If you need a little extra incentive to donate $10 for a chance to win a Disneyland-Hilton Garden Inn Prize Pack while helping Passports with Purpose build two libraries in Zambia, I’ve got it for you! In addition to a four-pack of Disneyland Park Hopper tickets and two nights at any Hilton Garden Inn in the world (like the Anaheim/Grove location!), the winner will now also receive over $64 of bonus Disney goodies. Disney wanted to sweeten this already super-sweet package, so they’ve donated a Dooney & Bourke Disney Sketch Wristlet, a Minnie Mouse plush toy, and a Disney holiday tote bag to encourage donors to give to this worthy cause.
Bonus Disney Passports with Purpose prizes
Each Dooney & Bourke Wristlet design is unique. According to the Disney Store website, “Castles and Cheshire Cats, enchanted roses and Disney Princess crowns, these are just a few of the Disney icons that make up our whimsical Disney Sketch Wristlet Bag from famed handbag makers Dooney & Bourke.” It has a snap closure, detachable leather strap, and “Dooney & Bourke” heart medallion. Retail cost is $49.
The Minnie Mouse plush toy is all dolled up for the holidays and is carrying a Christmas wreath. If you win, you could tuck this under the tree with a note to the family announcing your upcoming Disneyland-Hilton Garden Inn getaway! I couldn’t find the exact same stuffed toy on the Disney website, but a similar holiday Minnie retails for $11.95.
The holiday-themed reusable Disney tote is a jolly carrier for groceries or other shopping items. Or, use it to bring your cookies and potluck dish to holiday parties! This tote is not available on the Disney website, but similar bags cost $3.50.
The original prize pack was worth $820. With this extra swag, the value is now $884.
Are you ready to change the world by spreading literacy? DONATE AND ENTER TO WIN the Disneyland-Hilton Garden Inn Prize Pack or 88 other Passports with Purpose travel prizes now! Hurry! The last day to donate for a chance to win a prize is this Friday, December 16, 2011.
Have you donated to the Passports with Purpose fundraiser yet? Tell us why and what prize(s) you picked in the comments below!
Once Hawaii was chosen as the location for the first Disney hotel not adjacent to a theme park, Disney CEO Bob Iger told his staff, “Let’s build the greatest pool in the Hawaiian islands.”
It is no secret that I appreciate, nay, ADORE a good hotel pool. I was thrilled to find Disney’s Aulani Resort is home not only to fabulous pools but also a plethora of other enticing water features.
Aulani’s Waikolohe Valley
Pools
Waikolohe Pool is the resort’s main pool, located before the resort’s beachfront cove. This zero-entry pool is a beautiful spot to swim and splash together as a family. If you’re looking for a little quiet time, check the children into Aunty’s Beach House kids’ club (free for hotel guests ages 3-12) and relax at Wailana Pool instead. This small but lovely pool is away from the hubbub of the rest of the resort, and while children are not forbidden here, they are discouraged. Shaded cabanas are available at both.
Waikolohe Valley
Much of Aulani’s water fun can be found in Waikolohe Valley in the center of the resort. Waikolohe means “mischievous waters,” tying into the resort’s theme of the Menehune, mythical Hawaiian little people hidden throughout the grounds.
One of Aulani’s mischievious Menehune (Photo courtesy of Disney)
Waikolohe Stream
This lazy river winds its way through palm trees and sweet scented tropical plants like plumeria, pikake, and ginger. Playful fountains spray water at riders, but these can be avoided if you choose. My favorite part is riding through a tunnel in a manmade volcano structure while avoiding water pouring from above. Bubbles flow up from the river’s floor in this volcanic cave, surprising riders on their first float.
Menehune Bridge
This splash structure is filled with Menehune statues that shoot and pour water on giggling children. With rope bridges, mini waterslides, and fountains galore–children of all ages will love Menehune Bridge.
Kids having a ball at Menehune Bridge
Water Slides
Aulani has two full-sized waterslides, the Pu’u Kilo Slides. One is an entirely enclosed (DARK) tube slide and the other spins inner-tube riders about until they splash into a pool below.
Papalua Shave Ice Station
After an afternoon of water play, slake thirsty throats with a frozen water treat from Papalua Shave Ice Station. Choose from flavors like mango, vanilla, green tea, and root beer. Of course, grown-up frozen beverages (pina colada, anyone?) are also available from Off the Hook poolside bar and restaurant.
Papalua Shave Ice Station (Photo by Sharlene Earnshaw, Trekaroo)
Whirlpool Spas
There are four whirlpool spas in Aulani’s Waikolohe Valley. Most impressive are Sunset Upper and Sunset Lower, which together form a bi-level hot, bubbling infinity pool that overlooks the ocean. It’s a spectacular spot to relax while soaking up the last ray’s of the day as the sun dips below the horizon.
