BACK TO SCHOOL BLUES

Can you see it....

Way off in the distance?

Yup that's Cinderella's Castle and no you are not there!!

But you totally should be. Sure school just started and you need to get the kids back on track with their learning and what not. While they are in school you should be planning your mini fall getaway!!! Early fall is one of the best times to visit Walt Disney World here in Florida. It's also a great time to visit Florida period. don't forget to stop by the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal while you are here. That may call for a longer trip though...

Only have big kids? Like to scare yourself? Or maybe your like me and a Walking Dead fan.... Come check out Halloween Horror Nights!!!

Maybe you want to hang at the beach and take a ghost walk in the oldest city in America.... Well that's here in Florida too!

We have some of the best fall travel options available to you and remember we pride ourselves on personal custom service. You will never have to deal with an automated message or a call center!

CONTACT US TODAY and let us get started on your fall getaway!

WONDERFUL WALT DISNEY WORLD IN THE FALL

Fall is a great time to visit Walt Disney World in Florida. If you need help planning your vacation remember you can always CONTACT ME.

Fall is the beginning of a whole new feel to Disney World. If you have been during the summer you know it is a very busy hustling bustling full of life kinda place, with very late hours and tons of people. Summer is also a great time for swimming as long as you can miss the rain!!

In Fall the rain begins to taper off. Not that you wont encounter any, however, there will more than likely be less than there was in the Summer months. There will also be a whole new feel to the world as the crowds begin to subside. Due to school being back in session there just aren't as many people around. This gives Walt Disney World a whole new light and casual feel, especially late August through mid October.

Some other great Fall features are the Food & Wine Festival located in Epcot, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, and of course Free Dining!!!!

While Epcot is my least favorite park it does have some good and interesting events. The Food and Wine Festival is one of them. If you are interested in there offerings this year check out The Disney Food Blog. It usually has tons of information before anyone else regarding Disney World's food options. It also has great pictures. Also keep in mind that if you are on the dining plan many of the options available at the Food and Wine festival are a snack credit. This means included in your Free Dining Plan!!! If you missed out on free dining then you need a new travel agent!!! CONTACT ME and I will do my best to ensure you a great trip at the best possible rates with all the best things included!

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party is another great feature of traveling from September to October. This special event is a hard ticket event. This means you will need a separate ticket just for the event. In my opinion it is well worth it. There are many things that go on that you will only be able to see and experience at these hard ticket events.

There are multiple dance parties located throughout the park. There is of course Trick-or-Treating and they are not cheap with the candy. They also give out a few healthier options like gummy snacks and yogurt covered raisins. Remember I mean healthier than candy not good for you lol. They also have the park lit up in special lighting and play festive music. There is a Halloween Parade and Fireworks show both are amazing especially those fireworks!! It's also cheaper than paying for a regular park day so if you are looking to go for a mini-vacation the special events at the Magic Kingdom are the way to go.

If you have any questions or need help planning we are here for you!!!

RAINY DAYS ON VACATION!!!!

VIEW OF THE GRAND FLORIDIAN ON THE WAY TO THE MAGIC KINGDOM

This is what I call picture perfect. However, if you are planning on a vacation to Florida, sometimes you need to be prepared for something more like this.....

RAIN AND WIND AND NEVER ENDING THUNDER AND LIGHTNING!!!

As I sit here this very moment in beautiful sunny South Florida, I am listening to the sounds of thunder and looking out this very same window at the grayish black clouds forming all around. It is approximately 3:30 pm here and I must say this summer it has been particularly wet and humid.

In Florida it is very common to have passing thunder storms throughout the summer and what we call sun showers. You know where it is absolutely beautiful outside and then all of a sudden it pours on you for like ten or fifteen minutes only to be followed by more beautiful sunlight than before!

It is less common to have continuous long lasting down pours day in and day out. This summer we have had our share of never ending rain. Some summers it's so dry they are concerned about the water levels in our hundreds lakes.


The point I'm trying to get at here is when visiting Florida be prepared for rain! Especially in the summer! It doesn't usually ruin a trip just throws a wrench in some plans. So be prepared to change plans when you are visiting our lovely state. Keep an eye on the weather report..... They get it right about half the time. Also keep in mind that it tends to rain in patterns during the summer. What I mean by that is usually the pattern is beautiful hot mornings then an afternoon storm followed by a dry night on the town. Just roll with it you will have a blast.

