Disney News

A Disneyland® Park icon since its opening on June 14, 1959, the Matterhorn was part of the first major expansion to take place at Disneyland since it opened in 1955. The Matterhorn recently went through a refurbishment and reopened to guests last month. The refurbishment brought the Matterhorn new ride vehicles and a refreshed look both inside and out. It also brought back for a limited time the mountain climbers who have scaled the slopes intermittently since its opening.

We’ve got a video to share with you of the mountain climbers, but first, a few Matterhorn fun facts:

• Because of its instant popularity, the Matterhorn Bobsleds had the longest wait time for Disneyland® Park guests through most of the 1960s and early 1970s. It is now one of four mountains in the Disneyland® Park range – the others being Splash Mountain®, Space Mountain®, and the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® Attraction.
• The Disneyland® Park Matterhorn was built to 1/100^th scale of the original Matterhorn, 147 feet versus 14,700 feet.
• Until 2004 when the The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ opened at Disney California Adventure® Park, the Matterhorn was the highest point in the Disneyland® Park.
• From 1959 to 1994 (when it was retired) the Skyway attraction traveled through the Matterhorn as it carried Disneyland® Park guests between Fantasyland® and Tomorrowland®.

This offer is no longer valid.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

Update: 12/14-12/20 dates added to the promotion

Get Disney FREE Dining 2012 with the purchase of select Magic Your Way® Vacations

There is so much going on this fall at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida – Epcot® will host the 17th annual Food & Wine Festival, Magic Kingdom® Park will celebrate the holidays with Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties, and the entire Resort will be decked out with Holiday decorations for Christmas! And now with the Disney FREE Dining 2012 offer, you can experience all these events while enjoying Walt Disney World® Resort’s various dining options for FREE! The Disney FREE Dining 2012 offer is limited, so don’t delay!

Now through September 29, 2012, purchase a non-discounted Magic Your Way® package including a minimum 3-night stay at select Disney Value Resorts and get the Quick-Service Dining Plan for FREE. Or, buy a non-discounted Magic Your Way® package including a minimum 3-night stay at select Disney Moderate, Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resorts and get the Plus Disney Dining Plan for FREE.

Disney FREE Dining Booking Window:
Now-Sep. 29, 2012

Disney FREE Dining Travel Window:
Valid for arrivals most nights:

• Sep. 30 – Oct. 4, 2012
• Oct. 19 – Nov. 1, 2012
• Nov. 9 – 15, 2012
• Nov. 23 – 29, 2012
• Dec. 10 – 20, 2012

Contact your Magic Maker® now for a taste of this delicious deal!

*Disney FREE Dining Packages booked at a Disney Value Resort will receive the Quick-Service Dining Plan for free. Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villa Resorts will receive the Plus Disney Dining Plan for free. Upgrades to dining plans are available at an additional cost. Ask your Magic Maker® which Dining Plan may be best for your family.

To qualify for the Disney FREE Dining 2012 promotion, a minimum stay of 3-nights and 2-day Magic Your Way® Base Ticket is required. Number of packages based on this special is limited. Accommodations at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort (Little Mermaid rooms), Disney’s All-Star Music Resort (Family Suites), 3-bedroom villas at any Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts, and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground (Campsites) are excluded from this offer. Offer excludes alcohol beverages. Children 3-9 must order from the children’s menu when available. Magic Your Way® Base Tickets are for one Theme Park per day and must be used with 14 days of first use.

No group rates or other discounts apply. Offers cannot be combined and are nontransferable. Advance reservations required. Disney FREE Dining 2012 offer is subject to change without notice.

Off to Neverland Travel is happy to announce that the 2013 Walt Disney World® Resort and Disneyland® Resort vacation packages are now available for booking!

You have been asking for a while now, and the time has finally come! Our Magic Makers® got to work bright and early this morning to start preparing no-obligation quotes for our client’s 2013 travel dates. Magic Your Way® Packages will be valid for travel commencing between Jan. 1, 2013, and Dec. 31, 2013. However, due to system limitations, bookings can only be made a maximum of 499 days into the future, so as of today we can only book through Nov. 22, 2013.

Today is the day to start planning your next Disney Vacation! Contact your Magic Maker® today!

Yesterday, we shared the first four of the themed touring plans for Disney California Adventure® Park. Now, here are the remaining four for you to choose from!

The Show Stopper You’ll be ready for an encore when you are done with this itinerary. From “A Whole New World” to “World of Color,” Disney California Adventure® Park features some of the best entertainment the Disneyland® Resort has to offer. Head down the rabbit hole or be immersed in storytelling as nearly 1,200 fountains light up the night with these interactive, immersive shows. ”Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular” “Red Car Newsboys” Five & Dime Ursula’s Grotto, Sorcerer’s Workshop (Disney Animation Building) “Pixar Play Parade” “Disney Junior – Live on Stage!” Mad T Party “World of Color” “Phineas & Ferb’s Rockin’ Rollin’ Dance Party” Live music on Paradise Pier

