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For all the Super Planners, like myself, out there, Universal trips may not require as much detailed planning as say, Disney. But worry not, there are still tons of details we can peg to keep us joyfully busy! Let me walk you through how I plan - from the bare necessities to the intricate nuances allowing us not to just 'wing it'.  Securing our Travel Dates First, we start with the essentials - deciding when we're going and where we're staying. Our paid in full date was yesterday and if you’re anything like me, you know that’s cause for celebration, because it means it’s REAL! Charting out the Fun Stuff Now, comes the fun stuff - planning where we're eating and what we're going to focus on during this trip. While most might bask in spontaneity, I confess - I hate to waste time. I relish moments spent observing people and soaking in the vibrant atmosphere. But loathe to find ourselves in a ‘Where to next?’ loop. I believe in a sensible ‘plan of attack’. There’s no ‘turn-by-turn’ itinerary, but an itinerary nonetheless. One that lists potential pit-stops for much-needed break times and nifty markers noting essential spots in each park area. As a Super Planner catering specially to Special Needs families, these spots serve as oasis within the desert of endless excitement. Tackling Universal’s Enigma: Variable Park Hours But there's a hiccup. Universal still hasn't listed park hours for our dates! It might seem minor to some, but for us Super Planners, it's an integral piece of the puzzle. This becomes even more crucial considering Universal Studios closes early five nights a week for Halloween Horror Nights, and without knowing which park has early admission, our planning gets doubly tripped up! Briefing about the Essentials As our trip materializes, we would be sharing basics on the working of the Express Pass, which I highly recommend. We also schedule our timings to be in line for Early Park Admissions, including time to leave the resort, which varies based on your preferred arrival method - Water Taxi, Garden Walk or bus. Adding a Twist: Our Trip Themes Every trip has its ‘theme’. Sometimes it’s a fun challenge – like seeing how many times we can ride VelociCoaster in a day. Sometimes, it's a day-long immersion into a magical world - visiting The Wizarding World in the same sequence as Harry in the first book. This just adds an extra dash of fun tailored to our unique likings. Planning for Variety This trip is a potpourri of different ages and first-timers, which makes it a fresh adventure. Our itinerary ensures everyone gets a taste of their favorites, with plenty of 'break times' and flagged areas for all the 'must-have' Universal snacks. For the Harry Potter fans in our group, I make sure to highlight the intriguing and lesser-known details within the Wizarding World. It’s always a treat watching them engage, learn and use their wands! Gastronomic Delights Each evening promises a different culinary delight. I save reminders about departure times from the park to ensure minimal waiting times for our dinner reservations. Plus, there's always the hope that we might squeeze in an extra ride after! A Few Last Tidbits As Super Planners, it's important to remember to avail the option of sending your packages back to the resort to lighten your load. And definitely, do not forget to grab your last-minute souvenirs! Pre-Trip Planning Lastly, the unseen planning also matters - how are you travelling to Universal? Are there any special needs to cater? Pets to be cared for? Already sorted time away from work? These are all elements to consider. So, fellow Super Planners, that's how I break down the chaos of planning a Universal trip into a neat plan. Leave no stone unturned and experience Universal in its full glory! How do YOU plan? Are you a 'wing-it' type? A super-planner? Or maybe somewhere in between? I find most people are super planners on their first trip, then a bit more relaxed on subsequent trips. Of course, some think that Universal is soo much smaller than Disney so it has to be much easier to plan and do no planning at all, and only see a small portion of what they could have seen, so they spend much more time planning their next trip.
Either way, having a knowledgable Travel Professional on your side can be a very helpful thing when you have that silly question pop up and have no idea that it was a 'thing', much less something you needed to know! (Maybe this would be a good subject for a blog...hmm). If you are ready to have a Travel Professional on your side to help you plan that next (or maybe your first) visit to Universal Orlando, contact me via my calendly and we can get started!
