The Laid-Back Magic® Way: A Disney World Planning Podcast
Planning a Disney vacation shouldn’t leave you feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or questioning if you’re “doing it right.” You want a trip your family will remember for years—but between endless online advice and all the moving parts, it’s easy to feel buried in details and unsure where to start. Here’s the good news: It’s not your fault. The problem isn’t you—the rigid, one-size-fits-all strategies forget every family is different. That’s where I come in. I’m Dana Stanley, creator of Laid-Back Magic® and a mom of three who knows exactly what it’s like to balance magical family dreams with real-life challenges. After over 16 years of planning Disney trips, I’ve learned that success isn’t about chasing perfection or treating your vacation like a To Do list—it’s about finding what works for your family and leaving room for the magic. On this podcast, I share simple, actionable tips, mindset shifts, and expert insights to help you plan Disney trips that feel even better than they look on paper. You’ll also hear real-life trip recaps, honest reviews, and guest perspectives to inspire your next vacation. I know how important this trip is to you, and I’ve been there—balancing nap times, budgets, and the pressure to make everything perfect. But I promise you: Disney World can be manageable, magical, and most importantly, laid-back. Subscribe now and join me every Monday as we plan your next favorite family memories together, the Laid-Back Magic® way. Your dream vacation is closer than you think—let’s make it happen! Let's connect! Somewhere Worthwhile Website → https://somewhereworthwhile.com/home Instagram → https://somewhereworthwhile.com/instagram Join the Laid-Back Magic® community → https://somewhereworthwhile.com/laidbackmagic Shop the guides → https://somewhereworthwhile.com/guides Read the blog → https://somewhereworthwhile.com/blogpage
Episodes
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Planning Disney World character dining for your next trip, but feel personally victimized by the overwhelming number of options? I’ve got you.
In this episode, I’m breaking down the full Disney World character dining list - every single restaurant that includes characters, with real reviews, honest ratings, and tips to help you avoid the overpriced, underwhelming, or just plain chaotic ...
Read the full show notes for this episode HERE!
Let’s talk tech - aka the actually useful apps on your phone that keep your Disney trip feeling magical (instead of like a meltdown waiting to happen).
In today’s episode, I’m diving into the must-have Disney World apps and other tech that help me avoid meltdowns (mine and my toddler’s), minimize the chaos, and yes - even enjoy my trip.
This isn’t your typical “download the My Disn...
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So, I may have thrown my entire list of personal Disney World rules out the window on our latest trip - and honestly? The results were surprising.
In this episode, I’m sharing what happened when I completely veered off course with my usual Disney World planning approach. I’m walking you through the real-life results of what happens when planning your Disney World trip doesn’t go accordi...
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So, is the Disney Skyliner the dreamy, breeze-through-the-sky transportation Disney moms pin to their trip boards… or is it an actual anxiety-inducing gondola of doom? (Spoiler: For me, it was both.)
In this live-from-the-trip episode, I’m giving you my unfiltered, real-time reaction to riding the Disney Skyliner while staying at the Disney World Riviera Resort. If you’ve been eyeing th...
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LIVE FROM DISNEY! I'm recording this episode on location during our family trip to Disney World Riviera Resort, which means: real-time thoughts and zero filter.
Is the Disney Riviera Resort actually worth the hype - or the price tag? That’s what I’m unpacking (literally) in this honest, mildly unhinged Disney Riviera Resort review from inside our recent stay. I’m breaking down exactly w...
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If you’ve ever tried to plan a trip to Disney World while wiping yogurt off the wall and answering emails with one hand - same, friend.
In this episode, I’m five days out from our next Disney trip and walking you through what I’m reading, sipping, spiraling about, and loving lately…all with a very laid-back, minimalist Disney mindset.
From tweaking my mom morning routine to jugglin...
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Planning for your first time to Disney World and already feeling the pressure to “do it all”?
Deep breath, friend - I’m here to help you not lose your mind before you even get to Main Street.
In this episode, I’m sharing everything I wouldn’t do on a first Disney trip, and what I absolutely would - because your first time to Disney World shouldn’t feel like a stressful marathon of ...
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If you’re starting to pack for Disney World and staring blankly at your suitcase thinking, “Wait, where’s the actual list of things moms need?” - this episode is your new BFF.
