Good Story Vacations

19/09/2024

Remember the magic of your childhood Disney vacations?

The thrill of meeting your favorite characters. The excitement of new rides. The wonder of staying at a Disney Resort hotel. ✨

Though a lot has changed, you can still capture that wonder. You can relive your own memories while making new ones with your kids.

Planning the perfect Disney vacation involves a little preparation. And that’s where a Disney travel agent comes in.

These experts offer personalized planning and insider tips. They handle all the booking for you—from hotels and park tickets to special experiences. They save you time, provide peace of mind, and help you find the best deals and promotions.

Best of all, their help comes at no extra cost.

At Good Story Vacations, our advisors focus on turning every trip into a lifelong story. We listen to what your family needs and tailor our suggestions to make every moment special.

Plus, we have perks like our loyalty program and donate 1% of our profits to help the environment.

Travel with us, and your Disney adventure can be even more rewarding and full of good stories!

Want to dive deeper into how a Disney travel agent can help? Read on…

Discover how a travel advisor can make your vacation magical. They handle everything from bookings to insider tips, letting you enjoy the magic stress-free.

08/09/2024

The shared laughter over ice cream. The thrill of your first roller coaster. The awe of watching fireworks light up the sky.

These moments create lasting stories that stay with us. These are the stories that matter because they remind us of what is most important: joy, love, and family.

Stories are what we do.

We believe that the best vacations are those filled with stories you’ll want to tell again and again. Stories connect us, enrich our lives, and make family vacations more meaningful.

For 100 years, Disney has enchanted the world with timeless stories.

Disney vacations are where these stories come to life. From the moment you step into a Disney theme park or set sail on a Disney Cruise, you’re immersed in another world.

Good Story Vacations and Disney share a love of stories because they show us what matters most. They inspire us to dream, teach us the power of resilience, and help us understand our challenges. Most importantly, stories unite families through shared experiences, and that's what a good vacation is all about.

Those truly special stories—what we call "good stories"—remain with you for years to come. That’s why we love stories and help families create them every step of the way.

How a shared love of stories with Disney shapes every vacation we plan.

20/07/2024

Exciting news as Good Story Vacations continues to grow! We received an invitation to take part in the Rising Star Agent Education Program. As owner of the agency, I attended at Disneyland Resort and it was a thrilling experience!

We bounced between Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, and Disney Resort hotels. Here are a few of the thousand photos I took last week.

Some highlights:

⭐ WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure many times

⭐ Seeing World of Color — ONE, a colorful nighttime spectacular on the water

⭐ Enjoying food and drinks at Pixar Fest

⭐ Meeting Dug from Up

I loved staying at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. It's both grand and cozy.

We also visited the classic Disneyland Hotel and newly-renovated Pixar Place Hotel.

All three resort hotels are close to the theme parks and Downtown Disney District. It's so easy for families to get around—especially families with strollers.

My room was minutes away from Disney California Adventure Park. This made it a breeze to check into the park and fit in all the rides and experiences I was looking forward to. It also made it easy to grab a coffee and simply stroll through the theme park.

At Disneyland Resort, there's a wonderful mix of nostalgia and cutting-edge attractions. There is innovation and imagination around every turn.

There are so many exciting updates ahead! I'm very much looking forward to my next visit to The Happiest Place on Earth.

I can’t wait to use what I learned during this event to help more guests with their Disney vacation planning.

Thank you, Disney. 😄 See ya real soon, Mickey Mouse!

19/03/2024

Every vacation tells a story, and at Good Story Vacations, we're all about making yours a little more legendary. 🌟🎢

Introducing our Legendary Program — earn rewards on every trip to create even more unforgettable moments. ✨

Here’s how it works:

1️⃣ Book your trip with Good Story Vacations 👋

Start by talking to one of our Travel Advisors and booking your vacation with us. On your first trip, the points begin to tally.

2️⃣ Keep the memories coming 🔄

The more you travel, the more points you earn — watch them multiply from 2x → 3x → 4x. 📈

3️⃣ Redeem and create good stories 😀

Use your points on your next family getaway for a destination gift card to enhance your experience with something you’ll always remember.

Every laugh, every hug, every good story adds up to something… legendary.

Join our waitlist now for the Legendary Program and start earning quadruple points (4X!!!!) on your next trip before October 1, 2024.

