Mickey's Dream Vacations

Last Minute Fall Travel Deals

8/24/2020

0 Comments

We found some unbelievable fall travel deals for you!

HUGE SAVINGS ON LUXURY RESORTS
Adults Only DEAL OF THE DAY!

El Dorado Seaside Suites

Oceanfront Swim Up Suite

Gourmet Inclusive Luxury

2 Adults with Non Stop Air from Chicago*

4 Nights

October 2020

$1,576.66

This one WILL NOT last! Contact us today!
*Other airports available

Beaches Turks & Caicos Fall Flash Sale!
Family of 4
ALL INCLUSIVE
$3500
4 nights!
Customize this for your family.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR HARRY POTTER FANS!
Exclusive Vacation Packages start at $119 per person, person night

Vacation Package Includes:

5-Night Hotel Accommodations
3-Park, 4-Day Park to Park Promo Ticket
Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ and Universal's Volcano Bay™ one hour before the park opens
Special Themed Keepsake Box with items to get started, including:
*Welcome Letter
*Travel Planning Guide
*Set of Luggage Tags featuring Harry Potter, Ron Weasley & Hermione Granger - one set of three (3) per package
*Hogwarts Railways Lanyard – one per person
Breakfast at the Leaky Cauldron in Universal Studios Florida - one per person
Breakfast at the Three Broomsticks in Universal's Islands of Adventure
One (1) Shutterbutton's Photography Studio session in Diagon Alley that includes 1 commemorative DVD photo album and one exclusive designed 8” x 10” photo print

Get a quote for Universal!

There are so many great travel sales right now, this is the time to book your next vacation.
Low Deposits and Travel Insurance are available for FULL REFUNDS.

0 Comments

Handicapped Accessibility in the Parks

8/24/2020

0 Comments

We recently visited Disney World and Universal Orland and needed to use an ECV. I wanted to share some of the things you will want to know. I am in physical therapy and so I needed to walk about 7000 steps per day and so could walk for portions. I think most people in ECV’s are similar so I will focus this on people who can transfer and walk short distances. I have also taken my Father-In-Law during normal times in an ECV and when confined to a wheelchair so I will make some comparisons to normal and COVID times. At Disney, wheelchairs and ECV’s typically will start off in the main line and then separate at some point for the wheelchair section. It is very easy at Disney in all parks overall. It is much more difficult at Universal and I will share my experiences with you. If you have any specific questions, feel free to contact me directly at Marilyn@MDVTrips.com.

Magic Kingdom:

We do not ride most of the rides in Fantasyland and so I do not know how most of those work. We did ride It’s A Small World, which has a separate wheelchair/ECV entrance. It was easy to use. We also rode Peter Pan which required me to leave the ECV and go through the line in a wheelchair. There is a space between Peter Pan and the entrance to Liberty Square that has several places to charge your scooter or phone. It is a specific spot that has seating where you can rest and recharge devices. There is some shade in this area so it is easy to keep the seat cool but little protection from rain. Space Mountain also requires you to transfer to a wheelchair. There are spots at the outside of the exit where you can park your ECV and plug it in. The plugs are near the benches against the building. No protection against rain but maybe against sun, depending on the time of day. Big Thunder Mountain and Haunted Mansion both had a virtual queue for ECV’s due to social distancing. I went to the Fast Pass entrance and was given a return time. The line with physical distancing, is not accessible by wheelchair and they will take you through a different entrance. This was easy to use once I knew about it. We got return times for both rides, then went to Splash Mountain and then returned to these two attractions with no wait. Tom Sawyer's Island does not allow ECV’s and you will need to leave it in the open if you take it through the line. If you are able to walk the distance, I would leave it near splash mountain. There is an area as you come out that has a place to charge that is covered. It is near the playscape at the exit of Splash Mountain. All other rides we rode were easy with the ECV. If the line was past the entry point, I started going to the people at the beginning of the lines to ask how it worked for ECV’s and had the rest of my party go ahead and get into line. This gave me time to find a place to park if needed and get to my party before they got to the main entry. As for restaurants, we went to Be Our Guest and it was very ECV friendly. I left it inside of the building near the bathroom and was able to charge it. At Liberty Tree Tavern, I had to leave it outside and I could not find a good place to park. If you can walk the distance, I would probably leave it in the charging spot I referenced near Peter Pan. Do not leave it under the shade near the Hall of Presidents. It may get moved if there is a line. I saw that happen while I was in the Hall of President’s line. Overall I give MK a B.

EPCOT:

By far, the easiest park to have an ECV was Epcot. I cannot think of anywhere that I had to leave my ECV and transfer to a wheelchair. The only places that I was asked to leave my ECV outside was while eating at the Coral Reef Restaurant and Rose and Crown Pub. At Coral Reef, I asked if I could leave it inside to charge and the one spot was open so I was able to use it. Rose and Crown was on our first day and I was not yet looking for plugs and shade. I parked it where they directed and the seat was very hot when I came out. I would look for a spot near the bathrooms across the street next time. We ate at Le Cellier and San Angel Inn and both had space indoors for me to leave the ECV. Spaceship Earth still has the wheelchair entrance to the right of the building about halfway around the building. No need to go to the normal line. At all other rides, I started off in the normal line staying in the ECV. I do want to point out that all of the restaurants on Disney property, I was asked if I would be able to transfer and if I had asked to stay in the chair for meals, I would have been allowed to do so. I would give Epcot an A+ for being ECV friendly.

