Lowes Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resorts: Tuscany Comfort #FamilyForward

The Family Forward Blogger Retreat at Universal Orlando provides bloggers and their families with hotel, food, park passes, and unique experiences at a significantly reduced price. All opinions are my own.

The Lowes Portofino Bay is one beautiful hotel...

When I travel, I tend to stay at "budget" hotels to save money. And while there is nothing wrong with saving money, I often dream of upgrading to more luxurious accommodations.

So it was a real pleasure when as part of attending the Family Forward Blogger Retreat in Orlando, FL, my family got to stay four nights at the Lowes Portofino Bay, a luxury high-end hotel that is part of Universal Orlando Resorts.

Lowes Portofino is designed in the style of a Tuscan villa in Italy and I was highly impressed from the moment the cab turned on to the lush grounds to the moment we opened the door to our room. The Lowes Portofino Bay is simply a beautiful hotel.

We arrived at the Lowes Portofino Bay three hours earlier than the check-in time and we were prepared for the hotel management to say that our room would not be ready for hours.  So imagine my surprise when the friendly and very orderly check-in staff informed me that our room was all ready and waiting for us - SWEET!!!

Our room was beautiful - large, comfortable and elegant without being fussy. And the bathroom was bigger than my master bedroom at home  - I was in total heaven!

I did not want to move from my shaded lounger...

It did not take long for everyone to change into bathing suits so we could hit one of the three pools at the hotel.  I loved just lounging in the shade while my son had a wonderful time in the pool complete with a fabulous water slide.   And everyone loved the hot tub despite the fact that it was 90 degrees in the shade.  The pool area includes wait service which brings your food order right to your pool lounger and I would highly recommend their chicken tenders which were delicious.

View of the Lowes Potofino Bay by night - beautiful!

The pool by night - with Harry Potter on the big screen!

The pool area is also very busy at night because the hotel shows a Harry Potter movie each night on a big screen projector right by the pool.  It is a great way to end the day.

The Lowes Portofino Bay Hotel is about a 10 minute walk along a beautiful landscaped path from Universal Studios, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Universal CityWalk.  If you don't want to walk (which I would not recommend in the hot sun of the day), the hotel has a FREE boat shuttle.  My only complaint about our entire hotel stay is how slow the boat service is at the busiest times of the day and evening.  I would recommend packing some patience when using this service - and also leaving very early if you need to be somewhere by a certain time.

One of the great things about staying at a Universal Orlando Resorts hotel property is that guests get extra benefits at Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure that are not offered to the general public:

- You can skip the regular lines with Universal Express SM Unlimited ride access in both theme parks – a FREE benefit worth up to $89 per person, per day.

- And you get Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, one hour before the theme park opens.

And even on the days that you don't go to the parks, the Lowes Portofino Bay has temptations of its own with shops, restaurants, and a spa where you can unwind and relax.

I came away from my stay at the Lowes Portofino Bay Hotel relaxed and renewed.  And isn't that what a great vacation is all about?


Enjoy!


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TECH: 5 Must have Technologies when Traveling to Universal Orlando Florida #FamilyForward

Clockwise from top left: Quirky Pivot Power Strip, Samsung Galaxy Camera, Verizon Wireless 4G Hotspot,  Xfinity Wifi,  Universal Orlando smartphone app

These technologies will make your next trip to Universal Orlando a breeze...

If you have been reading my blog for any amount of time, then you know how much I love technology, especially my smartphone. The right tech products make life so much easier.  So when I went on my recent trip to Universal Orlando for the Family Forward Blogging Retreat, I made sure to have the right tech products to make my trip that much more enjoyable.

Here are the 5 technologies that will make any trip to Universal Orlando a pleasure....

Verizon 4G LTE to save the day!

1. Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mifi Hotspot

As part of the Family Forward Conference, all the attendees were given free wifi in our hotel rooms. But it did not take long for everyone to start complaining that the connection was slow. I suspect the problem probably had to do with a conference full of bloggers all logged in at the same time and using up all the bandwidth.

So I was very glad that Verizon loaned me a Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mifi Hotspot to take on my trip to Orlando. Once I hooked it up, all the complaining about slow wifi connections stopped. My son was a happy camper for the reminder of the trip and I could surf the web with data speeds like my cable connection at home thanks to Verizon Wireless.  Verizon 4G LTE is awesome!!!

I take my Quirky on every vacation!

