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What to Wear

T-shirts, shorts and athletic shoes are a common sight in the summer; long pants and a light jacket are recommended in winter. Advise your clients to bring along comfortable shoes for sightseeing and formal attire if they plan on fine dining or nightclubbing.

Climate in Las Vegas

Las Vegas’ 320 days of sunshine a year promises great vacation weather year-round. If your clients love outdoor activities, then the Las Vegas territory will make a perfect match for them. If they’re visiting in the summer, tee times and other outdoor activities are best scheduled for the early morning when the desert air is mild and enjoyable. With an average annual rainfall of 4.13 inches (10.5 cm) and humidity around 29 percent, the climate is classified as arid.

The following gives you an idea of the weather your clients can expect for each month.

Do the hotels and attractions offer assistance for visitors with disabilities?

Does the airport offer assistance for visitors with disabilities, what ground transportation assistance is available for visitors with disabilities, where can i find interpreters for the deaf, where can i find personal care attendants, and wheelchair, scooter and oxygen rentals, where can i find ada assistance offices.

BOOKING YOUR ROOM  - Las Vegas has a variety of accessible guest rooms in the city. Hotels have rooms with roll-in showers, transfer showers, tubs with built-in seats and tubs with portable seats. Please take time to talk to the reservation operator about your specific requirements. If you need additional details, ask for the hotel's ADA coordinator.

SHOWROOMS, LOUNGES AND RESTAURANTS  - Most hotels have assistive listening devices for hearing-impaired persons available at the showroom or lounge entrance. Wheelchair seating is also available in most restaurants, lounges and showrooms. Call ahead for details.

GAMBLING  - All hotels have accessible slot machines and many have sit-down table games. Many hotels also have accommodations for wheelchair users to play craps. Gaming personnel are well-trained in assisting vision and hearing-impaired persons to play table games. If you need a sign-language interpreter for the gaming schools offered at many of the casinos, just ask in advance. Most bingo rooms have Braille cards and large-print cards. A few larger rooms have electronic bingo, enabling blind players or persons with hand-dexterity problems to play up to 100 cards at once!

SWIMMING POOLS  - Bring your swimsuit! Most Las Vegas hotels have lifts to assist you in getting into our beautiful pools. You may also find a pool beach entrance at some of our hotels. Check with the reservation operator when booking your room.

Yes, please visit  Harry Reid International Airport  for up-to-date information.

AT THE AIRPORT  - Lift-equipped shuttles and taxis are available with service to any hotel or motel. A variety of shuttle/limousine services are available at  Harry Reid International Airport .

TAXI SERVICE  - All taxi companies in Las Vegas have lift-equipped vans accommodating one wheelchair. Call from your room, use any dedicated taxi phone or ask the doorman at your hotel for an accessible taxi van. 

CITY BUS  - Our  RTC (Regional Transportation Commission)  bus service is fully accessible, including buses that are lift-equipped, have low floors and kneel, and accommodate two wheelchairs. Reduced fares are available for seniors and persons with disabilities. Call 702-228-7433 for routes, schedules or help in using the system. The "Strip" bus runs 24 hours a day.

PARATRANSIT  - Southern Nevada's Paratransit services are named RTC Paratransit Service. If you are certified to ride paratransit in your home city, bring your certification and you will be allowed to ride up to 21 days without having a Nevada certification. To schedule rides, call 702-228-4800 or TDD 702-676-1834 one to three days in advance.

PARKING  - Bring along your hometown dashboard parking permit from your personal vehicle if you plan to rent a vehicle in Las Vegas. Out-of-state permits are recognized. Temporary disabled parking permits are available through the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Visit  www.dmvnv.com  for more information. A physician's statement will be required.

TRAMS & THE MONORAIL  - The Las Vegas Monorail offers service at seven stations between Sahara Avenue and the MGM Grand on the east side of the Las Vegas Strip. Additionally, visitors can take advantage of trams that connect various properties: between the Mirage and Treasure Island; connecting Mandalay Bay, Luxor and Excalibur; and connecting Park MGM Las Vegas to Aria Resort, Crystals Shopping Center and Bellagio Resort.

OVERHEAD WALKWAY  - There are several four-corner overhead walkway locations on the Strip. The first set of walkways is located on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard (the Strip) and Tropicana Avenue, which connects the blocks where the MGM Grand, Tropicana, Excalibur and New York-New York are located. The second set is connecting Park MGM and the Showcase Mall/Hard Rock Cafe. The third set is on the corner of Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard connecting the blocks where Bally's, Bellagio, Caesars Palace and The Cromwell are located. The third walkway set is located on Spring Mountain Road and Las Vegas Boulevard, which connects the corners, Treasure Island, the Fashion Show mall, The Venetian and Wynn. Some walkways have direct access into the resorts. Escalators and elevators are available at all locations. In addition, there is a direct-connect walkway from the front of Planet Hollywood to  The Cosmopolitan, ARIA and Crystals shopping center. Also, there is a walkway connecting Veer Towers, Crystals and Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas.

FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE  - This unique experience was born by closing Fremont Street (Downtown) to vehicular traffic, making it an outdoor pedestrian mall and doming it with the most fantastic light show you'll ever see!

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Liquor Laws

While Las Vegas has some of the most liberal liquor laws in the United States, you must be at least 21 years of age to drink alcohol.

Visitors under the age of 21 are prohibited from loitering in casinos. The Strip has a curfew in which children under 18 years old are not allowed to be out after 9 p.m. unless accompanied by an adult.

Attractions/Activities

Most accommodations have a pool. Many also feature huge video arcades and diversions such as roller coasters and other rides. The choices for shows and events have also diversified, and it’s easy enough to find entertainment suitable for families.

Las Vegans are here to serve you. If you’re pleased with the service you receive, a small tip is customary.

A tip of 15 to 20 percent is the norm when food or drink is served.

Hotel personnel – $1 to $2 a bag is customary.

Dealers and slot attendants – a small bet is the standard reward.

Showroom maitre d’s – For venues without assigned seating, a tip of $5 to $20 will ensure desired seating.

Taxi drivers/tour guides – taxi drivers usually receive $1 to $2; tour guides receive $1 to $2 per person.

Valet – $2 is the usual tip.

Maid – a $2 tip per day is customary.

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Round the World Tickets: The Ultimate Guide (Updated 2024)

Y ou've probably heard about round the world tickets, a one-stop shop approach to cross-continental flying. But let's be real: it's never been easier to book flight tickets yourself, and round the world tickets are pricey. So why do people book round the world tickets, and are they  actually worth the cost?

The quick answer is, it depends . If you're pressed for time, have a seriously fixed itinerary with many international stops to make, it can be cost-wise. However, if you have a whimsical, budget-conscious trip in mind, or are focusing on just one part of the world, there are cheaper options out there that you should know about  (like finding fares yourself on Skyscanner on Kiwi.com ).

So, here's everything you need to know about round the world tickets, followed by our DIY approach that could save you even more money!

• 1 How do Round The World tickets work?
• 2 How to book a round the world ticket
• 3 What are the restrictions and/or setbacks?
• 4 The alternative: book separate flights yourself
• 5 How to book your own round the world trip
• 6 So, what's the cheapest option?
• 7 A Thrifty Case Study: A Round the World Trip from New York City
• 8 What are the alternatives?
• 9 So, is a round the world ticket worth it?

How do Round The World tickets work?

Round the world (RTW) tickets are flight packages that let you visit a number of destinations around the world for one price. These tickets are offered by airline alliances like SkyTeam, Oneworld, and Star Alliance. All the flights in your itinerary must be served by airlines within the chosen alliance.

RTW tickets require you to select your destinations and departure dates in advance. This means you prepay for the pass and book all of your flights before your trip. Note: you don't have to actually fly “around the world” with these tickets , they're also sold as multi-city flights, continent-based travel, or by miles.

The perk of RTW tickets is the ability to book all flights at once at a discounted price, plus ensures a mass accumulation of frequent flyer miles since you'll only be flying partner airlines. You can even purchase part or all of your RTW ticket with relevant miles, where permitted.

How to book a round the world ticket

Round the world tickets can be purchased directly with airline alliances or via  travel agents .

Airline Alliances

• OneWorld Alliance
• Star Alliance

Each alliance offers an online trip planner that allows you to put in every stop of your itinerary and get a price quote. It also makes it easy to work around the restrictions of round the world tickets, warning you when your planned route doesn't meet the requirements. All alliances offer online booking, or you can call one of the participating alliance airlines directly.

Travel Agents

• AirTreks (U.S. – our top choice & has 32+ years experience in RTW planning)
• Liberty Travel (U.S.)
• Flight Centre ( Australia , U.K. , Canada )
• RoundAbout Travel (Australia)
• Student Flights (Australia)
• A travel agent local to you

Travel agents have exclusive access to flight deals, plus receive discounts accessible only via their IATA code. They also save a great deal of time and money whilst adhering to your budget and needs. Find an agency that specializes in round the world tickets, so they're aware of the restrictions and can secure the best price.

What are the restrictions and/or setbacks?

RTW tickets often more expensive than a DIY approach (covered later), especially given they exclude budget airlines. Furthermore, there are restrictions to follow, so ensure you've read the fine print. Such restrictions typically include:

• A minimum number of flights to book (typically three), as well as a maximum
• Flights usually must be within the same airline alliance. This can sometimes result in obscure stopovers to stay with partner alliances.
• Restrictions on the direction of travel (e.g. East to West only) and/or requiring you to cross both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans at least once
• All flights must end in the city you started from and connect from city-to-city (i.e. you can't fly into London, then take a train to fly out of Paris)
• A minimum number of stopovers
• Additional surcharges for itinerary changes and/or flying to certain destinations
• Missing a flight in your itinerary could result in the remaining flights being cancelled, even if days or weeks away

Whew! Though there are many restrictions, most will come up when making your booking . Simply use the round the world ticket planners provided by each alliance, put in your desired destinations, and the options and costs will be presented automatically.

