A nervous dad, two small kids, and a head full of Six Flags memories walk into Hollywood Studios—and everything changes on Slinky Dog Dash. We invited fellow creator Jarrett to share the real story of taking a young family to Walt Disney World after decades away: planning paralysis, stroller logistics, and the unexpected magic of cast members who turn chaos into calm.

We dig into the moment Galaxy’s Edge flipped a switch and turned a four year old's casual curiosity into full-on Star Wars fandom, from Kylo Ren’s patrol to a life-changing meet with Darth Vader. You’ll hear how a simple popcorn bucket became crisis control, why Pop Century and the Skyliner are clutch for parents, and how to balance the urge to “do it all” with strategies that keep toddlers regulated and adults sane. We also talk food realities when kids only want pizza and chicken strips, plus why Disneyland’s snack scene and walkable layout might be the next best move.

Then we stack parks against a Disney cruise: built-in childcare, stress-free dining, and slower rhythms versus kinetic wonder, character moments, and confidence-building rides. Jarrett shares what he’d do differently next time, how to time shorter Magic Kingdom days around party nights, and why the best plan is sometimes to plan less. Whether you’re choosing between cruise or castle, or plotting both, you’ll get practical tips, candid takeaways, and a reminder that the right moment often finds you when you stop forcing it.

If this helped your planning brain unclench, follow the show, share it with a Disney-loving friend, and leave a quick review so more families can find us.

You can find Jarrett at jswordsmith.com and on Instagram and Threads at @js_wordsmith.

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Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattleites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.

Instagram, Threads, Facebook, Twitter: @ourmousecapades
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