The Simpons Ride at Universal Studios - Get Ready for the Fun

The new Simpsons Ride is opening this Spring at Universal Studios Orlando. We are excited about this new attraction at Universal. To get everyone even more excited, check out the new Universal Studios website promoting the Simpsons Ride. Click here to view the website. You can create an avatar and then take it on the ride! It is a really fun website for the whole family.

To enjoy the Simpsons Ride on your next Universal Studios vacation, be sure to pre-order your Universal Studios 2-Park Unlimited Passes. You cannot purchase these tickets at the gates, so be sure to order them before your trip. For less than the cost of a 2-Day Pass, get 7 days of admission to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure! Plus, free admission to CityWalk.

Coca Cola or Pepsi at Disney World

It is funny that we are actually writing a blog about beverages at the Walt Disney World Resort. Our agents get a lot of strange questions about the Disney World Resorts and Theme Parks. We are surprised that one of the more popular questions is what beverages are served at Disney World. Since this is such a popular question, we decided to write a blog with this answer for all to view. The soda company of the Walt Disney World Resort is Coca Cola. This includes Coke, Sprite and Diet Coke. If you are a Pepsi fan, sorry! Mickey Mouse is a fan of Coca Cola!

Internet Access at the Disney Resorts

You can have access to the outside world, even on your vacation to the most magical place on Earth. Disney Resort Hotels do have access to the Internet. This fast access internet access is available at all of the Disney Resorts and Campground. The cost is $9.95 for 24 hours. To take advantage of the Internet access, you will have to leave a credit card at check in for incidentials. This credit card will be required to use the Internet. You can use your current laptop or you can also rent a laptop at select Disney Resort Business Centers.

If you are staying at a Disney Convention Resort Hotel, you may have access to the Internet in the lobby, convention center or even by the pool. Some of the Disney Resort that have additional WIFI access are Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The prices for WI-FI are also $9.95 for 24 hours. In addition to these resorts, you can also get WIFI at the Sand Trap Bar & Grill and Wide World of Sports.

Pet Friendly Hotels at Universal Studios

Many guests like to bring their whole family (including pets) on their vacations. The three hotels at Universal Studios including Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and Royal Pacific Hotel do allow pets. You can bring your whole family including pets on a Universal Studios vacation. Check out more details about the Universal Studios Hotels.

MOM Safety Tips for a Disney World Vacation

For moms it can be alot work, just getting the kids to a Disney Theme Park for the day! Besides getting them to the parks for fun, you want to make sure they are safe during their day. The Disney Theme Parks are huge and with lots of the distractions, so it is easy to get separated or lost. It can be scary for any parent or child to get separated from their family, but if you are prepared this experience can be a little easier.

Once you enter the Theme Park, be sure you set up a meeting spot. This is a spot where your family will meet you if anyone gets separated. Try to pick a specific location. As a Cast Member, you will be suprised how many times guests just pick Cinderella’s Castle for a meeting spot. There are several different sides and spots to meet at Cinderella Castle, so this makes a really tough meeting spot. Pick a specific spot, so there is no confusion where to meet everyone.
For younger kids, safety pin your cell phone number to their clothes or even use permanent market on their hand or arm. Be sure you use your cell phone. Most kids know their home phone number, but do not know their parent’s cell phone number. Remember you are not home to get that phone call, so make sure your kids have your cell number or have it memorized.
Tell your younger kids to find a Disney Cast Member if they get lost. If your child gets separated, they can go up to any Disney Cast Member for help. Disney Cast Members always have an oval Disney Parks name badge with their name. You may even want to stop a Cast Member (as you enter the park) to show your child their name tag and what happens if they get separated. This way your child will get to talk with a Disney Cast Member and realize they are nice and willing to help, just in case.

The Disney Theme Parks are lots of fun for the whole family, but it is easy to get separated. Just follow these few simple tips to make sure your family has a fun and safe day at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Multi Orlando Theme Parks in One Ticket

With seven major Theme Parks in Orlando, having one ticket for multiple theme parks makes an Orlando vacation easier. Universal Studios, Anheuser-Busch Theme Parks, and Wet n Wild have teamed up to offer two ticket options for unlimited visits to these parks. These tickets are called the Orlando FlexTicket or Orlando FlexTicket PLUS. The Orlando FlexTicket allows you unlimited admission for 14 consecutive days to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Sea World Orlando, Sea World’s Aquatica Waterpark, or Wet n Wild. Purchase the Orlando FlexTicket PLUS and get additional admission to Busch Gardens Tampa. This is a great all-in-one ticket for an Orlando vacation.

