family travel

Disney World’s Polynesian Resort is Expensive But Fun

Posted on

VIAGGI – FAMILY TRAVEL 

Walt Disney World Polynesian Village Resort - Francesca Di Meglio
Walt Disney World’s Polynesian Village Resort doesn’t have to be as expensive as you think. © Photo by Francesca Di Meglio

Walt Disney World’s Polynesian Village Resort is the crown jewel of accommodations at the Mouse’s House. (See below for more photos.) Some would argue that the honor really goes to the more sophisticated Grand Floridian or the Contemporary with the monorail moving right through it. But the Polynesian is not as stuffy as GF, nor is it as modern as the Contemporary. It’s the perfect balance of luxury and whimsy. It reeks of nostalgia, and it’s just plain pretty. That’s probably why it’s always called to me, but it always seemed too expensive to justify.

Until February 2016, I had only ever stayed at the resort once – for a weekend that I gave as a wedding gift to my husband in 2008. Frankly, if it weren’t for the discount of my relatives (who worked at the resort at the time), I never would have been able to afford it. Disney is expensive. Really expensive. And the Polynesian is among its costliest accommodations. (There are different categories of hotel, with the most affordable being value resorts, and the most expensive being deluxe resorts or villas, which are the most expensive.) Polynesian is a deluxe resort.

Without any promotions, the cheapest rooms are upward of $600 per night. In the last few years, the Polynesian has added longhouses (those are the complexes where the rooms are) that are part of the Disney Vacation Club (DVC). These are known as villas. If you’re not a DVC member, you can still make reservations directly with Disney for one of these rooms, some of which have kitchens and multiple bedrooms and bathrooms. The Deluxe Standard room is actually $456 per night for the first week in December at this moment, which is not a bad price considering how much money it costs for rooms in the rest of the resort. The bungalows – those fancy villas on the water – cost between $2,100 and $2,900 per night.

Right about now, you’re thinking, “Hey, crazy lady, I can never afford this. How could you?” Well, that’s a good question. I actually rented DVC points from the DVC Rental Store (which I will tell you about in a future post). For now, you should know that it’s a viable option and it’s significantly cheaper than going directly through Disney.

Why did I waste so much space in this review writing about cost? Well, I want you to know that I believe a stay at the Polynesian (if it fits in your budget via renting points) is well worth it. Here’s why:

  1. Location, location, location – The Polynesian is on the monorail line, which means getting to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and any of the Magic Kingdom resorts is super easy. When you have little ones or you make lots of dining reservations at the hot spots in that zone, this ease makes all the difference. It means having a more relaxed vacation. Whenever we stay at non-monorail resorts, which I’ve done many times and will probably do again, I have a great time but I feel like I need another vacation a week later after all that running around. While many people want pool views or castle views, I was perfectly fine to have a view of the parking lot because it meant I paid less for my room and was conveniently located within walking distance of the Ticket and Transportation Center, the hub for getting to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT or the resorts. (If you get the monorail outside the upstairs lobby of the Polynesian, you will have to transfer at the TTC to get to your ultimate destination.) We literally would roll out of bed, get dressed, walk to TTC and get wherever we wanted to go. And we could come back for a break during the day or before dinner whenever we wanted. We took Disney buses to Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, all of which were on time and comfortable.
  2. Food, glorious, food – Some of my favorite restaurants are at the Polynesian resort. Ohana, with its dumplings and wings and all you can eat salad and shrimp and beef, and that delicious bread pudding is a must do. Although I didn’t have a great experience at breakfast there, you do get to meet and share photo ops with Lillo & Stitch (more on that in another future post, so there’s lots to which you can look forward). Kona Cafe and its Tonga Toast and sushi are the stuff of legend. And, hello gorgeous, you can get the Dole Whip, which only available at the Polynesian and Magic Kingdom and nowhere else. That alone might be reason to stay here. The luau is awesome and includes a fire eater. Yes, a fire eater. No need to say more.
  3. The pool is cool and so is the beach area. It’s in the shape of a volcano. If theming and kitsch are important to you, then the pool makes this place a winner. I’ve always loved the nearby beach area. Toward the end of our stay, we spent an afternoon playing in the sand and indulging in S’mores (at the fire pit). I imagine real Polynesia is way better, but this fantasy version is still a delight. There have been complaints that the pool area is crowded during the high season. I can’t comment on this but imagine it to be true because of the smaller size compared to other resorts. I have only been in the pool once, that first time I went to the Polynesian in 2008, and no one else was there because it was December, not exactly pool weather. This last time in February, it was too cold to bear the thought.
  4. The room rocks. The deluxe standard room has a pull-out couch and queen bed. Plus, a small pull out bed, fit for a child. My son kept promising to sleep there, but he usually ended up in bed with us. We left the couch closed. But what we loved most about the room was the double bathroom. There was one room with a tub, sink, and toilet and another with a shower and sink. It made getting ready easy, and they were both simply beautiful. One downside was the water in the shower would always – I mean always – end up on the floor no matter where you moved the shower head. Small price to pay, especially since there was a seat in the shower. Heaven!

