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One of my favorite features of the My Disney Experience app is Mobile Ordering. Absolutely no one enjoys standing in line to order food at a Quick Service restaurant, right? Mobile Ordering takes care of that problem with just a few taps on your phone screen. In an effort to assist with Social Distancing guidelines, Disney is asking all guests to use Mobile Ordering whenever possible. I've put together a step by step guide to Mobile Ordering to help you prepare for your next trip! When you're ready to order, open up the My Disney Experience app and navigate to the menu by tapping the button with three lines on the bottom right of the screen. From there, you can choose "Mobile Food Orders".  Then select "Create New Order". Tip: this screen will show you pending orders, so go ahead an order WAY in advance and then navigate back to this screen when you're ready to pickup your food.  Next, you'll be prompted to choose a restaurant and an arrival window - you can choose a window further out if you'd like to order ahead (again, don't worry, your food won't be prepared until you are at the restaurant!)  Once you've chosen your restaurant and arrival window, you can browse the menu and start building your order.  You'll notice that Disney has made sure to take those with special diets into consideration. When available, there will be menu categories for "Plant Based" and "Allergy Friendly" offerings. Please note, if your allergy isn't listed or you have a combination of allergies, you'll need to order in person. When you arrive, see the Cast Members at the restaurant for assistance - don't be afraid to ask for a Manager or a Chef if you have questions!  Once you've selected your items and customized them, you can add them to your order.  At checkout, you can add any applicable discounts and purchase your meal.  When you are ready to pickup your food, head over to the restaurant and tap "I'm Here, Prepare My Order". You'll be able to see updates about your order on this screen and you'll receive a push notification when it's time to pick it up.  If you have any questions, make sure to speak with the Cast Members at the restaurant. So far, we've found that Mobile Ordering is a great way to avoid crowds and lines in the parks! I usually build my order with my family while standing in line for an attraction so that when we're finished riding, we can head right to the restaurant! You can use the app to order at most Quick Service restaurants, including popular spots like Aloha Isle, Docking Bay 7, Flame Tree BBQ, and Satu'li Canteen. So, are you hungry yet? AuthorLauren Regan, Travel Professional with Road To Relaxation Travel
Travel planning has always been something I loved to do. I found that researching a trip and learning everything I possibly could about a destination was something that gave me immense satisfaction. However, I knew that not everyone enjoyed this aspect of traveling as much as I do. In January 2016, I joined Road to Relaxation Travel. My goal: to make my client’s vacations as stress free as possible. I know that my clients don’t necessarily get to travel as much as they’d like to - and I want them to have the best possible experience they can.
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 I know what you are thinking. Cruising is still not allowed in the U.S. much less Alaska, but UnCruise has stepped up to be the exception. Before we get into the specifics of how they plan to depart on Saturday for a 7-night Glacier Bay National Park Adventure, let's give you some details behind the company. UnCruise Adventures focuses on Small Boats, Small Groups and Small Footprint. Unlike larger cruise lines, UnCruise's ships host a max of 86 people thus allowing them to be exempt from the current CDC No Sail policy. In fact, the first cruise will have 38 guests on board! One other draw to UnCruise is they can sail where the bigger ships cannot. This allows you to visit amazing destinations. For example, the August 1st sailing has the following itinerary: DAY 1 Juneau, Alaska – Embarkation Arriving in Juneau, you will be transferred from the airport to our hospitality area. Upon boarding, your crew greets you with champagne and smiles. Set sail for a week of scenic channels and secluded wilderness. DAY 2 Tracy Arm Take an early peek outside. Fjord cliffs reach skyward. Floating ice. And deep u-shaped valleys. There’s no abracadabra here. Mother Nature’s magic is real. Cruise past harbor seals and their pups lounging on chunks of ice. Tracy Arm delivers with the cotton-candy blue twin Sawyer Glaciers of its furthest reaches. Tides permitting, your skiff driver knows the ropes and guides you