Happy Friday: Tips for Disney Success

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1. 

   Erika July 15, 2016 at 6:15 pm MST

   12 days in Orlando/Disney for $2600?! That is an amazing feat! Way to go! I bet it was a blast!

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  Sarakate25 July 15, 2016 at 8:24 pm MST

  It was 5 days Orlando on Disney property- visiting Studios, Epcot, MK, winter wonderland putt putt and Disney springs.
  1 day Lake Buena vista area(cancelled going to Legoland bc of heat went to Kissimmee sightseeing.
  4 days Clearwater/Largo Visiting Clearwater Aquarium, shopping, beach and family.
  The rest were travel days with stops in SC/NC for Carowinds park on the way home(free with out Cedar Fair Platinum passes)
  So we saved a lot by planning the trip early and taking advantage of their deals. We got 4 nights/5 days with 1 quick serve meal daily person for $1650. Also gave us free putt putt and wide world of sports tickets(didn’t use bc we didn’t want to watch wrestling)
  Quick serve meals are awesome! If you plan it right 1 meal feeds more than 1 person.

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  Guest July 15, 2016 at 8:40 pm MST

  Yes!!!! I want to know how!!? Were they military? Was this on Disney property? I’m curious!!?

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  Just Me July 15, 2016 at 9:27 pm MST

  Me too! I need more details.

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  Sarakate25 July 16, 2016 at 6:26 am MST

  No just planned on Disney.online, they have many choices for deals. Just depends on how long you stay and what you want to do. Always watch for free dining deals.

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   Tracy July 15, 2016 at 6:17 pm MST

   Sounds like you had fun. Great tips.

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   kayla July 15, 2016 at 6:17 pm MST

   Please don’t buy those pins on Ebay…they are fakes or “rejects” and the park is full of them thanks to Ebay. It’s a hobby I am passionate about but I know most everyone is unaware of this fact. Please please please consider buying them legitimately from Disney.

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  desiree July 15, 2016 at 6:32 pm MST

  And how do you know if they are real or not????

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  MommySpendsLess July 15, 2016 at 6:52 pm MST

  I think real ones have a Disney copyright on the back. We’re locals with annual passes and my 7yo daughter loves pin trading for the social aspect of it – she has half a dozen pins and she trades them all out at least once every trip. In the Disney area, there’s a thrift store off Hwy 27, slightly south of I-4 that sells Disney trading pins 3 for $5. I’m not an expert but they seem to be real pins – the quality and characters look good and they say Disney on the back and I think often a year as well. We’ve found a lot of “hidden Mickey” pins there, which I think are cast members only (until they get traded)… And we also got my daughter a cheaper lanyard at Lowe’s. I’ve seen very reasonably priced Disney-character lanyards at Party City too.
  Another hint is to put your daughter’s hair in a high ballet bun or other “fancy” style and liberally coat it with Halloween spray glitter. Everything you own will be sparkly lol but my daughter’s gotten asked a couple time if she went to the BB Boutique, espcially when she also wears a (on sale) Disney Store princess dress. Cast members, characters and even other guests all give her a little extra special treatment that makes it worth it.
  And last but not least, check out the free Merlin game at Magic Kingdom and the free World Showcase puzzle game.

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  Kristy July 15, 2016 at 7:08 pm MST

  You can’t stop people from buying them. If you are really concerned about getting fakes you can study up on how to spot fake ones. But the reality is some are good fakes that you can’t even tell. I collect pins too and at $8-$12 a pin at the park that is just too much. I will only buy it if I really want it and know I will not trade it.

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  Sarakate25 July 15, 2016 at 8:10 pm MST

  I bought legitimate pins, all have copyrights most were from broke up sets! The trader has a store and high feedback.

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  Jerry July 15, 2016 at 11:24 pm MST

  Every seller on EBay that has groups of pins like this are selling fakes. Think about it, how are they getting 10’s of thousands pins like this for so cheap. There feedback is high because most people think they are just getting a good deal. Having a copyright stamp has nothing to do with them being legitimate. There are many resources out there to educate yourself and to lengthy for me to explain on here. They are buying them directly from the manufacture in China.
  You can buy sets from Disney that will cost you about $4.50 per pin.
  Disney is trying to crack down on this problem and they are actively prosecuting individuals. Google this and you will see.
  Please everyone stop buying sets like this. If you are getting them for less than a couple of dollars you are buying counterfeit pins and are contributing to the problem.

