Disney: The Last Hurrah (I promise)

When we visit amusement parks, (or any other place for that matter) one of the most dreaded things I hear is "I'm thirsty...". I think the reason why I detest hearing these words so much, is because knowing how much a 20oz drink usually costs, when you go to a park's concession stand and a drink that would normally cost $1.25 at most is nearly as much as a month's water bill at your house! And when you are buying drinks for half a baseball team anyway, it just gets frightening to even consider how much it would cost to quench your thirst. To remedy this, I usually just tell my kids to go in the bathroom and slurp from the sink faucets. :)

At Disney, they give you the option of purchasing a refillable mug that you can fill up in your hotel as many times as you want. In some hotels, the mug is actually included as part of your package deal. It was not included at our hotel, but the $14 cost, could have easily been spent on soft drinks, hot chocolate, and coffee, but we not only got all the drinks we could down-- which are a lot, by the way, but a souvenir mug to take home makes it all the sweeter.

Okay, a couple of other money saving tips at Disney and I'm drawing this segment to a close... please try not to clap so loudly that you disturb others. :)

When visiting Disney, there are photographers around every turn that want to take your picture, which is great, because you don't have to ask some random stranger to take your pic, they are staked out in the best picture taking spots, and you don't have to be excluded from the family photos because you are the one taking them. Disney's solution is purchasing the PhotoPass. If you purchase it before you go, it's cheaper than if you get it when you get there. That said, expect to pay about $100 for it. Before you go thinking I've lot my mind, let me explain. First, I've got to give props to my friend Tracy who turned us on to this and with whom we shared the PhotoPass. That's right... SHARED.

We took the $100 package, shared it among 4 families, and each paid 1/4 of the cost. Once we had returned home, we entered all our PhotoPass card numbers, edited our pics, then my friend copied the CD they send you for the other 3 families. Voila! Now we have professional photographer pics that we can have printed anywhere! With PhotoPass, it's completely possible to eliminate even carrying a camera into the park, as nearly all character meet & greets have photographers at the ready. Woot! FYI- if your kids are into Star Wars, if you visit Hollywood Studios at Disney, get there at least 45 minutes before they open and sign your young'uns up for the Jedi Training Academy. It's free, it's awesome, and your kiddos will have an experience they'll remember for years, as they get to battle with Darth Vader! However, it fills up fast, so go early!!

If Disney is in your future (immediate or long term), I hope you have a "magical" time. Save on, friends! :)