Disney

Holiday Treats Galore!

December 19, 2020 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

It’s the yummiest time of the year! Take a look at these delicious treats our Marvelous Mouse agent Mary Alys Foutz and her family experienced on their recent Walt Disney World vacation!

You can never go wrong with cupcakes! There are so many festive choices this time of year, you are sure to find the perfect one! Check out Main Street Bakery in Magic Kingdom, they always have a great selection!

One of my personal favorites the Mickey Crispy Treat gets a holiday makeover and taste better than ever!

Let’s talk milkshakes for a minute! Just A Dream Away Shake, I love the name and I bet it’s amazing! Salted caramel with a silver sugar churro! Yes, please! You will find this deliciousness at Auntie Gravity’s in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom.

I love the classic carrot cake whoopie pie at Disney’s Hollywood Studios so I’m really excited to try this Red Velvet whoopie pie for the holidays! Red Velvet cake, cream cheese filling and sprinkles, perfection!

Do you love pecan pie? Are you a rice crispy treat fan? If so you will definitely want to try this Rice Crispy Pecan Pie from Disney Springs!

These are just a few treats for you and your family to enjoy this Christmas season. Don’t forget about the Holiday Cookie Stroll at Epcot! Calories don’t count on vacation, right?

Medical Care While On Vacation

December 9, 2020 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

Thank you to our Marvelous Mouse agent Megan Guinnup for sharing her experience on receiving medical care for her little while while on vacation at Walt Disney World!

I know – it’s that taboo topic no one wats to talk about, because it’s not something you want to deal with on your vacation…. Unfortunately, I had to on one of our recent Walt Disney World vacations!

What happened? My youngest woke up in the middle of the night and was burning up. He had recently had surgery, so the fever warranted a trip to the ER. After consulting my Medical Care Tips sheet in my client packet, I contacted the Front Desk at our resort, and they called Reedy Creek EMTs to transport us to Celebration Hospital ER in an ambulance. Everyone made sure he was safely secure on the gurney before we even left the room and the manager gave us a voucher for a taxi back – totally unexpected and very much appreciated!!! My little guy loved the ride, the EMTs were super kind and very considerate with my (then) 1 year old! We were well taken care of at the ER, we left with a prescription and instructions on how to fill it, and used our taxi voucher to head back to the resort.

When we arrived back at the resort (still basically the middle of the night), the Cast Member at the Front Desk asked us to wait a moment while she got the manager. The manager asked which park we were headed to the next day, and gave us some extra fast passes so that we could sleep in a bit but not miss out on too much!!! They also gave us the card of a pharmacy that will fill and deliver your meds to you on property – either at your resort or in a park (they will meet you at First Aid or at the gate).

Nope, that’s not all! The manager had noticed we were celebrating my husband’s safe return from yet another deployment to Afghanistan, so she arranged for a gorgeous and tasty treat to be delivered to our room, along with some goodies for my kids! What started out as a nightmare vacation turned into the most magical and pixie dust filled visit we’ve ever had!

So if you have any sickness or medical trouble while at Walt Disney World, make sure you head to First Aid (if you’re in the parks) or call down to the Front Desk at your resort to ensure you receive the care you or your family member needs!

For more information on a Walt Disney World vacation of your own, please contact us here at Marvelous Mouse Travels!

Amy’s Gluten Free Around the World Adventures…Disney World, that is!

November 26, 2020 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

Take a gluten free food journey with Marvelous Mouse agent Amy Wold!

Disney World is seriously the best vacation spot I’ve been since being diagnosed with celiac disease in 2014. At home I don’t struggle with being gluten free, actually I rarely even think about it. Traveling/eating out is a different story, and let me tell you, intestinal issues while traveling ruins the fun! So, while I loved Disney before going gluten free, I REALLY love Disney now.

Our last vacation was filled with delicious foods! I apologize for not taking pictures of everything I ate, but I will do my best to describe. Oh, and we had the Disney Dining plan, which I love so I can order whatever I want on the menu not worrying about the cost. < think: filet mignon> Also, just a heads up – the gluten free food at Disney World is normal, delicious food! Not just one dry bun that you get sick of. Tons of different options!

