Canadian Diva

I recently reviewed The Unofficial Guide, Walt Disney World with Kids 2020. In this guide they also include expert tips and advice from KIDS who are seasoned travellers to Walt Disney World. They are called the “personal trainers” and give great insight as well as extremely helpful tips, from a child’s perspective on traveling to Walt Disney World.

I had the pleasure of interviewing one of these amazing kids, 12 year old Isabelle. We spoke via Skype and it was fascinating to speak to her as she is a wealth of Disney Parks knowledge.

 

Hi Isabelle, it is wonderful to speak to you. I really enjoy all of your helpful tips in The Unofficial Guide, Walt Disney World with Kids 2020. In the guide it states that you have been traveling to Walt Disney World since you were 6 months old! Would you be able to let us know your earliest memory of your Walt Disney World Vacations?

I remember meeting Disney Characters and especially Ariel.

How did you become one of the “personal trainers” / expert kid authors of The Unofficial Guide, Walt Disney World with Kids 2020?

I have a lot of knowledge to share from the many vacations my family took since I was very young. I wanted to share my tips with others.

When you were younger, what was your favorite thing about traveling to Walt Disney World?

The ATTRACTIONS, I like riding the rides. When I was younger, I really liked Toy Story Mania, it is so interactive and colorful. I also like Animal Kingdom’s Kilimanjaro Safari, my favorite is seeing the Giraffes. I also enjoyed Space Mountain (throughout this interview you will notice that Isabelle is quite the thrill ride seeker!).

I read that you dislike crowds and when the parks are too busy (me too!), could you let our readers know what your best tips are to avoid this?

Try not to go during Breaks (like Spring Break) and Holidays. Our family personally likes to go later in the afternoons to the parks but when we go to the Disney Water Parks (Typhoon Lagood and Blizzard Beach), we rope drop. When we go first thing in the morning, we can find a good seat at the Water Parks and the lines are much shorter when they first open.

I’m fascinated by how much you pay attention to details around Disney World seen in the Guide, how did you get such an inquisitive eye? And what are you always on the look out for?

I’m always looking around at different stuff, really cool things that others may not notice., I really like colourful things as well and anything out of the ordinary. I really like anything interactive and take notice of it.

Your father is Scott Sanders. He is a well known Cruise Expert and has his own website and blog, The Disney Cruise Line Blog, could you give a couple of benefits of vacationing on a Disney Cruise for a Disney World Fan who has never cruised on a Disney Cruise Ship before?

I think a Disney Cruise is a lot of fun for kids. There are so may activities on board and there is always so much to do. You get to travel to different ports and see new places all over the world. It’s fun to explore.

Which ship is your favorite Disney Cruise Line ship?

I like the design of the Fantasy. It is a big ship. But I really like the Wonder, it is a smaller ship with less people and it has Tiana’s Place which is one of my favorite restaurants.

Speaking of restaurants, I read that Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ is your favourite restaurant in Walt Disney World! You have such sophisticated taste. Could you let our readers know why it is your favourite?

The sandwiches are so good. I like to get the Adult size Fried Chicken Sandwich, it’s big! And the homemade chips are really tasty.

For families with younger children, what would say is the best Character Meal in Walt Disney World?

Cinderella’s Royal Table. I liked meeting all of the Princesses and I liked that Magical Surprises appear, like a magical coaster all of the sudden. It was cool.

I’m even more impressed that Rock n’ Roller Coaster is your favourite attraction as mentioned in the Guide! Why do you love it so much?

It is so fun and it is so fast! There was a thought put into it when they made it.

What do you think of the NEW Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios?

It is very cool and there is so much detail. There really is nothing left that they didn’t think of, nothing is boring there.

What would you say to a tween or teen who think they are too old to visit Walt Disney World?

Age doesn’t matter, adults have so much fun there too. The FOOD is really good and tweens and teens can appreciate the more mature stuff, like I enjoy all the different Festivals at Walt Disney World. My favourite is Festival of the Arts in Epcot during the months of January and February. They have a really great scavenger hunt and has a cool art aspect. The food at all the festivals are unique.

There is a section on Universal Orlando in the Guide and I see that you are a huge Harry Potter fan! Could you give us some reasons why you like Universal Orlando?

You can’t really compare Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, they are very different and unique in their own ways. The Harry Potter rides are very fun. There are also great shows for younger kids there. The Holidays are really nice at Universal Orlando, Christmas is very pretty there. The Mardi Gras Parade is so much fun.

Now for a series for shorter answered questions:

Favorite Park?

Epcot- especially for the festivals and food!

Favorite Character?

Out of the Fav 5, Donald Duck. I also like all the characters in Hercules

Favourite Disney Movie?

Hercules

Favorite Disney Resort?

Wilderness Lodge or Old Key West

Favorite Disney Pool?

Old Key West, it has a really fun slide!

Favorite Quick Service Restaurant?

Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory (Port Orleans French Quarter Resort)

Favorite Snack?

BEIGNETS at the Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory, I like how they have seasonal beignets like the pumpkin flavor during Fall.

I also like the Kakigori Shaved Ice in the Japan Pavilion at Epcot.

Now this is a question I ask in all of my interviews, if you were transported back into time and have a chance to meet Walter Elias Disney (Walt Disney) face to face, what would you like to say to him?

What he’s done means a lot to families and his attention to detail inspires me.

Thank you so much for this interview Isabelle.

And don’t forget, we all need help planning our vacation and a Vacation Specialist will help you plan your trip as well as SAVE YOU MONEY. With this guide, our own site and a Travel Specialist like our favorite Patricia with All for Dreams Travel , she can help you make the most of your all your vacation Destinations.

Disney Diva Disclaimer: Liliane Opsomer from The Unofficial Guide Series and Keen Communications, LLC, provided me with a copy of The Unofficial Guide, Walt Disney World with Kids 2020.  I received no other compensation for this review and my opinions are 100% entirely my own.

Copyrights of all the Photographs in this article belong to Liliane Opsomer and are being used with her permission.