Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation
THE DISNEY NEWS
March 7, 2007
Copyright © 1999 - 2007 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved.
=================================================
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Hi Everyone!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Deals for the general public at WDW this spring have expired. We hope to have a summer deal for August and September soon. If you want to visit Walt Disney World between now and August, when there is no deal for the general public, you will need to follow the discount strategies that are revealed in our online book, "Secrets To An Affordable Walt Disney World® Vacation," to make your vacation affordable. Now on with the show...
In this blog...
* Deals and specials - Restaurant certificate discounts, SeaWorld's Discovery Cove special, 15 Disney cruise discounts, and an East Coast resort & casino special
* The latest news from around the "World" - a new luxury resort and more value-priced hotels coming to Walt Disney World
* 5th Anniversary celebrations at Tokyo DisneySea
* Details on the new "Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage" ride at Disneyland
* This week's coupon - save at two outstanding golf courses in Kissimmee and Orlando
=================================================
NEW THIS WEEK
WALT DISNEY WORLD
We now list 26 Sweepstakes to win a Walt Disney World/Florida/Disneyland/Southern California vacation!
--------------------------------
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
Save 15% on admission to SeaWorld's Discovery Cove!
Save 50% on dining certificates for restaurants near WDW! Get a $25 certificate for only $5!
--------------------------------
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
We now have 15 discounted Disney cruises for March and April!
--------------------------------
OTHER VACATION SPECIALS
This Resort & Casino on the East Coast is recognized by both Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure as one of the top resorts in the country. This March, experience it all. Enjoy a special room rate starting at $99 per night! This special rate includes 2 complimentary Spa and Fitness facility passes. This is a $30 value. Promotion Runs March 1, 2007 - March 29, 2007. Offer Expires April 1, 2007.
=================================================
Below are just some of the deals drawn from over 50 pages of current specials posted at our password-protected members-only site:
WALT DISNEY WORLD
>> Exclusively from one of our providers: UK visitors get their 6th Night FREE when they stay at the Walt Disney World Resorts! Valid all 2007 and, the last time I checked, includes Christmas and New Year's Eve!
>> FREE meals for Kids at these resorts on Disney property!
>> FREE Customized Park Maps for Walt Disney World!
>> This group can save up to $100.00 per night on Disney accommodations!
>> Deals for the military, teachers, government workers, nurses, Florida residents!
>> 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!
--------------------------------
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
>> These groups get a FREE year's admission to the Kennedy Space Center!
>> Book 4 nights and get the 5th Night FREE at any Universal Orlando onsite hotel! Plus, receive a FREE room upgrade!
>> UK residents save 45% on tickets to this theme park!
>> This group saves $80.00 on day visits to SeaWorld's Discovery Cove!
>> Save 10% on SeaWorld's Discovery Cove packages!
>> Buy one ticket and get one FREE at this popular theme park!
>> Book your Tee Times at this site where rates start at $69!
>> Save up to 25% per night at Universal's Royal Pacific Resort!
>> FREE admission for kids to Tarzan, Lion King and Beauty and the Beast on Broadway!FREE admission for kids to Tarzan, Lion King and Beauty and the Beast on Broadway!
>> These teachers receive a FREE ticket to both Universal Orlando theme parks!
>> Save up to 40% at this Luxury Resort just 6 miles from Walt Disney World!
>> New Discounts available on tickets to SeaWorld and Busch Gardens! Good for 6 consecutive days, too!
>> All you can eat at Universal Studios or Islands of
Adventure for less than $20!
--------------------------------
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
>> Early Bird Special for Disney's Repositioning Cruise to the West Coast! Children as low as $99!
* Three nights from $429!
* Four nights from $539!
* Seven nights Land & Sea from $899!
>> This group receives a $50 onboard credit good for buying merchandise, shore excursions, etc. on their 2007 Disney cruise!
>> New discount rates just posted for Florida residents and the military - rates too low to publish!
--------------------------------
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
Kids fly FREE to Disneyland! A family of four can save $700.00 on airfare!
>> Book 2 nights at Universal Studios Hollywood and receive the 3rd night FREE! Plus! Enjoy a 2nd day admission to Universal Studios Hollywood for FREE!
>> This group gets a 2-Day Park Hopper for the Price of One!
>> This group can gain admission to Disneyland Park one day and Disney's California Adventure Park the next day with the purchase of one ticket!
>> Adults get in at kids prices with this vacation package!
>> Ticket upgrade, tour discounts, FREE photo souvenir for these groups!
>> Save up to $40.00 per ticket to Disneyland California!
