MarloElaine » Deals

REVIEW: LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Chicago

Elaine — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 04:07:36 +0000

We were very excited to learn that the America’s first indoor LEGOLAND was opening up right here in Illinois. LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Chicago opened on July 31, 2008 in the Streets of Woodfield in Schaumburg. The official website was very detailed and descriptive, so we knew exactly what to expect. We even knew to plan on about 2 – 2 1/2 hours to work through the whole place.

TICKETS

I found a link to buy tickets online for buy one adult admission, get one child admission free. I purchased 2 adult tickets for $39.90 and my 2 and 4 year old children were admitted for free. Once tickets are purchased online, they can be used any day within 6 months of purchase. Another benefit to purchasing tickets in advance is that we were able to bypass the long lines outside. The link that I used was an introductory promotion that was advertised only in the first week. I just learned that Baskin Robbins has coupons with the same paid adult, free child offer.

Since we saw how many people were outside waiting to get in, we decided to skip around and do the Dragon Ride and the 4D movie first. Those were the two things our son Sammy was most excited about, so we wanted to make sure we fit them in before it got too crowded or before the kids got cranky, sleepy, or hungry.

DRAGON RIDE

Sophie (age 2) was a bit scared of the Dragon Ride because it was dark, but I just sat next to her and hugged her throughout the ride. Sammy (age 4) sat with his daddy and excitedly pointed at all the LEGO animals and LEGO people throughout the ride. The Dragon Ride was the only place we were asked not to take pictures. Good thing we put our cameras away, because as the signs promised: we all got a bit wet.

4D CINEMA

The 4D Cinema was a short, cute movie called ‘Spellbreaker 4D.’ Oddly, there was no talking – just a series of noises and grunts from the Princess, the Hero, the evil Magician, etc. Sophie didn’t like the paper glasses provided, so she just watched a blurry cartoon. Sammy liked the 4D effects and kept reaching out to try to touch the swords and people approaching him. The 4D effects came not only from the movie screen, but from fans, lights, and even a snow machine!

LEGO CAFÉ

The LEGO Café is convenient for lunch or snack time. I’m not sure what they serve or if the prices are reasonable. Their chocolate chip cookies smelled really good, but we brought our own water to drink and then went to lunch at nearby Ikea afterwards.

BUILD AND TEST/MODEL BUILDERS WORKSHOP

Upstairs near the LEGO Café, there were numerous play stations with tons of regular LEGOS, LEGO Duplos, build your own LEGO race cars with lots of ramps. Even though we followed the website FAQ recommendations about going first thing in the morning or late afternoon, these areas were very crowded. We had to bypass the “Build and Test” areas, Model Builders Workshop, and the playground type equipment due to the sheer volume of children. A side note: socks are required for the indoor playground equipment (similar to the climbing tubes at Chuck E. Cheese).

FACTORY TOUR

The “factory tour” consisted of standing in one room and looking at the pretend equipment along the walls. One volunteer was chosen to push about four buttons that made the machines move and make noise. At the end, each child was invited to take a yellow LEGO brick home with them as a free souvenir. Sam and Sophie would have enjoyed this a lot more if there were less people in the room. They were not able to see very much behind the other parents and kids. They were delighted to each have their own LEGO that wasn’t a Duplo block.

BIG BRICK PLAY ZONE

There were a few quiet corners filled with huge, soft LEGO bricks. These were the best! Our kids could have spent hours here. I was hoping the store downstairs carried them, but there were none to be found.

MINILAND

Miniland is the first area most LEGOLAND visitors see, since it is right next to the cashier at the entrance. It is a great place for LEGO enthusiasts, Chicago tourists, and Chicago natives. It’s fascinating to study the details of Chicago icons built into these miniatures made completely out of LEGO bricks. The Sears Tower, Hancock building, Water Tower, Buckingham Fountain, and even the “SeaPup” speed boat are just a few of the amazingly accurate landmarks depicted here.

