Question of the Week: How to Start a Disney Travel Blog?
Congratulations on your big decision to start your very own Disney Travel blog!
As many of you know, running ThemeParkHipster is a great passion of mine.
I love visiting the parks any chance I get, so it was only natural for me to want to blog about my tips and experiences.
In this blog, I want to go over my journey with ThemeParkHipster as well as how you can start your own Disney blog.
A lot of these tips can be used for a variety of other kinds of blogs too!
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO. Which means if you click on certain links, I may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.
Guide to Disney Blogging
I am frequently asked how to start a Disney travel blog, but since my sole focus for this website is my passion for theme parks, I’ll keep this special edition article focused there.
Now let’s talk about what you’ll get out of this blogging guide today.
What You’ll Learn Today
- How to start your blog in 25 minutes
- Ways to set up your blog
- How to get a free domain name
- Where to find a cheap hosting service
- How to get traffic
- Ways to make money blogging
- How to continue to grow
WATCH: Is Blogging Worth It or Is it Too Late?
Let’s Start Here First: The Why Behind Starting Your Own Disney Travel Blog
Before you even get started on this blogging journey, let’s talk about why you even want to become a Disney blogger (or theme park blogger).
Know Your Purpose for Blogging
When you first start your blog, you’ll need a clearly defined purpose.
What is Your ‘why’?
Who in the Disney community are you trying to reach?
The company is huge and being too broad will only confuse your readers and fans.
For me, I love helping people have a wonderful vacation to the theme parks. So I do this through content that focuses on tips and strategies.
You may love sharing great food with people and sharing your wonderful experiences at Disney to help encourage others so you could put the two passions together in your blog.
Use these steps to help you find direction for your Disney blog:
- Determine your passion. Be specific! Find out which Disney niche works for you.
- What problem are you trying to solve? Why should people read your blog?
- Find a need and determine whether or not you can fulfill it with your blog
Make sure you’re writing about something you really enjoy! Your readers will be able to tell if you’re passionate or not.
Be Ready for the Journey
Also, it’s important to note that blogging is not a get rich quick scheme!
It may be some time before you start seeing real profit which is all the more reason you should be passionate about your blog.
If you’re not writing about what you love, you’ll end up quitting the blog before it can grow.
Recommended: 41 Incredible Benefits of Blogging (Why Content is Important)
How to Set up Your Disney Travel Blog
After deciding on a passion, a ‘why,’ and what problem you’ll be solving, it’s time to get to the technical stuff.
Below is a step-by-step guide to setting up your blog. You can probably finish every step on this list in 25 minutes to an hour.
Step 1. Choose a Website Name
Make it something easy to remember so people can find your blog later.
Step 2. Register Your Domain.
After you’ve decided on a name, check to see if it’s available. If it is, buy it before someone else does!
If you decide to self-host your blog, you can wait until you’ve purchased web hosting to get a free domain name as part of your web hosting package!
What is a domain name?
A domain name is your website name. For example, this blog is located at www.ThemeParkHipster.com. The domain name includes everything including the “.com” part.
Step 3. Find a Host
Next, you’ll need to find a host. Web hosting is basically storage space for your website or blog. You have a name, but now you’ll need a place to put your website.
Remember: You can either have a web-based platform or a self-hosted platform.
I prefer self-hosted blogs because they look more professional. With a self-hosted blog, your domain name might be “www.mysite.com.”
When you host on a free blogging platform, your website will include the name of the site you’re being hosted.
This means www.mysite.com will look more like www.freebloggingsite.mysite.com.
The long-winded address you’ll get with a free site may make it harder for your customers to find you later.
For hosting, I recommend BlueHost. Their hosting service is unlikely to crash, and it’s very user-friendly!
Founded in 2003, Bluehost is one of the largest and is the most respected web hosting providers in the world.
Bluehost helps over 2 million bloggers worldwide and has been one of WordPress’ top recommended hosts since 2005.
Read: How to Setup Your Blog with BlueHost
Step 4. Get on WordPress
WordPress is a free platform popular among bloggers. It’s easy to install and easy to customize as well.
It’s ideal for content managing, blogging, and a variety of other website purposes.
Hipster Blogging Tip: It might help to bookmark this wp-admin login URL since you will be coming in here very often.
How to Install WordPress
Most hosting providers have built-in one-step installation tool. Bluehost has one and allows you to install WordPress with just one click.
Just navigate to your cPanel (your hosting dashboard) and find the “Install WordPress” button at the top of the Bluehost page to use the auto-installer.
