#DisneySMMoms

What is #DisneySMMoms? Disney’s Social Media Moms Celebration!

13 April 2012 by Suzannah Otis 8 Comments

From the first moment I discovered a little thing called “social media” I realized that the Disney online community was a powerful and devoted force. Disney knows this too, and Walt Disney World has had a team in place for many years now, inviting bloggers to experience the World and share those experiences with their readers. Of course the Walt Disney World Moms Panel (which now includes Adventures by Disney, Disney Cruise Line, RunDisney, and Disneyland) was perhaps the company’s first real visible foray into the worlds of social media and it has only grown from there. Even before I was selected as a member of the 2010 and 2011 Moms Panel, I was witnessing tweets from mom bloggers being hosted by Disney, organized by charter moms panelist and public relations maven, Laura Spencer and the Social Media/Public Relations team. I thought it was such a great idea to have bloggers of all types – mom bloggers, food bloggers, latina bloggers, bloggers of color, even Disney bloggers, see the Walt Disney World Resort first hand, and in turn spread that knowledge to readers everywhere. I know as a Disney/theme park/travel blogger, I have a certain readership that may expect Disney news or updates. However, for those who typically blog about day to day parenting topics, write reviews, or have another niche altogether, Disney knowledge may not be as widespread.

With the success of other blogging conferences, Disney decided to throw their mouse ears in the ring and hold their own pixie-dusted blogging conference. First held in 2010, the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration has been a coveted conference from the start. Abbreviated on twitter with the hashtag #DisneySMMoms, each year has offered attendees and their families an amazing opportunity to experience the Walt Disney World Resort at deeply discounted prices, enjoy a Deluxe Resort hotel, Disney park tickets, Disney dining and special tours. All while hosting some incredibly inspiring and informative speakers for the blogging crowd. Along with the process of connecting with other bloggers and receiving valuable tips on business, writing, and promoting yourself and your site, attendees are also given something Disney is most famous for – memories to last a lifetime.

In the past, attendees have gotten to see the Muppets, experience gourmet food and healthy kids alternatives, experience the special tours and events the Walt Disney World Resort has to offer, and hear famous personalities from Guy Kawasaki and Maxine Clark to Chris Brogan, Renee Sylar and David Tutera, share their business and personal successes. This year, we will again hear inspiring stories, but a lot of the focus also seems to be on the resort itself, with optional breakout sessions including meeting author Ridley Pearson, the amazing Wild Africa Trek, meeting with some of the amazing teams behind the Disney Parks blog and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, and a behind the scenes tour of the all new Fantasyland expansion. The difference this year is that attendees were given these choices, so we will all be experiencing something different. For those following along the tweets, facebook and blog updates from attendees, you will now be reading completely unique updates. It certainly gives you a reason to check out the other bloggers and see what they are doing and sharing.

With that said, and with the 2012 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration less than two weeks away, I thought it would be a great opportunity to link up the bloggers who will be in attendance so we can all get to know them better. And before you think it’s JUST MOMS that will be there – guess again. There have been dads and non-parent bloggers each year. Truly, something for everyone – just like Disney!

Edit: The 2013 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration will be held from May 9-12 at the Walt Disney World Resort. I will not be attending this year, but feel free to submit your blog info in the comments below if you’d like to add yourself to the list. 🙂

I’m asking Disney Social Media Moms attendees to submit their blog links below and for all of us to check them out and be sure to follow along ~~April 26-29~~ May 9-12 as they embark on their magical blogging conference! Thank you to Disney, especially Laura Spencer and Leanne Jakubowski and their teams for tirelessly organizing these events each year!

(check back to these links below as more attendees add their info!)

Disclosure: many thanks to Disney’s Social Media Team for inviting me to register for the 2012 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. All opinions are, as always, my own. I have not been compensated or asked to post about Disney (I just can’t help myself!)

David Tutera Visits Social Media Moms at the Disney Weddings Platinum Soiree

25 April 2011 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Things have been so busy around here at ZannaLand so I’m just now getting around to my recaps of the amazing 2nd annual Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. One of the many highlights for me (and as you remember, something I was hoping for!) was getting to meet wedding planner and ultimate dream maker, David Tutera. It was wonderful to hear him speak about making brides feel special, and to speak to him about how much he enjoys visiting the Disney Parks as well!

