Wayfaring Willards

About Wayfaring Willards

Join us, the Willard family of four, as we discuss all things related to traveling with toddlers. We cover all aspects of family travel including: destination research & decision making, our planning process, packing & preparing, details from the actual trip, and wrap it all up with a recap of the do's, don'ts, and things we would do differently. We'll also do a fully transparent dive into the financials of the trip - everything from point accumulation & usage to hotel fees and food costs. Where will our travels take our family next....? Subscribe and listen in to find out!

Publisher

Wayfaring Willards

Category

kids & family

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Dec 2023

Latest episode

25 Jul 2024

Latest episodes

15 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   25 Jul 2024

   Wayfaring Willards Family Travel Recap and 2024 Catch-up

   After a little hiatus thanks to life and other things, we are finally back to recording and publishing our family travel podcast! We have been busy getting content out on our travel blog (https://www.wayfaringwillards.com/travel-blog) and Instagram - @wayfaringwillards (https://www.instagram.com/wayfaringwillards/) - to keep up with everything that is going on in the world of family travel. This year, we have visited Isle of Palms, Nashville, and Southport. But we aren't finished yet! Next month, we're off to Walt Disney World before school schedules dictate our travel schedules. There have been some major changes this summer that will impact Walt Disney World, including the sunsetting of the Genie+ system in favor of a re-branded FastPass system now called Lightning Lane System. This will include the Lightning Lane Multipass & Lightning Lane Single Ride platforms that will allow advanced ride reservations. No more are the days where you have to get up and fight for reservations at 6:55AM. Now, WDW Resort guests, Swan & Dolphin guests, and Shades of Green guests will be able to book advanced ride reservations up to 7-days in advance of their visit. All others will be able to book up to 3-days of their scheduled park visit date. We have you covered with our handy-dandy Lightning Lane System guide that's available FOR FREE on our Travel Resources page (https://www.wayfaringwillards.com/free-travel-resources)! And we will have more to report on once we get back from our trip! As always, we'd love your support by subscribing to and sharing our podcast - plus check out our blog + instagram account to make sure you're getting all of the content we're putting out to help families traveling with younger kids! Are you looking to plan some family travel? We can help! Get your free Travel Quote (https://www.wayfaringwillards.com/travel-services) now and let's start planning your next magical & memorable vacation!

2. 

   8 Mar 2024

   Wayfaring Willards - Walt Disney World 101: Genie +

   What is Genie+ (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/genie/genie-overview/)? Pay to skip the line service (the “new” Fast Pass) Tiers: Genie (free – Tip Board; personalized itinerary under “My Day” according to MDE) Genie+ - paid service with daily pricing and varies per park (and includes Disney Photo pass attraction images and Audio Tales access; purchased at midnight on park day): Magic Kingdom – on average $27/person EPCOT – on average $17/person Hollywood Studios – on average $21/person Animal Kingdom – on average $15/person Park Hopper – on average $27/person Prices can range $15-35 (day-based pricing) ILL – separately purchased lightning lanes for most popular attractions (can purchase up to two ILLs per day): Magic Kingdom – Seven Dwarfs and TRON (expecting one for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure) EPCOT – Guardians of the Galaxy Hollywood Studios – Rise of the Resistance Animal Kingdom – Flight of Passage Honorable Mention: Virtual Queues Lightning Lanes, ILLs and Virtual Queues can all be booked at 7am on park day How long is your lighting lane valid? – 1 hour (can check in 5 minutes before, and up to 20 minutes after your window) When can you book your next lightning lane? – 2 hour rule and badging in How do you cancel/modify a lightning lane? - Can look for a different return time via the MyDisney Experience app Conventional wisdom using Genie+: Magic Kingdom - Peter Pan, Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain EPCOT - Test Track, Remy’s, Frozen, Soarin’ Hollywood Studios - Slinky Dog Dash, Tower of Terror, Rockin’ Roller Coaster, Millenium Falcon Smuggler’s Run, Toy Story Mania, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway Animal Kingdom - Na’vi River Journey, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest Helpful resources: AllEars.net (YouTube) Ear Scout (YouTube) Somewhere Worthwhile Genie+ toolkit (https://somewhereworthwhile.com/the-genie-toolkit)

3. 

