Visiting a Walt Disney World theme park is no longer as simple as purchasing a park ticket and showing up at the gate of whichever park at the Orlando complex you feel like visiting that day. Since Disney World fully reopened after closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the resort has had a reservation system in place that's made visiting require even more forethought than ever. And, although there have been slight tweaks to the system of Disney World reservations since they were implemented in 2020, the resort shows no indication that it will stop requiring them any time soon.

The first time my family sailed aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship, my kids were 8 and 10. Nearly five years later, we've taken several Disney cruises as a family. But when my husband and I recently started discussing a Disney cruise to Europe, my now 13- and 15-year-olds were totally uninterested. They both had plans and commitments that fell during the seven-night trip and asked to stay at home, leaving us questioning whether we should take a Disney cruise without our kids.

There’s just one time of year where “snow” fills the streets of Walt Disney World (WDW), Mickey Mouse parades through Magic Kingdom with a troop of toy soldiers, and singers fill EPCOT with holiday carols recited by candlelight. The holidays and Christmas at WDW are truly among the merriest times to visit, but there’s a lot of extra festive details for parents to know about.

Whatever way your family celebrates during the holiday season, visiting Walt Disney World for some holiday cheer is a special perk of Orlando.

Read on for everything you need to know about visiting Walt Disney World during the holidays and Christmas.

While their reputations are dwarfed by theme parks like Magic Kingdom and Epcot, the Disney World water parks are among the best places in Orlando to splash and cool off. Typhoon Lagoon, a tropical paradise-themed water park on the resort's sprawling property, is definitely worth visiting on a long Disney World vacation. Along with its attractions and wave pool, Typhoon Lagoon is home to solid food and beverage options and a fun late-night dance party. Plus, Mount Mayday and its teetering ship is one of the coolest park icons Disney has ever created.

A staple of Orlando fine dining has returned. Chef Norman Van Aken’s Norman’s, formerly located at the Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes, closed in 2019, but has reopened in a new location as stunning as its menu. This romantic restaurant in Orlando marks the return of modern cuisine in an elevated atmosphere. Come with us as we explore this new space, share menu highlights, and even get to interview Chef Norman Van Aken himself.

Located in the Dellagio Town Center in Dr. Phillips, Norman’s is helmed by Van Aken, a James Beard semi-finalist and the only Florida chef to be inducted into James Beard’s list of “Who’s Who in American Food and Beverage.”

There's much to anticipate about a cruise vacation that leaves from the Galveston cruise port. But while you're packing your favorite swimsuit and dreaming of sipping a fruity drink in a tropical port of call, it's also a good idea to plan how you'll navigate Galveston cruise parking.

Cruises out of Galveston leave from the Port of Galveston, which has its own official parking. But when it comes to Galveston cruises, many other options exist as well. Whether you're considering taking a ride-booking service, parking in a third-party lot or paying to park at the port, there are options for parking during cruises from Galveston that will work for every budget.

I've held an annual pass at Disney World for the last seven years and visit several times a month with friends, family, and sometimes even solo.

No matter how often I visit the parks, I never feel like I'm experiencing the same thing repeatedly, probably because I'm constantly stumbling upon events and experiences I never knew existed. One such unique experience, Sangria University, takes place at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort.

On a recent visit with my in-laws, I noticed my father-in-law and I were wearing the same shoes. “Are those Kiziks?” I asked him. “Yes,” he replied, “they’re my airport shoes.”

I knew exactly what he meant. Since purchasing not one, but two, pairs of Kizik sneakers a few months before, I had become obsessed with the ease of slipping them on and off without bending down, tying, and untying them. The sneakers, which cost a little over $100 on average, come in tons of different styles and colors — from pink athletic shoes to white canvas sneakers — and have become my go-to for everything from travel to theme parks to Target runs.

Entering your 40s is full of empowering perks, from being more confident in your own skin to truly learning which friends are the ones you want to invest your energy in. But aging is not without its struggles. As a busy 43-year-old mom, I find my skincare routine becoming increasingly focused on evening out my skin tone, keeping my face moisturized to the max, and avoiding things like under eye circles or fine lines.

As the days get sunnier and the weather warms up, more and more skirts and shorts are finding their way into our daily outfits. Whether you’re a busy mom throwing on the perfect white tee for a playdate or a traveler looking for a white tank to match all the skirts you’ve packed in your suitcase, the classic white top is a wardrobe staple that seems simple but can be tough to choose.

