Primeval Whirl is a basic Wild Mouse style roller coaster with a twist…a literal twist!  You will find it in Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.

This area of Dinoland U.S.A. is known as Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama!  As the story goes, Late Cretaceous fossils were found in 1947 and researchers decided to purchase the dig area. Chester and Hester owned one small property and refused to sell it.  Instead, they opened a dinosaur themed carnival and named it Chester & Hester’s Dino Rama!   The section now houses vintage, carnival style games and rides along with an archeological dig site and play area just for kids.

The attraction features thirteen free-spinning cars that seat four people each.  It’s kind of like a tilt-a-whirl and roller coaster combined in one!  You’ll travel back in time to a prehistoric era on a crazy, twisting track through the jaws of a dinosaur skeleton.  The sudden dips and tight hairpin turns  make you feel like you’re going to fly right off the track, all while spinning round and round!  Unlike the Mad Tea Party at the Magic Kingdom, there is no way for you to control the spins.  The bright colored road signs warn “Metors”, “Head for the Hills” and “The End is Near”!  It’s a crazy, sometimes jerky ride that might leave you a little queasy if you’re prone to motion sickness.

Primeval Whirl is actually two identical steel coasters, side-by-side that share one queue.  Each ride lasts about a minute and a half.  You must be 48 inches tall to ride but a handy rider-swap is available for families.  Take some time to experience Primeval Whirl on your next trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  It’s definitely a wild ride!

 

Written by Sheri Morris, “Main Street Morris” — Sheri is proud grandmother with a keen eye for detail. She specializes in Disney Travel for adults and RV travel.  Book your next vacation with Sheri at 804 405 5005 or at sheri@destinationsinflorida.com.

Do you want to be a superhero?  Marvel’s Avengers Academy is now accepting recruits on the Disney Magic.  The Oceaneer’s Club has always been the home for youth activities for children ages 3 to 12.  On the Oceaneer’s Club on the Disney Magic is also the home to a secret  S.H.I.E.L.D. base.  S.H.I.E.L.D. is a worldwide law enforcement agency that protects the world from extraordinary threats.  Youth onboard get to experience a hero training program as a part of their cruise on the Disney Magic.  Day One begins with Become Iron Man.  This training simulation allows youth to virtually suit up just like Iron Man. After putting on the Iron Man suit piece by piece youth will have some fun testing the suits features with a little target practice and a flight test.  In Become a Hero, heroes in training are briefed by Nick Fury.  After the briefing they get to create their own super hero suit including masks, capes, chest plates, and repulsor rays. Day One concludes with a visit by Captain America.  Captain America teaches the new recruits the Avengers Assemble call sign.

On Day Two, youth have to put their training to the test when they learn a supervillain, Red Skull, has plans to turn the Disney Magic into a deadly weapon.  As if this isn’t bad enough, they soon find out that their Youth Activities Counselors have been put under an evil spell.  Youth must work together to save their Youth Activities Counselors, the Disney Magic, and the world from Red Skull’s evil plot.  With all the amazing activities on the newly reimagined Disney Magic there is no limit to the fun your child will have onboard.

Written by Shante Carson — Shante is a Disney Cruise Expert with over eight cruises taken on the Disney Dream, Disney Wonder, and Disney Fantasy.  Bon Voyage!  Shante is ready to help you plan your magical Disney Cruise vacation. Book your next vacation with Shante at 252-917-0497 or shante@destinationsinflorida.com.

Disney Magic Cruise Ship Re-Imagined – Guest Post by Dave Parfitt

Disney Cruise Line’s original vessel, the Disney Magic, is 15 years old – an old-timer in the cruise ship industry, but instead of retiring the ship, Disney completely overhauled it from stem to stern.  President of Disney Cruise Line Karl Holz said, “each ship has a unique identity and personality of its own, and Disney will continually maintain each ship to high standards in order to exceed guest’s expectations.”  I was a guest of Disney Cruise Line, invited to preview the “Re-Imagined” Disney Magic, and experienced all the new ship has to offer.  Certainly the most talked about additions to the ship are the AquaDunk water slide, with its 3-story free-fall drop and the Marvel’s Avengers Academy.  However, no aspect of the ship has gone untouched.  Continue reading for a rundown of all of the new amenities, and for a Dad’s perspective on the particularly guy-friendly features of the ship, check out Disney Magic Re-Imagined – for Dad!

