The "Magic" of staying at a Disney resort

The Grand Floridian, a deluxe resort located on the Monorail system

            

When working with clients, we are sometimes asked what advantage there is to staying at a Walt Disney World resort.  Many times, people feel that they can skip the resort and save money on their trip.  While there might be a savings, we believe the pros of being on property far outweigh modest, monetary savings.  Not sure if you'll save, request a free quote.

Disney World has over 25 different resort options spanning from budget-friendly value resorts, mid-level moderate resorts, extravagant deluxe resorts and even a campground.  Prices range from $130-$6000 per night and depend on the resort category, room category, and travel dates.  Generally, you can expect to spend $200-400 per night.   

 Time - You will spend time traveling to and from the off-property resorts.  Something to remember is that Walt Disney World is HUGE!  It covers over 20,000 acres and is the size of Manhattan.  Time is valuable, especially if you have a short trip.  It will be less convenient to go back and take naps mid-day if you aren't close to your WDW resort.

The Skyliner Gondola

      Transportation - You have free transportation once you arrive at your Disney resort.  So, there is no need for a rental car.  The resort shuttles run every 5-25 minutes which varies depending on the time of day.  Some off-property resorts offer shuttles but they may only come two times a day or every hour.    

     If you decide to drive or rent a car to give you more flexibility, keep in mind that theme park parking is $30/day for non-resort guests (free if you're staying on property).  

    

     Money and Promotions - Staying on property with a package, which includes a resort stay and ticket plus the option to add a dining plan, makes you eligible for Disney promotions.  If these come out, even after booking, we will apply them to save you money.  Also, a package requires a $200 deposit and final payment 30 days before travel.  You can cancel anytime before final payment is due.  If you book a ticket-only reservation (and stay off-property), the full amount of tickets is due at the time of purchase and these are non-refundable.

     Early Park Entry - Resort guests are eligible for entry to select parks 30 minutes before anyone else.  Rope drop is only possible if you are coming from a Disney resort.

     Lightning Lane Advance Purchase - If you decide to purchase LL passes, you can do so 7 days prior to travel if you're a resort guest.  For others, it's 3 days prior.  This could be the difference between getting or not getting a pass for a particular ride.  Not sure what a Lighting Lane pass is, read more here.

The Beast at Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom

      Dining Plan - You must stay on Disney property to purchase a Dining Plan.  If  you purchase the Disney Dining Plan, we will make those reservations for you as part of our free services.  Depending on your needs, the DDP or the simpler Quick Service dining plan, is designed for convenience and can be a way to save.  Check out this blog to find out if you'd benefit from a dining plan.

 Character Dining - Whether staying on property or not, you can still make reservations for a character meal.  WDW resort guests can do this 60 days before travel, others wait until 30 days before travel.  This might make difference of getting the meal you want to experience.

The "Magic" - As corny as it sounds, there is something to be said about being immersed in Disney.  If you stay on property, from the moment you arrive, you are enveloped.  Your off-property resort won't have Mickey-shaped waffles, Disney art, or  themed-pools.  No Disney gift shop, no cast members, and no whimsical Disney background music.  That special "something" disappears at the end of a long day visiting the parks when you pile into your car and head for your off-property hotel.  

Perhaps, one of the saddest signs of all times!

The "What if...." - I wrote this blog just one day after Hurricane Milton struck central-Florida.  Amanda, one of our agents, was visiting and offered a unique insight to being "stuck at Disney" during a storm.  Somethings we learned are that WDW has constructed buildings to withstand Category 5 storms, the resorts have generators, and maybe most importantly, Disney has a plan.  

Activity board at Contemporary Resort

After the theme parks and common areas closed, guests were sequestered to their respective resorts to ride out the storm.  It appeared that sufficient notice was provided about what would be closed and when.  The resorts that had interior access to a central lobby (mostly, your deluxe resorts) could access the amenities such as the store, arcade (which was free!), and restaurants.  Disney had a variety of activities to pass the time and once the storm has passed and it was safe, Disney start to shift back to business as normal.  

The theme parks are scheduled to reopen about 30 hours after they closed.  I added a couple of her photos below.

   

Extra towels and shampoo, furniture moved inside, and sandbags at the doors

One of the Monorails parked inside the Contemporary Resort

  

Carts and signs tied down for the hurricane

Lamps covered to prevent damage from debris

Don't forget to like us on Facebook.  Follow us here for more tips and tricks, not only for Walt Disney World resorts but all of the destinations we can help you plan and book.  And in case you didn't know this, our help is always free. ~Joe

Moon Palace, Jamaica versus Beaches Negril, Jamaica

 Fall 2023 we stayed at two different family all inclusive resorts in Jamaica to compare them for families. I would encourage families to stay at either one with no concerns but different families are looking for different pros and cons. So here is how they compare:

Beach Scene

Moon Palace is situated in a bay in Ocho Rios with calm waters and a small beach area. There were always lounge chairs available so I wouldn't consider it "too small".  Beaches Negril is situated on the beautiful open 7 miles of white sandy beaches directly on the ocean. Here you will have more water activities to choose from. Beaches (and Sandals) always have luxury included water sports. At Beaches Negril you will have kayaking, hobie cats, paddle boarding, diving (free for certified divers), snorkeling, banana boats and ocean trikes. Moon Palace offers paddleboarding and kayaking. If you want to spend the day in the shade or sun beachside, Beaches definitely has a huge expanse of options even while at 91% occupancy during our stay.

Moon Palace had some water activities available at an additional charge including a dolphin experience on property plus snorkeling and scuba diving for a fee.

View at Moon Palace, Jamaica

Free Water Sports at Beaches Negril: Hobie cats, kayaks, paddle boarding, banana boats, snorkeling are all included in the price!

