Smarty Sponsor: Martha Nichols, Travel Consultant for Aladdin Travel

By Guest Blogger, Martha Nichols with Aladdin Travel

You may remember Martha from a previous post she authored on amazing first-hand tips for any family visiting Disney World. Well, she got such a great response that we asked her to offer MORE tips for our readers. Today, Martha blogs about everything and anything you would ever need to know about booking a Disney Cruise vacation. We hope you find her tips, tricks and insights as invaluable as we do! Enjoy! - KM

Last December, my family received an early Christmas present of a seven-day Western Caribbean Cruise on The Disney Magic, part of the Disney Cruise Line fleet! The perfect Christmas gift for a Disney crazy family!! Looking back, this vacation onboard The Disney Magic, was truly one of the best vacations my family has ever had. Because of all the things that Disney offers on their cruise ships, everyone’s needs and wants were met. All in all, the memories we have from this vacation are priceless.

Why do I believe that Disney Cruise Line offers the best cruises for families? Let me count the ways….


1. Family Entertainment
Walt Disney’s first visions for Disneyland were of a place where adults and their children could go and have fun together. The Disney Corporation has continued with this vision 60+ years later. This is seen in the activities planned for families. My family’s favorites were the Pirates of the Caribbean Deck Party, decorating a Gingerbread House, Jackpot Bingo, and a Tea Party with the Mad Hatter. Other family centered activities include:

• Deck Parties that include characters, music, dancing, and even fireworks.
• Broadway quality stage shows featuring characters from our favorite Disney movies in the Walt Disney Theatre.
• First run movies in the Buena Vista Theatre, even premieres of movies on the ship when they open on land. We enjoyed the premiere of “The Princess and the Frog” during our cruise.
• A dedicated family night club with dance parties, trivia contests and activities like kite making and tea parties.
• Sporting activities including basketball, shuffleboard and ping pong.
• Two family pools with water slide and spas.


2. Children’s Programs
The children’s programming was a hit with our family. My son would beg to go to the Oceaneer’s Club, ditched us for dinner at least one night to play in the club, stayed on board while in port to play in the club, and would cry when he had to leave! My daughter’s favorite activities were learning to draw Mickey Mouse, and making Flubber. Thanks to the youth counselors who said that the green goop will bounce if left in the refrigerator for 30 weeks. We currently have a zip lock bag of green stuff still in the fridge.

• Children’s Programming runs from early in the morning until late into the evening, even on days the ship is in port.
• Youth counselors that are enthusiastic, professional, and truly enjoy children. I sat in on some of the activities and was astonished with the costuming and energy level of the staff. During science lab, the staff dressed in full costume as the mad scientist and the children wore lab coats. For parties, characters came to interact with the children in song and games.
• The security is top notch and a priority. It is computerized so that they know exactly who is enrolled in any activity at any time. Parents register approved adults who can check-in or check-out children. Identification is required for both adult and child when entering and picking up. For additional security, a password that is predetermined by the parents is required to pick up any child.
• In January 2010, DCL re-invented their children’s programming. The activities are designed for particular age groups, but are available to any child between 3 years (and potty trained) and 12 years old. This allows siblings to stay together during activities if desired.
• Activities include Toy Story Boot Camp, Goofy’s Pajama Party, Pirate Party with Captain Hook, A Royal Ball, Making Flubber, Ratatouille Cooking School, and Animation Class.


3. Infant and Toddler Amenities
• Flounder’s Nursery is available for children age 12 weeks to 3 years (and not potty trained) for an additional charge.
• DCL has a relationship with Babies Travel Lite, where you can preorder baby supplies and have it delivered to the cruise ship.
• A splash area at the Mickey Pool for children in swim diapers.


4. Teen Amenities
For Teens, they have their own area on board the ship and a separate beach on Castaway Cay (no adults allowed). High up in the ship’s funnel, teens have their own lounge area, hosted by the coolest crew at sea. Activities include Karaoke, Dance Parties, Video Game Tournaments, and Pool Parties.

5. Adult Exclusive Options
Every parent knows that while family time is wonderful, we also need adult-only and couple time to recharge ourselves. DCL offers this throughout the cruise while offering superior programming for the little ones.

