The desire to travel is evident everywhere and thank goodness the world is opening up again!  It's been a long couple of years, but travel, both foreign and domestic is back!
     Last August/September we took an Avalon River Cruise down the Rhine and it was fabulous!  Starting in Amsterdam and ending in Basel, Switzerland, our stops included Cologne, Rudesheim, Mainz/Heidelburg and Breisach in Germany and Strasbourg, France.  Everywhere we went people were out and about, enjoying the sights and, of course, the food and beverages!
     My traveling mascot #MickeyOnTheMove made the trip, complete with change of outfit for various locations!

The ship was wonderful - our cabin and bath quite spacious.  The crew couldn't have been friendlier and more helpful.  We traveled with two other couples and had a ball.

Then it was off on a Bachelorette trip with my daughter and her friends. A day at Walt Disney World preceeded a 3-night cruise on Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas. Everyone enjoyed the beach day at RC's private island Perfect Day at Coco Cay.

October took me to Cancun for the ALG Ascend Conference -- three days of learning and networking.  Staying at the beautiful Secrets The Vine, we managed to have a little fun, too!

     Bottom line is this:  6 countries (7 if you count the U.S.) in 3 months and NO ONE GOT SICK! We felt very comfortable and are heading out again shortly!  We'll be in Florida and two Europe trips this year and I CAN'T WAIT! 
     I hope I can plan some Magical adventures for you, my clients, as well!

​So much has been written about Spain, but there’s nothing like experiencing it for yourself.  After a trip around Southern Spain (Andalucia) along with a few days each in Madrid and Barcelona, you realize how very diverse the country is.  I won’t bore you with all the details of every day of the trip, but I’ll mention a few highlights.
 
The Moorish influence is everywhere in Spain. I knew that Southern Spain had been occupied by the Moors but didn’t realize that at one time 90% of Spain was under Moorish rule.  The Andalusians (Moors) brought Arab architecture, food and customs as they ruled for almost 800 years.  Under Christian rule, the Mudejar style of architecture brought traditional Islamic design elements to traditional Christian Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance styles.  It’s unique and beautiful.
 
Visiting places like the Alhambra in Grenada, you can imagine the splendor that must have been.  While most of the color has washed away over time, the intricacy of the design remains.  The mathematic skill required to create the geometric patterns is evidenced everywhere.  I was particularly glad we went to the Alhambra with a guide in a small group because he really brought the place to life and sparked our imagination. 

​Southern Spain, the Costa del Sol, has lots of tourism and part of the fun for us was discovering some cute little towns along the coast and in the foothills.  Nerja was one of our stops where we had a lovely dinner overlooking the Mediterranean.

​Another cute town was Mijas – one of the many “white” towns in the foothills of Andalucia’s Sierra Nevada mountains.  The buildings are painted white to reflect the hot sun.  We got to Mijas too late to take a cute donkey cart around town, but enjoyed walking around the village.

Our favorite city was Sevilla. We stayed at a very unique hotel – Casas de la Juderia – The Houses of the Jewish Quarter.  As their website says “Crossing the doors of this hotel implies immersing yourself in a Seville unknown to many.  Its 134 rooms, all different, are intermingled between them, through its more than 40 patios, gardens, tunnels and labyrinthine interior streets.”  The location was great for walking to historic sites and many restaurants.  

​We found the “vibe” of Sevilla to be both relaxed and modern. It seemed everyone was out and about, enjoying the neighborhoods.  Even though the weather was still somewhat cool, the outdoor restaurants and tapas bars were busy every night.  Ah, the tapas!  We had some of the best bites here in Sevilla.  We ate at several tapas restaurants and everything was great.  We really thought we’d be eating paella everywhere, but it turns out we only had it once and that was our first night at our resort!

​The big attractions in Seville are the Royal Alcazar and the Cathedral.  A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Alcazar is a royal palace built for the Christian King Peter of Castile, built on the site of an Abbadid Muslim residential fortress, destroyed after the Christian conquest of Seville.  The palace is renowned for its preeminent example of Mudejar architecture and the upper levels are still used by the royal family as their official residence in Seville.

​Across the courtyard from the Alcazar entrance is the Seville Cathedral, the third largest cathedral in the world.  Like many churches and cathedrals in Spain, it is built on what was originally a great mosque and was converted to spaces more suited for Christian worship.  The Giralda bell tower was the former minaret of the mosque, although the topmost sections are from the Renaissance.  It is considered a miracle that the tower survived a strong earthquake in 1365.  The cathedral is also home to the tomb of Christopher Columbus.

