Disney News

During The Year of a Million Dreams, guests of the Disney Parks have the opportunity to win one-of-a-kind dreams and experiences.  Winning is simply a matter of being in the right place at the right time.  While the celebration is winding down, you still have a chance of winning throughout the rest of 2008.  Off to Neverland Travel® owners, Chet and Joni McDoniel, recently spent their vacation at the Walt Disney World® Resort, and they were the recepients of a Disney Dream.  Here is their story:

“While waiting in line for Turtle Talk with Crush, we were greated by three Disney Dream Squad members.  They explained to us that we were simply in the right place at the right time, and we were winners of a Dream FastPass.  The Dream FastPass, unlike normal FastPasses, gives you the opportunity to visit each of FastPass attractions, in the park where you won, once during the day you won, at a time of YOUR choosing.  We felt very special to have won a Disney Dream, and while Dream FastPasses do have great time saving value, our 6 month old found a new value in winning…apparently, those Dream FastPasses sure do taste good as you can see in the picture above!”

Want your chance to win a Disney Dream?  You need to get your trip booked with us as soon as possible!  Click here to start planning your Walt Disney World® Vacation.

Birthdays, anniversaries, personal triumphs – there’s so much in life worth celebrating! So starting January 2009, you can celebrate all of life’s milestones at the place where dreams come true.

Guests who visit one of the Theme Parks at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida or Disneyland® Resort in California on their birthday in 2009 can get in free.*

What if I’ve booked a package with tickets from Off to Neverland Travel®?
If you purchase a vacation package that includes a multi-day ticket that you use on your birthday, you can choose one of the following birthday treats instead:

• A birthday fun card in an amount equal to the price of a Walt Disney World Resort 1-Day Magic Your Way Base Ticket** or a Disneyland Resort 1-Day/1-Park Ticket** for you to use on your birthday for merchandise, recreation or fun activities, as applicable, at select participating locations at the Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort; or
• A special birthday FASTPASS badge*** for certain attractions at the Theme Park they visit on your birthday; or
• A Walt Disney World Resort 1-Day Magic Your Way Base Ticket* or a Disneyland Resort 1-Day/1-Park Ticket for you to use any time until your next birthday.

So, the question remains…What will you celebrate?  Start planning your vacation, today!

*No cash refunds or credits will be given. Valid ID, including proof of birth date, required at gate or ticket booth. Clients should visit disneybirthdaytreat.com for details and to register their birthday.
**Based on ticket price of Walt Disney World Resort 1-Day Magic Your Way Base Ticket at the gate, excluding tax, or ticket price of Disneyland Resort 1-Day/1-Park Ticket at the Main Entrance ticket booth. Adults receive card in the amount of an Adult ticket, children (3-9) receive card in the amount of a Child ticket. For terms and conditions of the card and details on participating locations and applicable activities and services that may be purchased with the card, visit disneyparks.com/birthdayfuncard.
***The number of birthday FASTPASS badges issued is limited and may not be available after 11 a.m. Valid Theme Park admission required. FASTPASS badge for birthday celebrant and up to 5 members of his/her party.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Disney Vacation Club (DVC) has announced two new properties for the Walt Disney World® Resort.  Bay Lake Tower, which is positioned very close to Disney’s Contemporary Resort will allow for a first in Disney Vacation Club history.  DVC members will now have the option of staying within walking distance to the Magic Kingdom® park.  DVC also announced the Treehouse Villas, which will be a rebuild of some older villas near Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa.  The two new properties will give DVC members even more flexibility in terms of choices for their stay.

You don’t have to be a DVC member to book these resorts.  Contact your Personal Magic Maker™ to learn more about the Disney properties.  Your Magic Maker® will guide you through the process and make sure you get the perfect resort for your family.

Off to Neverland Travel® is pleased to announce a brand new partnership with Disney Community of Tomorrow (D-CoT).  Disney Community of Tomorrow (D-CoT) began with one simple idea: Disney Social Networking. Not only does the site serve the purpose of great Disney information, but you can meet other Disney fanatics and network with them. You can also listen to your favorite Disney theme park music anytime you wish on the D-CoT Jukebox. Stream over 500 songs and create a customized playlist.

In addition to the partnership, you will notice a new section in D-CoT’s forums called “Travel”. Here is where you can post trip planning questions for the Off to Neverland Travel® dream team. We will be happy to answer any questions you have regarding your Disney Vacations.

We are very pleased to be a partner with Disney Community of Tomorrow (D-CoT), and we are excited to get involved with the Disney community in this way.

by Chet McDoniel – Off to Neverland Travel®

The holidays at the Walt Disney World® Resort are celebrated in true Disney fashion, and a Disney vacation for Christmas is a perfect gift for that special someone who wants to experience all the festivities.  This magical time of year is enjoyable by itself, but throw in some Disney magic, and you’ve got “that most wonderful time of year.”  Here is a quick sampling of events during the holiday season at the Walt Disney World® Resort:

• Magic Kingdom® Park – Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – This special after hours event is a magical time when Disney closes the park to a select number of guests.  While it is a “hard-ticket” event, meaning there is an additional cost, it is well worth the price of admission in order to be in the Magic Kingdom® Park for several hours, with low crowds, and with many special activities and events.  A special parade and fireworks presentation can be viewed, hot chocolate & cookies are served complimentary throughout the event, and don’t forget, most of the rides are open.  This is also a great time to catch some special stage shows as well as riding your favorite ride with a greatly reduced wait time.  This event is only run on select nights, so check with your Personal Magic Maker® for details.
• Epcot® – Holidays Around the World and Candlelight Processional – This theme park celebrates the season by having its many countries in the World Showcase exhibit their many unique holiday festivities, stories and wonderful food options.  Also, in the America Gardens Theatre, you have the option of listening to guest narrators, a mass choir, and a full orchestra as they present the Candlelight Processional.  This is a special retelling of the Christmas story, and is a very popular event.  If you wait in the “stand-by” line, you may have to wait for up to 2-3 hours for a seat on busier nights.  Another option to look into is the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package.  For a fixed price (based on the restaurant you choose), you are able to enjoy a wonderful meal, and you’ll get “priority seating” at the show.  This cuts your wait time down quite a bit, but you’ll still want to get in the “Dinner Package” line at least 30-45 minutes before the show.
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ – Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights – Immerse yourself in the joy of the season as millions of blinking, twinkling lights “dance” to a high-energy holiday symphony at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™. See twirling carousels, sparking snowflakes, heavenly angels, majestic trees, twinkling bells, colorful wreaths and Santa with his reindeer in the most over-the-top light display anywhere!  This event takes stage near the back of the park on the “Streets of America.”  It is a very popular event, and can be crowded at times, however, everyone always has a good view.  The “dancing” part of the show happens every few minutes so make sure you stay long enough to see the show.  Also, I recommend not trying to cram Fantasmic! and the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights into one evening.  They are both so great that you should allow multiple nights to see them.
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park – Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade – “Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade” blends the spirit of Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park with the spirit of the season into a holiday offering full of jump, joy and jive! It’s a jinglin’ good time with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Chip ‘n Dale and the gang on parade in their holiday yuletide best.  This is much like the regular parade, however, the fun changes to it for the holiday season are worth viewing.

As you can see, the holidays at the Walt Disney World® Resort are truly a celebration of the season.  So, how do you enjoy these wonderful events?  With a Disney vacation for Christmas, of course!  Start planning your Walt Disney World® trip for this holiday season or next, and you won’t be disappointed.  Disney is the perfect place to be during “the most wonderful time of the year.”