While thousands of excited Harry Potter fans arrive early each morning at Universal Orlando to embark on their magical adventure, nothing compares to experiencing the magic of Nighttime at Hogsmeade.  

When night falls on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a bit of extra magic takes place as the park comes to life.  Not only is Hogsmeade beautiful at night, but the crowds also start to dwindle in the quaint and intimate shops, the heat of the day is gone, and shorter wait times allow for more magical merriment.

After a long day, enjoy a butter beer at Three Broomsticks or take your time finding the perfect wand at Ollivanders, Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.!  With fewer visitors trying to crowd in the smallish store, you can truly enjoy the unique interactive experience of seeing a wand choose a wizard.  Continue your shopping at Honeydukes to fill up a bag of Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans™… who knows what tasty (or not so tasty) flavors you’ll discover!  Take your time picking out the perfect souvenir in the Wizarding World at Dirvish and Banges or Fitch’s Emporium.  Sneakoscopes, Spectrespecs, Omnioculars, Quidditch Gear, Broomsticks, School Uniforms and much more are there for the avid Harry Potter fan.

An extra incentive for visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at night is that you can peer into the many animated shop windows throughout Hogsmeade Village without the glare of the sun during the day. As a result, you can spot dazzling visuals like a golden snitch flying around, something that is almost impossible to see during the daytime!

While most of the excited Harry Potter fans are showing up when the park opens in the morning, the real magic comes alive within the Wizarding World at night.  You may find yourself wondering if you are really just in a theme park or if you have somehow transported to another time and place. If you truly want to get lost in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Nighttime at Hogsmeade will immerse you and leave you with magical memories for years to come.

Written by Linda Klepaczyk: Whether it is a weekend get-away or a yearly family vacation, Linda is committed to helping you make memories of a lifetime. Vacation planning can be time consuming and overwhelming! If you have a limited budget or no budget at all, she will tailor make a vacation plan to suit your needs and preferences. Linda specializes in Orlando destinations, Cruising and Group Travel. Where in the world is your destination to explore? Book your next vacation with Linda at 734-646-7987 or linda@destinationstoexplore.com.

Does your family love Epcot? What about relaxing at the pools? Disney’s Beach Club Resort is the perfect resort for you! Disney’s Beach Club Resort is located along Disney’s Boardwalk and is within walking distance to EPCOT and a short boat ride to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Rooms at this resort keep the sea in mind as its inspiration. Most rooms sleep up to 5 guests comfortably and offer Standard View (parking lot or rooftop), Garden View and Water View (lagoon or pool) rooms as well as Club Level rooms. Rooms come complete with an alarm clock with MP3 player, mini fridge, ceiling fan, coffee maker, hair dryer, safe, iron and ironing board, pool towels, telephone and flat screen TV.

Disney’s Beach Club Resort offers both quick service and table service options for dining. For something fun head over to Beaches & Cream Soda Shop and try if you dare the Kitchen Sink! For a fun character meal, Cape May Café has you covered with Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast complete with Goofy and Friends. No beach themed resort would be complete without a Seafood-and-More Dinner Buffet at Cape May Café serving up mouthwatering seafood every night. If seafood is not your delight, you can always head over to Captain’s Grille or treat yourself to a Signature Dining Experience at Yachtsmen Steakhouse both located at the sister resort Disney’s Yacht Club Resort.

Fun outside the parks is boundless with numerous activities for you to enjoy. The best pool on Disney property, Stormalong Bay, is more of a beachside waterpark than it is a pool as it covers over 3 acres and is sure to keep everyone entertained. Stormalong Bay features a sand-bottomed pool, a life-sized shipwreck replica, a 230 foot long waterslide, a lazy river, and three whirlpools. For the little ones, they can enjoy the sand and gently sloping sandy beach of the main pool or make a splash in the kiddie pool complete with its own waterslide. If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle and simply relax there are three leisure pools located within Disney’s Beach Club and Yacht Club Resorts to provide a more tranquil environment.

After you have had your fill of fun at the pool, there is plenty more to be had with campfire activities, movies under the stars, boat rentals, fishing, bike rentals, tennis, volleyball, playgrounds, arcades and much more! No matter your age you are sure to have a blast at your next stay at Disney’s Disney’s Beach Club!

Written by Kari O’Dell:  Kari creates lasting memories by planning customized vacations all over the world.  Not only does she find you the BEST accommodations with the BEST value, but she will fill in all the blanks for you, all at no cost to you.  Traveling is her passion!  Passing that magic on to your family is what fuels that passion!  If you are ready to save on your next vacation book your next vacation with Kari at 434-609-2370 or  kari@destinationsinflorida.com.