This ticket is a great value on admission into these Theme Parks. You can save even more money on parking fees. With this ticket, you only pay for parking once a day no matter how many Theme Parks you visit. If you visit Sea World in the morning and Universal Studios in the evening, you will only pay for parking once. You just show your parking receipt later in the day to avoid additional parking fees.

If you add the PLUS option, you can also take advantage of the motorcoach bus transportation to Busch Gardens Tampa. The bus transportation runs from Sea World to Busch Gardens.
This is a great ticket for an Orlando vacation. Click here for more details about the Orlando FlexTickets.

Extend your Disney World Vacation with a Disney Cruise

When planning your vacation to Disney World, you may want to consider extending your vacation with a relaxing 3-Night or 4-Night Disney Cruise. This is a wonderful way to end your Disney vacation. The Disney Cruises are the ultimate in relaxation and fun. Your meals and activities are pre-paid, so you do have to worry about money during your cruise. Disney offers children activities (camp) all day from early morning until midnight. The children activities are some of the best activities for kids anywhere. Your kids can enjoy character meet and greets, parties, playtimes, science experiments, and so much more. Each camp is divided by kids ages, so the activities are specialized to their needs and wants.

With these activities for kids, this leaves some relaxation time for the parents. The adults can enjoy the adult pool area, spa treatments, or activities just for you like dance lessons, wine tastings, and more. In the evening hours, the family can come together for entertainment like Broadway style shows, movies in the Buena Vista Theater, or other family fun activities like deck parties or family games.

Disney Cruise vacations are the ultimate way to extend the “Disney magic” for the kids and add some relaxation for the adults. Contact us for more information about a Disney Cruise vacation.

Hidden Treasures at Disney Theme Parks - Epcot

Last week, we talked about our favorite Hidden Treasure at Magic Kingdom, the Talking Trashcan in Tomorrowland. Our favorite Hidden Treasure at Epcot is actually over at World Showcase in Canada. You may have heard this Hidden Treasure, as you walk by Canada. Our favorite Hidden Treasure in Epcot is the band, Off Kilter. The name, Off Kilter means “out of the box,” which explains their music. They mix Celtic with Rock and Roll. Most of their music features bagpipes mixed with rock and roll. They are actually quite amazing!

Off Kilter has developed a gathering of “Disney fans” that come year after year to Disney World, just to watch this band. They are funny and great musicians. They are located in Canada at Epcot. Grab some fish and chips (in United Kingdom right next door) and enjoy your lunch over the music of Off Kilter.

Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort Upgrades

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort is one of the original Disney Resorts built in 1971. This resort features over 700 acres of campsites and Cabins. Disney made some updates to the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. Plus, there are other renovations planned for the campsites and recreational amenities at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort.

The Cabins are a perfect way to spend a Disney World vacation. You feel like you are in the North Carolina mountains, but right in the middle of the Walt Disney World Resort. The Cabins have been updated with new furniture, paint, linens, and carpet. It is a fresh new look and feel to this Cabin retreat in the middle of Disney World.Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort have other upgrades planned for this year.Some of the campsites will get larger concrete parking pads and more vegetation for privacy. The Premium Campsites will grow in size and receive upgrades to the picnic tables and grills.

Even the recreational activities around Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort are getting renovated. The pool will be renovated to include a new waterslide, hot tub and children’s water play area. Pet dogs can join in on the fun will a dog playground to run around and play. This new playground for dogs will be called Waggin’ Trails Dog Park. This is a leash free play area for dogs. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort allows dogs in the Full Hookup Campsites only.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort is one of the best resorts at Disney World with more recreational activities than any other Disney Resort. It is great to see new upgrades to this fun family resort.

