Castaway Cay is fantastic, and a big reason why many return guests cruise with Disney. It is clean, well thought out, flat out beautiful, void of any locals trying to sell you illegal substances and has free food and drinks available all day long. All in all, probably the best beach day you will have in your life. With so many things to do, here are our top 10 things to do on Castaway Cay:

#10: Castaway Joe’s - located over by the exclusive teen beach (where nary a teen has been sighted), Castaway Joe’s is a great open air pavillion with basketball, pool, foosball, ping pong and other fun sports. It is a nice way to get out of the sun for a while, and take a break from the water, but still entertain the kids.

#9: Shop - Disney has several small stores on the island, including She Sells Sea Shells. These shops carry exclusive Castaway Cay merchandise, if you see it here and want it, you better buy it, you won’t see it anywhere else. There are also a few fun Bahamanian shops featuring local merchandise.

#8: Rent Bikes - Disney has set up a few very nice bike paths around areas on the island, and renting bikes is a great way to see the entire island, or at least as much as Disney will allow you to see. You can even bike to a new look out tower that overlooks most of the island. An hour is enough, you can cover all the paths easily within an hour.

#7: Eat as much Ice Cream as you can - Disney provides all of your food and drinks (non-alcoholic drinks that is) for no cost. While the food is good, and it is nice to have access to cold drinks all day long, it is the ice cream that makes your day special. For some reason, I don’t know if it is the heat or sun, the ice cream on Castaway Cay is better than anywhere else on earth. They close up the ice cream early, so don’t wait until the end of the day to stop by.

#6: Do a shore excursion - while not paramount to making your Castaway Cay day perfect, a shore excursion can be a blast. Whether it is Castaway Ray’s Stingray Adventure, parasailing or renting a boat, a shore excursion is a fun way to see Castaway Cay from a different angle. Some of the excursions even take you beyond the boundaries of Castaway Cay.

#5: Drink an adult beverage - Stop by either Conched Out, Heads Up or Castaway Air Bar for fantastic views and a cool adult drink. The Conched Out Bar seems to be the favorite of most cruisers, as it always seems crowded, is close to the family beach and has the biggest selection of drinks.

#4: Serenity Bay Beach - the infamous adult only beach, for those 18 and older, is just fantastic. Smaller than the family beach, the name is apt, as serenity is what you will get. If you have kids along with you, you can check them into the kids club on the island, and head ovover for some adult only time on the beach. Be warned, this isn’t St. Martin, so you won’t see any topless activity going on. It is adult only, but is just to keep the kids on the family beach and give the adults a nice relaxing day at the beach.

#3: Serenity Bay Massage Cabanas - Overlooking Serenity Bay sits a couple, partially hidden, massage cabanas. Sign up in the spa on board the shop for a relaxing massage, with great views of Serenity Bay. A great way to start or wrap up your day on Castaway Cay.

#2: Snorkel - Disney Cruise went to great lengths to create a snorkeling area in the lagoon by the family beach. While the snorkeling will not be as good as on St. Thomas or Grand Cayman, it is a nice break from the beach. Ask one of the lifeguards for a map, and see if you can find all of the sunken treasure.

#1: Just relax - The most important part of the day on Castaway Cay is the first 10 minutes. If you stress about the first 10 minutes, you can relax the rest of the day. We always hop off the tram, and start walking. The further down the beach you go, the better chance you are going to have of it not being crowded, and finding a spot with plenty of chairs, and even a hammock or two that you can claim. Relaxing is what Castaway Cay is about, and if you have the hammock, a bit of shade and aren’t too far from food and drink, you can let the kids play in the water all day while you sit back and mentally prepare yourself for the stateroom bill you are going to get once you get back on the boat.

While California Adventure is no where near complete, as evidenced by the recent announcement of the vast amounts of money to be spent there in the coming years, there still are some fantastic rides to be found, and well worth your time to search out. Here are our top 10 rides in California Adventure:

#10: Toy Story Mania! - While technically this ride isn’t even open yet, and wont’ open until the summer of 2008, it still makes our top 10, barely. Think Buzz Lightyear, but with a 3D twist. This should be an instant classic once open, and a ride you will be able to ride over and over again without getting bored.

#9: Monsters Inc., Mike and Sulley to the Rescue - Monsters Inc was a remake of the old SuperStar Limos, and is a huge improvement. A simple ride through of Monstropolis, this is a fun ride for little kids, and not bad for older kids and adults. Some decent special effects make this ride worth seeing.

