Darren Wittko 7/15/15 Darren Wittko 7/15/15

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique debuts on the Disney Magic

Aspiring young princesses and knights are in for a treat when Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique debuts on the Disney Magic this fall! This whimsical salon for children ages three to 12 is coming to Deck 10 in the forward part of the ship.

Young Disney Cruise Line Guests can choose from several looks, including a Disney Princess, royal knight and more. On pirate party night, this boutique becomes The Pirates League where pirates of all ages can be transformed from landlubber to buccaneer.

Tweens are also in store for new adventures when Edge moves to Deck 9 midship. This super cool space, reserved just for 11-14 year-olds, will feature a dance floor and high-tech gaming stations.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique-Disney Cruise Line

Cruisers on the transatlantic voyage from Spain to Miami, departing Sept.19, will be the first to enjoy these enhancements. The Disney Magic will then sail 4- and 5-night voyages from Miami to the Bahamas and Caribbean throughout the fall.

Darren Wittko is the creator of Save at Walt Disney World and a Disney Destinations Specialist at Magical Vacations Travel. Voted "best of the best Disney travel agent" by readers of the 2015 Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. He is also the creator of The Best of Walt Disney World blog.

Darren Wittko 7/8/15 Darren Wittko 7/8/15

Holiday Season 2015 Walt Disney World Offers!

Are you planning to visit the Walt Disney World Resort this holiday season? You won't want to miss out on these exclusive money-saving offers from Darren at Magical Vacations Travel.

Save Money with These Special Walt Disney World Resort Offers

The following offers can we just released and are now available to book! Save big on some of Walt Disney World's most popular resorts. Plus, add specially priced tickets to make it package and save even more! Some offers have the option of adding one of the Disney Dining Plans.

Just Released Holiday Season Offers for Walt Disney World Resort

Coronado Springs Special! - Nov 14 through Dec 2
Thanksgiving Offer - Nov 23 through Nov 30
Early December Offer - Nov 30 through Dec 6
Port Orleans December Offer - Dec 10 through Dec 18
Christmas Week at Disney Offer - Dec 22 through Dec 30

Candlelight Processional 2015 Just Annouced

Once again celebrity narrators will take the stage for the Epcot Candlelight Processional, starting Nov 27, 2015 and running through December 30, 2015.

Neil Patrick Harris returns to the 2015 Candlelight Processional Nov 30 through Dec 3

Showtimes are 5 p.m., 6:45 p.m and 8:15 p.m. nightly. Showtimes on Dec. 6 are 6:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.

Neil Patrick Harris and Whoopi Goldberg are by far among the most popular narrators each year so be sure to book as soon as possible for these performances. Some other Celebrity Narrators have already been scheduled to make appearances this year (subject to change without notice):

TBD Nov. 27-29, 2015
Neil Patrick Harris Nov. 30-Dec. 3, 2015
Whoopi Goldberg Dec. 4-5, 2015
Joe Morton Dec. 6-8, 2015
TBD Dec. 9-11, 2015
Meredith Vieira Dec. 12-14, 2015
TBD Dec.15-23, 2015
Edward James Olmos Dec. 24-26, 2015
TBD Dec. 27-28, 2015
Amy Grant Dec. 29-30

Candlelight Dinner Package

If you plan to see Candlelight then it's highly recommended you book the Dinner Package. You'll be guaranteed seating for the show, as well as a delicious meal at an Epcot restaurant - you have to eat anyway right? Candlelight Dinner Packages start at $35 for lunch and $50 for dinner for adults (plus tax and gratuity). Packages include an appetizer, entrée, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage per person (or one full buffet where applicable). The best part about the Candlelight Dinner Package however is the guaranteed admission. People being queuing up for the show as early as 2 hours prior, especially if Whoopi and Neil are in town. There is no guarantee that you'll get in and many are turned away. The Dinner Package is the way to go!

Darren Wittko 7/5/15 Darren Wittko 7/5/15

Tips for Earning Frequent-Flyer Miles to Orlando

Earning free seats isn't as easy as the airlines would like you to believe when they promote their rewards programs. Frequent flyer programs are not on your side and this is largely because they are unregulated. Airlines change the rules frequently and sometimes make it difficult on purpose. Fortunately there are a few ways to beat them at their own game.

Orlando International Airport, Gateway to Walt Disney World Resort

Shop Closer to Your Travel Dates

Sometimes the airlines will release frequent-flyer seats closer to the departure date, especially if they have unsold seats on the flight. It can be a little risky though, fares usually increase during this time so if you don’t find a free seat, you could end up paying more. A good strategy is to start price-watching a few months in advance to see if fares are going up and down. On our Airlines Page, we recommend sites like Google Flights. If you see a steady increase in tickets, that’s a good indication that the flight is selling well and chances for reward seats could potentially be limited.

