Fun for the Family

Feb

FREE Admission to Anheuser-Busch Parks for Active Military

in Disney World Training,Fun for the Family

If you are active military you can get FREE Admission to Anheuser-Busch Parks (including SeaWorld Orlando). This program is called “Here’s to The Hero’s” and each active military member can enjoy one FREE single-day admission by showing their Department of Defense photo ID.

Anheuser-Busch parks include: SeaWorld Orlando, San Diego, or San Antonio, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay or Williamsburg, Sesame Place, Water Country USA, Adventure Island.

Not valid at Discovery Cove and Aquatica. Christmas Town at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va. is not included as part of this program. Christmas Town at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA and A Very Furry Christmas at Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA is not included as part of this program. Read more here.

(Thanks Smart Couponing!)

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Jan

Disney Fun: Schedule a Personalized Video Birthday Message From Mickey For Your Child

in *Deals Online,Disney themed deals,Fun for the Family

Disney Junior is taking birthday celebrating to the next level. In addition to the FREE birthday phone call that is available to almost everyone, you can now schedule an animated birthday message from Mickey, Minnie or Jake from the Neverland Pirates.

Here’s how to create one for your child (ages 2-7):

You must create a Disney account and opt-in to the mailing list. You’ll be able to enter your child’s name and birthday in this same step.
If you already have an account, you can log into the prefernces page and check the box under Newsletter Subscriptions to sign up for the Disney Junior “It’s Your Birthday” Celebration.
About 5 weeks before the big day, you will receive an email from Disney with an invitation to schedule the personalized greeting. You can schedule these greetings up to a week before your child’s birthday.
On your child’s birthday, be sure to check your inbox for the personalized greeting!

Be sure to check out my Fun for the Family category where I keep all the current inexpensive things that you can do with the family.

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Dec

Barnes and Noble: FREE Online Storytime featuring Polar Express

in Fun for the Family

Barnes and Noble has a new online storytime that features a popular story ready by someone we all know. This month’s story is Polar Express, read by the author.

Be sure to check out my Fun for the Family category where I keep all the current inexpensive things that you can do with the family.

(Thanks Coupon Geek!)

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Dec

Freebie: Get a free subscription to Lego magazine

in Fun for the Family

Lego has a FREE 2 year subscription to Lego Club Magazine for kids under age 7. We have gotten this magazine for a while and the kids get excited every time an issue comes.

Be sure to check out my Fun for the Family category where I keep all the current inexpensive things that you can do with the family.

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Nov

FREE Child’s Admission To LegoLand On Lego Packages

in Fun for the Family

If you are planning on visiting Legoland soon, you might want to stop by your local Toys R Us to check out the Lego packets. Both the Snowman and the Wreath packets contain a coupon on the back for a FREE child’s admission with the purchase of an adult admission at Legoland. That’s a $69 value! The coupon is good thru 12/31/12.

(Thanks Anna!)

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Nov

FREE Disney Character Phone Call for Your Child’s Birthday

in Disney themed deals,Fun for the Family

DisneyJunior.com has released a special new birthday experience with a little help from Disney Junior friends Mickey, Minnie and Jake! The “It’s Your Birthday!” Celebration is an exciting new program for parents to create a memorable Disney Junior-inspired birthday for their child. Plus you can even schedule a personalized birthday greeting for their child in the form of an animated video greeting and/or phone call from Mickey, Minnie or Jake. (*Currently phone calls are not available to area codes originating from WA, GA, KY, MS, NE, TN, ID and LA.)

You will need to sign up for the “It’s Your Birthday!” Celebration at DisneyJunior.com/Celebration to schedule your child’s personalized greeting.

Not your child’s birthday yet? You can still schedule a FREE character call via Disney Movie Rewards.

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Nov

Guest Post: Date Night…At Home!

in Fun for the Family,Guest Posts,Lets save some money

Life gets so busy! And, unfortunately, it can be so easy to let a week or two go by and not spend any quality time with your spouse. Sure, you talk over dinner as one of dishes out food to one child and the other cleans up a spill from the other child. You watch tv or a movie together but one of you is on the laptop (that’s me!) and the other is working on something else at the same time. Are you really spending time together?

One thing that my husband and I are trying to do is to set aside at least one night a week as date night. A time that we get to spend together, as a couple. While it would be nice to be able to go out to a movie or to dinner for our date nights, that just isn’t in our budget to do on a weekly basis. So, we have to be creative and spend our date nights at home….after the kids are in bed!

Here are some ideas for date nights at home:

1) Movie Night - This one is easy. Put the laptop away (me, me, me), move the work aside and cuddle up together in front of a movie. Pop some popcorn and grab a pop to add to the movie appeal.