Pool Activities

Moon Palace had a mix of all age groups and everyone seemed to have enough to do. There is a surfing flow rider that never had a line, water volleyball and staff creating activities in the pool. Beaches definitely has their young visitors under 10 covered with an entire Pirates Water park fully staffed with lifeguards and servers stopping by to check on you. There is water  and beach volleyball and activities and crafts nearby at both resorts.

Beaches definitely wins on all accounts for the theming and pool features for children under 10. The staff clearly enjoys and engages with kids, there is a lazy river, slides, pouring buckets of water and a large expanse of water fun.

Kids Clubs

Both resorts offer kids clubs for all ages. The Beaches Negril kids area definitely wins in the category for guests under 10. They have a brand new facility opened in 2023, with the biggest climb through tunnels spanning two rooms I have seen. There are two "shoes free" rooms for the under 5 children so that any toddlers on the floor will be in a clean environment. Beaches partners with Sesame Street to bring the characters to the islands. There are parades with characters where the children join in, random character pop ups, theming and  activities for the children to experience the Sesame Street team. There is also a club for 12+ but that is more of a meet up location where kids can check themselves in and out. Staff here is autism certified, CPR certified and clearly well trained. We saw several groups out throughout the week with groups of children eating, playing, and doing activities. Kids were happy and well taken care of, staff was in tune with the kids and the staff to child ratio was perfect. 

My thoughts: Beaches for 10 and under, Palace for 10+. This is a general comment and of course many travel with extended family and have children that span that age gap. I would go on the side of the younger traveler if you want a peaceful trip where they will be occupied.

Spa

Both resorts have a spa and their spas do include some options for junior guests. I overheard some very excited teens on their way to their spa treatments. 

Tipping

This one is always something to plan for in pricing your trips. When Beaches Resorts (and their parent company, Sandals) say ALL-INCLUSIVE, they mean it. Tipping is forbidden on site. This is much easier because on these trips you find yourself at a swim up bar and there's no good place to keep your money dry to tip. You don't see a difference in service based on the biggest tippers. Three places where tipping during a Beaches vacation is allowed but not required: transfer drivers, spa treatment and butler service.

Palace Resorts do not require tipping but it would seem weird not to tip. We tip our transfer driver, the bellhop, the dessert bar, the meals, the room service, bars...you get the point, it adds up.

Safety and Security

We get asked a lot about the safety of a trip to Jamaica, we are always surprised by the ideas some Americans have about travel to Jamaica. I can only assume it is from people that are getting off at cruise ports that are notoriously a frenzied mess or from stories of others that wondered aimlessly through the streets. My husband is a police officer and keenly aware of the dangers most do not notice in our hometown and surrounding area. He has never been concerned. First, we suggest you stay on property or leave only with the designated paid excursions that the resort has already vetted on your behalf. Next, don't wander off property intoxicated or in search of anything from the local "farmers".  There are security personnel on property, video cameras on the beach and excursion desks available to book your trips should you choose to go somewhere. We waked the Negril open beach midday with no concerns and saw security, police and lots of tourists out. We did get approached by locals offering their wears but no one was aggressive, with a swift "no thank you", we were on our way.  Since the beaches are public, there are people walking through or people offering parasailing or marijuana, you can politely refuse and keep walking with no issues whatsoever. 

Accommodations

This really comes down to what you are looking for and what you value in your stay. Beaches properties are very clean with constant staff stepping up to clear all area of drinks, trash, and unused towels. Palace didn't seem to have the same high employee to customer ratio but it was certainly sufficient. The rooms, most meals and snack areas at Palace are in an air conditioned interior building. Our room was oversized with a nice stand up shower (important to me), our "resort view" was just laughable, we were looking at the dirty rooftop of the rest of the resort out our 5 inch French balcony. If a view matters to you, be intentional with upgrading to a room that is beachfront.

Beaches rooms have a very large range and one main reason that booking with a travel agent instead of booking yourself is so important. Again, we have the lowest category of room, it is clean and sufficient. The lowest level here is a garden view, so no dirty red roof! It is a full balcony and not the tiny fake balcony. However, the bathroom does show it's age and the intention of having a tub for bathing children. Then on the other extreme, there are the nicest beach front family accommodations I have seen on any property of any brand. They are astonishing (reach out for a video if interested). As this resort undergoes continual refurbishment I believe the lower categories will be more inviting.

The common areas at Beaches are designed for children under 10. It is smaller than some giant resorts allowing for maneuverability with small children without extreme hassle. There are a lot of multigenerational families and returning guests.

Restaurants

Both resorts have hibachi, sushi, brick oven pizza, jerk shacks, buffets and only a couple require reservations that were easy to secure at check in. Beaches has a delicious new option, Yaku Peruvian food which was excellent. We also enjoyed the Mexican restaurant, Mariachi at both lunch and dinner. They had me at fresh churros!

Moon Palace Jamaica has an area of different food court style options open most of the day. Grab sushi, pizza or sandwiches to order. Their dessert and coffee bar just keeps begging me to come back!

The great thing about a resort focused on children...those of us that eat like children are in great shape. This frozen yogurt restaurant never turned me away...even on my third visit in the same day.

Both have designated dessert restaurants open all day and ice cream which is a big plus for me! Beaches pulls ahead in this area with YoYos frozen yogurt with toppings.

One difficulty at Beaches is that the majority of the dining is outside under covered patios with fans. If you have someone that really needs to get into air conditioning to enjoy their vacation, this would be a frustration. There are no indoor breakfast or lunch options. 

