Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation

THE DISNEY NEWS
December 28, 2005
Copyright © 1999 - 2005 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved.
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Hi Everyone!

Donna and I wish all of you a a very happy New Year! May all
your dreams come true in 2006!

In this blog...

* Deals and specials - including WDW vacation packages for
Jan - Oct, 2006
* The latest news from around the "World" - including
changes coming to WDW
* Tony writes about Disney's Dining Plan
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We continuously update our information and you can find
these current specials in our Addenda:

WALT DISNEY WORLD:

Our supplier has put together the following deals:

Vacation Package for Disney's Pop Century Value Resort in
January, 2006. 2 adults can enjoy:

* 5 nights accommodations
* Nonstop roundtrip airfare to Orlando
* (2) 4-day Magic Your Way Base Tickets
* Disney's Magical Express transportation from the airport

$1,222 (tax and fees included)! Follow our dining advice and
enjoy all meals for just $25 per adult and $10 per child per
day. Add $230 for optional rental car. Add $400 per child
for airfare and park tickets. Infants fly for free! Children
under 3 get into the parks for free! Resorts and dates
subject to availability. Sample rates:

Jan: $1,222
Feb: $1,215
March: $1,445
Easter: $1,445
May: $1,326
June: $1,326
July 4: $1,389
August: $1,326
Sept: $1,215
Oct: $1,326

Vacation Package for Disney's Port Orleans Riverside
Moderate Resort in January, 2006. Includes all the features
of the above Pop Century example, but this time you stay at
Disney's beautiful Port Orleans Riverside. $1,539 (tax and
fees included)! Sample rates:

Jan: $1,539
Feb: $1,549
March: $1,780
Easter: $1,780
May: $1,639
June: $1,639
July 4: $1,702
August: $1,639
Sept: $1,549
Oct: $1,639
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UNIVERSAL TICKET DEALS

* Kids play FREE and you get FREE days!
These tickets must be used by April 30, 2006.

* Save $5.00 on tickets and get 3 days FREE!

* Save $5.00 on 2-Day 2-Park Tickets - NON-Expiring
and 1-Day 1-Park Tickets!

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DISNEYLAND PARIS

Kids travel FREE on Eurostar!

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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

"Skateboarding icon Tony Hawk will be back in Orlando next
month, this time bringing a new action-sports show to
Universal Studios.

With Tony Hawk's Grand Jam, visitors to the theme park will
see Hawk and some of the top action-sports athletes from the
worlds of skateboarding, freestyle BMX and Moto-X perform a
choreographed show emceed by Rick Thorne..."

Show times: Jan. 28 and 29; 2 PM - 6 PM
One-day ticket: $39.95 + tax advance purchase; $44.95 + tax
at the gate
The show is included in regular admission.
(Source: Orlando Sentinel, 12/26/05)
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Rumors of Changes at Walt Disney World:

* cast members will climb Animal Kingdom's new Forbidden
Mountain
* a new dining experience at MGM featuring "Toy Story"
characters
* Disney payroll accountants will move from the Magic
Kingdom into the Feature Animation building at MGM
* a new retail store for the muppets at MGM will open where
you can build your own muppet
* an indoor roller coaster based on "Monsters, Inc" where
the "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" used to play at MGM
* Magic Kingdom's Space Mountain is due for a major rehab
* Capt. Jack Sparrow will be added to "Pirates of the
Caribbean" at MK
* "Carousel of Progress" at MK is going to stay in service
(Source: Jim Hill Media, 12/22/05)
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Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
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DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA

Disneyland Resort Calendar
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DISNEYLAND HONG KONG

"After three months, Hong Kong Disneyland is struggling to
meet the city's hopes for an economic shot in the arm, with
some retailers and politicians complaining the $1.8 billion
theme park is luring too few tourists."
(Source: Reuters, 12/20/05)
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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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Tony writes:

"My wife and I just arrived back from WDW on the 18th
December after staying 8 days. The meal plan is a great
money saver, but it requires much planning. we stayed in Pop
Century which was excellent. Our person in Concierge told us
that most people have been making reservations 180 days out
for their evening meals. we found it almost impossible to
get reservations at night (almost all places are booked way
in advance). when we did, such as China, we rushed. also at
Sci Fi Diner the waiter had a total change of attitude when
we said we were on the meal plan, (not for the better). I
suspect due to 15% tip being included which they now get
taxed on due to it not being cash tip.

We wound up using most of our sit down meals as lunches as
walking in was much easier. We also found that by weeks end
we had to eat 2 sit downs every day, leaving us rather
stuffed. Disney’s policy on use it or lose it does not seem
fair. They should allow you to save it for a year. I will be
looking into purchasing half a meal plan the next time we
go.

As far as Pleasure Island / Market Place most places require
a surcharge for the meal plan, The Irish Pub does not take
it (excellent food). Rainforest café does not take it. House
of Blues does not take it. Captain Jacks does but food is
terrible. Planet Hollywood does with a surcharge.

Again the only way I would do it again is if I can purchase
the meal plan for half the week then you are not set to a
schedule and risk leaving dinners at WDW that you paid for.
If you find you are out of counter meals they will take sit
downs for them (doesn’t quite seem fair. seems you should
get 2 for 1.)

I suggest using all your sit downs as they are your best
value."

Trying to fit in all those meals can be a problem. That's
why Donna and I eat and pay as we go.
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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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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, 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! 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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