By Travel Planner Vanessa My family was invited by dear friends of ours to join them on a once-in-a-lifetime VIP tour. It was hands down one of the BEST experiences of my life. It’s no secret that it is pricey, BUT we received the real VIP treatment. I’m now debating if we need to spend money on things like groceries and clothing going forward OR if we can just spend all of our money and all of our lives on VIP tours… Kidding. (Sort of). There were 10 of us total which is the maximum the tour allows per guide. We had 4 adults, 4 teenagers (17, 17, 15, and 14), and 2 children (10 and 9.) By Tink's Travel Planner, Missy I was lucky enough the go on the maiden voyage of the Disney Wish. It is beautiful! While there are a lot of amazing things to do for all ages on the ship, they do have plenty of adult only spaces. The Wish is different then all the other Disney ships when it comes to adults venues. Where as the older ships have a section just for adults that is all in the same area of the ship. The Wish's adult venues are more spread out. A lot of the venues are close to the kids clubs so you can just drop your kids and get right there. The Bayou is on Deck 3 and is the main bar. It has a New Orleans theme and has live music. The Hurricane is their signature drink.
Nightingales is also on deck 3 and is very close to the Grand Hall. It is themed after Cinderella. It has a grand piano and live music. A fun drink to try there is the Ice Bubbles Cocktail. Your cocktail comes in an ice ball and they give you a little hammer to break it open. Also on Deck 3 is the Hyperspace Lounge. This is a fully immersive Star Wars experience. They have a fun drink menus with collectible cups you can purchase. You need a reservation to get in. Keg and Compass is on deck 5. It is the sports bar on the ship. It is a nautical themed pub. It is beautiful. The wood carvings are amazing. They do have a menu for food that is not included in the cruise fare. The Rose is on deck 12 outside of Palo and Enchante. The view is amazing. It has floor to ceiling windows. Free The bar is very elegant. You can find a very extensive wine list and signature cocktails. Deck 12 also has the quiet cove pool area. Adults only. It is in the back of the ship and no kids need to walk back there. Unlike the other ships, where kids were able to walk through the adults sections. There is a bar and the quiet cove cafe. There is a secret bourbon bar in Hook's Barbary where you can get a smoked old fashioned! By Tink's Travel Planner, Heather The Disney Wish and Castaway Cay are full of water fun for kids both young and old. Hop on the Aquamouse for an adventure on a raft with Mickey and Minnie. If lounging is more your style pull up a chair and watch the ocean on beautiful Castaway Cay. By Mindy, Senior Travel Planner You’re adults traveling on Disney Cruise Line. While you love everything Disney has to offer on the ship as far as world class service, rooms bigger than most other cruise lines and the Disney Characters, you would like to have a quiet day on the Beach without kids running around. Where do you go? Serenity Bay! by Michelle Ryan, Senior Travel Planner
Let me start off this blog with a word of caution – once you choose to sail concierge on a Disney Cruise Line cruise – it is going to be very…..VERY…..difficult to go back to a regular stateroom. So……consider yourself warned, if you choose to upgrade your next sailing to include this INCREDIBLE experience. By Tink’s Planner, Allyson
When it comes to planning a Walt Disney World vacation, there is a lot of information available to you. Books, online articles, blogs, social media posts, stories from friends, and then there’s the travel professional who specializes in Disney Destinations. The big question is: Is it really worth it to use one of these Disney experts to help plan your vacation? Or are you better off using your own judgement and research skills to book your vacation on your own? By Hamilton, student of Tink's agent, Pollyanna.
