For the most part, Disney parks around the world have fantastic, creative and exciting rides. Every once and a while, whether due to lack of time or money, they put out a real stinker. I honestly had a very hard time coming up with this list, for most rides, there is something decent about them. It is possible your list might be completely different than mine, feel free to list it in the comments below.

#10: Magic Carpets of Aladdin - In an attempt to replicate the Dumbo magic, the Magic Carpets of Aladdin is another in the long line of 2-D spinning rides, they all go around in a circle, and the individual cars can go up and down. Any older than about 3 is bored to death in seconds. On its own, the ride is ok, but with a few others exactly like it in the parks, Disney should have passed on this one.

#9: Triceratops Spin - See #10. Another Dumbo wanna be, but when paired with the horrific Dinoland USA, Triceratops Spin beats out Aladdin for the spin rides.

#8: Tom Sawyer Island - What used to be a wonderland as a kid in the early 70’s, it has become a forgotten wasteland that most guests bypass (good for them). What could be a fantastic playland for kids and adults is in horrible need of updating, and honestly an alternative to get on and off the island, every time I go over, it takes an hour to wait through the line to get back.

#7: The Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm - A rollercoaster for little kids, but the lines are always long, the ride is extremely short and there is no excitement at all. You never hear kids wanting to ride it again. While Disneyland has the Matterhorn where kids as little as 2 or 3 can ride, the Magic Kingdom has the Barnstormer. Ugg.

#6: The Enchanted Tiki Room, Under New Management - Please understand, the Tiki Room at Disneyland is one of my favorite attactions, just fantastic. Disney decided to mess with the formula, and totally ruined it. Now featuring Iago and Zazu, along with many of the original birds, it just has lost the magic of the original. 

#5: Body Wars - OK, I know this ride is closed part time/permanently. It has to be included on the list though, it is/was horrific! A motion simulator similar to Star Tours, you entered the body as a miniature spaceship, and visited several parts of the body via the blood stream. Never a wait, even over Christmas, and nary a decent story line to be fine. It makes most people ill, and I have yet to meet a person who has rode this ride twice in one day.

#4: Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable - This movie is basically just Pumba and Timon from the Lion King added to remnants of Symbiosis, and Environmental film that opened in Epcot during 1982. It seems much older than 26 years, and Disney is missing a huge opportunity to teach and entertain the crowds coming to ride Soarin!

#3: Stitch’s Great Escape - A feeble attempt by Disney brass to turn the unpopular ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter in the Magic Kingdom into something more family friendly. The budget, no matter how much it was, wasn’t enough. This ride is neither entertaining, scary or funny.

#2: Journey Into Imagination - Another remake, this is a really, really bad ride. The original, while not great, was much beloved and miss. Dreamfinder and Figment are still found on t-shirts and stuffed animals throughout Epcot. While Figment has returned in this third itineration, his presence does not save this ride. No lines even during the busiest parts of the year, no interesting parts of the ride, the only reason to ride it is to get out of the heat.

#1: Conservation Station - I don’t know where to start. Who designs a ride that requires that you ride another ride to and from it in order to visit? The Wildlife Express Train that goes back and forth between the Animal Kingdom and Conservation Station is actually cool, you get to see cool backstage areas and who doesn’t love riding on a train? However, once there, they force you off the train, and to the back of the line to return back to the parks. There isn’t anything interesting at Conservation Station, but are often forced to stay there for long periods of time waiting for a return train. Please, never, ever, go to Conservation Station, you will thank me.

Walt Disney World has some amazing shows, from great stage shows with live actors to 4-D shows with classic Disney characters. Most of the shows are fantastic for kids, as they are entertaining, non-moving and for the most part, right on their level. Below are our top 10, do not miss, shows for kids at Walt Disney World.

#10: Playhouse Disney - Live on Stage! - Disney’s Hollywood Studios - While not great for all kids, this Playhouse Disney show if fantastic for the preschool kids, where their favorite Playhouse Disney characters come alive right in front of them. This is an interactive show, with dancing and singing.

#9: Muppet Vision 3-D - Disney’s Hollywood Studios - Fantastic 4-D show featuring the Muppets, from Kermit to Miss Piggy. Adults might get a bigger kick out of this show. Don’t miss the pre-show, absolutely classic Muppets. 

#8: Voyage of the Little Mermaid - Disney’s Hollywood Studios - This is a live action show recreating the Little Mermaid movie, with actors on stage, along with some animated shots from the movie. Great fun, wonderful music and a great place to cool off on a hot day.

