Welcome to my quirky corner of the internet. Stay awhile, plan a trip, and let's make magic!
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While we already know the names of the newest three ships joining the Disney Cruise Line fleet, we also know that more ships are in the works.
Disney Cruise Line already has:
⚓️ Disney Magic
⚓️ Disney Wonder
⚓️ Disney Dream
⚓️ Disney Fantasy
⚓️ Disney Wish
And we know that soon, we'll also be joined by:
⚓️ Disney Treasure
⚓️ Disney Destiny
⚓️ Disney Adventure
Given DCL's naming patterns, what do you think the next ship's name will be???
Who would’ve guessed that my magic mail from two weeks ago would be Gus’ new favorite spot to relax? It just proves that Disney creates magic for everyone!
I’m sure other cat owners will understand that now I can never get rid of this box…
Can you guess the ONLY Walt Disney World Resort I've stayed at more than once?
The only hint I'll give is that on my most recent trip, I stopped at this resort for a drink and had one of the best drinks I've ever had on Disney property, which was this delicious white sangria!
Give me your guesses in the comments! 👇👇👇
Happy Birthday Harry Potter! That means that tomorrow would be the first date that Harry would have every visited Diagon Alley! I also visited Diagon Alley for the first time this summer, and here were some of my favorite things about it:
⚡️ Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts - I have to say that I was nervous to try this ride for the first time because I am prone to motion sickness, but I LOVED it! I didn't feel queasy at all (not like I did after The Forbidden Journey) and thought it was so immersive and well-designed!
⚡️ Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour - Very unique flavors that are worth trying, even in the Orlando heat! I tried two flavors in one cone and both were delicious! This is also where you can find butterbeer soft-serve ice cream!
⚡️ Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes - This joke shop is so much fun to just walk around in! There are many nods to the movies and books, and plenty of recognizable sweets, jokes, pranks, and more!
⚡️ The shade! - Unlike the Hogsmeade side of the Wizarding World, Diagon Alley has a lot of covered areas to provide a break from the direct sunlight!
Have you visited Diagon Alley before? Tell me what your favorite part was if you have!
Have you been tuning in to watch the 2024 Summer Olympics?! What events have you been watching / enjoying that I should check out? ⚽️🎾🥊🏹🏄♀️
Experiences > Stuff 🫢
Even though I consider myself a pro at gift wrapping and have more clutter than I know what to do with, truly the best gifts I’ve ever given or received are ones that allow for memory making. So on this Christmas in July, when plenty of places are advertising deals on toys and tchotchkes, let’s start planning your next adventure. When you give the gift of travel, you’re also giving the gift of memories to last a lifetime. 💕
(Did I bring a Santa hat on my cruise just for this picture? Yes. Yes I did.)
Now THIS is magic mail! 🤩
Our agency received this special package from Disney Cruise Line as a preview of their upcoming ship, the Disney Destiny, expected to set sail in 2025!
More information to come starting Tuesday July 30th, but for now we have these fun clues to build excitement & curiosity!
Who’s excited for this new Disney Cruise Line ship?! 😍
disneyparks disneycruiseline
Read about my recent stay at the Drury Inn and Suites near Universal Orlando Resort! 👇
Monday was the first day of our Utopia of the Seas media preview cruise, but it was also my 30th birthday! Our sailing was so amazing and would have been special no matter what, but everyone from our travel party to the crew made me feel so incredibly special! It’s truly a milestone birthday I’ll never forget!
I’d recommend Utopia of the Seas for any celebration! Let me know if you want to hear more about what makes celebrating on a Royal Caribbean Cruise so special!
We have arrived!!! 🤩
I can’t wait to share my experience on Utopia of the Seas, the world’s second largest ship! I’ll show you bigger ways to dine, celebrate, and make a splash during a cruise vacation — both onboard & onshore at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas.
I really can’t believe I’m here…how cool is it to say we were on the first sailing even before the inaugural?! 😍 I know it will be an experience I’ll never forget. Be sure to follow along my stories so you don’t miss out on the fun!
Plus, book your next Royal Caribbean cruise with me as your travel advisor now through Sunday July 21st & receive onboard credit up to $100! What perfect timing for such an awesome promotion!
𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗸𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗮? 𝗜𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗺𝗲! 🏖🚢
I mentioned earlier this week that I'd be headed back to Orlando but NOT for a theme park vacation. On Monday, I will be setting sail on 𝗨𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀, Royal Caribbean's newest ship, on a special media sailing prior to the inaugural sailing next Friday! I cannot wait to share this amazing experience with you. Here are some fast facts about Utopia of the Seas:
⚓️ Utopia of the Seas is part of the Oasis Class of ships and sails out of Port Canaveral!
