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Courtesy of Jacalyn Wetzel

5 tips for saving your sanity for family's first Disney trip

Whether you're heading to Disney World or Disneyland, it can cost thousands of dollars. From park tickets to hotels, food and souvenirs, there isn't an easy way to get around spending several paychecks to take a family trip to Disney so most people try to pack in as much as possible for their days at the park. Of course, people like to get their money's worth so they find themselves pushing themselves to spend long hours in the sun with children that are increasingly becoming more whiney as the day progresses.

I've taken my kids to Disney World three times and Disneyland once and I'm here to tell you if you're planning your first family trip to Disney, it doesn't have to be that way. There are ways to avoid turning a fun family trip under the Florida or California sun into meltdown city. Preparation for a less stressful, less expensive trip to Mickey's house starts before you book your trip and with Disney's new "Cool Kid Summer," little ones can feel involved in planning.

 Disneyland; Disney World; Disney budget; tips for Disney; family vacation; cool kid summer Family all smiles receiving bag from Disney hotel staffPhoto by Bennett Stoops/WDW PR

Here are 5 things that will save your budget and your sanity on your first family trip to Disney:

1. Disney resorts are amazing but they're not a requirement

It's easy to get caught up in the idea of staying at one of the fantastic Disney resorts, they have so many cool decorations, pools and everyone is ridiculously kind. But unless the resort is your final destination, those couple of thousand dollars can be used elsewhere, like a mortgage payment.

Disney locations are surrounded by hotels that aren't owned by the park so you can stay the same length of time for a fraction of the price. Hotels nearby typically have free shuttles that will take you to the parks. They also offer free breakfast in most cases so there's no need to spend money on breakfast at the park or a Disney resort unless you want to. Disney resorts don't offer complimentary breakfast and the price tag can be a little high.

 Disneyland; Disney World; Disney budget; tips for Disney; family vacation; cool kid summer Mickey shaped cinnamon roll with white icingCourtesy of Jacalyn Wetzel

2. Avoid kids becoming hangry

Most people get a little grumpy when their blood sugar drops from hunger, kids are no exception. But when you combine little kids, hungry bellies, excessive heat and a change in routine, parents are in for a meltdown of epic proportions. To avoid inevitable hangry behavior and an empty wallet, going grocery shopping for your hotel room can be a game changer.

Disney allows you to bring in outside food and drinks as long as nothing is in a glass container. This means you can pack plenty of snacks and lunch to bring with you in the park. Because it can be so hot, it may also be a good idea to bring some powdered electrolytes like Liquid IV or Gatorade to make sure everyone stays hydrated. Food and drinks at Disney can most certainly break the bank and when children are throwing a fit because they're hungry, parents are more likely to duck into the closest food establishment regardless of price. Packing your own food will help avoid spending unnecessary money.

 Disneyland; Disney World; Disney budget; tips for Disney; family vacation; cool kid summer Rae and Storm Troopers inside Star Wars Rise of the Resistance attractionCourtesy of Jacalyn Wetzel

3. Disney is hot, be prepared and plan cooling breaks

Disney World is hot nearly year round and there's just no escaping that fact. The park sells battery operated fans attached to spray bottles so you can cool off faster. Those nifty little gadgets will run you around $30 a pop if you buy one while walking the park, believe me, you'll covet every passerby's fan after about 10 minutes of walking in the heat. They sell the same misting fans at Five Below for $4, Walmart for $10 and Home Depot for $12. When you're preparing for your trip buy the fans locally and toss them in everyone's bags to bring with them at the park.

Because the fans will not be enough as the day wears on, be sure to work in some cooling breaks. Taking the kids to see The Little Mermaid or Villains: Unfairly Ever After if they're little or Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance for school agers in Hollywood Studios for a little heat break. In Epcot has several indoor attractions, so does Magic Kingdom but if you're looking for a day with the least amount of excessive heat exposure, Animal Kingdom will be your friend. It's very well shaded with lots of trees that create a noticeable difference in temperature compared to the other parks.