2. Quirky Pivot Power Strip

About 3 years ago, I made one of the smartest bargain purchases of my life when I found the Quirky Pivot Power Strip on sale at Target for only $10. The Quirky is a flexible power strip that pivots to allow you to plug in any size charger without blocking any of the other outlets. Whenever I travel I take the Quirky with me so that I have enough power outlets - no more plugging electronics in the bathroom because we ran out of outlets in the hotel room.

If you don't own a Quirky Pivot Power Strip, you should rush out and buy one immediately!  It is the first thing that I pack for every vacation.

I LOVE this camera!

3. Samsung Galaxy Camera

Last year, I reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Smart Camera (powered by Verizon Wireless) and told everyone that it had me at "HELLO".  Well thanks to an awesome 1-day sale at Best Buy, I bought my own Samsung Galaxy Camera a month ago at a steal of a price and have been taking excellent photos ever since.

I took all the photos during my trip to Universal Orlando with my Samsung Galaxy Camera and even edited them, put them into photo collages, and uploaded them - all by using this one device since it is not only a camera with 21x zoom but also a smart device.

With its full Android OS, I can download apps (like Instagram, InstaPicFrame, Devicce Frame, YouTube, Hootsuite) from the Google Play Store to the device then edit and post my photos to my Social Media accounts - all one this one wonderful smart camera.

4. FREE Xfinity Wifi at Universal Orlando

Last month, I wrote a post entitled 3 Ways to Stay Wifi Connected While on the Go and one of three ways was by using Comcast Xfinity Wifi, which has a network of Internet connections available across the country where Comcast Xfinity customers can connect their devices for FREE to do anything from checking email to streaming a movie.

Universal Studios, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Universal CityWalk provide their visitors with FREE Xfinity Wifi.  And since I and my son had setup our smartphones to use an Xfinity Wifi Hotspot back in Detroit, our smartphones automatically connected to the Xfinity Wifi at Universal the moment we walked into the parks. So while we waited in line, my son was able to stream youTube videos to pass the time for FREE without having to use his data plan - let the frugal travelers rejoice!!!

5. FREE Universal Orlando Smartphone App

Speaking of waiting in line, who wants to wait in a long line when you could be having fun doing something else while on vacation?  That is why if you are going to Universal Orlando, you have to download the Universal Orlando Smartphone App.

The app gives you maps of all the properties, including hotels, restaurants and attractions.  And you can use the app to find out the wait times of all the rides plus the ride height requirements for your kids.  This app makes your smartphone even smarter during your Universal Orlando vacation. The app is available as a FREE download for Apple and Android mobile devices.

So on your next vacation to Universal Orlando Florida, make sure you have the right technology to make your vacation a breeze. We sure did.


Enjoy!


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TRAVEL: Top 10 Things to LOVE about Universal Orlando Florida #FamilyForward

The Family Forward Blogger Retreat at Universal Orlando provides bloggers and their families with hotel, food, park passes, and unique experiences at a significantly reduced price. All opinions are my own.

So much to do, so hard to pick just 10....

From Transformers to Minions, from Spiderman to Blue Man, Universal Orlando has a little something for everyone in the family...

During the long Labor Day holiday weekend, I and my son attended the Family Forward Blogger Retreat hosted by Universal Orlando. We had a wonderful time bonding over Harry Potter, roller coasters, great food, and tons of shared experiences that will make for lasting memories.

From Universal Studios, to Universal Islands of Adventure. to Universal CityWalk, we had so much fun that it is hard to remember everything that we did.  But when I thought back over our adventures, I came up with the following ten things that I loved most about Universal Orlando Florida ----

Me and my son hanging out with Bumble Bee from The Transformers

1. Transformers Ride at Universal Studios

Have you ever been to an amusement park and just fell in love with a ride to the extent that you rode it over and over again and never got bored?  Well that is what happened for me and my son when we rode the Transformers 3D Ride at Universal Studios.  This movie simulator coaster had us believing that we really were part of a Transformers movie.   We loved this ride so much that we road it at least ten times in two days.  I still get goosebumps just remembering how exciting this ride is.  This is a must ride for Transformers fans.

