Disney News

The results are in, and the Condé Nast Traveler readers have spoken!

Condé Nast Traveler recently released results from their 2014 Reader’s Poll of Top 100 Cruise Ships in the World. It should come as no surprise that Disney Cruise Line® made the list – with all 4 of their ships securing a spot in the top 5 of the Large Cruise Ships category! The newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line® fleet, Disney Fantasy®, took first place followed by Disney Wonder® at #2, Disney Dream® at #3, and Disney Magic® at #5.

Condé Nast Traveler asked their readers to rate the ships on seven categories: Itineraries/ Schedule, Crew/ Service, Activities/ Facilities, Cabins, Design/Layout, Food/Dining, and Shore Excursions.

Disney Cruise Line® is no stranger to such prestigious awards. Since first setting sail in 1998, they have received more than 100 awards and recognition from the travel industry! Examples of recent recognition includes being named the #1 Mega-Ship Cruise Line in Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards for Families in 2013 and receiving a Cruise Critics Cruiser’s Choice Award for Best in Families and several other categories.

Contact your Magic Maker® today to start planning your next Award-Winning Disney Cruise Line® Vacation!

This year, spend the holidays on a vacation that is both nautical and nice! Disney Cruise Line® has announced their 2014 Holiday sailings for both Halloween and Christmas.

These sailings are filled stem-to-stern with holiday decorations, themed parties, and other special events. Whether celebrating in costume at Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party or showing your yuletide cheer at the Deck the Deck Holiday Party, these holiday sailings include fun for all ages!

2014 Holiday sailings will take place:

Halloween on the High Seas Cruises

• Disney Magic®: Sep. 24-Oct. 26, 2014
• Disney Wonder®: Sep. 26-Oct. 31, 2014
• Disney Dream®: Sep. 21-Oct. 31, 2014
• Disney Fantasy®: Sep. 20-Oct. 25, 2014

Planned events during the Halloween on the High Seas Cruises include:

• Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party – Be sure to pack your costume for this party! There will be games, dancing, lots of candy, and some of your favorite Disney characters in their Halloween costumes.
• A Nightmare Before Christmas—Sing and Scream – This interactive movie experience places you right in the middle of the action. After, you’ll have an opportunity to meet-and-greet Jack Skellington and Sally.
• Haunted Stories of the Sea – The bravest cruisers are invited to gather under the stars to hear some true—or not so true—tales of the sea told by a mysterious sea captain storyteller.
• Creepy Cabaret – Ghostly musicians will perform favorite Halloween-themed music live in the atrium.
• Adult Costume Party – Don’t think that Halloween is just for kids. The nighttime entertainment district on the ship will host a costume contest and a Villainous Takeover on the dance floor.
• Spooky Movies – There’s never a shortage of movies on any Disney Cruise Line® sailing. Halloween-themed movies will be shown in Buena Vista Theatre, on the Funnel Vision by the family pool and in guest staterooms.
• Seasonal Treats – Disney Cruise Line® chefs will be making some spooky yet delicious treats for you to enjoy throughout your sailing.
• and much, much more!

Very Merrytime Cruises

• Disney Magic®: Nov. 23-Dec. 28, 2014
• Disney Wonder®: Nov. 23-Dec. 30, 2014
• Disney Dream®: Nov. 24-Dec. 29, 2014
• Disney Fantasy®: Nov. 22-Dec. 27, 2014

Planned events during the Very Merrytime Cruises include:

• King Triton’s Tree Lighting Ceremony – On the first night of your cruise, a special ceremony will take place to light the three-deck-tall tree in the atrium lobby.
• Family and Youth Holiday Activities – Your Personal Navigator will be packed with special holiday activities. Examples include: building gingerbread houses, decorating stockings and gingerbread men, creating holiday animation cells, making holiday cards and meeting Santa Claus.
• Holiday Storytellers –  Special Holiday Storytellers will be on hand telling the tales of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the magical feeling of the holidays on a ship.
• Deck the Deck Holiday Party –  This poolside tropical celebration with Disney friends will provide yuletide fun for the whole family!
• An Island Christmas -Stops at Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay, will include “snow flurries,” Disney character meet-and-greets, and holiday island music and decorations.
• Til We Meet Again – A part of every Disney Cruise Line® sailing, this special holiday Til We Meet Again farewell on the final night will include Disney characters and the ship’s crew in a musical finale led by Mickey Mouse.
• Special Sailing Specific Activities – Specific sailings will include additional activites:
  • Thanksgiving Day – Enjoy Thanksgiving Feasts, NFL games on the Funnel Vision, visits from Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in special Thanksgiving attire, and a special towel animal at turndown.
  • Christmas Morning – On Christmas Morning, Santa and his elves will have a surprise for all the kids in the atrium. A traditional Christmas Dinner will be served in all main dining rooms that evening. Midnight mass will be held Christmas Eve with Christmas Services held Christmas morning.
  • Hanukkah – Hanukkah services will be held daily Dec. 16-24
  • New Years Eve – Ring in 2015 by celebrating at a New Years Eve party complete with music, sparkling wine in commemorative flutes and a midnight countdown!