Atrium

One of the biggest expenditures of time and money went into redesigning the ship’s atrium.  Removing one stairway, shifting the signature, bronze “Helmsman Mickey” statue, and installing a new Art Deco crystal chandelier has created a brighter, more open, much grander entrance to the ship.

                              

Kids’ Clubs

The Oceaneer Club has added new characters, rooms, and stories allowing children to step inside their favorite books and movies.  Disney Imagineers recreated Andy’s Room from Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story where kids can play with larger-than-life Mr. Potato Head and Hamm the piggy bank underneath Andy’s bed, climb the steps on top of his bed, and slide down a twisting Slinky Dog slide.

The fairy world of Tinker Bell’s Pixie Hollow was designed complete with a teapot containing dresses and costumes for kids to play dress-up.  Another space is the Mickey Mouse Club where kids can craft and create in a red, yellow, and black Mickey Mouse inspired space.  However, the large, green, elephant in the room is The Avengers.  Oh wait, sorry, that wasn’t an elephant, that’s The Hulk.

Marvel’s Avengers Academy is a high-tech S.H.I.E.L.D. command base built to recruit kids for a secret multi-day mission.  Imagineer Joe Lanzisero had fun creating The Avengers Academy saying, “it’s a great story; it’s a great universe; and it’s inspirational.  What kid wouldn’t want to be a Super Hero?”  During the two-day mission, kids become S.H.I.E.L.D. agents by order of Director Nick Fury, and Captain America meets the new recruits to check in on their training.  Along the way, children discover the villain Red Skull is trying to turn the Disney Magic into a super weapon, and only they can save the day.

Water Play

While the kids may get the super hero fun in the Oceaneers Club, the whole family will want to give the AquaDunk water slide a try.  The slide’s start is attached to one of the highest points on the ship – the forward funnel.  Step into the clear capsule, and 3… 2… 1… ‘Anchors Away!’ the floor opens out from underneath, dropping you over 30 feet in a near free fall.  The quick, thrilling plunge sends riders over the edge of the ship, looking out at the sea 112 feet below.

The AquaDunk may be a little too thrilling for little ones, but the younger set has their own AquaLab splash ground that includes a new “Twist ‘n’ Spout” slide with over 250 feet of slippery turns.  At the bottom of the slide are dumping paint buckets, bubblers, and sprayers, sure to provide hours of watery fun.

Dining

The family dining spaces have been revamped including “Cabanas” – with gorgeous wood paneled murals illustrating the story of “Finding Nemo.”  Cabanas offers a buffet option for breakfast and lunch, and a casual, non-scheduled sit down dinner in the evening.

“Carioca’s” evokes the spirit of Rio de Janeiro with a wavy patterned sidewalk running down the center of the room and flickering lanterns overhead.  Lunch is a buffet, but in the evening a scrim of Rio de Janeiro’s nighttime skyline is pulled across the kitchen area, and elegant Latin-themed dishes like slow roasted pork belly, fried plantain, and caipirinha cocktails are served.

The highlight of the Disney Magic dining experience is the show restaurant “Animator’s Palate.”  Imagineer Lysa Migliorati called Animator’s Palate her “Happy Place” on the ship, and seeing the new show brought tears to her eyes.  As before, walls, ceilings, and table dressings are all black and white, while video screens on the walls sketch out character portraits.  As the dinner progresses, color is slowly added to the pencil drawings as they get their ink and paint treatment, revealing animation cels from familiar Disney movies.  With a sprinkling of pixie dust, the “Drawn to Magic” Grand Finale begins surrounding guests in a full-color video performance through the stories of Disney and Pixar animated films.  Sorcerer Mickey leads a parade through the restaurant at the conclusion.  Chief Creative Officer for Walt Disney Imagineering, Bruce Vaughn, likened the “Drawn to Magic” Animator’s Palate show to the popular California nighttime spectacular “World of Color.”  Vaughn commented, “I felt like I was immersed in World of Color, and able to enjoy a great meal at the same time.”

 

 

Night Clubs

If you’re looking for adult diversions, the nighttime entertainment district also received attention with all new venues for dancing, comedy, music, and shows.  Including:

• Fathoms nightclub – taking guests under the sea with special effects and lighting
• Keys – an upscale piano lounge
• O’Gills Pub – an Irish pub and sports bar with plenty of screens to follow all your favorite teams live.

  

Staterooms

Last, but certainly not least, when you’re ready to crawl into bed for the night, rest and prepare for your next day’s adventure, your stateroom has been updated.  From small, subtle features such as elevating the bed so luggage slides underneath – offering less clutter and more space for families, to including new furnishings and décor to surround you in atmosphere of the golden age of cruising.

The Disney Magic may be 15 years old, but the timeless design, new innovations, and additional experiences make it a ship that families will enjoy for many years to come.

Guest Post Written By Dave Parfitt. Dave is a freelance writer and founder of the nationally recognized family travel website AdventuresbyDaddy.com.  In addition to Adventures by Daddy, Dave’s articles have appeared in Parade Magazine, Yahoo! Travel, and Huffington Post Travel to name a few.  When not traveling, Dave can be found in a houseful of women (wife and two girls) in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of New York.

Book your Disney & Orlando vacation with a local travel agency. World famous services, free gifts, guaranteed lowest prices, and all at no cost to you! Book your vacation with the local experts – we live where you’re traveling! Call 877-918-8941 or visit us online

If you’re looking for a fun place to pick up some sweet treats, look no further than Goofy’s Candy Company at the Downtown Disney Marketplace!  While Goofy’s is not the biggest candy store in the world, it’s certainly one of the most unique.  The sweet aroma will tickle your taste buds as soon as you walk through the door.

The store is bright and colorful with a vast array of prepackaged goodies.  There is a large glass display case filled with all types of sugary goodness — cookies, fudge, specialty candy apples, cupcakes and more…so much more!  You can get a giant lollipop, bulk candy including Jelly Belly jelly beans, rock candy, sour candy, chocolate candy even a bit of sugar-free candy.  The choices of fun Disney-themed confections are endless!

What makes this candy store different is the create-your-own treat section.  First, pick up an order form and choose a base-such as an apple, marshmallow krispy treat, pretzel rods, huge Oreo cookie or marshmallows skewered on Mickey Mouse plastic straws.  Next, choose the type of chocolate or caramel to dip it in.  Then you customize the toppings.  You can choose from colorful sprinkles, M&M’s, Reese’s Pieces, pecans, almonds, walnuts, peanuts, coconut, Oreo crumbs, crushed Butterfingers, peanut butter chips, chocolate and white chocolate chips and more!  Finally, you select the type of drizzle to top it off.  A cheerful cast member will lovingly prepare and package the delectable treat right before your eyes.  Be prepared, it’s going to be huge and it’s going to be sweet!

Goofy’s Candy Company also has drinks to please everyone.  Goofy’s Coffee Counter has a nice selection of coffee and tea. The Goofy’s Glaciers section of the store features delicious fruit-flavored slushies with a Build-a-Cup option where you mix and match a variety of feet and hats for a special souvenir cup.

Take some time to feel like a kid in a candy shop at Goofy’s Candy Company on your next Disney vacation.  You’ll make some sweet memories big enough to share!

Written by Sheri Morris, “Main Street Morris” — Sheri is proud grandmother with a keen eye for detail. She specializes in Disney Travel for adults and RV travel.  Book your next vacation with Sheri at 804 405 5005 or at sheri@destinationsinflorida.com.

It can be easy to be so consumed in worrying about taking care of the details of your wedding that you don’t even have time to think about your honeymoon. Here are a few things you’ll want to remember to pack for your honeymoon to help you enjoy it as much as you can:

• A sundress– Chances are you and your new spouse will want to enjoy a nice dinner or two out and if you’re going somewhere warm and tropical, a nice sundress is perfect for the occasion. Plus, they tend to travel well.
• Bags or “carryalls”– There are a few bags that may come in handy to pack for your honeymoon. If you’re taking jewelery, a jewelery roll will help you keep all your jewelery together in a safe place. A small wristlet may also be helpful for evenings out when you don’t want to have to carry a purse. Lastly, a waterproof bag of some type may be great for any pool or beach time so you won’t have to worry about getting your cell phone or other valuables wet.
• Swimsuit– A sexy, yet well-fitting swimsuit will be important. If you’re doing any activities such as snorkeling or water slides, you will want to make sure your suit won’t budge.
• Cover-up– A nice cover-up will be perfect for grabbing lunch by the pool or beach without having to go back and change.
• Comfortable shoes– If you’re going somewhere warm, you will want to find a good pair of sandals that won’t give you blisters. If you are planning to do any sightseeing, tennis shoes may be good to pack, too.
• Outerwear– Depending on the time of year of your honeymoon, it may get cool in the evenings or even inside in the air conditioning, so don’t forget to pack a hoodie or sweater.
• Newlywed gear– You can pick up “just married” flip flops, hats, shirts, hoodies, and more to celebrate your new life together and help everyone around you know what you are celebrating!

