The 5 Basics of Disney Vacation Planning: Part 4-Should you get the dining plan? {Guest Post}

I am going to come right out and say it, I am a huge fan of the dining plan and always have been. While I realize it might not be for everyone, I strongly encourage you to look into before you just brush it off as a rip off or scam.

Like everything else, Disney offers you option in your dining plan choice. There are three main dining plans:
Quick Service
Plus Dining
Deluxe Dining

Before you get lost delving into the basics of what differentiates these plans let me give you a few reasons I like the dining plan and why you should consider it:

The prices are higher than you think. You won't find grocery store pricing in WDW and its resorts, and prices on even the "cheap" items will be more than you bargained for. A bottled water is $3 so you can imagine what a hamburger and fries will set you back! It adds up!

You're going to eat anyway! The thought of packing something from outside the parks to eat or go off property to get a more affordable meal doesn't always work (especially if you aren't staying at a villa resort and therefore have no kitchen). By the time you pay for transportation off property to get your food, package it and bring it to the parks and it faces the elements...the chances of you wanting to eat it are slim. Likewise scheduling time to utilize transportation to go back to your resort or travel off property for a meal won't be as cost efficient as paying for the dining plan.  

There IS a value. The estimated savings aren't fake...the dining plans really do offer a value and you can certainly maximize it if you know what you're doing or use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner (like myself) to help you.

So what are the differences and how do you choose? The dining plans are based on a per person, per night rate, so each allotment listed is per person, per night. Here are the basics: 

Quick Service Dining Plan:
Save approximately 10% per adult on dining
(2) quick service meals 
(1) snack 
(1) resort refillable mug per person

Year round pricing:
ages 10 and up $34.99 per night
ages 3-9 $11.99 per night

Plus Dining Plan:
Save approximately 15%-20% per adult on dining
(1) quick service meal 
(1) table service meal
(1) snack
(1) resort refillable mug

Value and Regular Season Pricing:
ages 10 and up $51.54 per night
ages 3-9 $15.02 per night

Peak Season Pricing:
ages 10 and up $53.54 per night
ages 3-9 $16.02 per night

Deluxe Dining Plan:
Save approximately 30-35% per adult on dining
(3) table service meals
(2) snacks
(1) resort refillable mug 

Value and Regular Season Pricing:
ages 10 and up $85.52 per night
ages 3-9 $23.79 per night

Peak Season Pricing:
ages 10 and up $89.52 per night
ages 3-9 $25.79 per night

There are also 2 other plans: The Premium package and the Platinum package

Premium Package:
(3) table service meals
(2) snacks
(1) resort refillable mug

Unlimited use of select recreation:
Golf: Four 18-hole championship golf courses with inclusive green fees, electric cart, shoe and club rentals and range balls
Unlimited use of select watersports at Sammy Duvall's Watersports: parasailing, water skiing, wake boarding, tubing and personal watercraft rentals
Boat rentals, guided fishing excursions, horseback riding and more* 
Admission to Cirque du Soleil show La Nouba (one admission per person, category 2 seating) reservations are required.
Unlimited admission to select Disney Tours 
Unlimited admission to select children's activity centers
Admission to Grand Gathering experiences

*Some restrictions may apply and advance reservations may be required 

**Standard Disney guests accompanying a Premium or Platinum guest can enjoy a 10% discount on all activities at Sammy Duvall's Watersports Center 

For more information on the Premium package click here 

Platinum Package:
(3) table service meals
(2) snacks
(1) resort refillable mug

*The Platinum package includes everything outlined in the Premium package plus the following: 
Personalized pre-arrival itinerary planning
Accommodations in either a Deluxe Villa Resort or a Deluxe Resort
Preferred fireworks viewing for Wishes or Illuminations
Magical Evening Events: Reserved seating for Fantasmic (some restrictions apply), a fireworks cruise to view Illuminations or Wishes (one cruise per reservation, some restrictions apply)
A complimentary spa treatment
Richard Petty Ride-Along experience
Disney's PhotoPass CD

And now you have a million questions about the dining plan and where you can eat and if the food is any good...and I can tell you, most of it is pretty darn good if not fantastic! Head over to the Disney Food Report, a website designed by the faithful foodies at Pixie Vacations to read about the dining delights at Disney!

