I will be in Orlando for 3 weeks, do I have to have a ticket to the park to go to a restaurant?

Answer: Yes, theme park admission is required for all restaurants located inside the Disney Theme Parks.

From the smallest victory to the greatest milestone, you can celebrate all of life’s accomplishments during your Disney World vacation.  I recently booked a few Disney World vacations for May for some of our repeat guests.  The big celebration for their vacation was graduation from High School.  This was the last big celebration for this family before their oldest child headed off to college.  It was a celebration for High School, but also a special vacation for the parents having their whole family together at Disney World.  You can celebrate any special milestone from a graduation, a new job, passing a special class, or even competing in a marathon.  At Disney World, you can celebrate any triumph!  For special triumphs, you can get a button at your Disney Resort or at Guest Services at the front entrance to any of the Disney Theme Parks to celebrate your milestone.

Here are some other suggestions to make your milestone even more magical:

• Congratulations Gift Basket
  Disney Florists can customize a gift basket for any personal triumph, whatever it may be. Such as a Disney Marathon-inspired basket, brimming with fresh fruit, high-energy fruit and nut mix, Power Bars®, Powerade® and a keepsake frame for the finish-line photo. 
• Dining to Mark Any Personal Triumph
  You can choose from a variety of Character Dining, Themed Dining or Signature Dining experiences to suit any mood or taste. A host of special customizations, such as personalized desserts, cakes and celebratory wines will be available in 2009 to mark the occasion.

Celebrate your special milestone this year at the Walt Disney World Resort.  Click here for more information about these special perks.

Disney considers a 1st visit to Walt Disney World as the ultimate celebration!  When you arrive to your Disney Resort, you will receive a special button that says, "1st Visit to Disney World".  You can wear this button during your entire vacation.  It is a fun goodie and a great souvenir to remember your trip.

Here are some suggestions to make your 1st visit to Disney World even more special:

• Character Dining
  From Mickey Mouse to Mary Poppins, you can experience unique Character dining experiences throughout the Disney Theme Parks. One of the most popular locations is Cinderella's Royal Table Restaurant, where the princess herself hosts a hearty breakfast or lunch.  For all of the Character Dining, be sure to make an Advanced Dining Reservation with your Disney World Specialist or by calling 407-WDW-DINE.  These reservations do book up early.
• First Visit Merchandise
  To commemorate a first visit to Walt Disney World® Resort, Disney presents essential vacation supplies for the entire family including autograph books and personalized Mickey ears.  At Downtown Disney Marketplace, you can even create your own design of Mickey or Minnie Mouse ears.
• Disney PhotoPass® Service – A family picture in front of Cinderella's Castle captures the splendor of Walt Disney World Resort, and is the perfect backdrop for a commemorative first family photo. Professional photographers will capture images of your Clients in the Magic Kingdom Park and other Disney Theme Parks which they can transform into personalized keepsakes with the magic of www.DisneyPhotoPass.com.  If you book a Magic Your Way Package with Destinations in Florida Travel, you receive a free 5 x 7 PhotoPass certificate.

These are some special ways to make your first vacation to Disney World more special.  Be sure to book your 1st Disney World vacation with us at Destinations in Florida Travel.  We specialize in 1st visits to Disney World and make the whole planning process easier.  Plus, our services are free.  For more information, visit our other benefits of booking with us.

In the next few blog posts we are going to focus on Celebrations at Walt Disney World Resort.  This is the year to celebrate all of your special milestones from a honeymoon, anniversary, graduation, or a birthday.  In our house, the big celebration is potty training for our little one.  Whatever your celebration, this is the year to visit the Walt Disney World Resort!  In this first blog post, I am going to talk about celebrating birthdays at Disney World.

When you celebrate a birthday at Disney World, be sure to pick up a "It's My Birthday Button" at Guest Services at a Disney Resort or at the front entrance to the Disney Theme Parks.  The birthday person can wear the button during your entire vacation.  You will be amazed how many birthday wishes you get from strangers and Disney Cast Members (employees).  Here are some other fun birthday celebrations to enjoy during a Disney World vacation:

• Magic Kingdom® Park Celebration Entertainment
  Enjoy a new interactive entertainment with the celebration street party.  Located in the heart of the park, the dance party includes favorite party music and Disney Characters including Mickey and Minnie.
• Magical Experiences
  Little ones can receive a royal princess makeover at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, or a “pirate’s life for me” experience at the new Pirate Themed Guest Rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. 
  