Hollywood Studios:
Hollywood Studios had the same restrictions as it always has been with no difference at this time. Most lines were ECV friendly. The only rides I was not allowed to take in the ECV and had to transfer to a wheelchair were Rock n Roll Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. Neither had an indoor space to leave it. It was raining when we went to ride these rides so I searched for somewhere dry to leave it. My recommendation is to park it at the exit to Tower of Terror. There is a covered spot as you leave the building that will keep the ECV dry in the rain and cool in the sun. If you are able to walk a bit, just leave it there and walk to RRRC. If you need to immediately transfer to a wheelchair, near RRRC, look to see if the food stands near there are open. They were closed when we were there and I could keep it mostly dry and cool by parking behind the stand. You can also check at the nearby Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy and depending on the time of day, you might find some shade there. At Star Tours, you will miss the pre show but that was not a big deal to me as I have done the ride several times. We ate at 50’s Prime time and they would not allow the ECV in the building and there are not a lot of places to keep it dry and cool in that area. On a past trip, we parked a wheelchair under cover and it was moved. It subsequently rained while we were inside and the seat cushion was soaked. My FIL is paralyzed on one side so he tries to walk short distances and get out of the chair when possible and this was a mistake. It took all day for the seat to dry. Disney did give us a voucher to get him a change of clothes as we did not realize it was wet until after he sat on the soaked cushion and they should not have moved the chair. The seats are not water proof like on ECV’s. For ECV’s make sure you always cover the electrical parts when you leave it, just in case the rain comes unexpectedly. At Brown Derby, we were able to park inside and there were 2 outlets available for charging. If you just need a charge and want to be out of the sun, you can also go to the alcoves near Muppet Vision or there are some plugs near the ABC Commissary. Overall I give Hollywood Studios a B for ECV’s.

Animal Kingdom:

Animal Kingdom was also easy for the most part. The ECV was able to go through most lines with no issues. I would be aware that the Kilimanjaro Safari ride will not leave with a half empty car and if you are one of the first ECV/wheelchairs to get on, it may be a few minutes before you leave. We rope dropped this ride and while we were the 3rd group in line, we were in the 4thvehicle to leave. Not a big deal but if the other group behind us had not been 14 people, we would have had to wait even longer. They are supposed to have 5 rows full to leave. All of the wildlife treks were ECV friendly and I can’t think of any rides where I had to leave the ECV in the open. We did have to leave it outside while we ate at Yak and Yeti. There is plenty of shade available but I did not see anywhere to plug in. Overall I give AK a B+

Disney Buses:
The buses currently have limited capacity. In normal times, they have space for 2 ECV’s per bus. Right now, they will only allow 2 ECV’s if they are in the same party, otherwise one ECV per bus. This seems fair since there are only 6 parties allowed per bus. We had one time that we were waiting in line and while there were only 2 buses worth of people there were 4 ECV’s in front of me. We were at Disney Springs heading back to the Contemporary. The Polynesian line did not have even one full bus of people waiting so I moved to that line and then took the monorail bus to the Contemporary. The monorail has been closing early so they started a bus that travels to the monorail resorts so people can eat dinner at the other resorts.

Universal Studios and Isle of Adventure:
Universal was not as ECV friendly. Basically, if a stroller is not allowed in line then an ECV is not allowed. You will be directed to park the ECV in stroller (or Pram in Harry Potter sections) parking. Even shows that had entrances that an ECV would easily have fit, they did not allow them. It was difficult to find anywhere to charge and half of the plugs I tried did not actually have power going to them. There is a working plug in Pram parking across from Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure and since that has moved to a normal line, you can probably get a good charge in while you wait. We ate at Mel’s Diner and they directed me to a place near the outdoor seating that had a plug, but it was not working. I did find a plug against the next building that was working and provided some shelter. If you have someone in your party willing to push you all day, save your money and just rent the wheelchair instead of an ECV if you are only doing Universal Studios. I like to have an ECV for more independence and to not burden others with pushing me all the time, but you really don’t get to use it very much at Universal. I did get to take it onto the boat from Hard Rock to the main gate. I give Universal a D for ECV friendly.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to contact me directly at Marilyn@MDVTrips.com.

0 Comments

Paradise Found!

7/31/2020

0 Comments

I recently visited Secrets Playa Mujeres which is an adults only, all-inclusive resort just outside of Cancun. I was overly impressed by the resort accommodations, the precautions they were taking during this time and the overall excellent service we received.

This resort has direct shuttle transportation to and from the airport which is nice to not have to make stops at other resorts along the way. When we arrived we entered through Playa Mujeres resort community gates. This means if you do not have a reservation you will not be allowed to enter the community grounds - this was the first check on my list - they will keep you safe!

