Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation
THE DISNEY NEWS
January 4, 2006
Copyright © 1999 - 2006 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved.
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Hi Everyone!
In this blog...
* Deals and specials - stay at this 3-star hotel near Disney
from $60, including FREE breakfast and tax!
* The latest news from around the "World" - including the
new 2006 ticket prices at WDW
* Robyn sent Beth and us a "thank you" note
* Dr. Heatherley sent us a review of the "Terror Rides of
the World"
* We've got the discount codes for tickets to Orlando's
World's Fair For Kids and deals at nearby hotels!
=================================================
We continuously update our information and you can find
these current specials in our Addenda:
WALT DISNEY WORLD:
Three-Star Hotel Special in Universal area! Includes FREE
buffet breakfast! Valid January - March, 2006. From $60
including tax!
Three-Star Hotel Special in Lake Buena Vista area! Includes
FREE Continental breakfast! Valid January - March, 2006.
From $62 including tax!
--------------------------------
Walt Disney World Resort Discounts for Florida residents!
--------------------------------
Drawing for a FREE 6-day/5-night stay at this luxury resort
on Disney property!
--------------------------------
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
Paradise Pier Hotel and Disneyland Hotel from $89!
--------------------------------
Discount tickets for California residents!
--------------------------------
OTHER VACATIONS
If you sailed on a cruise ship in 2005 or plan to sail in
2006, you can get one NIGHT FREE at this resort in the
Bahamas, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Curacao.
--------------------------------
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.
=================================================
ORLANDO - WORLD'S FAIR FOR KIDS
Beth, our travel agent, writes
"A number of Orlando-area attractions have gone together to
create the World's Fair for Kids, taking place April 15-23,
2006. There will be an interactive stadium featuring a
different sport each day; the World of Adventure where you
can learn about dinosaurs, participate in a fossil dig, meet
the first kid scheduled to go into space, and more; the
World of Creativity with movie- and book-based events that
encourage imagination and creativity; World of Entertainment
with interactive play featuring current TV and movies as
well as your chance to be part of a symphony (no musical
experience necessary!); the World of Health and Fitness
featuring information and activities centered around healthy
eating, staying active, etc.; the World of Technology with
its glimpse into the future; and a Special World of Toddlers
especially for the youngest attendees that features live
stage shows with Caillou and characters from Big Comfy
Couch. There will also be a "mall" where you can purchase
commemorative t-shirts, souvenirs, etc.
Each area has all sorts of activities planned - too many to
mention here. There will also be performances by
entertainers such as Billy Ray Cyrus, Raven, Sarakasi,
Riders in the Sky, the Bellamy Brothers, Everlife, Christy
Carlson Romano, and more. The whole thing takes place at the
Orange County Convention Center - conveniently close to Walt
Disney World. Disney World, by the way, is not "directly" a
sponsor; however, Family Fun magazine (which is published by
Disney) is a sponsor as is Radio Disney.
Tickets are available for one, two, or nine days. There are
discounts for groups of 20 or more, and some groups qualify
for complimentary chaperone tickets. We've got the codes for
getting discounted prices, too! Tickets for one day are
$28.70 (including tax), $44.68 for two days, and $60.65 for
nine days. You can also purchase a 1-day ticket for the
regular price of $31.90 and get a free ticket to the Florida
State Fair (which takes place in February, so you can't do
it on this same trip). Without the code, tickets are about
$3 more, and there's no discount for kids. Starting January
15 there will also be a VIP pass available which gets you
preferred access for shows, admission to the VIP lounge,
discounts on merchandise and special character meet and
greets.
We've got deals on the "official" hotel for you! The Fair
website (www.wfkids.com) has the Rosen Plaza for $125 a
night + tax, but we can get it for $95.20 a night INCLUDING
tax! We also have the Rosen Centre (right next door and
slightly better rated) for $98.66 with tax, and a LOT more
great hotels as well."
=================================================
Robyn writes:
"We returned on Dec. 21 from a 5 day trip to Disney World.
