Blog Posts Tagged Dining

What to Expect on Embarkation Day

4/6/2021 • Cruises, Tips • Your Disney cruise is booked and the countdown clock is tickin’! You’ve scoured the internet for tips, booked excursions, scheduled a princess meet and greet, and are ready to order your Mickey bar at midnight from room service, but what should you expect on embarkation day? Let’s break it down so you make the most of your first afternoon exploring the ship! You've selected a Port Arrival Time when you did your on-line check-in. This is when you can arrive at the port and start the boarding process. Before arriving at the port, make sure all your check-in luggage is tagged. It will go through a screening process and then magically appear outside your stateroom later in the afternoon. Be sure you retain all your travel documents, including your passport, as well as medications and anything else you might need for the afternoon. Check your luggage and then continue through […]

Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival

3/16/2021 • Holidays & Events, Tips, Walt Disney World • Epcot is in full bloom every spring during my favorite time of year: The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival!  From now until July 5th, guests from all over the world can experience the sights, smells, tastes, and sounds of Epcot in this sense-indulging experience. Epcot is never more beautiful than during the Flower and Garden Festival.  Character topiaries not only greet you at the park entrance but can be found all over Future World and World Showcase. Fan favorites like Mickey and Minnie, Cinderella and Prince Charming, Anna and Elsa, and many more are arranged beautifully with various plants and flowers.  My personal favorite is the Beauty and the Beast display in France.  Not only do they look gorgeous, but the aroma is every bit as tantalizing.  There are more than 100 topiaries all over Epcot, making for some wonderful photo opportunities. Tip: Make sure you purchase Memory Maker if you are […]

Why Choosing a Sandals or Beaches All-Inclusive Resort Just Makes Financial Sense!

3/2/2021 • Blog, Reviews, Sandals & Beaches • My husband and I absolutely love Sandals All-Inclusive Resorts. I know, no surprise there. From the beaches and relaxing nature of the resort to the incredible food and lavish excursions, what’s not to love?! But one of our favorite “why’s” of why we love Sandals is from the financial aspect of the resorts. Our love affair with Sandals and Beaches All-Inclusive Resorts began in 2016 when we honeymooned in Grenada in the Caribbean. We actually fell into it at the recommendation of a friend because I was quite exhausted from planning our destination mountain wedding during the previous year and a half. Nothing sounded better than an all-inclusive where I didn’t have to plan a thing except what spa experience to get! Now, if you’ve ever checked out a Sandals vacation, you know that the initial price can seem like a lot. But what I have found is by the […]

Beaches All-Inclusive Resorts- for Everyone!

2/19/2021 • Blog, Sandals & Beaches • Imagine yourself immersed in a tropical escape where your days are filled with the warmth of the sun, blue skies, clear water, and breathtaking views. Now, imagine the tranquility you will feel knowing ALL of your food, drinks, entertainment, water sports, gratuities, airport transfers, and CHILDCARE have already been included with the price of your stay. And yes, I did say childcare! It may sound too good to be true, but Beaches all-inclusive resorts have turned this fantasy into a reality! If you’ve heard of Sandals All-Inclusive adult-only resorts then you’ll be familiar with the brand’s model which strives to create the most relaxing, carefree vacation. By including everything in the price, your “vacation” becomes a true vacation with nothing to worry about, except which restaurant or water sport to try next. Beaches takes this a step further so the kids, grandparents, and extended family can join in on the […]

My Top 5 “My Disney Experience App” Features

1/12/2021 • Tips, Walt Disney World • Efficiently touring Disney World is key to getting the most out of your vacation.  Disney offers an amazing free app for your smartphone called My Disney Experience (MDE) to do just this!  It houses all trip details (i.e. resort reservation, park tickets, dining reservations, etc) in a single account!  It keeps your trip plans organized, plus does so much more! My top 5 MDE features: My Disney Experience App PhotoPass: This feature lists the location of PhotoPass photographers and rides with the PhotoPass option.  Filter by the park you’re in and be amazed by all the places available to capture your magical memories!   You will get the most out of your photo package purchase the more you stop. Wait Times: Vacations never seem long enough, so spend your time wisely to get the most out of your day!  Using the wait times feature allows you to see all current wait […]

Restaurant Review: Liberty Tree Tavern

12/8/2020 • Blog, Reviews, Walt Disney World • Do you love Thanksgiving? If you're anything like me you do. Liberty Tree, located in the Magic Kingdom, serves up delicious Thanksgiving favorites, family-style, and year-round. Located in Liberty Square, Liberty Tree Tavern serves an all you care to eat family-style feast. The theme of this restaurant is a colonial style and even the cast members are dressed in traditional clothing that makes you feel as if you have gone back in time to 1776. To begin your meal, you will be served the Declaration Salad consisting of mixed greens and a house-made dressing. The main course, The Patriot's Platter, serves up all of your Thanksgiving favorites including roast turkey, pot roast, roasted pork, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, vegetables, and of course stuffing. I can never seem to have enough turkey and stuffing. The best thing about this meal is that it serves up something for everyone. My kids […]

Mobile To Go – Ordering at Walt Disney World

12/4/2020 • Blog, Tips, Walt Disney World • Disney has changed how one thinks about quick-service food in a theme park. Instead of just hamburgers, hotdogs, and pizza, their offerings reflect the many tastes and personalities of their guests which makes quick service dining an experience to look forward to. But let’s be honest, we all hate waiting in lines. When visiting Walt Disney World, lines are inevitable, but Disney’s mobile dining orders can give you some of your time back and minimize the lines you experience at the parks. Mobile ordering is available for most quick-service locations and a recent addition is some table service locations. Table service locations are listed in your app with the words “To Go” at the end of the restaurant name. To start your order, 1. Click on the “+” on the bottom of the home screen of the My Disney Experience app. 2. Then, click “Order Food”. 3. Alternatively, click on […]

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 […]

Restaurant Review: Mythos at Islands of Adventure

11/20/2020 • 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 […]

Disney’s Beach Club Resort

10/13/2020 • Blog, Reviews, Walt Disney World • Disney’s Beach Club Resort it truly one of my favorite resorts on property! From its incredible location just steps away from Epcot, to its pool and dining options, there are so many reasons to stay at Beach Club on your next Disney vacation. This resort looks like it’s right out of the pages of a New England architectural journal. Painted in pastel blue and white hues with lighthouse-style architectural features, this resort is appealing from the moment you pull up to its drive. Upon entering, the lobby includes seaside and nautical touches. Dining: Just off the lobby, you’ll notice several of the resort’s table service restaurants. Here you can dine at Ale and Compass, a New England steakhouse, Cape May Cafe, a character breakfast and seafood buffet lunch and dinner, and Beaches and Cream- a seaside-style soda shop with a variety of boardwalk foods. You can also relax and take […]