Rainbow Reef
This unique manmade lagoon is filled with colorful fish native to Hawaii. Rainbow Reef offers a fabulous opportunity for children or those intimidated by the ocean to experience snorkeling. You may want to pay to take a dip in this lagoon and then bring your gear down to the beach to swim with sea life in the ocean. Swim near the rocks in the bay to see the most fish. For a better ocean snorkeling experience, follow the trail past neighboring JW Marriott to a small coral reef bay, just a few minutes’ walk from Aulani. You might even spy sea turtles!
Rainbow Reef snorkeling lagoon
Makai Preserve
Make a reservation at Makai Preserve for a hands-on opportunity to interact with and learn about the family of brown stingrays that live in this conservation lagoon. A portion of the proceeds from the Makai Preserve supports conservation and research efforts in Hawaii through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund.
Fish Are Friends
For an extra fee, children can attend Fish Are Friends, which gives kids a chance to feed fish in the Rainbow Reef and pet sting rays in Makai Preserve. Children participating in this premium program through Aunty’s Beach House also receive an Oceans DVD and a backpack.
Susan from 5 Minutes for Mom demonstrating one of the outdoor showers in the Kula Wai Hydrotherapy Garden
Kula Wai Hydrotherapy Garden
Water takes center stage at Aulani’s Laniwai Spa. Laniwai, which means “freshwater heaven” in Hawaiian, is 18,000-feet of spa goodness. It is home to the Kula Wai Hydrotherapy Garden, the only outdoor hydrotherapy garden on the island of Oahu. This unique 5,000-square-foot garden is filled with Hawaiian flowers and plants plus a whirlpool spa, a cold plunge pool, and two herbal soaking tubs. A circular feature with six different types of rain showers is heavenly.
Ko’Olina Beach
Even with all of the Disney-created water play available, it would be a shame to miss the natural beauty of the ocean during your visit to Aulani. The semi-circle bay offers kid-friendly, tame waves. You won’t be doing much body surfing here but the warm Hawaiian waters provide a gorgeous spot to introduce young resort guests to the Pacific. You can rent gear for snorkeling, paddle-boarding, canoeing, and kayaking from Aulani’s waterfront Makiki Joe’s Beach Rentals.
Ko’Olina Beach at Aulani
Water Excursions
If you’re still thirsty for more water fun, you could always sign up for an off-site adventure through Adventures by Disney during your stay at Aulani Resort. Watery choices include sea-kayaking, surf lessons, and a Catamaran voyage.
What do you think? Between the pools and all of the water play, did Disney succeed in creating the greatest hotel pool in the Hawaiian islands? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Any day spent at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii is a pretty dang good one. If you are ever lucky enough to spend your birthday at this Oahu paradise (like I did a few days ago!), here’s how to make the most of your special day.
If your internal clock has not yet adjusted to island time and you wake at the crack of dawn, take advantage of your early rising by taking a sunrise stroll along the sandy shores of the resort-front Ko’Olina Beach. Or, do as I did and kick start your day with a workout at the Mikimiki Fitness Center to prepare for some birthday over-indulgences.
If you’re traveling with children (or even if you’re not), celebrate with a character breakfast at Makahiki restaurant. Mickey, Minnie and others are “on vacation” at Aulani and will be happy to pose with the birthday gal or guy. You will see other familiar Disney characters too, like Lilo’s friend, Stitch. Unique to Aulani is a visit from Aunty, a Hawaiian woman who roams the restaurant singing and playing the ukulele, naming all of the Hawaiian islands, and leading children diners in a happy parade.
Posing with Mickey at the Makahiki restaurant character breakfast
If you’re looking for something more mellow, choose room service instead and eat your breakfast on your balcony while taking in a gorgeous view of the resort’s Waikohole Stream lazy river and the ocean in the distance. Eat like the locals by ordering the Traditional Loco Moco Breakfast with its sunny side up fried egg, white rice, and hamburger patty topped with gravy, or indulge in a Chocolate Milk-dipped Haupia Bread French Toast stuffed with banana and peanut butter.
For some watery fun, head down to the zero-entry Waikohole family pool and take a few trips down the resort’s two waterslides. It’s impossible not to either scream or smile (or both) when zipping down the Pu’u Kilo Slides. One is an entirely enclosed tube slide and the other spins inner-tube riders about until they splash into a pool below. Relax for a bit in a lounge chair while the kids go wild for the Menehune Bridge children’s play area with its rope bridges, spraying water, and kiddie-sized slides. If you need a little grown-up time, head over to the Wailana Pool–a quiet spot to read a magazine (or a Travel Mamas blog post! ).
Ko’Olina Beach at Aulani Resort
You could also rent snorkel gear or stand-up paddle boards for some ocean-time fun. Children will especially enjoy the Rainbow Reef enclosed snorkel area stocked with plenty of tropical fish, but grown-ups will probably prefer seeing the real thing in the ocean. Swim near the large rocks that surround the circular bay to see the most sea-life.
For lunch, grab some casual fare like fish tacos served with taro chips or french fries at Off the Hook or One Paddle, Two Paddle poolside restaurants, while listening to the sounds of the wind whispering through Aulani’s abundant palm trees and Hawaiian leafy landscape.
