Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation
THE DISNEY NEWS
February 22, 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 blog
content 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 - including three new deals at Disney
resorts
* The latest news from around the "World" - including a
smoking ban on Disney property
* Karen writes about her recent stay at the French Quarter
* Cherry writes about the Disney Dining Experience card
* Beth, our travel agent, sends us a note about the 2007
Disney Magic cruises
=================================================
We continuously update our information and you can find
these current specials in our Addenda:
WALT DISNEY WORLD
Disney Vacation Package Special for Spring! These members
receive a FREE ticket upgrade worth almost $400.00 to a
family of four! Special starts April 23. Book by 03/30/06!
--------------------------------
Summer Disney Deal! Stay at these luxury hotels on Disney
property from $129 per night and receive a FREE upgrade to a
one-category room! Hurry! You must book by 02/28/06!
--------------------------------
This group saves $25 at the Value resorts; $40 at Moderate
the resorts; and $100 at the Deluxe resorts. Reserve by
06/03/06 for stays late April - early June.
--------------------------------
Three new sweepstakes to win a vacation at Disney World!
--------------------------------
Dinner Show Discounts! Beth, our travel agent, writes: "The
wholesale company that I've been using for years to get
steals on great Orlando-area hotels (and elsewhere) now
offers discount tickets for dinner shows. Affordable Disney
members can drop me a note and I'll tell you what they
have."
--------------------------------
VEGAS
Enjoy Deluxe accommodations at this beautiful luxury Resort
& Casino now through March 1, 2006 starting at $159/Night!
--------------------------------
CRUISES
Italian Cruise Line Spring Special: Caribbean cruises from
$399 plus free upgrades - up to 3 categories - in March and
April, 2006! Valid for US residents only.
--------------------------------
If you are not a member, you can join our Disney family here.
Members can use the following URLs to log in:
Lifetime Deluxe Member
Lifetime Basic Member
Deluxe Member
Basic Member
=================================================
NEWS FROM AROUND THE "WORLD"
WALT DISNEY WORLD
"The Walt Disney Company, an icon of mainstream America,
will move against the grain of conventional business
strategy this spring when it stops distributing a catalog
that has filled the mailboxes of tens of millions of
households for the last decade, and instead embarks on a
Web-only initiative." (Source: NY Times, 02/20/06)
--------------------------------
Mardi Gras at Universal Studios
Saturdays through April 22, 2006
LL Cool J - February 25
Bonnie Raitt - March 4
George Thorogood & the Destroyers - March 11
Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes - March 11
Earth, Wind & Fire - March 18
Gavin DeGraw - April 1
Heart - April 8
Kool & the Gang - April 15
KC & the Sunshine Band - April 22
--------------------------------
"For the first time ever, a Disney World property is going
100 percent smoke-free. Guests can't smoke in the Swan Hotel
anymore, either in rooms or public areas."
(Source: Wesh.com, 02/17/06)
--------------------------------
"After Katrina, Universal officials decided their Mardi Gras
needed greater purpose, and more authentic flavor, so they
sought out displaced and struggling New Orleans musical
acts... Universal already features authentic floats, built
by the same family company that builds the floats in New
Orleans, and claims a close association with the city."
(Source: Orlando Sentinel, 02/17/06)
--------------------------------
"The family of the composer of The Lion Sleeps Tonight have
dropped a case against Disney after accepting an undisclosed
settlement... The settlement involves back payment of
royalties to the family and the right to participate in
future payments on a worldwide basis."
(Source: BBC NEWS, 02/16/06)
--------------------------------
Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
=================================================
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
Six Flags to appeal more to families...
"We're ramping up our Main Street USA strategy; it's going
to be more about "streetmosphere." We're going to add a
parade every day, and from June to August we're going to do
a super-parade every night, complete with a fireworks show.
We're tripling the number of characters you see in the park.
We're introducing the Justice League for the first time, so
Superman, Batman, Robin, Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman,
they're all going to be visible.
We're adding character breakfasts and lunches and we're
doing afternoon story readings for the kids. We're
introducing the Chinese acrobats this year, which is clearly
aimed at attracting more families." (Source: LA Times, 02/21/06)
--------------------------------
"The Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier Hotel in Anaheim,
Calif., will ban smoking in guest rooms March 1, joining the
Grand Californian, which opened smoke-free in 2001.
Disneyland already is phasing out the smoking rooms and
deep-cleaning them. There will be designated smoking areas
outside... Walt Disney World, at this time, has no plans to
implement a no-smoking policy for their hotels."
