Laughing Lindsay

Travel Reviews, Giveaways, & More!

  • Home
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Posts by Destination
  • Posts by Season

Universal Epic Universe Tips

May 22, 2025 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

It’s hard to believe but Universal Epic Universe is officially opening today! Having recently attended a preview, I thought I would share some tips to help make your trip better!

Universal Epic Universe

Universal Epic Universe

As I stated in my preview review, I spent two days at Epic while it was in technical rehearsal. So, while I assume some operational changes will occur, I think I can still provide some general tips to help your trip go smoothly. For readability purposes, I am dividing my tips out by category.

What to Bring

  • Water bottle – This park has lots of water bottle refill stations around the park! I love that, personally. So, I highly recommend bringing your own water bottle and refilling it whenever you see a station.
  • Hat and Sunscreen – Celestial Park has virtually no shade and you have to walk through it to get to the other lands. So, I highly suggest packing a hat and sunscreen. I even saw some folks carrying a UV umbrella. I wear a UV jacket whenever I’m outside.
  • Phone charger – You will be on your phone a lot here. The park map, mobile ordering, and virtual queues are all in the UO app. Between using the app and taking pictures, you will drain your phone’s battery pretty quickly. Bring a phone charger.
  • Comfortable shoes – This one is pretty standard for theme park visits. Just wanted to remind everyone. Also, please wear deodorant. I smelled several people during my last visit.

Eating

  • Have a card saved to the app – During previews, they were forcing guests to mobile order food. Having a credit/debit/Visa gift card saved to the app ahead of time saves you time and effort in the park.
  • Use the restroom and wash your hands before entering restaurants – I wish this wasn’t a tip I was giving. However, for whatever reason, the decision was made to not put restrooms inside most of the restaurants. So, if you need to go, you have to leave the restaurant. It’s best to go before entering the restaurant.
  • You might have to eat outdoors – If the indoor restaurants are busy, they might not let you sit inside without ordering food from that restaurant.

Tips for Scheduling

  • Arrive early – It’s not as hot earlier in the day. Plus, you might able to ride stuff before it goes down in the middle of the day.
  • Take your time – This is a very highly themed park. Slow down to appreciate all of the little details.
  • Take a mid-day break – I feel so much better when I get out of the heat during the hottest part of the day (sometime between 1-4 PM) by taking a break in my hotel room. I love to grab a snack from the park or hotel, head up to the room for a quick shower and nap. It’s very refreshing.

Epic Universe Tips

So, those are my tips for visiting Universal Epic Universe specifically. Did I miss anything? Also, feel free to check out my general theme park bag post for other suggestions of what to bring.

Filed Under: Travel Tips Tagged With: Epic Universe, Orlando, Theme Parks, Universal Orlando Resort

Disney World Quick Service Breakfast

May 20, 2025 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

When visiting a theme park, most people prefer to have a small and quick bite to eat in the morning. So, I thought I would highlight the best Disney World quick service breakfast options to help people make the most of their time and money!

Disney World Quick Service Breakfast

Disney World Quick Service Breakfast

While some folks may look forward to a leisurely start to their vacation days, lots of folks prefer to grab something quick while visiting theme parks. So, I thought I would highlight my favorite places to grab a quick bite to eat in the morning when visiting Walt Disney World from the parks to the resorts!

Resorts

For the most part, the quick service breakfast options at the resorts are the same. However, to me, it’s not a Disney trip without some Mickey waffles! So, I like to grab a Waffle Bounty Platter to get a waffle along with some protein (usually eggs and meat). The post image above is actually my breakfast at Disney’s All Star Sports from December 2024. It even came with some tots! It was very filling and tasted fresh. It didn’t contain any new flavor combinations, but that’s not what these breakfast options are all about anyways. They are perfect for getting to the parks quickly or getting to the airport in a timely fashion!

Magic Kingdom

Typically, on a park day, I will eat a little something in the room while I’m getting ready (such as a granola bar). Then, I will eat a bigger late breakfast or early lunch in the parks. Unfortunately, Magic Kingdom is not known for a plethora of food options. In the before times, I loved to eat breakfast at Be Our Guest. However, that’s no longer an option. RIP quick service Be Our Guest.

