Travel Tips & Tricks Archives - Page 5 of 5

Walt Disney World Planning vs. Disneyland

May 22, 2016 by Danielle

If you follow me regularly, you know how much my family LOVES Disney – it’s our home-away-from-home! But while we’ve been to Disneyland many, many times, I’m planning my very first visit to Walt Disney World in Orlando for this October. I never knew that Walt Disney World Planning vs. Disneyland, but it is! Here’s some important things to keep in mind when planning your first Walt Disney World vacation. This post contains affiliate links.

To book your trip to Walt Disney World, Disneyland OR Universal, be sure to swing by Get Away Today for the best prices! Use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper for $10 off your vacation package.

I’m receiving an extreme discount from Michael’s VIP Tours to try out there service so I can share my experience with you. As always, I’ll only provide my 100% honest opinion and personal experience.

Most photos in the post courtesy of Three Different Directions

#1: Dining Reservations 180 Days in Advance

If you’re staying at a Disney-run hotel, you can make your dining reservations up to 180 days in advance. For popular, fill-up-quick places like Be Our Guest restaurant or Cinderella’s Royal Table, this is something you need to take advantage of. Not only that – once it’s 180 days from your check-in date, you can reserve all the days you’re booked to be there (up to 10 days, I believe)! So consider where you want to eat ahead of time, then when that 180 day mark hits book them in order of popularity (do the ones that are likely to book faster first) not chronological.

Except for things like Goofy’s Kitchen or Blue Bayou, our family hasn’t worried about dining reservations at Disneyland. Yes, we’ve had once or twice where we couldn’t eat where we wanted just by walking up, but rarely, especially if we were willing to wait 15-ish minutes. From what I can tell, reservations are highly recommended at WDW – especially because of the dining plan many people use.

#2: Park Hopping isn’t as Easy

At Disneyland, while it does still take time to hop between the main park and California Adventure, it’s not awful and we do it most days. What I’ve learned about WDW though – the parks aren’t walking distance to each other! Yes, there’s transportation you can take, but from what people have said plan on 1-2 hours going between parks. WHAT?! I’m happy sticking with one park, in that case. Another thought, maybe, is that you could do one park all day, but if there’s another one right by your hotel and it’s still open when you’re heading back anyway, that’s not exactly an extra trip.

#3: Fast Pass vs. Fast Pass+

Y’all, I’m still pretty darn confused by the whole fast pass thing at WDW. Now at Disneyland, you do the paper tickets, which you don’t book ahead of time. You just go up to the fast pass systems at the ride you want, use your park ticket, and it prints your fast pass to use at the designated time. It even tells you what time you’re able to get another fast pass.

At WDW, I guess, you can schedule your fast passes up to 60 days in advance (if staying at a Disney hotel) or 30 days (if staying somewhere else). Then it’s a certain amount you can schedule, and different ‘tiers/levels’ of ride that you can choose between…..I’m so lost! Luckily I’ve got Michaels’ VIP Tour company helping me out – read about them below 🙂

#4: Weather

It’s Orlando, not Anaheim, so of course the weather is going to be different. My trip to WDW is in October, and have been told to expect rain probably every single afternoon. It’s just the norm there! At Disneyland, over all the visits we’ve made (usually October/November and March/April times) it’s only rained a handful of times, and never like a hard downpour. You also need to keep in mind hurricane season – so when you’re doing your Walt Disney World planning, take a peak at weather for that time of year and be prepared.

#5: The Size

You know that WDW is much, MUCH larger than Disneyland. It has four big parks (not including the two water parks), Disneyland has two. Each park has special events, parades, fire works or whatnot as well as the rides, places to see and eat, etc. It adds up to a LOT more walking, and needing a lot more time to see everything you may want to. While you COULD do Disneyland/California Adventure in two days, we usually do 5-6 so we can take our time and ride our favorites many times. For WDW, I don’t see any way you could fit a half-decent visit to each park into 2 days, much less see even a portion. It needs more time for the parks, events, travelling between, and be prepared for a TON of walking.

Yes, Walt Disney World Planning is different than Disneyland – although it does make it a bit exciting as I prepare to experience WDW for the first time! I’d be a lot more stressed about it if I didn’t have some help though….

Michael’s’ VIP Tours

I admit, I was a little leary at first when discussing using a tour company to help with my vacation, then have a private guide assisting us throughout the parks. Now that we’ve been talking for a couple months now and they’ve helped me tackle things such as the dining reservations (yes, I’m past the 180 day mark!) I don’t think I’ll ever do a Disney (or Orlando/Anaheim – they do more than just Disney!) vacation without them!