along. It’s a mashup of towering walls, temperamental currents, and the Coastal Mountains. So many waterfalls. Mountain goats show off fancy footwork on the cliffs. Look for them. DAY 3 Frederick Sound Humpbacks beeline it here each season to feed on krill, zooplankton, and herring. Watch for whales feasting in these abundant glacial waters. Hang out and enjoy the show. Cruise past Five Fingers Lighthouse, Alaska’s oldest light station, and The Brothers Islands, where sea lions nap on rocky nobs. Tonight, toast to a whale of a day in Alaska. DAY 4 Icy Strait Before you do anything, look out the window. From kelp-lined channels to hemlock and spruce forests, every inch of this far northwest corner is worth exploring. And today’s adventures promise to be as big as the water is deep! Seals and sea lions haul out on rocky outcroppings, resting before they disappear in the water to search for food. If the tides are right, head out in the skiff with one of the guides for a closer exploration of the rugged shore, or perhaps, make it all the way to George Island. Whatever you do—wilderness trekking, skiffing, or paddling—your expedition team guides the way. DAY 5 Glacier Bay National Park This crown jewel of America’s national parks covers 3.3 million acres (that’s a tad smaller than the state of Connecticut). Let that sink in. Most visitors see the same sliver of the park as everyone else. Not you. You’re going the furthest and exploring parts that 99% of visitors never go to. And you have two days to do it. Get started! Taylor Bay sea stacks and rocky shores make for good adventure. Or hike the outwash field of glaciers winding down the Fairweather Mountain Range. The cool breeze off the nearby snow and icefields is energizing. If you motor over to Dundas Bay, keep your eye out for bears, humpbacks, and if you’re lucky, a wolf sighting. Kayak the bay. Bushwhack into the forest. Discover Glacier Bay outback. DAY 6 Glacier Bay National Park Your camera’s memory card needs plenty of room. South Marble Island is abuzz with activity. Rare sea birds, black oystercatchers, and orange-beaked tufted puffins can’t be missed. A colony of raucous sea lions adds to the hubbub. They add a distinct aroma to the air, too. Tucking into silent Tidal Inlet—the stomping grounds for bears, wolves, mountain goats, eagles—the backdrop is spectacular. At the end of the western-most arm of the bay sits Margerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers. And possible views of glacial calving. Take it all in on deck. DAY 7 Chatham Strait Find a perch on the bridge with your captain, or with your guides on the bow, and watch for whales and other creatures before tucking into Port Frederick or another inlet in the Tongass National Forest. Any spot’s a good one to pull over and stretch your legs. Hike, paddle, or skiff your way through this remote corner with bears on the shoreline, seals bobbing on the surface, and welcoming boughs of moss in the trees. It’s all yours to explore. Back on the boat, there's a treat in store—the Farewell Dinner and some special memories from your crew. DAY 8 Juneau - Disembarkation Linger over breakfast this morning cruising into Juneau. Wish your crew and new friends goodbye. Then it’s off to the airport or begin your UnCruise hotel stay or land tour.
As you can see, it's an amazing itinerary and that is just one of many! Let's also talk about what's included with these amazing cruises. Zero hidden costs What most defines your trip is included in the fare—excursions, adventure equipment, transfers, and baggage handling. Put your wallet away (until it’s time to recognize your topnotch crew). Dining All onboard meals are included in your fare:
Fine wines, spirits, and microbrews served aboard are included in your fare. Who is thinking that this type of vacation just might be what 2020 ordered? Relaxing on a small intimate ship, experiencing the most amazing destinations, eating fine cuisine, enjoying drinks of the day, and participating in excursions that are unmatched by larger cruise ships! All of this is already included, so you don't have to stress but just relax! Let's help you take the plunge and discover what UnCruise Adventures has in store for your Next Big Adventure!!  Who is thinking that this type of vacation just might be what 2020 ordered? Relaxing on a small intimate ship, experiencing the most amazing destinations, eating fine cuisine, enjoying drinks of the day, and participating in excursions that are unmatched by larger cruise ships! All of this is already included, so you don't have to stress but just relax! Let's help you take the plunge and discover what UnCruise Adventures has in store for your Next Big Adventure!!
