Epcot has the best festivals! Throughout the year, it draws in guests from all over the world to see and enjoy the current festival being offered. I have been so lucky as to see all of them at different parts of the year. On my most recent trip this January, I came during Epcot’s International Festival of the Arts. The décor and floral arrangements were amazing and there were many creative and fun displays to see. There multiple shops selling beautiful Disney art, shops you can create your own art, expression stations, and entertaining shows! This festival has performing arts, visual arts, culinary arts, and seminars/workshops offered. If you are like me, another thing that always draws me in is the FOOD! There were many different little outdoor kitchens with a wide variety of different food options! The best part, is many of them are on the dining plan as snack credits! My favorite little plate that I tried was from the Deconstructed Dish booth. I tried the deconstructed strawberry cheesecake! It was so delicious! If you want to try several different booths, I recommend that you get the booklet of all of the outdoor kitchens with their offerings. Though Epcot’s International Festival of the Arts has ended for this year, there are more amazing festivals to attend. The next festival starting is: Epcot’s International Flower and Garden show February 28- May 28, 2018. Here you can see beautiful topiaries, sample delicious food, and there is even a live butterfly garden area. Last year we watched a butterfly come out of its chrysalis right before our eyes! Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival is usually in the fall (starting in Sept-Nov)! This is a high favorite among many that visit Walt Disney World! Food and alcohol parings draw many in from all over the world! Here you can taste delicious foods and refreshing beverages. Eat and drink your way around the World Showcase! No matter what time of year you come to visit, there is always something to see and do at Epcot! I would love to help you plan your next vacation! Contact me at alli@mickeysdreamvacations.com My new favorite place to eat is Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming in Disney Springs. Chef Smith only uses produce and meats by farmers within a 200 mile radius of his restaurant. He also visits once or twice a week. This restaurant has been voted the best place to eat in Disney Springs. They are famous for their fried chicken, trust me it was AMAZING! They brine their chicken in buttermilk 24 hours before they prepare it. I love macaroni and cheese, it’s on of my favorite side dishes, and theirs didn’t disappoint!! Make sure you leave room for dessert! We had the hummingbird cake, another one of their specialties. They have several to choose from, but this one sounded amazing and it was!! Reservations are highly recommended for Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming.
Contact your agent today if you would like to dine here. My family & I kicked off our summer vacation with a Carnival Cruise of out of New Orleans, La. We traveled to Roatan, Belize, and Cozumel. Being a travel agent I tend to look beyond just the vacation itself and observe more things like the staff, boat cleanliness, food quality, other travelers remarks I hear in passing, and so on. We started off our cruise with two days at sea where my teenage girls ran from one end of the boat to the other doing as many activities offered as possible. They played trivia, bingo, cards, watched both evening shows in the theater, ate ice cream galore (which is free self serve on the ships), and just had a great time having a little freedom. One thing that made this easier for me to allow them to go some places on the ship without us is that Carnival implemented a chat feature app. For $5 a phone we would all text/chat each other back and forth with our location or where to meet next, etc. I was really glad to see they started offering some form of communication that doesn't cost a small fortune. Our first port stop was Roatan which I have stayed on this island for several weeks before. It is always my favorite port and I was so excited to be here for the day! We got a day pass to Infinity Bay which is the resort we stay at the times we have flown to the island. It was so nice being back snorkeling right off the beach in some of the prettiest water you have ever seen, lounging in the infinity pool that overlooks the Caribbean, and drinking their famous Monkey La La drinks that are "oh so" delicious. As always, Roatan did not disappoint. Our second port stop was Belize where I planned a private island excursion which was exactly what it was....a private island with just my family and one other family from the cruise ship. We were able to use the paddle boards, kayaks, beach chairs, and fresh water showers. They chef on the island cooked us lunch and it was wonderful. It was so quiet and relaxing! There were four bungalow style houses on the island that you can rent as well. After talking and getting some information from the island manager I can now book my clients to this private island and it is an all inclusive AND they have a sister property in the jungle region of Belize so you can do a split stay between the properties. This is going to be a perfect vacation for many families, honeymooners, anniversary travelers, or just a getaway! Needless to say, I was excited leaving this excursion with the new information I had acquired to pass on to my clients. Our third port was Cozumel where I booked a day pass to the Occidental Grand which is also an all inclusive property. The grounds at the resort were beautifully landscaped, they had all day activities by the pool, the food was very good as were the drinks. If Cozumel is a place you have been wanting to travel to this resort would be a good choice. We have cruised many times with different cruise lines. This cruise was what I expected as far