When we think about a Disney theme park, most Americans conjure up images of Orlando or Anaheim. When you live in Europe, there’s an additional option to add to the list, Disneyland Paris (often referred to as Euro Disney).

We visited Paris Disney over New Year’s weekend to celebrate our son’s 8th birthday. After living in Switzerland for 5 months, we all wanted a dose of something familiar. Admittedly, I don’t associate a Disney visit with coats and scarves, but I have to say, it’s a good winter activity. Freezing rain would have been a different story and we needed thaw-out breaks, but the chilly conditions did not detract from our fun.

I didn’t know what to expect. Would we be disappointed that a park in Europe is not a “real” Disney experience? Would we leave wanting to hit Florida or California to feel that our dose of Disney was complete?

In retrospect, we experienced no Disney authenticity disappointment.  The park is pure Disney in look and feel — the primary difference is that practically every man, woman, and child around you is speaking a different language.  This phenomenon enhanced the experience for me as the proud American emerged to witness families from around Europe appreciating Mickey and his long list of friends and activities.

A testament to just how much Europeans love Disney is the following fact (90% of all Paris Disney visitors are from European countries):

With 15.4 million visits in 2009, Disneyland Paris is the most visited tourist destination in Europe and the top tour operator in France in terms of the number of customers.

I know.  What?!

We spent two days at Disneyland Paris and Disney Hollywood Studios (next door) and got a good glimpse of what makes it so popular with people from all around Europe.

Thumbs Up

I love the size!  Maybe it was the cold weather that made us walk quickly, but this park felt manageable and intimate (it’s 1/5th the size of Paris).  We literally walked from one side of the park to the other in a 20 minutes (part of this is due to the walk-friendly layout).  No waiting for transportation to take us to a ride far away — we accessed everything on foot.

Euro Disney feels like a “best of” theme park where you have all the bits you want and expect — Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, It’s a Small World to name a few — plus character parades, and shows.

The park is well-organized and a happy place in true Disney form.  I laughed when at one point we were going the absolute wrong way and I’ve never had a more joyful guard tell me we didn’t know what were doing.   Paris can get a bad rap for service — not here!

The Fastpass program is a huge benefit and way to avoid waiting in long lines for very popular rides.  You can get one Fastpass per person per day in their standard program but you’d still end up waiting in lines as the use is limited.  We used a VIP Fastpass (available as a Suites or Castle Club guest at certain Disney hotels) which gives you immediate and unlimited access to the Fastpass line. This is an incredible perk if the applicable hotel package works for your budget.

Thumbs Down

Perhaps it was luck and timing, but we had a poor food experience.  In concept there is a wide variety of meal offerings in the park, but everywhere we turned we seemed to be faced with a sea of burgers, hot dogs, and fries.  Not that I have anything against any of those American delicacies, but this combination is appealing for one meal, not six, and the quality was mediocre at best.  I admit, when in France I have higher-than-usual expectations, but so be it, excellent food should be available.

You can access greater variety by going to one of the sit-down restaurants. The problem is that we didn’t have a reservation and waits were long.  An important tip is to make reservations at your top choice by calling +33 (0) 1 60 30 40 50. A list of restaurants is available on the park website.

We enjoyed the tropical, cozy ambiance at The Blue Lagoon within the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.

Where to Stay

Disney runs a number of hotels around the park, including the Disneyland Hotel at the entrance.  Because we were visiting over a holiday weekend, the pricing at their resorts was very high so we opted for the Radisson Blu down the road.  Pricing at this hotel is value-oriented (although you don’t access Disney hotel perks this route); they do run a free shuttle to the park (10-minute drive).  Rooms are adequate, not special, but it is a decent option if you want easy access to the park without spending a fortune on rooms.

When to Go

Disneyland Paris is open year-round.  Many of our readers are American and want to know if it is makes sense for them to fit Disney into a European itinerary.  As Nancy discovered on her recent experience on the Disney Dream, the fact is that young kids adore Disney and it is an activity just for them.  If you are spending time in Paris, it’s amazingly easy to get to the park for a day trip (the train station at the park entrance) or a 1-2 night stay.  The average American family doesn’t get much vacation time given our corporate work schedules, so adding Disney Paris to an itinerary allows you to combine two different trips into one (particularly if you are a flight away from the US resorts).

A Disney Paris visit is a fantastic activity for expat families that want and need something culturally familiar, particularly if they don’t travel back to the States often.  The park is also a terrific family vacation for Europeans wanting something to do for long weekends or half-term breaks — clearly, given the park stats, these families already know the resort is a blast with kids of all ages.

Disney provided is with free tickets to the park. They did not request that we express a particular opinion about the experience.

