Travel Tips & Tricks Archives - Page 3 of 6

Helpful Tips and Tricks on What to Pack for Disney World

August 29, 2018 by Danielle 2 Comments

Save yourself some stress and be as prepared as possible for your Disney vacation. By following these helpful packing tips you’ll maximize your enjoyment and avoid some common drawbacks. Not only that, but knowing better what and how to Pack for Disney may even save you some money!

Wallet

Make sure you have cash in your wallet that you can use in a pinch to tip your driver, bell service, etc. This can save you from needing to use an ATM and possibly face those fees. In addition to that, bring plenty of Disney gift cards and the credit card you purchased your reservations on.

Clothes

It’s almost always hot, though it might get a little cooler on winter nights. There is a lot of walking involved, so comfortable walking shoes are a must. Please don’t be one of those people struggling in the parks in stilettos. To maximize comfort, wear shorts or a skirt (if you’re braver than me) and light breathable clothing. Formal wear is not a necessity if you are looking to pack light – however, for some dining reservations (like Victoria & Alberts!) you may need to get a little dressier.

Health and Beauty

Remember to bring sunscreen and use it every day – don’t forget the back of your neck if you have short hair or will wear a ponytail! Nothing zaps the fun out of a vacation in the sun like getting burned. Ya, I’ve learned that the hard way. Pain reliever is also good to have on hand, versus paying extra for it when you get there. Consider any other toiletries, ointments, or remedies you might need in advance so you can avoid the upcharge later.

You will need room in your suitcase to bring back souvenirs, of course. You can create that space and save money on water by packing a whole pallet of drinking water for the trip. It’s important to stay hydrated and you can get a 24 pack of bottled water for the price of a single bottle in one of the parks. By the end of the trip, water’s gone and there is room for all the t-shirts, plushes, and other awesome stuff you buy to commemorate your trip.

Accessories

Bring a cord and adapter for charging your phone overnight in your room. If you keep up on this you will not need to purchase or pack an external charger. The parks even have charging stations in case of an emergency. Small, travel-friendly backpacks can be your best friend – I don’t go to the parks without this one that’s been fabulous for 2 years!

Don’t forget an umbrella and some disposable ponchos, especially if you are going to Disney World in the Summertime. Ponchos are one thing you don’t want to be buying last minute in the middle of a rainstorm, trust me!

And definitely don’t forget your autograph books – these are the ones I made, complete with activities for during line waits. You can nab one here or on Amazon here!

Check out our previous post on What to Pack for Disney for more specific packing tips!

Everything You Need to Know about Tipping at Disney World

August 22, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Are tips accepted in Disney World? Absolutely – but with exceptions. While some Cast members are required to not accept tips for the most part, there are some positions at Disney where customary tipping is expected. Those cast members are paid by Disney as tipped employees, which means they can earn up to $3 less than minimum wage. When you vacation in Disney World, be sure to bring enough cash to cover tips for transportation, certain hotel services, and food servers. Here’s everything you need to know about Tipping at Disney World!

Who are “Tipped Employees?”

The following job types are classified as “tipped” and will gladly accept gratuity for their services.

Drivers: Obviously, the taxi service, or ride share app you use takes tips, but don’t forget about the Mickey’s Magical Express driver. They are your first point of contact on your Walt Disney World vacation and they work hard to make the experience magical. They’ll appreciate the gratuity. Generally, have $1 or $2 handy per piece of luggage they store and retrieve for you. The drivers on the internal buses do not take tips.

Hotel Services: Bell Service cast members are also tipped employees. Generally, anyone handling your bags will accept gratuity. The usual amount is $1 to $2 per bag. Salon and spa services are also tipped. Gratuity for massage, pedicure, etc. should be between 15% and 20% depending on the quality of service.

Food Service: Servers at table service restaurants do accept tips. It is also customary to tip at buffet restaurants, but not counter service or kiosks. The average tip for food service is 18% of the bill before tax. The minimum suggested tip is 15%.

Recognizing the Exceptional Efforts of Non-Tipped Employees

Non tipped Cast members include: ride operators, custodial cast members, outdoor venders and basically anybody not mentioned above. They cannot accept tips unless they have refused up to three times. Even then, the tip is taken to management. The best way to recognize these people for doing an exemplary job is to request a Great Service Fanatic card. You can also call or email Guest Communications: 407-824-4321 wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com You can even tweet @WDWToday with #castmembercompliment to show them some extra love and recognition!

Tell us your best experience with a cast member!

