Three years ago I did a YouTube video [see below] about
"3 Money Saving Tips for Your Disney World Trip."
The results were phone calls and emails from all over the world [as far away as New Zealand].
I thought it's a good time to re-visit my tips and tweak them a wee bit!

SANDRA'S MONEY SAVING TIPS FOR YOUR DISNEY WORLD TRIP!

1.  Stay On Disney Property ºoº

HUGE misconception that staying "on site" at Disney World is too much $$$$.

If doing Disney the most economic possible way is your priority, then staying on site IS the least expensive method. 

BENEFITS
* Disney's value resorts put you in the heart of the action. 
* Booking low-season, mid-week, is least expensive.
* $70 per night is often offered. 
* Staying on site allows you Disney transportation, avoid the $14 toll to park at Disney Parks.
* Disney often offers FREE DINING during low-season times, ONLY to Disney World guests staying on site.
* Disney Dining packages are for on site Disney guests only.
* If you flew, you'd likely rent a car to visit Disney parks, that's added cost.

2.  Disney Park Tickets ºoº

If you are staying one week at Disney World, purchase 7-days Magic Your Way Park Passes.
* The cost difference between a 4-day pass and 7-day pass is $10, you get 3 days at the parks for $10.
* Park hoppers are nearly $60 per person extra and you'll be doing LOTS of travelling from park to park.  You want park time instead of travel time.

3.  Disney Dining Plan ºoº

As I mentioned before, Disney often offers FREE DINING during the year. 
Even without FREE DINING, the Disney Dining Plan is a great deal.
You are eating at Disney anyway, why not get the plan and save 20-40%.

When booking a Disney World vacation for clients, I often get asked, “Where can I buy wine or beer to drink in our resort room?”

The most economical wine and beer can be purchased off-site at a grocery store.  However, with Disney’s Magical Express, resort guests don’t have a car and there aren’t any grocery stores in walking distance.  When purchasing wine off-site, be sure to buy a cork screw [from personal experience and a funny story for another time].  You
can borrow a cork screw from your resort gift shop.

Some people opt to take a taxi to a grocery store.  That’s fine if you plan to make a huge grocery purchase along with your wine and beer.  However, spending $30 or $40 for a taxi to save a few dollars isn’t the best idea.  So that leaves buying from Disney.

Disney Resort gift shops sell wine and beer for nearly the same cost as a restaurant or bar.  That’s fine if you’re interesting in a couple of beverages during your trip.  Last I hear, a 6-pack of beer was about $16.

Hess Gas Stations located near Downtown Disney and Disney’s Boardwalk sell wine and beer.  Once at Downtown Disney or Disney’s Boardwalk, you’ll have a 5-10 minute walk -- with heavy purchases to carry back to your resort.
-----------------
The following list highlights some of the stores that currently sell alcoholic beverages:

Location: Disney's Contemporary Resort
Concourse Sundries & Spirits
Location:  Disney's Polynesian Resort®
Samoa Snacks - located on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House
adjacent to Trader Jack's.
Location: Disney's Beach Club Resort
Beach Club Marketplace
Location: Disney's BoardWalk
Screen Door General  Store
Location: Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort &  Spa
The Artist's Palette, located inside The Carriage House lobby area.
Location: Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Zawadi Marketplace 
Location: Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort 
Calypso Trading Co.
Location: Disney's All-Star Sports Resort 
Sport Goofy G & S 
Location: Disney's All-Star Music Resort
Maestro Mickey's
Location: Disney's All-Star Movies Resort
Donald's Double Feature
Location: The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort
Settlement Trading Post
Meadow Trading  Post
For more Disney shopping opportunities go to: www.disneyworld.disney.go.com/shopping

Rumors of crack smoking mayor, political resignations, political NON-resignations and basic loss of common sense in my government, I've decided to break up with Canada and start my own country.

WELCOME TO CLARKASTAN!

