MouseSavers.com
Great deals on all things Disney!
 
 
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About MouseSavers.com®

A Note from Mary Waring

If you're like me, your ideal trip to Walt Disney World would include a stay at one of Disney's Deluxe resorts for two weeks, with fabulous meals at all the best restaurants and unlimited passes to every attraction - which is exactly what my husband Mike and I did on our honeymoon, and it was wonderful. It also cost an absolute fortune -- and I used every trick I knew at the time to keep the cost down!

In late 2000 I quit my job and started my own business. With my business in start-up mode, naturally we weren't eager to shell out a big wad of cash on our vacation the following year. However, we had enjoyed Walt Disney World so much that we wanted to return. So I did a lot of research and discovered some ways to minimize costs while still having a great trip.

In the process I realized that I could have saved thousands on our honeymoon if I had only known a few tricks, such as using Disney World resort discount codes. The result of my research was a little web site that later became MouseSavers.com®. My motto became "a first-class vacation at the best possible price."

Since the site was founded in early 2001, MouseSavers.com readers have asked for information on all kinds of things besides Walt Disney World. That's why the site now brings you great deals on Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Disney books, music, movies and lots more.

MouseSavers.com has grown by leaps and bounds and has been praised by the likes of Arthur Frommer, author of the classic Europe on $5 a Day and probably the most famous budget travel writer in the world, who called MouseSavers.com "one of the best resources for significant Disney discounts" in his syndicated column.

I hope you enjoy this site and find it useful.

Jump to:

MouseSavers.com History
Press Mentions for MouseSavers.com
Guidebook Mentions for MouseSavers.com
MouseSavers.com Contributors
Other Sites by MouseSavers, Inc.

MouseSavers.com History

In February 2001, Mary Waring founded the site that became MouseSavers.com®. It all started as a hobby site that was hosted on a private page on Mary's business web site. Only those who were "in the know" could get to the unlisted link. Mary collected information on good deals at Walt Disney World and posted them for her friends and relatives.

Six weeks later, much to Mary's surprise, the "How to Save Money on Your Trip to WDW" page (as it was then known) had taken on a life of its own and had received over 23,000 visitors. So in April 2001 Mary created a new, more extensive site called MouseSavers.com and made it accessible to the public.

Two months later the site had quadrupled its traffic and Mary responded to reader requests by adding Disneyland (California) information. After three months, Mary began adding special deals on Disney toys, books and CDs.

By October 2001, MouseSavers.com began covering bargains at additional Disney vacation destinations, including Disneyland Resort Paris, Disney's Vero Beach and Disney's Hilton Head resorts. In late 2001 the site also began directing visitors to the hottest deals on Disney software, magazines, music and videos, and featuring specially-negotiated rates at top Walt Disney World-area hotels.

Since that time, MouseSavers.com has added hundreds of pages of information, including material about Disney Cruise Line bargains, Tokyo Disneyland and savings on Disney's live shows. The site now also includes a substantial section devoted to deals at Universal Orlando and other major theme parks in Orlando and Southern California.

Since its founding, MouseSavers.com has received a large number of mentions in the press and in major guidebooks. Traffic has increased exponentially. MouseSavers.com now receives almost a million unique visitors per month. MouseSavers maintains a newsletter mailing list of over 201,000 subscribers.

In January 2006, MouseSavers.com® became a registered trademark. In April 2007, Mary launched a new site, MouseWeddings.com, focused on Disney weddings, honeymoons and romantic vacations.

Press Mentions for MouseSavers.com

  • WFTV Channel 9 Orlando, FL - "Save a Dime on Your Disney Vacation" - May 5, 2008

    See an extensive interview with Mary Waring of MouseSavers.com about many ways to save at Disney World.

  • Hispanic Business.com - "It's Your Money: Get Your Summer Travel Deals Here" - April 17, 2008

    "Going to Disney World or Disneyland? The iconic family destinations are never cheap, but Mouse Savers can take some of the sting out by providing everything from resort reservation deals, discount codes for car rentals, and tips to stretch your dining dollar."

