News & Reviews about popular, magical destinations. From castles to cruises and wizards to the mouse, you will find plenty of planning information here.
Author: Melissa Mathies
Disney and theme park travel information & tips from a family focused travel agent, mom & theme park guru.
Blogs: www.YourTripToTheMagic.com and www.MelissaAndTheMouse.com
Agent site: www.PixieDustAdvntures.com
It happens all the time. Travelers are excited to get started on their relaxing cruise vacation, they arrive at the cruise terminal and they are denied boarding because they didn’t read the fine print before their departure. Maybe they are missing the proper documentation or didn’t even realize that they were in violation of one of the cruise line’s or even a port of call’s rules.
One way to avoid problems all together is to read through the cruise documentation that you are sent with your cruise confirmation. The terms & conditions always spell things out pretty clearly. If you still have any questions or concerns, contact your travel agent or the cruise line directly.
Top Reasons Travelers are Denied Boarding
In the Caribbean and Bermuda:
U.S. citizens with only a driver’s license
U.S. citizens with an expired passport (must be valid for 6 months after the end of your cruise)
Women more than 24 weeks pregnant
U.S. citizens without an alien resident card (ARC) or with an expired card
Foreign nationals without an I-20 form (applicable to J, F and K visa holders only)
In Alaska:
U.S. citizens with only a driver’s license
U.S. citizens with an expired passport (must be valid for 6 months after the end of your cruise)
Passengers with a recorded crime, including a DUI or DWI.
U.S. citizens without an alien resident card (ARC) or with an expired card
Foreign nationals without a Canadian visa
Canada has very strict laws about criminals crossing the boarders or coming into one of their ports. You can actually be denied boarding if you have a previous crime that they consider a felony. If you have any sort of criminal record & are considering a cruise to Alaska, that might stop in Canada (and most do), please do your due diligence prior to arriving at your departure port. CLICK HERE for a link to the U.S. Gov website that explains the Canada restrictions regarding a DUI.
If you are a U.S. citizen and you qualify to cruise without a passport, make sure you are traveling with your driver’s license and an original, state-issued birth certificate for each passenger.
Although it doesn’t affect boarding, I also highly recommend travel protection insurance for every vacation that you take. The policies can cover a wide range of things from trip cancellation and trip interruption to medical emergencies and lost luggage.
Thank you for reading. My name is Melissa and I am a travel fanatic and lifelong Disney fan. I am also a travel agent and I enjoy helping people create experiences that they will remember forever. When I have time, I enjoy blogging about travel and my experiences. You will currently find my articles at www.MelissaAndTheMouse.com , www.YourTripToTheMagic.com and my brand new partnership at www.CheersToMinnieEars.com
After feasting our way through the holidays & being spoiled by all of the good food, we couldn’t just end our holiday week with McDonald’s. We had to have some gourmet, food at Walt Disney World. We chose to have lunch at Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar in Disney Springs. Contrary to the title, this family friendly atmosphere is stunning and tells an intriguing story that does not disappoint.
The story of this restaurant refers to Maria & Enzo’s Restaurante as well as The Edison in Disney Springs and it goes like this…
While inspecting the building prior to taking full ownership, Enzo discovered a long-hidden place below the terminal that connected to abandoned sections of the next-door power plant. To Enzo’s astonishment, he came across a Prohibition-era hideaway where a team of flying rum-runners once gathered. Evidence of smuggler activity remained, untouched for decades. Enzo decided that the space might make an irresistible spot for dining and socializing to highlight the family recipes he grew up on, highlighting specialties from Rome and nearby regions.
An Italian Restaurant & Speakeasy, this restaurant is a fun & novel place to dine in Disney Springs and I will definitely visit it again. Following it’s name & story line, it is a bit of a hidden gem that can be easy to get into even when you don’t have a reservation.
