Image from www.disneystore.com

Since I live in a small space and am always trying to declutter I try not to have large collections that I need to store and dust constantly. This is a challenge for me because I like to collect things. Part of the fun of going on vacation is wandering through the tourist shops and picking up a memento. Recently I have found a new item to collect and it has made shopping while on vacation a lot of fun. What am I now buying? Pens and pencils.

At first this may sound really boring. Pens and pencils? They are not overly pretty and they are certainly not a common collection. But I love finding a new pen or pencil on vacation. It has become a bit of a quest for me to buy one everywhere I go. Still wondering why I do this? Here are five great reasons.

Five reasons to collect pens and pencils:

1) They are inexpensive. Having a large collection can really break the bank if the item you are collecting costs a lot. Most of the pencils I collect cost about one dollar. I can buy lots of pencils and still have room for a Mickey Mouse ice cream bar.

2) They are small and hardy. If you are collecting something breakable or large, like crystal Disney figurines, you have to figure out how to get them home without breaking them. Pencils take up no room in your suitcase.

3) They are useful. This is my favorite reason to collect pens and pencils. They are not just knickknacks that sit on the shelf and fill your life with clutter. They are an item that everyone needs lots of anyway. Instead of buying a dozen Bic pens you can use the ones you bought on vacation.

4) They remind you of your trip. Unlike a photo album or other items that you don’t look at very often you will be reminded of your trip every time you use your pen or pencil. I have a pencil from each Disney resort I have stayed at and it reminds me of how fun it was staying in those rooms with my friends.

5) They are fun. There are lots of pencils at tourist shops to choose from and they often have fun designs. I have a pen from the National Building Museum that is shaped like a nail. I smile every time I use it.

So the next time you are looking for a fun, memorable, small, inexpensive souvenir consider a pen or pencil. I guarantee that this collection will become one of your favorites the first time you go looking for something to write with. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: Pens and pencils make a fun collection but they also make fun gifts. Everyone needs one and if you buy one with the person’s favorite Disney character on it they will know you were thinking of them when you bought it. I often think of the person who gave me a pen whenever I use it.

If you have ever been to the Disney Parks you will know what I am talking about. Along with finding money in wishing wells (I’ll tell you where to find an awesome one in the Goofy Tip) you’ll see lots of money in the water at it’s a small world, Pirates of the Caribbean, and dozens of other watery attractions. Whenever I see those coins I wonder two things:  why would people toss money there, and what happens to all the coins that were tossed?

I still don’t know why people throw money in water, but thanks to The Disney Blog I now know what Disney does with all the coins that get tossed into water. They collect the money and donate them to various children’s charities. So far in 2013 Walt Disney World has donated $15,000 to the Foundation for Foster Children. By answering my second question I might have answered my first. Maybe people toss coins in non-wishing wells to make other people’s wishes come true. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: If you want to get your money’s worth and toss your coin into a wishing well then head over to the castle at Disneyland or the Magic Kingdom. On one of the side paths you’ll find the Snow White Wishing Well. This is a great place to toss your coin, not only because you’ll get to make a wish, but because you can hear Snow White making a wish as well. It is very magical. Plus your coin does double duty – it helps make your wish and the wish of other children come true.

You will get wet!

The typical checklist for a trip to the Disney parks includes your camera, autograph book, tickets, and money. These are must-haves. But I have discovered a few other items that make a Disney vacation more stress free. The great thing about these items is they are very small and can fit inside a small bag. If you keep this small bag always packed you can drop it into your bag when you head to the parks. You may not use these items every time, but you’ll save time, money, and sanity if you do need them.

Five useful items to bring to the parks:

1) Ziploc bags. I like the sandwich or quart size, but whatever size you happen to have, these are immensely useful. You can use one as a doggie bag and it is much easier to carry around than a to-go box. You can put wet items in them. You can put half-licked all-day suckers in them. I always put my guide books in baggies before I go on Splash Mountain.The uses are endless and they are so small that you can pack quite a few in many different sizes.

