Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Ok, today we tackle one of hottest hot button issues regarding traveling with young children - to leash or not to leash? You know what I’m talking about - those backpacks in the shapes of puppies or teddy bears with tails for the parents to hang on to. Or even actual wrist leashes! But let me be clear - I am in favor of these devices for very young children! I was appalled by this practice when I first saw them but that was before I became a parent and learned the meaning of fear.  Fear that my child would run off or - G-d forbid - be snatched.

Now the mother of an EXTREMELY active 5 year old, I get it. The most reliable child may be prone to making a break for it at the sight of their favorite character. My son has never been a runner but the extra sense of security his "puppy" gave me was well worth it. We told him it was a costume and he loved it! He wagged his away around Walt Disney World proud as can be. Now that he is older, needless to say he no longer wears it but he did drag it out recently to try it on again.

So whether to leash or not to leash? That’s an individual decision but no matter what you choose, be prepared to keep an eagle eye on your children. Walt Disney World is a magical place but you can never be to careful.

Next week - Child ID - just in case!

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Ok, today we tackle one of hottest hot button issues regarding traveling with young children - to leash or not to leash? You know what I’m talking about - those backpacks in the shapes of puppies or teddy bears with tails for the parents to hang on to. Or even actual wrist leashes! < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

So now let’s get to the "stuff" category - as in stuff you need or do not need to lug with you to Walt Disney World!

If you plan on using Disney’s Magical Express and Disney transportation to get around the resort, you may not need to lug that big car seat with you. For children up to 4 years old and 40 pounds, there is a great alternative to a car seat for air travel. The CARES harness slides over the back of your child’s seat and turns a lap belt into a five point harness which is much safer for children in the event of turbulence and, G-d forbid, emergency landings. You can check it out here: www.kidsflysafe.com

If you do plan to bring a car seat for use on the plane, be sure that it is FAA approved!

Strollers - to bring or not to bring? Good news! There is a great alternative to lugging your own stroller on the plane or renting one of the molded plastic ones from Disney! Orlando Stroller Rentals will drop off a stroller at your resort and pick it up when you are done. Add to that the fact that the stroller is comfortable and ridiculously easy to fold up and we have a winner! And it is a bargain to boot, especially if you are renting a double stroller. Check out www.OrlandoStrollerRentals.com

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

So now let’s get to the "stuff" category - as in stuff you need or do not need to lug with you to Walt Disney World!

If you plan on using Disney’s Magical Express and Disney transportation to get around the resort, you may not need to lug that big car seat with you. < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fan!

Whether you drive, ride or fly to Walt Disney World with kids, keeping them entertained on the trip can be a challenge! My favorite tip is the "trip bag." This is a small, child sized, rolling suitcase that we only use on special trips. It is just the right size for my son to carry or roll himself so it doesn’t really add anything to the list of stuff I have to juggle and it counts as his carry on item. It’s small enough that it could even count as his personal item if I have a carry on that I counting as "his." But the moist important part is that this bag is stocked full of things he has never seen before! This point is key in terms of capturing his interest. Any parent can tell you that new toys are always the most interesting! So prior to each trip I make a stop at Target for coloring books, new crayons, sticker books, magnetic toys, etc. And, of course, snacks! Granola bars, Goldfish crackers and lollipops or gum for take off and landing. He is not allowed to open the bag until we are on the plane!

My other favorite source of entertainment for Ryan is my iPod. I load it up with episodes of Max & Ruby, Sesame Street, Handy Manny, etc. and buy myself priceless half hours of peace and quiet. Ryan also has a V-Smile handheld video game system intended for young children. So I make sure to have a few different games for that stowed in that trip bag as well.

The trip bag also works beautifully for car trips. Car trips lend themselves more to travel games than plane rides as you can yell out answers without bothering strangers! MomsMinivan.com is an excellent resource for travel games and tips to help keep everyone in the car entertained.

Tomorrow: Strollers, Car Seats and other gear!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fan!