If it wasn’t for the price, I’d say everyone should just go to the Polynesian. Since it’s so expensive, I say you should try to make it a Disney bucket list item. If you get to go more than once, all the better. The best news is that you can go to visit the Polynesian for a few hours (not the pool but the resort) for free. Just hop on the monorail and go. You can grab a bite or just walk around and take it all in.

 

Di Meglio has written the Our Paesani column for ItaliansRus.com since 2003. You can follow the Italian Mamma on Facebook or Twitter @ItalianMamma10.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I have a close relative who works for Walt Disney World, and she has helped me get discounts and entrance to the parks, but I paid in full to rent DVC rental points to stay at the Polynesian deluxe standard room and to get Deluxe Disney Dining privileges throughout this stay. And her position in no way influences my opinions or writing. 

Is Universal Studios’ Galaxy Bowl Worth It?

Posted on

VIAGGI – FAMILY TRAVEL

Galaxy Bowl at Cabana Bay - Di Meglio
Galaxy Bowl is a nice, but expensive, diversion at Universal Studios’ Cabana Bay. © Photo by Francesca Di Meglio

There’s something supremely American – not to mention innocent – about spending the day bowling. But the game, once among American’s favorite pastimes, has lost some of its shine. Certainly, it’s not as popular as it once was. I remember attending bowling birthday parties on a regular basis, grown-ups being in leagues, and even watching bowling on TV. Now, there are few alleys around. In my neck of the woods, there is only one still standing. My son’s first school field trip was to that bowling alley. So, when we were staying at Universal Studios’ Cabana Bay, we just had to play at the resort’s Galaxy Bowl.

This is no old-school joint. It is made to look like something out of the 1950s, but it’s fresh and functioning. Despite it’s retro appeal, it has a modern feel. I really liked the colorful lights that lit up the lanes and the black and white photos of bowling alleys of yesteryear on the walls. The mid-century modern tables and chairs were kitschy and played well into the theme.

Since this was all about my 4-year-old son having fun, we immediately asked for bumpers for the gutters and a ball ramp, so he could more easily handle the ball. Like other players in the alley, we were able to order drinks and food and have it delivered to our lane. My son really enjoyed the chicken fingers, of which he is a true connoisseur, so his endorsement really means something. My husband sampled them, too, and said they were among the best he ever had. They weren’t at all greasy and they had a subtle seasoning that popped with flavor.

Because my son was having such a good time, we both kept giving up our turn for him. Regardless, we had the time of our lives. My son laughed. High fives were given all around. And we enjoyed the snack. For a moment, I felt like we were that perfect, wholesome American family. I was tempted to don pearls, June Cleaver style. Then, my husband got a gutter ball (despite the bumpers) and I heard, “Vafa…” and remembered we’re not even completely American, never mind one of those Golden Age TV families.

