7 Tips for Planning the Perfect Disney/Universal Adventure in Orlando, Florida

Planning a trip to Disney is overwhelming. At least, for me, it is. This would be an expensive trip considering the amusement park tickets, food, accommodations and travel. 

It requires a lot of planning as well. These amusement parks are busy on most of the days, and every popular ride has a lot of waiting. If we don't plan properly, and prioritize, it is tough to cover all important rides in less time.

Image by dazbrin from Pixabay

We visited both Disney and Universal last year with kids aged 9 and 12 years. I watched several youtube videos and read many blogs about planning for the trip. 

Here are some tips that I could come up with for anyone planning for a Disney /Universal Vacation or both. 

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When to book the vacation?

First and foremost, deciding the vacation dates as early as possible is important. The least busy times are usually Jan, Feb, late April, Early May, September and Early November.

We visited in the peak time in December, so there is a lot of crowd and more than 1.5 hr waiting time for popular rides.

Image by Jan Vašek from Pixabay

Also, decide on which parks to cover and when. Since we have boys above 8 yrs, we wanted to spend more time on Universal than Disney. If you have kids less than 8 yrs or upto 10 yrs, they might like Disney more. It depends on individual preference. 

Book the resort package , theme park tickets and then, don't forget theme park reservation. For Disney, you need theme park reservation even though you booked tickets. For Universal, getting tickets is enough.

These are the official websites for Disney and Universal where you can check and book packages including accommodation, theme park tickets, early access, transportation etc.,

How many days to spend on each park? What Parks to cover?

Disney World in Orlando has 4 theme parks and 2 water parks. 

• Magic Kingdom
• Hollywood Studios
• Animal Kingdom
• EPCOT
• Blizzard Beach and
• Typhoon Lagoon

We covered only Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. We want to visit EPCOT and Animal Kingdom the next time.

Image by Fabian from Pixabay

Universal has 2 theme parks and one water park.

• Universal Studios
• Islands of Adventure and
• Volcano Bay

We covered all three.

We spent one day in each of the park. So, 5 days in total. We didn't take any rest day, but I highly recommend that you take a rest day in the middle of the week.

We visited Disney Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Universal Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay and Universal Hollywood Studios - one park each day. We would have taken a rest day after Islands of Adventure. We used the day at Volcano bay as partially rest day. 

Where to stay and what are the options?

We stayed in Disney World Resort. The main advantage was the shuttle to the parks. If your vacation is less than a week, I don't know if it will benefit to stay in the resort, but our vacation was 7 days, it helped a lot.We reached Orlando Saturday evening and checked out next friday morning. 

The resort packages are very good for 6 nights including 2 day ticket with admission to 1 park each day, and transportation to and fro theme parks. We visited only 2 Disney parks from Resort,  but stayed in the resort whole week and traveled to Universal by cab. 

Image by bottlein from Pixabay

Food in the resort at any time we return is a biggest advantage. That's one less thing to worry when we are tired. The breakfast options are great too. Our tickets include early park admission too, that's very useful.

A few people suggest taking an airbnb for whole week. If it works out for your budget, and transportation is easy to theme parks, that's another good option. 

There are different types of resorts for different budget levels. 

What are the food options?

Though food is expensive inside theme parks, there are many options available. 

Our Disney resort has many food options of different cuisines including veg and kid-friendly options. We tried to have breakfast and dinner at resort, though a few days we had dinner as well inside the park. Especially when we watched the Fireworks show.

Image by congerdesign from Pixabay

Food options are spread out inside theme parks and the only easy way is to use app and book it online. 

It's better to carry packed snacks and water bottles. There will be a lot of walking and expect to be tired and hungry. We might have walked 10 to 12k steps each day.

Carrying liquid iv hydration multiplier packs helped. 

How to Plan for Rides?

The whole planning above is one side and covering the rides is entirely different side. Disney and Universal apps are a must and without them, it's almost impossible to plan for popular rides.