Relevant Links:

Ciao Bambino recommended family-friendly hotels in Paris

Walt Disney World vacation tips

Tips for visiting Walt Disney World

Choosing between Disneyland Hotels

Disney Dream sets sail

Disney Cruise Line vacation review

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Photo by Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfish

In honor of Photo Friday, I'm doing something new — a slideshow! We showcase so many wonderful photos on Ciao Bambino, I thought it would be fun to have the experience of viewing them be more interactive.

The first slideshow topic? My favorite subject, Italy!

I asked a few of my fellow Italophiles to submit a favorite photo and description. I love how diverse the photos are — a testament to endless joyful moments people experience when traveling throughout this country.

Photo by Ciao Bambino

Italy is constant stream of wondrous travel experiences for me. The last one I had was driving down a lonely Tuscan road while watching the sun go down over an ancient tower.

Photo by Susan Van Allen

I love this statue of The Venus of the Beautiful Buttocks (aka Callipygian Venus) in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples. It's a Roman copy of a Greek statue, that pays homage to a story of Sicilian farm girls whose beautiful buttocks attracted rich husbands. In gratitude, the girls created a Temple to Venus of the Beautiful Buttocks. The cult spread throughout southern Italy, with many praying to such statues, wishing for good fortune.

Photo by Italy Beyond the Obvious

One of my favorite Italy photos is this one of a wooden door ornament, taken in Siena by my husband. To me it represents many of the things I love most about the country. Firstly, it's an example of the care Italians take in what they create, whether that be in art, cooking, architecture, or even in the outfit they choose when getting dressed in the morning. Found on a regular Italian door on a regular building on a regular street, it also reminds me of the richness of detail that can be found in nooks and crannies across the country - detail that's easy to miss as a tourist rushing from one famous attraction to the next. And finally, it represents all those small discoveries that can be made by anyone traveling in Italy. The major tourist attractions are worth seeing, but it's those small personal moments of connection (that even as a travel planner I cannot orchestrate!) that I think are the true reason behind Italy's spell.

Photo by WhyGo Italy

Over our morning coffees in the main piazza in Bologna, the husband and I enjoyed watching this table of women who looked like they occupied that table every morning of their lives. They greeted nearly every passerby — they seemed to know everyone. The husband nicknamed them the Queens of the Piazza, and that's how I've thought of them ever since.

Photo by Bennett Family

This photo was taken during our trip up and over Monte Bianco (aka Mont Blanc). This was simply one of the most amazing things I've ever done. We took 3 cable cars to the top, 1 silent, floating gondola across, and then 2 cable cars down ending up in Chamonix, France. The above photo was taken while in the gondola which is held up by suspension cables giving us a smooth silent ride. My son asked, "Is this Heaven?"

Photo by Italia Kids

This photo was taken during our stay at a 1,000-yr-old farmhouse in the Lucca hills in one of the most beautiful spots on earth, where the afternoon summer winds are said to contribute to the quality of the region's wine and olive oil. You can see that the land still maintains the ancient terracing. My daughter is helping her dad hang the laundry off the rear terrace. The pace of life during our time there somehow turned what can be a mundane chore into a special moment between daughter and father, who seem here to be embraced by the weather and the enchanting landscape.

Photo by Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfish

We arrived in Cefalu just as the sun was setting and this was our first glimpse of the charming beach town ... the waves gently beckoning swimmers for one last swim, the lights starting to flicker in windows, the mix of pinks and purples in the sky ... all so enchanting and enticing.

Photo by Context Travel

This photograph, taken in the Capitoline Museums in Rome, is one of our favorites, as it embodies that first learning experience a child can have when faced with classical art. One of the main reasons we selected the Capitoline Museums for one of our family program tours is the wealth of art, sculpture, and architecture (with full reconstructed temples!) available to stimulate children in their thinking about Ancient Rome. Suddenly, the ruins of the Forum come to life via the portrait busts, vases, and coins that fill the coffers of the Capitoline collection, making it one of our favorite spaces to bring families.

Photo by Bennett Family

My family absolutely LOVED Lucca! This photo is taken while biking on TOP of the wall which surrounds and protects Lucca. We got a great view of the entire town, plus there are at least 3 playgrounds along the way. We loved this so much, we biked every morning during our stay in this wonderful town.

Photo by The World is Calling

Could the legend of King Arthur and the sword in the stone, Excalibur, have actually begun in Italy? Regardless of what you decide, if you go to Tuscany and anywhere near Siena, you must visit this fascinating place — San Galgano. From this abbey came the bulk of the province of Siena's priests, and it was once home to a scriptorium. Wander around the roofless church, hike up the hill to see the sword in the stone — it will be a favorite stop for everyone in the family.

Photo by Dream of Italy

I took this photo at a vineyard in Umbria one fall a few years ago. I just fell in love with the colors of the season there and all the events that go with it especially the wine and olive harvests. So this past fall, I brought a group back with me and will do it again in 2011.

