Moms Behind the Magic

Jollywood Nights 2026 at Disney's Hollywood Studios: we rate every show, lounge, character, snack, and dance party at Walt Disney World's holiday after-hours party so you know what's a must-do and what to skip. Disney travel agent moms Aly, Stacy, and Karla roll out the red carpet with our Tinseltown star ratings, breaking down Jollywood Nights category by category before your holiday...

Walt Disney World holiday snacks 2026: the new and returning Christmas treats, sweets, and sips at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney Springs, plus which ones we'd actually wait in line for. Disney travel agent moms Aly and Katie take you park by park through this year's daytime holiday treats so you know what to hunt down (and what to skip) before your hol...

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party 2026 at Magic Kingdom: is the Disney World Christmas party worth the money? We draft the best snacks, treats, rides, shows, character meet and greets and resorts for the holiday party, and you vote on who wins. Three Disney travel agent moms go head to head in a snake-style draft to help you plan the most magical night of your Walt Disney World Christmas tri...

Free things to do at Walt Disney World: Magic Kingdom fireworks from Disney resorts, the Electrical Water Pageant, Chip 'n' Dale's Campfire Sing-A-Long at Fort Wilderness, Movies Under the Stars, Skyliner and Monorail rides, resort hopping, and the BoardWalk at night. Stretch your fun without stretching your Disney World budget! In this More Magic episode, Disney travel agent moms Aly...

Disney's All-Star Resorts deep dive: Are Walt Disney World's value resorts the best way to stay on site for less? Aly and Stacy break down All-Star Movies, All-Star Music, and All-Star Sports so your family can decide if an affordable Disney World hotel is right for your next trip. Two Disney travel agent moms share the real pros and cons of the All-Star Resorts: theming, rooms, buses, poo...

The best Disney World additions of the 21st century, ranked! From Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and the Disney Skyliner to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Tron Lightcycle Run, and Avatar Flight of Passage, Stacy counts down her Top 21 Walt Disney World game-changers since 2000 and Aly reacts to every pick. It's a More Magic episode! Two Disney travel agent mom...

Rest Day Draft Every Disney World vacation needs a rest day, but that doesn't mean it has to be the forgettable one! Aly, Stacy, and Becki draft the best ways to spend a no-park-ticket day: resort pools, resort activities, resort dining, Disney Springs restaurants and activities, lounges, and a wild card. Plus, Stacy shares some big moving news, we all commiserate about that travel agent hold...

Ep 52: Disney Believe Predictions & Reveals - What We Got Right (and Wrong!) Aly and Becki put their Disney Cruise Line predictions on the record the day before Disney revealed the Disney Believe, then sat back down right after the big announcement to see how they did! Hear their best guesses, every reveal, and their honest, immediate reactions to DCL’s newest ship. In this episode: How the Wi...

Ep 51: Winners vs Winners – The Ultimate Disney World Quick Service Awards It's the grand finale of our quick service series! After crowning winners park by park across Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT, every park champion now goes head-to-head for the title of best quick service in all of Walt Disney World. We spin the wheel, argue (a lot), and hand out the final crowns...

Episode 50: Disney's Lakeshore Lodge – Book Now or Wait? It's a monumental day, MMs! Bookings for Disney's Lakeshore Lodge, the first brand-new Walt Disney World resort since Riviera, are officially open to the general public after two days of early access for DVC members and Annual Passholders. Aly and Stacy drop in for a quick More Magic chat on everything we know so far and the big question: sh...

Episode 49: Port Orleans Deep Dive Grab a Mickey beignet! Aly and Stacy are diving deep into Port Orleans French Quarter and Port Orleans Riverside, two sister moderate resorts at Walt Disney World with totally different personalities. French Quarter brings wrought iron, Mardi Gras color, and lively fun. Riverside brings the laid-back, scenic charm of the bayou. Aly shares how her family fell in l...

Breastfeeding or pumping and wondering if a Disney trip is even possible? It is! Aly and Stacy welcome our very first guest, Tamari Jacob, lactation specialist, mom of four, and founder of One With the Pump, to walk through exactly how to nurse or pump at Walt Disney World without letting it take over your vacation. In this episode: You can nurse anywhere in the parks - yes, even on it's a sma...

