Sweet Nothings

We considered other options for our combined 10th anniversary-slash-Becky's birthday trip, we really did. Cities we've loved like NYC or Vegas, or maybe someplace new and exciting! But we wanted, nay deserved, a proper large holiday, and would've felt guilty about abandoning our daughter for that long. Given those criteria, Disney was the only viable option. Almost certainly... All Star Movies We chose another cruise/parks combo like last August, this time starting on the boat. That meant a safety-first buffer day at this value resort, a new one for us. The three All Stars (there's also Music and Sport) are the cheapest Disney-owned hotels, with basically the same layout as our beloved Pop Century but minus the game-changing Skyliner.  The case for these value resorts is obvious. Yes, the facilities are cheap and basic, but the bold, sledgehammer theming is great for kids and leaves you in no doubt that you're in the Disney bubble. The comparative subtlety of modera...

Ironically, it actually was freezing that evening. Stupid unseasonal weather. There are many ways to do Disney. Back in 2007 I had a fantastic holiday in the Orlando area with (or should I say in spite of) an ex and her friends, but we stayed in a villa a few miles away in Kissimmee and failed to execute any kind of forward planning. This time, my beautiful new wife and I splashed out to stay in the Beach Club, one of Disney's own huge array of resorts (it being our honeymoon and all) and we... okay, she planned everything down to the last detail. If 'Strictly Regimented Fun' isn't Disney's motto then it should be. The exhaustive and exhausting Unofficial Disney Guide book contains hundreds of pages of info on every possible aspect of your trip to the Greater Orlando area. This book. Dining plans. Fastpass plus. Touring plans. Early entry. Extra magic hours. All these are your weapons in the war against Disney queues and fully booked attractions. Beach Cl...