For more Photo Friday posts, head over to Delicious Baby.

Relevant Links:

Ciao Bambino recommended Italy family hotels

Recommended kid-friendly walking tours in Italy

Italy travel tips, creating a family-friendly itinerary

Tuscany with kids

Kid-friendly activities in the Veneto

Venice for kids

Rome travel tips and guides

Amalfi Coast highlights

Every time I jump on a plane with my kids I learn more about them.  Maybe even understand them a little better.  It’s part of the beauty of travel.  But the fun isn’t limited to airport departure and arrival gates.  The weeks and sometime months spent planning the trip is an adventure in its own right.  The more involved the kids are, the more excited they get.  And though I’d never admit it to my girls, the more they help plan activities on vacations, the more they learn.

Before visiting Madrid with kids, I wasn’t what you’d call an art history scholar, but the Museo Reina Sofia won me over.  Even better, it won my kids over and made them into the Picasso aficionados they are today.  While some questioned my sanity about going to China with kids, my family brushed up on some ancient history. What we learned made the Terra Cotta Warriors come to life! The more you go, the more you and your kids learn. Just ask my 7th grader — she is already reaping the benefits in history class.

There are all sorts of ways to sneak in the learning stuff.  My kids love reading anything they can get their hands on about wherever we’re going.  It doesn’t matter how old you kids are, there’s great stuff to be found.  If you’re planning a trip to Edinburgh with kids, young ones will love reading, or having you read them, the story of Greyfriars Bobby.  Older kids will light up when they learn J.K. Rowling worked on the first two Harry Potter novels in a coffee shop that overlooks Greyfriars cemetery and Edinburgh castle. (See Nancy’s kids’ travel book list for more ideas.)

Movies!

Books never disappoint.  But sometimes kids get wind of the whole learning idea, and stop well-intentioned parents in their tracks.  That’s when I turn on the television and start loading in dvds.  Movies are a great way to get kids ready to travel.  If a picture is worth a thousand words, a kid-friendly movie, loaded with a good script and scenery can lead to endless exciting vacation conversations.

Finding movies is as easy as doing a quick search on the internet.  The bigger the location, the more flicks you’ll have to choose from.  I did a little searching on some of our readers’ favorite locations, and, well, let’s just say I’ve already stocked up on popcorn.

These movies will help get the whole family ready to take a bite out of New York City.

Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)

Rated: G

Have you introduced your kids to the Muppets yet?  What are you waiting for?  Tour Manhattan with Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and all their loveable, but loony friends.

An American Tail (1986)

Rated: G

A cuddly, cartoon Russian mouse immigrates to New York, but is separated from his family when he arrives.  This was Steven Spielberg’s first animated feature.

Stuart Little (1999)

Rated: PG

Another mouse tale inspired by the book of the same name by E.B. White.  Maybe the movie will leave your little one wanting to read the book?

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

Rated: PG

Take a trip back in time with this classic movie starring Audrey Hepburn.

Ghost Busters (1984)

Rated: PG

Scientists turned ghost exterminators save the Big Apple from a 100-foot marshmellow and it’s army of apparitions.

Superman (1978)

Rated:  PG

New York City doubles for Metropolis, in the series that made Christopher Reeve famous.  Gene Hackman, Marlon Brando, Ned Beatty and Margot Kidder round out a great cast.

Night at the Museum (2006)

Rated: PG

Ben Stiller plays the security guard at the Museum of Natural History who nearly loses his mind when all of the exhibits come to life.  Parents are bound to smile as they recognize many familiar faces such as Robin Williams, Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Rooney.

Crocodile Dundee (1986)

Rated: PG-13

Have a “g’day” seeing New York City through the eyes of Australian “Mick” Crocodile Dundee.

Spider-Man (2002)

Rated: PG-13

Shy high school student Peter Parker, played by Tobey Maguire, becomes the Big Apple’s hero after being bitten by a radioactive spider.

These flicks are worth a look before taking the kids to San Francisco.

What’s Up, Doc? (1972)

Rated: PG

Did you know Volkswagen Beetle’s can float?  The cast of characters, including Barbra Streisand, Ryan O’Neal and Madeline Kahn, find out after a wild, but scenic ride through San Francisco.

Homeward Bound II – Lost in San Francisco (1996)

Rated: G

Dogs, cats and the Golden Gate Bridge.  Need I say more?

Escape from Alcatraz (1979)

Rated: PG

Clint Eastwood stars in the true story of the mysterious escape from the famous San Francisco prison.

The Parent Trap (1998)

Rated: PG

A remake of a Disney hit in 1961, girls meet at summer camp and discover they’re actually twins.  A little San Francisco, a little wine country, and a little London.  You can’t go wrong.