• Palo’s, DCL’s adult-only restaurant with sweeping ocean views. Make sure you try the Chocolate Soufflé, as this is the only place on the ship to get this to-die-for dessert! Open for dinner nightly, and Champagne Brunch and Afternoon Tea for days at sea.
• Adult Enrichment Series that include art auctions and lecture series, cooking and beverage tasting classes, and behind the scenes tours.
• Vista Spa and Health Club
• Adult only pool and coffee bar.
• Adult only lounges and night clubs.
• Serenity Bay, the adult only beach on Castaway Cay.


6. Dining
Dining onboard DCL ships is an affair to remember.

• There are 3 restaurants that guests rotate through. Lumiere’s (Triton’s on Disney’s Wonder) has a French inspired menu. Parrot Cay has a Caribbean flare. Finally, Animator’s Palate has Pacific Rim cuisine. On 3 night cruises, you will experience each of the restaurants. On longer cruises, you will rotate through the restaurants more than once. Each night the menu will change and some nights have themes like the Captain’s Dinner and the Golden Mickey’s.
• The first night you dine in Animator’s Palate, be prepared for a show. When you enter, the restaurant presents in black and white. As the evening goes on, color begins to be infused into the restaurant with the finale coming just before desert. Since this show is only done on your first evening dining in this restaurant, make sure you do not miss it!
• On DCL, your wait staff goes with you to each of your dining assignments. It does not take long for your servers to know your likes and dislikes. By the third night our servers knew what our drink choices would be, and what two items my son would eat.
• For those families who are assigned the second seating dining assignment (8:15 PM), there are options for the children. DCL has introduced a program called Dine and Play, allowing you to dine as a family. The wait staff will serve the children as soon as their meals are prepared. Youth Counselors arrive at the restaurants at 9 PM to whisk them away for play time while the adults can enjoy a more leisurely meal.
• On 7 night cruises, there will be two formal/semi formal dinners. You will see some people dressed in Tuxes and evening gowns. Most wear cocktail dresses and suits. On other nights, the dress attire for the dining rooms is resort or business casual. No shorts or jeans are permitted in the restaurants.
• For those who prefer a less formal option to dining, the buffet at Topsider (Beach Blanket on the Wonder) is available for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as counter services options, and 24 hour room service.
• On seven day cruises and longer, Character Dining Experiences are available for breakfast one day while at sea.


7. Staterooms
DCL boasts larger staterooms than other cruise line.

• The Split Bath option offers a room with a toilet and sink, then a second room with shower and sink. This is a blessing for families!
• For storing suitcases after you unpack, make sure the suitcases can slide under the beds. If you can, put smaller suitcases inside larger ones.
• The hair dryer that is provided in the bathroom resembles a leaf blower rather than a hair dryer. Also, the electrical sockets in the bathrooms are not equipped to handle a hair dryer, only a men’s electric razor. If you bring your personal hair dryer, bring along an extension cord. It will not work in the bathroom, but there is a desk area with electrical sockets and a mirror on the wall where you can do your hair. Because of the large plug that hair dryers have and the location of the electrical sockets, you will need the electrical extension cord to plug the dryer in. Curling irons and other hair appliances that have regular plugs will have no problem plugging in at the desk area.
• Consider purchasing a travel bag that unzips and hangs on a shower curtain or a door hook for bathroom items. If you do not have one of these bags, bring along an over-the-door shoe holder. The shoe pockets can be used to hold medicine bottles, bathroom items, and such.
• Bring along a pop up, mesh laundry hamper. They pack flat and can be used for dirties during the cruise. Laundry facilities are available onboard.
• If you or a member of your travel party has a tendency to get motion sickness, request a cabin on a lower deck in the middle of the ship.

8. Ports of Call
Our cruise went to the Western Caribbean with stops in Key West, FL, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel, Mexico.

• DCL offers a wide variety of port excursions to meet the activity level and interest of all cruisers. Port excursions include fun in the sun on the beaches; sightseeing and guided tours; water sports excursions such as snorkeling or Scuba diving adventures, boating, and swimming with the dolphins experiences; and adventure and sports excursions such as fishing trips, and biking adventures.
• In 2010, cruises are available to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Europe and the Mediterranean. In addition, Adventures by Disney has partnered up with Disney Cruise Line to offer an enhanced selection of onboard activities and privately guided port experiences that will immerse you in the culture and sights of the Mediterranean region.
• 2011 brings even greater excitement with the Maiden Voyage of Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, The Disney Dream. DCL will sail to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Transatlantic, Europe, Mediterranean, Alaska, Mexican Riviera, and the Panama Canal.


