Blog Posts by Amy Sowinski

Splash of Romance Package – Virgin Voyages

3/5/2024 • Cruises • Virgin Voyages is a cruise line like no other! Beautiful ship spaces, incredible entertainment, and unforgettable experiences - Virgin has something for everyone! On all voyages, a select number of ‘Splash of Romance’ (SOR) packages are available to add-on to your voyage! This is a $350 value, for only $250 (updated 11.14.24). It’s an amazing deal, and one we will likely add on to our next voyage too. Here are all this amazing package has to offer: - Priority check in and boarding. Not quite Rock Star, but not ‘regular’ either. Quick, separate, and ready to sail! - Exclusive wristband - used to identify you for those special perks on board! We arrived slightly earlier than our boarding time. Boarding opens officially at 1pm - Signage at the Terminal V entrance allowed Deep Blue Extras and Splash of Romance packages to board from a separate line. We were the first […]

Margarita and Chocolate Mixology – Virgin Voyages “Shore Things”

2/13/2024 • Blog, Cruises, Reviews • Virgin Voyages has unique, immersive, and cultural experiences at every port! In Cozumel, you can venture to Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, swim and sun at the blue beaches, experience scenic tours, or taste food and drink perfected by this culture. We chose to book a Shore Thing called “Margaritas and Chocolate Mixology” that took us to the Mayaland Cacao Company where we would learn about the Mayan culture, the history of cacao and tequila, and indulge in our own hand made margaritas! This was a fantastic experience! Our tour guide, Roberto, met us at the end of the pier, and made us all feel welcome. This ‘shore thing’ capped at 12 guests, but our particular tour had only 8! Not only was our guide incredibly friendly, he was also one of the developers of this specialty tour to bring culture and fun to cruise travelers. You could tell he […]

Epcot After Hours Event

9/12/2023 • Walt Disney World • In July, my family had the opportunity to take part in Epcot After Hours event! While Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios had offered such events in the past, and holiday parties after hours events are common, Epcot’s After Hours event is one we will definitely do again! You can read more about different After Hours events in our previous BLOG Epcot After Hours dates seemingly filled the gaps between festivals - Flower and Garden had ended, and Food and Wine had not yet started. Pricing for this event is similar to a party night, and discounts for DVC and AP holders were available - these tickets must be purchased separately from your package and are non-refundable/non-transferable once purchased. Every major attraction is included, and free snacks too! Crowds were extremely low for this event, so lines during the actual event time were very quick! Like all after hours events, guests […]

Deluxe Resorts, Extended Evening Hours, and Virtual Queues – OH MY!

7/14/2023 • Blog, Walt Disney World • In 2023 and extended through 2024 - those Walt Disney Resort guests who have a stay booked at a Deluxe Disney Resort or Deluxe Villa Disney Resort are eligible for Extended Evening Hours on limited and select nights at either Magic Kingdom Park or Epcot. These Extended Evening Hours allow entry for only those deluxe resort guests to enjoy theme parks at a lower capacity beyond normal park closing hours. Combined with the early theme park entry for all resort guests, you can really maximize your park time! This amazing evening perk to those staying at one of Walt Disney World’s Deluxe Resorts also affords them one more super, and free, opportunity to experience the hottest new attractions in each park! In the My Disney Experience app, those staying at a Deluxe Resort during an Extended Evening Hours day, get the chance to join the Virtual Queue for Tron Lightcycle […]

ShipEats! Room Service the Virgin Voyage Way

3/7/2023 • Blog, Cruises • With over $600 of included amenities on your Virgin Voyage, you can count on room service as one of those amenities as well! “ShipEats!” is a unique onboard room service option that can be ordered from your Virgin Voyages app, or your in-room tablet. While aboard the Scarlet Lady, I wanted to be sure I experienced as much of the food as I possibly could! And who wouldn’t - with Michelin chefs on board, everything was absolutely amazing. But sometimes, sometimes you just want to hang out on your balcony in your hand crafted hammock and snack, or maybe early mornings at a restaurant just aren’t your thing. ShipEats! is your solution! ShipEats! menus are accessible via your VV app, and include meals, snacks, and drinks, that are included with your voyage cost. Some items on the menu are from the various restaurants on the ship. There are some items, […]

Top 5 Reasons To Visit Walt Disney World BEFORE Your Disney Cruise!

