By Tink's Vacation Planner, Missy. One of my favorite things about Disney Cruises is that I get to make my family either dress up or get everyone to wear matching clothes! Surprisingly they like it too! Every cruise I’ve been on (besides Alaska) has had a pirate night. So many people bring their pirate outfits and even if you don’t Disney gives you a pirate Mickey bandana. Our family loves to get our "pirate" on! Disney Cruise Line also has special themed cruises. Going on a Star Wars cruise has been one of our all time favorite cruises. My boys' favorite dress up night was Star Wars day at Sea! We all had great fun planning out our outfits. I feel like everyone brought their costume for that day! It was a blast to walk around the ship and see what other cruisers were wearing. When we got our photos taken with the characters, we were all really in the mood. There are all sorts of benefits to bringing along costumes or matching themed shirts. One of the best parts of having specific days to dress up is that it is one less outfit you have to worry about. Plus they usually don’t take up a lot of space in your suitcase. This past cruise we took the kids with and I decided to get matching shirts for our sail away day. We are huge Cubs fans and I was lucky to find Mickey Mouse wearing Cubs hats! I can’t wait for our next cruise (where I am getting married). I’m going to have fun with those shirts! Plus our parents are joining us. That’s four more people for me to dress like us! Memories to last a lifetime is what going on a Disney cruise means to me and my family. Tink's Tip: Check with your vacation planner to see what events are planned on your Disney cruise. On longer cruises, there are often formal and semi formal dress up opportunities and other themed events. By Tink's Vacation Planner, Monica. Did you know? Immigration officials in Ireland inspect all non-European Union passports for cruise passengers. As a result, Disney Cruise Line will collect passports upon check-in at the embarkation port terminal. Not to worry, they provide you with a photocopy and a receipt so you can retrieve it. We had our passports collected at the Port of Dover on our recent British Isles Cruise in September 2018. Our first port of call was Cobh, Ireland. We picked up the passport from Guest Services that evening. The "bonus" - it was stamped by Irish officials, so we have an official record of our visit. Please realize that this is a requirement of Ireland, not the cruise line. They are only performing a required task to enable a smooth port arrival and debarkation of guests. Tink's Tip: Always double-check that you have the correct documentation before your cruise. Tink's always recommends passengers have a valid passport book (not card) when you cruise. Six month validity passport rule: According to the U.S. State Department, as a general rule passports should have at least six months of validity when traveling internationally. Most countries will not permit a traveler to enter their country unless the passport is set to expire at least six months AFTER the final day of travel. If you don't have a passport yet, start the process of getting it sooner rather than later. By Tink's Vacation Planner, Jess. Recently, I had the experience to try out the new dinner menu at Be Our Guest, in Disney's Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World® Resort. The chefs have recently revamped the menu; it is now a fixed price three course meal. Guests on the Disney Dining Plan are charged two table service credits. Be Our Guest was the first dining location inside Magic Kingdom to offer alcoholic libations, and other signature non-alcoholic beverages also are available. To start, along with the bread brought to your table, you get to pick an appetizer. I had the cheese and meat selection, which includes a mixture of softs and hard cheeses as well as jams and crostinis. On the plate, there was some chorizo and ham as the meats. The meat and cheese pairings were delicious. My friend had the lobster bisque, which smelled great from across the table where I was sitting. My other friend had the french onion soup, which in her words was the best she has ever had. The children's menu also has a cheese and fruit board, which both my children had, and the other option is a salad. For the main course, there are so many great new options to choose from, including a spice-dusted lamb chop with baby zucchini and charred tomatoes. There also is a saffron-infused seafood bouillabaisse with seasonal fish and maine lobster. We ordered the center-cut filet mignon, which was amazing! It was so tender that a butter knife was able to slice right through it. The filet melted in our mouths. It was served with yukon potatoes and seasonal vegetables. We also ordered