What They Do/Are:

Help you plan your vacation – this can be helping with dining reservations, booking hotel, getting tickets, handling fast passes, etc. They’re very knowledgeable so can give excellent feedback or suggestions.
During the time you schedule them at the parks (minimum 6 consecutive hours) they help guide you through the best rides, shows and dining you want to do. They help you make a great plan to minimize wait times, while remaining flexible so you have the most enjoyable vacation possible.
They help arrange transportation you may need during the ride to ensure you get to where you need to be on time with little-to-no stress

Keep in mind that they’re a company outside of Disney, so they can’t take you to the front of the line on every ride or get you impossibly booked reservations – they’re not magicians 😀 But they ARE experienced enough to know when to be where to make things go smoothly and quickly.

I asked my friend Adam there what he’d like you to know about the company:

“We were the first private guided tour company in central Florida, starting operations in 1999. Founded by our owner, Michael Hewell, who was a former Disney cast member and in the original class of their Private Hosts as well. We offer minimized wait times at attractions throughout our guest’s experiences in the parks. Never more than 15 minutes, typically much less! Beyond the immense amounts of fun and efficiency we offer in the parks we custom-tailor itineraries to meet each individual guest’s needs for their time in Orlando. Transportation, reservations, open communication, and friendly advice all are a part of the process before arrival based on preferences. We offer concierge service to central Florida as well as private guided service inside the theme parks. We just want our clients to have a great time while they’re in town!”

Like I said, we’ve been speaking for a couple of months about my vacation this October, and they’ve been FANTASTIC! I can’t wait to see how great and invaluable they are DURING the trip – I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes!

Now go out and plan your next Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation!

5 Things You NEED to Know Before Taking Kids to NYC

April 5, 2016 by Danielle

I always wanted to take my kids to New York City, but wasn’t sure how they’d do. Since I got the chance to find out in February with my 3 boys, I learned quite a bit – including 5 Things You NEED to Know Before Taking Kids to NYC. I learned the hard way on some of these, so make your New York City trip with kids easier and listen up.

Although I’d been to NYC once before by myself, it was a whole new experience with my young kids. We went for the awesome Swiffer event, but had plenty of free time to do plenty of great things – see my list of Things to Do with Kids in NYC in Winter. We had a GREAT trip, but there were definitely some things I wished I’d prepared for ahead of time!

#1: Kids under 12 DON’T need a Subway ticket

That’s right – I paid for THREE little boys, a whole week unlimited pass since we were doing lots and couldn’t walk as much – so that’s roughly $100 down the drain. On our LAST DAY, a kind lady with a kid in tow saw us scanning their cards to go through the turnstiles and said ‘Did you know that if they’re under 12, you don’t need to pay for a pass for them?’ My reply was a dumb, blank stare then….’oh, thank you for letting me know – that’ll be great to know next time.’ Yup, probably the best tip for kids on a NYC trip!

#2: Their Feet WILL Hurt

Even with taking the subway as much as we could (despite it being really gross, crowded and a bit terrifying) there’s still SO MUCH walking you have to do in New York. I made sure they had good shoes, but their poor little feet ached so badly. My Thor, who walks mostly on his toes, was full-on bawling by the end of each day. At the end of the trip, he couldn’t even walk through the airport because his feet were way past their limit. Strollers would be nice – except for the subway. This is probably the biggest reason I don’t plan to take my young kids to NYC anytime soon, unless there’s something extra special going on. When they’re older, we’ll try again.

#3: Find Places to Get Their Wiggles out

Even though walking is an active thing, it’s not free and playful – especially in the crowded streets. Find places they can run, play and just be crazy for a bit. The Central Park Zoo was great for this, as well as the M&M Store (my boys danced in front of everyone for 10 full minutes at this store – everyone loved it!) At the zoo, they had a ‘children’s zoo’ area with a climbing spider web, feeding goats, climbing on ‘tadpoles’ and more. It was just the free play my boys were desperately needing.

#4: Have a Partial Plan for Food

There’s endless dining options in NYC, but many of those aren’t great for kids. Try to plan ahead on not only what area you’ll be in so you know what’s nearby, but also if the atmosphere will be relaxed for your kiddos. We LOVED Max Brenner’s Chocolate Bar restaurant, and they were great with the kiddos! Another reason to plan ahead is prices – some are just WAY higher priced than most people would pay for kids who don’t eat much anyway. You ALSO need to have an idea of the menu, so you know your kids will actually eat something. One sandwich shop was so weird, not even my sister and I enjoyed the bread, much less the kids.

#5: Research Hotels for Kids

We were lucky that we stayed at a pretty nice hotel that was also great for the kids. A lot of hotels are more ‘adult’ focused, for meetings and business and such – so going with some noisy, energy-filled kids will just add stress to everyone. Find someplace CLEAN, SAFE and that will be patient with the added little ones.

Any tips YOU would add to this list?

