Why You Should Visit Walt Disney World in the Summer

April 23, 2025 by Jenney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

When most people think about planning a Walt Disney World vacation, they imagine cooler months with lighter crowds. But there’s a strong case to be made for visiting during the summer. If you’re on the fence about braving the Florida heat, here’s why summer might actually be the best time to experience the magic.

1. Longer Park Hours = More Magic

One of the biggest perks of summer visits? Extended park hours. Disney often keeps the parks open later during the summer months, giving you more time to experience rides, shows, parades, and nighttime spectaculars. With more hours in the day, you can take a midday break and still get everything done.

2. New Attractions and Summer-Only Events

Disney frequently rolls out new experiences during the summer. Whether it’s the debut of a new ride, special character meet-and-greets, or seasonal snacks, there’s always something exciting launching in the summer. Plus, limited-time shows and merchandise make your trip feel extra unique.

3. Incredible Resort Pools and Water Parks

Florida summers are hot — and Disney knows it. That’s why their resort pools and two water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon) are a dream come true during this time of year. You can beat the heat with a morning park visit, a relaxing pool break in the afternoon, and head back for fireworks at night.

4. Lush, Vibrant Atmosphere

Summer brings Disney’s landscaping to life. Parks are in full bloom, with colorful flowers, lush greenery, and a vibrant energy in the air. Everything feels alive — from the music playing down Main Street to the nighttime glow of Cinderella Castle.

5. School’s Out = Easier Family Planning

If you’re traveling with kids, summer might be your best shot. With school out, you don’t have to worry about missed days or scheduling conflicts. It’s easier to coordinate with family and friends, which can mean bigger, more memorable group trips.

6. Pro Tips for Beating the Heat

Yes, it’s hot — but it’s manageable. Disney offers plenty of indoor, air-conditioned attractions, plus water misting stations, shady spots, and cold treats around every corner. Pack cooling towels, stay hydrated, and plan indoor breaks during the hottest hours (usually between 1–4 PM).

Summer at Walt Disney World isn’t just doable — it’s magical. With longer days, seasonal exclusives, and endless ways to cool off, it might just be your new favorite time to go. Embrace the sunshine, soak up the magic, and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Start dreaming today — book your Walt Disney World vacation now and let the countdown to magic begin. Whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, there’s no summer like a Disney summer. Email me at jenney@imaginationtravel.net to get started planning!

Rotational Dining on Disney Cruise Line

August 12, 2024 by Jenney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Marvel themed restaurant on the Disney Wish

Disney Cruise Line does dinner dining differently {say that 3 times fast!} than other cruise lines. Each evening, your family is assigned to a certain dining location. You’re also assigned to eat at a certain time – main dining {about 5:45} or second dining {about 8}.

Once you arrive at the designated restaurant, you’re led to your family’s table number and introduced to your dining team. Now this is where it gets magical! This dining team? They’ll be with you every night! So they’ll learn what you like and don’t like. If your kiddos love chocolate milk, the dining team will make sure it’s ready for them when they get to dinner. You enjoy a coffee with desert? No problem, your dining team will make sure you have it every night. Picky eaters? No problem! The dining team will bring your kids all the Mac and cheese and French fries they want complete with Mickey ketchup.

Have allergies or food sensitivities? No one handles those better than Disney Cruise Line!

It’s Disney, so presentation is important.

One of my favorite perks of cruising? You can order as many appetizers, entrees and deserts as you want. Perfect if you’re like me and love to try all the things.

While your family is enjoying dinner, the other half ship of guests is watching a Broadway style show in the theater. Once you’re done with dinner it’ll be your turn to watch the show while other guests enjoy their dinner.

Animator’s Palate on the Disney Dream, Fantasy, Wonder and Magic

Don’t want to be on a schedule for dinner? No worries! Yummy room service is available 24 hours and it’s included in your cruise fare.

Breakfast room service menu that you can preorder.

If you want more information on booking a Disney Cruise for your family, please email me at jenney@imaginationtravel.net.

