Summer Meal Offer

Enjoy one meal per person, per night at select

Walt Disney World® Resort quick serve locations!

Want more info on booking this great deal?

Contact our expert agents today for more info!

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Alcohol to be served at 4 Magic Kingdom Locations

In 2012, Be Our Guest made history by becoming the first dining location in the Magic Kingdom to serve alcohol. Now 4 more locations follow suit by adding alcohol to their menus. Next week the following locations will start serving alcohol on their menus.

  • Tony's Town Square
  • Cinderella's Royal Table
  • Skipper Canteen
  • Liberty Tree Tavern

The alcohol served in the locations will match the theming. Tony's Town Square will serve Italian Wines and beers. Skipper Canteen will bring you drinks and beers from all over the globe. Cinderella's Royal Table will serve regal champagne and sparkling wines and Liberty Tree Tavern will have American-made ciders, beers and locally-made wines.

The plan is to only serve alcohol at these locations for lunch and dinner and not at any pop-up stand-alone locations.

 

Have questions?

Want info about booking your next magical vacation?

Contact us today!

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My Big Giant Family Disney Trip!

Picture it November 12th, 2016, Orlando International Airport 15 people excitedly head towards Disney's Magical Express in one large very loud group! I am one of the 15, as is my husband our 4 kids, my brother and sister in law and their 4 kids, a family friend and her 2 kids. If you're counting that was 10 kids! Who goes to Disney World with 10 kids you say? This crazy bunch below:

My family has been to Disney World numerous times but everyone else had never been there before. Well except for 2 of them who had been there for one day but we won't count that! It was so much fun to go with people who had never been there! It's always fun to see Disney through other peoples eyes!

We started our big Disney extravaganza at Hollywood Studios! This has actually become a tradition for my family. We all are huge Star Wars fans so we couldn't wait to see everything Star Wars related! We LOVED the Launch Bay! Meeting Chewbacca was a dream! Meeting with Kylo Ren is seriously intense, that gut needs to get out and have some fun and relax! But our favorite part of the Launch Bay was the Jawas! We knew that they would try to trade with us  so we brought some trinkets with us and we had a ball! Take a look!

One of the Jawas was begging my daughter for 20 mins for her light up Sketchers! She thought it was the best day of her life. Here's a tip about trading with the Jawas, they won't take money or anything that looks like it! If you are a Star Wars fan then you must go and see everything! Another favorite of ours was the Imperial March that goes on throughout the day. It starts at the entrance  of the park and ends at the stage in front of the Chinese Theater. I literally got chills when I heard the music begin!

As you can imagine food is a big deal with a group of 15, luckily we were traveling with the best travel expert around (me!) One of our favorite meals was at Ohana! It has always been a favorite of ours so I was excited to take all of our family to see what they thought! I intentionally made our reservations so that we would be there for Wishes. It's so beautiful to be there enjoying your meal and seeing the most amazing fireworks show right outside your window! Ohana serves everything family style and it is all you can eat. With 15 of us we put that to the test for sure. I always tell my clients that Disney is the best place to be if you have food allergies and they proved that again on our trip. My sister in law and my niece both have allergies and one is vegan. The chef at Ohana came out right away and spoke with them and worked with them on substitutions that they would enjoy. They even created special desserts just for them! Take a look at Ohana below!

Traveling with a large group can be difficult and fitting everything in can be hard too. I try to tell everyone to just make a list of what you really want to do and try to make it happen, but realize that people will get cranky, tired and nobody goes has to go to bathroom at the same time! But we were able to hit some of the items on everyones bucket list!

A big part of Disney is the characters! We all have our favorites and we had a great time meeting them all!

My daughter was so excited to meet Elena!

A fun time was truly had by all! When you are ready to book your big, giant, family Disney vacation or any Disney vacation I am happy to help you and be your expert!

Contact me today

lori@uponastartravel.com

 

724-630-8958

 

Express Transportation: Disney World

Here is a new way to make transportation even easier at

Walt Disney World!

Express Transportation service is now available to all guests with Park Hopper tickets and all everyone that holds a Walt Disney Annual Pass. Special buses will take you to a special location inside of the next Disney theme park that you choose to go to. The express buses will depart every 30 minutes and the service is available from 10:00am till park closing. Park Hopper tickets are required because you will be taken inside of next theme park and not to the front gate. Of note: the buses do not run to the resort hotels. This Express Transportation Service allows you unlimited transfers between parks for one day or 7 consecutive days if you purchase the multi day pass.