Sister Act (1992)

Rated: PG

A lounge singer played by Whoopi Goldberg, is sent to live in a San Francisco Convent when she’s put in the witness protection program.  Next thing you know, she’s directing the church choir.

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

Rated: PG-13

Starring San Francisco’s own Robin Williams.  After getting a divorce, Williams passes himself off as a British nanny to see his kids.   There are great shots of the city throughout the movie.

Filmmakers like working their magic in the Windy City.  Give your kids a taste of Chicago with some of these oldies, but goodies.

Home Alone (1990)

Rated: PG

A young boy fends off robbers after accidentally being left home alone.

Sixteen Candles (1984)

Rated: PG

John Hughes’s first movie about middle-class high-school kids.  A girl turns 16 and everyone in her family forgets her birthday.

While You Were Sleeping (1995)

Rated: PG

This romantic comedy will get the kids ready to ride the ‘L’, Chicago’s rapid transit system.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Rated: PG-13

You never know what will happen when kids cut school to goof off.

The Fugitive (1993)

Rated: PG-13

Catch-him-if-you-can.  A man is on the run through Chicago after being falsely accused of killing his wife.

The Dark Knight (2008)

Rated: PG-13

Chicago takes on the role of Batman’s beloved Gotham City.

A landmark hunt is the perfect way to explore Philadelphia with the kids.  After watching these movies, they’ll known exactly what they’re looking for.

Rocky (1976)

Rated: PG

The film may be more than 30 years old, but not-so-smart boxer Rocky Balboa, still holds a special place in the hearts of Philadelphia natives.

Invincible (2006)

Rated: PG

The true story of a man who earned a spot on the Philadelphia Eagles football team, after showing up for an open tryout.

National Treasure (2004)

Rated: PG

A treasure hunter defends the Declaration of Independence by stealing it.

Mannequin (1987)

Rated: PG

A department store mannequin magically comes to life in the City of Brotherly Love.

Eddie and the Cruisers (1983)

Rated: PG

Rumors lead to the hunt for an unreleased album of a deceased rocker.   The soundtrack may strike a chord with many parents.

If a trip to the Sunshine State is in your future, and your tweens are too tall for Disney, don’t worry, Mickey isn’t the only star to think about.

Apollo 13 (1995)

Rated: PG

The remarkable true story of the moon bound mission that developed life threatening troubles.

Marley & Me (2008)

Rated: PG

A young couple moves to Florida and adopts a lovable but destructive Labrador puppy.

Hoot (2006)

Rated: PG

A Montana kid moves to Florida and becomes determined to protect a cluster of endangered owls from some greedy adults that could destroy them.

The list could go on and on.  I couldn’t believe the titles that popped up when I started searching.  Some of them I’ve never seen.  Some I can’t wait to watch again with my kids.  Got any favorites of you own?  Let me know.

I’m ready to plan another trip to Europe, and I bet Hollywood can help.  I wonder how many films have been filmed in Paris.  Sounds like another post.  Stay tuned.

It’s time for part 2 of our report on where kids can ski free in Europe (yesterday we covered Switzerland and France).

I spent the morning calling ski resorts in Austria, Germany, and Italy.  Most resorts in these countries offer some kind of free skiing for very young kids.

St. Anton did not make the list because their program is not free, but kids under 7 ski for 10€ a day. The resorts in Germany did not have information readily available so I’ll any additional tidbits when/if I get the feedback requested.

Kitzbühel, Austria

Austria Ski Resorts

Alpbachtal

What: Kids ski free low season only

Who: Kids 15 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window. There is a family package available where children ski free when the parents buy 5 and 6-day day passes (one fee pass for each adult).  Tourism website.

Gastein

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 15 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window. There is a family package available where children ski free when the parents buy full day passes.  Tourism website.

Innsbruck

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 6 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window. Tourism website.

Kitzbühel

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 6 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window. Tourism website.

Lech/Zürs

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 7 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window. Tourism website.

Obergurgl

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 8 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window. Tourism website.

Wild Kaiser (Ellmau/Going/Sheffau/Söll)

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 5 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window. Tourism website.

Germany Ski Resorts

Mittenwald

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 5 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window. Tourism website.

Italy Ski Resorts

Bormio

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 8 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window. Must accompany adult paying for a full ski pass. Tourism website.

Cervinia

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 8 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window.  Tourism website.

Courmayeur

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 8 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window.  Tourism website.

Cortina d’Ampezzo

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 8 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window. Must accompany adult paying for a full ski pass.  Tourism website.

Madonna di Campiglio

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 8 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window. Must accompany adult paying for a full ski pass.  Tourism website.

Sestriere

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 8 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window. Must accompany adult paying for a full ski pass. Tourism website.

Val Gardena

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 8 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window. Must accompany adult paying for a full ski pass. Tourism website.