Five Top News Stories For Walt Disney World This Week

August 8, 2018 by Danielle

If you’re a big Disney park fan like us – especially if you’re planning a trip there anytime soon – Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom all have new experiences to offer. Plus, no more plastic straws. Here’s the Five Top News Stories for Walt Disney World This Week – read on for details.

Check out Get Away Today to book your trip today!

Be Our Guest Prix Fixe Menu

Be Our Guest restaurant now offers a new, enhanced dining experience as of July 27th. They serve dinner as a three course Prix Fixe menu. The enhanced dinner menu is much more French. Appetizers include Escargot and Charred Octopus. Among the entrees are Saffron- infused Seafood Bouillabaisse, Center-cut Filet Mignon, and Poulet Rouge Chicken. End the meal with a delicate dessert trio.

NEW Keepsake at Tower of Terror

You can now get a special photo keepsake whenever you “drop in” at the Hollywood Tower Hotel. The lenticular photo changes to show you entering The Twilight Zone with a fun and eerie effect. Memory Maker packages do not include the keepsake, and it is not part of Photo Pass. You must buy it separately, and they do charge $19.95 plus tax.

Vampirina Coming To Disney’s Hollywood Studios

The new Disney Junior character will be joining the Disney Junior Play and Dine breakfast at Hollywood and Vine in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, beginning on September 30. Later this year, she will join the Disney Junior Dance Party at the park. Vampirina is an age appropriate cartoon about a vampire girl in a Munsters-like family who is making new friends in a human neighborhood and learning to celebrate her differences.

No More Plastic Straws

Single use plastic straws and plastic drink stirrers will no longer be used at any Disney owned locations. This new commitment is part of an ongoing environmental initiative by the Disney Company. The change will take effect in the middle of next year. It is still unknown whether they will replace the plastic straws with paper, or charge for reusable straws.

Don’t forget to check out Get Away Today to book your trip today!

New Lounge in Animal Kingdom

Right in the heart of the action at Dinoland USA, Restaurantosaurus has added a brand new lounge. Dinoland USA is a split American themed addition to Animal Kingdom that features dinosaurs in a campy roadside attraction setting, next to a science institute where time rovers study actual prehistoric creatures. Students at the institute live in on-site quarters that double as an elaborately decorated restaurant. That restaurant now has a lounge which offers snacks, as well as specialty drinks like Tequilasaurus and Primordial Booze.

What other news stories for Walt Disney World are you excited for?

Other Disney fun…

Printable Disney Aulani Activity & Autograph Pages

July 18, 2018 by Danielle

Y’all know how much I love everything Disney – but I’ve never yet had the privilege of visiting Disney’s Aulani in Hawaii. It’s definitely on the wish list! I do have some friends that go frequently, though, so I thought it’d be fun to make some awesome printables. Whether it’s your first trip or tenth, these Printable Disney Aulani Activity & Autograph Pages are sure to make your trip even more magical and memorable!

Don’t forget to check out Get Away Today for the best vacation package deals! Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper

Since Disney’s Aulani is more of a tropical resort – and not a theme park – this booklet doesn’t have quite as many pages as our regular Disney Activity & Autograph book, but it’s still full of colorful, themed fun! There’s a stylish cover (front and back), plus an inside page for your child to put their info from the trip.

There’s then 4 pages of activities and jokes for them to have a bit of Disney-themed fun. These can be great for giving them something to do for a few moments during the flight, waiting to travel, or just some down time at the resort.

Following the activities, there’s then 12 pages for autographs, with a wide variety to cover the types of characters that you’re more likely to see at Disney’s Aulani resort.

There’s some for the classics, like Mickey and Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto and Chip and Dale.

Then we’ve created some brand new ones for characters such as Moana and Maui, Lilo and Stitch, Ariel (she’s definitely tropical/beach-themed, so might be there!) and even one for the ‘Cucamonga’ – the little coconut-like creatures from the film!

Don’t forget to check out Get Away Today for the best vacation package deals! Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper

A total of 20 pages, sized at 6×9 to be a better fit for littler hands – plus more easily to travel with! You can print them out onto normal paper (I recommend cardstock) and staple or bind together. Or take them to professional printing center to have them printed very good quality and bound to last for a long while. The choice is yours!

Download & Print HERE

What’s YOUR favorite character that may be at Disney’s Aulani resort?

Nab our other Disney Activity & Autograph Books here!

