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Couple Visits Disneyland Every Day in 2012

At the end of 2012 I came across an interesting post on the official Disney Parks blog: a couple visited Disneyland every single day in 2012.  On December 31, Jeff Reitz and Tonya Mickesh received special gifts personally from Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs.  It was a typical fancy Disney ceremony: as the two made their way down Main Street, Staggs was waiting for them to present their honors in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. Their honors included being made honorary citizens of Disneyland, and a stay in the Disneyland Dream Suite, a luxury apartment off the … Continue reading →

Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotels

Disneyland and Disney World aren’t identical. One of the big ways they differ is in size; Disney World is much larger than Disneyland. Because of this there are far fewer hotels at Disneyland than Disney World; I can think of dozens in Orlando, but Disneyland has only three: the Disneyland Hotel, the Grand Californian, and Paradise Pier. Disneyland makes up for that by teaming up with several local Anaheim Hotels as part of its Good Neighbor program. A Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotel isn’t officially a Disney hotel. Anyone can stay at them without going to the park (though I suppose … Continue reading →

Figuring Out Transportation at Disney World

One of the erroneous assumptions I always made growing up was thinking that Disney World worked just like the small local amusement parks I’d been to. Pay one fee, get access to everything on the site, and get around the park easily. We know for sure the former isn’t true, and neither is the latter. Disney World is huge. It’s basically a city unto itself. So any family doing a Disney World vacation that wants to see more than one park has to figure out transportation from one park to another, plus how to get on and off the site … Continue reading →

Check into a Disney Character Room

I’m torn between two very different impulses when thinking about my eventual Disney World vacation. One part of me wants to keep the vacation simple, to stay in a hotel with a kitchen outside of the resort so I can save money on lodging and food. That’s the part of me that will probably win out. If I’m to afford a Disney vacation, that’s likely what I’ll have to do. But there’s another part of me, the kid still in there that’s especially pushing me to make that trip to Orlando. That part doesn’t necessarily want to go all out, … Continue reading →

Mini Mickey: The Ultimate Disney World Travel Guide

Learn how to avoid the crowds This weekend my family and I engaged in an activity along with many others across the country: raiding the clearance sales at Borders. I’m devastated at the mega-bookstore’s demise, but that didn’t stop me from seeing what books I could obtain. Before I made a separate trip to the store with my mother, she gifted me with three books she’d bought there earlier in the day (thanks, Mom!) They’re all unofficial guides to Disney World. Between them the three contain myriad tips on taking a Disney vacation: how to find the best savings, how … Continue reading →

Disney Augments Reality

No matter how I feel about the current direction of Disney movies, the Disney parks are truly committed to continuing Walt’s vision. One of the many things that made Walt Disney famous was his constant innovation, be it in animation or technology. Epcot is a perfect example of how Walt’s dedication to being on the cutting technological edge was constantly on display in his parks. The Disney parks Imagineers have continued in Walt’s spirit to this day. One of the latest examples of that is through augmented reality. Techie blog thomaskcarpenter.com, a site often dedicated to exploring advancements in augmented … Continue reading →

Disney World Bridal Studio Upgrade

It seems everything at Walt Disney World is getting a facelift these days. First come plans for a major Fantasyland expansion, and next we hear that popular destination for Disney fan couples Franck’s Bridal Studio has undergone a technological renovation. Stitch Kingdom reports that Disney’s one-stop shop for weddings has added two new planning rooms, updated its furnishings, and most importantly, upgraded its technological capabilities. Before, couples would travel to the Franck’s in person to meet with their wedding planner to iron out all the details on their upcoming Disney-themed nuptials. While it’s still necessary for couples to meet with … Continue reading →

Disney to Build Luxury Homes Community

Just how big is Disney World anyway? I’ve never been there, but I’ve looked at satellite views of it from Google Earth, and though it’s certainly the largest amusement park I’ve seen, I didn’t think it was big enough to host individual luxury homes. That’s right: Disney World’s building luxury homes on its property. According to Central Florida News 13, Disney World’s building a gated community called Golden Oaks which will host up to 400 homes. Prices for the houses range between $1.5 million and $8 million, with a deposit alone costing $25,000. I don’t know much about luxury housing, … Continue reading →

Monthly Payment Plan for Disney World in Works

Disney World Annual pass holders get all sorts of perks: constant easy entry into the park, parking benefits, admission into special exhibits like the Richard Petty Driving Experience, and more. Now Disney might add another bonus to that list: a monthly payment plan. A monthly payment plan would allow pass holders to pay their fees in smaller installments, rather than having to pay the full amount all at one time. This opens up the benefits of the annual pass to more people, those who may not have been able to pay the total cost all at once. For current pass … Continue reading →

Disney’s Quiet Florida Escape

Sometimes it feels like the only Disney attraction I talk about are the parks, especially Walt Disney World in Orlando. It’s one of the most popular locations and a lot of interesting promotions and events are happening there right now, so I do want to share them with everyone here at families.com. But for those who might tire of the hectic crowds, noise, and cement pathways of an amusement park, Disney has an entirely different option: the Disney Wilderness Preserve. The Walt Disney Company created the Wilderness Preserve in 1992, purchasing the 8500-acre Walker Ranch in Poinciana, Florida. In partnership … Continue reading →