Disney’s Pop Century Resort Review: Is It Actually a Good Value?

on May 1, 2018


Walt Disney World resorts are split into three main categories: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. Value resorts are the most affordable and the most basic in terms of amenities.

Today I’m sharing a thorough review of Pop Century, one of Disney’s Value resorts, with a focus on what you get for your money when staying there. Is Pop Century actually a good value? Read on to find out what I think!

What It Costs

What you will pay for a room at the Pop Century Resort varies greatly depending on what time of year you visit. Read more...

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2018 Goals: April Update

on April 30, 2018

How amazing that we are almost a THIRD of the way through 2018 already! I figured it was time for a goals update since I did the first quarter review in my PowerSheets earlier this month.

I have come to love the PowerSheets monthly “Tending List”. It is exactly what has been missing from my goal-setting in the past, which is a way to translate my yearly and monthly goals into something I can work towards every day! Read more...

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Instant Pot Ham & White Bean Soup

on April 22, 2018

Like many of you, I am IN LOVE with my Instant Pot (generic version, not sure what but it works).

I’m been trying out tons of recipes I used to make in my crockpot and I get a huge thrill when what used to take half a day is ready in like 20 minutes.

The recipes that have turned out best so far have been soups and chilis. I guess it’s because they have plenty of liquid to help the pressure cooker get up to pressure without any issues. Read more...

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How To Start A Blog on a Tight Budget: A Cheapskate’s Guide

on April 21, 2018

As you may have guessed from the title of this blog, I am a cheapskate. I prefer to get as much as possible for free and HATE paying more than I think I should.

I started this blog as a hobby over three years ago on a super low budget. I’ve managed to keep my blogging expenses low and I now earn a full-time income from the blog.

In this post, I’ll share my strategy for blogging on a shoestring budget, and if you are a cheapskate like me, don’t worry! Read more...

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2018 Free Dining at Disney World: Everything You Need to Know!

on April 19, 2018

Free Dining dates for 2018 have been released and you can book them now – get a free quote here!

Disney World’s “Free Dining” offer is by far it’s most popular promotion. It is pretty clear why… FREE FOOD at Disney? Ummm, yes please!

In this post, I’ll answer the most common questions I get asked (e.g. Is it always the best deal? How much can I save?) and share everything you need to know about Free Dining in this post. Read more...

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Introducing My New Disney-Only Site, The Budget Mouse!

on April 10, 2018

I’m so excited to welcome my readers to the new home for my Disney content… The Budget Mouse!

The Frugal South started out as a place to share my money-saving strategies for everything from groceries to entertainment to travel.

Over the past few years it’s become clear that my posts about saving money on Walt Disney World travel are by FAR my most popular posts. So I wrote more Disney posts and The Frugal South grew into a place of about half Disney stuff and half other money-saving stuff… which made it a kinda confusing place! Read more...

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My New “Keep Moving Forward” T-Shirt + Giveaway!

on April 10, 2018

I’m excited to share something I’ve been working on for a while… my first t-shirt design!

I’m a huge Walt Disney fan (I’m sure I’m not alone) and this quote by him is my all-time favorite:

“Around here, however, we don’t look backward for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious…and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

This pretty much sums up how I want to live my life. Read more...

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Budget Friendly South Florida With Kids: Miami, Everglades, & Key Largo!

on April 7, 2018

I love visiting South Florida in the winter to get a dose of sunshine and warmth. In this post, I’ll show you how to take an affordable family vacation to Miami, the Everglades, and Key Largo that your kids will love!

Tip #1: Choose Affordable Activities

There are some pretty pricey things to do around South Florida, from harbor cruises to airboat tours. The key to keeping your trip under budget is to find some affordable activities everyone in the family will love! Read more...

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Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Review: Refurbished Rooms, an Incredible Pool, and Some Drawbacks

on March 23, 2018

Refurbished rooms, an amazing pool, and some drawback at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. Get all of the details in this Caribbean Beach resort review. #disneyworld #familytravel

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort sometimes gets a bad rap for being the oldest Moderate resort or for being huge/spread out.

While this is true, I think Caribbean Beach has a lot of strengths, including an incredible pool complex and recently refurbished rooms.

