The Happiest Blog on Earth

Sheraton Vistana Resort-Review

6/24/2020 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • In what seems like a lifetime ago, I lived next door to a resort while attending my Walt Disney World College Program. We never gave this resort much attention but thought it looked fun and dreamed of visiting someday. Fast forward many years to a reunion trip with my former CP roommates, that dream came true. The Sheraton Vistana Resort in Lake Buena Vista (situated on 535, just off of I-4), is minutes away from Disney Springs and the World Gateway entrance to Walt Disney World. As a Marriott timeshare vacation destination, it boasts many amenities attractive to those who wish to stay in sunny Orlando at length. We stayed only 3 nights, but found this was the absolute best choice for our reunion weekend! The reception/check-in area was inviting, modern, and easy to navigate. Once checked in, you are ushered to the events desk where you are informed of […]

Voices in Harmony: Dapper Dans

6/23/2020 • Disneyland, Walt Disney World • The Walt Disney Company is known for its high entertainment standard. When you enter the parks, you expect that level of entertainment with their parades, fireworks, rides, characters, and shows. Aside from the well-known fun that Disney offers, one show that does not want to go unnoticed is the Dapper Dans!! This is not to say they are not well known, but for those new to Disney Parks, they may not be on your radar but they should be. This quartet of men can be found on Main Street U.S.A. in Disneyland (since 1959) and Disney World (since 1971). What do they do exactly? They are a barbershop quartet that comes out to sing, harmonize, and tap dance for guest’s entertainment! Most are even members of the Barbershop Harmony Society! They perform during the daytime hours in the Magic Kingdom. Sometimes you will see them perform using Deagon Organ Chimes […]

Brightening Up Our Small World

6/19/2020 • Walt Disney World • I think we are all ready for some sunshine in our lives, so today, my blog post will focus on a woman who brightened things up and helped our world become a little smaller after all! I’m talking about Disney Legend, Mary Blair who is best known for the design of It’s A Small World, concept art for Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Cinderella, and the large mosaic mural in the Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World. Her style and design is revered by artists across the world and is still an inspiration for Disney artists and Imagineers today. Blair joined Disney Animation in 1940 and a year later traveled South America with Walt and his wife Lilly on a research trip. On that trip, she created watercolors of the destinations, impressing Walt who then appointed her art supervisor of Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros. She worked on […]

Pregnancy and The Parks

6/18/2020 • Tips, Walt Disney World • *The following blog post contains anecdotal information about travel during pregnancy. It is not presented or intended to be used as medical advice. Consult your OB/GYN or advanced practice provider before you travel for medical advice specific to your circumstances. A Disney vacation is something the entire family can look forward to! With the attractions, characters, shows, and so much more, there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy! But as a travel specialist, I am occasionally let in on some joyous news, often before families are ready to announce it publicly– someone in the family is expecting a baby! While this is incredibly exciting, mothers-to-be are often understandably nervous about what they will be able to do during their vacation. Will they be able to enjoy the Disney experience with the rest of the family? In my personal experience- YES! I have visited Disney World three times […]

The Boardwalk Entertainment District

6/5/2020 • Walt Disney World • If you are looking for evening activities, head over to the Boardwalk resort area where you can experience shopping, restaurants, and entertainment. The Boardwalk is a short boat ride or walk from both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. It is a quarter of a mile-long promenade created around Crescent Lake and designed to look like a quaint Mid-Atlantic seaside village from the early 1900s. Crescent Lake is surrounded by 3 Deluxe category resorts (Yacht Club, Beach Club, and Boardwalk), restaurants, and a variety of entertainment venues.  You can stroll the Boardwalk any time of the day and enjoy the extras that are only a few steps out of your resort door. If you are a sports fan and want to watch your favorite NFL team on a Sunday or take in a big sporting event, you can stop in the ESPN Club which hosts live. Schedules vary so check out ESPN […]

