Before my family and I moved to be closer to the Mouse, we used to visit Walt Disney World Resort at least once, sometimes many times per year. But for those who make this their happy place, each trip can be completely different than the last. Disney Parks Moms Panelist Bernie Edwards is a frequent pixie dust flyer – with trips to Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort, Disney Cruise Line and more. And that was just in the past two years. Wow!
Bernie is known to friends and family as the “Disney Guy.” He says, “In my opinion, a frequent visitor has done the usual things and is looking for something special or unique.”
Here are Bernie’s ideas for a different twist on your Disney Parks stay:
- Attend a special event. There are so many events going on all year-round, so look for an event to which you’ve never been. Bernie says to try out Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party or Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.
- Take a backstage tour to see how Disney “creates the magic.” “My favorite is Backstage Magic. I loved getting on the floor and looking underneath a Tower of Terror ride vehicle to see how it works.”
- Enjoy a fireworks cruise. “I love the Pirates & Pals Fireworks Voyage. It is a fabulous activity for the whole family. Watching the fireworks from the Seven Seas Lagoon gives you a completely different perspective.”
- Spend a day away from the parks. “Do something at Fort Wilderness, go fishing on Bay Lake or the Seven Seas Lagoon, or go parasailing. It’s one of my oldest son’s favorite things to do at Walt Disney World Resort, period.”
- Look for something you have never done before, whether it is dining in a particular restaurant or trying out an attraction that you just never wanted to do in the past.
What is something you want to try for the first time on your next Disney Parks vacation?
Read on for more from the Disney Parks Moms Panel:
Comments
I also recommend enjoying the special events at the parks! The Halloween and Christmas parties are both amazing and special. I could go on and on about how great they are! But the festivals at Epcot are also a can’t miss. With the extension of the length of the Flower & Garden and Food & Wine in recent years, it makes it even easier for more people to experience these great offerings! As a Central Florida resident, it means Epcot is my most-visited park, especially during Food & Wine ;).
I recently did the trail ride with my family at Fort Wilderness and we had a great experience. If you have any horse-lovers in your group, it is worth taking a few hours our of your day to try it out. I also recommend dining at Trail’s End before or after. 🙂
As for what I want to try for the first time, I am looking forward to doing the Behind the Seeds tour soon and I would also like to do the carriage ride at either Fort Wilderness or Port Orleans.
We had been lucky enough to visit WDW once a year from 2008-2011, but weren’t able to go in 2012. We are returning this year in May. With all of the additions and reimagined or extensively refurbished attractions, we have a list of 30 (yes, THIRTY) “new” things to do this year! Can’t wait – 78 days and counting.
Bernie is my favorite Disney Moms Panel Mom – he has been so helpful with my planning for an upcoming vacation to WDW. Thanks for profiling him ! We plan to take the Behind the Seeds tour at EPCOT during the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival in May. I can’t wait to learn more about how Disney horticulturists create the beautiful landscaping and topiaries at EPCOT !!
Hi Laura!
Happy President’s Day! Thank you for sharing Bernie Edwards and his passion for Disney with us, he offers great advice.
We’ve got a big Disney vacation booked for this summer, a week long Disney resort stay at the Port Orlean’s Riverside’s Royal Rooms, which is a first for us, followed by a week long cruise on the Disney Fantasy making this cruise number eight.
I am really looking forward to attending Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom tour this summer because the Utilidors fascinate me. I love how Walt Disney thought about every detail and aspect to theme park planning, especially from the guests’ perspective.
The biggest highlight for me was when I had an extensive tour of the Frank G. Wells Archive Building at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank two years ago. I’ll never forget that tour as long as I live. I even got to hold one of Walt Disney’s Oscar awards! Can you imagine?
I so look forward to Moms Panel Mondays and can’t wait to read it once up. Thank you so much!
Best regards,
Jacqueline (Jackie)
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