Laughing Lindsay

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My Favorite Fall Activities

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Now that Labor Day has come and gone, it’s time to look forward to my favorite fall activities. I thought I would share a list of my must-do’s for the season, just in case someone out there is looking for something new and fun to do!

Favorite Fall Activities

Favorite Fall Activities

I think autumn is probably my favorite season. I love that it starts to cool down without getting cold. I also adore the look of the mountains with colorful leaves. Plus, who doesn’t appreciate a good gourd or two? I realized that I could separate this into three portions, based on the location they take place: home, at local places, and traveling away from home. So, that’s how I’m going to organize this post.

Fall at Home

These are the types of things I enjoy doing at home during this season.

  • Decorate the house. For those who don’t know, we bought our first home in 2021. Since then, we’ve really enjoyed getting into decorating our home for each season/holiday. We also host the holidays and family birthdays now. So, I really like going all out for Halloween and Christmas. We decorate the outside of the house with lights for both holidays as well as put up decor inside.
  • Watch seasonal movies and shows. This usually includes “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” as well as some other supernatural shows. I also sometimes watch some classic horror movies.
  • Bake. I love to bake anytime of the year. However, baking with pumpkin (like my Pumpkin Fluff Pie Recipe – Easy and Healthier) or sweet potato is particularly fun. I also enjoy decorating any seasonal cookies or houses I find at Target.

Fall at Local Places

We are lucky enough to live in a location that has several fall happenings. We typically:

  • Visit a pumpkin patch. I love attending the pumpkin festival at a local farm and picking out pumpkins for our home.
  • Try fall foods. Truly, I’m a sucker for pumpkin flavored food and coffee drinks. I also like apples and baked goods made from them.
  • Look at leaves. We’ve been known to just drive around and look at the leaves on the mountains.

Autumn Away From Home

I also enjoy traveling away from home to visit other fall events. This includes:

Fall Festivities

So, that’s a good idea of my favorite fall activities. What are some of yours?

You can view a list of my favorite winter, spring, and summer activities here.

Best Hotels in The Smoky Mountains

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I have stayed in lots of different hotels in The Smoky Mountains. In fact, I’ve written a review of most of the places I’ve stayed at. It recently occurred to me that I should do a best of post to highlight my favorites. So, if you are planning a trip to the area, then hopefully this can help you narrow down your choices.

Hotels in Smoky Mountains

Hotels in The Smoky Mountains

When planning a trip to the Pigeon Forge area, you quickly realize there are a plethora of places to stay. There’s all kinds of cabins on VRBO as well as countless hotels in the area. So, it can be difficult to decide where to stay. My biggest piece of advice for choosing a place is this: pick a place near the attractions you want to visit that is in budget. Personally, I prefer to stay in Pigeon Forge as it’s in between Sevierville and Gatlinburg. That way, I don’t have to deal with the traffic of getting into Gatlinburg unless we really want to visit. That being said, here are some of my favorite places to stay in the area.

Best Gatlinburg Hotel

If you are planning on doing stuff in Gatlinburg, than I highly recommend staying there. Having a place to park and not having to pay for it is a huge help when visiting this tiny town. My mom and I really enjoyed our stay at Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg. The location of this hotel is perfect as you don’t have to drive far down the main road to get to it. Then, you can simply park your car here and walk to all of the attractions. You can read my full Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg review here.

Best Pigeon Forge Hotel

As I said above, I prefer to stay in Pigeon Forge most of the time. So, I have a much harder time picking a favorite here. I’d probably default to the Inn at Christmas Place as I’m a huge fan of the holidays. I’ve loved both of my stays here, neither of which was during the holiday season. You don’t have to love the Christmas season to enjoy a stay here, but it certainly helps. To get an idea of what it’s like to stay here, you can read my The Inn at Christmas Place Review.

My other top pick in Pigeon Forge would be the Margaritaville Island Inn. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to stay at the Margaritaville Island Hotel, however it looks amazing too. I love that both of these options puts you within walking distance of several entertainment and dining options! You can read my full Margaritaville Island Inn Pigeon Forge Review to see what it’s like to stay there.

Best Hotel for Dollywood

I know that some people visit the area solely to visit Dollywood. If that’s the case for you, I think you should stay at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort. With the free bus transportation to the park, it can be a no-brainer. Plus, you can purchase special package (hotel and tickets) deals when you stay here. A new Dollywood resort is opening later this year and I’m sure it will be equally amazing.

