July 2015

Disneyland's 60^th Anniversary!

 

     On July 17,Disneyland will be officially 60 years old!  During the last 60 years Disneyland has welcomed more than 700 million visitors from about 200 nations. Its so hard to believe that the Disneyland resort sits on what use to be 160 acres of orange groves and now spans a few hundred acres.

     To mark the theme park’s 60^th Anniversary, Disneyland Resort is holding their Diamond Celebration! The Diamond Celebration includes the debuts of 3 new shows: “Paint The Night Parade”, the “Disneyland Forever” fireworks spectacular and a new version of “The World of Color” that includes the fine talents of Neil Patrick Harris.

 

    If you have never been before or just want to see it again, this is an amazing time to visit the House of Mickey Mouse. There are 2 parks at the Disneyland resort, “Disneyland” and “California Adventure”.  Both have had changes and updates including refurbishments to the Peter Pan ride, the Thundermountain Railroad and the Matterhornjust recently.  The Sleeping Beauty Castle comes alive at night sparkling with more than 100,000 shimmering blue glass crystals! Truly a vision at night!

    The shows are…let’s say show stoppers! The Imagineers have pulled out all the tricks out of their magic Mickey Mouse hats to create animation coming to life and the Disney movies that we all love right before your eyes in these amazing new shows.

     There are 3 main hotels on Disney property you can stay at or a Good Neighbor Hotel off site that still offer benefits.  We are Authorized Disney Vacation Planners and can help you plan your next visit….so see you real soon! Toodles!

 

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        Cedarbrook Lodge is Seatac’s (Seattle Tacoma Airport), best kept secret for an amazing little 
getaway. Tucked away just a couple miles from the airport is a calm, quiet sanctuary perfect for a 
night pre or post vacation or a great “staycation” for Seattle locals. 

       We had the pleasure of taking a tour of this hotel and from the moment you step into the 
lobby the craftsman architecture comes to life. The lobby opens up over their restaurant with a c
ozy fireplace and floor to ceiling windows overlooking the grounds. The restaurant is open to the 
public for lunch and dinner (dinner requires a reservation). Off to one side is their breakfast room 
which hosts a complimentary breakfast buffet for guests. On the other side is a nice bar and lounge 
which opens up as soon as the restaurant stops serving lunch and it even has a happy hour. Just 
behind it is their full service spa, perfect to complete the package to any relaxing getaway.

     This hotel does everything they can to make sure you feel right at home. The staff at check 
in were friendly and quick to offer hot apple cider (they serve iced tea in the summer). Every 
building has its own lounge complete with a big screen TV, comfy couches and a complimentary 
buffet of chocolate candies, chips, fruit, ice cream, yogurt, bottled water and more! All rooms 
come with a fully stocked Keurig, room service and even a pillow menu. Yes, you heard that 
right- a pillow menu! If you’re missing your body pillow from home you can order one and have 
it sent to your room. While the pillow service is NOT complimentary it is a nice option for those 
who have a hard time sleeping on the wrong pillow.

     Cedarbrook Lodge features a 24 hour fitness center, spa, meeting rooms and a brand 
new hot tub, (no pool and only one hot tub).  Their peaceful atmosphere quickly makes you
 forget how close you are to the city and the airport. They offer an airport shuttle and also a
 shuttle to the light rail station and train station for quick transit to downtown. They go above 
and beyond what most people expect out of a hotel and it will keep us coming back for more! 
The one downfall is there isn’t really any food or shopping close by to walk to. 

    Let us book this amazing little retreat for you! 

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And the award goes to....

Disney Cruise Line has been named No. 1 Top Mega-Ship Ocean Cruise Line and No 1. Top Mega-Ship Ocean Cruise Line for Families by Travel + Leisure readers in the magazine’s 2015 World’s Best Awards reader’s survey. This is the second consecutive year Disney Cruise Line has received the Top Mega-Ship Cruise Line award and the seventh consecutive year it has been recognized as a top cruise line for families.

The World’s Best Awards are selected by Travel + Leisure readers who participate in a survey and rate cruise lines on several criteria, including staterooms, food, service, itineraries, excursions and value.

Disney Cruise Line has consistently received distinguished awards and recognition from the travel industry since first setting sail in 1998. These awards have included all aspects of the operation from dining and entertainment to youth activities and spa facilities.

 

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Next time you travel to see Harry Potter in the new expansion of Diagon Alley in Universal Florida, be sure check these little secrets out! If you haven’t been yet….go go go, what are you waiting for!!! The detail is incredible and the rides are like nothing I have ever been on before….one of a kind! Whether you travel to Diagon Alley in Universal or to Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure, make sure you get the ticket to both parks, because the train ride over is as unique going over as coming back. And you can’t see both areas without the park hopper!  Once you are there, check out these amazing secrets!

