Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation

THE DISNEY NEWS
July 27, 2005
Copyright © 1999 - 2005 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved.
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Hi Everyone!

In this issue...

* New deals and specials - including airfare to Orlando for
$59!
* The latest news from around the "World" - boy drowns at
Grand Floridian and is resuscitated by NFL sports agent!
* Beth, our travel agent, writes about a Magical Express
perk for Floridians
* Simone from Italy asks about how to get a job at WDW
* Karena asks about Sea World's Makahiki Luau
* This week's money saving tip
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We continuously update our information and you can find
these current specials in our Addenda:

WALT DISNEY WORLD:

A reminder...

* An exclusive deal for Affordable Disney members only at
Walt Disney World's Port Orleans French Quarter in November,
2005.

* An exclusive deal for Affordable Disney members only at
Walt Disney World's Port Orleans French Quarter and
Wilderness Lodge in December, 2005!

"Hi John, I just joined your affordable Disney group. My
wife and I have been planning a trip to Disney World in
December. When we received your newsletter and saw the
prices we were just awed."

* An exclusive deal for Affordable Disney members only on a
3-day cruise aboard the Disney Wonder in December, 2005.
Beth writes: "Prices are at least $50 per cabin below
Disney's current pricing, it's a short cruise over a weekend
so you don't have to take a lot of time off work, you can
easily combine it with our great room rates, and the ship is
all decked out (so to speak) for the holidays."

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Orlando Travel Special: Take advantage of another great
summer offer in Orlando at two exceptional resorts just 1.5
miles from Walt Disney World® Resorts. And complimentary
scheduled transportation to Walt Disney World® parks is
available.

* August 1-31: bed and breakfast from $108; $129 suite
* September 1-8: $109 suite only or $139 bed and breakfast
* September 1-30: $98 bed and breakfast

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Cheap Airfare to Orlando! Fly from NYC, Newark, Boston,
Buffalo, Burlington, Rochester and Syracuse to Orlando for
$59! Valid 09/06/05-12/14/05. Blackout dates apply. Sale
fare must be booked by Aug 10, 2005.

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DISNEY CRUISE LINE

Disney Cruise Line Specials for Florida Residents and Active
Duty Military from $399!

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DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA

Save 25% on Disney's Halloween Party at Disney's California
Adventure. Dates this year: October 21, 22, 28 and 29.

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LAS VEGAS

Stay at this luxury Resort & Casino July through October,
2005 starting at $79/Night per room, per night, based on
single or double occupancy! Includes:

* Room Upgrade
* 2 for 1 drinks
* 2 for 1 Breakfast
* 2 for 1 Spa Admission
* $10 FREE PLAY
* $10 Starbucks Credit

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This hotel & casino is running a hotel/restaurant special
July 31 - September 13, 2005. Rooms From $89!

Includes:

* One complimentary breakfast with a purchase of breakfast
for equal or lesser value
* One complimentary cocktail or bottle of wine with purchase
of a dinner entrée
* $15 lunch special for two
* One complimentary souvenir mug with the purchase of any
cocktail
* 2-for-1 at the bar
* $50 discount on any cabana rental at the resort pool

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Affordable Disney Members should log in at our password-
protected site (The Disney Reading Room) to access the
particulars about the above mentioned specials.

If you are not a member, you can join our Disney family here.
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News From Around The "World"

WALT DISNEY WORLD

Beth, our travel agent, writes: "Jet Blue has just recently
joined the family of "preferred" Magical Express airlines.
The service handles incoming traffic from ALL airlines, but
if you book on of the (now) seven preferred airlines then
you can check in your bags and get your boarding passes at
the hotel before you even head to the airport, thus allowing
you to bypass the check-in line at the airport and go
straight to security. Those airlines are Delta, Song,
United, Ted, American, Continental and Jet Blue."
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SeaWorld wants to add a water park. Where will the visitors
come from?

"The park will have to reinvent itself as a two-day
attraction -- something that'll be difficult in Orlando's
competitive market...

