Theme Parks Archives - Page 2 of 9

Best Epcot Snacks to Try

June 26, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

One of the most undeniably satisfying elements of visiting Epcot’s World Showcase is the accessibility of authentic international cuisine. Where you plan to have lunch and dinner at Epcot could impact the course of your entire day. Even if you don’t make reservations for one of the many signature restaurants around world showcase, your choice of quick service has implications just as dramatic. The whole southern hemisphere of Epcot is a veritable smorgasbord of culturally specific foods. How will you decide where you eat and what countries to skip? The best solution is to snack as often as possible, so you can get a taste of every country – and here’s our thoughts on the best Epcot snacks to try!

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Bavarian Pretzel

If you’re looking for a meal on the east end of World Showcase, you have a lot of options to choose from – one of them being the buffet in the Biergarten at Germany; but all you can eat food at any World Showcase restaurant precludes any further enjoyment of the other international flavors. Instead, go to Sommerfest and have a Bavarian pretzel. It is way better than a Mickey Pretzel and more rare.

School Bread

The second pavilion in, on the left hand side of the lagoon, is Norway. This pavilion may seem to have been taken over by Frozen, so I’m sure many little kids can point it out quickly. However, the Norway identity in this pavilion is still very much alive. The first snack you have to try when you come to Norway is the School Bread in Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe – it’s a sweet custard-filled roll topped with coconut shavings. While my hubby is anti-coconut, this is definitely delicious if you do!

Kakigori

The next place you should stop for a unique snack is at the Kabuki Cafe at the entrance to the Japan Pavilion. Here you will find a refreshing shaved ice treat that is topped with sweet milk. The best flavor is melon, but you can also get it in rainbow, tangerine, cherry and raspberry.

Cheese Plate

Most of the really great World Showcase snacks require you to venture deeper into the pavilion, despite several kiosks planted right on the edge or even across from the pavilion. France requires you to go all the way to the back of the pavilion and rewards you with a massive boulangerie called Les Halles. Les Halles opens before the rest of World Showcase and it’s a great place for breakfast. It’s also perfect for a savory cheese plate, especially after snacking on sweets. Or nab one of their sweets – there’s lots to choose from to add to your Epcot snacks list!

Maple Popcorn

Finally, you can end your trip around World Showcase and you’ve most likely had more to eat and drink then what is mentioned on this list. The only thing left to do is make sure you save some room. When you get to Canada, where maple is infused with everything, you must have some Maple Popcorn to end your journey around the world with.

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Best Magic Kingdom Foods in a Hurry

June 19, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

If you’re cruising around Magic Kingdom, you don’t want the fun to stop. Getting a good bite to eat at the last second can be a tough job, though. You don’t waste time around a crowded park, looking for an accommodating restaurant when you’re hungry. So, when you need a solution right away, you can turn to one of these five Best Magic Kingdom Foods in a Hurry, that will help give you that extra boost of energy to power onward. Sorry, nothing listed from Tomorrowland here, but if you are stuck there, there are plenty of vendors there with some snacks that didn’t make this list.

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Cinnamon Roll at Gaston’s Tavern

When thinking about a quick bite at Magic Kingdom, the very first thing that should spring to ming is the massive and flavorful Cinnamon Roll offered at Gaston’s Tavern in the new Fantasyland. It may not be as pretty as the Mermaid Donut at Prince Eric’s Market, but it’s substantial enough to share and much more satisfying. You can’t go wrong with this as a last minute Magic Kingdom order.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake at Aloha Terrace

The only way to top the classic Dole Whip is by putting an upside down pineapple cake beneath it. Dole may have other flavors, and they may have special tricked out versions in other places, but I love the simplicity of this pineapple treat. The cake is delicious and the Dole Whip on top hits the spot even more, when its creamy texture is coupled with fluffy cake.

Hot Dog at Casey’s Corner

There is nothing more American, or more Disney than having a hot dog on Casey’s Corner. To make it even more enticing, Casey’s frequently changes their menu with new updated specialty dogs to keep things interesting; but it doesn’t get any better than a classic chili cheese dog. They’re one of the more popular Magic Kingdom foods to try!

Waffle Sandwich at Sleepy Hollow

It really doesn’t matter what you have in it, there’s nothing better than a good waffle. These delicious waffle sandwiches come with sweet and spicy chicken which is obviously a timeless combo, or you could go with the even more classic fruit option which includes fresh fruit and a chocolate hazelnut spread, just to make it perfect (that ones my fav).

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Chili Queso Fries at Golden Oak Outpost

Finally, way in the back of Frontierland, is a frequently changing menu at Golden Oak Outpost. They usually have something amazing to offer during different times of the year and right now the Chili Queso Fries are it. This is a hearty snack that’s even better if you’ve been treating yourself to sugar all day (I’m totally guilty of this). Waffle Fries topped with warm delicious chili and a white queso sauce for a southwestern flair. Yeehaw!!

What’s Your Favorite?

These accessible places in Magic Kingdom make terrific last minute Magic Kingdom meal solutions, whether you are desperate for something to eat, or just looking for a satisfying snack. Do you have a favorite fast bite that didn’t get mentioned here? Let me know in the comments!

Best Disney World Ride Hacks

June 12, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

When you wait over an hour to finally experience a Disney attraction, you want the experience to be an incredible one. In most cases, the experience is more or less the same no matter where you sit, or what you do. However, sometimes you need to make a request in order to have the most fun. In some cases, it’s essential to avoiding disappointment. Here are five of the Best Disney World Ride Hacks for an even better attraction experience.

