Monday, February 29, 2016

Chip N Dale’s Fall Harvest Breakfast Review at EPCOT Walt Disney World, Garden Grill Restaurant


The Garden Grill is a restaurant located in “The Land’ pavilion in Epcot. It is known as the rotating restaurant with views of the Living with the Land attraction and excellent character experience dining….AND NOW THEY SERVE BREAKFAST!

It’s no secret to my family that breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, lol.



The Garden Grill began offering breakfast Nov 8th, 2015 hosted by Chip ‘N Dale
Some things to know before you go…

  • Breakfast reservations starts as early as 8am (yes! You can get in before the park officially opens)
  • This is an All You Can eat Family Style breakfast, foods that will be brought out to you include; Eggs, Mickey Waffles, Bacon, Ham, Tatter Tots, Biscuits and Gravy, Fruit and the deliciously giant Sticky Bun Bake! (look at all that gooey, yumminess up close!)



  • I would recommend telling the host or hostess before you are seated that you would prefer a table on the lower level (better views, you won’t be staring straight at a wall)

  • During this experience we actually had the characters come by our table twice, but that might now always be the norm, it wasn’t busy at all that morning.

  • Try the POG juice, oh so good!
  • There were really great character interactions, we didn’t feel rushed at all, and several characters played and goofed around with my boys.

  • The characters you will meet are Chip, Dale, Pluto, and Mickey

  • Adult cost is $29.99, Child cost was $17.99 (prices could vary depending on time of year)



Let us make your vacation even easier!  We'll help you plan from the start and can advise you and handle your arrangements, including dining, fast passes, room requests, discount application, and celebrations.  We are the same price or less than if you book on your own, and you get us for FREE!  Have an expert on your side at zero cost to you and contact one of our agents today!

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Travel Agent Myths Exposed! Great Tips for Smart Vacation Planning!


        Hi, my name is Jenny Young and I’m just one of the agents with Travel Time Travel. In this blog I wanted to take some time and talk about some of the myths out there that surround us travel agents. Things that you might believe, and that are keeping you from using an agent like me and colleagues.  Now, while yes some of these may have a little truth to them, the clarification could have you thinking very differently about using an agent on your next vacation. So let’s discuss 10 common myths that follow us travel agents.



1st: Travel agents are expensive or change extra fees for using them.

     False: I can’t tell you how many people ask me what my fees are for helping them book and planning their vacations. Travel agents are compensated by commission through the companies they work with and should cost you nothing extra in fees. While there may be some agencies out there that change extra for their services, here at Travel Time we do not. In reality having a travel agent can actually save you money on your vacation. By using a travel agent you have someone that is constantly receiving information on deals and special pricing that can save you money and time on your vacation.

2nd:  All travel agents and agencies are the same.

        False: We defiantly are not! Picking an agent to work with is like picking a doctor. They need to be the right fit for you and your family. Different agents and agencies can specialize in many different destinations and may only be able to book those destinations depending on their travel credentials. Finding the right agency and agent will play a key part in the planning of your vacation. Here at Travel Time we have more the 40 agents working together as a team that specialize in a variety of destinations both domestic and international.  What does this mean for you? Well, by working with an agent from Travel Time this means that while you may be in contact with just one agent, that one agent is in contact with 40 others on your behalf. Just think of all the possibilities this opens up for you and your vacation!

3rd: A travel agent will cut me out of the planning process.




       False: This is defiantly not what we want to do. We’re here to take the hassle out of your trip not the enjoyment of planning it. An agent will let you be as involved as you want to be. After all it’s your vacation not ours. Agents have a vast amount of knowledge and training and can often recommend alternatives you might not have thought of. We also know when your payments are due and how much. When you can book extra events, like dining, shows, or excursions. Were like little personal organizers helping you through the entire steps not just before your trip, but even during and after. The choices are still always yours to make.

4th:   No one uses travel agents anymore, they are a waste of time:

        False:  The travel agency industry has increased more than 10 percent in the past few years. Tripology.com reports that travel agents sell 51% of all airline tickets, 87% of all cruises, 81% of all tours and packages, 45% car rentals, and 47% of all hotels. More travelers are choosing to opt out on spend hours on a computer researching destinations and looking for the best prices.  How much time do you spend looking up information? Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone do all that for you?

5th: I could book online myself and get cheaper prices.

       True: Yes you *might* possibly get a better or cheaper price online, but remember you get what you pay for. What is that extra $40 savings really doing for you? Most online companies have extra policies you must adhere by in order to save that extra money. Like no refunds, or changes to your vacation without a fee. Or you can’t pick you airline or even flight time. Is it really worth the savings? Wouldn’t you rather have peace of mind know everything will be ok and taken care? And that no matter the problems that come up, you’ll have someone there to help you understand your options? I know I would feel better. Also know, most travel agents can find the same if not better pricing than you can.

6th: Travel agents show you only trips that pay them a higher commission rate.

        False: If all travel agents did this we would have no clients. The playing field has evened out in the commission areas these days now. Companies are offering the same percentage rates making no one company better than the other in commission areas. The truth is while agents may recommend the same companies often it’s just because they’re use to working with them and have generated a good relationship with them. They know the ins and outs of the area and are able to make a more magical experience for you, but as always the choice is yours on where and who you want to go through.

7th: My vacation is too small for an agent to want to take care of.

        False: Travel agents don’t discriminate on any vacation, no matter how big or small.  We’re here to make even your mini-vacation an awesome experience.

8th: Using a Travel agent isn’t convenient.

       False: Maybe back in the days when you had to rush into an office in between your lunch break to talk to some yes, but now in the days of home based and independent agents no. Now agents are more convenient to work with thanks to new high tech technology, social media, e-mail, and video chat.

