Jenn Powell: Never Look Back Vacations

02/09/2024

So, on a whim, we decided to head to Hersheypark for a few hours yesterday. We haven’t been there since they finished all of the renovations to the front of the park, which was really awesome to see. We ended up getting there after 4pm so we were able to use the reduced pricing for tickets, which was great.
🎢 Did you know that if you purchase tickets online you can get a huge discount on regular tickets? Also, you can bundle it with other things, such as parking, unlimited drinks, unlimited meals, game tickets, and Hershey’s version of Fast Pass.
🎠 From an accessibility standpoint, Hersheypark is great in some cases, and lacking in others. The park, as a whole, has lots of hills and valleys. Some of these can be pretty steep. You can rent ECVs and manual wheelchairs, but they ran out of ECVs when we got there. Pushing me up and down the hills was next to impossible at times, and I had to walk them with my crutches. There also seemed to be a lack of automatic doors at rest rooms, and even the wheelchair rental place.
🎡 They do offer a Disability pass, though. You fill out an online form, get your picture taken, and receive a booklet. It is good for up to 3 guests with the person needing the accessibility. This allows you to enter through the exit and gain access to the ride without standing in line. For some rides, this worked awesome. For the more popular rides, we had to wait a few cycles. There is an elevator to access the Trail Blazer platform. That was the only major roller coaster we did so I don’t know if there are others. The ride operator made me remove my AFO braces for the Hershey drop tower, which was an inconvenience but I’m also glad that they didn’t go flying off my legs. So, I’m assuming if you have a prosthesis, you would need to remove that as well. For the Chocolate Tour in Chocolate World, there is a back entrance where you can either choose to stay in a wheelchair or transfer to a regular seat for the ride.
We had a great time and look to return again, probably with my own motorized scooter. Hersheypark offers great options for Halloween and Christmas. And Chocolate World is open year round, so you can always get your chocolate fix .

29/08/2024

Take the Polar Plunge with Silversea! A quintessential Antarctic tradition, this invigorating leap into glacial waters is a bucket-list activity for many explorers to the White Continent. Silversea's all-inclusive voyages take you there in ultra-luxury, with a fleet of three expedition ships, butler service in every suite, superlative dining options, and world-class expedition teams.

26/08/2024

Did you know that today is National Dog Day? Now, while I can tell you information about Pluto, or even my own dog Zelda, but I didn't know if you knew that there is a Chief Dog Officer on board Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. Her name is Rover, and she is a golden retriever pup. And her only job is to bring joy, love and happiness to those sailing on the world's largest cruise ship. Rover even has her own Instagram page . Rover, and her handler Allison, have their own room onboard, with lots of dog beds, and a specialty crate. And Rover has her own life jacket for muster drills!

22/08/2024

Your biggest, boldest Baja getaway begins on Ovation of the Seas sailing June 2025 from Los Angeles! 🤩 Discover the best of Mexico from the West Coast by visiting Ensenada and for the first time, Royal Caribbean will be staying overnight in Cabo. Unforgettable memories await – book today!

20/08/2024

Yet again, another way that I can try to help my clients is by becoming a Special Needs Accessible Travel Advocate. Completing this certification allows me to have some more connections for your special needs while traveling. It also connects me with webinars focused on special needs traveling.

One travel tip I learned during my training: Standard and Heavy Duty motorized scooters can fit through normal stateroom doorways on cruise ships. Bariatric motorized scooters require an accessible stateroom. I'm going to test out this information in November, but I'll save that information for another post!

13/08/2024

So, in my attempts to better myself as a travel agent who deals with disabilities, I decided that I needed to complete this certification. So, as of 8/12/24, I am a certified Autism Travel Professional through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards. This organization certifies professionals in healthcare, education, travel, and first responders, as well as certifies zoos, amusement parks, cities, resorts, and hotels as being Autism trained.

Using the information that I knew previously, and gained during the training, I will be able to help others plan their vacations to be a hopefully restful and fun for all.

10/08/2024

Well, unfortunately, the remnants of Tropical Storm Debbie caused us to leave Wildwood a day early. But, while we were there, I was able to check on some things you can do in Wildwood, despite having a disability.

