Tag Archive for: kalamazoo travel agent

Sandals Resorts

Sandals Resorts are arguably the most luxurious resorts in the Caribbean. With 16 resorts located on Jamaica, The Bahamas, Grenada, Barbados, Antigua, and Saint Lucia. Their adults-only all-inclusive resorts are ideal for weddings, honeymoons, or just a dreamy romantic retreat.

Sandals 5-star resorts are a favorite among clients with their gorgeous white-sand beaches, savory dining experiences, opulent accommodations, unlimited refreshing beverages, exciting water sports and more.

If you would like to stay at one of these incredible resorts, contact me today!

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Halloween Horror Nights 2020 Dates Announced

On the heels of this year’s wildly-popular event, Universal Orlando Resort has revealed the dates for Halloween Horror Nights 2020 – the 30th anniversary of the world’s premier Halloween event. All-new scares, plus reimagined haunts inspired by the past, will invade Universal Studios Florida for 39 select nights from Thursday, September 10 – Saturday, October 21, 2020.

Guests visiting Universal Orlando’s world-class vacation destination select nights in September and October will be able to experience all the horrors that await – including 10 brand-new haunted houses, five bone-chilling scare zones, live entertainment and more.

What began as a three-day event in Orlando in 1991 has become the world’s premier Halloween event – Halloween Horror Nights.  Each fall, as the sun sets on days filled with thrills and the night awakens with a frightening chill, the most terrifying names in horror and pop culture take over Universal Studios Florida – forcing guests to come face-to-face with what scares them most. Elaborately-themed haunted houses based on everything from cinematic greats and cult favorites to original abominations created by the twisted minds behind the event come to life – each filled with so much detail, they rival movie sets.  Hordes of menacing scareactors prey upon guests in various scare zones throughout the streets of the park. And when guests need a break from the screams, they can enjoy live shows and Universal Studios’ most exhilarating rides and attractions. 

Halloween Horror Nights has grown into a global phenomenon and can also be experienced at Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Singapore each fall. Details and dates for those events will be revealed in the months ahead.  

More information about Halloween Horror Nights 2020 at Universal Orlando – including experiences, tickets and offers – will be revealed next year.

To plan your visit Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Orlando Resorts or Universal Studio Hollywood, click HERE.

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Disney Cruise Line Special Sailings

As if sailing on a Disney Cruise wasn’t magical enough, chart a course for more magic as you share in special day-long celebrations on select Disney cruises. You can step into the epic saga of Star Wars or thrill to an amazing Marvel Day at Sea. As you sail, delight in enchanting entertainment and activities throughout the ship.

Star Wars Day at Sea

Celebrate the ways of The Force with a special deck party, photo opportunities with characters, and deck party with fireworks! Kids can take part in an onboard version of Jedi Training Academy and special food and beverages will be served. Each week a different guest presenter will share their stories.

Star Wars Cruises
2020 – Disney Fantasy: January 11 – February 29

Star Wars Day at Sea will only be offered on nine Disney Fantasy seven-night Caribbean cruises sailing from Port Canaveral:

  • Departing Jan. 11, Jan. 25 and Feb. 22, 2020, the eastern Caribbean itinerary includes Tortola, St. Thomas and Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay.
  • Departing Feb. 8, 2020, the eastern Caribbean itinerary includes Tortola; San Juan, Puerto Rico and Castaway Cay.
  • Departing Jan. 4, Jan. 18, Feb. 1, Feb. 15 and Feb. 29, 2020, the western Caribbean itinerary includes Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Falmouth, Jamaica and Castaway Cay.

Marvel Day at Sea

Meet your favorite super heroes, including Black Panther, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Captain America, Thor, Loki, Doctor Strange, Black Widow, and Hawkeye, plus Star-Lord, Gamora and Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy. Kids will take part in Marvel-themed games and activites, then the whole family is invited to see Doctor Strange host an interactive show that allows children train in the “fundamentals of the Mystic Arts,” and finally an action-packed deck party with fireworks closes out the day.

Marvel Cruises
2020 – Disney Magic: select sailings January 9 – March 9

Marvel Day at Sea will only be offered on nine Disney Magic Caribbean and Bahamian cruises sailing from Miami.

  • Departing Jan. 9, Jan. 27, Feb. 10, Feb. 24 and March 9, 2020, the Bahamian itinerary includes Key West, Florida; Nassau, Bahamas and Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay.
  • Departing Feb. 1, Feb. 15 and Feb. 29, 2020, the western Caribbean itinerary includes George Town, Grand Cayman and Castaway Cay.
  • Departing Jan. 18, 2020, the western Caribbean itinerary includes Cozumel, Mexico and Castaway Cay.

To experience Star Wars Day at Sea or Marvel Day at Sea or any other Disney Cruise Line sailing, contact me here.

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U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 Best Cruise Line Rankings

U.S. News & World Report rates more than 150 cruise ships based on an analysis of expert and user opinions that factor in traveler type, overall cruise ship quality, reputation in the industry, types of itineraries, approval ratings and more. To read more about their ranking system, click here.

