News & Reviews about popular, magical destinations. From castles to cruises and wizards to the mouse, you will find plenty of planning information here.
Author: Melissa Mathies
Disney and theme park travel information & tips from a family focused travel agent, mom & theme park guru.
Blogs: www.YourTripToTheMagic.com and www.MelissaAndTheMouse.com
Agent site: www.PixieDustAdvntures.com
Tickets are now on sale for the 2019 Holiday celebration in Walt Disney World, better known as Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
The party runs from 7pm – midnight on select days from Nov 8th – Dec 22nd. Ticket prices start at $99 on select nights. View pricing details in the photos below. During past parties guests have been allowed to enter the Magic Kingdom beginning at 4pm with their party ticket.
The Christmas party is filled with fun for people of all ages. Snowfall on Main Street will return this year as well as the parade, stage shows, themed attractions, special character meets and we can’t forget about the sweets & treats. From cookies to hot cocoa & sparkling cider there is enough sugar involved in the party to make any dentist cringe. But don’t hold back on my account, I know I will be saving my appetite so I can have several of everything offered.
Let me help plan the details of your Walt Disney World Vacation!
Which hotel is the right fit for your family? Where to dine, attractions, crowds and all that goes along with planning a vacation is a lot to think about. With a Disney-focused travel agent by your side, you can plan as much or as little as you desire. My planning assistance all comes at NO additional cost to you and is based on countless hours of personal experience.
Receive a welcome packet when you book, with park information & a custom planning calendar.
Dining reservation assistance. Let me help you make your dining reservations for those popular Disney Restaurants. *based on availability
Fastpass+ assistance. Undecided on which attractions are the best for your family? I’m happy to help you plan to utilize your Fastpasses to your advantage and will also provide assistance making those reservations *based on availability
Itinerary plans and printed itinerary with added suggestions to optimize your day and your experiences.
Fee-Free Planning. All of my planning assistance is complimentary when you book your trip through me, you will get all of the services that Disney offers, plus the personalized service that I offer.
Custom Client Portal – I always like to stay on top of the newest technology and once you are booked, we can set up a free client portal where we can share documents & you can view details about your vacation.
Help planning visits to other Orlando area attractions outside of the Disney theme parks. If you are considering adding other Orlando attractions to your vacation, why not get assistance from someone who is local and has been there?
You get all of this complimentary planning, and more, when you book your Disney vacation through Melissa of Pixie Dust Adventures (me). Click here to visit my website & fill out a quote form, or contact me so we can set up a time to chat about your dream vacation.
Thank you for reading. My name is Melissa and I am a Disney fanatic, I’m also a travel agent. You will find me almost every weekend in one of the Disney theme parks with my family exploring all of the newest things that Disney has to offer. Melissa Mathies – Pixie Dust Adventures www.PixieDustAdventures.com Melissa@PixieDustAdventures.com
There are some enchantments coming to the ABC Commissary restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This restaurant offers a quick-service lunch menu and a fast-casual dinner menu. Menu options include things like a Vegan Burger, a BBQ Rib Platter, a Teriyaki Bowl and more.
Over the next few months the restaurant will be getting some new enhancements that include a self-serve beverage station & a new Art-Deco-inspired theme.
The major new addition will be optional reservations beginning on June 2, 2019 for meals starting at 4:00pm daily. This will be the second quick service restaurant to offer reservations, but they will not be required as they are at Be Our Guest Restaurant in Magic Kingdom. Like Be Our Guest Restaurant, guests will place their order at the cash register, take a pager & their meal will be delivered to them once it is ready. With reservations at ABC Commissary guests will enjoy the same fast-casual dining experience with guaranteed seating.
My thoughts… From my previous experience at the ABC Commissary we have never had a great deal of trouble finding a seat, so the addition of dinner reservations has a few thoughts running through my head. 1. Disney is testing this & preparing for the onslaught of crowds that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is sure to bring when it opens in August. 2.Disney is testing this method of dining reservation to use in future quick service restaurants such as the space themed restaurant coming to Epcot & the quick service restaurants in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
I have been told that the restaurant will continue to accept the Disney Dining Plans and is currently 1 quick service credit per meal, including the dinner reservations.
