So you're going to WDW, but you have a BIG decision to make. Whether to stay on or off property. Yes, it's a big deal; and a big debate among Disney guests. But the question is, what should you choose? Are Disney Resorts really that much better than standard hotels off-property? Are Disney Resorts worth the cost?

The answers will probably vary depending on you, your family, and how many you're traveling with; but in our experience, we always choose to stay on property at a Disney Resort. Why? To make it simple, we've listed our Ten Reasons Why We Stay on Property!

1.) Free Transportation to the Parks-Disney Buses run every twenty minutes to the individual parks, along with Downtown Disney, and back to the resorts for free!

2.) Close Access to the Parks-Most of the resorts are located close the parks, some even offer views of the Magic Kingdom!

3.) Guaranteed Disney Quality-If you stay at a Disney Resort, there's no question about the standards or quality. Disney works hard to provide the best of the best. Also, all Disney Resorts are family friendly. It's very unlikely your little prince or princess will see anything they shouldn't.

4.) Safety and Security-No need to be concerned about safety, cleaning service, or which side of town you're hotel is located when staying on property. You can rest easy knowing that you, your kids, and your belongings are safe and sound.

5.) Service-Disney is renowned for their excellent service; and at a Disney Resort, you get to experience that service 24/7.

6.) Convenience-When you're going to Disney, it's just easier to stay at Disney knowing they can answer any question, solve any problem, help you make reservations and book special experiences, and will even help get you to and from the airport!

7.) Unique Experiences-Disney Resorts offer unique experiences that many resorts can't offer. For example, Animal Kingdom Lodge offers views of live African wildlife just off your resort room balcony, the Contemporary features views INTO the Magic Kingdom, several resorts offer views of park fireworks, and there is other experiences to be had too. Consider going fishing, parasailing, watching a movie on the beach, joining in a campfire sing-a-long, and more!

8.) Disney Magic & Atmosphere-Anyone who has ever been to Walt Disney World knows that there is just something about it that sets it apart and makes you want to go back time and time again; and the atmosphere is always happy, loving, and special. This is what Disney refers to as their Disney Magic, that something extra that makes you feel like a kid again; and at a Disney Resort, you never have to leave this feeling or the atmosphere. In fact, you can go to sleep right in the middle of the magic in a room where Hidden Mickeys, towel creations, high quality and cleanliness, and themed bedspreads wait for you.

9.) Theme-Every thing at Disney World has a theme, whether it's a section of the parks, the restaurants, the shops, or even the bathrooms! Disney Resorts are no different! Each Disney Resort, ranging from the most expensive and luxurious Deluxe Category to the energetic and kid-friendly Value Category have their own respective themes which are carried from the main building to the rooms and pools and even the landscaping! Wherever you choose to stay, expect to be immersed in the Victorian Era, Polynesia, New Orleans, the Caribbean, the American Northwest, the world of animation, or America's Pop Culture!

10.) Dining-Hungry? No need to drive down foreign, unfamiliar highways looking for a decent restaurant! This is because each Disney Resort offers at least a food court boasting a wide variety of dishes to several award winning restaurants all in one jaw-dropping lobby. Some of the Disney Resort Restaurants offers unique experiences, entertainment, magical views, and even characters!

So what do you think about staying on property at WDW? Do you agree?

Today is the day for Walt Disney World's Monstrous Summer All-Nighter, part of Disney's Monstrous Summer Celebration! This means that Disney World's Magic Kingdom will be open for a full 24 hours today enabling guests to experience more Disney magic in one day than ever before.

Today's special event will be marked with special merchandise, sweet treats, dance parties, parades, and more! Can't be there in person? No problem! DisneyStore.com is selling commemorative t-shirts for this event online; and you can also follow Chip&Co's Instagram from Chip&Co.com for updated pics from today's event all day long! 

Still want more? You can see more of this morning's activities and the special merchandise here; and check out the Disney Parks Blog livestream of today's special event!

Looks like today's event is off to a monstrously great start! Do you wish you were there? What would you do if you had 24 hours to spend at the Magic Kingdom?

Trying to decide whether or not to visit Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach during your Disney World Vacation? Don't know which water park ticket option to choose?

