Walt Disney World 2017 Packages

So many taking advantage of the 2017 Disney packages released this week! I know, I know....2017?? Yes, here are some reasons you should think about booking now!! 
The advantages of booking your 2017 package now are numerous!


1. You risk nothing! Your $200 deposit is FULLY REFUNDABLE until 30 days before check in.


2. It is like a layaway plan for your Disney vacation. Other than the initial $200 deposit, no additional payment is due until 30 days before check in.


3. You can easily modify your reservation if your plans change. All it takes is a simple phone call to me, and I will take care of the rest!


4. MOST IMPORTANTLY….. You are creating a reservation that secures the resort and type of package that you want. You will also be securing the price in that the reservation guarantees that the price will not GO UP, even if Disney releases a price increase before your vacation commences!


5. Your reservation will be automatically checked for promotional discounts that apply when and if they are released.

6. And of course, it never costs YOU a dime to book through a travel agent (me). You can plan as much or as little as you like and have me at your service to answer any questions you may have! 

Quote Tuesday! Featuring the Kid Size Package at Walt Disney World

Happy Tuesday friends!! I hope everyone had a good long weekend for those of us that 

were off yesterday. Boy are we paying for it today, right? As always, I am bringing you 

another great offer from Disney today for our #quotetuesday. This week brings us 

back to Walt Disney World and features the Kid Size Package that Disney is currently 

offering up. 

QUOTE TUESDAY!! Featuring the Kid Size Package at WDW

2 Adults + 1 Child (Age 6)

Check in: 6/5/16 - 6/10/16

6 Days/5 Nights at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort - Standard Pirate Room

5 Day Park Tickets (includes 5th day free)

3 Magic Bands + 3 FastPass+ Per Person, Per Day

Access to on site transportation to and from resort to parks and Disney Springs

Nightly activities at resort including Campfire with Smores, and Movies under the Stars

Total Package: $2104.86

Ready to book or want to customize a quote for you or your family? Let's chat today!! My services are always 100% free. 
S.Marx@magicalvacationplanner.com

A Review: Port Orleans French Quarter

Situated along the Sassagoula River you will find a New Orleans/Mardi Gras themed hotel named Port Orleans French Quarter. This hotel is the sister hotel to it's neighbor Port Orleans Riverside. You can travel by boat to Port Orleans Riverside or even down to Disney Springs. 

Port Orleans French Quarter boasts 1,000 guest rooms and 3 types of rooms. There is a standard view rooms which face the parking lot, the garden view rooms which face the inner walkways of the hotel, and the water view which could face the river or the pool. All of the rooms were recently redecorated in the Summer of 2011. 946 rooms feature 2 queen beds and 62 rooms offer a king bed. They also have 75 disabled and/or accessible rooms with 50 having wheel in showers. 

Port Orleans French Quarter is a moderate hotel and offers a few different perks. However, please note that many times POFQ is excluded from Disney promotions. 

A standard view room costs anywhere from $160 - $230

Pool and River Views start at $187 - $261

King Bed Rooms start at $187 - $270

Garden View Rooms start at $170 - $240

POFQ is the perfect place for any family traveling with children. They offer a playground, huge pool with water dragon slide, as well as an arcade. POFQ also offers in-room babysitting so Mom and Dad can have a night out to theirselves.

 

POFQ is also perfect for the couple without kids as it can be a very romantic setting, especially if you book a king bed room. 

POFQ has refrigerators in all of the rooms as well as a full service food court onsite. For those interested in a more formal dining experience POFQ has two lounges on site. Scat Cat's Club is open from 4pm to 12am most nights and offers up a great selection of food and draft beer as well as live music. This is more of an adult only place so leave the kiddies in the room with a babysitter. 

Also on site is Mardi Grogs, another great lounge on site. This lounge is right by the huge pool and the great thing about Mardi Grogs is you can take your drinks to go and have a stroll along the Sassagoula River while relaxing with a drink in your hand. 

Now for some fun adventures for the entire family while on your stay at POFQ. Each night the hotel hosts a cajun campfire for the resort guests. This a great fun event for all as you hang out by the fire and roast marshmallows with your friends and family. After you get your fill of marshmallows head on over to the main lawn where each night the resort hosts "Movies Under the Stars." A different Disney movie is featured each night of your stay and complimentary towels are provided. Bring some snacks and enjoy a movie under the stars. You may want to bring bug spray too, it is Florida after all. :)

For a minor fee these fun activities are available as well. 