Price Comparison

Looking at entry level, balcony rooms September 2024 for 6 nights for two adults and two kids (14 and 9) the resort cost before flights:

Palace: $2,762.96

Beaches: $5,031.20

(this is not a quote for travel as prices continuously change and are different depending on dates and times of year)

Palace is nearly half the price so you can compare what matters most to you. As Disney enthusiasts, it really reminds me of Pop Century compared to the Grand Floridian. You pay more for the different amenities. So you have to decide what type of trip or experience you are most interested in.

Why choose Beaches?

We book and visit all locations and don't have an interest in one over the other. As travel agents we want our clients happiest so they make memories with their families and book return trips through us. As I contemplated the price difference, I considered who I would think would prefer Beaches.

Sesame street characteres roamed the grounds of Beaches Negril

• Divers: Free diving on site. If you have a diver in the family it is completely free for certified divers to dive twice each day by signing up the day before and showing credentials. Joe dove twice a day for 4 days, those 8 dives would have been expensive to book separately.  All equipment is provided.

Joe between complimentary dives at Beaches Negril

• Sesame Street enthusiasts: The characters are readily available throughout the trip, they stop for photos and interaction, have the on site parade and an inexpensive character breakfast option. There are also shows and activities with the characters included for no additional charge.

Not even jumping into the trash with Oscar could ruin a great Jamaican day!

• Beach Lovers: If being on the beach and in the ocean are important to you, this beach is miles long in both directions and clear water. The Palace beach is small and a bay without clear water.
• Butler service: If it is in your budget, the butler options here are more worthwhile than Sandals in our parenting opinion! Start your day getting ready in the room while the butler brings an sets up your breakfast for the family. Butlers will beat the rush to grab your spot on the beach and mark it as Butler Elite, they bring a cooler to your site, fill it with your family's requests and refill as needed. They bring meals from restaurants, pizza or bbq out to your family at your request. Drinks are never empty and they are a quick call away for any needs you might have, forgot your sunscreen in the room but have toddlers at the beach? No problem, call the butler. This service would make the trip a lot less exhausting with young children.

Airport Transfers

Airport transfers are seamless and included at both resorts.

When you are ready to book this or hundreds of other locations, please reach out, there are never any fees to book with us and have traveled to bring you the most important insider info from each location! dillontravels@gmail.com

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Dining at Disney on a Budget

 Top Tips for Saving on food at Disney World

1. Plan ahead...seems obvious, right...

2. Order from Amazon, Shipt, or local grocery delivery in Orlando directly to your resort. We talked to the staff working in that department while on property in May 2023. They receive deliveries every day and the companies scan in and take it into the holding area where luggage is stored when you arrive and on the day of your departure. As we asked questions for 15 minutes, three different outside vendors made deliveries. There are not fees imposed by Disney as long as you choose to pick it up yourself. If you ask them to bring it to your room there is a small fee. I would suggest you bring $5 to tip them as you would with retrieving your luggage on check out day. They cautioned me that guests need to ensure they use the specific and accurate address of the resort that can easily be found by going to www.disneyworld.com then clicking hotels, choosing yours and scrolling down on the right hand side. They suggest the name on your reservation and check in date be on the label. 

3. WATER, depending on your family´s pickiness level, this might mean bringing your own refillable mugs that you will fill at many of the available drink stations throughout all parks or in the food court using the water option on the fountain. Water at Magic Kingdom is AWFUL, it has a very strong sulfer smell. We brought 3 $5 cases from home but once I saw everything being seamlessly delivered that seems worth trying.

 4. Don´t allow family to order drinks at meals, we do this at all locations we eat at throughout the year because we have 7 kids. By the time you add the cost of a soda ($4-6) plus tip, plus tax on that amount a family of 4 has easily added $20 to their meal. I prefer to spend my drink money at the Dole whip stand!

5. If flying Southwest, pack snacks, protein bars, oatmeal packets, water flavor packets, cereal, dried fruit in your luggage since you get two free pieces of luggage with each ticket. Then on the way home you have space for all the extra Mickey Ears you bought!

6. Plan the meals you will eat each day in advance by looking at the menus and pricing on the app. Maybe you are a super planner and you will do this prior to leaving home. I do this for two reasons. ¨where does everyone want to eat¨ might be the most annoying phrase in the world of Mom. While on a trip, I don´t need additional decisions or confusion. Once my kids alert me that they are hungry they are actually on the pentacle of a breakdown and no great decision making will happen. I like to compare reviews, pricing and the likes of my kids. Then I make note of it and you can also note things on your app. My 21 year old daughter and I prefer to share so we are not stuffed and nauseated while hopping on rides. We also eat a meal to survive but want to grab snacks and treats. Some table service meals do not allow sharing if it is all you care to eat or a buffet. This is often the case with favorites like Ohana and character dining. If you will be doing these meals and/or have kids between 3-9 the dining plan would likely save money. You can read my article: Dining Plan for 2024

7. If you are staying at a Disney Resort, value or moderate resort you can usually by an XL whole pizza for $22. This is an excellent price and decent pizza.

8. Via Napoli in EPCOT requires reservations and can be affordable if you choose to buy two large pizzas and water. We did this with 6 adults (4 were starving guys) with tax and tip we paid about $120 for dinner for 6. That is a great ¨in park¨ price an brick oven pizza with toppings. Most families of 4 could do with 1/2 this.

9. Plan one serious meal a day around 2-3pm. This will be less crowded at meals but the most crowded time in the parks making it a great (HOT) time to stop and eat. This will require everyone to get up and eat in the room with the food you delivered, or bought and bringing snacks for the morning. Then snack from your backpack and grab a large pizza at the end of the night to share in the food court. Pizza pictured below is a food court meal!