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  Sarakate25 July 16, 2016 at 8:23 am MST

  All the pins I purchased have the same markings as the ones we purchased at Disney. I am sure some EBay people sell fakes. The person I bought from was in Anaheim and had cast items for sale too?
  Everything is made in China these days!!

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  Jerry July 16, 2016 at 12:33 pm MST

  I realize the pins have the same markings. That is what the people selling them will tell you. Disney will not turn you away but trading them creates a huge problem for everyone else. From the other onlinements I realize young kids don’t care because they don’t know the difference. People who think they are trading for a legitimate pin because it came from a cast members lanyard are getting screwed because they are giving away a pin they paid for and in return are getting a fake.
  What I am about to say is not directed at a single person but a general statement. If you can’t afford the merchandise legitimately then you shouldn’t participate in the hobby. Also, if the kids don’t care about it anyway then why bother. I for one wouldn’t sacrifice my honesty and integrity knowingly buying counterfeit merchandise just to save a few dollars. If you are the type of person that will then this statement won’t matter anyway.
  If it truly is a hobby then pursue it but don’t be selfish and flood the parks with junk.

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  Jill July 15, 2016 at 11:27 pm MST

  I agree 100%! Please don’t buy them on eBay!!! Collin please please PLEASE stop publishing articles about buying pins in bulk. It ruins pin trading for anyone who does it for a hobby.

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4. 

   Nicole July 15, 2016 at 6:32 pm MST

   Not to be snarky but I think it should be more about the kids having fun than about spending a boatload of money on “real” pins. The kids are just enjoying the experience and making a memory…..I’m sure most people feel the same.

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  Janel July 15, 2016 at 6:43 pm MST

  The difference is the pins are for trading so you could trade with someone who bought a legit pin with their money at Disneyland and gets very sad when they find out someone traded them a fake

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  Sarah L July 16, 2016 at 6:15 am MST

  I’m a pin trader too. While it’s fun for kids, I think the majority of people trading at the parks are adults who are doing it as a hobby. The rule of thumb is pretty much while you CAN find pins that are real for a dollar or so each, if it’s less than $2 a pin in a lot it’s probably a scrapper.

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5. 

   Judy July 15, 2016 at 6:34 pm MST

   a 12 day vacation for $2600? that is freaking amazing! good job, you rocked it!

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6. 

   Jennifer July 15, 2016 at 6:35 pm MST

   I too, have purchased a lot of Disney “knockoffs” because I can’t bring myself to pay what things cost in the parks. It makes it special for the kids to get prizes and curbs the desire to buy things from the shops at Disney. I am already giving Disney so much of my money. I highly reonlinemended the spray fan from Walmart also, you will thank us later!!

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  Jill July 15, 2016 at 11:45 pm MST

  The pins start at $4.50. You can’t bring yourself to spend a few more dollars to buy real pins? That’s really a shame. It’s illegal to sell these!

  https://www.nbclosangeles.online/news/local/Men-Sentenced-for-Fake-Disney-Pin-Scheme-215764311.html

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7. 

   Susie July 15, 2016 at 6:52 pm MST

   Great job! We’ve been there many times over the years and have never spent that little! And most importantly making priceless memories with your family. 🎀

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8. 

   Lauren July 15, 2016 at 6:54 pm MST

   How many days were you actually in the parks and did you stay onsite?

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9. 

   Roe July 15, 2016 at 6:54 pm MST

   The trading pins are supposed to have a ©Disney in the back or else they are not trading pins and shouldn’t be traded with the cast members. I would hate to trade a pin and get a “fake” one in return. They usually sell packages of 4 or 6 on the Disney store online that are not too expensive that can later be traded at the park for nicer ones, that’s a way to save money on those.

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  Jill July 15, 2016 at 11:46 pm MST

  I agree. Thank you!

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10. 

    Amanda July 15, 2016 at 6:58 pm MST

    Was there an original post with Sarah’s tips in the spring? I would be interested in seeing what methods she used to save so much! Thanks!

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11. 

    Maite July 15, 2016 at 7:11 pm MST

    WOW! Please tell us how you did it! Did you stay onsite? How many days did you visit the park? I am planning a trip for September and would love any money saving tips!

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12. 

    Traci July 15, 2016 at 7:20 pm MST

    I thought I was going to plan to take my boys to Disney next year but they are so much more into Lego- anyone have any tips on legoland- probably San Diego since they have the ninjago thing already. I’ve saved an admission coupon and have airfare points but are there quirks like these things I’d never know about?