Breakfast #1: Art of Animation Resort, Landscape of Flavors

I really like this food court, and have heard that it has the best selection of all the Value Resorts. I talked to the chef, and ordered one fried egg over hard, one piece of bacon, Simba waffles (They called them “character waffles”), and a side of fruit. The waffles had the perfect mix of crisp outer and soft inner. All of it was delicious!

Breakfast #2: Wilderness Lodge, Roaring Fork

My wonderful hubby walked down and picked up an order of gluten free toast with a side of peanut butter for me, and brought it back up to our room. They put a lot more bread in than we were expecting, so there was enough for four of us to eat for breakfast! This was something like $3 too – very economical! The toast was perfectly toasted. No complaints!

Breakfast #3: Wilderness Lodge, Whispering Canyon Café

We were not in a hurry to get to the parks on this day, so decided to take a leisurely breakfast at the table service restaurant at our resort. This time I ordered fried eggs, toast, bacon, and a side of fruit. I’m kind of boring at breakfast! My daughter, who is also gluten free, ordered the Mickey waffles. They were served with whipped cream and strawberries! Her review was two thumbs up.

Breakfast #4: Kind bar on the way to the bus. What? We were in a hurry to ride Navi River Journey! 😉

Breakfast #5: Magic Kingdom, Be Our Guest

I just love this restaurant! I ordered the scrambled egg whites that came with chicken sausage, roasted tomatoes, and fresh fruit. The eggs looked grossly white (and like they were cooked in a microwave,) so I was expecting them to be gross and bland, but they really were good! I’m not anti-yolk, and would never order only the whites unless that was the only option. The roasted tomatoes were a nice touch. (I love roasted veggies!) The sausage was kind of dry, but had good flavor. They also bring what they call “pastries” to the table. The gluten free version of that was an assortment of quick breads like banana, chocolate, and cinnamon. They were pretty good, but not great. The chocolate one was a bit soggy – I think it had fruit in it, but the sogginess made me not want to even eat more than a bite. I really think the draw to this restaurant is the beautiful ambiance more than the food (at least for breakfast and lunch,) especially if you are a fan of Beauty and the Beast! My favorite room is the Grand Ballroom with the snow falling when you look out the windows. <3 It was the perfect start to a fun Magic Kingdom day.

Snack #1: One of my favorite snacks at Disney World is the frozen chocolate covered banana. I feel so healthy when I eat it, so that’s a plus. This I ate it as we were walking around Animal Kingdom, and I’m pretty sure I left a trail of chocolate pieces behind me. It was kind of crumbly!

Snack #2: Mickey ice cream bar. What can I say? So good. Vanilla ice cream with flavorful chocolate covering. You know how sometimes the chocolate on an ice cream bar tastes like wax? This one didn’t. It tasted like good quality chocolate. I ate this while watching the fireworks at Magic Kingdom.

Snacks #3 & 4: Dole Whip! At Aloha Aisle I ordered the swirl Dole Whip the first time eating that frosty goodness after getting completely drenched on Splash Mountain. Warning: use the ziplock bag to protect your phone! Also, at Aloha Aisle the line was very long, so we used the mobile order. Super slick. Definitely do that. The second Dole Whip was savored at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort’s Pineapple Lanai (but we sat at the tables by the water feature at Trader Sam’s overlooking the water.) I prefer the regular Dole Whip to the swirl.

Snack #5: Epcot Flower and Garden Food Booth Called Flavor Full Kitchen

Here I ordered the citrus-poached salmon with ancient grain salad, roasted vegetables, and citrus greens. It was delicious! I loved th citrus flavor in the salmon and on the greens. Note: I have read to double check the things marked gluten free at the festival, so did just that. For my salmon the workers called the chef who verified that it was safe for me to eat. Over at France I was eagerly anticipating a macaron that was labeled gluten free. Sure enough, they told me it definitely is not gluten free so don’t eat it. I feel like if it is labeled gluten free it should be gluten free! Epic fail at the France pavilion.