2) Aspirin. Or Tylenol. Or Advil. Any pain pill that you like to use at home should be in your sanity bag. When you have muscle soreness or a headache due to too much noise, the last thing you want to do is hunt for medicine. At the minimum you’ll have to walk a long ways to the first-aid station and if you decide to buy some you’ll pay a lot. Been there, done that. Save your sanity and have some with you.

3) Small towel or bandana. Wet benches. Sticky faces. Soaked skin from Splash Mountain. There are lots of reasons to bring a towel. I like the washcloth size, but a bandana can work, also. When it is damp just tie it to the outside of your pack and it will dry quickly. Or put it in the baggies you also packed.

4) Carabineer. These are the clips that climbers use, but nowadays you can find them everywhere. They are very handy if you want to attach items to your pack so your hands are empty. Or if you broke down and bought your child a sword, a carabineer is a useful item for attaching the sword to their belt loop so they are not waving it all over and hitting everyone.

5) Band-aids. Like the pain pills, these are an item that you won’t think about until you need one. Instead of interrupting your trip when your child scrapes their knee running around on Tom Sawyer’s Island, just put a Band-Aid on it and they are off again. If you buy Disney themed Band-Aids then it is almost like a badge of honor.

You may have more items to put in your sanity bag but these five I have found extremely useful. Just make sure whatever you bring is small. If it weighs you down you may not pack it and then you won’t be saving your sanity. Any vacation can become insane. Planning ahead can make the insanity fun instead of annoying. Fun is better. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: I don’t mind walking around in wet clothes because they will dry fairly quickly, but I hate having wet shoes. They never seem to dry and they make my feet feel gross. My sanity solution is to bring a pair of flip-flops with me. Flip-flops don’t take up much room and before you go on Splash Mountain or Grizzly River Run you can switch shoes. After the ride dry your feet off with the small towel you brought, put your damp flip-flops into a gallon baggie, and put your shoes back on. Your feet will be happy and that will make you happy.

I’d rather have Disneyland tickets

In my last post I explained how, even though park prices are going up, tickets to Disneyland are still a good value. Today I’d like to put the ticket price in real life terms. By giving up some or all of these items you can save the money needed for a Disneyland ticket without really noticing the ouch, and as always, a lot of these ideas are high in fat or high in calories so you get the added advantage of being healthier when you do visit the parks.

How much do you need to give up to pay for a $92 Disneyland ticket?

26 Vente Chai Teas at Starbucks ($3.50)

29 Double Doubles at In & Out Burger ($3.20)

15 Whopper value meals at Burger King ($5.79)

57 20-oz. bottles of Coca Cola ($1.59)

46 Lottery tickets ($2)

11 paperback books ($8.99)

18 People magazine copies off the newsstand ($4.95)

92 iTunes songs ($0.99)

9 Papa Murphy’s Cowboy Take-and-Bake pizzas ($10)

3 bouquets of a dozen red roses ($30)

5 DVDs ($18.96)

Easy, no? Can you live without pizza 9 times? Each time you would buy a pizza put the money in a jar or a savings account instead. You’ll have $92 in no time flat. We all indulge in things that could be reduced or removed from our lives without us really knowing. Just think of all the ways you could save for a trip to the Disney Parks. It’s not about depriving youself, it’s about priorities. What do you want more – a Starbucks drink or a trip to Disneyland? Me, I’ll make a drink at home and take it with me. Disneyland, here I come! Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: Make the trip a gift. Instead of giving flowers for your anniversary make paper flowers and include a tag that says the money you saved is going toward Disney tickets. Or make a gift card that shows the ammount you added to your Disney savings account. Flowers may die, but the memories of a Disney trip last forever.

I am going to use a one-day one-park ticket to Disneyland as an example. An adult pays $92 for a one-day visit. Hours vary at the park, but I for my example I am saying that the park opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. so you can visit for 12 hours. You would be paying $7.66 for each hour you visit. Does that sound better? Let’s compare it to other ways you can spend your fun money.

To go to  a2D  non-matinee movie at Regal Cinemas is $10.50. If an average movie is 2 hours long you pay $5.25/hour. A better value than Disneyland, but which gives you more lasting memories?

To see the Book of Mormon in New York City, a 2 1/2 hour play, you pay between $168 – $312 or $56 - $104/hour. I would think this would be a memorable event and I hope it is worth the price. Interestingly, at Disneyland you can also see plays that are pretty amazing and they are included in the price.