All events are subject to change

With the popularity of these special themed cruises, availability is limited!  Reserve your spot through your Magic Maker® today!

Guests visiting Disneyland® Park over the next couple of months are in for a real surprise when they swing by Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree.

Each weekend, characters from some of your favorite classic Disney movies are visiting guests as part of The Frontierland Troupe. During the character roundup, characters from movies like Robin Hood, Cinderella, and Pinocchio make appearances for meet and greet opportunities on a rotational basis. Additional entertainment includes trick ropers, live music, and your opportunity to meet some of the Disneyland® Resort horses.

The Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree Character Roundup takes place weekends (Fri.-Sun.) and is included in standard park admission. It’s a rootin’ tootin’ good time – just take a look at the fun that’s waiting for you!

A new World Showcase eatery is now open at Epcot®. Located along the shores of the World Showcase Lagoon inside the Morocco Pavilion, the dining location features Mediterranean small plates and regional drinks that are as delectable as the view is beautiful.

Spice Road Table is inspired by the many outdoor cafes you can find along the Mediterranean. The location seats about 180 guests between its indoor seating area and outdoor terrace. With many of those seats providing an amazing view of the World Showcase Lagoon, we’re sure Spice Road Table will become a hotspot for late evening dining and viewing of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.

Unlike many of the other World Showcase eateries, Spice Road Table does not offer a full dinner menu. The menu consists of an extensive listing of aperitifs, Mediterranean beers, and wines. In addition, you can choose from about a dozen different food options which are small plates (an appetizer-sized portion). Current menu options include:

• Mussels Tagine $10
  with Cilantro, Garlic, Lemon Confit and Tomato Sauce
• Spicy Garlic Shrimp $10
  Sauteed Shrimp with Dried Chilies and Fried Garlic
• Mediterranean Omelet $7
  with Potato, Red Peppers and Caramelized Onions
• Moroccan Merguez Sausage $9
  North African Lamb Sausage service with Tomato, Red Onion & Cilantro Salad
• Fried Calamari $12
  with spicy Harissa & Capers aioli sauces
• Hummus and Imported Olives $10
  with Cornichons and Za’atar Flat Bread
• Salted Cod Croquettes $10
  Sun-dried Tomato and Black Olive aioli
• Lamb Slider $9
  Brioche, Cucumber Dill and Mint Tzatziki Sauce
• Rice Stuffed Grape Leaves $8
  fried Capers, Raisins and fresh Nutmeg
• Harissa Chicken Roll $8
  with Harissa Ketchup
• Mogador Sampler $16
  Mussels Tagine, Salted Cod Croquettes, and Fried Calamari
• Tingis Sampler $16
  Lamb Slider, Harissa Chicken Roll, and Merguez Sausage
  (menu options and pricing subject to change)

A kid’s menu and dessert options are also available.

Spice Road Table is open daily 11a til Epcot® park closing. At this time, reservations are not accepted and this location does not participate in the Disney Dining Plan.

On Mar. 9, 2014, Magic Kingdom® Park will debut a brand new daytime parade to their guests, Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade. Inspired by the New Fantasyland® area of the park, the parade brings several magical stories to life right in the streets of the park.

Innovative floats, vibrant costumes, and an original soundtrack are currently in production for the new parade. Take a behind-the-scenes look at the development of Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade with Managing Producer Kris Bunnell, Parade Designer Richard Improta, and Creative Director Steven Davison.

As the Walt Disney World® Resort continues to test MyMagic+, our guests love that they are able to customize their vacation like never before. For example, instead of doing the “FastPass® Dash” every morning, guests can select three “must do” attraction or entertainment options before they leave home and rest assured they will get to experience their favorites with Disney FastPass+ service.

Another thing our guests are falling in love with is the convenience of the new MagicBands. Wrapped around your wrist, your MagicBand is your key to a carefree visit as it unlocks your Disney Resort hotel room door, acts as a Theme Park ticket, provides access to your FastPass+ reservations, and so much more.

Just be careful you don’t allow MyMagic+ to spoil you too much! As you can see in this video, the MagicBands don’t function quite as well in the “real world!”

MyMagic+ & FastPass+ & My Disney Experience – oh my! You may not understand how these new features work, but your Magic Maker® does! Count on our expert service to help you navigate the changes and make your next Walt Disney World® Resort Vacation one you’ll never forget!

