I consider myself a bit of a Disney expert, I’m the go-to person among my friends when they are planning a Disney vacation. I love sharing my favorite places to eat and my tips for making the most of your Disney vacation because Disney is one of my favorite subjects to chat about.
While I’ve been vacationing at Disney World since I was 5 years old, there is always something new happening at the parks or something that has changed. I have to admit when I planned Jackson’s first Disney vacation I didn’t really know what to plan. I had never been to Disney with a two-year old and my child hood experiences were easily 25 years in the past. So while I definitely feel like a Disney know it all, I was totally clueless when it came to planning a trip with a toddler.
I ordered the Unofficial guide to Walt Disney World with kids 2012 edition and read through it like it was my job. I was amazed there was so much that I didn’t know about vacationing at Disney World with kids. Even though I thought I was a pro at visiting Disney I quickly realized that I had a lot to learn. When I had the chance to review a copy of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids 2016, I was excited to see what I could learn from the latest edition of the book.
Why Even Disney Pros Should Read the Unofficial Guide to Disney World with Kids
Touring Plans
As someone who had been to Disney as an adult I was familiar with the thrill rides that had long wait times but I never imagined that the kids rides would have the same issue. The book offered me great insight into what kids rides get long waits and which ones should be done first thing and which ones should be fast passed. The touring plans located in the back of the book are geared towards different families and travel plans for example sleepy heads with small children or spending one day in the Magic Kingdom.
Insider Info
When you do a vacation many times sometimes you overlook attraction and amenities that you might not enjoy or use. The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World With Kids 2016, is full of these little tips that are great for parents. Like I never knew that Disney has a baby care center in each park. These places are a great spot if you want to give your baby or toddler a break from the stimulation of the park. There are infant high chairs, couches to sit on, a small TV with Disney movies playing and dim lighting. There are also several changing tables and lots of diaper necessities and other baby products. This place was a lifesaver when my son developed a nasty diaper rash on our first trip, and had I not read the book I would have never known. This is just one of the tips that I picked up from reading the Unofficial Guide.
Ride Ratings
When we planned our first trip I knew I didn’t want to take Jack on anything that might scare him because Jack remembers what scared him and not wanting to do it again. It was a huge help that the Unofficial Guide includes a rating of if the ride is scary. This includes mentioning if it’s a dark ride or if there are any parts that might scare young children. There are ratings of every ride (determined by a survey of 40,000 families), at every park in the book and it includes a break down of which age groups the ride ranked highest with. If traveling with varying age groups, this info is incredibly helpful.
Restaurant Reviews
Dining options at Walt Disney World are always evolving and expanding. When I went as a child it was mostly hamburgers and chicken nuggets. Now dining is a whole experience at Walt Disney World and the options and menus at the resort change all the time. The Unofficial Guide breaks down all the dining options and rates them so that you don’t have to risk having a bad meal. It also includes a list of Top 10 Snacks, which can be a lot of fun to try eating at places that aren’t your usual fare. On our last trip we visited Sleep Hollow in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom after reading how great their waffles where, it was our favorite meal of the trip. The Unofficial Guide includes a brief summary of what each restaurant offers, so that you can easily find chicken nuggets when your child is hungry and great food or drinks for the adults in your party.
Personal Takeaways
One of my favorite features of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney with Kids is the personal antidotes and first hand experiences. The writers clearly know their Disney stuff and they have “been there, done that” when it comes to visiting Disney World with kids. They provide great insight on how to prepare kids for the trip, how to avoid kids being overwhelmed and the best way to introduce timid kids to the rides (start with Dumbo, work your way to pirates). Throughout the book each member of the team (kids and adults) gives their opinion on everything from dining to attractions to hotels. That way you aren’t getting just one persons perspective on Disney and if you know Disney fans they can be quite passionate about their favorites so the varying opinions is helpful
The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids 2016 is perfect for first time Walt Disney World travelers or for those who like me consider themselves an expert but are always on the look out for what is new at Disney Parks. The 2016 edition includes information on the new Frozen attractions, what to expect from the Disney Springs expansion, a full review of the redone Polynesian Resort and other great new attractions coming to Walt Disney World.
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