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Navigating the Airport with Ease!

October 26, 2020 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

If you have flown in the last few years, you know probably already know that getting through airport security can be stressful and may even lead to significant delays.  Before I became a Travel Agent, I used to work for Homeland Security as a TSA officer, and I have picked up a few tips that will help you navigate security easily and hopefully as quickly as possible. 

Get to the airport two hours early.

First one you have probably heard over and over again, but it is essential, especially in larger airports.  While most of the time, this will leave you with spare time at the gate, it’s better to be safe than sorry.  Many times, an entire checkpoint can be close for various reasons which can cause major delays, having extra time will ensure you make it to your flight on time. Don’t count on the airlines holding the flights even when there are significant issues with security.  

Find the checkpoint with the shortest wait times.

If your airport is the hub for a major airline, the checkpoints furthest from that airline will typically have much short wait times.  Several airports are actually, now posting wait times near the airline check-in counters.  If you are in a larger airport, take a peek at these and see which ones are shorter.  But be sure you can get to your gate through that checkpoint first, many airports are set up where you can only access specific gates through certain checkpoints.  Some airports are even listing wait times on their websites.   Now if those numbers are low, don’t think you can now get to the airport later than the two hours, things happen, and those numbers can drastically change quickly.

Have your IDs and tickets out and ready to go

Once you arrive at TSA, have your IDs and tickets ready.  To help expedite, each person should be holding their own paper ticket, even kids.   Kids under the age of 18 do not need an ID to get through TSA, but the agent at the podium may ask them their name to verify they are the person on the ticket.  If you have digital tickets, make sure they are open on your phone and ready to go. Don’t wait until you step up to the podium to open the app.  Also, have a printed back up in just in case.  Phones are not always 100% reliable (cell service is out, battery dies, it decides to update at that exact moment, etc.), if you can’t pull up your ticket you will have to get out of line and back up to the airline check-in counter then back through the line.

Take out those toiletries.

To get through the line as quickly as possible, be sure to take out your toiletries, even if they are within the legal limit.  The limit is each item can be no larger than 3.4 ounces each, and they must all fit into a quart-sized bag, and only one bag per person (3-1-1 rule).  If you have them out, they will not need to search your bag if something looks slightly large or just strange.  Plenty of bags are pulled and searched just because the agent on the x-ray couldn’t tell what it was.  If they are in a bin, the agent can pick it up to make sure it is good to go.   

It’s not just liquids.

The rule above is not just for liquids. It also goes for gels, aerosols, and paste.  That includes toothpaste, body scrubs, lotions, and even butter.  Yes butter, you would be surprised what people fly with. If it is weird, you are better off taking it out of your bag and putting it in a bin.  Things like the five pound Hersey Kiss you got at Hersey Park, or the giant bag of jelly beans, or the human femur (yes it happened), or your dog’s ashes.  Even though all of those are ok to fly with, they look very strange on an x-ray.  If you take them out of your bag, you will avoid having your bag pulled, swabbed, and searched.   Also, just because you bought it at the airport does not mean it can go past security.  Be sure to purchase those toiletries and gifts like snow globes after you get past security at the gate.   The exception to this is duty-free liquors, but they need to be packed correctly by the shop, and you must have your receipt.  

Laptops out

One of the biggest reasons why bags get checked is laptops and other large electronics left in the bag.  If you don’t have a bag designed to have the laptop one side, take the laptop out of your bag and place it in a bin by itself.  If it is small enough, you can put stuff on the side but not on top or under it.  That goes even for jackets or hats.  If they can’t get a good view, they may have to re-run the bin slowing down the process and causing you a delay in getting to your gate.  Even if you do have a bag where the laptop is by itself, make sure there is nothing else in that section like papers, folders, or other electronics.

Everything out of your pockets

If you are traveling with a child under the age of 13, the entire family can go through the metal detector.  Stay together as a family until everything is in the x-ray machine, and then the officer at the metal detector should wave you through one at a time.  If you guys split up, they won’t know that you are all in the same family and may send some of you through the AIT (the body scanner).  Everyone over the age of 13 still needs to take their shoes off.