   1 Mar 2024

   Wayfaring Willards - Walt Disney World 101: Disney Dining Plan & Enchanted Extras

   Get ready to cover reservation timelines, Disney Dining Plan, and Enchanting Extras! 60-Day Reservations Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) Reservations can be made 60 calendar days in advance of your arrival day at WDW If you’re staying at a Disney resort, you can book reservations for your entire trip on the 60-day mark (up to 10 days) If you are staying off property, you must make reservations in sequential days Example: for our August trip, I can begin booking reservations on June 5th, 2024 Reservations open around 6am (however, Disney likes to open time slots around 5:45am on occasion) Reservations could be your ticket into the park early – you may dine at a park table service restaurant before park opens! Enchanting Extras (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/enchanting-extras-collection/) Reservations (examples below): Bibbidi Boppity Boutique Reservations can be made at midnight for BBB VIP Tours Harmony Barber Shop Golf Spa services Dessert Parties and Fireworks Cruises Surf Lessons at Typhoon Lagoon Savi’s workshop Helpful Apps/Service Providers (can only be used within 60 days of your trip) Mousewatcher Stakeout – this is what I use, personally Best Mouse Dining Watcher MouseWait fo Disney World Magical Alerts (https://magicalalerts.com/#/whatwedo) 1 alert = $5 7 alert bundle = $30 Add More Magic Paid service that takes reservations off of you and on to a provider – you will not be charged unless your desired booking is secured Pricing Enchanting Extras - $12/guest (BBB, Harmony Barber Shop, Savi’s Workshop) Dining - $3/guest Canceling reservations Be sure to check the policy for each restaurant and/or enchanting extra. For the majority, you may cancel up to 2 hours ahead of your reservations without a fee. A $10 fee will be charged for no-shows or under the 2-hour window. However, there are some such as Bibbidi Boppity Boutique that require 24 hours notice, or you incur the $10 fee. Policies can be found on the My Disney Experience site and app Disney Dining Plan (DDP) (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/plans/) When purchasing the DDP, must be purchased per night of your stay, and for all guests ages 3 and up Disney Quick Service Dining Plan - $22.40 per child per night, $53.55 per adult per night 2 Quick-Service Meals (per night of stay) – per night of your vacation stay 1 Snack/Nonalcoholic Drink (per night of stay) – per night of your vacation stay (can sub for an alcoholic beverage if over 21) Quick service locations participating (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/#/quick-service-dining-plan/) Disney Dining Plan - $27.90 per child per night, $88.55 per adult per night 1 Quick-Service Meal (per night of stay) – per night of your vacation stay 1 Table-Service Meal (per night of stay) – per night of your vacation stay Some restaurants require redeeming 2 table service credits (examples: Cinderella’s Royal Table and Toppolino’s for lunch and dinner) 1 Snack/Nonalcoholic Drink (per night of stay) 🡪 per night of your vacation stay 1 Resort-Refillable Drink Mug – refillable at any Disney World Resort Table service locations participating (includes character dining) (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/#/dining-plan/)

4. 

   23 Feb 2024

   Wayfaring Willards - Walt Disney World 101: Love it or Pass it Part 02

   We are still taking a break from packing lists and planning tips to talk about some of our Walt Disney World - Orlando favorites (or least favorites). Taylor is firing off some more rapid fire questions related to the parks, resorts, food, events, experiences, and even transportation options around the parks. What are your favorites or least favorites? Tell us on instagram @wayfaringwillards - we would love to hear your take on this episode!

5. 

   16 Feb 2024

   Wayfaring Willards - Walt Disney World 101: Love it or Pass it Part 01

   Let's take a break from packing lists and planning tips to talk about some of our Walt Disney World - Orlando favorites (or least favorites). Taylor is firing off some rapid fire questions related to the parks, resorts, food, events, experiences, and even transportation options around the parks. What are your favorites or least favorites? Tell us on instagram @wayfaringwillards - we would love to hear your take on this episode!

6. 

   9 Feb 2024

   Wayfaring Willards - Walt Disney World 101: Equipment Rentals, Grocery Delivery, and Park Bags

