Most people, when they visit Disney World, love the character interaction. Who can blame them? Mickey, Donald, Goofy. Say cheese! But there are other characters in the parks, at the resorts, on the buses, everywhere, who won’t say cheese and who may turn your trip into one of terror.

Meet the Disney Dreadfuls!

#10: Bus Beast: The Rigid Riser Another harmless type of Bus Beast is the Rigid Riser. On a full bus, these male miscreants rise the moment they see a woman board the bus. Chivalry dictates relinquishing one’s seat for the elderly and for others in need, but the Rigid Riser takes chivalry to the extreme and offers his seat to women in far better physical shape who are often offended at the continued insistence of the Riser that they take his seat. In extreme cases, the seat will remain empty during the bus ride since the Riser will not sit back down and his intended damsel-in-distress will continue to stand with the rest of her family.

#9: Line Leper: The Lounger I haven’t done the medical research, but I’m sure that the adrenaline of most park guests increases while standing in line for popular attractions. Folks pack together closely, taking advantage of any slight forward movement of the line to inch closer, closer to the fun. Except, of course, for the Line Lounger, an annoying, ‘slackerly’ beast who seems not to realize his purpose in life – for the next few minutes, at least – is to pay attention to the people in front of him and move when they move. Instead, the Line Lounger busies himself with his park paperwork, or his cell phone, or with the pretty pictures playing on the movie screen in his mind. Often, Loungers engage in conversations with fellow Loungers, creating a Lounger log-jam. It’s fun to watch the Lounger when he finally notices the wide span of empty space between himself and the front part of the line: the Lounger jumps slightly, then sprightly advances – only to lounge once more.

#8: Line Leper: The Lunger Related to the Lounger, the Lunger is its polar opposite. This hyper-active horror permits no space whatsoever beneath himself and the next person in line. As soon as the line moves, he moves with it. If you happen to be standing in front of him, the Lunger’s wide-open eyes will fixate on your back and you can almost hear the chant he mentally repeats to himself: move, move, [drumbeat], move, move. You feel his turkey leg breath on your neck. You sense (and smell!) his uncomfortable closeness. You pray others don’t think he’s with you. Absent leaving the line yourself, the best defense against this nasty is to wear a backpack and use it as a buffer. In this situation, and only in this situation, it’s acceptable to ‘stop-short’ when the line begins to move and hope that the Lunger gets a faceful of backpack. Sadly, though, Lungers never learn.

#7: Buffet Buffoon: The Slopper Of the many different Buffet Buffoons, Sloppers are the ones who most deserve our pity. They often know not what they do – nor how not to do it. What they do, of course, is slop. Soup, mostly, but also sauce, juice, and any other liquid or solid that requires ladling, spooning, or even grasping. If it were just a drip or two, a speck or three, the Slopper would not even be a Dreadful. But more often they leave in their wake a puddle or a pile. And the worst Sloppers don’t just slop: they synthesize. These graceless gibbons integrate foods never meant to meet such as Au Jus over salad, barbecue sauce on bananas, peanut butter on pate. The Slopper is not a true danger and its creations can be expunged quickly by a well-trained buffet crew.

#6: Park Pariah: The Stop Shorter Imagine yourself walking briskly toward a busy attraction, making good time despite the crowds, when suddenly right in front of you looms a boulder in your stream, a stalled semi in your path. The Stop Shorter! Often found in groups of two or three, Stop Shorters look and behave just like regular people until, for reasons known only to their primal selves, they screech to a sudden halt, forcing those behind them either to halt as well or else perform a nimble ballet to avoid collision. Stop Shorters have usually stopped to consult a map, to take a picture, or to provide dubious care to their stroller-bound offspring. They have neither the sense nor the manners to pull off the ‘road’. They may, in fact, not even notice the disruption they’ve caused to the normal ebb and flow of park traffic. More likely, though, they don’t care. And the ironic thing is that Stop Shorters rarely benefit from their brief time in stasis: if they’ve halted to consult a park map, for example, they resume their march equally unsure of their destination, not to mention their overall purpose in the park that day.

