Wanderlust & Wishes

Send us Fan Mail Imagine starting your morning with a short walk to EPCOT and ending your evening strolling along a waterfront boardwalk filled with dining, entertainment, and a little old-fashioned Disney nostalgia. This week, we're unpacking Disney's BoardWalk Inn, one of Walt Disney World's most unique Deluxe Resorts. Inspired by the seaside entertainment districts of the 1920s,...

Send us Fan Mail Is Club Level at Universal Orlando Resort really worth the extra cost? This week on Wanderlust & Wishes , Krystle is taking over as interviewer as Julie, Margie, and Stephanie share their firsthand experiences from their recent Universal Orlando vacation together! We're breaking down what you actually get with a Club Level stay, from exclusive lounge access and compliment...

What if your Walt Disney World vacation felt a little less like a theme park marathon and a little more like a relaxing getaway in the Florida Keys? This week, we're unpacking Disney's Old Key West Resort, the original Disney Vacation Club resort and one of the most unique places to stay at Walt Disney World. With colorful island-inspired buildings, beautiful landscaping, and some of the...

We're ranking the best and worst of Walt Disney World, and we definitely have opinions! In Episode 125, Julie and Krystle each share their five favorite and five least favorite attractions at Walt Disney World. From must-do rides to attractions we'd happily skip, we're breaking down what makes our lists and where we disagree. Then it's time to talk Disney dining! Krystle ranks...

What if your Walt Disney World resort felt like a peaceful Southern getaway, complete with winding pathways, beautiful riverside scenery, and even horse-drawn carriage rides? This week, we're heading to Disney's Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, one of Disney's most charming Moderate Resorts. From the elegant mansion-style buildings of Magnolia Bend to the rustic Louisiana bayou atmo...

Your Disney cruise vacation officially begins on embarkation day, but are you making the most of those first few hours onboard? This week Julie and Krystle are sharing their favorite Disney Cruise Line embarkation day tips to help you avoid common mistakes, navigate the boarding process, and start your vacation with less stress and more fun. From packing the perfect carry-on bag, knowing what to e...

When you think of Disney Value Resorts, extra space probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. But Disney's All-Star Music Resort has one big advantage that sets it apart from its All-Star neighbors: Family Suites that can sleep up to six guests! This week, we're unpacking everything All-Star Music has to offer, from its oversized musical instruments and colorful themed sect...

Julie finally made it to Universal Epic Universe, and let's just say she's officially a convert! After months of talking about Universal Orlando's newest theme park, Julie experienced it firsthand, and even a rainy start couldn't dampen her excitement. This week, Julie and Krystle dive into everything from the incredible immersive worlds and jaw-dropping attractions to the crow...

We're going on the go for a special bonus episode from Universal Orlando! Julie is sharing a quick recap of her Universal Orlando FAM trip with three fellow travel advisors. The trip included two days of training, a Club Level stay at Loews Portofino Bay, time in both original Universal parks, and a full day at Epic Universe! She's also sharing a few highlights from her gluten-free dinin...

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort gives you something a little different from the other Moderate Resorts at Walt Disney World. It has the tropical atmosphere, beaches, palm trees, and laid-back feel of an island vacation, but it also happens to sit at the hub of the Disney Skyliner. So, do the transportation and resort atmosphere make up for just how big this resort actually is? This week, we&a...

What’s the best rope drop strategy at Disneyland? Should you start with Peter Pan, head straight for Rise of the Resistance, knock out Fantasyland, or completely ignore what everyone else is doing? This week, we’re breaking down how rope drop actually works at Disneyland, how early you really need to arrive, and the different strategies for Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, the west side of the park, Too...

Disney's Contemporary Resort is one of the most iconic resorts at Walt Disney World. It opened with the resort in 1971, the monorail literally runs through the building, and you can walk from your room to Magic Kingdom. But when you're paying Deluxe Resort prices, is convenience enough? This week, we're unpacking everything Disney's Contemporary Resort has to offer, including t...