Nature Lovers Nature lovers can “branch out” and experience the beautiful horticulture that spreads across Disney California Adventure® Park. More than 450 new trees have been planted in Cars Land alone, and the additon of trees throughout the park adds shade for more guest comfort. From the tall pines around Grizzly Mountain to the small cacti in Cars Land, guests will enjoy all the beautiful surroundings in the park. Golden State Winery Cork Oak at the Golden Vine Winery (Pacific Wharf) Grizzly Peak Pine Trees (Grizzly Peak) Ficus Auriculate – Roxburgh Fig (“a bug’s land”) Cars Land “Ironwood” Tree – Olneya Tesota Cars Land Claret Cup Cactus

A Shopper’s Paradise The additions of Buena Vista Street and Cars Land have given guests even more opportunies to shop to their heart’s content. Whether it’s at Radiator Springs Curios or Big Top Toys, the new shops are a great place to find a souvenir that reflects a day filled with memories.  Add that to the classic merchandise experiences of Disney California Adventure® Park and this itinerary will be added to everyone’s shopping list. Oswald’s (new on Buena Vista Street featuring autograph books, hats, bags and souvenirs) Los Feliz Five & Dime (new on Buena Vista Street featuring t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, figurines, souvenirs and character merchandise) Big Top Toys (new on Buena Vista Street featuring interactive toys, games and plush) Elias & Co.  (new on Buena Vista Street featuring posters, clothing, souvenirs and collectible items) Radiator Springs Curios (new at Cars Land featuring souvenirs) Ramone’s House of Body Art (new at Cars Land featuring clothing and souvenirs) Sarge’s Surplus Hut (new at Cars Land featuring clothing, hats, toys and plush) Seaside Souvenirs (featuring Paradise Pier themed souvenirs and merchandise

Child’s Play Parents and Grandparents entertaining younger guests will want to focus on this plan.  These attractions are fun for all ages and cover the entire Disney California Adventure® Park.  Whether it’s floating on air at Luigi’s Flying Tires or playing at bug’s eye-level in “a bug’s land,” there are so many places to make memories together for the entire family. Luigi’s Flying Tires Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree “Dancing with Disney” “Instant Concert … Just Add Water,” daytime fountain show at Paradise Bay with Maestro Goofy Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train Flik’s Flyers King Triton’s Carousel Golden Zephyr Games of the Boardwalk featuring beloved Disney characters Toy Story Mania! Animation Academy

The past five years has truly been a magical transformation for the Disneyland® Resort. The expansion project brought new attractions, entertainment and experiences to the parks as well as gave a refresh to a few of the favorites. Most of the work centered in Disney California Adventure® Park creating new adventures for guests of all ages. Young or old, thrill seeker or night owl – there really is something for everyone!

We have eight themed touring plans for you to try on your next visit! Whether you mix, match, add, or subtract, you are sure to have a great time at the new Disney California Adventure® Park. Be sure to check back tomorrow for the final 4 touring plans.

Thrill Seekers Adventure Disney California Adventure® Park could be considered a thrill seeker’s paradise with 6 of the highest rated attractions at the Disneyland® Resort. This touring plan is packed with flying, spinning, screaming, soaring and racing fun that any thrill seeker would love. Radiator Springs Racers Soarin’ Over California Twilight Zone™  Tower of Terror Grizzly River Run California Screamin’ Silly Symphony Swings Goofy’s Sky School

The Night Cap When the sun goes down, a magical nighttime experience is just beginning at Disney California Adventure® Park. Watch as Cars Land flips the switch from day to night and enjoy the illumination of Route 66 with its amazing neon signs. Don’t miss a twinkling view of the skyline from the top of Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror and catch all the fun, music and games at Mad T Party. Cars Land Neon Lighting Dinner at Carthay Circle Restaurant or Golden Vine Winery, with reserved viewing for World of Color Carthay Circle Lounge Twilight Zone® Tower of Terror Hot Chocolate at Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop Mad T Party World of Color

A Day with Character Disney California Adventure® Park is the perfect place to get up close and personal with favorite characters! Enjoy being immersed in the stories of classic Disney characters and Pixar pals, plus there are many opportunities to greet favorite characters. Talk with Crush, sing along with Minnie, and go under the sea with Ariel on this character-filled itinerary. Greet Lightning McQueen and Mater Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure Minnie’s Fly Girls Charter Airline Toy Story Mania! Pixar Play Parade Redwood Creek Challenge Trail with Russell and Dug from Disney•Pixar’s Up Turtle Talk with Crush at Disney Animation Building The Beast’s Library, Sorcerer’s Workshop, at Disney Animation Building Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! Muppet*Vision 3D Ariel’s Grotto Princess Character Dining

A Tour Full of Flavor Sometimes you have to make FOOD the star of your vacation! With its new dining locations, Disney California Adventure® Park is a foodie’s paradise.  Comfort food, gourmet meals, regional specialties, signature cocktails and even delectable vintages are all available on this tour through the park.  From small bites to fine dining, your palates will be met with some of the best food and drink options from around the Disneyland® Resort. Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Café Trolley Treats Wine Country Trattoria Flo’s V8 Café Cozy Cone Motel Fillmore’s Taste-In Pacific Wharf Café Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta Carthay Circle Restaurant The Cove Bar Ariel’s Grotto (character dining) Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop Corn Dog Castle “World of Color” picnic dinners; includes reserved viewing for the show