#7: Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular - Disney’s Hollywood Studios - This live action stunt show gives kids a look at how movies are made, especially the dangerous stunt involved in making action movies. Featuring Indiana Jones, this 30 minute show is great for kids of all ages, though the young ones may get a bit bored during the scene changes.

#6: Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor - Featuring Mike Wazowski, the audience is involved in a comedy club type setting, where the monsters are attempting to get laughs to power Monstropolis. The great thing about the Laugh Floor is that it is an interactive show with animated characters, the no two shows are alike. Great fun for kids, especially if they are part of the show.

#5: Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show - Disney’s Hollywood Studios - Disney’s newest show, imported from Disneyland Paris, is a look at how stunts are performed in movies, especially those involving cars. This show is loud, fast and involves a lot of explosions and fire, perfect for kids. 

#4: Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage - Disney’s Hollywood Studios - A live reproduction of Beauty and the Beast, this is a Broadway style production with great sets and actors. Great fun for kids, especially those fond of Beauty and the Beast. Very limited show times during the day, make sure you plan so you do not miss it.

#3: Mickey’s PhilharMagic - Magic Kingdom  - Another 4-D spectacular, staring Donald Duck, with help from Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters. Great 3-D effects and fun gags make this show a must see for kids and adults. I can still smell the Apple Pie.

#2: Legend of the Lion King - Animal Kingdom - A live action show featuring your favorite Lion King characters, as well as singers, dancers and acrobats performing to the Lion King songs. A lot of fun, kids really seem to get into the songs and characters.

#1: Finding Nemo - The Musical - Animal Kingdom - Disney’s newest show is also it’s best. Recreating the Finding Nemo movie on stage would be good, but set to new music makes it even that much better. Live actors portray the Finding Nemo characters, with oversize puppets, this show is very similar to the Lion King that has been on Broadway for years. Do not miss this show!

Walt Disney World and pictures go hand in hand. You have to figure close to a million photos are taken on Disney property each day, and that is just by guests, not including all the ride photos taken. So, where are the places you shouldn’t miss having your picture taken? Below is our Top 10 Walt Disney World photo spots:

#10: Lego Store - Downtown Disney - This is a unique choice, as it really isn’t Disney, but a Lego store located in Downtown Disney. Lego has done a great job making the Lego Store a fun place to be, with a bunch of life size lego creations that you can have your photo taken with.

#9: From the top of the Contemporary Resort - Located on the  top floor of the Contemporary is the California Grill. If you are lucky enough to get a reservationn there,  you will have access to the Contemporary catwalk. This is a big platform on the North end off the building, and is outside, with fantastic views of the Magic Kingdom, Grand Floridian and Contemporary.

#8: Japan Pavilion, Epcot -  While the Japan pavilion is beautiful and all, what makes this spot special is the great view you get from the lakeside looking back across the lake towards Spaceship Earth.

#7: Expedition Everest - Animal Kingdom - Disney’s newest thrill ride also give you some great photo opportunities, from up close, or further away. It is a beautiful mountain, and with all the work Disney has done to make it look like it rises from a small town in Nepal, you are sure to find some great photo spots.

#6: Tree of Life - Animal Kingdom -  The centerpiece of the Animal Kingdom park is a bigger than life tree, carved with hundreds of animals into it’s trunk, and can be seen from just about anywhere in the park. My personal favorite spot is on the bridge going from Discovery Island to Harambe Village, you get a nice clear shot of the Tree, and there is plenty of space to get your whole group in the shot.

#5: Sorcerer’s Hat - Disney’s Hollywood Studios - A relatively new theme park icon, Mickey’s Sorcerer Hat has become one of the most photographed items in any of the Disney theme parks. Just a fantastic backdrop to your entrance to Disney’s Hollywood studios, and while great looking during the day, it is at night when it really shines.

#4: Spaceship Earth - Epcot - Located at the entrance to Epcot, guests constantly stop to get a picture with Spaceship Earth in the background. No mistaking where that photo was taken. If you want to try a less popular, but honestly better angle, try walking past the ride and on the other side of the Fountain of Nations, you get a great angle, plus the fountains.

#3: Entrance to Magic Kingdom - Once you walk through the turnstiles of the Magic Kigndom, there is a great photo op, with the over sized Mickey made of flowers and the Magic Kingdom train station in the back, you can’t help but snap a photo of the kids.

#2: Tower of Terror - Sunset Boulevard - Disney’s Hollywood Studios -  While you may be a big chicken and wimp out before you actually get to the Tower of Terror, there is nothing like having your picture with it in the background while you are still feeling brave.