Thank goodness we stumbled across Affordable Disney and
Beth. We never once were left hanging waiting for info. Our
deal at Port Orleans was excellent, and Disney honored it
when we were moved from French Quarter due to overbooking.
Beth's tips that she has shared were greatly appreciated.
The parks were crowded and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas
Parade was not as exciting as in the past due to sold out
crowds. But.... we knew what was worth seeing, what could be
skipped and how to move about thanks to all the info we
received from Affordable Disney!"
Thanks again, Robyn, for your generous comments!
=================================================
NEW 2006 TICKET PRICES
Beth, our travel agent, writes:
"There is NO CHANGE to pricing on water parks, Disney Quest,
or Pleasure Island admissions. The admission to Wide World
of Sports actually dropped a little bit.
Florida resident rates range from no increase (on 4-day
tickets) to $10 (on 5-day tickets), with nominal increases
otherwise. The offer to get the third day free when you
purchase two days still applies. The PARK HOPPER option has
dropped to $20, regardless of the ticket length (as opposed
to the 2005 price of $35). The WATER PARK OPTION has dropped
to $40 rather than $45. This makes a 3-day Florida resident
ticket with hopping and water park admission $180 plus tax
compared to the general public price of $271 plus tax. Now
THAT'S a deal!
Annual pass rates have increased about $24 for ages 10+, $37
for ages 3-9. Premium annual passes are up $20 for ages 10+
and $29 for ages 3-9.
Now for non-residents and non-passholders it gets a little
more complicated. In 2005 there were advance purchase
discounts for ALL tickets of 5 days or longer provided you
bought them before you arrived (or added them to your
reservation). For 2006, the advance purchase discount is for
4-days or longer - but only on the add-on portion of the
ticket (hopping and/or water parks). So it's still worth
buying in advance if you're going to have a 4-day or longer
ticket with an add-on, but the add-on discount doesn't make
up for the generous 2005 discount on the base part of the
ticket so the overall effect is that the price is up.
(Surprise, surprise!)
The gate prices on base ticket prices are up from $4-$10 for
ages 10+ and $4-$12 for ages 3-9, depending on the length of
the ticket. As with resident tickets, the largest increases
are for 4- and 5-day tickets. If you consider, though, that
the advance purchase rates on base tickets appear to be
gone, that means the price on a 5-day advance purchase
ticket is up $13 for adults - $16 for a 7-day ticket - so
the prices really increased more than it would first appear.
HOPPING, which was previously $35 regardless of ticket
length, has increased to $40. If you buy in advance, though,
it drops to $38 for 4-day tickets, $35 for 5-day tickets,
$33 for 6-day and $32 for 7-10 day tickets.
WATER PARKS & MORE admissions have increased to $50 per
ticket compared to $45 last year. Again, there is a small
drop in price if you buy in advance: $48 for 4-days, $45 for
5-days, $43 for 6-days, and $42 for 7-10 days. BUT... you
now get an extra day of water park admission on tickets of
3-days and more. It used to max out at 5 admissions for
tickets 7-days or longer, and that's up to 6 admissions now,
with shorter tickets having a decreasing number of
admissions.
And it's going to cost you a little more to make those
tickets into non-expiring ones, too. While there is no
change for tickets up to 3 days in length, it's now $5 more
on 4-, 5-, and 6- day lengths to $20, $40 and $50
respectively, $10 more on the 7-day tickets (up to $65), and
you'll pay $110, $130, and $135 respectively to make 8-, 9-,
and 10-day tickets not expire. (It used to be a flat $100
for all three.) Ouch!
What's the bottom line? Although the hopping and water parks
prices for 5-day advance purchase tickets didn't change, the
cost of the base ticket itself is up, as is the no-
expiration option. The 2005 price on a 5-day non- expiring
hopper with water park admission was $320.57 with tax if you
purchased from Disney in advance. It's now $339.74. And for
those of you that liked to get the 10-day nonexpiring
hoppers with water parks so you'd be set for the next visit,
you'll now pay $444.11 - $42.60 more than last year!
