"Disney Destinations released in their news this week, "With the recent launch of Disney PhotoPass Lenses at Walt Disney World Resort, there’s a super fun new way to capture memories all across the resort and beyond! Guests can interact with themed effects that transform themselves and the world around them – all while snapping as many photos and videos as they'd like on their own device to save and share.
We're excited to share that we’ve just launched even more Disney PhotoPass Lenses! These new Lenses, along with our current collection, are available through the My Disney Experience app with a purchase of Disney Genie+ service. Guests should be sure to download the latest version of the My Disney Experience app to join in on the fun!
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With the newest Lenses, Guests can embrace their icy powers like Elsa, adopt a problem free philosophy with Timon, bundle up and avoid the clutches of the Yeti, accessorize with themed glasses that reflect magical icons, and show off their sweet and salty sides!"

Adventurers Navigation Co. agent, Carrie Luedtke, played around with the lenses offered through Disney PhotoPass and Disney Genie+ services on her recent trips this summer and fall!  Check out her collection here!

While many Disney PhotoPass Lenses can be used across Walt Disney World Resort, others like the Timon and Expedition Everest Lenses will be available exclusively in specific areas of the parks. 
To celebrate this launch, we met with a few of our Disney PhotoPass photographers to give them a first look. Our photographers capture magical moments for our Guests every day, so we wanted to turn the camera lens on them. They got to spend some time enjoying our Lenses, including a sneak peek at the new ones – check it out!

Can't head to Disney any time soon?  That's ok!  They've got you covered right at home!  With the release of the AR Lense updates, Disney also shared that, "A select sampling of lenses are complimentary through the Snapchat app.* One of these lenses is themed to “Lady and the Tramp.” Since Guests can access this lens at home, we invite them and their favorite furry friend to share a plate of spaghetti on a “Bella Notte.”  

Disney Destinations also announced, "Whether enjoying these lenses through the My Disney Experience app or the Snapchat app, Guests can share their favorite photos and videos with us on social media by tagging #DisneyPhotoPass for a chance to be featured on our pages!"

Back in April we shared Disney's addition of the MagicMobile service to the My Disney Experience app.  MagicMobile's primary function at that point was to allow Guests to use a smartphone to enter the Walt Disney World theme parks.  Disney MagicMobile service, is available on eligible iPhones, Apple Watch or Google Pay enabled Android phones.  Disney promotes MagicMobile to give Guests an easy, contactless option to experience select theme park features during their visit – similar to how they use the MagicBand!
Disney MagicMobile passes offer several fun pass designs to choose from – including a few new ones featuring the Disney Fab 50 Character Collection!  Once they create their Disney MagicMobile pass, Guests can find it in Apple Wallet or Google Pay and use it to:

• Enter theme parks (with a valid theme park reservation and valid admission)
• Enter attractions through the virtual queue or Lightning Lane entrance when it’s their time to arrive. (*If enrolled in virtual queue or purchased via Disney Genie+ service or individual Lightning Lane entry)

• Connect Disney PhotoPass images to their account
• NEW: Charge food and merchandise purchases to the payment card on file at their Disney Resort hotel room during their stay

Carrie, one of our Adventurer travel agents, had the opportunity to use MagicMobile during her most recent visits in August and October.  Carrie found Disney MagicMobile to be useful at times as the service is available in addition to the MagicBand.  Despite incorrect rumors that the MagicBands would be disappearing and replaced with MagicMobile, we have learned that is not the case!  Guests can use one or the other, or BOTH for added flexibility!  MagicMobile we found to be most useful when a MagicBand sadly went missing.  MagicMobile allowed Carrie and her crew to continue on through their day while they waited to hear if their MagicBand appeared at Lost & Found, or was otherwise replaced.  MagicMobile also came in handy when the littles in her party didn't want to wear their MagicBand.  Entry to parks and Genie+/Lightning Lane ques were easy and seamless!

