What I spent last week while at Disney World

 Last week, I was provided the amazing opportunity to expand my Disney knowledge with a training hosted by my travel agency Magical Vacation Planner and Disney. 

Pool Day!

Suit is from Amazon a few years ago

Earring are Bauble Bar a gift from Mark and the kids. 

Disney is the one place where I really love fashion! 

I packed along a box of granola bars and a water bottle to make up my breakfasts and snacks for the week. 

I went into this trip with a budget of $300 for the week ($200 in cash, $100 in giftcards that had been gifted to me) Let's see how I spent it

Day 1 - Travel and Resort Day

Breakfast - I took a granola bar and water along to the airport. $0 spent

Lunch - Turkey Sandwich and water at Caribbean Beach Resorts Centertown Market $12

Dinner - BBQ Nachos at the Captain Cook's at the Polynesian Resort $12 and dessert from Port Orleans French Quarter. The rest of my group went for beignets but I grabbed a Mickey cupcake. $7

Day One Total: $31

Skyliner view from my Caribbean Beach lunch

Day 2 - Training Day at MVP Offices

Breakfast - Panera Bread - Provided by MVP. $0

Lunch - Qdoba. Provided by MVP. $0

Dinner - We scored a last minute walk-up spot at Raglan Road at Disney Springs. I had a great burger. $34 for burger, fries, water, and tip

Souvenirs - I REALLY lucked out here. MVP had all kinds of Disney and MVP gear for us at training. I got a metal water bottle and straw for Mark, the brand new 2024 Disney calendar for Annabeth, and a Chase Briscoe car and hat for Owen. All free!! Thanks MVP!

At Disney Springs I did shop two stores buying my favorite Disney candy bar, a 100th Anniversary Tiana pin for Annabeth, and a Stitch ornament with Stitch disguised as a pineapple upside down cake for Annabeth as well. $45

Day Two Total: $45

Thank you MVP and Disney for all of this swag

They made great, free, souvenirs for the family!

Day 3 - Hollywood Studios and Epcot

Breakfast - Granola Bar and Water. $0

Lunch - Tofu Bowl and Wookie Cookie at Backlot Express. $20 

Dinner - Chicken Sandwich from Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie in Epcot. $12

Souvenirs - $0

Day Three Total: $32

Teriyaki Tofu Bowl

 

Wookie Cookie

My first one - SO good

Day 4 - Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom 

Breakfast - Granola Bar and Water. $0

Lunch - Chicken and Breadsticks at Pizzafari. I did mobile order and didn't realize Mark's card was saved so lunch was on him. Thanks Mark! $0

Dinner - Cheese flatbread and breadsticks from Pinocchio Haus. I split this meal with a travel partner as a thank you for her family taking me to and from their airport. Their kindness saved me the cost of an Uber or parking for the week in the airport lot. Thank you all! Dinner was $20 

Souvenirs - I picked up a Slinky Dog pin for Owen and my first ever spirit jersey. $99

Day Four Total: $119

Late night "See ya real soon" 

at Magic Kingdom

Day Five - Travel Day Home

Breakfast - Granola Bar and Water. $0

Lunch - I was home for a late lunch from our own fridge $0

Total Spent: $227 

I LOVE sharing with my clients that Disney does NOT have to big expensive. It's just as special and wonderful when you budget, spend wisely, and stay on track while there.

Are you interested in seeing how affordable Disney could be for you? 

Message me for quotes and booking information at a.riley@magicalvacationplanner.com 

Happy Savings to All 

Frugal Friday 501

 Happy Frugal Friday.

Here is how how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money this week:

- I listed some items for sale on Facebook. I was able to sell some which covered the cost of like-new tennis shoes that I bought for Annabeth. We scored a pair of Converse that he just been tried on but never worn.

- Friday we enjoyed the afternoon at the pool with a ton of friends. I was able to snag one pass from the library so I just had to pay for the kids. Saved: $7

- I cashed out some of my Ibotta points for a coffee gift card. I used when I went to coffee with an old friend on Saturday morning. It was wonderful to catch up. We talked for almost three hours and I had NO idea that much time has passed. Thankfully she got a text which made us look at the time - I would have missed my grocery pick-up order otherwise.

- I bought tickets for an attraction for our summer vacation. They had a fairly generous homeschool offer. We saved $35! 

- Sunday after church the kids and I enjoyed a paint-by-numbers class at the library. It would have been $30 to buy the canvases and paint so I was thrilled to have this free class offered!

- Monday we had a Family Fun day. The boys spent the morning practicing baseball at the ballpark while Annabeth and I found her new tennis shoes - on clearance. In the afternoon, we all went to putt-putt with coupons from the library. They covered our round of golf - saving us $32. After dinner and dance class, we went to our local firework show. We parked a good distance from downtown to avoid the crowds and had a great night out.

- Tuesday for the 4th we cooked out with Mark's family. We did it pitch-in style and our household provided turkey burgers, hotdogs, buns, macaroni and cheese, and Captain Rodney dip with crackers. Others brought pork chops, fruit, salad, and cookies. Luke and Cass also brought along some fireworks which the kids loved. After dinner at home, we took cookies and popcorn to our neighbors for more fireworks. The kids had the best time with their friends.

- Wednesday afternoon the kids each took a library class. Owen painted a garden paver to look like a book and Annabeth learned to use a cricut machine and made a shirt. Again, we love our libraries for their free classes and fun. 

Owen's Cat in the Hat garden paver

Annabeth's mermaid shirt

- We started school this week. It's amazing to me that the kids are in 7th and 3rd grades. I consider it such a joy to have been able to homeschool through all of their school years. We began schooling at home with preschool for Annabeth so this is my 11th school year designing and planning their school. I truly would not have it any other way. 

I'll be enjoying a few weeks off from our regular Frugal Friday posts. Check back for other content, on different days, as our July is sure to be exciting,

Happy Savings to All