Search Results for: blog 5 ways to spend less eating out on vacation

Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotels

Disneyland and Disney World aren’t identical. One of the big ways they differ is in size; Disney World is much larger than Disneyland. Because of this there are far fewer hotels at Disneyland than Disney World; I can think of dozens in Orlando, but Disneyland has only three: the Disneyland Hotel, the Grand Californian, and Paradise Pier. Disneyland makes up for that by teaming up with several local Anaheim Hotels as part of its Good Neighbor program. A Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotel isn’t officially a Disney hotel. Anyone can stay at them without going to the park (though I suppose … Continue reading →

How Disney Chooses Park Attractions

After reading my posts on Disneyland California Adventure’s now-open Cars Land, a close friend and loyal reader (hi, Becca!) asked me what I really thought about the park. She knows my feelings on the “Cars” franchise, and thought that maybe I’m feeling more negative about it than I let on in my articles. I admitted that while I’m not super excited that Disney keeps choosing to promote “Cars” in the parks, I don’t really mind. I’d rather them open another “Cars Land” at Disney World, for example, than make a “Cars 3.” That led me to wonder about the process … Continue reading →

How Not to Travel with Kids This Christmas

I’ve had my share of travel nightmares flying back and forth from Chicago to Hawaii with my daughter. While our mishaps make for funny blogs, I would prefer experiencing incident-free trips. Then again, even the shortest vacations with children can lead to high drama, which is why most parents spend countless hours researching and planning the best ways to avoid meltdowns while on the road or in the air. Believe me; you can not over-prepare when it comes traveling with kids. It’s a lesson parents from North Carolina learned the hard way this week. When Jason and Kathy Fickes of … Continue reading →

Mini Mickey: The Ultimate Disney World Travel Guide

Learn how to avoid the crowds This weekend my family and I engaged in an activity along with many others across the country: raiding the clearance sales at Borders. I’m devastated at the mega-bookstore’s demise, but that didn’t stop me from seeing what books I could obtain. Before I made a separate trip to the store with my mother, she gifted me with three books she’d bought there earlier in the day (thanks, Mom!) They’re all unofficial guides to Disney World. Between them the three contain myriad tips on taking a Disney vacation: how to find the best savings, how … Continue reading →

How Not to Get Burned on Your Beach Vacation

Memorial Day is the unofficial start to the summer season, which means tens of thousands of travelers will be driving, flying or hoofing it to the nearest beach to enjoy the sand and surf this weekend. But, what if you don’t have a ton of money to burn in the warm California/Hawaii/Florida/Texas sun? Here are some tips to help you spend quality family time at your favorite beach without breaking the bank: Bundle: Travel aggregate sites always offer red-hot deals this time of year. Popular websites such as Expedia and Orbitz are currently featuring major discounts to prime beach vacation … Continue reading →

Adventures by Disney: Urban History

The time has arrived for my final look at Adventures by Disney. It’s fitting that today’s blog features a vacation that takes its guests to Disneyland, among other more urban and historical retreats throughout the United States. To my surprise, there are currently no Adventures by Disney trips to either Disney World or to New York City. I could have sworn that AbD at least went to the latter some point, but for whatever reason that’s not on the table this year. Instead, AbD’s East Coast tour focuses on colonial history, with an 8-day 7-night Mid-Atlantic Family Vacation. Or as … Continue reading →

Adventures by Disney: Central and South America

This month I started my look at the unique Adventures by Disney vacation program by highlighting their trips to Asia, Africa, and Australia. This week I’d like to overview Adventures by Disney in Central and South America. Those interested in taking a Disney-led trip to Central or South America have four options: two seven-day-stays in Costa Rica, one the normal Family vacation and one the Family Signature, 10 days in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, or nine days in Peru. There actually aren’t too many differences between the two Costa Rica vacations. On both families get to visit a pineapple … Continue reading →

Making Scrapbooking a Family Affair

Are you looking for ways to spend time as a family that does not involve the TV? It seems that TV viewing has become a family activity in many homes across America. While, watching TV in moderate proportions is not bad, it does not make a good “together” activity. Chances are during a TV show or a movie night, you are not sharing old memories, laughing together, or being creative. Why not spice things up a bit and allow all members to use their talents to come up with a very special family time together. Although not everyone shares the … Continue reading →

Things Frugal People Should Know Before Eating Out

Even frugal people like to eat out from time to time. As much fun as creating inexpensive meals can be, a change of scenery is often refreshing. As any frugal person knows, you can always split a meal, skip the drink, and order water to lessen your restaurant meal. These are frugal basics for restaurant eating. Still, there are a few more ways to cut the bill. Ask about the special to save money when eating out. The special is usually created from foods that are in abundance at a low price. To entice the customers to eat the meal … Continue reading →

The All You Grocery Challenge – I’m Out

Well, I fell off the Walmart wagon. The All You Challenge to spend less than $25 per person for four weeks fell the way of the college kid home for a visit. For the first two weeks, I did great – here alone. I used my vege garden, my stockpile, and my coupons. I came well under the $25 limit. When my college age son came home, I figured out the groceries just fine – came to $40. But then, we went out to dinner. That ended the challenge for me. You just can’t have a college age child home … Continue reading →