5 Places to Visit in 2020

Well, here we are, days away from a new year! Did you do any traveling this year? Is one of your resolutions for 2020 to travel more? Could you image a year full of awesome vacations? Well, we can help you find the perfect one for you and your family.

There are millions of places to visit in the world but we thought we would share 5 places we suggest visiting in 2020. Maybe you’re looking for ideas for your next vacation and hopefully, this post helps! These are places that are popular or make really awesome getaways. Where would you like to visit this coming year? Let us know in the comments.

Los Cabos

Los Cabos is a popular place to visit right now. No matter if it’s a resort there or a cruise that visits… it is a hot place to go in travel right now. In fact, we’ve already shared a few adventurous excursions you can book when you are cruising to Cabo San Lucas with Disney Cruise Line. You can see that post here to get a feel of what Los Cabos offers.

Los Cabos is the area and Cabo San Lucas is one of the cities that make up Los Cabos. It has the mild Mediterranean like climate. It also has some great surfing and swimming spots. Not only that but it offers some really exciting excursions. Cabo San Lucas is both a cruise port for many different cruise lines but it is also a destination town with many resorts to stay at.

Montana

We know what you’re thinking…Montana? But yes…we do mean Montana! Adventures by Disney is taking their guests on awesome adventures right here in the US. We have shared an overview of the North American trips you can take with Adventures by Disney. One of those trips is to Montana!

When visiting Montana, you have the opportunity to visit stunning places such as Ousel Falls, Old Faithful, and Grand Prismatic Spring. Montana has a wide range of weather patterns from dry, warm summer days to snow-packed days in winter. This getaway with Adventures by Disney is only booking for summer months because of the weather. To be able to do some of the activities the weather needs to be mild. However, we’d still love to help you book this awesome trip to Montana!

Turks & Caicos

Doesn’t Turks & Caicos sound fancy and luxurious? Well if you’re looking to take a family vacation this year, consider one of the Beaches Resorts in Turks & Caicos. Beaches is the family-friendly version of Sandals. You get the insane food, awesome locations, and relaxing accommodations but you get to bring along the whole family.

Turks & Caicos stays pretty warm and sunny throughout the year. Even in summer months, it doesn’t typically go below mid-70s. There are many other resorts in Turks & Caicos we can help you book…we do love a good Beaches vacation. There is something really relaxing about an all-inclusive trip. Right?

Budapest

Budapest is another great place to travel this year! And once again, Adventures by Disney is giving you a great way to experience some of what Budapest has to offer. The Budapest trip is what they call an escape which is just a shorter version of their trips. The Budapest Escape is 3-days, 4 meals, and you visit 11 sites. They’re fast-paced but so rewarding. You get to experience a Tuk Tuk ride, tour the opera house, and many other activities that you will enjoy. The escape really immerses you in the culture of Budapest.

Budapest is located in Hungary and is the largest city in Hungary. Budapest is very big on art and culture. There are tons of iconic and well-known sites to see and this escape gives you an opportunity to see some of them.

Jamaica

Jamaica is becoming a very popular destination for both resorts and cruises. They’re building up ports in Jamaica and Sandals (among many others) have resorts there that are extremely popular. Royal Caribbean takes many, many cruises there each year and is becoming quite the popular place. While some of the off-beaten paths of Jamaica you are urged to stay away from…the resorts and cruise companies are working to keep their ports and hotels safe and luxurious.

Jamaica is known for its crystal clear water and beautiful beaches. Whether you choose to sit on the beach or do something more adventurous like hiking through the Dunn River Falls, a trip to Jamaica is always enjoyable.

So where are you wanting to visit this year? Is 2020 your year for traveling? We’d love to help!

 

Guide to the Epcot World Showcase || part 2

A week or so ago we shared a glimpse at what the World Showcase at Epcot has in store. If you’ve never been, Epcot has a section called the World Showcase that features 11 countries in horseshow pattern. This allows you to enjoy so many different cultures and experience what it would be like if you were visiting all these countries.

The countries that are featured are Canada, UK, France, Morocco, Japan, the US, Italy, Germany, China, Norway, Mexico. Nine of those countries were part of the opening day of Epcot but Norway and Morocco opened later. If you haven’t read our part 1, stop and do so before you continue! Read that here.