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  Carrie July 15, 2016 at 7:59 pm MST

  We went to San Diego last year and bought a Go Card (google it) for SD. Saved us lots of money on admission to those attractions.

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13. 

    Laura July 15, 2016 at 7:28 pm MST

    For Legoland California definitely get the hopper pass that gives you access to the aquarium, water park, and the actual park. The aquarium doesn’t take much time to get through but it’s a really neat experience. The actual park can be done in 1-2 days, and the water park can be thoroughly enjoyed in a day. I like to tell clients to at least plan for a 2 day pass if they plan on park hopping (aquarium & park on the first day, followed by the park & water park on the second day). You can bring food in to save money, and purchase mini-figurines beforehand to trade throughout the park (similar to Disney’s pin trading, Legoland does mini-figurine trading). Feel free to contact me if you need any more help & I’d be happy to help you!

    https://www.facebook.online/EnchantedMemoriesByLaura/

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14. 

    Lauren July 15, 2016 at 7:29 pm MST

    What is this whole pin thing about? I’ve never heard of it.

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  Amy Jarman July 15, 2016 at 7:56 pm MST

  You can trade pins with employees or guests. If you approach a cast member they are not allowed to turn you down and you can pick which pin you want to give them! As long as it’s one that particular cast member does not already have on their lanyard they have to take what you offer them. It’s fun to trade in the ones you don’t care so much about and get different/more unique ones—just for the asking.

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  Happymama July 15, 2016 at 8:07 pm MST

  I’m lost too. I’m with you, Sarah! I’d buy cheaper pins too for if the kids were that interested in them. It’s about the memories that they will have, not the book value. You can’t put a value on a child’s memories:) You did an amazing job, and looks like you had a blast!

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15. 

    MrsFelix1004 July 15, 2016 at 7:50 pm MST

    You can find great deals for resorts around Disney through your insurance onlinepany. We just arrived at Disney and are staying at the Regal Oaks Resort for $550 for Five nights. Also we used USAA to book our cruise and it saved us $1500 onlinepared to booking on Disney’s website. Also I have check groupon for local attractions and purchased an Orlando explorer pass that saves on local attractions. There is also another pass you can purchase where kids can eat free. Another cool thing I just realized is there is a space launch while we are down here. We have saved and planned for a long time for this trip. Did not save up for the speeding ticket my husband got today in Georgia though! He was 15 miles above speed limit and found out you get charged an additional fee called Super Speeder fine that adds $200 on top of ticket cost! Luckily we don’t live in North Carolina because when the ticket takes points off your license in NC they suspend your licenses for 30 days! I tried to find a positive! I told him this morning I had a dream about getting a ticket and he thought I was silly but sometimes you just know.

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  Guest July 16, 2016 at 4:09 am MST

  So you are t staying on Disney property? That makes a huge difference in price right there…

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  Jess July 16, 2016 at 5:31 am MST

  She’s not the original poster c

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  MrsFelix1004 July 16, 2016 at 6:44 am MST

  No I’m staying at a property that has a shuttle to and from. We are doing a Disney cruise then staying at Regal Oaks to do the parks.

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  Maria July 16, 2016 at 7:36 am MST

  We are planning on Disney cruise next year. How much was it? And which site did you go though to get this discount?

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  MrsFelix1004 July 16, 2016 at 9:21 am MST

  We went through our insurance at USAA to get the discount. For five people in a balcony stateroom it was 4700. It is a four night cruise. Even though we are military our insurance beat disneys military rate.

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16. 

    Haseena July 15, 2016 at 8:07 pm MST

    The timing of this post is just perfect. I am visiting my parents in Cali and we are going to drive down to LA to take my almost 6 year old and almost 3 years old to Disney. I haven’t planned at all, and I never went as a kid so I am not sure what I need to plan for…any tips or advice is much appreciated.

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  Jenny July 15, 2016 at 8:45 pm MST

  Under 3 gets in for free 😊

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  Haseena July 15, 2016 at 10:19 pm MST

  That’s one reason I wanted to make sure we go this year…I won’t be back to Cali probably for another 2 years and my almost 6 year old really wants to go.

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17. 

    Sharples July 15, 2016 at 9:00 pm MST

    Excellent, thank you! You gave me lots of ideas! Ordered the pins right away – would of never known. Exactly who do u trade them with?