Relevant Links:

Family ski holidays in Europe (part 1), where kids ski free in Switzerland and France

Ciao Bambino recommended family ski hotels and resorts

European family ski holidays, catered chalets

Top family-friendly ski areas in Europe

Family ski holidays Zermatt

Kids ski free deals (USA and Canada)

Family ski vacation planning, ski school and childcare round up (USA)

I put together our now-annual list of family ski resorts where kids can ski free in the US and Canada a few weeks ago.  Now, it’s time for Europe! The good news is a surprising number of resorts offer some kind of ‘kids ski free’ program.  The list is so big that I’m breaking it up into two posts. France and Switzerland are the subject today and then I’ll cover Austria, Germany, Andorra, and Italy tomorrow.

Observations and ski planning tips:

While every ski area has a comprehensive website with information in English, family-specific pricing was not easy to find. I ended up calling each tourist office to confirm the policy for the respective resorts and discovered in the process, that these phone lines are a great source of quick and accurate answers (including local conditions).

In France, only Chamonix has a truly compelling program for older kids where the first child is 1/2 off when skiing with parents and any subsequent kids up to 16 ski free. I didn’t list any packages that do not have a free component — that said, many resorts have family ski offers with reduced pricing. Be sure to ask specifically about family packages at the ticket window noting you may need IDs to prove you are a family to access these specials.

In resorts that are part of the same system like Les Trois Vallées and Portes du Soleil, the family-ski pricing and packages apply to all of the linked properties. Those resorts with no free ski options at all – even for young kids – are the exception not the rule.  I was surprised to find that Val d’Isère (France) and Villars-Gryon (Switzerland) don’t have offers in place given that all of their competitors do.

Switzerland has the best options for families with older kids including a number of options where kids under 9 (!) ski free.

France Ski Resorts

Chamonix

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 4 and under/Kids 16 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window. There is a family package available where the first child ages 4-16 skis for 1/2 price when 2 adult ski passes are purchased and then any additional children ski free.  Tourism website.

Courchevel/Meribel/Val Thorens/Les Menuires (Les Trois Vallées)

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 5 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window. Tourism website.

Les 2 Alpes

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 5 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window. Tourism website.

Megève

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 5 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window. Tourism website.

Abondance/Avoriaz/La Chapelle D’Abondance/Les Gets/Montriond/Morzine-Avoriaz/St Jean-D’Aulps/Champery/Morgins/Torgon/Val-D’Illiez-Les Crosets/Champoussin (Portes du Soleil Switzerland and France)

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 5 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window. Tourism website.

Switzerland Ski Resorts

Château-d’Oex

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 9 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window. Tourism website.

Crans Montana

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 6 and under

What: Kids ski free all season

Rules: Available at ticket window. Tourism website.

Davos/Klosters

What: Kids 6 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window. Tourism website.

Grindelwald

What: Kids ski free on Saturdays

Who: Kids 6-15

Rules: Must accompany an adult with a full day pass.  Available at ticket window. Tourism website.

Gstaad

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 9 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window.  Tourism website.

Leysin

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 9 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window. Tourism website.

Saas Fee

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 9 and under

Rules: Must buy accommodation and ski passes through the tourism office.

St. Moritz

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 6 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window.  Tourism website.

Verbier

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 6 and under

Rules: Available at ticket window.  Tourism website.

Zermatt

What: Kids ski free all season

Who: Kids 9 and under

Rules: Must have ID available showing date of birth.  Available at ticket window. Tourism website.

Relevant Links:

Ciao Bambino recommended family ski hotels and resorts

European family ski holidays, catered chalets

Top family-friendly ski areas in Europe

Family ski holidays Zermatt

Kids ski free deals (USA and Canada)

Family ski vacation planning, ski school and childcare round up (USA)

CB’s Nancy Solomon and Kristi Marcelle are lucky enough to be on the Disney Dream inaugural cruise this week.  Talk about media buzz! There’s been a stream of constant chatter. I even saw a tweet yesterday calling the cruise, “The event of the decade.”

We’ll publish official reports from them when they return, but in the meantime, Nancy has sent fun photos for a peek at all the action.

Disney Dream christening ceremony with Jennifer Hudson and Walt Disney Company President and CEO Robert A. Iger

Nancy and Joe on Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay

Nancy’s comment on this photo, “The showmanship rocks!”

Super cool bunk bed

Petting a stingray on Castaway Cay

It makes your heart melt to see your kids in a state of utter joy. Joe’s comment on the Disney Dream?  “This is the best vacation of my entire life!”A big thanks to Disney for including us in this tremendous event.

For more Photo Friday posts, head over to Delicious Baby.

Disney paid for flights, activities, and accommodations related to the Disney Dream inaugural cruise. They asked us to express no particular opinion. Photos courtesy of Nancy Solomon.