**This is a Guest Post by Michele Dakho of The Practical Planner**

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The 5 Basics of Disney Vacation Planning: Part 3-Where are you going to stay? {Guest Post}

So many options....so little time...That is how I feel about the Disney resort choices. There are over 20 resorts to choose from on Disney property and each one is intricately themed and has something special to offer. So, how do you choose which one is right for you?

The resort choice is where many dreams are made or broken. Your resort choice can have a great effect on your vacation package price, so if the number you get from your first choice makes your teeth almost fall out, don't worry...there are other options.

Who wouldn't want to stay club level at a deluxe resort for 2 weeks? I would! But in the grand scheme of things...the cost for that concierge level room could actually be downgraded to either a regular room at deluxe resort or a moderate and the savings could help you pay for another trip.

So where do you start when you're trying to figure out where to stay?

Disney offers three different resort categories: Deluxe (and Deluxe Villas) Moderate and Value 
Let's take it from the top and see the highlights of each category:

Deluxe Resorts:
Have the largest square footage of all the accommodations
Have the most intricate theme throughout the resort, including the individual rooms
Have the greatest range of ammenities
Have a mix of quick service and table service options, most also offer a signature dining restaurant in the resort
Have all interior corridors
Have more than one pool and include water features (a kiddie water feature for the diaper brigaide and/or a water slide) Have the closest proximity to the parks (There are only three resorts that offer monorail service: The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, The Polynesian Resort and the Contemporary Resort)
Most offer spa services or health clubs
Have on-site recreation experiences such as boating
Have high-end gift shops, kids clubs/babysitting services, video game room and offer valet parking.
Most have more than one transportation method (for example a bus or water transportation)
Have suites available as well as concierge level services
Most sleep up to 5 (plus one baby under the age of 3 in a crib)

Moderate Resorts:
Have less square footage than deluxe rooms but more footage than value resorts
Have a theme throughout the resort and rooms but not as many ammennities (example: there are no closed closets in moderate resorts, instead there will be an open area clothes area with a rod and shelf)
Have a mix of quick service and table service options
Have exterior coridors so one window of your room will face outward onto an open walkway
Have more than one pool with themed water features as well as "quiet pools"
Have a reasonable proximity to the parks
Offer a gift shop, video game and limited room service
Moderate resorts have more spread out properties, so there is more walking from your building to the main buildings
Most offer on-site recreation such as boating 
Some offer suites or upgraded "themed" rooms (for an additional fee)
Most offer Queen sized beds (as of 2011 the moderate resorts are being refurbished to make 2 Queen beds the standard in all the rooms)

Value Resorts: 
Have the least amount of square footage per room of all the resort categories
Have large rectangular shaped buildings that are brightly colored or painted with a "theme"
Have only quick service dining options 
Have motel style corridors (the door and window of your room face outward onto an open walkway)
Frequently host large youth groups (which may be a noise factor!)
Have slightly themed pools but no water features or water slides
Have very spread out property, so prepare for a lot of walking to get to your room and to common areas and bus stops
Have longer wait times for the bus system

So...those are the basics of what each category has to offer but each resort is an experience all in itself! If you want to see what each resort looks like, view room layouts or take a virtual tour you can play around online and find a wealth of information. At the time of this posting the website was down but here is the link for when it comes back up: Pixie Michele: Disney Web Content

