Disney and General Motors have renewed their long-term business relationship with a new multi-year corporate alliance. As part of the new alliance, GM will be actively involved with Walt Disney Imagineering in the development of a re-imagined, design-centric Test Track experience.

The refurbished Test Track will be presented by one of GM’s most famous brands, Chevrolet. As Chevrolet marks its 100th anniversary, the new alliance agreement enables General Motors to tell its story in new and exciting ways to millions of Guests from around the world and continue as the official vehicle sponsor of Walt Disney World Resort.

Plans call for closing the current GM Test Track in April 2012, with an anticipated opening of Test Track Presented by Chevrolet scheduled for fall 2012.

As part of the re-imagining, the Future World attraction will feature a sleek new “Chevrolet Design Center at Epcot” immersing Guests in the fascinating world of automotive design. Amid upbeat music, engaging media, dramatic lighting and a collection of Chevrolet concept cars and model vehicles, guests themselves will become automotive designers – and peer into the future of personal transportation in the process.

At interactive design and styling workstations, Guests will be able to create their own custom concept vehicles. The adventure will then shift into high gear as Guests buckle into their 6-person “SimCar” ride vehicle and put their design through its paces on the exhilarating hills, switchbacks and straight-aways of the Test Track circuit.

Their performance testing complete, Guests will move into a post-show area filled with special effects and be scored on how well their custom concept vehicle did. And of course, Guests will be able see the very latest Chevrolet vehicles in an all-new state-of-the-art showroom.

To find out more, contact White Glove Destinations at 281-380-3437 or visit us online now!

Richly-hued flowers adorn the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival presented by HGTV. The festival, which runs 75 days March 7-May 20, 2012, at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., features dozens of character topiaries, stunning floral displays, workshops, the Flower Power concert series and presentations by HGTV personalities - all included in regular Epcot admission.


Don’t Miss!
For 75 festival days, Epcot guests can explore topiaries and gardens, learn planting, style and design techniques and rock to the tunes of popular Flower Power concerts. You won't want to miss:

• Bambi’s Butterfly House, three times the size of the festival’s original, will be a-flutter with multiple species of brilliant butterflies.  At Imagination Walkway by Innoventions West.
• Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden-Fabulous Disney fairy topiaries alight to greet young fans who enter this whimsical garden designed with play structures for children ages 2-5.  At the Test Track Walkway.
• The HGTV Designers Stage will present HGTV celebrities each Friday through Sunday and nationally recognized garden personalities Monday through Thursday.  At the Festival Center.
• The Flower Power concert series will welcome back 20th century pop favorites this year when Jose Feliciano, Chubby Checker and The Wildcats, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Davy Jones and seven other bands rock the America Gardens Theatre with their timeless tunes.  Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Performers and appearance dates subject to change.

Contact White Glove Destinations at 281-380-3437 or visit us online. Our Disney vacation planning services are completely free so contact us now!

With a vintage Hollywood ambience that includes classic photos of Walt Disney dining with movie stars, white linen tablecloths and servers in old-fashioned bowties, Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland Hotel is an upscale-yet-comfortable culinary indulgence. “My goal is to capture the feeling of a traditional steakhouse, but with our own flair, and to celebrate a great steak,” said Chef Jason Martin.

The “55"″ is an ode to 1955, the year Disneyland opened, an era when a night on the town was a glamorous experience. Start the evening with cocktails in the cozy adjoining lounge before settling in at a curving banquette or table in the handsome, 108-seat restaurant with touches of oak and etched glass, and an impressive wine cellar.

Beautiful, thick Angus steaks are the star, from the signature 18-ounce bone-in ribeye with steakhouse rub to a flawlessly broiled 7-ounce filet mignon. The ideal sidekick is Martin’s potato stack au gratin with countless layers of thinly sliced potatoes baked in decadent butter and cream.

If you prefer surf to turf, tuck in to the cold water lobster tail, broiled Atlantic salmon or the Chef’s sustainable fresh fish selection. Start with a taste of the sea – shrimp cocktail, Dungeness crab cakes or chilled ahi. Beyond other cuts of beef including New York strip, prime rib and a generous porterhouse, meat entrées include herb-crusted rack of lamb and free-range chicken breast.

Steakhouse starters such as Seven Onion Soup with Parmesan Crisp, “wedge” iceberg lettuce with Gorgonzola, Caesar salad or the Steakhouse Salad with bacon, tomato, cucumber, and cheddar pair nicely with any entrée choice.

