Wyoming Tours & Experiences

Published on December 7, 2021 in Travel by Crystal Boston

Are you planning a trip to the Wyoming area? Are you looking for new experiences during your trip?

If you answered yes to both questions, check out these tour ideas and add something fun to your itinerary.

You can either book direct on your own or reach out to me and I can assist with any questions or reserving your experiences.

crystal@wishuponastarwithus.com

You can even search for different experiences or destinations once you click any experience listed below.

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Alaska Tours & Experiences

Published on November 9, 2021 in Travel by Crystal Boston

Are you planning a trip to the Alaska area? Are you looking for new experiences during your trip?

If you answered yes to both questions, check out these tour ideas and add something fun to your itinerary.

You can either book direct on your own or reach out to me and I can assist with any questions or reserving your experiences.

crystal@wishuponastarwithus.com

You can even search for different experiences or destinations once you click any experience listed below.

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New York Tours & Experiences

Published on November 9, 2021 in Travel by Crystal Boston

Are you planning a trip to the New York area? Are you looking for new experiences during your trip?

If you answered yes to both questions, check out these tour ideas and add something fun to your itinerary.

You can either book direct on your own or reach out to me and I can assist with any questions or reserving your experiences.

crystal@wishuponastarwithus.com

You can even search for different experiences or destinations once you click any experience listed below.

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Montana Tours & Experiences

Published on November 9, 2021 in Travel by Crystal Boston

Are you planning a trip to the Montana area? Are you looking for new experiences during your trip?

If you answered yes to both questions, check out these tour ideas and add something fun to your itinerary.

You can either book direct on your own or reach out to me and I can assist with any questions or reserving your experiences.

crystal@wishuponastarwithus.com

You can even search for different experiences or destinations once you click any experience listed below.

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All About the Disney Genie Service

Published on October 11, 2021 in Walt Disney World by Crystal Boston

ALL INFORMATION BELOW IS OBSOLETE EFFECTIVE JULY 24, 2024

Updated: June 21, 2024

There are 3 options for the new Disney Genie Service with access via your My Disney Experience Mobile App.

Disney Genie Service
Disney Genie+ [Lightning Lane]
Individual Attraction Selections [Lightning Lane – 2 per Guest, per day]

Beginning June 27, 2023, Guests at Walt Disney World Resort will purchase Disney Genie+ service based on how they want to visit the parks. Guests will be able to select either a single-park option or a multiple-parks option, subject to availability. With this update, prices may be lower at some Walt Disney World theme parks compared to others.

MAKING YOUR SELECTION FOR SINGLE-PARK OR MULTIPLE-PARKS OPTION:

When purchasing Disney Genie+, guests will have the option to select either a single park, or multiple-parks option. Prices will vary by park and date.

The multiple-parks option will be the most expensive, and will operate the same way as the original Disney Genie+ option.

For the single park Disney Genie+ option, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and EPCOT will be priced lower than Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom.

Example pricing is as follows:

Multiple Parks – $27
Magic Kingdom – $27
EPCOT – $18
Disney’s Hollywood Studios – $24
Disney’s Animal Kingdom – $16

Pro Tip: For single-park selections, until January 9, 2024 when Park Pass Reservations are no longer necessary for date based tickets, be sure to select the park that you have your Park Pass Reservation confirmed for.

Disney Genie, Disney Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selections are now available for all Guests.

Disney Genie Service is a free service that is available to all guests with valid theme park tickets and offers a personalized day planner, tip board, wait times, virtual assistant, mobile order, virtual queues and more. No action is required to use the Disney Genie Service. Standby lines will be available to all guests. Ahead of or on the day of your visit, you can input your “Top Picks” for attractions, entertainment and dining, as well as your park hopping plans, and Disney Genie will generate a recommended itinerary based on your selections.

Pro Tip: Disney Genie recommendations are just that — recommendations. If Genie adds something to your itinerary that you’re not interested in doing, you can remove it and Genie will re-optimize your day with new recommendations.

Disney Genie+ is an additional purchase that can be added on the day of your visit via the My Disney Experience app, one day at a time, subject to availability, for an additional fee per ticket, per day. Disney Genie+ offers a next-available time to arrive at a variety of attractions using the Lightning Lane entrance – one at a time, throughout the day – to help you navigate through longer wait times. Lightning Lane is offered at more than 40 attractions throughout all 4 theme parks. Guests may use Lightning Lane for one attraction at a time, no more than once per attraction, per day. Disney Genie+ also includes AR PhotoPass lenses and a series of audio tours.

