How to Save at Disney World

Everyone knows that going to Disney is not cheap but there are many ways to save while you are there. Here are how we save when we go to Disney World.

1. Pack your own lunch. It will save you lots of time and money at Disney. We found that the quick service meals are not amazing and when we are in the park all day it is so much faster to sit and eat. You can also buy the "pricer" lunch options at the grocery store because it will still cost less.
2. Bring a refillable water bottle. We also bring propel packets for the water bottle because I don't like the taste of just regular water. There are also bottle topper you can use for children so that they don't spill. We bring these everywhere.
3. Bring snacks. Go big and pick out your favorites to bring to the park. We always bring the girls Ring Pops and this year I am going to get candy necklaces. We never really let the girls have candy at home so this is their something special.
4. Bring your own costumes. Go online or to a thrift store to find a great Disney outfit. I love to sew so I make them a bunch of dresses before we leave.  
5. Drive to Disney or rent a car. If you stay on Disney property you can park anywhere free so you can leave the park and get something to eat then drive back. For example we love Outback and there is one located right outside of Animal Kingdom. It is much cheaper than the table service meals at Disney. 
6. Table service meals and character meals are sometimes cheaper at breakfast or lunch then dinner. Check all of the prices for the table meals first before deciding which one to go to. For example my daughters love the princesses but the Royal Table is too pricy for us so we eat at Akershus Royal, which we LOVE!
7. Disney Visa Premier Card is a great option or any credit card that gets you extra money. The good thing about the card is that you get double Disney points that are 1 point to 1 disney dollar. We use this card all the time so that we can get the most for our trip. Last year we had enough to pay for a character meal, one child park hopper ticket, and 3 snacks at Disney World. 
8. Go to Disney World when it is in value season. The crowds will be low, the hotels are cheaper, and the meal prices are low so it is a win win. :)

Disney Project: Sewing Maleficent Outfit

"I'm scary, not pretty!"

Dress: Maleficent Outfit

Sewing Pattern: Simplicity 2571
                 -Dress E
 Fabric Used: Joann Fabric

• Black- sparkling satin
• Purple- sparkling satin
• Extra- purple cord and leftover Sofia dress material.

Arm

Sewing Time: 3 days

Sewing Experience level: Intermediate

Instructions:

1. Cut out dress pattern E
2.  With brown shipping paper cut out the arms so that they are longer than the child's arms. 
3. Cut the arm pattern so that it would have flames on the arms like maleficent.
4. Cut 2 purple arms and 2 black. 
5.  Cut and add extra strip to the front of the dress with purple. 
6. Collars were made but cutting out the collar from outfit D  of the pattern.  2 of pattern D's collar.
7.  Cut one spiked for the neck and the other flat. 
8. Sew the arms first by sewing the arms together and then putting the wrong side together to sew them to be two sided.
9. Complete the rest of the dress sewing.
10.  Added the collars by sewing them both collars together and then sewing half to the outfit so that you can get in the dress. Used Velcro on the other side to keep it in place. The Snow White pattern I used was a good prep for the collar. 
11. For the headpiece I just cut of a size profile shape for my daughters head and added a 2 inches. then sewed up and keep try to get a good fit. I also tried pinning the fabric on her head. This took a few times before I finally got a good fit. 
12. The horns I found on the Disney fun site on how to make paper cut outs but used them for the pattern. I stuffed and then sewed on the headpiece. 
13. Once the top was sewed I just hot glued purple cord on the horns.   
14. Sewed little pieces of tulle purple on the arms to look like flames. 

  
Notes:
My daughter wanted to Maleficent for Disney's Not So Scary Halloween Party this year so I made it early so that she could wear it around. She loves the outfit but does tell me that we are missing the staff and raven. I guess that will be the next project. :)

Go To Disney World with Children Under 3yrs!

2 years old

We love Disney and when we found out in 2010 that we could afford to stay at Fort Wilderness for pretty cheap along with our 1.5 year old not costing us a thing.  So we jumped at the chance to go to Disney World. Most people would tell us how crazy we were to go to Disney when Maddy was so young. Well I am here to tell you that it was not crazy at all. I would say definitely go to Disney before it is too late! Here are the reasons why.

1. They are FREE at Disney Parks under 3 years old!! With Disney tickets being very pricy this is a huge plus!
2. Under 3yrs do not have be on the meal plan. How Disney works is if you want to have the meal plan option everyone in your room party has to have one. This gets pricey but children under 3 do not! Now that Maddy is over 3 we would have to paid for the meal plan for her which would not be worth it so we stopped doing the option. 
3. Under 3yrs get to eat free at all of the character buffet meals or any buffet meals. For

   

   1.5 years old

   non-buffet meals you can share your meal but if you want them to have their own meal you have to paid for it separately. Disney always gives you tons of food so this was never a problem.
4. They will LOVE the characters! Maddy and Hadley have both LOVED seeing the Disney characters every time we go. We took Hadley to Disney when she was just 6 months and I was surprised how much she loved the characters. We quickly found out that Trigger was her favorite. Then last year she was 1.5 years and I was equally surprised how much she LOVED the Disney Princesses. I thought it would only interest my 3 year old Maddy. This was definitely two of my favorite Disney memories. 
5. Each year we go they love different things. Maddy have gone 3 times now and we have found that she has loved something different each time. First year it was Winnie the Pooh, then  Snow White, and last time all of the princesses. 
6. There are tons of rides, shows, and parades geared to them.  Any ride a pregnant woman can ride, they can ride.
7. They do remember! Maddy and Hadley who are 4 and 2 years old right now remember all of their Disney trips. My daughter Hadley who is 2 years old sings "Its a Small World" DAILY. Maddy keeps telling us each ride she wants to ride and with who she will ride it with.



6 months old

8. You will NEVER regret going to Disney with your children too early but only that you have gone too late. They are young enough to believe each character is the really thing. I cant really explain how wonderful it is to see your 2 year old light up for their favorite character. This is wear I have had many crying moments in the park.  

6 months old

3 year old and 1.5 year old

1.5 years old

Disney Project: Beginner Everyday Princess Dress, Sleeping Beauty

Dress: Sleeping Beauty
Sewing Pattern: Simplicity 5695
 Fabric Used: Joann Fabric- all fabric is Calico but I wish I used better quality fabric.
Sewing Time: 1 day

Sewing Experience level: Beginner

Instructions: Follow the instructions on the pattern.  Then added the bustle by making a shorter skirt and cutting in 2 then gathering.

Notes:
I have made a bunch of these because they are not heavy and are great to wear out to the store or park. This is also a really EASY dress project for beginners. This is how I started making princess dresses.

Disney Project: Sewing Cinderella Apron Dress

Dress: Cinderella Apron Dress
Sewing Pattern: McCall 6619
 Fabric Used: Hobby Lobby and Joann

• Blue- Broadcloth
• White fabric- Calico Fabric
• Silver Trimming and ribbon from Hobby Lobby

Sewing Time: 2 days

Sewing Experience level: Beginner

Instructions: Follow the instructions on the pattern but I then added extra ribbon on the back so that the straps would stay on easier along with the extra trimming on the front.
  
Notes:
I LOVE this outfit but my youngest is not super into dressing up yet plus really messy so it worked great for her being able to take it off when she didnt want to wear it.
This dress is great for going to Disney during the hot months or cold bc you can add any shirt underneath. You can take it off when you are eating and both my 2 year old and my 4 year old can wear it.