Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival – Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden Contest

My favorite time of year for a Walt Disney World vacation is during Epcot’s Flower and garden Festival. The beautiful displays are just so captivating. One new area of the Festival is Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden, with miniature fairy homes and beautiful topiaries of Tinker Bell and friends. The attention to detail was really amazing. This unique garden debuted last year. It was such a huge hit with guests, and this year Disney is expanding it.

In fact, this year you have the chance to design a fairy home for the Flower & Garden Festival, which runs March 3 through May 16. Here is information about this really cool contest.

Draw an original design for a fairy house that you would see on the mainland using lost things and materials from nature. The design must include a description of all of the materials needed to build the house and must be hand-drawn. No computer screenshots allowed.

This contest is in honor of the third movie in the series, Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue, which will be released in November. The director will choose the winner based on these criteria: 50 percent for how well the contest theme is captured, 25 percent for creativity and 25 percent for overall appearance color, detail and artistic quality.

The grand prize includes a vacation for four to Walt Disney World to see the winning fairy home in person. Winner must be able to travel to Orlando between March 30 and April 5 for a five-day, four-night stay and must be a registered user on PixieHollow.com.

You can enter online or print out mail entry forms here, where legal details also are available. The deadline is Feb. 22.

If you want to visit the Flower and garden Festival this year, you can contact an Our Laughing Place Travel agent for assistance. OLP Travel prides itself in the fine service we offer our clients.

Written by Francine - Visit Website
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Walt Disney World Dining News! Cinderella’s Royal Table – Princesses at EVERY MEAL!!!!

If there is one thing you can always count on, when it comes to Disney Vacation Destinations, it is that Disney will always be making changes. They like to keep things fresh, and they really like to have happy guests.

In the spirit of that idea, there is a change coming to Cinderella’s Royal Table, the restaurant at Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. I am extremely happy to report that there will be princesses at every meal now, starting on February 7, 2010! The Fairy Godmother won’t be there anymore, but guests will have the pleasure of dining with the princesses. This dining experience will be called Fairytale Dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table.

Upon arrival for breakfast, lunch or dinner, Guests will experience a photo opportunity in the castle lobby with Cinderella and then proceed to the dining room where the Disney Princesses will mingle among the tables and greet Guests. An imaging package of their photo will be delivered to Guests at their table. The imaging package includes four – 4×6 prints, one – 6×8 print, and one – 6×8 print of Cinderella’s Castle – all in a Cinderella themed photo holder.

At Our Laughing Place Travel, your travel agent will take care of making all your dining arrangements for you. Contact us today for helping planning your next Walt Disney World vacation.

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Walt Disney World Resort Hotels – Your Best Choice for Orlando Lodgings

Why stay at a Disney owned/operated resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida? Is there really a benefit? I can answer those two questions easily. Disney provides you with a vacation experience that is several steps beyond any other type of vacation. From the very moment you decide you want to take a vacation, the Disney Difference starts. It is that spark of magic; Disney magic.

Yes, right at the start, when you contact an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, Our Laughing Place Travel, you know Disney has trained these agencies, and that your travel agent will live up to a standard set by Disney. Disney specialized agencies are the best ones for planning Disney vacations, because you can be assured of having an agent who is all about Disney, and knows the Disney destinations.

The resorts at Walt Disney World are designed to provide more than just a place to sleep. Your resort will fill you with wonder, themed to perfection; be it the beaches of the Caribbean at Caribbean Beach Resort, or opening up your imagination with icons that are larger than life at All Star Movies Resort. You will experience an immersion into a worry free vacation, from the moment you check in. It is all about being Disney guest.

Disney World Resort offers a broad range of accommodations – 24 resorts that vary in price, allowing guests to pay for only the amenities that are important to them.  Disney Value resort guests are treated to larger-than-life theming, swimming pools and playgrounds, arcade rooms and standard amenities – and with more than 8,000 rooms at four resorts, about one-third of Disney’s hotel accommodations fall into the Value category.  Families who prefer the great outdoors can rent a campsite at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground (with nearly 800 available) and either pitch a tent or bring along an RV.  Moderate resorts, Deluxe resorts and Deluxe Villa resorts are available for guests who prefer additional amenities during their stay. There is something for everyone at Walt Disney World. Immerse yourself in a vacation experience that will leave you filled with magical memories.

