Blog Posts by Nancy Wideman

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 […]

7 Exciting New Things to Look Forward to in 2021 at Walt Disney World

5/15/2020 • Walt Disney World • Great things are planned for the Walt Disney World resort for 2021, and with the world currently being on lock-down, we all need a little something special to get excited about! Tron Lightcycle Run (Magic Kingdom) – bringing a popular attraction from Disneyland Shanghai, guests will speed through a digital world on their own lightcycles! Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (Epcot) – This breakthrough rollercoaster will feature rotating and reversing never experienced before, all set to one awesome playlist! Space 220 (Epcot) – This new restaurant will be open in time for the 2021 festivities and will feature out of this world views as you enjoy your meal high above the Earth! More new Epcot attractions coming! (Epcot) –The new Ratatouille attraction should be underway in the France pavilion, and a Mary Poppins attraction is expected to open in the United Kingdom pavilion. Epcot Transformation – details were released […]

The Animation Experience at the Conservation Station-Disney’s Animal Kingdom

3/20/2020 • Walt Disney World • Our love for Disney started with animation, and the first Disney films we enjoyed as a family, so it’s no wonder that animation classes at Disney parks have been “our thing” for years! Although Disney has closed the Animation Academy at Hollywood Studios, you can now draw with a Disney animator at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It’s an experience that artists of all ages can enjoy! Your adventure begins when you board a train headed for the Conservation Station. It’s a fun ride to get you to a remote area of the park to explore. You can choose to walk around and look at the conservation and educational stations set up, venture into the petting zoo, or enter the main building where you can try your hand at drawing a popular Disney animal character! As with all Disney animation classes, you are provided with a board, paper, and a pencil. They […]

All the Exciting Things Coming to Walt Disney World in 2020!

3/10/2020 • Walt Disney World • The world of Disney is ever-changing, and 2020 will be no exception for the Walt Disney World Resort! Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge - Star Wars fans and even guests who thought they weren’t Star Wars fans are raving about this new 13-acre land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. From flying the Millenium Falcon, grabbing an intergalactic drink at Oga’s Cantina, or fighting alongside the rebels on Rise of the Resistance, this land has so much to see, do, and explore! Don’t forget to shop for special treats, try some out-of-this-world foods, and even build your own droid or lightsaber! You can also play along on Disney’s Play app to become even more immersed in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Disney After Hours Events - Disney has extended After Hour Events at the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. After Hours events allow guests to explore the theme parks late at […]

Discovering Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland

12/3/2019 • Disneyland • Hiding at the back of Disneyland Park, tucked behind the impressive facade of it’s a small world, is a little gem that will delight all the littles in your family! Mickey’s Toontown is a colorful area brimming with whimsy and interactive play. The ever-spinning welcome sign as it “counts” guests entering the park gives you a glimpse of what to expect as you walk through and find yourself in a cartoon land with Mickey and Minnie’s houses center-stage. Attractions in this area include: Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin (a playful twist on the classic dark ride) Gadget’s Go Coaster (35” height requirement to ride this family-friendly roller coaster) Donald’s Boat (interactive) Goofy’s Playhouse (interactive) Chip ‘n Dale’s Treehouse (interactive) Minnie’s House Mickey's House Be sure to wander all the way through Mickey’s house where you find the Mouse himself awaiting your arrival. This is a great opportunity for a special […]

A Trip-of-a-Lifetime to Costa Rica with Adventures by Disney

10/25/2019 • Adventures by Disney, Reviews • When you hear the name Disney, you probably think Mickey Mouse and theme parks. In addition to many other experiences and destinations, Disney also offers organized land tours across the U.S. and around the globe. Adventures by Disney allows families, friends, and even solo guests to explore amazing destinations together knowing that they will receive the same level of entertainment, service, accommodations, safety and VIP access that comes with the Disney name. Adventures by Disney’s Costa Rican itinerary is geared towards adventurers and thrill seekers excited to navigate the waters and rainforests of Costa Rica while enjoying the culture, traditions, food, and the beautiful scenery and wildlife that make up this gorgeous part of the world. This is a very active adventure with highlights including white water rafting, zip lining above the canopy, and snorkeling.  There is always a secondary option for guests who are unwilling or unable to participate […]

Get “Sorted” Before Your Next Visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios!

7/23/2019 • Tips, Universal Studios • Want to make your Harry Potter trip a little more magical? If you are a Harry Potter fan, you may already have your favorite Hogwart’s house. To add to the fun of your visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios, visit the official site for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter before you arrive at the park (or while standing in line to get in). You can learn all about Harry Potter, Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and even get sorted into one of the four Hogwart’s houses! Let’s get started! Start the fun at www.wizardingworld.com. You must create an account before you can begin your journey. Enter your email address, create a password (a combination of numbers and upper and lower case letter), and end your complete birth date.{Important to note: guests must be at least 13 years old to register}. You will need […]

Surviving Walt Disney World with Toddlers!

5/17/2019 • Tips, Walt Disney World • If you’re like me, you can’t wait to take your little one (toddler) to Disney and experience it for the first time through your child’s eyes. The castle, the characters, a Mickey bar, and yes…the rides!   Here are some helpful tips and tricks that I’ve learned as a mom taking my young children to visit Mickey! Averting a meltdown: Rest Walt Disney World is huge and walking around just one park can add up those steps very quickly. Bring or rent a comfortable stroller to give tired feet a rest. Plan for a rest either back at the resort or in the stroller. Just some down time to close tired little eyes and get a second wind will help you all continue the fun. Planning for half days is a great way to check off your most important experiences while allowing yourselves some quiet time and it also gives […]

How Our Disney Collections Grow With Us

4/12/2019 • Disneyland • Like so many people, my love for Disney started early on. From visiting Disneyland with my family, seeing my first movies on the big screen, and listening to my favorite Disney stories on my Mickey Mouse record player (over and over and over), I always had my favorites that remain as special as ever to this day. There were three souvenirs my mom would usually allow me to get when we spent a day at Disneyland. 1. The first was a small glass figurine. Back in those days, I don’t remember a Disney character ever being an option, or my mom was really good at steering my eyes to the less expensive figures, perhaps! 2. I might get to select a postcard. Somewhere, I still have my really old, beaten up, and well-loved Pirates of the Caribbean postcards from the 70s. 3. And my most favorite, a record from the […]