To see Carrie Underwood in concert costs an average of $59.83 a ticket for around a 4- hour concert. This event costs you $14.95/hour. This might be very memorable for you, but you can also see live bands at Disneyland, again as part of that one price.

Now, you might consider going to see the Dodgers. Prices range (not counting really expensive box seats) from $6 to $90. An average game may last 4 hours so this is a bargain at $1.50 – $22.50/hour. A $6 ticket cannot be beat, but your seats may be so high up that you’d be better off watching the game at home. Trust me, I have sat in these seats. I hope you’re not afraid of heights.

Obviously, I have a bias. I would rather go to Disneyland than just about anywhere else. And I know you have to pay for travel, parking, food, and souvenirs, but you are going to do that at any of the events I listed.

I tried to compare events that were similar in entertainment style and costs. I love to go hiking and that doesn’t cost hardly anything, but I don’t think a visit to the forest is the same type of entertainment as a trip to Disneyland so I didn’t make that comparison.

I guess my point is that even with the prices going up Disneyland still give you a good deal for your entertainment dollar. You get thrilling rides, great live shows, wonderful music, face time with characters you love, fantastic photos, and a day that you will not forget anytime soon in a park known for its cleanliness and family values. Is that worth it to you? It is to me. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: My best suggestion for saving money on tickets is to not go for just one day. The more days you visit the more money you save. A 5-day park hopper is $300. If you still figure 12 hours day for 5 days than the average price goes down to $5/hr. That is a pretty good price, and you have lots of time to see everything at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, and Downtown Disney. (And did I mention that Downtown Disney is always free to visit!) Become an annual passholder and the price can drop even more depending on how often you visit (and some levels include free parking, another savings.) Do a runDisney event and you get discounts, too. It isn’t hard to save money on tickets, it just takes research, and maybe a little pixie dust.

Saying something is Mickey Mouse has not always been a complement. It has been thought of as cheap, or shoddy, or small in importance. When I think of Mickey Mouse I think optimistic, dream catcher, and go-getter. As Walt Disney said, “…it was all started with a mouse.” Could my goal planning start with a mouse, too?

I was reading a great book on self-motivation called 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself by Steve Chandler. Sometimes a book with 100 ideas only has 2 or 3 really useful ones, but this book has almost 100 great ideas that are easy to use. Number 67 introduces the circle game, a way to plan a goal in 4 minutes. I have modified it into the Mickey Mouse goal game. Here is how it works.

Draw a simple Mickey Mouse face. We all know how to do this. Draw one large circle for his face and two smaller (not too small) circles for his ears. They don’t have to be perfect. Just make sure you have three circles.

Above the left ear write, “This year.” Above the right ear write, “This month.” Below the face write, “Today.” Okay, now you have your Mickey Mouse goal planner. You may want a calculator also. Let’s have some fun.

Pick a goal you are working on. It could be weight loss, or saving money, or paying a debt. Just pick one thing. My goal is to go to Disneyland this year. I need to save $1200 to do that. So my goal is “Save $1200 for Disneyland trip.” I write that in the left ear labeled “This year.”

Wow, that sounds hard to do. How am I ever going to save $1200? Well, if I want to go to Disneyland in December then I have six months (May through November) to save $1200. So I divide $1200 by 6 and I get $200. That sounds better. I write that number in the right ear labeled “This month.”

$200 is still a chunk of change. Let’s divide it again. When I divide $200 by 30 days I get $6.66 a day. I write that number in the face circle above “Today.” Wow. All I have to do is save $6.66 each day and I will be able to go to Disneyland in December? I can do that. That is a Mickey Mouse goal. Plus, it is fool proof. If I meet my daily Mickey Mouse goal I am guaranteed to meet my monthly goal and if I meet my monthly goal I am guaranteed to meet my yearly goal. Disneyland here I come!

Try this out yourself. Below I provide a few more examples. Some goals may be multi-year goals, like paying off a mortgage or student loan. Decide what you want to do in 2013 and worry about the rest later. The beauty of this goal planner is it focuses on what you can do today and usually it is very doable. You don’t have to wonder about next month or next year. Just reach your daily Mickey Mouse goal, mark it off your list, and get on with your day. Happiness squared.

