Universal Orlando Dining Review

Universal is foodie paradise in many ways - City Walk is especially important for this reason because it has something for everyone! Our time at Universal spanned just three days so I think it's best if I put all of our dining experiences in one post. This will be a mix of resort, City Walk, and park food but I'll present the dining experiences in that order to keep things organized.

We only enjoyed one meal at our resort (Cabana Bay) but it was pretty decent for what I would consider "food court" food. If you haven't experienced Bayliner Diner, it's a multi-counter venue with a different theme to each option. In this case, we chose the burger and sandwich counter because it was the least busy.

Chicken Strips and Fries

Baja Chicken Sandwich and Fries

I'm pretty certain the young lady behind the counter gave me too many chicken strips but she really didn't seem bothered by food service policy at the time. As you can probably tell, these meals are somewhat standard fare for a quick option and it definitely filled us up. The price isn't bad either - about $20 for both meals and two drinks. The best part about Bayliner Diner isn't the food, though; the dining area has several large screens playing clips from old tv shows and movies which totally matches the theme of Cabana Bay and emits a sense of nostalgia. 

Another important point about Cabana Bay - I previously mentioned the amazing pool drinks from Hideaway Bar & Grill in this post and I'm ecstatic to let everyone know that the souvenir cups are now provided with lids so that they can be taken in the pool or lazy river! This was a major game-changer for me because I hated spending $10 on a drink and then leaving it at the table when I wanted to swim.

There are so many dining options at City Walk that you'll probably need to take a look at the options first to decide where to go. For this trip, we decided to try two new restaurants and we weren't disappointed at all! First up, Cowfish. It may have a funny name but the food is really delicious - it's a burger/sushi fusion with a fun theme and great curb appeal. The views from the balcony are pretty great as you can see both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure from its perch. 

California Roll

Black Truffle Cheeseburger

The Cowfish Has Officially Left the Building Burger

We started our meal pretty safe with a California Roll (Patrick is the sushi master, not me) and it was better than average. I have to admit that this trip was a little unfair on the sushi side of things because nothing can live up to the standard of Disney's California Grill. Our entrees are where things got a little crazy - Patrick selected the Black Truffle Cheeseburger which is a beef patty with black truffle cheese, roasted shallots, sauteed mushrooms, and roasted garlic aioli. I ordered The Cowfish Has Officially Left the Building Burger and if you know anything about Elvis then you're probably aware that the King of Rock n Roll loved his peanut butter and bananas - which is exactly what adorned my beef patty. It was surprisingly delicious!! If you are an adventurous eater and you can take some weird toppings on your burger then you should definitely look at the Cowfish menu and consider it for your next trip!

Marshmallow Crisp Milkshake

Gimme More S'more Shake

A major theme for desserts on City Walk is the colossal milkshake - you'll see more of these in the next review (scroll down for a spoiler!) We enjoyed these huge shakes but they were a little too much for a post-meal treat.

Our other City Walk selection was the brand-new Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen (try saying that five times fast!) We were quoted an hour wait but it only took about 10 minutes to get seated on the patio. Please take this review lightly because we visited Toothsome in its first week open and I'm sure they've made improvements since our visit.

If you opt to sit outside, make sure to at least walk indoors to take a gander at the theme and decorations. I'm a fan of anything related to steampunk so this place totally tickled my funny bone. It's really awe-inspiring! I followed the construction on this restaurant really closely and I still can't believe it's finished. They made a remarkable amount of progressive in what I thought was a short amount of time.

We weren't very hungry when we sat down for a late lunch at Toothsome but we ordered an appetizer, entrees, and dessert anyway because - duh - it's Toothsome.

Kettle Chip Nachos

We started with the kettle chip nachos, which could have easily fed four or five people. We didn't finish the plate but they were a great start to our meal and the homemade chips were salty and crisp. 

Croque Monsieur

Reuben

We took the entrees easy with two selections from the sandwich menu. The Croque Monsieur is not something that can be found at your local deli so I try to order it whenever possible (ham and Gruyere cheese topped with bechamel sauce). It was so rich that I couldn't eat the whole sandwich in one sitting but it was just as good warmed up in the hotel room later that night! Patrick is a fan of the Reuben, in general, and he said that Toothsome's rendition was worthy of ordering again. It was loaded with corned beef, Swiss cheese, red cabbage, and 1000 Island dressing which is just the way he likes it.

Heavenly Hazelnut

Cinnamon Fantasy

The real draw at Toothsome is their milkshakes - in fact, they've started a major trend in Orlando with these over-the-top concoctions! I don't think it's possible to go wrong with any selection, but we settled on the Heavenly Hazelnut (think, Nutella) and Cinnamon Fantasy. Again, both shakes were too much for us to finish after such a big meal but we definitely appreciated the presentation and the souvenir mugs.

Finally - Universal park food. I've saved the best for last! The quick service options are nothing to write home about but the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has the BEST signature drink ...do I really have to tell you? Butterbeer. I would drink in a mug, on a rug, wrestle a thug, then take a chug...you get the idea. It's amazing and I will forever hold this drink sacred in my heart.

