Fantastical Vacations by Kathie Vrlik

01/12/2023

Regrettably, I will no longer be working with Fantastical Vacations. All the best to you all.

03/05/2021

19/02/2021

I am so excited for my clients who will be experiencing this magical day! This is a celebration that will last all year- Personally, I can't wait! Let me know if you want to be part of this once in a lifetime experience!

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=757593058501481

09/01/2021

The Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Arts began today at Walt Disney World Resort, celebrating visual, culinary and performing arts from around the world through Feb. 22, 2021.

The festival invites you to eat great works of art. More than 15 Food Studios throughout the park offer imaginative, art-inspired food and drink featuring clever culinary creations cooked up by Disney chefs.

More than 100 talented artists will visit the park over the course of the 46-day event, showcasing pieces in a wide variety of styles and disciplines. You can explore Festival Markets throughout the park to purchase new discoveries and, in some cases, meet the artists in person (while adhering to physical-distancing protocols).

Walt Disney World continues to operate with enhanced health and safety policies so everyone can enjoy the magic responsibly.

For More Information, or for a no-obligation quote, feel free to message me!

02/01/2021

Would You Rather...
Pay No Added Fees and book through Disney or Pay No Added Fees and book through a Trained Disney, Universal, and Cruise Specialist?

Would You Rather....

Watch for special offers through the year and wish you'd waited to book, or get on the phone, sit on hold and try to see if you can change your reservation OR know that you have an advocate who can take care of adjusting your travel plans for you to make sure you have the best deal? One who wants you to have the best possible trip so you will want to book through them again?

Would You Rather ...
H
ave someone book all of your dining reservations, special experiences and park reservations for you- or do it yourself? (Ok, that's a trick question- you can do as much, or as little with your reservations as you like! throughout your experience!)

And finally,
Would You Rather ...
Benefit from the experience of a trained, slightly obsessive, Disney/Universal/Cruise professional who can help you navigate this changing, crazy time to travel- Or hope you have covered everything?

There are no wrong answers, here. I am going to still share travel news and tips on this page because I believe everyone should have the opportunity to travel when the time is right for them. But, if I can help make your Vacation Fantastical- Let me know! Happy New Year and Happy Travelling- When you are ready!

19/12/2020

🏰 Walt Disney World is releasing a special offer on January 5, 2021!
🏰 Get 2 extra days added to your ticket when you buy a 4-night/3-day room-and-ticket package at select Disney Resort hotels, valid for arrivals most nights January 8, 2021 through September 25, 2021.
🏰 Contact me today if you would like to be added to the list for this awesome offer!

03/12/2020

Thinking of giving the ultimate Family Gift this year? Thinking of visiting the Happiest Place on Earth? Some things you should know:
*A small, refundable deposit is all you need to book
*Change and Cancellation policies remain very flexible
*Park capacities remain small and WDW is vigilent on safety
*My services: Dining, Fast Passes, Experiences up to and through your vacation will not add anything to the cost of your trip- And I may be able to save you money-Even after you have booked- I take care of dealing with the details
*Even if you have started planning you own vacation, it is not too late - Ask me how!
*2021 will be a big year for Disney- You don't want to miss the party!

28/11/2020

The Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will bring seasonal fun from around the globe to the Walt Disney World Resort. Through Dec. 31, 2020, this magical event features delicious food, activities for the whole family, a chance to see Disney characters in their holiday finest and more.

28/11/2020

It's Small Business Saturday! I thought I'd take a moment to let you know some of the reasons why working with a travel agent like me can make your next trip Fantastical! Here are some things you may not know..We are taking bookings through 2021- and there are some great deals out there!

28/11/2020

Reminder for my friends heading to Hollywood Studios. Here is the new Boarding Pass system. I love the fact that you don't need to camp out at the Park waiting for the magic time, instead, you only need to be near Disney property! RoR is an amazing experience-whether you are a super fan of the franchise or not!

20/11/2020

Here is some info on how Fast Passes will work in 2021- Not too bad- and frankly, I like the idea of planning out my days.

20/11/2020

This just in! Fast Passes are back on January 1st, 2021! You will still need Park Reservations, but now you will be able, based on capacity availability, of course, visit more than one park per day. Stay tuned for more information and,

When You Are Ready to Travel- I Can Help Make it Fantastical!