Hey! We have an insider tip! There is actually a second entrance and exit at the other side of the park which is considered the “back entrance.” If you are wanting to just visit the World Showcase we highly suggest grabbing a boat (these boats often run back and forth just like the buses) and coming in that back entrance. When you enter through the back entrance you’ll end up between UK and France in the showcase. This is a great tip for people who do Epcot in two days or are coming to one of the countries for just a meal…You bypass a huge part of the park by using that back entrance. 

United States (America Adventure)

Welcome to colonial America! The US part of the showcase is designed to feel like you are back in the times of our four fathers. Think Independence Hall and Williamsburg. The main building in the US area has 110,000 bricks that were used in the building. They are all hand-made from Georgia clay.

The US area has an amphitheater where events and concerts are held. The whole area is created to feel patriotic with red, white, and blue everywhere you look. There are a few great places to dine such as Fife & Drum that sells the famous turkey legs. And a few performers are featured in this area.

• various food options
• American Adventure theatre (features a show with animatronics)
• acapella performers

https://www.wdwinfo.com/

Japan

Much like China, Japan is one of the most incredible architecturally. As soon as you see the buildings you know exactly what country you are supposed to be in. There is a replica of a 7th century Horyuji Temple, many lush gardens, and Japanese maples. This country is a great place to sit and enjoy the views, art, or just sit and soak up the culture. The shopping is vast and you can find things like HEllo Kitty merchandise to traditional Japanese clothing.

One unique thing that Japan has is a pearl shop where you can pick your own pearl and add it to a piece of jewelry from the shop. I (Hilary) have actually done that in the past and it was a fun experience. I was probably pre-teen and loved getting to pick an oyster and see what pearl I got.

• Matsuriza, Japanese taiko drumming
• art and design showcases
• pick-your-own-pearl
• great shopping spots
• sushi and hibachi like dining options

https://www.wdwinfo.com/

Morroco

Probably the most notable thing about Morocco would be the replica of the Koutoubia Minaret of Marrakesh which is a prayer tower. The craftsmanship of this tower is incredible, make sure you pay attention to the details. The shopping and walking around will feel like you are in a bazaar or marketplace with open-air tents and terracotta tiles. Not only can you enjoy some authentic food but typically you can find a hut that is doing henna tattoos! Henna is a temporary tattoo that is drawn on…you can get various designs! Below is a picture of one from Morocco in Epcot.

• authentic belly dancers and musicians
• marketplace like shopping
• multiple dining options from counter service to sit down
• henna tattoo artist

France

On to France! The food in France at Epcot is probably some of the best and most popular in the park. There is a fountain that sits in the “country” It is a great place to sit and watch the people or take in the feel of France. Cobblestone line the country area and romantic tunes play all around you. Also, acrobats perform throughout the day. France is a great place to shop for wine and perfume…there is plenty of both! The food is amazing and has things from bakeries and bistros to the more expensive and well-known Monsieur Paul. And don’t forget to see the miniature version of the famous Eiffel Tower (it is 1/10th the size of the real one).

• performers and Impressions de France film is played all-day
• tiny version of the Eiffel Tower
• amazing dining options for all budgets
• shopping (especially for wine or perfume

https://www.wdwinfo.com/

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom area has a good amount of different styles of architecture through the years in the UK such as the Tudor, Georgian, and Victorian influences. There is a beautiful English garden and a maze for the kids. Charact3ers such as Winnie the Pooh and crew and Mary Poppins might be seen hanging around the UK. Also, keep an eye out for the famous red phone booths! UK area has no real attraction but you can find performers and improv groups performing little things here and there.

• no real attraction
• pub-like dining options (try the fish and chips)
• various musicians and performers

 

 

https://www.wdwinfo.com/

Canada

O, Canada! Our last stop on this guide to the World Showcase is Canada. Can’t forget Canada, aye? Like all the areas, there is the main architecture piece which was inspired by the Chateau Laurier, a historic hotel found in Ottawa. The Canada area is packed full of various landscape areas that are just stunning! The Canada area has 2 shopping places which are the Northwest Merchantile and the Trading Post. You’ll be able to find a lot of things like Canadian hockey gear in these shops. The Maple Leaf Mine is the 360º Circle-Vision theatre that shows the film O’ Canada! (That film will be changing in 2020)

• two shopping places
• a film about Canada played in 360 theater
• table service restaurant

https://www.wdwinfo.com/

We hope that this two-part guide has given you a nice look at what is included in the World Showcase at Epcot. Would you like to see a more in-depth review of one of the countries? Let us know which one in the comments below.