   Equipment Rental Options Scooterbug (https://www.scooterbug.com/scooterbug-becomes-walt-disney-worlds-exclusive-provider-of-mobility-devices/)- became the official equipment rental partner in 2019. This means Scooterbug can coordinate with resort cast members to deliver & collect your rental equipment without you having to be present. Important to note that this only applies to deliveries to Disney Resorts - they cannot deliver to the parks themselves. Pricing for a double stroller comes out to roughly $20/day for rentals of 4-days, and becomes slightly less expensive for lengthier rentals ($15/day for 6-days, $14/day for 7-days). With this rental fee you’re getting the stroller & the delivery/collection. Additional accessories are available for additional charges, i.e.: rain cover, snack tray, bag hooks, or drink holders. They have some strong and reputable brands such as Bob and City Mini, but it’s something to be aware of. BabyQuip (https://www.babyquip.com/faqs)- This was our equipment rental provider for our trip last October. We learned that, while the website mentions delivery to your resort, the only company authorized to do so is Scooterbug. Their pricing makes it very attractive to work with them, and they were very communicative throughout the whole process. This company utilizes local providers to organize rental equipment, so you have multiple options available to you as far as inventory goes (NOT JUST STROLLERS!). Their local providers do offer airport delivery/pickup (for an additional fee). Disney rentals: (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/stroller-rentals/) Pricing: certainly not going to be your cheapest option as the price break for longer rental periods is certainly not as good as the other two mentioned providers. Single strollers are $15/daily or $13/day for a multi-day rental; double strollers are $31/daily or $27/day for a multi-day rental. Quality: They don’t look overly comfortable or convenient. It’s not like they’re falling apart, but I wouldn’t expect your kids to love every second of sitting on hard plastic. Convenience: what you really pay for is the convenience factor - the stroller (if rented in advance) is awaiting your arrival at guest services. When you leave the park, you drop the stroller at guest services and that is that. Notable mention: Kingdom Strollers - very similar to BabyQuip if you want to compare inventory and pricing (they are definitely more limited in their inventory, but pricing is competitive) Grocery delivery: Highly recommend using Kroger as opposed to other supplies such as DoorDash/InstaCart/Amazon Prime/etc, as those tend to add a hefty delivery fee on top of your order Top needs: bottles of water, yogurt pouches/tubes, applesauce pouches, snack bars, individual bags of a favorite snack (like Goldfish) You are permitted to bring as much food/liquids into the theme parks as you would like! Of course security will need to check all bags, but they will not stop you from packing an entire lunch (if you so choose) Fun fact, WDW does not carry a common “essential”: Cheerios! Check the resort websites (or call/chat WDW resort cast members) to confirm whether or not some of your “must haves” such as a certain brand of diapers, or diaper ointment, or even OTC medications are available at a nearby Disney convenience store (or in the parks!) Why do you need to pack a park bag? Snacks for the kiddos & yourselves Refillable water bottles - honestly, there’s no reason to ever pay for bottled water in any of these parks The weather - be prepared for the weather with a poncho, extra socks, or even extra outfits Extra outfits for the youngest toddlers/babies who may have an accident in the park (and even yourself especially if you’re expecting to get wet!) Wipe storage, extra sunscreen, band-aids, and mole skin (think anything first aid that could be needed such as Advil, Tums, etc) – Baby Centers also an option for emergencies while in the parks “Activities” for the kids (i.e. coloring pads/set of crayons, doodle pads, finger puppets, whatever it takes to keep kids entertained while “waiting around be it for food or a parade/nighttime spectacular)

7. 

   31 Jan 2024

   Wayfaring Willards - Walt Disney World 101: Packing Tips

   Are you ready to plan your trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida? Then you've come to the right podcast! Our Disney 101 series will take you through every single aspect of planning your trip through the lens of a first-time Disney traveler. In this episode, we will cover: Packing, Packing, Packing! MagicBand+ - is it worth it (general rule is to order >2 weeks before resort check-in) What is a MagicBand+? A wearable device that lets you do the following (comes in a variety of colors and patterns, and can be discounted through your resort if you are staying on property): Acts a key to your room at any WDW resort Allows for check-in to all theme parks and water parks (ensure your tickets are linked in your MDE app) Allows for check-in for any scheduled lightning lanes and virtual queues Allows for interactive elements in the parks such as nighttime spectaculars and character sculptures throughout the Disney parks Ability to make purchases throughout WDW (ensure you have linked a card to your MDE app; does not work for Disney gift cards, unfortunately) Visit Disney website (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/magicband-plus/) for a comparison of the MagicBand+, original MagicBand, and Disney Magic Mobile service to decide which is best for you and your family! Do not purchase through a third party such as Amazon or eBay; oftentimes these devices are no longer operational, or transferring ownership can be a headache if the device has been used. Packing Strategies: Advise one adult to bring a large backpack as a personal item for the flight & double as your park bag during the day. Include snacks and a change of clothes for kiddos (maybe even swimsuits depending on when you are planned to land and can take advantage of the resort pool while you wait for your room). We utilized air tags for our luggage (and stroller) to give a peace of mind while traveling. If you're comfortable, give your kids backpacks to keep up with while traveling. This can allow them to put toys or autograph books in their own bag when heading into the parks. Our Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wayfaringwillards.com/travel-blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.wayfaringwillards.com/travel-blog) Beat Provided By https://freebeats.io Produced By White Hot

8. 

