OTTUMWA —
The Williams family thought a rat might show up at dinner. At least, they were hoping it would.
“He didn’t that time, but we did get to see him,” said Jody Williams, an Ottumwa elementary school principal who also writes 99 percent of the entries on her family’s online vacation page.
The rodent is a character from the Walt Disney movie “Ratatouille,” about a rat and his dream of becoming a chef. And while there was no sighting in Orlando, Fla., the first time, there was another first that evening, as Williams’ son Brent, 9, ate a mixed green salad without argument. That’s the kind of thing readers learn on the Williams’ travel blog.
Todd and Jody Williams do their research before traveling.
The blog started not because of a vacation but because they weren’t taking one. During the colder months of 2010, the family had treated themselves to a Disney cruise. So no summer vacation.
“We’re very active. We thought it’d be fun to visit a bunch of different pools in the area. One of my teachers had told me about blogging,” she said.
That’s when she, her husband and son, Brent, had the idea to review all the Iowa pools they’d be going to.
“Having the blog, when we go to something, we look at the experience through a different lens. You’re noticing things other people might not. But it’s not just my memory. I’m sitting down at dinner with one or two other people who have been there,” she said. “I had an Excel spread sheet with the same information [categories] for each pool.”
Though she remains constructive in her reviews, she’s not afraid to describe what she has seen, good or bad.
“I’m a guest, and I want to put accurate information out there for other people who are planning to be a guest as well.”
For the public pool in Pella, for example, the Williams’ blog includes the pluses, like “We did have a great time — got soaked on the Adventure River and made a splash on the tube slides. The boy didn’t want to leave, even after almost 4 hours. It was obvious that the pool caters to those with disabilities which is awesome ...” and the minuses, like “Bring your own chair or plan to sit on the ground. No chairs! Indoor pool is not included with your admission unless there is inclement weather.”
Some of her photos have exposed problems.
One boss felt they had to let a young lifeguard go because he was sitting there texting — or, perhaps, they let him go because a photo of him doing so was on the Internet.
“I had a pretty loyal reader say that with the Fairfield pool closed, they shared my pool reviews on Facebook,” said Jody.
She said her counter on the blog shows more than 300 pages are viewed each day. An independent website that tracks how many individuals visit a site each day listed the Ottumwa blog as having at least 18,000 visitors per year.
It’s not a job, although friends have said the Disney company should pay her.
“The blog is a labor of love. If it can help somebody else have a magical trip, or plan a trip, or have a better trip, I’ve done what I want to do. It’s not about money,” she said.
And visiting Disney and other sites isn’t about spending a lot of money. Over the years, the Williams family has found ways to save — and blogged about them.
Some of their savings have been discovered through experience. Many discounts come about from something most educators will tell you: Do your homework.
Buying passes the right way can offer savings whether at The Beach Ottumwa or Disney’s Magic Kingdom. And get the most from your money. Spending more than $100 for the family to visit Disney World is going to feel even more expensive if you don’t get to really experience the park.
“If you don’t have a little bit of a plan, if you just wander, you’re going to waste time. And that’s a waste of money.”
And go early, while those who haven’t done their research are still sleeping in “because it’s a vacation, and who wants to get up early on vacation?”
The Williams do — because they’re more interested in the rides, the adventure and the magic than they are in laying around a hotel room.
“Mornings are the least crowded time in the parks.”
It’s tips like that which create a demand for the Williams’ knowledge.
“I got a phone call in December from a friend of a friend who had questions about a Disney cruise,” Jody said. “... but for most of her questions, I just referred her to the blog.”
On the web:
Visit the Williams family blog at: www.toddjodybrent.blogspot.com
Local News
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Williams bloggers
July 26, 2012
Family’s online travel site draws interest
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