Blog Posts by Janene Jaroscak

Disney Cruise Line’s Cove Café

5/7/2021 • Cruises, Reviews • Taking a vacation at sea does not mean it will be a vacation without your daily gourmet coffee. Disney Cruise Line has the Cove Café, which is an adult-only location on each of their cruise ships which offers gourmet coffees such as lattes, cappuccinos, espressos, and hot tea. One of my favorite ways to start the day on a Disney Cruise is to stop in and grab a pastry and an Americano. This is also a great place to try something different from your typical routine! You can find the Cove Café, on the Disney Magic and Wonder, on Deck 9, and if you're on the Dream and Fantasy, it is located on Deck 11 adjacent to the adult pool. The Cove Café isn’t just for morning coffee and breakfast treats. You can visit it all day long for different delightful treats! Throughout the day, they offer snacks and desserts […]

Beverage Tastings Onboard Disney Cruise Line

5/4/2021 • Cruises • If you are sailing on a Disney Cruise and looking for adult onboard activities, Disney offers tasting events for guests that are at least 21 years old. This is a fun activity that you can experience on select days, generally sea days. I have personally experienced the tastings with a group of friends, but I have also signed up for wine tastings by myself. It is a fun and comfortable environment and a great way to meet other people on your cruise. Here are a few examples of the types of tastings offered, but they can vary by sailings and the length of the cruise: Wines Tasting hosted by a sommelier Beer Tasting Martini and Tequila/Margarita tastings Rum Tasting Cognac Tasting + A variety of other options based on availability You are now able to reserve our tastings online after your booking window opens in the “Onboard Fun” portion of […]

Rotational Dining Aboard Disney Cruise Lines

4/20/2021 • Cruises • Rotational dining is a unique dining experience on Disney Cruise Lines, which allows all guests the opportunity to enjoy dinner in each of the restaurants onboard. Guests receive their specific rotation when they check-in at the port. Each evening, all guests will rotate to an assigned restaurant along with their wait-staff and tablemates to a new restaurant. Depending on the length of the cruise, some/all restaurants will be experienced at least once on each cruise. However, if a guest is scheduled for more than one night in the same restaurant, the menu will change, so every night truly is a unique experience. The restaurants onboard each ship: Disney Magic Animator’s Palate Lumiere’s Carioca’s Disney Wonder Animator’s Palate Triton’s Tiana’s Place Disney Dream Animator’s Palate Royal Palace Enchanted Garden Disney Fantasy Animator’s Palate Royal Court Enchanted Garden If you decide you do not want to visit one of the restaurants on […]

Driving and Parking Options at Port Canaveral

4/16/2021 • Cruises, Tips • Parking in Port Canaveral/Cocoa Beach for your Disney Cruise is easy when you know your options. Here is a breakdown of possibilities for those that choose to drive to Port Canaveral. Port Canaveral Parking Garage This is the most convenient option, but not necessarily the most economical. The parking garage at Port Canaveral is $ 17/day. Note, your arrival and departure day each counts as a day when determining your rate. Parking at the port is convenient and quick. The driver can drop passengers off at the entrance and porters will assist them with their bags prior to entering the parking garage. When disembarking, one member of your party can get the car and pull around to the same drop-off location and load the car with your bags. Off-site parking There are quite a few off-site parking options that provide shuttle service to and from the port. The lots are […]

Finding the Best Location for You on a Disney Cruise Ship

4/13/2021 • Cruises, Tips • One of the most common questions we receive from cruise clients is the best location when selecting a stateroom. If you are sensitive to motion, having a stateroom center ship and on a lower deck may provide less movement of the ship. Selecting a stateroom with a verandah or an oceanview will also help if you begin to feel queazy so you have the ability to look at the horizon. The verandah stateroom is also an added benefit for the ability to step outside for fresh air. Many people feel being high up on a ship is more desirable. If this is your preference, it’s important to know that staterooms on the deck right under the pool deck tend to have noise early in the morning as they move the deck chairs around the pool getting ready for the day. Therefore, if you are a light sleeper, this location may […]