Will the dinner reservations at ABC Commissary be permanent? That all remains to be seen. Stay tuned for more Disney news.
It is important to choose a Disney focused travel planner when planning your vacation. They will keep you up to date on all of the necessary reservations for your vacation.
Let me help plan the details of your Walt Disney World Vacation!
Which hotel is the right fit for your family? Where to dine, attractions, crowds and all that goes along with planning a vacation is a lot to think about. With a Disney-focused travel agent by your side, you can plan as much or as little as you desire. My planning assistance all comes at NO additional cost to you and is based on countless hours of personal experience.
Receive a welcome packet when you book, with park information & a custom planning calendar.
Dining reservation assistance. Let me help you make your dining reservations for those popular Disney Restaurants. *based on availability
Fastpass+ assistance. Undecided on which attractions are the best for your family? I’m happy to help you plan to utilize your Fastpasses to your advantage and will also provide assistance making those reservations *based on availability
Itinerary plans and printed itinerary with added suggestions to optimize your day and your experiences.
Fee-Free Planning. All of my planning assistance is complimentary when you book your trip through me, you will get all of the services that Disney offers, plus the personalized service that I offer.
Custom Client Portal – I always like to stay on top of the newest technology and once you are booked, we can set up a free client portal where we can share documents & you can view details about your vacation.
Help planning visits to other Orlando area attractions outside of the Disney theme parks. If you are considering adding other Orlando attractions to your vacation, why not get assistance from someone who is local and has been there?
You get all of this complimentary planning, and more, when you book your Disney vacation through Melissa of Pixie Dust Adventures (me). Click here to visit my website & fill out a quote form, or contact me so we can set up a time to chat about your dream vacation.
Thank you for reading. My name is Melissa and I am a Disney fanatic, I’m also a travel agent. You will find me almost every weekend in one of the Disney theme parks with my family exploring all of the newest things that Disney has to offer. Melissa Mathies – Pixie Dust Adventures www.PixieDustAdventures.com Melissa@PixieDustAdventures.com
Universal Orlando is long overdue for a new thrill ride and we’ve been waiting to hear what attraction would replace the Dueling Dragons roller coaster in Hogsmeade. Now we have more new details, an opening date & even a video interview with Tom Felton (who plays Draco Malfoy) and Alan Gilmore (Art director for the Harry Potter films).
What we know:
Universal Orlando tells us…
It begins when guests join Hagrid’s Care of Magical Creatures class and board magical motorbikes specially designed to make them feel the freedom of flight. For this journey, guests can either ride the motorcycle or board the adjacent sidecar, providing two unique experiences. For the first time, fans will soar through the Forbidden Forest and come face-to-face with some of the wizarding world’s rarest magical creatures… but as often the case with Hagrid, things don’t go as planned.
Opening Date: June 13th, 2019
You must be 48-inches or taller to ride the roller coaster, with specially designed cars to make you feel the freedom of flight.
This new experience combines a new level of storytelling and innovative coaster technology with rich environments and sets – including an actual forest with 1,200 live trees!
Guests will hurl past challenging obstacles, drop into an endless pit of Devil’s Snare and so much more …while encountering a few surprises along the way.
Encounter some of the wizarding world’s rarest magical creatures, such as a majestic Centaur; a swarm of mischievous Cornish Pixies; Fluffy the three-headed dog; and even one that’s never been seen in the films.
Guests will experience a freewheeling coaster flight where they will twist, turn and rush forward – and backward – at speeds of up to 50 mph into the dark forest.
Who else is excited to be one of the first to experience this brand new, thrilling attraction at Universal Orlando?
Let me help plan the details of your Wizarding World Universal Orlando Vacation!
Itinerary plans and printed itinerary booklet that will service as a guide for your day to day activities as well as a fun keepsake when you return.
Fee-Free Planning. All of my planning assistance is complimentary when you book your trip through me, you will get all of the services that universal offers, plus the personalized service that I offer.
