Aquatica Revisited: An Honest Review

Over the years, I have had the pleasure of visiting several different water parks, both indoors and out. I have visited the largest outdoor water park, Noah's Ark in Wisconsin Dells, which is an amazing water park. The largest indoor water park, The Kalahari in Sandusky, Ohio; it may have size but that's about it. A few mom and pop water parks that had two slides at the most and are no longer in business, and some major park chain water parks. I have also visited all of  the water parks Disney World has had, River Country  included. It pretty safe to say, I like water parks and enjoy going to them and on my last trip to Orlando, I revisited Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. I also recently visited the AquaVenture at Atlantis in Nassau.  The visits to those water parks made me really appreciate Aquatica.

Aquatica.... you have arrived

Aquatica is a water park that is part of the SeaWorld Orlando park complex that includes SeaWorld and Discovery Cove. Aquatica opened in 2008 billed as a whimsical, one-of-a-kind waterpark unlike any you've ever experienced, immersing you  in the playfulness of the sea. This park heavily relies on the uniqueness of water park attractions with animal interactions.

The star attraction of this park is  Dolphin plunge, a water slide that send you through the home of  black-and-white Commerson's Dolphins. When I heard about this attraction, I was sold and dead set on getting to this water park. I went into this park with high expectations and was really looking forward to the animal interactions like those of the Dolphin Plunge would have to offer.

Hello little guy, is there someone in that slide?

Look you have a friend also!

As always when heading to a water park, I plan on getting there at gate opening, crowds are generally smaller, lockers and chairs are easier to find, plus you can usually get a decent amount of slide time in before the afternoon showers interrupt the day and gates are closed because the parks are at capacity. My expectation grew as we entered the park with all the lush foliage and theming that is present around the Dolphin Plunge slide and the Commerson's Dolphins.  The kids excitement grew as well; we just had to get on that slide. So we got a locker that just happened to come with a "free" souvenir towel then headed straight for the Dolphins Plunge.

 Our  excitement turned to frustration because as soon as we got to the top of the slide, my daughter, who wears a shirt over her swimsuit to help from getting badly sun burnt, was told she couldn't ride with the shirt on and had to exit the slide and put it in the locker. This after walking past several park employees that monitored the line for the slide and no signage indicating shirts were not allowed. So, instead of walking all the way back to the locker, I had my daughter take the shirt off and I went and waited for her to ride, then gave her her shirt back after her journey through Dolphin Plunge(this was the only slide the unposted rule was enforced on). At the end of her ride, her reaction to the slide was rather lackluster.  So it was my turn to ride and I will have to say, I too was disappointed. The problems with this slide is the tube that goes  through the tank with the dolphins was cloudy and hard to see out of, plus you actually go through that portion of the slide so fast, it is hard to see the dolphins. The dolphins would have to be literally right next to the tube to actually see them.  Needless to say, out of the 4 of us that rode it, none of  us saw the dolphins while on the slide, and none of us liked the slide. The dolphins are best viewed from the underwater viewing area near the entrance of the park. Now the themeing and foliage that are around Dolphin Plunge is very detailed and also has some nice bridge overlooks for those long waits to use the slide.It is a decent experience with a lackluster slide, if you are more interested in just seeing the dolphins, skip the slide and head over to the underwater viewing area. Sporadically throughout the day there were trainers in the underwater viewing area to educate about the Commerson's Dolphins. Now to be fair over down at Atlantis's AquaVenture they had the infamous Leap of Faith Water slide through a tank of sharks. It has the same lackluster type slide that speeds your through the tank so you can't see the Sharks. The other tube slide that went through the tank was slower and more unique experience!

The best view for the Commerson's dolphins
is the underwater observation area off the slide

After spending our time at the Dolphin Plunge we headed over to the newest addition to the park at that time, Omaka Rocka. Since our visit Ihu's Breakways Falls has opened and I eagerly want to experience those new slides!
Omaka Rocka is a tube slide with sections that are half-pipes.  My family loves the half pipe/funnel slides and this one had several sections that fed into smaller versions of  half pipe slides, so it was bound to be a hit. It ended up being pretty boring. The reason this was boring, the half pipe sections of the slides became mini-splash down pools and did not allow the experience that larger half pipe slides offer.(google a youtube video of Michigan Adventure's Funnel of Fear for a good idea of what large half pipe slides are like)  So the first two slides of the day were not home runs.  So we decided to hit Roa's Rapids.