   19 Jan 2024

   Wayfaring Willards - Walt Disney World 101: Pre-Planning Tips Part 1

   Are you ready to plan your trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida? Then you've come to the right podcast! Our Disney 101 series will take you through every single aspect of planning your trip through the lens of a first-time Disney traveler. In this episode, we will cover: When to go (time of year), how long to stay, and how to get there. Notes on when to go & how to get there: Suggest visiting Undercover Tourist (https://www.undercovertourist.com/orlando/crowd-calendar/2024/) for their crowd calendar predictions Typically the best weeks to visit (https://www.undercovertourist.com/blog/best-time-to-visit-disney-world/) are: Winter: January 17-18, January 22-23, November 6-7, November 12-15, November 18-21, weekdays in December (with the exception for the week of Christmas/New Year’s) Spring: February 5-8, February 26-29, March 4-8, April 23-30 Summer: Monday-Thursday the first half of May, first week of June Fall: second half of August (up until Labor Day weekend), all of September (minus Labor Day week), most weekdays in October Always think about school vacations (what are some strategies for making the most of school closures and Disney crowds): MLK Day weekend President’s Day weekend/week Spring Break Memorial Day Weekend Summer Break Fall Break (for some) Thanksgiving Break Christmas/Winter Break Teacher Workdays Seasonal considerations Seasonal After-Hours Events (separately ticketed events) – Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween (Magic Kingdom), Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (Magic Kingdom), Jollywood Nights (Hollywood Studio) Run Disney dates (https://www.rundisney.com/events/) (2024 examples below): WDW Marathon Weekend: January 3rd – January 7th Princess Half Marathon Weekend: February 22nd – February 26th Run Disney Springtime Surprise: April 18th – April 21st Run Disney Wine and Dine: November 2nd – November 5th Special Disney Anniversaries (i.e. 100-year Disney Company anniversary with special events/treats/merchandise/spectaculars/etc) Ticket prices: Theme park tickets (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/admission/) are date-based, so you need to consider this when planning your trip and deciding when you want/can afford to go (aside from general gauging of Disney/vacation crowds) How to get there from MCO: Mears Connect Offerings: standard bus services (either one way or round trip), or express service which would be direct for your party only (i.e., will not be required to stop at other resorts for the other guests on your bus) Mears Pricing: Bus: round trip for adult - $33.60; child – $27.30 Express services: round trip for up to 4 guests (children included) - $250; 5+ guests – $55 for each additional passenger Where to board Mears Connect Terminal B Level 1, Ground Transportation, Bus slots B42 to B48. Please keep your party together. All guests must check-in at the counter inside for your vehicle assignment. Terminal C Level 1, Ground Transportation. Please keep your party together. All Guests must check-in at the counter inside for your vehicle assignment. For resort departures, Mears typically schedules your departure time for MCO ~3 hours before your flight (keep this in mind when you are scheduling flight times that work best for your family’s schedule!) Primary benefits – super easy to reserve/manage, seamless check-in/departure process, no need for car seats on motor coach or shuttle, less expensive than a rideshare or car services, they provide in-ride entertainment (i.e., Disney movies), 24/7 service, services all WDW resorts and most good neighbor resorts, children under 3 are free (this is a key number for Disney vacation budgeting and decisions ☺), there may be some walk-on accommodations available at the main and C terminals (if room permits) Our Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wayfaringwillards.com/travel-blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.wayfaringwillards.com/travel-blog) Beat Provided By https://freebeats.io Produced By White Hot

9. 

   12 Jan 2024

   Wayfaring Willards - Walt Disney World 101: Intro to Disney Travel Part 01

   The biggest trip of a lifetime for many families is a magical journey to the land of Mickey Mouse in Orlando, Florida. Many months worth of planning go into this adventure as so much continues to change at Walt Disney World. Come along with us as we introduce our Walt Disney World Travel 101 series - where we will cover everything from the perspective of the family preparing for their first trip. Our Blog: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.wayfaringwillards.com/travel-blog⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.wayfaringwillards.com/travel-blog) Beat Provided By https://freebeats.io Produced By White Hot

10. 

    12 Jan 2024

    Wayfaring Willards - Walt Disney World 101: Intro to Disney Travel Part 02

    The biggest trip of a lifetime for many families is a magical journey to the land of Mickey Mouse in Orlando, Florida. Many months worth of planning go into this adventure as so much continues to change at Walt Disney World. Come along with us as we introduce our Walt Disney World Travel 101 series - where we will cover everything from the perspective of the family preparing for their first trip. Our Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wayfaringwillards.com/travel-blog⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.wayfaringwillards.com/travel-blog) Beat Provided By https://freebeats.io Produced By White Hot

11. 