>> Save $10.00 on admission to Universal Studios Hollywood and get a second visit for FREE!
--------------------------------
DISNEYLAND PARIS
>> Receive a FREE rental car upgrade in more than 45 European countries through March 31!
>> Bring the kids for FREE with this vacation package! They'll enjoy free accommodations, park tickets and more!
>> Stay one night and get one night FREE + breakfast!
>> This group saves 19 Euros per ticket to the Disneyland theme parks!
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VEGAS
>> Stay at this luxury resort & casino from $79 per night! Includes Room Upgrade, 2 FREE Drinks, 2-for-1 Breakfast, 2-for-1 Lunch, Admission for 2 to the Spa, and more!
>>Stay at this Resort & Casino from $69! Upgrade to a Suite from $89!
--------------------------------
BRANSON, MISSOURI
Free Accommodations for the military!
This luxury Branson golf resort community is offering two FREE nights - no strings attached - to active-duty U.S. military personnel on leave from the Middle East. Located just off the Branson Strip, it is conveniently situated between international award-winning theme park, Silver Dollar City, and Branson’s 49 live music theaters. Reservations will be accepted until January 1, 2008 for stays occurring before February 1, 2008.
--------------------------------
CRUISES
>> Repositioning Cruises in April at Amazing Prices! Florida to England: 12 nights from $549! Texas to Spain: 13 nights from $499! Louisiana to Puerto Rico: 7 nights from $399! (per person, double occupancy)
>> 14 cruise specials to Alaska, Canada, South Pacific, Southeast Asia, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, South America, Africa and the Indian Ocean!
>> 7-night Caribbean Cruises starting at $649 for Thanksgiving 2007!
>> Cruises to Europe and the Caribbean from $599 per person!
>> Inexpensive Shore Excursions and Tours!
--------------------------------
OTHER VACATION SPECIALS
>> Super-Inclusive Holiday Packages! All food, beverages and activities are included in one price! From $38 per person!
>> Kids Sail FREE to Bermuda! Adult rates from $299 per person!
>> Save almost 50% on packages at Catalina Island, off the coast of California!
>> Beau Rivage Hotel and Casino - Biloxi, MS from $99 per night!
>> 5-night vacation in Helsinki, Finland from $599!
>> Travel to this Tropical Island and get a FREE passport!
>> 4-Night vacation package to Dominican Republic includes round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations FROMM $777!
--------------------------------
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
This Day in Disney History
--------------------------------
Being a Disney character may be dangerous to your health!
"Thousands of performers at Disney parks around the world must deal with physically demanding conditions and injuries from their heavy and sweltering hot costumes, overzealous children and other hazards." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/04/07)
--------------------------------
Click here for a backstage tour of Disney's Mary Poppins on Broadway.
--------------------------------
"Visit the popular Woodfield Mall in the greater Chicago area later this summer when Disney Vacation Club opens its new store called Disney's Doorway to Dreams. Step through the doors of this spacious interactive environment to learn how your vacation dreams can come true." (Source: dvc.disney.go.com, 03/01/07)
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"Nearly 200 current and former Walt Disney World custodians will receive payments averaging almost $650 apiece after Disney and a union settled a complaint about how the resort eliminated some jobs in 2005." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/02/07)
--------------------------------
"Walt Disney World plans to break ground on a luxurious Four Seasons resort this year, bringing one of the world's most prestigious hotel brands to a theme park long considered the ultimate middle-income vacation destination... Disney [also] said it is planning a second development on the western side of its property that... would include thousands of 'value-priced' hotel rooms, as well as assorted restaurants, shops and small entertainment businesses." The Four Seasons will open 2010. The value hotels will open in 8-10 years. (Source: (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/02/07)
--------------------------------
Click here for the recipe for Nori Wrapped Tuna served at the WDW Swan and Dolphin Resorts.
--------------------------------
Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
=================================================
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
"Saturday was a great day. The temperatures were mild, flowers in bloom, birds singing and butterflies in flight, but it wasn't in my yard. It was a day spent at Cypress Gardens and just as I remembered from years ago -- it was well worth the trip." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 02/26/07)
--------------------------------
SeaWorld has announced the name of its new water park -- Aquatica. Aquatica will feature a roomy beach area, wave pool, marine animals and rides. Opening is scheduled for 2008. (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/05/07)
"The signature ride will be a slide that takes people underwater in clear tubes, where they can zoom past dolphins and other marine life." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/06/07)
--------------------------------
"SeaWorld officials Thursday hotly disputed a finding by state investigators that it is "only a matter of time" before a trainer is killed by one of the park's killer whales... SeaWorld officials branded the report's findings "highly speculative and not supported by scientific fact."
(Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/02/07)
"After a second day of discussions with SeaWorld officials, Cal/OSHA on Friday agreed to withdraw a report that predicted that a trainer at the park will someday be killed by a killer whale." (Source: latimes.com, 03/03/07)
--------------------------------
Training for Medieval Times Knights
"Knight Boot Camp, as they call it, brings together young men from the company's locations across North America and teaches them the exact moves and maneuvers to be used at its shows. So if a knight is needed in California, any knight from the other eight castles can substitute." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/01/07)
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DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
"The only thing that could possibly top a day at Disneyland would be spending an hour or more being entertained and eating your own, personal birthday cake." Mickey and Minnie also show up to sing "Happy Birthday." Call 714/781-3463 for reservations. (Source: ocregister.com. Posted 03/06/07)
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"Beginning May 25, pirates will be taking over Tom Sawyer Island at Disneyland® Park and the scallywags will have their own Pirate’s Lair. When your Clients visit, they’ll cross paths with the swashbuckling pirates and lots of fun, interactive surprises." (Source: Disney Promotional Email, 03/06/07)
--------------------------------
"Bunsen Honeydew and his chirpy assistant Beaker showed up for an impromptu performance at the California Adventure on Sunday, leaving many in the crowd wondering: man, machine or puppet?... Honeydew and Beaker moved on their own in a Segway-inspired spaceship dubbed "Muppet Mobile Lab." They talked to the people who had gathered around them – and talked back." (Source: ocregister.com, 03/04/07)
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"A shopping sojourn to Downtown Disney should be an experience in be-here-now, no goals, no future, no past - just one big dose of Zenutainment, a rollercoaster ride for card-carrying browsers and amblers. The 'wow' factor starts the minute you park. Three hours free, rarely a back-up and the shopping thrills are within an easy walk from the car. There is even valet parking to be had for $6... [Plus]restaurant validation gets you an extra two hours of free parking. " (Source: ocregister.com, 03/01/07)
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Disneyland Resort Calendar
=================================================
HONG KONG DISNEYLAND
"Since the park opened in September 2005, visitor numbers have fallen far short of the original estimates... In a little-noticed section of its filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said that poor attendances and lower-than-expected guest spending at its Hong Kong park meant it would not meet commitments to its commercial lenders without a sharp upturn in visitor numbers." (Source: gulfnews.com, 02/28/07)
=================================================
NOTE: Links to newspaper articles change quickly and without notice. If you receive a "File Not Found" error message, search the newspaper's archives for the story. Certain newspapers require a free registration to view their articles online. If web addresses are broken into more than one line, copy and paste all lines.
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Tokyo DisneySea Spring Carnival March 21 to May 31, 2007
Tokyo DisneySea Park will cap its 5th Anniversary celebrations with a special event entitled "Tokyo DisneySea Spring Carnival," beginning March 21. This vibrant festival will celebrate the coming of spring and will feature light-hearted music, a bounteous profusion of beautiful spring flowers, and the Disney characters.
Flowers will be used to decorate many areas of the Park, and attractions such as Venetian Gondolas and the DisneySea Transit Steamer Line will be adorned with blossoms as well. There will even be a flower wagon located at the piazza in Mediterranean Harbor, and Disney character topiaries all around the themed port will be garlanded with the lovely blooms of spring, allowing guests to enjoy the festival mood to its fullest.
During the event period, the entertainment program "Primavera" will be performed twice daily in Mediterranean Harbor. In the show, the Disney characters will appear in vividly colored costumes and invite the guests to a lively carnival. The exciting program will feature many opportunities for guest participation through hand clapping and waving handkerchiefs.
A total of 17 restaurants in the Park will offer flower-themed special menus for the event, and there will also be approximately 60 kinds of event-themed merchandise available at Park shops.
Tokyo DisneySea Park’s 5th Anniversary celebrations began on July 14, 2006. The Park’s official anniversary is on September 4. (Source: Press Release, 02/28/07)
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Underwater Adventure Returns to Disneyland Park In Time for ‘The Year of a Million Dreams’!
ALL NEW "FINDING NEMO SUBMARINE VOYAGE" TO "SURFACE" IN TOMORROWLAND JUNE 2007
ANAHEIM, Calif. - In preparation for a brand-new "E-Ticket" attraction at Disneyland, the Tomorrowland Submarine Lagoon is being transformed into the underwater habitat of Nemo, Marlin, Dory and friends for the "Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage."