Most of the servers, as well as Chef Martin, are sommeliers, and they happily will offer a taste or two or offer a vintage from the award-winning selection.  When he’s not too busy in the kitchen, Chef Martin said he enjoys a visit  to the restaurant’s wine cellar with guests.

“I enjoy sharing the celebration of fresh, vibrant food and wine, and introducing guests to new flavors,” said Martin.

Steakhouse 55 has been awarded “Four Stars” from the Orange County Register and a Golden Bacchus from the Southern California Restaurant Writers Association. Zagat rates the restaurant “amazing,” “a gem,” “elegant” and “the best ribeye in town.”

Prix-fixe and children’s menus are available. The private Oak Room may be reserved for parties of up to 22.

Breakfast Menu

Breakfast feels like a special occasion at Steakhouse 55, where guests tend to relax and sip lattes and cappuccinos – or maybe a hot chocolate with whipped cream. Specialties such as buttermilk pancakes with warm Bananas Foster or French toast with warm berries are an indulgent way to start the day, or fill up on eggs Benedict, omelettes, huevos rancheros or a hearty breakfast burrito. Splurge with the 7-ounce Angus steak and eggs, or behave with granola, yogurt and fruit or the Smoked Salmon and Bagel platter. For kids, Mickey-shaped pancakes, scrambled eggs or favorite breakfast cereals are on the menu.

Steakhouse 55 is located at the Disneyland Hotel and is open daily for breakfast and dinner. For reservations, call (714) 781-DINE.

For general Disneyland Resort information, visit us online or contact us at 281-380-3437.

Alaskan Wonders Family Cruise Vacation
Available on the following 2012 Alaskan Cruises:
6/4, 6/11, 6/18, 6/25, 7/2, 7/9, 7/16, 7/23, 7/30, 8/6, 8/13, 8/20

Adventures by Disney® and Disney Cruise Line® present an extraordinary new way to experience Alaska. Disney Cruise Line Guests can now enhance a 7-Night Alaskan Cruise with the extra magic of an Adventures by Disney vacation! The Alaskan Wonders vacation brings you an exquisite selection of unique onboard activities and premium shore experiences designed to immerse you and your family in the history and sights of Alaska.

This experience includes all shore excursions and meals, onboard and onshore photos and gratuities as well as private receptions and special activities on board the Disney Wonder®.

Trip Highlights:

• Gold Panning in Skagway
  Known as "Gateway to the Klondike," the historic port town of Skagway is home to unspoiled natural beauty and wilderness wonders. Whether you're panning for gold or braving the Yukon Suspension Bridge, feel the excitement of the pioneer spirit!
• Seaplane Tour in Juneau
  Venture to Alaska's capital, home to the Mendenhall Glacier. Marvel at the North American frontier when you sweep over the majestic land in a seaplane. The glacial beauty will take your breath away!
• Ziplining and Totem Pole Carving in Ketchikan
  Welcome to Alaska's first city! Feel the adrenaline as you soar over the rainforest canopy on a zipline. Then watch a Native master demonstrate the art of carving a totem pole.
• Salmon Bake at Taku Glacier Lodge
  Your seaplane lands at Taku Glacier Lodge, where you will sit down for a mouth-watering salmon bake. Your drinks are chilled with actual glacier ice!

Contact White Glove Destinations at 281-380-3437 to learn more or visit us online now!

For the first time, Disneyland Resort will observe Three Kings Day as part of the celebration of holidays. Three Kings Day activities will be held Jan. 6-8, 2012, at Zocalo Park in Disneyland park. The festivities add to all the holiday fun, including beautiful décor throughout the park, nightly snowfall on Main Street, U.S.A., and the special “it’s a small world” Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday attractions.

• Disneyland will celebrate Three Kings Day, also known as Día de los Reyes Magos, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 6-8, 2012, with special décor, food and entertainment that showcases this Latin American holiday tradition.

• Three Kings Day is celebrated in many Latin American countries as part of the Christmas story. It commemorates the day the three kings (the magi or “wise men”) followed the star to Bethlehem and presented their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

• The Three Kings Day celebration at Disneyland will be centered around Zocalo Park (Spanish for “Town Square”) in Frontierland. Walt Disney envisioned Frontierland as a showcase of America’s Western and Mexican heritage and this celebration will continue that vision.

• Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will appear in Fiesta costumes and other characters will join them: The Three Caballeros: Donald Duck, Jose Carioca and Panchito.

• Entertainment highlights include folklorico dance along with musical performances  by the Grammy-winning Mariachi Divas.

