Smoky Mountain Trip 2014

Last week we spent 4 days and 3 nights in the Great Smoky Mountains in eastern Tennessee. It's a place we've visited before, with kids and without kids. We like it both ways.

Our first dinner was at the Dixie Stampede. While you enjoy a meal eaten only with your hands, stunt riders put on a North-South themed show. It was so entertaining, I had to remind the kids to eat! The Princess loves horses, so she was enthralled with it. Even though it's a bit on the pricy side, we felt the experience was worth it just to see how much the kids enjoyed it. After the show, we got to see some of the show horses up close in the adjacent stable. Totally made the Princess' day!

We knew we wanted to go to Dollywood since we'd never been. We decided to get a package deal by staying in a Dollywood cabin (not at the actual park but in the general area) and purchasing a one-day park ticket. By staying in a Dollywood property, our one-day tickets became valid for our entire stay. Even though we didn't take advantage of it because we had other things to do, we thought that was a great perk. We did get preferred parking at Dollywood, though. You'd better believe we took advantage of that!

Our cabin was named Sky High. And believe me, it lived up to its name. We were at the tippy top of a mountain. And then the cabin itself kind of jutted off the side. Yeah, we were up there.

Here's a view from the top balcony of our cabin - a place where I spent NO time.

I've never been fond of heights, but this literally took my breath away. We were above the tree tops! Charles just laughed at me and asked me what I expected with a cabin called Sky High. Well, I didn't expect to be THAT high! So while I didn't enjoy the location all that much, the views were spectacular and the cabin itself was gorgeous.

This is the top floor loft. There was an air hockey table and a pool table to enjoy. Out on the balcony was a hot tub where Charles relaxed quite often. I would not have found it relaxing at all, so I enjoyed the indoor jacuzzi tub instead.

We've been to several amusement parks over the years, and we all agreed that Dollywood was our second favorite, right after Disney. The park was so clean and well-maintained. Also, the atmosphere was very family friendly. We loved the theming as well.

This was the perfect time of year to go. We walked onto every ride, waiting at times for the ride to come back through so we could get on. There were plenty of attractions for every age group and thrill level.

One of our favorite memories at Dollywood was having an old-time photo made. We had never done that before, so it was cute and fun.

On our last day, we spent some time in Gatlinburg, exploring the shops and playing indoor mini-golf. Everywhere you looked, you saw gorgeous fall decorations.

It was a wonderful vacation, but like every time we go away, we were happy to come home. Now getting back into our normal routine might be a little harder.

Disney with Kids - What to bring

Now that you've decided when you're going to Disney and where you're going to be staying, what should you bring with you from home (besides clothes, of course)? How much is too much?

Well, most of that will be determined by how you're getting to Disney. Are you driving (more space for stuff) or flying (less space for stuff)? Also, consider the age of your children. Will you need to pack a diaper bag, baby food, etc? Have you thought about each child carrying a fanny pack or small backpack? We let both children choose what kind of bag they wanted to carry. We felt like they should help carry their own stuff in the parks.

You can see all of our bags in this pic from 2009. The Princess and I carried purses that crossed our bodies, Mr. Lego loved his fanny pack, and Charles used a shoulder bag with a long strap he could adjust and wear across his body.

 Here's what each child carried:

Small flashlight - for dark rides that might scare them. Even though our kids didn't use them, they felt like they could if they needed to which greatly reduced their fear of dark rides. We found some on a string they could hang around their necks so they were accessible at all times.

Ear plugs - some rides are really, really loud. If your child is easily freaked out by a lot of noise, these are invaluable! We learned this the hard way. Definitely came in handy during the fireworks.

The Princess waiting in line for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (2007)

Rain poncho - we always buy ours in the camping section at Walmart or Target during the off season. Very, very cheap compared to what you'll have to pay in the parks if you're caught in a sudden rain shower. And it's Florida, so it's going to rain at some point during your stay.

The kids and I in the rose garden at Epcot during a little rain. Wearing a ball cap under the hood kept the rain off our faces/glasses.

 Small fan - this is invaluable when you're standing in a long line, even indoors where it might air-conditioned. Get dozens of people pressed together and it's going to get warm! In the above picture with our bags, you can see a portable fan around Mr. Lego's neck. We found those at Walmart years ago. And the Princess has a folding fan attached to her bag strap. I think she bought it in the Chinese pavilion at Epcot. And how did we attach it? Small carabiner clips!