 

Express Transportation can be purchased for $15 per person for one day use or $24 per person for 7 consecutive days from the date of the purchase. The check in locations can be found at:

  • Magic Kingdom: Near Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin
  • Epcot: East Side of Spaceship Earth
  • Hollywood Studios: In the courtyard of Rock 'N' Roller Coaster
  • Animal Kingdom: Near Kilimanjaro Safari

What do you think? Is this something that looks good to you?

We'd love to help you plan your next magical vacation!

Contact your agent today!

uponastartravel.com

 

 

5 Things You Don't Know About World Showcase!

1. TWEET TWEET - La Cava Del Tequila is a magical little gem hidden within the Mexico pavilion. Opening its doors in 2009, this small Mexican eatery/tequila bar offers 100+ tequilas and mind blowing margaritas (Avocado!). Show the bartender you follow the the establishment on Twitter and be rewarded with a free shot! 

2. HOLA! GUTEN TAG! BONJOUR! - did you know Cast Members working in each country around Epcot's World Showcase are actually from that country? Talk to them! Learn new words, try their favorite native snacks and drinks. Cast members in Germany even played soccer with my daughter! Cast Members are super friendly and very eager to share their stories with you! 

3. ICE CREAM MARTINIS - yes, I said ice cream martini. Check out L'Artisan des Glaces in the France pavilion for a one of a kind treat (drink?!). Currently, there are about 15 flavors of ice cream and sorbet offered, AND there's the option to add a topper of Grand Marnier, Whipped Cream Vodka or Rum! YUMMY!!!! 

4. CARAMEL LOVERS UNITE - Caramel is delicious. Maybe even better than chocolate. And maybe no one makes caramel better than the original company, Werther's. Did you know the company started in the small Bavarian village of Werther in Germany? Visit Karamell-Kuche in Epcot's Germany pavilion for a delicious array of treats including Werther's caramel popcorn, Caramel pecan clusters and my favorite, the Caramel drizzled chocolate chip cookie! 

5. SAKE TIME - while exploring Japan's Mitsukoshi department store, find your way to the back to a neat sake bar! There, you will find Cast Members eager to educate you about the variety and types of sake offered as well as single tastings and flights! Sparkling or strong; they have a taste for everyone! 

Splash, Stay and Play at Universal Studios

Take a look at this fantastic new vacation package from

Universal Studios Florida!

 

Save up to $100.00 when you visit all 3 theme parks (including Volcano Bay opening 2017). Your vacation package includes:

  • 4-Night Hotel Accommodations
  • 3-Park 4-Day Base Ticket˄ to Universal Studios Florida™, Universal's Islands of Adventure AND Universal's Volcano Bay™ (Opening 2017)
  • Early Park Admission◊ to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ and Universal's Volcano Bay™ (Opening 2017) one hour before the park opens (valid theme park admission required).
  • Access to select live entertainment venues˄ at Universal CityWalk™

Save $50 when you travel June 1-Aug 15th, 2017

Save $75.00 when you travel Aug 16-Oct 31st 2017

Save $100.00 when you travel Nov 1, Dec 31st 2017

Take a look at Volcano Bay!

SUBSCRIBE - http://bit.ly/SubscribeUOR Water is Life. Life is Joy. That is the mantra by which the fabled Waturi islanders have lived on their Pacific isle for centuries. And now you can live the Waturi way at Universal's Volcano Bay™, an all-new, adventure-drenched water theme park like no other, filled with both thrills and relaxing indulgence.

Contact your agent today for more information about this new offer!

uponastartravel.com

Dine in the Sky at Disney!

Disney has just announced an amazing progressive dinner with yummy selections from 3 Disney World Resorts!

Your progressive meal starts at The Contemporary Resort where you will check in and enjoy a special cocktail and appetizers with your fellow diners. Next you will make a stop at The Polynesian Resort. Enjoy island-inspired drinks and appetizers. After experiencing some goodies from the South Pacific, you will hop back on the monorail and head over to the elegant Grand Floridian Resort. There you will enjoy a special Chef's main course. Afterward, partake in champagne and artisanal cheeses in the lobby. You will end your journey back at the Contemporary Resort where you will be taken to a private patio. You will end the night with cordials, coffee and desserts while you take in Wishes from your own private location!

This amazing experience is only $150.00 per person and is available on select Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings. If you would like to book this awesome experience on your next trip to Disney World, contact your Upon a Star agent!

 

uponastartravel.com

The World of Nintendo is coming to Universal Parks!!

Some exciting news is coming out of Universal Parks today! 

