Keeping the *Magic* Alive at Home

Keeping the *Magic* Alive at Home

Written by: Erica Ellis – Magical Tripcations Travel Planner; Content and Photos Contributors – Jo Anne Smoot – Magical Tripcations Owner, Kimberly Evans, Josh Murray, Michelle Canchola, Jessica Daniel, Philip Hardy, Glenn & Shelley Frost, Emily Dula, Jeff Hathcock – Magical Tripcations Travel Planners Top 5 ways our Travel Planners are bringing Disney Magic into our lives while staying at home We are living through an unprecedented time in history!  COVID-19 has brought so many changes to everyone’s lives and we are grateful to be safe at home.  And for the first time ever, the Disney Parks are closed.  With all of that, it doesn’t mean that our Travel Planner team isn’t missing the absolute magic of the parks!  Here are some things we have done to help the time pass a little more quickly and keep the magic going at home. Make it Mickey Shaped!  As I always say, everything tastes better shaped like a Mickey & that’s a #FACT!  There are so many ways to bring magic into your cooking.  One way is to shape your food like Mickey’s silhouette.  There are waffle makers that can help you out, or simply create the shape with cookie dough the next time you make a batch of chocolate chip cookies!  A Mickey waffle maker was a perfect Christmasgift a few years ago! It’s been used so manythe last couple of months. Disney Parks Blog has been sharing so many great things through all of this!  Some of my favorite have been park & resort recipes for Disney favorites!  These #DisneyMagicMoments are a fun way to transport you to your...
After Hours Events

After Hours Events

Written by: Erica Ellis – Magical Tripcations Travel Planner; Photos provided by: Kimberly Evans – Magical Tripcations Travel Planner, Terrie Meredith – Magical Tripcations Travel Planner; Glenn & Shelley Frost – Magical Tripcations Travel Planners; Jo Anne Smoot – Magical Tripcations Owner Getting the Most Out of Your Stay – Consider an After Hours Event!  MT Planners ready for the first Villains After Hours event of 2020 at Magic Kingdom in early February So, you’re going on a Disney Parks Vacation?  Congratulations!  As you shift your sights to your itinerary, now is a great time to consider purchasing tickets to an After Hours event at the parks.  What is an “After Hours” event?  Well, I’m glad you asked, because I’m here to break it down for you. An After Hours event is just that….an event that happens after regular park hours.  Some take place in the early morning, others take place at night.  All of them are a ton of fun & come with their own perks & exclusive sights, sounds & tastes!  Make sure that you chat with your Magical Tripcations Travel Planner to get the scoop on which party or parties might be happening during your stay.  They can get you pricing & availability.  The Walt Disney Travel Company is always coming up with new, fun, & innovative party ideas so the options change regularly.  Make sure you chat with your travel planner to figure out if there are any options during your stay.  MT Planner Terrie celebrates the most magical time of the year at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party during her time as a Cast...
Disney Cruise Line – Theme is Everything!

Disney Cruise Line – Theme is Everything!

Written by: Erica Ellis – Magical Tripcations Travel Planner; Photos provided by: Kimberly Evans – Magical Tripcations Travel Planner & Erica Ellis – Magical Tripcations Travel Planner Personally, I love a good themed event or party.  Do you know who takes theming to a whole other level?  Disney, of course.  Commitment to a theme isn’t just for the parks.  You can set sail aboard Disney Cruise Line during select sailings and enjoy some amazing special themes!  These special sailings are limited to certain times of the year and some onboard specific ships.  Special “Days at Sea” Storm Troopers keeping an eye on things on board Disney Fantasy during a Star Wars Day at Sea Marvel Day at Sea  Join some of Marvel’s favorite super heroes for a heroic day packed with special entertainment, meet-and-greets and special offerings for the entire family.  This SUPER day is available on 5-Night Cruises from Miami to the Bahamas & Caribbean in 2020. Here are just some of the activities offered while enjoying your Marvel Day at Sea: Prepare to meet and have training sessions with Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Captain America, just to name a few!  Your family will assemble with others onboard for a nighttime spectacular deck show hosted by Tony Stark and more than a dozen of your favorite Marvel Super Heroes and Villains!  Join Mickey and pals as they dress up as their favorite Marvel Super Heroes, perfect for younger cruisers.There’s loads of other activities going on during your Marvel Day at Sea, including a costume celebration, movie screenings, Marvel-themed crafts at the Kids Clubs, Marvel TV animated series on...
Cinderella’s Royal Table – A “Boy Mom’s” Perspective