#8: Mulholland Madness - Mulholland is technically a Wild Mouse ride with a small amount of theming. It is a pretty tame coaster, so it makes it fun for little kids who may be too scared to ride some of the bigger thrill rides at the Disneyland Resort. Usually the line isn’t too long, and it is worth riding.

#7: It’s Tough to be a Bug - A transplant from Animal Kingdom in Florida, It’s Tough to be a Bug is a fantastic 4D attraction, with great jokes, sights and smells. May be scary for some small children, but for most people, this is a great way to spend a few minutes relaxing in the park.

#6: Sun Wheel - The Sun Wheel is a two part ride. It is a normal Ferris Wheel, though on the large size. It gives great views of the parks and surrounding area, and is a fun ride. What makes it special is the other half, a hidden thrill ride. Half of the “cars” are stationary as they go around the wheel, the other half ride on tracks, and move like a mini roller-coaster, and honestly, freak me out.

#5: Muppet Vision 3D - Another transplant from Florida, Muppet Vision 3D is basically a complete replica of the Florida version, including the ending that was made for Walt Disney World. It still makes for a funny entertaining show for kids and adults alike.

#4: Grizzly River Run - A water ride in the vein of Kali River Rapids in Animal Kingdom, but a step up. Great views from the top of the ride, and while riding Kali, you most likely won’t get wet, on Grizzly River Run, you will get wet. Fun, action packed ride, the last hill is a blast, as you spin your way to inevitable wetness.

#3: Soarin’ Over California - An original to California Adventure that was moved to Epcot a few years after opening, Soarin’ features a hang gliding ride over California, from the Northern California Forests and Yosemite Park to Death Valley and eventually Disneyland, this is a great way to view California. Rides like Soarin’ are what make Disney special.

#2: Tower of Terror - While not a complete replica of the Florida version, this Tower of Terror has the same story, but more elevators for more capacity, and a slightly shorter ride. Still a great thrill ride, and great views of the parks.

#1: California Screamin’ - A unique roller coaster to California Adventure, California Screamin’ is the centerpiece of the park. A 0 - 60, nearly instant start leads to a great, smooth roller coaster with a loop and great turns. Disney’s best pure roller coaster, anywhere.

Every year, millions of people visit Walt Disney World, it is after all the most popular tourist destination in the world. Even though you may stay in the same hotel as another family, and go to the exact same theme parks, everyone has a different Disney vacation. Here are our top 10 tips for planning your WDW vacation. If you are going to spend the money, you might as well do it right.

#10: Plan for down time - Walt Disney World is huge, and often very crowded and hot. Nothing can ruin a vacation to Walt Disney World, especially if you have little kids, than trying to do too many things in one day. During your planning, make sure you figure in some down time at the resort for naps or swimming. You will be surprised how refreshed your group will be near the end of the day, while others are having to go home early after trying to stay in the parks for 16+ hours at a time.

#9: Disney Message Boards - Visit a few different Disney message boards while planning your vacation. You can ask questions, or read about other’s trips. Any tips you can pick up will help you on your vacation, plus you might make a few new friends. We suggest DisBoards, they are the biggest, but can be overwhelming to find helpful information. Also check out MouseBuzz, smaller and more intimate that DisBoards.

#8: Pick your resort wisely - Making sure you stay in the right resort for you is very important. Whether it is the location, theme or quality of the resort, each Disney resort differs, and most likely, one resort may be better for you. If you are unfamiliar with the resorts, make sure you spend time doing the research to find the right resort. Looking at pictures and maps is the best first step. We suggest SuiteDisney, for each Disney resort, they have hundreds of quality photos. They also have great photos of the parks and resorts.

#7: Check Park and Parade Hours/Plan your days -  Disney World posts park, parade and fireworks hours 6 months in advance for each park. They also post a schedule of Extra Magic Hours for the parks as well. You need to check out the hours and schedules for each park, and plan out which parks you will be doing each day. While you don’t need to stick to the schedule once you are there, things always change, it is nice to have the schedule set up, and go from there. You can see current Magic Kingdom park hours here, and from there, you can get to the other Disney parks and other months.

