Blog Posts by Nancy Wideman

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 Runaway Railway center-stage. Attractions in this area include: Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway (Hitch a ride on Engineer Goofy's train and be ready for some crazy antics!) Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin (a playful twist on the classic dark ride) Chip 'N' Dale's GADGETcoaster (35” height requirement to ride this family-friendly roller coaster) Donald’s Duck Pond(interactive) Goofy’s How-to-Play Yard (interactive) CenTOONial Park (interactive) Minnie’s House Mickey's House and Meet Mickey Be sure to wander […]

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 […]

SURPRISE! We’re Going to Disney!

3/29/2019 • Tips, Walt Disney World • Many parents envision surprising their kids with news of a vacation to Disney with lots of smiles, excited screams, and perhaps, even some happy tears! Here are some fun ways to surprise your children with a trip to visit Mickey! Simply….don’t tell them until you are on your way there! It takes stealth and sneakiness to plan a trip without little ears overhearing, not to mention getting everyone’s suitcase packed but it’s a lot of fun too especially if you have younger kids who haven’t yet grasped the concept of time. You might also save a bit of your sanity by eliminating the “is it time yet?” component that might otherwise linger for the months leading up to the big event. Depending on your mode of transportation, you might not tell them until you arrive at the airport or when you are pulling into the parking areas. For older children, […]

It’s Not Just Food When It’s This Good! Food for the Soul at Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming

3/13/2024 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • From the moment I read the menu for Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming restaurant, I knew this would be at the top of my Disney dining bucket list! This is down-home cooking at its best. Arrive hungry. You do not want to miss an opportunity to sample the foods if you aren’t prepared to fill your belly. 2) As a party of two, I knew our eyes were too big for our stomachs, but the selections are that good that we didn’t want to pass anything up! My best recommendation would be to go with a group of at least four people so you can select several things from the menu and share them. Between the two of us, we ordered a couple appetizers: the Church Lady Deviled Eggs and the Ham and Jam Biscuits. With the deviled eggs, aside from the fact that they are delicious, the presentation is fabulous! […]

Big Box Stores vs Travel Planners Who Specialize in Disney

3/11/2024 • Tips, Walt Disney World • You are planning a trip for your family to a Disney theme park and are looking for a great deal, but where do you start? You can do the hours upon hours of research yourself and book directly with Disney, book with a Big Box Store like Costco, visit your local AAA office, or book with a travel planner who specializes in Disney destinations. -If you enjoy planning and know exactly what you want, booking directly with Disney is an easy decision. -If you have a Costco membership and want to see what they can do for you, Costco Travel can book your vacation for you. -AAA agents can also help book your family vacation if you are an AAA member. What next, though? -Well, if you book with Disney, you will handle all the details – payments, keeping track of planning dates, booking advanced dining reservations and special activities, […]

Top 8 Walt Disney World Patriotic Experiences for the Heart of America

5/2/2018 • Walt Disney World • The name "Disney" is as American as apple pie. Perhaps that is because the company Walt and Roy Disney created was deeply rooted in the values  of the American Dream. Here are some of my favorites areas of Walt Disney World where the heart of America shines brightly. American Pavilion, Epcot American Adventure – Narrated by audio-animatronic figures of Ben Franklin and Mark Twain, guests experience various depictions of American life during key moments in American history, including the Revolutionary War and the Great Depression. Voices of America – Save time to enjoy the sounds of these a capella singers in the rotunda of the American Pavilion as they sing American standards (“America the Beautiful) as well as modern Disney classics (“Let It Go”). Liberty Square, Magic Kingdom The Muppets present Great Moments in American History is an entertaining show where our favorite Muppets describe their versions of Paul Revere’s […]