The other major decision people have to make in regards to accommodations is the "on property" vs. "off property" decision.
For me, there is no decision...on property wins my vote every time. Here are the benefits of staying "on property" that ONLY Disney resort guests receive:
Extra Magical Hours: Enter the park an hour early or stay up to 3 hours late  
Use of Disney's Magical Express Service (round-trip complimentary transportation from Orlando International Airport to your Disney resort)
Unlimited, free use of the Disney transportation system (buses, boats and monorails) that operate to the parks and Downtown Disney areas
Free parking at all Disney theme parks
Charging privileges via your Key to the World Card (this key is your room key, park tickets, dining plan and charging privileges)
Complimentary package delivery to your resort 

Those are the basics of Disney resorts, each has it's own theme and feel...everything from Old Victorian, Hawaiian, a Caribbean Village to decade inspired buildings. Pick the one that "feels" right to you and has the amenities you are looking for and fits your budget. There are package and room discounts offered at various times of the year but I always advise booking a package you are comfortable with and upgrading your resort later if a promotion becomes available. Better safe than sorry and there is nothing more disappointing than having to cancel your dream vacation because you set your sights out of your budget.

**Guest post by Michele Dakho of The Practical Planner**

Its Gotta Be Easy {Giveaway} #SFSlimdown @SlimFast

I do not have time for complicated diets, counting points and so on.  I have way too much going on to have to sit down and think about what I can and cannot eat, and this is why Slim-Fast fits in my life so well.  The 3-2-1 plan is already figured out for you, 3 snack bars, 2 meal bars or shakes and 1 500 calorie dinner- Boom its that easy.  To make it even easier I take out the shakes and snack bars ahead of time and put them somewhere so I don't have to try to figure out how many I have already had.  This is probably the best diet for people on the go, you can stash any of the food (besides the dinner of course) in your gym bag, back pack, purse or diaper bag.

GIVEAWAY
Still not convinced?  Three of my readers will win a fabulous prize from Slim-Fast to try it our for themselves.

You don't want to miss this, it also includes a $25 gift card to Macys!  I'm going on vacation so I want to choose the winners before I leave, so this giveaway will end Friday the 24th at midnight!  All you have to do to enter is leave me a comment below telling me your favorite Slim-Fast shake flavor and your email address so I can get a hold of you if you win.  This is open to US ONLY, if you already won a Slim-Fast prize from me you are not eligible, please give others a chance.

Winner will be chosen at random, notified through email and have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be chosen.  Good Luck!

This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in the Slim-Fast^® Summer Slim-Down Challenge. Visit www.facebook.com/slimfast to join the conversation.

Martial Arts Build Confidence #CBias #ShopMMAElite @MMAEliteBrand

We put our kids in Tae Kwon Do on a whim, not knowing too much about it but really liking the school, we were just hoping that they would have fun and learn something.  I never thought that I would end up joining as well and loving it so much.  My son decided that it was not for him, and he is still pretty young, but my daughter and I do it together.

Right after Belt Testing and Breaking

Growing up, my brother tried many forms of martial arts, and even as an adult he was really into it but I never really understood why.  I heard it helps build confidence but you hear that about a lot of things.  I was not much of an athlete and never had interest in any sports so I never thought that I would have the confidence to practice martial arts in front of people.   When I joined I thought that I would get a good work out and have something in common with my daughter, but I am getting much more out of it.  I think of it as a sport, art form, and self defense all in one.

One of our Masters doing some face painting before we walk in a parade

My husband is very supportive which is awesome.  He enjoys watching martial arts and MMA and now I enoy it as well.  We are going on vacation soon so I needed to get him some extra shirts and found some nice ones at Wal Mart from the MMA Elite brand.

I really like this backpack too bad all my classes are online

At her first tournament

After the last testing, we got invited to be in the Black Belt Club!  It was very exciting.  Our school is such a positive environment with people of all ages helping one another achieve their goals and I can't wait to see where it takes us.  

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and MMA Elite #CBias #SocialFabric

The 5 Basics of Disney Vacation Planning: Part 2-How Long Are You Going to Stay? {Guest Post}

Part 1 of our Disney vacation planning helped you decide WHEN to go to Disney World...now you have to decide how long you are going to stay. Indefinitely isn't an option for most of us, so we have to decide at what point we'll call our vacation to a close.