The new attraction, opening June 11, 2007 as part of "The Year of a Million Dreams" at Disneyland, will feature extensively enhanced versions of the eight original submarines from the fondly remembered "Submarine Voyage" attraction, which explored the "liquid space" of the lagoon from 1959 through 1998. "Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage" is inspired by the Disney/Pixar film, Finding Nemo.
"From the very beginning, we’ve combined new innovations with favorite stories to create magical new worlds," declared Jay Rasulo, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, when he unveiled plans for the attraction. "In ‘Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage,’ our guests will experience Nemo’s world in a way that has never been done before."
As a member of the sub crew, guests will embark on an expedition to the site of an erupting undersea volcano. Soon after departure, they will be delighted to discover their favorite fish friends getting into the swim of things right alongside their submarine! Nemo and company are able to go along for the ride thanks to a stunning new animation technology developed exclusively by Walt Disney Imagineering. The Finding Nemo characters will appear exactly as they do in the film, but in a real, three-dimensional underwater setting.
Along with the improved unique underwater technology, the "Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage" will feature fully sculpted Audio-Animatronics characters, including scuba divers and the scavenging seagulls ("Mine, Mine") from Finding Nemo.
"We are literally bringing the undersea world of Finding Nemo off the screen and into the submarine lagoon of Tomorrowland!" says Tom Fitzgerald, executive vice president and senior creative executive for Walt Disney Imagineering, creative arm for all Disney parks and resorts. "We are going to immerse our guests into an adventure that will leave them in disbelief - - they will want to experience this new attraction over and over to find out - ‘How did they do that?’"
The Finding Nemo submarine vehicles are being enhanced in a number of ways, including the addition of two extra seats and portal windows in anticipation of expanded guest interest. In a first-of-its-kind development, the submarines are being converted from the diesel power of the 1950s to a new, environmentally friendly fully electric power. With new on-board audio, guests will get to hear the sounds and voices of the underwater characters as they move alongside the submarine. These sounds are synchronized to travel along with the figures under water using a four-channel stereophonic sound system. Guests will get to eavesdrop on the exploits of Dory (Blue Tang fish), Marlin (Clown fish), Crush (Turtle), Bruce (Great White Shark) and the members of the "tank gang," and most importantly, take part in an ever changing adventure of trying to "find" Nemo throughout the voyage.
Along the way guests will travel through colorful undersea environments created using yet another original Imagineering-developed technology. The underwater scenes will be more eye-popping than ever before thanks to custom colors created from recycled glass, providing deeper, richer hues that last longer under water. After surviving a sub-shaking volcanic eruption, the subs will dive alongside a breathtakingly beautiful coral reef where Marlin, Nemo and all their friends gather to celebrate finding Nemo at last!
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is one of the new immersive experiences at Disneyland during the Year of a Million Dreams celebration, which began on October 1 at Disney Parks in the United States. For 15 months, the Resort will celebrate dreams coming true, making literally millions of dreams, large and small, come true for eligible guests. Many money-can't-buy experiences - from exclusive Dream FASTPASSES for popular Disney attractions to around-the-world vacations or a stay in the special Mickey Mouse Penthouse at the Disneyland Hotel - will be awarded at random. There are other "Dreams Come True" opportunities for guests to meet and play with Disney Princesses at Disney Princess Fantasy Faire, duel with Darth Vader at Jedi Training Academy or join in the fun of the High School Musical Pep Rally. "The Year of a Million Dreams" continues throughout 2007. (Source: Press Release)
=================================================
MONEY SAVING COUPONS
Mystic Dunes Golf Club
7900 Palms Parkway
Celebration
Kissimmee, FL 34747
Phone: 407-787-5678
Fax: 407-787-5656
Ranked by TravelGolf.com as one of Orlando’s Top 5 Golf Courses.
Get $15 OFF Rack Rates with this coupon. Expires 12/31/07.
Shingle Creek Golf Club
9939 Universal Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
Phone: 407-996-9933
Fax: 407-996-9932
Ranked by Golfweek in the top 40 of new courses for 2005.
Receive $10 off green fees & complimentary bag of range balls OR 50% off rental equipment with this coupon. No expiration date.
=================================================
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.
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Affordable Disney Movies and CD's
Save 40-70% on your favorite Disney Movie or CD! Cheap shipping, too! Click here.
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Affordable Accommodations
Enjoy Special Rates at select hotels, condos and vacation rentals near Disney. 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!!!"
