Off to Neverland News

5 Amazing Reasons to Visit Disneyland® Resort

By Magic Maker® Heather Rodgers

Disneyland® Resort is often overlooked and overshadowed by other great Disney Destinations. However after spending time exploring Disneyland® Resort, I wanted to share a few things that make this Disney Destination truly special and worth the visit to Southern California.

5) Characters, characters, characters: As with all Disney Destinations you will see several Disney characters but at Disneyland® Resort the interaction is a little different. If you stay on property, you have a good chance of running into a character in your resort lobby. You just might see Goofy flipping through the park maps in your hotel lobby, Minnie Mouse dancing with a guest or two, or Dale reading a guest’s daily newspaper. In the parks you might see some characters that aren’t always out at other Disney Destinations as often, like the Wicked Queen from Snow White who can sometimes be found hanging out at Sleeping Beauty Castle. Then there is the Storyteller’s character breakfast that often has Nieko from Pochantas and the bears from Brother Bear for you to meet. So much fun!

4)Do you want to see more than Disneyland® Resort? It is easy to spend a few days at Disney Parks and add-on a few other Southern California attractions to make this a truly one of a kind family vacation. You can add on a day or two at the beach, the Aquarium of the Pacific, or Universal Studios Hollywood and more. You can travel a little further south and see Sea World, Legoland, or the World Famous San Diego Zoo. Want to spend more than a day in San Diego, ask your Magic Maker® about adding on a stay in San Diego. Disneyland® Resort and Southern California have more to offer than you might think and your Magic Maker® would love to help you create just the right package.

3) Location, location, location: At Disneyland® Resort you can easily walk from Disneyland® Park to Disney California Adventure® Park in less than 5 minutes. This means park hopping is an absolute breeze! There are 3 Disneyland® Resort properties that are all within a 10 minute walk or less to the parks and several wonderful Good Neighbor Hotel options that also offer the convenience of just walking over to the parks allowing you to maximize your time in the parks!

2) Two words: Cars Land. You know those moments that you just can’t find the right words to describe your emotions? Walking into Cars Land for the first time is just like that. As soon as you see the Cars Land sign, you are transported right into Radiator Springs. You’ll see Sarge’s, Flo’s V-8 Cafe, and Casa Della Tires. You might even get to meet Lightening McQueen or Mater at the Cozy Cone Motel. Go a little before dusk and just wait to see the all the lights come on in Radiator Springs. Be sure to ride Radiator Springs Racers while you are there as that is simply not to be missed.

1) Did you know that Disneyland® Park is the only park that Walt Disney walked in and saw to completion? His legacy and care can be seen throughout Disneyland® Park and you know that it was his attention to detail that makes Disneyland® Resort what it is today. There are a few special moments you can take in while visiting Disneyland® Park that illustrate Walt Disney’s passion for this place. Take a few minutes out of your day to see Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. As you walk into this attraction you will see the very bench that Walt Disney sat on when he conceived of the place that families could go and be entertained together. When you walk past the Fire Station, look up at the center window and you will see the light left on in Walt Disney’s memory. Disneyland® Park has a special and unique feel to it and I truly believe it is because you can sense the legacy and spirit that lives on here.

As you can see there is quite a bit of magic to be found on the west coast, and this is just scratching the surface!

Contact your Magic Maker® today to book your Disneyland® Resort and Southern California family vacation so you can experience the magic for yourself, creating a lifetime of memories together.

By |2017-06-27T10:21:28-05:00May 14th, 2015|Categories: Disney News, Disneyland News, Off to Neverland News|0 Comments

Thankful for Our ‘Family’

At Off to Neverland Travel® our Magic Makers® find a lot of joy in helping make your vacation magical. It is this desire for excellence and passion for Disney Destinations that brought us together; yet it is our time working together that has created a family.

We are truly thankful for our family of Magic Makers®, and to be honest, we think you should know just how awesome they are.

To help you get to know the amazing men and women that make up our Off to Neverland Travel® Magic Maker® team we are excited to launch an ongoing series of posts celebrating the lives behind the magic!

We hope that these posts will give you a more intimate look at just how awesome our team is!

This week, we celebrated with Magic Maker® Jennifer Hyland (TX) as her son’s 5th grade football team went undefeated and brought home the championship! Way to go Hyland Family! The Hyland’s weren’t the only ones celebrating their children this week, as Magic Maker® Courtney Agnello’s (NJ) children brought home two report cards with all A’s! We wouldn’t expect anything else from Courtney’s children! We are truly excited for Magic Maker® Robin Kellogg’s (TX) family as their High School senior is entertaining a lot of great academic and athletic offers for college!