⚓️ With primarily 3- and 4-night sailings, Utopia of the Seas is being called the ultimate weekend getaway!
⚓️ There are 5 pools, 8 whirlpools, and 4 slides on board! One of those slides is the longest you can experience on any cruise ship!
⚓️ There's a mini-golf course, two rock walls, laser tag, and a zip line on board, so no one will ever claim they are bored.
⚓️ There are more than 20 dining options on board, with an all new immersive dining experience, found only on Utopia!
⚓️ Utopia's godmother (and on board celebrity) is singer Meghan Trainor! Rumor has it that she'll be on board for our sailing...let's hope I can snag a pic! 🤩
Make sure you are following along in my stories so you can experience all of the fun with me! What questions do you have about Utopia of the Seas and/or what would you like to see from on board? Let me know! 👇
Even though I only got back from Orlando a few days ago, I'll be headed back there very soon! For what? I'm not ready to spill the beans yet! 🤭😘 All I can say is that the bulk of my plans have nothing to do with Walt Disney World Resort.
BUT I will have just enough time before heading home to squeeze in one day at the parks. I'm struggling to pick just one, so help me decide by voting or giving me your pitch to sway my decision! Here are some things to consider:
⭐️ I'll be traveling solo so it will be a "take it easy" sort of day!
⭐️ I'm not going for the rides. If I see a short line, I could be inclined to hop in, but I'm mainly going for magic and atmosphere.
⭐️ Without riding rides, I'm going to need to take intentional and frequent A/C breaks because it's only going to be hotter than it was a week ago. 😅
⭐️ Food and drinks are obviously important to me, but I know I can find good eats in any park. I'm on a budget too, so eating around the world or expensive reservations are not on the agenda!
So what do you think? Vote and give me some advice in the comments! 👇👇👇
Let’s talk about character interactions at Universal Orlando Resort!
Although characters tend to gather very long lines over at Walt Disney World very quickly, I found that characters at Universal were much more accessible. Some lines moved faster because the interactions were quicker, while others just had shorter lines to begin with. Here are a few interactions I wouldn’t skip:
👋 Shrek and Donkey! Located in the new DreamWorks area, this meet and greet is quickly becoming the most coveted and therefore the longest wait. I still highly recommend it because of how personalized the experience was!
👋 Beetlejuice! This was such a unique interaction which is why I would totally recommend it! Unless you’re meeting villains, it’s not common to have a sassy interaction with a character, and that’s definitely what Beetlejuice delivered! (As you can see from this photo!)
👋 Raptor Encounter! This has a queue like a ride or other attraction and it’s easy to see why the wait gets up there. This is another very unique, very personalized interaction. If you find yourself thinking “What’s so cool / scary about meeting a *fake* raptor?” just you wait! It’s very easy to forget with how realistic they are!
Do you have other characters you’d love to meet at Universal Orlando Resort?
Don't miss out on your chance to win FREE Universal Orlando Resort theme park tickets!
I had an INCREDIBLE time at Never Look Back Vacations' annual agent education program, where we experienced the magic of Universal Orlando Resort. Now it's your turn to experience the magic! Trust me, this destination is HOT, and you won't want to miss out!
Here are the details of this amazing giveaway:
Book an Orlando-based vacation between July 1 - July 31, 2024 with a reservation total of at least $1000 and be entered to win four 3-day, 3-park, park-to-park tickets to Universal Orlando Resort! Your travel dates must be complete by November 15th, 2024. Winner will be selected by random draw and notified in early August 2024. Tickets will be awarded to the winner following final payment of vacation package.
Contact me today to get your next Orlando-based vacation on your calendar and for your chance to win Universal Orlando Resort theme park tickets!
This promotion is run solely by Never Look Back Vacations & is not endorsed by or affiliated with Universal Orlando Resort.
I’ve been slacking on my stories these past few days, which hopefully tells you how much Nolan and I have been enjoying our time together in Universal! It’s been so nice to disconnect from social media for a minute, but I can’t wait to share some of my favorite experiences, photos, and tips with you in the near future!
We fly out this evening and then I’ll be home for about a week and a half before my next adventure! (More to come on that soon! 😉)
It’s recap o’clock! ⏰
Yesterday we toured four different Universal Orlando Resort hotels, including Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, Aventura Hotel, and Universal Endless Summer Resort: Dockside! Each of them are unique and would be the perfect fit for different families and parties depending on your preferences.