(Source: Orlando Sentinel, 02/20/06)
--------------------------------
"Disneyland on Wednesday welcomed two additions to the
Disneyland Railroad - the new "Ward Kimball" (Disney
animator) steam engine and the returning "Lilly Belle" (Walt
Disney's wife) VIP parlor car." (Source: ocregister.com, 02/16/06)
--------------------------------
Disneyland Resort Calendar
=================================================
DISNEYLAND HONG KNOG
"Disney is being sued by a Singaporean woman who claims her
dying mother was made to wait nearly three hours for an
ambulance at the Hong Kong theme park, a news report said
Monday." (Source: monstersandcritics.com, 02/20/06)
--------------------------------
"Some angry Shenzhen tourists who aren't satisfied with Hong
Kong Disneyland's offer of compensation are now seeking
legal means to force the park to make amends for shutting
out throngs of tourists during the Spring Festival.
(Source: xinhuanet.com, 02/21/06)
=================================================
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.
=================================================
Karen writes:
"Hi John -
We just returned from our Disney World vacation (Feb. 2-13)
and had a wonderful time, as usual (this was our 21st trip -
our first trip was in 1978 when my daughter was 2 yrs.
old!). We stayed at The French Quarter, which we love. It is
a perfect place for adults. Very quiet and small.
The only glitch was the bus to Animal Kingdom. We went twice
and it took 40 minutes each time. This seems to be the norm
because my daughter also went on a different day and had the
same long ride. The commute is pick up at the FQ, proceed to
four stops at Riverside, stop at Blizzard beach and Animal
Kingdom destination. I hope this report will reach someone
at Disney so they can address this. We definitely would have
gone to AK one more day if the ride wasn't so long.
Thank you for your awesome site. I have received so many
great tips. The November Affordable Disney special through
Beth was the reason we found FQ to begin with. Thanks
again."
We've also waited quite a while for the bus to AK. Thanks
again for your generous comments.
=================================================
Cherry writes:
"Hi John,
I have a comment about the Disney Dining Plan.
When we use our Disney Vacation Club points for our room, we
don't qualify for a package that includes the Disney Dining
Plan. So, the best way for us to save on dining costs in the
Disney restaurants is the Disney Dining Experience card.
(See our book for details.)
During an October Disney trip, four of us were at Captain
Jacks in Downtown Disney having dinner. The food was very
mediocre but we wanted to order desserts to go. The waitress
told us the manager has adopted a policy of not allowing
'desserts to go' because many people on the Dining Plans
want to take their desserts back to the room. We had already
established we were not on a dining plan and this practice
seemed ludicrous so we complained. We were finally able to
buy our desserts 'to go.' However, we thought the policy
even for Dining Plan guests was unfair.
If you have paid for a plan that entitles you to dessert,
why should the management care if you eat it there or in
your room.....? We never got an answer to this question. Is
this typical?"
Beth, our travel agent, writes:
"First, advise Cherry that rumor has it she will soon be
able to start getting the dining plan when using her DVC
points to book space.
As for taking desserts with you, it is my understanding that
each restaurant operates pretty much as its own business -
just like the hotels do. The managers have some freedom to
be able to set their own rules, so what you can do in one
place you may not be able to do in another.
I've personally never heard about anyone being told they
couldn't get the desserts to go. In fact, every place I've
ever eaten has been very willing to accommodate my requests.
I can sort of understand why they'd say that for the dining
plan people (in that I'm sure they are banking on many
people not ordering all the food they are entitled to), but
when using the DDE card you're actually paying for each item
you order, so it makes little sense.
I would suggest that anyone that runs into that problem,
whether it's using the dining plan or the DDE card, go ahead
and order the desserts they want, take a bite, and then ask
for boxes to take the 'leftovers.' And I'd sure be writing a
comment card or sending an email to guest relations about
it, too!"
=================================================
Official DCL Statement: Beth writes: "My sales rep sends
this note: 'Per DCL, regarding the 2007 Disney Magic
cruises...
DCL has been collecting all waitlist requests for the 2007
itinerary and will process them in the order (date) they
were received.
These requests will be processed starting on 3/28 through
4/3 and we will open for regular sales on 4/4.
We will contact these guests at the time of processing their
request to inform them the waitlist has been cleared. Once
we confirm it with the guest, we will book the reservation
and send out confirmations for all reservations, as usual.'"
