Disney News

Christmas is quickly approaching! As many of us are heading out to the malls this weekend to finish our holiday shopping, the VoluntEARS at the Walt Disney World® Resort are focusing their attention on those in need.

This year nearly 35,000 toys, which were donated by Cast Members and the Walt Disney World® Resort, were given to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Toys program.  The brand new toys, games, books and plush dolls will help spread some holiday spirit to kids in Orange and Seminole counties. Along with the toys, Walt Disney World® Resort VoluntEARS gave over 7,000 hours of their personal time helping the Marine Corps register families and sort donations.

With these gifts, our Cast Members want to send a message of hope to youngsters by ensuring they have at least one new present to open during the holidays.  – Nancy Gidusko, Director of Community Relations, Walt Disney World® Resort.

The Walt Disney Company has supported the Toys for Toys annual toy drive for more than 60 years. In fact, Walt Disney himself helped design the original Toys for Tots logo that is still used today.

Off to Neverland Travel® was fortunate enough to receive a royal invitation to the Grand Opening Ceremony of the New Fantasyland® Area of the Magic Kingdom® Park. The ceremony, which was held last Thursday, was an event filled with stars, Disney characters and surprises!

The ceremony started with the introduction of the Royal Mistress of ceremonies, Ginnifer Goodwin, who plays Snow White on the hit ABC-TV drama “Once Upon A Time.” She talked about how Disney has held a special place in her heart since she was a little girl and how New Fantasyland® allows her to step into the middle of all those childhood stories.

Ginnifer introduced  pop star Jordin Sparks, who took us on a musical tour of Fantasyland® by singing a beautiful medley of some classic Disney songs, like Heigh Ho, Casey Jr., Under the Sea, and Beauty and the Beast. Her rendition of  these timeless melodies from classic Disney films was simply amazing!

Now, it was time for the dedication. To help, Mickey Mouse and Tom Staggs, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, joined the stage.

Walt Disney once promised that Disneyland, and by extension all of our parks, would never be complete as long as there is imagination left in the world. New Fantasyland® is a spectacular addition to the Magic Kingdom® that delivers on Walt’s promise. We’re thrilled to take guests beyond the walls of Cinderella Castle to discover new worlds featuring iconic Disney characters and stories in ways that are more imaginative, more interactive and more immersive than ever before.” – Tom Staggs, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts

Tom asked Ginnifer to do the honors of dedicating New Fantasyland®.

To all who believe in wishes and dreams.
To all those who are young and young at heart.
And to always believing that once upon a time will end with happily ever after.
New Fantasyland® will always be yours.

Several legends of Disney Animation were also in attendance at the Ceremony. Those guests included Jodi Benson (Voice of Ariel), Paige O’Hara (Voice of Belle), Jo Anne Worley (Voice of the Wardrobe), John Musker and Ron Clements (Directors of The Little Mermaid).

The ceremony ended with some daytime fireworks and the cheers of thousands in the audience as they were showered with confetti. It truly was a Magical event, and Off to Neverland Travel® was honored to be a part of it. Enjoy a few of our photos from the ceremony, along with a quick video overview. To view our complete album from the event, visit our album on our Facebook Page.

By Magic Maker®: Courtney Harris

There is nothing like seeing your child’s eyes light up the first time they walk down Main Street, U.S.A.® Area and see Cinderella’s castle, but vacationing with a toddler can be a stressful experience. It doesn’t have to be though. With a little planning, and the help of your Magic Maker®, it can be an incredible experience that neither you nor your child will soon forget.

The most important thing to remember is try to stick to your child’s schedule as best as possible. Don’t expect them to be able to go full force, from sun up to sun down, and not have a meltdown. If you hit the parks at rope drop, you can get a ton accomplished, and head back to your resort for a midday nap. Even if your child doesn’t normally nap, this is a great way to just unwind and recharge. After a nap or dip in the pool, you can head back out to the parks for dinner and more fun.

If you do find yourself in the middle of a meltdown in the parks, head for the nearest baby care center. Despite the name, these aren’t just for babies. Each park has an air-conditioned facility that has changing tables, rocking chairs, a microwave, and a t.v.  This is a great place for a short break from the stimulation and heat of the parks. They even have “toddler toilets” for children who are potty-training. Be sure to ask your Magic Maker® or check your park map for the location of the baby care center in each park.

Most likely, your child will love meeting all of the characters and getting autographs, but won’t love the long lines and heat. The solution? Book several character meals throughout your stay! The characters come to you at your table while you are dining, to sign autographs and pose for pictures. Reservations for character meals can be booked up to 180 days ahead, and tend to fill up fairly quickly, so be sure to ask your Magic Maker® for help in booking these experiences.

Bring a stroller! Even if you think your child is too old for one, you will be glad you did. The parks are huge and require a great amount of walking, which will quickly tire your child, leaving them whiny and more likely to have a meltdown. If you just can’t bring your own for some reason, rent one. Single strollers are available for rent at each park for $15 per day, or a double can be rented for $31. If this isn’t in your budget, ask your Magic Maker® about renting a stroller offsite and having it delivered to your resort.

Take advantage of Rider Swap for rides that your child isn’t tall enough to ride. One parent can ride alone or with older children while the other parent stays with the younger child. The other parent will get a rider swap ticket that allows them to ride later alone or with the older children, without having to wait in line again. This will really maximize your time and allow you to experience more rides throughout the day.

Pack lots of “distractions” in your park bag for those short attention spans. Whether you’re waiting in line for a ride, or waiting for your food to be delivered at a restaurant, being prepared with a coloring book and crayons, a small matchbox car, or even bubbles, can be a life-saver. If you have a smart-phone or iPad, these can serve as great distractions too.

Last, but certainly not least, remember to have fun and enjoy the time you are getting to spend with your child! You may not be able to do and see everything with a toddler in tow, but you will definitely make lasting memories for you and your child.

Earlier today, Disney’s PhotoPass® service announced a new product to their lineup. Attractions+ allows you to take home a digital copy of all those ride photos from your Walt Disney World® or Disneyland® Resort vacation! If you find yourself buying these photos at the parks, the $44.95 price covering a 14-day visit is a great deal.

The process is pretty simple. After riding one of the participating attractions, present your Attractions+ card to the Cast Member at the counter. At the end of your vacation, just follow the simple instructions to download all your fast-paced memories from your home computer!

Participating Attractions+ locations include:

Walt Disney World® Resort

• Space Mountain®
• Splash Mountain®
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin®
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™
• Rock ‘n Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith
• Expedition Everest®
• Dinosaur
• Test Track® Presented by Chevrolet®