Walt Disney World News | Off to Neverland Travel - Disney Vacations

Star Wars Weekends Return to Walt Disney World in May 2012

Star Wars™ Weekends will return the Walt Disney World® Resort May 18 – June 10, 2012. Taking place at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™, the event celebrates the popular Star Wars™ films and the animated TV series Star Wars™: The Clone Wars.

In addition to the Star Wars™ experiences Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ host year round – Stars Tours The Adventure Continue and the Jedi Training Academy – several additional activities are available for guest during the event:

Meet-and-Greet opportunities with many Star Wars™ characters
Autograph sessions with Star Wars™ actors and creative talent
Star Wars™ parades and motorcades
Hyperspace Hoopla – a party that ends the day with music, comedy and dancing
One-of-a-kind Star Wars™ memorabilia

The event runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 18-June 10, 2012 and requires regular theme park admission. We will bring you additional information about Star Wars™ Weekend as it is released.

2012 Brings Changes for the Disney Dining Plan

Many of our clients appreciate the convenience and savings of adding one of Disney’s dining plans onto their Magic Your Way® Package. In 2012, several changes have been made to the plans at the Walt Disney World® Resort.

All 3 plans (plus Quick Service Dining, plus Dining, and plus Deluxe Dining) now all come with a Resort-Refillable Drink Mug for each person on your reservation. This Resort mug allows you to receive unlimited refills of select drinks at any quick-service restaurant at your Disney Resort hotel during your stay.
Several new restaurant locations have been added as table service participants in the Disney Dining Plan. New locations include:

Bistro de Paris – Epcot®
Fultons Crab House – Downtown Disney®
Wolfgang Puck®: The Dining Room (upstairs) – Downtown Disney®
Paradiso 37 – Downtown Disney®
Rainforest Cafe – Downtown Disney® and Disney’s Animal Kingdom®
T-REX Cafe™ – Downtown Disney®
House of Blues® – Downtown Disney®
Bongos Cuban Cafe™ – Downtown Disney®
Portobello – Downtown Disney®

By Off to Neverland Travel|2017-06-27T10:23:33-05:00January 25th, 2012|Categories: Disney News, Walt Disney World News|0 Comments

Disney’s Ultimate Animal Adventure

Deep inside the Pangani Forest, there is an ultimate animal adventure waiting for the guests of Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Park. A special backstage tour, Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Wild Africa Trek, gives participants an up close look at the wildlife inside the popular safari attraction.

While on their 3-hour expedition, guests will encounter wobbly swing bridges, observe hippos and Nile crocodiles from just a few feet away, and take a VIP safari across the savanna. All of this exploring is followed by a sampling of African-inspired foods in a special reception area overlooking the savanna.

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Don’t miss out! Contact your Magic Maker® for more details on making a reservation. Pricing for this unique adventure will vary seasonally.

Please note that Guests must be ambulatory and have sufficient stamina and endurance to experience this walking and climbing adventure. Alternative offerings are available for those Guests who wish to participate in a less physical journey or a wheelchair accessible trek. Participants should weigh at least 45 lbs, but not exceed a weight limit of 290 lbs. The tour may be booked from 180 days in advance and is subject to availability. Cancellations must be made outside of 2 days prior to reservation for a full refund. Theme Park admission is not included but is required to participate in the tour. Minimum age requirement of 8 years old. Guests ages 8-18 must be accompanied by an adult. Dates, times and availability are subject to change. Please confirm park hours on event date. Valid photo ID required for each adult. Lost or stolen vouchers will not be replaced. The tour will occur rain or shine with the exception of severe weather.

By Off to Neverland Travel|2017-06-27T10:23:33-05:00January 21st, 2012|Categories: Disney News, Walt Disney World News|0 Comments

A Historic Day for Main Street, U.S.A.

Yesterday was a very busy and historic day for the Magic Kingdom® Park at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida. President Obama made a visit to the park to unveil a strategy that will significantly help boost tourism and travel. This visit made him only the 4th president to visit a Disney Theme Park while in office. Previous presidents include President Jimmy Carter in 1978, President Ronald Reagan in 1983 and 1985, and President George H.W. Bush in 1991.

