I have vivid childhood memories of the early days of the Grand Floridian Resort at Walt Disney World. My family visited Disney World often in the late 1980s. We often stayed just across the lagoon in the Polynesian on several trips and witnessed the building of the resort. I remember being in awe of how luxurious […]
Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Night: An Exclusive Sneak Peek!
Starting Memorial Day weekend in 2016, Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World is going to be transformed. Ever since its opening in 1998, the park has closed by sundown. That’s all about to change on May 27, 2016 when Animal Kingdom will be open for evening hours for the first time ever. I recently attended […]
Value & Convenience of Off-Property Hotels at Disneyland
The conventional wisdom from most Disney experts is that it is important to stay on-property at Walt Disney World. Staying in one of the Disney World resorts in Florida comes with a whole host of benefits that the Disney faithful can’t replicate in most of the off-property choices. When I head to Florida for a Disney […]
A First Timer’s Guide to Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World
Welcome to this month’s Blogorail Red Loop. Today we are sharing what you can expect when you visit the Disney parks this spring. Last spring, I found myself on two whirlwind trips to Walt Disney World during the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival season. Although I visit Disney destinations often, this was my very first […]
9 Tips for Flying to Walt Disney World
Planning a trip to Mickey’s Florida home? I know a lot of families on the East Coast drive to Walt Disney World, but since I live in California, my only reasonable option is to fly. Even if you live closer to Orlando than I do, there are often good deals to be had so it is sometimes […]
Packing List for Your Disney Daypack (Free Printable!)
If you read regularly, you already know how much my family loves visiting Disney destinations. Even though our kids are quite young, we have never let that stop us from bringing a baby or toddler along for the Disney fun. My children have had a ton of fun at Disneyland and Disney World at every age and […]
Disney Attraction Prize Fight: Disneyland vs. Walt Disney World Versions of Shared Rides
Welcome to this month’s Blogorail Orange Loop. Today we are comparing Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Pirates. Space Mountain. Thunder Mountain. it’s a small world. There are a number of attractions at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland that share a theme and a name. To the casual Disney visitor, these rides may seem to […]
Walt Disney World Memory Maker Review: Worth It or Waste of Money?
Disney offers a lot of ways to upgrade your vacation. Some of these extras offer a lot of value, but many of them just tempt you to blow your vacation budget. Today, we’ll take a look at one of several optional Disney services – Memory Maker – to see if it passes the test. Memory […]
The Dig Site at Coronado Springs: Deluxe Disney Pool at a Moderate Price
In order to experience the best pools on a Disney vacation, you usually need to pay deluxe Disney resort prices. That’s why I was so thrilled to discover a deluxe-quality pool at one of Disney’s moderate resorts, Coronado Springs, during a recent Walt Disney World visit. Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is one of Walt Disney […]
A Tale of Two Tiki Bars: Comparing Trader Sam’s at Disneyland & Walt Disney World
Disney and Hawaii have a long history together. Walt Disney visited the islands multiple times and first incorporated Hawaiian culture into his 1937 Mickey Mouse short film, Hawaiian Holiday. You can see Hawaii’s influence on Disney throughout Disney history in attractions like the Enchanted Tiki Room, hotels like Aulani and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, movies like […]