Whether you drive, ride or fly to Walt Disney World with kids, keeping them entertained on the trip can be a challenge! My favorite tip is the "trip bag." This is a small, child sized, rolling suitcase that we only use on special trips. < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

So we’ve covered Walt Disney World without Kids, Walt Disney World Solo and that brings us to Walt Disney World WITH kids! Now we’re in really in my turf. My 5 year old has been five times since 2005. I’ve traveled with him as an infant, toddler, preschooler and now a soon to be Kindergartner. I’ve also traveled with various nieces, nephews and friend’s children of assorted ages. Over the next few days I’ll be going over some of my favorite tips, gear and travel advice. 

Where to begin? It’s a big topic. Let’s start with planning. How old will your child/ren be for your trip? Children under age 3 at Walt Disney World do not require admission which can be a big savings. Children under age 2 do not require their own seat on most airlines. (Although I strongly recommend buying one for them for saftey as well as sanity!) On the oppsite end of the spectrum, children age 10 and over are essentially considered adults as far as admisson and dining go! It’s definitely comething to consider when planning a family vacation.

Up tomorrow: Surviving the car ride or flight down!

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

So we’ve covered Walt Disney World without Kids, Walt Disney World Solo and that brings us to Walt Disney World WITH kids! Now we’re in really in my turf. My 5 year old has been five times since 2005. I’ve traveled with him as an infant, toddler, preschooler and now a soon to be Kindergartner. < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Last week I covered some of the options for Walt Disney World without Kids. But I left off one of the most important travelers - the Solo Traveler!!

Don’t worry, I didn’t forget. It’s just that I think Solo Travel is a topic worthy of it’s own coverage! While I am not an experienced Solo Traveler to Walt Disney World, I have had the opportunity to travel "solo" this past year and am now a convert. Ok, my definition of solo usually involves roommates of some kind and 50 - 100 of my closest internet friends but for me, solo free time in the park was unheard of until this past year!

My first moment came in December 2008 during MouseFest. Somewhere in between the flurry of events, I had a few free hours and found myself alone in WDW for the first time in my life. At first I was a little nervous - where to go? What to do? I’m hungry but do I want to eat alone? And then, finally, the feeling of freedom set in! I was exhilirated. I could go anywhere I wanted! I was giddy with the possibilities!

First off - food! I grabbed a seat at the counter at Beaches & Cream. I enjoyed a peaceful lunch chatting with the servers and enjoying a quiet lunch. Bliss! I then trotted off to Epcot and took advantage of every single riders line I could find! After a few hours of strolling through the World Showcase, I grabbed a quiet dinner at Yakitori House in Japan and ate outside next to the Koi pond. Then it was back to work and the hustle and bustle characteristic of MouseFest. But for the first time, I understood the appeal of Solo Travel!

Any other Solo Travelers out there? Share your experiences in the comments below!

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Last week I covered some of the options for Walt Disney World without Kids. But I left off one of the most important travelers - the Solo Traveler!!

Don’t worry, I didn’t forget. It’s just that I think Solo Travel is a topic worthy of it’s own coverage! < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Let’s finish out this week’s subject - Walt Disney World without kids!

Some other romantic activities - sitting on the beach at the Polynesian Resort to watch the fireworks and, if you time it right, the Electric Water Pageant. Ride a bicycle built for two on the Boardwalk. Sing Along with the dueling pianos at Jellyrolls on the Boardwalk. Sample some of the fabulous libations available at the lounges at the various resorts or around the World Showcase! Race Water Mice around Bay Lake.

Most importantly, take time to slow down and enjoy the details around you in a way that is almost impossible with children in tow. It’s a "Whole New World!"

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Let’s finish out this week’s subject - Walt Disney World without kids!

Some other romantic activities - sitting on the beach at the < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Ahhhh…romance. While everyone has different definitions of romance, I think we can all agree that it starts with making time for each other. 

For me, my most romantic evening at Walt Disney World was my 30th birthday. We had dinner at Victoria & Albert’s at the Grand Floridian. Besides being one of the single best meals of my life, the chance to dress up and enjoy a quiet, intimate meal with my husband is one of my all time favorite memories. (Perhaps because we became parents shortly thereafter and quiet meals of any kind went right out the window!)

Other choices for romantic meals include Artist Point at Wilderness Lodge, California Grill at the Contemporary (a little noisy but great food and excellent fireworks viewing), Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club and Narcoossee’s also at the Grand Floridian. And let’s not overlook room service!

