the Official Blog of the Unofficial Guides

Liliane Opsomer, coauthor of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids, shares with us her top 10 tips for families visiting Walt Disney World. 1) Be prepared, and plan your visit. Make a list of what you need while at WDW. If you plan to fly into Orlando, consider shipping some items ahead to your hotel. Plan what you want to

It is not difficult to get into the spirit of the season at Walt Disney World Resorts. All properties are spruced up with elaborate holiday decorations, and it is absolutely worth your time to go resort hopping. Here are a few suggestions for your Christmas resort hopping. Wilderness Lodge has a four-story-high Christmas tree decorated with Native American-inspired ornaments. Over at

Cabana Bay Beach Resort is Universal’s first on-site hotel aimed at the value and moderate markets. The theme is mid-century modern, with lots of windows, bright colors, and period-appropriate lighting and furniture. We think the resort would be right at home in the deserts of Palm Springs or Las Vegas. Kids will love the two large and well-themed pools (one

The original 1946 structure that housed the vintage Lady Luck hotel-casino for 35 years has morphed into the Downtown Grand hotel-casino and is the first new inner-city hotel in three decades. This bold industrial-chic property sits at the center of the Downtown 3rd redevelopment complex at 3rd Street and Ogden Avenue, one block north of the Fremont Street Experience. A

Liliane Opsomer, coauthor of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids recently stayed a the Dolphin resort and had a chance to ask Santa and Mrs. Claus about their favorite things to do during their annual vacation a the hotel. After undergoing a major $140,00,000, 3-year renovation, transforming every guest room, the Swan and Dolphin resorts are ready