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4/5/2022 • Blog, Cruises, Disneyland, Walt Disney World •
Photo above: Pin trading board at Disney’s Riviera Resort craft room. Are you an expert in pin trading or have you only heard this term and thought ‘what is that?!’ Pin Trading is a really fun way to interact with cast members and other guests throughout the parks and resorts. And it’s fun for all ages! It’s super easy to get started! If you are headed to Disneyland, Walt Disney World, or a Disney Cruise, you can purchase a starter set or a few individual pins from many of the resort and park shops. ShopDisney also has a small selection you can purchase from ahead of your trip. Once you are at your Disney destination, look for pin trading stations or cast members & guests wearing lanyards with their own pins. If you find a pin you like then select a pin from your personal collection and make a trade. […]
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3/29/2022 • Blog, Cruises •
If your vision of a cruise shore excursion is following a guide and a flag, you haven’t experienced a Virgin Voyage excursion. Virgin Voyages has taken the typical shore excursions and kicked it up a notch. The group sizes are small, and they offer experiences that are immersive by taking you off the beaten path. Virgin refers to their excursion as “shore things”. They can be booked through your travel agent or directly through the Virgin app. They are an excellent way to experience the culture and the area of each port. They give you memories to take home with you. For example, In Puerta Plata, in the Dominican Republic, I explored the jungle and mountains via a dune buggy. We had a small group of 28 people. This was a great way to explore the non-tourist area of the city. We got dirty – ok, VERY muddy riding through […]
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3/22/2022 • Cruises, Tips, Walt Disney World •
The anticipation of a Disney Cruise can be grand. There’s so much to plan, and for most travelers, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Your Me and The Mouse Travel Specialist will guide you in the best options for your travel party: before, during, and after your cruise. One such option, is visiting the Walt Disney World Resort for a few days before embarking on your cruise that leaves from a Floridian port! There are benefits to visiting the Most Magical Place On Earth BEFORE your cruise… Here are the Top Five! 5. You will be too relaxed (and tired) to visit the Walt Disney Resort! Cruising changes your mood, and changes your routine, to a Hakuna Matata lifestyle! To then switch gears and amp up for a theme park visit is exhausting. Rest your tired feet, be pampered, and end your vacation refreshed! 4. By arriving a few days early, […]
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3/15/2022 • Blog, Reviews, Walt Disney World •
Who doesn't love a good donut? They certainly seem to be all the rage and we were glad to see this new addition to Disney World! So, while we were in Disney Springs this month, we decided to head over to check out Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew. Our family loves us some donuts...and we were fresh off a 3 day trip to Universal where we enjoyed Voodoo Donuts for breakfast the morning before (I’ll talk a little bit more about how they compare below). First things first, I don’t love the location of this donut shop. It’s tucked way back over by the entrance to the orange garage. If you take the bus to Disney Springs or drive into one of the other garages, there’s a chance you would miss this completely. You really don’t even know it’s there unless you turn the corner. This does this delicious little […]
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3/11/2022 • Blog, Cruises •
Did you know that a few agents on our team specialize in Carnival Cruises? Carnival Cruise Lines have 24 Ships operating 2- to 17-day voyages, departing from every coast in the U.S. While they are best known for Caribbean cruises, they sail to other exotic and amazing destinations like Mexico, Alaska, The Bahamas, Europe, and Hawaii. I just got off the Carnival Sunshine, whose home is in Charleston, South Carolina. Many of my family members were able to join me in celebrating my mother’s 80th birthday because of how many options there were to choose from. Carnival Cruise Line offers a wide range of embarkation ports, allowing guests to start their cruise vacations in California, Florida, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, New York, Washington, Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, or Hawaii, as well as many international ports including Barcelona, Venice, London, Brisbane, and San Juan. This means guests will travel less to reach […]
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3/4/2022 • Blog, Walt Disney World •
Since the temporary closure of Disney Parks due to Covid in 2020, guests have been waiting in the regular standby lines for attractions throughout Disney World. “But how do we get on rides?” was the number one question received from clients. There has been no “Fastpass” option for guests and only a standby line, which is an incredibly difficult concept for Walt Disney World visitors in the present. Finally, in October 2021 Genie + became available to guests as a paid option for quicker lines. The Basics of Genie+: Genie+ can be added to any type of Walt Disney World ticket package. Whether it’s a ticket only or a resort stay ticket, the cost is $15 per ticket per day plus tax. Genie+ is also a very flexible product to add to certain days or certain people in your party. Unlike many Disney vacation products, you can choose to add […]
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3/1/2022 • Blog, Walt Disney World •
During my latest trip to Walt Disney World, I visited the Main Street Confectionery at Magic Kingdom. What a fun place to check out!!! The entire place has a whole new look and layout with lots of new sweet treats to try. I was so excited to try the new “build your own” candied popcorn that you can customize! The “Kernel Kitchen” has three different types of popcorn to choose from: butter, caramel, and cheddar. After you select your type of popcorn, you can choose your candy toppings (M&M’s, Skittles, Snickers, Twix, crunched cookies, marshmallows, pretzel pieces, and more!) To finish off your popcorn, you can select from three different types of syrups offered: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or caramel. Guests can get customized popcorn with two toppings and syrup for $12.99 or three toppings and syrup for $13.99. Each additional topping is $1.00 and all popcorn is eligible for […]
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3/13/2024 • Blog, Walt Disney World •
For families like mine, the Disability Assistance Service has allowed us to navigate and enjoy the many attractions and characters throughout Walt Disney World. My oldest son was diagnosed at birth with Fragile X Syndrome, the leading cause of inherited intellectual disability and the leading known single-gene cause of autism. Although he enjoys all that Walt Disney World has to offer, it can quickly overwhelm him. My family is incredibly appreciative of this service. I have compiled a list of what are the most frequent questions (and answers too) while assisting guests in planning for their vacations. What is the Disability Assistance Service (DAS)? A service for Guests with a disability to schedule a return time that is comparable to the current standby wait for the given attraction. Guests whose disability is based on the necessity of using a wheelchair/scooter are not eligible for a DAS. Guests with additional needs […]
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2/18/2022 • Blog, Cruises •
Disney Cruise Line has adapted and changed quite a bit since relaunching after the COVID shutdown. Whether you are a first-time cruiser, or frequent Castaway Club member, knowing what to expect when you arrive for embarkation is imPORTant. PortMiami sits inside Biscayne Bay on Dodge Island. This port is among the nation's busiest ports, moving around six million passengers and transporting goods by the billions. Disney Cruise Line is one of the many companies that occupy PortMiami. When you cross the bridge and arrive on the island, you will see cruise and cargo ships galore! Right in the middle of it all is Cruise Terminal C - Disney’s terminal. When you pull up, those giant red and black stacks with a giant Mickey head will let you know you’re in the right place! Whether you are parking in the main garage directly across the way or being dropped off, you […]
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6/16/2023 • Reviews, Sandals & Beaches •
Barbados might be one of our favorite islands for so many reasons. The turquoise water is breathtaking, the cliffs on the north side of the island are magnificent, and the people are amazing! What’s not to love? We had visited Barbados pre-Sandals so when we found out Sandals was coming to Barbados, we were beyond excited and were finally able to take a trip there recently. The easy decision was going; the tough decision was figuring out which Sandals resort in Barbados we wanted to visit! There are two Sandals resorts on the island, so we had to make the choice. Now, I get to help you explore the differences between them to decide which one is right for you. The great part is the resorts back up to one another and is only separated by a sidewalk along the perimeter of the resorts. In addition to that, Sandals resorts […]
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