"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
So, when the local park shuts down activities for a week to encourage “family time,” and two of my sons (a teenager and a college student) work for our park, I grabbed them and took a quick, last-minute getaway to Disney World. Luckily for us, we have banked a lot of Marriott points, so our total hotel bill, including some morning coffees and breakfast bites, was under $300 for three nights.

I am a loyal Delta girl, having been a nanny for a Delta pilot and the reason I (literally) landed in Ohio, but we took advantage of some nice flight times from Allegiant for the first time. I was skeptical, but it was a super smooth travel experience with two carry-ons and three backpacks for four people. No checked luggage is always the way to go!

The Swan Reserve at Disney is one of the best bleisure hotels

I have stayed at the Swan Reserve - a Marriott property at Walt Disney World- about 5 times now, and I can’t say enough about the workcation / business trip amenities they offer. It's like they've tapped into this massive hospitality trend and completely nailed it. No wonder I keep coming back for more! I have been a laptop lugger for many years. I don’t feel stressed when I need to attend or hold a virtual meeting, and I feel like I have more control over my options, making my experience more convenient and EASY! It also smells wonderful when you walk in, and the personalized note in the room is very thoughtful. It's a haven that makes my work trips feel like a luxurious getaway.

A survey in a report published by Hilton (sorry Marriott) stated that 40% of business travelers surveyed planned to take bleisure trips in 2023. That same survey found that the length of stay for business travelers increased in 2022, on average by 1.5 days.

They offer these beautiful little cozy nooks that make the perfect digital workspace. They are comfy, quiet, and well-equipped with power and USB ports. Plus Grounds Coffee Bar, right around the corner, has the best coffee and overnight oats, or “day old oats”, as my boys call them. I can get a lot of focused work done here while my kids enjoy the parks.

It’s also super convenient that I can walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios while staying at this property. We walked an average of 10 miles each day, which also keeps my fitness goals met.

I’ll be sure to create a future blog post about what to wear, and what not to wear at Disney, so make sure you subscribe to be alerted to that one!

Just me and the (smart) moms on the most underrated Disney ride ever; The PeopleMover

You get quality time with your kids when you’re in line

I'm sure many of you can relate to the struggle of trying to have meaningful conversations with your teenage kids. Now, I know it might be a bit different for moms with daughters, but let me tell you, as a boy mom, finding common ground can be a real challenge. It takes me back to the days when my son Jake and I used to hit the road together, driving for miles and miles for travel baseball games. Or the years I spent coaching Tate's FIRST robotics team, just so we could bond over a shared interest. Those memories are truly priceless!

But you know what? There's another opportunity for quality time with your kids that often gets overlooked: waiting in line. Whether you're at Disney or just standing in line at Aldi - I highly recommend taking your teens grocery shopping- those moments can actually be golden. It's a chance for them to unplug from their gaming sessions, take a break from TikTok or SnapChat and step out of their room and into real life.

Now, I must admit, I learned a thing or two about the latest fashion trends from their viewpoint, like how they feel about yoga one-pieces. 🙈

So, my fellow parents, don't underestimate the power of waiting in line. Embrace those opportunities to connect with your teenagers on a deeper level. You might be surprised by what you discover. And hey, you might even become a fashion expert in the process!