Before starting his announcement, President Obama joked that “It’s rare that I get to do something that Sasha and Malia envy me for. Maybe they’ll actually ask me at dinner how my day went.” He also expressed that he was excited to see Mickey as it’s always nice to meet a world leader who has bigger ears than himself.

While the event was invite only, it was still a magical day for all guests at the Walt Disney World® Resort. Extra Magic Hours were added at Epcot®, Disney’s Hollywood Studios™, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Parks. Also, a special “Rock the Night” fireworks spectacular was added to the schedule at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™.

By Off to Neverland Travel|2017-06-27T10:23:34-05:00January 20th, 2012|Categories: Disney News, Walt Disney World News|Tags: President Obama, Presidents at Disney Parks, Walt Disney World Special Events|0 Comments

19th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

The 19^th Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival will bloom this year Mar. 7-May 20 at Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida. This years centerpiece will be an 8ft tall Sorcerer Mickey topiary from the Disney film “Fantasia” accompanied by hippos, elephants, alligators, dancing broomsticks and buckets.

The Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival provides guests an opportunity to see amazing floral displays, listen to featured guest speakers, and have hands-on fun in exhibits.

The front-entrance floral spectacle will welcome guests to a festival packed with new displays, featured speakers and hands-on fun for all ages.

Visiting the Festival? Make sure not to miss:

Bambi’s Butterfly House
Flower Power Concert Series
Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden –
The HGTV Designers Stage (Fri.-Sun.)
Disney Gardening at Home presentations
The Festival Center
Special Festival Weekend Celebrations:

Art in the Garden celebration – Mar. 23-25
Florida Federation of Garden Clubs gathering – Apr. 27-29
Fresh from Florida Farmer’s Market salute – May 4-6

It’s not too late to plan your trip this spring. Ask your Magic Maker® how your can experience the Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival while taking advantage of some great spring savings!

By Off to Neverland Travel|2017-06-27T10:23:34-05:00January 19th, 2012|Categories: Disney News, Walt Disney World News|0 Comments

2012 Flower Power Concert Series

Disney has announced the lineup for the 2012 Flower Power Concert Series! The concert series is part of the Epcot® International Flower and Garden Festival held every spring in Epcot® at the Walt Disney World® Resort. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the festival, artists from varied decades take over the American Gardens Theatre and play some of their greatest hits. The concerts are 3-times per day (5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.) and are included with general admission to Epcot®. Here is the latest lineup of performers*:

3/9-11 Jose Feliciano (Light My Fire)
3/16-18 Starship Starring Mickey Thomas(We Built This City)
3/23-25 The Guess Who (American Woman)
3/30-4/1 The Spinners (Cupid)
4/6-8 Chubby Checker & The Wildcats (The Twist)
4/13-15 Paul Revere & The Raiders (Good Thing)
4/20-22 The Turtles Featuring Flo & Eddie (Happy Together)
4/27-29 Chuck Negron, Formerly of Three Dog Night (Joy to the World)
5/4-6 The Orchestra Starring Former Members of ELO (Don’t Bring Me Down)
5/11-13 Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone (I’m Henry VIII, I Am)
5/18-5/20 Davy Jones (I’m a Believer)

The 19th Annual Epcot® International Flower and Garden Festival runs Mar. 7 – May 20, 2012.

*Entertainment is subject to change without notice.

By Off to Neverland Travel|2017-06-27T10:23:34-05:00January 17th, 2012|Categories: Disney News, Walt Disney World News|Tags: 19th Annual Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, 2012 Flower and Garden, Epcot Flower and Garden, Flower and Garden, flower and garden festival, Walt Disney World Events|0 Comments

Behind-the-Scenes at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Construction crews and Imagineers are working hard to meet the May 31st, 2012 opening date for “Finding Nemo” wing of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Take a behind the scenes look at the current progress.

