Expert Reviews

Enjoying Butterbeer at Universal Studios Orlando – The Ultimate Guide

11/8/2022 • Blog, Reviews, Universal Studios • A trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort wouldn't be complete without enjoying a  Butterbeer. A perfect day at Universal Studios Florida starts with a visit to Diagon Alley and a Butterbeer.  We like to start our day with a ride on Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts when wait times are low due to our early access to the parks as a resort guest. Enjoying a Butterbeer at Universal is just one of the many ways to feel immersed in this magical world. Butterbeer comes in six delicious forms of tasty treats! Which version should you try? Each treat offers something unique, so the Me and The Mouse Team is here to give you a full breakdown of Butterbeer at Universal Studios and where to find it in the Wizarding World. COLD BUTTERBEER The traditional cold drink (secret recipe) is often described as a cream soda with butterscotch and shortbread flavors. It’s a sweet […]

A Trip-of-a-Lifetime to Costa Rica with Adventures by Disney

11/1/2022 • Adventures by Disney, Reviews • When you hear the name Disney, you probably think of Mickey Mouse and theme parks. In addition to many other experiences and destinations, Disney also offers organized land tours across the U.S. and around the globe. Adventures by Disney allows families, friends, and even solo guests to explore amazing destinations together knowing that they will receive the same level of entertainment, service, accommodations, safety and VIP access that comes with the Disney name. Adventures by Disney’s Costa Rican itinerary is geared towards adventurers and thrill seekers excited to navigate the waters and rainforests of Costa Rica while enjoying the culture, traditions, food, and the beautiful scenery and wildlife that make up this gorgeous part of the world. This is a very active adventure with highlights including white water rafting, zip lining above the canopy, and snorkeling.  There is always a secondary option for guests who are unwilling or unable to […]

Sandals All-Inclusive South Coast Resort in Jamaica-Review

8/2/2022 • Reviews, Sandals & Beaches • Let me start this by saying that if luxury accommodations, distinctive cuisine, and exemplary services perched next to the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea sound like your dream vacation then read on.  My husband and I selected Sandals All-Inclusive South Coast Resort in Jamaica for an anniversary trip and now it is one of my all-time favorite destinations! It’s nestled in a 500-acre nature preserve and boasts beautiful European elegance throughout. The property itself is abounding with lush vegetation and wildlife, including hummingbirds and peacocks, which freely roam the grounds. When you first arrive, your bags are whisked off to your room while you enjoy a signature resort cocktail and a tour of the beautiful grounds that are to be your home for the next several days. On the tour, I was reminded that one of my favorite things about Sandals is that they cater to everyone’s desires on […]

Benefits of Staying On Property at Universal Orlando

7/26/2022 • 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’s Aulani – a Hawaiian Experience

7/6/2022 • 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 […]

Universal Orlando: Vivo Italian Kitchen – Review

6/21/2022 • Reviews, Tips, Universal Studios • When choosing table service restaurants for your next Universal Orlando vacation, look no further than Vivo Italian Kitchen. Located in Citywalk, you don't need park tickets to enjoy this delicious meal. Vivo has a modern look, with ample seating and an open kitchen. Everything that came out of the kitchen looked and smelled absolutely amazing, making us want to go back for another meal the next day. Each meal begins with a homemade loaf of Italian bread. Olive oil is provided at the table for dipping. Although all of the appetizers were tempting, we decided on the fried ricotta. The creamy rosemary and lemon ricotta was breaded and fried and served on a bed of homemade tomato sauce. It was so delicious we used the rest of the bread to mop up the tomato sauce. Entrees were an even more difficult decision. I was stuck between the lasagna made with […]

Sandals All-Inclusive Resorts: Emerald Bay vs. Royal Bahamian

4/22/2022 • Blog, Reviews, Sandals & Beaches • You’ve narrowed down your trip to the Bahamas, but you can’t pick which resort will be right for you. Let your Certified Sandals Specialist help guide the way! My husband and I just returned from an amazing trip to both the Bahamian resorts, so we were able to experience the best of both worlds. One thing I love about the Sandals brand is that each resort is unique from the next, so there is something great to discover at each one. I can say with firsthand experience that even those on the same islands have vastly different characteristics compared to its counterpart down the road. On this trip, we started at the newly reimagined Royal Bahamian in Nassau and the renovations were stunning! There were tons of new swim-up suites, the centrally located Coconut Grove with food trucks, and an amazing off-shore island. The main part of the resort has […]

Frontera Cocina in Disney Springs

4/7/2022 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • My family loves to spend part of our Walt Disney World vacations visiting Disney Springs to explore the new restaurants and shops. This is a great way to use a day you may not be visiting a park or on your arrival or departure days and you need a few hours to fill your day. One of our new favorite eateries is Frontera Cocina by celebrity chef Rick Bayless. They offer delicious Mexican food with a “twist”. They are open for both lunch and dinner and offer specials Monday – Thursday. The inside of the restaurant is bright and inviting or you can be seated outside where it is a peaceful setting overlooking a small lake and great for people watching. A nice way to unwind after a busy day at the parks. The outside seating area is small and provides a more quaint and quiet dining experience. Even if […]

Everglazed Donuts at Disney Springs

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 […]

Sandals Barbados or Sandals Royal Barbados: Which One Do You Choose?

2/15/2022 • 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 […]