Photo & Itinerary Credit - UnCruise Adventures Walt Disney World has taken a lot of measures to help their guests social distance while visiting! One of the initiatives they introduced prior to the parks opening was Mobile Dining Check-In. Our agents were able to experience this at Skipper's Canteen this week. Prior to your dining reservation time, you'll be able to use the My Disney Experience app to check-in for your reservation while in the proximity of select Walt Disney World restaurants. This means you'll be able to wait outside and make sure you're 6 feet away from other guests, instead of a crowded podium area. Below are some screenshots that show some of the options you can choose while checking in! Celebrating something? Let Disney know so your servers can make sure your special day is acknowledged.  Photo Credit: Hannah Sosebee Have dietary restrictions? Your server will be notified of the allergy and they'll help you navigate the allergy friendly menu options. You also can ask your server to speak with a chef or a manager if you have any questions. Disney is amazing with special diets!  Photo Credit: Hannah Sosebee Need to request accessible spaces? The app allows you to notify the restaurant ahead of time, so your table can be set appropriately.  Photo Credit: Hannah Sosebee When you're finished checking in, the app will be updated and you'll receive text updates about your reservation.  Photo Credit: Hannah Sosebee Overall, we love having this option as sometimes the check-in areas get crowded. We hope to see the feature rolled out to more restaurants soon! AuthorLauren Regan, Travel Professional with Road To Relaxation Travel
Travel planning has always been something I loved to do. I found that researching a trip and learning everything I possibly could about a destination was something that gave me immense satisfaction. However, I knew that not everyone enjoyed this aspect of traveling as much as I do. In January 2016, I joined Road to Relaxation Travel. My goal: to make my client’s vacations as stress free as possible. I know that my clients don’t necessarily get to travel as much as they’d like to - and I want them to have the best possible experience they can. We were fortunate enough to participate in the reopening of Walt Disney World this past week. While we have lots to catch you up on with resorts, attractions, dining, shows, transportation, and more, we feel it's best to begin with safety around these items and give you first hand knowledge of the measures that have been implemented by Walt Disney World. We flew from Raleigh Durham International Airport (RDU) to Orlando International Airport (MCO) on Southwest Airlines. The RDU airport was not busy and they have made a few changes in regards to parking and security. The only parking available at the airport is garage parking and it is $10 per day. When going through security in Terminal 2 they were combining TSA Precheck and regular security lines while we were there. If you are TSA Precheck you still go through the designated line, you will be given a card by the security officer and you will proceed to regular security. You will go through just like the normal TSA Precheck lane once you give the card to the security officer in line. The seating areas have been marked to allow for proper social distancing and when boarding the SWA flight, they limited each group to 10. You must have a proper face covering that covers your mouth and nose to be allowed to board. Once on the plane, they will not allow you to sit in the middle seat unless you are part of a group that is together. They had one water and snack service. Overall, SWA was professional as always and very consistent with enforcing their rules that are in place. The passengers were all cordial and everyone seemed to be respectful of each others' space. When we arrived at MCO, we experienced the same with full face coverings being worn and everyone practicing social distancing.
Now we are off to Wilderness Lodge, more specifically Copper Creek to kick off our resort stay and park time! Check in for your resort is done completely online through the My Disney Experience App and you will receive a text message when your room is ready. If your room is not ready when you arrive, you can drop your luggage off at Bell Services and take off on your Disney adventure. There are Hand Sanitizer stations at the entrance and in multiple places throughout the resort and parks. While you are on property, you must wear an approved face covering.
When it comes to transportation, Disney did a masterful job of providing social distancing while maintaining as much efficiency as possible to get you transported throughout the resort. When riding buses, you line up on a marked spot that is distanced from others and when the bus arrives the driver will ask you how many people in your group and then he will give you a number. This number corresponds to where you will sit on the bus. They have installed partitions between numbers along with eliminating seats to keep you separated from other parties.
 Check out this new feature on some of the buses! We were also excited to see USB ports on some of the buses. Have you seen these on Walt Disney World buses previously? This was a first for us.
This takes us to the end of Part 1. In Part 2 we will talk about a few other modes of transportation that we took during the week along with.....wait for it.....THE PARKS! If you are interested in booking a 2020 or 2021 trip to Walt Disney World, reach out to your Travel Professional today, call us at 833.RTR.TRAV or email us at Vacations@rtrtravel.com !! We couldn’t be more excited for the upcoming reopening of Walt Disney World Resort, after an unprecedented 4 month closure. This week, Cast Members got a special preview day at both Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. Here’s the inside scoop on what changes are happening! Health & Safety Measurements The park introduced several new policies to ensure the safety of both Cast Members and Guests. You are required to wear a face covering at all times inside the park, unless you are eating or drinking, or while in a designated “Relaxation Zone.” Relaxation Zones can be found at Tomorrowland Terrace, Pete’s Silly Sideshow, and Golden Outpost. These are areas where you can remove your mask and relax.