Things to do with Kids in NYC in Winter

February 23, 2016 by Danielle

As many of you already know, my 3 boys and I went on a trip to New York City this month. I’ll admit, I was super nervous to not only be in the Big Apple with my young, active boys, but it was also winter so I had no idea what we could do! Luckily, there were many fun things to do with kids in NYC in winter – here’s some of the favorites we were able to fit in during our short stay!

Yes, this is the same trip, thanks to Swiffer, where I met Sarah Michelle Gellar. Thank heavens they also let me bring along my sister Skye – there’s no way I could’ve done all these fun things with the kiddos by myself! We had roughly 3 days there, and filled them to the brim. I will say this – my poor boys’ feet were killing them by the end, so prepare them for lots of walking.

#1: Max Brenner Chocolate Bar restaurant – Hot Cocoa

Our first night, we decided to beat the NYC winter cold by grabbing some delish hot cocoa (and yummy food) at Max Brenner Chocolate Bar restaurant. It’s my new favorite – and they even had really fun items and presentation for the kids!

#2: Museum of Natural History

There’s no shortage of museums in NYC, but we chose to visit the Museum of Natural History because of the dinosaurs and animal exhibits. Right when you enter the museum you’re welcomed by tall skeletons of dinos, making it super easy to get the boys excited.

They also have rotating/temporary exhibits, and when we went one option was a butterfly walk-through!

We were there for several hours, but didn’t make it to every floor – there’s so much to see!

When they’re older I definitely want to take them back for more learning – like in the space area explaining the scale of things. Little too old for the kids right now 🙂

#3A: Times Square – M&M World

If you can make it to Time Square, I recommend hitting up M&M World – it’s THREE FLOORS of fun stuff! We even got to meet ‘Mr. Blue’, send Grandpa a photo of a firefighter M&M, and the boys rocked out to the music for a LONG while.

I admit, I could’ve spent a FORTUNE in this store – especially with their extensive line of Star Wars things! I let the boys each pick something – we got an Orange M&M hat, Miss Green (because he loves green) and Mr. Blue stuffed M&MS.

#3B: Times Square – Hershey’s Chocolate World

Also in Time Square is Hershey’s Chocolate World – but I admit it was a major disappointment after the M&M place. One floor, several fun items to buy but not really anything interactive like the other place. As we were leaving I noticed a back area where you could fill a bucket with your choice mix of favorite Hershey’s treats – which would be a great souvenir! We did grab a ‘make your own chocolate bar’ kit from there and made those at the hotel after dinner, which was fun.

I highly recommend doing the Time Square stuff during the day with kids because 1. it’s lighter so you can see them better, 2. it’s less crowded and 3. it’s probably less scary during daylight. Plus fun photos!

#4: The Creative Kitchen – check for events

During our Swiffer event, we got to hang out with Cricket, founder of The Creative Kitchen – she was such a blast with the kids! She said they have parties, events and other things often, so check their website to see if there’s anything going on while you’re there.

#5: Central Park Zoo

I had no idea how fun this zoo would be – it was probably the FAVORITE thing we did! The kids really enjoyed looking at all of the animals, including penguins…

We chose to also do the 4-D movie with Scrat form Ice Age. It snows, you get a tiny bit sprayed on, and the kids laughed the whole time. There’s also a ‘children’s area’ of the zoo where things are up close and personal for them. There’s a space for them to climb on a ‘spider web’, climb in turtle ‘shells’ and even feed goats. Perfect for getting their wiggles out!

Another great thing about Central Park Zoo is the beautiful scenery – there’s still green around! We got some fantastic photos – thanks Skye!

The entire zoo day was fabulous – but the absolute CAN NOT MISS part was the Sea Lion show! The trainers interact, train and inspect their 2 sea lions, and you’re right there close to the edge so even the little kids don’t miss anything.

The kids couldn’t get enough of the tricks and sounds of these adorable sea lions. They wouldn’t leave the zoo at the end of the day without telling them ‘goodbye’!

Travelling anywhere with kids can be a nightmare if they’re hungry – so be sure to swing by for lunch or a snack at the Dancing Crane Cafe. Prices weren’t outrageous – about $8 for a kids meal and $8-$13 for an adult meal. Skye and I grabbed their ‘season cups’. It cost a tiny bit more than a large drink, and you get free refills in them the whole day!

I couldn’t get enough of my cute boys!

Another fun building at the zoo is the bird house – you go in WITH the birds! They’re flying and walking around, so you can get right up close. At first the boys weren’t sure what to think, then they thought it was awesome. Just be warned – there’s birds above and around you – you might get pooped on. We didn’t, thank goodness, but I was worried!

Again, the children’s area was perfect for letting the kids work out some energy (and warm up their little bodies in the winter cold)!