Animal Kingdom was long considered just a half day park by many guests. However, with new nighttime experiences, there’s so much to see and do at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. From thrilling attractions to Broadway-style theatrical performances and walking trails full of exotic animals, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at this park. Here are the top five attractions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom:

5 It’s Tough to be a Bug!: This attraction, found inside the Tree of Life, was based on A Bug’s Life. The wait time is usually minimal and another way to cool off in the air conditioning on a hot day inside the park. Since the attraction can be a little frightening for little ones afraid of bugs, I always recommend letting them sit on your lap during the attraction, so they don’t have to feel any “surprises.”

4 Kali River Rapids: This twelve passenger raft ride is sure to soak you from head to tode and is the perfect way to cool off on a hot day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Before or after your ride (or if you’re just passing by), be sure to stop on the bridge to activate the elephant themed water sprayers and further drench riders as they pass by.

3 DINOSAUR: You will travel back in time to the Dinosaur Age to help a scientist from the Dino Institute complete a mission to rescue an Iguanodon from extinction. You will travel on your time rover through dark forests past all kinds of dinosaurs such as the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Velociraptor, and more throughout your journey to rescue the Iguanodon.

2 Expedition Everest: This thrilling roller coaster will take you to the top of Mount Everest where you will come face to face with the Yeti and then soar backwards down through the Himalayas. This exciting attraction is only available for guests 44 inches or taller. If your party doesn’t mind being split up during the ride, you can significantly reduce your wait time by joining the single rider line.

 

1 Kilimanjaro Safaris: My favorite attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is Kilimanjaro Safaris. There are just a few places in the world where you can get up close and personal with lions, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, hippos, elephants, cheetahs, crocodile, hyenas, warthogs, and more!

What is your favorite attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom?

Written by Siera Duiser: Siera Duiser is a travel agent with Destinations in Florida, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. She loves helping plan magical and memorable vacations at no cost to you. Contact Siera to book your next vacation at siera@destinationsinflorida.com or 734-771-1290. You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Secret Behind the Scenes Tour

If you’ve ever been in line for the Men In Black: Alien Attack ride, you’ve seen the giant immigration room that comes straight out of the “Men in Black” movies. If you are lucky, you can actually get a tour of the ground floor of the immigration room — Just ask a Team Member at the line for the ride.

If it is not a very busy time and they have someone available, a Team Member will come out and escort you into this incredible room.

Here’s a look at this awesome, free experience!

After your tour, make sure to ride Men in Black Alien Attack!

Have you ever done this tour? Did you like it?

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at both Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida are full of adventure and magic. Below are our top 3 must dos for any Harry Potter fan. There is so much to do and see it was tough to come up with just 3.

#3 Ollivander’s: What Harry Potter fan has not dreamed of going to Ollivander’s Wand Shop and getting fitted for a wand? I know I have! At Ollivander’s you and a small group of guest will meet a wand keeper and one of your group will be chosen to have a fitting. Remember the wand chooses the wizard, so it could take a few wands to find the perfect fit. You can check out our YouTube Video here of the Ollivander’s experience.

#2 Interactive Wands: Once you have your wand, you need to try it out. Spread out all over both sections of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter are special markers where you can use your new wand to perform magic. Witches and Wizards of all ages can make lights flicker, fix a suit of armor, curse a bird, and lots more.

#1 Harry Potter and The Escape from Gringotts: This is the ultimate Harry Potter adventure! On Escape From Gringotts, you will join Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they race through the vaults trying to escape troll, dragons, Death Eaters, and even Lord Voldemort. This is a high speed, pulse rising, thrill ride that every Potter fan will want to ride again and again.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the must go to destinations for any Potter fan. Destinations in Florida is here to help make sure you can experience it. You can book Universal Orlando tickets with shuttle transfers and they pick you up right at your Disney or Orlando hotel!  Book your ticket today!

When you reference the Mountains in Walt Disney World (Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, and Space Mountain), they are all great, but my top choice is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.  

My birthday is November 15th, and so was the Grand Opening Celebration of Big Thunder Mountain.  I happened to be in Disney that week and had a chance to experience this great family friendly coaster as a child.  Which began my love for roller coasters and Disney.

The story goes that a flash flood passed through this old western mining town of Tumbleweed causing havoc.  Where riders get to ride on runaway mine trains through a haunted gold mine.  The ride is about 3 minutes and 30 seconds long and speeds up to about 30mph.  It is on a track with 3 main dips but no big drops.  If you are looking for a more exciting ride, always sit in one of the rear cars. As the front cars are tamer.  Fun Facts: Check out the quirky names of each mine train. I.M. Brave, U.R. Bold, I.B Hearty, I.M. Fearless, U.R. Daring & U.R. Courageous.

Make sure to ride twice, Once during the day and again at night when the sun goes down, and the mountain is lit up.  You will have an entirely different ride experience.

So on your next adventure to Walt Disney World make sure to take a ride on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.  Don’t forget to get a FastPass + and enjoy the ride.

