Blog Posts Tagged Planner

I Just Booked a Royal Caribbean Cruise! Now What?

11/12/2019 • Cruises, Tips • Booking a cruise is so exciting, but can also feel overwhelming if you aren’t sure what steps to take next.  To plan your next Royal Caribbean Cruise and arrive feeling calm and collected, follow these four important steps: 1. Make sure you have all of the required documentation for every member of your party.  At Me and The Mouse, we always encourage our clients to have passports.  While this is not required for cruises embarking and debarking in the United States, it will protect you in the event you would need to fly out of the country.  Make sure to check your passports and renew any that expire at least 10 weeks before your cruise.  If you do not have a passport, make sure all adults have their government-issued photo IDs and original birth certificate.  Double and triple-check that all required documents match the birthdates and spellings that are listed […]

Catch a Big Wave at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon

10/10/2019 • Walt Disney World • For the last 25 years, Disney guests have been splashing around at one of the greatest overlooked experiences on Disney property - Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon!  Disney is known for its great theming and Typhoon Lagoon does not disappoint. The details show evidence of the island paradise once wiped out by a typhoon; most notably, Miss Tilley’s shipwrecked shrimp boat on the top of Mount Meyday which erupts into a geyser every 30 minutes. Typhoon Lagoon is home to a wide range of “mild to wild” water attractions, and is a great place to cool off during the hottest Disney summer months. At the center of the park is the surf pool, which is the largest man-made wave pool in North America.  The huge waves of the surf pool is one of the biggest draws to Typhoon Lagoon. Want to learn how to surf like a pro? Guests can before park […]

What is Included in The Cost of a Disney Cruise?

8/2/2019 • Cruises, Tips • The cost of a Disney Cruise includes so many benefits that it truly makes it a great value for your money. One of the most important inclusions is the outstanding Disney service that my family has come to enjoy whether traveling with children or on one of their adult-only cruises. What is included in the cost of your cruise? All meals are included when dining in 1 of the 3 main restaurants, Cabanas buffet, the pool deck quick service locations, and the restaurants on Castaway Cay. In addition, there are locations throughout each ship that offer snacks during the day. Soft drinks and coffee are included with your meals and obtained at the self-service stations on the pool deck and Cabanas. Many of the items on the room service menu are included and available 24 hours/day in case you have a craving in the middle of the night. There are […]

Dinner with Cinderella at 1900 Park Fare

7/2/2019 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • My favorite part of any Disney vacation is seeing my children experience the magic and wonder of the Disney parks. Part of that magic is meeting their characters! Having two young daughters- they are both excited to see each and every princess, but Cinderella is their current favorite! How perfect that we can see Cinderella, Prince Charming, the stepmother and the stepsisters all in one place- 1900 Park Fare in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort! Located just minutes from Magic Kingdom park- the Grand Floridian is my all-time favorite resort. Nestled on the first floor you will find 1900 Park Fare with a nightly dinner buffet featuring your favorite characters from the classic movie Cinderella. Upon arrival you will take a picture in front of the beautiful mural just outside the restaurant; this photo is included with your Memory Maker if you have chosen to add that to your resort package! […]

Why are Me and The Mouse Travel Agents Important? Thoughts from a former Disney Cast Member

12/14/2018 • Tips, Walt Disney World • When I worked for Walt Disney World, I encountered all type of guests. Those who visited yearly or more, those who came every few years or so, and those who had never been. Between the three groups they all had one commonality - they wanted their Disney vacation to be the best it could be and those who were well prepared had an advantage over those who weren’t. How can you be well prepared for your Disney vacation? There are many ways but I would say the guests I most often encountered, and that were well prepared, were ones who worked with a Disney travel agent. They had their days well planned, great dining reservations, and of course the most important thing - FastPasses! Here are my top three advantages for using a travel agent to book your next Disney vacation. These thoughts all come from my time as Cast […]

Experience the Blue Man Group-Review

11/27/2018 • Reviews, Universal Studios • When traveling to Universal Orlando Resort, families and groups can experience world-class entertainment, one-of-a-kind thrills, and some of the most unique ‘eats’ available. Universal Orlando Resort offers so much for everyone, it is often easy to overlook those gems that not only are appealing to all ages but seem to never grow old themselves. One such gem is the Blue Man Group. Back in 2007, the Blue Man Group was added to Universal Studios’ line-up of entertainment choices on soundstage 18. After a successful run, it became a staple to Universal Orlando Resort - tweaking ever so slightly over the years to remain relevant, fun, and appealing to all! In May, I had the pleasure of experiencing a Blue Man Group performance. For anyone, young or old, who have never experienced live theater before, this is a GREAT introduction to it. You will have fun learning how live theater works, […]

Universal Orlando Resort App: The Must-Have Item on Your Smartphone!

11/9/2018 • Tips, Universal Studios • Universal Orlando has created one of the most comprehensive park apps for your phone that is not only easy to use but allows your next Universal Orlando trip to be filled with more fun for the family as you easily navigate your day-to-day activities. Most of the app functionality will work without an account but you will want to have an account for your convenience. The main screen starts by allowing you to explore the resort map or you may jump right to the rides, shows, or dining. Choose which park you wish to explore in more detail such as Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Florida, or Volcano Bay and zoom in and out as needed. Within each park, you can use the buttons at the top of the app to specify exactly what you are looking for within the parks. Click on "Ride" and it will show you the […]

Following a Ketogenic Diet While at Walt Disney World

10/30/2018 • Tips, Walt Disney World • After a lifetime of dieting, I was still seeking the right fit for me. I was very intrigued by the guidelines of the ketogenic way of eating. My mind was made up, this is the right way for me! The basic guidelines of this way of eating are: high fats, moderate proteins, and low carbohydrates. I was concerned if I could integrate my way of eating into our trips to Walt Disney World. I quickly realized, dining locations throughout the property would be more than accommodating and allow me to follow my way of eating with ease! I avoid many specific cooking oils, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and hidden sugars. I was determined I would stay true to my guidelines eating 7 total carbohydrates or less per meal, eating more fat than protein, and only eating when truly hungry. If I was unsure if an item was within my guidelines, I […]

Big Box Stores vs Travel Planners Who Specialize in Disney

5/15/2018 • Tips, Walt Disney World • You are planning a trip for your family to a Disney destination and are looking for a great deal, but where do you start? You can do the research yourself and book directly with Disney, book with a Big Box Store like Costco, visit your local AAA office, or book with a travel planner who specializes in Disney destinations. If you enjoy planning and know exactly what you want, booking directly with Disney is an easy decision. If you have a Costco membership and want to see what they can do for you, Costco Travel can book your vacation for you. AAA agents can also help book your family vacation if you are a AAA member. What next, though? Well, if you book with Disney, you will handle all details – payments, keeping tracking of planning dates, booking advanced dining reservations and FastPasses for the theme parks or excursions and […]

Character Dining at Walt Disney World

5/7/2018 • Walt Disney World • Clients often ask “Where can I see Mickey Mouse or Cinderella?” While most characters have Meet-n-Greet locations in one of the four theme parks that make up Walt Disney World, Character Dining is a great way to spend a little more time with your favorite Disney character without having to stand in line or use one of your pre arranged Fastpasses. You will find character dining both inside the parks, as well as at select Walt Disney Resorts on property. Character dining is very popular and can be booked up to 180 days in advance of your arrival. As a Me and The Mouse client, your Travel Specialist is happy to make all your dining reservations for you. (Please note that characters are subject to change without notice). Below is a helpful aid in looking at and comparing the Character Dining experiences offered at Walt Disney World. You will find […]