Planning Archives - Traveling With Meghan

How to Make Disney Park Pass Reservations

The COVID-19 travel era is here. In order to keep the travel wheel rolling, there are several steps added to planning processes for many destinations. Walt Disney World Resort Parks are planning to reopen in phases starting on July 11, 2020. The Disney Parks will require making pass reservations. The Disney Park Pass Reservations system went live on June 22, 2020. Just like when Fastpass+ reservations were new on the scene, there is a certain amount of confusion around park pass reservations. I have created a step-by-step guide with pictures for how to make these reservations and am including some tips for the process.

Information is correct as of June 23, 2020

Click here to Download the Disney Park Pass Reservations Guide

Important dates for Park Passes: The park pass system goes through September 2021. June 22, 2020– all resort guests with valid admission are able to make reservations. June 26, 2020– all annual passholders without resort reservations. June 28, 2020– all existing ticket holders.

Here are a few tips that may help ease the fears of making park passes:

Start on a computer if possible. Clear your cookies in chrome (My Disney Experience is optimized for Chrome) or use an incognito window.

First, find a work around for logging in if you’re met with the “pink castle of death.” For example, pretend to make a dining reservation so you’re able to login to My Disney Experience and then follow the steps in the guide.

Another tip for Passholders (though a fix has been reported for passholders that have multiple resort reservations on 6.23.2020), start with the last day of your trip and work backwards to the first.

When selecting your party of guests, make sure everyone has the same type of tickets. For example, an annual passholder may find difficulties booking a party with someone who has a regular ticket. Also, don’t add those that don’t have tickets to your party and those that are under three. You will not be able to complete the reservation process.

Look at Park Pass availability here. As the different reservation categories open up, you’ll be able to see availability under the different tabs. Note the dates above for what’s open while you’re looking.

Keep up with all the information about a future trip to Walt Disney World by following the Know Before You Go page.

Moxy Chattanooga:: Five Reasons to Visit Chattanooga

Chattanooga, Tennessee. If this city was advertised in your state as a kid, you remember the catchy “Come See for Yourself” motto. If you grew up in the South, you probably went to the Tennessee Aquarium at some point in your childhood. If you were broke newlyweds on your first anniversary trip, you probably went here. (oh just Corey and me? OK then…) Chattanooga grew up and diversified its portfolio since then. Each neighborhood has so much to offer. Moxy Hotels vibe fits perfectly into the scene of this city in the Southside district that’s getting a revitalization shot right now. No signs are being shown of slowing down either. Moxy Chattanooga is all about location, location, location for checking off all the stops on your to-do-in-Chattanooga list.

*Traveling with Meghan was hosted by Moxy Chattanooga*
*all opinions are my own*

the staples

Tennessee puts money into tourism. The rest stops show it. Across the state there are unique things to do in the major cities. Chattanooga isn’t left off that list. There are tons of fun-yet-touristy things that are still just as cool now as they were when I was a kid. Every Chattanooga to-do list includes these top attractions which I recommend not missing:

Tennessee Aquarium: (moderate walk from the Moxy) The address of the Tennessee Aquarium says it all: 1 Broad Street. Driving down Broad Street, it dead ends into this top-rated American aquarium. Both an Ocean Journey and River Journey are here to explore.
Lookout Mountain: (short drive from the Moxy) The next two attractions on the staples list are in Lookout Mountain, but there is more to see here than just Ruby Falls and Rock City Gardens. There is no shortage of hikes and the historic battle site of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park are here as well for the history buffs.
Ruby Falls: (short drive from the Moxy) The tallest and deepest underground waterfall open to the public in the US is in Chattanooga. The cavern is well lit and beautiful to see.
Rock City Gardens: (short drive from the Moxy) Do this on the same day you venture out for Ruby Falls. It’s a great hike and also where the famous “see seven states” spot to stand is located.
Chattanooga ChooChoo: (short walk from the Moxy) Right over the tracks from the Moxy is this iconic station from the golden age of railroad. You don’t have to be a train enthusiast to appreciate the Terminal. It’s now full of shops and fabulous places to eat. For your listening pleasure, some Glenn Miller.
Walnut Street pedestrian bridge is part of the Riverwalk area and connects the center of town to the Northshore area.