Don’t forget to check out Get Away Today for the best vacation package deals! Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper

Top 3 Ways to Cut Food Costs at Walt Disney World

July 11, 2018 by Danielle

When you buy a Disney World Vacation, you get a room and some park tickets. If you’re lucky, you get a free dining plan, as well. But for most people that’s it, and buying a dining plan is not a viable way to save money. During your stay, you encounter all varieties of tiered service options, price ranges and more. You can easily rack up a heavier vacation tab then you expected if you’re not careful. To help, here’s our Top 3 Ways to Cut Food Costs at Walt Disney World.

This fall will be my first time ever trying the Disney Dining plan – and it’s only because we got the free dining special. As I was preparing our park plan and dining reservations, there was so much to look into – and I remember how hard it was figuring out a food budget in previous trips there. I don’t want you to have that stress, as well! So, here are three cost cutting measures you can take while on vacation in Disney World.

Leverage Counter Service

Quick Service is a substantially lower cost way to dine in the parks at Disney World. The entrees are less expensive and there is no gratuity attached to the meal. So, immediately you save money when you choose counter service over table service.

Even after that there are a few more things you can do to leverage the cost of your meal.

1. Drink ice water. Ice water is served for free. You don’t even need to buy anything. Keep that in mind when staying hydrated on hot Orlando days and definitely use this to your advantage when meal time comes around.

2. Purchase shareable entrees. Some quick service locations serve entrees that can easily be shared. It’s a great way to save on meals for guests with smaller appetites. Also, adults can order kids meals for themselves if they don’t want an adult size meal. Some kids check meals are very similar to offerings on the adult menus.

3. Toppings Bars. Some counter service locations have toppings bars. Pecos Bill’s Tall Tale Inn and Cafe is one example. You can augment the already sizable portions with as much of the toppings as you like with no added cost to you. You can even make a side salad out of it. It’s a thing.

Leverage Breakfast

You can go two ways on breakfast to make it work for you:

1. Skip it (as far as eating out goes). Or bring small snacks from home to eat in the hotel room before you start the day. This will cut down on meals by 1/3. You can schedule your lunches earlier to help cover the difference.

2. Fill up. This is a good strategy if you are capable of loading on the calories in the morning and not having another meal until dinner time. If your accommodations include a continental breakfast this can really save you money. You can even pack away some snacks for later. Even a buffet, like one of many character dining experiences around Disney World such as Tusker House, can save you money. Of course that depends on how much you would be likely to spend on lunch, how much a smaller breakfast would be, and how that sum compares to the buffet price.

Be prepared…

There are pros and cons of planning. Planning is meant to make things easier. Life is unpredictable, though and sometimes plans fall through. So, be prepared to change your mind. Preparedness is good, like bringing water and snacks into the park to save money, or planning your next meal to stay on schedule. One thing you definitely don’t want to do is follow through with meal plans if you aren’t really hungry.

When you have a reservation, it’s a little bigger of a deal and there may be a fee involved for cancelling, but generally speaking don’t spend money on food if you aren’t hungry just because it’s what you had planned. It might sound weird, but its really effective. When you get caught up in “we have to do this next” stop and ask yourself if it’s what you really want. This little thing can save hundreds of dollars over vacations for a few years.

I hope you liked these tips and found them insightful. Was there anything you expected to find but didnt? What are your favorite ways to save money while you’re in Disney World. What tips do you plan to use?

How do You Save Money in Disney World?

8 DIY Travel Savings Jars

June 15, 2018 by Danielle

Y’all know I absolutely LOVE to travel – near or far, it’s so exciting to make plans, pack, check out new sites and meet new cultures! Whether you’re planning a trip to Disneyland, dreaming of an escape to Paris or have no specific destination in mind – just the desire to travel – then these 8 DIY Travel Savings Jars are for you!

I don’t know about you, but I think having a cute jar where you can store loose change or other funds you want set aside for a future trip makes it more exciting – and even a little more REAL! This can be especially great if you have a LOT you need to save up to reach your desired goal. It can also be a way for the whole family to get involved – if the kids see that mom and dad are putting some spare change into the jar for the family’s trip, perhaps they’ll want to contribute as well.

Check out these awesome DIY travel savings jars and pick one that works best for YOUR future adventure!

DIY Travel Savings Jars with Free Printable Labels from Cassie Smallwood

Clay Pot Savings Jar from Laura’s Crafty Life

Honeymoon Fund Jar from Something Turquoise

DIY Wanderlust Jar from SerendipiDIY

Customizable Disney Savings Bank from The Quirky Mom Next Door

Mickey and Minnie Mouse Ear Jars from Moms & Munchkins

Disney Savings Jar from Eighteen25

Make Your Own “Fund” Jar from Something Turquoise

Whichever travel savings jar you choose, or wherever you go, I hope you make wonderful memories to last a lifetime!