The alternative: book separate flights yourself

The value of a round the world ticket depends on the route you're taking and the flexibility needed. More often than not, you'll find it's cheaper, easier, and more flexible to book your own round the world trip online across several bookings using multi-destination flight search engines like Kiwi.com  and Skyscanner . You also can mix and match airlines, and aren't confined by the restrictions that accompany an actual RTW ticket.

Credit card points programs also allow multi-city flight bookings, effectively allowing you to book your own round the world trip via points or a combination of cash and points. You can readily rack up a significant amount of miles just by hitting the minimum spend within a set time. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is our top pick as a beginner card. On hitting its minimum spend, you can earn up to 60,000 points worth $750 – more than enough for an international flight .

Flight deal subscriptions like Scotts Cheap Flights compile discounted airfare to your inbox, based on the desired departure airports. Whilst this doesn't include RTW flights, this could help you cover some of the legs of your trip, as it has majorly discounted international flights departing the U.S. For those outside America, similar services exist in the U.K. ( Jack's Flight Club ) and Canada ( Next Departure ).

The only major drawbacks with booking a RTW ticket yourself is the time and patience needed to make the booking. Additionally, you may end up with frequent flyer miles spread across a variety of programs, without enough miles in any program to use them. Most likely though, you'll come out ahead financially doing it yourself.

How to book your own round the world trip

Kiwi.com  and Skyscanner are the two flight search engines we recommend for booking your own tickets for a round the world trip. They include budget airlines and let you search multi-destination flights, letting you see prices for your entire itinerary at once.

The key difference between the two is that Skyscanner prefers results from partner airlines , while Kiwi.com will always  mix and match airlines (including budget airlines) for the cheapest price . Either booking site can be beneficial depending on your trip, so to get the best price, be sure to compare results and follow these tips:

• Experiment with  the order of your destinations for the best price. Just because a flight is shorter doesn't mean it will be cheaper.
• Experiment with the  dates of each flight . This can be time consuming, but if you're dedicated, you can shave hundreds of dollars off your total cost by simply finding the cheapest dates for each flight.
• Multi-city and  return flights are often better value than booking many one-way flights when they can all be fulfilled by the same airline/alliance. For example, Virgin Atlantic has routes from New York to London, London to Shanghai, and Shanghai to New York, so making one multi-city booking with this single airline will be cheaper than several individual bookings with different airlines.
• Skyscanner prefers partner airlines that can fulfil the entire itinerary you submit, which doesn't always get you the best price on complex itineraries. So if you have a lot of destinations, split your searches into 3-4 destinations at a time . For example, instead of submitting New York > London  > Paris > Beijing > New York as a single search, try searching New York > London > Paris as one search, and Paris > Prague > Beijing > New York as a second search. You don't have to worry about this on Kiwi.com , which always mixes and matches airlines to get the best results.

So, what's the cheapest option?

In our tests, the DIY approach is always cheaper, but it depends on the kind of trip you're taking. Round the world tickets can cost anywhere from $1,500 USD to $20,000 USD . The price varies greatly, and depends on your departure point, number of flights, distance flown, continents flown to, and flight class.

On the other hand, regular flight ticket prices are all over the map, dependent mostly on supply and demand. Sometimes a flight across continents can be even cheaper than a flight within your own country. Since regular flight tickets include budget airlines , sale and error fares , and you can still take advantage of discounts with partner airlines,  booking your own flight tickets has always been cheaper for us .

The only way to know for sure is to compare. Use the links provided in this guide and see what gives you the best result!

A Thrifty Case Study: A Round the World Trip from New York City

As an example, let's find the best price for the following round the world trip:  New York City > London > Paris > Prague > Beijing > Hong Kong > New York City . We want to go in  April and May , and we are booking now in  January . We'll start on Tuesday, April 10, and schedule each consecutive flight for the following Tuesday.

Option 1: A round the world travel agent

Booking with AirTreks also gives you a team with over 32 years of experience in RTW planning, all your tickets in one spot (instead of many confusing separate bookings), 24/7 support, and better routes (less layover time, more baggage, etc.) If you do find a cheaper fare yourself, let them know – AirTreks tells us they're confident they could beat it!