Today, I’m sharing exactly what to pack for Disney World - not the Pinterest-perfect, curated-for-flat-lays kind of Disney packing list. I’m talking about the real-life, mom-of-three, survived-blisters-and-slushie...
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If the phrase “I need a vacation from my vacation” describes how you felt after your last Disney trip, this episode was made for you.
I’m sharing the real-life, real-mom moves I’m making to make our next Disney trip feel actually chill. We're talking Disney trip essentials that actually matter, a Disney trip itinerary that won’t make you cry in Tomorrowland, and a deep dive into what’s ...
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You asked, I answered.
In this episode, I’m tackling real Disney World questions from moms who are deep in the planning (and second-guessing) phase of their next Disney trip.
We’re talking about everything from margaritas to meltdown-prevention and which bag for Disney World actually holds up under pressure.
Whether you’re booking your first Disney trip or you’ve been through ...
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Ever book a last minute Disney trip and immediately think, “Wait, what did I just do?” Yep - same. That was me this week.
We hit confirm on a resort we’ve never stayed at, with less than 30 days until takeoff... and I’m not panicking (yet).
In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on exactly how I’m prepping for this last minute Disney trip - from what I’m skipping altog...
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If you’ve been on the hunt for the best Disney World restaurants for kids that aren’t booked out 60 days in advance (because who has time for that?), this episode is for you.
This episode is all about those hidden gems in Disney World - the ones that surprised me, delivered better-than-expected food, and didn’t come with sky-high stress levels for making those Disney World dining reserv...
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Let’s talk about the Disney World planning advice that’s actually making your life harder.
You know the stuff: matching t-shirts for every day of the trip, waking up at the crack of dawn to rope drop, and spending hours figuring out are the Disney dining plans worth it…all in the name of “doing it right.”
But what if... that’s not what feels right to you?
In this episode, I’m breaki...
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Ever find yourself stress-scrolling through every article on Disney World stroller rules while also wondering if your six-year-old will miraculously walk eight miles a day in 90-degree heat? (Spoiler: they won’t.)
In this episode, I’m sharing exactly what I’ve learned from years of navigating strollers in Disney World (with babies, toddlers, big kids… and yes, even one exhausted mom who...
Read the full show notes for this episode HERE!
Spring is here, and that means it’s time for my monthly R.E.P.O.R.T. – a roundup of everything I’m currently reading, eating, playing, obsessing over, recommending treating… and also spiraling about.
This month, I’m talking DVC reservations (aka my current obsession), why family Spring activities like bike rides are hitting differently this year, and the surprising Disney+ pick my...
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Alright, let’s talk about the kind of heat that makes you question every life choice you’ve ever made: Disney in the summer.
If you’re dreaming of a trip to Disney World in the summer that doesn’t end with you melting into the pavement by 11 a.m., this episode is for you.
In this episode, I’m sharing my real-life, mom-tested strategies for how to stay cool at Disney World – beyond the ba...
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If you've ever felt like your brain is in full spreadsheet-mode 24/7 when planning a Disney trip... this episode is your sign.
Today, we’re tackling what no one wants to admit: you might be overplanning your Disney trip.
And not just in the cute Pinterest-planning kind of way. I'm talking about the kind of Disney World itinerary stress that leaves you feeling mentally tapped out be...
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Planning your perfect Disney World trip only to spend half of it staring at your phone screen? Been there.
But if your goal this year is a Disney World trip that feels more magical and less like a never-ending scroll session, this episode is for you. I’m walking you through seven totally doable ways to stay off your phone during your next Disney World trip—without sacrificing the ma...
Get all the links mentioned in this episode in the full show notes HERE!
Let’s be real—planning a family trip to Disney World can feel like a ton of bricks when you’re trying to manage all the personalities, interests, and dynamics in a family.
In today’s episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what really goes down when you’re managing expectations—from toddlers to in-laws—on a family trip to Disney World. Whether you're navigating...
Get all the links mentioned in this episode in the full show notes HERE!
Thinking of ditching your Disney itinerary for something a little more…barefoot?
In this episode, we’re trading Lightning Lane stress for pink sand and seashells in Eleuthera, Bahamas—aka the dreamy, no-schedule-needed spot that’s become my family’s not-so-secret escape.
This island has become one of our most treasured places outside of Disney World, and I ...
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