There are things you need to take into consideration when deciding how long your vacation will last. The deciding factor for most is the cost, so if this is a major concern for you look into options of value vs. moderate vs. deluxe resorts; you may be surprised how changing your resort category could allow you to have a longer vacation.
Here are my tips for deciding the length of your trip:

Set realistic expectations: If you have small children, a weekend on a park hopper would not be your ideal travel choice. Take into consideration the size of your travel group and the age and factor in travel time to your touring plans. If you are traveling with stroller age children you'll have to collapse the stroller before every bus ride and your children won't have the stamina that you will. If you want to see and do it all, then you need to plan for a longer trip so it's enjoyable for everyone.
Know your touring style: There are park commandos, leisurely lalygaggers and wanderers. Park commandos get the most accomplished...they are there before the parks open and are dragged out kicking and screaming at park close. They go all day long, military style, with precision and discipline and while they may get a lot accomplished, this touring style isn't for everyone.
The leisurely lalygaggers sleep until their bodies tell them it's time to wake up. They plan based on where they are at for that moment or wherever a whim takes them. This touring style is best for people who have experienced the parks multiple times and are looking to "stop and smell the roses" so to speak.

The wanderers can be anyone....people who refuse to park commando, haven't been to the parks enough to be considered leisurely lalygaggers and basically....might just not know what to expect or what to do. These folks are the huddled masses....with park maps glued to their noses, endless pounds of unnecessary baggage on their backs and very frustrated families. The wanderers are the folks who are on a limited time schedule but don't know how to make the most of it and don't have the heart to park commando.


Know what you can do: It's not realistic to plan on 1-park per day if you want to see everything. There are 4 parks, 2 water parks and a Downtown Disney area. If you are planning a 1-park per day strategy you really need to just pick the highlights of what you want to do and see because you WILL NOT be able to do it all. Plan your steps accordingly, for example, work the Magic Kingdom by land instead of running back and forth from one side of the park to the other and wasting time and energy. A minimum of 2-days per park usually works for most folks and the park hopper is a good option for those families who are of a group size and age that can benefit from it. 

Tip: Disney has a "the more you play the less you pay" policy, so you'll see a price break in tickets on the 5th day.

Five to Seven days is do-able for most families and works for various age groups and family sizes. Regardless of how long you plan to stay you should use a Disney Authorized Vacation Planner to help you make your plan of attack.

**Guest post bu Michele Dakho of the Practical Planner**

ABC's of Skin Care {Giveaway} @EucerinUS

Happy Saturday!  This month, Eucerin would like to help you put your Skin First every day with the ABC’s for your skin care routine.  It’s not just what you put on your skin but also what you put in your body that effects how your skin looks and feels. Besides cleansing and moisturizing, during the day and night, there are simple things you can do every day to keep your skin healthy. 

A is for Anti-oxidants – Foods rich in antioxidants help prevent and repair damage to your skin

      from the sun.

B is for Vitamin B – Found in many grain and dairy products, Vitamin B helps maintain healthy skin.

C is for Children – Did you know that one severe childhood sunburn doubles your chance of developing melanoma? Protect your children from sunburn now by teaching them to use an SPF lotion, like Eucerin Daily Protection Lotion, every day. 

D is for Dermatologist – You should see a board certified dermatologist at least once a year.

E is for Everyday – While it may not flair up as severely in the summer months, dry skin requires year-long care. Eucerin Skin Calming Daily Moisturizing Crème with natural oatmeal will moisturize and soothe dry, itchy skin. Has Eucerin helped relieve your dry skin? 

F is for Feet – You spend most of the day on your feet, so why not care for them just as much as you do other parts of your body. If you suffer from chapped or crack skin on your feet, try Aquaphor Healing Ointment or Eucerin Intensive Repair Extra-Enriched Foot Crème.