Relaxation Station at Tomorrowland Terrace. Photo Credit: Vanessa Sipich Cast Members reported that neck gaiters were not permitted, and you must be wearing a mask with ear loops. Temperature checks are conducted at security, and you must have a temperature below 100.4° to enter the park.  Temperature Check at TTC. Photo Credit: Vanessa Sipich Bag checks are now low-contact. Guests must place all electronics and metal items into plastic bags, and proceed through the new security detectors with your bag on. If the alarm is set off, then a security guard will have you place all of your belongings into a bin to conduct a search. Fingerprint scans are no longer required to enter the parks. Social distancing is strictly enforced, and there are ground markings in all line queues. Hand sanitizer is found at every turn, and they even make announcements throughout the day reminding guests to social distance and wash their hands.
Sanitizer stations and safety reminders throughout the parks. Photo Credit:Vanessa Sipich Shopping Popular shops like The Emporium may experience a wait during busy times, as they are allowing only a fraction of the capacity of guests inside at a time. However, they have the ability to turn on a virtual queue, similar to Disney Springs. Once you get in the virtual queue, you will receive a text when it is your turn to shop! This is great because it allows guests to enjoy the park rather than waiting in line! The Magic It may seem that with all of the safety protocols, cancelled parades and fireworks, etc, that Walt Disney World will lose some of it’s magic. But don’t worry! There’s plenty in store for you! Character Cavalcades appeared throughout the day without notice, and featured some pretty amazing surprises! The train station is closed to the public, but features different characters throughout the day, waving at guests from a safe distance.
Road to Relaxation Travel will be attending the reopening of Walt Disney World Resort next week! Stay tuned for more information on our personal experiences, as well as any updates or policy changes. What are you excited to see? AuthorKelly Pickle, Travel Professional with Road to Relaxation Travel  Beginning tomorrow, July 9, Walt Disney World will resume ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel bookings for 2020. Your Travel Professional will be able to book new tickets and plan future visits throughout this year at Walt Disney World Resorts!
For those looking to make their plans right away, please note that tickets and Disney Resort hotel bookings may be released at different times throughout the day tomorrow so coordinate with your RTR Travel Professional as soon as possible. All guests with valid admission are required to make a reservation in advance for each park entry. Your Travel Professional will work with you to ensure there is park reservation availability before booking any new tickets. Reservations are limited and subject to availability. Please note that, during this phased reopening, some tickets, ticket options and Disney Resort hotels are unavailable, but there are still a variety of options to choose from. There is so much to look forward to, with many favorite attractions and dozens of entertainment offerings, including special new character cavalcades and the Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. If you’re wanting to visit Walt Disney World this year, we recommend reaching out to your RTR Travel Professional!!  The magic is returning to Walt Disney World, and soon, you can too! We are so excited for 2021 vacation packages to go on sale this week. Walt Disney World will look a little bit different when it reopens. We're not quite sure how long the changes will last, but we are confident that Disney will do an amazing job keeping guests safe and entertained. If you want to visit Walt Disney World in 2021, NOW is the time to reach out to your Travel Professional! Due to the new Park Pass reservation system, you may need to be flexible with your dates in order to ensure Park Pass availability. Booking early will give you the best chance of making Park Pass reservations with ease. A few changes to note for 2021: - No dining plans: right now, Disney has stopped selling their dining plans. We hope to see them come back in the near future. Dining reservations are now booking 60 days prior to check in! - Park Pass reservations: once your travel professional has made your 2021 package reservation and it has been linked to your My Disney Experience account, you will need to immediately make your Park Pass reservations. If you need some guidance on how to do that, you can read our blog post here! We are so excited to help get our clients trips to Walt Disney World booked and planned! If you have questions, please reach out to your RTR Travel Professionals. We are hoping that additional availability for 2020 will be opening later this summer, and we will be sure to update you when we hear more! AuthorLauren Regan, Travel Professional with Road To Relaxation Travel