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Affordable Airfare
This service delivers as many as 230 flight options in a single search - more options than any other travel site. It's possible to save as much as 80%! To compare prices, click here.
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Affordable Luggage
Save up to 60% on Luggage, Backpacks, and more! Donna and I bought a beautiful 5-piece set of Samsonite luggage for our daughter for Christmas for $144! Click here.
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Own a piece of the Magic Kingdom
Disney framed stock certificates are works of art. They feature Walt Disney and the Disney characters. Unlike stock brokers that require you to purchase several shares of stock, OneShare sells one share of stock and mails you the certificate. You can frame the stock certificate yourself or OneShare will frame if for you at a nominal cost. Click here.
=============================================
See You Real Soon!
John
AffordableDisney.Com.
johngross@affordabledisney.com
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Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee the accuracy of information contained in THE DISNEY NEWS. Always check to be sure. The views and opinions expressed by others in THE DISNEY NEWS do not necessarily reflect the views of AffordableDisney.Com.
=============================================
March 7, 2007
Copyright © 1999 - 2007 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!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Deals for the general public at WDW this spring have expired. We hope to have a summer deal for August and September soon. If you want to visit Walt Disney World between now and August, when there is no deal for the general public, you will need to follow the discount strategies that are revealed in our online book, "Secrets To An Affordable Walt Disney World® Vacation," to make your vacation affordable. Now on with the show...
In this blog...
* Deals and specials - Restaurant certificate discounts, SeaWorld's Discovery Cove special, 15 Disney cruise discounts, and an East Coast resort & casino special
* The latest news from around the "World" - a new luxury resort and more value-priced hotels coming to Walt Disney World
* 5th Anniversary celebrations at Tokyo DisneySea
* Details on the new "Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage" ride at Disneyland
* This week's coupon - save at two outstanding golf courses in Kissimmee and Orlando
=================================================
NEW THIS WEEK
WALT DISNEY WORLD
We now list 26 Sweepstakes to win a Walt Disney World/Florida/Disneyland/Southern California vacation!
--------------------------------
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
Save 15% on admission to SeaWorld's Discovery Cove!
Save 50% on dining certificates for restaurants near WDW! Get a $25 certificate for only $5!
--------------------------------
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
We now have 15 discounted Disney cruises for March and April!
--------------------------------
OTHER VACATION SPECIALS
This Resort & Casino on the East Coast is recognized by both Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure as one of the top resorts in the country. This March, experience it all. Enjoy a special room rate starting at $99 per night! This special rate includes 2 complimentary Spa and Fitness facility passes. This is a $30 value. Promotion Runs March 1, 2007 - March 29, 2007. Offer Expires April 1, 2007.
=================================================
Below are just some of the deals drawn from over 50 pages of current specials posted at our password-protected members-only site:
WALT DISNEY WORLD
>> Exclusively from one of our providers: UK visitors get their 6th Night FREE when they stay at the Walt Disney World Resorts! Valid all 2007 and, the last time I checked, includes Christmas and New Year's Eve!
>> FREE meals for Kids at these resorts on Disney property!
>> FREE Customized Park Maps for Walt Disney World!
>> This group can save up to $100.00 per night on Disney accommodations!
>> Deals for the military, teachers, government workers, nurses, Florida residents!
>> 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!
--------------------------------
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
>> These groups get a FREE year's admission to the Kennedy Space Center!
>> Book 4 nights and get the 5th Night FREE at any Universal Orlando onsite hotel! Plus, receive a FREE room upgrade!
>> UK residents save 45% on tickets to this theme park!
>> This group saves $80.00 on day visits to SeaWorld's Discovery Cove!
>> Save 10% on SeaWorld's Discovery Cove packages!
>> Buy one ticket and get one FREE at this popular theme park!
>> Book your Tee Times at this site where rates start at $69!
>> Save up to 25% per night at Universal's Royal Pacific Resort!
>> FREE admission for kids to Tarzan, Lion King and Beauty and the Beast on Broadway!FREE admission for kids to Tarzan, Lion King and Beauty and the Beast on Broadway!
>> These teachers receive a FREE ticket to both Universal Orlando theme parks!
>> Save up to 40% at this Luxury Resort just 6 miles from Walt Disney World!
>> New Discounts available on tickets to SeaWorld and Busch Gardens! Good for 6 consecutive days, too!
>> All you can eat at Universal Studios or Islands of
Adventure for less than $20!
--------------------------------
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
>> Early Bird Special for Disney's Repositioning Cruise to the West Coast! Children as low as $99!
* Three nights from $429!
