Blog Posts Tagged trip

Marriott Hotels & Resorts

5/10/2022 • Blog • Theme Park and cruise vacations are the best, right?! But have you ever wanted something different? For an awesome beach vacation, or trip to explore a lively city, Marriott properties might be just what you are looking for. Marriott has 25+ brands offering everything from single-night hotel stays to all-inclusive resorts and even a luxury yacht collection. I recently stayed at two of the luxury hotel properties – The JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort and The JW Marriott Marquis Miami. In this piece, I’ll go over some of the fantastic options each hotel has to offer. First up, The JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort – Wow, what a great resort! Marco Island, a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico in Southwest Florida is connected to the mainland by bridges near Naples. The entire island is less than 25sq miles and this resort encompasses 3 of those miles […]

Using your Apple Watch at Walt Disney World

5/3/2022 • Blog, Walt Disney World • A fun feature when visiting Disney's magical theme parks is that you can take advantage of the Magic Band, an all-in-one wearable device that makes it easy to enjoy your time at Walt Disney World. But did you know that your Apple Watch may be used as a Magic Band? An Apple Watch can be a valuable asset on a visit to Walt Disney World. It can provide you with accurate wait times, keep you updated with park hours, keep you in touch with your family, show you where to find the nearest restroom, and more! While using an Apple Watch doesn't replace a smartphone for all of the tools that are available for a Walt Disney World vacation, it does offer some unique and convenient features. Here are my top 5 favorite features to use with your Apple Watch at Walt Disney World. 1. Use it as a room […]

Capture Your Moment – Disney Photo Session

4/15/2022 • Blog, Walt Disney World • When visiting Walt Disney World over the years with my family, we always tried to take as many pictures as possible. It was something special that we could look back on to remember the fun times we had as a family. Our only problem was getting everyone in the picture. Disney’s solution is, a Capture Your Moment photo session! Capture Your Moment is an enchanting extra that Disney offers to guests at each of their 4 theme parks. With this enchanting extra, you’ll reserve a personalized 20-minute photo session that captures the excitement of your day and of your family being at Walt Disney World. Disney’s PhotoPass photographer will suggest different poses and places to take pictures around the parks all while snapping away. If you feel that 20 minutes just isn’t long enough, you can make back-to-back reservations and extend your session to 40 minutes. Here are some occasions […]

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 […]

Virgin Voyages Shore Excursions

3/29/2022 • Blog, Cruises • If your vision of a cruise shore excursion is following a guide and a flag, you haven’t experienced a Virgin Voyage excursion. Virgin Voyages has taken the typical shore excursions and kicked it up a notch. The group sizes are small, and they offer experiences that are immersive by taking you off the beaten path. Virgin refers to their excursion as “shore things”. They can be booked through your travel agent or directly through the Virgin app. They are an excellent way to experience the culture and the area of each port. They give you memories to take home with you. For example, In Puerta Plata, in the Dominican Republic, I explored the jungle and mountains via a dune buggy. We had a small group of 28 people. This was a great way to explore the non-tourist area of the city. We got dirty – ok, VERY muddy riding through […]

Carnival Cruise Line

3/11/2022 • Blog, Cruises • Did you know that a few agents on our team specialize in Carnival Cruises? Carnival Cruise Lines have 24 Ships operating 2- to 17-day voyages, departing from every coast in the U.S. While they are best known for Caribbean cruises, they sail to other exotic and amazing destinations like Mexico, Alaska, The Bahamas, Europe, and Hawaii. I just got off the Carnival Sunshine, whose home is in Charleston, South Carolina. Many of my family members were able to join me in celebrating my mother’s 80th birthday because of how many options there were to choose from. Carnival Cruise Line offers a wide range of embarkation ports, allowing guests to start their cruise vacations in California, Florida, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, New York, Washington, Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, or Hawaii, as well as many international ports including Barcelona, Venice, London, Brisbane, and San Juan. This means guests will travel less to reach […]

Main Street Confectionery at Magic Kingdom

3/1/2022 • Blog, Walt Disney World • During my latest trip to Walt Disney World, I visited the Main Street Confectionery at Magic Kingdom. What a fun place to check out!!! The entire place has a whole new look and layout with lots of new sweet treats to try. I was so excited to try the new “build your own” candied popcorn that you can customize! The “Kernel Kitchen” has three different types of popcorn to choose from: butter, caramel, and cheddar. After you select your type of popcorn, you can choose your candy toppings (M&M’s, Skittles, Snickers, Twix, crunched cookies, marshmallows, pretzel pieces, and more!) To finish off your popcorn, you can select from three different types of syrups offered: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or caramel. Guests can get customized popcorn with two toppings and syrup for $12.99 or three toppings and syrup for $13.99. Each additional topping is $1.00 and all popcorn is eligible for […]

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is More Than a Theme Park

2/8/2022 • Blog, Walt Disney World • Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park opened its doors on April 22, 1998. This zoological theme park not only is home to some thrilling rides & attractions, it’s also home to several wild animals and exotic jungle trails. Its mission is to lead Walt Disney Parks and Resorts to care for animals and the environment as well as to connect people to nature and conserve our natural resources. As you enter the park, you’ll notice the lush greenery that lines the way to visit and view some wild animals, such as migratory birds, butterflies, and Komodo Dragons to name a few. You’re able to read and learn about these animals. Want to learn more about these wild animals, their habitat, and how to care for them? No problem! Hop on the Wildlife Express Train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. It’s home to the Affection Station petting zoo, Habitat Habit!, an outdoor discovery […]

Virgin Voyages Dining and Restaurant Guide

1/28/2022 • Blog, Cruises • When you set sail on a Virgin Voyages adult-only cruise, you will find that dining is a huge part of your sailing experience. Virgin Voyages has re-imagined cruise ship dining for their guests in very pleasing ways. You will not find buffets, large dining halls, or assigned dining times on a Virgin Voyages cruise ship. Instead, you will find more than 20+ dining options using the freshest ingredients. All food is made to order ensuring the delivery of high-quality food options throughout the ship with less waste. This cruise ship never sleeps. If you are hungry for a late-night bite, visit The Galley, where you will find an American-style diner open 24 hours serving breakfast all day. The Galley has a casual atmosphere where you can grab a quick meal at a variety of food hall-style restaurants. Food choices include soups, salads, burgers, tacos, panini sandwiches, a sushi bar with […]

Scooter and ECV Rentals at the Walt Disney World Resort

1/21/2022 • Walt Disney World • Walt Disney World guests can expect to walk a minimum of 7,000 steps per day in the parks. For guests who would be more comfortable using a scooter or ECV, here are some quick tips for using a mobility device in the parks. Where to Rent: Rent directly at the parks - If you only want a scooter for the day, you can rent one at the front of each of the four theme parks. Downside - Rentals are first come, first served. You cannot take the scooter back to your resort hotel or on resort transportation. $50 per day, plus a $20 refundable deposit. If you are park hopping, be sure to keep your receipt. You will need to return your rental before leaving the park. When you arrive at the next park, pending availability, you will be able to show your receipt for that day to rent another […]