The Disney Wonder will be heading to Alaska for a summer of amazing cruises.  The Disney Wonder will offer a 7-Night Alaskan Cruise departing out of Vancouver, Canada from June 3-September 2, 2013.  An Alaskan cruise offers exciting excursions that you just can’t do anywhere else.  Want to go whale watching, gold mining, or dog sledding? Or would you rather lounge on deck and gaze at seals, waterfalls, eagles, and breathtaking glaciers?

The 7-Night Alaskan Cruise takes you through Tracy Arm, Alaska.  You will view this destination from the ship.There are three additional ports of call on the 7-Day Alaskan Cruise.  The ports are Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan.  There are so many amazing excursions on this cruise.  I took the helicopter tour to Mendenhall Glacier in Skagway.  The view from the helicopter is absolutely amazing! There will be glacier guides waiting to answer all of your questions and help you explore the glacier when you land.

Based on a coworker’s recommendation I decided to go to the Taku Lodge in Juneau.  When you arrive by seaplane your hosts will be busy preparing fresh salmon along with other goodies. My favorite part of this excursion was watching the bears help “clean” the grill during dinner.

As you cruise on the Disney Wonder there will be several Disney touches along the way. Of course there will be plenty of opportunities for you to take pictures and hang out with your favorite Disney pals along the way.  Mickey and all of his friends have several different outfits that were made especially for the Alaskan Cruise.

For the first time, Disney will be traveling to Sitka Alaska in 2014.  This port is only available on the 9-Night Alaskan Cruise on May 24, 2014.

Written by Shante Carson — Shante is a Disney Cruise Expert with over eight cruises taken on the Disney Dream, Disney Wonder, and Disney Fantasy.  Are you ready to set sail on an Alaskan adventure of a lifetime? 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.

There is a lot of luxury aboard the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line — the Disney Fantasy. One of the most impressive parts of the ship is one of two signature royal suites; the Roy O. Disney Suite.

This extravagant space is decorated with Art Deco touches of glamour from the 1920s and 1930s. A stay in the master bedroom gives you sweeping views of the ocean if you can stay awake long enough to enjoy that view, what with the fluffy Frette feather duvets, deluxe Frette bed linens and memory foam pillows doing their best to lull you into a relaxing deep sleep.
Sink into a cozy armchair or kick up your feet from the comfy sofa and enjoy watching a Disney movie, or maybe just lose yourself in a book. The Roy O. Disney Royal Suite’s Media Library will allow you to kick back and relax.

Escape to your own private teakwood verandah and relax in a comfy cushy deck chair or take a soak in the hot tub.
Your main living quarters have floor to ceiling windows. Other amenities include two bathrooms including a master bath with a rain shower, a whirlpool tub, double sinks and walk-in closets. There’s a dining salon, pantry and wet bar, all with stunning ocean views.

Here’s a video tour of the Roy O. Disney Suite

Looking for an amazing French family vacation?  Look no further than an Adventure by Disney vacation!

Adventures by Disney will travel to France in an 8 days/7 night vacation, taking you and your family through Versailles, Giverny, Normandy, Loire Valley and Paris.

Picture yourself in France while participating in these activities and much more,

Have a guided tour of Claude Monet’s home in picturesque Giverny and then create your own impressionistic masterpiece in his gardens!

Sitting upon a breathtaking island is the monastery, Mont Saint- Michel.  You’ll explore the fascinating corridors and hallways of its ossuary, abbey, scriptorium and more.

Visit Omaha Beach, where the United States secured victory in World War II and take a privately guided tour of the Normandy American Cemetery.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=F2ZOLC6POyI
How about biking through the grounds of Chateau de Chambord and a wine tasting in the Loire Valley.

You’ll also have access to over 60 Paris museums and attractions with a provided 2- day museum pass.  Then you’ll enjoy a private farewell dinner inside the Louvre museum.

And of course, your French Family vacation is not complete without a stop at the Eiffel Tower!

To book this incredible French family vacation or any Adventure by Disney, contact Diana at diana@destinationsinflorida.com.  Diana is a Disney Travel Specialist and is excited to help you plan your vacations!

While it is true that Walt Disney World is the happiest and most magical place on earth, few people realize that it can be just as romantic. After a fun filled day in the parks with your family, sometimes its nice to just get away for a quiet meal for two. So be sure to make your reservations, arrange for the babysitter, and get dressed up because The Disney Foodie is going to take you on tour of what I think are five of the most romantic restaurants around Walt Disney World.

Le Cellier is the perfect spot for a romantic date night. It is located beneath the Chateau at the Canadian Pavilion. The stone arches and the ambient lighting give you the feel of dining in an underground wine cellar. At Le Cellier you will dine in a setting that is inspired by the wine cellars of the most majestic Canadian château-style hotels. Here you will indulge on delicious fare such as filet mignon, pan-seared halibut, pacific king salmon, and Le Cellier’s signature Canadian cheddar cheese soup, as well as other tantalizing dishes from the various provinces of Canada. And no meal at Le Cellier would be complete with out a glass of fine Canadian wine. There are a wide variety of vintages to choose from inside the glass and wood showcases that surround the interior of the restaurant. With its stone arches, candle chandeliers, and intimate atmosphere this is the perfect spot for a romantic dinner for two.

