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Disney MaxPass at the Disneyland® Resort

On July 19th, Disneyland® Resort will launch a new service called Disney MaxPass inside their parks!

Disney MaxPass combines two popular Disneyland® Resort services to help your day in the parks be as magical as it can be.

  1. Disney PhotoPassDisney MaxPass gives you unlimited downloads of all your Disney PhotoPass photos from your day in the park. This includes photos taken on select attractions, during select Character dining experiences, and even all normal and Magic Shots taken by Disney PhotoPass photographers.
  2. Disney FASTPASSDisney MaxPass also enables mobile FASTPASS booking and redemption times via the Disneyland® app. No more walking over to the attraction – simply make a FASTPASS selection (subject to availability) using the app and then scan your code at the entrance when it’s time to experience the attraction!

Current attractions using Disney FASTPASS service include:

  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
  • California Screamin’
  • Goofy’s Sky School
  • Grizzly River Run
  • Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!
  • Haunted Mansion
  • Indiana Jones™ Adventure

  • Matterhorn Bobsleds
  • Radiator Springs Racers
  • Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
  • Soarin’ Around the World
  • Space Mountain
  • Splash Mountain
  • Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
  • Toy Story Midway Mania

Disney MaxPass will be offered for an introductory price of $10 a day (additional pricing options available for Disneyland® Resort Annual Passholders) and can be added in advance or once inside the park. The option of using the existing Disney FASTPASS service at the kiosks is still available at no additional cost.

Contact your Magic Maker® for more details!

You  are strongly advised to check the day’s FASTPASS ticket availability and other Park details before purchasing Disney MaxPass or using a Park ticket with Disney MaxPass as FASTPASS tickets for your preferred attractions may not be available at the time of purchase or use. FASTPASS tickets are limited and availability is not guaranteed. FASTPASS tickets may be obtained only while you are in the Parks and may not be available for entertainment through Disney MaxPass. An experience that does not have Disney FASTPASS® availability at a kiosk will not be available using Disney MaxPass. The Disney MaxPass benefit will expire at the end of the day or when the Passport it is associated with expires, as applicable. Disney MaxPass is nonrefundable, nontransferable, may not be redeemed for cash and is subject to other restrictions. Price, terms, entitlements, attractions and entertainment are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Passholders who purchase the Disney MaxPass benefit may not use the value of any separate ticket media toward the purchase price of Disney MaxPass.

Disney PhotoPass service is subject to the PhotoPass terms. Online registration required. Disney PhotoPass Photos captured during the day your Disney MaxPass is used or during the validity dates of your Passport, as applicable, must be linked to your Disney account and may be downloaded pursuant to the expiration policy. Not responsible for missing, lost or damaged photos. Downloads are restricted to personal use by Disney account holder only and may not be used for a commercial purpose. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

Message, data and roaming rates may apply for the Disneyland app. Availability subject to handset limitations and features may vary by handset or service provider. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first.

Disneyland® Park Announces New ‘Fantasmic!’ Viewing Options

On July 17, 2017, Fantasmic! will return to Disneyland® Park after a brief hiatus due to adjacent park refurbishment to celebrate its 25th Anniversary. Guests wishing to end their day at “The Happiest Place on Earth” by enjoying a performance of Fantasmic! will have several options to reserve a space.

Fantasmic! will continue to use Disney FASTPASS® Service in a process similar to that currently used for World of Color. The viewing area will be divided into reserved and stand-by viewing for each scheduled performance.

Reserved viewing areas are exclusively for those guests holding a FASTPASS® for that performance. These can be obtained in two ways:

  • FASTPASS® Distribution – Beginning each day at park opening, Fantasmic! FASTPASS® Distribution will begin on a first-come first-served basis on Big Thunder Trail in Frontierland. Your Fantasmic! FASTPASS® will be marked with the assigned showtime, suggested return time and your preassigned viewing section.
  • Fantasmic Dining Packages – Several dining options are now available including a 3-course dinner at the Blue Bayou Restaurant or River Belle Terrace or an on-the-go option from Hungry Bear Restaurant. Pricing varies by location. See below for more details

Stand-by viewing will continue to be offered in selected areas while space permits.