#5: Bus Beast: The Driver Dad A more nefarious off-shoot of the traditional Bus Beast is the Driver Dad. These harmless but annoying little monkeys choose a seat close to the bus driver and attempt to strike up a conversation. During the conversation, the Driver Dad will attempt to become the real driver’s BFF by asking questions about Disney, about driving buses, about where the driver came from, about the driver’s military service, and lots more, often in an attempt to impress the Driver Dad’s young male children who typically roll their eyes at this behavior and look at their mother whose catatonic stare indicates that it’s not an isolated occurrence. If you’re near a Driver Dad, ignore him – and pray that the bus driver is also ignoring him enough to keep his attention on the road.

#4: Buffet Buffoon: The Head-on Heavy One of the most aggressive, formidible Buffet Buffoons is the Head-on Heavy. These hungry locomotives either don’t care or are unaware of where a line starts. They begin at the opposite end, forcing their way against the stream of buffet traffic, stubbornly refusing to yield. Heavies often wear bulky purses over their shoulders, adding yet more heft to their sturdy frames. When confronted with a Heavy, you have two choices: cede your place in line or treat the Heavy as your opponent in an absurd game of chicken. When you’re finally shoulder to shoulder, the slight core of courtesy that dimly twinkles inside most Heavies will at this point flare in a momentary show of manners and compel the Heavy to move around you – a most delicious victory and one for which you should be proud.

#3: Meal Monster: The Turned-Around Tot This mini-Dreadful may be short in stature but his power to turn your meal into mush is great, indeed. You can spot this pint-sized pain easily enough: he’s the kid who kneels on his seat – it’s usually a booth – and faces backwards, toward you. He often needs a nose wipe. If he’s eating, he’s doing so with his mouth open. And he never stops staring. It’s a perplexed stare, at first, but soon the kid gains courage and that’s when your dreadful Disney moment begins. The monster speaks! Often, it’s gibberish. Sometimes, however, real words come out, and you’re then forced either to respond or to ignore the terrible tot – whereupon other members of his brood may mumble about your impoliteness. While the best course of action would be a small creme pie in the tot’s face, it’s better to smile vacantly and hope the tot will lose interest – as they always do.

#2: Bus Beast: The Door Rusher The most common form taken by the Bus Beast is the Door Rusher. This fierce foe rushes to board the bus before it has even stopped and stakes its territory directly in front of the still-closed door. Particularly nasty specimens will even attempt to step into the bus as soon as the door has opened despite the presence of many people attempting to step off. Fortunately, bus drivers are skilled in taming most Door Rushers with a simple ‘step back, please, sir’ (which in the bus driver’s mind sounds like ‘another freakin’ idiot gettin’ up close to my bus’), but if the driver isn’t up to the task, the Rusher is always cowed by the sheer mass of tired, sweaty humanity about to walk into him.

#1: Buffet Buffoon: The Food Fondler The Food Fondler, contrary to popular belief, is a delicate creature; its touch is gentle, and it often appears to caress items, especially rolls or cookies, before gently replacing them. But too late! The spoor of the Fondler now crawls microscopically on that roll, ready for transfer to the palate of whomever selects it next. Children, technically, can be food fondlers, though they lack the requisite grace of the real deal – some scholars term them Grub Grabbers, a more accurate description of their antics. When faced with a Food Fondler, the important thing is to keep your wits about you and your eyes on the fondled food. Do not touch it yourself. For added safety, do not touch any of the food touched by the fondled food. Your best bet is to select items from far in the back as Fondlers are inherently lazy and tend to finger only the food closest to themselves.

Frightened? Relax. Even if you meet every Disney Dreadful in existence, you’re still at Disney where the magic will render them powerless. Just close your eyes and think of Mickey.

Big thanks to Bob McLain of Disney Dispatch for writing this great article. For more information on Disney Dreadfuls, be sure to visit Disney Dispatch! You can also follow Bob on Twitter @DisneyDispatch.

Walt Disney World is full of restaurants and places to grab a good alcoholic drink (Magic Kingdom excluded, of course). Some drinks are pretty standard Disney cocktails that you can find at most restaurants, others are a little more unusual and are specific to the restaurant. Here are some of my favorite drinks to get when visiting the World.