One of our favorite places in Malaga was a wine bar/restaurant called Los Patios De Beatas.  We had fabulous tapas and an opportunity to taste several wines from different regions because you could get half-size pours.

​If there weren’t so much more world to see, I would happily travel to Southern Spain again!  I’ll address Madrid and Barcelona in a separate post.

​My husband and I had lunch at Paddlefish in Disney Springs on Friday, March 2nd.  I went in with mixed expectations as I had read several negative reviews.  I am happy to report that this will not be one of those!  It wasn’t terribly busy on this particular Friday at 12:15, but we were immediately seated at a window-side table over Bay Lake with views of Disney Springs and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort.  I might as well get my only negative out of the way and here it is – when you have tables next to huge windows, you need to make sure that the windows are clean.  I’m sure it’s not easy to keep the outsides clean, but bird doo-doo is not very appetizing.  One other thing is that my husband was a little bothered by the motion of the water below him, so if you have any issues with motion sickness, ask for a table away from the windows.

​Built on a “paddleboat”, the restaurant is divided into several rooms and we were seated in the center section which has a very clean, contemporary feel.  Some complain that it lacks nautical themeing, but I found it to be pleasant and upscale. The room at the front of the boat looks a little more nautical with it’s brass railings and there is also outdoor seating.
I started the meal with a Lilly Spritz cocktail. A take on a kir royale, it contains Mas Fi, a brut cava sparkling wine, Cocchi Rosa, a vermouth-like aperativo, and seltzer. It wasn’t very carbonated (maybe the cava had been opened for a while?), but the flavors were great, especially with the aroma of the expressed orange peel floating on top. I would definitely order it again.
Next, we were treated to a tableside preparation of lobster guacamole. The sou chef brought out the cart with the avocados and all the add-in ingredients – cilantro, diced tomato, red onion, mild jalapenos, lime juice – and asked us if we would like to omit anything.  I asked to leave out the jalapenos and go easy on the cilantro and onion.  She expertly mashed and mixed all the ingredients in the large stone bowl, ending with a generous helping of lobster meat.  It was served with house made tortilla chips and I can definitely say that it was one of the best things I’ve ever tasted.  The flavors were just to my liking and I appreciate that customers can have as much or as little heat as they like.

​ For our entrees, I chose the lobster roll and Bill chose the crispy fish sandwich. Yes, the lobster roll is pricey at $31, but it is 1-1/4 pounds of perfectly cooked lobster that you don’t have to extract yourself! In this case, the lobster was truly the star, dressed lightly with mayo and a nice crunch from a little celery. Just a bit of shredded lettuce sat at the bottom of the perfectly tender traditional split roll. I’ll admit reaching for the salt shaker, but otherwise it was just perfect and I was happy to take half of it home.
Bill’s sandwich contained two large pieces of flounder – definitely a knife and fork dish! He was very happy with the light, crispy batter on the fish.  He chose to accompany his sandwich with a side of sweet potato fries.  I have to say that the portions were quite generous.

​Our server, Cory, was very attentive and made sure we were completely satisfied. All in all, I am happy to recommend Paddlefish.  We’ll be back and at some point we’ll want to enjoy a drink on the top deck at sunset!  Thanks, Paddlefish for a lovely lunch.

