or if you’re like us, wear your favorite Pittsburgh Pirate gear! Go Bucs!

I am seriously excited to see this cruise from a different perspective, but if you’re an adults-only group, don’t think that you will miss out on anything. The beauty of a Disney cruise is that it is Disney and full of magic, but if you want adults-only time, it’s provided for you! There’s a whole section of the ship that’s only for adults! It has a swim-up bar, hot tubs, pools, and lounges. There are also a handful of nightclubs on the ship. They are, of course, themed and there is something for everyone, from a low-key pub to a high class bar. There is nothing Disney hasn’t provided you!

For those cruising with kids who still want some adult-only action, there are kids clubs, teen clubs and the Small World Nursery that provide full child care options so that you aren’t always stuck in the kids section! It’s a win-win for any family travel!!

Want to learn even more about why taking a Disney trip is so awesome? Check out this video and Jones Family Travels! Trust me, you’ll be following them and watching their videos as much as I do! Disney magic at its finest, and before you know it, you’ll be booking your next adventure at sea with Disney!

How to Get FREE Cupcakes at Disney

July 17, 2016

I’m not even going to sugar coat it, I love cupcakes! In fact, my whole family really loves anything with sugar! While I try to avoid as much sugar as possible, since I am addicted to Pepsi anyway, all bets are off when we hit Disney. There is nothing like the fresh, amazing baked goods Disney provides.

When Disney announced that a Sprinkles was opening in Disney Springs, I just knew we had to try it out. While I love to eat, especially while in Disney, I also hate to spend money when we don’t have to. You can imagine my excitement when I read about (and signed up for) Sprinkles Perks. It’s basically a free rewards system that allows you to accumulate points that turn into free goodies. And who doesn’t want free cupcakes, I mean come on!

Since we only get to Disney once or twice a year and we don’t have a Sprinkles here in Pittsburgh, I figured I would be waiting awhile to get anything for free. NOPE! Just for signing up with your email and phone number, your FIRST cupcake is FREE! I mean, like no brainer — if you are planning to hit Disney Springs anytime soon, go sign up!

What makes it even better? My husband and I each signed up seperately, so when we went to Sprinkles, we each got a free cupcake! Since I was already on sugar-overload from being in Disney all week, I split mine with my toddler. They were amazing! I had the sprinkles-covered one and my husband had a chocolate one! Both were so good! And if you don’t want to wait in line, hit up the cupcake ATM if for no other reason than it is the coolest thing ever!

7 Free Things to Do at Disney World During the Holidays

December 13, 2015

There is nothing more magical than being at Disney World during the holidays. Whether you have kids or not, the magic and sparkle of the season is present everywhere on property. This is by far my favorite time of the year to go, but it is also the busiest!

Poor planning can cause you to miss some amazing things that happen at WDW around the holidays, and best of all, they are FREE! That’s right! No additional money needed! If you’re like me, spending an additional $70 per person for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is simply just not in our budget, but that doesn’t mean we miss out on the fun!

FREE Things to Get You in the Holiday Spirit at Disney

1. Check Out the Different Resorts** – Disney really goes all out with their resort Christmas decorations. Sticking with strict themes and guidelines, all decorations match the overall theme of the resort. Some highlights to see are the Gingerbread house at The Grand Floridian and the Carousel at the Beach Club. Both are made from real gingerbread and chocolate and they are simply amazing! Make sure to buy a treat from the gingerbread house… you can thank me later!

2. Enjoy Holiday Wishes ** – The evening firework show, Wishes, is transformed into a holiday spectacular show, complete with panoramic fireworks! Set to holiday music and a holiday story that still features your Disney favorites, you can enjoy these fireworks from many locations. My personal recommendation is the hub at the Magic Kingdom or somewhere on Main Street, but you can view them from The Grand Floridian, The Polynesian, or the Contemporary as well!