We can help with that! This is a question we still ask ourselves after many visits to the water parks; and we have taken advantage of the different options.

When it comes to buying water park tickets, you have two main options: to buy a one day ticket or choose the water park fun and more option.

If you choose to purchase a one day ticket, you can only visit a water park once; but with the water park fun and more option, you can visit a water park every day of your trip if you want!

But let's get to the real deciding factor: the price! For convenience, we've broken things down for you. The scenario we have chosen is someone with a 5 day Park Hopper. Take a look!

So which option would you choose?

Today's theme is the best live entertainment at WDW and there is a lot to choose from! Disney World offers several awesome live shows, character-laden parades, musical acts, and more; but our favorite live entertainment is "Streetmosphere," or the Citizens of Hollywood.

Who are the Citizens of Hollywood, you might ask? They are live entertainers directly from Disney's idea of Old Hollywood, but with a comedic twist! They roam the streets of Hollywood Studios throughout the day holding auditions, directing scenes, looking for new talent, giving interviews, and more! Some citizens may also be policeman, cabbies, gossip columnists, or even an employee of Hollywood Public Works.

When putting on a skit, many Citizens recruit nearby guests, and are absolutely hilarious, and often obnoxious, in their interactions!

On our last trip, we encountered a Citizen of Hollywood named Shelby Mayer. He's a mogul and a studio chief who's phrase is always "Who needs talent? I've got money!" He struck up a conversation with my Disney Mom, marveling about her beauty and lecturing my Disney Dad for failing to buy her a larger ring. After an amusing conversation, Shelby gave my Disney Mom a massive ring and his card! What a cool, and free, souvenir! Plus, it was a Hollywood Studios memory we won't soon forget.

You can read bout Shelby Mayer for yourself, as well as other Citizens of Hollywood that you might find strolling down Hollywood or Sunset Boulevard here!

Want to chat with a Citizen of Hollywood? Hang out on Hollywood Boulevard or Sunset Boulevard for awhile, you're sure to see one of them; and once you do, don't hesitate to hurry over or join the crowd around them! Also, if you are looking for an entertaining experience, play along and feel free to ask for an autograph or a picture.

Have you ever encountered a Citizen of Hollywood during your visit to Hollywood Studios? What was your experience?

This week we are recommending:

Good advice for hot and humid Central Florida, Keeping Cool in Disney on Hot Summer Days with Magical Blogorail Red!

Fun Finds: More Obscure and Awesome Disney Food Merchandise… We really like The Little Mermaid Fascinator and the pot holders, very cute!

Have you ate here yet? News! Be our Guest Restaurant Menu Updates.

I've never seen this before, have you? Check out The  Window Washers of Tomorrowland.

‘Eye-mazing’ Merchandise for Monstrous Summer All-Night Party on May 24, 2013, Are you going?

New Disney Dooney and Bourke bags? We're there!

Video: Dance-Off with the Star Wars Stars 2013 – Decades of hits from Beastie Boys to Gangnam Style at Walt Disney
World, pure awesomeness! We look forward to this every year.

Walt Disney World is so big that it literally is its own world! There are so many places to visit and see, even beyond the theme parks. That's one reason why fans, including ourselves, keep coming back year after year because it's almost impossible to do it all!

Even though we have yet to see it all, we do have several favorite spots to visit each trip; and today, we are going to share them with you! Maybe they are some of our favorite spots too?

Wilderness Lodge Lobby-This resort is our all-time favorite; and no matter how many times we've stayed here, the lobby amazes us every time! It's majestic and cozy and magical, all at the same time from the massive teepee chandeliers to the Grand Canyon fireplace to the bubbling spring and footbridge, it's one of our favorite places to explore and relax!

Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe-This small store, located at the Magic Kingdom's Liberty Square, is celebrating Christmas 365 days a year! It's historic theme, coupled with Christmas items, makes it one of our favorite places to visit. Also, if you go out the back door, you will find yourself in a shady, secluded area in view of Cinderella Castle and the Liberty Square Gazebo.

World Showcase-While this is a very, large place, it's definitely one of our favorite spots at WDW. We especially enjoy visiting the Norway pavilion for Akershus and Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe, and Germany for the shops and Karamelle Kuche! France is like walking into a postcard and the Canada and United Kingdom pavilions are some of our favorites to browse and explore.