In Clarkastan, we do things a little differently. 

1.  Our government is run by the Minister of Bubble Gum, he's 9 years old.
2.  We don't use the TTC, instead we get around in more reliable methods like; unicorns, Vespas and the bubble that Glinda, Good Witch of the North, rides around in. 
3.  Our national anthem is "Love in an Elevator" by Aerosmith.
4.  "Because I said so." is a perfectly acceptable answer.
5.  Our monorails say, "Por favor manténganse alejado de las puertas." Just
like Disney.
6.  Official flower: Cupcakes
7.  Official Sports: Stop Hitting Yourself and Are You Copying Me?
8.  The only way to the water slide is via conga line.
9.  We are taking Quebec with us because we like their food and it broke up with Canada LONG ago.

Given enough time in front of CNN, I might just start my own planet too!

MOST SINCERELY!
Sandra Glover Clarke

Wheels, Water, Wings - July 4-7, 2013

 "Wing it", "Wheel it", "Paddle it"... However you get there, make Bancroft
your destination. Join us this summer from July 4th to 7th for an action packed
weekend: A downtown Midway, Classic Car Show, Street Dance and Live Music,
Classic Boat Show, Fly-in Breakfast and Airplane Rides and much, much
more...

See our full line-up of events in the itinerary below:

Event Itinerary
  
DAY, EVENT, TIME, LOCATION

Thursday, July 4
Midway
4pm-11pm
Former IGA area
  
Friday, July 5
Wheels- Classic Car Show
6pm-11pm
 Hastings St.
 
Cruisers 50/50 draw
7:45pm
Stage area
 
Freddy Vette & the Flames
8pm-11pm
Scotia Bank pkg lot
 
McGhee Music on street
6pm-8pm
Stage area
 
Midway
10am-11pm
Former IGA area
 
Ribber
6pm-11pm
Former IGA near Hastings St.
 
Airplane at Cenotaph Park
Fri-Sat-
Cenotaph Park
 
Beer Tent
6pm-11pm
Between Ribber & Midway
 
Fire Dept BBQ & Smoke House
6pm-11pm
Near Price Ford (to be confirmed)
 
NHCS – children activities
6pm-8pm
Between Banc. Family Pharm. and former O’Shaughnessy Bldg
 
Eileen – Candy Floss
6 pm
In front of McCaskie’s

BBIA Event Booth
6pm-close
Near Remax
 
5 portable toilets (cleaned Fri, Sat & Sun. mornings)
 
4 near midway, 1 near Scotia Bank
 
Saturday, July 6
Back to the Future Boat Show
10am-2pm
Millennium Park
 
Family Water Activities
10am-2pm
Millennium Park
 
Splash (Art Gallery of Bancroft)
TBA
Flint Ave.
 
Midway
10am-11pm
Former IGA area
 
Ribber
11am-11pm
Former IGA near Hastings St.
 
Ducky Race on the York
 TBA
NH Children’s Services
 
Amateur Rib Competition
2pm-5pm
Along sidewalk near REMAX

Sunday, July 7
Airport Fly-in Breakfast
8am-11am
Jack Brown Airport

Cruisers at the airport
 
exact location TBA
 
Airplane rides
Throughout the day
Jack Brown Airport
 
Midway
Noon–9pm
Former IGA area
 
Ribber
Noon-?pm
Former IGA near Hastings St.


 

The Story ....

When I was a little girl, my grandfather, "Little Papa"
[because he was an Irish Giant of 5'5" tall and Big Papa was over 6 feet tall] called all the grandkids into his room and gave us 10 coppers. [pennies].  Even as a teenager, we looked forward to receiving our 10 coppers from Little Papa.  

This Penny Pendant was inspired by Little Papa and his 10 pennies.  I hand flattened 10 pennies and added antique brass beads and wire to complete this modern piece of wearable art. 

More designs of 10 copper Penny Pendants floating around my head! 