We also enjoyed some classroom time, which was the unofficial end to the Universal portion of our Agency Education Program! We moved this morning over to Walt Disney World Resort where the adventure will continue! 🥰
Last night we had our AEP Welcome Reception at the Hard Rock Cafe in Universal CityWalk! It was amazing to see all 37 of our attending agents together and dressed in their rock & roll best.
One thing I’m noticing about Universal Orlando Resort is that there’s a lot to do later at night! CityWalk was bustling when we left the Hard Rock Cafe at 10 PM and we went back to the Velvet Bar at the Hard Rock Hotel, which doesn’t close until 2 AM! I’m usually in bed by 8 PM (maybe a little later on vacation) but it’s great to have late-night options available! 🌃
Yesterday we spent our Universal Orlando Resort park time at Islands of Adventure! Although there are many rides to enjoy and areas to explore, we primarily bounced between:
📚 Seuss Landing - Pictured below where many of Dr. Seuss’ classic stories come to life! This is a super kid-friendly area of the park and I loved all of the little details from so many different books.
🧙♂️ Hogsmeade - The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has a section in both IOA and Universal Studios. Hogsmeade is on the IOA side. There are three rides in this area, and I plan on spending some time exploring the shops a bit more today and tomorrow!
🦖 Jurassic Park - There’s tons to see (and eat!) in this part of the park! We met a raptor or two along the way and Velocicoaster may be on my top list of attractions!
Which of these three lands do you thing you’d enjoy the most? ✨
The adventure begins today! Follow along with me on my 10 day trip as I experience Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World Resort with our agency, and then Universal again with Nolan! I'll be sharing stories on Facebook and Instagram, but here’s a preview of some things I’m most excited for! 🥰
It's beginning to look a lot like...Christmas?
We are halfway to Christmas, and even if you live in an area that has been hotter than the sun these past few weeks (🙋♀️), it's never too early to think about future festivities! Yesterday, Walt Disney World released the dates for their two holiday parties!
🎅🏼Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party kicks off November 8th and runs on select nights through December 20th from 7 PM - midnight!
🎄Nov. 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29
🎄Dec. 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20
🎅🏼Disney’s Jollywood Nights are back so get your glam ready! On select nights November 9th - December 21st, you can get holly and jolly from 7:30PM-12:30 AM during this limited capacity, separately ticketed event!
🎄Nov. 9, 13, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30
🎄Dec. 2, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21
Guests of select Disney Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels, and Shades of Green, can purchase tickets starting on July 2. For all other guests, tickets will go on sale July 10.
If you're ready to get your Christmas gifts taken care of early, message me so we can start planning your vacation!
This photo is a very accurate portrayal of how my face looks when I remember that I'll be on a plane to Orlando in two days even though I haven't finished packing or even shopping for some of the basics I need...
Which type of dining experience do you prefer on your theme park vacation? 🍽
Nolan and I are very different travelers, so the prospect of planning an amusement park vacation to please us both is somewhat daunting. I'm go-go-go and he's more of a "stop and smell the roses" guy. One of the ways I'm making sure we both enjoy our upcoming trip is by not making any advanced dining reservations and sticking to quick-service and snack cart locations.
I typically recommend that my clients book at least one reservation each day for some guaranteed sit down time in the A/C. However, traveling with a relaxed partner means going with the flow and not being constrained to a set schedule. Because of this, I’ll forgo table-service reservations and instead scope out the best quick-service locations in different areas. That way I have an idea ready for wherever we are when we decide we’re hungry.
Are you ready for an exclusive promotion ONLY available if you book through a travel agent?! You heard that right! Universal just unveiled two incredible offers:
1. Universal Orlando Resort
Save up to $1,300* on a 3-Park, 5-Night Vacation Package
2. Universal Studios Hollywood
Buy a Day, Get a 2nd Day Free** Promo Ticket
Tag your thrill-seeking bestie who you'd love to travel with! 🎢
Can you spot me (age 8), my mom, and my dad? Who do you think is having the most fun? 🤣
I had a friend ask me recently, "Who takes all of your photos that you post on social media?" There's not a simple answer, but here's a little ✨behind the scenes✨ insight!
📸 For photos of me, I have to prep the folks I'm traveling with. I very rarely travel alone, so whoever I'm with is usually tasked with being the photographer. My favorite is traveling with other travel agents, because we are able to rotate responsibilities. Pose! Pose! My turn! Pose! Pose! Swap out! Pose!
