As an annual passholder and a journalist who covers theme parks, I spend a lot of time at Disney World.

My whole family used to have annual passes as well, but as my two teens have gotten older, they're not as excited about long days in theme parks.

Still, my husband and I love going together. I recently paid over $1,000 for us to spend a full day (from park-open to park-close) at Disney World.

My family has never cared much for chain restaurants, but in the past year, my husband and I have visited more with our teenagers.

By dining at steak houses such as Ruth's Chris and iconic breakfast spots including IHOP, we've learned to appreciate what chains have to offer, from reasonable prices to a consistent experience.

But we'd yet to try a Brazilian churrasco meal like the one offered at Fogo de Chão.

There are lots of ways for families to enjoy time at Walt Disney World Resort (WDW), from a day of splashing at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park to leaving the theme parks for character dining at a Disney resort hotel. We especially love the restaurants at Disney Springs for a memorable meal.

The key to any good family outing to Mickey’s house, however, is knowing the best way to park and get from point A to point B at WDW. And that’s why this guide to transportation at Walt Disney World is here for you!

If you view salads as rabbit food—just raw veggies tossed in a bowl with dressing as the only good thing about the mix—we have good news for you. A recipe trending on social media takes salad to the next level, it's full of flavor, has a warming element to slightly wilt tough greens, and it's so good you might actually start to crave it.

It’s an Appalachian staple that’s made its way to social media feeds everywhere: Killed lettuce videos have garnered more than two million views on TikTok and a recipe for the dish has been in the Allrecipes archives since 2011.

I love shopping at Aldi and Trader Joe's for my family's groceries.

Both chains carry unique specialty items, and the holidays always bring seasonal items that everyone in my house looks forward to.

Recently, I went to Aldi and Trader Joe's to compare each grocery store's seasonal and holiday offerings. I was surprised by which of the two felt more festive in early/mid-November.

Green-bean casserole is a nonnegotiable Thanksgiving side for me.

My go-to is the standard recipe made with canned green beans, condensed cream-of-mushroom soup, and French's fried onions.

But to make sure I'm not missing out on something better, I followed recipes from three celebrity chefs: Alton Brown, Ree Drummond, and Alex Guarnaschelli.

Like most food writers, I get really excited about discovering new food products that my family loves. And when those tasty treats also work in a variety of recipes in my kitchen, I consider that to be a major win. So when I started seeing all of the things people were using Great Value freeze-dried strawberry fruit crisps for on social media, I knew I had to pick up a bag on my next shopping trip to Walmart.

Missing the thrill of scoring those Amazon Prime Day deals? Luckily for us, the mega retailer has announced a new set of deals exclusive to Prime members just ahead of the holiday season. Amazon Prime Big Deal Days will run on October 10 and 11, and the event is perfect for Amazon lovers who need a savings fix between Prime Day and Black Friday. On these two days, expect deals on everything from electronics to clothing—and even hair growth products.

I'm a busy mom who tries to stick to a grocery budget, but I'm also a food writer who loves cooking with quality ingredients. Years ago, Walmart wasn't my go-to grocery shopping destination, but it's safe to say the mega-chain has really upped its grocery game as of late. From surprisingly high-quality, affordable items made for its Great Value brand to fresh meat and produce, the offerings in Walmart's grocery section have become my top pick for grocery shopping for my family of four.

My family visits theme parks all the time, and it’s no secret that standing in line for rides all day can be a sweltering summertime activity. And while we’re nearing the official start of fall, it’s still quite hot out in many parts of the country.

I’ll admit, I’ve always thought people who wore portable fans around their necks to beat the heat looked a little funny, but recently, one of my most trusted theme park friends arrived at our Walt Disney World dinner table wearing a HandFan portable fan. She raved that it had made her entire day at the park so much better, so I figured I’d give it a try.

For the third year in a row, the Ocala Food and Wine Festival is returning to the World Equestrian Center (WEC). The event, which features celebrity chefs, food, wine, and more, will be held from November 3 through 5, 2023, with options available to attend the entirety of the weekend or to visit only on Saturday for the “Taste of Ocala” expo.

And, since the WEC is home to the Equestrian Hotel as well, guests can make a weekend out of being immersed in the beautiful hotel and grounds while sipping and tasting their way through the festival.