Tomorrow - last but not least - fireworks, water pageants and a bicycle built for two!

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Ahhhh…romance. While everyone has different definitions of romance, I think we can all agree that it starts with making time for each other. 

For me, my most romantic evening at Walt Disney World was my 30th birthday. < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans! 

Today…more for those traveling child-free…

For the adrenaline junkies among us, there is the Richard Petty Driving Experience at the Walt Disney World® Speedway. NASCAR fans can live out their dreams by driving themselves or riding along with a pro at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour! This experience can be booked by calling 1-800-BE-PETTY or visiting www.1800bepetty.com. 

 IndyCar fans - don’t feel left out! The Walt Disney World® Speedway is also home to the Indy Racing Experience where you can drive actual IndyCar Series race cars that have competed in the Indy 500. Reservations can be made by calling 1-888-357-5002 or by visiting www.indyracingexperience.com.

Tomorrow - Romance? Why yes, please!

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans! 

Today…more for those traveling child-free…

For the adrenaline junkies among us, there is the Richard Petty Driving Experience at the Walt Disney World® Speedway. < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Continuing with the question: "Is there anything to do at Walt Disney World if you DON’T have kids?" 

So you’ve ridden the rides, you’ve purchased your first pair of Mickey ears and you’ve pigged out on some popcorn. But what activities are there that are specifically geared towards grown-ups?

Any golfers out there? Walt Disney World is home to five golf courses ranging from family friendly 9-hole Oak Trail Golf Course to the PGA-worthy Magnolia Golf Course. And now, when guests of a Walt Disney World Resort book a tee time, they get one free club rental with the purchase of another rental!

After hitting the linlks, consider some pampering at one of Walt Disney World’s spas - the Grand Floridian Spa & Health Club, the Mandara Spa at the WDw Dolphin Hotel and the Spa at Disney’s Saratoga Springs.

Up next - do you feel the need for speed?

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Continuing with the question: "Is there anything to do at Walt Disney World if you DON’T have kids?" 

So you’ve ridden the rides, you’ve purchased your first pair of Mickey ears and you’ve pigged out on some popcorn. < more... >

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Today’s FAQ: Is there anything to do at Walt Disney World if you DON’T have kids?

Answer: I love this question. I could, and probably will, blog for a week on this topic alone. Because the answer is, "There is EVERYTHING to do at Walt Disney World without kids!"

As Walt himself said:

"That’s the real trouble with the world, too many people grow up. They forget. They don’t remember what it’s like to be twelve years old. They patronize; they treat children as inferiors. I won’t do that. I’ll temper a story, yes. But I won’t play down, and I won’t patronize."

One of my favorite things about Walt Disney World is that, to large degree, it is a judgement free zone. No one is going to look at you funny if you ride Dumbo by yourself. No one looks twice at a grown up proudly wearing Mickey Ears. (Trust me on this one…Steve, I’m talking to you!)

So I’ll cover the multitude of activities outside the theme parks for adults in the coming days but for today, let’s get the obvious out of the way. Experience the parks in a way that will make the frazzled parents in line behind you envious! Ride only the rides you want to ride. See the shows that bored kids whine about having to sit through. (Because while The Hall of Presidents is very educational and impressive in it’s technology, this is lost on most 7 year olds.) Actually enjoy the queues of rides and their theming. Take time to enjoy the small details often overlooked by the commando tourists among us desperate to ride all the E ticket rides. 

There is a reason that Walt Disney World is among the top honeymoon destinations in the US. Tomorrow I’ll cover some of the more "grown up" activities but for today - scream like a little kid at the Yeti, jump at the ghosts in the Haunted Mansion, and fly like a bird at Soarin’.

Be well and make magic wherever you go!

Sara Varney
Travel Planner

Greetings fellow Mouse Fans!

Today’s FAQ: Is there anything to do at Walt Disney World if you DON’T have kids?

Answer: I love this question. I could, and probably will, blog for a week on this topic alone. Because the answer is, "There is EVERYTHING to do at Walt Disney World without kids! < more... >