Of course, Charles and I carried a bit more in our bags in addition to all of the above. We each had a bottle of water because although you can get a cup of free water at any counter service restaurant, Florida water has a funny taste. So we just took our own. Also, we took a camp towel that could easily fold up and was super absorbent. You'd be surprised how many rides you get on that have water in the seats. Even Pirates of the Caribbean can get damp. It's nice to wipe off the seat before we sit our booties down. If you can't find one in the camping section, look for a Sham-Wow or other microfiber cloth.

You are also going to want a small first-aid kit handy. I simply used a snack-size Ziploc bag to hold a few band-aids, some Tylenol and Tums, and antibiotic cream. It's so much easier to have with you than looking around for a first aid station if you have a small cut or scrape. Also, a purse-size bottle of hand sanitizer and wet wipes are a must for sticky little hands. And speaking of Ziploc bags, tuck a few small ones in your bag to hold cameras and cell phones on water rides.

Some extras that I took along in my bag:
A small notebook to jot down memories and funny things the kids said. You'd be surprised how many details you can forget by the end of the day!
A camera and extra batteries.
Snacks like granola bars and fruit roll-ups. Chocolate stuff, not so good.
Gum - gum is not sold anywhere in the parks, per Walt Disney's own preferences. He was trying to save his maintenance staff the trouble of cleaning it up. You can bring your own, but you're out of luck if you wait until you enter the parks.
Autograph books (for characters) and fat Sharpie pens - if your kids wait in line to meet the characters, they might want an autograph. Each character has his or her own distinctive signature. So if you see Aurora in the Magic Kingdom and ask for her autograph, then meet her at Epcot later and get another autograph, the signatures will be identical. Cool, huh? Just one way of keeping the magic alive for the kids. For characters in costume like Chip and Dale, or even Mickey, fat sharpies are easier for them to use than skinny pens. Something a Cast Member told us.

Princess Aurora signs a jewelry box for the Princess during our meal at Akershus in Epcot

 Sunscreen - Charles and I both carried travel-size bottles with us. Even though I applied it liberally before we even left our room, the kids often needed another application later in the day.

We also bought our own light-up necklaces to take. After dark in the parks, vendors are everywhere selling light-up jewelry and toys and asking an arm and leg for them! We made a pre-emptive strike and bought our own like these.
Yes, we had to pay shipping, but even with shipping it was cheaper! And our kids didn't feel like they were missing out because Mom and Dad wouldn't pay $7-10 for the ones Disney was selling. If you really want to save money, just buy glo-necklaces and bracelets at the Dollar Store or Walmart. For a buck, your child can light up the night, too!


Also, take along some pennies and quarters for penny presses. This website publishes current lists of all penny press locations. This was one of our favorite things to do. It's a cheap souvenir, too!

Okay, so you know what to take into the parks with you, but is there anything you need to remember for the resort room? Yes! Take a power strip. You will need to charge your cell phone or laptop or even your camera. And there will not be enough outlets, I can guarantee you that. We actually have a power cord we bought specifically for vacations. We pack it for every trip, not just Disney.  And take your chargers for your electronics, too. For things we use so much, they are the easiest things to forget!

Every resort has laundry facilities for guests. You have to use your room card to access them. But if you're planning to wash a load of laundry or two during your stay, take your own detergent and lots of quarters. Each load of laundry requires $2 to wash and $2 to dry. I took a laundry bag too, so I'd have a way to carry the clothes from the room to the laundry area. Even though it was pricey to wash and dry clothes there, it was nice not having suitcases full of dirty to clothes to wash when we got home.

When you're packing, always bring a second pair of comfortable shoes. If your shoes get wet from rain or water rides, they might not dry out overnight in your room. So keep a spare pair for each person. Nobody likes hiking around an amusement park with soggy feet. And don't wait until the week before you leave for your trip to break the shoes in. Buy them a couple of months in advance and wear them often. You don't want to wear brand new shoes as you walk 7-10 miles every day.

If you're staying in a moderate resort, you will have a mini-fridge in your room. It's so nice to be able to keep grapes and other fruit in it for snacking. We also stopped at a Walmart before we got to Orlando and purchased milk and orange juice to drink the mornings. Value resorts don't provide mini-fridges unless you request them, and it's on a first-come, first-serve basis.

One other packing tip - you will most likely be returning home with more than you took. You're going to find all kinds of souvenirs to take home. Keep that in mind as you're packing all of the above so you have some spare room in your suitcase or vehicle for your newly acquired Disney treasures.