Option 2: A round the world ticket booked directly with airline alliances

Putting in the same itinerary into each of the airline alliances' round the world trip planner gives us the following totals:

• OneWorld: $3,738.86 USD
• SkyTeam: $3,904.28 USD
• Star Alliance: $4,543.84 USD

Not exactly thrifty, and up to 3x the advertised price of the travel agent! True round the world tickets require strategic planning, so using a travel agent's expertise can save you time and money. But let's take a look at booking regular airline tickets yourself…

Option 3: Book your own tickets using Kiwi.com and Skyscanner

Using the Kiwi.com multicity search feature, we enter our full itinerary, and within minutes, we have a variety of options from $1,390 – $1,434 USD .

As we mentioned, Skyscanner usually just shows results from  partner airlines that can fulfill a ticket for the entire route. This route is pretty complex, and it's unlikely one airline alliance could fulfill it all, so let's  break it up .

After half an hour of trying different combinations of multi-city and one-way searches, the cheapest combination I could find for these dates was

• New York City > London > Paris > Prague: $390 USD
• Prague > Beijing: $283 USD
• Beijing > Hong Kong: $119 USD
• Hong Kong > New York City: $493 USD
• TOTAL TRIP COST: $1,285 USD

This is the cheapest option, beating Kiwi.com by only $105. What's going on here? In short, trial and error. The first batch of airlines aren't partners, but Skyscanner sometimes lets you mix and match airlines by using Kiwi.com for booking. And although there are partner airlines to fulfill the rest of the route, Hong Kong Airlines is an independent budget airline with competitive pricing, so it ended up being cheaper to book the flights separately in order to include their fares.

You can take this even further by testing different dates in your itinerary, as well as the order of your flights. As you can see, the process can be time consuming, but a little time rewards you with hundreds or thousands of dollars saved!

What are the alternatives?

Regional flight passes.

While not a round the world ticket in itself, this type of flight pass might be more sensible for your trip, depending whether you'll be flying a lot in one region versus globally. For instance, if you are planning to take more flights around South America than across continents, then you may be better off investing in one of their regional passes (check our guide here ).

Some examples of regional flight passes include:

• OneWorld single-continent passes: available for Africa, Asia, Japan, Australia & New Zealand, Malaysia, South America, Europe, North America, Middle East, South Asian Sub-Continent
• OneWorld multi-continent passes: rather than flying all the way around the world, these passes let you fly in a circle around one smaller area of the world
• SkyTeam regional passes : available for Asia & Southwest Pacific, Africa, Asia, Europe, Greater China, Russia, and USA & Canada
• Independent airline passes in South America : these work within specific South American countries (check our comprehensive list and guide here )
• Qantas Explorer pass : a flight pass for exploring Australia and New Zealand

Building your own stopover

A stopover – that is, an extended layover where you can actually leave the airport for 1 or more days or weeks – can be added for cheap or free to any trip, all by yourself. Our how-to guide here explains exactly how to do this.

Essentially, you find a flight fare that includes a layover, but instead of rushing to your connecting flight, you spend days or weeks in the layover destination, visiting 2 destinations for the price of 1. Whether you go round the world or not, it's a great way to squeeze more travel value out of your flight costs.

So, is a round the world ticket worth it?

In short, for most travellers, the answer is probably no. There are a certain set of criteria where it could be more cost-effective, and some travellers may prefer the ease of having all of their tickets booked in one pass anyway. However, the fixed timing, many restrictions, and high price are likely to be unappealing to those who are seeking a thriftier approach, especially when it's so easy to book yourself for less with Kiwi.com and Skyscanner .

The Thrifty Gist

• Round the world tickets are usually pricier than self-booking, but offer peace of mind and a pre-set itinerary
• A dedicated RTW agent such as AirTreks can save you a lot of time, with the added benefit of 24/7 support, having all of your flights in one place, established airlines with shorter routes, and over 32 years of experience in RTW planning. AirTreks tells us they're confident they could beat the other prices in this post, so if you find a cheaper fare yourself, let them know!
• Round the world tickets can be booked with airline alliances or travel agents, while self-booking regular flight tickets can be booked using the multi-destination features of Skyscanner and Kiwi.com
• Self-booking is usually the cheapest approach to a round the world trip, but can also be more tedious
• Reasons to self-book include the abundance of available error/sale fares , budget airlines, the ease with which self-booking can be done, and that stopovers can easily be added to any trip

Our website contains some affiliate links in relevant areas. This means we get a small commission, at no extra cost to you, for recommending a product we personally use, trust, and own.

trying to fin d the cheapest country to start a Oneworld 4 continent ticket July 2022, it used to be South Africa or Jordan, any update links?

Please send complete information for my round the world travel for 2 – up to a year.

Skyteam RTW tickets are not available currently, and haven’t been since the start of COVID. The Star Alliance RTW business ticket I just booked was half the price of using the DIY method.

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‘Treasure Planet’ at 20: Disney’s Failed Space Odyssey Deserved to Soar

This maligned flight of fancy contains a trove of underrated accomplishments worthy of reappraisal.

