Tag Archive for: Disney Travel Agent

Whether you’re daydreaming about strolling through European streets, taking in the historic landmarks and vibrant culture, or relaxing in the Caribbean, soaking up the sun and crystal-clear waters, the big question always lingers: “How far in advance should I plan?” For many of us, the excitement of planning a trip can be just as thrilling as the journey itself, but knowing when to start making arrangements can be a daunting task. Should you book your flights and accommodations a year in advance, or can you get away with making last-minute plans? The answer depends on a variety of factors, including your destination, travel style, and flexibility. In this post, we’ll break down the key considerations to help you determine the perfect planning timeline for your next adventure.

Cruises 

Cruises for both oceans and rivers typically release their itineraries 18-24 months in advance. While it’s not always essential to book this early, if you’re aiming to travel during busy periods like Christmas or Spring Break, it’s advisable to book as early as possible. For other times, we recommend booking 6-12 months in advance. Doing so allows you to select your preferred cabin, take advantage of early booking discounts, and choose the perfect itinerary. If you book with us, this timeframe also ensures that we have enough time to arrange unique cultural experiences, secure preferred dining times, and fully prepare for your trip.

Europe

To fully enjoy the historic landmarks, beautiful landscapes, and delicious cuisine of Europe without feeling rushed or stressed, we recommend planning your trip 9-12 months in advance. This will give you the best chance to find great deals on flights and accommodations and secure reservations for popular attractions. If you’re booking with us, this timeframe allows us to carefully plan your itinerary and coordinate with our trusted partners to ensure everything is ready for your arrival.

All-Inclusive Resorts 

For a stress-free all-inclusive vacation, we highly advise planning 3-9 months prior to your intended travel dates, and even earlier for peak seasons like Christmas and Spring Break. This proactive approach gives you the best chance to find the most suitable accommodations at the best resorts, and so much more. By planning ahead, you’ll be able to secure the most desirable room categories and amenities, take advantage of early-bird discounts and promotions, and ensure the availability of popular activities and excursions. Planning ahead also allows you to make informed decisions about travel insurance and other essentials, avoid last-minute rushes and potential price increases, and enjoy a more relaxed and enjoyable planning experience.

Domestic Vacations 

We don’t book all domestic locations, but we specialize in planning trips to stunning national parks, the beautiful beaches of the Hawaiian islands, and one of my favorite places on earth – Alaska! We recommend planning these types of trips 3-6 months in advance. This gives us the opportunity to book flights at reasonable prices, secure accommodations in popular destinations, and plan any necessary excursions. If you’re booking with us, this also gives us enough time to craft the perfect itinerary enriched with hidden gems and expert insights.

Keep in mind that these timeframes are just a starting point, as every traveler’s preferences and flexibility are one-of-a-kind. That’s why we specialize in curating customized journeys that cater to your distinct style and needs. We’re thrilled to help you plan your ideal getaway, and we look forward to tailoring every detail to make your travel dreams a reality! To get started, click HERE.

 

Disney Cruise Line has announced the inaugural dates and itineraries for its new island destination in The Bahamas!

In June 2024, Disney Cruise Line will debut its newest Bahamian destination on the island of Eleuthera at Lighthouse Point! Guests will discover a vibrant beach retreat designed with families in mind, infused with the color and energy of Bahamian artistry, and developed with a commitment to conservation at its core.

On June 6, a three-night preview cruise on the Disney Magic from Fort Lauderdale will offer a sneak peek of Lighthouse Point with limited access to some areas. On June 8, the Disney Fantasy will sail the inaugural sailing visiting Lighthouse Point. This itinerary will feature two stops at Lighthouse Point and one day at Castaway Cay.

Following the inaugural voyage, Lighthouse Point will be a port of call on select three-, four- and five-night sailings to The Bahamas and the Caribbean on the Disney Magic out of Fort Lauderdale. These itineraries will vary stops between Lighthouse Point and Castaway Cay, with five special departures including both Disney Cruise Line island destinations.

Contact us today to book your next Disney Cruise where you can visit the incredible new island destination, Lighthouse Point!