Roa's Rapids is a fast moving river with water falls, rapids and lush foliage all around. Roa's Rapids far exceeded our expectations and was by far the star of the park for my family and myself. We spent hours floating this river. My wife and I had to drag the kids out of it.We loved that it was a free of  inner tubes and you could opt in to wearing a FREE personal flotation devices. While there were no animal interactions on this river, unlike the lazy river Loggerhead Lane, giggles and cheers filled this area of the park. A special note about Loggerhead Lane, while it is the a lazy river, one can easily miss the fish tank on this river because of the split in the river and placement of the tank. Also be forewarned, to access some of the water slides(just a couple), you have to walk through Loggerhead Lane to get to them. This can be very confusing if you don't follow the signs.

The rest of the water park  had standard water park slides, kid's slide& splash complex, and a well themed, but tame wave pool with a sandy beach.  The animal interactions were just ok.  We loved Roa's Rapids, and it was interesting to see Commerson's Dolphins in a water park(just not the water slide affixed to them). Aquatica is a nice small water park and is well worth a visit. If you can, definitely look for a deal where you can get a day at SeaWorld or Discovery Cove that includes admission to Aquatica(currently those deals are available but could change at anytime). Aquatica has it picturesque areas but still has room to improve.Roa's Rapids made up for the shortcomings of Dolphin's Plunge. This is still a young park and a new concept for SeaWorld, I hold hope out that this park can be expanded and improved upon. Aquatica is probably one of the better Water Park in Central Florida. It's hard to live in the shadows of Wet n Wild, Typhoon Lagoon, and Blizzard Beach, but  Aquatica has stepped out from the shadows and become a force in Central Florida.We will come back to the park over the years because over all, it is a really is a nice park.

Aquatica is neatly placed behind Seaworld, as you can see it behind
Journey to Atlantis here.

SouthWest Airlines... My pleasant Experience

Before I get into the meat of this post, let me debunk some myths, urban legends, and  rumors. First off I don't earn commission from the airlines! SouthWest Airlines may not be the cheapest or best option for your travel. This is just my experience with SouthWest Airlines.Occasionally a supplier, not the airline, will offer a percentage to every agent that uses them to try and get the agent to book everything through them. Sometimes it works out great for you as a client, other times not so much and in reality that commission maybe coming from an inflated airline ticket passed on to you. That is why I look at all the options that are available to you and make suggestions on airfare to you based on that; trying to save you money. I will be honest with you, many times cutting out flying and choosing to drive(if possible) will save you the most on any vacation.

Let's face it, flying isn't as easy as it used to be. There are fewer flights and so many hidden cost out there that at times airfare(especially during peak travel times) can actually cost more than rest of your vacation and that cheap advertised airfare is way too good to be true.  I know that there are many options out there for choosing an airline and some of the airlines are region specific or seasonal in operation which can be frustrating. I have had the pleasure and displeasure of flying on the major airlines and some of the discounters airlines that are out there. In the current air travel market, I will have to say SouthWest Airlines WOWED me for our Spring Break Trip to Orlando! This is no frills flying at it's best! Just because it is no frills doesn't mean that is not quality!

So here is the scoop. We booked a Spring Break Trip to Orlando a little over 6 months prior to the trip happening. At that time the major airlines had their flight schedule and pricing available but I was not satisfied with how high the airfare was. So we dabbled with driving to Florida and I continued to watch airfare.  At our 6 month mark, SouthWest Airlines released their air schedule and pricing. It was high but significantly lower than the other major airlines(yes SouthWest is a major airline now). So I began to play the waiting game to see if prices dropped and or increased. During that time I watched flights sell out and began to kick myself for not grabbing the flights.  So I decided to make the jump and book the flights because the other major airlines were raising prices. SouthWest was raising their prices also but not as much as the other major airlines and flights their flights were becoming scarce. At one point Airfare on a major airline out of Kalamazoo was at over $800 per person round trip.  We paid nowhere close to that with SouthWest and best of all there were NO BAGGAGE FEES for the first two bags!  At the time I booked I was offered Early Bird Check In for a nominal fee per Flight. I choose not to get it, but at later date choose to purchase it still for a nominal fee.($12.50 per person) Keep Reading for more information about this. 