9. Castaway Cay
An exclusive to Disney Cruise Line is their private island, Castaway Cay.

• The crowning glory is the actual ship from the Pirates of the Caribbean Movie anchored off shore!
• There are separate beaches for families, teens, and adults.
• Spa services are available at Serenity Bay, the adult only beach.
• The Kids Activities are moved onto the beach with games and fun at Scuttles Cove.
• DCL offers a full assortment to water sports and activities, including snorkeling off the beach, jet skis, stingray encounters, boating, and bike rentals.

Whether traveling with your family, extended family and multigenerational groups, or an adult-only vacation, Disney’s Cruise Line offers cruises to fit everyone!

Contact Martha Nichols at Martha.nichols@aladdintravel.com or 336-671-1995 for more information or a free quote for travel to Walt Disney World® Resort, Disney Cruise Line®, Disneyland® Resort, Adventures By Disney, Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, or Disney’s Hilton Head Resort.

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Smarty Tips for Visting Disney World – Part II

By Rachel H

Last week I wrote a blog of general tips that worked for my family when we took a recent trip to Walt Disney World. Click here if you missed it! Today I wanted to focus more on individual theme parks and rides. Truth be told, we did not do any planning in advance as far as a daily schedule. What worked for us, was to all get together the night before we visited each park, and look over the park maps and discussed which rides we really wanted to hit and which ones were OK to skip if we ran out of time.

A friend of mine gave us a list of rides that she thought we should be sure not to miss, so we used her recommendations along with a few tips in the PassPorter’s Walt Disney World Book. It was nice because we weren’t stressed out about following a schedule, but we also had a general idea of what rides we wanted to hit. I hope that this list below can help you to do the same...

I recommend trying to have one “chief” and everyone else needs to just follow along. Too many chiefs cause arguments about where to go next, whether or not we should get a fast past, etc. Just let one person lead and trust it will all work out in the end! There is no need to be grumpy at Disney!

Also take note on your park map as to which rides have a Fast Pass. I explained this in my last blog, so be sure to utilize this! Send one person to get Fast Passes while others head to the next ride.

Also, while walking around the parks or waiting in lines, always keep an eye out for Hidden Mickeys. My kids loved doing this! You can read more about them here.

Magic Kingdom

Our family says don’t miss:
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – great rollercoaster for young and old
Buzz Lightyear – kind of like a real-life video game
The Haunted Mansion - not scary, just fun!
Monsters, Inc Laugh Floor – show where someone in your family might get to be on camera!
Pirates of the Caribbean – my personal all-time favorite
Space Mountain – has been closed off and on, but hopefully will be open when you go
Splash Mountain – my littlest cried on this, so if someone doesn’t like big drops, skip it!
Barnstormer at Goofy’s Farm – mild rollercoaster

The rides that you just have to do, simply because they are a Disney Classic:
Dumbo – great for even the tiniest of guests
It’s A Small World – Nana’s favorite!
Mad Tea Party – skip if you get motion sickness!
Peter Pan’s Flight – you can fly, you can fly, you can fly …
Snow White’s Scary Adventures – depends on your child, but neither one of mine were scared. This was actually my daughter’s favorite (age 4).
Swiss Family Tree House – lots of stairs
Tomorrowland Transit Authority – never any line and an easy relaxing way to look at Tomorrowland
Tom Sawyer’s Island – nice change of pace from all the excitement. Take the time to explore the caves and bridges!
The parades – both here in the Magic Kingdom are terrific!

The Jungle Cruise is one that depends on your “tour guide.” If they have a great sense of humor, this ride is so much fun, but if you get a boring guide, not so much. Also, if you have tiny ones, there is much more to do that they would like such as Mickey’s Toontown Fair and Winnie the Pooh’s ride. One more highlight – look for the talking trash can in Tomorrowland. Hilarious! Oh, and get a Dole Fruit Shake as you head to Frontierland. Delicious!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Our family says don’t miss:
Festival of the Lion King – incredible live show where someone in your family might be picked to participate. I think this was everyone’s favorite show of the entire week!
Expedition Everest – this was my husband and son’s (age 6) favorite ride. I decided to give it a whirl and was honestly nauseous and light-headed for about 20 minutes afterward. So, if you get motion sick – don’t do it!
Finding Nemo – The Musical – another fabulous live show
It’s Tough to be a Bug – really cute show with a couple surprises!
Kilimanjaro Safaris – up close look at animals