Common Blogging Terms
For this next section, there are a few terms you should be familiar with before we can continue:
- CMS Core – the system that we installed earlier using the auto installer
- Plugins – add-on functions that give you additional controls and features on your blog (we’ll discuss later)
- Themes – the design and look of your blog
Step 5. Choose a WordPress Theme
You can find both free and paid themes for your Disney blog.
I would recommend getting a paid theme simply because it looks better, it can be easily customized, and it even come with tech support.
However, if you’re on a budget and need to start with a free theme, choose one with very high ratings.
If you like the theme, you can continue to use it or upgrade to a paid theme later and boost the appearance of your Disney travel blog!
Customize Your Blog Dashboard
Your website is almost there! Let’s do a bit of customization to get your dashboard up to par.
Now it’s time to add your essential plugins.
Recommended: DON’T CHEAT YOURSELF: Know How Much to Charge for a Blog Post (Bloggers and Freelance Writers)
4 Best WordPress Plugins for Your Theme Park Blog
I am going to give you a few plugins to add to your website to help make your life so much easier!
1. Hubbub (Formerly Known as Grow Social)
The one thing you want to make sure is that your website runs fast.
Too many plugins can slow down your site which will lower where you show up at in a search engine like Bing or Google.
I recommend the Grow Social plugin. The share buttons are both fast and designed well for your blog without taking up too much space.
The share buttons available look great no matter what screen size or resolution.
2. Yoast
Yoast SEO is the original WordPress SEO plugin since 2008. It is one of my favorite blogging tools that allows bloggers to aim for that number one spot in the search results.
Yoast: SEO is super easy and can be use by everyone.
You will definitely need this plugin to help your create the best Disney blog post that will make Google happy.
3. Akismet
Akismet checks your comments and contact form submissions against their global database of spam to prevent your site from publishing malicious content.
You’re also given the ability review the comment spam it catches on your blog’s “Comments” admin screen.
One of the first mistakes I made as a blogger was not having some type of spam prevention system on my blog.
My blog was only 3 days old, when I received over 500 email alerts telling me that someone had “commented” on my article.
I was excited thinking that I had made it big, lol!
Come to find out, those messages were ALL SPAM!
I had to go through and delete and block every single message and sender. It was such a waste of time and I don’t want you to have to go through it like I did.
Recommended: How Our Co-founder, Nikida, Grew Her Blog From 0 to $10K+ a Month
4. WP Super Cache
This plugin generates static html files from your dynamic WordPress blog.
After a html file is generated your webserver will serve that file instead of processing the comparatively heavier and more expensive WordPress PHP scripts.
Basically, WP Super Cache keeps your site running fast by cleaning up all the junk on your website that can slow it down.
The various plugins mentioned above, help you drive traffic and monitor what’s happening on your Disney blog.
They also help you optimize your website, so it runs faster and more smoothly.
Time to Write Your First Blog Post
Finally, it’s time to get writing!
Write your first post for your Disney niche and keep the momentum going.
I recommend having at least 5 blogs at launch pre-scheduled weekly. As with anything, consistency is key.
Remember: Don’t be like every other blogger who starts then stops just as quickly. Get your first Disney post out there and stay consistent!
Get Started with Your Travel Blog Today with the Ultimate Resource Guide!
This is your chance to turn your passion into a dream career that can change your whole life!
WATCH NEXT: How to Choose Your Disney Blog Niche and Come Up with the BEST Content Strategy!
5 Best Ways to Increase Traffic to Your Disney Travel Blog
Now it’s time for me to give your the best ways to grow your traffic on your Disney Blog.
It has taken me over a decade to get “good” at it so I want to help you skip all of the hard lessons that I’ve learned along the way.
1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- SEO makes it easier for search engines like Google (and their users) to find your content
- Use keywords, meta descriptions, etc.
- Learn SEO right away and you will be successful
2. Guest Posting and Networking
- Writing content for other Disney blogs can improve your skills and your website’s traffic.
- Attend conferences and network with other Disney Bloggers/Content Creators.
- Leave meaningful comments on others blog post/chat in online forums
3. Social Media
- Don’t ignore it!
- Take lots of theme park pictures and share them on social media
- Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, etc. can all be used to drive traffic to your blog
4. Pinterest
- Don’t sleep on Pinterest! It’s right behind Google/Bing in driving HIGH traffic to your website.
- You must MASTER Pinterest.
- I highly recommend taking the Pinterest Avalanche Course if you want to increase your traffic by 1000%. The course will teach you to secrets to perfecting your Pinterest account and how to use boards and groups to your advantage.
