You might be shaking your head right now. You might be thinking, “This is a blog for a group called The Mouse for Less and you’re trying to convince me to stay at the most expensive Disney owned and operated resort at Walt Disney World?” Granted, a stay at the Grand Floridian…
Author: Kristina Valcarce
My first Walt Disney World vacation was in 1976, and my first Disneyland experience was in 1995, when I moved to Los Angeles. I am a bi-coastal Disney nerd and proud of it!
Pools at the Disneyland Resort
The Red Monorail Slide at the Disneyland Hotel pool For some people, a trip to the Disneyland Resort involves spending every waking moment in the two parks, perhaps throwing in a visit or two to Downtown Disney. But for others, no vacation is complete without a dip in the hotel pool. If pools are…
Disney on Broadway’s Dance Tutorial
Dancers from Aladdin on Broadway teach the choreography to Arabian Nights These days, we’re all spending more time than we’d like to in front of a screen. But what if you could use that screen time to get up and get moving, and enjoy some Disney magic while you’re at it? Learning the arm movements…
How to Draw a Toy Story Alien
My finished product I’ve always loved the Animation Academy at both Walt Disney World (I miss it!) and Disneyland (in California Adventure), so when I heard that Pixar was releasing videos about how to draw their famous characters, I thought it would be fun to try! Keep in mind, my husband and my daughter are…
The Skywalker Legacy: A Mouse For Less Review
Now streaming on Disney + For me, Disney and Star Wars have always been inexorably linked. This is probably because both entered my life at about the same time. I was 5, going on 6, when I first visited Walt Disney World. And I was 6, going on 7, when I went to the movie…
Disney California Adventure for Marvel Fans
in the queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! Editor’s Note: This article was written prior to the parks closing due to COVID-19 If you’re like me, you’ve been spending a lot of time at home, checking out new content on streaming services, or revisiting old favorites. It should surprise absolutely no one to…
Celebrating Mary Poppins on your Disney Trip
Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe, Disneyland Editor’s Note: This article was written prior to the parks closing due to COVID-19. My favorite Disney film of all time is, hands down, Mary Poppins. The music, the incredible characters, and the heart warming story of a father learning how to truly be present for his children gets me…
Hamilton on Disney+
I was very late to the Hamilton party. When all my friends and family were babbling incoherently about listening to the soundtrack on repeat and seeing it multiple times both off-Broadway and on, I smiled politely, making the assumption that it was no doubt an excellent show but that I was definitely not the target…
Breakfast: The Most Important Meal of the Day
A kitchenette in a Disney Vacation Club villa at the Grand Californian The Mouse for Less’ Facebook group is a great place for Disney travelers to ask advice from people who have been there and done that. Over the years, I’ve noticed that certain questions get asked more than others. One of those questions is…
The Pixar Pal-A-Round
Have you ridden the Pixar Pal-A-round? When you think about Disney theme park attractions, Ferris wheels probably don’t spring immediately to mind. But Disney does have one in the United States. It’s located in the Disneyland Resort’s California Adventure park, and it’s called the Pixar Pal-A-Round. Pixar Pier on a bright, sunny day It didn’t…
Rope Drop or Close the Park?
The entrance to Disneyland Park at park opening and at night Despite what you might have heard, there is no one “right way” to tour Disney parks. Everyone you talk to will give you advice, and I’m not saying you shouldn’t listen to it. But often, the “best way” to tour these parks depends on…
DIY Forky
Our homemade Forky! For me, the standout character in Toy Story 4 is definitely Forky, the toy that imaginative Bonnie makes out of trash and rejected craft supplies. Shortly after we all saw the film, my mom mailed my daughter some sporks and craft supplies so that we could make our own Forky! Here’s what…