Archive for the ‘fav5’ Category

#5 A Concierge Stay

Comparable to “club” in other deluxe hotels, and referred to as “concierge” for many years, this represents the elite level of accommodations at Disney resorts.  Having recently installed “concierge” desks in the lobbies of all the resorts to assist hotel guests, Disney is struggling with the nomenclature to set this service apart.  They have given names to all the concierge lounges and are attempting to make the transition from “concierge” to “club,” as in  Old Faithful Club at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.  Nonetheless, most guests still think of these rooms as concierge.  In each deluxe resort, most suites and a certain number of single rooms are designated concierge.  They may be located on certain floors, keyed sections of floors, or in specific buildings, and suites may be found throughout the properties, but they all share access to the concierge perks.

Those booking club-level rooms can anticipate certain extras:  food and beverage offerings several times each day in a private lounge area; separate check-in procedures; a dedicated concierge staff to assist with information, reservations, and myriad special requests.  Concierge guests may also take advantage of the pre-trip planning services available from the Itinerary Planning Office. An itinerary questionnaire is generally mailed a month or so before arrival.  They can be contacted by e-mail, phone or fax as soon as you have a confirmed reservation.

Although Disney is renowned for customer service, you can expect that to be taken to another level when you arrive as a concierge guest.  It is pampering, indulgent, and delightful.  All the lounges are extremely child-friendly and feature small furnishings, a separate television, and special food items especially for kids.  A family vacation at Walt Disney World is very demanding, and having the resources of concierge can be priceless.

Expect the benefits to be emotional rather than fiscal.  After a tiring arrival day, when most guests still face a wait in line to check in, concierge guests are greeted and whisked away to comfortable chairs and cool drinks, or sometimes escorted directly to their rooms, for a relaxed and hassle-free registration.  The push of a button from a room telephone will connect to a member of the concierge staff who will try his best to obtain tickets to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party, book a last-minute dining reservation, or give advice about park-closing hours or ordering a floral arrangement for a room.  Grabbing breakfast in the morning rather than spending the time in a restaurant offers the opportunity for the early start that’s so important in the parks.

Interestingly, each resort brings its own unique style to the concierge floor, and there are differences in service, food and beverages, extra amenities, and attitude.  Two resorts, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, and Disney’s Contemporary Resort, have two different club levels and uninformed guests are sometimes disappointed upon arrival.  Your Whimsical World Travel Concierge is familiar with each and every program and can offer guidance in choosing the best one for your party.

#3  concept^tm Itinerary

Expect White Glove treatment as you experience the Walt Disney World Resort in a unique new way with a customized itinerary from Whimsical World Travel’s concept^tm program.

Each themed vacation includes a comprehensive package of arrangements, events, recreation, and entertainment designed to appeal to guests who are looking for an innovative and immersive experience.

Choose from some of our most popular offerings:

Boo to You! Halloween is a month-long celebration at Walt Disney World® and we’ve arranged a frightfully good time!

Over the River and Through the Woods Share the joys of the holiday season with family and friends at the beautiful Wilderness Lodge; dressed to impress in its Christmas finery.

Honeymoon Dreams Celebrate a marriage or vow renewal in unforgettable Disney style with romantic activities and memorable surprises.

Grand Indulgence Relaxing, rejuvenating, restorative – sybaritic spa treatments and sumptuous accommodations make this vacation special.

Other current themes include golf, birdwatching, theater, engineering, hot-air balloons, horses, architecture, history, animals, and transportation.  Or, let us craft a one-of-a-kind stay especially for you.  From autographs to zebras, we have creative ideas for your next significant splurge!

#2 Illuminations Dessert Party

Lasers and lights, fireworks and flames; Illuminations: Reflections of Earth is a spectacular nightly event at EPCOT’s World Showcase.  You can guarantee a premier view and enjoy it in an uncrowded and festive fashion by arranging an Illuminations Dessert Party.

Although it’s not inexpensive, it is one of the least-pricey private events making it one of the most popular, as well.

The party generally lasts about an hour with guests meeting at, or being escorted to, the chosen location for a half hour of grazing before the show begins.  Because this is a custom event, there are endless possibilities for 10 to 2,000 guests.

There are a number of standardized charges including a flat fee for the venue, a minimum per-person food and beverage charge, a viewing fee for anyone not entering with a park ticket, and an additional service charge and sales tax.