Overview
Location: Disney Springs Hours: lunch 11:30am – 3:30pm dinner 5:00pm – 10:00pm Dining Style: Table Service, Italian food Atmosphere: Mysterious & edgy My review of this experience: 5 out of 5 stars
Menu
Branzino
Bread service
Canoli
Ice cream
Classic Lasagna
Kid’s Spaghetti
Roasted Chicken Saltimbocca
Review from our Experience After enjoying a movie in Disney Springs, we decided at the last minute to have lunch at Enzo’s Hideaway. They were happy to accommodate us, with no wait, even though we did not have a reservation. Reservations are recommended, but this restaurant is a good place to start if you do not. I was immediately impressed with the theme of this restaurant as we rounded the corner into the hideaway. It is what you would imagine a speakeasy to look like starting with the slot in the entrance door through the brick entrance, complete with graffiti on the walls, and ending with the hidden tunnel in the back. Yes, it DOES have a hidden tunnel where you can imagine the rum runners making a quick exit from the police during prohibition. We had a wonderful history lesson with our children over this meal. 😉 About the food – The Bread service was good with optional oil & I like to dip my bread in oil. The oil was very authentic and maybe a little bitter to my palate. – The Classic Lasagna was cheesy & a very large portion. It was cooked well and the flavor was blended. – The Branzino or Sea Bass, was tender & flaky with a slight lemon flavor. The grapes and green beans were complimentary to the fish. My husband did not care for the green beans because they were sauteed and remained a little crisp. – The Roasted Chicken Saltimbacca was my favorite. This delicious chicken was cooked to perfection and well seasoned with a tender inside and slightly crispy on the outside skin. The vegetables with it were all perfect from the tender artichokes to the broccoli and a nice flavor was added with a few capers. The entire plate was a scrumptious medley of flavors that blended well. – Chocolate Ice Cream was for dessert for my youngest & he loved the waffle chip that came with it the most. – Of course I had to try the Canoli and it did not disappoint. I wanted to lick the plate after finishing it, but thought that might be frowned upon.
We finished every bit of food on our plates and since we just consumed two buckets of popcorn at the movie prior to this lunch, that tells you that the food must have been good.
The service seemed slightly European in nature. We had to ask every time we wanted more water and they only filled the one glass. Other than that the service was prompt and with a smile in true Disney fashion.
I see this place as the perfect guys getaway or bachelor get together before a wedding. It can also be a little on the romantic side and even fun for a girlfriend celebration. Any history buff will get a huge kick out of seeing this & if your kids are missing school they can tell the history teacher that they got to learn about a speakeasy when they were on vacation.
What I would change for next time The only thing I might change for next time is not filling up on popcorn first so that I have room to try the Cannoli Sundae that looked so inviting for dessert.
Additional Information To complete your visit to this restaurant, you have to find the ‘hidden tunnel’. If you are having trouble finding it, just make a trip to the restroom. 😉
Let me help plan the details of your Walt Disney World Vacation!
Which hotel is the right fit for your family? Where to dine, attractions, crowds and all that goes along with planning a vacation is a lot to think about. With a Disney-focused travel agent by your side, you can plan as much or as little as you desire. My planning assistance all comes at NO additional cost to you and is based on countless hours of personal experience.
Receive a welcome packet when you book, with park information & a custom planning calendar.
Dining reservation assistance. Let me help you make your dining reservations for those popular Disney Restaurants. *based on availability
Fastpass+ assistance. Undecided on which attractions are the best for your family? I’m happy to help you plan to utilize your Fastpasses to your advantage and will also provide assistance making those reservations *based on availability
Itinerary plans and printed itinerary with added suggestions to optimize your day and your experiences.
Fee-Free Planning. All of my planning assistance is complimentary when you book your trip through me, you will get all of the services that Disney offers, plus the personalized service that I offer.
Custom Client Portal – I always like to stay on top of the newest technology and once you are booked, we can set up a free client portal where we can share documents & you can view details about your vacation.
Help planning visits to other Orlando area attractions outside of the Disney theme parks. If you are considering adding other Orlando attractions to your vacation, why not get assistance from someone who is local and has been there?