The World of Nintendo will now be part of Universal! All three Universal Parks will be getting a nintendo expansion! The plan is to create a totally immersive experience so that guest can feel like they are in the world of Mario and Friends!
Universal promises "to bring the characters, action, and adventure of Nintendo video games to life within Universal theme parks. And to do so Nintendo video games to life within Universal theme parks. And to do so in new and innovative ways that capture what makes them so special," 

Take a look at the video below:

http://bit.ly/SubscribeUOR Nintendo's legendary Shigeru Miyamoto and Universal Creative's Mark Woodbury sat down to discuss how you will step into a larger-than-life Nintendo adventures filled with excitement, gameplay, heroes and villains at Universal Theme Parks across the globe.

Want to book a trip to Universal? 

Contact us today for more info!

uponastartravel.com

Royalton Black Friday Sale-Best Prices of the year!

Best Prices of the Year Sale

Royalton All-Inclusive resorts are having their Best Prices of the Year Sale starting this Friday November 25th!

Whether it's CHIC Punta Cana (Adults Only), The Hideaway at Royalton, Memories Splash, Royalton Resorts or Blue Diamond Resorts you will find quality properties with wonderful amenities to please anyone!

The sale starts this Friday, November 25th! Contact one of our Travel Experts today!

uponastartravel.com

Viking River Cruises-Thanksgiving Week Sale!

Viking River Cruise Thanksgiving Week Sale!

FREE ROUND-TRIP AIR: Plus one of the choices below:

FREE Beverage Package

or

$300 Shipboard Credit (per stateroom)

or

Pre-Paid Onboard Gratuities

Check out all that is included:

  • 8-day cruise with river-view stateroom
  • 6 guided tours with audio headset
  • All meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 7 dinners, featuring regional specialties and including Welcome Cocktail Reception & Dinner
  • Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with onboard dinner and lunch
  • Visit 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
  • Culture Curriculum: Enjoy a classical music performance; learn how to create your own Alsatian Flammkuchen; observe a traditional glassblower; attend lectures on Germany’s current affairs & origins of Rhine River cruising
  • All port charges
  • Free Wi-Fi, connection speed may vary

This amazing offer ends November 30th! Contact one of our travel experts today!

 

uponastartravel.com

Escape from the Cold - it's All-Inclusive Season!

As fall temps cool down and we start to feel the chill of winter approaching (at least up north!), it's inevitable that we start missing the sun, the warmth... and that "summer" feeling. Not to fear! All-Inclusive season is here! 

If you've never tried out an All-Inclusive, it really is a fantastic experience.  Not long ago, I posted about my time at Secrets Akumal. This year, I've also visited Hard Rock Resorts, Club Med Resorts, and many other great locations. If you have never been to an All-Inclusive, you may be wondering, "what's the big deal?".  Let me show you...

Hard Rock Rivera Maya - Heaven (Adults-only) section

You all know that I am a HUGE theme park fan.  I tend to be a very active individual, and I love being an active vacationer.  That being said, there are times when it's nice to just have a beach.  And some sun.  And fabulous service. This is where an all-inclusive comes in.  

When you purchase an all-inclusive package, it's just that... inclusive of everything.  Food, drinks (yes, alcoholic ones too), entertainment... it's all there.  Now as you might imagine, there are different types of all-inclusive resorts, and not all are created equal.  That being said, there is a great option for everyone.  Whether you want adults-only or family-friendly, we can find a perfect resort for you.

Secrets Resorts are high on my list of loves.  I visited two locations in Riviera Maya, and WOW.  Top-notch, personalized service, 24-hour room service, adults-only, beautiful amenities... oh yeah, and palm trees.  Here are some pictures from Secrets Akumal and Secrets Maroma Beach. Oh - did I mention that Maroma has been consistently ranked among the top 10 beaches? Both are great; Akumal has a great vibe for couples or just friends hanging out -- Maroma definitely caters more to the romantics.

Related to Secrets is Dreams.  This would be the family-friendly version... but the great news is, there is absolutely no sacrifice in quality.  Check out these pics of Dreams Tulum!  Sure, it was cloudy that day, but it was warm, and the spa looked even more inviting as a result!

Looking for a little more lively entertainment? Hard Rock Resorts will give you an amazing experience! The best part is, you can go to "Heaven" (adults only) or the "Hacienda" (family).

One more mention in Mexico- because I was SO impressed by it! The Valentin Imperial Maya is a family-owned, gorgeous adults-only resort.  

Another popular location is Punta Cana.  Although it's a newer resort area as compared to Riviera Maya, there are some fabulous places! A popular family place here is the Nickelodeon Resort by Karisma.  Top quality + family fun = a great vacation!

