Kingdom Konsultant Travel Blog

It’s no secret that one of the most sought after treats from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is none other than the famous Butterbeer. I mean, how many pictures have you seen of guests proudly showing off their butterbeer in front of Gringott’s Bank or Hogwarts? Here, I’ll show you: No one knows for sure what is in Butterbeer, but most people agree that it has a sweet, butterscotch flavor.   I’ve heard speculation that it also tastes like it might have cream soda, vanilla, or shortbread flavoring.   Whatever those witches and wizards put in their magical concoction, we can all agree it is delicious!   But did you know there are multiple ways to experience butterbeer at Universal Orlando Resort?!   In fact, some of my favorite butterbeer treats aren’t even drinks at all!   If you’ve got a sweet tooth and a love for Harry Potter, you’ll want to experience as many butterbeer treats as you can! Sip that Butterbeer Let’s start off with the gold standard. ...

If you’ve read our recent blog, Universal's Volcano Bay Basics , you may recall that Volcano Bay has a variety of seating options available for guests. One of the options you can pay to reserve is Premium Seating. Premium Seating is a great option for those that don’t need a Cabana but would like to have the convenience of reserved seating and some additional amenities.   My family was visiting during peak season, and I wanted to make sure we weren’t stressed about finding a place to take a break or having to wait on food.   I was torn about whether we really “needed” this experience upgrade, but I am so happy we went for it! For the best price, you should try to reserve your Premium Seating as far in advance as possible.  While you may be able to get a reservation upon arrival at the park, it’s always a risk. Plus, you will be paying top dollar if you wait to book. You’re probably wondering, what exactly does Premium Seating include? Here is what you get with your...

I have discovered over the years that many people think Universal Orlando Resort theme parks are just for guests who love thrill rides.   While it is true these parks have some amazing thrill rides (I’m looking at you, Velocicoaster!), there are plenty of rides to please anyone in your party that prefer more tame attractions. Recently I took my own family down to experience everything Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure have to offer.   My son is just venturing into the world of roller coasters, but still has some growing to do.   My daughter is still a bit cautious when it comes to rides.   They both declared that they LOVE Universal Orlando Resort and can’t wait to return!   In no particular order, here are our favorite non-coaster rides that are sure to please everyone in your group.  Despicable Me Minion Mayhem :   In this awesome simulator ride you get turned into a minion! Margo, Edith, and Agnes oversee your minion trai...

We continue our tour of World Showcase and head to the other end of the lagoon for Canada! The Canada Pavilion is home to one of the most popular restaurants on Walt Disney World property: Le Cellier Steakhouse.  The steakhouse is located in the cellar of the centerpiece of the Canada pavilion, the Hotel du Canada.  Le Cellier is a signature dining restaurant serving steaks, seafood, and regional cuisine inspired by the provinces of Canada.  Favorites include the “Le Cellier” Mushroom Filet Mignon and the Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup.  Guests 21 years of age and older can enjoy Canadian wines and beers.  Click here to read a full review.  Reservations are strongly recommended at this restaurant and can be made 60 days in advance. On your way to the entrance of Le Cellier, make sure to take a moment to take some pictures of the Victoria Gardens along with the quaint little cottage.  It’s a beautiful spot filled with many great photo opportunities...

This installment of World Showcase Spotlight features a favorite pavilion--Germany! You will find Germany situated between the Outpost and Italy pavilion. With beautiful potted flowers throughout, gorgeous architecture and the delicious smell of caramel treats, this quaint pavilion is an easy place to sit and relax for a little bit. The Germany Pavilion is home to a few stores where guests can buy everything from apparel and toys to steins and ornaments.  Die Weihnachts Ecke is a must visit store for any Christmas lover. Hand blown glass ornaments of all shapes and colors decorate the walls and trees within the store. The pickle ornament tree is also a hit, so make sure to stop and read the story of the pickle ornament if you are unfamiliar with this tradition! Stein Haus is where you’ll find beer steins, as you could probably guess! There is also some other fun merchandise such as t-shirts, etc… Next door to Stein Haus is Weinkeller.  Here you will find German wines, wi...

If you think you know water parks, think again!  Universal's Volcano Bay at the Universal Orlando Resort has really changed the face of the traditional water park.  They've embraced new technology and really worked to improve some of the more "annoying" things about a hot summer water park experience. The entrance is large, open and welcoming.  If you are staying on property at Universal, you can catch a bus over here or walk from your resort depending on which hotel you are staying at.  The biggest innovation that sets Volcano Bay apart is the TapuTapu Wearable. Everyone gets one with park admission to use for the day and return on your way out of the park. These devices are completely waterproof and have little chance of falling off. You can use these handy little wristbands to reserve your spot in a virtual queue so you aren't spending most of your day waiting in line. TapTu Ride allows you to hop in a virtual line. How it works is you find a to...

So you’ve booked your Walt Disney World vacation, you’ve made your Fastpass+ selections, you’ve finally arrived to the park, and you’re walking up to the Tower of Terror when your kid says, “I don’t know if I want to ride…”  All the thoughts that are now going through your mind, not the least of which is, “I better not have wasted a Fastpass+!” 1. Don’t feel bad, when my kid said it, I silently called him a wuss. 2. Don’t fret. I personally think Disney World does a great job giving insight into what you will experience on the rides. Rock'n'Roller Coaster, one of the most thrilling attractions at WDW! Can you fully explain the drop on Tower of Tower to your kiddo?  No. But, you do have a great visual of the ride from the street below and you can hear the sounds of the people screaming on the ride. This unveiling is true with most of Disney’s “thrill” rides. Splash Mountain  For example,  Rock'n Roller Coaster allows you to view ...

Disney announced this year's event with the ultimate 140 character tweet! Recently, Disney announced a Rock Your Disney Side 24 Hour Event. From May 23rd to May 24th, 6:00 AM to 6:00AM, the Magic Kingdom in Orlando and Theme Parks of Disneyland Resort in California will host the heroes and villains of Disney for 24 spectacular hours. Guests are invited to dress up in child-friendly costumes and rock their Disney side at an event that promises "wicked fun for everyone." As my fellow Disney nerds may recall, last year’s 24-Hour all-nighter kicked off the Monstrous Summer at Disney Parks on May 24th. I am proud to say that I was there for that event. My husband and I hit the bus stop at Pop Century at 5:00AM sharp. Our goal was to get in 24 Hours of Disney, regardless of the park. The plan was to start at the Magic Kingdom and then hop over to Epcot to fill in the middle of the day, and return to the Magic Kingdom in the evening . 6 a.m. selfie! In my mind, ...

I admit it- when I heard Walt Disney World was replacing the daytime parade at the Magic Kingdom, I was a bit timid. I'm a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to Disney- I enjoy and look forward to the new experiences, but I hate to see old favorites go. The Dreams Come True parades all share a special place in my heart- I've gone from teenager to adult watching them, and had shared special memories watching them as a daughter, then cast member, then honeymooner, and most recently, a parent. But even I have to admit- under all the name changes (from "Share a Dream Come True", to "Disney Dreams Come True", to "Celebrate a Dream Come True"), it was still basically the same parade with a slightly different soundtrack. If Walt Disney ever taught us anything, it was to Keep Moving Forward. And move forward they did!  Soon, artist renderings of the new parade were released, and I started to get excited. Then, pictures of the floats and costumes cam...