Melanie Dodson at Main Street and More Travel

08/09/2024

Just booked! Secrets St. James, an adult-only all-inclusive resort in Montego Bay.

I was just there in April, and I’m excited for my clients to experience this beautiful resort.

05/09/2024

Just booked! The Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay hotel, a property that is adjacent to Tokyo Disney.

This is a Tokyo Disney-affiliated hotel, similar to the Good Neighbor hotels here in the States. They have theme park view rooms and rooms that sleep up to six adults, a rarity in Japan. As an added bonus, it’s right on the monorail line, offering easy access to the parks.

I can’t wait to hear all about their trip!

04/09/2024

BREAKING NEWS!!

TRON Lightcycle / Run will be dropping its virtual queue starting on September 9th and a new standby option will become available.

This is great news for folks who don’t like the added stress of trying to get in the queue in the app. This attraction will still be available as a Lightning Lane Single Pass.

24/08/2024

Saying hi to Walt.

23/08/2024

23/08/2024

I’m spending a few days at Disney’s Port Orleans - Riverside resort with our youngest son. This resort is a first for me; we usually opt for its smaller sister resort, French Quarter.

Riverside is lovely and I can see why it’s so popular. The grounds are lush and offer a lot of shade. They have fun activities like fishing, biking, carriage rides, a great pool, and campfires.

That being said, I think I prefer French Quarter simply because of the multiple bus stops at Riverside. It’s good to note that the only park transportation is the bus for both of these resorts. At the end of the night, I miss having the Skyliner as an option!

22/08/2024

I don’t see the cloth Lounge Flys very often, and this one features my favorite attraction. Spotted at Hollywood Studios.

20/08/2024

Pro tip:

If you’re in the parks and don’t have a dining reservation, you can join a walk-up list from the Disney World app.

There are a couple of ways to do this. You can find the restaurant on the map and join the list there, or you can do it from the search dining availability screen. Or, do it the old fashioned way and stop by the host stand to have them add you to their list.

12/08/2024

Good-bye Tom Sawyer Island. I’ll be sure to make one last visit when I’m there in a couple of weeks.

I am really excited for what’s to come, however!

New details just revealed for the largest expansion at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World! Learn more about the new frontier coming to Frontierland and beyond 🚗⛰️ http://di.sn/6184Y23my

09/08/2024

As if you needed another reason to buy tickets to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Tron and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will available with standby lines!

03/08/2024

Welcome home to my clients returning from their first-ever cruise today. They saved a bundle by taking a cruise out of out Baltimore and avoiding flight costs.

Royal Caribbean has cruises out of Baltimore that go to Bermuda and the Caribbean, including Coco Cay, their private island and water park.

03/08/2024

The Disney Treasure has floated out of the shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Her inaugural sailing is later this year!

23/07/2024

Just booked! My clients are headed to Disney in early October and will be attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party at the Magic Kingdom.

Special events like this are a lot of fun and a great way to see the park with minimal waits for most attractions.

Ask me why this is my favorite Disney Value resort!

19/07/2024

I was in Illinois last weekend and we stumbled upon the loveliest hotel just north of Chicago. We had a great English meal in the cutest little pub in the basement of the hotel, and the entire place was just gorgeous.

Come to find out this hotel is consistently rated best in the Midwest. I can see why. This is definitely a spot to return to.

https://www.thedeerpathinn.com/

11/07/2024

🎉Amazing news!!🎉

Travel + Leisure Readers' 5 Favorite Mega-ship Ocean Cruise Lines of 2024

Virgin Voyages was voted Travel + Leisure’s Best Mega-ship Ocean Cruise Line in the World’s Best Awards for the second consecutive year. The awards are based on multiple factors, and with over 300K readers casting their vote, this achievement truly highlights our commitment to delivering unparalleled luxury and service across our entire fleet.

This is simply the best cruise line for adults! Ask me why-I’ve sailed with them twice times and I’ll be sailing again with them in September!

https://www.travelandleisure.com/wba-2024-mega-ship-ocean-cruise-lines-8650514

10/07/2024

Just booked! An anniversary trip for two at the lovely Excellence Playa Mujeres.

This adult-only all-inclusive resort offers a high level of service in a beautiful beachfront setting in Mexico. My clients will enjoy five nights of pampering, water sports, good food, and exploring the local area.

07/07/2024

What I've been working on this morning:

1. Checking in with my Royal Caribbean clients sailing later this month.
2. Welcoming back new cruise clients who had a blast on a Virgin Voyages cruise last week.
3. Updating the itinerary for clients travelling to the UK this fall.
4. Working with potential clients on Disney World this October, Tokyo next spring, and an all-inclusive resort in Mexico for next summer.