But I digress. The point is Galaxy Bowl is a cool place to spend an afternoon. Whether it’s worth it is debatable. As much as I enjoyed it, the diversion is on the expensive side. With the food and the game and renting shoes, we ended up spending at least $60. It’s not terrible, but the Orlando theme parks are already costly. We were in the area a weekend before our Disney trip was set to begin, so we had nothing else to do and it was within our budget. Still, I can’t deny that I felt a little taken advantage of. But on every vacation, don’t you find yourself dipping deeper into your wallet for stuff that you’d never invest in back home? After hemming and hawing in my head, I just tell myself to shut up and enjoy. It works. Frankly, if it doesn’t wipe out the bank account and helps my son create memories and bond with us, his parents, then it’s priceless anyway. Right?

Di Meglio has written the Our Paesani column for ItaliansRus.com since 2003. You can follow the Italian Mamma on Facebook or Twitter @ItalianMamma10.

Ischia Awakens from Its Slumber

Posted on

VIAGGI – FAMILY TRAVEL

Ischia Porto park - Di Meglio
Soon, this park in Ischia Porto will be bustling with tourists and natives alike. © Photo by Francesca Di Meglio

The streets are still fairly quiet. The natives are still smiling. The stores and restaurants have just reopened and are showing off their Sunday best – new curtains, a bedazzled window display, or the promise of the freshest octopus you’ve ever eaten. It’s springtime in Ischia, a small island off the coast of Naples in Italy that is the home of my ancestors and husband.

While summer is the epicenter of travel to Ischia, which offers beaches at every turn, and the fall is a beautiful alternative for those who want to experience the glory of the island, including the grape harvest for wine making, without the crowds, spring is perfection. Unfortunately, with its unpredictable weather and just-the-start-of-the-season feel, it often gets ignored. I probably shouldn’t be letting you in on my little secret; consider this revelation a gift. Spring is when the island – and the islanders – spring back to life.

I relish the silence when you walk onto the street in the early morning as the sun is just starting to kiss the sky. I love walking on the shore in ripped jeans and a button-down shirt and sweater, allowing myself to feel the sand between my toes but falling short of getting wet. Then, I sit still for but a moment and let the breeze gently push my hair and stroke my cheek. Instead of people watching in the piazza, I gaze at the budding blooms, getting enthralled by the island’s natural beauty as it returns from hibernation.

Sure, it may rain and I sometimes feel the deep freeze in my bones. But my favorite zia (real or adopted) will make me a hot cup of minestrone while we gossip about the neighbors and wonder aloud about when Nonno (real or adopted) started to lose his mind. I’ll lose track of time and we’ll have to eat dinner together, too. Maybe we’ll order in some pizza. We won’t have to wait because there has not yet been a deluge of tourists. And we’ll be able to chat with the delivery guy about the prospects for business this season (never good enough) and the lousy weather (which probably isn’t as lousy as we make it out to be).

All over the island, wherever I go, I will find pockets of sanctuary without many other souls in sight. The ones I do find will be welcoming and will not intrude on my quiet (unless I signal that I want them to). In my single days, I might have just pulled up a bench in one of the pine tree forests, tied my scarf a little tighter, and read a good book. With my son, it’s a chance to play on the swings and grab a gelato in peace. Now, if only we could find a way to bottle up that tranquility and unleash it in the middle of the August intrusion of an otherwise perfect place.

Di Meglio has written the Our Paesani column for ItaliansRus.com since 2003. You can follow the Italian Mamma on Facebook or Twitter @ItalianMamma10.