* Four nights from $539!
* Seven nights Land & Sea from $899!
>> This group receives a $50 onboard credit good for buying merchandise, shore excursions, etc. on their 2007 Disney cruise!
>> New discount rates just posted for Florida residents and the military - rates too low to publish!
--------------------------------
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
Kids fly FREE to Disneyland! A family of four can save $700.00 on airfare!
>> Book 2 nights at Universal Studios Hollywood and receive the 3rd night FREE! Plus! Enjoy a 2nd day admission to Universal Studios Hollywood for FREE!
>> This group gets a 2-Day Park Hopper for the Price of One!
>> This group can gain admission to Disneyland Park one day and Disney's California Adventure Park the next day with the purchase of one ticket!
>> Adults get in at kids prices with this vacation package!
>> Ticket upgrade, tour discounts, FREE photo souvenir for these groups!
>> Save up to $40.00 per ticket to Disneyland California!
>> Save $10.00 on admission to Universal Studios Hollywood and get a second visit for FREE!
--------------------------------
DISNEYLAND PARIS
>> Receive a FREE rental car upgrade in more than 45 European countries through March 31!
>> Bring the kids for FREE with this vacation package! They'll enjoy free accommodations, park tickets and more!
>> Stay one night and get one night FREE + breakfast!
>> This group saves 19 Euros per ticket to the Disneyland theme parks!
--------------------------------
VEGAS
>> Stay at this luxury resort & casino from $79 per night! Includes Room Upgrade, 2 FREE Drinks, 2-for-1 Breakfast, 2-for-1 Lunch, Admission for 2 to the Spa, and more!
>>Stay at this Resort & Casino from $69! Upgrade to a Suite from $89!
--------------------------------
BRANSON, MISSOURI
Free Accommodations for the military!
This luxury Branson golf resort community is offering two FREE nights - no strings attached - to active-duty U.S. military personnel on leave from the Middle East. Located just off the Branson Strip, it is conveniently situated between international award-winning theme park, Silver Dollar City, and Branson’s 49 live music theaters. Reservations will be accepted until January 1, 2008 for stays occurring before February 1, 2008.
--------------------------------
CRUISES
>> Repositioning Cruises in April at Amazing Prices! Florida to England: 12 nights from $549! Texas to Spain: 13 nights from $499! Louisiana to Puerto Rico: 7 nights from $399! (per person, double occupancy)
>> 14 cruise specials to Alaska, Canada, South Pacific, Southeast Asia, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, South America, Africa and the Indian Ocean!
>> 7-night Caribbean Cruises starting at $649 for Thanksgiving 2007!
>> Cruises to Europe and the Caribbean from $599 per person!
>> Inexpensive Shore Excursions and Tours!
--------------------------------
OTHER VACATION SPECIALS
>> Super-Inclusive Holiday Packages! All food, beverages and activities are included in one price! From $38 per person!
>> Kids Sail FREE to Bermuda! Adult rates from $299 per person!
>> Save almost 50% on packages at Catalina Island, off the coast of California!
>> Beau Rivage Hotel and Casino - Biloxi, MS from $99 per night!
>> 5-night vacation in Helsinki, Finland from $599!
>> Travel to this Tropical Island and get a FREE passport!
>> 4-Night vacation package to Dominican Republic includes round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations FROMM $777!
--------------------------------
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
This Day in Disney History
--------------------------------
Being a Disney character may be dangerous to your health!
"Thousands of performers at Disney parks around the world must deal with physically demanding conditions and injuries from their heavy and sweltering hot costumes, overzealous children and other hazards." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/04/07)
--------------------------------
Click here for a backstage tour of Disney's Mary Poppins on Broadway.
--------------------------------
"Visit the popular Woodfield Mall in the greater Chicago area later this summer when Disney Vacation Club opens its new store called Disney's Doorway to Dreams. Step through the doors of this spacious interactive environment to learn how your vacation dreams can come true." (Source: dvc.disney.go.com, 03/01/07)
--------------------------------
"Nearly 200 current and former Walt Disney World custodians will receive payments averaging almost $650 apiece after Disney and a union settled a complaint about how the resort eliminated some jobs in 2005." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/02/07)
--------------------------------
"Walt Disney World plans to break ground on a luxurious Four Seasons resort this year, bringing one of the world's most prestigious hotel brands to a theme park long considered the ultimate middle-income vacation destination... Disney [also] said it is planning a second development on the western side of its property that... would include thousands of 'value-priced' hotel rooms, as well as assorted restaurants, shops and small entertainment businesses." The Four Seasons will open 2010. The value hotels will open in 8-10 years. (Source: (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/02/07)
--------------------------------
Click here for the recipe for Nori Wrapped Tuna served at the WDW Swan and Dolphin Resorts.