Still looking for things to do in Chattanooga? Check out the calendar here.

**top left**: bikeways in Chattanooga sign at Walnut St pedestrian bridge **top right**: ignis glass blowing **bottom left**: Tennessee Aquarium **bottom right**: Walnut Street Bridge from the Hunter Museum of American Art

easy transit

Dog lovers, hikers, foodies, and shoppers can all rejoice because this city is easy to get around. Moxy Chattanooga is a dog-friendly hotel, so bring your puppers to this dog-friendly city and walk to your heart’s content. The Chattanooga Choo-Choo Terminal is a very short walk as is the one to Warehouse Row. The walk to the terminal is less than five minutes. It’s right over the King Street tracks. Warehouse Row is a 7-10 minute walk. A short drive from the Moxy is Lookout Mountain, where you and your pup can spend the day hiking before coming back to rest and refuel at the “get it your damn self” grab-and-go station in the Moxy common area.

Bikes are also available to get around Chattanooga. Similar programs are present in other cities. There are 38 stations to pick up a bike at and ride for a flat fee for 60 minutes. Moxy Chattanooga is right between two of them. After 60 minutes, overage fees are charged. To avoid those, drop your bike at a station and pick up a new one. Bike Chattanooga is a great way to get around: they’re less than a car, and a way to be environmentally conscious while you travel. Download the Transit app or Cyclefinder (or both) to be well equipped to use the Bike Chattanooga system.

CARTA is the downtown electric shuttle that’s FREE to get around downtown. There’s a stop right at King Street for the Choo Choo right at the corner of Market and King where the Moxy is. Find the CARTA routes and schedules here. Uber and Lyft also operate in Chattanooga.

restaurant recommendations

Just like there is no shortage of things to do, there is no shortage of things to eat either. Regardless of what you’re in the mood for, there’s a perfect option for you. Moxy’s concept is to make sure you have the necessities for a perfect stay and aren’t tied down to eating there. The Chattanooga location encourages you to get out and eat at the restaurants around the hotel.

In the mood for burgers? Go to Urban Stack. The menu here offers burgers for every kind of palette, including burger upgrade options to a chicken burger or an American wagyu burger. Two thumbs up for the pimento cheese dip. Burgers don’t come with fries here, but make sure to order at least one side of them. This place is also great with allergies. There are no peanuts in this establishment. Located one block down from Moxy Chattanooga.

In the mood for ramen or sushi? Go to Two Ten Jack. This is the second location for this restaurant, with the first in Nashville. The servers here are fabulous at explaining the menu and giving recommendations. Two thumbs up for the crispy brussels and tonkotsu (beef ramen). They are amazing with allergies and made a dish shellfish-safe that is not traditionally prepared as safe. Located in Warehouse Row, a short walk from the Moxy Chattanooga.

In the mood for brunch? Go to Tupelo Honey Cafe. Sub fourth meal for brunch here. The meal starts with delicious biscuits to whet your appetite for more. It’s in Warehouse Row, a short walk from Moxy Chattanooga. They are good with allergies. In the mood for a more local brunch? Milk & Honey from Nashville has a location here as well. This one is in the Northshore neighborhood. Grab a bike at a station at the Moxy and pedal there.

Don’t know what you’re in the mood for? Go to Market South. Part of the Milk & Honey and Urban Stack family, this is a completely different concept. It’s a food hall with something for everyone. Pizza, Asian fare, Indian food, an in-house brewery, a coffee shop, and outside—a test kitchen walk-up window. They are amazing with allergies but this establishment is not recommended for nut allergies. Since it’s a food hall, it’s one big kitchen with lots of potential for cross-contamination and lots of peanuts on the menu.

bar recommendations

Starting your stay at the Moxy Chattanooga involves a welcome drink, so be ready for a good time. Check-in is at the bar, so it can get a little hairy later at night since the bar is open to the public. Pre-game, game, or post-game at the Moxy Chattanooga bar. There is plenty of seating, bar games, a projection for TV, and quieter areas as well. There is also an outside bar that operates on the weekends with fire pits to keep you warm on the inside and outside.