• Dining to Mark Any Occasion
  A meal at a restaurant at Disney World can mark big birthday occasions and turn them into something truly special! The young and young at heart can choose from a variety of Character Dining, Themed Dining or Signature Dining experiences to suit any taste.
  
• Dining Add-On Options
  Guests can add special Celebrate Today! Party Favors to reservations at buffets and select Character dining experiences. Festive options include “Pop-Up” centerpiece, Goodie Bag containing Mickey party hat, fun game, coloring book and crayons or Deluxe Goodie Bag has all the Goodie Bag components, PLUS a magnet activity set and Mickey shaped straw all in a special celebration tote.  Or, you can order a birthday cake personalized for the birthday person or a order a Mickey Mouse shaped cake.
• Free Admission on Your Birthday
  I am sure you have heard that Disney Parks are offering free admission on your birthday.  If you have a package including tickets, you can exchange your birthday certificate for a Birthday Fun Card or Birthday Fast Pass.  Click here for more details about these birthday perks.

There is so much fun at the Walt Disney World Resort for bithdays!  Contact us at Destinations in Florida Travel for more information about celebrating a birthday at Disney World.

The newest parade is more of a high energy street party at Magic Kingdom Park.  By far, this is one of the most popular additions to the Disney Parks this year.  It is already a favorite for Disney Cast Members and Florida locals!  The show runs several times a day on Main Street USA at Magic Kingdom.  The parade/show is called Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party.  You will see acrobatics, singing and lots and lots of dancing.  The whole family will "move it" to this new street party!  You will see your favorite Disney Characters and floats that look like presents.  For the show times, be sure to pick up a t Times Guide at the front entrance to Magic Kingdom.  For more information, contact one of our Disney World Specialists.

When I say Disney World, what do you think of?  Most people think of Magic Kingdom or Mickey Mouse.  I am sure race cars did not pop into your mind!  One of the newest experiences at Walt Disney World features just that, Indy race cars.  Right in the middle of Disney World is a track called the Walt Disney World Speedway.  A recent activity at this speedway is the Indy Racing Experience.

The Indy Racing Experience allows you to ride or drive in 2 seater IndyCar.  The IndyCars are a little more exciting, since you are lower to the ground than a Nascar.  You can choose from either a ride along or a driving experience.  The ride along takes you on 3 laps around the Walt Disney World Raceway for $109 plus tax.  If you want the full experience, try driving an actual IndyCar 8 laps around the Walt Disney World Speedway by yourself.  It is the ultimate thrill!  The price for the driving experience is $399 plus tax.

Click here to watch a video of a lap around the Walt Disney World Speedway.  For more information, contact your Disney World Specialist or call 888-357-5002.  Who said Disney World is just Mickey Mouse...there is lots of adventure at the Walt Disney World Resort!

Tinker Bell and friends from the new movie Disney’s Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure appear in elaborate topiary form in the new Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden at the annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World. More than 70 topiaries are available for viewing across Epcot during the 75-day festival. Other festival fun includes gardening seminars, Flower Power concerts, a butterfly conservatory and lots of children’s activities.  This festival is free with your paid admission into Epcot.

Don't miss Epcot's International Flower & Garden Festival from March 18-May 31. For more information, contact one of our Disney World Specialists.

This is such a wonderful time to visit the Walt Disney World Resort for all of your special occasions.  One of the most popular reasons to visit Disney World is to celebrate a birthday.  Besides getting into a Disney Park for free on your birthday, you can purchase some extra goodies to enjoy during your birthday celebration including goodie bags or a birthday cake.

We all celebrate special milestones in our lives!  Are you visiting Disney for a graduation, a reunion, a honeymoon, an anniversary, or your birthday?  This is the year to celebrate your special event at Disney World and Disneyland Parks with the What Will you Celebrate promotion.  For this year, you get a special birthday present if you visit the Disney World or Disneyland Parks, on your birthday.  You get into a Disney Park for free.

If you already have your tickets, you can still enjoy another special birthday present.  You can choose a Disney Birthday Fun Card to go shopping at the parks or Downtown Disney or a special FastPass to use during your birthday.  It is the ultimate birthday present, Disney style.  One of our agents just celebrated her birthday at Magic Kingdom at Disney World, click here to watch her review of the free ticket promotion.