You get all of this complimentary planning, and more, when you book your Disney vacation through Melissa of Pixie Dust Adventures (me). Click here to visit my website & fill out a quote form, or contact me so we can set up a time to chat about your dream vacation.
Thank you for reading. My name is Melissa and I am a Disney fanatic, I’m also a travel agent. You will find me almost every weekend in one of the Disney theme parks with my family exploring all of the newest things that Disney has to offer. Melissa Mathies – Pixie Dust Adventures www.PixieDustAdventures.com Melissa@PixieDustAdventures.com
For everyone considering a spring trip to Walt Disney World, you won’t want to pass up this offer. With The Flower and Garden Festival in full bloom, spring is a fantastic time for a Walt Disney World vacation. If you already have a vacation booked with me, I will be busy trying to see if I can apply this offer to your existing vacation to help you save money.
Booking Dates and Valid Travel Dates
Save up to 25% for travel April 28 to May 27, 2019 when you book through May 27, 2019
Save up to 30% for travel May 28 to September 30, 2019 when you book through March 24, 2019
Valid Travel Dates – Stays most nights April 28 through September 30, 2019
Important Details The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Length of stay requirements may apply. Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same room. Additional per-adult charges may apply if more than two adults per room at Disney Value, Moderate and Deluxe Resorts and Studios at Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts. Advance reservations required. Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion.
Let me help plan the details of your Walt Disney World Vacation!
Which hotel is the right fit for your family? Where to dine, attractions, crowds and all that goes along with planning a vacation is a lot to think about. With a Disney-focused travel agent by your side, you can plan as much or as little as you desire. My planning assistance all comes at NO additional cost to you and is based on countless hours of personal experience.
Receive a welcome packet when you book, with park information & a custom planning calendar.
Dining reservation assistance. Let me help you make your dining reservations for those popular Disney Restaurants. *based on availability
Fastpass+ assistance. Undecided on which attractions are the best for your family? I’m happy to help you plan to utilize your Fastpasses to your advantage and will also provide assistance making those reservations *based on availability
Itinerary plans and printed itinerary with added suggestions to optimize your day and your experiences.
Fee-Free Planning. All of my planning assistance is complimentary when you book your trip through me, you will get all of the services that Disney offers, plus the personalized service that I offer.
Custom Client Portal – I always like to stay on top of the newest technology and once you are booked, we can set up a free client portal where we can share documents & you can view details about your vacation.
Help planning visits to other Orlando area attractions outside of the Disney theme parks. If you are considering adding other Orlando attractions to your vacation, why not get assistance of someone who is local and been there?
You get all of this complimentary planning, and more, when you book your Disney vacation through Melissa of Pixie Dust Adventures (me). Click here to visit my website & get started with a no obligation quote.
Thank you for reading. My name is Melissa and I am a Disney fanatic, I’m also a travel agent. You will find me almost every weekend in one of the Disney theme parks with my family exploring all of the newest things that Disney has to offer.
It’s here folks! The moment so many of you have been waiting for & asking about. The Walt Disney World FREE dining offer. This year the offer has been released earlier, but has no dates past September. We can probably all guess this is due to the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge this fall. If you currently have a vacation package booked with me, I am busy trying to see if I can apply this offer to your vacation.
Book Through February 10, 2019
Valid for Arrivals Most Nights July 5 through September 30, 2019
Package Includes
Room
Theme park ticket(s) with a Park Hopper Option or Park Hopper Plus Option
Dining Plan (Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan with Value and Moderate Resort hotel packages; Disney Dining Plan with Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resort hotel packages)
Requirements – 5 Night / 6 Day Stay at an eligible Walt Disney World Resort – Tickets with Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus Option – ask about shorter lengths of stay
Important Details
The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited.
Advance reservation required.
Theme park tickets valid for admission beginning on date of check-in and must be used within a limited number of days, depending on length of stay and ticket. Visit disneydestinationstickets.com/usage for more details.
Some table-service restaurants may have limited or no availability at time of package purchase.
Children ages 3 to 9 must choose from the children’s menu, if available.
Gratuities are not included.
Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion.