I had the Preferred Club Master Suite ocean front with private pool and let me just say, "AMAZING"! Since I was preferred club one of the perks is immediate check-in so I was able to bypass the long check in line and go to the preferred club desk and get checked in right away. Preferred club rooms are in premium locations, you have an upgraded mini bar in the room, upgraded bath amenities, you have access to computers if needed, you have access to a preferred club lounge that serves specialty food and drinks through out the day, you have access to the beach lounge huts and pool huts. It definitely has it's advantages to booking a preferred club room.

The food and drinks at this resort were very good and had a large selection. They have 8 restaurants to choose from here and a coffee and dessert shop. This is all included in the price of your stay! A huge advantage of staying here is that you can walk to the Dreams Playa Mujeres Resort next door, which is Secrets' sister resort for families. Secrets guests have access to Dreams restaurants and pools if you choose so this gives you an even larger selection of choices. We walked to Dreams one evening to eat at the French restaurant and we were able to walk from resort to resort in less than 2 minutes.

We had free access to many activities! Some included were paddle boards, kayaks, bike tour, hobie cat sailing, pool tables and foosball tables. There is a gym onsite which is included but was not open at this time due to COVID restrictions. Not included but onsite were jet ski rentals, parasailing, luxury spa, swimming with the dolphins and you could take a ferry boat over to the island of Isla Mujeres which is a very popular excursion. On Isla Mujeres you can rent a golf cart for the day to explore the island, local food and culture.

These type of resorts are always typically very clean but the staff was going above and beyond sanitizing round the clock. The resort is only allowed a 30% capacity right now so you did not have to worry about large crowds of people. There were more than enough beach and pool chairs for everyone even after they spread them apart for social distancing.

The swim up bars were open and the evening bars were open as well with a close time of 11pm. They had nightly resort entertainment every night at Secrets and Dreams. From my observation the only thing we did not have access to that we normally would have is the fitness center but let's be honest and say I was definitely not going to be using the gym while on vacation! The only time we had to wear masks was in the transfer shuttle to the resort and at check in. Once we were checked in they went in our bags and were not thought of again until departure. All staff members are wearing mask for your safety though!

I would go back to this resort without hesitation. It was a wonderful vacation in the midst of COVID and it is very reasonably priced considering what you receive overall during your stay. I would rate this resort and my stay based on accommodations, service, food and drink quality and overall experience a 5 star!

If you are looking to travel during this time and have questions or concerns I would be happy to talk more to you about my experience. I would love to see you travel to this resort and let our mind relax from all that is going on right now. Feel free to contact me anytime about this resort or any other Caribbean destination. I will give you insight, my honest opinion and what restrictions you would be looking at depending on which island you choose.

Safe Travels Always,
Kristy
225-505-0452
kristy@gomdv.com

0 Comments

Traveling in the age of COVID-19

6/12/2020

0 Comments

Last week, for the first time since the pandemic began, I traveled. My best friend lives in Slidell, Louisiana, just outside of New Orleans. I usually visit her a couple of times a year and we always enjoy walking around the city, eating at amazing restaurants, shopping and visiting the many breweries that have popped up. I was originally supposed to take this trip in April, but I moved it to June when I felt it was a little safer to travel. I brought five, yes FIVE, travel sized bottles of sanitizer in my carry on, a travel package of sanitizing wipes (thanks to a co-worker who shared), and five masks. Overkill? Maybe. Safety first? Definitely.

I don’t usually travel to Louisiana in the summer months due to the heat, but as Olaf said, some people are worth melting for. My friend is getting married in November, so this trip was all about fun wedding stuff. We knew it would be different than my normal visits due to COVID-19, but we still managed to have a wonderful time.

Here is an overall look at my experience, and some tips on still having an amazing vacation, with a few small adjustments.
I flew Delta from Hartford/Springfield (BDL) to Atlanta (ATL) to Gulfport (GPT).
BDL was VERY clean. Everyone is required to wear a mask inside the airport. The lines at security were very short and I made it through in about ten minutes. It was not very busy at all when I flew out (8 am) or came home (2:30pm). The food and retail vendors were only open in the food court area. Everything in the bathrooms was touchless, but the water fountains were not.

ATL was clean. They have hand sanitizing stations set up everywhere and signs posted reminding people to social distance. The sit-down restaurants were closed, but most fast food places were open. The bathrooms were all completely touchless, but the water fountains were not. It was very busy, but most people were very good about social distancing and wearing masks.

GPT is a very small airport, so there were not many people in it at all. No one was wearing a mask except me and the people working at the airport. The mask rules are much more relaxed in Louisiana than what I was used to in Connecticut!

Delta was using a hand scanner for boarding passes, so no one touches your phone or pass but you. Plans are loaded from the back rows to the front rows, with the exception of first class, but there are no changes to the procedures for exiting the plane. Everyone got an individually packaged Purell wipe when they boarded. Masks MUST be worn for the entire flight, unless you are eating or drinking. No middle seats were booked to allow for more space between passengers.