Here is what Disney considers to be the TOP FOUR BENEFITS of staying in a Disney resort.

Disney’s Magical Express – When guests bound for Disney owned-and-operated hotels are traveling via commercial airline to Orlando International Airport (OIA), they can arrange for special luggage tags that allow them to check their bags at their hometown airport, bypass baggage claim at OIA and board state-of-the-art motor coaches for complimentary transportation to the Vacation Kingdom, where their bags “magically” appear in their guestroom.  When it’s time to say good-bye, guests board motor coaches for complimentary transportation back to OIA.  An extra convenience: Guests traveling on participating airlines can check their baggage for the return flight at their Disney resort, saving time and luggage-toting at the airport.

Walt Disney World Transportation System – A Walt Disney World resort ID is the ticket for buses, monorails and boat launches that combine to connect virtually all areas of the Vacation Kingdom.  With the convenience of “door-to-door” service throughout the resort, many guests enjoy their Walt Disney World vacation without a car. See Transportation Wizard

Extra Magic Hours – Each day, Disney hotel guests are offered exclusive time in a Walt Disney World theme park one hour prior to scheduled park opening, see park hours, or for up to three hours after park closing. The park varies from day to day. In addition, Disney water parks sometimes open one hour early for guests of Disney hotels. To take advantage of the additional time in the parks, guests must have their hotel ID plus a Magic Your Way ticket valid for the park(s) offering Extra Magic Hours.

 Disney Dining Plan – Guests who combine their hotel accommodations and attractions tickets into a Magic Your Way Package are eligible to add dining for the convenience of a more-inclusive “cruise-style” vacation package.  There are plan choices to satisfy different budgets and appetites.  All include at least two meals and a snack for each night of a Disney resort stay.  Savings and restaurant choices vary. For more information visit the OLP Travel Dining Guide.

 OTHER NOTABLE ATTRIBUTES, BENEFITS AND PERKS OF DISNEY RESORTS

 
 

·         Location, location, location – With their on-property location convenient to the theme parks, the Disney hotels are a haven for guests who seek a midday swimming break – or a siesta.  For some guests, the convenience is even more specific…

·         Many families with young children select accommodations in one of the “monorail resorts” – Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Resort or Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.  Reason: location near Magic Kingdom and convenient monorail transportation between the resorts and Magic Kingdom or Epcot.

·         Many adult couples visiting without children enjoy the proximity to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios of Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Disney’s BoardWalk – as well as the nightlife of Disney’s BoardWalk.  Walkways and water taxis connect the three resorts with the theme parks.

 Theming – It’s not just a room.  In the same way that Disney’s theme parks offer an escape to a timeless land of enchantment, a walk down small-town Main Street or a peek at the future, Disney hotels offer a mix of adventures.  Disney Imagineers have created detailed, themed environments that include the romance and beauty of Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge to Victorian opulence at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

Truly, if you are looking for the ultimate escape, a vacation that you can immerse yourself in, without any cares or worries, I recommend a Walt Disney World vacation. Contact me today, and I will help you create your next vacation memories.

 
 

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Disney Cruise Line Introduces a New Show! “Villains Tonight!”

I have some exciting Disney Cruise Line news to report! Disney Cruise Line is introducing what sounds like a fantastic new show!!! This show will be centered on the Disney Villains, and it is called “Villains Tonight!” This new show will premier in the spring of 2010, debuting on the March 27, 2010 on the Disney Magic. The premier comes right in time for the Disney Magic gets ready to embark on an unprecedented five-month season of Mediterranean and Northern European cruises. Departing from Barcelona, Spain, Mediterranean cruises go from April 24 to May 26 and Aug. 7 to Sept. 8, visiting popular ports in Italy, France and North Africa. Departing out of Dover, England, the Northern European cruises will sail from June 12 to July 18, visiting St. Petersburg, Oslo, Copenhagen and other enchanting ports.

The “Villains Tonight!” show will also be delighting guests on the newest Disney Cruise Line Ship, The Disney Dream. The Disney Dream will have her maiden voyage on January 26, 2011.

This new show will be the first full scale musical production that is dedicated to the Disney Villians. The show is a family-friendly, fun-filled musical extravaganza that places these famous evil-doers in some irreverent funny moments.