Whiskey Tour at Chattanooga Whiskey: Take the Whiskey Tour here for a look at their experimental room and process to follow with a tasting. The bar here does not open to the public until 7, after all the tours are finished. It is a short walk from the Moxy Chattanooga, across the street from the Choo-Choo terminal.

Chattanooga Brewing Company: Eat good food and taste several beers. The beer cheese + warm soft pretzel and Chestnut Brown are a perfect pair. It’s a longer walk from the Moxy. Grab a bike and pedal over and Uber/Lyft back if you need to.

other bars of note:

environmentally conscious

Of all the reasons to visit Chattanooga and stay at the Moxy, this is an important one. Touring your own country is a great way to reduce your footprint. Chattanooga is also endeavoring to offer environmentally friendly transport options like the free electric shuttle service and Bike Chattanooga service. Moxy hotels are also environmentally conscious. By having a grab-and-go station in the common area, they limit food waste. What you need is available for you and if you don’t have it, they can help you out too.

Make your trip to the Scenic City soon and make Moxy Chattanooga a part of it.

Want me to handle all the details? Check out my services.

Thank you so much to the staff at Moxy Chattanooga for hosting me. They made it easy to recommend that everyone visiting Chattanooga stay there.

Does Disney Cruise Line Ever Have Sales?

With their magical commercials, amazing inclusions, and a private island that you don’t have to tender for, Disney Cruise Line makes dreams come true… but all magic comes at a price, dearie. The prices of some itineraries leave those that want to cruise with Disney with a burning question: Does Disney Cruise Line Ever Have Sales?

Does Disney Cruise Line ever have sales?

The answer isn’t as cut and dry as “yes” or “no,” but takes into account many more factors and produces more of a “sometimes” answer. In my experience, I’ve seen specific Disney Cruise Line sailings become deeply discounted. Those are typically the opening ended repositioning sailings. That means they start in one port and end in another. For families with children, those aren’t always the best fit or they’re not at good times due to school. I’ve also seen Disney Cruise line sales on the deposits, offering half-off of the deposit, but you end up paying the same amount for the sailing in the long run because that other half of the deposit is rolled into the final payment amount. While the deposit may not be the same price, the sailing is over all. Both of these offerings are seen far less frequently than with other cruise lines, who you see new sales from all the time.

With the gray-area answer of “sometimes” on Disney Cruise Line sales, but a desire to book and go, the logical follow up question is: How do I save money on a Disney Cruise? There are a few things I advise to help save some money on that magical Disney Cruise Line vacation.

Book Early

This I cannot stress enough. Booking early ensures that you’re in on the ground level. Unlike other cruise lines that will start to drop prices as the sailing gets closer to fill the ship, Disney Cruise Line sales aren’t like that. The rates will go up as the ship books and the sailing date gets closer. When new itineraries are announced, be ready. If you’re thinking about it, have your travel advisor put you on a list to be notified when the next Disney Cruise Line itineraries will be released. This is when the best rates are to be had. From personal experience, I’ve seen a sailing jump over $400 the first weekend it was announced. Booking on release day saved my client over $400 verus if they had waited just three days.

Rebook on Board

The onboard offer is bound to change over time (and potentially disappear, but I feel that’s highly unlikely), rebooking while you’re on the ship sailing is the best way to get an actual percentage off your Disney Cruise Line sailing. Yes, that doesn’t help someone that’s not actually on board or who hasn’t sailed with Disney yet, but by picking a shorter sailing on an older ship (older DOES NOT mean worse in Disney Cruise Line’s case), it can make that 7-night Caribbean sailing easier to achieve.

