Disney News

As we glance into the rear view mirror and see 2012 fading into the distance, we can see the fullness of 2013 looming through our windshield. As the excitement of what 2013 has to offer begins to take shape, so do our plans for celebrating the arrival of the New Year!

Thankfully, Walt Disney World® Resort has some fantastic things in store for guests who will be visiting on New Year’s Eve! Whether you will be visiting one of the theme parks or looking to bring in the New Year in Downtown Disney® or elsewhere, there are plenty of ways to celebrate!

Three of Walt Disney World® Resorts four theme parks will have special celebrations planned for guests on December 31^st. The star of the celebration in Magic Kingdom® Park is the Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks, a special holiday treat, which will happen at 11:50pm! Magic Kingdom® Park will be open from 8:00am to 2:00am!

In Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ you’ll find The Mulch, Sweat and Shears New Year’s Eve Spectacular; four concerts sets featuring pyrotechnics and special effects! At 12:00am it will be time for the “Lights, Camera, Happy New Year” fireworks accompanied by Mulch, Sweat and Shears! Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ will be open from 8:00am to 12:00am (with Extra Magic Hours until 3:00am)!

Epcot® will be featuring two performances of IlllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, at 7:00pm and 11:42pm. Throughout the night guests can celebrate and dance to music spun by DJ’s who are at select pavilions throughout World Showcase. Epcot® will be open from 11:00am to 1:00am.

DisneyQuest® Indoor Interactive Theme Park will be holding a party of its own from 8:00pm to 1:00am! The celebration at DisneyQuest® Indoor Interactive Theme Park includes a DJ Dance Party, character meet and greets, access to all of the games and attractions, festive party favors and a special confetti drop at midnight!

Disney’s BoardWalk Entertainment District will even be hosting their annual special-ticket New Year’s Eve party from 8:00pm – 2:00am with a video DJ, countdown and limited viewing of Epcot’s® fireworks.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways around Walt Disney World® Resort to bring in the New Year! If you already have plans to be at Walt Disney World® Resort be sure to check with your Magic Maker® for exact time and ticket requirements. If you are still looking for a way to celebrate the arrival of 2013, we are here to help your magical travel dreams come true!

Today, the new Splitsville Luxury Lanes open in the Downtown Disney® West Side at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida. Off to Neverland Travel® was at Splitsville for a special preview back on December 5th and we must say that we’d score it a perfect 300!

Splitsville Luxury Lanes is not your typical hometown bowling alley. The venue, which has an upscale retro style to it, has 30 lanes and several pool tables spread throughout its two-story 50,000 square feet space including outside patios overlooking Downtown Disney® . In addition to the bowling, guest will enjoy some amazing food! In fact, the food is so good, it will leave you wondering if you came to bowl or eat!

Their menu features a variety of higher-end offerings like mahi mahi with “Voodoo” Shrimp, filet sliders, hand-tossed pizza, their special burgers and grilled chicken parmesan. Also, two Sushi Bars are available where guests can watch the chefs prepare their selections. Five bars are spread throughout the location serving beer, specialty cocktails, and some frozen specialty drinks.

Along with the waitstaff, Splitsville also has “lane concierge” who are responsible for delivering shoes and bowling balls to your lanes prior to your arrival. In addition to the more than 60 flat screen TVs, Splitsville will feature live music seven nights a week!

It is important to note that on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, the second floor (which has 20 lanes) will be exclusively for guests ages 21+ after 10:30 p.m.

Let the good times roll!

(click to enlarge images)

Christmas is quickly approaching! As many of us are heading out to the malls this weekend to finish our holiday shopping, the VoluntEARS at the Walt Disney World® Resort are focusing their attention on those in need.

This year nearly 35,000 toys, which were donated by Cast Members and the Walt Disney World® Resort, were given to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Toys program.  The brand new toys, games, books and plush dolls will help spread some holiday spirit to kids in Orange and Seminole counties. Along with the toys, Walt Disney World® Resort VoluntEARS gave over 7,000 hours of their personal time helping the Marine Corps register families and sort donations.

With these gifts, our Cast Members want to send a message of hope to youngsters by ensuring they have at least one new present to open during the holidays.  – Nancy Gidusko, Director of Community Relations, Walt Disney World® Resort.

The Walt Disney Company has supported the Toys for Toys annual toy drive for more than 60 years. In fact, Walt Disney himself helped design the original Toys for Tots logo that is still used today.

Off to Neverland Travel® was fortunate enough to receive a royal invitation to the Grand Opening Ceremony of the New Fantasyland® Area of the Magic Kingdom® Park. The ceremony, which was held last Thursday, was an event filled with stars, Disney characters and surprises!