  • Woman's Day magazine - "Theme Parks on a Budget" - April 15, 2008

  • Associated Press/CNN.com/Miami Herald - "Cruising with the family on Disney" - January 28, 2008

  • CNN.com - "Taking the kids: Disney World 101" - January 8, 2008

  • Budget Travel magazine and BudgetTravel.com - "Trip Coach" - November 2007

  • The Tennessean - "Enjoy Mickey's Magic on Minnie-Sized Purse" - September 23, 2007

  • Atlanta Journal-Constitution - "Race car laps and Cinderella wishes await Disney World visitors" - August 2, 2007

  • News 10 Now Syracuse, NY - "Money Vacation Savings" - June 22, 2007

  • Palm Beach Post / major US newspapers - "10 Ways to Save Big on Lodging in Orlando" - May 29, 2007

  • MSNBC.com - "Disney Shows Us the Big Love" - May 27, 2007

  • "... Mousesavers.com brim[s] with tried-and-tested money-saving advice and frequently offer[s] discounts to select Disney properties."

  • CNN.com / BusinessWeek / major US newspapers - "Disney World on a Budget" - May 21, 2007

    "... MouseSavers.com... compiles all sorts of helpful tips, news about discounts and deals, and a basic rundown of choices at Disney, along with links to other helpful Web sites and a list of frequently asked questions."

  • Asheville Citizen-Times - "Keep the Magic in Your Vacation at Disney World " - May 19, 2007

  • CBS News MarketWatch / major US newspapers - "Save on Admission at Amusement Parks" - May 3, 2007

  • Family Circle magazine - "Orlando Grows Up" - May 2007

  • Kiplinger.com - "10 Tips for an Affordable Family Vacation" - April 27, 2007

  • NBC 6 South Florida - "This Week's Travel Deals: Disney Deals" - April 26, 2007

  • Seattle Times - "Theme-park Tilt-A-Whirl" - April 20, 2007

  • "My favorite for planning: mousesavers.com."

  • Asheville Citizen-Times - "The Food is on the Mouse at Disney" - April 11, 2007

  • Fort Worth Star-Telegram - "Keys to the Kingdom" - April 8, 2007

  • Florida Today - "Disney doubling cruise fleet" - February 23, 2006

  • Family Circle magazine - "The Three-Generation Vacation" - February 2007

  • Frommers.com - "Don't Wait in Line: Tips for a Crowd-Free Orlando Vacation" - October 16, 2006

    "One of the best sources for Disney discount information is Mousesavers (www.mousesavers.com). I never go to Orlando without checking this website first as it usually has information on most of the current deals that Disney and its surrounding hotels are running. It also gives tips on how to avoid scams in Orlando."

  • Frommers.com - "Zip-a-dee-do-deal All the Way to Disney" - September 22, 2006

    "Start with the insiders at Mousesavers (www.mousesavers.com) for some frank advice on how to save dollars (and not the ones with Mickey's face on them). They provide a number of clever tips to make the most of your Disney adventures and deals."

  • Frommers.com - "Mousing Around this Fall: Height of Value Season at Disney" - August 11, 2006

  • "Anyone considering a Disney vacation should visit Mousesavers (www.mousesavers.com) first. The website's developer and frequent Disney-goer, Mary Waring, is a consumer advocate who is passionate about her theme parks and helping people get the best Disney bang for their buck."

  • Florida Today - "Higher park, hotel prices help boost Disney profits" - August 10, 2006

  • Fool.co.uk - "Twenty Tips To Save On Holidays" - July 25, 2006

  • "If you plan to take your children or grandchildren to Disneyworld (Florida) or Disneyland (California), then be sure to visit the MouseSavers website. It offers great discounts on all things Disney and, although it's aimed at US residents, many of the deals apply to us Brits, too."

  • St. Petersburg Times - "10 tips: Theme parks, more frugally" - July 23, 2006

  • WCPO TV Cincinnati - "Don't Waste Your Money: Disney World Savings" - July 11, 2006

    "...the best money saving website is not run by Disney: It's called 'MouseSavers.com.' Mouse Savers offers hundreds of deals and secret discount codes."

  • Fort Worth Star-Telegram - "Pennywise Mickey" - June 9, 2006

  • Florida Today - "Disney Unveils Dreams Effort" - June 8, 2006

  • WCVB-TV Boston - "Click of the Day" - April 12, 2006

    "...here's a Web site that may help you save big bucks on your next trip to the happiest place on Earth."