Best Budget-Friendly Resorts at Disney

February 16, 2024February 16, 2024 by Jenney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Walt Disney World has three main categories of resorts – value, moderate and deluxe. In each category are several options for your family to enjoy onsite amenities and get the most out of your vacation to the Most Magical Place on Earth.

Today, we’re going to chat about Value resorts. Within this category there are basically three kinds of options – the All Stars, Pop Century/Art of Animation standard rooms and Art of Animation family suites. Every resort in the Value category offers an onsite food court with lots of food options, a resort arcade, onsite Disney transportation, fun pools and a room with 2 queen beds and 1 bathroom. One of the queen beds is a regular bed and the other is a pull down Murphy bed – don’t let that scare you, these can be quite comfortable.

All Stars Movies, Music and Sports are the most budget friendly options on Disney property unless you’re willing to pack a tent and sleep under the starts at the campsites. {Fun for some but definitely not for me.}. Each of the All Star resorts offer bus transportation to all theme parks and Disney Springs. This is typically where high school and large groups stay so keep that in mind. If you’re expecting a quiet, calm environment at your resort, you probably won’t find it here. The All Stars are great for…

2 adults sharing a room who just need a place to sleep
a big extended family group looking to use their travel budget for food and fun and not necessarily on the room
a high school group looking to travel as inexpensively as possible

Pop Century and Art of Animation are my preferred value resorts. Their rooms are very similar to the rooms at the All Stars but these resorts offer Disney’s newest onsite perk – the Skyliner transporation system. For guests visiting Epcot or Hollywood Studios, the Skyliner can save you precious time in the mornings and at night. Bonus! If you’re traveling with young children, you can keep your stroller open when you use the Skyliner – no need to wake up sleeping babies. Yay! Pop Century and Art of Animation are great for…

families with 2 young children
2 adults traveling together who plan to enjoy Epcot and Hollywood Studios

Perhaps the best room setup {and it can be the best value!} are the family suites at Art of Animation. These suites feature a separate bedroom for Mom and Dad with their own bathroom and then a den/kitchenette area that sleeps 4 more people with it’s own bathroom. Yes, 2 bathrooms!! The Holy Grail of family travel! The suites also feature a microwave which isn’t found anywhere else on property {except DVC villas}. Art of Animation suites are great for…

family of 5-6
family of 4 who just want the extra room and bathroom
girls trips

Every value resort has it’s own special theming that kids and Disney enthusiasts love! I would love to help you select the best resort for your next trip. Please email me at jenney@imaginationtravel.net to get started planning!

Gift Guide for the 40-ish Woman

November 18, 2023November 18, 2023 by Jenney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Since I am a 40-ish woman I feel myself highly qualified to create this list. 😉 Here are some things I enjoy on a daily basis. Feel free to share this list with anyone who might need some shopping help.

📚Kindle – I use the Kindle Oasis and I love it! I can read eBooks on it that I’ve purchased from Amazon and you can also use the Libby app on your phone to send free library books to the Kindle. While the Oasis is pricy, it has a touchscreen and buttons to turn the page, is waterproof, has zero glare and is easy on my old lady eyes. 🤓 A cheaper option, the Kindle Paperwhite is just as great as the Oasis if you can live without buttons for page turning. And the Paperwhite is a little smaller.

❄️Space heater – Being cold is no fun but cold feet are the worst. I keep this guy under my desk and turn it on when it’s chilly.

🛌Fuzzy blanket – You can never have too many blankets!

👟Hoka tennis shoes – These shoes are amazing! They hold up at Walt Disney World. Enough said.

💦Stanley 40oz cup – These were all the rage last Christmas and they’re still super popular. I love mine and use it every day.

🎧Apple AirPod Pros – Mine finally bit the dust after 3 years of daily use and I miss them so much! These are comfortable, have adjustable tips, are noise canceling and just work great with your iPhone. Perfect for moms who exercise, travel or just enjoy listening to music.

🪮Beachwaver curling iron – I’m terrible with hair but this guy helps me curl my hair and it stays. It’s truly a miracle worker. 😂 You clip the hair in place and press the button and the work is done for you. Super easy and easy on your wrists.