By Carlos Aguilar

Retro futuristic sailing ships and dazzling action scenes failed to entice audiences when Disney’s “Treasure Planet” opened in theaters on Thanksgiving weekend 20 years ago.

The interstellar adventure followed an angsty teenager, Jim Hawkins (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), his deceitful cyborg mentor, John Silver (Brian Murray), and a crew of aliens and anthropomorphic animals across dangerous space phenomena and celestial bodies to find riches in a remote location. The stellar voice cast also featured Emma Thompson as the strict Captain Amelia and Martin Short as the talking robot B.E.N.

For the directors Ron Clements and John Musker, who were responsible for some of the studio’s most profitable animated releases including “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin,” this outer space retelling of Robert Louis Stevenson’s seminal novel “Treasure Island” had been a beloved brainchild for 17 years before its fateful release in 2002.

Over the five-day holiday weekend, the space odyssey took in only $16.7 million at the domestic box office, on a budget of $140 million, as well as plenty of unfavorable reviews. Analysts scrambled to determine the cause of such a cataclysmic financial disappointment.

Some experts considered it a casualty of an oversaturated family market (“Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” and “The Santa Clause 2” were still occupying screens), or perhaps it was a victim of a self-serious marketing campaign with a troublemaker animated protagonist.

At the time, the Variety critic Andy Klein praised the visuals as up to the “studio’s best,” but felt the “film’s total appeal may be undercut by a script that rarely feels inspired.” Roger Ebert wasn’t taken with the adaptation, writing that “pirate ships and ocean storms and real whales (as opposed to space whales) are exciting enough.”

Other experts thought of it as further proof of young viewers’ resistance to animated features in the science fiction genre after the stumbles of “Titan A.E.,” released in 2000, and “Atlantis: The Lost Empire,” which debuted in 2001. And still some blamed video games for having captured the attention of preadolescent boys — the perceived target audience. The most concerned went as far as to suggest that Disney should rethink its entire investment in animation. (As we now know, the studio didn’t yield, but two decades later its $180 million sci-fi saga “Strange World” stumbled on the same weekend, bringing in only $18.6 million this past Thanksgiving.)

Despite the troubled history of “Treasure Planet,” this maligned flight of fancy contains a trove of underrated accomplishments worthy of reappraisal. Both its technologically advanced visuals and the poignancy of its interpersonal conflicts make it a bright anomaly in the constellation of early 2000s animation that deserved to soar.

Told in a world where 18th-century designs and futuristic stylization collide, this is the story of a teenage hero evolving from a boy into a man. Constantly straddling the line between the old and the new, in form and in narrative, Musker and Clements steered the literary classic into the new millennium and beyond the stars.

The interstitial essence that defines the film is also reflected in the craftsmanship behind it. An unsung triumph of technical innovation, “Treasure Planet” marked a turning point in the use of 3-D computer graphics in Disney animated features.

The veteran animator Glen Keane’s work on John Silver highlighted this transition. The pirate’s body was animated by hand while his bionic arm came to life via computer-generated imagery.

Most of the characters, with the exception of the robot B.E.N., were hand-drawn and inhabited virtual sets conceived through a process known as “deep canvas,” which allows artists to draw detailed 3-D environments, for a striking hybrid aesthetic.

A sequence where the main vessel, RLS Legacy (named after Robert Louis Stevenson), must traverse a dangerous supernova serves as imposing example of one of the many instances in which this visionary combination of modern tools and old-fashioned handmade animation astounds. The traditionally animated sailors face the realistically rendered fiery supernova as it becomes a black hole for an action-packed set piece full of interplanetary explosions.

Among the final Disney productions to implement substantial 2-D components, “Treasure Planet” was caught between the past and the future of animation.

By the early 2000s, the advent of 3-D computer graphic animation as a preferred cost-cutting approach over hand-drawn animation had begun to take hold with competitors like DreamWorks, who found success with the Oscar-winning “Shrek,” or Blue Sky Studios, with its box-office hit “Ice Age.”

Outside of its irreplicable conception, “Treasure Planet” also tapped into adolescent woes that powerfully spoke to many teens because it treated the flood of emotions young people grapple with as legitimate. The hero here was rough around the edges.

For their intergalactic coming-of-age tale, the directors turned Hawkins into a rebellious 15-year-old with a braided rat tail who surfs the skies on a solar-powered board. His father left when he was a child and his loving but worried mother can’t seem to get through to him. To find himself and mature, this brooding heartthrob must leave on an epic quest.

Back when it hit theaters, observers may have deemed this version of Jim an unsympathetic lead, but it’s precisely his temperamental attitude, defiance toward authority and guarded vulnerability that make his unconventionally heroic character profoundly relatable.

Though not a musical, “Treasure Planet” features a touching montage to the tune of the singer’s John Rzeznik’s “I’m Still Here,” a song written for the film, that bridges Hawkins’s abandonment trauma and his burgeoning relationship with Silver, a figure filling that paternal void.