I would hope that at some point Disney will reinstate the
discount on longer tickets when purchased in advance. I find
the varying discounts on the add-ons to be tedious and it
will cause confusion for the general public. The old
discount on the base portion of the ticket was much easier
to explain to people. I'm also very disappointed that the
increase on children's pricing is larger in some cases than
that on adult tickets. Disney's previous thinking always
seemed to be that they'd make it affordable for the kids.
Guess they've changed that thought process! I do, however,
applaud the new Florida resident pricing, and hope that they
will soon make the dining plan available to residents as
well."
=================================================
NEWS FROM AROUND THE "WORLD"
WALT DISNEY WORLD
"After Independence Air shuts down Thursday, airfares in
many of the more than 30 cities it serves could double or
even triple, airfare experts predict."
(Source: USA Today, 01/03/05)
Beth adds:
"Passengers with roundtrip tickets are being contacted to
see if they can return to their points- of-origin before the
shutdown. Independence Air will ask a bankruptcy court to
give refunds to those who cannot, as well as to people who
booked flights for Friday and beyond. There will be no
refunds for vouchers or free tickets. People holding tickets
on Independence Air for flights from Thursday onward should
contact the airline if they haven't yet heard from them."
--------------------------------
"Water skiers and costumed Southern belles helped make
Cypress Gardens famous. And as Central Florida's oldest
theme park prepares for its 70th anniversary celebration
Monday, the revamped attraction is going back to its roots.
(Source: Orlando Sentinel, 01/01/06)
--------------------------------
Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
=================================================
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
"The fire at Disney's Grand California Hotel in the 1600
block of South Disneyland Drive was reported at about 3
a.m., according to Anaheim Fire Department spokeswoman Maria
Sabol.
She called the fire "electrical in nature," saying it
started after employees changed some lightbulbs on the tree
and turned the lights back on."
(Source: NBC 4 NEWS, 12/28/05)
--------------------------------
Disneyland Resort Calendar
=================================================
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.
=================================================
Dr. Heatherley just returned from his three-week WDW
vacation! He sent us the following review:
"The Terror Rides of the World
These rides have gotten some really powerful press, both
from the news media and from people who experience them
personally. I wanted to test them for myself.
Tower of Terror MGM
OOOooooooo, The big old bad TOT!! What a non-nightmare on
Vine Street! This ride uses electronic devices to accelerate
the elevator downwards at a speed greater than free fall.
Way faster than freefall! The first drop was not much of a
surprise. If your mind is still engaged, you will know when
it is going to happen. Since every ride starts with a five
story fall, that part is predictable. (I had my fanny pack
latched around my leg. I watched as it came up to eye level
during this fall). After that, all the motions of the ride
are computer controlled...randomly. My overall impression?
Incredible preshow and buildup. The use of 'ghost images'
and music are a combination Disney has down as an art.
Remember: the elevator is only in motion for 41 seconds! No
fear, but lots of unpredictable motion.
Dinosaur the Ride AK
Super Ride!!! Pre-show was interesting and factual. On the
Time Machine, the ride is in near total darkness. The
vehicle drives over rough terrain past several (not many)
excellent animatronic dinosaurs. Disney says these thrillers
are some of the best on property. My overall impression?
There was just not enough light to appreciate the dinosaurs
and settings. We could just barely make out the forms or the
action. So, we rode a rough ride in the dark.
Test Track Epcot
Okay, you have been warned...It’s the end of the ride that
will make or break this one for you. The 'tests' the car
(and we) are put through are smaller and less dramatic than
the movie the rider is shown. Before the end of the ride the
car accelerates to 65 mph. That is not fast, right? We do
that almost everyday. But remember, you are in a nine seat
go-cart right on the ground. My overall impression? Kind of
rough when going through the paces, but the acceleration is
so low to the ground, seeing the sights is very difficult.
It is all more or less a blur. Suggestion: if you are a
couple, use the 'Singles' Lane. They WILL split you up,
probably in the same car, but the Singles Lane is as good as
FastPass!!!