If you are not going through the metal detector, you will be going through the AIT (Advanced Imaging Technology).  Be sure to take off your shoes, hat, jackets, belts and everything out of your pockets and send it through the x-ray.  That means everything. Even tissues will be picked up.  Also, if you are wearing ‘bling’ on the back of your jeans, don’t be surprised if the machine picks it up.  Might want to save those for non-traveling days or you might end up getting a brief pat down to your backside (or where ever the bling is).

TSA Pre-Check

These tips will help you get through faster and without issue, but the number one way to get through security fast is to sign up for TSA Pre-Check.  The cost is around $85 for five years, so about $17 per year.  You do need to fill out an application and do a background check, but after you are approved, you can leave your shoes on and everything in your bag. You can even wear your favorite pair of blingy jeans.  On average passengers with Pre-check wait 5 minutes or less to get through security.

Thank you to our Marvelous Mouse agent Jennifer Suissa for this great information! When you are ready to plan your next vacation reach out to one of our travel experts!

www.marvelousmousetravels.com/contactus

Filed Under: All-Inclusive, Disney, General Travel, Universal Parks Tagged With: adult trip, Christmas, covid, family travel, family trip, flights, flying pack list, holiday travel, packing tips, travel, travel tips, vacation, when to fly

What You Need to Know About Walt Disney World’s Reopening!

July 15, 2020 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Reopening Review

A fellow agent friend and I traveled to Walt Disney World last week to attend the Annual Pass Preview.  We got to see what the airports, airlines, transportation services, hotels, and theme parks are doing to manage the health and safety of their guests.
The #1 thing:  masks are required at all times, inside and outside.  You can remove them while eating or drinking, but to keep you and everyone around you safe, masks are required.
The #2 thing:  I felt very safe with the procedures in place.  We flew from the Atlanta airport to Orlando and back, flew Southwest round-trip, rode Disney’s Magical Express, stayed at Contemporary’s Bay Lake Tower, went to Universal’s City Walk, Disney’s Disney Springs, and Disney’s Magic Kingdom.  Temperature checks were required to enter the parks along with normal security procedures.
We sweat a lot, but we had the best time!  It was awesome, and when you feel comfortable traveling again, I know you will have an amazing time! I can’t wait to help you plan your next vacation!
               

We enjoyed short wait times, characters showing up at random times either on a stage/a balcony or in a cavalcade.  Social distancing was enforced and well marked.  If there was a snake in the line, plexi-glass was installed so you weren’t on top of anyone.  On rides, rows were kept empty between different parties like you see on the Small World boats in the collage.  For shows, rows were marked “closed,” and seats were marked between parties. See image below at the Carousel of Progress.  Speaking of a carousel, see the collage to the left?  The Cast Member between the horses is spraying every horse and pole/handle down between rides.

Seeing characters, like the County Bears, was such a fun treat.  I have only seen them in the show (Animatronics) or in special parades, so for them to just appear was a great way to get that Disney magic we all crave.

When can I take off my mask?  
Dining is one of the best parts of any vacation, and now, it was also a great time to take a rest from the mask.  Table-service dining is now a must on your park day; you can enjoy the AC and take off your mask.
At the dining locations, you can scan menus, scan a QR code to check-in to your table-service reservation, or place a mobile order at quick-service locations.
There are relaxation areas to have a snack/take a break from your mask.

We took advantage of these areas!!

Disney Springs and Disney’s On-Site Bus Transportation
We shopped till we dropped, and no Disney Springs visit is complete without some Ghirardelli’s! We rode Disney’s bus transportation from Disney Springs back to our on-site hotel.  The social distancing was really easy to maintain! Masks were required on the bus and while you wait in line.  Also, in the restaurants and shops, you had to wear your mask and keep your distance.  Stores were limiting the number of guests allowed inside at one time, so we waited outside along the “please wait here” ground markings until it was our turn.

