Tag: Family

Universal Studios HOLLYWOOD Edition!

On By thedelightfultravelerIn Family, relationships, travelLeave a comment

I’m going to HOLLYWOOD!

Saturday is my husbands birthday.  I am accompanying him on a business trip to California.  Before he has to start work at his conference, we are spending Saturday at Universal Studios Hollywood.  I got him a VIP Experience for his birthday!

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We love Universal Studios Orlando so we are excited to experience Universal Hollywood!

Here is what we can expect on our VIP Experience!

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The VIP Experience is the most exclusive way to go behind the scenes at the world’s largest movie studio and Theme Park. It’s the ultimate way to visit Universal Studios Hollywood.

Exclusive Backlot Access

Tour the movie industry’s busiest sets in a special trolley, where you can disembark to explore areas not open to the general public.

  • Visit actual sound stages where blockbuster movies and TV shows are filmed.
  • Visit our World Famous Property Department, home to thousands of set pieces and decorative items used for film and television production.

Exclusive Theme Park Benefits

Enjoy VIP privileges with escorted express access to rides and attractions, such as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™.

  • Begin your day in our exclusive VIP lounge with light snacks and refreshments
  • Savor a gourmet meal in our private VIP dining room, prepared by Universal’s very own executive chef
  • Enjoy valet parking and VIP entry to the Park
Expert Tour Guide
Our expert VIP guides will immerse you in the past, present and future of Universal’s Backlot.

  • Our VIP guide will escort you through the express line at rides and attractions, such as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™.
  • They will also find you the best seats at seated shows.

Here is a video of some of the highlights!

 

Be sure to check back for all of our adventures!  You can also follow along on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/madhatteradv/

Ready to Book YOUR Adventure?  Contact a Mad Hatter Adventures Travel Advisor TODAY!!!!  Info@MadHatterAdv.com or 1-844-M-HATTER

Mad Hatter Adventures is a FULL SERVICE and  AWARD WINNING Agency.  They are an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.  Contact them TODAY for ALL your travel needs!  Info@MadHatterAdv.com   1-844-M-HATTER

 

New MagicBand Options Coming Soon at Walt Disney World Resort

On By thedelightfultravelerIn Family, travel, UncategorizedLeave a comment

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There is a certain magic and anticipation that comes with planning your visit to Walt Disney World Resort, especially when it is time to choose a MagicBand customized with your name and favorite color. And soon, they will be adding even more beloved wearables you can customize!

Soon, Disney Resort hotel guests and new and renewing Annual Passholders will have the option to upgrade, at a discounted price, from a complimentary solid-color MagicBand to one of more than 30 new MagicBand options featuring favorite Disney characters and designs. These new MagicBand options will be available for pre-arrival purchase at a special price that reflects a $14.99 discount off the regular retail cost through the My Disney Experience website.

Check out the video below to get a sneak peek!

 

A colorful selection of complimentary MagicBands is still available for guests who choose not to upgrade to one of the new options, and these new design options can also be shipped to guests’ homes (U.S. addresses only) if ordered 11 or more days ahead of arrival and can be personalized if done so at least 6 or more days ahead of arrival.

No date for the new process has been given at this time.  Stay tuned for more information as we get it!

Ready to Book YOUR Adventure?  Contact a Mad Hatter Adventures Travel Advisor TODAY!!!!  Info@MadHatterAdv.com or 1-844-M-HATTER

Mad Hatter Adventures is a FULL SERVICE and  AWARD WINNING Agency.  They are an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.  Contact them TODAY for ALL your travel needs!  Info@MadHatterAdv.com   1-844-M-HATTER

*Information, Photos and Video from Disney Parks Blog

New Fireworks Show for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!

On By thedelightfultravelerIn Family, travelLeave a comment

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For the first time in 14 years, Disney is  introducing a brand-new, Halloween fireworks spectacular to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park!

The spooky fun event, that happens on select nights from August 16 to November 1, will feature returning favorites along with all-new experiences, including the debut of an incredible new fireworks spectacular.  As you can see above in the very first scene to be released, this new show will feature state-of-the-art projection effects, lasers, lighting and dazzling fireworks that come together to tell a not-so-scary story about how anything can happen on Halloween night. The show will take guests along on a trick-or-treating adventure, where four friends – Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy – find themselves drawn into a mysterious haunted house. The journey takes them from one room of the house to another, encountering dancing skeletons, waltzing ghosts and a whole series of trouble making Disney villains.