 

 

Tips for Getting the Most Desirable Disney Dining Reservations

Posted on

VIAGGI – FAMILY TRAVEL

Disney Dining - Di Meglio
Disney dining just might be the highlight of your trip to the happiest place on Earth. © Photos by Francesca Di Meglio

Anyone who knows me knows how much I like Disney World and food. When you bring those things together, I experience zen. Of course, that is despite the frustration that can come with trying to book the most popular advanced dining reservations on property. Right there, I gave away the fact that I’m somewhat of a Disnerd. No one else would call it “property.” In any event, the sheer challenge of snagging those out-of-reach reservations has motivated me to polish my skills. I’ve been in training ever since I began booking these semi-all-inclusive vacations with the Mouse in 2009.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

  1. Decide whether to get a dining plan. Not everyone needs to invest in Disney Dining. Those who stay at non-Disney hotels are not even eligible for one. If you’re planning to visit other parts of Orlando, you might not want to buy into any of the dining plans. You have three main options – Quick-Service, Dining, and Deluxe Dining. They are progressively more expensive. Quick service includes 2 quick-service meals and 1 snack per person (ages 3 and over) per night of your trip. Dining allows for 1 quick-service meal, 1 table-service meal, and 1 snack per person (ages 3 and over) per night. Deluxe Dining is for those who are serious about what they eat (and are willing to eat a lot). It includes 3 table-service or quick-service meals and 2 snacks per person (ages 3 and over) per night. All the plans also provide a refillable mug for the entirety of the trip. (You can refill the mugs as often as you’d like with soft drinks in the food courts in the resorts and not the theme parks.) Keep in mind you don’t need reservations for quick-service restaurants, but you do for everything else. My family and I go for the gusto; it’s Deluxe Dining every time.
  2. Check out the menus. Disney Dining can be very competitive. Do a little research online, and you’ll probably read stories of double and triple booking to hold reservations for the same time at multiple places or working phone lines and the online booking site to snag hard-to-get reservations. Sometimes, people get caught up in the frenzy. They don’t even know what food is being served, but they know people want reservations here badly, so they just go for it. Instead of following the crowd, follow your own belly. What do you want to eat? Look at the menus and make your picks. Recognize that menus are subject to change, but they should give you an idea of the type of food you’ll find at a particular place.
  3. Plot your ideal reservation schedule. Now you can go a number of different ways here. My husband and I work everything else around our dining reservations. But some people prefer to work the dining reservations around fast passes and other scheduled entertainment. Just realize that you won’t be able to easily arrive at a reservation at Magic Kingdom when you have fast passes for the Safari at Animal Kingdom an hour earlier. Try to make reservations for places that are near where you plan to be on that day and time. Yes, planning a Disney vacation nowadays requires great commitment and might be more complicated than it was for me to plan my wedding in Italy and vow renewal in the United States.
  4. Take advantage of all the time you have. Disney allows resort guests to make dining reservations six months or 180 days in advance of the trip. People take these dates seriously, so you have to as well. Guests can hop on the phone at midnight exactly 180 days ahead of the first day of their trip to start making reservations. You still have a chance at not getting the reservations for which you wish. But it improves your odds. Often, I’m in Italy with my husband’s family 180 days away from our Disney vacation, so I use the time difference to my advantage. At 6 a.m. Italian time, I’m up and running and figuring out where tables are available.
  5. Be strategic. I check for the most difficult-to-get reservations first. Two years ago, I was keen on getting a dinner reservation at Be Our Guest at Magic Kingdom. It was nearly impossible to get a reservation then because it was still relatively new. To be honest, it’s not so easy nowadays either. I checked for dinner times for every day we were going to be there. And I scored a dinner reservation – for 13 people – no less for one of our last days there. That meant we were going to Magic Kingdom that day, and I would make all other reservations accordingly. I also often seek Chef Mickey breakfast (or now brunch) and California Grill reservations in the first batch, too, because it’s another one that you can easily lose.
  6. Realize all your options. Some people don’t realize that they can use their meals to partake in signature dining experiences. We sign up for Deluxe Dining, which provides us with a lot of food. If we reserved reservations for breakfast, lunch, and dinner everyday, we would have little time for anything else and we’d probably be able to roll home from Florida to New Jersey. Instead, we use up two meals per day by going to signature restaurants for dinner. Places, such as Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian cost two meals as opposed to one. So, if you reserve that and a character breakfast in the morning (almost all of which costs just one meal), you have used your three meals per day. Then, you can use those snacks for treats if you need something to hold you over between meals. Believe me, those snacks are yummy and are often more filling than a meal.
  7. Be careful about making changes. Lots of people tweak their reservations constantly. Or try to come up with ways to double book. (It has become much harder now that online booking refuses to allow it.) And if you miss a reservation (without canceling at least 24 hours in advance), you will be charged $10 per person. It’s real. Don’t let the veterans fool you. In the last few years, Disney has begun enforcing the rules because too many people took advantage of the system.
  8. Just eat!

