LONG VALLEY, NJ (January 3, 2016) – MickeyTravels, LLC excels in “Making Magic” and 2016 was a banner year for the nationally recognized leader in planning Disney vacations.
MickeyTravels is thrilled to announce today that it has again earned Disney Destinations’ highest possible Earmarked award by receiving the exclusive PLATINUM level status. This is the second consecutive year MickeyTravels has earned this impressive distinction.
As an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, MickeyTravels is proud to be the go-to travel agency of choice for tens of thousands of families across the United States. All the magical services MickeyTravels offers are 100% FREE and their commitment to industry-leading customer service has earned them repeated high praise from their clients.
Being designated with PLATINUM Earmarked status places MickeyTravels in exclusive company. In 2015, only a dozen travel agencies in the world earned PLATINUM level status with Disney, making this a very elite group within the travel industry.
“I’m humbled, grateful, and proud all at the same time,” said Elyssa Antonelle, Owner and Founder of MickeyTravels. “This is such an outstanding accomplishment by our entire team, and I am so excited to share it with them. From day one, we built MickeyTravels by emphasizing certain core values and beliefs. These guiding principles set the framework for who we are, what we do, and how we treat our clients and each other,” Antonelle continued.
“Operating with integrity, transparency, and commitment are key factors to our success,” Antonelle explained. “Because of this, our clients know that when they contact MickeyTravels to book their Disney vacation, they’re in the best hands possible when working with any of our amazing agents,” said Antonelle.
MickeyTravels is proud to be a “Disney-only” agency and specializes in planning magical Disney vacations to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, and Aulani. “Because our sole focus is booking Disney vacations, our agents dedicate 100% of their time on the various Disney destinations. Not 98% or 99%, but 100%. We hear over and over how important this is to our clients,” Antonelle explained.
“I truly believe this unique Disney-only specialty, combined with each individual travel agent’s unbridled passion for Disney, makes our agents the most knowledgeable and best equipped in the Disney travel industry. I am so proud of them,” Antonelle continued.
Disney Destinations recently released many exciting new promotions and discounts. You can visit www.mickeytravels.com to learn how MickeyTravels can make all your Disney vacation dreams come true and to get a free quote on a magical vacation you and your family will remember forever. You can find their agents easily by clicking here. MickeyTravels – Making Magic One Vacation at a Time…
For more information, please contact Elyssa Antonelle at 1-888-812-8750 or elyssa@mickeytravels.com
MickeyTravels is excited about our new initiative – The MickeyTravels Agent Virtual Meet & Greet. We will feature a different MickeyTravels agent on a daily basis. We’re proud to have the best Disney Travel agents in the world as part of our MickeyTravels team and this will allow you to get to know them even better. Today the spotlight shines on Erica Lamb from Louisville, KY!
Name:Erica M. Lamb
Where are you from?
I am from Germantown, Ohio, but have moved around quite a bit. I spent most of my childhood in Waukesha, Wisconsin, middle school and high school years in Dublin, Ohio, and then moved to Florida where I spent the next 17 years. I currently reside in Louisville, Kentucky.
First memory of Disney?
I didn’t make my first trip to Disney World until I was 20 years old so I remember most of it quite well. I loved the Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain and, of course, my first glimpse of Cinderella’s Castle while walking down Main Street U.S.A., was amazing! However, the most important memory I have of that first visit was spending it with my entire family, including my grandparents who have since passed away. I will always have the memory of that trip even if they are no longer with us.
What makes Disney MAGICAL in your eyes?
Disney is magical because once I’m there, the real world fades away and I feel like I have been transported to another place entirely.
Favorite Disney destination and why?
Walt Disney World! Where else can I go with my family and know that everyone will have a great time? Amazing international restaurants, tons of rides and shows, spectacular shopping, beautiful resorts, and plenty of recreational activities and non-park attractions make it the perfect place to spend a week (or more)!
Favorite Disney Character and why?
Stitch! He’s so sassy!
Favorite Disney Attraction and why?
I love the Haunted Mansion and have to ride it multiple times each visit, it’s just the right mix of creepy and fun. I also have a great fondness for Peter Pan’s Flight – I always feel like a kid again on this ride.
Favorite Disney Resort and why?
Port Orleans – French Quarter! I love the tranquil setting and strolling the grounds in the evening. The rooms are as beautiful as the grounds! I also like that it’s a very small resort, which makes getting around that much easier. Not to mention the boat ride from the resort to Downtown Disney. Oh, and the beignets!
Favorite Disney Restaurant and why?
Boma, Boma, Boma! This is a must do each and every trip – non-negotiable. Boma has an amazing assortment of food and will please everyone from the pickiest eater to the most adventurous. Everything is prepared to perfection and I love sampling a little of everything on the buffet. It’s a little hard making room for dessert, but I always manage somehow. I also love taking an after-dinner stroll through the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the grounds to look at the giraffes and zebras.