Cold (not frozen) butterbeer and butterbeer ice cream

And last, but never ever least, is Mythos. A trip to Islands of Adventure is not complete until I've had a meal at Mythos and I will probably keep that tradition the rest of my life. There is a reason it's consistently voted one of the best theme park restaurants and if you have a meal here then you'll understand what I mean! 

Spanakopita Dip with Pita Chips

Falafel Burger

Gnocchi Bolognese

We started with the Spanakopita dip with pita chips - it looks like a lot of food but we devoured it in a matter of minutes! I was truly expecting to be on-the-fence about this appetizer but it blew me away and I instantly wanted more. I think I've talked about my love of falafel enough already, but I couldn't walk away from Mythos without trying their falafel burger - O.M.G. It's ruined me for regular burgers the rest of my life! The feta-olive aioli on the side was absolutely divine and there was enough to spread on my burger as well as my fries. Patrick didn't stop talking about the Gnocchi Bolognese for days. He was truly enamored with this dish and said the flavor was out of this world! Cowfish and Toothsome were pretty great but Mythos is definitely the best dining option on Universal property. 10/10 would make myself look like a glutton all day every day again and again

So there you have it - our indulgences from Universal and its associated properties. We won't be fitting Universal into our next Orlando itinerary but I'll continue to drool over these pictures until our return (which I hope is sooner than later!) 

Halloween Festivities and Epcot's Food & Wine Festival

Welcome!

Okay so I kinda took that line from the sign, but this is exactly how we were greeted at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party on our first night in Orlando. We didn't get checked into our room until 3:15pm and the party unofficially starts at 4:00pm so it was quite a rush to change into our costumes (yes! you can dress up!) and make it to Magic Kingdom at the top of the hour. I'll admit we were a little late and missed a couple of our FastPasses but we were there for our 4:40pm dinner reservation and that's what mattered most.

So here's a quick rundown: Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party is held on select nights in September and October (sometimes a few nights in November, as well) and it is a family-friendly event. All ages can dress up although there are restrictions on things such as realistic weapons and face masks for adults. The event has a special ticket price BUT that ticket will get you into Magic Kingdom at 4pm, which means you can probably save a day on your park tickets by using your event ticket instead (that's what we did). Daytime park attendees will be escorted out of the party at 7pm. Be prepared to get lots of candy! There are candy buckets stationed all around the park and all ages are encouraged to participate. There are also specialty snacks and souvenirs available only during the party so if you're a pin collector or a foodie then you won't want to miss this opportunity!

Pumpkin Spice Cupcake from Gaston's Tavern

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party also offers up a wonderful exclusive parade and fireworks show that rival all other parades and fireworks! And of course, there are a lot of special characters to meet during the party; Jack and Sally are always crowd favorites. Overall, we really enjoyed the party and would probably say it was one of the best nights of our trip. We will definitely be back!

Halloween decorations for the party

Spooky projections on Cinderella's Castle

The next event we attended on our trip was the much-anticipated Epcot Food & Wine Festival. This was pretty much my sole reason for planning this trip in late September (the Halloween party was an added bonus!) although I have to admit that I made a rookie mistake. While my itinerary showed two days for Epcot, I really only devoted one day to the Food & Wine Festival and it's something that has to be experienced across multiple days to gain full appreciation for it. 

The purpose of this event is to educate and appreciate global cuisine and wine. It's a very popular offering at Epcot and is almost always packed in the evenings and on the weekends. World Showcase is littered with food kiosks offering small or moderately portioned snacks for about $5 each. You can usually get a full menu in July or August from disneyfoodblog.com and you'll definitely want to give it a good look because stopping at every kiosk is probably going to hurt your tummy and your wallet. 

Our Food & Wine Festival day was really hot and muggy. We didn't really feel like stuffing ourselves full of food and drinks but we felt obligated to try a few things because it was a major focal point of our trip. Our favorite was the cheddar soup and pretzel roll from Canada; Patrick absolutely loved this dish and would have returned for seconds if we didn't have other places to go. 

I feel like I need to make another trip during Food & Wine Festival season to give it a fair shot. I made a couple of mistakes on this trip (only one dedicated day for the event, eating full meals instead of just the festival food) and I will be better prepared for all of the savory goodness next time!

Universal's Halloween Horror Nights - The Exorcist haunted house entrance

Hold on because we're about to switch gears! As you know, we finished our trip at Universal Studios and snagged a couple of tickets to the Halloween Horror Nights. This event requires separate admission from the parks and it's nothing like Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. If you like more adult-themed entertainment then this might be your scene but be prepared for the swarm of drunk people that you'll have to fight to get into the haunted houses. Oh, and there will be lines to wait. They had nine houses this year but we only completed six of them because the waits grew to 45 minutes or an hour by the end of the night. 

