Then select 3 FastPasses, meaning you can skip the long line & get in the fast lane.
BUT, the real tip here is to select 3 MORNING FastPass tickets.
You want to use up your FastPasses as early in the day as possible.
Why?
Once you finish your 3 pre-booked FastPasses, you can keep rebooking FastPasses one at a time.
All. Day. Long.
You first have to finish your 3 initial FastPasses before you can start rebooking.
Make sure you don’t have a FastPass scheduled for later in the day or that’s it – you’ll be waiting in line all day for everything else.
Worst of all, don’t wait until the last minute to make your FastPass reservations.
Otherwise, there will be nothing left.
3. Keep Booking FastPass Tickets
This is the SECRET SAUCE to your magical day & a trick so many Disney World visitors don’t seem to know about yet.
Once you use up your 3 pre-booked FastPasses you can keep rebooking your FastPass one at a time.
Until recently, you had to walk around the park & then queue up for a FastPass Kiosk to rebook.
While these kiosks are still around, you can now book fast passes directly from your smart phone!
Literally, as soon as we enter a FastPass line, one of us is on the phone booking the next FastPass ride.
If the next ride is farther away or we have time to spare in between rides, we will line up to do something with a shorter wait time in between.
So, how do you book these FastPasses & check the most up-to-date wait times?
See #4 below – download the app!
4. Download the App
It’s 100% worth taking a minute to download the Disney app on your phone before going to Disney World.
Not only can you keep track of the FastPass tickets that you pre-booked (#2 above), you can book your next FastPass tickets directly from your phone too (#3 above).
You’ll get interactive park maps, and up-t0-date wait times on all the rides & attractions.
We still love using the Disney World paper maps, but the app is the perfect way to plan your day.
5. What To Do When You Need Break
You can & should be having breaks throughout the day – it will save your sanity.
There are plenty of easy ways to work this into your schedule… go to the shows!
Orlando is hot – shows offer air conditioning.
You’ll be on your feet most of the day – shows offer comfy seats.
If you time it right, you can eat & watch the parades go by.
There are SO MANY SHOWS.
6. Rider Swap
With a toddler and an older child, there will be rides your toddler won’t be tall enough to ride.
The first few times we went to Disney World, we thought one adult would have to sit out on every ride so the other adult could take the older child.
Yes & no.
Disney World makes it easy for adults to take turns riding while someone stays to watch the younger kid.
Here’s how you do it.
When the first adult goes to ride with the older child, have them tell the ride worker that you would like a Rider Swap.
This frees up the second adult to take the younger kid on a smaller ride.
Once the adult & older kid return, just take the Rider Swap pass back to the entrance.
The other adult can go right in again… and the older kid can ride again!
The Rider Swap option is a fantastic option for parents.
If you’re on a “no expenses spared” trip to Disney World, I totally get that.
But you don’t have to spend $199 on the Disney Photo Pass if you don’t want to.
Whenever your kids are taking pictures with characters in the park, Disney World very kindly allows you to take your own photos too.
They will step aside give you a chance to quickly take a few of your own pictures.
It’s a great way to capture the moment without spending a fortune.
And they’re really nice about it, so you don’t feel like a cheapskate.
8. Dining In the Park – Pros & Cons
Here are my best Disney World tips about dining inside the park so far.
Believe it or not, there is definitely a learning curve when it comes to dining in Disney World.
Some restaurants are first-come, first-serve while others require reservations and get fully booked in advance.
We’ve eaten in Liberty Tree Tavern & Mama Melrose’s with a reservation and Harbour House without reservations.
This past visit we booked a table at the Magic Kingdom’s Crystal Palace to have the character dining experience.
There was plenty of choice in the Crystal Palace buffet, and the kids loved having Winnie The Pooh and friends visit our table during the meal.
We’ve found only two possible problems with dining in Disney World:
The price – make sure you review the menu before you book, so you realize what you will be spending.
The commitment – you can cancel up until 24 hours ahead of time without a penalty, but if you cancel on the day they will charge you per person.
We ended up leaving the park one day & returning a few hours later for our dinner reservations because the weather was bad & the kids were tired.
Upside: you won’t need to pay for parking again & the park at night is a totally different place!
9. Bringing Your Stroller – Pros & Cons
If you have kids under 7 years old, a stroller in Disney World is a must-have.
You have a few options here.
1. Bring your current stroller. This is ONLY an option if you have a stroller that is BOTH very compact and easy to quickly collapse! There are a few times during the day that you will have to quickly break that stroller down in order to keep moving.
2. Rent a stroller in Disney World. This is a nice option if you want to rent a double stroller or avoid the hassle of dragging a stroller on & off the tram just to get into the park. The downside of course is the price – you will have to rent for each day you are in the park.