Custom Client Portal – I always like to stay on top of the newest technology and once you are booked, we can set up a free client portal where we can share documents & you can view details about your vacation.
You get all of this complimentary planning, and more, when you book your Universal vacation through Melissa of Pixie Dust Adventures (me). Click here to visit my website & get started with a no obligation quote.
Thank you for reading. My name is Melissa and I am a theme park fanatic, I’m also a travel agent. You will find me almost every weekend, in one of the Orlando theme parks with my family, exploring all of the newest things that they have to offer. Melissa Mathies – Pixie Dust Adventures www.PixieDustAdventures.com Melissa@PixieDustAdventures.com
I get asked all the time how to get the best price on a Disney Cruise. This is it folks, book as soon as you possibly can for the summer of 2020. School will be out & the ships will fill quickly. Disney Cruise line is very popular in the summer for obvious reasons. Reservations open next week on a sliding scale:
March 4, 2019: Platinum Members
March 5, 2019: Platinum and Gold Members
March 6, 2019: Platinum, Gold and Silver Members
March 7, 2019: All Guests
Next week Disney cruise line will reservations through August of 2020. The Fantasy & Dream will continue to sail from Port Canaveral while and the Disney Wonder will visit Alaska while the Disney Magic goes to Europe.
The Caribbean Whether you’re looking for a short escape or a weeklong vacation at sea, our 2020 Caribbean lineup has you covered!
Western Caribbean
2020 Disney Fantasy 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral: 6/6, 6/20, 7/18, 8/1, 8/15
Day 1: Port Canaveral, Florida
Day 2: At Sea
Day 3: Cozumel, Mexico
Day 4: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Day 5: Falmouth, Jamaica
Day 6: At Sea
Day 7: Disney Castaway Cay
Day 8: Port Canaveral, Florida
2020 Disney Fantasy 5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral: 7/6
Day 1: Port Canaveral, Florida
Day 2: At Sea
Day 3: Cozumel, Mexico
Day 4: At Sea
Day 5: Disney Castaway Cay
Day 6: Port Canaveral, Florida
2020 Disney Fantasy 5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral: 9/7
Day 1: Port Canaveral, Florida
Day 2: Disney Castaway Cay
Day 3: At Sea
Day 4: Cozumel, Mexico
Day 5: At Sea
Day 6: Port Canaveral, Florida
2020 Disney Fantasy 5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral: 9/19
Day 1: Port Canaveral, Florida
Day 2: At Sea
Day 3: Cozumel, Mexico
Day 4: At Sea
Day 5: Disney Castaway Cay
Day 6: Port Canaveral, Florida
2020 Disney Fantasy 5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral: 9/29
Day 1: Port Canaveral, Florida
Day 2: At Sea
Day 3: Cozumel, Mexico
Day 4: At Sea
Day 5: Disney Castaway Cay
Day 6: Port Canaveral, Florida
Eastern Caribbean
2020 Disney Fantasy 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral: 6/13, 7/11, 7/25, 8/8, 9/12
Day 1: Port Canaveral, Florida
Day 2: At Sea
Day 3: At Sea
Day 4: Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Day 5: St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Day 6: At Sea
Day 7: Disney Castaway Cay
Day 8: Port Canaveral, Florida
2020 Disney Fantasy 9-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral: 6/27
Day 1: Port Canaveral, Florida Day 2: At Sea Day 3: At Sea Day 4: Basseterre, St. Kitts Day 5: Forte-de-France, Martinique Day 6: St. John’s, Antigua Day 7: St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands Day 8: At Sea Day 9: Disney Castaway Cay Day 10: Port Canaveral, Florida
The Bahamas Set sail on a tropical Bahamian getaway from Port Canaveral. Select itineraries will whisk you off to a variety of idyllic destinations, including Disney Castaway Cay, our private island.
