Is Characters in Flight at Downtown Disney Loosing Steam?

The newest attraction at Downtown Disney West Side is called Characters in Flight. It is a tethered balloon ride that goes up about 400 feet above Downtown Disney. It is an incredible view, but many of us locals are wondering if it is worth it. Since the recent opening of this new attraction, our agents have tried many times to go ride this new attraction. Being locals, it is just a quick drive up the road. However, all of the times we have tried to ride this attraction we have never been able to do so. The reason...the ride will not operate due to wind or rain. This is Florida and it certainly does get windy and rainy around here, so that can be quite an issue for this new attraction.

We got lucky last Friday when some of our agents were visiting Disney's Hollywood Studios for the 20th Anniversary. We saw the balloon floating in the air and had to go ride it. We just left Disney's Hollywood Studios where Tower of Terror (one of the most popular rides at Disney) only had a 20 minute wait. We got to the Characters in Flight and got really excited. There were a few people on the dock waiting for their ride (maybe around 20 people) and then 10 people in line to purchase tickets. We actually thought we got there before the crowds for a quick ride. I know, I know, being locals we should have known better.

We spent 30 minutes waiting in line just to buy the tickets. I know you would think that 10 people in line should go a little bit faster, what happened? With this ride, they only allow a certain number of people on the dock or as they call it "on deck" to ride. Once they reach a certain number, they stop selling tickets. While we waited, they stopped selling tickets twice.

Once we got the opportunity to purchase the tickets, we headed down to the dock. We waited for two balloon rides and then it was out turn. The whole experience from getting in line to riding the Characters in Flight balloon took 1 hour and 15 minutes. It was quite funny to us, since it really looked like no line for this attraction. We talked with one of the Cast Members after the ride to get some more details on the wait. This is a balloon ride and the number of people riding vary depend on the weather conditions. Since it was a little windy, they only allowed 10 people at a time instead of the usual 20 people. This caused what seemed to be a "short line" into a very long wait.

If this looks like a ride that you want to try during your Disney World vacation, we have some tips to better your experience. First, call Disney Guest Services (from your resort phone) before heading to Downtown Disney to make sure the Characters in Flight is operational. Second, get to the ride at opening to avoid any lines at all.

Happy Flying!

Thrill of a Lifetime at Walt Disney World - Drive a Real IndyCar

A couple of our agents got to experience a thrill of a lifetime at Walt Disney World! The newest recreational activity at Disney World is called the Indy Racing Experience. The Indy Racing Experience allows you to either ride along with a professional driver or drive a real Indy Race Car around the Walt Disney World Speedway. Yes, Disney World has their very own racetrack!

The experience starts out around 3 PM to fill out some paperwork and suit up in our firesuits. The firesuits and shoes were actually kinda cool and got us in the mood for speed. The drivers got a short instruction session about driving the cars. The drivers were then suited up with caps and helmets. For the driving experience, you get to sit in a single driver IndyCar. You follow a professional driver as you go around the Walt Disney World Speedway. If you speed up, the driver will speed up. This means you can go as fast or as slow as you want to go. You take eight laps around the track. Our agent's drive experience brought him to speeds up to 101 miles per hour. Needless to say, our agent loved the experience. He was ready to go again.

I got the chance for my ride along after all of the drive experiences. We got our masks and helmets on and climbed into the back of a two seater IndyCar. The professional driver sits in the front of the car and the riders sit in the back. The ride along experiences go much faster than the drives. Our fastest speed was 135 miles per hour. The rides take 3 laps around the Walt Disney World Speedway. It was exhillirating!

The cost is actually quite reasonable. The ridealong is $109 plus tax and the drive is $399 plus tax. There are a few requirements for the Indy Racing Experience. You must be at least 18 years old and under 6'5" and under 250 lbs. This is a great evening activity that takes just a few hours. Family members can stay on the track and take pictures and video while the drivers and riders take their experience. There is even an air-conditioned room if some of the family members need a break in the Florida heat. The Indy Racing Experience does provide shuttle transportation from the Disney Ticket & Transportation Center to the track for Disney Resort guests.

It was an incredible experience for any thrill seekers who wants more excitement than riding Tower of Terror or Expedition Everest. Try a ride or drive with the Indy Racing Experience! For more information, click on this link or call them at 888-357-5002.