Fantasmic Dining Package Options

Blue Bayou Restaurant

Includes choice of starter, entrée, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage from prix fixe menu. Price is $65 for adults, $25 for children (age 3-9).

River Belle Terrace

Includes choice of starter, entrée, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage from prix fixe menu. Price: $45 for adults, $25 for children (age 3-9)

River Belle Terrace – Premium 8:00p Seating

Includes choice of starter, entrée, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage from prix fixe menu and you’ll be able to stay at your seat to watch the first performance of Fantasmic! from the outside patio where you’ll be seated!
Price: $60 for adults, $40 for children (age 3-9)

Hungry Bear Restaurant Fantasmic! On-the-Go Package

Includes choice of entrée and natural soda or for kids choice of entrée and bottled water, juice box or milk.

Price: $29.99 for adults, $19.99 for children (ages 3-9)

Please contact your Magic Maker® for more details.

Separate theme park admission is required. One (1) Fantasmic! FASTPASS® ticket will be distributed per package. Each person in the party must purchase a dining package in order to obtain a ticket. Tickets are valid only for the designated show time on the same day as the dining experience. Packages and tickets may not be refunded, redeemed for cash, exchanged for a different date or time, or sold. Early and late arrivals will not be accommodated. Some reserved viewing areas feature standing room only, with special accommodations available for Guests with disabilities. Fantasmic! may be cancelled due to technical or weather issues without notice. Cast Member and Annual Passholder discounts may be available. Children must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older for the duration of dining and viewing. No refunds or exchanges will be available, even if the show is cancelled. All information is subject to change without notice.



Travel Tip: Why Should You Get Travel Insurance?

When you think of a dream vacation, you may think of warm weather, palm trees, relaxing on a sandy beach – all while making special memories with your family and friends. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it?

When you’re planning your vacation, no one likes to think about all the “what ifs.” The world is full of things you can’t control! Unexpected sickness or injuries. Hurricanes. Snow storms. Travel delays. Involuntary termination or layoff. There’s a long list of unforeseen things that may try to get between you and your getaway, and unfortunately there’s no way to stop them from occurring. But, travel insurance can help you reduce the financial impact of these mishaps!

Here’s a video showing a little more about how Travel Insurance works:

Please note: Coverages, benefits, limitations and exclusions vary for each insurance plan. Because every situation is different, your Magic Maker® may advise you to contact the insurance provider directly for clarification on any specific questions you may have.

Contact your Magic Maker® today to add Travel Insurance to your Vacation!

The purchase of Travel Insurance is encouraged but is not required in order to purchase any other travel product or service offered to you by Off to Neverland Travel®.

Breaking The Myths – Age Is Just A Number

Today, we are continuing our “Breaking the Myths” series by covering the topic of “age.” When it comes to a Disney Vacation, there is truth in the adage that “age is just a number.”

  1. Myth: My kids are too young/old
    As parents, you understand how quickly time flies and how precious each and every second is that you are able to spend with your children. How are they graduating Kindergarten when it seems like just yesterday they were born? Disney Destinations have an unexplainable way of making magical memories out of the simplest things. While your 8-month old may not remember the big smile on her face when she met Mickey, you certainly will! As an added bonus, children under age 3 receive free admission inside the parks of Walt Disney World® Resort and Disneyland® Resort, so it is a great time to save on your vacation.  And when you children grow older, they don’t outgrow Disney, their focus just simply shifts towards more fast-pace attractions like Rock ‘n Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™.
  2. Myth: Disney Vacations are only for kids
    Walt Disney was quoted as saying “You’re dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway.” With that being said, it should be no surprise that Disney Destinations aren’t just for kids. In fact, there are so many things to do that several authors have written a book strictly on things adults can enjoy on their Disney Vacation. So whether it is a romantic dinner at Victoria & Albert’s in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, an adult-exclusive itinerary with Adventures by Disney® or a relaxing day at Serenity Bay on Disney Cruise Line private island, Castaway Cayyou will have a great time!
  3. Myth: Disney Parks have no rides for babies/toddlers 
    Disney Destinations makes traveling with little ones easy. Many of the attractions are family friendly and will accommodate your little travelers. For most of those more intense attractions, a Rider Swap option is available that allows guests to take turns waiting with those too small to ride a certain attraction, then “swap” with another adult from their party to experience the ride without standing in line twice. And when it comes time to take care of the little one, Baby Care Centers are available offering private rooms with rocking chairs for nursing mothers, diaper-changing rooms and rooms with highchairs.

