Disney News

It all started 60 years ago when Walt established a small group of people to help him plan and build Disneyland® Park. Now, that once small Walt Disney Imagineering group has expanded to over 1,400! These dreamers apply their imaginative spirits to create new experiences to surprise and delight guests at the Disney Parks, Resorts, and on Disney Cruise Line’s® four ships.

This is a great video showing how Walt Disney Imagineering is still the cornerstone for creativity and innovation at the places that many of us hold near and dear to our hearts. Many fond memories have been made at Disney Destinations, and they all started with the single dream of Walt Disney. And that dream, it is still alive!

Off to Neverland Travel® and our Magic Makers® are so fortunate to be able to connect you to the magic of Disney Destinations!

Sunday morning, the Disney Wonder® Cruise Ship will finish her 14-night Panama Canal sailing in Miami, FL – the port she will call home for the next several months.

After sailing a special 7-night Eastern Caribbean Christmas cruise and a 6-night Western Caribbean New Year’s cruise, the Disney Wonder® will begin sailing 4- and 5-night cruises to the Bahamas and the Western Caribbean. These itineraries include stops at many popular and equally beautiful ports, including Nassau, Key West, Cozumel, and Grand Cayman. Select itineraries even include a stop at Disney’s exclusive tropical paradise, Castaway Cay Island!

The Disney Wonder® will sail from Miami Dec. 23 – May 6th when it departs on a 14-night Panama Canal sailing to Los Angeles. Guests can take advantage of Disney Cruise Line’s® Kids Sail FREE promotion for most Miami sailings Jan. 14 – Feb. 25, 2013. Click here for more details on that promotion.

In the Fall of 2013, the Disney Magic® will homeport in Miami offering similar itineraries. More information on Disney Cruise Line® and their upcoming sailings can be found here on our website.

runDisney has announced the addition of the Disneyland® 10K to their list of events for the 2013 Disneyland® Half Marathon Weekend which will take place Aug. 30 – Sep. 1, 2013.

The new race will take runners on a course through Disneyland® Park, Disney California Adventure® Park, and the surrounding Anaheim area. Participants of this timed race will receive a finishers medal designed especially for the 10K.

Just like at all runDisney events, there will be an opportunity for runners at every level to compete during the 2013 Disneyland® Half Marathon Weekend. The weekend’s events include the Disneyland® Half Marathon, the Disneyland® 10K, a Family Fun Run 5K, and Kids Races. For those advanced runners, be sure not to miss the Dumbo Double Dare. Available to a limited number of runners, they will run both the Disneyland® 10K on Saturday and the Disneyland® Half Marathon on Sunday – 19.3 miles total! The efforts of those runners finishing the Dumbo Double Dare won’t go unrewarded. They will receive a special finisher medal to celebrate their accomplishments!

Registration for all of the Disneyland® Half Marathon Weekend races opens on January 22, 2013. This is always a popular event at the Disneyland® Resort, so be sure to contact you Magic Maker® now to start planning!

Disneyland® Half Marathon Weekend Races:

• Disneyland® Family Fun Run 5K – Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013 – 5:30am
• Disneyland® 10K – Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013 – 6:15am
• runDisney Kids Races – Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013 – 10:00am
• Disneyland® Half Marathon – Sunday, Sep. 1, 2013 – 5:30am

As we glance into the rear view mirror and see 2012 fading into the distance, we can see the fullness of 2013 looming through our windshield. As the excitement of what 2013 has to offer begins to take shape, so do our plans for celebrating the arrival of the New Year!

Thankfully, Walt Disney World® Resort has some fantastic things in store for guests who will be visiting on New Year’s Eve! Whether you will be visiting one of the theme parks or looking to bring in the New Year in Downtown Disney® or elsewhere, there are plenty of ways to celebrate!

Three of Walt Disney World® Resorts four theme parks will have special celebrations planned for guests on December 31^st. The star of the celebration in Magic Kingdom® Park is the Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks, a special holiday treat, which will happen at 11:50pm! Magic Kingdom® Park will be open from 8:00am to 2:00am!

In Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ you’ll find The Mulch, Sweat and Shears New Year’s Eve Spectacular; four concerts sets featuring pyrotechnics and special effects! At 12:00am it will be time for the “Lights, Camera, Happy New Year” fireworks accompanied by Mulch, Sweat and Shears! Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ will be open from 8:00am to 12:00am (with Extra Magic Hours until 3:00am)!

Epcot® will be featuring two performances of IlllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, at 7:00pm and 11:42pm. Throughout the night guests can celebrate and dance to music spun by DJ’s who are at select pavilions throughout World Showcase. Epcot® will be open from 11:00am to 1:00am.

DisneyQuest® Indoor Interactive Theme Park will be holding a party of its own from 8:00pm to 1:00am! The celebration at DisneyQuest® Indoor Interactive Theme Park includes a DJ Dance Party, character meet and greets, access to all of the games and attractions, festive party favors and a special confetti drop at midnight!

Disney’s BoardWalk Entertainment District will even be hosting their annual special-ticket New Year’s Eve party from 8:00pm – 2:00am with a video DJ, countdown and limited viewing of Epcot’s® fireworks.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways around Walt Disney World® Resort to bring in the New Year! If you already have plans to be at Walt Disney World® Resort be sure to check with your Magic Maker® for exact time and ticket requirements. If you are still looking for a way to celebrate the arrival of 2013, we are here to help your magical travel dreams come true!

Today, the new Splitsville Luxury Lanes open in the Downtown Disney® West Side at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida. Off to Neverland Travel® was at Splitsville for a special preview back on December 5th and we must say that we’d score it a perfect 300!

Splitsville Luxury Lanes is not your typical hometown bowling alley. The venue, which has an upscale retro style to it, has 30 lanes and several pool tables spread throughout its two-story 50,000 square feet space including outside patios overlooking Downtown Disney® . In addition to the bowling, guest will enjoy some amazing food! In fact, the food is so good, it will leave you wondering if you came to bowl or eat!

Their menu features a variety of higher-end offerings like mahi mahi with “Voodoo” Shrimp, filet sliders, hand-tossed pizza, their special burgers and grilled chicken parmesan. Also, two Sushi Bars are available where guests can watch the chefs prepare their selections. Five bars are spread throughout the location serving beer, specialty cocktails, and some frozen specialty drinks.

Along with the waitstaff, Splitsville also has “lane concierge” who are responsible for delivering shoes and bowling balls to your lanes prior to your arrival. In addition to the more than 60 flat screen TVs, Splitsville will feature live music seven nights a week!

It is important to note that on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, the second floor (which has 20 lanes) will be exclusively for guests ages 21+ after 10:30 p.m.

Let the good times roll!

(click to enlarge images)