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Top Center– Soarin’

Soarin around the world is an exhilarating attraction full of breathtaking sights… for about 1/3 of the passengers. Unfortunately, the film’s focus on towering structures often undermines the intended illusion. The curvature of the images get more distorted the further you are from center. Given how long the wait can sometimes be, make sure you ask to be seated in the center. Ask for Row B1 (top center), or B2 (dead center) for the best view.

Front of the Train — Expedition Everest

In most cases, Roller coasters are best experienced from the back of the train. Disney has a few exceptions to this rule and Expedition Everest is one of them. Spoiler alert, if you’ve never been on the ride or seen it in action– it goes backwards. Besides the backwards motion, the show elements leading up to the reversal are way more impressive from the front of the train. Cast members are very accommodating if you request to wait for a front row seat. Do this on Space Mountain as well, as the ride is even more thrilling when nothing is in front of you.

Back of the Train — Big Thunder Mountain

Big Thunder is a classic coaster and it definitely works best from the back of the train. It’s more fun the way you get whipped around, particularly when you get pulled down over the inclines. The front of the train gets far less out of the drops and the view is obstructed by the engine.

Read the Warnings — Mission Space

Mission Space is a controversial ride. It’s a lot of fun, for some people, but others get sick. It’s important that you take the cautions seriously and consider taking the less intense version of the ride, or not riding at all. Personally, I think this is a great ride overall and don’t want to put it down, but I can’t ride it anymore due to the motion sickness and head vertigo it gives me. It’s so important that you don’t have a negative experience on this intense simulator attraction, so make the best choice for you.

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Galactic Hero — Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin

This is one of the best ride hacks, and I learned it from my friends at Michael’s VIPs! It’s up to you if you want to share this trick with your friends and family, or just let them marvel at your Galactic Hero stature. All you have to do to max out your score on this ride is hit three targets. They aren’t even difficult targets – you just have to hit them hard when they come around! The first target is the inside of the orange robot’s right arm. Hit it with everything you’ve got and then wait for target two to come around. Target two is the volcano. There are two volcano targets, so aim at the top one. Finally, you will confront Emperor Zurg. On this stage, fire as much as possible on the target at the bottom of Zurg’s rocket. These three targets are the highest scoring and if you really go after it, you will have no trouble reaching the scoring threshold.

Do you know any Disney World Ride Hacks?

Best Disneyland Foods in a Hurry

June 5, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Disneyland is not just an awesome place to have a fun time with your friends and family – its become a destination for food! There’s a chance element when it comes to getting food at Disneyland, quick bites, especially. The hit-and-miss ratio is kind of tight. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth the risk, because some Disneyland quick eats are out of this world. Some of these delicious and sizable snacks are clever and dramatic twists to old classics and standbys. Others are just plain amazing. Here are my top five choices for the Best Disneyland Foods in a Hurry!

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Corn Dog at the Little Red Wagon

The legendary Hand Dipped Corn Dog at Disneyland is something you just can’t get anywhere else. Even Walt Disney World corn dogs don’t even come close! Like so many great Disneyland attractions, you can only get it here. Even among the three places in the Disneyland Resort that sell Hand Dipped Hot Dogs, the Little Red Wagon does it best.

Mint Julep and Beignets in New Orleans Square

Don’t worry, this is a non-alcoholic drink with a delicious mix of flavors. To go with it, grab a tasty, warm beignets that even come in pumpkin flavors during certain seasons!

Churro at Any Churro Cart

Here’s another thing that Disneyland does like nobody else. The churros in Walt Disney World are tasty, and they do have the Churro Ice Cream Sandwich, which is actually really cook. However, Disneyland Churros are served hot and fresh and that makes a ridiculous amount of difference. If you’ve ever had a Disneyland Churro, chances are, you have a hard time getting into the premade versions they have in the other Disney parks.

Loaded Whip at Tropical Hideaway

Just a simple Dole Whip is good enough. It’s refreshing, nostalgic, creamy, perky… It’s basically perfect. However, you can’t miss the chance to completely over indulge with a Loaded Whip at Tropical Hideaway. This unique, over the top take on the Disney classic is something you have to try at least once. The price is shockingly reasonable and it’s edible fun in its purest form.

Bengal Beef Skewer at Bengal Barbecue

Or anything else here really. You may have a hard time wrapping your head around two food stops as you go through Adventureland, but if you factor in the Tiki Room, the Jungle Cruise, Indiana Jones and Tarzan’s Treehouse; it warrants stopping for another bite. The Bengal Beef Skewer is a tasty chewy treat, that’s even better when combined with other delicious skewers and a tropical beverage.

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Bratwurst at Troubadour Tavern

In the back of Fantasyland, near Mickey’s Toontown Station, you’ll find a little known, unassuming quick service location that serves a unique assortment of satisfying snacks. The Bratwurst is something Cosmo Kramer would hop off of the Disneyland Railroad for. It’s served on a garlic and herb brioche bun with hickory smoked bacon sauerkraut. This is also the only place where you can get a BBQ version of the famous Disneyland Turkey Leg.

What’s Your Favorite Disneyland Foods you can get in a hurry? I’d love to know your favorite quick bites as well. Do you have a Disneyland food that you have to get every time? Share your favorite (or least favorite) Disneyland foods below!

Hollywood Studios Things to try Before Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge

May 29, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Every Star Wars fan can’t wait to see what Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be like when it finally opens – seriously, I get giddy just from the anticipation! August 29th seems so far far away, but Hollywood Studios is already the place for Star Wars – more than ever for fans to experience before Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge opens it’s gates and lets everybody in on the big secret. Here’s some suggestions we can all enjoy in the park before the grand opening!

