My favorite perk is the special meet and greet, complete with a free 5 by 7, that comes with the card.  Last time we visited, our little crew got some private face time with Mickey, Minnie and Goofy in Epcot….it was great! And since two of us had Disney Rewards Visas, we got two free pictures!

I just learned that the card can also get you a 20 percent discount off the regular pice of select tours in the theme parks. These tours include (but aren’t limited to) the Keys to the Kingdom tour or Mickey’s Magical Milestones in the Magic Kingdom, Hidden Treasures of the World Showcase in Epcot and the Animal Kingdom’s Wild By Design tour.

Another perk – 10 percent off your purchases (over $50) at the World of Disney in Downtown Disney. That’s one way to cut down on souvenir costs!

And the most basic perk of all – you get 1% back on all your purchases in a Disney gift card. I know, one percent doesn’t sound like much, but so far we have $250 for our November trip…which means ‘Ohana is free for us!

So check out the Disney Rewards Visa….and reward yourself with extra cash in your pocket.

William Bonville of Omaha, NE, is the winner of the giveway that celebrated our launch. William will be taking off with his own power inverter, courtesy of the good folks at Black and Decker.

Thanks to all who entered and stay tuned! More giveaways to come!

Well, the same must be true of the blog-a-sphere. Just yesterday, I posted that I wanted to cover the whole Orlando tourist scene, not just Disney alone, since so many people do the whole area when they visit. Well, I just mentioned that yesterday, and by this morning my email was flooded with ideas and offers about what to do (on the cheap, natch) while in the area.

So I’ll be passing on the best ideas from time to time. And this is one of those times! The good people at the Orlando CVB shared that the 50th annual Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival will be taking place this weekend (March 20-22). This festival is one of the nation’s most prestigious outdoor events, with over 1400 artists competing for less than 300 spots in the show. The event also includes jazz music, kiddie activities, and of course, great food. If you’re interested in hearing more, just click here.

Now, my youngest son is an artist, so this would be right up his alley. I mean, he loves the animation studios at Disney, but man does not live on Lilo alone. This would be a great chance to expose him to what other artists are doing – and to expose my wallet to a break from theme park pricing. And the event is free!

I know it all depends on where you’re driving from, but from where I sit (that’s South Jersey, y’all) the three or four tanks of gas it takes us to get to Orlando is a lot cheaper than flying. (Remember, I have a party of six.) Then there’s the cost of renting a car once I’m there. If I drive, I have my own car (and tons of luggage) with no added costs. And we have plenty of room for souvenirs!

Of course, the clue to a happy road trip is keeping all the little passengers happy. That’s where the Black and Decker new portable 100 watt Power Inverter comes in. Simply plug this handy dandy little gadget into your car’s cigarette lighter and viola! You have the convenience of a household power outlet, ready to recharge iPods, laptops and cell phones – all without having to stop your car.

Want one? Just add a comment below with your favorite road trip tip. We’ll choose the winner at random (see Official Rules) and notify you here and by email. It’s that simple….so good luck, and let’s all hope the gas prices keep falling.

But I love Downtown Disney. I love the gigantic Lego displays, I love the pin collectors perched outside (where else?) Disney’s Pin Traders, I even love the huge collection of Mr. Potato Head parts you can cram into a box for a reasonable price at Once Upon A Toy. Downtown Disney isn’t just shopping…it’s an experience.

And, my friends, there are bargains to be had. First there’s the parking – which is absolutely free! You can leave your car in the lot and shop (or eat or play) without paying a cent. Where else in Disney can you say that?

The second bargain – food! Oh, sure, there are some pricey (and really delicious) eateries in Downtown Disney, but my favorite of all is so reasonable I’m tempted to keep it a secret so it doesn’t get too crowded. I’m talking about the Earl of Sandwich, a must-stop for our family every single Disney vacation. (Seriously, forget the “run to Dumbo” advice and run to Earl instead!) The sandwiches are insane, and all hot sandwiches are $5.75. Yes, you read that right. So if you’re tired of the burger and chicken nugget lunches, head to the Earl…just save an All-American for me.

I’ll be featuring some more fun (and cheap) things at Downtown Disney the rest of this week….right now I think I have to go make a sandwich….

Let’s face it, if you’re at the Disney parks, you’re not going to be spending a lot of time in your room anyway. Save money by booking one of these deals – then treat yourself to a great dinner at Le Cellier!

But it’s all good. Just take the clan (and their souvenir budget) over to Downtown Disney and head to Mickey’s Mart. In this store (hidden between Disney at Home and Disney Tails), you’ll find mugs, stationary, and even plush pals – all under $10. You can treat the kids to a grab bag of authentic WDW goodies – and still have money left for a Dole Whip later!

Other items you can borrow include iron and ironing board (to get out the wrinkles when you over-pack your one carry-on), high chairs and cribs, bed rails, sharps disposable containers and hair dryers. It never hurts to ask – and it could just save you bucks!

Disney came in second to Las Vegas and was cited for the number of packages available, particularly the “Kids Fly Free” program. Branson MO, New Orleans and Los Angeles rounded out the top five.