2020 Disney Dream 4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral: 6/1, 6/8, 7/13, 7/20, 7/27, 8/3, 8/10, 8/17, 9/14, 9/28
Day 1: Port Canaveral, Florida
Day 2: Nassau, Bahamas
Day 3: Disney Castaway Cay
Day 4: At Sea
Day 5: Port Canaveral, Florida
2020 Disney Dream 5-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral with 2 Stops at Castaway Cay: 6/12, 6/26
Day 1: Port Canaveral, Florida
Day 2: Disney Castaway Cay
Day 3: Nassau, Bahamas
Day 4: Disney Castaway Cay
Day 5: At Sea
Day 6: Port Canaveral, Florida
2020 Disney Dream 5-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral with 2 Stops at Castaway Cay: 6/21, 7/5
Day 1: Port Canaveral, Florida
Day 2: Disney Castaway Cay
Day 3: Nassau, Bahamas
Day 4: Disney Castaway Cay
Day 5: At Sea
Day 6: Port Canaveral, Florida
2020 Disney Dream 3-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral: 6/5, 7/10, 7/17, 7/24, 7/31, 8/7, 8/14, 8/21, 9/18, 9/25
Day 1: Port Canaveral, Florida
Day 2: Nassau, Bahamas
Day 3: Disney Castaway Cay
Day 4: Port Canaveral, Florida
2020 Disney Dream 4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral with 2 Stops at Castaway Cay: 6/17, 7/1
Day 1: Port Canaveral, Florida
Day 2: Disney Castaway Cay
Day 3: Nassau, Bahamas
Day 4: Disney Castaway Cay
Day 5: Port Canaveral, Florida
2020 Disney Fantasy 3-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral: 8/22
Day 1: Port Canaveral, Florida
Day 2: At Sea
Day 3: Disney Castaway Cay
Day 4: Port Canaveral, Florida
2020 Disney Fantasy 3-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral with 2 Stops at Castaway Cay: 8/25, 8/28
Day 1: Port Canaveral, Florida
Day 2: Disney Castaway Cay
Day 3: Disney Castaway Cay
Day 4: Port Canaveral, Florida
2020 Disney Fantasy 4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral: 8/31
Day 1: Port Canaveral, Florida
Day 2: Nassau, Bahamas
Day 3: Disney Castaway Cay
Day 4: At Sea
Day 5: Port Canaveral, Florida
2020 Disney Fantasy 3-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral: 9/4
Day 1: Port Canaveral, Florida
Day 2: Nassau, Bahamas
Day 3: Disney Castaway Cay
Day 4: Port Canaveral, Florida
2020 Disney Dream 4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral: 9/21
Day 1: Port Canaveral, Florida
Day 2: Disney Castaway Cay
Day 3: Nassau, Bahamas
Day 4: At Sea
Day 5: Port Canaveral, Florida
2020 Disney Fantasy 5-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral with 2 Stops at Castaway Cay: 9/24 Day 1: Port Canaveral, Florida Day 2: At Sea Day 3: Disney Castaway Cay Day 4: Nassau, Bahamas Day 5: Disney Castaway Cay Day 6: Port Canaveral, Florida
Alaska Be awestruck by majestic vistas and amazing Alaskan wildlife when you visit “The Last Frontier.”
Day 1: Vancouver (British Columbia), Canada
Day 2: At Sea
Day 3: Dawes Glacier, Alaska
Day 4: Skagway, Alaska
Day 5: Juneau, Alaska
Day 6: Ketchikan, Alaska
Day 7: At Sea
Day 8: Vancouver (British Columbia), Canada
2020 Disney Wonder 7-Night Alaskan Cruise from Vancouver: 7/20, 9/7
Day 1: Vancouver (British Columbia), Canada Day 2: At Sea Day 3: Dawes Glacier, Alaska Day 4: Icy Strait Point, Alaska Day 5: Juneau, Alaska Day 6: Ketchikan, Alaska Day 7: At Sea Day 8: Vancouver (British Columbia), Canada
Europe Explore Europe while experiencing the magic of Disney—offering a variety of fascinating destinations to explore.