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Guided Tour

For a full tilt Star Wars experience, you can reserve a Star Wars Guided tour. This $93 per person experience gives you access to every Star Wars activity and attraction there is in Hollywood Studios. If you’re like me and can’t easily swing that cost, you can have your own Star Wars day with these other exciting Hollywood Studio Star Wars highlights.

Star Tours — The Adventures Continue

Take a photo on a speeder bike and enter the Ewok village on your way to your Star Speeder which now offers several tours around the galaxy. Guided by C3PO, your tour group will explore any of the wide variety of worlds found in the original Star Wars Trilogy and the prequels. The adventure even climaxes with a 3D encounter with a Sith Lord seeking out a rebel spy from among your ranks.

Jedi Training

Enroll children ages 4-12 in this Jedi training course in a secluded Jedi temple. Young trainees will learn the ways of the Force and how to wield a lightsaber. Hopefully, training won’t be interrupted by any agents of the dark side… right? The registration for this event is open from the start of the day and availability is on a first come first serve basis (it often fills up FAST, so hurry to get your spot right when it opens). All participants must be present to register.

Star Wars Launch Bay and Theater

In the Animation Courtyard, you can get photo ops with Star Wars scenery, view concept art, movie props and wardrobe, and finally have an encounter with Chewbacca, Kylo Ren, or BB8. This unique character meet and greet is prefaced with a variety of behind the scenes looks for those who are interested in Star Wars as a series of films. There is even a theater with a continuous running documentary.

Live Shows

Take a Star Wars Break throughout your day with two live shows. Star Wars: A Galaxy Far Far Away is a stage show in the center of the park that features popular characters and scene reenactments from across the franchise. The show features, Chewbacca, Kylo Ren, BB8, Darth Maul and Darth Vader. March of the First Order also takes the stage in a demonstration of Captain Phasma’s power.

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Hollywood Studios Star Wars Spectacular

When night falls a stunning spectacular of pyrotechnics and projections illuminate the night sky. The exciting show features immersive starship battles and action sequences set to the moving compositions of John Williams. The show now features an action packed segment from Solo: A Star Wars Story as well. You can get in on the action without camping out before hand if you buy tickets for the dessert party for this climactic presentation. Indulge in limitless desserts and savory treats, themed beverages and preferred viewing of the show.

What will you do before Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge opens to prepare?

Best Disney World Gift Shops on Property

May 22, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Whether you look at it from a cynical angle, or appreciate it as part of the fun, gift shops are a huge part of the Walt Disney World experience. They’re everywhere, because people want their Walt Disney World souvenirs – and who can blame them? When you leave a major attraction, you’re dumped right into a gift shop themed to the experience – the same goes for some restaurants. To avoid spending tons of your vacation time browsing for the right thing, here’s our list of the Best Disney World Gift Shops on Property.

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Sometimes the gift shop is actually part of the experience. You can see this is the case all over World Showcase where the gift shops are so intricately themed and the merchandise is so unique it hardly seems fair to include them or single any out. I will though… later. Some gift shops in Disney World work on a more general level – they’re large and have plenty of different types of merchandise to choose from. These are the best place to get your Walt Disney World souvenirs. Finally, there’s the hotel gift shops that have a variety of merchandise as well, but also tend to have hotel specific products on hand. In most of these there’s a fair degree of personal taste, but objectively, some hold better to theming and product – those are the ones we’ve decided to focus on.

Best Attraction Gift Shop

Memento Mori is hands down the best attractions gift shop. However, my runner up is the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, so I have to wonder if I have a preference for the macabre or if Disney is just really good at it. Memento Mori is unique in that it isn’t part of the attraction exit, but I guess you could say it’s just that good that people seek it out anyway. The merchandise available here comes in a wide range from decor, to dishes, all of it themed to the famed attraction.

Best Restaurant Gift Shop

There are a number of restaurants that spill you right into a gift shop. Most of these are geared toward kids, but The Boathouse is an exception. At first glance the gift shop doesn’t seem out of place at all. However, when you think about it a little, it seems a little strange. It actually makes perfect sense, though, and the Boathouse gift shop has a very specific, unique vibe to it that fits in well with the Disney Springs theme. Therefore as a general way to commemorate a Disney Springs experience, or just out of enjoyment for the restaurant, this gift shop is a great place to pick up a Disney World souvenir.

Best World Showcase Gift Shop

This is the hardest category to analyze objectively. How does it not come down to personal taste? The theming at each of the World Showcase pavilions is so detailed and spot on. That extends to the gift shops, which in some cases are the primary focus of the pavilion. Suffice it to say, I love all of these shops for different reasons. If I were rich going into Epcot, I would be poor coming out. In my personal opinion, the best gift shop has to be the department store Mitsukoshi, which sponsors the Japan Pavilion.

Best General Gift Shop for (Disney World Souvenirs)

There are a lot of general gift shops you can go to that have a lot of Disney World merchandise to choose from. These are the places you can go to for just about any kind of Disney World souvenir. Magic Kingdom has the Emporium. Epcot has MouseGear, but the best has to be the World of Disney story in the Disney Springs Marketplace. It’s massive and has so many departments to choose from. It’s also close to the Marketplace Co-op, if you are looking for more unique Disney merchandise.

