Disney World

Tips For First Visit to Disney World Orlando
Family Travel

11 Tips For Surviving Your First Trip to Walt Disney World

"We're going to Disney World!"
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"We're going to Disney World!" As soon as my kids heard the Super Bowl MVP utter that post-Super Bowl phrase, they couldn't wait to board the plane for Orlando, FL. Little did they know that we had booked our trip six months earlier, planning to stay at an apartment off-property (thanks, Nanna!), a few miles from the park. I loved Disney World as a kid, but back then, it was just two parks, and I wasn't the one planning the trip or paying for it! Today it is five parks, and we were planning on meeting friends there the week of Presidents' Day — the kids would be off from school, but so would thousands of other kids all with the same destination in mind.

To say I was nervous about the trip is an understatement. I envisioned waiting in long lines everywhere, being inundated with kids whining for Mickey Mouse ears and other souvenirs every three minutes, and feeling overwhelmed by the size of the parks. My vision couldn't have been further from reality. Sure, those things existed, but despite all of that, we experienced the Happiest Place on Earth. Here are my tips on how you can do that, too!

Plan, Plan, Plan Get or Rent a Stroller FastPass It! Use the Rider Switch Pass or Baby Swap Set Limits Plan a Break Day Do a Character Breakfast
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Handicapped Disney Tour Guides
parenting

Who's at Fault When a Tour Company Offers Handicapped Disney "Guides"?

There's a new secret way to cut the lines at Disney, but it involves a serious moral sacrifice.
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There's a new secret way to cut the lines at Disney, but it involves a serious moral sacrifice. The NY Post reports that a wealthy set of visitors has been hiring disabled "tour guides" to accompany their families to the Orlando theme park, affording them access to handicapped entrances, thereby bypassing the lines for rides. The tour company, called Dream Tours Florida, was uncovered by Dr. Wednesday Martin, a social anthropologist who discovered the disturbing trend while researching her book, Primates of Park Avenue. "It's insider knowledge that very few have and share carefully," Martin said. Apparently, you need a referral to even get through to the business, as Dream Tours' number is unlisted. Disney allows each wheelchair or scooter-bound visitor to bring up to six guests to an accessible entrance for each attraction. A woman who employed Dream Tours' services told the Postthat she hired a guide to accompany her family of four through the park in a motorized scooter with a "handicap" sign on it, and the group received special access throughout the park. We're pretty sure that we can all agree that this practice is reprehensible, but whom do you think is most at fault? Sound off!

Source: Flickr user Roger's Eye
Neil Patrick Harris Talks About Taking Twins to Disney World
Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris Talks About Taking His Kids to Disney World

It's the "happiest place on earth," and now Neil Patrick Harris — a huge Disney fan himself — has seen it through his childrens' eyes.
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It's the "happiest place on earth," and now Neil Patrick Harris — a huge Disney fan himself — has seen it through his childrens' eyes. The devoted dad and his partner, David Burtka, took their twins, Harper and Gideon, to Disney World for the first time, and the experience couldn't have been more memorable! Appearing on Live With Kelly and Michael, Neil told the hosts about the joys and the craziness of the visit, including his daughter's insistence on riding the Peter Pan ride over and over again.

Disney Cruise Line Tips
Family Travel

10 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Disney Cruise

Grab your sea legs, because we're going sailing with Mickey!
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Grab your sea legs, because we're going sailing with Mickey! After making our first journey to Disney World this Winter, the last place I thought I'd find my family was surrounded by Mickey, Minnie, and the gang on a cruise ship. But that's just where we ended up last week after Disney Cruise Line invited us on the Disney Magic's inaugural sailing out of NYC and up the New England coast. Having never cruised before, we found it to be an entirely new adventure for us, and one that had me nervous about being "trapped on a boat" for five days (one day in Halifax, Nova Scotia, one day in St. John, New Brunswick, and two days at sea).