Aerosmith’s Rocking Roller Coaster MGM
I did not ride this ride. My wife reports loud Music,
incredible acceleration, loop the loops, and a screaming
adolescent boy sitting next to her. She loves Aerosmith and
got laryngitis from singing while riding.
Deciding whether to ride or not??? Remember this single
fact...a ride in a Disney Theme Park is an ATTRACTION RIDE.
It is designed for PLEASURE and NOT TO HURT YOU! These rides
are not even designed as a stress test for the human body.
They are designed to give the rider an opportunity to
experience a new reality by manipulating acceleration,
balance, and negative pressures. Think about it for a
second, at some level you know these rides are only as
dangerous as the rider’s perception. The Imagineers use
acceleration (and of course 'sudden stop') to give you the
feeling of being out of control (we do like to be in control
of our outcomes, don’t we?). They use darkness to disorient
(everyone is afraid of the dark. If you are in an unfamiliar
place, on a ride you can’t control, and do not know what is
going to happen next... see how you could perceive your
environment differently?). Disney also uses smells and
lighting to MAKE IT REAL.
You will react to the rides exactly equal to the threat you
perceive. If you go into a ride believing it is a threat to
you, don’t go on the ride. You could kill yourself with the
fear of the unknown! After all, little kids (40" tall) ride
these attractions...and survive.
Yes, it is true that some medical conditions can cause
problems that a healthy person would not have. But know
this: Those rides are a mental response to a physical
stimulus.
Take your own chances and pay your own dues.
There is always a swap-out.
There are always consequences.
It might interest you to know, I am in my late 50s.
One other insight...of course I am afraid of the
unknown...just like you, but on every single photograph
Disney takes on the rides? I was always smiling or laughing!
Disney = Fun."
=================================================
DISNEY CRUISE LINE CHANGE IN POLICY
Beth writes:
"We saw this coming! Over the last 18 months or so several
cruise lines (most notably, Royal Caribbean and Carnival)
have announced that they will no longer allow travel agents
to pay off a cruise for anything less than the full amount
due. Previously, if a client owed, say, $2500 on their
cruise, but the commission was $300, the agent could call in
a payment of $2450 and the cruise would be considered paid
in full. In this way, the agent was basically rebating part
of the commission back to the client - usually to get the
sale away from another agency.
The cruise lines argued that agencies which have become huge
by rebating practically ALL of their commission in order to
get business (and thus profiting by sheer volume) were de-
valuing the cruises by, in effect, selling the cruises at
greatly reduced rates. Both lines mentioned above have taken
it a step further and added that agents can't even throw in
gifts with cash value. In other words, I can't put the $2500
charge through and then send you a gift card for $50 - or
any other gift, for that matter.
Well, Disney has followed suit - sort of. Effective April 1,
2006, Disney Cruise Line® is modifying its credit card
payment policy. Travel Agents will no longer be able to
charge a Client’s credit card at final payment for less than
the full amount of the cruise purchased. If a client wants
to send us a check or have us process their payment
internally (for a fee) we can then remit an agency check for
the net amount due, though. They also don't prohibit gifting
at this point. As with the other cruise lines, it is still
OK to offer lower rates when you've got a group contract or
are running some sort of "authorized" promotion in
cooperation with the line.
We will continue to run our quarterly promotions with Disney
which offer onboard credits when you book. We will also be
offering promotions in 2006 which will reward cruisers in
other ways as well - Disney Cruise Line or others! So fear
not; Affordable Disney will continue to find ways to bring
you great deals on cruising!"
=================================================
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.
--------------------------------
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! To check out the bargains, click
here.
--------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------
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!!!"
--------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------
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.
=============================================
See You Real Soon!
John
AffordableDisney.Com.
johngross@affordabledisney.com
=============================================
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.
=============================================
January 4, 2006
Copyright © 1999 - 2006 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved.
