Murphy and the Mouse

People often ask me how we stay under budget when we travel to our Disney destination and how we get to go so often.  We go on vacation once a year, so it is really not THAT often, but I know it is more than some people are able to do.  I wanted to share some of my tips for you in this post, so that you can look for some creative ways to save money on your next Disney vacation (and maybe splurge on that character dining or extra magical experience!)   1) Prepare a budget up front.  YOU know what your family can afford.  YOU know what you want to spend.  No matter what your budget is, I can plan an awesome trip for you and your family/group!  There are really many options at all of the destinations and by booking as far out in advance as possible allows you more time to save up for your vacation! 2) Buy discounted Disney gift cards!  The best place that I have found is Target.  If you have a Target red credit or debit card, you can get ...

There has been an upgrade to the MDE app as of 8/22/17. It now allows for you to do 3 new, mouse-some things!! 1) Renew Annual passes 2) Track dining credits and usage 3) Track spending (food, merchandise, etc.) charged to your hotel account  So awesome!! These upgrades have been requested for quite some time now and we are happy to see that they have finally been rolled out!

Halloween at Disney !!! Disneyland Resort - Mickey's Halloween Party 2016 Party Guide for Reference 2017 Party Guide The 2017 dates for Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland are September 20, 22, 25, 27, 29 , and October 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27, and 31, 2017. The party runs from 6-11PM or 7-12AM depending on the evening.  Much like WDW, you can enter the park 3 hours prior to the official start of the party, however, your ticket is not good for the entire day, and you need a special party ticket to attend the party.   New for 2017: Your Halloween Party ticket will include admission to BOTH parks – Disneyland and California Adventure – up to 3 hours prior to party time. Special party only activities include: trick or treat stations, Halloween Screams Fireworks, The Ride of the Headless Horseman, the Frightfully Fun Parade, Cadaver Dans, Villain photo ops, Pre-party in Toon Town to meet Mickey and Minnie and trick or treat, ...

Why utilize a travel agent to plan YOUR next Disney destinations vacation?! It's simple, really. My services are FREE! I am paid commission directly from Disney or Universal. Knowledge - I stay up-to-date on all Disney vacation destinations. I can save you $$$ - I watch for new promotions and apply them to your vacation package as soon as they are available. Stress relief! - Vacations should be fun, not overwhelming! Let me set up your dining, fast passes, or shore excursions! Time Saver - you can be involved as little or as much in your vacation planning as your prefer!  Individualized Service - I will treat you like a VIP! This trip is all about YOU and your family's wants and needs and I will work with you to ensure that you have your dream vacation! We provide your one-of-a-kind unique trip itinerary, coupon booklet, and other travel documents, so you will feel prepared and excited to go on your trip! I am available before, during, and after your vacation for an...

As I sit here, watching my daughter have a blast with her friends in their pool this afternoon, I think to myself how quickly summers go and how, at least, for us, we don't always take advantage of the awesome weather and family time! I am here to help you change this - all of it!  There is still time to take that great summer vacation and have that dedicated family time you are thinking about while the kids are still out of school!  What about a Disney destinations vacation?  Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL or Disneyland in Anaheim, CA are fantastic places for that family vacation with tons of family-friendly activities and entertainment.  So why wait?  Back to school time will be here before you know it and life will be so busy again!!  Contact me today for all of your vacation planning needs at all Disney destinations and Universal and let me help you plan something magical! cristie.murphy@magical-vacations.com . Have a magical day :) and en...

Hey everyone!! I have recently decided to take my love for the Mouse to the next level and become a Disney vacation specialist! What does this mean? It means that I can help you book that Disney vacation that you have always dreamed of but are either too busy to do so or just don't know where to start! Contact me today if you want to chat or are ready to book ;) I would love to have the opportunity to assist in all of your travel planning needs.  I can be reached at cristie.murphy@magical-vacations.com. My family and I will be traveling to Disneyland at the end of August and I cannot wait to share our magical vacation with you all! I plan to share fun tips, tricks, and what we learn along the way. Stay tuned and have a magical day! Photo Credit:  Courtesy of Disneyland