Epcot International Festival of the Holidays

Believe it or not the Holiday season is just around the corner! The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays is just one of the many ways that Walt Disney World makes the Holidays come alive!

Check out what you can expect from  November 19 – December 30, 2017 at the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays!

Holiday Kitchens will be back with yummy holiday treats from around the world!

Holiday Storytellers will be on hand giving you a glimpse into how different cultures celebrate the holidays that take place during the Winter months. 

A new addition this year will be Chip & Dale’s Christmas Tree Spree — an add-on ($6.99) Scavenger Hunt! Similar to the Easter Egg hunt and Remy's Ratatouille Hide & Squeak Scavenger Hunt for the Food and Wine Festival. Purchase the map and sticker set at locations such as Pin Central, Disney Traders, and World Traveler at International Gateway. Then, travel all over the world finding signs of Chip & Dale as they collect ornaments to decorate their Christmas Tree. Once your map is complete, just take it to Disney Traders and collect your prize. 

 Even Illuminations gets in on the holiday scene with Holiday IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. This special holiday edition has an enhanced special ending just for the special holiday season!

And of course the holiday season at Epcot would not be complete without the Candlelight Processional! Three performances take place each night at 5:00, 6:45, and 8:15 pm beginning November 24, 2017. Candlelight Processional Dining Packages will be available for breakfast, lunch, or dinner at a participating Epcot or Resort area restaurant and enjoy reserved seating for this traditional production of the Christmas Story. 

 

Doesn't it all sound amazing? Want to celebrate in person? Contact our travel experts today for more information on booking your next magical vacation!

 

 

Disney After Hours Dates Announced!

It's time for After Hours at Disney again! 

We’re happy to share today that Disney After Hours events will return for select dates in January, February and March 2018.

If you’re new to Disney After Hours, an event night is limited to a small number of Guests, allowing you to maximize their time in the park with little to no wait at 25 attractions and experiences, like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid, Space Mountain and many more. The Disney After Hours ticket allows park entry as early as 7 p.m., which gives you time to enjoy the park’s nightly “Happily Ever After” fireworks, and then remain in the park until 11 p.m. and some nights to 12 a.m.

Disney After Hours event nights are currently set for Jan. 19, 26, and 30, Feb. 8 and 15, March 1 and 8, 2018. (Please note that Disney After Hours does not replace Extra Magic Hours (EMH) for our resort Guests and are instead held on non-EMH dates.) The advance ticket price is $119 per adult or child. 

Contact your Upon A Star agent today to add this special event to your net trip!

Our experts can help you plan the perfect Disney Vacation!

Contact us today!

 

Sneak Peeks of Disney-Pixar's COCO coming to Disney Parks this November!

If you are one of our lucky clients heading to a Disney Park in November, you may could get a sneak peek of the new Disney Pixar Movie COCO!

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, the preview of “Coco” will be presented as part of the Walt Disney Presents attraction, where artwork and character sculptures from the production will also be on display. Guests at Disney California Adventure® Park will get to see this advance look at scenes from the film in 3D with special in-theater effects at the Sunset Showcase Theater in Hollywood Land. These special sneak peeks are set to begin Nov. 3, 2017.

In Disney•Pixar’s “Coco,” Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician, despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector, and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.

Check out the official trailer below!

Your can experience Plaza de la Familia Sept. 15 – Nov. 2, 2017 and catch our sneak peek of “Coco” starting Nov. 3, 2017 at Disney California Adventure Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Plus, you can fully immerse yourself in the world of Disney•Pixar’s “Coco” when the film arrives in theaters in 3D on Nov. 22, 2017! We can't wait to check it out!!

Want more info on planning your next magical vacation? Contact our experts today!

Viking Cruises Rhine River Getaway!

Check out this amazing offer by Viking Cruises for their Rhine River Getaway! Select November 2018 sailings are offering discounts on both air and sail fares.  

During this 8 day excursion, you will be able to explore Germany's medieval castles (including Heidelberg Castle!) & Black Forest, enjoy a cuckoo clock making demonstration, meander alongside canals and visit museums and windmill villages in Amsterdam, sip vino in one of Germany's or France's wine making regions, visit cathedrals as part of UNESCO World Heritage Sites & more.