5 Mickey Mouse Goals

1) Read the unread books on my shelf. 30 books  a year, 4.2 books a month, 1/6 a book each day

2) Pay off a $600 debt to a friend. $600 a year, $86 a month, save $3 a day

3) Lose 30 pounds. 30 pounds a year, 4.2 pounds a month, 1/6 pound a day or a deficit of 600 calories a day

4) Write a 300 page book. 300 pages a year, 43 pages a month, 1.5 pages a day

5) Complete 5 scrapbooks (each scrapbook has 40 pages.) 200 pages a year, 28 pages a month, 1 page a day

Goofy Quote: (I love this quote. I think it goes great with Mickey Mouse goal planning. Perhaps you could write it below your face to remind yourself to focus on the “Today” circle, and not worry about the month or the year.)

“Why worry? If you’ve done the very best you can, worrying won’t make it any better.” Walt Disney

Image from www.disneystore.com

The online Disney store is having a great sale on Cyber Monday. Just type in the code listed below and you can save on gifts for all the goofy Disney fans on your list.

Cyber Monday Deals at DisneyStore.com:

1) On November 26 save 15%-off purchases of $50

2) On November 26 save 20%-off purchases of $75

3) On November 26 save 25%-off purchases of $100

4) For any of these deals use the promo code: CYBER

5) Plus there is free shipping on orders over $75 or more.

In addition to these great savings disneystore.com is offering a text message program. With this program Guests can get special holiday offers sent to their mobile devices. To sign up text SHOP to 48169. (There may be charges connected to this. For more information check out this post at the Disney Parks Blog.)

What is most important about Christmas is the gifts of love and caring, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun buying gifts we know our family will enjoy. I will be shopping on Cyber Monday so I can avoid the crowds and save money at the same time. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: If you are going to be shopping on Amazon.com this holiday season and would like to support A Goofy Idea (I would love it if you did) then click here (yes, right here) to reach my website. Once you are there you can click on the Amazon advertisement on the right side of my page. That will take you to my affiliate link on Amazon.com. You can then buy whatever you need from Amazon and A Goofy Idea gets a small percentage back. Thank you for your support and happy shopping.

When I am planning a vacation to the Disney Parks I always ask for Disney gift cards for my birthday and Christmas. It is fun to have a little spending money on my trip and I always try to use the gift card for something special that I can tell the giver about. I also like giving Disney gift cards, but sometimes I don’t want to give something generic, I want to give something for a specific event. When I need a unique gift card I make them myself.

This is so easy that I’m just going to give general instructions. For paper I use blank perforated business cards so I don’t have to do any measuring or cutting. You can also use card stock of any color. Just use a business card as a size template. If you want to hand write your card then simply design it anyway you want. Tear apart or cut out your card and you are done.

It is even easier to create one on a computer. Use a business card template from your favorite word processing or publishing program (I use MS Word and MS Publisher). Delete what you don’t need and add what you want. When you are done print it out on either blank business card paper or card stock. (The photo on this post shows the one I made my best friend for her birthday. She’ll be redeeming her card when we are at Disneyland in September.)

These are fun and quick to make. They fit in any greeting card, and like store-bought gift cards they can be carried in a wallet until redeemed. Plus, they build excitement because the receiver knows they are going to get a Disney surprise from you. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: Two places where I buy Disney gift cards are at grocery stores and at Disneystore.com. Both of these places have a nice selection with lots of different characters to choose from. At Disneystore.com you can pick the amount you put on it. Now you know what to get the Disney fan in you life the next time you are stumped for a gift.

Me at my non-maingate hotel

There are many types of places you can stay while visiting the Disneyland Resort. Some options are hotels, campgrounds, time shares, family, and friends. Today I want to talk about hotels, and more precisely, hotels in the Anaheim area.

Disneyland Resort Hotels

If you are staying on-property then your planning is pretty simple. Once you pick your hotel you don’t have to drive anywhere or take a bus. You can walk to any of the parks. Plus staying on-property gets you  into the parks an hour early on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays this summer. This is the first time I will be staying on- property at the Disneyland Resort and I can’t wait to see the newly remodeled Disneyland Hotel. There three on-property hotels: The Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. I’ll go into more detail on these hotels in a later post.