 

 

Holiday Walt Disney World Facts

Happy almost Christmas fellow travelers! We are just days away from Christmas and wanted to celebrate Disney style (of course). If you’ve never been to Walt Disney World during the Christmas holiday…you are truly missing out on some serious festive magic.

Disney is already such a magical place, but add a few thousand lights, a few hundred feet of garland, and lot’s of yummy food…and Disney is even more special during the Christmas holidays. We’ve searched all the internet and Disney websites to compile a few of our favorite festive facts! Today for a simple, fun post we are sharing some holiday Walt Disney World facts. How many lights are used? How long is the big float? Hopefully, we can answer those and a few more fun questions.

Gingerbread is a big deal

If you’ve never seen any of the Disney World Resorts gingerbread houses, make it a must on your list! A few of the ingredients are over 1,000 pounds of honey, 600 pounds of powdered sugar, and 800 pounds of flour. It’s a huge gingerbread house, yall! There are hidden Mickeys all throughout the decor of the house, in true Disney fashion. There are also a few other gingerbread sculptures at other resorts but the one at Grand Floridian is by far the most famous.

The longest float in the Christmas parade is 50 feet in length

Have you ever seen any of the Christmas parades? We’d love to hear about your favorite float in the comments below!

Cinderella’s Castle is decorated with over 200,000 Christmas lights every holiday season

The festive tree in Town Square is a 65-foot tall tree

In the Magic Kingdom, the famously large tree in Town Square sits at 65-feet tall! It is such a great, festive welcome into the park during the holidays.

That tree is topped with a two-foot star

Just to show how large that Town Square tree is, the tree that sits on top stands at two-feet!

Jungle Cruise transforms into ‘Jingle Cruise’

There are many rides that take on some festive flare during the holidays such as Jungle Cruise. Keep an eye out for topiaries with Santa hats and sand turned into sand snowmen. Some of the automated characters in Jingle Cruise might also be wearing other holiday attire.

2,600 light bulbs will adorn the DinoLand U.S.A. water tower, giving the land a festive new look for the holidays

41 cast members work year-round to make the holiday transformation a reality

Christmas is an all-around job for many Walt Disney World Castmembers. There are 41 cast members that work year-round on just holiday stuff! Can you image? Christmas every day!

Décor installation begins Halloween night and is finished by Thanksgiving

Talk about a fast turn around! When you really think about how much has to be set up…they work around the clock getting those decorations up in time for Thanksgiving!

Disney’s Contemporary Resort is home to the tallest Christmas tree at Walt Disney World (70)

This tree sits a few feet taller than the Town Square tree. While the Grand Floridian might have a huge gingerbread house… the Contemporary Resort has the tallest tree in WDW.

5,188 feet of garland is used to decorate Main Street, U.S.A

Merry Christmas from our Sea Gypsy Family to yours!

Viking Longships || Ship Highlight

Viking Cruises has a large fleet of ships. And when we say a large fleet, we mean it! In 2017, Viking River Cruises had over 60 ships in their fleet; and that’s just their river ship fleet. Viking River Cruises has various sections of their fleets. They have longships and ships that only go to specific countries such as Europe, Russia, or Asia.

Today we are going to take a look at what their longships are like. The longships are probably something that they are most known for and the longships are used for their Rhine, Danube, and other river cruises. These ships aim to redefine comfort and elegance. Come with us as we step into one of the Viking Longships and see what they are all about.

“Our award-winning Viking Longships® showcase innovative engineering, streamlined Scandinavian design, and understated elegance…hey provide unprecedented levels of comfort, including spacious staterooms with full-size verandas, the largest suites on Europe’s rivers and the most al fresco dining.” – Viking Cruises Website

The Viking Longship fleet is over 40 ships that travel the Rhine, Danube, Main, Elbe rivers & more. We decided to share an overview of all longships instead of one certain ship because they are almost all alike. The first four longships made their debut in 2012 and they have grown to what they are today.

From the information we can find, all the longships seem to be the same size with the same capacity. These ships hold 190 passengers and typically have 95 rooms and suites. So these ships are much smaller than a typical ocean cruise liner but they are a little bigger than some other river cruise ships. For instance, the Viking Asia ship, Viking Mekong, only carries 60 passengers.