=================================================
To subscribe to Affordable Disney's blog, click the following
icon:
Or copy and paste the following URL into your RSS Reader:
http://affordabledisney.blogspot.com/atom.xml
: My Yahoo! users can instantly add our blogcontent to My Yahoo! Add My Yahoo!
: You can also subscribe to our blog at MSN! Add to My MSN!
=================================================
Hi Everyone!
In this blog...
* Deals and specials - stay at this 3-star hotel near Disney
from $60, including FREE breakfast and tax!
* The latest news from around the "World" - including the
new 2006 ticket prices at WDW
* Robyn sent Beth and us a "thank you" note
* Dr. Heatherley sent us a review of the "Terror Rides of
the World"
* We've got the discount codes for tickets to Orlando's
World's Fair For Kids and deals at nearby hotels!
=================================================
We continuously update our information and you can find
these current specials in our Addenda:
WALT DISNEY WORLD:
Three-Star Hotel Special in Universal area! Includes FREE
buffet breakfast! Valid January - March, 2006. From $60
including tax!
Three-Star Hotel Special in Lake Buena Vista area! Includes
FREE Continental breakfast! Valid January - March, 2006.
From $62 including tax!
--------------------------------
Walt Disney World Resort Discounts for Florida residents!
--------------------------------
Drawing for a FREE 6-day/5-night stay at this luxury resort
on Disney property!
--------------------------------
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
Paradise Pier Hotel and Disneyland Hotel from $89!
--------------------------------
Discount tickets for California residents!
--------------------------------
OTHER VACATIONS
If you sailed on a cruise ship in 2005 or plan to sail in
2006, you can get one NIGHT FREE at this resort in the
Bahamas, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Curacao.
--------------------------------
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.
=================================================
ORLANDO - WORLD'S FAIR FOR KIDS
Beth, our travel agent, writes
"A number of Orlando-area attractions have gone together to
create the World's Fair for Kids, taking place April 15-23,
2006. There will be an interactive stadium featuring a
different sport each day; the World of Adventure where you
can learn about dinosaurs, participate in a fossil dig, meet
the first kid scheduled to go into space, and more; the
World of Creativity with movie- and book-based events that
encourage imagination and creativity; World of Entertainment
with interactive play featuring current TV and movies as
well as your chance to be part of a symphony (no musical
experience necessary!); the World of Health and Fitness
featuring information and activities centered around healthy
eating, staying active, etc.; the World of Technology with
its glimpse into the future; and a Special World of Toddlers
especially for the youngest attendees that features live
stage shows with Caillou and characters from Big Comfy
Couch. There will also be a "mall" where you can purchase
commemorative t-shirts, souvenirs, etc.
Each area has all sorts of activities planned - too many to
mention here. There will also be performances by
entertainers such as Billy Ray Cyrus, Raven, Sarakasi,
Riders in the Sky, the Bellamy Brothers, Everlife, Christy
Carlson Romano, and more. The whole thing takes place at the
Orange County Convention Center - conveniently close to Walt
Disney World. Disney World, by the way, is not "directly" a
sponsor; however, Family Fun magazine (which is published by
Disney) is a sponsor as is Radio Disney.
Tickets are available for one, two, or nine days. There are
discounts for groups of 20 or more, and some groups qualify
for complimentary chaperone tickets. We've got the codes for
getting discounted prices, too! Tickets for one day are
$28.70 (including tax), $44.68 for two days, and $60.65 for
nine days. You can also purchase a 1-day ticket for the
regular price of $31.90 and get a free ticket to the Florida
State Fair (which takes place in February, so you can't do
it on this same trip). Without the code, tickets are about
$3 more, and there's no discount for kids. Starting January
15 there will also be a VIP pass available which gets you
preferred access for shows, admission to the VIP lounge,
discounts on merchandise and special character meet and
greets.
We've got deals on the "official" hotel for you! The Fair
website (www.wfkids.com) has the Rosen Plaza for $125 a
night + tax, but we can get it for $95.20 a night INCLUDING
tax! We also have the Rosen Centre (right next door and
slightly better rated) for $98.66 with tax, and a LOT more
great hotels as well."