Kula Wai hydrotherapy garden at Laniwai Spa
A birthday is a perfect excuse to indulge in a spa treatment at Laniwai Spa. Lucia Rodriguez, the Aulani Spa Director, recommends the Kilikili treatment, which includes an exfoliation followed by a lomilomi (traditional Hawaiian massage) under gentle streaming jets of water. I chose the Skin Yoga facial, an anti-aging facial, to help ease my worries about turning another year older. Plan to spend an hour before or after your treatment enjoying the Kula Wai, a unique 5,000-square-foot outdoor hydrotherapy garden filled with Hawaiian flowers and plants plus a whirlpool spa, a cold plunge pool, and two herbal soaking tubs. A circular feature with six different types of rain showers is heavenly. Complimentary nutritious snacks are available to spa clients like fruit, tea flights, and healthy cupcakes made with carrots, zucchini, and nuts.
If your birthday happens to fall on a Monday or Thursday, be sure to attend the Starlit Hui, a luau-esque show for the whole family with live music and hula dancing, and a Disney characters finale. This show is free to all hotel guests!
Aulani’s complimentary Starlit Hui show
Make dinner reservations at the fanciest Aulani restaurant, ‘Ama’Ama. Then drop of the kids at the on-site childcare facility, Aunty’s Beach House (for ages 3-12, open typically until 9 or 11 pm). The menu at ‘Ama’Ama focuses on contemporary island cooking. Executive Chef Patrick Callarec says the most popular menu item is the sustainable fish of the day, prepared with fresh local market vegetables. Guests celebrating a birthday at Aulani will be presented with a mini chocolate cake with a candle. But, hey, it’s your birthday so order a pineapple tarte tatin with caramel cream too.
After dinner, get a mai tai or glass of wine at the Olelo Room, a bar where everything in site is labeled with its Hawaiian name. Top off your evening with a soak in the oceanview bi-level infinity hot tub.
Birthday surprises like these sweet treats are available for purchase through guest services
If you’ve got a thoughtful family like mine, you may be surprised by a Disney birthday treat delivered to your room. Birthday amenities available for purchase include sweet snacks, full-sized birthday cakes, floral gifts (like a birthday lei), or a souvenir purchased from the gift shop and wrapped in cellophane with a gold ribbon.
Truly, a birthday at Aulani Resort is one you will never forget. At least it was for me!
How would you celebrate a birthday at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii? Tell us in the comments below!
Disney’s FamilyFun Magazine is offering a free trip for four to the new Aulani Resort in Hawaii! I have been dreaming of a vacation at Aulani since before construction even began on this luxury hotel, when I first heard that Disney would be creating a resort in Hawaii. Aulani is scheduled to open August 29, 2011. The resort is being built on 21 acres of oceanfront property in Ko Olina on Oahu, alongside a crystal-blue lagoon and a white-sand beach. Read on to find out how to win!
Photo from the Aulani Facebook page
Disney + Hawaii = Happy Travel Mama! Who wouldn’t want to combine Hawaii’s warm ocean waves, island hospitality, and breathtaking tropical landscape with Disney’s kid-friendly activities, outstanding customer service, and attention to detail? Disney and Hawaii are two of my favorite things in the whole world; in fact, I’ve added Aulani to my bucket list.
Aunty’s Beach House photo from the Aulani website
Aulani Family-Friendly Amenities Here’s why you’re going to want to add Aulani to your bucket list too! Upon completion, Aulani will include 359 traditional hotel rooms and 481 two-bedroom villas in two towers, each featuring angled rooms with views of the ocean, mountains, and the resort’s lush grounds. Family-friendly resort amenities will include two restaurants, a kids’ club (Aunty’s Beach House), and a spectacularly themed pool area complete with swimming pool, wading pool, waterslides, hot tubs, and a snorkel lagoon. There’s also an 18,000-square-foot spa for Travel Mamas like me who crave a little pampering on vacation!
Aulani Spa photo from the Aulani Facebook page
Hawaiian Traditions at Aulani Disney is being careful to respect Hawaii’s traditions in the creation of this property. “We want this resort destination to reflect the vibrant culture that surrounds it. The name ‘Aulani’ expresses a connection to tradition and deep storytelling – and its roots are in this land right here,” said Joe Rohde, senior vice president, Creative for Walt Disney Imagineering. When Aulani opens in August, it will offer one-of-a-kind family excursions to explore Oahu during the day plus Hawaiian storytelling around the fire pit in the evening. Guests can also search for statues of Menehune, the legendary island little people, hidden throughout the resort.
Hidden menehune photo from the Aulani Facebook page
Enter to Win! Enter the Aulani Hawaiian Getaway Sweepstakes on the FamilyFun site. The prize includes airfare, car rental, $500 spending money, and accommodations at Aulani. You have to register on their site to enter, but it doesn’t take much time and is so worth the chance of winning this incredible prize. Enter by June 30, 2011.