The menu can be expanded to include a variety of cold items and a limited number of hot items; cordials and other alcoholic beverages; and custom cakes and desserts.  Floral and decorative accents can also be provided.

While this is often a “stand-up” event, smaller parties can opt for tables and chairs at an added cost.  Parties may be required to utilize the services of Disney hosts or private Disney transportation, depending upon their arrangements.

Locations include several wonderful waterside terraces around the World Showcase Lagoon where the fireworks seem close enough to reach out and touch.  Planning an intimate celebration for two?  No problem – smaller parties are welcome but must pay charges for the minimum number of guests required at the venue.

We’ve shared our fav5 Splurges, both Small and Special.  Now, we’re moving to our top choices for a Significant Splurge!

#1 VIP Tour Services

For those of you who would enjoy the freedom of letting Disney be your guide, we highly recommend their VIP Tour Services.  While your Whimsical World Travel concierge will take care of all the details of your vacation, your private VIP Tour Guide will be your personal navigator during your stay.

After collecting information about the interests and expectations of your group, a custom itinerary will be created just for you.  Your Guide’s special expertise includes an in-depth knowledge of the parks; attractions, geography, trivia; which will guarantee a relaxed and carefree experience for your party of one to ten people.

What you can expect:

• With a touring plan and dining reservations based upon your preferences, your Guide will choose the best routes through the parks, obtaining new FastPasses for your party while you’re enjoying an attraction, to maximize your park-touring hours.
• You will be able to take advantage of special viewing areas for parades and fireworks, and enjoy premium seating at shows.
• There’s no need to worry about finding your favorite character or even the nearest restroom.  Your VIP Tour Guide knows the neighborhood!
• Your Guide has a wealth of stories to share about the parks, the buildings, the attractions, and the thousands of small details that make the Walt Disney World Resort so amazing.
• In the past, guests were expected to include the Guide in their dining plans, and pay for the meal, when a tour ran more than 4 ½ hours.  Currently, you may choose either to dine alone or include your Guide, with Disney picking up the tab for the Guide’s meal.
• The Guide’s pager number is provided to each member of the party, making it easy to reconnect in the event that anyone becomes separated from the group.

What you cannot expect:

• Back-door access to rides – while there may be special arrangements for entrance to shows, you will be expected to utilize regular stand-by and FastPass lines for other attractions.  Your Guide’s experience with crowds, wait times, and schedules will help to minimize time spent standing in line.

• Park admission – the cost for VIP Tour Services does not include admission to the parks which must be purchased separately.

Other services available at additional cost:

• Private transportation can be arranged for pick-up from your resort to the parks and between locations if you hope to visit more than one park on a given day.  This often involves access to the parks from backstage areas which is a real time-saver if you are hoping to experience shows and events scheduled close together in different parks.

• An Unlimited FastPass option allows your party to enter the FastPass lines as often as you want during your touring period.

VIP Tour Guides can be booked 180 days in advance.  Because this department was originally created to service high-profile guests who needed separation from the crowds, those guests remain the first priority and Guides may not always be available for the general public.

Guides must be reserved for a minimum of six hours and you may choose to take advantage of the service for only one day of your vacation, or arrange to be met and accompanied by your Guide from the moment you arrive, for the length of your stay.

Prices are per hour and vary widely depending upon a number of factors including the time of year, whether or not you are a guest at a Walt Disney World Resort, any additional inclusions, and sometimes, who you are talking to.  Current prices start at about $175.00 per hour.

VIP Tour Guides are a terrific option for first-time visitors and those looking for a stress-free, fully-planned experience.  They are wonderful for organizing the park time of an extended family group, and can be quite cost-effective, per-person, for parties of eight to ten.  For busy adults who spend their working hours planning and organizing, VIP Tour Services offers the opportunity to enjoy a true “vacation!”

We believe that photographs are the best way to share the magic of Disney Destinations and we are fortunate to have access to the work of some of the world’s best “Disney” photographers.  We hope they serve as inspiration for your own efforts during your next Disney vacation.

