Off to Neverland Travel

Even though Magic Kingdom® Park opened its gates on Oct. 1, 1971, the official dedication ceremony wasn’t held until weeks later on Oct. 25. As one would expect, the ceremony was quite the event. While the entire hour and a half ceremony was truly something to remember, one of the day’s highlights was the Grand Opening Parade!

Take a step back in time with Forrest Bahruth, Show Director for Walt Disney World® Resort, as he gives us details on that amazing day 42 years ago today.

This week Walt Disney World® Resort celebrated the grand opening of their 12^th resort in the Disney Vacation Club Family. As a neighbor to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa bring the same lush accommodations, Victorian elegance and amazing location Disney guests have come to adore.

Sharing the same monorail loop as another Disney jewel, Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is an exciting new addition to both the Disney Vacation Club and Disney’s Deluxe monorail resorts.

From Deluxe Studios that sleep five guests, to 2 Bedroom Villas that sleep up to nine guests, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa’s lavishly appointed accommodations are full of charm and elegance, evoking Palm Beach’s golden era.

Not just a resort to lay your head down at night, as a guest at The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa you are right at Senses – A Disney Spa at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.  You can both relax and rejuvenate yourself in this full service spa and health club with the same beautifully appointed Victorian-themed elegance that you will experience throughout The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

Now is the best time to experience the newness of The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and all that a Walt Disney World® Resort vacation has to offer. Contact your Magic Maker® today to experience the magic of a Disney vacation!

When Prince Eric’s Village Market opened last month inside the New Fantasyland® area of Magic Kingdom® Park, it made available a wide selection of healthier snacks and juices. Located across from Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid attraction, the market makes obtaining “better for you” choices even more convenient – and many are included as snacks on the Disney Dining Plans!

Selections available at Prince Eric’s Village Market include:

• Simply Orange®, Minute Maid®, Honest Ade® and Odwalla® Juices
• Frozen Lemonades and Shaved Ice
• Fresh Fruits & Vegetables
• Hummus & Chips
• Dried Fruit and Trail Mixes

Fantasyland® isn’t the only area in Magic Kingdom® Park to offer healthy options, though. From the baked sweet potatoes available at Liberty Square Market to the fruit smoothies at Auntie Gravity’s, finding a nutritious snack will be easier than you think!

New magical makeovers are now available for our young guests sailing on the Disney Dream®! These mini-makeover packages are similar to but not as extensive as those found at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League at Disney Parks or aboard the Disney Fantasy®.

There are two different experiences – a Glitter & Go that has a Princess theme and Skulls & Scurry which is Pirates themed.

Glitter & Go

• Glitter & Go Package ($14.95) – Sparkle like a Princess with the perfect amount of glimmer and glitz. Package includes:
  • Light Makeup
  • Shimmering Lip Gloss
  • Face Gem
  • Hair Twist with Mickey Hair Clip

Skulls & Scurry

• Basic Skulls & Scurry ($14.95) – Package includes:
  • Eye Patch
  • Earring
  • Scar
  • Bandana
• Empress Skulls & Scurry ($14.95) – Package includes:
  • Shimmering Makeup
  • Eye Patch
  • Earring
  • Bandana
• Deluxe Skulls & Scurry ($34.95) – Package includes:
  • Smokey eyes
  • Beard
  • Eye Patch
  • Earring
  • Sword
  • Bandana
• Deluxe Mermaid ($34.95) – Package Includes:
  • Luminous Eye Makeup
  • Eye Patch
  • Earring
  • Bandana
  • Color changing necklace

These magical makeovers are only available for limited times during select days of your sailing and appointments are not accepted, so be sure to check your Personal Navigator for more details. To participate, guests must be at least 3 years old. The Glitter & Go experience is limited to guests ages 3-12. For additional information, please contact your Magic Maker®.

Children must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age or older during the experience. Subject to restrictions. All pricing, package components and accessories are subject to change without notice.

One of our guests’ favorite things about the Downtown Disney® Area at the Walt Disney World® Resort is the great selection of dining options that are available. Starting next month, that list of options will be growing!