Horse Drawn Carriage Ride

Pirate Adventure Cruise

Bike Rentals

Surrey Bike Rentals

Fishing

This is a great resort and no matter if you are out at the parks all day or taking a rest day there is plenty of fun to be had right off the steps of your resort room.

Interested in taking a vacation? Ready to book? Let's chat!! I'm an earmarked authorized Disney vacation planner and my services are always 100% free to utilize. Let me help make your vacation dreams come true. 

A Review: Epcot Flower and Garden Festival

Every spring Walt Disney World showers the Epcot park with flowers and gardens and wows all of us visitors. But did you know this festival is way more than just flowers and gardens? Read below for some great tips if you are visiting in the spring months. 

The year marks the first in 23 years that Epcot will offer the Flower and Garden Festival for a full 90 days! Usually the event is a shorter time frame of 75 days so this year we are in for a special treat. 

This year the front entry will feature none other than Donald Duck's nephews: Huey, Dewey, and Louie. They will be featured alongside Donald and Daisy and the Disney Gardeners will draw inspiration from a 1943 comic book entitled "The Victory Garden."

Of course what is a Flower and Garden Festival without Mickey, Anna, and Elsa? They will be there too, no worries. Mickey will be featured as Ranger Mickey celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Parks Service. Anna and Elsa will be moving to the Norway Pavilion this year as well. 

A very exciting addition this year is the 13 food offerings to choose from! Two outdoor kitchens that will feature kiosks where you can sample the food from. These kitchens will produce delicious foods such as: Jerk Spiced Grouper or Chicken with Mango Salsa, and Jamaican Braised Beef. The other outdoor kitchen will feature a field greens salad with lots of  fruits and vegetables. They will pair this with a blueberry hard cider brewed right in Florida. There will also be another 11 booths to choose your favorite flower and garden plates as well as new beverage options. I'm hungry just thinking about it!! 

And finally, the ever popular Garden Rocks Concerts will make a return and be offered even longer this year. Some of the standouts being the Village People, The Spinners, and The Guess Who. The concerts are every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 5:30, 6:45, and 8pm. 

A valid admission ticket is required to attend this event. It is one of the most fun events at Disney though so be sure to check it out if you are down in Mouseland during this time. 

As always I'm here to help plan your perfect vacation for you and your family when you are ready. Contact me today for your free quote. My services are always 100% free and I provide you with the Disney customer service you know and love!

50% Off Deposit Sale - Disney Cruise Line

NEW PROMO!!! 50% OFF REQUIRED DISNEY CRUISE DEPOSIT - SHARE WITH FRIENDS!!

Take half off the required deposit when you book a Disney cruise of 7 nights or longer that's scheduled to set sail between August and December 2016.

Book a tropical 7-night Disney cruise to the Caribbean or Bahamas—or choose from one of the other fun-filled itineraries throughout Europe, Alaska and beyond. With departures from a variety of ports, there are so many convenient options!

Booking Window: Book by March 27, 2016.

Travel Window: Valid for new reservations on cruises that set sail between August and December 2016.

Booking Information: Contact me at 901-606-5397 or at s.marx@magicalvacationplanner.com
Important Details:

Valid on all 7-night or longer sailings that do not require final payment at time of booking and take place between August and December 2016.

The remainder of your required deposit and your remaining balance will be due at final payment.
Valid for new bookings only booked by March 27, 2016.

Offer subject to Disney Cruise Line Terms and Conditions.

For a no obligation, FREE Quote with new bookings contact me by calling: 901-606-5397
Or s.marx@magicalvacationplanner.com

Disney Cruise Line - New Promotions Released!!!

Happy Thursday readers!! While we were sleeping Disney released some great promotions on most of their Disney Cruise Lines. 

Read below to see if any of these promotions will benefit you and your family. 

Disney Cruise Line is one of the best cruise lines out there and because of such they hardly ever offer promotions. This deal won't last long rest assured. 

To take advantage of most of these promotions you have to book your reservation by 1/31/16.

 Now remember with Disney most reservations can be booked with a small deposit so you are not on the hook for the entire vacation right out of the gate. 

Also, when you cruise on DCL your meals, kid's clubs, pools, on-board accommodations, and most on-board activities are included in your price. Plus you are able to visit multiple places whereas if you chose one destination for your vacation you would just be there and not experiencing multiple places. 