Now that we're back on land, I can see I had little to worry about. In true Disney fashion, there was so much to do that I wished I had another two days to take it all in. We relaxed in hot tubs, played ping-pong and foosball at the bow of the ship, took photos with countless characters, baked cookies in the kids' club, watched The Avengers in 3D in the 278-seat Buena Vista Theatre, joined in a boisterous round of Bingo one evening, saw first-rate live shows every night, danced to pirate rock music on the deck of the ship, and even found time to work out in the gym while overlooking the Atlantic — and this was all before we ever stepped foot off the boat at one of our ports. From the moment the crew gave us personal welcome over the loud speaker when we walked onto the ship (a Disney Cruise Line exclusive), there was never a dull moment.

Keep reading to see my tips for making the most out of your time on a Disney cruise.

Get to the Boat Early on the Day of Embarkation Bring Your Pirate Gear Bring Different Color Highlighters With You Don't Miss the Nightly Shows Book the Disney Signature Shore Excursions Book a Night in Palo, the Adult-Only Restaurant Use Room Service
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Tyler Perry Sending Philadephia Campers to Disneyl World
Tyler Perry

Tyler Perry Turns Act of Racism Into Trip For Inner City Kids

It's a shame when narrow minded people make the world an ugly place for children.
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It's a shame when narrow minded people make the world an ugly place for children. Earlier this month, a private Philadelphia swim club was accused of discriminating against youngsters from an inner-city Summer camp who paid to swim at the facility. After some racist comments were made by pool patrons, the camp's check was returned and the 65 participants were told they were no longer welcome there. Parents like to believe the world is a better place for their kids, but incidents like these taint that vision.

Actor, writer and producer, Tyler Perry decided to step in and turn this negative situation into something positive for the children involved. The talent has offered to send the campers to Disney World and treat to all of the expenses — transportation, hotel, admission and food. He said:

"This is awful, and for anyone that has grown up in the inner-city, you know that one small act of kindness can change your life. I want them to know that for every act of evil that a few people will throw at you, there are millions more who will do something kind for them. This is all about the kids."

A trip to visit the Mouse sounds much better than a dip in the pool.

Celebrity Chef Cat Cora Will Open Kouzzina Restaurant in Disney World
celebrity chefs

Cat Cora Set to Open Disney World Restaurant

It's looking to be quite the year for celebrity chef Cat Cora.
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It's looking to be quite the year for celebrity chef Cat Cora. Not only does the female Iron Chef have a bun in the oven, but she's also announced she will open her first signature restaurant in Disney World.

The chef, whose Food Network bio says she's currently working on her signature restaurant will open Kouzzina by Cat Cora, a Mediterranean restaurant at Disney's Boardwalk Resort this Fall.

Cora, a native of Jackson, MS, recently opened CCQ, a quick-service barbecue restaurant in Costa Mesa, CA, but the descendant of Greek restaurateurs is famous for her Mediterranean cuisine. Cora says, the new restaurant will feature "time-honored recipes passed down from my ancestors, as well as my favorite Greek and Mediterranean dishes that my family loves."

I'm excited that the Iron Chef will finally have a chance to serve her signature dishes to the public. Are you curious to check out her restaurant?

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Disney World to Open Pet Resort
Travel

The Scoop: Walt Disney World to Open Pet Resort in 2009

It's such a bummer when you consider a four legged animal a member of your family, but yet there are some places that still don't allow them to roam around with you.
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It's such a bummer when you consider a four legged animal a member of your family, but yet there are some places that still don't allow them to roam around with you. Disneyland and Disney World are two of the "happiest places on earth" but unfortunately, the happiness doesn't apply to your furry friends. At least the happiness inside the park anyway! Although I'm not sure how appropriate it would be to take a pet on a ride, it does make me feel slightly guilty about leaving my poor pup in one of the kennels while I'm slurping up shaved ice!

However, if you're planning a trip to Disney World in mid 2009, things just got a little easier on your heart. Your pampered pooches still won't be lucky enough to join you in the park, but now they'll have a resort they can call their own! Word is, Disney World is building a pet resort that will boast such amenities as hiking trails, doggie day camp, cat lounges, grooming services, ice cream socials, and bedtime stories for your pets to enjoy while you're frolicking with Mickey and Minnie. I'm excited to hear more news about this since I'm definitely wanting to head back over to Florida after my awesome adventures at Aquatica, so it would be cool to check this out as well. Plus, it will give me a good excuse to go see Disney's Animal Kingdom!

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