All four planes I boarded were about 60% full, or less. There was no beverage service, but they did pass out plastic bags with a water bottle, granola bar, almonds, napkin and single use Purell hand sanitizer. Planes are sanitized in between each flight, and you can smell the cleaner through your mask.

Once I arrived, my friend and I found a few really awesome things to do, that kept us social distanced and still adventuring!

We found the Little Coffee Camper- a little camper that two awesome ladies turned into a traveling coffee shop!
We got pedicures at Southern Swings on Magazine Street in New Orleans. It was by appointment only, so they could control the number of people in the salon. Masks are required, and they ask you to use the hand sanitizing station when you walk in. It was just the two of us and the people working. You sit in adorable porch swings and get the most luxurious pedicures. It was wonderful!
We visited a little boutique down the street called Alice and Amelia, and again it was just us and the woman working in the store. Masks are required and hand sanitizer was provided at the door. They had the cutest stuff in there- and they donate any tips or spare change left in the jar on the counter to local animal rescues!
We visited several restaurants that had outside dining, so that we could be socially distanced and still share a great meal. We went to the Lola Distillery on St. Charles and had the most amazing crawfish mac and cheese and some of their house-made gin. We also ate at Fatty’s in Picayune, Mississippi. We were in a room all by ourselves and enjoyed seafood nachos, drinks and dessert.

So the bottom line is this- if you don’t mind wearing a mask often, and making a few adjustments to your regular vacation adventures, you can still have an amazing time. Bring your hand sanitizer, few masks and a good attitude. Make your own fun wherever you can, and don’t be afraid to drive around town looking for the Little Coffee Camper!

Kim Kowalski
Travel Professional
Mickey's Dream Vacations
An Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
Funjet 500 Club Agency
(860) 508-5305 Cell/Text
www.facebook.com/mdvkimk
We do all travel, not just Disney. Adventure Awaits!

P.S. Referrals are the greatest compliment you can give me. If you know anyone who is thinking traveling soon, please pass my name, email and number along.

0 Comments

KA WA‘A – A Lū‘au at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

6/9/2020

0 Comments

I attended the KA WA'A Luau at Aulani on March 14th 2020. We were so happy to get a last minute VIP seat as a party of 2. We debated if VIP was worth the extra money and concluded that for us it absolutely was worth it. I did a short video with some of the highlights:

The evening started in the VIP line where we were greeted by the cast members with a wristband and lei. Next we were led to our table with a stop on the way for a picture and our first free drink. Since we were the first ones to arrive at our table, we got to pick our seats at the table and decided closest to the stage was for us. There was seating for 10 at the table and we were with 2 families of 4. The VIP section is the first two rows of tables and we were in the second row. The VIP line was non-existent within 15 minutes of opening.

After the VIP section was seated, the other guests were allowed to enter and the pre show entertainment began. There was a band playing on the stage and several activities for the children set up in the back. There were several activities where you got to take something with you. During this time we got our 2nd free alcoholic drink each. When it was time to eat, everyone was asked to come to their tables and the tables were released one at a time to head to the buffet with the VIP tables getting to go first. Children were allowed to still play and run and everyone seemed to follow the rules. I did not take pictures of the food but it was delicious and beautiful.

During the meal, there was some entertainment and more free drinks for the VIP guests. The only draw back to VIP seating is there are parts of the show that are done between the second and third rows so anyone in the VIP section has to look back and forth to see everything. Those further back can see everything looking in one direction. You get all of the typical Luau performances with dancing, singing, acrobatics, and fire. The children are invited to take part in the program at one point in the show and get to play some music. There is a place to one side of the seating that is a grassy area so if you have a child that needs to burn some energy, you can go to that area and they can jump and bounce while you still get to see the show. Our server came around during the show and we got another two rounds of drinks during the show.

The show was fantastic and worth the price. If you like your alcohol included, eating first and being closest to the stage, then the VIP ticket is for you. If you do not drink, prefer to see everything without looking around and don’t mind being last to the food, then a regular ticket is a great value for you.

If you have any questions or would like to book, contact Mickey’s Dream Vacations for more information.

Marilyn Wright
An Authorized Disney Vacation Planner Agency
Funjet 500 Club Agency

We do all travel, not just Disney. Adventure Awaits!

512-698-9312-Cell/Text
https://www.facebook.com/MDVMarilyn/
www.mickeysdreamvacations.com/Marilyn
https://www.instagram.com/marilynstravels/

P.S. Referrals are the greatest compliment you can give me. If you know anyone who is thinking of traveling soon, please pass my name, email and number along.

0 Comments

The Magic Of Toy Story Land!

6/2/2020

0 Comments

Toy Story land located at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is one of the most popular lands and places to visit. It is full of fun characters, three amazing rides and a quick service restaurant called Woody’s Lunchbox. When you enter Toy Story land it's like you've shrunk down into Andy's room and are the size of all the toys! Fun and colorful theming is found throughout the entire land!

The three attractions located in Toy Story land include:
*Fastpasses are available for all three*

Slinky Dog Dash-Take off on a rollercoaster as Slinky Dog coils and twists around curves and drops in this thrilling ride! Height requirement: 38 inches

Alien Swirling Saucers-Hang on tight for this swirling twirling ride in a toy rocket! Height requirement: 32 inches

Toy Story Mania- Midway style 4D shooting game ride with your favorite Toy Story characters! No height requirement.

