Disney News

Over Off to Neverland Travel’s® five year history, our Magic Makers® have become known for planning some amazingly whimsical vacations. From first to fiftieth visit, birthday to graduation, our Magic Makers® love working with you to make each and every trip your “Dreame get to plan something special for Lovebirds as the romantic side of Disney Destinations is something that often gets overlooked. In honor of Valentine’s Day, we asked our Magic Makers® to share with us some of their past plans and suggestions they’ve given clients looking for romance on their getaways.

Dinner for two at one of  Walt Disney World® Resort’s restaurants may be the easiest way to add romance into your trip. Magic Maker® Katie Simmons suggests selecting a restaurant with a view and then timing your dinner around that night’s showing of Wishes or IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. While Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is her favorite, many other restaurants overlooking the Seven Seas and World Showcase Lagoons are available. And for dessert, Magic Maker® Courtney Agnello suggests you call ahead and place a special preorder – maybe even the flavor of your wedding cake to celebrate your anniversary!

The fun doesn’t have to stop with dinner! Magic Maker® Allie Willits often directs those looking for a “night on the town” to Jellyrolls, a lively dueling piano bar on Disney’s Boardwalk.  Downtown Disney® Pleasure Island and West Side also offer a variety of nightlife with live performers nightly. Your children can have a “night out” too in one of the Children’s Activity Centers located at select Resort hotels!

Booking a specialty fireworks cruise is at the top of the list of romantic suggestions for Magic Maker® Courtney Harris. Cruises are available most nights for both Wishes and IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. For a different perspective of  Wishes, try watching it from a hammock on the beach at Disney’s Polynesian Resort – complete with soundtrack! Or for a quieter evening, Magic Maker® Heather Straight recommends a horse-drawn carriage ride at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside or Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

No vacation is complete without a souvenir, but Magic Maker® Sharon Rosenlieb has a tip for a keepsake much more memorable. She suggests a stop at one of the Wyland Galleries. With locations at Disney’s Boardwalk and Disney’s Polynesian Resort, they offer a great selection of custom made jewelry.

Last but not least, as home to some of the world’s most famous romances: Cinderella and Prince Charming, Lady and the Tramp, and even Beauty and the Beast – we would be remiss to not mention engagements! Magic Maker® Marcie Munoz shares of a magical proposal at the Walt Disney World® Resort. A character artists in Magic Kingdom® Park was asked in advance to draw a portrait of the couple, but the soon-to-be fiancee was shocked when the completed portrait was revealed and he was on his knee proposing. Just as illustrated, he proposed and she said YES!

Our list could go on and on as the possibilities are nearly endless! Whether you choose a moonlit stroll, a luxurious spa treatment, or  an intimate dinner at your next Disney Destination, our Magic Makers®  can make any day feel like Valentine’s Day!

New itineraries and new ports are on the horizon for Disney Cruise Line® in 2014! Just announced this morning, they will be expanding their collection of European cruises and sailing from two new homeports – Venice, Italy and San Juan, Puerto Rico!

Here’s a quick preview of their 2014 schedule:

Mediterranean from Venice and Barcelona

In anticipation of an amazing return in 2013, the Disney Magic® will set her sights on the Mediterranean from May through Aug. 2014. Offering a rich array of European itineraries with a variety of cruise lengths and ports of call, these Disney Cruise Line® sailings are a great way to see the best of Europe. You will experience richly diverse cities and cultures, iconic locations, sun-drenched islands and the brilliant blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

New for 2014, Disney Cruise Line® will use Venice, Italy as a homeport for select sailings. The best part of the cruises originating in Venice is that you will overnight in Venice, giving your the opportunity to experience a spectacular evening in the city! New destinations for the Disney Magic® in 2014 include popular locations in the Greek Isles and Sicily, including Katakolon, Rhodes, Heraklion (Crete), Santorini and Corfu, Greece and Catania, Sicily.