Scare actor for Halloween Horror Nights

Of all the special events we attended on this trip, we were the most disappointed in the money we spent on Halloween Horror Nights. Unlike Disney's Halloween Party, there wasn't any overlap in the park hours and the party hours, which means that someone's day is getting cut short - whether it's the daytime park goers or the nighttime party goers, unless you fork over the money for both a park ticket and a party ticket. Also, the general demeanor of the party crowd is pretty different. Of course the party attendees are mostly adults and many are imbibing so that probably has a lot to do with it, but there seemed to be a lot more lewd and aggressive behavior - especially in the haunted house lines - while we were there.

Entrance to Texas Chainsaw Massacre haunted house

While I won't say that you should avoid Universal's Halloween Horror Nights, I will say that I won't return to this event and I hope that my experience was just an isolated incident. And to end this review on a positive note: the haunted houses are amazingly themed and well-executed! Of course they use some of the same elements in nearly every house (smoke machine, oddly textured objects hanging from ceiling, jump scares) but it was pretty much the only reprieve from the real horror that was happening among the drunken crowds outside.

Disney and Universal Resources

I thought I would take a break from the trip review to share some sites that have been very helpful in years past. Of course there's nothing better than browsing around various media sources and finding what works best for you, but here are a few places to get you started:

1. DIS: DIS is made up of several different resources of information, but the core group behind this operation is an agency called Dreams Unlimited Travel. They are one of the premier travel agencies that specialize in Disney trips and they have several mediums for information. First, there are the forums at disboards.com; the threads are divided by major categories and subtopics including all Disney properties, Universal, and lifestyles (solo traveler, adult groups, and LGBTQ). They also have a popular podcast titled DIS Unplugged, as well as a YouTube presence with lots of video series on everything from Dining and Resorts to pop culture info sessions. And finally, there is a public Facebook group titled 'disboards on facebook!' that is also associated with this resource.

2. WDW and DLR Prep Schools: These websites are divided by destination to include Walt Disney World (WDW) and Disneyland Resort (DLR). You can find them at wdwprepschool.com and dlrprepschool.com, respectively. Each site is managed by a different contact but they include podcasts and blogs full of information that is primarily geared toward a family visit to the parks. I really like the passion behind these sites; I utilize them often for parade and fireworks location recommendations and other non-group related information. I highly recommend checking these websites out if you're planning a trip with a family and/or children.

3. Disney Tourist Blog: Fun fact - this was actually the first site I stumbled upon when I decided to expand my knowledge about Disney. Tom offers a lot of great advice about photography and he shares many of his photos as wallpaper downloads for free. He and his wife Sarah also offer a free ebook for Christmas, as well as a forum for conversation and itinerary suggestions. More than anything, I recommend this site to anyone that plans to travel abroad to the Disney locations in France, China, or Japan. Tom and Sarah have been everywhere and they have very detailed reviews of their experiences! Check it out at disneytouristblog.com.

4. Kenny the Pirate: Kenny is well-known in the Disney community for his expertise in character meet-and-greet planning. He offers an app titled Character Locator that will assist with tracking character schedules and other park events. I haven't used his services yet but I've heard nothing but positive reviews. You can find more information at kennythepirate.com.

5. Disney Food Blog: If you love Disney food - or if you just love food in general - then you won't want to miss the action at disneyfoodblog.com. This is the best place to find restaurant reviews, specialty food and drink information, as well as exclusive details about Epcot's Flower & Garden and Food & Wine festivals. They are usually the first site to update food kiosk information and they sell several guides to help you make the most of your dining experience at Disney.

6. Orlando Informer: The Orlando Informer (also referred to as "OI") community is an excellent resource for Universal news and tips. They have a website at orlandoinformer.com as well as a podcast and a group on Facebook by the name of "Universal Community by Orlando Informer". I've found OI to be very helpful with general Universal information, but especially with planning for Halloween Horror Nights this year.

There are a few other sites that didn't make the expanded list but are worth mentioning:

• MouseSavers.com - this site has recently changed management although the information appears to still be in good order. You can find a lot of valuable advice with user-friendly navigation. Their biggest asset is the monthly newsletter, which I recommend everyone sign up to receive. 
• TouringPlans.com - there is a free version of this site with basic information but the subscription option will provide access to their custom touring plan creator which will utilize your FastPasses to help you make the best decisions about when to visit certain attractions during your visit. They also have a dining reservation finder but it's free to use (no subscription required) - definitely use this tool if you need help snagging a particularly difficult restaurant! Please note: you will still need to create an account on the site but the tool is free: https://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/reservation-finder 
• Undercovertourist.com - site for discount tickets and crowd calendar

Of course I'm always available to answer questions about Disney and Universal - contact me any time! If I don't know an answer then I'll make sure we find it together. Thanks for reading this post and check out these websites when you get some extra time!