If you are looking for an extra special way to celebrate the brand new show in its first year, the fireworks dessert parties are the perfect option! You can add on this experience to savor frightfully delightful treats – including chocolate-dipped strawberries, cupcakes, ice cream, seasonal fruits, cheeses, sparkling cider, signature lemonades and other ghoulish goodies – and take advantage of dedicated, dazzling views of the new Halloween fireworks spectacular.

And there’s more! Returning to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party are the popular live show “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular,” featuring the Sanderson Sisters and Disney villains the likes of Oogie Boogie, Dr. Facilier and Maleficent.

Other returning favorites include:

·     “Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade,” which happens twice nightly and features favorite Disney characters dressed in their Halloween best, along with the Disney villains and a cavalcade of fiendishly fun floats.

·     Storybook Circus Disney Junior Jam in Fantasyland is the spot for all of the young partygoers to get their groove on with favorite Disney Junior characters like Doc McStuffins and Vampirina.

·     In Frontierland, prospector Cactus-Flower Cate rounds up youngsters for the “Frontierland Costume Promenade,” encouraging them to show off their costumes in a quest for the greatest treasure in the land – candy! The “Frontierland Costume Promenade” takes place just prior to each run of Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade.

·     Trick-or-treating throughout the park!

And last but not least, the parties will feature attraction enhancements just for the Halloween party! Stay tuned for more details!  Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party tickets start at $79. To buy tickets, contact Mad Hatter Adventures, Travel Company.  Info@MadHatterAdv.com, http://www.MadHatterAdv.com or 1-844-M-HATTER

Ready to Book YOUR Adventure to the this Fall?  Contact a Mad Hatter Adventures Travel Advisor TODAY!!!!  Info@MadHatterAdv.com

Mad Hatter Adventures is a FULL SERVICE and  AWARD WINNING Agency.  They are an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.  Contact them TODAY for ALL your travel needs!  Info@MadHatterAdv.com   1-844-M-HATTER

*Information, Photos and Video from Disney Parks Blog

Details Unveiled for the 2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, Epcot International Festival of the Holidays

On By thedelightfultravelerIn Family, travelLeave a comment

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Attention vacation enthusiasts – new details were just revealed for two guest-favorite festivals at Epcot: the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival and the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays.

The 2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will run August 29-November 23 making it the longest Food & Wine Festival in the park’s history at 87 days! The festival’s Eat to the Beat Concert Series will run August 29-November 19 and will feature a lineup of pop, rock, R&B, country, Christian, swing and Latin artists. (NOTE: The concert series will conclude a few days earlier than the festival in order to set the stage for the return of the park’s beloved Candlelight Processional).

This year’s festival will continue its tradition of offering tasty dishes, fine dining events, and appearances by favorite Disney culinarians and top celebrity chefs.

Keep your eye on TasteEpcot.com and the Disney Parks Blog for updates on this year’s celebrity chef appearances, Eat to the Beat artists, dining packages, special events and more.

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The 2019 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth also returns November 29-December 30. The park’s seasonal celebration invites guests to discover holiday cheer across all 11 World Showcase pavilions and throughout the park. Special entertainment, storytellers, seasonal favorites at Holiday Kitchens and eye-catching holiday decor are all part of the fun. The Candlelight Processional, a holiday must-do for many Epcot guests, will feature nightly retellings of the traditional Christmas story read by a celebrity narrator, accompanied by a massed choir and live orchestra.

 

Ready to Book YOUR Adventure to the Food and Wine Festival this Fall?  Contact a Mad Hatter Adventures Travel Advisor TODAY!!!!  Info@MadHatterAdv.com

Mad Hatter Adventures is a FULL SERVICE and  AWARD WINNING Agency.  They are an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.  Contact them TODAY for ALL your travel needs!  Info@MadHatterAdv.com   1-844-M-HATTER

*Information, Photos and Video from Disney Parks Blog

 

Disney Cruise Line and Captain Minnie Mouse Inspire Next Generation of Female Ship Captains

On By thedelightfultravelerIn Family, travelLeave a comment

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With a collection of new initiatives, Disney Cruise Line is making a splash to inspire the next generation of female leaders in the maritime industry. The debut of Captain Minnie Mouse, new nautical youth programs and new scholarships are designed to empower girls and young women to pursue careers in the cruise industry and chart a course for success.

Introducing Captain Minnie Mouse

We know how Disney characters have a unique ability to inspire and connect with children. Now at Disney Cruise Line, Captain Minnie Mouse will encourage young girls around the world to consider a career in the maritime industry. She will spread the message of exploring new horizons, both by land and by sea.

