Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Money Saving - Item's to Purchase at Home for a Disney Vacation:

Today I want to share a list of important item's that are much cheaper if you purchase them before your vacation. We have unfortunately had to pay park prices for certain item's that we either forgot, or ran out of, and it was a hard pill for me to swallow as a coupon cutting, alway's trying to save money mama.

Poncho's:


I love rain storm's at Walt Disney World! It's refreshing, it's still warm out, the thunder is exciting, it's quite fun! However, it is a little more difficult if you're caught there without rain gear. They do sell adorable poncho's in just about every store, but they're expensive!

We like to buy poncho's ahead of time at Target or Walmart for $1. They usually only last us one trip, but for us it is worth the saving's to bring them, use them there and then toss them. That way we don't feel guilty if we don't drag the wet things home too.

Hand Sanitizer Wipe's:

Germ's are everywhere at Disney park's. We like to pack the hand sanitizing wipe's to clean our hand's often. There aren't always bathroom's right next to all eating area's so we have found this to be helpful. Target sells them for $1/travel pack in their travel size section.

Diaper's:


These are of course a necessity. I alway's pack an entire package of diaper's and several package's of wipe's. Planning for at least 4 to 5 per day, per child.

On our last trip our son was 3 months old, which as any mommy know's, the younger they are the more diaper's they require. As prepared as I thought we were, we ran out! You have a couple option's if this happens. The Disney owned hotel's do sell packages of Huggie's (Mickey themed ;))  in their store's. They also have them to purchase in the baby care center's. Either way they end up being about $1/diaper. HUGE price jump from the .17/diaper I'm used to at home. You can also drive (if you have a rental car) or take a taxi (also expensive) to a nearby store. We decided by the time we took the bus or taxi it would still be more cost and time efficient to buy the park one's.

Some people do have them shipped to their hotel ahead of time too! Ordering them online could prevent this problem and save money. I haven't tried this yet, but would love to hear experiences if someone else has!

Fan's:

Hand held fan's are wonderful for everyone on a hot day. Disney park's sell cute mister fan's that are around $15. When our oldest son was one I found a fan for $1/Walmart that was foam so if he grabbed it, it wouldn't hurt him. Ive also noticed the spray mister fan for $5 online. We like to save money by packing these. We also let our little one put Disney sticker's on his fan to make it his own.









Medicine:


We have been sick several time's during our vacation's. I usually pack a variety of medication's to cover all ailment's.

On my first trip to Walt Disney World though I was less prepared being that we had our wedding the day before and I was exhausted from all of the celebrating. I came down with a cold. We purchased the two pill box of Tylenol cold that they offered at Main Street's Emporium. It was $6 for the two pill's. Ugh!

How do you save money if you're already there? Each Disney park has a first aid center that offer's over the counter medications, bandages, storage for medication's that need to be refrigerated, disposal containers for hypodermic needles and they have nurses you can talk to and who can take your temperature. I've visited them many time's with our little one's who were feverish.

 If you need to purchase medication the hotel's sell a variety in their store's. In the park's they also offer it in merchandise shops although you may have to ask where it is. Baby care center's also offer baby medications in their on-site store.


Glow Stick's:


We love to buy glow stick's for the kid's instead of spending money on the knick knack's they sell at night during parade's and firework show's. They're usually about a $1 at Target OR 2/$1 at the dollar store. We try to have one for each night of our trip.

The kid's love them and they're very easy to pack.



If you have any questions let me know. Thanks for reading!

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Disney Quick Service - Our Favorite Restaurant's in the Park's


What is a Quick Service Meal?

The Disneyland and the Walt Disney World resorts offer delicious options for quick service meals. I've also seen quick service referred to as counter service, and just to avoid confusion, they are the same thing.

Quick service is where you order your food at a counter and they will either have it ready right away or with in a few minutes. Your food will be given to you on a tray where you will then take it to find a nearby table or bench to enjoy. All condiments, silverware, etc. are located on a condiment cart nearby.

Quick service meals are good for three reasons. One, you usually don't have to wait too long for your food. Two, they are a cheaper option than a sit down (table service) dining meal with the same wonderful Disney quality and ambiance. Three, several offer indoor seating protecting you from rain or giving you a break from the heat.

