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.

The consortium of seven hotels are offering visitors their 2009 Passport to Savings coupon book for any stay in their establishments. The booklet contains discounts and specials for area dining, shopping and entertainment, as well as maps and schedules for the complimentary shuttles to the Disney parks, water parks and Pleasure Island.

The hotels involved – the Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort, Buena Vista Palace Hotel and Spa, Doubletree Guest Suites, Hilton Orlando, Holiday Inn, Hotel Royal Plaza and the Regal Sun Resort - are considered “Official Walt Disney World” hotels, so guests are already eligible for some special perks, including the ability to purchase theme park tickets at the hotel, advanced tee time at all Disney golf courses and priority seating arrangements for Disney dinner shows and theme park restaurants. Add the great coupon book – and see your savings multiply!

For more information, sign up for the Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotels’ newletter. Then start counting your savings!

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….

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!

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