2) Game Night – Whether it be a traditional board game or a friendly boxing match on the Wii, challenge your spouse to a game!

3) Have a Picnic – In the living room. Spread out a blanket and share some dessert!

4) Have Coffee – Turn your dining room into a coffeehouse. Just sit and have a cup of coffee and maybe a sweet treat and talk.

Date nights don’t have to break the bank. The idea is that you have a chance to spend some time with your spouse as a couple.

Heather blogs over at Spectacular Savings. She teaches others how to save money and give more.

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Oct

Write a letter to your favorite Disney character and get an autographed picture in return

in Fun for the Family

Update: It seems Disney is now sending autographed post cards instead of 8×10 prints. They are still beautiful and fun to receive, but I know they aren’t what you expected. I’m glad they are still doing something though!

The post card above was received by my reader Kelsey when she wrote Cinderella. Here is the back side:

Below is the previous post:

I have very exciting news. Disney World will also send you an autographed picture when you write a letter to the following address:

Walt Disney World Communications
P.O. Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040

We wrote a letter to Cinderella and received an autographed 8×10 colored picture within 2 weeks.

Disneyland sends black and white character photos when you write a letter to this address:

Walt Disney Company
Attn: Fan Mail Department
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521

The picture will arrive with 4-6 weeks.

Letter Writing Tips & Ideas

You can write repeated letters to each address. I have received multiple pictures from both addresses.
If you have multiple children, they can each write letters. My kids mail their letters on the same day.
I suggest you write characters that you know greet guests at the Disney Parks.
We wait for our picture to arrive and then send the next letter the following day.
How to write a letter is a great skill to teach your children. By writing their favorite characters, you are teaching them how to write a letter and how the postal service works.

Be sure to email me when your latest picture arrives!

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Sep

Write a letter to your favorite Disney character and get an autographed picture in return (update)

in Disney World Guest Posts,Fun for the Family

Update: The got Goofy (Jacob’s 2nd autographed pic) in the mail yesterday. You could always write the characters on behalf of your child and you should receive the autographed picture in time to put it under tree.

How would your kids like an autographed 8×10 picture from their favorite Disney character? All you have to do is write them a letter at this address and be sure to let them know why you love them so much:

Walt Disney Company
Attn: Fan Mail Department
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521

You should receive an autographed picture back in a few weeks.

This is a great way to teach kids how the mail system works and help them practice writing letters of their own. I posted this back in April and a few of my readers (including us) have already received their photographs. My daughters was even personalized with her name!

(Thanks Busy Little Bee, Sarah and Melissa for the photos!)

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Jun

Let’s Save Some Money by going to the mall without spending a dime

in Fun for the Family,Lets save some money

This is a guest post by my reader Nancy who entertains her kids by going to the mall without spending a dime.

A part of my summer entertainment for my kids is going to the mall. I think I’m the only person I know of, though, that doesn’t spend a dime when we go there!

Malls (both indoor and outodor) are a great way to beat the heat and keep the kids entertained during the summer months. But can you go without spending any money? Here are some tips:

1. Check your mall’s website. Many malls have free entertainment during the summer. One of our local malls has clowns, magicians and musicians performing shows in the afternoon.

2. Set the expectations with your kids. If you are not going to spend any money there, tell your kids before you go so that they are not disappointed. I still do this every time with my kids. If they see something they are dying to have, tell them you can write it down and they can add it to their birthday or Christmas wish list.

3. There’s more to entertain than just the mall playground. Book stores are a great place to visit–our mall has a Barnes & Noble which has a great kids section with a train table and many interactive displays. The Lego Store always has play tables available. Does your mall have an ice skating rink? We’ve gone to watch a hockey game and to watch some talented athletes train for an ice skating competition. Many of the outdoor lifestyle malls have upped their kid entertainment offerings too–our nearby outdoor mall has a splash pad and a big sand play area.

4. Plan your time so that you are not there during a meal time. That way, you won’t be tempted to give in to hunger and go out to eat. Mid-morning or mid-afternoon works best for us.

5. Bring snacks. Inevitably, your kids will get hungry. Bring snacks, find a nice place to sit and eat them. Then you won’t be tempted to stop at the cookie store.

6. Stick to your budget. If your goal was to not spend any money, stick to it! Don’t be tempted by any great deals or sales you see. Leave without buying it. Sleep on it, ask yourself the next day if you still need it.

7. Vary your destinations! Don’t visit the same mall all the time. Are there other nearby malls or outdoor malls nearby?

8. Meet up with friends. The kids will love meeting up with their other friends there for a playdate. Just make sure they don’t sabotage your spending goals!

***Note: Most malls have candy machines for 25 cents. Although this post is about not spending any money at the mall, the candy machines can be a cheap reward for kids.

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