Archive for the ‘News and Special Offers’ Category

The dates have been announced for the 17^th annual EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival.  From March 3 through May 16, 2010, EPCOT will once again come into full bloom.  Whether you’re a fan of the Flower Power concerts which feature music from the time of peace and love, or you enjoy the gardening advice from celebrity guest speakers, the Festival months are a great time to visit Walt Disney World.

There are wonderful demonstrations, seminars, and exhibits, and the park is bursting with more than 30 million blossoms.  Future World and the World Showcase are transformed with spectacular topiary, expansive flowering carpets, floating floral islands, bonsai installations, and exquisite gardens.

Visit the lovely fragrance garden at the France Pavilion to learn more about the connection between posy and perfume.  And, don’t miss Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden where hundreds of beautiful creatures fly free.

We’re planting the seeds early for a 2010 visit to Walt Disney World.  Let us help make those vacation plans grow!

Disney Cruise Line is going to Alaska!  Beginning May 3, 2011, Disney will offer 7-day Alaskan cruises on the Disney Wonder.  Departing from Vancouver, the ship will visit Tracy Arm Fjord, Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan, on its round-trip voyage.   With a number of cruise lines pulling out of Alaska in the next few years, this is exciting news for those who have always wanted to experience the wonders of Alaska from the best possible vantage point.

There is also an exciting 15-night Panama Canal itinerary scheduled to depart Ft. Lauderdale on January 6, 2011 with calls at Castaway Cay, Aruba, Costa Rica, Manzanillo, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas before arriving in Los Angeles.

During the summers of 2010 and 2011, guests can board the Disney Magic to cruise the Mediterranean for 10 or 11 nights.  Northern and Southern European voyages are also being offered during 2010.  With many cruises to the Bahamas, and both Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, there’s never been a better time to plan an amazing Disney Cruise Line vacation.

In the wake of recent announcements about the status of the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy, Disney Cruise Line is sharing plans for upcoming enhancements to Castaway Cay.

The new, larger ships will carry more passengers to the private retreat and improvements will help ensure that all guests continue to have a magical experience on the beautiful island.

Expansion plans include relocating the stingray experience and teen areas to allow for an enlargement of the family beach, as well as the addition of private cabanas offering several tiers of service.  Guests will be able to swim out to Pelican Plunge, two corkscrew slides floating in the lagoon, and enjoy a new wet deck with geysers and a spring-a-leak play area.

 

An added tram stop is planned further down the beach and will include a nearby restaurant – Cookies Too, a bar, restrooms, and shopping venues.  Completion is expected by the summer of 2010; make plans now for your Disney Cruise vacation!

The keel has been laid for the new Disney Cruise Line ship, the Disney Dream. Florida’s Port Canaveral will welcome the Disney Dream in 2011, followed by the Disney Fantasy in 2012.  The port itself is being upgraded with a new multi-level parking structure and enlargement of the Disney terminal.  With 1250 staterooms, both new ships will be significantly large than their fleet-mates.

The Disney Magic will add new ports of call during 2010 with a return to the Mediterranean and a new Northern European itinerary which will include Germany, Russia, and Scandinavia.  Announcements indicate plans to expand to other parts of the globe as the new ships are launched.

The Disney Wonder, ranked #1 large cruise ship for 2009 by Condé Nast Traveler, will transition to its new home, the Port of Los Angeles, beginning in 2011.  With its unique family-oriented niche and the outstanding service guests have come to expect from the Disney company, Disney Cruise Line really does offer something for everyone!

The Orlando Sentinel had an article a few days ago about the testing of a centralized FastPass system at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in the Walt Disney World® Resort.  Located in the FastPass area formerly used for It’s Tough to Be a Bug, it allowed guests to obtain FastPasses for three of the most popular attractions:  Dinosaur, Expedition Everest, and Kilimanjaro Safaris. 

Unlike the normal FastPass kiosks, which are still operating at the individual attractions, no ride times were posted, but cast members were available to answer questions about return times. 

It’s difficult to calculate whether or not part of the success of the current arrangement has to do with the fact that many people are unwilling to crisscross the parks in pursuit of passes and return times.  If every guest who steps through the turnstiles immediately heads over to the FastPass area to pick up passes for the entire day, will the result be huge lines here with frustrated guests, much longer waits in the FastPass lanes, or an orderly distribution of passengers at each attraction throughout the day? 

As always, there’s a great deal of speculation and controversy surrounding the experiment.  Some are concerned that such a system would regiment their day; others are afraid that this is the first step in a plan to offer some type of “premium” FastPass, available at an additional charge or as part of a stay in one of the Deluxe Resorts.  While the concept is clearly in its early stages of development, it will be interesting to see how it plays out. 

Walt Disney World has just announced an extension of free dining with a bit of a twist.  Rather than just one version with resort room, park tickets, and standard dining plan, those choosing at least three nights at a Value Resort will receive the Quick Service Dining Plan at no additional charge with the option to upgrade to the standard plan at a discounted rate.  For stays of three nights or more in Moderate, Deluxe, or Deluxe Villa resorts, the standard Disney Dining Plan is included free of charge, and guests may upgrade to the Deluxe Dining Plan at a discounted rate.  These special offers are valid for most dates between 9/29 and 12/17/09. 

From 10/4 to 12/24, excluding 11/24 to 11/29, there are also some very attractive room-only rates currently available including concierge-level rooms at select resorts.  In some instances, these reduced room rates are being offered as part of a Magic Your Way package.  There is limited availability for these special rates which may not include all resorts and all dates.  Pricing begins at $59.00 plus tax for Value Resorts; $109.00 plus tax for Moderate Resorts; and $149.00 plus tax for selected Deluxe Resorts.

We suggest you contact your travel concierge to check availability, review the various offers, and decide what works best for you. Make your reservations by 9/26/09 to take advantage of these great opportunities.

As someone who has celebrated Christmas at Walt Disney World for the past ten years, I can appreciate how special it is to start new holiday traditions.  This year, consider one of the featured Adventures by Disney Holiday Getaways for a unique and unforgettable vacation.  Enjoy a VIP backstage experience at Disneyland.  Visit the lands of Knights and Lights with a memorable journey to London and Paris.   Hike, bike, and swim through the deserts, rainforests, and reefs of Australia.  Explore the extraordinary world that is South Africa.  For more information,  contact us.  We’d be happy to answer your questions or email a brochure!