Adventures of a Disney Dad: A Walt Disney World Trip Planning Podcast

Planning your first Walt Disney World trip and feeling buried in news, discounts, and decisions? In this episode, Chip and I sort out what actually matters for your family right now. We cover the new Bluey experience, the best room discounts of the year, two changes Disney made without telling anyone, and a full breakdown of split stays.

We start with Bluey’s Wild World at Animal Kingdom, because the hype and the reality do n...

Most families head into a Walt Disney World trip with a quiet fear they’ll come home heavier, sluggish, and totally off track. In this episode I sit down with Jake Mayes, a fitness and nutrition coach who runs Magical Transformations, to talk about food, fitness, and the mindset that actually works on a Disney vacation.

Jake and I cover how to think about eating and movement at the parks without ruining your trip. We dig into...

If you’ve been wondering whether Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is actually worth it, how to handle Magic Kingdom after hours events, or how to stop blowing up your day with Lightning Lane Multipass, this episode is for you!

Chip and I are back together to dig into 10 real listener questions from families planning their next Walt Disney World trip. We’re halfway to Halloween, party tickets are about to go o...

If you've ever stared at the My Disney Experience app trying to figure out which Magic Kingdom area restaurant is actually worth your money, this episode is for you!

We sat down to rank all 20 table service restaurants in the Magic Kingdom area, including everything inside the park plus the four monorail and boat resorts. We're going to tell you exactly which ones we'd book again and which ones we'd cancel today.

In this episode, w...

Matt just got back from nine days at Walt Disney World with his family of 7, including 2 babies, and somehow it turned out to be his favorite trip ever and his least stressful one.

In this episode, we break down what actually made it work, including the room request at Saratoga Springs that changed everything and a Lightning Lane rule Disney doesn't tell anyone about.

Matt walks through the full trip: driving down in a Sprinter van...

Matt is literally packing as this episode goes live. So who better to walk you through the last-minute Disney prep checklist than someone who is actively living it? We share the real things families forget before a Walt Disney World trip, including a few gems you only learn the hard way.

In this episode, Matt and Chip go through their full pre-trip routine: checking dining reservations and canceling what you won't use before the fe...

In this Disney news and planning episode of the Adventures of a Disney Dad podcast, Matt and Chip break down several new Walt Disney World discounts, major attraction updates across the parks, and one of the most common questions families ask when planning a trip: where should we eat? Quick Service Edition!

From new ticket deals that could save families hundreds of dollars, to the return of Soarin’ Over America and the arriva...

In this listener Q&A + Disney news episode of the Adventures of a Disney Dad podcast, Matt and Chip break down the latest updates about Villains Land coming to Magic Kingdom and answer real planning questions straight from the inbox.

From the rumored Emperor’s New Groove family coaster to a Maleficent boat ride and possible Hades dinner show, we talk through what this new land might actually look like, whether Disney is s...

In this episode of the Adventures of a Disney Dad podcast, Matt and Chip break down everything that’s new at Walt Disney World in 2026 and what it means for families planning a trip.

We cover Disney’s new CEO, what changes (and what probably won’t), and then dive into the best Disney World deals for 2026, including bounce back offers, room discounts, and how kids can eat free on the Disney Dining Plan.

Then we wal...

In this listener Q&A episode of the Adventures of a Disney Dad podcast, Matt and Chip tackle real Disney World planning questions straight from the inbox. From the best and worst holidays to visit Walt Disney World, to dining strategies, Skyliner food debates, and whether certain “Disney hacks” still work, this episode is packed with practical advice for families planning a trip.

Matt also shares a behind-the-scenes...

Trying to decide which Disney World character dining experiences are actually worth the money? In this episode of Adventures of a Disney Dad, Matt and Chip rank their top 6 character dining experiences at Walt Disney World from worst to best, based on real trips, real kids, and real food opinions.

We break down what actually matters to families, including:

• Which character meals give you the best bang for your buck
• Where the fo...

EPCOT might be the most misunderstood park at Walt Disney World, especially for families who haven’t visited in years.

In this episode of the Adventures of a Disney Dad Podcast, we’re joined by Dapper Danielle and co-author Ian Wilson to talk all things EPCOT, inspired by their brand-new book I Love EPCOT. We dive deep into what EPCOT really is today, how it’s changed, what families often miss, and why this park d...

Are you following Disney World advice that actually makes your vacation worse?

In this episode of the Adventures of a Disney Dad Podcast, Matt and Chip break down the most overrated Walt Disney World planning advice we see all over social media, Facebook groups, and TikTok. From crowd calendars and rope dropping every day to overbooking dining and paying extra for hotel views, we’re calling out what families really don&rsquo...

Walt Disney World is heading into a major transition year with a lot of construction happening, and 2026 is shaping up to change how families plan their trips.

In this episode of the Adventures of a Disney Dad Podcast, we break down everything we know so far about what’s coming to Walt Disney World in 2026 and what it actually means for real families. From Bluey and Bingo arriving at Animal Kingdom to major changes at Hollywo...

If you are planning a Walt Disney World trip for the 2025 holiday season, this episode answers the most common listener questions we are getting right now. Matt and Chip break down the newest changes at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, how to plan park days around Christmas parties, whether MultiPass is still worth it during holiday hours, the best free Christmas activities for families, what crowds look like the week between Christmas an...

Planning a Walt Disney World vacation is exciting, but it is also way easier to get wrong than most families realize. After helping hundreds of families plan their trips, I see the same seven mistakes over and over, and they lead to stress, meltdowns, exhaustion, and a vacation that feels more like a survival mission than actual fun.

In this episode, I break down the 7 rookie mistakes most first-timers make at Walt Disney World and...

Ranking every Walt Disney World resort hotel — from the best deluxe resorts to the ones we’d only stay at for a discount. In this episode, Matt and Chip debate and break down every Disney World resort using real experience as dads, travelers, and Disney fans.

If you’ve ever wondered which Disney resort is actually worth the money, this tier list covers it all — transportation, dining, pools, theming, and val...

The Adventures of a Disney Dad Podcast is back, and this week I’m joined by my friend and returning guest, Matt Richardson, one of the most passionate voices in the Disney running community. We’re diving into everything you need to know before your first runDisney race weekend, including the early mornings, the corrals, the famous Balloon Ladies, and all the details that make these races different from anything else out...

I planned our first Disney World trip the wrong way and learned the hard lessons so you don’t have to. In this episode I share 6 things I wish I knew before our first Walt Disney World vacation with little kids so you can save time, avoid stress, and have a smoother trip.

What you’ll learn:

00:50 Dining Reservations: Not the End of the World

02:49 Rope Drop: Not Mandatory for Everyone

04:47 Transportation Woes: Plan Ahe...