From the moment we arrived at the counter to drop off our luggage until we stepped off the plane, we were greeted warmly and treated extremely pleasantly until we left the gate at our Destinations. When checking our bags we were informed our plane was running about 15 minutes late because of fog, but there was a chance that it would make that time back up.(it did!) We are a tall family, my wife is 6'2, and we were impressed with the leg room on the planes! There is no first class area separating the cabin of the plane this open cabin design allows more space between seats freeing up more leg room.
Seating is based on 3 groups of A, B, C.  You are assigned a boarding group and number based on the Fare you purchase , Early Bird Check-In purchase, or at the time you Check-In following the 24 hour mark to your flight(check-in online as soon as possible when it becomes available, don't have a computer? Use the SouthWest Airlines App on your Smart Phone!)  There are no TV monitors in the seats or  in the cabin for you to watch. There is the ability to purchase Wi-Fi for your mobile devices to keep you entertained, or just bring a book or take a snooze for your flight. On our flights we were offered nuts, pretzels, and a non-alcoholic beverage that was complimentary but if you felt the need, you could purchase alcoholic beverages and other snacks. That right there in nutshell is No Frills Flying!

If you were to look online at the airfares that Southwest offers you might get confused. The lowest fare generally available is the Wanna Get Away but has the most restrictions etc. So here is a brief summary of the fares you can expect when booking a SouthWest fare.

Business Select
This fare gets you in the first portion of the "A" boarding group.
If your in there mileage club called the Rapid Rewards Club(always join the mileage clubs of any airline you fly on) you earn extra Rapid Rewards points
You will receive one premium beverage of your choice
These fares are refundable and changeable and may be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines for the originally ticketed passenger only.
Lower fares may be available.

Anytime
The fares are refundable and changeable and may be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines for the originally ticketed passenger only.
Lower fares may be available.

Wanna Get Away
Fares are nonrefundable but may be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines for the originally ticketed passenger only.
Standby travel requires an upgrade to the Anytime fare.

Pretty straight forward when it comes to fares. We chose the Wanna Get Away Fare. 

Things to consider when flying SouthWest.

Just because they may have a cheaper fare doesn't mean they are not a reliable, quality airline. They are great value and the employees genuinely seem happy to be working there and to serve you. (trust me some of the discounters airlines out there are scary)

They may not be the cheapest for your region. Shop around before you buy.

If you have kids and they are sitting in a seat, they will be the same fare as an adult sitting in a seat. If you have a child that qualifies to sit in your lap, they need to be sitting in your lap. This is strictly enforced on full flights. 

Join the Rapid Rewards Club and Ding! newsletter, they will give a heads up on sales. SouthWest has some nice sales on airfare occasionally. 

Consider purchasing an Early Bird Check-In option. Really consider this option especially if your not going to be near a computer 24 hours before your flight or you want a better chance of sitting with family members. Special note here Everyone on your flight has the option to buy the Early Bird Check-In, so in theory everyone could have bought Early Bird Check-In for your flight. 

B and C boarding positions  can make finding a seat  a pain the rear on full flights but if you made it on the plane there is a seat for you. You may not like it though. 

This is No Frills flying. If you need to be entertained, bring something to entertain yourself but follow all FAA regulations and listen to your flight attendants about electronic devices..

Nuts, Pretzels, or a non-alcoholic beverage not gonna be enough for you? After you make it past security, pick up something from a restaurant near your gate or gift shop and bring it on the plane with you.(this may or may not be available to do on your flight, check with the gate attendant first!) 

If you hear the ticket agent asking for volunteers to get bumped from the flight,and if you have the flexibility to do so, find out what they are offering it may be extremely worth it. 

Would I recommend SouthWest Airlines? Absolutely! My experience with them will make them my go to airline for my personal travel!

Relax and enjoy your flight!

The Disney Dining plan! 2013's Plan in action!

