Tag Archive for: Authorized Disney Vacation Planner Kalamazoo

The Disney Dream will kick off their long-awaited return to cruising from the U.S. on August 9th with tropical voyages to the Bahamas departing from Port Canaveral, Florida. The three and four-night cruises will visit Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, for an unforgettable vacation at sea.

As always, the ship will be overflowing with magic—from beloved character encounters to enchanting Broadway-style musicals and a spectacular fireworks display at sea. And, you’ll be pleased to know that Disney has come up with new and exciting ways to create memories together—tailored to our times and presented with all the care you’ve come to expect from Disney Cruise Line.

Here are the procedures that are being implemented for the well-being of our Guests and Crew Members:

  • All Guests must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test (at the Guests’ expense) taken between 5 days and 24 hours prior to the sail date.
  • All guests will be required to take a COVID-19 rapid test provided by Disney, in the terminal prior to boarding and comply with other health and safety requirements. The $65 test fee will be charged to the folio of all Guests 12 years and older.
  • For cruises departing from Florida through December 31, 2021, guests 12 years and older must provide proof of a valid travel insurance policy
  • Guests who are fully vaccinated may choose to provide proof of vaccination in order to be exempt from pre-trip and embarkation testing requirements (unless arriving from outside the United States) and travel insurance requirements.
  • Guests ages 2 and older are required to wear a face covering on the ship and at our terminals , except in designated areas and situations
  • Certain onboard venues, experiences and other offerings will be modified or unavailable, will have limited capacity and availability and may be subject to advance reservations. 

Disney has announced brand-new ways for adults to pamper and play, sip and swim, escape and indulge aboard the Disney Wish, which is being purposefully designed with adults’ vacation needs in mind – including more relaxation, more variety, more accessibility and more storytelling than ever before!

Outdoor Oasis at Senses Spa

For the first time aboard a Disney ship, Senses Spa will feature a dedicated outdoor relaxation space! This open-air oasis is a brand-new extension to the signature Rainforest experience – which is a real treat! This area has been reimagined for the Disney Wish to provide even more ways to relax and rejuvenate. The Rainforest will introduce the fleet’s first ice lounge, allowing you to combine thermal therapies, which promotes both physical wellness and tranquility. It will also include favorite elements like heated ergonomic loungers; sensory spa showers; and sauna, steam and dry chambers.


Untangled Salon

At Untangled Salon, you can let their hair down (and have it styled any way you want) in a light and airy environment that is perfect for pampering. Inspired by Rapunzel, this chic, high-end salon will be adorned in shades of purple and gold, decorated with floating lantern light fixtures and outfitted with custom cut-metal privacy screens depicting Rapunzel’s own paintings. One side of the space will even gleam and glow with the golden light of a signature chandelier that evokes the iconic flower that gave her hair its magical qualities! In addition to haircuts and styling, the menu of services at Untangled Salon will include manicures, pedicures, teeth whitening and skin treatments.

Hook’s Barbery

Hook’s Barbery will be a unique twist on a traditional European men’s salon, offering cuts, shaves, and nail and skin care. Decked out in dark woods, handsome leather chairs and ornate golden mirrors, the space will brim with narrative details inspired by its namesake, Captain Hook: an inlaid wooden map of Never Land, a hidden pocket watch and — of course — a hook, to name a few. A trio of seemingly nondescript lanterns will occasionally come to life with lighting and audio effects to signify Tinker Bell jumping from one fixture to another.

Not only will Hook’s Barbery provide salon and barber services, but it will also boast the ultimate toast to a pirate’s life: a hidden bar! This (not-so-secret) treasure trove of pre-Prohibition bourbons, vintage whisky and port, aged rum and premium spirits will be a liquor enthusiast’s paradise, ideal for low-key hangouts, romantic date nights, hosted tastings and special evening events. 


Keg & Compass

Keg & Compass is a pub that celebrates the adventure and romance of the sea, designed in the rustic architectural style of a late 1800s Norwegian sailor’s map room and drawing inspiration from the rich folklore of Norse seafaring. Spanning the entire ceiling will be a grand, fantastical map in old maritime style that features, among other references to ocean lore, a homage to Disney characters and stories related to the sea. In addition to such characters as Ursula and Moana (appearing in the geographically accurate locations of their stories), the map will call out important locales related to The Walt Disney Company and, specifically, the design and construction of the Disney Wish.

