How to Choose a Cruise

Earlier this year, we went on our first cruise – and we had such fun time!

I’m convinced that cruising is one of the best ways to travel – you wake up in a different place every morning, lots of food, tons to do…it’s just really fun!

We took our two boys (6 and 2 at the time), and we all had a great time.

The hardest part – in my opinion – is just deciding on your cruise itinerary.

There are seriously SO many options out there, and it can be super overwhelming as you go and start searching for them.

So I thought I would share a few things to consider when choosing your cruise itinerary that I think

Where to Book?

One thing to keep in mind about booking a cruise is that most places will have the exact same prices (source). If it seems cheaper than another website, it’s likely because they haven’t included all of the prices, and it typically says “Cruise price from …”, meaning, the prices start there and typically just go up.

So when booking, I would just go with a place you feel most comfortable with. Some booking agents will offer little perks to get you to book with them, but I think it’s most important to book with someone that you trust.

I went back and forth between Costco and Get Away Today. I love both of these places, but in the end, I decided to go with Get Away Today. They’ve always been so helpful to us for our Disneyland trips, and I knew that they’d be the same with our cruise.

Everyone who helped us book was so kind and responsive – and their website is so easy to navigate. I definitely recommend booking with them! They book for many of destinations, ports, and cruise lines. You can browse their website, and if you need any help, they are just a phone call away.

Cruise Direct is another great option from what I’ve seen.

You can definitely book directly through the cruise website as well. For some, this may make you feel more confident in knowing you’ve booked directly from the source

Destination?

Where would you like to go? There are cruises all over the world, so I think the first step is to decide where you’d like to go. Some popular cruises include:

• Bahamas
• Mexico
• Alaska
• Europe
• Hawaii

Once you’ve decided the general location, you can start to research some of the next things – such as the port and cruise line. You should consider things like the time of year you are going, what kinds of activities you would like to do, etc. For us, we narrowed it down pretty quickly because there aren’t a lot of Zika-free areas for the type of cruises we were interested in, so the Western Caribbean it was!

What is the Best Cruise Line?

I wasn’t sure if I should talk about cruise line or port first, but I think that cruise line is probably most important.

There are quite a few different cruise lines out there, and this can be overwhelming. Everyone has an opinion on what is the best – and for what reason.

One thing to keep in mind is that not all the ships on a specific cruise line are going to be the same – so once you choose a cruise line, you’ll be faced with choosing a ship as well. But even if the ships vary, cruise lines tend to be pretty streamlined across all their ships in terms of food and service. However, amenities and activities can vary substantially – even amongst cruise lines – so that’s definitely something to research as well once you’ve decided on the cruise line.

Now, as I said before, you’ll get LOTS of opinions on what cruise line you should go on. However, through my research, here are the general feelings I got about some of these major cruise lines here in the United States. Keep in mind that I mention children a lot, since that’s what we were primarily looking for. But if I mention it, it doesn’t mean you can’t have a great time without kids.

• Carnival – good for families and amongst the most affordable. We chose this one because of a) the price and b) it seemed pretty family friendly. It was also one of the only cruise lines I found that the childcare was included for ages two and up, not just three and up (most cruise lines had an additional charge for children two and under). People generally seem to really like the food on Carnival cruise lines – and we really liked it (you can read about our experience with that here – The Ultimate Guide to Carnival Cruise Food). This tends to attract more college students during peak seasons – such as spring break – because it is typically less expensive than other cruises.
• Royal Caribbean – This one is touted as being great for families, though from what I’ve seen, it’s more ideal for older children and teenagers. They offer a lot of great deals throughout the year – such as second guest 1/2 off, kids cruise free, etc. They have a lot of active/fitness centered entertainment, so if you are into that kind of thing, you’ll probably love RC. I thought a lot of their amenities and activities looked like a blast, but in the end, we were looking for the most budget-friendly cruise, and that was with Carnival. Lots of entertainment – they were first to bring condensed versions of Broadway favorites to the ocean.
• Norwegian – From my research, this one is good for families with teenagers. They also have a lot of activities for night owls and those that like to party. Good entertainment available. They have studio cabins, which are nice for people who are traveling by themselves!
• Disney – This is the ultimate family cruise – but they are also VERY expensive. If you are looking to have a really unique experience that is all about family, it’s definitely one to consider. We would have loved to have gone on a Disney cruise, but I just couldn’t justify the cost. I do love that there are no casinos on board! The entertainment is apparently amazing. They also offer a lot of “themed” cruises throughout the year (such as for Halloween). It’s truly all about making your cruise absolutely magical.
• Princess – This one seems to be best for couples, older people, or those who are just looking for a little romance.
• Holland – This one is popular for seniors. It is also known for offering some great enrichment experiences, and they sail all over the world. They have live cooking shows which sound like a blast!

There are plenty of other cruise lines, but these are definitely the most popular. I would consider what is most important for you for your cruise and then do some Google searches on those terms to see what you find out! A lot of it comes down to amenities and where you want to go.

I would caution you about reading reviews online. We went on the Carnival Ecstacy, and not all the reviews were glowing on some of the websites I went to. Some of them made it sound like we were basically cruising off to our death. It was an older ship with not as many amenities as some, but we had a BLAST. It’s all about attitude if you ask me! Obviously, if all the reviews are bad, that is something to keep in mind.

Port?

What port do you want to leave from? This is an important thing to consider, along with how you plan to get there.

For instance, we were interested in a Western Caribbean cruise, which narrowed down our port options quite a bit:

• Galveston
• Several in Florida (Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Cape Canaveral, etc.).
• Charleston

Because we have family in the Charleston area – and there was going to be a family reunion in North Carolina around the time we were going on our cruise – we decided that we would go with that port. Even though the ship was older, it made the most sense for us. A lot of people were surprised that there was even a port in Charleston when we would mention it – as far as I know, only Carnival sails out of there. We went on the Ecstacy, though they are bringing a newer and fancier boat there in 2019 – the Carnival Sunshine.

Anyways – once you’ve figured out what cruise line you are going on – as well as your destination – you can pick your port. It’s important to consider how you are going to get there – before we started considering Charleston, we looked into Florida and Texas, and the most affordable flights for us would have been to Texas.

How Long Should You Go?

Cruises last anywhere from three days to a few weeks long! So what should you choose?

Obviously, the longer you go, the more you are going to have to pay overall – though you may see a decrease in cost per day for a longer trip.

When choosing how long to go, you should consider:

• How many days are sea are there? Some people love these, some people hate them.
• What destinations will you be going to? Are there a variety of new things at each stop that makes it worth it to have extra stops?
• Ages of those going with you?
• Are you prone to seasickness? While I wouldn’t say this would indicate you need to go on a shorter cruise – if you are a first-time cruiser, it might be best to keep it on the lower end of things, just in case you are miserable!
• How long can you take off from work?
• Check flights (if you are flying in) to see what days surrounding the cruise are cheapest to fly in and out and build the length around that.

We went on a five-night cruise, and it seemed to be perfect for our family. We had 2.5 days at sea, and then we had two days at destinations. I could have probably gone another day or two, but the five-night cruise fit our budget the best.

Three and four-day cruises are generally the cheapest options, but I do feel like it would feel a little bit short – especially after going to the effort and expense to get there. But again – if that’s what you can afford, that’s what you can afford.

I don’t know that I’d go much longer than seven days – especially if you are a first-time cruiser or you have children. A lot of people who love cruising will go on longer cruises, and I think that could be fun at some point in my life. But I don’t think they are ideal for most people.

What is included? 

When looking at the cost of your ticket, make sure you know about all the extra charges – there are often port charges, taxes, and more that may or may not be included in the price you are looking at.

Most cruises are going to include food, some entertainment options, and lots of activities. But most cruises also really like to push their paid options – such as the spa, BINGO, and gambling, alcohol, etc.

You can even look at some of the add-ons that you are considering to see what ends up being the best deal. For instance, not all cruise ships have amazing Internet – in fact, until recently, most cruise chips charged by the minute for subpar (at best) Internet connection.

Other Factors to Consider:

I’ve touched on a lot of these factors above, but I felt they were worth diving more deeply into.

Budget

Honestly, this is the first thing I think you should consider before you do ANYTHING! Cruise can be very affordable – but they can also be very expensive.

You have to pay per person – not just per room. And while children are usually discounted, you still have to pay for them. Here are some expenses you have to keep in mind when coming up with the budget:

• Cost of the cruise (with taxes and port fees included) per person
• Tips (these are typically added automatically to your final bill after your cruise is over. It’s typically around $12-15 a person per day, though you can adjust it to whatever you want. Tips aren’t technically required, but it would be pretty poor form not to pay them. The cruise employees work hard!)
• Excursions – these aren’t required, but they can enhance your experience
• On board experiences – spa, gambling, etc. You can look online before you book to see what types of experiences are paid and which require additional payment
• Transportation to the port (flight, rental car, etc.)
• Hotel before and/or after the cruise

Time of year?

The time of year will definitely impact the cost of your cruise – and it can also impact your experience.

You can get some killer deals on cruises during a hurricane – but you have to consider at what cost. There are very real possibilities that your cruise will be canceled. And if it’s not, you may have to miss a stop or two if the destination is having bad weather. If the weather is poor while you are on the ship, it might not be very fun to have to stay cooped up inside the ship for days on end either.

Cruising season will be different based on where you are going – I found this article to be helpful in talking about the best and cheapest times to cruise. It breaks it down by destination, which is helpful.

Ages of people going

Some cruises are better for senior citizens. Some are great for families. And some are more geared toward parties. You definitely need to consider the ages of the people are going and research the cruise lines for that demographic. While most cruises will accept people of all ages, that doesn’t mean they are meant for every age.

What do you like to do?

As I mentioned some of the cruise lines toward the beginning of this cruise, I mention some of the activities available on those cruises. If you have a specific interest, look for a cruise that offers something along those lines. Choosing a cruise with a destination that has activities you want to do can help narrow it down as well.

I hope that this will help you figure out the best cruise line for your family. Again, I can’t say enough good things about Get Away Today. If you are still feeling overwhelmed, they will definitely walk you through the process.

Other Cruise Posts You May Enjoy:

• The Ultimate Guide to Carnival Cruise Food
• How to Not Gain Weight on a Cruise (From Someone Who Didn’t)
• Cruise Clothing 101: What to Wear on Your Cruise!

The post How to Choose a Cruise: Tips for Picking the Best Cruise Itinerary appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

Looking for the best prices on hotels? Check out TripAdvisor – they help you find the best deals on Hotels worldwide!

For me, how much I enjoy traveling depends a lot on how well I pack. Here are some tips for packing that might make traveling easier and more enjoyable for you.

First off, if you are traveling by airplane, it helps to know the airline’s baggage policy before you buy the ticket. I almost always fly with my family, so we know we are going to need a decent amount of luggage that we don’t want to have to pay an arm and a leg for.

It is helpful to be aware of the size and weight restrictions before you select your suitcase(s). I have had both hard and soft suitcases before. I realized that I prefer the soft cases, because they weigh less and they can stretch and expand if needed. A lighter suitcase means I can bring more things inside of the suitcase without going over 50 pounds.

It is also helpful to have a quality suitcase that handles the wear and tear of travel, and that is easy to move and handle!

Okay, back to packing. Here is a bit of my packing resume. I grew up in Sanford, North Carolina, but I went to college at BYU in Provo, UT. I flew to college. I had to pack everything I might need for a year of school into two suitcases, a carry-on, and a personal item.

After my first year of college, I went on a two year mission for my church, so I had to pack approved and specific types of things for a two-year period. During that time I moved every 4-5 months.

Now I travel for holidays, weddings, and funerals with my family, so we tend to carry a lot of things for to help us get by for a few weeks.

We can’t travel too often, so we usually try to maximize the time in different places. For each of these situations I had to pack differently. However, I believe most of my top ten tips for packing should be helpful in most situations.

Here are my ten tips for packing!

1. First, make a list.

Consider your activities and what you will need to accomplish them. What can you afford to buy at your destination, what will be available for free, and what can you do without?

Plan and prioritize and then make a list. I don’t trust myself in the chaos of the moment of packing to remember everything but maybe you are different.

In my opinion, the main goals of packing are to have what you need, have it easily accessible, and to have it in as close to the condition that you need it as possible.

Those goals are meet within time and money constraints that depend on the person packing and the goals of the travel.

2. Roll up you clothes instead of folding them

Or just chucking them in the suitcase. Rolled up shirts and pants will be less likely to wrinkle, and they will take up less space. If you don’t care about wrinkles, and you just want to fit as many clothes in a suitcase as possible then I think folding would be better.

Also, you could try packing aides that use vacuum suction to, basically, shrink wrap your clothes. If you are just going on a short trip and you don’t want to waste time with ironing clothes, then roll up your less wrinkle prone clothes and lay them on top of your more sensitive clothes.

Plus, to keep your dress shirts and such from shifting and getting wrinkled you can use something like a dry cleaning bag tucked over and into the sides of the suitcase. Use socks, underwear, and other properly sealed toiletries to fill in the empty spaces.

Think about how everything might shift and plan accordingly. Place books and other heavy items near the bottom of your suitcase.