All on-board food & drinks, guided tours & excursions, port fees and taxes & transfers are included plus, air from select cities is just $295 per person round trip! There are options to add pre & post cruise nights in Edinburgh, Lucerne, Zermatt and more as well!

 

Viking longships have 4 gorgeous decks consisting of staterooms, restaurants & lounges, a sun deck and even an organic garden. Relax and take in the scenery while you cruise down the Rhine! Email your Upon A Star agent for details today!

Viva Italia! Italy at Its Finest!

Ah, Italy! Just the name of this country probably brings images to your mind. Are you picturing the gorgeous countryside? The fabulous food and wine? Well I can tell you that it's both of those things, and so much more! 

Exactly a month ago I was traveling the Italian countryside, checking out all that Adventures by Disney has to offer. And let me tell you -- it offers A LOT! The amount of experiences I had in just 8 days still blows my mind. I've tried to write this post many times, but each time, so many words fought to fill the page that I thought it best to do it in podcast form, which I did! (You can click here for that link. )  But now that it's been a month, the wonderful memories have distilled into several key moments, and I can't wait to share them with you... read on! 

So as you read this, just know that everything I did, you can do too! This itinerary works almost year-round, and it is worth every cent. First let me introduce you to my tour guides:

Korey & Alexa

They were amazing! I couldn't have asked for better guides!  This picture really showcases their fun personalities.  On your Adventures by Disney tour, you may have different guides, but I can guarantee that they'll bring the fun! These two kept everything moving seamlessly. They functioned not just as tour guides, but as photographers, storytellers, comedians, and best of all  - FRIENDS.

The lovely Alexa hails from Rome, so she functioned as our local guide. Korey is from the US, and he was our other guide, bringing his amazing knowledge of history and the culture to us. I can't thank them enough for making this trip so incredible.  So as the song says, "let's start at the very beginning..."

Rome

Well in many ways, Rome is kind of the beginning - "All roads lead to Rome" after all! Upon arrival, I was met by Adventures by Disney representatives and ushered through the airport. The process (which could have been overwhelming) couldn't have been easier! We were handed over to our private driver, and then we were met at our hotel by our guides.  Here is our hotel, the lovely Grand Melia Rome!

Later, we were whisked off to see the beauty and awesomeness of the Colosseum:

And yes, I am wearing gladiator sandals. Because, you know... when in Rome! This experience really hit me - the weight of all of the history, the fact that it is literally an ancient building STILL STANDING - it was so inspiring. And well - we didn't wait in one single line. Not one. Oh and did I mention walking through the Gladiators Entrance? That is something that only about 1% of visitors get to do. 

Day 2 began at the Vatican.  The richness of this city-within-a-city was truly a sight to behold. And of course, again, no lines! We were among the first to visit St. Peter's Basilica and the Pieta. 

 

The afternoon had us touring more of this amazing city.  Just imagine... a place where the "new section" was built in the 1800s! Seeing 2000 years worth of history in 2 blocks... I can't even describe it. The Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the gelato... oh the gelato! So delicious! 

But the highlight of Day 2 had to be touring the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel after hours. Privately. With no crowds whatsoever. AND we got the rare privilege of taking pictures in the Sistine Chapel (this is not something that normally happens... just an extra bit of pixie dust!! Here are some of my favorites:

Completely amazing!

Orvieto

Day 3 had us traveling to the beautiful medieval city of Orvieto on our way to Tuscany. So many amazing places to visit here, including a gorgeous medieval Duomo (that's a church!). But this is my favorite picture:

Orvieto - side street

Tuscany

Day 4 is maybe my favorite. Hard to pick, but I remember every second of this day. Visiting "Sarah's Farm"... real name Fattoria Poggio Alloro. This family-owned farm has gone from just starting to a leading producer of Wines and Olive Oils. Disney fans, it may interest you to know that Sarah herself will be at Food and Wine Festival in Epcot this year!

The itinerary? Pasta making! And food! And a tour of the farm and winery! And oh my goodness, Sarah was such a ball of joy and energy throughout. She made Tuscany completely unforgettable. And I'm calling this the best meal of my life... 