#6: Dylan’s Candy Bar

Since we had a bit of time before heading to the airport Friday morning, we took the subway to Dylan’s Candy Bar for some last minute fun and shopping. It kept the kids from driving us crazy at the hotel until we left! Both floors of this candy store were full of treats and fun candy-themed products. The giant lollipop tree was a great welcome as you came in. Even the lit-up stairs were decorated with candies!

You know my love of chocolate – so I had a hard time not buying a ridiculous amount of stuff here! But I couldn’t say no to a couple of their special candy bars….I even got a White Chocolate one for Nerd Dad (hubby)!

There’s plenty of New York themed items to nab as a souvenir for someone back home, too – and again, the Star Wars section caught our attention!

Not really interactive things like M&M World, but still lots to look at and the kids really enjoyed it.

We had a FANTASTIC time in New York City! Although I’m not sure I’d take my kids there just for a random vacation until they’re older (mostly because of the subway and walking stress) but we did have a really fun time, and it’s great to know there’s so many things for kids to do in NYC during winter!

Disneyland Just for Kids? Think Again!

December 11, 2015 by Nikki Cole

Is Disneyland just for kids? You may have heard that all around, but think again!

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Is Disneyland just a vacation spot to take kids? My husband and I had the great opportunity of visiting Disneyland and California Adventures in October and we think it was the best vacation we have taken in the four years of being married. So think again if you think Disneyland is just for kids.

We absolutely loved this vacation because there was so much we could do but also nothing we had to do. The rides we went on, the treats, shows, characters all of it was exciting and fun and brought us closer as a couple while we enjoyed each other’s company through the parks.

What can you do there that is so amazing?

Rides (uh duh!)
Hidden Mickeys
Pressed Pennies
Food
Characters
Parades
World of color
Fireworks
Mad hatter’s Tea Party

Some rides may not be as enjoyable if you are prone to motion sickness like the Californian Screamin’.It is a very fast paced and intense roller coaster with many drops and a big loop-de-loop that gives you and upside down view of Paradise Pier. If you like more mellow rides try Peter Pan, Splash Mountain, Snow White, or Pirates of the Caribbean. One of my personal favorites is Toy Story’s Midway Mania which is a 3-D style arcade shooter game breaking plates and popping balloons. My husband and I have competitions on Midway Mania to see who will win and the winner either picks the next ride or the loser has to buy treats. Yes I ended up losing quite a few of the games but it was worth the fun we had together. If you’re looking for some tips or pointers to make your trip more enjoyable try getting fast passes for rides with long lines, download mouse waits or the Disneyland app to check wait times and hit the ones with shorter wait times. No fast pass and you really want to go on it? Find some games on your phone to play together or get a hidden mickey book.

Hidden Mickeys are all over both of the parks! In several stores there is a book you can get that goes through all of the hidden Mickey’s throughout the parks. Some are difficult to spot and some are so easy you’ll wonder why you didn’t see it before. This is great while you’re waiting in line. Check the book and get ready to see the Mickey’s in the lines and on the rides. The book isn’t very expensive and we found that it was less expensive in the park rather than online at Amazon or Ebay.

Another fun activity to do is trying to collect the parks souvenir pressed pennies. I included the paper that my husband and I followed showed us where they were all located. While we looked for the machines, we went into shops and locations that we never knew existed. At several of the shops there were souvenir books to keep all your pressed coins nice and neat. It was about $9 and again don’t buy it online were we found them for $30! So don’t waste your money and just wait until you get to the park.

Food! Ok who doesn’t love food? Well for those of you that aren’t rich (like us) here are some tips on not breaking the bank on food. First, bring a bag with a water bottle that you can keep filling at water fountains throughout the day. Second, don’t be afraid of leaving the park to get food. Just outside of Disneyland in a very short walking distance there are several restaurants that will fill you up and not empty your wallet. We ate at Denny’s multiple times during our stay. We loved how we could sit down, relax in a cool place on a hot day and order some really great food and not stress about the bill. The service we got there was great and we ended up eating just two main meals and little snacks in between rides that we took into the park ourselves.

Now that I said leave the park for food, there are a few things that are worth the little extra money because the memories you and your partner will get from them are priceless. Turkey legs! Yes I am serious, a huge turkey leg. Now these are a little expensive so we shared one together, trust me they’re massive and one can easily feed two people. So grab one, get a bench and attempt to eat somewhat politely a turkey leg. My husband and I were a mess after but it was so fun eating it, oh and don’t use a fork, have some fun just eating it without utensils.

Churros are another great treat you should get at least once. We stayed late in the parks several of the nights we were there, a Churro made a perfect late night snack. Another fun treat to get right before the night time shows are ice cream sundaes. There are several ice cream stores that offer a variety of Disney themed novelties. My favorite was a Mickey Mouse shaped sundae that we got at one of the several carts throughout the parks.

