Dream Street Marketing

Taking the family to Disney can be one of the happiest times you spend with your children but it can also be the hardest. The same fun which creates smiles also provokes over stimulation, exhaustion and general crankiness in both child and parent. And as with many things, big fun can also mean a big price tag. Admission into the Magic Kingdom for a family of four costs almost $350 for one day without any discounts or special rates. Add on sodas, snacks, souvenirs, hotel and travel to and from Orlando and your Disney World vacation can leave you wishing upon a star.

Seasoned parents will tell you that there are secrets to maximizing the magic of your Disney World vacation. Here are just a few.

Stay at one of the Disney hotels located on the Monorail
Although the transportation system within Disney is easy to navigate, accommodations located on the monorail system allow you to get back to your room quickly and with few stops. Nap time is easy to fit into the schedule when you are only one monorail stop away. For family with older children, the close proximity of your room provides a level of comfort when the family decides to split up or when a teenager wants to stay in the park long after you’ve gone back to shower. Disney offers three properties with direct access to the monorail: Contemporary Hotels, The Polynesian Hotel and The Floridian.

Gain early access to the park by staying at a Disney hotel
Staying at a Disney hotel comes with Guest privileges. Each day, Disney offers early admission into Guests who stay at a Disney property. This privilege allows you to get the most popular rides out of the way prior to the park opening to the public. For early risers, try booking a breakfast with the Characters in the park at The Crystal Palace or Cinderella’s Castle.

Begin at the back of the park
It’s a known fact that people will stop at the first attraction they reach so start at the back and work forward. For parents with young children it’s wise to ride Dumbo’s ride as early as possible. The line is always long later in the day. Leave the shows and indoor attractions for the hottest part of the day when you’ll appreciate the cool air conditioning.

Discover Disney fun outside of the park
This is easiest to do with younger children. There are plenty of fun things to do outside of the parks. Take the bus over to Fort Wilderness Campground for some free fun. There is a general store, over-sized petting zoo and several well designed playgrounds. In the evening, try the Mickey character dinner at the Contemporary hotel. Book your reservations so that dinner will be over at 8:45pm and then take a walk outside to the parking lot. From the Valet stand you will have the best and least crowded view of the Magic Kingdom’s Fireworks. (Make sure to confirm the days and times of fireworks.)

Take a break
A full day at Epcot, The Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom or MGM Studios can take a great deal of energy. You’ll find that the day will be more enjoyable if you leave the park at midday to recharge your batteries with a short nap or dip in the hotel pool. Re-enter the park late afternoon when others are leaving or having dinner. You’ll find the lines will be shorter and you’ll be more tolerant too.

Purchase multiple day passes
Disney admission passes never expire and it’s always cheaper to purchase multiple day park passes. Use what you need on this visit and save the card for future trips. Florida residents have the opportunity to save on tickets in the off-seasons. Visit www.disney.com for complete pricing on admissions and vacation packages.

Buy your Disney t-shirts prior to arriving at the park
Visit your local Wal-Mart, Target or K-Mart prior to leaving for the land of Mickey. You are certain to find a t-shirt of your child’s favorite character on a sale rack. Surprise your kids with a new shirt while unpacking. They’ll feel like they’ve received a souvenir and you’ll be pleased with your frugal accomplishment.

Before you leave on your Disney World Travel Club Package…Don’t forget to check out our family lightweight luggage  5 piece sets  as ththese sets are designed for the family that takes alot when they are traveling but is lightweight to pull and carry.

Check out thses requirements before you embark on your vacation with your hardside luggage set.  

Press Release: Todays Travel Industry

 Whether you are traveling overseas, a cruise, luxury resorts for business, or pleasure, study the best way to ensure a carefree and relaxing trip is to prevent problems before they happen. The more you learn about passports, visas, customs, immunizations, and other travel basics, the less likely you are to have difficulties during your travels.
 

Personal Security While Traveling

Leave contact numbers with family, friends and neighbors.

Check plane, train, and bus times before you travel.
Sit near other people or near aisles or doors. Learn the location of emergency alarms and exits.
Stay awake and alert when using public transportation.
Consider purchasing special clothing or accessories to hide your passport, money, or credit cards. Keep the majority of your funds in travelers checks and hidden; carry some in your wallet or handbag. Use a money clip. If you are robbed, you may lose the money in the clip but will retain important credit cards and documents.
Keep valuables out of sight and luggage close at hand. If carrying a handbag, keep it in front of you, closed, with the fastening toward your body. Keep a wallet in your front pants pocket.
Let go if your bag is snatched.
Do some research on the area you are visiting.