2020 Magic 12-Night Eastbound Transatlantic Cruise from Miami to Barcelona: 5/11
Day 1: Miami, Florida
Day 2: At Sea
Day 3: At Sea
Day 4: At Sea
Day 5: At Sea
Day 6: At Sea
Day 7: At Sea
Day 8: Ponta Delgada (Azores), Portugal
Day 9: At Sea
Day 10: Lisbon, Portugal
Day 11: Cadiz, Spain
Day 12: At Sea
Day 13: Barcelona, Spain
2020 Disney Magic 7-Night Mediterranean Cruise from Barcelona: 5/23
Day 1: Barcelona, Spain
Day 2: At Sea
Day 3: Salerno (Pompeii), Italy
Day 4: Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Day 5: Livorno (Florence, Pisa), Italy
Day 6: Villefranche (Monte Carlo, Cannes, Nice), France
Day 7: At Sea
Day 8: Barcelona, Spain
2020 Disney Magic 7-Night Mediterranean Cruise from Barcelona: 5/30
Day 1: Barcelona, Spain
Day 2: At Sea
Day 3: Naples (Pompeii), Italy
Day 4: Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Day 5: Livorno (Florence, Pisa), Italy
Day 6: Toulon (Provence), France
Day 7: At Sea
Day 8: Barcelona, Spain
2020 Disney Magic 7-Night Mediterranean Cruise from Barcelona to Civitavecchia (Rome): 6/6
Day 1: Barcelona, Spain
Day 2: Toulon (Provence), France
Day 3: Villefranche (Monte Carlo, Cannes, Nice), France
Day 4: Genoa (Milan), Italy
Day 5: Livorno (Florence, Pisa), Italy
Day 6: At Sea
Day 7: Naples (Pompeii), Italy
Day 8: Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
2020 Disney Magic 9-Night Mediterranean with Greek Isles Cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome): 6/13
Day 1: Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Day 2: Messina (Sicily), Italy
Day 3: At Sea
Day 4: Santorini, Greece
Day 5: Piraeus (Athens), Greece
Day 6: Mykonos, Greece
Day 7: Heraklion (Crete), Greece
Day 8: At Sea
Day 9: Naples (Pompeii), Italy
Day 10: Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
2020 Disney Magic 9-Night Mediterranean with Greek Isles Cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome): 6/22
Day 1: Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Day 2: At Sea
Day 3: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Day 4: Katakolon, Greece
Day 5: Santorini, Greece
Day 6: Piraeus (Athens), Greece
Day 7: Mykonos, Greece
Day 8: At Sea
Day 9: Naples (Pompeii), Italy
Day 10: Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
2020 Disney Magic 12-Night Mediterranean with Greek Isles Cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Barcelona: 7/1
Day 1: Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Day 2: Messina (Sicily), Italy
Day 3: At Sea
Day 4: Santorini, Greece
Day 5: Piraeus (Athens), Greece
Day 6: Mykonos, Greece
Day 7: At Sea
Day 8: Naples (Pompeii), Italy
Day 9: Olbia (Sardinia), Italy
Day 10: Livorno (Florence, Pisa), Italy
Day 11: Cannes, France
Day 12: At Sea
Day 13: Barcelona, Spain
2020 Disney Magic 5-Night Mediterranean Cruise from Barcelona: 7/13
Day 1: Barcelona, Spain
Day 2: Cannes, France
Day 3: Livorno (Florence, Pisa), Italy
Day 4: Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Day 5: At Sea
Day 6: Barcelona, Spain
2020 Disney Magic 7-Night Western Europe Cruise from Barcelona to Dover: 7/18
Day 1: Barcelona, Spain
Day 2: Cartagena, Spain
Day 3: At Sea
Day 4: Lisbon, Portugal
Day 5: Vigo, Spain
Day 6: At Sea
Day 7: Portland (Stonehenge), England
Day 8: Dover, England
2020 Disney Magic 11-Night Northern Europe Cruise from Dover to Copenhagen: 7/25
Day 1: Dover, England
Day 2: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Day 3: At Sea
Day 4: Rostock, Germany
Day 5: Gdynia (Gdańsk), Poland
Day 6: At Sea
Day 7: St. Petersburg, Russia
Day 8: St. Petersburg, Russia
Day 9: Tallinn, Estonia
Day 10: Stockholm, Sweden
Day 11: At Sea
Day 12: Copenhagen, Denmark
2020 Disney Magic 8-Night Northern Europe Cruise from Copenhagen: 8/5
Day 1: Copenhagen, Denmark