Woody’s Lunch Box
Quick Service restaurant that includes the famous grilled cheese sandwich. Woody’s lunchbox serves breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the day. Check out their menu for all of the items offered!

Characters
All of the Toy Story land characters are so fun to meet with! They sign autographs and pose for lots of pictures! Be sure to purchase memory maker so you can have all of the candid shots!

Buzz Lightyear-located just inside the entrance of Toy Story land
Woody & Bo Peep-located together next to the Toy Story mania entrance
Jessie-Located in front of Alien Swirling Saucers near the entrance to Slinky Dog dash
*Green army men can be found marching around down the main walkways throughout the day playing the drums and music

Be sure to make a stop in Toy Story land on your next Disney vacation!!

Heather Davis-Mickey's Dream Vacations Travel Planner

I would love to help you plan your next vacation!
Heather@mickeysdreamvacations.com

0 Comments

How to do Disney with Food Allergies

6/2/2020

0 Comments

No one gets left out at Disney when it comes to food allergies.

Going out to eat with food allergies can be scary at any time. But add on being in an amusement park where medical attention may be hard to get; this can be TERRIFYING! Luckily Disney World is very accommodating with food allergies. They make sure everyone is able to experience the magic of their food.

Cast members at Disney World are always happy to help make sure you know exactly what you are eating. This is true whether you are getting a quick snack at a cart or sitting down for a meal at a restaurant. Disney is accommodating for all food allergies and gluten-free.

Check out below some of my favorite tips and tricks on eating at Disney World!

I am personally allergic to peanuts and tree-nuts, these are my go-to restaurants on our trips:

Aly’s Top Restaurants

Be Our Guest restaurant
La Cantina de San Angel
Cinderella’s Royal Table.

Aly’s Favorite 3 Safe Foods

Dole Whip
Churos
Mickey Pretzel

Ice cream is one of my favorite mid-day snacks! It is a great way to cool off and safe to eat!

Disney World has some of the best snacks!
I cannot go to Disney World without getting some of their incredible snacks!

I also always make a stop at Caseys Corner for corn dog nuggets with mac and cheese before I come home!

TIPS AND TRICKS

DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU GO
Most people do not think about doing research for a vacation but this can make you have less anxiety going into your vacation. Disney has all of their menus online. While they do not have the allergy specific menus online, this still helps. You are able to go online look at the restaurants that look interesting to you and see if they have a food that is limiting you or if they seem to have a lot of options available for you.

DO NOT EAT AT PEAK TIMES
This may be an odd one for some people. I found this to be helpful because everything is in stock so you have all the choices and would not have to wait. Also going at non peak hours you can talk to the cast member about what could have your allergy in it. If you go to a quick service they have a book that lists all menu options with the possible food allergies in them. Going at non peak eating times is helpful because then you do not hold up the line trying to look at the book to see if your allergen is in the food you want.

Plan Ahead
When making your reservations you can indicate that someone in your party has a food allergy. This is fantastic because when you get to the restaurant they will already know and bring you an allergy menu along with the regular menus.
BONUS: Chef’s will come out to your table and talk to you directly about what you can and cannot have in your meal.

KNOW WHERE THE FIRST AIDE STATIONS ARE
You never want to have to use an Epipen but it is always important to know where they are in case you need it. Disney World now has Epipens and Epipen Jrs at all first aide stations, in case you do not have your own on you. It is great for you and your party to always know where the closest first aide station is.

BRING IN YOUR OWN SNACKS
Yep you read that correct! Disney World allows you to bring in your own snacks! If you do not want to risk cross contamination or misreading menus, you can bring in your safe food.

I would love to help you plan your next vacation and help you with any dietary needs.
Alyring@mickeysdreamvacations.com

0 Comments

Disney's Re-Opening Plan and What it Means for You

5/29/2020

0 Comments

Disney released an update on Walt Disney World’s re-opening plan. They currently have plans to reopen Magic Kingdom & Animal Kingdom on July 11th, and Epcot & Hollywood Studios on July 15th. That is very exciting news! They are still waiting for governor approval but they are moving forward with those plans for now.

Before you read any further, I just want to take a minute to make sure you understand a little about Disney and the attention to detail that they put out in their theme parks. Whether you are a first-time guest or an annual pass holder, visiting Disney World is like no other experience.

They take care of EVERY detail no matter how small to make sure that your experience is truly MAGICAL. Disney is known for their cleanliness and sanitation throughout their theme parks (and cruise ships, around the world!).

When they have to shut down experiences/attractions for extended time, they often have others there to replace it (Think about IllumiNations, being temporarily replaced with Epcot Forever while we await HarmonioUS).

When Disney makes a change, it is to enrich our experiences. That is what is happening here.

