Great Airport Parking Deals!

The boy took his first trip by airplane when he was three weeks old and has been flying ever since.  We've flown in and out of Orlando International over 30 times and are familiar with the various airports within a 4-hour radius from our home.  Each trip comes with unique details--flight times, how long it takes to get to the airport, planned arrival times--that require new decision making.

Some times, we drive the day/night before a flight and use a hotel for park-n-fly opportunities.  We've even driven the night before, stayed at a hotel, and then parked at the airport because parking was free--this is prevalent in small regional airports in Illinois.  We have made parking reservations prior to trips--the holiday season can fill up airport parking lots.

For our next trip, we are flying from Kansas City and our flight is later in the afternoon, so we will be driving the same day as our flight.  I needed to find parking that was reasonable--even economical.  The long-term spots at the airport started at $9 per day.

With a little bit of searching, I found that some hotels near the airport, offer parking for as little as $5 per day in addition to a free shuttle to/from the airport.  I snagged a reservation at a hotel less than a mile from the airport.  Caveats:  Had to pay in full.  There was a $5 service/tax charge.  Need to print the receipt and bring with to show the reservation.  Otherwise, it was VERY easy!  And, I know that I have a reserved spot to park our car.

Click here for the link. 

Our Best Travel Tips for Disney Cruise Line

“Okay, give us your best tips.”  We hear this frequently while traveling at Walt Disney World and on Disney Cruise Line.  Maybe it is the matching shirts that indicate we have “done this before” or, as one Cast Member recognized, our state of relaxation and sheer joy that indicate to others that we might have some things figured out.  And, we do even though we are still learning and sharing our lessons with others, like you.

So, here they are, our best tips for Disney Cruise Line:

• Buy the Photo CD from Shutters.  Yes, it is expensive ($249 or more depending on the length of your cruise), but there is usually a savings deal on prints after you commit to the CD.  Do you really want to have to choose which great pictures to take home?  I don’t, so I get them all.  I have watched people spend the last night of their cruise agonizing over which pictures to purchase yet, spend the same amount on sweatshirts and other souvenirs without hesitation.  Just budget for the CD, get lots of pictures taken by the ship’s photographers, and enjoy them forever.

• Book your next cruise while on board.  There is significant savings and on-board credits to be had when booking your next cruise while sailing.  You can also give your travel agent credit for your booking and they can handle the details for you when you get back home.  Itineraries are usually available 18 months or more in advance.  We have done this for all but one of our cruises, and can now do it without visiting with a person at the Future Cruise Sales desk.  I grab a booklet with a Cruise Request Card, fill it out, drop it by the Future Cruise Sales Desk located on Deck 4 on all Disney ships, and wait for a reply.  We can then conduct business via phone or in person and am given a receipt to take home.  Easy peasy!  Our travel agent knows we are going to do this, so she looks for our paperwork to arrive, usually before we get home.

• Get up and out early on Castaway Cay days.  Our opinion is that Castaway Cay is a highlight of any Disney Cruise and the day is short, so enjoy every minute you can of paradise. 

• Be in the first groups on the ship, if you can.  I know this isn’t always feasible, and now Disney Cruise Line is assigning Port Arrival Times to make the Port Terminal less congested, but if it is possible, get on the ship as soon as you can.  One of the best ways to get the most value for your cruise is to make the most of embarkation day.  We take our swimsuits in our carry-on bag and get a head start on swimming, riding the Aqua Duck, soaking in hot tubs, etc.  We’ve toured the ship with Midship Detective Agency, or taken a guided ship’s tour.  I even toured the spa.  We can get a lot into an afternoon before the assembly station drill.  We have seen others spending the time waiting. . . for their stateroom to open ( at 1:30 pm usually) or for their luggage to arrive—sometime before 5:00 pm typically.  Instead of waiting, we are playing and making the most of our time on board that is typically less crowded than the rest of cruise.

• Go to the shows.  The stage shows at the Walt Disney Theater are Broadway caliber shows, family friendly, and just right in length.  Guests can see the shows opposite their dinner seating.  Guests with late seating see the early show and guests with main seating for dinner see the later show.  Except when Disney Cruise Line decides to add a matinee showing, usually at 3:00 pm, which we love!  We go to the show and then get changed for dinner giving us the rest of the evening to participate in other activities.

  

There you have it.  Our top tips for sailing with Disney Cruise Line.  We met a family from Canada that asked us this question and we shared 3 of the above tips.  They left the ship with a Photo CD, a reservation for their next cruise, and big smiles.

Waterproof Watches--A Great Tip for a Great Trip!

As our Disney experiences add up, people ask us questions or make various inquiries.  We have moved beyond the “why do you keep going back?” to “what’s the best advice?” or “what’s your best tip?”  These questions are harder, as the answer depends on many variables; including how much Disney experience the person has that is asking us the question. 

What I will say is that there are things we have learned that make our trips easier or less frustrating, which is the main purpose of the Williams Family Blog.  And, one of the things we do for our trips, any trip, is to make sure we have and wear waterproof watches.  Yes, we are on vacation, but we still really need to know what time it is!

At Walt Disney World, guests grab a Times Guide upon entering the park.  In order to enjoy parades, shows, and fireworks, guests need to know the time.  Fastpasses have return times.  Dining reservations are for a specific time.  Parks open at a certain time.  Yes, I could check my phone for the time, but I have it stored in a secure location, so my watch does the trick.  And, visible clocks in the parks are relatively few.