Best Cruise Lines for the Money

#1 Royal Caribbean International

#2 Celebrity Cruises

#3 Norwegian Cruise Line

Best Cruise Lines for the Families

#1 Disney Cruise Line

#2 Royal Caribbean International

#3 Carnival Cruise Line

Best Cruise Lines for Couples

#1 Viking Ocean Cruises

#2 Seabourn Cruise Line

#3 Crystal Cruises

Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean

#1 Disney Cruise Line

#2 Royal Caribbean International

#3 Seabourn Cruise Line

Best Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean

#1 Seabourne Cruise Line

#2 Crystal Cruises

#3 Viking Ocean Cruises

Best Luxury Cruise Lines

#1 Viking Ocean Cruises

#2 Seabourne Cruise Line

#3 Crystal Cruises

 

To plan your next cruise and experience any of these cruise lines for yourself, contact me today!

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Give the Gift of a Getaway in the New Year at a Disneyland Resort Hotel

Surprise your loved ones this holiday with an unforgettable present underneath the tree—a fun escape near new and exciting experiences at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure!

Save on select rooms available at all 3 Disneyland Resort hotels—valid for stays most Sunday through Thursday nights from January 5 through April 16, 2020

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

  • Save 25% on Premium rooms
  • Save 20% on Standard rooms

Disneyland Hotel

  • Save 25% on Premium rooms
  • Save 20% on Standard rooms

Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel

  • Save 10% on Premium and Standard rooms

Book from November 12, 2019 through March 14, 2020; travel must be completed by April 17, 2020. Some restrictions apply.

Consider adding theme park tickets to this room offer. Staying at one of these Disneyland Resort hotels makes it easy and convenient for your family to check off popular must-dos from their list—including the chance to experience the thrilling and immersive attraction, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (opening January 17, 2020) and fly Han Solo’s famous ship on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland Park!

Plus, each day during your stay at a Disneyland Resort hotel, you will receive benefits and a host of welcoming amenities with distinctive Disney touches that will enhance your overall experience.

To give the gift of Disney under the tree this Christmas, contact me here.

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Royal Caribbean Announces Perfect Day at Lelepa

Royal Caribbean International has announced it will build a new private island destination in the South Pacific, dubbed Perfect Day at Lelepa, Vanuatu.

Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Charlot Salwai and Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley revealed during a ceremony last week that the destination would be created in partnership with the community of Vanuatu to showcase its natural beauty, highlight local culture, provide employment opportunities and educate residents on the islands.

In addition, Royal Caribbean has vowed to keep construction and operation of the destination sustainable. Perfect Day at Lelepa will become the first carbon-neutral private cruise destination in the world and safeguard the island’s ecosystems.

“Vanuatu is a true paradise for both our people and the visitors we welcome to our shores each year. Today marks a major step forward in our island nation’s close relationship with Royal Caribbean and one that will support sustainable growth for future generations. The Ni-Vanuatu people look forward to welcoming Royal Caribbean guests from around the world to enjoy extraordinary adventures and relaxation during their Perfect Day at Lelepa.

Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Charlot Salwai

Perfect Day at Lelepa will have a different look and feel from Royal Caribbean’s popular Perfect Day at CocoCay located in the Bahamas. Royal Caribbean has said they are looking to create the ideal South Pacific experience.

To start planning your next Royal Caribbean Cruise to visit Perfect Day at Lelepa or any other cruise, contact me HERE.

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Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World

Tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World are now on sale!

Disney has announced a few special enhancements for select Magic Kingdom attractions that will take place during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party beginning this year:

  • Thousands of lights and holiday decor around Tomorrowland Speedway
  • A brand new holiday show at Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
  • Holiday tunes and dazzling lights on Space Mountain
  • Special holiday lights and music at the Mad Tea Party

There will also be a brand new Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks show! Of course fan-favorites like snow on Main Street , A Frozen Holiday Wish, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, and Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration will all be returning!

To start planning your trip to Walt Disney World this holiday season or to purchase tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, contact me HERE.

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Give the Gift of a Magical Stay at a Disney Resort Hotel this Holiday

Surprise your family this holiday with a getaway to Walt Disney World! With the help of this merry offer, you can save up to 25% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels—valid for stays most nights January 1 through April 25, 2020 when you book by January 1, 2020.

Plus, receive a $30 Disney Gift Card per person (ages 3 and up) on the reservation when you upgrade to a package by adding 6-day or longer theme park tickets―a wonderful opportunity for everyone to pick out their own special souvenir.

Some restrictions may apply.

Contact me today to start planning your next Walt Disney World vacation!

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Getting Around Walt Disney World

One thing many first-timers underestimate is the size of Walt Disney World. Covering nearly 40 square miles, Walt Disney World Resort is about the size of San Francisco or two islands of Manhattan. This means that you need to go with an understanding of how to navigate Disney World transportation. It is no different than navigating through the city on the cable cars or subway.