#10: Campari and Strawberry (Todd English’s bluezoo @ Walt Disney World’s Dolphin Resort) – This drink is a apertif concoction of Campari (a bitter liquor made in Italy), Sweet Vermouth, muddled Strawberries and lemon juice topped with Ginger Beer. It’s an usual drink because it combines the bitterness of Campari with the sweetness of strawberries. This drink has a very interesting flavor and I highly recommend trying it if you are looking for something unusual and aren’t afraid of a little bit to your drink. Cost: $13

#9: Sangria (Cape May Cafe @ Disney’s Beach Club) – I have tasted Sangria at a few different locations on Disney property. Some of them made with citrus, others made with berries, some white, some red but definitely this has been the best and had the best price. This one is red wine with citrus fruit and came in a good size glass with just the right amount of fruit slices in it. Cost: $8

#8: Beer Flight (Raglan Road @ Downtown Disney) – This Irish Pub has some great food and drinks but I can never pass up a good beer flight from this restaurant to go along with my Irish entree. My favorite is their beer flight with Guinness, Murphy’s, Smithwicks and Harp. So if you are looking to sample some beers or can’t decide on just one, give this flight a try. Cost: $8.50

#7: Italian Margarita (Italy Pavilion @ Epcot) – This Italian version of a margarita is nothing like it’s Mexican counterpart. It is a frozen, slushy version but the difference is that it contains Grappa, Limoncello and margarita mix. I find this to be a nice change to what you get in Mexico and very refreshing on a hot day when walking around the park. Cost: $10

#6: Gluhwein (Weinkeller @ the Germany Pavilion in Epcot)- A seasonal drink that is served in the Christkndl Markets (Christmas Markets) of Germany. While shopping these markets this drink is often purchased along with traditional German foods. The drink is a spiced red wine served hot and can be found seasonal in Epcot. – Cost: $5.63

#5: Seaside Martini (Flying Fish @ Disney’s Boardwalk Inn) – This beachy sounding drinks is made with Mount Gay Eclipse Rum, Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, agave nectar with pineapple & Myer’s lemon juice. It’s a sweet drink that is perfect for starting off your meal or ending it as a dessert. Cost: $9.25

#4: Lapu Lapu (Kona Cafe @ Disney’s Polynesian Resort) – This very popular and fun drink is made with Myer’s Original Dark Rum and tropical fruit juices served in a pineapple topped with Bacardi 151 rum. Not only does this drink have a lot of alcohol in it, but it’s fun to drink because it’s served in a pineapple. Now that is a fun way to have a drink! Cost: $13.25

#3: Sultan’s Colada (Morocco Pavilion @ Epcot) -  This tasty alcoholic treat is sweet and delicious with rum, pineapple and coconut juice and Almond liquor. This is always a nice drink to pick up while walking around the World Showcase. Cost: $7.99

#2: Pear Martini (Cape May Cafe @ Disney’s Beach Club) – One of the best drinks in Walt Disney World! A combination of Glenfiddich 12 years, Hendrick’s Gin, Kern’s Pear Nectar, agave nectar and fresh lime juice. It has a slight sweetness and full of flavor with top shelf liquor. Cost: $11

and the number one drink is…

#1: Orange Mango Fire Margarita (La Hacienda de San Angel @ the Mexico Pavilion in Epcot) – The number one drink on my list is my favorite drink I’ve found at Disney so far. It has everything you could want from a unique margarita. There is sweetness from the mango, sour from the orange, bitter from the lime and heat from the Tabasco and to top it all off, the Tajin powder on the rim just is the icing on the cake or should I say… maragrita. This wonderful margarita is made with El Mayor premium silver Tequila, Ginger liqueur, mango, orange juice, fresh lime juice, dash of Tabasco served on the rocks with Tajin powder on the rim. Next time you dine at La Hacienda de San Angel give it a try… you won’t regret it! Cost: $12.50