Other comments on Animal Kingdom:
There is a section called Dinoland USA which has some really cute rides and interactive exhibits for the kids. Primeval Whirl was a fun roller coaster type ride in this section.
Flights of Wonder was closed while we were here, so if you have comments on that, please add!
Kali River Rapids looked like a lot of fun, but we did not bring a change of clothes and opted to skip this wet ride.
Camp Minnie-Mickey is a great place to get character photos and autographs if the lines are not long.
Animal Kingdom is also the shadiest of all the theme parks, so if you are expecting an overly hot day, you can get some relief under the trees.

Epcot

Our Family Says Don’t miss:
Turtle Talk with Crush – hilarious!
Test Track – this was SO much fun and all seven of us loved it.
Soarin’ – this seems to be a favorite of many, so be sure to hit this first or get a fast pass!
Maelstrom – this is a boat ride inside the World Showcase building of Norway. Many people do not know it is here. We rode it at least three times in a row and the kids thought it was great.
Spaceship Earth – kids may be bored at first since it is educational BUT, there is a cool interactive part at the end that they will love.
Be sure to smile for the picture when you first get on the ride!
Illuminations Light Show in the evenings

Other tips:
We loved our Princess breakfast in Norway. I talked more about this in my other blog. Great food, too!
The World Showcase with all of the countries is great for adults, but kids may get bored. This is something great to save for evenings when kids are pooped and can just hang in the stroller.
There is also a cute boat ride in the Mexico building.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Our family says don’t miss:
Beauty and the Beast – Fabulous live show
Rock N’ Roller Coaster – the thrill ride lovers in our group thought this was incredible, but beware that is takes off EXTREMELY fast and may scare young ones.
Toy Story Midway Mania – hands down, favorite ride in Hollywood Studios from our whole group.
Tower of Terror – another thrill seeker favorite, which of course means I sat this one out!
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt show – audience participation in this one

Other tips:
Hollywood Studios was our biggest challenge for a few reasons. None of us had been there before, so we weren’t quite sure about the layout and what were the best rides and shows. Secondly, many of the attractions are shows and films, which start at specific times. We would get to a show just in time to find out it had already started. My advice is to take a minute to look over show times right when you arrive and plan your day around the ones you do not want to miss. You can hit the rides in between shows and be sure to use your fast pass for Toy Story, Tower of Terror, and Rock N- Coller Coaster. Those three are always crowded and always have a line, but if you plan accordingly with a fast pass, you should be good to go!

I am sure I have forgotten something, so add your comments below! Anything not mentioned above, we think it would be OK to skip if you have to, but of course if you’ve got the time, hit them all! Have a MAGICAL vacation!

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Smarty Tips for Visiting Disney World

By Rachel H

We took our first family trip to Disney World this past October and I can honestly say it was the best week of 2009! My mom was recovering from chemotherapy, and this was exactly the “magical” experience she needed in her life. My children were six and four, which were great ages for our first trip. My father and sister also joined us. So, we had seven people on this vacation. My goal in today’s blog is to share with you what worked for us. Every family has different priorities when going on vacation, so some of you may have had a totally different experience. I can say that we did not encounter any problems on the trip and it was relaxed and enjoyable for everyone, so use what you can below and add thoughts of your own.

We chose to buy a six-day park-hopper pass. This means you can visit any of the four parks – Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios as many times as you wish during those six days. You can also split days up and visit more than one park on any given day. This is also nice because you never know which park your family will like the best and where you may want to visit again...

#1 – I think the single most important factor when planning your Disney trip is deciding what time of the year to visit. We went the last week in October. We did not stand in long lines at all. One day we did stand in line for about 20 minutes for a ride that we just had to do one more time and unfortunately did not have a “Fast Pass” (I’ll explain more about those later). Other than that, we never waited much more than five minutes. The weather was in the 90’s all week, so we wore shorts and were able to swim in the pool at our rental home. You will need to factor in weather and crowds when deciding when to go, and decide what you can tolerate. According to a fabulous book titled PassPorter’s Walt Disney World that some friends gave me, the best times of year to visit are January and February (not including President’s week), the end of August (although temperatures are hot at this time), September, October, November and December (with the exception of any holiday weeks).