Okay, but did you really need to know what time it is on a Disney cruise?  Yes!  The Personal Navigators that guests receive nightly indicate activities by time.  Restaurants open at specific times.  Dining, shows, character meetings, and special events all begin at a certain time.  Clocks can be found in staterooms, in the lobby, and on the Disney Dream on both Decks 11 near the pools and 13 near the basketball courts.  On Castaway Cay, lunch is served from 11:30 until 2:00 pm, excursions have specific meeting times, and of course, guests have to be back on board the ship on time and I have yet to see a clock on the island.  Personal cell phones are less viable while sailing due to the possibility of international phone charges.  Also, you are more likely to change time zones on a ship, making watches even more important.

You would be amazed by the number of people who ask us what time it is.  We are happy to help.  And, if we get a chance, we tell them how much we appreciate our waterproof watches.  Waterproof watches can be purchased at local retailers relatively inexpensively.  I purchased our on-line at RumbaTime which makes weightless silicone watches and got all three watches for $30.  That’s $10 per watch!  

Another bonus, they breeze right through airport security; no need to take them off.  This is one less thing to worry about as we make our way through security with personal items, carry-on bags, shoes, liquids, etc. 

Do you have your waterproof watch?

Getting Advice and Tips for a Walt Disney World Vacation

You’re going to Disney World!  You’ve decided, you’ve told people.  And now you are being flooded with advice.  Only the phrase “we’re having a baby” would elicit more advice from friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, and complete strangers.

What do you do with all of the advice, tips, hints, and stories. . . of magic or otherwise?

For most, smile, nod, and tell them you are excited and can’t wait.  Act like you’ve got the planning under control and know what you are doing.  Really, you do probably have the planning under control and know what you are doing.

Then, mine for the nuggets.  They’ll be there.  Little hints and tips that can be filed away and remembered.  If something does sound outlandish or potentially rule breaking, double check a guide book, Disney message boards, or internet to make sure it is right. 

For example, if someone says something like if you stay at a Disney resort you can get into the parks early any morning.  This statement is half true, as the person is referring to Extra Magic Hours.  Trust me, we’ve seen disappointed guests trying to enter the park early, while the rest of us wait in line, telling Cast Members that such and such told them they could get in early at any park.  (That’s the other theme park destination across town that offers that for their two parks.)  And, it’s not how Disney’s Extra Magic Hours work, so check it out to be sure.

We are past the advice getting stage.  When people know, hear, or find out that we have 9 trips to Walt Disney World under our belts, the stance goes from advice giving to us to advice getting from us. 

But it didn’t start out that way.  I can recall searching out a colleague who had lots of Disney experience before our first trip.  I had lots of questions and it helped.  I got just what I needed.  I would recommend searching for a friend, colleague, co-worker, neighbor, or travel professional who can answer your questions.  On-line message boards can be helpful, too.

So what happens when the conversation shifts from advice getting to advice giving?  Well, I start with questions.  Probing to find out what the person really wants to know and how much they already know, listening for depth of knowledge and possible misconceptions.  Example, a person indicates that they’ve been to Walt Disney World before.  A question to follow would be, “What park did you go to?”  If this question gets a baffled look, pause, and stumbled answer then I know they only went to Magic Kingdom.  Often first time visitors or day visitors to Walt Disney World only go to Magic Kingdom and it become synonymous with Walt Disney World.  An experienced guest would tell me which of the four theme parks were on their itinerary.  This type of questioning lets me know what kind of advice, tip, or hint to offer.

Are we past getting advice for our Disney trips?  No way!  I learn something new prior to and during each trip.  For example, we discovered the Pepper Market at Disney’s Coronado Springs on our last trip.  What a find!  Our experiences and knowledge certainly enhance our trips and at the same time we continue to learn, discover, and experience new things.  That’s part of what keeps us coming back.

Here are some of the questions we get asked frequently and our short, quick, responses:

Do you stay on property?  Yes.

What’s your favorite resort?  Right now, Coronado Springs.  Port Orleans Riverside before that. 

Where have you stayed?  Caribbean Beach twice, Port Orleans Riverside five times, Port Orleans French Quarter once, and Coronado Springs once and have it booked for our next trip.

Do you go when it’s hot/crowded/busy?  Yes, yes, and yes.

What’s your best tip?  Two pronged—make ADR’s and use Fastpass.

Depending on how people respond to our answers determines where the conversation goes next.

We’re going to Walt Disney World!  Any advice you would like to give us?

We Bought A New Suitcase

What happens when you have 5 suitcases that don’t have wheels?  You buy more luggage, that's what you do.  

We have several large bags that have lots of mileage on them and throughout our trips have lost most, if not all of their wheels.  And, what good is a suitcase with just one wheel?

So, the husband and I had been looking. . . not shopping per say, but looking for some suitcases that might replace our others.

There was a second hand charity auction that had a black suitcase up for bid and we placed a low bid.  No luck.  Not too disappointed as it the bag didn't meet all of the criteria. . . see below.

We looked on-line and at a variety of stores.

Then, on Sunday, when we were roaming around a large metropolitan area while the boy and his Uncle John took in a minor league baseball game, we came across a bag that we liked.

First criteria—the wheels had to be built into the body of the bag.  We had learned through experience that the farther out the wheels stick, the more likely they are to get broken when you check your bag. 

Interestingly, there were others that were checking out the four wheeled bags that could spin 360° so I made sure our conversation about broken wheels got a bit louder.  It worked.  A lady made her way over with a suitcase in hand and asked what we were saying about the wheels.  We explained about wheels being broken when checking bags.  I also showed her how the wheels extending from a carry-on bag could keep her bag from fitting in the overhead bin.

