Practical Wanderlust

Off-Beat Travel Blog

Take a Virtual Universal Studios tour to escape to Universal Studios for a day from the comfort of home!
Virtual Vacations

Universal Studios Virtual Tour: The Perfect Theme Park Virtual Vacation

Ice-cold butterbeer. Dinosaurs flying over treetops. High-speed roller coasters. We used the power of imagination – and a little science – to create a Virtual Universal Studios tour! Today, you’ll be visiting a magical version of Universal Studios Orlando where no there are no lines or crowds or height restrictions, where everything is FREE and the weather is always perfect. Our virtual vacation includes musical cues, ride videos, park walkthroughs, bad jokes, movie references, a storyline, and plenty of photos to guide your visit, plus tips to make your virtual trip feel totally immersive. Because nature always finds a way… so come along and let’s board the Hogwarts Express to Virtual Universal Studios!

by Lia Garcia 
3 Comments
Take a virtual vacation to Disney World! This complete virtual Disney World tour includes ride videos, musical cues, and park walkthroughs for Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. The perfect quarantine activity idea!
United States, Virtual Vacations

The Ultimate Virtual Disney World Tour: Virtual Vacation to the Happiest Place on Earth

Take a virtual vacation to Disney World! You’ll be visiting the Disney Parks on an imaginary vacation through the magic of a little something called Virtual Travel. This complete virtual Disney World tour includes ride videos, musical cues, and park walkthroughs for Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. Best of all, there are no crowds, no lines, and everything is FREE – practically perfect in every way! So sit back and relax, because we’re now boarding flight 5505 with non-stop service to Virtual Disney World!

by Lia Garcia 
7 Comments
What to pack for Disney: the ultimate Disney Parks packing list (for adults), created by a former WDW Cast Member!
Packing Lists, Travel Tips, United States

What to Pack for Disney (& What NOT to): Ultimate Disney Packing List by a Former Cast Member

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Years ago, when I was a Walt Disney World Cast Member, I didn’t think about what I threw into my bag on my way to the parks. I would just hop on a bus and go have lunch in Epcot or grab a Mickey Bar. Like it was routine. Like it was NORMAL. Oh, how I miss those days! Now that I’m a regular shmuck again, packing for Disney is a STRUGGLE. It’s like packing for a marathon combined with packing for a costume party combined with packing for a camping trip. But with the right packing strategy, you can feel comfortable all day long and save money on unnecessary purchases in the parks! Here’s everything you need to know about the essential gear to bring, what NOT to pack, & budget-friendly Disney packing tips!

by Lia Garcia 
15 Comments
The best Disneyland photography tips, plus creative (& Instagrammable) Disneyland picture ideas to help you capture your next trip! Created by a former Cast Member.
United States, Virtual Vacations

18 Magical Disneyland Picture Ideas: The Ultimate Disneyland Photography Guide

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Disneyland isn’t just one of the most magical places on earth: it’s also one of the most photographed. The Disney Parks regular top lists of the most Instagrammed places in the world, and for good reason – they’re designed to be freakin’ gorgeous! But capturing all of the magic isn’t as easy as you’d think: from harsh sun to crowds of brightly dressed people to that inevitable sticky, sweaty look everyone gets around 4pm, Disneyland photography is challenging. But don’t worry: our photography tips and picture ideas will have you snapping Instagram-worthy shots to capture your Disneyland vacation like a pro, no matter your level of expertise!

by Lia Garcia 
19 Comments
Are you ready to take your Disney trip to a whole new level with our Disneyland Scavenger Hunt?!
United States

The Disneyland Scavenger Hunt & How to Next-Level Your Disneyland Trip

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For years, Lia and I have been longing for a Disneyland Scavenger Hunt that we could play with our game-loving friends and family. We’re the kind of people who get aggressively competitive on game night. Like, Lia once faked an ankle injury during a game of Laser Tag on the streets of San Francisco just to slow down her brother in law, who had teamed up with me on the opposing team. It was the week of our wedding. And for the record, it worked.

We needed something to make our Disneyland trips EPIC. To give us an excuse to DESTROY one another. But sadly, we couldn’t find a Disneyland Scavenger Hunt that wasn’t either laughably easy (basically glorified games of I-Spy) and/or designed for kids. So, we made our own!  In this post, we’ll be sharing our favorite do’s & dont’s for your next Disneyland trip, plus a taste of our epic 100-point Disneyland Scavenger Hunt.

by Jeremy 
10 Comments
Golden Hour at Cinderella's Castle in Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida
United States

10 Tips for Soothing Your Post Disney Depression (by a Former Cast Member)

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Post Disney Depression is that blue, miserable, nothing-will-ever-be-magical-again feeling you get after you leave a Disney park or cruise. Colors seem more dull. Food tastes less delicious. Nothing is sparkly or exciting. Will anything ever feel good again? Post Disney Depression hit me HARD after my glorious stint as a Walt Disney World Cast Member came to an end. I fell into one of those slumps where it’s difficult to do anything other than lay on the couch under a fluffy blanket and cry a lot and eat soup even though you’re not really sick. But I made it through, and in the meantime, I found some really creative ways to soothe my Post Disney Depression. And if I can do it you can definitely do it! Here are my Former Cast Member tips for beating the post Disney blues.

by Lia Garcia 
19 Comments

LIA WROTE A BOOK

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