Up next in our “Traveling for the Holidays” I wanted to look into a Disney Destination that I have never visited personally, but I have learned and heard SO much about! Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa.
Aulani is an amazing resort on a gorgeous island in Hawai’i. Vacationing here is a dream of mine and doing so during the holidays sounds even more magical. The activities and extra holiday events that the resort puts on during “Aloha Kalikimaka” sound so merry and fun. When it gets cold where you live, you are shipping off to an amazing tropical paradise. Plus! If you plan it right (that is where I come in) you can get a pretty decent discount.
Some of the wonderful holiday events that occur during the Holiday Season-
Holiday Caroling
Disney Characters in the Island-Inspired Holiday Best
Mickey Peppermint Macarons
“Kakamora” Inspired Gingerbread House
Sit with Aloha Santa
Keiki Holiday Cookie Decorating at Aunty’s Beach House
Holiday Island Merchandise
If you are lucky enough to be there on Christmas Day, there is a beautiful Christmas Day Feast served. It just sounds so magical and relaxing. Christmas in Paradise! I am ready!!
Giving a Disney Destination as a Gift for the Holidays
Aulani seems like the ultimate gift to give or receive for Christmas. Actually, right now, there is a 30% discount off of 5 night stays up until 12/21/19. That discount takes you right into this holiday season! Whether you want to give Aulani or any Disney Destination as a gift under the tree, it is always exciting to make the “gift” part fun and magical.
Here is the most fun (for us) and most frustrating (for kids) way we have given a trip to them. I took one of our Disney Cruise postcards and cut it up into puzzle pieces. Each kid got a puzzle in a Christmas card. They had to assemble the picture to see where we were going and to read the message we had written on it. They knew it was something awesome when the pieces fell out but they were so excited, they couldn’t get the silly thing together. What memories..
If this is something you are interested in frustrating your children with, let me know and I would be happy to send you a postcard for your gift delivery!
Disney Holiday Trivia
Which Characters Play the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, & Future in Mickey’s Christmas Carol?
Contact Me
If you would like assistance reserving a trip to a Disney Destination for the 2019 Holidays or if you would like to beat ALL the Holiday Shopping crowds and book a Disney Destination to gift to your loved ones this year, contact me today! I would be delighted to help you find a great way to wrap up your gift to surprise your family! I look forward to hearing from you and helping you plan your Holiday Magic soon!
It is hot, hot, hot out there. I hope everyone is
enjoying their Summer, spending time by the pool, lake, or ocean!
Let’s think some cool thoughts and Celebrate A Very Merry
Disney Christmas in July! I know its
still 5 months away but it always manages to sneak up on me anyway!
12 Days of Christmas posts will include hints, tips, recipes, and suggestions on how to make your Holiday Season a Magical Disney Holiday Season.
On the First Day of Christmas, Mickey gave to Me::
Traveling for the Holidays
This is a fantastic time of the year to head to any Disney Destination. Everywhere you look, there are beautiful light displays, holiday treats, and wonderful experiences to share with those that you love.
Today we will look at what it would be like to be at the Magic Kingdom during the holiday season.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is an amazingly magical event that takes place in the Magic Kingdom. There are holiday ride over-lays, special merchandise, delicious holiday treats (all you can enjoy Hot Cocoa and Christmas Cookies) and, ok yeah, about half the typical amount of guests that are usually in the parks. This is an after-ticket event and Disney controls how many tickets are sold. You will find the lines for your favorite rides to be a fraction of what they usually are. It is an amazing and magical time and I highly recommend it! Tip: Tickets say enter at 7pm but get in as early as 4pm! That is three bonus Hours in Magic Kingdom!!
Giving a Disney Destination as a Gift for the Holidays
My kids have so much “stuff”. There really is nothing that they need. To eliminate a bunch more “stuff” we have been giving a trip as a gift for the last few years. They have received Disney World quite a few times and this year will be a Disney Cruise. These trips are for later in the year and it is something we can look forward to together all year long. GOOD GRACIOUS does this make my holiday shopping easier.
The Monstrosity on the Left!
I wanted to offer a few different ways to “wrap up” a Disney Destination to put under the tree. One of my favorites is to fill a wrapped box with Disney Balloons. Now, with the Husband being an air condition/heating technician, I had him bring home the biggest A/C Box he could find. Y’all, this box was big enough for me to walk into! So we wrapped it in a really fun Mickey Christmas Paper (thank you, Dollar Tree) and inside we put an extra large mickey balloon and several star and round balloons. We put it out a week before Christmas and it drove them NUTS!! When they finally opened it all together on Christmas Morning, it was like Christmas Magic. Inside, I also put our family countdown that we always use, and a few different planning documents that we enjoy going over together. It was so much fun and we did enjoy talking about it until the following October when we actually traveled.
Recipes
Looking to add a little Disney Flair to your Holiday Desert? One of my Favorites would be Rice Crispy Mickey Heads!
Make Rice Crispy Treats as per the cereal box
Use the Mickey Head sandwich shaper or free form a mickey head
Dip the ears and top of head into melted baking chocolate
Use green and red sprinkles to decorate the chocolate
(can obviously use any colors for a fun treat for any holiday)
If you are looking to travel during the 2019 Holiday Season or if you would like to look into purchasing a trip to gift to your family this Holiday Season, contact me today! It is the fastest and easiest holiday shopping you will ever do and I am happy to help with all the fun and cheery details. Also, qualifying reservations will receive our Minnie Box! Our gift to you that arrives on your doorstep prior to your departure for your trip. It is filled with magic and excitement and is tailored to your travel party. I look forward to hearing from you and helping you plan your Holiday Magic soon!
Disney Cruise Line just won Travel & Leisure Magazine’s Award – Number One for Ocean Cruise Line! This is a vote made solely by their readers and the readers all agreed – Disney is Top Notch! Yes, there are so many cruise lines out there but let’s face it folks, you get what you pay for!
So many categories are taken into account when readers make these decisions. It is clear that the Food, Provided Activities, Ports-of Call, Cleanliness, and most importantly, their Customer Care & Service are the very best. The Crew & Cast Members really help make these sailings the most Magical on the High Seas and we are so grateful. They have guests returning year after year because of their attention to detail, kindness, and desire to entertain and please. As the President, Jeff Vahle, says, “they are the secret to our magic!”.
Also, because of the many repeat guests, Disney Cruise Line is always trying to find ways to make the Cruises new and exciting. Coming soon are three new ships as well as a new Private Island. They will also add New Orleans to their list of “Home Ports” and add the Hawaiian Islands, Puerto Rico, and Greece to Ports of Call. Big things happening for sure!
Disney just added several new sailings for November and December of 2020. These cruises will be November 12th and December 30th (with the exception of 12/26 & 12/30 sailings).
These itineraries will be Bahamian or Caribbean Cruises and they will depart from Miami, Fl.
If you would like more information on these Very Merrytime cruises, check out more details here.
To book or inquire today, please feel free to contact me for a no-obligation quote! I would love to help you turn your family’s dreams of a Disney Cruise into fantastic memories that can be cherished forever. Booking a planning a Disney Cruise can be a little overwhelming and it is easy to miss things that make your trip easier and less stressful. That is where I come in! My services are free of charge. I am happy to look out for discounts that come up after you have booked and automatically apply them as well as keep track of all the important milestones so you do not have to. Disney Cruise reservations made with me will receive our Trademark Minnie Box as our special thank you!
(Based on qualifying minimum vacation package)
This is a gift mailed to you prior to your departure for your trip. It is tailored to each travel party and is full of magic and excitement. This is our way of saying thank you and showing just how much emphasis we put on customer service and satisfaction at Magical Vacations LLC. Let us assemble one for you!!
We got engaged at Disney, we Honeymooned there – it was time for another milestone trip. Our first trip in 10 years without our littles for our 10th Anniversary.
Resort Review
We arrived late afternoon to our home away from home for the weekend – the Polynesian. This was our first time staying here. We absolutely loved it and may or may not be thinking of joining DVC because of our stay here. The experience, amenities, and customer service were definitely elevated at this resort.
From the moment you check in and you get your Leis, you feel like part of their Ohana. We left our bags will Bell Services and went to check out our room. We had a balcony on the third floor in the Fiji Building (which was exactly what I requested when I called Disney with my room preferences; yay for Travel Agents!). It was beautiful. It was diagonal from the Great Ceremonial House where the restaurants, shops, & Monorail Platform are. Super close! Our view was of Bay Lake, the beach, and gardens. I spent each morning reading on that balcony and we sat out there one night to watch a beautiful storm pass through.