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Universal Part 2Here is the 2nd installment from my blog from my first trip to Universal back in February of 2016! Enjoy! Diagon Alley was awesome! Small walkway (and the fact that nothing else was open) made the area feel very crowded and claustrophobic. Even the shops were wall to wall people. We quickly made our way to Gringott’s Escape to what was a fair wait-about 30 minutes, even though the posted wait time was 10 minutes. Of course, first we put our bags into the free lockers, and then proceeded to inside Gringott’s. Since I left both my camera and phone I got zero pictures of the areas that we were allowed to. We actually went through this area pretty quickly. Even my husband was impressed and he has not seen a single Harry Potter movie…ever! I loved the way you were immersed into the story. Once you get past this part, the waiting was not so nice. Both in length and atmosphere! Several things to talk about here (without giving away too much of the magic). Let’s start with the hokey elevator. I really don’t want to spoil it for anyone, but I will warn you to hold on! And, let’s not forget the mandatory pictures! I never even saw what they looked like…bummer. Stairs, stairs, and more stairs! ‘Seems’ like we went back up all those flights the elevator took us down! Finally we reach the point of loading into the ride. One note here, not for people with long legs! It holds you in place by getting you in the shins! The bar clamps down on your shins as much as your waist. My 6 foot husband had major problems with this part, and it hurt me at only 5 foot 10 inches… But, (at least to me) it was worth it! The ride is not smooth. The jerky motion was something my husband was not fond of (and it may have been the bar cutting into his shins). But the motion did not bother me and my vertigo. Remember, my husband has never seen a Harry Potter movie so it was completely nonsense to him! Me and the kids LOVED it!  Who Doesn't Love a Good Thrill Ride?Today we will take a look at five top fan-picked thrill rides. It will include three of my favorites as well as two that I have never ridden and, unfortunately, will never be able to ride. (I have a bad back, and yes, I still ride the other three!) Hold on to your hats and glasses, folks, 'cause we're about to go on a wild ride through Universal's top 5 thrill attractions! But first, let's start with the less spine-chilling ones and work our way up to the ultimate heart-stopping experience!" 😲🎢  Our resident Thrill Junkie, Mr D. He rates all our rides for us here at JMorris Travel! When it comes to snacking at Universal Orlando Resort, there are countless sweet and savory treats to choose from. If you love snacking as much as my family does, you’ll want to indulge in these delicious goodies during your visit. Just be warned: the stakes are high, and you'll need a serious strategy to try them all!  Islands of Adventure - Where will you find your first snack? I know, I know! Every blogger always seems to have a list of Hidden Gems at Universal Orlando. I decided it was time for me to add my two cents on this subject. Some might not be so hidden, and some might not be so obvious, but all are our family's favorites. Are you ready? In no particular order, here we go!  Traveling to Walt Disney World can be a dream come true for many families. From character meet-and-greets to thrilling rides and fireworks shows, it’s no surprise that millions of people worldwide visit this magical destination each year. With so much to see and do, planning a Walt Disney World vacation can be overwhelming. There is a lot to consider, from choosing the right accommodations and restaurants to navigating the theme parks. This is why paying for the services of a travel professional to plan a Disney vacation is the best option for families who want to make the most of their trip.  Almost five years ago, I had the experience of traveling with my granddaughter and her parents on a plane for her birthday trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This experience gave me a new understanding of some issues of traveling as an amputee.  Granddaughter playing the violin While the airport in Atlanta did a fantastic job handling the TSA pre-check, allowing her dad to pat down the leg and examine his hands for explosive powder residue, the airport in Orlando on our return visit was not so lovely. Because she did not want to take off her leg, the TSA agents did not know how to handle it. They made a loud commotion, yelling for a supervisor across the crowded airport, announcing that they had an amputee child and didn't know what to do. She had to wait in her wheelchair for a long time while they found a supervisor to decide how to handle the situation. (she uses the wheelchair for long periods of standing) In the end, the supervisor allowed her dad to do the same as in Atlanta, but they did advise her parents that when she reached 13, she would have to go through TSA independently and advised them to contact TSA Cares for future flights.  Crowds of people in an unknown airport waiting to go through security. This incident made me decide to see what the new regulations were, if any, for air travel with a prosthetic device. The following is what I have learned.
Today we are going to start a series on reasons Why a Special Needs Family Should Use a Travel Agent to Plan their Vacation. Special Needs Families have a set of unique reasons why a Travel Agent can be beneficial to them. Let's spend some time and delve into a few of them today.
Let’s end out the month with my Top five Must Rides at Universal Orlando! (Disclaimer, this list was compiled by my thrill junkie special needs son. Although I do agree with three of his five choices!)  Today we will talk a bit about My top five Tips for Special Needs. Being the mom of a Special needs child/adult with cognitive disabilities and a grandchild with an amputation, this is a very important discussion with me. Our family has been in this Special Needs game since 2005 so we are well versed in the ever changing rules at both Disney and Universal. For a first timer, it can be not only daunting and full of anxiety for the parent, but if not managed well can be a trigger for meltdowns with the child. This is another one where it is hard to narrow it down to just five, but here it goes.  |
AuthorMost of the content is written by people at JMorris Travel. Every once in a while we will have a guest blogger, usually it is part of our 'family'.Always with a nod to Family Travel! Archives
May 2023
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