Disney Social Media Moms Celebration Platinum Soiree — Our Welcome sign - I love that you can see the Polynesian Resort in the background here!

The Disney Social Media Moms Celebration kicked off at Disney’s Wedding Pavilion, where attendees were treated to a Platinum Soiree welcome reception. Champagne flutes and a buffet of candy – not sure what could be much better than that. We were able to see some of the amazing wedding cakes that Disney Fairytale Weddings offer and meet with “Franck” from Father of the Bride (after whom the Wedding Pavilion salon is named) and “Edna Mold” from The Incredibles who entertained us in between speakers. Check out this photo tour of the evening’s events:

Disney Social Media Moms Celebration Platinum Soiree Candy Bar — The Candy Bar awaited us - what a cool wedding reception idea!

Disney Weddings candy bar — Close-up of the Candy Bar - thanks to OhAmanda.com for the photo!

Franck and Edna Mold — Thanks to OhAmanda.com for this photo of Franck and Edna!

We then headed over to the pavilion for some amazing speakers and presentations.

Disney's Social Media Moms Celebration Platinum Soiree — The Princess collection gowns were on display for us - Snow White

David Tutera speaks about changing bridal expectations and bringing wedding fashion ahead of the curve.

Next, we were treated to a real, live Disney Fairytale Wedding vow renewal ceremony! The “wedding party” (aka Disney performers) danced down the aisle in fabulous attire as our almost-still-a-newlywed bride of 2 years joined her prince to renew their vows once again at Disney’s Wedding Pavilion.

Outside, we awaited the bride and groom and I was lucky enough to stand across from David Tutera where I got a little more time to talk (okay, and take some pictures..he’s just so darn handsome – look at that profile!)

Suzannah and David Tutera — David was SO gracious and patiently posed for pictures with all who asked. It was a dream come true for me!

The event was, in a word, breath-taking. I have been a fan of Disney’s Fairytale Weddings from the start, but it was such a treat to be able to experience a little of what their magic is like in person, not to mention the wonderful speakers and sites we were able to see. It is still a hope and a dream that I will someday have a Disney vow renewal. My 15th wedding anniversary is coming up this October, but that might be a bit too soon to pull something off, so I’ll shoot for the 20th. 😉

Stay tuned for more recaps from the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration coming up on ZannaLand!

Jake Character From the Never Land Pirates Joins the Line Up at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

19 March 2011 by Suzannah Otis 4 Comments

My family and I have been enjoying the second Disney Social Media Moms Celebration at Walt Disney World for the past two days. As usual, it has been a pixie-dusted event full of magic, thanks to the keepers of the pixie dust, Laura Spencer and Leanne Jakubowski. Amazing speakers, amazing surprises…and it’s not over yet!

Last night we were treated to dinner inside the Lights, Motors, Action! stunt show stage (aka where the cars actually drive during the show!). The evening was brought to us by the all-new Disney Junior, with special guests Sharkey and Bones -the pirate outfitted duo who sing in between Jake and the Never Land Pirates episodes. We thought it was pretty cool that the actual band was there!

Other Disney characters soon showed up: Captain Hook and Mr. Smee, Donald and Daisy among them. Then another surprise, Jake appeared! I thought I’d share some of the action shots I grabbed last night:

More to come next week from my experiences at Disney’s Social Media Moms Celebration – stay tuned!

2nd Annual Disney Social Media Moms Celebration!

10 March 2011 by Suzannah Otis 30 Comments

It’s hard to believe it’s been one year since the first-ever Disney Social Media Moms Celebration! It was such an amazing event and so much has happened since that time! I thought it would be great to go over some of my favorite moments from last year’s event as well as what I’m looking forward to this year. Then I thought it would be fun for all the 2011 attendees to link their blogs below so we can get to know each other and our blogs before we meet next week! It’ll also be a great way to connect during and after the event as well! Could I use any more exclamation points??!!