#1: Cinderella’s Castle - By far the most photographed area of Disney World is Cinderella’s Castle. There are several great areas to shoot from to get a great photo, walking down Main Street, from Tomorrowland or Adventureland, from Fantasyland even to get the back side. My favorite is from the entrance to the Crystal Palace. There isn’t anything block your photo, it is all trees and grass.

Just in case you hadn’t noticed, Walt Disney World is pretty smart. They realized a while ago that Disney World needed special events to draw people into the parks during “off season”. Now, summer is always crowded, as is the week of Christmas and Spring Break, but other times of the year can be pretty slow at Disney World. So, enter the Event. As time has gone on, a few more events have been added, most recently, the Pirate and Princess Party that has been happening in the Spring and Fall since 2007. Here are our top 10 Walt Disney World events:

#10: ABC Super Soap Weekend - Now, granted, I hate soap operas, so it plausible this may be #1 on your list, but it barely squeaks into the top 10 on mine.  Usually held the second weekend in November, the Super Soap Weekend brings together all of ABC soap starts and their adoring fans in one theme park (Disney’s Hollywood Studios). Get your autograph with your favorite soap star, or even win a chance to star along side one of the hunks in “I want to be a soap star!”. Good luck ladies!

#9: Star Wars Weekend - again, not really up my alley, but this one at least sounds a little cool. Usually held in late May or early June, the Star Wars Weekend has become more like the Star Wars Weekend for a month event. Meet Star Wars characters and actors, learn how to use a lightsaber or  talk like Yoda. If you love, or even like, Star Wars, you should make your way to Disney’s Hollywood Studios one of these weekends.

#8: Night of Joy - Usually held in the Magic Kingdom the first full weekend in September (not ever Labor Day Weekend though), the Night of Joy features Contemporary Christian acts performing live for two nights. For 2008, the event moves to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it will be interesting to see if it stays there.

#7: ESPN The Weekend - If you are into sports, and who isn’t?, the ESPN Weekend is for you. Featuring ESPN’s top celebrities, and sports stars that you all know, ESPN the Weekend is a blast, and covers just about every square inch of WDW. Usually held the last weekend in February, the coolest part is all these guys have families, and they want to ride the rides too. You never know when you will get to ride Pirates of the Caribbean with Peyton Manning and family, or Tower of Terror with Johnny Bench.

#6: Pirate and Princess Party - The new kid on the block, and already very popular. Held each Springs (January and February), and then again in the Fall (September), the Pirate and Princess party allows kids of all ages to dress as their favorite Pirate or Princess in the Magic Kingdom for a few hours, complete with rides, a special parade, and classes on how to be a better pirate or princess.

#5: Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party - Along the lines of the Pirate and Princess party, the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party allows you to come into the Magic Kingdom all dressed up for Halloween. Special parades and fireworks great you, and you can even trick or treat your way up Main Street. This is really a fun party, and your only chance to get a picture with your favorite character all dressed up for Halloween.

#4: Holidays Around the World - Held in Epcot, this is basically all the countries of the World Showcase dressed up for the holidays. Epcot is the place to be at Christmas time, with the Candlelight Processional, special storytellers and carolers in each country, tree lighting ceremonies, and if you are lucky, you could glimpse Santa Clause in each country, dressed as that county sees him.

#3: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party - The Grand daddy of them all. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is held yearly in the Magic Kingdom during late November and December. The Magic Kingdom is all decked out for the Holidays, and nothing is more special than walking down Main Street while it snows and Holiday music is playing (and it is still 78 degrees outside). Special Holiday events and activities await you, even photos with Santa Clause and hot chocolate add to the mood.

#2: Flower and Garden Festival - Held in Epcot during the late Springs (March through May), the Flower and Garden festival dressed up Epcot like you have never seen before. Special Flower arrangements abound, nothing like seeing your childhood Disney stars made out of plants. Plus, the Flower Power concert series makes it all worth while, with great acts from the 60’s performing nightly.

#1: Epcot International Food and Wine Festival -  Truly, the reason why I love Epcot and Walt Disney World. I love to eat at the many restaurants of Epcot, and during the Food and Wine festival, an additional 40 or so booths are set up throughout the World Showcase featuring food from around the world, most coming from countries not represented in Epcot. This is a great opportunity to taste food you normally wouldn’t see in Epcot, or anywhere else for that matter outside the host country. All portions are small, so you don’t fill up after one or two countries. Drinks are available as well from most countries, so pace yourself so you make it all the way around the World Showcase. Held each fall from late September until the middle of November.

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.