Whether you’re hoping to return home with a few pictures of your family in front of Cinderella Castle, or plan to try your hand at some creative compositions, we’re sharing our fav 5 tips for fabulous photographs:

• Take a photo at the same location each time you visit.  Choose something you love. Yes, it can be the Castle, but consider a feature that’s a bit more personal – a sculpture onboard Disney Wonder; one of the many wonderful seats found all around the parks and resorts; the sign in front of your family’s favorite attraction; the restaurant where you always have dinner on the night of your arrival; a pose with a special character.  If you have children, selecting a smaller element rather than a landscape or building will showcase their growth over the years.

• Although pictures of happy people waving at the camera put a smile on everyone’s face, candid shots are often the most memorable.  The profile of a little child gazing up at a parade; the delighted laugh of an adult being hugged by Mickey Mouse; these can be the most special moments of all.  Keep an eye out for such opportunities.

• Choosing a theme can make any vacation album unique.  The decision to focus on the doorways of Dublin, the streets of Singapore, the mailboxes of Massachusetts, allows us to tell a travel story in a cohesive and unique way.  The most thematic places on earth, Disney Destinations give new meaning to the concept of themed photography.  Characters, clocks, colors; flowers, fences, fish; hats or hidden Mickeys; vehicles and villains; the possibilities are endless.  Weave your own tale by choosing an element that will play a role in a number of your photos.

• While most people are aware of the difficulties with night photography, few realize that full daylight carries its own challenges.  Great photographers understand that the very best photo opportunities are found at the beginning and end of each day – sunrise and sunset.  The light is unsurpassed, lending a gentle glow or soft shadow, making the everyday subject exceptional.

• Whatever your focus may be, take the time to consider your subject.  Look for an unusual perspective; a new way of capturing a familiar sight.  Get down low or step up on something higher; shoot from a different side, try a shallow depth of field, pay attention to reflections and shadows.  Move in close – remember that a nose, eyelashes, and polka dots are more than enough for a recognizable image of Minnie Mouse!

#5 Candlelight Processional

It’s an unbeatable combination; music and candlelight.  Borrowing a tradition from Disneyland, Walt Disney World hosts a number of different choirs from around the country who join the cast member chorus and Voices of Liberty in the America Gardens Theatre for a joyous performance of holiday favorites, accompanied by a full orchestra.

The much-loved Christmas story is retold  by a celebrity guest narrator;  the familiar tale interwoven with  the songs of this most beautiful season.

This year, the tentative schedule is:

November 27-29 — Isabella Rossellini
November 30, December 1-2 — John O’ Hurley
December 3-5 — Steven Curtis Chapman
December 6-8 — TBA
December 9-11 — Andy Garcia
December 12-14 — Vanessa Williams
December 15-17 — Abigail Breslin
December 18-20 — Whoopi Goldberg
December 21-23 — Brian Dennehy
December 24-26 — Edward James Olmos
December 27-30 — Angela Bassett & Courtney B. Vance

The concerts are free with admission to EPCOT, but the standby queue can be long and many people line up as much as two hours early.  Those wishing to avoid the standby waits can opt for the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package.  This includes lunch or dinner before the assigned showtime at a choice of several different EPCOT restaurants, and a ticket for reserved seating at the concert.  In the past, there have been three different pricing tiers for the restaurants and the package was available for one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan, and the Platinum and Premium vacation plans.  Package attendees also have a long line, but it moves quickly and they are guaranteed a seat up to 15 minutes before the concert when the standby group is allowed in.

Each concert, performed three times nightly, features the solemn procession of the guest chorus members from the back of the theatre onto the stage.  The cast member choir, dressed in green robes, forms the shape of a Christmas tree in the center, complete with a star “tree topper” worn by the same singer for more than twenty years.  There are the stirring sounds of trumpets from the wings and an absolutely mesmerizing sign-language interpretation on stage; one of the highlights of the event.  The signer has the extraordinary ability to convey the “music” and emotion of the performance with beauty and eloquence.

The Candlelight Processional is a stirring and uplifting event and the perfect way to start a new holiday tradition of your own.

Candlelight Processional

EPCOT

November 27 to December 30, 2009

Nightly 5:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8:15 p.m.

Park admission required

#4 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Yes, the holidays are a festive time throughout Walt Disney World, but there’s something special about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.  Maybe it’s the breathtaking spectacle of the Castle Dream Lights which debuts on the first party night.  Perhaps it’s the Christmas Parade which seems so much more special when seen at night.  Was the old parade better?  It sure was; but many of the best bits have made the cut:  the toy soldiers, everyone’s all time favorite; the skating snowflakes; the gingerbread men.