10. Breakfast in the room is not only a cost saver but a time saver and smoother start to your day. Our adult daughter, went down and asked for a free cup and spoon, got Hot water from the machines for tea at the drink fountain and made oatmeal most days. I like cereal but NOT milk, so I bring baggies and miniwheats and eat them on transportation to the park. For those that prefer milk it is sold in the foodcourt. Our boys grabbed protein bars but we did have to feed them in lines throughout the day or they would have wilted.

11. Drinks are such an enormous waste of money! If you or someone in your party is not going to survive without a truly fountain soda, you can get a refillable mug for use at resort for $22. You could take this to the park but only refill with water (and a flavor packet) there. I would bring a carabiner clip to avoid carrying on the backpack once it is empty. You can bring single serve instant coffee (Starbucks has an excellent one) and make your own coffee in the morning in the food court with creamer and sweetener for free. You could also bring tea and make your own then add their ice if you prefer it iced. 

12. Check out all the options for meals at Disney Springs, Earl of Sandwich is an 14incredible bargain and excellent food. It is easily packaged in foil to bring back to the hotel refrigerator.

13. Finally, if you want the convenience of the dining plan but can´t make sense of the cost, we chose to buy a Disney Gift card this last trip for our 17 year old. I figured out how many table service meals I would buy, and brought breakfast. So, I added up how many quick services he would buy. I figured on average they are about $15 without drinks plus tax and a snack for about $6-7 a day. I did the math for number of meals a snack a day and a resort mug then explained this and he did his own budget. If he overspent, that was on him which doubled as a great life lesson. It also made it so much less stressful because he never asked me if he could have a drink or snack. He could have whatever he wanted it as long as he paid for it!

14. We also did a lunch table service at Wilderness Canyon cafe for all you care to eat BBQ for about $30 a person with tax. This was a very filling meal and one of the boys favorites. If I was only traveling with my daughter, this would not have been a top pick but my boys can EAT!

For more tips and fun, follow us @instagram disney.dillon or Facebook   and feel free to email for a quote dillontravels@gmail.com Remember we are paid by our vendors like Disney, Sandals, Virgin Voyages Palace, and Royal Caribbean (and many more) so our services are 100% free to you!

Dining plan for 2024

We have anxiously awaited the return of the dining plan and now the date is set and the details are released for January 9, 2024.  It is time to look at who should and should not choose the dining plan.  

Before we delve too far into this, let's explain the difference between a quick service and a table service meal.  Quick Service won't require reservations.  You will walk up to a restaurant or kiosk and order from a sign board or menu.  Typical QS meals would be a chicken fingers basket, sandwich with fries, personal pizza with a small salad, or similar.  Think of it like a fast-food restaurant.  

Table service meals are sit down meals where you have a server who comes to your table or it's a buffet.  They DO require reservations.  All character meals are table service although a few require two TS credits per person.  If you purchase the Disney Dining plan with table service meals, we will can assist you with making those reservations.  Now, back to what we think!

While this is similar to the previous Dining plans of three years ago, one big change is the increase in cost of the adult Dining plan. The quick service plan for adults only increased a few dollars and the children´s plan for both quick service and standard dining plan are slightly less than before.

The Disney Dining plan is now $94.28 for adults (10 and up) and $29.69 for those 3-9 years old. The Quick Service plan is now $57.01 per adult  and $23.83 per child.

While I love Disney and sell Disney, I am also a mom of 7 and we vacation a lot. This means making sure to do things on a budget when possible. This new standard dining plan is pretty pricey depending on your length of stay and plans while traveling.

Benefits of the standard dining plan:

• Convenience reigns supreme, it is nice to pretend your trip is free once you arrive on property. Sure you paid a TON for your meals but once you get there and you are going to character and specialty meals and enjoying specialty smoothies, a beer or cocktail as well as a dessert at every table service you can live like a queen and put the price out of your mind!
• When paying for teens or young adults you can´t beat the convenience of teaching them how to use the plan and allowing them some freedom to learn how to budget their meals.
• You can plan the cost of your trip in advance and only spend money on gratuities while on property.

Cons:

• Well, it is expensive. Unfortunately, eating on Disney property without the plan will be pretty expensive as well.
• I find myself overindulging at times to take full advantage of my dining plan. 
• You really need to plan to have a table service meal each day on the standard dining plan to make it a reasonable cost.

Is the dining plan worth the cost?

It really comes down to how your family eats. Are they going to order a steak, enjoy a dessert and order a specialty smoothy, mocktail or cocktail? Then you will be able to break even without worrying about costs throughout the week. But if you are used to splitting meals, prefer to keep moving and not stop to sit down, don´t care for alcohol and won´t do a lot of character meals this might not be a savings.

Typical day that the dining plan works:

Magic Kingdom:

Quick Service at Columbia Harbor House with a Trio Platter for $14.29 or a lobster roll for $16.29 with a lemon slushy for $5.99

Snack: PIneapple Dole Whip float for $6.99 

Dinner at Ohana: $59 including dessert and a cocktail $14.50-16.50

Total is about $102.50 (savings of about $10 plus the resort refillable mug that will be used throughout the stay)

Child:

Ohana alone is $38+$5.50-6.50 for a specialty drink is $43-45 for this meal alone.

snack: dole whip $6.99 (because you have to train them in the way of the whip early)

lunch at Columbia Harbor House: kids meal $8.50

Total is about $59 savings of $30

If you are traveling with kids 3-9 the dining plan is likely worth it. If you are traveling with kids, plan specialty meals/character meals and will drink alcohol the plan will be a savings!

For more tips and fun, follow us @instagram disney.dillon or Facebook   and feel free to email for a quote dillontravels@gmail.com Remember we are paid by our vendors like Disney, Sandals, Virgin Voyages, Palace Resorts, and Royal Caribbean (and many more) so our services are 100% free to you!

