As many Americans come to the end of week one of self-isolation, we wanted to offer our readers one-stop for fun and educational ways to spend time at home. Because there’s only so much Netflix and Disney+ to watch, only so many puzzles to build and only a limited number of board games in the house, we’ve compiled a menu of Disney and travel related sites to add some variety to your day at home.
When we post photos of the amazing food we’re enjoying while on vacation at Walt Disney World, many of our friends and family are surprised at the gourmet offerings featured at the parks and resorts. It definitely isn’t all chicken nuggets and corn dogs, but those food types are readily available too because sometimes you need a little fried goodness. There are also farm-to-table, fresh options as well as restaurants helmed by some of the world’s top chefs.
Disney makes it easy for you to sample typical theme park food and more discerning palate pleasers with the Disney Dining Plan. Today on the blog, we’re breaking down the Disney Dining Plan to help you decide if the vacation add-on is for you!
When vacationing at Walt Disney World Resort, staying at an on-property hotel is a no-brainer. It keeps you enveloped in the “Disney bubble” after leaving the parks, and offers incredible benefits exclusive to Disney hotel guests. Considering there are nearly 30 hotels from which to choose, it can be difficult to narrow down your selection. We’re here to help, of course. Today on the blog, we’re sharing an updated list of our five favorite hotels at Walt Disney World Resort.
You’ve made all the critical decisions - when to visit; where to stay; and which attractions to tackle. Now, you’re finally at Walt Disney World! But how do you get from your hotel to one of the parks, Disney Springs or evening another hotel for a dining reservation. We’re breaking down Walt Disney World’s transportation system for you today on the blog!
Unique to Bahamian and Caribbean cruises, Castaway Cay is one of the most popular ports of call on Disney Cruise tropical itineraries. In fact, it is so popular that Disney offers “double-dip” cruises that make not one but two stops to its private island in The Bahamas. Although only 3 miles long and 2 miles wide, Castaway Cay offers vast fun and a broad range of activities - whether you want to dip your toes in the clear water and relax on lounge chairs under the sun, or if you want to get your adrenaline going with more intense pursuits.
On today’s blog post, we’re wrapping up our coverage of the Bryan Family’s March 2019 Western Caribbean adventure with a stop at Castaway Cay. Quite appropriate because Castaway Cay was the last destination they visited before heading back (sadly) to Port Canaveral.
At first glance, Disney Destinations are not synonymous with a place where teenagers would select to vacation. Disney connotes cheerfulness, whimsy and merriment. If you have a teenager living under your roof, I think you’d agree that these adjectives wouldn’t be used to describe the typical teen disposition. But if there is a place where your too-cool-for-school teen can be liberated from his or her moodiness and angst, it’s Walt Disney World, Disneyland or Disney Cruise Line. Trust us!
On our recent family vacation on a seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary on the Disney Fantasy, our newly-turned 13-year-old replaced his ear buds and iPod with genuine laughter, bright smiles, new friendships and adventure. In his own words, he’s sharing what he enjoyed most about cruising with Disney on this edition of Friday Fives.
Why does it always seem that we’re talking about food on this blog? Whether we are park-going at Walt Disney World or exploring amazing cities in the U.S. or abroad, food is an integral part of our vacation experience. We previously covered our favorite table-service restaurants at Walt Disney World, and today we’re going to tackle our favorite quick-service restaurants. What are some of the criteria to make it on our list? Portion size related to price, ambience, a diverse menu from which to order and tasty food, of course!
One of the questions we get asked the most by clients, family members and friends is … how many days should I spend in the parks during my upcoming Walt Disney World trip? Well, that depends on resolving a few matters not the least bit limited to: the number of days you can devote to the overall vacation in accordance with your work and school schedules; determining your family’s interests and preferences; and pinpointing your family’s vacation style.
After those fundamental questions are answered, the subsequent question is… which type of park ticket should I buy? Of course, the answer is as unique as each family visiting Walt Disney World. But, we can tell you that there are three types of tickets - base, Park Hopper and Park Hopper Plus Option. Today on the blog, we’re covering the basics regarding these ticket types to identify the one that meets your individual family’s needs.
Last week, we shared a list of our five favorite cocktails at Walt Disney World - because a Disney vacation can mean more than meeting characters, riding roller coasters and finding your stroller among the 500+ that look just like yours! What’s a vacation without a little liquid happiness?
Along those same lines, we at Beyond Imagination Vacations cannot imagine a vacation without enjoying some incredible meals. And because Walt Disney World is the ultimate in family travel, it is easier to partake in fine dining here than at other destinations. Children are welcome at all restaurants, excluding Victoria & Albert’s which only allows children 10 and older. (Our kids have sophisticated palates, but we’re not sure we would want to spend close to $200 on a meal for a seven-year-old!)