Orlando is known for its theme parks, which makes the city a popular destination for kids who are critically ill and their families. But when kids with life-limiting diagnoses visit Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando, where do they stay?

Enter Give Kids the World Village (GKTW), an 89-acre non-profit resort in Kissimmee that provides wish vacations for critically ill kids and their families. When a sick child wishes for a Central Florida vacation, GKTW springs into action, hosting the family free of charge for one week while they visit destinations like Disney, SeaWorld, and more.

There’s no shortage of restaurants at Sparkman Wharf. Still, only one sits nestled in a prime spot on the corner of Channelside and Garrison, beckoning passersby to sit and have a margarita on one of its breezy patios. In fact, there’s never been a time of day when I walk past Jotoro and don’t feel a wistful moment of wishing I could abandon all other plans, grab an outdoor seat, and order a paloma and some Street Corn Chicken Nachos. It’s a “hip-hop meets mariachi” and “sequins mix with sandals” vibe, according to the Jotoro website, and I couldn’t agree more.

Crossbody belt bags are having a moment right now, so when I realized I had multiple trips planned where air travel was involved, I decided to buy one to make navigating the airport a bit easier. As a mom of two who often takes my kids along on trips, I know all too well the importance of having my hands free to help someone roll their suitcase or open their water bottle, so the fanny pack trend seemed to be a fad made just for me.

With amazing places to swim, theme parks to visit, and family-friendly activities to participate in, Orlando has no shortage of ways to keep kids entertained. But on those hot, Florida sunny days, it can be incredibly relaxing (and fun!) to visit pools at Orlando area hotels and resorts with your children. Enter ResortPass, an online booking service that allows you to purchase a day pass for Orlando area pools without having to stay overnight at the hotel that maintains them.

Through ResortPass, parents can book both a day pass to use a resort’s pool facilities and a private cabana, perfect for relaxing and grabbing lunch while the kids wear themselves out. Spend the day enjoying splash pads, swimming in kiddie pools, and jumping on water slides.

Whether you’re a local or visiting, Orlando is full of places to cool off. No matter the time of year there are plenty of places for swimming in Orlando, especially with kids. From whimsical water parks to natural springs and everything in between, there are many ways to make a splash. And with our guide to the best places to take your kids to go swimming, you might just impress your kids.

If you are coming to Orlando, or you’re a local looking for a staycation, scope out these Orlando Hotels with Water Parks, Orlando Water Parks, and other swimming destinations in Orlando.

Most people know that taking a trip to Disneyland requires a bit of planning ahead. There are dining reservations to make, parade and show times to research and character meet-and-greets to map out — not to mention the decision of whether or not to opt for Disney Genie Plus to ostensibly remove some of that planning fatigue (at a cost, of course). But one of the decisions Disneyland guests are faced with from the moment they decide to buy passes is whether or not Disneyland Park Hopper tickets are worth it.

If Shula's is pricer than you'd like to have on your Swan and Dolphin crawl, then consider Rosa Mexicano. With appetizers like guacamole made tableside and Camarones Diablos — crispy, spicy shrimp cooled down with avocado ranch — and a bar menu made up of beer, wine and 101 different types of tequila, mezcal and sotol (another distilled spirit made from the agave plant), Rosa is a great spot to grab a bar seat and share some snacks and cocktails.

I took horseback riding lessons in elementary school for about two weeks. I stopped going because the horses made me more than a little nervous. Years later, my husband attempted to take me on a romantic horseback ride through the West Virginia mountains. It did not end well. So when I learned that a few hours from my home, in Ocala, Fla., there was a fully horse-themed hotel located on the grounds of a giant equestrian sporting venue, I wondered: Could spending a weekend immersed in the horse girl life at The Equestrian make me less nervous about horses?

Move over, fondue, there's a new cheese in town and it comes with its own grill. Raclette, a cheese made to be melted and scraped over food, hails from countries like France and Switzerland and has a slightly pungent aroma and a salty, slightly nutty flavor. It gives a melted Swiss vibe in its appearance, and has a flavor similar to Gruyere.

I had no idea what to expect when I packed my bag for a day at Silver Dollar City (SDC), a theme park located in the Ozark Mountain Region of Branson, Mo. Before walking through the park gates, I knew only a few things: the park is set in the 1880s, it's known for its food — like barbecue and cinnamon bread — and a friend who had previously visited described the overall experience as a "fever dream" ... in the best possible way.