That means taking business away from Universal, Disney or
the area's smaller attractions. SeaWorld also will have to
get people to come back without having on-site hotels that
keep tourists captive."
(Source: Orlando Sentinel, 07/22/05)
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Halloween Horror Nights 15 at Universal Orlando: September
30 and October 1, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22,
23, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31, 2005. Tickets are now on sale.
$59.75 + 6.5% tax. Florida residents: $52.75 + tax.
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"The SeaWorld Sharks Deep Dive and Epcot DiveQuest at Walt
Disney World are specialty programs offering a stimulating
alternative to the usual Central Florida theme-park
experience. Beyond the cuddly mascots, bouncy show tunes and
tourists wearing Bermuda shorts, another universe awaits."
(Source: Orlando Sentinel, 07/21/05)
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"Orlando police are investigating reports that a 15-year-old
boy was sexually assaulted in a bathroom of the Wet 'n Wild
water park Wednesday afternoon by a man in his 50s."
(Source: Orlando Sentinel, 07/21/05)

REMEMBER - You're on vacation, but the criminals are always
at work! Be careful.
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"On Monday, as part of the 50th anniversary of the theme
parks, the company saluted its Orlando employees with a
special "tribute" window.

The glass, unveiled by local Prez Al Weiss, was inscribed
with Walt's words, "It takes people to make the dream a
reality." It'll be hung in a shop on Main Street."

At the same time, Disney fired 230 Orlando tech workers
whose jobs are being outsourced to IBM. (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 07/20/05)
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"Rosenhaus, the controversial hardball-playing sports agent,
performed life-saving CPR on 3-year-old Maurice Garrett, who
was unconscious after being pulled from a pool at a Disney
World resort. The boy was transported to Celebration
Hospital and was to be transferred to Florida Hospital
Orlando late Tuesday. He was listed in good condition,
according to hospital spokeswoman Samantha O'Lenick"
(Source: Orlando Sentinel, 07/20/05)
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"Disney's once-in-a-lifetime fundraising event held aboard
the Disney Magic cruise ship last night generated more than
$1 million for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. After Disney
Chief Executive Officer Michael Eisner presented the check
to Make-A-Wish Foundation of America President and Chief
Executive Officer David Williams, Disney President, Chief
Operating Officer and CEO-Elect Bob Iger called upon Mickey
Mouse and Minnie Mouse to present Williams with a surprise
second check for $1 million dollars donated by the company.

The $2 million will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of
America and the Greater Los Angeles, Orange County and
Inland Empire, Calif., chapters, helping them continue their
mission of granting the wishes of children with life-
threatening medical conditions to enrich the human
experience with hope, strength and joy."
(Source: DisneyHand Foundation, 07/19/05)

As many of you now, Donna and I are proud supporters of the
Make-A-Wish Foundation®. To learn more about this wonderful
organization, click here.
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CLOSED FOR REFURBISHMENT

Disney's Contemporary Resort South Garden Wing:
May 30 - Oct. 31

Epcot: The Living Seas: 8/21/2005 - Nov. 2005
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A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR

Our Ticket agent has great prices on tickets to Walt Disney
World and other Florida attractions!

"I thought I knew all the tips for saving money at WDW, even
being a member of the Magic Kingdom Club for over 15 years,
but just learning about [your ticket agent] saved our family
over $300!!! Thanks." Janet Handy, Bel Air, MD

"Plenty of roadside outfits in Orlando promise discounted
tickets, but most of them really want to rope you into a
time-share sales pitch in exchange for vouchers - accept at
your own risk. [Affordable Disney's ticket agent], though,
is legit." The New York Post, November 16, 2004.

FORGET paying too much for your Disney tickets! Keep that
extra money in YOUR pocket! Join our Disney family today.
See: http://www.affordabledisney.com/ .
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HONG KONG DISNEYLAND

"Disneyland Resort Line, the rail link running between the
new Tung Chung Line Sunny Bay Station and the Disneyland
Resort Station, will be open to the public August 1...

Inside the Disneyland Resort Station, people can find Mickey
Mouse everywhere as nearly 200 Mickey head logos in five
styles are printed on lifts or engraved on lamp poles inside
the station." (Source: The Standard, 07/26/05).
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"Lobster soup and seafood bouillon will replace the
controversial shark fin soup at Hong Kong Disneyland wedding
banquets, a Disney spokeswoman said Friday."
(Source: Orlando Sentinel, 07/15/05)
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NOTE: Links to newspaper articles change quickly and without
notice. If you receive a "File Not Found" error message,
search the newspaper's archives for the story. Certain
newspapers require a free registration to view their
articles online. If web addresses are broken into more than
one line, copy and paste all lines.
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Beth, our travel agent, writes about a Magical Express perk
for Floridians::

"If you're a Florida resident that flies from time to time
then you learn very quickly that Orlando often has fares
significantly lower than other airports in the state. While
driving several hours to the Orlando airport to save $50 may
not make any sense, if you're going to save hundreds then
it's worth a thought. I did it myself once, and checked into
a Days Inn near the airport that allowed me to leave my car
there while I was gone. They provided free transportation to
the airport and back, too. It was a yucky hotel with nothing
to do close by, but I saved a lot on the air.