Orlando Post-Trip Discussion: Overall Impressions

I have a lot of information to update on this blog but I think a summary post is in order. I can say with complete certainty that this year's Orlando trip was by far my most favorite vacation to-date. I think it was a combination of research and experience that really helped us to make the most of our time; while many individuals in my Disney September planning group on Facebook were complaining about crowds on various days, I was happily strolling along nearly empty walkways because I utilized several crowd calendars and a little intuition to put together a touring plan before traveling. If nothing else is taken from this blog, I hope that you'll appreciate this piece of advice: a complete touring plan will make a world of difference for your trip regardless of the time of year that you plan to visit. Even if you can only go to Orlando in the dead of summer when everyone else is there, you can utilize a touring plan to visit attractions during slow parts of the day to see and do everything on your list.

Our first day at Epcot during Food & Wine Festival; minimal crowds

In order to keep this post as concise as possible, I'll divide the trip among the major categories to give a brief summary of our impressions. The goal is to dedicate a post to more specific topics in the coming weeks but please feel free to post any questions or comments below if you'd like an answer sooner!

Time of Visit

We chose to vacation in September because there are historically very low crowds this time of year. Disney's free dining offer, in addition to seasonal events, have resulted in higher crowds the past few years. I don't have another September visit to compare, but I would say that the crowds seemed very similar to those I experienced on my trip the first week of May 2015. The parks weren't empty but I would say they were on the lower end of moderate. We are planning our next trip to Disney World for the first week of December 2017 to see if that famed 'slow week' will live up to the hype.

Hotels

Disney's Contemporary Resort: I had no idea how convenient a monorail resort would be until we took our first walk to Magic Kingdom on arrival day and timed ourselves - less than 10 minutes to the security checkpoint and that's while walking in Halloween costumes that nearly suffocated us! Patrick has requested to stay at a monorail resort for every trip in the future although I'm unsure we'll always be able to fork out the money for it. The resort definitely feels luxurious but staying there for a week allowed us to notice a few dated details that served as tiny reminders of this resort's history. For example, our bathroom had worn edges on the wallpaper that probably wouldn't have stood out to us if we hadn't been there for a full 7 days. We made excellent use of the pool area and loved that we could see Magic Kingdom's fireworks from the quiet pool! I would rate this resort 8/10, knocking off a star for price and another star for minor dated decor.

Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort: I'm not sure that we really gained anything by staying in the Family Suite. It was a bigger room but we didn't utilize the extra space at all and we found that the separate water closet was a bit of a hassle because there wasn't much space between the toilet and the door (had to step into the water closet and around the door in order to close it.) Also, the mattress was sagging in the middle and was pretty uncomfortable for this reason. We really enjoyed the lazy river but will definitely select a room on that side of the resort next time because the walk from the Cabana Courtyard was a longer distance than I had anticipated. 5/10

Dining

I was very impressed with nearly everything we ate on this trip. I won't go into details on each experience because there will undoubtedly be another post for that purpose but I will share our best and worst recommendations -

Best Disney: California Grill, Via Napoli, Kona Cafe

Best Universal: Mythos, Cowfish, Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen

Worst Disney: Tangierine Cafe

Worst Universal: Bayliner Diner

Special Events

There were three special events that we attended on this trip: Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, Food & Wine Festival, and Universal's Halloween Horror Nights. Of these three, we enjoyed Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party the most because it was a night dedicated to our favorite holiday and provided all attendees the opportunity to dress up, trick-or-treat, and watch event-specific parades, shows, and fireworks. It was a spooky good time! We also loved the Food & Wine Festival but we weren't especially impressed with a lot of the offerings and, compared to the Flower & Garden Festival in the spring, it seemed like it brought in a lot more crowds. For Epcot, specifically, I think I would choose to visit in early March or May to catch the Flower & Garden Festival because I prefer the food at those kiosks more and they are easily enjoyed any time of day or night because the crowds are lower. And rounding up the special events....well, we attended Universal's Halloween Horror Nights but they should really re-brand it as a frat party for Orlando's locals. While the houses and scare zones were pretty impressive, the event was too crowded and boozy. It's really not even worth attending unless you plan to purchase an Express Pass because the lines for the houses grow to 45+ minutes for most of the night and they all utilize the same scare tactics (fog machine + random props hanging from ceiling + too many scare actors jumping at the same intervals). We will definitely not return to this event in the future.

I hate to pick sides on the Disney vs. Universal debate but this trip cemented us as a Disney family. The layout of the parks, efficiency of the MagicBand and Fastpass, access to various modes of transportation, and plenty of resorts in every budget makes Disney World a destination that any family can aspire to visit. Universal charges a premium for many of the options that Disney offers for free and their resort options are pretty slim unless paying $250+/night is your preference. I'm glad they've recently opened Cabana Bay Beach Resort and Sapphire Falls to accommodate guests on a budget but even these options are typically more expensive than Disney's All-Star resorts. Also, perhaps it was because we spent a week at Disney World first but it seemed like the Universal employees were far less friendly than we had grown accustomed to witnessing from the Disney Cast Members. We haven't completely decided on our next Orlando trip but I think it's safe to say that we'll probably just take one day to drive over to Universal for Wizarding World of Harry Potter but we won't be staying onsite.

That's it for now - stick around for posts in the near future that will dive deeper into the specifics of our September 2016 Orlando trip!

The Final Countdown - 1 Day!