After a long day at Disney World we returned to our hotel & another dad asked me in the elevator how our day was because he was bringing his kids the next day for their first visit.
I told him to bring lots of water & he was shocked that we could bring our own into the park!
YES, Disney World allows you to bring your own water & snacks with you.
We always bring 2 bags – one packed with water & snacks that we can leave tied to the stroller using this clip (it doesn’t lock, but the clip just adds a little security – although the park always feels VERY safe).
This post is sponsored by The Libman Company but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
Our kids went back to school this week & with it comes the routine.
Just because summer’s over doesn’t mean the kids are completely off the hook with chores.
Here are a few chores for kids that our kids actually love to help with.
3 Back To School Chores For Kids
Between homework & extracurriculars, there isn’t much time for chores for kids in our house during the week.
The trick is to get them to enjoy the chore, so they don’t realize they’re doing chores.
Then you get the chores done without having to listen to complaining or excuses.
Mopping Spills
If your kids don’t love to mop as much as ours, you don’t have this mop.
They have to take turns because they argue over who gets to mop spills from the floor.
It’s not just any mop – it’s this exact mop (and you can save $3 here when you signup for the newsletter).
Sometimes I swear they spill on purpose just so they can use the mop again.
Lunchbox Prep
Assigning lunchbox prep as one of the chores for kids is a HUGE win in our house for a few reasons.
Of course it’s a great chore for kids.
And yes, then I just have to supervise.
But, they’re much more likely to EAT what’s in their lunchbox (without complaints later) if they put it together on their own.
Have the kids pick from a list of options you approve of & let them have at it.
As long as you have that Libman mop nearby, they’ll be able to cleanup the floor afterwards too!
Organization Games
Getting organized is one thing but STAYING organized is the real problem.
My wife & 3 year-old came up with this solution to the girls’ hair accessories by hanging a shoe organizer inside a closet door.
Once a week the kids play a tidying up game where they run around the house collecting rogue hair bands & put everything away again.
This is the only way we’re able to get the kids out the door on time during the week – because they know exactly where to find what they’re looking for.
This post is sponsored by Michelob Ultra but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
This year Father’s Day 2018 is extra special for me because it’s the beginning of the 2018 World Cup!
There will be 11 matches on Father’s Day weekend, including Brazil vs. Switzerland on Father’s Day itself.
And best of all, I’ll be with my dad this Father’s Day, so we will watch the matches together.
After decades of celebrating Father’s Day & exhausting every possible option, here are 3 suggested gifts for dad who wants nothing.
Gifts For A Dad Who Wants Nothing
Here are a couple of gifts for the dad who wants nothing – whether you’re together or far apart on Father’s Day.
And these gifts make it easy to remember to honor your dad – whether it’s Father’s Day or not.
1. Call During Events
When you’re thinking about him, call him.
When you’re watching a big game or race that you know he’s watching too, call him.
In our house this weekend we watched Formula One and the French Open – both of these I started watching with my dad as a kid.
Whatever sports you watch now you probably started watching with your dad as a kid.
When the sports you watched with your dad are on TV, use that time as a quick check-in to talk to your dad.
2. Send Him Something Different
If your dad has gone through decades of Father’s Days like mine, there is very little left that he really needs, so Father’s Day is a fun time to give him something fun that he wouldn’t buy himself.
They came in handy even BEFORE we left the Target parking lot.
Hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go!
Now we’re ready for Spring Break fun.
Show Me Your Imagination
Nothing is more fun than seeing a child using their imagination.
Have them grab some sidewalk chalk and draw in some props, a background, whatever they can think of and join in!
Cleanup is simple with Kleenex Wet Wipes for Germ Removal to clean up those little dirty hands & faces after a wonderful afternoon of creating adventures on the sidewalk.
Feast Outside
Spring Break is the perfect time to plan a picnic.
To make the picnic that more fun have them help you with the prep work and have your kids help pick what they want to eat.
They could even help making sandwiches and packing some snacks.
We kept it simple after an afternoon of swimming – pasta!
With traveling as much I do, I’ve learned how important it is to protect my own sensitive skin from the elements.
When traveling with my kids, it’s even more important to be prepared, as kids are so much more sensitive to these changes.
We’ve learned the hard way that we have to take care of our daughter’s sensitive skin whenever we are traveling.
We’ve come up with this list of five tips, and Baby Dove on the list as one of our must-haves.
Did you know a little one’s skin is 30% thinner than ours??
No wonder kids have extra sensitive skin!
One of our daughters has super sensitive skin & it seems like she always has skin problems when we travel.
We’ve come up with this list of five tips that help take care of our daughter’s sensitive skin whenever we are traveling.
If we forget on of these 5 things, she is pretty much guaranteed to have irritated skin when we travel.
