Holly On Holidays

06/18/2024

New itineraries available, only a deposit to book your dream cruise!

📣 Just Announced Fall 2025 & Early 2026 Itineraries! Set sail on a family adventure to Mexico, Australia and New Zealand, The Bahamas and more with Disney Cruise Line. Learn more: http://spr.ly/6183gDyAW

06/02/2024

*Spoiler Alert!* Oh my, the newly re imagined ride looks soooo good. I cannot wait to experience it in person!

🚨SPOILER ALERT🚨 Watch the full ride POV of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure✨💚: http://di.sn/6187eS90b

05/29/2024

Day 4
Time to explore!
It was a day at sea on the cruise which was the perfect opportunity to explore the ship. We started with a breakfast at the buffet, everything was delish minus the soggy scrambled eggs. You can however order eggs or omelettes how you like and they will bring it to you when it’s ready! I was then on a mission to get a specialty coffee. The salted caramel coconut latte complete with Ariel printed in the foam was everything I had dreamed about. After, we changed into our swimming gear and hit the main deck. We got lucky and snagged some chairs right beside the pool. Oliver and Tim went to try out the Aqua duck, the waterslide that wraps around the top of the ship. Arabelle felt too nervous so she happily went down the smaller slide about 9 times. After spending a little time in the pool watching a Disney film on the funnel vision, we were ready for another lunch at the buffet. We decided to eat out side at the very back of the ship. The veiw was so cool and my tacos were delicious. Tim was just so excited to find unlimited shrimp. After a round of mini putt and some walking around the ship we had a little rest in our stateroom to get ready for the pirate party! After a special pirate themed dinner it was time to find a place on the top deck for the show. Mickey and friends wore fabulous outfits and of course there was a visit from Jack Sparrow. The evening included dance parties, singing and fire works! Most guests dress up and the energy is contagious. Most Disney cruise itineraries include the pirate nights, definitely not to be missed!

05/17/2024

Day 3
Part 1
Finally time to board the Disney Dream!

We left the hotel in good time to head to the port, we weren’t sure if the ride shares would be super busy but our driver arrived within ten minutes and the ride to the port was even shorter. We were dropped off in an area where we had an amazing view of the ship. Our first thoughts were just WOW look how big and how beautiful this ship is!
Once we found our way toward the terminal we left our checked bags with the lovely men in “white shirts”. We had already tagged all our bags with the suitcase tags that were shipped to us about 6 weeks before departure. These tags provide the information needed to have your bags delivered outside your stateroom a little later on. Ours arrived around 3:30 pm.
Entering the terminal we were a little surprised by how long the line up was to check in. However they had so many desks open helping people that the line up when really fast. Security also went very quickly. We had a 12:15 boarding time but they were a little ahead of schedule and we were able to enter the line leading to the ship around noon. There is plenty of seats and washrooms available while you wait for your boarding group to be called.
We were so excited to finally step foot on the ship. After our warm Disney welcome we entered the beautiful atrium. I feel that pictures don’t do it justice. The size of the chandelier and the elaborate decor were just so much to take in.
We had already planned to head right up onto the pool deck as we knew that it can get very busy and a good time to try the water slide. We had our swim suits on as we had our carry on baggage with us also. Unfortunately the water slide was closed for some
sort of maintenance. After a quick dip in the pool we decided to try the buffet instead. We quickly learned the buffet on the cruise ship can be very very busy. The food is really really good, so much variety but just bring your patience when navigating crowds and trying to find seats. We got very lucky finding a great table looking over the water. It felt totally surreal being up there remembering we were on a ship.
After we went to find our stateroom. We were on level 10 a quick walk down from the main pool deck and buffet which was on deck 11. I am not sure what I expected our room to be like, but I was pleasantly surprised. We were in the Deluxe Family Verandah Stateroom. We all felt we had more than enough space. In fact I think it was more spacious than what we needed. The balcony was lovely, there was plenty of closet space with hangers, more than enough drawers and cupboards. The split bathroom was perfect for a family. It included one bathroom with toilet and sink and a separate bathroom with a tub/shower and sink. I couldn’t believe the tub shower was very spacious, a large bench and a circular bathtub where Arabelle a tall 8 year old could take a bath. There was a rainfall shower head as well as a handheld option. These are little things but I was just very appreciative of it all.
At 4 pm it was time for the safety drill. Our area mention the main theatre. They cannot start the drill until everyone is present so be courteous and come on time. The actual safety presentation was short and direct.
We then went back to our stateroom to get ready for the 6:15 show as we had the 8:15 “late seating” for dinner. The show was the “Golden Mickeys” it did not disappoint! We had supper at Animator’s palette we got to meet our lovely wait staff that is assigned to you for your whole trip. It was a very busy day, a bit overwhelming at times and we were looking forward to getting a good nights sleep.