4X points for any Eligible Travel Booking is a promotional offer ending on April 10, 2024. See the terms of this promotion at goodstoryvacations.com/rewards.

⭐️ Comment “LEGENDARY” on this post for a link to join the waitlist. Once you add your email to the Legendary Program waitlist, you’ll be eligible to start earning big on your next family vacation!

03/01/2024

Disney+ subscribers get a free Dining Plan when you purchase a non-discounted 4-night/4-day Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a room at select Disney Resort hotels and tickets with a Park Hopper® Option. For arrivals most nights 7/1/24–9/30/24.

With additional offers still available, now's a great time to start planning that next big adventure! Contact us at Good Story Vacations, and we'll help you find the perfect package for your family with some good stories you'll always remember.

Full offer details: https://goodstoryvacations.com/offers/01032024-disney-plus

11/07/2023

There are so many great reasons to enjoy a Value Resort hotel at Walt Disney World Resort. With five locations to choose from, there are many ways to still experience Disney “magic” while meeting your budget and family’s needs.

All Disney Value Resort hotels have at least one pool on property. Disney’s Art of Animation Resort actually has the largest resort pool of any Disney Resort hotel! The Big Blue Pool and Schoolyard Sprayground is especially fun because of the Finding Nemo theme. 🐠

Value Resort dining options include a casual food court and pool bar. The food court has multiple cuisines to enjoy — helpful with a family who likes to have choices. It’s good to know that the food court is open from early morning to late evening. A large pizza, split between the family, is a perfect way to end a long theme park day.

Some of the Value Resort hotels have room types that can accommodate parties of six adults and have two bathrooms. TWO BATHROOMS! Imagine how much quicker that will make your mornings! You’ll be getting into the theme parks twice as fast!

By staying at one of these budget-friendly options, you won’t be missing out. You still receive the perks of staying on property while experiencing the same Disney guest service and immersive storytelling you’d expect at any other Disney Resort hotel.

The Value Resort hotels are especially fun for kids because of the resort activities, playgrounds, and larger-than-life statues found around the property. Our kid loves making a mad dash at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort to say hi to all his favorite character statues from The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Finding Nemo, and Cars.

If you’ve stayed at a Value Resort hotel at Walt Disney World Resort, what’s your favorite?

👉 Save this post for your next Disney vacation!

30/06/2023

Hi! I’m Amanda, the founder of Good Story Vacations.

We make planning Disney vacations a whole lot easier for busy families.

I know there are a lot of choices and things to decide before you go.

Planning a vacation can be overwhelming.

That’s where I — and our team of travel advisors — can help.

Each of our Good Story Advisors brings something unique to your Disney vacation planning.

For me, I’m a mom bringing my experience going to Disney destinations with my husband and our son.

So when you and I work together, here’s how it goes:

We start with a one-on-one phone call where I get to know a little bit about your family.

Then, I save you time by researching options, helping you make the big decisions, and matching you with the best room and ticket package for your family.

After I book your vacation, I give you everything you need to know and send you the latest updates so you can feel confident when you arrive at your Disney destination.

What do I help you learn? So. Many. Things.

How to avoid lines, Disney Genie+ service, Disney transportation… the list goes on.

The best part: any travel advisor you work with at Good Story Vacations is with you every step of the way as you prepare for your trip.

Want to learn everything you can to make sure your family has a magical time? Let’s talk!

To get started:

👋 Send us a message to get added to our list for 2023/2024 Disney vacations

🤙 Let’s set up a call — I promise to make things super simple for your family vacation

😀 Follow for tips on Disney vacation planning and Disney with kids

P.S…

😎 Interested in a flexible career as a Disney Travel Advisor? Look for “Work with us” on our website linked in the bio

28/06/2023

For some of the most popular attractions at Walt Disney World Resort, you can save time waiting in line by purchasing an individual Lightning Lane entry.

For experiences that offer it, the Lightning Lane entrance lets you bypass the standby queue. You can book up to two experiences per day like this, one at a time.

On the day of your visit, open the My Disney Experience app and go to the Disney Genie service Tip Board. You’ll be able to purchase individual Lightning Lane entries from there.

These experiences are always changing, but currently, they include:
⚡️ Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom Park
⚡️ TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom Park
⚡️ Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT
⚡️ Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
⚡️ Avatar Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

For most guests, you can purchase when the park opens. But, if your family is staying at a Disney Resort hotel, Walt Disney World Swan or Dolphin Hotels, or Shades of Green, you get to buy individual Lightning Lanes starting at 7 AM.