9th: A travel agent will pressure me to buy.

       False:  Travel agents business relies on the loyalty of their clients and the referrals they get from them. If you at any time feel uncomfortable or pressured, you are less likely to use us again or tell your friends of our services. Yes many agents are trained in the business art of closing a deal but it is not used to pressure you into anything you’re not sure of.  Things we may stress to you at time of booking are usually time sensitive matters, like special prices that may need to be booked sooner than later to save you money.

10th: A home-based agent is less professional or not a real agent.

         False: An agent that may work from home or a home based office is just as professional as someone who has an agency office you can walk into. Agents that work from home work very hard because they have no office you’re just walking into off the street. They have to be creative in how they present themselves and market their business. They have the same training opportunities as office based agents and the room to grow professionally, with connivance of open business hours that are better to fit your flexible schedule. And I am proud to call myself one of these types of agents.   





  I hope some of the information in this blog today has helped clear up some miss information that any of you may have had about travel agents. The reason all of us do what we do is because we love the art of planning a vacation. And love taking care of our clients and their families. And love putting that giant smile on your faces when you reach your destination. When you have a travel agent from Travel Time you don’t just have an agent working for you, you have a friend. And you’re a part of a great and always growing community. 

Jenny@traveltimetravel.com

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Let us make your vacation even easier!  We'll help you plan from the start and can advise you and handle your arrangements, including dining, fast passes, room requests, discount application, and celebrations.  We are the same price or less than if you book on your own, and you get us for FREE!  Have an expert on your side at zero cost to you and contact one of our agents today!

You May Need a Travel Agent If...Planning a Vacation? Where Do You Start?



You’ve decided to go on vacation!  A cruise sounds just perfect for your family, you think, so, you can do one of the two following options:



1. Look up what cruise lines service where, because I’d prefer to go out of Florida.  Or maybe Galveston?  Oh gosh, there are like 300 ships in Florida.  Okay, which is better? Carnival?  Royal Caribbean?  Norwegian?  Princess?  Celebrity?  Disney? I’ll check Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, Disney.  Should I call?  Look online?  How do I know I’m getting the best price?  Why does my state of residency matter?  Should I call? I have small kids, what line is best? Do I need a hotel the day before?  I’ll check Expedia, Kayak, Trivago, Hotels.com. Oh, gosh, some of those have cruises too. What is better? Should I go through the hotel directly? How do I know it’s a safe hotel?  I’ll check Trip Advisor.  Oh, I can price things there too.  Maybe Hilton?  Hampton Inn? A Disney hotel? Where do I book that? Staybridge? Where has free breakfast?  Any of them have shuttles to the port? Should I call? What is onboard credit?  What is OBC?  What can I use it on?  How much will I get? What type of cabin?  Are insides really dark?  Will it be noisy?  What deck is good?  Why can’t I find one that fits four people?  I guess I’ll call. I heard dining is handled differently on cruises, how does that work?  Should I call?  Is three days enough?  Four?  Seven?  Is Nassau safe?  What should we do about shore excursions?  Is a verandah worth it? What does gratuity cover? Oh, main, late and anytime dining…what should I choose?  What are specialty restaurants? How can I celebrate a special occasion?  Can I decorate my cabin door?  What is muster?  What time will my cabin be ready?  What legal documents do I need for my family? I have a stepchild, should I call? Can I bring my own alcohol? Is there a nursery? Charge for nursery?  Do I need reservations?  Soda? Water?  What do I do about motion sickness?  What is debarkation? I read somewhere luggage pick up is the night before?  How do I get to and from the airport and port?  Should I come in a day early?  What items aren’t allowed onboard?  Should I call? How are the kids clubs?  What times do they run?  What programs do they offer?  How do I sign up for those?  Do they cost?  How much spending money should we plan for?  Do I tip anyone else? What about tour guides?  What do I do with my luggage when we arrive at port?  My Grandma might want to come but is disabled, should I call? How do we link dining to sit with someone else we know?  How do we request that we not be seated with anyone else? What are the adult only areas like?  Is there gambling?  Should I get insurance?  How should I time the flights, can I book one for 10 AM the debarkation morning? And what exactly is debarkation? Do they have accommodations for autism?  Food allergies?  I should call.  How much luggage can we bring?  Is there ice in the cabin?  What are the bathrooms like?  Where do we store our suitcases in the cabin?  What if we don’t want to sit down for a formal meal, what else can we do?  Soda is included, right?  Should I look into loyalty programs?  What do the cruise lines mean by “private island”?   Can I get wake up calls?  I read somewhere there might be a sewage smell in the bathroom?  What difference does it make if the ship is older? Smaller?  Bigger?  What if there is rough waters?  What do we do for breakfast and lunch if dinner is the only planned meal?  Why do we only get to eat in one dining room?  What is rotational dining?  For the flights, should I pay for assigned seating?  Do more open up later?  How much is luggage check?  How much can I bring?  Can we bring golf clubs? I see flights on American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Delta Airlines, some mixtures that I found on Kayak, I’m not sure what the difference is?  I called, but they aren’t nice.  How far in advance should I buy flights? Should I call the cruise line, when I pick it, and try to get flights that way?  How far in advance should I do online check in? When is final payment due?  Should I book spa treatments in advance?  I found one cruise that is $800 per person and one is $1300 per person, why would anyone choose the more expensive one?  Can we use cash onboard?  Why do I have to put a credit card in?

Or

2. Contact an agent at Travel Time, for free.

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Let us make your vacation even easier!  We'll help you plan from the start and can advise you and handle your arrangements, including dining, fast passes, room requests, discount application, and celebrations.  We are the same price or less than if you book on your own, and you get us for FREE!  Have an expert on your side at zero cost to you and contact one of our agents today!