It's official...my Disney Dream is coming true!

My Disney Dream will be coming true this summer when I cruise aboard the Disney Dream!  See what I did there?  :)

The day before I set sail, I will actually get a tour of the Disney Fantasy.  While I'm down there, I figured I'd go ahead and take a cruise, too.  Let's call it "research".  There are so many aspects that I am looking forward to, but let's start with the inside stateroom.  On the Disney Dream, you can stay in an inside stateroom, but still have a (virtual) view of the ocean through a magical porthole.  The coolest thing is that you might get a visit from a familiar Disney character through the porthole.

An inside stateroom on Disney Dream

A better view of the magical porthole and a special Disney visitor.

To help you understand the allure of the staterooms, here is an official Disney video about the rooms aboard Disney Cruise Line Ships.




Now when you're ready to book your Disney Dream, I'll be here.  I can get you a Free price quote and answer questions about the best time of year for cruising weather, most cost-effective time to sail, and much more.

Thanks!

Menehune at Aulani

In Hawaii, there is a legend of little men that are mischievous and magical. They are sort of like Hawaiian leprechauns and they are called the Menehune (Men-eh-hoo-nay). At Aulani, there are several aspects of the resort that incorporate this legend. One thing is the Menehune Trail which is an interactive game/activity for kids of all ages.

This is the interactive tablet for the Menehune Trail game. 

 On the tablet, Aunty from Aunty's Beachhouse (the kids club) gives you clues and a map to find some of the magical hidden secrets of the Menehune.  Sure, the kids will get a bigger kick out of it than the adults, but it sure was fun to do in my spare time. 

Another aspect of the resort with the Menehune legend incorporated is the kids water playground called Menehune Bridge.  It is a cute easily-accessible play area where kids and grownups can play and get wet.  Here is a video clip and some photos of the Menehune Bridge.



In that video, if you pay attention, you can see a Menehune under the water in the snorkeling pool.  Also, the rock with the glowing lights in the shape of a turtle is one of the things you'll see on the Menehune Trail. 

 

Finally, around the resort as a whole you will see Menehune in the decorations.  I remember seeing one little Menehune up near the ceiling in one of the lobbies.  A very cute and entertaining Disney touch.

 

Mahalo for reading my blog!  Aloha

Photos of Aulani Suites

Hello, again!  As an Independent Travel Consultant, I have access to official Disney photos so I thought I would share some of the photos of the suites at Aulani.  While I was at Aulani, I took part in a Disney Vacation Club tour.  I participated because there was an offer to get a free Disney gift card for attending the tour, but I was amazed by the accommodations and I later became a member of the Disney Vacation Club.  Anyway, here are some photos of suites at Aulani to whet your appetite.  If you want to visit Disney's Aulani resort in Kapolei, Hawaii, email me at emily.forsberg@mickeyvacations.com.  I would love to help you enjoy the vacation of your dreams!

Aulani

 

Hello, fellow Disney fans!  This is my very first blog so bear with me as I figure this out. 

I am a Kindergarten teacher who LOVES Disney.  I have been to Walt Disney World (WDW) many times.  This past summer I visited Aulani for the first (though hopefully not last) time.  I thought I would post a few pictures of my visit and write about my short time there. 

This was not my first visit to the island of Oahu, but upon landing at Honolulu International Airport, I felt as much in awe of Hawaii as I did on my first visit.  The warm, breezy, open-air airport made me feel like I had just arrived in Paradise.  The beauty of the island overwhelmed my senses. 

After landing and getting my luggage, I took a shuttle to Aulani over on the southwest side of the island.  I was greeted by a Disney Cast Member (CM) wearing a Hawaiian shirt who offered me a lei.  It was fresh and fragrant.  He personally guided me to the reception desk and waited with me until I was being helped by someone at the counter.  A kind lady helped me with checking in and even upgraded my room to an Ocean View room for free.  After checking in, I went up to my room and it was everything I expected and more!

 

 



Here is a selfie I took wearing the lei I got upon arriving at Disney's Aulani resort

  

This is one of the murals in the lobby area.  Everything in the resort is meant to tell a story.

 

Even the door to my room was beautifully decorated.

 

 The furniture was beautiful and in excellent condition.  The bed was comfortable and had a beautiful decorative cover at the foot.

The balcony had two chairs and a table, but the impressive part was the amazing view.



Check out this beautiful view!  I wish I could see this every day.

The same view at sunset.

The lazy river as seen from my balcony.

The view of the lazy river at night.

Even the shape of the architecture tells a story, but you'll have to visit Aulani to hear the story.

The décor on the outside of the buildings is part of the story as well.

In Hawaii, Mickey is a total surfer dude.

 

I was only in Aulani for about two days, but that was all it took for me to fall in love.  I never left the Aulani resort while I was there - I enjoyed as much of the resort as was possible in my short time there.  Aulani combined my two favorite things/places - Disney and Hawaii.  One of these days I will go back and spend more time at Aulani.  It was the most beautiful and relaxing place I've been and I can't wait to go back. 

I hope you've enjoyed this post.  I hope to post more on other Disney destinations in the future.  Thanks for reading!