Non-Maingate Hotels

If you are staying off-property you have two options: maingate hotels, and non-maingate hotels. When I was planning my last trip to Disneyland with AAA my travel agent said that non-maingate hotels were more than 1/2 mile away from Disneyland. That didn’t sound like much to me (I walk miles everyday) so I reserved a non-maingate hotel. Boy, a 1/2 mile is a lot different when it’s 2 a.m. and you’ve been in the parks all day. I decided that trip that I would stick with maingate hotels.

The truth is that with proper planning you can have a good trip and stay at a non-maingate hotel. There are shuttles that run from many of the hotels to the park and back. Your hotel would know their schedule. Or you can drive to the parks which might be a good idea if your hotel is several miles away, although you will have to pay for parking. Most non-maingate hotels are less expensive than maingate hotels so if you are on budget it might be the answer for you.

Maingate Hotels

Maingate hotels are exactly what they say they are. These hotels are off-property, but they are very close to the main gate of Disneyland. Some of them are closer to Disneyland than the Disneyland Resort hotels. You will pay more for these hotels, but if you want free breakfasts or take a break in the afternoon to enjoy the pool then these hotels could be perfect for you.

I hope this helped you out. There are many places to stay near the Disneyland resort. If you decide you want to stay in a hotel then your choices are down to on-property, non-maingate off-property hotels, and maingate off-property hotels. Simple. Just remember that the point is to have a happy time at the Happiest Place on Earth. Pick your accommodations to fit that plan. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: Even if you don’t stay on-property take some time to see the Disneyland Resort hotels. They have great restaurants and fun decor. After seeing one you might decide to stay there on your next trip to Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure.

As I plan my trip to Disneyland I am researching how to get from LAX to the Disneyland Hotel. Unlike in Orlando, there is no free option. I’ll be discussing those options on a later post. The lack of free transportation made me appreciate the free bus service that Disney provides from the Orlando International Airport to Walt Disney World. If you have not used Disney’s Magical Express I highly recommend it. It certainly makes my trips to Walt Disney World much easier. And the price is right.

5 reasons to use Disney’s Magical Express:

1) It’s free. Getting to Walt Disney World is not cheap. It does not matter if you take a plane, train, or automobile, unless you live in the southeast it can be one of your largest costs. Having a shuttle to the park is convenient, making it free is invaluable.

2) It saves you money. Free is nice, but this service actually saves you money because you don’t have to rent a car or pay any parking fees. This money can used to enhance other parts of your Disney Vacation.

3) It’s convenient. The bus runs whenever a Guest needs it. When you get to the bus area at the Orlando International Airport you do not have to wait long to get on a bus that will take you straight to your resort.

4) You don’t have to pick up your luggage. When you make your reservation for the Disney Magical Express they send you special yellow tags. These go on any checked luggage that you have. When you get to Orlando you don’t have to pick your luggage up from baggage claim. The Magical Express Cast Members retrieve your luggage and take it directly to your resort. That’s one less item to be hassled about.

5) It’s fun. The bus is very comfortable and the seats are much roomier than airplane seats. As you travel along the highway Mickey and the gang welcome you to the parks on an entertaining and informative video. Your Disney experience starts the minute you step on the bus.

I hope you will consider using Disney’s Magical Express the next time you visit Walt Disney World. For reservations and information call (407) WDW-MAGIC or (407) 939-6244. And stay tuned as I share what I have learned about transportation to the Disneyland Hotel in a future post.

Goofy Tip: Disney’s Magical Express is the best way I know to get to and from the Orlando International Airport, but it has one issue. The goal of the bus service is to get you to the airport 2 hours before your flight.  That is great most of the time, but our flight was at 6:30 in the morning. The Magical Express got us to airport before it was open for service. The second year we tried to explain that we didn’t need to arrive that early, but that is the schedule for the buses and we couldn’t change it. I think it is better to get to the airport too early instead of too late, but just be aware if you have a very early flight. Bring  pillow so you can catch a nap at the airport.