And it really looks like that! What an incredible view!

Also, shout out to our hotel here, which was a converted farmhouse.  The Hotel Borgo di Cortefreda was amazing!

Florence

Day 5 takes us to Florence, home of the Medicis, and a place where almost every major Renaissance artist stayed! I loved seeing all of the gorgeous buildings and of course, shopping! Two highlights though were seeing Michaelangelo's David at the Academia and touring the Palazzo Vecchio. 

 

Venice

Day 6 & 7 brought us to Venice. Of course, it's a water bound city, so what better way to travel than by gondola? Did I mention a gondola with musicians?

After a quick tour to get our bearings, we were taken to the Hilton Molino Stucky, which is a gorgeous hotel with one of the top rooftop pools in the world!

While in Venice, we had plenty of free time to explore, but we also got to see the Bridge of Sighs and Doges Palace which were both incredible. 

But the highlight here was Venetian mask-making at a beautiful shop called "Tragicomica".  The artisans were amazing! They guided us as we designed our very own Carnivale mask!

So as you can see, we were with a group. And you know what? The entire group still chats... almost daily... in our Facebook Group. I was nervous about traveling with "strangers", but let me tell you, they are now fast friends. I truly enjoyed spending time with them. And not to worry, although these were the highlights, there was plenty of "explore on your own" time. Brady and I have fond memories of exploring roaming Italy by ourselves. We could not have accomplished the amount of things we did without the help of Adventures by Disney... and we certainly wouldn't have felt so spoiled! Of course, I wanted to leave some magical surprises, so I didn't tell you everything.

I hope that this taste of "Viva Italia" and Adventures by Disney has inspired you! There are so many itineraries to choose from! I'd love to answer your questions about Adventures by Disney, and your Upon A Star Agent can help you find the perfect match for your family! 

Until next time... Ciao!

Disney Cruise Line showered with Awards and Honors

If you've been on a Disney Cruise then you know how amazing they are! Year after year, Disney Cruise Line has earned recognition as leaders by not only travel professionals and hospitality industry groups, but—most importantly—by you the guests!

In 2016—for the eighth straight year—Travel + Leisure named Disney Cruise Line World's Best Mega-Ship Ocean Cruise Line for Families. Disney Cruise Line was also distinguished as Best for Families by the 2016 Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards. Whether it’s the amazing themed play spaces overflowing with activities for the kids, exciting nightlife and intimate dining for the adults, or Broadway-style live shows and deck parties to bring everyone together at the end of the day, a Disney cruise is designed with your entire family in mind.

Disney Castaway Cay has also been voted Best Cruise Line Private Island by the 2017 Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards, U.S. News & World Report ranked us #1 on their list of Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean. Castaway Cay is stunning and there's so much to do!!

The 2017 Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards honored Disney Cruise Line with 8 first-place honors, including Best Overall Ship in both Large and Mid-Size categories. With 3 new ships coming to the fleet, it will just get better and better!

Ready to set sail on a Disney Cruise? Let our experts help you plan the perfect cruise! Contact our experts here today.

Candlelight Processional at Epcot®: List of Narrators Announced!

We love the Candlelight Processional at Epcot®! This year some new faces will be added to the list of narrators! Check it out!

New to this year’s lineup include Matt Bomer (“White Collar,” “The Last Tycoon,”) and Star Wars fan favorite Warwick Davis, who played Wicket the Ewok in “Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.” Also, new to the event is television Legend Pat Sajak and TV star CCH Pounder, who was recently at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park for the grand opening of Pandora – The World of Avatar.

Take a look at the schedule of narrators that have been conformed so far!

  • Nov. 24- 26 – To Be Announced
  • Nov. 27-28 – Matt Bomer
  • Nov. 29 – 30 – To Be Announced
  • Dec. 1-3 – Whoopi Goldberg
  • Dec. 4-5 – Pat Sajak
  • Dec. 6-11 – To Be Announced
  • Dec. 12-14 – Warwick Davis
  • Dec. 15-17 – Trace Adkins
  • Dec. 18-21 – Neil Patrick Harris
  • Dec. 22-24 – CCH Pounder
  • Dec. 25-27 – Jaci Velasquez
  • Dec. 28-30 – Chandra Wilson

The processional is performed three times per night (5 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.) during the holiday season at the America Gardens Theatre. Packages for this festive event are available on select nights, they include a delicious meal and a guaranteed seat for one of the Candlelight Processional performances. Availability is limited.