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Best Hotel Gift Shop

Finally, the best hotel gift shop really is whichever one you are staying at – any differences usually don’t make up for the time spent going somewhere different. Alternatively, the resort you love the most. The Deluxe resorts tend to have the better resort merchandise and from there it’s kind of hard to split hairs. However, there is one store that offers a little bit more theming and is overall a more stoppable store. By that, I mean there’s enough space and merchandise to make the shopping experience more fun – Boutiki at the Polynesian Village Resort.

What’s your favorite Disney World Gift Shop?

Free Printable Disneyland Ride Lists

May 15, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

If you’re like me, you’re counting down until Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge opens at the Disney parks – and for Disneyland in California, it’s just a couple of weeks away! I’m eager for all the pictures, thoughts and stories from visitors able to go at that time, and will be eating up all the tips I can for when hubby and I tackle the one at WDW later this fall. Whether you’re going this month or later this year, here are some updated Free Printable Disneyland Ride Lists with height requirements for you to enjoy!

I’ve had many people asking if we would be updating our previous version of our Free Printable Disneyland Lists for all the changes in attractions (no more Bug’s Land, Jessie’s Critter Carousel, etc.) plus the addition of the long-awaited Star Wars area. I wanted to make sure to wait long enough in case of other switches, but now it’s ready for you to print off and use on your next trip to Disneyland and California Adventure.

Download and print your Disneyland Ride Lists HERE

While only the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will be opening with the area on May 31st at Disneyland (and August 29th for Disney World), I still wanted to include Rise of the Resistance on this list for those preparing for their trip later – especially since we don’t have an open date for that attraction as of yet.

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What’s YOUR favorite Disney ride?

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Our First Orlando Informer Meetup

May 8, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

We love travelling, especially to theme parks for a truly exciting experience – but it can be difficult to manage not only cost-wise, but fitting in all that time away. Hearing about the meet up that Orlando Informer does a couple of times each year, I thought it could be the great weekend get-away, and it didn’t disappoint! Here’s all the things I loved the most about Our First Orlando Informer Meetup.

First of all, a bit about the Orlando Informer Meetup – it happens 2-3 times each year, and so far it’s usually 1 evening (ours was Saturday, April 27th). You can get into the parks as early as 5pm, then stay clear until 1:30am – meaning several hours after everyone else has to leave! You seriously feel like a VIP walking in, then getting on rides while others that aren’t a part of the event are turned away after their closing time.

Your admission ticket is these fun, light-up bracelets they give you at check-in. Once you pull the red tab, you can turn on the light-up feature so staff can easily see if you’re suppose to be there. And don’t worry, they have a table on each side of the park with Orlando Informer staff ready to help with any issues, such as if your bracelet isn’t working properly. We had that problem, and they replaced it without any hassle. Love the service!

Little-to-No Wait Times

People said that, because most of the crowds have to leave when the park ‘closes’, there’s hardly any wait times after that for rides – but I didn’t realize just how short they would be! Most of them were basically however long it took to walk through the line to the start of the ride, and those that did have some wait was like 5-10 minutes. Crazy!

Because of this, we were able to fit in so much in the 8.5 hours we were there, meaning it was a killer deal. The Orlando Informer Meetup cost about $182 after tax per person, and was totally worth it just for this part alone – but there’s EVEN MORE!

Lots of Free Food

I heard this was new for our event, but when we checked in each of us received a voucher that was good for 1 quick-service meal with drink, plus a snack and another drink to use in the parks anytime before they closed to the public. So not only do you kick-off your park time with some free food, but then once the public leaves and the actual event starts, they have TONS of places serving free food to try! This was really neat, since we were able to sample things from different restaurants and snack stands that normally we’d have to pay for (and since travel budgets can be tight, we rarely get to try much).

Yes, FREE BUTTERBEER (and pumpkin juice – my favorite), ice cream, and various foods like chicken strips, burgers, fried rice, veggies, rolls, popcorn, donuts – seriously, so many! Just check out our ‘food map’ we received at check in…

Easy Weekend Trip

Since one of the things that make trips difficult to manage is fitting in time away from work – but since this event is really only 1 night (though their upcoming one in December is TWO nights!), you can fit it into a weekend and not even miss any work! We flew in early Saturday morning, enjoyed some time around CityWalk (lunch at my favorite place – Toothsome), then were in the parks at 5pm. After we left totally exhausted but having had a complete blast, we crashed at the hotel about 2am, slept in until check-out, and flew home that evening. So two days for an incredible trip!

Less Crowds

Not just for ride wait times, but walking around a bunch of crowds in the park when you want to enjoy the scenery can be frustrating – but not during the Orlando Informer Meetup! We felt like some of only a few people in the park, not hitting crowds or anything once it was closed to the public. The girls were even able to break out into one of their dance routines randomly as we walked around the park without any fear of bumping into people!

This also meant plenty of fun, unobstructed photos all around the park where normally you’d have to fight with people to get a good shot.

Fun Characters & Activities

As if the food and rides weren’t enough, but they had characters all over the place for some added fun. Some of the characters were even part of an activity – finding the secret password for a speakeasy! Since I don’t drink, and had 2 minors with me, we didn’t participate in this – but we did watch plenty enjoying figuring out the clues. It seemed to be 1920’s mob-themed for this, which is really cool.

We’re big fans of music, so it was great that they had DJs all around the parks keeping people dancing and excited even into the wee hours of the morning.

I HIGHLY recommend checking out the Orlando Informer Meetup for an incredible experience at Universal Studios Orlando! Our first experience was better than we could have imagined, and we can’t wait to do it again in the future!

What’s your favorite thing about Universal Studios Orlando?