Legoland Florida is always a creatively good time for families, but during spooky season, the theme park throws the ultimate Halloween party complete with Lego monsters, holiday Lego builds, shows, and more.

The Brick-or-Treat Presents Monster Party has a hard to say official name, but the Halloween fun is easy as can be!

Since it was founded in 2012, grocery delivery service Instacart has grown to provide shopping services to customers across the U.S. and Canada, employing more than 500,000 personal shoppers who scour stores to bring the products consumers need right to their door.

I’ve been using Instacart for more than five years, depending on its shoppers to bring me everything from my weekly groceries to Gatorade and cold medicine when I’m sick to printer toner when my printer has run out during the middle of a deadline. Instacart is fast and easy to use, albeit a little pricier than services like Walmart Plus. Still, there have been plenty of times I’ve found the service invaluable and more than a little worth it.

Everyone loves a good tumbler, but TikTok’s obsession with the 40-ounce Stanley Quencher just may be the greatest water bottle romance around. To date, more than 134 million users have viewed videos about the Quencher on TikTok, and hydration queens who rely on the cup to meet their water goals swear by its ability to keep water cold for more than 10 hours at a time.

It's been seven years since my husband and I chose to relocate our family from Maryland to Florida. It's a decision I've never regretted once, but living in the Sunshine State is very different from life in the Northeast.

Aside from the obvious things like no snow and exponentially more humidity, there's a different political vibe down South and a lot more Southern hospitality. Plus, Disney World is here, which makes me — a journalist who covers theme parks — very happy.

I first noticed people wearing Hey Dude slip-on shoes as I ran errands in my little Florida beach town. People wore the shoes — which come in a variety of colors, fabrics, and patterns — everywhere, from the beach to the grocery store. As someone who lives by the shore, my go-to daily uniform usually includes flip-flops or Birkenstocks, so I was curious about the shoes, which looked almost sneaker-like with a slip-on style.

Hey Dude styles range from sandals to platform sneakers, but I set my sights on the Wendy style, a convenient slip-on sneaker known for having a lightweight sole and laces that are purely decorative, with no need to tie. In addition to being a travel writer, I’m a busy mom, so the idea of slipping shoes on fast for kid drop-off or dog walks definitely intrigued me. Because I live in the Sunshine State and it’s warm year-round, I picked a gray linen style that was on sale for just $30 at Amazon.

I was eating breakfast at a hotel on a recent trip when I noticed a woman wearing a two-piece shorts outfit that I absolutely loved. I asked her where it was from and she was kind enough to share the Amazon link with me. At $33, I also loved the price, so I ordered one on the spot and added it to my summer travel wardrobe.

The Trendy Queen Womens Shorts Set is made of a breathable linen and rayon fabric and consists of a pair of high-waisted shorts and a sleeveless cropped tank. It comes in a ton of colors, from hot pink to lemon yellow, but I bought it in black to take with me on an upcoming vacation, knowing I could dress it up with statement earrings and wedges or toss on my Birkenstocks and go a bit more casual.

Walt Disney World puts on a lot of outstanding annual festivals and after-hours events, but Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is one that many families (mine included) look forward to every year.

At Disney World, Halloween is among the best times to visit and it's largely because of this fun after-hours event. During Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, the entirety of Magic Kingdom Park transforms into a spooky celebration where guests wear costumes and everyone can trick-or-treat throughout the park.

For the third year in a row, the Ocala Food and Wine Festival is returning to the World Equestrian Center (WEC). The event, which features celebrity chefs, food, wine, and more, will be held from November 3 through 5, 2023, with options available to attend the entirety of the weekend or to visit only on Saturday for the “Taste of Ocala” expo. And, since the WEC is home to the Equestrian Hotel as well, guests can make a weekend out of being immersed in the beautiful hotel and grounds while sipping and tasting their way through the festival.

The holidays at Walt Disney World Resort is the most magical time of the year in Orlando. But with holiday-themed treats, festive merchandise, pricey ticketed events like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and more, Christmas at Disney World can also be expensive. Add in the fact that the holidays are one of the busiest times of the year at Walt Disney World, and it’s easy to see why inexpensive and less crowded holiday activities should be on your family’s must-do list as well. We’re showing you how to conduct your own self-guided tour of Disney hotel Christmas decorations using the monorail.