TheMousekeeper.com

20/11/2020

Enjoy the Best of the Holidays on
Universal’s Holiday Tour!
2-Park 1-Day Universal's Holiday Tour:
💚Meet The Grinch™ and sip a cup of cocoa at the holiday hot cocoa bar.
❤️Enjoy front-of-the-line access to Universal’s Holiday Experience featuring Macy’s Balloons to get closer than ever to larger-than-life balloons and colorful floats
🎄Get Exclusive entry to the Holiday Tribute Store.
🏰 Access to a special after-hours viewing of the breathtaking spectacular, The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts™ Castle.
🎁 Guests will even get a holiday gift to take home at the end of the night.​
Do you want to add some magic to your vacation?
* Starts at $59.99/per person for 3 hours
11/22/20 - 11/29/20
12/18/20 - 01/03/21

19/11/2020

Just Announced!

Universal Studios in Orlando will be offering select Spring Dates and packages for Black Friday- I plan to be shopping there so PM me if you would like me to check for deals for your 2021 Spring Fling. No obligation!

Can't wait to see this guy again- He is a hoot! And his little friend is a great time!

themousekeeper.com

18/11/2020

We can all agree that 2020 was not ideal- Personally, I am looking to '21 with hope and optimism. So is WDW and there are some great deals for the Spring- Up to 35% off select resorts. for travel through April 17th. I just booked a Spring Break 2021 trip and saved on a Family Suite at Art of Animation. If you would like something to look forward to in the spring, let me prepare a no-obligation quote for you.

16/11/2020

Check this out!

🚀 We have our first sneak peek of the cabins in the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser at Disney World!

Who else is saving their pennies for a chance to soar through the galaxy? 🙋🏻‍♀️

📷: WDWNT

04/11/2020

Contemplating a Disney vacation but not sure if your littles (or you) will see characters?
Disney Parks are still presenting cavalcades which are spontaneously appearing 'floats' that feature several characters AND there are also opportunities to grab a physically distanced selfie around the park. BUT, if you are wondering about new fashion character dining, this will let you know, as of TODAY the character presence at various dining venues!

27/10/2020

Unsure about booking a vacation? To provide additional flexibility, Disney-imposed change and cancellation fees are waived up to the date of check-in for reservations with arrivals through April 30, 2021.

22/10/2020

21/10/2020

19/10/2020

Reservations THROUGH 2021 are now available for Disney!!!!!! Hit me up if you are interested in seeing what is available!

09/10/2020

This one is for my fellow Halloween Lovers, artists and (wannabe, like me) Imagineers! Watch and learn how to draw a Haunted Mansion-Inspired Manor with this new step-by-step tutorial by Imagineer Stephanie Jazmines!

Hurry Back...Hurry Baaack!

And if you draw one- post a pic below!!!

https://t.co/Hkj0qMFwVS https://t.co/YOyq1SKCeG

From a castle and pirate scene to an Adventureland-inspired treehouse, Disney Imagineers continue to host new drawing tutorials on the Disney Parks Blog. Today, Imagineer Stephanie Jazmines will show you and your family and friends how to draw a

07/10/2020

Supermario?!?! What?!! This is amazing! Checking out Tokyo is on my list and there are lots of great ways to see Asia without the stress. This new attraction coming to Universal Tokyo looks incredible! Check out the concept art and sneak peek details!

, featuring attractions based on iconic Nintendo characters, is coming to Universal Studios Japan in early 2021.
These are some of the key visuals for the Mario Café & Store, opening outside the land on Oct. 16!
Super Nintendo World will be landing in the US at Universal Orlando’s fourth park Epic Universe, slated to open 2022-2023.

01/10/2020

Cuteness Alert!!! To make your day brighter, here is a pic of the newest baby born at Animal Kingdom. This sassy little girl was born during the early hours of Sept. 22.

Disney animal keepers said everything is going well and the baby is a healthy 156 pounds!

01/10/2020

Hollywood Studios- The Rise of The Resistance – AKA The Lottery

Now, as you know, visiting Hollywood Studios, IF you want to ride RoR (Rise of the Resistance) requires some planning. First, you have to get to the park so you are scanned, secured and in before the designated hour at which you can TRY to get one of the limited boarding passes. Unlike other rides (in the Pre-Covid world) there are no Fast Passes and no Stand-by. If you want to ride what is arguably the most incredible and technologically advanced ride in the industry, you have to secure a timed Boarding Pass. Currently, there are 2 times of day-10am and 2pm- where you can try to get one. We were going for 10am.