  • Frommers.com - "It Can Be a Small Price After All for Getting to Disney's Themeparks" - March 27, 2006

    "As usual, we recommend checking out the insider, tip-friendly site Mousesavers (www.mousesavers.com) for updates on park information, an unbiased look at the Magic Kingdoms, and useful insights about accommodations, getting around, and eating out without losing all your money. The site also posts various discounts and special codes that can help while booking at Disney's resort hotels."

  • Florida Today - "Port Losing Its Magic to Europe" - March 17, 2006

  • Frommers.com - "These Deals Have Legs (and Mouse Ears!)" - February 8, 2006

  • MouseSavers.com "ought to be a required read for anyone planning a trip to any Disney resort."

  • Arizona Republic - "Trip out on deals: Surf Web, book early" - January 15, 2006

    "Headed to Disneyland or Disney World? Don't plan the trip without a visit to independent sites dedicated to the theme parks, such as www.mousesavers.com..."

  • WCPO TV Cincinnati - "Don't Waste Your Money: You Win Wednesday" - January 11, 2006

    Emmy-winning consumer reporter John Matarese says MouseSavers.com "lists great discounts and promotional specials to Disney World hotels and attractions."

  • USA Weekend magazine - "Travel Smart: Do Disney World Wisely" - January 8, 2006

  • South Florida Parenting magazine - "Best Vacation on a Budget: Walt Disney World" - December 2005

    "For discounts and hints on saving, visit www.mousesavers.com."

  • This is Money - "50 ways to save on your holidays" - November 15, 2005

  • Frommers.com - "The Kingdom Comes a Callin' with Early Fall Deals to Orlando's Themeparks" - September 22, 2005

  • "For hotel steals and other deals, Mouse Savers (www.mousesavers.com) is a great site that offers insider tips and specials to Disney World."

  • Fine Living Network - "The Wall Street Journal Weekend: Disney Secrets" - July 2005

  • News 10 Syracuse - "Travel Tuesday: Disney" - May 31, 2005

    MouseSavers.com is "a fantastic insider source for Disney-related codes and discounts and other tips.... perfect for people who have the time, patience, and inclination to cobble together the most inexpensive, tip-laden deal possible."

  • FamilyFun magazine - "Orlando for Families: Saving Money" - March 2005

    "For advice on how to save money on every aspect of your vacation, especially lodging, check out www.mousesavers.com."

  • Wall Street Journal - "Cracking the Code at Disneyland" - December 23, 2004

    MouseSavers.com is an "easy-to-read, regularly updated compendium of coupons and other tips on saving money at Disneyland and Disney World."

  • New York Post - "Doing Mickey Right" - November 16, 2004

    "MouseSavers.com: You'll find every discount code and price break known to exist."

  • Smart Money magazine - "Destination Disney" - November 2004

  • Bottom Line / Personal magazine - "Visit Disney for Less" - November 15, 2004

    "This mom-and-pop collection of coupon codes, special offers and online promotions covers all things Disney, from parks to cruises to merchandise.... There's helpful content here too."

  • Money magazine - "Get More, Pay Less! The 75 Best Websites for Serious Savings" - September 2004

  • KABC TV Los Angeles - "Theme Park Savings" - June 18, 2004

  • MSNBC.com - "Mickey Mouse Pricing on Disney World and Disneyland" - June 10, 2004

    "MouseSavers [is] a website that devotes itself to ferreting out each and every money-saving tip out there..."

  • Washington Post - "Details: Disney World" and "Family Resources 101" - May 16, 2004

    "For first-timers planning a Disney trip, the tips at MouseSavers.com (www.mousesavers.com) can help make the process less daunting, and less brutal to the wallet."

  • New York Times - "Mission: Orlando" - January 11, 2004

  • Frommers.com - "A Little Mouse Told Us How to Save at Disney" - December 17, 2003

    "Disney magic ain't cheap, though. Enter Mary Waring, creator of MouseSavers.com (www.mousesavers.com) and probably the world's greatest expert on saving money at the Disney theme parks. Waring's vast, continually-updated site is a treasure trove of money-saving information..."

  • Washingtonian magazine - "Disney Without Tears" - September 2003 Issue

  • Frommers.com - "An Online Update for Frommer's Walt Disney World & Orlando 2004"

  • "Coupon clippers, budget travelers and anyone wanting to squeeze a few extra dollars of savings out of their Disney vacation should first check out Mouse Savers (www.mousesavers.com), where siteowner and Disney habitué Mary Waring posts a plethora of tips and current deals to Disney properties and the Orlando area. Be sure to sign up for her free monthly newsletter."