Di Meglio has written the Our Paesani column for ItaliansRus.com since 2003. You can follow the Italian Mamma on Facebook or Twitter @ItalianMamma10.

NOTE: I have family members who currently work full-time for Walt Disney World, but I have always paid in full for Disney Dining and it in no way influences my opinions.

Ischia, Italy for the Senses

Posted on

VIAGGI – FAMILY TRAVEL
IMG_1774

Those visiting Ischia, a small island off the coast of Naples in Italy, for the first time will be blown away by the overwhelming beauty of the place. There are emerald waters, lush hillsides, pastel-colored homes dotting the landscape, and gorgeous Italians with their fashionable clothes, motor scooters, and warm hearts lining the streets. In fact, you’ll find there’s so much to take in that it will require all your senses. Here is a breakdown of the sensations you will likely experience:

  1. Ischia Makes Scents Discover the smells you will experience as you go for a stroll in one of the world’s most beautiful and somewhat unknown islands. From the sweet baking pastries to the cigarette smoke of the espresso drinkers on the sidewalk, the scents will draw you into the place.
  2. See Ischia in All Its Glory Your eyes won’t know where to look first on L’Isola Verde, the Green Island, with its beautiful plant life, extraordinary cobblestone, and fascinating people (native and tourist alike).
  3. A Taste of Ischia If you haven’t already fallen in love with Ischia, you will be enamored once you sample the island’s cuisine. Whether you feast at a native’s home or in a five-star restaurant, you will probably have the best meal of your life on the island.
  4. The Feel of Ischia Rocky terrain, sea urchins, soft moss, and bouncing waves are just some of the textures that will spark sentiment with every touch. Learn more about the feel, both the vibes and the tactile, of the island.
  5. The Sounds of Ischia in Summer While Neapolitan crooners provide a lovely soundtrack for your visit, the island itself makes its own music. Get my description of what you’ll likely hear at the height of tourism on this jewel of an island.

Di Meglio has written the Our Paesani column for ItaliansRus.com since 2003. You can follow the Italian Mamma on Facebook or Twitter @ItalianMamma10.

The Crayola Experience in Orlando

Posted on

VIAGGI – FAMILY TRAVEL

Crayola Digital - Di Meglio
After coloring in characters on paper, you can scan them, drop them into different scenes, and even add your own photo to the image. © Photo courtesy of Crayola Experience

We had been on Disney overload for a week, and my husband and I were experiencing a food hangover after Disney Deluxe Dining (also known as the triple D), replete with its three-course dinners, character buffets, and zillions of snacks. So, we were looking for something low-key to do while we killed time before leaving for the airport for our flight back to Newark. And my sister had the.best.idea.ever. Seriously.

She suggested we head to the Crayola Experience at the Florida Mall. There, we found 25 interactive exhibits dedicated to art and the wonder of color. It was the cherry on top of a perfect vacation, and it made me wish Crayola would open one up in our neck of the woods. (There are only two others – in Easton, Penn. and Minneapolis, Minn. – but not in my NYC or Paramus, N.J. Just sayin’.)

