Benefits Big and Small for Disney Family Vacations

Disney knows how to make families feel like royalty on vacation! But is it really worth the extra cost of staying on property? Can't you get the same vacation while saving money on your "room"? My answer is no. It is not the same vacation. You are going to miss out on so much more than even these benefits if you choose to stay off property! Check with us before you book your "room" so we can show you the magic before you even begin your vacation! 

TOP FOUR BENEFITS

Disney’s Magical Express – When guests bound for Disney owned-and-operated hotels are traveling via commercial airline to Orlando International Airport (OIA), they can arrange for special luggage tags that allow them to check their bags at their hometown airport, bypass baggage claim at OIA and board state-of-the-art motor coaches for complimentary transportation to the Vacation Kingdom, where their bags “magically” appear in their guestroom. When it’s time to say good-bye, guests board motor coaches for complimentary transportation back to OIA. An extra convenience: Guests traveling on participating airlines can check their baggage for the return flight at their Disney resort, saving time and luggage-toting at the airport.

Walt Disney World Transportation System – A Walt Disney World resort ID is the ticket for buses, monorails and boat launches that combine to connect virtually all areas of the Vacation Kingdom. With the convenience of “door-to-door” service throughout the resort, many guests enjoy their Walt Disney World vacation without a car.

 Extra Magic Hours – Each day, Disney hotel guests are offered exclusive time in a Walt Disney World theme park one hour prior to scheduled park opening or for up to three hours after park closing. The park varies from day to day. In addition, Disney water parks sometimes open one hour early for guests of Disney hotels. To take advantage of the additional time in the parks, guests must have their hotel ID plus a Magic Your Way ticket valid for the park(s) offering Extra Magic Hours. (NOTE: Extra Magic Hours of up to two hours after park close take effect in January- February 2013).

Disney Dining Plan – Guests who combine their hotel accommodations and attractions tickets into a Magic Your Way Package are eligible to add dining for the convenience of a more-inclusive “cruise-style” vacation package. In 2012, there are three plan choices to satisfy different budgets and appetites. All include at least two meals and a snack for each night of a Disney resort stay. Savings and restaurant choices vary.

Check back later this week for our list of "small" benefits for booking a Disney vacation!

Let us help you plan that amazing vacation! We are ready to make your magical vacation a reality. Whether you are planning for next month of October 2015 we are here and ready to plan away! We don't charge fees and offer a lot of services for your family. Contact MIA today!

Happy Planning!

Mia

 

Club Mobay at MBJ Airport

So you are headed to Jamaica! Woohoo! The planning is part of the fun of any vacation. But this could be your first time to MBJ or to any Caribbean country for that matter. There is a little hidden gem in the airport that few know about but those that do are true believers.

Arrivals
Arriving after a long flight can be daunting. What if I told you there is a great way to by-pass the immigration line and head straight to the front? What if you had someone taking you from immigration to baggage claim to help expedite the process for you? You’d do it wouldn’t you!

Club Mobay offers that very service! Upon deplaning you will head with the other hoards of travelers towards immigration to be processed into the country as a tourist. A uniformed member of the Club Mobay team will meet you as you come into the main terminal with a sign with your name on it and a smile. They will help you through the immigration process and offer assistance with processing through the luggage claim area.

If you are staying at Sandals or Couples (a handful of other resorts offer these too) you will be escorted to the welcome lounge offered by these brands. These are a great way to check in for your transportation and get you ready for the all inclusive experience with a cocktail and some snacks.

Departures
Club Mobay offers a fabulous lounge to wait for your flight! Once you check in with your airline you will head towards the Club Mobay check in before going to customs/immigration. You will be processed through quickly and head on to the lounge to await your flight. In the lounge you have free wifi, free international calling, complimentary drinks (alcoholic included), assorted snacks and foods (complimentary of course), newspapers from around the world, tvs showing news stations from around the world, a children’s area for them to release some energy! And of course a spa for that last minute treatment to help you relax before you head back to reality.

I can’t say enough about Club Mobay! I thoroughly enjoy it and won’t make a trip to Jamaica without adding it to my trip! I just wish other destinations offered something similar to make our travel life easier.

Happy Travels!

Mia

Are you one of those dad’s that hates taking your family to Disney for vacation? Your idea of vacation is not lugging 12 bags in heat across a lot of pavement only to rush to a ride to stand in line! All the while your wife is shopping like you are a millionaire and your children are whining because, well because they can!

There is a book you must read! “Ears of Steel: The Real Man’s Guide to Walt Disney World,” by Bart Scott gives you tips on how to not only survive the trip but how to have the best vacation of your life!!

I had the pleasure of hearing him speak last October in Orlando and fell in love with his humor and uncanny way of telling men that you too can survive a trip to Disney World! Scott says he wrote the book for the "football watching, beer-guzzling couch potatoes" who would rather relax in a recliner with a cold one and a sporting event on TV than spend hours in the hot sun walking around theme parks.

AWESOME video of Bart explaining his tips!  http://morningnews.wgntv.com/2014/05/12/tips-for-guys-on-how-to-survive-disney-world/   

His FIRST TIP: Always stay on property! Yes you can find a simple room off property cheaper but the benefits far outweigh any savings you might initially think you will be getting!

SECOND TIP: take your trip in the fall! The weather is better, the kids are back in school and the lines are so much shorter.

THIRD TIP: don’t stress over the money! Easier said than done right? He equates to traveling to Hawaii, you get off the plane they give you a flower necklace and you hand them your wallet! Disney does deliver the value. You don’t exactly hand them your wallet but planning ahead and doing as much before you go as possible will make your trip so much more enjoyable!