Adventures by Disney - The Ultimate Family Vacation

The Disney Difference

An Adventures by Disney vacation is unlike any vacation you can experience on your own! Learn historic legends, marvel at miraculous sights and turn once-in-a-lifetime moments into memories you’ll cherish forever. Adventures by Disney knows that every corner of the globe has an extraordinary story to tell.

With the impeccable service and attention to detail offered by Adventures by Disney, you can relax and truly enjoy the magic of their destination! Vacation-planning experts have traveled the globe crafting fun, immersive, authentic experiences with you in mind. Hand-selected hotels, activities and restaurants that are particularly family friendly are just a few examples of the Disney Difference Guests can experience. The Disney Difference also includes highly trained Adventure Guides, specially designed family programs, special access to popular attractions, and so much more to set Adventures by Disney apart from other guided vacations, and make your vacation truly magical. Here are just a few examples of ways you can experience the Disney Difference:

Adventure Guides

From the moment you arrive to your final goodbye, two Adventure Guides introduce the cultures and lore of each destination, while providing personal attention and excellent service every step of the way. From dining reservations to hotel check-ins, from arranging special experiences to ensuring you never have to worry about your luggage, they make sure your adventure is seamless and special.

Adventure Guides are storytellers at heart with a certain knack for making sure every moment is a happy one. No matter where in the world your adventure takes you, the two Adventure Guides know how to transform ordinary moments into lasting memories. They not only know the destination, they spend the time to get to know you … and seek out the details that make it special for you and your family.

Family Activities and Programs

While most activities are created for the whole family to enjoy together, everyone knows that when the kids are happy, the whole family’s happy. That’s why kids are given a passport to their own adventures. Throughout your journey, Junior Adventurers are transformed into journalists, detectives or photographers as they explore the corners of the world in fun new ways.

On select nights, Adventure Guides host a kids’ dinner or movie night, giving adults a taste of tranquility at the hotel and children more time to bond with some of their new friends.

Itineraries have been developed with a special focus on kids. So, no matter which destination you choose, your children get as much out of the adventure as you do. Junior Adventurers can cut loose at pizza parties and scavenger hunts while adults enjoy wine tasting or indulge in a romantic dinner. The adventure spans generations!

Local Experts

Exceptional local storytellers provide color and context to each culture while providing Guests with opportunities to enjoy local food, hobbies, and attractions. From visiting an active volcano to enjoying traditional pretzel making classes, your family will be immersed in culture and given opportunities that only local experts can provide.

Special Access

On select Adventures by Disney vacations, Guests may also enjoy special VIP treatment at exciting locations such as museums, ancient ruins, cultural monuments, Disney Parks, theatrical productions, and more!

Adventure Guides are also a great way to gain special access to exciting locations! You can follow their Adventure Guides to hidden gems they might never find on their own – like catching a magnificent sunset from the absolutely perfect spot. Adventure Guides are magicians at getting Guests where they need to be, when they need to be there. And whether they’re interpreting local customs or entertaining Junior Adventurers, the Guides are there when you need them, eliminating many of the hassles of travel such as transporting baggage from hotel to hotel, confirming reservations and so much more. Families can enjoy more of the world – and each other.

Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the Disney Difference for yourself!

Treehouses at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort

Make your child's vacation by staying in a Treehouse during your Disney World vacation! Disney's newest resort addition is the 3-Bedroom Treehouses at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort. These rustic treehouses features 3 bedrooms, living room, fully equipped kitchen, private deck and more. The treehouses are available to book for your next Disney World vacation. To price or book your trip, contact us at Destinations in Florida Travel. Here are some sneak peek pictures of the Treehouses at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort.

Private Treehouse Dock at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort

Campfire Fun at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa recently added some new fun that is a sure to please activity for the whole family. Enjoy evening songs and smores at the Mickey Mouse shaped campfire on the beachy shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon. Sing a song or just relax by the fire as you hear the waves from the lake lap on the shore. After the campfire fun, stay to watch movies on the beach. For more information on Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, contact one of our Disney Specialists at Destinations in Florida Travel.