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, […]

Transportation Options from Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB)

12/21/2021 • Blog, Universal Studios, Walt Disney World • If you are reading this blog post, chances are you have found cheap flights from Allegiant to Orlando and are curious about your best options for transportation to Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando Resort. Allegiant flies into Orlando Sanford Airport (SFB) in Sanford, FL, which is northeast of Orlando, FL, and is considerably farther away from your travel destination than Orlando International Airport (MCO). One way to Universal Studios is about an HOUR away. And for Walt Disney World, about ONE HOUR and TWENTY MINUTES away. Both travel times depend upon construction, and I-4 traffic! Because of this, Having safe, reliable transportation to/from SFB is very important! So what are your options? There are no complimentary transportation services available at SFB to either theme park destination, but there are paid services available. Me and The Mouse Travel recommends the following, and can assist you with these booking options. Please […]

Lockers 101 – Universal Studios Orlando

12/6/2021 • Tips, Universal Studios • At Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure in Orlando, most major attractions have a strict ‘no loose items’ policy - and that encompasses change, wallets, purses of any kind, backpacks, sunglasses, hats, etc. There are a few solutions to this:  asking a party member to hold everything while you enjoy the attraction is one solution, but a better one is to utilize Short-Term Lockers. Various locations throughout the theme parks, strategically located close to attractions with these requirements, will house banks of lockers with a digital kiosk.  Using the kiosk allows you to ‘rent’ a short-term locker by either using a fingerprint and code or your theme park admission ticket. You will then be assigned a locker for your belongings, which are roughly big enough for a standard-sized backpack. What’s great about these lockers?  They are FREE for the first hour, typically.  The FREE use of the locker is based […]

Honeydukes and Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes

11/18/2021 • Universal Studios • The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, spanning both Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure, dazzles guests with the most authentic and immersive movie-set experience.  Two stores, in particular, allow you to not only bring home some of the magic of Harry Potter...but to physically experience it as well! Honeydukes can be found in Hogsmeade - located in Islands of Adventure. Honeydukes, as you know, is the candy store of choice for all Hogwarts students on their weekend day trips to Hogsmeade in the winter months from book three on. Buildings covered in snow. Cobblestone streets and magical windows. Blink and you may miss Honeydukes!  This lovely candy shop has EVERY candy mentioned in the books, from Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans to the Ton Tongue Taffy that Dudley Dursley could not resist when it fell out of the Weasley Twins’ pockets. Everywhere you turn is more whimsey and lovely […]

The Flaming Moe!

11/16/2021 • Reviews, Universal Studios • Every Simpsons fan remembers that episode...waaaaay back from 1991...where the impossible-to-love bartender, Moe Szyslak, stole Homer’s idea for a fun beverage, got super famous, and Aerosmith came to town?!  Right? No?! Well, maybe I’ve been watching “The Simpsons” too long, but the drink - The Flaming Moe - is something every fan probably remembers! While at Universal Studios Orlando, you can wander over to Springfield U.S.A. and join fellow Simpson-ites in the delicacies of Fast Food Boulevard...Krusty Burger, Lard Lad Donuts, Duff Brewery, Cletus’ Chicken Shack...and the famous, MOE’s Tavern. The Flaming Moe can be found by bellying up to the bar in MOE’s Tavern, or by going to The Flaming Moe window inside of Fast Food Boulevard. Both locations are connected, so you won’t have to go far! The Flaming Moe is… Non-alcoholic Like Orange Crush In a sweet souvenir cup Super fizzy and ‘flaming’ Just enough for 1 […]