Favorite Disney Quick Service Restaurant and why?
Tangerine Café in the Morocco pavilion in Epcot – the vegetarian platter offers a sample of 4 different salads, plus hummus and bread. It’s very filling, but also light enough that I don’t feel tired after lunch.
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café – I have to have a burger from here each trip just so I can indulge in the toppings bar. Sautéed onions and mushrooms – yum! Also, the back patio offers a spectacular view of the Magic Kingdom.
Sunshine Seasons in the Land pavilion at Epcot – It has its own bakery! The food is so fresh and this restaurant has such a great variety of dishes. But really, the bakery keeps me coming back!
3 Disney characters you’d like to have dinner with and why?
Stitch, Mary Poppins and Alice. I have always loved Alice in Wonderland and would love to hear about her adventures. Stitch would be great entertainment, and I would love to watch Mary Poppins try to correct his behavior throughout a meal.
Favorite Disney snack and why?
My absolute favorite snack is the fruit tulip that I used to be able to find in Epcot at the Kringla Og Kafe in the Norway pavilion. This delicious treat has a cookie that is dipped in chocolate, filled with custard and topped with fresh berries. A perfect breakfast or mid-afternoon snack! I also really like green tea ice cream which can be found at a cart outside of the Japan pavilion.
Favorite Disney Movie and why?
This will sound pretty strange coming from a Disney enthusiast, but I really don’t like Disney movies. Most of them are just too sad for me. However, way back in 1973, Disney produced a live action film called Mystery in Dracula’s Castle, which starred Johnny Whitaker of Family Affair fame, and I have very fond memories of this film – even though it scared me at the time. This was presented on The Wonderful World of Walt Disney which used to air on Sunday evenings.
3 Favorite Disney Song and why?
Grimm Grinning Ghosts – Spooky and fun, I love singing along with this tune.
A Pirate’s Life for Me – A swashbuckling tune that makes a great travel tune while driving to Florida.
The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers – I love singing this to my dog when she is in a particularly bouncy mood.
Disney character you’re most similar to and why?
Alice in Wonderland, because I have been cast as Alice in a few different productions.
If you could be one Disney mascot for a day who would it be and why?
Figment – the ultimate imaginative trickster. What fun!
If you could work at one of the Disney theme parks, what job would you want and why?
I would love to be a tour guide on The Great Movie Ride. I love all of those movies, and it requires a bit of acting.
Best part about being a MickeyTravels Disney Travel Agent?
Guiding my clients through all of the different options and knowing that I am helping them choose the best possible resort, entertainment and dining options.
Why should I book my vacation with you?
I love to get to know my clients and put together options that will make their vacation personal, unique and, of course, magical.
MickeyTravels is excited about our new initiative – The MickeyTravels Agent Virtual Meet & Greet. We will feature a different MickeyTravels agent on a daily basis. We’re proud to have the best Disney Travel agents in the world as part of our MickeyTravels team and this will allow you to get to know them even better. Today the spotlight shines on Donna Rossi from Pennsylvania!
Name: Donna Rossi
Where are you from? I live in Ardmore, Pennsylvania – a suburb of Philadelphia. I grew up in the nearby town of Broomall, PA.
First memory of Disney? My first trip to a Disney Park was a family trip to Walt Disney World when I was 8 years old. I remember seeing the Castle, a feeling of amazement walking down Main Street USA, and the Monorail!
What makes Disney MAGICAL in your eyes? I believe the Magic of Disney is in the storytelling. There is storytelling all around and the subtle details that support these stories are amazing! Think of waiting in line for a Disney attraction, walking into a gift shop and looking above the merchandise at the wall decor, or how the background music will change seamlessly when you move from one part of a park to another. The resorts also work their own Magic with storytelling, giving every resort a unique look and feel. With Disney no detail is forgotten and everything tells a story – and that is MAGICAL!
Favorite Disney destination and why? It is difficult to select just one Disney destination, mostly because I’ve never had a bad vacation when it was a Disney one… but I think my favorite would be Disney Cruise Line. Unlike the theme parks, when sailing on a Disney ship you can experience all the terrific elements of a Disney vacation while enjoying unparalleled convenience and service. This is particularly true when traveling with small children. Your room is always a few steps for naptime (kids or adults!), and the kid’s clubs are outstanding. No worries about being too hot, waiting in long lines, or generally wearing yourselves out. Practically everything is included when you sail, there are seemingly endless activities and leisure opportunities, plus you have more chances enjoy food and drink than you can imagine! I’m ready to set sail again!
Favorite Disney Character and why? My favorite Disney character is good old Mickey Mouse because he is always so warm, friendly, and welcoming.
Favorite Disney Attraction and why? My favorite Disney attraction hands down is Tower of Terror in Disney’s Hollywood Studios or California Adventure. This attraction has it all – amazing theming, thrilling drops, and it is comfortable (scary, yes; hard on the body, no). I love that they randomize the drops so it’s never know how your trip to the Twilight Zone will go!