We decided to take the Skyliner from Pop to HS. The earliest we could get in line was 8:30- So, we decided to hang back and line up later…8:32. The line already wrapped around the Hourglass Lake- But it was ok. When they started boarding Skyliners at just before 9, the line (which had by this time snaked way behind us) was rapidly devoured. We were temped, checked and scanned in by 9:40 so we just found a bit of shade and camped out to wait for 10:00:00.
We had to move a couple of times because larger groups liked our choice of seating and came too close-but, being young and nimble, we just scooted somewhere else. Now, a few tips:

1) Be inside the park before 10am
2) Be on your own data plan- Not the Disney wifi (imagine all those people trying to do the same thing at the same time on the Disney wifi..no bueno)
3) We tried to put extra physical distance between ourselves and other people- Both for Physical distancing, but also for clearer signal(?) – Might have been overkill, but it worked!
4) Make sure you have the My Disney Experience app installed and that you are familiar with it
5) Keep refreshing(and refreshing, and refreshing) when it starts to get close to 10- You have to be ready to hit that “Join Now” button the second it pops up-Literally..the second it pops up.
6) And hope that the Force is With You

My old fingers were fast enough and I managed score Boarding Group 21. I had assumed that the reduced park capacity would make RoR a sure thing. There were plenty of people who were saying “Awwww” as opposed to “Awesome” so….

In my opinion, Rise of the Resistance is WORTH the HYPE. It is a long attraction- about 20 minutes, it is immersive (live actor, animatronics, virtual) it is exciting, there are thrill elements, there is drama, there is... k, it's like being dropped into a Star Wars movie and living it for 20 minutes. My only complaint is that there is so much to see you need to ride it multiple times...But that is a challenge I am willing to accept.

Next up: Ronto Wraps, Woody, Droids and the Fastest Hunk of Junk in the Galaxy

01/10/2020

🍺 Are you dreaming of a Butterbeer,?
🎢 Do you want some adventure and thrills?
⚡️ Looking for a different kind of magic?

Now is the time to book with Universal! Take advantage of their new ticket promo to getaway.

Contact me today for a free, no-obligation quote!
**Purchase by Jan. 6, 2021. Use by Aug. 31, 2021, with no blackout dates.

29/09/2020

For my thrillseekers out there, I have the latest info on the new coaster hitting Universal next year. Now, don't get me wrong, I do enjoy a Roller Coaster from time to time, but I think I need to work up to this bad boy. Might need to train on Expedition Everest a few times...Darn.

Here's the new info about the VelociCoaster from Universal Studios:

The Jurassic World VelociCoaster will raise the bar in extreme roller coaster design and become the ultimate experience for coaster enthusiasts and thrill-seekers.
🦖Spanning more than 4,700 feet of track and reaching heights of up to 155 feet!!
🦖 The coaster’s signature maneuvers will have guests twisting and soaring above land, barrel rolling just inches above water, speeding through near-misses and launches within the paddock, and more…with just a lap restraint holding them in place.
Get ready to:
🦖 Accelerate through two pulse-pounding launches, the fastest reaching 70 mph in 2.4 seconds Encounter a one-of-a-kind, 360-degree barrel roll right above the Islands of Adventure lagoon
·
🦖Experience a zero-gravity inverted stall that will send riders upside down across 100 feet of track in a jaw- dropping maneuver that is the first of its kind
🦖Go airborne during the towering “Top Hat,” which propels riders 155 feet in the air and then immediately into an 80 degree drop – Universal’s steepest drop yet
·
🦖Brace for a total of 12 heart-pounding seconds of airtime – the thrilling sensation of weightlessness riders feel when they’re lifted from their seats – throughout the entire adventure!!!!!!
Only at Universal Orlando Resort!!!!!!!
https://youtu.be/VZmLgJr42W0

Two intense launches. Four inversions. Feel the rush of the hunt as you race through the jungle alongside Velociraptors on the Jurassic World VelociCoaster, ...

29/09/2020

We interrupt this trip report to present you with a...Trip Report.

If you want to hear all about this trip without having to read through my verbose ramblings, I invite you to check out The Addicted to the Mouse Podcast Episode 219 where I was the guest of Dan and Leslie and we talked about this very trip. Now, please forgive my nervousness in being on a Pod for the first time- but please do check out Addicted to the Mouse wherever you enjoy your favorite tasty podcasts.