Second criteria—the bag had to be lightweight.  Again, our new suitcase met the criteria.  The husband did some testing with a suitcase in each hand and compared the weights.  The one we picked was lighter.  And, lightweight was in the title of the bag.  If I only get 50 pounds, I don’t want 10 of those pounds going to the bag itself. 

Third criteria—a double barred handle.  Single barred handles can break easily.  Again, the bag we picked had a double bar.  It even had a zipper compartment for the handle when it retracted back into the bag and was not in use.

Fourth criteria—it had to be any color other than black.  This is more of a personal choice due to the number of black bags that can be found on luggage carousels.  Currently, we have pink, red, and purple luggage just to give you an idea of color preference.  Our new bag is a moss green/gray/red combo.  The husband said we had to jazz it up a bit.  I’m not sure what he has in mind, but I did hear him mention ribbons.

Fifth criteria—it had to be sturdy.  We double checked the zippers, hinges, etc.  Then, we took the bag for a test drive around the store while we continued to shop to test out durability and maneuverability. 

Six criteria—it had to not be expensive.  Conde Nast Traveler’s July 2012 edition included a special report about why 26 million airline bags go missing each year.  The article also included advice about luggage, etc.  One tip was to never pay more than $150 for a bag.  Well, that would be our top end!  Our new suitcase was less than $80.

As soon as we paid for it and took it to the car I said to the husband, “You know what I want to do now don’t you?”  He replied, “Pack?”  That was exactly right!

Common Disney Travel Misconceptions

Helping others plan their Disney trips brings me great joy and I had the opportunity to do that just the other day—in person—rather than via the Williams Family Blog.  The only thing better is our own family’s vacation!

What made me smile and cringe all at the same time was that I knew parade times at various parks and good viewing locations among other things.  It’s a little “sick” isn’t it?  The husband disagrees, so that makes me feel better.

The person I was helping is going to Disney for the second time.  Our conversation about their first trip got me thinking about first time travelers in general and some common misconceptions.

• Walt Disney World is 40 minutes or so from Orlando International Airport.  If you are taking Disney’s Magical Express to get to your resort, plan on waiting a bit to get on the bus, the drive, and possible stops at other resorts to drop off guests.  Give yourself at least 3 hours between the time your plane lands until you have to or plan to be somewhere like a park or an ADR—the more time the better.  And better yet, don’t make any ADR’s for your arrival day as planes are known to be late.  This will reduce the worry and stress for the first day of your vacation.  Who wants to start a vacation that way?
• It will be hot—most of the year, and crowded—most of the time, so plan for it.  It’s Orlando and Magic Kingdom had over 17 million visitors last year.
• You will not be able to do/see it all—just know this and plan to return or just be okay with what you get done.  This was something I was impressed with when helping to plan the other day as their family was admittedly overwhelmed on their first day when going to Animal Kingdom.  They did three things and one of them included a picture in front of the Tree of Life, so Animal Kingdom is top on their list for this trip.  Now, some folks would get so frustrated about the cost of that one day and not getting the most out of their money that they may not return to Disney, but not these folks.  They are troopers and realize that Disney can be overwhelming, but if you plan and pace yourself, you can do it!  Good for them!
• There will be moments of frustration and feeling overwhelmed.  It’s a sign that it is time for a break—either from the parks, walking, or each other.  I’ve written before about taking a break from your family members during a vacation, even it means just splitting up for a bit to take in different attractions, etc.  We have all seen and heard people who aren’t handling these feelings very well and it quickly takes the magic out of their vacation for their family and those within earshot.  Don’t be that person or that family.  Even after 9 trips, our family still has those moments.  On our last trip, it was our arrival day—spills in the airport, closed bathrooms, losing the boy in the airport, difficulty finding our room at the resort, etc.  So, we headed to the resort pool—the boy and husband went first which gave me a moment to myself and then I joined.  The husband had his book to read and we eventually got a bite to eat.  This was our “break” and it worked like a charm.  But hey, we got it all out of the way on the first day and the rest was cake.  It really was!
• There will be waiting.  Attractions, parades, shows, food, buses, monorails, trains, park openings, boats, or someone from your party to use the restroom will all require waiting.  If you are taking a Disney Cruise vacation there will be waiting to board the ship, for shows to start, characters, and for shore excursions.  Practice waiting gracefully.  It will serve you well.
• Weather will happen, you decide whether it hinders your vacation or not.  We’ve experienced cold—like cold enough to snow, rain, and extreme warmth.  We prepared as best we could and soldiered on with smiles and enjoyed our vacation.  On our first trip, the temps dropped and we weren’t prepared as I had only packed one long sleeve shirt for each of us.  While the husband and I were okay, the boy ended up wearing that same long sleeve t-shirt under his other clothes almost every day of the trip.  I did get a pair of Mickey gloves out of the deal and still use them all winter.

Combine all of the above with some realistic expectations, a positive attitude, sense of wonder, and ability to have fun and you are sure to have a magical Disney vacation.

Time=Money on a Walt Disney World Vacation--Hints and Tips For Getting The Most Out of Your Vacation

Any vacationer to Walt Disney World wants to get the most out of their vacation dollar.  There’s nothing more frustrating than feeling like you are wasting money or opportunities.  At Walt Disney World, it is all about time.  The more time spent doing something other than enjoying your vacation is wasted time and that equates to wasted money.