Pro Tip: Popular attractions fill up quickly and, if you want to maximize your morning, you’ll want to confirm your first Disney Genie+ Lightning Lane reservation as early as possible starting at 7 am each day. The quickest attractions to ‘sell out’ in each park are Slinky Dog Dash at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Test Track at EPCOT, Peter Pan’s Flight at Magic Kingdom, and Na’vi River Journey and Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

NOTE: With the purchase of Genie+ you will receive your attraction photos, where offered. It is important to note that the PhotoPass with Genie+ will be for attraction photos only. Magic Shots and pictures around the parks will not be part of the photo benefit when purchasing Genie+. To ensure you receive all of your vacation photos, be sure to ask me about Memory Maker!

Individual Attraction Selections: This is an additional, day of, purchase to help you skip the lines to some of the most popular headliner attractions, such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Avatar Flight of Passage, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and more. Pricing is dynamic and will vary by date, attraction and park, per attraction, per person. Pricing will be displayed before purchasing your Individual Attraction Selection. This option may be purchased at up to 2 different attractions each day per Guest.

Pro Tip: While you can only reserve one Lightning Lane reservation at a time, it is possible to hold multiple reservations by utilizing the 2 hour window to your advantage, particularly if you plan to get a late start to your day. To do this, book a Lightning Lane return time that is more than two hours after park opening. When it’s time to book your next one (two hours after park opening time), choose another Lightning Lane reservation more than two hours into the future. This sets you up for eligibility for two Disney Genie+ Lightning Lane reservations at a time for the rest of the day. Continue to do this and you’ll get even more simultaneous entitlements. Note, this method will require you to rely on the standby queue or paid Individual Attraction Selections until it’s time to begin redeeming.

NOTE: For larger groups of 10+, you will need to have 2 people ready to purchase the Individual Attraction Selections and split your group into 2 or more groups. The system will only recognize a maximum of 10 Guests per purchase.

**View Larger Version >>>** **Walt Disney World Lightning Lane Attractions PDF**

The purchase of Disney Genie+ service is available in addition to standby entrance.

*Attractions with Lightning Lane entrances that are Disney Genie+ and individual purchases are limited in availability, subject to change or closure, may vary by date, are not guaranteed and may not be available at all on the date of visit or at the time you make a selection.

For the full list of experiences offered through Disney Genie+, please check the My Disney Experience mobile app on the day of your visit, as attractions are subject to change.

Pro Tip: Guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels who want to avoid the upcharge of Individual Attraction Selections should take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry for Disney resort hotel guests. Disney hotel guests are able to enter all four theme parks 30 minutes before official park opening time. Head straight for the two Individual Lightning Lane attractions (do the more expensive one first — it will fill up the fastest) and you should be able to ride both attractions quickly without having to pay. To maximize your Early Theme Park Entry time, plan to arrive an hour and 15 minutes ahead of the ‘official‘ park opening time.

Note: If you opt to not purchase Disney Genie+, you will still have access to the complimentary Disney Genie service, which includes personalized itinerary planning in your My Disney Experience Mobile app and standby access to park attractions.

MORE PRO TIPS:

Make Sure You Have Plenty of Battery for Your Phone

Using Disney Genie all day means you’ll be spending more time on your phone during your park days than you might have previously. Be sure to fully charge your phone and bring an extra battery pack.

When in Doubt, Ask the Guest Experience Team

Disney has stationed a number of Guest Experience Teams around all four parks. If you need help with Disney Genie, look for the blue umbrella and blue-shirted Cast Members.

Don’t Rely on Posted Wait Times

Many times, posted wait times are not 100% accurate. In the ‘Tip Board’ section of your My Disney Experience Mobile App there’s an Experiences tab that provides, by theme park, standby wait times, next available Disney Genie+ Lightning Lane times [$] and next available Individual Lightning Lane times [$$] that you can quickly reference to determine the best plan for your next experience.

Take Advantage of the Dining Tab in the Tip Board

Don’t miss one of the best new features introduced by Disney Genie – the Dining tab. In the ‘Tip Board’ section of your My Disney Experience Mobile App there’s a Dining tab that enables you to see, by theme park, walk-up wait times, next available table service reservations, and next available mobile order arrival windows, all at a glance.

FAQ’s:

When can Disney Genie+ be added to existing vacation packages?

Disney Genie+ can be added on the day of your visit via the My Disney Experience app, one day at a time, subject to availability.

Can I purchase Disney Genie+ for partial days of my vacation?

Yes, you can choose each day to add Disney Genie+ via your My Disney Experience mobile app starting at 7 am EST each day.

