Disney News

Disney Cruise Line® announced today that their newest ship, the Disney Fantasy™ will have a brand new water feature geared to drench the entire family.  The AquaLab, a new addition to deck 12, is a fanciful wet play area filled with pop jets, geysers and bubblers.

By turning wheels and moving levers at three wacky aqua stations, guests “control” the speed and temperature of AquaDuck Coaster. At a leaky wall, kids cover holes in squirting and spurting pipes with their hands. In another area, water leaks and sprays from the Ducky Dinghy, suspended overhead.

Also new to deck 12 is a wading pool with a fountain, a great place for families to hang out and cool off. This area has ample seating and lounge chairs under a canopy.

And adults have a new place that is available exclusively to them that will provide cool comfort on deck 13. Satellite Falls is a circular splash pool with benches and a gently falling rain curtain.

What do you want to try out first?  Have you had a chance to ride the AquaDuck Coaster on the Disney Dream™?

The Disney Fantasy™ will sail from Port Canaveral with seven night excursions to the Eastern and Western Caribbean starting in April 2012.  Click here to reserve your spot!

This offer is no longer valid.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

Have a great time at a great rate when you stay at select Walt Disney World® Resort hotels. Save up to 30% with this fantastic room rate!

Offer Details:

For stays most nights Oct. 30 – Nov. 18 and Nov. 26 – Dec. 23, 2011, you can save:

• 15% at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
• 20% at Disney Value Resorts (except Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort), Disney Moderate Resorts (except Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter)

For stays most nights Oct. 30 – Nov. 21 and Nov. 26 – Dec. 23, 2011, you can save:

• 20% at Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
• 25% at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney’s Polynesian Resort
• 30% at Disney Deluxe Resorts (except Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney’s Polynesian Resort) and Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts

Booking Window:

• Book by Dec. 21, 2011.

Talk to your Magic Maker® about adding tickets and the Disney Dining Plan to your room reservation.

On this day in 1971, the world changed forever with the opening of the Walt Disney World® Resort in central Florida.  Since opening day, millions and millions of guests have been treated to a “fantasy made real” that only the Disney company can make happen.  Even though Walt Disney did not live to see his “Florida Project” become reality, his spirit and imagination live on in the forty seven square miles that make up the Walt Disney World® Resort.  Just a few days after opening day, at the grand opening celebration, Roy O. Disney read the words inscribed on the Walt Disney World® Resort dedication plaque:

Walt Disney World is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney . . . and to the talents, the dedication and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney’s dream come true.  May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all who come to this happy place . . . a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn – together.

So, from all of us at Off to Neverland Travel,

Happy Birthday, Walt Disney World® Resort

Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party
at the Magic Kingdom® Park

By Magic Maker® Steven Dalwig

Last April, I surprised my family and instead of watching Wishes® Nighttime Spectacular with the throngs of people in front of Cinderella Castle.  I made reservations for the seven of us for the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party.

We checked in at the podium about an hour before Wishes® Nighttime Spectacular was scheduled to begin.  We were greeted and then escorted to our own private table set up on the terrace  with a perfect view of the castle.  Our table was decorated with Mickey confetti and even had a little sign welcoming us with our names printed on it.  Our delightful server, Michelle, invited us at our leisure to help ourselves to the dessert buffet and to ‘eat our fill’.

My boys’ eyes became as large as saucers as they saw a huge buffet table filled with so many wonderful and delightful desserts.  They were all arranged beautifully on the buffet .  The buffet was covered with chocolate covered strawberries, rice krispie treats, pistachio creme brûlée, banana cream tartlets, mini key lime pies,  cannelloni, mini cupcakes, and  white chocolate and milk chocolate cheesecake. There was also coffee, juice, ice tea, hot tea, milk and water available at the beverage station.

The plates they give you just aren’t big enough to try them all, so return trips to the buffet are required.  As our family devoured these wonderful desserts we had a nice view of Disney’s Main Street Electrical Parade moving down Main Street, U.S.A.®.  A Disney PhotoPass photographer set up on the terrace to take pictures of groups and families in front of the castle.

When it was time for Wishes® Nighttime Spectacular to begin, the lights dimmed and we turned our chairs toward the castle and had one of the most wonderful views of the fireworks show.  At one point during the fireworks,  Tinker Bell flies from the castle and comes directly toward the Terrace, I think we thought she was going to land in our laps!

After the firework show we were not rushed off of the terrace and into the throngs of departing guests.  Rather we were encouraged to hang out and enjoy the nice views of the castle, finish up our desserts and take some more pictures.  The perfect ending to a magical day at the Walt Disney World® Resort.

This was one of those experiences that my family has not forgotten, we talk about it often and know for sure that we will be enjoying this experience again on our next trip to the Magic Kingdom® Park.

The party begins one hour prior to the start of Wishes® Nighttime Spectacular.  Due to the popularity of this experience, Guests are encouraged to make advance reservations.  Contact your Magic Maker for additional information on pricing, availability and to make your reservation.  Admission to Magic Kingdom® theme park is required for this Fireworks Dessert Party.

(Back to Part 1 of Walt Disney World® Special Needs – Attraction Boarding Tips)

I’m going to spend a minute here on what to do when being denied boarding on a ride.  Sometimes, due to the nature of the ride, you may not be allowed to board…be it because you must transfer or because you are not able to load within a certain time, etc.  This can be a very defeating moment and I have a few things you should keep in mind.

First, the Walt Disney World® Resort (and other Disney properties) is the best in the whole world at making things wheelchair accessible.  Their business is customer service and they do a great job when it comes to meeting the special needs of all their customers.  There may be, however, operational, construction or safety issues that are out of their control.  I was once told by a Walt Disney World Special Needs counselor that they would love for everyone who cannot transfer from their wheelchair to be able to ride all the rides, however, putting a wheelchair on the Rock’n’Rollercoaster was simply not a good idea!

Second, if you are being told you cannot ride due to your particular disability, and the Cast Member (CM) has not already done so, request to speak with a manager/supervisor.  It has been my experience that the CM’s call their manager before they ever come talk to you about it, so that the manager has time to get there.  Remember to remain polite and calm, but ask the manager to explain to you why they think the ride would be dangerous for you.  They probably know something that you don’t, and they are just looking out for your safety.  However, as in my case in one instance, I knew something that a manager did not know…“me!”  The situation occurred at my favorite ride, Rock’n’Rollercoaster.  I had ridden the attraction several dozen times before the incident occurred, so I knew there was no danger.  I explained to the manager that while it may not appear so, I have a large amount of upper body strength, and even though I don’t have arms, I use my shoulders to brace myself and to protect my neck.  After answering a few of her questions, she said to get onboard and have fun!

In conclusion to this Walt Disney World® Special Needs Tip:

The Walt Disney World® Resort is magical…but there has to be some safety added in with that magic, or it wouldn’t be magical!  Remember that while some situations may be handled poorly, that the CMs involved are not getting joy out of making it more difficult for you, but rather they are getting joy out of giving you a safe, but wonderful experience.  And always remember, no matter what happens whether you’re at the Walt Disney World® Resort with Special Needs or anywhere else…“Only you can let someone else ruin your day!”