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lmbattista has written 9 articles so far, you can find them below.

Disney Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic

Welcome to my Back to School edition! Now is a good time to brush up on some Disney World subject areas. Don’t worry; there aren’t any pop quizzes or homework here!

Reading

  • Attraction Overviews, Maps, and Park Hours. You could spend a couple of weeks at Walt Disney World and I’d wager you still wouldn’t be able to experience everything the theme parks offer. What’s a guest to do? Prioritize. Familiarize yourself with the attractions to be sure you don’t miss the ones that are most important to your family. Crisscrossing the parks can eat up a fair portion of your day so know the basic park layouts before you go. Disney park hours can vary widely by season and from day to day. Visit the Disney World website before you arrive to make a plan.
  • Menus. Spend any time on Disney boards or reading blogs and you’ll find a large Disney dining subculture. Disney food is as important as the Mountains for a lot of us. I think it’s fair to say that Disney dining is expensive so guests want the most for their money or their Disney Dining Plan credits. Before making your Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs), take a look at the menus at AllEars and hop on over to the Disney Food Blog for restaurant reviews.
  • Plussing Up Your Visit. Things like stroller and ECV rentals, Baby Care Centers, and grocery delivery can make a great trip even better. Many people don’t know about them (I didn’t before I visited with kids) and they really can make a difference. Poke around a little, read some reviews, and decide which options work best for you. Continue reading →

My Quick Pick: The Perfect Magic Kingdom Breakfast

Breakfast at Walt Disney World is a tricky thing for me. I need something substantial enough to get me through a very busy morning of touring but that won’t weigh me down in the heat and on my favorite coasters. Fruit is a bonus and I’m addicted to carbs. I’ll take pancakes over bacon and eggs any day of the week, even Sunday. Some other prerequisites are affordable and relatively quick.

After reading The Disney Food Blog, I thought I had a contender for my ideal Magic Kingdom Breakfast item and I’m happy to report that it lived up to my expectations. Sleepy Hollow Refreshments in Liberty Square offers Waffle with Nutella and Fruit. The only three food groups that matter (to me at least) – carbs, chocolate, and fruit – are in one satisfying breakfast item for $5.99.

Continue reading →

Unsung Heros of the Walt Disney World Resort

If you spend any time reading Disney blogs or following Disney on social media sites, you’re sure to have seen fans describing their ideal Disney job whether it be resort concierge making dreams come true or a Jungle Cruise skipper. Today, I want to pay tribute to the Cast Members you don’t often seen mentioned in those Disney dream job articles – the custodial staff.

The custodial staff is as integral to making my Walt Disney World vacation magical as the Imagineers, talented chefs, and performers.

With two young children, I visit a lot of public places and with that comes a lot of visits to restrooms. Nine times out of ten, I experience the “ick” factor. By contrast, one of the things that strikes me on every visit to Walt Disney World is the overall level of cleanliness throughout the resort, no small feat given the sheer size and volume of guests. Pathways and public spaces are free of litter. Trash cans are not left to overflow. Restrooms are not only clean and in good working order but they are well stocked, even at the end of the night. Tables at counter-service restaurants are continually cleaned and wiped. Without the exceptional efforts by the custodial staff this would not be possible. Continue reading →

Beyond the Attractions: Disney World Activities That Don’t Bust Your Budget

Photo Credit: Stephh922 on Flickr

Try as we might to slow down, a weeklong Walt Disney World vacation is usually a whirlwind of activity for my family as we try to see and do all our favorite attractions. And, there are a lot of them.

This year we’ll be staying ten days instead of our usual seven. With a longer vacation come additional costs so selecting free or low-cost activities is a priority. These five Walt Disney World activities have received a coveted spot on my planning spreadsheet. Continue reading →

Guest Relations is Your Go-To Disney Stop


Recently, I was speaking with Krystal and Mia from Partners Behind the Mouse on Magic 24.7 radio and the topic of child safety came up. On a previous Walt Disney World vacation I discovered the paper wristbands offered at Guest Relations in the theme parks. These free wristbands can be used for child identification. Guest Relations is a treasure trove of services and assistance to make guests’ vacations more magical in every way.

Here are five reasons a stop into Continue reading →

Character Dining Budget Buster

I’m pretty good about sticking to a plan and resisting impulse buys. The kids know that if it’s not on the weekly shopping list, they’re not getting that package of cookies we don’t need. Well, truth be told, I have a hard time saying no if my kindergartener points out that it’s on sale and we have a coupon but I digress.

When we visit Walt Disney World, our budget is not unlimited so we make choices to spend money in some areas but not others. Yes to Park Hoppers, no to Signature Dining. Yes to one table service meal a day, no to the Dining Plan (it just doesn’t work for my family).

But just like that coupon for a sale item that nets my son his coveted cookies, I seem to have the inability to say, “No” to that character dining budget buster – the family photograph. Continue reading →

The New Fantasyland is Turning my Touring Plan Upside Down

Cinderella Castle, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World

The iconic Cinderella Castle, photographed aboard the WDW ferryboat. Photo by Mouze Kateerz

My family’s loose, go-to, touring schedule is getting a shake-up this year with the opening of the Magic Kingdom’s New Fantasyland.

The Basics. Three (sometimes four) adults, and two small kids. We have six days at Walt Disney World and spend two at Magic Kingdom, and one each at the other parks. Throw in a Downtown Disney or a rest day in the middle of the trip and we have a tried and true formula that works for our family. Since our children are six and under, we never spend a full day at the parks but take a break in the afternoon before heading back for a great meal and perhaps some relaxed touring in the evening. Continue reading →

What to Look Forward to at Disney World in 2012

Photo Credit: Disney.com

Happy New Year! 2012 will be an exciting year at the Walt Disney World theme parks. Every trip to the Disney theme parks is a magical one but Disney promises to deliver something a little extra special for Disney fans and families over the next twelve months.

Here’s my list of ten things I’m looking forward to during my next Disney vacation. Continue reading →

Packing Your Disney Carry-On

I remember the days of flying into Orlando International Airport and having to stake out my claim next to the baggage carousel while other flyers tried to muscle their way into the scant few inches I had carved out for myself. Once the baggage was retrieved, we had to make our way to the Walt Disney World Resort. We tried it all – private car, car rental, shuttle – and all were costly and had one issue or another. With Disney’s Magical Express, I am thankful those days are long gone for my family. Continue reading →