GRAND OPENING SPECIAL - at Aulani, Disney's Newest Hawaii Resort

GRAND OPENING SPECIAL!

Purchase 4 nights in Paradise, and get the 5th night free at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai‘i!

With this Special offer, you can experience Aulani—the newest Disney Resort—and enjoy your warm, tropical and most magical vacation yet when you stay 4 nights and get your 5th night absolutely free!

Must book prior to December 16, 2011 for stays most nights from:

November 27 to December 16, 2011
January 4 to January 12, 2012
January 16 to January 25, 2012

Now you can enjoy more moments of relaxation and exhilaration at this world-class Resort on O‘ahu!

Splash into adventure in Waikolohe Valley—featuring pools, slides and winding streams. Unwind at Laniwai Spa—offering a sumptuous menu of treatments and an outdoor hydrotherapy garden. Or simply bask in beachfront bliss as you savor a spectacular sunset over the Pacific Ocean.

You will find all the vacation pleasures you can imagine and more at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai‘i.

Booking
To book this special offer, Email Me or click here to request a quote.

5th Night Free promotion for guests who stay four consecutive nights between November 27, 2011 and December 16, 2011; January 4, 2012 and January 12, 2012; January 16, 2012 and January 25, 2012. Book by December 16, 2011.

Disclaimer:
*The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Excludes Resort fees and taxes. Not valid in combination with any other discounts or offers. Offer excludes suites and 3-Bedroom Grand Villas. Additional per adult charges may apply if more than 2 adults per room. Offer applied once per reservation and not valid for previously booked rooms. Check for offers for other lengths of stay. Advance reservations required. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. Limit 2 rooms per reservation.

MORE FREE DINING DATES JUST RELEASED! -THROUGH MARCH 2012

Disney has updated its Free Dining offer and is now including dates through March of 2012.


Through Oct. 29, 2011, buy a non-discounted Magic Your Way package for a minimum 4 nights and 5 days at select Disney Value Resorts and get a FREE Quick-Service Dining Plan. Or, buy a non-discounted Magic Your Way package for 4 nights and 5 days at select Disney Moderate, Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resorts and get a FREE Disney Dining Plan.

Booking Window:
Aug. 3 – Oct. 29, 2011

Travel Window:
Valid for arrivals most nights:

• Oct. 2-8, 2011
• Oct. 23 – Nov. 5, 2011
• Nov. 13-19, 2011
• Nov. 27 – Dec. 3, 2011
• Dec. 11-17, 2011
• Jan. 8-14, 2012
• Jan. 22 – Feb. 4, 2012
• Feb. 12-18, 2012
• March 4-10, 2012
• March 25-31, 2012

Click below to request a free quote!

Disneyland - Mickey's Halloween Party Tickets On Sale!

Advanced tickets for Mickey’s Halloween Party are now on sale for the Disneyland® Park in California! Mickey’s Halloween Party is your chance to dress up and trick-or-treat with Mickey and friends. All events will feature exclusive viewing of the Halloween Screams fireworks spectacular and have access to many of the best attractions, including Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday.

And be on the look out for special appearances by some Disney Villains, Trick or Treat stations, Mickey’s Costume Party Cavalcade and special activities for everyone in the family.

Mickey’s Halloween Party Dates and Times
Select nights: September 30, October 3, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28, 31

Fridays: Guests can enter Disneyland park as early as 4 p.m. Event runs from 7 p.m.–12 a.m.
Mondays/Tuesdays and Halloween night: Guests can enter Disneyland park as early as 3 p.m. Event runs from 6-11 p.m.

Mickey’s Halloween Party Pricing

For Sept. 30, Oct. 3, 11, 18, and 25:
Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club Members and Visa Cardholders Advance Purchase Price: $44 per person
General Advance Purchase (prior to date of event): $49 per person
Day of Event: $59 per person

For October 7, 14, and 21:
Everyone: $59 per person

For October 28 and 31:
Everyone: $64 per person

Contact us for details on how to purchase tickets. Are you planning to visit the Walt Disney World® Resort this fall? Click here to learn more about Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom® Park.

Free Dining is back at Walt Disney World for August and September 2011!