I have finally realized exactly what today means. In 11 short hours, the plane will be on the runway and headed to Orlando! This will be my final blog post for a couple of weeks but I'll try to get an update on here as soon as we return.

For now, I will cover the final full day of our trip. It's probably the busiest day of the whole trip considering Halloween Horror Night (HHN) doesn't end until 1am. We may try to sleep in a bit on this day to offset the long hours in the park but no definite plans yet.

Sunday September 25

• 8:00am - Universal Orlando opens

• 9:00am - Wake up!

• 10:00am - Leisure enjoyment of the park, rides with low wait times

• 12:00pm - Lunch at Leaky Cauldron, more rides

• 4:30pm - Line up for Halloween Horror Night

• 6:00pm - Halloween Horror Night begins (posted hours indicate 6:30pm but I've read in some articles that they will allow guests already in the park to visit a haunted house at 6:00pm)

Sorry for the short itinerary; I wish I could give more information but the first HHN hasn't been held yet and I want to wait until new articles have been posted before I nail down any plans. I am still unsure of our dinner options, as well, because I don't know exactly which establishments will be open and/or if full menus will be served. I love Universal and have visited many times but I am a total newbie to HHN and excited to experience something new! 

As mentioned, the final day of our trip is sure to be a long one and well worth the lack of sleep. I am hoping for a memorable finale to a wonderful vacation and will report back when it's all over!

The Final Countdown - 2 Days!

If yesterday was slow (and it actually didn't end as slow as it started) then today was the opposite! I've barely had a moment to breathe, much less think about the trip and now I'm staring at the image on this post and wondering how I got to day 2 on the countdown. 

This is going to be a tough trip day to review mostly because there aren't predetermined Fastpasses at Universal and also because we are going to try to cram as much into day nine as we can. But you are owed a summary and I'll do my best to put it all here! We will have the Express Pass on this day so we should not have a long wait for any specific ride (except maybe 15 minutes at Reign of Kong)

Saturday September 24

• 6:30am - Wake up! 

• 7:00am - Early opening at Universal Studios, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, take pictures if the park isn't too busy

• 8:00am - Official opening of Universal Studios, Men in Black Alien Attack, The Simpsons Ride, E.T. Adventure, Terminator 2: 3-D

• 10:00am - Universal Horror Make-Up Show, Shrek 4-D, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (again), Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Transformers: The Ride - 3D, Revenge of the Mummy

• 11:15am - Hogwarts Express to Islands of Adventure

• 12:00pm - Lunch at Mythos, Poseidon's Fury, The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad, Dragon's Challenge, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (will have to wait in line for this), Jurassic Park River Adventure, Skull Island: Reign of Kong, Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls, Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Doctor Doom's Fearfall, The Incredible Hulk Coaster

• 7:00pm - Dinner at Cowfish (may be earlier if we take a break and decide to go back to the park afterward to finish rides), Dessert at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen

I know there are a lack of concise times here and I apologize; the Express Pass is going to make it difficult to know exactly when we'll be in each section of the park but I assure you we'll be enjoying whichever attraction comes next in line! 

I'm still not as excited as I feel I should be with only 2 days left in the countdown (1 1/2 days technically but who's counting?) I suspect that it will hit me tomorrow or maybe not until I see those beautiful palm trees in Orlando. In any case, I'll be back tomorrow with the final countdown/trip post so I'll see you then!

Trip Update - Less than a month to go!

Travel was booked, reservations were made, tickets were purchased, and FastPasses were secured. This trip is finally happening. My approach to planning a vacation is much like my job - I don't just clock in every day, I immerse myself in the experience and it's part of my routine. I wake up in the morning, check for Disney and Universal news, browse forums and group pages on social media, then log into my own Disney account to review my trip plans (as well as the countless spreadsheets I've made to keep my itinerary in order). And now all of that hard work is finally about to come to fruition and it's bittersweet. I enjoy the planning and waiting almost as much as the trip itself!

I know that some vacations can witness last-minute changes but I've done everything in my power to eliminate any obstacles. This is where we stand:

• Dates: Sep 16-26, Disney Sep 16-23/Universal Sep 23-26
• Airfare: Allegiant, flying SGF to SFB
• Accommodations: Disney, Contemporary Resort Deluxe Garden/Universal, Cabana Bay Beach Resort Courtyard Family Suite Poolside
• Car Rental: Dollar Rent a Car (mid-size rental)
• Special Events: Disney, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party & Food and Wine Festival/Universal, Halloween Horror Nights

I've created an itinerary that I'll share here if you're interested. I would consider this more of a 'touring plan' because I learned long ago that nailing things down to a specific time is very difficult to do while on vacation and especially at Disney.