One of the most common questions I get when booking a Walt Disney World Resort Vacation Package for a client is, "Is the dining plan worth it?"  To be honest with you, there really is no simple answer  because every family eats differently. Disney recognizes this and has come up with some cookie cutter plans that try to appeal to a broad audience. This is great for some families and not so good for other families. I am not going to debate the the pro and cons of the plans in this post because I did that  a while back in another post that you can access by clicking here.  While the plans have changed slightly over the years, the pros and cons have pretty much stayed the same.

Can the Dining Plans save you Money? Yes! Can a Dining plan waste your Money? Yes!


So that we are all on the same page, here are the current prices and a little video Disney has put together to tell you the benefits you get with a dining plan.(price can change at anytime and dining plans can be changed at anytime by Disney) I have also included short break down of what each plan includes for 2013! The breakdown below can be found just about every where you look when looking for information on the dining plans, but not many sites actually put the plan in action for you.

Quick-Service Plan
Price Per Night 2013
Adult (Ages 10+) $37.58
Child (Ages 3-9) $14.32

The Quick Service includes the following for each resort guest:
2 Quick Service Meals per night stayed
Each meal includes an entrée or complete combo meal, dessert (lunch and dinner only), and non-alcoholic beverage
1 Snack Option per night stayed
1 Resort Refillable Mug for the length of stay

Standard Plan- This plan is suggested by Disney and Myself
Price Per Night 2013
Adult (Ages 10+) $55.59
Child (Ages 3-9) $17.16
***During Peak Season (typically summer and holidays), prices increase for the Basic Standard Plan to $56.94/night for Adults 10+ and $18.16/night for Children ages 3 to 9****

The Standard Plan includes the following for each resort guest:
1 Quick Service Meal per night stayed
Each meal includes an entrée or complete combo meal, dessert (lunch and dinner only), and non-alcoholic beverage.

1 Table Service Meal per night stayed
Each meal includes an entrée, dessert (lunch and dinner only), and non-alcoholic beverage, or, if eating at a buffet, the full buffet.
1 Snack Option per night stayed
1 Resort Refillable Mug for the length of stay

Deluxe Plan
Price Per Night 2013
Adult (Ages 10+) $99.97
Child (Ages 3-9) $26.84
****During Peak Season, prices increase for Deluxe Dining Plans.to $102.27/night for Adults 10+ and $28.91/night for Children ages 3 to 9.****

The Deluxe Plan includes the following for each resort guest:
3 Meals per night stayed, which can be any combination of Table Service Meals and Quick Service Meals
Quick Service Meals include an entrée or complete combo meal, dessert (lunch and dinner only), and non-alcoholic beverage.
Table Service meals include an appetizer (lunch and dinner only), entrée, dessert (lunch and dinner only), and non-alcoholic beverage, or, if eating at a buffet, the full buffet.
2 Snack Options per night stayed
1 Resort Refillable Mug for the length of stay


Now that we have the details down, it is time to put the standard Dining plan into action!

Here is a good tip: While there are some exceptions to the rule, Table Service meals used for lunch are a waste of money. You get more bang for your table service meals during breakfast or dinner. 

I am going to use the dining plan I have set up for my family to show how you can use the standard dining plan.
Being the outstanding planner that I am, for our trip at the end of March through first week of April, I made our table service reservations right at the 180 day mark when they became available to get the times and restaurants we wanted. This is the peak season and the longer I would have waited, the less likelihood I would have gotten restaurants or time we wanted. The wild cards in our dining plan here will be our daily snacks and quick service meals. Since we are only getting 2 meals a day, we are going to supplement our dining plan with some items in our room to get those of us in our family that want 3 meals a day that "extra" meal. We are using a personal shopper that will deliver things to our room from the grocery store, beating the high cost of the onsite gift shop. We prefer to use Orlando Theme Park Shoppers. For about $35, they are delivering us groceries  that will supplement that extra meal for our 8 night/9 day visit. Their delivery will consist of  some snack items but mostly breakfast items. It will save us money and time in the mornings.

Day 1 is going to be a quick service meal for us based on our arrival time. So lets say because of our arrival time we are going to eat dinner at the food court of our resort.
Hypothetically, 2 from our family will get Carved Roast Turkey served with two sides that would cost out of pocket  $10.19 a meal. Another family member decides to get an Angus Bacon Cheese burger with Fries for $9.39 and then the final member(who is a child) decides to get a pepperoni pizza for $5.99.All meals come with a drink and desert. This meal would cost right around $36 out of pocket if we were not on the dining plan. Today we opted out of a Table Service meal because we are going to use a 2 table service meal credit dining experience later in the week.

