Walt Disney World vacation with kids

Here's a great article on preparing for a Walt Disney World vacation with kids:

In December, my parents announced that they were taking my family to Disney World in October. It would be my kids first trip to Disney. My oldest was 8 at the time and the twins were 6. They were excited but they really did not understand what to expect. They kept making comparisons to Six Flags which seemed silly but what could they compare it to? Not much compares to the Disney World experience so it was time to introduce them to all to the Disney magic.

First, I went onto the Walt Disney World vacation planning site and selected customized maps. Here I chose all of my favorite attractions to be highlighted on the maps. I made one for each park - the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Disney will send you the set of customized maps once every 6 months. Of course, having three kids I needed three sets. So, I repeated this at my parent's house and at my in-laws. A couple of weeks later all three sets arrived and I was ready to give them to the kids. The maps are beautiful - written on thick parchment paper they resemble old fashioned treasure maps. The kids went wild over them. They each sat down pouring over the maps and asking what each of the rides were that I had marked. Also included was a map of the whole Disney World complex. They were finally beginning to comprehend how big the whole place was.

I had also ordered from the Disney World website a current Disney World Vacation Planning DVD. As a family, we all sat down to watch it. And not for the vacation planning information - that was done already. But now the kids could put the pictures and sights to the names they had seen on the maps. Certain parts were watched a couple of times and now they were really starting to feel the magic and the excitement.

Next, I bought Birnbaum's Walt Disney World for Kids - basically a travel book aimed at kids for them to read. I started by reading aloud from it before bed to all three kids. They really liked all the descriptions of the rides. It rated them by fun factors and scariness and gave any height restrictions. Soon, my oldest took over the book reading it every night before bed. He even did a book report for school on it. By the time we left for vacation, he had everything he wanted to see memorized. (He still won't give up that book.)

As the summer progressed, I dug out all the old Disney cds that I had played for them when they were little. We would listen to them in the car and the kids would have to guess which movie the song was from and who was singing. It was a great way to get familiar with all the classic characters. We also started re-watching all the Disney movies. My oldest is still disappointed that I can't find a copy of Song of the South to watch.

The last thing I did was order matching Disney t-shirts for everybody. The kids had heard all about the Disney trip that my extended family had taken when I was in high school. 20 people all wearing the same red shirts. This time I found matching Mickey & Minnie Mouse t-shirts for everyone. Armed with autograph books, pens, maps and all that information in their heads they were ready to meet Mickey Mouse. And I knew all the prep time was worth it, when we walked on to Main Street for the first time and R.J. said, "Lets go left to Adventure Land."

This article is ia a feature on Chip & Company. Your source for Disney News and Views.

Experience the best of the Walt Disney World® Resort at the Regal Sun Resort. As an Official Walt Disney World® hotel, located directly across the street from Downtown Disney in Lake Buena Vista, we specialize in family-friendly amenities, impressive facilities, and uncompromising fun and service. Click here for discount hotel deals in the Walt Disney World Resort.

A Feast of New Tastes for the Epcot Food & Wine Festival

A FEAST OF NEW TASTES Guests at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival can taste new foods and sip wines from more than 25 countries and regions around the globe including Mexico, Peru, Turkey, Ireland, Greece, New Zealand and India.

Walt Disney World guests can sip great wines, savor new tastes and enjoy live entertainment all day long as the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival celebrates 15 years of Delicious Discoveries Oct. 1-Nov. 14, 2010.
The six-week outdoor festival at Disney’s Epcot theme park serves up authentic cuisine; wine, beer and spirits; entertainment; and cultural exhibits of more than 25 international regions. Exotic marketplaces from South Korea to Belgium offer exciting taste treats. The festival is the largest food and wine event of its kind in the world, beginning at the Festival Welcome Center in Future World and fanning around the promenade encircling World Showcase Lagoon. Click Here for entire Article.


Experience the best of the Walt Disney World® Resort at the Regal Sun Resort. As an Official Walt Disney World® hotel, located directly across the street from Downtown Disney in Lake Buena Vista, we specialize in family-friendly amenities, impressive facilities, and uncompromising fun and service. Click here for discount hotel deals in the Walt Disney World Resort.