Big thanks to Kristen, who is the creator of CookingwithMickey, a foodie who has traveled extensively (22+ countries) and dined at 80% of the Walt Disney World restaurants, including the Five Diamond Award winning restaurant, Victoria and Albert’s and the members-only exclusive, Club 33 in Disneyland. She’s host of Cooking with Mickey videos, DJ on Sorcerer Radio for WDW Tiki Room, Castaway Midday and the interactive vidcast WDW After Dark, host of “The Disney Foodie” on Character Breakfast Podcast, as well as a blog writer for a wide variety of Disney sites. In addition to her love of Disney, cooking, dining and traveling; she enjoys photography and NHL hockey (Nashville Predators fan). Feel free to follow Kristen on twitter @CookingwMickey

Travel with toddlers and preschoolers can be daunting. There’s a lot to consider between naptimes, attention spans, age-appropriate activities, diapers and potty-training, and mealtime challenges. However, the reality is sometimes you just need to get away. Walt Disney World may not be the first vacation destination you think of for children in this age range since it usually means traveling quite a distance, staying for more than a couple of days, and more expense than a local amusement park. That being said, you should give it a second look. There are a lot of reasons why Walt Disney World is the perfect vacation destination for young families. Here are the top ten.

#10: No Ick Factor – In my experience, it’s rare to be out in a very public place and not say, “Ick.” As parents of small children, we spend an inordinate amount of time in public restrooms, wiping down restaurant high chairs and tables, and saying, “Dirty. Don’t touch.” Visitors to Walt Disney World will marvel at its cleanliness, even at the end of a busy day when thousands of people passes through its gates. It’s unusual to see stray garbage on the walkways, restaurant tables and high chairs don’t have that disconcerting sticky feel to them, and restrooms are amazingly clean. Walt Disney World’s cleanliness is one of the reasons we return time and time again.

#9: Family Friendly - “Pooh,” “More!” and “Cool!” are about the extent of the four-letter words you’ll hear at the Walt Disney World Resort. This emphasis on a family-friendly atmosphere makes the Walt Disney World Resort stand out among other theme parks. My husband stopped taking our son to the large, local theme park because he couldn’t stand in a line at the entrance or the refreshment stands without hoping our son didn’t pick up any words that would embarrass mom and dad. In all my visits to Disney World, I can’t remember hearing inappropriate language or conversations.

#8: Miles and Miles of Pathways – If you’ve traveled with a baby or toddler, you’ve probably experienced the challenges of naptime while on vacation. My kids, who are consistent sleepers at home, just won’t take afternoon nap in the hotel room – being in a new place is much too exciting for them to settle down. The most effective way to get them the sleep they need is to walk with them in the stroller; they can’t fight the gentle, soothing motion and before we know it, they’ve dozed off. Traditional hotels with their very limited grounds or locations on major roadways make pushing a stroller either very boring or very dangerous. The theme parks have plenty of quiet places to explore with a cool beverage while the kids drift off to dreamland. If we’re at one of the resorts, its sprawling grounds and gorgeous landscaping make a couple of hours pushing the stroller relaxing and enjoyable.

#7: Baby Care Centers – The Baby Care Centers in the Disney World theme park have everything needed to make visiting with little ones easier and more convenient. Need a quiet place to feed infants, complete with rocking chairs and high chairs? There’s a place for that. Did the baby drop his pacifier and you need to replace it? There’s a place for that. Is your little princess potty-training and does she need a smaller toilet to feel comfortable? There’s a place for that. It’s called the Baby Care Center.

#6: No Whining with your Dining – Dine with princesses, eat under the stars at a drive-in theater, or enjoy a vegan and gluten-free treat at Walt Disney World. There is no shortage of unique and immersive dining experiences that are sure to keep your kids entertained. As a parent, I love that there is a focus on delicious but healthy eating at Disney World. Fruit, vegetables, water, and milk are offered as healthy alternatives to fries and soda at dining venues. Disney World also places special emphasis on accommodating family members with food allergies or dietary restrictions. By contacting the special diets department (SpecialDiets@DisneyWorld.com) at Walt Disney World, guests are able to work with Cast Members to ensure they can safely dine while at Disney property.