ADVENTURE TRAIL

After walking through Miniland, we had to wait an unusually long amount of time before we were allowed to enter the Adventure Trail section. We had to endure an unenthusiastic treasure hunting skit, but once we were inside, we walked around at our own pace. There were many LEGO animals and LEGO people that the kids enjoyed touching and posing with for pictures. Sam and Sophie enjoyed the hippo, monkeys, frogs, and alligators the best.

HALL OF FAME

There were several large LEGO sculptures of people and animals scattered throughout LEGOLAND. We particularly enjoyed the Hall of Fame that had huge LEGO characters such as Batman, Darth Vader, R2D2, Harry Potter, and Hagrid. The Hall of Fame also had another area with soft LEGO bricks to play with.

PRIVATE PARTIES

We saw several rooms set aside for private parties. The largest room can accommodate up to 50 people. Private workshops were also offered along with the highest level birthday packages. As of August 2008, party packages range from $19.75 – $29.75 per person.

LEGO STORE

The LEGO store was a bit disappointing. I expected a larger, better stocked shop. Many things my children were interested in were sold out, such as the LEGO Duplo people and the Princess Duplo set. The kids t-shirts were overpriced at $19.99. Loose LEGO bricks were $27.99/lb and sorted by size and color. I have no idea how this price compares to buying a box of assorted pieces. The $7.99 foam swords were a hit with our kids, but weapons aren’t generally allowed in our home. There were several cute key chains available for $3.99, but we did not buy any of those either.

FINAL THOUGHTS

All four of us had a great time at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Chicago. Our only complaints were regarding the staff and the price. The cashiers at the entrance seemed flustered and were not very friendly. The employees who were dressed in costumes (Professor Brick a Brack at the Factory Tour and the Adventure Trail Tour Guide) lacked enthusiasm and weren’t good with crowd control. There were very few employees circulating around to answer questions or direct people to certain attractions or washrooms, etc. Many of the soap dispensers in the washrooms (including the family washroom) ran out of soap. Hopefully these are just temporary issues that will be worked out as the staff familiarizes themselves with their new roles.

The price of admission to LEGOLAND was comparable to an amusement park, but the actual LEGOLAND itself was comparable to a standard children’s museum. Kohl’s Children’s Museum in Glenview charges $7.50 per person and Chicago Children’s Museum in Navy Pier charges $9.00 per person. Those museums can keep kids entertained for 4 hours or even a full day, depending on the child. Kiddie Land Amusement Park in Melrose Park charges $23 for ages 6 and up and $20 for ages 3-5 & 60+

If I didn’t live 45 minutes away, I’d consider buying an Annual pass for unlimited admission during non-holiday weekdays. It’s slightly cheaper than the Premium pass that allows admission on both weekdays and weekends. I believe you have to go at least 3 times in one year to make it worth your while. They do not offer any type of family pass, so each individual has to purchase their own adult, child, or senior pass. Passes are not transferable and not available online.

LEGOLAND is a must see for LEGO enthusiast of all ages. We saw a lot of parents building towers, racing cars, and just enjoying themselves with their children. I even saw a group of teenagers entering as we were leaving. We definitely plan to go back.

Don’t forget to purchase your tickets online in advance using the LEGOLAND Coupon. Be sure to proceed directly to the entrance doors with your printout of the tickets.

Calling All Hip Moms and Babies!

Elaine — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:03:38 +0000

Calling all hip moms and babies! I’ve just discovered a new store perfect for all the fashionable and budget conscious moms out there! I’m so excited to share the site and my purchases with everyone!

Hip Moms and Babies is an online store featuring Maternity and Nursing products. Hip Moms and Babies was created by Zeka, who is a mother of three and also a Pediatrician/Neonatologist. She has gathered a collection of really cute clothes and accessories for pregnant women, nursing moms, infants, and toddlers, as well as pumping supplies, organic bath products, baby slings, natural soy candles, etc.