FOURTH TIP: and of course the most important, use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner because most of us are insane Disney nuts! A Disney Planner can help when things go awry, which you plan not to happen but it’s human nature and could certainly happen with the best of planning!

FIFTH TIP: learn the My Disney Experience app! Make sure you have all of your reservations linked, your travel planner has your information linked with theirs so they can help while you are there. Play around with the app before you go so that you are ready and can do it walking with 10s of 1,000s of other people reading their smartphone! Prepare!!

Bart’s book is extremely easy and helpful! His ideas are geared towards men who would rather sit at home watching the ballgame but can apply to anyone headed to the World! You can find it on Amazon and other online book retailers! Get yours today and start enjoying Walt Disney World the way I do!!
http://morningnews.wgntv.com/2014/05/12/tips-for-guys-on-how-to-survive-disney-world/

Happy Planning!
Mia ~ MackeyMouse Travel
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So you arrive around lunch time and don’t have tickets until the following day. What could you possibly do at Disney World to entertain your children until they get to see Mickey?

There are literally hundreds of things you could do but we have narrowed it down to just 6, in no particular order:

1. Plan a first night dinner show. Disney has several really good shows that you can take in that you wouldn’t necessarily want to take park touring time out for. At Fort Wilderness you have 2 of them. The Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue and Mickey’s Backyard Barbeque. The Hoop Dee Doo is shown nightly, sometimes with 2 seating’s. The barbeque is only offered certain nights during the week so make sure you check the times. Another great choice is the Spirit of Aloha Dinner show at the Polynesian Resort. This luau inspired show gives you great Hawaiian culture and food while getting you ready to tour your favorite parks
2. Dinner at Ohanas in the Polynesian and watch the fireworks from their beach. We love doing this!!
3. Downtown Disney has lots of shopping, dining and street entertainment. Depending on the time of year you might have special events taking place too. There is even a bowling alley and movie theater!
4. Circue du Soleil is truly amazing and a show you need to see at least once. It is located at Downtown Disney and is an additional ticket but well worth the admission. You could do dinner and the show!
5. If you are visiting during the Holidays we love to tour the resorts to see the different decorations. The Deluxe resorts are especially gorgeous and will be decked out from November until January but you can also visit to see the fall decorations that go up in September!
6. The water parks are open year round! It would be an excellent time to give them a try. Make sure you have them added to your package as “waterpark & more” feature because it could save you half the admission to the waterpark alone!

There are virtually hundreds more we could go over but these are my top picks. There is something to be said for just getting to your resort and relaxing by the pool and getting yourself ready for the adventurous fun week ahead!
Check with us in the weeks to come for great Spring Break ideas and Winter trip posts!! 

Happy Traveling!
Mia

Packing can be a very daunting process for a long trip and even for a short getaway. You have to decide what to wear, what shoes, and what your mood might be on a certain day often a week or more out. Then add in packing for your loved ones and you might just need a vacation from prepping for your vacation.

Below are a few tips we would love to share to take the stress out of packing for your vacation!

NEVER start the day before! Always build in some time to gather what you will need. If we are headed on a week trip with the kids I always start at least a month before. I grab a basket or Rubbermaid tote and start gathering my must take items (that I don't need everyday prior to the trip). This saves me from the last minute shuffle.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. In today's hurried world it's common to lose a bag when flying. It's stinks, but happens. Protect yourself from a really bad start to your vacation. For my family of 4 I pack 1 outfit (including undies) in a carry on. If each of us is taking a carry on I'll pack our pjs too.

Baggies! They just became your best friend! I put everything into a baggie. All of the chargers go into a gallon baggie and into my carry on. For the kids I put an outfit together with socks and undies and put them into a gallon sized baggie. Flatten it, as you are squeezing the air out seal it. I don't use the slide top type, I get the zipper and sometimes the double freezer kind. You will be amazed at how much room you have in your suitcase if you do this!

Rolling. Rolling works really well if you don't have bulky sweaters, jeans and polos. Fold your clothing lengthwise and roll into a cylinder shape. I've tried this on European trips and it does save space if done properly.

Try the Retail Fold. I worked at The Disney Store and we had a Disney fold. I know it sounds crazy and well it was. But the point is we could put a lot of tshirts on a shelf because we did the Disney fold. When you fold your tops this way you keep the wrinkles to a minimum and you flatten the cloth as much as possible. I demonstrate in the images below:

Make your clothes do double duty. Are you headed on a cruise where you need a nice outfit for dinner? If so pack a lightweight black skirt that can be paired with a tshirt by day and dressed up with a blouse and scarf at night. I do this even at Disney World with shorts. I always wear a tshirt/tank top during the day (because it's hot) and change into a polo or nicer blouse for the evening because I want to feel nice for dinner.

Make a plan. I know it's nice to wing it but it's very difficult to pack when you do. Plan out your days so you know what you need to take. Make a list so that you can check off the items you need to purchase and the items you've already set aside to pack. Keep that list close by your box so you can keep an eye on what you need.

If you travel often, consider purchasing a good toiletry bag. One that holds the items you need every time you travel. Keep it packed and ready to go with fresh items so that you don't have to rely on your everyday toothbrush or your little bottles of shampoo. Having to fill little bottles at midnight before a 6am flight is no fun, believe me!

Now, you should be able to travel the world now! Have a fabulous vacation and if you like our tips be sure to share on Facebook!