Disney’s Lightning Lane is the latest addition to the theme park giant’s innovative experience, allowing visitors to skip the long lines and enjoy shorter wait times on popular attractions. In this post, we’ll explore the ins and outs of Disney’s Lightning Lane and how it can enhance your theme park visit.

Disney’s Lightning Lane is a new system that allows visitors to reserve a time slot to ride their favorite attraction without waiting in line. This reservation is available through the My Disney Experience app and can be made for one attraction at a time. Visitors have the option of purchasing individual Lightning Lane passes or upgrading to a Genie+ service for multiple attractions.

Once you have purchased a Lightning Lane pass or upgraded to Genie+, simply log into the My Disney Experience app and select the attraction you wish to ride. The app will display the next available time slot, and you can book the reservation directly through the app. Once you arrive at the attraction, you’ll see a designated Lightning Lane entrance. Show your reservation, and you’ll be admitted into a shorter line to enjoy your ride.

Overall, Disney’s Lightning Lane is a game-changer for theme park enthusiasts who want to make the most of their visit. With shorter wait times and more time to enjoy attractions, visitors can make the most of their time in the park. If you would like my help with your Disney World park strategy and all of your Disney vacation planning, then book your next Disney Vacation with me. There is no extra fee to use my planning services but you get all of my expertise. It is a win-win! Just click the button below to request a no-obligation quote to start the process.

My goal as a Disney Vacation Planner is to remove the hassle of vacation planning and share my expertise to plan the perfect experience for you. For the past 15+ years I have been planning Disney vacations for our family and friends. I know the secrets and strategies to make the most of your time and budget.

When you book a Disney vacation through Kevin Smith Travel, you get the following services:

• Advice on the best times of year to visit Walt Disney World Resort
• Hotel Recommendations based on your specific travel party needs
• Tips on selecting the right ticket package for the 4 Walt Disney World Theme parks and 2 water parks
• Help selecting the best Dining options for your party including an analysis of the Disney Dining plan. I will be happy to make all of your dining reservations on your behalf.
• Full explanation of all transportation options within the Walt Disney World Resort including busses, boats, monorail, and Minnie Vans
• Custom Daily Itineraries that show you the best days to visit each park and the best times to visit individual attractions to minimize your time in line.
• Assistance with FastPass+ and the My Disney Experience app. I will make all the FastPass+ reservations on your behalf.

The best part is that all of these services are complementary when you let me book your Walt Disney World vacation. Disney pays me a commission to provide these services to you, so there is no additional cost to you. Booking your vacation through Kevin Smith Travel will cost the same or less than if you book it yourself.

If you are thinking about a Walt Disney World vacation, then contact me and lets talk about your options. I would love to book a Magical Vacation for you.

One of the first questions that I get when talking to a new client is “I can get a cheaper rate at an offsite hotel, why should I stay on Disney property?”

This is a great question, and one I have spent much time considering when planning vacations for my own family. The answer can be different for each family and each situation. When looking at the nightly room rate, the onsite hotels will be a little bit more expensive than the offsite hotels. But once you take a look at all the extra benefits that you get from a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, it could prove to be the best value.

One of the biggest benefits of staying onsite at a Disney Hotel is the close proximity to the parks. Many of the onsite hotels are within walking distance to one or more of the parks. In addition, Disney provides a variety of transportation options including buses, boats, monorail, and soon a gondola. These transportation options are free to guests and make it very easy to get around Walt Disney World. Consider the time lost driving in from the parks, the extra dollars and the hassle of dealing with a rental car and parking lots when commuting from an off-site hotel.

Guests staying at the Walt Disney World Resorts can take advantage of special extra time when the parks are open only for resort guests.

Early Entry let you get more time in the parks for the same park ticket, and experience the parks at a time when the crowds are typically smaller than during normal operating hours. You’ll have more time to ride popular rides with less waiting time. Be sure to check the calendar (or let us do it for you) to see which parks are opening early or staying open late for resort guests.