29/09/2020

Coming Home- And Dole Whip!
Visiting Magic Kingdom, with Kyla, in 2020 was a magical day that I will always remember. We decided to skip rope drop and got to the park around 10:30. This was a smart plan as we did not wait for anything: Transportation, temp checks and security were super-fast, and we were under the train station before we knew it. We were met by the princesses on the train station (yes, they were waiting for us-in my mind at least) and Tinker Bell rolled up on a giant chest of treasure. Once we told Cindy and crew that we would catch them later, we stepped onto Main Street, USA. I am not embarrassed to say that the tears were flowing. It was like arriving for the first time. The low crowd levels gave us time to really appreciate the Disney Details without the sea of humanity. We marveled over the castle and went COUNTER clockwise (pro tip) into Future World (people naturally go clockwise) and rode Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin until we hit the high score. Our plan was to just move through the park riding each ride as many times as we felt like it and did just that. My favorite- Haunted Mansion- did not disappoint any of the times we rode it. And the wait at Peter Pan was an unbelievable 20 minutes.
Lunch was a walk up at Liberty Tree Tavern (a turkey dinner that can’t be beat) which required 30 minutes of airconditioned digestion at the Hall of Presidents. We plundered with the Pirates and Cruised the Jungle just long enough to make room for…Dole Whip. There is something about that pineapple frozen concoction that is just so tasty! I could really go for a Dole Whip float about now….
Since the lines were so short, we finished MK early and cruised back to chill at our resort. We knew we had to rest up because we were heading to Hollywood Studios in the morning and Momma was going to ride Rise of the Resistance…The rebellion was depending on us…….

28/09/2020

Getting into ‘The Bubble”

“The Disney Bubble”, if you have never heard the term, refers to eating, sleeping and playing on Disney property. For this trip, staying in The Bubble seemed to make sense (and would be really fun!). When we arrived at the Pop Century Resort, we were greeted by Cast Members who clapped as we got off the bus welcoming us ‘Home’. (Cue the tears again.) Since we arrived prior to check in, we stored our luggage and were getting our temps checked at the EPCOT gate within a half hour. Boom!

After a quick snack of poutine, we hit Frozen and rode 4 times in a row (Kyla loves that ride) and picked up the Viking ears you see in just about every photo- So new were those ears that cast members were asking if she made them herself!

Wait times were minimal and everyone seemed to be wearing masks. It was hot, to be sure (Florida in August…) but visiting with lower park capacities made it easy to take frequent breaks in one of the designated relaxation areas- without feeling like you would miss an experience. And let’s be honest, every building is air conditioned to be sub arctic- so if you are feeling steamy, just pop into a shop or onto a ride (Soarin’ only had a 20 minute wait- our longest by far) until you cool down.

By the time we ended our night at closing time, it was like we had the World Showcase to ourselves. There is something special about the parks at night. And when you are there with few other souls, it is downright magical.

Up next- Magic Kingdom!!!

28/09/2020

Day1- Getting Outta Here.
I must start by saying that our trip was rescheduled 4 times due to the 'Rona and was originally supposed to be in April. Once FL’s ban on Connecticutians was lifted, we decided we were ready and called our Travel Agent (bless her) and locked dates a mere 4 days away. Now, some might question my sanity and you’d be ok doing that. But we felt comfortable and confident in our ability to protect ourselves- And, to be honest if anyone can get safety right..It’s Disney.

After our direct, half-full plane journey we landed at MCO (picture below) and headed for the Magical Express- 5 minutes later we were on a bus headed to our resort. Not going to lie…My FIRST tears of the trip started when we passed through the Gateway to the World and the driver said, “You are officially on vacation.”

It felt incredible. It was like being let out of a box. That’s the only way I can describe it…

27/09/2020

27/09/2020

Wanted to post a quick tidbit- Kyla and I went on our first Epic Girls Trip in late August. We stayed at Pop Century (right on the Skyliner) and visited all 4 parks. Though the CT quarantine on return was a bit of a bummer, the trip itself was amazing! I will be sharing some pics and a bit of a trip report here so you can get a feel for what it was like travelling in this Covid world. Remember- Life is the Downtime Between Vacations and when you're ready, I want to make your trip amazing!