It’s Off To Disney We Go
Welcome to The Bare Necessities Travel Blog!
It’s our hope that as this site grows, it becomes your one-stop shop for Disney travel tips, tricks, and thoughtful insights. Today, as we kick off this new blog, we wanted to introduce our why behind our love of Disney and offer a brief glance at what we feel makes Disney travel so uniquely magical.
Mousekeeping
Before we dive in, there are a few mousekeeping items to get out of the way.
Most importantly, Jessica and I promise to always be honest and transparent. Neither of us work for the Mouse, and we genuinely love traveling to Disney destinations - whether that’s visiting the parks or sailing the seas aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship.
Some of you are here because you’re planning your very first Disney trip and want to know what to expect. Others may be seasoned “world travelers” looking to deepen your Disney knowledge or expand your community. Whoever you are and wherever you’re coming from, please know that everyone is welcome here at The Bare Necessities Travel Blog. That said, we also recognize that Disney isn’t necessarily right for everyone - and that’s okay.
Let’s Talk Price
For starters, Disney travel is expensive. There’s no way around it. Visiting Disney resorts or sailing on one of their cruise ships comes at a cost. While there are strategies to help make trips more affordable - and we’ll absolutely cover those in future posts - “affordable” is still relative to the initial high price tag.
‘Tis The Season
Secondly, there really isn’t an “off season” anymore. Disney resorts are crowded. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. It’s now just varying degrees of crowded, and everyone’s tolerance levels differ. Unless you live locally and can visit a Disney park on a random Wednesday afternoon, the crowds are here to stay.
“…I've always loved the idea of summer, and sun, and all things hot!” - Olaf
Lastly - if you travel to Walt Disney World, it can get hot. I mean uncomfortably hot. If you’re not accustomed to 100+ degree temperatures paired with near-total humidity, visiting Walt Disney World during certain times of year can be challenging. Dress appropriately, stay hydrated, take things slow, and don’t hesitate to duck inside for air-conditioned breaks.
With housekeeping out of the way, the real question becomes: Is Disney travel right for you or your family?
If you’re anything like us, the answer is an unequivocal yes!
Pack Your Pins & Ears
Victorian elegance meets modern sophistication at this lavish Disney Resort hotel. Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is also home to the Disney Wedding Pavilion.
The Land Before…Disney
Now, Jessica will tell you that I haven’t always been a self-crowned Disney nerd. Nearly twenty years ago, during the holiday season, close friends of ours got married at Walt Disney World. I will say, I couldn’t deny how lovely the holiday décor was and the wedding venue was unbelievably picturesque - and despite having an amazing time celebrating this momentous occasion, something still didn’t quite connect. I didn’t see Disney in the same way our friends did, and I couldn’t feel the magic.
It also did not help that on New Year’s Eve I rode EPCOT’s Mission: SPACE after several margaritas and devouring a turkey leg. Needless to say, I was fairly miserable for a while.
So…what changed?
Honestly, it was having a child.
"Es-ca-pe!” - Dory
Let me be clear - my love of Disney, like Jessica’s, has evolved far beyond experiences that revolve solely around our kids - but this was undeniably the beginning. When our daughter was one year old (with an Irish twin on the way), Jessica suggested we escape reality and visit Walt Disney World.
To this day, more than a decade later, I vividly remember the look on our stroller princess’ face when she first visited Magic Kingdom. To her, it was real. Even at one year old, it was imagination brought to life. Meeting Mickey and Minnie, encountering princesses galore - you could see it in her expressions. This was something different. Something wondrous. To her, the magic was real.
As an artist, you’d think imagination would always be at the forefront of my life. Yet somewhere along the way - between growing older and life getting harder - it got lost. With each Disney trip, our daughters taught us both an important lesson: escapism is okay. Magic can be playful. And in the right moment, it can feel incredibly real.
“It’s funny. It’s spelled just like the word ‘escape.’”
- GIF Credit, Disney’s and Pixar’s Finding Nemo.
Speaking of escapism, Walt Disney World certainly got one thing absolutely right - building a resort that spans roughly 40 square miles. To put that into perspective, Disney World is nearly twice the size of Manhattan.
That’s massive!
When you pass under the iconic Disney archway, it genuinely feels like leaving the rest of the world behind. This illusion is reinforced by the fact that most areas on property don’t broadcast outside media such as the news. Unless you actively seek it out on your phone or change the channel in your resort room, you can completely disconnect and immerse yourself in the Disney bubble.
“…it takes people to make the dream a reality.”
It truly cannot be overstated how essential Cast Members are to the Disney experience and maintaining the Disney bubble. Their customer service is the best we have ever encountered, and they are just as integral to the Disney brand as princesses or Mickey Mouse himself. Despite sweltering heat, long days, and relentless crowds, Cast Members consistently go out of their way to make the small moments matter.
One example stands out. When our kids were younger, our eldest was finally tall enough to ride Mission: SPACE. Given my past margarita and turkey leg experience, I was more than happy to sit this one out. Our youngest, however, was devastated. Watching her sister enter the queue while we sat on a nearby bench resulted in a waterfall of tears.
As I tried to console her, I didn’t noticed the Cast Member approaching from behind. Moments later, our youngest was handed a Mickey balloon and cotton candy. “On the mouse!” the Cast Member exclaimed before walking away. Instant joy. Tears forgotten. Crisis averted.
“You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality”
Jessica and I, like many Disney-goers, refer to moments like these as “pixie-dusting.” It’s when Cast Members go out of their way to add a little extra magic to your day. Pixie-dusting should never be expected, and it certainly isn’t guaranteed. But more often than not, we experience at least one small moment like this per trip.
Sometimes it’s a free basket of fries when the kitchen is backed up. Other times it’s a surprise Starbucks drink in Animal Kingdom. Once in a blue moon, it might even be an unexpected (and very welcomed) room upgrade. When it happens, enjoy it. Let it enhance the magic - but don’t go searching for it, or you’ll likely be disappointed.
One final reminder about Cast Members: they’re human. They work long hours, often in extreme heat, and customer-facing roles come with plenty of challenges. On rare occasions, you may encounter a Cast Member who isn’t particularly outgoing or accommodating. Offer a little grace, just keep swimming, and we promise it’ll all work out just fine.
Celebrating the holidays at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort.
This beautiful lakeside oasis offers classic influences, Disney touches and modern comforts to energize and inspire.
The Disney Itch
At some point, Jessica and I should probably tally the number of Disney trips we’ve taken over the years. A handful were adults only. Yes, you can and should absolutely enjoy child-free getaways to Disney. More on this another time. However most trips have been shared with family and friends. Each vacation has brought new experiences, yet one thing remains constant: the memories.
Our daughters seem to bond more with each visit - walking hand in hand, resting their heads on each other’s shoulders, and laughing uncontrollably. After every trip, there are always tall tales to tell. Just recently, after attending the 2025 Food & Wine Festival, Jessica and I discovered we could both manage a very convincing Mickey Mouse impression - at least, that’s what the drinks were telling us. Not so sure the guests in the Avatar Flight of Passage decontamination chamber felt the same. Anyway, I digress.
Please join us here at The Bare Necessities Travel Blog as we continue to share our experiences, travel tips, and insights - so your Disney vacations can stay magical, year after year.