  • Business Week magazine - "How to Do Disney" - September 22, 2003 issue

  • KFMB TV San Diego - "Don't Waste Your Money: Disneyland Fall & Holiday Specials" - September 15, 2003

  • MSNBC.com - "Mission: SAVINGS at Disney" - September 11, 2003

  • Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel magazine - "20 Money-Saving Tips" - September 2003 issue

    "...always check the private Web site MouseSavers.com to learn if Disney is offering an advantageous hotel-and-admission-ticket package for the dates of your stay."

  • MSN.com Money Central - "DollarWise: 9 Ways to Save on Theme-Park Tickets"

  • Major newspapers throughout the US - June 29, 2003

  • Travel guru Arthur Frommer lists MouseSavers.com among 15 useful sites for finding hotel savings, in his nationally-syndicated column.

  • The Salt Lake Tribune - June 22, 2003

    "If you're planning a trip to Disney... on either coast, MouseSavers.com is chock full of the latest deals."

  • Consumer Reports - June 2003 issue

  • U.S. News and World Report - May 26, 2003

  • MSNBC.com - May 21, 2003

    Arthur Frommer's "Budget Travel" column calls MouseSavers.com a "discount gold mine."

  • WCPO TV Cincinnati - "Don't Waste Your Money: Theme Park Savings" - May 19, 2003

  • Emmy-winning consumer reporter John Matarese calls MouseSavers.com his "personal favorite" for Disney/Orlando savings and says the site is "is loaded with free tips and secrets."

  • Wall Street Journal - May 13, 2003

  • MSNBC.com - May 12, 2003

  • Arthur Frommer's "Budget Travel" column refers to MouseSavers.com as "the single best independent source for all things Disney, including hundreds of hints and tips on saving money during a Disney vacation."

  • American Baby magazine - April 2003 issue

  • Baltimore Sun and Newsday.com - March 16, 2003

  • Parents magazine - "Disney For Every Family" - February 2003 issue

  • Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel magazine - December 2002/January 2003

    MouseSavers.com is listed among "124 best money-saving web sites for travel."

  • Associated Press - November 2002

    MouseSavers.com is cited as "best" site for "analyzing Disney World ticketing and suggesting ways to save a few dollars."

  • Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel magazine - October 2002 issue

  • USA Today - September 27, 2002

    Mary Waring is cited as an expert on Walt Disney World packages and room-only resort discount codes.

  • NBC News affiliates throughout the US, and NBC affiliate web sites - July 2002

  • WTVT Fox 13 Tampa Bay "News You Can Use" - July 26, 2002

    "...chock-full of money saving tips for your next Disney vacation."

  • Southern Living magazine - July 2002 issue

    "We're enchanted by avid Disneyphile Mary Waring's www.mousesavers.com, which offers park-goers tips on smart budgeting in Orlando."

  • USA Today - June 18, 2002

    Pauline Frommer's "Budget Travel" column mentions MouseSavers.com as a good place to look for hotel discounts at Walt Disney World.

  • Major newspapers throughout the US "Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel" - April/May 2002

    Arthur Frommer, author of the classic Europe on $5 a Day and probably the most famous budget travel writer in the world, calls MouseSavers.com "one of the best resources for significant Disney discounts" in his syndicated column.

  • Coastal Family magazine - April 2002 issue

  • Wall Street Journal - March 1, 2002 and April 9, 2002

  • FamilyFun magazine - February 2002 issue

    MouseSavers.com is recommended as a "reader favorite" in this Disney publication.

  • Orlando Sentinel - August 2001

  • Miami Herald - August 2001

Guidebook Mentions for MouseSavers.com

Some of these guidebooks are reviewed here on the site, with links that will allow you to buy them at a discount, of course!

  • Cheapskate's Guide to Walt Disney World

  • Frommer's California

  • Frommer's Florida

  • Frommer's Irreverent Guide to Walt Disney World

  • Frommer's Los Angeles

  • Frommer's Portable Disneyland

    "This excellent website lists almost every conceivable discount available at the entire Disneyland Resort..."

  • Frommer's Walt Disney World & Orlando

    "If you're looking to save a few dollars, try Mousesavers (www.mousesavers.com), which features information, insider Disney tips, and (the biggest perk) exclusive discounted deals for area hotels, resorts, and packages."