What do you think is most important to pack for your honeymoon?

Written by Siera Duiser, “Disney BridalEars” — Siera has grown up loving all things Disney!  She even had her very own Disney Fairytale Wedding in 2011. Now Siera enjoys Disney World with her own family.  Siera specializes in Disney weddings, honeymoons, and traveling with younger children.  Book your next vacation with Siera at siera@destinationsinflorida.com.

Fearless and thrill-seeking guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will absolutely love The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Towering at 199 feet, it’s very easy to find at the end of Sunset Boulevard. This attraction is based on the hit television series, The Twilight Zone®, which was created and hosted by the late Rod Serling. The television show featured unexpected endings to the storylines and that is exactly what riders will experience on this attraction.

Upon entering through the iron gates and walking through the unkept garden, guests will begin to get an eerie feeling. The lobby of the Hollywood Tower Hotel is full of antiques, cobwebs and disrepair. It seems that things are frozen in time. The queue leads into a creepy library where suddenly, lightning strikes and the lights go out! Out of nowhere, a television comes on and Rod Serling welcomes everyone to “Enter the Twilight Zone”.

From this point, the brave will be led through the perilous boiler room and into the 5th Dimension, the service elevator. After guests are seated and buckled in, they travel a long, mysterious hallway with ghostly images of former hotel “guests” and begin ascending. At the 13th floor, opening credits from the Twilight Zone are heard and a journey into the star-filled realm begins. Suddenly, the cable snaps and the elevator begins to free-fall down an abandoned shaft. Down it goes….then up again! Over and over, up and down, as the doors open and close—there seems to be no pattern to the madness! The views are incredible and frightening at the same time. Yet, it’s SO much fun!

Enter The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror…if you dare!

Written by Sheri Morris, “Main Street Morris” — Sheri is proud grandmother with a keen eye for detail. She specializes in Disney Travel for adults and RV travel.  Book your next vacation with Sheri at 804 405 5005 or at sheri@destinationsinflorida.com.

Halloween is an especially fun time of year to sail on a Disney Cruise.  I recently got to experience Halloween on the High Seas during a 3 night Bahamian Cruise on the Disney Dream.  As soon as I got onboard the ship, I noticed that the ship was decked out with Halloween décor throughout.  The standout was the Pumpkin Tree in the lobby atrium.  It was neat to see the transformation of the Pumpkin Tree during the course of the cruise.  When you first get onboard the tree is bare.  On the first night everyone gathers around the Pumpkin Tree and the Caretaker talks about the customs of Halloween.  The Caretaker invites everyone to write their names on a pumpkin seed and come back later in the cruise to see if their seeds have grown.  Mickey’s Mousequerade Party was held at the Pumpkin Tree on the second day of the cruise.  Guests were invited to wear their costumes to the party.  Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Chip and Dale all joined the party in their Halloween costumes.  Kids were able to trick or treat and dance with the characters.  That night adults were invited to Evolution to dance and compete in an adult only costume contest.  On the last day of the Halloween on the High Seas Cruise guests gathered at the Pumpkin Tree once again for the Spooky Ceremony.  The Caretaker lets everyone know that their seeds have bloomed and the Pumpkin Tree comes to life. Ghost stories were told on deck later that evening on the Funnel Vision screen by the Sea Captain.  Another Halloween on the High Seas highlight was The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing and Scream.  The movie was screened in 3D in the Walt Disney Theatre.  There were several effects to enhance the screening such as snow falling in the theatre at the same time as it falls in the movie.  At the end of the movie, Jack and Sally came up through the stage and guests were able to take pictures during a quick meet and greet.

Written by Shante Carson — Shante is a Disney Cruise Expert with over eight cruises taken on the Disney Dream, Disney Wonder, and Disney Fantasy.  Bon Voyage!  Shante is ready to help you plan your magical Disney Cruise vacation. Book your next vacation with Shante at 252-917-0497 or shante@destinationsinflorida.com.