Here are some hints and tips that we used to get the most out of our most recent Walt Disney World vacation and many previous trips:

• Get to the parks early.  Before they open.  So, you are there when the park opens and get the most out of the less crowded morning.  Yes, you are on vacation and most likely want to sleep in.  Yet, thousands of others are thinking/feeling the same thing.  If you do the opposite of those thousands of people, you will be far ahead in the time/money ratio.  Or, do the opposite.  Sleep in and go the parks later in the day—say late afternoon, and take advantage of extended hours or if you are staying on property, Extra Magic Hours.  The fewer people in the park, the more opportunities you have to make the most of your time.  If you are on the bus to a park at 8:00 am and the park opened at 8:00 am , you are already late!
• Say yes.  Yep, anytime a Cast Member asks you something, say yes.  You never know what is coming next.  Don’t hesitate, don’t think about it.  Trust in pixie dust and magic and say yes.

• Leave your refillable mugs in your resort room.  I am still shaking my head in disbelief at te number of times we saw people schlepping their refillable mugs at the parks.  Folks need to know that those can only be refilled at their resort.  No where else.  Remember that you can always get a free cup of water at any counter service location.  Say it with me now. . . leave the refillable mugs in your resort room.
• Since you are the park early, grab a park map AND Times Guide.  Most people just grab the map and then wonder about what time things are, etc.  Nothing more frustrating than walking by Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular at 10:30 am only to find out that the first show isn’t until 11:30 am.  No, it’s not a ride, it’s a show, and if you had picked up a Times Guide and then read it, you would know.  Remember the time equals money equation?  Knowing the times of events helps you get the most out of your vacation.
• There’s a great spot to watch the evening parade at Magic Kingdom at the Main Street Train Station.  We took the train from Frontierland just a few minutes before the parade, walked down a set of steps and then had an elevated view of the parade.  No standing or sitting for several minutes—up to an hour or more—for the parade to start.  Just timed our train return well.  We were also ahead of the crowd exiting the park, as we went out the side exit—through the tunnel by the stroller return. 
• Now that Fastpass return times are being strictly enforced, it can pay to get your Fastpass a little later in the day rather than first thing, depending on when you plan to return to that attraction.  We used to be the go grab as many Fastpasses as we could people, then use then all up later, regardless of the return time.  We can’t do that anymore.  So, when we arrived at the Magic Kingdom, we knew we wanted to ride Buzz Lightyear later in the day, so we waited until around lunchtime to get Fastpasses, as the return time being distributed then was what we wanted.  This is going to take some trial and error, until the Next Generation system is up and running and guests get to pick their return times.  Until then, it is a bit of a “feeling” or use of a mobile device that tells you what return times are being distributed via Fastpass at various attractions that lets you know when to grab your Fastpasses.  I can tell you that we had no problem getting Fastpasses or using then with the new enforcement of return times.  We also saw people being turned away when trying to use their Fastpass beyond the return time window.
• Having said the above about Fastpass, know that they are free and available to all guests using their ticket media.  Yet, there are still some guests who are not using Fastpass at all.  For example, we grabbed Buzz Lightyear Fastpasses around lunch time for a 2:00 ish return time.  The Stand-bye queue had a wait of 45 minutes.  Had those guests grabbed Fastpasses, they could be doing other things for those 45 minutes and ride the ride at about the same time as they would had they stood in line.  I don’t get the thinking.  Maybe they already had Fastpasses and weren’t able to get another set yet?  Who knows?  It still has me shaking my head.  The husband says to let it go, as it means more Fastpass availability for us.
• Know the park hours. This information is posted on-line and is also included in the information you receive upon checking in to your Walt Disney World Resort.  On every trip, we have seen guest frustrated because they thought a park was opening an hour before it actually was.  This last trip, we were at Hollywood Studios with guests asking what time the park opened as they were under the impression that it opened an hour earlier.  OK.  The husband and I had a chat about this one.  We chalked it up to two different possible misunderstandings.  One being the misunderstanding of Extra Magic Hours.  Extra Magic Hours are NOT at every park every day, but at least one park each day either AM or PM, as compared to Universal where on-site guests are admitted an hour early each day.  Another possible explanation, that the husband thought of, was the confusion between Hollywood Studios and Universal Studios and the thinking that the Disney Park would be open to resort guests an hour early every day.  Yet, our last trip, we saw this same thing happen at the Magic Kingdom.  Lesson:  Do a bit of homework and understand Extra Magic Hours and which Disney parks have them on which day and then plan accordingly.  Calendars are found on various web-sites including the official site for Walt Disney World.
• This tip comes directly from the husband:  When waiting. . . anytime. . . for a park to open, to see a character, etc. take the opportunity to visit with Cast Members.  Not about the weather, but about the park, Disney, etc.  You never know what you might learn or what might happen because of your conversation. 

We just can’t help ourselves!  We love it the most magical place on earth.  During our most recent trip, we were at Animal Kingdom waiting to see Thumper and Ms. Bunny, another guest told us that we glowed.  What a compliment!  We have learned so much from our experiences and feel like we get so much from our Disney vacations. . . you know that time equals money thing.  Hope you feel the same! 

Our Last Trip With The Boy As A Kid

We are less than two months away from our next Walt Disney World trip, and it will be the last trip for the boy as a kid.  What?  Yep, his last trip as a kid.  I don’t mean that we won’t ever return to Walt Disney World or that he will be an adult before he goes back.  It’s just that he is 9 right now and in Disney terms is considered a child.  When he turns 10, he is no longer a child in the eyes of Disney.  That means a higher price tag for his tickets, being able to order from the adult menu at both table service and counter service locations, and a more expensive trip in general.