Bahamian Cruises: 

3-Night Bahamian Cruise (Port Canaveral, Florida) from $678* per person 

Based on double occupancy 

Taxes, Fees, and Port Expenses of approximately $72 per person not included 

For 01/20/2017 and 01/27/2017 sailings aboard Disney Dream 

Category 5A Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah 

4-Night Bahamian Cruise (Port Canaveral, Florida) from $904* per person 

Based on double occupancy 

Taxes, Fees, and Port Expenses of approximately $72 per person not included 

Available most sail dates 01/16/2017 – 01/30/2017 aboard Disney Dream 

Category 5A Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah 

4-Night Bahamian Cruise (Port Canaveral, Florida) from $652* per person 

Based on double occupancy 

Taxes, Fees, and Port Expenses of approximately $77 per person not included 

For 01/29/2017 sailing aboard Disney Wonder 

Category 9C Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom 

3-Night Bahamian Cruise (Port Canaveral, Florida) from $507* per person 

Based on double occupancy 

Taxes, Fees, and Port Expenses of approximately $78 per person not included 

For 02/02/2017 and 02/09/2017 sailings aboard Disney Wonder 

Category 9C Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom 

4-Night Bahamian Cruise (Port Canaveral, Florida) from $700* per person 

Based on double occupancy 

Taxes, Fees, and Port Expenses of approximately $77 per person not included 

For 02/05/2017 and 02/12/2017 sailings aboard Disney Wonder 

Category 9C Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom

Caribbean Cruises: 

7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise (Port Canaveral, Florida) from $1,260* per person 

Based on double occupancy 

Taxes, Fees, and Port Expenses of approximately $106 per person not included 

For 05/08/2016 sailing aboard Disney Magic 

Category 11B Standard Inside Stateroom European Cruises: 

7-Night Mediterranean Cruise (Barcelona, Spain) from $1,337* per person 

Based on double occupancy 

Taxes, Fees, and Port Expenses of approximately $138 per person not included 

For 09/03/2016 sailing aboard Disney Magic 

Category 11B Standard Inside Stateroom 

7-Night Mediterranean Cruise (Barcelona, Spain) from $1,575* per person 

Based on double occupancy 

Taxes, Fees, and Port Expenses of approximately $138 per person not included 

For 09/10/2016 sailing aboard Disney Magic

Category 9C Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom

Unique Cruises: 

14-Night Transatlantic Cruise (Port Canaveral, Florida) from $3,038* per person 

Based on double occupancy 

Taxes, Fees, and Port Expenses of approximately $160 per person not included 

For 05/15/2016 sailing aboard Disney Magic 

Category 5C Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah

With all these amazing offers are you ready to book your vacation? If so, call or email me now so we can get you a FREE customized quote. As always, my services are 100% free to utilize. Using a travel agent means you get all the amazing customer service you know and love from Disney as well as having someone take the stress of planning off of you. Let me help today!

A View from The Contemporary Resort

Today we are taking an in-depth look at Walt Disney World's Contemporary Resort. This resort is a deluxe property situated on the monorail line at Walt Disney World. It is most easily accessible to Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Disney's Contemporary Resort was one of the first two resorts on Disney property. It was built as a futuristic hotel as you will easily notice once inside. The monorail sails directly through the middle of the hotel which is pretty neat!

A fun fact about the Contemporary Resort is that the rooms were actually all built offsite and then put in place once the infrastructure was built. 

This deluxe hotel boasts many amenities including Chef Mickey's restaurant which features a character breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Mickey and his friends. A popular venue for anyone coming to visit mouseland. 

Another personal favorite of mine on any Disney visit is dinner at The California Grill where you can schedule your dinner to have a front row seat of the Wishes fireworks extravaganza. It truly is an amazing view while indulging in some of the best food at Walt Disney World. Look at this amazing video below to see for yourself. 

These amazing restaurants are just the tip of the iceberg at the fabulous resort though. The resort also features a pool with a poolside bar, valet parking, free wifi, gift shops, valet service cleaning, and so much more!

Where is your favorite place to stay when you come down to Walt Disney World? Comment below and let me know. 

Planning a trip to Disney soon? Contact me today for a FREE quote and to book your magical vacation! As always my services are absolutely free and you will receive the excellent Disney customer service you know and love! I can't wait to hear from you.

s.marx@magicalvacationplanner.com

QUOTE TUESDAY!! Featuring Promos Released Yesterday!