 Disneyland; Disney World; Disney budget; tips for Disney; family vacation; cool kid summer Disney villain Maleficent with glowing scepterPhoto by Steven A. Diaz/WDW PR

If your hotel isn't far away, don't be afraid to head back to the hotel room for a siesta before tackling more of the park. Your resilience levels will thank you. Creating magic for little ones is hard and it's totally fine if parents are the ones needing a break.

4. Renting a Disney stroller may make you weep with gratitude

There's something about the rented double strollers at Disney that makes the world feel right. They're easy to push and large enough to fit kids that outgrew a traditional stroller years prior. This is one of the few areas where I never mind spending money while at Disney though surprisingly, stroller rental is cheaper than buying one of those misting fans. The double stroller is for kids 100 lbs or less so let your bigger kids rest, promise no one will bat an eye at an 10-year-old in a stroller at Disney. It's hot and you can easily walk over seven miles in just a few hours at the park.

 Disneyland; Disney World; Disney budget; tips for Disney; family vacation; cool kid summer Strollers at Animal KingdomPhoto by Adam Fagen/Flickr

The strollers also come in handy for tossing in your bags, sweatshirts, ponchos or anything else you're tired of holding. There are handy stroller parking lots all over the park outside of rides and attractions. So if you're going to be walking around with kiddos 10 and under, you'll never regret renting a stroller.

5. Get the Lightening Lane Passes for rides you don't want to miss

Lightening Lane Passes do cost money but this is an area you'll want to set money aside to use for rides you or your kids have your hearts set on. Lines for rides like Avatar Flight of Passage and Expedition Everest tend to have wait times that exceed 90 minutes so if you don't think your Disney trip will be complete without a ride, get the Lightening Lane Pass.

 Disneyland; Disney World; Disney budget; tips for Disney; family vacation; cool kid summer Sebastian from The Little Mermaid with a mother and childCourtesy of Jacalyn Wetzel

The way Lightening Lane works is you purchase the pass through the Disney park app and it tells you what time frame you can use it. This frees up your time to ride something else, get food or watch a show until it's time for you to ride. Once you get back to the ride you just tap your phone or Magicband on the silver ball with Mickey's head on it and when it lights up green you bypass everyone else standing in line. It can make you feel like a celebrity without the paparazzi.

Disney is a once in a lifetime trip for some families and every one that goes deserves to be able to enjoy their trip. You don't have to spend a ton of money at the parks if you don't want to or don't have it. There are plenty of ways to enjoy your trip to Disney without eating ramen for a month after you get back and by planning ahead you can cut down on little ones having big emotions. Using the Cool Kid Summer maps that have easily identifiable cartoon pictures of attractions and a fun scavenger hunts on the back can help littles feel more in control of their fun, too.

 Disneyland; Disney World; Disney budget; tips for Disney; family vacation; cool kid summer Adventure guides for family fun at Disney's parks!Photo by Bennett Stoops/WDW PR

If you're heading out to Disney this summer just remember, cooling breaks, hydration and snacks will make the trip much more pleasant for every member of your family.

Humor

People share the 'fully unhinged' things they've used ChatGPT for and the results are wild

"These comments made me realize I’m not using chatgpt to its full potential."

People share 'fully unhinged' things they've used ChatGPT for

ChatGPT and other AI search engines can be a game changer for some people by doing time consuming menial tasks in a matter of seconds. Need meal prep ideas on a budget, all you have to do is tell ChatGPT how much money you want to spend and foods to avoid and it'll write out meals you can prepare for the whole week. Want to see what your cat would look like as a person, run it through AI, but apparently some people aren't just using ChatGPT for silly pictures or grocery lists.

People have started using ChatGPT for things that seem well beyond the intended purpose of the AI program. Clare Watson recently asked, "tell me the most insane thing you've used ChatGPT for. I'm not talking about 'write my resume' or 'dinner ideas' I'm talking fully unhinged." Well, she asked, people answered and I don't think anyone was prepared for some of the responses she received. Maybe we've all been using ChatGPT wrong.

ChatGPT; Gemini AI; AI programs; is AI safe; using AI; AI questionsA group of people sitting around a laptop computer Photo by Mushvig Niftaliyev on Unsplash

There are things ranging from getting someone out of jail to leaving an abusive relationship. One person was able to have ChatGPT connect her symptoms which led to an accurate diagnosis. But one that was amusingly shocking was this professor that says, "I got sick of my college students using ChatGPT to write their essays, so I used ChatGPT to grade them."

