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Girl Gone Travel

Girl Gone Travel

North America, Travel
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May 3, 2011

Tips for Your Family Trip to Disney

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I have said it once, and I’ll say it again; Disney is a wonderful place for anyone who visits, but for kids it is magical!

I have been to Disney quite often but I have never been to Disney with my family and my husband and two little ones had never visited before at all. I was hoping to share some cute video footage of the moment when I gave the news to the kids, or any video footage that would show how excited they all were during the trip, however, this never happened because the minute I took out my camera my kids would run out of the room screaming or act the complete opposite of what I was hoping to capture, or would refuse to be video taped (or photographed) all together.

Oh the frustration!

I decided to put together a little guide on the best ways to avoid frustration as much as possible and make your trip to Disney as comfortable, if not more so, as it was for us.

This was huge because even though I have been to Disney quite often, I have never been to Disney with my family, and my husband and two little ones had never visited before at all! I was hoping to share some cute video footage of the moment when I gave the news to the kids, or any video footage that would show how excited they all were during the trip, however, this never happened because the minute I took out my camera my kids would run out of the room screaming or act the complete opposite of what I was hoping to capture, or would refuse to be video taped (or photographed) all together.

Oh the frustration!

I decided to put together a little guide on the best ways to avoid frustration as much as possible and make your trip to Disney as comfortable, if not more so, as it was for us.

Fast Pass and VIP Tour Guides

Oh, how we love thee! These timed entries onto coveted rides help in avoiding the long, long lines that form. Personally, and I am not judging here, I think it is insanity to make a small child wait on line for 40 minutes just so they can experience a 5 minute ride. Insanity, especially, for the parent. I don’t have it in me to do it. I mean, if I really, really must, of course I will, and if my kids were older, sure! But with little ones it just seems so daunting!

It used to be that the Fast Pass was part of your entry ticket, but now it is even more wonderful in that all your information: room key, charge code for food, gifts, etc., park passes, including fast passes, are on your Magic Band. Take note, Fast Passes run out of these very quickly so make sure to reserve them early online and familiarize yourself with the restrictions on times, dates, etc.

Have some extra cash? Then maybe you can spring for the VIP Tour Guides. These wonderful professionals will guide you through the park, past long lines, in great seats to live shows and parades, and offer a lot of convenience to your experience.

Our VIP Guide, Cristina 

We got to enjoy the services from our VIP Tour guide, Cristina. She was friendly, professional, and tons of fun, and it was wonderful to get a couple of days with her getting us through long lines and onto our favorite rides. However, we really enjoyed being able to take an even slower pace on our own, no focus or set goal, other than leisurely walking through the parks and taking in the sights, something not really easy to do when you are racing from ride to ride with a paid guide.

Height Requirements and Restrictions

Want to avoid one of the biggest causes for major meltdowns at the park? Research the height requirement and restrictions for the park rides before you get there (again, all this can be done on the Disney app) and if your kid doesn’t qualify to get on the ride, either avoid the rides altogether or plan a strategy or have a discussion on the issue beforehand.

There is nothing more heart-wrenching for a kid (and parent) when they get to the ride only to find out someone has to stay behind.

The Disney app has all the information concerning rides and more and will help you manage fast passes, etc.

Transportation

There is a lot to see in Orlando, FL that goes beyond the Disney parks. There’s of course Universal Studios, and Winter Park and much, much more. For this, you will need to rent a car. However, if you plan on making your trip an all Disney experience, from resort stay to park visits to Downtown Disney, then renting a car is not necessary.

Disney’s Magical Express Bus is a complimentary service from and to the airport for Disney Resort guests and Disney offers complimentary resort transportation from and to parks as well. Speaking of airports, if you can at all avoid a connecting flight from the East Coast into Miami airport to Orlando, do it!

The arrival terminals are almost always located on the opposite ends, requiring you (and your kids, with any carry-ons) to dash down long walk ways, up and down escalators, on a tram, to another gate, in another terminal with only minutes to spare. This has always been my experience when flying from NYC to Orlando connecting through Miami. Talk about a work out!

Hanes Design-A-Tee Store located in Downtown Disney

It might be worth doing the math on the cost of staying in a Disney resort and not renting a car versus staying at a lower cost, off-site location and renting a car, paying for tolls, gas, and parking. That, and considering the convenience of not worrying about it.

We stayed at the Contemporary Resort with easy access to the monorail and to all the Disney parks. It was quick, easy, and we loved it.

Hotels

Speaking of hotels, I did a little review some time ago on the various price points for Disney Resorts. You can revisit that article here. My favorites tend to be on the higher-end of the price spectrum because I love all the different amenities they offer, from fine dining restaurants to onsite shops to accessible transportation. Thus, the Grand Floridian, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and The Contemporary are at the top of my list. However, my husband absolutely loved the rustic feel of The Wilderness Lodge and the look and feel of The P0lynesian.