Disney Destinations recently share, "A smart device can be a one-stop shop for Guests to experience the magic during their visit. The My Disney Experience app also enables Disney Resort hotel Guests to unlock their room door using our current digital room key feature. Also available in the app, ​​our complimentary Disney Genie service can help Guests create their best Disney day inspired by their party’s top interests! Click here to learn more about Disney Genie. Guests should be sure to download the My Disney Experience app so they can enjoy Disney MagicMobile service and more during their next visit!"

With all of this new technology of course comes all of the "requirements" for proper function of the services and app!  Please note: 

• Disney MagicMobile service requires iOS 14.4 or later and watchOS 7.3 or later.
• Apple, the Apple logo, Apple Watch and iPhone, are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google Inc.
• Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations, and features may vary by handset, service provider or otherwise. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. Music streaming feature requires an Apple Music subscription. Separate terms and conditions apply. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first. Some features require separate theme park admission.​

By: Disney Destinations
March 30, 2021

Beginning today, guests at Walt Disney World Resort will be able to enjoy a convenient and contactless new option for entering the theme parks and more, as part of the rollout of Disney MagicMobile service!

Available now on iPhone and Apple Watch and coming soon to other smart devices, Disney MagicMobile service is a fun, easy-to-use new way for guests to experience The Most Magical Place on Earth. The service is offered in addition to other options such as the MagicBand, the colorful, all-in-one bracelet, which will continue to be available and introduced in even more colors, designs and limited-edition fan favorites into the future.

Here are a few helpful tips to get started with Disney MagicMobile service:

• Create A Customized Digital Pass: Guests can create a Disney MagicMobile pass through the My Disney Experience app and add it to the Wallet app on iPhone or the digital wallet on other smart devices. Guests can customize their pass by choosing from several Disney-themed designs that animate upon use (including special designs just for Annual Passholders and DVC Members)! For added ease, they may also store multiple passes on a single device, a great option for families.
• Easily Enter the Parks and More: Guests can simply hold their iPhone, Apple Watch, or other smart device near an access point when entering the parks or using other available features, just like they do with a MagicBand. With Express Mode on iPhone and Apple Watch, guests do not even need to wake or unlock their Apple device, or open up the app, to use their Disney MagicMobile pass. As a reminder, valid park admission and a park reservation are required for park entry and must be linked to an account.
• Discover Other App Enhancements: We’ve also added a new feature in the My Disney Experience app that allows guests to automatically link their Disney PhotoPass attraction photos and videos to their profile through a smartphone. Just confirm the settings in advance of riding at participating attractions. The My Disney Experience app also enables Disney Resort hotel guests to unlock their room door using our current digital room key feature.

Guests may use Disney MagicMobile service, a MagicBand or a card interchangeably for added flexibility. Disney Resort hotel guests can purchase MagicBands at a special, pre-arrival price. Guests can also pick up a Key to the World card at their convenience at the front desk.

Download the My Disney Experience app today to check out these latest updates!

*Please note Disney MagicMobile service requires iOS 14.4 or later and watchOS 7.3 or later.

"While Disneyland Park has been closed, Walt Disney Imagineering has been putting the finishing touches on this cherished attraction, which will be ready to welcome Guests when we reopen our theme parks at a later date." While your guests may recognize some familiar elements in the attraction, they’ll be surprised to discover enhanced story details and all-new scenes. 
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​Learn more about the magical transformation of this attraction at Disney Parks Blog!
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In an unusual timeline, Disney Cruise line announced Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy itineraries for late April and May 2022 that are now available to book.

Mark your calendar! Beginning January 5, 2021, a new special offer on a room-and-ticket package will be released:
"Get 2 extra days added to your ticket when you buy a 4-night/3-day room-and-ticket package at select Disney Resort hotels, valid for arrivals most nights January 8, 2021 through September 25, 2021."
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​This special package can be booked beginning January 5, 2021. Contact Carrie at Adventurers Navigation Co. to book! Email carrie.adventurer@gmail.com for more information!

