travel tips

Don’t Make This Mistake When Visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

March 5, 2021 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

Before visiting the parks make sure you watch a few if not all of the movies! There are so many hidden things throughout the Wizarding World. Even if you are not a Potter fan, to truly get the full experience you will need some background on what is going on!

As a Muggle it may be hard to find the entrance to the Wizarding World in Universal Studios so when you find 12 Grimmauld Place and spot the night bus, you will know you are close!

When you do find Diagon Alley be sure to pay attention to the details it is incredible! My personal favorite is Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes.

However each shop is so fun to explore and see come to life!

You also will be able to ride Gringotts which is inside the bank and should not be missed!

Now here is where you can make a big mistake, without a park to park ticket you won’t be able to ride the Hogwarts Express! Each way is a different experience and it may be the highlight of the Wizarding World. Also, without a park to park or multi day ticket you will only experience half of the Wizarding World! Don’t make this mistake!

When you are ready to head to Hogwarts and Hogsmeade you will board the Hogwarts Express, Hermoine, Ron and Harry just may be heard at one point on the train.

When you arrive at Hogsmeade you will actually be in the other park – Islands of Adventure. This is where you will find the castle and the highly sought after – Hagrids Motorbike ride.

No matter the wait time. Hagrids should not be missed. Riding the motorbike and riding in the side car are 2 completely different experiences and I highly recommend trying both!

Of course you can’t visit and not try Butter Beer! I absolutely love the frozen one!

So much to do and so much to see on both sides of the parks! Did you know when you buy tickets from me you also receive an extra hour in Harry Potter World for no additional cost? You will need the extra time to explore!

Be sure to check out the castle during the day and at night! So much more magical at night in my opinion. Hagrids also is really fun with everything all lit up and not knowing what is in front of you. I would love to help you plan your visit to the Wizarding World! Be sure to get that park to park ticket so you experience everything as well as book through me for that early park admission!

Contact our Marvelous Mouse agent Nikki Kennedy to get started planning your Epic Universal vacation! https://www.facebook.com/NikkiMMT/

Be sure to grab your copy of our brand new Universal Travel Guide! https://www.amazon.com/Marvelous-Guide-Universal-Orlando-2021-ebook/

Universal Orlando Height Requirements

February 12, 2021 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

Safety is the number one concern at Universal theme parks. We want all guests and visitors of the Universal theme parks to have fun and be safe. At each ride entrance, there is posted signs with the height requirements for riders along with any health warnings. At the front of each park is also a board showing all the heights of the rides in one place so you can easily see which ride your child may be tall enough for.

A Team Member at each ride will check the child’s height and let you know if they are OK to ride. A Team Member further in the que may also ask to recheck their height before allowing them to board. This is always for their safety. I suggest talking to your children in advance if there’s a chance they may not be tall enough to ride an attraction they’re excited for. Remind them why the height requirement is there and assure them it’s for their safety. If the aren’t tall enough for a ride, the gift shops are a great way to still experience it and bring home a souvenir.

Attractions also have warnings posted if needed for pregnant woman or those with certain health concerns. Always check the signage before entering a que if you’re concerned. The Team Members are also there to help if you have any questions about the ride.

The follow is the list of all attractions at both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. Happy riding!

Universal Studios Orlando Height Requirements

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts™*
Must be at least 42″ (107cm). Children between 42″–48″ (107cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
Revenge of the Mummy™*
Must be at least 48″ (122cm).
Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon™
Must be at least 40″ (102cm). Children between 40″–48″ (102cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
MEN IN BLACK™ Alien Attack™
Must be at least 42″ (107cm). Children between 42″–48″ (107cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster™
Must be at least 36″ (91cm). Children between 36″–48″ (91cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
The Simpsons Ride™
Must be at least 40″ (102cm). Children between 40″–48″ (102cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit™*
Must be at least 51″ (130cm) and no more than 79″ (200cm).
E.T. Adventure™
Must be at least 34″ (86cm). Children between 34″–48″ (86cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem™
Must be at least 40″ (102cm). Children between 40″–48″ (102cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion. Persons under 40″ (102cm) must experience this attraction from an adjacent stationary seat.
TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D
Must be at least 40″ (102cm). Children between 40″–48″ (102cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
Fast & Furious – Supercharged™
Must be at least 40″ (102cm). Children between 40″–48″ (102cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.

