Kingdom Konsultant Travel Blog

Hey there, Disney Guys and Gals!      It's your pal, Tink, here, talking about one of my FAVORITE events at Disney, the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival! My family adores this festival, and many, many guests plan their whole vacation around being here to attend the event. With sample-size portions of drinks and eats for purchase, seminars, demonstrations, cookbook signings, and even live concerts, it's easy to fall in love with Food and Wine. But is it the type of thing your kids will be into?      There's really two ways to answer this. Firstly, let me say that the event IS child-friendly, in that kids are welcome to attend any of the events that are offered, (though, obviously, they can't consume alcohol). Luckily, my daughter, "D", is a kid who will try ANYTHING, so she really enjoys the  marketplace booths . Both of my kids LOVE the  Eat to the Beat Concerts ! It may be artists and songs they have never heard of, but both D a

So you’ve booked your Walt Disney World vacation, you’ve made your Fastpass+ selections, you’ve finally arrived to the park, and you’re walking up to the Tower of Terror when your kid says, “I don’t know if I want to ride…”  All the thoughts that are now going through your mind, not the least of which is, “I better not have wasted a Fastpass+!” 1. Don’t feel bad, when my kid said it, I silently called him a wuss. 2. Don’t fret. I personally think Disney World does a great job giving insight into what you will experience on the rides. Rock'n'Roller Coaster, one of the most thrilling attractions at WDW! Can you fully explain the drop on Tower of Tower to your kiddo?  No. But, you do have a great visual of the ride from the street below and you can hear the sounds of the people screaming on the ride. This unveiling is true with most of Disney’s “thrill” rides. Splash Mountain  For example,  Rock'n Roller Coaster allows you to view the launch while you still

Shipping a package to your Walt Disney World Resort prior to your arrival can save space and weight in your suitcase. You can save a lot of money on airline baggage fees too. I purchase things directly from websites like Amazon, Walmart, etc., and just ship them straight to the Resort. And, if you have Amazon Prime, the shipping is free! Amazon Prime Now is a fast and easy way to order a delivery once you arrive of food, toiletries, water bottles, wine, and beer.  You could also pack a box and ship it from the Post Office about 5-6 days before you travel. I use a large Priority Flat Rate Box from the Post Office.  Prices are subject to change so check your local Post Office for current pricing. Ideas of what to ship: Diapers and wipes Formula and non-glass jar baby food Snacks for the parks like granola bars, squeeze applesauce, candy that won't melt, fruit snacks, etc. Food for the room like breakfast bars, trail mix, peanuts, and your favorite coffee creamer  Extra

As travel agents, we often get asked, “is my child too young for Disney?”  I am here to say that there is no such thing!  I used to think that, but I am pretty sure that had more to do with me being selfish and wanting to ride the rides I like without slowing down for my children.  As we know, not all rides are created for tiny Mouseketeers, and I wanted the thrills.  I simply didn’t want to stop for “kiddie” rides. After I took a leap of faith and took my wee ones, I found that going to Disney with younger children completely changes the experience- in a good way!  Yes, we did slow down, but that only made me take notice of details and attractions I missed before and really come to appreciate them.  Slower rides and attractions can be super magical when you sit back, relax, and see them through the eyes of your child. With that being said, here are my personal picks for Disney’s best rides and attractions for little ones (and the grown up “kids” that are with them). Agent Heathe

My 1st Haircut Mickey Ears, and a mesh bag of hair clippings With children, Walt Disney World trips can be full of lots of "firsts"- such as the first time they meet Mickey, the first time Cinderella Castle comes into view around the corner, or the first time their head finally hits that height stick for the attraction they've anxiously been waiting to ride.  These are all great scrapbook-worthy moments that we can treasure for years to come.  You may not realize that there's another milestone you can celebrate in a magical way: their first haircut! Tucked away just off Main Street USA next to the Emporium is the Harmony Barber Shop.  This is a real working barber shop, and has become a traditional first-stop on our visits.  Whether you need a trim, a cut, or some pixie dust, they can send you off in style and ready for a fantastic vacation!  The Dapper Dans and other residents of Main Street have been known to stop by, making it an extra-special experience.

My five year old, Grant, is a VERY timid child.  He comes by this naturally, as I have a fear of all things tall and fast!  After having success in Walt Disney World with Grant on both attractions and meeting characters, I wanted to share some tips with others who might also have little ones with big fears. Preparation: There is a lot you can do to get your kiddos ready for all that awaits them on a Disney vacation, here are my two biggest tips. YouTube videos:  These are AMAZING tools.  Sit down with your child a few times before your trip and watch 'ride through' videos of the rides you are interested in on YouTube.  These videos got Grant so excited about riding the Disney rides, and tipped me off as to what he was most interested in (boat rides).  There is a ride through video for most every ride. Meet non-Disney characters:  Go to a local sporting event (or other location that applies) if you can and get some face time with the mascots.  This should give you a good

No longer Princess obsessed, but not ready for cocktails at Trader Sam’s…What is there for teens and tweens at Walt Disney World?  Plenty!  As a matter of fact, the past vacation with my 14 and 12 year old daughters was one of my most favorite to date.  Our vacations have a different vibe than they did when we were searching out Tinker Bell for an autograph and making dining reservations at Cinderella’s Royal Table, but that doesn’t mean the MAGIC is gone.  There’s plenty more magic to discover as my kids grow into teenagers.  Here’s a list of things my daughters enjoy that may have a place in your future Walt Disney World vacation! EPCOT Shopping Checking out the shops in World Showcase used to mean moans and groans from the kids.  Now they’ve discovered really cool things, shopping in World Showcase has joined our must do list.  Japan has really cool Hello Kitty, Domo and Nintendo themed gifts.  Travel further back into the shop and watch the oysters being opened and made into j

We all know that Disney parks are for "the young and young at heart".   Walt Disney's vision was to create a place where both adults and children could enjoy spending time together.  But is there such a thing as "too young"?  Many parents wonder how long they should wait until their children are the perfect age for their first Disney trip.  I'm going to let you in on a little secret- there is no magic number!  The perfect age for kids is whatever age they are right now.  From babies to teenagers, children of all ages can enjoy the magic. One common argument against taking little ones: " They won't remember it anyway. " While this may be true, the parents, siblings, and anyone else who comes along definitely will- and the memories they make will be priceless!  As you read this, moms in Disney Parks around the globe are tearing up at the excitement and joy on their babe's face as they meet Mickey Mouse.   Not to mention the o