05/12/2024

Ohhhh this is exciting, fingers crossed they are announcing the opening date of the new ride replacing splash mountain, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure!

Tune-in TONIGHT to Disney Night on American Idol on ABC at 8PM ET/5PM PT for a special Walt Disney World announcement! 🎺🎶💚 http://di.sn/6181j2LbX

05/09/2024

Day 2
Lago Mar

We decided to start the day at the hotels breakfast buffet. We were so glad we did, the servers were so lovely and the food was delicious. Tons of variety of prepared as well as made to order options like Mickey waffles, omelettes and eggs Benedict. The price was 19.99 US for adults and 8.99 for kids. We felt this was really affordable for what we got and it even included coffee and your choice of freshly squeezed grapefruit or orange juice!
With our bellies full the kids could not wait to get back to the beach to search for more treasures. My kids could have spent all day combing the beach for sea shells, creatures and watching the large boats leave the port. The evening prior we had discovered what we thought was a blue jellyfish on the shore but we quickly found out it was the “Man of War”. Similar to the jellyfish they do sting and cause a lot of discomfort so we made the decision to not have the kids swim in the Ocean as it sounded like a terrible way to ruin our upcoming cruise. We ended up coming across many of these beautiful creatures being washed up on shore as they are plentiful in spring in certain areas, along with lots of tiny sea horses the kids had to “rescue” and bring them back into the water.
Just before lunch we had put our names down to use the tennis courts. We were able to use the court for an hour free of charge and they provided the rackets and balls for us to use. We did’t make it the hour as it was quite hot and truly none of us play tennis but it sure was a lot of fun to try as a family.
We then played a few rounds of mini putt and shuffleboard also available for use to use as many times as we liked.
Because we were still pretty full from supper we decided to just have an ice cream at the “soda shop” and head to the pool to cool off. The pool was clean and spacious. Lots of loungers and a bar very close by where you can also order food.
We got to see some very large iguanas up close around the pool which of course our kids loved!
Once we were done swimming Tim and I had a drink at the bar while the kids played more ping pong, chess and mini golf nearby. We ordered a pizza to share for a snack and went back to the room to freshen up and get some air conditioning.
We knew that we were able to bring two bottles of wine each onto the cruise in your carry on per stateroom so Tim decided to check Uber Eats for delivery from a local Walgreens. This process was so quick and easy, we ordered 4 bottles of wine, a couple jugs of water and extra sunscreen! The app alerted Tim when the driver was almost to the hotel and he simply had to meet them in the lobby to receive it.
We had supper in the same restaurant as we ate breakfast, it was a lovely meal that was kind of laid back formal.
After a final walk on the beach we headed to bed and to re pack and organize the bags for the cruise the next day!
I think we enjoyed our stay so much we would add another day on pre cruise next time if we had the time.
Thank you Lago Mar Resort for a memorable stay we will be back!

05/05/2024

Day 1
Flight and Hotel,

We decided to give Porter Airlines a try this trip, direct from Pearson, they had the best flight times for the best price. We were very happy with our service. It was probably the least busy we have ever experienced customs and security. Our flight left on time, Porter offers some additional inclusions above the standard glass of ginger ale on their flights. WiFi is available on most flights free of charge as well as a complimentary glass of wine or beer. Their snacks and meals are usually supplied or created locally.
The plane was smaller with two rows of two seats. However we didn’t feel the pressure or bumps any more than a larger plane, it was a very smooth flight though.
On arrival our suitcases came very quickly and when we walked outside to grab an Uber there was a ride-share driver right in front of us and available.
A fairly quick ride including waiting for the draw bridge and minor detour later we arrived at the Lago Mar Hotel. I was excited to see what the hotel was like, it has been owned and operated by the same family for 60 years. It fit the criteria of being super close to the port and on the beach with many family friendly activities.
Upon entering the hotel we were greeted with very warm and friendly staff that showed us a map of the property and got us set up with our room keys. It was just as I had imagined, this property is not new, it is unique and charming, showing some age as well loved independent properties do. Our room was cozy, very comfortable beds and nicely sized. We quickly found our way to the beach and wow do they ever have a huge beachfront that is private and quiet.
We decided to have a very casual resort dinner beachside while the kids played ping pong and giant chess. After a quick stroll we settled into bed as it was a full day of travel and beach fun.

05/04/2024

May the 4th be with you!!

05/04/2024

Just returned from an awesome trip to Ft Lauderdale and a 5-night cruise on the beautiful Disney Dream. I will share our experiences day by day. This was our families first cruise and definitely won’t be our last. I am already missing my morning salted caramel coconut latte with character picture on top! How pretty is this ship!?

04/25/2024

Fingers crossed the kids enjoy a little time in the kids club so Tim and I can enjoy this spot for a little while!!

