Thursday, June 30, 2011

I Started my Christmas Shopping!!!

The Disney Store is having an amazing sale through Sunday on their Clearance items!!  I just started my Christmas shopping because of it!!  I was able to use all 3 coupon codes in the image below PLUS today only, you can use  GIFT2011 for an extra 15% off and FREE SHIPPING if you spend $50!!  I got well over $200 worth of goodies for $70 with tax!!  16 items in all!!  I would hurry though, a couple things sold out between the time I added them to my cart and the time that I checked out.  Plus I went through Ebates and earned 5% cash back -




Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Best Western Downtown Disney Review

* Why did you choose this resort? 
We were arriving in Orlando a couple days before our
reservations on property began and they could not 
get us in to All Star Sports early. It was a 
competition weekend and all values were full!!  We 
are members of Mousesavers and I went there to see 
what kind of deals were available.  I should mention 
that I did this in the parking lot of a McDonald's 
just a few miles outside of Orlando, less than an 
hour before we actually checked in to the hotel –
so you do not need any lead time – just access to 
the internet, I guess...  We got the $69 per night 
rate and last year when we just stopped in here, 
they told us either $99 or $119...


    * What were the resort rooms like? Were they big 
enough for your family? Did you find them to be 
acceptable? 

The rooms were awesome!!  We had a balcony, 
refrigerator, 2 queen sized beds, a nice flat screen 
TV. Plenty of space around the table in the room to 
eat – the boys ate out on the balcony when we brought 
food back to the room. Outside the bathroom was a nice 
large area with a shelf and mirror that you could use 
to get ready at while someone else was in the bathroom. 
Other things in the room included a coffee maker, iron, 
safe, video game thing for the tv (we didn't let the 
boys use it).  They also have the Disney top 10 channel
that the boys love to watch every minute we're in the 
room!!  Gotta love the excitement that Stacy shows over
and over again :)

* What were the amenities of the resort like? 
What was your favorite one? 

They had a nice little fitness center – you had to use 
your key to get into it, it was not something we had 
time to use but if we had more time here, my husband  
would've liked to take advantage of it.  The pool was 
very nice sized and they had a kiddie pool (it was not 
that warm) We only swam at night and it was early 
February – warm days and chilly nights... I ended up 
not going in bc the air was just cold enough that the 
warm water wasn't warm enough for me!!  The kids and 
daddy had a blast, but all I did was put my feet in! 
There was also a game room that we did not use but it's 
there.  They have birds in the lobby area that the boys 
got a kick out of too.  They also try and get you to go 
to a time share appt (the 2 guys sitting at a nice big 
desk off to the side in the lobby).  They weren't
terribly pushy but they give you a lot of coupons for 
local stores and restaurants.  We made the mistake of 
using one of them at Cici's across the street – DON'T!! 
Those coupons cost you more than if you just order like 
you would without a coupon. Our “free” buffets at Cici's 
cost us over $20 bc we had to buy sodas to get them – 
the boys sodas cost more than their buffets and the place 
has sulfer water so all the soda or iced tea options were 
nasty!!  We should've stuck with Subway like the first night!!
There were some good coupons for Downtown Disney in our
booklet from the front desk though!

    * What was the food court like? Any favorite foods? 

I can not brag about the food at this resort.  As part 
of the mousesavers rate, we rec'd 2 complimentary 
continental breakfasts each day, which meant a bagel and 
coffee or juice.  They have a restaurant with a breakfast
buffet – you could upgrade to that for $6 each and the 
kids were only $3 each – we figured it was a bargain based 
on what we pay for Character breakfasts! We checked it out
and decided to go with it.  They had Mickey Waffles (the 
large ones), pancakes, french toast, cereal, salad bar, 
sausage, bacon, toast, bagels, muffins, fruits, and other
things that I am sure I'm forgetting.  The boys wanted that
big Mickey Waffle first thing so I made them, got them back
to the table and went to get my own.  When I got back, 
neither of them were eating and had these grossed out faces. 
There was something with the batter or the syrup, I dont'
know but we quickly realized that this was not Disney Standard 
food :(  They ended up eating cereal and a banana even the
strawberries weren't good)..  We always take a banana with 
us when we do Character breakfasts because they can never 
eat them, this place had a note on the table that if you take 
a banana, you will be charged something like $2.50!!  Even 
my husband, who can get twice his money's worth on any buffet, 
left hungry.  So not worth the $18 plus tax and tip!!  We 
should've gotten the 2 bagels and juice and let him get the 
buffet just because he did eat more than the rest of us..  The 
second morning, we only got what was free and headed to 
All Stars to check in. 
 
* How were the resort buses? What was your walk to 
the bus stop like? How were the resorts bus stops at
the parks? How far was the walk to the gates? 
How crowded were the buses at any given time? 

We never actually rode any of the buses.  They were never
there when we were ready to go to Downtown Disney.  We had
our own car so we just drove down and once we walked. 
It was a hike but it was fun and went quickly!  We knew 
we weren't going to be buying anything big and just wanted 
the exercise after 2 days of driving south.  The bus stop 
at the resort was right outside the front doors though, very 
convenient.  The buses looked like they had much more 
comfortable seats than the Disney buses do.

    * Would you stay at this resort again? If not, 
please provide a reason. 

I would stay at this resort again as a prequil to our on 
site stay.  I would only stay here though at the mousesavers 
rate – I would not pay the full price.  It is a very nice 
hotel but there are hundreds of them around that area in 
the same $69 price range.


   *Sorry Kristin - apparently I took NO photos at this 
resort - I find that hard to believe, since I easily take 
over 1500 at Disney... 
Okay, I found one of my 10 year old on the balcony drinking 
his rootbeer :)

Monday, June 20, 2011

Cars 2 - the video game!!

It is no secret that we are a house full of Disney freaks!!  I don't know who is more excited for Lightning and Mater being back on the big screen this weekend - my boys or me (I'm guessing me!!)  They can't wait for the video game to be released tomorrow!! 
Are you ready to take a crash course in saving the world? In Cars 2: The Video Game, train to become an agent of C.H.R.O.M.E. (Command Headquarters for Recon Operations & Motorized Espionage) and take on dangerous missions, compete to become the fastest race car in the world, or just use your spy skills in exciting, action-packed combat racing! With so many new and exciting features what will friends be most excited to hear about?
  • Over 20 characters to choose from including past favorites such as Lightening McQueen and Mater the tow truck, as well as new spy personalities like Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell
  • Action packed missions that unfold in 6 exotic locales across the world
  • Adrenaline filled combat racing that keeps you on the edge of your seat
  • A robust multi-player functionality - perfect for high velocity fun for the whole family
  • Available on Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo DS, PC/Mac
  • ESRB Rating - Everyone to Everyone 10+
  • In stores June 21, 2011
Your kids' (and your) favorite characters from Radiator Springs are back in action and ready to save the world in Cars 2: The Video Game. Join the team at C.H.R.O.M.E. and jump into a whole new world of fast-paced intrigue, exotic locations and fun for the whole family without leaving the house!  (I copied this from the Bzz agent site)  You can check out the facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/carsgames?sk=wall - lots of chances to win prizes and give your thoughts on the game!!