Travel Tips Archives - Page 11 of 17

How to Save Money on a Disney World Trip

April 26, 2023 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

I’ve been lucky enough to travel to Disney theme parks multiple times. So, here are my tips to save money on a Disney World trip!

How to Save Money on a Disney World Trip

Most people know how expensive and complicated it can be to plan a Walt Disney World trip. However, not everyone knows these tips to save money on a Disney World trip! This post will be similar to my general theme park saving tips post, but it’s filled with more specific info on WDW. Some of these are super easy to implement, while others may require a few steps. It just depends on your needs and time/money available.

Save on Disney World Rooms

My first piece of advice to someone looking to save is to consult the special offers page on the WDW website. On that page, you can see the official specials Disney is currently offering to entice people to visit during certain times of the year. Years ago, you could count on certain promos running like clockwork. However, since the pandemic, those offers are fewer and far between. Still, it’s best to consult that page as it’s easy to book the promo and save money by just looking at dates in the listed range.

Another way to save on lodging is to rent DVC. DVC is Disney’s timeshare program. So, you are essentially renting someone’s timeshare at a deluxe resort. You can rent from an individual DVC owner directly, which can be cheaper but has more risks involved. Personally, I’ve used the DVC rental program linked above twice without any issues. I stayed at the Polynesian Resort in 2018 and at Old Key West (as seen in my Instagram post below) in 2019 thru them. I also recommend taking a look at their confirmed reservations for an even bigger discount.

You can also save on a room by booking thru a third party website. I used Orbitz back in 2013 to book a room at Pop Century around the busy Christmas holidays because Disney’s site showed no availability.

Both of these options (DVC rental and third party sites) comes with some tradeoffs. For instance, their cancellation policy is typically stricter than Disney. Also, you may not have the option to make payments prior to the trip. You will also have to link your reservation to your Disney account in order to book other things, it won’t automatically link like it does when you book direct.

Lastly, you don’t have to stay on Disney property when you visit. Personally, I enjoy the included free bus transportation to the parks and have never stayed off property. However, I know that there are loads of good neighbor hotels that are usually a good bit cheaper. Some include breakfast and/or a free shuttle. However, word of advice on the free shuttle: most of those are pre-scheduled times, not whenever you want like Disney’s transportation is. Also, taking an Uber/Lyft to/from the parks can eat up savings real quick. You can also rent a house nearby from individuals. There again, consider the transportation costs.

Save on Tickets

I hesitated to include a section on tickets because I don’t have a lot of experience with it. However, I want this to be a complete post. I’ve heard (never used) good things about purchasing discounted tickets from Undercover Tourist. I always just purchase my tickets directly as I tend to book packages and prefer the ease that comes with booking directly.

You may also save on tickets with an annual pass, if they are available. However, passes have gotten so expensive, that it takes more days/trips to make them worth it now. I had one from 2018 to 2020, but then let it go during the pandemic. It was nice to be able to go whenever I wanted and always have a room discount (as well as food/merch discounts).

Save on Food

There are a couple of ways to save money on food. You can save money by cooking meals in the room/house. Generally speaking, quick service restaurants are cheaper than table service. The BBQ pictured below is from a quick service restaurant in Epcot and didn’t require an advanced dining reservation! You can also share some meals (particularly flatbreads) at quick service restaurants. Additionally, Walt Disney World is one of the very few theme parks that allows you to bring in outside food, as long as it’s not in glass containers or requires microwaving/refrigeration.

Save on Souvenirs

While the ShopDisney website does not offer everything you can find in the parks, it does sell quite a few items you may want for your trip. Plus, they offer sales from time to time. Additionally, if you (or your child) won’t know the difference from a Disney plush/shirt/ears to a WDW branded one, you can find Disney branded items at Walmart, Target, and Amazon. Those items are typically much cheaper than what you would find in the parks. However, they won’t say the parks on them.