Here are some guidelines they are putting in place:

Safety Protocol:

Limiting Capacity:

We have been given no details on how limited but it will be reduced significantly at the start.
They are not accepting any new reservations at this time.
They are working with existing reservations to ensure availability.
A new Reservation System will be implemented and theme park reservations will be required to enter a park.
Guests with existing reservations will be given priority to schedule a theme park reservation.
Reduce capacity of theme parks, restaurants, retail stores, attractions, buses, monorails, and other transportation.

Plans to Support Social Distancing:

Markers have been added to the ground to signify 6’ distance for lines.
Fast Pass+ system has been disabled and all scheduled fast passes canceled so they can use the added line for distancing.
Temporarily suspending parades, fireworks and other events that create crowds.

Enhanced Cleaning/Sanitation
Limited Contact Enhancements

Mobile ordering is being encouraged.
QR Code menus are being used when possible. Paper menus will be available upon request. More stations will be equipped with cashless transaction technology (MagicBands, Apple Pay, Google Pay).
Play areas and high-contact attractions (like Meet-and-Greets) will be closed.

Enhanced Protective Measures

Face coverings will be required for all guests ages 2 and older.
Hand washing and sanitizing stations are being installed.
Physical barriers are being installed where appropriate.

Temperature/Health Screening

All guests and staff will have their temperature checked upon entering the theme parks.

Dining & Experiences Changes:

Eliminating all Dining Plans
Dining Plans on all reservations will be canceled through the end of 2020 and issuing refunds when appropriate.
If you have the Free Dining offer, you will be receiving a resort discount instead.

Canceling ALL Dining & Experiences Reservations

No specifics on exactly what falls under “Experiences” yet but as I get more details, I will update you.
All dining and experience reservations will be canceled through the end of 2020 so everyone will have a fair shot at the new limited-capacity reservations available.
Shift from 180-day booking window to a 60-day booking window.
As we get closer to the parks opening, the system will be opened and new reservations can occur.

Tickets and Hotel Reservations

Existing ticket and Annual Passholders will be given first priority to make Theme Park Reservations and Disney will be reaching out with additional details.
New sales and reservations will resume after the current holders have been served.

Our thoughts:
This is A LOT of information to take in and process. Here are what I’m sure some of you are thinking (because I am/was too!) and some additional thoughts on them.

“Face coverings in the parks! I’m not going!”

Yes this seems like a big deal for the Florida heat. We will all come back with nice tan lines! Lol!
Disney is setting up rest stations where you will be able to remove your mask for a short time.
Masks don’t have to be worn in the pools or when eating/drinking. If you’re truly concerned about this, I do suggest considering the time of year that you’re traveling and giving it some time after the parks reopen to see if this guideline gets relaxed before making this THE reason for canceling/rescheduling/not booking.

“My fast passes that I sweated over in the early morning hours are GONE!”

Yes this is annoying that we put in so much work for your trip and now it’s gone.
The reduced capacity though should allow for reduced wait times in many lines so fast passes won’t be as valuable.
Disney is likely to use virtual queues (like on Rise of the Resistance) for many of their extremely popular rides but no specifics on these have been released. I do NOT expect it to be like the crowded, early morning experience of Rise of the Resistance though to get into these virtual queues

“No fireworks, parades, or meet-and-greets? Why am I spending all this money to go to Disney when this is what separates them from other parks?”

As I said above, when Disney takes something away, they usually find away to still make your experience magical.
They’ve already mentioned that characters will still be out in the theme parks but social distancing. So it might be different but it will be amazing still.
Fireworks and parades, I don’t have much information on them right now but they did say temporarily suspending so hopefully they will be back soon.

“No meal plans & canceling reservations? How will I eat?”

There will still be dining and food options at Disney World!
We will have to start at square one to make new dining reservations for you and they may not be the same but they may even end up better!
There will be sit-down meals, quick-service meals, and snacks.
In order to enjoy these, you will have to pay out-of-pocket when you are there.
We are still waiting word on how/if character meals will occur and we expect changes to buffet-style meals.
Plus we get to book at 60-days prior to vacations now!
That is SO MUCH better and easier to plan!
This is one of my favorite changes & I hope they keep it.

“So what do I do now?”

For the most part, nothing & just wait! This is a totally fluid situation & it’s unprecedented (Yay, 2020!)
We don’t really know how long any of these protocols or regulations will last. They could open the parks like this in July and then be back to normal by August or not until sometime in 2021. We really have no idea.
Disney is not allowing changes or new bookings right now so there’s not much that we can do just yet. When your 60-day window is approaching for dining, we will be in touch to discuss options and scheduling.
Our advice to you now is to just wait it out! Cancellation and changes can be made up to 7 days prior to travel still, which is when your final payment will be due, so there’s no reason to make a decision about your trip several months away when things might change again.
Please know that we will be here to stay on top of all the changes and to update you in time to make your decisions.

Let us do the work for you and know that you are being properly cared for by both Disney & Mickey’s Dream Vacations!

Mickey’s Dream Vacations has agents eagerly awaiting the opening.
We have agents with trips scheduled for July and August (me!) who will be spearheading our research and reporting back on all the changes.

