Laughing Lindsay

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DoubleTree by Hilton New York Midtown Fifth Avenue Review

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Back when my husband and I visited NYC in January we stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton New York Midtown Fifth Avenue. Since it’s a recently refurbished and re-branded hotel, there aren’t many reviews available. I thought I would give anyone considering a stay here an overall review.

DoubleTree by Hilton New York Midtown

DoubleTree by Hilton New York Midtown

I had a really hard time picking a hotel for the NYC trip. Between high prices, not knowing the area, and lackluster reviews, it can be difficult to find the right hotel in NYC. Given its proximity to the things we wanted to visit, the recent refurbishment, and pricing we selected the DoubleTree by Hilton New York Midtown for our two night stay. I will admit that this was nowhere near a perfect stay. In fact, I will probably choose to stay elsewhere if I ever return to the city.

Room Options

Given that the hotel is centrally located and basically crammed in (like much of the rest of the city), there are loads of different room configurations available here. I booked a 1 King Bed in mid-October for early January using a Hilton Honors discount. Unfortunately, we received a queen. So, this review will be on a queen size bedroom.

I will say that the recent refurbishment is nice. The room looks sleek and clean when you first enter it. There’s also a good amount of plug ins here since they recently remodeled it. The bed was reasonably comfortable as well. Unfortunately, that’s where the good stuff ends.

It was a tiny room. I know that’s par for the course for a room in NYC though, so I can’t fault them too much for that. However, the heat was turned off when we arrived and we had to get someone to come to the room to turn it on. That took multiple trips down to the front desk to get fixed. I also was surprised to see people right outside our window doing construction. The construction crew got an early start each day. So, make sure you pull the blinds here.

The bathroom had several little issues. The shower door doesn’t properly latch close. The cabinet doors don’t have a hinge to keep them from slamming into the wall/picture. There’s no fan in the bathroom (which makes sharing a room a little awkward if nothing else). Lastly, the faucet was installed backwards. You have to turn it to the right for hot water, instead of the traditional left.

Pros

  • Location – This hotel is right beside Radio City Music Hall. It was perfect for seeing the Rockettes and walking over to Rockefeller Center for the NBC Studios Tour.
  • Recently refurbished – Rooms were remodeled in 2024.
  • Good number of plugins – Older hotels tend to have an inadequate amount, so it’s nice to find a hotel with an ample amount.
  • Italian restaurant – There’s an Italian restaurant housed in the top of the hotel. We had dessert here one night and it was good. The ambiance was nice and romantic. However, the menu was over-priced.
  • Free cookie – Every DoubleTree by Hilton gives out free cookies upon checking in. We enjoyed ours immediately.

Cons

  • Check in was a disaster – There’s no other way to say this. This was the worst check in experience I’ve ever had. The lobby is small with no seating. Plus, they store guest luggage here. To add insult to injury, we were told at check in that if our room wasn’t ready by check in time, we would receive an upgrade. A queen is certainly not an upgrade from a king. We ended up taking whatever we could get as we had dinner and show plans to get to. We (along with several others) waited 1.5 hours for a room.
  • No real luggage storage – This is one of the biggest reasons I won’t be returning here. They appear to have one room for storing guest luggage (maybe?) that gets full immediately. We checked out of the room a little after 8 AM on a Saturday and we still had to stow our luggage in the lobby. They give out a luggage tag to retrieve your luggage. My husband ended up losing ours, but it didn’t matter since we were able to walk right up to take our luggage without anyone noticing or caring! Maybe if you travel light or don’t need luggage storage, this will be ok for you. However, you can expect to walk by lots of luggage in the lobby everyday of your stay.
  • Room is small and wonky – As I noted above, there were lots of little mistakes in the bathroom.
  • Long elevator waits – There’s definitely not enough elevators for a hotel with this many people.
  • Fragrance in lobby – There’s a fragrance dispenser in the lobby of the hotel and of the restaurant. It puts out fragrance every few minutes. If you are sensitive to fragrance (I have a strong sense of smell) then this is a problem to walk by everyday.

Is the DoubleTree by Hilton New York Midtown worth it?

We paid $487.52 for two nights in early January here. I think that’s a cheap room in NYC. However, if I return to NYC I will probably look for something a little further away for better accommodations. It’s probably acceptable for a quick trip to see a show though.

Dollywood I Will Always Love You Music Festival Guide

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I have just returned from a quick trip to Pigeon Forge where I was lucky enough to experience the Dollywood I Will Always Love You Music Festival for the first time! So, I thought I would post a little guide to the seasonal event!

Dollywood I Will Always Love You

Dollywood I Will Always Love You

This is the park’s newest seasonal event, having begun in 2023! 2025 was my first time experiencing it though. The event was initially created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s song “I Will Always Love You”. However, the event was very popular and thus the event has continued. Now, it celebrates Dolly Parton’s life and music.

Special Shows

The park has some regularly occurring musical acts that appear year round. However, they tend to update their shows seasonally to reflect the current festival. During this festival, the shows center on Dolly’s music and life. I highly recommend the show “From the Heart – The Life and Music of Dolly Parton”. It’s a great look at Dolly’s life and features good music.

