The Mouse Part 2

Last time, we started talking about a few ways to save money when visiting Disney properties. The first few suggestions I gave were for travel, food, and hotel. Here are a few more:

5) Purchase autograph books before leaving home- Many children enjoy getting the characters to sign an autograph book, when they go to a Disney property. However, purchasing said books on the actual properties can be a deal breaker, as they are often $20 and many times, that doesn't even include the "fat pen" the characters need to write with, as they can't grasp thin pens. 

The first time we went, I bought spiral notebooks with Mickey's picture on the front, complete with a pen, at an Orlando Walmart for about $6 each. The last time we went, I purchased spiral bound notebooks and pens on Amazon.com for $5.28 each and because I coupled that with the Teva purchase I told you about a few days ago, I didn't pay shipping. Woot! :) However, if you aren't a fan of this style of autograph book, there are plenty of others on there, plus some handmade ones on eBay. I have also seen "homemade" notebooks that are merely plain paper bound (either by yourself or in a real notebook), with Disney stickers on the outside-- talk about frugality at its finest! :)

6) Ponchos, ponchos, ponchos...- I have a wonderful Disney agent who suggested we take ponchos on our recent trip. However, Financial Guy suggested we not purchase them and take the all-weather jackets we currently had, because "what are the odds we'll actually need them?" (famous last words). The twins didn't own said jackets, so I bought 2 for $1 ponchos at our local Dollar Tree, that were little more than thin trash bags with a hood, and off we go.

Days 3-5 of the trip, the entire state of Florida was covered in rain, with rain bands stretching all the way back to the Bahamas... Really? Because I didn't buy those cheapo, $0.50, trash bag ponchos for everyone and now my "all-weather" jacket is soaked and won't repel anything now besides ME! Luckily, I found 2 discarded Disney ponchos at a trash bin, that were still completely functional for the Sisternator and myself. Am I really so cheap that I'll pick up ponchos that someone else has thrown out? You bet your sweet bippy and if you were soaked to the bone, you might actually do it, too... That said, Financial Guy was on his own.

He toughed it out for one solid day, then resorted to purchasing an $8 poncho, when his own all-weather jacket finally gave up the ghost. Lesson learned and he now has a precious souvenir of a Mickey poncho from our trip, that is safely packed away in a baggie for our next vacay. If only I had a nickel for every stinkin' poncho Disney sold for $8, during those 3 days, 'cause you know that's about all they cost to make and they sold a blue million of them!

Can't say enough about taking ponchos or rain jackets with you on your trip. Even if you don't use them for this trip, $0.50 ponchos pack nicely in the car for a future event for which you might not have been prepared. :) Until next time, stay tuned for more tips, and save on, friends! :)