Orlando is one of the world’s most popular family vacation destinations, and for good reason – Disney amusements, water parks, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, and other kid-friendly attractions abound in this sunny locale. Here’s one more very appealing reason to visit Orlando this year…a free weeklong stay in a four-bedroom Global Resort Home! Read on to find out how to win this incredible prize.
Why cram into a hotel room, when you could spread out here?!
Just for Travel Mamas Global Resort Homes is offering a complimentary seven-night stay at one of their Orlando vacation rental homes to one lucky Travel Mama or Travel Daddy. With four bedrooms in which to rest your tired amusement-park-stomping tootsies, you might even want to invite Grandma and Grandpa along to join in the fun (and watch the kiddos for you while you duck out for a night on the town)!
Unwind in one of four bedrooms in your Global Resort Home
Rest & Savings Earlier this year, my family and I were lucky enough to stay in a Global Resort Home for a couple of nights during our Orlando vacation. After being on the go, go, go for several days - staying in a big ol’ home felt like a restful reprieve from our travel activities. Plus, stocking up on breakfast items and dining in one night saved some cash for other vacation splurges.
There’s plenty of space in a Global Resort Home
Convenience & Fun Laundry facilities in our vacation home enabled me to wash some clothes while my two children had a blast attempting to shoot pool on the billiard table, playing air hockey, and riding the rocking horse in our very own game room. And what family wouldn’t want a private pool and spa to splash around in during a Florida vacation? Plus, the community playgrounds are fabulous spots for little ones to expend energy.
We were even able to obtain bed rails from Global Resort Homes to keep my toddler from rolling onto the floor in his sleep. Other rent-able items include travel cribs, full-size cribs, strollers, and more.
This Global Resort Homes castle-themed playground is sure to please the kids
Lots of Space, Affordability & Location If vacationing in the Orlando area, Global Resort Homes provides spacious accommodations at a rate cheaper than most hotels, especially if you calculate the price based on square feet! Choose from a wide range of accommodations – from luxury two-bedroom condos to spacious seven-bedroom homes that can sleep up to 14! All are conveniently located near Walt Disney World parks and other attractions; some offer shuttle service too (at an additional fee).
The Prize
Global Resort Homes has several Orlando locations. Depending on availability and location preference, Global Resort Homes will provide a four-bedroom (or larger!) home for seven nights to one Travel Mamas entrant. Blackout dates apply: March, April, June 15-July 31 and December 15-January 7. Good for travel within one year of award date. Approximate value is $1500-$2000.
Enter to Win! You can enter this contest once per day by adding a comment below about why you would like to win a Global Resort Homes vacation. All entries must be received by Sunday, May 8 at 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time.
You can also get a one-time bonus entry by liking Global Resort Homes on Facebook and mentioning the Travel Mamas contest on the page. Be sure to add a separate comment to get credit for your bonus entry.
The winner will be selected at random using Random.org and will be notified by email. If the prize in not claimed within 48 hours of notification, the winner will forfeit the prize and another entrant will be selected. (Check your spam, people! The last winner never claimed her prize and I wound up awarding the prize to someone else!) I will name the winner on TravelMamas.com as well, so if you want to be sure not to miss out on your prize, you can always check back here to find out who won. THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. Find out who won now!
Would you like to be notified of other giveaways and happenings on TravelMamas.com? Sign up for the Travel Mamas e-newsletter now! Mailings are typically sent once per month.
A Note from The Travel Mama: Thank you to Global Resort Homes for sponsoring this giveaway and for providing my family with a two-night stay in one of their beautiful vacation homes.
Attending Disney’s “World of Color”premiere at Disney’s California Adventure Park was THE most fun I can remember having in a long, long, long time!
Red Carpet
Before the show, I was given a press pass and a spot on the red carpet (actually it was blue) along with about 20 other blogging moms. I was a bit unprepared for the red carpet hullaballoo.
Let me start by saying I have a silly little camera. Don’t get me wrong…it’s a darling Cannon model and it gets the job done, but I certainly don’t look like anyone special walking around with my grape-colored pocket camera.
Secondly, I write about travel with children. While I have conducted interviews with authors, childcare experts, and traveling parents, I don’t know a thing about interviewing celebrities. I learned what little I do know about interviewing celebrities on the red carpet from watching Joan Rivers or Kathy Griffin asking celebs who designed their clothing.
So, I was a little flustered when Actress Teri Hatcher came right up to me and said, “So, do you have a tape recorder? And what would you like to ask me?” or something like that (I don’t have a tape recorder, so I’m paraphrasing here).
Teri Hatcher taking photos with fans on Disney’s “World of Color” blue carpet
I said, “I just love your dress – that green is fabulous on you,” being sure to smile a lot and seem very confident. Thank goodness Janice from 5MinutesforMom.com was standing next to me and quickly whipped a recording device from her bag and started asking questions. (Janice has a real, important-looking camera too!)