2. The Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios

If Universal knows how to do anything well it has to be simulator rides that make you feel like you are part of the action with the characters.  And The Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios is one of the best 3D simulator rides in the park.  I felt like we were really on a roller coaster with the entire Simpsons family.  And we loved it so much that we went on the ride again and again and again - almost as many times as we rode The Transformers Ride :)

3. Minion Mayhem at Universal Studios

The last time that I visited Universal Studios about seven years ago, the Minion Mayhem Ride was the Jimmy Neutron ride.  So I could not wait to find out how Universal had updated this 3D ride to pay homage to the Despicable Me Minions.   Well Universal did not disappoint because this ride is fun, exciting and packed with more lovable Minions than I have ever seen.  But then again, it is hard to go wrong when hundreds of cute minions are involved, don't you agree?

4. Escape from Gringotts at Universal Islands of Adventure

Harry Potter fans will not want to miss riding Escape from Gringotts at Universal Islands of Adventure.  Universal has faithfully recreated the Gringotts Bank and this 3D simulator ride makes you feel like you are eerily below ground twisting through the bank tunnels just like in the movies.  This was another ride that we made sure to ride more than once. For the die heart adventure lovers, we learned that if you want to feel the real impact of the ride, make sure to ride in the 4th car - so the first steep fall will make your stomach turn :) My son loved this ride so much that when we returned home, he wanted us to watch all the Harry Potter movies again to relive the adventure.

5. Hogwarts Express between Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios

When you purchase tickets to both Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure, you get to ride the Hogwarts Express between the two parks and feel like you are part of the Harry Potter stories. There are 8 riders to each train car and once the doors shut, the images that you see out of the windows are pretty awesome.

See my Instagram video for small taste of Hogwarts ride...

6. The Knight Bus at Universal Islands of Adventure

The Knight Bus is not technically a ride since there is no line and you cannot ride it.  But is a an experience that you don't want to miss.  If you remember the Knight Bus from the Harry Potter movies then you know that it is a triple-decker bus that assists stranded souls in the wizarding community through public transportation. At Universal, you get to talk with the conductor and the Jamaican talking shrunken head from right out of the movie.

Check out my amusing interaction in the 15 second Instagram video of the Knight Bus...

7. The Hulk at Universal Islands of Adventure

True roller coaster fans will love The Hulk at Universal Islands of Adventure.  No simulator here folks. This is a real roller coaster that surprised me by taking off when I least expected it to and then rolling and spinning upside down for a total wide ride that had me in line for another turn.

8. Spiderman Ride at Universal Studios

Ok, who does not love Spiderman?  And the Spiderman ride was yet another great 3D similar ride that Universal does so well.  Helping Spiderman fight crime while getting the feeling that you are going to fall 100 stories to the ground is every Spidy lover's dream :)

9. Jurassic Park at Universal Islands of Adventure 

During the Family Forward conference, we had a private dinner at the Jurassic Park exhibit so I had time to really check out the place in detail.  This exhibit has tons of hands on activities for the kids, lots of life size dinosaurs, and a cafeteria that ended up being my favorite place in the park to eat.

I love a good burger, but I don't always like all the extras that are put on them at amusement parks.  So it was a real joy to find out that the cafeteria at Jurassic Park sells burgers with just a bun and meat and then you get to add anything that you want on top from the extensive condiment selection area.  It was the best burger that I had on my trip to Universal.

10. Blue Man Group at Universal CityWalk

Blue Man Group is a high energy show that is part comedy, part music, and part outrageous. For nearly two hours, the show was a total assault on the senses with loud music, off the charts comedy and lots of flying paint that ended with an over the top finale with lots of toilet paper and 6 foot bouncing balls.  I could not believe how fast the time went by. And how people of all ages were loving The Blue Man Group.

So there are my top 10 things I loved about Universal Orlando Florida. Now it's your turn - What do you love about Universal Orlando?  What are your favorite memories? Leave your top picks in the comments below...


Enjoy!


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TRAVEL REVIEW: Blue Man Group at Universal Orlando CityWalk - AWESOME!!! #FamilyForward

The Family Forward Blogger Retreat at Universal Orlando provides bloggers and their families with hotel, food, park passes, and unique experiences at a significantly reduced price. All opinions are my own.

Seeing the Blue Man Group was the highlight of my son's trip to Orlando

Blue Man Group Orlando is Fun, Exciting, and Great for all Ages...

When I found out that as part of attending the Family Forward Bloggers Retreat over the long Labor Day weekend at Universal Orlando that my son and I would be seeing the Blue Man Group show, I was very excited. I had never seen the Blue Man Group perform live before but I had heard of their high energy show that is part comedy, part music, and part outrageous.