Character dining is a great way to meet Disney’s beloved characters instead of waiting in often long lines to meet your favorite characters. This provides great entertainment and great food for all meals of the day. Both Story tellers Café and Goofy’s Kitchen offer a buffet and a meet-n-greet where the characters walk around and come say hi.

The nightly entertainment with parades, shows, firework are often crowed but are they worth it? Absolutely! I love my husband so much and us being there and watching incredible shows was magical. The Paint the night parade followed by the Disneyland Forever fireworks was my absolute favorite thing we did. By far the best parade and fireworks we have ever seen. The fireworks were breathtaking over the incredible castle and made for a perfect night to spend with my best friend.

World of Color is also another very cool show that had images projected on water, with fire, music, and lots color. The light up Mickey Mouse ears actually sync with the show to give it a little more added color. The Mad T Party was another show that involved a live band, dancers, and performers the played a variety of well-known songs.

Disneyland is one of my favorite places to go and all the memories and amazing times we had was magical and will live with us forever. So grab your partner and head to Disneyland because it’s not just for kids it is for anyone and everyone of all ages.

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Our Disneyland Rental House

November 5, 2015 by Danielle

I’m already missing our fantastic trip to California last month, and wishing we were to the point of planning another – like NOW! So much fun was had, and a large part of why was Our Disneyland Rental House. Plenty of space for 19 people, lots for the kids AND adults to do, conveniences like washing machines and extra towels, plus a huge resort pool made this a truly magical vacation!

Now, Dea (the owner) has FANTASTIC photos of the house right here on the booking site – much better than my own photos! I wanted to really show it from my own personal experience, though, so am only using my own pics. Seriously, if you’re planning a Disney vacation, or just any Anahiem-area trip you will LOVE this home! Let’s start by looking at the bedrooms – there are EIGHT! Here’s the Cars room, with 5 twin mattresses, plenty of toys, it’s own TV and a little Mater play area. You can also follow the listing link to see available dates, and see the nightly rate for the dates you’re considering going.

Again, please excuse the mess because we were on VACATION, meaning we let the kids play more than clean sometimes! There’s also a Princess-themed room that are girls truly enjoyed, also with 5 twin mattresses….

Those are both upstairs, along with this master bedroom that hubby and I slept in. It wasn’t huge, but the bed was plenty and the closet was just what we needed. No TV in this one, which I didn’t mind in the least.

One of my sisters, being 19 and not married, was thrilled she got a room for herself – and it wasn’t all ‘kiddie’! (not that she’d mind, of course). No TV, but a really fun Hollywood theme for her!

The other ‘adult’ room upstairs is HUGE, with it’s own en-suite bathroom and open area with sofa. This was perfect for my adopted sis and her hubby, along with their two in playards/cribs.

There’s a hall bathroom upstairs, as well – pretty basic, and I will say the shower head was super low making it a bit ‘eh’, but completely fine overall with plenty of cabinet space, and a stool for the kiddos.

Here’s the view from inside the front door AND top of the stairs looking to the front door – so you get an idea of the layout a little, and see the nice open foyer.

Downstairs there’s 2 more bedrooms – this one does not have a bathroom en-suite….

….this one does.

There’s also a hall bathroom downstairs, but I didn’t get a picture – sorry! When you first walk in the front door, to the right is a media room that houses plenty of sofa space, a lounge chair PLUS a daybed (so could be used as a bedroom – just no ‘closing doors’). The video selection was excellent, plus games and gaming systems!

To the LEFT just inside the front door is the garage – which has been turned into an awesome game room with Foosball table, pool table, and couches.

Since it came out the day before our trip, we HAD to have an Age of Ultron family movie night! Luckily straight inside the front door is the giant family room, with a huge and VERY comfy sofa, table, and even more chairs with rolling ottomans! Lots of quality time was spent here – as well as working time!

The kitchen wasn’t enormous, but plenty big for a few of us to maneuver around cooking meals. The dining room table could fit the vast majority of us (we had 19, if you include the babies) and highchairs.

They also have a computer with internet (and wireless), as well as a printer. They make sure that the 2 linen closets are fully stocked with towels (downstairs) and linens (upstairs). Plenty for everyone!

And we had no problem doing laundry with the TWO sets of washer and dryers!

Now, how dare I mention a RESORT STYLE POOL without lots of pictures, right? I got a few when we weren’t using it….

…but you really can’t tell the size without people actually inside so….

The lazy river has plenty of room to float around in, and they have water shoes you can wear to protect your feet. There’s also LOTS of water toys and floaties! The floatie jacket/life vest type things you see our younger kids wearing in the pictures were ones WE brought, though, not provided by the house.

See, it’s HUGE! We spent many, many hours in there – even took a day off of Disneyland/Legoland so we could fit in plenty of pool time. The kids were on the slide constantly, and the adults enjoyed it just as much as the kids! There’s also a nice hot tub to the side, which was great for evening relaxing.

