Hello and welcome to Disney Tourist Blog! We’re Sarah & Tom Bricker, and we founded this website over a decade ago as a place to assemble our reviews, recommendations, tips & tricks, and guide for doing Walt Disney World and Disneyland like pros. We strive to provide informative and unbiased advice to fans and first-timers alike planning trips to the Disney Parks around the globe.
Since being founded in 2011, Disney Tourist Blog has helped hundreds of millions of readers save money, time, and reduce stress in preparing for truly magical vacations. Our site and expertise have been featured by several prominent publications, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, CNN, Forbes, NBC News, The Hill, Travel & Leisure, Business Insider, USA Today, and more. Our charitable efforts have also been highlighted on several television news outlets, including the Today Show and local broadcasts in Central Florida and Southern California.
We created Disney Tourist Blog after graduating from college and law school initially as a place to share daily photos and trip reports from our visits to the parks. We resided in the Midwest at the time, and this blog was a good outlet in between trips. In the years since, DTB has grown beyond our wildest expectations.
We’ve relocated on multiple occasions to be closer to the parks to gain a fresh perspective as locals. We’ve lived less than 30 minutes from Disneyland (twice!) and under 10 minutes from Walt Disney World (we could see the Magic Kingdom fireworks from our bedroom window) for over 4 years. We’ve made these moves in order to intimately understand the ins and outs of Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
While the primary perspective of this blog remains one of tourists–to help you plan memorable vacations–living near the parks offered invaluable experience as locals. We’re current Annual Passholders on both coasts, as well as Universal’s parks in Orlando and Hollywood. We’re past Annual Passholders at Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Universal Studios Japan.
To that end, we continue to visit Disneyland on a weekly basis and make monthly research trips to Walt Disney World. During those visits, we field test new strategies, put our plans through the paces, conduct hotel stays and restaurant reviews, and more to ensure that our guidance is up-to-date and accurate. On-the-ground field testing to produce planning guides is critically important to us; that along with Disney news & rumors and analysis thereof have become DTB’s primary focus.
You can subscribe to our highly popular and totally-free Disney email newsletter here for regular news, planning posts, and other updates.
Disney Tourist Blog remains owned and operated solely by Sarah & Tom Bricker. While our family has grown in recent years to include our daughter, Megatron (real name not used here for privacy), the team behind the website has not. It’s just us. You will never find a guest post on DTB, because we strive for this blog to have a singular voice and consistent, high-quality research and planning recommendations.
We take seriously being objective and critical, but we still enjoy the parks a lot. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t visit the Disney parks so regularly or have a blog devoted to the subject. Our goal is to present a frank and candid assessment of all things Disney. You will seldom meaningless fluff words like “magical” here, and this blog most certainly is not “sprinkled with pixie dust.” This is written by real people trying to offer unbiased advice based on actual experiences visiting the Disney theme parks.
In addition to Disney Tourist Blog, we also own and operate a sister site, TravelCaffeine.com, that revolves around our non-Disney trips. That mostly focuses on California, U.S. National Parks, Japan, and a handful of international cities (mostly ones with a Disney presence, conveniently enough). In addition to bouncing between residing in Florida and California, we also took two “gap years” (or whatever you call it when you’re already established adults), put our stuff into storage, and spent extensive time living as digital nomads in Tokyo, Kyoto, Paris, etc.
we were planning a visit… came across this site..
really helpful, thanks a lot guys .
Hi,
On January I’ll be running my first marathon ever, and yes, as you can guess I’ll be the Walt Disney World Marathon!! I’m super excited as you can guess so I’ve been doing some research about the best traveling packages since I live in Mexico City. So I was hoping you guys could help me out with a couple of things: First, what do you recommend… should i book the hotel and park tickets with rundisney? They told me they make special price packages but Im not sure if they are convenient or if you know of another place where I could book those things. Second, for the marathon day, do I have to buy a park ticket or do I get in for free that day because i ran? (I know my family will have to buy all there tickets, bur maybe as a prize I get in that day for free!! lol). And last, but not least, I’ve read your blog post on Universal Studios, I must admit I’m also a huge Harry Potter fan so I want to go one day and visit Universal… Are there taxis or what way of transportation can i use to get from Disney to Universal?
Any info will be great!!! Thanks!!!!
XOXO,
Mariana Hu.
Tom, your blog is an awesome place to pick up tips on the parks. My family and I have been DVC members for about eight years, so we’ve been to the parks numerous times. To me, it’s a new experience every time. I look forward to keeping up with your blog. Thanks for all your hard work.