Written by Dawn Caitano: Dawn creates lasting memories by planning your customized vacations all over the world. Not only does she find the BEST accommodations with the BEST value, but she will fill in all the blanks for you, all at no cost to you. Traveling is her passion! Passing that magic on to your family is what fuels that passion!  So call Dawn today to start your next Adventure. Book your next vacation with Dawn at 917-494-5771 or dawn@destinationsinflorida.com

As a muggle, I’ve always had to be on full alert when entering the vicinity of Diagon Alley. It’s hidden from muggles views by the King’s Cross Station. Do as I do and look for the Knight Bus. Stop by for a picture with Dre Head; you may even get to speak with Ernie, the driver.

Head over to Leicester Station and through the “Moving Brick Wall” and you are transported directly into Diagon Alley. Look over there, and see Ollivanders Wand Shop. This is one of the most popular shops in Diagon Alley, so plan to spend time here. You can also go through with a group and watch, and in some cases participate, in a wand selecting the wizard activity.

Across the way is the Weasley Wizard Wheezes shop. This is a must for any wanna be wizard. So many exciting and useful gadgets and gizmos to bring home for your own mischief.

Further down Diagon Alley is Gringotts Bank.If you enjoy Universal’s merging of cinema and roller coaster, then do not miss this one. Travel below Gringotts and visit the vaults along the rail way while trying not to get caught as well. It’s thrilling from start to finish. Keep an eye out for the dragon as well. He’s been trained with pain and bond to the bank, so he isn’t very happy.

In addition to shops and rides, Diagon Alley also boasts some dining options for you. Stop by the Leaky Cauldron for some traditional British Fare such as Fish and Chips, Bangers and Mash, Cottage Pie and if you’re in the mood grab a frothy mug of Butterbeer! During the morning hours head over to Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor for some breakfast pastries or such. In the afternoon visit for some delicious soft serve ice cream! If stopping isn’t in your plans, there is almost always a street vendor offering up their food as well.

We muggles are so fortunate to be able to visit Diagon Alley and get a glimpse into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, if even only for a brief time.

Written By Daniel Mullarkey: Daniel is an agent with Destinations In Florida travel agency and travels as often as possible. His goal is to always ensure that all of our planning leads to the most fantastic trip whether to Disney, Universal, on a cruise or further away. Reach out to him at anytime via email or Facebook.

 

The sweet sense of anticipation keeps building for the official grand opening of Universal CityWalk’s newest restaurant later this fall. Starting today, The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen is open for preview.

The preview offers a limited number of guests the opportunity to get a sneak peek at The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium as the finishing touches are put on the experience in preparation for its official opening. During this time, the restaurant will be open on a limited, unscheduled basis.

The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium is a 19th Century Steampunk-themed, full-service restaurant that brings together a specially created and expansive menu plus an incredible array of gourmet-level chocolates and desserts – all in a highly themed, unique environment that can only be found at Universal CityWalk. The impressive menu features twists on classic steak, seafood and pasta entrees, gourmet burgers, sandwiches, incredible salads, all-day brunch and so much more. And, of course, the desserts are absolutely out-of-this-world.

The Strong Water Tavern is tucked away in the lobby of the new Loews Sapphire Falls Resort. Universal Orlando’s goal was simple: create the ultimate place to relax. And whether you’re looking for an intimate escape for two or a large, communal table for a group of friends, you’ll find your seat here.
Learn more in this weeks’ video by clicking here.

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Destinations in Florida is proud to announce that our friend, YourFirstVisit.net, has released the newest edition of The Easy Guide to Your Walt Disney World Visit 2017. Co-authored by Dave Shute (YourFirstVisit.net) and Josh Humphrey (EasyWDW.com), this Disney World guidebook is a must have for all Disney fans. The information it delivers is amazing.

Planning a Disney vacation can be a bit overwhelming.  Choosing a resort, picking a date, dining reservations, FastPass+, and Transportation?!? But The Easy Guide makes planning…….well Easy! Dave and Josh share their unparalleled WDW experience throughout the pages of this guide.  Dave just enjoyed his 129th resort stay, while Josh visits the parks several times a week.  Together, they have created the best-reviewed Disney World guide book series.

Does this sound like a guide book you need to add to your library? Destinations in Florida is here to let you know of 3 ways to do that:

• THE EASY GUIDE GIVEAWAY:  Enter to win One (1) of Ten (10) autographed copies of The Easy Guide to Your Walt Disney World Visit 2017.  We will be giving away a new book every day for 10 days!

Autographed Copy of The Easy Guide to Your Walt Disney World Visit 2017

• BOOK SIGNING:  Meet the authors!  Both Josh and Dave will be having a book signing at Disney World on August 28th.  Stop by Epcot at 1 pm (Mexico Pavilion – to the right of the pyramid) or the Magic Kingdom at 4pm (Tortuga Tavern in Adventureland).  Be sure to ask for our special free gift, just for you!

• FREE EASY GUIDE:  As a fan of YourFirstVisit.net, when you book a Disney World vacation package (of at least $2,000) you will receive the latest edition of The Easy Guide for FREE.