A little shameless Southern Travel Blog Disney Category promotion!
Planning Disney trips has got to be one of the best jobs around.
Why?
Because we get to make other families’ busy lives calmer and simpler, and we get to hear all the wonderful stories of our clients’ experiences with Disney!
That said, planning a Disney trip can be hard for the uninitiated – all the choices!
It’s totally overwhelming without help. We were talking with a friend recently who went to Disney with her family a few years ago. She said they had just an ok time. She was jealous of everyone who has such a great time at Disney.
What happened?
Well, her husband essentially won a trip for work. They did no planning or research and just showed up at Walt Disney World with room reservations and park tickets. Her husband had to work during the trip. She went with the kids from line to line. She just didn’t get the appeal. We explained to her the process we go through to plan a relaxing family Disney trip.
You could see a lightbulb come on for her.
Planning is the key…just read about my own first Disney experience in Dr. Strangedad…or how I learned to stop worrying and love Disney.
How do you get enough knowledge to really plan well?
How do we travel agents do it?
Disney gives us tons of great training. Both online and onsite. We travel there as much as we possibly can. We network with other agents, and ask each other tons of questions.
We read, and read, and read…
…official material from Disney, guide books, trip reviews, but also blogs.
Blogs?
Yes, Disney blogs.
While Disney operates quite a few blogs officially, the world of Disney blogging run by Disney fans really is endless. There are nearly as many choices of Disney blogs as there are things to do at Walt Disney World.
Which ones do we find the most helpful?
For great information, photos, and reviews, we go back to again and again to a group of fan-run blogs (fans, but some with Disney connections, not unlike our own).
Here are five we especially like, in no particular order.
The Disney Tourist Blog is run by a guy with a passion for Disney, a good sense of humor, and killer photography skills. His photos have a unique look and really are some of the best around.
His reviews are particularly helpful, as are his photography tips.
While I would not throw either me or Jenn in the category of foodie, the experience of food really is one of the things we love about Disney, and there are two Disney food blogs we turn to often:
First on the food front, is Disney Dining.
It’s a pretty comprehensive site that includes general information on Disney as well as just food.
We frequently consult their review…here’s a list of their thoughts on Epcot dining. But, like with all reviews, we like to include the proverbial grain of salt (all puns intended).
Second on the food front, is the Disney Food Blog.
It’s another one with great reviews and plenty of snapshots to give you some context. They also include an occasional recipe, like this one for soft pretzels from Epcot’s Germany Pavilion.
I’m also a fan of EasyWDW.com.
Why (and notice the change from “We” to “I”)?
They won my heart with their guide to Drinking Around the World in Epcot.
What, you ask, is Drinking Around the World?
Well, it’s a little journey you can take around the World Showcase in Epcot having a drink at stops along the way. Take my word for it…you’ll love it…and, check out our Disney Date Night thoughts.
Finally, as a dad, I really appreciate the Disney Daddy blog.
It’s from a dad’s persepctive, and I really enjoyed his post earlier this month on the D-day memorial in Bedford, VA.
What does the D-Day memorial have to do with Disney?
That’s exactly what I thought when I saw his post. Check out this shot from the Disney Daddy blog:
It seems that “Mickey Mouse” was used as a password by soldiers on D-Day, and the designers of the memorial included a large scale hidden Mickey as a tribute.
If you’re considering a Disney trip, check out a few of these sites and don’t hesitate to give us a call. We love planning Disney trips! It’s our goal to see every family enjoy a leisurely (and well-planned) trip to the happiest place on earth.
And always remember to:
Hi! I'm Jennifer Newsome and I own and operate Southern Girl Travel with some help from my husband, Mark, and our three kids. This shot was taken in beautiful 