If you are set on missing the rain completely, well then don't come to Florida! No just kidding our dry season is in the Winter. While that may not be ideal for those looking to come for a summer vacation it is absolutely perfect for those trying to escape those winter storms up north. Almost all of our hotels have pools and the more expensive ones are heated year round to approximately 80 degrees. My favorite temp in or out of the water!

Well I guess that's it for now since I started this blog entry an hour ago and then the power went out right after I typed 80 degrees. I told you the rain has been no joke this year!!! However, that means next year looks promising!

Don't forget to CONTACT ME for any of your vacation needs or maybe you just have some questions you would like answered!

YOUR NOT IN FLORIDA RIGHT NOW?

Why are you not in Florida? It's always the perfect time for a vacation in Florida. Stop by before a cruise or come and play at our theme parks for a while. Have a relaxing vacation on the beach or spend some time on our golf courses. Any way you slice it, Florida is the place to be any time of year. CONTACT ME to plan your next getaway.

Feel free to check out vacations, cruises, and destinations all over here at my website. Click on explore to view pricing or plan your own vacation. Any questions feel free to call and your vacation will be personally handled to make sure you deal with real people that can really plan the vacation you need.

TRAVELING WHILE PREGNANT

I started this blog in May....

Today is  Aug 11. So about 3 months ago a little less. In that time I have done a fair amount of traveling to a few different places. I have been pregnant the whole time. I did not plan it this way, but as I get bigger and bigger I realized maybe a short blog entry with some traveling while pregnant suggestions could help!

It is totally summer time and my home base is South Florida. This leads me to my first set of suggestions about traveling while pregnant....

Try to travel during the second trimester! I know if your going to travel you probably want to do it before you really start to show.... The problem with this is that the first trimester can be rough. If you are lucky enough to feel great go for it! But most of us have some type of nagging ugly pregnancy symptoms in the first 12 - 14 weeks of pregnancy. This is why I suggest traveling in the second trimester. You are still not to big to move and you get that pregnancy glow accompanied by a cute belly that people whisper about lol.

This is totally a prego pic! 5 or 6 months big shirt maternity shorts and good to go!

In my second trimester I went to Disney World. We had an amazing trip! There were some things I couldn't do but because it's Disney and mostly everything is family oriented it is actually a great place to go while you are pregnant. It was super hot though! We took afternoon naps everyday and made sure to bring plenty of water. Other than that we took breaks when ever I needed one and me and the little one skipped a few big rides. It was like I wasn't even pregnant!

If you have to travel during your third trimester try not to travel to a place hotter than what you are used to. Sounds crazy I know but unless you plan on being in the pool almost the whole time really it's tough to be in a hot place while you are already so much hotter than normal. It just makes it so much less enjoyable. If it's winter I say have at it go where you want but if it's summer please be careful especially in that third trimester.

I have not flown while pregnant so I can not comment on that. I can say that for car trips bring lots of snacks and again drinks. Healthy snacks if possible it is harder to eat right while on vacation and if you bring healthy snacks it helps a lot. Stop to pee!!!! This one is super important, as a pregnant lady you are already uncomfortable don't make yourself more uncomfortable by not stopping to pee.

Again if you are traveling during the winter it is a lot easier as the cool weather already keeps you more comfortable. I hope your third trimester is in the winter! My first two were, this third one has been quite an experience dealing with the South Florida heat while 8 months pregnant and I live here! I can't imagine coming to visit and not being used to the heat!

At seven months we took a staycation and I can tell you it was pretty awesome. While I was big it was still fun. We chose a hotel right on the beach. This is important as you have the ability to go right back to the a/c immediately if needed. Another great travel idea late in a summer pregnancy is anywhere with a great pool. Even now when I'm not feeling good and I'm hot even in the a/c the pool manages to bring my body temperature down and make me feel like I weigh 15 lbs less... it's a win win.

So in conclusion, first trimester travel really depends on how lucky you are with your initial symptoms.

Second trimester is a go! Have a blast this really does tend to be the best time in pregnancy. Stay hydrated, bring plenty of snacks, a lot of walking should not be a problem, and you are generally happy during these months. Bring several changes of clothes especially underwear and socks.

Third trimester... use caution. This can be a great time or a troublesome time. Swollen ankles can lead to a miserable trip so don't plan anything with to much walking at this point. As always stay hydrated. If it's summer try to make it a trip with lots of swimming and a/c involved. If it's winter not to worry just don't exert yourself to much more than you are used to.

Other than that have fun. Being pregnant is not to much different than how you are normally. If you are normally fit you should stay that way during pregnancy. If you are normally sedentary pregnancy is not the time to start a high paced workout routine so you to should be able to do about the same as before. Just remember to rest and hydrate!