When You’re Living Between Moves

April 30, 2018 by Danielle

We received a complimentary stay to facilitate this post. All opinions are mine alone. #myESA

As many of you know, the past two months have been a chaotic mess of moving from one house in a hurry, finding a new house at the last minute because our original pick fell through, then having almost a week when we were between houses before we could move in. So what do you do when you’re living between moves? Find a fantastic home-away-from-home, of course!

Seriously, I never want to deal with all the rushed packing and storage, extreme late nights to get it all done in time, or the emotional toll this has been on is. That being said, last week when we were between houses went much more smoothly than I could have imagined being temporarily homeless! Luckily, we were able to get a 2-bedroom suite at a local Extended Stay America that worked perfectly for our big family!

The kids weren’t quite sure at first about staying at a hotel for that long while still doing school, but as soon as we came in they LOVED it and were really excited. The great thing about an Extended Stay America is that the rooms come with kitchens, so you can still make meals as needed. This was perfect for the early morning breakfasts before school, then making the kids a tasty dinner after all the kids’ activities. It was also a great benefit because we had a place to store our fridge items while our own fridge was in storage!

We didn’t have to bring our own dishes, as they supplied what we needed – just let them know, and the friendly desk staff will help you out. One bathroom was a little weird for our family of 7, but it worked out fine for the week. It was a good size, plus had plenty of storage for our stuff. They had no problem supplying all the towels we needed, either.

The front room had TWO queen/full sized sofa beds, which our girls enjoyed. Keeping them separate form their brothers was a definite sanity-saver, since they’re ‘too cool’ to share with their younger siblings apparently! They fold up nice and easy, leaving it a great family room with little table and TV.

Behind that was a table that made it great for me working during the day – blogging never sleeps, after all! The free wi-fi was a blessing, and during the day the speed was just fine.

To store their stuff was a linen closet in the hall as well…

The smaller of the bedrooms, which the 3 boys shared, was to the side and had a closet that fit all their stuff.

The master room was in the back of the hallway, with a comfy bed and TV. The closet was surprisingly HUGE, which was perfect as we did have several pieces of luggage and other things we didn’t want in storage while we between houses.

The little bonuses made a huge difference while between moves…

Such as the goodies on the bed, plus a welcome card…

…and soaps, shampoo and dish detergent to make your stay feel right at home.

For how hectic the past several weeks have been, I’m so grateful that our time at Extended Stay America while between moves took some of the stress and chaos off of our family. It was like a wonderful mini vacation between everything, and helped us all unwind, relax and enjoy our time a bit more!

How do you deal with being between moves?

5 Awesome DIY Disney MagicBand Decorating Ideas

March 21, 2018 by Danielle

For those that don’t know, our family is working extremely hard to be able to go visit Disney World later this year – that means saving money, planning ahead, skipping on some ‘extras’ to make it a reality. We’re all on board, and doing little things along the way to keep us excited and the momentum going – such as planning how we’ll customize our MagicBands! This is a great way to personalize your own band, and can be a fun Disney-themed craft project as you’re preparing for your next trip. Here’s 5 Awesome DIY Disney MagicBand Decorating Ideas to help get your creativity going!

If you saw when I shared earlier on why I think MagicBands are completely incredible and super useful on a Disney trip, you’ll know many of the ways you use it at the parks, hotels and more. Well, now you don’t only have your own handy band to help along your trip, but you can personalize it however you want to REALLY make it yours! Plus, it’ll add a little bit of ‘magic’ while you’re planning, preparing and counting down to your next visit.

Don’t forget to check Get Away Today for the best Disney Vacation deals!

The usual – purchase a design, or buy add-on accessories

You can order fully designed/printed MagicBands from Disney – everything from classic characters, to superhero or Star Wars. There’s also some fun accessories from places like the Disney Store that just pop into the holes along the band for some 3D accents.

Paint

Okay, how awesome is this Captain America themed band from Creative Green Living? Head over to see how she used paint to customize hers!

Temporary Tattoos

Check out how simple it is to use a fun tattoo for your MagicBand at Disney Insider Tips.

Or see The Delightful Life for another tutorial…

Jewels

How fantastic is this beautiful jeweled MagicBand from The Delightful Life?! I totally love it – this plus the ‘bonus’ craft at the bottom are likely what I’ll do to customize my own this year!