#5: Kids Under Three Eat and Ride Free – What’s better than free? Between travel expenses to get to Orlando, lodging, tickets, food, and souvenirs, you can run up your credit card balance pretty quickly while on vacation. Park entry as well as buffets and family-style restaurants are free for children under the age of three. The best part is that many of the character meals such as Chef Mickey, Crystal Palace with Winnie the Pooh and friends, and Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, are buffet or family-style experiences. This means your toddler can meet their favorite Disney friend for free.

#4: Attractions for the Whole Family – Many amusement parks are oriented either to adults or to children. For those that accommodate both, the park usually features thrill rides with a smaller area with kid-sized attractions. Walt Disney World bridges the divide with many attractions that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Like many Disney films, there are layers of humor and attraction detail. Children may focus on one aspect while older guests enjoy the attraction in a different, more adult way. Some of my favorites are Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Jedi Training Academy, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Living with the Land.

#3: Multi-Day Destination – A weeklong beach vacation can be difficult if the kids tire of the sand and surf. Having built-in entertainment is definitely a plus with small children who often have short attention spans. Families can easily spend a week at Disney World without running out of things to see and do. Within the parks themselves, there are rides, theater attractions, and playgrounds where little ones can let off some steam. Outside of the parks, families can do a little shopping at Downtown Disney, play a round of miniature golf, or watch an outdoor movie at Fort Wilderness.

#2: Service with a Smile – Cast Members are Walt Disney World are truly a cut above and take great pride in making guests’ vacations magical; there are no ambivalent cast members here. You’ll always be greeted with a friendly smile and are never made to feel you are “bothering” the cast member with your question or request. Oftentimes, the Disney difference is a small but noticeable gesture that improves your vacation. I still remember the young Cast Member who saw us looking at our park map and approached us asking how he could help us find what we were looking for.

and the number one reason is…

#1: Kids Believe – Small children unconditionally believe in the magic without hesitation or doubt. The looks of pure delight on their faces as their favorite Disney character or princess comes to life makes the Walt Disney World Resort THE perfect vacation destination for young families.

Big thanks to Lisa Battista for writing this special Disney Top 10 article, she is an expert on kids and Disney! Lisa M. Battista is the author of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers. You can connect with her on Twitter @DisneyExplorer or become a fan of Beyond the Attractions on Facebook.

When I was planning my first Walt Disney World trip in the Summer of 1991, the internet had not yet been invented (well, in the form we know it now), and guide books were few and far between. A friend told me about annual passholder discounts. Cool, a discount, I could use that! They were not published anywhere, you booked your room only reservation, and then you had to call back to find out if anything had been released for your dates, or wait for the Mickey Monitor to show up via snail mail. Times have changed, and there is now a ton of information available to us to help us plan our Disney vacations. Take advantage, it will help. Below are the top 10 Disney websites to help you plan your Disney vacation.

#10: WDW Not Just for Kids – Admit it, you want to take the kids to Disney World, but your husband refuses, he insists he won’t have fun. Or maybe, you and your significant other are heading to Disney for alone, without the kids. Need to find out what there offered in the world for the adult set? WDW Not Just for Kids has you covered, with activities, hints and restaurants that are aimed squarely at adults. Now, Disney isn’t going to be offering much that would fly for adult in Vegas, per se, but there is plenty to do, and you will all have a blast.

• Website: WDW Not Just for Kids
• Twitter: @WDWnotjustforkids

#9: Suite Disney – Ever wanted to check out photos of the resorts, rooms and theme parks, but not satisfied with the official website? Suite Disney started out by offering photos of the suites available at the Disney World deluxe resorts, as there really wasn’t any way to find them online, and expanded into photos of all the resorts and theme parks. While still expanding and adding photos, this is a great way to compare resorts if you have not been there before, or to sell family members on the place you want to stay.

• Website: SuiteDisney

#8: Disney Every Day – Get a little bit of Disney in your life with Disney Every Day. Amanda does a fantastic job of providing useful information about the Disney World theme parks and resorts on a daily basis. A great help in your planning, and an even better resource once you are booked to keep you up to date and excited for your upcoming trip.