CASTAWAY ISLAND WATER PARK AT TY PARK IN HOLLYWOOD FLORIDA

Welcome to Topeekeegee Yugnee Park in Hollywood, Fl. Located 2 minutes west of I-95 and the Sheridan Street exit. The park itself is one of Broward Counties best with all sorts of fun including playgrounds, water sports, shaded trails, basketball, and an RV park. This park really is amazing.

One of the best things about this park is CASTAWAY ISLAND. It is a great water park for all ages and is way less money than any traditional water park. All day is $8 per person. If you are from the area or visit a lot you also have the option to get an annual pass. There is also a marina located in the same area, but today's review is of the water park only.

When you walk in the park the first thing you see is the big slides. This water park has 3 different areas. There is the slide and play area where most children want to spend their time. This is pictured above. It has 5 slides: two for big kids that curve around, one green medium sized slide that goes pretty fast but is not to big, and two smaller blue slides for the smaller kids that want to join the big kid fun.

There are also plenty of places to get soaked in this water playground. There are buckets to be dumped and water coming from all directions. Another great feature is the huge bucket that dumps out water every so often. If you hear the warning bell get out of the way! The water in this section is not very deep either, I'd say about 2.5 to 3 feet tops. I included a link to the website so that you can get exact measurements.

Along with the big kid play area there is also a toddler play area. It has one slide in the shape of a boat and many other things to keep your toddler busy. Water that is not very deep for one, there are animals in the little pool that the children can sit on and squirt water. A waterfall is in the center and there are a few other things that constantly squirt water making sure your little one is entertained. It is also fenced in keeping the little ones separate from everything else. Here is a picture of that area.

There is one more area that is a large pool with a rock waterfall. This area is the deepest and you can actually swim in this part. There is a zero entry entrance as there is in all the areas. This one is very large and gives you and your friends or family plenty of room to spread out. Also because there are no slides or water toys in this area it is way more calm and relaxed.

This area is also separated within itself by those rope type plastic things they put in pools. (Sorry don't know their official name.) Each area has a different depth and this is what the separation is for. The water fall is way in the back. It is shady and cool. We spent most of our time in the shallowest part so that my three year old could practice swimming. While there I noticed a large number of adults with no children in the deeper part. It looked very relaxing!

Of course there are also bathroom facilities and a concession stand. There are chairs located lining the entire water park. Feel free to grab any empty chair you see. If you would like an area especially for yourself and your party they do have those available for rent. It is a very reasonable price on weekdays in the $30 range. However, if you want one on the weekend it is $75 and I'm pretty sure that is not including park entry. Again for more details either CONTACT ME and I will help you plan your next vacation to the area or if you are from town and need more info feel free to click the link at the top of this blog entry and it will take you directly to the parks webpage.

My final opinion is that this is a good water park. The price is worth it if you are going to be staying for a few hours. If you only plan  on being there for an hour or two there are other cheaper options. However, for a half or all day thing this park is perfect. It is also good for bigger kids which is a plus. Some of the parks in the area seem like they are designed for about 12 and under. I think even my nieces who are 16 and 18 would have fun at this park.

END OF SUMMER DOESN'T MEAN THE END OF FUN

The end of summer is just the beginning of a whole different type of fun!! Yay for holiday's because they are some of the best times to travel.  Not only is it filled with holiday fun, it's also much less crowded than summer fun. This makes me love it even more. The weather is cooler but not cold and the prices go down because the kids are back in school.

So yay for the end of summer it's fun, hot, and filled with water but now it's time to plan an awesome, relaxed, uncrowded vacation in beautiful weather!!

CONTACT ME TODAY and plan on your next great get-a-way!!

MICKEY'S NOT SO SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY

DANCE PARTY

GREAT TIME FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD

STILL PERFECT WEATHER FOR WATER IN FLORIDA!!

FORT LAUDERDALE MARRIOTT HARBOR BEACH RESORT & SPA REVIEW

BEACHFRONT VIEW FROM 15TH FLOOR

FORT LAUDERDALE MARRIOTT HARBOR BEACH RESORT & SPA

LOBBY

TWO DOUBLE BED ROOM

WELCOME TO MY REVIEW OF THE FORT LAUDERDALE HARBOR BEACH MARRIOTT.

I would like to start with saying this is a beautiful resort inside and out. It is directly on the beach and has it's own private beachfront with private beach fronts on either side which makes for a much more enjoyable beach experience. Just north is the Sheraton and while it also has a private beach that one is right next to the public beach and the amount of people encroaching on their space is amazing!

