​Ever wished you had a Disney friend along with you in the Parks? A virtual friend who could show you the best ways to enjoy favorite attractions? Or favorite Characters? Or even favorite foods? Well, here’s a way that wish can come true!
 
Introducing Disney Genie service and Disney Genie+ service, conveniently built in to the My Disney Experience mobile app. They magically make a Theme Park visit easier and more fun. It’s like having a genie in the palm of your hand.
 
Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned pro, tap into them both to enjoy a whole new host of features that help you get the most out of your visit to Walt Disney World® Resort.
 
Let’s begin with the complimentary Disney Genie service. It creates your best Disney day inspired by your interests and offers new features to make planning easier—including a personalized itinerary creator. From specific attractions, foodie experiences and entertainment, to general interests like Disney princesses, villains, Pixar, Star Wars, thrill rides and more – just tell Disney Genie service what you love and help it suggest fun options tailored to you. You’ll love how it saves you time by seamlessly and smartly mapping out your special day with updates that continue from morning to night—just like a favorite navigation app!
 
Disney Genie service lets you be more spontaneous and enjoy more of the magic thanks to convenient access to up-to-date Park information in the moment. Create your very own personal tip board to see your favorites. It displays current estimated wait times and even forecasts future attraction wait times, helping you predict the best time to visit during the day. Disney Genie service also brings existing planning features together in one place. So you can make dining and experience reservations, mobile order food at many locations, get help from a virtual assistant and more.

You have the fun while Disney Genie service does the work.
 
Want to take your day to the next level? Just purchase Disney Genie+ service with your ticket or vacation package to add even more fun and time-saving benefits. It’s the very best way to get the absolute most out of your visit—so you can spend more time enjoying the magic with family and friends.
 
This service lets you save time waiting in line by selecting arrival windows for Lightning Lane entrances at more than 40 attractions and experiences throughout the Walt Disney World Theme Parks. You can make one selection at a time, throughout the entire day – from classics like Haunted Mansion® to thrill rides like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® and newer favorites like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (experiences subject to limited availability; limit one Lightning Lane selection per experience each day). Selections for Lightning Lane entrances can even be used across multiple Theme Parks—great for those who love the Park Hopper® option. And you can begin to secure your arrival window for Lightning Lane entrances, starting with your first selection, at 7 a.m. on the day of your visit.
 
With your purchase of Disney Genie+ service, you’ll also be able to enjoy new audio experiences that let you discover the Parks in cool new ways—through fascinating fun facts and behind-the-scenes insights. You’ll even have access to Disney PhotoPass® camera lenses for your mobile device. Explore imaginative augmented reality effects and more to make your Park memories even more interactive and fun.
 
Also introducing an “a la carte” option to purchase individual Lightning Lane entrance access for some of the most popular attractions. Buy it from your mobile device for a participating attraction and select an arrival window for that day. It’s available to Disney Resort Guests and Guests of Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels and Shades of Green at 7 a.m. each morning and all other Guests at regular Park open.
 
This “a la carte" option lets you individually purchase a time to arrive using the Lightning Lane entrance at up to two highly demanded attractions each day—like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom® Park and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at EPCOT® (subject to limited availability; attractions not included with Disney Genie+). Pricing will vary by date and attraction.

Attractions will continue to offer a traditional standby queue (or, from time to time, a virtual queue may be used at select attractions instead of the standby queue).
 
Live in the moment. Enjoy the most of the magic. And have your best Disney Theme Park day ever.
 
[DISCLAIMER]
Attractions with Lightning Lane entrances that are Disney Genie+ and individual purchases are limited in availability, subject to change or closure, may vary by date, and are not guaranteed.  To enter a Theme Park, both a valid admission and theme park reservation for the same Park and same date are required. Park reservations are limited, subject to availability, and are not guaranteed for any specific dates or park. Wait times are estimates, can vary and are subject to frequent changes within each day. Price, terms and entitlements are subject to restrictions, and change or cancellation without notice. Visit disneytraveltradeinfo.com/wdwparkreservations for details. 

Disney PhotoPass service is subject to the Disney PhotoPass Terms & Conditions and expiration policy found at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/memory-maker. Online registration required.
Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations, and features may vary by handset, service provider or otherwise. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere.  If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first.

Coming October 19, 2021 to Walt Disney World® Resort, Disney Genie is a complimentary and convenient new digital service designed to create your best Disney day. This cool new technology guides you through the Walt Disney World theme parks with tips that can help you reduce time in lines and discover magic around every corner.

Holidays are sure to be enchanting at Magic Kingdom® Park, where quintessential decorations will return to Main Street, U.S.A. When the sun sets, special holiday projections will appear most nights on Cinderella Castle, alternating periodically with the castle’s transformation into a Beacon of Magic.