3. If you are flying, make sure your valuables and important documents are with you on the plane.

Checked bags are at a greater risk of being lost or stolen. Additionally, if you want to avoid someone else confusing their bag with yours at baggage claim, try a brighter color or design for the bag itself or for something on or tied to the bag.

4. Make sure that liquids, gases, or gels meet the TSA’s 3-1-1 rule.

Basically, they have to be small travel sizes and in a clear plastic bag. For liquids and other items in checked bags that might explode due changes in air pressure during flights at least use a sealed plastic bag.

You can also put some plastic wrap over the opening of the bottle or tube and then screw the lid on top of the plastic. This should help prevent most problems. Katie and I were not always careful about this, and we paid the price.

5. Use your personal item wisely.

I don’t know what the official policy of most airlines, but I think the size of your personal item is mostly dependent on how well if fits under the seat in front of you.

I’ve packed a backpack full of heavy books, which has saved me from putting a lot of weight in my checked bags.

I’ve even brought my tennis racquet on board with me because it wouldn’t fit in my checked luggage, and I didn’t have a problem. I think I just stowed it up top.

6. Be aware that your bag might be searched.

If your bag is stuffed so full that you think it is a minor miracle that you got it to close, remember that the TSA official who might have to search it might not be so fortunate or careful.

Bags might rip, seams might split, or you might have to pick your bag up from somewhere other than the usual baggage claim area. Plus, the locks on suitcases have to be TSA compliant, or the might be cut off or broken.

If you don’t want some stranger touching certain things then put them in a clear plastic bag, so that the items can be clearly seen.

7. Consider what you can buy at your destination.

If you can avoid the time, hassle, and luggage fees by avoiding packing items you can buy at you destination (if you will have the time) then do it.

This includes considering laundry options. If you can do your laundry at your destination, then you can bring fewer clothes.

You could even try washing your clothes in a hotel sink, and then hanging them up in the shower to dry. If you have a child in diapers, just buy the diapers and wipes when you get to your destination.

8. Pack versatile items

I think smart phones are great for this. Smart phones can make it so you don’t need books, maps, music players, etc. They do need to be charged, so it might be good to have an extra battery pack if you depend on your phone a lot.

Using layers when dressing for different weather conditions is one way to make your clothes more versatile. Instead of a big jacket, maybe a couple of shirts and a thick sweater or light jacket.9. Pack some high calorie snacks

I hate paying the ridiculous prices of airports and certain tourist destinations. I can save myself some money with granola bars, trail mixes, and jerky. They won’t go bad sitting for a while in different kinds of environment, and you won’t freak out if you’re behind schedule and don’t have time to buy food.

Similarly, bring an empty clear bottle to fill up with water fountain or restaurant water, so you don’t have to buy overpriced water or drinks if you get thirsty.

10. Pack something for the trip

Sometimes people pack just for the destination, and they don’t prepare for the time and effort of the trip itself. Just makes sure you are taking care of yourself, so you aren’t too tired or upset to do what you need to do when you get to your destination.

By the way, make sure you actually bring your luggage. I only partly mention this in jest. When Katie and I were enjoying our simple honeymoon we were leaving the house we were able to enjoy for a few nights to drive a few hours towards the beach. However, once we got to the hotel we were going to be staying in, we realized that one of Katie’s bags wasn’t there. I had taken it down the stairs at the house we had stayed in, but I hadn’t actually put it in the car. So, once you pack to perfection make sure you actually take the bag with you!

The post 10 Smart Packing Tips for Families appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

Cruise Clothes

We just finished our first cruise – and it was a blast. I wish we could still be on it (though at times, it feels like we still are – we feel so wobbly on land right now!).

Over the next few weeks and months, I plan to share all the tips and tricks about cruising I’ve learned along the way…but today, I’m going to talk about what to wear on a cruise.

Leading up to the cruise, I read all sorts of opinions on what you should wear, which stressed me out more than it should. However, I feel like I’ve gotten a pretty good handle on what’s expected, so I’m excited to share a little more about what to bring with you.

Cruise Clothes

One thing to keep in mind when you are packing is not just the cruise itself, but the destination you are going to.

Certain countries may have different customs that require a certain type of clothing (or some of the places you visit while in those countries).

You want to make sure you have appropriate clothing for the weather and activities you will be doing. It would be a big bummer to sign up for an excursion where you are going on a hike only to forget any type of hiking shoes or clothes at home!

The good thing is, you really don’t have to get a brand new wardrobe for a cruise. For the most part, you should have everything you need already. Though it can be fun to get some new items.

Both Forrest and I got a Stitch Fix box before our cruise, and it was so fun to get a few new items (more on that in a bit!).

Most cruise lines have at least some guidelines online so you can have *somewhat* of an idea of what to wear – and it is different based on the cruise line. I thought I would share the guidelines from a couple of the most popular cruise lines here in the US:

Cruise Dress Codes

Carnival Cruise Line

We are on a Carnival Cruise, so that’s what I looked into first. Fortunately, they have a lot of good information on their website.

Essentially, there are three different categories to concern yourself with:

• Daytime Attire
• Evening Casual
• Evening Elegant

The last two are in regards to eating in one of the main dining rooms (if you choose not to do this and want to eat in one of the more casual places like the Lido or Guy’s Burger, it is a more casual environment.

If you are on a cruise for 2-5 days, there will be one formal night. If you are on a cruise longer than that, there will be two. I saw everything from tuxes and elegant gowns to nice dresses, button up shirts, and pantsuits. I think as long as you try to up your game a little bit, you’ll be a-okay.

I’ve seen all sorts of clothes while on the cruise. Some people live in their swimming suits (especially the younger crowd). I’ve just opted for comfortable, yet fashionable. We haven’t spent much time in the pool (Oliver isn’t allowed to swim because he isn’t potty trained), so wearing swimming suits and covers around hasn’t really been our jam this time around.

Royal Caribbean 

This is another very popular cruise line (we almost went with them!). They have three designations for their dress code:

• Casual – whatever is comfortable! They do ask that you keep swimwear just to the swim deck
• Smart Casual – This is requested for most dinners. I would put in the same line as business casual
• Formal

Casual is for during the day, smart casual is for most dinners, and formal is for the formal dinner evenings.

3-5 day cruises will have one formal night, while cruises longer than that will have two.

You can read more details on the Royal Caribbean dress code here.

Disney Cruise Line Dress Code

Disney cruises are definitely geared more toward the younger crowd, therefore, the dress code is a little laxer. The “formal nights” are optional. Most of the time, you are welcome to wear what you want for dinner (with the exception of being shirtless or wearing your swimming suits). There are adult only restaurants that have more regulations for dress code.

One thing to keep in mind is that Disney cruises have themed nights – the longer the cruise, the more they have! One night is usually pirate themed, and then there is usually an optional formal. On the longer cruises, there is typically a semi-formal night as well.

You can learn more about the themed nights, as well as the dress code for the adult only restaurants here.

Princess Cruise Dress Code

I get the feeling that Princess is a little bit of a “higher class” cruise line – on their website, it says, “You should dress for a cruise with Princess the same way you would for any stylish land-based resort. Casual sportswear, including shorts, lightweight pants, and jogging suits, is the order of the day both at sea and ashore in hotter climates.”

So think country club.

When dining on board, their designations are “smart casual” and “formal”. If your cruise is 1-4 days, there will be no formal nights.

You can click here to read more about cruise attire on Princess Cruise Lines.

Norwegian Cruise Dress Code 

On their website, they say, “On Norwegian, you can pretty much wear what you want to wear, when you want to wear it. Go cruise casual or get all decked out and look your best – it’s totally your call. That’s the freedom of Freestyle cruising.”

They ask that you keep the following in mind when deciding what to pack and wear:

• Dress for the destination
• Dress for the event – there are a few formal events you can attend that formal clothing would be more appropriate for
• Cruise casual – during the day
• Smart casual – for most meals
• Kids 12 and under can wear shorts in the dining room, but they should be nice
• Tank tops (for men), flip flops, baseball caps, visors and overly faded/torn jeans cannot be worn in the restaurants or main dining rooms.

You can read more about their recommendations here.

Clothes to Wear for a Cruise

In general, it seems as if most cruise lines want you to be as comfortable as possible – but have at least one formal night, sometimes more depending on the length of the cruise.

With the guidelines I found above, I put together a list of cruise clothes ideas (this is based on a warm-climate based cruise. If you are going on something where you will encounter colder weather, you’ll need to adapt accordingly :). Chances are, you already have these in your closet.

• Two swimming suits
• Swim coverup
• Comfortable shorts or capris (one per day)
• Sun dresses, maxi dresses, etc. I loved wearing a few of these that I had – they were perfect throughout the day, as well as for dinner.
• A couple blouses or polo shirts
• Nice dress (or two, depending on how many elegant dinners there are) for women; pantsuits are also considered acceptable for elegant wear
• Suit and tie, or a dress shirt, tie, and slacks for men
• A light jacket or sweater for breezy nights
• Flip Flops or Sandals
• Close Toed shoes or classier sandals for dinners
• Athletic/Tennis Shoes (if you plan to work out, go on a hike, or do an excursion that requires them)
• Athletic shorts/shirt
• Underwear/undergarments
• Pajamas
• T-shirts or casual shirts for during the day
• Hat
• Sunglasses

Looking for ways to save on your cruise? Be sure to read this post – How to Save Money on a Cruise: The Best Tips For Cruising on a Budget

Although I have clothes that fall into all those categories, I thought it would be fun to bring a few new items with us for both Forrest and me.

Because I’m a big fan of Stitch Fix, we partnered with them to show you how easy it is to get a new wardrobe for your upcoming cruise. This is the first time we have tried Stitch Fix for men, which made this extra exciting for us.

If you’ve never tried Stitch Fix before, now is a perfect time – anyone who receives a Fix by June 30th will be entered to win one of ten trips to anywhere in the continental United States AND a Fix for their trip. By scheduling your Fix for before June 30th, you will automatically be entered.

Below are the items that they sent us for the cruise. I felt like they totally nailed it with my style this box. I wasn’t sure what to expect for Forrest, but he ended up loving all the items he received as well. We have worn all of them on the cruise, and if you are looking for some new pieces for your upcoming cruise, definitely consider using Stitch Fix.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR YOUR FIRST FIX

Make sure you are very specific with what you are looking for. You will fill out a style survey, but you can also leave notes for your stylist. It’s such a fun and easy process!

Forrest really loves this outfit. The shirt definitely screams cruise! The shorts are great, and they worked well for a variety of occasions on the cruise. 

I loved this dress, and I wore it for the formal night. Many people were ballroom gowns, but there were plenty of people in dresses similar to mine. I loved all the colors and patterns on this. And it was SO comfy!

There is just something about TOMS that scream cruise, don’t you think?

These cropped pants were so comfy to wear around, and I was able to wear them to dinner easily!

One of my favorite items in my box (just ignore the leggings, those were mine, and I did NOT wear them with this outfit). It was so lightweight and airy. Perfect for the cruise!

The post Cruise Clothing 101: What to Wear on Your Cruise! appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

I was really excited to be able to get a couple of press tickets – we had an extra one, so my little brother, Michael, was able to come. What did he think?

Well, he said dreams came true that day, and it would be practically his dream job to work there.

I’d say it was pretty much a success.

Leading up to our visit, we all were getting SO excited. We drove up from Anaheim in horrible traffic (but isn’t that always the case in California?), and it was pretty hot outside, but none of that mattered when we first entered the gates. It was so magical from the moment we got there. It’s about 1/3 the size of the Wizarding World in Orlando, but it was still incredible.

If you are a Harry Potter fan, this is a must-visit location. It was a bit out of our way, but I’m so glad we went. Since it’s a new place, I thought I would write a few tips and tricks for navigating the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Hollywood’s Universal Studios!

First off, if you are going to buy tickets, buy them from Get Away Today! You can buy them just for Universal Studios, OR you can buy a bundle with tickets to Disney, which is awesome. I think they have the best prices on tickets (especially when you bundle with Disney), and their prices on hotels are pretty unbeatable as well. If you book your tickets and a hotel through Get Away Today, you can get $10 off using the code ClarksCondensed!

Plus, you can use their awesome layaway plans so you don’t have to pay for the entire trip until two weeks before you leave. We planned most of our California trip through Get Away Today, and they made it so easy.

Now, on to the good stuff!

When to Go

We went in the middle of the day, and it was quite busy! Everything I’ve heard and read has said that you should either go first thing in the morning or wait until later afternoon.

With that said, the longest line I saw as for the Ollivander’s Wand choosing ceremony. The other two main attractions really didn’t have the longest waits at all. We went right in the middle of the afternoon even!

What to do First

There is a lot to look at inside the Wizarding World, so I recommend taking your time. However, the two places that had the longest lines were Ollivander’s Wand Shop and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. I will talk about these more in a bit, but they definitely had the longest lines.

I recommend grabbing a big cup of butterbeer while you wait in the line – if it’s out outside, it will definitely help make the wait a little less long.

The Three Broomsticks

We didn’t get a chance to eat here, but I wish we would have. It sounds amazing, and if you go, I think you should definitely make an effort to eat there. It sounds like it has a lot of traditional British fare.

One of the employees at Honeydukes told us that if you have a party of four or more, the cook will bring the meal out to you personally. I thought that was kind of cool!