And here is where your Magic Maker® steps in. We’ve not only visited the Disney Parks countless times ourselves, but we have helped take the stress out of planning vacations for families just like yours for over nine years now! Regardless of age, there is something for EVERYONE at any Disney Destination, so just call on your Magic Maker® to help uncover that hidden treasure!

Breaking The Myths – Disney’s FASTPASS® and FastPass+ Services

It is no surprise that as the use of social media increases, the amount of myths or “half truths” also increases. As an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, Off to Neverland Travel® receives questions every day from our clients asking for clarification on a wide range of topics related to their upcoming vacation.

Today we are going to provide some clarification on Disney’s FASTPASS® Service at the Disneyland® Resort and Disney FastPass+ service available exclusively at the Walt Disney World® Resort. Since it’s debut in 1999, Disney’s FASTPASS® Service allows guests to skip the wait of the normal queue at select attractions inside the theme parks. If the guests decide to utilize the FASTPASS® Service, they will be given an hour-long time to return and experience the attraction with little to no wait. In 2013, Walt Disney World® Resort introduced Disney FastPass+ service which allows guests to schedule similar hour-long return windows 30-60 days in advance of their visit.

  1. Myth: You have to pay to use Disney’s FASTPASS® Service
    While other theme parks charge their guests for similar services, both Disney’s FASTPASS® and Disney FastPass+ services are complimentary for all park guests! At the Disneyland® Resort, you’ll just simply use your theme park ticket to retrieve your FASTPASS® from the machine. At the Walt Disney World® Resort, you’ll use My Disney Experience to schedule your FastPass+ in advance and then utilize your MagicBand or park ticket to access the attraction at your selected time.
  2. Myth: At Disneyland® Resort, you can obtain more than one FASTPASS® at a time
    Guests are able to get several FASTPASS® tickets during a single day in Disneyland® Park or Disney California Adventure® Park. However, they cannot immediately obtain multiple FASTPASS® tickets. While you typically have to wait 2 hours, it sometimes varies. Your current FASTPASS® ticket will always list the time you can obtain your next. There are sometimes select attractions that you are able to “double up” on FASTPASS® tickets, so be sure to ask your Magic Maker® about those.
  3. Myth: Don’t worry about the time listed on the FASTPASS® or FastPass+, you can return at any time after what is listed
    While at one point this was true, it is no longer the case. FASTPASS® and FastPass+ return times are now being strictly enforced with little to no exceptions made for being late. Guests a few minutes late will typically be admitted, but we suggest you stick to your scheduled time!
  4. Myth: You are only able to get (3) FastPass+ per day
    When you are making advanced FastPass+ choices for the Walt Disney World® Resort, you will be limited to up to (3) selections in your choice of (1) park per day of your stay. However, each day of your visit after you have used your first (3) selections, you are able to choose a 4th selection based off of what is currently available in the system. Then after using that 4th choice, you may repeat that process and continue to make (1) additional selection as availability exists. So while initially you are limited to only (3) selections, it’s possible to make more during your visit.

This is just the first of a series of “Breaking the Myths” articles. We hope you will follow along with us!

‘Frozen – Live at the Hyperion’ VIP Experiences

Because of the popularity of the new Frozen – Live at the Hyperion show at Disney’s California Adventure® Park, three new VIP experiences have been added to help guests have a little extra Frozen fun before the curtain rises!