Disney Very Merriest After Hours, a new special-ticketed event, will debut November 8 at Magic Kingdom Park and will be available on select nights through December 21. The four hours of festivities will delight guests with “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks,” Disney characters throughout the park, holiday music and décor, treats included and so much more! As with other Disney After Hours events, a limited number of tickets will be sold for this event. It’s held after regular park operating hours, with lower wait times and access to more than 20 select attractions.​

It will be a wild holiday time at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park with the return of seasonal décor and festive Disney character flotillas sailing down Discovery River to the sounds of joyful songs of the season. The park’s centerpiece – The Tree of Life – becomes another Beacon of Magic most nights during the 50th anniversary celebration. During the holiday season there’s even more magic inspired by nature as the holiday edition of Tree of Life Awakenings also takes place most nights. ​

It's not too late to plan your trip to Walt Disney World for the holidays! Reach out to your Whimsical Wishes Travel Advisor to get started.

​Get ready for the celebration 50 years in the making.

Beginning October 1, be immersed in a sparkling EARidescent experience like no other – The World’s Most Magical Celebration. It’s a place and time to celebrate the small stuff, the big stuff and even the in-between stuff. Share the magical memories you helped create over the last 50 years. And kick off the next era where the best is yet to come.

Come be immersed in shimmering EARidescence and experience special touches, from embellishments, from on Cinderella Castle to décor throughout the Theme Parks and beyond. 

Magic Transforms the Night Sky
As part of the 50th Anniversary Celebration at Walt Disney World® Resort, two all-new epic nighttime spectacular shows are being introduced! Disney Enchantment will take Guests at Magic Kingdom® Park on an incredible journey filled with adventure, wonder and empowerment. With captivating Disney music, stunning fireworks and immersive projection effects that extend down Main Street, U.S.A. ®, Enchantment will inspire everyone to believe in magic again.

Harmonious at EPCOT®
The second new show, Harmonious, is one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for a Disney Park. With innovative floating set pieces, vibrant lasers and dancing fountains, Guests will discover the power of Disney music as it inspires and unites us all with the magic of possibility.

Disney KiteTails
Incredible kites and colorful windcatchers will have your senses soaring during Disney KiteTails, an all-new, high-flying performance at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park beginning October 1.

Disney Fab 50 Character Collection
Across all four Theme Parks, Disney Fab 50 Characters cast in gold wait to be discovered Stay tuned to learn more about how they’ll inspire surprising new ways you can interact with the Walt Disney World® 50th Anniversary Celebration!

EARidescent 50th Fashion
Daisy, Donald, Goofy, Pluto and Chip ‘n’ Dale join Mickey and Minnie at Magic Kingdom® Park in dazzling new styles ready to welcome you to The World’s Most Magical Celebration.

Whether it’s your first time or your 50th, get ready for classic favorites and new adventures unlike any other place on Earth. Come celebrate the small stuff. The big stuff. And all the in-between stuff. Share the magic you helped create over the last 50 years. And kick off the next era where the best is yet to come.

Are you ready to celebrate? Get started planning your magical vacation now!

Go beyond your everyday. Beyond any ordinary vacation. Beyond any Star Wars story you’ve ever seen. Step aboard Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, a revolutionary new 2-night experience where you are the hero of your own Star Wars story.

Kristen, Melissa and Kayla chose Disney's Boardwalk Villas for their first anniversary stay at Walt Disney World! This charming and elegant waterfront resort is a blast from the past in the most enjoyable way.  From the saltwater taffy colored cottages to the ragtime sounds and carnival pastimes, it's entirely reminiscent of the turn of the century Atlantic City. 

Disney's Boardwalk Villas is walking distance to Epcot & Hollywood Studios; the Friendship Boats are also happy to transport you to either park, as well as to Disney's Yacht and Beach Club. We loved being able to take a quick break in the afternoon; it was so nice to be able to walk out of Epcot and back to our room in a matter of minutes. It was just as easy to turn around and head back to the park when we were ready!

We picked up breakfast at the Boardwalk Bakery and enjoyed our coffee al fresco, taking in the sights and sounds of the water and boardwalk area. We've enjoyed many of the restaurants on the Boardwalk on past trips, most recently breakfast at Trattoria al Forno was delicious and easy to visit before heading into Epcot. We cannot wait for one of our favorite signature restaurants, Flying Fish, to reopen! With easy access to the restaurants at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club, there's no shortage of dining options available when you stay at Disney's Boardwalk Villas.