Another person reveals they used the program against itself, "I forgot to unsub yearly ChatGPT plus. ChatGPT wrote a letter to ChatGPT for a Refund. I got it back haha."

ChatGPT; Gemini AI; AI programs; is AI safe; using AI; AI questionsCustomer Service Manager GIF by Ryn DeanGiphy

The AI program once helped upgrade a crush to a relationship, "Told it every single detail of every interaction i had with my crush so we could analyze if he liked me or not. When we started dating chatgpt was so excited for me."

Playing with new technology can be fun but humans will always push the limits to see what it can do. Sometimes the limit pushing is for something noble and other times it's to try to get away with doing as little work as possible, like this student, "I got in trouble for using ChatGPT on my essay, and my teacher made me re do it. I asked ChatGPT to write me an essay with 0 ai detection. I got 97% on my “new” essay. teacher never knew."

ChatGPT; Gemini AI; AI programs; is AI safe; using AI; AI questionsF Failing GIF by FX NetworksGiphy

You know, maybe bringing back those blue writing books with #2 pencils isn't a bad idea. Think of all of the improved handwriting and comfort in knowing your students really did absorb the information you spent weeks teaching. On the flip side of using ChatGPT to write an essay for you, someone made it write an essay against itself, "Asked chatgpt to write an essay on 'How gpt ruins education and why it should be banned.'"

Some things ChatGPT helped with are much more serious than others showing the versatility of the AI program with one person writing, "Chat GPT helped me leave an abusive marriage. Crafted a safety plan. Helped me come up with a budget. Encouraged and motivated me. Answered every what if I had," though seeking support from a domestic violence shelter in situations of abuse is still advised.

 
 @clareewatson I need to know the fully unhinged chat moments #storytime #chat #chatgpt #fyp #story #unhinged ♬ original sound - NYES | Fashion 
 
 

One person shares, "I let chat gpt destroy all my legal arguments by asking him/her/it to be opposing counsel 😂 That way I’m prepared and able to strengthen my arguments in advance."

Another admits, "My brother had to go to jail. Chat gpt found a loop Hole in the law… my brother is Free now," while another got a suggestion to answer her medical mystery. "All the doctors told me there was nothing wrong with me. Wrote down my symptoms and Chatgpt told me it could be MCAS. Found a doctor specialized in that disease. Chatgpt was right," the woman writes.

While some admit they find themselves relying on ChatGPT too much, others simply find it as a source of entertainment and treat it as such. One person used it to create a drama filled Love Island episode using her favorite cast members from different seasons. In the end, ChatGPT has the last word, "Did a rap battle with ChatGPT. I criticized it's ability to draw hands and said I might as well use Google. It reminded me it'll be around way longer than me."

Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro recounts the lengths he went through to finance his first movie.

In a video from 2001 that’s resurfaced and is warming hearts across social media, Oscar-winning writer-director Guillermo del Toro recounts the extraordinary, almost comical lengths he went to finance his debut 1993 feature, Cronos—including what he refers to as “one of the most pathetic hot pursuits in the history of mankind.”

The clip, shared by the Toronto International Film Festival, shows del Toro explaining the non-traditional methods he had to resort to in order to finance Cronos, a quirky vampire flick which Roger Ebert described as “the stuff of classic horror films… [combined] with colorful Latin magic realism.” At the time, no one but the then 29-year-old director believed in the project, forcing del Toro to mortgage his house and sell his beloved car to scrape together the rest of the budget for the film, which totaled roughly $2 million.

“I was so broke,” del Toro recounts with a laugh.