So, are you ready to start packing?


See my other Disney with kids posts:
When to go
Where to stay
How old should they be

And here is my Top 10 Disney Tips post, not necessarily kid-related but helpful.

Linking this post up to Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family.

Disney with Kids - When to Go

Now that you know you want to take your kids to Disney, what time of year do you want to go? Well, here are some things you might want to consider.

First, if cost is a major factor for you, the off-season (non-holidays and non-summer) is definitely cheaper. Disney has several rate changes for different times if the year. Value season is the cheapest - January, February, August and September. Peak season, which is during most holidays and spring break, is the highest. The summer season is the next highest. Room prices can differ up to $40/night from value to peak season for values and moderates. You can save over $200 just by visiting during the off-seasons.

Check the Disney accommodations website and compare the rates to give you an idea of what different times of year will cost you. Prices will most likely increase in 2013 by $5 or $10 but it's a good place to start for comparisons.

Just a note - the above advice was obviously for those staying at a Disney resort. But most off-site resorts also offer cheaper rates during the slow season to attract more guests.

On an early February morning, we were cold!

Also, crowd levels might play a part in your decision of when to go. Obviously peak season is called peak season for a reason! The parks will be jammed with people seeking fun in the sun, especially during spring break! If you'd prefer not to deal with wall-to-wall people, consider the off-season times.

Here's some info from AllEars.Net about historic attendance levels to help you decide. Also, there are several special events throughout the year that will attract more visitors - Star Wars Weekend, marathons, concerts, and festivals to name a few. Check out Disney's special events calendar for more info. Just wanted to note that I've heard from several sources that the week between Christmas and New Year's is absolutely the most crowded week of the year.

The age of your children should also be taken into consideration. Are they old enough for school and do you want them to miss a few days or a week? Some teachers/schools are very understanding of family vacation time during the school year, others are not. Of course, we homeschool our children, so we use our Disney vacation as a great big field trip! And we can go any time of year.

Weather is a huge consideration, too. We've gone twice in February and had great weather both times. Of course, there were some chilly days, but the majority of the time was beautiful. It could just as easily be cold during that time of year. We joke that in February, you take your chances! We've also gone in October, and there were unseasonably high temperatures that week. So I guess you take your chances in October, too! We checked the Weather Channel's 10-day forecasts right up until the day we left to see what we might possibly have to deal with. And don't forget your rain ponchos. No matter what time of year it is, you will probably see a little rain. It's Florida, after all.

If you and your kids don't handle heat well, consider going in the late fall or even winter. If heat doesn't bother you, summer is perfect. Cause it WILL be hot! Our personal experience has been that it's easy to layer more clothing for cooler temperatures than to take clothes off in the heat. I mean, there's only so much you can take off before you get arrested! LOL. The Weather Channel has an average weather chart by month, so you can see what you might be in for.

Now, do you have a special occasion to celebrate? Disney World is the perfect place for a celebration! Plan your trip to include your special day, and Disney will make it even more special. For instance, both February trips coincided with Mr. Lego's birthday. He was given a birthday button to wear for the week, and nearly every Cast Member we came across wished him a happy birthday. He got special treats at several restaurants, too.

Mr. Lego got a birthday cupcake at the Liberty Tree Tavern, just one of many special treat

We celebrated our 11th anniversary at Disney in October 2009. We also were given lovely cupcakes at several restaurants. And at the Crystal Palace, we found a confetti heart waiting for us at our table! Cute, huh?

Special touches like this one make it worth going to Disney to celebrate a special occasion!

As much as we enjoy Disney during the less-crowded times of year, there are some downsides. Most attraction refurbishments take place during the off-season. In February, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, my favorite roller coaster, was closed for refurbishment. We also missed Dumbo, which was closed because it was being moved to another part of Fantasyland. It only makes sense for Disney to do this routine work while the crowds are lower, but it can be disappointing if you're counting on a certain attraction being open.

Working on the tracks of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Also, Disney hosts several national sports events during the off-season - cheerleading competitions, Pop Warner Superbowl, and the Disney Soccer Showcase. Accomodations might be hard to reserve during those times. Buses from the resorts will be crowded, too. Just a heads up, because we've been stuck waiting for buses with groups of 200 cheerleaders. Fun, fun, fun!

While crowds might be lower, don't go with the expectation that you'll walk onto every ride without a wait during the off-season. Popular attractions are still just as popular then as during peak seasons. Still, I think the longest we waited for a ride (Test Track) in February was 25 minutes, compared to an hour or longer during spring break. Toy Story Mania in Hollywood Studios always has an insane wait time, too, no matter what time of year you visit.