Islands of Adventure Height Requirements

Skull Island: Reign of Kong™
Must be at least 36″ (91cm). Children between 36″–48″ (91cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man®
Must be at least 40″ (102cm). Children between 40″–48″ (102cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
The Incredible Hulk Coaster®
Must be at least 54″ (137cm).
Doctor Doom’s Fearfall®*
Must be at least 52″ (132cm).
Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls®*
Must be at least 44″ (112cm). Children between 44″–48″ (112cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges®
Must be at least 42″ (107cm). Children between 42″–48″ (107cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
Jurassic Park River Adventure™
Must be at least 42″ (107cm). Children between 42″–48″ (107cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
Pteranodon Flyers™
Please note that Pteranodon Flyers™ is designed for children 36″–56″ (91cm-142cm) tall. A child meeting this requirement must accompany guests over 56″ (142cm) tall. Children between 36″–48″ (91cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
Flight of the Hippogriff™
Must be at least 36″ (91cm). Children between 36″–48″ (91cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™*
Must be 48″ (122cm).
Cat in the Hat™
Must be at least 36″ (91cm). Children between 36″–48″ (91cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!™
Must be at least 36″ (91cm). Children between 36″–48″ (91cm-122cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion.

*These rides have test seats available so that guests can determine comfort and fit for themselves before riding.

Thank you to our Marvelous Mouse agent Marisha Gordon for this helpful information! If you are interested in a Universal Orlando vacation reach out to Marisha https://www.facebook.com/TravelsByMarisha or our agency https://marvelousmousetravels.com/contactus/ to be connected with a Universal Specialist!

Top 10 Tips to Stay Safe While Traveling

January 26, 2021 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

Marvelous Mouse Agent Jen McGurn shares with us her top 10 travel safety tips! You can connect with Jen here! https://www.facebook.com/JenMMarvelousMouseTravels

1) Do your research. Even though I am a travel agent and I provide my clients so much information about their destinations and resorts and/or cruise ship, I always recommend that they do some research on their own just so they feel confident about their destination. The more confident you are as traveler, the better off you will be on so many levels!

2) Make sure someone at home has copy of your itinerary.

3) Stay in well-populated, well-lit areas and always be aware of your surroundings. If possible, do not travel alone.

4) Do not accept drinks from strangers and never leave your drink unattended. If using the mini-bar, examine the bottle for evidence of tampering.

5) Don’t carry a lot of cash. The less cash you carry, the less you will lose if anything happens to your wallet.

6) Don’t share a cab. While it may be enticing to split the fare, it’s not worth the risk. Always find out the fare before accepting the ride.

7) Photocopy all important information including your passport, both sides of your credit cards, travel itinerary, other ID’s and contact information. Leave one copy with a friend or relative back in the States and another in your room safe or email the documents to your account for easy access. In the event of a theft, you will have the information to fax to the U.S. Embassy and be able to get an emergency replacement passport. Having your credit card information will make it easier to report your card lost or stolen.

8)Blend in! Try not to wear clothing that screams tourist! Be aware many countries and islands have clothing laws or guidelines. For example, on many Caribbean islands it is illegal to wear camouflage, that is reserved strictly for the military.

9) When visiting beaches, always wear water shoes. They protect your feet from rocks, broken shells, hot sand or sea urchins!

10) Last, but certainly not least, protect yourself and your travel investment with travel insurance. If something does go wrong, travel insurance can help you with medical bills, lost luggage, delayed flights, weather related evacuations and so much more!

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!

Discover Sandals Resorts in Montego Bay!

November 30, 2020 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

Our Marvelous Mouse agent Jen McGurn shares with us her recent experience at Sandals Royal Caribbean and Sandals Montego Bay! Protocols and procedures are always changing, be sure to check with your travel agent for the most up to date Covid requirements for your destination. If you do not have an agent reach out to us! We would love to curate your next adventure!

I recently had the opportunity to spend 5 days at Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort. During my stay, I toured the resort, as well as Sandals Montego Bay. Join me as I share information on both resorts, as well as talk about the health screening process required for entry into Jamaica and the safety protocols in place at the resorts.

Let’s start by talking about my trip preparation and arrival in Jamaica. Jamaica is requiring a negative COVID test for entry. At the time of this post, you need to be tested between 10 and 2 days prior to travel. My husband and I both tested at a local Urgent Care Facility and thankfully tested negative. Jamaica is very specific about the documentation you need to present in order to be allowed entry. This is where having a travel agent can be especially helpful! We literally saw people being denied entry because they did not have the proper paperwork! We made sure everything was in place, applied for our Travel Authorization and anxiously awaited our trip!

At our airport, we were required to present the appropriate forms and test results prior to check in. Once we arrived, all of our documentation was checked again at Customs. We booked a service called Club Mobay and I would never travel to Jamaica without it. We were greeted at the gate and escorted through the entire process. We bypassed a huge line and went straight through. The entire process took about one hour from touch down to resort shuttle.