What do you get when you combine Marvel Super Heroes and Villains with a Disney cruise? Marvel Day at Sea! Whether you’re a newcomer to the Marvel universe, a lifelong fan,or traveling with someone who is, you will love this action-packed day aboard the Disney Dream, setting sail from Miami January-March 2023.

More than 30 Marvel Super Heroes and Villains will be featured in new heroic encounters and live entertainment throughout the event.

Which Marvel characters will be there? Captain America Sam Wilson, Mighty Thor, Shang-Chi, Marvel, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Kate Bishop, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Thor, Loki, Black Widow and more.

Shows and activities include Heroes Unite (a nighttime spectacular with stunts, special effects and pyrotechnics), shows in the Walt Disney Theatre, an interactive training experience, a costume bash with a high-energy party on the upper decks, an adult-exclusive dance party and so much more.

Guests can experience this epic day at sea on the following Disney Dream itineraries in 2023:

Departing Jan. 7, Jan. 21, Feb. 4, Feb. 18 and March 4, 2023, the Western Caribbean itinerary features Georgetown, Grand Cayman and Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay.

Departing Jan. 16, Jan. 30, Feb. 13 and Feb. 27, 2023, the Western Caribbean itinerary includes stops at Cozumel, Mexico and Castaway Cay.

These cruises are extremely popular and will sell out. Contact me today if you want more information or you’re ready to book your Marvel-ous cruise.

Since I first posted about our experience on social media, I have had so many questions about it so I decided to answer some of them in this blog post.

Galactic Starcruiser – Is it worth it?

10,000% yes!

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Star Wars movie. I may have, back in the 80’s, but I really don’t have a clue about the storyline or characters. However, it was by far one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.

What’s it like? It’s kind of hard to explain without giving away too much. The best way to describe it is part dinner theater and part name-your-own adventure. It’s an immersive experience that you can be involved with as much or as little as you’d like. In many regards, it’s like an ocean cruise (in space). Your accommodations and meals are provided. You get to meet some of the crew, and you decide how to spend your time – at leisure or fully immersed in the classes and planned events. 

You don’t need to know much about Star Wars to ‘get’ it. The Cast Members are incredible. They draw you in and you become part of the story. The basic premise is you board the Halcyon for a cruise to Batuu. Things don’t quite go as planned. You communicate with the captain and other officials from the ship with an app (Disney Play) that gets activated when you board. Your adventure is dictated by how you respond. My husband, son and I each had different storylines and missions.

How is the food?

The food was fabulous! A lot of it looked different and kind of funny (hello blue shrimp ????). One of our table mates was a 7-year-old boy. He asked for “normal” food and was brought standard kid food without an issue.

All of your food and non-alcoholic beverages are included. The dining room is set up with a buffet for breakfast and lunch. For dinner, it becomes a regular dining room with a plated meal.

My son (who is 8) tried almost everything. Just like at home, there were things he liked and things he didn’t like. Our server was great and brought us more of the things he loved. I don’t eat gluten, and my husband and son can’t have shellfish. They accommodated us beautifully and without issue.

Do you have to dress up?

The short answer is no. I would guess that 60% or more were dressed up. There were more on the first night than the second. I had heard (and I agree) that costumes make you more memorable to the Cast Members. However, if you don’t want to dress up, no one cares. We saw everything from costumes to no costumes to Star Wars t-shirts. There were people dressed up as specific characters but most were like us – looking like we were from somewhere in the galaxy. We had fun with it. We wore the same outfits both nights and wore our “street” clothes on our excursion to Batuu. When you’re trying to decide on costumes, just do what feels right for you.

Do you get to pick which parks to visit?

Technically, I guess you could, but your voyage only includes admission to Hollywood Studios. It’s important to remember that this is an immersive experience. You are part of the story, so you are given missions to complete. Many of them are on Batuu (aka Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios)

You can begin to board your transport to Batuu as early as 8am on day 2, and you must return by 4pm. We headed over at 8:15. The transport is themed in typical Disney fashion, but I’m pretty sure we were in the back of a box truck. ????