Captain Minnie Mouse, in her crisp new uniform with smart white trousers or skirt and a bold red jacket emblazoned with captain’s insignia, will make the rounds on all Disney ships starting in April.

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Empowering Women through Maritime Scholarships

This year, Disney Cruise Line will sponsor four scholarships at the LJM Maritime Academy in The Bahamas for female cadets who aspire to be ship captains and shipboard leaders. The scholarships, one for each of the ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, include two years of study at the academy and one year of service aboard a Disney ship.

Nautical Fun for Children at Sea

Onboard Disney Cruise Line ships later this year, Captain Minnie Mouse will appear in an all-new youth activity where young captain hopefuls practice STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills in a fun maritime-themed activity. Children will hone their STEM and problem-solving abilities – skills that play an important role in the maritime industry – in a series of engaging, hands-on activities.

The interactive experience will be a journey of discovery, exploration and imagination that will be offered in Disney’s Oceaneer Lab aboard all Disney ships.

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Why Knot – Taking Nautical Fun Ashore

As part of a commitment to encourage future generations to pursue careers in the maritime industry, Captain Minnie Mouse will visit children in some of Disney Cruise Line’s homeports and ports of call. Children will have an opportunity to meet Captain Minnie Mouse and be inspired by her “can do” qualities and ability to tackle any goal she sets her mind to.

As part of these local community visits, Captain Minnie Mouse will be accompanied by a female Disney Cruise Line officer or crew member to showcase their roles in the maritime industry and raise awareness about career choices for women aboard a cruise ship.

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Exclusive Captain Minnie Mouse Merchandise

To celebrate the excitement of Captain Minnie Mouse at the helm, Disney Cruise Line is unveiling a special line of merchandise, exclusive to the Disney fleet. Items in the nautical-themed collection of apparel and gifts tout the tagline, “You Can Call Me Captain.” A brand-new Captain Minnie Mouse plush will be introduced this summer.

Captain Minnie Mouse - PANDORA Jewelry Charm

Captain Minnie Mouse also takes the spotlight on a new PANDORA Jewelry charm, available for purchase exclusively onboard.

Ready to set sail on a Disney Cruise?

Contact Mad Hatter Adventures Travel Company and you can get up to $1000 in on board credit when booking a new reservation with them!

Mad Hatter Adventures is a FULL SERVICE and  AWARD WINNING Agency

They are an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner

Contact them TODAY for ALL your travel needs!

Info@MadHatterAdv.com    1-844-M-HATTER

*Information and Photos from the Disney Parks Blog

Last Minute Disney World Trip!

On By thedelightfultravelerIn Family, travel, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I am excited that today we have a guest blogger!

Meet Tami!

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So you think you’re too late to book a Disney World trip? Let me tell you some of our favorite trips have been booked last minute and we are at it again.  The number one rule when booking a Disney trip is managing your expectations.

Walt Disney World is HUGE! Unless you are visiting for a month, you won’t see everything and eat everywhere. Maybe your 1st choice isn’t available but that’s where we have to manage our expectations of what our trip will be. Maybe our favorite resort isn’t available or our must have restaurant. Maybe we can’t get that FASTPASS we are looking for. Let me tell you. All of these scenarios could happen even if you booked your trip 6 months ago.

So how do you begin?

Resorts!

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Start with your resort options.  We just booked a trip for a week starting June 13th staying at Port Orleans Riverside in the Royal Rooms.

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We are beyond excited and we are making it a surprise to our children.  This is a resort we have wanted to stay at but it hasn’t worked out in the past.
We are already within our FASTPASS booking window but as an added adventure, we aren’t going to book our FASTPASS’s until 3 days before we check in.

We want to show you that your trip can be AMAZING even if you book it within a short time frame.

So stay tuned: Next up is booking our dining reservations.

 

Tami Golden is a Travel Specialist with Mad Hatter Adventures, Travel Company.

You can contact her at Tami@MadHatterAdv.com for a FREE quote on your next magical Vacation!  All of her planning services are FREE to you when booking your adventure with her!  She specializes in Disney, Cruises, All Inclusives, European Adventures, and well anything else you can dream up.

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Mad Hatter Adventures is a FULL SERVICE and  AWARD WINNING Agency.  They are an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.  Contact them TODAY for ALL your travel needs!  Info@MadHatterAdv.com   1-844-M-HATTER

 

Disney Cruise Line On Board Credit!

On By thedelightfultravelerIn Family, travelLeave a comment

Starting today Mad Hatter Adventures, Travel Company is giving away FREE MONEY!

