Couponing to Disney

Sounds like Brandy had a blast! Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is so fun. I am so glad she got to enjoy it! It seems like no matter how much you prepare sometimes you just can’t avoid making little mistakes that cost you time. The important thing is to not let it ruin your trip! It happens to the best of us! Mobile ordering is a game changer. Make sure you take advantage of it, it will save you valuable park time.

You can read her announcement of Couponing to MNSSHP here!
You can read her check in #1 here!
You can read her check in #2 here!
You can read her check in #3 here!

In the last week before my trip, I ended with $50.00 from Swagbucks! I didn’t make my $60.00 goal but I decided to go ahead and add the $10.00 in. Let me just tell you I worked SB that last week like crazy. Normally I spend about 30 minutes a day on SB, I was spending 2-3 hours a day! It was work but totally worth it. Almost all of my SB for that week came from surveys or MyGiftCardplus purchases.

We made it to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party! It was spectacular, I see what all the hype is about now. I knew it was going to be fun. But I had no idea just how magical it was going to be! Everything from the character interactions to cast members was perfect. The only down fall was the heat. It was 90 plus degrees the evening we went. It did cool down around 6 PM but it was so hot for the first few hours. 

We arrived on Disney property at 2:20 PM. We had a reservation at Kona Cafe for 1:45 PM. I left Kristin’s late…like usual. I am always late for everything.  After we picked up Kathy (Jason’s mother) I noticed the gas light was on. I thought way to procrastinate Brandy! At home my husband puts gas in my gas guzzling SUV. I am just not use to checking for gas. For that reason, I blame him on why it took me an extra 20 minutes to get gas. If you have a husband I am sure you can relate. Everything is their fault even if they aren’t with you! It was a new experience parking and riding the monorail. At 1 PM when I was barely leaving Kristin’s I realized I was going to be late for my reservation. I called Kona Cafe and told them I was coming but would be late and asked if that was an issue. They said no it would be fine but if I arrived after 3 PM it would be dinner service. 

While riding the monorail, Kathy and I where discussing if we stayed on the Monorail to get to the Polynesian or got off at the Magic Kingdom and took the ferry or bus. We didn’t know we had to get off one Monorail and get on another to go to the resorts. I was thinking where is Kristin Cooper when you need her!  Thankfully a woman heard us talking and told us we had to get off the Monorail going to the Magic Kingdom from the parking lot and get on the one that took you to the resorts.

We arrived at Kona Cafe at 2:45 PM. I had never been to the Polynesian before. It was beautiful! Be on the look out for a review of Kona Cafe coming up later this week. The food was really good and cheap by Disney standards! After we ordered, our food arrived within 20 minutes. By 3:30 PM we where on the Monorail again headed back to the Magic Kingdom.  We got inside the park at just after 4 PM. Kathy and my grandma went and hung out in The Emporium to cool off. We were really hot from standing in line at the entrance for 30 minutes waiting to get in. Chloe and I decided to head back to Splash Mountain to cool off. The app said only a 30 minute wait and I knew that area was shaded.

After we rode Splash Mountain Chloe wanted a Dole Whip. We called Kathy and my grandma to see if they wanted one. Of course they did who doesn’t want a Dole Whip! Here is a tip for you. I asked for the Dole Whips to be put in the float cups instead of the small cups they are normally in. That way as it melted it would melt into the cup and not be wasted. After we got the Dole Whips we headed back to the Big Top area, where they where sitting waiting for Trick or Treating to start at 7 P.M. We thought it was 6 PM. We had asked in the emporium and was told it started at 6 PM. We found out after we got to the Big Top area that it began at 7 PM. We rode the Barnstormer while we waited. Kristen one of online friends was there that night as well. We got to visit with her for a little while. It was really nice to meet her in person.

I made some crucial mistakes. Which I knew better, but I just go caught up in the fun. I should of ordered thru mobile ordering for the Dole Whips. I wasted 20 minutes in line waiting to order and get my Dole Whips. Also I should of asked someone else about Trick or Treating. By the time I made my way back to the Big Top area it was already 6:15 PM. We stayed in that area waiting for Trick or Treating to start. We could of rode at least 2 more rides on the way back to the Big Top area if I had mobile ordered the Dole Whips and not been in a hurry to get them back to Kathy and my grandma before they melted. 