I love that the pool area was safely fenced off, especially since we had SO MANY kids with us!

There’s a nice little table/seating area just outside the kitchen (fenced off from the pool, so no worries about the kids) and an adorable playhouse! I don’t know how I didn’t get pics of that – but go look at Dea’s on the site.

The neighborhood is very quiet, with nighttime ordinances, so don’t plan to go here and make lots of noise at night! We easily parked our 4 vehicles out front (including our Kia Sedona we got to try out!). We all loved the decorative touches, like the fabulous chandelier in the foyer that I wish I could find somewhere!

Dea, the house owner, was fabulous with responding to questions or concerns we had. She even set out the CUTEST welcoming gift for our family!

The kids are already asking to go back to this house on our next trip! The girls had plenty of room to do their homework while in their princess room.

We added our own ‘fun’ while we were there – creating these cute door markers for the bedroom doors! Yes, we’re a tad dorky, but we love it!

So here’s what you need to do now – go HERE and reserve your dates for this truly amazing house, then head to Get Away Today to set up your magical Disney (or Legoland, or Sea World – whatever!) vacation! Use Promo Code: BustMomsHelper for $10 off your vacation package. You’ll love it – just like we did!!!

Thanks so much to Dea for the fantastic vacation we had – can’t wait to stay here again!

Why I Want a Kia Sedona

November 2, 2015 by Danielle

I received a Kia Sedona to use for about a week to facilitate this review. All opinions are mine alone.

I love our current van, I really do – we’ve had it for 6 years now and it’s been fantastic. I even told hubby I didn’t care to ever switch until we absolutely had to because I was perfectly happy with it. After we tried out this other one on our recent vacation, though, there’s so many reasons Why I Want a Kia Sedona instead!

I’ll be honest – the first day I absolutely hated it! I wasn’t use to the many features, since the van I’m use to doesn’t really have ANYTHING special (as I now realize). After I got use to what different things were for, I realized how great it was to have all the bells and whistles! First of all, there’s the dash system – here’s a shot of the navigation/map along with the SiriusXM radio. You can adjust the layout and view on here, this is what we liked best. See the purple arrow there? It’s pointing to a spot where it will show you the speed limit of the road you’re on! LOVED THAT! It doesn’t show here because, obviously, I was parked in a driveway – no pictures while driving, of course!

I especially miss having the speed limit and map feature after our current move to a new area – it would help a ton as I’m getting use to the roads and what their speed limits are! When you put it in reverse, your dash screen looks like this….

….with the great cameras showing your surroundings! This was especially helpful in parking lots, or the Disney parking garage with lots of vehicles and people! Another thing I found really helpful and important were these spots on the side view mirrors….

…that little area where you see the vehicles, it lights up if someone is coming on the side of you. Perfect for avoiding going into a lane that’s already occupied! It also clearly lets you know which doors are still open….

Some other good things are the easily accessible (and multiple) USB ports and such. The ones I clearly saw were, as follows in the photo….top: head of front console, middle: inside the roll-out center of front console and bottom: rear of front console for the middle row to access.

That makes charging phones or tablets so much easier! And don’t you hate getting dings on your side view mirrors while you’re parked? When you lock the Kia Sedona, they actually FOLD IN! So handy – plus it’ll help you know when your car is locked or not 😉

There’s also the built-in window screens, which were a huge hit with our kiddos – especially since it was in the 90s and 100s during our trip! Don’t forget cup holders, of course – they seemed just big enough for most sizes, and not TOO big that things would tip and spill – at least not easily.

As for space – plenty of leg room, and it’s all adjustable forward-back which makes it perfect for different family sizes and ages. The head rests were really adjustable, too, which made it nice as we were driving a lot – and made it more comfortable when they’d fall asleep in the van driving back to our house rental after a long day at Disneyland.

As for driving, it was so smooth that now when I drive my own van, it seems really loud and shaky 🙁

What I Did NOT Like About the Kia Sedona

Honestly, once we got use to the features (because at first they drove me nutty) there’s only really one thing I really didn’t like – okay, I hated – about the Kia Sedona……the tiny gap between the middle seats!

It was such a tight fit – and I’m not a very wide person. My 19-year-old sister road in the back seat with the kids a lot during the trip, and she’s TINY! Yet she had a hard time fitting through this small spot. But honestly – that’s about the ONLY drawback to this van, so I call it a WIN! The kids all really loved it, too – so even though we do like our own van, we’re talking about switching sooner rather than ‘when we absolutely have to’, and the Kia Sedona is at the top of our list right now!

10 tips for holiday travel with kids

October 23, 2015 by Keri Houchin

The holiday season is coming up fast. Chances are that your family will be traveling to visit extended family sometime in November of December. Traveling with kids can be stressful, but planning can make all the difference. These 10 tips for holiday travel with kids are practical and simple.