    3 Jan 2024

    Wayfaring Willards - Ep. 05: 2024 Family Resolutions & a look ahead

    Happy New Year! We've closed the calendar on 2023 and opened to a brand new 2024. We're going to take you through our Christmas travel from Raleigh to Greensboro, and back. It was a quick visit with Jon's family about an hour from our house & a great time for the kids to get some wonderful presents. Then, on Christmas Eve, we lead the charge with organizing neighborhood luminaries before heading into Christmas Day. Christmas Day finds us waking to two very energetic and excited toddlers, ready to see what Santa left overnight. Following our family morning, Taylor's family visits for Christmas dinner and shares more presents. Departing from Christmas, we cover our 2024 goals & resolutions. We also have an overview of planned travel for the upcoming year PLUS the announcement that we are teaming up with a host travel agency to be able to bring travel experiences & planning to our friends and family. Here's to a 2024 filled with memories, love, laughter, and travel! Our Blog: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.wayfaringwillards.com/travel-blog⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.wayfaringwillards.com/travel-blog) Beat Provided By https://freebeats.io Produced By White Hot

12. 

    1 Jan 2024

    Wayfaring Willards - Ep. 03: DISNEY WORLD Overview 2023

    The biggest trip of the year for our family was a magical journey to the land of Mickey Mouse in Orlando, Florida. Eleven months worth of planning went into this adventure as so much has changed at Walt Disney World over the past couple of years. We knew the kids would have a blast - we were going over Halloween and who wouldn't want to trick-or-treat with Mickey and friends? One very special thing we wanted to take in was the Mickey's Not-so-scary-Halloween party in Magic Kingdom on October 31st. This came with a hefty price tag for a family of four, but it certainly did not disappoint! Come along with us from Raleigh to Boardwalk Inn for a few days as we give a high level overview of our Disney World trip from October 2023. Our Blog: ⁠⁠https://www.wayfaringwillards.com/travel-blog⁠⁠ (https://www.wayfaringwillards.com/travel-blog) Beat Provided By https://freebeats.io Produced By White Hot

13. 

    1 Jan 2024

    Wayfaring Willards - Ep. 04: Philly, Nashville, and 2023 Wrap Up

    Our 2023 travel wrap-up finale covers very quick solo trips to Philadelphia (Taylor for a mom getaway weekend) and Nashville (Jon for a quick bachelor trip). Philly took place right after we got back from Duck (Ep. 02), whereas Nashville was the weekend following our trip to Disney (Ep.03). We also take a look back at our 2023 takeaways before we wrap up for the year. Our Blog: ⁠⁠https://www.wayfaringwillards.com/travel-blog⁠⁠ (https://www.wayfaringwillards.com/travel-blog) Beat Provided By https://freebeats.io Produced By White Hot

14. 

    28 Dec 2023

    Wayfaring Willards - Ep. 02: Southport & Duck, NC Overview 2023

    We continue our 2023 family travel overview as we leave Boston and get ready to visit Southport, NC for one of the best 4th of July festivals in the country. After an abbreviated Southport adventure, we load up 8 days later and head down to the OBX for the first time as we stay in Duck, NC. We love the North Carolina beaches and want to explore as much of this beautiful coast as possible, taking in the natural wildlife like the wild OBX ponies. Our Blog: ⁠https://www.wayfaringwillards.com/travel-blog⁠ (https://www.wayfaringwillards.com/travel-blog) Beat Provided By https://freebeats.io Produced By White Hot

15. 

    15 Dec 2023

    Wayfaring Willards Ep. 01 - 2023 Family Travel Overview Pt. 1

    2023 was a big year of firsts for family travel. From booking flights to Boston for the first time as a family of four, to vacations along the NC coast, we covered a lot of miles this past year. In this episode, we invite you to travel along with us as we take a look back at an overview of our 2023 family travel, beginning with a Memorial Day weekend trip to Boston & Rhode Island. This was a quick weekend adventure for a family wedding in Rhode Island. Wedding Venue: https://www.glenmanorhouse.com/ (https://www.glenmanorhouse.com/) Atlantic Grille (Middletown, RI): https://www.atlanticgrille.com/ (https://www.atlanticgrille.com/) Rehearsal Dinner Spot (Kempenaar's): https://www.newportclambakes.com/ (https://www.newportclambakes.com/) Our Blog: https://www.wayfaringwillards.com/travel-blog (https://www.wayfaringwillards.com/travel-blog) Beat Provided By https://freebeats.io Produced By White Hot

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