For the cost of $18.99 (for anyone ages 2 and up, including all the adults in your party and only if you buy the tickets online ahead of your visit), you receive tokens and a plastic bag to stash all your art work. We came away with some great souvenirs, including spin art made with melted crayons, my son’s drawing cut into a puzzle, and numerous crayons we made ourselves in the shape of cars, seahorses, and sharks. At the start of our journey, we also made a traditional crayon that my son was able to customize; he picked red and named the color Spiderman Enzo. He even got to watch the crayon get wrapped. Older kids might also enjoy getting a tour of a crayon factory. But I can’t attest to how good an exhibit that one is because we skipped it.

What was most interesting to me were all the options for combining art work with technology. Early on in the day, we colored on a touch-screen and when we were done, our images were projected onto the wall with those of other people in the room. Together, our coloring book pages made a scene in outer space that was simply riveting to watch, especially the rockets as they blasted off. Later on, we colored cars and fashion models, and then we watched the cars race and the models strut their stuff on the runway. We also created print outs of coloring book pages with our own faces in them, and awesome digital images featuring characters we colored, backdrops we chose, and our own faces in the scene, which we were able to email to ourselves and friends and family (see photo above).

All this and my son was able to use the tokens to purchase markers and modeling dough, which he used to make dinosaur fossils and could even color on the walls and the dog (relax, it was a dry erase statue) without repercussion. Plus, he nearly killed mommy when she chased him through the tunnels and slides in a rainbow of color.

Needless to say, my boy threw a fit when it was time to leave. It was no wonder. He had to say good-bye to my sister, his beloved Zia, and all the wonder at the Crayola Experience, not to mention the Disney withdrawal. At least for one more day, we were able to color our world with fun.

Di Meglio has written the Our Paesani column for ItaliansRus.com since 2003. You can follow the Italian Mamma on Facebook or Twitter @ItalianMamma10.

Should You Get Disney’s Memory Maker?

Posted on

VIAGGI – FAMILY TRAVEL

Memory Maker photo - Walt Disney World
Disney’s Memory Maker makes it possible for me to actually be in a vacation picture once in a while. © Photo by Disney Photo Pass photographer

To look at most people’s family albums, you would think that mothers never go on a vacation – or do anything else – with their kids. After all, they are always the ones taking the pictures, so it’s like they were never there. When the women of the family pass away, you’ll be longing for images to hang onto the memories, to keep their faces fresh in your mind. But you may never find them.

Well, Walt Disney World has fixed all this, at least whenever mothers travel there. You can purchase Memory Maker, which allows you to carry a card or a magic band on which you can save photos taken by Disney Photo Pass photographers, who are waiting at various points of interest within the park and sometimes the resorts.

What drew me to the Memory Maker was the price. See, I always liked getting photographers with professional cameras to take pictures of my family. Not long before we bought the Memory Maker the first time in 2015, I had paid for holiday photos of my son and his cousins.

We went to the local J.C. Penney for those, and I ended up spending nearly $200 on a CD with all the pictures on it. There were about 5 photos of my son alone, another 5 of my brother’s immediate family, and 20 photos that featured my niece and nephew and my son. The portraits were lovely, and a few of them made for a nice collage for my parents for Christmas. But it was only a few photos and my husband and I were not in them at all. In fairness, scheduling prevented our presence but having us there would have only driven up the price. And the gray or seasonal school-photo backgrounds were outdated and not all that appealing. When it was over, despite being happy to have the pictures, I felt overcharged, and the buyer’s remorse kicked in.

On the other hand, Memory Maker promised us the ability to take as many pictures as we’d like of the entire family or different factions of it throughout the entirety of our trip. The backgrounds would be the sites at Disney parks (unbeatable if you ask me). Some of the pics would undoubtedly be with Disney characters at the very moment that my son was meeting them for the first time (precious).