At 7 PM we started Trick or Treating and hit up all the spots on the trail. It was fun but very time consuming. We only stopped once for water and there was no line. We didn’t finish trick or treating until around 8:30 PM. I could tell Kathy and my grandma had enough walking and needed a break. We headed to Cosmic Rays for dinner. I knew we could leave them sitting in the AC to cool down and refresh. This time I did use mobile ordering. We had our food in less then 10 minutes! It was amazing. I just sat down showed everyone the menu on my phone asked what they wanted and ordered it. Then went and stood in the mobile order line and waited on it. By 9 PM, Chloe and I where headed back out to have some more fun! 

I had told her many times we aren’t going to meet many characters the lines will be to long and its just a waste of time and that she could pick 2-3 she really wanted to meet. After we left Cosmic Rays, we headed back to Adventure land to start meeting her chosen characters. She choose Aladdin, Jack Sparrow, and Tarzan. We ran into the parade in Frontier land. That held us up by 15 minutes. We where really trying to beat it. But there was just so many people sitting and standing to watch. It was almost impossible to pass thru the the single file line that allowed you to move about the side walk. That was another mistake I made! We should of rode rides until after 9:15 PM to avoid the chaos of the parade.

As soon as the parade passed we made a made dash for Aladdin. Aladdin and Abu rotate out with Jasmine and Genie, when we got in line it was Jasmine and Genie. Chloe wanted to come back later in the night for Aladdin. I told her no we are here we are going to meet Jasmine and Genie. We only waited about 15 minutes. Next we made our way up front by Swiss Family Robinson tree house to meet Tarzan. Unfortunately for Chloe Tarzan was busy in the jungle. Some sort of crisis with the monkeys kept him in the jungle. Instead he sent Jane and Terk. When we got in line to meet them there was only a small group of 4 people in front of us. They had been on break and would be back within 10 minutes the handler said. Chloe didn’t want to wait, again I told her no we are waiting. We waited only about 10 minutes total before it was our turn. I just love Terk so much! He played with my hair and we kept hugging. I just wanted to take him home with me!

Next up was Jack Sparrow. When we got in line the handler told us he was about to go on break. But we could wait he would be back in 15 minutes. There was at least 10 people in front of us. As soon as they said he was going on break. Every one but 3 people left. I thought JACKPOT! Chloe was more then thrilled to meet Jack Sparrow. She has such a crush on him. I told him that and he invited her to come along on the adventures on the high sea. He said he would kick off some pirate to make room for her (he named him but I don’t remember the name) his new pirate bride. He really played into the whole crush thing with her. She was happy as good be! By the time we finished with Jack Sparrow it was already 10:25 PM. We rode Pirates of the Caribbean it was walk on. 

After that we decided to head back up front to where Kathy and my grandma where holding our parade spots. When we got up front one of the Hocus Pocus shows was underway. We went to watch it. We where in the very back. But it was so good! Next time I will make sure I am closer so I can see better.  After that we went and waited for the headless horseman to ride by. It was so neat to see him! I don’t know what it is about the headless horseman but he is just so mysterious, creepy, and exciting all at the same time. The parade is so magical! I did not think I would enjoy it as much as I did. The characters are so neat to see them all up close doing the same dance routine. It is like you are a part of your favorite movies. Peter Pan actually came up to my grandma and whispered in her ear. I think that was the highlight of her night! 

We have only been to Disney World one other time, but I don’t remember the characters having such amazing interactions with us. They are really what made our night magical!  I was wrong to tell Chloe not to worry about the characters. They really made us feel as if we where part of the story line or visiting their world. All of the interactions we had where amazing and will be remembered for years to come! I can’t wait to go back and meet the other characters during the MNSSHP. You don’t have to purchase photopass. All of these pictures where taken with my phone by the photopass photographer or cast members. 

10-3 thru 10/10
Swagbucks – $50.00
I added the additional $10.18 in to put me at my goal.

Total earned to date – $522.00
Total Needed: $532.18

(Thanks, Brandy) 

Use code C2D70 to get started with 70 SB! New to Swagbucks? Swagbucks is a way to earn points by doing surveys, watching videos, and discovering new things. All these points, called SB, can be redeemed for gift cards from hundreds of major retailers including Target, Walmart, and you can also redeem your points for Paypal! 

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