Menu's can change, but usually offer the same type of food. All menus will also offer kids meals. Make sure to do some research before your trip so you're prepared on where you'll want to go and at what time of day you'll want to go there. Some, but not all, of the restaurants offer breakfast, lunch or dinner options through out the day. We have missed breakfast before because we didn't look ahead to see what time quick service restaurant's opened and had to wait until lunch.

Photo: I love this picture of our little one patiently 
waiting for his food at the Riverside Mill Food Court
 at Port Orleans Riverside.

Here is a list of our favorite quick service meals in each park.

Magic Kingdom -

Columbia Harbour House -
Location: Liberty Square
Food options: Lobster rolls, chowder, chili, grilled salmon, fried fish or chicken basket's, macaroni and salad's.
Comments: Our favorite's are the Broccoli Peppercorn Salad and the Lobster Roll. Yum!

Be Our Guest Restaurant -
Location: Fantasyland
Food options: French classics - croque monsieur (cheese and ham sandwich), quiche, french onion soup, etc.
Comments: This is my absolute favorite counter service! It is slightly different from other counter service restaurant's as you order at a desk/counter and your server bring's your meal to the table you choose. The fun part is that they find your location by your Magic Band or by a rose shaped "locator" they give you if you do not have a Magic Band. This restaurant has a delicious Tuna Nicoise Salad that I could eat everyday! Make reservations ahead of time for a shorter wait. This one is popular.

Be Our Guest Restaurant photo from left to right: Chocolate Cream Puff, Master's Cupcake, Croque Monsieur with Green Bean's and the Tuna Nicoise Salad.



Animal Kingdom -

Yak and Yeti Local Food Cafes -
Location: Asia
Food options: Asian cuisine including mandarin, orange and sweet and sour chicken, rice, egg rolls, etc.
Comments: This restaurant is located near a courtyard that is usually fairly busy, but one of my favorite's. It's beautifully themed. In the back there is a fountain that is very relaxing to listen to.



Yak and Yeti Local Foods Cafe photo from left to right: Sweet and Sour Chicken with white rice and Mandarin Chicken with white rice




Flame Tree Barbecue -
Location: Discovery Island
Food options: Barbecue of course!
Comments: Our favorite is the pulled pork sandwich and the side of onion ring's. I LOVED the onion ring's when I was pregnant! They're great when you're not pregnant too.

EPCOT -

Sunshine Season's -
Location: Future World
Food options:  There are different station's with in one location offering many option's for guests. We have enjoyed yogurt parfait's, wrap's, sushi and noodle dishes here.
Comments: They offer really great delicious and healthy option's. We go here often because there is something for everyone with so much variety available.

Sommerfest -
Location: World Showcase, Germany Pavilion
Food options: Traditional german food including pretzels, bratwurst, sauerkraut, etc.
Comments: The pretzel's are one of my favorite's. Also, not a lot of seating so if it's busy be prepared for that.

Yorkshire County Fish Shop -
Location: World Showcase, UK Pavilion
Food options: Fish and Chip's, yum!
Comments: We love to sit in the courtyard behind the tea shop.

Disney's Hollywood Studio's -

Starring Rolls Cafe -
Location: Sunset Boulevard
Food options: Sandwiches, sushi, baked good's, etc.
Comments: Their menu has changed several time's, but they almost alway's have sandwiches, croissants, bagel's, etc. We had a wonderful Olaf cupcake (photo below) last time we were there that was carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.





Starring Rolls Cafe photo's left to right: Olaf cupcake at Starring Rolls Cafe, courtyard eating area outside cafe.




Disneyland -

Royal Street Veranda -
Location: New Orlean's Square
Food options: Clam chowder and gumbo bread bowls.
Comments: Fun outdoor seating area. We really like the clam chowder bowl.

Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante’ -
Location: Frontierland
Food options: Delicious mexican food.
Comments: Several options including tacos, enchiladas and my favorite the tostada salad.



Photo: Entrance to Ranco del Zocalo Restaurante.












Disney's California Adventure Park-

Lucky Fortune Cookery:
Location: Pacific Wharf
Food options: Asian cuisine including chicken, beef or tofu rice bowls and Edamame.
Comment's: We really like that you get to pick the sauce that come's with your rice bowl. Our favorite is the Thai Coconut Curry sauce with the beef rice bowl.

Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill:
Location: Pacific Wharf
Food options: Mexican cuisine.
Comment's: Good Mexican food. We really love the ambiance in this area as well. Lot's of seating!


Sunday, August 9, 2015

DIY Yoda Inspired Hooded Towel

Hooded Towel Tutorial:



I made a Yoda hooded towel for my son several weeks ago and after posting it on Facebook I have had several requests for a tutorial. I love to sew and was raised by a home economics teacher who taught me how to create my own pattern's from cutting them out of newspaper. A lot of the time I "wing it" so I will do my best to portray the process I used.

This pattern fits a larger child (ages 5 and up). If it's for someone smaller you'll want to make adjustments to the towel sizes.



Thing's Needed:


- 1 tan colored bath size towel
- 1 tan colored hand size towel
- 1 - 2 green colored hand size towel depending on how large you want the ears ( I used 2)
- Sewing machine
- Needle and green or neutral thread to match/blend with green/tan towels







Instructions:

Step 1:
Take the tan hand towel and fold it in half horizontally (sorry the coloring is off in some of these photo's).





Step 2:
Sew both of the shorter sides together. Leave the longer side open.







Step 3:
Turn towel right side out and put the seams together. This will make the towel thicker for drying hair and will eliminate exposed seams.


















Step 4: 
Put both of the "points" of the towel together creating a hood.





























Step 5:
Take the green hand towel and cut it in half vertically. Save the other side for the ears.


Step 6:
Fold the green strip in half and sew it lengthwise. Turn it right side out.

Step 7:
Pin the green strip to the outer edge of the tan hood. Sew the edges together.



Step 8:
Pin the hood to the bath sized towel and sew a straight line.















Step 9:
Cut a piece of newspaper to the size you would like the ears. I made them on the larger side, but you can cut yours the way you like it. Place the pattern on the other half of the green hand towel and cut four "ears" out.





















Step 10:
Sew two of the ear pieces together leaving the base open so that you can turn them right side out. I like to use a pen or pencil to help push the tip of the ear all the way out. Repeat this with the other ear.




Step 11:
Sew a straight line through Yoda's ear to keep the pieces together and to give it some definition. Make sure to leave about an inch from the base of the ear so that you can tuck it under when you attach it to the hood. If you would like the ear's to stick out more you could add stuffing. I was worried they wouldn't dry quickly enough if I did this.














Step 12:
Attach the ear to the hood. I used a needle and thread. Tucking under the raw edges so that they aren't seen.

















Here are my cute models displaying the final product!



 















Saturday, August 8, 2015

Disney Park Map Lamp Shade


Disney Park Map Lamp Shade Tutorial




For my first DIY post I decided to share our Disney map lamp shade tutorial. One way to save money, for us, is to create item's from the fun thing's you can pick up for free at any Disney park. These include, sticker's, celebration button's, your ticket to the park, etc.

My two boy's share a room in our 90 year old craftsman style home. I am a huge fan of painting with neutral color's so that I can change the decor as much as I want or as they grow. Right now they are one and four and their decor is of course a Mickey Mouse theme. We have this amazing lamp that is from my husband's childhood room. When it moved into our house it had a really drab, faded and outdated mustard colored lamp shade. I luckily had a spare lamp shade that fit the lamp, but it was a very boring white. Here is what we did with the maps and lamp shade:

Item's Needed:
1 - Lamp shade
2 - Mod Podge
3 - Sponge Paint Brush
4 - Disney Park Map's 

Instructions:
1 - Lay map's out flat and arrange them with the part's you would like to see.
2 - Make sure your lamp shade does not have any dust as this will make your map's bubble.
3 - Paint Mod Podge directly on to the lamp shade's flat surface (make sure to do one section at a time so that it does not dry while you're still working in another area).
4 - Lay the map on to the Mod Podge and press from the center out to release all of the air.
5 - Paint another layer of Mod Podge over the map to create the matte/glossy look (depending on what you prefer they sell both types). This also prevent's the map from folding away from the lamp shade. 
6 - Let the flat surface dry for 24 hrs. 
7- After the flat part has dried repeat the process with the edge's carefully folding them in to the center of the lamp shade to create a finished look. 
8- An optional idea is to also hot glue gun ribbon to the edge's for extra detail. 