Can Individual Attraction Selections be purchased prior to my check-in date?

No, Individual Attraction Selections can only be purchased same day beginning at 7 am ET for resort hotel Guests. Guests off-property must wait until park opening.

If I want to “skip the line” at the parks, which do I need?

You need Disney Genie+, at a minimum, to skip lines at more than 40 attractions. If you’d like to skip the lines at the top headliner attractions, you will want to purchase Individual Attraction Selections at 7 am ET each morning of your vacation via your My Disney Experience mobile app.

Can I still enjoy attractions without Disney Genie+ or Individual Attraction Selections?

Yes, standby lines and virtual queues are offered without Disney Genie+ or Individual Attraction Selections.

Will Disney Genie+ “sell out”?

No, Disney Genie+ will be available to all guests who would like to purchase the feature.

Can I purchase Individual Attraction Selections without purchasing Disney Genie+?

Yes. You do not need to purchase Disney Genie+ in order to purchase Individual Attraction Selections.

Can Individual Attraction Selections be made for more than one park? For example, can one be for Magic Kingdom and the other EPCOT for the same day?

Yes, with a Park Hopper ticket type, Individual Attraction Selections can be made for more than one park in the same day. For example, you could purchase Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom and Frozen Ever After at EPCOT. The second park selection must be after 2 pm ET which is when park hopping opens.

Does Disney Genie+ open at 7 am ET for all guests, or only for those staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels?

All Guests with Disney Genie+ can select their first Lightning Lane attraction beginning at 7 am ET.

Do Individual Attraction Selections open at 7 am ET for all guests, or only for those staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels?

Guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Shades of Green® Resort or the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels can purchase Individual Attraction Selections on the day of their visit, starting at 7 am ET. All other Guests can purchase Individual Attraction Selections on the day of their visit, starting at each park’s opening time.

Can I modify a Disney Genie+ selection?

Yes, you can modify your selections to an available time/attraction, based on availability.

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My Experience Back Onboard Disney Ships

Published on September 30, 2021 in Cruise Vacations/Disney Cruise Line/Travel/Travel Agent by Crystal Boston

Can I just say, it’s been a [really] long 18 months for someone that had become somewhat addicted to cruising! It was so exciting to be back onboard, especially on a Disney ship!

Disney Cruise Line has implemented many new protocols to insure a safe and healthy return to sailing and I felt incredibly comfortable onboard. While there are some changes that I hope remain and some I hope return to a more normal onboard experience, overall, it was a very positive experience. I did experience a back-to-back sailing [2 separate sailings, one immediately following the other] and there were a few protocol changes as I transitioned from my first cruise to my second so many things are still being evaluated and modified for optimum efficiency and experience.

Port arrival times are staggered to insure physical distancing can be maintained during the arrival and pre-cruise testing process so the port terminal is quite empty most of the time.

Captain Mickey and Captain Minnie are onboard and waiting to welcome you! There are large “Mickey” circles on the floor for each family to stand in together while you wait for the welcome show. Following your welcome, you can then head to your stateroom to drop anything you have carried onboard with you or go straight to your assembly station for your mandatory safety drill. Everyone in your stateroom must check in for the safety drill, it’s a good idea to plan to do this first thing so you can get on with your FUN!

The changes with the safety drill are changes I hope will stay in place because it’s a much quicker process now and the whole ship is no longer required to wait together in lines while those still enjoying their pool time etc. get to their assembly stations. The new way allows you to get it done and then go enjoy your first day onboard!

Your staterooms are the same as they have always been, and daily service is still in place as well as nightly turndown service – with towel art surprises! If you do need anything, you can easily us the chat feature in your Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. It was super easy, and Crew Members responded quickly.

On the pool decks, chairs are spaced to promote physical distancing and you sign up for virtual queues for the family pool area. The adult pool area is open and no virtual queues are required.

Virtual queues are also required for disembarking the ship at ports of call.

The food offered on a Disney cruise is still exceptional and the service is the same, or even better, as I have experienced before! The Crew Members are all very happy to be back onboard and working again and they are very happy to see YOU!

For quick service dining options and beverage stations, Crew Members now serve you, it’s no longer self-serve. This is a good change, in my opinion, and, while I don’t think this will be the way forever, I do think it will be the way for some time.

Although still challenging reservations to confirm, Palo and Remy are also still offered for brunch and dinner. Be sure to check your Disney Cruise line Navigator app for availability before and during your cruise.

The nightly dinner rotation is still in place and your service team will still follow you each evening to your dining location. A good change that I hope remains is that characters have been added to Enchanted Garden [Mickey, Minnie & Goofy] and Royal Palace [Disney Princesses]. At Animator’s Palate, Crush remains as the character experience.

