Star Wars Day at Sea on Disney Cruise Line

Just when you think that cruising with Disney couldn't get any better, they up the ante!  Calling all Star Wars fanatics--how would you like to participate in a day long Star Wars celebration aboard the Disney Fantasy Cruise Ship and be transported to a galaxy far, far away?  Well you are in luck, because for 8 special sailings in 2016 Disney Cruise Line will be offering "Star Wars Day at Sea". My Star Wars Fanatic Son has just proclaimed that we MUST sail on one of these!  Be sure to act quickly--these sailings are filling fast!!  Contact your DreamFinder Travel agent today to get your complimentary no-obligation quote on one of these sailings and fulfill your Star Wars Fan's dream!

In 2016, Disney Cruise Line guests can celebrate the legendary adventures and iconic characters from the Star Wars saga during a brand-new, day-long celebration aboard eight special sailings on the Disney Fantasy: Star Wars Day at Sea.
Marking the first official appearance of the heroes and villains of Star Wars aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship, Star Wars Day at Sea combines the power of the Force, the magic of Disney and the excitement of cruising for an out-of-this-galaxy experience unlike any other.

Darth Vader and Storm Troopers on deck.

Occurring one day during each of eight Disney Fantasy sailings, Star Wars Day at Sea will transport guests to a galaxy far, far away — in the Western Caribbean. The event features a full day of Star Wars celebrations, including a deck party, meet-and-greets with favorite characters, Star Wars-themed youth activities, unique food and beverage offerings, and special merchandise.
Also featured will be exclusive at-sea screenings of the Star Wars films and the new Disney XD animated series, Star Wars Rebels.

Throughout the day, Star Wars Younglings, Padawans and Jedi Masters alike will enjoy the immersive entertainment. Intergalactic highlights include:

Force-filled Fun for Everyone

• Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Boba Fett, Stormtroopers and other characters from across the Star Wars galaxy will be onboard for scheduled meet and greets, as well as roaming on deck and elsewhere around the ship. Guests also are encouraged to dress up in their own stellar costumes.
• A shipboard version of the popular Jedi Training Academy experience invites young Jedi hopefuls – known as “Padawans” – to learn lightsaber moves from a Jedi Master. They can then use the Force and face off in a final test against the evil Darth Vader.
• Kids and families enjoy friendly competition during Star Wars trivia games, covering fun facts from the film and television sagas.
• For Younglings, Star Wars-themed arts and crafts, games and activities will be offered throughout the day in Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab youth clubs.
• In the evening, adults entering the night club will feel like they stepped into the Mos Eisley cantina scene. Characters and cantina music set the mood as Star Wars-themed specialty cocktails are served.

Film Screenings and Celebrities

• Guests can watch the first six Star Wars films and follow Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke and Leia along their epic journey.
• Also showing will be episodes of the new Disney XD animated series, Star Wars Rebels.
• On each of the special sailings, celebrities and insiders from the Star Wars galaxy will share their experiences, meet fans and sign autographs.

Star Wars Deck Party and Fireworks

• There’s intergalactic fun when the Star Wars deck party blasts off to an exciting evening filled with music, dancing and games.
• Star Wars characters converge on the deck stage for a celebration of the Star Wars saga in a show featuring special effects and guest participation.
• The deck party culminates in a spectacular display of themed pyrotechnics, lighting, sound effects, lasers and Star Wars

Star Wars Day at Sea will be on Disney Fantasy cruises sailing on Jan. 9, 23; Feb. 6, 20; March 5, 19; April 2 and 16, 2016. Departing from Port Canaveral, the seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary includes Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands and Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay.

Click here to contact us today for your no obligation pricing quote. 

Tinkerbell, Pixie Dust, Pirates, and a missing tooth (Disney Cruise Line)

You know when you are traveling with children that something unexpected is likely going to happen.  It's fate.  Sometimes it's good, sometimes not so much, but something unexpected nonetheless.  Well, on one of our Disney cruises, the inevitable happened, as it somehow always managed to do when we were traveling.  Fortunately this was one of those times that it was a little thing--little but VERY memorable. 

While we were sailing aboard the Disney Wonder my son lost a tooth.  After calming him down (for some reason tooth loss always came with hysteria and tears), we told him that it was pretty cool to lose a tooth at sea, and now he looked like a pirate!  He thought about that for a few minutes, smiled and decided that having a missing tooth for the pirate night would be cool, so all was well.  Then he asked the inevitable--"Mom, will the tooth fairy be able to get on the ship?"  I assured him that all would be fine, and that yes, the tooth fairy would find him. That was all he needed to hear, and things went back to normal (back to the kids club he went, proud of his new found "pirate" self.)

