Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation
THE DISNEY NEWS
June 28, 2006
Copyright © 1999 - 2006 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved.
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Hi Everyone!
In this blog...
* Deals and specials - an exclusive offer for Affordable Disney members, 6 new sweeps, save $30 per night at this hotel near Disney, save $60 at SeaWorld's Discovery Cove, and more!
* The latest news from around the "World" - including the schedule for Fourth of July Fireworks at Walt Disney World
* Cherry writes about her Spring Break vacation at WDW
* Beth, our travel agent, writes about her recent Disney Cruise!
=================================================
We continuously update our information and you can find
these current specials in our Addenda:
SPECIAL FOR AFFORDABLE DISNEY MEMBERS FROM OUR TRAVEL AGENT BETH!
Book any Walt Disney Travel Company package of three nights or more between July 1 and July 31 and receive a FREE copy of Passporter's Disney 500: Fast Tips For WDW Trips. This 113-page e-book will be emailed to you when you make your deposit, and is full of handy hints and ideas for getting the most from your Disney vacation. (Package must be booked through Beth no later than July 31. Offer valid for new bookings only.)
Coming soon! An exclusive deal at the WDW resorts for Affordable Disney Members this November and December! (Source: Become a member today so you'll be ready to pounce on this deal as soon as it's announced.
--------------------------------
NEW SWEEPS
* Win a 3-night trip for four to Seaworld!
* Win a trip for four people to Orlando or Los Angeles!
* Win a 3-night trip for four to SeaWorld!
* Win a 4-day Disney cruise!
* Win Walt Disney World tickets for 6!
* Win a 4-night trip for four to Walt Disney World!
--------------------------------
Hotel and Suites Special Outside WDW
Valid June 28 - July 13, 2006. Rooms selling fast with over $30.00 in savings on each room type:
$89.00 Standard Room
$109.00 Pool View
$139.00 Suite
Suites offer spacious sleeping room plus parlor with private vanity. Parlor includes kitchenette, microwave and sofa beds. Beth writes: "This is a decent hotel just off Disney property near the Downtown Disney entrance. I also frequently get good wholesale rates there."
--------------------------------
Special Discount for Florida Residents at SeaWorld's Discovery Cove! Save $60.00!
--------------------------------
Airfare Sale: Book tickets by July 11, 2006, for travel through November 15, 2006. Fly to Orlando from $59!
--------------------------------
MORE CURRENT SPECIALS
* WDW Room Discounts for late summer: Value resorts - $25 off per night; Moderates - $50 off per night; Deluxe - $75 off per night; Cabins/Villas - $75 off per night!
* Kids go to SeaWorld FREE when you book this vacation
package!
* Receive a 5th Day FREE when you purchase a Walt Disney
World 4-Day Magic Your Way Base or Hopper ticket with 14 day
Expiration!
* More than 10 ways to win a FREE vacation to Walt
Disney World!
* Deals for the military, teachers, government workers,
nurses, Florida residents!
* Buy one, get one free tickets to Universal Studios and
Islands of Adventure!
* All you can eat at Universal Studios or Islands of
Adventure for less than $20!
* Save up to $40.00 per ticket to Disneyland California!
* Special discounted rates for vacation packages at
Disneyland Paris!
* Las Vegas Hotels & Casinos from $79 per night!
* Cruises to Europe and the Caribbean from $599 per person -
even during the holidays!
--------------------------------
Kids get in FREE at Universal Hollywood!
--------------------------------
OTHER VACATION SPECIALS
"Fall" in Love Again Special
At these resorts in Jamaica, love stories are authored every day. From blossoming lovers to newlyweds to couples with decades of memories, all couples will discover - and rediscover - one another at one of their spectacular resorts. Now, for a limited time, renewing that connection this Fall is every bit as affordable as it is natural. Book your Couples vacation before July 15 and bring your loved one along for FREE! Five Night Minimum Stay Required. From $260 per night.
--------------------------------
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
"Walt Disney World is closing the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire -- Play It! game at Disney-MGM Studios in August (August 19) and reportedly will replace it with a new indoor ride." Word on the street is that it will include elements of Universal's Men in Black and Disneyland's Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin. (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 06/28/06)
--------------------------------
Click here for 10 places to relax at Disney World.