Relevant Links:

Preparing for Disney Dream Cruise

Disney Cruise Line vacation review

Tips for an optimal Disney Cruise

Sometimes I wish I didn’t live in London. It’s such a lovely place for a family city break. And, as you can just as easily wake up to a beautiful sun painted day in London in mid-January as in mid-June, winter is as good a time as any to visit. Plus, if you come in Winter you expect it to be cold and maybe rainy, those sunny days are a bonus.

Be greeted by cold winds and thunder come Spring and your disappointment will be far greater and, however well you think you’ve packed, you’ll probably still need to go out and add to your wardrobe.

Photo by Paolo Camera on Flickr

Favorite Winter Activities in London

Because the weather here is so unpredictable there are plenty of things to do with children in London, rain or shine.  South Kensington tube station is the first place I’d head for if it looks like a storm is brewing. This station is linked to an underground walkway that will take you practically to the door of the Science, Natural History and The Victoria and Albert museums.

The Science Museum

When a museum website has a what’s on page that’s divided up into under 5, 5 to 7 year olds, 8 to 11 year olds, 12 to 16 year olds and adults, you know that the whole family is in for a treat. I’m going to tease you by passing you on to the very informative website for the specifics, but you could easily spend the whole day here and still not have seen or done everything you wanted to do.

The Natural History Museum

If dinosaurs are popular in your house this place will be right up your street. Although some of the animatronic dinosaurs can be pretty scary, so you might want to prep the little ones first. And for the slightly older kids there is the earthquake zone where you can really feel the earth move and the museum’s hands-on science centre, where over sevens can handle some of the animal, plant and geological treasures in the museum’s collections.

The Victoria and Albert Museum

Like the Natural History Museum, the Victoria and Albert museum or the V&A, as it’s known, is housed in a beautiful building. The sort of thing that makes you crane your neck up and drop your mouth open. And inside it’s just as awe inspiring. This treasure trove of art and design used to be all about staring at the contents of glass cabinets, but they have done a lot of work recently on bringing these artefacts to life and getting children and young people interested in what’s on offer. You can borrow a back pack to imagine that you are a time traveller or an Indian Emperor, become a design detective at the drop in design centre or take the Tudor or Silver trail. Great stuff, but ideally for over 5.

Theatre

If you’re all museumed out, consider a show. Many central London theatres put on family or child-oriented shows regularly. For a list of the latest productions visit the  Official London Theatre website . Whilst The Unicorn is a purpose-built children’s theatre centre by London Bridge which has a great ever changing selection of shows.

Some of the shows I’m going to be booking for are Cinderella at the Barbican Centre from the 24-28th February. This is an award winning production that puts a new spin on this classic story, with secret drawers and trap doors and a handbag full of magic! Plus there is a free drop in art activity half an hour before each show. We also plan to take our 6-year-old to the Storytelling Season at The Unicorn Theatre from 1-27 February, she loves a good tale and this show promises to bring old favourites back to life. And it will be the third time that my 3-year-old gets to see her favourite TV character Peppa Pig live for Peppa Pig’s Party on 2-3rd March at Beck Theatre, just outside London. Peppa is a British phenomenan but this lovable swine is quickly going global.

Aquarium

Or there is the Sealife London Aquarium where you can walk through the tank of sharks, help feed the rays and meet the dwarf crocodiles. If you don’t book in advance be prepared for a long wait in the booking hall, however.

The London Eye

Just opposite the aquarium on London’s Southbank is the London Eye, which reopens on 21 St January 2011, following it’s annual maintenance.  Board a pod to see London as a tiny toy town world.  Again it’s worth booking in advance online.

And, once you’ve seen the city from above, you can admire it from the river with a London Eye River Cruise. In just forty minutes you get to see Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, perfect for little people’s short attention spans. Or you could travel down the river like a local on the London Transport River Boat service, which has a stop by the London Eye. This will take you down to London Docklands and Greenwich, two more must sees.

Relevant Links:

Ciao Bambino recommended family hotels London

London sightseeing with kids

Things to do with toddlers in London

Holidays with kids in the Cotswolds

Despite living in Europe for the past 5 months, I still get confused when I’m trying to figure out where and how to best buy train tickets. Given that every country has their own train websites, when and why should you use aggregate distribution sites like Rail Europe?

I asked Rail Europe for an e-interview to answer some of the critical questions for families.  I provided a few comments to the answers in italics.

Thalys Train in the Netherlands. Photo courtesy of Rail Europe

How does buying from Rail Europe differ from buying from the individual country rail sites?

Rail Europe is the largest distributor of European rail products in North America. Many of our products are custom created for the needs of the North American traveler, so when searching each country’s website, passengers will not always be able to find exactly the same type of product.

Ah ha! I had no idea this was the case. It sounds like a best practice is to always check Rail Europe in addition to the country-specific rail site (at least if you live in North America).