Nowadays, lots of folks like to grab a warm cinnamon roll at Gaston’s Tavern, a big Mickey waffle with various toppings at Sleepy Hollow, or a breakfast sandwich at Main Street Bakery. I think you should go with whatever suits your fancy.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Laughing Lindsay (@89linz)

Epcot Quick Service Breakfast

It used to be much harder to find breakfast in this park since World Showcase didn’t used to open prior to 11 AM. However, now I pretty much always get breakfast in France! If you are looking for a good use of a quick service dining credit on the dining plan, I would suggest getting a crepe and adult beverage from the crepe stand. Otherwise, I love to head to Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie for a breakfast sandwich croissant that’s tasty and relatively cheap by Disney standards.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Laughing Lindsay (@89linz)

Hollywood Studios

I think there are two great options for a quick breakfast at Hollywood Studios. Depending on who I’m with and my mood dictates which one I’ll choose. My husband and I enjoy Ronto Roasters in Galaxy’s Edge for a Ronto Wrap. I’ve also been known to grab a kids meal at Woody’s Lunch Box for breakfast or lunch. I also like picking up the seasonal lunch box tarts here.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Laughing Lindsay (@89linz)

Animal Kingdom

Usually, at Animal Kingdom I will grab a breakfast sandwich at Creature Comforts (the park’s Starbucks) as I walk in. However, I’ve also eaten a Pongu Lumpia (the first slide in my old Instagram post seen below) from Pongu Pongu in Pandora for breakfast. Sometime, I want to try Satu’li Canteen for breakfast though. I’ve had lunch there a few times and really enjoyed it. So, I’m sure the breakfast is good too.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Laughing Lindsay (@89linz)

Disney Springs

Disney Springs tends to be more of a place for lunch or dinner. However, you can find breakfast here too. I’ve had Earl of Sandwich several times at Disney World and Disneyland. It never disappoints. I haven’t tried it yet, but I bet Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew would be a great option for breakfast here too.

Best Disney World Quick Service Breakfast Options

So, there you have my go-to Disney World quick service breakfast picks! What are your favorites?

Filed Under: Food Reviews Tagged With: Disney, Disney World Dining, Orlando, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World

Epic Universe Preview Review

May 7, 2025 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

On May 1st and 2nd, I was lucky enough to attend the Epic Universe Preview at Universal Orlando Resort! This new park officially opens on May 22nd. However, there are still two week left of previews. So, I thought I would do a little review for anyone considering going.

Epic Universe Preview

Epic Universe Preview

I don’t currently have an annual pass to UO. So, when they opened previews to hotel guests, I booked a two night stay at Stella Nova Resort (review to come later) a week in advance and headed down south! However, before I could get there, they opened the event up to the general public. So, the remainder of the days are available for anyone to visit. I paid $144 and $149 for each day. I think that’s pretty typical for the prices they are charging for this.

The Park is Gorgeous

Let’s start with the obvious: this park is simply beautiful. I love the attention to details and impeccable theming around every corner. I encourage everyone to slow down and really appreciate how great everything looks. As a theme park fan, it’s a one of a kind park with every land being so highly themed. It’s even better if you are a fan of the different IPs represented, but you don’t have to be to enjoy a visit.

Unreliable Experiences

Universal warns when you purchase a ticket and when you enter the park that it’s in technical rehearsal. As such, not everything will be running at all times. However, I don’t think that necessarily prepares you for the amount of downtime and long waits you might face in the park. At one point, every ride (minus the carousel) was a 55+ minute wait! Minecraft Madness experiences lots of downtime and delayed openings (as happened on my day). Monsters Unchained also experiences lots of downtime.

The Ministry of Magic ride is almost impossible to ride. I tried several times over the course of two days to enter the virtual queue, but never was successful. I was able to select a time once but then it failed. So, no tips for that one. Maybe just don’t count on being able to ride it.