Since my parents, brother’s family, and sister would all be there, we’d have full family portraits that included all of us. And we would get all this for under $200, about the same as the price for the CD of about 30 photos from J.C. Penney. With Disney, we’d have a month to be able to download all the digital photos for ourselves. We could even include decorative borders provided by Disney if we wanted to. One of the coolest parts was the possibility of magic shots. This is when the Photo Pass photographer asked us to point to something or look in a different direction, and then we’d find a cartoon had been added to the picture. For instance, my son was asked to look cold and gaze to his left in front of Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella’s Castle and Olaf, not to mention snow, showed up in the picture when we were ready to download it. In another shot, we’re all in front of Spaceship Earth at Epcot’s entrance trying to pull down my husband who is holding a large bouquet of Mickey Mouse-shaped balloons.

Even if you don’t purchase Memory Maker, you still can have Photo Pass photographers take your picture. You can then look at the pictures online and decide if you want to purchase one at a time. That deal will bankrupt you. In the year before I bought the Memory Maker, I wanted a photo of my family from a character breakfast we had attended. The ability to download the one picture after our trip cost about $15 and that didn’t even include having it printed. I would have gone broke for the nearly 1,000 photos I downloaded the next year with Memory Maker or even the nearly 500 I downloaded after the February 2016 trip we just took.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind. Purchase the Memory Maker because it’s a great price. In fact, Disney lowered the price of advanced purchases back in December. I had bought mine for said February trip the day before the price drop was announced. Instead of crediting me for the $20, Disney made me buy something from the Photo Pass online store. The print outs are overpriced, so don’t buy into that. Instead, I print out the images through my local Walgreens or Shutterfly to get a better price. So, I still had $20 to spend, and I looked at the products. The calendars, mugs, magnets, etc. are all better priced and perhaps higher quality at other online outlets. I decided on a 5X7 wooden frame with Mickey in the corner.

But I had to shell out another $7 for shipping. I was annoyed. I would have preferred to have just received the $20 back on my credit card. Another important point is that you must buy the Memory Maker before your trip to get the best price and to maximize its value, so that you can start taking pictures as soon as you arrive.

Still, compared to everything else at Disney, which is becoming more astronomically priced as I write this, the Memory Maker is a great deal and a genius idea. By the way, if you can’t or don’t want to buy into it, you can still ask Photo Pass photographers around the parks to photograph you with your own camera or phone. They will always say, “Yes!” So, there are no more excuses. Mom, you better be in the next batch of vacation photos.

ITALIAN MAMMA’S NOTE: For full disclosure, you should know that a member of my immediate family is a Disney employee, and I have gotten into the Disney Parks for free as a result. I, however, have always paid for my resort stays and the Memory Maker. And I’m in no way influenced about what to write or my opinions on Disney travel.  

Di Meglio has written the Our Paesani column for ItaliansRus.com since 2003. You can follow the Italian Mamma on Facebook or Twitter @ItalianMamma10.

Universal Studios’ Cabana Bay Beach Resort Review

Posted on

VIAGGI – FAMILY TRAVEL 

Cabana Bay - Di Meglio
Universal Studios’ Cabana Bay is big on nostalgia. © Photo by Francesca Di Meglio

Cabana Bay Beach Resort is an affordable option for families visiting Universal Studios theme parks in Orlando, Fla. The mid-century modern flair and colorful details make for oh-so-kitschy fun. With a lazy river, fun themed rooms with comfy beds, and a bowling alley, you can have fun without even leaving the resort. (See photo album below the text.)

I recently stayed at Cabana Bay with my husband and 4-year-old son. Interestingly, we did not go to any of the Universal theme parks. Instead, we were visiting family and friends in the area ahead of an already planned Walt Disney World Resort stay. We tacked on this extra weekend, in part, to check out and share our thoughts on this relatively new hotel. For full disclosure, we paid for our entire trip and anything we did at the hotel.