=================================================
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.
=============================================
February 22, 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 - including three new deals at Disney
resorts
* The latest news from around the "World" - including a
smoking ban on Disney property
* Karen writes about her recent stay at the French Quarter
* Cherry writes about the Disney Dining Experience card
* Beth, our travel agent, sends us a note about the 2007
Disney Magic cruises
=================================================
We continuously update our information and you can find
these current specials in our Addenda:
WALT DISNEY WORLD
Disney Vacation Package Special for Spring! These members
receive a FREE ticket upgrade worth almost $400.00 to a
family of four! Special starts April 23. Book by 03/30/06!
--------------------------------
Summer Disney Deal! Stay at these luxury hotels on Disney
property from $129 per night and receive a FREE upgrade to a
one-category room! Hurry! You must book by 02/28/06!
--------------------------------
This group saves $25 at the Value resorts; $40 at Moderate
the resorts; and $100 at the Deluxe resorts. Reserve by
06/03/06 for stays late April - early June.
--------------------------------
Three new sweepstakes to win a vacation at Disney World!
--------------------------------
Dinner Show Discounts! Beth, our travel agent, writes: "The
wholesale company that I've been using for years to get
steals on great Orlando-area hotels (and elsewhere) now
offers discount tickets for dinner shows. Affordable Disney
members can drop me a note and I'll tell you what they
have."
--------------------------------
VEGAS
Enjoy Deluxe accommodations at this beautiful luxury Resort
& Casino now through March 1, 2006 starting at $159/Night!
--------------------------------
CRUISES
Italian Cruise Line Spring Special: Caribbean cruises from
$399 plus free upgrades - up to 3 categories - in March and
April, 2006! Valid for US residents only.
--------------------------------
If you are not a member, you can join our Disney family here.
Members can use the following URLs to log in:
Lifetime Deluxe Member
Lifetime Basic Member
Deluxe Member
Basic Member
=================================================
NEWS FROM AROUND THE "WORLD"
WALT DISNEY WORLD
"The Walt Disney Company, an icon of mainstream America,
will move against the grain of conventional business
strategy this spring when it stops distributing a catalog
that has filled the mailboxes of tens of millions of
households for the last decade, and instead embarks on a
Web-only initiative." (Source: NY Times, 02/20/06)
--------------------------------
Mardi Gras at Universal Studios
Saturdays through April 22, 2006
LL Cool J - February 25
Bonnie Raitt - March 4
George Thorogood & the Destroyers - March 11
Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes - March 11
Earth, Wind & Fire - March 18
Gavin DeGraw - April 1
Heart - April 8
Kool & the Gang - April 15
KC & the Sunshine Band - April 22
--------------------------------
"For the first time ever, a Disney World property is going
100 percent smoke-free. Guests can't smoke in the Swan Hotel
anymore, either in rooms or public areas."
(Source: Wesh.com, 02/17/06)
--------------------------------
"After Katrina, Universal officials decided their Mardi Gras
needed greater purpose, and more authentic flavor, so they
sought out displaced and struggling New Orleans musical
acts... Universal already features authentic floats, built
by the same family company that builds the floats in New
Orleans, and claims a close association with the city."
(Source: Orlando Sentinel, 02/17/06)
--------------------------------
"The family of the composer of The Lion Sleeps Tonight have
dropped a case against Disney after accepting an undisclosed
settlement... The settlement involves back payment of
royalties to the family and the right to participate in
future payments on a worldwide basis."
(Source: BBC NEWS, 02/16/06)
--------------------------------
Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
=================================================
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
Six Flags to appeal more to families...
"We're ramping up our Main Street USA strategy; it's going
to be more about "streetmosphere." We're going to add a
parade every day, and from June to August we're going to do
a super-parade every night, complete with a fireworks show.
We're tripling the number of characters you see in the park.
We're introducing the Justice League for the first time, so
Superman, Batman, Robin, Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman,
they're all going to be visible.
We're adding character breakfasts and lunches and we're
doing afternoon story readings for the kids. We're
introducing the Chinese acrobats this year, which is clearly
aimed at attracting more families." (Source: LA Times, 02/21/06)
--------------------------------
"The Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier Hotel in Anaheim,
Calif., will ban smoking in guest rooms March 1, joining the
Grand Californian, which opened smoke-free in 2001.
Disneyland already is phasing out the smoking rooms and
deep-cleaning them. There will be designated smoking areas
outside... Walt Disney World, at this time, has no plans to
implement a no-smoking policy for their hotels."