Everyone in the same room must be on the same package.
Offer excludes the following room types: 3-bedroom villas, campsites, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Bungalows at Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, Little Mermaid Standard Rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.
Let me help plan the details of your Walt Disney World Vacation!
Which hotel is the right fit for your family? Where to dine, attractions, crowds and all that goes along with planning a vacation is a lot to think about. With a Disney-focused travel agent by your side, you can plan as much or as little as you desire. My planning assistance all comes at NO additional cost to you and is based on countless hours of personal experience.
Receive a welcome packet when you book, with park information & a custom planning calendar.
Dining reservation assistance. Let me help you make your dining reservations for those popular Disney Restaurants. *based on availability
Fastpass+ assistance. Undecided on which attractions are the best for your family? I’m happy to help you plan to utilize your Fastpasses to your advantage and will also provide assistance making those reservations *based on availability
Itinerary plans and printed itinerary with added suggestions to optimize your day and your experiences.
Fee-Free Planning. All of my planning assistance is complimentary when you book your trip through me, you will get all of the services that Disney offers, plus the personalized service that I offer.
Custom Client Portal – I always like to stay on top of the newest technology and once you are booked, we can set up a free client portal where we can share documents & you can view details about your vacation.
Help planning visits to other Orlando area attractions outside of the Disney theme parks. If you are considering adding other Orlando attractions to your vacation, why not get assistance of someone who is local and been there?
You get all of this complimentary planning, and more, when you book your Disney vacation through Melissa of Pixie Dust Adventures (me). Click here to visit my website & get started with a no obligation quote.
Thank you for reading. My name is Melissa and I am a Disney fanatic, I’m also a travel agent. You will find me almost every weekend in one of the Disney theme parks with my family exploring all of the newest things that Disney has to offer.
Two years ago we enjoyed a wonderful buffet breakfast at this restaurant when it was Captain’s Grille. It is one of the more cost effective options for the Epcot Candlelight Processional dining package during the holiday season. Now it has been re-imagined into a more quiet & luxurious feeling restaurant and the breakfast menu has changed from a full buffet to an entree and optional continental buffet.
Overview
Location: Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Hours: breakfast 7:30am – 11:00am lunch 11:30am – 2:00pm dinner 5:00pm – 9:00pm Dining Style: Table service with an optional continental buffet for breakfast Dining Plan: 1 table service credit Atmosphere: Warm, quite and inviting * all information subject to change My review of this experience: 3.5 out of 5 stars Read through for details on why I have given this review for this experience
Menu
Since we had the Candlelight Processional Dining Package during this visit, we selected the Buffet option which included the continental breakfast buffet as well as our choice of one entree.
continental buffet
continental buffet
continental buffet
continental buffet
continental buffet
My plate from the buffet
Dark Chocolate Waffles
Salted Caramel-Apple French Toast
Breakfast Flatbread
Open-Faced Skirt Steak Sandwich
Review from my Experience The Ale & Compass was our Candlelight Processional Dining package reservation. The Candlelight Processional package allowed us to have guaranteed seats at the show with John Stamos as the narrator. We have been wanting to try the Ale & Compass since the redesign and it was the most cost effective option as well. Our reservation was for 10:55am and we checked-in at the podium 11:00am. We were told that they were running a little behind & that they would text my cell phone when our table was ready. We were okay with the wait because there are so many beautiful holiday decorations to look at in the resort. I got a text around 11:35am & were promptly seated in a comfortable booth table & handed menus. Our server did not arrive to acknowledge us for about 15 minutes & left after explaining our choices. When he returned to take our order he told us to help ourselves to the continental buffet since it was included in our dining package. When we visited the buffet, we found that they had limited amounts of food left. The grapes were gone & there was only one cinnamon roll left. Soon our food was delivered and we were told that the buffet was closing for lunch and we should go back one more time if we wanted to. There was even less selection at that point. – The Breakfast Flatbread was a very large portion, but I found it to be a little rich & oily in texture. I may just be spoiled by the pizza at Via Napoli. – The steak on the open-faced skirt steak sandwich was slightly tough; I prefer my steak to be very tender. – The salted caramel-apple french toast was good comfort food and my family approved of the taste. – The dark chocolate waffles were probably the favorite for our family topped with the rich cream and a side of bacon.