Regal Sun Resort located in the Walt Disney World Resort

Become a fan of the hotel on Facebook in order to receive the updates on this deal and the magical things happening in Walt Disney World® and around the hotel.

Experience the best of the Walt Disney World® Resort at the Regal Sun Resort. As an Official Walt Disney World® hotel, located directly across the street from Downtown Disney in Lake Buena Vista, we specialize in family-friendly amenities, impressive facilities, and uncompromising fun and service. Click here for discount hotel deals in the Walt Disney World Resort.

Watch ESPN? Invest in Disney

Disney is not just Mickey and Minnie Mouse anymore. The Walt Disney Company is the largest entertainment company in the entire world. Disney owns Disney Studios, Parks and Resorts, Media Networks and Consumer Products. Disney makes money on just about everything including films, clothing, toys and music. One of Disney's most significant holdings is ESPN Incorporated. Disney owns 80% of ESPN Inc. and it is one of the largest profit drivers for the media company. Ad revenue at ESPN was up 31% during the most recent quarter.

Every sports fan knows all about ESPN's Sportscenter. ESPN is the must-see channel for sports fan that want to see college football, professional football, major league baseball, golf, soccer, auto racing, little league games and high school sports.

For the entire Sports Portfolio Investing article, click here:


Experience the best of the Walt Disney World® Resort at the Regal Sun Resort. As an Official Walt Disney World® hotel, located directly across the street from Downtown Disney in Lake Buena Vista, we specialize in family-friendly amenities, impressive facilities, and uncompromising fun and service. Click here for discount hotel deals in the Walt Disney World Resort.

Walt Disney World Hotel Specials!!!!

The Regal Sun Resort will soon be launching a Fall Sale that’s definitely magical! Not only will it have a fantastic room rate associated to the sale but also some additional perks for booking the deal. To receive the deal you have to be signed up to the newsletter… which can be done through the website www.RegalSunResort.com. Sign up as soon as possible because the deal will only be e-mailed once and will only be available to book for 7 days!!!

Become a fan of the hotel on Facebook also (www.facebook.com/theRegalSunResort) in order to receive the updates on this deal and the magical things happening in Walt Disney World® and around the hotel.

Experience the best of the Walt Disney World® Resort at the Regal Sun Resort. As an Official Walt Disney World® hotel, located directly across the street from Downtown Disney in Lake Buena Vista, we specialize in family-friendly amenities, impressive facilities, and uncompromising fun and service.

Wonderful Attractions Surround Our Official Walt Disney World® Hotel

Make the magic come to life at the Regal Sun Resort. A fantastic choice among Official Walt Disney World® Hotels, we offer exceptional comfort and service - at a magical value. Let the complimentary shuttle whisk you off to your favorite Theme Park. Or entertain your kids with a Disney Character breakfast. Searching for the best Disney World® Hotel? Choose the Regal Sun Resort accommodations, ideally situated close to world-famous Disney parks. Click here for discount tickets to the Walt Disney World Theme Parks.



Experience the best of the Walt Disney World® Resort at the Regal Sun Resort. As an Official Walt Disney World® hotel, located directly across the street from Downtown Disney in Lake Buena Vista, we specialize in family-friendly amenities, impressive facilities, and uncompromising fun and service. Click here for discount hotel deals in the Walt Disney World Resort.

Festival of the Masters -- Special Event at Downtown Disney

The 35th Festival of the Masters presented by Sharpie® is a vibrant open-air art festival in the Downtown Disney area. Featuring nearly 150 award-winning artists, discover why this world-renowned show is a much-anticipated annual event for Guests, artists, collectors and art lovers.


Showcasing one-of-a-kind and limited edition painting, photography, sculpture, jewelry and more, this prestigious show is ranked among the country's finest outdoor art festivals. There's a lot more to enjoy, too, like amazing chalk art, live music, specialty foods and family-friendly activities.

November 12 through 14, 2010; complimentary event.

Magic Radiates Around Our Spectacular Orlando Hotel Deals
Discover the magic of saving money while vacationing at our Official Walt Disney World® hotel – Regal Sun Resort . You will find Orlando hotel packages to suit everyone, from families to business travelers. Enjoy our recreation complex and free shuttle service to all the Disney Theme Parks. Spend time at the exciting Downtown Disney® Area, directly across the street. The opportunities are endless at our beautiful accommodations. Find the Orlando hotel deal that's right for you.