Dining was probably the most difficult part of planning because there are so many options out there and we also have Food and Wine Festival to consider. Here is the final list:

Fri 9/16: 4:40pm Skipper Canteen

Sat 9/17: 10:30am Kona Cafe, 5:45pm California Grill

Sun 9/18: 8:20am Be Our Guest**, 6:00pm Be Our Guest

Mon 9/19: 11:30am Via Napoli, 4:45pm Le Cellier

Tue 9/20: No reservations - hoping for PizzeRizzo and Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge

Wed 9/21: No reservations - F&W Festival + Tokyo Dining and Tangierine Cafe

Thur 9/22: 12:30pm Yak and Yeti, No reservation for dinner (Flametree BBQ)

Fri 9/23: No reservations, planning on Blaze Pizza for lunch and Hash House a Go Go for dinner

Sat 9/24: Mythos lunch, Cowfish dinner

Sun 9/25: Leaky Cauldron lunch, snacks for dinner (have to line up by 4:45 for Halloween Horror Nights)

** 8:20am is a pre-park opening reservation

We've also got our FastPasses (FPs) and our strategy was to book all FPs early so we can utilize the option to keep adding FPs throughout the day. This is how our Disney plan looks:

Fri 9/16: 3:20-4:20 7DMT, 4:20-5:20 Space Mountain, 5:25-6:25 Haunted Mansion

Sat 9/17: Resort Day, No FPs

Sun 9/18: 9:25-10:25 7DMT, 10:25-11:25 Space Mountain, 11:25-12:25 Haunted Mansion

Mon 9/19: 9:10-10:10 Mission Space, 10:15-11:15 Soarin', 11:20-12:20 Journey Into Imagination

Tue 9/20: 9:20-10:20 Rock'n'Roller Coaster, 10:35-11:35 Tower of Terror, 11:50-12:50 Star Tours

Wed 9/21: 9:00-10:00 Mission Space, 10:35-11:35 Living with the Land, 11:40-12:40 Frozen Ever After

Thur 9/22: 1:25-2:25 Kali River Rapids, 2:25-3:25 Expedition Everest, 7:00-8:00 Kilimanjaro Safaris

(We booked the FPs for Animal Kingdom later in the day because we wanted to keep an evening FP for Kilimanjaro Safaris since this is the first year that AK will be staying open later.)

MagicBands and luggage tags arrived 25 days before trip begins

MagicBands after adding decals from myfantasybands.com (Pocahontas and Tron themes)

We've been busy with buying necessities and cleaning out our suitcase for early packing, but the planning is mostly easy from here. I'm still waiting on a few Universal dining reservations to open (usually only 2-3 weeks in advance of the trip). We've decided that we will be checking one large piece of luggage and utilizing free personal bags on the plane. My vacation wardrobe this year will consist of light garments that can be rolled up in the suitcase for more space. We are going to try to keep our personal bags empty so we can bring souvenirs back in them. Wish me luck as I try to make one suitcase work for two people :)

Next up: Be Our Guest Order-Ahead service and Packing Lists/Strategies!

Trip Planning Update and Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Sorry, it's been far too long since I last made a blog post! And I promised an overview and review of the Chase Disney Visa options, but so much has happened in the past couple of months that I think a trip planning update is in order.

First, I joined several Facebook planning groups and browsed disboards.com for ideas and reviews on my dining reservations. I was able to make ADRs (advance dining reservations) at 180 days and I shared those with you a couple of posts ago. As with most trips, my plans have changed a few times and I have an updated itinerary that is still composed of mostly the same restaurants I mentioned previously. Notable additions include Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen at Magic Kingdom (because they recently changed this new restaurant to allow for reservations) and Kona Cafe at the Polynesian Resort (because I've never had Tonga Toast and all of my new virtual friends recommended it!) After the 180-day mark, not much happens until we reach the 60-day countdown so I've been taking it easy on the trip planning stuff.

But something big has happened.

And when I say big, I mean BIG.

My annual Orlando trip is almost always 10 days in duration and usually includes two hotel stays - one for Disney World and another for Universal. This trip is no different. I had originally planned to stay at the Best Western Orlando Gateway hotel near Universal because I got a great deal at hotels.com but I was presented with a special travel agent offer directly from Universal to get a Cabana Bay Beach Resort family courtyard poolside suite at a discounted rate. Normally I would pass on a deal like this because the family suite is way too big for just two adults but then I thought about the opportunity to walk out of my room and directly to the lazy river. Yes, that's right, the LAZY RIVER! One of my most favorite memories from my stay at Cabana Bay last year was getting my raft in the water and letting the lazy river wash my cares away. It was truly an amazing experience and that's why I'm going to dedicate the rest of this blog post to giving an overview of my last stay at Universal's Cabana Beach Resort and the things to come.

Universal Orlando has five on-site resort hotels, all of which are owned by Loews. The prices range from about $125/night on the low end (Cabana Beach) to $400+/night on the high end (Hard Rock Hotel and Portofino Bay Hotel). The top three most expensive options also include an express pass to skip the lines on certain attraction at Universal Studios and Universal's Islands of Adventure. While I may someday decide to take the plunge and stay at one of the more expensive properties, I found Cabana Bay quite delightful and it suited my needs just fine. The newest hotel addition is Sapphire Falls and it will open this month. The only hotel I haven't mentioned here is Royal Pacific and it's one of those more expensive options.