Miles from Credit Cards

If you don't fly enough to earn a free flight you can still earn miles with a credit card linked to a reward program. Use for things like gas and groceries and the points could really add up fast. Use your card as often as you can major purchase like a tuition payment, a kitchen appliance, or even a downpayment on a new car. The Capital One Venture Card and Discover's new DisoverIt Miles Card are both highly rated for this.

Most of the major airlines also have frequent flyer programs linked to Visa, Master Card and American Express cards such as the JetBlue Card from American Express, the Delta Skymiles Card, and the American Airlines AAdvantage MasterCard. They usually offer a sign on bonus that can really boost your account towards a free flight. Unless you plan on racking up points rapidly, avoid programs where the points/miles expire after a set period of time; the better programs offer points that never expire as long as you actively use the card. Do your research for each card on a website like CreditCards.com - be sure you understand how you will earn miles and how you will be able to use them.

If you have an American Express Card and belong to the Membership Rewards Program, you can transfer rewards points right into many airline frequent flyer programs. The transfer of points can be a little complicated but you can get assistance by calling AMEX or the airline.

One of our favorites is the JetBlue Card from American Express where you earn points on JetBlue's True Blue program slightly faster than with Membership Rewards. For every dollar you spend on the card, you get a 1 frequent flyer mile so it's very easy to keep track of and points never expire. There are no blackout dates with JetBlue, when searching for flights you'll have the option of searching by cost or by points.

Southwest offers a variety of Visa Cards that can help you earn miles on it's Rapid Rewards program. Rapid Rewards points never expire and there are no blackout dates as long as you use the card frequently.

Both JetBlue and Southwest have made Orlando International Airport a mini-hub so they have plenty of flights in and out everyday. They also compete fiercely so fare wars are quite common. Explore our Airlines Page for more tips on how to find cheap flights into Orlando International plus other ways to save on SaveAtWDW.com.

Cash Back Credit Cards Offer More Flexibility

If you prefer not to commit to a airline credit card look for a credit card that offers cash back. Some cards offer anywhere from 1 percent to 5 percent cash back on purchases. With these cards you don’t have to consider frequent flyer miles at all - just use the cash back you've earned to pay for the flight. This is actually a great way to go but you might have to remember to sign up online to earn the 5 percent bonuses, otherwise you'll just be earning the standard 1 percent.

Annual Fees Add Up

Watch for Annual Fees. Most credit cards offering frequent flyer points charge an annual fee just for carrying the card in your wallet. The JetBlue American Express card is $40 per year while Southwest's cards start at $70. The Venture Card from Capital One is also a very good program but it will cost you $60 per year. If the points you earn expire after a set period of time, look for a different card.

Be sure that the annual fees don’t outweigh the cost of the flight. If your membership fees are racking up year after year without earning a reward, you could reach a point where it would be cheaper to have just buy a ticket.

Frequent Flyer Reward Flights to Orlando

Call if You Can’t Find it

Most people will search online for reward flights and for converting credit card miles and points. However, if you don’t understand how to make the conversion, try calling the airline for assistance. The airline representatives have the ability of looking up specific flights, using their own booking system, to see what’s available. They may also have the authority to release a reward seat that might otherwise show as unavailable.

Tips for Finding Cheap Fares to Orlando International

Save Money On Car Rentals

Save Money on Car Services

Darren Wittko 7/3/15 Darren Wittko 7/3/15

Watch 4th of July Fireworks LIVE! Over Cinderella Castle

The Disney Parks Blog announced today that the special 4th of July fireworks show at Magic Kingdom Park will stream live at 9PM on July 4. Click here to tune in.

Darren Wittko 7/3/15 Darren Wittko 7/3/15

Family Culinary Adventure at Disney's Contemporary Resort

Upon arrival in the kitchen, you will be placed into groups and assigned a portion of the meal. You'll then prepare your segment with the aid of a professional Chef. Teams will regroup to introduce their menu item before sitting down to a group dinner. At the conclusion of the adventure, you'll be presented with a cookbook signed by the Chefs plus a white Chef’s hat.

This 3 ½ hour interactive experience is available twice a week and costs $175 per adult and $125 per child (ages 9-12), plus tax. Each experience is limited to 30 Guests. Beer and wine are included for Guests 21 years and over. Transportation to and from Disney’s Contemporary Resort is available for Disney Resort hotel Guests only.

A Disney PhotoPass photographer will be on hand to capture photos of the group during the experience.