Each “Hip Moms and Babies” item has a several photos with detailed descriptions. Many offer tips on how to utilize the product best. The site is based in the Philippines, so prices are listed in Philippine Pesos (P or PhP) which are approx PhP40/42 = $1.00 US. Click here to convert from PhP to USD. The price of each item is in the description or the photo title. They accept Paypal and are happy to ship to the US through FedEx, DHL, or UPS.

So far I have purchased two Transition Tubes and a Diaper Clutch.

The Transition Tubes are only P250 each, or about $6.25! I chose Charcoal Heather and Dusty Rose. They are so comfy and provide great nursing coverage when wearing regular shirts. Nursing moms will no longer be limited to those expensive nursing tops! These are also great for pregnant women who find that regular or even maternity shirts don’t quite cover up their bellies. They can also be used like a belt to hold up loose pants. Most styles are available in both 13″ and 15″ sizes. Zeka described it perfectly when she wrote, “It’s the perfect accessory and wardrobe extender you will need for pregnancy and after the baby.”

DIAPER CLUTCH

The Diaper Clutch in Pink with Brown trim was a great deal at just P600, approx $15.00. I use it to hold three diapers and a stack of baby wipes. When folded, it looks just like a regular purse. When opened, it converts to a generous changing pad that wipes clean easily. It can be carried alone or inside a diaper bag.

NAPPY CLUTCH

My sister-in-law purchased the Nappy Clutch and loves it. She said it’s the perfect size for diapers and wipes and fits nicely inside her purse. She only paid P750, or about $18.75.

If you have any questions about a product, shipping, or currency conversion, post a message on the site or e-mail hipmomsandbabies@gmail.com for a very prompt response from Zeka. I hope you will take the time to browse the site and pass it on to all the Hip Moms or Moms-to-be that you know. I’d love to hear what you think in the comments section!

How to: Monitor Your Child’s Credit

Elaine — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 06:29:51 +0000

Almost every day in the news, there is a new story of credit card fraud or identity theft. It could happen to anyone. That’s why it is so important to monitor your own credit, as well as all the members of your family, including your children.

Children are perfect targets for criminals because the identity theft can go undetected for a long time. ABC News reported a story which reports incidents of ID theft that happened to two different families. The identity theft victims were a 3-year old and a 11-month old.

For adults, it’s so easy to request a credit report online using the AnnualCreditReport with the website. You are allowed one free credit report from each of the three reporting agencies every year. You can order your credit reports online, by phone, or by mail using the posted instructions. However, if you are under the age of 13, you can only submit the paperwork by mail.

Getting your kid’s credit report

Last fall, I requested reports for both of my children from all three credit agencies. I had to do this because we never received Sophie’s original Social Security Card. It must have been lost or stolen in the mail.

Here’s what I did to obtain my children’s credit reports:

For each child the following documents are required:
1. A completed Annual Credit Report Request Form from the AnnualCreditReport website
2. Copy of the child’s birth certificate
3. Copy of the child’s Social Security Card
4. Copy of the parent’s driver’s license
Mail the completed forms (along with copies of each child’s supporting documents) to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

After a few weeks, I received statements of “unable to locate credit information” or “no such file in the database” in the mail. This reassured me that no one has been using my children’s information to open fraudulent accounts.

The process may have changed this year as the AnnualCreditReport site is now requiring parents to contact each credit agency individually along with sending an additional supporting document, a current utility bill.

Here’s an excerpt from their FAQ below:

How do I request a credit report by mail for a child under 13 years of age?

The credit reporting agencies do not knowingly maintain credit files on minor children. If you suspect that your minor child’s information has been used fraudulently, you should contact the credit reporting agencies directly and report the illegal use of your child’s information to law enforcement. Please supply each credit reporting agency with your child’s complete name, address, date of birth and a copy of the minor child’s birth certificate and social security card. Additionally, please provide a copy of your driver’s license or other government-issued proof of your identity, which includes your current address, and a current utility bill containing your current address so the credit reporting agencies may promptly respond to your request. The addresses for the credit reporting agencies are listed below:

Equifax
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, Georgia 30374

Experian
P.O. Box 9532
Allen, Texas 75013

TransUnion
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834

I saved copies of all the supporting documents I sent last year. I will just have to add in a copy of my current electric bill and send the paperwork to all three credit agencies individually.