• Website: Disney Every Day
• Twitter: @amandatinney

#7: The Disney Food Blog – Um, Yum! Currently my favorite Disney blog to read on a daily basis, AJ provides daily insight into something Disney food related, whether it is a restaurant review, a recipe or just some great Disney food news. Now, just a warning, eat before heading over to the Disney Food Blog, it will make your hungry! A great way to research and plan your meal while at Disney World, and to keep up to date on restaurant changes.

• Website: The Disney Food Blog
• Twitter: @disneyfoodblog

#6: Disney World Mom’s Panel – Several years ago, Disney took it upon themselves to offer an alternative to the non-official Disney sites out there, and set up the Disney World Mom’s panel, featuring regular folk like you and me. The mom’s panel features both moms and dads who answer questions on the WDW website, and generally offer “official” support to those going to WDW. While the site itself is ok, the best part about the mom’s panel is that most of them are active on twitter, it is a great way to reach out to them for a bit of help, they are all super friendly! Just do a quick search, won’t take you long to find them.

• Website: Disney World Mom’s Panel

#5: Passporter – Authors of one of the best Disney World guide books (the passporter series, of course), Jen and Dave also offer a great planning website. With excerpts from their books, planning tips and tricks plus a great community, this is an excellent place to start your planning.

• Website: Passporter

#4: Disney Forums – Now, I am not going to pick out one Disney forum, there are quite a few, and each has good things about them and not so good. Some are way to big to find information (though there is a ton there, if you know where to find it). Some are too small to provide much help. Look around at a few, find which fits your personality the best, and start there.

Forums are fantastic for planning, a great place to ask questions to those who have gone before you. Find a forum that doesn’t feel to big, but big enough to get your questions answered. Here are a few of my favorites:

• MouseBuzz
• DisBoards
• The Dibb
• MiceChat

#3: Touring Plans – Home to my favorite Disney Guide Book, the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, Touring Plans offers some unique planning tools not really found anywhere else. The crowd calendar is my favorite, it provides a pretty accurate estimate of what crowds will be each day in each park, which is a great help in your planning. Check back often, as the estimates are updated all the time. The other cool thing I love is their Lines iphone app (also available on Android and Blackberry, etc.). This is an on the go tool to use while at WDW to check line lengths for the parks. The best Disney app out there, by far.

• Website: Touring Plans
• Twitter: @touringplans

#2: Disney Discount Sites – Everyone loves a discount. You are going to Disney World no matter what, so you might as well get the best deal available. MouseSavers has been around forever, and Mary does a fantastic job of keeping up to date on Disney discounts as well as other discounts in the Disney universe. I also like Mouse for Less, which offers tons of planning information along with current discounts. My favorite though has to be MouseMisers, which focuses just on current Disney discounts, with some planning information sprinkled in. MouseMisers does a fantastic job of being available to answer questions through comments on their site or through Twitter of Facebook, great if you want to ask a hard question directly to an expert and get an answer.

• Website: MouseMisers
• Twitter: @mousemisers
• Facebook: MouseMisers

#1: AllEars – The de facto standard for Disney information. Deb has been working at AllEars for years (since last century!). Wether you are looking for hotel information, photos, hotel or restaurant reviews or Disney World menus, All Ears is the place to go. When I am looking to answer a Disney question, I usually head to All Ears first, then google second.

• Website: AllEars
• Twitter: @allearsnet

A bit of cheating here, I am going to provide a #1a for you. I didn’t want to take away from one of the great sites above, but one of the most important sites you can use in your planning is to employ a Disney only travel agency. They have been there (tons), know the discounts backwards and forwards, and can help you out in any of your planning, and it won’t cost you a nickel. If you call Disney directly, chances are you will spend more money, and you won’t have a personal planner on your side to help you out down the road.

There are a bunch of really good Disney only agencies out there, find one that you like. We are particularly fond of our sponsor Mouseketrips, they go above and beyond, you will love them.

Granted, most people head to Walt Disney World with their kids in tow, and many people would not even consider it a vacation destination without kids. However, you can’t beat a night (or a week) in Disney without the kids, whether you leave them in the room with a sitter, or leave them at home all together. Those who have only been in the parks with little kids, running from character meal to parade to nap time miss out on the wonderful options available in the parks, if you just take a few minutes to look around.