Dinner at Le Cellier ranges in prince from $36 to $59.99, and they do accept the Disney Dining Plan. To ensure your romantic dinner be sure to make a reservation. Le Cellier accepts reservations up to 180 days in advance. However, you do have to provide a credit card to guarantee your reservation. Please remember that if you cannot make your reservation you must cancel at least one day in advance or they will charge your credit card $10.00 for every person on the reservation.

Be sure to check back next week to see what the next restaurant on our tour of the most romantic dining spots in Walt Disney World will be!

Written by Meghan Blair, the “Disney Foodie” — As a Florida Resident, Meghan combines her love of Disney and her love of food! She will give you the best restaurant and dining tips and suggestions to make your meals, just as magical as the rest of your vacation! Book your next vacation with Meghan at 954-328-7090 or meghan@destinationsinflorida.com.

 

 

No Disney vacation is complete without experiencing a classic Disney parade at the Magic Kingdom! Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade at Magic Kingdom is one that should not be missed!

Sway to the upbeat music as you enjoy the colorful floats filled with popular Disney Characters in their festive best in the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade.

Beloved Disney Characters dance on dazzling floats as they celebrate dreams come true! You’re sure to spot some of your Disney favorites in this delightful parade that winds its way between Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A. and Frontierland.

Some of the Disney Characters you might spot in this popular parade include:

• Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Pluto
• Snow White
• Alice in Wonderland and The Mad Hatter
• Peter Pan and Captain Hook
• Pinocchio
• Aladdin

Like history come to life, this parade pays tribute to classic Disney stories and characters that have touched so many lives. Enjoy this celebration to relive the dreams of youth and create new dreams for a new generation.

Be sure to check the Times Guide at Magic Kingdom park for the schedule and Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade parade times. Since this is an outdoor show, it is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather. Entertainment and Character appearances are subject to change.

Watch Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade at Magic Kingdom right here:

Cape May Cafe at Disney’s Beach Club Resort is truly one of my favorite dining experiences at the Walt Disney World Resort. I LOVE seafood and Cape May is the place to get it with a Cape Cod clambake-style buffet experience that includes crab legs, mussels and clams.

Serving a breakfast buffet and a dinner buffet, you get Disney characters along with your Cape May breakfast buffet and can enjoy the nostalgic New England décor and seaside setting during a casual dining experience at dinner.

As always, we recommend advanced dining reservations for Cape May and if you book your Disney vacation with Destinations In Florida, we’d be happy to make these reservations for you!

Cape May Café at Walt Disney World offers all-you-care-to-eat breakfast buffet and dinner buffet in a lively, beach-themed restaurant.

Character Dining Breakfast Buffet at Cape May at Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Start your day with Goofy and friends at the Beach Club Resort Breakfast Buffet! During this Disney Character Dining experience, delight in a variety of breakfast favorites, including Mickey Waffles, a fresh fruit and yogurt bar, fresh-baked pastries and other favorites.

Seafood Buffet Dinner at Cape May in Walt Disney World
In the evening, feast on a seafood buffet at Cape May that includes crab legs, mussels and clams freshly steamed center stage, as well as a tantalizing selection of non-seafood dishes such as carved meats, ribs, chicken, seasonal seafood salads and pastas.

As you dine, enjoy the nostalgic New England décor and seaside setting of Cape May at Beach Club Resort.

Disney World weddings and vow renewals are one-of-a-kind, unforgettable celebrations. The Walt Disney World Resort in Florida offers the most options for weddings and vow renewals with four different packages for couples to choose from. Imagine arriving at your wedding in Cinderella’s Coach being pulled by six Welsh ponies, having Mickey and Minnie at your wedding reception, private fireworks, or saying “I do” with a real castle in the background. All of these are possible with your very own Disney World wedding or vow renewal!

The memories collection is perfect for intimate gatherings such as vow renewals or elopements. These events accommodate up to  6 people including the bride and groom at one of three Disney resorts. They can take place only on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday. This $2,495.00 package includes your venue, bridal bouquet, violinist, limousine transportation, photography, and a wedding coordinator.

The escape collection includes twenty guests including the bride and groom. These packages start at $4,925.00 and include a bouquet, boutonniere, photography, limousine transportation, wedding cake, champagne, a wedding coordinator, and annual passes for the bride and groom. Your ceremony venue can be either the Wedding Pavilion, the Canada pavilion at Epcot, or one of select Disney resorts. You also can add a reception for an additional fee.

The wishes collection allows brides to customize every aspect of their wedding and can include up to 300 guests, depending on location. There are numerous ceremony and reception venues at Disney resorts and even in Disney parks. These events have minimum expenditures of $12,000 to $20,000 depending on the day of the week. There are also food and beverage minimum expenditures of $100 to $150 per person depending on the meal being served.