Save on Gift Cards

This one is a bit more complicated and sometimes not worth it. If you have a Target RedCard, you can save 5% on gift cards, including Disney ones. Then, you can use those gift cards to make payments towards your trip or to buy food/merch in the parks. Personally, I buy my gift cards at Kroger to get Fuel Points and save on gas. You can also earn gift cards on various websites online.

Conclusion

Shew. This is a long post. However, I wanted to provide readers with a detailed list of ways you can save money on a Disney World trip. So, have I missed any tips/tricks you like to use to save?

Tips for Visiting SeaWorld Orlando

April 18, 2023 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

This is a post I probably could have/should have written months ago. I visited SeaWorld Orlando on three separate trips in 2022, so I have plenty of tips for saving money and making the most of your trip.

Tips for Visiting SeaWorld Orlando

By and large, visiting SeaWorld/Busch Gardens theme parks tends to be a pretty laid back experience, particularly if you are used to planning a Disney trip. So, my tips for visiting SeaWorld Orlando are about saving money and making the most of your day.

Saving Money at SeaWorld

There are a few ways to save money on your SeaWorld Orlando trip.

Book a package. Initially, we booked one of these in February 2022. However, my mom had a conflict at work and we had to cancel the package. So, I can attest to the fact they are really easy to work with if you need to cancel or modify a package. The vacation packages involve booking a room near the park (typically a chain hotel) and comes with several days worth of tickets. It also comes with some additional discounts for merch.
Look out for sales. I said this in my SeaWorld Orlando Animal Tours: What to Expect post. However, I almost always booked our add-on tours using a discount. Their Black Friday/Cyber Mondays specials are typically really good, with discounts being better than an annual passholder discount.
Consider a Fun Card or Annual Pass. If you are going for multiple days, a Fun Card can be a good way to save money on admission. The Fun Card does not come with additional discounts though. An annual pass comes with free bring a friend passes as well as merch and food discounts. My advice: do the math to see if either option saves you money.

Other SeaWorld Orlando Tips

Have a rough outline of the day. SeaWorld doesn’t post their schedule too far in advance, typically. However, a few weeks out you should be able to get a good idea of what shows are happening and when. So, I typically have a general idea of what we’d like to accomplish with a Google Sheet schedule for the day to help guide our day. FYI: the only meal you can pre-book is the Dine with Orcas meal and show. If you want to eat at Sharks Underwater Grill, you will have to join the waitlist at the podium when they open.
Look out for special events. SeaWorld Orlando hosts several special events throughout the year. You can see my Christmas at SeaWorld Orlando Review as well as SeaWorld Orlando Spooktacular Halloween posts to see what you can expect at those seasonal events. They will have specialty food as well as entertainment during those events. So, be sure to pencil those into your day if they are of interest to you.
Download the app. They no longer offer paper maps. So, be sure to have the app downloaded if you need help navigating the park. Additionally, the app has an up to date park schedule to help guide your day as well.
Plan a break. Seeing as how we have never stayed near the park, we typically just sit down on a bench in the shade somewhere and people watch. This gives us a chance to re-charge and enjoy the rest of the day.

So, those are my tips for visiting SeaWorld Orlando. Do you have any others?

Must Try Food at Hersheypark

April 12, 2023 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

One of my favorite things about traveling is getting to eat new things! So, I thought I would highlight some must try food at Hersheypark!

Food at Hersheypark

There is lots to see and do in Hershey, PA. However, some of my most memorable experiences involves the delicious food! Seeing as how the Hershey Company is known for chocolate, it makes sense that their theme park would have lots of tasty options. Personally, part of the appeal of visiting here was getting to try chocolate on everything. As you will see, any chocolate or sweet fan can find lots to try here.

Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor

I initially was going to tell you about some delicious ice cream whoopie pies I had here. However, when I went to write this post, I realized they were no longer available. Although, you can get some tasty ice cream to cool off with from Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor! You can also get a big bucket of chicken bites with various sauces here! We tried the chicken and were pleased with it. I don’t have pictures as we snacked on them during a sudden downpour outside and the restaurant was packed! Plus, everything was wet. Nonetheless, I can recommend stopping here for a quick bite to eat.

Mini Donuts

We loved trying the flavor of the month mini donuts from the East Coast Donuts Truck! When we were there, they had these tasty donuts with a marshmallow glaze and Fruity Pebbles cereal on top! This was straight up childhood nostalgia for me and I would eat these again in a heartbeat!

The Chocolatier Restaurant

The Chocolatier is a full-service restaurant and bar that is just at the gates of the park. It is open year round and is certainly a must-do for anyone visiting. The best thing I ate in Hershey was at this restaurant. I got a huge slice of Reese’s peanut butter and chocolate cake that I split with my mom. It was amazing! I don’t see it on the menu currently, but I’m sure any of the desserts here would be just as good.

Hersheypark Foods I Wish I Tried

Seeing as how we spent only a few days at the park, I didn’t get to try everything I wanted to. If I ever go back, I’d like to try the crabfries from Chickie’s and Pete’s as well as anything from The Sweeterie.

New Foods for 2023

Hersheypark just opened for its 2023 season and announced some new foods! The Simply Chocolate dessert shop will have new King Size Shakes flavors! They’ve also added a new Philly Cheesesteak Co. location in the Pioneer Frontier region of the park. Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor is now serving a Chicken Bacon Ranch Grilled Cheese and seasonally exclusive ice cream flavors like Lemon Meringue Pie! Lastly, The Chocolatier will have some new seasonal dishes including a Summer Berry Salad and Peach Upside Down Cake.

So, if you have visited, what was your favorite food at Hersheypark? If you haven’t been, what would you like to try?

Busch Gardens Tampa Animal Tours

March 29, 2023 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

My mom and I were lucky enough to do several add-on Busch Gardens Tampa Animal Tours when we visited the park back in January. Today, I thought I would tell you what you can expect if you book one of these tours and provide a few tips.

Busch Gardens Tampa Animal Tours

You can see lots of animals with a regular ticket to this Tampa Bay theme park. So, don’t feel pressure to buy the add-on Busch Gardens Tampa Animal Tours. However, I can say from experience that these tours really add something to your theme park day. Plus, lots of these are unique experiences I’ve never seen at another theme park! Granted there is a penguin tour, which looks similar to the SeaWorld Orlando tour we did back in 2022. However, by and large, this park has lots of unique offerings!

Serengeti Safari

I think one of the must do’s when you visit this park is the Serengeti Safari! You can typically get this one for around $50/person, sometimes less, sometimes more. However, it’s the only place I’ve been to where you literally ride a truck out and get to hand feed giraffes! My mom and I absolutely loved this one! It’s so unique and fun! If we ever go back, we will be doing this one again.

I will say, the tours earlier in the day appeared to have fewer people on them. So, we will try booking one of those as our tour was completely full and there were a few too many people in our group in our opinion. Some people attempted to hog time with the giraffes and kept trying to film themselves with the animals instead of moving out of the way. Nonetheless, we were able to feed the giraffes and got awesome pictures from this experience!

Australia Insider

To be honest, my mom and I booked this one on a Black Friday promo and weren’t even sure what we booked. Haha! It ended up being really cool though. We got a personal tour of the Kangaloom area, including meeting some birds. Then, we got to feed some kangaroos! It was neat to hold a cup with food while a kangaroo approached and then put their paws on the cup too as they ate! This one is around $50, depending on when you do it. Personally, it’s only worth it if you are a fan of kangaroos and/or want to feed them.

Aldabra Tortoise

The other add on I was most excited for was the tortoise! I love turtles and tortoises! So, getting to feed and be up-close with one of the world’s largest tortoises was amazing! My mom wasn’t really looking forward to this one, but quickly found herself enjoying it! They remind me of dinosaurs with their ancient looking skin and bodies. So much fun! For around $20/person, it’s one of the more affordable options and it’s well-worth it in my opinion.

