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...
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...
#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...
Celebrating your birthday at Walt Disney World

Celebrating your birthday at Walt Disney World

Written by Erica V. Ellis – Magical Tripcations Travel Planner Disney vacations are special and magical, no matter when you take them.  Add a birthday to the mix and it becomes even more magical!  Here are our Top 5 ways to celebrate your birthday while at Walt Disney World! Let your Magical Tripcations Travel Planner know that you’ll be celebrating a birthday while on vacation! Your planner will add that tidbit of information on to your reservation.  When you scan your Magic Bands at park entrances, for fast passes, etc., the cast members will be alerted to this.  You’ll probably get lots of extra “happy birthdays” during your stay. If you aren’t given a birthday button at check-in, make sure you ask for one at your Disney Resort’s front desk or at any of the guest service locations at the parks. Once you have it, wear it proudly!  It’s always fun to hear “happy birthday” from cast members and park goers.  Who knows, maybe you’ll get some extra pixie dust because of it! Talk to your Magical Tripcations Travel Planner about a special gift package or room celebration through Disney Floral & Gifts. It can be as simple as a small cake in your room, or a full-on room makeover to help you celebrate the special day.  Prices vary and can satisfy pretty much any budget.  For my daughter’s third birthday we ordered her a special Princess Gift Basket and a small chocolate cake that was delivered to our room the evening of her birthday.  When we arrived back to our room, the surprise was waiting for her and...
Tips for Traveling to Disney World with a Toddler

Tips for Traveling to Disney World with a Toddler

Written by Erica Ellis – Magical Tripcations Travel Planner; Photos provided by Magical Tripcations Travel Planner Team Are you contemplating a trip to Walt Disney World with a toddler?  Has the idea of taking someone under the age of 3 also made you question your sanity?  Fear not, there are some great reasons why taking your toddler to Walt Disney World before they turn 3 is an awesome idea.  We have polled our Magical Tripcations Travel Team and come up with tips that will help you not only stay sane but have a very memorable and magical time!   FREE TICKET – Did you know that children under the age of 3 do not require a park ticket? That’s right, they are considered an infant until they turn 3 and are free of charge to enter any of the Disney Parks.  Please note, if you work with one of our Magical Tripcations Travel Planners to create a vacation package that includes a dining plan, they will NOT be included in that plan, so your child would either eat off of your plate or you would need to pay out of pocket for them during meal time.     5 Can Stay for the Price of 4 – Did you know that a portion of Disney’s Resorts have a maximum occupancy of 4 in a room?  If you are a Party of 5, in which one is under the age of 3, you still have the option of staying in resort room with a maximum occupancy of 4.  Your toddler (under the age of 3) does not count towards the...