Three weeks ago my family went to Walt Disney World. Hollywood Studios: First we went to Hollywood Studios where we went on the Tower of Terror. It was fun to be inside the Twilight Zone. Next, we went on a Rock n' Roller coaster starring Aerosmith. At the first part of the ride we had linear induction then we went through a loop. Animal Kingdom: Next we went to Animal Kingdom. We went on a safari. Then we went on the Avatar ride. It was an hour wait just so we could go on a Banshee and go to Pandora World. As the Navee say "Sivako" which means "rise to the challenge." Epcot: The next day we went to Epcot where they had Mission Space. We went on an orange team with more intense training. We went on the Test Track. Next, we went on the Remy ride in France. Then, we went on a canoe ride in Mexico. Magic Kingdom: We rode a monorail to Magic Kingdom and at first we went to Tomorrowland. We rode Tomorrowland Speedway and Space Mountain's alpha track. Next, we went to Frontierland and rode Splash Mountain. Next, we went to watch the fireworks show. After that we went to Big Thunder Mountain at night time. Next, we went on Pirates of the Caribbean. Then we went back to the hotel. The next day I went to the gift shop and then we drove home. By Tink's Planner, Michele. You may know that the Walt Disney World® Resort recently opened a new experience, the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser. This experience is now open to guests who wish to book a two day adventure to the Star Wars galaxy. The Halcyon is a 100 cabin Corellian MPO-1400 model starcruiser, belonging to the Chandrilia Star Line, a galactic travel company, and your voyage is a celebration of the 275th trip of the Halcyon. My family of three adult Star Wars fans (two 51 year olds and a 19 year old) booked our stay for March 2022 to experience this adventure for ourselves. While the Halcyon is technically a hotel, it is nothing like any other hotel you have ever stayed at. When guests arrive, they board a shuttle to the Halcyon and leave planet Earth behind. Guests are allowed to explore every aspect of the ship, including the bridge, the engineering room, and even the brig. Every cast member goes above and beyond to immerse you in the Star Wars universe. Guests are encouraged to interact and are assigned “missions”, should you choose to accept them, through a “data pad” (an app on your mobile phone). Our favorite area of the ship was the Sublight Lounge. This bar was gorgeous, with amazing creatures in aquariums on the bar, and drinks and snacks that were perfectly Star Wars themed. You never knew what species or character you might run into. Chewbacca was spotted in the Sublight Lounge, as were members of the First Order. There was also a Holo-gaming table where guests could play a casual (or competitive, depending on their fancy) game of Sabacc, a card game favored by Lando Calrissian. All of the meals served on the Halcyon are included in your voyage fare, and take place in the Crown of Corellia Dining Room, a gorgeous dining hall. My family was able to experience a special event known as the Captain’s Table during the first night of our voyage. This is a separately reserved event that seats approximately ten people, with an additional cost of $30 per person. Captain’s Table guests are seated at a table in the center of the dining room and are served additional food courses and other surprises. The Captain of the Halcyon joined us at the table, although they did have to leave to attend to other matters. It was rather special to be seated with the Captain, as they are integral to the adventure. This meal is shared with other guests, so keep this in mind if you have introverts in your party that may find this uncomfortable. The Halcyon experience includes several incredible activities for Star Wars fans and non-fans alike. Every guest over 7 years old is invited to lightsaber training. At this training, a Saja (lightsaber master) trains you in the ways of the saber, the Jedi weapon. Each guest is able to wield a lightsaber against a remote training device. It was an absolutely amazing experience. If you are interested in a voyage on the Starcruiser, contact your Tink’s Magical Vacations agent and they can assist you in booking your adventure to a galaxy far, far away. "By Chief of Creative, Beth If you are hankering to head down to the Walt Disney World® Resort, a fun time to do this is when Mickey holds court over his "Not-So-Scary" Halloween parties. Requiring a separate event ticket, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party officially begins after normal park operating hours from 7pm until midnight in Magic Kingdom. The Party is held on 37 select nights starting on August 12 and through October 31st. Ticket holders will be admitted to Magic Kingdom Park as early as 4pm on the valid date of their ticket - giving them even more time to enjoy their favorite rides before the event begins. These date-specific event tickets do not require an additional day theme park ticket or park reservation. Dates of the Party are: August: 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 30. September: 2, 5, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 29, 30. October: 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21,23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31. Your Tink's Travel Planner can start booking party tickets for guests of select hotels at the Walt Disney World Resort as early as May 12, 2022. The advance purchase window is available to guests of ALL Disney-owned resort hotels, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin (including Swan Reserve). All other guests may purchase tickets beginning on May 18, 2022. These "Not-So-Scary" Halloween parties can sell out, so Tink's highly advises you to purchase well ahead of time! As part of this limited capacity event, partygoers will encounter event-exclusive entertainment, will run into some notorious Disney villains, go trick or treating, enjoy some "frightfully" delicious food, and more! Overlays themed for the occasion will return to several popular attractions, the Sanderson Sisters will put on an unforgettable "Hocus Pocus" stage show, the Headless Horseman will ride his ghostly horse down Main Street, U.S.A. before Mickey's Boo-To_You Halloween Parade, Disney characters in their "haunted" costumes will hold meet and greets,, and the Pumpkin King (Jack Skellington) will host "Disney's Not-So-Spooky Spectacular" which is a a nighttime production featuring projections on Cinderella's Castle, special effects, and lighting mixed with fireworks, music, and Disney characters. Wonderful "not so spooky" memories will be made in Magic Kingdom, of that we have no doubt! Contact Tink's to book your "not-so-scary" tickets! And then start deciding on your costumes! By Chief Creative Officer, Beth. I am often asked what to pack for Disney Cruise Line vacations. Quite obviously, the most important items you'll want to bring in your carryons are your travel documents (passports, etc), medical needs and prescriptions, eyeglasses, and other things you can't do without. For clothes, you can find packing lists on the Disney Cruise Line site for various itineraries. When it comes to the "little" things that you place into the small corners of your luggage, listed below are some suggestions. You might be able to find some of these items in the small stores onboard, or in a shop at a port of call, but I typically pack them in my bags ahead of time to save money, and also for piece of mind. 1. First Aid items (I like to use the travel packet sizes) including band aids, aspirin, tylenol, motrin, immodium, neosporin, benedryl, dramamine and whatever else you typically use. I also pack a small thermometer too. 2. Gum -- because you can't buy gum onboard. 