Educational Travel for kids: Orlando beyond the theme parks

When most families think of Orlando, two words come to mind: theme parks. We understand; after all, we offer Disney World tips for families and reviews of Disney attractions. However, families looking for educational travel ideas,  whether as pit stops en route elsewhere on Florida vacations, or during an Orlando vacation, will find much to engage kids' minds. At the following Orlando attractions, … [Read more...]

Educational Animal Kingdom attractions (your school-aged kids will love)

Can a theme park be educational? We had our doubts...until being schooled by Disney's Animal Kingdom. Usually fans of the latest and greatest headliner attractions (read about how to tour any Disney theme park attraction in 15 minutes or less), my school-aged sons and I spent our latest visit touring the park from a less thrill-seeking perspective, exploring the many environmental, zoological, and … [Read more...]

A stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of our family's favorite--if not thefavorite--DisneyWorld resort. When readers ask me, "Why pay to stay at a DisneyWorld resort?" I always cite Disney's impeccible attention to detail, from the in-room touches to the grand lobbies to the on-site restaurants...always themed to perfection. No where is this attention to detail more evident than at Animal Kingdom … [Read more...]

Disney Done Right: Star Wars Weekends at Disney Studios

Summer's here, and family travel is at its best! What better way to celebrate the end of another school year than with a weekend at Walt Disney World? If you have a Star Wars fan, there's no better time: Fridays-Sundays through June 12th, Star Wars Weekends are ongoing at Disney Studios. The best part is, all special activities, shows, and parades are free with the cost of admission. Last … [Read more...]

Disney done right: Dining in the ‘World’

If you're looking for tips on how to save money on meals in Disney World, this is not the place. Nor will this article tell you where to find the best fries, best pizza, or best cinnamon roll (although that would be the Main Street Bake Shoppe). Instead, this article is all about how to make dining in Disney easier...on you, your kids, your schedule, and your sanity. Because let's face it, during … [Read more...]

Disney done right: How to enjoy the ‘Magic’

Yes, that's 'Magic' with a capital M, because ultimately, we're paying (and hoping)  for nothing less when we book a Disney vacation with our kids. Instead, what we often experience (or witness others experiencing) is exhaustion, over-stimulation, and even outright disappointment. Every family (and Disney park) will have their good days and bad days, but 99% of the time, it doesn't have to be … [Read more...]

Disney done right: Disney’s Port Orleans Resort

I wrote recently on the benefits of staying on-site in Walt Disney World. Of course, deciding a Disney resort is right for you and your family hardly narrows down your field of options, given that at last count, there were almost 20 of them to choose from. For our Disney World vacation, we finally settled on Disney's Port Orleans Resort, Riverside, and we never once regretted our decision. … [Read more...]

Disney done right: Making the most of your Disney vacation

At Pit Stops for Kids, we're big fans of Disney, but we know planning (and enjoying) a Disney vacation with kids can be overwhelming! In our upcoming series of articles, Disney Done Right, we offer our (kid and parent tested) tips for making the most of your time in the happiest place on earth! 1. Plan an extended visit. If possible, book at least one week at Disney World or three days (This is … [Read more...]

Naval Aviation Museum

1750 Radford Blvd., Suite C Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL The National Naval Aviation Museum, located within Navel Air Station Pensacola, makes for a wonderful (and free!) pitstop along I-10. Parent reviewer Jen of Two Kids and a Map and Pensacola with Kids has written about this attraction in her hometown numerous times, and gives it her expert seal of approval. In one entry she writes: … [Read more...]

Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park

3540 Thomasville Rd Tallahassee, FL Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park is a wonderful place to get out and stretch your legs during a long trip. During blooming season, flowers paint the walk with beautiful colors and during the off season you can see every shade of green, says Jennifer of Two Kids and a Map, who brings us this review. I was on a road trip from Pensacola to Jacksonville, … [Read more...]