Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation

THE DISNEY NEWS
May 03, 2006
Copyright © 1999 - 2006 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved.
=================================================
To subscribe to Affordable Disney's blog, click the following
icon: Subscribe with Bloglines

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 a new Universal vacation
package that includes a FREE rental car! Save $180.00 per
adult!
* The latest news from around the "World" - including news
that Disney is going to offer two versions of Mission: Space
this summer!
* Jennette responds to Barry's letter last week complaining
about his experience at Disney's Contemporary's resort
* Amy writes about Disney's PhotoMovie DVD
=================================================
We continuously update our information and you can find
these current specials in our Addenda:

WALT DISNEY WORLD

Walt Disney World Resort Special for Florida Residents: $79
per night!

--------------------------------

Disney Cruise Line Special for Florida Residents!

--------------------------------

Disney Cruise Line Special for Active Duty Military!

--------------------------------

Kids Play FREE at Camp Dolphin at the Walt Disney World Swan
and Dolphin Hotels! Save $10.00 per child per hour!

--------------------------------

Enjoy big savings at this Disney "Good Neighbor" Hotel!
Features a sophisticated African-safari theme - with stylish
jungle accents decorating the lobby and guest rooms and is
located 1/8 of mile from the Walt Disney World Resort.

Valid for stays April 29, 2006 through June 11, 2006 during
the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.
Traditional Room for only $89 per night - save $30.00 per
night! Spacious for only $109 per night - save $75.00 per
night! Includes Complimentary Shuttle Transportation to and
from the Walt Disney World Resort!

Beth writes: "Nice hotel, great location. Note that I
sometimes have wholesale rates even lower than these
promotional ones!" Must book by May 21.

--------------------------------

Save 25% on Cirque du Soleil tickets May through September!

--------------------------------

Save 10% on Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique packages at the World
of Disney at Downtown Disney! (Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique was
created for girls who want to get their hair, nails and
makeup done like a princess.)

--------------------------------

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO SPECIALS

Universal Ticket Deal!

Save $8 per ticket!
Plus! Get one kid’s ticket FREE!
Plus! Get three additional days of admission for FREE
(that's five consecutive days of admission!)

--------------------------------

Universal Orlando Vacation Package For Late Summer and Fall!
Includes:

* Two adult admission to Universal Orlando theme parks for
three consecutive days.

* Two children (ages 3-9) play free at Universal Orlando theme
parks for three consecutive days.

* Two children eat for free at select Universal Orlando theme
park restaurants for three days.

* Free rental car for three days from Dollar Rental Car.

This offer is available for only $180.00 per adult!

--------------------------------

Save $180.00 on Annual Passes at Universal Studios and
Islands of Adventure!

--------------------------------

Buy a 2 Park Preferred Annual Pass for Universal Orlando,
Get 2nd Year FREE!

--------------------------------

Several sweepstakes added to win trips to Orlando, Daytona,
SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Orlando or Hollywood, and
Downtown Disney!

--------------------------------

DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA

Late Summer Vacation Package Starting at $239 Per Adult!
Includes:

* Accommodations at a Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotel
* Complimentary shuttle service to Disneyland
* 3-Day Disneyland Park Hopper Bonus Ticket
* Early entry into Fantasyland
* One admission to Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness
* Preferred seating at shows in California Adventure

--------------------------------

Details on how you can purchase reserved seating with
dessert at Disneyland's Fantasmic!

--------------------------------

These specials are still in effect:

* FREE Dining at Disney's Magical Beginnings!

* Save up to $1,000 on ADVENTURES BY DISNEY!

* Stay three nights and get the fourth night free at this
Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotel!

* A deal for late summer! Includes FREE dining plan! A
family of four (2 adults and 2 children 3-9) will save
almost $100.00 per day on meals! Over $150.00 if your kids
are older!

* Save up to $100.00 per night at the Disney World resorts
this spring!

--------------------------------

FALL CRUISE SALE

Caribbean Cruises: Kids Sail Free! Plus their fun-filled
children's program allows you to enjoy family time as well
as a little time on your own! Sailing dates in November,
December and January.

* Western Caribbean: 7 nights from $599 per person; 6 nights
from $549; 8 nights from $1249
* Eastern Caribbean: 7 nights from $599 per person; 8 nights
from $1249

European Cruises: Cruise with Europe's #1 Cruise Line! Fall
in love with a truly authentic Europe, a time of year that
boasts mild, enjoyable weather, a less crowded, less hurried
Europe, and great fares! Sailing dates in December, January,
February and March.

* Egypt, Cypress, and Greece: 10 nights from $1099 per
person; 11 nights, $1149
--------------------------------
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

Disney to offer two versions of Mission: Space

"Beginning this summer, Epcot guests will have two options
when it comes to the ride; they can either go on the current
attraction or a new version which provides a milder
experience, according to the report. In the new version, the
spinning centrifuge will be turned off for guests who are
prone to motion sickness or have other conditions."
(Source: local6.com, 05/02/06)
--------------------------------
Click here to download your "death certificate" from Disney's The Haunted Mansion!)
You'll need Acrobat reader to view the file.
Click here to download a free copy if you don't have it:)
--------------------------------
Monopoly: The Here & Now Edition

"Could Walt Disney World, Church Street Station or
International Drive be the new, coveted landmark on the
board game? It's possible... Other changes that will appear
in the new edition include modern-day rents and contemporary
game tokens. Railroads are being replaced by airports -- Los
Angeles International, New York's John F. Kennedy
International, Chicago's O'Hare and Atlanta's Hartsfield-
Jackson." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 04/26/06)
--------------------------------
Save on batteries...

