While sailing on the Disney Magic, it is especially nice to walk around before the ship wakes up.   First, I take a break on our balcony and breathe in some sea air.  Ahhh…

Then I venture out and take a nice walk on the upper deck… looks like it will be another magical day!

 I take some time to admire the empty adult pool…

… and hot tub…

The Goofy pool looks refreshing, and I love that the screen is still showing the graphics from last night’s Pirates IN the Caribbean Party.

A rare scene… an empty (and quiet!) Mickey Mouse pool!

The toddler splash pad is waiting for some kids to come enjoy some fun!

Time for a soda break (yes, I drink Diet Coke instead of Coffee… even in the morning)…

Let’s check out the spa…

Relaxing in one of these chairs in the Rainforest room sounds good to me!

After all that exploring, it is time for breakfast!  How about a treat at Lumiere’s?  Good Morning! 

Do you enjoy some quiet early morning time on vacation or are you in bed as long as possible?

You know you are entering a special suite when you are greated by a tiki god mask at the door, and the doorbell delivers the exotic sound of tiki gods playing drums.  The theming has already begun…

You enter into a gorgeous living/dining space that trasports you to another space and time.   There is seating for six at the dining table, a leather sleeper sofa,  a closet hidden by a  ”bookshelf”, and a flatscreen tv that transforms into a painting when not in use above a faux fireplace.   It is as if you are on a luxury safari in the heart of the Disneyland Resort!

I love the plush reading nook in the living room area.  

There is also a wetbar with bar seating for two.

If that isn’t enough to tempt you, how about the master bedroom?   The canopy bed is so romantic and the clawfoot tub in the room is a very special touch.   Talk about the perfect Honeymoon spot!

The master bath is also luxurious with beautiful details and double vanity.  Attached to the vanity/commode area is a “rainforest” grotto… a rock-lined rain/steam shower and whirlpool tub with sound and lighting effects.  So relaxing!

This suite sleeps 5, so there is another bedroom on the other side of the living area.   This bedroom gives the illusion that you are sleeping under a safari tent.  The second bathroom is also beautful with gorgeous rock basins.

The Adventureland Suite is truly a dream place to stay while on a Disneyland Resort vacation.    Can you imagine having this suite be your “home away from home”?

Walt Disney World has great restaurants that are appropriate for children of all ages… especially your toddler. You will be hard-pressed to find anywhere else that makes families feel more welcome.

You really don’t be worried about bringing your toddler to a sit-down restaurant at Walt Disney World. In fact, it is a good place to teach your child how to act in a restaurant, without being nervous about other diners being disturbed. With the exception of the very fanciest restaurants on Disney property, everyone expects children to be present and probably has their hands full with their own kids.

These tips can be applied to families with older children too!

1. Think carefully about your dining times. Try to keep your kids on the same dining schedule that they are on at home. If you normally eat dinner at 5pm, don’t try to have dinner at 8pm in the Magic Kingdom… you are just asking for tired, hungry and grumpy kids.

Also, since touring the parks can over-stimulate children, consider reserving sit-down restaurants for Breakfast or Dinner… and not for Lunch. Hopefully, your children are rested at Breakfast and also refreshed for Dinner after an afternoon break at the pool or nap at the resort. Lunchtime can be tough because kids have had a morning full of fun and the last thing they want is to be strapped into a high chair and have a relaxing lunch.

This is what can happen with a late dinner at California Grill… asleep in the booth before dessert!

2. Choose a restaurant with some entertainment. Character meals and the dinner shows are obvious favorites, but how about enjoying the traditional “Oktoberfest” entertainment at the Biergarten Restaurant (with an invitation for the kids to dance in front of the stage), participating in coconut races at ‘Ohana, or watching film clips inside you “car table” at Sci-Fi Dine In? Kids can also view the marine life in the huge aquarium at Coral Reef, see a belly dancer perform at Restaurant Marrakesh, watch their food being cooked right in front of them at Teppan Edo, see the Irish stepdancers at Raglan Road and interact with the “in character” servers at Whispering Canyon Café and 50′s Prime Time Café.

Here is one of the dancers at Raglan Road (Downtown Disney)…

3. Just like at home, be prepared with some small toys in your bag (Fisher Price Little People Disney Princesses and Thomas Trains work best for us) and books to keep you kids occupied while waiting for your meal. The kids’ menus have activities and pictures to color, but they don’t change very often and your child may be bored if they have to color the same picture at each meal during your trip.

4. If you think your child may need to nap in their stroller during the meal, ask the hostess to park allow you to park it at the table with you. When my child was very young (8 months old), she couldn’t make it through a whole dinner in the high chair, but would happily lounge in her stroller while we finished our meal.

A Mommy-Daughter lunch at the Brown Derby. While I enjoyed a Cobb Salad… she was comfortable in her stroller… and with her book…

5. For your Character meals, consider Family-Style or Plated meals instead of Buffets. Buffets are great because you do not have to wait for your food… it is ready when you are. However, they can be a logistical nightmare. If you are lucky to have two adults in your party, you will have to have one “food runner” and one adult stay at the table with the children. This means that the food will arrive a bit at a time, and it is difficult for everyone to eat together. If you only have one adult and more than one child, I don’t recommend the buffets at all. It is no fun to maneuver through a buffet line with children and multiple plates of food.

The Family-Style and Plated meal Character restaurants include Cinderella’s Royal Table, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (there is an appetizer buffet here, but the entrées and desserts are brought to your table), Garden Grill, and ‘Ohana Character Breakfast. At these restaurants, you can have a seat… all together… and relax as your server brings you your meal and you wait for the Characters to greet you.

Dining at Walt Disney World with your toddler(s) is actually a lot of fun… there are a ton of entertaining restaurants and it is the most family-friendly place you can visit. Does anyone have any tips to add to this list?