10 Reasons to Choose Michael’s VIPs Tour Guides

April 17, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

I was provided tour guide services to facilitate this review. All opinions are entirely my own.

Want to know what one of my favorite things about vacations is? The memories – whether they’re good, bad, hilarious or down-right embarrassing! And yes, I have plenty of those 🙂 One of my least favorite things, on the other hand, is the stress and hassle involved. That’s one of several Reasons to Choose Michael’s VIPs Tour Guides for your next Orlando vacation! (originally shared March 2017)

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If you’ve been on a family trip in Orlando, I bet you can remember seeing the people who were just DONE with their ‘magical vacation’. The grumpy group arguing over everything, or the family that’s shoving through crowds to get to the next ride first. That’s NOT the best way to spend a vacation – and yes, I’ve been there and done that. After experiencing an absolutely amazing trip last year, though, I’m now convinced that my family needs a tour guide for all our future trips – for our own sanity and happy-memory-making sakes! And I know who I’m calling every time – Michael’s VIPs offers so much more than just showing you around. Here’s TEN reasons they’re my go-to Orlando Tour Guide service…

#1: Saves Time, Saves Money

Time is money, or that’s what everyone says. Vacations are expensive enough, so why would you add the cost of a tour guide? Because it not only saves you the stress, but also can SAVE YOU MONEY overall! With their expertise, you get so much more done in a day, meaning you can go for less days. That’s fewer park tickets and hotel nights, less food and snacks you have to buy, less missed work or school. They’re able to get you places faster in the parks because they have it memorized. They know which ways to walk during what times of day due to traffic, which rides get busiest at what times, and when dining fits into the schedule to miss less actual park time. Time = Money, and these guys can save you a LOT of it!

#2: More Affordable than Other Groups

Yes, another one that comes down to money – because I’m sure that’s likely the top reason most people are hesitant to hire a tour guide. The prices for a private guide directly from places like Walt Disney World cost you between $400-$600 an hour, while Universal Orlando is about $2,800-$3,200 per day. Ouch! Michael’s VIPs is only $125-$150 an hour depending on the time of year.

So they’re not only saving you a TON of money in that fee, but you get all these other perks that you may or may not get with the other guys…

#3: Planning Help from Beginning to End

Whether it’s help with hotel or dining reservations, transportation from place to place, getting tickets, or fast passes, Michael’s VIPs handles all of that for you – before you even get there! I loved not having to wake up super early to nab my desired dining times when they opened 180 days before our Disney World trip, because they took care of it for me. We discussed ahead of time what we wanted from our trip – where we wanted to eat, things we wanted to do, the types of rides we were most eager to try – and they took care of all the reservations. They helped us figure out which transportation worked best for different days or situations, which saved us a LOT of time. They even texted (yes, I had their actual cell phone numbers to text before, during and after our trip) to see how we enjoyed our trip!

#4: Goes Beyond the Parks

I loved that for our whole trip – that included Walt Disney World AND Universal Orlando – we could use the same company and guides. We didn’t have to switch when we went to a new place, making it much easier for them to really get to know us and our likes or dislikes as far our vacation. If we had wanted to go try something else in Orlando, they’ve got you covered for that, too! They go beyond the parks, so whether you need a fun shopping venture, or a fancy evening out for business, they know the place and can guide you where you need to go.

#5: Honest Input & Recommendations

If you hire a private guide directly from the parks, they kind of HAVE to promote their own company’s stuff. Even if a restaurant outside the park is better, they’re likely to encourage you to eat inside the park because it helps their bottom line. With Michael’s VIPs, they cover everything and have nothing extra to gain from promoting certain things or places over others – so you know they’re going to give completely honest input or recommendations for your trip.

#6: The ‘Little’ Extras

Everyone know that the little things can make or break a great vacation, right? Well these guys want you to have the best experience possible, and the guides have fun ways of ensuring that. Take Renee for example – she brings little fake jewels to ‘toss’ to the kids during certain Little Mermaid shows or rides! Chris made sure to bring us ponchos for Kali River Rapids, and new right where to take our picture from the bridge. And Rob had learned enough about us to know my love of Star Wars, so he made sure to wear a Millennial Falcon shirt. It’s the little things, guys, that can make a world of difference and let you know that they really care about YOU!

#7: More Photos with Your Group

How many of us moms do a great job getting photos of the kiddos while on vacation, but often overlook getting ourselves in the photos? It’s super nice having a guide there to take photos of your whole family (or just you – because, why not?!) and really catch those fun memories. And yes, they’re happy to nab some with their phone and email or text it to you if you don’t want to shove your phone or camera at them constantly 🙂

#8: Extra Set of Hands – help with kids or bags

If you have multiple kiddos, you know that having another adult around can be a life-saver. They can help keep them safe and close to the group, and even keep them happy skipping along so you and hubby can enjoy walking holding hands with each other for a change! Another thing is trying to figure out seating on rides – there’s another ‘big person’ to help the younger ones. Or if you want to sit off a ride, the guides are happy to go with the kids for a second round – or third or fourth or…. (yes, my kids do this on rides like Flight of the Hippogriff at Universal). And Jason was awesome helping us with our MANY bags from Universal that day – and they were HEAVY bags!

#9: They KNOW All The Things

If you’re like me, you don’t want to just randomly pick a bathroom and hope it’s a decently clean one at busy public places. Luckily, Michael’s VIPs know where the bathrooms are located and which are the best (and check whenever you’re near, in case someone needs to stop). They know where the entrances are to all the rides, and where to head for the best seats for performances.