The initial paperwork to obtain your child’s credit may seem overwhelming compared to the simple questions needed to get your own. An alternative method would be to enroll into a credit monitoring service such as LifeLock.

They have a program which can cover your entire family. LifeLock will regularly monitor your kid’s credit. If you want to save time and have that peace of mind, LifeLock may be for you.

MarloElaine Blog readers can save up to 25% off when you use the LifeLock promotion code: LOCKDOWN. Click to instantly apply the LifeLock Promotion code.

Saving $407 on Our Comcast Bill

Marlo — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 06:02:23 +0000

How a 9 minute phone call will save us over $400 this year!

Since we are a single income household, I try to find ways to save money. As the cliche goes: a penny saved is a penny earned.

After reviewing my Comcast bill a few weeks ago, I realized I was paying roughly $100 a month on my combined cable and high speed internet service. Luckily, I encountered this blog entry. Jonathan of MyMoneyBlog writes about how he was able to save $105 on his Comcast bill.

I decided to give it a try and was able to haggle for much more savings.

Here’s a rough transcript of my conversation with the Comcast retention specialist:

Me: Hello, I just received my Comcast bill today and realized I am paying too much for my Cable TV and High Speed internet. I am seriously considering switching my service to AT&T Yahoo DSL at $14.99/month.

Comcast: Can you verify your account information? [taps on keyboard] OK, we’d like to keep you as a customer. We can’t match the DSL offer but we can provide you High Speed Internet for $19.99/month for six months.

Me: What about my cable service?

Comcast: For TV, we can provide that service at $29.99/month for a year.

Me: Is that the best you can do?

Comcast: Please call us back after six months and check in with us.

Me: When will this new rate be effective?

Comcast: Today. Since we bill out a month in advance, we will credit your account. We will be owing you money.

Me: [With a fat grin on my face] Thank you.

I made sure to talk someone in account cancellations so I did not have to waste time going through the automated prompts. If you have Comcast service, give it a try. It might save you some money on your monthly bill.

Ice Cream Specials!

Elaine — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 18:01:49 +0000

If you love ice cream as much as we do, you’ll scoop up these deals:

On Tuesday, April 17th from 12pm until 8pm: Participating Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops around the world will be hosting Ben & Jerry’s Annual Free Cone Day. Use their store locator to find a participating scoop shop near you!
On Wednesday, May 2nd from 5pm until 10pm: 31 cent scoop night at Baskin-Robbins in honor of the National Fallen Figher Fighters Foundation. The discounted scoops are 2.5 oz, versus the regular 4 oz size, but still a good deal.

Join the Birthday Clubs

Cold Stone Creamery has a Birthday Club for people of any age. Register online and receive an e-mail on your birthday good for a free Cold Stone Creation. “Each birthday club certificate is good for one FREE Cold Stone Creamery Creation™. A free Creation consists of any creation on the Cold Stone Creamery Originals® menu board in a “Love It” size.” Redeem within 14 days of your birthday. Don’t forget to register all your children as well!
Baskin-Robbins also has a Birthday Club with several benefits:
1. A free 2.5 oz scoop of ice cream on your birthday
2. Special offers and promotions throughout the year
3. Sneak peek at new Baskin-Robbins flavors and treats before they go public.
Marble Slab has a similar Birthday Club for children, called Kids Club. “When you join, you’ll receive: A coupon for a FREE Child’s Size Ice Cream Cone, with Mixin, for each of your birthdays, through age 12.“

Huggies Diaper Deal

Marlo — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 17:01:55 +0000

We’re always looking for ways to save money on necessary items like diapers. Unlike the items I listed in my previous post, these are the things we need to buy regularly until the kids are potty trained. Amazon.com has a coupon for $30 off with a $99 or more purchase of select Huggies products. Just enter the code HUGGIE3O at checkout. This coupon expires on January 31, 2007. No tax and free shipping, it’s hard to beat this deal.