Blog Posts by Michelle Browne

Tipping at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando

11/11/2024 • Blog, Universal Studios, Walt Disney World • There are so many people on a Walt Disney World vacation that add to the magical feeling of your vacation that it’s easy to get confused on who to tip and how much is appropriate to thank them for helping you out so here’s a list of people to thank and general ranges for appropriate amounts to help answer your questions. Transportation Once you arrive in Orlando, if you are not renting a car, as many people don’t, you need to get to your resort and may have a rideshare driver, a shuttle service, or a private car driver. Rideshare apps will give you some options for tipping, usually 15-25%. Shuttle service drivers are usually tipped for handling your baggage – usually $1-3 per bag. Lastly, private drivers should be tipped between 15-25% of your ride fare of which some companies will charge an amount in advance. Bring along cash […]

Resort Spotlight: Disneyland Hotel

10/8/2024 • Blog, Disneyland • If you are looking for a magical room at Disneyland for your next resort stay, then look no further than the Disneyland Hotel. With nostalgic flair and touches of pixie dust inside your room and throughout the resort, this hotel pays tribute to the classic years of Disneyland while providing modern, state-of-the-art amenities that guests will want to return to trip after trip. Rooms Disneyland offers multiple styles of room for all sizes of families. In the Frontier, Fantasy, and Adventure Towers, rooms feature 1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds or 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed with views of the Pool, Parking Lot, Trees, or the Downtown Disney District. The beds themselves feature Sleeping Beauty’s Castle fireworks headboards and play a sweet lullaby to encourage dreams of Neverland. Looking for concierge service? Try a Club Level room that has access to the E-Ticket Club Room where you […]

Resort Spotlight: All-Star Music

4/16/2024 • Blog, Walt Disney World • If you are a family dreaming of the benefits of staying at a Walt Disney World resort but have a limited budget, Disney’s All-Star Music resort is a value level resort you should consider for your next magical vacation. With a red carpet and backdrop to pose for pictures, your check-in experience at the All-Star Music resort turns into your debut as the newest music sensation. Walk outside and the fun starts for all. Pose for pictures in the Calypso section with the giant xylophone or bongos. Stop by the Jazz section to see the biggest drum set of your life. Are you more into country music? The banjo or harmonica might be calling your name. There isn’t anywhere you can turn outside without being reminded of the powerful influence music has on all our lives. All-Star Music features 2 different styles of rooms. The standard style room features a […]

Comparing Princess Meals at Walt Disney World

4/2/2024 • Blog, Walt Disney World • For families with little girls, booking a princess meal at Walt Disney World is high on the must-do list but with multiple princess meal options – which one is best suited for your family? Cinderella’s Royal Table is located in Cinderella’s Castle. Hosted by Cinderella, you will have your family picture taken with her as you wait to be seated. After heading upstairs, other Disney princesses stop by your table to visit, allowing for pictures and autographs. For those with a dining package, this meal will cost two table service credits per person. Without a dining package the cost per person will be one of the more expensive meals on property. As this restaurant is small in seating capacity, you may need to be flexible with your preferred dining time. Located in Epcot, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is wonderful choice. This meal features multiple princesses that visit your table. At […]

Top 5 Activities for Adults-Only Trips to Walt Disney World

3/26/2024 • Blog, Walt Disney World • Going to Walt Disney World on an adults-only trip is an experience that must be enjoyed by all Disney fans. While you may miss the children for a few moments, there are some great experiences that you must try with your significant other or best friends. Here are some of my favorite activities on an adults-only trip. Jellyrolls – A dueling piano bar located on the Boardwalk, Jellyrolls is the place to hang out with your friends and enjoy top entertainment. With 2 piano virtuosos taking requests from the audience, grab a drink, make a request, and sing along for an evening filled with fun. Be sure to get there early for a seat as the bar fills to standing by 9pm each night and bring along small bills to give the players for those musical requests. Disney’s Tours - Touring Disney’s parks behind the scenes allows guests to see […]