Image by nitli from Pixabay

1. Install the respective app - Disney / Universal

2. Make a personal list of your favorite and not-to-miss rides (I will give suggestions about each park in future posts)

3. Use Early access from resort or tickets package to take the popular rides early in the day or take popular rides in the evening after 6pm or during fireworks

4. A few rides are always with waiting time over 2 hrs. For those, purchase lightning pass or Disney Genie plus ticket through app

5. With long wait times and proper lunch breaks, you can plan 5 to 10 rides per day. If it's not a busy season, you might be able to do more. With toddlers and below 6yr kids, you might have to follow your own pace.

What are the other activities and not to miss things in theme parks?

Disney is famous for its parades. So, try to catch one if you are nearer.

Disney fireworks is just beautiful and a not to miss attraction.

There are several shows in Disney and Universal that are very well done. (I will give suggestions about each park in future posts)

Image by Mirco from Pixabay

There are also some outdoor shows happening on the main streets of parks and don't miss the meet and greets with your favorite Disney and Universal movie characters. 

How to capture memories and how to get official photos?

Disney Photo Pass service is available near all important rides and locations of the park. You can ask professional photographers at these common locations to capture a photo or video of your family and add them to your Disney Experience app to print / download it later.

Image by hartono subagio from Pixabay

Memory maker is a service which collects all photos and videos of single day or for whole vacation for a single price. This service though little expensive, I cannot tell you how easy it is to create memories of your family vacation with professional photos.

You can also use Disney themed filters from Disney experience app, and there is an option to save video memories as well.

Universal offers 1 day or 3 day photo packages allowing multiple digital downloads. 

So that's about the important tips for your next Disney / Universal vacation! I know, I have just scratched the surface of vacation planning, Will go in details in the coming posts covering each theme park separately.

Until next time,

3 habits for mental peace #BlogchatterBlogHop

I have been pondering on these thoughts recently - What can we do for our mental peace? What's the recipe for relaxing life? In these days where we are always running behind tasks, how can we practice mindfulness and be practical?

May is Mental Wellness Month and I am sharing 3 habits for Mental Peace. 

3 years ago when I met an Ayurvedic health practitioner, the first advice she told me is to 'Slow Down' in my life. I always feel that's a great advice and following that benefited me more than anything. 

Slowing Down:

Why we have to slow down? Isn't this the age to work hard and earn? Later we might not have health, energy and age to our advantage right? 

But, the answer to that is to look at long term benefits. 

Image by kewl from Pixabay

In this generation, we work, manage home, kids and also try to spend time on ourselves, our hobbies. we take up so much stress and strive to become a perfect person in all aspects of life. I think, if you are like that as well, you need to slow down.

Slowing down helped me a lot with other things in my life. I started spending time on enjoying little precious things in life - going to library with kids and spending hours there, volunteering with dance choreography for events, enjoying the weather, nature, Sunrises, Sunsets, focusing on health, cooking healthy food, blogging, reading books, drawing zentangles etc., 

Trying to be the best version, not striving to be Perfect:

I have this habit from childhood to keep my hands dirty on different activities. I had this restless mind always pinching me to try something new. I am not an adventurous person, I don't even try new foods. But, I love attempting new experiences - travel, arts, writing etc.,

This mindset has been possible only because I just try to be the best version of myself, but not a perfectionist in all the things I do. We can definitely try to become better than our earlier version. But, Once we stress ourselves to be the perfectionist, we stop enjoying the process. 

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

I love drawing zentangles. Initially when I learned, they were horrible. I got the best zentangle pens, started with basics. Then, advanced to copying simple art pieces that I can draw. If i criticize myself hard, I would have stopped drawing them. I think, we all need joy in our lives and our hobbies can give that if we don't self-criticize harshly.

Moving On:

This helped me a lot for mental peace. We all have goals, we reach some, we fail miserably in some, but moving on is the only next step.

Not expecting much from others and Moving on irrespective of result is great. What's the use of being stuck due to any issue? Life doens't wait and aging never stops anyways. There is only one life and we are responsible to make it wonderful or stressful. 

Image by Annette from Pixabay

We learn from the mistakes of our past, but we should focus on present. 

Choice is ours to Move on or Not. 