the smoked ricotta and corn tortellini which was served in a broth with asparagus and cauliflower. The tortellinis were large and filled to perfection. Next up is a Dessert Trio, served on a stained glass white plate. The actual plate is lined with edible sugar paper. First, you are served an almond macaroon with lemon jam and fresh raspberries. This was my favorite item on the plate. Second, is a dark chocolate truffle filled with grand marnier and chocolate. Third is the cute white chocolate "Chip" cup that is filled with the "grey stuff" and crispy pearls. The Chip cup is edible, but we found it too cute to eat!! The children's dessert platter comes with the same treats as the adult platter, but their Chip comes empty and with a paint brush to decorate. This dessert activity gave my children the joy of playing with their food but also being to make it their own. Don't forget before you leave to explore each area of the Beast's Castle, even the forbidden West Wing. Also never leave without seeing the host with the most, the Beast. This is your one and only chance to get a picture with him. This only happens at Dinner, as Be our Guest is quick service the rest of the day. I have always been a huge fan of Be Our Guest, but the new menu has me wanting to go back more and more. Tink's Tip: Make sure you reserve Be Our Guest for dinner when the advanced dining reservation opens up 180 days before your check in date. Be Our Guest reservations are highly coveted and book up quickly! By Tink's Senior Vacation Planner, Lynn. Main Street, USA inside Magic Kingdom Park at the Walt Disney World® Resort was created to feel like the turn of the century when the times were much simpler than it is today. Did you know that like the small towns in the past, Main Street, USA has a working barber shop? As you enter Magic Kingdom Park the Harmony Barber Shop is located to the left tucked in a corner beside the Emporium gift shop and the “car barn” where the parade floats exit and enter. Outside the shop you will see an iconic swirling red and white pole. The shop is small with four barber chairs and is decorated in an old fashion barber shop style. Adults and children can get haircuts from licensed cosmetologists. f you are lucky ,you just may get serenaded by the Dapper Dans quartet while there. You will be welcomed with a fun and friendly smile. They only do dry cuts with maybe a little sprits of water, no shampooing. After the cut you can get sprinkled with “pixie dust” and bubbles.
On one trip to the Walt Disney World® Resort we decided to get my 19-month-old son his first haircut at the Harmony Barber Shop. As soon as Magic Kingdom opened, we headed straight there. We purchased the My First Haircut package. Norma, the Cast Member who cut my son's hair, was so wonderful with him and was very patient. She led my son to the chair and entertained him with giant red scissors and a comb to calm his nerves. Norma cut the first lock of hair and wrapped it up in a towel for us to keep. She kept my son occupied with lots of Mickey stickers and spinning light up toys. When Norma finished cutting my son's hair, she sprinkled “pixie dust” over him and put on his first Mickey Ears hat. The hat is a simple black Mickey Ears with First Haircut embroidered on the back. The My First Haircut package cost $25 and includes the haircut, Mickey Ears and a certificate. I highly recommend this package for any child who is ready for their first haircut. As most parents know, getting your child's first haircut can be a difficult task but the Cast Members at the Harmony Barber Shop are excellent with young children. They keep them calm and entertained and makes the entire process smooth and stress free for the kids. The whole experience was magical and something we will remember for a lifetime. Tink's Tips: Reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance. While reservations are not required, Tink's highly recommends making a reservation. Walk-ins are welcomed but they only have a limited number of spots and are on a first come, first serve basis. For walk-ins, the least crowded time is first thing in the morning right at park opening. Hours of operation are from 9am to 5:30pm, 7 days a week. Pricing: Adult haircut - $19;Children 9 and under - $18;My First Haircut package - $25. By Senior Travel Planner Meghan Umlauf This article originally ran in the September edition of the Holliston Town Pages.
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Our vacation planners their children and yes, even some of our Tink’s clients, have written about their experiences in the Neverland Blog. The magic of Disney comes alive in an immediate way when our children visit the Land of Mickey and Minnie.
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