Our wonderful team works together to cover every angle so please remember to check us out on our social media channels:

Facebook (@mickeysdreamvacations, & @mdvtrips)
Instagram (@mickeysdreamvacations)
Also find more information at Disney Parks Blog.

This is a crazy situation but every experience that I have had with Disney throughout the past 20+ years has been extremely positive. They will always be a top-notch company that puts the care of their guests above anything else. They will not do ANYTHING to ruin the magic, even if it’s not the magic you were expecting. If there is anything else that I can do to help you with this situation, please let me know.

❤️,
Your Travel Agent
Michelle McAllister
610.994.9779

0 Comments

Resort Dining with Characters

5/28/2020

1 Comment

Another great place to find character dining is at the Disney World resorts. Whether you are taking a break from the parks or want to start or end your day dining with characters, I've listed a few of my favorites at the Walt Disney World Resorts.

Chef Mickey’s Chef Mickey’s is located at the Contemporary, just a short walk from the Magic Kingdom. Here at Chef Mickey’s you will find Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, and Donald. They are dressed in their best chef uniforms and are cooking up some great foods you can enjoy at the buffet. Chef Mickey’s is a family favorite of mine and many others!

O’Hana O’Hana is located at the Polynesian and is only character dining for breakfast. Join best friends for breakfast at O’Hana with Mickey, Pluto, Lilo & Stitch, they will greet you at your table as you enjoy an all you can eat family style breakfast. Along with their famous and delicious pineapple coconut bread and passion-orange/guava juice!

1900 Park Fare 1900 Park Fare is located at The Grand Floridian and has different characters for Breakfast and Dinner. At breakfast join Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, and the Mad hatter. At Dinner, Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, and Drizella. Both Breakfast and Dinner have an amazing buffet with so many delicious choices, including the famous Strawberry Soup.

Trattoria al Forno Head over to the boardwalk where you will find a character breakfast at Tratorria al forno. Ariel, Prince Eric, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider will greet you here and this is a great time with the four of them! The table will enjoy delicious pastries as you wait for your breakfast, which includes fun and delicious menu items like “Flynn’s feat” and Ursula’s cauldron!

Finally, the newest character dining experience can be found at the new Riviera Resort…Topolino’s Terrace is where you will enjoy breakfast ala “art” with mickey and friends! This is on my to-do list for my next trip and I can’t wait!

Character dining can book up fast and reservations can be made 180 days in advance. Make sure to talk with your Mickey's Dream Vacations travel planner about your dining reservations today!

Carol Dougherty
Travel Professional
708-254-0071

1 Comment

Character Dining in the Parks

5/28/2020

0 Comments

So, you’ve booked your trip and now it’s time to start planning your dining reservations. With so many choices it can be overwhelming. I’ve broken down my favorites at each park. But first, let’s talk about why you should book character dining experiences….

It lets you get one-on-one time with many different characters right at your table! While you are taking a break from the crowds and lines- enjoying your delicious meal with your family you get to visit with characters from Mickey Mouse to Winnie the Pooh to Cinderella and so many more! Dining with the characters allows more time in the parks to ride rides, watch parades, shows, and you will not have to worry about getting in lines to meet the characters. If you are on the Disney dining plan, you can use table service credits at all of the character dining, which can save a lot of money.

Listed below are my personal favorite character dining experiences.

Magic Kingdom Character Dining

Cinderella’s Royal Table is an experience you won’t want to miss! This restaurant is located inside Cinderella’s Castle! When you first enter the castle you will be greeted by Cinderella herself and have a picture taken with her before going up the royal staircase to be seated. Once seated you will listen as the princesses enter the room! Ariel, Aurora, Snow White, and Jasmin greet you at your table where they sign autographs, chat with you, and pose for pictures. This dining experience definitely comes with a hefty price tag and if you are on the dining plan it will require two table service credits but is a once in a lifetime dining experience you have to try at least once!

Crystal Palace located right off of main street at the Magic Kingdom. Here you will find Winnie the pooh and friends! Crystal Palace is buffet style and available for Breakfast and Dinner and not only will Winnie the pooh, Eeyore, piglet, and tigger visit your table, but they also parade around the restaurant with the children, it’s not only delicious, it’s a family favorite for sure!

Epcot Character Dining

Akerhaus Storybook Dining The World Showcase is home to so many delicious restaurants, but if you make a stop in Norway-Akerhaus is where you can find a princess dining experience you won’t want to miss. If Cinderella’s Royal Table is a little too pricey, this is a great alternative. It’s one table service credit and you will be greeted by Belle as you enter. Then while seated, Ariel, Cinderella, Aurora, and Snow White make a visit for photos and autographs.

Hollywood Studios Character Dining

Hollywood & Vine
For Breakfast the characters are Disney Junior favorites. Do you have a Vamperina, Doc McStuffins fan in your house? If so, you will want to book your breakfast reservation now. For Lunch and Dinner Hollywood and Vine is home to Minnie’s Seasonal Dining event. Minnie and friends are dressed up for the season and love coming around to visit you at your table.