What do you say?

These are the 3 habits that I have that make me unique.

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Until next time,

This post is a part of Blogchatter Blog Hop.

Reasons to Choose Popilush Shapewear Dress

The dress is a great favorite among women, as it makes modern life easier by providing versatility when dressing. And who doesn't want to have a little extra time to spend on activities they love, right?

 

Therefore, Popilush offers a variety of suggestions that embrace women with different personalities. When you wear a dress with built in shapewear you get a more feminine and confident shape.

 

So, can a shapewear dress add practicality to my routine?

Yes, that's because it makes the way you dress easier, making you even more beautiful in just a few seconds. Furthermore, it easily combines with accessories and other clothes you want to wear. This saves you time when creating your looks, offering you the opportunity to live more peacefully and free from stress.

The shapewear mesh provides a more structured midsection, so your belly gains alignment to display a slimmer shape.

You can wear a black or white dress shirt to deliver timeless elegance. They match a scarf around the neck and can be worn open or with rolled-up sleeves. They are interesting overlays for long dresses, as they provide an assertive finishing touch to your casual look.

 

Can I achieve comfort and femininity with a single piece?

Certainly, Popilush dresses are made with the intention of expanding the personal power that each woman already possesses within herself. If you want to create a look quickly, you can invest in a black shapewear midi dress that always works. It is elegant, comfortable and at the same time can easily add sophistication to your look. The laser cutting of the openings embedded in the shapewear gives you a more symmetrical appearance and free from line markings.

You can also use your creativity to try new compositions and have fun. Fashion is more than simply combining pieces, it symbolizes a source of pleasure through which you can develop your personal expression. So, bet on colors like red, which is a classic and gives you an attractive look in just the right way, to make you feel more feminine than you already are.

 

Is there a way to try different styles with confidence?

Certainly a shapewear dress can help you with this task. Many women still haven't discovered which styles assertively match their personality, so they try new styles.

But if you already have your personal style, you can also try new horizons. Never forget that you are a free woman who can use fashion to create endless looks.

If you are used to more sober dresses, you can invest in a cheerful color to show good shape and fun through your clothes. To do this, try a mock neck leather dress in pink and expand your cleavage through the front zipper that this design has.

You may feel more confident at a dinner for two, shopping with friends or at a party. It defines all the lines of your body in a natural way. Furthermore, it is practical when using the bathroom, as it has an overlapping design in the area between the legs. Choosing a dress full of benefits gives you several reasons to live your femininity freely. Never forget that your self-confidence is reflected in the way you choose to relate to the world.

Until next time,

 

Family-friendly places to visit in Houston in 1 day

Houston:

Houston is the most populous city in Texas and a large metropolis extending to Galveston bay. Houston has a lot to offer for all ages and I feel, we need 3 days to cover all the important points to see. We could spend only 1.5 days.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/44534236@N00/4075803243

This is an old pending post. Actually, almost an year old. While work, family and dance school took over my priority, this blog has been quiet for sometime except for book reviews.

There are other travels posts pending to be published like Orlando - Disney and Universal theme parks. Hopefully, I get more time in Summer to publish all of them :-)

Here is the Itinerary:

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BAPS Temple (BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir):

BAPS Temple (BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir) in Stafford is a spectacle to the eyes with the beautiful architecture. The temple is open all year around for all faiths and the entry is free.

Address:

1150 Brand Lane
Stafford, TX 77477 USA

This temple which is inaugurated in 2004 is constructed with Italian marble and Turkish limestone. It is a peaceful and spiritual place. A canteen and a gift shop are available where you can get Indian snacks, religious books, CDs, postcards etc., 

The front area before the temple is serene with water fountain, whereas the interior is filled with exquisite religious carvings. The architecture follows Shilpa shastra and is due to the effort of many people contributing voluntarily for the construction and carvings.  

NASA (Jhonson Space center):

This visit is like a dream come true for any astronomy and space research lovers. 

Address: 

1601 E NASA Parkway, Houston, TX 77058

Entry is around $30 per adult in 2024. Here you can check latest ticket prices and book online to save. 