Often, I hear or read about families trying to decide when to take their children on a once in a lifetime trip to Walt Disney World.  The dilemma seems to be finding the magical age between being able to remember the trip and being able to handle the perceived stamina a Walt Disney World trip requires.  My caution. ... don’t wait too long.  The price goes up once your child is 10 or older and the list of reasons not to go and activities that get in the way gets longer.  There’s a reason children under 3 are FREE at Walt Disney World—free entry into parks and free to eat off an adult entrée or buffet at restaurants.

The boy in two months will have had 9 once in a lifetime trips to Walt Disney World so we don’t wrestle with the dilemma of when to take him.  It was great at every age he has been when we have visited the most magical place on earth.  Just last night, I was requested to find videos of Coronado Springs, the resort we are trying on our next trip.  Particularly, he wanted videos of the themed pool.  Once I found them, I was directed to leave him alone, but the conversation traveled from the computer to the kitchen.  “Mom, when are we going back to French Quarter?”  “Mom, does Coronado Springs have a kids club?”  Soon, I could hear the songs of Splash Mountain followed by the boy’s audible gasp.  It must be the big drop down Slippin’ Falls!  So this is how a 9 year old prepares for a Walt Disney World trip.  Research via video.  When he was younger, pictures were his favorite along with multiple readings of “Guide to the Magic for Kids”—click here to read more.

I’m excited about our future Walt Disney World trips; the one in two months and the ones that have yet to be planned.  When will the boy want even more independence?  Will we be ready to give it to him?  When will he want to bring a friend?  (Already he suggested that his 10^th birthday party be at Walt Disney World—at least he dreams big!)

There are moments that seem so normal for our family, such as when the boy is telling us his preference to eat at Les Chefs de France and disappointed that we won’t be dining at Teppan Edo this trip.  Yep, our then 8 year old wanted to eat French and Japanese food, but was okay with missing Chef Mickey’s, a buffet meal with characters.  Hmmm. . . I shared this story with a fellow Disney fan and we both laughed.  Maybe this should be normal for every family she quipped.  Yes, maybe it should be normal. 

We are looking forward to our last Walt Disney World trip with the boy as a kid.  But trust me, we are still dreaming—and planning—for trips when he’s not a kid anymore, at least by Disney standards.  And we will always be kids at heart, especially at Walt Disney World.

The Paperwork of Travel

What’s the saying?  “No job is complete until the paperwork is done.”  This also applies to vacations, even though a vacation is supposed to be the opposite of a job.  But traveling to Walt Disney World, or anywhere for that matter, requires a bit of paperwork.

If you’re like me, you have folder for such paperwork.  Here are some of the paperwork items that are or could be included for your vacation:

• Maps, addresses, phone numbers for your destination.  This used to be print outs of MapQuests driving directions and lists of addresses and phone numbers.  Now the addresses get programmed into our GPS and phone numbers added to the cell phone contact list.  You don’t want to know how many hotel and airline numbers I already have programmed in my phone!
• E-tickets, boarding passes, etc. for airline travel.  I usually print the e-ticket receipt and bring with as it has our reservation number.  I then use the kiosk at the airline counter to print our boarding passes, check-in luggage etc.  While kiosks typically ask you to scan an ID or credit card, having the reservation number eliminates the “scanning” issue.  However, we still need to show ID’s at the airline ticket counter and again at airport security.  After we show ID’s at the ticket counter, one of us holds all the ID’s until we get to security.  That way one person can hand all boarding passes and ID’s to the TSA at the same time—this keeps more hands free to manage bags, the boy, etc.  Keep this paperwork, as you need it for your return flight!  Also keep the receipt for any checked luggage along with the luggage tag barcodes just in case there are issues with your bags.
• Confirmation numbers or receipts for pre-paid stays.  I have been accused of being a bit OCD about this, but I typically place these in the order of our stay, so the first one we need will be on top, etc.  I find it’s more about efficiency!
• Because we are cruising with Disney and have pre-purchased Disney transfers, there is some paperwork involved both with the Disney transfers which we will need to show when checking in at Disney’s Magical Express location at Orlando International Airport.  We will show this paperwork at least twice.  Once when checking in at the Magical Express Counter and again before boarding the bus.  Both times, the barcodes provided will be scanned.
• Magical Express information.  While we won’t be using Disney’s Magical Express until the end of our vacation, it is important to include the Magical Express booklet in your travel documents.  Have it handy when checking in at Disney’s Magical Express counter at Orlando International Airport.
• Passports. Disney Cruise Line already has our Passport numbers and expiration dates in their computer system.  We will need to show our Passports at the cruise terminal upon check-in and then again when we disembark the ship on the last day when going through Customs at the port terminal.
• Disney Cruise Line paperwork which can be completed on-line, printed, signed, and brought with you to the cruise terminal.  Doing that will save you time at check-in.  I also printed our reserved activities—this would include any shore excursions, Palo and Remy reservations, Flounder’s Reef reservations, and any spa reservations. 
• Walt Disney World paperwork, including confirmation of on-line check-in, if you did this 10 days prior to your stay.  This may also include receipts for your pre-paid tickets.  All of our paperwork comes in a booklet provided by our travel agent—click her to read more.
• List of ADR’s—Advance Dining Reservations—and confirmation numbers.  I have these on a list by each day with date, time, confirmation number, etc.  I bring the confirmation numbers for our ADR’s for that day with us while touring.  We’ve only had to have the ADR number twice in all of our Walt Disney dining history, but when we did need it, I was sure glad it was handy.  Some people make a little card with the ADR’s for each day and grab the card for the day and take it with them. 
• PhotoPass card.  Our Photopass card came via our WDW paperwork from our travel agent.  I registered the card in our Photopass account on-line.  If you wait to get your Photopass card until you get to the parks, you can ignore this bullet.  If you have pre-ordered your Photopass CD, at a discounted rate, just leave the receipt for that in your e-mail at home.  No need to print that out and bring it with you to the parks.  You will use that information when you return home after your magical vacation!
• Any coupons or discount codes you plan to use while traveling or shopping while traveling.  This would also include any travel club cards, guest loyalty programs, frequent flier clubs, etc. that may save you money or give you access to programs and events.  For example, I found a coupon for a half-priced coupon booklet when traveling to the Mall of America.  I then purchased the coupon booklet for half-price then proceeded to take advantage of the special offers—which there were many—in the booklet.  We have also found discount coupons for dining at certain restaurants such as T-Rex Café or Rainforest Café.  You can sometimes find these on-line or in the brochure racks located in hotel entrances.
• Other—for us this would include our Garden Grocer.com receipt and information about our travel agent—her TA number, address of her agency, etc.  This information has changed since our last vacation, so we will need the information to give her credit when re-booking either on-board for a new cruise or a “bounceback” offer at Walt Disney World.

