TouringPlans Travel Beat 8-12-2023

Jennifer Heymont August 12, 2023 0 Comments Annual Passholders, Discounts, Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya, Swan and Dolphin Hotel Complex

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At Travel Beat we have all the “other” news from the last week or so—the stuff that wasn’t big enough to stop the presses for. What did the newsroom bring us this week? (Sneak Peek: mostly discounts, not much news). Bullets are just ahead if you’re in a hurry, and more details follow below. Don’t forget to check out the Headline News Recap, in case there was something you missed!

Wildfires on Maui Impact Travel to Hawaii
Universal Orlando Passholder Appreciation Nights Begin Next Week
Swan & Dolphin Discounts for Teachers, Nurses, and Other Special Groups
Save Up to $500 on Fall & Winter Travel with Adventures by Disney
Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya Opens August 30 at EPCOT
Headline News Recap

If anything you read below tickles your feet, feel free to reach out to our friends at TouringPlans Travel for a free quote.

Wildfires on Maui Impact Travel to Hawaii

Strong winds from Hurricane Dora fanned wildfires over 800 miles away on Maui this week, burning much of the island including the tourist destination of Lahaina. Fires are also impacting the Big Island of Hawaii itself, and patients, travelers, and residents are being evacuated from Maui to elsewhere in the islands. If you have travel plans to Hawaii in the near future, consult your airline about waivers on changes to travel plans. If you have travel plans to Maui specifically, know that non-essential travel to Maui is strongly discouraged at this time by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Universal Orlando Passholder Appreciation Nights Begin Next Week

Universal Orlando’s Annual Passholder Appreciation Nights begin August 15 and run through September 30. Of course, it’s easy to appreciate local passholders during the month when tourist travel to Orlando is generally at a nadir, but there are still some pretty nifty benefits. Dining, Express Pass, merchandise, and Express Pass discounts, plus more – see the full list on the event page. And in case you missed it, right now you can get 15 months for the price of 12 on a Universal Orlando Annual Pass.

Swan & Dolphin Discounts for Teachers, Nurses, and other Special Groups

The Swan & Dolphin have already been offering a wide range of discounts: to Disney World Annual Passholders, to Florida Residents, Senior Citizens, and Military and Government officials. Now you can also take advantage of significant discounts if you are a nurse, doctor, paramedic, firefighter, or other medical personnel, or if you are a teacher or school support staff. See the Swan & Dolphin offers page for details, and if you’re not familiar with the “Swolphin” you can also check out our article: Why You Should Consider the “Swolphin” Rather Than A Disney Hotel

Save Up to $500 on Fall & Winter Travel with Adventures by Disney

Last week we heard about discounts on Private Jet itineraries with National Geographic; this week Adventures by Disney is offering discounts on select itineraries in Fall & Winter of 2023-24.

Save $250 per person on North & Central America Adventures by Disney Land Adventures to Costa Rica and Disneyland Resort/Southern California
Save $350 per person on international Adventures by Disney Land Adventures to Australia; China; Egypt; England and France; Germany; New Zealand; Poland, Czech Republic, and Austria; South Africa, and Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia
Save $350 per person on international Adventures by Disney River Cruise departures for the Danube River and Rhine River
Save $500 per person on the Galapagos Islands Expedition Cruise

To qualify for these savings you’ll need to book at least 21-30 days in advance (depending on itinerary), and before December 29, 2023. You’ll also need to confirm that your itinerary is one of the specific dates eligible for the offer.

Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya Opens August 30 at EPCOT

Disney has announced that Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya at EPCOT will open in just a few weeks on August 30. Reservations are not yet available and neither is the menu. The offerings of this “Japanese-style tapas” restaurant are expected to change frequently in accordance with the seasonal festivals of Japan.