Tuesday/Wednesday 2/27-28
When we checked into our one-bedroom villa at Disney’s Old Key West Resort, I was reminded how much I enjoy the spacious accommodations.  After 7 nights in 4 locations, it felt great to completely unpack the suitcases and be able to stay in one place for a week. Grocery shopping, golf (Bill) and a pedicure in Celebration (Jan) pretty much rounded-out that first day and it was nice to just make dinner and relax in our own villa.
On Wednesdays and Saturdays, they offer an hour-long tour of the Old Key West resort. We questioned whether we should delay going to the parks but were very glad we stayed back to take the tour.  Of course, we are aware that Disney Imagineers and designers tell a story with everything they create and that includes the resorts.  Conch Flats, the fictional location of Disney’s Old Key West Resort, uses real life people and places to inspire the design and tell the story.  Ernest Hemingway and Henry Flagler play prominently into the property.  Taking this tour reminded me once again of how I would like to create an architectural and design trip to Walt Disney World.
After the tour we headed over to Epcot, mostly to check out opening day of the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival.  I have both positive and negative feelings about this year’s festival.  The first disappointment was discovering that there is no Festival Center this year.  That means no free and low-cost seminars and demonstrations. No wonder I couldn’t find any schedules of them, as I’d been checking daily for weeks. It also saddens me that the Garden Rocks concerts are only on the weekends now, as opposed to every night. On the bright side, the gardens are absolutely beautiful and both new and perennial favorite topiaries grace the entire park.  The other positive is the variety of food offerings at the 15 “outdoor kitchens” featuring some delectable dishes.  We tried the Pear Cider-brined Shredded Corned Beef from the Cider House (United Kingdom), Braised Duck Confit with Parisian Gnocchi at Fleur de Lys (France) and Teriyaki Salmon with Furikake-seasoned Brown Rice from Hanami (Japan).  We enjoyed them all, but if I had to choose a favorite I think it would be the corned beef.

"​Between all the flowers and food, we managed to hit a couple attractions: the reimagined Mission: SPACE (the Green mild version really is very mild now) and the American Adventure. No visit to Epcot would be complete for me without hearing a set by the Voices of Liberty and once again they did not disappoint!
We headed to Disney Springs for dinner to try The Polite Pig for our first time.  You order at the counter and they bring it to your table.  We loved the smoked offerings and the ability to choose your spice level (no spice for me and some spice for hubby) by requesting that some of the fixings be served on the side. They also offer several nice beer choices on tap along with a bourbon bar, and specialty cocktails.
Our goal for the evening was to get over to Magic Kingdom to see “Happily Ever After,” the nighttime fireworks spectacular that replaced "Wishes" last year. While the story line was not as prominent, the projections on the castle were pretty amazing. Did the projections deter from the fireworks themselves? Mixed opinions on that.  I liked it, but you really do need to get a good view of the castle to fully enjoy it.  The other thing we wanted to do at MK was to see the new Hall of Presidents. Well done, although it’s sad that they feel the need to have security guards inside the attraction now – I don’t remember them having to do that in the past.
All in all, a great first day.

My family and I had the pleasure of sailing on the Disney Fantasy with a Star Wars Day at Sea.  It really encompassed more than a day, considering the Star Wars movies playing in the theater all week.  Even though we did not dress in costume ourselves, it was fun to see families getting into the spirit with grown up Darth Vadars and little Princess Leias!

If you sail on the Disney Fantasy with a Star Wars Day at Sea, here are the top ten ways to experience it according to the Disney Parks Blog:
​1. Choose your costume wisely. Before you even step on the ship, choose a side and plan your day’s attire. Whether you resemble Jedi, Wookiees, droids, Stormtroopers or other iconic Star Wars characters, dressing up adds to the fun for young and old alike.
2. Indulge in the Star Wars films. In the days leading up to the epic celebration, check out all of the Star Wars feature films in the Buena Vista Theatre, culminating in a showing of the newest film, Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
3. Encounter heroes who inspire you. New in 2018, you are guaranteed a time to meet and take photographs with C-3PO and R2-D2, Chewbacca and Darth Vader. Before you even step onboard, reserve these character encounters online.

​7. Send your kids to Resistance training. At Star Wars: Command Post, Younglings can embark on an action-packed training adventure with members of the Resistance who will teach them how to hone their skills to defeat First Order Stormtroopers.
8. Cheer as Padawans face the dark side. In “Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple,” Force-sensitive children can learn the ways of the Jedi and use their new-found skills in a final face-off with Darth Vader and, new to 2018, Kylo Ren.
9. Watch the epic saga come to life on stage. The “Summon the Force” deck celebration is where you can unleash the Force during games, music and a galactic dance party. The event features stunts, special effects and favorite Star Wars characters, including Rey for the first time in 2018.
10. Get inspired by a stunning fireworks show. The day’s grand finale is a spectacular pyrotechnics display set to John Williams’ iconic music. Both lifelong Star Wars fans and those new to the adventure are sure to get chills as you watch the pyrotechnic show with family by your side.

I'd love to work with you on booking your next Disney Cruise!  Let's make it a Magical year!