Signature Celebration Package at Cinderella’s Royal Table

6/2/2020 • Walt Disney World • One of the most magical experiences when visiting Walt Disney World is dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table inside Cinderella’s castle. This is a highly sought-after reservation that we often book for our clients and ourselves. Did you know there is a package you can add to make it even more magical? The Signature Celebration Package is a perfect way to celebrate birthdays, engagements, anniversaries, or just a fun splurge. This package begins with dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table with some truly royal characters. You will be treated to a specialty beverage or sparkling wine if you are 21 and up, an appetizer, an entrée of your choice, and a box of treats to take with you. We love starting with the charcuterie platter and having the filet and shrimp for our entrée. There are plenty of kid-friendly choices as well, including my kid’s favorite mac and cheese.  You will also […]

Universal Dining Plan – Full Service Dining

5/29/2020 • Universal Studios • When planning to visit Universal Orlando, the easiest way to make sure your meals are stress-free is to use the Universal Dining Plan. Purchasing the dining plan is a great way to lock in great prices for great food. It is exclusively available for pre-purchase with a Universal Orlando vacation package (contact your Me and The Mouse Agent) or at the Universal Ticket Center Desk for on-site resort guests. One of the best parts of the Universal Dining Plan is the flexibility it offers. First, you are able to purchase this plan for as many days as you choose during your stay on property. You may also choose which member(s) of your family would like to purchase this plan. You are not obligated to purchase this plan for your length of stay or for everyone in your party. This is the only Universal dining plan that includes both full-service locations […]

Rise of the Resistance – Will You Escape?

5/26/2020 • Disneyland, Walt Disney World • For any Star Wars fan, visiting the planet Batuu on the outskirts of the galaxy is a dream come true and the ultimate ride is Disney’s Rise of the Resistance. This combines new technologies for a multi-layered experience. As a hugely popular ride, you will need to arrive before park opening to make sure you can get into their virtual queue called a Boarding Pass, the moment the park officially opens. Boarding passes allow you to enjoy the rest of Batuu and the parks until your turn to join the line. This can only be obtained through the My Disney Experience app on your smartphone. You can set your phone to alert you when your boarding group is called or watch My Status to find out when it’s time to get in line. If you are in the middle of an Oga’s reservation or building your own lightsaber or droid […]

7 Exciting New Things to Look Forward to in 2021 at Walt Disney World

5/15/2020 • Walt Disney World • Great things are planned for the Walt Disney World resort for 2021, and with the world currently being on lock-down, we all need a little something special to get excited about! Tron Lightcycle Run (Magic Kingdom) – bringing a popular attraction from Disneyland Shanghai, guests will speed through a digital world on their own lightcycles! Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (Epcot) – This breakthrough rollercoaster will feature rotating and reversing never experienced before, all set to one awesome playlist! Space 220 (Epcot) – This new restaurant will be open in time for the 2021 festivities and will feature out of this world views as you enjoy your meal high above the Earth! More new Epcot attractions coming! (Epcot) –The new Ratatouille attraction should be underway in the France pavilion, and a Mary Poppins attraction is expected to open in the United Kingdom pavilion. Epcot Transformation – details were released […]

Fantasmic Dinner Package at Disneyland’s River Belle Terrace

5/8/2020 • Disneyland, Reviews • If you’ve been to Walt Disney World, chances are you have seen Sorcerer Mickey battle evil in this live show.  On my recent trip to Disneyland, I got to see the West Coast version of Fantasmic up close and personal and it did not disappoint.  Knowing that viewing areas are hard to come by in Disneyland, I opted to try one of the dining packages at River Belle Terrace. River Belle Terrace is located in Disneyland park in New Orleans Square next to Pirates of the Caribbean and right in front of Rivers of America.  This is an outdoor café and makes for a truly beautiful experience to sit out in the California sun and have a nice meal.  The menu for the Fantasmic Package is a Prix Fix Menu which includes a non-alcoholic beverage, an appetizer, which was a choice between a salad or corn chowder, main dish, which […]