☕️Reusable Kcup filters – I’ve used these for a while and LOVE them. Perfect for the Keurig fan who hates the plastic waste of typical Kcups and likes to use their own coffee grounds.

* all links are affiliate links

The Good Part by Sophie Cousens

November 2, 2023 by Jenney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Setting: England {London and suburbs}

Summary: Twenty-six year old Lucy is frustrated with her life. She keeps dating losers, she isn’t making any progress at work and her ceiling leaks bathwater onto her bed as she sleeps. After one really awful night out she makes a wish a Wish Granting Machine {think the Tom Hanks movie Big} and immediately skips to the good part of her life. It’s sixteen years later – she’s happily married with two children and running a successful business. As Lucy settles into this new life {with some laugh out loud and teary eyed moments along the way} she has a choice to make. Should she stay in the good part of her life or return to her struggling 20’s?

My thoughts: I loved this book! Anything set in England is going to grab my interest but the story held my attention, made me laugh, made me tear up and made me think. Our lives are made up of our experiences good and bad. Would you want to skip some of the bad to get to the good?

Thank you to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the advanced reader copy of this book. Please click on the affiliate links below to purchase this book.

Paperback: https://amzn.to/49c343Q

Kindle: https://amzn.to/40jyrpb

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

October 4, 2023October 4, 2023 by Jenney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I had heard about this book on several podcasts I listen to so I decided to grab it from Book of the Month. I’m so glad I did! Before I Let Go is one of my favorite reads of 2023!

Yasmine and Josiah are a divorced couple raising two kids and running a successful restaurant business together. They appear the be the perfect divorced couple – they get along well and coparent beautifully. But as each of them tries to recover from heartache and trauma they begin to realize how much they miss each other and how great they were together. This is an amazing story of two people who once loved each other and how they navigate their next steps in the midst of everyday responsibilities and well-meaning friends and family.

Warning – there are some steamy bedroom scenes and a miscarriage happens off page.

I’ve seen online that this book is now part of a series. I can’t wait to read the next installment.

Book of the Month

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

July 10, 2023 by Jenney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

This was a delightful story from the very beginning! If you’re familiar with Katherine Center, you know what to expect by now – strong female lead meets cute boy, there’s some confusion and conflict and then a good “happily ever after” finish.

Hello Stranger introduces us to Sadie. She’s a portrait artist with a big problem. Due to a recent brain surgery she has a condition called face blindness. Again, Sadie paints portraits for a living so this is a problem for her in many ways. We also meet Joe, Peanut, Mr. Kim, Sue and the rest of Sadie’s group of family and friends – even though she doesn’t recognize any of them except Peanut. Thank goodness, Prosopagnosia doesn’t apply to dogs – at least Sadie’s doesn’t.

Sadie must prepare to win a huge portrait contest while learning how to paint {and see} faces again. Along the way she deals with dysfunctional family issues, a geriatric dog and his very attractive {maybe?} vet, a cute {again, maybe?} neighbor who might be a little overly helpful to the whole building, and oh yeah, recovering from brain surgery.

This was a very enjoyable read – so enjoyable I finished it in 2 days! Definitely grab this one if you’re looking for a fun, easy escape with a little bit of seriousness {brain surgery!}

The following are affiliate links. I earn a small commission when you make a purchase using these links.

Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/3XLYq7h

Hello Stranger was a July 2023 BOTM pick. I love this book subscription so much and highly recommend it to everyone!

Book of the Month: https://www.mybotm.com/8oz49lsxn?show_box=true

The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger

January 5, 2023 by Jenney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

“If you’re in the business of making something, be in the business of making something great.”

This quote by Bob Iger is one of my favorites but there were many memorable thoughts in this great read. When he wrote this book, he was getting ready to retire from the Walt Disney company – the first time. As a huge Disney fan, I enjoyed reading how he worked his way to the top of one of the biggest companies in the world. His thoughts on managing everything from employees to terrorism to Steve Jobs was fascinating to me. Especially interesting to me was how he addressed bringing the Walt Disney company into the 21st century while treating it’s legacy with great respect.