I do hope you find these tips informative and  helpful so you may enjoy a Wonderful Vacation.

Enjoy Your Vacation!

1. The biggest mistake cruising newbies make is booking the wrong ship. Most people focus on the destination (Caribbean, Mexico, etc.) and don’t pay enough attention to the ship itself.  Cruise lines—and even individual ships within a line—vary greatly in terms of atmosphere and facilities. Some have a party-all-the-time ambience and/or a great gym and spa; others are ideal for curling up on deck with a good book

2. Book early. There are two ways to get the best price on a cruise: book early or book at the very last minute. Both will save you money, but early bookers get the best choice of cabins for roughly the same “sale” price as late bookers—and avoid being disappointed because their ship is sold out. “Early” usually means three to six months before the cruise; the savings generally are 25 to 50 percent off the published brochure price per person.

3. Get the best cabin you can afford.

4. A bit of preparation pays off in a carefree trip.Tape a “To Do” list to your fridge, and check things off as you go. Don’t forget to shop for film, extra batteries, sunscreen and travel-size toiletries. These are more expensive to buy on the ship, and you may not find your favorite products. Consider filling small plastic containers with conditioner and shampoo from the big bottles, which you can leave at home.

5. Pack light, pack right. Be prepared for the off chance your luggage will get misplaced. Put a little of everything you’ll want and need in  a  CARRY ON BAG.   As added protection, buy travel insurance that covers you for lost, stolen, damaged or delayed luggage.

6. Beat the rush.It’s also a good idea to make your spa appointments and specialty restaurant reservations on the first day of the cruise so you don’t lose out.

7. Be shore-savvy. Some shore excursions are worth taking. Others are not.To make it more fun (and affordable), put your own group together and share the ride with newfound friends you’ve met on board. But note: if you go solo and miss the boat, you’re on your own.

8. Get the royal treatment. If you celebrating a wedding, Anniversary , Special Birthday, Let the cruise director know. Ask about honeymoon and anniversary parties, dinner at the captain’s table and other special recognition.

9. Then there’s that little business of tipping to take care of. Remember that tipping is always entirely up to you. Most cruise lines will recommend just how much to tip. But when cruising now days most cruise lines add it to your bill at the end of the criuse. The average tip now is $10 per day per person, However if you feel that you did not get the service you exoected you can dicsuss that at the puersors’ office and it will be removed at your request.

10. Cruising for romance. On most cruises, you’ll be assigned a dinner table (usually with other passengers) and time (early or late) for the entire trip. See the maitre d’ as soon as you board to specify which seating you prefer; also let him know if you prefer a table for two and be sure to advise him.  remember that the hot tubs never close, and you’ll probably find yourselves alone under the stars. For more alone time, stay on the ship when everyone else goes ashore it’s like having your own private yacht.

Enjoy Your Cruise!

Time for all you folks out there to pack your luggage sets  and Enjoy a Luxury Vacation!

All travelers should familiarize themselves with conditions at their destination that could affect their health (high altitude or pollution, types of medical facilities, required immunizations, availability of required pharmaceuticals.

Insurance, Medicare & Medicaid, Medical Evacuation

If your insurance policy does not cover you abroad, it is a good idea to consider purchasing a short-term policy that does.  There are health insurance policies designed specifically to cover travel.  Many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas including emergency services such as medical evacuations.

Bringing Medications or Filling Prescriptions Abroad

A traveler going abroad with a preexisting medical problem should carry a letter from the attending physician, describing the medical condition and any prescription medications, including the generic names of prescribed drugs.  Any medications being carried overseas should be left in their original containers and be clearly labeled. Travelers should check with the foreign embassy of the country they are visiting to make sure any required medications are not considered to be illegal narcotics.

If you wear eyeglasses, take an extra pair with you.  Pack medicines and extra eyeglasses in your hand luggage so they will be available in case your checked Coleman luggage is lost.  To be extra secure, pack a backup supply of medicines and an additional pair of eyeglasses in your checked luggage.

If you have allergies, reactions to certain medications, foods, or insect bites, or other unique medical problems, consider wearing a “medical alert” bracelet.  You may also wish to carry a letter from your physician explaining required treatment should you become ill.