Yes that’s what I said, FREE MONEY!  When you book a NEW Disney Cruise reservation with them, they will apply an on board credit to your account.  That means that while you are on board, you can use that credit to pay for drinks, spa treatments, dinner at Palo or Remy, or anything you purchase while on board.

So here is my question to you, If it costs the SAME to book with a Mad Hatter Adventures, Travel Specialist, than it does to book directly with Disney?  Then why wouldn’t you contact them?

Here are the details……

Book a Disney Cruise with a Mad Hatter Adventures, Travel Specialist

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Get an On board Credit!

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Of course there are terms and conditions.  I mean aren’t there always?

For example, They figure your OBC only on the commissionable cruise fare.  Which makes sense.  They can’t give you something they don’t have.  I will attach below  the exact terms and conditions they have supplied.  But seriously consider them for ALL you travel needs!

 

Mad Hatter Adventures is a FULL SERVICE and  AWARD WINNING Agency

They are an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner

Contact them TODAY for ALL your travel needs!

Info@MadHatterAdv.com    1-844-M-HATTER

 

 

 

 

 

Mad Hatter Adventures, Travel Company  On Board Credit Terms & Conditions:

On Board Credit Amount is based on the Disney Cruise Line CRUISE FARE ONLY and does NOT include nor apply to taxes, government fees, insurance, transfers, airfare, hotel stays, shore excursions, gratuities, purchases on room folio, Adventure by Disney Add-ons, nor any additional vacation components booked with Disney nor any other travel supplier. The OnBoard Credit is listed in US Dollars.  The OnBoard Credit cannot be combined with any other promotional discounts or offers, nor any previous rebate nor other on board credit promotions, including but not limited too transfers and place holders booked while on board. The OnBoard Credit does not apply to staterooms booked under a group block. This offer is not valid toward any active reservations booked prior to 4/15/19 by Mad Hatter Adventures, Travel Company. Cruise sail date must occur by 12/31/20. One Onboard Cruising Credit per reservation. Onboard Credit cannot be combined for multiple reservations. Offer is subject to change without notice.

If your Disney Cruise reservation is modified before or after final payment and this results in a price change, the Onboard Cruising Credit amount will be adjusted accordingly. Complimentary upgrades from Disney do not constitute a change in Onboard Credit amount. If cruise reservation is canceled at any time, the Onboard Cruising Credit Offer is null and void and cannot be transferred or redeemed as cash.

Any unused Onboard Credit is not redeemable for cash, credit or refund. Any and all unused onboard credit is forfeited by the user and cannot be refunded to the user in any way. No exceptions. The Onboard Cruising Credit can be used for most valid charges incurred while on the Disney Cruise including gratuities, alcoholic beverages, Disney organized shore excursions, shipboard and Castaway Cay spa treatments, photographs, souvenirs and activities on Castaway Cay and the Disney Cruise. The onboard credit is not valid for purchases in port or shore excursions that are not arranged by Disney Cruise Line.

This OnBoard Credit Offer is valid on NEW 2019 & 2020 Disney Cruise Line Reservations booked with Mad Hatter Adventures, Travel Company by 12/31/2019.  Travel must be completed by 12/31/20. This offer cannot be combined with any other discount or offer from Mad Hatter Adventures, Travel Company.

All terms and conditions are subject to change without notice.

First-of-its-Kind Play Pavilion, New Park Entrance Part of Epcot’s Historic Transformation

On By thedelightfultravelerIn Family, travel, UncategorizedLeave a comment

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As you may have heard, Disney has got BIG plans for its multi-year transformation of Epcot, with new experiences that’ll “Wow!” you while keeping true to the original vision of the park. Today, we excited to share even more of what’s to come.

The ongoing evolution of Epcot includes plans for a play pavilion that’ll be unlike anything you’ve ever seen at the park. This new space will be devoted to playful fun and feature an innovative city that’ll come to life under the dome of the un-named pavilion previously known as Wonders of Life. The pavilion’s city will be bursting with interactive experiences, your favorite Disney characters, hands-on activities and engaging entertainment when it opens just in time for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort!

“This innovative, new pavilion is beyond anything we have ever created and is completely unique to Epcot,” said Zach Riddley, portfolio executive, Walt Disney Imagineering. “Built on the power of play, it introduces an immersive and interactive ‘city’ where you can explore, create, and interact with some of your favorite Disney characters. This is an experience worthy of our bold vision for Epcot – and another signature element of our transformation.”

