Disney Cruise Line welcomes guests to sail 4-night or 5-night itineraries, from the Port of Miami, on the Disney Cruise Line Wonder, starting in December 0f 2012!    Certainly, this gives Disney Cruise Line some leeway with their Caribbean and Bahamas cruises.  Disney is offering a new Disney Cruise vacation option, with one of their original ships.  Yes, again, we see Disney taking something old and making it feel new. Ports of call could include Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman; Key West and Nassau, Bahamas, and many of the itineraries will include a stop at Disney Cruise Line’s private island, Castaway Cay.  Sailing from Miami avoids the sometimes choppy sail along the Florida coast, heading back to Port Canaveral.  I like this idea.  There is more news, too.

         

Disney Cruise Line’s first two ships.  The Disney Cruise Line Magic and The Disney Cruise Line Wonder, two gorgeous and intimate ships, have had itineraries announced for 2013.  If you are looking for a nice smaller ship, one of these will fit the bill for you.  The most marvelous thing about these two ships is that they are easier to move around, and Disney is inclined to use them to mix it up a bit, providing different Disney Cruise itineraries.

Disney Cruise Line announced that they will be going back to Europe!  That in itself is exciting, but the big news is the added ports of call!!  Greece is one of them, and the other new ones are Venice, Italy and Ephesus, Turkey.  All of the Disney Cruise Line European cruises will depart from Barcelona, Spain.  Guests can experience  four, seven, or 12 night sailings.

Disney Cruise Line is also returning to Alaska in 2013, when the Disney Wonder returns there in May.  This, of course, means two repositioning cruises, which is a wonderful way to experience a long and relaxing Disney Cruise Line vacation.  Westbound will be May 6, and Eastbound will be December 9.  The Alaska cruise itinerary is an amazing experience! You will sail out of the Port of Vancouver, in Canada for 7 nights, visiting Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan.

Lots of fun things on the horizon for Disney Cruise Line with all these itineraries.  Of course, the Disney Cruise Line Dream and Disney Cruise Line Fantasy will be sailing out of Port Canaveral with their Caribbean and Bahamian itineraries.  If you have thought about cruising, I highly reccomend Disney Cruise Line to you.  You will not be disappointed.

When we started thinking about a vacation two years ago, my husband and I were leaning toward a cruise on the Disney Cruise Line.  We are serious Disney people and after over 25 trips to the parks, we wanted to try something different.  At the time, my twin boys would be celebrating their 19th birthday on the ship.

We sat down at the dinner table to let them know that we were leaning in the cruise direction, thinking, of course, that they would be ecstatic at the idea.  We couldn’t have been more wrong!  They were very unhappy.  The first thing out of their mouth was “you’re wasting our Disney money”!

After much persuasion, they decided to give it a try.

We decided to go with two cabins.  With the boys both over six foot tall and weighing in around 175 pounds, it would have been a tight fit in a standard cabin.  My husband and I opted for a Standard Outside Cabin with Verandah and the boys were happy with the Standard Inside Cabin.

When we arrived at the ship, it was much larger than I had imagined!  Not to mention breathtakingly beautiful!  All of us got a kick out of our names being announced as we entered the ship:)

I think it was when we ate our first “welcome” buffet and attended the send off party that they realized that this was going to be a classy vacation.

Over the next few days, my boys ate things that they had never even heard of before the cruise.   I heard them order escargot and caviar.  They loved the idea of walking on the deck and having a piece of pizza in their hand at all times!  They ate like kings!

My favorite part was that we all had a chance to completely enjoy each other’s company.  There was no cell phone calls or texting at the table.  They were old enough to be in the “adults” only areas of the ship so we were together every day.  (After noon, that is.  They were teenagers – they needed their sleep!)  If you ask them, their favorite day was at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.  This is where they discovered their new love of snorkeling.

All in all, we all had a fabulous time.  Being new at cruising, we had opted for the 3 night Bahama’s Cruise.  We are now saving for a 7 night Disney cruise to anywhere!  As we disembarked, I left feeling like we were a closer family.  I forgot the fact for a moment  that - soon - I would be losing my boys to college… and later wives.

To Disney Cruise Line I have but two things to say, thank you for a wonderful family vacation and sorry about the mess and smell in that one cabin on level 6!

Disney Cruise Line announced some changes to how the staterooms on the Disney Cruise ship, the Dream, and Disney Cruise ship, the Fantasy, are categorized.  There were several guest comments that Disney Cruise Line listened to regarding this change, and I think it is notable that they will make the change and actually credit people if they are in a stateroom that was lowered in category.  It is similar, but a bigger change, to when they changed the category of some staterooms on the Disney Cruise ships Magic and Wonder.  (There are some category 7 staterooms that used to be category 6 on those two ships.)