More fun ideas on the blog at Get Away Today!

Nail Polish & Stickers

There’s so many possibilities when you have some nail polish on-hand, so check out ScrapPop for how to use it on your band!

Bonus – GLITTER!!!

I absolutely LOVE this MagicBand creation from Creative Green Living – not just because it’s sparkly, but it’s also purple! I want to mix this tutorial with the jewel/bling one on my own band for our trip – I’ll be sure to share pics when it’s done!

How would you customize YOUR MagicBand?

FREE Disney Cruise Line Planning Video

January 31, 2018 by Danielle

While it may come as a shock to those who know our love of everything Disney, I’ve never been on a Disney Cruise before! It’s definitely something we’ve always wanted to do, and hope to be able to experience before our kids get too much older, but it just hasn’t happened quite yet. When it does, though, it’ll be something NEW – which means lots of planning for me – YAY! While I really do enjoy planning trips, it’s a bit challenging to know everything and not get overwhelmed when it’s new. Luckily there’s many great resources out there, like this FREE Disney Cruise Line Planning Video. Just click on the following image, and it’ll take you to the official Disney site to fill out the sign-up form to get your free video.

Not only is it chock-full of great tips and ideas, it’s really playful and fun. Instead of just doing a bunch of lists and spreadsheets (we’re not against these at all – you should see the amount of lists I do before a vacation!) and making your planning more tedious, this video really brings Disney to life so the whole family can begin the fun right from the start, not just when you get on the ship.

And since things are always changing, you can nab the new Disney Cruise Line planning video every year – yup, they update it regularly to keep up with all the new and exciting things! Even if you’ve been on a Disney Cruise many times, at the very least this video is super playful – maybe even emotional for us true Disney-lovers – for the whole family to enjoy together as you prepare for embarking on your adventure.

So nab your Disney Cruise planning video today and being planning your trip ASAP!

(going to Disneyland or Disney World instead? There’s a free video for those too – check it out HERE!)

Other Disney Fun

Kauai Hawaii Helicopter Ride

January 9, 2018 by Danielle

This Kauai Adventure Trip was provided to me free of charge by Kauai Visitors Bureau, but all opinions are mine alone. #KauaiDiscovery

If you’ve ever wondered or considered taking a trip on a helicopter when visiting the beautiful islands of Hawaii, you’ve got to check out all the beauty & adventure awaiting you during a Kauai, Hawaii Helicopter Ride! And if you’re worried about motion sickness – read on, because I’m right there with ya!

It’s been several months since my unforgettable trip to Kauai, Hawaii last May, but I still love going through all the photos and remembering what an amazing experience it was. I’ve told you about horseback riding in the mountains and seeing dolphins dance/swim with our boat on our Catamaran sail, as well as ziplining over the lush, green mountains. Today, I’ve got one last major adventure to tell you about that was probably my second favorite thing (the sail was the top) we did the entire trip – taking a Hawaii helicopter ride with Island Helicopters Kaua’i!

Okay, so first thing you need to know – you have to arrive early enough to get your weight (total weight WITH your bag and such). It’s simply so they can balance the helicopter the safest way possible. They will assign you seats, so don’t stress about fighting for one. They’re all good because of those big windows! When your helicopter is ready, they’ll give you a short safety briefing, as well as these protective booties so that you don’t risk carrying who-knows-what on your shoes into the mountains of Hawaii. Now, we did the flight where we actually LANDED at Jurassic Falls and got to walk around for about 10-15 minutes, so maybe others that are simply flying don’t have to wear there ‘oh-so-cute’ booties. We also got a yellow emergency pack to wear around our waists, just in case.

You then are escorted safely to the helicopter, get seatbelted in, and put on your headset. This allows you to hear the music AND the pilot. There’s a little microphone available in the helicopter you can grab and use if you need to speak to the pilot, too.

I absolutely LOVED that they actually played music from Jurassic Park as we came closer to the falls, so it went all dramatic when it appears around the mountain – just like in the movie. It was gorgeous, and such a neat experience being somewhere I’d seen so much in the movies.

After our time walking around the falls, taking photos and doing some ‘jumping’ videos because – well – why not, we climbed back into our helicopter to continue our ride. We flew all around the beautiful island of Kauai, seeing clear beaches and bright blue ocean, green mountains with a few more hidden waterfalls, and the coastlines.