View all arts & crafts here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MyCreeksideStudio 

Rails End Gallery & Arts Centre,

Part of Haliburton's rich cultural heritage.  Located in Haliburton's heritage railway station since 1980,
Rails End Gallery & Arts Centre is a contemporary expression of the rich cultural heritage of the region. Historically the Haliburton Highlands was a destination for painters drawn to the scenery and inspired by nature.
Haliburton's own Ethel Curry, Doris McCarthy and members of the Group of Seven may have debarked at Haliburton Station not so very long ago.
 
Since the railway's inception trains to Haliburton were primarily freight with a passenger car added. In its best year for traffic, which was 1880, the Victoria Railway carried 74,600 tons of freight and 68,390 passengers for a revenue of $83,580. Passenger service to Haliburton continued until 1972, with freight services going on demand until 1978. Excursion trains, to see autumn leaves, ran until 1970. Station agents were taken off in 1964.  Train service ended all together when a long bridge at McLaren's Creek burned to the waterline in July 1980. It was considered too expensive to replace. Tracks were torn up in 1983 and 1984.

In 1979 the Haliburton Highlands Guild of Fine Arts undertook the restoration of the station to preserve railway history in this region. At that time, the building became the new home of the Rails End Gallery. Fifteen
years later, with one side of the building deteriorating significantly due to rot caused by run off from York Street, the building underwent extensive renovations. The station was moved onto a permanent foundation with upgraded plumbing, electrical and heating systems, and new barrier free features were added.

Today Rails End Gallery & Arts Centre is a welcoming cultural hub in Haliburton County known for its engaging public programs and contemporary art installations. The Gallery's motto is: "Rails End Gallery & Arts Centre: bringing art to life in Haliburton."

The Gallery Shop

Visit Rails End Gallery Shop next time you're in Haliburton Village and enjoy an artful shopping experience. We feature original works of art by over 50 Haliburton County artists working in a variety of media.
The Gallery Shop is located in the former ticket room of our restored 1878 railway station and is a project of the Rails End Volunteer Committee in support of our community programming.For gallery information, please contact us at info@railsendgallery.com or 705-457-2330.

Video of 49th Annual Art & Craft Festival, Haliburton, Ontario, Rails End Gallery and Art Centre.

by Sandra Glover Clarke

I walked into the large cozy common room of the nature retreat and saw Lesley knitting the most unique winter hat I'd ever seen.
"This woman is an ARTIST!" I thought.
I sat with her a while and learn she and her family own and run an extraordinary gallery and shop called The Galloping Goat in Milford, a town in Prince Edward County, near Picton.  
Lesley supports local artists and children's art programs in her community.  See the video below for details!  I wish I was a kid again just to spend time with Lesley and her remarkable talent!
The Galloping Goat Gallery is located on the shore of the Black River, in picturesque Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada. 906 County Rd 13, Milford On. (613) 476 9696

by Sandra Glover Clarke

Jungle Imports is the most funky, cool, unique shop in Bancroft, Ontario.  Sure it has handcrafted jewellery, clothing, purses, musical instruments, home décor and accessories, but what makes it extra special is the owner, Gordon.
Every time I visit Jungle Imports, I'm greeted as an old friend.  Gordon always has time to chat about the town, cottage living, nature and of course his remarkable shop.
Located at the south end of Bancroft, Jungle Imports invites cottagers and locals to browse, chat and relax in a serene atmosphere. 
What I especially like about Gordon, is he buys his inventory from local artists and global artists directly. 
With the current disaster in Bangladesh, I am comforted that my dollar supports a local business and artists. 
And a dollar goes a long way at Jungle Imports as the prices are more than reasonable. 
If you find yourself in Bancroft this summer, stop by Jungle Imports, tell Gordon that Sandra says HI and help support a Canadian business.
Location:
Jungle Imports
10 Hastings Street North
Bancroft, Ontario

VIDEO OF JUNGLE IMPORTS