Port Orleans French Quarter Step 1: Book a Resort & Tickets We started by looking at room prices for the trip; because we decided on a three-day park hopper instead of on day in each of the four parks it made more sense to spend less on a room, since we would be spending most… Continue reading Return to Disney World, 2022
Disney Cruise Line's Castaway Cay in the Bahamas, June 2022 Castaway CayBahamas We spent our second full cruise day at Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line’s private island in the Bahamas. As we got off the ship we were given towels. Disney Characters and other photo options along the way made the ¼ mile walk to… Continue reading Excursions on the 5-night Disney Dream Cruise from Miami
Atrium Lobby on the Disney Dream, June 2022 Inside the Disney Dream Our port arrival window at Miami Cruise Terminal was 11:15am, and within an hour we had boarded the ship through the Atrium Lobby. We were required to check in on deck four and watch a video about emergency procedures. A few locations were… Continue reading The Disney Dream, June 2022
My last trip to Universal Orlando Resort was in May of 2021. My return this year was part girls' weekend and part theme-park research trip. Cloudy with a Chance of a Tropical Storm Because people weren’t sure of the impact of Tropical Storm Alex, many resort and park reservations had been cancelled or postponed. Islands… Continue reading Universal Orlando Resort, June 2022
The Ervings Return to WDW Day 4- Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane & Park Opening Park opening still had a line for Flight of Passage snaked all the way to the land’s entrance, and we were glad we had secured the paid Lighting Lane for later that day. We used our first Genie+ reservation for a… Continue reading Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World, January 2022
The Ervings Return to WDW- Epcot Epcot was divided over two days using our Park Hopper tickets. The first day was a short visit hop between Hollywood Studios via the Skyliner, with the main destination being Space 220. After dining we took some time to walk through the World Showcase. On this busy Saturday night… Continue reading Epcot at Walt Disney World, January 2022
The Ervings Return to WDW- Day 3 Lightning Lane & Park Opening Prior to 2020, I loved the challenge of securing as many attractions as possible in one day using the FastPass System (17 was my record), so I was anxious to give the new Genie+ a try. Jungle Cruise was our “must ride” and… Continue reading Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, January 2022
The Ervings Return to WDW- Day 2 Lightning Lane & Park Opening I was ready to logon at 7am, and after getting the hang of the new Genie+ format, we secured a Lightning Lane ride time of 6:25pm for Rise of the Resistance ($15/person) first, then purchased a 12:30pm LL for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway… Continue reading Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World, January 2022
We spent three Christmas breaks at the Walt Disney World Resorts. Disney changes its event and attraction offerings every year for the holidays. No matter when you go, you can always expect world-class decorations and entertainment, as well as no shortage of themed merchandise. Magic Kingdom Magic Kingdom offers ticketed after-hours parties through the holiday… Continue reading The Holiday Season at Walt Disney World
Almost any time of year Epcot is hosting a themed festival. For more info, check out My Previous Blog. NOTE: Due to COVID, many of the experiences in Epcot are currently suspended, including character meet and greets and much of the live entertainment. I’ve still included them in the blog; some specific acts will be… Continue reading World Showcase Pavilions In Epcot
We were a bit disoriented on our first visit to Volcano Bay, so two long afternoons in the park ended up being perfect for feeling like we had really experienced all the park has to offer. Getting acquainted with the TapuTapu system was our first step, and we quickly caught on to choosing a ride,… Continue reading Volcano Bay- Universal Orlando, May 2021
Make a reservation in advance for any of the Table Service restaurants at Magic Kingdom and take some of the stress out of your busy park day! These themed dining options each give you a chance to relax (in air conditioning) and enjoy some time away from the walking and the crowds. And as a… Continue reading Table Service Dining at Magic Kingdom
Animal Kingdom Lodge- Rooms & Activities Animal Kingdom Lodge is the resort that our family could visit for a week, never leave, and never get bored. With two sections, Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Disney Vacation Club's Kidani Village, guests have access to two pools and multiple onsite family activities.Disney has taken great care to… Continue reading Animal Kingdom Lodge & Kidani Village at Walt Disney World Resort
It's been two years since our first visit to Universal Orlando. Little has changed in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, with the exception of one GIANT addition, Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure The queue for Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure starts just behind Hogsmeade village. During our visit we… Continue reading Universal Orlando- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, May 2021
Cabana Bay Beach Resort is a prime-value level resort located directly next to Volcano Bay Waterpark (you even get a dedicated entrance)! The retro mid-century modern themed lobby and central spaces make it fun for both kids and grown-ups alike. Details like VO5 brand “cream rinse” in your room and pay phones transport you to… Continue reading Universal Orlando- Cabana Bay Beach Resort, May 2021
Resort Grounds Lowe’s Portofino Bay Universal Resort is a world away from the busy Universal Theme Parks. (I mean this figuratively; the location is actually conveniently close to City Walk & Park Entrances.) It is modeled after a real Italian waterfront town, with scooters for photo ops and colorful sailboats moored in the harbor. The… Continue reading Universal Orlando- Lowe’s Portofino Bay Resort, May 2021
Animal Kingdom Park is divided into multiple themed areas. Each is home to attractions, animal exhibits, dining, and performances that educate about the wildlife that live in that part of the world. Additionally, the park celebrates and introduces guests to the culture and art of people that live around the world. The photos posted are… Continue reading Animal Kingdom- Africa
Living with the Land Obviously, as an EE professional that works at a Botanical Garden, I'm going to think Living with the Land is totally rad. However, unless they are just humoring me, the other members of my family are totally into it also. (I think) it is fascinating to learn where your food comes… Continue reading Epcot for Science Nerds
When they announced that Disney World's next expansion would be based on a more than a decade old R-rated movie, I think we were all a little skeptical. It doesn't hurt to watch the movie in advance and to show the milder scenes to your kids. However, you can also have an immersive experience on… Continue reading Animal Kingdom’s Pandora: The World of Avatar
Sure, you could wait in line for two hours for a 2-minute ride on 7 Dwarfs Mine Train. Or, you can explore three classic attractions in that time. An easy walk between Frontierland and Liberty Square gets you to the raft to Tom Sawyer Island, the Liberty Bell Steamboat Cruise, and the Country Bear Jamboree.… Continue reading Old Time Adventures at Magic Kingdom
Our first time visiting Galaxy's Edge was for Passholder Preview in August of 2019. There were some kinks to still be worked out, and the Cast Members were still working out how they would interact as characters in the immersive story atmosphere. Instead of lining up for character meet and greets, they are acting out… Continue reading Galaxy’s Edge, Hollywood Studios, 2019
Coronado Resort holds a special place in our hearts as the very first Disney property we ever visited. We've stayed at the resort on five of our trips, most recently in the new Gran Destino tower. From Coronado it is a short bus ride to Animal Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Magic Kingdom sometimes feels… Continue reading Coronado Resort at Walt Disney World
In May of 2019, we met a fellow Muggle Family from Ohio at Universal Orlando Resort for a three-day trip. Alice played hooky, and we visited on weekdays in May when the park was less crowded. We also stayed a a Premier Resort, the Lowe's Royal Pacific, located within easy walking distance to the parks.… Continue reading THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER, Universal Orlando Resort, 2019
International Festival of the Arts International Festival of the Arts is held in the late winter months. They brought Broadway stars to the stage to perform songs from the stage productions.We spent a large portion of our time searching for Figment, cleverly hidden in famous works of art in each country. (There is a photo… Continue reading Epcot at Walt Disney World- Festivals