#2 – Stay on property or off? Again, there are pluses to both. When I went as a child, we stayed on the property, but with seven of us on this recent trip, we wanted to be able to all stay together and wanted plenty of room without spending a lot of money. We rented a home in the Windsor Palms neighborhood, which is a vacation resort in Kissimmee, Orlando . The house we rented was clean, had a well-stocked kitchen, and a pool. It took us five to ten minutes to drive to the park each morning. We were able to park very close and walk right in. The only park where you need to take a monorail is the Magic Kingdom. Another plus to staying in a house was that we came home for dinner every day but one. With the ages of my children, I knew they might not last all day. We would arrive as soon as the parks opened and then head home around 4pm. My dad cooked dinner for us every night. (Isn’t he the best?!?!) We saved a ton of money and did not have to deal with overly tired, cranky kids. One day we did do a marathon day at Magic Kingdom where we stayed from open to close and had a blast. We also had the option of going back in the evenings to see parades or shows.

If you do decide to stay on Disney property, be sure to read our blog about Martha Nichols, Disney Planner for Aladdin Travel. She can help you plan your entire Disney Vacation and receives her commission from Disney, so you do not pay anything out of pocket! This is a fabulous way to go, especially if you have never been to Disney World before.

#3 – Food – If staying on the Disney property, you can sign up for a meal plan, which many of my friends said worked out well for them. Since we were not on the property, we ate a quick breakfast at home each morning, and then packed a cooler with drinks and snacks. We bought lunch at the parks most days and did pack a lunch from home for a few days as well. The meals are definitely on the expensive side, so the more food you can bring with you, the better. I will admit that most of the lunches we had were just OK. Although, the dinner we had in Magic Kingdom was fantastic.

#4 – Character Meals – This is one where I am sure many people will disagree with me. We did two character meals – one was Donald’s Tusker House Breakfast in Animal Kingdom and the other was the Princess lunch in Epcot at Norway (this one was just for the girls in our group). Honestly, I probably would not do the character breakfast again. Here’s why – we saw Donald, Goofy, Mickey, etc. at the character breakfast and although it was a great start to our week, we ended up seeing all of those characters again throughout the rest of our week. The breakfasts are not cheap, and I would have rather used that money on something else. BUT, and this is a big but, if you are going to do the meal plan, the character meals are great. And another but – if you are going to be in Disney during a busy time of year, the character meals are a must because the lines you will have to wait in to actually get an autograph from the characters will be out of control. On the other hand, I definitely thought the Princess Lunch was worth the money because you will not see princess throughout the park and will not be able to get pictures of autographs unless you are at a princess lunch/breakfast.

#5 - Magic heights – 40, 44, and 48 inches. If your children are close to, but not quite at these heights yet, I personally would wait a little longer to book your trip. Again, just my advice, but my daughter was exactly 40 inches this year. She is four years old, and since she was 40 inches tall, she was able to ride every ride that she wanted without being turned away for being too short! My son was exactly 48 inches, and six years old. He likes the more dare-devilish rides, and he also was able to ride everything he wanted. (Shoes do make a difference if your child is close to the cut-off!)

#6 - Fast Pass – I did not understand this whole concept at first. I thought it was something you had to buy ahead of time. No, nothing like that – it is just plain and simple AWESOME. The Fast Pass is a way to kind of “save a spot in line” for some of the most popular rides. Let’s say you know that everyone in your group wants to ride Space Mountain, but when you get there, you see that it is a 20 minute wait. All you do is take your park ticket (which is like a credit card) and slide it through the Fast Past Kiosk. It will print a little ticket for you that tells you a time to return. Come back to Space Mountain during that time slot, and you will get to go through the Fast Pass line, which nine times out of ten means you walk right on the ride. How cool is that? One tip is to let one person be in charge of the Fast Passes and let them keep all your park tickets together. So, while you are headed to Small World and Dad doesn’t want to ride Small World, he can take all of your park tickets to Space Mountain, swipe them through, and get fast passes for the entire family. *Take note that you can only have a fast pass for one ride at a time!