Tren-D Grand Opening at Downtown Disney

Some of our agents headed off to Downtown Disney Marketplace a few weeks ago to attend the Grand Opening of the new Tren-D store. This new store features fun Disney merchandise in the latest styles including clothing, jewelry and accessories. The store is truly unique with 85 beautiful chandeliers hanging in the middle of the store. Catchy artwork and paintings were around the store. Plus, watch for hidden Mickeys - there are a bunch of them at this store. Here are some of the pictures from the new Tren-D store at Downtown Disney.

Do you see the hidden Mickey?

New Disney Dining Package at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park

If you are booking your Disney World dining reservations at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, consider booking a lunch at Tusker House. This restaurant is always a popular choice for lunch at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Now, it is even better with a free perk! If you dine for lunch between 1:00-1:40 PM, you will receive a free voucher for a guaranteed seat at the Finding Nemo Show at 3:15 PM. If you dine from 1:40-2:45, you will receive a voucher for a guaranteed seat at the Finding Nemo Show at 4:45 PM. This free voucher allows you to enter the show about 15-20 minutes before showtime with a guaranteed seat for the Finding Nemo show. This will save you alot of time waiting for the popular Finding Nemo Show. For more information about this new Dining Package, contact your Disney Specialist at Destinations in Florida Travel.

Picnic in the Park at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park has lots of incredible animal viewing locations that make for a quiet an shandy spot to enjoy a picnic with your family. To give guests a new dining experience at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, try a picnic in the park. You can order a "to go" meal including sandwiches either chicken wrap, ham grinder, tuna pita, turkey foccacia or rotisserie chicken. All meals include sides, dessert and bottled water. The sandwich meals range from $24.99 for a meal for 3 or $48.99 for a meal for 6. The rotisserie picnics range from $29.99 for 3 people or $56.99 for 6 people.

To order your picnic in the park, stop by the podium near the entrance to Disney's Animal Kingdom between 8:30-1 PM daily. You can pick up you rmeal at the Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery. If you are on the Dining Plan, Disney considers the picnic in the park as a Counter Service Meal.

Try a new and exciting dining experience with the Picnic in the Park at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. For more information about this dining experience, contact our friends at MouseDine.

Star Wars Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios

One of the most popular free events held at Disney World is the Star Wars Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The dates for this event are scheduled for every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 22-June 14. There are more dates this year to enjoy more Yedi trainings, more special merchandise for this event, more Star Wars trivia, and more actors and characters from Star Wars movies.

One of the extra fun activities during Star Wars Weekends is the sea of stormtroopers walking down Hollywood Blvd. at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Star Wars Weekends is free with your paid admission into Disney's Hollywood Studios. For more information about Star Wars Weekends, visit our website at Destinations in Florida. May the Force Be with

Up, Up and Away with the New Ride at Downtown Disney

Up, Up and Away with the new ride at Downtown Disney Westside called Characters in Flight. This new attraction will take up to 30 guest over 400 feet in the air above Downtown Disney. The ride is a tethered hot air balloon. The yellow balloon is incredible with black silouettes of Mary Poppins, Aladdin, Dumbo and more around the balloon.

The flight times and availability varies depending on the weather conditions. Wind and rain does affect the ride. The cost is $16 per adult and $10 per child (ages 3-9). For more information about the new ride called Characters in Flight, contact one of our Disney Specialists at Destinations in Florida Travel. Happy flights!

New Disney Vacation Planning Vid-cast Show called Mouseketips

Destinations in Florida Travel kicked off a new update to podcasting with a live vid-cast called Mouseketips. A vid-cast is a live video, hosted by our MousekeHOSTS, Tim and Allison. Both of these hosts are long time Florida Residents, past Cast Members, and Disney World Vacation Planners with Destinations in Florida Travel. They are going to bring you new discounts, timesaver tips, updates on openings at the Disney Parks, vacation planning tips, and lots of information on planning a Disney World and Orlando vacation.

With a live vid-cast, you are able to login while we are filming and ask questions and chat with us. It is a fun way to learn and get excited about Disney World. We hosted our first vid-cast on Friday, but need your input. This vid-cast will be hosted at the same time every week, so you know when to expect shoot it that is best for our viewers. Click on this link to view our first mini vid-cast and leave us a comment when you think we should host the event (date and time). We will select randomly one of the comments to win a Disney World prize pack including a paid of Mickey Mouse ears, Disney Special Edition pins, Donald Duck Pirate Plush, and more. All you have to do is leave a comment! Click here to view our website for MousekeTIPS!