Disney’s Fairytale Weddings offers Disney’s Bridal Boutique to help you customize your Disney wedding and allow every detail to be inspired by Disney. There are four categories on the site to help guide your planning process:

• The Disney Fairy Tale Bridal Collection– Alfred Angelo offers three collections of signature gowns that were inspired by the essence of each Disney Princess.
• Royal Maidens– Your bridesmaids will be the fairest maidens in all the land on your special day. You can choose from organza, taffeta, satin and chiffon in universally flattering silhouettes in a variety of lengths that come in as many as 60 shades to fit with your dream wedding.
• Royal Blossoms– Your flower girl can be a beautiful reflection of the bride-to-be with these gauzy tea-length princess-inspired dresses. These little princesses will be too cute for words!
• Wedding Details– Begin the excitement for your big day with royal invitations fit for a fairy tale wedding. Beautiful stationery designs inspired by Disney Princesses will give your wedding the fanfare it deserves.

You can also find a section at the bottom to learn about upcoming trunk shows and shopping events as well as a media section which shows you examples of the wedding gowns in “enchanted dreamlike settings.”

Check out Disney’s Bridal Boutique here to help inspire your dream Disney wedding.

Written by Siera Duiser, “Disney BridalEars” — Siera has grown up loving all things Disney!  She even had her very own Disney Fairytale Wedding in 2011. Now Siera enjoys Disney World with her own family.  Siera specializes in Disney weddings, honeymoons, and traveling with younger children.  Book your next vacation with Siera at siera@destinationsinflorida.com.

From the moment you step through the Port of Entry to the first glimpse of Hogwarts, Universal Islands of Adventure is home to amazing attractions and non-stop fun!

Most know this park as the home of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter but it also home to Jurassic Park, Toon Lagoon, Marvel Super Hero Island, Seuss Landing and The Lost Continent. Some of my personal favorites at Islands of Adventure are Spiderman, Jurassic Park River Adventure and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey oh and let’s not forget Hulk a high speed launch coaster! Come along on our video tour and check out all that Islands of Adventure has to offer.

Are you ready to visit Universal Orlando Islands of Adventure today? If so, contact our “Vacation Wizard” Jennifer Greene and she will get a no obligation quote together for you. She can be reached at 443-424-0181 or jenniferg@destinationsinflorida.com

Don’t want to spend the whole vacation at Universal? We offer 2 park ticket with transportation,ask about it today!

Villains Tonight is one of the Broadway style shows onboard the Disney Dream and Disney Magic.  Villains Tonight is all full of Disney villains but since the show is a comedy there is no need to fear.  Pain and Panic open up the show in the Underworld.  Hades has been in a funk ever since he was defeated by Hercules.  The Welcome to the Underworld dance number introducing Hades is interrupted by the Fates.  The Fates tell Hades that he will no longer rule the Underworld unless he gets more evil.  Hades is only given one night to prove he is evil enough to rule.  Hades takes a look at the Evil O Meter and sees that it’s almost empty.  Hades decides that the best way to fill up the Evil O Meter is to invite some of his evil friends down to the Underworld.  Hades sends Pain and Panic to hand deliver invitations to Maleficent and the Evil Queen.  In the meantime, the audience is treated to performances by Ursula, Scar, Yzma, Captain Hook, and Cruella de Vil.  All of these fabulous villains help raise the level in the Evil O Meter.  Hades is on a roll until hosts the talk show, Hot Talk.  Jafar and Iago end up doing a duet of “Wind Beneath My Wings” and the Evil O Meter drops to empty.  Hades thinks all hope is lost when Pain and Panic tell him that Maleficent and the Evil Queen turned down his invitation.  At the end of the show, Maleficent and the Evil Queen show up and help Hades get back in touch with his evil side.  Villains Tonight is full of pop culture comedy and a good show for the entire family.  Whether you love them or love to hate them the villains play a critical role in all of your favorite Disney movies.  Villains Tonight celebrates this role in proper Disney fashion.

Written by Shante Carson — Shante is a Disney Cruise Expert with over eight cruises taken on the Disney Dream, Disney Wonder, and Disney Fantasy.  Bon Voyage!  Shante is ready to help you plan your magical Disney Cruise vacation. Book your next vacation with Shante at 252-917-0497 or shante@destinationsinflorida.com.