Reflections of the past 18 months, AND sharing our new adventure!

Reflection and New Adventures!

As many of you know by following our Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok channels (@travelwiththefinocchis), we were set to travel RIGHT before the pandemic began.  Literally set to arrive March 12, 2020.

That time was traumatic for so many of you reading along, and it was no different for us.  While our son sat severely ill from the virus at our local children’s hospital, we managed the business as it collapsed, and our lives all changed in an instant.

As we begin our journey on our first international trip since that gloomy week, we’ve chosen to reflect.  And reflect we have.  

It’s been a HOT minute, but we are thrilled to share that our son recovered and that our family is still booking travel for families across the country.

As we reflect, we realize how many times that we could have walked away from the business. Many Ontario travel agents understandably HAD to walk away as paychecks stopped, and wouldn’t start until families travelled again.  Travel agents in aren’t paid until families return from travel.  That meant a very long road ahead for Canadian travel agents!

So, we had to decide what to do. Assign our families to the good hands of others at Pure Magic Vacations to manage?  Encourage people to cancel and move on to others and just move on to a different industry?

Well, we just couldn’t do that.   It felt like we were leaving family. The people that are in our lives everyday, some of you booking 3 and 4 trips a year with us meant that we spoke to you weekly!

We’re not saying that there weren’t moments. There have been and if we are honest, with long hold times, cancellations, and constant change, we still have them (although fewer and far between). We have just refused to let this destroy our passion for helping families re-connect through travel. 

SO many of you small business owners KNOW what we are talking about. So many families affected. You have been our inspiration. You’re dedication encouraged ours.

THAT passion has never changed.  So we hung in there and made a commitment, just like each family does when they commit to travelling together and making memories from amazing adventures. It’s not always without challenges, but the reward is INCREDIBLE.

Now, the light is at the end of the tunnel!!!  We can see it.  With slow, safe, steady steps we have decided that now is the time for us to venture out into the world again, at the same time that you are beginning to visit our email inbox :)

Our adventure this first time is “just us two”.  Our kids are already booked on two vacations for next year, but this year, we needed a MOMENT.  Can I hear an Amen families?!

A moment to focus, a moment to re-connect, a moment to feel the excitement again of boarding the plane, stepping foot onto a cruise ship, smelling the sea air, dining with friends, and finally, experiencing the magic and thrills of our beloved theme park vacation.

There will be new challenges, there will be learning curves, but this time around we feel prepared, and we are determined to learn so that your family has the best level of service going forward in the future.

We hope that you follow along on social media with us.  We LOVE to interact with you, so send us your DMs, comments, and questions.  Let’s make this fun for ALL of us!

To start, we’ll share what will be in store for us this month.

During this vacation, you will Travel with the Finocchis on social media as we: 

• Complete our antigen tests necessary to fly from Toronto, to the US, and also required to board the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

• Head to YYZ for our Air Canada flight to Miami Florida, using the Arrive Can app and other forms

• Fly into Miami, and stay overnight at a Miami airport hotel

• Sail with Royal Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale for 2 nights, 3 days on the new Odyssey of the Seas

• Complete our PCR tests on ship and included with our cruise to return to Canada

• Visit COCO CAY, and show you all that we can

• Rent a car to begin our journey to Orlando!

• Stay overnight at Cabana Bay Resort, at Universal Orlando, with videos of the Holiday celebrations with the Grinch and in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and adding Express Pass to our tickets

• Head to Animal Kingdom Lodge at Walt Disney World Resort where we will use the Disney Genie+, buy Individual Ride Selections (hopefully) for Rise of the Resistance and Ratatouille. 

• Flying home from Orlando to Toronto with Air Canada again, using the ARRIVE CAN app and other forms necessary

This is the time to ask us questions, follow our channels and take part in the fun! If you haven’t done so yet, remember sign up for reminders to your inbox, so that you can also get an updated on new promotions and offers that we do our best to send weekly.

Thanks for taking the journey with us.  We miss you all, and can’t wait to work with you soon,

Michelle and Marco

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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