Is the actual pricing of different routes the same between sites?

Pricing may vary slightly between the various sites. Many tickets are now also available as e-tickets which means travelers can exchange or refund online as their travel plans change.

Exchanging tickets online is a huge perk!  I’ve already lost hours on driving to train stations and waiting in line just to modify travel plans.

When is it better to buy a pass vs. tickets for individual routes?

Rail Europe.com is equipped to direct travelers as best as possible to the best option suited for their travel needs.  In general, you already know your itinerary, use the multi-city search: REI’s expert system will define what the options are for you. For itineraries that include more than 3 trips, you will see that passes generally offer the best value for money. No matter what, the system will price your specific itinerary with all possible options for comfort and flexibility.

If you don’t know yet where and when you want to travel, you will probably prefer going with a pass.

After playing with the pass pricing my first reaction in using the Find My Pass page was major sticker shock.  It is much better to query pricing by using the Rail Pass landing page for the particular product or country. There is more detail available and also more pricing options in this part of the site (like a clear way to acquire a free Family Pass for relevant train lines).

The bottom line is families should do some quick math to understand the cost of adding up the individual routes vs. passes to ensure you are getting the best value and still meeting your travel needs.

Do you offer any family specific specials? What are rules that all families should know? i.e. kids of certain ages travel free or at a reduced rate

*Rail Passes are accompanied by Travel Bonuses (when researching a pass, click on the Travel Bonuses tab). These can include discounted or complimentary tours, museum passes, etc.  Additionally, Rail Europe offers additional activities for purchase via the Activities tab on the website.

*When purchasing a Swiss pass for one adult, a Swiss Family Card is available for free for children ages 6 to 15 (valid only when traveling with a parent or guardian). All the children in the family can travel for free using that card.

*The BritRail Family Pass allows one child between the ages of 5 and 15 to travel free with an adult or senior BritRail Pass holder.

I can speak for Switzerland since I travel here often by train; a Swiss Family Card enabling all the children in a family (ages 6-15) to travel for free with parent or guardian is a significant savings!

Do any of the trains offer changing tables and/or other baby-specific services?

Thalys trains have family cars with more space between seats for stroller storage. Families traveling with young children or infants can find peace of mind with an assortment of dedicated family facilities on board high-speed trains such as Eurostar, AVE and TGV.  Features include nursery areas equipped with dressing tables and bottle warmers, as well as playrooms, board games and at-seat audio and video systems.

I have yet to see a playroom on any of the trains I’ve taken, but in concept, this a nice amenity.

Families always have lots of luggage. What are tips and trick to most effectively manage luggage on train trips with kids?

I know this is one of the most stressful aspects of taking a train and one of the reasons a family might opt for a flight instead. Porters are at some stations — best to travel light.

In my opinion, traveling light is the only answer. Porters are not reliable between stations and during peak periods, they are practically impossible to access, even if they are on staff.

How far in advance do you recommend families purchase tickets and what are the main policies they should know around changes and cancellations?

Families should purchase tickets at least 60-90 days in advance of their trip so as to ensure they will be seated together.

If you are a rail pass holder you do not need seat reservations on regional trains within Europe; you can board these trains with just your pass in hand.  You do, however, need an additional seat reservation for high speed trains and this will cost $10-18 per seat over and beyond the cost of the rail pass (can be done on the Rail Europe website).

High speed trains include TGV (France), Thalys (Belgium, Holland, Germany), and AVE (Spain).  The only high speed train that does not require an advanced seat reservation is ICE within Germany.

Are there any specialty trains that are particularly well-suited for travel with kids?

The Chocolate train in Switzerland is a great option for families.

Stay tuned, I’ll be doing a Swiss Rail post in the next few months with more detail on this and other special Swiss itineraries.

Relevant Links:

Getting Around Italy by Train

Flying with Kids, Avoiding Airline Fees

Award Travel and Upgrades

Flying Overseas with Babies Travel Tips

Entertaining Kids on Planes

One of my favorite family travel writers, Mara Gorman, has weekly post on her website, The Mother of all Trips, called “Mondays are for dreaming” about those extraordinary travel experiences Mara (and all of us!) dream about.

Today, I’m dreaming of a family safari in Africa.

Over the New Year’s Eve holiday a few of the Ciao Bambino writers got together and brainstormed on a “must go back to” family travel list.  From Lucca, Italy to Guilin, China to Cambria, California to Turks and Caicos — the list has something for everyone. While I love revisiting favorite haunts, this year, I’m itching to take our family on an exotic adventure.  One of my favorite articles from Dana is on Kids & Critters. That’s exactly what I’m in the mood for — animals!  Lots of them. And no, a zoo won’t do the trick.

Now that we live in Europe, Africa is a much easier trip from a flight perspective than starting from the West Coast of the US.  Twelve years ago we spent three glorious weeks in South Africa and Zimbabwe, so it seems East Africa may be in order.