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Located near Disney’s Pop Century Resort, the new resort will offer 1,120 family suites (including a bedroom and living room) themed after “The Lion King,” “Cars” and “Finding Nemo” animated films. The design of the family suites comfortably accommodate up to six guests. Each suite includes two separate bathrooms, a master bedroom, and three separate sleeping areas within the living space.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort will also host 864 standard guest rooms inspired by “The Little Mermaid.” The current opening timetable for the other phases of the resort is the “Cars” wing in late July, and “The Lion King” wing in late September. The final wing, themed after “The Little Mermaid,” is scheduled to debut in December 2012.

*Some Images are Walt Disney Imagineering Concept Art, actual construction may vary

By Off to Neverland Travel|2017-06-27T10:23:34-05:00January 13th, 2012|Categories: Disney News, Walt Disney World News|Tags: Art of Animation, Art of Animation Resort, Cars Rooms, Disney's Art of Animation Resort, Finding Nemo Rooms, Little Mermaid Rooms, Walt Disney World Hotels, Walt Disney World Resort|0 Comments

Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure

by Magic Maker® Jennifer Lennox

Children using Kimmunicators for Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure

In September, our family had the opportunity to save the World. World Showcase, that is! This was our first experience with Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure at Epcot®, and we had been looking forward to it for weeks. We were excited to be traveling with two other families, and since all ages are invited to fight evil, our whole group answered the call. We had five little girls, ages 3,4,5,7 and 9. This activity played right into my nine-year-old daughter’s plans to be a spy when she is grown up! It was a lot more productive than hiding behind the sofa at home, hoping to hear classified information in her parents’ conversations.

To begin the adventure, we located a kiosk and were given a ticket with a return time, much like a FASTPASS®. The recruitment center was located near the bridge connecting World Showcase and Future World and there is one in each of the Innoventions buildings. A Cast Member would be happy to direct you. If this is a must-do with your family, I suggest picking up your ticket as soon as possible. It is not related to your other FASTPASS® tickets so it will not disrupt your planning for other attractions. The first mission each day begins at 11:00, but you can start at any point after your posted assignment time.

When it was time to embark on our adventure, we approached a kiosk located in the Norway Pavilion, near the Mexico Pavilion. There are two others throughout the World Showcase, one in the Italy Pavilion and another in the United Kingdom Pavilion. We were given a choice of starting points, and because there were so many in our party, we received more than one “Kimmunicator”. The Kimmunicator, works much like a cell phone. The tiniest in our group would have been satisfied with just that! We were given visual cues as well as verbal instructions. When we arrived at our destinations, we were treated to surprises and rewarded with hidden displays. To be controlling happenings within a Walt Disney World® Theme Park? What power we had! With cutting edge technology and characteristic imagination, this project was a hit!

There are missions to be completed in seven of the World Showcase Pavilions. Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Japan, France and United Kingdom are each in need of help, but you can choose to complete one mission, or make a day of it and save them all! If your dining reservations or another attraction is calling you, you can take a break, and return to your mission at a later time. In fact, you can stop and re-start as you like! There are several different missions in each country, so you may find yourself returning to a previously visited pavilion to discover new surprises! When you are finished, you return your Kimmunicator to one of the kiosks as you pass or drop it in a secret location at the end of one of the missions.

I don’t want to spoil the fun, so I am keeping the secret discoveries to myself. This attraction would be appreciated by those who have explored the World Showcase in the past, and are interested in discovering new hidden delights there. If you are new to the World Showcase, you might find it more challenging, but it is a fun way to see more of what Epcot® has to offer.

Are you up for the challenge?

By Off to Neverland Travel|2017-06-27T10:23:35-05:00January 12th, 2012|Categories: Disney News, Walt Disney World News|Tags: Epcot Attractions, Epcot for kids, Epcot World Showcase, kim possible, Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure, Kimmunicator, Walt Disney World Epcot|0 Comments

One More Disney Day

This offer is no longer valid. Please click here to view all current Walt Disney World® Resort specials.

