Blog Posts by Beth Foster

Disney Springs 101

9/19/2023 • Blog, Walt Disney World • As I am assisting families with planning their vacations, I am often asked for recommendations for activities during a day when they will not be visiting the parks or leaving the parks early. One of my most frequent suggestions is a visit to Disney Springs! Disney Springs is a bit of a lesser-known gem at the Walt Disney World Resort. If you visited Disney World in the past, you may also know it by its previous name- Downtown Disney. Here you will find a plethora of entertainment, dining, and shopping options for the whole family. Disney Spring is in the southeastern corner of the Walt Disney World Resort property, and just across the lagoon from Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort. You can arrive via bus from any of the on-site Disney resort hotels or if you’re staying at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, it’s a simple walk to the eastern entrance. If […]

The Magic of Disneyland Character Dining!

9/5/2023 • Blog, Disneyland • What is a Disney vacation without the characters? While many will line up for lengthy wait times to visit their favorites, a huge time saver in the parks is character dining! There is nothing like enjoying a meal in the comfort of one of the Disneyland Parks and Resorts restaurants while the characters come to you! Thankfully, Disneyland offers several opportunities to see your favorite Disney pals while enjoying delicious meals! Minnie & Friends – Breakfast in the Park (Disneyland Park) If you’re looking for character dining inside Disneyland Park- this is the meal meal for you! Taking place daily in the Victorian elegance of The Plaza Inn adjacent to Main Street, USA- this breakfast includes an all-you-can-eat buffet of tasty favorites, such as bacon, eggs, cereals, fruit, omelets, and more! As you take in the view of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, you can expect to see Minnie and a number […]

Magical Military Discounts

5/19/2023 • Blog, Walt Disney World • With the sacrifices that military families make daily, a small token of appreciation that corporations and retailers can offer is a military discount. If you are headed to Disney World as a military family- your dollar will go farther with a number of discounts available to you! Disney World Room Discounts In addition to the convenience and location, there is just something about the Disney resorts that adds that extra bit of magic and pixie dust to your stay. And for eligible servicemembers and their spouses, Disney offers a great discounted room offer! Traveling with a large family in multiple rooms? No problem! Up to three rooms may be reserved using the discount. Some resorts are excluded from the military discount— including Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort and the Little Mermaid Rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort (suites are eligible for the discount). Just remember, a […]

All about MagicBand+

3/14/2023 • Blog, Disneyland, Walt Disney World • The wait is over! MagicBand+ has made its much-anticipated arrival in Walt Disney World and Disneyland! But what is MagicBand+ and how does it compare to the original MagicBand that debuted a decade ago? Which version will best serve me during my trip? MagicBand+ is a new, interactive wristband to enhance your Disney World vacation. When the first generation MagicBand was introduced 10 years ago, it provided the ultimate convenience for your Disney World trip- the ability to have your tickets, room key, FastPass selections, room charges, and Memory Maker photos all on one bracelet. No more reaching into your wallet every time you need to scan into a queue for your FastPass or reaching for your wallet when you need to charge that Mickey Bar to your room! MagicBand revolutionized the way we vacationed at Disney! MagicBand+ has the same functionality as the original MagicBand, but with some new […]

Life Hack: Landry’s Card to the (Dining) Rescue!

9/6/2022 • Blog, Universal Studios, Walt Disney World • Their names are synonymous with fun family dining- T-Rex and Rainforest Café. Both restaurants are housed at Disney Springs and attract families from all over to dine and experience the food and unparalleled atmosphere they offer! Because of their popularity, reservations should be made as close to 60 days in advance of your room check-in as possible. But what if you couldn’t get dining reservations? No worries- they Landry’s Select Club to the rescue! Both T-Rex and Rainforest Café are Landry’s restaurants, and as such, they are eligible for the benefits associated with Landry’s Select Club. Joining the club is a one-time $25 fee, and you receive $25 off of your bill the first time using the card at any Landry’s location! You also receive a $25 gift on your birthday as well as PRIORITY SEATING! Yes! If you show your Landry’s Select Club card at the hostess stand, you […]