Recommended Clothes to Pack for an Alaskan Cruise

3/30/2021 • Cruises, Tips • For most cruisers, packing for a warm weather destination cruise is a piece of cake. However, sailing to Alaska can require a little more thought. For our Alaskan cruise, I was concerned about having enough variety of clothes for all potential weather while still being able to pack light. I didn’t want to pack a lot of heavier clothes that would add to the number of pieces of luggage. Layers, layers, layers was our motto. For most days, we started in jeans, t-shirts, a fleece jacket and windbreakers.  As the day went on, we peeled off layers. We also purchased waterproof hiking shoes that were perfect for all of our excursions and our feet stayed dry. They were our go to shoes for rainy weather or hiking out to the base of a waterfall. Hats and gloves were only necessary when sailing through Tracy Arms. It got rather breezy and […]

Extra Fun on Oahu!

2/23/2021 • Aulani, Tips • Ready to learn about some extra adventures you can take on your next Aulani Getaway?! Things to do on Oahu - Aulani Resort Aulani is a fabulous destination with many activities on the property to pique the interest of all age levels. But there is also so much to do on the island of Oahu. The excursion desk in the lobby has a variety of planned tours, but if you would like to venture out on your own, you can also rent a car through Alamo with a location on the Aulani property. Hawaii Plantation Village Learn the history of a sugar cane plantation and the island. You will leave with an understanding of the culture and life on the plantation. It is a short 11-mile drive from Aulani. Tours start on the hour between 10:00 and 2:00 and last roughly 2 hours. The Dole Plantation Another plantation tour that […]

Disney’s Aulani – a Hawaiian Experience

2/5/2021 • Aulani, Blog, Reviews • Visiting Hawaii is always a special vacation, but taking it a step further and spending your Hawaiian time at Disney’s Aulani is a magical treat for the entire family. From the time you are greeted at the resort entrance with your lei your luxury vacation as begun. This is truly a vacation that can be as relaxing or as active as you like. With spa services to exciting excursions, there is something for everyone. Activities/Pool There are plenty of activities to keep every member of your family busy. Excursions include Pearl Harbor, horseback riding, surfing lessons and shopping.  The Daily ‘Iwa will list the daily activities, which is broken down by age group and family focused, including character appearances. There are pools and whirlpools scattered throughout the pool deck catered to both children and adults. The highlight for many is the lazy river, which runs throughout the pool deck.  By […]

Benefits of Staying On Property at Universal Orlando

12/1/2020 • Blog, Reviews, Universal Studios • If you are weighing the idea of staying on property or off for a Universal Orlando vacation, consider the following list of benefits of enjoying one of Universal's incredible properties. • Early Admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Volcano Bay. You are able to get in 1 hour prior to the public. • Shuttle busses to the theme parks and CityWalk, however, all of the resorts are within walking distance if you would like to take a leisurely walk to and from the parks. • Charging privileges with your room key. • Complimentary transportation to Sea World and Aquatica. • If golf is on your agenda, you are given priority tee times and complimentary transportation to select area golf courses. • Shop, shop, shop throughout the Universal property and enjoy complimentary delivery of packages to your resort. • Being on-site also provides easy access to and from […]

Disney World Deluxe Villa Resort Rooms

9/29/2020 • Blog, Tips, Walt Disney World • If you are looking for a home away from home while visiting Walt Disney World, staying in a villa may be the right fit for you. All villas are located in Deluxe Level resorts and provide a variety of options that give you the comfort of homes including kitchens, which sets them apart from a typical resort room at Disney. The added square footage in the 1 + bedrooms also allows for a more relaxing feel and gives everyone more space, which is great on non-park days when you want to spend time at the resort and relax. The 1 + bedrooms also come with a washer/dryer, which is a great benefit, especially for longer stays. You can have grocery delivery to your resort, therefore, having the kitchen is a great option for in-room dining. Studios – sleeps up to 5 * 1 queen-size bed, 1 queen/double sleeper sofa, most […]