Okay, now for all you fellow motion-sickness people – they DO have baggies in there if you get sick. I will say that I get motion sickness pretty darn easy, and during this ride I got REALLY motion sick, to the point I was holding a baggie and let the pilot know (on the microphone) that I was probably going to throw up – but I didn’t end up actually throwing up, thank goodness. The group was super nice and helped turn the air conditioning towards my face and even fanned my face with little pamphlets – they’re awesome! For about 10-15 minutes I was miserable, but then it went away enough that I wasn’t worried about throwing up. Now, THAT BEING SAID, I still loved every minute and it was still an incredible experience that I wouldn’t trade at all! Even though I got sick, and even if I had thrown up after all, I still would go back in a heartbeat because it’s THAT worth it! You can’t miss out on something so amazing just because of a few minutes of a bad (or downright awful) stomach.

I think our total helicopter ride was like an hour, maybe hour and a half? I think it was just long enough to see all the sites from above, plus our wonderful time walking around Jurassic Falls. Don’t take too much with you because of weight and having to hold it on your lap, but do have something for photos or recording. I highly recommend taking a helicopter ride with Island Helicopters Kauaʻi for your next visit to Kauai, Hawaii because it’s a great, adventurous way to see the beautiful views of the island – and I think the only way to get to Jurassic Falls!

More Fun from my Kauai trip!

* ATV Adventure

* Zipline Course

* Horseback Riding

* My Adventures in Paradise

* Catamaran Sail

* Aqua Kauaʻi Beach Resort

* Kōloa Landing Resort at Poʻipū, Autograph Collection

* Kauai – the FOOD (coming soon)

Follow the Kauai Visitors Bureau on Instagram & Facebook!

Why the 2017 Mazda CX-5 is the Perfect Trip Vehicle

December 8, 2017 by Danielle

I was allowed to drive the 2017 Mazda CX-5 for my trip free of charge to facilitate this review. All opinions are mine alone. #DriveMazda

When I was planning my super-quick trip to Orlando a few weeks ago, I knew I needed to get a vehicle so I could have easy access to transportation whenever I needed to go to the next location. There was a lot of back-and-forth between parks to fit it all in, so being able to go on my terms was necessary. I was super excited to learn I’d get to drive the new CX-5 for my three days, and I learned Why the 2017 Mazda CX-5 is the Perfect Trip Vehicle.

If y’all remember, we got to test out the 2016 version of the Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring back in February, and loved the smoothness of the ride and roomy-ness of the seats and foot areas. I knew the 2017 would be at least as good as last year’s model, but oh my gosh – I wasn’t prepared for my new absolute FAVORITE feature…..

…it displays your SPEED onto the windshield!!! Okay, don’t panic – it’s a screen on the dash that’s designed to reflect up so it displays slightly in front of you – but lightly, so while you CAN see it, it’s definitely not a distraction and doesn’t interfere at all with safe driving or seeing obstacles.

Here’s why this makes it IDEAL for a trip vehicle though – it not only displays the speed you’re currently going, but also what the posted speed is! Ack – that’s my biggest frustration of driving in a new place, like on trips, because I don’t know what the speed limit is on the roads until I pass a sign. And those don’t always show up very often, depending on the road.

It was super nice to 1: not have to look down to check my speed and 2: know what the posted speed limit was on any road I went on, without having to look for/wait for another sign.

That’s not it – it also had indicators on that special display that showed if there was something close behind you, if you were close to the one in front of you, AND if there’s something to your side. They have the side indicators on your side-view mirrors as well, that light up a bright yellow when a car is next to you – but I loved having it right there in my view.

Aside from just this new feature that I think is completely amazing, the 2017 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring has all the great features I enjoy in a vehicle, like a pop-up screen for navigation, music, etc. There’s dials for it on the steering wheel and the middle dash as well, making it convenient for your co-pilot to help adjust things. It’s a very smooth, quiet ride – and gets about 24 MPG city, so you can save on your gas budget aspect of your vacation while still enjoying a mid-sized vehicle!

The same roomy interior (in both front and back seats) as the 2016 was great, and the trunk has plenty of cargo space for any luggage, souvenirs or whatever else you may have to take along (or back) from your trip.

And one more thing – this blue color that I got to drive around Orlando for three days? It’s my new favorite vehicle color, since it was beautiful, bright, shiny with a hint of silver tint to it and just different enough from all the other blue vehicles to make it special. If I’m lucky enough to get a 2017 Mazda CX-5 in the future, I want it in THIS shade!

What do YOU look for most in a vehicle on a trip?