=================================================
Robyn writes:
"We returned on Dec. 21 from a 5 day trip to Disney World.
Thank goodness we stumbled across Affordable Disney and
Beth. We never once were left hanging waiting for info. Our
deal at Port Orleans was excellent, and Disney honored it
when we were moved from French Quarter due to overbooking.
Beth's tips that she has shared were greatly appreciated.
The parks were crowded and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas
Parade was not as exciting as in the past due to sold out
crowds. But.... we knew what was worth seeing, what could be
skipped and how to move about thanks to all the info we
received from Affordable Disney!"
Thanks again, Robyn, for your generous comments!
=================================================
NEW 2006 TICKET PRICES
Beth, our travel agent, writes:
"There is NO CHANGE to pricing on water parks, Disney Quest,
or Pleasure Island admissions. The admission to Wide World
of Sports actually dropped a little bit.
Florida resident rates range from no increase (on 4-day
tickets) to $10 (on 5-day tickets), with nominal increases
otherwise. The offer to get the third day free when you
purchase two days still applies. The PARK HOPPER option has
dropped to $20, regardless of the ticket length (as opposed
to the 2005 price of $35). The WATER PARK OPTION has dropped
to $40 rather than $45. This makes a 3-day Florida resident
ticket with hopping and water park admission $180 plus tax
compared to the general public price of $271 plus tax. Now
THAT'S a deal!
Annual pass rates have increased about $24 for ages 10+, $37
for ages 3-9. Premium annual passes are up $20 for ages 10+
and $29 for ages 3-9.
Now for non-residents and non-passholders it gets a little
more complicated. In 2005 there were advance purchase
discounts for ALL tickets of 5 days or longer provided you
bought them before you arrived (or added them to your
reservation). For 2006, the advance purchase discount is for
4-days or longer - but only on the add-on portion of the
ticket (hopping and/or water parks). So it's still worth
buying in advance if you're going to have a 4-day or longer
ticket with an add-on, but the add-on discount doesn't make
up for the generous 2005 discount on the base part of the
ticket so the overall effect is that the price is up.
(Surprise, surprise!)
The gate prices on base ticket prices are up from $4-$10 for
ages 10+ and $4-$12 for ages 3-9, depending on the length of
the ticket. As with resident tickets, the largest increases
are for 4- and 5-day tickets. If you consider, though, that
the advance purchase rates on base tickets appear to be
gone, that means the price on a 5-day advance purchase
ticket is up $13 for adults - $16 for a 7-day ticket - so
the prices really increased more than it would first appear.
HOPPING, which was previously $35 regardless of ticket
length, has increased to $40. If you buy in advance, though,
it drops to $38 for 4-day tickets, $35 for 5-day tickets,
$33 for 6-day and $32 for 7-10 day tickets.
WATER PARKS & MORE admissions have increased to $50 per
ticket compared to $45 last year. Again, there is a small
drop in price if you buy in advance: $48 for 4-days, $45 for
5-days, $43 for 6-days, and $42 for 7-10 days. BUT... you
now get an extra day of water park admission on tickets of
3-days and more. It used to max out at 5 admissions for
tickets 7-days or longer, and that's up to 6 admissions now,
with shorter tickets having a decreasing number of
admissions.
And it's going to cost you a little more to make those
tickets into non-expiring ones, too. While there is no
change for tickets up to 3 days in length, it's now $5 more
on 4-, 5-, and 6- day lengths to $20, $40 and $50
respectively, $10 more on the 7-day tickets (up to $65), and
you'll pay $110, $130, and $135 respectively to make 8-, 9-,
and 10-day tickets not expire. (It used to be a flat $100
for all three.) Ouch!
What's the bottom line? Although the hopping and water parks
prices for 5-day advance purchase tickets didn't change, the
cost of the base ticket itself is up, as is the no-
expiration option. The 2005 price on a 5-day non- expiring
hopper with water park admission was $320.57 with tax if you
purchased from Disney in advance. It's now $339.74. And for
those of you that liked to get the 10-day nonexpiring
hoppers with water parks so you'd be set for the next visit,
you'll now pay $444.11 - $42.60 more than last year!