Animal Kingdom Character Dining

Tusker House
Tusker House is where you will find Mickey, Donald, Daisy, & Goofy dressed in their safari outfits. They come visit you at your table for autographs and pictures while you enjoy a huge buffet with lots of different foods to try, from African cuisine to the kids buffet with mac n’ cheese and lots of traditional favorites.
Character dining can book up fast and reservations can be made 180 days in advance. Make sure to talk with your mickeys’ dream vacations travel planner about your dining reservations today!

Carol Dougherty
Travel Professional
708-254-0071

0 Comments

<<Previous

Last Minute Fall Travel Deals

We found some unbelievable fall travel deals for you!

HUGE SAVINGS ON LUXURY RESORTS
Adults Only DEAL OF THE DAY!

El Dorado Seaside Suites

Oceanfront Swim Up Suite

Gourmet Inclusive Luxury

2 Adults with Non Stop Air from Chicago*

4 Nights

October 2020

$1,576.66

This one WILL NOT last! Contact us today!
*Other airports available

Beaches Turks & Caicos Fall Flash Sale!
Family of 4
ALL INCLUSIVE
$3500
4 nights!
Customize this for your family.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR HARRY POTTER FANS!
Exclusive Vacation Packages start at $119 per person, person night

There are so many great travel sales right now, this is the time to book your next vacation.
Low Deposits and Travel Insurance are available for FULL REFUNDS.

Fill this out to get pricing for your next vacation.

Handicapped Accessibility in the Parks

Paradise Found!

Traveling in the age of COVID-19

KA WA‘A – A Lū‘au at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

I attended the KA WA'A Luau at Aulani on March 14th 2020. We were so happy to get a last minute VIP seat as a party of 2. We debated if VIP was worth the extra money and concluded that for us it absolutely was worth it. I did a short video with some of the highlights:

The Magic Of Toy Story Land!

Heather Davis-Mickey's Dream Vacations Travel Planner

How to do Disney with Food Allergies

I am personally allergic to peanuts and tree-nuts, these are my go-to restaurants on our trips:

Aly’s Top Restaurants

Be Our Guest restaurant
La Cantina de San Angel
Cinderella’s Royal Table.

Disney's Re-Opening Plan and What it Means for You

Resort Dining with Characters

Another great place to find character dining is at the Disney World resorts. Whether you are taking a break from the parks or want to start or end your day dining with characters, I've listed a few of my favorites at the Walt Disney World Resorts.

Character Dining in the Parks

Categories

Archives

​We found some unbelievable fall travel deals for you!

HUGE SAVINGS ON LUXURY RESORTS​​Adults Only DEAL OF THE DAY!El Dorado Seaside SuitesOceanfront Swim Up Suite Gourmet Inclusive Luxury2 Adults with Non Stop Air from Chicago* 4 Nights​October 2020$1,576.66​This one WILL NOT last! Contact us today!​*Other airports available

Beaches Turks & Caicos Fall Flash Sale!Family of 4ALL INCLUSIVE $35004 nights!Customize this for your family.

​EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR HARRY POTTER FANS!​Exclusive Vacation Packages start at $119 per person, person night

​There are so many great travel sales right now, this is the time to book your next vacation.Low Deposits and Travel Insurance are available for FULL REFUNDS.

Fill this out to get pricing for your next vacation.

I attended the KA WA'A Luau at Aulani on March 14th 2020. We were so happy to get a last minute VIP seat as a party of 2. We debated if VIP was worth the extra money and concluded that for us it absolutely was worth it. I did a short video with some of the highlights:

Heather Davis-Mickey's Dream Vacations Travel Planner

​I am personally allergic to peanuts and tree-nuts, these are my go-to restaurants on our trips:​Aly’s Top Restaurants Be Our Guest restaurant La Cantina de San AngelCinderella’s Royal Table.

​​Another great place to find character dining is at the Disney World resorts. Whether you are taking a break from the parks or want to start or end your day dining with characters, I've listed a few of my favorites at the Walt Disney World Resorts.

Categories

Archives

We found some unbelievable fall travel deals for you!

HUGE SAVINGS ON LUXURY RESORTS
Adults Only DEAL OF THE DAY!

El Dorado Seaside Suites

Oceanfront Swim Up Suite

Gourmet Inclusive Luxury

2 Adults with Non Stop Air from Chicago*

4 Nights

October 2020

$1,576.66

This one WILL NOT last! Contact us today!
*Other airports available

Beaches Turks & Caicos Fall Flash Sale!
Family of 4
ALL INCLUSIVE
$3500
4 nights!
Customize this for your family.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR HARRY POTTER FANS!
Exclusive Vacation Packages start at $119 per person, person night

There are so many great travel sales right now, this is the time to book your next vacation.
Low Deposits and Travel Insurance are available for FULL REFUNDS.

I am personally allergic to peanuts and tree-nuts, these are my go-to restaurants on our trips:

Aly’s Top Restaurants

Be Our Guest restaurant
La Cantina de San Angel
Cinderella’s Royal Table.

Another great place to find character dining is at the Disney World resorts. Whether you are taking a break from the parks or want to start or end your day dining with characters, I've listed a few of my favorites at the Walt Disney World Resorts.