Our next trip is scheduled for the week after Thanksgiving in 2013. Historically, that week has very low crowds. Since the Christmas holidays are right around the corner, many people schedule their vacations for later in December instead of coming to Disney right after Thanksgiving. One of the things I'm looking forward to is seeing the parks decorated for Christmas!

Bottom line, no matter what time of year you choose to go with your kids, you WILL have fun! Just plan ahead and be prepared.

See my other posts on Disney with Kids:

How old should they be?
Where to stay?

And here's my Top 10 Disney tips post. These tips are general and not necessarily kid-related. But you might find some helpful info there.

Next Disney with Kids topic - What to bring for the parks

Disney with Kids - Where to Stay?

 Now that you've decided to take your kids to Disney World, where are you going to stay during your visit? Do you want to stay on-property in a Disney resort or off-property at a hotel or condo? This will depend on the size of your family, of course. I don't really have a lot of advice to offer on off-property locations, but check out this forum on the Disboards. You might be able to find some good info there.

 For our family of 4, it is much easier to stay on property. There are several advantages to staying at a Disney resort. Here are some:
1. Free transportation to and from the airport via the Magical Express
2. Free parking at all the parks
3. Free bus service to all the parks, as well as Downtown Disney
4. Charge to your room privileges - you don't have to carry lots of cash
5. Dining plan offers, sometimes even free dining
6. Free delivery of purchases in the parks to your resort gift shop - great if you don't want to haul around that giant Tigger all day!
7. Extra Magic hours - almost every day, at least one park opens earlier or stays open later for guests staying on Disney property

And of course, the biggest perk for us is just the Disney magic! The attention to detail keeps us coming back.

So now comes the hard part - which Disney resort is right for your family? For most of us, cost is usually the first consideration. But you might also want to consider what amenities you find desirable, what type of theming the resort has, and how large the rooms are. Here's a chart with room sizes in the various resorts to give you an idea of how much space you will have available.Think about how much time you want to spend in the room, too. You might not mind a smaller size if all your family is going to do is sleep there!

The Princess in our room at the Coronado Springs Resort in 2012

 Disney resorts are grouped into four categories - value, moderate, deluxe and deluxe villas. Cost is, of course, the main difference. As you go up the ladder in price, you also get more amenities. For example, each value resort has a pool or two. Some of the moderate resorts have a main pool with another "quiet" pool per building. Most moderates also have hot tubs and fitness clubs. Deluxe resorts offer closer proximities to the parks. The deluxe villas are just that, villas with one, two or three bedrooms, along with a kitchen or kitchenette.

By the way, every pool on Disney property is heated, so you can even take advantage of the pools in the cooler months. We had great fun this past February at our resort's pools!

To see descriptions, pictures and rates for the Disney resorts, visit Disney's accomodations page. You can see what the rooms and pools look like and get a feel for the amenities offered in each one. You can also check out the theming, which is different for each resort.

Where we've stayed

For our first two visits, we stayed at the All-Star Movies Resort. We requested the Toy Story building and got our request both times. Also both times we were close to the bus stop so we didn't have far to walk to hop a bus to the parks.

Mr. Lego in the Toy Story courtyard 2007

This resort was very kid-friendly. The theming was great and we enjoyed wandering around and exploring it. Because it was kid-friendly, it was also pretty noisy. If you're looking for peace and quiet, you might want to upgrade to a moderate. But for the price, it was great for our kids when they were smaller.

Also, the bus service to the resort was shared with two other All-Star resorts. So it was almost always crowded and there was nowhere to sit and wait for it.

On our last trip in February, we chose to stay at the Coronado Springs Resort. We chose a moderate because all the bed are queen-sized, while the value resorts only have double beds or one king per room. The theming for this resort was Southwestern, and it really felt like were were in Mexico or Arizona!

The Dig Site pool was amazing

We liked the bigger beds, quiet pools, hot tub and the relaxed atmosphere. But this resort was very spread out, so it took a bit to walk to the main building or the bus stop. Overall, though, the bus service was very good and we rarely waited longer than a few minutes.

I think from this point on, we will try to stay at moderates. With the kids getting older and bigger, the larger rooms and beds are a must. In fact, we're already planning our next trip for November 2013, and we're hoping to stay at Port Orleans Riverside. They have refurbished some rooms into Royal Guest Rooms complete with princess theme. Since the kids are getting older, we thought it might be our last chance to stay in a themed room without them feeling too childish.