Hatcher is an adorable bitty thing. She seemed quite interested in talking to the mom bloggers about her project, Get Hatched, a section of DisneyFamily.com that offers “A chick’s guide to life.” Hatcher said something about wanting to connect with moms and blah, blah, blah. I was too busy nodding and smiling to really understand the words that were coming out of her mouth.
Disney CEO Bob Iger chatting with the mom bloggers
For some reason, all of the VIPs who stopped by the mom blogger area seemed to come directly to me. So, I also met Geena Davis, Jodi Benson (the voice of Disney’s Ariel), and Disney CEO Bob Iger, as well as a bunch of other Disney muckety-mucks. Marcy from The Glamorous Lifeasked Iger if he reads blogs, to which he responded something like, “I do read blogs. I am on the computer a lot. I like to stay on to on top of what the mom community thinks about Disney. You are the pulse of that community, so if you all are not happy with what Disney is doing, then moms are not happy with us. Our goal is to keep moms happy.”
Jason Segel from “How I Met Your Mother”
Other celebrities in attendance included Jason Segel who plays Marshall Eriksen on my favorite TV sitcom, “How I Met Your Mother,” Jamie Lee Curtis, actor/comedian Wayne Brady, and my grade school crush, John Stamos (yes, he IS hot in-person), among others.
The Show
A lot of people are equating Disney’s “World of Color” with the Bellagio fountain show in Las Vegas. Let me put it this way, if Bellagio is a four on a scale of one to 10, “World of Color” is a 10. Yes, it’s that good. Clips from Disney movies (from “Fantasia” to “Toy Story” and “Pirates of the Caribbean”) are projected onto a screen formed of water. The show is beautiful, colorful, fun, touching, and at times, breathtaking…what more could you ask for?
A scene from “World of Color” featuring Ariel
The day after the premiere, I had a chance to sit down with some of the Disney minds behind the “World of Color”. Chuck Davis, the technical producer of the show, said, “Our goal was to give people something they’ve never, ever seen before.”
The show starts with Tinkerbelle and Walt Disney’s quote, “Every child is blessed with a vivid imagination” flying across a curtain of misty water. According to Steve Davison, vice president of parades and spectaculars for Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment, that’s exactly what the show is all about.
The show is intended for an audience of all ages. Sayre Wiseman, a show producer for “World of Color” proudly told a story about how after her hard-to-impress teenage son saw the show for the first time, “He said, ‘Wow, Mom! That was incredible!’ And I don’t think it was because I’m involved with the show. I think he was really just blown away.”
Davison promises the show will always evolve. He said, “Scenes may come and go. I don’t want “World of Color” to be stuck in time.” Disney plans to include special scenes for holiday celebrations too. Davison said, “New Year’s Eve will be like no other now.”
I am pictured above (second from left) with some of my new mom blogger friends
The After-Party I would have enjoyed the “World of Color” all that much more if I hadn’t been shivering, in need of using the restroom, and starving throughout. So, the minute the show ended, I was on a mission to resolve those issues. Appetizers gobbled, potty break taken, hot pink Mickey sweatshirt purchased, I was able to relax and enjoy a couple of hours of kid-free, all-out fun!
My glowing blue martini at the “World of Color” premiere party
The rest of Disney’s California Adventure park was closed besides Paradise Pier, which is where I partied down with my fellow bloggers, media members, and a few lingering celebrities. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning as I rode California’s Screamin’ roller coaster (no line, of course) and then one of my favorite Disney rides, Toy Story Mania (FOUR times!). There was dancing, live bands, carnival games, petite savory snacks, delectable desserts, and glowing blue martinis. Disneyland truly knows how to throw a party! I can’t remember an evening when I’ve had more fun!
Join the Fun! The 25-minute “World of Color” will be presented twice nightly throughout the summer, at 9:00 pm and 10:15 pm. (It will continue beyond the summer as well, just not as frequently.) There are a few ways to secure a spot for watching this magnificent show.
FASTPASS
You can obtain a FASTPASS to secure a spot to watch the show. The FASTPASS for “World of Color” will be available each morning at the Grizzly River Run FASTPASS terminals. You can insert your park ticket into the terminal to obtain a FASTPASS ticket for the show, and you will be assigned a specific show time. As with other FASTPASS attractions, a limited number of passes are available for “World of Color”. When all of the day’s FASTPASS allotment has been distributed, Grizzly River Run terminals will convert back to distributing the Grizzly River Run FASTPASS tickets.
Boxed Picnic Meal with Reserved Viewing Beginning June 11, 2010 (date subject to change), you can go online and order a special boxed picnic meal that includes “World of Color” Reserved Viewing. All picnic meals with “World of Color” Reserved Viewing are priced at $14.99. Picnic meals may be ordered online – or by walk-up purchase, subject to availability, at the Sonoma Terrace, Golden Vine Winery. They are not available for order via the 714/781-DINE line. Reserved viewing tickets will indicate return time, location and show time. You can choose from four selections for grown-ups and three options just for kids.