Today I am so excited to give you this quote for a great summer vacation for you and a few friends or for you and your family! Either way you choose to travel you cannot go wrong! Take a look at the quote below featuring the Family Time Vacation Offer valid for bookings now through 3/31/16. If this a good fit for your family then please contact me today to customize a quote for your trip or to book your vacation today. A simple $200 deposit is all it takes today to secure your spot at Walt Disney World this summer. Are you ready to take the plunge into a magical world of wonder?

Family Time Vacation Offer 2016

Travel dates for this quote 5/30 - 6/5/16

2 Adults + 2 Children (ages 5 & 10)

6 Days/5 Nights at Moderate Caribbean Beach Resort

6 Day Park Passes

Free Transportation to and from all the Disney Parks + Disney Springs

Total Cost: $2475.34

It's amazing how affordable Disney is making vacations these days. Make sure to make some magical memories this summer by booking a trip today. All quotes are fully customize-able to add flights, dining packages, special experiences, and we can also decrease your length of stay or park experience to make it more affordable. 

Contact me today!! 

Something Big is Coming!!! New Disney Promotion!

Happy Sunday All!! I hope you all had a fabulous holiday and enjoyed your time with family and friends! I know Disney was packed over the last week with no low crowds in sight going into 2016. As we all know the parks will settle down right after the New Year holiday and Disney knows that too. I got an enticing email this morning from Disney stating that tomorrow morning they would be releasing a great promotion for 2016 travel dates. 

I don't know about you but I'm very exciting and I'm certainly intrigued just like Disney wants me to be. :) 

Everyone stay tuned here as I unveil the new offer and let you in on the promotion that can benefit you and your family in 2016. I don't know what it is just yet but rest assured if you want to travel in 2016 I'll be happy to book your trip with a deposit tomorrow once the promotion is revealed. I can also adjust your existing reservation if you have already booked with Disney.

As always if you have a current reservation with Disney you can always transfer your reservation to me to save the most money and have a personal concierge right by your side. 

Stay tuned friends, I can't wait for the big reveal tomorrow. 


s.marx@magicalvacationplanner.com

Walt Disney Resort with Toddlers

Heading down to Walt Disney World soon? Have small kiddos in tow? You'll want to check out this post regarding the best things to do with your toddlers and how to make the most of your trip. 

1. Stay Close to the Magic - Disney's Art of Animation Resort is the ideal resort for preschoolers and their families. This resort offers special kid size packages so little ones can experience all of the characters, stories, and magic for a discounted price. 
2. New Disney Junior themed Magic Bands - Disney has recently released three new Magic Bands that are sure to delight your little prince or princess. These three new bands feature Jake, Sofia the First, or Doc McStuffins. Be sure to get these ahead of time online at disney.com or in stores.
3. Pool Parties - Are the parks too much for your little one? Relax poolside each day at your resort and let the little ones take part in sing alongs and games inspired by their favorite TV shows. 
4. Disney Junior Meet and Greet Lunch - At Hollywood & Vine inside Hollywood Studios your little ones will be so excited to meet their life size TV heroes. Everyday at lunch these characters come to life and visit with your child at your table. Characters include: Doc McStuffins, Jake, Sofia the First, and more. This is a great way to beat the lines and let the characters come to you. 
5. Disney Junior Live on Stage - Make extra magic with your little ones by making sure to check out the Disney Junior Live on Stage show. This show is full of music and dancing all with your child's favorite characters. They will love interacting with them. 

Don't be discouraged by thinking you can't do Disney with young ones. In fact, this is the perfect time to get a relaxing vacation in and slowly immerse yourself in all things Disney. Give your family the gift of Disney today by contacting me for a free quote!

s.marx@magicalvacationplanner.com

Disney World Quote Tuesday!!!

It's Quote Tuesday everyone!!! I'm starting this weekly post to show everyone how easy it is to plan your perfect trip to Disney. I for one always thought I would never be able to take my child on a Disney trip because you always hear how expensive it is right? A good vacation is always a little pricey but some may learn to find out that it is not as expensive as you once thought. Read below to find out how easy it is to budget and save for a Disney World trip. 