Last year I don’t think anyone really knew what to expect from Social Media Moms. One thing we knew, it was Disney, so it was going to be full of extra magic. We were definitely given the royal treatment and perhaps even a little spoiled with such great speakers like Guy Kawasaki, Chris Brogan, Maxine Clark, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Mary Ellen Hooper and Kathy Ireland. I know I l earned so much and became full of blogging passion by the end of the conference. We may have endured an unexpected cold snap, but pixie dust pulled us through and the surprises and special touches seemed to never end. (Feel free to check out my flickr stream of the 2010 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration!)

Chris Brogan and Zanna — Stalking Chris at a recent media event at Disney for another photo. 😉

One of my favorite moments was Chris Brogan’s speech, which makes me SO excited that he’ll be back this year. Another unexpected surprise was bumping into Chef Robert Irvine, who was there filming Dinner: Impossible and cooking for the amazing volunteers that Disney was honoring. Imagine my shock when I had the chance to meet Chef Irvine again later last year and discovered that the picture of Disney Moms Panelist Kathie and I with the Chef was in his desktop screensaver! These are just some of the amazing memories Disney is able to deliver, sometimes without even trying! I was also lucky enough to have the winning seat at our table for the Cinderella Build-a-Bear centerpiece and was able to take that home to share with the family. I cannot wait to see what magic this year brings.

As if knowing some of us were spoiled last year, Disney has upped the ante and given us accommodations at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. This will allow me to check off almost all the Deluxe resorts on property (the only one I haven’t stayed at is Yacht Club, but I’ve stayed at Beach Club a million times and toured every hotel on property, so I’m not counting that!) 😉 I am excited to be able to share this experience with my family.

I’m also super excited that I get to hang out with fellow Moms Panelist and bloggy idol Oh Amanda. I haven’t seen her since Moms Panel training and can’t wait to be in the World with her again! Of course I’m thrilled to see lots of friends and people I met last year AND meet lots of new friends too.

Disney's Wedding Pavilion — Dreaming at the Wedding Pavilion (no, I'm not a natural blonde either)

Another highlight I’m looking forward to is the opening presentation and tour by Disney Fairytale Weddings. I have mentioned before that a Disney wedding was always my dream, since the pavilion opened the year we moved down and I worked at the Magic Kingdom. Sure, I had my reception at the Dolphin, but it’s not quite the same. And yes, it’s now been 14 years since I said “I do” but I still hold out hope that I can have a magical vow renewal on property at some point. Maybe for the 20th… 🙂

Anyway, our pixie dust princesses in charge of the Social Media Moms Celebration have hinted that there will be “special guests” during this presentation. I am crossing my heart and hoping it is the one and only David Tutera. To say I am a fan of him and his show is an understatement. I cry at pretty much every episode and wish he was around when I got married! I will try to hold myself back from hugging him to death in the off chance they let hundreds of mom bloggers near him… 😉 I really think he needs to do a special vow renewal episode, no? I’ve already got a built in flower girl and ring bearer!

Attendees, what are you most excited about the upcoming Social Media Moms Celebration? Did you attend last year or is this your first time? Have you been to Walt Disney World before? Share a bit about you and your blog – don’t forget to link it below! And be sure to say hello if you happen to see a crazy red head trying to camp out in the wedding pavilion!!

If you’d like, check out two posts I did last year for attendees planning for their Disney vacation:

Top 5 Must Sees for First Time Disney Visitors

Solo Parenting Tips to Visit Walt Disney World

Explore my Disney News section as well – including Fast Facts on Disney’s Wild Africa Trek and some Disney Merchandise highlights to be on the lookout for!

Thanks for visiting and see ya real soon!

How Chris Brogan Saved My {Blogging} Life

15 February 2010 by Suzannah Otis 26 Comments

Confession: I had a blogging identity crisis. Right in the middle of Walt Disney World.

Readers of ZannaLand may have noticed the not-so-subtle shift from Disney posts to more me/personal/generic posts. This happened both because I combined the MainStreet.Zannaland.com posts here and I really wanted to venture out into the world of Mom Blogs and hopefully get more involved with other bloggers, product reviews and blogging opportunities. I thought – “I can be a REAL blogging mom!” There was only one problem…I had no idea what to blog about.