“I was on the way to deliver my van to the car dealership where they were going to put it up for sale. And, for anyone who saw that movie, [I had] the giant gears from inside the clock in my van... and I was driving, I realized that I didn’t have the money to bribe a policeman. I had just passed a red light, and the cop was chasing me, and I said, 'I don’t have the money to bribe him, I’m going to have to escape.” - Guillermo del Toro


In Guadalajara, where del Toro was, and in Mexico at large, there’s a culture of “la mordida,” which translates to “the bite.” Colloquially, it's a term that refers to the common practice of bribing police officers, which is widely recognized as an aspect of daily life and as an informal way to resolve minor infractions, such as traffic violations. In a survey from 2023, over 20% of respondents in Mexico said that they were asked or required to pay a bribe to police officers.

“So, in comes one of the most pathetic hot pursuits in history of mankind,” continues del Toro. “A guy with an old van and huge gears, and a cop in a very crappy police car.” He goes on to explain that, despite these extreme sacrifices, he never recovered the money. “I mean, I did get a career, I did get to do other movies, but I lost a quarter of a million dollars out of my own pocket,” he describes. “And back then, the interest [at] the bank was 110%.”


Which might have been fine, if the movie had done well in Mexico. But the financial nightmare didn’t end with production. After the movie wrapped, the Mexican government refused to support it—despite Cronos and del Toro's invitation to Festival de Cannes, the world's most prestigious international film festival. “What was even more disheartening is that after having the movie done, the government saw it and said 'Well, it’s okay,’” says del Toro. “And I was like, 'Oh, but it’s so beautiful and it’s about vampires!’” So again, on his own dime, del Toro found his way to Cannes, without the official support or funding from his home country.

He recalls this part of the story with charismatic warmth: “So I said, 'Well, it’s a festival. I’ve been to a festival in Guadalajara; I think I can handle it. Let’s get there with 20 posters and a roll of tape; should prove more than enough.” The audience and del Toro laugh, knowing the immense scale of the distinguished film festival. When he and his wife arrived with just 20 posters in hand, del Toro immediately felt the sheer immensity of the moment. The director, despite being an atheist, even admits to praying in a church near Cannes out of desperation.

julia louis dreyfus, veep, praying, god, jesus christIn a moment of desperation, del Toro, an atheist, prayed to God for help.media2.giphy.com

Yet, Cronos crushed at Cannes that year, where del Toro was nominated for the Caméra d’Or (or "Golden Camera,” the award for the best feature film by a first-time director). He also won the International Critic’s Mercedes-Benz Award, launching del Toro’s remarkable career, which began with an official Oscar submission for Best International Film from Mexico for Cronos in 1993. And although that film failed to pick up a nomination, del Toro would go on to win multiple Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, for films including The Shape of Water (2017) and Pan’s Labyrinth (2006).

For aspiring screenwriters and creatives facing their own obstacles, del Toro’s journey offers a powerful reminder: sometimes, the most beautiful work requires incredibly difficult sacrifices. But in hindsight, even the most monumental of setbacks can be the very thing that leads you to your destiny. Or, in del Toro’s own words: “I think we live our lives seeking the shortest route, the closest parking space—everything quick, cheap, fast. And it’s not better. Two-thirds of the satisfaction of getting something is the process of getting it.”

via Unsplash

Hand holding an unplugged electric cord and hand holding rolled up money.

Most adults periodically examine their lives to try to figure out where they can save money. It might be cutting one of the streaming services we're not using or dialing back the Starbucks PSLs. However, the people on the subreddit r/frugal take saving money to a whole new level.

A recent thread posted by u/Jskyesthelimit was chock-full of solid gold advice for anyone looking to trim the budget but who doesn't want to put in a lot of work. (Yeah, yeah — we all know meal-prepping is effective, but who's got the time? We're looking for easy wins, here.)

The prompt, "What's the little effortless, stupid thing you do that TECHNICALLY saves you money?", got some responses and tips you've probably never thought of.

They're small, they're silly — but they do add up.

1. Spend more time outside

"if i go outside and play all day, i don't have consumerist urges to buy stupid shit." - looney417

Can't spend money if you don't go into a store!

It's a good idea to get away from your phone or laptop for a while, too. If you're not careful, you can buy a hundred dollars worth of junk on Amazon before you even realize what's happening.