The change in Disney Cruise Line categories for the two Disney Cruise ships, the Dream and Fantasy, will go into affect on October 18, 2011.  There will be five new categories created with this change, and a total of 120 staterooms are affected.  The five new categories are:

• 4E – Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah – Oversized Verandah
• 5E – Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah – Oversized Verandah, some with solid white wall
• 7A – Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Navigator Verandah, Undersized or Obstructed Verandah
• 9C – Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom, One Porthole, Obstructed View
• 9D – Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom, One Porthole, Obstructed View – limited view of ocean

Here is a list of all the staterooms affected by this Disney Cruise Line change of stateroom categories.

Deck 5

Deck 6

Deck 7

Deck 8

Deck 9

Deck 10

The Disney Cruise Line Hawaii Itinerary that is sailing on April 29, 2012, is so popular that Disney has added a second one!  This is what some people would call ‘The Cruise of a Lifetime.’   This is a 14-Night Itinerary, on the Disney Cruise Line Wonder, and sales from the Port of Los Angeles on October 14, 2012.  It includes stops at some wonderful ports; Kahului, Maui; Nawiliwili, Kauai; Honolulu, O’ahu; and Hilo, Hawai‘i.  You will also enjoy a visit to the Port of Ensenada, Mexico.  Add all that to 8 enjoyable, relaxing days at sea?  Heaven, that is what I would call it.  Disney Cruise Line offers you the best cruise experience, and although they are pricier then other cruise lines, a Disney Cruise Line vacation experience is absolutely one step above any other cruise vacation.

The year 2012 is seeing a lot of fun and amazing vacation opportunities from Disney Cruise Line.  I was so happy when Disney Cruise Line starting branching out with new itineraries,  and from new ports.  This gives people from different areas a chance to try this wonderful cruise experience on a Disney Cruise Line ship.   Yes, you can fly to Orlando from anywhere to cruise out of Port Canaveral, but now if you live in New England, you don’t have to fly to Orlando.  You can cruise to Canada on a Disney Cruise Line ship out of the Port of New York City!   If you live in Los Angeles, not only is there this Hawaiian Cruise with two itineraries now, but there is a Mexican Riviera Cruise that is really filled with excitement and fun!!  Disney has some good deals going to Mexico!

Disney Cruise Line Alaska Itinerary - Beautiful Scenery

I just had a client return from sailing the Alaska Itinerary, and he was so amazed and in awe of the experience.  The beauty of nature is presented to you Disney Cruise Line Style.  I believe that Disney Cruise Line has a way of presenting the wonderful beauties that are available in cruise destinations in a way that is truly unique.

So, whether you want to try a smaller, more intimate ship, such as the Disney Cruise Line Wonder that is offering the featured Hawaiian Cruise, or sail on one of Disney newest and oh so grand ships, The Disney Cruise Line Dream or Fantasy, you will find the best of service, the most unique and professional Broadway style shows, food that is simply beyond the level of any other cruise line, and time with your family.  Really, that is what Disney Cruise Line is all about; offering family vacations that are top quality all the way.

Now that the last building block of the outside of the Disney Cruise Line Fantasy has been put in place, it isn’t just the inside work that is next, but the excitement of which character will adorn the Disney Cruise Line Fantasy’s bow also is getting set up.  I am so excited that Dumbo will be featured on her stern!  Dumbo!!!  How imaginative is that, really, to have Dumbo on the Fantasy.  Dumbo sailed through the air, just as the Disney Cruise Line Fantasy will sail the seas!

Disney released pictures of how we can expect Dumbo to look, along with some actual production pictures of him!  Really, this is so cool!  He is so bright and fanciful looking; truly he will look perfect way up there on the Disney Cruise Line Fantasy Stern.  Imagine the wonderful pictures at the dock at Castaway Cay?

This is not to mention the time and detail that goes into the building of this majestic Disney Cruise Line ship.  The Fantasy will have different nuances throughout, and yet will still have the Disney  Difference feel.  Each ship has its own little touches; The Fantasy will have an Aladdin show.  Certainly, adding Dumbo to the Fantasy was such a creative idea!

The Disney Cruise Line Fantasy will celebrate her maiden voyage on March 31, 2012.  She will sail Caribbean itineraries, out of Port Canaveral.  I am looking forward to meeting her!

One of my favorite parts of any Disney vacation is the dining and sweets and candy! I look forward to some of my Disney food traditions and always expect to find something new and delicious to try. The eat sensible diet plan generally goes out the window when I am on vacation. Put me on a Disney Cruise Line vacation, or in Disneyland or Walt Disney World, and I am ready to graze!

Bring on the Mickey bars! That is one tradition in my family that I am sure will live forever. I can remember when my ten year old, who is 23 now, would just talk and talk about the Mickey bar she was going to eat when she got to Walt Disney World.

Another tradition involves candy, and I am sure will be a forever one in my family, Disney Lollipops!  You know the ones, round, come in different sizes, and are multi-colored. 

