Blog Posts by Nancy Wideman

Disney Cruise Line – Alaskan Adventures Continued… Embarkation Day at Canada Place

7/7/2021 • Cruises, Tips • Embarkation day for your Disney cruise is quite exciting. If you’re like me, you want to get to the port early even if you have a later check-in time. But where will you go? Is there food available? Will you have to lug your luggage around with you? These were all questions I had the morning we were to set sail from Vancouver to Alaska. I’m happy to tell you that Canada Place is in a great location set up to help keep you comfortable and entertained while you wait to board. Food and a Quick Break: Immediately across the street from Canada Place is the Waterfront Centre Food Court, complete with Tim Horton’s, McDonald’s, and plenty of other offerings where you can grab a bite to eat and relax. Restaurants open early, wi-fi is available, and youcan make a quick stop to the restrooms. Stowing Luggage: Make sure you […]

Selecting Your Stateroom for Your Disney Cruise

5/25/2021 • Cruises, Tips • You’ve selected your perfect Disney Cruise Line itinerary. With all the exciting destinations offered, you have completed the hardest step! Next, let’s help you determine what kind of stateroom will best fit both your family’s needs as well as your budget. There are four main categories of staterooms on a Disney ship: Inside, Oceanview, Verandah, and Concierge. An inside stateroom (no windows to the outside) is the least expensive category. If you really want to cruise but see your room as only a place to sleep, or if the price difference between an inside stateroom and a verandah is make or break for you going on the cruise, an inside stateroom might be the answer for you! is a larger space and offers fresh light and a beautiful view. Depending on the ship and stateroom, you may have 1 or 2 non-opening portholes to look out of. If you would […]

Discovering the Last Frontier with Disney Cruise Line

4/27/2021 • Cruises • A Disney cruise to Alaska – something for everyone in your family with the HUGE added bonus of exploring some of the most gorgeous, natural beauty in the world. Our family checked off a huge item on our bucket list – exploring the Last Frontier: Alaska. The beauty of Alaska is something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. For fellow travelers we met on our journey, many of them were returning to Alaska for their 3rd, 4th, even 7th time, and now I understand why. Combine a journey into the wilds of Alaska up the Pacific Ocean with the service and entertainment onboard a Disney cruise ship, and you’ve got a perfect family vacation. Before we had even boarded the ship, we were meeting friendly faces from our cruise group Facebook page where we had all shared plans and hopes for our families’ vacations. We continued to […]

What to Expect on Embarkation Day

4/6/2021 • Cruises, Tips • Your Disney cruise is booked and the countdown clock is tickin’! You’ve scoured the internet for tips, booked excursions, scheduled a princess meet and greet, and are ready to order your Mickey bar at midnight from room service, but what should you expect on embarkation day? Let’s break it down so you make the most of your first afternoon exploring the ship! You've selected a Port Arrival Time when you did your on-line check-in. This is when you can arrive at the port and start the boarding process. Before arriving at the port, make sure all your check-in luggage is tagged. It will go through a screening process and then magically appear outside your stateroom later in the afternoon. Be sure you retain all your travel documents, including your passport, as well as medications and anything else you might need for the afternoon. Check your luggage and then continue through […]

Why the Winter Season at Walt Disney World Is a GREAT Time to Visit!

3/23/2021 • Holidays & Events, Tips, Walt Disney World • I have loved visiting Walt Disney World in all four seasons. I especially love Fall when I can experience Halloween or Christmas in the parks. However, my absolute favorite time of the year to visit the parks is that sweet spot in January and February – the holidays are over and you can finally breathe again, life quiets down a little, and you can enjoy a little “you” time again. That’s what this time of the year feels like for me at Walt Disney World. Crowds have calmed down, allowing you to enjoy the parks with a little more wiggle room between you and fellow guests The weather is no longer hot and humid. January thru March see average temps in the mid-70s. As is always the case in Florida, there is some rain, but it’s well past hurricane season. Starting around mid-January, it’s no longer peak season, and you’ll […]