Dining

Disney offers resort guests the option to customize their stay through various dining, stay, and altogether vacation packages. These packages help you customize your options as well as help save you money. We’ve listed our favorite Orlando dining spots here, some of which are Disney as well.

If you want to dine at any of Disney’s fine dining restaurants, such a Jiko and others, you will need to make a reservation. You can do this through your resorts’ concierge services, the Disney app, or by phone. I had a very difficult time reaching a live person by phone, thus would recommend the first two options. I would also recommend that you reserve early on during your stay if not before your arrival as most restaurants fill up quickly.

Though the fine dining restaurants have strict dress guidelines, they are all family-friendly, and kids are always welcomed.

About that Disney App

Disney has a phone app that provides you information to such things as Fast Pass wait time and availability, a GPS mapping system to help you navigate through the park, as well as character greet and meet times and locations. It’s called My Disney World Vacation and it is awesome.

Oh yes, about those photo opps

Well, let me tell you, it was harder then trying to get a picture with Prince William and Kate on their wedding day…or ever for that matter! My boys ran from me the second a took out a camera. My advice to avoid the headache? Take full advantage of the Disney’s Photo Pass service. The photos taken are connected to your Magic Band and you get a chance, with a code they provide you with, to preview the photos before purchasing them. Take as many as you want, only buy the ones you like the most. Find one of the professional photographers in any one of the four themed parks and water parks.

One thing I don’t have from our fabulous trip to Disney is a really awesome family picture. Well, there’s this one I took with my husband’s iPhone, on our hotel balcony.

It’s a start. Next time, I’m doing Photo Pass for sure. I did manage to get some cute shots though, check them out below from our Flickr page.

In case you lose a kid or two

Oh, one last tip: after having lost my kid the first day at Disney (Mother of the Year over here), I didn’t freak out at all. I have complete faith in the people of Disney. If I had to choose a place to get separated from my crew, it would be at Disney. They know how to deal with it quickly and effectively.

Of course, we did find him, already with a Disney cast member. Total time: 10 minutes.

So, my advice: if traveling with kids, create a little name tag with a contact number on it. Have your child wear it at all times and talk over instructions on what to do should you get separated. Don’t panic, find a cast member, and trust that they will find your child.

Our experience, though scary for a the little one, wasn’t at all traumatic and we all walked away feeling and remembering Disney as the happy, magical place it has always been for so many visiting families.

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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8 Comments
  • CanCan
    May 3, 2011

    This is the best How-To guide I have ever read for Disney! I'm warming up to the idea of taking my kids to a theme park. *deep breath*

    Reply
  • Carol Cain
    May 3, 2011

    Thanks CanCan! It can be intimidating for sure, but if i can do it, believe me ANYONE can! xox

    Reply
  • Roxana A. Soto
    May 3, 2011

    This is awesome, hermana! Thank you so much for sharing it. You couldn't have said it better and I'll be sure to share it with all of my friends who've already asked me for tips since coming home from this amazing trip! Lovely photos of your beautiful boys, too.I didn't know one of them had gotten lost… Qué horror!! That was one of my biggest fears!

    As I was looking through my photos, I realized we don't have one single one of both Ana and I and our daughters! It was the same way for me, though, every time I took the camera out, my daughter would run like the wind!! I didn't really find out about the photo pass until the last day and am so happy I did for the photog took some really great pictures of my daughter with her favorite princesses! A dream come true…for both of us!

    Disney is definitely a magical place, especially when seen through the eyes of a little kid!

    Missing all of you a ton!

    Reply
    • Carol Cain
      Roxana A. Soto
      May 3, 2011

      Gracias Roxana! We miss you too!

      Reply
  • Jennifer
    June 23, 2011

    Your kids are so good-looking, it's almost ridiculous.

    Reply
    • Carol Cain
      Jennifer
      June 24, 2011

      Aw! Thanks Jen : ))

      Reply
  • Rachel
    May 1, 2012

    Great tips! Beautiful photos too, I've been following the, on Instagram. 🙂

    Reply
  • Carol
    May 4, 2012

    @ Rachel:

    Thanks so much Rachel!

    Reply

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Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons and 2 puppies. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

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If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a des If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a destination for you. This list of good eats were all within close proximity to each other and spots we made time for during our short weekend visit. So definitely note that this doesn’t even begin to cover the tip of the iceberg, but makes a good starter list!