--------------------------------
"Perhaps no attraction fools the brain's natural sensory-perception systems in more ways than Mission: Space, Epcot's controversial 3-year-old spaceflight-simulator ride. Therefore, it's no wonder so many people report getting sick, experts on simulators say." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 06/25/06)
--------------------------------
"The Indians have examined several potential replacements for Winter Haven as their spring-training headquarters, and the club soon could get an official offer from Osceola County and Disney." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 06/24/06)
--------------------------------
Fourth of July Fireworks at Walt Disney World:
Magic Kingdom: Fantasy in the Sky at 9 PM
Disney-MGM Studios: special show at 9 PM
Epcot: IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at 10 PM
--------------------------------
Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
=================================================
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
"It's a dream state, this natural Florida -- about languid moments in a canoe adrift on a slow-moving river; about white-sand beaches and trails under live oaks; about campfires and family picnics, wildlife and wildflowers. And here's the best part: It's yours." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 06/24/06)
--------------------------------
Here's a follow up story on The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride:
"After a seven-year wait, Universal Orlando on Thursday finally opened its elevated children's ride snaking above Seuss Landing, delivering vistas and Seuss story scenes that were intended for the park's 1999 opening but held off because of technical problems. (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 06/23/06)
=================================================
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
"Disney has been offering high school graduates and college students summer jobs at Walt Disney World Orlando for 25 years. But this summer, as the competition from other employers heats up, the company is expanding the initiative to its flagship park in Southern California, where 400 fortunate Mouseketeers will join the program."
(Source: msnbc.msn.com, 06/27/06)
--------------------------------
"Pirates of the Caribbean riders marveled at the realness of Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow character and at the new virtual waterfall added to the revamped attraction during a "soft opening" at Disneyland Sunday. But most of all, they were happy the Disney classic did not change too much."
(Source: ocregister, 06/26/06)
--------------------------------
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.
=================================================
Cherry writes about her Spring Break vacation at WDW:
"Hi John,
My 17 year old, her teenage boyfriend, my sister, and I spent the week (4/3-9/06) in a cabin at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. A prime concern for appropriate yet affordable sleeping arrangements was resolved with the cabin's one bedroom with full sized bed and set of bunk beds (for the three girls) and a Murphy bed in the living room area (for the guy). This was a lower cost alternative to other Disney properties with full kitchen and two separate sleeping areas. Other perks included a private deck with picnic table and outdoor grill, and quiet, beautiful surroundings.
Thanks to my annual pass rate*, the cabin was only $213 a night including tax. We drove down from Georgia and carried most of our food with us including homemade spaghetti sauce, beef stew, hamburger patties, and marinated chicken breasts (all frozen) plus bagged salad, boxed pasta mixes, baking potatoes, and canned vegetables for quick but good meals. The food we ate in our cabin was much better than most of what we've previously eaten in the parks and we saved lots of money on food costs.
The two teenagers expressed to me by our third day that they liked this resort better than any of the others we have stayed in previously. They appreciated the privacy of the cabin, easy access to the outdoors, and they were more comfortable in the casual, slower paced atmosphere of this resort. They especially enjoyed driving around in the electric golf cart we rented for the week. The resort is too large and spread out to travel on foot; the bus system is more complicated than at other resorts; and driving your own car inside the resort is discouraged. Very little, if any, parking for cars is available at the resort bus stops, restaurants, shops, and activities. However, there is ample parking for the electric carts and we noted that some people brought their own carts!
Unfortunately, many people discovered the worth of the cart after arriving and none were available if not reserved weeks ahead of time. Of course, the $44 per day cost is not acceptable for every budget but all four of us loved the cart and the cost was offset by our savings on food and lodging expense. Riding on smooth, paved roads in an electric cart was very pleasant in the mild, spring temperatures and allowed us to experience more of the beauty of the 'wilderness' than we could by bus. And making a quick run to the resort store for more bread or sodas was much easier by cart than by bus. But next time I'll bring more sodas - a six-pack of sodas was nearly $6.00!
Though the cabin definitely turned out to be the right decision for this trip, there were some negatives. I've never had a problem in the past with cleanliness of other Disney properties; however, we noticed as soon as we arrived that the linoleum floor in the kitchen was dirty. The upper edges of the kitchen and bathroom counters had not been cleaned recently and dirt/dust had built up in crevices around the baseboards. I expect housekeeping would have cleaned it for us on request but we found it easier at the time to take care of it ourselves as we unpacked the car and put our groceries and clothes away.