This casual setting will be the perfect place to kick back and watch live sports, news and major broadcast events while sampling a specialized selection of beers, including three custom craft brews available exclusively aboard the Disney Wish, along with an assortment of liquors, wines and cocktails.

Nightingale’s

Nightingale’s is a refined piano bar inspired by Cinderella’s lyrical rendition of “Sing Sweet Nightingale” in the 1950 film, offering an extensive menu of fine wines, bubblies and hand-crafted cocktails. Classically modern with a soft metallic palette, the predominant design feature will be a glittering chandelier perched above the piano — a swirl of pearlescent bubbles and music notes displaying the titular song’s melody meticulously crafted out of shimmering rose gold. This vibrant lounge will be a thematic extension of the fairytale-inspired Grand Hall from which it stems, with large doors that allow the twinkling tunes to spill out across the atrium, inviting passersby to stop and stay for a while.

The Bayou

If Guests are looking for New Orleans-inspired good time aboard the Disney Wish, they’ll want to go down to The Bayou, an informal lounge themed to “The Princess and the Frog.” Flourishing with magnolia blossoms, lily pads and a canopy of twinkling fireflies overhead, this space will evoke the magical marsh where Tiana and Naveen take refuge in the film. This centrally located venue will offer creative cocktails, specialty coffees and signature beignets in a lively, social atmosphere complete with live entertainment and musical performances.

Are you ready to book your next cruise on the Disney Wish to experience these amazing spaces for yourself?

After nearly fifteen months, fireworks will once again be lighting up the night sky at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Park in California.

Starting July 1, “Happily Ever After” will return to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World and transform Cinderella Castle with lights, projections and pyrotechnics, as moments from favorite Disney stories encourage Guests to grab hold of their dreams and make them come true. And as part of the ongoing transformation of EPCOT, “EPCOT Forever” will produce a spectacle of fireworks, music and lighting effects over World Showcase Lagoon, highlighting the themes of innovation, exploration, imagination and celebration at the core of the park’s past, present and future.

The fun starts July 4 at Disneyland Park in California with “Mickey’s Mix Magic” presented nightly throughout the summer. State-of-the-art projections, show lighting and lasers will transform Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle and the façade of “it’s a small world” into a dazzling, family-fun dance party that goes sky high with fireworks to celebrate the leader of the club, Mickey Mouse.

To book your trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida or Disneyland Park in California, contact me today.

There’s a lot to think about when preparing for any vacation – flights, reservations, packing, pet care, etc. Do you ever use apps when you travel? Like everything else in the digital world, there is an overabundance of travel apps, but choosing the right ones can help you stay organized. Here are my top 5 suggestions for apps to download before your next Disney vacation.


Weather
Of course we all want blue skies and warm temperatures but let’s be realistic. Rain happens. The app that comes with your phone may suffice but if you want detailed hourly predictions, you’ll want something a little more robust like Dark Sky, AccuWeather or The Weather Channel.

Airline
If you don’t already have your airline’s app, you should definitely download it before you fly. Not only can you download your boarding pass for easy access but you will also get updates if there are any changes to your flights. Pro tip: After you download your boarding pass, take a screenshot of it just in case you run into issues with the app when boarding.

Ride Share
Sometimes it’s faster to call Uber or Lyft rather than take Disney transportation, especially if you have an early morning character breakfast or a super tired toddler who can’t wait in bus lines at the end of the day. Make sure you have both of these apps downloaded before you go. If you’re using one of them for the first time, use my referral links for a discount. Click here for Lyft and here for Uber (or use promo code cheris1827ui for Uber). 

My Disney Experience
You must download this app. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Just download this app! You will have the entire Walt Disney World in the palm of your hands with attraction wait
times, showtimes, park hours, park maps, dining reservations and so much more.

Play Disney Parks
We all know that wait times can be difficult when traveling with children. This new app offers interactive experiences, games, trivia and other fun while you wait for shows and attractions
(or if you just need to take a break from the rides). For instance, when you’re waiting for an attraction in a galaxy far far away, you and your family can interact with droids, take on jobs to help outpost residents or help your faction in the battle between the Resistance and the First Order.


If you’re looking to streamline your travel experience, you’ll find these apps to be extremely helpful. Once you have your travel apps downloaded, I suggest creating a folder to put them all in. Voila!