    I was "lucky" enough to have been at Walt Disney World when Hurricane Irma was coming through.  Unlike some natural disasters, when you know a hurricane is coming, you have time to prepare...and boy, does Disney know how to prepare.  I was pretty much in awe of how they took care of their guests and their property.
     My two daughters and I were fortunate to be staying in a 1-bedroom villa at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort, so in addition to the large master bedroom and bath, we had a living room and full kitchen. We were good as long as the power didn't go out...and it didn't.  (Apparently Walt Disney World is on its own power grid and people come to Disney during hurricanes because they know they'll be safe there.)  Just in case, however, Disney resort staff had come around to all the rooms and provided flashlights to the guests in case of a power outage.
     The parks were set to close early in advance of the hurricane, so we made a last trip over to the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot and were amazed to find that the huge parking lot there had become a staging area for literally hundreds of repair vehicles.  By the time we exited the park, the lot was full, including dozens of coach buses who'd carried in emergency workers. 

There was a curfew set and everyone had a curfew, so we knew we'd be stuck in our room for two days.  Disney could have soaked people on food & supplies, but they didn't.  They provided "Ride Out Kits" with food and water for $24 for a family of 4.  Board games were also made available for sale in the gift shops.  Whereas the local grocery stores were completely wiped out of water, Disney had plenty.

You’re spending an exciting day in the parks at Walt Disney World.  There’s an abundance of sensory stimulation, from the exciting attractions to navigating your way from one place to another.  Then, depending when you’re there, there’s the Florida heat.  You may want to take a little break from the crowds and the bustling pace.  Here, in no particular order, are ten places where you can relax and chill out in the parks.
 
At Epcot there are many places to relax, but here are a few of my favorites:
 
1. The American Adventure pavilion – First of all, it’s air conditioned, as are many of my suggestions.  There’s also beautiful artwork on the walls and performances by the talented Voices of Liberty several times a day.  Here’s a tip for listening to Voices of Liberty. The group only faces one direction, so as you enter the rotunda, you’re going to want to sit on the right side facing the left. You’ll see those guests “in the know” sitting on the floor right up to the red terrazzo circle – that’s the best place to hear the group. After you listen to Voices, you can go upstairs and relax in the nice cool, dark theater for a 30 minute show telling the story of our nation’s history featuring audio animatronics, film and music.
 
2. Another cool, dark theater is in the France pavilion where you can enjoy an 18-minute film, Impressions de France, showcasing the country’s beautiful scenery.  Stop in Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie on your way out for a delicious pastry.
 
3. Although it’s not air conditioned, the outdoor courtyard in the back of the United Kingdom pavilion is a lovely garden in which to sit and rest your legs for a bit.  If it’s quiet you’re seeking, avoid this place later in the day when British Revolution performs several times in the late afternoon and evening. The tribute band featuring the music of British rock bands gets the crowd going with favorites from groups like The Rolling Stones, The Who, Queen and more.

4.  A gentle boat ride through the greenhouses in Epcot’s Land pavilion, Living With The Land shows you high-tech horticulture in the “living laboratories”. Some of the produce and seafood grown here is actually used in some of The Land’s restaurants.
 
5.  Disney’s Animal Kingdom features two of the best shows on property – Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo: The Musical.  Watching a show in an air conditioned theatre is an obvious way to cool off, but if you don’t want the stimulation of a show, try taking the Wildlife Express Train from Harambe, Africa to Rafiki’s Planet Watch.  The peaceful, 7-minute ride takes you behind the scenes and along the way you’ll see some of the veterinary facilities where the animals are housed.
 
Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios you’ll find one of my favorite places to take a break and have a beverage:
 
6. Tune-In Lounge – This “cocktail lounge” is the waiting area for the 50’s Prime Time Café restaurant, but if you stop in at non-peak meal times, you can grab a seat at the bar for a refreshing drink. You can even order a milkshake at the bar…try the PB&J shake – you can specify if you want it made with chocolate or vanilla ice cream – it’s so rich that you may want to split it with someone!

7.  Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream is an overlooked attraction, but you can stroll through the exhibits at your own pace. It features over 400 artifacts such as one-of-a-kind animation art, paintings, storyboards, photos, models, props, costumes and more.  At the end of the gallery tour you can watch a 15-minute film about Walt Disney’s life and career hosted by Julie Andrews.
 
Magic Kingdom may be the busiest park with more attractions than the other parks, but there are still a few good places to rest and relax.
 
