Staying On-Site at Disney World: A little known but important benefit

There are many benefits that Disney publicly advertises to entice guest to stay in the on-site resorts, but there are some benefits Disney doesn't advertise. One of these unadvertised benefits is a great perk that gives on-site guest an advantage they may not even know they are receiving. That benefit kicks in when the parks reach capacity.

How does it work?
When a park reaches capacity, Disney goes into what as know as Phase Closures. There are 4 Phases of closures that have been determined to try to maintain guest satisfaction. Notice I mentioned the word try because when a park gets to these levels, there will be dissatisfaction resulting from the waits for rides,food, restrooms, and attractions. Some people have been able to get their hands on the actual policy Disney has and implements when capacity is reached and phase closures kick in. Others, like myself, have learned from experience what is part of a phase closure and who will benefit and who will be denied entry.On-Site Guest will be some of the last people affected by the Phase of Closures.

Why is this important?
Well we are quickly approaching the Holiday season and the Grand Opening of the New FantasyLand. During the Holiday season (especially New Year's Eve) the parks are sure to reach capacity. These next few months is also the time of year several families book their Spring Vacations. The Spring break time is another time when parks tend to reach capacity. It is important to note that phase closures also apply to the Water Parks and the Water Parks generally reach capacity much quicker than the 4 major parks!(It is no fun at all to be in the water parks when they are at capacity, if there is a phase closure, hit the hotel pool instead.)

Below is a breakdown of what happens for each Phase of Closure based on experience and what has filtered out to travel agents by those that have seen the actual policy.

Phase 1
Guest will be turned away at the Parking Lot Toll Plaza if they have:
A 1-Day 1-Park Ticket
No admission ticket
Cast Members using Main Gate &Silver Passes
YES DISNEY WILL TURN YOU AWAY!!!

Guest that can enter during Phase 1 are:
Those with multi-day or multi-park tickets
Those staying at a Disney Resort(including the Walt Disney World Swan and
Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard
hotels)
Annual Passholders and Premium Annual Passholders
Those re-entering the park that day.
Those "hopping" from another park.
Those with in-park reservations or reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or
The Pirates League.
Those arriving via Disney transportation

Phase 2
Guest that will be allowed to enter a park include:
Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan and
Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard
hotels)
Guests with dining reservations
Magic Kingdom Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or
The Pirates League
Guests using Walt Disney World Resort Transportation will be admitted.
Annual and Premium Annual Passholders

Phase 3
Admission is limited to:
Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan and
Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard
hotels)
Premium Annual Passholders
Guests with dining reservations
Magic Kingdom Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or
The Pirates League

Phase 4
Closed to all guests.
Aspect of these closures can be changed at anytime by Disney.

What is important to note is, if you are traveling to see all that Disney has to offer and can't pass up that great deal to stay at an off-site location; the only thing you might see is the toll plaza and cast member telling Sorry Folks We're Closed. Please don't go Clark Griswald on that poor Cast Member! So if you are planning to head to a Disney Park during the busy season, plan on experiencing crowds and rest assured it is a very wise choice to stay at an on-site resort.

Sorry Folks We're Closed

Have you ever been at a Disney Park when it was in a Phase Closure? Tell us your experience.

Top 11 Reasons to use my Services and Some Frequently Asked Questions.

Top 11 Reasons You should use my Services

11)   I do not add cost to your vacations. My planning services are FREE! That's right FREE!

Firehousefamilyvacations.com

10)    I make it easy to get a hold of me! You can always reach me via Email, phone, text message, or Facebook message. Sometimes I even Skype or Google Hang out with people.  I try my hardest to get back with people within 24 hours! My promise to you is, if I say that I will get you something by a certain time, I will get it to you on time, or sooner!

