Expert Reviews

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 […]

Restaurant Review: Mythos at Islands of Adventure

1/1/2022 • Reviews, Universal Studios • When you think of theme-park food, it doesn’t usually conjure up images of delectable cuisine, but Mythos at Islands of Adventure (IOA) changed that perception for us and all by happenstance. Jason and I just recently took a trip to Universal Orlando Resort and wanted to hit up IOA to ride Hagrid’s after a very relaxing day at Volcano Bay. (Side note: Hagrid’s might be the best ride I’ve ever ridden. I highly recommend it). Anyway, we were making our way through IOA when we encountered the “towering rock formations, cascading waterfalls, and ancient figures carved” into the rock that is the restaurant which was intriguing in and of itself. We took one look at the menu and knew right away we had to eat there! We were extremely fortunate as they were able to seat us in the indoor dining room within 10 minutes without reservations, although they do […]

Enjoying Butterbeer at Universal Studios Orlando – The Ultimate Guide

12/30/2021 • 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 […]

Universal’s Aventura Hotel

12/28/2021 • Blog, Reviews, Universal Studios • Universal’s Aventura Hotel is one of Universal’s newer hotel options. It’s located between Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort and Loews Sapphire Falls Resort. It’s also within walking distance to Volcano Bay and offers views of all 3 Universal Orlando theme parks. Aventura is definitely a resort to consider when visiting Universal Orlando. Aventura is a smaller, modern resort with a lot to offer. Not only does it have standard rooms, deluxe rooms, and kids suites, but you can also upgrade to a Skyline View for breathtaking views from the highest floors of the tower building. With the upgraded view, you’ll be sure to see all of the parks from your window. It makes you feel more part of the excitement of being in the middle of it all! The food and drink offerings at Aventura are like none other. At the Urban Pantry food hall in the main lobby, you’ll […]

Universal’s Endless Summer Resorts

12/18/2021 • Blog, Reviews, Universal Studios • Surf’s up! Endless Summer: Surfside Inn and Dockside Inn, are two incredible new options for lodging during your next Universal stay! Located adjacent to each other, both Dockside and Surfside offer rooms with two queen beds with either a standard or pool view, but they also offer a second option for larger parties – two-bedroom suites! And the price point for these rooms is phenomenal! While the standard two queen rooms will comfortably sleep four, the family suites are larger at 440 square feet and will sleep up to six people! Both room types offer a single bathroom (the suite with double sinks), queen beds, ample storage, as well as a small kitchenette. Each kitchenette includes a microwave, a mini-fridge, a coffee maker, and a picnic table – perfect for families! Downstairs you will find a full quick-service restaurant with grab and go options as well as made to order […]

Why Universal Orlando is Heaven for The Roller Coaster Lover in Your Family

12/8/2021 • Blog, Reviews, Universal Studios • You’ve been to Disney many times. The food, the characters, the music, and the shows are all reasons for you to keep coming back. The roller coasters are themed well and so fun, but maybe a 5/10 on the thrill factor and you’re looking for an adrenaline rush. Look no further than Universal Orlando! There are so many high-intensity roller coasters at Universal Orlando that you will finish your day not knowing if you’re standing right side up! Here are a few of my “can’t miss” coasters at Universal Orlando: 1) Hagrid’s Magical Creature Motorbike Adventure – Other than the fact that it being Harry Potter-themed automatically makes it awesome, this is the longest roller coaster ride in Florida. With speeds up to 50mph, this one isn’t slow either, and incorporating the story of being a student in a Magical Creatures Class, truly makes this coaster have it all. Location: […]

Themed Drinks at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter {Review}

12/2/2021 • Reviews, Universal Studios • Traveling between Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade takes you on a journey through The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. You can see, feel, and even taste, yes taste what it’s like to live a day in the life of Harry Potter. Many great food and snack options are available, but the specialty drinks are something that’s not to be missed. It gets HOT in the Florida sun so cooling down with a refreshing drink will make your time much more enjoyable. I’m sure all the loyal Harry Potter fans are aware you can get Butterbeer, the staple drink in the Wizarding World. It can be found in several locations in both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. I love Butterbeer in all it’s forms, cold, hot, frozen, and even ice cream! The creamy butterscotch flavor can’t be beat and contrary to its name it is completely family-friendly. During my last trip to Diagon […]