We enjoyed the beach & view of Magic Kingdom. Two of the nights we were able to watch the Fireworks over Magic Kingdom from the beach. Once was Happily Ever After and the other was the 4th of July Fireworks. We also saw the Electric Light Parade which I have enjoyed since I was a young child and I am SO glad they still show it each night.
We took full advantage of what the resort had to offer. We shopped in both shops at the resort. Between the two they have a wide selection of clothing, jewelry, accessories, toys, as well as things you would need that you may have forgotten at home, drinks, snacks, and more. The one thing I was looking for that I couldn’t find (a certain pair of earrings), a cast member looked in their inventory and found them for me at a shop in Epcot and had them for me the following day. Amazing service! We swam in both pools but we preferred the Lava Pool. The Oasis pool was beautiful but much more quiet. We liked the buzz and excitement of the Lave pool more. It is great that there are both options though! As for lounges & restaurants, we experienced Tambu Lounge, Capt. Cooks, & Trader Sam’s. The food and experiences were great at all 3 but my favorite would definitely be Trader Sam’s.
This is a must see for sure! We got right in without a wait which surprised me. The wait staff reacts differently to each item ordered off the menu and it becomes an experience the entire lounge takes part in. Between that and the decor, I could have spent hours there. Tip: Try to sit on a bar stool instead of on one of the couches – they have a fun surprise! Then there was transportation. I have not stayed at a Monorail resort in many years. In my opinion, it was worth every penny for that perk. It was super easy to come back for a swim mid-afternoon and took almost no time. It was great to visit other quick services and lounges along the Monorail line. We also had table service reservations at the Grand Floridian and the Contemporary so it was really nice to be so close to those. The buses for Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom were frequent so no issue there either. Transportation at the Polynesian is on point!
Just the general feel and environment that this resort offers is so great. We felt relaxed and as if we were on a beautiful lush island while staying there. It was very immersive and I hope to take the littles back on a trip in the not-so-far future.
Disney Springs
We spent the first evening snacking and sipping our way around Disney Springs. Our first stop was the DockSide Margarita Bar. We were drawn right in by the music. There was a gentleman playing all kinds of fun music. He was quite talented and especially shocked me when he started playing the conch shell as an instrument. He was great!
We headed over to Paddlefish. Formerly Fulton’s Crab House, this large (docked) paddleboat is a great place to stop for food & drinks. I highly recommend heading to the rooftop. The view from up there is great and they have some amazing Ice pops!
The Hangar Bar was next on the list – Inspired by Jock Lindsay, Indiana Jones’ Pilot. We love the fun decor and all the nods to the movies and Jock’s travels. We always stop here for the pretzel – it comes with some great beer cheese & tasty mustard. Its a nice little snack that we like to order and snack on. We sit out on the dry-docked boat that looks like it is straight out of The Jungle Cruise. There, we listened to the music at the near-by stage and watched the Amphicars come and go.
Winebar George is a great little spot. This time we stopped at “The Basket” which is basically like a little grab-and-go window. You can get the Frozcato as well as the Dole Whip so it is worth a stop!
From there we needed a bite to eat. Figuring we would check out something new, we stopped in at D-Luxe Burger. Fairly typical quick service – you order at a window, get a pager and wait for your food. In the meantime you can help yourself to a number of amazing dips for your fries and burgers. They let you add on toppings-i.e. bacon, at NO CHARGE. I was kinda shocked honestly. So we got a bunch of dips and waited for our food to arrive and guess what? These. Burgers. Rock. Oh good gracious, it was tasty – stop there if you are looking for a delicious but quick burger. You will not be disappointed!
I wanted to show the Husband some of the neat places I learned about on my most recent training trip. I took him down the hidden staircase for Enzo’s. We grabbed a quick drink here (wishing we were not so full because this Italian food looked and smelled fantastic) and then I took him through the “secret” back exit. Once through there we arrived in the Basement of The Edison. It was super crowded and the house band was real good. After that, we called it a night – wouldn’t you?!
