Weekly Round-up 2 - September 17, 2021

There are so many updates this week! From changes for riding Rise of the Resistance to construction continuing on Universal’s Epic Universe Park, and Royal Caribbean announcing a new ship, let’s get started!

Depending on your interest, we’ll start with the Disney Destinations, move to Universal, All Inclusive resort and family tours, and finish with the Cruise lines Just scroll down to where you are interested most!

Walt Disney World Resort

• NEW and highly anticipated restaurant opening at EPCOT this September. Space 220 Restaurant at EPCOT: More Details and Menus Revealed. Walk up reservations will be taken until September 27, 2021 when Advance Dining Reservations will available via My Disney Experience : CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

• EPCOT will be introducing their new fireworks display on October 1, 2021. This is the beginning of the 50th Anniversary Most Magical Celebration at Walt Disney World Resort. Bringing the Global Music of ‘Harmonious’ to Spectacular Life on World Showcase Lagoon at EPCOT can be found HERE

• Experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Like Never Before at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Beginning September 23, 2021, use of the virtual queue will be paused at Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. A limited stand-bye queue will be available, and changes are anticipated again once Walt Disney World implements the Disney Genie and Disney Genie+ this fall

• It’s Like Coming Home! Cirque du Soleil Artists Thrilled to Be Together and Rehearsing for Drawn to Life at Disney Springs . You can watch a fun Behind the scenes on this new Cirque de Soleil experience here . Booking tickets for this experience is part of our services to you, so please reach out and let us know if you are interested in seeing this amazing show.

• Replacing MouseGears, we welcome Creations Shop, EPCOT’s New Flagship Merchandise Destination. Club Cool, where you can experience the sodas from around the world has also re-opened in a new location at EPCOT. Fresh paint, new merch, and lots of fun things to explore. The layout looks a lot closer to the shopping venues at Disney Springs with open spaces.

• Disney is updating the Finding Nemo Musical Coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park The show will re-open in 2022

• Are you hoping to watch fireworks in that perfect location without sitting in a crowd? Enhance Your Evening with New and Returning Dessert Parties and Dinner Packages at Walt Disney World Resort. Booking these experiences is also included in our services, and should be included in your requests at your Disney Dining booking date 60 days before your arrival

• First Look: Steakhouse 71 Menus, Opening Soon at Disney’s Contemporary Resort! Replacing the Wave restaurant a new and updated experience is sure to make a steak lover feel the magic! Click here to view the menu

• Beloved ‘Candlelight Processional’ Returns Nov. 26 for the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

• Disney Cruise Line’s Pre-Cruise PCR COVID-19 Testing Option review. Cruising updates should be reviewed on a monthly basis. The rules and regulations are changing rapidly, and the rules differ for Canadians and Americans. Please contact us if you would like an update to your cruise vacation. We can only share updates with clients booking or currently booked at this time due to ever changing regulations.

• Safe Access Oahu Program at Aulani a Disney Resort and Spa. Effective Sept. 13, 2021, all Aulani Resort food & beverage outlets, including quick service and takeaway, will be restricted to resort guests only. Per City & County of Honolulu guidelines, they will require proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours for all guests ages 12 and older dining on property. We will be updating our Hawaii specialist program as we begin to book Hawaii again for this coming spring season. Click here for a short glimpse into the magic that is Aulani

Universal Orlando Resort

• Construction Resumes on Universal’s Epic Universe. Home to Orlando’s first Super Mario Land, How to Train Your Dragon, Classic Monsters and Fantastic Beasts will all have a home at this new theme park slated to open in 2023

• Strike a Pose & Dance With Your Favorite DreamWorks Characters in “Dreamworks Destination” Guests can meet, greet and dance along with their favorite DreamWorks characters in an incredibly-themed location that brings the high-energy fun of the franchise’s most popular animated films to life.

• The Bourne Stuntacular live show has started! THE CHASE IS ON.

All Inclusive Vacations

• Cuba reduces their entry requirements. Civil unrest is still an ongoing issue.

• Many countries and resort chains will begin to offer their own travel insurance, and ensure vaccination of their employees in order to protect tourism rates in their countries.

