Kimberly Oehrlein - Vacation Planner

04/12/2024

I always appreciate a good mnemonic device and can’t believe I never spotted this one on my own. Just remember that ORL is *not* the airport code for Orlando — that would be MCO.

Hmm… What can we use to remember that?

Here are my thoughts:
Mickey Calls Often
Mighty Cute Organization
(M)i(C)key, (O)bviously
Money Culling Operation

And for my family specifically,
Mom’s Chosen Occupation

What else can you think of?

01/12/2024

There is an amazing Cyber Weekend deal going on right now, and our 8-night sailing is the lowest I have seen for Insider, Sea View, and Sea Terrace "Lock it In" rates. If you'd like to get away for an amazing cruise vacation from January 25 through the morning of February 2, now is the time to book! Check out tinyurl.com/SailVirginWithUs for pricing. Two people can share an Insider stateroom with the Lock It In rate for only $1572 including taxes and fees. That's less than $99 per person per night! You'd spend more than that if you went out to eat three times a day on a staycation (and I'll bet the food wouldn't be as good as it is on the ship.)

Please note Lock It In rates mean:
Cabin assigned closer to sail date
No changes or modifications
May be an Accessible Cabin

If you know you want an oceanview cabin or a stateroom with a balcony, there are great Lock It In rates for those as well. Check it out and let me know if you have any questions!

With apologies to Smokey Robinson, “I love it when we’re cruising together.” I will be on an amazing 8-night Eastern Caribbean Antilles voyage beginning January 25 and would love to have a few clients join me! Visit https://tinyurl.com/SailVirginWithUs for details.

Virgin Voyages are so much fun. If you were hesitant to try them because you wouldn’t know anyone on board, “don’t be confused, the way is clear.” You’ll be “glad you’re going my way!” (Sorry again, Smokey!)

01/12/2024

Did turning the calendar page today give you a moment of holiday gift-giving panic? (Or was that just me?) The gift of a family vacation can give them something to look forward to and then reminiscence about all year long. Message me if you'd like to make this the year you give the most magical gift ever!

30/11/2024

I’d like to share one more post of gratitude as we wrap up the month of November. Several of my 2024 clients had specific needs and concerns that provided me with opportunities to think outside the box. I appreciate your patience when I needed to research answers regarding new-to-me destinations and specific issues with adaptive equipment, food allergies, and cognitive disabilities. Thanks to your trust in me, I feel better prepare to handle similar concerns in 2025 and beyond. Thank you for the learning opportunities you’ve provided!

29/11/2024

There aren’t enough days in the month of November to thank everyone individually, so here’s a compilation of the remaining destinations my clients chose in 2024. Thank you all for trusting me with your vacation planning!

28/11/2024

#27: On this Thanksgiving Day, I'd like to specifically thank my clients who chose the Disneyland Resort for their 2024 vacations. Once again, there was a two-way tie between your top hotel choices. Disneyland Hotel features the most magical headboards and loads of Disney nostalgia. On the other hand, Fairfield Inn by Marriott Anaheim Resort is a Good Neighbor hotel, which means it meets Disneyland Resort's highest standards. They also offer fun decor to set your vacation mood. Thanks to all who selected these hotels this year!

28/11/2024

Regardless of who will be at your Thanksgiving table, may your day be filled with peace and love. (And perhaps some vacation planning while everyone is gathered together? 😜 I’m always happy to help!)

27/11/2024

26/11/2024

Exclusive Royal Caribbean SALE 🌟 November 26, 2024 - https://mailchi.mp/e471e8af6cca/dclplatinum-12772662

26/11/2024

Oh my. It's funny because it's true. I'm shocked that none of them were voted "most likely to give up on finding an actual table during an EPCOT festival." But I suppose that's most of us. (Real ones even have tablecloths for this precise purpose. You know who you are!)

26/11/2024

#25: Thank you to the clients who chose to plan their 2024 Universal Orlando Resort vacations with me! Their most popular resort hotel choice was Loews Royal Pacific Resort, and I have to agree. It features the shortest walk to Islands of Adventure, which is extra convenient on days when that park is open 30 minutes early for resort guests. But the best included feature is Universal Express Unlimited. It's a huge value, especially for families. Thank you, Royal Pacific clients!

25/11/2024

#24: Many thanks to the 2024 clients who unleashed their inner adventurer onboard Anthem of the Seas! 🌊 With breathtaking 360-degree views, simulated skydiving, and bumper cars at sea, every moment is a new thrill. Thank you for creating unforgettable memories with me!

24/11/2024

Be aware of the power of this meme (courtesy of the Cruise Addicts page) and use it only for good, not evil. These two text conversations were less than 18 hours apart. The second one ended with my friend and I planning a last-minute cruise to fill the sadden opening in my calendar.

Tag the friend who’s most likely to be your bad influence when it comes to solving a problem with a cruise. I’ll just go ahead and tag myself now. 😆

24/11/2024

#23: Thank you to my 2024 clients who chose Adventures by Disney for their family vacations! All of you selected my personal favorite: Disneyland Resort and Southern California, so indulge me while I share photos from my experience. Funny enough, my AbD was right around this time of year, so it got me in the holiday mood to look at these pictures again. To learn more about this itinerary, visit https://tinyurl.com/ABDisneyland. And thanks again to the clients who trusted my experience and planned their own Adventures with me!

23/11/2024

#22: Huge thanks go out to my 2024 clients who selected Disney's Beach Club Resort and/or Disney's Beach Club Villas. This graphic looks similar to the one from two days ago, and that's not accidentally. Disney's Yacht Club is their sister resort, and they share the best pool complex on property. However, what sets Beach Club apart is the Villas. They provide all the comforts of home and plenty of extra room to spread out. They are a great choice for larger families and groups. Thank you to all of my clients who gave Beach Club a try!

23/11/2024

It was a nice surprise to open the app upon completion of my final Lightning Lane redemption to see a celebration of my accomplishment. Scrolling down, I could see the full list of everything I’d redeemed.

When I finally reached my hotel room after a very full day, I checked my step count on my Garmin. A typical day at the Magic Kingdom for me is usually 12 or more miles. The reduced need to backtrack and ability to tour the park efficiently saved me many, many steps.

My final thoughts remain similar to what they were when Lightning Lane Premier Pass was first announced. Given the current price point, it is not a feature for every park guest to purchase every time they visit. However, there is a great deal of value associated with it. I truly enjoyed being able to visit each attraction when I wished. If I hadn’t been traveling solo, I would have valued being able to enjoy my day with friends/family rather than constantly consulting the app. If I was not an experienced Disney visitor or an experienced iPhone/app user, there would have been even more value for me in not having to make a million little decisions throughout the day. If the parks had been at their peak crowd levels, it would have been even more valuable. Finally if I were traveling with someone with limited endurance, the reduced mileage would have been a huge feature.

22/11/2024

#21: Many thanks to my 2024 clients who spent family vacation time aboard Freedom of the Seas! 🌴Sea breezes, endless onboard activities, and the complete escape -- what's not to love? Thank you for planning your cruise vacations with me!