Let's head to Jamaica and to a resort name I know you know -- Sandals! There are a lot of beautiful Sandals locations -- this one in Negril has such a beautiful beach! Oh, and by staying Butler Level, you'll get the ULTIMATE pampering experience.

Sandals is a couples' resort, but not to fear - Beaches is the family-friendly answer. And guess what? There is a Beaches Negril!

Ready to hit the beach? Contact us, and we will help you plan the All-Inclusive vacation you've been dreaming of.  

The Great Getaway: Our hosted cruise on The Norwegian Getaway! Part 1

I just returned from our 2nd Annual hosted cruise aboard the Norwegian Getaway! It was amazing! The Getaway has something for everyone! Come "aboard" as I take you through our cruise!

We started out on our adventure from Port Miami. If you haven't been it is very easy to get around and everyone is very helpful! Check out the view from our balcony! Here's a tip: get a balcony room if you can! You room will feel so much bigger and there is nothing like listening to the ocean at night and catching the view! 

Once we checked out our rooms we went to explore! Did I forget to mention my husband and were sans kids? Our 4 little travelers stayed home for this trip. Sorry kids! The Getaway has so much onboard to do that you could never get bored! My 1st spot to hit up was The Mandara Spa!

My view from the heated stone loungers!

The Mandara Spa is fantastic! There are literally hundreds of treatments available. They have different classes and offerings daily. You can also purchase the Thermal Spa Package for $199.00 trust me it is worth it! With the package you can use the Thermal Spa Suite unlimited times during your cruise. I practically moved into the aromatherapy sauna! It's a great place to relax and rest!

If your into a little more action than a spa, the Getaway has that too. I have to say that I did not personally try out the water slides, but my husband did and he loved them! 

While our kids weren't there to enjoy the kids spaces, several of our fellow agents and clients had kids onboard who loved the water areas! They have daily activities for the kids and family times where you can all be together having fun. The kids ended their cruise with their own family circus!

If you are really looking for adventure then you have to check out the rock climbing wall and ropes course! Lookout you can walk the plank!

Too bad I forgot my tennis shoes... Next time!!

Climb a mountain at sea!

I haven't even showed you half of what is available to do onboard! Let alone excursions! But that will be part 2. Let's talk cruise food! I won't lie there is food everywhere! There's also Pulse fitness center to work off all of the yummy food! We had the signature dining package that allowed us to eat 4 times at the signature dining locations on board. We chose reservations at Cagney's Steakhouse (my favorite), Moderno (brazillian steakhouse), Teppanyaki (Jappanese Steakhouse) and La Cucina. When not dining at a signature location there are many other options available. The buffet on deck 15 is available for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late snacks as well as the Tropicana Room, Taste, Savor and more. 24 hour room service is available as well.

As you can see there's no lack of food and we didn't find anything we didn't like! They are very good about working with you on food allergies as well! 

 

This is where I will leave you for now! In part 2 we will explore our ports of call and excursions!

I would love to help you plan your next cruise or family vacation! Feel free to contact me by email at lori@uponastartravel.com or check out my Facebook page here

Staying Off Property: A Personal Perspective

This past September, my husband and I had a chance to take a long weekend getaway to celebrate our 15th Wedding Anniversary. Since we honeymooned in Walt Disney World, we decided to head back as a couple sans kids. Since we had already taken a family vacation this year, we needed to be economical. We knew we were going to Night of Joy (look for that blog post soon) so the decision was made to stay off property.

I found a King Suite room “5 minutes from Disney” for under $100. I thought that was great! The hotel also had a Disney Shuttle that went “regularly” to the parks. When I looked at what the shuttle hours where I was a bit surprised. Epcot and Magic Kingdom did 2 round trips a day; to the parks at 9am and 2pm, back to hotel at 1pm and park close. Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom had one round-trip per day; to the parks at 9 am and back to the hotel at park close. So if you wanted to come back to wash up for dinner you had to grab a taxi. I have since learned that this is the norm, not the exception. Hotel shuttles to WDW are not a constant, throughout the day mode of transportation.

I researched the drive time to the areas we knew we would be visiting, Disney Springs, Epcot, and the ESPN Sports Complex. Each location was 15-20 minutes away by car so we decided to rent a car. Chris is tall so the smallest car we could get was a mid-size (which was still tight). When we got to MCO we were happy our car rental pickup location was in the terminal. The couple that flew with us found out their car rental was not and had to be shuttled to their pick up location. It only took us a little over 20 minutes to reach out hotel, although we did drive by it once because it had two separate entrances, one for deliveries and one for guests.