We were so excited to check out the newly refurbished pool area! The Keister Coaster replaced the polarizing clown slide with colorful cartoons of the Fab 5 greeting guests as they make their way down this fun water slide. Leaping Horse Libations, themed after a carousel, was also open for tropical drinks and tasty snacks at the Luna Park Pool.

We stayed in a Deluxe Studio, which we chose because of the convenient bedding arrangement fo three adults - one queen size bed, one double pullout sofa bed and one twin pullout bed. We had plenty of room to spread out and put away all of our stuff. The kitchenette area was so nice to have; we utilized the fridge, extra counter space and sink, and the single-use silverware and plates came in handy. Check out our room tour video below for a complete walk-through!

Here are some more photos from our Deluxe Studio! The view from our balcony was considered a Standard View, but we loved seeing the Skyliner at night!

Overall, we loved our stay at Disney's Boardwalk Villas! On our last day, we were pixie dusted with an extra special visit from our friends at check-out. We can't wait to see them again real soon!

Kayla, Kristen and Melissa became first time annual passholders at Universal Orlando Resort earlier this year. We decided to celebrate with a stay at Loews Royal Pacific Resort!​

This resort has a beautiful, laid back atmosphere with South Pacific vibes. From the moment we set foot on the bridge, we felt like we were on vacation. From the amazing smell in the lobby to the sandy shores off the water, everything was tropical and relaxing.

The short walk and water taxi ride to the theme parks and CityWalk were so convenient. Either way, the parks were only 10-15 minutes away from the resort.

We started our morning with coffee and smoothies at Tuk Tuk Market, which serves Starbucks beverages and other prepared breakfast items. The Orchid Court Lounge, which serves up fresh made sushi in the evenings, has a stunning chandelier and fun modern flare. Jake's American Bar is open for lunch and dinner featuring craft beers, specialty cocktails and classic American fare.

The zero-entry swimming pool and it's accompanying sandy beach is a serene escape from the heat and the hustle of the parks. Swing over to the Bula Bar during your stay for a frosty island-themed beverage. 

The most valuable part of our stay at Loews Royal Pacific Resort was the complimentary Universal Express Unlimited ride access, which is included for all resort guests. It was such a huge savings, both in dollars and in time! We would never visit the parks without it. 

Early park admission, which is included for all guests staying on-site at Universal Orlando Resort, was also a huge perk. We had early access to Universal's Islands of Adventure during our stay so we were able to ride Hagrid's Magical Creature Motorbike Adventure before the park opened to the general public!

Here's a video tour of our room, a standard room with two queen beds. These accommodations are also available with one king bed or a view of the water, pool, etc. 

We would highly recommend this resort to anyone considering a trip to Universal Orlando Resort!

​If you have any questions about Loews Royal Pacific Resort, reach out to your Whimsical Wishes travel advisor. 

The Whimsical Wishes team just returned from a holiday trip to our favorite place on Earth: Walt Disney World! 

This was our first time back together since we launched the agency. It was long overdue and we had so much fun.

The holidays is one of our favorite times to visit Walt Disney World! The magic is alive all around you - in the parks, at the hotels - no detail is missed.

Every trip, we dedicate time to researching new things so we wrote a list of our key trip takeaways to not only share our personal experience with you, but show that the magic is alive and well in Walt Disney World for all to enjoy.

#1. Unique Opportunities to See Characters

This is one of our favorite pictures from our trip! We were talking towards Adventureland when we stumbled across Eeyore and Rabbit on the porch of Crystal Palace.

​We loved seeing characters pop up all around the parks like this! Whenever the music played, we knew we were in for a treat. Characters made their way around the parks on decorated boats, tricked out cars and holiday themed floats.

We really enjoyed the characters waving from the Main Street USA Railroad platform; we loved being able to spontaneously walk up and chat or selfie with our friends from a distance.

#2. The Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

Our first taste of the Festival was from one of our favorite booths, Las Posadas, in Mexico. We loved sharing this tostada and these holiday flavored margaritas. We could have spent a whole week tasting our way around the Festival!

We played along with Olaf's Holiday Tradition Expedition as we traveled around the World Showcase. Kiddos would love finding him in his sleigh in each pavilion, probably as much as we did!

The highlight was the Voices of Liberty; we were missing Candlelight Processional this year but this brought us a beautiful touch of one of our favorite live performances. We can't wait to see what live performances return in the New Year.

#3. Experiencing our Favorite Ride Queues
​
We're all used to FastPass+ helping us skip to the front of the line but while this service is suspended, it was nice to take in the magical details of our favorite ride queues. The queue from Peter Pan's Flight takes you into the Darling home to play with Tinkerbell before you board the attraction. While the lines appear long because of physical distancing measures, we found they moved at a great pace and we were never bored or wishing for something to see.