• Sandals Resorts is offering limited time quarantine and testing options at their own cost

Cruise Lines Updates

• MSC Divina Begins Cruising From New U.S. Homeport Port Canaveral

• Royal Caribbean introduces a new ship in 2022. The Oasis class ship will be named “ The Wonder of the Seas”. She wills ail in March of 2022 from Fort Lauder dale for a few weeks, and will move to Europe from there.

• Royal Caribbean offers 60% Off the Second Guest, 30% off the 3rd/4th Guest, and many more promotions for the month of September. If you would like a quote for a Royal Caribbean Sailing please click here

As you can see, this week was a busy one. We’re always here to be of service to your vacation planning needs. Concierge services, experienced, no fees, and easy to reach.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Marco and Michelle

finocchi@puremagicavacations.ca

Walt Disney World Opens 2022 package Bookings Four Months Early!

That’s right. Disney has opened booking for the first half of 2022 four months EARLY.

As of today, February 16, 2021, families can book a Walt Disney World Resort package for stays up to July 1, 2022. Normally, we are able to book the next year’s packages beginning in the summer, but with the pandemic changing EVERYTHING about travel, Disney has once again plussed the magic and given us a late valentine.

There are things you should consider to make things easier to decide on whether or not your family should book a Disney vacation right now.

All that is required to book your vacation is a refundable, and movable $200 USD deposit. This makes an onsite Walt Disney World vacation one of the most flexible to move and book for your family. A flexible deposit policy is SO important during these new times.

Promotions can be added to your vacation when they are released at a later date based on availability. That is one of the ways having us work for you saves you time and money! Disney doesn’t release promotions when they release rates. Those usually become available a few months before you arrive. We always advise your family to book a vacation that you can afford before the promotion. That way, now matter what happens, you are ready for it, and extra savings just mean more fun while onsite.

Park availability is not guaranteed for entry due to new and safe capacity restraints, so your family will be guided into booking Park Pass reservations within 24 hours of booking your vacation. Don’t stress. We guide you through it! It’s not super tough, and one of the first things that we do as your travel planner is begin to figure out what parks you may want to visit. We look at alot of factors, so make sure to have a quick conversation with us after you book to make the decisions.

Our services are at no cost to you. When you look at pricing online, you’ll notice that it’s exactly the same as when we send you a quote. This is because travel suppliers include the commission in their pricing. You’re literally paying them to do all of the work when you book direct. But when you book with us, you're getting years of travel and Disney travel experience, helpful hints and more ALL based on YOUR family’s preferences.

How do our services work? We will send you a quote, book your fast passes, plan transportation to and from your resort, and help with every part of the planning that we can for you. Magical express isn’t available for 2022, so we’ll look at those options for you closer to your vacation as well. We have many relationships with transportation suppliers in the Orlando area and can take that stress away from you wherever possible.

Flights cannot be booked by us at this time. We’re going to wait until Canada removes those restrictions to get a better look at policy and procedure for 2022 flights.

Please read the Know Before you Go section for information on the current safety protocols for a visit to Walt Disney World. As of now, masks in the park will be required for a 2022 visit. This can change at anytime. We’ll keep you updated, but there is no point in guessing how Disney will be managing the pandemic next year (let’s just pray that it will be over lol). Book knowing that there could still be some restrictions to the experience in some ways, and added magic in others.

The Disney Dining Plan is still unavailable at this time. If it becomes available, we will request the addition to your package. Ya, we’re just like you guys, we want it back, and we want it bad. Disney and food are literally married. It’s a thing.

Walt Disney World is celebrating its 50th ANNIVERSARY in 2022! Stay tuned for extra magical experiences and fun additions as we get closer to your stay. And in true Disney fashion, we have NO doubt that the magic will be CRAZAY awesome for 2022.

Don’t forget to request a quote here: www.finocchiatpuremagicvacations.ca/requestinfo or just send us a quick email: finocchi@puremagicvacations.ca

It feels like a new beginning for travel. I hope that we can be a part of the fun with you when you’re ready!