More than one placeholder can be booked while onboard as well. For example, if Brad and Suzy Jones are sailing together and they decide they want to sail again, both Brad and Suzy can each get two placeholders in their names for future sailings. There’s four future sailings for Brad and Suzy to use. However, the original person whose name is on the placeholder must be in the room. That means no big happy family reunions using all four staterooms at one time in the future, but two at a time works. You don’t have to already have a sailing picked out either to book a placeholder. There are two years to take advantage of the onboard offer that comes with a placeholder. Combining a placeholder with an offer release day is a sweet sweet deal!

Be Flexible

School isn’t very flexible, and neither are most jobs now, but flexibility also affords the opportunity to save on a Disney Cruise. For example, that 7-night Caribbean sailing over spring break is going to cost more than a 4-night Bahamian at the same time. Are you able to put together a 3-day weekend with a 3-night sailing? A 3-night sailing over an October holiday is going to cost less than a 3-night sailing over a July holiday. All of the economics of supply and demand come into play here. If you’re able to sail in “shoulder” season (fall and right after the January holiday before spring break time frames start), those sailings can be a good way to get on a Disney Cruise Line ship without having to wait for a release day.

three tips to save on disney cruise line

Use a Travel Advisor

My biggest recommendation to know if there is a Disney Cruise Line sale or if you’re getting the best value for your Disney Cruise: use a travel advisor. Their services are free to you. They will monitor your sailing after you’ve booked to see if there are any additional discounts that are released that you may qualify for. Time is money and a travel advisor is there to save you that time. If you’re not quite ready to book yet, contact a travel advisor to be put on their list to know if any discounted sailings come up or when itinerary release dates will be. Low to no risk at it costing you nothing to use one, so find one you like!

Does Disney Cruise Line ever have sales? The world may never know, but using the tips above can help you make that magical sailing a dream come true.

Using a Travel Agent & Airbnb

The two don’t seem to go together: Travel Agent and Airbnb. Most travelers think you can’t use one with the other, but there are three ways that you can still use the expertise of a travel agent and stay in your dream Airbnb.

Let’s dispel that myth, shall we? First, there are travel agents that charge a fee and will cover every little detail from A to Z of your trip. That can get expensive and that’s not who we’re talking about here. We’re chatting about fee free agents, like me, who can assist with other parts of your trip if you like to stay in Airbnbs. I get it. There were times when Airbnb was the best fit for me. Sometimes there’s nothing like getting the feeling of home abroad and also experiencing that local feel. There’s also nothing quite like a travel adviser having your back in the following situations though:

Corey and I would have missed this light snowfall that happened at our airbnb in Hopewell Junction, NY if we had chosen to stay in a hotel in nearby Newburgh, NY

Travel Insurance

If you travel without it, consider a few instances where travel insurance can give you peace of mind:

coverage for lost luggage
coverage for trip delays
coverage for emergency medical services
coverage for emergency medivac
coverage for trip cancellation

These are just a few situations. There are even plans that cover if your pet passes away. Most travel cards do include some insurance for your purchases, and in most cases (thankfully) that’s more than enough. For those moments when it’s not, a travel adviser can assist in guiding you to the right plan to cover most situations that may arise.

Corey and I prepped breakfast every morning in our Greenwich, London, England Airbnb, saving us from having to purchase a meal every morning

Transportation

There is a myth that it costs more for a travel agent to book your flights, so let’s dispel that one too. It doesn’t. Plain and simple. It can but just like it can cost more if you book your flights at a time when they’re not at their lowest. A travel agent will watch for the best time to buy your flight. You can also package it with transfers to and from your Airbnb for an even better deal, especially when Ubering isn’t an option and you may land and have to haggle for a taxi.

Tours

Still want that heart of Paris feel, but don’t want to wait an hour in line for tickets to the Eiffel Tower and then another hour to use them? Travel Agents can arrange tours for you even if you’re staying at an Airbnb. There are all kinds of places to arrange tours (even though the Airbnb app), but you want to make sure you’re getting the most reputable ones that are the best value. Tours can include all sorts of package deals, but the most important thing is front of the line access. It saves so much time and maximizes your time on your days off if you’re not spending them waiting in line. However, there’s nothing to speed up that line for a fresh hot buttery croissant. It’s still worth waiting for though.