Disneyland Paris Review

Editor’s Note:  Today’s blog is from our friend Anita Newling who recently visited Disneyland Paris.  Thanks Anita!

It was by chance that we found ourselves at Disneyland Paris. A strange mixture of fate and Mummy Math (the thing I do to justify spending on Disney related things!)

We had to fly to the UK for a family wedding and flying via Paris was much cheaper. So we decided to blow what we’d saved on a few days in the French Capital! And being the Disneyphiles that we are, even surrounded by the art and culture of Paris, we couldn’t stay that close to a Disney park and not have a day trip!

And then a day trip turned into an overnight stay!

2015 Disney Cruise Line Itineraries

There is so much buzz about when the 2015 cruise itineraries for summer and fall 2015 will come out from Disney Cruise Line.  One agent was certain that they would come out “within 48 hours” a couple days ago, but nothing.  Personally, I think we could see the new itineraries as soon as mid-February, but possibly not until March or April.  So we wait, and speculate, and wait some more.

I thought now would be a good time to speculate!  I also want to hear what you think might be happening.  Here are my ideas with little basis for these thoughts.

• Disney Dream – 3 and 4 night Bahamas sailings from Port Canaveral on Fridays and Mondays
• Disney Fantasy – alternating 7 night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings from Port Canaveral with the addition of Tortola for an Eastern Caribbean port for at least some of the Eastern sailings
• Disney Wonder – I predict that she will head over to Cadiz, Spain to undergo a major drydock like the Disney Magic did last year.  I think this will happen in May rather than after the season and the Wonder will then go up to the United Kingdom and then do Baltic sailings for the summer months.  Following the Baltic sailings, there may be some Mediterranean sailings and then a Transatlantic where she will go back to Port Canaveral, Miami or New Orleans.  Yes, New Orleans!!  If she goes to New Orleans, I’m hoping we will see some new Western Caribbean stops.
• Disney Magic – I predict that she will go up to New York City again and have sailings to Canada to include a stop at Quebec City, maybe alternating sailings with Bermuda or the Bahamas and possibly a couple 2 night sailings again.  In the fall, I think she will return to Florida for Bahamas and Caribbean sailings.
• Unfortunately, I’m predicting no Alaska sailings for the summer of 2015.

I know that the Disney Wonder showed up on the port calendar for a few days in Hawaii, but was removed.  I know a lot of you would like to see Hawaii again, and I hope I’m wrong for your sakes, but I can’t figure that one out into my prediction.

Of course, I could be totally wrong with these predictions, but hey, it’s fun to speculate!  What do you think DCL will do in 2015?  Where would you like to see them go?

Lunch at the new Spice Road Table

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to try Walt Disney World’s newest restaurant, the Spice Road Table. It is located in the Morocco pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase. The restaurant is described as offering ‘small plates from around the Mediterranean’.

The variety and quantity of items, both food and beverage surprised me.

Once you pass the maître de stand, you enter the center of the establishment, a seat-less bar. This bar serves the large assortment of wines, aperitifs, cordials and liquor based drinks that are offered on the menu.

It’s Time To Plan A Vacation!

For the last week, many of us have been dealing with weather issues – bitter cold and incredible amounts of snow or rain.  Our temperature this morning was 42 degrees warmer than yesterday morning!  And it’s still cold!  Everyone is talking about it on Facebook, in the stores, on the news.  But what can you do?

It’s Time To Plan A Vacation!

Now is the perfect time to plan your next vacation.  Where do you want to go?  Disney World, a cruise, an all-inclusive, or how about a group tour like Adventures by Disney?  Right about now, sitting on my balcony, watching the ocean go by with a tropical drink in my hand sounds amazing!  My toes just smiled thinking about digging in a white sandy beach in the tropics.  Even my Alaska cruise for this summer sounds fantastic because it can’t be anywhere near the temperatures we have seen!

Ok, so I’ve convinced you it’s time to look at planning another vacation.  What’s next?  Contact your Travel On A Dream agent or just visit our website and put in a request for a quote.  You can also call us at 888-681-1240 and select option 1.  We will put you in touch with any of our agents qualified to help you plan your perfect escape.  Whether it is now or in the next couple of years, it will give you something to look forward to.

How About An Incentive?

We have three for you!  For each reservation you book totaling $2,000 or more (a reservation is one confirmation number), you will receive a bonus $25 onboard credit (for cruises) or a $25 gift card, given at the time of travel.  Airfare is excluded in the total cost of the reservation.  The onboard credit is in addition to our Loyalty Program!

If you refer others to us, we always offer a referral bonus.  For all referrals with deposits applied between January 10 –  January 31, 2014, the referral bonus will be double!  See our website for details on the referral program.

Finally, if you are referring or are referred through sharing on social media, you will be entered to win a $50 gift card!  We will have two to give out — one for a referrer and one for a new client.  Here’s how you enter — share our Facebook page, Twitter user @TravelOnADream, or this blog with all your friends and tell them to tell us you sent them.  All your friends need to do is contact us to help plan their next vacation.  Once they have paid their deposit, they will be entered and so will you!

All three of these incentives are available for new bookings between January 10 and January 31, 2014.  We will draw for the winners on February 1, 2014.

What Do Your Services Cost Me?

In most cases, NOTHING!  For Disney Destinations and all cruises, we do not charge a service fee.  We are paid by the travel supplier after you complete your travel.  And they won’t charge you more to work with us.  It’s the best of both worlds!  We do charge a small service fee for airline, car rentals, other hotels and itinerary planning when booked separately, but not as a part of a package.  If you have booked a cruise or a Disney Destination with us, we will not charge you for the extras you need to make your vacation complete.  Our agents will take care of all of your itinerary planning, including dining arrangements and touring recommendations.

So What Are You Waiting For?

Contact us today!

New Spring Offer from Walt Disney World

Starting today, you can save up to 30% on rooms at select Walt Disney World® Resort hotels.  Additionally, if you upgrade to a ticket package, you can get an extra day of magic for free (minimum 4-day ticket is required for the extra day free).

This offer is valid for most nights between March 14 – April 12 and April 20 – June 15, 2014.  Some stays also available between February 24 and March 5, 2014.

• Save up to 30% at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (standard/pool view rooms), Disney’s Polynesian Resort, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (standard/woods view)
• Save up to 25% at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Cabins
• Save up to 20% at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort Villas, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (savanna/club rooms) & Villas, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (courtyard/club rooms) & Villas, Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, Disney’s All-Star Music and Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Offer must be booked by March 31, 2014.  Contact your Travel On A Dream agent today or email info@travelonadream.com for your quote.

Less Than A Week?!?!?!

Less than a week?!?

Gulp. Just one week into the New Year, I’ll be flying down to Orlando; inevitably it’s because of a runDisney event. It’s for “Marathon Weekend” which has now morphed into a nearly week long series of events. These events include: a 5K fun run, a 10K, Half Marathon, Full Marathon, post-race character breakfasts, race retreats, Pasta in the Park parties, a celebration at Downtown Disney and of course as with all runDisney events, a Health and Wellness Expo. In addition to the four separate races, runDisney is offering two challenges: the Goofy Challenge (Half Marathon and Full Marathon—39.3 miles) and the Dopey Challenge (all four races—48.6 miles). Marathon Weekend is the hallmark of runDisney events. While they strive to make every event great, Marathon Weekend is where it all got started and draws the most attention.

One testament to how popular Marathon Weekend is, arguably one of the running community’s largest presences, Runner’s World partners with runDisney to offer special packages that provide extras beyond what runDisney regularly offers.

This year, I have been fortunate enough to partner with Travel On A Dream to participate in the Runner’s World Dopey Challenge. Entry into the Runner’s World Challenge has included:

•Registration into the Dopey Challenge

-Bibs for the 5K Fun Run, Minnie 10K, Donald Half Marathon & Mickey Full Marathon

-Race shirts for all four races as well as the Goofy Challenge and Dopey Challenge

-A rubberized medallion for the 5K and five medals for the three races and two challenges (pending completion of each race)

•“Preferred” corral placement for each of the four races–a two corral bump up, no longer an automatic placement in corral B

•Race retreat for the Half and Full Marathon

-Pre-race: hot and cold beverages, fruit and bagels, dedicated stretching area private port-a-johns, and separate bag check

-Post-race: nutritious buffet, massage, private port-a-johns, bag pick-up and live results

-Entrance into the WDW Marathon Weekend breakfast following the 5K & 10K races

•Special escorted walk-out from retreat area to starting line

•A ticket to Pasta in the Park (character buffet dinner in the Millennium Pavilion at Epcot, with a DJ  and a special viewing area for Illuminations: Reflections of Earth)

•A 16 week training plan designed by Runner’s World experts

•Weekly emails from famed runner and coach Burt Yasso

•Twelve months of access to Runner’s World experts about fitness, nutrition, training and injury prevention

•A private internet forum to interact with fellow Runner’s World Challenge participants

•A copy of “Runner’s World: Complete Book of Running”

•A Runner’s World tech shirt

•Four months of premium Runner’s World Personal Trainer

•Private packet pick up at the ESPN Wide World of Sports during the Health and Wellness Expo

•VIP access to the post-race celebration at Downtown Disney

So far, I have seen quite a benefit from being a part of the Runner’s World Challenge group—and most of the benefits of the package are not tangible until being there. I cannot wait to be able to experience the extra perks; specifically the race retreats and delayed walk out, just in case its frigid this year.

Look for updates on Twitter, Facebook and here on the blog over Marathon Weekend to follow my journey to prove just how Dopey I am.

Are you going to be at Marathon Weekend, racing, spectating or just visiting? Let me know and we can meet up. Photo ops are always welcome!

You can follow Todd on Twitter @ToddC4 and follow his race at #irun4ToaD. Good luck Todd!