We know many of you experienced the extreme snow that hit Buffalo, NY; for Magic Maker® Lisa Krueger (NY) it was an opportunity to enjoy 4 snow days together with her family! While Lisa was in the snow, Magic Maker® Heather Rodgers was in the middle of an amazing family trip to Hawaii! You’ll have the opportunity to read about her trip soon!

It was also a big week for Magic Maker® Megan Paradiso (NJ) who started a MOMpreneurs group earlier this year; she recently reached 150 members! Megan is striving to help mom’s find a good work/life/mom balance! Magic Maker® Mandy Girven (NC) also had big week as she just started a new position at a private college near her home and Magic Maker® Natalie Corey (AL) found herself busy at a fun and successful neighborhood event, a ladies night sip and shop!

Magic Maker® Julie Paolino (NY) just welcomed a niece into the world, on Mickey Mouse’s birthday! It sounds like we have a new Magic Maker® in the making! Not only was new life welcomed into the world, Magic Maker® Marcie Munoz (TX) celebrated 18 years of marriage with her hubby and Magic Maker® Melissa Ludwig (OR) and her husband just closed on their first house! Magic Maker® Lisa Gillissen (OH) gathered a group together to pack shoeboxes for Project Christmas Child; we are so excited about Lisa’s passion to make a difference in the lives of others!

Professionally, Magic Makers® Clydene Rogers (CA), Tara Radulski (MS), Ginger Carnell (CO), and Kim Bowers (GA) all  reported in with fantastic weeks planning amazing experiences and hearing glowing reports from many of their clients!

And how could we forget to celebrate with Magic Maker® Amanda Harris (TX), whose foster hound hasn’t wet the carpet in days! Now THAT is reason to celebrate!

As you can see, we have a lot to be thankful for in our Off to Neverland Travel® family…and this isn’t even the whole crew!

At the end of the day, we are all real people, with real lives, planning magical experiences for you!

By |2017-06-27T10:21:29-05:00November 27th, 2014|Categories: Off to Neverland News|0 Comments

Adventure is Out There with a Disney Land & Sea Vacation!

By Magic Maker® Melissa Ludwig

Are you ready to experience the ultimate Disney Destination Getaway? Then you are ready for a Disney Land & Sea Vacation! When most people are getting ready to plan a Disney Vacation, they choose one destination, such as Walt Disney World® Resort, or a Disney Cruise Line getaway. Why not combine them for the supreme in relaxation and fun?

Here are some of the options that you could consider for a Disney Land & Sea Vacation:

Walt Disney World® Resort and a 3, 4 or 5-night Bahamian Disney Cruise Line vacation
Walt Disney World® Resort and a 5-night Western Caribbean Disney Cruise Line vacation
Disneyland® Resort and a 2 or 3-night Weekend Getaway Disney Cruise Line vacation
Disneyland® Resort and a 5-night West Coast Disney Cruise Line vacation
Adventures by Disney® cruise vacation packages, including destinations such as The Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, London, Copenhagen, and Barcelona.

…And more! The possibilities are numerous and there is a Disney Land & Sea Vacation to fit a wide range of budgets.

Last year, my husband and I chose a Disney Land & Sea Vacation for our honeymoon, and it was the perfect selection. I had wanted to go to Walt Disney World® Resort, and he was hoping to try a cruise, as he had never been on one before. So, we hopped on a plane to Orlando, spent two full days at Walt Disney World® Resort, transferred from Orlando to Port Canaveral on a Disney Cruise Line charter bus, and then enjoyed a 3-night Bahamian cruise including port stops at Nassau (home of one of the Atlantis Resorts) and Disney Destination’s own Castaway Cay. We could not have had a better time…we each got what we wanted from our honeymoon, and created countless memories to last a lifetime.

So, if you are struggling to figure out a vacation to suit the whole family, look no further than a Disney Land & Sea Vacation, which will truly offer something for everyone. With pre-and post-cruise add-ons, the options are more flexible than ever, and your Magic Maker® is here for you every step of the way to help make this the vacation of a lifetime.

Enter to Win: Cars ‘High-Octane’ Giveaway

Cars LandLast Summer, Disney California Adventure® Park completed a five-year expansion with the opening of Cars Land.

Cars Land takes you right into the cutest little town in Carburetor County, Radiator Springs. You will fall in love with the three new family attractions, Luigi’s Flying TiresMater’s Junkyard Jamboree and Radiator Springs Racers. But the fun doesn’t stop there. Themed food and merchandise options await at Flo’s V8 Café, Cozy Cone Motel and Ramone’s House of Body Art. And you never know what “stars” you will find around town, like Lightning McQueen and Mater!