The first night we tried out Star Lux Minigolf. At Star Lux Minigolf, they have three courses, each consisting of 9 holes. If you want to play 18 holes, you can do the water and beach courses. Or if you only have time for 9, they also have a boardwalk course. Not only is there an elevator for access to the boardwalk course, they also have an accessible golf club that allows you to use it at an angle, and it has a stopper on it to grab your ball from the hole. There was a slight lip coming off of the holes, but nothing that my motorized scooter couldn’t handle. There is also, Pirates of Wildwood, a 3d black light minigolf on the boardwalk that is on one level, and looks to have movable bricks for accessibility.

The boardwalk does offer some paved lanes that are normally used for the tram car. The tram itself is $5 per person per ride, but it does not offer any handicapped accessibility unless you fold up your wheelchair or walker. You also have to step up a small step. There are lots of people who rent scooters or bring their own. As long as you avoid the tram, you can use the paved lanes. At Morey’s piers, I was able to find some rides that had handicapped access and seats. The water park did offer a disability lift into the one pool, but I couldn’t see if they had any water wheelchairs as the park was closed by this time of the night. I wish I would’ve had the chance to see more, but the weather had other plans.

07/08/2024

So, while we have an off day weather wise, I figured I would share some pictures of how I have been able to get on the beach the past few years. The cheapest option is to use one of the free beach wheelchairs available. They only have a small amount of them, and it’s first come first serve. The other problem is that they are only available at certain streets.There is also the possibility of using the lifeguard disability transportation. For free, you can contact the Wildwood Crest lifeguard number and they can pick you up at the end of the boards, and bring you down to where your family will set up camp. Only problem is that you literally are stuck there and will need to call for transportation back.

So, the other options are to rent a beach wheelchair. I have rented three different types, two motorized and one not. The cheaper option of these is the non motorized wheelchair. Some come with its own umbrella, others do not. There really is no way to propel yourself in these. This option made it really tough on my family, having to push me up and down the beach. I’ve also used a Trex type motorized wheelchair and the Sand helper motorized wheelchair. Out of the two of these, I liked the Sand Helper better, more because I didn’t stand out as much and it moves faster on the sand.

06/08/2024

So, I know I’m a day late in posting this, but I wanted to tell you (and show you) all about the Life Rolls On disability surfing event. This was the 15th year that this event has taken place in Wildwood. There were 125 disabled athletes and over 700 volunteers. This event is free to attend, and they maxed out on athletes (there was 30 people on a wait list).
It was so awesome to be part of this event. My surf time was 9:45, and they were half hour increments. There had to be at least 20 volunteers in the water with each surfer, and each one was so supportive. The water was mighty cold, but I don’t think the smile left my face the entire time I was out there. After I was done, we took a big group photo.
Life Rolls On is a foundation started by an individual who became disabled due to a sporting injury. They fund three types of events: Surfing, skateboarding, and fishing.

04/08/2024

Today was travel day and check in day for our week vacation at the Adventurer Oceanfront Inn in Wildwood Crest. I love that this hotel is across the street from the end of the boardwalk, and has easy access to the beach. The hotel has parking around it and underneath as well. Due to its awesome location, I normally don’t have to move my car the entire time we are here.

They have many different room options here. We normally get an efficiency room. This room has a king size bed, a double bed, and a pull out couch. There are some small items in the room that allow me to rent this type of room and not require an accessible one. There are two elevators in the hotel. There are wide doorways, with the exception being the bathroom doorway. There is a pull bar in the shower area. And there are light switches close to the king size bed. There are some issues that could hinder accessibility as well. There is a lip into the bathroom and to go out on the balcony. The doors to the office and rooms are not motorized, and the only handicapped accessible way into the hotel is through the parking under the hotel.

Overall, there are more pluses vs minuses for me here, which definitely helps me to be able to enjoy my vacation, with just a tad bit of extra planning.

02/08/2024

Well, it is time for our summer vacation trip. This year, we are returning to Wildwood, New Jersey. Here are some of the things you can look forward to from me in the next week, as I highlight how Wildwood is a great place to visit, both as a family, and as someone with a disability:

⛱Why we love staying at the Adventurer Oceanfront Inn, and how it has worked for us since I became disabled
🏄‍♀️Highlights from the Life Rolls On: New Jersey disability surfing expo, and information about how you can register for one of their activities
🏖Discussion about beach wheelchairs that I have used, and other ways to get down on the beach
🎠Family things that you can do on and off the boards
🍕And a few of our family's favorite spots to eat

Check in this week as we venture to Wildwood, for some Wild-Wild-Wildwood Days!

31/07/2024

Are you an early packer or a last minute one? We are heading out on Saturday for a week long vacation, and I have been making a packing and shopping list for a few weeks. Can you guess which bag is mine and which is my husband’s?