Prix Fixe Meals with Preferred Viewing Prix fixe meals are available at both Ariel’s Grotto and the newly redesigned Wine Country Trattoria restaurants, and they come with “World of Color” Preferred Viewing. You can order from a varied menu of seafood, meat and vegetarian options at Ariel’s Grotto (current price: $36.99 for adults; $20.99 for children ages three to nine) or a selection of Italian cuisine at Wine Country Trattoria (current price; $39.99 for adults; $18.99 for children ages three to nine). Prix fixe meals must be reserved, at 714/781-DINE. Keep in mind that Ariel and the other princesses will not be present for the “World of Color” meals but will still be joining diners for breakfast and lunch.
Should you go see Disney’s “World of Color” in-person with your own eyes? Ummm….hello…YES! Until then, check out this video to get a taste of the show.
Do you have any thoughts or questions about Disney’s “World of Color”? Leave a comment below! (Oh! And…next time I am given an opportunity to meet with celebrities, what questions would you like me to ask? I need some help!)
A note from the Travel Mama: I received free entrance to Disneyland as well as accommodations and some meals as part of the media preview of Disney’s “World of Color”.
We all have that vacation destination we daydream about. It might be a tropical island, where the water is crystal clear and the beaches are empty. Or, it might be luxurious resort with relaxing spa treatments and over-the-top customer service. Whatever type of vacation you are longing for, it CAN happen on a budget!
Stay with Friends & Family Perhaps the easiest way to save money on that big trip is to stay with friends or family. Free accommodations mean you only need to budget for transportation, food, and entertainment. This is ideal if you have loved ones who live near resort towns or other locations you’d like to visit.
Thanks to amazing friends and family, we’ve been able to enjoy trips to Singapore and Indonesia, plus countless getaways to multiple locales throughout the U.S. Be sure to thank your hosts for this financial savings by taking them out to dinner or bringing a gift.
Sign Up to Receive Rewards Most airlines, hotel chains, and rental car companies have some sort of rewards program, or at a minimum have a way to let you know the deals they are promoting. Be sure to sign up! In addition to freebies and complimentary upgrades, you might also receive notices of special deals or discount codes for members only.
For an upcoming trip, my husband had already booked a great deal on a rental car. Soon after, he received an email with a discount code offer from the same rental car company (making it an even sweeter deal). Because he was signed up to receive the company’s emails, we saved an additional $50!
Travel During Off Season You can reduce your expenses just by traveling during the off season. You can usually tell high season/low season times just by looking at hotel prices, especially with certain resort websites like Disney or Rosewood, which clearly mark time frames. U.S. travelers know that spring break, summertime and Christmas holidays are peak seasons and prices are much higher. If you are planning to travel abroad, be sure to do your homework. Low seasons really do vary (as does weather) by geographic area.
My husband and I in front of Cinderella’s Coach during a dream trip to Walt Disney World in Florida
I didn’t think places like Caneel Bay on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands existed anymore – pristine beaches, private dining in sugar-mill ruins, and no telephones or televisions in the resort rooms. Traveling during off-season enabled us to enjoy the luxury at Caneel Bay, a resort nestled within a National Park that was founded by Rockefeller and which features seven secluded beaches, rather than staying at a standard chain hotel.
This principal applies to popular family destinations as well. By traveling to Walt Disney World in October instead of during the peak summer or holiday seasons, we were able to stay at the deluxe Grand Floridian at a reduced price. A fall vacation also means the moderate and value resort prices are reduced too, which will further stretch your dollar yet let you enjoy the Disney magic.
Stick to a Standard Room Many hotels offer different types of rooms, and the differences between them can save you a pretty penny. If you’re not spending much time in the room (like at Disney), it may not be worth the extra cost to have that premium or “castle” view. Especially if you are splurging on a great hotel, consider the low-end, standard-view room for extra savings. You’ll still get to enjoy the hotel amenities at a much reduced rate.
Be sure you know how the hotel distinguishes among the rooms. For our stay at Caneel Bay, we chose the least expensive room type, called a “Tennis Garden” room at the time. While we did not have an ocean view, the beach was just a short walk away. With our savings we were able to enjoy some extra fun like sailing and spa treatments!
Our room at the dreamy Caneel Bay Resort in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Be Spontaneous Some of the best deals I have ever seen require last-minute travel. Hotels want their rooms filled and cruises want full capacity…..and you can bet they are willing to reduce prices to get you there. I’ve seen week-long cruises to Alaska at a cost lower than what you’d pay for food on a normal vacation.
So…keep dreaming! With a little flexibility you can make your travel dreams a reality.
Debra Muccio lives in the Dallas/Ft. Worth with her husband and two-year-old daughter. She traded in high-powered suits and high-heeled shoes for a new role as mommy – crayon enthusiast, storyteller, and kisser of boo-boos. You’ll find her blogging at AFrugal Friend, where she finds the best deals and freebies on everything from groceries to entertainment. She’s currently featured as a regular guest on the CBS-11 news in Texas.