Informative stuff!! Thanks!
Hi! I’m going back to WDW for my second ever trip in July, and your blog (and Sarah’s what to wear page) is invaluable. We’re packing a Yankee Candle Sun & Sand plug in, too. While all the hints and tips are so helpful, it’s the robot walruses comment that elevates you two to expert status in my mind. Funny and helpful? Nice job. 🙂
Tom, We just saw Cinderella and it was magnificent! I have been indifferent to the Magic Kingdom’s castle but next time we visit I will gaze at it with great affection. I hope you two were also rapt all throughout the visual and emotional feast of this film. Restorative on many levels,..
Thank you…I am so glad we found this…we are finding it quite confusing to plan our trip in October….Dates 10 11 12 13 14…are the attractions open late for the guests staying for the MNSSHP? Or are they closed during the parade and then open late after the parade? Sound confusing? ugh
Hi Tom! Wasn’t sure if you are familiar with the Philadelphia Flower Show – the largest & oldest in the nation. This year’s theme is Disney!!! So excited to go and view the spectacular displays, BTW…the Phila. Flower Show is a photographer’s dream!
Awesome, thanks for the tip!
Hi Tom…I found your site and I’ve been on it all day. We plan on going to Disney World Dec16-27 of this year, 2015….with our autistic 9 year old daughter. Do you happen to know if they have any arrangments for the lines at any of the theme parks or at Universal (I’ve heard this in the past)….any other things you suggest for special need kids?
Also, you and Sarah almost look like brother and sister….I mean that in a good way, you two are a very cute couple!
Thanks!
Lisa
Yep, check this out: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/disney-parks-disability-access-service-card-fact-sheet/
Hope you have an amazing trip. Thanks for the kind words…I think? 😉
Love your blog, site, and photos! Keep up the great work! Hope to one day see you at the park!
Love your blog — THANK YOU so many useful tips, tricks and information. Keep it up. I’m a fan of yours.
I love what I’ve seen with your blog! Is there a forum for asking questions? I’m trying to find out if Disney World would be decorated for Christmas for the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon on November 7th. I realize that’s early, but I’ve seen some pictures from past races that appear to include some holiday decorations. I just got back from the Star Wars Half Marthon at Disneyland and it was awesome!
Sorry, there’s no forum. The Magic Kingdom will have some Christmas decorations up then, but the other parks will not.
Hi Sarah & Tom,
I am an avid Disney fan and visitor, but my interest has always been primarily in the parks (minimizing wait times, maximizing good times). We are frequent repeat patrons of French Quarter, spicing it up occasionally with a Riverside stay here and there. We just joined the Vacation Club (or DVC now that we are cool kids) and I realized just how little I knew about most of the resorts. We have never even seen most of them, so your blog has been both informative and entertaining. We have settled on Beach Club for our upcoming family trip which will require lots of pool time. Now I am thinking about Wilderness Lodge this Christmas. I look forward to revisiting your site for inspiration down the road. Keep up the good work! Kevin
Thanks for the kind words. You really can’t go wrong with Wilderness Lodge at Christmas!
Hey, Tom and Sarah!
Just wanted to express how much I love your site and your style of writing! Most of your suggestions are spot on, but can’t wait to see how some of the suggestions change when you have kids! Our family went to WDW in October 2014; hubby (first time), me, 7 year-old boy (first time), and 1.5 year-old girl (first time). I spent literally hundreds of hours doing research and even had a “Kellie’s Kickin’ Ride Guide’ binder (ok, I’m kind of a dork)! We decide on the dining plan and stayed at Pop Century! My husband and I both felt that it was the first vacation that we didn’t want to go home from.
Now, to save the money and plan another WDW vacation! Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your hints and tips!
~Kellie
“Kellie’s Kickin’ Ride Guide’ binder” ha…with a sense of humor like that, it’s no surprise you like this site! 😉 (I don’t know if that’s insulting you, me, or both!)
Regardless, thanks for the kind words!
Hi, Tom and Sarah! I read your blog religiously. Your reviews are so helpful for planning trips! Thank you!
I do have a question, though. My fiance and I have booked our honeymoon at WDW after our wedding in September. The problem is that I have recently lost my job, and am desperately looking for ways to still have the honeymoon of my dreams on a budget. I have heard from another site that you have advice for purchasing vacation club points? I was wondering how exactly that works, and if it’s even possible for us. Any advice you could give would be so very appreciated. I’m only getting married once, and I want to have the honeymoon I’ve always dreamed of… or at least something close.
