Bucket List Travel Ideas

Bucket lists seem to be all the rage these days. Everybody is asking, “What’s on your bucket list?”, or saying, “There is another item checked off my bucket list!”

If you don’t have a bucket list, maybe it’s time to create one! Here are some travel ideas to help get you started or add to your current wish list of travel fun.

United States

• Take a helicopter tour over the Big Island in Hawaii. (Get an overhead look into an active volcano!)
  
  
• Experience the magic and pixie dust of Walt Disney World. (It is the land of dreams, after all!)
  
  
•  Visit Denali National Park in Alaska. (Have your camera at the ready, the sights are spectacular!)
  
  
• Watch the sunrise over the Grand Canyon. (See a national landmark at its most beautiful.)
  
  
• See the Bellagio fountain light show in Las Vegas! (You’ll feel luckier just by watching!)
  

Europe

• Climb the Eiffel Tower in Paris. (See the City of Lights from above the lights.)
  
  
• Take a Gondola ride in Venice. (Enjoy the romance of the city the way it was meant to be seen.)
  
  
• Sail down the Danube River in Europe. (See the elegance of Europe from the inside.)
  
  
• Stroll the Champs Elysées in Paris. (You’ll feel fancy just being there.)
  
  
• Make a wish in the Trevi Fountain in Rome. (Close your eyes, toss your change, change your life!)
  
  
• Kiss the Blarney Stone in Ireland. (Bend over backwards and gain the gift of eloquence.)
  
  

At Sea and Beyond

• Zip line above Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas. (What a thrill! And what a view!)
  
  
• Swim with the dolphins in the Caribbean Sea. (Can you really name a better swimming partner?)
  
  
• See the pyramids of Egypt. (Take a trip into the desert and see the wonders of the world.)
  
  
• Find the “big five” on a safari in Africa. (Elephants, rhinoceros, buffalos, lions, and leopards, Oh My!)
  
  Live the dream! For help checking items off of your bucket list and other great vacation ideas, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, email travelrequest@boscovs.com or call 800-755-8020. 

Top 5 Walt Disney World Resorts

In anticipation of our upcoming Disney Day in Reading, we polled our social media fans on the best Disney hotels. According to a tally of votes on Facebook and repins on Pinterest, these are the Top 5 Walt Disney World Resorts.

5. Boardwalk Inn (Price Range: Deluxe)

Located near Epcot, Boardwalk Inn captures the whimsy and elegance of Atlantic City in the 1940′s. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the boardwalk without having to leave the resort. Looking for a water adventure? Try the Luna Park Pool and take a ride down the 200-foot long Keister Coaster water slide. Want a relaxing pool experience? Never fear, the Boardwalk also has 2 quiet pools located on the east side of the resort for your enjoyment.

4. All-Star Music Resort (Price Range: Value)

Close by to Animal Kingdom, All-Star Music Resort welcomes you in to all things music. From show tunes to calypso to country to jazz and rock n’ roll, it’s all here for your entertainment and enjoyment. Even the pools here are musical, the main guitar-shaped Calypso Pool features a Three Caballeros fountain and you can’t go wrong with grand piano-shaped Piano Pool either.

3. Contemporary Resort (Price Range: Deluxe)

Not only is the Contemporary Resort located within walking distance of Magic Kingdom, but it is also the only hotel to have the Walt Disney World Monorail pass right through the main concourse. While choosing your room at Contemporary, forget oceanview, try Space Mountain view or Cinderella Castle view! (Much more exciting than the ocean if you ask me.) Need time away from the parks? Try out the resort’s arcade, beach, miniature golf and water sports. Whether you are looking for excitement or relaxation, Contemporary has something for everyone!

2. Pop Century Resort (Price Range: Value)

Pop Century Resort may be a step back in time, but it is also just a step from Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Boardwalk area and ESPN Wide World of Sports. Pop Century pays homage to times gone by featuring giant icons such as toys, gadgets, music, movies and more that helped shape the 1950′s-1990′s.  If you beat all of the high scores at the Fast Forward Arcade, take a break in the 3 fun shaped pools (Flower-shaped Hippy Dippy Pool, bowling pin-shaped Bowling Pool and the monitor-shaped Computer Pool).

1. Caribbean Beach Resort (Price Range: Moderate)

This resort is located just a short distance from Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Boardwalk area. Set on the 45-acre Barefoot Bay, this resort is a tropical lakeside paradise. While staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort, be sure to check out their 6 heated pools, 2 water slides, or 2 12-person spas. Traveling with little ones? They are sure to enjoy the water play area featuring squirt hoses, a large bucket that pours water from above and kid sized water slides.

For more Disney fun check out the Top 5 Rides at Walt Disney World! Also, be sure to stop by Disney Day in Reading, PA on Friday, June 22, 2012!