Hello Busy Mom’s Helper readers! It’s Keri from One Mama’s Daily Drama and today I want to share some really simple travel tips. My in-laws live about 300 miles from my home and it usually takes us about 5 or 6 hours along winding rural roads to get to their house.

Although we don’t travel as much now that my kids are older (ironically), when they were babies and toddlers, we made that drive almost every month. How did I keep from going crazy?

I made a few small plans that had a big effect. I want to share them with you so that when you are traveling with the kids for Thanksgiving or Christmas (or any time, really), it can be pleasant for everyone involved no matter how far you are going.

Plan for stops on the road.

Kids have tiny bladders and the rocking of the car doesn’t help. Expect to stop every hour or two (depending on how old your kids are) for a bathroom break. If you check the route ahead of time, you can plan to stop at the cleanest rest stops instead of funky gas stations.

Consider your child’s nap schedule.

The rocking of the vehicle can lull a cranky baby to sleep. If possible, plan to drive during nap time. This way, when you arrive at grandma’s house, baby will be ready to wake up and play and hopefully her sleep schedule won’t be off too much.

Make lists and delegate responsibilities.

If you are not an uber-organized person, keeping track of everything you need for the trip can be a chore. Make a list for each person’s suitcase and let the kids pack themselves if they are old enough. You’ll also want a list of gifts, car essentials, and a few emergency items.

Bring plenty of snacks.

When kids (and adults) get bored, they also get hungry. Pack easy travel friendly snacks that don’t need refrigeration, like granola bars, pretzels, and dried fruit.

Pack some new entertainment.

Fun car activities don’t have to be expensive – or even cost. Before each trip, I print off several free coloring pages and puzzles. What makes them interesting is that they are new.

Borrow an audio book from the library.

Christmas carols on a CD will get old pretty quick. Instead, pick up an audio book from your local library for free. Find something that will be interesting to kids and adults. We like classics like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the Bunnicula series.

Spread out the fun.

If you give the kids all of the snacks and entertainment at the beginning of the trip, they will be bored in 20 minutes. Instead, make sticky notes with times on them and stick them near the clock. When each special moment arrives, hand out a new coloring page or snack.

Give your child a map.

In an age where technology is everything, the simplicity of a paper map is magical. Trace the route you will be following and highlight a few landmarks that your child can look for. It will help with the inevitable “are we there yet?”

Plan for emergencies.

Nobody wants to think about the dangers of traveling, but it’s important to be prepared. If it will be cold, make sure you have the essential emergency supplies. Check the air in the tires and pack a spare. Let others know when to expect you so that if you are very late, they can take appropriate action.

Don’t stress too much.

Sometimes this is easier said than done. It’s important to remember the reason for your trip: to visit loved ones. The holidays are a joyful time when we get to visit the people we love and don’t see as often. If you need to make a few extra stops, they will understand if you arrive a little late. If you forget to pack something, you can almost always find an alternative.

Which one of these tips for holiday travel with kids do you think would help your family?

My New Favorite Gadget for Kids

October 22, 2015 by Danielle

I received a free VTech® Kidizoom® Action Cam to facilitate this review. All opinions and ideas are mine alone.

I’m a blogger (obviously), so my kids often see me with a camera, whether it’s my DSLR or my phone. They like to get in on the action, and have shown a major interest in photographing and recording their own adventures, creations and life. So I was THRILLED to try out this new product hitting shelves, and it turned out to be My New Favorite Gadget for Kids! And guess what? You have TWO chances to win one for your family!

Contains affiliate links that support this blog at no extra cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.

Although I occasionally let them use my gear, it’s hesitantly and with great supervision because I don’t want it broken or damaged. Luckily, the new VTech®Kidizoom® Action Cam is child-friendly and withstands drops and bumps. You can even have your choice of yellow/black or purple colors to match your kids’ personality! It’s even eligible for Prime shipping on Amazon!

Our recent vacation to California seemed the perfect opportunity to test it out, including it’s waterproof case for underwater adventures, mounting accessories for bikes and scooters, and a wrist strap. They had a blast with it – and I really enjoyed going through all of their images and videos. It did take an initial ‘lesson’ to get them use to the buttons, and teaching them NOT to keep their finger in front of the lens, but after that they were on their own!

One thing they never really got when they used my stuff was their freedom – entirely what THEY wanted to photograph, from their own perspective. At our rental house pool, they did a lot of close-ups for the beach toys – which makes me realize how big certain things must seem to them compared to us. They also REALLY like to get close to people!

The quality of the pictures, even with the waterproof casing, was actually really great! Our kids from age 4 on up to the bigger girls all loved taking turns with it, and plan to make scrapbooks of their own footage from our trip.