3. Holidays Around the World at Epcot – Enjoying the different countries in Epcot is already on my list of favorite things to do at Disney, but during the holidays, the countries are even more spectacular. In every country, Disney showcases how they do the holidays. Since the majority of workers in each country are natives of that country, the cast members really make the experience amazing!

4. Candle Light Processional – By far my absolute favorite experience during the holidays. Held in the America Pavilion outside of America in Epcot, this beautiful telling of the Christmas Story is always narrated by a celebrity and features the most amazing choir, made up of cast members from around the park that audition for the part! When we saw it last, Gary Sinise did the reading and it was beyond packed! Some areas are reserved for those who choose to the dining package, but it is free to all park guests!

5. Visit the Christmas Shop at Downtown Disney ** – Now it doesn’t have to be the holiday season to enjoy this awesome store, but it is much more magical visiting in December than it is in June! Check out all of the holiday gear that Walt Disney World offers and have the chance to get it personalized right there in the store! Don’t worry, you don’t have to stand there while it’s done. You can pick it up later, or they will deliver it right to your resort with no additional fee! Trim Up The Tree with Disney stuff!

6. Watch the Castle Lighting – Another thing that should not be missed is watching the castle-lighting show at Cinderella’s Castle! This is something they implemented the year we lived down there, and no lie, grown men are known to cry at how beautiful it is! If you are in the Magic Kingdom, make sure to check your time’s guide or the app for what time is happens! You won’t regret it!

7. Check Out the Osborne Family of Lights – Displayed for the last time at Hollywood Studios in 2015 are the Osborne Family of Lights. Millions of lights are strung across the Streets of America and dance to Christmas music blaring through the air! Purchase hot chocolate and cookies, grab a good spot and watch the snow. Feel like you’re being transported up north when it starts snowing and you really get into the Christmas spirit!

So you don’t have to break the bank to enjoy the holiday season if you are a local, or if you are visit the Mouse during this amazing time of year! While these are 7 of the most popular things to do, there are hundreds of holiday happenings around the Disney property during November and December! What are your favorites?

** These experiences can be enjoyed without purchasing park tickets.

All photos are taken directly from Disney websites.

Sometimes You Just Need a Disney Day

August 17, 2015

Did you ever have one of those weeks where you just need a time-out from reality and want to rewind back into your happy place? Yeah, totally happening over here. We are in desperate need of what I like to call a “Disney Day.” Unfortunately for us, we are no where close to Orlando or California, so we can’t actually go to Disney. We also have too much going on to head over to the Disney store, or “Disney World at the store” as Lily calls it.

It’s been 8 long months since our last visit to the mouse and Lily and I are definitely feeling the calling to get there! She keeps it up by asking if we are moving there at least a few times each week (hint, hint, daddy!) And when all else fails, she continuously reminds us that Delaney hasn’t been there yet. Such a smart 2 year old!

So, to get in the mood for our Disney Day, the first stop is getting dressed up! There is no special occasion necessary for Lily to break out the princess dresses and she would wear them to the grocery store if I would let her! Multiply her enthusiasm for dressing up by a thousand when we were switching out sizes for Delaney and she realized that they now both have Snow White dresses! You would have thought I bought her a car! She was so excited they could both be princesses!

Next up was dinner and a movie. I threw this all together pretty quickly, so I didn’t have time to really plan out our itinerary. We were scheduled to have fish for dinner, so I threw in some fish sticks for Lil and declared it Finding Nemo Night! After dinner we all snuggled on the couch and watched Nemo and talked all about the ocean. Lily, of course, complained that she wanted to live by the ocean and by Disney. (Really, daddy, I have no idea where she gets it!)

To finish off our Disney Day, we changed into our pajamas and grabbed our favorite Disney blankets (we each have our own!) and put wishes on the TV via YouTube! Normally I would look up firework times online and make sure we watch right around the time they were really happening so we really could get the full effect, but tonight we did it early because I had work to do. We might not be there tonight, but we are definitely there in spirit!

Adding some Disney magic to our lives makes us happier and helps beat any bad day blues! How do you keep your Disney magic when you can’t get to the parks?