Since we didn’t have another Hollywood Studios day planned for this trip, we quickly rode Slinky Dog, Toy Story Mania, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, all by 10:20. Then we headed to our reservation at Oga’s Cantina, which was part of our story.

After completing our missions at Oga’s Cantina, we used our Lightning Lane entrances for Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run and Rise of the Resistance.

We then did a few more quick missions (scanning QR codes around Batuu to collect supplies) and headed back to the ship a little before 1pm. They have activities onboard all day, and my son wanted to participate in the Droid racing. (He came in second behind the only adult participant) ????????

After that we headed back to Batuu for a few more missions. Activities onboard really kicked into full swing at 4pm.

So to answer the question, you really wouldn’t want to visit other parks during your stay as you’d miss out on the experience. After talking to others on our voyage, we learned that we were the minority in leaving Batuu to ride other rides, but it worked for us.

Would you do it again?

Absolutely! Our story would be different so we’d probably have a totally different experience. It was so much fun and unlike anything we have ever done before.

If you’d like to take a voyage on the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser, contact me today!

There’s nothing more special than seeing our children (or grandchildren) light up when they see those loveable Disney characters. Character dining at Disney World has always been a favorite among guests because they get the chance to get up close to their favorite characters for a laugh or a hug. 

Disney has just shared some great news – more character dining experiences are returning! Here are the characters and dining locations where you’ll find your favorite fare and special characters:

September 20 – Winnie the Pooh and friends at The Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom Park (lunch and dinner). Feast on options like Carved Prime Rib, Seasonal Ravioli, and Peel & Eat Shrimp in this greenhouse-inspired beauty.

September 27 – Lilo and Stitch at ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (breakfast). Enjoy tasty treats like the Pineapple Coconut Breakfast Bread and Mickey Waffles, and sip on the iconic Lilikoi Juice and the yummy Moana Smoothie.

October 4 – Minnie and her friends at Cape May Café at Disney’s Beach Club Resort (breakfast). Enjoy your morning favorites at this feast, including the mouthwatering Salted Caramel “Beach Buns.” And what breakfast is complete without the famous Mickey and Minnie Waffles?

These character dining locations join other newly returned experiences, like the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue and Chip ‘N Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. What a wonderful way to enjoy one of your meals while visiting Walt Disney World!

Disney Cruise Line’s Fall sailings will once again include Halloween on the High Seas from mid-September through October, and then from mid-November through December Disney’s Very Merrytime sailings.

Disney Dream

After her summer in Europe, the Disney Dream will take a Transatlantic cruise back to New York City where she’ll sail to Bermuda throughout the fall.

Disney Fantasy

The Fantasy will continue sailing from Port Canaveral, with 7-night itineraries to the Caribbean.

Disney Magic

Beginning October 5, 2023 the Magic will sail Eastbound through the Panama Canal to its Fall home port in San Diego. She’ll sail two to seven-night cruises to Baja and the Mexican Riviera throughout the fall before returning through the Panama Canal to Galveston in early December.

Disney Wish

Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Wish, will continue sailing from Port Canaveral, with 3–4-night itineraries to the Bahamas.

Disney Wonder

No information was released on what the Wonder will be doing this Fall.

If you would like to book your Fall 2023 Disney Cruise, contact us today!

With the steady return of live entertainment to Walt Disney World Resort, park guests are once again creating special moments with their favorite Disney characters. Let’s kick things off with some exciting news for Magic Kingdom Park

  • Encanto’s Mirabel made her debut in the “Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade” on June 26! According to TikTok, the fans went wild!
  • July 6th – the always iconic Minnie Mouse will join Mickey Mouse in Town Square Theater once again. Both will be decked out in their EARidescent fashions designed specifically for the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration, and they will be ready for hugs and photos.
  • July 10th – keep an eye out for familiar Fantasyland friends Peter Pan and Snow White as they greet guests at Magic Kingdom Park once again.
  • July 31st – look for the Harmony Barber Shop to begin creating magical memories on Main Street again!
  • Aug 25th – Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will soon welcome young guests once again for royal head-to-toe transformations. (Only the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Resort locations are reopening at this time)

At our beloved Ft.. Wilderness

  • Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is stomping at Pioneer Hall once again!
  • July 6 marks the return of Chip ‘N Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, where you can join the nutty friends for a campfire celebration followed by a Disney Movie!!

