Travel Tips Archives - Page 17 of 21

What to Pack for a Theme Park

January 17, 2023 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

I know there are probably loads of other posts out there on what to pack for a theme park visit. However, like most things, I believe these lists to be subjective. I also believe we can all learn something from each other. So, I’m sharing the things I take when I visit one!

What to Pack for a Theme Park

When thinking about what to pack for a theme park, you have to start with the bag itself. I know lots of people like to take a backpack. However, I prefer a crossbody bag because I can see my bag at all times. That way, I don’t have to worry about someone stealing from my bag. Perhaps I’m too careful, but I know thefts still happen on vacation.

The bag in the picture above is a Disney Vera Bradley Crossbody Bag. I purchased it at a VB Outlet store in Pigeon Forge, TN last year. I love that it’s a soft fabric, washable, and that particular pattern features the Walt Disney World castle. I take this bag when I’m visiting Disney parks. This is the second Disney Vera Bradley crossbody bag I’ve owned. The first one was starting to get worn in the crossbody strap, so I replaced it with this one. However, I had carried it for years. In fact, I think I got it about the time I went to Disney Social Media Moms.

Back in 2019, I purchased a black Michael Kors crossbody bag at that same outlet mall in Pigeon Forge, TN. I have been carrying it when I’m not going to Disney. The fabric is not as soft as VB, but it’s holding up well. It’s also stylish no matter what I pair it with.

List of What to Bring

Without further ado, here’s my list of things to pack for a theme park:

Sunglasses and/or Hat – I wear glasses, but have several pairs of sunglasses that go over my glasses. In fact, I never leave the house without a pair to protect my eyes. In recent years, I’ve gotten better about protecting my skin by wearing hats too.
Poncho – If you are traveling to Florida, you need a poncho. They frequently have short rain showers while remaining hot. So, a light poncho is perfect. Also, you can save several dollars by bringing your own! I also sometimes carry a mini-umbrella if it’s calling for rain.
Charger – You will be using your phone to take pictures as well as using the park’s app. It drains your battery quickly. Bring a charger and cord.
Wallet – You have to have your tickets/id anyways. I know some parks have gone cashless, but I’m already carrying my bag, so might as well bring my wallet too.
Sunblock and bug spray – You need to reapply through the day. I got a brush with powder sunscreen inside the handle last year and like carrying it around.
Hand sanitizer – Ideally, you wash your hands before eating. However, at least you can sanitize after riding a ride.
Gum – Disney doesn’t sell gum in their parks. So, if you are a gum chewer, bring your own gum.

So, did I forget anything? What do you pack for a theme park?

SeaWorld Orlando Animal Tours: What to Expect

January 11, 2023 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

There are several SeaWorld Orlando animal tours you can book when you visit the theme park. Last year, my mom and I booked a different one on each of our three visits. Today, I am going to tell you what to expect if you book one of these add-on experiences.

SeaWorld Orlando Animal Tours

When you visit SeaWorld Orlando, several shows and animal viewing options are included with admission. However, there are also several add-on experiences you can purchase for another fee to get up-close with select animals. Depending on the event, you will either be given a time or able to select a time to do the event. Then, it’s up to you to remember it. Ha! You will also need to read on the receipt (that is emailed to you) where to go to check-in for your event.

During my three visits in 2022 I was lucky to do three different SeaWorld Orlando Animal Tours: dolphin encounter, sea lions up-close, and penguins up-close.

Dolphin Encounter

On my first visit of the year, my mom and I did the dolphin encounter. This was a quick 15 minute experience wherein we learned several facts about the dolphins before getting to pet a dolphin! We also purchased photos from the park for this experience as you can’t bring any devices near the water for this one. There’s a park photographer across the water snapping pictures and it’s worth it to buy at least one, in my opinion. This experience also led my mom and I to book Discovery Cove to swim with the dolphins! So, be aware that once you do one of these, there’s the risk of wanting to do more! Ha!

Sea Lions Up-Close Tour

During our February trip, I learned that my mom likes sea lions due to their whiskers! So, for our September trip, we booked the Sea Lions Up-Close Tour. This is a longer experience, about 45 minutes. Just keep that in mind if you have a jam-packed theme park day. This tour consisted of learning lots about sea lions, feeding sea lions, and then getting to touch and take pictures with one! My mom really enjoyed this experience. I was a little intimidated as the sea lion breathed right in my face and scared me at one point. It’s worth noting that the park photographer didn’t show up until the very end of this experience, so the group simply took photos with our cell phones for each other. My advice would be to wait and see if the photographer shows up for this event before purchasing the picture package.

Penguins Up-Close Tour

On our December trip, we booked the Penguins Up-Close Tour because it felt Christmas-like to me! Plus, I really like penguins. We were also able to get this one on sale during their Black Friday sale, so it also seemed like a good deal. I will warn you that the penguin area is kept around a chilly 32 degrees. So, bring some layers to put on for this one. I loved being able to touch and take photos of the penguins. There wasn’t a park photographer for this experience, fyi. We learned so much about penguins on this tour. It was a really neat and memorable trip.

Are Animal Tour Add-Ons Worth It?

Several of the SeaWorld Orlando Animal Tours can be expensive, especially when you think about it being on top of regular park admission. However, you can sometimes catch them on sale. So, keep an eye out for deals if you have time before your trip. Additionally, annual passholders get a small discount on tours. You simply need to sign into the website to see the discount. Another aspect to keep in mind is the amount of time these things take. If you have the funds and time, I highly recommend an add-on experience.

The Best Dinner Show In Pigeon Forge, TN

January 3, 2023 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

If you are planning an upcoming trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, you may be wondering what the best dinner show in Pigeon Forge is. Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s not that easy to pick just one. It really depends on you and your group’s preferences. However, I can tell you which one has the best food and which is the most entertaining show, in my opinion.

Best Dinner Show in Pigeon Forge

Last year, I wrote a blog post on each of the show options in Pigeon Forge, TN: Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud Show Review, Pirates Voyage Pigeon Forge Dinner Show Review, and Dolly Parton Stampede Christmas Dinner Show Review. I somewhat alluded to which one I thought was the best dinner show in Pigeon Forge in those reviews. However, today I’m going to spell it out more clearly by directly comparing the three shows. I will say that everything is subjective about these shows.

Best Dinner Food

As I said in its review, I believe the food at the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud to be superior to the other two shows. For starters, I love that you eat the food prior to the show here and can have seconds of anything! I also appreciate the variety of food offered here! You get BBQ pork and fried chicken! Plus, they have some really tasty rolls! Admittedly, the dessert isn’t as good as the fruit turnovers at the other shows, but the chocolate pudding is pretty good. I preferred the chocolate to the banana, for what it’s worth. So, if food is the most important part of your experience, then I would head here for sure!

Also, just for comparison’s sake, I would award Dolly Parton’s Stampede a 2nd place for food. I enjoyed having a whole small chicken to myself and loved the apple turnover. Pirates Voyage would be a 3rd place in terms of food for me. It’s not bad food, but it just wasn’t as good as the other two places.

Most Entertaining Show

My family prefers the Pirates Voyage show when it comes to the actual show. My husband is a fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and the ride at Walt Disney World. So, this show was naturally more interesting to him. However, the acrobatics and storyline also drew him in. My mom also appreciated the wow factor of the show, including the animals! Some of the tricks were jaw-dropping here and I enjoyed it both times I saw it.

All of that being said, if your family really like horses or is a little more country/rural, you may prefer Dolly Parton’s Stampede. While we personally preferred the acrobatic pirates, the beautiful horses and tricks were equally neat to see. In fact, I know lots of people I went to school with really like this show. As I said above, I think it’s really difficult to define the best dinner show as it’s all subjective!

Additionally, this doesn’t mean Hatfield and McCoy is a bad show. I really liked the clogging, as it reminded me of shows I saw as a child. I also like the diving tricks as well as the storyline. I just found the show at Pirates to be a little more impressive.

Best Dinner Show Overall

Since each of the three shows is so different, I don’t think it’s fair to crown one best overall. I think it’s better for every family to decide which show best fits their needs and interests. If you are more interested in food, go for Hatfield & McCoy. If you want to be impressed, go see Pirates. If you want to see beautiful horses, go to Dolly’s. So, what do you think is the best dinner show in Pigeon Forge, TN?

Christmas at Universal Orlando Resort

December 22, 2022 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

Having spent several days experiencing Christmas at Universal Orlando Resort earlier this month, I thought I would give everyone an overview as well as my thoughts on each offering. Thankfully, all but two of these holiday experiences are included in regular park admission!

Christmas at Universal Orlando

Personally, when I visit a location during the holiday, I can spend hours just looking at the decor. You can certainly do this at Universal Orlando Resort. Every resort has their own themed tree! Plus, there’s a Christmas Tree Hunt across City Walk and the two parks you can do for $12! If you complete it, you earn an ornament! I didn’t do the hunt, but I did enjoy looking at all of the themed trees and garland around the parks.

Breakfast with the Grinch

One of the two add-on events you can attend during Christmas at Universal Orlando is Breakfast with the Grinch. Booking The Grinch & Friends Characters breakfast guarantees you get to meet The Grinch and Whos! Plus, it also gives you a good meal to start the day! My mom and I paid $41.99 (plus tax) each and think it’s totally worth it. You can read my full review of it in my other post.

Universal’s Holiday Tour

The other add-on event is Universal’s Holiday Tour. It’s a 5 hour, mostly after park hours, walking tour of the two parks. I wrote a whole separate blog post reviewing it last week. You can click to read my thoughts on it at the link above.

Holiday Tribute Store

Another amazing experience that happens seasonally at Universal Orlando is a highly themed shopping experience called the Tribute Store. It’s so much fun to walk around and see all of the little details. There’s also lots of Easter eggs to be found! If there’s ever a Tribute Store open whenever you visit, you must go inside to see it!