Even if you don’t want to eat there, you can take a tour. We didn’t get the opportunity to do this, but I wish we had.

Butterbeer 

You can’t visit without getting Butterbeer. Not gonna lie – this is what I was looking forward to most! They have two stands throughout the Wizarding World, and you can also get it in the Three Broomsticks and at Hogshead.

They have two versions – the frozen kind and the regular kind. Forrest and I opted to try out the frozen version, and it was SO good. I wanted to go back for another one! We also bought it in the collectors mug, just because we could. My brother, Michael, got the non-frozen kind, and he said he preferred it over the sip he had of ours.

My friend, Brittany, said her favorite thing to do is mix the two kinds together. That sounds pretty amazing to me!

We also really enjoyed the pumpkin juice, which was another option available at the drink cart!

Rider Switch

This isn’t just in the Wizarding World (it’s available throughout all of Universal Studios), but it’s worth mentioning. I think they have one of the best rider switch programs in all of the theme parks I’ve been to. I was especially impressed with how it was set up in the “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” ride. There was a big room setup where you can go and sit with your kids and can switch with the other adult after they ride. I like that you could take your kids all the way through Hogwarts, because it’s seriously the most amazing place! I don’t think kids should have to miss out on it just because they are too short for the ride.

Ollivander’s Makers of Fine Wands

We didn’t buy wands, but you can buy them in Ollivanders. I believe they ranged from about $30 to $50, depending on what kind of wand you purchased. They have interactive wands for purchase, which are really cool. They are set up to work at different spots throughout the Wizarding World (I believe there is a map included to show you where.) It really can make your visit that much more magical.

Even if you don’t want to buy a wand, definitely visit Ollivanders. It’s really pretty cool. We enjoyed looking at all the wands for different characters for Harry Potter.

If you do choose to buy one, you can either choose a wand from one of the Harry Potter characters, or you can select one based on personality types. There’s one for everyone!

Attached to Ollivander’s is a place where you can watch a wand choose a wizard. There was a super long line for this. About 10 people are taken into a room at a time, and one or two people in the group are chosen to be a part of a wand choosing ceremony. It’s pretty fun to watch!

I wasn’t entirely sure if you had to buy the wand if you were chosen, but from my research you do. Some people say that if you are a chosen you can get a discount, but others said they didn’t. So I don’t really know! What I did find out is that if you have a AAA membership, you can get a discount.

There is also a cart outside of the Flight of the Hippogriff where you can purchase wands.

Performances

On the center stage in the middle of the Wizarding World, there are different performances throughout the day. Don’t just pass these by – there are so fun to watch. I believe they have the Frog Choir and a TriWizard Spirit Rally. It really felt like we were right in the middle of Hogwarts attending school. I loved it!

Harry potter and the Forbidden journey

This is seriously the coolest ride I have ever been on. I can’t even explain how amazing it was! We had front of the line passes, but I would have been more than willing to stand in line for awhile for it. It’s a virtual reality ride that moves around. I loved how long it was, and how real everything seemed in it.

The line for this ride goes through Hogwarts, which is an amazing attraction in and of itself. It really feels like you are walking through the corridors of Hogwarts as a student. I wish we hadn’t have rushed through it so quickly!

Owl post 

There is an Owl Post in the middle of the Wizarding World where you can go and buy different products (including stuff owls). It’s kind of a fun place! You actually can send a letter to someone here, which would be a nice surprise for any Harry Potter fan. I do recommend bringing your own stamps, though!

Flight of the Hippogriff

This was a fairly fast ride, and the line was pretty short. Most of the time, it said the wait was about five minutes. It was fun, but it wasn’t really anything special. So if the line is super long, don’t feel like you are going to be missing out on anything magical. It’s a little rollercoaster, and it made me feel like I got a little bit of whiplash afterward. It was still fun, though!

Honeydukes

You have to go to Honeydukes! It’s every bit as amazing as I imagined it to be. They had tons of different kinds of wizarding treats. Jack was in heaven (even though he didn’t end up getting anything.)

I do recommend hitting Honeydukes on your way out, though. They have lots of delicious candy and treats, but I’d be worried about them melting as you walk through the park. Also, it’s a good way to get your kids to behave if you bribe them with a trip to the candy store 🙂

Shopping

There is a lot of shopping all around the Wizarding World. They have Ollivander’s and The Owl Post, as I already mentioned,

Photos

You can take most of your own photos inside the park. We loved being able to take pictures in front of Hogwarts and other places throughout the area. However, there is one place where you can get a professional collectible photo taken as if you are inside the Hogwarts Express. We opted not to do this and instead took one on our phones in front of it with the conductor. But if you want a nice memorable one, you can definitely go this route!

Take time to  look around

Finally, just take enough to walk around and soak everything up. So much attention to details were put into creating the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. You can see mandrakes, quidditch equipment, wanted signs, the Hogwarts Express…everything just feels so magical. It really reminds of exactly what I thought living in Harry Potter’s shoes would feel like. I wish we had more time (and it hadn’t been so hot) so I could have looked at everything!

Don’t forget to the get BEST ticket prices and vacation packages in Southern California through Get Away Today, including $10 off vacation packages booked with the code MFTG.

The post 10 Secrets, Tips, and Tricks for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Hollywood appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

Is Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland worth the price? Here are the pros and cons to help you decide if this not-so-scary adventure is right for you!
In just a few short weeks, we are going to be heading to Disneyland!

We just got back from Disneyland a few days ago, and it was so much fun! Despite having a few ups and downs (such as losing Jack), we have so many wonderful memories.

Going to Disneyland with people of all different ages is a different experience than when you go as a teenager or with other adults. It’s still a magical time, but you really have to adjust your expectations for how things will go.

As my mom put it, you have to realize the trip isn’t just about you. It’s about making sure everyone has a good time!

Jack was just about 1/4-1/2″ too short for a lot of the rides. I was disappointed about this at first, but I realized that they have those height limits for a reason. I mean, I would have been so afraid of him flying out on some of those rides!

Fortunately, Disneyland was built with families in mind. I love this quote that is underneath the Walt Disney statue in the center of Disneyland:

I think most of all, what I want Disneyland to be is a happy place . . . where parents and children can have fun, together.

And I think that’s exactly what Disneyland is. There’s really something for everyone between the two parks in California. With that said, I do think it’s important to know realistically what you are going to be able to do before you go.

So, Forrest and I thought we would share some tips for fun for children under 40″ at Disneyland, which may also be helpful for people who may be over 40″ and a little bit scared. I also have put together a kid Disney survival kit to make the day a little more enjoyable.

Rides with Height Limits

Here are the rides with height limits 40″ or taller. I think it would be a good idea to know about these beforehand so you don’t hype up a ride, only to tell your kid they can’t ride them!

Indiana Jones – 46″
**Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – 40″
**Matterhorn Bobsleds – 40″
Autotopia – 54″ to drive alone (32″ to ride at all)
**Space Mountain – 40″
Splash Mountain – 40″
Star Tours – 40″

Grizzly River Run – 42″
Soarin’ Over California – 40″
**Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – 40″
California Screamin’ 48″
Goofy’s Sky School – 40″
Silly Symphony Swings – 40″
Radiator Springs Racers – 40″

**Even if your child is 40″, exercise caution with these. They can be dark, loud, or somewhat scary. Jack is short for his age, so there are plenty of four-year-olds that would be tall enough. However, even if Jack was tall enough, there’s no way he would have wanted to go on them.

Best Rides

There are a ton of rides for people under 40″, but to be honest, some of them are totally lame or kind of scary. Jack was TERRIFIED of some of the “kiddie” rides, such as the Pinocchio’s Daring Adventure,, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, and the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. He thought they were too loud, dark, and scary. So we avoided anything like that after the first few rides. Similar rides to those would be Alice in Wonderland and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.

These are the rides or attractions Jack really enjoyed. I liked a lot of these, too:

Dumbo – LOVE this ride. It’s so relaxing and fun!

It’s a Small World – Jack thought this was scary at first…but then he took off his sunglasses and loved it. I liked the air conditioning!
Mad Tea Party
Jungle Cruise
Roger Rabbit’s Toon Spin
Gadget’s Go Coaster (35″ minimum)
Autotopia
Buzz Lightyear’s Astroblasters
Finding Nemo’s Submarine – I really don’t like this ride. I get claustrophobic. But it’s fun for others, I think! You basically watch a condensed version of Finding Nemo.
Haunted Mansion – Be careful with this one. I actually think it’s kind of scary, but Jack surprisingly loved it.
Frontier Land’s Shootin’ Exposition
Tarzan Treehouse

We didn’t go on these ones, but I think they are great for kids:
Storybook Land Canal Boats
Casey Jr’s Circus Train
King Arthur Carousel
Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
Monorail
Disneyland Railroad
Davey Crockett’s Explorer Canoes
Pirate’s of the Carribean – might be a little dark/scary, but it’s not that bad. Anyone can go on it, and it’s a great way to cool off!

In California Adventure, we loved:

Flik’s Flyers
Francis’ Ladybug Boogie (this was weird because they made me take Oliver out of my carrier and put him beside me…pretty sure that was not safer than being my carrier.)
Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train
Jumpin’ Jelly Fish
Mickey’s Fun Wheel – I actually do not like this ride. It freaks me out. But Jack said it was his favorite ride, so I thought I would put it on here. If your kids don’t want to go on something that moves fast, you can go in the stationary carts!

Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree (32″ minimum)

We didn’t ride this time but have heard great things about:

Toy STory Mania
Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
Monster’s Inc Mike and Sully to the Rescue
Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters (32″ minimum)

Shows and Entertainment

There are so many family friendly shows and parades around Disneyland and California Adventure. They certainly know how to put on a good show!

We happened to be walking around in California Adventure when their Pixar Parade started. I think it was around 5:00? This is a must-see. The streets weren’t crowded at all – Jack was right up to the street and interacted a lot with the performers. THey had characters from a lot of Pixar movies that we love, and it was so fun to watch Jack. I think this is a great one that is not crowded.

I absolutely loved the Disneyland Paint the Night Parade. This one you really have to get there early to get a good seat. We showed up an hour early, and we could hardly see! It’s really magical though, and I highly recommend seeing it one night.

Afterwards, you can see the nightly fireworks which are incredible. I do recommend getting some kind of ear protection for your children though. Jack really loved it, but he was covering his ears the whole time.

We didn’t see it, but during the day in Disneyland, they have Mickey’s Soundsational Parade. It sounds like fun! We saw a similar one when I went when I was 19, and I remember loving it!

We also didn’t get to see the World of Color in California Adventure, but I wish I had! It goes on at night, and from what I’ve heard, it’s pretty fantastic.

There are a lot of other types of entertainment in both parks. Here are a few we enjoyed or that we’ve heard are good for children:

Hyperion Theater: We were SO sad that they didn’t have any shows going on. They just stopped the Aladin show we saw last time we went, and the new Frozen show doesn’t start until the summer. But these performances are incredible and everyone can enjoy them.

It’s Tough Being a Bug: This 4D show goes on all day long, and it’s a lot of fun. There is one part that scared Jack, but he enjoyed it for the most part. You do get a little wet and poked, so if your child has sensory problems or anything like that, it might better to avoid. But we really liked it!

Jedi Show: I’m not exactly sure what this is called, but around noon in Tomorrowland, they had some kind of Star War’s Jedi Show. You can sign up your kids ahead of time to participate, and we were sad we didn’t do this with Jack!

On Main Street of Disneyland, there is often a barbershop quartet singing, which is really fun to sit and listen to. When I went with  my parents and brother when I was 19, they sang to me!

In California Adventure, there are Newsies that sing on the trolley throughout the day. It was awesome!

There are probably others, but we really enjoyed all of these!

Character Breakfast

I wasn’t sure if we wanted to do a character breakfast, but I’m so glad we splurged on it. It was one of the coolest experiences, and Jack LOVED it. We got an early reservation at 7:45 AM for the Surf’s Up! Mickey’s breakfast, but I was so glad we did. We got there before a lot of people, so our kids got more attention. You should have seen Jack’s face light up when the characters came to our table.

The breakfast was amazing, too! I couldn’t get enough of it. The banana’s foster french toast was to die for, and they had everything you could possibly think of. I highly recommend doing one of these breakfasts. The best deal I’ve found on it is from Get Away Today. The vouchers include breakfast, tip, and tax. Make sure you order them several weeks ahead of time, and then make your reservation online, because times do fill up. There were no openings for the Minnie one three weeks before! If you book a breakfast and decide to book the rest of your trip through Get Away Today (which I highly recommend), you can get $10 off using the code Clarks2015.

Finding Characters

Children love seeing the characters. I think one of the best ways to see them (especially princesses) is by doing a character breakfast, as you can avoid long lines. However, you can definitely see them throughout the park.

We found that California Adventure had more characters just wandering around, and they often had less lines there. The Disney characters are dressed up in more “Hollywood” type clothes, so classic characters are better to look for in Disneyland.

We found that the best time to get short lines was right after the character goes on break. It’s kind of annoying when you get there, and the character is going for a break, but if you wait for a few minutes for them to come back, you can get right to the front of the line.

