Disney Grandpa

Grandma and I get asked about Disney Vacation Club more than just about any other topic around here. We have been DVC Members since 1996 and should know a thing or two. So I figured it was high time ole Grandpa sat down and worked through the whole thing properly, out loud, for anybody else… Read more: Is Disney Vacation Club Worth It? A Grandpa’s Guide to DVC Ownership

Surviving the Florida Heat: A Grandparent’s Guide to a Summer Disney Visit Grandma and I are headed back to Walt Disney World this summer, and for two folks who have spent a lifetime avoiding hot weather, that is saying something. We used to be December people. Sparse crowds, mild temperatures, resort lobbies dressed up for… Read more: Surviving Florida’s Summer Heat at Disney: A Guide for Seniors

I first published this article over 2 years ago. I felt it was time to revisit. Things change, the parks have changed. The whole point to Crushing It! is to go with the flow and adapt. So here ya go Enjoy! Let me tell you a story. Back in the late ’90s when our kids… Read more: Slowing Your Roll: A Grandpa’s Guide to Enjoying Disney Without the Rush

If you’ve been staying at Disneyland Resort hotels for years, you probably felt a little piece of your Disney heart break on January 5, 2026. That was the day Early Entry officially disappeared, taking with it those magical 30 minutes of peaceful park exploration before the masses arrived. I get it. I really do. For… Read more: Saying Goodbye to Early Entry: How to Navigate Disneyland Without the 30-Minute Head Start

If you’ve visited a major theme park in the past few years, you know that mobile ordering has become a game-changer. No more waiting in long lines just to order a burger and fries – now you can skip straight to pickup. But not all mobile ordering systems are created equal. Let’s dive into how… Read more: Mobile Ordering Showdown: Disney vs. Universal – Which Theme Park Does It Better?

Grandma and I paid a visit to Universal before our family WDW trip back in late November. I should have posted this sooner, but as often happens life got in the way. Nothing major, just holidays, Grandkids, etc. The condition of our politics made me feel uninterested in writing. The current state of our Country… Read more: Grandpa’s EPIC Adventure

Well gentle readers, Disney’s fiscal year is coming to a close. This usually means all kinds of announcements. Most of them bad news for us pinched consumers. We can always expect price increases this time of year and this year was sadly no exception. As with Disney’s custom, bad news was tempered with good. They… Read more: It’s That Time Of Year Again

Back in January I posted that this year is going to be a very Disney year. So far so good! Grandma and I had a great time at Disneyland back in February and sweated it out in May at Disney World. Our next adventure begins in around 60 days. We are taking the Grandkids and… Read more: Disney Split Stay: Tips for Maximizing Family Fun

Normally I do not just repeat news that is available elsewhere. There are many blogs, YouTubes and other sites that do a great job covering Disney news in excruciating detail. However there are some notable news items that I come across that impact those of us on a fixed income. This week has been just… Read more: Disney Food Price Hikes: Budgeting for Magic

Sometimes posts just write themselves. This was not one of them! This post covers how we are planning on attacking our Epic Universe visit. Links to the resources we used are included. We get no commercial consideration for these resources. I am not saying that this is a comprehensive or one-size-fits all guide. It works… Read more: An Epic How To

In a little over 100 days Grandma and I will be going to Universal Orlando parks. This will be our first trip back to Universal in over 20 years. Why are we doing this? What has changed? And are we approaching this trip differently than a WDW vacation? Read on to find out. Why Now?… Read more: Epic Universe Here We Come

Grandma and I just returned from our 10 Day May adventure to Walt Disney World. We went for Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. It was fun but it was hot. Not just hot, unseasonably hot and humid. Grandma and I did it and survived and had a pretty great time doing it. Of course our… Read more: Epcot Flower and Garden Festival: Tips for Older Travelers

It has been a minute since my last post. In that time lots have happened. Disney is both raising prices and giving discounts. I think they could have garnered more good will if they just lowered prices. Grandma and I are getting ready for our May trip. Epic Universe is having a soft open. Tourism… Read more: Catching Up

Grandma and I will be traveling to Walt Disney World again soon. This trip will be a first for us. We have never visited in the summer. Ok, it is Late Spring/Early Summer. For this heat avoiding old couple, it will be a first. Why go? Simple, we had DVC Points that would be expiring… Read more: Rediscovering Disney: Tips for a Summer Visit with Grandma

The post discusses the complexities of planning a Disney trip, emphasizing how it can lead to disappointment and stress, especially for seniors and families. Highlighting a young mother’s experiences, it critiques the heavy reliance on technology, the overwhelming need for advanced reservations, and unpredictable crowds, which contribute to anxiety. The author suggests maintaining flexibility and not over-planning to enhance the vacation experience, ultimately advocating for a more straightforward and enjoyable approach to visiting Disney parks.