So off I trekked to Guest Services to see if they had something that I could put the tooth in (for safe keeping).  When I arrived at Guest Service, the very nice girl at the desk asked me for all of the details (and our cabin, etc.) so that she could alert our cabin steward, and then she promptly handed me a little envelope to put the tooth into.  I tucked away the tooth, and a short while later we went to dinner and forgot all about the tooth, and tooth fairy.

Pixie Dusted Bed

More Pixie Dust on the Floor

Tinkerbell's Card

Imagine our surprise when we arrived back to the cabin and TINKERBELL herself had paid us a visit!  When we walked in the room there was pixie dust all over, which started on our bed.  The pixie dust was carefully spread out along the bed, and then it continued down to the floor.  Leaving a trail behind of her visit.  Her pixie dust trail continued along and over to my son's bed.  In the center of the "pixie dust" was a card.  Inside the card was a message (and money**...) from Tinkerbell congratulating him on losing his tooth.  He also received an "I lost a tooth" button as well.  The pixie dust then continued over to the verandah door, and then it ended (a very nice touch I might add!)

Tinkerbell's Message

My son spent the rest of the cruise telling anyone who would listen that Tinkerbell had come to see him instead of the Tooth Fairy, and she visited his cabin and left him a really cool card, button, and money for his tooth!  Oh, and now he was an "official" pirate!  It was priceless, and a moment in time that I will never forget.  Thank you Disney Cruise Line for making it magical!

Do you have a magical Disney Cruise Line story?  We'd love to hear about it.

**disclaimer--the tooth fairy money wasn't from Disney, or Tinkerbell, it *may* have been put in with that card by my son's "Tooth Fairy", who may have come into the cabin prior to the rest of the family from dinner.

I am a travel agent...

I am often asked why someone should use a travel professional/agent.  "What's in it for me?" is often what I hear, or "I can do it myself."   In this digital world where you can click through websites and apps at a moment’s notice, Google an answer, look for an idea, where is the value?  The value is in the person—read for more perspective on the subject.

I am a travel agent.

I'm sometimes called a travel counselor or a travel professional. I use my knowledge of destinations, resorts, escorted tours, cruise ships, air travel and attractions to "counsel" clients on the best choices for their vacation dreams, desires and budgets.

As a travel agent, I add value.

Think of me as you would an accountant, attorney, or a real estate agent. You can file your own tax return, but those who choose to use an accountant do so because they recognize that specialized knowledge pays off. You can represent yourself in court, but those who choose to have an attorney assist generally have better results brought forth by the attorney's specialization and knowledge.  Likewise, you can buy or sell your house without a real estate agent, but most people don't, because the absence of that knowledge can result in unexpected issues. While my role is to match up clients with the appropriate travel products, it's always the client's interests that I represent. If anything goes wrong with their trip, I'm there for them.  I am your advocate and voice.

Your time is precious.

You have choices today. You can research and book your trip online. You might even save a couple of dollars. If you're just booking a flight from point A to point B, go ahead and book online. I won't be offended. You might find that it takes longer than you expected to find the 'best price' and if your flight is oversold or cancelled you'll be on your own, but if you're a gambler the odds are pretty good you'll be OK.

When it comes to your hard-earned vacation time, I will passionately defend the value of my services. That shiny brochure with the golden bodies sitting around a glistening pool doesn't always tell the reader the whole story. I might know that that pool that looks so inviting in the brochure is under renovation, the rooms are old, tired and dated; that on the particular week of your holiday choice that the place will be packed with drunken college kids. These things may matter to you. The value of that knowledge might even be worth many times the cost of the vacation.

Benefit from my knowledge.

My knowledge offers other benefits—the concierge who can arrange tickets to anything you might wish to attend; that wonderful little restaurant tucked away in a side street; the seat on the plane with that extra legroom. These are the kinds of things I learn through my travels and studies. I'm thrilled to share them with you.  I travel frequently to know these things first hand and to be able to share that knowledge with my clients.

I am a travel agent.

This is how I make my living. I may not get rich doing this, but that's not my motivation. I love to travel, see new places, meet new people, and enjoy new sensations. More than anything, I love the feedback from clients that my knowledge, care and attention helped them to create lasting memories. That's worth a lot to them. What is it worth to you?

Contributed by Sue Ellen Soto-Rios, Director of Travel for DreamFinder Travel.  Sue Ellen has had a passion for travel her entire life.  She travels extensively to multiple destinations in order to be able to share her knowledge with her clientele, and is an avid and self proclaimed "foodie" and wine enthusiast. 

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels to test a new check-in feature

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels to test a new check-in feature--

Have you ever waited in line to check in at a hotel and wished that the online check in that you did meant you could just arrive and not have to go through the check in process at the hotel?  Well that could be coming very soon to the Walt Disney World Resort using the MyMagic+ system.  