I think the Disneyland app is an awesome app to download because it tells you where certain characters will be during the day. There always seems to be several characters right at the entrance of Disneyland.

There is a Princess area in Disneyland that is great if your child really wants to see the princesses. These lines can get REALLY long, but if it’s important to your child, I recommend waiting in it!

Other

Toon Town: This is a great place for children, though it felt pretty crowded. They have all sorts of fun houses (like Minnie, Mickey’s, Chip and Dale’s Treehouse, etc.) as well as a few rides. I remember going here as a child with  my mom because everyone else was going on Indiana Jones, and I loved it!

Main Street – Disneyland Main Street has a lot of fun things on it. You can see characters, get yummy treats like ice cream, and even get your child’s silhouette! They have a cinema that shows old Disney cartoons, which is a fun way to relax with tired or hot kids. There is a street trolley you can ride on to Fantasy land, and there is also a carriage! I recommend spending some time here.

Downtown Disney – I love Downtown Disney. It has shopping, restaurants, etc. Some of it might be a bit boring for kids, but there is a lego place that is pretty cool. There’s lot of yummy food!

Car’s Land – This is one of the coolest attractions in California Adventure. It wasn’t open when I went in 2008, but it was really cool. Jack loved it! We saw Mater, Red, and McQueen, which he thought was the coolest thing ever (it kind of was.) It really feels like you stepped into Radiator Springs. They have several rides that most kids over 32″ can ride. I do think it’s unfortunate they made the coolest ride – Radiator Springs Racers – for only 40″ and over, since a lot of Car’s fans that are under 40″. But it’s still a really cool place.

Disneyland App – I wrote a post awhile back about the best apps for a Disney vacation, and I think a lot of them are relevant. However, I LOVE the free Disney app! It gives you wait times, tells you how to get to places, where you can find certain foods (we used that a lot!), tells you if a ride is closed (even just temporarily), first aid, and height restrictions, and much  more. If you get the photo pass, it makes easier to add pictures throughout the day to your photo pass. It’s free, so you need to download it!

Rider Switch

Even if you are spending the majority of the time wanting to go on rides with your children, I do recommend making sure you can go on some “big kid” rides. Disneyland has a great Rider Switch program in place, where, if you have chidlren that can’t go on ride, you are given a voucher (for Fast Pass rides) to go to the front of the line and ride again. With the non-Fast Pass rides, you are able to ask for a Rider Switch and do the same.

Avoiding long lines

No one likes standing in line, especially for kids. You can bring entertainment for them, but I think it’s best if you try and avoid them.

If you go during peak times of the year, good luck. We went during a time that was supposedly not busy, but it was. So, make sure you use Fast Passes! This will definitely cut down the wait time. Unfortunately, most of the fast passes are for the bigger rides.

If you get a three or more day pass, you can take advantage of Magical Morning. You get access to the park an hour early, and the ride lines aren’t long at all.

If there is a ride you really want to go on, I recommend going straight there in the morning. When we got there a little after nine, the lines weren’t long. So if there’s something everyone really wants, do it right away.

Survival Kit

Here’s a few things that I think will help make your Disney trip a little easier. You can pack this in a little backpack for your child:

Ticket Holder: I’m still kicking myself for not getting these for us! It was such a pain to keep track of our tickets! We ended up losing Jack’s at one point and had to get a new one from customer service.
Fruit
My KidPod: We lost Jack while we were at Disneyland, and it was terrifying. I heard about this wearable bluetooth watch for kids that I wish I had! You can bet I’m going to have one of these the next time we go.
Water
Snacks
Disneyland Autograph Book: We purchased one at Target for like $5, but you can buy them in park for a lot more! I love this Disneyland autograph and activity book, which is great for young kids.
Sunglasses – we bought a pair for $1 at Target that worked great!
Hat – We got the cute Mickey hat that you see in pictures for $7 at Target!
Sunscreen

Bonus: 

The night before we went to Disneyland, we stopped at Target to try and find an autograph book because I forgot Jack’s in Colorado. We were thrilled to see that they had TONS of Disney memorabilia for way cheaper. I recommend coming here and buying some souvenieers to surprise your kids with. Jack loved whenever we pulled something out of my backpack!

The post Fun for Under 40″ and ‘Fraidy Cats at Disneyland appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

Things to Buy Before Disney World and Disneyland

Disneyland is one of my favorite vacation spots – even with the ever-growing crowds.

We have gone several times over the past few years, and I feel like I always learn a few more tips and tricks along the way.

One thing I’ve learned is how important it is to pack well before your trip.

That doesn’t mean bringing everything under the sun – but you DO need some necessities.

A few years ago, I put together this post about what you should buy before you go to Disneyland or Disney World – and every time I come home from my trip, I find another item to add to the list.

So below you’ll find our must-have items that you should buy before you go…because otherwise, it’s going to cost you a lot more in the park!

And we are all about saving money.

I’m sure many of you have already bought your tickets…but if you haven’t, we HIGHLY recommend going through Get Away Today, which is the BEST place for Disneyland tickets and hotel prices and saving money.

We have used them for Disney trips and a cruise, and have always been very happy with them. They offer:

• Peace of Mind Plans – this allows you to change your tickets, hotel, etc. without a penalty
• Layaway Plans – this allows you to make payments toward your trip. It just has to be paid in full two weeks before
• They are the Disney experts! They have the best advice, and I have never met a person there who hasn’t gone above and beyond for their customers.

You can get an additional $10 off any vacation package for three or more nights using the code ClarksCondensed and booking through this link.

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Things to Bring to Disneyland

Comfy shoes

You will be walking A LOT during your time at Disneyland. I personally can’t wait to rack up the steps on my FitBit and finally come out triumphant as the leader of my FitBit challenges. Ha! With that said, if you have the wrong shoes, you will not be happy.

When we went after my senior year of high school, my little brother wore some Crocs. They were comfortable, but his feet got so burned through the holes. It was actually kind of funny. So you may even want to consider putting sunscreen on your feet if they aren’t closed toes.

My sister, Cindy, just told me about these Sanuk Sling Yoga Flip Flops. Her friend wore them in Disneyland, and she raved about them. Cindy just bought some from Disney, so I bought some too!

I really love the Sketchers Go Walk line. I get a new pair every year when they are on sale at Costco, and they are SO comfortable for Disneyland.

Portable charger

I just recommend having one of these for life in general, but they are great for when you aren’t going to be near an outlet for a  while.

While you should try and enjoy your trip without your phone as much as possible, I’m sure you’ll want to be to take pictures, use some of these must-have Disney apps, and be able to stay in contact with others in case you get separated.

A portable charger is great for charging on the go (though I think I heard they have charging stations somewhere…but why take time out of your trip to stop and charge it?!)

I have the MyCharge Portable charger (amongst others), and it’s the best one I’ve ever owned. I love that you can charge it directly through an outlet, and it has the charging cables attached.

I heard that Disneyland recently installed these portable phone charger stations. You pay $30, get a charger, and you can swap it out at the station for a new one when it dies. There are stations like this all over the country.

You get to keep your final charger!

Hearing Protection Earmuffs

One of my friends suggested getting these for firework shoes on the Fourth of July. Since no trip to Disney would be complete without their amazing fireworks show, I think these might be worth investing in. I definitely will be getting a pair for Oliver (tiny baby ears!) and probably for Jack as well, since he doesn’t love loud noises. They are only about $15, and you can use them in the future as well!

Autograph Book

I still have my autograph book from when I went to Disneyland as a child. It was one of my most prized possessions for the longest time. If you are going with your children, I recommend buying a Disney autograph book before you go (because of course, anything you buy in the park will be way overpriced.)

I remember LOVING going up to different characters and asking them to sign my book. Amazon has a ton of really cute ones for under $10.

Extra Clothes

This is more for your children. On our last trip to Disneyland, Oliver had some tummy troubles, which resulted in a necessity to change his outfit.

Guess what? The first time it happened, we had NOTHING extra. We ended up buying $30 swimming trunks (so EXPENSIVE) because we had nothing with us.

So if you have small children, BRING extra clothes!

T-shirts 

You can buy a lot of souvenirs before you even get to Disneyland or World if you want!

But I think something that you can definitely get beforehand is t-shirts. They are so expensive, and you can get similar and good quality ones for more reasonable prices.

Amazon has some, but I’m sure you could find them elsewhere, too.

I always make our shirts for Disneyland using my Cricut Maker, which makes it easy to customize!

Phone Number Bracelets

We lost Jack while we were in Disneyland, and it was terrifying. I had no identification on him, and I’m just grateful a kind worker there helped him.

You can buy bracelets to put your phone number on, which can be helpful if your child does get lost.

We have a Bluetooth watch that was called MyKidPod, but they’ve since stopped making them. I’ve been on the lookout for something similar – right now, I’m considering the Relay devices for when we go to places like Disneyland!

Unofficial Guide to Disneyland or Disney World 

This is just a series of books I found that have really great ratings. I think it would be fun to read on the plane ride or drive to Disney. Whenever we went on road trips when I was younger, my mom would often read out loud – sometimes from guidebooks. I think this would be fun for adults and kids alike!

Disneyland App

Okay this is something you would buy before you go, but you should definitely download it. Service isn’t great in Disneyland, and they don’t have free WiFi…and the Disneyland App is becoming a bit of a necessity.

You can digitally store your park tickets, get the Disneyland MaxPass, order food, check wait times, make restaurant reservations…So much! Download it before you go!

Disney Trading Pins

I never was one to collect Disney Trading Pins when we went, but I know a lot of people love doing this!

You can buy a bunch of them before you go, and then your kids (or you) can find a cast member with a lanyard with pins on it, and you can trade them for one you don’t have. I know a lot of people love this.

Make sure you get a lanyard to put yours on – you can get a Disney set of two for less than $10!

Mouse Ears

What trip to Disney is complete without Mouse ears?! I loved mine when I went as a child, and I loved the ones I went when I went as an 18-year-old. They are expensive though!

You can get Mouse Ear headbands on Etsy for a reasonable price (and if you look hard enough, you might even be able to find a Mouse Ear hat!)

Sun protection

The last time I went to Disney, I ended up getting some heat stroke. It was kind of scary and not fun to recover from.

Apparently, as a recently graduated high school student, I thought I was too cool for sun protection.

Don’t be like me. Or you’ll end up looking like this as you stand in line for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride:

This time around, Forrest is insisting we take certain precautions before we go. I’ll definitely have a hat (and the boys will too – Oliver will be wearing one of these sun protection hats!), sunglasses, and sunscreen!

Because it can get pretty toasty out in California, I think it’s a good idea to bring a water misting fan as well. Of course, they sell these there, but do yourself a favor and buy one BEFORE your trip, so you don’t spend unnecessary money on one in desperation.

Hidden Travel Wallet

As much as I’d like to believe everyone is at Disneyland with the best of intentions, it’s probably naive to do so.

There are people that might try and take advantage of you being distracted. Make sure you keep all your valuables out of the park.

However, since you obviously will need your money, credit cards, etc., I recommend getting a hidden travel wallet to make you less of a target for theft.

Waterproof Phone Pouch

Take it from someone whose iPhone was ruined on Grizzly River Run, despite it being in my backpack…you want something to protect your phone on water rides.

A simple Ziploc bag will do, but if you have happen to have a phone wet bag, it can be a good way to add some added protection. Trust me – it’s worth a couple of dollars to avoid a very pricey phone replacement.

Entertainment Book

Did you ever sell these as a kid in hopes of winning some super lame and cheap prize? Yeah, me too.

They actually are really good though, and if you want to save money on food and other activities in the Los Angeles area, I highly recommend picking one up before your trip. There are lots of BOGO coupons!

Get Away Today also has free printable coupons for tons of places in the Anaheim area. While you are booking your vacation there (and using Clarkscondensed to get $10 off your vacation package) you can print them off!

Glow Toys

I may be 26, but I still remember being a kid and ALWAYS begging my parents for glow sticks or other contraptions at Disneyland fireworks/parades and on the Fourth of July.

Buy these items beforehand.

The Dollar Tree always has tons, and you can buy a wide variety on Amazon as well. It will make the parades or fireworks even more fun, and you can probably avoid some meltdowns.

I also recommend getting Disneyland Souvenirs at the Dollar Tree before your trip!

Stroller hooks

If you are going to have a stroller, you might as well make it as useful as possible! Stroller hooks are great for carrying bags, backpacks, etc.

Snacks

Bring your own snacks!

Of course, set aside a little bit of money for classic Disney treats, but it’s good to have a nice supply of granola bars, fruit snacks, etc. to tie everyone over!

I’m a huge fan of these for babies. They have resealable lids, which is nice – if you have an insulated lunch box, you can keep them nice and cool throughout the day!

Small cooler

You can bring a small cooler (no larger than one that can carry a six pack of soda) into the park. This is great for snacks, keeping water cool, baby food, etc. If you have a larger one, you can store it in a locker on the premises.

Water bottles

You can bring disposable water bottles, but I think it’s a good idea to bring something a little more durable.

While you can get a free cup of ice water at various locations throughout the park, having your own is a good idea.

I’m a big fan of Simple Modern water bottles. They keep your water cold FOREVER, and it’s a lot cheaper than a HydroFlask. I have the largest size and LOVE it.