G is for Gluco-Glycerol – Eucerin Professional Repair with Gluco-Glycerol improves the moisture supply to the skin. Professional Repair’s unique formula is ideal for extremely dry skin.

H is for Healing – Nothing beats the original! If you have cracks or persistently dry skin, you may need more than a daily moisturizer. Eucerin Original Healing Soothing Repair Creme is fragrance free and dermatologist recommended to seal in the moisture your skin will need to help in the healing process.

I is for Incidental Sun Exposure – Skin is exposed to the sun’s UVA/UVB rays during everyday activities like driving in a car or sitting by a window at work. Use Eucerin Daily Protection Lotion to help protect your skin everyday!

J is for Joyous – We were joyous when the Eucerin US Facebook page hit 500,000 fans earlier this year. And it continues to grow! 7xx,xxx [Switch out the number of fans for that day’s post] and counting. Thanks for being such dedicated fans throughout the years! [Include link to Thank You video]

K is for Kale – Kale’s antioxidant properties can help your skin look healthier.

L is for Lotion – Lotions have a lighter texture than creams and can work best for daily skin hydration. Look at our texture scale on every bottle of Eucerin and choose lightweight ones, like Daily Protection or Daily Replenishing Lotion, for use on warm summer days. (Include image of texture scale)

M is for Moisturizer – We recommend moisturizing twice a day – morning and night – to keep your skin looking healthy all day long.

N is for Nourish – What are your tips for nourishing your skin on a daily basis? Share yours and we could feature it in a Eucerin Facebook photo or update!

O is for Organ – Your skin is your body’s largest organ, which is why we put skin care at the top of our to-do list. 

P is for pH Balance – The skin’s natural pH ranges from 4.5 to 5.5, but UV light, temperature changes, and sweating can all affect the skin’s pH levels, causing your skin to dry out. To help keep this dryness at bay, apply a Eucerin body lotion daily after your shower or bath.

Q is for Quiz – Which Eucerin product contains Gluco-Glycerol? A. Intensive Repair B. Professional Repair C. Original D. Daily Protection

R is for Replenishing – Don’t just moisturize your skin; make sure you’re using a product that will help heal it too! Eucerin Daily Replenishing Moisturizing Lotion is specially formulated to replenish the skin’s natural moisture barrier for healthier looking skin.

S is for Sunscreen – Dermatologists recommend applying at least 1 ounce (about a golf ball sized amount) of sunscreen to your entire body at least 30 minutes before sun exposure.

T is for Texture – Every bottle of Eucerin comes with a texture scale right on the label to help you decide which product you should use on your skin. [Include image of texture scale]

U is for Urea – For conditions like Keratosis Pilaris, dermatologists recommend using a moisturizer that contains urea and buffered alpha hydroxy acids – like Eucerin’s Professional Repair. Urea provides intense moisture, while the alpha hydroxy acids exfoliate the skin for a smoother look and feel.

V is for Vigilant - Regular full-body exams ensure that you’re catching suspicious spots and preventing skin cancer. Be vigilant and if you notice an unusually dark or abnormally shaped spot on your skin, bring it to the attention of your doctor or dermatologist.

W is for Warm – Warm, not hot showers and baths are best to prevent the stripping of natural oils and nutrients from your skin.

X is for X-Ray – Similar to x-rays, UVA rays can penetrate everything from clouds, clothing, and car windows. Help protect your skin from the sun with Eucerin Daily Protection Lotions this summer.

Y is for You! – You can help protect your skin and keep it looking healthy – with FREE samples of Eucerin’s Daily Replenishing Lotion on our Facebook page. All you have to do is Like the Facebook Page and click on the app that says “Unlock Free Samples.

Z is for Zinc – Zinc oxide is a mineral that provides UVA/UVB protection. Look for this ingredient in your sunscreens and in Eucerin Daily Protection Moisturizing Face Lotion SPF 30 and make sure you’re getting broad spectrum protection to help prevent sun damage.