Day 2: At Sea
Day 3: Stockholm, Sweden
Day 4: Helsinki, Finland
Day 5: St. Petersburg, Russia
Day 6: St. Petersburg, Russia
Day 7: Tallinn, Estonia
Day 8: At Sea
Day 9: Copenhagen, Denmark
2020 Disney Magic 7-Night Northern Europe Cruise from Copenhagen: 8/13
Day 1: Copenhagen, Denmark
Day 2: At Sea
Day 3: Tallinn, Estonia
Day 4: St. Petersburg, Russia
Day 5: Helsinki, Finland
Day 6: Stockholm, Sweden
Day 7: At Sea
Day 8: Copenhagen, Denmark
2020 Disney Magic 10-Night Northern Europe Cruise from Copenhagen to Dover: 8/20
Day 1: Copenhagen, Denmark
Day 2: Gothenburg, Sweden
Day 3: Oslo, Norway
Day 4: Stavanger, Norway
Day 5: At Sea
Day 6: At Sea
Day 7: Reykjavik, Iceland
Day 8: At Sea
Day 9: Kirkwall (Orkney Islands), Scotland
Day 10: At Sea
Day 11: Dover, England
2020 Disney Magic 7-Night Norwegian Fjords Cruise from Dover: 8/30
Day 1: Dover, England
Day 2: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Day 3: At Sea
Day 4: Nordfjordeid, Norway
Day 5: Alesund, Norway
Day 6: Stavanger, Norway
Day 7: At Sea
Day 8: Dover, England
2020 Disney Magic 7-Night British Isles Cruise from Dover: 9/6
Day 1: Dover, England
Day 2: Plymouth, England
Day 3: Cobh (Cork), Ireland
Day 4: Liverpool, England
Day 5: Greenock, Scotland
Day 6: Dublin, Ireland
Day 7: At Sea
Day 8: Dover, England
2020 Disney Magic 5-Night Western Europe Cruise from Dover: 9/13
Day 1: Dover, England Day 2: Amsterdam, Netherlands Day 3: Zeebrugge (Bruges), Belgium Day 4: Le Havre (Paris), France Day 5: Le Havre (Paris), France Day 6: Dover, England
Let me help plan the details of your Walt Disney World Vacation!
Which hotel is the right fit for your family? Where to dine, attractions, crowds and all that goes along with planning a vacation is a lot to think about. With a Disney-focused travel agent by your side, you can plan as much or as little as you desire. My planning assistance all comes at NO additional cost to you and is based on countless hours of personal experience.
Receive a welcome packet when you book, with park information & a custom planning calendar.
Dining reservation assistance. Let me help you make your dining reservations for those popular Disney Restaurants. *based on availability
Fastpass+ assistance. Undecided on which attractions are the best for your family? I’m happy to help you plan to utilize your Fastpasses to your advantage and will also provide assistance making those reservations *based on availability
Itinerary plans and printed itinerary with added suggestions to optimize your day and your experiences.
Fee-Free Planning. All of my planning assistance is complimentary when you book your trip through me, you will get all of the services that Disney offers, plus the personalized service that I offer.
Custom Client Portal – I always like to stay on top of the newest technology and once you are booked, we can set up a free client portal where we can share documents & you can view details about your vacation.
Help planning visits to other Orlando area attractions outside of the Disney theme parks. If you are considering adding other Orlando attractions to your vacation, why not get assistance from someone who is local and has been there?
Let me help plan the details of your Disney cruise vacation!
Which destination is the right fit for your family? Where to dine, shows, crowds and all that goes along with planning a vacation is a lot to think about. With a Disney-focused travel agent by your side, you can plan as much or as little as you desire. My complimentary planning assistance all comes at NO additional cost to you and is based on countless hours of education and personal experience.
Receive a welcome packet when you book, filled with information & a custom planning calendar.