- After you’ve mastered Pinterest, learn how to use Tailwind to increase your following.
Tailwind is a must if you want Pinterest to work out in your favor. As it makes it easy for you to schedule your “Pins” in advance and allow others to share yours too!
5. Write the BEST Disney Content
The number one thing to remember with your Disney blog is that your content matters more than anything else.
Once you provide good content to your audience, money, and traffic will follow.
Good content is not just from blog posts but also from videos, emails and social media posts.
Here are a few tips to consider with your Disney Travel Blog:
- Speak to your target audience. Keep in mind who it is you want to reach and always write content around them.
- Build a community around your blog. Keep in touch with your audience. Ask them to engage with you and other readers.
- Collect email addresses and send Whether you do it weekly or monthly, newsletters are a great way to keep your audience up to date with all things Disney from your blog.
If you feel like you need a break, consider a content writing service like Fiverr to hire writers to help keep your blog going without any lapse.
A high-quality content writing service can also help manage your content and make it SEO-friendly.
You can also use a blog writing assistant software that helps you outline your content quickly, such as Bramework… shameless plug of my company 🙂
Create Your Blog Post in Half the Time with Bramework TODAY!
How Do You Make Money Blogging and Talking About Disney
Many bloggers are making good money online. With the right ideas and strategies, there is literally no limit on how much you can make.
7 Easy Ways to Make Money on Your Disney Travel Blog:
- Have advertising display on your website from a company like Mediavine
- Begin partnering up with affiliate sites such as Share-a-Sale or Awin to help promote their products
- Start creating your own products (books, guides, courses, etc.)
- Get sponsored blog or social media posts with brands you love
- Book speaking engagements
- Freelance and get paid to write for others on Fiverr
- Start an Etsy shop
Top Tip: Most Importantly–Don’t give up!
Staying Motivated on Your Blogging Journey
It’s important to understand that sometimes it will get hard.
There may be times when you think no one is reading and that your blog is a dead end.
Like everything else, there will be ups and downs….but you will get through it!
Remember to invest in yourself and know that results will come with consistency and patience.
To get your blog started on the right track, take a good beginner’s blogger course and join Bramework’s Facebook Community of Bloggers.
It might help you avoid some rookie mistakes so you can skip some of the hardships that come with being a first-time blogger.
Top 6 Best Blogging Courses You Must Have
Here are the best blogging courses available to get your started right away!
1. Bramework Blog Ranking Academy: Grow and Launch Your Blog Business Course
This is the top course for successfully building and launching your blog in 1 Month or Less, without knowing any code, being the best writer or photographer, or needing to be a tech Wizard, guaranteed!
It will also teach you how to take your blog from $0 to $1,000/month with free traffic, Affiliate Marketing, and other easy to use strategies.
Get the course here – Launch Your Blog Business in One Month!
3. Pinterest Avalanche Course
This is the number one course online for Pinterest with beginner Bloggers in mind to help you drive 10,000 – 100,000+ FREE Monthly Visitors to your blog – on Autopilot!
Like I said earlier, you will need Pinterest to help you get a jump start on your traffic goals for your website.
You can get the course TODAY and See Your Traffic Soar!
4. Making Sense of Affiliate Income Course
Michelle teaches you how she earned over $50,000 a month through affiliate marketing and shares her exact strategy and tips in this very informative online course.
If you’re a blogger (even if you’re a new blogger!), then you NEED this course.
Get the Making Sense of Affiliate Income Course TODAY and start earning money quickly!
5. The Six Figure Blogger Course
This is one of my favorite blog courses (outside of the Bramework Blog Ranking Academy) and will be great for you once you get your feet wet in the blogging world.
Alex and Lauren show you the Formula for Making Six Figures from your blog with digital products and services, without spending thousands on over-priced courses!
The Six Figure Blogger Course is the one that will help you become a full-time blogger!
However, do the Bramework Blog Ranking Academy Course first before you go to the advanced one.
These courses have helped me become a better writer, blogger, and entrepreneur by guiding me with step-by-step instructions for increasing my blog growth.
Get the Six Figure Blogger Course TODAY!
6. The Pitch Perfect Pro
Once you have your blog up and running and you understand your audience, then you should take the Pitch Perfect Pro online course.
It’s everything you need to know about working with brands as an influencer to double your income in 90 days.
You’ll learn how to approach brands (like Disney), work out paid deals, and build relationships!
You can get this course here – Pitch Perfect Pro or if you’re not ready, you can get the Beginner’s Pitching Guide for reaching out to brands TODAY!