Rain poncho

This is great for keeping dry during water rides (unless it’s a hot day – then sometimes it’s nice to get a little wet) or if there is a sudden storm!

I updated this post after going to Disneyland three more times, so I think I have a pretty good idea of what I’m talking about!

[birdsend form=2261]

originally posted in 2016; Updated in 2019. 

More Posts about Disneyland:

The Best Dollar Tree Disney Souvenirs to Buy BEFORE your Trip
The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney Vacation
The Ultimate Guide to Disney on a Budget

The post 20+ Things to Buy BEFORE You Go to Disney appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

Flying with a toddler can be a stressful experience – trust me, I’ve been there. However, there are many things you can do to make the experience must less painful. Here are our top tips for flying with a toddler that will hopefully prevent some stress.

Tips for Flying with a Toddler

So, I admit, when I wrote this post about flying with a baby, I thought that people with toddlers could benefit from it as well. And while I still think some of the advice in there is applicable for both babies and toddlers, after being on four flights with Jack over the past month, I have a new opinion:

Flying with a baby? Easy. Flying with a toddler? I think I’d rather get my teeth pulled!

Don’t get me wrong – Jack didn’t cry the whole time or anything. No, on the contrary, he was very happy. He loved interacting with the people around us, and in fact, insisted on them playing with and holding him. So, as long as we let him walk around as much as he wanted, eat as much as he wanted, kick the seats as much he wanted,  and open and close the window as much as he wanted, things were great.

Well, obviously, he couldn’t do these things the whole time! Even though he wanted to, I wasn’t about to let him eat two whole containers of puffs over the course of two hours. He couldn’t just walk up and down the aisles, especially when we were landing, like he wanted. And kicking the seats? Yeah. I tried to prevent that as much as possible (I still feel bad for the girl in front of us on one of our flights who Jack woke up by bopping on the head.) It also didn’t help matters that I have a total flying-phobia, and I was pretty much terrified the entire time we were flying.

Some of these tips are similar to the ones for babies, but I’ve tried to make this more geared toward toddlers. If you have any tips, I’d love to hear them as well!

This post has been updated as of June 2018. I have now had many successful flights with toddlers, and we’ve survived and learned each time!

Flying with Toddler

Get Their Own Seat

I truly wish we could have been able to afford to get Jack his own seat. On one of our flights, we were lucky enough to have an empty seat in our row, so Forrest sat in the aisle seat, and I sat by the window. Jack loved being able to sit in his own seat, and we had so much more room. Obviously, if your child is over two, you don’t even have the option of not buying your child their own seat. I know a lot of airlines give discounts for minors, so I would look into that as well.

If your child does have their own seat, bring their car seat! I feel like we would have had a lot less trouble getting Jack to sit still if we had his car seat with us.

If you don’t want to bring your car seat with you, I highly recommend the CARES Kids Fly Safe Safety Harness. It is FAA approved, and we’ve loved using it. It slips right over the seat and turns the seat belt into a five point harness.

Snacks

This goes without saying — bring snacks and, if your flight is long enough, a real meal. The only reason I think I made it off the plane with all my sanity was because of the limitless supply of snacks we had. While I don’t normally believe in letting Jack eat whatever he wants, whenever he wants (though he does try to get me to!), desperate times call for desperate measures!  He was obsessed with eating anything he could find in my bag, and I was just too tired to say otherwise! If you are worried about your child eating too much, just make sure to bring healthy snacks.

Make sure you put all snacks into clear, plastic bags. While not all airports are particular about this, the one we fly from most (Denver International) will individually check each and every food item that is not in a see-through container for explosives. We learned this the hard way as they scanned 10 fruit snack bags and 15 granola bars.

Bring a Stroller

If your toddler is small enough to be in a carrier still, this might still be a good option. However, I found that it was a lot easier this time around to put Jack in his stroller. He’s a little bit bigger than the last time we flew, which made me more tired as we walked through the airport. I was able to still put things in the basket of the stroller, and we were quickly able to maneuver through the airport. I definitely still recommend gate checking your stroller. That way, if you have a layover and your child needs to sleep, they can sleep in there, rather than you having to find a quiet place for them to lay down.

Plus, if you have little hooks for bags on your stroller like we do, you can totally use them to help carry luggage. I’m not kidding, this was a life saver, because we had more bags than it really made sense for us to be able to carry.

I sat next to someone on a flight a few times ago who told me she always used something that pretty much turned a car seat into a stroller. I thought it was pretty cool. I think it was something like this. But even better (and less expensive) are these straps that you can attach to your carry on, and it will carry your car seat and the baby!

Pack a Survival Bag

Aka, load up your diaper bag! I think we technically had like five personal items, but I was cleverly able to disguise them all into one, thanks to my diaper bag. We put Jack’s little backpack in it, that was stuffed full of his snacks, water, diaper, and wipes, my laptop, our iPad, wallets, food, and everything that you could possibly thing of.

I have a really great diaper backpack now that has tons of spaces and storage. I love using it for flying, and it was from Ethan and Emma. However, I really like my Peke*Buo bag which is nice for quick diaper changes.

Where to sit

If you are flying with an airline where you can pick your seats ahead of time, definitely be picky about where you sit. And, if you don’t initially get the seats you want, check back regularly. I personally like sitting next to the window, because it entertained Jack every now and then. Also, sitting by the aisle may make it more tempting for your little one to escape, and make it easier. Try and find a row that has at least one empty seat, especially if you aren’t buying a seat for your child. This will give you more room to spread out, and your child (and you!) won’t feel as crowded.

Personally, I liked being closer to the bathrooms, because when Jack needed to have his diaper changed, we were able to get there quicker. However, this also made it a bit noisier. So it’s really up to you! Some airlines offer extra leg space for a minimal fee, so this might be something to look into as well. Just think of your options and priorities when selecting a seat.

Also, remember that if someone is under 16 years of age, they cannot sit by the exit. So, don’t sign up for a seat next to exit if your toddler will be with you!

You should also keep in mind that if your child is using their car seat, there are more limitations on where that can be as well.

Gate Check Bags if Offered

If your flight is full, the gate attendants will more than likely ask for volunteers to have their carry-on checked at the gate, to be picked up at bag claim at your final destination. This happened both to North Carolina, and then back to Denver, and we volunteered right away. It made it SO much easier to board, carry our personal items, and, of course, carry Jack. Our carry-ons usually just have clothing and shoes, so it is never a big deal for us to do this, and it truly made me a lot less stressed out, knowing I had fewer bags to worry about.

Plan Flight Around Naps

When we flew with Jack when he was under a year old, I thought it was great to fly during his nap time, or at night. He went to sleep SO easily! However, we quickly found out that he would not sleep on the airplane on any of our flights — even the flight that got in close to midnight. Luckily, a few of our flights landed right when it was time for Jack’s nap, and he fell asleep in his stroller almost as soon as we put him in. So if you can schedule your flight right after your child wakes up, and to land shortly before a nap or bedtime, I think that is the best.

Layovers

This kind of goes along with the nap thing. While I really don’t like layovers, they turned out to be our saving grace. I don’t know how Jack would have done if we had to have gone from one flight to another. On both legs of our trip, we had a four-to-five hour layover in Minnesota, and it was definitely needed. Not only did Jack fall asleep, but when he woke up, he could run around and get his energy out. We were able to get something to eat, and just not feel all cramped like we were in the airplane!

Entertainment

Bring a laptop, iPad, or any type of electronic device that can be loaded with movies or videos. We purchased the Internet on our flights, but unfortunately, we weren’t able to stream Netflix. However, I did randomly have two Sesame Street videos that were 15 minutes each that I pulled out in my most dire of moments, and they actually did a great job of entertaining Jack for awhile. I only wish I had thought to download more!

If you don’t have some kind of electronic device, bring books, coloring books and crayons, or any other small toys that you think will keep your child occupied. I wouldn’t recommend bringing something that can be easily thrown (or maybe it’s just Jack that enjoys flinging items every which way) or rolled, or anything too messy (play dough is probably out.) You know your child best though — anything that keeps them occupied at home will likely work on the plane.

Take Advantage of Family Perks

Not all airlines still offer family boarding, but I know that at least Delta and Southwest do. With Delta, they allowed anyone with children to get on first, and even though we had pre-assigned seats, this was so helpful. One time, we missed it, because Forrest was off buying some food, and it was kind of miserable getting on the plane. I was pretty much hitting everyone with Jack’s feet and the diaper bag as I moved through the aisles. When we were able to get on first, I didn’t have to deal with that!

Just keep your ears open before boarding, because the gate attendants should indicate whether or not something like this exists.

Technology is Your Friend

We do our best to be vigilant about screen time – but when we are on vacation, it’s all about survival. So yes, we definitely use the tablet on long flights, and it helps immensely. You can now download certain movies and TV shows from Netflix, and there are lots of ways to bring along your favorite shows.

Kindle Fire Tablets for kids are great options. Very kid-friendly, and they have amazing warranties!

Be Patient

This is something I kept having to tell myself on our flight. There was one point where I was about to just break down! There was turbulence, and Jack just wanted to keep getting down. He would scream whenever I held on to him, and at that point, we’d been up since 5 AM, hadn’t eaten anything, and I was feeling sick. Needless to say, I was at my nerve’s end. At this time, I just had to tell myself the flight would be over soon, Jack didn’t understand he couldn’t really walk around, and that I needed to be patient. It did help a little bit to give myself those little pep talks (well, along with me convincing myself we weren’t crashing.)

These next two tips are from my friend, Brenna, from Life After Laundry:

Bring a Security Item

Bring your child’s security item, like if they have a blanket or stuffed animal that they sleep with. Eli {{Brenna’s son}} has this little lion that he sleeps with every night. He is super attached to it, and we only give it to him at bed so he doesn’t carry it around and lose it. For something big like a an airplane flight, I would be sure to take it with us, as it would make a world of difference having it with us. Not only would he feel better, but because it is a night time thing it may trick him into being sleepy. That is a huge maybe, but regardless I would have to have it with us.

Comfy Clothes

This is big, especially if they are potty training. I would make sure to put him in comfortable pants that were easy to get up and down, so that we aren’t fighting with clothes when we are already in a hurry on the plane or between flights.

And, before we left on our trip to North Carolina, I turned to Facebook. Here are some of the responses from some of Clarks Condensed’s readers (with my commentary in italics):

Kristalyn: Stickers have been keeping Kynzie occupied for long periods of time lately! I absolutely LOVE this idea for a sticker book from Mother’s Niche!

Brittany: Someone once offered me earplugs when I was sitting in front of them and I thought that was really considerate. Not that you have to or anything, but her kids could scream! So it was definitely useful!

Cassie: Give him Benadryl…and don’t feel bad! While I don’t typically agree with giving someone medicine to calm them down, I felt that trying Benadryl might be okay to use a small amount of, especially because I’ve heard it helps with ears popping. See this next comment for how I feel about that now..

Mary: Sometimes Benadryl can have the opposite affect and instead of making a kid tired they will have a ton of energy. If you have a lot of different things to keep him  entertained and snacks he should be okay. Every time I travel I make a survival kit with crayons, coloring books, stickers, and snacks. It got us through a 12-hour car ride with no crying.

Emily: Bring a new toy/book/crayons/etc. That will excited him.

The post Flying with a Toddler: The Ultimate Guide to (Almost) Stress-Free Flying appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

One of the perks of being self-employed is that our schedule is pretty flexible.

Sure, we often have deadlines to meet, and my evenings are typically filled with working, but overall, it leads to a pretty flexible lifestyle.

However, leaving town can get a bit stressful – making sure you have everything squared away can feel like a job in and of itself!

Since I’m sure a lot of our readers leave town every now and then, I thought I’d share a list of all the things you should do before you leave on vacation (some of which I learned the hard way!).

Let me know if I missed anything!

Put your mail (and newspaper) on hold

Once upon a time, we left town for about a month. We were living in Utah at the time, and I thought I had put our mail on hold.

Well, I didn’t. And we came home to a notice in our mailbox saying that the house was vacant and all mail had been sent back to the sender.

I just about cried, as we had several checks that had come during the time, as well as Christmas cards. I was so devastated, and I felt so silly for not holding my mail!

You can always have someone come pick up your mail, but if you will be gone for longer than a few days, I do recommend putting a hold on your mail through USPS, as well as pausing your newspaper (if you get one). Nothing screams, “I’m not home!” more than a pile of newspapers on your front porch.

Still, I would recommend having someone keep an eye out for packages from places like USPS or FedEx! You can have a security camera monitor this as well, so you can send someone over if something arrives.

Make a Checklist

I always forget something unless I make a checklist. No matter how on top of things I am, I will always leave something important behind if I don’t make a list.

My mom would always put a list on the door before we left, and we wouldn’t leave until every item was checked off. I’ve started doing the same!

Consider Home Security

When we bought our home, we were bombarded with offers for home security. And to be honest, it was pretty tempting.

While we live in a pretty safe neighborhood, I’d be lying if I said I was 100% confident when we left town that our house was totally safe. However, I’ve always been wary about signing up for an expensive home security plan.

Fortunately, we live in a time where there are many affordable home security options (and no, I’m not talking about building a moat around your house ;-).