Cinderella’s Royal Table – A “Boy Mom’s” Perspective

Written by Ashely Jones – Travel Planner with Magical Tripcations Being a Disney kid, I can say that I have always felt fortunate to have so many magical memories from Walt Disney World.  My parents took my brother and I every other year and we had a blast riding the rides, eating Mickey-themed food, and seeing as many characters as we could fit in during the week. I would wait all year just to take my first glimpse of Cinderella’s iconic castle at the end of Main Street, USA.  To me the castle symbolized all of Disney and, to this day, I associate it with joy and Disney magic.   However, it wasn’t until I was an adult that I learned that you can eat inside Cinderella Castle.  This was a game changer for me. Having this knowledge about Cinderella’s Royal Table (CRT), I wanted to make sure that my children were able to have this experience. I decided that I was going to take them, and it would be something that we could experience together, for the first time! Meeting Cinderella INSIDE Cinderella at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park Fast forward to present day, I am a proud mother of a “Cars” loving, insect chasing, dinosaur seeking, four-year-old BOY. My son loved going to Walt Disney World, but his favorites were not the princesses, and he never seemed all that concerned with Cinderella Castle. Regardless, I had set this as a goal as something I wanted to give my child, and so I made the advance dining reservation for CRT and went in not really knowing what to expect. It...
A Magical Run Weekend

A Magical Run Weekend

Before my very first runDisney Event – 2010 Walt Disney World Half Marathon – January 2010 Written by Erica V. Ellis – Travel Planner with Magical Tripcations I’ve considered myself a “runner” since 2009 when I trained for my very first half marathon.  Since then I’ve run one full marathon, eleven half marathons & countless 10Ks and 5Ks.  Of those eleven half marathons, four of them have been runDisney races.  I can safely say that not all runs are created equal and runDisney races are simply a magical time!  With fun themes, character greetings along the course, & plenty of Disney magic to keep you going, these races should be on every runner’s bucket list, no matter your experience level.  At this time, races are only available at Walt Disney World in the United States.  Four different race weekends are currently held at different times of the year.  I’ve run in 3 of the 4 current race weekends that are held at Walt Disney World.  Here are my take aways from all four of my runDisney experiences:  Tip 1 – Register ASAP Make sure you follow runDisney on Facebook.  There they will post the dates for all the upcoming races as well as the registration opening dates.  These races fill up FAST, so be prepared!  In 2017 and 2018 runDisney has allowed Travel Agents that partner with Disney to book runDisney race packages for upcoming races, before the general public.  The main stipulation is that you must book your race registration with a Disney Resort room reservation or Disney Resort vacation package.  If you cancel your room or package,...
Disney Cruise Line – Without Your Kids

Disney Cruise Line – Without Your Kids

Written by Kimberly McClintock Evans – Magical Tripcations Travel Planner If I had a nickel for every person who laughed or gave me a double take when I said I went on a Disney Cruise for a week without my kids, I could have paid for the trip! But I am not sure why?  When you think about it, Disney Parks are unlike other parks.  Disney Hotels are unlike other hotels.  Disney movies, well they are some of the highest grossing, most entertaining movies of all times. Companies actually hire Disney Executives and the Disney Institute teaches people “how to be more like Disney.” Disney is one of the strongest brands worldwide that is synonymous with cleanliness, excellence and unparalleled service.  Why wouldn’t I want that on my vacation? But without the kids?  What about all the kids? What did I do for 7 days on a ship full of kids? The first time I took a cruise my kids were tiny…that was the first place since I had kids where: I ate a full meal from beginning to end.  I had a full meal even at the temperature it was intended to be served at!! (Not 3 hours later while my kids are in the tub and I am standing over them eating cold meat.)  I didn’t have to do anything but eat and enjoy my family.  I didn’t even have to cut meat.  If someone spilled a drink, there are two people to come and clean it up within seconds.  I didn’t even have to pour ketchup.  While that can happen in many places there are differences-my...
All you need to know about Castaway Cay

All you need to know about Castaway Cay

Written by Kimberly McClintock Evans – Magical Tripcations Travel Planner Did you know Disney has a private Island for guests aboard Disney Cruise Line on certain sailings?  If your itinerary has a day at Castaway Cay, (pronounced “key”) here is everything you need to know for a great day off the ship and a few suggestions and surprises you may not know about.  Isn’t she a beauty? Make sure to snap a photo of your Disney Cruise Line ship as your disembark on Castaway Cay First a few facts: The island is only for Disney Cruise Line guests.  No other ships or cruise lines will dock here.  Only those from your cruise will be docking on that day. Some cruise itineraries include a “double dip” Castaway Cay Stop.  Contact one of our amazing Disney Travel Planners for more information on different itineraries.  Although Disney Cast Members won’t often tell you, there is a sordid history of the island.  Disney has a 99-year lease on the Bahamian Island.  Castaway Cay was actually named Gorda Cay, had no beaches, and was a drug smuggler stop in the 70s.  While you don’t hear much about it, the landing strip is part of a clue.  In my head however, I like to believe it was really a Jack Sparrow stop and if I dig long enough and hard enough I will find some treasure or rum smuggled onto the island.  A much better story, I think!Sometimes it’s fun to find the approximately 50 – 60 staff members that actually live on the island and ask them a little about Island life. Top things...
Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party

Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party

Written by Jennifer Jamieson – Magical Tripcations Travel Planner A trip to Disney World is definitely magical but there are also plenty of opportunities to add extra magic during your stay. From special character meals to behind the scenes tours to spa treatments and dessert parties, there is plenty to choose from when looking to celebrate a special occasion or just for an extra bit of fun! Today we’d like to highlight the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party at Disney’s Hollywood studios as we found it to be an out of this Disney world experience and put our trip to this park into hyper drive! The Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party is a special ticketed event meaning that there is an extra ticket that is purchased in addition to the regular park admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  Currently, the cost is $79 per adult (10 and over) and $45 per child (3 to 9) including tax and gratuities. The party ticket includes an array of delectable desserts (all you care to enjoy savory and sweet treats) and specialty drinks – alcoholic beverages for those over 21 or soft drinks, coffee and water, too – to be enjoyed in a setting inspired by the films and surrounded by movie props inside Star Wars Launch Bay. Guests check-in for the party just outside Launch Bay in the Animation Courtyard.  We arrived about 20 minutes before the party started to check-in and we were greeted by Cast Members who gave us instructions along with special lanyards to wear allowing us to enter and easily come and go as...
#PrincessGoals

#PrincessGoals

Written by Maritza Navarro – Magical Tripcations Travel Planner If you have a princess-obsessed little one and want to meet them at Walt Disney World, here are some tips and tricks that have been learned over several Walt Disney World vacations: Tip 1 – Character Meals The easiest way to meet princesses quickly is to book a princess themed character meal.  The most coveted of these is Cinderella’s Royal Table in the Magic Kingdom which is based on availability for either breakfast, lunch or dinner.  There you will meet and take a formal photo with Cinderella and meet four other princesses at your meal.  Another option is at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, located in the Norway Pavilion inside the World Showcase at EPCOT.  This is based on availability for either breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  You will take a formal photograph with Belle in her yellow gown and then meet four other princesses at your meal.  Another option to consider for a princess meal, on a smaller scale, is at Trattoria al Forno at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. There you will meet Rapunzel and Princess Ariel, along with Flynn Rider, and Prince Eric.   This is only available for breakfast and it’s a delicious meal.  The final option is at 1900 Park Fare (dinner only) inside the Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, where you will meet Cinderella, Prince Charming, Cinderella’s step-sisters, Anastasia and Druzella, and Lady Tremaine, Cinderella’s step-mother.  This is such a fun dinner with amazing character interactions. If you are on either the Disney Dining Plan or the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan, all of these options would be...
Top 10 things to do at Pixar Pier

Top 10 things to do at Pixar Pier

Written by Erica V. Ellis – Magical Tripcations Travel Planner   Our Magical Tripcations Team was hard at work during the opening week of Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure!  Here’s our Top 10 “Must Do” list while visiting! Visit during Pixar Fest! – This is a limited time festival that ends on September 3, 2018, but there’s definitely still time to book your Disneyland Vacation for Summer 2018.  Pixar Fest offers guests a variety of special foods, parades, and memorabilia.  While Pixar Pier is here to stay, Pixar Fest is for a limited time! Have lunch or dinner at Lamplight Lounge – This newly renovated restaurant is located at the entrance of the pier.  The menu is creative and fun!  Delicious food and cocktails are available for the whole family.  For a full menu, we highly recommend talking to your Magical Tripcations Travel Planner about making a reservation in their dining room.  The top level of the restaurant & patio is available for walk up guests, but still requires you to check-in and leave your name with the hostess.  Our group did a walk-up seating and waited about 50 minutes. Shop around Knick Knacks Souvenir Shop – This gift shop is right across from Lamplight Lounge and has the most adorable items featuring everyone’s favorite Pixar characters. Eat ALL THE FOOD! – While some food offerings are for a limited time, others are here to stay! Our team did the hard work & sampled some for you!  Some of our favorites include:  Chocolate Chip Cookie from Jack Jack Cookie Num Nums outside of the Incredicoaster; Soft Serve Lemon ice cream at the...