 

1) Go to Madam Malkin’s Robes For All Occasions where you can purchase some fun items including your Hogwart’s school uniform!  If you stand in front of the giant standing mirror…it may even talk to you. But beware…sometimes she’s not so nice!  She may teach you a thing or two about fashion or if you are lucky…give you a nice complement!

 

2)  Visit Wise Acre where you can find two barometers that hung in Dumbledore’s Observatory in the films. They are at the top of the shop above the store.  You can see them briefly in the films when Dumbledore was killed.

 

3)  When you enter in Diagon Alley you can see the giant dragon that shoots out hot real flames every 15 minutes. This will stop everyone dead in their tracks for an amazing picture to snap! It was sculpted by Grim Court, the lead sculptor from the Potter movies.

 

4)  Travel to the Quality Qudditch Supplies store and you will see the trophies on the tops of the shelves are props from the actual Harry Potter movies!  And don’t forget to purchase your supplies here as well! Every touch of magic placed around Diagon Alley was hand selected by a props manager who went through 200 40 foot containers! 

 

5)  Go as early as you can to Ollivanders, Makers of Fine Wands shop as you will be participating in a "wand choosing a wizard".  A wizard will choose one lucky person in each group to find the *perfect* wand for them. Some people think that these wands are given to them, when they are not…you have to purchase it!  As you travel through the rest of the wand shop, the extra wand boxes stacked on top of the shelves are straight from the set of the Harry Potter films!

 

6) When you visit Borgin and Bourkes in Knockturn Alley, there is an amazing amount of  props from the movies. There is a hat rack that you can see in the window of the store that is also in the movies, and a little sculpture with nails sticking in him is from Lupin's Dark Arts classroom. Go up to the Vanishing Cabinet and you can hear the bird chirping inside!

 

7) Right outside the entrance to Diagon Alley there is a British red phone booth. If you go inside the phone booth and dial MAGIC (962442), you'll get a message from the Ministry of Magic on the phone! This phone is an exact replica to the one in the movies!

 

8) When you purchase a wand, you will be given a map with 34 locations to ‘cast a spell’!  These interactive wands take a bit of practice, but just ask any wizard or witch to help you!  The medallions will require you say the spell name and do the wand gesture that's listed to make the magic happen! There are a few that are not on the map…just ask a nearby cast member or stand back and watch people…some have been here before and know what they are doing!  If you go inside Knockturn Alley and place your map under the black light, the shapes of the spells are are written in invisible ink will appear

 

9) While traveling on the train, as I mentioned before, the journey each direction is different and amazing! There are shadows and conversations in the hallway of the train. Your cabin is so real like and what you see out the window is breathtaking! Don’t miss taking the train both ways!

 

10) Visit Weasley's Wizard Wheezes as they have cute and fun novelty toys and more!  Check out the  music as you will hear what was actually the same music played in the background of the movie when they go into Weasley's store!

 

11) The three-story Knight Bus is located outside Diagon Alley, which also marks the entrance to Diagon Alley…as its not so easy to spot! There you will see the Knight Conductor and the bus complete with shrunken heads!

 

12)  When creating the  movies, they built the tattoo shop from the books, but it never made it into the films. In Knockturn Alley, they recreated the storefront for the tattoo parlor, featuring all of the props from the movie set that includes all  of the tattoos and artwork. These glow and are interactive!

 

13) The thrill ride through Gringotts bank travels you to retrieve a Horcrux from the vault, you can also actually stop by Gringotts Money Exchange where you can interact with the bank goblins, and exchange your muggle currency ($10 or $20) for Wizarding Bank Notes that you can use to purchase items all over the parks! The chandeliers in the bank are truly stunning as well as all of the detail. You will think that you really are standing in the Gringotts bank and not just part of a ride. The lines to this are usually very long…but well worth it!

 

14) The Leaky Cauldron has 80 pieces of artwork on the walls that are exact replicas of the art from the films. Plus, the luggage placed around the tavern is straight from the set of the Potter movies! And you can order food and eat here!

 

15) Last but not least, one of our favorite parts; while you are going through line at King's Cross Station to board the Hogwarts Express, there's a special picture area where you can stand in front of an illusion mirror and snap a picture so it looks like you're actually disappearing into the wall at platform 9 ¾!  Have a  friend hold back to shoot a video instead of taking a picture, so you can get the full effect. Ingenius!

 Our travel agency, CP Travel Planners / Cruise Planners books Universal and Disney in all of their locations. So contact us today! Whether its a theme park or a cruise, let us help you plan your trip!

 

http://www.cptravelplanners.com and ALSO...check out our pinterest page on Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure for even more of our pictures;  https://www.pinterest.com/tinkmh/universal-studios-and-islands-of-adventure-orlando/

photos by: Melissa Herzog, cptravelplanners 

 

 

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