Being disabled can add additional stress to packing, especially if you are going to a new destination or a resort you haven’t been before. Thankfully, we are going to a hotel that we have used before. While their rooms are large and don’t require me to get an accessible room, I still need to bring my shower chair, my motorized scooter, my rollator, and my crutches with me. I have also rented a Sand Helper, which is a motorized beach wheelchair, for the week.

27/07/2024

Kendra and I had a movie date this afternoon. We went and saw Despicable Me 4, and I gotta say, it was really good. Can’t wait til next summer when Kendra can meet a Minion at Universal Studios Orlando!

24/07/2024

Today is the first day of the Disney's new Lightning Lane!

Lightning Lane is the new branding names for Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane. In Disneyland, there will not be much changes. But for Walt Disney World, it's a whole new ball game.

Genie+ has been rebranded as the Lightning Lane Multi Pass. With the Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you can preselect up to 3 experiences from a tier system before arriving at the selected theme park for the day. And it's a ride one, get an additional ride type of deal. So, while you preselect up to 3, you can use the Multi Pass throughout the day.

Individual Lightning Lane has been rebranded as the Lightning Lane Single Pass. These are for those experiences that aren't available in the Lightning Lane Multi Pass, such as Guardians of the Galaxy, Flight of Passage, Seven Dwarf's Mine Train, Tron, and Rise of the Resistance. Here, you can select these experiences and select an arrival window in advance.

I am so excited to try this system out on a future Magic Kingdom trip! It actually reminds me of a previous Fast Pass system, and I think it will make your trip a lot more enjoyable!

21/07/2024

Finishing out NLB's awesome deal with Royal Caribbean.

Did you know that today is National Ice Cream Day? And, you can celebrate this awesome day, onboard Royal Caribbean cruise ships with their free soft serve ice cream machine on the pool decks! Trust me, our next cruise, I'm getting my husband a shirt that he's just there for the free ice cream!

Remember, if you are interested in booking a Royal Caribbean Cruise with me, you can earn up to $100 in onboard credit.

17/07/2024

Have you heard the news? Royal Caribbean has a new ship: Utopia of the Seas!

It is an Oasis class ship that’s itineraries are 3 and 4 days long. It’s being called The World’s Biggest Weekend!

Two of our travel agents are on board for the inaugural sailing, along with lots of celebrities including Meghan Trainor, the godmother of Oasis of the Seas! I seriously cannot wait to hear about their trip and all of the ship’s amenities!

So, if you are looking for a quick weekend trip or a two week land and sea tour, Royal Caribbean has a trip for you!

16/07/2024

Did you know?

While Royal Caribbean might have the largest cruise ship right now, that doesn’t mean that they got rid of their smaller ships. And despite the size difference between Icon of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas, the size of fun that you will have is the same for both ships!

Contact me this week for more information about this cruise line and Never Look Back’s exclusive deal.

14/07/2024

Amazon Prime Days are Coming! Are you ready? I know I am, but I'm not sure if my wallet is. During Amazon Prime days, you might find some great deals on items for travel.

So, while you are looking, make sure to remember these items: Suitcases, Garment bags, Organizers, Laundry/Wet bags, Toiletry bags and items, Security items, Travel Scales, Travel fans, Power strips, charging bricks, waterproof pouches for cell phones and other electronics, and document holders for passports and flight information.

12/07/2024

Did you know that today is National French Fry Day!

One thing that I'm looking forward in a few weeks to is having some Curley's Fries from the Wildwood Boardwalk. And, I'm hoping to be able to win one of the stuffed animal seagulls with the fry from the boardwalk games.

Do you have a favorite place to get french fries while on vacation? Are you a vinegar and salt type of person or do you like to dip your fries in cheese? Let me know what type of fries are your favorite!

09/07/2024

Well, here it is, the Royal Caribbean deal you have been waiting for! Sorry, it's a little late, I wanted to make sure I had all of the details!

Book a Royal Caribbean Cruise with me between July 15-July 21st to receive up to an onboard credit of $100! Royal Caribbean is one of my FAVORITE cruise lines and I'm so excited to share this deal with you. Think of this deal as a Christmas in July present!