9)   I’m constantly monitoring for discounts that would apply to your Vacation. I put in a great deal of time researching promotions to see if you are really getting a discount or if it is just some marketing ploy to try to get you to book. That's right sometimes that big flashy promo is really no deal or savings. If you already have booked with me and a promotion with savings comes out that you qualify for, I will apply it to your Vacation. Once I get it applied to your Vacation, I will send you an email telling you how much money you’ve saved.(Please remember sometimes if you book a vacation, there can be restrictions that make changes unavailable or the new promotions may have restrictions you may not qualify for the promotion or discount. I will do my best to let you know if that would be the case when you book your vacation.)

8)   I’ll provide you with detailed assistance that you deserve and again that assistance is FREE! That includes everything from booking, monitoring for discounts, determining the best time year for you to travel, parks hours and refurbishments, to helping you determine which theme parks to visit on which days. I can also provide touring plans to maximize your time enjoying attractions, rides and shows, helping minimize your time standing in line.

7)  I have experience traveling with kids, large groups, adults only trips, and alone at various different times of the year. I also have been to theme parks with peak crowd levels that cause closures due to capacity and in the "off season" lighter crowds. Let me put that experience to work for you!


6)    Advanced Dining Reservations(ADRs) at Disney can be confusing and time consuming. We can discuss what you are looking for in meals and make a plan. Then you can sleep in and I will get up early when you hit your 180 day mark and Advanced Dining Reservations become available to make those reservations for you. Once they are complete, I will send you an email with the list of dining experiences that have been booked for you. If at any time you wish to make changes up, until your arrival, I can assist in making any changes that you  prefer along the way based on availability.

5)    If you are considering a Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, or Busch Gardens vacation; there’s so much to do between the resort hotels and the theme parks than anyone could possibly experience all in one vacation. I have a vast first hand experience with all the theme parks in Central Florida and other theme parks across the country and will help you weigh your options and prioritize your choices so that your vacation fits your needs and wants.

4)    I love Disney, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, and all of Central Florida.I will always provide a  honest, and direct opinion of particular resorts, attractions, restaurants, and add on experiences. If I think something is a waste of your money or time, I will let you know.

3)    There are always "urban legends" about what Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, or the cruise lines offer. I will give you the facts and research any questions you may have to get you the right answer. Not only do I have an expansive knowledge of the the theme parks and resorts, I also have vast network of resources to assist me that many other agencies don't have!

2)   There are many Vacation options that can be confusing or even missed, with that, I understand that vacation budgets can be tight. I also understand that sometimes you might be in the beginning stages of making a vacation budget.  I can work with you to see what you want out of a vacation so that budget can be established and/or try to stay with in your established budget. If it is a spontaneous trip, large group/family reunion, or a trip that is years in the making, I will work with you to help you find what is right for you!

1)   Unlike many agencies, I don't look at you as a client or commission check. I view you and treat you as a friend or family. I enjoy hearing about your vacation, experiences, and want you to enjoy your vacation!

The Current Hogwarts Express...Stay tuned something wickedly new is coming.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I see many other agencies posting or bragging about the number of Clients they are booking and when they are going on Facebook or their personal websites, Why don't you?
A: I respect the privacy of the people I book vacations for. I believe it is up to the person traveling to post if they are going on vacation and whom they have booked through. I also do this for the safety of those that are on Vacations. Unfortunately there are opportunists out there that do scour Facebook to find vacant homes to break into and posting that someone is on vacation could give them that information. I will only post what my clients give me permission to post and then I will not identify them by full name.



Q: Other agencies have a testimonial page, why don't you.
A: I am in the process of constructing a testimonial page to add to my website and will not post fake testimonials to try to entice people to book with me or use my services. Until I do get this page added to my website, I would be more than willing to contact my previous clients to see if they would give me a recommendation to you.

Q: Other agencies post deals and promotions before you do, why is that?
A: Posting a promotion before it is officially announced can is just asking for trouble. The people that are posting may not have the information correct and/or be completely wrong about the promotion that is coming out. Many Agencies lose their partnerships for jumping the gun on posting before an official announcement.