“We pride ourselves in delivering exceptional entertainment and magnificent stage spectaculars aboard our ships,” said Jim Urry, Vice President of Entertainment for Disney Cruise Line. “With ‘Villains Tonight!’ we are bringing the lovable and loathsome Disney villains to life in a way never seen before – as the stars of the first musical comedy devoted to the anti-heroes of our films.”

This show was produced by Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment; known for “Finding Nemo – The Musical” at Walt Disney World, Disney’s “Aladdin – A Muscial Spectacular”, at Disneyland in California, “Twice Chamed”, Disney Cruise Line, and “The Golden Mickey’s”, Disneyland Paris and Disney Cruise Line. Disney Cruise Line has assembled a very creative team to put this show together. The Broadway writing duo of Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen are joined by director Allison Narver, choreographer Karma Camp, and musical director Ben Cohn.

Here are the highlights of this show.

“Villains Tonight!” begins as Hades and his faithful sidekicks, Pain and Panic (“Hercules”), welcome new souls (the audience) to the Underworld. But instead of a frightening realm, guests will discover that Hades has turned the Underworld into an upbeat and happier place. The lively fun comes to a halt when The Fates arrive and predict that Hades will lose his position as Lord of the Underworld if he doesn’t ramp up the evil factor.

Worried by the news, Hades checks his Evil-O-Meter and discovers it is running dangerously low. So he comes up with a plan: He’ll conjure up the very best of the worst – the most powerful Disney villains – to help him replenish the world of evil. What ensues is a comical journey as Hades, Pain and Panic embark on a quest filled with wacky antics and amusing musical numbers featuring everyone’s favorite Disney villains and their sidekicks.

“Villains Tonight!” features a “Who’s Who” of the Disney villains, including Disney’s newest crook, Dr. Facilier from “The Princess and the Frog.” The show also features classic divas and scoundrels like Ursula (“The Little Mermaid”), the Evil Queen (“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”), Captain Hook (“Peter Pan”) and Scar (“The Lion King”).

During “Villains Tonight!,” the 977-seat Walt Disney Theatre becomes a hilariously wicked world through the use of elaborate sets and special effects, extravagant costumes and a fun-filled, contemporary musical score. The show’s scenery takes guests on a dazzling journey through many villainous worlds, from the deck of Captain Hook’s ship to Scar’s Elephant Graveyard to Ursula’s Undersea Lounge.

“Villains Tonight!” features irreverent versions of classic Disney villain tunes including a dance club version of “Cruella De Vil” (“101 Dalmatians”), a Copacabana-inspired take of “Poor Unfortunate Souls” (“The Little Mermaid”) and an electrifying version of “Friends on the Other Side,” from Walt Disney Pictures’ newest animated feature, “The Princess and the Frog.” In addition, Bell and Bowen developed two original songs especially for the show, “Welcome to the Underworld” and “Villains Tonight.”

Disney Cruise Line is always working to keep their guests entertained. You can see this show for yourself when you sail on the Disney Magic, or the Disney Dream. Contact me, or an OLP Travel agent today for more information.

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Walt Disney World Summer Fun for 2010

Summer fun at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida awaits you! Disney has it all, when it comes to ways to enjoy the summer heat. Sun and fun go together at Walt Disney World. Start planning your 2010 Disney vacation today! Contact OLP Travel for more information, or email me, and I will personally help you with your plans.

Let’s start keeping cool. With more than 50 themed pools at the Walt Disney World Resort Hotels, guests can take a leisurely mid day break when the day is at its hottest. It is relaxation at its best, and refreshes you for the evening’s activities.

Swimming not your thing? How about some play time on the water, instead of in the water. There are eleven marinas at Walt Disney World, with lots of choices for fun in the water; more than 500 Sea Raycers, canopy boats, float boats, jet boats, sailboats, rowing boats, pedal boats and canoes. You can also water ski, go bass fishing, and take surfing lessons.

Yes, that’s right, I said surf lessons. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park is home to a two-and-one-half-acre wave-making lagoon with surfing-size waves. By advance reservation, guests can participate in a 2½-hour learn-to-surf program that takes place prior to Typhoon Lagoon opening on designated mornings.

Speaking of Typhoon Lagoon, I should bring up the obvious way to cool off during the summer months; Disney’s water parks! Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon are wonderful summer fun options. You will find a lazy river at Typhoon Lagoon, relax, and float around.