Guests staying at a disney resort

book your dining sooner

When you stay onsite at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, each member of your party will receive a complimentary MagicBand. MagicBands are colorful, waterproof wristbands—resembling a watch or bracelet—that you can quickly and easily touch to a sensor called a Touch Point. MagicBands allow you to unlock the door of your Disney Resort hotel room, enter the theme parks and water parks with your valid park tickets, check-in for Fastpass+, and collect your pictures from Disney Photopass photographers and rides. You can even charge food and merchandise to your Disney Resort hotel room. And speaking of merchandise, anything you buy in the parks can be delivered to your resort hotel so you don’t have carry it around all day in the park. MagicBands add a little extra magic and a lot of convenience to your vacation.

The Disney Magic extends far beyond the parks. You will see that same attention to detail and courtesy at all of the Disney Resort hotels. The Walt Disney World Resorts have amazing themes and unique elements that tell a story and immerse guests in the experience. Your family will be surrounded by incredible details at every turn. From the pools, to the guest rooms, to the dining locations, Disney has incorporated the hotel theme into every element of the design. Mix in the amazing Disney cast members and you have a magical experience that you will never forget.

When you consider all the added benefits and intangible experiences you get out of a Walt Disney World Resort, we definitely recommend staying onsite at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel. In our opinion, most guests will save money in the long run and have a better overall vacation by staying in one of the onsite hotels. Kevin Smith Travel is here to help you make decisions to get the most out of your vacation. There are many different options and price points to fit your specific vacation budget and we can help you choose the one to meet your needs. If leaving the ordinary world behind to enter the Magical World of Disney is your aim, you can’t do better than immersing yourself in the experience.

Did you know that Universal Orlando has 2 Theme Parks, an epic Water Park, 8 Resort Hotels, and a huge entertainment district featuring dozens of unique shops, restaurants, night clubs, and activities? There is so much to see and do, with something for everyone in the family. If you have not been to Universal Orlando lately, you may be surprised how much it has changed in the past few years. Here are just a few of the many reason I LOVE Universal Orlando Resort.

This may sound like a strange one to start with, but the compact size of the resort makes everything so easy to navigate and get around. You can easily walk between Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and CityWalk. You can even walk from the parks to several of the Resort Hotels, or take a relaxing water taxi ride. And with a Park-to-Park ticket you can ride on the Hogwarts Express between London (Universal Studios) and Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure).

If you love roller coasters and thrill rides, then Universal Orlando is the place for you. From the Hulk Coaster to Rip Ride Rocket, they have some amazing thrill rides. My favorite coaster is Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure in Islands of Adventure. I don’t want to spoil it for you if you have not been on it yet, but let’s just say it has a little bit of everything. From the unique ride vehicle, to the surprising creatures that you encounter, to the twists and turns that leave your heart pounding… it is absolutely fantastic and currently my favorite coaster of any theme park.

All of the Resorts at Universal Orlando are great, but my number one is The Hard Rock Hotel. This resort is designed to make you feel like you are inside the mansion of a Rock and Roll superstar. As you would expect, there is Rock memorabilia everywhere you go. They have a luxurious pool area (with speakers in the pool so you can hear the music even when you are underwater), great restaurants, a gym, arcade, and the resort is only a 5 minute walk to the parks. Best of all, when you stay at the Hard Rock, you get the Unlimited Express Pass included for FREE.

Volcano Bay is not just any water park… it is a Theme Park with water. The centerpiece of the park is the 200 ft. tall Krakatau Volcano surrounded by a giant wave pool and sand beach. A vertical drop slide shoots guest 125 feet right down the front of the volcano and into a clear tube that goes right through the wave pool. If you are in the wave pool, you can actually see the riders on the drop slide as they race by. One of my favorite slides is the Krakatau Water Coaster that is part waterslide, part roller coaster. And here is a fun fact… in the colder months, the water is heated throughout the park so you can enjoy a day at Volcano Bay any time of year.