This is a huge advantage!

Experiences with Lightning Lane entrances are limited in availability, so it’s possible by the time the park opens, they will be gone. That’s why those extra hours in the morning will help you get on the ride your kids are talking about most.

Imagine walking through the park gates with a bunch of other families eager to get in, while pushing a stroller and wrangling your kids, and trying to buy individual Lighting Lane entries for your family on your phone.

Or you can start your day way ahead of the game because you stayed at a Disney Resort hotel and bought your individual Lighting Lanes hours before park opening. ☺️

Want to mosey your way into the park every morning? Talk to us about staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel!

Disney Tips and Tricks | Disney with Kids

26/06/2023

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by Facebook Groups for advice on Disney vacation planning. These spaces are full of Disney fans eager to give tips and tricks, but it can feel a bit like falling down the rabbit hole.

Vacation planning advice for Walt Disney World Resort can feel especially overwhelming when they don’t know your family’s unique needs or interests — even more so if it’s your first visit and you don’t know where to start.

Plus, changes around the Resort and theme parks happen all the time, and information in these forums can get outdated quickly.

At worst, Facebook Groups can have spammers and trolls, which always sucks the energy out of the room.

Sifting through the advice can eat up hours of your day. When life gets busy, that can feel like wasted time, which is never a good feeling.

Honestly, when you need help or just want to hop on the phone with someone who knows the specific needs of your family, talking to a travel advisor is your best bet.

Like Facebook Groups, working with a Good Story Advisor won’t add any additional cost to your trip. But the real value is that our travel advisors can give you the personal attention that Facebook Groups can’t, with the added benefit that we get our information directly from Disney. Plus, we are graduates of the College of Disney Knowledge, which means we know our stuff!

In addition to crafting a trip just for your family, Good Story Advisors can get you prepared and answer any planning questions that pop up from the moment you start planning to the moment you arrive. You can trust the answer you are getting is the best one for your family.

Make your vacation planning easier (and skip the rabbit hole) by talking to one of our Good Story Advisors. We’re here to help. 😀

Have you ever fallen down the Facebook Groups rabbit hole? 🐰⏱️😵‍💫

Planning for Disney | Walt Disney World Tips and Tricks

23/06/2023

We encourage all of our families to stay at a Resort hotel when vacationing at Walt Disney World Resort.

Why? There are so many benefits!

EARLY ACCESS

☀️ Extra time in the morning
Get a 30-minute jump on your day with Early Entry, available at all four theme parks every day.

🌙 Extra time in the evening
Enjoy Extended Evening Theme Park Hours at select parks on select nights through 2024 if you stay at a Disney Deluxe Resort or Villa Resort (as well as a few others).

✌️ Extra opportunities to enter virtual queues
At 6 PM, if you’re eligible for extended hours, you can request to join virtual queues for some popular rides on nights with extended hours.

⚡️ Early access to buy Individual Lightning Lanes
You are eligible to make your first individual Lightning Lane purchase (which are limited in availability) starting at 7 AM each day of your visit — that gives you a head start over everyone else who must wait until park opening.

🍽️ Better dining reservations
Dining reservations open 60 days in advance, but you can make reservations for the entire length of their stay up to 70 days in advance to help you snag that Character Dining experience your kids will love.

DISNEY MAGIC

🏰 Immerse yourself in the magic
Watch your kids’ eyes light up from your hotel room to the pool — you’ll surround yourself with classic Disney stories and worlds both real and imagined.

🚝 Disney transportation
Get to the parks faster with fun, convenient, and complimentary transport by bus, boat, monorail, or the Disney Skyliner.

NICE TO HAVE

🚙 Complimentary parking
Parking your vehicle overnight at Resort hotels and theme parks is included in the cost of your stay.

✨ MagicBand+ pre-arrival price
You can purchase a MagicBand+ for each member of your family at a special price before you arrive.

🍔 Access to dining plans
Starting January 9, 2024, you will be able to save time and money by booking a Disney Resort Hotel Package with a Disney dining plan.

These benefits are subject to change and extend to some other select hotels.

So, leave us a comment and we’ll confirm the status for your next family vacation!

21/06/2023

We get asked this by families all the time:

Should we wait to take our kid on a Disney vacation until they’re old enough to remember?