Disney After Hours Boo Bash tickets are now on sale! Join in the spooky fun at Magic Kingdom with three hours of lower wait times for 20+ favorite attractions, ghostly Character Cavalcades, trick-or-treating, and performances from the Cadaver Dans. 

Disney After Hours Boo Bash will take place on select nights from August 10 through October 31 (dates below)

You may enter the Magic Kingdom as early as 7:00pm giving you even more time to enjoy park favorites before the event begins! These dated tickets do not require an additional day theme park ticket or Disney Park Pass theme park reservation.

Admission to Disney After Hours Boo Bash can be purchased online for $129 to $199 per adult or child (plus tax), depending on the event date. Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can take advantage of a $10 discount on event dates in August and September.

Boo Bash Dates:

  • Tuesday, August 10   
  • Tuesday, August 17               
  • Friday, August 20                   
  • Tuesday, August 24               
  • Friday, August 27                   
  • Tuesday, August 31               
  • Friday, September 3              
  • Sunday, September 5            
  • Tuesday, September 7
  • Friday, September 10
  • Sunday, September 12
  • Tuesday, September 14
  • Friday, September 17
  • Sunday, September 19
  • Tuesday, September 21
  • Friday, September 24
  • Tuesday, October 5
  • Friday, October 8
  • Sunday, October 10
  • Tuesday, October 12
  • Friday, October 15
  • Sunday, October 17
  • Tuesday, October 19
  • Friday, October 22
  • Sunday, October 24
  • Tuesday, October 26
  • Friday, October 29
  • Sunday, October 31

Contact me today to book your Boo Bash tickets!

The new Disney Wish cruise ship is taking dining to a whole new level. You will find places to grab a bite in the three themed districts with everything to quick casual fare to a smoothie bar to a poolside bar and chic café.

However, the true magic happens at dinner. The Wish will debut three new dining concepts that incorporate dinner into various Disney stories. There’s a reason they are called dining concepts – they go way beyond dining in a restaurant and instead offer an entertainment experience along with world-class
cuisine.

The first is Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure. This first-ever Frozen-themed dining experience features all your favorite characters – Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Olaf – in an immersive show while you enjoy a menu influenced by Nordic dishes.

The second venue, Worlds of Marvel, will appeal to Avengers fans as you play an interactive role in this cinematic adventure. The menu will feature worldly items inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The third experience, 1923, is named for the year that The Walt Disney Company was founded. Imagine
a celebration of this golden age of animation while choosing from a menu of fresh California-inspired
cuisine.

Each of these three new concepts promises to deliver its own unique experience with something to offer everyone in the family.

If you want to experience the new Disney Wish and these amazing staterooms, contact me today.

The Disney Wish, the newest ship with Disney Cruise line, will begin sailing in 2022, and in the usual Disney fashion, they are pulling out all the stops.

The AquaMouse, a two-seater aqua coaster, is the first Disney attraction at sea. It wouldn’t be a Disney ride without a story line, and on AquaMouse, Mickey and Minnie have started their own seaside excursion company named Port Misadventures.

At the beginning of the ride, you’ll cruise through a tunnel while enjoying an animated short with sea creatures, Disney characters, music and 60+ water effects.

Don’t get too comfortable! At the end of the tunnel, you’ll blast out for a ride around the upper decks, including a funnel with lighting effects, a quick dash through a dark tunnel, and up and down a series of speed blasters. Finish up with a loop over the edge of the ship (yes, you will see the ocean below you) and a splash landing with a parting message from Mickey and Minnie.

The AquaMouse promises to be a fun adventure for the entire family!

Book a cruise on the Disney Wish to experience AquaMouse for yourself!

What do you think of when someone mentions Disney Imagineers? You most likely think of the theme parks and the rides. However, Disney also employs imagineers to design their cruise ships, and they have been actively involved with the design of the staterooms on the newest ship, the Disney Wish.

The Wish Tower Suite is the first-ever suite that is in the funnel of the ship (the most iconic feature of a cruise ship, which was initially designed as a smokestack.) This incredible suite, which looks over the upper decks, has two master bedrooms, a children’s room with bunk beds, a library that can be converted to another bedroom and incredible views. It is comparable to the suite in Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom.