Travel planning has always been something I loved to do. I found that researching a trip and learning everything I possibly could about a destination was something that gave me immense satisfaction. However, I knew that not everyone enjoyed this aspect of traveling as much as I do. In January 2016, I joined Road to Relaxation Travel. My goal: to make my client’s vacations as stress free as possible. I know that my clients don’t necessarily get to travel as much as they’d like to - and I want them to have the best possible experience they can. This morning, Disney rolled out the new Disney Park Pass reservation system! If you are planning to visit Walt Disney World between July 11, 2020 and September 26, 2021, then you'll need to make a Park Pass reservation for each day you wish to visit the parks! The process is fairly simple, but we wanted to show you guys how to make these reservations step by step so that you know what you are doing! As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to your Road to Relaxation Travel Professional! While we can't make your Park Pass reservations for you, we can try to help in any way we can! Step 1: My Disney Experience Make sure that your reservation is properly linked in My Disney Experience by logging in here: WDW Website Login.   Step 2: Go to the Park Pass System Page The Park Pass System page can be found here: Disney's Park Pass System. Or by hovering over My Disney Experience and selecting "Park Pass System" from the drop down. When the page loads, click the "Make a Disney Park Pass Reservation" button.   Step 3: Choose Your Travel Party Select the people you are traveling with from the list. If you do not see someone on here, then they have not been linked properly. Please refer to Disney's guide on how to link family and friends here: Link Friends & Family.  Step 4: Choose a Date and Park After you choose your travel party, you will need to choose the date and park you want to visit. You can check park availability online prior to making reservations here: Availability Calendar. Make sure to choose "Resort Reservation" if you have a package!   Step 5: Confirm Park Hours The system will ask you to choose a time. Please note that at this time, the system is only showing the park hours for the date you selected. Click the park hours and the screen will advance.  Step 6: Review Reservation & Confirm After confirming the park hours, the screen will advance and show you the reservation you just made. At the bottom of the screen is a checkbox to acknowledge that you have read the terms and conditions, along with a Covid-19 Liability Waiver.   If the system is working, the process is not difficult and doesn't take very long at all. Of course if you have any issues, let your Road To Relaxation Travel Professional know so we can assist you if possible. AuthorLauren Regan, Travel Professional with Road To Relaxation Travel  Today we received some of the most anticipated updates as it pertains to Walt Disney World, mainly the Park Reservation System. I promise to condense this down as much as possible, but let's just jump right into the details. EXISTING TICKET HOLDERS
If you are thinking about a Walt Disney World trip in 2021, please let your Travel Professional know as soon as possible. With the current reservation setup and resort availability, we will want to get you reserved as soon as possible when the window opens so you don't have to stress! Our professionals are on top of all the updates and are prepared to handle your vacation plans. Stay tuned into the RTR Travel Blog as we do have some more WDW updates to share, but we wanted to get this one out first to help aid our 2020 Walt Disney World clients!  Sandals Grande Antigua As more businesses begin opening in the United States, we are also seeing some of our favorite islands and resorts beginning to open too! This week we received important information from our partners at Sandals in regards to their opening plan throughout the Caribbean. It's important to note that all of these dates are subject to change, so please verify with your Travel Professional when beginning to plan your next big adventure! Let's run down the islands and resorts so that we can start planning your great summer or fall esacape! Antigua - Island reopened to Tourism on June 4th Sandals Grand Antigua - Open Now! Jamaica - Island reopens to Tourism on June 16th Sandals Montego Bay - Opens June 16th Sandals Royal Caribbean - Opens July 2nd Sandals Negril - Opens August 7th Sandals Ochi - Opens September 3rd Sandals South Coast - Opens October 1st Sandals Royal Plantation - Opens October 8th Bahamas - Island Reopens to Tourism on July 2nd Sandals Emerald Bay - Opens July 2nd Sandals Royal Bahamian - Opens November 1st Saint Lucia - Island Reopens to Tourism on July 7h Sandals Grande St. Lucian - Opens July 7th Sandals Regency La Toc - Opens July 14th Sandals Halcyon Beach - Opens November 1st Grenada - Island Reopens to Tourism on July 7th Sandals Grenada - Opens July 7th Barbados - TBD on date for Reopening to Tourism Sandals Barbados - Open TBD Sandals Royal Barbados - Open TBD  Sandals Montego Bay Swim Up There is still time to take that romantic getaway with your partner this year! Remember the Caribbean is Calling Your Name and Road to Relaxation Travel can plan your Next Big Getaway!! Your Travel Professional is up to date on all the entry requirements for each island along with any resort specific procedures. We are always here to ensure we put the Relaxation back into your Vacation!
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