Universal Orlando Holiday Parade

This is probably the thing I saw most heavily advertised prior to our visit. Every night (around 5:30 PM), there’s an amazing Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s! It features huge balloons, like the ones seen in New York for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! It’s awesome to see them up-close! The parade also features characters on floats as well as other fun Christmas surprises! Think walking snowmen and soldiers on stilts! It’s so much fun! We watched it twice and noticed different things each time! It’s a must-see for sure!

Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Christmas at Universal Orlando stretches to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, in both parks! The Harry Potter lands look fantastic, regardless of the time of year. However, Christmas is extra magical. I adored the Frog Choir and Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees holiday shows! So much fun! I highly recommend picking up a Butterbeer and just walking around these areas. It is sure to put you in a festive mood! I also really enjoyed the projection show on the castle, called The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle in Islands of Adventure.

Grinchmas

Even if you missed out on getting a breakfast reservation, you can still enjoy Grinchmas during Christmas at Universal Orlando! The Whos have decorated Suess Landing for the holidays and it’s amazing to see! They even have some special holiday foods, like the Grinch cookies and Roast Beast Sandwich. The sandwich had a really long wait. It took us about an hour to get one and it tasted just ok. We didn’t care for the sauce on the main sandwich. However, now we can say we’ve had roast beast!

If you wander around Suess Landing you may even spot some Whos to meet! Plus, you have to catch a showing of the The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular! It’s an adorable show featuring music from Mannheim Steamroller! The story manages to combine key elements from both the cartoon short film and the 2000’s Jim Carrey movie.

Meet Earl the Squirrel

A unique offering that only happens at Christmastime is the chance to meet Earl the Squirrel! In case you don’t know, there once was a real life squirrel that kept chewing the wiring in a tree. They named him Earl and now he’s basically the mascot for the holidays at UO. I love that he’s organically become this big thing. He’s featured on lots of merch this year. I met him wearing him on a shirt. It was a neat experience.

Mannheim Steamroller Concert

Last, but certainly not least, if you travel during the first two weekends in December (like we did), you can catch a Mannheim Steamroller concert! This concert is included with park admission and took place on Saturday and Sunday nights at 7 PM during the first two weekends of December. I really enjoyed the concert and was impressed that it was included with admission! It made for a unique and fun theme park day!

Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort

As you can see, there’s a lot to see and do during Christmas at Universal Orlando Resort! We spent two days in the parks, but didn’t ride many rides. So, if you are planning to ride lots of rides while there, you probably need at least 2-3 days to do everything. Have you ever been to Universal Orlando at the holidays? If so, what was your trip like?

Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains

November 24, 2022 By Lindsay 1 Comment

I’ve been lucky enough to experience Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains several times. Here are my favorite things to see and do when I visit during that time of the year!

Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains

There is so much to see and do when you visit the Sevierville/Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area! It can be hard to know what is worth your time and money. I think it’s even harder to decide what to do when you are visiting during Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains. To make it easier to plan your trip, I’m going to break down your options based on the three towns you can visit.

Christmas in Sevierville

If you are visiting Sevierville at Christmastime, then I recommend checking out Shadrack’s Light Show. I experienced the show at the Smokies Stadium in 2020 and found it to be a great way to see some lights while social distancing. This light show is a drive through experience, so you can stay in your car the whole time! 2022 will be the last year it will be held at the Stadium. However, they are starting a new show at Soaky Mountain Waterpark in 2022 as well. I’m sure it will be just as fun!

Christmas in Pigeon Forge

I just did a whole post highlighting Christmas shows in Pigeon Forge. In it I discuss everything from Dolly Parton Stampede Christmas Dinner Show to the Comedy Barn! I also have to mention how amazing Christmas at Dollywood is again! Additionally, the town of Pigeon Forge celebrates the holidays each year with Winterfest! During this time, you can see all kinds of Christmas lights around town for free! Plus, they just opened the Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail! You can definitely plan a few days in Pigeon Forge around the holiday season!

Christmas in Gatlinburg

Lasty but not least is Gatlinburg. Gatlinburg decorates the town with branded snowmen, as seen in the photo collage above! They dot the entire main street and it’s fun to go around to see all of the different ones! You can also visit Anakeesta for Enchanted Winter/Christmas! Anakeesta also offers Breakfast with Santa on select weekends in late November/early December. To get an idea of what to expect at Anakeesta during Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains, you can scroll through my pictures in the Instagram post below.

There are two additional options for celebrating winter in Gatlinburg that I’ve never experienced: Ober Mountain for skiing and snow tubing as well as Lights Over Gatlinburg at Gatlinburg SkyLift Park. I’ve heard good things about each one, but haven’t had the chance to do them yet. Although, I have visited Ober during the fall and had fun there.

As you can see, there’s lots to do if you visit during Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains. Is there another must visit on your list?

If you are planning a trip to the area during a different season, here are my other posts to help you plan: