Add extra character to a family holiday, suggests Katie McGonagle
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Fancy starting the day with SpongeBob, having fun with The Flintstones, or a quick sugar rush in Springfield?
What about a twirl with Angelina Ballerina, treasure hunting with Oscar the Grouch, or sleeping under the sea in a Little Mermaid room?
Keeping kids entertained on holiday isn’t easy, but having a few favourite characters in resort will certainly help.
That’s why cruise ships, theme parks and family-friendly properties are falling over themselves to link with the latest cartoons, films and TV shows. And with some classic characters making a comeback, parents might enjoy the trip down memory lane too.
DREAM THEME
All theme parks provide an escape from reality, but some create another world entirely.
Visitors to Universal Studios Florida can tuck into a Krusty burger and Duff beer in The Simpsons’ Springfield, or come face-to-face with Optimus Prime on Transformers: The Ride 3D, and from summer, shop for tricks at Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes or sup butterbeer in the Leaky Cauldron. Diagon Alley in Universal Studios is the latest addition to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, linking up with Hogsmeade by way of the Hogwarts Express.
That’s not all that’s new – Universal Orlando’s entertainment strip CityWalk is adding eight new venues, and Cabana Bay Beach Resort starts taking guests from March 31, with a grand opening in July.
Walt Disney World Resort also has its share of characters: in Magic Kingdom alone, guests can mingle with Mickey and Minnie in the Town Square, make a very important date with Alice in Wonderland, or learn sword-fighting with swashbuckling Captain Jack Sparrow.
Funway’s Disney Magic Deals brochure includes up to 30% off Disney hotels, £75 off park tickets, free stays for under-17s and a ‘kids eat free’ card for under-11s.
These characters don’t just hang out across the pond, though. Travel 2 recommends adding a dose of Disney to a Hong Kong holiday with Woody, Buzz Lightyear and pals at Hong Kong Disneyland, while Jet2holidays’ current booking offers include free hotel nights and park tickets to Disneyland Paris.
Closer to home, Angry Birds addicts can see their feathered friends at Thorpe Park when its Angry Birds 4D experience opens in May, with a special effects film, dodgems and new features on 100ft drop the Detonator. Superbreak offers a night at The Bridge Hotel and one-day Thorpe Park ticket from £221 for a family of four.
STAY AND PLAY
It’s not just theme parks: family-focused resorts are getting in on the act too. Fans of The Flintstones will have a yabba dabba doo time at Sol Lanzarote, where kids play in Baby Rock Club (eight months to four years) or Bam Bam Club (five to 12), eat in Betty’s Kitchen and pose for photos with Fred and Dino. Cosmos offers seven nights’ all-inclusive flying from Gatwick on April 7 from £704 per adult and £499 per child.
Butlins’ new Just for Tots breaks include live shows from Thomas and Friends, Angelina Ballerina, Scooby Doo, Fireman Sam and Bob the Builder. Prices start at £50 for May 5 arrivals at Butlins Minehead, based on four sharing a self-catering apartment.
Some of those characters also show up in sunnier climes, at The Hard Rock Hotels in Cancun and Punta Cana, where the Angelina Ballerina studio hosts dance lessons, Bob the Builder teaches handy skills in the Construction Zone, and story-time takes place with Thomas and Friends. Sovereign Luxury Travel offers a seven-night all-inclusive break in Punta Cana from £4,369 for a family of three departing August 17, with British Airways flights, lounge access, private transfers and $1,800 resort credit.
Back in Orlando, Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort is Virgin Holidays’ top character choice for its giant Herbie car and playful puppies from 101 Dalmations, while sister property Disney’s Art of Animation has rooms inspired by The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo and Cars. Jetsave offers a fortnight room-only from £6,699 for four departing August 5, including a 14-day Ultimate Disney ticket and flights from Gatwick.
Recently renovated Despicable Me suites in Loews Portofino Bay Hotel feature missile beds with Minion bedding (£3,765 with Funway for a family of four staying seven nights from August 18, including Virgin Atlantic flights).
Meanwhile, Nickelodeon Suites Resort offers live entertainment plus breakfasts with SpongeBob SquarePants and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in Nicktoons Cafe.
ADDED VALUE
Nothing beats the look of wonder on a little one’s face as a character they’ve seen on screen comes to life before them, so it’s worth upselling extra interactions – and boosting commission to boot.
At Butlins, character breakfasts with Billy Bear might tempt guests to upgrade their dining package, while visitors to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay can have fun with their food in Lunch with Elmo and Friends, an add-on to park admission (£16 for adults, £11 for under-nines from Do Something Different, including photo).
Add glamour with Attraction World’s Chef Mickey VIP Character Dinner. Families are whisked by limo to Disney Contemporary Resort for dinner, photos with favourite characters and a stop in Downtown Disney (£79 for adults, £60 for children under nine).
Sesame Street characters have been a much-loved feature at Beaches resorts for 10 years, and now Elmo and the Cookie Monster are returning to British screens on a new CBeebies show, why not offer VIP meetings?
In addition to the stage show, beach parade and the new Oscar the Grouch’s Trash to Treasure sessions, there’s a character tuck-in with bedtime story, lullaby and soft toy ($85), or a character breakfast on the beach ($49.99).
For older children – and nostalgic parents – the Jamaica Bobsled, Skyride and Zipline Adventure Tour recalls classic 1990s film Cool Runnings; they will speed down Mystic Mountain in a bobsled rollercoaster, soar above the trees on the Rainforest SkyExplorer and traverse the canopy on a zipline ($135 for adults, $130 for children).
CRUISE WITH CHARACTER
Passengers big and small will love Carnival Cruise Line’s new partnership with Dr Seuss.
The fun starts with breakfasts of goose juice and green eggs and ham accompanied by the Cat in the Hat (first sea day, $5), plus film screenings, photo opportunities and a parade on deck.
Carnival Splendor is first to host the Seuss at Sea programme this month, which will be fleet-wide by 2015, and Carnival Vista will have a Bookville play area for Seuss-a-palooza Story Time when it enters service in 2016.Shrek, Kung Fu Panda and the stars of Madagascar can also be found wandering the decks of Royal Caribbean ships, offering free character meals, photos and 3D film screenings.
Kuoni, which has recently added cruise product, offers three nights in Miami with a seven-night Caribbean cruise on Oasis of the Seas, including British Airways flights, from £7,383 for two adults and two children departing July 16.
Guests don’t even have to get dressed to enjoy Norwegian Cruise Line’s tie-up with Nickelodeon with the Pajama Jam Character Breakfast. Plus there’s Dora’s Dance Party, meet-and-greets with SpongeBob and friends, and a chance to get covered in gooey green slime. But for classic fairytale action, little princesses will love Disney Cruise Line’s princess autograph sessions and chance encounters with the likes of Captain Hook, Snow White and Cinderella.
Their boisterous brothers, meanwhile, can immerse themselves in Andy’s Room from Toy Story or Monsters Academy from Monsters, Inc, both in the Oceaneers’ Club.
