In 2011 all of those people who are planning vacations have something to look forward to! Walt Disney is planning on opening up a new family focused resort in Oahu, Hawaii. The resort will consist of two 15 story towers that will contain 350 hotel rooms and 480 timeshare villas. One the 21 acre resort, which will be located right next to the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa, Disney will be building 4 lagoons, a signature Disney kid’s club, a lazy river ride, and even an 18,000-square-foot spa for the adults. Most of the rooms will even have full size kitchens, washers, dryers, and luxury bath tubs.

This Disney resort will also be focusing very heavily on creating a place where the entire family can come and enjoy Hawaii together. The vision is to create an environment where the kids, parents, and even grandparents can come to have fun, reconnect, and recharge. This idea comes from the traditional Hawaiian tradition of “ohana”, which means family. This resort will open its doors in 2011, if all goes according to schedule, and will not be deterred by the economic situation in America. Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Walt Disney’s Parks and Resorts department, said that “We have long-term confidence in Hawaii as a market that will never lose its appeal and the Disney brand is really stronger than ever.”

If you would like more information on how to book with a disney resort or any place in the world contact us at tropicaltravel.net!

Magic Kingdom

After parking, get the trolley to the gate (write down your parking spot), take either the ferry or monorail to the park. If you have children and can get to the front of the line, ask if you can ride up front with the driver.

 
(Best activities/shows ***)
(Okay **)
(rollercoaster *)
 
Three choices:
  Walk up Main Street towards the castle
  Ride a horse and cart
  Take the Railroad which stops at Frontierland and Mickey’s Toontown Fair
 
Adventureland:
Swiss Family Treehouse
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin **
The Enchanted Tiki Room **
Jungle Cruise ***
Pirates of the Caribbean ***
 
Frontierland:
Splash Mountain *
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad *
Tom Sawyer Island
 
Liberty Square:
The Hall of Presidents ***
Liberty Square Riverboat **
The Haunted Mansion **
 
Fantasyland:
It’s a Small World ***
Peter Pan’s Flight ** (fast pass)
Mickey’s PhilharMagic 3D ***
Cinderella’s Golden Carousel **
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh **
Dumbo **
Mad Tea Party **
 
Mickey’s Toontown: (good area for young children)
Mickey’s house
Minnie’s house
 
Tomorrowland:
Indy Speedway **
Space Mountains *
Transit Authority **
Astro Orbiter **
Stitch’s Great Escape (avoid)
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin **
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor ***
 
Great afternoon parade, also mini shows in front of the castle throughout the day and lighted parade at night with fireworks
 
At Cosmic Ray’s in Tomorrowland you can get half a chicken with potatoes and veg for about $10. Two plates are enough for two adults and two children.
 
Ice cream bars cost $2.50 each
 
Water in the parks tastes terrible. Carry your own or add lemonade crystals. Water is free at any counter.
 

Epcot

Spaceship Earth
Universe of Energy
Mission: SPACE
Test Track
Innoventions
The Seas with Nemo - ride in a ‘clam’
The Land - Sail through greenhouses etc.
Soarin’ - really good
Imagination - Honey I Shrunk the Audience (a little scary for young children)
IllumiNations:
 
Villages round the lake:
Mexico (boat ride)
Norway
China (360 degree film) and acrobats outside
Germany
Italy
USA
Japan
Morocco
France
United Kingdom
Canada (360 degree film)
 
Terrific fireworks show at night round the lake. Get a viewing spot an hour before it starts.

Animal Kingdom

Camp Minnie-Mickey :
Festival of the Lion King - musical - don’t miss it
Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends - cute musical
 
Africa:
Kilimanjaro safaris - see live African animals in the open
(go early then get a fast pass for later)
Pangani Forest Trail - see gorillas and hippos etc.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch:
Wildlife Express Train
Petting yard
 
Asia:
Flights of Wonder - great bird show
Kali River Rapids (get very wet)
Maharajah Jungle Trek - see tigers, komodo dragon
Expedition Everest - roller coaster
Dinoland
Finding Nemo - musical - don’t miss it
The Boneyard
Primeval Whirl
TriceraTop Spin
Dinosaur
Parade in the afternoon

-Margot White

Do you frequently visit Walt Disney World? Are you aware of their collection of Disney Vacation Club resorts? These DVC properties come in a variety of themes, and condo-style in their floor plans (which range from studios to three-bedroom villas.) In Walt Disney World you can find 6 properties: Old Key West Resort, Boardwalk Villas, The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Beach Club Villas, Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, and the brand new Animal Kingdom Villas.

There are three ways to book a stay in one of the resorts:One is to become a DVC member. Since the club’s beginning in 1991, membership has frown to 100,000 families from over 80 countries. By joining you can save thousands of dollars over the years. With the minimum investment of $15,600, the members receive a certain number of “vacation points” that go towards different trips they choose throughout the year.

 
Also, with these points, flexibility is no problem, you can stay wherever, whenever, and as often as you like, in the points’ budget. Another flexibility factor of becoming a DVC member is, if you ever choose to travel somewhere other than Walt Disney World, you can. By using your points, you can purchase non-Disney vacations, such as ski trips, European city breaks, and African safaris through DVC’s connection with Interval International.

To begin your new freedom with DVC by becoming a member, the best place to visit would be the Disney Vacation Club.

A second choice to visit the Disney Vacation Club resorts without a long-term commitment, like in being a DVC member, would be to simply book a stay at the resort of your choice by going online to Disney Reservation Center or calling 407/WDW-MAGIC.

A third and less committed way is to rent a DVC member’s points. DVC members who don’t choose to use all their points, may choose to rent them to a non-member. Though Disney does not get involved in point-renting transactions, many members do this and easily. First, both members in the transaction will want to be able to trust the other; the DVC member must trust that he will receive pay from the renter, and the renter must trust that the reservation will be booked in their name and that the DVC member will pay Disney the allotted amount of points for the trip taken. This process of renting points can save you up to $600 dollars, which would be the difference between buying the trip through the Disney Reservations Center and renting points from a DVC member.

So, staying in one of Walt Disney World’s DVC properties is both a more enjoying and less costly choice, whether you choose to be a long-term member, or to simply do it once.

Disney World is a must do if you are in Orlando. Depending on the age of the group, you may only want to spend a few days at Disney. If you have an older crowd sped a day or two at Disney and a day at Universal Studios. Universal Studios will have more roller coasters and thrilling rides, while Disney is great for the younger kids. They offer several theme rides, and don’t forget to head over to Epcot so the kids can get their pictures taken with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto, and several other Disney characters.

 
If you are planning on spending most of your time at Disney World, the convenience of staying at the park is worth the price. If you have young children, you will probably want to leave around nap time, so everyone can rest and get ready to spend the rest of the evening at the “greatest place on earth”. You will easily waste 2 hours getting in and out of the park, and driving to and from your hotel, calculate your nap time in and half the afternoon is gone. If you stay at a Disney hotel, you don’t have to pay for parking, and they have shuttles that take you to and from the park.

If you are traveling with a large group, and want to ride some of the more popular rides, have most of the group get in line to wait for one ride, while a couple of people go get the fast pass tickets for another ride. By the time you get back you will be much closer to the front of the line, and when you are done riding the ride you will be able to get in a shorter line for the next ride. You aren’t allowed to get more than one fast pass at a time.