Can’t make it out to the Disneyland® Resort in sunny Southern California just yet to experience the Radiator Springs? Here’s your change to bring the fun of Disney•Pixar’s Cars to you. One lucky winner will receive a copy of Disney•Pixar’s Cars and Cars 2 on DVD. You’ve got to play to win, so register today!

 

Off to Neverland® Brings the Magic to Your Mobile Device

At Off to Neverland Travel® we have been creating lasting Disney vacation memories for families for five years, providing customized, white glove service to make your vacation dreams come true.

With mobile apps and content becoming an increasingly popular, if not essential, part of life, we are thrilled to introduce a little more ‘magic’ to the mobile world with the release of our exclusive Walt Disney World® Resort mobile itinerary.

Our mobile itinerary is a collision of our free itinerary planning service that is offered when  you plan your trip with Off to Neverland® and the mobile technology that we all embrace. Through the mobile itinerary, you will have your entire itinerary in their pocket, professionally planned by our expert Magic Makers® who are known for creating such whimsical experiences.

Within the mobile itinerary, you will have access to your professionally planned itinerary, including park hours, parade start times, firework show times and daily plans that include personalized tips to make your vacation as magical as possible. In addition, the mobile itinerary app contains all of the important information you need including your vacation package details and your pre-planned dining reservation times, locations and confirmations.

Run into an issue on your trip? No problem! Within the mobile itinerary, your personal Magic Maker’s® contact information is only a few clicks away! Whether you have a question about your professional planned itinerary or need some other form of assistance on your trip, help is at your fingertips.

Never before has a mobile itinerary existed for visitors to Walt Disney World® Resort that blended the technology of today with the expertise of a personal ‘concierge’ that knows your family’s needs and designs your itinerary around it. The stress of planning your trip has come to an end, as the future of vacations through Off to Neverland Travel® has arrived!

 

Visiting Walt Disney World® Resort with Toddlers

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.

Enter to Win: Cars Land Checkered Flag Giveaway

cars giveawayFriday, June 15th, Disney California Adventure® Park will open Cars Land,  re-creating Radiator Springs with many of the familiar landmarks from the Disney●Pixar’s hit animated film Cars.

To celebrate, we have a special giveaway for you. Register to win one of eight (8) sets of Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater 9″ plush toys. These authentic Disney plush will definitely get the ‘motor running’ of your little Cars fan!

Registering to win is simple. Just follow the directions on the app below. The app will also give you an opportunity to receive extra entries into the contest. The contest ends Monday (June 18, 2012, at Midnight Central time), so don’t miss your change to register!

Offtoneverland.com Goes Mobile

Mobile SiteOff to Neverland Travel® is pleased to announce the launch of our mobile site!

This mobile site will allow our guests to quickly access most pages from our normal web-based site in a simple and clean format that was designed specifically for mobile phones. Whether you are planning an upcoming trip or currently vacationing at a Disney Destination, we have the information you are looking for! Our mobile site contains information on resort hotels, dining options, itineraries, current specials, and much more! Plus, you can keep up to date on what’s happening at all the Disney Destinations by reading our blog posts while you are on the go.

We hope that this mobile site will be yet another tool to help the planning process of your magical vacation even easier! More exciting features for the mobile website are in the works, so be sure to keep checking back.

By |2017-06-27T10:23:23-05:00February 26th, 2012|Categories: Disney News, Off to Neverland News|Tags: , |0 Comments

‘Disney Junior – Live on Stage!’ Debuts in 2011

Disney Junior - Live on StageDisney California Adventure® park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ in Florida will celebrate the premiere of Disney Channel’s new multiplatform brand, Disney Junior, with “Disney Junior – Live on Stage!” next year. The lively show in the Parks will debut with new characters, some new adventures and a new marquee.

Children and parents who now enjoy the popular “Playhouse Disney – Live on Stage!” at both Parks can look forward to sharing this new production.  This new show will bring back three favorites: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny and Little Einsteins.  It will also introduces a brand new segment based on Disney Junior’s newest series that will debut in February 2011, “Jake and the Never Land Pirates.”

“Jake and the Never Land Pirates” will air on Disney Junior in February 2011 and will share the magical and adventurous world of Never Land with preschoolers. The story centers around Jake, an enthusiastic young boy who leads a team of kid pirates (Cubby, Izzy, and their faithful pirate parrot, Skully) in fun adventures that will teach teamwork concepts.

Stories from the show will come to life in the Parks with colorful, puppet versions of some of the most popular Disney Junior characters, bright visuals, whimsical scenery that fills the stage, catchy songs and interactive moments.

“Disney Junior – Live on Stage” is scheduled to debut at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ and Disney California Adventure® park in March 2011.

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