In addition, characters can be experienced throughout your sailing in the atrium area as well as other areas onboard and at Castaway Cay. You can easily check where and when to find characters via your Disney Cruise Line Navigator app but I normally was just surprised [and happy] when I came across characters and Princesses!

While I, personally, did not experience many of the adult venues onboard this sailing, most experiences were available but with limited capacity – tastings, trivia, musicians, movies, live entertainment, karaoke. However, the evening adult area, known as The District, was not as “hopping” as normal and I did miss the silent DJ Party. Hopefully this is something that will return in the near future.

Castaway Cay definitely did not disappoint, it is my favorite port of call with Disney Cruise Line and I truly enjoyed my three days on this private island!

Our group rented a cabana for the first time and, even though the island was quiet due to lower capacity, it was a nice little space to gather and relax while enjoying the amazing view.

The Castaway Cay 5k is still offered but it is a self-guided experience now and, if earning a medal for your run is important to you, you do need to check with Port Adventures before your Castaway Cay day to see if medals are available. If you have not participated in the Castaway Cay 5k previously, I suggest you wait until this experience returns as a planned event because the route can be a bit tricky [but who wouldn’t love to get lost and be left behind on the island??!!].

While the first part of my back-to-back sailing was in a stateroom type I had experienced before, the second part of my back-to-back was a first for me – Concierge! Oh my, the experience was amazing, there is so much included, and cruising Concierge just ups the magic on a Disney cruise!

And, of course, one of my other favorite experiences on a Disney ship is fireworks at sea – Disney is the only cruise line permitted to display fireworks and, while the experience is a bit different now, it was still an amazing display!

I can’t wait to be back onboard again real soon! And, if you are thinking about a Disney Cruise Line vacation, with ships about half capacity [or less], now is the perfect time to cruise, reach out to me and I will help you make the most of your magical cruise experience!

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LET’S TRAVEL!

SPECIALIZING IN LAND AND SEA TRAVEL
An Authorized Disney Vacation Planner Travel Agency – EarMarked GoldProducer
Beach Vacations | Cruise Vacations | Theme Park Vacations | Babymoons
Tours & Experiences – Choose Your Destination | U.S. Destinations
Disney Area Vacation Homes | All-Inclusive Destinations
Sandals Resorts [Adults Only] | Beaches Resorts [Family Friendly]
Virgin Voyages | Royal Caribbean Cruises | Viking River Cruises | Viking Ocean Cruises

New Orleans Tours & Experiences

Published on September 14, 2021 in Travel by Crystal Boston

Are you planning a trip to the New Orleans area? Are you looking for new experiences during your trip?

If you answered yes to both questions, check out these tour ideas and add something fun to your itinerary.

You can either book direct on your own or reach out to me and I can assist with any questions or reserving your experiences.

crystal@wishuponastarwithus.com

You can even search for different experiences or destinations once you click any experience listed below.

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California Tours & Experiences

Published on September 14, 2021 in Travel by Crystal Boston

Are you planning a trip to California? Are you looking for new experiences during your trip?

If you answered yes to both questions, check out these tour ideas and add something fun to your itinerary.

You can either book direct on your own or reach out to me and I can assist with any questions or reserving your experiences.

crystal@wishuponastarwithus.com

You can even search for different experiences or destinations once you click any experience listed below.

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Hawaii Tours & Experiences

Published on September 14, 2021 in Travel by Crystal Boston

Are you planning a trip to Hawaii? Are you looking for new experiences during your trip?

If you answered yes to both questions, check out these tour ideas and add something fun to your itinerary.

You can either book direct on your own or reach out to me and I can assist with any questions or reserving your experiences.

crystal@wishuponastarwithus.com

You can even search for different experiences or destinations once you click any experience listed below.

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Cocoa Beach Area Tours & Experiences

Published on September 8, 2021 in Travel by Crystal Boston

Are you planning a trip to the Cocoa Beach, FL area? Are you looking for new experiences during your trip?

If you answered yes to both questions, check out these tour ideas and add something fun to your itinerary.

You can either book direct on your own or reach out to me and I can assist with any questions or reserving your experiences.

crystal@wishuponastarwithus.com

You can even search for different experiences or destinations once you click any experience listed below.

Follow me…
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ALL INFORMATION BELOW IS OBSOLETE EFFECTIVE JULY 24, 2024

Disney Genie, Disney Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selections are now available for all Guests.

MORE PRO TIPS:

FAQ’s:

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