--------------------------------
Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
=================================================
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
"Saturday was a great day. The temperatures were mild, flowers in bloom, birds singing and butterflies in flight, but it wasn't in my yard. It was a day spent at Cypress Gardens and just as I remembered from years ago -- it was well worth the trip." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 02/26/07)
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SeaWorld has announced the name of its new water park -- Aquatica. Aquatica will feature a roomy beach area, wave pool, marine animals and rides. Opening is scheduled for 2008. (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/05/07)
"The signature ride will be a slide that takes people underwater in clear tubes, where they can zoom past dolphins and other marine life." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/06/07)
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"SeaWorld officials Thursday hotly disputed a finding by state investigators that it is "only a matter of time" before a trainer is killed by one of the park's killer whales... SeaWorld officials branded the report's findings "highly speculative and not supported by scientific fact."
(Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/02/07)
"After a second day of discussions with SeaWorld officials, Cal/OSHA on Friday agreed to withdraw a report that predicted that a trainer at the park will someday be killed by a killer whale." (Source: latimes.com, 03/03/07)
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Training for Medieval Times Knights
"Knight Boot Camp, as they call it, brings together young men from the company's locations across North America and teaches them the exact moves and maneuvers to be used at its shows. So if a knight is needed in California, any knight from the other eight castles can substitute." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/01/07)
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DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
"The only thing that could possibly top a day at Disneyland would be spending an hour or more being entertained and eating your own, personal birthday cake." Mickey and Minnie also show up to sing "Happy Birthday." Call 714/781-3463 for reservations. (Source: ocregister.com. Posted 03/06/07)
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"Beginning May 25, pirates will be taking over Tom Sawyer Island at Disneyland® Park and the scallywags will have their own Pirate’s Lair. When your Clients visit, they’ll cross paths with the swashbuckling pirates and lots of fun, interactive surprises." (Source: Disney Promotional Email, 03/06/07)
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"Bunsen Honeydew and his chirpy assistant Beaker showed up for an impromptu performance at the California Adventure on Sunday, leaving many in the crowd wondering: man, machine or puppet?... Honeydew and Beaker moved on their own in a Segway-inspired spaceship dubbed "Muppet Mobile Lab." They talked to the people who had gathered around them – and talked back." (Source: ocregister.com, 03/04/07)
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"A shopping sojourn to Downtown Disney should be an experience in be-here-now, no goals, no future, no past - just one big dose of Zenutainment, a rollercoaster ride for card-carrying browsers and amblers. The 'wow' factor starts the minute you park. Three hours free, rarely a back-up and the shopping thrills are within an easy walk from the car. There is even valet parking to be had for $6... [Plus]restaurant validation gets you an extra two hours of free parking. " (Source: ocregister.com, 03/01/07)
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Disneyland Resort Calendar
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HONG KONG DISNEYLAND
"Since the park opened in September 2005, visitor numbers have fallen far short of the original estimates... In a little-noticed section of its filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said that poor attendances and lower-than-expected guest spending at its Hong Kong park meant it would not meet commitments to its commercial lenders without a sharp upturn in visitor numbers." (Source: gulfnews.com, 02/28/07)
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NOTE: Links to newspaper articles change quickly and without notice. If you receive a "File Not Found" error message, search the newspaper's archives for the story. Certain newspapers require a free registration to view their articles online. If web addresses are broken into more than one line, copy and paste all lines.
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Tokyo DisneySea Spring Carnival March 21 to May 31, 2007
Tokyo DisneySea Park will cap its 5th Anniversary celebrations with a special event entitled "Tokyo DisneySea Spring Carnival," beginning March 21. This vibrant festival will celebrate the coming of spring and will feature light-hearted music, a bounteous profusion of beautiful spring flowers, and the Disney characters.
Flowers will be used to decorate many areas of the Park, and attractions such as Venetian Gondolas and the DisneySea Transit Steamer Line will be adorned with blossoms as well. There will even be a flower wagon located at the piazza in Mediterranean Harbor, and Disney character topiaries all around the themed port will be garlanded with the lovely blooms of spring, allowing guests to enjoy the festival mood to its fullest.
During the event period, the entertainment program "Primavera" will be performed twice daily in Mediterranean Harbor. In the show, the Disney characters will appear in vividly colored costumes and invite the guests to a lively carnival. The exciting program will feature many opportunities for guest participation through hand clapping and waving handkerchiefs.