Only one bathroom for the four of us was a major inconvenience. Also, the bedroom didn't cool as well as the rest of the cabin. We turned the thermostat down to 68 at night to keep the girls' room cool enough, especially for me in the upper bunk, but this made the area of the Murphy bed too cool. Ceiling fans could have helped this situation and I'm surprised Disney didn't include them in the cabins as they do in other resort accommodations.
As I mentioned earlier, the bus transportation is more complicated and time consuming in this resort than others. You must first walk to a bus stop in your cabin area to catch another bus that will take you to one of the two bus stop 'depots' for transportation to the parks. The distance to that first bus stop can be a 10 minute walk depending on the location of your cabin. This double bus system was confusing to me the first time I tried it but it didn't take long to get the hang of it. It did add considerable time on the trip to the parks. Driving our cart straight to the appropriate 'depot' for the bus to the parks was preferable.
We did plan a few meals in the restaurants. We enjoyed the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue dinner and show in the resort one night. The show was entertaining and the fried chicken and ribs were okay but not worth the money. We ate dinner at the Nine Dragons Chinese restaurant in EPCOT one night - and won't do that again. But, as always, we loved the Crystal Palace character buffet lunch in Magic Kingdom and the crab at Fulton's Crab House - though it is very pricey. My 20% discount with the Disney Dining Experience card* helped with all restaurant meals except Fulton's where my 10% annual pass discount helped.
Of course the teenagers wanted to visit Universal's Islands of Adventure and I was [able to] get a ticket for 5 consecutive days for the price of one*. They had time for only 2 days but the savings for the second day more than covered the cost of the Mears bus transportation to get them there and back ($15 each round trip). I wasn't so lucky on the cost of their 2 day Disney park hoppers, which were very expensive in comparison. I also discovered that the cost of the Universal Express Plus Pass goes up drastically as you get closer to the day you want to use it. I had ordered it for only one day when the cost was $20 each. When I went back later to order for the second day the price had gone up to $35 each - so the kids didn't get the second one. However, they arrived at the gate before the park opened the second day and were able to ride all their favorite rides, and many twice, by 3:00 pm even without the Pass!
All four of us rode the new ride Soarin' at EPCOT and absolutely loved it. It is a ride for ALL ages. Beth might appreciate that I was at Animal Kingdom on the opening morning of Expedition Everest and, of course, the ride was closed to the public until 2:00 pm. I'm envious of her participation in the festivities! (smile) I was able to pick up six of the limited edition pins for the ride's opening (my husband and I are avid collectors!) but never got to enjoy the ride itself! Maybe next trip.."
*See our book, "Secrets To An Affordable Walt Disney World® Vacation," for details.
=================================================
Beth, our travel agent, writes:
"You'll never guess what I did last weekend... I went on a Disney cruise!
It's important that I first point out that Disney treats travel agents well, but traditionally not as great as some other suppliers. For instance, I get invitations for free trips to Jamaica, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Las Vegas all the time. Disney has picked up my bill exactly once in all the years I've been selling their products - and that puts me miles ahead of most agents. So when they offered a 'special' agent rate on a Disney cruise it caught my attention. The normal agent rate for a 3-night cruise in an ocean view cabin in June would be about $450 p/p. The offer I got last week was $215 p/p! And that's the cruise fare, the port charges and fees, AND the prepaid gratuities! Couldn't say no to that!
So I quickly packed up my 8-year-old daughter and myself and we drove the 4.5 hours to Cocoa Beach. A half hour stop along the way made it not too bad. We checked into the Radisson Resort at the Port - one of my favorites in the area - and then changed for a quick swim in their nice pool. My daughter LOVES that she can swim under the waterfall there, and since she had no idea why her mother had dragged her to the other side of the state yet, that alone made her decide it was worth the journey. After changing, we walked next door to a family restaurant for a decent, albeit casual, dinner and then headed back to the room to enjoy one of the real perks of this resort.