I cannot recommend this book enough to everyone but especially to business owners. Bob Iger has a unique ability and position to relay what he’s learned and mistakes he’s made through the years. His humility comes across in his words and actions. It’s easy to see in reading this book why Cast Members adore him and are so excited about the future of this amazing, very valuable company.

The following are affiliate links. I make a small commission when you make a purchase using these links.

Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/3WQHY4C

Amazon Hardback: https://amzn.to/3vFU18P

God Stories by Dr. Zac Reno

November 17, 2022 by Jenney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

My thoughts:

Full disclaimer…Pastor Zac is my pastor at Enon Baptist Church in Morris, Alabama. So my review might be a little biased. =) Now on to the review…

Pastor Zac’s new book God Stories is such a treasure. He shares with us stories of family, friends and church members that he’s had the pleasure to know and love during his years in ministry. Each person’s story shows God’s love, compassion, grace and goodness. Whether you’re a reader or not, this is a great way to hear how God has blessed so many while you grow closer to Him – you can’t help it as you read what He’s done. Each chapter ends with practical, helpful “Things to Ponder” which I especially enjoyed and found helpful {and humbling.} I enjoy Pastor Zac’s sermons on Sunday mornings and I’m so thankful that now we can get a dose of his humor, his love for Jesus and family and his faith in the pages of these short stories.

Publisher Synopsis:

One of the best things about being a local church pastor is hearing and seeing what God is doing in the lives of His people. Over the years, I have collected a mental catalog of the most impactful stories God has allowed me to hear from others about how God has moved in their lives. I have compiled them in this book in a fun and easy-to-read way. These stories come from people of all ages and stages of life. They include stories about how God worked in the lives of those in the present day and the past. This book takes you from the prison camps of world war two to the streets of the civil rights movement. These stories have been life-changing for me and have caused me to grow in my faith in more ways than I can express. I hope anyone who reads it is compelled to seek God and experience their own “God Stories” in their lives.

Buy Links:

Amazon Kindle https://amzn.to/3tBEA0n

Amazon Paperback https://amzn.to/3tEajhG {makes a great gift!}

Links are affiliate links.

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

November 15, 2022November 15, 2022 by Jenney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

My Thoughts:

Y’all! This book is one of the best I’ve read in a while. It’s a wonderful cast of characters lead by curmudgeon A.J. Fikry who runs a local bookstore. A.J. is struggling with his grief when he’s left one day with a very unexpected surprise. This surprise completely changes his life and starts him on a journey he never expected. Throughout the rest of the story, we watch characters evolve and grow in a sometimes funny but real way. This was my first Gabrielle Zevin book and definitely won’t be my last!

Publisher’s Synopsis:

On the faded Island Books sign hanging over the porch of the Victorian cottage is the motto “No Man Is an Island; Every Book Is a World.” A. J. Fikry, the irascible owner, is about to discover just what that truly means.

A. J. Fikry’s life is not at all what he expected it to be. His wife has died, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. Slowly but surely, he is isolating himself from all the people of Alice Island—from Lambiase, the well-intentioned police officer who’s always felt kindly toward Fikry; from Ismay, his sister-in-law who is hell-bent on saving him from his dreary self; from Amelia, the lovely and idealistic (if eccentric) Knightley Press sales rep who keeps on taking the ferry over to Alice Island, refusing to be deterred by A.J.’s bad attitude. Even the books in his store have stopped holding pleasure for him. These days, A.J. can only see them as a sign of a world that is changing too rapidly.

And then a mysterious package appears at the bookstore. It’s a small package, but large in weight. It’s that unexpected arrival that gives A. J. Fikry the opportunity to make his life over, the ability to see everything anew. It doesn’t take long for the locals to notice the change overcoming A.J.; or for that determined sales rep, Amelia, to see her curmudgeonly client in a new light; or for the wisdom of all those books to become again the lifeblood of A.J.’s world; or for everything to twist again into a version of his life that he didn’t see coming. As surprising as it is moving, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry is an unforgettable tale of transformation and second chances, an irresistible affirmation of why we read, and why we love.