Tips about Disney Dining Plans

If you’re planning your first time Disney trip, or are a veteran but want to make sure you’re getting the most out of your vacation, the Disney Blog’s deals writer Chris Wood has more great tips for you. This time around, it’s how to make the most of the Disney Dining Plan. First tip: your Dining Plan benefits start when you check in, so you can begin using them immediately, even if it’s hours until you’re able to get into your room. This is especially beneficial to know if there’s going to be a meal time between your arrival and … Continue reading →

Tips for Disney World Resort Hotel Stays

Today I just learned about a new Disney resort: the Disney Yacht Club resort. When I say new, I don’t mean that it’s about to be built or to open, but that I had never heard of it before. The resort’s been around since 1990. There are just so many hotels at Disney World, it’s hard to remember them all or keep them all straight. It can be a dilemma for those looking to plan a Disney World vacation. You may have crossed the first hurdle – deciding whether or not you’re going to stay on site – but you … Continue reading →

Apply to be a Disney Mom (or Disney Dad)

What’s the ultimate goal of many Disney fanatics? See all the films and television shows? Visit all the parks? Work for the company, at one of the parks or even in the movie division? I know for many, it’s the latter. A lucky few are qualified to really work in making magic: to be an animator, or an Imagineer. Many of us just don’t have the skill set to do much. What kind of job could knowing everything about the Disney parks get us? How about a seat on the Disney Moms Panel? You don’t actually get paid to be … Continue reading →

Figuring Out Transportation at Disney World

One of the erroneous assumptions I always made growing up was thinking that Disney World worked just like the small local amusement parks I’d been to. Pay one fee, get access to everything on the site, and get around the park easily. We know for sure the former isn’t true, and neither is the latter. Disney World is huge. It’s basically a city unto itself. So any family doing a Disney World vacation that wants to see more than one park has to figure out transportation from one park to another, plus how to get on and off the site … Continue reading →

What Is the Disney Mom’s Panel?

Over my past 2.5 years as a Disney blogger I’ve frequently seen reference to the Disney Moms Panel. Each time I learned about it I was in the middle of researching for a different article, so even though I always meant to visit it someday it took me a long time to actually get around to it. But finally I’m here to answer: what is the Moms Panel? Just going by name alone I imagine the Moms Panel as a group of Disney-loving mothers ready to answer questions, likely posed by other moms, or at least parents, about Walt Disney … Continue reading →

Destination: Disney

Last month Disney teamed up with bubbly Travel Channel personality Samantha Brown in order to make a new web series: “Destination: Disney.” So far the eight shorts, all clocking in between three and four minutes, focus on the Disney Dream cruise ship. Each episode of “Destination: Disney, Innovation and Technology,” finds Brown exploring different corners of the Disney Dream, usually concentrating on one of the many technological developments scattered throughout the ship. Many of the shorts talk about aspects of the ship that I’ve covered before, such as the “magical portholes” available in each stateroom or the shifting design of … Continue reading →

Disney’s Quiet Florida Escape

Sometimes it feels like the only Disney attraction I talk about are the parks, especially Walt Disney World in Orlando. It’s one of the most popular locations and a lot of interesting promotions and events are happening there right now, so I do want to share them with everyone here at families.com. But for those who might tire of the hectic crowds, noise, and cement pathways of an amusement park, Disney has an entirely different option: the Disney Wilderness Preserve. The Walt Disney Company created the Wilderness Preserve in 1992, purchasing the 8500-acre Walker Ranch in Poinciana, Florida. In partnership … Continue reading →

Filming the Disney Christmas Day Parade

Growing up, I hoped that one year I could spend my Christmas watching the Disney parade from the sidelines instead of my couch. If I’d ever gotten my wish, my young self would have been disappointed. That is because Disney does not hold their Christmas Day parade on Christmas Day. Instead, they film in nearly a month in advance. Tomorrow the parade you’ll see on your screens was taped on December 3-5. Disney usually announces the dates for their annual taping near the end of October. Those interested in obtaining tickets for the event should keep close watch on the … Continue reading →

Moms for Moms – Disney World Panel

I love discovering neat opportunities for moms to get advice and suggestions from other moms. Today’s great opportunity is The Walt Disney World Moms Panelists. The site has great videos on how to do everything from pack for your Disney World vacation to getting away for a weekend with friends and no kids. Typically, I wouldn’t advise you to get these ideas from another site, but it’s all hosted by the Walt Disney World Forums and endorsed by the mouse itself. So I wanted to share some real gems. Among my favorite video How Tos are: Disney For All Ages … Continue reading →

Why Use Disney’s Magical Express Service?

Why should you use Disney’s Magical Express Service? Let’s talk about what it is first and foremost. The Magical Express Service is designed to help you get from the airport to the hotel with your luggage with a minimum of fuss and muss. As it turns out, the majority of the tourist traffic that comes through Orlando International Airport were destined for Disney – and as you can imagine that’s a lot of people, every day and a lot of luggage. The airport made a deal with Disney that allowed them to make sure the luggage was delivered to the … Continue reading →