On Christmas Eve Day, the Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Celebration debuted a brand-new video of the Disney Wish, which sets sail in summer 2022.
From Disney Destinations, "This never-before-seen digital clip showcases new details of the dazzling Grand Hall and a first look at the stunning character statue at the base of the grand staircase, an iconic Disney princess whose faith in her dreams has inspired generations to believe in the power of their own.
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Who is she? You don’t have to wait until the clock strikes midnight to find out..."

The article continues, "Inspired by the beauty of a fairytale castle, the Grand Hall makes a bold welcoming statement, setting the tone for an enchanted family vacation from the moment your Clients step onboard the Disney Wish. It is an idyllic setting for Cinderella, whose timeless story is the perfect example of magic transforming wishes into dreams and dreams into reality – very fitting for a vessel named the Disney Wish, don’t you think?"
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Some fun facts about the Disney Wish:

• The Disney Wish is the first of three new ships joining the Disney Cruise Line fleet through 2025.
• All three ships will be powered by liquefied natural gas. 
• At approximately 144,000 gross tons and 1,250 guest staterooms, will be slightly larger than the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.

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Disney Destinations notes, "there is still more work to be done here in the future, the area is much more open and welcoming now. It features new planters, pathways, lush landscaping and a vibrant new color palette that will eventually tie into the four new neighborhoods we’re creating inside the park – World Celebration, World Discovery, World Nature and World Showcase. "

As guests approach the front of iconic Spaceship Earth they will now see a re-imagined fountain, standing in the footprint of the original fountain that welcomed guests on the park’s opening day in 1982. Disney emphasized, "Our design team took special interest in this water feature, as we looked back to the geometry of the original for inspiration while creating some new magic of our own. In the fountain’s center is a brilliant light, a unique liquid-cooled fixture we’ve designed with new capabilities that complement the fountain’s changing colors and will coordinate with new lighting coming to Spaceship Earth and the upcoming World Celebration beyond. 

Three acrylic pylons, each standing over 16 feet tall and featuring the park’s logo, surround the fountain and hearken back to the creation of EPCOT. Their timeless design and vertical presence draw the eye upward toward the sky – perfectly framing views of Spaceship Earth."

This new fountain is billed as the centerpiece of EPCOT’s entrance plaza, having been designed as a welcoming area to bring people together.  As the article shares, "The greenery and use of water celebrate a harmony between humanity and the natural world. This park was built to inspire optimism, and we’re infusing this transformation with the magic of possibility."

Stay tuned for more updates about EPCOT, as the work here is far from done!

On Friday, November 20th, 2020, Walt Disney World Resort announced three more in-park dining locations would be returning to service!  

• November 25th -  Woody’s Lunch Box, at Disney's Hollywood Studios, will re-open with classic American fare, old-fashioned soda floats and other “Toy Story”-themed specialties.  
• December 13th -  Magic Kingdom's Crystal Palace will reopen its doors, but sadly without our friends from the Hundred-Acre Wood.  The restaurant will be offering a family-style dining experience instead of buffet, with new a new menu featuring individually plated entrées including crispy fried chicken with honey pot drizzle, fire-roasted prime rib of beef, fried cauliflower and more.  ​Reservations will open for this location on December 1st, 2020.
• December 17th - Tomorrowland Terrace, will also reopen. This quick-service location will feature a refreshed menu of seafood favorites, including lobster rolls and fried shrimp.
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Park Hopping is coming BACK!  This long awaited announcement quietly dropped into our inboxes this morning, and we couldn't be more excited!  At the re-opening of The Walt Disney World Resort in July, we enjoyed a restricted park capacity of 25%.  It was AWESOME!  Reminds me of how it was when I was a kid in the late 80's and early 90's.  No rush, no crush of crowds, and no need for FastPass+ ... we didn't even feel the need to Park Hop!