Day 2 For breakfast, those that choose to, will be having bagels with cream cheese, granola bars and some bananas that have been delivered to us by Orlando Theme Park Shoppers.
Today hypothetically we are starting the day at the Animal Kingdom and will be using a quick Service meal at Flame Tree Barbecue (Great quick service meal highly suggest this place) for lunch.  1 adult choose the Rib and Chicken combo for $11.99.  Adult #2 orders The Pulled Pork Sandwich for$8.99 and Adult # 3 gets the 1/2 Slab of Ribs for $11.69. The child gets the Hot Dog for $5.99(the hot dog is enough for an adult) all meals  include a drink and desert. Lunch out of pocket would cost roughly $39, but we are on the dining plan and it already paid for!

Two Quick Service meals from Flame Tree barbecue

For dinner we are going to the very popular O'hana's at the Polynesian and this is a table service meal. This is family style all you care to eat meal is offering carved meat and other goodies brought to our table. This will run $59.99 per adult and slightly cheaper for children. This meal will be about $220 out of pocket but since we are on the dining plan, I will be responsible for the tip and any alcohol we may decide to purchase. We will be leaving stuffed.

Day 3 Today we are going to do breakfast in the room again and then another quick service meal for lunch that  will cost us about $40. Dinner is going to be a Character Dining Experience at Chef Mickey's which is a table service meal. This a buffet style meal all you care to eat. Again this meal will cost us $59.99 per adult and slightly less again for the child, putting us back at $220 for the meal. Again since we are on the Dining plan, I will only be responsible for the tip.

So you get the idea here that things are expensive out of pocket and paying for the dining plan in advance can lessen the burden on you paying out pocket while on vacation. The only thing you have to really worry about is choosing how you want to spend your dining credits for each category(a vacation planner like myself can help you choose really good meals), the tips, alcohol, and anything you may went to add to the meal i.e appetizers. For the rest of the post, I am going to skip putting in projected cost out of pocket. 

Day 4 We are going to shake thing up a little. Not only are we doing a table service meal for breakfast. We are doing a table service meal that will cost us 2 table service meal credits per person. We are having the Signature Dining experience/Character Dining at Cinderellas Royal Table! This plated meal, NOT all you care to eat.This a great location plus we get some one on one time with the Princesses when they come to our table for autographs and photo ops. Our princesses might not be so charming with the early morning wake up call to get here.
Later in the day will probably use a snack credit for something to munch on then have an early quick service dinner at which ever park we end up at for the evening. We love to park hop.

Day 5 Tonight we are dining at EPCOT for another great Character Dining experience table service meal at the Garden Grill Restaurant in the Land Pavilion  It is another all you care to eat family style meal and character meal with the added bonus of a restaurant that slowly turns while you dine! We will probably grab a quick service meal in the World Showcase for lunch and use a snack credit for Churros to watch Illuminations.

Intergalatic tunes from Sonny Eclipse

Day 6  Our table service meal will be at The Crystal Palace for dinner, another all you care to eat Character Dining experience. Again this morning, breakfast will be in the room and we may opt for an early quick service lunch at the the Magic Kingdom. One my Favorites is Cosmic Ray's in Tomorrowland  Not only is there a decent selection of quick service meals here, there is a great topping bar and you get entertained while you eat from Sonny Eclipse!

Day 7  We will be experiencing  the brand new Be our Guest Restaurant for dinner for our table service meal. We aren't sure what to expect here, but hear great things about it. During the day, if you want brave long lines, this restaurant is quick service meal. I hear it is great and maybe one of the days we are in the Magic Kingdom, we may try out the quick service offerings. This morning we be opting for a quick service meal at the food court of our resort.

Day 8 Tonight we will be dining at the Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano with and it will include the Fantasmic! package for our table service meal. What is the Fantasmic package? Well you will get your normal table service meal with reserved seating later in the evening at Fantasmic! We will probably have a quick service meal for lunch at  Typhoon lagoon today. We will also probably use some snack credits here for some treats while we wait for Fantasmic! to start.