With all of this paperwork, an organizational system of some kind sure comes in handy. 

What other “paperwork” do you make sure you have while traveling?

Next—what paperwork to come home with!

Our First Garden Grocer.com Order

Our 8^th visit to Walt Disney World is getting closer and even though we have the Basic Dining Plan--click here to read more about Disney Dining Plans, we still want some snacks and beverages in our resort room for breakfasts or snacks on the run.  We usually pack these items and take them with, but since our vacation includes a cruise on the Disney Dream before our Walt Disney World stay, luggage space is at a premium.  Garden Grocer.com to the rescue!

We placed our first order with Garden Grocer.com and it was EASY!  I created an on-line account using our e-mail address and my own password.  This allowed me to shop on-line and place items in “my cart.”  (Print and fax orders are also accepted—just check out the details on the web-site.)

 

I had actually done some shopping prior by finding items that we might like and adding them to my “favorites” on the on-line account.  This made the actual shopping easy, as I added the favorites to my cart.

There is a minimum of a $40 purchase, a $12 delivery fee, a temporary $1.99 fuel surcharge added to each order until the price of gas returns to less than three dollars per gallon, and an optional gratuity to add to the order. 

Our delivery will include sunscreen, Mountain Dew—for the husband, cereal bars, Minute Maid orange juice boxes, granola bars, fresh pears, and Toy Story and Finding Nemo fruit snacks.  Our total before the additional charges came to $40.02—not bad for having to hit a $40 minimum.  Our total after delivery, fuel surcharge, sales tax, and gratuity ($9) was $65.81. 

We were able to designate date and place of delivery.  All of the Disney Resorts show up in a pull down menu and the address of the resort, once selected, was automatically filled in on the order and delivery screen.  We also selected the time of delivery and there is a text box to include any special directions.  I included that we were taking Disney transfers from Port Canaveral to our resort in the special directions section.

You can use a credit card or PayPal to complete your purchase.  We were able to print a copy of our order after payment and a follow-up e-mail was received with confirmation and another option to print the order.

Ordering was fast and easy.  Now, we’ll see how the delivery goes once we get to our resort.  The impression right now is that Garden Grocer.com will be an incredible convenience.

We're Checked In At Our Resort!

We're checked in at our resort!  I know, I know, we haven't even left yet and there are still a few more days before we go, so how could we have already checked in at our resort?

Well, if you are a guest staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you can check in on-line up to ten days prior to your arrival.  It's easy. . . an e-mail, a password, a confirmation number, and a credit card to secure your account (you only use it if you charge to your room using your Key to The World Card), and you are all set.  Once you are through the process, you can print out the itinerary and one will be e-mailed to you, too.

The on-line check in service began about 18 months ago or so.  I remember it was available prior to our March 2009 trip.  When we stepped off the Magical Express and into the lobby of our resort, there was quite a long line for check-in.  Then there was a separate line for guests who had checked in on-line--which was much shorter, only 1 other person in front of us.  We breezed past the guests in the other line and received our materials and information quickly.  Think of it as a Fastpass at your resort.  The other guests waiting were sort of baffled, but there was a sign indicating a queue for the on-line check in. 

I also remember saying something to the people behind us on the plane last March, as they were headed to Orlando for their very first trip.  I asked if they had already checked in on-line.  Nope.  But they got out their mobile device--Airtran has wi-fi service throughout their flights--and within minutes they were checked in prior to their arrival.

Here's the web-site: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/myVacation/index?id=MyVacationIndexPage&CMP=ILC-VCAChecklistWDWToWDW-FY10@1004

You can even order free customized maps at that web-address!

Top 10 Items We Could Not, Would Not Travel Without

As traveling is an obvious pastime for our family, I have compiled a Top 10 list of items we could not, would not travel without to Disney or anywhere else for that matter. Here it goes. . .




10. A map either on paper or electronically. We are using our 2nd GPS system and have been know to Mapquest or GPS local addresses. While I can usually “smell” our direction in unknown territory, the husband is a different story. The boy now asks if we are taking the GPS when we head off somewhere new. I think those standardized tests that kids take throughout K-12 school should have a test about programming GPS systems or Mapquesting locations rather than map skills and the card catalog. I’m just saying. . .