Hope this helps: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/renting-disney-vacation-club-points/
Hello Tom!!!
I’ve written yourself and Sarah an email asking some questions about things. Im here on deployment and heading to DisneyWorld March20-April 2nd for my honeymoon!! i was wondering if you guys could help with some planning and just which direction to go with how many days to spend in a park. i’ve now been researching but i know you guys have been so many times! 🙂
Hi Tom,
I recently came across your site planning a trip for myself and my two boys in October of this year and have found it extremely useful. I do, however, have a question. My plan is to plan and buy as much as possible on line ahead of time to take away the worry of having pay for things on the day including the Dining Plan. However, seeing as my boys will be 10 and 12 when we go, I would be obliged to buy three adult dining plans. Knowing that American meals are normally pretty large I don’t think it would be logical for the boys to eat adult meals. My question is, if we have the MagicWristbands and Disney knows we’re three adults, can I pay for children’s meals on the day or will I be forced to pay for adult meals? It may sound like a silly question but knowing the answer will determine dining plan or not.
Thanks in advance for your help,
Lyne
If you purchase the Dining Plan, you will have to buy it for adults. If you purchase meals out of pocket as you go, you can buy kids meals.
Hello Tom,
I have been following your blog for a couple years now. I love it!! Great work! I was wondering if you would be willing to give me some advice about the Grand Californian? We are going to try to pull off the whole surprise trip for the kids in Feb. I am going to book 4 nights at the GC (our 1st time, we normally stay at PPier). However, this time instead of taking the early flight from Colorado and powering through the whole first day, we are flying in a day early, hanging out at the hotel and Downtown Disney, then starting at the parks bright and early the next morning. Brings me to my question…since we will actually be spending time at the hotel, we are debating whether or not a room with a view is worth the extra $. Or is there another option to view the park from a common area at the hotel? If the views of the countyard are nice enough and we can just take the kids to a balcony or something, maybe that’s a better route. ??? Just though you might have a good opinion. Thanks so much!!!
Hello Tom,
I have been following your blog for a couple years now. I love it!! Great work! I was wondering if you would be willing to give me some advice about the Grand Californian? We are going to try to pull off the whole surprise trip for the kids in Feb. I am going to book 4 nights at the GC (our 1st time, we normally stay at PPier). However, this time instead of taking the early flight from Colorado and powering through the whole first day, we are flying in a day early, hanging out at the hotel and Downtown Disney, then starting at the parks bright and early the next morning. Brings me to my question…since we will actually be spending time at the hotel, we are debating whether or not a room with a view is worth the extra $. Or is there another option to view the park from a common area at the hotel? If the views of the countyard are nice enough and we can just take the kids to a balcony or something, maybe that’s a better route. ??? Just though you might have a good opinion. Thanks so much!!!
I don’t typically leave comments, but I just wanted to say two things: one, this blog is wonderful. Your articles are great, and your photography is just wonderful.
I stumbled across your blog earlier this week while planning our December 2014 trip, and I have already found so much useful advice – not just for planning our trip, but for my amateur photography, as well. We live in Florida and were gifted an annual pass (it’s a little our of our price range sadly), so we are hoping to make the most of it with a few more-than-usual Disney trips this year, and your blog is now my go-to site for all our upcoming trips!
Two, you’ve inspired me and made me jealous all at once. My husband and I would love nothing more than to travel, and get paid to do it. A farfetched dream, but the dream nonetheless. You seem to have achieved that dream, thus the jealousy! 😉
As I said, I’m still learning the ins and outs of photography, and I only have a Sony Nex 7 with the kit lens, so I’m rather limited. But I’m reading everything I can, putting what I’ve learned to use with the Sony, and saving. Your blog makes me hope that dream can be attained one day.
Thanks for the kind words. I’m sure you’ve found the photography posts by now, but reading through them is a great place to start. The Sony NEX 7 is a very capable camera! 🙂
Your photography posts have DEFINITELY given me some great pointers! I’m really looking forward to shooting with the NEX 7 this December after reading your advice, and I’m hoping to buy Understanding Exposure very soon! You’re right, the NEX 7 is a very capable little camera, and after reading your posts I realized I’m more limited by the kit lens than anything else. But I think it will make for great training wheels until I can upgrade 😉
Thanks for the advice and inspiration!