Travel Tip Tuesday

I have been a little behind in posting these the past few weeks. I am still having computer issues and it is a little trickier to post these on a tablet! Excuses aside now, here is my weekly travel tip :)

If you are traveling to the Orlando area (or really anywhere else), you should search out restaurants in the area ahead of time. If there are some that you think you would like to try, go to their website about a week before you go and sign up for their e-clubs. Often times, if they have an e-club they will send you a coupon for a free appetizer or dessert just for signing up with them. A bonus is if you will be celebrating your birthday while you are there. Often, they will also send you a coupon for a free meal on your birthday, too! This is what we do before we go to Disney as my daughter's birthday always falls during our trip. We often get a few free kids meals courtesy of these clubs while we are on vacation.I have compiled a list below of some of my favorite e-clubs in the Orlando area. These are all near Downtown Disney so you can get to them fairly easily if you are staying on or near property. Note, if you sign up for these, the coupons typically expire in 14 days from the day that they are sent. Therefore, plan your sign up time carefully!

Joe's Crab Shack Sends you a free appetizer coupon when you sign up


Chicago Pizzaria Uno Sends you a free appetizer when you sign up and frequently sends coupons throughout the year.

Fuddruckers Sends you a coupon for a burger and drink combo at $7 and we also received a coupon for free burger when you buy one as well for a birthday deal.

Macaroni Grille Sends you a coupon for a free appetizer when you sign up.

Steak and Shake Sends you a coupon for a free meal on your birthday or anniversary

Also, Rainforest Cafe has a place on their website where you can print down reading calendars for your child. If you fill it in every day of the month stating which book your child read that day and take it with you to the restaurant, you will get any kids meal for only $.99. This is a big savings if you are paying out of pocket. On a side note, we have successfully used this coupon at T-Rex twice now as well!

This is just a list of a few examples we have found in the area. I am sure that there are a lot more as well! If you see coupons in the paper before you go, cut them out and take them with you. There are often Olive Garden or Red Lobster coupons in the Sunday inserts, so I suggest taking them with you. If you can find the time to go off property to eat a few meals, you will save a lot of money for other things.

One more way to save money is to go to restaurant.com and buy a few discounted dining certificates. If you enter zip code 32836 you will find several options for the Downtown Disney area (key address is on Apopka Vineland Road or Irlo Bronson Hwy if you are staying in Celebration). We always buy certificates for Giordano's pizza whenever they go on sale and take them with us. If you are like us and love true Chicago pizza...you know the stuffed pizza with layers and layers of cheese and a lid of crust and more cheese...I would suggest getting one or two! We often get the $10 certificate for $2 (with a sale). Make sure you read the fine print. You often have to spend a certain amount at the restaurant and will also have to pay 18% gratuity, but we still walk out of there saving a ton of money!

If anyone else knows of great e-clubs, or other ways to save at Orlando area restaurants I would love to hear your tips as well. We are always looking for new ways to save a buck at Disney!