Greeting guests this summer, at the Disney water parks, are new premium spaces aimed at letting guests luxuriate on their water parks day. Six “Polar Patios” at Blizzard Beach and six “Beachcomber Shacks” at Typhoon Lagoon can take relaxation to a new level.

Each space includes upgraded furniture, towels, waiter service, private locker, all-day drink mugs, a cooler with ice and bottled water. Pricing depends on date and time of visit, and your OLP Travel agent will be happy to take care of making the arrangements for you.

Walt Disney World also has special events that are happening through the summer of 2010. Starting with the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, then you have Star Wars Weekends, and the ESPN Rise Games.

 

* * *

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
(March 3 through May 16) – March 3, 2010 is the date that the 17^th annual flower fest starts.
Future World and World Showcase are floral fantasylands as guests roam amid 30 million blooms adorned in artful flower beds, lush rose gardens and floating islands of flowers plus expertly crafted bonsai trees and whimsical topiaries.

For gardening aficionados, there’s a supporting cast of celebrity guest speakers, hands-on seminars and innovative planting demonstrations and exhibits. Gardening tools and other products may be purchased to help guests grow and maintain the perfect garden.

And what better way to finish off the day than live music from bands from the 1960s and 1970s during the Flower Power Concert Series. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the festival, the “way-back” memories pour from America Gardens Theatre, adjacent to The American Adventure pavilion.

Most festival activities, including gardening programs and exhibits, are included in regular Epcot admission.

* * *

Star Wars Weekends (each Friday-Sunday May 21-June 13, 2010) – “The Force” returns to Walt Disney World Resort as Disney’s Hollywood Studios becomes “Star Wars Central” for guests of all ages during the annual sci-fi fan-fest.

The power of the Force and magic of Disney combine as plenty of out-of-this-world characters – including Wookiees, droids, Ewoks, bounty hunters and Jedi – roam the streets of the theme park. Also featured in special meet-and-greet opportunities are characters from the animated film and TV series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.”

Jedi Training Academy, one of the interactive entertainment experiences at the theme park, takes place on the main stage and allows young guests to learn from a Jedi Master before testing their newly acquired skills in a battle with Darth Vader. 

Also featured is the chance for fans to purchase one-of-a-kind Star Wars memorabilia, Star Wars games, special Star Wars parades, star conversations and autograph sessions with famous Star Wars actors (celebrity lineup will be announced at a later date).

Event activities are included in theme park admission. For more information and future updates, guests may go online to starwars.com or disneyworld.com.

* * *

The ESPN RISE Games (July 14-27, 2010) – This multisport event at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex features elite and competitive sports competitions, anchored by the AAU Boys Basketball Super Showcase, the Under Armour All-America Softball game and elite high school football event Gridiron Kings. The nearly two-week event also features youth competitions in sports including baseball, basketball, field hockey, track & field and soccer.

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Booking, and Planning, Your Walt Disney World Vacation

Walt Disney World offers so much to do. Planning is very important, if you want to see a lot, and do a lot. Everyone wants to get the most out of their vacation dollar spent, so a vacation budget is a must. Here are some tips on how to get the most value, while still having a magical and memorable Walt Disney World vacation.

The first thing you can do is decide to enlist the help of a travel agent, and when looking at any Disney Destination, always use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. Our Laughing Place Travel offers you a wonderful trip planning experience, and, you can contact me personally for help.

First thing that needs to be decided is your Walt Disney World Resort. There are lots of choices, and Disney encourages you to build a package that will work for your family. You have Value Resorts, such as Pop Century, Moderate Resorts, such as Port Orleans Riverside, Deluxe Resorts, such as The Yacht Club, and Deluxe Villa Resorts, such as the new Bay Lake Towers at the Contemporary, giving you choices form a well appointed hotel room in a resort, to a three bedroom villa, with a full kitchen, three baths, washer and dryer, Jacuzzi tub, and more. To know what is being rehabbed check at Franniepoppins’ WDW Resort Rehab page.

Having an idea of what Disney is offering for deals is also a great idea. You can find the current Disneyworld special deal at Our Laughing Place Travel, and you can bet your OLP Travel agent will know what deal will work for your stay. We always get the best deal available for our clients.

It is also a good idea to book a Disney Dining Plan, and to schedule your sit down dining meals. There are so many wonderful dining experiences at Walt Disney World. You can dine with many of the Disney Characters, having fun with them, or look for a quiet dining experience. All the information you need is available at OLP Travel’s Disney Dining Guide.