For mor information or to book your own magical adventure, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, email travelrequest@boscovs.com or call 800-755-8020. 

Walt Disney World Quick Tips: Dining

Try dining at on-site Disney resorts

Don’t forget about the resorts for Dining Options, even if you aren’t a guest there. Some are just a short boat ride (Hoop-De-Doo, Trail’s End, Whispering Canyon) or short monorail ride away (Chef Mickey’s). These restaurants may not be as full as the ones in the parks and if they are character meals, you can usually get more interaction from the characters. A great character meal is Goofy’s Breakfast at Cape May Resort. Characters will usually sit at your table and interact with the kids.

Save on snacks and drinks

You are allowed to take food and drinks into the parks, so feel free to bring along a few snacks and bottled water for your day.

Purchase a dining plan to save money

The Dining Plan is a great value. You have a wide variety of choices to please any palate, with more than 200 restaurants available.

Table-Service
There are table-service restaurants, where you are served your meal. These can include character dining and dinner shows. Dinner shows will account for two meals instead of one.

Quick-Service
Quick-service is your fast food meal and snacks are available, such as popcorn, ice cream, drinks and more.

There are three different dining packages available:

• Two Quick-service meals and two snacks per night
• One table-service, one quick-service and one snack per night or
• The Deluxe Dining Packing, which includes any three meals and two snacks per night of your stay.

You may use your meal allotments any way you like. If you would like to use two quick-service meals in one day, you can, even if you go over your daily allotment. Your allotment is for your entire stay.

Also see:

Walt Disney World Quick Tips: Magic Kingdom

Boscov’s Travel Orlando Charter Vacations

As to Disney logos, pictures and properties: © Disney.

Walt Disney World Quick Tips: Magic Kingdom

Jennifer is one of our Corporate Travel Consultants, and although she specializes in coordinating air, hotel and car rental arrangements for business travelers, she’s a huge fan of Walt Disney World and visits every year. Here are a few of Jennifer’s tips for navigating Magic Kingdom. Thanks, Jen!

Attend the opening ceremony

At least one morning, get up early and head to Magic Kingdom for the opening ceremony. It’s best to get there at least 30 minutes prior to park opening. If you are there early enough, your family can be chosen to help Mickey open the park! This is a great way to start a magical day!

Beat the crowd

When you first arrive at Magic Kingdom, go right for the train station. Go up to the platform and look down Main Street. It is usually very crowded as soon as the park opens, but makes for great pictures of Main Street and Cinderella’s Castle. After a few pictures, get on the train and head to Frontierland. By doing this, you’ll beat the crowd to this part of the park, and can usually get on Big Thunder Mountain with little to no wait. After that, head to either Liberty Square area or Adventureland. You can usually get to the rides and attractions in these areas before the crowds do.

Where to watch the fireworks and parade

A great place to catch the parades and fireworks in Magic Kingdom is in the Liberty Square area. The crowd is not as big, and you don’t have to stake out your spot as early here as you would along Main Street. She’s also watched the fireworks in the Fantasyland area and says it was a pretty good view as well.

As you may already know, we’re celebrating Disney Day tomorrow at Boscov’s Travel. If you’re in the Reading, PA or Wilmington, DE areas, stop by for fun kids’ activities, like prizes, crafts and face painting!

Ready to start planning your Walt Disney World getaway? Visit our website to find out more about our nonstop charter flights to Orlando from local airports and contact your local Authorized Disney Vacation Planner at Boscov’s Travel.

As to Disney logos, pictures and properties: © Disney.

Top 5 Walt Disney World rides and attractions

In celebration of Disney Day at Boscov’s Travel this Friday, we surveyed our Authorized Disney Vacation Planners on their favorite attractions. Here are the top 5 rides and attractions at Walt Disney World, according to our experts.

#5 – The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in Hollywood Studios

One chilling Halloween night in 1939, five unfortunate souls were riding down the grand Hollywood Tower Hotel’s maintenance service elevator when a violent bolt of lightning struck the building… and they were never seen again. Known as the “Tower of Terror”, this free-fall thrill ride for big kids, teens and adults at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is based upon the television classic The Twilight Zone.

#4 – Wishes Fireworks Display at Magic Kingdom

“My favorite thing at Disney by far is the ‘Wishes’ fireworks display at Magic Kingdom. No matter how many times I go and watch this, I always walk away feeling like all of my cares have been lifted away. The beauty of the castle lit up, the music and colors creates my happy place.”

– Bonnie, Travel Specialist, Boscov’s Travel Lebanon

#3 – Kilimanjaro Safari in Animal Kingdom

Appropriate for all ages, this exciting safari takes you through a 100-acre savanna to see a variety of roaming African animals aboard a rugged open-sided vehicle. It’s the next best thing to an actual safari in Africa!