#6: Plan and Book Early - Make sure you start your planning as early as possible.  Planning early allows you time to figure out where you want to stay, gives you the best opportunity at getting the resort and room type you want, and get discounts on your reservation. You will also then have plenty of time to make dining reservation and any other plans you need. We usually plan 12 months in advance for our trip.

#5: Disney Guide Book - We suggest you pick up a good Disney Guide book for your trip, even if you have been 100 times before.  A good guide book will inform you about changes at the parks, new rides or restaurants, and will give you good insight to what will work best for your family. We suggest either the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World or the Passporter’s Guide to Walt Disney World. Both books are honest and insightful. Our friends over at Disney World Guide have a great overview of all Disney Guide Books.

#4: Travel During the Off Season -  No one likes crowds. Try to plan your trip during an off season time at WDW. If you can avoid summer, which is very crowded and very hot, and also Spring Break and Christmas, which while not hot, are just as crowded, you should have a much better Disney vacation. Please note that you will need to do more research than just making the assumption that any month will not be crowded. With the numerous Disney sites and guide books, people have figured out that some months are really good times to go, as they historically have very low crowds. Those months are now extremely crowded. For example, for years, early December was the best time to go, no crowds, great weather and you get to take advantage of all the Christmas activities and decorations. The last few years, the first two weeks of December have been sold out, and just as crowded as Christmas week. This is a good question to ask on a message board.

#3: Disney Discounts - Disney World typically offers discounts on rooms and packages throughout the year, but more specifically, during slower times of the year. Another great reason to plan early and travel during the off season. Lately, Disney has been releasing discounts about 5 months before the travel dates, and they usually only last a few weeks, and if you miss them, you are out of luck. We suggest checking out MouseSavers, they do a great job of keeping people up to date on current Disney discounts. There is usually no problem adding a recently released discount to an existing reservation, so no need to wait for the discount to be released to book the reservation.

#2: Use a Disney Only Travel Agent -  In all honesty, this should be #1, but it was a toss up, so I switched places. Using a Disney Travel Agent will help you immensely, and usually will save you money over booking directly with Disney, or heaven forbid, and internet travel company such as Expedia (please, please, never, ever book your Disney Vacation this way). A Disney specialist will be able to help you pick the right time to travel, help you with your resort choice, make dining suggestion, and answer any other question you may have. They also should take care of any discounts for you, assuming you booked early. We strongly suggest Mouseketrips, the only Disney Travel Agent we would ever use.

#1: Advanced Dining Reservation - I cannot stress how important making your Disney Dining Reservations are to the quality of your trip. Since the introduction of the Disney Dining Plan, all of the resort and theme park restaurants are for the most part, sold out all year long. Disney now allows you to make your Advanced Dining Reservation up to 180 days in advance of the day you check in (assuming you are staying on Disney property). Some reservations, such as Cinderella’s Royal Table sell out quickly, usually within a month of opening, most restaurant are still available 3 - 4 months before your travel, but the earlier you can make your reservation, the better choice you will have of restaurants and times.  The planning early and planning your days really helps when planning your dining reservations.

With this ten Disney planning tips, you should be well prepared for your Disney World vacation, and should be set to have a fantastic time.

Downtown Disney, which is basically a big outdoor mall by Disney, is a fun destination during your Walt Disney World vacation. First off, it is free, well, as long as you don’t buy anything, which is unlikely. Second, it is a nice break from the parks. Plus, there are some fantastic stores and restaurants that you really need to visit before heading home. Here are our top 10 stores at Downtown Disney:

#10: Disney Tails - Do you have a pet that loves Disney as much as you do? Disney Tails offers unique, and in many cases personalized gifts for your four legged friend. They also offer freshly baked treats, a great place to pick up the friend you had to leave at home.

#9: Mickey’s Pantry - If you are looking for a great gift, or something to spice up your kitchen and remind you of your Disney World vacation, Mickey’s Pantry has Disney themed kitchen items, from mugs and glasses to cooking utensils, cabinet knobs and small appliances. Some of their  items are really nice looking, and are more of a hidden mickey feeling, while others are Disney all the way.

#8: Pooh Corner -  If you know someone who wishes they lived in the 100 acre woods, Pooh Corner needs to be on your list. Whether it is Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet, Kanga or Ro, Disney has your needs covered. Fantastic little store with some great Pooh items.