You have quite a few options to get around Walt Disney World – buses, monorail, boats and ferries, gondolas (aka Disney Skyliner), Minnie Vans, Lift/Uber or taxis and even walking.

Buses

Buses will take you just about anywhere you want to go within Walt Disney World. You can catch a bus at any of the Disney World Resorts to the Theme Parks, Water Parks and Disney Springs. You may check bus times for your resort hotel on the My Disney Experience App by going to your resort hotel and tapping on bus times.

Disney Springs does have buses to all of the resorts, but not directly to the theme parks, so you will have to take a bus to a neighboring resort and transfer busses there. If you want to go from a theme park to Disney Springs before 4 pm, you will need to take a bus to a neighboring resort (Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter or Saratoga Springs) and take a boat to Disney Springs or walk over.

Monorail

Guests staying at some of the Magic Kingdom area resorts – The Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian, can take the monorail to Magic Kingdom or EPCOT. If you drive at Walt Disney World, you will park at the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) if you are visiting the Magic Kingdom. You can take the monorail from the TTC to get the Magic Kingdom or EPCOT.

Boats and Ferries

Guests staying at all of the Magic Kingdom area resorts – The Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge and Ft Wilderness can take a boat to the Magic Kingdom. If you park at the TTC, you can also take a ferry to the Magic Kingdom.

There is also a boat from Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter to Disney Springs. You may also take a boat between Hollywood Studios, EPCOT and the Swan and Dolphin Resorts.

Disney Skyliner

The Disney Skyliner connects Caribbean Beach, Rivera Resort, Art of Animation, and Pop Century to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. The Skyliner station is at the back of EPCOT and is easily accessible from the Boardwalk, Beach Club, Yacht Club and even the Swan and Dolphin.

You may also take the Skyliner between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.

Minnie Vans

Minnie Vans are a premium service that costs a flat rate of $15/ride plus an additional cost per mile and provides you with door-to-door service within Disney World.

Lyft/Ubers and Taxis

Lyfts, Ubers and Taxis are readily available throughout Disney World, but note that they do have specific pick up and drop off locations. For example, they cannot take you directly to the Magic Kingdom, you would need to be dropped off at the TTC and take the monorail or ferry, or The Contemporary and walk over.

Walking

There are a few instances where you can walk to get to where you need to go within Disney World. The Boardwalk, Yacht Club, Beach Club, and Swan & Dolphin are a short 5-minute walk to EPCOT and a 15 or so minute walk to Hollywood Studios. The Contemporary Resort is about a 10-minute walk to Magic Kingdom. Saratoga Springs is a 10-minute walk to Disney Springs.

Traveling Between Resorts

Traveling between resorts is one of the trickiest things to figure out at Disney World. This can be frustrating if you have a dining reservation at one resort and you are staying at another. The quickest way to get between resorts is by Lyft or Uber, but the cost for these can add up. The better option is to find a connection point where you can transfer. This connection point is going to be the theme park (or maybe even Disney Springs) closest to the resort you wish to visit and catch a bus, monorail, boat or even Skyliner from there to your destination resort.

For example, if you are at The Polynesian and want to get to Animal Kingdom Lodge, you could take a bus to Animal Kingdom and then a bus over to Animal Kingdom Lodge. Or if you’re at All-Star Sports and need to get to Ft Wilderness, you’d want to take a bus to Magic Kingdom and then take the boat to Ft Wilderness.

An important thing to remember is that it will take you close to if not more than 1 hour to get from one part of Disney World to another. A lot of visitors underestimate how long it will actually take to get from one place to another, but once you get to the bus stop, wait for the bus, take the 20-minute bus ride and go through security, it is easy for an hour to go by.

As you can see, there are many options to get around Walt Disney World. Hopefully, by understanding these options, you will be easily able to navigate around the parks and resorts.

Contact me today to start planning your next Disney World vacation!

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Disney’s Delicious Dining Offer – Free Dining for Kids 3-9

Disney is now offering a free dining plan for kids (ages 3 to 9) when you buy a non-discounted 3-night/3-day package for you and the kid(s) that includes a room at a select Disney Value Resort hotel, theme park tickets and a dining plan. This special offer is valid for arrivals most nights from January 1 – March 7, 2020 when you book through Jan. 1, 2020. Plus, receive one “Frozen Welcome Pack” which includes themed merchandise, one stroller rental for the duration of the stay, a photo and tasty treats. Guests may also ask about packages for other lengths of stay.

All 3 dining plans—Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan, Disney Dining Plan and Disney Deluxe Dining Plan—are eligible with this offer, but everyone on your reservation must be on the same package. For instance, if you purchase a package with the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan, then your kid(s) (ages 3 to 9) on that package will receive the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan.

Make your first visit even more special with an extra dash of magic. With this offer, you will receive the Frozen Welcome Pack, including:

  • Voucher for one stroller rental for the length of your stay
  • Voucher for one in-park 5×7 photo print per room
  • One merchandise bag per room including a plush, book and 2 treats.

To start planning your next Walt Disney World vacation, click HERE.

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