This resort is a convention resort. It is set up to handle a large amount of people and handles them very nicely as they are used to this. During my stay one convention was ending and one was beginning. There were times that it felt extremely crowded, most of these took place around and in the elevators. There was one of the six elevators down for repairs so I am sure that contributed to the extra volume in the other elevators.

It is not only a convention resort it is also big for weddings, honeymoons, and all other beach loving people. If you would like to find out about group rates or wedding rates feel free to CONTACT ME moesgaragefeed@gmail.com, and I will be happy to assist you.

On with the review! This resort has many features. It has it's own gift shop and clothing stores. It has a Starbucks onsite right by the elevators along with two different restaurants on the main floor. There is an extensive spa on the beach floor which is located just below the lobby. There is ample space outside for sitting, relaxing, eating, exploring, or swimming on the beach or in the pool. On the other side of the pool is another restaurant and bar where you can get burgers and more casual foods.

AERIAL VIEW OF THE POOL

Along with the large pool that features a waterfall next to it are two different hot tubs and a smaller adult only pool. A beautiful way to start or end any day is at this pool, however, if you chose to go at night they do play kids movies right after sundown. This time it was Smurfs 2 and last time I checked out this resort for a function it was Frozen! Great time for the kids, very relaxing for the adults.

There are water stations strategically located throughout the resort. They contain fresh ice water with slices of fresh fruit inside. I consider this a very nice touch, especially during summer time in South Florida. If you have never been the summer temps tend to be around the low 90's when it's not raining and upper 80's on rainy days. The water is a very nice touch and is very much appreciated.

Just to the east of the pool is the beach....

MARRIOTT PRIVATE BEACH

BEACH

ARIAL VIEW OF MARRIOTT PRIVATE BEACH

The beach is probably this hotels best feature. While everything else about the hotel is already at minimum 3.5 stars (they don't offer two queen size beds or it would be 4), the beach gives it that extra star!! In the aerial picture of the beach you may notice how shallow the water is?! This is a major plus and it is not like this a few hundred feet down on either side. This is one of the bonuses of this beach. As I mentioned before it is also private. Only guests of the resort and members of this Marriott may use it.

They offer chairs, umbrellas, and small cabana type things that cover two chairs and come with a table all for a small fee. Again due to this being a private beach, you can charge these things to your room. You may see a large yellow thing out in the water in the aerial picture.

Onsite between the Marriott and the Sheraton there is a water sports company. This big yellow thing is a trampoline. I did not try it, but my daughters review of it was "totally awesome". They also have other things available at this non-affiliated water sports place. While not affiliated it is very convenient. They have wave runners, surf boards, and paddle boards to name a few. There are also things like para-sailing and  boat rentals.

Now let's talk about the rooms. The bathroom was very nice as was the closet and storage space along with the balcony and the views. Regardless of if you pay extra for a beach view room you will have a good view. Also, request an upper floor so that you can get the best view. We had a beach view room and if you like the beach then it is absolutely worth the upcharge. The views of the city are also wonderful, especially because you get the views of the intercoastal and all of the beautiful houses lining it. Here are some views from some different rooms. All on the 15th (top) floor.

One thing I did not like about this hotel is that your room choices are king or two doubles. Two doubles are what we need as a family of four, however, two queens would have been much better. After seeing the king room I think that would have worked better for the four of us. Then the two adults would have slept better as my husband is a big man. The chair in the king room was also big enough for a smaller child to sleep on while in the double bed room it is only half the size. I did not check to see if it pulled out as I do not like pull out sofa's!

For our other larger child there was ample room in the king size room to open up the roll away bed we requested, while in the room with the double beds there was not. Here are a few pictures of the room with the double beds. My kids messed up the king size room before I had a chance to take pictures of it so I apologize for that.... I guess I will just have to stay here again!

DOUBLE BED ROOM

CLOSET SPACE WHERE THE COFFEE MAKER AND HAIR DRYER ARE HIDING

COMFORTABLY SIZED ROOM

CHAIR AND BALCONY

BATHROOM

ONLY ONE SINK

SHOWER, BATHTUB

My final opinion of this hotel is about 4.25 stars. There are a few things missing that it need to be 4.5 stars. There are no microwaves in the room and the only fridge is their mini fridge and due to it being totally stocked there wasn't much room for other things. If you are staying for more than two days this could cause you some problems. Also the double bed situation. Queen beds would be better.