The Best Way to Experience Magic Kingdom’s Festival of Parade

11/21/2023 • Blog, Walt Disney World • There’s so much to see and do at Magic Kingdom but how can you fit it all into a single day? If you can’t extend your trip to include multiple days at Magic Kingdom, knowing the little tricks to maximize what you can experience with minimal wait is key to checking off your must-do list. For many families, Disney’s Festival of Fantasy Parade is a top priority attraction that they want to experience. After all, where else can you see all of your favorite characters in one place within a 12-minute attraction? The Festival of Fantasy parade starts in Frontierland and makes its way towards Liberty Square before turning and going past Cinderella’s Castle and down Main Street USA. There are many ideas as to where the best spot for watching the parade really is. For many years, my family would camp out in Liberty Square outside the Diamond Horseshoe, […]

Steakhouse 71 – Dining with Historic Flair!

9/26/2023 • Blog, Walt Disney World • Looking for a secret gem of a dining location located in the heart of Walt Disney World? Look no further than Steakhouse 71, located at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, just outside the Magic Kingdom. Inspired by Walt Disney and named for the year of the opening of Walt Disney World, you can find historic pictures amid mid-century design and enjoy a portfolio of the Disney family wines as you sit down to enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner. At Breakfast time is where you can enjoy scrumptious options such as Walt’s Prime Rib Hash, Floridian Eggs Benedict, or the Avocado Toast while sipping on a Mimosa, while the kids enjoy Mickey-shaped Waffles (a must on any Disney vacation!) with a Sunshine Punch before heading to the parks for a day of play. With the restaurant located on the first floor, simply head out the doors and you’ll find yourself on the pathway […]

Keeping Cool in the Disney Summer Heat!

9/1/2023 • Blog, Walt Disney World • With summer upon us, the heat and humidity of Florida can send even the most southern of families screaming for a cool relief. We know you’ve been eagerly anticipating your Disney World vacation for months and we don’t want you to miss out on any of the fun that Disney has to offer because of the heat. Here are some tips to help you survive the hottest and most humid of Disney days: 1. Take advantage of Disney’s Extra Park Time. By staying on property at Disney, you qualify to enter Disney’s parks early every day and select resorts have additional extended evening hours for their guests on various nights. This extra park time coincides with the coolest of times to visit the parks not to mention the least busy times. Not a morning or a late person? Go back to your hotel during the hottest part of the day […]

What’s in my Disney Loungefly Backpack?

7/23/2024 • Blog, Cruises, Disneyland, Walt Disney World • If you have ever been on a Disney vacation or viewed any pictures of fans at Disney, you’ll see something in common with a large number of guests visiting the property. Guests everywhere – at Walt Disney World, at Disneyland, and on the Disney Cruise Line ships have their Disney themed Loungefly backpacks with them. I’ll admit that when I first saw the Loungefly craze I was a bit skeptical. I had a large, beautiful Vera Bradley backpack with a Minnie Mouse paisley pattern and I could fit everything I ever needed on a Disney vacation inside of it. So why would I purchase this small backpack instead and use it in the parks? Well time and pretty patterns eventually won me over and I bought my first Loungefly backpack. My first day of using my backpack I was blown away by how much I could fit inside my bag. […]

Disney Wish: Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure Review

4/11/2023 • Blog, Cruises • Disney Cruise Line has enhanced their cruise ship dining on the Disney Wish by adding more entertainment to their rotational dining experiences. My favorite of the new options is Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure and let me share my experience from the trip and why this restaurant was my favorite dining experience onboard. Tables are assigned for dining at all of Disney Cruise Line’s rotational restaurants so don’t be concerned if you are running a few minutes late. Those that arrive before the restaurant opens, will wait in the fully decorated entrance hall to the restaurant complete with port windows covered in frosty designs. You’ll be able to view and take pictures with the royal portraits and statue of armor, just as Anna and Elsa experienced growing up in their Arendelle castle. Once you enter the main dining hall, you’ll be seated around the performance stage set in the middle […]