Sensitive Skin Care: 5 Family Travel Tips
Here are five tips for caring for sensitive skin when traveling with kids.
Snacks
I don’t know about you but we tend to eat more junk food than usual when we travel.
Did you know eating certain foods can cause a flare up in those with sensitive skin?
We make sure we bring along snacks that are gentle on our kid’s tummy.
Having snacks kids are used to is a massive help in controlling sensitive skin issues.
Hand Wipes
Having Baby Dove Wipes handy will save lots of peace of mind, since kids touch EVERYTHING!
For those travel moments when it’s impossible to wash hand, it helps to at least be able to wipe down the kids hands & environment before eating.
This can massively help control sensitive skin issues by avoiding contact with problems altogether.
The Baby Dove Wipes are hypoallergenic, convenient & portable, so they’re perfect for travel.
Weather
Changes in the environment can be tough on sensitive skin.
Anything too hot or too cold can mean the skin needs extra moisture.
We love using skin care products specifically made to protect the moisture & combat the elements.
Comfortable Wear
Traveling is not the time to pack crazy uncomfortable clothes the kids never usually wear.
It’s important to keep kids comfortable while traveling to avoid things like pinched feet or fussy faces.
It definitely helps our daughter with her sensitivity to avoid irritations from the materials she isn’t used to wearing.
Baby Dove
Dove is our family’s trusted brand because it’s made with hypoallergenic-neutral formulas that don’t irritate sensitive skin.
Plus, it’s dermatologist and pediatrician-tested, so we feel good about using it on our little one.
Our kids love how soft & protected their skin feels with Baby Dove.
They’re very sensitive to smell too & Baby Dove leaves them smelling fresh & clean.
I’m crazy about sharing my love of travel with my growing kids, but the reality is that travel can be tough on them.
In order to make the all our travel memories as positive as possible, we try to keep everyone comfortable despite the disruption from our routine at home.
Baby Dove is one of those little comforts from home that make traveling with kids much easier.
Here are the top 12 EPIC yet EASY game day food ideas & snacks.
Let me know if you agree or if there’s something I’ve missed, so I can add it to the collection!
Crispy Chicken Strips
If you’re wondering how crispy chicken strips can be called “easy”, don’t worry – Tyson has us covered!
With a quick trip to my local Walmart, I load up on fantastic tasting Tyson® Crispy Chicken Strips that can be cooked in the oven & ready piping hot for game day.
Cripy chicken could NOT be any easier.
Your family will love this game day snack as much as mine does.
To make it even EASIER on you, here’s what you should look for.
This Slow Cooker Queso Dip from The Girl Who Ate Everything looks amazing & perfectly simple to make.
If you don’t have a slow cooker, it can be done on the stove instead.
It’s literally just combining all the ingredients & cooking on low for a few hours – winner!
These delicious potato skins from Brown Eyed Baker are mandatory game day food.
Don’t be scared of making these – with just 15 minutes of prep time, these are a crowd favorite.
Sloppy joe’s are my wife’s nostalgic favorite, and these sloppy joe sliders from Jenn’s Bliss don’t disappoint.
Prepare dozens of sliders all at once in a baking dish – genius!
These sheet pan nachos from Damn Delicious take loaded nachos to a whole new level.
This is perfect game day food if you plan to feed more than 4 people.
To make things even easier on yourself, cook the meat the day before – it will taste even better!
With just 10 minutes of prep time, these 4-ingredient jalepeno poppers from Inspired Taste are a quick win for spice lovers.
These can also be completely prepared a day ahead & then cooked in the oven a few minutes before you’re ready to eat.
If your cravings aren’t in overdrive yet, we’re only halfway through the list.
Next we have another winner that takes only 15 minutes of prep – this hot Italian sub sandwich from Lemons for Lulu.
Don’t let the long list of ingredients worry you – if you don’t have one of two of the ingredient, you can always substitute or omit items to your own taste.
Hardcore Texas chili lovers will argue that chili can not be prepped in just 20 minutes, but just don’t tell them this easy Texas chili recipe from Genius Kitchen only took you 20 minutes!
I think chili tastes even better when it’s reheated a day or two later, so this can & should be prepared ahead of game day.
Once you have your chili ready, make sure you have fixings to make chili dogs as well.
This chili dog recipe from A Sweet Pea Chef shows you everything needed for the perfect chili dog.
With only 5 minutes of prep time needed, chili dogs couldn’t be easier – or tastier.
Ordering pizza during game day is risky since it’s such a popular idea, but this pepperoni pizza dip from Belle of the Kitchen will satisfy those pizza cravings.
If you want people to think you’re a genius in the kitchen, this insanely good artichoke dip from Live Craft Eat takes an entire 5 minutes to prepare – yes, I said 5 minutes!!!