Beginning in early November, four new Disney Food Trucks will start serving guests in Downtown Disney® West Side. Open Wed. through Sun., the trucks will offer different menus themed after the four Theme Parks of the Walt Disney World® Resort. Locations and some of their offerings include:

Fantasy Fare Truck – “Delightful Dishes from Disney’s Magical Kingdoms Around the World”

• Hand-dipped Corn Dogs (from Disneyland® Resort)
• Croque Monsieur with Housemade Chips (from Magic Kingdom® Park)
• Glass Noodle Salad with Chicken and Pickled Veggies (from Hong Kong Disneyland®)

World Showcase of Flavors Truck – “The Best of the Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival”

• Lobster Rolls (from Hops & Barley)
• Pierogies and Kielbasa (from Poland)
• Grass-fed Beef Sliders (from Florida Local)

Superstar Catering – “Favorite of the Stars of Disney’s Hollywood Studios®”

• Spinach and Feta Beef Meatball Sandwich
• Turkey Sausage and Golden Raisin Meatballs on Polenta
• Lamb Meatball Flatbread with Tzatziki

Namaste Café – “Tasty Explorations from Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park”

• Irresistible Butter Chicken
• Slow-cooked Beef Short Ribs
• Tandoori Spiced Shrimp

Guests on one of the Disney Dining Plans can utilize (1) Quick Service entitlement per entree.

Update: Due to some challenging weather encountered during the Transatlantic trip, the initial sailing on Oct. 20th has been canceled. The ship’s first sailing is now set for Oct. 25th.

After spending a little over a month in dry dock at Cadiz, Spain, the Disney Magic® is on a Transatlantic voyage to Miami where it will relaunch on Sunday, Oct. 20th Friday, Oct. 25th!

Back in April, Disney Cruise Line® announced a long list of enhancements that were coming to the Disney Magic®. As it nears the shores of the Florida, crews are putting the finishing touches on some of those exciting enhancements.

Enjoy this video of Disney Magic® Assistant Cruise Director Carly Scott as she tells us about some of the changes you’ll find onboard:

Are you ready to set sail? Contact your Magic Maker® today for more information on Disney Cruise Line® sailings.

This November, Walt Disney Animation Studios will again be drawing us to theatres with buckets of popcorn and cups of soft drinks in hand for their next animated feature, Frozen. In Frozen, we will be taken on an epic journey with Anna of Arendelle, Kristoff and his sidekick reindeer Sven to save their kingdom from eternal winter.

Now, as only Adventures by Disney® can do, you can embark on an epic adventure across Norway. You will follow the footsteps of Walt Disney Animation Studios filmmakers as you experience the stunning landscape, quaint villages, and extraordinary people that inspired their creation of Frozen.

Adventures by Disney®’s Norway: Fjords, Bergen & Olso itinerary is a result of a carefully crafted partnership between Adventures by Disney® and Walt Disney Animations Studios.

Adventures by Disney® is known to give you so much more than a sightseeing vacation. With Adventures by Disney® you find yourself in the middle of a first-hand adventure where you experience the landscape, people and cultures of your destination; with plenty of VIP experiences and amazing accommodations to accompany your adventure.

Norway: Fjords, Bergen & Olso adventure is no different. After beginning your adventure in the storybook village of Bergen you’ll visit Fjord County where you’ll encounter local storytellers, fishermen and farmers as you explore the beauty and heritage of this Scandinavian region.

The adventure continues as you raft down Norway’s picturesque rivers, learn the art of Norwegian folk dancing and even cast your net on Lake Loen for trout.

Whatever your adventure is, Adventures by Disney® has an itinerary perfect for you and your family. Contact your Magic Maker® today to see what adventure lies ahead for you!

It’s mid-October which means Halloween is only 15 days away!

It should be no surprise to hear that the Disney Villains have taken over the Disneyland® Resort for Halloween Time! To celebrate the devious of all holidays, guests can find their favorite baddies through Oct. 31 in the Halloween Carnival at Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree which is included in regular theme park admission. Also, the Villains will be in attendance at the separately-ticketed Mickey’s Halloween Party which happens select nights inside Disneyland® Park.

Take a peek at this behind-the-scenes video that shows just what happens when the Villains take over the Disneyland® Resort!

Over the weekend, additional details were announced on what will be the largest expansion in the history of Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park.

The main part of the expansion comes in the form of a new land inspired by James Cameron’s AVATAR. This new area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park will bring the mythical world of Pandora to life for guests to enjoy. From soaring through the sky on a Banshee to exploring a rainforest at night full of bioluminescent plants, this is guaranteed to be an experience unlike any other.

Additional components of the expansion include all-new entertainment experiences as the park expands their operational hours into the evening. Planned experiences include a night version of Kilimanjaro Safaris® Expedition, new live entertainment on Discovery Island®, and a nighttime spectacular around and above Discovery River to bring a magical end to the day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park.

Plans call for the expansion to be complete in 2017. Off to Neverland Travel® will bring you more details as they are announced.