A Plane SO Cool… It’s Frozen!

When I buckled the boys into their car seats on Sunday morning, I had a vague idea about our final destination.

Where are we going, mommy?
Is it a party? A Sunday morning party?
Will there be kids? Will there be kids? Is it far? 
Are we there yet? (Asked at 2 minute intervals, of course)

Thankfully, our rendezvous was less than a half hour away. And as we pulled up to the WestJet hangar, my intuition spiked into overdrive.

This is going to be amazing, I whispered to my husband.

Inside, the excitement was palpable. Adults and children alike buzzed with anticipation, constantly checking the time and willing it to inch forward to the 10:00AM event start. A large curtain, ominously descending from the ceiling, veiled our eyes from what was surely the star attraction, hidden for the time being. And finally, as Bob Cummings, WestJet Executive Vice-President, took the stage, the audience surged together and leaned forward.

“Two years ago, we launched the #MagicPlane, our first Disney-themed aircraft, and no matter where it flies throughout our network, it is the most-anticipated and most-photographed aircraft in WestJet history. Today, we are proud to team up with our great friends at Disney to create a sequel like no other.”

Introducing the Disney Frozen Themed Plane.
I won’t hesitate to admit that the hairs on the back of my neck stood up straight with excitement. The plane, so painstakingly detailed, brings Disney’s Frozen to life by marrying art and aviation in a way that speaks to the child in all of us. From Olaf’s adorable invitation to join him on the beach to Elsa and Anna’s celebration of sisterhood and snow (I truly believe Elsa’s spell adds tailwind to speed the aircraft along), the plane promises to be yet another star in WestJet’s already magical fleet.

Let’s get a little closer, shall we? (Click here to view my live tweets from the event.) 

The interior of the aircraft has decals and headrest covers that mimic the cold-to-warm (back-to-front) theme on the outside of the aircraft. Where will your family be seated? In the warmth of Olaf’s beachy retreat, or in the cool splendour of Anna and Elsa’s winter paradise?
Adding a further personalized touch to the interior, there are 54 separate overhead bin doors, each with its unique Frozen decal. Hence, a passenger’s experience in seat 14A is different from a passenger seated in 20B. Magical, isn’t it?
Fun facts about the #DisneyFrozenThemedPlane:

– The aircraft was painted in Fort Worth, Texas.
– The paint team included team members from Canada, the United States and Germany.
– The team watched Frozen to get them into the spirit before work began.
– The job took 21 days of 12-hour rotations involving a constant crew of six painters working 24/7.
– The crew used 643.5 litres of paint consisting of 23 colours – five for the umbrella alone.
– Sparkles were added to the paint in sections to add shimmer and shine as the aircraft moves.
– An airbrush artist was brought in to work on details around the sun, water and castle.
WestJet serves Orlando, close to the Walt Disney World Resort, with a total of 43 flights per week during peak winter months from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Moncton, Charlottetown and St. John’s.

BONUS: Guests of WestJet Vacations can save on their next trip to Walt Disney World! Book a minimum seven-night WestJet Vacations package to any Orlando-area hotel before December 31, 2015, for travel until April 7, 2016, and purchase a seven-day Magic Your Way theme park ticket for the price of five days. For details, visit www.westjetvacations.com.
It’s hard to put into words the feeling of childish bewilderment I felt while gazing upon the plane. And I know some of y’all might be thinking, “What’s so special about a decorated plane?” Well, think of it this way: your vacation begins and ends with your flight. The experience is what sets the tone for your time away and is the last memory you’ll have upon your return. Year after year, WestJet is named Canada’s highest-rated airline for customer service, and it’s not just because they offer flawless family vacations at stellar prices – it’s because of the detail and attention they place on every aspect of your holiday, which includes travelling on this magnificent #DisneyFrozenThemedPlane.

I’ll leave you today with a glimpse inside the incredible unveiling.

To all Disney fans, big and small, may you all have the chance to experience this truly unique and unforgettable aircraft. Until then, with winter surely on its way, Do You Want to Build a Snowman?