Next thing to consider is what you will need for theme park tickets. Here is some information to help you decide on what will work for your family.

The Magic Your Way ticket system lets guests decide what ticket features best fit their Disney vacation plans … and that’s what they buy.  Guests decide the number of days and whether optional features – park hopping, visits to Disney attractions outside the theme parks and “non-expiration” of tickets – are important.  Some price and value considerations…

Per-day ticket costs decrease for longer stays.  A seven-day ticket without optional features brings down the per-day cost to less than half the price, per day, compared to seven individual one-day Base Tickets.  And the per-day cost of a 10-day ticket is less than one-third the price, per day, compared to 10 individual one-day Base Tickets.

The Water Park Fun & More option can produce significant savings for recreation and entertainment outside the theme parks.  Here’s what you need to know about the option:

 

• It provides admissions to the guest’s choice of Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, DisneyQuest, Disney’s Oak Trail golf course and Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex.
• The number of admissions it provides varies depending upon the number of days of the Base Ticket (the option added to a one- or two-day Base Ticket provides two visits to the guest’s choice from among the listed attractions; added to a seven-day Base Ticket, it provides seven visits).
• It costs $52.  Considering that one-day admission to a water park is $39-$45 or to DisneyQuest is $35-$41, substantial savings are possible. .

The Park Hopper option can enhance the value of the vacation by allowing a guest to take advantage of special fun offered at different times of day at different Disney theme parks.  Other potential Park Hopper benefits:

 

• If the vacation stay is longer, “hopping” is perfect for repeating favorite attractions at the various parks.
• If the guest is staying “on property,” park-hopping can be the ticket to extra time in the parks (more about this under “Making the best use of time”).

Kids under age 3
are provided free admission to all Walt Disney World theme parks.

Planning your touring activities at Walt Disney World requires some pre-trip planning. Get to know Walt Disney World Theme Parks by looking at maps, looking at pictures and reading reviews online. Have an idea of what attractions at the theme parks are being rehabbed but checking at Franniepoppins’ WDW Theme Park Rehab page on a regular basis. Two quick tips that my clients use are to head right to your favorite ride first thing in the day, to avoid a line, and another great tip is to ride rides while parades are going on; usually the wait times go down dramatically. Here are some tips that Disney offers, to help you use your time wisely.

Disney’s FASTPASS system allows guests to avoid waiting at designated popular attractions in all four Walt Disney World theme parks.  Here’s how it works:

 

• At the entrance to attractions offering FASTPASS, two times are posted – (1) approximate wait time using the normal queue and (2) return time for FASTPASS tickets currently being issued.
• If the wait in the normal queue is long, guests can choose to obtain a FASTPASS ticket (at no charge) with an assigned return time (an hour-long window) and then use the time until then to enjoy other experiences in the park.
• Upon returning to use their FASTPASS, the guest can hop on the attraction with little or no waiting.

A “rider swap” program lets both parents enjoy a ride – one parent waits with a child who is unable to ride an attraction while one parent rides.  Afterwards, the other parent can board the ride with minimal wait time.

Tip Boards located at strategic “crossroads” in each theme park provide guests with a heads-up concerning attractions’ wait times.  Guests can save time – and “steps” – by consulting the boards throughout the day.

Extra Magic Hours provide guests of select hotels at Walt Disney World Resort an opportunity for exclusive time in a Walt Disney World theme park.  The details:

 

• The exclusive time is one hour prior to scheduled park opening or up to three hours after park closing.
• The park varies from day to day.
• In all, there are up to 16 extra theme park hours available each week.
• The time is exclusively for guests of the 24 Walt Disney World owned-and-operated hotels, and Walt Disney World Dolphin, Walt Disney World Swan, Shades of Green and the Hilton at Downtown Disney.
• Disney water parks sometimes open one hour early for guests of select Disney resort hotels.
• To take advantage of the additional time in the parks, guests must have a Magic Your Way ticket valid for the park(s) offering Extra Magic Hours – and, of course, their hotel ID.
• The Park Hopper option on Magic Your Way tickets allows guests to take advantage of Extra Magic Hours in a park or parks different from where the guest spends the rest of the day.
  

Walt Disney World really does offer a totally immersive vacation experience. I’d say that it gives you the chance to really escape your daily responsibilities. With a little planning, you will make the most out of your stay.