9. Something that will save us money. This means coupons, discount cards, discount codes, or refillable mugs for the Disney resort. We buy pins to trade on-line before we go to Disney. This means paying around $1 per pin rather than $7-$15 per pin. (Click here to read more about Disney pins.) The only thing I hate worse than paying full price for something is being lost.





8. A cooler. Reason: see #9. Even if we are traveling a short distance, say 30 miles or so, we pack a cooler with drinks and snacks for the car. Yeah, sure, we could stop and get something, but having it with us saves time and money. Even if we are just going to the pool for an afternoon I pack snacks. We save the butter and sour cream containers, as they make great containers for chips, pretzels, goldfish crackers, and cereal—that way the large servings—bags and boxes stay home and we can throw away the container if we want. Now, a cooler works for traveling in the car, but because we want to stay married, for any long distance travel, we fly. So, I take food on the plane with us too. One favorite is fruit snacks. They are small, handy, bite sized, in single serving packages, and are a bit healthy. Another item is fresh fruit, especially peaches. If we are staying at a hotel the night before we fly, I scour the “complimentary breakfast” area for potential carry on items, like small boxes of cereal and fresh fruit.



7. Entertainment. In the car this means DVD’s and CD’s. For plane travel, it means our portable DVD player with DVD’s. Bonus—both the DVD player in the car and the portable DVD player have head phones. YEAH! The boy also has a hand held video game that goes with us. For the husband, its books and DVD’s. For me, its books and magazines. Give me a good travel guide or travel magazine and I’m good to go! Now, let’s talk about DVD’s. We are Netflix subscribers, so we will stock up on movies for the boy prior to our travel. We take the nifty red return envelopes with us and mail the movies back from our current location. Cool! And, we don’t have to carry them home with us. Does Red Box do the same? Can you return a Red Box rental to any location?



6. Let’s see, food, water, shelter, oh, Rain Gear. We have several compact umbrellas that go with us and they fit into a day bag while we are touring the parks or anywhere else. We also take the 88¢ disposable ponchos that you can find in the camping section of the large super discount chain store that begins with a W. They’re great to have when you need them and comforting to have when you don’t need them.



5. A Bag-o-remedies—usually a Ziploc bag-o-remedies. During our last Disney Cruise, while waiting for a port excursion, the boy ran and fell held first on the floor taking off a bit of his right eyebrow. Mom to the rescue, as in my day bag was a first aid kit with ointment and Band-Aids. Our tablemates happened to be traveling with us that day and I can remember the husband from that family being impressed by the items in the magic bag. I felt, for a moment, like Michelle Pfeiffer in that movie with George Clooney where she pulled all this wonderful stuff out of her bag. . . oh, One Fine Day. Anyway, the bag-o-remedies includes things like a first aid kit, antacids, anti- diarrhea medication, pain relievers, fever reducers, and moleskin cut up into pieces for blisters and hot spots on feet. Did you know that you will never find anti- diarrhea medication for sale on a Disney Cruise ship? Why? Because, if someone is experiencing those kind of symptoms, the crew and ship’s doctor want to know in case of a potential outbreak of a contagious disease!





4. Cell phone(s). We have a family plan with both our cell phones on one account. I learned this lesson the hard way. . . while our plan allows for a certain number of roaming minutes, for a mere $10, we can add on another 100 roaming minutes. So, a few weeks before we head out, I call our provider and get the 100 extra roaming minutes, but only for our time of travel. The provider automatically takes off the extra for the date specified. So, for only 1 month is our cell phone bill $10 more. That sure beats a surprise bill that could be higher by many more times than $10. (see #9.) I also program several numbers into our phones. For example, if we have used a park and fly with a hotel stay prior to flying and leave our car at the hotel, I program the hotel’s number into my phone so that I can easily call from the airport to get a pick-up. I have programmed town car services, our travel agent, the number for the lady that takes care of our pets, etc.



3. The Camera. OK, sometimes it is more than 1 camera, because we take disposable cameras with us on occasion. During our trip to Adventureland and Adventure Bay—click here to read more—I stashed a disposable underwater camera into our bag and we used it to snap pics at the water park. We still had another disposable underwater camera back at home. I asked the husband if we were the only family that had a supply of disposable underwater cameras and he just laughed. He said “no.” He said he was sure there were other families, but we just didn’t know any of them. So, consider this as an invitation for any of those other families to step forward and comment so I know there are others! Another note about the camera—it seems to be traveling with us more and more, especially due to this blog. Just yesterday, I had to purchase more space for the Picasa web album where all the photos that get uploaded onto this blog go. The additional space for was only $5.00 and the pics are backed up on the Picasa web album, so I get photos for the blog and a back up at the same time. Priceless!





2. A plan. Usually, an organized plan with dates, times, flight numbers, confirmation numbers, etc. I start with the itinerary that I e-mail to friends and family in case of emergency, and then add on details that we need as we travel. This information can fit easily into the PassPorter Travel Guide for Walt Disney World. I have taken that guide with us to Disney World and have taken the cruise guide with us while cruising. One benefit of having the cruise guide with us while cruising is it has a great overview of the port excursions. Another benefit is having the ship’s layout. When we go to re-book onboard to get the great discount and onboard credit, I use the layout from the cruise guide to help pick our stateroom for the next cruise. Works like a charm! The Walt Disney World travel guide has great information and telephone numbers in case we need those while traveling.