Our return visit in late October found a bump in capacity to 35%.  While it still was thoroughly enjoyable, and very laid back, there were moments I found myself wishing I could take advantage of the Park Hopping system.  Park Hopping has traditionally been our tool to escape a crowded park in favor of a less busy one.  I pined for the ability to Park Hop in October as it could have helped rescue my family from poor choices for our Park Pass Reservations on particular days (ahem ... Disney's Hollywood Studios on a weekend was a "goofy" decision).  

It is important to note, all other "enhanced health and safety measures remain in effect, including face coverings required for all guests ages two and up."  The return of Park Hopper® benefits for guests with Park Hopper tickets/package, or Annual Pass with these privileges, will indeed go far to provide the chance to see and do more during their visit!

As mentioned the return of Park Hopping does come with the modifications as described earlier, and a caveat for those hoping to snag the coveted Rise of the Resistance Virtual Boarding Group. Disney Destinations shared in their press release, "Please note that the ability to visit another park will be subject to the park’s capacity limitations. And, to help us manage attendance, upon the return of the Park Hopper option in January, only guests with a Disney Park Pass reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be able to experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – Guests visiting from another theme park will not be able to request to join the virtual queue."

Guests should also take note with capacity restrictions in place, holding a dining reservation at a Park they wish to hop to, does not guarantee admission to that park if it is at capacity.  Guests will need to rely on the My Disney Experience app to determine ahead of hopping, if the park they were planning on is at capacity or welcoming Guests.  Ultimately this means that the only guaranteed park access will be to the park a Guest has made a Park Pass Reservation for the day. 

Lastly, while we get used to this new normal, it was uplifting to read, "Park-to-park transportation is also planned to resume in 2021, with operations beginning each day shortly prior to the start of Park Hopper® hours."  Official operating times will be established based on various park openings and closings, but we anticipate that it will mirror the general rule of thumb 45 minutes prior to Park Hopping opening, and run through after closing of the park.  Guests can expect park-to-park transportation, for parks that reach capacity, to pause until a later time when more guests can be welcomed.

Just as Disney Destinations noted in their press release -- Adventurer's Navigation Co. is also excited for the return of these fan favorite options in the New Year!  Considering a Disney vacation? Contact us today to receive a no obligation quote from an agent experienced in Walt Disney World Resort trips during the pandemic! 

While I would normally endeavor to make every trip to Walt Disney World 6 nights or longer, I sometimes have to accept I don’t have the luxury of time. I often run into clients who wonder, is it really worth going to Disney if you only have a couple days available? Is it even possible to enjoy Disney for such a short time? My answer is always — YES! Whether it’s last minute or planned in advance, a short visit can be just as memorable as a long one.

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Tip #1 - Take Advantage of ParkHopping
To park hop or not is a constant dilema for Disney vacation planners.  With the prices increasing each year, guests most certainly are looking to shave off expenses where they can.  For a short visit, at approximately $85/person to add the perk, I can certainly understand why some question if it is worth the expense.  In the case of a short visit - don't second guess - in most cases it is a MUST!  Park hopping will allow guests to pack in the maximum amount of park experience as is possible.

Tip #2 - Use Extra Magic Hours to Your Advantage
Especially if morning Extra Magic Hours are available - guests on a swift touring plan need to be there!  If another park offers later hours, or night Extra Magic Hours, this too will come in handy to get the most bang for your buck out of your park tickets.

Tip #7 - Consider Special Events if Available
Extra Morning Magic tickets can afford guests an additional 3 hours, with little to no crowds.  Plus, you receive a breakfast at your leasure within that time frame.  You must still have general park admission in addition to the special event ticket, but in the long run it's a nice compliment to your day.

Disney After Dark/After Hours/Special Party event tickets can easily take the place of a 1 day ticket/parkhopper.  This nearly 5 hour experience gives you unique entertainment, the run of the park with limited attendees, and often free treats!  Who needs a Premium Mickey Bar?  (everyone!)