At Hollywood Studios

  • July 17 – Star Wars Launch Bay Reopens! A celebration of the legendary space saga, Star Wars Launch Bay is your place for a warm embrace with Chewbacca, a face-to-droid encounter with BB-8 or a run-in with Darth Vader himself for those brave enough.

And those are just the next few weeks! We have even more fun, hugs and memories on the horizon. In the coming months, a visit to Magic Kingdom Park will bring chances to meet Aladdin, Jasmine, Merida, Pooh, Tigger and Storybook Circus pals like The Great Goofini in Pete’s Silly Sideshow. Your favorite toys will be ready for playtime in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Donald Duck and friends will rejoin their prehistoric party at “Donald’s Dino-Bash!” in DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.

When it comes to holiday magic, nobody does it better than Disney, and I am thrilled to announce the return of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom Park! The party kicks off on November 8th and runs through December 22nd. This separately ticketed event is scheduled on 24 select nights. Here’s what’s in store:

Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration – a variety show Mickey and his pals at the Cinderella Castle stage

Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks – castle projections, fireworks and seasonal songs

Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade – Santa with Mickey Mouse and friends

Special treats – complimentary cookies and hot cocoa throughout the park

Jingle Cruise – the Jungle Cruise transformed with yuletide cheer

Holiday makeovers for some of your favorite attractions – Space Mountain, Tomorrowland Speedway, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor and Mad Tea Party

A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas – dance party on the Rockettower Plaza Stage

50th Anniversary celebration keepsakes and photo opportunities – themed for the holidays

Tickets are limited and go on sale on July 7th, so in between trips to the baseball field and the pool, you’ll want to check your calendar.

As they say, April showers bring May flowers and May brings . . . thoughts of Halloween. Not what you were thinking? Since May is halfway to Halloween, you might want to start thinking about it because Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is returning to Magic Kingdom Park this fall during their 50th Anniversary celebration.

Attendees are invited to wear their favorite costumes and enjoy exclusive entertainment, Disney villains, frightfully delicious menu items and more. New additions to this year’s party include event-exclusive step-in photo opportunities and a Halloween-themed 50th Anniversary celebration commemorative print on the reusable trick-or-treat bags.

Tickets go on sale May 18th and sell out quickly for this limited-capacity event. The fun begins in mid-August on 4 select nights. There are 13 dates in September and 18 nights in October, with the final party on Halloween night.

Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels can begin purchasing tickets as early as May 12. Prices range from $109-$199.

While you may be enjoying the scent of spring blooms, take a few minutes to dream of pumpkin spice and buy your tickets before they sell out. We now return you to your regularly-scheduled springtime activities.

If you have ever been on a cruise, you’re familiar with the day at sea. There are various games and activities offered throughout the day along with that coveted pool time. Disney Cruise Line takes the day at sea one step further with their Marvel Day at Sea.

This is great news for Marvel fans looking for an epic vacation in early 2023, and for the first time ever, the largest assembly of Marvel Super Heroes and Villains on one ship will be sailing out of Miami on the Disney Dream! This day-long celebration on select five-night Caribbean cruises features encounters with some of Guests’ favorite Marvel Super Heroes, action-packed entertainment and Marvel-themed activities designed for the whole family to enjoy. 

Don’t worry if the entire family isn’t interested in Marvel. With Broadway-style shows, themed dining, activities for every member of the family and Disney’s classic service and attention to detail, there truly is something for everyone.

The Marvel Day at Sea itineraries include Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Disney’s own private island, Castaway Cay, in the Bahamas. These special cruises set sail in January, February and March, 2023, and are available for booking now.

To book your Marvel Day at Sea, contact us today!