This entry has been written by Meghan Droge, summer web editorial assistant for AAA New York.

     As a Long Island resident for the past 21 years, I am embarrassed to admit that the closest I have ever come to Coney Island, let alone Brooklyn, is from my living room couch when I struggle to watch stomach-turning highlights of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest each year. Fortunately, I had the pleasure of visiting the birthplace of the American amusement industry for the first time earlier this summer.

As I began the hike... Read More

     It’s been voted the World’s Friendliest amusement park for 11 years in a row and the World’s Cleanest for 9 straight years. In 2007, Consumers Digest named it the nation’s Top Value Park. You may think you know what park I’m talking about, but I bet you’ll be surprised to learn that these honors belong to belong to America’s first theme park—Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, located in the tiny holiday-themed town of Santa Claus, Indiana. Opened in 1946, the park is still going strong, attracting millions annually from across the Midwest.

Now I’m... Read More

The following tips were provided by AAA's Sabrina Falcon in our Partnership Programs department.

Summer is here and the kids are out of school.   As usual they want to visit Universal Orlando Resort – I love the park but was dreading the lines, the heat, the crowds… Being a Florida resident, I’ve learned to develop a strategy before entering the parks so we can make the most of our visit.  Here are a few suggestions I find helpful:

1) Make a game plan before your visit. Figure out which rides interests you the most.  There are detailed... Read More

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

     Yes, I know the next big holiday involves bunnies and colored eggs, but in travel planning time, we’re talking Christmas – especially if you’re dreaming of a Disney Christmas vacation. Planning ahead is essential for best (or any) lodging choices and of course, for budgeting.

It’s often been said, many times, many ways, there’s nothing like being home for the holidays and I agree with that. Spending time with family and friends in your own home or perhaps even better yet, in their home, has always been a cherished holiday-time tradition of mine.  Of... Read More

 
Whenever my girlfriend insists we ride Disneyland’s “it’s a small world” (one of her favorites), I throw a tantrum like a toddler who needs a nap. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of ‘small world’ designer Mary Blair. I always found her highly stylized asymmetric mod-art an interesting departure from classic Disney animation. And I’m certainly not the only one who misses Blair’s long gone Tomorrowland murals . Yet, I’ve never been big on ‘small... Read More

     Some of my fondest childhood memories involve recreational trips to Mason, Ohio though to this day, I couldn’t tell you a thing about the city itself. To me, that area, which is a short drive northeast of Cincinnati, is and always has been the home of Kings Island amusement park and while Kings Island continues to thrive today, it is no longer the only major attraction in Mason. The Great Wolf Lodge, which sits adjacent to Kings Island just off Kings Island Drive, opened its doors, and flood gates, for that matter, in... Read More

     Based on my AAATravelViews blogger photo, you may or may not get the impression that I have a fair amount of interest in Disney. Okay…I’m a fanatic. However, I have to admit, the oversized Mickey hands shown in the photo actually belong to my son. Anyway, here are a few quick-hit tips to think about if your next trip to Orlando will include a visit to Disney World.

- If at all possible, stay on site. There are numerous accommodations available in a variety of price ranges and, to be completely honest, the convenience alone is well worth having to potentially... Read More