That aching search for validation — the need for a flawed role model to tell you how proud they are of you — comes across with a deep emotional maturity in Musker and Clements’s passion project, written with Rob Edwards.

Months after its disastrous stint in cinemas, “Treasure Planet” received an Academy Award nomination for best animated feature, an accolade that, according to reports , came as a surprise to those at Disney. The worldwide gross was a meager $109.5 million. That it was met with disinterest in its time is a tragic outcome for one of the most indelibly out-of-the-box efforts Disney has ever produced.

Still underappreciated but not entirely forgotten among those who would discover it on home video growing up, the movie embodies the pioneering spirit of honoring, but still surpassing, what was done before in order to reach new heights.

That’s what Hawkins and his band of extraterrestrial misfits are after, and exactly what the pair of seasoned storytellers that brought them to life did with the source material, warts and all.

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We deliver stress-free dream vacations. Since 2012, Me and The Mouse has created unique, memorable, and affordable vacation packages for travelers and their families. This includes Universal Studios , Disney Land , and other destinations. As certified vacation planners, it’s our job to make sure your trip is magical, stress-free, and special.

1. Fun for Everyone

Our travel agents create and organize trips that include fun for the whole family. Thrill rides? Shows? Food? A themed cruise? Let us know what you’re looking to do!

2. A+ Communication

Your agent will be with you throughout the vacation planning process (which can take weeks if not months!). Any questions, our team is here to help.

3. A Personal Touch

Our team has actually been to these locations not once, but multiple times. Whether it’s a stay at Universal, Disney, a cruise, or a resort, we know the ins and outs of each adventure.

4. Travel Planning

A destination vacation shouldn’t be a burden. Our agents are here to help you plan your trip and make sure you’re not second guessing your packing and logistics.

5. Affordably Magical

We understand that a trip can be a major burden on household expenses. It’s our priority to make sure we plan adventures that fall within your budget and match (and exceed!) your expectations.

6. Discover Together

Our agents at Me and The Mouse Travel appreciate feedback from travelers. This helps us create unique and comprehensive travel packeges for you and other families. See our Guestimonials .

We know Disney . We want to know you.

As Authorized Disney Vacation Planners , our FREE vacation planning services are compensated by our suppliers and we guarantee to save you money, time, and stress. We are dedicated to providing you a memorable and magical vacation where no detail is overlooked.

Ready to plan your Disney vacation? Get in touch with our knowledgeable travel specialists today.

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Have you ever wanted to step inside the magical world of Harry Potter, or see the stories of Dr. Seuss come to life right before your eyes?

Our dedicated travel agents who specialize in Universal Studios can help you plan the vacation of a lifetime. From choosing the best resort and dining experiences to live entertainment and specialty tours, we can handle every detail in the planning process from start to finish.

The Happiest Blog on Earth

Comparing Princess Meals at Walt Disney World

4/2/2024 • Blog , Walt Disney World • For families with little girls, booking a princess meal at Walt Disney World is high on the must-do list but with multiple princess meal options – which one is best suited for your family? Cinderella’s Royal Table is located in Cinderella’s Castle. Hosted by Cinderella, you will have your family picture taken with her as you wait to be seated. After heading upstairs, other Disney princesses stop by your table to visit, allowing for pictures and autographs. For those with a dining package, this meal will cost two table service credits per person. Without a dining package the cost per person will be one of the more expensive meals on property. As this restaurant is small in seating capacity, you may need to be flexible with your preferred dining time. Located in Epcot, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is wonderful choice. This meal features multiple princesses that visit your table. At […]

Top 5 Activities for Adults-Only Trips to Walt Disney World

3/26/2024 • Blog , Walt Disney World • Going to Walt Disney World on an adults-only trip is an experience that must be enjoyed by all Disney fans. While you may miss the children for a few moments, there are some great experiences that you must try with your significant other or best friends. Here are some of my favorite activities on an adults-only trip. Jellyrolls – A dueling piano bar located on the Boardwalk, Jellyrolls is the place to hang out with your friends and enjoy top entertainment. With 2 piano virtuosos taking requests from the audience, grab a drink, make a request, and sing along for an evening filled with fun. Be sure to get there early for a seat as the bar fills to standing by 9pm each night and bring along small bills to give the players for those musical requests. Disney’s Tours - Touring Disney’s parks behind the scenes allows guests to see […]