3. Some dollar bills to tip for room service. I've got twin teenagers and they LOVE to order room service. 4. Small nightlight or glow sticks, or battery operated tea lights to leave in the stateroom bathroom, or on the floor near where someone might trip in the night while taking a bathroom break. 5. A ziploc bag with some scissors, tape, a sharpie, super glue (my daughters use it for manicure emergencies!), and a few cable ties -- in case you are securing a Fish Extender outside your stateroom. 6. A ziploc bag with charging cables, charger, battery packs, earphones, and all the stuff you need to live a "smart" life. Personally, I think a cruise is a time to "unplug" but I'm outvoted on that in my household. 7. While you can buy laundry supplies onboard, I bring my own. I pack a small ziploc bag with some laundry pods, fabric softener sheets, wrinkle release spray. I also bring a few clothespins too in case I hang something up in the shower, or clip the curtains together at night to shield out the light. 8. A ziploc bag containing a miniature bottle of dawn dishwashing liquid and some sponges to wipe down things, including to wash our reusable bottles and straws. 9. Packing cubes: I use them in my luggage to help organize my clothes. Yup, each family member has a different color of packing cubes. It is super convenient to pull out the packing cubes and place into drawers. 10. In my carryon bag, I always pack an extra set of clothes in case something goes "south" with our family's travel plans and luggage goes missing. In our twenty cruises with Mickey and Minnie, our family has never had a major issue with lost luggage, if anything, we tend to bring too many things (personally, I pack way too many shoe choices). But, it is always good to expect the unexpected, and plan accordingly! Most importantly, pack a sense of humor and have an awesome vacation on the High Seas! By Senior Travel Planner, Meghan If you are contemplating a vacation this year, and are looking for that Disney world class customer service with or without the theme parks - you have many options! To help you decide on the best Disney destination for your family, I wanted to share some of what’s NEW in 2022! Both Walt Disney World and Disneyland saw the addition of Genie, Genie+ and the Lightning Lane at the end of 2021 and all will continue in 2022! Lightning Lane allows you to skip the regular stand by line and is only accessible by booking a return time via Genie+ AND/OR by purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane return time. Disney’s Genie+ is a ticket upgrade that gives you the ability to choose the next available time to arrive at a select number of attractions using the Lightning Lane entrance, as well as additional fun enhancements. Disney’s Genie is a FREE addition to both mobile apps. After answering a few questions about what you want to see and do in the park of your choice, Disney Genie “creates your best Disney day.” Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser opened on March 1, 2022 at Walt Disney World Resort, the new “Star Wars Hotel” is a revolutionary new experience described as “part live immersive theater, part themed environment, part culinary extravaganza, part real-life role-playing game”. Included in the cost of this experience is a 2-night stay in a well-appointed cabin or suite, meals, valet parking and entry to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for your planetary excursion to Batuu. This would be a great add-on to a Walt Disney World stay OR a vacation all in itself! Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind - This thrilling new family-friendly coaster is (FINALLY) scheduled to open on May 27, 2022 in Walt Disney World’s Epcot and will be one of the longest, fully enclosed coasters in the world. Read more about this here! The Wish will be taking its inaugural sailing in June of 2022! The newest Disney Cruise Line ship will offer all the same innovative experiences you expect from Disney - including a Frozen-themed theatrical dining experience, a kids club area that will allow your superheros to train alongside some of their favorite Marvel characters, and the Aquamouse - the first ever Disney attraction at sea! The Wish is available to book through May of 2023! In 2022 Adventures by Disney is returning to more than two dozen destinations around the world, now on all SEVEN continents, with the addition of Antarctica and Patagonia and Galapagos Islands Expedition Cruises! Families will relax and play together aboard an intimate ship as a team of Adventure Guides lead engaging programming for adults and Junior Adventurers alike. Special presentations by naturalists will further immerse travelers in the stories of the ecosystems around them, and on select sailings, Disney animal and photography experts will host conversations and hands-on workshops about wildlife, conservation and travel photography. These curated, authentic itineraries are geared towards families with children older than 4, providing hassle-free travel and VIP experiences all with the world-class service you expect from Disney.
With so many changes there’s no better time to use a Tink's agent to help you book your next Disney destination vacation! Our planning services cost you nothing extra and with most Disney vacation packages having a refundable deposit - it’s never too early to book! By Tink's Senior Travel Planner, Meghan Why use a Travel Planner for your next Disney destination vacation, especially when you have planned plenty of very successful vacations on your own in the past? Today I will share with you the top 5 reasons to use a Travel Planner that specializes in Disney destinations: By Tink's owner, Kristin Are you ready to help Rocket, Groot and the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy save the Galaxy? By Tink's Planner, Mindy. Y’all know I have been to Walt Disney World® more times than I can count but here are a few takeaways from my first trip with two kiddos (of my own—10 months and 3 yo)! |
Our vacation planners their children and yes, even some of our Tink’s clients, have written about their experiences in the Neverland Blog. The magic of Disney comes alive in an immediate way when our children visit the Land of Mickey and Minnie.
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