Those are two tried and true examples of what you can expect to find on every trip to a Disney Destination.  As you might expect, Disney is always up to something in their kitchens and candy factories.The newest and yuumy looking baked good is the Mickey Cake Pop!

Yes, it is cake on a stick, and I am betting it is as tasty as it looks. Certainly, the Mickey Cake Pop earns a top spot on my new sweet treats to try in Walt Disney World.  The pops come in a variety of colors and are currently being offered at Candy Cauldron and Goofy’s Candy Company at Downtown Disney in Walt Disney World.  They will be available soon in Disneyland, too.

Another new addition in Walt Disney World can be found in Epcot at the American Adventure Pavilion in the Heritage Manor Gifts shop.  Disney put in a wonderful new, rather nostalgic, display that sells lots of different old fashioned candy.  It even has the look of an old fashioned display you might have found in and old candy store.

Add the new sugar cookies being introduced in July; they have chocolate Mickey ears in different colors, and the ‘mood’ chocolate candy Disney has introduced, and you have a recipe for some sweet Disney treats.

What is your Disney sweet treat tradition?  Is it candy, or pastry, or maybe ice cream?

The Disneyland Hotel is undergoing a complete makover to all of the guest rooms and the pool area; a brand new poolwas built.  I was wondering what would happen with the names of the Towers.  Disney is all about theming and they have not let me down with the news that the towers at The Disneyland Hotel have new names.

The three towers now have names that reflect the lands in Disneyland Park!  The tower that was named Magic is now named Fantasy, the tower that was named Dreams is now named Adventure, and the tower that was named Wonder is now named Frontier! 

Each tower will be easily identifiable, because they will have large marquees with artwork from the land they represent in the Disneyland Park. 

See how cool this is?  Disney used the names from the original towers for the Disney Cruise Line Ships.  Now, in true Disney form, with the renovations at Disneyland they are taking something classic, the names of the lands in a Disney theme park, and making it into something new.

I have always admired Disney for the many things they do for the community.  This isn’t just for the community each Disney Theme Park is in, but Disney cares about the entire world.  It really takes Walt Disney’s thinking of a worldwide community and keeps it alive. 

The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund is a big part of how Disney goes green for the world.  This group has made such an amazing effort around the world to save different species of animals and plants.  Would you like to see where these efforts have been made?

Now you can do just that!  Disney is offering a virtual world tour of how the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund has made changes and helped better our world’s environment.  Using Google Earth Discover DWCF you can take a tour right from your computer’s desktop, and see just what has been done.  Scientists have created ‘vulture restaurants’ in Nepal, to help combat the fact that these birds are disappearing.  In the forests of Brazil there is an animal that is related to the horse and the rhinoceros.  It is called the tapir, and actually resembles a pig!  Disney scientist are helping this creature, and you can see that for yourself via Google earth.

More than $15.6 million has been donated to non-profit organizations since 1995.  Disney gets donatiosn from several different places.  Guests help when they add a dollar or more to their purchases at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and The Seas with Nemo and Friends at Epcot, there are special experiences that are available and raise money.  Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney World and Disneyland all have different options for donating, and helping keep the earth green.  Everywhere you shop you will find the option to purchase reusable bags, for instance.

All of this is why I am proud to be a travel agent that works for an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, Our Laughing Place Travel.   Disney is not only the most fun way to vacation, but you can be sure they are earth friendly whenever possible.

If you would like to start planning your next Disney vacation, you can contact an OLP Travel agent today for help planning, or contact me personally, and I will be happy to help you plan your trip.

Visit OLP Travel on Facebook, or Franniepoppins on Facebook.

This show is exclusively on the Disney Dream cruise ship right now, and it’s MAGICAL! This short montage ‘almost’ does it justice; >)


I am so excited to report that the new show planned for Disney Cruise Line’s new ship, The Disney Fantasy, is going to be “Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular” , a musical comedy that will be featured in the Walt Disney Theatre. Aladdin meets the wise cracking Genie, who grants Aladdin three wishes. Aladdin and Jafar certainly have some fun interactions and, of course, Aladdin falls in love with Jasmine.

This show will not disappoint. There is quite the mechanical production involved and we will see “A Whole new World” performed by Aladdin and Jasmine, while flying on a magic carpet. I am so excited about this show!!

As always, Disney is keeping it new and fresh. Yes, this show is from Disneyland’s
California Adventure Theme Park, but it is still new to Disney Cruise Line and there will be new touches to it. It is going to be very enjoyable!

The Disney Fantasy will be setting sail on March 31, 2012 and you can book sailing all the way through 2012 on that ship. Having sailed on the Disney Dream and knowing the Disney Fantasy is going to be not just comparable, but plused some with more Disney touches, I can’t wait to experience this ship, shows and all!