Tiny House in Sevierville

For Sevierville, I thought I would mix it up a little. My husband and I enjoyed our stay in a tiny home at The Ridge Outdoor Resort last summer. It was super close to Dollywood and off of the main road, so we were able to avoid traffic. It was a peaceful stay.

Best Places to Stay in The Smoky Mountains

I think these are the best hotels in the Smoky Mountains (and tiny home). What do you think of my choices? Have you ever stayed in one of these places? Do you prefer to stay somewhere else?

Disneyland Package: Should You Book Room and Tickets Together

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In my Sheraton Park Hotel Review I mentioned that I booked the room as part of a Disneyland package. That means that I booked the hotel through Disney and added on park tickets to make it a combo deal. Today, I’m going to look at the pros and cons of doing it that way.

Disneyland Package

Disneyland Package

You can book a Disneyland package either by booking an official resort or a Good Neighbor Hotel through Disneyland’s website and adding park tickets. On my trip in May I stayed at a Good Neighbor Hotel, however I chose to book through Disneyland for the ease of simplicity, among other reasons. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of doing so.

Pros

  • Easy – Honestly, it’s easier to access my hotel information and tickets all on one website or app.
  • Ability to make payments – Typically, hotels require you to pay a deposit and then pay the remainder of the bill prior to departure. However, Disney requires the full amount to be paid a month in advance. The good news is that you can make payments towards your trip anytime you want! That makes it especially useful if you are planning a trip with another person and are splitting costs (like when I travel with my mom).
  • Cancellation/Modification Policy – After booking my May trip, I decided to change my hotel to a cheaper one and add a night on. With a few clicks, this was easy to do. I also like that Disneyland has a more generous cancellation policy than some hotels have when you book direct. Personally, I find the peace of mind to be priceless.
  • Free pin and lanyard – This certainly shouldn’t be a reason to book a package, but it’s a nice perk. I received the free pin and lanyard shown in the image above for booking a package! It’s a nice souvenir to remember my first solo trip to Disneyland and the Disney100 celebration at Disneyland.
  • Trustworthy – I’m sure individual hotel sites are trustworthy. However, I just feel more confident dealing with the Disney website. I also like the assurance they might be able to help me if something were to go wrong.
  • Extra Savings – I didn’t use it, but you receive a voucher to save 10% off at select dining and merchandise locations at Downtown Disney.

Cons

  • More Expensive – The package was a little more expensive than booking the hotel directly and purchasing park tickets separately.
  • Limited Availability – There seems to be a limited number of rooms available for the packages. For instance, I was seeing availability on hotel’s websites but not on Disney’s website. So, if you have a specific hotel in mind, you should book early.

Should you book a Disneyland package?

Honestly, I think it comes down to what is most important to you. If the budget is tight, it may be better to book direct and buy tickets separately. Although, I would encourage you to check for any deals before booking anything. However, if you value the ease and cancellation policy, than a package may be best. So, have you ever booked a package or do you prefer to book things separately?

Amatista Cookhouse Review – Breakfast and Dinner

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I figured I would do an Amatista Cookhouse review since it’s one of the few restaurants at Universal Orlando that I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying both breakfast and dinner from. This review will provide a look at both meals as well as a look at some of the options for the Magical Dining promotion happening right now.

Amatista Cookhouse Review

Amatista Cookhouse Review

The Amatista Cookhouse is the main dining option (sit down meal) at the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando. I previously mentioned the good food here in my Loews Sapphire Falls Resort Review. However, I was also able to partake in their dinner during the Magical Dining promotion last fall while staying at Aventura Resort. This review will focus on both of those experiences for dinner and the one morning I had breakfast here.

Breakfast

My mom and I had breakfast here one morning in February 2023. It’s a breakfast buffet with lots of fresh donuts/pastries, some meats and cheeses, fruits, pancakes, as well as an omelet station. We were particularly impressed with the freshness of the donuts. I also liked the quality of the meats and cheeses. The omelet was tasty too! Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the “biscuits” as they were more akin to dry little rolls than biscuits.

At almost $30/each, it is a bit pricey. However, most things were tasty and you can’t leave hungry. I think this meal is ideal for a leisurely non-park morning.

You can view some of our breakfast food if you swipe through my pictures in this Instagram post.

Dinner

I feel like dinner is where this restaurant really shines. I’ve eaten dinner here twice and had a good meal each time. The most recent occasion (seen above) started with a delicious basket of assorted rolls. I love the cheese rolls, but my mom isn’t a big fan of cheese. So, there’s more for me!