When we finally got to the hotel to check in and found out there is a resort fee on top of hotel room and a parking fee. I was so annoyed but what could I say – I didn’t read the fine print. I really wish they would just say, this is the price. That is what I’m accustomed to. I was a bit surprised at the size of our king suite. The pictured made the room appear larger. It did have a kitchenette, a seating area and a bedroom. They were just all in one room, not a separate bedroom. I still haven’t decided if the couch was a loveseat or an oversized chair. I made the most out of it because we wouldn’t be there a lot- we’d be in the parks.

Did you know it cost a minimum of $20 a day to park at Disney Parks? For $35 a day you can park close to the main entrance and get a bottle of water. You can use your receipt to park hop during the day. While I knew we would have to pay to park but I didn’t realize it would be so much. Thankfully parking at Disney Springs and ESPN was free.

I had originally planned to eat off property a couple times during our trip. This didn’t happen. I really don’t know what I was thinking. Walt Disney World has some wonderful

restaurants. I decided to skip lunch at Chili’s and got a late lunch at The Hollywood Brown Derby instead. We’re on vacation, why eat someplace we could go to at home?

Walt Disney World is constantly refurbishing their resorts, rides, grounds and infrastructure. This was very evident by the orange cones whenever we enter Disney property. There was also construction on the way to and from Orlando International Airport. We changed our initial plans a couple of times because of the length of time it would take us to get from place to place. I seemed like it took us and extra 15-20 minutes to get wherever we were headed. Add to that hundreds of people driving around that have no idea where they are going (like us) and it’s a bit daunting.

We had a wonderful weekend filled with fun character meets and attractions. We ate great food and drank some yummy cocktails. We loved everything about our weekend; except being off property. At the end of a long day it’s so nice to sit on the bus and have you taken back to your resort. The convenience of a mid-day break (especially in 103 degree September heat) would have been a welcome relief and something we would have done if we could have just hopped on the bus back to our resort. We also missed the immersive experience. The “feel” you get by staying at a Disney Resort. The smells, sights, sounds and Cast Members seem to make it extra special.

Once all the receipts were tallied, it was hard for me to admit that we could have taken advantage of a room discount that was available earlier in the year. That discount would have put us in a king room at one of the moderate resorts with little difference to our final total.

I know that you can shop for souvenirs at the outlets to save money. You can eat close to your hotel and save money. There are many, many ways to stay off property and save money. It just depends on how you want to travel. When going to Walt Disney World, we want to go to enjoy all that Disney has to offer. By staying off property we felt more like we were visiting Orlando and going to the park for the day, like a Six Flags or Kennywood, instead of being in Walt Disney World, Where Dreams Come True.

You can find out more about agent Carrie here

Follow her on facebook, twitter and instargram @uponastarcarrie

carrie@uponastartravel

 

 

 

Epcot Food & Wine Festival - A Photo Tour (with some words)

OK, so maybe it isn't entirely a photo tour! I have sooooo many words I can use to describe the Epcot® Food & Wine Festival!  Delicious, fun, tasty, yummy... and many other adjectives!  But, you get the idea.  

Each fall, Epcot® transforms World Showcase into culinary wonder, adding plenty of additional kiosks.  Even the "regular" countries of World Showcase put out special kiosks, all featuring the food and (you guessed it) wine/alcoholic beverages from that country.  The flavors are amazing... and the smells just beg you to try!

When you enter Epcot®, be sure to grab a passport.  This way you can keep track of all of the amazing eats/drinks you've tried!

OK we have our passport, let's go!  The Festivities are apparent as soon as you enter!

Let's stop at the Festival Center, shall we? It's located in the old Wonders of Life Pavilion. You can check out my Periscope walking tour by clicking here.  There is a ton of merchandise here, plus this is where many of the seminars are held.  If you head to the back, there is a Ghirardelli Chocolate display.  Check out this year's Star Wars display... all made of chocolate!

It's a good idea to get a nifty wristlet gift card! Load it up with some moolah, and this makes it much easier to get your eats as you tour the world! 

Time to head back to see the food booths! I did 2 Facebook Live Walk-throughs.  Check out my Facebook Page and you can find them under videos. 

And food? Yep.  There was lots of it! And it was all delicious!  I realized that I didn't take nearly as many pictures as I would have like to... I guess I was too busy eating LOL!!

If you've never checked out the Food & Wine Festival, I highly recommend it! It's a great time of year to do an adults trip, girls' weekend, guys' weekend...  You won't regret it!