This month, a test will take place at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels. This test involves a new potential service that could allow you to go directly to your hotel room once it is ready, without visiting the front desk. This test will be conducted for arrivals June 16-28, 2014 at the following Walt Disney World Resort hotels:

• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas – Jambo House and Kidani Village

If you are staying at one of these Resort hotels and arriving on the dates above, you must first link your reservation on StartYourDisneyExperience.com and confirm the shipping address to receive your MagicBands at home.  Disney will send an email before you arrive explaining the details and benefits of this test. 

In order to participate in this test, guests will need to use Disney online check-in service, provide their estimated arrival time, a credit card to be used for incidentals and other charges once they arrive, and contact information. Guests will also need to make sure to consent to receive email or text message alerts so they can receive notification of their room number when it is ready. 

Don't have your vacation booked yet?  Contact DreamFinder Travel today to get started and reserve your magical vacation.   Great rates are still available for Summer and Fall travel.  

If you are staying at one of the participating Walt Disney World hotels during this test phase and try the new service, we would love to hear your

Flower and Garden Festival 2014

We wanted to share with you a short video of the 2014 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival.  If you have never been to Epcot during this event you are really missing out on one of the most beautiful times of year to visit (other than the holidays.)

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

The opening date of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was just announced this week.  The new ride is set to open on May 28, 2014.  The coaster is really smooth, and the swinging cars are fun.  Disney has done an excellent job with the animatronics and the decor of the ride.  This is an excellent addition to Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom.  Here is a quick video of some of the ride queue "fun" and an abbreviated "ride through" on the train. 

FastPass+ options are available for this, so make sure to get your return time scheduled for your Disney trip.  Your DreamFinder agent will be happy to take care of adding this to your itinerary for you. 

If you are visiting the Magic Kingdom between now and the May 28th opening date, keep an eye out for potential "soft" openings and ride opportunities.  You never know when you might have some Disney "Magic" sprinkled on you!!

Are you ready to book a trip to take a ride on the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train?  Click here to request your Disney World vacation pricing quote today!

Harambe Nights!

 New and coming soon to Disney's Animal Kingdom, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of “The Lion King,” Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park will host Harambe Nights every Saturday evening June 7-Aug. 9, 2014.   Harambe Nights Celebrates Tales and Tastes of Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

The journey begins with a Welcome Reception in the park’s Harambe Village where you will savour mouth-watering appetizers and African-inspired wine and beer. Then, it’s time for the “mane” event – an unforgettable performance of “The Lion King – Concert in the Wild.”
Bringing to life the story of Simba, this brand-new theatrical experience features a live orchestra and choir, dancers, digitally projected movie moments, as well as dramatic lighting and scenic elements – all hosted by a celebrity guest narrator.

The lineup of celebrity narrators features stars from stage and screen. Scheduled to appear are:

•    June 7 – Viola Davis (“The Help,” “Ender’s Game”)
•    June 14 – TBD
•    June 21 – Montego Glover (“The Following,” “Memphis”)
•    June 28 – David Alan Grier (“Porgy & Bess,” “In Living Color”)
•    July 5 – Michael Beach (“ER,” “Third Watch,” “Sons of Anarchy”)
•    July 12 – Harry Lennix (“The Blacklist,” “The Five Heartbeats”)
•    July 19 – Joe Morton (“Scandal,” “American Gangster,” “The Good Wife”)
•    July 26 – Alfre Wooard (“Desperate Housewives,” “Miss Evers Boys”)
•    Aug. 2 – Patina Miller (“Pippin,” The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1”)
•    Aug. 9 – Brian Stokes Mitchell (“Ragtime,” “Trapper John M.D.,” “Glee”)

After the show, the celebration continues with Harambe Nights Street Party. You can move to the beat as you enjoy an all-inclusive buffet of sophisticated and flavorful African cuisine and gourmet desserts. Disney Characters will be on hand as they show off their wild side.  Plus, exclusive Lion King merchandise will be available for purchase during the event.  The evening concludes with a special finale that could only happen at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.

Harambe Nights takes place every Saturday from June 7-Aug. 9, 2014.   The Welcome Reception begins at 7 p.m. and the “The Lion King – Concert in the Wild” starts at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $119 for adults, $79 for ages 3-9, plus tax. Tickets with premium floor seating are $134 for adults, $94 for ages 3-9, plus tax. Theme park admission is included for the special event only. All attractions, entertainment and other offerings outside of the designated event area will not be available.

Advance reservations are highly recommended. Capacity is limited.   Contact your DreamFinder Travel agent for more information or to book this new offering.