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There will also be exciting changes to the way you come and go at Epcot! As you can see above, changes are coming to the Epcot main entrance, where the plaza will welcome guests with new pathways, sweeping green spaces and a newly reimagined fountain. This new design will pay homage to the original park entrance with fresh takes on classic elements.

As part of the new entry experience, Leave A Legacy photos will be moving into a beautiful setting just outside the park’s gateway. Additional significant redevelopment will begin between Spaceship Earth attraction and the World Showcase Promenade. More details about the transformation of this area will be announced at a later date.

And if you’re as excited as we are about these upcoming projects, you’ll soon be able to look into the future with us at a new Experience Center coming to Epcot later this year. The Experience Center will be located in the Odyssey Events Pavilion and feature interactive exhibits to help visualize park projects throughout this unprecedented period of transformation.

 

Contact a Mad Hatter Travel Adviser TODAY to BOOK your Epcot Adventure!!!!

 

 

Mad Hatter Adventures is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner

Contact them TODAY for ALL your travel needs!

Info@MadHatterAdv.com    1-844-M-HATTER

Have you met a Dinosaur?

On By thedelightfultravelerIn Family, travel, UncategorizedLeave a comment

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If you have boys like I do, then you won’t want to miss the Raptor Encounter and meet and greet at Universal Studios Orlando!  You can come face to face with Blue!  If you aren’t too scared!

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At Raptor Encounter you will get to learn some interesting raptor facts about this clever girl. And if you’re brave enough, you can even grab a quick photo with her. Fun fact, kids can even sleep in their very own gyrosphere bed in the new Jurassic World Kids’ Suites at Loews Royal Pacific Resort!

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We just got back from a trip to Universal Orlando and we had so much fun! But meeting Blue is definitely not for the faint of heart!  She can be pretty scary!

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Right now Universal Studios Orlando has an AMAZING park ticket deal going on!  You can get 2 days FREE when you purchase a 2 day.  That’s 4 days for the price of 2!   Tickets must be purchased by March 14, 2019 and used by June 30th, 2019.  That makes it PERFECT for a last minute spring break trip!  *Terms and conditions do apply

Contact a Mad Hatter Travel Adviser TODAY to BOOK your Universal Adventure!!!!

Mad Hatter Adventures is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner

Contact them TODAY for ALL your travel needs!

Info@MadHatterAdv.com    1-844-M-HATTER

Why Port Canaveral is the Perfect Port to Start Your Disney Cruise

On By thedelightfultravelerIn Family, travel, UncategorizedLeave a comment

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I am excited for the lineup of sailings from Port Canaveral!  Disney is sailing year-round from this port on three-, four- and seven-night voyages to a variety of destinations in the Eastern and Western Caribbean and Bahamas, as well as a stop at Disney’s private island Castaway Cay.

Port Canaveral, remains one of the most popular departure points for family cruises. Here are just a few of the reasons why this Florida port is the perfect place to start your Disney cruise vacation:

With the Disney Wonder, Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream cruising from January to May, it means a full menu of options to sail from Port Canaveral this year. Each ship has a variety of magical onboard experiences ranging from unique family dining to dynamic Broadway-style live musicals! You can also choose from a wide array of itineraries with sun-drenched beaches to the Bahamas and Eastern and Western Caribbean. Whether you’re looking for a week long Caribbean cruise vacation or a shorter Bahamian getaway to relax on the beach, Port Canaveral is the perfect place to begin!

Castaway Cay

Every cruise from Port Canaveral stops at Castaway Cay, our private island paradise in the Bahamas – the ideal getaway for families.
Castaway Cay is reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests and outfitted for premium family leisure. Whether you’re seeking some adventure, relaxation or quality time with your family, this pristine island has something in store for you. With activities from stingray encounters and snorkeling to bike rentals and private cabanas – not to mention powdery white sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters and lush landscapes all around– your whole family will have countless ways to create amazing vacation memories!

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It’s also close to the Walt Disney World Resort – the perfect place to start or end your vacation!
Port Canaveral, near Orlando, is only a one-hour drive from Walt Disney World Resort, giving you the option to plan the perfect Disney vacation – both on land and at sea! Disney makes combining a cruise and resort stay easier with options like motor coach transportation between the port and resort and luggage delivery from the resort to your stateroom.

Ready to book your cruise out of “Florida’s Fun Port?

Contact a Mad Hatter Travel Adviser TODAY to learn about Disney Cruise Line!

Mad Hatter Adventures is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner

Contact them TODAY for ALL your travel needs!

Info@MadHatterAdv.com    1-844-M-HATTER