Sci Fi dining with Fantasmic priority seating

Disney 2023

 One thing we LOVE about Disney is the constant innovation and every trip is a different experience. One thing I struggle with at Disney is change. Okay, I said it. I love Disney but gosh, these last 3 years have really been a trip on the spinning teacups. 

New Things I LOVE!

• Pop Century: the renovations over the past few years that incorporate a fold away bed and upgraded both beds to queen size really makes the resort work so much better for all the adult children we have. Folding the bed away helps me relax and not feel like the room is stuffed full. The bathroom design  with the sliding door that allows one person to shower, another to be changing or getting ready privately, and the rest of the party to be in the main room are very nice for a large family. The skyliner (gondola to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios) seals the deal making this my resort of choice. Pro Tip: There are 5 value resorts but only two have standard rooms on the skyliners path: Pop Century and Art of Animation. These are more expensive than All Stars but well worth the added expense.
• 
  Guardians of the Galaxy amazed us all. I have heard from others that if you struggle with being motion sick this ride will wreck you. It swivels while in motion. I have seen the first movie, and liked it. A Guardians fan would lose their minds. There are a variety of songs that randomly play so each ride is unique. Pro Tip: right now you have to get on the app and try to get in the virtual queue at 7 am, The only way to do 7 am is if you are staying on property and for 2023, have a reservation to the park. These spots are taken in SECONDS. Have several people in your party logged into the app clicking refresh, one person can get it for all once they are ¨in¨. There is a second opportunity at 1 pm if you miss the first one or are not staying on property. You have to be inside the park with the ride you want to join the queue    

• Tron is great, I was impressed until I road Guardians of the Galaxy :-) Still a solid ride and my husband that gets motion sick did fine on the ride other than his anxiety that it might be bad. He would describe it as a faster, smoother Space Mountain with less drops. He preferred it over space mountain. He struggles with slight sickness on Star Tours or Pandora.
• Ratatouille was adorable and I really liked it. We were able to use our early park entry to get their quickly with a reasonable wait. I will continue to ride it and it is much better than the ¨little kids rides"at Magic Kingdom. It is not a thrill rides so older kids may be annoyed with the wait. There are so many things happening quickly that you could ride it a lot to see new things. The motion on this ride is similar to Toy Story Mania. Pro Tip: Place short travelers in the front because I was annoyed with looking at the people (in my own family) in front of me in our cart and I am 5´6¨
• Reservation changes while traveling are very easy on the app if you work to understand it. Pro Tip: We planned our dining very late. Only weird times were left, so we were checking once we arrived and a lot of new times were available. Grab any dining you can get then make changes on the go.
• Parking at the resort is FREE AGAIN!!

Changes that made me look like Eeyore

• Old Fast Pass...oh how I miss you. For those of you Disney diehards that have been around for 25 years of repeated Disney trips we have seen quite the ride wait evolution. In the beginning, there was a race across the park with family theme park tickets for the whole party to grab a fast pass that you would come back for with no wait. This was AMAZING, well it was for those of us that were efficient and felt we were Disney Ninjas. I suspect it was great because most people were not utilizing it. Then the fastpass went online allowing a lot more people to plan, it also allowed people to plan in advance and limited the ¨good passes¨. Then, no passes...now this wild Genie+ option that comes with a fee that limits participation. I feel like my clients are paying enough and it frustrates me that there are added fees. Pro Tip: You need to make your plans on your app before you go, familiarize yourself with it and you will have a lot easier trip making and changing plans as needed throughout your trip.

• I have missed the dining plan. It was a big part of our vacations because Disney has some amazing meals as well as entertainment/character meals that are a set fee that is pricey for many families. The dining plan is returning in 2024 but it will be pricey and with other increases it won´t be affordable for all. Pro Tip: price out your next trip with and without the dining plan to decide if the convenience is worth it to you. If you have teens it will be well worth it to let them loose and not worry about feeding them or being ¨fair¨.
• Magic Bands were free for years and allowed for the convenience of charging privileges, park tickets, dining and resort stay verification for early or late hours. Now you have to purchase one for those conveniences. Otherwise you rely on a phone app that will have limited battery life and or apple wallet for your ticket. It is just inconvenient after experiencing the perks of the band. Pro Tip: you can always use your previous bands on new trips.

As we look ahead to our next Disney Vacation we are reminded of the evolution of all of our Disney favorites. What do you love and what do you miss?

For more tips and fun, follow us @instagram disney.dillon or Facebook   and feel free to email for a quote dillontravels@gmail.com Remember we are paid by our vendors like Disney, Sandals, Virgin Voyages Palace, and Royal Caribbean (and many more) so our services are 100% free to you!

Disney with groups or grown ups

Groups at Walt Disney World
One time that it makes a lot of sense to use the services of a Disney Vacation Planner is when you are traveling with more than your immediate family.  We are the parents of five adult children so even with our immediate family we are a large group. We recently traveled to Walt Disney World with four of our grown kids and their significant others as well as grandma and grandpa. This trip was unusual for us because we had 11 people everywhere we went and because we had all adults. The trip was seamless despite being there during peak season.

