Laughing Lindsay

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The Best Things in Animal Kingdom at Disney World

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Seeing as how it’s Earth Day today, I thought it would be neat to take a look at the best things in Animal Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World!

best things in Animal Kingdom

The Best Things in Animal Kingdom

Similar to my best things in Magic Kingdom post, I wanted to move over to Animal Kingdom in honor of Earth Day! Did you know that Animal Kingdom opened on Earth Day in 1998? So, today is also the park’s birthday/anniversary! Given the large number of animals that live here, it makes sense to think of the earth and its resources so we can take care of these animals.

Without further ado, here’s my own personal list of favorite things to enjoy at Animal Kingdom theme park!

The Best Ride

It’s entirely possible the best ride in this park will change in a few years. However, for now, I’m going to say Avatar Flight of Passage. It’s such a beautiful ride and a unique experience! It can make some folks motion sick though. I also really like the Na’vi River Journey as it’s peaceful and pretty too.

Best Place for a Break

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Kilimanjaro Safaris as another favorite attraction in this park. It’s always different as you never know which animals will be out or what they will be doing. Although, I highly recommend catching a showing of the Festival of the Lion King too. It’s a great show in a dark, cool place!

Best Quick Service Restaurant

Personally, I really enjoy two quick service restaurants here: Satu’li Canteen and Flametree BBQ. I say go with the one that has a better menu for your mood and crew. My family is always happy with BBQ. Plus, it’s a great use of dining credit. So, we’ve eaten Flametree several times. Although, Satu’li is a great option for healthier and more unique meals.

Best Table Service Restaurant

It’s sad that I’ve been to my favorite table service in this park only once and it wasn’t recent. Nonetheless, my favorite table service restaurant here is Yak & Yeti. My husband and I ate here one trip and we still talk about it from time to time. Those Fried Wontons were tasty! Although, I think the Rainforest Cafe Breakfast is fun too as is the Tusker House Character meal.

What are the best things in Animal Kingdom?

So, those are my favorite things in Animal Kingdom. What are some of yours?

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?

Save Money at Universal Orlando Resort

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With a brand new park opening later this year, many people may be wondering how to save money at Universal Orlando Resort. So, I thought I would share a few of my favorite tips to help people out.

Save Money at Universal Orlando

Save Money at Universal Orlando

Visiting any theme park can be expensive. I actually wrote a general how to spend less at theme parks post a while back. This post will focus on Universal Orlando Resort exclusively as there are little things you can do to save money on your trip, if you are willing to do some research and math. Here are some ways that I have saved money on a trip as well as a few ways I’ve heard of but haven’t actually done.

Save with Packages

  • Package deals – Universal almost always has some sort of promo that involves booking a room and ticket package with them directly. Sometimes, you can save a good bit of money with these packages. However, you have to pay attention to the details. If you were only planning to visit for a few days and the deal involves staying longer, then it’s probably not saving you any money. Also, a longer ticket means more nights in the hotel. Do the math before booking!
  • Special Offers – Similar to my save at Disney World post, I’m going to encourage you to keep an eye on the special offers page on the UO site. They drop new promos pretty consistently. However, you once again need to do the math on them before booking as they typically require a minimum number of nights.

Ticket Deals

  • Xfinity ticket deals – Xfinity/Comcast customers can sometimes get a deal on theme park tickets. I actually purchased tickets through them for a trip back in the fall, but had to cancel due to a hurricane. UO was able to cancel and refund my tickets directly, which was very useful.
  • Third party ticket deals – I’ve never actually purchased tickets from an outside vendor, however I’ve heard you can save a good bit. Personally, I would rather spend a few dollars extra for the piece of mind that I can call UO directly if I encounter a problem (like a hurricane) rather than dealing with the customer service of an outside entity that may not be as understanding.
  • Annual Pass – An annual pass would grant your admission to the parks for a year. It would also give you access to special hotel discounts. However, you would need to do the math to see if you are visiting enough days to come out ahead.

Save on Hotels

  • Third party hotel deals – Again, I’ve never actually done this. However, you can book Universal hotels on third party hotel sites. I’m not sure that you save much doing this, but it can be done. Again, I prefer the cancellation policies at Universal and prefer to deal with them directly.
  • Stay off-site – I’ve never visited Universal when I wasn’t staying on-site. However, I know lots of people like to rent a house or stay off-site to save money. Keep in mind you would also need to budget for transportation to/from the parks or parking and a rental car. Also, pay attention to cancellation policies, especially during hurricane season.

Save on Food and Merch

  • Food and beverage card promos – In the past, my mom and I have purchased a food and beverage gift card at Mardi Gras that was on a discount. So, it was like getting an extra discount on food.
  • Annual Pass – Currently, the two most expensive tiers of annual passes get you a discount on food and merch.
  • Buy souvenirs early – You can find regular IP (Marvel, Harry Potter, etc.) shirts on Amazon or at your local stores for much cheaper than you can in the parks.

How do you save money at Universal?

These are the ways I have either personally used to save money or have heard of others using to save money at Universal Orlando. Did I miss any? How do you save?