I got lucky with the two shows. I’ve read that the Fantastic Beasts will sometimes go down in the pre-show. I’ve also heard about technical issues with Toothless in the How to Train Your Dragon show. Thankfully, I was able to watch both shows without incident on the first try! I enjoyed both shows and found them to be fun.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Laughing Lindsay (@89linz)

The Food Ordering Situation

For whatever reason, they are forcing everyone to mobile order their food. Then, you wait to have it brought to your table. Personally, I dislike mobile order because I like to use resort gift cards and/or cash to pay for things. I ended up using a Visa gift card and had only one issue.

At Toadstool Cafe I ordered spaghetti and waited 40 minutes before flagging a Team Member down to inquire about my order. They left to check on it and never came back. I waited another 20 minutes before flagging someone else down. He went to check and came back. Apparently, they were out of pasta. They offered me a burger, but I wasn’t interested. So, they offered a refund, which I was happy to take. Unfortunately, they can’t refund a gift card. I had to offer up my debit card to receive payment and that took a few days.

Another glaring issue with mobile order is the lack of indoor/shaded dining. I had to stand out in the sun to order in Isle of Berk. Then, they would prefer you ordered food to eat inside Mead Hall. I had ordered Yaknog and had to get approval to sit inside with my outside food to drink my drink.

Hopefully, they allow guests to order at a register when they officially open. Also, the indoor restaurants don’t currently have any napkins or silverware out. So, you will have to flag someone down if you don’t have any.

Sidenote: Similar to the other UOR parks, there’s only two sit down restaurants in this park (akin to Lombard’s Seafood Grille). Unfortunately, Blue Dragon isn’t open yet and I didn’t want to pay big bucks to eat at Atlantic by myself. However, I look forward to trying them in the future.

Tips for Attending Epic Universe Previews

  • Arrive early – Take advantage of Early Park Admission if you are a hotel guest. The wait times only build during the day.
  • Bring a hat and sunscreen – There’s very little shade in this park. I even saw some folks carrying umbrellas for shade and that may not be a bad idea.
  • Bring a water bottle – This park has a water bottle filler at every bathroom and beside most water fountains. It’s great for staying hydrated!
  • Pack your patience – Rides have delayed openings and go down frequently. I don’t know when things will start to work more consistently. I doubt the grand opening will fix these issues either. Just be patient.
  • Have a card attached to your account – You will be required to mobile order food. Having a card (debit, credit, or gift) attached makes it quicker and easier to order.

Should you attend a Epic Universe preview?

Personally, the ability to see a theme park before it officially opens was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I don’t regret my decision to go at all. It was hot and more crowded than I expected. I rode way fewer rides than I anticipated. However, I still had a good time and have good memories from the trip.

So, have you attended this soft opening? What was your experience like?

Filed Under: Travel Tips Tagged With: Epic Universe, Orlando, Theme Parks, Universal Orlando Resort

Disney All Star Sports Resort Review

April 30, 2025 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

Back in December 2024, I was able to stay at the Disney All Star Sports Resort while on a short (48 hour) solo trip. Today, I thought I would share my thoughts on that experience.

Disney All Star Sports

Disney All Star Sports

Previously, I posted an All Star Resorts Overview with a brief look at each of the three themed value resorts. At the time, I had stayed at Music and Movies, but not Sports. So, since I finally checked off Sports, I thought it was time to review them separately as well.

The Resort

Just a brief reminder, this is one of the three All Star Resorts on property. Each one is considered a “value resort” due to them typically offering the cheapest rates on property. They are each highly themed to their respective namesakes with big statues around the resorts to fit the theme. Unfortunately, a recent room refurbishment made each of the rooms identical and almost exactly the same as those found at Pop Century (murphy bed/table). However, the artwork is the same across the three All Star Resorts. So, the theming currently ends once you step inside the room.