Day 9 is our departure day. If we have any quick service meals left or snack credits left, before we head to the airport we will use them up at our resort. If we don't use them, we lose them. This is one way the dining plan can "lose" you  money.

So if you are keeping score, here is summary of the highlights of our Standard Dining Plan.
4 Character  meals
1 Fantasmic! Dining package meal
1 Signature Dining Experience that takes 2 table service meals.
Half of our Table Service meals are all you care to eat.
We haven't used many of our snacks or maybe we will along the way.  

Here is a tip: if you have snack credits at the end of your trip, stay away from bottles of pop and bottled water. Why you ask. You can't get past security with them at the airports and they will end up being put in the trash!

In my opinion, this is a lot of food to consume and more food than I normally would consume while at home, but then again, We are on Vacation.

While this is not an all-star line up for the dining plan, it more than meets my families needs and we save money and time in the mornings by using Orlando Theme Park Shoppers for breakfast items.

I hope that sheds a little more light on the value you can get with a dining plan and may help you choose one way or the other if you want to use it during your vacation. No matter how you look at it, using a Dining Plan or not using the Dining Plan will make Disney money no matter what, so ultimately it is your choice as to when they get your money.

I choose to promote Orlando Theme Park Shoppers because they offer excellent service at an affordable price. Orlando Theme Park Shoppers does not offer me any incentive to promote their business. I gladly promote businesses I believe in and never seek anything from them in return and believe word of mouth is one of best forms of advertisements. 

Tell us your experience with your dining plans at Disney.

Disney Cruises: What your cruise fare gets you!

Lets face it, there is a misconception out there that Disney Cruise Line® cruises are for only kids. That could not be further from the truth! Disney Cruise Line® is an award winning cruise line that caters perfectly to adults, children, and families! There is something for everyone on these luxury ships! You really can't go wrong when choosing a Disney Cruise!
Here is a sampling of the awards that Disney Cruise Line®  has recently earned:

The  Disney Fantasy®, recently earned the top honor of Best Large Ship, Large Ship Best Cabins, Best Entertainment, Best Public Rooms and Best Service in the Cruise Critic 2013 Cruisers’ Choice Awards.

Disney Cruise Line® was recognized as # 1 in the Large-Ship Cruise Lines for Families category in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2012, for the fourth consecutive year.

Disney Cruise Line® was recognized as the #1 Cruise Line in the Large-Ship category in the Condé Nast Traveler 2012 Readers’ Choice Awards.

That is a lot of #1 especially with all the choices that are out there for cruise vacations. So what do you get with your basic cruise fare on this amazing fleet of ships?

After you choose from the large variety of  itineraries  that Disney has lined up, your basic cruise fare will get you:

• A stateroom that the rest of the cruise industry envy!
•  Breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, along with soft drinks served at meals and at the beverage station on Deck 9
• Snacks and ice cream where they are offered on  the ship!
• All onboard activities and entertainment!

That is right just about everything on board is included in your fare

What will cost you extra:

• Port adventures 
• The spa or salon on the ships
• Phone calls and Internet usage(make sure your cell phone plan can make international calls)  
• Professional Photos taken on board and in port.
• Video games
• Alcoholic beverages(every cruise line charges for alcohol)

Want to know more?  Check out this video to see all the details that go into your cruise with Disney!

Disney Cruise Line® may not have mammoth fleet like other cruise lines, but their 4 ships dazzle everyone that steps onboard! Once you take your first cruise with Disney you will  want to continue to come back again and again! Check out the video below to see Disney's spectacular  fleet that make dreams come true!

Have you sailed the high seas on the Disney Cruise Line®? Tell us your experience!
Need a quote or to book a cruise on this amazing line of ships? Contact me today for your FREE, NO OBLIGATION quote!

What is included with your Cruise Fare On a Royal Carribean Cruise

In a previous post I detailed what is included when you book a Carnival Cruise.   Today, here is a look at what you get when you book a Royal Caribbean Cruise!