The ceremony started with the introduction of the Royal Mistress of ceremonies, Ginnifer Goodwin, who plays Snow White on the hit ABC-TV drama “Once Upon A Time.” She talked about how Disney has held a special place in her heart since she was a little girl and how New Fantasyland® allows her to step into the middle of all those childhood stories.

Ginnifer introduced  pop star Jordin Sparks, who took us on a musical tour of Fantasyland® by singing a beautiful medley of some classic Disney songs, like Heigh Ho, Casey Jr., Under the Sea, and Beauty and the Beast. Her rendition of  these timeless melodies from classic Disney films was simply amazing!

Now, it was time for the dedication. To help, Mickey Mouse and Tom Staggs, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, joined the stage.

Walt Disney once promised that Disneyland, and by extension all of our parks, would never be complete as long as there is imagination left in the world. New Fantasyland® is a spectacular addition to the Magic Kingdom® that delivers on Walt’s promise. We’re thrilled to take guests beyond the walls of Cinderella Castle to discover new worlds featuring iconic Disney characters and stories in ways that are more imaginative, more interactive and more immersive than ever before.” – Tom Staggs, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts

Tom asked Ginnifer to do the honors of dedicating New Fantasyland®.

To all who believe in wishes and dreams.
To all those who are young and young at heart.
And to always believing that once upon a time will end with happily ever after.
New Fantasyland® will always be yours.

Several legends of Disney Animation were also in attendance at the Ceremony. Those guests included Jodi Benson (Voice of Ariel), Paige O’Hara (Voice of Belle), Jo Anne Worley (Voice of the Wardrobe), John Musker and Ron Clements (Directors of The Little Mermaid).

The ceremony ended with some daytime fireworks and the cheers of thousands in the audience as they were showered with confetti. It truly was a Magical event, and Off to Neverland Travel® was honored to be a part of it. Enjoy a few of our photos from the ceremony, along with a quick video overview. To view our complete album from the event, visit our album on our Facebook Page.

By Magic Maker®: Courtney Harris

There is nothing like seeing your child’s eyes light up the first time they walk down Main Street, U.S.A.® Area and see Cinderella’s castle, but vacationing with a toddler can be a stressful experience. It doesn’t have to be though. With a little planning, and the help of your Magic Maker®, it can be an incredible experience that neither you nor your child will soon forget.

The most important thing to remember is try to stick to your child’s schedule as best as possible. Don’t expect them to be able to go full force, from sun up to sun down, and not have a meltdown. If you hit the parks at rope drop, you can get a ton accomplished, and head back to your resort for a midday nap. Even if your child doesn’t normally nap, this is a great way to just unwind and recharge. After a nap or dip in the pool, you can head back out to the parks for dinner and more fun.

If you do find yourself in the middle of a meltdown in the parks, head for the nearest baby care center. Despite the name, these aren’t just for babies. Each park has an air-conditioned facility that has changing tables, rocking chairs, a microwave, and a t.v.  This is a great place for a short break from the stimulation and heat of the parks. They even have “toddler toilets” for children who are potty-training. Be sure to ask your Magic Maker® or check your park map for the location of the baby care center in each park.

Most likely, your child will love meeting all of the characters and getting autographs, but won’t love the long lines and heat. The solution? Book several character meals throughout your stay! The characters come to you at your table while you are dining, to sign autographs and pose for pictures. Reservations for character meals can be booked up to 180 days ahead, and tend to fill up fairly quickly, so be sure to ask your Magic Maker® for help in booking these experiences.

Bring a stroller! Even if you think your child is too old for one, you will be glad you did. The parks are huge and require a great amount of walking, which will quickly tire your child, leaving them whiny and more likely to have a meltdown. If you just can’t bring your own for some reason, rent one. Single strollers are available for rent at each park for $15 per day, or a double can be rented for $31. If this isn’t in your budget, ask your Magic Maker® about renting a stroller offsite and having it delivered to your resort.

Take advantage of Rider Swap for rides that your child isn’t tall enough to ride. One parent can ride alone or with older children while the other parent stays with the younger child. The other parent will get a rider swap ticket that allows them to ride later alone or with the older children, without having to wait in line again. This will really maximize your time and allow you to experience more rides throughout the day.

Pack lots of “distractions” in your park bag for those short attention spans. Whether you’re waiting in line for a ride, or waiting for your food to be delivered at a restaurant, being prepared with a coloring book and crayons, a small matchbox car, or even bubbles, can be a life-saver. If you have a smart-phone or iPad, these can serve as great distractions too.

Last, but certainly not least, remember to have fun and enjoy the time you are getting to spend with your child! You may not be able to do and see everything with a toddler in tow, but you will definitely make lasting memories for you and your child.