To their credit, when we mentioned that the cinnamon rolls were gone & they told us that they would not be making more, the manager overheard & did go to the Ale & Compass Market & bring some extra large cinnamon rolls from outside of the restaurant. This is much more typical of the Disney service that we are spoiled by.
One of my favorite parts of the meal was my London Strand Earl Gray Twinings Tea. I really enjoyed the beautiful flavors offered with my meal. If purchased at the Twinings Tea store in the Epcot UK Pavilion, the cost of this tea is about $1.00 a bag.
I know that I may be slightly harsh in my review, but Disney has set the bar so high with their food that I now tend to expect excellence when my meal totals $180.00 for four adults.
What I would change for next time If we take advantage of this low priced meal for the Candlelight Processional again, I will make a reservation for an earlier time. I think that our experience could have been improved if we had not missed out on the delicious offerings at the continental buffet because we were seated so late.
Additional Information I have to add that I did really like the redesigned bench seating at the back of the restaurant. There is now a space behind the benches to set your park bags & other things. This is very convenient & leaves more room on the benches to sit.
Let me help plan the details of your Walt Disney World Vacation!
Which hotel is the right fit for your family? Where to dine, attractions, crowds and all that goes along with planning a vacation is a lot to think about. With a Disney-focused travel agent by your side, you can plan as much or as little as you desire. My planning assistance all comes at NO additional cost to you and is based on countless hours of personal experience.
Receive a welcome packet when you book, with park information & a custom planning calendar.
Dining reservation assistance. Let me help you make your dining reservations for those popular Disney Restaurants. *based on availability
Fastpass+ assistance. Undecided on which attractions are the best for your family? I’m happy to help you plan to utilize your Fastpasses to your advantage and will also provide assistance making those reservations *based on availability
Itinerary plans and printed itinerary with added suggestions to optimize your day and your experiences.
Fee-Free Planning. All of my planning assistance is complimentary when you book your trip through me, you will get all of the services that Disney offers, plus the personalized service that I offer.
Custom Client Portal – I always like to stay on top of the newest technology and once you are booked, we can set up a free client portal where we can share documents & you can view details about your vacation.
Help planning visits to other Orlando area attractions outside of the Disney theme parks. If you are considering adding other Orlando attractions to your vacation, why not get assistance from someone who is local and has been there?
You get all of this complimentary planning, and more, when you book your Disney vacation through Melissa of Pixie Dust Adventures (me). Click here to visit my website & fill out a quote form, or contact me so we can set up a time to chat about your dream vacation.
Thank you for reading. My name is Melissa and I am a Disney fanatic, I’m also a travel agent. You will find me almost every weekend in one of the Disney theme parks with my family exploring all of the newest things that Disney has to offer. Melissa Mathies – Pixie Dust Adventures www.PixieDustAdventures.com Melissa@PixieDustAdventures.com
This brand new tower will boast 545 new rooms and is located at the main entrance for Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Coronado Springs has also refurbished their existing 1800 rooms adding extra comfort to this Walt Disney World moderate hotel. Reservations are now available for stays starting on July 9th, 2019. Book soon because everyone loves that new carpet smell & these beautiful rooms will fill quickly.
Guests can look forward to new dining experiences as part of the reimagining. Three Bridges Bar & Grill will be located on an island in the middle of the resort’s 14-acre lake, Lago Dorado. Courtyards adjacent to the restaurant offer private-event options, and the entire area is accessible via convenient walkways stretching across the lake. Additionally, a unique rooftop table service restaurant, Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood, will open as part of Gran Destino Tower. The new dining establishment—featuring beautiful views of Walt Disney World Resort—will offer indoor dining and an outdoor lounge. Stay tuned for updates on when reservations become available for this exciting new dining location.
Let me help plan the details of your Walt Disney World Vacation!