2. Time your dishwasher runs

"When our dishwasher is full and ready to be started, I set an alarm on my watch for 9pm. I start the dishwasher when the alarm goes off since the electricity rate goes down after 9pm." - misterfuss

dishes, dishwasher, clean dishes, unload dish, money hacks, kitchen hacksA half loaded dishwashervia Nathan Dumloa/Unsplash

Did you know that electricity costs more during "peak hours"? Where I live, power can cost up to 4x as much from 2-7pm versus off-peak hours.

Most people run the dishwasher at night anyway, but you should look up your own local peak hours. Starting the nightly load at 9 instead of 8 every night could actually save you a couple of bucks a month.

I like that you can program a Google Nest to do this for you. It knows how expensive electricity is at different times, and will manage your supercooling for you.3. Fill a large water bottle at work before you leave.

u/MrPerfectionisback swears by this one.

Getting a gigantic, high-quality water bottle could be a great investment if you're able to top it off at the office every day and bring your water bill down a smidge.

4. Use less laundry detergent

Most of us approach laundry detergent with a "fill 'er up" attitude. But, usually, you can get away with even just one tablespoon if your clothes aren't that dirty. and using less will help your clothes last longer.

u/jbblue48089 also recommends using solid bar shampoo and dish soap, which have a longer lifespan than liquid soaps.

5. Re-wear clothes (other than socks and underwear)

Another option from u/ztreHdrahciR — don't wash your clothes at all! At least not right away.

Chances are you can get a few wears out of jeans or even t-shirts and save on laundry costs, to the tune of a few dollars per year.

6. Make your own doggie poo bags

"Use used food bags to pick up the dogs poop." - bezere

Poop bags are expensive! You could easily spend $20-50 per year, depending on what brand you use.

Next time you pack a sandwich for lunch, save that plastic baggie and use it for pick-up duty later on.

7. Charge your phone at work (or wherever there's an outlet)

A good one from u/runmemymo.

Never pass up a chance for free electric!

If you don't work in an office, just carry your phone charger with you. Lots of restaurants and even public spaces have outlets so you can get a little free juice.

8. Poo at work (or wherever there's a bathroom)

u/larkfor says they save a ton of money each year on water and toilet paper by doing their business at work or the office.

Never pass up a chance for free water and toilet paper!

9. Cut sponges in half


sponge, cleaning, money hacks, house keeping, soap, domestic laborA yellow soapy sponge.via Pille R. Priske/Unsplash

u/plaincheeseburger recommends turning one sponge into two.

It will still work exactly the same and last twice as long.

10. Repair old dog toys

I love this one from u/pdxarchitecht!

My dogs love immediately ripping the stuffing out of new toys, which doesn't feel like a great value for my money.

The hack? Put the stuffing back in and add a stitch or two to close it up and save yourself $10 or more.

11. Twist the stems off of peppers if paying by weight

This ingenious and petty tip comes from u/casterix75.

Not all supermarkets charge by weight for bell peppers (or similar produce), but if they do, why pay for the stem? Twist it off and save yourself a few cents at the checkout.

12. Save the cold water when running a shower or bath

An old science teacher taught me this one in high school, recommended in this thread by u/smartquokka.

Put a bucket in the shower or bath to collect the cold water while it's heating up. Use that to water plants, fill the dog bowls, or flush the toilet.

13. Unplug everything at night

via Canva/Photos


Many people recommended this — it's an r/frugal staple.

Appliances on standby still use power, so unplug as many things as possible before going to bed. u/Larkfor estimates this saves them $10 a month or so on power.

14. Library card

Yes. And take advantage of audiobooks, ebooks, and even streaming. My library has many great movies, shows, and lecture series (I love The Great Courses).

15. Credit card points

[I] Use my CC that gets rewards points for all purchases and bills that I can.

My entire family is going in a trip in a few months, and we booked all our flights together, 4.5k of airfare. I very generously offered to put all the airfare on my (2% cash back) card. My entire family paid me back their portion that week, and now I get the $90 in cash back!

These tips are so small they're almost microscopic, but you know what? Most of them are so easy you'd barely notice a difference in your lifestyle and routine. And all together, you could save yourself a decent chunk of money every year by making a few simple changes.

Thanks to the thrifty people of Reddit for sharing their hacks with the rest of us!

This article originally appeared last year.