Discover Paradise at Sandals’ Newest Resort: Dunn’s River

3/22/2024 • Blog , Sandals & Beaches • Welcome to Sandals' newest gem, Dunn's River Resort, where indulgence meets natural beauty in perfect harmony! I got lucky enough to experience this resort firsthand and I’m in love! In fact, I’ve loved it so much, I moved this blog to the top of my list to write and share with you. This resort has dethroned all the others as my favorite and we aren’t even halfway through our stay here as I sit writing this in its adorable coffee shop, Blum. And I can confidently say this as I have now been to every resort in the Sandals’ portfolio, and many other non-Sandals properties. This resort is nestled along the pristine shores of Ocho Rios, Jamaica. A haven of luxury and tranquility awaits discerning travelers here. Whether you're seeking a romantic getaway, an adventurous escape, or simply a rejuvenating retreat, this resort promises an unforgettable experience that exceeds all […]

Designing a Walt Disney World Trip Tailored to Your Family

3/13/2024 • Blog , Walt Disney World • Have you dreamed of your first trip to Walt Disney World but have put it off because the planning process is overwhelming? We won’t fool you – there is a lot that goes into proper planning of your trip unlike any other Disney destination. These basics will help you understand the big steps and the timeframe in which they should be completed in order to take advantage of all that Disney has to offer. Unlike most traditional travel agents, this is what the Travel Specialists at Me and the Mouse do! We know the ins and outs of the Walt Disney World Resort, and we are here to help you through the planning process! Me and The Mouse has received the distinction of being an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and is known for our impeccable service. Our goal is to exceed your expectations with our customized planning to compliment the […]

Embarking on the Ultimate Disney Springs Adventure

3/12/2024 • Tips , Walt Disney World • Let’s embark on a journey into the enchanting world of Disney Springs—a hidden treasure at Disney World often overlooked by first-time visitors. Consider this your Disney Springs 101 lesson, where we'll navigate through its dynamic history, diverse geography, culinary wonders, shopping extravaganzas, and the latest in entertainment. Lesson 1: The Evolution of Disney Springs Our journey commences in 1975 when Disney introduced Lake Buena Vista Village, originally envisioned for on-property residents. Fast forward to 1989, and the area transformed into Pleasure Island, catering to adult nightlife. Over the years, it underwent several name changes, eventually becoming the beloved Downtown Disney District in 1995. The most recent transformation occurred on November 18, 2010, giving birth to Disney Springs—a themed town inspired by a twentieth-century waterside town. Lesson 2: Navigating Disney Springs Disney Springs is divided into four distinct themed areas: -The Landing -The Marketplace -The Westside -Town Center Each area contributes […]

Splash of Romance Package – Virgin Voyages

3/5/2024 • Cruises • Virgin Voyages is a cruise line like no other! Beautiful ship spaces, incredible entertainment, and unforgettable experiences - Virgin has something for everyone! On all voyages, a select number of ‘Splash of Romance’ (SOR) packages are available to add-on to your voyage! This is a $350 value, for only $200. It’s an amazing deal, and one we will likely add on to our next voyage too. Here are all this amazing package has to offer: - Priority check in and boarding. Not quite Rock Star, but not ‘regular’ either. Quick, separate, and ready to sail! - Exclusive wristband - used to identify you for those special perks on board! We arrived about 20 min earlier than our assigned ‘check in time’. It was no issue. Signage allowed us to verify our status at the appropriate location, and they ushered us straight to check in. From here, we were given expedited […]

Our Clients Love Us

This is the second time we booked everything with Amy and WOW! She nailed it from start to finish. I cannot express how easy she makes the process. She knows it all, from the parks to the resorts and even character dining and other "things to do" We talked about everything from which attractions to visit first, down to the best place to get a stroller for our 4-year-old. She thought of EVERYTHING-was available any time I had a question and the care package we received was a magical "it's almost time" gift for my kids. Amy made our trip a breeze and I cannot say enough great things about her and the work she does. We WILL be returning again soon and we WILL be booking our trip with Amy! <3

Elizabeth, we want to thank you so much for planning such an amazing family vacation. Every detail was taken care of which allowed us to just relax and enjoy our time together as a family. We had so much fun that we are already talking about our next trip. All the tips and suggestions you had were spot on and the trip couldn’t have gone smoother. We will definitely be using Me and the Mouse again!

Becky Roland

Amy has amazing service!!! Answered all of my newbie Disney questions and made sure our first time was a complete success. Very thankful and will be referring to all of our friends!!

Sarah Garcia

We have taken our oldest son to Disney a few times before, but this was our first trip using Tressa and our first trip for our two youngest children. We are clients for life!!! Tressa planned the perfect vacation for our family. Every dining reservation, fast passes, and meet and greet was planned perfectly to make the most of our time there. No stress, planning, or worry for us. She had a million tips and suggestions to make our vacation magical. Thank you Tressa for planning our perfect trip!

Andrea Perry

We used Amy for our family vacation, we booked it just a couple of weeks before our trip as a last minute surprise for our family and she was able to get so many reservations that I thought would be impossible! She was so quick to answer any questions, offer great advice and the help with fast passes/dinner reservations, etc was AMAZING! Made our vacation so easy and effortless and we had so much fun! We will definitely use her again and again!!