How do you save money on travel? Share your tips with other Travel Mamas and Travel Daddies in the comments below!
Here’s what I have been telling anyone who will listen ever since I set sail with Mickey Mouse and friends in 2007: A Disney Cruise is THE ideal vacation for families. Whether you have a baby, kid, or teen…everyone’s needs (and wants!) are met on a Disney Cruise. Plus, the children are so entertained and catered to, parents are free to do something so rare on a vacation with kids…relax!
Our ship, Disney’s Magic
During my cruise through the Mediterranean, I was accompanied by my husband and then two-and-a-half-year-old daughter. My son was stowing away in my belly too, as we discovered while onboard the ship! Some of my favorite memories as a family of three took place during this vacation.
Here are just some of the reasons I am such a big fan of cruising Disney-style…
Incomparable Service
The service we received aboard Disney’s Magic was beyond belief. Our waitress cheerfully brought us extra dessert when we couldn’t decide on just one and even stopped by to cut up our daughter’s pizza while inquiring about our day. Our room steward made sure our cabins were kept in tip top shape, always greeted us by name, and transformed regular bath towels into bunny rabbits and stingrays each night. Everyone went above and beyond to make sure we had an unforgettable experience!
It was a treat to return from dinner every night to find a different towel creature, like this elephant, waiting for us
Delightful Dining
During our 10-night cruise, most days we chose to eat room service breakfast on our stateroom’s balcony, taking in the view of various picturesque port towns as we nibbled on fresh fruit, yogurt and baked goodies. On our last day at sea, we attended a character breakfast with Lilo and Stitch doing Elvis impersonations and dancing the hula in one of the ship’s restaurants.
Our lunches, for the most part, were eaten onshore. During at sea days, we grabbed quick, easy meals from the ship’s eateries, like Pluto’s Dog House (which serves hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, and the like), Pinocchio’s Pizzeria, or Goofy’s Galley (with healthy options like wraps and fresh salads).
Each evening, we were seated with the same family (a wonderful foursome from Eden Prairie, Minnesota) and we kept the same wait staff for every dinner. However, we rotated through three restaurants: Lumiere’s (with a French ambiance), Animator’s Palate (with walls that start out black and white but which come alive with Disney characters in colorful lights), and Parrot Cay (with a Caribbean theme). The menus on our cruise were themed to the Mediterranean, serving Spanish, Italian, and French meals plus some standard American options and kid favorites. Even the meals onboard a Disney ship are magical - just as our little one would start to get too squirmy, Beauty and the Beast would come waltzing through the dining room!
Dressed up for formal night at Animator’s Palate
Carrying the tradition over from Disney’s Caribbean cruises, one night’s theme was Pirate Night, during which diners sported free pirate-y bandanas or dressed up in more elaborate garb brought from home or purchased on the ship.
The crème de la crème was Palo, an adult-only fine-dining restaurant that requires reservations. We partook of the scrumptious brunch and a to-die-for dinner but didn’t have time enough to book a high tea this time around.
Awesome Kids’ Clubs
A Disney Cruise is paradise, especially for children! Instead of offering a casino like most cruise lines, Disney puts that space to use for its various clubs for kids of all ages. Parents can indulge in a spa treatment, relax by the adult-only pool, or dine at Palo sans kids without guilt, knowing their offspring are having the time of their lives at the onboard kids’ clubs.
Our tablemates even had a hard time convincing their six-year-old and nine-year-old sons to join us for dinner each night because they wanted to stay at Oceaneerkids’ clubs (for ages three to 12 years)and play, play, play! There is also a teen club on each Disney ship, where kids aged 13 to 17 enjoy dance parties, board and video games, and Karaoke.
Most cruise lines’ childcare programs do not accept children until age two or three, but babies as young as three months are welcomed in the Disney Cruise Line nurseries. We worried when we dropped off our daughter at Flounder’s Reef Nurserythe first time and she began to wail. But then we stopped by five minutes later to take a peek at her though a giant one-way window and saw her happily playing with the counselors and a rainbow of toys. This put our minds at ease, allowing us to enjoy our date night free from worry.
On our last night my husband, Phil, told Karissa she was all done with Flounders, which set her off crying and carrying on once more…this time because she wanted one last chance to return to the nursery!
Entertainment
The live shows aboard a Disney Cruise are Broadway caliber and feature favorite characters from movies like Toy Story and Cinderella. Even our wiggly toddler stayed entertained through most of the performances.
Karissa was in awe of Minnie Mouse in her gorgeous gown following the Golden Mickeys live stage show
There’s even a movie theatre aboard the ships in which new-release Disney movies are shown on screen. For example, Pirates of the Caribbean 2 was in theatres on land and at sea during our sailing.
There are bars and nightclubsonboard the ship too but we were never up late enough to explore those much. Instead, Phil and I enjoyed a glass of wine or two on our stateroom’s balcony after our daughter was tucked in for the night. I have heard the party scene aboard a Disney ship is much more subdued than other lines though. So, if you’re looking to party-hardy – a Disney Cruise is probably not up your galley!
