By Stephanie Rouse Ok, so you saved and saved. You are finally ready to book that magical trip you have been dreaming of. Dates? Check. Resort? Check. Tickets? Oh, tickets! When planning a Walt Disney World vacation, there are many aspects that require research. It seems one of the biggest questions around is “How do…
The Inaugural Disneyland Half-Marathon and 5K Family Fun Run
By Kate Abbott (photos by Kate and Brad Abbott) Mickey takes a breather backstage. The love of Disneyland motivates me to do crazy things, like having an annual pass even though I live 400 miles away, or buying anything with a Tiki Room logo. But I don’t think I’ve ever felt the depths of my…
Behind the Seeds
By Carol Garcia “Would you like to book a tour today?” That was the question posed by the Cast Member on the phone helping me sort out the details of our upcoming trip. “Sure, I would,” I thought, but I have three children under the age of 10, so doing most tours is out of…
Special Diets at Walt Disney World
By Teresa Pitman Want to know why my family LOVES vacationing at Walt Disney World? Okay, we do love the resorts, the rides, the shows, the characters, the Cast Members – but besides all that, there’s another reason: we can all eat there. My family includes people who need vegan, vegetarian, diabetic and celiac meals….
Mickeymorphosis
By Binnie Betten Catching his first glimpse of the long white stretch limousine that would transport us from Orlando International Airport to our hotel, Ricky shrieked an excited “Yeah! Baby,” – thereby proving that he did indeed pay attention when his father spoke. As the proud grandmother and founder of an online Disney informational web…
Animal Kingdom Lodge
By Linda Norton My family and I just returned from a long Disney trip – 11 nights! The objective of this trip was to try new things. It is getting difficult for us to find new things to do after 24 trips in five years, but Disney changes enough so we usually manage to find…
Getting the Most Bang for Your Dining Plan Buck
By Stephanie Rouse We get lots of questions here at Magically Speaking. We love to answer those questions, so, hey, it’s a great fit! One of the most common questions we get asked is how to get the most ‘bang’ for your buck when enjoying the Disney Dining Plan. First off, let me say, writing…
Beyond the Disney Dining Plan: Getting Groceries for a Walt Disney World Vacation
By Erica Colmenares With all of the restaurants Walt Disney World has to offer, why would anyone need more food? Well, after a long day at the parks, you may want to have a little snack in your hotel room. Maybe you want some breakfast items on hand to save time and money. Or there…
A Tipping Guide
By Carol Garcia Bell services, wait staff and valets, oh my! These are just some of the people travelers encounter on a vacation who just might need a tip. But, how much do I tip? And even more basic, who do I tip?? Well fear not! This handy tipping guide will show you the way….
Having a Magical Trip — No Matter How Crowded It Is
By Kate Abbott Donald and Mickey perform in the daily morning 50th Anniversary Rededication Ceremony on Main Street. Arrive earlier to go on rides or collect FastPasses before you watch the ceremony. You’re going to Disneyland! That’s great. You’re going in the summer? Or on a holiday weekend? Well, that can be great, too. Any…
Disneyland Through a Disney World Veteran’s Eyes
By Carol Garcia It started out as a typical visit to the in-laws in Las Vegas. Taking three small children to Vegas for a week isn’t exactly my cup of tea, but that’s where they are, so that’s where we were going. Then something magical happened. A post on The Mouse for Less Yahoo Group…
Holidays Around the World Showcase
From Our Magically Speaking Newsletter Archive – subscribe today! By Carol Garcia Joyeux Noël. Frohe Weihnachten. Natale allegro. Feliz Navidad. What do these phrases have in common (other than the fact that I probably can’t pronounce any of them correctly)? They are all ways to say Merry Christmas, and they can all be heard throughout…