Put Lights on Timers

I think it’s important to give the illusion that someone is home, even when you are gone. While I don’t recommend keeping your light on at all hours, I think it’s a good idea to have your lights on some of the time.

There are different smart switches you can buy or smart lightbulbs that make putting your lights on a schedule even easier. We use the GE Smart plug, which is great and compatible with the LG Smart Security app.

Find Someone to Check In

Whether you are having someone get your mail, water your plants, or just keep an eye on things, I think it’s good just to let someone know you are going out of town.

For instance, whenever our neighbor leaves, he lets us know, just so we can be aware of any funny business that might go on. I think it’s just helpful to have someone paying a little extra attention.

Put a car in the driveway

This obviously won’t always be a possibility (for instance, if you just have one car), but if you can, move a car into your driveway. My parents always did this when we would leave town when I was growing up. Again, just back to the idea of giving the illusion that you are home.

Call your bank and check your bank account

It’s always good to call your bank when you are leaving town. We’ve had a few instances where we’ve been out of town, and they put a hold on our account for a bit for “suspicious” activity. Super grateful that they are so vigilant, but it can be inconvenient having to verify your purchases with them!

My bank has a place in their mobile app where you can conveniently tell them you are traveling!

You should also make sure you have enough money in your bank account, and also withdraw some cash. Traveling without cash is not a good idea!

Paper Copies of Itinerary

There has been a time or two where our phones have died before we had a chance to look up where we were staying. While we usually have a charger, it doesn’t always happen. It’s good to not always just rely on technology.

Have Copies of Important Documents

Birth certificates (if you are flying with a lap child), passports, etc.

Cut the grass

Turn down the thermostat

There is no reason to pay for heating or air conditioning while you are gone. We have forgotten a time or two, and it’s never fun to pay a huge heating bill during the winter when you were gone for three weeks!

Of course, make sure that you don’t turn it down too low. No one wants to deal with frozen pipes! But turning it down a bit is a great idea. There are smart thermostats nowadays that you can use to control the temperature from your smartphone while you are away, so that’s another thing to consider.

Unplug Appliances, etc.

Unplug anything that doesn’t need to be plugged in! It decreases the risk of fires happening while you are away, and it helps you conserve energy.

Check the dishwasher and washing machine

You do not want to come home to a smelly house or mildewy clothes. Make sure everything is out and put away.

Pay your bills

Do you want to worry about paying bills while you are on vacation? Of course not! If your bills aren’t on autopay, just pay them before you go.

Clean Out Fridge

Same thing as the dishwasher and washing machine thing – if there is any food that will spoil or rot while you are away, throw it out.

Take out the Trash

Tidy Up and Make Bed

Coming home to a messy house is never fun. You don’t have to deep clean everything before you leave, but I think it’s a good idea to at least make things feel comfortable. I don’t think anyone wants to come home – probably exhausted from traveling – to a huge mess.

And really, there’s nothing better than the first night back in your own bed!

Charge Electronics

Turn email to auto response

If you don’t get a lot of emails, this isn’t a big deal. But if you do (especially if you work), it’s just common courtesy to put up an away message!

The post Vacation Checklist: 19 Things to do Before Leaving on Vacation appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

When we were planning our trip to Disneyland, I debated whether or not we should purchase tickets for character dining at Disneyland.

After talking with my mom and sister, and reading different reviews online, we all decided it would be worth the splurge.

It was hard to decide which one to sign up for – they all sounded so fun and delicious. I wish we could have done all of them!

I’m by no means an expert, but I thought I’d share this Disneyland character meal guide to show you your options and how to decide what’s best for your family. It was definitely one of the best splurges we did on this trip.

UPDATED 2/2020: We have gone to three character dining experiences over the past three years, so I think I’ve gained a little more insight into how this works 🙂 

As you are planning your Disneyland vacation, I highly recommend using Get Away Today. We have used them since 2008 for multiple Disneyland trips, and they always make the process so easy.

You can even do a Lay-Away plan so you don’t have to pay for the whole trip right away. Make sure to use the code ClarksCondensed at checkout for an additional $10 off Southern California vacation packages.

Is Character Dining Worth it?

This is the million dollar question – is it worth the splurge? This is something I asked myself over and over while we tried to decide if we wanted to do it.

Obviously, in the end, we did, and I’m so glad we did. It was honestly one of the highlights of the trip for all of us, and it was totally worth it to watch Jack interact one on one with the characters.

We have loved it so much, that we have chosen to do it three times now, and I think we will continue to do it every year.

I think that it’s really great for young children who really want to see the characters, but they may not be able to stand in line for a long time at the park waiting to see their favorite characters (or if you are impatient like me, you don’t want to stand in line).

I asked a few friends on Facebook, and here are a few different opinions:

You just have to expect that you are paying for the experience more than the food. I remember my son eating fruit loops and ice cream and that’s all he would eat. lol! Pretty expensive for that but the atmosphere is fun. – Kara

It’s been years since we’ve been but I always thought they were worth it. Mostly because you have the time to meet up with the characters and then when you are in the park you can focus on the attractions vs hunting down the characters. We did Goofy’s Kitchen a few times and Ariel’s Grotto. Again, though, this was years (at least 5 years) ago. – Rachel

I don’t love them. I did a princess one for P. I thought we got a similar amount of time when we did the princess visit thing (who’s name I am blanking on). We did it with her BFF, so it was superfun and we will always remember it. But it is INSANELY OVER PRICED. I think itw as close to 70 for just the two of us. – Hilary
It is expensive, but I feel it was worth the money so that the rest of the day we were focused on doing things together as a family and going on the rides and not waiting in line for a meet and greet. – Tia

I think the general consensus that I’ve found is that it’s great for younger children. We didn’t do a lot of other splurges during the trip, so it was worth it to us!

Best Prices for Disneyland Character Dining

When we first started to plan our character dining, I wanted to make sure we got the best price. We ended up booking through Get Away Today (which is also where we bought our Disneyland tickets).

Unfortunately, travel agents had to stop selling character dining packages in 2019, which is a bummer. However, don’t forget to use the code Clarkscondensed if you book through Get Away Today – you can put that the extra $10 you save from booking a package toward character dining!

If you are an annual pass holder, you can get a discount on Character dining – I believe it’s between 10-15% off.

The cost of your character dining experience will fluctuate depending on the time of day and even the time of year. Some experiences (such as the Princess Breakfast) are quite a bit more expensive than others.

Disneyland Character: Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner?

Character dining is available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They are typically all-you-can-eat.

Originally, I thought that if you are going to pay the extra for “Premium Character Dining”, you should do dinner. However, after doing Goofy’s Kitchen for dinner, and then two breakfasts at other locations, I have to say, I think breakfast is the best.

I felt like the food was pretty cafeteria-like. There were lots of options, but nothing really stood out to me as amazing. However, at breakfast, I LOVED so many of the items. Lots of super delicious options and a lot of them are pretty unique.

I also feel like it’s a nice way to start the day. When we did the dinner, I felt so stressed trying to get to it on time. Having it be the first thing we did in the morning was perfect.

**PRO TIP – Book your reservation for the earliest breakfast time possible. You will often get more attention from the characters, and it is less busy**

Disney Character Dining Reservations

You need to make reservations through the Disneyland website. They are available up to 60 days before the date you are going, and if you are going during a  peak time, make sure you book early.

There is a credit card required to book, but you aren’t charged until the time of service or if you don’t show up.

Make sure you include EVERYONE in your party in the reservation – including children under three. You won’t be charged for them, but you do need to make sure they are listed as a participant.

Best Character Dining at Disneyland

Here are the different character dining experiences you can have. Keep in mind that the characters that attend can vary. Most of these are in hotels, and you do not have to be staying at the hotel to eat there.

Pricing may also vary, so keep that in mind. All of the prices I list below do not include taxes or tips.

Mickey’s Tales of Adventures Breakfast Buffet

• Pricing: Price varies – breakfast is typically $45 for adults, $26 for children and brunch is $47 for adults, $26 for children.
• Serves: Breakfast every day; brunch on select days
• Hours: 8 AM to 12 PM
• Where: Grand Californian Hotel

This is a newer addition to the Character Dining options at Disneyland. We went to this one on our most recent trip, and we absolutely LOVED it.

This is located at the Storyteller’s Cafe inside Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. It was similar to the Surf’s Up! Breakfast we attended a few years ago, but it definitely had more of an “adventure” type theme to it.

We got an early reservation, and we were seated about 15 minutes after our reservation time. We were immediately given drinks, then set loose to the buffet.

All of the food was very good. There was a large variety, and I thought they had some fun and unique options. I really loved some of the fancy drinks they offered.

All of the characters were dressed up in adventure gear, which our boys loved. Oliver was a little nervous around them, but he did much better than he did the year before when he wouldn’t even go near them.

You can read our full review here – Mickey’s Tales of Adventures Breakfast Buffet Review

This is the only one that doesn’t have a PhotoPass/MaxPass photographer there, so make sure you bring your own phone or camera.

Donald Duck’s Seaside Breakfast

• Pricing: $39 for adults, $23 for children
• Serves: Breakfast every day and Brunch on select days
• Hours: 8 AM to 2:30 PM (may vary from day to day)
• Where: Grand Californian Hotel

When we attended this one, it was Surf’s Up! Breakfast with Mickey and Friend’s, so that is why my pictures show that. However, from what I understand, this breakfast is just the same – except for a different leading character.

This is the one we attended. It is at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, and it serves a buffet of delicious foods for breakfast. I was very impressed with the variety of food. They had amazing banana foster’s french toast, chilaquiles (which I couldn’t get enough of), an omelet bar, fresh fruit, and much, much more.

I loved that this breakfast had many of the classic Disney characters – we saw Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Daisy Duck, as well as Stitch – who was hilarious. Our kids got a lot of attention from them, as we were some of the first people there.

It’s a really casual environment, and we had a lot of fun. Mickey Mouse is always guaranteed to be there. They have a fun dance party every hour, which our kids really got into!

Goofy’s Kitchen – Disneyland Hotel

• Pricing: Breakfast is $45 for adults and $27 for children; Dinner is $49 for adults and $29 for children
• Serves: Breakfast and Dinner
• Hours: 7 AM to 12:30 PM; 5:00 to 9:00 PM M-F, and 4-9 PM on Saturday and Sunday
• Where: Disneyland Hotel

When I initially asked people for character dining recommendations, people often recommended this one. I’ve heard it’s quite the experience for everyone, though I’ve heard mixed reviews on the food.

We went to Disneyland again in October of 2017, and we decided to try out Goofy’s Kitchen. We did it for dinner time – the line was rather long, even though we had a reservation. There was also a really long line to see Goofy, which we ended up not doing.

Overall, I was not super impressed with the food. There was a large variety, but I just didn’t think it tasted that good. Our boys really liked it, though – especially the dessert table. There were a lot of kid-friendly options, as well as things that were more appealing to adults (like carving stations).

We didn’t get as much personal attention from the characters either, but my boys seemed to be fine with the interaction we got. Overall though, I definitely didn’t love it as much as the breakfasts we have had – I think if I were to come here again, it would be for breakfast.

Here are a few reviews from friends:

We went to Goofy’s Kitchen. It was a fun experience for the kids, mediocre food- although a decent variety and was super pricey. We had a discount thankfully, but would have felt it wasn’t worth it if we paid full price. We won’t do it again. – Sara

We’ve loved Goofy’s Kitchen in the past. Pretty expensive for that but the atmosphere is fun. I recommend going for breakfast since the prices are much less than dinner. – Kara

We had a great experience at Goofy’s Kitchen. We saw Goofy of course, Minnie, Chip and Dale and Pluto. Food was awesome. Many visits to our table by the characters and posed for pics for as long as we wanted. Our two year old grandson loves it. We went for breakfast before Disneyland opened and timing was perfect. Highly recommend and we will be doing this again in the very near future. You do need to make reservations months in advance. – Sandy

Most recently we did Goofy’s Kitchen and we were disappointed on the lack of characters and the amount of time they spent in the room. Reservations are key. – Lori

Click here to read more 

Minnie and Friends – Breakfast in the Park

At a Glance:

• Pricing: $44 for adults, $26 for children
• Serves: Breakfast
• Hours: 8 AM to 10 AM
• Where: Plaza Inn in Disneyland at the top of Main Street USA

This one takes place in Plaza Inn on Main Street U.S.A. inside the park. Although the characters vary, from what I’ve heard, it has some of the older characters frequently, such as Captain Hook and the Fairy Godmother.

Of course, Minnie is the host! And from what I’ve heard, it’s a mismatch of random characters, but there are always a lot. I think this one actually has the most characters present.

They serve buffet breakfast with a large variety of food. I think it sounds like it would be a lot of fun. I think next time we go, we might do this one.

