I've stayed at 15 Disney World resorts. Here's how I'd rank them.

Ask a returning family about their trip to Walt Disney World, and you might hear the common refrain: "My kids just wanted to swim in the pool the whole time!"

You might think Magic Kingdom is the be-all and end-allof the Christmas season at Disney World, with highlights including Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, holiday parades, holiday fireworks, and snow raining down on Main Street USA.

‘It’s cold here in January,” says my guide, Michèle Caserta, as we stroll along Cannes seafront, where warm autumn sunshine sprays diamonds on the waves. “Maybe 15C?” She notices my raised eyebrow. “I’m Mediterranean: for me, that’s cold!”

Nicholas Deniz was waiting to enter Disney World in Orlando with his clients last month when a park manager pulled him out of line.

I worked at Magic Kingdom and Disney Springs during my time in the Disney College Program. With that experience, I know a trip to Disney World can be equally magical and overwhelming.

Imagine taking nearly three months to meander across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, reveling in the romantic atmosphere of first-class train travel all the while. From your individual suite on board—or a seat in a gleaming bar car—you’d soak in the unique landscapes of each continent that whoosh past your window, making stops to explore historical marvels, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and picturesque cities.

For some families, visiting Walt Disney World during the holidays is a major bucket-list item, and, according to Jill Knonenborg, a travel agent who specializes in Disney destinations, it is the best season to visit.

Whether it's snapping a photo with Mickey at his home in Disneyland's Toontown or dining with Chip 'n' Dale at Epcot's Garden Grill, animals are everywhere at Disney parks. In most cases, those animals share a world with us humans. However, the newest land at Shanghai Disney Resort will have humans joining a world inhabited only by animals.

Chicago is a place of culture, history, and artistic expression. This vibrant metropolis is home to a flourishing art scene, with numerous museums and galleries offering a diverse array of exhibitions and events. From exploring the works of Black American writers in the American Writers Museum to delving into the revolutionary art of Camille Claudel, and from celebrating the legacy of Pablo Picasso to witnessing the fascinating world of the Jewish deli, Chicago's art world is alive and thriving. Here is a closer look at the latest happenings in Chicago's art scene.

The first time I took my kids to Disney World, they were 3 and 5 years old. We lived in Maryland at the time. We made a few more trips during their younger years and eventually moved to a small beach town about 90 minutes from Disney when they were 6 and 8. Like any good Floridian, we signed up for annual Disney passes and started visiting more.

Gatorland is a hidden gem in the state of Florida, and my family's been visiting it since 2016.

After moving to Florida from New York City, I live only five minutes away from Magic Kingdom — I can hear the fireworks out my window and could walk to the employee parking lot if I still worked there.