Kingdom Konsultant Travel Blog

Florida summers can be brutally hot and humid, but with school schedules offering summers off, it's still a popular time for a Walt Disney World vacation.  And if you aren't tied to a school schedule, the heat and humidity can last into the fall as well. So here are some tips and tricks to keep cool and make the most of your Disney vacation each summer. 1. Get Up Early and Stay Out Late This is probably the best advice for beating the mid-day crowds any time of year, but it serves more than one purpose during the summer months.  The first few hours are crucial for low crowds and relatively low heat and humidity.  For lowest wait times, plan to be at the park gates about 30 minutes before the opening time for resort guests.  Then, once the sun goes down enjoy the parks in the evening for another break from that Florida sun. 2. Take Advantage of Your Resort  When the sun starts to get really hot and the lines get long, return to the resort to cool down, take a nap or go for a swi

I knew our first Disney Cruise would be awesome, but didn't expect to be so completely impressed with every aspect of the cruise. From the magnificent cuisine, to the Broadway-style shows, to the amazing customer service, Disney is truly unbeatable when it comes to family cruising. There are many, many cruise planning sites, blogs, and tips out there to sift through, (which I did my due diligence reading in preparation for my own trip) including the wonderful articles here on the Kingdom Konsultant Blog. But, actually experiencing it, taught me so much more. Here are the things I wish I knew, but didn't on my first Disney Cruise: Arrival Day Advice If you want to pay with Disney Gift Cards or Disney Visa Rewards, first thing you should do onboard is go to guest services to put them on file for charges if you didn't already add your credit card to your stateroom when you completed your online check-in. Oh! and make sure you know your pin #!   Traveling with small chi

We all know that Florida is known for its sunshine. During the warmer months, it is a good idea to take a break from the heat throughout the day. Luckily, there are plenty of interesting ways throughout the parks for you to keep cool for a few minutes. Here are some specific attractions to look for to take a break from the heat in each of the four theme parks.  When you are at the Magic Kingdom  there are several great shows to enjoy for a break from the heat and a break for your feet! You can visit Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room or the Carousel of Progress and enjoy Disney classic entertainment.  For a 3D show with all your favorite characters, drop by Mickey’s PhilharMagic. Are you more of a jokester? Maybe the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor is right up your alley; you may become the center of attention! If shows aren't what you're after, the classic ride, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, includes a brilliant feature: much of your waiting will be done at an indoor playgrou

Who doesn’t like saving money? Going on vacation doesn't have to break the bank. Here are my top 10 ways you can save money on your next (or first!) Disney Cruise: Welcome Aboard, Captain Mickey! 1. Book Early – The best advice I can give for saving money on a Disney Cruise is to book early. Over time, Disney Cruise prices go up because as a specific category fills up, the prices go up. When Disney releases new itineraries, the more popular ones can go up in price even on that first day! Disney Dream at Castaway Cay 2. Book a mystery room  – If you can’t book early, you may get some discounts by booking last-minute. Disney has a special fare for late planners. The highly restricted fares called IGT (inside guaranteed room), OGT (ocean view guaranteed room) and VGT (verandah guaranteed room) can save you hundreds! They're non-refundable , but can get you a great deal on that cruise you have had your eye on all year! You won't get to choose your stateroom #, but yo

Whether you have cruised before, or this is your first time, check out our must-haves list for some new ideas!  Disney Wish and Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas in Nassau, Bahamas Everyone's cruise needs are different, but this is a general, all-itinerary list of hacks to make your cruise more comfortable. I will follow up with a must-haves list for kids too, so check the blog again before you sail!  I surveyed the other Kingdom Konsultant Agents who are avid cruisers like myself, and these are our must-haves.  1. Collapsible laundry hamper and a trash bag - Keep your dirty clothes separate from your clean clothes, and off the floor. I love the pop up kind because they are cheap, and easy to pack flat in your suitcase. I empty all my dirty or wet clothes into a trash bag before repacking my suitcase to debark the cruise. Then, when I arrive at home, I take that right to the laundry room. It also keeps the rest of my stuff smelling good. You can have your laundry done on the shi

When counting down to your Royal Caribbean Cruise Line vacation, there are several milestones you'll experience such as booking excursions, reserving dining and entertainment options, final payment date and completing online check-in. Online check-in is one of the most exciting milestones because it means you are that much closer to setting sail on your cruise! We're sharing some tips and helpful information about the online check-in process so you're fully prepared before your next Royal Caribbean cruise.  Royal Caribbean's online check-in process begins 45 days prior to your sailing date. If you aren't sure what date that is, the Royal Caribbean app and website will list the exact date for you when you're signed in to your account and have linked your upcoming cruise reservation. Check-in opens shortly after midnight ship time so set a reminder on your calendar so you can complete the process as soon as possible.  You can complete online check-in through the R

The Universal Orlando Resort in Florida is known for having some amazing thrill rides and immersive experiences, so you might think taking a babymoon there was a bit crazy of me.  However, it was the perfect blend of fun and relaxation for me and I felt like I could still do quite a bit even with most of the rides being off limits for expecting mothers.  A small disclaimer: we went during Mardi Gras which I feel like added a lot of extra entertainment that I could participate in.   We went in with the mindset that we would take it slow and take a lot of breaks and not over-tax ourselves in the parks, but I was surprised at how long we went that first day!  The shows provided sitting breaks and we took a little break at Finnegan's to get some A/C and beverages that helped extend the stamina for the day if you don't feel like going all the way back to the hotel. First up, the shows .  Universal, especially Universal Studios Florida, has a ton of high quality shows worth seeing.