Bashful: Your Disney Questions Answered In this episode of Moms Behind the Magic, Aly, Becki, and Karla answer listener questions that Disney fans may be too bashful to ask. From favorite resorts and cruise ships to budgeting, accessibility, family dynamics, and working with a travel agent, this mailbag episode is packed with honest advice and strong opinions. The hosts discuss: Why first-time cru...

MORE MAGIC Episodes are quick visits with your Moms Behind the Magic to bring you a little bit MORE to your week! Aly and Katie bring you a fast-moving fall 2026 update from Walt Disney World, covering seasonal entertainment, holiday transitions, new experiences, and important closures to know before you go! Magic Kingdom is in full fall mode with Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party underway and...

Dopey Dwarf: Disney World Upgrades That Can Make Your Trip Extra Magical Aly, Karla, and Stacy bring you the sixth installment of their seven-part dwarf series: Dopey - where they discuss dope upgrades to a Disney World vacation. Practical add-ons, luxury splurges, niche experiences, and bucket-list adventures — rating each on their one-to-five diamond scale . They share honest opinions about what...

MORE MAGIC Episodes are quick visits with your Moms Behind the Magic to bring you a little bit MORE to your week! Katie Boone shares her first-hand experience at Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Orlando, including what surprised her most, what felt scarier on paper than in person, and which parts of the event are actually worth prioritizing. If you’ve ever wondered whether this event i...

Grumpiest Things About a Disney Trip This episode is a practical, funny look at the seven biggest things that make Disney vacations feel grumpy, especially for families. Aly, Katie, and Karla compare real trip pain points, share what actually helps, and keep coming back to the same theme: preparation makes a huge difference. We discuss packing, early mornings, kid meltdowns, hot weather, long line...

MORE MAGIC Episodes are quick visits with your Moms Behind the Magic to bring you a little bit MORE to your week! In this episode of More Magic from Moms Behind the Magic, Aly and Becky break down how to approach Lightning Lane Multipass pre-selects by park and by travel style, so Disney planning feels less overwhelming and more exciting. If you’ve ever stared at your seven-day booking window and...

In this episode, we explore seven key strategies, another installment of our 7 Dwarf Series, to optimize your Disney vacation planning, from resort choices to transportation tips, ensuring a magical and stress-free experience. In this episode, we explore top strategies for planning a magical Disney trip, covering transportation, dining, ride strategies, packing, and weather tips to maximize fun an...

In this episode, we explore the highlights of Disney's Food and Wine Festival, including tips for navigating the event, must-try foods, and special experiences like character photo opportunities and live entertainment. Perfect for Disney fans planning their visit or wanting to make the most of the festival. Festival opening weekend insights Best food and drink experiences Character photo opportuni...

Check out both our AUDIO AND VIDEO VERSIONS of this podcast on Spotify! In this episode, Aly, Stacy, and Becki share their top underrated Disney resort experiences, focusing on unique room types and accommodations that elevate your Disney vacation. They discuss cabins at Fort Wilderness, family suites at Art of Animation, and the importance of choosing the right stay for a memorable trip. In this...

More Magic episode to bring more fun, love, and joy to your week! Aly and Stacy break down what is new at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party for 2026, from entertainment updates to merch, food priorities, and the best ways to dress for the night. If you're planning to go, we give you a fast, practical overview of what matters most so you can spend your time on the shows, characters, and Hallowe...

Check out both our AUDIO AND VIDEO VERSIONS of this podcast on Spotify! In this episode, Aly, Katie, and Stacy kick off the second installment of their seven part dwarf series with a Sneezy themed breakdown of the most common excuses people give for not going to Disney World. They tackle the fears behind cost, kids, crowds, planning, exhaustion, adult appeal, and the idea that a repeat trip is unn...

MORE MAGIC Episodes are quick visits with your Moms Behind the Magic to bring you a little bit MORE to your week! PLEASE SHARE our new podcast with your Disney-loving friends, leave us 5-star reviews wherever you are listening, FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE on Spotify or your favorite listening platform! Co-Hosts: Aly Thomas, Katie Boone Edited: Stacy Walker ⁠Moms Behind the Magic Podcast Facebook Commun...

Check out both our AUDIO AND VIDEO VERSIONS of this podcast on Spotify! Enjoy the first of this 7-part series where we work through an inspiration of the Seven Dwarfs as we begin with THE HAPPY EPISODE! What are 7 HAPPY things about Disney World that should be sure to include in your Disney vacation planning? Aly, Becki, and Katie work through them in this really fun episode! PLEASE SHARE our new...