So, to put it all together, my all encompassing advice when considering a short stay at Disney - be prepared to compromise! Expect that your time is after all still very limited. You will have to pick and choose what handful of experiences mean the most to you. And... plan to come back!

​If you know you are in the market for a short stay, but not sure where to start, give us a call -- we will get you on track in a jiffy!

Just over a month ago our small agency celebrated our 1 year anniversary of our re-branding ... or as I prefer to think of it, our "re-birth".  A short search through our Travel Journal will lead you to the article where I discussed what I now consider a milestone in our agencies journey.  As we have made the transition, our client loyalty has swelled.  We continue to be very thankful to our clients and the numerous referrals they regularly make.  

I would be lying however if I didn't admit that I had been dragging my feet on the re-branding.    A friend whom makes her living in Marketing would every now and then nudge about a logo.  With her expertise in online presence, including website design and social media utilization ... I knew she was right.  As she pointed out several times, the sad picture of a wilting Dole Whip, sitting aside a Mickey Balloon Popcorn Bucket, was not exactly going to draw in the billions of people scanning through the internet ... nor was it going to be memorable!  The absence of a new business logo weighed heavily on my mind.  Last spring I peeled the old vinyl logo off my car.  For months I had the constant thought when walking to my car, "I should really figure out a new logo."  Most business conversations with Colleen included a reminder from her that I really really need to do something about a new logo.  It was holding so much up, business cards, website clean up, etc. 

What was my problem you ask? Perhaps it took a year of "grieving" the loss of invested funds and time to our old name, in order to fully embrace our new name? Undoubtedly that played a part in the procrastination.  In my life I try to do things with purpose and meaning as I dislike wasted energy, or settling for mediocre.  With the name change, I put a lot of thought into what represents the agency and the team of ladies best.  We have always been a full-service agency that prioritized helping our clients achieve vacations they dreamed of, but with the honesty of keeping their budgets as the priority.  Our agency has never been about sales goals, and we are never concerned about how much commission we earn.  Beyond those values however, as I said a year ago, our agency offers so much more than just booking vacations ... we offer to be your guides to adventures of a lifetime!  With this thought I realized that Adventurers Navigation Co.  was the right fit for a new name ... but, how did that LOOK?  Just as the name has vivid meaning, I felt strongly the logo needed to as well.

I am excited to share that I have finally hit on a design that pulls together our core beliefs as travel planners and an agency, with a "hidden Mickey" to boot!

The base value of our agency is to show our clients the best way to a vacation that balances value and experience.  The ​Compass represents how our travel planners are first and foremost committed to guiding our clients to the best vacation for their budget. 

The next layer to our service is always about design.  When planning vacations for our clients we cognizant each client is different. Therefore each vacation plan will need a different design to help clients achieve an enjoyable experience. The circle of design is a symbol that our agency will create a custom adventure that considers each clients needs, tastes, and desires.   

Last, but certainly not least, is the value of Time.  We each are granted just one lifetime to go and do; to explore and learn; to enjoy this wonderful world.  Colleen and I talk often about time ... how now is the time, because life will not wait.  We do not know when the clock will run out on life.  As travel planners we believe that our service is priceless.  Just as clients are encouraged to take the time to vacation now, their time spent planning can be consuming.  We believe it is our job to save clients that time (and often frustration) spent on detail.  Our travel planner have the adventure laid out, ready for clients to just go and enjoy.

I am excited to share with the world the new *look* for Adventurers Navigation Co. As I said just a short year ago, we are a Travel Team of professional travel planners. Our team of specialists is ready to help you navigate your next adventure!  Whether it be Disney or Europe, we will be there for you every step of the way! To our faithful following - thank you for being the backbone of our business! To those who are just discovering us, welcome!  To everyone reading this post -- Let's ADVENTURE Together!