1. I can hear the drum roll in my head as I type the number 1 thing we wouldn’t travel without and it is. . . . a power strip. Yep, a multi-outlet power strip! I plug all the charger cords into the power strip. . . camera battery, portable DVD player charger, cell phone chargers, and hand held video game charger. I then put the power strip and chargers into a large zip-loc bag and off we go. It is so handy to whip that power strip out at any location, find one open outlet, and have a spot to charge all of our electronic devices. Typically, in a hotel room, there may be only 1 or 2 visible outlets, so having to plug in only 1 item is a dream. I can remember having multiple items plugged in around the hotel room before we started taking the power strip. And, we use the same power strip at home. Just plug in and charge—everything in one location.





Whew! That is some list! I am wondering if I were to make this same list one year from now or several years from now if it would be the same. . . In the meantime, I hope it gave you some ideas of what to take for your family travels.

Saving O' The Green at Disney

I took a phone call this evening from Adam at Disney Vacation Club. He wanted to mail me some information about Disney Vacation Club and I explained that while he was certainly welcome to mail us the information we weren't ready for Disney Vacation Club ownership. We have some friends who are DVC members and we often travel to Disney at the same time they do--it's just not the right time for us.

Adam and I visited about whether or not an Annual Pass is worth it, whether Coronado Springs or Port Orleans--Riverside was the better moderate resort (just add queen size beds to Port Orleans--Riverside and they would win hands down), and how free dining offers seem to be the special that DVC members can't get their hands on. I told Adam that I was happy to visit about Disney with him and wished him a good evening. Our phone call got me thinking. . . specifically about ways we save the green (money) when traveling to Disney or traveling in general.

Here are some ways:

• Plan ahead--especially if we are flying. If we are flying to Orlando, Air Tran is our favorite airline as they have non-stop flights daily from Moline and Kansas City. They now offer non-stop flights on the week-ends from Des Moines. Air Tran has their best fares come on-line 6-9 months ahead. If we are flying to Houston, Continental is our preferred airline as they have a reasonably priced non-stop flight daily from Kansas City. That same non-stop flight from Des Moines is typically double or more in price.

• Take advantage of special offers either directly with a resort hotel or on-line. The last time we were at Disney 3 different special offers were being advertised. With the help of our travel agent, Shauna, we were able to compare all 3 deals and get the best one. We ended up saving 42% on our resort stay, theme park tickets, and dining. That is a significant savings. Once Disney or other vacation destinations have your e-mail, it is quite likely that you will receive special offers via e-mail. We were able to save 40% on a Great Wolf Lodge stay due to an e-mail special offer.
  
  

• Budget for souvenirs and extra expenses. Rather than charging purchases to the room and ultimately a credit card, we pre-pay Visa gift cards--both the husband and I had one--and use those for the "I just have to have that" purchases.
  
  

• A big vacation expense can be food, so at Disney we take advantage of the Dining Plan. We have had the Dining Plan on all of our trips to Disney and have been lucky enough to have free dining 3 out of 6 visits. Disney now has 3 different dining plans--Quick Service, Basic, and Deluxe. We stick with the Basic which offers a counter service meal, table service meal, and snack per person per night of your stay. We then pack individual cereal boxes, granola bars, and juice boxes for a get us up and get us going bite to eat in our room in the morning. This means that the only food expense we have while traveling would be getting to/from the resort and tips as the table service meals. If you are traveling to Universal, know that your AAA membership card can save you 10% when purchasing food in the theme parks.
  
  
  

• This tip actually falls into the plan ahead category but it is if you can buy it and bring it, it will probably be less expensive. For example, we purchase "glow" necklaces/bracelets at our local dollar store and take them with. For around $2 total, each of us sported a glowing necklace at an evening function at Disney. This saved us loads off the come buy this lighted toy selection. We also buy 88 cent one time use ponchos in the camping section of our local Wal-Mart store and take with us. We have also purchased reusable ponchos for each of us for under $4 each and take those, too. A typical poncho at Disney is around $8-$12. If you want an inexpensive mat for the ground to watch a parade, spring for a colorful, disposable table cloth at the local discount shop. These are just some of the examples that buying ahead and taking with can lead to savings.
  
• OK, you've purchased some souvenirs and now there is no room in the luggage, what do you do? There are multiple options here and we use the last one. First, you could opt to have either your new purchases or your extra luggage items shipped home for a fee. Second, you could buy another suitcase and pay the extra baggage fee for the trip home. Third, you could buy new larger suitcase and hope you are under the baggage limits so you don't have to pay the extra fee on the way home. Fourth, you could pack a small suitcase--carry on size--inside your larger bag and use it to bring items home (OK, we do this one, too, on occassion). Fifth, you could pack items you are willing to leave behind to make room for new items. Yes, we do this. If we are traveling in the spring, last year's summer clothes go with us as the boy is about to outgrow them and I know they won't fit by summer--so we just leave them there--and make room in our bags for new purchases.

• Take a power strip. Yes, I said power strip. It is amazing how many electronic devices even a family of 3 can take/need on a short trip--camera battery charger, phone chargers, DS charger, DVD player charger, etc.--and often outlets in a hotel room are scarce or hard to get to outside of the bathroom. With a power strip, you can find one outlet and then charge all of your electronic items in an easy to reach/find location. Being able to charge your electronic items will save you from buying batteries or even worse, a new item altogether. We knew of a family who forgot to bring the camera battery charger and ended up buying several disposable cameras as they weren't able to purchase a new camera battery and didn't want to buy a whole new digital camera.

Once you have your plans and your bags packed, make room for fun, memories, and magic. Afterall, those are the most important items to bring home in your luggage!