#4. New Dining Experiences

It had been a long since we'd experienced dinner at Hollywood & Vine in Disney's Hollywood Studios. We were excited to try Minnie's Holiday Dine with the new a la carté menu.

We were pleasantly surprised and enjoyed every element of the experience. The character interaction was a lot of fun; the characters were dressed in their holiday best as they danced around our table. All of the food was great, too!

While not all of our go-to restaurants are open, it was a treat to have some new experiences this trip including Rose & Crown, Trattoria al Forno and the new prix-fix lunch at Be Our Guest.

#5. Castle Projections and Fireworks

It was nice to see a hint of Minnie's Holiday Christmastime spectacular this holiday season. The details and the movements within the projections were captivating and festive. 

We were treated to a burst of fireworks every time the castle projections changed; it was amazing to see the sky light up over Cinderella's Castle again.

We spent the better part of our evening soaking in the magic and we can't wait until we're watching fireworks show on Main Street again.

#6. The Magic of Magic Shots

We will never stop singing the praises of Memory Maker and PhotoPass photographers. It's always nice to get pictures of the three of us together but the Magic Shots this trip were extra special. This is our favorite Magic Shot from this trip; the photographer who took these photos could not have been sweeter. Always ask your Photopass photographers if they have any Magic Shots they can take for you and your family.

#7. Enjoying the Small Moments

We always encourage our clients to slow down and take the time to soak in the magic. We are guilty of not always doing that for ourselves but after being apart for the last 9 months, we made a point to relax, enjoy each other and appreciate the every minute. We spent time hanging out on the curb in Hollywood Studios; we drank our coffee and enjoyed a holiday treat while multiple character cavalcades passed us by. We sought out new photo ops (#prettyinpinkwall) and sampled colorful milks on Batuu (#teamblue). Even though it was chilly, we paid a visit to Stormalong Bay and enjoyed a drink by the pool. We enjoyed every second on Main Street, whether we were photographing characters or buying gifts for our families at the Emporium and Confectionary. 

#7: Stay close to the parks

There are certain resorts that are more convenient than others in the current climate. We recommend staying close to the park you plan to visit the most. If you’re going to spend more than one day at Magic Kingdom, staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort or Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort are the most convenient as you can walk across the street and into the park. If you’re going to frequent Epcot or Hollywood Studios, you’ll appreciate the ease of accessing these parks from Disney’s Beach Club Villas, Disney’s Yacht Club or Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Villas. If you’re hoping for a more economical option, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort offers easy access to Disney’s Skyliner which will get you quickly to either Epcot or Hollywood Studios.
If you want to try something new, consider Disney’s Riviera Resort. We had a chance to explore this resort for the first time on our most recent trip and it is beautiful! The 1- and 2-bedroom villas are great for families, the dining options are plentiful and the pools are beautiful. You can also easily access Disney’s Skyliner for a quick ride to either Epcot or Hollywood Studios.

Thank you for following our new blog series, Melissa's European Adventures! While cruises and much travel have been put on hold, it brings me joy to share our experiences and adventures with you. If you missed the first post in this series sharing the start of our Mediterranean Disney Cruise vacation in Barcelona, check it out!

We woke up and were in Italy! Ciao Italia! Docking in Naples offers a range of Port Adventures that can take you to a variety of locations, whether you are looking to take in some history or beautiful scenery. We had dreamt of visiting Capri, so we opted to spend the day there. We took a jet-boat ride to Capri, then boarded a shuttle to Anacapri. Our Port Adventure guide was so welcoming and informative. First, we had free time to explore the breathtaking views of the city and marina. We loved exploring the narrow streets and pathways to discover gardens, charming homes, and lovely scenery. Capri is the home of Limoncello- we enjoyed a few samples and as a result, our first souvenir from the cruise was purchased! My daughter was intrigued by the various sandal-makers located on the island. The Capri sandals date back to ancient times. This mom can't say no to a new pair of beautiful sandals! We found a small sandal shop on a side street and were greeted by the very talented sandal-maker himself. We chose the style, the color leather, he took our measurements and a short time later, we both walked out with a truly memorable souvenir- matching, custom Capri sandals, handmade before our very eyes. We then took a short bus ride down to Capri with our group for a truly delicious Italian, al fresco lunch, filled with antipasti, pasta, and meat.. After lunch, our guide took us on a walk through Piazza Umberto, through the "Rodeo Drive" of Capri, then up to the Gardens of Augustus for an absolutely breathtaking view of the Faraglioni rock formations and the Mediterranean. I could have stood there for hours, taking in the view. On our walk back to the funicular, we couldn't pass up stopping for gelato at the historic Gelateria Buonocore. The smell of their fresh made waffle cones that permeated the air was irresistible!