Each of the three packages will provide access to a Frozen-themed celebration prior to the live show. This celebration takes place in Stage 17 and features:

  • A shave ice treat
  • A beverage station with a selection of beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages
  • Three photo op locations from the wintry world of Arendelle
  • A gallery of original art designs from the Frozen – Live at the Hyperion stage show
  • A Magical Snow Moment that invites you to join in a magic spell to summon Elsa’s ice powers

Click below to explore the three different packages:

Frozen Pre-Show Package

Frozen Pre-Show Package

Package Includes:

  • Frozen-themed celebration (details above)
  • Priority seats for Frozen – Live at the Hyperion

Cost: $49 per person, plus tax

Frozen Pre-Show + Lunch Package

Frozen Pre-Show + Lunch Package

Package Includes:

  • Delicious 3-course Prix Fixe Lunch at Carthay Circle Restaurant
  • Frozen-themed celebration (details above)
  • Priority seats for Frozen – Live at the Hyperion

Cost: $99 per adult and $79 per child (ages 3 to 9), plus tax and gratuity

Frozen Signature Dining and Behind-the-Scenes Package

Frozen Signature Dining and Behind-the-Scenes Package

Package Includes:

  • Frozen-themed celebration (details above)
  • Priority seats for Frozen – Live at the Hyperion
  • Guided Backstage Tour after your showing of Frozen – Live at the Hyperion
  • Delicious 4-course Prix Fixe Dinner at Carthay Circle Restaurant

Cost: $299 per person, plus tax and gratuity

Availability is limited, so contact your Magic Maker® today to book your Frozen – Live at the Hyperion VIP Experience!

Separate theme park admission required and is not included in the package price. Space is limited and advance registration is required. Full payment is due at time of booking and cancellation policies apply. No discounts. Subject to restrictions and change or cancellation without notice.

50 Years of “it’s a small world®”

Saturday, May 28, 2016 is a very special day for Disney Parks! 50 years ago that day, the it’s a small world® attraction opened to the public at Disneyland® Park after its debut at the 1964 World’s Fair.

Throughout its time, it’s a small world® has touched and inspired hundreds of millions of people. We’ve collected a few videos below that explain the optimism and hope this timeless attraction was designed to share.

Creation of a Classic

It all started in 1963 when Walt was asked by Pepsi-Cola to create an exhibit for the upcoming World’s Fair that would salute UNICEF and children around the world. The result was it’s a small world®, a boat ride attraction that entertained more than 10 million visitors with a trip through different regions and countries of the world during it’s 2-year run in New York City.

This video shares a brief overview of the attractions past – both at the World’s Fair and once relocated (and enlarged 33%) at its permanent home in Disneyland® Park in 1966.

Disney Legend and former Imagineer Rolly Crump was part of the it’s a small world® project from the very beginning and has some very fond memories of his peers and the creation of the attraction.

The Iconic Song

The original concept for it’s a small world® featured dolls that would sing the national anthems of the various countries throughout the voyage. When that idea turned out to be a cacophony, Walt Disney turned to Academy Award®-winning composers The Sherman Brothers (Richard M. and Robert B.) to create a simple, yet catchy song for his new attraction that could be translated and sung in many different languages. The finished product – “It’s A Small World (After All)” – became one of the most famous and perhaps the happiest of Disney tunes.

Over 50 years later, that song continues to be an “earworm” to people around the globe as it is the most translated, most performed song in the World!

A Quintessential Disney Parks Experience

In 1964 Walt Disney introduced “the happiest cruise that ever sailed” and ever since Imagineers have worked hard to maintain this quintessential Disney Parks experience. In addition to the original attraction that is now inside Disneyland® Park, guests can also experience it’s a small world® at the Magic Kingdom® Park (Walt Disney World® Resort, Florida), Tokyo Disneyland®, Disneyland® Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland®. And since 1992, the attractions cheerful anthem has been heard somewhere on the planet every hour of every day!

Extreme care has been taken by Imagineers to maintain the ride’s unique theming and message through the updates over the years.

 We hope you enjoyed our look back at this Disney icon and agree that it is “a small world after all!”