At Universal, we suddenly really wanted Pumpkin Juice – but wanted to try the carbonated version – and Jason took us right over to the correct place to get that. They also know which rides have the best ques for entertaining kids who may be getting restless – although you won’t wait in many lines with this skilled crew! When kids need to get rid of some of their energy, they know right where to go for the play areas in the parks.

And they know the RIDES super well, like where the camera is if there’s a photo, and also how to score the best on Buzz Lightyear – check out my score following their trick!!!

The only thing they DIDN’T know and were unable to find out for me, was why at Magical Express at the airport arrival there were lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 – where did line 7 go?!

#10: They Work While You Rest

Some rides the guide had us go on while they went and took care of other work pieces, like scheduling more fast passes. We also enjoyed watching a short bit of Jedi Training Academy while resting in chairs in the shade, while Rob went and grabbed some waters. While we were enjoying lunch, even when they joined us because we LOVED their company, the guides would still be working – reorganizing the schedule on their phone to make up for a random ride closure (Hogwarts Express – so sad!) or seeing about switching up dining reservations because you changed your mind on what type of food you want. Guys, they work HARD – but make it all look like all fun and play!

I seriously can’t WAIT to go back to Orlando again, because I know Michael’s VIPs will make it a wonderfully fun, stress-free vacation for my whole family!

Our goal is fall-ish 2018 taking EVERYONE in my family – when are YOU going to go and give these tour guides a try?

To know more about each guide we got the pleasure of vacationing with last October, read HERE

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Tour guides for couples – is it worth it?

Tour guides for families – what you need to know

How to avoid lines at Walt Disney World

7 things to NEVER bring to Disney World – and 10 you MUST!

My First Harry Potter World Experience

April 10, 2019 by Danielle 4 Comments

I participated in Family Forward 2015, resulting in extra experiences and discounts. See more info here.

I freely admit that I’m a HUGE fan of Harry Potter – and my girl is even more so! She was in the middle of the series when we had our First Harry Potter World Experience in Orlando, so it was a really magical experience. Literally! (originally shared February 2016)

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Since there’s so much to tell about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I’m breaking it up into a few posts – this one I’ll share our thoughts on the atmosphere, rides and just the overall experience. Now there’s TWO separate areas for Harry Potter world – Diagon Alley in Universal Studios and then in Universal’s Islands of Adventure you have Hogsmeade. Make sure you have the park-hopper ticket so you can go between the two. The easiest way is on the Hogwarts Express, or you can just exit one park and go in the normal entrance of the other – but it’s quite a bit more walking as the Harry Potter stuff is near the back of both parks.

The Hogwarts Express was a fun experience – you get put into your own private train compartment (the 8 of us fit perfectly fine). Watch out the window and you can see some favorite characters from the show like Hagrid, the Weasley twins, even Hedwig! You HAVE to try the train both directions because each is completely different. Heads up – on the way from Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade there’s a little dark moment with a ‘Dimentor’ (don’t worry, it’s just the screen and lights, not like a costumed person) that may scare little kids. Going the opposite way, those frightened of spiders may get a little ‘eeky’ moment, but again it’s just the screen. Our kids did fine after the first time, when they knew what to expect and just closed their eyes at that part. The train was one of their favorite things after that!

Be prepared and nab your Free Printable Universal Studios Florida Height Requirements here!

Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida

Right before you enter Diagon Alley from the Universal Park, you’ll see the Knight Bus – don’t forget to talk to the shrunken head and take some photos!

Head over to the famous ‘moving brick’ wall – the bricks don’t actually move, of course, but listen for the sound and your kids will be CERTAIN they can see them! Once through, there’s the path with plenty of shops and fun on both sides – and straight ahead is Gringotts bank, with the famous 60-ft Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon on top. He roars loudly and breathes fire every 10 minutes. You’ll hear a light rumble from him right before, so you have time to have your kids cover their ears if needed.

I LOVED the buildings and how well they did at making you truly feel like you were in Diagon Alley, even with all the ‘muggles’ around! A few stores down from the bank is the Gringotts Money Exchange – you can go in and talk to the head goblin, and even exchange your muggle money for some Gringotts Bank Notes (useable at Universal/Islands of Adventure as well as the Harry Potter lands – or keep as a souvenir). The kids thoughts this was AMAZING getting to use ‘wizard money’ to make some purchases.

Back by the Money Exchange is a out-of-the-way area which is less crowded than the main street – and has a lot of fun things to see such as a Mermaid well, The Hopping Pot (different beer brews, all FOUR varieties of Butter Beer, as well as some snacks and other drinks and Eternelle’s Elixers. The Elixer place is neat because you can buy different ‘potions’ (flavorings) to mix into your water for a fun little drink.

Both parks have PLENTY of photo opportunities – from a Hogwarts Express in Hogsmeade to a ton of fun window displays – try the Puking Pastilles at the Weasley’s joke shop in Diagon Alley. Check out the monster book or magical creatures at the pet shop, too!

I thought the Escape from Gringotts ride was remarkable – a 3-D, roller-coaster type ride where you need to get away from Voldemort, guards and more!

And yes, the top hat at Weasley’s store works just great – it’s right inside the brick entrance to Diagon Alley, and the Leaky Cauldron restaurant is right across from that. So much to do!