# 2 – The Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom

This spooky, yet only mildly frightening, tour of a haunted house features a supernatural Ghost Host who introduces you to his friendly, dearly departed buddies. It’s one of the original Magic Kingdom attractions, having opened in 1971.

#1 – Soarin’ in Epcot

Soarin’ is a multi-sensory simulation of a hang-gliding flight over the state of California for big kids, teens and adults. This multi-passenger glider lifts you and your companions 40 feet into the air as you swoop and soar through impressive scenery. Special airplane cameras captured the footage and since the airplane’s flight pattern is similar to the glider, you actually feel as if you’re flying over San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, Redwood Creek, Napa Valley, Yosemite National Park, LA and more. It’s no wonder this ride topped the list for our Travel Specialists!

What are your favorite attractions at Walt Disney World?

As to Disney logos, pictures and properties: © Disney.

Walt Disney World Annual Festivals & Events

As if Walt Disney World & Epcot Center weren’t cool enough to visit on their own, they also have fun events and festivals that happen yearly. This is a great way to re-experience Disney as an adult, or to see Disney in a different way if you are a frequent Disney-goer. The following events happen yearly, and provide an extra special reason to check out an already magical place.

The 18^th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is happening from March 2^nd to May 15^th, 2011, and is a true delight for gardeners, Disney fans, and people who appreciate taking time to stop and smell the roses. This experience is full of over 100 topiaries, ornate patterned gardens, live music, gardening tips from HGTV personalities, a sustainable garden with info on how to make one at home, and an English Tea Garden tour, just to name a few of the draws of visiting during this time. You can even get a special 3-hour tour by a Disney Horticulturist (for an additional cost) to learn about the award-winning gardens, and what it takes to set up the whole festival!

This year brings about a new cast of characters for the topiary gardens, which varies from year to year based on what’s new. Get ready to travel “To infinity and beyond!” with the cast of Toy Story 3 in topiary form, as well as a representation of the Hundred Acre Wood where you will be able to check out Winnie the Pooh and Tigger too! A “Cars 2″ garden rounds out the new additions this year and will be a real treat for fans.

Also, look out for some of the classic attractions during the festival, like the Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden where you can meet and greet with Tinkerbell and her friends, a bonsai garden, Rapunzel’s Tower, and Bambi’s Butterfly House, a popular butterfly garden that is now twice the size of previous years. Other topiaries that make a yearly appearance include Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, Stitch, Peter Pan, Disney Couples, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. Every year there is live music and this year’s theme is Flower Power, focusing on music from the 60’s- 80’s.

Can’t make it this year? No problem! They already have the schedule up for next year’s festival which will run from March 7^th to May 20^th 2012.

Looking for some holiday fun? Check out Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in the Magic Kingdom theme park! On select nights from September through October, park goers are encouraged to dress up in costume, trick-or-treat through the park, and enjoy the fun of the holiday with special effects that transform the park into “happy haunted hollows”. From Mickey’s “Boo-to-you” Halloween parade to “Happy HalloWishes” (a Disney villain’s fireworks show), to seeing all of your favorite characters in special costumes, this will be a Halloween that you and your tykes will never forget.

Another exciting event is one specifically aimed at adults, the 14^th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. From September 30, 211 – November 13, 2011 Epcot becomes a haven for foodies, wine enthusiasts, chefs, and culinary folk from all over the world. The World Showcase Promenade becomes a magical throughway of tantalizing aromas, unique culinary demonstrations, talks from renowned winemakers, seminars on food, and samplings of a myriad of different gourmet delicacies.

With the Festival Welcome Center as the hub of the event, it will be your home base to figure out where you want to go with your day. Maybe you want to enjoy the Eat to the Beat concert series? Or stop by the Wonder Bar for a celebrity book signing with chefs and authors. Another option is to explore the 25 international marketplace kiosks that feature tapas portions, so that you really can have a bite of the world.

Finally, to round out the fun of Disney Festivals, is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom. Every winter this very special happening occurs with Mickey’s “Once Upon a Christmastime” parade, exciting live entertainment, and fireworks! They set the mood by turning on the Enchanted Castle Dream Lights on Cinderella’s Castle (which truly is a sight to behold), having Santa Claus fly in on his magic sleigh, giving out complimentary cookies and cocoa, having barbershop quartet style carolers,  and best of all, creating a “magical snow fall on Main Street, U.S.A.”.

Ready to go to Orlando now to visit some of the coolest events Disney has to offer? I know I am! Boscov’s Travel offers a number of direct chartered flights from Reading, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Avoca), Harrisburg, and Lancaster nonstop to Orlando. Our prices have no hidden fees, bags fly free, we offer pre-assigned seats at no charge, and complimentary snacks on the plane.  If you want to plan a trip to Disney World, be sure to check out our Disney/Orlando Charters, or click here to find a Travel Specialist near you!

As to Disney logos, pictures and properties: © Disney.