Magic Kingdom
This is the weekend before 4th of July so this place is hoppin’! However the new fastpass+ system seemed to do a fairly decent job of spreading everyone around. We were able to do all the mountains and all the attractions we wanted to do (along with a meet-up with my favorite Princess) and we were out of there by 4! It all comes down to the way you spend your Fastpasses and which itinerary you follow. Using a few tips and tricks, it is not hard to see all that you want, even on a Holiday Weekend. One of my favorite parts of helping guests plan their trips is maximizing their time in the parks. It is kind of a Disney Science and I like to think I am not too shabby at it!
Construction is in full swing for Tron. They were not actively working during the day but so much progress has been made in just the few months since I was last here. I am getting super excited about it!
Delicious Bites worth Noting:
Loaded Waffle Fries from Golden Oak Outpost
Loaded Tots from The Friar’s Nook
Spicy Chicken Waffle from Sleepy Hallow
Animal Kingdom
The only part of Animal Kingdom that felt crowded was Pandora – No surprise there. We avoided Pandora because we fastpassed Flight of Passage for later in the day and went out on one of the first Safari’s of the day. I think we will try to do each trip going forward. There was SO much animal activity. We were even chased by an ostrich and the driver had to drive straight through the next habitat to get us away from him. My favorite was watching a lion and lioness play. It was like watching two furry kittens – they were having a lot of fun.
It was my mission to find and smooch on Kevin-The Snipe from Up. He can be found roaming the Kingdom. Well, he actually found me and came right up to us and pointed to our Anniversary pins and clucked a bunch. Nothing like a congratulations from a Snipe – my vacation was complete.
Delicious Bites worth Noting:
Mac & Cheese with Pulled Pork from Eight Spoon Cafe
Haystacks from Zuri Sweets Shop
We also found a neat little Nook over by Dinosaur! It is a Paleontologist’s Tent with some fun decor. The mixologist we encountered was fun and really knowledgeable. It seems to be more of an adult place but it did not say children couldn’t come in. We just liked the quiet and laid back vibe with the great theming as a background.
As usual, I took my stroll around the tree to see what new animals I could spot. I found what I think are reindeer! I will be doing my Christmas in July soon so I thought they were fitting!
Pandora was amazing, as always. It is quite breathtaking when you sit back and just consider your surroundings. Grab a beverage at Pongu Pongu and have a seat and take it all in. It is so worth taking the 5 minutes to do so.
Hollywood Studios
We got to the park 20 minutes before it opened and wound up very close to the opening line that they stop you at. We dropped back a bit because I insisted on going into the Trolley Car Cafe! We walked back to Toy Story to ride Midway Mania (already fastpassed Slinky Dog Dash for later). Wait was 5 minutes and when we came off, it was still 5 minutes. Swirling Saucers had no wait but Slinky was already up to 25 minutes. If you do not have a fastpass, go there first!
The highlight of the day was watching one of the Star Wars stage shows while facetiming our littles. We had a front row spot and I had a storm trooper come up to within a half-inch of my face. It scared the kids from 5 states away – but they loved it. I am excited to return in September and see what additional characters we can meet up with other than what they currently offer. My daughter would lose her mind if she could meet Rey and the same goes for me if I could meet Darth Maul. Can’t wait!
Delicious Bites worth Noting:
Peanut butter Crunch Cupcake at Trolley Car (OH my word…)
BBQ Brisket Melt at Woody’s Lunch Box
Chocolate Hazelnut Lunch Box Tart at Woody’s Lunch Box
Epcot
We had a Fastpass for Test Track so we got to the park about a half hour after opening and went right to Soarin’. It had no wait. The park was still quiet so we were able to get in a few more rides before our first Fastpass.
We caught not one, but two showings of The Jammitors. They do not perform the same act so you can see something different each time. If you have never stopped to see this short sidewalk show, you should! They are my husband’s favorite so we always see at least one showing. They give out fun little stickers that say “Junior Jammitor” which the Husband proudly wore the rest of the day…goof.
We finished up in Future World and headed for the Countries in World Showcase. We really went in depth into each country. We saw the inside of buildings and shops that we had not been able to enter for years because of impatient littles.