as quality, service, activity options, etc. All in all my family had a wonderful time being together and that is what our main goal of going on vacation is. Make memories with your loved ones while you can. I would love to help you and your family with your next vacation whether it is a cruise, an all inclusive resort, Disney, or someplace else. Kristy kristy@gomdv.com 225-505-0452 We are always looking for something fun to do on our resort day. Something unique but easy and free is always good! Aside from swimming and exploring our own resort, Polynesian Village, I wanted something super fun but close so we didn’t have to drive or take the bus anywhere. I knew we had to take the monorail over to the Grand Floridian so I could visit one of my favorite stores - Basin White - for a Mickey Bath Bomb! That helped me figure it out! We would go to the Grand Floridian for the ‘Magical Moment’! I don’t have a princess but I do have the most charming little prince!! We arrived at the Grand Floridian around 3:20pm and headed up to M. Mouse Mercantile on the second floor. There were no other prince or princesses there yet but there was the sweetest Cast Member who filled us in on what happens at this most royal event! Parents are welcome to stay with their kids or go downstairs to the lobby to take pictures as they walked down the stairs and danced. At 3:35pm, the royal staff would come and walk the kids over to take a photo. Cinderella and Prince Charming came out as the kids were lined up and posed for pictures with the group - by this time there were about 20 kids there and ready to participate. There is a PhotoPass Photographer there to capture the magic. He passed out PhotoPass cards that we linked to our My Disney Experience account. (He does not scan individual magic bands) We received all the pictures from the event on this card. After pictures, Cinderella and Prince Charming led the kids down the main staircase. (I ran down the smaller staircase and sat on the little platform in between the 2 large white balls in the lobby – we were told this was the best seat in the house since the prince and princess would dance right in front of us). The kids were adorable following the royal couple down the staircase and then everyone was invited to dance. My little one was especially excited to dance with me until Cinderella came and cut in!! Yes!! The princess herself walked over and asked to dance with my little prince! I was thrilled and couldn’t grab the camera fast enough to record this magical moment! He, on the other hand, needs to know things beforehand so he danced with her with a stunned look on his face the whole time J After the dance, she curtsied and let him know he should bow. It was adorable. Our royal hosts mingled for another few minutes and then left to attend their next royal engagement. It was a super fun half hour or so that we spent enjoying this Magical Moment! I highly recommend taking the time to bring your little princess or prince to experience this! I would love to help you plan more magical moments for your vacation! Jen Morrison jen@gomdv.com facebook.com/mickeysdreamvacationsbyjen On our most recent visit to the mouse we decided a day at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon was in order. We were going in May so I knew it would be hot and needed a place in the shade. A Cabana was the answer! The Cabanas at Typhoon Lagoon are called "Beachcomber Shacks" and are worth every penny. If you are debating on if this is something you want to do here are the details: The Beachcomber shacks provide your family with a comfortable place to hide from the sun, get away from the crowds and relax. When you arrive at the park you will head to High N Dry rentals and get in the cabana check in line. From there you will be checked in and everyone in your party is given a wrist band. The cast member walks you to your cabana and explains the amenities. Your cabana host will greet you and give you her number to text if you need anything. She is there to bring you food, drinks, extra towels or anything you think you will need. The cabanas will accommodate up to six guests and the cost is $351.56 for the full day plus park admission, it includes the following: Fresh Towels Cooler with bottled water refilled all day All day drink mugs for everyone in the party Private lockers Attendant Lounge furniture-(ours had six Adirondack style chairs as well as a couple of ottomans and side tables) When it's time for lunch head back to your cabana and text your order to the attendant, she will magically bring your food to you. No need to stand in line with the masses. The cabana menu has the same items found at the counter service restaurants in the parks with offerings such as burgers, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, salads, wraps and several desserts. There is also a drink menu for alcoholic beverages. Our cabana was located right near the wave pool so it was a great centrally located spot in the park where everyone can meet back at during the day. Cabanas can be booked 180 days ahead and payment is due in full at the time of booking. You can cancel and get a refund 24 hours in advance. If you are looking for something special to do with your family and have some luxury added to your vacation this is a great add on. Ask your agent to help you reserve a cabana for your next Disney vacation. Adventure Awaits! -Meg Kinnerk Every trip to Disney World is magical, but sometimes let’s face it, things happen! On my most recent trip, I unfortunately had an incident that required a little extra help. I am allergic to raspberries and usually carry an Epipen. That day I had forgotten mine. I was eating at a buffet in Animal Kingdom and reacted to something I ate (not raspberry related). It wasn’t super serious (anaphylaxis), but I did start reacting some and panicked. Of all times not to have my Epipen! That’s where First Aid at Disney comes in.