Ways to make a group trip work:

• It will be slow...did you read that? It is going to be inefficient at times. You will think everyone is meeting at the skyliner but some are waiting for others in the room. Be ready to improvise and check in with everyone in your group. 
• Most of us have Iphones so we were in a group message and shared our locations. This allowed us to quickly update the group on changes and avoid some unnecessary waits.
• Are we stopping for the bathroom again? Eleven bladders do not sync, you will be stopping a lot get over it and expect it.
• When staying on property you can book your dining 180 days in advance, I highly suggest you get your table service meals together. Then each day you know you will come together for that meal.
• Fastpasses can be done 60 days in advance when staying on property, we did all our fastpasses together.
• PLANNING in advance is the key to not wasting time on vacation. Making one My Disney Experience account that everyone logs into and getting the meals and fastpasses together ensures those times to meet up.
• We always told our group they were welcome to split off from the group and be in touch later. Since everyone has similar interests and gets along the didn't really take off. However, if you had families with different interests and different aged kids I think splitting up would eliminate a lot of frustration.

Traveling with adult kids:

• Well it's pretty much perfect because you don't have to do anything for them, they don't whine and they appreciate you paying. Kind of awesome, right?!
• We were able to take advantage of VERY EARLY entry to Hollywood Studios to get a boarding pass (virtual wait) to the newest Star Wars ride. I would never have gotten young kids up after 4 hours of sleep! Since we were there early we raced into coaster lines and played "heads up" on our phone while waiting which not only entertained ourselves but everyone watching our nonsense. (if you don't know google it but it's kind of like charades)

•  When we got tired, we went back with only 2 hours to spare and took a break. When kids are younger, it's not worth it to return for such a short time. You are going to get back and have to drag all their strollers or belongings, have to argue with them to lay down because they saw the pool on the way to the room then awake the monsters with only 90 minutes of sleep! NOT the case with your adults, we returned and a couple swam then napped, one took a social media mental escape and five of us slept for 90 minutes. We then woke up and returned for several hours with virtually no waits during a peak crowd season.
• If they are not ready as soon as you are, meet them at the park. Especially when traveling with couples. I knew they would find their way over to parks giving everyone a lot more independence. 
• We would do fast divide and conquers then regroup and everyone gets their way. So, instead of having to stick together to manage kids we would survey what everyone needed and reconfigure groups.  

Things I think are worth the cost:

• Dining plan: Yes, I am a Disney planner, yes I am paid based on what you purchase. BUT I buy the Disney dining plan for my crew and we are all at adult prices and it is not discounted for me. It's very expensive but I cannot imagine this past trip without it. I was able to easily budget for the entire trip in advance then let them loose on property to get what they wanted without having to eat the same restaurants for our quick services or snacks. You will get a table service, a quick counter service and two snacks for each sleep you have on property. 
• Memory Maker: The memory maker runs about $170 for the trip. This allows you to stop and get photos throughout the trip with professional photographers and get character pictures with everyone in your group included. You will also receive all the ride photos and videos. No matter how many are traveling together, one memory maker purchase will work as long as you are in the same My Disney Experience account or your accounts are linked together through friend requests. (active and retired military personnel pay only $98 with ID)

Unexpected Costs: I like surprises but not when it is a financial surprise!

• Groups of 6 or more are automatically charged 18% gratuity. Most of us would tip anyway but we don't generally go out and pay for 11 people at $50 a person...So the tip is nearly $100!! This is very noticeable on a group trip.
• Parking is now $15 at value resorts and even more at moderate and deluxe resorts. With all you are already spending that's just silly. Fortunately with your magic band you will be able to park at any parks without paying a second time. There is complimentary bus, skyliner, boat and monorail transportation but the drive to Hollywood Studios from Pop Century was only 6 minutes so we did appreciate that option.

Sandals Saint Lucia-Stay at One Play at Three

Email me with your questions or for a free quote: dillontravels@gmail.com

We are currently loving our stay at Sandals Grande Saint Lucia. It is a beautiful resort in the Carribean. Of course since it is a Sandals resort it is ultra all inclusive so the Hobie Cat, Kayaking, snorkeling are all FREE! We have taken advantage of all of these and enjoy them. We never have reservations but instead just walk up and get our life vests and take off. Your first trip out on a Hobie Cat you will get lessons on how to sail but after you master things you are able to come back anytime.

There are three resorts here and all are distinctive.  We chose Grande because it has the most restaurants. It is also the most expensive, you pay for convenience. The Grande boasts a large outstretched public beach. Locals are allowed to approach on the beach but they are friendly and once you let them know you don't plan to make any purchases they move along.  We are in a standard room with a completely remodeled bathroom and  garden view off the back porch.

There are always way too many room categories at a Sandals resort but it can be broken into a few areas. VIEW and butler or club levels.

• Standard rooms: Least expensive category with a refrigerator stocked with water, soda and fruit juice. These rooms are clean and remodeled.
• Club rooms: these rooms have a bar stocked with liquor and beer in the refrigerator. Another advantage is view and location. You can get a walk out into a quiet pool or a room with balcony overlooking the ocean. You also get ROOM service in this category...FREE
• Butler rooms: these rooms have an employee assigned to you for your stay. You tip them once at the end of stay (normally there is not any tipping on sandals properties). You have different locations within this category. There are Roundevilles and Over the Water  bungalows. Both offer privacy beyond standard rooms and amazingly up to date rooms and services. These are so impressive that it is well worth it if this is a financially "doable" option.

Three resorts here have their own personalities.

• Grande-the longest beach and the most expensive with the newest Sandals room category of Over the Water bungalows. Lots of restaurants including Barefoot on the Beach (one of or favorite seafood options), Gordon's on the Pier, Bombay Indian cuisine, Kimonos and Soy japanese hibachi and sushi.  As well as italian, buffet and jerk shops.

This resort is beside a really neat old hill/mountain as part of a public part. You can walk out of the resort and go over for a one hour hike/walk to the top to see old remains of forts and a pretty remarkable view. You pay American cash to get in it was about $15-20 for a couple.