Victoria & Albert’s Chefs Table in the Grand Floridian

December 5, 2017 by Danielle

When discussing our big anniversary trip, we both decided on a good splurge – an amazing, romantic dining experience. Since we’re both foodies, we decided to try one of the most popular, highly praised and difficult to get reservations at Walt Disney World in Orlando: Victoria & Albert’s Chefs Table in the Grand Floridian! Yes, this was a major expense – a restaurant with a 5 DIAMOND RATING isn’t going to come cheap – but we agreed it would be worth us cutting costs in other areas to make this work. We were very fortunate to get a reservation near the end of our trip, and couldn’t wait to give it a try.

Since I know your first question would probably be ‘well, how much DOES it cost?’ here’s the answer: $250 per person, and up to 10 people can dine at the Chef’s Table (but only in the same reservation – you can have just one or two if you want and nobody else can invade on your table). You can also add an optional wine pairing for $150. The main dining room Prix Fixe menu is $235, in case you’re unable to try Victoria & Albert’s Chefs Table. I know that’s a LOT of money – because then you add gratuity (these Chefs and staff definitely earn it – they’re amazing!), so for just two people it can be a hit to the wallet. Hubby and I both agreed that this was probably our FAVORITE experience from the whole trip, and the most amazing food thing we’ve ever done together, so we definitely believe it was worth it.

We checked in for our reservation at their location inside the Grand Floridian, but were early so had time to wander around a little bit. By the way, they do have a strict dress code, so be sure to check that out before you arrive so you’re prepared. Even though we were right next to the kitchen, at times I did feel a bit chilly so ladies, you may want to bring a wrap or elegant jacket, just in case.

Since the Chef’s Table is back through the kitchens, you must be escorted if you’re to leave that area. We had a sweet lady guide us back, and anyone we passed wished us a Happy Anniversary – if you’re there celebrating an occasion, be sure to let them know so they can celebrate with you! Our table was off to the side near the kitchen, so we could watch as they worked their culinary magic. One of our servers, Chris, greeted us quickly and double checked any food allergies or preferences (they also called about a week before to check on this). We had a sparkling cider (or champagne, if you drink alcohol) toast with the wonderful Chef de Cuisine, Aimee Rivera. She talked with us a bit first, explaining how the evening would go and let us know we were free to get up from the table, we just had to stay behind the little half-wall separating our area from the kitchen – due to safety reasons of course. She was very friendly, and though was running a major kitchen and plenty of staff, never made us feel rushed in our conversations.

We got to watch for a tiny bit after that, enjoying learning a bit about the kitchen. They told us we were free to ask questions to any of the staff there, and even though I was hesitant at first because you could tell they were busy and focused on their tasks, they were all very friendly and welcomed anything we asked, offering plenty of answers and conversation.

It was really nice getting to be a part of the kitchen experience, but also have our own private space to just be us discussing our meal, our trip and what we were watching from the super busy – yet smoothly-ran – kitchen.

If you’re like us and love taking photos of your food – or plan to share those photos like I am in this article – then I recommend taking a good DSLR camera, so you can adjust it for the lighting. Hubby kept taking pictures of ME while I was taking pictures of things during our whole trip, so of course he grabbed some during the meal 🙂

We had several different staff members come talk to us during the entire experience – which lasted about 4-5 hours – either to just chat with us for some pleasant conversation, or to explain our next course. It was really interesting as they went into detail for each part of our meal, and why certain things were paired the way they were. And don’t worry – you get a copy of the menu to bring home with you, so you don’t have to try to memorize every single course – there are 10-12, after all (and two of those are desserts – yummy)!

Here’s a bigger photo of our menu – keep in mind it does change periodically, so yours may be different than ours. This is the main menu, without any changes or substitutions.

Okay, let’s get to the FOOD!!! It was absolutely delicious – and even though I was worried since I don’t like any seafood, they were very accommodating and made changes as needed. For example, I had a chicken version of the John Dory and roasted quail in place of the wild turbot. If you have a preference, don’t hesitate to let them know. Also, they WANT you to have the most incredible experience possible – they made sure we loved everything we had, and if we didn’t, they were eager to make something different in place. This was probably the most friendly, amazing staff I’ve ever had the joy of meeting at any dining experience!

Bread, Salt & Black Truffle Butter

You get several bread servings throughout the meal, with a variety of salts to choose from. I personally loved the pink one. They also brought out some black truffle butter which was DELICIOUS!

Course 1: Amuse-Bouche, Cauliflower Panna Cotta with Imperial Caviar

The mix of creamy with the crunch of the chips really blended well and the flavor was super smooth. While I don’t like seafood, I did like the caviar with this dish.