• Bilingual activity hosts will join children in face-painting, coloring, crown decorating and other activities.

• Special food carts will appear in Zocalo Park for the occasion, serving Three Kings Day treats. The seasonal menu at Rancho del Zocalo restaurant includes tamales and Mexican hot chocolate.

Contact White Glove Destinations at 281-380-3437 for more information or visit us online now!

In these difficult economic times, affording a vacation can be tricky yet you probably need a vacation now more than ever!  How do you fit vacation planning into the family budget?  Put your vacation on layaway! 

That’s right, we can create your own vacation layaway plan.  Disney vacations (Disney World, Disneyland and Disney Cruise Lines), Universal Studios, all cruise lines and many all-inclusive resorts will allow you to make a deposit to confirm your trip and then make payments on your trip — interest free.   It’s like putting your vacation on layaway!

You can tailor this plan to suit your personal needs.  There are many ways to make this work.  Here are some possibilities:

1. Make the deposit and then divide the remaining balance by the number of paychecks you will get before the balance is due.  Make that payment each time you are paid. Our agency will be glad to assist you with this.
   
2. Put your income tax return toward the trip to reduce the balance due.
3. Take the amount you save using coupons each week and make a payment

These are just a few ideas.  There are no "set" payments, so you can do what works best for you!  If you book your trip well in advance, you can make the vacation of your dreams affordable with your personal vacation layaway!

Book with White Glove Destinations and we can set up your payment plan for free!  Just let us know when and how much you want to pay and we will take care of the rest.  It’s easiest way to afford your dream vacation!

For more information about planning your next vacation, contact us at 281-380-3437, by e-mail at info@whiteglovedestinations.com or visit us online now! 

Celebrate One More Disney Day!
Time is a precious thing. And, in 2012, it’s leap year so you will get an extra day to spend making memories with their family and friends.  Why not spend that extra day at the Disney Parks as Disney Parks celebrates “One More Disney Day” – a celebration of the extra day you can enjoy at Disney Parks during this Leap Year. See what Disney has in store to help you make the most of this extra time:

24 Hours of Magic!
In celebration of Leap Day, for the first time ever, both the Magic Kingdom® Park in Florida and the Disneyland® Park in California will be open for 24 hours straight*, beginning at 6 a.m. on Feb. 29, 2012, to enjoy select attractions, entertainment and services! That’s an entire, non-stop day (and night) of magic and more.

One More Day and Night of Disney Magic, Free!**
You can enjoy one more day and night of Disney magic FREE when you buy a 3-night, 3-day non-discounted Walt Disney Travel Co. room and ticket package at select Walt Disney World® Resort or Disneyland® Resort hotels before Jan. 31, 2012 (for arrivals most nights Feb. 26 – March 10, 2012).

*Hours of operation are 6 a.m. on Feb. 29, 2012, to 6 a.m. on March 1, 2012. Subject  to capacity restrictions. Valid Theme Park admission required.

Contact White Glove Destinations at 281-380-3437 now to receive your free quote! Or visit us online now!

Disneyland Resort is pleased to announce that Ghirardelli will open a new location inside Disney California Adventure park in late spring 2012. The soda fountain and chocolate shop will add yet another layer of traditional San Francisco flair to the Pacific Wharf area of the park.

Contact White Glove Destinations at 281-380-3437 to learn more or visit us online now!

You can save up to 35% on a stay at one of the Hotels of the Disneyland® Resort, for arrivals most Sunday-Thursday nights, Jan. 2 – Feb. 29, 2012.

Offer Details:
At Disney's Paradise Pier® Hotel:

• Save 35%* on most stays Sunday through Thursday.
• Save 30%* on most stays Friday through Saturday.

At the Disneyland® Hotel or Disney's Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa:

• Save 25%* on most stays Sunday through Thursday.
• Save 20%* on most stays Friday through Saturday.

Booking & Travel Windows:
Book this offer Nov. 1, 2011 – Feb. 29, 2012, for arrivals most nights Jan. 2 – Feb. 29, 2012. Travel on this offer must be completed by March 1, 2012.

Make your vacation even more magical but adding on tickets and dining! Contact White Glove Destinations at 281-380-3437 to learn more or visit us online now!

Beginning in early 2012, Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort will feature a brand-new interactive experience enabling guests to defeat the Disney Villains. Armed with magic spells in the form of special cards, players must search for the symbols that lead them to the animated villains’ hiding places. Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom will be included as part of park admission.

Contact White Glove Destinations at 281-380-3437 to find out more or book your Disney vacation online!