The fireworks are certainly at their most spectacular in Holiday Wishes which concludes with a jaw-dropping finale that surrounds the park.  There’s snow, of course, on Main Street U.S.A., lights in fanciful holiday shapes wash the buildings with color, and the hot cocoa and cookies are a welcome treat.  The landscape glows in red and green, the cast members sport seasonal costumes; it just feels like Christmas.

Here are a few tips for getting the most out of the Party:

• The weather can be very unpredictable at this time of year so be prepared for anything from warm to wintry.

• The Party is generally less crowded on the earlier dates and on weekdays, but guests won’t experience the crush of the daytime crowds.

• Plan on a very early evening meal in the Magic Kingdom or at one of the nearby resorts.

• Confirm the time for the Castle Dream Lights presentation and find your viewing spot early.  Although a lot of the action takes place on stage and in the castle balcony just above, the real show is the spectacular lighting of the entire castle, which can be seen from many areas around the Magic Kingdom.

• Choose to watch the second parade and spend the time during the first showing enjoying the rides.

• Remember that most guests leave well before midnight, so consider an afternoon nap to help stay the course at night.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Magic Kingdom

Late November to mid-December

7:00 p.m. to midnight

Contact your Concierge for pricing and tickets

#3 The Lights of Winter

Yet another of those lovely things that bring us back to Walt Disney World year after year – the beautiful Lights of Winter in EPCOT.  During the late fall, we watch the arches go up over the walkway between Future World and the World Showcase; the bare white structures giving little hint of the dazzling show that awaits.  Just after Thanksgiving, the parks and resorts seem suddenly to burst forth in holiday dress. Now, each evening, the modest archway transforms, becoming a brilliant canopy of color.  It’s an ever-changing tapestry as continuous patterns compose and fade away, twinkling and pulsating in harmony with a holiday musical score.

We love the charming ceremony that takes place at nightfall, when characters arrive for the lighting of the EPCOT tree.  As the lights on the tree begin to twinkle, the magic moves to the archway, and it comes alive for the first show of the night.

Lights of Winter

EPCOT

Nightly throughout the holiday season

Park admission required

#2  The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

OK, I’m going to admit that, when the lights were first strung up over at the television houses in the backlot of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, I did think they were over-the-top tacky.  Now, keep in mind I never missed the chance to go see them, I just thought they were too, too much; not very pretty but definitely a spectacle.  While I missed the former location for a while, their new home on the large buildings and little side Streets of America began to grow on me.  But, when they added the “dancing” feature, I was hooked!

Appearing nightly from just after Thanksgiving until the new year, The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights is a must-see attraction.  Several times each hour, after a brief opening ceremony, more than five millions lights burst into their dazzling choreography synchronized to seasonal music, including holiday favorites performed by the Trans Siberian Orchestra, Jose Feliciano, and Barbra Streisand.  Look for additional embellishments: angels and reindeer overhead, twirling trees, dozens of shapes outlined in lights, and, of course, snow flurries.

Visitors can also look for some of the more than 40 Hidden Mickeys found throughout the installation. It’s an astonishing display of holiday fun designed to bring a smile to everyone’s face.

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Nightly from late November to early January

Shows every 15 minutes

Park admission required

#1 Castle Dream Lights

One of the world’s most famous and well-loved structures, Cinderella Castle has endured its share of temporary embellishments through the years, some of them earning considerably less than universal approval.  Few would argue, though, that the current holiday enhancement is nothing short of astonishing.  Maintaining its usual façade by day thanks to cleverly-colored components which blend nearly invisibly with the blue and tan colors of the roof and walls, the Castle is transformed at night into an icy, sparkling confection.

A brief and charming ceremony at dusk ushers in the metamorphosis.  Slowly, turret by turret, the Castle begins to shimmer with a frosty glow as thousands of tiny lights work their magic to cover it with “icicles.”  Throughout the evening, the colors change imperceptibly, moving through the spectrum and providing an unforgettable backdrop for the holiday fireworks.

Cinderella Castle Holiday Lights

Magic Kingdom

Nightly throughout the holidays; stage show at approximately 5:45 p.m.

Park admission required