We booked a 'king suite.' The main room had a living area complete with TV, sofa bed, chair and ottoman, desk hooked up for free high-speed internet access, a dining table for four, and a small kitchenette (sink, microwave, frig, coffeemaker, plates, utensils, mugs and glasses). It's separated from the bedroom by curtained French doors. The bedroom had a king Sleep Number bed and really comfy bedding, a nice large shower in the bathroom, and - here's the real treat - a big whirlpool tub in the corner of the bedroom. The room was clean and well-maintained and very cheery, and it also comes in a version with two beds so you can potentially get up to 6 people in these suites.
In the morning, we walked across the street to McDonald's for a quick breakfast, and then drove the two miles or so to the port. You need to produce a photo ID to get into the unloading area, and your name has to appear on the manifest. Then you can pull around and drop off your luggage before heading across the street to the parking area.
When we arrived there was only one parking lane open and there were two cars ahead of me. I could see an elderly man in the booth, but he sure seemed to be taking his time! It was about 10:15 by then and cars were starting to back up onto the street. As the first booth finally opened, a second man showed up to get the other booth going. You can't reach the booth from your car window so you have to get out and conduct your business standing at the window. After five minutes or so the first car moved on and we all pulled up. Then we waited and waited for the second car. When it was our turn I found out what the problem was... The credit card machine wasn't processing in either booth. Now, I had some cash on me, but not a lot. Cruising is, after all, a cashless vacation. I was given the option of pulling aside indefinitely or coming up with the cash, so I handed over $36 for the three-night stay. At least I got a good spot!
You again have to show your photo ID and appear on the manifest once you've crossed back to the terminal side of the street. Then you go through security - similar to an airport - and head up the stairs where you are stopped by someone who wants to review all your documents before you get in line. If there's anything you were to sign or fill out and missed they'll catch it there.
There are separate lines for people staying in suites, Castaway Club members (repeat cruisers), and everyone else. We got in the Castaway line, but got called in under a minute to one of the windows that was open. I thought it was funny that I was asked to sign a cast member agreement because I was traveling on an agent rate. It basically said that I agreed to be OK with the fact that full-fare paying passengers would get preferential treatment and that I could be asked to change cabins, dining tables, etc. to accommodate others. For the price I got, I'd have been OK with sleeping in the lobby so I signed."
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK
=================================================
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! 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.
=============================================
June 28, 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 - an exclusive offer for Affordable Disney members, 6 new sweeps, save $30 per night at this hotel near Disney, save $60 at SeaWorld's Discovery Cove, and more!
* The latest news from around the "World" - including the schedule for Fourth of July Fireworks at Walt Disney World
* Cherry writes about her Spring Break vacation at WDW
* Beth, our travel agent, writes about her recent Disney Cruise!
=================================================
We continuously update our information and you can find
these current specials in our Addenda:
SPECIAL FOR AFFORDABLE DISNEY MEMBERS FROM OUR TRAVEL AGENT BETH!
Book any Walt Disney Travel Company package of three nights or more between July 1 and July 31 and receive a FREE copy of Passporter's Disney 500: Fast Tips For WDW Trips. This 113-page e-book will be emailed to you when you make your deposit, and is full of handy hints and ideas for getting the most from your Disney vacation. (Package must be booked through Beth no later than July 31. Offer valid for new bookings only.)
Coming soon! An exclusive deal at the WDW resorts for Affordable Disney Members this November and December! (Source: Become a member today so you'll be ready to pounce on this deal as soon as it's announced.
--------------------------------
NEW SWEEPS
* Win a 3-night trip for four to Seaworld!
* Win a trip for four people to Orlando or Los Angeles!
* Win a 3-night trip for four to SeaWorld!
* Win a 4-day Disney cruise!
* Win Walt Disney World tickets for 6!
* Win a 4-night trip for four to Walt Disney World!
--------------------------------
Hotel and Suites Special Outside WDW
Valid June 28 - July 13, 2006. Rooms selling fast with over $30.00 in savings on each room type:
$89.00 Standard Room
$109.00 Pool View
$139.00 Suite
Suites offer spacious sleeping room plus parlor with private vanity. Parlor includes kitchenette, microwave and sofa beds. Beth writes: "This is a decent hotel just off Disney property near the Downtown Disney entrance. I also frequently get good wholesale rates there."
--------------------------------
Special Discount for Florida Residents at SeaWorld's Discovery Cove! Save $60.00!