We’ve done the character breakfast at Plaza Inn several times and love it! Reviews of the food are always poor, but we’ve never had an issue. We always leave full and get to take photos with the characters while eating. For us, it’s worth the price! – Camille

We’ve been to the character breakfast held at the Plaza Inn – located adjacent to the castle. We’ve had great experiences every time we have done these. Reservations are needed most of the time. There is a nice variety of breakfast food and drinks are unlimited while dining. Characters are continually coming and going so this is a great opportunity for autographs and photos! – Jodi

We also did the one at Plaza Inn and it was fun too! Lots and lots of characters coming and going so the opportunity for pictures and autographs is great! We made a reservation for both but probably didn’t need one for Plaza Inn. But we went durning a down time on a Tuesday morning for breakfast. – Amanda

We have been to Breakfast with Minnie at The Plaza Inn. It was really fun with many characters to see and take photos with. Our breakfast included a family picture with Minnie. We had to have a reservation.The food was very good and we had unlimited drinks. I would definitely do it again. Our kids loved it! – Jolynn

You can read more reviews here.

Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures

At a Glance:

• Pricing: $125 per person (3 and up); not including taxes and gratuity
• Serves: Breakfast, Brunch, and Lunch
• Hours: 8 AM to 12 PM
• Where: Napa Rose in California Adventure

This dining experience has taken on various forms over the years. However, it is definitely a must-attend for anyone who a Disney princess fan.

This is located in Disney’s California Adventure at the Napa Rose. I’ve heard that the food at this one is excellent. It is open from 8 AM to 12 PM.

The Princess Breakfast Adventure is quite expensive! It costs $125 per person aged 3 and up, and that does not include taxes and gratuity.

It is a two-hour experience with games, lots of interaction with princesses, and some of the best food you can find in the park (from what I’ve heard).

While you can see the princesses for free at the Disney Princess Fantasy Fare, this is a good opportunity to be able to see and interact with them without standing in line forever.

It is extremely popular, and reservations open up about 60 days before

The breakfast and lunch are served family-style, though there is a kid’s menu for lunch. Here are a few reviews from my friends about the older princess breakfast:

This year I decided that we spent a lot of time waiting in lines and so I took her to the princess breakfast at Ariel’s grotto in California adventure I liked that we could go before the park even opened and so it did not eat into the day at all. I really liked that this one was inside the park so we could just meet my husband and son at the gates when we were done eating. It was a really special thing for her and I to do and she was over the top excited. My daughter loved having the princesses come to our table. I really enjoyed the food and felt like there was an abundance of it. They first brought a plate of sliced fruits and 4-5 pasteries. Then we got to order something from the menu. They even offered to box up our pastries and fruit to take with us into the park for the day which we did because it was just too much to eat for the two of us. I would do a different one next time just to experience the others they offer. – Tia

We went to the Disney Princess breakfast. It was so awesome! Our girls were 4 and 2 and it was so magical for them. All of the princesses were there. I remember Belle scooping up Alexis in her lap and talking to her. It was definitely worth the extra money because it was so hard to see the princesses anywhere else without standing in a huge line. It was definitely the highlight of that Disneyland visit. – Diana

We did Breakfast with Minnie and Friends at the Plaza Inn with both the twins and Maizy when we took them before their third birthdays. It was perfect for that age group. Good way to start the day.It was good because our girls weren’t big talkers at the age, so there was no pressure. Hugs, high fives, see ya later. – Brianne

We did Ariels Grotto and my daughter (3) loved it! All the princesses came around and spent time with each table and took a picture. It was great! – Amanda

Tips for Disneyland Character Dining Success:

Make a Reservation

A reservation isn’t required, but it is recommended. The restaurants fill up quick, and I can’t imagine anyone would want to get there and be turned! away (especially a child). You don’t have to pay anything when you make a reservation, and you can make them on the website or by calling (714) 781-DINE. You can make them up to 60 days in advance.

We originally were going to try and go to the Minnie Mouse breakfast, but two weeks out, they were booked solid for when we were going to go. So make those reservations ASAP!

Earlier the Better

My mom made our reservations, and I wanted to groan when she told us they were for 7:45 AM. However, it turned out to work out really well. When we arrived, there was only one or two other families there, and all the characters came over to us right away.

We were able to get lots of one and one with the characters and got first dibs on everything in the buffet!

We stayed for about an hour and a half, and it started getting very congested around 8:30 AM.

Come Ready to Smile!

This is one of the best opportunities to get take pictures with your favorite characters. We didn’t have to wait in any lines, and we got some great pictures. I loved that we could really interact with the characters. When you are out in the parks, there are usually tons of people waiting, so you don’t get to see the characters for as long.

They have a professional photographer that can take a photo. We did this, and while they try and sell you on buying it in an expensive package, we were able to download it with our photo pass later on.

Bring an Autograph Book

This is a great opportunity to get your child’s autograph book filled up. As with getting pictures, it was nice not to have to wait outside in the hot sign to get our son’s favorite character’s signatures.

They do offer autograph books on site, but, as to be expected, they are PRICEY. You can even buy an official Disneyland autograph book from Amazon.

Pictures

When we first arrived for our breakfast, we were given the opportunity to have a group picture taken at the front with Mickey. We had someone take them on our phones, but the professional photographer did as well.

Of course, they tried to sell us a super expensive package of pictures, which we declined. However, we were able to add it to our Disney account later, and I was able to download the photo for free. So I think that’s a pretty good option!

If you have a MaxPass, all the photos they take will be included with that, so that’s awesome! Even if you don’t want to get a MaxPass for everyone in your family, you could just get it for one person and get all the pictures.

The only dining experience that does not have a professional photographer is Mickey’s Tales of Adventures Breakfast. You can bring your camera and take pictures at all of the events yourself!

Let me know if you have any questions. I would LOVE to hear what your experience has been with character dining at Disneyland.

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The post The Ultimate Guide to Disneyland Character Dining appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

Cruise Budget

Cruises are a pretty affordable way to travel – but there are always ways to save even more!

One thing to keep in mind is that while your cruise will be all inclusive…they take every opportunity to squeeze more money out of you throughout the entire cruise. 

While some things are worth indulging in, I would make sure you have a strict budget in mind before you get on the cruise – especially if you are the type that’s not good under pressure. 

When looking at activities, remember that many of these will end with some kind of sales pitch. Forrest went to some art history events, which he actually really enjoyed. They even had giveaways! However, most of those giveaways were for $200 “free” at an art auction…and let’s just say it wasn’t valid for any of the $200 artwork 🙂 

With that said, there are a lot of free and fun activities. Just always pay close attention to who the sponsor is and what the description of it is. On our cruise, they had a lot of fun things like nightly shows, comedy acts, mini golf, giant game boards, trivia, and more. These didn’t cost us anything extra, and they were a lot of fun. Make sure you take a look at your ship’s schedule every day!

One other tip – go to the ship informational meetings that are usually hosted by the ship toward the beginning. We went to one – which was hosted by the cruise director – and he gave out tons of 100% free items. My boys both got a free Build-a-Bear voucher, which was seriously awesome. 

What is Included with a Cruise?

This will vary depending on cruise line, but in general, the following is included with your cruise fare:

• Meals at various places on the ship (breakfast, lunch, and dinner – you can really eat unlimited amounts of food at these places, so long as they are open). You are welcome to bring food back to your room.
• Water and lemonade from dispensers
• Room
• Daily housekeeping
• Tons of free activities and entertainment
• Fitness center
• Pool
• Childcare (age limits apply)

Definitely search for your specific cruise line to see what they include. 

What is NOT Included With a Cruise

Here are a few added expenses that they will try and sell you on your cruise: 

• Spa Treatments – We went to a tour at the spa tour at the beginning of the cruise so we could try and win something free…which was dumb. Forrest and I decided to “splurge” on a couples massage, which was also a huge waste of money. Seriously, I don’t think the spa treatments are worth it because they are so expensive. They also really try and sell you on super expensive products afterward, and I could tell the person who did our massage was NOT happy when we declined. 
• BINGO – I’m sure some people spend hundreds of dollars on BINGO. I wanted to play, but we decided that we would only play one round because it is pricey. Keep in mind that you probably won’t win, haha. It wasn’t a great use of money, but it was a fun experience. Next time I think I’ll just buy one card. If you want to play, look at your schedule to see when they have special promotions going on, because sometimes it is less expensive. 
  

  

• Gambling
• Art Exhibits and Sales – The exhibits don’t cost anything, but they all lead up to getting you to come to an art auction, which, in my opinion, is a total waste of time and money
• Jewelry – There were all sorts of jewelry sales going on. Once I did get a free necklace, which was fun. But they really push the on ship jewelry shop. One of the events was supposed to be about how to navigate one of the port cities, and all it ended up being was someone trying to get us all to upgrade our diamonds at a shop in Naussau. 
• Excursions – Obviously, these are going to cost money. They are always talking about them on the cruise. We did buy one from Carnival (excursions are a whole other post I will write about sometime). While it can be the best idea to get an excursion from the cruise line, ShoreTrips is an awesome way to get them for probably less. My main concern with booking a non-cruise line excursion was that if you do one of those and you are late getting back, the cruise ship won’t wait. However, with ShoreTrips, if you are left behind (for a reason that’s not your fault), they will make sure they get you to your destination at no cost to you. 
• Specialty Dining – You can go through your entire trip without paying for extra food, however, pretty much every cruise ship has some kind of specialty dining. We didn’t check out any of the special restaurants, because we were plenty satisfied with the Carnival Cruise Food, though we did pay $5 a person for a Dr. Seuss Breakfast (more on that in a minute)
• Alcohol and Soda – These are all extras on the cruise. There are drink packages you can get if you don’t think you’ll be able to live without these. Our cruise gave us all the water and lemonade our heart’s desired 🙂 
• Laundry 
• WiFi – WiFi is definitely not free. If you aren’t able to totally disconnect for the week, there are usually WiFi packages available. 
• Childcare (for under a certain age) – A lot of the childcare is free, but if you have an infant, you’ll definitely be paying extra. We went on Carnival Cruise because two and over are free. However, most of the cruise lines I looked at were three and over. 
• Tips – These are not included with your initial fare, and they are automatically added to your final cruise bill – they are usually $13-15 per person, per day. You can go to the concierge desk to have them adjust them or remove them if you plan to tip people with cash. We found it simplest just to leave the tips on. Keep in mind that you will typically have to still pay tips on certain alcoholic beverages as well as salon/spam services. 
• Photos – I think this is the BIGGEST rip-off on a cruises. They take pictures of you at meals, at ports, etc., and then they display them for you to see…and they charge a ton. Maybe other cruise lines do this, but Carnival didn’t offer any kind of photo package with the digital prints. Maybe they should take a leaf out of Disneyland’s book. 
• Souvenirs 
• Exercise Class – I talked about how much I enjoyed the exercise facilities in my post about how to not gain weight on cruises, and these are free. However, our cruise line offered a lot of exercise classes – most of which you had to pay for. I was kind of bummed when I realized you had to pay for Yoga!
• Other Onboard Activities – tours, newer things like Laser Tag – The ship we went on was pretty barebones when it came to specialty activities. We had a pool with a slide, and that was about it. However, I know that a lot of newer ships offer really fun and exciting experiences on board. Some of these may be free, but a lot of them do require you to pay. 

How Much Does an Average Cruise Cost? 

This will vary largely depending on the cruise line, how many days you are on cruise, time of year, extra splurges, etc. 

According to Cruise Market Watch, the average cost per person (in 2018), the average cost per person, per day is $212.80 per day (broken down to $161.26 for the ticket per day, and $62.16 or on board spending). That link has some interesting information, so I would take a look at that. 

The best thing you can learn before going on a cruise? How to say no!

You will be presented with many opportunities to buy upgrades – but you need to decide in the beginning what you will say yes to – and forget the rest. If you go into your cruise without a plan, you may end up spending a lot more than you wanted to!

Extras that were worth it to us

One thing we really enjoyed on the Carnival Cruise we went on was the Dr. Seuss Breakfast. It was $5 a person, and it was so, so fun. Lots of themed food, fun characters, music…it was one of the best things we did. We signed up at the beginning of the cruise for it, and it was definitely money well spent. 

We did get the WiFi, primarily so I could check on our business at night to make sure it didn’t go up in flames. That was worth it to me, but I think for the average person, it really isn’t. 

At our first stop, we paid like $25 for one of these clamshells. It was SUPER sunny without a lot of shade, so even though it seemed a little bit ridiculous, that was worth buying. 

We really did enjoy the excursion we went on. We went on a fun, 30-minute boat ride to a private island where we had a delicious lunch, were able to interact with lots of different animals, and it was just nice to have a place to go. Naussau can feel a little overwhelming, so having a safe place to go without much effort was worth it to us. 

How Much Cash Should You Bring? 

The good news is, nowadays, most cruises are pretty cash-free. Your cruise card will be connected to your credit card (don’t worry, you can choose which cards have access), and 99% of the time, you can just swipe that card. 

Even when we were on the private island we went to for our first stop, the cruise card was connected to all of our purchases there. 

Now, if you are going to a destination that is not specifically tied to your cruise line – that is probably when you will want cash. You may be able to just use your credit card, but some places will only allow cash. Make sure you check beforehand what currency they accept!

You will want to bring some cash to tip people off the cruise ship – for instance, if you go on a tender for an excursion, or for your excursion hosts. 

Some people like to bring dollar bills to give to cruise employees they see going above and beyond, so if you are that type of person, maybe bring a stack of those as well. 

How to Save Money

Planning for Splurges

As you read through this, you might think, “Wow, you really don’t think we should spend any extra money on anything!” 

