Thursday, December 15, 2005

Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation

THE DISNEY NEWS
December 14, 2005
Copyright © 1999 - 2005 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved.
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Hi Everyone!

In this blog...

* Deals and specials - including kids free special and other
discounts at Disneyland Paris!
* The latest news from around the "World" - including a
story about an 85-year-old's experience at WDW's Richard
Petty Driving Experience!
* Beth, our travel agent, has a new trip report for us
regarding her visit to WDW this month
* Kim asks about buying tickets for her child who turns 3
after arriving at WDW
* This week's money saving tip - save 50% on over 27,000
books, including Disney!
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WE'D LIKE YOUR IDEAS...

We're planning the activities at WDW that we'd like to offer
exclusively to our members in 2006. What would you really
like to do if it were made available? Have tea in
Munchikinland (in The Great Movie Ride)? Dinner in the
castle rose garden? Afternoon Q&A with real Disney animators
and/or Imagineers? Surfing at Typhoon Lagoon? A behind-the-
scenes tour? Private sailing excursion? Fireworks cruise? No
idea is too crazy! If there are things you have always
wanted to do at WDW, send me your ideas in an email to
johngross@affordabledisney.com .

Please include how much you'd be willing to pay for your
ideas. ANYTHING is possible, but we want to stay within your
budget.
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We continuously update our information and you can find
these current specials in our Addenda:

WALT DISNEY WORLD:

Save on Walt Disney World Vacation Packages in 2006!

We have the discount codes for reduced rates on Disney World
Vacation Packages for 2006! We have the codes for discounted
Disney Packages for Canadians, too! Hurry! You must book by
December 18 if you want to visit Walt Disney World before
spring! Our travel agent, Beth, will book it for you at no
extra charge!

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DISNEYLAND PARIS

Kids Free Special! One free child's package for each adult
package booked and paid for in advance. Includes
accommodations, tickets and breakfast!

Fall 2006 Early Booking Discount!

Great discount on Disney's Bonfire Spectacular Special on
Lake Disney in November!

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VEGAS

Beth, our travel agent, can book your Vegas vacation at no
extra charge. Rooms from $39!

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CRUISES

Bahamas 3-day/1-night Dinner Cruise: Beth writes: "This is a
nice little getaway sort of thing to combine with a Disney
vacation. Ship departs from Miami 01/17/06. The ship will
be doing a 3-day cruise going to its private Island and
Nassau. The ship leaves on Tuesday and returns on Friday.
Rates start as low as $199 inside, $229 outside, and $299
balcony. When the ship returns Friday, she will be doing a
1-night dinner/dance cruise to nowhere. Rates on this start
as low as $99."

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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

"Walt Disney World executives say their free shuttle-and-
luggage service between the resort and Orlando International
Airport has boosted airport revenue by $1.6 million and
helps move passengers so efficiently that it could delay the
airport's need for a second terminal." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 12/14/05)
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"The Walt Disney Co. on Wednesday announced its first film
production in China, adding to its efforts to break into the
booming Chinese entertainment market.

The Chinese-language film, "The Secret of the Magic Gourd,"
began shooting in October in the eastern city of Hangzhou
and is due to be released next year, Disney said. It is
based on a popular children's book by the late Chinese
novelist Zhang Tianyi." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 12/14/05)
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"If the Walt Disney Co. has its way, McDonald's Happy Meal
toys could be replaced with portable media players that hold
Disney movies, music, games or photos, according to a
pending patent application. (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 12/13/05)
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"'Oh, that was great,' a breathless [85-year old] Flunker
said after her eight laps in a souped-up Chevy at the
Richard Petty Driving Experience. 'I want to go again. That
is so cool. My heart is going pitty-pat.'" (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 12/11/05)
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"In promoting Narnia to evangelical Christians, Disney has
taken a page from the marketing playbook of Mel Gibson's
controversial blockbuster, The Passion of the Christ --
including arranging hundreds of screenings for church groups
and using the same marketing guru as Gibson."
(Source: Orlando Sentinel, 12/09/05)
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Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
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DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA

Disneyland Resort Calendar
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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, just got back from a visit to WDW in
December:

"Back from WDW with more to report. We stayed at the
Wilderness Lodge in a concierge level room. The security
guard phoned ahead to alert them that we were on the way in,
so there was a concierge representative on hand at the door
when we arrived. He helped us upstairs and checked us in at
the special concierge desk so we didn't have to stand in
line at the regular desk.

The room is identical to a regular room, but is on the
seventh floor which is accessible by room key only. We also
had nightly turndown service and chocolates each evening,
and there were comfy robes in the closet. The Continental
breakfast offerings were nice... assorted bagels, pastries,
and baked goods; fresh fruit; yogurt; dry cereal; juices,
and numerous hot drink offerings. There were plenty of
tables to eat at, including one area for children that
showed cartoons. I found the concierge employees to be very
helpful and readily accessible until about 10 PM daily. USA
Today was delivered to the room in the morning, and other
national papers (NY Times, Wall Street Journal) were
available in the concierge lobby.