Favorite Disney Resort and why? There are no bad Disney resorts, but if I had to pick just one it would be Disney’s Contemporary because the location to the Magic Kingdom just can’t be beat. An easy Monorail ride, or even easier 10-minute walk, makes the Contemporary a super convenient resort to stay when traveling with small children (or adults who also can’t get enjoy of the Magic Kingdom!). The views are stunning – a Theme Park view where Cinderella Castle greets you each time you look out on your balcony, or the Bay Lake View where you can enjoy the nighttime Lagoon Show while your children sleep. I also appreciate the day bed giving the rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort a good fit for a family of 5.
Favorite Disney Restaurant and why? LeCellier in Epcot’s Canadian Pavilion earns my vote for favorite restaurant, followed very closely by Disneyland’s Blue Bayou, which is set inside the original Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. Both have outstanding food, service, and fantastic theming!
Favorite Disney Quick Service Restaurant and why? Lunch at Be Our Guest Restaurant inside the Beast’s castle in the Magic Kingdom has become my favorite Quick Service spot because it’s gorgeous inside (and it’s snowing!), plus the desserts are incredible. Close to my heart is Sleep Hollow, also in the Magic Kingdom, for their delicious waffle sandwiches!
3 Disney characters you’d like to have dinner with and why? Three Disney characters I would enjoy dining with would be: Walt Disney from Saving Mr. Banks, Mrs. Incredible (a.k.a. Elastigirl) from The Incredibles, and Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. I realize that I might be cheating the question a little by responding Walt Disney, but how amazing would it be to share a meal with the man that started it all! Walt was the ultimate storyteller and a man genuinely interested in making the world a better, happier place for all. I would want that meal to go on for hours! Spending time with Mrs. Incredible would be enjoyable as well since I would have several things in common with her (being a mother for one; sadly not the super hero thing). She has spirit and depth to her character, and I believe I could learn many things from her. Finally, Captain Jack Sparrow because… well, it’s Johnny Depp… ‘nuf said J
Favorite Disney snack and why? Oh, Dole Whip pineapple soft-serve ice cream… I think it’s what happiness tastes like!
Favorite Disney Movie and why? I adore so many of Disney’s movies, particularly the animated ones, but my very favorite is The Little Mermaid. I purchased it when I was a young teenager and it drew me more into Disney than you would think a cartoon could to a kid in late middle school. The music, story, and characters were a delight to experience over and over again. The movies that followed (Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King) proved that The Little Mermaid ushered in the second Golden Age of Disney Animation.
3 Favorite Disney Song and why? It’s tough to select just three Disney songs as my favorite, but here goes: the soundtrack to “Fantasmic!”, “King of New York” from Newsies, “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” from Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress. I chose the music from Fantasmic because it gives me goose bumps each time I hear it – such energy and life that you can’t help but be excited just listening to it (and all the better when you are watching the show!). The Newsies song “King of New York” makes the list because it’s a great example of what a musical number should be: catchy, clever, and moves the story along while entertaining the audience. Finally, the Sherman brothers tribute to the very spirit Walt Disney himself embodied – the eternal optimism that things will get better when people work together and are given the freedom to put ideas into action.
Disney character you’re most similar to and why? Belle from Beauty and the Beast would be the character I feel most similar to because she is independent, optimistic, friendly without being a push over, and loves to read. Plus we both have brown hair.
If you could be one Disney mascot for a day who would it be and why? I would love to be Tigger for one day because of his wonderful energy and sense of pure joy with his every bounce!
If you could work at one of the Disney theme parks, what job would you want and why? The job I would pick for myself if I were to work in one of the Disney theme parks would be to care for the ducks that live in the Castle moat and waterways in the Magic Kingdom. If reincarnation happens, I want to come back as a Disney duck!
Best part about being a MickeyTravels Disney Travel Agent? The best part of being a MickeyTravels Disney Travel Agent is being a part of family that’s filled with people who want nothing more than to give others the very best experience possible during their Disney vacations. I knew I’d love helping families plan their Disney vacations because that’s so much fun (I’ve been doing it for my friends and family for years before I knew it was an actual job). What I didn’t expect was to find a group of dedicated, passionate, and highly collaborative agents who want to help each other make every single client’s experience Magical. There is something very special and all together wonderful about working with people who all want everyone else to succeed in a goal – and that goal is to do our very best for each and every client.
Why should I book my vacation with you? You should book your vacation with me because I love helping people get the most out of their Disney vacations. I want you to get the best value for your money, have the most magical experience while on vacation, and think back to the planning process and feel like it was a breeze. When you book with me or any other MickeyTravels agent you get outstanding customer service, a dedicated individual who will help you with every step of the planning process, and someone who is always looking for ways to make your vacation the best it can be. These services are free to you, so it’s a “win” all around!
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