I’m just not a gifted blogger like some of my friends. I can’t keep things short and sweet and interesting and share-worthy about me. Even as I wrote out my first “all about me” post I looked at it and thought, “Really?! Who is going to want to read this?” {ok, my mom wanted to} And lets be honest, being a successful blogger is often times about the numbers and no one is out there googling “What kind of childhood did Suzannah DiMarzio have?” The result was it was stressing me out. Big time.

I was emailing my blogging friends, desperately asking for help and advice…all the while writing up my life story while I waited for the “oh, here’s how you do it” replies. I’d hit send on my email and be embarrassed for myself, asking such stupid questions when I pretty much knew the answers. I just didn’t know how to come up with the content to keep people interested. I lay awake at night worrying about what the %#&! I was going to write about the next day. Blogging started to feel like a job. I knew something was wrong and it shouldn’t feel like that. I’m sure many people treat blogging like a job, and probably have the income to prove it, but that is not what I set out to do. I wanted to connect with others and share my experiences in hopes of helping others in some way – and make friends along the way. The crazy part was, I’d already done that. It was those connections that cheered me on when I was applying to the Walt Disney World Moms Panel. It was those connections that helped get my blog noticed and out there to begin with. In my eagerness to get to the next big thing, I forgot the big thing I already had.

Before I left for the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, I actually wanted to give up blogging. The stress was getting to me and I was doing it wrong. I figured I’d give myself till after the conference to decide, and hopefully learn something there that would help set me straight.

And I did. It just wasn’t the answer I thought I was looking for.

I will do recaps of the entire conference experience and the people I met, but this post had to come first. One of the speakers I was most looking forward to hearing was Chris Brogan. I had watched his keynote speech at IZEAFest and of course instantly liked him because he was from Boston. However, I worried that his speech really wouldn’t have anything to do with me. I wasn’t a business, I wasn’t even a successful mom blogger – how could his advice on social media business relationships help ME?

My biggest fear as a blogger was selling out. I didn’t want to become one of those blogs with 200 blinking ads on either side, only talking about the great product I just tried and leaving all my personality and stories on the other side of the screen. When I got up the courage to just introduce myself to Chris at breakfast on Thursday (yes, I said courage, for a shy fat girl with social anxiety, it was a big deal) he asked me, “What do you hope to get out of the speech tomorrow?” We were interrupted by a cast member that needed to whisk Chris away for an interview, but it gave me time to come up with an answer. I later tweeted him that I wanted to know how a new-ish blogger could successfully use social media without “selling out”. I figured he had over 100 other people telling him what they wanted to get out of his presentation as well, and just thought I’d sit back and enjoy his speech.

chrisbrogan1 — In absence of a white board, Cinderella Castle works for Chris Brogan

Chris is a smart, witty, engaging speaker. His subtle jokes are the same ones that run through my mind half the day and go over most people’s heads. He opens with the Zulu greeting “Sawubona” which means “I see you.” And he does. There was no person too ‘small’ that Chris didn’t see and connect with. He made sure of it. I will never forget his magic triangle describing Community, Content, and Spnsors, invisibly drawn on the Cinderella Castle backdrop behind him on the stage.

Then he spoke the simple words – “Never alienate your community.” I felt as if that phrase was branded onto my brain. Or rather, as if those words had finally opened my eyes. I had alienated my community, or was at the very least on the path to do so. I had created such a wonderful community of Disney fans and then said, “oh, well, now that you’re here lets talk about my laundry.” Clearly, I had made the wrong choice.

I mulled over that phrase again and again for the remainder of my time at the conference. I tweeted my friend that I was having a blogging identity crisis. I met amazing, wonderful mom bloggers that CAN tell people about their laundry or any other number of topics and get people to listen – and care. I simply am not one of those people. Maybe, in time {and with more time personally}, I could be but right now, it’s just not where I am in the blogging world. Kind of like a rock guitarist that gets a job with an orchestra. You know how to play the music, you know the notes, yet you are never really playing the right song.

Once I had that revelation and made the decision that followed, I was again excited about blogging. I was filled with ideas and new goals to reach. The stress was gone. Even though Chris Brogan stopped short of reenacting James Brown’s scene from The Blues Brothers, shouting “Do you see the light!?” and I stopped short of doing back flips in Grand Republic Ballroom A, I did see the light.