Onboard activity & shore excursion reservation assistance. Let me help you make your reservations for those popular Disney activities. *based on availability
Itinerary plans and printed itinerary (digital only itineraries can be requested)
Complimentary Planning. All of my assistance comes at no added cost to you. When you book your trip through me, you will get all of the magical extras that Disney offers, plus the personalized service that I offer.
Assistance planning your pre or post-cruise hotel, transportation & more
You get all of this complimentary planning, and more, when you book your Disney vacation through Melissa of Pixie Dust Adventures (me). Click here to visit my website & fill out a quote form, or contact me so we can set up a time to chat about your dream vacation.
Thank you for reading. My name is Melissa and I am a Disney fanatic, I’m also a travel agent. You will find me almost every weekend in one of the Disney theme parks with my family exploring all of the newest things that Disney has to offer. Melissa Mathies – Pixie Dust Adventures www.PixieDustAdventures.com Melissa@PixieDustAdventures.com
Is scrumptious Italian food on the menu for you during your next trip to Disney Springs? If it isn’t, maybe it should be. Read through this article for a full review on our recent lunch experience in this beautiful restaurant.
We had chosen to take our family to lunch & a movie in Disney Springs for a belated Valentine’s day weekend. We chose Maria & Enzo’s because we felt that this beautifully themed, Italian restaurant offered a romantic ambiance perfect to set the mood for the holiday.
A grand staircase leads down into this storied restaurant that is set in an airline terminal from the 1930’s. The beautifully decorated, 50 foot high ceilings and windows offer tranquil views of Lake Buena Vista. Vintage maps and artifacts are playfully on display throughout the restaurant.
Overview
Location: Disney Springs Hours: lunch 11:30am – 3:30pm dinner 5:00pm – 10:00pm Dining Style: Table Service, Italian food Atmosphere: romantic & spacious My review of this experience: 5 out of 5 stars
Menu
Review from our Experience We wanted to see if we could walk into this restaurant & enjoy a late lunch without a reservation…
It happens all the time. Travelers are excited to get started on their relaxing cruise vacation, they arrive at the cruise terminal and they are denied boarding because they didn’t read the fine print before their departure. Maybe they are missing the proper documentation or didn’t even realize that they were in violation of one of the cruise line’s or even a port of call’s rules.
One way to avoid problems all together is to read through the cruise documentation that you are sent with your cruise confirmation. The terms & conditions always spell things out pretty clearly. If you still have any questions or concerns, contact your travel agent or the cruise line directly.
Top Reasons Travelers are Denied Boarding
In the Caribbean and Bermuda:
U.S. citizens with only a driver’s license
U.S. citizens with an expired passport (must be valid for 6 months after the end of your cruise)
Women more than 24 weeks pregnant
U.S. citizens without an alien resident card (ARC) or with an expired card
Foreign nationals without an I-20 form (applicable to J, F and K visa holders only)
In Alaska:
U.S. citizens with only a driver’s license
U.S. citizens with an expired passport (must be valid for 6 months after the end of your cruise)
Passengers with a recorded crime, including a DUI or DWI.
U.S. citizens without an alien resident card (ARC) or with an expired card
Foreign nationals without a Canadian visa
Canada has very strict laws about criminals crossing the boarders or coming into one of their ports. You can actually be denied boarding if you have a previous crime that they consider a felony. If you have any sort of criminal record & are considering a cruise to Alaska, that might stop in Canada (and most do), please do your due diligence prior to arriving at your departure port. CLICK HERE for a link to the U.S. Gov website that explains the Canada restrictions regarding a DUI.
If you are a U.S. citizen and you qualify to cruise without a passport, make sure you are traveling with your driver’s license and an original, state-issued birth certificate for each passenger.
Although it doesn’t affect boarding, I also highly recommend travel protection insurance for every vacation that you take. The policies can cover a wide range of things from trip cancellation and trip interruption to medical emergencies and lost luggage.