Celebrate St. Pattys Day at Disney World

Happy St. Patrick's Day! If you are going to celebrate St. Patty's Day and cannot go to Ireland, try the next best spot, Raglan Road at Downtown Disney. Raglan Road is one of the best Irish Pub & Restaurants around and is located right at the Walt Disney World Resort. Raglan Road is in Pleasure Island at Downtown Disney. It is a good spot to celebrate St. Patrick's Day during the day with the family and then in the evening for the adults. Raglan Road started the "pre-party" events yesterday and it continues until 2 AM tonight.

You can enjoy Irish food from the restaurant and during the evening hours enjoy contests, giveaways, and one of the best U2 tribute bands around called U2 Elevation. Don't forget your pints from the bar. If you are going to celebrate St. Patty's Day in Orlando, Raglan Road is the place to be!

Universal Studios Royal Pacific Hotel Builds Kidsuites

The popular Royal Pacific Hotel at Universal Studios is getting some updates. Loews Hotels that own the three Universal Studios Hotels are adding Kidsuites to the Royal Pacific Hotel. Not just any Kidsuites, but Jurassic Park Themed Suites. This theme will include raptor cages for the headboards, wall murals, Jurassic Park themed furniture, and even artwork from the movies. Your whole family will feel like these are in Jurassic Park, when you step in the room. If your family loves Jurassic Park and dinosaurs, be sure to visit the Universal Theme Park called Islands of Adventure. This is a whole island of dinosaurs and adventures!
For more information about Kidsuites at Universal Studios or a Universal Studios vacation, contact our Universal Studios travel consultants at Destinations in Florida.

Disney Discount Package Expires Soon

The discount Magic Your Way Packages with the free ticket upgrades to the Park Hopper Option and the Waterparks, Fun and More Option are ending soon. If you are interested in this package for a visit from March 30-May 21, you need to book soon. This discount package ends on March 21. You must have at least a deposit held on your package to take advantage of this discount that can save your family $100 per person.

Click here for more details.

Sea World's Aquatica Reviewed by Local Travel Agents

Yesterday, we went to the Grand Opening for Sea World Orlando’s new water park named Aquatica. It was around 40 degrees when we left the office and barely above 50 when we arrived at the park. Even still, we were really there for business more than pleasure, so we started taking pictures and video to pass the time.

In the process, we got so excited by all the cool-looking rides that we just had to try some of them out! The temperature had moved up to 67 degrees and the water was heated, but when you came out of the water into the cold air, it was still cold, but you warmed up quickly in the sun. We even got sunburned!

The park has a water slide that goes through an aquarium that includes tropical fish and dolphins! There are also two “lazy” rivers, although the Roa Rapids speeds along at 6 feet per minute! The more casual river, Loggerhead Lane, also takes you through the aquarium in two spots, one to view the fish and the other to view the underwater slide and dolphins. There are two kids play areas — Kata’s Kookaburra Cove and Walkabout Waters — that are among the coolest I’ve ever seen at a water park. Walkabout Waters has two gigantic buckets at the top of the structure that fill with water and dump every time they get full, blasting swimmers with a torrential downpour, all with a loud, clanging bell to give you a head’s up notice before you get “drowned” in water. There are two wave pools with lots of beach space and six different slides, each with several slides to accommodate the maximum number of people.

Although this is the best water park we have visited in Orlando, there were a couple of critiques we have for this park. Both are easily remedied and should be to accommodate their guests. The first and most important is that they do not have infant swim diapers at any of the on property shops. Now, if you have kids, you know how short-sighted this is on Sea World’s part. You have a water park with TWO kids areas and no infant swim diapers? The second critique involves the lockers and while minor, deserves mentioning. The sign says that $3 of the cost of a locker rental is a refundable deposit. What they do not mention is that the $3 is returned in the form of a “gift card” that you can only spend in the park. FYI, this will not even buy you a soda in the park. Either charge me the full amount for the locker or give me cash back. I do not need a $3 gift card, just to give it back to you in the park somewhere else. This is not a refundable deposit.

Besides these two items, the park was amazing. The size is much bigger than we expected and the rides were very fun. We look forward to going back when the temperature is just a little warmer.

1st Haircut at Magic Kingdom

Many guests do not realize that Magic Kingdom Park has a working barber shop right at Main Street USA. They do! I took my 2 year old daughter to Magic Kingdom this past week to get her 1st haircut. It is exciting to get a 1st haircut at Disney, but there are so many Magical Moments that come with this one experience. As my daughter was getting her haircut, the singing group “Daper Dans” came in to sing a few tunes. After they sang, they stopped to pose with my daughter for some pictures.