Even if sticking with my niche prevents me from working with certain companies or being open to some opportunities available to a more broad-content blog, that’s okay. If I have my community and my content, the rest will come. And if I make a really cool Xbox Controller Cake and want to share it with you, I will. If my kids do something funny or I have a craft to share, I will. But I will do my best to never alienate you again. {And I’ll just save my childhood stories for my book 😉 } I am a mom blogger. I’m a mom that blogs about Disney. And that’s okay.

So thank you, Chris. Sawubona. And I’m so grateful that I did.

*This post is now part of the Disney Blog Carnival, where you can find a great group of Disney articles!*

Top 10 Tuesday: Ten Things I’m Looking Forward to at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration!

9 February 2010 by Suzannah Otis 10 Comments

My fabulous blogging friend and fellow Walt Disney World Moms Panelist OhAmanda does Top 10 Tuesday every week and each week I think “I really need to participate in this!” but I always either have a different topic on tap, or can’t think of a list in time. So this week, I’ve finally found a topic to join in with. Below are ten of the many things I am looking forward to tomorrow, when we arrive at Walt Disney World for the first-ever Social Media Moms Celebration. One thing I am NOT looking forward to is the fact that Amanda will not be there. *sobs* However, she just got back from Blissdom and taking part in amazing workshops there AND seeing Harry Connick Jr. so that is slight consolation I guess. Anyway…

10. Being able to be at Walt Disney World both as a blogger and as a Moms Panelist – WITH my family. Moms Panel training was so amazingly fun, and though I wouldn’t change it for the world, the fact that my husband and children will be with me this time around, is a treat. I really love how Disney put together the registration that way, to include families.

9. Celebrating J.’s birthday (the 10th) at Disney. I suppose I could’ve been quiet about this whole thing and let him think I planned a huge celebration at the new ESPN Wide World of Sports just for his birthday, but the hundreds of strangers crashing the party might’ve given it away…I’m confident it’ll still be a special day for him and hope I can force him to wear a Disney Birthday Button!

8. Diving into the world of Social Media/Blogging conventions feet first by attending my first conference at Walt Disney World! I am hoping this is just the first of many. Watching friends and fellow bloggers attend BlogHer 09, Type A Mom 09 and now Blissdom 10 has definitely wet my appetite for blogging conferences I must attend next year. I’m hoping to get to BlogHer ’10 this year too. Working on sponsors for that now! The fact that it’s my first one and Disney’s first one seems like a perfect fit.

7. Dole Whip! I don’t really need to say more.

6. Getting to hear the speakers Disney has secured for the conference. Guy Kawasaki. Chris Brogan. Maxine Clark. Just to name a few. As a new-ish blogger I’m all ears for any and everything I can learn about the process and how to improve as a writer and communicator. I figure I might as well start off at the top, right?

5. The special events Disney has planned for us. Sooo, I may have mentioned this is DISNEY, yes? And my love for all things Disney? And my recent super fabulous Disney Moms Panel training trip (which I will continue writing about soon, promise!) where I experienced quite a bit of pixie dust? This is DISNEY. Can you imagine the special surprises they have planned for us? There have already been reports leaked about the performers who will be at Thursday night’s Epcot celebration (entertainment subject to change). I can only imagine what else they have in store for us.

4. Meeting new friends from twitter. In the course of expanding my blogging topics and connecting with others who are attending this conference, I’ve made a ton of new friends whom I cannot wait to meet in person at Disney. I feel like I should probably wear my twitter handle on a t-shirt or print out a poster size version of my twitter picture so I can ensure people know who I am because I don’t want to miss anyone!

3. Meeting old friends from twitter. Another benefit to this celebration being held at Walt Disney World is many of my Disney fan friends from twitter were eager to attend as well. Because of that, quite a few of them will be at the conference and I will get to meet them too. People that have been with me from my start on twitter and followed my journey onto the Moms Panel. It will be great to finally put faces to the names, in person.