We’re sorry, this offer has expired.

This Spring is the perfect time to visit the beautiful Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawai’i! And for a limited time, select stays 4-nights or longer will receive a $400-$500 resort credit to use during your stay. Use that resort credit to enjoy special vacation experiences like island excursions, beach rentals, or snorkeling in Rainbow Reef – the only private snorkeling lagoon on O’ahu.

You’ll receive a $400 resort credit when you book a Hotel Room or Deluxe Studio (excludes suites) or a $500 resort credit when you book a 1- or 2-Bedroom Villa.

Travel Dates:
Most night Apr. 23-Jun. 16, 2014

Booking Dates:
Book now through May 15, 2014

Contact your Magic Maker® today to start planning your paradise getaway!

Resort Credit Promotion for Guests who stay four (4) or more consecutive nights all between Apr. 23 and Jun. 16, 2014. Resort credit of $400 applied to reservations booked into hotel rooms or deluxe studios, Resort credit of $500 applied to reservations booked into 1-bedroom or 2-bedroom villas. Offer excludes suites and 3-bedroom Grand Villas. Must book between Jan. 20 and Mar. 31, 2014. The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited and room availability may vary by dates of stay. Resort credit may not be redeemed for cash in whole or in part, transferred or refunded. Resort credit will expire at midnight on package departure date. Not valid in combination with any other discounts or offers. Additional per-adult charges may apply if more than two (2) adults per room. Limit two (2) rooms per reservation and subject to room occupancy limitations. Advance reservations required. Subject to additional restrictions and change without notice.

Last week, a “groundbreaking” ceremony was held at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park to begin construction of their new AVATAR-inspired land. Additional details on the expansion which is set to be completed in 2017 can be seen HERE.

Enjoy this video of Tom Staggs, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resort, and Jon Landau, Producer of AVATAR, discussing the upcoming expansion.

Children are sponges.

I am always amazed at what our five year old and two year old absorb in our day to day life. From the fun experiences we share as a family to the educational moments they have in their day to day lives, they are always picking up something new. Repeating some phrase that makes us giggle. Remembering a promise we made in the moment. Shocking us with the wealth of information they learn.

That is part of what is so endearing about Disney Destination vacations to our family. Not only are the an amazing time to play together as a family, our time at Disney Destinations is full of moments for our children to absorb their world in a new way. Our trips always wind up educational too.

Walt Disney World® Resort has added another opportunity for our children to be sponges this year with Wildlife Wednesdays: Families and Nature Events at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Park and Epcot® The Seas with Nemo and Friends® Attraction.

During these family and nature events, kids and families will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the amazing creatures that inhabit our planet! It is an opportunity for families to ‘get wild’ together!

Be sure to see the schedule below of upcoming opportunities for families to connect to nature!

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Park:

March 4: Spring Forward for Amphibians Day — Just a few days before we adjust our clocks forward for Daylight Savings Time, we’re “springing forward” to celebrate frogs, toads and other amphibians.

April 22: Party for the Planet in celebration of Earth Day — Every day is a Party for the Planet at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Park, as guests and cast members join together to celebrate the wonders of nature, but, on Earth Day, there will be even more natural magic. Included is a celebration of the release of Disneynature’s new True Life Adventure “Bears,” in theaters April 18, which showcases a year in the life of a bear family as two impressionable young cubs are taught life’s most important lessons.

May 6: International Migratory Bird Day — Time to celebrate of one the wonders of nature – bird migration – and the ways we can help protect birds on their journeys.

May 20: World Turtle Day — Turtles are fascinating creatures, and really cool dudes, too – just ask Crush! Both Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Park and The Seas with Nemo & Friends® Attraction celebrate turtles with special activities.

June 10: Pollinator Day — butterflies, bees and other pollinators are the stars of this celebration.

July 29: Big Cat Day — It’s all about the largest cats, like lions and tigers – cats to whom you wouldn’t want to say, “here, kitty, kitty.”

August 5: Primate Day — The perfect place to find out what a 400-pound gorilla and a one-pound cotton-top tamarin have in common.

September 23: Elephant and Rhino Day — Learn fun facts and important conservation information about magnificent and endangered elephants and rhinos.

At The Seas with Nemo & Friends® Attraction at Epcot®:

April 22: Earth Day Celebration — It’s an ocean of fun at The Seas on Earth Day as this Earth Day celebration focuses on marine animals.

May 20: World Turtle Day — See the magnificent sea turtles swim by in the main aquarium and find out what each of us can do to keep turtles safe in the wild.

June 4: World Oceans Day — Join Nemo, Dory, Crush and the rest of the gang in celebrating the wonders of the oceans.