--------------------------------
Airfare Sale: Book tickets by July 11, 2006, for travel through November 15, 2006. Fly to Orlando from $59!
--------------------------------
MORE CURRENT SPECIALS
* WDW Room Discounts for late summer: Value resorts - $25 off per night; Moderates - $50 off per night; Deluxe - $75 off per night; Cabins/Villas - $75 off per night!
* Kids go to SeaWorld FREE when you book this vacation
package!
* Receive a 5th Day FREE when you purchase a Walt Disney
World 4-Day Magic Your Way Base or Hopper ticket with 14 day
Expiration!
* More than 10 ways to win a FREE vacation to Walt
Disney World!
* Deals for the military, teachers, government workers,
nurses, Florida residents!
* Buy one, get one free tickets to Universal Studios and
Islands of Adventure!
* All you can eat at Universal Studios or Islands of
Adventure for less than $20!
* Save up to $40.00 per ticket to Disneyland California!
* Special discounted rates for vacation packages at
Disneyland Paris!
* Las Vegas Hotels & Casinos from $79 per night!
* Cruises to Europe and the Caribbean from $599 per person -
even during the holidays!
--------------------------------
Kids get in FREE at Universal Hollywood!
--------------------------------
OTHER VACATION SPECIALS
"Fall" in Love Again Special
At these resorts in Jamaica, love stories are authored every day. From blossoming lovers to newlyweds to couples with decades of memories, all couples will discover - and rediscover - one another at one of their spectacular resorts. Now, for a limited time, renewing that connection this Fall is every bit as affordable as it is natural. Book your Couples vacation before July 15 and bring your loved one along for FREE! Five Night Minimum Stay Required. From $260 per night.
--------------------------------
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
"Walt Disney World is closing the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire -- Play It! game at Disney-MGM Studios in August (August 19) and reportedly will replace it with a new indoor ride." Word on the street is that it will include elements of Universal's Men in Black and Disneyland's Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin. (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 06/28/06)
--------------------------------
Click here for 10 places to relax at Disney World.
--------------------------------
"Perhaps no attraction fools the brain's natural sensory-perception systems in more ways than Mission: Space, Epcot's controversial 3-year-old spaceflight-simulator ride. Therefore, it's no wonder so many people report getting sick, experts on simulators say." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 06/25/06)
--------------------------------
"The Indians have examined several potential replacements for Winter Haven as their spring-training headquarters, and the club soon could get an official offer from Osceola County and Disney." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 06/24/06)
--------------------------------
Fourth of July Fireworks at Walt Disney World:
Magic Kingdom: Fantasy in the Sky at 9 PM
Disney-MGM Studios: special show at 9 PM
Epcot: IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at 10 PM
--------------------------------
Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
=================================================
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
"It's a dream state, this natural Florida -- about languid moments in a canoe adrift on a slow-moving river; about white-sand beaches and trails under live oaks; about campfires and family picnics, wildlife and wildflowers. And here's the best part: It's yours." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 06/24/06)
--------------------------------
Here's a follow up story on The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride:
"After a seven-year wait, Universal Orlando on Thursday finally opened its elevated children's ride snaking above Seuss Landing, delivering vistas and Seuss story scenes that were intended for the park's 1999 opening but held off because of technical problems. (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 06/23/06)
=================================================
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
"Disney has been offering high school graduates and college students summer jobs at Walt Disney World Orlando for 25 years. But this summer, as the competition from other employers heats up, the company is expanding the initiative to its flagship park in Southern California, where 400 fortunate Mouseketeers will join the program."
(Source: msnbc.msn.com, 06/27/06)
--------------------------------
"Pirates of the Caribbean riders marveled at the realness of Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow character and at the new virtual waterfall added to the revamped attraction during a "soft opening" at Disneyland Sunday. But most of all, they were happy the Disney classic did not change too much."
(Source: ocregister, 06/26/06)
--------------------------------
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.
=================================================
Cherry writes about her Spring Break vacation at WDW:
"Hi John,
My 17 year old, her teenage boyfriend, my sister, and I spent the week (4/3-9/06) in a cabin at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. A prime concern for appropriate yet affordable sleeping arrangements was resolved with the cabin's one bedroom with full sized bed and set of bunk beds (for the three girls) and a Murphy bed in the living room area (for the guy). This was a lower cost alternative to other Disney properties with full kitchen and two separate sleeping areas. Other perks included a private deck with picnic table and outdoor grill, and quiet, beautiful surroundings.