As you can see, Walt Disney World is doing things right considering the circumstances.
I would be remiss to not add a section about Universal Orlando; we didn’t go into their parks, but we did check out the Hard Rock Hotel and City Walk.  Like WDW, we were comfortable and pleased with their health and safety procedures as well.
As you enter the hotels, employees will check your temperature
and give you a colored band (changes each day) to show that you
have been checked and are below 100.4 degrees.
COVID warnings and social distancing markers are throughout the property.
Social distancing continues on the boats that take you between City Walk and the hotels.

So lets get your trips to Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World booked. I can book you through 2021 for Universal Orlando and through 9/26/2021 for Walt Disney World.  I was so impressed with both companies, not that I am surprised, during these difficult times; they really put health and safety above all else without skimping on the magic.  Let me help you get there! Contact me today!
alyssa@marvelousmousetravels.com

Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, Disney, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, Epcot, Food, General Travel, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Special Events, Universal Orlando Resort, Walt Disney World Tagged With: adult trip, Disney Parks, family, family resort, family travel, family trip, galaxy's edge, holiday travel, hotel, kids, now more than ever, orlando, tips, travel, vacation, Walt Disney World, when to fly, Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Turn Your Red-Eye Into Some Shut Eye

May 15, 2019 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

Thank you to Heath Hullihen for these great tips on flying!

Sleeping well on a plane has developed into a certain kind of art and into a healthy business with savvy travelers constantly scoping out new ways to make long flights more conducive to actual rest. Here are a few that really seem to have some payoff.

Splurge on a better seat. Sure, not everyone can afford a premium seat in first or business class, where you can take advantage of fully- or almost-fully-reclining seats and loads of leg room. But for long-distance flights, it can still be worth it to spend the extra money on an exit-row seat, a bulkhead seat, or a window seat. Flying on off-peak days, like a Tuesday evening, will also increase the likelihood that the flight will be less crowded and quieter.

Do the best you can with flight times and direct flights. While crossing many time zones always poses its own sleep challenges, do your best to pick a flight time and schedule that will sync up most naturally with your sleeping and waking times. Leaving in the evening will work better than trying to get REM at three in the afternoon.

Know your cues. Which side of the bed do you sleep on at home? Book on that side of the plane. Do you usually have a cup of tea before bed? Bring a few packets of your favorite herbal. And grab your own small travel blanket and comfy slippers while you’re at it (the airline pillow or blanket can be used for extra cushioning or lumbar support if you like). Spritz your pillow with a mild lavender essential oil. The more familiar things you can do, the more your brain will recognize the cues that it’s time for rest.

Sweet darkness, sweet silence. On most trans-oceanic flights, you’ll see the blue glow of nearly every seat-back screen flickering, no matter the time. We know that the type of light emitted by screens is proven to disrupt sleep. For any rest at all — let alone good rest — keep your screen off. Bring an eye mask or cap to block out as much light as possible. Use earplugs or noise-canceling headphones to create the quietest environment you can.

Buckle up over the blanket. When the plane hits turbulence, flight attendants are required to make sure people are safely buckled in. If they can’t see that your seat belt is fastened, they have to disturb you to check. Make it easy for them and for you — simply click the buckle over the blanket.

Rather than paying more for less in the airport, do some quick research before you leave to find the best travel pillow for you. There are dozens to choose from, and they range widely in price, portability, and visual quirkiness. Check out reviews like this one  http://www.travelandleisure.com/style/travel-accessories/best-travel-pillows#therm-a-rest-compressible from the Travel + Leisure — and note how the reviewer coordinates the best pillows with each type of sleeper. Chances are, there’s a pillow out there that will support your head and neck and give you the rest you need.

What are your best tips for getting good sleep on an airplane? I’d love to hear them. And if you’re ready to plan your next (well-rested) journey, we are here to help! You can reach us today at www.MarvelousMouseTravels.com

 

Filed Under: All-Inclusive, Animal Kingdom, Beaches, Disney, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, Epcot, Food, General Travel, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Sandals, Special Events, Uncategorized, Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Parks, Universal Studios Hollywood, Walt Disney World Tagged With: best travel pillow, family travel, flights, flying pack list, international travel, packing list, travel, when to fly

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