Rides in Diagon Alley: Escape from Gringotts, The Hogwarts Express

Where to eat in Diagon Alley: Leaky Cauldron, Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour

Shops at Diagon Alley: Ollivanders, Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes, Borgin & Burkes, Magical Menagerie, Madam Malkin’s Robes for all Occasions, Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment, Quality Quidditch Supplies

Hogsmead at Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Hogwarts castle is definitely a centerpiece of Hogsmeade – huge, beautiful and the detail is incredible! Inside is the Forbidden Journey ride (this was amazing – feet hanging in the air as you ‘fly’ through a Quidditch match, escape a dragon and brave the forbidden forest – warning if you get motion sickness easily!) – but you get to walk though the castle rooms on your way to the ride entrance! The pictures move and talk, there’s fun wizard newspapers, say hi to The Fat Lady and the Sorting Hat, plus hear some words from Dumbledore in his office.

The castle looks even more beautiful at night – and the rooftops were ‘snow-covered’, making the whole experience as real as possible! I seriously couldn’t get over the amount of detail that went into the whole village!

The Dragon Challenge was fun – a roller coaster where you’re almost ‘racing’ the other coaster! Red or blue – which do you pick? My kiddos absolute FAVORITE ride of the entire vacation was Flight of the Hippogriff – a kid-friendly roller coaster that was decently fun for the adults (which is good since they asked us to go on it dozens of times) but a real non-scary thrill for the younger ones! Don’t forget to bow to Buckbeak!

Rides at Hogsmeade: The Forbidden Journey, Dragon Challenge, Flight of the Hippogriff, The Hogwarts Express

Where to eat at Hogsmeade: Three Broomsticks

Shops at Hogsmeade: Dervish & Banges, Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods, Honeydukes, Ollivanders

We only had a few days for all of Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure AND the Harry Potter stuff, so it was a bit rushed. I wish I had a whole day to truly look around into each thing – perhaps next time!

Coming Soon: Food at Harry Potter World, Great stuff for your visit to Harry Potter World

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Check out other fun family vacation experiences!

Printable Disney Banner

April 3, 2019 by Danielle 12 Comments

With our family Disney World vacation happening in a few months, we’re getting our countdown out and ready. I’m excited that many of YOU can enjoy this Printable Disney Banner too!! Even if you’re not planning a Disney trip, it can be used for parties, or just for fun.

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(originally shared March 2016) See, isn’t it fun?! I did Mickey-eared numbers from 1-31, so you can count down the month leading up to your vacation. OR combine numbers for a birthday banner for the special persons age! There are TWENTY pages, with 4 triangle banner pieces per page. Just print them off (I recommend cardstock, but that’s entirely up to you), cut them out, then string or tape where you like.

My hubby had a super idea (when I agreed it was genius, our Thor said ‘wait…what?!’ Guess he needs to come up with great ideas in front of the kids more often, but it sure was funny!) – String up the numbers, then gently tape a character one on top. So each day you take off the character to display the number! Or you can do it in reverse, and life off the number each day to reveal a surprise character. Yup, totally fun!

My kids asked if we would use this the next time we have a Disney vacation – I said definitely, along with my favorite DIY Disney Countdown using a frame and straws! I’m leaving it up in our house just for fun this week 🙂
Download & Print your fun Disney banner HERE

Book your next Disney vacation with Get Away Today for the best deals – use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper for $10 off your vacation package!

Other Disney fun…

Disney's New Paint the Night Parade is my favorite Disneyland parade yet! by BusyMomsHelper.com Our experience with Paint the Night Parade with kids was fantastic!

Disneyland's 60th Diamond Celebration / by BusyMomsHelper.com

Star Wars Half Marathon by Nikki Christiansen for Busy Mom's Helper

Free Printable Disneyland Height Requirements / by Busy Mom's Helper / Free Printable California Adventure Height Requirements

Preparing for Star Wars Land

March 20, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Disney travel has been a hot topic since opening dates for their new Star Wars Land were announced. With Disneyland’s opening May 31st and Walt Disney World’s opening August 29th, it’s earlier than most had anticipated (especially Disney World, which was originally ‘late fall’!). This means many who had planned to travel around the openings to avoid the chaos and crowds are having to rethink their trip dates. Whether you’re switching things around to avoid anytime near the opening, hitting up opening week or aren’t quite sure – here’s some tips on Preparing for Star Wars Land!

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(some photos courtesy of Disney, used with permission)

While nobody REALLY knows what to expect from these huge openings – since there’s nothing really to compare it to except perhaps the Harry Potter lands at Universal – we can make some assumptions and plan as best as possible. What we do know is that for Disneyland’s opening, it will be on a ‘reservation basis’. The details are still a bit fuzzy, but it seems that instead of getting to the park hours ahead of time with the hopes of getting in, people will reserve what ‘time’ they can return to enter into Star Wars Land. Disney World’s version – located in the Hollywood Studios park – won’t be doing a reservation system, and neither park will be doing FastPass/FastPass+. While some are upset at this, I read an article that explains some of the math behind this, which makes sense and actually benefits pretty much everyone.

After several conversations with others, looking at similar times such as Universal’s Harry Potter openings and Pandora over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, there’s some tips we’ve all agreed upon that can help us prepare for Star Wars Land the best we can, given the overall uncertainty of how things will be.

1 – It WILL be crowded

There’s no sugar-coating it, the park WILL be insanely crowded – and not just opening week, but for quite a long time after. If you look at when Pandora opened, there were still long waits for Flights of Passage more than a year later, and this is STAR WARS (so a much more crazy fan base – I can say that because I’m included!). Yes, the few weeks or months after opening will be the absolute worst, but it won’t die down significantly until much later. Also, only the Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run will open at first – their second attraction, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, won’t open until a bit later (still no open date for it). That means you’ll have the crowds coming first for the whole area (food, sites, shops, etc.) and one ride, then a big surge AGAIN when they open the second attraction. Some people will wait until both are open, so it’s likely that the second surge will be as busy – if not more so – than the first.