But I did wonder how my 14 year old son (who has a short attention span) would fare during the almost 2 hour show.  Well I should not have worried because he L-O-V-E-D the show as much if not more than I did. I can honestly say that the show is awesome and I could not believe how fast the time went by. And how people of all ages were loving The Blue Man Group.

If you have never been to a Blue Man Group performance then all I can say is you don't know the fun you are missing.  The show started out with hilarious messages flashing across the monitors, one of which reminded us that we would be embarrassed if cell phones and cameras were used during the show, so all my photos that you see in this post were taken during the show's over the top finale which involves lots of toilet paper and 6 foot bouncing balls.

And speaking of embarrassment, don't show up late to a Blue Man Group performance because they have a surprise waiting for an unlucky latecomer that will make you the butt of many jokes.

The show was highly entertaining and was kind of an all out assault on the senses.  The music was loud, the colors were brilliant, the comedy was off the charts, and there was tons of flying paint. My son laughed so hard that I thought he was going to fall out of his seat. And the 3 year old and 5 year old boys sitting behind me were laughing so uncontrollably at times that they actually did fall out of their seats.

It's all about Family...
The Blue Man Group Orlando show likes to make fun of how we tend to use technology to connect online with people instead of connecting with friends and family in real life.  So the overall message of the show is that we get more "happiness hormones" by being in a group together and by sharing group experiences.

Since the Family Forward conference was all about families connecting through shared experiences, this show fit right in to the overall theme that families can bond better by communicating less through smartphones and more through human connections.

For families who come to the show, the Blue Man Group website has added a special page for parents with FAQ's to explain who the show is appropriate for and how to prepare your kids for the show. The website also has links for activities that are inspired by the show's content that families can do after the show. And there are also lesson labs for educators that go into the science and technology that is used during the show.

Can you tell that my son enjoyed meeting the Blue Man Group?

After the show was over, we all were given the special opportunity to meet the Blue Man Group and take photos with them.  I think you can tell by the photo above that meeting the Blue Man Group was one of the highlights of my son's trip to Orlando, so much so that I had to get him a Blue Man Group t-shirt as a souvenir of the evening.

If you will be vacationing in Orlando I highly recommend checking out the Blue Man Group show at Universal Orlando CityWalk -  It will be an experience that you will not forget.


Enjoy!


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REVIEW: VIVO! Italian Kitchen at Universal Orlando CityWalk #FamilyForward #TastyTuesday

The Family Forward Blogger Retreat at Universal Orlando provides bloggers and their families with hotel, food, park passes, and unique experiences at a significantly reduced price. All opinions are my own.

Italian with a "Modern Twist" on the Universal Orlando CityWalk...

During last week's long Labor Day holiday weekend, I and my son attended the Family Forward Blogger Retreat hosted by Universal Orlando.  We had a wonderful time bonding over Harry Potter, roller coasters, and of course great food.

One of the restaurants that we visited as part of the conference was VIVO! Italian Kitchen, located on the Universal Orlando CityWalk, which just opened a few weeks ago. My son is a very picky eater so when I find a restaurant that even he loves, I have to mention it to everyone who loves vacationing in Orlando.

The recent opening of VIVO! Italian Kitchen is part of an expansion of the Universal Orlando's CityWalk which will open 8 new venues before the end of 2014.

What struck me first unto entering the restaurant was how beautiful the decor is.  It has a very clean and modern feel that is also very welcoming.  Even the bathrooms are beautiful and each individual stall has it's on commode and sink.

All the food at VIVO! is made from scratch to order including the very colorful pasta shown in the photo above which restaurant guests can see handmade by the culinary team daily.

We were served family style from a sampler menu of the restaurant's featured dishes including Chicken Parmesan, Lasagna, Grilled Pork Loin, Squid in Pasta with Seafood, and Capellini Pasta with Marinara Sauce.

Everything was delicious. My favorites dishes were the Lasagna and the Chicken Parmesan - both were wonderful.  My son loved the Tomato Mozzarella appetizer and the spaghetti.

And the really great thing about the wonderful food at VIVO! Italian Kitchen is that the menu prices are comparable to the prices for the fast food hamburger and hot dog meals that are served within the parks.

I was able to get a short interview with Meredith Bandy, a member of the Public Relations team for Universal, on what she feels makes VIVO! Italian Kitchen so unique.  Check out what Meredith has to say in my video below:

VIVO! Italian Kitchen is a great family restaurant that gets two thumbs up from our family and I would recommend you check it out when you are vacationing in the Orlando, FL area.  Just make sure to bring a big appetite.


Enjoy!


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