Newly refurbished All Star Movies Rooms!

Check out the newly refurbished rooms at the All Star Movies Resort! New flat screen TV's, new furnishings and all the trimmings. (Thanks to Brook for making the video.)

It's not too late for booking this resort during Disney World's Free Dining promotion, so contact us today for some great rates!



List of the 2011 Candlelight Processional Narrators

Here is the list of narrators scheduled for this year's Candlelight Processional show held in Epcot!

• 11/25 – 11/27: Mira Sorvino
• 11/28 – 12/01: Michael W. Smith
• 12/02 – 12/03: Whoopi Goldberg
• 12/04 – 12/06: TBA
• 12/07 – 12/09: Isabela Rossellini
• 12/10 – 12/12: Neil Patrick Harris
• 12/13- 12/14: TBA
• 12/16 – 12/18: TBA
• 12/19 – 12/21: Trace Adkins
• 12/22 – 12/24: Susan Lucci
• 12/25 – 12/27: Blair Underwood
• 12/28 – 12/30: Marlee Matlin (interpreter: Jack Jason)

Thist is subject to change. Lunch and Dinner Candlelight Processional Packages include a meal, reserved seating at a specific time show, and pre-arranged Illuminations fireworks viewing.

It is highly suggested that guests purchase a Candlelight Processional Dining Package as these shows are very popular and standby wait times can be quite long. Tickets will probably go on sale sometime in July.

To Disney Dining Plan, Or Not?

By: Brook W. - agent at Mouse World Travel

One of the BIGGEST questions for anyone going to Disney World..."Do I buy the Dining Plan, or not?"

If you are new to Disney Dining - the food is varied and overall pretty good, no matter where you eat.  You won't be stuck to burgers and nuggets only at the Quick Service Dining locations!  (though, the Kids Picks on the Quick Service meals could stand to be a bit more varied...)  So don't worry, everyone will find something good.

Now, let me take you on a journey of how I face this "to Dining Plan, or not?" question each and every trip (and sometimes for the trips of my Clients), and then you will have your answer at the end.

Do we, or don't we?

If we do--will we really save?

And if we do...which plan?  Quick, Regular, Deluxe???

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!  Like Disney doesn't have enough options already!!!!!

Okay--breathe.

Let's look at this logically.


STEP ONE: The facts.

In my little scenario, we are going for 4 nights, a family of 2 adults and 1 child-let's call this family Brook, Joe and Henry.  Creative, I know.

All people on your reservation must have the same Dining Plan, for the entire length of your stay.

In 2011...

The Quick Service Dining Plans includes / costs:
2 "Quick Service" meal credits (entree, dessert, non-alcoholic drink), per person, per night
2 Snacks per person, per night
1 refillable mug, per person

Adults $34.99 per person per night;
Children (ages 3-9) $11.99 per person per night

$81.97 per night.  x 4 nights = $327.88

And the Regular Dining Plan includes / costs:
1 "Table Service" meal credit (entree, dessert, non-alocholic drink--gratuity is NOT included) per person, per night
1 "Quick Service" meal credit per person, per night
1 Snack per person, per night

For stays during off-peak seasons, cost is: Adults $45.99 per person, per night; Children $11.99 per person, per night
For stays during peak seasons cost is: $47.99 per person, per night; Children $12.99 per person, per night

For ease, let's just say we are visiting during an off-peak time.

$103.97 per night x 4 nights = $415.88

And the Deluxe Dining Plan includes / costs:
3 Meal Credits - to be used however you'd like.  Quick or Table. per person, per night
2 Snacks per person, per night
1 refillable mug, per person

Adults $78.99 per person, per night
Children $21.99 per person, per night

$179.97 x 4 nights = $719.88

STEP TWO: Who is your traveling party?

1) Is your family the type that likes to sit-down for a meal every single day?  You treasure the time to sit and relax and have a server at your table?

2) Or, is your family more the quick type - where you would rather grab what you'd like, whenever you'd like, eat, and move on?  Maybe with a few sit-down meals sprinkled in there...but not everyday?

We are currently, with a young child, in the Choice #2 Camp.  Hands down.  However, I know many families-with young children-that are in the first choice.  They use that sit-down meal as a time to get out of the sun and re-charge, re-apply sunscreen and relax -or, as a finale to a wonderful day in Disney.

What choice are you?  This will help you determine which plan is best for you.

Wow, that's a really large picture of my face.  It was a good pretzel though!

STEP THREE: Where to eat?
This is sometimes difficult even for a Disney World Veteran.  There are a TON of choices.  So research, read reviews and ask opinions of those you know.

If you are a first time Disney-goer, this is VERY difficult, and my recommendation to you would be, if you think you might like the Dining Plan - buy it.  Buy whichever plan you think will fit your family best, try it and see if you like it.  The best way to learn is by experience.  Every family is different!  If you don't, next trip you will know what not to do!

For the Table Service meals you want to try:

-Are most character meals? (they are usually expensive)

-Are there any Signature dining places? (they take 2 Table Credits)
-Are there any dinner shows? (takes 2 Table Credits)

All these affect the credit usage if you are on the Dining Plan, and the out-of-pocket costs should you not buy a Plan.

Looking at the quick-service meals I need to evaluate where I *think* we might stop based on previous trips and what we like to eat.

-Are we wanting to eat at the most expensive of the choices: Wolfgang Puck's Express, Sunshine Seasons, Starring Rolls, or La Cantina de San Angel?  How about Cosmic Rays, Fairfax Fare, or Flame Tree BBQ-which also can be expensive?
 -Are we going to really eat that many desserts? (sometimes you can get fruit, or a bottle of water instead of dessert too-so keep that in mind!)
 -Are we just going to opt for the free ice water instead of a soda at our meals because of the heat?
-Are we going during the Food & Wine Festival and can use those snack credits during the festival for the expensive little-plates they sell?

Only YOU can answer these questions for your family.  And they aren't easy to answer!  Only from experience have I found that my family doesn't eat as much in the hot summer months as in the cooler winter/fall months.  My husband's stomach sometimes disagrees with the fountain sodas in the heat.  And I'm not a big dessert eater-unless it's very specific desserts.  My little man will eat and eat like no tomorrow one day, and eat a crumb the next.

Picky much?!! :-)

STEP FOUR: Do the math.

Now, open up: http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm
(AllEars.net>Walt Disney World>Dining>The Menus!)

Look at the menus and prices of your choice restaurants, and COMPLETELY IGNORE the links to their Travel Agency sponsor.  Book with me instead. ;-)

Now, let's do the math.

Here is how I do it.

I take the total dollar amount from the dining plan above and plug it into my calculator.

We are mostly a Quick Service family, so let's tackle the Quick Service Dining Plan.

I then go through the list of restaurants, picking which ones I think we will eat at (based on our favorites and past experiences and reviews I have read online).  I guess what each person will eat at the meal.

That, again, is not an easy task!

How is someone supposed to know what they are going to eat days-even MONTHS in advance???

However, everyone has their habits and favorites.  So, I go with this - and if I'm not certain what we will order, I average the prices.

I ONLY add in the things we would order if we were paying out of pocket; meaning if we normally probably wouldn't order a dessert or a drink here, I don't add it in (even though the Dining Plan includes it, it's not really a value unless you would normally eat it, right?)

So, let's look at a favorite of mine, Casey's Corner in the Magic Kingdom:

I know I will order Corn Dog Nuggets $4.19 and either apples or fries on the side: $2.49 and a Diet Coke: $2.19

Joe will order Hot Dog Meal - served with apples or french fries $6.59, maybe a drink-let's not add it in, but I know he'll get Cracker Jacks! $1.49

Henry will order Hot Dog Meal - served with apples or french fries $6.59 (they do not have a Kids menu at Casey's) and a milk $1.99

And I go on with the other meals, remembering to just subtract what I think we will eat, being a bit more on the conservative side.  I include a snack or two, just thinking about our eating habits, like we might crave ice cream more during the hot months, and that we like to bring a few bags of candy home with us.

This step of the process really is to know your family / traveling party and what they might order.  I know Joe cannot go to Casey's and not order Cracker Jacks.  I also know if we eat at Sunshine Seasons in Epcot, we ALL get a piece of the $3.99 strawberry shortcake!

We also eat most breakfasts in our room - bringing a few options from home, or purchasing them in the resort's gift shop.  We are sloooooow movers in the morning and I like to sip my coffee.  It's rare that we make it out of the room in time for breakfast unless we have a reservation!

Okay - so that step is done.  Your calculator is smoking and you might be a tad grayer after all the "Will we do this, or this?" thinking.

STEP FIVE: Is it worth it?

Evaluate.

What is the total left on your calculator?

Is there a LOT of money left?  If so, the Dining Plan is not for you!  Pay out of pocket and save the money!  Some people take the total cost of what the Dining Plan would have cost and put it on a Gift Card to use for the meals - then they still don't have to think about the costs of the meals, and will likely be able to splurge on a few gifts at the end of the trip!

Is the number on the calculator negative?  Then the plan IS for you!  Buy, buy, buy!  And enjoy!

If there is only a small amount left on your calculator - you are on the fence.  This is where we most often land.  And usually I say - buy the plan.  That way we don't have to think about the costs, and since I was conservative in my calculations above, we will be splurging on vacation with desserts and snacks, and that is always fun!!

What is a "lot" and a "small amount" of money is your determination.  Sometimes the ease of being all-inclusive is enough of a lure for some families to just buy the plan and be done with it.  Only YOU can truly decide.

It all can be a toss up!  And really, even if you choose wrong and we end up spending a bit more than you might have, it's probably not going to be THAT much more.  It's vacation....relax and just let it roll...or try to at least!

 So, to DDP or not?

THE ANSWER: "It depends."

Helpful, aren't I?  LOL!

Oh, and of course there are a few other options beyond these 3 Dining Plans, maybe I'll cover the Premium and Platinum plan in a future note! :-)  And if you are looking at 2012, it's a whole new ball-game.  New prices, slightly altered plans!!  Yippee!

Spotlight on La Cantina de San Angel in Epcot (Quick Service)

by: Brook W. - agent at Mouse World Travel

Earlier this year, my family and I had the opportunity to visit the newest addition to Epcot's awesome variety of Quick Service Restaurants - the La Cantina de San Angel, which is part of the Mexico pavilion in the World Showcase.

La Cantina is nestled right along the waterfront of the World Showcase Lagoon.  It is open for lunch and dinner.  During the lunch period there is both outdoor and indoor seating, but during dinner hours, the inside portion of the restaurant is turned into a sit-down Table Service.  We arrived at 8:00 pm for a late dinner.
 

Illuminations was just one hour away and this place was BUSY!  Many people were coming into this restaurant, ordering a drink or two, in hopes of snagging a table along the water for a great Illuminations view.  So, if you'd like to take advantage of that - arrive early and enjoy your food and drinks slowly!

That was not on our agenda for the evening, so we determined we would take any table that happened to open up.

But, first things first, let's figure out what to eat!

The menus is not vast.  Beef tacos, chicken tacos, cheese empanadas, "loaded" nachos, or nachos and guacamole.  The tacos and empanadas come with a side of pico de gallo and tortilla chips.  During my visit the guest in front of me asked about getting Spanish rice instead of the tortilla chips and the Cast Member affirmed that he could - but he changed his mind at the last moment and went with the chips, so I cannot completely confirm that this is an option...but it doesn't hurt to ask!  It is not listed on the menu.  The corn tortillas and guacamole are both handmade.

Desserts are churros with a caramel sauce, or Paletas - which are traditional Mexican fruit popsicles.

For Kid's Picks the choices are chicken tenders or a cheese empanada.  They come with tortilla chips, fruit and a beverage.

There are a few alcoholic drinks, the typical Coke products, bottled water, hot cocoa and Jarritos and Sidral - which are two traditional Mexican sodas.

After we ordered, I waited for my food and started to take in the details of this beautiful restaurant.

Food in hand, I navigated the crowds to my waiting child and husband.  We had found a table fairly quickly despite the number of people at the eatery.

 This is not a great picture, but it shows the seating over the waterfront.  The little cart on the right has napkins, straws, all that sort of thing.  It also has two types of salsa-a red and a green.

My 3-year old's choice for this meal were the chicken tenders. Many of the Quick Service restaurants serve basic chicken nuggets for the kids; however, these were full, white-meat chicken strips that you find generally in the adult meals (they taste much better than the kids nuggets!).

My husbands choice was the cheese empandas.  

And mine, the beef tacos.

We also received one cup of nacho cheese sauce.  This wasn't anything special, or spicy - just your basic nacho cheese sauce.  Standard is good sometimes...why fix what isn't broken?!

All three of us enjoyed our food!  My husband said the cheese empanadas were "good, not great", but he didn't leave one morsel behind either.  My beef tacos were DELISH!  I have nothing bad to say about them!

For dessert, both my husband and I chose the churros with caramel sauce.  The picture shows one portion.  They were hot and fresh.  The caramel dipping sauce isn't your traditional thick caramel, but is much thinner and an awesome compliment to the churro.

The churros are not only delicious, but they also make an excellent sword!

After our meal our bellies were full.  We were happy.  La Cantina was a hit.  We enjoyed it immensely despite the crowded status.  It was worth dealing with the crowds for!!

Matter of a fact...we liked it so much...we ate there again in our trip!

This time around, my husband chose the beef tacos that I raved over.  He agreed with me, they were a clear winner!

I chose the chicken tacos.  They were good...but not as good as the beef, in my opinion!

And the little dude chose the cheese empanada this time.  Which, as you can see, comes plain-unlike the cheese-loaded adult portion.  It's similar to what a deep fried grilled cheese would be, so naturally, my son really liked it!

And dessert....we couldn't resist...more churros!

All three of us agree that this is an excellent addition to the World Showcase options.  If you enjoy Mexican food, don't pass this one up!

Watch for my future review of the La Hacienda de San Angel, which is the Table Service portion of this restaurant.  I'm already drooling in anticipation of my meal!

New Disney Fantasy Experiences!

The Disney Fantasy™, the new Disney Cruise Line® ship set to debut next spring, will bring to life many of the innovative features guests love on the recently launched Disney Dream™ including AquaDuck — the world’s first shipboard water coaster.  But new design elements and guest experiences will give the Disney Fantasy™ an identity all its own.

The Disney Fantasy™ is the second of two newly designed Disney Cruise Line® ships that take the family cruise experience to new heights. Sister ship to the Disney Dream™, which entered service in January 2011, the 4,000-passenger Disney Fantasy™ will sail week-long Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, Fla., with its maiden voyage scheduled for March 31, 2012.

“Animation Magic” at Animator’s Palate

Like Animator’s Palate on the Disney Dream, the venue is wall-to-wall whimsy inspired by a classic animation studio. Throughout the restaurant, pillars are fashioned like huge pencils and brushes. Character sketches, maquettes (three-dimensional character models), film strips and other tools of the animation trade adorn the room.  As a special nod to Mickey Mouse, the dining room chairs feature red and yellow colors and a trademark design – Mickey Mouse pants with two bright yellow buttons.

Upon entering Animator’s Palate, guests are surrounded by artwork featuring their favorite Disney characters.  Guests get a sneak peek into the origins of these beloved characters through concept art, storyboards and character studies. 

As guests are seated at their tables, they are invited to draw a character of their own using a simple template on their placemat.  Then, just before dinner, house lights dim and a sprinkling of pixie dust illuminates the room.

Imagery is revealed on several large monitors showing animated, black and white drawings of Mickey Mouse.  Mickey then places the Sorcerer’s hat upon his head which transforms him, as well as all of the other pencil drawings shown throughout the room, from black and white to color.

Mickey then invites guests to sit back, relax and enjoy a taste of animation as a montage of memorable food-themed moments from Disney and Pixar films set to “Be Our Guest” begins to delight guests.  After the “Be Our Guest” number is complete, animated curtains are drawn on the monitors for a brief intermission. During this time, guests are encouraged to complete their own drawings, if they have not already done so, so they may be whisked off to Mickey Mouse who is conjuring a magical final act.

While guests enjoy dinner, the restaurant’s walls fill with classic Disney and Pixar characters gathering food, eating and drinking together, and celebrating over meals.

After dinner, the animated curtains are opened on the screens and Sorcerer Mickey returns for the exciting finale.  With a flourish and musical crescendo, Mickey works magic as only Disney can do.  Mickey conjures the guests’ drawings – now fully animated and brought to life – into the onscreen action.

A parade starts as Mickey leads the guests’ drawings in a march across the screens around the dining room.  The animation of the drawings becomes increasingly more elaborate, and then the drawings step into scenes from beloved Disney movies and skip, skate and dance side-by-side with characters such as Mickey Mouse, Jiminy Cricket, Cinderella and Snow White. 

At the conclusion of the show, Mickey returns to say “so long” to the guests and, as he does, credits roll on screen showing each guest’s name listed as a guest animator. To commemorate the experience, each guest will have their character drawing returned to them, with an added touch… a golden seal proclaiming them an Official Disney Animator.

Europa Nighttime Entertainment District

On the Disney Fantasy, adult guests step into a world that’s all their own at Europa – a nighttime entertainment district exclusively for guests 18 and older that features sophisticated bars and trendy lounges inspired by the very best in European travel.

• La Piazza is a lounge that draws inspiration from Italian cities and their decorative outdoor plazas. The bar is modeled after a colorful vintage carousel. Venetian masks, romantic couples’ booths and a classic Vespa with a sidecar add Italian flair.

Skyline
• Skyline is a chic bar that provides ever-changing birds-eye views of stunning European city skylines that transform from day to night. Skyline’s “windows to the world” give guests a glimpse of spectacular locales in panorama such as Paris, London, Barcelona, Athens and St. Petersburg.
• O’Gill’s Pub is a rollicking Irish bar with modern-day twists.  Dark woods, brass accents and a selection of Irish beers create the perfect pub atmosphere where guests can sip a pint while watching live sporting events on one of several high-definition televisions.
• Ooh La La is inspired by an elegant French boudoir adorned with velvet tufted walls, Victorian furniture and Louis XIV-style chaise lounges. A sensuous color palette is accented with ornate framed mirrors, gold details and a “jewel box” feature bar backed with sparkling diamond-like facets.

The Tube

• The Tube transports guests to a vibrant metropolitan club via the London Underground. Guests “mind the gap” as they walk across a Tube route map, lounge among mod furniture, pose by a red English phone booth, dance atop an illuminated Union Jack dance floor and enjoy cocktails at a bar inspired by Big Ben and London’s many train stations.

“Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular”

A new ship means new main stage entertainment at the 1,340-seat Walt Disney Theatre.  New to Disney Cruise Line, “Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular” takes the stage on the Disney Fantasy.  During this Broadway-style production, guests laugh along with the wise-cracking Genie and the cast from the classic animated Disney film, “Aladdin.” 

In this fast-paced musical comedy, Aladdin is back as the “street rat” of Agrabah meeting up with a Genie who grants him three wishes, battling the evil Jafar, and falling in love with Princess Jasmine.

Many of the classic scenes and songs from the movie are re-created on stage and some of the action even spills out into the aisles, like Prince Ali’s jubilant arrival in Agrabah on the back of a stallion. Magic lamps, wise-cracking genies, princesses and evil wizards are all part of this musical production. And of course, an Aladdin production would not be complete without a magic flying carpet scene, which combines mechanical wizardry with state-of-the-art projections, allowing Jasmine and Aladdin to soar as they perform a heartfelt duet of “Whole New World.”

Many of the songs from the movie are featured in the 45-minute musical production, including “Friend Like Me,” which is performed as a lively, Las Vegas-style production number featuring special effects, illusions and more than a dozen dancing genies. Composer Alan Menken, who created the original soundtrack with songwriters Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, composed an original song for the stage production entitled “To Be Free.”

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

When young princesses-to-be make their royal entrance at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, they are greeted by their very own Fairy Godmother-in-training who transform them with magical makeovers such as the Disney Diva, the Pop Princess or the Fairy Tale Princess. A variety of royal treatment packages include combinations of hairstyle, shimmering makeup and nails. Princess costumes, complete with crown, wand and shoes also are available.

Exclusive to Disney Cruise Line, Captain Mickey Mouse, Princess Minnie Mouse and First Mate Minnie Mouse makeovers plus special Under the Sea packages will be offered. 

On pirate party nights aboard the Disney Fantasy, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique transforms into the Pirate’s League, where swashbuckling boys, girls and grownups can get ready for the pirate life.

Each guest checking in at the plunder-filled pirate’s lair gets an official pirate name.  Then it’s off to Muster Station for applications of beards and bandanas, swords and scars, earrings and eye patches – all done with the savvy skill of a pirate master who shares his own tales of sea-sailing adventures.

After the new buccaneers recite a sacred pirate oath, they are officially part of Captain Jack’s motley crew, leaving their old identities behind.  The shipmates and scoundrels are then turned loose on their pirate vessel.

Guests can choose from two pirate packages – First Mate (includes bandana, facial scars tattoos, fake teeth, earring, eye patch, sword and sheath) or Empress (includes bandana, shimmering makeup, face gem, tattoos, nail polish, earring, eye patch, sword and sheath).

Atrium Lobby – Mademoiselle Minnie Mouse

The magnificent three-deck atrium lobby on the Disney Fantasy is reminiscent of grand ocean liners of the Golden Age.  Art Nouveau-inspired details and patterns in hues of vibrant blue, green, pink and gold lend to the sophistication.  Glamorous and graceful design elements include a sweeping grand staircase, towering fluted columns, grand piano and an exquisite marble and stone inlay floor. A focal point is a cascading chandelier of stained glass and crystal beads.

The pièce de résistance of the magnificent space is the atrium lobby statue – Mademoiselle Minnie Mouse.  Inspired by travel of the 1920s and 1930s, Minnie, cast in bronze and dressed in vintage fashion with a parasol and steamer luggage at her side, serves to welcome all guests who board the ship.

Royal Court Restaurant

At Royal Court restaurant, guests are immersed in the lavish surroundings of an elegant dining room fit for a grand palace.  Royal Court takes design inspiration from the classic Disney films “Cinderella,” “Snow White,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Sleeping Beauty.”  Décor features ornate details and custom furnishings and fixtures that incorporate iconic symbols from the films – glass slippers, apples, roses and tiaras.

An Austrian glass chandelier is a focal point, while eight custom brass and glass lighting fixtures modeled after Cinderella’s coach adorn the room.  Hand-crafted mosaic tile murals of the princesses – Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, Jasmine, Ariel and Sleeping Beauty (Aurora) – and their princes grace the walls.  Inspired by the mosaic tile murals in Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom, the Disney Fantasy mosaics are beingmeticulously created by skilled Italian craftspeople using more than 200,000 individual tiles, with 23 mosaic panels depicting six  different vignettes.

With careful attention to detail, many of the restaurant’s features are modeled precisely from the inspirational films. The Royal Court’s chandeliers, chair backs and columns with marble bases and fluted tops are fashioned after those seen in “Beauty and the Beast.”  Wall sconces, decorative patterns, throne-style chairs and the circular floor plan are recreated from “Cinderella.”

The Disney Fantasy will depart on her maiden voyage March 31, 2012, and will sail out of Port Canaveral on seven-night Caribbean itineraries – alternating eastern (St. Maarten and St. Thomas) and western (Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Cozumel). Special Eastern Caribbean sailings in November and December 2012 stop at St. Thomas and San Juan, Puerto Rico.  All Disney Fantasy itineraries include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

At Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique on the Disney Fantasy, aspiring young princesses and pirates receive the full fairy tale treatment with pixie-dusted and piratical makeovers at this very special salon. Animator’s Palate on the Disney Fantasy brings the magic of Disney animation into the dining room with a new show called “Animation Magic.”  The dinner show celebrates the magic of Disney animation and allows families to create and participate in a whole new way.