Free Dining and Photobook at the Walt Disney World Resort

You can get FREE DINING at the Walt Disney World® Resort! again! Don’t miss this opportunity to get in on this special offer for stays most nights August 28 – September 24, 2011. Enjoy the Disney Dining Plan for FREE when you purchase a Magic Your Way room and ticket package at select Walt Disney World® Resorts!

Make your family’s stay more magical with these Resort extras:

• Free Disney Dining Plan* – Get almost all of your meals for FREE at over 100 select Walt Disney World® Resort restaurants.
• Disney Photopass Photo Book – This will be included free as part of your package.
• Disney’s Magical Express Service – Complimentary transportation and luggage delivery to and from the Orlando International Airport.
• Extra Magic Hours Benefit – Each day, one of the Parks is only open for Walt Disney World® Resort Guests extra time to enjoy select attractions. (Valid Theme Park admission and Resort ID required.)
• Guest Transportation – Complimentary transportation takes your family from your Disney Resort Hotel to all four Disney Theme Parks, the two Water Parks, the Downtown Disney® Area, and more via monorail, motor-coach or boat!

Contact your Magic Maker® today or click below to request a quote.

*Packages booked at a Disney Value Resort will receive the Quick-Service Dining Plan for free. Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villa Resorts will receive the Plus Disney Dining Plan for free. Free Dining is available for most stays August 28 – September 24, 2011.

A minimum stay of three nights is required. Number of packages based on this special is limited. Excludes alcohol beverages. Children 3-9 must order from the children’s menu when available. Tickets are for one Theme Park per day and must be used with 14 days of first use.

No group rates or other discounts apply. Offers cannot be combined and are nontransferable. Advance reservations required. Offers subject to change without notice.

Apple Caramel Pie - From the Whispering Canyon Cafe!

If you have had the Apple-Caramel Pie at the Whispering Canyon then you know what a wonderful dessert this is! This recipe approximates it pretty close! Try it out and let me know what you think!

Apple-Carmel Pie
Like found at the Whispering Canyon Cafe

Wilderness Lodge Resort®

Serves 12

Ingredients:

CRUST
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
13 1/2 oz. package refrigerated sugar cookie dough at close to room temperature

FILLING
2 1/4 pounds Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices (I sliced them thinner)
1/2 cup granulated sugar (cut back if desired)
1/8 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 tablespoon chopped candied ginger
3/4 cup caramel topping

CRUMB TOPPING
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar (cut to 1/3 cup if desired)
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed (same as above)
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter or margarine, melted
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

ICING
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar (but icing not really needed)

BAKING INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

• Coat the bottom and inside of a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• At medium-low speed, beat the flour and the dough until combined.
• Press the sugar cookie dough into sides and bottom of pan, creating a 1/4-inch thick crust.
• In a mixing bowl, toss the apples with sugar, flour, ginger and cinnamon. Spoon into prepared crust.
• Spoon on caramel topping.
• Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake one hour.
• While pie is baking, in a mixing bowl at low speed, combine flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon.
• Increase speed to medium; gradually add butter and vanilla, beating until wet crumbs form.
• After pie has baked for one hour, remove from oven and uncover.
• Sprinkle crumb mixture over top of warm pie.
• Cover exposed edges of crust with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
• Bake, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Cool on rack and remove sides from the pan.
• Stir together the confectioners' sugar with enough water (but not too much!) to make icing. Transfer to a plastic food storage bag, snip one corner, and drizzle over crumbs. Serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired.

Tip: You can prevent apple browning by doing a light wash of the apples in lemon juice
.

New Disney Cruise Line Itineraries

April 6th, 2011 by Off to Neverland Travel in Disney Cruise Line News, Disney News, Featured Specials and News

For the first time ever, Disney Cruise Line® will set sail from three new ports in 2012 – New York, Seattle and Galveston – making the Disney family cruisevacation more accessible to everyone around the country. There are also more itinerary choices than ever before, including one special voyage to Hawai‘i.

As an exclusive benefit to Guests who are Platinum/Gold Castaway Club Members, bookings will open on Thursday, April 7, 2011. All other Guests may book starting on Friday. Contact your Magic Maker® for more information.

