Return on experience—land and sea.
[ON LOCATION: SOUTHEAST U.S./CRUISE] LAUREL HERMAN
It was during a taste of Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, and a sailing aboard Disney Wish from Port Canaveral that Prevue experienced some of the many ways Disney Meetings and Events creates successful events and lasting memories for groups in a way that only Disney can deliver.
“We focus on transformational experiences that bring a client’s vision to life,” says Tina Jones, Marketing Strategy Manager for Disney Meetings & Events. “It is our core values of imagination, collaboration plus our vast choice of venues and people that can make special memories happen. And it’s the return on experience across all MICE sectors that we focus on.”
A World of Choice
One thing planners can count on is a wide variety of resorts and experiences to choose from at Walt Disney World Resort (WDW). They’ll find 40 sq. miles that are home to five convention resorts and four theme parks plus Disney Springs, a 180-dining and -shopping entertainment venue, and ESPN Wild World of Sports, for general sessions and concerts.
Our visit was headquartered at the newly renovated Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa with 668 keys and a recently updated 40,000-sf convention center, offering access to the Magic Kingdom either on foot, via the complimentary ferry or monorail. During our stay, the resort’s culinary team gave us a sampling of how they roll with artful food displays and palate-pleasing flavors—think lobster rolls and a salad of heirloom tomatoes with burrata served in champagne glasses to start. The culinary presentations were complemented by stunning floral displays, showcasing the team’s creativity and attention to detail. During our stay we also enjoyed a private breakfast at Citricos, a new upscale dining venue inspired by the film “Mary Poppins Returns.” Trust me when I tell you the spread was diverse and the food out of this world.
During our “showcase adventure,” we also toured the boutique-like 370-room BoardWalk Inn with 20,000 sf of meeting space and adjacent to EPCOT. If overflow is necessary for a group here, it can be arranged at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts across the lake. WDW’s culinary creativity was paramount here when we feasted on a “Toy Story”-themed breakfast buffet. The other three convention resorts planners can consider are Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort with 2,416 rooms and 226,000 sf of meeting space, the aforementioned Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts with a combined 1,190 rooms and 100,000 sf of meeting space that have been recently renovated and Disney’s Contemporary Resort with 650 keys and 115,000 sf of meeting space.
We had the opportunity to explore two of the four theme parks, both offering exceptional areas that groups can privatize, as well as the benefit of Lightning Lane passes, which planners can arrange for attendees to expedite access to select attractions and rides.
At the Magic Kingdom, we were ushered into a private area on the West Lawn to watch “The Happily Ever After” nighttime fireworks display with a laser show over Cinderella Castle, while listening to some of Disney’s most memorable songs. It was truly an inspiring experience. We also had exclusive access to a private seating area to witness the dazzling and heartfelt “Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away,” a parade of illuminated floats celebrating Disney’s stories from Peter Pan, Frozen, Encanto and more.
At EPCOT, we enjoyed the annual springtime International Flower & Garden Festival that features 60 Disney character topiaries. We also had a private lunch at the Living Seas Salon while viewing underwater sea life through a wall of large panoramic windows, and oh my, scrumptious and artfully presented dishes— from Koji-cured beef striploin to kombu-steamed halibut. In the evening, overlooking World Showcase Lagoon, groups can watch “Luminous: The Symphony of Us” fireworks display within a private area while enjoying a dessert party featuring decadent pastries, coffees, teas and open bar. This is, of course, after having dinner from a multitude of global dining options, including Italy, Japan, Germany, France and more.
One-Stop Shop
Disney’s philosophy was further explained when Prevue visited the Creative Studio, where groups will start their planning process with Disney Event Architects.
“We do not plan events; we create transformational experiences. We collaborate with clients by really trying to understand who they are, and we then deliver, by using all of our resources at Disney to spark creativity,” says Robby Briley, Sr. Event Consultant, Disney Creative Studio.
The Creative Studio facility allows planners to benefit from over 200 personnel focused on delivering creativity, coordinating everything from a room block to transportation, entertainment and F&B. At Walt Disney World Resort, all the necessary resources are accessible under one roof.
Disney Meetings and Events uses the same “Imagineering” design process that its founder Walt Disney used, applying them to meeting and incentive group events. “Clients come to us year after year because they get that return on experience in the moment and attendees walk away with something new that they have learned,” says Briley.
Planners, take note: When it comes to land experiences, Disney Meetings and Events offers resorts and parks at Disneyland Resort in California, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Oahu, Hawaii, and internationally in China, Hong Kong, Japan and Paris, as well as Disney Cruise Line at sea, with opportunities for multi-year, multi-location contracts.
Family Incentives at Sea
A popular option for groups is to combine the Walt Disney World Resort experience with a Disney cruise. Incentive groups with families will find this option especially appealing, as we discovered during the FAM.
After an easy 1-hour bus transfer from WDW to Port Canaveral, we hopped on board the Disney Wish, one of Disney Cruise Line’s eight ships and the first of the Wish class. Disney Wish offers groups 3- and 4-day sailings, making it an ideal extension to a WDW program or a compelling standalone option for groups.
With a total of 1,254 staterooms holding up to 4,000 passengers, “the sweet spot for a group size on this ship is 150 cabins or a charter,” says Tai Burgess, Sr. Sales Manager for Disney Cruise Line. Burgess also notes that there are plenty of spaces for groups to have private events, including the Marceline Market (which serves breakfast and lunch), Luna, an entertainment venue with a stage, the Walt Disney Theatre, where attendees and their families will delight in several Disney shows during the cruise, and two smaller cinema theaters that can be booked for private presentations/showings. Disney Wish also hosts the lively “Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party” and “Mickey & Minnie’s Pirates in the Caribbean” deck parties. Throughout the cruise, families will find plenty of photo-ops with Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse himself. For adults, Senses Spa offers a variety of treatments plus a fitness center as well as the Rainforest Room.
Culinary options abound on Disney Wish—your attendees will never go hungry. From the aforementioned Marceline Market and Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure to my favorite, 1923, which serves California-inspired cuisine, there is something for every palate. My meal at the latter included a four-cheese tri-color tortellini appetizer followed by an Italian flat parsley- and rosemary-crusted rack of lamb. Additionally, Palo Steakhouse, the sophisticated adults-only dining experience, features a private dining room for 12 that’s perfect for the VIPs in the group. Think everything from flat breads to wagyu steak paired with fine wines at this authentic Italian-inspired restaurant. Another standout on board Disney Wish is the service. The staff is friendly and attentive—from attendants at F&B outlets to my stateroom’s fantastic steward.
The Wish sailing includes a stop at Castaway Cay, Disney’s exclusive island with dock (no tender needed) in The Bahamas. There is a family beach for groups to gather, or planners can opt for the area where there are private cabanas with beverages, snacks and beach chairs. There are also plenty of bicycles to explore the island as well as snorkeling gear and floating devices to enjoy a day in the water. And when it comes to lunch, no need to go back to the ship as there is an island barbeque offering at several locations.
Disney Cruise Line plans to have 13 ships in total by 2031, with the fourth in the Wish class, Disney Believe, debuting in 2027. Currently, Disney’s cruises sail year-round primarily from U.S. homeports, with Port Canaveral and Port Everglades in Florida offering 3-, 4-, 5- and 7-day sailings. The eighth ship in the fleet, Disney Adventure, just premiered offering 3- and 4-day year-round sailings out of Singapore, for yet another destination experience.