There is delicious food and drinks everywhere you go in Universal, but my absolute fav is Toothsome Chocolate Emporium. Toothsome is in CityWalk just outside of the parks. They have amazing meals, but as the name implies, the desert is the star of the show. From these decadent milk shakes, to Chocolate crème brulee, to brownies and flourless chocolate cake. Be sure to bring your appetite! One word of warning, this place is VERY popular so consider a late lunch or early dinner to avoid the crowds.

Traveling by river is an amazing way to see the world. From the romantic castles of the Rhine to the majestic capital cities of the Danube, travel by river has something for everyone. River cruising has been growing incredibly popular in recent years and for good reason. Here are 7 of my favorite things about river cruising with Avalon.

The typical Avalon river cruise ship has around 80 cabins and an average of 150 passengers. Contrast that with the thousands of passengers on most ocean cruises and you can understand why the Avalon river cruise ships feel intimate and relaxing. This means fewer people at the restaurants, fewer people in the common areas, and fewer people getting off the ship at port. There is never a line, and the 3 to 1 crew ratio means that there is always someone to take care of every detail.

With a river cruise you experience a different port almost every day. Unpack once at the beginning of your cruise and experience something new and unique with each location. The smaller size of the river cruise ship allows you to dock right in the heart of the city close to all the sites and activities.

Every meal is fantastic with several different dining locations on the ship. Choose from options like a breezy al fresco lunch at the Sky Grill, an elegant four-course dinner in the glass-walled Panorama Dining Room, or a more casual culinary setting in the Panorama Bistro. You know that everything is fresh because you literally see the crew loading fresh local ingredients at each local port. Regional wine, beer and soft drinks are included with lunch and dinner, while coffee, cappuccinos, and tea are available around-the-clock.

Imagine the bed in your cabin facing a wall to wall, floor to celling, panoramic window. Avalon cruise ships feature the largest view in the industry, 30% larger than the industry standard. Watch the castles and villages drift by as you lay on your Comfort Collection Bed. When you are ready for some fresh air, slide open the panoramic windows and open up the French balcony. See it all from the comfort of your private Avalon cabin. It is truly a room with a view!

One of the best parts of traveling to far off places is being able to experience the local flavor and customs that make that place unique. Avalon makes it easy to experience the local culture with daily excursions to iconic locations and insight into the hidden gems that might be off the beaten path. Your expert local guides get preferred access to the famous sites and provide insider information on local legends, lore, and the heritage behind the history. Back on the ship you can experience local cuisines, performances from local entertainers, and onboard cultural presentations.

Everyone has different ideas about what they want out of a vacation, and we know that there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to travel. What makes the Avalon river cruise so unique is the variety of choices available to guests. Each day guests could choose an active adventure such as a bicycle tour, or kayak trip. They could choose a discovery adventure to get hands-on activities such as painting, cooking, or wine and beer tasting. Or guests could choose a guided sightseeing tour to see the most famous sights. You could even go out on your own and tour the location using local maps and recommendations from the award winning Avalon Go mobile app. Whatever you choose is up to you. The possibilities are endless!

Of course the best reason to go on any vacation is for the memories that will last a lifetime. Whether it is a second honeymoon, a family reunion trip, or just a break from the day-to-day grind, the memories that you make sharing this experience with loved ones and friends are priceless. Travel awakens our senses, lifts our spirits, and opens our eyes to the amazing world around us.

Start planning your own Avalon river cruse today! There is never any obligation or pressure, so why not contact me to start discovering the possibilities? With many different regions, rivers, and ships, I’ll help you to find the perfect fit for your next vacation. Helping you have the best vacation possible is my priority.

As a travel agent, I try to get first hand experience with the destinations that I book so that I can make the best possible recommendations to my clients (it’s one of the perks of the job). Recently I had the opportunity to visit both Sandals and Beaches resorts in Negril, Jamaica to see for myself why these resort are so popular with guests.

