Hi, I’m Luke, a Disney, Universal and USA Specialist at Charter Travel with over 10 years experience working in the Travel Industry. Travel is a huge part of my life and perhaps began in the very beginning after experiencing the excitement and thrills of travelling to Disney and Universal in Florida.
I’ve visited Orlando with my family many times staying at many of the different Disney, Universal and International Drive hotels and it’s always just as amazing as the first time we went! More recently my partner and I did a twin centre trip with New York and Orlando (Disney’s Wilderness Lodge) and that was so cool to experience both places in one holiday!
After sailing with Royal Caribbean recently, I caught the cruise bug and now I am loving the opportunity to offer cruising to my clients as an add-on or alternative option with first-hand tips and tricks I have picked up! I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy cruising, but the rooms are next level, and it’s like staying in an epic all-inclusive resort with Broadway-style shows and somewhere new to explore at every port - what’s not to love! I’m already planning my next sailing to the Norwegian Fjords!
One of my favourite trips, and one I love talking about with clients, was my 21st birthday trip through California and Nevada, from Venice Beach to Hollywood to San Diego, finishing in Las Vegas with my partner. We didn’t drive. Instead, we got around like locals on the metro and the Amtrak Surfliner, with a flight to Vegas at the end. We wandered Abbot Kinney, walked the Hollywood Walk of Fame and hopped on the metro to Universal Studios Hollywood and spent the day at Disneyland California. We also enjoyed Mexican food and explored the USS Midway in San Diego, stood on the edge of the Grand Canyon and made our way through the hotels on the Las Vegas Strip, helped by my partner’s mission to collect one chip from every hotel.
One of my favourite things to do whilst in the USA is go to a sporting event: NBA and NFL are my particular favourites and I’ve been to NBA games in New York, Orlando, Miami and LA and NFL games in LA! I also love to play the golf courses in the USA (my favourite is in Santa Monica) and Topgolf in Orlando!
Since I started working for Charter Travel, I have been to Orlando numerous times staying onsite at both Disney and Universal. I have also travelled across the US visiting places such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, New York, Washington, San Diego and Los Angeles.
There are a couple of destinations around the world I want to visit… I’d like to visit Japan, Cancun and in the US I would like to visit Montana (thanks to my love for Yellowstone)
Even if you are terrified of roller coasters you can definitely learn to love them. Before I went to Orlando for the first time, I hated rollercoasters as I really don’t like heights, but my first visit to Orlando for the first time was with Leah’s family so I had to act tough and now after many visits to the Orlando theme parks (and being pressured by my partner and her family) I now really enjoy them.
My favourite Value Disney Resort is Disney’s All Star Movies Resort. I love the big, bright oversized theming here with the classic Disney characters decorating the walls. It is a great base for families exploring the parks. The pools are really good to go relax in after trips out to the parks and you can also watch classic Disney movies in the main pool.
My favourite Moderate Disney Resort has to be Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. I love the theming of this hotel (the traditional Caribbean vibes are so fun) and I love the central location of the hotel. Though my favourite aspect of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is that it is on the Disney Skyliner route so you can easily get to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios!
Choosing a favourite Deluxe Disney Resort is harder as I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the Disney Deluxe Resorts as they all have something fantastic about them. One of my favourites is Animal Kingdom Lodge thanks to its Savanna view rooma which are such a worth-while upgrade! I’ve also stayed at Saratoga Springs which is an amazing hotel with fantastic amenities, and as an avid golfer the addition of the Golf Course at this hotel was a fantastic benefit! I have stayed at Disney's Wilderness Lodge around Christmas time and the decorations were fantastic, but the real show stopper moment at this hotel is upgrading to a firework view room! We watched the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the comfort of our room which was such a magical and unforgettable moment! Though if i really had to pick one Disney Deluxe Resort to be my favoruite, I think I would choose Disney's Polynesian Resort due to the unbeatable location and the Ohana resturant whcih really is one of the best restaurants at Walt Disney World - ideal to keep in mind when booking a Disney holiday with a Table Service Dining Plan!
My favoriuite theme park at Walt Disney World has got to be EPCOT, and my favourite attraction there has to be Guardians of the Galaxy! Last time we visited, my partner and I rope dropped this ride 3 times as we wanted to try and get “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire and “Conga” by Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine for our music whilst on the ride, Luckily, our tactics worked and we managed to get both songs! I also love the World Showcase and for any adult couples I recommend trying to Drink and / or Eat around the world it always ends up being a really fun day.
I absolutely love Loews Royal Pacific Resort, I think it’s a little nostalgic for me as it was the first Hotel I stayed at when visiting Orlando. Growing up I used to go on holiday to Europe a lot and then when I was around 16/17 I visited Orlando for the first time and the hotel was just so different to what I was used to. The added free Unlimited Universal Express Passes when staying at Loews Royal Pacific Resort are obviously a massive bonus!
I love Harry Potter so I don’t have a favourite park, I love all three equally as there is Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure, Diagon Alley in Universal Studios and the Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe. If I had to choose I would go with Islands of Adventure as riding the Hulk ride 7 times in a row with the Royal Pacific Express Passes definitely helped cure my fear of rollercoasters!
What Our Customers Say
Rated 4.9 / 5 Based on 780+ Trustpilot Reviews ★ Trustpilot Rated 4.9 / 5 based on Google reviewsG Google
Your Holiday
Expert knowledge
Trusted
Fully Protected