Our biggest advice every time is — don’t wait!

Walt Disney World Resort is meant to be enjoyed by people of all ages, and kids under 3 are free!

Even if your kid doesn’t remember every detail, you will!

You’ll see their faces light up when they meet their favorite character for the first time. And, trust us, you’ll always remember their very first ride with you. 🥺

For our kid, it was Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. We told a Disney cast member that it was his first ride ever as we were in line and they surprised him with a Simba stuffed animal. It was such a magical experience!

The memories you make, the photos you take, and the good stories you come home with — which is what we’re all about here! — will make a family vacation so worth it for everyone, no matter their age. 😊

Share this with someone who may be on the fence about taking their kiddo on their first Disney vacation! 🌟

19/06/2023

For some extra fun on your family vacation, try aligning it with one of these seasonal festivals and special events at Walt Disney World Resort. Why not get more bang for your buck?

2023
🌷 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival - Mar 1–Jul 5
🍷 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival - Jul 27–Nov 18
🎃 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party - Aug 11–Nov 1
🎄 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party - Nov 9–Dec 22
🕯️ EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays - Nov 24–Dec 30

2024
🎨 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts - TDB (typically Jan–Feb)

All EPCOT festivals are included in the price of admission, while the parties are ticketed. Here’s what Disney has to say about those:

🎟️ Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Gather round goblins, gargoyles, ghosts and all! Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is making its return to Magic Kingdom® Park! Join for a ghoulishly good time filled with everything from a themed parade and spelltacular stage show to favorite Characters, a festive fireworks extravaganza and plenty of sweets for all trick-or-treaters. Choose from select nights August 11-November 1, 2023. Come on...Let's Boo This

Capacity for this event is limited, so get your tickets soon.
Entertainment offerings subject to change without notice. Please choose costumes that are not obstructive or offensive. Admission to this event requires a separately priced ticket valid only during specific event dates and hours. Inclement weather conditions may also affect outdoor entertainment.

🎟️ Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Do you still believe in holiday magic? Discover it again at the return of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom Park! Join Mickey and the gang as they host the happiest holiday party of the season.
The holiday magic shines bright on select very merry nights during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom Park, November 9–December 22!

Admission to this event requires a separately priced ticket. Ticket valid only during specific event hours and subject to availability.

16/06/2023

My biggest advice when picturing the Disney vacation you want for your family: remember *why* you are going.

Who are you sharing this time with? What experiences do you want to have? What do you want from your vacation?

Each Walt Disney World Resort theme park, water park, and Resort hotel offers something unique.

Remembering the “why” will help you decide what *types* of experiences you’d like to have and how they might shape your trip.

Something my family likes to do? Slushy breaks! 🥤😋🥤

It’s time we build into our day to cool down, connect, and really take in where we are: the most magical place on Earth.

Looking for a slushy break of your own?

My kid’s approved picks are:
🥤 Westward Ho at Magic Kingdom Park
🥤 The Land Cart at EPCOT
🥤 Anaheim Produce at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
🥤 Warung Outpost at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

What do you want for your family from your next vacation?

15/06/2023

When we have an upcoming Disney vacation, receiving a Disney Gift Card before the trip is so appreciated.

After our family gets a gift card, we’ll write the name of the person who gifted it on the card when packing. Once we’re in the parks, we’ll send a picture to them to show how we’re using it — buying a t-shirt, a new pin, or a treat!

It’s great for our kid too because we see him connect a specific person to a specific moment. It makes the trip all the more memorable for us.

Save this Disney tip for the next time you’re heading to Walt Disney World Resort!



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14/06/2023

While Disney works hard to provide the best experience at all times, Walt Disney World Resort attractions may not always be operational.

Every year, attractions and water parks go under refurbishment for routine maintenance and safety improvements — and the “Pardon Our Pixie Dust” signs go up. 🧚 ☺️

These closures may last only a few weeks, but if you’re planning your next Disney vacation during that period, it’s good to know in advance.

Let’s say Space Mountain is your kids’ favorite ride or Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park is their favorite place to get wet, and they are scheduled for upcoming refurbishment, you’ll want to plan around those dates.

Attraction closures are always subject to change, but you can find them on the Walt Disney World Resort website in the Park Hours Calendar.