That is not what I’m saying. I just want to help people save money where they can so they can splurge on the things that really mean the most to them. One of the worst feelings is spending money willy nilly, only to realize it wasn’t on things that truly brought you joy. 

So yes! You can indulge a little bit. Just plan ahead so you can make sure you are spending the money where you really want to. And if you don’t want to spend extra? That’s great, too, and entirely possible!

For instance

Okay! Now that I’ve gone over all the things that aren’t included with your cruise so you can be prepared, let’s talk about how you can save money!

Offseason

Offseason cruises will almost always be less expensive – and offseason may be different depending on what cruise line you go on. 

Hurricane season is known for rock bottom deals, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll actually even be able to get ON your cruise ship. And if you do, it’s very possible it could get diverted, cut short (or in some cases, go on for longer than you anticipated).

I have a friend who had a cruise canceled due to a hurricane. She ended up getting refunded for that cruise, a credit for another cruise, plus like $500 in ship credit, which was

Just keep in mind that there are always going to be some downsides to going offseason – the water might be colder, the ocean might be rougher, and your cruise might be canceled altogether if you go during hurricane season.

However, some upsides include avoiding lots of partiers, cheaper fares, and possibly a less crowded ship. 

Interior cabin

Interior cabins are almost always going to be your cheapest option. We were in an interior cabin, and while it may have been nice to have some view of the outside world…it wasn’t bad. 

Honestly, we mainly just slept in our cabin, so getting an interior cabin was not a big deal for us. We saved several hundred dollars by doing this. 

Sometimes cruises will offer a “free” room upgrade promotion, so you can keep your eye open for that. I know some people have had luck calling a few weeks before their cruise and somehow getting their interior room upgrades for free. But I wouldn’t count on it. 

Different cruise lines and ships will have different room offerings, but in general, here is the rank of least expensive to most expensive staterooms:

• Interior room (no windows)
• Exterior room with port hole
• Exterior room with large window
• Exterior room with balcony

And of course, there are suite options which will typically cost you a lot more!

Eat free food

There is absolutely no reason you can’t get through your cruise without paying an extra dime for food (except for when you are at different destinations unless you are only gone for a couple of hours). 

There are tons of dining options on cruises, and most of them are free. On our cruise, there was a buffet, various quick service restaurants (such as pizza, sandwiches, hamburgers, and Mexican food), and then the dinners were suffered in the nicer, sit down area. 

The only extra meal we paid for was the Dr. Seuss breakfast I mentioned above, and it was super cheap. 

Our cruise had some fun options for breakfast that were included in case you wanted something fancier. 

Honestly, we thought the food was delicious. There was a huge variety, and you could eat as much as you wanted. With room service, there were some free options (though you have to pay tip), as well as some inexpensive paid options, but we never opted for the paid options. 

There are premium restaurants available on cruises, and if you just are dying to try them…then go for it. But you don’t have to pay extra to eat your meals, and if you can avoid the extras, you will be saving money in the long run. 

Skip the drink packages (or buy the second day)

We only really drink water, so this wasn’t even a temptation for us. So if you don’t normally drink soda or alcohol – no reason to start on your cruise by buying the drink package. 

However, if you are a regular soda or alcohol drinker, one of these packages can be alluring. The best advice I’ve read is to wait until the second day of the cruise, because it will be discounted. I don’t think you can usually buy it past the second day, but you’ll save a few dollars by waiting. 

Most cruises will allow you to bring a small number of sealed soda cans on the ship – just double check your cruise ship’s policy before going. 

I know on Carnival Cruise lines, you can bring up to 12 cans of milk, soda, or juice. Bottled water is no longer allowed because it was the most common way to smuggle alcohol on the ship. 

Some cruises will make everyone in a room purchase the drink package, so make sure you read the fine print. 

“Free” Kids on Excursions

So for the excursion, we went on, children under five were free. Awesome, right? Well, for the most part. 

Because Oliver was free, it didn’t include lunch for him. There was a mixup, and I didn’t realize that it was a buffet and Oliver could have easily eaten off my plate. 

Forrest was somewhere else, and the boys were starving, so I went to get them some food, and I used Forrest’s meal voucher for Oliver. We had heard an additional meal ticket was $8, which didn’t seem like a big deal. 

However, that was bad information. It was actually $25 for the food (and let me tell you, it was not worth $25). We did realize there was a little cafe that had cheaper food, but it was too late at that point. 

Oliver didn’t even eat most of the food on his plate. Does this look like a $25 meal to you? Ha!

So just make sure you plan ahead if you have a little one getting a free excursion!

Buy water bottle packages

So we actually just brought our large, 64-ounce water bottles (empty) onto our cruise ship and filled them up with free water from the buffet. This worked well for the days we were on the cruise ship. 

However, when you are at a port, you can’t bring any water off the ship unless it’s one of the ship approved water bottles (at least this was the case on our ship). 

We ended up paying an arm and a leg for water when we were off the ship. You can usually buy a case of water for pretty inexpensive on your ship, and I think this is a good idea. Just save the water for when you are off the ship, and otherwise, drink the free water!

You can carry the cups from the buffet around the whole ship!

If you pre-purchase the water package, it should be delivered before you get on the ship. If you order it afterward, you will be subject to an auto-gratuity. 

Look for Drink Specials

If you really want to get that specialty drink, you can usually find a deal at some point throughout the cruise. Just keep your eyes peeled! 

Cruise for more days

Obviously, if you go on a long cruise, you’ll be paying more overall – but it will usually end up being less per day. If you are wanting to get the most bang for your buck, a longer cruise will typically give that. 

I think that a three-day cruise would be too short. We really enjoyed our five-day cruise, but I think we could have gone for a couple more days without getting stir crazy on the ship. 

Use a Travel Agent

I booked our cruise through Get Away Today. Honestly, the prices were pretty similar at all the places we looked, but I think it’s valuable to book through a travel agent. They can help you navigate the confusing process of booking a cruise and getting the most value for your money, and they often throw in certain perks for booking through them. 

I was really confused when I was trying to decide on our cruise, and it just was a lot simpler when I got on the phone with our agent at Get Away Today. We primarily use them for our Disney trips, but when I saw they offered cruises, I knew that was going to be our best course of action. 

It typically doesn’t cost you extra to book through a travel agent, and it can save you money in the long run since they know all the tips and tricks of the trade. 

Another great company to go through is Cruise Direct. They offer amazing deals on cruises from all the different lines across the world. 

Consider non-cruise excursions

We went on a Carnival cruise excursion, primarily because I was terrified that we would get left behind if we ventured out on our own or used another service. 

We were happy with the one we went on, especially because we didn’t really want to navigate Naussau by ourselves. But if you are adventurous, you can arrange your own tours or go through a non-cruise line excursion company for more savings. 

Just make sure you are back in plenty of time. I found Shore Trips, which seems like your best bet for booking a non-cruise line excursion. They have awesome prices, and if, for some reason, you get left behind due to the excursion (by no fault of your own), they will pay to get you to the next port. That would alleviate some of my stress for sure!

And keep in mind – you don’t have to to get an excursion. You can go out on your own or even stay on the ship if the destination is not your favorite! Excursions are not required. 

Buy extras ahead of time

At least on the Carnival Cruise line, if you booked certain things ahead of time, you got a discount. I believe the WiFi packages were less expensive before we got on the ship, I think they had discounted spa services, etc. So take a look at these beforehand to see if there’s anything you want!

Order wine and ask them to save it

We aren’t alcohol drinkers, but I know a lot of people are! If you order a bottle of wine at dinner, don’t feel like you have to chug it all down right that second. You can ask your waiter to cork it and save it for you for another time on the cruise!

Gift cards

There are a lot of discount gift card websites out there, and some of them have gift cards for different popular cruises. You may not save a ton by getting these, but hey, every dollar counts. 

Avoid Double Tipping

So with the gratuity added to your bill – this is for your restaurant servers, housekeepers, etc. When you do a spa service or go to the bar, they will often include a tip automatically. 

However, you may also see there is ANOTHER line that says tip. Make sure it hasn’t already been added into your receipt before you add in an additional gratuity unless they really went above and beyond and you want to to tip more. 

Timeshare Presentations

If you can’t say no and fold under pressure, just skip this tip! However, if you have a strong arm and won’t be pressured into actually buying a timeshare, this might be a good way to either get a free/discounted cruise, a free excursion, etc. 

There are always timeshare presentations going on at popular tourist destinations, and there is usually some kind of reward for sitting through them. When my brother and sister-in-law went to Cancun recently, they were able to get a pretty cool excursion. 

Keep in mind they are very high pressure, and they aren’t usually very happy if you say no. But it can get you some pretty cool things! You can google “Cruise timeshare presentations” to see if there are any going on near you before you book!

Also, keep in mind that there are usually fees still tacked on. I think your best bet would be a presentation for an excursion. 

Look for special deals – ship credit, kids cruise free, etc. 

A lot of cruise lines will run specials throughout the year. If you can nab one of these, it can really save you some money in the end. I always think ship credit is pretty nice. And the kids cruise free is great if you are going with your children!

Eat on the boat at excursions

Eating off the boat can be pricey, and you can’t really bring food with you. If you can, eat breakfast before you go, maybe buy a snack on the island to tie you over, and eat lunch when you get back to the boat. 

Obviously, if you are on an all day excursion, this won’t be possible. But if you aren’t planning to be gone all day, it will save you money. Food off the ship is EXPENSIVE – at least in my experience. 

Some excursions will provide lunch, so that’s something you can try and look for if you are booking one. 

Don’t get the WiFi (download movies beforehand)

I did get the WiFi, but I have an online business that I needed to make sure didn’t go down the drain while I was on our ship. I only used it for about five minutes a day, though, which was perfect. 

If you don’t need WiFi, though…don’t get it! It is kind of pricey, and if you are looking to disconnect, there is no better place than on a cruise ship. 

You should download movies from Netflix or other sources beforehand so you aren’t feeling tempted to get WiFi to watch shows (though depending on the WiFi, you may not be able to stream anyway). 

Loyalty program

Join your cruise ship loyalty program as soon as you can. You may get certain perks just before signing up. But more so, it’s great if you are planning to go on another cruise eventually. You can sometimes earn points or upgrades for your next cruise, and these are typically free!

Don’t shop at stores closest to the ship

If you are stopping in a tourist-y place, there are bound to be lots of shops set up. The ones that are closest to the ship will almost always have their prices jacked up a ton. Try and venture out a little further to find better prices. 

Bring everything you need

I talked about all the things I forgot in the 22 Things I Wish I Packed for my Cruise post…so don’t be like me! Quadruple check that you are bringing everything you need…because trust me, it’s going to be more expensive if you have to buy it on the ship. 

Remember that everything has a catch

I feel like at least half of the activities we went to on our cruise (probably more) had some kind of catch or upsell…and people were not very happy when you didn’t buy into them. While not everything is, I recommend making sure you look at who the sponsor is and remember you can say no. 

I went to a “Women’s Pampering Hour”, where someone taught some stuff about skin and we tried some products. It was actually really informative. But then she really pushed us all hard to signup for her services right after, and it was kind of intense. I ended up saying I would need to talk to my husband, because she wouldn’t stake no for an answer.

Services on port days

Now, I haven’t tried this myself, but I have heard that on cruise services (such as the spa) can be less expensive. So keep that in mind!

Plan a group cruise

If you can convince a big group of friends to go together, the organizer of the group will typically get a free room! There are rules and regulations on how many people have to book in order to qualify for a room, but it’s certainly an option. Just make sure you are upfront with your group about this from the start that it’s a perk you get for organizing everything. 

Stay in airplane mode

When you get on your cruise ship, just put your phone in airplane mode. While many cell phone carriers offer free roaming in foreign countries…unless you are 1000% positive, you don’t want to risk getting crazy fees for accidental phone calls or text messages. 

Plus, putting your phone in airplane mode right away will make sure it stays in your departure ports time zone, which is typically the time the cruise will stay on (even if you go to a new time zone). 

Book early or late

As I’ve researched the best time to book a cruise, it seems to be the extreme ends of the spectrum – either very, very last minute, or a year or more in advance. 

While you can get some killer deals on cruises last minute, this isn’t something I would recommend if you have a specific cruise you want to go on. The cruise we went on ended up selling out, and even booking when we did, there were pretty slim pickings for rooms. 

We booked about three months before, and I think we could have saved money had we booked sooner – as well as gotten a better room!

Unless you are the type that just really likes to live on the edge, it’s going to be in your best interest to book far in advance. 

Cruise close to home

Sometimes, the most expensive part of a cruise is just getting there. When researching cruises, try and find ports that are either a) close to your hometown or b) inexpensive to travel to. 

We decided to go on a cruise that went out of Charleston because we were able to double up the trip with a family reunion that wasn’t too far from there. We were also able to visit with Forrest’s brother and his family, who live pretty close to Charleston, which saved us on hotel costs when we got there. 

There are ports all over the place, and many of them will get you to similar destinations. If you live in Florida, there’s probably no reason to fly to Texas to go on a cruise. 

Phew! That was a lot. I do hope that this was helpful – and I would LOVE to hear any tips you have for saving money on cruises. 

The post How to Save Money on a Cruise: The Best Tips For Cruising on a Budget appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.