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Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line Conservation Efforts

Let’s take a look at three Disney Vacation Destinations and see what they do to protect the environment. Even in the earliest stages, when The Walt Disney World Resort was being planned, the first thing decided was that 1/3 of the 47 square miles of land known as the Florida Project, was to be earmarked for conservation land, and would never be developed. Walt Disney said, “There’s enough land here to hold all the ideas and plans we can possibly imagine.”

At Walt Disney World you will see recycling programs for Guests and Cast Members alike. Disney’s resort hotels earned the prestigious Green Lodging Certification designation from the Florida EPA. Disney has Green Guidelines that apply to all meetings and conventions held at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Every guest knows, if you hang your towel up, you can reuse it. If you want a clean towel, put your used ones in the tub. Disneyworld reclaims water, and has received awards for their efforts in this behalf. Reclaimed water has been produced on Disney property for almost 15 years and, despite constant growth, the Walt Disney World Resort has maintained steady levels of potable water consumption by using reclaimed water to offset more than 25 percent of the Resort’s water demand. Currently, more than 5 million gallons of reclaimed water are used each day for landscape irrigation, vehicle washing, street and sidewalk cleaning, cooling tower makeup, fire suppression and protection, and construction activities. This amount of water would cost more than $2 million each year.

Disney Cruise Line probably holds the banner for being on the cutting edge of the cruise line industry, when it comes to being environmentally conscious. Here is a list of some examples of Disney Cruise Line’s efforts in reducing the use of energy and water, and their effort to eliminate waste.

Disney Cruise Line focuses on programs to increase fuel efficiency and conserve energy. They do this by reducing surplus shipboard weight, automating onboard air conditioning systems for more optimal & efficient use, replacing light fixtures with more energy-efficient light bulbs, and turning off lights in areas when they are not in use by Guests or Crew onboard the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder cruise ships.

Other efforts have helped Disney Cruise Line to achieve a 5% reduction of energy. Here are some examples of those efforts:

• Disney Cruise Line made history by being the first cruise line to utilize an innovative hull coating that is 100% non-toxic and is effective in increasing fuel efficiency by reducing surface resistance in the water.
• On Castaway Cay, an innovative recycling program to repurpose used cooking oil from the ships’ galleys and combine it with diesel fuel reduces waste and carbon dioxide emissions. The resulting biodiesel mix is used to power heavy machinery on the island and has saved up to 8,000 gallons of traditional fuel annually, enough to power nine homes in the United States for a year.
• Up to 10% of the water used onboard the Disney Magic
  and Disney Wonder
  is reclaimed from condensation in the shipboard air conditioning units and then re-used to rinse the outer decks of the ships.
• Excess heat generated in the ships’ engine boilers is rerouted and used to efficiently power evaporators used in the process of turning sea water into potable water.
• Onboard hotel operations promote a towel reuse program, where Guests may elect to not have their towels replaced after a single use. The program helps to conserve both water and energy.

 

Being environmentally responsible has been a Disney trademark for years. Walt Disney truly cared about nature. You can go back fifty years to the Walt Disney True Life Adventure Documentaries, and see that Walt Disney cared about the planet. Today, Walt’s beloved Disneyland Railroad and the Mark Twain Riverboat Ride, both in Disneyland are run off of fuel made from used kitchen oil; oil used for frying French fries and chicken. Disneyland also has the Disneyland Central bakery, newly built, and state of the art as far as being energy efficient.

Being aware of our environment and helping keep it happy is a good thing. OLP Travel is proud to sell Disney vacations, and we will be happy to help you with yours!

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Disney Cruise Line Children’s Programs Changes

Disney Cruise Line announced a wonderful new change to their children’s programs! Again, the Disney Difference shows, as Disney introduces a reinvented approach to children’s activities. While the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab will remain available to children age 3 to 12 on the Disney Wonder and age 3 to 10 on the Disney Magic, children now have the option to personalize their cruise vacation by selecting activities and events, regardless of age.

Disney Cruise Line will recommend activities that appeal to a child’s maturity levels and age, the entire list of offerings will be open to every child. This cutting edge approach to shipboard activities for our children allows children and parents to select programs based on the specific interests of each child. You can create and customized a very personalized experience. The best part of this deal is that it allows families of all ages to do things together.