Click here for discount hotel deals in the Walt Disney World Resort.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

Here is a first look at the 2010 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween (MNSSH) map and schedule for the seasonal parties that begin tonight at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.

http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disney-news/theme-parks/2010-mickeys-scary-halloween-party-map-schedule/

Experience the best of the Walt Disney World® Resort at the Regal Sun Resort. As an Official Walt Disney World® hotel, located directly across the street from Downtown Disney in Lake Buena Vista, we specialize in family-friendly amenities, impressive facilities, and uncompromising fun and service. Click here for discount hotel deals in the Walt Disney World Resort

Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights 2010

Experience Halloween Horror Nights® XX: Twenty Years of Fear, only at Universal Orlando® Resort. On select nights in September and October, Universal Studios Florida® theme park is transformed into the nation’s premier annual Halloween event. During this 20th anniversary edition Universal takes terror to a whole new level. You'll venture into a nightmarish maze of all new haunted houses, electrifying scare zones, and outrageous live entertainment including the ever popular Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure.

Halloween Horror Nights annually draws hundreds of thousands of horror fans from around the globe to this one-of-a-kind event. Tony Timpone, Editor of Fangoria Magazine, said, "After visiting scream parks all across the U.S. for the last 20 years, I can easily say that Universal's is the best in the business… Halloween Horror Nights is the ultimate Halloween experience."

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort is a separately ticketed event. This year’s event nights are September 24, 25 & 30; October 1-3, 7-10, 14-17, 20-24, 27-31. Visit the Official Website of HHN 2010, click here.

Experience the best of the Walt Disney World® Resort at the Regal Sun Resort. As an Official Walt Disney World® hotel, located directly across the street from Downtown Disney in Lake Buena Vista, we specialize in family-friendly amenities, impressive facilities, and uncompromising fun and service. Click here for discount hotel deals in the Walt Disney World Resort.

Walt Disney World Hotel Discounts

Magic Radiates Around Our Spectacular Orlando Hotel Deals
Discover the magic of saving money while vacationing at our Official Walt Disney World® hotel – Regal Sun Resort . You will find Orlando hotel packages to suit everyone, from families to business travelers. Enjoy our recreation complex and free shuttle service to all the Disney Theme Parks. Spend time at the exciting Downtown Disney® Area, directly across the street. The opportunities are endless at our beautiful accommodations. Find the Orlando hotel deal that's right for you! For Walt Disney World Hotel Discount, click here.


Experience the best of the Walt Disney World® Resort at the Regal Sun Resort. As an Official Walt Disney World® hotel, located directly across the street from Downtown Disney in Lake Buena Vista, we specialize in family-friendly amenities, impressive facilities, and uncompromising fun and service. Click here for discount hotel deals in the Walt Disney World Resort.

Walt Disney World Presents 15th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival opens Oct. 1 with the theme, “Celebrating 15 Years of Delicious Discoveries.” But don’t get the impression that means the fest merely will be a six-week stroll down a culinary memory lane.

Rather, the 15th annual festival Oct. 1-Nov. 14 will combine the familiar with sipping-and-nibbling adventures to places yet unexplored. To Belgium. To South Korea. To charcuterie and cheese. To an event where the main course is a “sweet tooth’s” dream. To signature dining adventures where they’ve never been before. To music concerts by artists who’ve never stepped onto the America Gardens Theatre stage before.

Even before the first pour of the festival, “new” will be the word of the day during the first-ever First Bites Opening Reception on Sept. 30, the eve of the festival opening. There’ll be epicurean samplings from some of the festival’s 27 International Marketplaces, Wine Seminars, Culinary Demonstrations, merchandise locations, celebrities and entertainment – a true sneak peek of the festival during an upscale, reservation-only evening in the Festival Welcome Center.

Read more: Walt Disney World Presents 15th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

Experience the best of the Walt Disney World® Resort at the Regal Sun Resort. As an Official Walt Disney World® hotel, located directly across the street from Downtown Disney in Lake Buena Vista, we specialize in family-friendly amenities, impressive facilities, and uncompromising fun and service. Click here for discount hotel deals in the Walt Disney World Resort.