Now, on to the fun stuff! Sandals provides complimentary transfers to and from your resort. For the transports, whether a shared shuttle or private vehicle (based on your room category), masks are required by the driver and all passengers. The 2 resorts in Montego Bay that I visited are a very short ride from the airport. We were greeted at the entrance with cool towels, water and porters who handled getting our luggage right to our room.

As guests booked in a Butler category room, we were taken to the Club Sandals lounge for private check-in. We were offered a variety of finger foods and beverages. We decided to toast the start of our vacation with champagne. Our Butler greeted us once check-in was complete and gave us a walking tour of the entire resort, even stopping to make sure we had the drink of the day right off the bat! He also gave us a complete overview of our room and asked what we would like to have our in room mini bar stocked with during our stay. Our room was absolutely beautiful! We had a large balcony that overlooked our semi-private pool, a King Size 4 Poster bed, and a jetted tub/shower combination. We also were located just steps from the main pool, dining and 2 bars!

Throughout our stay, we took advantage of the Water Sports that are included with your stay. We went snorkeling and enjoyed a ride on a glass bottom boat. We also spent quite a bit of time on the private island, which is just a short, complimentary boat ride away.

Let’s talk food and drinks! Between the two resorts, you have 21 Restaurants to choose from. They range from counter service options for pizza, sandwiches, Jerk Fish or chicken and Empanadas to full service, gourmet dining. There is something for even the pickiest eater. We primarily ate at our resort , but we did enjoy two of our favorite dinners at Sandals Montego Bay. We also loved Cafe de Paris, where we would go for iced coffee and sweet treats.

There are several bars located on each property, including swim up bars so you don’t need to leave the pool to get a drink! Each resort has a drink of the day, as well as your favorites. The bartenders are super accommodating and the drinks are made with top shelf liquor.

Alright, back to that Butler! Butler service is absolutely worth the splurge! Shout-out to Nicolas and Steve, our amazing Butlers. In addition to making dining and activity reservations for us, they also escorted us to dinner each night. Each night, they would check in to see what we would like in our cooler that they filled for us when they reserved us a spot on the beach. We were greeted by a treat or two each afternoon. We returned to fresh cookies, fruit and cheese plates, champagne, a bubble bath and flower petals on the bed. It was heavenly.

Having a Butler also means you can have room service. I awoke each morning to a delicious breakfast with fresh coffee and a Mimosa. Another perk of having a Butler is the private transfers to and from the airport. Nicolas escorted us to the BMW waiting for us on our final day, introduced us to our driver and loaded our bags into the car.

In addition to experiencing the resorts for myself, I also spent a day touring the resorts and seeing a wide variety of room categories.

I was so lucky to get to tour both an Over the Water Villa and and an Over the Water Bungalow! Check out my walkthrough below!

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2810553289234044

Regarding COVID, Sandals is taking every precaution to keep guests safe. As I mentioned, everyone entering the country must provide a negative COVID test. Temperatures are checked upon arrival and it is possible that you will be retested at the airport.

On resort, guests are only required to wear masks when using the shuttle service. Masks are optional the rest of the time. Staff is wearing masks at all times. Rooms are cleaned based on an 18 Touchpoint system. Rooms are cleaned and then sealed from the outside. The common areas throughout the resort are constantly being cleaned. Hand Sanitizer is also required when entering a dining or shopping are. Sandals has over 20 All Inclusive Resorts throughout the Caribbean. At each resort, there are numerous room categories. Being able to experience these resorts first hand is so important for me as your travel partner.

As a travel agent, I am familiar with each category and notice details you may not, such as which rooms have very high beds, whether there is a deep tub to step into or a Walk In Shower (or BOTH!), which rooms are closest to dining and which are right on the beach. So much goes in to choosing the best room for your wants and needs. I also have built personal relationships with the General Managers and Hotel Managers. They encourage us to contact them prior to our clients visiting so that they can take extra good care of them. Additionally, if an issue should arise, I know exactly who to call to get it taken care of ASAP!

If you are engaged, and dreaming of a destination wedding, Sandals is the place for you! Couples receive a free wedding ceremony with a 3 Night Stay. A wedding specialist is assigned to you and they help you create the wedding of your dreams!

Sandals Resorts are All Inclusive.

That means you do not pay extra for any of the inclusions below:

Meals
Drinks, including Top Shelf Alcohol
Entertainment
Water Sports
Round Trip Airport Transfers
Gratuities

If you are interested in planning a romantic escape, honeymoon, vow renewal or destination wedding at one of Sandals stunning Caribbean Resorts, please reach out to Jen or any of our Marvelous Mouse agents! We would love to help you plan an experience you will never forget!