A total of 17 restaurants in the Park will offer flower-themed special menus for the event, and there will also be approximately 60 kinds of event-themed merchandise available at Park shops.
Tokyo DisneySea Park’s 5th Anniversary celebrations began on July 14, 2006. The Park’s official anniversary is on September 4. (Source: Press Release, 02/28/07)
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Underwater Adventure Returns to Disneyland Park In Time for ‘The Year of a Million Dreams’!
ALL NEW "FINDING NEMO SUBMARINE VOYAGE" TO "SURFACE" IN TOMORROWLAND JUNE 2007
ANAHEIM, Calif. - In preparation for a brand-new "E-Ticket" attraction at Disneyland, the Tomorrowland Submarine Lagoon is being transformed into the underwater habitat of Nemo, Marlin, Dory and friends for the "Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage."
The new attraction, opening June 11, 2007 as part of "The Year of a Million Dreams" at Disneyland, will feature extensively enhanced versions of the eight original submarines from the fondly remembered "Submarine Voyage" attraction, which explored the "liquid space" of the lagoon from 1959 through 1998. "Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage" is inspired by the Disney/Pixar film, Finding Nemo.
"From the very beginning, we’ve combined new innovations with favorite stories to create magical new worlds," declared Jay Rasulo, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, when he unveiled plans for the attraction. "In ‘Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage,’ our guests will experience Nemo’s world in a way that has never been done before."
As a member of the sub crew, guests will embark on an expedition to the site of an erupting undersea volcano. Soon after departure, they will be delighted to discover their favorite fish friends getting into the swim of things right alongside their submarine! Nemo and company are able to go along for the ride thanks to a stunning new animation technology developed exclusively by Walt Disney Imagineering. The Finding Nemo characters will appear exactly as they do in the film, but in a real, three-dimensional underwater setting.
Along with the improved unique underwater technology, the "Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage" will feature fully sculpted Audio-Animatronics characters, including scuba divers and the scavenging seagulls ("Mine, Mine") from Finding Nemo.
"We are literally bringing the undersea world of Finding Nemo off the screen and into the submarine lagoon of Tomorrowland!" says Tom Fitzgerald, executive vice president and senior creative executive for Walt Disney Imagineering, creative arm for all Disney parks and resorts. "We are going to immerse our guests into an adventure that will leave them in disbelief - - they will want to experience this new attraction over and over to find out - ‘How did they do that?’"
The Finding Nemo submarine vehicles are being enhanced in a number of ways, including the addition of two extra seats and portal windows in anticipation of expanded guest interest. In a first-of-its-kind development, the submarines are being converted from the diesel power of the 1950s to a new, environmentally friendly fully electric power. With new on-board audio, guests will get to hear the sounds and voices of the underwater characters as they move alongside the submarine. These sounds are synchronized to travel along with the figures under water using a four-channel stereophonic sound system. Guests will get to eavesdrop on the exploits of Dory (Blue Tang fish), Marlin (Clown fish), Crush (Turtle), Bruce (Great White Shark) and the members of the "tank gang," and most importantly, take part in an ever changing adventure of trying to "find" Nemo throughout the voyage.
Along the way guests will travel through colorful undersea environments created using yet another original Imagineering-developed technology. The underwater scenes will be more eye-popping than ever before thanks to custom colors created from recycled glass, providing deeper, richer hues that last longer under water. After surviving a sub-shaking volcanic eruption, the subs will dive alongside a breathtakingly beautiful coral reef where Marlin, Nemo and all their friends gather to celebrate finding Nemo at last!
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is one of the new immersive experiences at Disneyland during the Year of a Million Dreams celebration, which began on October 1 at Disney Parks in the United States. For 15 months, the Resort will celebrate dreams coming true, making literally millions of dreams, large and small, come true for eligible guests. Many money-can't-buy experiences - from exclusive Dream FASTPASSES for popular Disney attractions to around-the-world vacations or a stay in the special Mickey Mouse Penthouse at the Disneyland Hotel - will be awarded at random. There are other "Dreams Come True" opportunities for guests to meet and play with Disney Princesses at Disney Princess Fantasy Faire, duel with Darth Vader at Jedi Training Academy or join in the fun of the High School Musical Pep Rally. "The Year of a Million Dreams" continues throughout 2007. (Source: Press Release)
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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See You Real Soon!
John
AffordableDisney.Com.
johngross@affordabledisney.com
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posted by AffordableDisney.Com at 7:15 AM
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