Planning

I’m starting from square one and after doing an initial Google search on “kids travel Africa”, page one results seemed compelling but after that I’m seeing either dated articles or marketing fluff without real content.  On to “family safari vacation.”  Bad news, those results look even worse.

Clearly, quality family travel content is needed for this part of the world.  Fortunately, in this market there is another option.

Tour Operators

Planning trips to places that involve heavy touring are best done through an expert tour operator, meaning a company that specializes in full itineraries including transportation, accommodations, and guides.  For Costa Rica, we recommend Classic Journeys out of San Diego.  We don’t have anyone to recommend in Africa … yet.

Do you have a favorite Africa Tour Operator or itinerary to share? Please let me know!

Ideas

I keep a running list of bookmarks for destinations all over the world.  This list is torture when I’m not planning a trip, but an absolute joy once the real research begins.

Giraffe Manor
Check out the photos for the Giraffe Manor hotel.  What? I must stay here.

CC Africa/&Beyond Africa
We planned our trip through South Africa at then-Conservation Corporation Africa lodges and they were quite simply, unforgettable.  Extraordinary lodges combined with vital conservation efforts defined this company.  I don’t know much about this new brand, but certainly will start my research here.

National Geographic Best Adventure Travel Companies
When you travel to a place like Africa, particularly with kids, there zero room to fool around with unknown resources.   National Geographic publishes a Best Adventure Travel Companies (On Earth) List.  I put Family Adventures and African Safari into their tool and got 53 results.

Not really a “short list”, but certainly an amazing resource and place to start.  I can’t imagine using an operator not on this list.  Safety is a concern wherever you go but this issue in Africa is even more complex.  Health and transportation safety, well-established practices in the field, and quality accommodations are all critical.

This post is the first in a series on planning this adventure.  Stay tuned for insight on what I find …

Need more inspiration? Check out other 2011 travel ideas from the Travel Blog Mob:

BootsnAll – Where to Travel Next: How Do You Decide

Nerds Eye View – Back to Austria in 2011

The Vacation Gals – Zip Lining in a Costa Rica Rainforest

Wandering Educators – Top Ten Travel Destinations for 2011

Traveling with MJ – New Year, New Places, New List

Sharing Travel Experiences – A New Destination for a New Year

Wanderlust and Lipstick – Best Destinations for Solo Women’s Travel

Spot Cool Stuff – Southern Sudan: The World’s Newest Country

Each winter, I go with a group of moms to Canyon Ranch for some much needed rest and relaxation.  Although I say rest, those of us who like to exercise take multiple classes each day and push our bodies to the limit.  Meanwhile, we know that a long massage and soak in the hot tub await us at the end of the day.  And, oh wait, that’s right, no cooking dinner, cleaning or doing the nightly rounds.  A real getaway!

But beyond the exercise and spa, what Canyon Ranch really specializes in is educating people on how to live healthier, happier and longer. Canyon Ranch truly offers the opportunity to refresh from the inside out and come away with new lessons to carry back into your day-to-day life.

This past year, I went away in hopes of getting some peace and quiet. In planning my services, I was simply focused on relaxation and getting some nutritional information for my family.  With that in mind, I booked some cooking classes and met with a nutritionist about feeding my kids more healthfully.  That was all great, but by about the second day in, I thought, forget this, I need to focus on me.  It’s funny, because I think that by focusing on my kids even while away helped me ease my guilt about leaving them. However, I quickly moved past that need to justify my trip and took advantage of a great opportunity to take care of myself.

Upon check in, you have the option to consult with a nurse to review your overall health and address any issues that you may have.  Personally, I have had an unusual amount of sports injuries that have become a real nuisance. The nurse skillfully directed me to the integrated health professionals.  The tests they ran and plan they came up with has helped me feel much better. Being a mom can get busy, but you realize how important your own health is to your family.  Canyon Ranch provides the opportunity and the resources you need to take a thorough inventory of your health needs.

My learnings bolster my health efforts throughout the year.  I use their recipes, specific workouts and their medical staff.  Even when I am home, I have phone conferences with their doctor, to make sure all is going in the right direction.  My New Year’s resolution this past year was to live more healthfully, and with the take aways and inspiration from Canyon Ranch, I was able to really achieve that goal.

As for the relaxation, there’s an endless selection of body and face treatments. My favorite is the basic massage.  The therapists are always terrific and it feels great, particularly on second day when you are so sore from all the exercising. At night, there are interesting lectures, live music and well-tended fireplaces that make the perfect setting for sinking into your favorite book.

This is one of the few vacations that gets re-booked before you leave.

Note: Canyon Ranch runs great winter promotions with significantly reduced rates.  Also, if you get a group together, you may qualify for a group rate.