Here are a few more quick tips that worked for my family:

•In order to avoid “the gimmies”, tell your children that they can have one souvenir/gift at the end of each day. Only one. They can keep their eyes open for their special gift and most of the time they end up choosing an inexpensive item and you have saved yourself telling them no all day long.
•Stroller – bring your own. It was no trouble at all to load it on the monorail. There are stroller parking zones by each ride, so you don’t have to worry about where to put it. You can store all your coolers, snacks, and ponchos in it, and you will never hear the kids whine about being tired! My six year old was way too old to be in a stroller, but we borrowed a double one from a friend of mine and I have no regrets about using it.
•Enter the park before opening time in order to get a great parking spot and to see the “Good Morning Song” that they do at many of the parks. The one at Magic Kingdom brought tears to my eyes because I was so excited that we were actually there and my kids were getting to see this magical place. I know, what a sap! It was great, and the characters all came riding in on the train, too!
•Upon entering the parks, go straight to most popular rides – you can ride them immediately or get a fast pass and then go back. If you get to the parks when they open, you can ride plenty of things with no lines at all, but may want to get a fast pass to ride them again later.
•Get a spot for all the parades by sitting down at least an hour early. The sidewalks fill up quickly. You can have one person hold your spot while others shop, or take a snack break. Be sure to watch for the shady side for the daytime parades. It can get really hot in the sun.
•Be sure to either take (or buy once you get there) autograph books and pens. It is a big deal to get autographs and pictures from all the characters.
•Photopass - this is where Disney gives you a card (looks like a credit card) and you can give it to any Disney photographer at any time. They will take your photo and all the photos will be accessible to you online in your own photo album! This is a great way to share the link with friends so they can see your photos. You do have to purchase the photos through the Photopass system though, and they are fairly expensive. We did end of buying a few and they were fantastic!

For more tips from a true Disney Connoisseur, be sure to read Martha Nichols’ tips included her blog. If you have read my tips today and still feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, Martha is a great help! I know I was so overwhelmed when I started planning, but even if you just show up at Disney with no planning, you are always going to have a magical experience!

And good news – stay tuned because next week I will have another Disney blog explaining all four theme parks and the rides & shows we think you shouldn’t miss! I’ll also have a few tips on how to plan your day of fun at each park.

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Smarty Sponsor: Martha Nichols, Travel Consultant for Aladdin Travel

By Rachel H

It is no wonder why so many moms planning a family vacation to Walt Disney World are overwhelmed! WDW is 54 square miles consisting of 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, 25 Resorts, 4 golf courses, and over 500 different types of dining experiences. If you are like me, I opened the planning guide, flipped through a few pages and put it back down. I had no idea where to begin. The more I asked for advice from others, the more confused I became. Have no fear! Triad Smarty Pants has your answer to a Disney Vacation that can be planned stress-free. Let me introduce Martha Nichols, who is an Independent Travel Consultant specializing in Disney Destinations.

Martha is a mom herself, who lives right here in the Triad. She provides a concierge style service for no additional fee that includes resort & travel reservations; vacation and itinerary planning services; and dining, tours and recreation reservations. Because the quotes come directly from Disney, they are the same prices that you would be given if you booked the vacation yourself!

Martha monitors Disney’s Special Offers to maximize your vacation dollars, saving you money. Martha has specialized knowledge of Disney Destinations Travel from Disney’s College of Knowledge and onsite Agent Education Programs for Walt Disney World® Resorts and Disney Cruise Line®. She is with Aladdin’s Magical Journeys, an Affiliate of Aladdin Travel & Meeting Planners. Aladdin Travel is designated by Disney Destinations Travel as an “Authorized Disney Vacation Planner” agency. Aladdin Travel is a locally owned and operated travel company that has been in business for over 35 years.

One of our TSP readers, Karen C., had this to say about her experience with Martha and her trip to Walt Disney World®. "Earlier this year, my husband and I decided we would surprise our girls (ages 5 & 3) with a trip to Walt Disney World®. We had been a couple of years ago, but this time, we enlisted Martha to help us plan our trip. We couldn’t have been more pleased! An experienced Disney traveler & Mom herself, Martha was full of great ideas and suggestions that really fit our family’s needs. She handled all of our accommodation and dinner reservations ahead of time, suggesting fun character meals and shows that my girls would like. Before our trip, she worked with us to provide a basic “itinerary” of our week with helpful information and tips for our days at the various parks. Planning with Martha, we were definitely able to maximize our family’s experience without overwhelming our little ones. She took care of every detail, making this one of the easiest and most pleasant vacations ever! Our time at Walt Disney World® was truly magical…we made priceless memories with our girls. We hope to go back one day – and, when we do, we’ll certainly call Martha again!"

