Category: Disney Memories
London is preparing for another Royal celebration – this time, Disney style. The Walt Disney Co. has announced that its popular character Rapunzel will become the 10th official Disney Princess at a high-profile celebration at Kensington Palace in London on October 2, 2011. Rapunzel will join Disney’s illustrious royal court and stand alongside the other recognized princesses – Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Mulan, Pocahontas, Snow White and Tiana.
Celebrities and little princesses from around the world will be invited to participate in a royal celebration that will include a special party and a procession through Hyde Park. The star of Disney’s animated hit movie, Tangled, Rapunzel will eventually marry her true love Flynn Rider in a short Disney animation special to be broadcast on the Disney Channel in spring 2012.
Tangled has already become one of the Top Ten biggest-grossing Disney movies of all time – surpassing Toy Story, Beauty and the Beast, Cars and Toy Story 2. Once officially recognized as a member of the Disney Princess court, Rapunzel will get her own Disney Princess line of products and she will appear at Disney parks wearing the royal tiara that was stolen by Flynn in the Tangled movie. For additional information about Disney World parks:
I know, I know – I said I would update my blog daily during our Alaskan adventure, and my intentions were good, but I was having so much fun with my Disney dream come true I just couldn’t seem to find the time! Every minute aboard the Disney Wonder was so filled with Magic that I simply couldn’t bring myself to even think about work! I love my job, but we’re talking Disney Cruise Line here!
So, without further ado, here is the recap of Disney’s Inaugural Cruise to Alasaka!
Day 1: Embarkation in Vancouver. Our family flew in the day prior and stayed at the Holiday Inn Vancouver International Airport – convenient free ground transportation from the airport and access to Vancouver Shuttle: http://www.vancouvershuttle.ca/ from the hotel to the port the next morning. Curtis and his team from Vancouver Shuttle provided THE BEST shuttle experience of my well-traveled life and I highly recommend them! For those of you with exceedingly high travel standards, because you are familiar with Disney’s legendary guest service, let me assure you that Vancouver Shuttle will not disappoint! The driver arrived at our hotel promptly at 9:30 and by 10:15 we were at the cruise terminal. Canada Place cruise terminal is beautiful and well organized – the usual confusion caused by the meeting of embarking guests with disembarking guests efficiently minimized.
One of my favorite perks of being a Platinum Castaway Club guest is priority boarding; always among the first group to board the ship! Check-in complete, we stepped onboard at 12:00 noon. Sail away lunch at Parrot Cay, a trip to Guest Services to apply our Disney Rewards (Disney Visa Card perk) to our onboard account, and ice cream on deck 9 found us at 2:00 pm and ready to check out our stateroom for the week. Room 7110; Category 5 on deck 7 aft. Beautiful as usual and the updated linens and pillows added a touch of elegance we found delightful. Following safetry drill and the sail away party the Disney Wonder was on her way — her very first Alaskan adventure was about to begin!
Photo: view from our stateroom balcony as we sailed away from Canada Place Terminal and under the bridge in Vancouver – May 3, 2011.
Welcome onboard show and then dinner:
Our servers: Robert (L) and Anthony (R) with Wesley and Nicholas
Day 2: Day at Sea. This was a leisurely day of onboard activities; a cooking demonstration for the adults, college meet for Wesley, and youth activites for our daughter, Rachael. Despite less than calm seas, a good day was had by all.
Day 3: Tracy Arm. Nothing I could say about this experience would do it justice. Nothing. So, I’ll let a few pictures set the scene for you:
Day 4: Skagway. Skagway is small (700 inhabitants) gold rush town and our first stop on this cruise. Lots of choices for things to do; White Pass railway, shopping on the main street (and only street) in town, scenic trips to the summit, a trek through a gold rush cemetary, or a local vaudeville style show … Skagway enchants visitors!
- Downtown Skagway looking back at the Disney Wonder
Back onboard the ship a fabulous dinner and the evening’s show awaited!
Day 5: Juneau. So much to do in Juneau one trip couldn’t begin to cover it all. A lively city center, a tram to the top of Mount Roberts, the Mendenhall glacier … it was hard to choose!
The Disney Wonder from atop Mount RobertsAnother view from the top of Mount Roberts
Day 6: Ketchikan *The Salmon Fishing Capital of The World* Or so we were told! A bit early in the season for salmon, this little guy was the catch of the day:
Tim with (not sure what kind of fish he truly is) the elusive Alaskan Green Marlin!
For our fishing excursion, we choose Salty Sea Charters:http://saltyseacharters.com/ and we highly recommend them! Josh and Ivy, a husband and wife team, went out of their way to make Tim, Wesley and Nicholas’s fishing expedition a success. They met our ship at the dock and took the boys directly to their charter – and when at the end of their 4-hour charter no one had caught anything, they kept fishing until Tim finally landed the catch of the day!