08/07/2024

Happy National Video Game Day! And what better way to celebrate it than by going to Super Nintendo World in Universal Studios Hollywood! Here, you can find meet and greets with some of your favorite Nintendo characters. You can eat in Toadstool Cafe, where you can enjoy some of Chef Toad's creations. You can ride on Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, where you get to battle Team Bowser with Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach. And you can head to the 1-Up Factory for some items from the Mushroom Kingdom. There are even spots outside of Super Nintendo World for you to sample some of the Mario goodness, such as The Power Up Cafe in the upper lot, the Character shop in the lower lot, the Super Nintendo World Store on City Walk, and the Feature Presentation store.

Oh, and I forgot to mention how the land is interactive with a Power Up band. You can play interactive games throughout the land and retrieve digital keys to unlock a showdown with Bowser Jr.

And, Universal Studios Orlando's Epic Universe, which will be opening sometime in 2025, will also be getting a Super Nintendo Land, with some all new rides and experiences!

06/07/2024

If you want to have a "Perfect Day at Coco Cay", you'll want to be here on July 8th, when I can reveal a Perfect Way to save on an upcoming Royal Caribbean cruise. Get Ready for the Christmas in July: Loyal to Royal promotion!

04/07/2024

Happy 4th of July! Whether you are enjoying fireworks from Walt Disney World or your hometown, I hope you enjoyed your Independence Day!

26/06/2024

While a bunch of Never Look Back travel agents are at agency training at Universal and Walt Disney World, Kendra and I decided to see Inside Out 2. Did you know that you can find Inside Out characters at Disneys Hollywood Studios? I was able to see Joy over at Epcot in the Imagination building but she has relocated along with some of her other emotions to the Pixar area at Hollywood Studios.

20/06/2024

Happy Summer Everyone! I don’t know about you, but Summer is my favorite season, and I know someone who might agree. What is your favorite summer pastime? Is it going to the beach and relaxing? Or maybe you like camping in the woods, and having s’mores by the campfire? Or do you spend your summer vacation traveling to new places?

19/06/2024

My blog is featured on the Never Look Back Vacations Blog!

Did you know that people with disabilities constitute the world’s largest minority group, and it is the only group that any of us can become a member of at any time? The Americans with Disabilities…

17/06/2024

I know Father's Day was yesterday, but I also wanted to take this time to honor this Disney Dad (even though he doesn't want anyone to know that he is one). My father and mother Rope Dropped Disney's Hollywood Studios to get on Tower of Terror and Rockin' Rollercoaster on our last trip, to end up bruising his elbow and needing to visit first aid.

He also enjoys traveling. My parents have taken cruises and river cruises, bus trips to Italy, family vacations to all sorts of locations, and has gone to Hawaii twice. He's always willing to jump waves, boogie board, or build sandcastles with his grandkids, walk the boardwalk to the ride piers, drive to historical landmarks and sites, and overall just enjoy the vacation!

Thank you Dad!

16/06/2024

Happy Father's Day to all those Disney Dads out there, including my husband! Thank you for taking WAY too many pictures of the Epcot ball, for loving the jumping waters, for enjoying yourself a little too much at the buffets, for agreeing to all of my picture requests, and of course, for trying to beat me at Toy Story Mania and Buzz Lightyear!

Actually, he isn't just a Disney Dad, he loves to travel too! We have been on cruises, bus trips to Italy, family vacations to Beaches Turks and Caicos, and the normal trips to Ocean City Maryland, Wildwood NJ, Myrtle Beach SC, and Outer Banks NC. Next year, he's excited to go on a Disney Cruise and visit Universal Studios Orlando to see The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and for the new Epic Universe park to see Super Nintendo World.

14/06/2024

DREAMWORKS LAND is now Open at Universal Orlando Resort! Jump into the worlds of some of your favorite Dreamworks characters, including Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Trolls, and Gabby's Dollhouse!

Rides and Play areas include the Trollercoaster, Shrek's swamp for the little ogres, Po's Kung Fu Training Camp, King Harold's Swamp Symphony, and Poppy's Playground. There's also interactive shows with Po and Puss in Boots, and character meets with Shrek, Donkey, Poppy, Branch, Puss in Boots, Gabby from Gabby's Dollhouse and more! I know my Troll loving daughter is excited for the Trollercoaster and can't wait snacks at Trolls Treats!

Dreamworks Land is park of Universal Studios Orlando and is included in your Resort ticket. Contact me if you want to see these Dreamworks characters!

13/06/2024

Happy Summer! My kids are done with school and now get to enjoy their vacation! Our plans for the summer this year includes a trip to Wildwood, NJ. What does your summer vacation include this year? Trying somewhere new or going back to the usual spot?