"Floridians will get a 12-day break (May 21 - June 1) from
sales tax on many items they may need to get ready for
hurricane season under a bill Gov. Jeb Bush signed into law
Thursday. The measure (HB 47) is aimed at encouraging people
to buy items such as flashlights, radios, and batteries to
be ready for what some expect to be a busy storm season."
(Source: Orlando Sentinel, 04/27/06)
--------------------------------
Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
=================================================
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will present "The Lost
Spacecraft: Liberty Bell 7 Recovered" from May 26 through
Sept. 10. Showcases Gus Grissom's Liberty Bell 7 Mercury
spacecraft, which was recovered in 1999 after being lost in
the Atlantic ocean in 1961.
--------------------------------
Free Wireless coming to Downtown Orlando

"Free wireless Internet access will be available in a 9-
square-mile swath of downtown, stretching north-south from
Gore Street to Princeton Street and east-west from Summerlin
Avenue to Westmoreland Drive... Service will be free up to a
certain speed, but users will have to pay for faster
access... [Free service] should be at least two times
faster than dial-up." Service should be available by year's
end. (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 04/29/06)
=================================================
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA

Walt Disney Family Foundation Museum

"It will be a lot more than a scrapbook, but it won't look
like a monument, a theme park or a shopping mall. Instead,
if Miller and the Walt Disney Family Foundation succeed, it
will fill one of the historic red brick buildings in San
Francisco's Presidio with an intimate glimpse of Walt Disney
-- man, artist, entrepreneur and father."
(Source: contracostatimes.com., 04/30/06)

Click here to see what's new at the Walt Disney Family Foundation Museum.
--------------------------------

Dineyland California vs Walt Disney World

"But how do these Happiest and Most Magical Places on Earth
stack up when you're a single adult searching for theme park
thrills?" (Source: post-gazette.com, 05/01/06)
--------------------------------
Disneyland Resort Calendar
=================================================
DISNEYLAND HONG KONG

Disney prepares for visitors from the Chinese mainland
during the annual Golden Week holiday of Labor's Day

"It announced that the famous Broadway-style shows -- The
Golden Mickey and The Festival of the Lion King -- will be
added with simplified Chinese subtitles to make its mainland
audience enjoy more of its theatrical experience... a small
book of Magical Tips will also be available in simplified
Chinese to provide more information and assistance to
mainland guests. Hopefully, the cast members can use
mandarin to greet mainland visitors and help them to enjoy
the magic of Disneyland." (Source: China Economic Net, 05/01/06)
=================================================
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.
=================================================
We published Barry's letter last week complaining about his
experience at Disney's Contemporary's resort. Jennette
writes:

"Dear John,

I noticed that in Barry's letter he could not get seating at
Chef Mickey's. Almost everyone who goes to WDW knows about
priority seating 180 days in advance, don't they?

Also, when you call to get a reservation, and your
confirmation comes in the mail or over the internet via e-
mail, it says garden wing room, or main building. Why were
they so surprised?

I spend a lot of time and energy making sure that my
vacation is a good one. I think if you put forth the effort,
you get results.

And with regard to your footnote: WDW DOES offer some great
discounts for Florida residents. Much better than the rest
of us get.

I would also like to know if they spoke to a manager right
away in person. That usually helps. Writing a letter (with
sarcastic notes in parenthesis) after the fact does not
always get the results you want."
=================================================
Amy (Lifetime Member) writes:

"John,

I'm sure that you are aware of the new product offered by
Disney: a DVD containing pictures uploaded either via your
own computer and/or using your Disney PhotoPass codes.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that yes, I broke down
and spent the money. The introductory offer is $49.95 for
the 1st copy, and $19.95 for any additional ones. I never
buy anything frivolous, but thought this might be a nice way
of commemorating our visits over the last 6 years (no one
says that it has to be from just one visit!) So I looked
back over all of our photos of the kids, from their first
visit in 2000, through last month's visit. I made sure to
include a photo of all of the different people that have
gone with us over the years (cousins, aunts, uncles,
grandparents, Godparents, friends).

I just received it last evening. Unfortunately, the DVD was
not put in it's case correctly and was completely scratched
from bouncing all around inside the case. However, true to
Disney service, they assured me that another copy would be
sent free of charge, via express mail. I was able to view
some of it (in between the skipping from the scratches) and
it looks GREAT. I can't wait to see the unscratched DVD."

Amy adds: "One reason that it is nice, is because you can
use the DisneyPhotoPass photos, without having to actually
buy any of the photos."

Disney's PhotoMovie

Combines your digital photos and your Disney's PhotoPass
photos (if you have any) on DVD with Disney video, music and
characters. Also includes a slide show of all your photos
set to Disney music.

Facts

* Running time: up to 20 minutes (10 minutes for the
photoMovie; 10 minutes for the slide show)
* Number of photos: up to 112 photos in 7 chapters
* Cost: $49.95; additional copies: $19.95
Click here for more information.
=================================================
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.
=============================================