TrenD-This Downtown Disney store is literlaly a Disney boutique filled with adorable Disney clothes, bags, hats, jewelry, accessories, and more! It's a treasure trove for any "grown-up" Disney princesses; and is where we can easily do the most damage when it comes to our souvenir budget.

Port Orleans Riverside Food Court-Port Orleans Riverside is like our home away from home at WDW; and of one of our favorite places there is the resort's Southern themed cotton mill food court! It not only offers a variety of delicious food stations, including a make-your-own-pasta station, but is also massive and offers a view of the river outside and of an actual working water wheel.

Grand Floridian-Naturally, Disney's flagship resort, the Grand Floridian, is at the top of our list! This resort is pure class and luxury, with plenty of Disney magic. The dining here is excellent, and their shops are some of the best. We highly recommend dropping by Summer Lace and The Basin. Plus, the lobby is breathtaking and very relaxing! But be warned that if you sit down on one of the resort's comfy chairs or sofas, you may not get back up!

The Land-Epcot's The Land pavilion is a place we frequently visit when at WDW. Sunshine Seasons is one of our favorite counter service spots and we always enjoy a ride on Living with the Land. Did we mention that The Land is where you can ride Soarin'? So yeah, that's why we like The Land.

Beach Club-This resort is so beautiful and relaxing, and it lets us feel like we are staying on the beach while in the middle of Florida. Beaches and Cream and Stormalong Bay don't hurt either. But what we really like about this resort is the area it's located in. When you visit the Beach Club, you are right across the water from the Boardwalk which is gorgeous all lit up at night. Plus, you can visit it anytime. You are also just a short walk from Epcot and can see Illuminations from the resort; and you're only a boat ride from Hollywood Studios. It's

Sunset Boulevard-This Hollywood Studios street greets you with a view of a crumbling hotel and high pitched screams; and that's how we like it! Sunset Boulevard is home to one our favorite attractions, the Hollywood Tower of Terror, along with Rock n' Roller Coaster. We could easily spend hours going back and forth and riding these great attractions. Sunset Boulevard also has Fantasmic and Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage, as well as some great stores.

Art of Animation-Disney's newest resort is amazing! The Art of Animation features different sections, themed after The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Finding Nemo, and Cars; and when you walk through these sections, you really feel like you're in these different movies! This is a great place to explore and to get some great photos.

So these are just a few of our favorite places at WDW! Are some of these spots your favorites too? Share with us!

Have you heard about these Disney World myths and legends? Yes, even Disney World has their own tall tales and legends floating around; and today, we are going to take a closer look. Some of these yarns are true, some are not; but regardless, they're fun to wonder about!

Legend #1: Haunted Mansion Ring-This popular legend began when fans began to notice a metal ring in the pavement outside the Haunted Mansion. It wasn't an actual ring to wear, but rather the remains of a sawed off pipe. Soon fictional stories began to circulate, saying that it belonged to the attic bride or Master Gracey had threw it there, etc... This soon became a beloved piece of Haunted Mansion lore; but it disappeared when the Haunted Mansion queue was redone. However, Disney has made up for it by leaving a ring somewhere in the new queue; and this ring definitely looks like a wedding ring. Can you guess where it is?

Legend #2: Cinderella Castle can be broken down in case of a hurricane-Even though Disney World is located at the center of Florida, it still can suffer some storm damage. However, this legend is not true; and if they were to remove something from the castle, that would require cranes, heavy work, and a lot of time.

Legend #3: Gobble for a Turkey Leg-The rumor is that if you gobble like a turkey at a Hollywood Studios at a snack cart, you will get a free turkey leg. While we haven't tried it for ourselves, our sources confirm that this is true, but only person is picked per hour. Therefore, not everyone in your group can gobble for a free treat; and if someone else before you already has, you won't be selected.

Legend #4: There is a hatch on top of Spaceship Earth-From what we have heard, this myth is true! Supposedly there is a promotional photo of Mickey Mouse on top of Spaceship Earth for the opening of Epcot; and that's how he got up there.