Pink Art

To celebrate this festival, there’s sparkly pink artwork to enjoy. During the Summer Festival, the front of the park features a Kite Sky. For this festival, there’s a sparkly pink sequin sky! There’s also a sparkly pink “LOVE” sign to take pictures of. There’s also some pink photo frames around the park to pose in for a picture.

Specialty Food

Just like all of the seasonal events, there’s lots of special food items to enjoy. There’s even a dining pass that you can purchase for $42.99 ($39.99 for passholders) that allows you to sample 5 dishes from the festival. Since I was by myself for this trip, I didn’t purchase one, but it can be a good deal if you purchase at least two entrees with the pass (which cost about $14 each).

I tried the cherry-lime spritzer from the festival and it was refreshing on a warm spring day. The strawberry rhubarb cobbler at Granny Ogle’s was nice. It was more strawberry than rhubarb, but it was still tasty.

Tips

  • Check the weather forecast – I actually shifted my trip back a day due to weather. It might be sunny and pleasant during this festival or it might be cold and rainy. It’s also possible you might see some snow flurries. You just never know in the Smoky Mountains.
  • Be prepared for crowds – This festival takes place during the busy spring break season. So, be ready to wait in lines. I found the morning to be less crowded, but the booths don’t open until 11 AM.
  • Arrive early for the shows – The shows tend to fill up. Arrive early if a certain show is important to you.
  • Visit the Dolly Parton Experience – This is the perfect festival to visit the newly opened Dolly Parton Experience to learn more about Dolly’s life and appreciate her story. You may want to consider taking the guided Dolly Parton Experience tour. I took it and will be posting a separate review at a later date.

Should you visit during the Dollywood I Will Always Love You Festival?

I truly love the various festivals and seasons at this theme park. As such, I don’t think there’s a bad time to visit the park. This event is probably ideal for fans of Dolly and/or her music. It’s also great for fans of the color pink.

The Best Things in Magic Kingdom

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Have you ever wondered what the best things in Magic Kingdom are? Well, if you have, I’ve got my own personal list of favorite things to do when I visit!

Best Things In Magic Kingdom

The Best Things in Magic Kingdom

I’ve been fortunate enough to visit Disney World several times. As such, I have lots of things I love to do there. So, I thought it would be fun to start a new series of the best things to do in different theme parks. To kick it off, I had to start with the most popular one and the one I’ve visited the most: Magic Kingdom!

I thought this would be easiest if I picked my favorite (the best to me) thing in the park across different categories. So, I will be breaking it down based on the categories I’ve chosen.

The Best Ride

Given that MK has so many rides, this can be a competitive category. I think it comes down to two rides though: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Tron. I haven’t had the chance to experience Tron yet though. So, I will pick Mine Train. I’ve done it several times and love it each time. I like the classic Disney story and the roller coaster is fun without being too intense.

The Best Place for a Break

Again, this category comes down to two options for me: The Enchanted Tiki Room or Carousel of Progress. If it’s a hot day, then Carousel of Progress wins with its great air conditioning and the dark. If it’s cooler, I might go with the Tiki Room.

The Best Snack

I know lots of people love the egg rolls here. However, I still haven’t tried those. For me, I’ve got to go with a classic: Dole Whip! There’s nothing like a cold Dole Whip on a hot Orlando day! Dole Whips always remind me of Disney parks.

The Best Quick Service Restaurant

This park has several quick service restaurants. However, the food at each of them tends to be pretty pedestrian. However, I’ve had good luck with Columbia Harbor House in the past. I like the lobster roll and sitting upstairs to people watch in the park.

The Best Table Service Restaurant

There’s really not many options in this category in this park. However, Liberty Tree Tavern consistently has good food. The theme reminds me of Colonial Williamsburg too. You can read a whole review of my experiences here at the link above. For a cheaper option, I also like The Plaza Restaurant. It has good food with a great view of the castle. Plus, it’s pretty cheap for Disney sit down meals.

The Best Things in Magic Kingdom

So, there’s my favorite things in Magic Kingdom. What’s on your list of the best things in this park?

Spring in Colonial Williamsburg Guide

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Last year my husband and I took a trip to experience Spring in Colonial Williamsburg. Since we are approaching the official start of this season, I thought I would do a little guide on it.

Spring in Colonial Williamsburg

Spring in Colonial Williamsburg

Having previously posted a Winter in Williamsburg guide last year, I thought I would do a springtime one highlighting the differences between the seasons. While winter will be January, February, and most of March, spring is late March, all of April, and most of May.

We visited in early May and were pleased with the trip. It was warmer than when we visited in March. However, a few days were a little chilly and there was some rain. So, definitely check the weather forecast to pack the right clothes. On this trip, we really enjoyed walking around and seeing the gorgeous flowers in bloom! The gardens were also full of produce. Plus, we got to see some adorable lambs in the fields! I highly recommend a spring trip to CW if you enjoy the outdoors.