2. Staying at the Polynesian. I mentioned in my previous post about the Social Media Moms Celebration that the Polynesian was one of the few resorts I had not stayed in. It has always been one of our family’s favorite spots for dining and visiting, so the fact that we will get to sleep there too, experiencing all the resort has to offer guests, is a real treat.

laurajoannetiana — 2 of our fearless Moms Panel leaders: Laura Spencer & Jo Anne Wallace, who make everything more fun! (Oh, and those royal-looking people would be the gorgeous Princess Tiana and the debonair Prince Naveen!)

1. Meeting up with my Moms Panel friends/Disney cast members. I consider myself extremely lucky to be able to reconnect with a handful of the wonderful moms I just met during Moms Panel training. I feel like our time together ended too soon and am so excited to be able to hug, laugh and just hang out again. I kinda just want to run around the Polynesian at night in our pj’s and pink jackets like a big slumber party…but I’ll restrain myself. In addition, I’ll be able to see the wonderful cast members that make the Walt Disney World Moms Panel and the Disney Parks social media team so successful. Hopefully I’ll be able to meet up with a very special Canadian cast member and enjoy #7 with her.

In other words – I’M EXCITED!!! If you are attending, what are you most looking forward to? Please, please look for me because I am terrible with associating twitter names with real names and I don’t want to miss anyone. See you tomorrow!

Adding Pixie Dust to Social Media at Walt Disney World

29 January 2010 by Suzannah Otis 14 Comments

Followers on twitter, facebook, or even readers here of my posts on Solo-parenting tips and First-timer tips have probably heard of the upcoming Social Media Moms Celebration at Walt Disney World. Having dipped its toes into the ocean of social media and mom bloggers for a while now with Magical Mom Blogger trips and cruises, Disney has now decided to venture into the world of social media conferences.

walt-disney-world2 — Walt Disney World knows how to CELEBRATE!

Walt Disney World will play host to over 100 mom (and dad) bloggers on February 10-12, 2010. Lucky attendees will be treated to what Disney does best – celebrate! Even the name reveals it is not just another blogging conference – celebration is right in the title. And as if simply being on Walt Disney World property for the event was not enough, Disney went the step further to host guests at one of its Deluxe properties, the Polynesian Resort, add in amazing social media speakers who are the top in their field, AND allow attendees to bring family members as part of the conference fee. The value for this event is just mind-boggling since staying at the Polynesian for even one night is close to the cost for the entire 3-night event (including up to 3 guests) with park tickets, some meals and who knows what other surprises Disney has in store. When I first saw the event invitation, I knew I would do whatever it took to be able to attend. This is simply a once-in-a-lifetime event (which I hope happens more than once as I’m sure this is only the beginning of Disney’s social media conference hosting!). I’ve come to the astute conclusion that this taking part in once-in-a-lifetime events thing is a good habit to have. That’s a good plan, right?

Click to continue reading Social Media at WDW

Solo Parent-friendly Disney World Planning

13 January 2010 by Suzannah Otis 11 Comments

As a Florida resident living within 10 minutes of the magic, I will admit to taking a day trip or two with the kids while my husband was at work, just because we could. Some of my favorite memories are of the times I was able to say “Guess what? We’re going to Magic Kingdom today!”. I’ll also admit that once we were about to walk through the gates, I was a bit worried about whether I’d actually be able to pull it off by myself or not. With the upcoming third annual Disney Social Media Moms Celebration in April, where bloggers AND their families are invited for an incredible 3 days of social media conferences, entertainment, and dining as only Disney can provide, I thought I’d share some tips and ideas for the non-blogging parents that might want to venture out in the parks with the kids.

A good thing to keep in mind for the parent planning to “go it alone” is that sometimes the hardest part of being by yourself with the kids is just the getting TO the fun parts. It’s a lot more difficult to be the only one in charge of parking the stroller, getting kids in and out of a stroller, and keeping them entertained while waiting for an attraction, show, or their favorite character. You may not be able to stake out that perfect spot for the parade 30 minutes before it starts and keep the kids happy. As long as you are aware of that going in and have a plan to handle it, you should be fine.
If your children aren’t stroller-aged and you are perhaps concerned about getting separated, there are things like Lost & Found Temporary Tattoos where you can write your cell phone number on, and I’ve even known parents to write their number in Sharpie on a child’s arm. Of course make sure you let them know a location to meet if you do get separated and explain that all cast members will be wearing name tags. When I was a cast member we were all hyper-vigilant about lost children and the few times I encountered one they were reunited almost instantly. There are few places I feel safer than Walt Disney World.