Find “Closed for Refurbishment” at each park, on each day of your potential trip. The only limitation to this method is how far in advance refurbishments are listed. You can expect this calendar to extend 60 days or so into the future. So if you’re booking a trip farther out, you can find scheduled refurbishments on each attraction’s page on the website.

One more thing:

If you plan to spend some time around your Resort hotel during the day, you may want to pay attention to hotel refurbishments as well, as you’ll probably be able to see and hear construction during daytime hours. Though Disney makes every effort to minimize disruptions, if you would prefer to avoid the construction, be sure to look for other places to stay for this trip.

If your heart is set on a particular location undergoing refurbishment, there may be certain amenities that are unavailable during your stay. You may also find limited access to pools, paths, or transportation that may cause you a little extra travel time.

As with attraction closures, though they are subject to change, you can find scheduled Resort hotel refurbishments on each hotel’s page on the website.

We know your life is busy, so send us a message or leave a comment about your next family trip, and we’ll look up refurbishments for you. 🙌

13/06/2023

Spring Weather at Walt Disney World Resort

For many families, including those who travel with Good Story Vacations, Spring is their top pick of when to visit Walt Disney World Resort. From spring break to Memorial Day weekend, this is when a lot of families are able to travel. And fortunately, it’s not too hot, not too cold, and not too rainy.

In March, around school breaks, you have average temperatures in the upper-70s during the day and cooler at night after the fireworks.

Then, by Memorial Day, you have low-70s to low-80s the whole day. It’s a little rainier by May and record highs have reached into the high-90s, but it’s not as hot as the summer months, which makes Spring a very nice and comfortable time to visit!

MARCH WEATHER
🌡️ Average high/low temp - 78° / 53°
🥵 Record high - 90°
🌧️ Average days of rain - 3 days

APRIL WEATHER
🌡️ Average high/low temp - 80° / 61°
🥵 Record high - 95°
🌧️ Average days of rain - 6 days

MAY WEATHER
🌡️ Average high/low temp - 83° / 70°
🥵 Record high - 98°
🌧️ Average days of rain - 8 days

Temperatures in °F



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13/06/2023

As we start making vacation plans with our families traveling to Magic Kingdom Park or Disneyland Park, we like to think ahead to the moment that they walk through the gates. There is a plaque at the entrance of both parks — a little promise — that reads:

“Here You Leave Today and Enter The World Of Yesterday, Tomorrow and Fantasy”

It’s a great reminder to anyone balancing kids, work, and life, that when you enter a Disney Park, you have the permission to leave your worries behind.

As you pass under this plaque and enter Main Street, U.S.A., remember to take a breath — you made it!

Then, head toward your first ride or a snack cart for Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar.

I can tell you what our 5-year-old’s first priority is… 😋

What are you looking forward to leaving behind on your next Disney vacation?



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08/06/2023

Be sure to check Theme Park Reservation availability before you decide on dates for your next Walt Disney World Resort vacation.

Currently, to enter a theme park, you need 1️⃣ a valid ticket and 2️⃣ a theme park reservation for that park for each member of your family (or party).

The last thing you need is to book a trip, only to find that the theme park you want is not available on the day you plan to be there. 😧

But, some good news!

It was just announced that Walt Disney World Resort will be removing theme park reservations for date-based tickets starting January 9, 2024! 🎉

👉 If your trip is before January 9:

Go to the Walt Disney World Resort website and search: Theme Park Reservation Availability.

If you’re just buying theme park tickets, select “Theme Park Tickets” above the calendar.

Otherwise, choose “Select Resort Hotels”, which shows availability for vacation packages with a Resort hotel or other Resort Area hotel (a list of those hotels is linked on that page).

Find your preferred dates on the calendar.

If you see a green ✔ next to the theme park, you’re good to go!

Although, availability can change until the theme park reservation is finalized. So, we always recommend to the families traveling with us to make Theme Park Reservations immediately after we’ve booked their trip.

👉 If your trip is on or after January 9:

Things are a lot easier for you. 😌

For date-based tickets and vacation packages with date-based tickets, Theme Park Reservations will not be required. Once you book your vacation, you’re all set!

Only guests with student group tickets, sport and convention tickets, Annual Passes, and non-dated tickets will still need a Theme Park Reservation.

If you need help checking for Theme Park Reservation availability, that’s one of the many things we can do for you.

Leave a comment with the words PARK PASS and we’ll send you some info about upcoming theme park reservation availability. 😊