Best Blogging Tools to Get You Started Today
Now that you have everything you need in order to start your theme park blog today, let me give you a list of the best blogging tools that will make your adventure a great one!
- Canva: great for stock photos and designing images
- Bramework: great for understanding how to outline and write your blog post
- Semrush: the most thorough keyword research tool on the market (get started with your free trial today)
- Tailwind: helps speed up the process of posting on Pinterest and social media
Recommended: How Our Co-founder, Nikida, Grew Her Blog From 0 to $10K+ a Month
My Final Thoughts on Starting a Disney Blog
Now that you know how to start a Disney travel blog, you can read the step-by-step Bluehost setup to get started today!
That’s all for now!
I hope you’ll find this helpful on your journey to becoming a Disney travel blogger.
If you have any questions, leave a comment below to start a discussion. I’ll be happy to help in any way I can.
Don’t forget to sign up to get your very own Disney Travel Blogging Tips and Resources below!
For more theme park news, discounts, tips and guides, subscribe to the newsletter!
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
About the Author
My name is Nikky. I’m a wife, a mother, a pharmacist turned theme park blogger, USA Today 10Best Contributor, and a writer who loves ALL things amusement park related!
Traveling alone to the parks has changed my life and I want to show how you can create your own solo theme park memories.
Connect with me on Instagram!
Get Started with Your DREAM Disney and Theme Park Travel Blog TODAY! Get Your FREE Blogging Course and Turn Your Passion into Profit!
(Original Article date: Spring 2018/Updated March 5, 2024)
This is a great guide to starting a Disney travel blog!
Thanks! It was so much fun to go through and think of all the steps to starting a Disney travel blog 🙂
Yep been working through all this!
You’re doing an amazing job! Love your blog ❤
I’m planning on starting my own blog…what are Disney’s rules regarding copyrights with images, terms, etc???
I’m not an attorney, so always consult with one first for further guidance. On my disclaimer page, I specify that “ThemeParkHipster™ is a personal weblog created to provide an adventurous adult take on theme park hopping. The content on this site represents my own and not those of any organization or activity mentioned. ThemeParkHipster™ is not affiliated with nor endorsed by Universal Orlando Resort, Disney, SeaWorld Entertainment, or any other companies mentioned.”
I hope this helps! 🙂
Thank you for this post. I had a Disney blog but had to close it about three years ago when I realized that I was not going to make the trip there in a while. Several life events happened, and I felt I was just repeating what other blogs already said in their blogs, only they were there to experience it.
Now, I and my family are headed to Walt Disney World in December, and I had started a spot in my new blog about planning this trip, but I feel like that I want to put that in a separate blog. I also want to purchase a Disney Vacation Club membership as well, and blog about my experiences as a member. I would also like to be invited to media events as an influencer. This is as serious as it gets.
So, your tips helped me a lot, so, again, thank you.
Hi Patricia!
Thanks for reaching out. I’m so happy that this article was able to help you. Based on the type of blog you currently have, a Disney travel planning section may just work for you. If you want to have a specific niche within the Disney community (like DVC tips), then a separate blog may work for you.
Many super successful Disney bloggers don’t live in Florida or California. What they usually do is plan out their content based on keyword searches in Google and make sure they tackle those topics first (like dining spots, resorts, rides, etc.). During the times their not at the park, they think of the basic questions others may have and answer them with “tips” posts.
The key is planning out the content a few months in advance (keyword research is a must), which will help you keep fresh Disney content on your blog each week. I would also recommend creating videos to go with the blog post that you can also upload to YouTube.
Once you have these items in place, your community will grow and Disney will see you as an Influencer they’d like to invite to cover media events related to your niche.
I hope you’re encouraged to get back into blogging about Disney. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me 🙂
Nikky
Love this article!! it really makes me excited to start my Disney blog 🙂 Do you think the market is too saturated for newcomers like me to be successful and profitable???
I definitely do not! When I started in 2012, there was a belief that there were too many Disney bloggers too. I started anyway because of my passion for theme parks.
I say follow your Disney blogging dreams because everyone has their own unique voice and experience when it comes to Disney. My biggest tip to for you is to find an niche within Disney that you really love…maybe fashion, food, movies, travel tips, etc. and put your stamp on it.
Good luck and get me updated on your success!
Nikky
That was a super informative post!! Thank you so much. Going to go out and give it all a try 🙂
My pleasure! Let me know if you need any additional help 🙂
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My pleasure!
Great post! Going to start my blog now ❤️
That is AMAZING!!!! Congrats! Feel free to email me directly at themeparkhipster@gmail.com if you have any questions 🙂