Cabana Bay Beach Resort opened in 2014 and is the largest hotel on Universal Orlando property:

The notable details of this resort hotel include two pools areas, a bowling alley, retro theme, a rec center, and a better-than-average arcade. The two pool areas are a huge plus because they each cater to a different audience. On the left side of the map you'll notice the Lazy River Courtyard, which is home to a fairly large pool with sand beach and, of course, the lazy river! On the right side of the map is the Cabana Courtyard which houses a zero-entry pool, water slide, and kids' play area. As previously mentioned, the arcade is definitely better than most you'll find inside hotels and I enjoyed spending some time here on my last visit. They even have small prizes to trade for the tickets you earn!

We didn't have the pleasure of experiencing the bowling alley last year but I've heard great reviews and I look forward to finding some time to visit that part of the resort on the next trip.

My last reservation was for a standard room, which was booked for us in the Americana building. I'm not certain that Cabana Bay is as accommodating on room requests as Disney, but it's certainly worth a try if you have a specific pool you would prefer to visit. Also, keep in mind (see map above) that the shuttle to the parks stops in front of the Americana building and could be a bit of a trek if your room is located in Starlight or Thunderbird. The rooms are all themed similarly to the overall resort and provide ample space for families of all sizes. 

Two queen beds in a standard room

Vanity area is separate from bathroom

The option I booked for the next trip is a Courtyard Family Suite Poolside, as opposed to a Tower Family Suite Poolside. In this case, if you're booking a family suite then you have the option to choose and pay for a room closer to your pool preference. The Courtyard Family Suites are near the Cabana Courtyard (the kid-friendly pool) and have outward facing doors like a motel. The Tower Family Suites are near the Lazy River Courtyard and are hotel-style with inward facing doors and hallways to the main lobby area. There are perks to each option; the Courtyard Family Suites offer immediate access to your room from the pool (i.e., no cold a/c on your wet skin as you're walking down the hall to your room) whereas the Tower Family Suites will offer protection from the elements if it should rain while your trying to get from one place to another (your room to the bowling alley, etc.). I think the overall decision here should be based on your preference but we value the ability to reach our room quickly after hanging at the pool over the hallway access to the main building.

Cabana Bay Beach Resort has several dining options, including a food court-style area called Bayliner Diner, the Galaxy Bowl Restaurant inside the bowling alley, two poolside bars, a lounge bar, and a Starbucks. I enjoyed a burger from Bayliner Diner on my last trip and it was pretty standard. I ordered a few drinks at the Hideaway Bar & Grill near the lazy river and I highly recommend it if you enjoy sipping a cocktail while soaking in the sun. The drinks are expensive (no surprise) but well-made and the bartenders are incredibly fun. You can also get your drink poured into a souvenir glass for an extra charge:

Souvenir glass on the left, standard cup on the right

Overall, I highly recommend Cabana Bay Beach Resort and hope you'll give it a look when planning your next trip to Orlando. Some cheaper options may catch your eye on International Drive but trust me, those I've used before now haven't been worth the money that was saved. If you happen to have any recommendations then feel free to share them in the comments!

Next, I'll look to make Fastpass+ reservations in about two weeks (my 60-day mark!) and keep watching for upcoming posts on the Chase Disney Visa cards, as well as Fastpass+ updates and Universal's Halloween Horror Nights!

Annual Events at Disney and Universal Studios

Any vacation is sure to be special, but your trip can be extra magical if you are visiting during one of Disney or Universal's annual event celebrations. My trip in mid/late September will overlap with the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival and Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Disney World, as well as the Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios. I had originally hoped to catch the Food & Wine Festival but never dreamed I would be able to plan for ALL of these spectacular events! So what else do the parks add for fun? I'll give you the lists and general schedules below. Please remember that the exact dates usually aren't announced until 6-8 months beforehand and may vary from year to year. For the purpose of this blog, I will only be focusing on events that extend beyond just one weekend.

Disney World

New Year's - Chinese New Year

• Dates: January-February
• China pavilion at Epcot celebrates Chinese New Year with acrobats and extra activities

Club Villain

• Dates: January - March
• New in 2016, extra ticket required for the event

Mardi Gras

• Dates: February or March

Atlanta Braves Spring Training

• Dates: Spring, varies each year
• Held at ESPN Wide World of Sports

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival

• Dates: March - May
• Focus on gardening, topiaries, and special food offerings

Star Wars Weekends

• Dates: May-June
• Note: Star Wars Weekends not being held in 2016 due to construction

Gay Days

• Date: Usually first week of June
• Visit GayDays.com for more info

Halloween - Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

• Dates: September-October
• Halloween decorations can usually be seen starting the end of August through early November
• Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is held on select nights and requires an extra ticket

Epcot International Food and Wine Festival

• Dates: September-November
• Wine, beer, and culinary offerings in conjunction with classes and concerts

Christmas - Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

• Dates: November-January
• Christmas decorations can be seen from early November to early January
• Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is held on select nights and requires an extra ticket