• La Toc-This resort is less expensive and still an excellent option. It includes a millionaire suite (only four on property so book early) These are up in the mountains with stunning views and a walk out pool on the balcony.You need to be able to climb and walk up steep inclines. If you have mobility issues I would not choose this one.  There are also standard, club and butler options. A favorite room of ours when touring this resort was a club level room with a soak tub and balcony overlooking the ocean. This resort has several restaurant and bar options as well. There is a golf course on property. Golfing is free, you can rent clubs or golf course if you don't bring your own. You are required to hire a caddy for $11 on 9 hole course. 

• Halcyon-this resort is definitely a different one of the three. It is much smaller and goes at a slower pace. The employees are very friendly with less stress to handle the masses. There are only a few restaurants so you would want to take advantage of the free exchanges to the other resorts for nightlife and dining. This would be the choice for a couple that truly wants to be left alone and not interact with many people the whole week. The area seemed dated but there were major renovations going on while we were there. We got into a room under renovations and it was very nice.

Royal Caribbean: Allure of the Seas

Email for a quote today: dillontravels@gmail.com

Prior to this cruise we had cruised on the Disney Fantasy and its sister ship the Disney Dream. We loved them both and we were pretty nervous about going with another cruiseline because Disney customer service and cleanliness are second to none.

We had 7 people to pay for on this trip and additional family and friends that joined in the fun so we decided to try to be more careful with cost. For this spring break trip we spent almost half the amount on a Royal Caribbean cruise as we would have on a Disney cruise.

I have been pleasantly surprised. First, it is clean and the employees are friendly. The food has been good and even great in spots. (I would still easily rate Disney food higher). This is an enormous ship but it rarely feels crowded. I have always found empty seats and really enjoy the adult only "Solarium". There's a pool, hot tubs, bar and plenty of chairs to relax in. The sign says 16+ for the age but my mature 15 year olds walked in unquestioned. I assume had they been loud or obnoxious they would have asked to see their ID.

Who is this ship for?  I would suggest it to any group of adults, people with children can take kids to a kids club on board. We don't have anyone that age so we don't have first hand knowledge.  As far as teens go, I think mine have had a blast but it is definitely because we have such a large group. They are constantly grabbing each other for a soccer game, ziplining, rock climbing, putt putting and laying by the pools. They have gone to shows and comedy shows together. I cannot imagine this trip as an individual family with older teens. Kids 13 and younger would probably go to the kids club and make friends pretty easily. If you are planning to go with older kids I would take a friend or invite another family to join in the fun so your kids can hang out.  Unlike our European trip there is a ton of down time. In Europe my kids enjoyed each other and we were going on one tour or excursion after another with plenty to do. Here you make up your plans as you go and I am convinced my kids would have whined or been bored if they didn't have friends and grandparents along to spend time with them. Keep in mind they are without their precious electronics so boys, especially, would struggle with being still. Girls will go sunbathe and are more likely to hang with mom. You know your family best so you will know how they will do without constant activities. Again, it has been a blast but I am thrilled they have a lot of people in our group of 13 to hang out with!
                             


There are sports (soccer, mini golf, ice skating, basketball, wave surfing, ziplining, rock climbing and more) all included with no cost. There are plenty of places to eat including 24 hour room service that is complimentary but you should have some $1's to tip and there's a 24 hour restaurant.   I have heard some complaints of people that generally do Carnival that they prefer the 24 hour buffet offered there. Disney and Royal Caribbean do not have that option.

I have talked to others onboard to ask comparisons between Royal and Carnival. An employee that works for the stores so she has been on other cruiselines told me that she would rank Carnival at the bottom on amenities and food, then Royal then Holland. Of course that is also the order of pricing! She feels there is A LOT more drinking on Carnival (maybe it's cheaper??) so people don't care what they are eating. I have also talked to a family that prefers Carnival but they love the sun and the pools. So, they don't have an interest in the rest of the activities on board and prefer the Carnival set up with buffets 24 hours a day right by the pool. With a young child they find that a lot easier to negotiate to keep everyone happy.

My teens love it, they have eaten a ridiculous amount of food including lots of desserts, ice cream and cheeseburgers. They have played almost every sport and taken breaks to see the beauty surrounding them and relax for an afternoon nap.

My mom is temporarily in a wheelchair and she has had to use the elevators the entire trip. Thank goodness Royal Caribbean outshines Disney on this one! Disney elevators were painfully slow and we would just walk the stairs. We have not had much trouble at all getting around even with a large group.

Disney has free movies in the room and free brand new movies showing every day in their theater onboard. Royal Caribbean charges $12/movie to watch rentals in your room. There is a broadway style show currently "Momma Mia" and Comedy shows as well as a casino (won't find that on Disney).  There are also dance clubs and aquashows.

Ports we visited on this trip:

• Nassau, Bahamas...no thanks?  Well, for any avid cruisers you know that a stop in Nassau seems to be the norm. I would not even get off the ship at this stop unless you plan an excursion to go to a beach or have never been to the Caribbean.  There is a straw market and a street of stores but it is all very touristy and the shop owners are very pushy which I don't like at all. They yell at you and talk to you even when you are trying to move on. My kids that have traveled a lot would rather stay onboard the empty ship. It is quick to get on and off so if you have never been it might be worth the experience to see it but you will never want to get off there again :-)
• St Thomas: This is an American Territory so you can often use cell phones free. We decided to spend a day at the beach here and after some research decided on Magen's Bay. It was an $8/person open air trolley ride each way to and from the ship and an additional $5/person entry fee. It ended up being about $21/person for this trip and we were at the beach 11-4:30  We had people from 4-66 years old and had a great day. The further you walk down the beach you can find much less busy areas.The water is clear and the kids floated, laid out, went on some walking adventures and snorkeled with gear their grandpa brought.  A hamburger was $10/person and renting chairs was $8 each.  We brought towels from the ship and ate a huge breakfast before we left. We had our smuggled waters we brought and my mom had taken a big beach bag to breakfast to bring muffins and fruit and goldfish crackers. We were famished and burnt upon our return, it was a great day!