  • Frommer's Walt Disney World & Orlando with Kids

  • Lonely Planet Orlando & Central Florida

    says MouseSavers.com offers "truly excellent information on discounted tickets and other deals..."

  • The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World

  • Making Memories on Your Walt Disney World Resort Vacation

  • Parents' Survival Guide to I-75

  • PassPorter Guide to Walt Disney World

  • PassPorter's Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line

  • The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland

  • The Unofficial Guide to Florida

  • The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas

    "Improbably, one of the best places for finding rental-car deals is www.mousesavers.com..."

  • The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas with Kids

  • The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World

    says MouseSavers.com is "the kind of website for which the Internet is intended."

  • The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World for Grownups

  • The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids

  • Walt Disney World & Orlando for Dummies

    "The Web site www.mousesavers.com keeps track of almost all available discounts for Disney-related vacations..."

  • You Are Here Traveling with JohnnyJet.com: The Ultimate Internet Travel Guide

MouseSavers.com Contributors

Mary Waring is the founder and webmaster of MouseSavers.com.

After spending an inordinate amount of time pursuing various postgraduate degrees, Mary taught English and writing at the University of Southern California and Scripps College. She left academia to work as an independent marketing consultant in San Diego, where she also acquired a slightly disheveled husband named Mike and a somewhat overenthusiastic 96-pound dog. In 2005 Mary, Mike and the dog decided to set up house in a new location: beautiful Colorado.

A four-day trip to Walt Disney World in 1997 reawakened a lifelong affection for all things Disney, and led directly to the (ahem) megacorporation that is now known as MouseSavers, Inc. Mary blames (thanks?) one of her brothers for suggesting that trip, and her other brother for coining the name "MouseSavers."

Michael Waring is a world famous explorer, Formula 1 racer, mountain climber, bon vivant and all around nice guy. The truly amazing thing is he has accomplished all this without leaving the comforts of his Laz-E-Boy recliner.

In the few minutes per day when fantasy is not in the forefront, Mike is a semi-retired engineer who likes to dabble in writing, and enjoys reading, traveling, and cooking. He also enjoys sampling brews from around the world and has a lifelong passion to explore the local deep fried snack foods of whatever strange place he happens to find himself in this week.

Don Munsil is an internationally-recognized expert in making up complete hogwash for biographies. He has made it a priority never to sully his hands with actual physical labor, and hence spends his days arranging ones and zeros into profitable patterns. His hobbies include stereoscopic photography, finding and drinking interesting beers, and convincing his wife to go to Walt Disney World even though they just went, that's completely true, but has she heard about this amazing fare sale? Just think about it, OK?

Where was he? Oh yes, he was writing about himself in the third person, another of his hobbies. Don has been privileged to watch MouseSavers.com flourish and grow from a tiny but useful web site to the unstoppable juggernaut of Disney discount knowledge we all know and love. Don gives a shout out to his peeps down at the bit factory. Peace out.

Marjorie Mae Treger - A recovering thespian and third generation San Diegan, Marjorie grew up visiting Disneyland and has made more than 40 trips to "The Happiest Place on Earth." Her travel companions are her husband, Stephen and her two children, Jamison and Elias. Other places they often travel include Yosemite, New York City, Palm Springs, Poconos, PA and of course, Walt Disney World.

Marjorie has worked as an actress, director and educator. She has taught ages four through adult on the subjects of English, writing and theatre. She has a BA in Theatre from UC San Diego with minors in both Literature and Anthropology. She also has a Certificate in Acting from American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco.

Charles Finn was bitten by the travel bug at the age of 15, and has been roaming the world ever since. In order to finance this primal urge he has dabbled in education for the last eighteen years. Charles has traveled extensively throughout Europe, South America, and the Caribbean, and is a veteran cruiser. He has also been on some big ships. His favorite city in the world is London, where he indulges his other passions: theatre and Indian food.

Other Sites by MouseSavers, Inc.

MouseWeddings.com - Over 500 pages of information about Disney weddings, vow renewals, commitment ceremonies, honeymoons and romantic vacations. Launched April 2007.

FoolishQuestions.com - Mike Waring's blog, where he explores travel, technology, the mysteries of life and the universe -- or just whatever pops into his head. Launched September 2007.

SheldonShirts.com - Find t-shirts just like the ones worn by Sheldon and Leonard on The Big Bang Theory. Launched May 2008.

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