The longships are a beautiful vessel to sail on. While they’re still smaller than ocean liners they do have a bigger size than other river ships. So you get the opportunity to meet more people Which also means you have a great chance of booking a room on these ships- they don’t sell out quite at fast as a 60 passenger ship would. But you still get to sail on the famous rivers because it is still a smaller vessel. So what do all longships have included?

• 25 Standard Staterooms, 22 French Balcony Staterooms, 39 Veranda Staterooms, 7 Veranda Suites, 2 Explorer Suites
• Library & onboard shop
• Restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows for panoramic views
• Laundry service
• Free Wi-Fi
• Sun Deck with 360-degree views & shaded sitting area; organic herb garden & solar panels; putting green & walking track
• 40″ flat-screen TV with infotainment system featuring Movies On Demand and more
•  revolutionary indoor/outdoor viewing area at the bow of the ship for al fresco dining

One of the awesome things about these longships is their awesome indoor/outdoor area for al fresco dining. They call this Aquavit Terrace & Lounge which offers a really unique spin on dining.

Like we listed above, there are 5 options of accommodations to book on the Viking Longships. Each ship has 95 staterooms or suites which are broken up like this: 25 Standard Staterooms, 22 French Balcony Staterooms, 39 Veranda Staterooms, 7 Veranda Suites, 2 Explorer Suites. Let’s see some details on each option.

Standard Stateroom

• 150 sq ft
• River-view stateroom with half-height picture window
• Telephone, safe, refrigerator, hairdryer & individual climate control
• Private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, heated bathroom floor & anti-fog mirror
• Bottled water replenished daily
• Stateroom steward & twice-daily housekeeping

French Balcony Staterooms

• 135 sq ft
• River-view stateroom with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door to create a French balcony
• Bottled water replenished daily
• Stateroom steward & twice-daily housekeeping
• Private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, heated bathroom floor & anti-fog mirror

Veranda Stateroom

• 205 sq ft
• River-view stateroom with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door opening to a full-size veranda
• Bottled water replenished daily
• Stateroom steward & twice-daily housekeeping
• Private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, heated bathroom floor & anti-fog mirror

Veranda Stateroom

The main difference between these first 3 rooms is whether its a half window, floor-to-ceiling window, french balcony, etc. Other than the window situation, the amenities and rooms are basically the same with a small variation in square feet.

Veranda Suite

• 275 sq ft
• River-view suite with full-size veranda off the spacious, separate sitting room & floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door, known as a French balcony, in the sleeping quarters
• Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, heated bathroom floor & anti-fog mirror
• Premium Freyja® toiletries; plush robes & slippers
• Bottled water replenished daily
• Stateroom steward & twice-daily housekeeping
• Complimentary Viking Air Plus, laundry & shoe shine services
• Welcome champagne; mini-bar with wine, beer & soft drinks (replenished daily); daily fruit plate
• Two 40″ flat-screen TVs
• Binoculars

Veranda Suite

Explorer Suite

• 445 sq ft
• River-view suite with private wraparound balcony offering 270-degree views off the spacious, separate sitting room & floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door, known as a French balcony, in the sleeping quarters
• Two 40″ flat-screen TVs
• Premium Freyja® toiletries; plush robes & slippers
• Bottled water replenished daily
• Stateroom steward & twice-daily housekeeping
• Private airport transfers in Europe
• Binoculars, coffee brewer & Marius-weave blanket
• Welcome champagne; mini-bar with wine, beer & soft drinks (replenished daily); daily fruit plate
• Complimentary Silver Spirits beverage package, Viking Air Plus services, laundry service, room service (during breakfast) & shoe shine service

Here is a video from Viking River Cruises that give you a little tour of their Viking Longships!

If you’re going to sail down the Rhine or another river, this is a great way to travel! You have a pick of different kinds of rooms and suites. It’s a small, comfy ship but a little bigger than others. It’s a great mix of both intimate quarters and more people.

These longships are awesome from outside to inside and no matter what room you pick you’ll be comfy and well taken care of. Let us know if you have any questions about these Viking Longships-as usual, we are always ready to help answer or book your next getaway!

Guide to the Epcot World Showcase || Part 1

If you’ve never been to Epcot, you are definitely missing out! For many years Epcot was known as the slightly boring park for children. But they have made some great changes over the years and have truly made Epcot a park for everyone to enjoy.