 This month Eucerin is once again offering one of my readers a fantastic prize consisting of  

$100 Visa Gift Card

Eucerin Daily Replenishing Moisturizing Lotion (13.5 oz) – This light, everyday formula with nourishing sunflower oil absorbs quickly and provides 24 hour moisturization for healthier-looking, softer skin. It keeps skin moisturized all day and is specifically formulated to replenish the skin’s natural moisture barrier.

All you have to do to enter is follow the easy directions on the Rafflecopter widget below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**I am a part of Eucerin's Skin First Network, all opinions are my own**

Winners!

I have some winners to announce today.

First is the winner of the Sesame Street Live event in Rockford at the BMO Harris Bank Center

The winner is
#4 April Gittleson

Second is the winner of the Eucerin Prize Pack which includes a $100 Visa Gift Card.

The winner is
#134 Ashley Hatten

Congrats Winners!!!

Printable Grocery Coupons

$1.00 off one MAYBELLINE NEW YORK DREAM product

$2.00 off on ONE (1) bag of SNICKERS Brand

$1.00 off 2 HORMEL COMPLEATS kid meals

$1.00 off Natrol product

$0.75 off one Minute Maid Juice Box 10-pk

$2.00 off on any L'Oreal Paris haircolor product

 $5.00 off Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser kit

$0.50 off Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal

Carmex Giveaway! #Win @Carmex

Carmex is celebrating summer with a brand new Pomegranate Lip Balm!  The same great formula that has healed chapped lips, protected them from wind and sun and kept them soft now has a touch of pomegranate.  I love this new "flavor" mostly because I have never been a big fan of cherry and strawberry, so anything new is greatly appreciated.   Carmex has two sunscreen agents Octinoxate and Oxybenzone, and it tingles whem applied due to its natural cooling camphor and menthol that relieve irritation.  

GIVEAWAY

Carmex is non-addictive and never tested on animals, it also contains SPF 15.  The lovely people at Carmex are offering one of my readers a super awesome prize pack consisting of a sunny yellow tote bag and six Carmex Sticks!  All you have to do to enter is leave me a comment below telling me your favorite Carmex flavor.  Don't forget your email address or I won't be able to notify you if you win.  This giveaway is open to U.S. ONLY.  Giveaway will end at midnight on August 18th with a winner chosen at random and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be chosen.  Good Luck!

Reached My Goal and Yummy Chicken Recipe! #SFSlimDown @SlimFast

I have officially reached my goal weight on Slim-Fast and I am really excited about it.  It came right at the perfect time since we leave for Florida in just 10 days, yes only 10 days!!!  I have to tell you that once you really do this plan for a while it really sticks with you.  I'm a food junkie so I have temptations all the time but I really just told myself to stay on track and reach my goal.

Any of you that are trying out Slim-Fasts 3-2-1 plan have to head over to their website and check out the recipe section.    Not only are they yummy, but they take the guess work out of trying to figure out how many calories are in your dinner.  I'm a chicken girl, so I really liked the Herb-Roasted Chicken and Veggie recipe.

This is a recipe that the whole family likes, with some steamed rice, yummy!  I'm excited about our trip even more than before....now all I have to do is maintain this weight!

Save Money on Back to School Shoe Shopping

Famous Footwear has a printable coupon that will save you an additional 15% off plus they are doing their BOGO sale so you can score some good deals right now.  

BOGO + 15% off Famous Footwear Coupon Click Here

The 5 Basics of Disney Vacation Planning: Part 1-When are you going to travel? {Guest Post}

So, you want to take a Disney vacation...and as soon as you say those words out loud you're automatically overwhelmed with all the pieces of that puzzle. Now what? Before you let the panic take over and call off the whole trip before you've even tried to plan it, stop and read these 5 steps to Disney vacation planning.

Regardless of whether you've lost count of how many times you've been to Disney or it's your first visit the basics stay the same.

