Karen Heffren, Desert TravelingMom, Author at Traveling Mom

Never Buy Your Universal Express Pass Online

Posted by Karen Heffren, Desert TravelingMom | Oct 8, 2018 | 79 |

Don’t make the same $300 mistake one TravelingMom did when buying Universal Express Passes before her park visit. She was kicking herself all day long, knowing that money could have meant nicer meals, fun souvenirs or several more giant pink donuts! First of all, let’s chat about what a Universal Orlando Express Pass is before we talk about why you should *almost* never buy it online. What is a Universal Orlando Express Pass? Universal Orlando sells an add-on ticket that allows guests to skip regular lines and enter an attraction via a much shorter (typically) Express Pass line. This...

Hotel Review: Pop Century Resort at Walt Disney World

Posted by Karen Heffren, Desert TravelingMom | Jul 26, 2018 | 1 |

The Pop Century Resort is a vibrantly themed Walt Disney World Resort that is a great value for families on a budget. The recent room renovation makes a stay at Pop Century even more magical. Pop Century Resort at Walt Disney World Pop Century is a popular value priced resort at Walt Disney World. Its theme is pop culture fun from the 1950’s through the 1990’s. Located in the ESPN Wild World of Sports area, this resort is closest to Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park. Video Tour of Pop Century Resort What works for families Every room comes with...

Easy DIY Disney Costumes for Preschoolers

Posted by Karen Heffren, Desert TravelingMom | Jul 23, 2018 | 0 |

What does fabric, duct tape and glitter have to do with your next Disney Parks vacation? Spend a little time before your trip creating an easy DIY Disney costume for your kids. You can save money and still be their fairy godmother. Letting your preschooler wear a costume on your next Disney parks visit is an easy way to add pixie dust to your trip. There is no shortage of Disney costumes to purchase in the parks, at least for little girls but for little boys or families wanting to add pixie dust without breaking the bank, an...

Planning Guide to Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland

Posted by Karen Heffren, Desert TravelingMom | Jun 4, 2018 | 1 |

Is Halloween your favorite time of the year? Are you a Disney fan who dreams of Mickey Mouse and friends dressed in their favorite costumes? Do you like attending special events with exclusive attractions? If you said yes to any of those things, then Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland should be on your bucket list! This planning guide to Mickey’s Halloween Party has the details you need to know about this annual fall event. Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click through and buy, TravelingMom will get a commission. Thank you for helping support TravelingMom....

LEGOLAND Castle Hotel: Everything You NEED to Know

Posted by Karen Heffren, Desert TravelingMom | May 23, 2018 | 0 |

Calling all LEGO and royal fanatics, you are formally invited to experience a grand stay at LEGOLAND California’s all-new LEGOLAND Castle Hotel. Complete with knights, dragons, jesters, princesses, wizards and a queen, your noble adventure awaits! Enjoy your adventure, complete with lots of LEGO magic. We recently stayed at the brand-new LEGOLAND Castle Hotel during the grand opening media event. We had the opportunity to tour the hotel and stay overnight. It was a fantastically fun stay and I am sharing everything you need to know about the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel. LEGOLAND California Hotel Benefits The LEGOLAND Castle Hotel...

Pixar Themed Food – 17 Must Try Treats at Disneyland’s Pixar Fest

Posted by Karen Heffren, Desert TravelingMom | Apr 24, 2018 | 0 |

Hey Pixar fans, are you ready to have a bite to eat with the Aliens from Toy Story or Remy from Ratatouille? Then it’s time to head to PixarFest at Disneyland this summer. I attended the media preview of Pixar Fest last week and was overwhelmed by all the amazing Pixar food options. Disney really does an amazing job with theming and Pixar Fest is no different. Pixar fans should plan a trip to Disneyland before September 3; just like the Disneyland Food & Wine Festival, Pixar Fest is a limited time offering! 17 Must Try Pixar Themed Fest Food at...

Essential Guide to the 2018 Disneyland Food and Wine Festival

Posted by Karen Heffren, Desert TravelingMom | Mar 21, 2018 | 5 |

Who doesn’t love fun, food and friends? Theme park thrill rides, delicious food, drinks and Disney magic all in one place make the Disneyland Food and Wine Festival an awesome idea for a fun girls weekend. Here’s what you can expect at the 2018 Festival and tips to help you enjoy every course! Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and buy, TravelingMom will receive a small commission. Disneyland Food and Wine Festival I am not a foodie, so I’ve never paid much attention to the Disney Parks Food and Wine Festivals. However, when I was...

17 Things to Do in Tucson with kids

Posted by Karen Heffren, Desert TravelingMom | Mar 9, 2018 | 0 |

From coyotes, javelinas and other desert wildlife to science-filled exploration of aircraft, biospheres and planets, Tucson attractions include a wide variety of options. Every family will find plenty of things to do in Tucson with kids. Things to do in Tucson with Kids Are you looking for things to do in Tucson with kids? Luckily most Tucson attractions are very family-friendly. The variety of fun options including museums, festivals, and outdoor adventures. Check out this list of 17 things to do in Tucson with kids to get your Southern Arizona vacation planning started. Tucson Attractions: Museums There are a...

Family Fun at Spring Training in Peoria

Posted by Karen Heffren, Desert TravelingMom | Jan 30, 2018 | 0 |

Phoenix, Arizona is home to Cactus League spring training and 10 different stadiums, making it the ultimate vacation spot for baseball fans in March. If you plan on bringing the whole family, then head to spring training in Peoria. The kids will love the new splash pad and playground. We head to Phoenix a few times a year to check out fun attractions and events. Watching the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field is always a fun way to spend a summer evening. If you want to enjoy baseball and avoid the Arizona heat, then spring training would be your best...

Bearizona: The Drive-Through Zoo in Arizona

Posted by Karen Heffren, Desert TravelingMom | Jan 16, 2018 | 0 |

Imagine having a black bear walk past the car door. And then 5 minutes later, an Arctic wolf does the same thing. It’s an unlikely scenario unless one visits Bearizona, a drive-thru zoo and wildlife park in Northern Arizona. There are plenty of Arizona road trip ideas for families to explore, from visiting the Grand Canyon with kids in northern Arizona to heading underground at Kartchner Caverns State Park in southern Arizona. While on an Arizona road trip, make time to do a few iconic Arizona pastimes like horseback riding and roping like a cowboy. Also, consider a few...