In just a few short weeks, I will be fortunate enough to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Conference in Orlando!  I am looking forward to the trip, but a little sad that my two girls and husband will be unable to attend.

In 2000, my husband and I went to Disney for our honeymoon.  I spent lots of time researching the adult activities and romantic things to do in the various parks.  We were able to sleep late, dine at fancy restaurants, enjoy the fireworks and experience the thrill of the roller coasters.  Six years later, we decided to bring our daughter (who was almost two) to experience Disney for the very first time.  While we had an amazing time, and it was indescribable to see Disney through the eyes of a child, it certainly was a whole different ball game!

Before we left for our trip, I researched the best strollers, the kid-friendly restaurants, the baby care stations, and the best routes to take back to the hotel for naps.  It took FOREVER for me to feel like I was truly prepared.  I would have LOVED to have the new book, “Beyond the Attractions: A guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers” to help me plan!

A little about the book from Amazon.com:

“Plan an unforgettable, fun-filled Walt Disney World vacation with Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers (2010). Written by a parent for anyone who wants to share the magic of Walt Disney World with small kids, this niche travel guide offers readers child-focused information, tips, and insights from a parent’s perspective. Beyond the Attractions includes everything parents care about and need to know when planning a Walt Disney World vacation with toddlers and preschoolers including lodging preferences for budget, location, theming, and amenities; attractions including must-dos and which to avoid; hidden activities that are perfect for kids, ages 2-5; dining options; transportation; parades and character greetings; recreation for small children; playgrounds and pools; safety; and seasonal events. Family-friendly features such as strollers, Baby Care Centers and child care options, which make vacationing with preschoolers more relaxed and convenient, haven’t been overlooked. This guidebook has been completely updated and expanded for 2010; it will save hours of research and place all of the specialized information at your fingertips.”

First of all, I love that this book can be purchased as a hard copy ($15.99) or for your Kindle.  Beyond the Attractions is very easy to navigate as it is broken into categories such as Preparing, Lodging, Transportation, Dining, etc.  I also found the many appendices to be very helpful.  You can quickly access information such as the “Must Do Lists” in each park (totally agree with Festival of the Lion King in Animal Kingdom), Character Greeting Locations, and Dining Rates which will help you easily pinpoint child friendly restaurants.  Along with phone numbers to park services such as Lost and Found and Disney’s Cake Hotline, the author, Lisa Battista, even goes beyond the actual parks and gives you information on local pharmacies and medical care.

While Beyond the Attractions is written to help you plan your trip when traveling with small children, I found it immensely helpful in planning my trip sans kiddies!

Are you taking a trip to Disney?  The author has generously donated a copy of her book, Beyond the Attractions, to one lucky Not-So-Blog reader!

How to enter:

1. Visit the Beyond the Attractions, look at the left sidebar and tell me one of the Top 6 Walt Disney World Tips for Traveling with Kids.

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog (10 extra entries).

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Unlimited! (You must have over 50 Twitter followers to qualify for unlimited entries!)

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog on Facebook.

5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.

6. Subscribe to my Feed.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on February 6th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. and Canadian Residents only.

This product review is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy. Others may have a different experience. Beyond the Attractions supplied me with a book for review, but all opinions are 100% mine.