For those who may never have been to the Walt Disney World Resort, let me quickly sum up all there is to do. There are 4 theme parks, each chock full of attractions (rides), shows and character greetings as well as other special experiences like fireworks, parades and even just happenings on the streets.

The Magic Kingdom – this is what many people think when they think “Disney”. All of the classic rides, attractions and of course Cinderella Castle are here. What you won’t find is the park teeming with Characters ready to pounce on children that may not be ready for such an experience. You can find loads of your favorite characters here, but you go to them – or you can just watch them interact from afar. You’ll also find rides for all ages here, but the ones I’ll list below are geared more toward the pre-school & toddler set.

Now you are pretty much covered at Magic Kingdom because you walk in and the kids are already amazed by the ride into the park; either by Monorail or Ferry boat. If you decide you might as well see some attractions while you’re here, here are my picks for keeping the kids in check with only one parent:

It’s a Small World – never fails to deliver awe-inspired faces from little ones. I can’t tell you how many pictures I have of all three of my children looking up, mouth open, eyes wide – just taking it all in. Plus it’s a boat that you can all most likely fit into vs. some of the rides where parents with more than 2 kids may have to separate into two ride vehicles.

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom – this all-new interactive card game can keep your big or little kids entertained for hours. You’ll travel around the lands of the Magic Kingdom defeating villains with spell cards and earning your way toward a Master Sorcerer ranking.

Mickey’s PhilharMagic – this is one of the most kid-friendly 3-D movies Walt Disney World has to offer. The sights and sounds come to life with scents and other surprises as Donald searches for Mickey’s famous sorcerer hat. Directly across from Philharmagic is another fun favorite, Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel. The line is never really too long here and it’s pretty easy for one parent to stand between a couple of royal riders and still get some great pictures in the process.

Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor – this relatively new attraction is always a riot for the kids. Corny jokes abound as well as some fun audience interaction. Guests can text their favorite jokes in as they wait in the pre-show area and their joke may appear during the show. I had one of mine picked once and my kids thought I was famous!

Epcot – Some of you may remember this as “EPCOT Center” in the 1980s. Epcot has kept up with the times and still offers a Disney twist on learning and the educational side of theme park rides and attractions. In addition, Epcot features the World Showcase with 11 countries offering unique peeks into their culture and dining.

nemoseas — Head to The Seas With Nemo & Friends to meet Crush

Turtle Talk with Crush – this attraction is found within the Seas with Nemo and Friends pavilion at Epcot. After enjoying the adorable ride with Nemo and Friends through the 5.7million gallon salt water tanks full of tropical sea creatures, head over to Turtle Talk in the Sea Base area. This attraction is great for kids because they get to sit up front – no adults to try and see over! They get a front row seat as the adults sit behind them on benches. I’ve not met a child that wasn’t amazed that Crush was talking right to THEM, asking and answering questions.

Living With the Land – this boat ride through Epcot’s amazing experimental gardens and growing methods keeps kids on the edge of their seat as they spot the Mickey-shaped pumpkins and see tomato roots taller than they are. If your little ones are not quite at the height requirement for Soarin’ next door, this is a fun alternative in the same pavilion. Something to keep in mind, strollers are not allowed inside The Land pavilion so you will need to be able to take the kids out.

Kidcot Fun Stops – since you’re in Epcot, head over to the World Showcase for kids activities designed to help them learn a little something about each country they visit and take home their own souvenir mask that they helped decorate. Check out the park map or just ask a cast member where the Kid-cot activity is in each country.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios – (formerly known as the Disney MGM Studios) Here you will find a taste of the Hollywood that never was, and always will be. While the park features some fun movie-themed rides and attractions, you will also find the thrill rides Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster as well as the popular Disney Junior show.

