Me neither.

But today, in honor of Earth Day, you can bring three plastic bottles to any Disney Store, and you’ll receive a free gift while supplies last. Rumor has it the gift is a water bottle (the reusable kind – good for Mother Earth). But who knows? Whatever it is, it’s free, it’s Disney and it’s for a good cause.

Click here to find a Disney Store near you.

Scott's Dessert at Chef Mickey's

So what’s better than Disney dining?  Well, how about Disney dining…for free? Yep, that’s the offer on the table (pun intended). If you book a full price WDW vacation checking in between August 16 and October 3 (with some restrictions), you can upgrade to the Magic
Your Way Plus Dining plan for the same price as the plain old Magic Your Way package.

Bottom line: this deal will save the average family of four (who are those people?) $101.96 per day.  That’s a lot of souvenir money, doncha know?

Breakfast at Crystal Palace

The small print: your vacation package must include a three day hotel stay and a one day (at least) theme park ticket. And you must book before 6/21/09, using the appropriate code: RYH. If you want to upgrade to the Deluxe Dining Plan (which gives you three sitdown or counter service meals a day, two snacks, an appetizer with table service meals and a refillable mug) you can do so for $32 per adult per night and $10 per night for the kiddies.  Use code UGR.

So what’s the hold up? Go book your Disney trip with free dining now…and start counting the days until you have to dial to book your space at LeCellier.

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 hurry! This deal started on the first, and will end when supplies run out.

Call Disney reservations or your travel agent for details and booking.  Mention code FZL.