The couture collection is similar to the wishes collection in allowing brides to choose every detail of their wedding and the variety of options for ceremony venues, but these weddings give brides the opportunity to plan their wedding with celebrity wedding planner David Tutera. These packages begin at $65,000. David Tutera has created 4 unique styles for these events, but brides can change any of these elements to bring their dream wedding to life.

What will your fairytale wedding be? Let us help make all your dreams come true!

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.

Sail through the greenhouses of The Land Pavilion and behold 9-pound lemons, Mickey-shaped pumpkins and more!

Living with the Land is a 14-minute boat ride in Future World at Epcot theme park that explores agricultural advances in the rain forest, Africa and beyond.

Set sail on a voyage of discovery through living laboratories as you cruise past the American plains, a tropical rain forest and the African desert to witness the latest developments in aquaculture and desert farming. Float by experimental greenhouses—where produce is grown for Epcot restaurants—and take a fascinating first-hand look at an aqua environment, the Aquacell, with alligators and fish. The greenhouses grow crops native to many cultures, including rice, sugar cane and bananas.

This thought-provoking ride will leave you amazed at the wondrous ways scientists are helping farmers prepare for the food needs of our world’s nations.

Take a look at Living with the Land at Epcot Theme Park in our video:

Of course, we took our kids to Disney World!  It is, no doubt, one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States.  Although they are now grown, we keep going back, over and over again.  Our friends and family that “just don’t understand” wonder why?

It makes sense to associate Disney World with children.  There’s the Castle, the Carousel, the Voyage of the Little Mermaid, the Princesses, the Seas with Nemo, the Dumbo ride, It’s a Small World, Journey Into Imagination, the Festival of the Lion King, and of course, Mickey Mouse!

What our friends don’t understand is that there is so much to see and do…for kids of all ages.  There’s a whole ‘nother world out there when you view it with mature eyes.  Even after more than 20 week long visits, we still haven’t seen it all and even if we had, we’d want to see it all over again!

It’s been said that those of us who have been going for many years are aging with Disney, thereby adjusting our expectations of a Disney trip.  How true.  No longer do we get up and rush to the parks unless we want to.  There’s no longer a need to ride everything on every trip.  We stroll leisurely and enjoy the scenery.  Our resort hotel is a beautiful haven and our backyard features an awesome pool.  Our dining choices are limitless and Disney offers a vast array of shows and entertainment that changes regularly, so there’s always something new.

So, we take our time and smell the roses, because we can… Oh, ROSES!  Did I mention that Epcot’s 20^th International Flower and Garden Festival is coming up March 6 through May 19?  Hmm…I think I “smell” another Disney Vacation!

 

Book your Disney World Vacation with Sheri Morris.  Sheri is a proud grandmother of 3 with a keen eye for detail.  She specializes in Disney Travel for Adults and works tirelessly to ensure that her guests have the best vacation experience ever! Contact her at (804) 405 5005 or email sheri@destinationsinflorida.com to book your stress-free Disney vacation.

Rotational dining is one of the many experiences unique to Disney Cruise Line.  Each evening, you and your wait staff rotate to one of the 3 main dining restaurants.  Each of the restaurants on the Disney Dream has its own touch of Disney magic to make your dining experience special.  Royal Palace is an elegant restaurant designed for all of the princes and princesses onboard.  The room transforms before your eyes in Enchanted Garden as flowers bloom and the ceiling changes from a beautiful blue sky to a starry night in Versailles.  Animator’s Palate will bring out your inner child as you get a chance to ride the EAC with everyone’s favorite sea turtle, Crush.  On the 3-Night Bahamian Cruise you will eat at each of the restaurants.  On the 4-Night Bahamian Cruise you will repeat one of the restaurants but the regular menu will be replaced with a pirate themed menu in line with the Pirate Night activities.  Here are my picks for the best food the Disney Dream has to offer:

Royal Palace:  The Salmon Royale and the Prime Rib are both very good.  I tried to be adventurous the first time I went to Royal Palace by getting the Pomegranate Glazed Duck Breast.  It was a little too gamey for my taste.  If you decide to splurge for dessert then Royal Palace is the place to do it.

The Grand Marnier Soufflé and Strawberry Short Cake Sundae are both must haves.

Enchanted Garden:  The Caramelized Sea Scallops are heavenly.  The Roasted Pork Tenderloin is also good but it doesn’t hold a candle to the scallops.

Animator’s Palate:  One of my favorite dishes on the Disney Dream was the Black Truffle Pasta Purseittes.  You can order this as an appetizer or an entrée.  The Cookies & Cream Sundae is a very good ending to a great meal.

Pirate Night:  Every restaurant has the same menu on Pirate Night. Start your Pirate Night dinner with some Johnny Cake and Black Beard’s Jumbo Crab Cake.   Follow that with Jack Sparrow’s Barbecue Marinated Beef Short Ribs.  Make sure you save a little room for the late night buffet in Cabanas.

Written by Shante Carson — Shante is a Disney Cruise Expert with over eight cruises taken on the Disney Dream, Disney Wonder, and Disney Fantasy.  Ready to sail away with Captain Mickey?  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