By: Anna (age 12), daughter of Tink's Planner Pauline. The Walt Disney World® Resort has always been one of the most magical places and even in a pandemic you will be overwhelmed by the magic at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort at Halloween. It is family friendly without compromising on important safe guards to keep you and your family healthy. The guests and of Disney’s Fort Wilderness made no exception for COVID-19, still showing up and out with their spooky treats, over the top decorations, and unimaginable surprises! You can explore Disney's Fort Wilderness by foot, by bike, and of course by golf cart! Be prepared to deck out your ride, the more over the top the better and go “looping”! Looping is how the regulars refer to riding around the different campsite loops taking in the sites at night. We added lights to the top our rented golf cart as well as LED light strips that flashed to the beat of the music we played on a Bluetooth speaker! We were tame compared to many other golf carts who clearly spent some time planning their perfect Halloween golf cart theme – and yes, there is a parade if you are there on the days closest to Halloween. But it is not all about the golf carts the decorations at the guest campsites (and even a few cabins) are INCREDIBLE! You will be amazed at the effort and in some cases the true artistry of the displays. I was embarrassed that my mom packed a few inflatables and pumpkins, but boy was I wrong to be, we were clearly novices when it came to site decorating! People spend a lot of time and money creating out of this world attractions some including structures, animation, specialty lighting, and even projectors! Don’t forget to pack the chalk! There are all levels of chalk art at the resort from fun kids play to real artists! Stop and take photos and enjoy the incredible talent of some of the other guests. There are some fun extras if you follow Fort Wilderness camping groups on social media where you can learn about hidden painted rocks, different activities (guest led) like trivia, scavenger hunts, and giveaways from your fellow guests (these are not Disney sponsored activities). Joining these groups also helps if you need something or have an issue with your camper. We were so pleased at the welcoming and supportive groups that we followed during our stay. And finally, it’s not just the guest and Disney sponsored activities that will make your stay spooktaular, there are also sightings of the headless horseman galloping around the campgrounds! You might catch a glimpse at the Tri Circle D Ranch or in one of the loops in the campsite. Whether you are lucky enough to see him or not, make sure to stop by the Tri Circle D Ranch during your stay to score one of the Limited Edition Halloween trading pins. Don’t be shy, pack some fun decorations, lights, and costumes, you will fit right in! Fort Wilderness really comes to life during Halloween, so make some new spooky memories! By Tink's Planner, Kathy F. Are you ready for a relaxing Hawaiian vacation with a touch of Disney magic? Aulani- A Disney Resort in beautiful Oahu, Hawaii is scheduled to begin reopening on November 1, 2020! The reopening will be phased and not all amenities of the resort will be open in the beginning as cast members will be focusing on cleanliness and reduced contact. Guests ages 2 and over will be required to wear a face covering in all public areas except when eating, drinking or swimming. Another important thing to note is that out of state visitors to Hawaii will be required to have a pre-travel negative covid 19 test or be mandated to quarantine for 14 days. These state requirements are subject to change at any time. Aulani resides in front of one of the Ko Olina Beach Lagoons. The beach is open to the public and can be accessed through a gate behind the resort. Aulani offers boogie boards, sand toys, life jackets, loungers, beach chairs and umbrellas to use free of charge for resort guests. Equipment, such as snorkel gear and paddle boards, can be rented at Makiki Joe's Beach Equipment Rentals. The lagoon is protected from large waves and is an ideal place for families to play and swim in the ocean. The magic at Aulani starts at arrival where a cast member greets guests with a fresh flower lei, or a kukui nut lei, and children get a fun Menehune necklace. After the friendly greeting, a tour of the lobby area is always offered where a cast member points out many details of the resort. Aulani offers standard hotel rooms, suites, and DVC villas including studios, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom villas. Over the years, I have stayed in an ocean view studio villa, a 2 bedroom pool view villa and a 2 bedroom islands garden view villa. I found all of the rooms to be comfortable, modern and clean. The 1-3 bedroom villas have full kitchens which makes preparing meals in your room very convenient. There are so many family friendly activities at this resort that there is plenty to keep guests entertained for days without ever needing to leave the resort. One unique feature of Aulani is Aunty's Beach House which is a complimentary kids club where kids 3-12 years old can enjoy games, crafts and many supervised activities. Another unique feature of this resort is the Laniwai Spa which not only offers the usual massages and spa treatments, but they also offer massages for the entire family designed for 3-6 family members including children to experience together. For adults, a hydrotherapy garden can be found at the spa where guests can relax in mineral baths at a beautiful tropical outdoor setting, and is included with any spa treatment. A salon is also available for families that offers hair, nail and other grooming treatments along with a special studio for kids 3-12 to get an island style makeover. The pool area is massive and includes several different swimming pools, a lazy river, water slides, hot tubs and a splash pad. A private snorkeling lagoon is located in the pool area where guests can enjoy snorkeling with tropical fish in a controlled environment. The fish can also be viewed through glass for those who do not wish to take the plunge into the lagoon. Poolside cabanas with flat panel TVs, ceiling fans, refrigerators, wifi access, a fruit bowl, and bottled water are available to rent for the day. Scheduled entertainment and activities are offered throughout the day. Times and locations of activities are easy to find by checking the Daily 'Iwa available at locations around Aulani or by checking Aulani's website or the new Aulani app. An excursion desk is available to help families plan activities outside of the resort such as horseback riding, zip lining, helicopter tours, Pearl Harbor tours, catamaran trips, surf lessons and many more Hawaiian experiences. Finding places to eat at Aulani is quick and easy with nine food service locations offering a variety of options from snacks to sit down meals. A highlight for most families is the character meal at Makahiki which serves a buffet for breakfast and dinner. Ama Ama is Aulani's elegant open-air restaurant overlooking Ko Olina beach which offers spectacular views, especially at sunset. Several bars and quick service food locations can be found around the pool area as well, and, of course, there is always the option of cooking in your DVC villa. One truly unique dinner experience is the KA WA'A Luau which features a show highlighting Hawaiian history and culture. Disney characters can be found all over Aulani. A quick and easy way to find them is by calling CHIP from the resort phone to get information on where they will be each day. I especially enjoyed seeing the characters at the pool where they appeared at a daily pool party. In the past Aulani has offered some premium character experiences for an additional fee. These include Kakamora Chaos with Moana, where guests can play traditional Hawaiian games with Moana, and Surf's Up- A Surfin', Fishin' and Dancin' Party! hosted by Chip N' Dale. There is just so much to do at Aulani that after three vacations here I feel like I have barely scratched the surface. Every time I visit, I find something new and exciting to experience. Some of my highlights have been meeting the characters in their Hawaiian outfits, swimming in the lagoon, and soaking in the adults-only infinity hot tub while watching the sunset. I always rent a car and do several excursions around the island, which adds to the magic of visiting Aulani. I feel like a trip to Aulani is a luxurious, relaxing and magical vacation and there is plenty to do for all ages. By Tink's Family Member, Austin. My name is Austin and my mom, Lynn, is a senior vacation planner with Tink's Magical Vacations. I have been visiting Walt Disney World® all my life. I really love to draw anything, especially my favorite Disney rides like The Haunted Mansion. I mostly draw anything that is in the Haunted Mansion like scenes, props and portraits. Even the outside look of the Mansion interests me. But of course, my favorite scenes when you enter the Mansion are the Endless Hallway and the Stretching Room! Tink's wants to thank Austin for sharing his artistic talent with us in these amazing drawings! Great job, Austin!
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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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