📍@ShortStackEats in the heart of Downtown Madison is clearly a UW favorite. Loved their pancakes! We thought it was a pricey for breakfast, and only offered drip coffee, but the scene was fun, food was good, and service was friendly.
📍@SardineMadison is a waterfront French bistro that has stood the test of time (we’ve been coming here since we lived in Madison!). It can feel very corporate some nights, but their Happy Hour and brunch are definite highlights and it’s a really nice dining experience overall.
📍@EatattheAudrey impressed us! It’s not your usual “hotel restaurant” and I would say it easily stands alone as an eatery worth checking out in Madison. Great breakfast options, cozy vibes, nice bar, and good service!
📍@RamenStation1124 good, affordable ramen.
📍BlindShotSocialClub We really loved this spot for brunch (sorry, was enjoying the company and totally spaced out on capturing food images!). Golf fans will love hitting the putt here (you can reserve a private room too), and what I though was most cool was the delicious and wide selection of non-alcoholic cocktails to choose from. This place is a total vibe!
📍@StringsRamen is a chain, but I have to say it is some of the best ramen I have had in a long time. I especially loved how you can choose your ramen but heat level but also by Japanese region which allowed us to taste a couple of new flavors!
📍@Parthenongyros has been around awhile (hubby recalls coming here during his college years!) and was voted #1 take out in Madison! Though we indulged inside and away from the snow. A delicious, quick bite when strolling around State Street.

And again, this is just a starter list. There is so much more to eat and enjoy in this top foodie city! What other spots would you add to this list?

#madisonwi #foodiegram #foodiedestinations #goodeats @destinationmadison
I love to travel. It has always been important to I love to travel. It has always been important to my family. My parents got my first passport weeks after I was born. They couldn’t afford to travel like I do now, but they understood, as immigrants, the absolute privilege that comes attached to having that shiny blue American booklet and they wanted me to have it.

I was yet again reminded of my privilege when my travel back home on this last trip was delayed over 24 hours. I have a village in place to make sure my kids were ok. Having my own business meant I didn’t have to report in to anyone, and was still able to work remotely so none of my clients were inconvenienced by it. Though the airline covered our hotel and food, we never worried that we couldn’t do it ourselves otherwise. While we were annoyed, we weren’t stressed.

So while I love to travel, and I love sharing my travels with you, I acknowledge that being able to do so, and dealing with the consistent travel disruptions so prevalent today without worries is a privilege…one that started with a little blue booklet that gives me more access to the world than some others do.

And I want us all in this travel space to be reminded of this. Of how lucky we are. Of our privilege to access and time and money.

So let us travel with grace and awareness. Let us remain rooted in reality and perspective. Acknowledging that our escapism isn’t one so easily accessible to others. Understanding that this is also why local stories have as much value as those to exclusive destinations, if not more. And, never forgetting, especially in the travel influencer and media space, that were it not for hosted campaigns and paid-for travel opportunities, most of us wouldn’t be able to afford the lifestyle we so beautifully curate online.

It doesn’t matter how often you travel, or how far. Just that hopefully you will be able to gift yourself the experience of doing so and experiencing something new.

#travel #travelmedia #travelinfluencer #wheretonext
As I work on compiling all the good eats I experie As I work on compiling all the good eats I experienced in Madison, WI, I have to ask: what is your favorite meal of the day, and where did you experience a highlight of the same?

I am a huge fan of breakfast. This beauty was a blueberry pancake order from @shortstackeats. Pancakes are not a big thing for me, but these were pretty perfect. I am craving them still. 🥞♥️

#madisonwi #goodeats #travelingfoodie @destinationmadison
We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a qui We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a quick trip to Madison, WI - my first time back in 14 years! Though we were here for family matters, we did take a moment to explore a bit of what used to be a place we called home.

We couldn’t do anything else until we drove around Lake Monona, where we once had a home, and took in the wintery views (there is an epic 13.2-mile trail that loops around the lake that is worth exploring if you visit!). Though our time was limited, we were able to enjoy some of it along State Street exploring the shops, eateries, the FREE @mmocamadison, and the beautiful architecture of the WI State Capitol Building (the Dane County Farmers Market will soon pick up again - Saturdays, April 15 thru November 11, 2023 around the Capitol Building and it is one of the best farmers markets anywhere!). 

We booked a room at the @hiltonmadison Monona Terrace to be within walking distance of all the downtown fun (tip: for a room with a lake view make sure to book at the upper levels above 10th floor for an unobstructed view of Lake Monona). 

Madison, WI is a skip and a hop from the Finger Lakes so this short and sweet visit didn’t feel difficult at all. And we absolutely loved the winter scenery and seeing what has changed (a lot) since we lived here.

Stay tuned for my list of where we ate!

Have you ever been to Madison, WI?

#madisonwi #weekendgetaway #wisconsin @destinationmadison
The joy of that first sip of the day. #randommom The joy of that first sip of the day. 

#randommomentsarethebest
I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t be I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t believe how easily I’ve been waking up in the early mornings since our last trip. Not sure how to shake it, or if it’s temporary, but here it is: the rare sighting of me up and moving early in the day. Am I a morning person now? Has travel ever permanently changed any of your habits?

#morningperson #lifeinthecountry #newme <-😂

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