 Walt Disney World and Disneyland are both theme parks owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company. However, there are some key differences between the two parks.
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Traveling abroad can be an amazing experience, but it can also be a bit daunting if you've never done it before. There are so many things to think about, from planning your trip to packing your bags. But don't worry, we're here to help! In this blog post, we'll give you some tips and advice on how to travel abroad like a pro. Plan your trip in advance! The first step to traveling abroad is contacting your travel agent and having a conversation about where you want to go! Ideally you want to start planning 6 months to a year out. Last minute trips are definitely possible, but you may have to be a little more flexible in your plans! Pack light! One of the best pieces of advice for traveling abroad is to pack light. You don't want to be lugging around a heavy suitcase all over the place. Look into capsule wardrobes to make packing light a little easier. Try to pack only the essentials, and leave the rest at home. Be prepared for culture shock! You're going to experience a new culture. This can be a great thing, but it can also be a bit overwhelming. Be prepared for culture shock by doing some research on the country you're visiting. Learn about the customs, the language, and the food. Using apps like DuoLingo to learn basic phrases to get around can make a HUGE difference, you may also want download a translation app for figuring out how to say things quickly in the moment. Be patient! Americans tend to live at a faster pace than many other destinations. When you're making plans, give yourself some extra wiggle room for getting from place to place - schedules don't always run as they're listed especially when it comes to public transportation. Give yourself the time to enjoy the whole experience. Be open-minded! One of the best things about traveling abroad is the opportunity to experience new things. Be open-minded and try something new (especially new foods), even if they're outside of your comfort zone. Immersing yourself in new experiences is a wonderful part of being in a new country. Don't be afraid to ask for help! If you're ever lost or confused, don't be afraid to ask for help. The locals will be more than happy to point you in the right direction. Have fun! Traveling abroad should be FUN. Relax, enjoy yourself, and make some memories that will last a lifetime. So, what are you waiting for? Let's start planning your next adventure today!   With so many different cruise lines out there, choosing the right one for you can be the difference between the BEST vacation of your life and "I'm NEVER cruising again!". Each cruise line has their 'thing'...something that makes them different from the rest. If you're looking for a week of calm and just want to relax, and you wind up on a ship that is a non-stop party - you'd probably be disappointed. Likewise, if you are a foodie and wind up on a cruise with a limited menu that would be equally disappointing! So, I am here to give you the scoop and help you find the cruise that is PERFECT for you!
Disney Cruise Line Disney Cruise Line is a great choice for families with young children - it's a really FUN and Disney themed environment. The ships offer a variety of activities and entertainment geared towards kids, including a HUGE kids club, character meet-and-greets, shows, and games. There are also plenty of activities for adults, like cocktail lounges with live music, dancing, and movies. Royal Caribbean International Royal Caribbean International is a great choice for families. The ships are large and offer a variety of activities, including water slides, rock climbing walls, and indoor skydiving. There are also plenty of dining options, from casual buffets to fine dining restaurants. Royal Caribbean's target audience is young adults and families. Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Cruise Line is a good choice for budget-minded travelers. The ships are smaller and more affordable than some of the other major cruise lines, but they still offer a variety of activities and entertainment. There are also plenty of dining options, from casual food courts to sit-down restaurants. Carnival is the FUN ship, and always has music playing and something going on. Their target audience is a fun crowd that enjoys a party at any age! Virgin Voyages Virgin Voyages is a new cruise line that's targeting millennials and is Adults Only. The ships are stylish and modern, and they offer a variety of activities and entertainment geared towards adults. This cruise line is a foodies dream with lots of unique eateries and all food made fresh - you won't find any buffets here. Princess Cruises Princess Cruises is a good choice for couples and older adults. The ships are elegant and offer a variety of activities, including spa treatments, golf, and casinos. It's a more relaxed environment. There are also plenty of dining options, from casual buffets to fine dining restaurants. Viking Cruises Viking Cruises is a good choice for travelers who want a more relaxed cruise experience. The ships are small and intimate, and they offer a variety of activities, including lectures, hikes, and excursions. They also have River & Ocean cruises. They have casual and fine dining options! Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Cruise Line is a good choice for travelers who want a more flexible cruise experience. The ships offer a variety of dining options, including casual buffets, sit-down restaurants, and specialty restaurants. There are also plenty of activities and entertainment, including water slides, rock climbing walls, and ice skating rinks. Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Cruises is a good choice for travelers who want a more upscale cruise experience. The ships are elegant and offer a variety of activities and entertainment, including spa treatments, pickleball, and casinos. There are also plenty of dining options, from casual buffets to fine dining restaurants. The average cruiser age is 50. MSC Cruises MSC Cruises is a good choice for travelers who want a more affordable cruise experience. The ships are large and offer a variety of activities and entertainment, including water slides, bowling alleys, F1 simulators, and so much more. There are also plenty of dining options, from casual buffets to fine dining restaurants. No matter what your budget or interests, there's a cruise line out there that's perfect for you. Talk to your travel agent about your wants/needs to help you find the cruise that's right for you! Here are some additional factors to consider when choosing a cruise line:
Each cruise line has so much to offer, contacting one of our travel agents will be the easiest way to find the best option! All of our agents have taken courses and have certifications with each cruise line and know what each ship has to offer! We do the research so you don't have to and we'd love to answer any questions you may have. Are you ready to cruise?! Contact us today!  Cruising season is upon us! Cruising is for sure my favorite way to travel, I feel like it's the most relaxing vacation you can take. However, I always have a little bit of panic leading up to the cruise because I don't want to forget anything! Once you're on board it may be hard to find any items you forgot, or way more expensive if you do find them.