Southern Caribbean from San Juan

When things don’t go as planned, you have to be flexible! Just this past weekend, Winter Storm Nemo caused havoc to the Northeast corridor and brought transportation in the area to a standstill.  Earlier last week, fog delayed the arrival of the Disney Magic® into Port Galveston which created a strain for its passengers to make their flights home!

For today’s “Breaking the Myths” article, it only seems fitting to discuss being prepared for the unexpected!

1. Myth: There is no reason for a healthy family to purchase travel protection.
   There is no denying that purchasing a travel protection plan is an added expense to any vacation. But coverage for medical reasons is just one part of many plans. Most plans will cover trip cancellation & interruption, trip delays, baggage & personal effects loss, baggage delay, and medical expenses during your trip. Even if you have medical insurance at home, it may not cover you while you are away on vacation! You want to make sure you read through the insurance information closely and direct any specific questions on coverage to the Insurance Company itself as they will be the ones determining eligibility if needed.
2. Myth: If my credit card offers travel protection, there is no need to purchase an additional policy.
   Some credit card companies off various forms of travel protection, but they may not protect you in cases of travel delay, trip cancellation, or if you need to seek medical attention overseas. If your card does offer protection, be sure to research their coverage to ensure you’re fully protected.
3. Myth: Purchasing a passport for a cruise is an unnecessary expense.
   Current U.S. government regulations allow U.S. Citizens to cruise with a raised-seal birth certificate and government issued photo ID as long as the cruise both originates and terminates from the same U.S. port and sails within the Western Hemisphere. If you experience a family emergency during your cruise and need to return home via air, a passport would be required to do so. While a passport may not be necessary for all sailings, Off to Neverland Travel® suggests that every guests travels with a passport.  All current guidelines are subject to change at any time. Guests remain responsible for ensuring they have all the proper documentation to board the ship and enter each of the countries on the ship’s itinerary.

Expect the unexpected! Talk to you Magic Maker® about protecting your travel investment. The nominal fee you pay up front may save you in the long run!

Miss some of our past “Breaking the Myth” articles? Click here to access them.

After earning a National League Wild Card berth last year, the Atlanta Braves are returning to Champion Stadium at the ESPN Wide World of Sports® Complex in just two weeks to begin their Spring Training. This will be their 16th season of training at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida. Starting on Feb. 22, the Braves will play against a lineup of marquee baseball teams including the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and Detroit Tigers.

Each Atlanta Braves Spring Training game has family-oriented fun with in-game entertainment, Disney character appearances and on-field fan experiences. Be sure to stick around after the game as your kids will have the opportunity to run the bases!

Contact your Magic Maker® for more details on purchasing tickets during your upcoming stay!

2013 Atlanta Braves Spring Training Home Schedule

• Fri., Feb. 22 v. Detroit Tigers –  1:05p
• Sat., Feb. 23 v. New York Yankees – 1:05p
• Mon., Feb. 25 v. Florida Marlins – 1:05p
• Tue., Feb. 26 v. Washington Nationals – 1:05p
• Fri., Mar. 1 v. Washington Nationals – 6:05p
• Sun., Mar. 3 v. Detroit Tigers – 1:05p
• Thu., Mar. 7 v. Detroit Tigers – 6:05p
• Fri., Mar. 8 v. Toronto Blue Jays – 1:05p
• Sun., Mar. 10 v. Florida Marlins – 1:05p
• Tue., Mar. 12 v. St. Louis Cardinals – 1:05p
• Fri., Mar. 15 v. New York Mets – 1:05p
• Sat., Mar. 16 v. New York Yankees – 5:05p
• Mon., Mar. 18 v. Philadelphia Phillies – 1:05p
• Wed., Mar. 20 v. Pittsburgh Pirates – 1:05p
• Thu., Mar. 21 v. Washington Nationals – 6:05p
• Sat., Mar. 23 v. Houston Astros – 1:05p
• Mon., Mar. 25 v. New York Mets – 1:05p
• Thu., Mar. 28 v. Houston Astros – 1:05 PM

All times are Eastern and are subject to change