With just 15 minutes of prep time, these chicken taquitos from Two Peas & Their Pod are as delicious as they are colorful.
Anything that can be topped with guacamole, sour cream, or salsa is a winner in our house.
What do you think? Are these recipes easier to prepare than you first though? Which will you make on your next game day?
If I’ve missed any of your easy favorites, let me know in your comment below.
If you’re new to international travel with baby in tow, it’s easier than you probably think.
Our daughter’s first overseas trip was from our home in Paris, France to my visit my wife’s family in Dallas, Texas.
She was just 4 months old.
I know it’s annoying when people tell you how easy it is to have international travel with baby, but once your baby turns in to a toddler, you will realize it’s true.
Follow these 5 simple tips to make your international travel with baby a more comfortable experience for you, your baby & everyone else traveling around you.
5 Travel Hacks For International Travel With Baby
Here are the best 5 hacks I have found that have made international travel with baby a piece of cake.
Leave Early
As a corporate traveler, I know exactly when I need to leave to get to the airport at just the right time.
As a dad, I’ve learned it’s important to head to the airport much earlier because if something can go wrong – it will go wrong.
More than once, we’ve had major diaper blowouts while waiting in line to go through security.
Give yourself that extra time, so your stress level stays low & your baby can feel relaxed.
Carry On Comfort
Speaking of major diaper blowouts, plan to bring at least 2 changes of clothes in your carry on & more diapers than you think you will need.
Pack them in a ziplock back that you can re-use to seal up the dirty clothes.
Forget fancy baby clothes, make your baby as comfortable as possible – even bring along pajamas.
Baby clothes are tiny, and you could really regret it if you don’t have a clean change of clothes handy.
Prevention Is Key
International travel with baby means less time available to change & clean baby exactly when you would like to.
It’s much harder to change diapers during travel, but there’s an easy way to avoid irritating baby’s skin & mood!
To baby comfortable & clean throughout your trip, just pack Desitin Maximum Strength cream in your carry on.
My wife loves that Liberté is an organic snack & I love the adventurous flavors!
I always pickup the coconut flavor for myself, but we usually grab a few of the mango flavors too.
We settled back into our hotel to watch the storm from a video camera in front of our house.
The power stayed on almost all of the time, so we were able to see the wind & the rain.
Once the worst was over, I attempted to catch up on a few work emails missed during the last few days…. which wasn’t easy to do with the kids going stir-crazy!
We needed to get outside ASAP!
Luckily there was a park right next to our hurrication hotel, so we spent a few hours exploring Alabama’s great outdoors.
FINALLY, after a week, it was safe to drive through Florida & go back home.
We drove to Georgia in heavy traffic & spent the night.
The plan was to sleep early & wake up early to hit the road & beat traffic.
Believe it or not, the highways were packed ALL NIGHT.
This is a picture we took at 4am!
Our 6 hour drive turned into an 11.5 hour drive, but the kids were fantastic.
While the hurrication itself was stressful, it was replaced by the RELIEF to be back home to a house fully intact with AC, water & electricity.
Our only “damage” was a blown-over fence.
WE WERE LUCKY & grateful to be home.
Thank you to Liberté for sponsoring this post & helping cover some of our hurrication costs.
We live in South Florida, so when Hurricane Irma rolled in, we rolled out… all the way to Alabama where we will spend the weekend at the Ross Bridge Resort Marriott Birmingham.
Now, Alabama wasn’t on my bucket list, but the Ross Bridge Resort more than exceeded my expectations.
It took 45 minutes to travel the last 15 miles of our journey (3 out of 4 license plates were Florida tags), but this Marriott Birmingham hotel rose up to meet us.
Helloooooo curb appeal!
We did look like a bunch of evacuees as we piled out of the mini-van with our kids – their toys & snacks literally falling out of the door when it slid open.
As always, Marriott’s friendly, professional staff makes us feel right at home.
I used my Marriott points to book the room, which came with a big balcony & this stunning view.
It’s a relief to have plenty of entertainment here for the kids – restless after spending 3 days in the car.
Once the golf course closed, the kids loved walking the paths, collecting pine cones, and chasing birds.
The hotel grounds are stunning in every direction.
I expect we will do the same every night, as it’s a great way to end the day… the sunset walk is beautiful, yes, but mostly we go to wear the kids out!!!
In the mornings we stuffed our faces with a ridiculously delicious breakfast – biscuits & gravy, mountains of fresh fruit & a honey-baked ham.
Then we hit the pool, where the kids spent the day going down the waterslide.
We aren’t sure yet how long we will need to stay at this Marriott Birmingham hotel – we’re watching to see where Hurricane Irma is headed.
Even though we don’t yet know where we will go next, the Ross Bridge Resort has provided a welcome sanctuary as a home away from home…