Legend #5: Get 100,000 points with one shot on Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin-Supposedly if you aim and shoot at the back of the big, orange robot's arm, or at the buzz saw, you get 100,000 points! But make sure you turn around as your leaving the room, don't try it when you first see it.

Legend #6: Tell a Cast Member at the Great Movie Ride which dog statue is female and you get to skip the line-Rumor has it that if you tell a Cast Member that they are actually statues of dogs, not lions; and can point out which one is female, you get to bypass the line! The dogs are part of Chinese culture and are actually called Foo Dogs. Tip: The female Foo Dog always has her paw on a baby Foo while the males have a paw on a globe.

Legend #7: Bonus FastPasses when you're first to use FastPass machines-Supposedly when you are the first to use a FastPass machine at the Magic Kingdom, you not only get your FastPasses but bonus ones too! We have personally experienced this, but we can't guarantee it happens all the time. The only downside was that we only got a FastPass for a show, not a big ticket ride; but it was still pretty cool.

Legend #8: Swan and Dolphin was rejected because of construction flaw-We have heard from a Disney Cast Member that the Swan and Dolphin Resort was originally supposed to be a Disney Resort, just like the Grand Floridian and Contemporary and so on. However, when it was being built, someone placed one of the giant statues of the fish or swans backwards. As a result of this and other issues, Disney sold it.

Legend #9: Hollywood Studios is a giant Hidden Mickey-If you have ever seen an aerial view of Hollywood Studios, minus the giant sorcerer's hat, you can see Mickey. Definitely one of the best hidden Mickeys yet.

So these are a few Disney Myths and Legends we've uncovered! What do you think of them?

You're probably thinking, "what in Walt Disney World is that?" This, my padawan readers, is the Star Wars Weekends Darth Mall!

Star Wars Weekends, which begins this Friday, is known for offering exclusive event merchandise; and the prime place to find it all is at this location known as the Darth Mall.

In addition to merchandise, you can find other Star Wars items like you would find at Tatooine Traders at the exit of Star Tours. Although, anyone who has tried shopping in Tatooine Traders on a normal day knows how crowded it can be. This shop during Star Wars Weekends would be chaos so another location is necessary.

The Darth Mall in the past has also been home to character spots, places to meet and greet with Star Wars characters or Disney characters dressed as Star Wars characters, such as Jedi Mickey or Minnie as Princess Leia.

So what exactly can you buy at the Darth Mall? Pins! This is where we go for the 2013 Star Wars Weekends pins. You can also find other collectibles, including artwork. Artists really get creative when combining the Disney universe with that of the Star Wars universe!

So where is the Darth Mall? This is the really cool part. The Darth Mall is actually back behind Rock n' Roller Coaster in the space next to the Tower of Terror, an area that is usually off limits to guests. It's cool to be in a backstage area of the park; and you also get a great view of the Tower of Terror at a angle you never get to see normally.

Tip: During one of our visits, we dropped by Darth Mall in the evening, an hour or two before closing, and there was only a few people browsing inside. We had most of the place to ourselves! What was even better was that most of their exclusive merchandise was still available, including the collectible pins. While we can't guarantee the same will happen during your visit, it wouldn't hurt to check for yourself.

Check out other Wordless Wednesday posts or link up your own!

Today's theme is the letter "K", so check out this giraffe from Animal Kingdom Lodge's Kidani Village!

Disney World is home to dozens upon dozens of attractions ranging from live shows to classic dark rides to motion simulators to high speed roller coasters! There's a lot of variety, which is awesome, but there are also an elite group of attractions which seemed to draw more crowds than anywhere else; and when we visit WDW, those are the attractions we want to get FastPasses for!

But how do you know which attractions are FastPass worthy? Do all of the popular rides have long, packed lines?

Wonder no longer, we got this! Today, we are going to list which Disney attractions you should definitely get a FastPass for, along with a few conditions so don't end up wasting those valuable FastPasses and your valuable time.

Magic Kingdom:

Space Mountain-A very popular ride whose line tends to move slower than most. Unless you head to this attraction right when the park opens, or visit late in the evening, you are definitely going to need a FastPass.