New York Sailings
Beginning May 25, 2012, the Disney Magic® will sail a total of 20 cruises from New York.

• 8-night Bahamian cruises include a day at Disney’s Castaway Cay, Nassau, and a stop at Port Canaveral, gateway to the Walt Disney World® Resort. As part of this itinerary, you will receive a one-day Park Hopper® Ticket and roundtrip transportation between the ship and resort. (5/25, 6/2, 6/22, 6/30, 7/20, 7/28, 8/17, 8/25)
• 5-night Canadian/New England cruises will visit Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Saint John, New Brunswick (6/10, 6/17, 7/8, 7/15, 8/5, 8/12, 9/2, 9/7, 9/12)
• 2-night cruises are perfect for those looking for a quick getaway at sea over a weekend. (6/15, 7/13, 8/10)

Seattle Sailings
Beginning May 28, 2012, the Disney Wonder® will sail a total of 14 cruises to Alaska from the Port of Seattle, Wash.

• 7-night Alaskan cruises will call on Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan plus Victoria, British Columbia.
  (5/3, 5/10, 5/17, 5/24, 5/31, 6/7, 6/14, 6/21, 6/28, 7/5, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26, 8/2, 8/9, 8/16, 8/23, 8/30)

Galveston Sailings
Beginning Sept. 22, 2012, the Disney Magic® will sail 12 cruises from the Port of Galveston, Texas.

• 7-night Western Caribbean cruises will visit Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, as well as Grand Cayman. (9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 12/1, 12/8)

Los Angeles Sailings
In addition to 7-night Mexican Riviera cruises, the Disney Wonder® will set sail on Disney’s first-ever voyage to Hawai‘i on April 29, 2012.

• 15-night Hawaiian cruise departs from the Port of Los Angeles and includes stops at Hilo; Kahului, Maui; Honolulu, Oahu; Nawiliwili, Kauai and Ensenada, Mexico (April 29, 2012)
• 7-night Pacific Coast cruises will call on San Francisco, San Diego and Ensenada, Mexico (5/14 sailing with stops in San Francisco, Vancouver, BC; Victoria, BC and 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7 sailings with stops in San Francisco, San Diego, Ensenada, Mexico)

The Disney Dream™ will continue to sail 3-, 4- and 5-night Bahamian cruises. The new Disney Fantasy™ will offer Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, beginning with the maiden voyage on March 31, 2012. Sail dates for both ships are now available through December 2012.

Click below to request a quote or contact your Magic Maker® for more information.

RECIPE: COUSCOUS SALAD from Epcot's Restaurant Marrakesh

We had this on our last trip to Disney World. Here is an almost identical recipe. Try it---It's Good!

Olive oil for sauteing
1/2 of a red onion
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
1/2 of a sweet red bell pepper
1/2 of a sweet green bell pepper
1/2 of a chopped zucchini
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Nutmeg to taste
Cinnamon to taste
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
1 cup orange juice
12 ounces cooked plain couscous
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup tangerine segments or mandarin orange segments
Mint sprig for garnish

In a large nonstick skillet, saute onion, garlic, sweet bell peppers and zucchini in olive oil.

Season with salt, pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon. Add 1/2 cup olive oil to vegetables along with raisins, chickpeas and orange juice.

Toss vegetable mixture with couscous and pan juices. Add parsley and gently fold in citrus segments.

Mound mixture onto a serving platter and garnish with mint.

Making 'Wishes' even Sweeter: Fireworks Dessert Party at the Magic Kingdom.

Last April, I surprised my family and instead of watching "Wishes" with the throngs of people in front of Cinderella's castle. I made reservations for the 7 of us for the "Fireworks Dessert Party" on the Tommorowland Terrace.

We checked in at the podium about an hour before "Wishes" was scheduled to begin. We were greeted and then escorted to our own private table set up on the terrace with a perfect view of the castle. Our table was decorated with mickey confetti and even had a little sign welcoming us with our names printed on it. Our delightful server Michelle invited us at our leisure to help ourselves to the dessert buffet and to 'eat our fill'.



