Friday Freebie-Mother's Day Edition

It is almost Mother's Day!

Our friends over at Disney Movie Rewards have given out free printables to share the occasion with amazing Disney moms, grandmas, aunts and other important women. 

They have released an awesome matching card and frame sets for your little (or big ones) to use. 

We have included the links under each picture. There is a link for the picture and one for the frame. Have fun and make lots of memories. Also feel free to share your final results with us.

Click to start your download:

·         momday101dalmatianscard.pdf

·         momday101dalmatiansframe.pdf

Click to start your download:

·         momdaydumbocard.pdf

·         momdaydumboframe.pdf

Click to start your download:

• momdaydumbocardb.pdf
• momdaydumboframeb.pdf

Click to start your download:

• momdaybravecard.pdf
• momdaybraveframe.pdf

Click to start your download:

• momdayincrediblescard.pdf
• momdayincrediblesframe.pdf

Click to start your download:

• momdayaristocatscard.pdf
• momdayaristocatsframe.pdf

Amanda is a self-proclaimed Disney nerd who is raising two boys. Amanda loves to help plan Disney trips for others as an agent of SnapshotGetaways. You can follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

Thanksgiving Day Hats

It is important to wear your Thanksgiving hat or crown to the table during your feast. So to help out with that we are going to point you in the right direction.  First you and your little one need to know how many children will be attending the feast so you know how many to make. Then you are going to head over to http://family.disney.com/thanksgiving

Then you will have three choices: Mickey's Pilgrim  Hat, Goofy's Pilgrim Hat or Belle's Thankgiving Day Crown.  Choose how many of each and let your little one get to work. They all take a minimal amount of work. When you are finished put them in a safe place until feast time.

 Mickey's Pilgrim Hat

http://family.disney.com/crafts/mickey-pilgrim-hat

Picture from family.disney.com

Goofy's Thanksgiving Pilgrim Hat

http://family.disney.com/crafts/mickey-pilgrim-hat

Picture from family.disney.com

Belle's Thanksgiving Day Crown

http://family.disney.com/crafts/belles-thanksgiving-crown

Picture from family.disney.com

Please feel free to share with us your little ones and their Thanksgiving Day hats or crowns.

From our Disney Devoted Family to yours: Happy Thanksgiving!

Amanda is a self-proclaimed Disney nerd. She has two boys who are waiting impatiently to drive mom crazy during the holiday week. As an agent of Snapshot Getaways, Amanda loves to help plan Disney trips for others. You can follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

Thanksgiving Planner

Thanksgiving week has officially begun. If your holiday is like mine you have lots to do and anxious children at home that want to help. So this week Disney Devoted is going to give you ideas and point you in the right places so that you have things for the little ones to do to help in the celebration.

It being Sunday we want to help you out with your Thanksgiving day planning. So we moused on over to www.family.disney.com and found a wonderful Mickey & Minnie's Thanksgiving Day planner. You can find it here: http://family.disney.com/crafts/mickey-minnies-thanksgiving-planner

Go there and print out the template. You then can have your little one help you fill it in. This way you know who is bringing what or what sides you are making and etc. Make sure you hang it on the fridge so you and your little one can stay on task.

Courtsey of family.disney.com

Please feel free to share with us your planners or your little ones filling in their planners.

From our Disney Devoted Family to yours: Happy Thanksgiving!

Amanda is a self-proclaimed Disney nerd. She has two boys who are waiting impatiently to drive mom crazy during the holiday week. As an agent of Snapshot Getaways, Amanda loves to help plan Disney trips for others. You can follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

Freebie Friday-Disney Digital Storybooks

Photo from iTunes Store

This is one of my favorite apps for my boys.  Bonus being, your first 4 books are free!  Occasionally, Disney will offer another book for free as a special promotion.  All you have to do is go to iTunes or your App Store and download the free app.  Then you will be able to select your free books!

Fun part is that the books can be read by you or your child, or you can have them read to you.  Perfect for early readers.  Of course, additional books are not free but can be purchased.  What you do is purchase a certain number of "coins" and you can select your book from there.  A nice little reward for helping around the house or a school project completed!  This app can also be gifted, so a great idea for Christmas.