Finding the right all-inclusive resort sounds easy until you start factoring in who is actually going on the vacation. This week, we’re looking at all-inclusive resorts through the lens of two very different families. Julie is, admittedly, a little extra when it comes to vacation planning, while Krystle’s family is much more willing to go with the flow. But beyond our planning styles, we’re also w...

Disney's All-Star Movies Resort may be one of the most instantly recognizable Value Resorts at Walt Disney World. Giant characters, oversized movie props, colorful courtyards, and some serious Disney nostalgia make this resort feel exactly like what many people picture when they hear "Disney Value Resort." But what do you give up for that lower price? We're unpacking All-Star M...

Disney Cruise Line or Royal Caribbean? It’s one of the biggest questions families ask when choosing a cruise, and the answer isn’t as simple as you might think. This week, we’re putting Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean head-to-head to talk about who does it better when it comes to the things that actually matter on vacation. We’re comparing cruise ship activities, staterooms, dining, kids cl...

The random resort picker has spoken again, and this week we're heading to the Value Resort category with Disney's Pop Century Resort! Pop Century may be a Value Resort, but it has one major advantage that sets it apart from some of the other Value options at Walt Disney World: the Disney Skyliner. Add in updated rooms, a fun throwback-to-the-decades theme, and easy access to EPCOT and Ho...

If you’ve ever planned a Universal Orlando vacation, you’ve probably heard at least a few of these: Universal is only for older kids. Express Pass means you won’t wait in line. Harry Potter is one land. You can do all of Universal in one day. And yes, people really do still ask us which Disney park has the Harry Potter castle. This week, we’re separating fact from fiction and tackling some of the...

The random resort picker is taking us to New Orleans this week! On this Resort Review episode, we're checking into Disney's Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter, one of the smallest, most charming, and maybe most underrated resorts at Walt Disney World. French Quarter doesn't have the Skyliner. You can't walk to a theme park. There's no table-service restaurant, Club Level...

How confident are you in your Walt Disney World attraction rankings when you have absolutely no idea what’s coming next? This week, we’re putting our Disney opinions to the test with a blind ranking challenge. Julie and Krystle each brought 10 completely random Walt Disney World attractions and revealed them to each other one at a time. The catch? Once an attraction gets a spot on the list, it sta...

On this week's Resort Review, we're heading to Crescent Lake and checking into Disney's Beach Club Resort, a resort with two pretty big claims to fame: one of the best pools at Walt Disney World and a location that puts you just steps away from EPCOT. But are Stormalong Bay and that incredible location enough to make Beach Club one of Disney's best Deluxe Resorts? We're un...

Welcome back as we continue Kate’s European adventure! This time we’re heading aboard the Disney Dream for a seven-night Norwegian cruise. In Part 2, we pick up with Kate and her family as they sail from Southampton with stops in Amsterdam, Maloy, Alesund, and Bergen. We talk through Kate's experiences in each port from sailing into the fjords surrounded by incredible scenery to exploring tin...

Our Resort Reviews series is back, and this time the random resort picker landed on one of the most iconic places to stay at Walt Disney World: Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Known as Disney's flagship resort, the Grand Floridian has a reputation for luxury, incredible dining, beautiful grounds, and one of the best locations on property. But it also comes with a pretty signif...

What happens when you combine Disneyland Paris, a few days exploring Europe, and a Disney Cruise Line sailing through the Norwegian Fjords? You get one pretty incredible 16-day European adventure. In Part 1, we’re joined by our friend and fellow travel advisor Kate to talk about how this trip came together, why her family decided to pair Disneyland Paris with a Norwegian Fjords cruise aboard the D...

This week, we're kicking off a brand-new Walt Disney World Resort Review Series on Wanderlust and Wishes. There are a LOT of places to stay at Walt Disney World, and choosing the right resort can make a huge difference in your vacation. So we're working our way through them one by one, breaking down what we love, what we don't, and who we think each resort is really best for. And be...

What exactly is Club Level at Walt Disney World, and is it worth paying extra for? This week, we’re joined by our friends and fellow travel advisors Lindsay and Leslie to talk all things Disney Club Level. Between them, they’ve experienced Club Level stays at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and most recently, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, so we’re getting the fi...