So, here is a list of MUST have items for any cruise - including a few unconventional items you may not have thought about!
If you plan to drop your luggage with the porter, it's a good idea to pack a small bag with a change of clothes, toiletries, and any essentials in case it takes them a bit to get your luggage to your room or your luggage is lost. Some other things to consider as you're packing for your cruise:
Remember, this is the hardest part of your trip. You're about to be relaxing and having fun in the sun! Photos are definitely one of my favorite parts of vacation. I love seeing pictures pop up in my Facebook Memories, or printing a photo book if it's a big family vacation! Looking back on them later always conjures such happy memories. However, in our family I am the picture taker and when you look through our vacation photos it often looks like I wasn't there. A definite perk of paying for Memory Maker is that it's a GREAT way to get photos of the whole family. When you prepay for Memory Maker, it is $169 for the duration of your trip, if you pay for it during/after your trip it's $199. You can also purchase single day Memory Maker for $69. When you purchase Memory Maker, ANY photo taken at an attraction AND by any PhotoPass photographer is included! In addition to Memory Maker, PhotoPass Attraction photos are now included with the purchase of Genie+. Some of the on-ride photo locations included with Genie+ are favorites like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Seven Dwarves Mine Train, Test Track, Tower of Terror, Space Mountain, Frozen Ever After, Haunted Mansion, aaand more! Photo Pass Spots: If you want some unique photos with a little 'extra' something, ask the photographer for some Magic Shots - some really love doing this and get super creative. It's always fun to see. Here are some spots you can typically find PhotoPass Photographers, please keep in mind none of these spots are GUARANTEED and you may see them in many other places beyond these! In Magic Kingdom: Main Street Entrance All up & down Main Street Partners Statue (Walt & Mickey - near the castle) Liberty Square Bridge Tomorrowland Bridge Near Haunted Mansion exit Journey of the Little Mermaid Bridge The Tangled bathrooms (past Peter Pan & Small World especially in the evenings) *Favorite* on the greens near the castle, ask a cast member where the "castle zoom shot" is done. It's really neat and a favorite for our whole family. In Epcot: The entrance - lots of photographers at different angles for shots with the Epcot Ball, there's also a 360 degree view photo France Fountain Fountain of Nations Courtyard International Gateway Bridge World Showcase Overlook Then you can find them periodically throughout the countries in the World Showcase and with the princesses In Hollywood Studios: At the Entrance Hollywood Studios Arch Hollywood Blvd Star Wars Galaxies Edge Entrance *Sometimes* you can catch a Grogu Magic Shot at the stone wall leaving Galaxies Edge and heading into Toy Story Land Toy Story Land Entrance Sunset Boulevard In Animal Kingdom: Bus Stop Marquee Main Entrance Tree of Life Expedition Everest Overlook Tree of Life Garden You can go to as many photo pass photographers as you want - and each of them will take between 5-25 photos depending on how busy they are and how many people are in your group. At the rides you can scan the QR code to get your photo; tap your magic band, or ask a cast member to add it on your phone. Also keep an eye out for photo spot signs where they have some great suggested photo spots to take on your own! Here are some of our agents favorite Magic Shots & PhotoPass spots: Another great way to get photos is by using a flexi-tripod. They are great for attaching to your stroller, setting up on a table, on the ground in front of those ICONIC locations, or wrapping around a pole. My families new favorite way to use it is to set up the tripod on the table and use your timer function on your phone (or some phones have the option to say 'smile' or hold up your palm - make sure to mess with your photo functions BEFORE your trip), its a unique way to get full family photos with the characters. We used one phone in the tripod and the other to grab some pics as the characters walked up. This was BY FAR my favorite way to get some fantastic character photos and interactions. The characters and cast members really loved it, and it increased the engagement a lot. I used to be a Travel Agent skeptic. I couldn't understand why I would want to have someone else do it when I could easily book it myself! Then one day I met a travel agent (now co-worker) and I saw how passionate she was about making sure my family and I had the BEST vacation possible. She was kind, knowledgeable, and patient with my million questions. She was able to update my booking when a better deal came along, suggested activities we didn't even know were possible, and really helped us get the most out of our money.
Now, there are MANY reasons to use a travel agent...but the most shocking one for me, was that I was actually already paying for one when I was booking on my own. I was a busy mom with two little kids, so the idea of having someone else do all the work while not costing me anything additional was a REAL perk. Why not leave it to someone who does this all day, every day!? She certainly knew more than I did. After the first trip she planned for us, I told my husband I'd never travel without a travel agent again! Travel Agents do extensive training on each of the vendors they book through, the trainings are required regularly to keep them up to date on the ins and outs of each ship/resort/theme park. These trainings help the agents to customize your vacation to you and your needs. While no one knows EVERYTHING there is to know about travel, our agents literally make it their job. The training and research that goes into every trip helps us provide you with the best vacation possible! If that's not enough to convince you - here are 10 more reasons you should be booking with a travel agent:
If you're ready to book your next vacation with one of our wonderful travel advisors, head on over to our 'Request a Quote' link and someone will be in touch with you soon! Request a Quote (mvvtravelco.com) |
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