So, what are some of the offerings? There are more than 100 activities, events and programs to choose from. With all these being open to children of all ages, this gives children have more choices than ever before on Disney Cruise Line.

Right in line with Disney taking what was old and making it new, many experiences draw inspiration from classic Disney stories and popular Disney characters:

• During the new Cinderella’s Royal Ball, young guests can feel like royalty as Cinderella shows them how to be a prince or princess.
• So You Want to be a Pirate offers adventurous tales of the high seas, pirate training for young buccaneers, swashbuckling fun and a special appearance by Captain Hook.
• Children are immersed in the world of Disney-Pixar’s “Toy Story” during Toy Story Boot Camp. Led by Corporal Green, toy recruits participate in interactive activities.

In true Walt Disney manner, hands-on activities appeal to children’s sense of creativity and invention:

• The next great celebrity chef could be discovered at Ratatouille Cooking School, where children work together to bake tasty chocolate chip cookies.
• During the new Animal Tracking Series, children discover that conservation can be fun as they learn about endangered animals, create an animal tracking device and locate (plush) cotton-top tamarin monkeys using telemetry tracking on Castaway Cay.
• In Flubber, one of the most popular youth activities on Disney Cruise Line, children join Professor Goo in creating magical green goo and other interesting concoctions.

Some of the other onboard youth activities include fun programs such as Mouseketeer Training and Little Einsteins for preschoolers; challenge-and solution-games like Stitch’s Great Adventure and Detective School with Goofy; interactive group activities such as Kim Possible: Cruise Control and The Challenge of Davy Jones; and unstructured free time to enjoy the youth areas, play on computers and spend time having fun with new friends.

And, I have to mention another new option that was recently introduced. Dine and Play allows families to enjoy dinner together, then gives kids more time to enjoy youth activities while parents relax at the end of the meal. With Dine and Play, parents may check their children (age 3 to 12) into evening youth activities during second seating in all of the main dining rooms. Families enjoy dinner together, then youth counselors whisk children away to play so the grown-ups can savor some time together in the adult-exclusive areas of the ship.

Disney Cruise Line is again setting the bar, catering to the average family vacation need, and proving again why they are the best cruise line.

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Disney Cruise Line News! No More Land and Sea Packages

Disney Cruise Line is no longer offering a Land and Sea Vacation Package, for Port Canaveral sailings. They used to offer two different packages. One package offered a three night Walt Disney World Resort stay, with a four night Bahamas Cruise, on the Disney Wonder. The other package offered a four night Walt Disney World Resort Stay, and a three night Bahamas Cruise, on the Disney Wonder. There was no offer to go with seven night sailings, though.

Now there is the option to add a pre cruise stay, or a post cruise stay, at Walt Disney World, to any Port Canaveral itinerary. The big news, and the best news, in my opinion, is that 18 Walt Disney World resorts are part of this option, and they all offer ground transfers to Port Canaveral now for your Disney Cruise. You used to be somewhat limited, with the package, as to where you could stay. Now, you have your choice. Again, Disney is working to cater to each guest’s family’s needs.

Here is the official information.

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Walt Disney World Easy Going Attractions

I have been to Walt Disney World to many times to count! I love it there. It isn’t all about the theme park rides for me. In fact, I am not a thrill ride kind of person. Disney has plenty of thrill type rides, from Rockin Rollercoaster to Mission Space. So, what is there to do if you aren’t a thrill ride person? Plenty!

Franniepoppins – top three attractions for each theme park at Walt Disney World

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

1. Finding Nemo the Musical
2. The Lion King Show
3. It’s Tough to be a Bug Show

    

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

 

• The Beauty and the Beat Show
• The Great Movie Ride
• Voyage of the Little Mermaid – Video

   

Epcot – Futureworld

 

1. Soarin’ Over California
2. Spaceship Earth – Video
3. Turtle Talk With Crush – Video

    

Epcot – World Showcase

 

1. British Invasion
2. Off Kilter
3. Japanese Drummers

    

Disney’s Magic Kingdom

 

1. Pirates of the Caribbean
2. The Haunted Mansion
3. The Carousel of Progress

Now, beyond these, let’s not forget the fireworks shows, Illuminations at Epcot, Wishes at Magic Kingdom, and Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios. Walt Disney World also offers three different parades each day; one at Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios.

There is so much to see, and do, at Walt Disney World!

Written by Francine - Visit Website
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