Q: Why did you get into the business and why do you specialize in what you do?
A: A couple of years back, I booked through a large national company that will stay unnamed  and was given extremely poor service. I walked in and told them what I wanted. They gladly took my money and gave me wrong information. They had no experience with the dining plan and the agent was confused when I asked if they could help with dining reservations. They got on the phone to see if they could do that and their answer was that they think they could, but it would cost extra. The agent was also telling my girls about attractions they could experience at Disney that were actually part of Universal. This left a bad taste in my mouth. So after several discussions with my wife, we  decided it was time to open up shop and to give it some personal character based on my profession of being a firefighter. I specialize in Central Florida and the Theme Parks because they have something for everyone. I love traveling there and some day hope to live there. I knew I could help people plan their vacations and have been successful at doing so.


Q: Why don't you post more cruise deals on your Facebook page or web page?
A: There are so many promotions that run with cruise lines and many times the promotions have very small windows for booking or a lot of restrictions to them.

Q: I emailed you but never heard back from you?
A: Sometimes my Emails end up in spam folders based on your email providers settings. Please make sure you add Matt@Firehousefamilyvacations.com to your safe list so it doesn't end up there. Make sure you check your spam folder at least 24 hours after you contact me to make sure the email has not end up there. If you prefer to be contacted by means other than email, please let me know.

Matt's Firehouse Family Vacations  Epcot 2013

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!

Ever Wonder what You get when you Book a Carnival Cruise?

Many people might be hesitant to book a cruise because they don't know what is included or have been scammed by some "All Inclusive" Resort. You don't have to worry about that when you book a Carnival Cruise. Here is a list of thing that are and are not included when you Book your "Fun Ship" Vacation!

WHAT YOUR “FUN SHIP” CRUISE INCLUDES!

Food & Drink

Fine Dining in the dining rooms which includes lobster and steak served on every cruise!

24-hour Pizzeria, soft-serve ice cream and frozen yogurt around the clock

Sushi Bar!

Lemonade, coffee, tea, water from a fountain, not bottled water

Spa Carnival menu offering healthful selections low in calories, fat, sodium and cholesterol

Onboard Activities Day & Night

Serenity - adult only retreat on select ships

All onboard clubs, bars and lounges (activities including karaoke, dance lessons and more)

Stage shows, Live music, Comedy acts, and international singers

Fitness center, steam room, sauna and outdoor jogging track

All pools including children's wading pool (on select ships) and whirlpool/hot tubs

Carnival’s Twister Waterslide OR Carnival Waterworks (depends on ship)

Mini Golf

Basketball Court/Volleyball court (on select ships)

Library

Carnival’s Seaside Theatre (on select ships)

Sliding Sky Dome – enjoy the pool rain or shine (on select ships)

Table tennis

Poolside entertainment


WHAT’S EXTRA ON YOUR “FUN SHIP” CRUISE:
Below are things that will cost you extra on your Cruise

Various beverages (alcoholic drinks, specialty coffees and bottled water) These items can be really pricey, before ordering make sure you ask how much it cost!

Unlimited Soda Program (entitles you to unlimited sodas while onboard) This can be purchased before your step on board, it is a minimal cost that can save you big money on the boat if you are a pop drinker.

All items from the patisserie (pastries, baked goods, indulgent sweets, etc.)

Use of Spa Carnival and Cloud 9 Spa services

Ship-to-shore communications (i.e. WiFi capability, cell phone roaming charges apply) Check your phone settings also, you could be racking up huge cell phone bill with out knowing it or your phone might not be set up for international calling!

Internet Café

Photographs, portraits or film developing

Onboard duty-free shopping

Medical services

Shore excursions! These are not normally run by the cruise lines and are local businesses.

Casino, bingo,Arcade, and other gaming. You gotta pay to play!

Gratuities. You can prepay these also.

Golf Academy

Babysitting Services from 10PM to 3AM in Camp Carnival for ages 11 and under

The Steakhouse (on select ships) - reservations recommended

So there you have it, a nice look at what you get with your cruise fare and what you will have to pay for extra! Of course if you have questions, do not hesitate to shoot them my way. Have you been on a cruise before? What advice you would give to first time Cruisers?

Need something Special on your Orlando Vacation?