A friend at my table reached out to a cast member about the issue and multiple cast members descended upon me in a blink of an eye. I was offered EMT’s or the option to go to the First Aid station nearby where trained medical professionals were on hand to assist me. They have Epipens on site as well as other first aid needs. I chose to go to the First Aid station since my breathing wasn’t labored in any way. A cast member walked me quickly and calmly to the station nearby and handed me off to caring and waiting staff. My vitals were immediately checked and I was offered the opportunity to use an Epipen or take some Benadryl. I took Benadryl and was closely monitored by a very sweet RN who made sure everything was going well with my oxygen levels, and I wasn’t in danger. I stayed there for 30 min after dosing for monitoring. I felt so much better and was sent on my way to enjoy the rest of my day. Until this happened, I didn’t pay attention to the First Aid stations. I was so relieved to know this was offered to guests! Ironically at the next park, my friends and I all needed band aids for our blistered feet. First Aid to the rescue again! They are equipped to handle basic needs (serious injuries/illnesses medics are nearby for). If you are overheated, need band aids, have a bad head ache, or in my case a small reaction to something, they are waiting in the wings. They can take blood pressures, pulse oxygen rates, temperatures, and basic offer medical care/medicines. If the situation were to change into something more serious, they will get you the extra medical attention you may need. It is comforting to me to know they are there and trained if needed. No one wants to think of something happening to them on vacation, but with life you never know. I was highly impressed with the quickness of getting me some help, as well as the caring cast members I met along the way. My safety was a priority and I felt that. If an unfortunate situation were to arise on your vacation. Rest assured that Disney has got your back! Safe travels! I would love to help you plan your next vacation! Email me today at alli@mickeysdreamvacations.com My family spent part of our spring break visiting Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort. We first went in December and loved the experience so much, that we wanted to come back again when the weather was warm! There are so many things you can experience while visiting! Upon check in you will receive a calendar with the week’s activities and times going on at the resort. These will include a variety of fun interactive learning activities that you can participate in that vary by the week. Some of the many examples are Shark Teeth Necklaces, Goofy Bingo, Mickey Tie Dye, Paint Nights, Campfire (including complementary SMORES!) and various story times! You can also call the resort the Saturday before check-in to request the week’s activities to be mailed to you to prepare for your stay. Some of these activities require a fee that you can pay when you arrive to do it, but you can sign up beforehand. All over the resort there are fun things to do as a family. Shuffle boards, life size checkers, hammocks, bike rentals, fishing, basketball hoops, and playgrounds are available to guests! There is something for everyone! Some evenings there are complimentary movies under the big oak trees! Depending on the room type you get you can cook if you wish while you are there. Deluxe Studios have a small kitchenette but no stove. The villas do have a full kitchen. There is a grocery store within walking distance that you can pick up some food and needs for your stay. We had a 2-bedroom villa and cooked as well as tried some restaurants in the area. There are SO many to choose from! The front desk at check-in gave us a booklet with some of the area restaurants with their menus. If you would rather just stay on property, there are a few quick service places on the property where you can get food on the go and even Mickey Bars and Dole Whips!! YES! A great thing about cooking in your villa, is that moueskeeping even does the dishes for you! The Beach House is available by shuttle and takes to you back and forth. The Beach House has a pool, quick service restaurant, pool bar, and some of the activities of the week are held there. You need to bring your Key to the World Card (room key) to be able to access it. There is a small distance board walk that takes you right onto the sand! We loved beach combing and playing in the water! Complementary towels are provided at both the Beach House pools and the main Pool with waterslide at the resort. There is even a towel drop there as well so you don’t have to carry wet towels around with you. Once we were finished we walked back up to the front of the back house and called for the shuttle to came back for us to take us to the other side of the resort. It is super-efficient and quick! The Mercantile shop is the place to go on property for Disney merchandise, snacks, and to rent complimentary movies during your stay! They have a 2-day rental and you can always ask for an extension as well. They have so many movies to choose from in their library and even offer popcorn bags you can purchase to take back to your room for a movie night. The cast members are super friendly in there and can help you if you have any questions or are looking for something in particular. Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort is a great place to go and relax! You receive Disney level service and comfort without the busyness of some other Disney destinations. The cast members are some of the best I have ever met at any Disney destination and are always there to put a smile on your face or help you in any way they can. I highly recommend this location to visit for anytime of the year! We will be back for sure and when I walk through that door, I know I will hear the words “Welcome Home”. Let me help you plan your next getaway. Alli@mickeysdreamvacations.com Preparing for my Disney Vacation The countdown is on…47 days until I check in to the Polynesian! Our last 3 stays were at the Beach Club so it was time for a change and who could resist the Polynesian. We were lucky enough to grab a Club Level Theme Park View Room so I cannot wait to sit back and relax watching Happily Ever After for the first time! I’ve already put a request in for a 3rd floor room so we can sit back outside and enjoy a Dole Whip while watching! We are hoping for a laid back, non-rushed vacation where we can just enjoy our surroundings. I have only booked 2 table service meals (that will SHOCK anyone who knows me!) We definitely have to have breakfast with my best friend, Stitch at ‘Ohana and my son’s favorite restaurant in Disney Springs…T-Rex! Disney Springs is one of my favorite places. My trips are not complete unless I get lost in World of Disney or load up on ornaments at Disney’s Days of Christmas. My son, on the other hand, would spend hours at the Lego Store! I look forward to sharing our adventures and all the new attractions and shows Disney has added with you while we are there! Stay tuned!! Jen Morrison Mickey’s Dream Vacations facebook.com/mickeysdreamvacationsbyjen Jen@gomdv.com My husband and I decided to do our first solo vacation since having children and booked a vacation on the Disney Wonder with a day at Disney World prior. We came into Orlando and stayed at Disney’s Contemporary Bay Lake resort in deluxe studio room with a theme park view to kick start our vacation. That view is out of this world amazing and the pictures I took don’t even do it justice to how close we were to the castle. After a fun day at the parks, we retreated to our room for private dinner dining and watched the fireworks from our balcony on the 7th floor. It was a relaxing way to end our day and prepare for our cruise. Cruising with just my husband was a great experience. Disney cruise lines offer a variety of adult only options that I was very pleased with. We attended an adult only cooking class that served a complimentary wine pairing and followed that class with another on how to fold napkins in the amazing ways that Disney does. We were given a copy of the recipe we sampled as well as a handout with instructions for napkin folding when we get home. There are adult only comedy shows, dancing, and special locations and pools reserved for just adults! Aboard, you will receive a paper navigator with an adult only section with what is going on and where. You can also check this section on the app you download prior to your vacation. On Castaway Cay there is an amazing adult only section called Serenity Bay and it is definitely serene! There are multiple hammocks, chairs, and lounging locations. I saw many people take their chairs down to the water and stick their toes in. Cast Members come around and offer drinks and make sure you are comfortable. You can also rent a cabana which is a nice place to relax as well and includes comfortable furniture, a refrigerator stocked with drinks and fruit, and a cast member assigned to you to make sure your needs are met. It is a great place to relax as well. We enjoyed the adult only dining location at serenity bay. I loaded my plate with steak, ribs and lots of sides! Of course, I topped it all off with the unlimited soft serve ice cream cones!
We rented snorkel gear and took it over to serenity bay since it was less crowded. We saw many fish, starfish, sand dollars, and conch shells. It was so beautiful and I HIGHLY recommend trying it out. For those that wanted to relax in the water, you could rent floats and loungers. More active couples could choose to rent bikes as well. Disney even offers the opportunity to bundle it together and rent it all! The water is so crystal clear it felt like we were in a sandy pool and you could see your feet all the way down for as far as you are allowed to venture. We enjoyed our day at Castaway and wish we could have spent forever there! We will want to return and soak up some more sun! Adult vacationing was a lot of fun and we truly felt like we could relax and had many options to choose from that suited our vacation style. Disney thinks of it all! You can be as active or as sedative as you would like! We loved or time there together and will count down the days till we can return! I would love to book your next vacation! Email me today: alli@mickeysdreamvacations.com My husband & I took our first trip to Disney without the kids. I must say at first I was a little hesitant of going to Disney without kids especially since we have taken them every year for the past 7 years now. It was fabulous, yes fabulous!! We had such a great time leisurely walking to rides, stopping to take pictures, people watching and feeling the parents pain when we would see tired and not cooperative children. It made us smile and miss our kids but it also made us enjoy this trip so much more. Since we did not have the kids with us we decided to "Drink Around The World". It was something we had always talked about doing but never had the opportunity since we had always had our kids with us. I purchased drink cards and it listed every country with an open spot for you to write down the drink you had in that country. We went around drinking and shopping in all the countries. We laughed when trying to pronounce some of the names of the drinks we were ordering. We learned about what was in certain drinks from the different countries. We bought some gifts for the kids and just enjoyed our time. I have never had the opportunity to go in many of the countries shops either and I was impressed at the selection of different items they had to buy. Drinking Around The World was a fun way to spend the day in Epcot. We stayed at the Yacht Club on this trip so we walked from there to the world showcase entrance of Epcot. This resort is a great choice for easy access to Epcot. If you ever have to opportunity to go to Disney with the kids I highly suggest doing so. You will see Disney in a different light! I would love to help you plan your next vacation wherever you may be going! Please feel free to email or call me anytime. Kristy We do all travel, not just Disney. Adventure Awaits! Kristy Lobell - Travel Agent An Authorized Disney Vacation Planner Funjet 500 Club Agency 225-505-0452 - Direct www.facebook.com/disneykristy P.S. Referrals are the greatest compliment you can give me. If you know anyone who is thinking of traveling soon, please pass my name, email and number along. |