Which hotel is the right fit for your family? Where to dine, attractions, crowds and all that goes along with planning a vacation is a lot to think about. With a Disney-focused travel agent by your side, you can plan as much or as little as you desire. My planning assistance all comes at NO additional cost to you and is based on countless hours of personal experience.
Receive a welcome packet when you book, with park information & a custom planning calendar.
Dining reservation assistance. Let me help you make your dining reservations for those popular Disney Restaurants. *based on availability
Fastpass+ assistance. Undecided on which attractions are the best for your family? I’m happy to help you plan to utilize your Fastpasses to your advantage and will also provide assistance making those reservations *based on availability
Itinerary plans and printed itinerary with added suggestions to optimize your day and your experiences.
Fee-Free Planning. All of my planning assistance is complimentary when you book your trip through me, you will get all of the services that Disney offers, plus the personalized service that I offer.
Custom Client Portal – I always like to stay on top of the newest technology and once you are booked, we can set up a free client portal where we can share documents & you can view details about your vacation.
Help planning visits to other Orlando area attractions outside of the Disney theme parks. If you are considering adding other Orlando attractions to your vacation, why not get assistance of someone who is local and been there?
You get all of this complimentary planning, and more, when you book your Disney vacation through Melissa of Pixie Dust Adventures (me). Click here to visit my website & fill out a quote form, or contact me so we can set up a time to chat about your dream vacation.
Thank you for reading. My name is Melissa and I am a Disney fanatic, I’m also a travel agent. You will find me almost every weekend in one of the Disney theme parks with my family exploring all of the newest things that Disney has to offer. Melissa Mathies – Pixie Dust Adventures www.PixieDustAdventures.com Melissa@PixieDustAdventures.com
This year I am inviting all of my theme park fans to join me on a fun holiday journey through the major theme parks in Orlando, Florida. Each day I will post a video on Facebook sharing one of my holiday experiences in the parks at Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando. Find me on my Facebook pages at: www.Facebook.com/MelissaAndTheMouse www.Facebook.com/PixieDustAdventures
Disclosure: I am not a professional cinematographer. All of the videos were taken by me & are directly from my experiences. No fluff, no fancy editing, you will feel like you are right there beside me. 🙂
Let me help plan the details of your Walt Disney World Holiday Vacation!
Which hotel is the right fit for your family? Where to dine, attractions, crowds and all that goes along with planning a vacation is a lot to think about. With a Disney-focused travel agent by your side, you can plan as much or as little as you desire. My planning assistance all comes at NO additional cost to you and is based on countless hours of personal experience.
Receive a welcome packet when you book, with park information & a custom planning calendar.
Dining reservation assistance. Let me help you make your dining reservations for those popular Disney Restaurants. *based on availability
Fastpass+ assistance. Undecided on which attractions are the best for your family? I’m happy to help you plan to utilize your Fastpasses to your advantage and will also provide assistance making those reservations *based on availability
Itinerary plans and printed itinerary with added suggestions to optimize your day and your experiences.
Fee-Free Planning. All of my planning assistance is complimentary when you book your trip through me, you will get all of the services that Disney offers, plus the personalized service that I offer.
Custom Client Portal – I always like to stay on top of the newest technology and once you are booked, we can set up a free client portal where we can share documents & you can view details about your vacation.
Help planning visits to other Orlando area attractions outside of the Disney theme parks. If you are considering adding other Orlando attractions to your vacation, why not get assistance of someone who is local and been there?
You get all of this complimentary planning, and more, when you book your Disney vacation through Melissa of Pixie Dust Adventures (me). Click here to visit my website & fill out a quote form, or contact me so we can set up a time to chat about your dream vacation.
Thank you for reading. My name is Melissa and I am a Disney fanatic, I’m also a travel agent. You will find me almost every weekend in one of the Disney theme parks with my family exploring all of the newest things that Disney has to offer. Melissa Mathies – Pixie Dust Adventures www.PixieDustAdventures.com Melissa@PixieDustAdventures.com
