Do you feel robbed from last year’s memories that could’ve been made but weren’t?​

I know I do. My family and I usually take “mini” weekend trips away to places such as Gettysburg, PA, Jim Thorpe, PA, the Poconos, Upstate New York to the Hudson River Valley, NY, Salem, MA, and the Jersey Shore not to mention a trip here and there to Walt Disney World.

If you do, you’re not alone!

Millions of families across the globe feel like we do! Many families postponed their family traditions of vacationing together, families couldn’t attend their grandchildren’s, nieces or nephews graduations or sporting events, many couples were forced to postpone their weddings, their honeymoons, their anniversary getaways and then holidays couldn’t be shared and with the sadness of many families not being able to attend celebrations of life when a family member or a friend passed away along with so much more, I don't think there is such a word to describe the pain we all felt other than being robbed!

Robbed of the time, precious time that all of us can never get back.

Covid fatigue is a REAL thing. Not to mention the stress that all families across the globe are feeling and being the owner of a travel agency where travel has somewhat halted, we get the stress and we want to let everyone know we are here for you.

SO many of our clients were ready to vacation even to the day that closures came. After a year of pre-planning with the anticipation leading up to the day when families would depart to their magical vacations, I can’t begin to tell you the disheartening feeling that came over me when I had to tell the families they couldn’t travel and that the best thing to do was wait until the magic returned. 

Even for families that were thinking about travel, we couldn’t even sell travel as many of our great travel suppliers we are directly contracted with had what they called “Stop-Sell” and halted the sale of travel until many of the restrictions were lifted.

Being in the business of travel for 32 yrs, I personally have seen my share of crisis from global, domestic, and even personal in my lifetime, but never on a scale such as this.

So what did our agency Making Magical Vacations Travel do during this downtime you may ask?

● First, we comforted our guests with ongoing updates that would, directly and indirectly, affect their vacations.

● My specialists and I were updated by the many great travel suppliers weekly and sometimes daily through mandatory webinars and zooms so we can educate not only my specialists but our many guests that were impacted.

● We then expanded our services by reaching out to other small businesses in hopes of lending business to them once travel starts to pick back up in areas of Cleaning, Landscaping, Passports, Visas, and Notary.

● We reached out to other travel suppliers such as Amtrak Vacations, Pleasant Holidays, and American Cruise Lines that domestically have destinations for our guests that are safe to visit.

● We’ve also reached out to local area businesses in local Hotels, Bed & Breakfasts, and Inns to give our guests different in-state experiences that are safe to travel and receive that much-needed getaway!

Through the pandemic Making Magical Vacations Travel received awards from the Walt Disney Travel Co as my agency has been named an EARMARKED Authorized Disney Vacation Planning Agency. This designation and distinction from Disney are earned by the hard work of my specialists and by the MANY wonderful families that call on us to assist them in their vacation needs, it's truly an honor that we are very appreciative to receive and would’ve never received it without all of you, So THANK YOU!

We know and understand the hardships that many families have felt and faced in 2020, everyone’s economic situation is different than every other not to mention families having family members in nursing homes and not being able to physically be with them or losing a loved one due to the virus, homeschooling the children or losing a job- 2020 was an unforgiving year, to say the least. 

I personally lost two family members to Covid both of which had pre-existing conditions so it's devastating and our heartfelt prayers and thoughts are with all of our families.

As we were about to end the year my family and I decided it was time to visit Walt Disney World, my last visit was a solo “RUN-cation” last February as I participate in the Annual RunDisney Princess Half Marathon where I honor my youngest son, Tony Forte, 12 who unexpectedly passed away from a medical error by the hands of a doctor in the hospital (02/19/2018). The event falls on the week of his passing, it was a bucket list item that my son wanted to accomplish as a personal triumph that he achieved.

My last hug to Mickey was on Friday, March 13, 2020, in Disneyland, California right before the Nationwide Shutdowns. Seeing the magic escape slowly like a deflating balloon reminded me of the time when the horrific events happened during 9/11 when I was in Walt Disney World and no one wanted to travel, so being able to return to Walt Disney World this past December was invigorating, liberating, emotional and humbling.

The Cast Members were SO very appreciative of seeing guests again, it truly was rewarding and it really felt guests throughout the year would try and coerce me now and then to go. After much consideration, I was glad that my family and I were able to go, so much that we will be going in the next two weeks as it will be the anniversary of my son’s passing. 

Although the RUN Disney Marathon will be virtual many of us who attend in person will be there in person doing our own version.

Being able to experience some of the magic was truly a rewarding experience- seeing life again in and out of the airports, not to mention how everyone was adhering to the safety enhancements and protocols that were executed throughout the airports of both Philly and Orlando to then onward boarding the Disney’s Magical Express then onward to the resorts, the parks, the attractions, the restaurants and was very safe and it's much safer than going into a BIG Box Store. The weather was tolerable, the crowds were light due to the limited capacity and everyone was enjoying themselves getting that much-needed break, it truly was a great feeling, one that I’m glad my family and I were able to experience.

If you would like more information that I shared many posts on our FB Business Page and on our group page along with an hour-long FB LIVE. If you would like to join our VIP group, kindly visit our group at “Making Magical Vacations Travel- Where Will Your Dreams Take You?” and I’ll accept you!

I put together a “FREEBIE” with a list of destinations and ideas that you and your family can decide on going to visit safely where you can receive that much-needed respite that we all deserve. If you would like this “FREEBIE”, send me your email list and I’ll send that to your inbox as “​MMVT’s (Making Magical Vacations Travel) - List of Destination​s at guestservices@mmvacationstravel.com​!

If you are looking to plan something in 2021 or 2022- NOW is the perfect time to talk about it, scope the possibilities, and layout a plan to make it happen!

Give us a Call/Text or Email at :

Making Magical Vacations Travel 717|847|7654 guestservices@mmvacationstravel.com

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