Tips for Visiting in the Spring

  • Check the calendar for special events – In March, CW celebrates Women’s History Month with special talks and events. Additionally, Drummer’s Call or a showcase of 18th century music happens every spring. Plus, there’s the annual Memorial Day celebrations.
  • Check the weather forecast – The first few days we were in the area, it was chilly. Then, it warmed up nicely. However, there were a few afternoon rainstorms as well. So, I recommend looking at the forecast before packing or heading out.
  • Expect moderate crowds – CW is almost always less crowded than a theme park. However, spring can be busy with families on spring break as well as school field trips. So, expect larger crowds than you might see in the winter months but fewer than the summer or holiday months.
  • Expect moderate prices – Since the crowds are moderate, so are the lodging prices. Winter is definitely the cheapest time to go, with spring being a little more expensive. However, it is way cheaper than during the holidays.
  • Book dining in advance – I still recommend booking your Tavern dinner or tea in advance simply due to the limited availability. I have a whole guide to Colonial Williamsburg dining if you are trying to decide where to eat. There are some other dining options within walking distance outside of the historic area that don’t require reservations though.

Is Spring in Colonial Williamsburg worth it?

We really enjoyed our time in Colonial Williamsburg during the spring. The weather was mostly pleasant. It was a little more crowded, but not overly so (unlike Christmastime). Plus, it was neat to look at the gardens and animals. Have you ever visited during the spring months?

The Tour at NBC Studios Review

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While visiting New York City in January, my husband and I were lucky enough to do The Tour at NBC Studios! I didn’t find many reviews of this experience, so I thought I’d do a complete write-up of the experience.

The Tour at NBC Studios

The Tour at NBC Studios

I think everyone has watched at least one episode of a show filmed at 30 Rock or in NBC Studios in NYC. I’m talking about Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show, and the TODAY Show. The only way you can get a look at these studios is by taking the Tour at NBC Studios or attending a filming. Unfortunately, all of the shows were on holiday when we visited so we weren’t able to attend a filming. However, that meant that we got to see the two most popular studios on the tour: 8H (where SNL is filmed) and 6B (where the Tonight Show is)!

There are no guarantees which studios you will get to visit on the tour. The schedule of filming and rehearsals dictate which studios are available. However, this increases the repeatability since you don’t know which studios you will get to see this time.

The Beginning

This tour begins and ends in the NBC Studios Gift Shop in Rockefeller Center. The tour guides are two NBC pages. From there, everyone goes through a security check point. Then, you are shown a brief film about the history of the studios at Rockefeller Center. In early January, it was narrated by Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie. I assume it has been updated since Hoda’s departure from the show.

Studio 8 H

Then, the group was led out to the elevators and up to Studio 8H! I grew up watching SNL, so it was really neat to finally see where it’s filmed. It’s a much smaller space than I imagined. They told us all kinds of facts about the show. They say the best seat to view the show is on your couch because it can be difficult to see everything live. It was surreal to spend several minutes just sitting in the audience and looking at the stages while discussing the show. We also got to walk down the hallway leading to the Studio to look at pictures of the cast and famous sketches over the years. It was a quiet place, but it was easy to imagine it being lively when they are preparing for a show. We also got to see a few costumes, including The Target Lady!

Studio 6B

Next up, we went back to the elevators to visit Studio 6B! We got to peer in the studio used for Kelly Clarkson’s show but couldn’t actually go in. We learned a little about the history of The Tonight Show and about Jimmy Fallon bringing it back to NYC. Then, we got to enter the studio and sit in the very back of the audience. I will admit, it reminded me of riding the Jimmy Fallon ride at Universal Orlando. Nonetheless, it was a really neat experience.

Finale

Towards the end of the tour, we got to see some behind the camera stuff: where they add sound and edit videos. The grand finale of the tour is allowing the tour group to enter a recording studio to make their own show! I got to be the audio engineer who adds noises over stuff! After the tour, a link to the video was emailed to ticket holders. So, it was a really nice way to tie up the experience.

Tips

  • Not for children – Our tour group included 3 children. One of those children fell asleep in The Tonight Show studio. Then, another time two of them were crawling around in the floor. The minimum age requirement for the tour is 8, but I think that’s too young. Only the last little bit was hands-on. It was more engaging than the Rockefeller Center Tour, but still probably best for older kids.
  • Buy tickets 3-4 weeks out – The site doesn’t sell tickets too far in advance. I purchased ours on December 21st for early January.
  • Buy souvenirs after the tour – This way, you don’t have to carry it around. Also, your pin from the tour gets you 10% off your purchase!
  • Great for fans of NBC shows – I don’t think this tour is worth it if you don’t already have an interest in these shows. Your time and money is better spent doing one of the many other things available in NYC.
  • No pictures or videos allowed – You won’t be doing this tour for YouTube or Instagram. They don’t allow videos at all. The only photo I was allowed to take was of the NBC peacock carpet in the elevators. So, go in for the knowledge/experience and not photos.

Is The Tour at NBC Studios worth it?

It’s $48/a person for this tour. I found that to be reasonable, but I am used to theme park prices. Plus, I’m a fan of the shows filmed here. However, if you aren’t a fan of the shows, then it’s probably not worth it. Have you ever taken this tour? Which studios did you see?