You’ll also find a handful of other suites themed after Moana, Tangled, The Little Mermaid and Sleeping Beauty. The four royal suites that celebrate Sleeping Beauty are available as 1- or 2-story suites, all of which include two bedrooms, two bathrooms, an extensive living area, open dining room, pantry and hot tub on the private verandah. Seven of the oceanview rooms, with The Little Mermaid theme, have angled floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the bow. Those who book one of the 76 concierge staterooms and suites will receive premium service and access to exclusive areas and amenities, including the Concierge Lounge, private sun deck, wading pool, bar and a dedicated pool deck host.

You don’t have to book a suite to enjoy all the magic and whimsy of the Disney stories. Each stateroom has just enough magic while still feeling comfortable, cozy and restful. These peaceful retreats were designed with families in mind, offering roomy closets, storage space under the beds, split bathrooms, and bathtubs for getting the little ones scrubby clean. Some of the staterooms have connecting doors for larger families along with partitions between verandahs that can be opened for a larger balcony. Speaking of verandahs, 70% of the staterooms will have them.

Regardless of which accommodations you choose on the Disney Wish, you and your family will be delighted with the amenities and magical Disney touches that are to be found in every inch of your room.

If you want to experience the new Disney Wish and these amazing staterooms, contact me today.

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks plan to reopen to Guests on April 30, 2021. Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will reopen on April 29, 2021 with limited capacity, and we can now book reservations to stay at this fantastic resort!

Located just steps from the Downtown Disney District, Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure Park, take in the tranquility of the towering trees, the breathtaking Craftsman-style architecture, the incomparable location and the impeccable Disney service.

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa offers well-appointed accommodations, sparkling pools, cabana service and even special Disney character wake-up calls by request! During their stay, Guests can be sure to grab a delicious bite and refreshing drink at GCH Craftsman Bar and Grill or at Hearthstone Lounge, with sit-down dining and new mobile order options available.

The Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel will reopen at a later date. 

Hotel reservations do not guarantee theme park access. To enter a park, a park reservation and a valid admission ticket is required.

Contact me today to plan your stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.

Super Heroes Assemble! The Avengers Campus—an entirely new land dedicated to discovering, recruiting and training the next generation of Super Heroes—will open June 4, 2021 at the Disneyland Resort!

At this fully immersive land inside Disney California Adventure park, guests will be invited to team up with the Avengers and their allies and live out their Super Hero dreams. Avengers Campus is comprised of several heroic locations, each hosted by a different Avenger to share their unique powers, technology and knowledge with recruits. Today, we’re also excited to unveil a first look inside Avengers Campus!

Sling webs with Spider-Man and unite with the Guardians of the Galaxy

The first key area is the Worldwide Engineering Brigade – also known as WEB. It brings together bright innovators like Peter Parker who have been assembled by Tony Stark to invent new technologies and equip everyday people to become Super Heroes like the Avengers. WEB will house the new WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, the first Disney ride-through attraction to feature the iconic friendly neighborhood Spider-Man!

Tom Holland will reprise his role as Spider-Man in the new family-friendly attraction, which invites guests to put their web-slinging skills to the test and experience what it’s like to have powers alongside Spider-Man – a feat accomplished with innovative technology adapted specifically for this attraction, perfect for up-and-coming recruits of all ages.

The second anchor attraction looms high above the land, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, a fan-favorite that opened in 2017. This rockin’ adventure blasts guests straight into the “Guardians of the Galaxy” story, alongside characters from the blockbuster films and comics. Help Rocket bust his fellow Guardians of the Galaxy out of the Collector’s Fortress and experience raucous mayhem, music inspired by the soundtracks from the movies, thrilling free-fall drop sequences and six different story lines!

Team up with the Avengers and their allies like never before

Throughout Avengers Campus, Super Heroes will come to life in exciting ways. Guests may have heroic encounters with Iron Man, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, the Dora Milaje, Black Widow, Ant-Man and The Wasp, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor and even villains like Loki.

Guests may even have the chance to witness Spider-Man swinging into action high above Avengers Campus with gravity-defying, acrobatic feats never seen before in a Disney theme park.

At a nearby ancient sanctum, Doctor Strange will train recruits in the mystic arts by bringing this ancient sanctum to life with powerful spells. At night, the area glows even more vividly with majestic colors and lights, pulsating with mystic energy.

At this time, Disneyland Resort in California is only open to California residents. If you are a California resident, contact me today to play your next trip to Disneyland!