Attraction Spotlight: It’s a Small World

8/16/2022 • Blog, Disneyland, Holidays & Events, Walt Disney World • There’s so much that we share that it’s time we’re aware, it’s a small world after all! It’s one of the most iconic and recognizable attractions at the Disney parks, and its accompanying song is known the world over, but do you know the history behind “the happiest cruise that ever sailed?” Back in 1964, Walt Disney was given the task of creating an attraction for the World’s Fair in New York with the theme “peace through understanding.” After much thought, he decided featuring children from all over the world would be the basis for carrying out this theme. Walt turned to famed artist Mary Blair to design what would become the most recognizable Disney attraction ever built. Mary had worked on other Disney projects, namely the storyboards for a number of animated feature movies, but this would be her biggest undertaking of all. For Small World, she created stylized […]

Personalized Souvenirs in Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square

5/24/2022 • Blog, Walt Disney World • There is no other place like the Disney Parks to share a family vacation. But once your vacation is done, what will you take home from the Disney parks to remember your incredible adventure? We all know the typical souvenirs that you can bring home- a t-shirt, a postcard, maybe a small plush for a child, but at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Liberty Square, there are so many unique and personal options! Ornaments: When you are in Liberty Square, you won’t want to miss Ye Old Christmas Shoppe. Inside you will find the Christmas spirit year-round! There is Christmas décor, wreaths, ornaments, stockings, and more. One of my favorite family traditions is to buy an ornament every time we are in the parks. The Cast Members at the Christmas shop can even customize many of the ornaments on display. We had a Magic Kingdom ornament personalized with our last […]

Toddling Around the Universal Parks

1/14/2022 • Blog, Universal Studios • Universal has a reputation as the perfect destination for thrill-seekers, foodies, Muggles, and Wizards, but what about toddlers? Will my family with varying ages be able to find entertainment for everyone- even the littles? Happily, I can answer- yes! My three children span ages 12 to 2 years old. With varying interests and thrill levels, we found that there was plenty to enjoy for each age. Here are some specific areas of interest and some tips to help you with your next trip to Universal with little ones! Tip #1: Ride the Hogwarts Express! Sure, the Hogwarts Express is like a train, but in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal, it’s so much more! The train will take you between Kings Cross Station in Universal Studios and Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure. This 10-minute trip is not only a mode of transportation, but also an attraction in itself! […]

Universal’s Endless Summer Resorts

12/18/2021 • Blog, Reviews, Universal Studios • Surf’s up! Endless Summer: Surfside Inn and Dockside Inn, are two incredible new options for lodging during your next Universal stay! Located adjacent to each other, both Dockside and Surfside offer rooms with two queen beds with either a standard or pool view, but they also offer a second option for larger parties – two-bedroom suites! And the price point for these rooms is phenomenal! While the standard two queen rooms will comfortably sleep four, the family suites are larger at 440 square feet and will sleep up to six people! Both room types offer a single bathroom (the suite with double sinks), queen beds, ample storage, as well as a small kitchenette. Each kitchenette includes a microwave, a mini-fridge, a coffee maker, and a picnic table – perfect for families! Downstairs you will find a full quick-service restaurant with grab and go options as well as made to order […]

Disney’s Beach Club Resort

10/13/2020 • Blog, Reviews, Walt Disney World • Disney’s Beach Club Resort it truly one of my favorite resorts on property! From its incredible location just steps away from Epcot, to its pool and dining options, there are so many reasons to stay at Beach Club on your next Disney vacation. This resort looks like it’s right out of the pages of a New England architectural journal. Painted in pastel blue and white hues with lighthouse-style architectural features, this resort is appealing from the moment you pull up to its drive. Upon entering, the lobby includes seaside and nautical touches. Dining: Just off the lobby, you’ll notice several of the resort’s table service restaurants. Here you can dine at Ale and Compass, a New England steakhouse, Cape May Cafe, a character breakfast and seafood buffet lunch and dinner, and Beaches and Cream- a seaside-style soda shop with a variety of boardwalk foods. You can also relax and take […]