While walking Downtown Disney, they captured a lot of what most interested them – and it turned out it was things I hadn’t really noticed myself! We also let them use it during the new Paint the Night Parade at Disneyland, and although it wasn’t the best at dark night-time pictures with bright, moving lights – it did surprisingly well.

The VTech®Kidizoom® Action Cam features three built-in games, stop motion and time-lapse options, as well as special effects including customized photo frames and filters. And yes, it got banged around TONS with the kiddos, especially in the parks and while swimming (they took it down the slide so many times I lost count) and is still top-notch condition. Seriously, it’s a sturdy beast! As far as cost, it’s priced perfectly – in my opinion at least (Ages 4+ years, MSRP: $59.99) or check the great prices available on Amazon! This is the perfect holiday gift, so get a jump start on your shopping this year!

And Guess What?!?!

This fall, VTech will also be hosting the Action Cam Back-In-School Contest in which parents can upload a photo or video of their child participating in their favorite sport or after school activity for a chance to win a Kidizoom Action Cam of their very own! So go have fun, take some pictures or a video, and send it in!

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Universal Studios Florida Printable Height Requirements

October 1, 2015 by Danielle

I’ve heard of a lot of people that have trips coming up – it’s getting into the slower seasons at major theme parks, so it’s the perfect time to go! Whether you’re planning a visit to Universal next week or next year, get your kiddos prepared with these Universal Studios Florida Printable Height Requirements!

Contains affiliate links that support this blog at no extra cost to you. See our disclosure for more info.

Before we went on our first-ever visit to Universal last month, I made sure to look up the height requirements. Knowing ahead of time what each of them could and couldn’t ride saved a lot of fits and meltdowns! I still suggest using your own judgement – even if a child IS tall enough to ride, doesn’t mean it’s best for them. For example, Black Widow would’ve been ‘fine’ going on Revenge of the Mummy, but she would’ve been terrified!

You can download and print either a full-page 8.5×11 height requirement sheets – one for Universal Studios park and one for Islands of Adventure park – or a sheet with BOTH parks lists fit onto the 8.5×11 page.

Download Universal Studios Park 8.5×11 Here

Download Islands of Adventure Park 8.5×11 Here

Download BOTH Parks on one 8.5×11 Here

Several of the larger rides, such as Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, have ‘test’ seats outside the ride so you can see if it will fit safely and comfortably. If you’re not sure, try them out! I personally LOVED Escape from Gringotts – the kids’ favorite was Flight of the Hippogriff over in Islands of Adventure. We went on that coaster more than any other ride!

So get your plans all set for your next vacation to Universal Studios, print off these height requirements, and have a fabulous time! Book through Get Away Today for the best deals – and use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper for $10 off your package!

Heading to Disneyland instead of Universal Florida? We’ve got Height Requirements for there, too!

Happy Kids on an Airplane Without Electronics

June 27, 2015 by Danielle

The kids and I recently went on a trip to visit our families in Utah, and although the flight was making the travel part much easier, I was worried about the kids. It’s not a horribly long flight, except we did have TWO due to a plane change in the middle. That long sitting still in a plane doesn’t do well for these littles! Luckily I brought along a ‘secret weapon’ so I could have Happy Kids on an Airplane Without Electronics!

If you know us, you know we absolutely love LEGO® – hubby grew up all about building and creating with them, and still has totes of them that we love to play with as a family. I love the imagination it brings out in my kids – but I never considered taking them on a flight before, at least until I heard about LEGO® JUNIORS Suitcases!

Each of these come in a neat little suitcase (easily carried by the kids, which means less in YOUR hands) and inside are packed sets and simple-to-follow instructions.

My boys needed just a tiny bit of guidance as we put them together – but Black Widow did just perfect by herself!

Once we got the sets built, they didn’t need any help at all playing and using their imagination with their new pieces!

They were really excited about the little people that came in each set (2 sets per suitcase, if you were wondering).

They were happy to use their creativity to come up with fun stories, games and their own little worlds the entire flight – making it a much nicer trip for everyone! I always feel better when they’re using creative thinking skills and building confidence in themselves WHILE having a great time.

LEGO® JUNIORS is designed to give children age 4-7 a great first building experience with the LEGO brick through iconic, fun and easy to build models. And it doesn’t have to be ‘pink for girls’ and ‘rescue planes’ for boys – they love them ALL!

If you’ve got an upcoming trip – whether it’s on an airplane, car or boat – don’t leave home without it! The LEGO® JUNIORS Suitcase is the perfect travel companion to keep your youngster entertained this summer. Filled with an assortment of LEGO bricks and exciting role play components the suitcase is extremely portable— opening up a world of play possibilities anywhere you go!

I know, these photos are far from the best – but we were on an airplane with weird lighting and sun blaring in any open windows so I think I deserve some slack here 😉

Where would YOU like to take these fun LEGO® JUNIORS Suitcases this summer?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.