 Akershus Royal Banquet Hall and The Garden Grill will have breakfast, lunch and dinner options again as well as Captain’s Grille at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort,** with breakfast and dinner options being offered at Trattoria Al Forno at Disney’s BoardWalk.

Candlelight Dining Packages for breakfast start at $35 plus tax per person for adults and $21 plus tax per person for children, ages 3-9. Candlelight Dining Packages for lunch and dinner start at $44 plus tax per person for adults and $15.50 plus tax per person for children, ages 3-9. Epcot admission is required and not included in the dining packages.

The Candlelight Processional celebrates time honored traditions and Epcot comes alive through the sights and sounds of the countries of World Showcase, and live performances enliven the park throughout the day.

Contact your Upon A Star agent today to book a Candlelight dining package today!

Let us help you make magical memories!!

 

NCL Tax Free Labor Day Sale!

Who loves FREE? We do! Book one of these select cruises and enjoy FREE government taxes, fees and port expenses on first and second guests. Plus, choose up to 5 Free Offers with Norwegian's Free at Sea promotion, including Free Open Bar, Free Specialty Dining, Free Shore Excursions, Free Wifi and Free Extra Guests - up to $2,800 in overall value! 

Chase an endless summer with Norwegian's Free At Sea and choose up to 5 free offers plus, for a limited time, book with reduced deposits. http://bit.ly/2oYoA9v Book a Studio or Inside Stateroom and choose 1 free offer, or choose 2 when booking an Oceanview, Balcony or Mini-Suite.

These are some fantastic deals!! Book with one of our cruise experts by August 31st, 2017 to take advantage of these deals! Contact us here today!

Grand Avenue: Coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios® is going through some major changes with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land. But we just found out there will be a bit more! Muppets Courtyard, along with a portion of the former Streets of America, is being re-imagined by Walt Disney Imagineering to become a new area called Grand Avenue. Inspired by present day Los Angeles, Grand Avenue is where vintage office buildings and warehouses are being converted into fun and exciting new uses. New spaces for “shops” should soon be popping up in this area! Each window on the street will charming displays to look at.  One of the highlights of Grand Avenue will be BaseLine Tap House, a new corner pub that will feature California beers and wines along with small bites. 

Muppets Courtyard will become Grand Park, an urban square off Grand Avenue. Close by will be PizzeRizzo and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano.  If you haven't notice changes have already begun. The Muppets theater has been renamed “Grand Arts Theatre” and has a brand-new marquee. Muppet*Vision 3D will be sticking around to keep you laughing as well! Grand Avenue is expected to open up to guests this Fall. We are so excited about all of the new changes coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios®  how about you?

Want a truly magical vacation? Let our experts help you plan! Contact us here today!

 

 

FANTASMIC! DESSERT & VIP VIEWING EXPERIENCE!!

If you like yummy desserts and Fantasmic! then you are in luck!! This enhanced event will begin when you check-in and receive a yummy snack box, which features a mix of sweet and savory items, at the Fantasmic! theater before the show starts. You will receive a special light-up credential will allow Fantasmic! Dessert & VIP Viewing Experience Guests to enter your own special reserved viewing area! 

The adult snack boxes will include chocolate-covered strawberries, cheesecake, a chocolate cupcake, apple crisp, California trail mix and cheese and crackers. The kiddos box will include chocolate pudding with crushed chocolate cookies and gummy worms, confetti popcorn, grapes and a vanilla cake bite which features the star of Fantasmic! — Sorcerer Mickey! Everyone will also receive a bottle of water and a specialty alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage in a light-up keepsake Fantasmic! cup.

The cost will be $39 for adults and $19 for children ages 3-9. 

Want to add this to your next magical vacation? Contact our experts here today!

Let us help you plan your next amazing vacation!