Family-Friendly Staterooms
Not only are Disney’s staterooms larger than most cruise lines, but also they offer some special amenities that cater to families’ needs. First of all, they offer not one but TWO sinks to make getting ready for the day easier.
Disney is the only line I know of that offers a privacy curtain that can be pulled shut to separate the adult sleeping area (with a queen bed) from the kid sleeping area (which is usually outfitted with a single bed or bunk beds, depending upon which room type you book). This is absolutely fabulous for parents traveling with young children whose bedtimes are much earlier than their own. Rather than turning in before sunset, Phil and I were able to quietly watch television, read in bed, and snuggle up a bit!
Karissa tucked into her single bed in our stateroom with a stuffed Mickey Mouse
Disney’s new ship, Dream, will offer virtual portholes for interior cabins that will display a live view of the scenery, plus animated Nemo characters swimming past every now and then!
Water Fun Most cruise lines do not allow non-potty-trained children in their pools for sanitary reasons. However, Disney offers a fountain pool with a special filtration system that allows babies and toddlers to have a splashing good time aboard their ships! There are also family pools, an adult-only pool, and even a small staff-only pool!
The new Dream ship will offer a sweet looking waterslide called the AquaDuck that will send riders out over the ocean in a see-through tube slide! Plus, the Dream’s Nemo’s Reef splash area for kids looks like buckets of fun!
Karissa and I splashing in the toddler pool
(See how dedicated I am to you, my fellow Travel Mamas? I’m even willing to post a photo of myself in a swimsuit!)
Shore Activities
During our cruise through the Mediterranean we explored the ruins of Pompeii, perused museums and shops, ate long lunches of pasta and vino, and lazed on sandy beaches. Some days we chose Disney-organized shore excursions while on other days we opted to explore on our own. Even on days filled with lots of grown-up activities, our daughter was content, especially when she was greeted with a big hug from characters like Donald Duck or Minnie Mouse the minute we returned to the ship.
Kids got a chance to roll out foccaccia dough as part of our Sicilian “Day on the Farm” Disney shore excursion
Here’s a little Mickey-shaped dough creation one of the guides made
With Disney, kids aren’t just tolerated on shore excursions, they are catered to! This year, for example, the Highlights of Rome for Families excursion includes a 45-minute puppet show for kids supervised by Disney youth counselors at Villa Borghese while parents have a bit of time to themselves to shop or sightsee. Of course, there are excursions that cater to an older crowd too, like a Cooking Lesson in Tuscany for those aged 21+ in La Spezia, Italy or the Screamin’ Eagle jet boat ride just for teens on the Caribbean cruise to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Disney Does Europe
Disney Cruise Line is sailing through Europe for the second time this summer. The itinerary for the Mediterranean cruise has changed somewhat since we took that cruise, making me drool even more over this year’s schedule! For the first time there will also be cruises through Northern Europe and Scandinavia. (Drool again!)
Join me throughout this summer as I reminisce about my Disney Mediterranean Cruise onshore experiences and dream about this year’s European Disney Cruise itineraries!
Are you dreaming of a Disney Cruise too? Why or why not? Share your thoughts with other Travel Mamas and Travel Daddies in the comments below!
A note from the Travel Mama: My family paid for this cruise and I did not receive any compensation or goodies from Disney related to this story. I will always let you know if I receive any money or products related to a blog post.
You might think of Disneyland as purely a playground for children, but there is plenty of grown-up Disney fun to be had too!
The Fifth Annual Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival will take place April 16 through May 31 this year. This sounds like the perfect event for foodies, wine afficianados, and those looking for a creative way to celebrate a birthday or anniversary.
Celebrity Chef Guy Fieri doing a cooking demonstration at the festival
Participants can watch culinary demonstrations by celebrity chefs like Guy Fieri, Cat Cora and David Irvine. There will be wine, beer, and spirit seminars and tastings as well as opportunities to sample tasty creations by Disney chefs.
Napa Rose’s Executive Chef Andrew Sutton teaching a cooking class
You could even take cooking class taught by the Napa Rose’s Chef Andrew Sutton. Last year my husband and I savored a tasting menu prepared by Chef Sutton himself for our wedding anniversary dinner. Believe me, that man knows how to cook! Read about our delectable meal in my story, Romance at Disneyland.
Watch this little video to get a feel for the event.
Here are the top five:
1) Times Square, New York City, NY (35 million visitors)
2) The Las Vegas Strip, Las Vegas, NV (31 million visitors)
3) National Mall and Memorial Parks, Washington, DC (24 million visitors)
4) Faneuil Hall and Marketplace, Boston, MA (20 million visitors)
5) Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista, FL (17.1 million visitors)
Are you planning a trip to any of these locations? Please leave a comment below!
Here are Travel Mamas blog posts on a few of these popular locations:
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