Friday, August 7, 2015

When I fell in love with Disney!

For this post I thought I would start by telling you about my first experiences with Disney park's and why I fell in love with Disney.

My First Disney Park Visit:
My first visit was to Disneyland when I was eight. We stopped there on a road trip from Washington to Arizona. My sister and I saved our pennies in an old margarine container until we had enough to buy our 1-day ticket's into the park, which were only about $25 then. As an eight year old I of course had a fantastic time, but I didn't have the appreciation and love for Disney park's I do now, until I was 23.

When I Fell in Love with Disney Parks:
My love for Disney really began during our first trip to Walt Disney World in 2005 (which I will focus on for the remainder of this post since it is where I truly began my love for Disney). We went for our honeymoon. My husband had been there a few times, but I hadn't and I am actually the one who begged him to make that our first trip together. While it was "magical" in the sense that they have amazing firework's, show's, etc., my appreciation for it, as an adult, was in the amazing details, food, atmosphere and hidden secret's created by Disney cast members and imagineer's. As someone who had only visited Disneyland (especially prior to their expansion with Disney's California Adventure Park) I had no idea what was in store for me at Walt Disney World.

Why I Fell in Love with Disney Parks: 
I fell in love with Disney park's and specifically WDW at this time due to the ease of getting around, the food, the detail's and the hidden places and quiet corner's (that, to me, are more magical than the fireworks).

The transportation, when you stay in an on property resort at Walt Disney World, is wonderful (it is a different process at Disneyland). They have their own area in the airport, which is really easy to find, and the motorcoach bring's you directly to your hotel. Our favorite part is that you can check your bag at your home airport and they will deliver it to your hotel room eliminating extra stress once you arrive! So AWESOME especially now that we have kid's. They also have their own transportation system to transport guests from their hotel to the park's including a bus, monorail or boat, depending on where you are staying. How great is that? And who doesn't love a boat or monorail ride?

The food is amazing! We had the dining plan on my first trip, which included one counter service, one snack and one sit down meal. This can also include character dining experience's at several different restaurant's. The photo below is from our honeymoon when we ate at Liberty Tree Tavern's character meal. The meal plan made dining very easy especially since we made our reservation's several months prior to departure. They have made adjustment's to the plan over the year's, but it is still wonderful for us because we don't have to worry about price and we plan everything in advance so it take's the stress off of us while we are there. I loved this on our honeymoon because we had our dinner reservation's planned in advance and we could pick a counter service depending on where we were at the time. It gave us more time to play not having to worry or argue about where dinner would be. Plus, we really had fun planning it out in advance at home. There are so many incredible restaurants that you definitely want to plan too (I will do another post on our favorite's).

The detail's I love include the flower's and topiary's, the amazing theme's throughout their ride's, restaurant's and hotel's and the amount of attention they pay to each area. I could go on and on about detail's! And the best part is that every time we go we notice something new.

For us the hidden place's and the quiet corner's, are, for example, when you get a boat ride to yourself because magically no one else is in line or you find a quiet bench in the World Showcase and get to listen to The British Revolution with your spouse. There are so many wonderful spaces to explore!  Although it is such a busy place we alway's find a space where it is just us. It's fantastic. WDW offer's such a great opportunity to find what you appreciate - whether it be busy places or quite area's.

Since my first Disney trip I have been to Disneyland six times and to Walt Disney World ten time's. We have been to both park's several time's both with and with out kid's. With both of us loving it so much I became a Disney Wife for Life as we are alway's planning and looking forward to our next trip and we even joke about retiring there someday. I look forward to sharing our experience's, suggestion's and tip's with you! Thanks for reading.  If you have any question's please ask. I love to share my knowledge and experience's.


Welcome

Welcome to Disney Wife for Life where I will share Disney related DIY money saving projects and home decor idea's, planning advice and our tried and true tip’s for Disney vacation’s.

We have been married 10 years this fall and have been visiting a Disney park each year since our honeymoon. I have experienced the park's as a newlywed, a couple, with a large family, pregnant and with our two boy's (as baby's, toddler's and pre-k). I have, also, worked in a travel agency and from home as a travel agent (focusing on Disney travel of course) for 9 years.  I look forward to sharing our experiences with you. If you have any question's please post them! I would love to share our knowledge and advice with you. Thanks for checking it out!