Now, though, I and the rest of my fellow Floridians have
another option! Disney confirms that you ARE permitted to
leave your car parked at Disney for free and use their new
complimentary airport shuttle service provided you spend at
least one night before and one night after your trip at a
Disney hotel, and it has to be the SAME hotel on both ends.
You just add one-way Magical Express information to each
reservation, and let the front desk know that you'll be
leaving your car in the lot until you get back.

(Note that only Disney resort guests with reservations can
use the Magical Express, so you can't stay offsite and then
just park at Disney and use their airport transfers.)"
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YOU CAN AFFORD DISNEY WORLD!

If you THINK a Disney vacation costs too much ... WE AGREE!
That's why we created the ULTIMATE Disney savings site. Save
up to 40% on your total trip. Learn about discounts on
tickets, food, Disney merchandise, hotels ON Disney
property, travel, parking, and MUCH more. Too much to list
here. See it all here.
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Simone writes:

"Hi, I’m Italian & I’m 20 years old. I’m so interested in
your job in Orlando. what [do] I have to do if I want to
work in Disney world? Thank you so much."

Simone, see:
http://www.affordabledisney.com/wdwemployment.html
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Karena writes:

"I've seen many negative, as well as positive, testimonials
of the Spirit of Aloha at the Polynesian Resort. I haven't
seen any testimonials about Sea World's Makahiki Luau. I've
been wondering which is the better show. Planning to go in
June 2006."

Click here for an interesting comparison.

See Disney's if you want to see the characters do the hoola!
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MONEY SAVING TIP

The Kitchen - Hard Rock Hotel Orlando
5600 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32819
Phone: 407-503-3463
Fax: 407-503-2003

Looks like a spacious kitchen in a rock star’s mansion.

Present this coupon and receive $10.00 off lunch or dinner with purchase of two entrees. Valid through June 30, 2006.
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Affordable Disney Transportation

Elegance Transportation provides affordable transportation
to Walt Disney World, the Disney Cruise Line, Universal, Wet
'n Wild, the Convention Center, and much more! Elegance also
includes a 30-minute grocery stop at no additional cost.
Plus! Affordable Disney members save up to $10.00 on
roundtrip transportation! For services and rates, click here.
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Don't Leave Home Without It!

Universal offers special deals to Universal Entertainment
MasterCard cardholders. Apply now and receive a movie ticket
with your first purchase! For more details, click here.
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Affordable Disney Books

Disney and other new books 50-90% off the list price.
Hundreds of books under $1.00! Plus! Over 700 videos have
been marked down to $1.99!

Exclusively for Affordable Disney Readers!
Save $5.00 on an order of $35 or more!
Coupon code: bookcloseouts
Coupon password: bargainbooks
Expires: December 31, 2005
To check out the bargains, click here.
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Got Coupons?

With the Orlando Entertainment Book, you can save big on
travel, groceries, shopping, movie tickets, restaurants
near WDW, and more! For details, click here.
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Affordable Accommodations

Get the guaranteed lowest prices at the Downtown Disney
Resorts as well as at hotels, condos and vacation rentals
outside Disney property. Plus! Receive up to a $100.00 rebate! For hotels, click here.
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Affordable Car Rental

Just enter in your travel dates, select the kind of car you
want, and receive a list of car rental prices at over 12
companies starting with the cheapest price! Click here.

Cheryl writes: "I saved over $200.00 on my mini van rental!!!"
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Affordable Airfare

This service delivers as many as 230 flight options in a
single search - more options than any other travel site.
It's possible to save as much as 80%! To compare prices, click here.
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Affordable Luggage

Save up to 60% on Luggage, Backpacks, and more! Click here.
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Own a piece of the Magic Kingdom

Disney framed stock certificates are works of art. They
feature Walt Disney and the Disney characters. Unlike stock
brokers that require you to purchase several shares of
stock, OneShare sells one share of stock and mails you the
certificate. You can frame the stock certificate yourself or
OneShare will frame if for you at a nominal cost. Click here.
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See You Real Soon!

John

AffordableDisney.Com.
johngross@affordabledisney.com
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Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee the accuracy of information
contained in THE DISNEY NEWS. Always check to be sure. The
views and opinions expressed by others in THE DISNEY NEWS do
not necessarily reflect the views of AffordableDisney.Com.
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