Disney is celebrating Leap Year by making the most of One More Disney Day! Not only will you have extra time in select Disney Parks, but you can also take advantage of special savings.

One More Disney Day and Night of Disney Magic Free!

Offer Details:

For arrivals most nights Feb. 26 – Mar. 10, 2012:

When purchasing a 3-night / 3-day non-discounted Walt Disney Travel Co. room and ticket package at select Walt Disney World® Resort or Disneyland® Resort hotels, receive one more day and night for FREE^*

Booking Window:

Now – Jan. 31, 2012

24 Hours of Magic!

Starting at 6am on Feb. 29, both the Magic Kingdom® Park in Florida and the Disneyland® Park in California will remain open for a full 24 hours!^** This special period of access to select attractions and entertainment has never happened before, and may never happen again! No special ticket is needed – all you need is a valid Theme Park admission ticket. Your family can make lasting memories by being part of this magical day!

What will you do with One More Disney Day?

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*Number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Room charge based on average per night rate of applicable room during stay. One (1) consecutive night will be added to the hotel stay and one (1) day added to the tickets. Offer applied once per package/reservation and excludes suites. Disneyland® Resort multi-day tickets expire 13 days after first use or 3/23/12, whichever occurs first. Walt Disney World® tickets are for one theme park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use. Each day of use of a ticket constitutes one full day of use. Advance reservations required. No group rates or other discounts apply. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

**Hours of operation are 6 a.m. on 2/29/12 to 6 a.m. on 3/1/12. Subject to capacity restrictions. Valid Theme Park admission required.

By Off to Neverland Travel|2017-06-27T10:23:35-05:00January 10th, 2012|Categories: Disney News, Disneyland News, Expired Specials, Walt Disney World News|Tags: Disney 2/29, Disney February 29, Disney Leap Year, Disneyland, Disneyland 24 hours, Disneyland Specials, Magic Kingdom 24 hours, One More Disney Day, Walt Disney World, Walt Disney World Specials|0 Comments

Disney Story Rooms

Newly imagined Disney Story Rooms offer you and your family the kind of fantasy and adventure that lasts throughout your entire vacation. You can stay and play in a vibrant environment inspired by beloved Disney films.

Pirate Rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
At Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, your crew can choose to stay in a Pirate Room! These rooms are designed to make you feel as if you’ve “set sail”, with ship-themed beds and other swashbuckling touches-from the light fixtures to the special artwork on the walls.

Royal Guest Rooms at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
Opening in mid-February 2012—and now welcoming reservations—the Royal Guest Rooms at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside are quarters befitting the Kings and Queens of the family—as well as the Princes and Princesses. Here, the remarkable décor and rich details will place your family right in the middle of classic Disney stories. Brought to life by celebrated Disney Characters, each room is fit for royalty. Enjoy magnificent touches and magical surprises, including custom drapes and linens, ornately decorated beds-and headboards that glitter with a fiber optic “fireworks” display. Here you’ll enjoy majesty and fun, all rolled into one!

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Opening in phases beginning in Summer 2012—and now welcoming reservations—Disney’s Art of Animation Resort invites your family to become a part of beloved Walt Disney Pictures and Disney·Pixar animated films. With 1,120 suites designed after Disney·Pixar’s Finding Nemo and Cars and Walt Disney Pictures’ The Lion King, plus 864 standard rooms inspired by Walt Disney Pictures’ The Little Mermaid, your family will be surrounded by some of your favorite stories throughout your entire Walt Disney World Resort vacation. Standard rooms sleep up to 4, while suites sleep up to 6 and provide just the right amount of extra room that many families need to spread out in comfort. From the magically themed family suites and rooms to the spectacular courtyards, this new Walt Disney World Value Resort will immerse families in one of four wonderful “worlds”—for a colorful journey through the story of each film.

By Off to Neverland Travel|2017-06-27T10:23:35-05:00November 30th, 2011|Categories: Disney News, Walt Disney World News|Tags: Disney World Hotels, Disney World Pirate rooms, Disney World Princess Rooms, Disney's Art of Animation Resort|0 Comments