By |2017-06-27T10:21:23-05:00May 27th, 2016|Categories: Disneyland News|0 Comments

‘World of Color’ Dining Options at Disney California Adventure® Park

For years, Disney California Adventure® Park has offered different options for their World of Color Dining Packages available at Carthay Circle Restaurant, Ariel’s Grotto and Wine Country Trattoria. Now, guests can choose from a new Dessert Party option as well!

The new package gives guests the opportunity enjoy a sparkling dessert party while enjoying the World of Color nighttime spectacular from a reserved viewing area. It’s a great way to end your day!

World of Color Dessert Party Details

Package includes:

  • Dessert selection (like Dulce de Leche-filled cookie, Mickey Coconut Macaroon, a selection of fruit and artisanal cheese) served with sparkling beverages (sparkling wine and sparkling cider)
  • Reserved seating at Paradise Park in the World of Color preferred viewing area

Package Pricing:

$79 (includes tax and gratuity)

World of Color Dining Package Details

The existing World of Color Dining Packages continue to be  available at Carthay Circle Restaurant, Ariel’s Grotto and Wine Country Trattoria.

Package includes:

  • 3-course (starter, entrée and dessert) full-service meal selected from a prix-fixe menu from one of three participating restaurants, plus a non-alcoholic beverage
  • One voucher that reserves your spot in the World of Color preferred viewing area at Paradise Park

Package pricing: (excludes tax, gratuity, and alcohol)

  • Ariel’s Grotto (no characters)
    • Dinner: starting at $48.58 for adults, $26.98 for children (ages 3-9)
  • Wine Country Trattoria
    • Lunch: starting at $34.55 for adults, $22.66 for children (ages 3-9)
    • Dinner: starting at $48.58 for adults, $26.98 for children (ages 3-9)
  • Carthay Circle Restaurant
    • Lunch: starting at $44.29 for adults, $23.76 for children (ages 3-9)
    • Dinner: starting at $66.96 for adults, $27.01 for children (ages 3-9)

Contact your Magic Maker® for reservations!

Advance reservations suggested as availability is limited. Pricing is subject to change without notice. Pricing does not include cost of admission which is required for all packages. Please note that World of Color can be cancelled due to technical issues without notice. Dinner packages will not be refunded.

First Look at Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters

A brand new attraction is racing into Cars Land at Disney California Adventure® Park!

Opening March 7th, 2016, Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters will dance away to upbeat Italian Music straight from Carsoli, Italy. Each car will have its own personality and signature dance moves, so every ride will be different than the ride before! Check out the details in the behind-the-scenes Walt Disney Imagineering video below:

The addition of Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters to Cars Land marks the first Disney attraction in the United States to operate off of a trackless ride system! We can’t wait to check it out!

(©Disney/Pixar)

Our 15 Favorite Highlights from 2015

Wow! Is it just us, or did 2015 fly by?

From new dining locations to reimagined spaces, there’s been no shortage of exciting changes at Disney Destinations throughout 2015. Once again this year, we tasked our Magic Makers® with deciding their favorite highlights from Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney World® and Disneyland® Resorts. It wasn’t easy, but here they are:

Top 15 Favorite Highlights from 2015

  1. There’s no questioning the popularity of Chef Mickey’s restaurant inside Disney’s Contemporary Resort! Last May, Brunch was added to the location’s offerings giving our guests a greater opportunity to dine with Mickey and his pals.
  2. Every little girl dreams of being a princess. A recent refresh of the Disney Dream has made room for a brand new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique providing royal makeovers for girls ages 3-12 and swashbuckling transformations for all on Pirate Night.
  3. The former Downtown Disney® area of the Walt Disney World® Resort is full of excitement as it transforms to the new Disney Springs™. After construction is complete later in 2016, the amount of shopping, dining and entertainment venues will double! The first of the new dining locations, The BOATHOUSE®, opened in April 2015 and offers upscale waterfront dining and rides on some awesome dream boats from the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s.
  4. Garden Grill Restaurant at Epcot® is often referred to as the “rotating restaurant” that hosted Chip ‘n Dale’s Harvest Feast for dinner. Now, those nutty pals have extended hours to include both Breakfast and Lunch! There’s no better way to start you Epcot® day than with a helping of Chip’s Sticky Bun Bake!
  5. One of the most popular shows at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® received a refresh and recently reopened as Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple. Just like before, the stage show teaches young Padawans (ages 4-12) how to use the Force to challenge the Dark Side. After training, Knights will come face-to-face with Darth Vader or a new villain, the Seventh Sister Inquisitor from the popular Disney XD series Star Wars™ Rebels.
  6. Also part of the recent refresh of the Disney Dream was the addition of a new Force-filled area in Disney’s Oceaneer Club (ages 3-12). Kids are transported to a far away galaxy at Star Wars™: Millennium Falcon, where the legendary spacecraft becomes an out-of-this-galaxy play area inspired by the Star Wars™ saga.
  7. MagicBands were introduced several years ago at the Walt Disney World® Resort as an integral part of the MyMagic+ system. Since then, on property guests have been able to choose from standard colored MagicBands that were included complimentary in their package or purchase some specialty ones from various retail locations. Now, guests are able to design their own MagicBands at one of the MagicBand on Demand stations. With the launch of this program, the often-requested band color purple was introduced as a retail option.
  8. A brand new stage show debuted just last month aboard the Disney Magic. “Tangled: The Musical” immerses its audience in Rapunzel’s fairytale world through lavish production numbers and spellbinding music. This is the first time this beloved Disney tale has been adapted for the stage and has received great reviews from our guests.
  9. As part of its recent renovation, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort added Villas and Bungalows to their accommodation options. Built as part of the Disney Vacation Club portfolio, the 360 Deluxe Studio accommodations (sleeps up to 5 guests) and 20 over-the-water Bungalows (sleeps up to 8 guests) deliver the spirit of the South Pacific along with some fun Disney touches to guests staying on a cash basis as well.
  10. Our guests are going WILD over the newest dining option at Magic Kingdom® Park! At the Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen, you’ll experience “World Famous Jungle Cuisine” in one of several unique dining rooms, including a crew mess hall and a once-hidden secret meeting room of the famed Society of Explorers and Adventurers. Staffed by infamous Jungle Cruise® Skippers, this is a meal you won’t soon forget!
  11. Not been to Disney Parks in a while or wish you would have picked up that souvenir you saw on your last trip? The new Shop Disney Parks Mobile App lets you choose from thousands of popular Disney Parks products and have it delivered right to your door! You’ll find the Shop Disney Parks Mobile App available for download in the Apple App Store℠ or Google Play™.
  12. To celebrate the latest Star Wars™ movie, Disney’s Hollywood Studios® has introduced “Symphony in the Stars: A Galactic Spectacular” fireworks. The night sky above the park erupts with impressive fireworks that are set to the most dramatic and memorable Star Wars themes of all time, including selections from Star Wars™: The Force Awakens.
  13. As part of the Disneyland® Resort 60th Diamond Celebration, Disneyland® Park introduced a new nighttime parade called “Paint the Night.” This after-dark spectacular was inspired by the iconic ‘Main Street Electrical Parade.’ Full of vibrant color and more than 1.5 million brilliant LED lights, the parade features special effects, unforgettable music, and energetic performances that bring beloved Disney and Disney●Pixar stories to life.
  14. Last March, the Be Our Guest Restaurant inside Magic Kingdom® Park started offering breakfast service. With the popularity of the location, this quick-service breakfast can be a great way to get inside and check it out.
  15. Both Disney’s Hollywood Studios® and Disneyland® Park have added new ways for you to experience Star Wars™! Star Wars™ Launch Bay takes guests into the Star Wars™ saga with special exhibits and peeks behind-the-scenes, special food and merchandise, and even opportunities to encounter Chewbacca and Darth Vader! It’s stellar fun in a galaxy not-so-far away!

Now that we’ve told you our favorites of 2015, what are yours?

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