  Places to Receive Mail

If you will be abroad for an extended period, you may want to arrange for the delivery of your mail.  Some banks and international credit card companies handle mail for customers at their overseas branches.  In addition, post offices in many countries will hold mail for travelers under their General Delivery services.  U.S. Embassies and Consulates do not handle private mail.  Check with the embassy of your destination country to see if that will be possible there.  A listing of foreign embassies and consulates in the U.S. is available on the Department of State’s website.   Foreign embassy and consulate contact information can also be found on the Country Specific Information for each country.

I hope you find this information useful and helps you in planning your next extended vacation.

 Your first checked bag at Delta for travel within the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico is free. Find out about baggage allowances on flights, what’s considered special baggage, restrictions, and more. Please review our excess luggage policy.

Regardless of where you’re going, you’ll want to make sure what you’re bringing is allowed. Here are the rules.

Carry-on Luggage
All Delta passengers are allowed one carry-on bag, one checked bag, and one personal item. Excess charges apply for excess, oversize, or overweight items.

How large can your carry-on bag be?

Must weigh less than 40 pounds (18 kg)
Can’t exceed 45 inches (length + width + height)
Must fit easily in our SizeWise® unit (approximately 22″x14″x9″)
Must fit in an overhead bin or underneath the seat in front of you

What counts as a personal item?

Purses, briefcases, camera cases, and diaper bags
Laptop computers (can’t be checked and must be carried on)
Items of a similar or smaller size to those above

What else can you bring onboard?

Food items for immediate consumption
Assistive devices such as wheelchairs or crutches
One box or bag of duty free merchandise, A coat, jacket, or umbrella
There may be more limits to carry-on baggage based on available space and additional restrictions on certain flights. If you have additional questions, please see a check-in agent for help.

Checked luggage
When traveling within the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico you can check one bag, per passenger, free of charge.
When traveling to or from cities outside the United States you can check two bags, per passenger, free of charge.
If you have additional bags to check, you may incur excess luggage fees.

Each bag must:

Weigh 50 pounds (22.5 kg) or less
Not exceed 62 inches when you total length + width + height

If you have a special item:

Each special item you’re checking counts as one bag.
When checking in online, you don’t have to tell us what the special item is—you just have to let us know you have one.
An agent will determine any possible charges for your item when you bring it to the baggage drop.

Exceptions:

Business Elite® and First Class passengers are allowed 3 checked bags at no charge up to 70 lbs.
Active duty military personnel with traveling orders will be allowed to check 2 bags up to 70lbs at no additional charge.

Passengers traveling to or from Key West, Florida are limited to only one checked bag.
The free weight allowance is 70 pounds (32 kg) for tickets purchased in Brazil, or for tickets purchased in Japan when traveling to/from Brazil.

With the exception of original factory-sealed boxes that will be accepted on a standby basis, we do not accept boxes as checked baggage to Central or South America (except Brazil, Mexico, and Chile) at any time of the year.

Your first checked bag at Delta for travel within the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico is free. Find out about baggage allowances on flights, what’s considered special baggage, restrictions, and more. Please review our excess baggage policy.

 Before Your Trip     

Here are just a few precautions you can take ahead of time:

• Make sure your immunizations are current.
• If possible, delay your trip if you’re not feeling well.
• If you’re prone to air sickness, ask for a window seat over the wing.
• If you have any health questions, or if you suffer from a chronic ailment, motion sickness, or fear of flying, ask for advice from your physician.
• Stress is bad for you. Reduce stress by allowing plenty of time to check in and reach your departure gate.
• Always carry your medication with you in your carry on luggage—never pack it in baggage you’re planning to check.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing and shoes for your flight.
• Make sure your carry on luggage has nothing breakable in it making sure that they are sealed properly in a plastic container.

During Your Trip

Here are a few things you can do to feel good while you’re flying:

• Eat lightly during your flight.
• Stay hydrated while you fly.
• Leave room under the seat in front of you so you can stretch out your legs.
• If conditions permit, try to stand up and walk around the cabin every once in a while.

Eventually, if your luggage doesn’t arrive, you and the airline will have to face up to an ugly truth - your luggage has disappeared. 

First thing you have to do is put in a claim, itemize the contents and value including the cost of your suitcase.  Don’t exaggerate because if you do it can be very embarrassing if they find your suitcase and what you told them isn’t true.

 It will almost certainly take more than a week for your red luggage set to be deemed lost, and perhaps as much as a month.   It also depends on the airlines how this is handled, whether it was a domestic flight, international flight etc.   If you require more detailed information go to google and type in lost luggage.