In this post, I’ll share my experience staying at Caribbean Beach as well as the pros and cons of the resort!

Refurbished rooms, an amazing pool, and some drawback at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. Get all of the details in this Caribbean Beach resort review. #disneyworld #familytravel

It took me MANY visits to Walt Disney World until I stayed at Caribbean Beach, and here’s why: up until 2016, it was the only Moderate resort that still sported double beds as opposed to queen beds. Read more...

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Easy Homemade Fresh Salsa

on March 19, 2018

Cheap, easy, and delicious homemade fresh salsa that you can make in 5 minutes! #easyrecipes

I go through phases of being totally obsessed with chips and salsa. I’m not the only one… right??

I’ve been on a salsa kick recently and dragged this fresh recipe out of the archives. It’s super fresh and tastes like summer in a jar – even though you could make it any time of year because it uses all canned ingredients!

The best part is that this homemade fresh salsa takes five minutes or less to make. Read more...

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The New Disney World Resort Parking Fee + How To Avoid It!

on March 14, 2018

Disney recently announced that they will begin charging a parking fee of up to $24 per night at all of their Walt Disney World Resort hotels.

But don’t fear! There are several ways around paying the new Disney World resort parking fee so it might not ever affect you. Read on to learn all of my suggested ways to avoid the new fee!

Disney World Resort Parking Fee Details

Parking fees have long been standard practice at many Orlando resorts, including the Swan and Dolphin and Universal resorts. Read more...

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NEW! Free 2-Day Shipping With Target Debit Card!

on March 10, 2018

I’ve had a Target debit card for years and I absolutely love it. The perks of the card got even BETTER this week when Target added free 2-day shipping on most items for REDcard holders!

Read on to learn about the excellent perks of this card and how you can use it to save on your Disney vacation.

Target Debit Card Perks

If you do any shopping in Target stores or Target.com it makes sense to get this card. Read more...

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Get an EXTRA $5 Off Already Discounted Disney World Tickets!

on March 9, 2018

For a limited time, my preferred discount ticket Walt Disney World ticket provider is offering an additional $5 off three-day+ tickets when you opt for electronic delivery!

You can already save up to $68 per person when you get your tickets from Undercover Tourist, so saving even more just sweetens the deal!

I suggest opting for e-delivery of your tickets anyway so you get them as soon as possible. Read more...

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How To Get Statistics for Your Podcast Hosted on Amazon S3

on March 8, 2018

 

Starting any new endeavor is intimidating and podcasting is no exception! I started a podcast in conjunction with my Disney-only site The Budget Mouse and I had to learn everything from scratch. It was like starting to blog all over again but with a different medium!

Similar to blogging, finding someplace to host your content is one of the first steps to getting things going (check out how I blog on a tight budget here). Read more...

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Will The New Disney Dining Plan with Alcohol Save You Money?

on February 23, 2018

One way to enjoy the incredible food at Walt Disney World is to use a Disney Dining Plan. The plan changes slightly from year-to-year, but 2018 brought a big change – alcoholic drinks are included in all dining plans!

People frequently ask me if they should get the dining plan for their vacation and my short answer is – it depends! This decision has gotten even more complicated with the addition of alcohol to the plans. Read more...

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How to Rent DVC Points & Stay at Disney Deluxe Resorts For Up To 70% Off!

on February 19, 2018

About five years ago I discovered a way to stay at Disney World Deluxe Resorts for a small fraction of what you’d pay by booking directly through Disney. This strategy has made it possible for our family to stay at places that we never dreamed we’d be able to afford.

I will share how to rent DVC points below in the hopes that your family can experience a stay at one of these amazing resorts, too! Read more...

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Easy Veggie Fried Rice

on February 19, 2018

This post is sponsored by Harris Teeter, but all opinions are my own.
Easy Veggie Fried Rice Recipe - Get a healthy dinner on the table in 20 minutes with this organic fried rice recipe #sponsored @harristeeter

Homemade veggie fried rice is one of my all-time favorite things to eat. I swear I could eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (and sometimes I do!)

Today I’ve partnered with Harris Teeter Organics to show you how to make a super-easy organic veggie fried rice at home.

This veggie fried rice is WAY healthier than take-out and uses frozen veggies to cut down prep time. Read more...

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