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  amyjorlando July 16, 2016 at 5:21 am MST

  You can trade with any of the cast members wearing them. They are not allowed to say no to guests.

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18. 

    Kate July 15, 2016 at 9:05 pm MST

    Just got back from a Disney cruise to Alaska. Definitely reonlinemend for a more low key Disney experience. Great shows, activities and food for kids and adults. Plus, no hidden fees (unless you stop by the gift store). They even have a mini Bippity Boppity Botique for $20!! A mini hair do, makeup, sparkles and a couple take home accessories. Sure beat the $180 we spent in Disney last year!!

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19. 

    couponer July 15, 2016 at 9:29 pm MST

    Some of y’all need to take the “live a little” approach. If you’re going on vacation just to pinch pennies maybe consider a less expensive trip is all I’m saying. Money isn’t everything and the memories will mean a lot. But children do notice.

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  Steph July 16, 2016 at 2:16 am MST

  I’m confused what children notice? I think taking kids on frugal trips is a great way to spend quality time as a family (and if they “notice” it’s a great example of teaching them the value of memories rather than money)

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  J July 16, 2016 at 5:33 am MST

  Some people can’t afford to spend the extra money and would like to give their children a Disney trip. Which, most children don’t “notice” the difference unless they have people telling them it isn’t good enough. Step off your high horse.

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  Laura July 16, 2016 at 9:13 am MST

  To “couponer”: My husband has ur mentality. He hates when I try to save money. However, I think it’s important to teach kids at a super young age how important it is to save money. If they notice, then that’s great! Take the opportunity to teach them. Please enlighten us on what you think a kid who gets everything learns and thinks money is no object, learns? Nothing! Absolutely nothing! And they are almost guaranteed to grow up with no goals. Their mentality is and always will be “mom and dad will buy me it.” And they think mom and dad are always going to support them. How do I know… Oh I grew up with aunts and uncles who bought their kids everything, went on countless vacations and always acted like money was no object. Hmmm, let me tell you what all my cousins are doing as adults…. Nothing! They didn’t even go to college! And most still live with thier parents, doing nothing! So next time you want to want to climb on your high horse and preach about not teaching kids the value of money, think about what the long term affect could be. (Most likely will be). Don’t knock down parents who are trying to instill hard work and money saving values in thier kids lives!

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  Rebecca July 16, 2016 at 10:35 am MST

  Also confused about what exactly they would notice? If their souvenirs or pins aren’t exact ones currently on sale at the park?? Sorry but I think that’s BS. First off, kids seriously don’t notice. Second, teach your kids to be appreciative & you’ll never have to worry about this sort of thing. My kids don’t have to constantly hear the stories of how mommy & daddy didn’t get to do this stuff when they were little because they were broke….they get it at this point. Even if he doesn’t get that yet, my 3 year old is still the first to say Thank You & give hugs for everything he gets. I got my kids a pack of Star Wars tattoos at Dollar Tree yesterday, and they thought that was the best thing ever. Finally, your kids aren’t going to recall what souvenirs they got 10 years from now. What they will remember is the memories. My 7 year old probably couldn’t tell you what he brought home from LegoLand….but he could tell you exactly what that roller coaster was like, how his brother cried on the water ride lol, and the ride home when he saw fireworks.❤

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20. 

    Tomoko July 15, 2016 at 10:54 pm MST

    Great post! I love the pin idea I will definitely look into it since my daughter just start correcting those pins.
    If you are planning to go to Magic Kingdom I highly reonlinemend to play The sorcerers of the magic kingdom card game. It’s free and you can stop at the firehouse on Main Street and get a pack of card ( It’s fun to play and makes nice “Free” souvenir 😉 )

    This year I decided to take advantage of Disney Visa card sign up bonus promotion. Because the offer was for no annual fee visa card and bonus amount was great. I received $200 Disney gift card after I spent $500 (I bought DW tickets with the new card and now I have $200 to spend in the park.) I’m quite happy with all the benefits such as the members only Character Meet”N”Greet at Epcot.
    If anyone interested to get the promotion please let me know. I have a link to share.

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21. 