8.  The Hall of Presidents is a nice air conditioned theater featuring audio animatronic figures of all of our nation’s Presidents.  Several of the Presidents will speak, including Abraham Lincoln giving the Gettysburg Address.  The Hall is closed for several months of refurbishment every time a new President is elected.
 
9.  The Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover is a relaxing 10-minute ride around Tomorrowland, taking you behind the scenes of some of the area’s attractions. Sit back and enjoy the view of guests below you as you glide on the track above Tomorrowland.

​There are certainly more places to rest and relax including the Baby Care Centers in all 4 parks where you can change, feed or nurse your little one.  If you’d like to get out of Magic Kingdom or Epcot for a bit, you can always take a ride on The Monorail.
 
10.  The Monorail has two routes.  The first route connects the Magic Kingdom with three resorts: The Contemporary, Polynesian Village and The Grand Floridian, as well as the Transportation & Ticket Center (TTC) -- adjacent to Magic Kingdom parking.  The second route has two stops: the TTC and Epcot.  Going from Magic Kingdom to Epcot, you would change monorails at the TTC.  You can get off the monorail at any of the three resorts and check out the shops, get a bite to eat, or simply relax in the lobby.
 
Do you have a favorite place to chill when you’re at the parks?  Let me know!

There are so many reasons to stay "on property" when going to Walt Disney World.  Here are my Top Ten.
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10. Free Airport Transfers – When you’re flying in and out of the Orlando International Airport, Disney’s Magical Express takes the stress out of getting to your resort. You are able to bypass baggage claim completely and let Disney personnel pick up your bags. (Ask me details on this.) From the moment your Magical Express bus leaves the terminal, your vacation starts with a welcome video featuring favorite Disney characters. There is no charge to or from when staying at a Disney resort. 

​9.  Free Parking – If you are driving to Walt Disney World or renting car when you get there, parking is free for Disney Resort guests at all parks, resorts and Disney Springs.
 
8.  Themed Resorts – Like everything Disney, the architecture and décor of every resort tells a story.  When you’re staying “in the middle of the magic,” as they like to say, you are immersed in a special place and time…from the cast members’ costumes to the landscaping to the guest room décor.  Take time to notice the artwork on the walls.  It sets your resort in its own place and time period.

​7.  Free transportation to the parks and Disney Springs.  Yes, many outside resorts offer shuttles to the Disney parks, but none run on the continuous loops like the Disney buses.  So if you want to take a midday break, it’s really easy to go back to your resort for a nap or a dip in the pool.  From some resorts you will have more than one option for transportation like monorail or boat in addition to the buses.
 
6.  Resort entertainment – Each resort has its own entertainment options. Whether it’s activities for the kids, live music, themed pools, Movies Under the Stars and more, there are lots of entertainment options that are included with a Disney resort stay.
 
5.  Free Magic Bands – These little wonders hold everything you need on a wristband. They hold your room key, park tickets, FastPasses, PhotoPass photos, dining plan credits and charge card, if you choose to link it, and they’re free to Disney resort guests. You customize them by choosing your color and what name you want printed inside. If you are not staying at a Disney resort, you can buy one starting at $12.99 + tax each.

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​4.  Disney Dining Plan – Only Disney resort guests can purchase one of these money-saving options. The convenience and array of food options is unparalleled, and you can be confident knowing your food is already paid for.  There are several plans to choose from.
 
3.  Magic Your Way package inclusions – Disney resort guests get some extra magic and free stuff like souvenir luggage tags, free rounds of miniature golf, free admission to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, and tons of discounts on water sports, dining and shopping.
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2.  Extra Magic Hours – On any given day one or more of the four Disney parks will either open an hour early or stay open two extra hours at night, exclusively for Disney resort guests.  That’s more hours for the same ticket price!

1.  Advance FastPass+ booking – Disney resort guests may book up to three FastPasses per day starting 60 days prior to check-in.  Other guests have to wait until 30 days out, which means the availability of the most popular attractions will be limited.
 
The non-monetary advantages alone outweigh any perceived advantages of staying at a non-Disney property, but when you start adding up the cost of everything you’d be paying for if you weren’t a Disney resort guest, it really makes sense.  Just in round numbers, the cost of all of the above for a family of 4 would run well over $500 for a 5-day stay and that doesn’t include all the discounts!  For my money, it pays to stay in “the middle of the Magic”!
 
If you are staying on points from one of those rewards programs, use the points for another vacation rather than miss out on all the advantages of staying at a Disney Resort.