As you plan, just accept that there will be crowds (and if you’re not okay with that, perhaps plan for a year or two out when it may start to mellow) and go in with that as your expectation. Plan to be more patient, wait around longer, be more crowded, and certainly not able to fit in as much into your day. Decide if that’s worth it to you when picking your travel dates.

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2 – Arrive early

Since Disneyland is doing a reservation basis for awhile, this applies mostly to Walt Disney World – get to the gates early. If you’re staying on-site, try to catch the first or second shuttle to the parks to help you be some of the first there. Note: This is for a bit AFTER opening day, as they’re anticipating people may even camp out for that part! But after that initial time, just try your best to get there early enough that you should be in the first few groups allowed into Star Wars Land. As they did with Pandora’s opening, it may be that a certain amount of people get in first, then they have a time limit inside the ‘land’. Once that’s up, another group or number of people get in, and so forth. Not sure if that’s how they’ll handle crowds this time, but given the amount of people and limited room inside the area, they’ll have to limit it somehow. Being early helps ensure you’ll be able to get in at least some point.

3 – Plan a whole day

Since there’s no guarantee how long it’ll take to get INTO the area, or how long you’ll be allowed once in there, it’s probably best to just plan a whole day for that park. Arrive early so you can get in sooner than the later arrivals, be prepared for lines and waits – then after you enjoy what we’re expecting to be an INCREDIBLE experience in Star Wars Land – you can decide where to go from there based on how long all of that took in the day. Perhaps schedule FastPass/FastPass+ for later in the day, just in case – but you’d hate to have a reservation around 11am only to arrive and find out you will barely be entering that land around then. Don’t rush yourself, as that will add stress and pressure – which isn’t helpful on vacation!

4 – Set priorities

If you’re a huge Star Wars fan (like us!) then you’ll likely put attendance here at the top of your list for your vacation must-dos. If crowds and long lines aren’t your style, and you aren’t too disappointed about waiting longer to see it all, then perhaps waiting a year or so until the crowds die down is the best choice for you. Decide what YOU really want for your vacation. Maybe you’ll still go and have a blast at the other parks, and just avoid this one for now because it isn’t as important to you. For us, we arranged our entire trip schedule so we can attend two days at Hollywood Studios, hoping that will be enough to see and do it all at Star Wars Land – but that’s because it’s high on our priorities.

Also decide if just dealing with lines for the RIDE is what matters, then you choose to hurry out of there to less crowded areas – or perhaps you can’t wait to try the FOOD at the various locations, so those lines are a better use of your time. Also, even if you WANT to see everything, still list out your priorities for once you’re in Star Wars Land in case it takes more time than you planned. For example, if you really want to do the ride AND try the foods, but the waits were too long and time will be out after you do the ride and only one quick service place, know beforehand which one will take that spot out of your schedule.

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5 – Be ready

Overall, you need to not only have your expectations set realistically and have a good plan – because who knows how timing or crowds or lines will work out – but also make sure YOU are ready. Do you have something to keep yourself (or your kids) entertained in a several-hours-long ride line? Do you have the proper bag and supplies to last you through a very crowded, long day? Be sure you have things like water bottles, great shoes (because all the walking and standing), sunscreen and maybe a hat, plus snacks. After all, if the line wait is 7 hours long, you’re gonna get hungry! Be sure to take care of yourself while tackling Star Wars Land, for your sake AND for the sake of those around you – nobody wants to be in a crowd full of cranky, miserable people when they’re in the happiest place in the galaxy!

Bavarian Pretzel

School Bread

Kakigori

Cheese Plate

Maple Popcorn

Do you know any Disney World Ride Hacks?

Corn Dog at the Little Red Wagon

Mint Julep and Beignets in New Orleans Square

Churro at Any Churro Cart

Loaded Whip at Tropical Hideaway

Bengal Beef Skewer at Bengal Barbecue

Bratwurst at Troubadour Tavern

What will you do before Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge opens to prepare?

Best Attraction Gift Shop

Best Restaurant Gift Shop

Best World Showcase Gift Shop

Best General Gift Shop for (Disney World Souvenirs)

Best Hotel Gift Shop

What’s your favorite Disney World Gift Shop?

What’s YOUR favorite Disney ride?

Little-to-No Wait Times

Lots of Free Food

Easy Weekend Trip

Less Crowds

Fun Characters & Activities

What’s your favorite thing about Universal Studios Orlando?

#1: Saves Time, Saves Money

#2: More Affordable than Other Groups

#3: Planning Help from Beginning to End

#4: Goes Beyond the Parks

#5: Honest Input & Recommendations

#6: The ‘Little’ Extras

#7: More Photos with Your Group

#8: Extra Set of Hands – help with kids or bags

#9: They KNOW All The Things

#10: They Work While You Rest

Our goal is fall-ish 2018 taking EVERYONE in my family – when are YOU going to go and give these tour guides a try?

Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida

Hogsmead at Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Book your Universal & Harry Potter World Vacation Now – use promo code: BusyMomsHelper for $10 off your package!

Check out other fun family vacation experiences!

Other Disney fun…

1 – It WILL be crowded

2 – Arrive early

3 – Plan a whole day

4 – Set priorities

5 – Be ready

Are you going to Star Wars Land this year?