Once the haircut was finished, the barber put her hair in a Princess bun and glittered her up with lots of fun Mickey Mouse shaped glitter. This was another photo opportunity! To add to the Magical Moments, she got a Minnie Mouse ears that was embroidered with First Haircut on the back and even got a certificate that was signed and dated by the barber for her 1st haircut.
Getting her haircut in Magic Kingdom was very exciting, but all of the extra bonuses made the experience even more magical. This barber shop does not take reservations, so get there early. By noon, there is usually a line around the corner. There are only two chairs, so it can take awhile. Plan on getting there early. Besides 1st haircuts, anyone can get a haircut or just a style. The cost is very reasonable for haircuts, $18 per adult and $14 per child. Be sure to bring cash. This shop only takes cash. They do take the Key to the World, but you are unable to add a tip to the Key to the World. So, still plan on bringing some extra cash for tip.

Mickeyroni and Cheese at Disney World

It is not surprising that the Walt Disney World Resort has the best macaroni and cheese in the world. Disney World serves macaroni and cheese to millions of children each year. Since children do eat alot of macaroni and cheese, Disney Chefs actually created several entrees of macaroni and cheese and had a child focus group pick the best one. The favorite choice is the macaroni and cheese that Disney World serves at all of the Disney restaurants.

Now, you can buy this delicious receipe to take home and cook in your own kitchen. Disney has boxed Mickeyroni and Cheese that you can purchase at the World of Disney Store at Downtown Disney. This macaroni and cheese features the same great recipe you will find at Disney, but the pasta is in the shape of Mickey Mouse heads. Your kids will love it! The price is a little steep for macaroni and cheese at $3.95 per box, but it is a fun way to remember your Disney World vacation.

Clam Bake Dinner at Disney's Beach Club Resort

Disney’s Beach Club Resort has a hidden treasure at their resort called Cape May Restaurant. This “beach themed” restaurant features a very popular breakfast buffet with Disney Characters, but often gets overlooked for dinner. It actually features one of the best dinner buffets on Walt Disney World property, called a Clam Bake. The buffet menu includes some delicious menu items including seafood. We have guests that live on the beaches around Florida that come to Disney World (not to go to the Disney Theme Parks), but to have dinner at Cape May. That should certainly say something about the seafood menu.

The popular menu items include the steamed mussels and clams. The peel and eat shrimp and BBQ ribs are also quite popular. Besides these menu entrees, you can enjoy salads, soups, roasted potatoes, corn on the cob, and much more. Don’t forget the dessert buffet that includes lots of yummy treats including a Florida favorite, Key Lime Pie.

After your dinner, be sure to spot by the Campfire Singalong on the beach at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. You can roast a marshmellow, sing a few songs, and then watch a popular Disney movie under the stars. This is a delicious and relaxing way to enjoy your evening at Disney World. Be sure to make your Advanced Dining Reservation for dinner at Cape May.

Captain's Grille at Disney's Yacht Club Resort

One of the favorite breakfast spots around the Walt Disney World Resort is Captain’s Grille at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. This quiet restaurant sits in the resort lobby of Disney’s Yacht Club Resort with a small view overlooking the pool. This restaurant has a boating theme throughout. The best feature of this restaurant is the food. They offer a delicious breakfast buffet, with every breakfast item you can think to enjoy. Be sure to try their home style potatoes. One of the best breakfast menu items around! Besides the all-you-can eat buffet, you can order off the menu including Mickey Mouse waffles for adults or kids.

If you have a small wait for breakfast, the kids can color in the front room on a table covered with paper. This will keep the younger kids occupied while waiting for a table. You can also walk over to the front desk area and let the kids watch Disney cartoons on chairs, while you wait. For adults, walk outside and relax on the rocking chairs for your table. The pagers work all around this area, so you can enjoy your wait.

To avoid extra wait times waiting for a table for breakfast, book your Advanced Dining Reservation before you leave for Disney World. Your Disney Specialist (with Destinations in Florida) can book your dining reservations or you can call Disney directly.