I would hope that at some point Disney will reinstate the
discount on longer tickets when purchased in advance. I find
the varying discounts on the add-ons to be tedious and it
will cause confusion for the general public. The old
discount on the base portion of the ticket was much easier
to explain to people. I'm also very disappointed that the
increase on children's pricing is larger in some cases than
that on adult tickets. Disney's previous thinking always
seemed to be that they'd make it affordable for the kids.
Guess they've changed that thought process! I do, however,
applaud the new Florida resident pricing, and hope that they
will soon make the dining plan available to residents as
well."
=================================================
NEWS FROM AROUND THE "WORLD"
WALT DISNEY WORLD
"After Independence Air shuts down Thursday, airfares in
many of the more than 30 cities it serves could double or
even triple, airfare experts predict."
(Source: USA Today, 01/03/05)
Beth adds:
"Passengers with roundtrip tickets are being contacted to
see if they can return to their points- of-origin before the
shutdown. Independence Air will ask a bankruptcy court to
give refunds to those who cannot, as well as to people who
booked flights for Friday and beyond. There will be no
refunds for vouchers or free tickets. People holding tickets
on Independence Air for flights from Thursday onward should
contact the airline if they haven't yet heard from them."
--------------------------------
"Water skiers and costumed Southern belles helped make
Cypress Gardens famous. And as Central Florida's oldest
theme park prepares for its 70th anniversary celebration
Monday, the revamped attraction is going back to its roots.
(Source: Orlando Sentinel, 01/01/06)
--------------------------------
Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
=================================================
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
"The fire at Disney's Grand California Hotel in the 1600
block of South Disneyland Drive was reported at about 3
a.m., according to Anaheim Fire Department spokeswoman Maria
Sabol.
She called the fire "electrical in nature," saying it
started after employees changed some lightbulbs on the tree
and turned the lights back on."
(Source: NBC 4 NEWS, 12/28/05)
--------------------------------
Disneyland Resort Calendar
=================================================
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.
=================================================
Dr. Heatherley just returned from his three-week WDW
vacation! He sent us the following review:
"The Terror Rides of the World
These rides have gotten some really powerful press, both
from the news media and from people who experience them
personally. I wanted to test them for myself.
Tower of Terror MGM
OOOooooooo, The big old bad TOT!! What a non-nightmare on
Vine Street! This ride uses electronic devices to accelerate
the elevator downwards at a speed greater than free fall.
Way faster than freefall! The first drop was not much of a
surprise. If your mind is still engaged, you will know when
it is going to happen. Since every ride starts with a five
story fall, that part is predictable. (I had my fanny pack
latched around my leg. I watched as it came up to eye level
during this fall). After that, all the motions of the ride
are computer controlled...randomly. My overall impression?
Incredible preshow and buildup. The use of 'ghost images'
and music are a combination Disney has down as an art.
Remember: the elevator is only in motion for 41 seconds! No
fear, but lots of unpredictable motion.
Dinosaur the Ride AK
Super Ride!!! Pre-show was interesting and factual. On the
Time Machine, the ride is in near total darkness. The
vehicle drives over rough terrain past several (not many)
excellent animatronic dinosaurs. Disney says these thrillers
are some of the best on property. My overall impression?
There was just not enough light to appreciate the dinosaurs
and settings. We could just barely make out the forms or the
action. So, we rode a rough ride in the dark.
Test Track Epcot
Okay, you have been warned...It’s the end of the ride that
will make or break this one for you. The 'tests' the car
(and we) are put through are smaller and less dramatic than
the movie the rider is shown. Before the end of the ride the
car accelerates to 65 mph. That is not fast, right? We do
that almost everyday. But remember, you are in a nine seat
go-cart right on the ground. My overall impression? Kind of
rough when going through the paces, but the acceleration is
so low to the ground, seeing the sights is very difficult.