Optional Up-Purchase: Galilee Osetra Caviar with Traditional Garnishes ($105 for 1/2 oz. or $210 for 1 oz.) – we opted not to do this

Course 2: Seared Duck Breast with Farro & Asian Pears

I loved the way the sweet pear accented the flavor of the duck, and the little sauce dots just finished it all off perfectly.

Course 3: John Dory with Poppy Seed & Lemon Ravioli (Mine was a substitute of Green Circle Chicken)

This might have been my favorite non-beef dish of the whole evening because oh-my-goodness the lemon sauce was unforgettable. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Course 4: Wild Turbot with Toasted Capers & Preserved Lemon (I had Roasted Quail with House made Sauerkraut)

I was surprised at the great texture of this, and that the capers didn’t have that overly-strong taste that they can often have. Super tasty!

I think they gave us an extra course (because I counted 11 with this, and this wasn’t on my menu at all): New Zealand Langoustine with Nage Crema

This was hubby’s – and he totally loved it! He said it was mild in ‘seafood’ taste, so that I’d probably enjoy it as well, but I didn’t give it a try. Wish I had, though!

Course 5: Marcho Farms Veal with Black Truffles

Guys, they even shaved some black truffle onto our meal – that stuff is VERY expensive, so I felt really special. I don’t typically like veal, but this was tender and the flavor of the the whole dish complimented itself so well that I really enjoyed it.

Course 6: Lamb Loin with Barley Porridge & Compressed Plums

I definitely want to try making lamb at home with some plums because WOW they went together so deliciously.

Course 7: Australian Kobe-Style Beef with Roasted Garlic Potatoes – can also add up-charge of Miyazaki Japanese Beef for $55 (HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!)

THIS is the absolute highlight of the meal – and please please please give the Miyazaki beef a try because it was INCREDIBLE! It’s from special cows in Japan that are fed saki, massaged, kept away from most people to keep their stress down, listen to classical music, etc. Crazy, right? When you taste this melt-in-your-mouth-like-butter meat, though, you’ll agree that they’re doing it right. Only about one cows-worth of this beef comes into the USA each year, and Victoria & Albert’s is one of maybe 15 places in the country that get it. Hubby was practically moaning because it tasted so good – you should’ve seen his face, absolute foodie bliss! This beef is the one on the right – the left is the Australian Kobe-style that was still some of the best beef I’ve ever had, until trying the other one, that is 🙂

Course 8: Selection of Cheese from the Market

This is where I learned how eager the team at Victoria & Albert’s Chef’s Table are to please – there was ONE of the cheeses on this plate that I really didn’t like (a few I loved, some were fine, but one was really too much for me), and within like 20 seconds of trying it – and probably making a weird face – one of our serves, who I didn’t see anywhere nearby, came up asking if they can make me something else to replace it. He asked very earnestly, and though I politely declined (I was already feeling so full – but very happily so) I was really grateful for the attention and offer. So if you don’t like something and DO want something different, I know they’d be glad to oblige!

Course 9: Cranberry Sweet Potato Gateau

I’m a huge chocolate-lover, as you all well know, but this dessert was so creamy and smooth, with an amazing-yet-mild cranberry taste to it that was complemented by the other sauces on the plate that it was probably my favorite dessert of the night.

Course 10: Peruvian Chocolate Crunch

This chocolate dessert definitely didn’t disappoint either – it was rich and dark, but creamy and not overwhelming at all, like some darker chocolates can be. And yes, that’s edible gold foil on there!

Yes, the courses appear really small – but don’t worry, you will leave VERY full and satisfied! We weren’t sure we’d ever be hungry again!

If you happen to notice a box on one of the shelves nearby your table…..it’s full of CHOCOLATES that you get to choose some from at the completion of your evening. If you’re too full (I can almost guarantee you will be) don’t worry, just ask them to box some up for you to take for later.

All the ladies also get a fresh ROSE which was a beautiful touch and really added more romance and thoughtfulness to the whole experience. The staff gave us a delicious orange-bread that we loved having for breakfast the next morning, as their way of thanking us for coming. I felt like laughing because we couldn’t thank THEM enough for how truly unforgettable, delicious and downright enjoyable the whole night was. From the friendly, helpful and generous staff to the food I can’t wait to eat here again sometime – it was our favorite part of our whole trip.

I highly recommend trying Victoria & Albert’s Chef’s Table the next time you’re celebrating something special – we plan to come back for our 15th or 20th (or both!) wedding anniversary!