Why Vacationing In A Mask Is The Most Normal Thing You Can Do Right Now!

November 21, 2020 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

Marvelous Mouse agent Lindsay Smith gives us a great perspective on traveling during this unusual time!

When travel resumed in June, travel agents everywhere jumped in the first available plane, train or
automobile that would take them to their favorite vacation destinations. When the CDC lifted the No Sail Order last month, Royal Caribbean announced that in just 24 hours, more than 20,000 people had signed up for their mock sailings – many of whom were travel agents.

Travel agents were sure that clients would feel the same about travel resuming and would be thrilled to pack their bags and finally take their long-awaited vacations. However, the growing sentiment is not fear of Coronavirus, but rather, “I don’t want to wear a mask on my vacation. I don’t want to be reminded of this virus during my personal time.”

I get it. I will follow all rules and regulations and wear my mask when required, but it’s not my idea of a good time. However, I wanted to travel. My family wanted to travel. My friends wanted to travel. Even more so – we NEEDED to travel.

According to a report from the CDC on August 14, 2020, symptoms of anxiety disorder and depressive disorder increased considerably during April-June 2020. Our vacations were cancelled. Our family gatherings were cancelled. Our daily way of life was cancelled. We remained indoors to protect ourselves and others. For the foreseeable future, our holiday traditions will most likely be altered because of limits on social gatherings.

A study conducted by Nature Neuroscience in early 2020 tracked 132 people prior to the Coronavirus pandemic. Baseline assessments measured depression and anxiety and geolocation tracking apps tracked their activity, along with text messages asking about their current mood at random times during the study. At the end of the study, participants repeated the same initial depression and anxiety assessment as well as MRI scans. The results were a strong correlation between positive emotions and diverse activity, and participants responded with emotions such as “happy”, “relaxed” and “excited” when the tracker showed the respondent visiting different locations throughout the day.

A quick Google search will return numerous studies with the same outcome. In this alternate universe we are living in, traveling, even in a mask, is one of the most normal things you can do and could be beneficial in elevating your mood and overall outlook. Traveling in a mask doesn’t remind you of your current situation; it helps you escape it – safely.

I will never forget the first trip my family took in June to a beach house in Oak Island, NC. After 3 nights, we began the drive home and my 7 year old started to cry. He didn’t want to go back home. He didn’t want to go back to an environment where he stared at the same walls every day and was reminded of everything he was missing. The vacation was the most normal he had felt in months – even while wearing a mask!

We visited Walt Disney World in August with the same result. Face coverings are
required in the parks and all public areas but my children didn’t complain once. Sure, the experience was a little different but the outcome was the same. Smiles. Excitement. Fresh air. Escape.

Thinking of cancelling your next trip because of mask requirements? This is where your travel agent can be a huge asset! Express your concerns. Work with your agent to come up with a travel solution that works best for you! There are many destinations, such as all-inclusive resorts, that do not require a mask while on site because of pre-testing requirements! Still want to travel to Walt Disney World but worried about a mask? Your travel agent can help you plan activities and “mask-breaks” that will make your trip more enjoyable!

I encourage you to take the trip. Travel out of the box you’ve been living in since early 2020. By waiting for mask requirements to be lifted, you may be missing out on exactly what you didn’t know you needed! Take advantage of these opportunities to escape your “new normal” and find the joy in traveling again!

Take a Look at the Carnival Panorama!

October 31, 2020 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

Our Marvelous Mouse agent Jaclyn Vercillo had the opportunity to check out the new Carnival Panorama! Let our experts help you plan your next cruise vacation!