Universal Orlando

Mardi Gras

• Dates: February-April
• Parade, beads, and concerts offered on select nights
• Admission is included with park admission

Halloween Horror Nights

• Dates: September-October
• NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN!
• Halloween Horror Nights are held on select nights and require an extra ticket

Christmas

• Dates: December-January
• Suess Landing celebrates "Grinchmas" at Universal's Islands of Adventure
• Macy's Holiday Parade and Mannheim Steamroller at Universal Studios
• All in-park activities are included with park admission

Disneyland

Diamond Celebration

• Dates: May 22, 2015 - September 5, 2016
• Disneyland turns 60! Special decorations, parades, fireworks, and World of Color offerings

Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival

• Dates: April-May
• Celebrity kitchens, beverage seminars, and culinary demonstrations

Halloween - Mickey's Halloween Party

• Dates: September-October
• Mickey's Halloween Party is held on select nights and requires an extra ticket

Holidays at Disneyland

• November-January
• Specialty decorations, parades, and attraction updates included with park admission

I've personally experienced Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, Star Wars Weekends, Diamond Celebration, and Holidays at Disneyland. I highly recommend these events because they add an extra bit of excitement to the trip and provide an opportunity for special souvenirs. 

Star Wars Christmas and Diamond Celebration pins from Disneyland

Customized Christmas Tree Ornament (can be purchased at both Disney World and Disneyland)

I'll be sure to report back after my trip in September to provide my experience at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and Universal's Halloween Horror Nights. Until then, look for my next post where I will be discussing the Disney Rewards Visa cards and perks! 

Orlando: International Drive = FUN!

Welcome back to my personal Orlando planning journey! Today I'm thinking about my trip itinerary and how to fill the 'free' days I've built in. Here's what the days look like:

Friday, September 16: Arrival at Disney's Contemporary Resort

Saturday, September 17: Free Day - Explore the Contemporary Resort and Surrounding Areas

Sunday, September 18: Disney's Hollywood Studios

Monday, September 19: Epcot

Tuesday, September 20: Animal Kingdom

Wednesday, September 21: Magic Kingdom

Thursday, September 22: Free Day - Disney Springs, Mini Golf, Water Sports, Pool Day, etc.

Friday, September 23: Epcot's Food & Wine Festival (if scheduled) or International Drive Free Day

Saturday, September 24: Universal Studios

Sunday, September 25: Universal's Islands of Adventure

Monday, September 26: Departure

I assure you that I will be giving a much more in-depth rundown of my itinerary once I know if the Epcot Food & Wine Festival will cross my schedule, but for now I want to show you what you can do with a free day on International Drive.

For anyone that hasn't been to Orlando (or those that need a refresher), here's the map of Orlando and the locations of the parks:

SeaWorld isn't on my itinerary but I've listed it on the map for reference. Now, a closer view of International Drive:

And the black line basically traces I-Drive so that you can get an idea of the areas it touches. It's a tourist's dream! Along this busy road you'll find restaurants, shopping, go-karts, mini-golf, movie theaters, museums, and pretty much any other fun recreation you could ever want. I'm going to list some fan favorites below (** denote personal recommendations):

Mini Golf

Congo River Golf

Volcano Island Miniature Golf

Hawaiian Rumble Adventure Golf

Lost Caverns Adventure Golf

Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf ** 

Like most mini-golf locations, you can score a free game with a hole-in-one!

Museums

WonderWorks - family/children's science center

Ripley's Believe it or Not! - odd and rare spectacles **

World of Chocolate - a dessert and coffee bar with an optional historical chocolate tour ** 

Titanic The Experience - artifacts and re-creations of the ship

Madame Tussauds - wax museum of celebrities and historical figures

Miscellaneous FUN

King's Bowl - bowling alley

Monkey Joe's - indoor playground for kids

Artegon Sky Trail - rope course and zip lines

Hard Knocks at Pointe Orlando - laser tag

Rebounderz - trampoline playground

America's Escape Game - small group challenge

CSI: The Experience - identify evidence and solve a crime

iFly Orlando - sky diving wind tunnel

Magical Midway - go karts and midway games

The Orlando Eye - 400 ft observation wheel

Escapology - 60 minutes to solve the puzzles and escape the room

I could list the restaurants but there wouldn't be enough space here to give each option adequate attention. I will say, however, that there are some honorable mentions that I just can't leave out:

• Hash House a Go Go
• Maggiano's
• B.B. King's Blues Club

Sage Fried Chicken and Banana Vanilla French Toast at Hash House a Go Go - the portions are huge!

And of course there are plenty of chain options such as Bahama Breeze, BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse, and Applebee's, as well as quick service stops like McDonald's, CiCi's Pizza, and Panda Express. There are meals to fit any budget!

No matter what your plans look like, you can be sure that there is no shortage of options on International Drive. Some places might be pricey so be sure to check out coupons on the visitor's site before you go, as well as the transportation options via the I-Ride Trolley if you prefer not to drive. Been to Orlando lately? Let me know your favorite stops!