#7: Team Mickey Athletic Club - For all sports fans, this is a destination rather than a shop. Great jerseys, balls, shoes, shirts and sports items of every sort. This store is always crowded, and deservedly so. Take your time looking around, Team Mickey has a much better ESPN selection than the ESPN store on the Boardwalk.

#6: The Art of Disney -  My personal favorite in Downtown Disney, The Art of Disney features all sorts of Disney art, from lithographs to posters and even those fantastic big ceramic  characters. If you are looking to decorate an office (as I am constantly doing) or a room in your home, The Art of Disney will features some affordable, and not so affordable, works of art to make your room special.

#5: Lego Imagination Center - The only non-Disney shop in the Top 10, the Lego Imagination Store is probably the best presented store in Downtown Disney. Over sized Lego items are all around the front of the store, and even a huge Lego dragon in the lake not far from the entrance. Legos are about all that are available in the store, but who doesn’t love Legos?

#4: Once Upon a Toy -  Great Disney and other toys, from board games, stuffed animals and the world famous Disney Mr. Potato Head. My favorite toy is the model monorail, and it is tough to narrow it down to just one toy.

#3: Disney’s Days of Christmas -  Whether you are visiting Disney World around the Holidays, or in the middle of Summer, Disney’s Days of Christmas is always stuck on December 25. A great place to pick up new ornaments or decorations for the upcoming Christmas season.

#2: Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique - While technically not a store, I had to list Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in this Top 10. Probably the best place on earth for little girls, BBB takes you on  a magical adventure of turning you from a normal little girl into a princess, complete with gown, brand new hairdo and tiara. If you, or your daughter has ever wanted to be a princess, you have to make a reservation.

#1: World of Disney - The World of Disney is the ultimate Disney Store. This place is huge, and covers everything Disney, from clothes to pins and everything in between. This should be your first and last stop when visiting Downtown Disney.

Walt Disney World some fantastic character meals, but honestly, how many can you really do during your Disney World vacation? I get burned out after two. Now that my kids are older, we may do one if we do any. I can only take so many buffets, and I want to enjoy my meals while at the parks, that is half the fun of going. So, where can you go where the food for adults is fantastic, it is still entertaining and the food for kids is even better?

#10: 50’s Prime Time Cafe - Traditional Meatloaf - Super fun place to eat, and the kids just love it when Dad has to eat his green beans and clean their plate. Good food, good fun.

#9: Spoodles - Beef Kabob - Loud, fun restaurant not far from Epcot. The Beef Kabobs have great flavor, and are familiar enough to kids that they have no problem eating them.

#8: Restaurant Marrakesh - Vegetable Couscous - the traditional meal of Morocco is presented to kids in a cool, different restaurant. With the chance for kids to learn how to belly dance, and the vegetable couscous, Restaurant Marakkesh will make you feel like you are in Morocco.

#7: Chefs de France - Croquette de Boeuf En Brioche - In what is in essence a fancy hamburger with an even fancier name, Chefs de France offers kids a chance to eat in a French restaurant without having to eat escargot.

#6: Rose and Crown - Cottage Pie - A super good mixture of things all kids love, ground beef, mashed potatoes and cheese. Throw in a few carrots and you have yourself a fantastic cottage pie. Great views of Illuminations from most of the outside tables, this is an interesting place to eat.

#5: Flying Fish - “Flying Fish” of the day - The Flying Fish offers the freshest sea food at Disney World, and the kids options are no different. If your kids love fish, this is the place to go. Small and intimate, all kids love the open kitchen.

#4: Coral Reef - Grilled Mahi Mahi - With an entire wall that is a open view of an aquarium, the Coral Reef offers wonderful fish for kids and adults, and an ever changing view of fish, sharks and turtles.

#3: Artist’s Point - Baked Salmon - Artist’s Point is famous for their Salmon entree for adults, and their kids option is just as good. Great restaurant with great views during the day, and after dark, the walk through the Wilderness Lodge courtyard is fantastic.

#2: Yachtsman Steakhouse - Slow Roasted Prime Rib - If your kids love beef, Yachtsman will offer you better options than anywhere on Disney property. This Prime Rib is so good, I have seem parents trying to trade their meals for their kid’s Prime Rib.

#1: California Grill -  Oak Fired Rib Steak - Great kids meal, and with a towering view of the Magic Kingdom, California Grill is the number one kids meal in Walt Disney World. Make your reservations for an hour before the Magic Kingdom fireworks, you will have fantastic food and an even better view.