Space center Houston is the official visitor center for NASA Jhonson Space center. Visitors can see 400 space crafts, learn about MARS mission and check the moon rocks. The eight story landmark 'Independence Plaza' by Boeing is a replica of shuttle carrying aircraft. 

The most important attraction is the tram tour, through which visitors can learn about human space exploration. Rocket park is amazing as we get to see Saturn V rocket from nearer. We can explore historic Mission control as well from where NASA led Gemini, Apollo missions, including first lunar landing. 

There is a lot of walking, and it takes more than half a day to explore space center. If you want to take breaks in the middle of exploration, there is a cafeteria to refresh and eat. It takes around 3 to 5 hrs to explore the area.

Sri Meenakshi Temple:

Meenakshi temple is located in Pearland in Houston metropolitan area. The presiding deity is Goddess Meenakshi, the consort of Lord Sundareswar(Shiva). 

Address: 17130 McLean road, Pearland, TX

This temple was inaugurated in 1982. It is great spiritual place with positive vibrations. Food is available for purchase in cafeteria. 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jfahler/4789385386/

Galveston :

Galveston is an island city on the gulf coast of Texas. It is around 1 hr away from Houston. We drove and spent a few hours around Sunset in the beach.

There is a lot to do in Galveston though. Pleasure pier is popular for amusement rides, and restaurants. Moody Gardens is a great family friendly place with 3 large pyramids featuring aquarium, rain forest exhibits and NASA exhibits. 

Photo by David Olivares: https://www.pexels.com/photo/entrance-to-galveston-island-historic-pleasure-pier-17872831/

Gerald D.Hines Waterfall Park:

We couldn't visit this man-made waterfall due to lack of time. But, the pictures look great when I explored on internet.

This is a multi-story sculptural fountain surrounded by a park. 

Address: 2800 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX 77056

This is the most iconic landmark in Houston and the entry is free. 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/acordova/14915840286/in/photostream/

So, that's it about a quick 1 day trip to Houston. 

Other Attractions:

Hermann Park, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Bayou bend collection and Gardens, San Jacinto Battleground State Historic site, Cockrell Butterfly center, James Turrell Twilight Epiphany Skyspace and Kemah Broadwalk are some of the places I would love to visit someday. 

Until next time,

Odd Devils by Zwahk Muchoney - [Book Spot Light]

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Here is an interesting book on Occult fiction! This book has a series of unusual short stories with moments of horror. 

Book Details:

Title: Odd Devils

Author: Zwahk Muchoney 

Genre: Occult fiction, horror, short stories

Publisher: Independently published (Dec 11, 2023)

Print length: 195 pages

Blurb:

Satan was once a mortal shepherd, but through a tragic series of events he became the icy hearted angel of the damned. Aleister Crowley creates an astral doll in the shape of a child and forces it to live on as a double of himself. A mortal woman falls in love with a demon. A new angel is born in Hell.

Excerpt:

Crowley turned to the creature, and said-


"Now that the festivities have ended, we have work to do." He put on a dark blue silken robe and a peculiar hat, pulled out what appeared to be blueprints, and opened them up on his desk. The creature took a peak, but hadn't the faintest idea what any of the symbols or drawings meant. Its master turned to it and said-


"I believe you are like some kind of astral automata, and that I was the one who created and arranged your clockwork, but I made you far too simple, in large part because I didn't realize what I was doing at the time." Crowley cut out another line of his magical white powder, and said-


"It's no good, going to the trouble of teaching you to read my books if you can't remember them, so I do believe I've figured out how to improve your mechanisms. By my own operations, I will transform you from a wind-up doll to something with a level of complexity akin to a motor car."

 

Purchase Link:

Amazon

About the Author:

Zwahk Muchoney writes all manner of strange occult fiction. A long time resident of Western Washington State, this author is always looking to blend comedy and tragedy in order to create the attempted perfection of book swooning bliss.

To stay current with their upcoming releases on Amazon click the yellow "follow" button and Amazon will send an email every time they release a new book or Amazon has a special deal on their work. 

Until next time,