Editor’s note: We recorded this episode before the passing of Dolly Parton. We’re sharing it today in celebration of the joy, generosity and unmistakable Tennessee spirit she brought to Dollywood. 💛

What makes Dollywood such a special place for families? Tennessee local and Disney travel expert Haley Ragsdale of Academy Travel joins us to share why Dolly Parton’s beloved theme park has earned a place alongside Disney and Universal for her family.

From Dollywood’s famous cinnamon bread and surprisingly great rides to the beauty of fall in the Smoky Mountains, Haley shares what makes this corner of Tennessee worth experiencing—and why fall and Christmas can be especially magical times to visit.

Disney food looks amazing on social media…but does it actually live up to the hype? 😳 Travel planner Brittany Adams joins us to rank EPCOT’s four major food festivals—and reveals “the worst thing” she’s ever eaten at Disney World.

From Food & Wine to Flower & Garden, Festival of the Holidays and Festival of the Arts, we’re breaking down which EPCOT festival is actually worth planning a Disney vacation around—and when families might be better off skipping festival season altogether.

In this episode:

🍴 Which EPCOT festival Brittany would choose over ALL the others

😳 The hyped Disney food she says was a total disappointment

🎨 What makes Food & Wine, Festival of the Arts, Flower & Garden and Festival of the Holidays different

👨‍👩‍👧 When families should visit EPCOT for smaller crowds and shorter ride waits

After 20+ international flights with kids, Ceci thought she knew how to handle flying with toddlers—until one trip went so badly her husband asked, “Can we make an emergency landing?” 😳

The former airline employee and founder of NapNest joins Kids Travel Tales to share what she’s learned about surviving long-haul flights with babies and toddlers, including the sleep struggles that inspired her to invent her own travel product.

In this episode:

• ✈️ What really happened during their nightmare toddler flight
• 😴 How Ceci got her child to sleep for NINE hours on an airplane
• 🧳 What parents overpack—and her must-have international flight essentials
• 🌎 Jet lag, direct vs. connecting flights, bedtime routines, and a former airline employee’s airport tips

If you’re planning international family travel with a baby or toddler, this episode is packed with realistic tips for making long flights a little less chaotic.