Splash Mountain-Again, except for early in the morning or late at night, Splash Mountain's line is usually pretty long. However, the line for this ride tends to move pretty quickly and the scenery and upbeat music help to make the wait enjoyable; but unless you have time to spare, a FastPass is a good idea.

Peter Pan's Flight-This classic dark ride has created long waits since opening day back in 1971! This ride is a must-do and one that came from mind of Walt Disney himself. The line is very boring with little to see and is located inside of a bottleneck of crowds. The only time this ride doesn't have a wait is when the park opens. The rest of the time, a Peter Pan's Flight FastPass is at the top of our list.

Other popular rides at the Magic Kingdom, such as the Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin do produce long waits; but short waits are common throughout the day too. If there's a long line when you drop by, come back later, especially once the sun goes down!

Epcot:

Test Track-Epcot doesn't have many big ticket attractions, so everyone seems to head for the same popular attractions leading to long, long waits so FastPasses are pretty much a requirement when riding Epcot's best rides. Test Track has always filled up the lines; and now that it has been revamped and updated, we don't expect that to change any time soon! The automotive theme is always popular; and the fact that it's a thrill ride without drops and inversions makes it family friendly.

Soarin'-Of all the rides at WDW, Soarin' is one of the most popular and is infamous for the long, long, but well worth it, wait times. It's probably the closest you will ever get to flying, but is tame enough for everyone, as well as absolutely beautiful. With all of these qualities, no wonder people flock through its gates! The best chance you have of riding Soarin' without waiting about an hour in line to head here first thing when the park opens; and sometimes, you can catch a quick ride near closing. However, a FastPass is still one of your best bets.

Hollywood Studios

Rock n' Roller Coaster-WDW's only coaster that features inversions is every thrill junkie's go-to ride! Plus, the limo style ride vehicle is equipped with an awesome sound system that lets you rock out while riding; and if that wasn't all, the ride begins with a 0 to 60 launch in under three seconds! No wonder this ride is so popular! We recommend heading here when the park first opens, or stopping by before closing.

Toy Story Midway Mania-Next to Soarin', this ride is the most infamous for long waits and it's FastPass machines are known to run out around lunchtime! I've rarely seen the wait under 45 minutes, so be sure not only to go here first after rope drop, but to also get a FastPass as soon as you can! It's well worth it!

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror-This monster of an attraction is one of Disney's best rides of all time and can produce long waits. However, we've noticed that there have been times during the day that the wait time becomes relatively reasonable and, to be honest, wandering through the hotel garden and the lobby itself is really awesome and only adds to the ride experience! So if it's a busy day at Hollywood Studios, go ahead and grab a FastPass. If not, we bet the line will get shorter.

Animal Kingdom

Expedition Everest-This thrill ride takes guests up into Mount Everest, where the legendary Yeti lives, before sending you backwards in the dark and then forwards as you rocket down and around and through the mountain to get away from the yeti! It's awesome! But since this is one of the few thrill rides at this park, and amazing in its own right, the queues fill up quick! So get here early to ride this giant! Although, if don't have time for a FastPass, the line itself is an experience and usually moves at a decent pace.

Kilimanjaro Safaris-One of WDW's most amazing rides ever is Kilimanjaro Safaris, where you board a safari vehicle and actually drive through a preserve where real African wildlife wander free! It's pretty much like being in Africa on a real safari and can be enjoyed by everyone in the family. Because of this, long waits are common; and this outdoor, rather boring, line is not fun, especially when it's really hot. Therefore, we highly suggest a FastPass ASAP.

Shows:

Don't use FastPasses for shows! Disney theaters are so big that you really don't need them; and most of the time, the only waiting you will have is waiting for the next show to begin. So save your FastPasses for the rides, not the shows.

Timing:

The more FastPasses that are distributed, the more time you have to wait for your ride time. Sometimes, you can get a FastPass at 11 a.m., but you won't be able to ride until 9 o'clock at night! Make sure you look at the return time on the sign above the FastPass distribution time if you have plans for later in the day. For example, you don't want to waste a FastPass for a Hollywood Studios ride when you have dining reservations at Epcot at the same time as your return time.

So these are the rides we suggest you save your FastPasses for when at WDW. We hope this FastPass wisdom will help you maximize your valuable vacation time!