Enjoying runDisney Events for Non-Runners

3/19/2021 • Cruises, Disneyland, Holidays & Events, Tips, Walt Disney World • I am not a runner…at all…but that didn’t stop me from joining friends in my first runDisney marathon weekend! Whether you are up every morning for that morning run, or if you simply want to experience a runDisney event, here are several reasons to love runDisney races! The Challenge! Hopefully, all races are a challenge no matter your level of experience. For this girl, I’ll admit I didn’t train nearly enough knowing what I do now. Disney recommends a pace time of 15 minutes or under per mile whether you run or walk {or a combination of both}. “Balloon Ladies” {and sometimes Balloon Men!} keep the pace from the back and encourage you to keep going. If you fall behind, you will eventually get picked up and taken to the finish. I was able to stay ahead of them, but I saw faces of defeat on those who were not […]

Capturing the Moments – 7 Helpful Tips

3/9/2021 • Tips • Some of my favorite photos of my kids are from Disney parks, and I have HUGE scrapbooks to prove it! I'm one of those moms who will plan an outfit based on where we'll be, what characters we might meet, coordinating colors,... I also enjoy taking candid photos - photos when they're looking somewhere else and all you see is the joy in their eyes, photos while walking behind them, and the simple things that make up what a Disney vacation means to our family. I am in no way a professional photographer, but I do like to pay attention to my shots. 1. Get down to their level. Sure, have some fun taking some artistic shots looking straight down at your kids or looking up at them from the ground, but the best photos are those that are at the same level as the subject. Experience things from a […]

Fantastic Holiday Treats Around the Magic Kingdom!

11/17/2020 • Holidays & Events, Walt Disney World • Fantastic Holiday Treats Around the Magic Kingdom! If there has ever been a time we have needed to feel the magic of the holidays, it’s now in 2020, and Walt Disney World is pulling all the stops with the treats and goodies that are being rolled out for the season! Our goal: find and taste as many of the holiday treats at the Magic Kingdom before time runs out or our tummies explode! That’s right! We took one for the team to find you the best of the best! For guests looking for something different: Let It Snow Taco, available at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn A sugar cookie taco shell filled with salted caramel and a spiced chocolate mousse. The cinnamon and salted caramel made this dessert! Orange Bird Christmas, available at the Sunshine Terrace Orange-scented white chocolate mousse with orange curd. It is, perhaps, one of the cuter […]

Busted – 9 Myths About Working with a Travel Agent

9/22/2020 • Blog • Travel agents have evolved over the decades to be full-fledged travel planners, helping their clients with every little detail to create the perfect vacation. They are no longer 9 to 5 agents who book a flight and hotel and send the customer the itinerary and a map. Here are the most common myths about working with a travel agent and why now, more than ever, is the best time to entrust your vacation with a trained professional who is with you every step of the way. Myth #1: “I lose control of my vacation by booking with a travel agent.” FALSE - You do not relinquish control over your own vacation. In fact, the more involved you are in the process, the more your agent will get to know you and help perfect the details to suit your family’s style, requests, and requirements. You can still enjoy the planning and […]

Introduction to the World of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

7/17/2020 • Blog, Walt Disney World • The Star Wars saga spans decades of storytelling. Having a brief background on the films helps when exploring Batuu at the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. Timeline A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, the Galactic Republic maintained peace and order in the galaxy with Jedi knights and elected senators. *During the prequel trilogy (Episodes I - III), the Sith ( the “dark side”) gain control of the Republic and form the Galactic Empire. *In the original trilogy (Episodes IV-VI), the Rebellion fights against the empire and forms the New Republic. *In the final trilogy (Episodes VII-IX), remnants of the Galactic Empire return as the First Order and attempt to gain back control of the galaxy. The Resistance rises up for a final battle. Backstory The Galaxy’s Edge storyline takes place between the events of Episodes VIII and IX. Batuu is located in the Outer Rim of […]