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.

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!

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.

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.

As someone who's been visiting Disney World for more than a decade, I know that Epcot reigns supreme when it comes to dining.

The park offers both sit-down and quick-service dining options. Plus, there are four festivals every year, each of which brings new kiosks with special food and beverage offerings.

Here are my 10 favorite places to eat at Epcot.

There’s a new Halloween party in town and it’s happening at Universal Studios Orlando on select dates throughout the month of August. At Halloween Horror Nights’ Taste of Terror, HHN enthusiasts can taste their way through a preview of foods that will be on offer during the iconic Halloween event, which kicks off on September 1 and runs through November 4.

Keep reading for an inside look at this event, including our picks for the best food at Halloween Horror Nights 2023.

Booking tables at Disney restaurants well ahead of your trip is often essential to a smooth visit to Disneyland or Walt Disney World. After all, it's hard to eat dinner in Cinderella Castle or sip a mint julep at Blue Bayou without doing a bit of advance planning. But thanks to recent updates to both the Disney World and Disneyland apps and websites, it just got easier to make Disney dining reservations at all the parks.

I've been visiting Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival for a decade. This year, the festival features 25 "global marketplaces" — kiosks offering food and drinks inspired by cuisines around the world — as well as nightly concerts, themed merchandise, and fun scavenger hunts.

The event is included in normal Epcot admission, and since most menu items cost between $5 and $10, it's one of my favorite inexpensive ways to get the most bang for my buck at Disney World.

I'm a major Disney Parks fan who lives close to Walt Disney World Resort and writes about theme parks for a living. I'm also a mom who has been taking her kids to Disney for over a decade. This means when people I know — from family members to random Facebook acquaintances — plan a Disney World trip, they usually reach out to me for tips to make it run smoothly.

Often, they want to know whether Genie+ is worth the expense (it is) or how to get their most coveted dining reservations (use a third-party reservation-tracking website, such as Touringplans.com). I'm always happy to share these tips and more, but there's one piece of advice I always impart, unsolicited: Visit one Disney World theme park in the morning, return to your hotel for some pool time and a nap in the afternoon, and then go back to the parks in the evening.

In Orlando, theme park Halloween events get started way before the month of October. Arguably one of the scariest Halloween theme park events in the area, Universal Orlando’s 2023 Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) kicks off September 1 and runs on 48 select nights through November 4.

That’s a lot of time for jump scares and screaming, but for parents, it’s normal to wonder when a teenager is ready for this Orlando rite of passage.

How old should kids be before they visit HHN? Read on for how an expert says to know your teen can handle the Halloween event and the tips we’ve gathered throughout the years.

I'm a 42-year-old mother of two, and one of my favorite places to go when I need some time alone is Walt Disney World Resort. I visit the park regularly with my husband and teenagers, but there's something special to me about strolling through EPCOT's World Showcase alone or renting a pool cabana at a Disney hotel and spending the day reading. Even if I'm not inside a Disney theme park, it brings me joy to know I'm hanging out on Mickey's turf.

Moms are no strangers to the idea that self-care is important, but sometimes we question how far we're allowed to go with it. A face mask seems fine, for example, but judgment starts to creep in when we consider taking a couple of hours — or days — to ourselves to lounge by a pool. Barbara Greenberg, a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in families and adolescents, says this shouldn't be the case for a few reasons.

As a mom of two and a journalist who covers theme parks, my kids are no strangers to exploring theme parks together as a family. When my travels take me out of town during the work and school week, my family often stays behind. But recently, as I planned a three-day, weekday visit to Legoland Florida and Peppa Pig Theme Park, I was surprised when my 15-year-old son said he wanted to tag along.

Legoland Florida is designed for kids ages 2 to 12, and Peppa Pig Theme Park is for preschool-aged children, so I wondered if he'd actually enjoy himself. Still, I welcomed him along for the ride. If nothing else, I figured it would be a nice opportunity to spend some quality time alone together.

The San Francisco brewery scene is thriving with more than 30 craft breweries in the city, despite recent news about Anchor Brewing Company closing its doors.

Gail Ann Williams, a freelance beer writer and co-founder of beer and transit resource BeerByBART.com, says in some ways breweries in San Francisco are just beginning to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. As was the case when veteran San Francisco beer-makers Cameron McDonald and Jesse Hayter announced plans to resurrect Enterprise Brewing Co. in SF's SoMa district.

As a frequent Disney World visitor, there's nothing I dread more than the painful logistics of getting from point A to point B.

In 2017, I started traveling by Minnie Van, Disney's network of polka-dotted Lyft rideshares. It's not cheap, often averaging about $40 a ride, but for me, it's worth it.

Minnie Vans can be scheduled through the Lyft app and will transport guests to all Disney World resorts, theme parks, Disney Springs, and anywhere else across the property from 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. daily.

One of my favorite parts of traveling is planning my outfits for the trip, but any traveler knows shoes can take up lots of prime real estate in a suitcase. Whether I’m headed to Walt Disney World for the weekend with my family or flying to Europe, it’s always a struggle to pack light and be stylish. But recently, I discovered a white canvas sneaker that seemed perfect for both keeping my feet comfortable and matching lots of outfits.

The Kizik Irvine is a canvas sneaker with a springback heel that allows for slipping your foot in and out of the shoes without needing to tie and untie them. The shoes come in a variety of colors, from tan to navy blue, but for a recent 10-day trip to Europe, I wanted a white sneaker I could pair with everything from shorts and tanks to skirts and dresses. I’m already a fan of the athletic shoes Kizik makes, so it seemed like a no-brainer to put this casual canvas style to the test.

On a hot day at Walt Disney World, there's truly nothing better than taking a break from the crowds and excitement to find a seat in the shade and enjoy a Dole Whip. The delightful and delicious frozen treat has been a Disney Parks staple for nearly 40 years, but its roots go back to 1976, when Dole became the sponsor of Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland Park in California. Dole Pineapple Whip, as it was known back then, debuted at the Florida resort's Magic Kingdom Park in 1984 as a sweet treat sold at Aloha Isle.

Dole Whip arrived at Disneyland two years later and has since spread globally to the company's resorts, including to Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disney Resort and Aulani in Hawaii. In 2017, Dole Whip even hit the open seas, sailing aboard Disney Cruise Line.

The Texas State Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the state of Texas and one of the largest aquariums in the entire U.S. A visit here makes for a fun family day of learning about the sea creatures and wildlife who call this Corpus Christi aquarium home.

While the nonprofit organization is passionate about helping people learn about and engage with animals, the aquarium's biggest goal is to conserve wildlife in both the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea — as evidenced by its new addition, the Port of Corpus Christi Center for Wildlife Rescue, which opened in March 2023.

Disney World is known for its four theme parks, but the Central Florida property also offers two water parks — Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.

At Typhoon Lagoon, Disney World's tropical-themed water park, there are 11 water attractions ranging from waterslides to a wave pool. Typhoon Lagoon closes at 8 p.m. most days, but on select nights, it holds H2O Glow Nights, a special after-hours ticketed event that runs from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

At San Antonio Aquarium, guests can get up close and personal with sharks, reptiles, parakeets and other wildlife through interactive exhibits and educational programs. With thousands of species calling the aquarium in San Antonio home, the facility offers a wonderful day of fun and learning for visitors of all ages.

Located in the Leon Valley area, the locally-owned aquarium has been open since 2014 and offers additional programs beyond encounters with wildlife and aquatic animals. From photo opportunities with a mermaid to an iguana-themed bounce house, there's lots to see and do on a visit.