📸 For group photos, there's some reconnaissance that must be done. You have to scope the right person who seems comfortable with taking photos and won't be grumpy that you asked. I've always found that someone who's also looking around in search of a photographer makes for a great person to ask. If you can spot them, it's easy to take a photo for them and then ask for a photo in return!
📸 For photos of scenery, you have to be ready to drop down quickly, snap a photo, and go! (Like in this photo!) It helps to have a buddy in these instances too to run interference so you don't get trampled. 😂
I've never owned a tripod or a selfie stick, so this is how I make it work! Do you have any tricks for taking a good, solo photo?
Here's a money-saving tip for your next vacation, just so long as you're not a germaphobe! 😬
I'm the person that loves to try everything, but hates making decisions! Especially somewhere like EPCOT's World Showcase or at a festival, there are SO many options. To save a little money and have the widest range of treats, sweets, or drinks, share with a buddy! As long as you have a bestie that has similar tastes as you, this can be a great way to try double the stuff for half the price!
Tag someone you'd like to share a snack with at Walt Disney World Resort! 👯♀️
Okay okay...I know these aren't egg rolls and so posting them on National Egg Roll Day is sort of cheating. But honestly they're so delicious they're worth breaking the rules for!
The Spring Roll Cart in Magic Kingdom changes out their flavors of spring rolls seasonally, but these cheeseburger spring rolls are classic and completely worth the hype in my opinion! Perfect for a sharable snack between meals!
Happy birthday Donald Duck! Can you believe this good looking fellow turns 90 this year???
Do you know where you can meet Donald in this ADORABLE artist outfit? Leave a duck emoji in the comments if you know! 🦆🦆🦆
Cinderella’s Fountain can be found around the back side of Cinderella Castle. It’s a very underrated photo spot; not only is it gorgeous but it’s much less crowded than the front of the castle for less obstructed photos. Here are some fun facts about the fountain:
👑 Viewed from a child's height, the design behind the fountain makes it look like Cinderella is wearing a crown.
⛲ The money tossed into this wishing well are donated to charity, turning wishes into acts of kindness.
🎁 The fountain was a gift from the Walt Disney Company, echoing the global popularity of Cinderella's story.
🐭 There are several hidden Mickeys embedded in the fountain design. Can you spot them?
Have you ever taken a photo with this beauty? 😍
This is my impression of a person waiting on hold to talk to a representative because they booked their vacation on their own instead of working with a travel agent!
An often overlooked benefit of working with a travel agent is their (my) ability to make calls on your behalf. Whether these be inquiry calls, pricing updates, or customer service, the amount of hours I've waited on hold on behalf of a client is embarrassingly high! Here are some of the most common reasons I end up calling in for clients:
☎️ Applying promotions or new offers
☎️ Cancellations or date changes
☎️ Accessibility requests
☎️ Room preferences or requests
☎️ Celebration notes
☎️ Arranging transportation
Although some of these can be handled online (depending on the vendor), I find it incredibly beneficial to speak to a representative in these cases. If you like that security too, why wait on hold to get the answers you need when I can do it for you? 🤔
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Happy World Compliment Day! 🌷 Did you know there’s a way to send your appreciation to Disney cast members, right from your MyDisneyExperience app? Cast compliments used to be something you could tag on Twitter, but this is a very efficient and sweet way to give some pixie dust back on or after your vacation!
It’s National Relaxation Day and I can’t help but miss this view from a few days ago. I have to admit that I don’t really look at going to Walt Disney World as a vacation because there’s always so much to do and I’m always on the move. This past week when I was there, though, I was able to take some time to actually enjoy the peace and serenity of the Grand Floridian grounds, something I rarely do. What do you do to relax on vacation? 😎🏝
I recently stayed at Coronado Springs and fell in love! This resort opened in 1997 and has grown and expanded to be an amazing destination for a Disney getaway! Here's a little more about this resort: ✨ This resort has 10 different dining and lounge options, including the newest addition, Dahlia Lounge which is located on the top floor! ✨ The Dig Site is this resort’s main recreation area and features the Lost City of Cibola pool and waterslide. ✨ The newest addition to the resort is Gran Destino Tower, which is now the central check-in area with multiple dining options. ✨ There is a volleyball court, running trail, fitness center, and arcade on property! ✨ Have some down time at the resort? Enjoy a painting class at Dahlia Lounge or attend a sangria university session at Three Bridges.
Park Pass availability for Walt Disney World has been booking up for the rest of March and slowly in April too! The worst thing would be planning a dream trip, waiting to book, and then not being able to get into the parks you are looking for! Let's take that stress away and book early! I'm ready when you are!
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