2016 Early Room Offer

Dates through 4/3/16 - for this quote we are using Check in dates of 3/20 - 3/26/16

2 Adults + 2 Children ages 5 and 9 

6 Nights at the All Star Sports or Movies resort

7 day Theme Park Tickets

Disney Dining Plan - 1 Quick Service, 1 Table Service, and 1 snack per person per night of stay

Total cost: $3,374

If you were able to put back a few hundred dollars a month you could easily have this vacation paid for. You can even skip the dining plan and make it even more affordable. All quotes are easily customized to each family or person. Contact me today to take advantage of this amazing offer!! 

s.marx@magicalvacationplanner.com

Skipper Canteen - Soft Opening at DisneyWorld Magic Kingdom

The highly anticipated Skipper Canteen restaurant will officially open on Wednesday this week, December 16th. The restaurant had a soft opening last week and now pictures of menus are popping up everywhere. We finally got a look at what this new restaurant will look like and while they are currently not taking ADR's (advance dining reservations) they will be sure to add this very soon. 

So let's get started with the fun eats on the menu. First up....drinks. Currently alcohol is not offered at this restaurant, no hints as to if they will add it later. The drink menu features bronze plated mule cups for their fruit inspired drinks. You will notice that there is hot and cold beverages available. Looks like an extensive tea menu. 

Next up, Entrees and Deserts! These are sure to fill you up. With steak, stew, fish, and shrimp there is plenty on the menu for all to enjoy. I think this restaurant offers a lot of variety and a great bang for your buck as it seems the entrees are very generous portions. The deserts look yummy as well boasting a chocolate cake, coconut bar, and pudding. I cannot wait to try this new restaurant out the next time we are down in mouse land!



What are your thoughts on this new jungle cruise inspired cuisine? Would you make this a must visit the next time you are in Magic Kingdom?

Need help with planning your perfect magical vacation? Contact me today for a free quote and to help you plan the best vacation for you and your family and friends. 

s.marx@magicalvacationplanner.com

What to Pack for Your DisneyWorld Trip?

Heading out to Disney this year or next? You definitely want to tune into this post and find out the best way to pack for your trip! Are you flying or driving? All of this effects what you can and cannot pack. Follow me down this journey to the perfect packing list and be prepared for any obstacles that may come your way. 

My fellow Disney World lovers I am all about pre-planning to make your trip as magical and stress free as possible. Because of that I take packing very seriously for my long trips down to the land of mouse! Whether you are traveling to Central Florida or Southern California the weather can sometimes be tricky to pack for, this post we are focusing in on Disney World in Florida. Below you will find the most traveled times of the year and what to pack to make sure you are fully covered!

• Spring Break (March - May) - In March through May you will find the average high temperature reaching the high 70's and the average low's reaching the high 50's. So that means warm during the day and chilly at night and first thing in the morning. For these trips I pretty much pack two sets of clothes for each day. I make sure I have a light jacket or two for the week and also some warm pants and long sleeve shirts. I always pack my bathing suit just in case we hit a warm day during the week and we can enjoy the resort pool. 
• Summer (June - August) - If you are visiting in the summer be prepared for some hot temperatures. The high's reach 90 easily everyday and there is not much relief in the evening either. You will need to bring plenty of water on these summer trips to keep everyone hydrated. Also make sure to bring shorts, short sleeved tops, and easy breezy clothing that will not make you uncomfortable. There is nothing worse than being hot and uncomfortable. 
• Fall and Winter Holidays (October - December) - Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, Epcot Food and Wine Festival, and Mickey's Christmas Party bringing you to the area? Great! These are some of the most decorated times to visit the parks because they are completely transformed to fit the holiday at hand. In Central Florida the high temperature for this time of the year is high 70's and the low's are low 50's. You will need a light to medium jacket for the mornings and evenings here and it's probably best to stick to pants as well unless you hit a high temperature day. 

Some of my must have bring along's for anytime I visit are:

• Chewing gum - remember you will not find this on any Disney property as Walt did not want gum stuck to his grounds. 
• A good pair of worn in walking shoes - there is much discussion between people on what the best walking shoe is, for me I just take along my trusted running shoes to get me through. Either way you go make sure you can comfortably walk up to 8 miles a day in those shoes. 
• Small first aid kit - this can be placed in your car if you are driving down or can be easily placed inside your checked baggage if you are flying. It's always good to be prepared for those little scrapes and cuts that could potentially happen from too much excitement. 
• Extra cash - We are big on a budget in our household so our trips to Mickey are meticulously planned out and budgeted in advance. No matter how much we try to stay on budget we always end up going over. I highly suggest having some extra cash in your pocket for those moments you just can't pass up. 

What are some things you cannot live without when you go on a trip down to Disney? Feel free to add your comments below!

As always if you are thinking about going to Disney please contact me for your FREE quote and planning guide at s.marx@magicalvacationplanner.com