Sandals and Beaches are Luxury All-Inclusive resorts located in the Caribbean. Sandals is for adults only, and Beaches, the sister resort, is open to families. Both Sandals and Beaches are known for their amazing beachfront locations, a wide variety of delicious food options, unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, impeccable service, and a plethora of water and land based activities all included in the one price. All this, including tips, are included in the cost.

We flew into Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica. After a long travel day, getting through immigration and customs in Jamaica can be a bit chaotic. I recommend using Club Mobay which is a VIP service that will whisk you through the express lines and have you sipping on rum punch before you know it! Once through immigration and customs, we checked into the Sandals lounge. The Sandals lounge has cold drinks, snacks, restrooms, and a comfortable place to rest while you wait for your shuttle bus to the resort. We only waited about 10 minutes and then we were escorted out to the shuttle.

The ride on the shuttle from the airport to Negril is about 90 minutes, mostly along the coastline, with some gorgeous views of the Caribbean Sea. Once we arrived at Sandals Negril, we entered the spectacular open air lobby and were greeted by the friendly, welcoming Sandals staff and a cool wash cloth that was surprisingly refreshing! Check-in was quick and easy and we were on our way to our beachfront room.

Sandals Resorts have 3 categories of Rooms: Luxury, Club, and Butler. We stayed in the Paradise Honeymoon Beachfront Walkout Club Level Room. The absolute star of the show in this room is the balcony view right out onto the beach and the sea. On the westernmost coast of Jamaica, Negril offered us some of the most beautiful sunsets we have ever seen, many of which we viewed while sipping cocktails on our private balcony. If we were in our room we were on that balcony! The rest of the room was beautiful with tile floors, a 4 poster king size bed with the most comfortable bed and pillows ever, granite counter tops and a rainfall shower head in the bathroom. One of the nice things about a club level room is the fully stocked mini-fridge which had water, soda, beer, wine, cocktail mixers, and premium liquors. The club level rooms also include room service, concierge services, and special events like exclusive wine tastings and cocktail parties.

Sandals Resorts are known for their Butler category rooms. These rooms include a personal butler who is at your service 27/7. During our stay, we met several people who were staying in the Butler suites who could not speak more highly of the experience! Several of these guests have returned to this resort year after year and request the same butlers at every trip. The butlers are amazing at anticipating your needs before you even think of them. Want to relax on the beach? Your butler will reserve chairs and bring you a cooler of water and drinks. Hungry for lunch? Your butler will bring your food right to your chair on the beach. Want some privacy in your room after dinner? No problem, your butler will draw a bubble bath filled with rose petals, and then disappear into the night. If you are looking for the ultimate service and pampering then a butler category room is the way to go.

Before I went to a Sandals I was concerned that I might get bored after a few days of lying around on the beach. Boy, was I wrong! Once we were there, I realized that there are so many activities that we didn’t even have time for everything we wanted to do. They have just about every watersport that you can imagine: kayak, paddleboard, aqua trike, hobie cats, paddle boats, water skiing, tubing, wake boarding, and more. Want to see under the sea? Take a trip in a glass bottom boat or go snorkeling! Are you scuba certified? Head out for an underwater adventure at no extra cost. Not certified? Sandals has master trainers that will certify you for an extra cost. Scuba to much for you? Try Snuba, a combination of snorkeling and scuba that gets you closer to sea life than snorkeling. Land activities include beach volleyball, shuffle board, lawn chess, croquet, pool, board games, or just relax in a hammock and take a nap. My favorite activity was the water skiing. I have not been water skiing in many years, but I decided to give it a try and realized that it came back to me very quickly. I had so much fun and the staff was wonderful at making me feel comfortable and safe. We set out kayaking on the sea and saw many paddleboarders. Many of the guests were trying something they’ve never done. Since it’s all included, why not give something new a try!