04/22/2024

Happy Earth Day!

03/26/2024

This attraction is getting closer to completion, more details revealed!

Get a first look at all-new Disney characters created for Tiana's Bayou Adventure — the new Audio-Animatronics friends who play an important role in this musical adventure at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort!

03/13/2024

Here is a sneak peak at how things are coming along at Disney Cruise Lines newest addition, Disneys Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point!

Here's a sneak peek of the construction progress at Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point 👀🏝️ http://di.sn/6187kH2uJ

03/10/2024

This update will make it so much easier to make dining reservations at Disney World!

A major dining reservation change is coming soon to the Disney World and Disneyland apps and we're sharing everything we know!

03/01/2024

Today is celebrity day at school. Oliver is his favorite Blue Jay and Arabelle is Elsa. Oliver wasn’t so sure Elsa is a celebrity however Arabelle cleverly replied, “Yes she is at Disney everyone knows her even Minnie Mouse even told me she loved her!”. Of course she had to get her pal Dasher in the spirit, he is Sven of course!

02/29/2024

In a few short months our family will be embarking on our first Disney cruise. We are beyond excited! There is a few discounted sailings remaining for this year or contact me to put a deposit on sailings for 2025! These ships have so much to offer and there is an itinerary to suit everyone. I cannot wait to share our experience with all of you.

02/28/2024

Great ideas for my families with kids that are not so little anymore 🥲. Each trip to Disney has been completely different for our family. Your vacations grow with your family and there is always something that will appeal to kids at every age and kids at 💜.

Don't miss these 5 must-dos at Walt Disney World for older kids from planDisney: http://di.sn/6189ndLrt 🎙️

02/28/2024

Booking availability for 2025 now available! Remember even if Disney releases applicable discounts after your package is booked I can still call and have the discount applied to your reservation. The best part is there is no added fee to book with me, only 200$USD deposit to reserve your Disney World package.

Walt Disney Travel Company tickets and vacations for 2025 dates at Walt Disney World are now on sale! Guests can enjoy the NEW perk of visiting one of our Disney water parks on their check-in date, for arrivals Jan. 1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2025.

Now booking vacations through October 2025!

02/26/2024

New perk for guests staying on a Disney property in 2025. Enjoy free admission to a Disney World water park the day you check into our Disney World resort! Read the article for more info💕

Disney Resort hotel guests arriving in 2025 can enjoy admission to a Disney water park!

02/14/2024

An interesting quick read about the world’s oldest hotel!

02/13/2024

Tina’s Bayou Adventure opening this summer!! This is the re imagined version of Splash Mountain. Take advantage of the free dining promotion available to Disney plus subscribers this summer and check it out!

JUST ANNOUNCED 📣 Tiana's Bayou Adventure opens at Walt Disney World in Summer 2024! 💚 💜 💛 Five exciting reasons to join the celebration: http://di.sn/6188VsiOG

02/13/2024

A friendly warning regrading the passport office,

Today I travelled to London (Cherry Hill Mall) to get my son’s passport renewed. I have heard generally to expect 2-3 hours for this process. This is about the time it took to renew my daughters last year. There are many options to renew or apply for a new passport however I prefer to go to London and have them look over the form and pictures before they send them off.
I arrived after dropping the kids at school at about 9:45am. We were warned in line that yes, expect a 2-2.5 hr wait.
When it was all said and done I left the passport office at 2:10pm. That’s right almost 4.5 hrs of quality time at the passport office. I am not sure what transpired to make the process slower but these things happen. Luckily I brought a snack, however, I forgot my jug of water on the kitchen counter.
I like to share these stories because I feel they can help to prepare others. Remember some travel destinations require at least 6 months left on a passport before expiration.
Leave yourself time for options. London has different expedited options for emergency or rush passports but save yourself the stress and plan ahead. Check out other options, see if you have a local passport office or mailing your application is better for you.
Make sure you have your documents filled out and prepared, this seems to be a common hold up, we saw many people missing documents or not having a guarantor sign the form and picture.
If you do decide to wait in line, use the bathroom first, pack snacks, water and your patience.
In a few months when we’re on vacation my little field trip will be a distant memory.

01/31/2024

It’s so true!

01/31/2024

This new hotel in Disneyland California looks amazing! Check out that pool and fun theming in the rooms. If you want to experience Disney attractions and storytelling but are overwhelmed by the size of Disney World, perhaps Disneyland is a better option for you. Let’s chat and find the best option for your family.

01/21/2024

Contest Time!! Visit my website www.hollyonholidays.ca for a chance to win a 7 night Royal Caribbean Cruise including airfare. Please read contest rules and details on the online ballot. Follow my page for more travel content, promotions and giveaways!!

Enter for a chance to Win a 7 night Royal Caribbean Cruise, including airfare!!