Thank you for reading. My name is Melissa and I am a travel fanatic and lifelong Disney fan. I am also a travel agent and I enjoy helping people create experiences that they will remember forever. When I have time, I enjoy blogging about travel and my experiences. You will currently find my articles at www.MelissaAndTheMouse.com , www.YourTripToTheMagic.com and my brand new partnership at www.CheersToMinnieEars.com
After feasting our way through the holidays & being spoiled by all of the good food, we couldn’t just end our holiday week with McDonald’s. We had to have some gourmet, food at Walt Disney World. We chose to have lunch at Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar in Disney Springs. Contrary to the title, this family friendly atmosphere is stunning and tells an intriguing story that does not disappoint.
The story of this restaurant refers to Maria & Enzo’s Restaurante as well as The Edison in Disney Springs and it goes like this…
While inspecting the building prior to taking full ownership, Enzo discovered a long-hidden place below the terminal that connected to abandoned sections of the next-door power plant. To Enzo’s astonishment, he came across a Prohibition-era hideaway where a team of flying rum-runners once gathered. Evidence of smuggler activity remained, untouched for decades. Enzo decided that the space might make an irresistible spot for dining and socializing to highlight the family recipes he grew up on, highlighting specialties from Rome and nearby regions.
An Italian Restaurant & Speakeasy, this restaurant is a fun & novel place to dine in Disney Springs and I will definitely visit it again. Following it’s name & story line, it is a bit of a hidden gem that can be easy to get into even when you don’t have a reservation.
Overview
Location: Disney Springs Hours: lunch 11:30am – 3:30pm dinner 5:00pm – 10:00pm Dining Style: Table Service, Italian food Atmosphere: Mysterious & edgy My review of this experience: 5 out of 5 stars
Menu
Branzino
Bread service
Canoli
Ice cream
Classic Lasagna
Kid’s Spaghetti
Roasted Chicken Saltimbocca
Review from our Experience After enjoying a movie in Disney Springs, we decided at the last minute to have lunch at Enzo’s Hideaway. They were happy to accommodate us, with no wait, even though we did not have a reservation. Reservations are recommended, but this restaurant is a good place to start if you do not. I was immediately impressed with the theme of this restaurant as we rounded the corner into the hideaway. It is what you would imagine a speakeasy to look like starting with the slot in the entrance door through the brick entrance, complete with graffiti on the walls, and ending with the hidden tunnel in the back. Yes, it DOES have a hidden tunnel where you can imagine the rum runners making a quick exit from the police during prohibition. We had a wonderful history lesson with our children over this meal. 😉 About the food – The Bread service was good with optional oil & I like to dip my bread in oil. The oil was very authentic and maybe a little bitter to my palate. – The Classic Lasagna was cheesy & a very large portion. It was cooked well and the flavor was blended. – The Branzino or Sea Bass, was tender & flaky with a slight lemon flavor. The grapes and green beans were complimentary to the fish. My husband did not care for the green beans because they were sauteed and remained a little crisp. – The Roasted Chicken Saltimbacca was my favorite. This delicious chicken was cooked to perfection and well seasoned with a tender inside and slightly crispy on the outside skin. The vegetables with it were all perfect from the tender artichokes to the broccoli and a nice flavor was added with a few capers. The entire plate was a scrumptious medley of flavors that blended well. – Chocolate Ice Cream was for dessert for my youngest & he loved the waffle chip that came with it the most. – Of course I had to try the Canoli and it did not disappoint. I wanted to lick the plate after finishing it, but thought that might be frowned upon.
We finished every bit of food on our plates and since we just consumed two buckets of popcorn at the movie prior to this lunch, that tells you that the food must have been good.
The service seemed slightly European in nature. We had to ask every time we wanted more water and they only filled the one glass. Other than that the service was prompt and with a smile in true Disney fashion.
I see this place as the perfect guys getaway or bachelor get together before a wedding. It can also be a little on the romantic side and even fun for a girlfriend celebration. Any history buff will get a huge kick out of seeing this & if your kids are missing school they can tell the history teacher that they got to learn about a speakeasy when they were on vacation.
What I would change for next time The only thing I might change for next time is not filling up on popcorn first so that I have room to try the Cannoli Sundae that looked so inviting for dessert.
Additional Information To complete your visit to this restaurant, you have to find the ‘hidden tunnel’. If you are having trouble finding it, just make a trip to the restroom. 😉
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