Special Places to check out –
La Cava in Mexico – the Guacamole is fantastic and it is a neat little spot off the beaten path
The walkways in China around the water are very pretty and they are full of fish and polywogs
The Fountain in Italy – a quiet and shady spot that is a peaceful spot to rest – note the grape vines full of grapes!
The Bazaar in Morocco – walk through all the different shops, they are so neat and different
The fountains & shops in France
While I have tried the phone booths in the United Kingdom as have several others, I have not gotten them to do much of anything in the past few years. While messing around with the phone, a Cast Member came up to us and said, “No, you are trying the wrong numbers. Call this number.” So we turned around to dial it and when we turned back, he was gone. We were soon delighted with a congratulatory message from Mickey and Minnie on our anniversary. THAT was some crazy Disney Magic! I love when it isn’t planned and just happens. I teared up a little.
We returned to our resort that evening to find the Magical Express folder on our door. What a sad sight! HOWEVER! We took advantage of our in-room bounceback offer and are already booked to return in September. This way I can visit Star Wars and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and relay any and all information I learn! If you have questions about where to find these offers, reach out to me!
If you would like me to assist in planning your Dream Vacation, contact me today and let’s get started!! My services are free of charge and I can help save you time and money! My passion and knowledge of Disney can really save you some stress and make your trip more enjoyable. Plus, qualifying reservations receive our Minnie Box! Our special thank you gift that is sent to you prior to departure for your trip. It is full of surprises and Magic and other wonderful things to enhance your stay.
The Magic Starts The Moment You Realize You CAN Afford A Disney Cruise – Let Me Show You How!
Beginning June 10th, Disney Cruise Line will begin taking reservations for their Fall of 2020 cruises. The most preferred rooms get snatched up super quick so it is best to have a plan in place before the booking window opens. Here is when you can reserve the cruises:
June 10th – Castaway Club PLATINUM & Golden Oak Residents
June 11th – Castaway Club GOLD
June 12th – Castaway Club SILVER, DVC & AbD members
June 13th – Everyone can reserve!
Contact me today for a no-obligation quote. We can get all the details squared away now so that when the booking window opens, we can do our best to get your preferred options. My services are free of charge and you will receive all my knowledge and experience to assist in planning your cruise of a lifetime. Our Signature Minnie Box will be mailed to all qualifying reservations – a gift from the agency to you, full of magic and tailored to your travel party! I look forward to hearing from you!
This Summer, Bo joins the rest of the Toy Story Characters and will be meeting with guests in the parks. Bo makes a dramatic return to the Toy Story Franchise in Toy Story 4 after being separated from the toys many years ago. I look so forward to seeing how this story plays out.
If you would be interested in meeting up with Bo or any of the Toy Story Toys, contact me today for information for Disneyland & Walt Disney World Resort Stays. There are still some great last minute Summer promotions!
H20 Glow is a great Extra Magical Even that takes place at Typhoon Lagoon on select Summer Evenings. Learn more about it here. This fantastic Extra Magical Event has some awesome perks and one of which will be all of its yummy bites and sips. For all the Disney Foodies, here is the guide, straight from Disney themselves:
FOOD
Western Beef Brisket, Available at Leaning Palms – Beef brisket, fingerling potatoes, and baby carrots topped with pico de gallo and micro greens
Pork Kabob, Available at Leaning Palms – Jicama slaw, kumquat preserves, pineapple, and watermelon topped with micro greens
Chick Kabob, Available at Leaning Palms – Mojo chicken, jicama slaw, kumquat preserves, pineapple, and watermelon topped with micro greens
Surfs Up Chicken Noodle Salad, Available at Leaning Palms, Typhoon Tilly’s, Snack Shack – Bulgogi chicken, noodle slaw, and lettuce topped with sesame seeds
Fish Out of Water, Available at Leaning Palms – Baked cod, coconut rice, and baby bok choy topped with lemon butter and micro greens
Cheese Party Platter, Available at Leaning Palms, Typhoon Tilly’s – Port Salude, smoked cheddar, fontina cheese, smoked gouda, grapes, and crackers