If you have any questions about either resort we've stayed at, please ask. I'm no expert by any means, but I'll honestly share our experiences with you.


See my previous Disney with Kids - How old should they be? post

Next Disney with Kids topic - when should you go?

Disney with Kids - How old should they be?

A while back a reader asked me to give some tips on taking a trip to Disney with kids. So I've decided to break it down into a series of posts ranging from what age they should be when you take them to choosing a resort to learning opportunities for kids. I'll also share some travel tips as well. If you want to read my Top 10 Disney tips (which are more generic), click here.

So let's tackle our first topic. How old should your children be when you take them to Disney World?

The Princess was four and Mr. Lego was five, almost six on our first trip.

Well, it's really up to you. You know your child better than anyone. You know their abilities and limitations. But here are some considerations to keep in mind.

1. Is this a once-in-a-lifetime trip for your family? If it is, wait until all of      your children are old enough to remember the experience. Your children might be spread out in age, but be assured that Disney offers something for everyone of all ages. If you plan to take your family several times as they grow up, it can be fun watching them experience the magic of Disney at different ages. Here's a tip - I wish I'd thought of it before this year! Take a photo of your children in front of the same ride, statue or landmark every time you go. You can capture the changes and growth of each one through the years.

2. Do you want to push a stroller around all day? If your child is a toddler, chances are they're not going to be able to walk, walk, walk all day long. And since the average guest walks about 7-10 miles per day, your young child might not be able to keep up. Strollers can make for some tight manuevering through crowds. And they are not allowed in queue lines, so you have to park them outside the rides. If your wait time for a ride is 30 minutes, you're going to be standing in line either holding or holding on to your child. Also, if you aren't able to bring a folding stroller from home, you can rent one at the parks. But don't forget to budget that expense as you plan your trip. Click here for info on renting strollers at the parks.

3. How important it is that you ride the big attractions, like Space Mountain or Expedition Everest? There are height requirements for every ride, so your young children may not be able to ride everything with you. Oh, there are plenty of toddler-friendly rides like Dumbo and Peter Pan's Flight. But some guests feel they aren't getting their money's worth if they can't ride every single ride. Fortunately, there is a rider switch option for some of the bigger attractions that allows one parent to ride with the children who are old enough while one parent waits with those who can't. The waiting parent then switches with the parent who just rode without having to go to the back of the stand-by line. Just ask the Cast Member at the entrance to the ride for details. Click here to see descriptions and height requirements for all Disney attractions.

4. Are you willing to take breaks throughout the day? Some parents are commandos, meaning they won't stop for anything. But remember that a small child is used to taking naps throughout the day. That's not going to change simply because you're at Disney. Their little bodies still are going to need recharging. And don't forget that older children may need a break, too. Go back to your resort and take a swim, if the weather permits. Then head to the park again for the evening. Bottom line, taking small children to Disney requires flexibility.

Our Experience

We took our kids to Disney when the youngest was four. Here's why we waited.

1. We weren't sure if we'd ever have the opportunity to go back, so we wanted her to remember the trip. Four was the perfect age, as she was still young enough to think everything was magical. And she remembers it very clearly.

2. We didn't want to deal with the stroller issue. Outside every ride is a sea of strollers that you have to wade through to get to yours. So we felt like we'd be spending a lot of time unloading the kids for a ride, trying to find our stroller, then loading back up again. Also, on the Disney bus system, all strollers have to be folded up, so we thought it would be a hassle every time we got on or off a bus.

3. We wanted both kids to be able to ride as many things as possible if they wanted to. On that first trip, there were only a few things they weren't tall enough to ride. Disney enforces their height restrictions, so if your kids aren't tall enough, they're not riding even with you. If I recall, the only ride the children really wanted to go on but couldn't was Primeval Whirl in Animal Kingdom. After riding it myself, I could see why. The twists and turns on the ride really throw you around!

4. We didn't want to worry about diaper changing or potty accidents. By age four, my child could tell me when she had to go soon enough that we could find a restroom. Silly, maybe. But not something I wanted to deal with at Disney.

Please keep in mind, that these are OUR reasons for waiting. If you want to take children younger than that, you will get no criticism from me. You know your children and what they can handle. You also know you and what you can handle!

Now, here's a great video by the Wolf family. They clearly know how to have fun and not worry about what people think of them. And they're making fantastic family memories at the same time. Enjoy!