Disney Junior–Live on Stage! – at Hollywood Studios, this show is sure to get your little ones feet moving to the music of their favorite Playhouse Disney characters come to life. Their favorites from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny, Little Einsteins, and of course, Jake and the Never Land Pirates will be on hand for the fun.

pixarave — Pixar Place leads the way to Toy Story Midway Mania

Toy Story Midway Mania – this amazing addition to the Hollywood Studios is great fun for slightly older kids. Families can take part in a friendly competition in midway-style games that come to life with 3-D glasses and characters from the Toy Story movies. Things to note are that it is a VERY popular attraction, so unless you arrive early or get a Fast Pass you may have quite a long wait. The good part about this is the queue is chock full of toys and games that are sure to keep kids busy with a game of “I-Spy”. The other reason is that the way the ride vehicles are set up, you sit two in front and two in back, so if you have more than 2 little people and are alone, you might have to separate a bit. If you have older kids, it should be fine. Definitely be sure to check this out during your visit, just keep the popularity and set-up in mind.

Muppet*Vision 3-D – this hysterical 3-D movie always makes my kids laugh. All their favorite Muppet characters come to live and there are even some surprises which turn it into a 4-D experience.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom – This is a park of discovery. Not only can you ride a safari or trek through jungles to view animals, you can ride a roller coaster through Mt. Everest and celebrate with the Lion King and Nemo. This is one of my favorite parks and I think sorely underrated. Even just walking around there are so many things to observe and enjoy. I could spend a week in Pizzafari just looking at the decor. There are endless learning opportunities in Animal Kingdom.

Festival of the Lion King – Oh my goodness I could talk for days about this show. It is so fun, so interactive, so uplifting and enjoyable. Little ones are able to dance around in the middle of the show, which brought me to tears even before I had kids, so now I’m a mess when I see it. The show really is amazing and I urge you not to miss it!

Affection Station at Rafiki’s Planet Watch – take the Wilderness Train to Rafiki’s Planet watch to experience the park’s petting zoo as well as see some unique scenery on the way to and from the stop. It is a bit of a trek from the train station to Rafiki’s Planet Watch, but worth it for the experiences that await.

Finding Nemo The Musical – I have not yet seen this, but have heard nothing but praises for how great the show is. I’ve heard the music and performances are just amazing. It’s definitely on my list of things to see!

If you’d rather save the major attraction-riding for when the whole family’s together, perhaps some of Walt Disney World’s other activities would be fun to try. Right at the Polynesian Resort, where guests of the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration will be staying, guests can rent boats of many different sizes and zip around Seven Seas Lagoon enjoying the scenery.

Another fun idea is one of the two miniature golf locations Disney World offers. Fantasia Gardens, near the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resorts is themed, as the name indicates, to the Disney animation masterpiece Fantasia. The other course is at the entrance to Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park but entrance to the park is not needed, just to the golf course. Winter Summerland takes the Blizzard Beach theme of winter-in-the-middle-of-Florida to a whole new level with two holiday-themed courses. A Winter Course with a snow theme and a Summer Course with a sand theme. Our family had a fabulous time when we went.

polykids — One of the beaches at the Polynesian Resort

Whatever you decide to do keep in mind that sometimes what you don’t do can make the trip. Don’t worry about trying to fit in every attraction or show. Sometimes the best Disney memories consist of hanging out in the resort, enjoying the pool and Florida sun (which hopefully will have returned by February 10th!) If you are relaxed, your children will be relaxed too.
Take the planning time before your trip to explore the Disney World site, check out the attractions you feel are “must-do” for your family. It could be the favorites that you need to line up early or get a Fast Pass for, or maybe the wonderful shows and character greetings Disney World has to offer. What works for you is what matters. The purpose of this post was just to highlight some of the attractions I feel would be easiest to maneuver with only one parent – hopefully this list will serve as a stepping-off point as you discover the rest of the World.

Check out my other entry for the Disney Social Media Moms – Must-Do Disney Firsts. See you in April!

Disclosure: I am a former member of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel, but the post written here comes from my family’s personal experiences and opinions over the years. I am not a Disney employee and the opinions expressed here are my own, not those of the Walt Disney Company. I am attending the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration by my own means, and not as a Walt Disney World Moms Panelist. (I do, however, encourage you to visit the Panel for any Walt Disney World vacation planning questions. The moms are a wealth of Walt Disney World knowledge!)