#10: Downtown Disney – Now, of course, you can enjoy Downtown Disney with kids. That is true for most of the options below, but if your kids are anything like mine, they bore quickly when shopping, especially when there are rides to be riden.  Downtown Disney has some great restaurants (Fultons!), some great “adult” shops, especially on the West Side. Even with Pleasure Island closed, Downtown Disney is a great place to hang out and enjoy yourself. I had intended to add Cirque du Soleil as #9, but I will include it here. Great show, even better when you don’t have to shell out all that money to take the kids too.

#9: Street Performers – By far the most hidden gem of Disney World, the street performers of Hollywood Studios are a site not to miss. There are others that are great too, the Jammitors of Epcot and the Mayor and his posse in the Magic Kingdom. Just hang out and watch for a while, you will laugh like you have never laughed before.

#8: Boat Rides – Disney offers numerous boat rides throughout the Walt Disney World resort. Many in and around the Magic Kingdom to nearby resorts and the Transportation and Ticket Center, from Epcot to Hollywood Studios and back (with stops at the Boardwalk area resorts), the boat from Port Orleans to Downtown Disney, etc. Many times with kids, you just want to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible, which often precludes you from enjoying one of the many boat rides. Relax, the kids are safe, and enjoy the ride.

#7: Special Events in the Parks – Disney offers many special events in the parks year round, many of which can be enjoyed even more without little ones. I love the Food and Wine Festival and the Flower and Garden festival in Epcot, which are much, much better when you can take your time and enjoy. Also check out the Eat to the Beat concert series, the Candlelight Processional, ESPN the Weekend and any of the Disney marathons. Fantastic events that make Disney special.

#6: The Boardwalk – One of my most favorite places in all of WDW, especially in the evening. Great restaurants, a few shops, Jellyrolls, bike rentals and buskers. Just take some time strolling and checking out the performers, grab a treat at the bakery, you will be in for a fantastic evening.

#5: Just act like a kid for once – With kids around, especially if they are little, you end up riding kid rides all day long (Hello Dumbo for the 13th time!). Worrying about the kids, getting on and off the rides, you really can’t enjoy the rides for what they are. Take time and ride a few of the “kids” rides, Peter Pan is my favorite, Snow White is decent too.

#4: Dinner at a Signature Restaurant – I prefer not to take my kids to super nice restaurants while at WDW, not because of the cost or that they won’t behave themselves, but because the (and all kids) tend to fall asleep on the table. Not sure why, long day, slow service, etc. Take your significant other out to a nice meal, Disney offers some of the nicest restaurants in Florida. I love Flying Fish and Jiko, but any signature place will do.

#3: Ride the “Boring” rides – My kids have a list of boring rides they refuse to ride (or will only ride once), many of which are my favorites. I could ride Living with the Land over and over (same with Tomorrowland Transit Authority). Without kids, you can relax and enjoy those slower rides, and not worry about having to drag the kids on kicking and screaming.

#2: Explore the Resorts – My kids can’t think of anything more painful that taking time out of the parks to explore other resorts. My wife on the other hand, can’t think of anything better to do. The kids always win. Disney has some fantastic resorts, with great themes and grounds. Maybe schedule a nice dinner at a resort one night, and spend a few minutes just walking around to see what the resort has to offer, you may find a new place to stay your next trip.

#1: Quiet places in the Parks – Disney has built some fantastic places in each park, many of which you never notice as you are running to fit in that last Pirates of the Caribbean ride before the parade and fireworks. Without kids, you can sit and relax your feet for a few minutes without hearing constant crying (unless your feet really, really hurt). As you walk around, take your time and find those secret places. The English Garden in Epcot is fantastic, and the Animal Kingdom is full of quiet corners and fantastic benches.

Disney is so much more than a theme park, it is full of wonderful places, restaurants, rides and entertainment. I love taking my kids to WDW, but if I had the choice, I would leave them home, it makes for a much better vacation.