When my boys saw this buffet, their eyes became as large as saucers as they saw a huge table filled with so many wonderful and delightful finger desserts. They were all arranged beautifully on the buffet . The buffet was covered with; chocolate covered strawberries, rice krispie treats , pistachio creme brulee, banana cream tartlets, mini key lime pies, cannolis, mini cupcakes, and white chocolate and milk chocolate cheesecake. There was also coffee, juice, ice tea, hot tea, milk and water available at the beverage station.




The plates they give you just aren't big enough to try them all, so return trips to the buffet are required. As our family devoured these wonderful desserts we had a nice view of the "Spectromagic" parade moving down Mainstreet. They had a Photopass photographer set up on the terrace that was taking pictures of groups and families in front of the castle.


When it was time for "Wishes" to begin, the lights dimmed and we turned our chairs toward the castle and had one of the most wonderful views of the "Wishes" show. At one point during the fireworks, Tinkerbell flies from the castle and comes directly toward the Terrace, I think we thought she was going to land in our laps!

After the firework show we were not rushed off of the terrace and into the throngs of departing guests. Rather we were encouraged to hang out and enjoy the nice views of the castle, finish up our desserts and take some more pictures. The perfect ending to a magical day at Walt Disney World.

This was one of those experiences that my family has not forgotten, we talk about it often and know for sure that we will be enjoying this experience again on our next trip to the Magic Kingdom.

Wishes Dessert Party Information:

Operates Seasonally: Spring - Fall
Cost: ($15 - 39.99 per person)

To get a Free No Obligation Quote on your Next Disney World Vacation including a 'Fireworks Dessert Buffet' click below.

Kids Sail Free to Alaska this May!

Set a course for the last frontier! As part of each Alaska itinerary, you will experience breathtaking scenery, an abundance of wildlife and the rich history and customs of Alaska’s native culture. Combined with unparalleled Disney quality and service, one-of-a-kind entertainment, immersive experiences plus favorite Disney Characters, it’s a vacation experience that every member of the family will feel was created especially for them.

Offer Details
Book a Verandah or Oceanview stateroom and kids ages 17 and under, traveling with 2 full-fare Guests in the same stateroom, SAIL FREE* on select 7-night Alaskan cruises departing between May 3 to May 24, 2011.

Book your 'DREAM' cruise Now.

Cruise with Magic, Elegance and Style on Disney's newest Cruise Ship, 'The Dream'!



Disney's newest, largest and most elegant ship has made its very first sailing. 'The Disney Dream' is one of the most beautiful, fun and high-tech cruise ships to sail the seas and now you can book yourself a 'dream' trip for you and your friends and family.

The Dream is booking 3 night Bahamian cruises from as low as $599 and includes pretty much 'everything'!

Don't wait, the trips are booking up FAST! Click HERE or on the button below for a free, no obligation quote for a cruise on the Disney Dream or any other of the Disney Ships to one of their fabulous destinations.

Disney releases renditions of their newest project: The Art of Animation Resort™

Disney is beginning construction on Disney World's newest resort, The Art of Animation™. This new resort features theming from 4 of their biggest animated films. Lion King, Finding Nemo, The Little Mermaid and Cars. The resort will boast 2000 new units, 1200 of which will be family suites able to sleep up to 6 people.

This resort will be considered part of Disney's Value resort category, providing affordable accommodations with all the Disney magic included. The resort is scheduled to open in 2012 and be adjacent to their Pop Century™ Resort.

Check out the photos below and click on the button below for a free quote on your next Disney Vacation.

Kids Stay and Play Free at the Walt Disney World® Resort

Kids (ages 3-9) STAY and PLAY FREE!

When you purchase a non-discounted Magic Your Way vacation package at a select Resort Hotel at the Walt Disney World® Resort for stays most nights Feb. 17 – April 16, April 28 – June 14, 2011 or Aug. 14 – Oct. 1, 2011.

Off To Neverland Travel, LLC is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner that offers 100% free Disney Travel Planning services. Experience the difference of working with one of our Magic Makers®

Click below for a free 'no-obligation' quote on your next vacation at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando Florida.