What a Priest Said About Disney Magic

I went to a wedding a few weeks ago for a dear friend of mine. She and her family have been huge fans of Disney for decades. And when I say huge, back in the 1980s, their whole family had matching Mickey Mouse sweatshirts, a Mickey Mouse telephone (before cell phones!) and a collection of ceramic princesses in their china cabinet. They were the only people I knew who loved Disney as much as me!

The wedding was beautiful. It was a white church with a tall steeple in Massachusetts. It was the church she grew up in and the ceremony was led by a priest who's known their family for years. He did the normal do-you-take-this-man-do-you-take-this-woman vow stuff, but then I think he surprised the congregation with what he said next. Knowing their fondness for Disney, he encouraged the bride and groom to think of their marriage as a trip to the Magic Kingdom.

I'm paraphrasing, but here's the gist of what he said:

"Today we think of Main Street USA and the place where you both come from. Your traditions. Your respective families. Your growing up years. Take that with you as you begin your new journey together.

Next up is Tomorrowland. Tomorrow is the first full day of your new life as husband and wife. The future is uncertain but know that together you can weather any storm.

Fantasyland. This land is a reminder to have fun! Enjoy your lives. Cherish every moment and laugh often.

Frontierland. Marriage is full of new frontiers. You'll create a new home together. Perhaps have children. Blaze a trail that you'll be proud of.

And finally, there's Adventureland. Life is really one great big adventure - don't miss out! Laugh often. Love one another with all your heart. And enjoy the adventure - all of your adventures - together."

(Diehard Disney fans: I know what you're thinking. He totally skipped over Liberty Square! I'm pleased to report that I restrained myself and chose not to interrupt his beautiful sermon.)

He then gave the smiling bride and groom two gifts. The first was a Waterford crystal cross to remind them of their sacred commitment. And the other was a ceramic Mickey and Minnie Mouse to remind them of where they came from and where they're going on this magical adventure. 

The magic of Disney!

Great Savings on the Disney Cruise This Fall

One of our favorite things to do is to share great discounts and savings and this is a great one!  

You may know that Disney Cruise Line will say farewell to its homeport in Galveston, Texas this fall. But you can still get onboard and take advantage of a great rate - plus receive an onboard credit of up to $200 and half-off deposit*. 

7 - Night Bahamian or Western Caribbean Cruise

Inside stateroom starting at $699

Oceanview stateroom starting at $749

Verandah stateroom starting at $899

Valid on most 7-night sailings from September 28 - November 16, 2013. 

*when you book before May 15, 2013.

This may just be the perfect time to go on a Disney Cruise!
 
If you want to learn more, click here or give us a call at 1-866-207-8387. We'll give you a free quote and let you decide for yourself if this is your next magical vacation. 

   

Earmarked for Excellence

Maybe you've seen this logo on our website and in other places: 

But what does it mean?

Well, the "Authorized Disney Vacation Planner" is a unique and exclusive designation given by Disney. It's a symbol of the extensive and specific knowledge our team has of all things Disney. You see, our team consists of certified Disney Destination Specialists who are graduates of the College of Disney Knowledge. Which means our agents are experts in the Disney resorts, theme parks, cruise line, Disney Aulani Resort in Hawaii and Adventures by Disney. 

It also means that this isn't just our job. This is what makes us jump out of bed each morning! It's our passion.

When it comes right down to it, we have families and kids just like you. And like you, we go to Disney as often as possible. 

While we're there, we're busy gathering that precious first hand experience you simply won't find on a website or in a book. Things like knowing how to get every princesses autograph on the Disney Cruise. Or knowing the best time of day to ride Space Mountain.

Why do we do this? Because we don't just book a vacation. We work with you to personalize, customize and plan your Magical Travel experience. In other words, we plan your vacation as if it was our own.

Disney first created the Authorized Disney Vacation Planner designation in 2003, and it's something travel agencies must continually earn. We're honored to say we've earned this designation every year single year since 2003.

You'll see a difference when you work with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner Travel Agency. At Magical Travel, our entire team is committed to exceeding your expectations and making every travel experience you have the most magical vacation ever.  

 

 

Another Great Way to Stay...and Save!

Our number one job is to pass along every possible discount and savings to you. Why? So you can get the most out of your magical vacations. Here are two great offers for the Disneyland® Resort in California!

SAVE UP TO 20% on rooms Sunday through Thursday night and

SAVE UP TO 15% on rooms Friday and Saturday nights at the Hotels of the Disneyland® resort.

(For travel between April 7 - May 22, 2013)

 Most people get a hotel so they have a place to sleep, right? At Disneyland, you'll discover that the Hotels of the Disneyland® resort are so much more than just a place to stay. From the stately elegance of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa...to the newly-renovated Disneyland® Hotel...to the contemporary updates at Disney’s Paradise Pier® Hotel, the distinctive selection of shopping, dining experiences and themed pool areas will fill your day with excitement and enchantment. 

Never been to Disneyland? Now just may be the perfect time. After all, this is the park that started it all. Walt's dream came to life when Disneyland opened nearly 60 years ago in 1955.

Need more convincing? The new Fantasy Faire at Disneyland Park has just opened! Here, children can meet their favorite princesses and princes from films such as The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Tangled, and Beauty and the Beast. Take a peek!

So are you ready to start planning your magical Disneyland vacation? We're ready to work for you! Our agents are all Authorized Disney Vacation planners which means we're experts at what we do. And best of all, there are no fees or commissions. Ever. 

Give us a call at 1-866-207-8387 or click here for a free quote.

Want To Improve Your Health? Take a Vacation!

Now be honest, do you take ALL of your earned vacation days each year? And when you DO go on vacation, is it a quick weekend trip or is it long enough that you really feel renewed and rejuvenated when you get home?

It turns out that most Americans do not take all of their earned vacation time. And the cost can impact your wallet and more importantly, your health.

According to CNNMoney, "On average, Americans forfeit more than $34 billion in vacation days by not taking advantage of all accrued days off." In a recent article titled "Why You Should Take a Vacation", a 2009 report by the National Acacemy of Sciences reports that chronic stress may actually shrink your brain, contribute to overall feelings of irritability and depression and continually feeling unfocused.

So the question is, why don't we take all of our earned days off? Is it guilt? Do we all believe we are so indispensable that our bosses can't live without us for a few days or (gasp) a week at a time?

Don't we all deserve some time to reconnect with our family and friends and loved ones? Of course we do! And as it turns out, there are some pretty impressive benefits to taking the time off that you've earned.

Take your vacation time and you'll:

• Cut the risk of heart attack by 30% in men and 50% in women
• Positively benefit your sleep patterns
• Increase connectivity to loved ones

Getty Images

Sounds good to me.

What about you?

Do you take all of your vacation days?