    Jill July 16, 2016 at 12:14 am MST

    Since someone is reading these & not publishing the “please don’t buy illegal pins” posts, let me tell you the aftermath of people buying Disney pins on eBay. Every year Disney releases new pins every month. They are highly collectible! For more than 10 years this has been done. But because of these illegal scrapper pins there have been none of these released this year. We were just at Disneyland today & they still have no release date for any of these pins for 2016. This is onlinepletely out of the ordinary as we’ve been expecting new monthly pins since January 2016.
    Pin trading is a huge hobby! I love your site Collin & you’ve saved my family a lot of money in the past. I truly beg you to stop supporting this by publishing these articles. It’s such a frustrating thing to try to educate people & see it continue. Disney & the FBI are cracking down on this. Just google “Disney pins illegal” to find many who are in prison now for it. Collin & hip2save It’s disappointing to see you support this by publishing info about this.

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  Jill July 16, 2016 at 12:18 am MST

  *the pins I am referring to are the cast lanyard/hidden Mickey pins.

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  S July 16, 2016 at 2:19 am MST

  Can you guarantee that the pins related to this post are fakes? They could be someone with a large collection looking to get rid of them or they could be fake. Either way, it’s not Collin/Hip2Save’s fault and it doesn’t scrap the value/purpose of this post about saving money.

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  J July 16, 2016 at 5:34 am MST

  The onlinements are all published. Please take your repeated Debbie downer posts somewhere else, thank you.

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  Jill July 16, 2016 at 8:19 am MST

  Actually they were not all published. Not trying to be a downer, just trying to educate.

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22. 

    harley July 16, 2016 at 5:27 am MST

    Hope u had fun vacation!!! Thanks or the awesome tips!!!! This is very helpful!!!!!🏆

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23. 

    Heazer July 16, 2016 at 6:10 am MST

    My family of 8 took a 10 day Orlando vacation this past spring. 5 days of Disney. We used VRBO to stay at a condo about 5 miles from Disney. For 8 nights, we paid $850, including the cleaning fee and taxes. It has a waterpark, so we didn’t need to buy extra Disney waterpark tickets. Since it had a full kitchen, I was able to bring a crock pot. I got up each morning and put our dinner in, set it on low, and we had dinner waiting for us when we returned from the parks. Huge money saver! I packed lunch for all of us each day, and the kids had Disney gift cards from their Easter baskets to spend on any extra drinks or snacks they wanted to buy. We planned on splurging at one of the Disney resort restaurants for a finale to our trip. We saved up for the trip, and brought all the cash we were going to spend. We never once swiped a card.
    With a little bit of planning, we were able to give our 6 children a fabulous Disney vacation, and not put ourselves in a hole.

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  Rebecca July 16, 2016 at 10:21 am MST

  That would be a feat with only a couple kids, but 6….I bow down to you!!! Amazing deal with some great planning, I too have used VRBO with great results for great prices! I have not done the Crock-Pot yet, we usually get back late, but would still be useful! I do however pack lunches, snacks, and drinks everywhere we go. So worth it! We have not done Disney yet but did Legoland/Busch Gardens/SeaWorld a year ago. I’m sure your kids had a blast & will cherish those memories!❤

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    Disneydreams July 16, 2016 at 6:51 am MST

    Hello!! Would love to help in making your Disney dreams onlinee true. If you would like professional assistance with planning your Disney vacation, I would love to help. There is never any extra cost for using my services as your travel agent. °o° For more information I can be reached at: [email protected]

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    Kimizilla July 16, 2016 at 8:28 am MST

    Check the Disney outlets in Orlando for pins! We usually get them for half off! We just returned from our trip and purchased a starter set for about $10 for 8 pins. We then traded them with Cast Members inside the parks.

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  Sarakate25 July 16, 2016 at 9:24 am MST

  We did that too-got a lot of gifts for family and friends for half off:)

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    Sarakate25 July 16, 2016 at 8:37 am MST

    Well after reading posts thanks to all. I would love to share all my ideas and do this for a job!! I put in my resume to do just that and will see what happens. Guess I should have know once something gets posted there will always be negative remarks! My family had a great vacation! We will continue to save for the next one! It felt great to onlinee home and only have $76 on my credit card! Everything was paid in advance and we used cash on most of everything.

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  Rebecca July 16, 2016 at 10:38 am MST

  You did an awesome job planning, I applaud you!!! Thank you for sharing your tips, there are way more us that appreciate it than there are naysayers. The important thing is that your family made some amazing memories & you didn’t hurt yourself financially doing so!❤

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  Shannon July 16, 2016 at 2:00 pm MST

  It’s sad anyone has responded negatively to you and your family having a great time making memories. I think it’s great you saved money and its inspiring.

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