Martha has such a grand knowledge of Walt Disney World®, and she has even provided us with some spectacular Smarty Tips that you will no doubt need to keep at your fingertips.
• If you are traveling with a child 5 years or younger, plan on using a stroller. You can expect to walk 5 to 10 miles a day and this can be hard on little feet and legs. You can bring your own stroller, rent one at the parks, or arrange to rent one through a local rental agency.
• The toilets at Walt Disney World® are the automatic flush types. If you have a little one that is terrified of the toilet flushing while they are sitting on it, bring a pack of post-it notes in your backpack and put one over the sensor when you enter the stall. This will keep the toilet from flushing until the post-it is removed.
• Try to keep to your child’s schedule while on vacation. Plan meals during their usual eating times, and take a midday break. This will help to minimize tired melt downs that can ruin everyone’s mood.
• Locate the Baby Care Center is at each of the parks if you are traveling with little ones. This is an air conditioned oasis that is equipped with changing tables, rockers, highchairs, private nursing areas, and bathrooms. In addition to having a stock of diapers, wipes, and baby food, they have children’s Tylenol and Motrin. The cast members are welcoming to children of all ages (even my 6 year old who had a headache and needed Tylenol).
• Don’t want to go all the way back to your resort for a break? Hop over to one of the resorts close to the park. Get something cold to drink from one of the quick service restaurants, sit in the lobby, enjoy the AC, and explore the resort. It will be quieter and less crowded than the parks, offering you a break from the hustle and bustle of the parks. Often the resorts offer activities in the afternoon for little ones. Check with the concierge desk for a list of activities. You do not have to be a resort guest to participate and they are often free of charge.
• Because of show schedules and crowds, it is difficult to do and see everything that a park has to offer in 1 day. Understand that you cannot do and see everything that Disney has to offer in one vacation. Prioritize each family member’s want-to-do list and focus on enjoying the magical moments that happen at Walt Disney World®.
• If you desire to dine at a sit down restaurant, make Advanced Dining Reservations well in advance. Because of the popularity of Disney’s Dining Plans, many restaurants book up well in advance and cannot accommodate guests without a reservation. Currently Disney has a 90 day window for making those reservations, but is planning to extend that window to a 180 day window in October 2009. For those guests that are staying at a Walt Disney World® Resort, you can make all of your dining reservations 90 days in advance of your check in date. Now you can make your ADRs online or over the phone.
• Want to get pictures with and autographs of the characters? Character Dining Experiences are a great way to do so and allows you to avoid standing in line at the parks to see the characters.
• At each of the parks, there is a Character Breakfast at a restaurant that opens before the parks operating hours. Try to schedule your meal for a time before the parks open. If you can get a reservation time at 8 AM, you should be finishing your meal and time with the characters close to the park opening time. You will already be in the park and closer to the attractions that you want to experience.
• The crowds at Walt Disney World® start to pick up between 11 AM and 1 PM. Plan to arrive at the parks when they open so that you can enjoy the attractions with less crowds. If you are staying at a Walt Disney World® Resort, take advantage of the Early Extra Magic Hour and get into the park an hour before it opens to the general public.
• Consider getting the Hopper Option added to your park passes. This will allow you access to more than 1 park a day. Each of the parks tend to be more crowded on the days of Extra Magic Hours. The Hopper Option allows you to take advantage of the EMHs, but leave when the crowds pick up and hop on over to a less crowded park. It also allows you to spend the morning at one park, leave for a midday break, and return to a different park for dinner and the nighttime activities.
• Traveling with little ones that do not meet the height requirements? Disney offers “Parent Rider Switch” which allows one parent to ride, while the other parent stays with the smaller child. A cast member will give you a pass that will allow the second parent to avoid standing in the stand by line. This is great if you have an older child, because the pass will allow you to take the older child on the ride for a second time!

If these tips were helpful to you, keep in mind that this is just the beginning of what Martha can offer you in advice and planning. Contact Martha Nichols at Martha.nichols@aladdintravel.com or 336-671-1995 for more information or a free quote for travel to Walt Disney World® Resort, Disney Cruise Line®, Disneyland® Resort, Adventures By Disney, Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, or Disney’s Hilton Head Resort. Then just sit back, relax, and wait for your vacation day to arrive!

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