Ketchikan, our last port of call, was delightful. Rachael, Marge and I took the Duck Tour: http://www.akduck.com/ this fun, light hearted and informative trip through Ketchikan is a must for all first time visitors!
Day 7: Last day at sea. The last day is always sad … but we did find lots of smiles despite our impending return to reality! This was our Character Breakfast morning and as you can see from the photos below we had a great time!
Minnie with Tim and I
Marge and Nicholas with a certain chipmunk you might recognize!
We spent the remainder of the day sailing the inside passage; incredible views, orcas and humpback whales, soaring eagles and playful otters – a memorable day to be sure!
Day 7: Debarkation and back to dreaming of our next Disney Cruise!
Magical Memories Travel Mentorship Program
Becoming a Certified Disney Specialist is just the tip of the iceberg in the training you will need to succeed as a Disney Travel Consultant. If you are new to this industry you probably have a million questions and concerns you’d like to discuss with someone who has experience. Disney’s training is fun and exciting and it prepares you to sell Disney Destinations to your clients, but it doesn’t help you set up or run a successful travel business. That’s where I come in.
I will teach you how and where to find your clients
I will walk you through the booking and invoicing process step-by-step
I will provide on-demand assistance during office hours – 1 hour call back window any other time
I will teach you how to provide the concierge level services your clients will demand
I will give you tips and information for how to structure and set-up your business
I will help you plan group cruises aboard Disney Cruise Line
I will help you establish a web presence and use social media to promote your business
Although we specialize in Disney, you will be able to sell any travel product a client demands
You’ll have access to Disney Agent Rate specials (when offered) for your own travel
The up-front fee for my services is $250.00; this includes:
Establishing you as an independent contractor affiliated with a host agency
Weekly phone training sessions
On demand access to help and support
Toll free number extension
An email account with Magical Memories Travel
Business cards with your name and contact information
E and O insurance as provided by host
The commission split for the first year, or until you’ve generated $65,000.00 in sales, is 50/50. After meeting this goal, or completing one year of training, you can choose to operate without further training or mentorship thereby keeping all commissions to which you’re entitled, or you can elect to remain with Magical Memories with a commission split of 70/30 (70 for you, 30 for us) and we will continue to cover the above costs and fees associated with running your business.
Are you looking for a new and exciting way to generate extra income?
Do you have a passion for Disney?
Are you familiar with Disney’s Destinations and willing to learn the skills necessary to become a successful agent?
If you answered yes to these questions, please contact me; I’d love to help.
I’ve been asked, “What’s your favorite Disney Destination?” lots of times – far too many to count! As I keep adding to the Disney Destinations I’ve discoverd, this question has become more and more difficult to answer.
The truth is, I love them all.
The parks are a sentimental favorite. Disneyland in California was my first ever experience with a Disney holiday, I was eight years old — it was also the first Disney Destination I took my own children to. It’s not too far from home, only a six hour drive, and we find ourselves there several times a year. With very little exception we stay at The Disneyland Hotel – and it has come to feel like our home away from home.
Disneyland itself, in my opinion, is the best of all the Disney parks. It is more compact than it’s other Magic Kingdom counterparts, making it easier to explore, and it is the original. It has a feel all its own. Walt Disney himself was actually *here* …
The addition of Disney’s California Adventure park, and the Downtown Disney District, has made the Disneyland Resort in California a world class destination.
Walt Disney World was, for me, the #1 destination on my Bucket List! The second Disney Destination I experienced first hand; my children were 6, 10, and 11 the first time we went … Christmas Day. Gary Sinise narrated the Candlelight Processional, the resort was Port Orleans Riverside, and the entire week was Disney Magic at its finest!
And then there is my beloved Disney Cruise Line (DCL) … thanks to the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder I can honestly say, “I have been all over the world – with Disney.” A sailing on DCL is unlike any other vacation I have ever taken; broadway quality shows, world class dining, children’s activities designed to entertain and inspire, plush accommodations, legendary Disney guest service and attention to every detail make this the finest vacation product available anywhere at any price! Disney Cruise Line *can show you the world.*
Disneyland Paris is, without question, the most beautiful of all Disney parks. It has a wonderful feel and presence and it is breathtaking to behold. I love this park and its location, a mere 40 minutes by train from the heart of Paris, doesn’t hurt a thing! The enchantment of Paris, and the Magic of Disney, life just doesn’t get much better than this!
So, to answer the question: Which is my favorite?
All of them.
But I suppose if I* had* to choose just one:
Disney Cruise Line would come out on top. My children have literally grown up on these ships, and we share wonderful family memories of our time onboard the Magic and the Wonder. Our first family trip to Europe was on the Disney Magic; we crossed the Atlantic on a grand ocean liner – for me a dream come true. There are cast and crew aboard these ships we proudly call *our friends* … and it’s like coming home every time we sail.