If we booked this as an excursion it was $49/person, we spent $21/person  Since we are a family of 7 that was nearly a $200 savings to do it ourselves. If you book your excursion with the cruiseline you are guaranteed a return to the ship and you can make plans in advance. We decided it wasn't far away and we returned earlier than necessary.

Items to bring:

• beach bag to bring smuggled breakfast snacks including fruit, muffins (so bring ziplock bags on board) and boxes of cereal, bottled water
• liquid sunscreen, reapply throughout the day and pay special attention to tops of feet.
• a hat will save the top of your head, bring one that can be washed
• snorkel equipment
• towels from ship
• charged phone for pictures
• cash for driver and $5 entry fee ($21/person)

•  St. Maarten: We decided to look through the local shops and wander the port since we had been in the sun the previous day. There is a $7/person roundtrip water taxi to take you directly to the market area. We opted to walk the mile instead. This is where the kids were able to pick up $1 sodas which made sense compared to the $60 drink cards on ship! The shops ranged from island shops with tshirts, sundresses, hats and bags at cheap prices for cheaply made products to much nicer and more expensive duty free shopping.  The walk was fine even with a stroller and wheelchair however it did get very hot. My husband enjoyed the walk as the local vendors were all selling bottles of beer for $2 each with local beers. Upon arriving at the other side we realized the water taxi was taking people not only to the shops but a large beach area. This is very easily accessible without paying for an excursion and you can see the ship the whole time.

Allure of the Seas is divided into different areas which we really enjoyed exploring. There is Central Park where live plants grow and sounds of crickets and birds are piped in at night. This was a really nice place to stop after dinner and listen to live music or stroll through. Park Cafe is the complimentary restaurant on this floor with excellent made to order salads and carved roast beef sandwiches.

There is also a Boardwalk with a delicious complimentary hot dog/sausage dog restaurant with Johnny Rockets for an additional fee.

Finally, there is the Promenade that has a pizza restaurant called Sorrento's that is complimentary and you can choose from the pizzas premade and available or make one to order.

Cruising is a neat experience for kids because they meet people from all over the world working on the ship and traveling. Our room attendant, Jose, is from Guatemala so we immediately loved him since two of our boys are also from Guatemala!

Disney has tea, lemonade, coffee and soda included. Royal charges for a weekly soda cup and it is $60-70/person. We didn't buy the soda cups because we can get by on tea and water. I noticed two things. First, there aren't that many soda fountains, I would be annoyed if I spent that much then was not able to get enough refills. Next, they say you cannot bring on bottled water or soda. We brought on a case of water in a suitcase with no problem. I figure if they take it we would be out $4.  It was worth the risk. Next, we saw people walking on to the ship carrying cases of soda unquestioned! Completely visible red cream soda...so if I was a soda addict I would definitely give that a shot!  One of the teens with us bought soda for $1/can in Saint Maarten right off the ship and carried it back in inside of a backpack and it was not taken.

Alcohol cannot be brought on board.  They will take it! Alcohol onboard ranges from $8-12/glass or bottle of beer.

Tips:

• Make or buy door magnets to make your door more recognizable.
• Internet is about $90 in advance for one device. We did that for our business. I was pleased to realize you can login to your computer and later your phone using only one code. You can only be logged into one device at a time.
• Call your cell carrier to see what the international plan covers. My Sprint plans allows international calling in some countries at a discount and free texting and data.
• Bring clip magnets to hang your itineraries and room documents on any surface, you are inside a ship so every wall is magnetic.
• Keeping track of where everyone is can be a hassle. We have $2 dry erase boards on every door to communicate throughout the day. 
• Storage is limited because the rooms truly are small don't be excessive in packing
• bring books and magazines if you enjoy reading
• obviously you will need more sunscreen than normal as you will be in and out of water and it is very tropical, we don't feel the spray sunscreens can compete with the Caribbean sun so I would suggest higher than normal SPF levels and liquid sunscreen.

DINING

• In all dining rooms remember you can truly order anything you want. My teen boys have ordered two appetizers and two entrees most nights.  
• When booking your vacation you choose Main (around 6 pm) Late (8pm) or Any Time dining. There are two dining rooms if you are placed in Main or Late but the Any Time diners go to American Icon for dinner any time you want. You can make reservations in advance if you have a specific time between 5:30-9:30 you would like to dine but we have really enjoyed the flexibility to just show up and be seated in a standby line whenever we would like each day. I am a planner so this surprises me but it has been very nice to be plan free.
• Food at dinner is the same in the three dining rooms. Women mostly wear sundresses and the men wear khaki pants or nice khaki shorts with polos.  Two nights of the week are formal nights, many men wear jackets or long sleeve button up shirts with ties. My crew is pretty informal and no one seems disturbed at our dark pants and polo shirts with nicer dresses but certainly not cocktail dresses for us girls.
• The fourth option at dinner is Windjammers Buffet, My boys love it because they can stuff themselves silly. But I don't think the food is nearly as good as in the restaurants.
• For breakfast there are options all over the ship and the fresh fruit is great. 
• Lunch is also spread out with the daily buffets in Windjammers and a smaller buffet in the solarium for guests 16+, bagels and sandwiches in Park Cafe are very good and donuts on the boardwalk. 
• There are quite a few places to pay an upcharge for finer dining or Ben and Jerry's ice cream or candy by the ounce. We didn't bother with any of that. Our teens certainly value quantity over quality!