Some exciting things happening for Disney Cruise Line in 2012!

For the first time ever, Disney Cruise Line will set sail from three new ports in 2012 – New York, Seattle and Galveston, Texas – making the Disney family cruise vacation more accessible to guests around the country. Additionally, the cruise line will offer more choices than ever before with several new itineraries planned.

“In 2012, we’re making it easier than ever for families to enjoy a Disney Cruise Line vacation by offering cruises from a variety of regional homeports,” said Disney Cruise Line President Karl Holz. “Guests can now enjoy a magical, one-of-a-kind Disney cruise experience with the convenience of departures from their own backyard.”

For the full listing of all the itineraries, dates, and pricepoints, please check out our website HERE

And the MOST exciting part is:
For the first time, the Disney Wonder will offer a special 15-night voyage to Hawaii from Los Angeles, calling on Hilo; Kahului, Maui; Honolulu, Oahu; Nawiliwili, Kauai and Ensenada, Mexico.Rates for the 15-night Hawaiian itinerary (departing April 29, 2012) start at $1,800 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

Dreaming of a Disney Cruise

A few of our agents recently returned from cruising on the new Disney Dream during Disney's Agent Education Program. Seeing her in person was awesome to say the least!

Cass has written a very detailed trip report with TONS of fabulous pictures of anything you could want to see on the Dream HERE

As for my experience, I never thought that I would be fortunate to have been able to sail on the Dream so soon. My family had a 3-day cruise booked on her in September, but it looked like we were going to have to cancel it. When the opportunity came not only to sail on her almost immediately, but be there as Disney's guests and on her second official sailing, I jumped at the chance.

Even after many Disney cruises I still never tire of seeing the DCL ships docked at their terminal in Cape Canaveral! Seeing the Dream for the first time all spanking new, was surreal. :)

During my stay, there were SO many changes and improvements that I appreciated and loved on the Dream. Instead of doing a trip report that Cass has already done such a thorough job on, I will list some of my favorites features and improvements:

1. A bigger, more grand atrium lobby. Simply breathtaking! The pictures don't do the chandelier justice, it sparkles so much more in real life!

2. Great improvements to all of the kids clubs and nursery. It made me wish my 8 year old son was with me

3. Great improvements on the teen club, the Vibe. It made me wish my teens were with me! I was wishing everyone were with me!

4. The interactive art and mystery game that anyone can have fun playing

5. Cabanas buffet- bigger and much, much easier to maneuver through. Great selections!

6. Movies on demand on the stateroom TVs. It will be so hard going back to the Magic and Wonder's        TVs after being spoiled with this!

7. Mickey slide - it has a few more curves going down it, and is in a much better location.

8. Great big splash area for little kids and it's Nemo themed!

9. Both kids' pools can watch the jumbotron now :)

10. Walt Disney Theater! Much easier to get a great unobstructed view and now there is a balcony! So happy! Plus, there are 3 showings a night, 5:00, 7:00 and 9:00pm

11. Stateroom closet doors- they open now instead of slide. (It's a minor improvement to me, but still an improvement.)

12. Stateroom decoration and bedding - very comfy and pretty. I love the duvet instead of the bedspreads.

13. Animator's Palate - simply amazing! Great improvements with great technology!

14. The rest of the restaurants - stunning

15. And last but definitely not least, the AQUADUCK! We came back early from Castaway Cay and rode it 10 times in a row! It was a blast and I can't wait to go with my kids.


All in all, the ship was big, new and beautiful,  the colors-- vibrant,  the decor-- elegant, tasteful and pristine. This new ship is definitely a feast for the eyes and welcome new addition to the Disney Cruise Line fleet! I cannot WAIT to be able to go back with my family and now that I have been on her, it will probably be sooner than later! :)