Through August 14, members who book a five-night AAA Vacations Walt Disney World Resort package with a six-day Magic Your Way base ticket and a stay at a moderately or higher-priced resort hotel will receive the Disney Dining Plan free. Members who stay at a value resort receive the Quick-Service Dining Plan free.

The offer is valid for most stays August 15 through October 2. It also is available for other resort hotels. Additionally, all AAA Vacations packages include special and exclusive member benefits. For details, call or visit your local AAA office or go to AAA.com/Disney.

A week at a Disney resort is a week away from the ordinary, even if it is ‘part of the job.’ In this three-part series, blogger Tony Mayer, a travel counselor for AAA Washington, shares the knowledge gained after a familiarization trip to Disney World in Florida.

Walt Disney’s enduring love for animals and their protection was finally and spectacularly made manifest with the 1998 opening of Disney World's Animal Kingdom. This jewel of a theme park, Disney’s largest single park worldwide, is now my favorite of the four in Florida for several reasons.... Read More

A week at a Disney resort is a week away from the ordinary, even if it is ‘part of the job.’ In this three-part series, blogger Tony Mayer, a travel counselor for AAA Washington, shares the knowledge gained after a familiarization trip to Disney World in Florida.

The second park I visited was Disney's Hollywood Studios, a slice of Tinseltown transplanted to the East Coast that opened in 1989 and was known as ... Read More

A week at a Disney resort is a week away from the ordinary, even if it is ‘part of the job.’ In this three-part series, blogger Tony Mayer, a travel counselor for AAA Washington, shares the knowledge gained after a familiarization trip to Disney World in Florida.

Florida’s Walt Disney World is massive – 43 square miles (twice as large as Manhattan), four theme parks, three championship golf courses, two water parks, 22 company-owned resorts (plus nine on-property resorts run by other companies), all totaling hundreds of dining, shopping and entertainment options. Planning can be a daunting task … once you remember you can’t see it all in one visit, you’re golden!... Read More

 From the Q&A mailbox:

Question:  Candy asks, Is there a AAA parking area at Disney World?

Answer: Nancy Woodard, AAA Disney expert, answers: AAA Diamond Parking provides preferred parking in convenient spaces at all four Walt Disney World Orlando theme parks.... Read More

When I told everyone I was headed to Disney World, their first reaction was “You and Greg are going to love it!” “No, no” I said “I’m going alone.” The confused expressions said it all. Why the heck would a married adult with no history of Disney fanaticism go to Disney World alone? Well, I wanted to go, my husband didn’t, and I was already going to be in Orlando. In other words, why not?

The first bonus of solo travel that I found was that I could afford to make my dining reservations at much nicer restaurants. You can afford a more expensive meal if you only have to feed one person... Read More

My first visit to Walt Disney World was in the summer of 1977. My brother and I had dreamt about this vacation for a long time. We grew up watching The Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday evenings, and when the TV show featured either Disneyland or Walt Disney World, we were glued to the set … mouths agape and eyes barely blinking.

It took a while for our dream vacation to unfold. It took two days to drive from New Jersey to Central Florida, and on the third day we headed to the Magic Kingdom, the resort’s only theme park at the time. We waited for what seemed like an... Read More

     A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away I was initially introduced to a cinematic masterpiece that, unknowingly to me, would ultimately leave an impression that would carry over into my adult years.

It was in 1977 that writer, director and producer George Lucas launched the first of six films to ultimately be released in the Star Wars saga. Of course, little did I know as a lightsaber-toting pre-teen that the movie I was captivated by would eventually prove to be Episode IV in the series. Nevertheless, more than 30 years later, it goes without saying that I was... Read More

     The LoPilato family was on a mission. The Brookline, N.H., family of four wanted to spend its summer vacation at Disney World in Florida, but also wanted to do it inexpensively. As featured today on ABC's "Good Morning America," the family cut their travel costs from an anticipated $4,500 to $2,000 by driving and staying in their RV and using AAA's travel agency services for planning, booking their campsite, purchasing discounted park tickets, getting free maps and TourBook guides and using other AAA travel tools like the Fuel Cost Calculator. View the segment here.

Question: Bruce McIntosh asks: My family and I are traveling to Disney World in August. We have only one day to spend at Epcot. What restaurant would you recommend to dine at and to see the fireworks?

Answer: AAA senior writer Nancy Woodard, a 10-year Walt Disney World annual passholder and frequent WDW visitor, says: Epcot has a number of wonderful dining experiences from which to choose. However, the Rose and Crown Pub and Dining Room is the only restaurant that sits directly on World Showcase Lagoon offering an outstanding view of the evening... Read More