It is all more or less a blur. Suggestion: if you are a
couple, use the 'Singles' Lane. They WILL split you up,
probably in the same car, but the Singles Lane is as good as
FastPass!!!
Aerosmith’s Rocking Roller Coaster MGM
I did not ride this ride. My wife reports loud Music,
incredible acceleration, loop the loops, and a screaming
adolescent boy sitting next to her. She loves Aerosmith and
got laryngitis from singing while riding.
Deciding whether to ride or not??? Remember this single
fact...a ride in a Disney Theme Park is an ATTRACTION RIDE.
It is designed for PLEASURE and NOT TO HURT YOU! These rides
are not even designed as a stress test for the human body.
They are designed to give the rider an opportunity to
experience a new reality by manipulating acceleration,
balance, and negative pressures. Think about it for a
second, at some level you know these rides are only as
dangerous as the rider’s perception. The Imagineers use
acceleration (and of course 'sudden stop') to give you the
feeling of being out of control (we do like to be in control
of our outcomes, don’t we?). They use darkness to disorient
(everyone is afraid of the dark. If you are in an unfamiliar
place, on a ride you can’t control, and do not know what is
going to happen next... see how you could perceive your
environment differently?). Disney also uses smells and
lighting to MAKE IT REAL.
You will react to the rides exactly equal to the threat you
perceive. If you go into a ride believing it is a threat to
you, don’t go on the ride. You could kill yourself with the
fear of the unknown! After all, little kids (40" tall) ride
these attractions...and survive.
Yes, it is true that some medical conditions can cause
problems that a healthy person would not have. But know
this: Those rides are a mental response to a physical
stimulus.
Take your own chances and pay your own dues.
There is always a swap-out.
There are always consequences.
It might interest you to know, I am in my late 50s.
One other insight...of course I am afraid of the
unknown...just like you, but on every single photograph
Disney takes on the rides? I was always smiling or laughing!
Disney = Fun."
=================================================
DISNEY CRUISE LINE CHANGE IN POLICY
Beth writes:
"We saw this coming! Over the last 18 months or so several
cruise lines (most notably, Royal Caribbean and Carnival)
have announced that they will no longer allow travel agents
to pay off a cruise for anything less than the full amount
due. Previously, if a client owed, say, $2500 on their
cruise, but the commission was $300, the agent could call in
a payment of $2450 and the cruise would be considered paid
in full. In this way, the agent was basically rebating part
of the commission back to the client - usually to get the
sale away from another agency.
The cruise lines argued that agencies which have become huge
by rebating practically ALL of their commission in order to
get business (and thus profiting by sheer volume) were de-
valuing the cruises by, in effect, selling the cruises at
greatly reduced rates. Both lines mentioned above have taken
it a step further and added that agents can't even throw in
gifts with cash value. In other words, I can't put the $2500
charge through and then send you a gift card for $50 - or
any other gift, for that matter.
Well, Disney has followed suit - sort of. Effective April 1,
2006, Disney Cruise Line® is modifying its credit card
payment policy. Travel Agents will no longer be able to
charge a Client’s credit card at final payment for less than
the full amount of the cruise purchased. If a client wants
to send us a check or have us process their payment
internally (for a fee) we can then remit an agency check for
the net amount due, though. They also don't prohibit gifting
at this point. As with the other cruise lines, it is still
OK to offer lower rates when you've got a group contract or
are running some sort of "authorized" promotion in
cooperation with the line.
We will continue to run our quarterly promotions with Disney
which offer onboard credits when you book. We will also be
offering promotions in 2006 which will reward cruisers in
other ways as well - Disney Cruise Line or others! So fear
not; Affordable Disney will continue to find ways to bring
you great deals on cruising!"
=================================================
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.
--------------------------------
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! To check out the bargains, click
here.
--------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------
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!!!"
--------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------
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.
=============================================
See You Real Soon!
John
AffordableDisney.Com.
johngross@affordabledisney.com
=============================================
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.
=============================================
posted by AffordableDisney.Com at 6:22 AM
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