• When are you going to travel?
• How long are you going to stay?
• Where are you going to stay?
• Should you get the dining plan?
• What kind of tickets do you need?

These are the 5 basic questions you need to ask and answer to start planning your Disney vacation. Each of these elements can greatly affect the cost of your vacation, so using a Disney Authorized Vacation Planner (like myself) can really help you cut out the aggravation and get the answers you need. If the first price isn't what you expected (it rarely is...we all have such high expectations!)...don't worry...there are plenty of options that can be altered until you find the package (and price) that's perfect for your family.

So where do we begin? Let's take it from the top:

Q: When are you going to travel?
A: Anytime is a good time to go to Disney World!!! Ok, that's my personal opinion but in all reality, there is an ideal time for you to travel.

There are three major things you should consider when choosing your vacation time:
Special Events-There are special events year round at Walt Disney World, if there is an event you don't want to miss, or likewise an event you want to avoid, it's important to check the calendar before you book your vacation. Special events can affect the crowd levels so it's something you need to be aware of. Here are some of the events for the 2012 line up:

January 5th-8th: Marathon Weekend
February 24th to February 26th: The Princess Half Marathon Weekend
March 7th through May 20th: Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival
May 18th to June 10th: Star Wars Weekends (Disney's Hollywood Studios)
June 10th to July 28th: Sounds Like Summer Concert Series (Epcot)
September 7th to September 8th: Night of Joy (Magic Kingdom)
September to October: Select nights (TBD) Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
September 28th to November 11th: Epcot International Food and Wine Festival
November 9th to November 10th: Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon
November 9th to November 11th: Festival of the Masters (Downtown Disney)
November 8th to November 11th: Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic
November to December: Select nights (TBD) Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
November 22nd to November 25th: Old Spice Classic (ESPN Wide World of Sports)

Some events, such as the holiday festivities, have not yet released their official dates but you can get an idea of when events are going to take place based on the historical dates.


Weather: This isn't to say you should pick a week where there is no rain in the forecast and plan your trip then. If you are the type of person who cannot take the heat...then coming to central Florida in the dead of summer will not make for your ideal vacation. The summer months are HOT and HUMID and I cannot stress that enough. If heat makes you miserable, don't come in the summer...because you will be miserable! Likewise do not base your vacation on the weather alone...because it can change in an instant. If you are vacationing in Florida, be prepared for it to rain everyday, for an hour. The humidity needs an afternoon break...and that comes in the form of an hour long rain virtually every day. Grab a few ponchos from the dollar store or have your "rain time" attractions mapped out ahead of time.

Price Season: "Tis the Season" doesn't just come into play for the holiday's...price seasons have a big effect on when people plan their WDW vacations. Peak seasons will have the highest prices (that's why they're called "peak") and the "value" seasons will be your best value. Keep in mind that promotions are released "randomly" throughout the year so you should always be monitoring your reservation to be sure you are getting the best deal, or have a travel agent that will do it for you!

Some of the BEST times to go to Disney are:
Mid-November through Mid-December (except the week of Thanksgiving)
Second week of January through Mid-February (the first week of January can be busy)
First three weeks of May (Memorial Day will be crowded)
Late August and all of September (this is usually when "free dining" is offered and prices are at their lowest

Some of the WORST times to go to Disney are:
December 26th-31st
Mid-February through Mid-April: especially Easter week, Presidents Day and Spring Break Weeks
Midsummer (June through early August)
Holidays: Any national holiday, especially the weekends will be very crowded

Things to watch out for are the unpublished busy times at WDW, which include:

Cheerleading/Twirl/Dance Competitions: January 13th-15th, February 4th-5th, February 11th-12th, February 17th-20th, February 25th-26th, March 3rd and 4th, March 10-12th and April 25th-30th

Mardi Gras Week (February 21, 2012): New Orleans schools have part of the week off so many head to WDW.