Epcot is divided into three main areas: Future World East, Future World West, and the World Showcase. The Future areas have grown into a futuristic playground for all ages. The Future World has some exciting rides and attractions such as Spaceship Earth, Test Track, Soarin’, Turtle Talk with Crush, and the rebranded classic- Journey Into Imagination with Figment. The Future area also has some pretty iconic dining locations such as the Coral Reef Restaurant. But today, we are focusing on the other main section of Epcot- the World Showcase.

We want to give you a quick guide to the World Showcase so you know what to expect from this awesome part of Epcot. Let’s take a look!

Guide to the Epcot World Showcase

The World Showcase is comprised of areas that represent 11 countries: Canada, UK, France, Morocco, Japan, US, Italy, Germany, China, Norway, Mexico. Nine of those countries opened when Epcot first opened in October of 1982. Morocco later opened in 1984 and Norway followed in 1988.

The Epcot World Showcase is intended to make you feel like you are truly visiting all these countries. From every little detail, these countries are made to feel truly authentic. While some consider this boring for children, Epcot has begun adding in more kid-friendly aspects to it (such as the ride in Norway). Each country offers its own flare- some providing authentic dining options, rides, or shopping that represents the culture.

Not only do you get to enjoy these authentic foods but the structures, statutes, and decor will be reminiscent of the country you are walking through. How often can you say you’ve visited 11 countries in one trip? Ha! Let’s walk through each country and see what highlights are in each one!

Mexico

Mexico offers a lot of authentic dining options, traditional dancers and music, as well as a fun market themed shopping area. Throughout the day, performers will tell the story of CoCo in the Mexico Pavillion. There is also a ride/attraction in Mexico, Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros. WDWinfo has an awesome video of some of the sights of the Mexico Pavillion- watch that here.

• CoCo storytelling
• authentic dancers and music
• various food options
• boat ride attractions – Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros

https://www.wdwinfo.com/

Norway

Norway has always had a ride since as long as I (Hilary) can remember. It was always a fun and cool place to take a minute and enjoy a really random ride.  Recently though,  Disney has changed up Norway to make it a little more exciting. With the fame of Frozen, Norway has been redone to focus on Frozen. Norwegian cabins line the pavilion. The old ride in Norway was converted to Frozen Ever After in 2016. There is shopping where you can grab your classic Frozen merchandise. But the biggest part of Norway would probably be meeting Elsa and Anna.  All of Norway has a really authentic Scandinavian/Viking feel. It seriously feels like you have stepped into Norway or Arendelle for Frozen fans.

• Frozen Ever After Ride
• Meeting Elsa and Anna
• Princess storybook dining spot (serves both American and Norwegian cuisine)

https://www.wdwinfo.com/

China

If you enjoy really exciting architecture and seeing what buildings look like in other countries, we think China has some of the most incredible structures in the World Showcase.  Keep an eye out for acrobats that do performances through the day and you might even see Mulan or Mushu! The main attraction in China is Reflections of China which is a Circle-Vision 360 film that shows some of China’s most famous places.

• possibility to meet Mulan or Mushu
• 360 film of China’s highlights
• incredible structures and decor

https://www.wdwinfo.com/

Germany

Beers, Bratwurst, and polka! All of Germany is just perfectly what people would expect for a replica of Germany. There is no attraction or ride in Germany but lots of opportunities to shop. This World Pavillion sells a lot of authentic German toys and foods. You can pick up cuckoo clocks, painted eggs, soccer jerseys, and of course sauerkraut! The whole area is modeled after a tiny Germany village and you truly feel like you’ve stepped into one.

• no attraction or ride
• lots of shopping and food
• polka music throughout the day

https://www.wdwinfo.com/

Italy

Italy is the place to go if you want good food! Most of the Italy Pavillion seems to be restaurants. There is the 83-foot bell tower that is a  replica of the original Campanile in St. Mark’s Square. Not only that, but there is a small replica of the Neptune Fountain. One of the most iconic restaurants in the Italy Pavilion is Tutto Italia Restaurant. This is a fancy, sit down place to dine that serves the most amazing Italian cuisine.! Below are a few pictures from my (Hilary, the blogger) trip where we ate at Tutto Italia. Italy has a lot of really awesome spots for photos. Shopping, of course, is a big part of this Pavilion. You can find some performers throughout the area such as a mime.

• great photo opportunities
• wide range of food from walk-up counter to sit down
• street performers can be found (mime, juggler, etc)

After getting far into this post, we realized this is too big to do in one post! So we will be ending with Italy and doing a part 2 coming up! Stay tuned for more of what the World Showcase has to offer!