You get excellent value for your money in a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation which will include:

•   Royal Caribbean International representatives at most domestic and overseas arrival airports on standard departure dates

•   All meals onboard (excluding some specialty restaurants)

•   Complimentary room service from 5am - Midnight

•   All onboard activities and entertainment, including rock climbing wall, ice skating*, Flowrider®**, theatrical productions, and much more

•   Fitness Centers (some fitness classes and spa treatments will have additional fees)

•   Adventure Ocean®Activities Program

•   Adventure Ocean®Dining

*Currently available on Voyager and Freedom Class ships

**Currently available on Voyager and Freedom Class ships

What's NOT included in the price?

Additional costs include:

•   Flight upgrades, custom air arrangements, and transfers

•   Shore excursions

•   Gratuities

•   Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks

•   Shopping and items of a personal nature

Have you sailed with Royal Caribbean before? Tell us what your favorite ship is and favorite Itinerary! Coming soon, what you get on a Disney Cruise!

Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem-Gru Got It Right!

Get out my way I want to be a Minion!

This summer(2012) Universal Studios Florida became home to the new ride Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem.  Despicable Me replaced the dated Jimmy Neutron ride that was showing its age with many characters featured in the ride the younger audience could not remember or relate to.  We were one of the last people to ride Jimmy Neutron ride in the summer of 2011 and were excited to hear that it was being replaced.  We were not so excited when it was announced that  Jimmy Neutron would  replace The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera when it got dated. Since I have had the pleasure of riding all three these family friendly adventures, I will have to say, Despicable Me is by far the best. I will even venture to say it is even much better than Shrek 4D, which is right across the street from it.

 Despicable Me is one of the first attractions you encounter when entering the Studios and Gru's House is inviting you to come on in. You really don't need to be a fan of the movie Despicable Me to like this ride, but it maybe help if you have seen the movie and the Shorts that were released with it on Blu-Ray to really appreciate some of the inside jokes.( Banana!)


Universal knocked this ride out the park and did not skimp on anything when it came bringing the movie characters to life in this 3D adventure.  The 3D is phenomenal and the story is, well heart-warming and comical. This ride has a huge re-rideablity factor(unlike Shrek 4D) because of how much is going  not only in the ride itself but the Que and pre-show. Universal really did a wonderful job themeing this ride from exterior of Gru's house to ending dance party and photo op with the minions.

Getting my Groove on with a Minion.

While I will let some spoilers out of the bag here with some pictures, I will leave the actual ride experience for you to find out for yourself as you take on your own Minion Training.
Here are couple important tips for you.
1) There are bad seats in this ride. If at all possible(ask the ride op) try to sit in the middle of the ride theater. If you can't, don't take someone elses assigned seat.
2) Have fun at the Dance Party at the end of ride and make sure you look at some of the cool merchandise in store. There are some great photo ops here!
3) There are non-motion seats available make sure you tell the ride op you want one if motion isn't your thing!
4) Be prepared to ride this ride again. Kids(and most adults) will love this ride. 
*****DISCLAIMER******
Now I am going to say something here that may get some Disney Fans upset, so cover your eyes if you are a Disney Fan( as I am). This ride is currently better than anything new that has been done by Disney in many years. Even Better than Mickey's Philharmonic. That's right it is better than a Disney Ride!



So make sure if your heading to Universal to Island of Adventure to see Harry Potter,  get yourself Park to Park access so you can experience the Minions at Universal Studios Florida. Got questions on Universal Orlando or need a ticket or vacation package quotes be sure to ask me, I have answers!

Enjoy some of our pictures of Minion Mayhem.Click on the Pictures to make them Larger.

Good thing there are Tennis balls  on those spikes.

Love the Family Tree

It's a Dog eats cat , lion eat dog world!

As you walk in Despicable Me is on the left, Shrek 4D is on the right. ALWAYS GO LEFT!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures and get a chance to enjoy becoming a Minion.

BANANA!

The Magic Kingdom will no longer be dry......

More information has been announced about the Be Our Guest Restaurant and is sure to cause some controversy. For the first time in its history, alcohol will be served at the Magic Kingdom theme park. It will only be served at this one location and only offered with dinner. The alcohol will be part of the theming and consist of  wine that will complement the French-inspired cuisine. There will also be  French beer and Belgian beers. The complete adult beverage menu can be found here!

What are you thoughts to this addition to the new FantasyLand?