In my opinion, it’s never a bad time to visit Walt Disney World. I wouldn’t mind being there during a hurricane just to see what it’s like!

But right now, RIGHT NOW, Disney is offering a major (read: HUGE) discount on vacation packages. If you book by December 20th, for a trip between January 4th, 2009 and April 4, 2009, or between April 19, 2009 through  June 27, 2009- you can see a savings of about 40%.

That’s right, when you book a 4 day stay at one of the Disney resorts, you’ll get 3 more free. When you purchase a 4 day base ticket? You’ll get an extra 3 days free. And you’re not stuck with  a 7 day total. As long as you book a package of 7 or more days, 3 of them are free.

Now, I’m not certain how the meal plan plays into this package deal. You can add the meal plan, but I don’t know if it’s subject to the same 4/3 deal that the room and tickets are, and I didn’t think to ask while I was on the phone with a representative as we don’t use the meal plan (sit down restaurants are a rarity for us at the parks).

You can find out more about this deal by visiting DisneyWorld.com/get3free, or by calling 407/W-DISNEY (407/934-7639).

But you know what makes this deal even sweeter? If you book your vacation for between January 4th and March 29th? Disney will give you a $200 gift certificate at check in that can be used for merchandise at the parks, on the cruise ships, or in the Disney Stores.

And if you have a birthday while you’re visiting the World? Don’t forget about their new Celebrations promotion!

I remain convinced that there is no greater shopping destination than the Walt Disney World Resort.  All the individual parks are packed with shops and kiosks, the resorts all have shops, and DownTown Disney is nothing if not a shopping and dining mecca.

 But all that shopping can add up, and what are you going to do if you’re on a budget?  Half the funny of a Walt Disney World vacation is in the planning, and the memories you bring home.

 So here are a few suggestions for souvenirs to shop for while visiting the world, that won’t lighten your wallet (much) but will certainly help lighten your luggage.

 1. Disney Dollars - This money is printed by Disney and exchanged on a 1 for 1 basis with the United States Dollar.  It comes in denominations of $1, $5, and $10- and can be exchanged again for USD.  It can be spent on any Disney property, including the cruises, and fits right in your wallet. 

The artwork is beautiful, making a great souvenir that can be framed once home, or continue to carry it in your wallet as a reminder of your great Disney vacation.

2. Key To The World - AKA your room key if you’re staying on property.  This won’t cost you a penny aside from what you’re paying to sleep there, and can be carried in your wallet (we do), framed, or scrapbooked.  Heck, if you’re crafty, you can come up with any number of things to do with it.  They’ve always got a Disney design and are just as durable as a credit card, making them an ideal souvenir.

3. Glowing Icecubes- These won’t be marked Disney, but you’ll know where you got them.  Certain alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks served on Disney property come with a glowing icecube to light up the drink.  Wash these off and they can be carried in a purse, or pocket.  Plus, when cupped in the hand, they make great reading lights for the long trip home.

 4. Pressed Pennies and Quarters- Costing anywhere from $0.51 (for pennies) to $1.25 (for quarters), these souvenirs are so popular that Disney has its own pressed penny wallets for sale to keep them organized.  Some designs are so attractive, or coveted that they can be sold for much more than their actual value.  The flatter ones can be framed and stored in scrap books, while the more rounded ones can be mounted- even as drawer pulls!  With a drill and a few findings, they can even be made into attractive jewelry!

5. Disney Pins- AKA Trading Pins, and Lanyard Pins, Disney Pins became so popular that collectors began paying top dollar to aquire the pins they want. But pins can be gotten for as little as $2 or $3 dollars for certain designs, depending on where you’re at.  In fact, some nearby discount stores that sell discontinued Disney merchandise may even have pins at less than $1.  These also can be framed or mounted, and, of course, worn.

I hope you find this list useful, and if you have anything to add, please drop a comment below.  This list will be updated as new merchandise, suggestions, and ideas become available, so check back before your next trip to Walt Disney World!

Have you ever spent a day at a Walt Disney World park and only realized in an emergency that you hadn’t packed the necessary items? Or, just as bad, gone to the parks over prepared, and had to rent a locker to store your things in or wound up twice as tired, sore, and grumpy from lugging around all that extra weight?

Feel free to print this out and use it as a check-list:

The Essentials:

Wallet

Cash

Credit & Debit Cards

Key To The World (room key)

Park Entrance Ticket (may be on your room key)

Hand Sanitizer (mini-Purelle, individual handi-wipes- can be gotten from drug stores in packs, or singly from KFC)

Band-Aids (at least 1 large enough to cover an elbow or heel, 1 regular size, and 1 finger size, for every 2 members of your party, per day)

Baby Powder (100% cornstarch is best, I recommend Johnson & Johnson in travel size)

Small Notepad or Large Paper (to catch unexpected character signings)

Sharpie and Ballpoint Pen

A Safety Pin

A Rubber Band

A Carabiner Clip (can be hooked onto your belt or on purse/bag strap to hang baseball cap, or small bags from)

Sunscreen (to preserve space, a small jar can be filled)

Hat with a Brim (and preferably a loop that can be attached to the carabiner)

Cellphone or Walkie-Talkie

Camera

Extra Film, Memory Cards, and/or Batteries

Recommended:

Mini-Water Bottle (8oz or so, bring to park full, and when it’s empty, buy a bigger bottle of water, and fill up to continue carrying- much lighter than a full bottle on a lanyard)

Ziplocs (needs to be at least big enough for your wallet, and fast passes. Quart size at least, a gallon size if you want to put more in it during rain storms, or water rides)

Poncho or Trash Bag (for rain storms or water rides)

Individual Flavor Packets (Celestial Seasonings, Kool-Aid, Crystal Light- much cheaper to flavor tap water than pay for spring)

Quarters or Pennies

Light Sweater or Wind Breaker (it gets chilly- especially at EPCOT around the lagoon, but a windbreaker will keep you warm in most weather, and if you need anything heavier, it’s a good excuse to buy a sweatshirt as a souvenir)

Candy or Gum (preferably something that won’t melt in the heat immediately- you’ll want this in case your blood sugar drops and you’re on a ride, or somewhere else that food is not easily accessible, as well as for breath freshening)

Optional:

Autograph Books

Masking Tape (for marking purchases, bottles, etc)

FastPass/Ticket Holder Lanyard

Have any other suggestions you’d like to see on this list? Drop a comment here.

Or Disneyland.  Or Disneyland Paris.  Or Disneyland Tokyo.  Or Disneyland Hong Kong.  You get the idea.

Naturally, a good camera will go a long way towards getting you those priceless shots, but it’s not always the camera that matters. The best picture I ever took was with a cheap disposable camera.

1. Turn off the flash.

Obviously this is only during daylight hours and when otherwise well lit, but if your camera is on auto, you’ll lose valuable time while your camera tries to decide if it needs to flash or not. By turning off the flash, you cut focus and decision time down greatly Read the rest of this entry »

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