Tip:  Make sure you sign up for updates from Disney Storytime.  This is when you will be notified of any additional free books or new releases.

Disney Devoted Survival Tips-Planning Your Flight

So you’ve decided that flying to Disney is the way to go.  I live in the Northeast, so our flight is short, but in my opinion, necessary.  My parents were all about the road trip, but with two young boys, I’m all about getting there quickly.  So I’m going to share a few of my tips for a successful flying experience with the family. Disclaimer:  I make no guarantees here.  Flying these days can be rough.  But try a few of these ideas to ease the pain.

Planning Ahead

• Picking Your Flight
  :  Pick a time that works for you.  If you are not morning people, don’t stress yourself out by trying to get a 6am flight.  Direct flights are not always financially feasible, but if it’s a matter of a small amount, definitely go that way!  Spend less on your souvenirs when you get to Disney. Obviously we are all traveling from different parts of the country, but we try to take a late morning flight which gets us in mid afternoon.  For many families, traveling during nap time works out well.  If your kid is easily distracted this is not a good plan.  Then you are left with a napless, cranky child.   
• Discounted Flights: Many times if you go to your home airport there will be smaller companies that fly out of there to Orlando. Just check the individual airline website for details as many of these companies will not show up on the discount travel sites. 
• Bagging It:  We travel with a bag or backpack with several pockets and use bags within the bag.  By that I mean using ziploc bags, pencil cases,  makeup bags, etc to compartmentalize your items.  Dollar Stores are a great place to find little bags.  Keep all like items together for easy access during the security check in and flight.
• Travel Insurance:  If you are traveling during Hurricane Season or during the winter months, I strongly recommend this.  With kids, I always purchase travel insurance.  
• Entertainment:  Purchase some small entertaining toys, books or games that will be new to your children.  Or put some of their favorites away for a while and reintroduce them.  It could be as simple as a Matchbox car!  Download apps,  movies or tv shows they haven’t seen before if you travel with a IPad or similar device.  Disney shows of course!   Coloring books the “magical markers” are a big hit with this family.
• Preparation:  If this is their first flight, talk with your children about the process.  Books are always great tools.  Especially inform them that they will walk through security on their own.   Practicing and play acting your flying scenario can be fun family time.

What to Pack

• One Carry-on Per Person
  :  The trend now is to pack as much in carry-on  luggage as possible.  Remember you have to carry it through the airport so pack smartly.   We pack small, rolling bags for our kids with their toys, books and games.  Follow TSA rules ahead of time and have your toiletries and such at the ready.  Click here for TSA Tips for Traveling with Children.
• Strollers and Car Seats:  You may check those at the gate, but I recommend  investing in a cheap folding carrier any large car seats to get them through the airport.  It doesn’t have to be especially made for car seats, which will save you some money.  Ours is a $20 cart from Target with a bungee cord.  Don’t judge, it works.  Renting these pieces in Florida is also an easy option!
• Snacks:  You can never have too many snacks, because any extras can be for the parks.  Bring something you wouldn’t normally give your child on an average day so that it’s special.  Colored goldfish, flat fruit rollups, etc.  Don’t forget something for you, snacks will keep the cranky parent and child at bay!   I also suggest packing an empty sippy cup for your kiddos so the drinks on the flight (and in the parks) don’t create a mess.
• Comfort item for your child:  Do they have a Woobie, Teddy, or Lovey that never leaves them?  Make sure you don’t pack it in the luggage.  It will need to go on the security belt, so have that conversation ahead of time.
• Emergency Supplies:  Any prescription medications you need to have on hand, pain reliever (for both kids and parents), wet wipes, chargers, etc.   At least a spare shirt, preferably a spare outfit.
• Magical Express:  If you are taking the Magical Express, pack anything you might need within the first few hours of arrival in your carry-on.  Don't forget your Magic Bands!  They should be handy when you arrive in Orlando.  Change of clothes, trip information, swimsuits, sunscreen etc.  Your luggage will be a few hours behind you so keep that in mind.

Keep an eye out for my follow-up article Disney Devoted Survival Trips-Flying to Disney

Maria aka MickeyMom is a Travel Planner with Snapshot Getaways and mom to two expert flyers.  Visit her Facebook page