02/07/2024

🚢 Attention Cruisers!! 🚢

Always stop by the future cruise desk to see what the onboard offer is before your voyage ends. You don’t want to miss out on a great deal.

Two of my recent cruise clients put down a deposit on future cruises. It’s nice to know they had such a great time they are ready to plan another one!

29/06/2024

Something new for me - researching Japan and Tokyo Disneyland for a client.

Tokyo Disney is a separate company from the Walt Disney Company that we know in the U.S., and there are definite differences related to their on-property hotels and buying park tickets. For one, you can only book a couple of months in advance.

Luckily, there are two adjacent resorts that are affiliated with Tokyo Disneyland that are right on the monorail line and are designed specifically for Disneyland guests. They have rooms that sleep up to 6 adults and are available to book in advance, just like any other hotel.

25/06/2024

Big changes are coming to Genie+ at Disney World. I will be delving into the changes so that I can fully explain the new system to my clients.

Beginning July 24, Walt Disney World guests can plan in advance with Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass 📲: http://di.sn/6001glsuP

24/06/2024

🎀 PROMO ALERT !!! 🎀

New offers for the Holiday Season at Walt Disney World were announced today.

You can save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels for stays most nights from November 24 to December 25, plus, other savings for stays most Sunday to Thursday nights between October 6 to November 21.

Guests can also get free Park Hopper option added to their tickets when they upgrade to a Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a non-discounted 4-day or longer date-based ticket.

Contact me for a free, no-obligation quote, and let's get your family a Disney trip to put under the tree!!

19/06/2024

Today we celebrate Juneteenth. Today and every day.

13/06/2024

This is the kind of service I provide my clients when they’re in the Disney parks. I always like to check in to make sure my clients made it ok, and if need be, I’ll give some real-time advice as they go through their day.

I really try to help my clients make the most of their time and money. Use my expertise to your advantage!

10/06/2024

The renovated rooms at Disneyland’s Pixar Place have the little Pixar lamp in them! How cute is that??

30/05/2024

Just booked for later this month! New cruisers on the best adult-only cruise line out there - Virgin Voyages!

These lucky sailors scored 70% off the second guest on 5 nights from Miami.

I can’t wait for them to experience Virgin Voyages’ beautiful ship and their impeccable service. And food!

24/05/2024

Catching up on the latest edition of Travel + Leisure. I am an old lady who still reads print media.

24/05/2024

A reminder that MCO is a busy airport. See below for a link to sign up for Security ahead of time. This is a free service that will help you out when you’re heading back home.

22/05/2024

🤩 NEW Virgin Voyages Brilliant Lady Itinerary Spotlight - LAUNCHING TOMORROW 🤩

📍Itinerary: Colour Curaçao to the Charming Caymans (12 Nights)
🛳 Ship: Brilliant Lady
📆 Dates: November 8-20, 2025

This 12-night voyage from Miami stops in Aruba, Curaçao, Colombia, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands. Perhaps the most exciting part of the trip is spending a night in Cartagena, Colombia.

Cartagena is known for its colorful colonial architecture, walled 16th century Old Town, narrow stone walkways, and white sand beaches – as well as its archipelago of small islands that can be explored by boat.

🛳 Day 1: Miami, Florida 🇺🇸
🛳 Day 2-3: Sailing Day 🌊
🛳 Day 4: Oranjestad, Aruba 🇦🇼
🛳 Day 5: Willemstad, Curaçao 🇨🇼
🛳 Day 6: Sailing Day 🌊
🛳 Day 7-8: Cartagena, Colombia 🇨🇴
🛳 Day 9: Sailing Day 🌊
🛳 Day 10: Ocho Rios, Jamaica 🇯🇲
🛳 Day 11: George Town, Grand Cayman 🇰🇾
🛳 Day 12: Sailing Day 🌊
🛳 Day 13: Miami, Florida

As your Virgin Voyages First Mate, I can get you booked on this once-in-a-lifetime voyage and this incredible Brilliant Lady itinerary goes on sale on Thursday, May 23rd.

Message me here or browse and book YOURSELF with my personal First Mate link: https://www.virginvoyages.com/book/voyage-planner/find-a-voyage?cabins=1&USD[%E2%80%A6]lors=2&toDate=2022-10-04&agentId=43467&agencyId=5363

22/05/2024

Great news on the Key Bridge collapse. The port will open for cruise ship traffic starting this weekend.

The toll the bridge collapse has taken on commerce cannot be overstated. I’m happy to see one industry returning to this important waterway.

The announcement that cruise ships will be sailing again from the Port of Baltimore comes nearly two months after a cargo ship struck and toppled the Francis Scott Key Bridge.