On today’s blog, we’re sharing our five favorite table-service restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort. And yes, you can bring your kids (if you want)!
Contrary to popular belief, Walt Disney World isn’t just a place to take the kids. Sure, the attractions, live entertainment, and character meet and greets speak to the young - and the young at heart. But Walt Disney World has SO MUCH MORE to offer adults. Fine dining. Exceptional shopping. Luxury hotels. And ridiculously good libations. Surprised? You shouldn’t be! After all, Walt Disney World presents an annual festival dedicated to food + wine tasting. Today on the blog, we’re sharing a list of our five favorite cocktails featured at Walt Disney World. Yes, the majority can be found at Epcot’s (Drink Around the) World Showcase….
For the Beyond Imagination Vacations team, an integral element of the vacation experience is staying in a great hotel and being whisked away from the troubles of everyday life. No beds to make. No meals to cook or dishes to clean. No trash to take out.
When vacationing at Walt Disney World Resort, staying at an on-property hotel is a no-brainer. It keeps you enveloped in the “Disney bubble” after leaving the parks, and offers incredible benefits exclusive to Disney hotel guests. Considering there are nearly 30 hotels from which to choose, it can be difficult to narrow down your selection. We’re here to help, of course. Today on the blog, we’re sharing our five favorite hotels at Walt Disney World Resort.
You’ve read about and seen enough pictures of Jennifer and Kristen, Beyond Imagination Vacations owners. It’s time to turn the spotlight on the heart and soul of our travel agency, our amazing agents. They are highly trained, focused on customer service and committed to crafting individualized vacations for their clients. On today’s blog, you’ll get to know the Beyond Imagination Vacations travel planners - perhaps one of them will be a great fit to plan your next vacation!
The newest character dining experience debuted at Walt Disney World Resort earlier this week. A Beyond Imagination Vacations’ client was among the first guests to be swept away by the food, atmosphere and character encounters at Storybook Dining at Artist Point. Today’s blog is all about the “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” character meal.
We are fresh off of our wonderful Christmas trip to Walt Disney World and wanted to share one of the highlights of our stay—a pre-park opening experience at Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The event is called Early Morning Magic and allows a limited number of guests into Toy Story Land for 90 minutes of rides and character meets before the park opens to guests with regular admission. Did I mention breakfast is also included? Today on the blog, we’re giving you our personal experience and review of Early Morning Magic at Disney’s Holywood Studios!
When we post photos of the amazing food we’re enjoying while on vacation at Walt Disney World, many of our friends and family are surprised at the gourmet offerings featured at the parks and resorts. It definitely isn’t all chicken nuggets and corn dogs, but those food types are readily available too because sometimes you need a little fried goodness. There are also farm-to-table, fresh options as well as restaurants helmed by some of the world’s top chefs.
Disney makes it easy for you to sample typical theme park food and more discerning palate pleasers with the Disney Dining Plan. Today on the blog, we’re breaking down the Disney Dining Plan to help you decide if the vacation add-on is for you!
When faced with a decision to visit either Walt Disney World or Disneyland, you can’t make a bad choice between the “Happiest Place on Earth” and the “Most Magical Place on Earth.” Both parks put the spotlight on classic rides like Peter Pan’s Flight and it’s a small world, embrace the seasons with special events and programming, and offer families a special place to reconnect. Other than their locations on opposite coasts, there are some major differences between Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Today on the blog, we’re breaking down what makes each park unique.
When staying at an on-property Walt Disney World Resort hotel, there are many exclusive benefits - including access to Disney’s Magical Express which is a convenient and money-saving perk, getting you to and from Orlando International Airport in Disney style!
Let’s explore how to get the most out of using Disney’s Magical Express.
You may have heard that Walt Disney World increased pricing on many snacks and drinks earlier this week. Significant hikes can be seen at outdoor kiosks and counter service restaurants on items like fountain drinks, bottled water and popcorn. Does this mean that prices for the Disney Dining Plan will go up in 2019? That has yet to be seen, and we’ll certainly keep you posted when we learn more.
While we wait to see how this plays out, we started thinking about our favorite savory and sweet treats found throughout Walt Disney World. Here are our five favorite snacks in no particular order- because how can one Mickey-shaped snack rank higher than another?
It’s officially fall - although the temperature may not feel like pumpkin season where you live. At the Magic Kingdom, it’s been fall since August 17, the first of this year’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties. We attended the September 11 party, and not surprisingly, we had a spook-tacular time. What’s not to love about an after-dark special event at our favorite Walt Disney World park?