Bathtub Party Sundae, Available at Happy Landings – Vanilla
ice cream, confetti cake, whipped cream, and chocolate rubber ducks
topped with sprinkles and served in a novelty bathtub dish
Woody’s Rootin’ Tootin’ Milkshake, Available at Leaning Palms – Cotton candy milkshake served in a novelty Woody Boot and topped with whipped cream, edible glitter, and a gummy worm
Pineapple Soft-serve with Blue Raspberry, Available at Typhoon Tilly’s and Snack Shack – Pineapple soft-serve with blue raspberry slushy
The Glowing Unicorn (Non-alcoholic), Available at Leaning Palms –Non-alcoholic violet colada with a glow cube, rainbow whipped cream, edible shimmer glitter, and a twist candy lollipop
Tropical Flash Lemonade (Non-alcoholic), Available at Leaning Palms – Tropical smoothie mix with Odwalla Lemonade and a glow cube
Glow Fusion Punch (Alcoholic), Available at Leaning Palms – Vodka and fruit-based liqueur with grenadine and pineapple juice topped with rainbow popping pearls
Green Glowrita (Alcoholic), Available at Leaning Palms – Tequila, Granny Smith Apple syrup, and sour mix topped with blueberry popping pearls
Strawberry Glow Lemonade (Non-alcoholic), Available at Leaning Palms and High and Dry – Strawberry smoothie mix with Odwalla Lemonade and a glow cube
Buzz Blaster (Non-alcoholic), Available at Leaning Palms – Sprite and green apple popping pearls served with a Buzz Lightyear glow clip
Galactic Lemonade (Alcoholic), Available at Let’s Go Slurpin’ and Fred’s Dive Bar – Blueberry vodka, blue curaçao, Odwalla Lemonade, and pomegranate juice topped with Sprite and a glow cube
Party Time Tea (Alcoholic), Available at Let’s Go Slurpin’ – Tennessee whiskey, sweet tea, and lemonade with a glow cube
Dream Disco Float (Alcoholic), Available at Happy Landings – Hard orange soda, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and edible glitter
Adult Root Beer Disco Float (Alcoholic), Available at Happy Landings – Hard root beer, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and edible glitter
Elysian DayGlow IPA Draft (Alcoholic), Available at High and Dry
Brut de Peche Champagne (Alcoholic), Available at Fred’s Dive Bar – Served in a LED Champagne
NOVELTY ITEMS
Light-up Popcorn Bucket – Main Change Popcorn Cart
H2O Glow Nights Light-up Souvenir Cup – Various Locations throughout the Park
Alien Light-up Souvenir Cup – Various Locations throughout the Park
Light-up Champagne Glass – Various Locations throughout the Park
Glow Cubes – Various Locations throughout the Park
My Goal in 2020 is to run a race at Disney. I have been to Disney during races, and I have supported other racers but never raced myself. I am hoping to change that next year. I enjoy running and what could be better than doing it at Walt Disney World.
Disney just made it easier to book your race weekend trips. Now, we can reserve your room, tickets, AND your race registration. All at once! Done! It makes things more seamless for guests and it helps me offer you even more great customer service options.
A new celebration fit for all Princes & Princesses! Now available at Cinderella’s Royal, a delicious meal will be paired with a Royal Experience. Guests who choose the celebration package will receive the tasty 3 course meal as well as meet with several Disney Princesses. In addition, guests will receive the following:
A personal welcome from Cinderella & her Prince where they will welcome you into the castle
Complimentary glass of sparkling wine or specialty beverage
A box of Cinderella-inspired treats as a keepsake gift
Reserved seating for “Happily Ever After” Fireworks
After-Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace where treats are also Cinderella-Inspired
This Signature Celebration is only offered during one seating each evening so reservations are very limited. I highly recommend making this the first reservation you make when you book your dining 180 days out. For assistance with this and all of your other planning, please contact me for a no-obligation quote and let’s start planning your dreams! My services are free of charge and all qualifying reservations will receive our Minnie Box Gift.
Calling all Disney Junior Fans! Fancy Nancy has made her way to Hollywood Studios!
Fancy Nancy, a sweet little 6 year old girl who loves everything French and Fancy has arrived for Meet and Greets as well as Hollywood & Dine for Character meals. She has been delighting little girls with her fashion, french language and fantastic tea parties. Nancy has a beautiful and fun outlook that little girls everywhere can admire & look up to.
Turning Dreams Into Memories 