Thanks to my annual pass rate*, the cabin was only $213 a night including tax. We drove down from Georgia and carried most of our food with us including homemade spaghetti sauce, beef stew, hamburger patties, and marinated chicken breasts (all frozen) plus bagged salad, boxed pasta mixes, baking potatoes, and canned vegetables for quick but good meals. The food we ate in our cabin was much better than most of what we've previously eaten in the parks and we saved lots of money on food costs.
The two teenagers expressed to me by our third day that they liked this resort better than any of the others we have stayed in previously. They appreciated the privacy of the cabin, easy access to the outdoors, and they were more comfortable in the casual, slower paced atmosphere of this resort. They especially enjoyed driving around in the electric golf cart we rented for the week. The resort is too large and spread out to travel on foot; the bus system is more complicated than at other resorts; and driving your own car inside the resort is discouraged. Very little, if any, parking for cars is available at the resort bus stops, restaurants, shops, and activities. However, there is ample parking for the electric carts and we noted that some people brought their own carts!
Unfortunately, many people discovered the worth of the cart after arriving and none were available if not reserved weeks ahead of time. Of course, the $44 per day cost is not acceptable for every budget but all four of us loved the cart and the cost was offset by our savings on food and lodging expense. Riding on smooth, paved roads in an electric cart was very pleasant in the mild, spring temperatures and allowed us to experience more of the beauty of the 'wilderness' than we could by bus. And making a quick run to the resort store for more bread or sodas was much easier by cart than by bus. But next time I'll bring more sodas - a six-pack of sodas was nearly $6.00!
Though the cabin definitely turned out to be the right decision for this trip, there were some negatives. I've never had a problem in the past with cleanliness of other Disney properties; however, we noticed as soon as we arrived that the linoleum floor in the kitchen was dirty. The upper edges of the kitchen and bathroom counters had not been cleaned recently and dirt/dust had built up in crevices around the baseboards. I expect housekeeping would have cleaned it for us on request but we found it easier at the time to take care of it ourselves as we unpacked the car and put our groceries and clothes away.
Only one bathroom for the four of us was a major inconvenience. Also, the bedroom didn't cool as well as the rest of the cabin. We turned the thermostat down to 68 at night to keep the girls' room cool enough, especially for me in the upper bunk, but this made the area of the Murphy bed too cool. Ceiling fans could have helped this situation and I'm surprised Disney didn't include them in the cabins as they do in other resort accommodations.
As I mentioned earlier, the bus transportation is more complicated and time consuming in this resort than others. You must first walk to a bus stop in your cabin area to catch another bus that will take you to one of the two bus stop 'depots' for transportation to the parks. The distance to that first bus stop can be a 10 minute walk depending on the location of your cabin. This double bus system was confusing to me the first time I tried it but it didn't take long to get the hang of it. It did add considerable time on the trip to the parks. Driving our cart straight to the appropriate 'depot' for the bus to the parks was preferable.
We did plan a few meals in the restaurants. We enjoyed the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue dinner and show in the resort one night. The show was entertaining and the fried chicken and ribs were okay but not worth the money. We ate dinner at the Nine Dragons Chinese restaurant in EPCOT one night - and won't do that again. But, as always, we loved the Crystal Palace character buffet lunch in Magic Kingdom and the crab at Fulton's Crab House - though it is very pricey. My 20% discount with the Disney Dining Experience card* helped with all restaurant meals except Fulton's where my 10% annual pass discount helped.
Of course the teenagers wanted to visit Universal's Islands of Adventure and I was [able to] get a ticket for 5 consecutive days for the price of one*. They had time for only 2 days but the savings for the second day more than covered the cost of the Mears bus transportation to get them there and back ($15 each round trip). I wasn't so lucky on the cost of their 2 day Disney park hoppers, which were very expensive in comparison. I also discovered that the cost of the Universal Express Plus Pass goes up drastically as you get closer to the day you want to use it. I had ordered it for only one day when the cost was $20 each. When I went back later to order for the second day the price had gone up to $35 each - so the kids didn't get the second one. However, they arrived at the gate before the park opened the second day and were able to ride all their favorite rides, and many twice, by 3:00 pm even without the Pass!
All four of us rode the new ride Soarin' at EPCOT and absolutely loved it. It is a ride for ALL ages. Beth might appreciate that I was at Animal Kingdom on the opening morning of Expedition Everest and, of course, the ride was closed to the public until 2:00 pm. I'm envious of her participation in the festivities! (smile) I was able to pick up six of the limited edition pins for the ride's opening (my husband and I are avid collectors!) but never got to enjoy the ride itself! Maybe next trip.."
*See our book, "Secrets To An Affordable Walt Disney World® Vacation," for details.
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Beth, our travel agent, writes:
"You'll never guess what I did last weekend... I went on a Disney cruise!
It's important that I first point out that Disney treats travel agents well, but traditionally not as great as some other suppliers. For instance, I get invitations for free trips to Jamaica, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Las Vegas all the time. Disney has picked up my bill exactly once in all the years I've been selling their products - and that puts me miles ahead of most agents. So when they offered a 'special' agent rate on a Disney cruise it caught my attention. The normal agent rate for a 3-night cruise in an ocean view cabin in June would be about $450 p/p. The offer I got last week was $215 p/p! And that's the cruise fare, the port charges and fees, AND the prepaid gratuities! Couldn't say no to that!
So I quickly packed up my 8-year-old daughter and myself and we drove the 4.5 hours to Cocoa Beach. A half hour stop along the way made it not too bad. We checked into the Radisson Resort at the Port - one of my favorites in the area - and then changed for a quick swim in their nice pool. My daughter LOVES that she can swim under the waterfall there, and since she had no idea why her mother had dragged her to the other side of the state yet, that alone made her decide it was worth the journey. After changing, we walked next door to a family restaurant for a decent, albeit casual, dinner and then headed back to the room to enjoy one of the real perks of this resort.
We booked a 'king suite.' The main room had a living area complete with TV, sofa bed, chair and ottoman, desk hooked up for free high-speed internet access, a dining table for four, and a small kitchenette (sink, microwave, frig, coffeemaker, plates, utensils, mugs and glasses). It's separated from the bedroom by curtained French doors. The bedroom had a king Sleep Number bed and really comfy bedding, a nice large shower in the bathroom, and - here's the real treat - a big whirlpool tub in the corner of the bedroom. The room was clean and well-maintained and very cheery, and it also comes in a version with two beds so you can potentially get up to 6 people in these suites.
In the morning, we walked across the street to McDonald's for a quick breakfast, and then drove the two miles or so to the port. You need to produce a photo ID to get into the unloading area, and your name has to appear on the manifest. Then you can pull around and drop off your luggage before heading across the street to the parking area.
When we arrived there was only one parking lane open and there were two cars ahead of me. I could see an elderly man in the booth, but he sure seemed to be taking his time! It was about 10:15 by then and cars were starting to back up onto the street. As the first booth finally opened, a second man showed up to get the other booth going. You can't reach the booth from your car window so you have to get out and conduct your business standing at the window. After five minutes or so the first car moved on and we all pulled up. Then we waited and waited for the second car. When it was our turn I found out what the problem was... The credit card machine wasn't processing in either booth. Now, I had some cash on me, but not a lot. Cruising is, after all, a cashless vacation. I was given the option of pulling aside indefinitely or coming up with the cash, so I handed over $36 for the three-night stay. At least I got a good spot!
You again have to show your photo ID and appear on the manifest once you've crossed back to the terminal side of the street. Then you go through security - similar to an airport - and head up the stairs where you are stopped by someone who wants to review all your documents before you get in line. If there's anything you were to sign or fill out and missed they'll catch it there.
There are separate lines for people staying in suites, Castaway Club members (repeat cruisers), and everyone else. We got in the Castaway line, but got called in under a minute to one of the windows that was open. I thought it was funny that I was asked to sign a cast member agreement because I was traveling on an agent rate. It basically said that I agreed to be OK with the fact that full-fare paying passengers would get preferential treatment and that I could be asked to change cabins, dining tables, etc. to accommodate others. For the price I got, I'd have been OK with sleeping in the lobby so I signed."
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK
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See You Real Soon!
John
AffordableDisney.Com.
johngross@affordabledisney.com
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posted by AffordableDisney.Com at 8:30 AM