Challenges arise when traveling when it comes to bringing the stuff you want with you. As all air travelers are aware, there are strict guidelines for carry-on and checked luggage. Passengers may not carry any liquid or gel over 3.4 ounces including shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, and Snow Globes, yes Snow Globes! Most of the theme parks have them for sale. Then there are the times when traveling you forget something and walk down to your resort's gift shop to be limited with over priced merchandise that is not your brand! You may even have a special diet that can sometimes be a hassle. This should not be an obstacle and  ruin your vacation. The perfect way to hurdle this obstacle and carry on with your vacations is to use a personal shopper.

What is a Personal Shopper?

Many personal Shoppers specialize in buying grocery items and delivering them to you at your resort. I prefer to use personal shopper that does more than that! That is why I choose Orlando Theme Park Shoppers. They do more than just grocery shopping. They can make Gift Bags for special occasions, grab that special souvenir you forgot to buy at the parks (if it still available) and ship it too you, grab those items you forgot or could not bring on the plane, and also deliver the groceries you want and the brands you want right to your resort.

How does Orlando Theme Park Shoppers work?

At least 7 days prior to your visit, orders can be sent to Orlando Theme Park Shoppers' email or Facebook page.  They will send you a quote (cost of items, sales tax, 18% service fee, $10 delivery fee) back to you. At that time they will send you a way to make payment to them  that is secure and then will purchase your items for delivery to your resort. Upon delivery of your items to your resort, they will notify you through email and Facebook to let you know your items have arrived to bell services/front desk of your hotel. The great thing is that all onsite hotels in the WALT DISNEY WORLD® RESORT and UNIVERSAL ORLANDO® RESORT are equipped to keep any perishables cold for you and have mini fridges in the rooms. Orlando Theme Park Shoppers handle emergency orders as well for an additional $15 fee that can be filled that day!

Suggested items to get from Orlando Theme Park Shoppers?

Have Orlando Theme Park Shoppers grab you a case of water for the warm sunny days, suntan/sunblock, Baby items, Ponchos, souvenir you forgot to buy, breakfast items, fresh fruit, juice, shampoo, sports drinks, the list goes on and on.

Orlando Theme Park Shoppers can make your vacation simpler and reduce your stress so you can enjoy your vacations more!
Make sure you stop by and like their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OrlandoThemeParkShoppers

Which Central Florida Attractions are best for you? Part 1

Most people know that Disney World is the big cheese in Orlando and Central Florida. Without a doubt since 1971 they have dominated the area. Since Disney rooted themselves on their 43 square mile goldmine, Central Florida has evolved around them and changed into what most dub the "Theme Park Capitol of the world"! There are more than 100 attractions in the area  that are competing for your vacation dollars and offer unique experiences for visitors, but which one is right for you? Here is quick and dirty breakdown of the some of the  player that make up the "Theme Park Capitol of the World".

Let's Wrestle!

Tourist Traps- There are tourist traps scattered through out the middle section of Florida. Central Florida is a mini golf mecca with many choices. Universal's Hollywood Drive-In Golf is one the newest and best themed in the all of Central Florida. Then there are the typical roadside tourist traps;each having their own gimmicks ranging from feeding the alligators to seeing authentic relics from the Titanic. Most of the tourist traps are a complete waste of money but their are some gems out there like GatorLand.
Audience-  All of these attractions are geared toward the entire family to try and separate you from your money. Proceed with caution with any of these attractions.

Dinner Shows- There are many dinner shows in the Orlando area. Some have been there for years, other open then quickly go out of business. Food is generally mediocre at these attractions and in essence you are paying for the entertainment. Some of the mainstays in the area are Medieval times, Pirates Dinner Adventure, Arabian Nights, Sleuths Mystery Dinner Shows, and the Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show. Each have their pluses and minuses.  All the shows menus vary, so checking their website would be advisable before choosing one. They all of course strive to be as popular as Disney's Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. Hoop-Dee-Doo is so popular, it is best to book it 180 days in advance!