Hippo Insider

This one took us behind the scenes to a special area to pet a hippo! You don’t realize how big these creatures are until you are right beside one! I don’t recommend wearing long sleeves or anything fancy on this one though as the hippos secrete “blood sweat” which can stain your clothes! They hand you wipes immediately afterwards to clean your hands, but just something to keep in mind if you book this one. It costs around $40, but is a neat experience for sure!

Tips for Animal Tours

Look for deals. These tours can be pricey. We booked most of our experiences during their big Black Friday/Cyber Monday special. The Safari wasn’t on sale during that promo, so we used an annual passholder discount on it.
Make a schedule. Some of these tours are offered only 1-2 times a day. So, check out the various tours of interest and see if times conflict before booking them.
Arrive early. All but one of these experiences (the Australia Insider one) met at the same location towards the back of the park. The tour check in features a nice tent with some shade to wait for the tour under. They also have some free water you can drink while you wait. It was nice to sit and relax for a few minutes before our tours in this area.
Wear comfortable shoes. By this I mean closed toe shoes. You will want your feet protected from both animals and the environment when you enter an animal’s habitat. Trust me.

So, have you ever done one of the Busch Gardens Tampa Animal tours?

Spring in Pigeon Forge, TN

March 23, 2023 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

If you are wondering what all there is to do during spring in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg Tennessee, then I have the post for you! Keep reading to see where you should plan to visit on your trip!

Spring in Pigeon Forge

This time of the year is the perfect time to head outdoors and experience nature! That’s why the Great Smoky Mountains make a great travel destination! From a theme park to a bbq festival, there’s lots to do here!

Dollywood in Spring

There are actually two different festivals happening in spring 2023 at Dollywood, as I detailed in my spring at Dollywood post last week. Depending on when you go, you can experience the I Will Always Love You Celebration or the Flower and Food Festival! Check out my post to learn more about both of these exciting events!

Skyland Ranch

Last year, the first chair lift in Pigeon Forge opened! It’s at a place called Skyland Ranch! The chair lift should provide the perfect view of Pigeon Forge anytime of the year!

Spring Rod Run

Personally, I’ve never experienced this event. However, I know that it’s an extremely popular event. In fact, there’s a spring and a fall Pigeon Forge Rod Run! In 2023, the dates are April 13 -15 and September 14 – 16. So, if you are a car enthusiast, this may be the event for you!

Spring at Anakeesta

Another place I like to highlight for fun in spring in Pigeon Forge is actually in Gatlinburg. Anakeesta is a mountaintop attraction with several different events happening throughout the year. In 2023, you can experience the new nighttime event Astra Lumina! Then, April 14th through May 29th, they will have Blooms and Tunes happening! So, there’s something fun for everyone to enjoy! Personally, I enjoy just walking around and taking in all of nature’s beauty! I also love the gnome village!

Music in the Mountains Spring Parade

I’ve also never experienced this event. However, the Music in the Mountains Spring Parade is happening on April 28th at 5 PM on the Pigeon Forge Parkway! I imagine it would be a great way to enjoy spring in the Great Smoky Mountains!

Bloomin’ BBQ Festival

If you happen to be visiting the area on May 19th or 20th, then you are in luck! You can experience the awesome Bloomin’ BBQ Festival! There are several tasty bbq vendors as well as good bluegrass music to hear at this awesome event in Sevierville! I attended this event last year. Unfortunately, it was un-seasonably hot last year and I didn’t get to enjoy the music as much as I would have liked to. However, I absolutely loved the bbq I tried!

Spring in the Great Smoky Mountains

As you can see, there are so many things to do in spring in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville, TN! So, which of these things have you or will you experience?

If you are visiting the area during other seasons, here are my other posts to help you plan: