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Universal Holiday Tour Review

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Having just returned from Florida to enjoy Christmas offerings, I am ready to write several new posts. Today, I am reviewing the Universal Holiday Tour at Universal Orlando Resort! It is one of two add on options offered during the holiday season. The other is breakfast with the Grinch, which I also did. I will provide a look at it next week as well as a post with an overview of Christmas at Universal Orlando. However, this tour was a whopping 5 hours and I felt it deserved its own post.

Universal Holiday Tour

Universal Holiday Tour

As stated above, this is a 5 hour walking tour crisscrossing between the two parks! What the tour includes appears to change from year to year. However, it is held every night of the Christmas season at Universal Orlando. My mom and I paid $79.99 (plus tax) each for the tour but the price appears to go up with time. So, pro tip: book early before it goes up or sells out!

Beginning the Tour

One of the emails we received mentioned allowing 45 minutes to check everyone in. However, it also said to arrive early. We left the parade early and lined up about 10 minutes before our scheduled tour time. I think we should have just finished the parade and lined up afterwards as almost the whole first hour of the tour was spent standing in line waiting to check in. It felt like a huge waste of time. I know in previous years, there was a special roped off parade viewing area for the tour. I wish they had included that this year.

Everyone began the tour by watching the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular with reserved seating. You can catch the show several times throughout the day. However, it was nice to have the reserved seating. Also, the show is really good. I love the music with Mannheim Steamroller and story that combines both familiar movies.

Universal Studios Florida

After the show, the tour groups went their separate ways. Mine went to Universal Studios Florida while some other groups went to Islands of Adventure. We proceeded to spend even more time waiting around. It seemed like maybe there were too many tour groups and not enough for them to do. We looked at some holiday decor in the park. Then, we went upstairs in the building of the Jimmy Fallon ride and looked down on an empty park.

Next, we met Santa! This is the only way you can currently meet Santa at Universal Orlando Resort, which is odd to me. Nonetheless, we did it. I believe in previous years they gave you a physical photo and souvenir ornament at this point in the tour. However, we received a digital download and no ornament. So, that part was a touch disappointing. After meeting Santa, we went back downstairs and into the park to look at the huge Christmas Tree. We took photos in front of the tree with a nearly empty park.

Next, we were ushered into the Holiday Tribute Store. While I love the Tribute Store, I didn’t find this to be a very beneficial part of the tour as you can visit the Tribute Store anytime. Upon exiting, we stood around waiting some more. Our tour guide ended up asking everyone their favorite Christmas movie/song, etc. and then looked up some Home Alone trivia.

Our last thing in Universal Studios Florida was a ride on the Jimmy Fallon ride. It was very unfortunate that a member of our tour group couldn’t get a seat belt to go around them and had to exit the ride. I felt really bad for them and their group ended up leaving the tour early. I believe they were extremely embarrassed and it left the group with a weird mood.

Islands of Adventure

Finally, we headed back to Islands of Adventure. We were led to Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous for some food and meet and greets. Unfortunately, there were several other groups in here at the exact same time. So, there was not enough time to meet The Grinch, Max (the only time you can do so), and grab a bite to eat. Thankfully, we met The Grinch at breakfast. So, we focused on Max and the food. I appreciated the addition of Pizza Tots, Who Hash, popcorn shrimp, and chicken and waffles as previous years had only cookies.

Following our allotted 45 minutes there, we headed over to a closed Hogsmeade. It was neat to see it almost empty. However, it would have been awesome to have some additional shops open. We were able to grab some Butterbeer at Hog’s Head, which was great. However, there was a somewhat long line for it.

We hurried with our Butterbeer over to the castle for an after-hours showing of The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle. It was nice to have some room between us and other guests as we watched the beautiful show. It was a great way to end the long night.

Universal Orlando Holiday Tour Conclusion

As you can imagine, this tour involved lots of standing and walking. Unfortunately, I saw a few people who clearly weren’t physically ready for this type of tour and I felt for them. As such, I don’t recommend this tour for anyone who can’t walk and stand for long periods of time. Being an add-on event, it’s up to each person to decide if the money is worth it. However, the only things you don’t have to access to as a regular park guest included in the tour are: Santa meet, after hours park, after hours castle show, meeting Max and access to some food, and reserved Grinchmas seating. So, if those things sound like something you want, then sign up quick!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Review

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I just got back from a very busy trip to Orlando on Wednesday. One of the highlights of our trip was visiting Walt Disney World for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party! Having attended the party a few times in the past, I feel like I can give a fair review of the event and provide a few tips.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Just in case you don’t know, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is an add-on ticketed event held at the Magic Kingdom after normal park hours to celebrate the holiday season. Typically, it’s held from early/mid-November until right before Christmas. The party includes special character meet and greets, a Christmas parade, holiday stage and fireworks shows, ride overlays, as well as free cookies and drinks!

Party Entertainment

One of the main draws of the party is the unique entertainment options. One key difference between this party and the Not So Scary Halloween Party though is that these shows will eventually be included with the regular park admission as you get closer to Christmas. However, if you are visiting before that time, then you can only experience the holiday parade, stage show, and fireworks show at the Christmas Party. Personally, I absolutely adore seeing the toy soldiers marching down Main Street, USA!

Food

During the Halloween Party, you can trick-or-treat for candy. During Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, you can go around the park for free cookies and beverages! These treats are only available at the party. However, this year they were pre-packaged Cheryl’s cookies. So, if you want to try them outside the party, you can order some for yourself.

Now that you have an adequate understanding of the party itself, allow me to share some tips with you!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tips

  • Arrive early. The party starts at 7 PM, but your ticket allows you to enter the park at 4! Use this time to eat dinner or get in line for any big characters you want to see.
  • Get a spot for entertainment early. Stake out your spot for the parade early. In previous years, the second parade was less crowded. However, this year it appeared that this advice has been read by everyone and it’s no longer the case. My mom and I sat on Main Street for the first parade and it was less crowded than the second parade! So, just know that if you want a prime spot, you need to get there at least 30-45 minutes early.
  • Pick up an event guide. When you first enter the park, pick up an event guide that features a map with treat locations as well as times guide. I highly recommend picking one up to reference throughout the night.
  • Make a list of must-do’s. You aren’t going to be able to see and do everything at the party. It’s just too short/too crowded. So, do your research and know the things that are priorities for your group.
  • Enjoy the ambiance. You could be annoyed that you have to stake out a spot for the parade so far in advance or that you have to be so close with so many people. You can also choose to enjoy just being in the park while it’s decorated for the holidays and snowing! I truly believe your attitude impacts your experience. Make the best of it and you will enjoy it.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party can be a delightful holiday addition to your Disney World trip. I promise that there’s nothing else like it!

Discovery Cove Review and Tips

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When I went to the SeaWorld Spooktacular last month in Orlando, I also visited Discovery Cove for the first time! My mom and I were able to swim with dolphins and enjoyed our day here. Keep reading to learn my tips for visiting.

Discovery Cove

Discovery Cove

Discovery Cove is a tropical paradise with various marine life to interact with. Admittedly, it is an expensive experience. However, keep an eye out for special deals as they tend to run them frequently. Additionally, the further out you book your day, the cheaper it will be. I also saved money on our passes by using my SeaWorld Orlando passholder discount!

Dolphin Swim

There are a variety of add-on experiences you can do at Discovery Cove. However, the main purpose of our visit here was to do the dolphin swim. In fact, we booked our day here solely because we saw the pictures of it at SeaWorld in February. I guess that marketing worked on us. Ha!

I will say that I’m glad we arrived early (a little after 7 AM). The weather forecast was calling for some afternoon showers prior to the arrival of Hurricane Ian, so we wanted to make sure we got to do what we came for – swim with dolphins! They do have a rainy day guarantee, but we didn’t have extra days in our trip, especially with the approaching hurricane. Thankfully, we got a 8:00 AM swim time and were able to swim right away!

Swimming with dolphins is something I will never forget! My mom and I had so much fun! It was both informative and wildly fun! You learn lots about dolphins while seeing them perform neat tricks. I also realized that each dolphin has their own personality, similar to humans!

Tips

I could write several more hundred words about Discovery Cove. However, I think it would be best to sum everything up with some helpful tips:

  • Arrive early. For starters, this will allow you to get your money’s worth. However, it also ensures you will get an early time slot for any add-on experiences you booked since they assign times on a first come, first serve basis.
  • Buy the photo package. I know that it adds even more to an already expensive day. However, you are going to want those photos. Besides, you aren’t allowed to bring in any devices to the dolphin area to protect the dolphins from eating/swallowing items. Although, I would strongly encourage you to follow the photographer immediately after the swim to pick out the photos. We were told that we didn’t have to and that added some headache to retrieving our pictures later in the day. It was still possible, it just made it more complicated and time-consuming.
  • Come hungry. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are included with your ticket! We actually didn’t get to eat breakfast until after our swim and were really hungry by then. Then, we ate lunch just a short while later. I think a 9:00 AM swim may have been more ideal for timing, but I was relieved to have the swim over since the hurricane was approaching.
  • Walk around. There’s so much to see and do at Discovery Cove. Take a walk around and enjoy the beautiful scenery, if nothing else.
  • Bring half of what you think you need. Seriously, I packed way too much stuff for here. They supply sunscreen, swim vests/wetsuits, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and towels. You really only need a swim suit, hair brush, deodorant, sunglasses/hat/cover up, water shoes, and a change of clothes when you visit here.

I highly recommend a visit to Discovery Cove if you can afford it, especially if you are traveling with a dolphin fan! Have you been? What is your favorite thing to do here? Do you have any other tips?

Universal’s Aventura Hotel Review

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During my September 2022 trip to Universal Orlando for Halloween Horror Nights, my mom and I stayed at Universal’s Aventura Hotel. We enjoyed the hotel’s perks, sleek design, and modern touches.

Universal's Aventura Hotel

Universal’s Aventura Hotel

Aventura Hotel is a tower hotel with modern rooms and reasonable prices. The hotel is shaped like a fidget spinner. It also has floor to ceiling windows that makes for a sleek appearance and great views. Aventura is considered a Prime Value Hotel. This means it has affordable rates while still giving you the benefits of staying on property with Universal Orlando Resort. It also leans heavily into technology with a tablet in the room to control everything from the lights to the tv.

The Room

The rooms have a contemporary, sleek vibe to them. It’s definitely geared towards tech savvy folks who appreciate simple theming. The beds were comfortable and the sleek design made for a relaxing experience. I liked our shower and felt the bathroom had plenty of room, which is highly unusual for “value” rooms in my experience.

Tip: If you want a quieter room, don’t pay for the Skyline View upgrade. There’s a rooftop bar at the top of the hotel and there’s a DJ playing music until around midnight, at least on the weekend. I could hear the faint sounds of music in our room when the music was playing and we were in a standard room. Request a lower floor to be further away from the music.

The Technology

As I stated above, Aventura Hotel leans heavily into modern technology. In fact, there’s not a tv remote in the rooms or available at the front desk. You have to control the lights and tv via the tablet by the bed! You can also request room service on the tablet. A robot named Relay can even bring you some towels or toiletries. You just have to specifically ask for the robot when requesting it!

The Food

Typically, when you stay at a value resort hotel, you can expect to eat chicken nuggets and pizza for dinner at the resort restaurant. However, Aventura Hotel takes it up a notch. Here, you can build your own protein bowls! I really enjoyed my chicken and noodles bowl! I also had a fun Japanese soda with a glass marble in it! As for breakfast, I was equally surprised to find biscuits and gravy on the menu! It hit the spot before we dashed out of town to escape the hurricane.

As I mentioned above, there is a rooftop bar. We attempted to eat there on our trip, but it was raining and the bar was closed. It appears that the bar is not covered and allows rain to come in. So, check out the weather forecast before you decide to eat there. It does have great views though.

For dinner another night, we walked over to the neighboring Sapphire Falls resort (considered a Signature Collection Resort) and enjoyed a meal at Amatista’s Cookhouse! Aventura Hotel’s close distance to Sapphire Falls increases the availability of nearby food choices.

The Perks

The perks of staying on-site at Universal Orlando Resort are fabulous if you are planning on visiting the parks. Similar to when we stayed at Endless Summer – Dockside Inn and Suites, we received complimentary bus transportation to the parks! We never had to wait long for a bus, which is more than I can say for some other parks. Ha! We could have also gotten into the parks earlier for staying on-site as well as had merchandise purchases sent to the hotel for free! We also could have charged things to the room with our room card.

Overall

I have to say that we were impressed with Aventura Hotel. The price we paid was definitely worth the experience we received. We were able to relax with the simple theming and enjoyed saving money to put towards other experiences. I also enjoyed using the tablet to control the room and loved Relay! I can recommend this hotel without hesitation, if you are on a budget and/or like technology.

Theme Park Tips for Scaredy Cats

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Before I became a frequent theme park visitor, I wasn’t sure there wasn’t anything for me to enjoy at a theme park. I definitely didn’t think my husband or mom who both get motion sickness could have fun at a theme park. However, I’m here to tell you that it’s definitely possible! In fact, here’s a list of theme park tips for scaredy cats or people who like to travel without needing to ride the most thrilling rides.

theme park tips for scaredy cats

Theme Park Tips for Scaredy Cats

Up until a few years ago, I assumed you had to be a thrill seeker to enjoy amusement parks. However, after visiting some great ones, I now realize that theme parks can be enjoyable for everyone, regardless of age and ability! So, here are my theme park tips for scaredy cats or people who don’t want to ride the big roller coaster.

  • Experience the seasonal events. As I’ve posted previously, there’s so much to see and eat during the fall season at Dollywood. However, the same can be said about pretty much any festival at Epcot or SeaWorld Orlando. Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando is another seasonal event I highly recommend. Of course, the holidays at any amusement park are filled with special shows, décor, and food to enjoy!
  • See a show. Most amusement parks also have shows you can watch during the day. So, glance at a schedule for the day’s events at the park and catch a few! They can be a great way to escape the weather too!
  • Try out new food. Do some research before you arrive and see what food the park is famous for. For instance, you have to get the cinnamon bread at Dollywood or a Dole Whip at Disney Parks. Then, go and try as many of those foods as you can!
  • Ride a sight seeing ride. Most people can tolerate a train ride around a park (Dollywood) or on something like the People Mover at Magic Kingdom. So, be on the lookout for rides in the air to get a different view of the park. You might even spot a ride that looks less intimidating from up in the sky.
  • Do your research. I highly recommend checking out ride point of view videos on YouTube prior to going to any theme park, to get a feel for a ride and see if it might be tolerable for you or not. You can also read descriptions of rides on many parks’ websites, so if a roller coasters mentions inversions or a tall height requirement, it might not be for you.
  • Look for add-on events. Lots of parks have add-on events you can participate in for an additional cost. Often times this is not riding a ride. For instance, the Dine with Orcas at SeaWorld Orlando is an add-on event where you can eat lunch while watching a show with an orca! That is thrilling, but totally accessible to everyone! SeaWorld features tons of animal experience add-ons and Walt Disney World has several tours as well. Universal Orlando even has some free behind the scenes tours of their rides!

So, there you have my theme park tips for scaredy cats! Do you have any tips?