Misty Nolan

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Moscow’s new suburban rail lines dramatically improve commutes!

The first two of the five lines of the MCD were launched November 21: the MCD1 line goes to Odintsovo (west) and Lobnya (north), while MCD2 to Podolsk (south) and Nakhabino (west). These towns are some 20-30 km from Moscow, and are inhabited by hundreds of thousands of people traveling to Moscow on business each day.

Vladimir Putin at the opening of the MCD.

Both lines cross over with central Moscow stations, as well as those on the outskirts. You can change over to the Moscow Central Circle or the metro (there is a total of 27 stations where you can make the switch). These changes allow for getting to and from the city center much faster and more conveniently than commuter trains.

Why does Moscow need the MCD?

The MCD will add to the function of the commuter trains, easing part of the daily burden experienced by those lines, as well as reduce car traffic in and out of town. The MCD runs every 5-10 minutes with only a four-hour break at night. The reason the new trains are referred to as Diameters is that they travel not just to Moscow’s main intercity stations, but also from one city on the outskirts of Moscow all the way to another one situated at the other end. 

The service runs similar to an ordinary Metro, from 5:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Directions are available in English, so you won’t get lost.

One important change you must remember is the Aeroexpress trains to Sheremetyevo airport now run differently than before: now one ride from the Belorussky railway to Sheremetyevo will take 50 minutes - instead of the usual 35. Also, on the way from the airport, Belorussky railway will no longer be the final stop - Odintsovo will. But there will also be a few new stations that cross over with the regular metro - in the Moscow City district, on Begovaya, Fili and Kuntsevskaya. All of these interlink with the regular metro.

New internet-capable trains

The MCD trains - in accordance with the Russian custom with giving names of birds to every new train route - will carry the name Ivolga (Russian word for “Eurasian golden oriole”). The carriages are outfitted with bike racks, luggage and stroller compartments, power sockets and USB chargers with every seat, as well as free Wi-Fi - as is the case with all of Moscow’s urban transport. 

39 trains are currently operational.

Free transfers!

Prior to the MCD appearing, passengers wanting to switch between city and suburban trains had to buy separate tickets. The MCD greatly simplifies the process: now you simply need to use your Troika card at the MCD ticket stalls. There are two tariffs - city (38 rubles, or $0.6) and regional (45 rubles, $0.8; meaning cities just on the outskirts of Moscow - not the entire region). If you need to go further afield into the Moscow region, beyond the MCD, then your Troika card will be charged an additional $0.35 (23 rubles) to transfer to the ‘elektrichka’ (electrical commuter trains). 

Switching between MCD and metro trains is free for a 90-minute window, irrespective of the tariff. However, if you don’t check out of the station at the exit stalls, your Troika card will be blocked, and require around $2.30 (150 rubles) to unlock. 

You can also pay via Apple Pay, Google Pay, Mastercard PayPass and Visa PayPass. 

Will there be other ‘diameters’?

Several more MCD are slated to launch before 2025 - the MCD3 (from Ramenskoye to Zelenograd), MCD4 (Zheleznodorozhny to Aprelevka) and MCD5 (from Domodedovo to Pushkino). Right now, the passenger load of the first two Diameters is estimated at 900,000 per day. All five Diameters will serve more than 330 million Moscow passengers every year. 

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Wonderful World

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A boutique travel firm dedicated to crafting authentic, tailor-made experiences for the curious at heart.

The Virtuoso Difference

As an independent affiliate of Departure Lounge , one of America’s most innovative travel agencies, we are part of the prestigious Virtuoso network, an invitation-only consortium of the top 1% of travel providers globally. We’re able to provide you access to a world of Virtuoso insider privileges, exclusive rates, and VIP benefits when you rely on us to plan and reserve your trips worldwide. 

As lifelong travelers, we combine decades of personal experience with a diverse network of first-class Virtuoso partners and suppliers to create meaningful trip itineraries for our clients around the world - from the cobblestone streets of Siena to the snow-dusted peaks of New Zealand's Southern Alps. 

We love to collaborate with you to design immersive, transformative, stress-free journeys.

Relationships are central to our vision: we provide personal, customized attention, along with added value.

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Dreaming of an island escape? A perfect honeymoon without the stress of planning? A family trip with lots of moving parts? Or do you need to book a resort, hotel, or cruise and want VIP treatment with extra savings and perks?

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At WWTA, we believe in the unique, intrinsic value of travel: to create memories, to inspire and change you, to interrupt the routine of ordinary life and reconnect you to the people you care about.

We delight in introducing you to the out-of-the way pub, the little-known museum, the quaint medieval village... the places you can reach only by dinghy or bike, the corners of the world where you get to know the locals and maybe even make a friend for life.

What are you waiting for? There's a wonderful world out there! Reach out and we'll help you explore the possibilities!

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