In the afternoon there were cookies as well as cold
beverages (including canned sodas), and this offering
expanded later on to included hot soup and an additional hot
item as well as assorted beers in the cooler, cheese and
crackers, and some nice wines. In the evening there were
several dessert items plus cordials (Bailey's, etc.). My
only two gripes with the concierge F&B service were that
they completely shut down between offerings (so you can't
even get a drink), and that they close up around 10 PM.
Again, you can't even get a drink. We learned quickly that
you need to grab what you can, when you can, and stock the
frig in your room. (Our frig, by the way, was the old cube-
sized frig you used to have to rent as opposed to the nice
large refrigerators in the wooden housing that many of the
resorts have now.)

We used the boat service to the Magic Kingdom one time in
each direction. Going TO the MK we waited nearly 15 minutes
for the boat. Coming back, we timed it really well - but
then the electrical water parade was heading back and the
boats have to go VERY slowly past it so it took extra-long
to return to the Lodge. Otherwise, we used the bus service
to and from the parks. The outbound service was great. I
think 10 minutes was the longest we waited. In all but one
case, we went directly to the park we were headed for. The
one time we stopped elsewhere, it was to pick up more people
at the Grand Floridian. (Amazingly, although the rooms there
run considerably more on average than do the Wilderness
Lodge rooms, it was we who got to sit and the GF resort
guests that had standing room only!)

The return bus service was fine except for the one night
that we left Epcot. We took our time leaving the park rather
than running to the bus stop to stand in line. As we
approached the stop, we could see that there was still quite
a line so we sat on a bench. Every single moderate and value
resort line quickly dwindled, while the lines for Wilderness
Lodge and Grand Floridian remained lengthy. (There was a
separate bus for each.)

We took the last bus out of the park for Wilderness Lodge,
and there were STILL people waiting to go back to the Grand
Floridian! I have to assume that there was a transportation
problem somewhere because that is certainly not the norm.
(At least, not in my experience.) One bonus, though, was
that we saw around a dozen deer grazing along the roadside
as we went back to the resort. The bus driver said there are
several small groups of them in the area, and they lead a
very protected life at WDW - except that no one can protect
them from cars, so be very careful when driving around at
night!

In short, we had a great time at Wilderness Lodge, and I
wouldn't hesitate to stay there again, or to recommended it
highly to others. Concierge level would be worth maybe
$10-15 per day per person for breakfast if for no other
reason than it's relatively quiet and unhurried. If you
actually get back to drink the sodas, cordials, wine and/or
beer then you might save another $5-20 a day per person
(depending on your drinking habits). If you pay anything
more than that, it's for the service - and only YOU can
decide how much it's worth to you to have the concierge cast
members at your service.

More later on Mickey's Christmas Party, Turtle Talk with
Crush, the Fantasmic dinner package at Hollywood & Vine, and
more."
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Kim writes:

"We are ready to begin planning trip #4, but before we
determine the dates of travel, I have a couple quick
questions. We are considering traveling in April to
celebrate my children's birthdays. One of my children will
be turning 3. Is it true that he does not need a ticket for
admission if we arrive before his birthday? What about the
days after his birthday? What kind of documentation do you
need to show?"

>> If your child has a birthday while you're at WDW and
turns 3 or 10, you are NOT charged for the more expensive
admission. You get to be whatever age you are when you
arrive for the whole stay. So your child is free. I've never
known Disney to ask for ID for a child. If you're worried,
bring a birth certificate.

"One of my other children will be turning 2. (Their
birthdays are a day apart.) What is Disney's policy about
the value resorts if we arrive before his birthday? Online,
if I enter his age after his birthday, I am unable to make
accommodations at the value resorts, but if I enter his age
before his birthday, it will allow the accommodations. (I
have three kids.)

I'm just curious, because that may make a difference on the
dates we select. I don't want to purchase tickets in advance
only to find out that we didn't get enough and have to pay
gate prices or have to unexpectedly change to a moderate
hotel. Thank you so much for your advice."

>> If you arrive when he is one and he can sleep in a crib,
that will be OK. Disney allows four + a crib in the Value
resorts. Beth can sort this all out for you if she books
your room. Looks like you can save big by arriving before
your children's birthdays.
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MONEY SAVING TIP

From now until December 24th, 2005, save an ADDITIONAL 50%
on over 27,000 selected titles, including Disney!
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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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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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Got Coupons?

With the Orlando Entertainment Book, you can save big on
travel, groceries, shopping, movie tickets, and more!
Coupons in the 2006 book are valid through 11/01/06. Save at
hotels and restaurants near Walt Disney World, on car
rental, airfare, admission to Universal Orlando, SeaWorld
Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa! 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! Donna and I
bought a beautiful 5-piece set of Samsonite luggage for our
daughter for Christmas for $144!

December 5-10: 10% OFF Plus Free Shipping!
December 11: 20% OFF Site-Wide
December 15-20: Free Second Day Air Upgrade
All other December Days not listed will offer Free Shipping.
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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