(Source: Orlando Sentinel, 02/20/06)
--------------------------------
"Disneyland on Wednesday welcomed two additions to the
Disneyland Railroad - the new "Ward Kimball" (Disney
animator) steam engine and the returning "Lilly Belle" (Walt
Disney's wife) VIP parlor car." (Source: ocregister.com, 02/16/06)
--------------------------------
Disneyland Resort Calendar
=================================================
DISNEYLAND HONG KNOG
"Disney is being sued by a Singaporean woman who claims her
dying mother was made to wait nearly three hours for an
ambulance at the Hong Kong theme park, a news report said
Monday." (Source: monstersandcritics.com, 02/20/06)
--------------------------------
"Some angry Shenzhen tourists who aren't satisfied with Hong
Kong Disneyland's offer of compensation are now seeking
legal means to force the park to make amends for shutting
out throngs of tourists during the Spring Festival.
(Source: xinhuanet.com, 02/21/06)
=================================================
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.
=================================================
Karen writes:
"Hi John -
We just returned from our Disney World vacation (Feb. 2-13)
and had a wonderful time, as usual (this was our 21st trip -
our first trip was in 1978 when my daughter was 2 yrs.
old!). We stayed at The French Quarter, which we love. It is
a perfect place for adults. Very quiet and small.
The only glitch was the bus to Animal Kingdom. We went twice
and it took 40 minutes each time. This seems to be the norm
because my daughter also went on a different day and had the
same long ride. The commute is pick up at the FQ, proceed to
four stops at Riverside, stop at Blizzard beach and Animal
Kingdom destination. I hope this report will reach someone
at Disney so they can address this. We definitely would have
gone to AK one more day if the ride wasn't so long.
Thank you for your awesome site. I have received so many
great tips. The November Affordable Disney special through
Beth was the reason we found FQ to begin with. Thanks
again."
We've also waited quite a while for the bus to AK. Thanks
again for your generous comments.
=================================================
Cherry writes:
"Hi John,
I have a comment about the Disney Dining Plan.
When we use our Disney Vacation Club points for our room, we
don't qualify for a package that includes the Disney Dining
Plan. So, the best way for us to save on dining costs in the
Disney restaurants is the Disney Dining Experience card.
(See our book for details.)
During an October Disney trip, four of us were at Captain
Jacks in Downtown Disney having dinner. The food was very
mediocre but we wanted to order desserts to go. The waitress
told us the manager has adopted a policy of not allowing
'desserts to go' because many people on the Dining Plans
want to take their desserts back to the room. We had already
established we were not on a dining plan and this practice
seemed ludicrous so we complained. We were finally able to
buy our desserts 'to go.' However, we thought the policy
even for Dining Plan guests was unfair.
If you have paid for a plan that entitles you to dessert,
why should the management care if you eat it there or in
your room.....? We never got an answer to this question. Is
this typical?"
Beth, our travel agent, writes:
"First, advise Cherry that rumor has it she will soon be
able to start getting the dining plan when using her DVC
points to book space.
As for taking desserts with you, it is my understanding that
each restaurant operates pretty much as its own business -
just like the hotels do. The managers have some freedom to
be able to set their own rules, so what you can do in one
place you may not be able to do in another.
I've personally never heard about anyone being told they
couldn't get the desserts to go. In fact, every place I've
ever eaten has been very willing to accommodate my requests.
I can sort of understand why they'd say that for the dining
plan people (in that I'm sure they are banking on many
people not ordering all the food they are entitled to), but
when using the DDE card you're actually paying for each item
you order, so it makes little sense.
I would suggest that anyone that runs into that problem,
whether it's using the dining plan or the DDE card, go ahead
and order the desserts they want, take a bite, and then ask
for boxes to take the 'leftovers.' And I'd sure be writing a
comment card or sending an email to guest relations about
it, too!"
=================================================
Official DCL Statement: Beth writes: "My sales rep sends
this note: 'Per DCL, regarding the 2007 Disney Magic
cruises...
DCL has been collecting all waitlist requests for the 2007
itinerary and will process them in the order (date) they
were received.
These requests will be processed starting on 3/28 through
4/3 and we will open for regular sales on 4/4.
We will contact these guests at the time of processing their
request to inform them the waitlist has been cleared. Once
we confirm it with the guest, we will book the reservation
and send out confirmations for all reservations, as usual.'"
=================================================
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 7:44 AM
<< Home