Audience- The entire Family. These can be a nice filler on arrival days, days in between theme parks, or when there is really bad weather. Disney's Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is a great show for the entire family and has had unprecedented run! Teens to adults would more then likely enjoy Medieval times,  Arabian Nights, and Sleuths Mystery Dinner Shows. Families of all ages would more than likely enjoy Pirates Dinner Adventure and the Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show.

Fun Spot. OK... Fun Spot can easily confuse people because there are 2 Fun Spots in the Orlando area. What started out as a go-kart paradises has grown and is posed to be even more popular in the near future. First there Fun Spot Action Park near Universal Orlando. Something that will cause even more confusion in the near future, Fun Spot Action Park is expanding majorly in 2013 and will be re-named Fun Spot America. They are adding 2 roller coasters, one wood and one steel along with a 250 ft SkyCoaster ride and a few other things. This will complement a large arcade, go-kart tracks, and some carnival rides.

She Lights up the Orlando Skyline!

Fun Spot USA which is near DisneyWorld has the he world’s tallest SkyCoaster standing over 300 feet tall. This bad boy is very impressive at night with it's LED Lightshow! This place has some nifty go-kart tracks, a  wild mouse coaster, and carnival rides. 

Audience-This is your above average tourist trap that is geared more towards teens to young adults.

LegoLand Florida- This is the new/old kid in the area. It once was Cypress Gardens, flourished for a while, died, got new owners who brought in rides, died; now has been revived and made into a decent player in the area and rebranded LegoLand Florida. This park is more of visual feast than a thrill ride park. While there are some rides, couple of Coasters, and a WaterPark; the prize of this park continues to be the old Cypress Gardens section and all of the Lego sculptures and Lego Branding that has arrived. This park can easily be done in one day and is located about an hour west of Orlando.

Audience- This park is branded towards and most enjoyed by families with children 10 and under. The park even encourages this to be a family park by suggestion that Teens should be accompanied by adults (BRAVO LegoLand!) Teens will probably get bored here.

Animals and Coasters how could you go wrong?

Busch Gardens- This park is by far the Thrill Ride park of  the "Theme Park Capitol of the World". Busch Gardens has an amazing collection of  Roller Coasters, other thrill type rides, and some children attractions mixed in. Throw in the Animals and lush themeing, this park is a true hidden gem worth the hour drive to get to! Here you can see Big Bird, play tug of war with a tiger, and challenge one of  the two Floorless Dive Coasters in North America. This park can be done in a day and might require an up-charge Quick Queue pass on busier days so you can spend less time in line and more time enjoying the park.

Audience- Teens to Adults that are thrill seekers will get the most bang for their bucks here. The zoo aspect and Sesames Street area of the park will appeal to children. The Sesames Street  area is small and usually pretty crowed for the youngsters. With a slightly larger children's area this place can be a well rounded family park. Even in it's current form, bringing the whole family is well worth it. 

Peaceful fun!

Discovery Cove-  This is an intimate park experience like no other. One of a kinda animal interactions with a controlled snorkeling environment that has the feel and amenities of an all inclusive resort. The number of guest are limited each day so the park doesn't get or feel crowded. You are in a "controlled" tropical paradise where you can interact with aquatic life, small mammals, and birds. Don't forget the Dolphins!(Dolphin interaction and SeaVenture scuba helmet adventure are additional charges) This park is a great day park and you will need to be pried away from it once closing time arrives. There are a some drawbacks to this park.The biggest being the price. It really is expensive but worth every penny! This park is also very weather dependent. If there a storms your not going to be in the water or with the animals. The water is chilly year round so be prepared for some shivers.

Audience- The entire family can have a blast here, but remember this is a very water based attraction.While there are places for landlubbers and non-swimmers to experience Discovery Cove, the intent was for you to be in the water. Teens to Adults will cherish this experience for a lifetime. The chilly waters and animal interactions maybe huge turn off for children. Dolphins can be scary duh!

Stay tuned to Part 2 and find out even more of what Central Florida has to offer.

Have you been to these places? What do you think of them? Want to know more, just ask!