The last time I was on a Carnival Cruise ship I was nine years old and believe it or not I came home with a 1st place trophy for a bikini contest. Now I know what you are thinking, but this was the early 90’s people. I heard “Bikini Contest in 5 minutes” and I raced to my room to grab my T-shirt that had a body with a bikini on it. Needless to say I beat out quite the crowd of contestants and my family was left with a fond and hilarious memory.Flash forward to almost 30 years later, I stepped onboard Carnival’s new ship the Panorama for the Feast of Fun and the ship naming ceremony. I truly didn’t know what to expect because I have been an avid DCL and Royal Caribbean Cruiser and in all honestly I have viewed Carnival as a cheaper “party cruise” boat. Well from the moment I stepped onboard, I started to eat crow. I was completely blown away but the decadence of the ship and all it has to offer. When we walked in we were swept through the Casino where they have a 2 story tall Panoramic screen (see what they did there) with floating stingrays hovering over the bar area. It was stunning. I then headed into the shop atrium to enjoy the music and see what was available. Well if diamonds and jewelry are your thing (they should be) then this is your stop, and gents the watch selection will make your mouth water. Beauty shops and Swarovski items are also glimmering throughout the shopping plaza. It’s 3 stories so give yourself some time to shop. They also have an adorable candy shop for the kids with a Dr. Seuss theme.

Speaking of kids, I snuck away to check out the tween and teen centers. Parents get ready to not see your kids at all on your trip because these areas are kid heaven. They also have a full arcade for kids and wait for it…they have the indoor trampoline park Skyzone ON THE SHIP! That was a first for me and I think it will be enjoyed by big and little kids.

Next I headed to the outside pool decks for the ship naming ceremony and the beautiful Vanna White did the honors as the ships Godmother. Emeril Lagasse also made an appearance since his culinary works will be on future ships and Guy Fieri came out since his restaurant is on the ship. It was quite the crew.

After the ceremony we roamed around the ship and had fantastic appetizers from the restaurants on the ship. Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse is beautiful, I ate a ton of sushi from Bonsai Sushi, and the pulled pork sandwich from Guy’s Pig and Anchor Smokehouse was incredible. With a full belly I decided to head into the piano bar and listen to some wonderful music.

Next up we sat down to a 3 course dinner. The menu featured a wide variety of cuisine from each restaurant but since I already had sushi, pulled pork sandwiches, and rock shrimp tempura, I decided to go the Italian route. First, can I talk about the bread basket?! It was incredible and on par with any fine dining restaurant I have been to. The Focaccia bread melted in your mouth and the butter was served with a little olive oil and sea salt. For my appetizer I had Il Capitano’s Signature Arancini which also melted in your mouth and my main course was Cavatelli with veal and pork shank bolognaise. Now I am Italian and have been to some of the best restaurants in Italy, and I have to say this pasta was amazing! There is a difference with handmade pasta and it showed in this meal and the sauce was amazing. My only downfall was dessert. You guys I was too full to eat it! But it looked beautiful and my fellow travel agents looked like they were enjoying it!

A few other highlights from this ship that delighted me were the Carnival Culinary Experience, the Havana Bar, the kids waterslides and play area, as well as all the live entertainment and shows. The Carnival Culinary experience looks amazing and I was able to meet the chefs. The kitchen is beautiful and you can enjoy gourmet cooking classes with wonderful wine pairings. Perfect date night while the kids are in the kids club! The Havana Bar was beautiful and had fantastic music. And the live entertainment and shows will blow you away! I don’t want to give away too much but you will be on the edge of your seat.

A major highlight for me was the Hero Bar in honor of those who are currently serving or have served our country. It’s a beautiful space and what a great way to meet up with other service members, or for people like myself, to drop in and thank them for their service.

Last thing I will touch on are the accommodations. What I loved about this ship was that they had a large quantity of suites and larger rooms for families. It’s often hard to accommodate larger parties but the Carnival Panorama has taken care of that. The rooms are not cramped at all and the theming is spectacular. But I have to say on this ship, you won’t be spending much time in your room with everything they have on board!

I was really impressed and I am lucky it’s home port is so close to me. Thank you Carnival Panorama for broadening my travel horizons!