For an entrée, I chose the half mojo marinated rotisserie chicken. It was a juicy chicken with a good flavor from the spices and two sauces. For my sides, I went with the pink beans for something different. Honestly, they tasted like regular beans to me. I also got the platanos maduros, which are fried bananas. They were fun and a sweet addition to my meal.

Lastly, my mom and I split a dessert. We got the caramel apple breading pudding. The accompanying pumpkin spice ice cream made this a creamy treat that would be perfect for fall.

Overall, this was a good and filling meal. I will admit the service was a little slow though. So, maybe don’t eat here if you are in a hurry.

Magical Dining

Another reason I’m posting this review now is because between now and October 1st, you can eat here and enjoy the Magical Dining promo! Magical Dining is Orlando’s culinary special that allows people to eat a three course meal for either $40 or $60 at select restaurants! Plus, up to $2 goes to charity! So, it’s a good way to save some money on food while giving back! Last fall, we happened to eat here during the promo and enjoyed our meal! This restaurant’s menu is $40 for the promo, which saves you at least a few dollars depending on which items you select.

For my appetizer, I selected the ancho chile chicken empanadas. I really liked these. They were too spicy for my mom though. My mom chose the queso for her appetizer, which we both enjoyed. I got the salmon for an entrée and my mom got the steak. Both dishes were perfectly cooked and tasty. My mom got the dark chocolate mousse with raspberry, which unfortunately isn’t an option for Magical Dining this year. However, it was good if you like dark chocolate. I got the Caribbean rum cake, which was really good and I highly recommend it. You can see pictures of our food from this meal in the Instagram post above.

Is Amatista Cookhouse Worth It?

Personally, I feel the food is much better at dinner than breakfast here. However, I think you need to make sure you have enough time to eat here as it’s not exactly a quick meal. Also, it tends to be a pricier meal. So, if you are on a tight budget, it might be best to stick to a grab and go option elsewhere. It is a good option for a tasty, leisurely meal for adults.

Walt Disney World Value Resorts Guide

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There are so many different places to stay at WDW that it can be difficult to decide which is best for you and your family. So, as part of my content on the hotels, I’m doing a breakdown guide for each tier of hotels to help people decide which one is best for them. Today, I’m starting with the Walt Disney World Value Resorts!

Disney World Value Resorts

Disney World Value Resorts

Technically, there are five different Disney World value resorts: All-Star Movies, All-Star Music, All-Star Sports, Pop Century and Art of Animation. The All-Stars are the cheapest rooms on property. Pop Century is typically a little more expensive than those three and Art of Animation is the most expensive in this category. I’ve stayed at all but All-Star Sports and I believe that each of them can be the right fit for certain people. To help people decide, I will be declaring which one is best for each circumstance.

Best for Couples

The best value for a couple is Pop Century. My husband and I have stayed here many times! We love that it’s on the Skyliner and the prices are more tolerable than some other places on property. Also, the theming tends to draw in fewer groups, so it’s a little calmer than the others. You can read my full Pop Century review to get a better idea of what you can expect at this hotel.

Best for Bigger Families

I know that some people have larger families and require a suite. For that, I’m going to recommend the suites at All-Star Music for the most budget friendly. However, the suites at Art of Animation look amazing as well! I think it really depends on your budget here. If you can’t spring for AoA, then Music is perfectly fine. However, the theming at Art is probably more attractive to families with small children. Full disclosure: I’ve never had the privilege of staying in either of these suites. However, if I ever do, I will post a separate review and may amend this post to reflect my new opinions.

Best for Teens

If you have teenagers traveling in your group who have outgrown over-the-top Disney character themes, then I would suggest looking at All-Star Music or All-Star Sports. Both of these have large statues themed to the resort that may appeal to teens with an interest in sports or music. I did an All-Stars Resorts Overview a while back that you can read to get a better sense of pros/cons of staying at an All-Stars.

Best for Disney/Pixar Movie Fans

If you have a “Little Mermaid”, “Cars”, “Lion King”, or “Finding Nemo” fan then you should consider Art of Animation. I stayed in a “Little Mermaid” room back in 2019 for my Art of Animation review. I was tickled with the theming and I imagine other fans of these films would be as well.

If you have a “Toy Story”, “101 Dalmatians”, “Love Bug”, “Mighty Ducks” or “Fantasia” fan, then you should stay at All-Star Movies.

Best Disney World Value Resorts Overall

I think the best Walt Disney World Value Resorts are Pop Century and Art of Animation. The Skyliner just can’t be beat! However, a stay at an All-Star is still a good time and is better in certain circumstances. Those are just the two I prefer. So, do you agree with me? If not, which one(s) do you prefer?