Gay Days: May 29th-June 4th: usually this only effects one park at a time...the crowds may be a little heavier than normal but you won't notice a drastic crowd increase

Brazilian tour groups: July brings MANY tour groups from Brazil. These are a bunch of loud teenagers on winter break. They wreak havoc on the parks.

"Jersey Week": first or second week of November during the teachers convention. This is usually close to Veterans day, everyone pulls their kids out of school and heads to WDW.

Pop Warner Week: December (no official dates for 2012 yet)-Competing cheer, dance and football teams flock to the parks and resorts (values and moderates) and it's very crowded and loud.

Now you have an idea of what to look forward to, or avoid...so now we're ready to move onto #2-How long are you going to stay? Stay tuned tomorrow to get the answer to that question!

**Guest Post by Michele Dakho of The Practical Planner .  Visit Michele's blog for all kinds of great travel tips and tricks!

Eucerin Facebook Giveaway

Come celebrate Team USA’s 104 medals with a special Summer of Gold Giveaway on the Eucerin US Facebook page. Each day this week they’re giving away 10,400 travel-sized (2 oz) bottles of Daily Protection Moisturizing Body Lotion SPF 15. The giveaway will be live at a different time each day through August 17, so check their page for updates. On your mark…get set…go claim your Daily Protection Lotion today at 12pm!

“Like” the Eucerin US Facebook page and get to the Giveaway App directly here: http://on.fb.me/SummerOfGold  

 

Free Earrings!

Sneakpeeq is giving away Fly Away With Me Earrings FOR FREE! These feather earrings symbolize hopes and dreams, so inspire yours to come true with this bright and electric statement piece! A great match for the latest neon trends! GET YOUR FREE Fly Away With Me Earrings ($59 VALUE) just for joining sneakpeeq!

Check out another great deal they have right now, available in delicious hues, RUMBA TIME timepieces are the hottest new arm candy! Featured in Vogue, New York Magazine, and Marie Claire, the latest Rumba watches are available on sneakpeeq for 60% OFF! These affordable time-tellers come in all shapes and colors. Originally $30, you can collect them and get stacking for just $12!  Click HERE to check it out.

Big Secret Announced! #SecretVacation

I was debating announcing this so early for many reasons BUT I sort of have to.  You all have to swear NOT TO TELL MY KIDS....promise?  Ok, we are going on a secret, spontaneous vacation in just 12 days.  Where are we going?  Road tripping all the way to Orlando, Florida!  Yep, we are taking them on their first trip to Disney World and Sea World.  Let me back track and explain this trip, a few weeks back I had one of those moments where you look at your kids and realize just how fast they are growing up, and that in two years I will have a middle-schooler who will be too cool to hang out with her parents.  I told my husband that I thought we should just go, just get in the car and go to Florida.  Lucky for me he loves me and does not think I'm insane, or maybe he is just used to my insanity by now, so he agreed.  YAY!  Now I have major anxiety about this trip, we are going the week after the first week of school so my kids will miss a week of school.....I know, I know, HORRIBLE but its really the only time we can go since my husband has Labor Day Weekend off.  Since this trip was not planned months in advance, our budget is s-m-a-l-l BUT thanks to some super awesome sponsors and some major planning on my part, it will be a success (cross your fingers).  We have not told the kids we are going, the plan is to tell them the morning we wake them up and put them in the car, which is also my daughter's 9th birthday....yea, we are just that cool.  I will be posting during the trip but I'm guessing it will be mostly Facebook and Twitter until we get home, so if you don't already follow but you want to road trip along with us, make sure you like my FB fan page and follow me on Twitter, I will be using the hashtag #SecretVacation.  I will also have some really cool guest posts that totally relate to the trip coming up, so make sure you check those out.

So there you have it, I've spilled the beans.  If your kids know my kids, then don't tell your kids lol!  I want this to be the best surprise ever so no one tell my kids!  I want to thank the awesome people of Disney for providing me with complementary tickets to the park!

I am SO excited!  Now Shhhhh!