From the moment Universal announced it would be landing in Orlando, it has been competing with Walt Disney World. Michael Eisner, former CEO of Disney, famously opened what is now Disney’s Hollywood Studios one week before Universal Studios opened its doors. To be honest, I went to both theme parks as a kid, and my family and I never cared for Universal’s rides. They were more adventurous than the kid-friendly ones at Disney world, and they seemed to break down a lot more. But that was then (nearly 20 years ago) and this is now.

Nowadays, Universal is expanding its reach with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and resort hotels like this one. As soon as we walked into the lobby, I could tell this place was aiming to compete with the Disney World value resorts, which include the All-Star Sports, Movies, and Music, Pop Century, and Art of Animation. I have also stayed at Pop Century and All-Star Music, and when I walked into Cabana Bay, I said, “This place gives those value resorts at Disney a run for their money.”

For starters, when I took to the Internet, I learned that I would pay about $400 to stay at Cabana Bay from Friday night to Monday morning. While the Disney value resorts are often affordable, too, the prices keep going up and you don’t get as much value. The Cabana Bay pools were impressive and included a beach area, replete with sand and games, such as oversized tic tac toe, and a lazy river. Disney has beach areas at one of its moderate and other deluxe resorts, and its only lazy river is at one of the deluxe resorts. In addition, at Cabana Bay there is a bowling alley/restaurant and a quick service restaurant.

Despite my devotion to Disney, I must admit that Universal’s answer to the value resort beats Disney’s. As a result, I find myself wanting to recommend Cabana Bay to families with children of any age. However, I still believe that Universal, its rides, and most of its characters are better suited to older children. Mickey Mouse, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and Peter Pan still won more smiles from my son. Although we didn’t go to the Universal theme parks, I think the rides would not have been up his alley.

Still, we had a blast at Cabana Bay. We ate breakfast at the quick-service restaurant every day of our weekend stay except the last. We went bowling and my son ate lunch – his favorite chicken nuggets and fries – in the Galaxy Bowling alley. (I will review it in a later post but know that we liked it despite the hefty price tag.) We also enjoyed the arcade, which is next door to the alley. What I really loved about the hotel and the reason I recommend it to families is that you didn’t even have to go to the parks to have a great time. (It should be noted that had we gone to the parks, we would have had access to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour before non-resort guests, complimentary shuttle buses and walkways to the parks and Universal CityWalk, and promises of more benefits but it is unclear what those would be.) We stayed at the resort, and it was like a mini vacation before our actual vacation at Disney. And it was a fraction of the cost to boot. If I was looking to save money but still have a family getaway, I would consider returning here and staying at this hotel with or without stops at the theme parks.

One of the other benefits was the nod to the past in the form of furniture, art work, the classic cars outside (great photo props), and the toiletries (OMG!). For a good time and a great vibe at an affordable price, turn to Cabana Bay for lodging and entertainment.

Ischia for Kids

Posted on

VIAGGI – FAMILY TRAVEL

Ischia for Kids Collage - Di Meglio and Vaina Family

Ischia might be an exotic – often unknown – island off the coast of Naples in Italy. Yes, it’s super romantic and a bit expensive, which makes it seem like a hot spot for young, sophisticated lovers rather than families. Its catchphrase has always been “Ischia dove si mangia, si beve, e si fischia,” which literally means “Ischia where you eat, you drink, and you whistle” but figuratively means eating, drinking and making love.

Still, I’ve been visiting since I was 2 years old because this is the home of my ancestors. And now I married a native and I have spent months and months at a time on the island with my now nearly 3-year-old son. We have found plenty of wonderful activities to pass the time. Recently, I wrote “6 Ways Kids Can Enjoy Ischia, Italy” with specific suggestions on what to do on the island if you ever find yourself vacationing there. Ischia is full of natural wonders, exceptional beauty, and rich history. Really, who wouldn’t want to share all this with their kids?

Di Meglio is the writer of the Our Paesani column for ItaliansRus. You can follow her on Twitter @ItalianMamma10.