Food and Drinks

One of the first things we did after we got settled into our room was to make our dining reservations for each night of our stay. Since we were staying in a club level room, we simply walked down to the Sandals Club Lounge and the helpful concierge staff handled all of the reservations for us. At Sandals Negril there we 7 different dining option, some require reservations, and some are first-come, first-served. There was a huge variety to suit every taste including steak, seafood, lobster, chicken, burgers & wood fired pizza. We loved trying some of the Jamaican specialties such as Jamaican Beef Patties, Jerk Chicken, and the national breakfast dish, Ackee and Salt Fish.

Many of the restaurants are completely open air and right on the beach. It was beautiful to watch the sun setting over the Caribbean Sea while sipping on a cocktail and enjoying some appetizers. Speaking of cocktails, each restaurant has its own signature drink and I highly recommend you try them all. That is the beauty of all-inclusive. You can have as much as you want, and try anything you want. One night our server offered a choice of 3 different deserts after dinner, but I couldn’t decide so just asked her to bring one of each. I also learned that several of the restaurants have secret menus, so be sure to ask me later about that.

When it comes to drinks, there are 5 different bars to choose from. Each bar has its own unique character, and you will quickly find that the bartenders are some of the most friendly staff you have ever met. We loved chatting with the bartenders and trying their unique signature drinks. If you can think of it, they can make it and of course when you are on a tropical island, you have to try some of the frozen specialties.

As much as we loved the restaurants, we also loved the convenience of the room service. Whether it is coffee and breakfast in the morning on our balcony or a late night snack, it was awesome to have so many choices. If you order at prime meal times it may take a while to get your food, but it was well worth the wait.

While Sandals is an adults only resort, Beaches is focused on the whole family. Beaches Negril is about 2 miles down the beach from Sandals. You could walk along the beach or the front desk staff will be happy to call a taxi for you. We decided to spend a day at Beaches, to try some of their restaurants and see if it is someplace that we would want to come back to with our kids. The answer is YES!

Beaches Resort has so many different options for all ages. We loved the waterpark with a lazy river, water slides, and a water playground. Of course they have amazing pools and a gorgeous beach with loads of different water sports. When it comes to food, there is a pizza shop, soft serve ice cream stand, a FroYo shop where you can add dozens of different toppings to your frozen yogurt, and a French Café where you can get crepes and baked treats. Families can eat everything from Japanese Hibachi to Italian to Sushi, and everything in between.

There is an XBox lounge and a kids camp that takes kids from newborn to 10 years old. The staff in the kids camp are all members of the International Nanny Association with special training in safety, nutrition and child development. The Beaches Kids’ Camp is an Advanced Certified Autism Center, so families with special needs can know their children will be well-cared for on vacation. Tweens and Teens have their own special programs and spaces that include dance parties, karaoke, pool Olympics, and dive-in movies. We overheard one pre-teen telling her family how cool the kids camp was and how she couldn’t wait to go back after lunch. Kids were playing everywhere! Older children and teens were heading out to the FroYo armed with room numbers to get treats all on their own. The beachside bars make virgin frozen drinks for the kids to enjoy. Thinking of our own children, I cannot imagine how much fun they would have with all the opportunities to run around on this resort. Beaches has an amazing energy and it was incredible to see so many families having fun and making memories together.

Sandals Negril is beautifully maintained, with flowering gardens, pristine beaches, palm trees, palapas, hammocks, hanging swings, and fire pits. We saw staff out early every morning raking the beach, setting up beach chairs, and making sure every detail was perfect for the day. There is something for everyone, whether you want action and excitement, or just want to relax. The main pool with its swim up bar is a hub of music and activities all day long. Other pools were quieter for those that just wanted to lounge with a drink or read a book. The resort sits on 7-mile beach with beautiful, calm blue water and waves that gently lap up on the sand. Every evening we watched the sunset from our balcony or the beach before making our way to dinner in open air restaurants. In the evenings, the main stage lit up with various musical performances and entertainment depending on the theme of the night, and many of the guests gathered to mingle in the main bar. The whole atmosphere of the resort was very laid back and was the perfect getaway for fun in the sun and to refresh our spirit.