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Downtown Disney to Expand into Disney Springs

A few years after it announced and then scrapped plans to reformat Pleasure Island, the official Disney Parks blog has revealed that Downtown Disney is getting an upgrade.  A years-long project will transform Downtown Disney into Disney Springs, an even larger shopping and entertainment district. Downtown Disney is so popular with Florida residents and Disney World guests alike that it was time to expand.  Don’t worry about suddenly needing a ticket to get into the area: just like before, Disney Springs will be open to the public (though individual entertainment venues still might require tickets for entrance). Tom Staggs, the … Continue reading →

What Is the Disney Mom’s Panel?

Over my past 2.5 years as a Disney blogger I’ve frequently seen reference to the Disney Moms Panel. Each time I learned about it I was in the middle of researching for a different article, so even though I always meant to visit it someday it took me a long time to actually get around to it. But finally I’m here to answer: what is the Moms Panel? Just going by name alone I imagine the Moms Panel as a group of Disney-loving mothers ready to answer questions, likely posed by other moms, or at least parents, about Walt Disney … Continue reading →

Party Like It’s 2011

What are your plans for New Year’s Eve? If you have young children and you don’t have a sitter, then you’re probably planning to call it a night shortly after watching Ryan Seacrest or Anderson Cooper call color on a dropping ball in Times Square. Yeah, me too. Or not. You don’t have to bid farewell to 2011 in your pajamas with the TV remote in one hand and a Diet coke in the other. Rather, consider hosting a family-friendly New Year’s Eve party. One of the hottest trends in end-of-the-year shindigs is the green theme. Eco-friendly New Year’s Eve … Continue reading →

Seasonal Travel Delights

Tis the season to head to a theme park. We’re barely three days into November and my email inbox is already flooded with alerts from various theme parks around the nation heralding the arrival of their Winter Wonderlands. Clearly, these parks operate like retailers when it comes to promoting all things Christmas less than 24 hours after the sunsets on Halloween. If you are looking for a family-friendly travel destination, that’ll help you bond with the kiddos during the holiday season, consider heading to one of the sweetest places on the planet. My 7-year-old’s top pick for Christmas ogling is … Continue reading →

Vacations That Pay

I once took a vacation to Northern California, and ended up in a roach-infested hotel room with a leaky faucet. Due to an unexpected flight delay, I couldn’t switch rooms because the property was booked solid (despite the pest problem) and I was the last guest to check in that night (technically it was two in the morning). The rest of the trip pretty much mirrored my dismal lodging experience and I vowed that I would never return to the tiny town… even if I were paid to do so. Most people don’t get handed pre-paid vacations these days; however, … Continue reading →

Ready, Set, Beach!

Nothing makes for a super sizzling hot summer vacation more than a trip to the beach. With the Memorial Day holiday weekend kicking off in just a couple of days, now is the time to set your sights on the sun, sand and surf. If you are still in the planning stages, then consider these top family-friendly beach vacation destinations: Texas The great state of Texas is home to a litany of lovely beaches, including South Padre Island. The 130-mile long barrier island is a haven for spring breakers, but during the summer months you can relax minus the beer … Continue reading →

Getting Ready to Roll This Summer

And so it begins… the countdown to the craziest summer rides around. Today was the official unveiling of a wooden roller coaster dubbed the “Zippin Pippin” at Bay Beach Amusement Park in Green Bay, Wisconsin. My 6-year-old is dying to take a spin on the legendary thrill ride, which is considered one of the oldest existing wooden roller coasters in the United States. It was recently transported to northeast Wisconsin and now anchors the family-friendly theme park. We’ll see next week if my daughter is tall enough to make her summer dream come true. In the meantime, there are a … Continue reading →

Get Your Wiggle on at Six Flags

My preschool daughter has never been a huge Wiggles fan. What’s more, she screams like a banchee every time I try to put her on an amusement park ride. And I’m not talking about those baby roller coasters that travel on a flat track, or those crazy toddler swings that spin around with modified reckless abandon. For the past three years my child has unleashed glass shattering, ear splitting, high-pitched shrieks each time I’ve tried to place her on merry-go-round horses (the paralyzed ones that don’t move up and down), baby boats (that barely move in a pool no bigger … Continue reading →

How to Celebrate Good Times on a Budget

Think you can’t afford to have fun on your birthday, anniversary, or other milestone? Think again. The month of May is chock full of special occasions for my family. From birthdays to Mother’s Day, Memorial Day to graduations, there’s no shortage of celebrations in the coming weeks. Typically, I would be concerned that all of these “big days” would put a big dent in our family’s budget, but as I mentioned in my previous blog, fortunately these special occasions are yielding some major savings. My email inbox is filled with deals from hotels, theme parks, and restaurants offering freebies and … Continue reading →

Having Fun in Chicago

My family always has fun during our trips to Chicago. The Windy City offers dozens of kid-friendly attractions that are as educational as they are fun-filled. If you have never visited the Midwestern metropolis or you are returning sans wheels this spring, then consider taking advantage of one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Chicago Neighborhood Tours allows you to sit back and let someone else do the driving while you enjoy the sights on themed bus rides. This year the city’s Office of Tourism has added several new themed half-day bus tours to its offerings. Take a look: HYDE PARK … Continue reading →