All Star Sports has various sports themed sections around the resort. These include: baseball, basketball, football, surfing, and tennis. For my visit, I stayed in the tennis section. I enjoyed this because there’s a scene depicting Donald and the nephews (Huey, Dewey, and Louie) playing tennis/baseball outside! I love Donald Duck, so it was nice to see him as I came and went from the room.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Laughing Lindsay (@89linz)

The Room

As I stated above, the rooms across the All Star Resorts are now nearly identical. In fact, aside from different artwork, they are almost exactly the same as those found at Pop Century Resort. So, if you are expecting a unique room, then this isn’t the resort for you. However, they have all been recently refurbished and are in decent shape – especially for the price.

Just like at Pop Century, there’s one regular queen sized bed. Then, there’s a pull down bed that’s also a table when not in use. This was a fine set-up for my solo trip. However, it’s not ideal for trips with my mom when we both want a regular bed for a good’s night rest. I will definitely nap in the pull down bed or sleep a single night in them though.

All Star Sports Food

A quick note about the food here. Your only option at value resorts are the quick service food courts. However, I was happy with the food I ate from here. For dinner on arrival, I selected a grilled half chicken meal. The chicken was tasty and not dry. For sides, I got green beans and mashed potatoes. The green beans were ok and I liked the mashed potatoes.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Laughing Lindsay (@89linz)

For convenience, I also ate breakfast here on the day of my departure. I got a signature Mickey waffle breakfast. My waffle was classic and good. The scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and tots hit the spot and fueled me for hours! It was quick and relatively affordable by Disney standards.

Overall, you won’t find anything too exciting here. However, it’s great for when you are in a hurry to hit the road or theme park. Plus, it’s more affordable than some options in the parks.

Pros

  • Cheaper rates – I have to list this as a pro. The All Star Resorts consistently have the lowest rates of on-site hotels. If budget is a big concern, then consider an All Star Resort.
  • On-site perks – I love to stay on-site due to the free park transportation alone. It makes this solo female traveler feel safe. I also like the 60 days out dining perk.
  • Fun theme – This is the perfect place to say for any sports fan. Although, I’m not a big sports fan and I enjoyed seeing Donald in the tennis section.
  • Newly refurbished rooms – It’s a cheaper rate, but not necessarily a cheap feeling room.
  • 1st Bus Stop – Sometimes, they combine the buses for the three All Star Resorts. If that’s the case, then Sports is the first stop! That’s pretty convenient when you come back late at night and are tired!

Cons

  • Noise – I travel with a white noise machine to attempt to drown out some noise. However, I was still woken up by a crying child at 5 AM while staying here. So, don’t expect quiet privacy here. You will hear others and they will probably hear you.
  • Popular with sports team and tour groups – Due to the lower rates, all three resorts are popular with tour groups. However, Sports is especially popular with sports groups, in particular those competing at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. Maybe keep an eye out for competitions to plan your trip around if you are staying here.
  • Murphy bed – While I appreciate the use of space in the recent refurbishment, I would prefer two real beds for trips with my mom or longer trips.
  • Buses can be crowded – Being the first stop can mean that you have to fight the crowd to actually exit the bus. Also, there can be long waits for said bus.

Is Disney All Star Sports Resort worth it?

I found the nightly rate here to be acceptable and it’s part of what encouraged me to book this trip. The room was adequate for a solo two night stay. The theme was cute. I appreciated the on-site perks. However, if I was going for a longer stay or going with family, I would probably opt for a resort with two real beds.

Have you ever stayed here? What was your experience like?

Filed Under: Hotel Reviews Tagged With: Disney, Disney World Resorts, Orlando, Walt Disney World

The Best Things in Animal Kingdom at Disney World

April 22, 2025 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

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!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Laughing Lindsay (@89linz)

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.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Laughing Lindsay (@89linz)

What are the best things in Animal Kingdom?

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

Filed Under: Travel Tips Tagged With: Animal Kingdom, Disney, Orlando, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 18
  • Next Page »

Follow Me

Get new posts by email:
Powered by follow.it

Contact Me

Email me at linzer08@gmail.com

Grab My Button

Laughing Lindsay

Search My Site

Blog Archive

Copyright © 2025 Laughing Lindsay

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept
Privacy Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT