Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation

THE DISNEY NEWS
March 28, 2007
Copyright © 1999 - 2007 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved.
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Hi Everyone!

Disney rarely offers deals to the general public during its busiest seasons: Spring Break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and Easter. If you want to visit Walt Disney World 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 - 32 sweepstakes, Adventures by Disney special, dining certificate discount, Disney cruise special, suite sale at Vegas

* The latest news from around the "World" - Disney thinking again about releasing "Song of the South"

* SeaWorld celebrates birth of new killer whale

* Beth asks about the best time to visit Walt Disney World

* Disney's Anne Kuhns wins Information Security Executive of the Year Award

* This week's coupon - save on Papa John's pizza
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NEW THIS WEEK

WALT DISNEY WORLD

We now list 32 Sweepstakes to win a Walt Disney World/Florida/Disneyland/Southern California vacation!

Save up to $350 per person (up to $1400 for a family of four) on Adventures by Disney with this special!

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OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD

Save 60% on dining certificates to restaurants outside Walt Disney World!

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DISNEY CRUISE LINE

Sail to Spain for $1250 per person, double occupancy!

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VEGAS

Reserve this Resort & Casino now to have the experiences of a lifetime including Luxury Suites from $159 a night in March and April and $129 a night in May! Beth writes: "The $159 is really good. The $129 is awesome."

Stay at this luxury resort & casino from $79 per night! Includes Room Upgrade, 2 FREE Drinks, 2-for-1 Breakfast, 2-for-1 Lunch, $20 off Spa Treatments, and more!
Offer available April 1 - May 31, 2007. Must book by April 10, 2007.
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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

>> 3 new deals for spring! A package without dining, a package with dining, and a room-only discount! Valid 04/15/07 - 05/23/07.

>> 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!

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OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD

>> Save up to 30% at Universal's Portofino, Hard Rock and Royal Pacific Resort Hotels!

>> 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!

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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!

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DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA

>> Fourth Night Free at Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotels!

>> 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!

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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!

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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.

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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!

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OTHER VACATION SPECIALS

>> All inclusive (air and hotel) 4-day Jamaica vacation for $449! Plus, every third night FREE!

>> Super-Inclusive 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!

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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
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE "WORLD"

WALT DISNEY WORLD

This Day in Disney History
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"Officials from Disney and Jostens Inc. will announce the construction of a 70,000-plus square-foot arena today as part of 10th-anniversary celebrations for Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. The Jostens Center, which will house more than 44,800 square feet of competition space, will contain six basketball courts, 12 volleyball courts, two roller hockey rinks, four locker rooms, two conference areas and two officials' rooms. The venue is scheduled to open in fall 2008." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/28/07)
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Click here for a look at Walt Disney World's new Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor comedy show.
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Click here for the recipe for Baked Eggs from Walt Disney World's Swan and Dolphin Resort.
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"EDINBURGH, Scotland: Scottish health officials have accused Disney Partyfizz, a juice drink, of contributing to underage drinking because of its resemblance to champagne. (Source: beverageworld.com, 03/26/07)
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Click here to see what's new this year at Walt Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld.
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"Walt Disney Co.'s 1946 film 'Song of the South' was historic. It was Disney's first big live-action picture and produced one of the company's most famous songs -- the Oscar-winning 'Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.' It also carries the story line of the Splash Mountain rides at its theme parks... the movie remains hidden in the Disney archives but President and CEO Bob Iger recently said the company was reconsidering [rereleasing it]." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/24/07)
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Roxann Lazore lost $700 buying Disney tickets on Ebay. She failed to check the seller's feedback and she sent him the cash by money gram. Not good. Read this article to learn how she could have protected herself from cyber thieves.
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Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
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OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD

"Free wireless Internet is starting to reach the streets of downtown Orlando. And there's an unexpected upside for users: They will be able to access the Internet at speeds that could be as much as 10 times faster than anticipated, making for a snappier experience with e-mail, online shopping and other tasks." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/24/07)
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DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA

"Disney won't say what the latest plan is for Anaheim, but sources familiar with the planning process said Disney wants to mimic its Florida blueprint in Anaheim: Add time-share units, bring its popular cruise line to the West Coast and zero in on high-end consumers with boutique hotels. New attractions for its lackluster California Adventure are in the works, and Disney is giving fresh consideration to its long-promised third theme park." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/23/07)
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Disneyland Resort Calendar
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DISNEYLAND PARIS

"We took the family to Paris for Christmas. It was the first time my husband and I wondered whether the five of us could do such a trip again... It wasn't because of Paris, which was gorgeous and child-friendly... It was the security.' (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/23/07)
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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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SEAWORLD WELCOMES NEWEST "PEA" TO POD

Spring has sprung early at SeaWorld Orlando as the park welcomes a new baby killer whale to the Shamu family on the 12th of March 2007.

The calf’s mother, Taima, gave birth to the 6-foot-long, 350-pound newborn at 4:48 p.m. in SeaWorld Orlando’s multimillion-gallon research and breeding facility, Shamu Stadium, following a one-hour labor. Moments later, the baby whale instinctively swam to the surface of the water for its first breath of air. The calf began nursing within hours.

One of the most photographed killer whales in the Shamu family, Taima is also the mother of two other killer whales. She is 18 feet long and weighs 6,500 pounds. Taima was also born at SeaWorld Orlando during a 1989 thunderstorm, which is where she get’s her name; "Taima" is Icelandic for "crash of thunder."

SeaWorld animal care specialists remain cautiously optimistic about the progress of the baby and its mother. The sex of the calf is yet to be determined.

The birth of this new whale brings the Orlando pod to nine whales, ranging in size from this 350-pound baby to a 12,000-pound male. SeaWorld's killer whale breeding program is the most successful in the world. This calf is the 15th killer whale born at SeaWorld Orlando and the 23rd to be born and successfully raised throughout all three SeaWorld parks. (Source: Press Release, 03/13/07)
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Beth writes:

"Hello, I have just joined affordable disney and I am so excited for my family to be able to plan this vacation. As you mentioned in the welcome [email] there is soooo much information to read through. One question that I have, and I don't know if it is mentioned anywhere is, when is the best time of year to go to Disney to beat the crowds but also to have warm enough weather to swim? Thanks for your information, I look forward to hearing from you and being a member of the affordable disney family."

Yes, we discuss weather in our book's introduction and the seasons to visit in our accommodations chapter.

The least crowded and the most affordable time to visit is during the value season: January 1 - February 14; August 5 - October 3; November 25 - December 19.

You can swim all year round because the pools are heated. Even during the winter average daytime temps are in the 70's. However, temps can drop below 40 at night if a cold blast from Canada sweeps down to the sunshine state!

Glad to have you with us!
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Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Security Leader Anne Kuhns Wins Information Security Executive (ISE) of the Year Southeast Award(TM) 2007

Executive Alliance, creator and provider of premium leadership-recognition forums, announced today that Anne Kuhns, Senior Manager, IT Risk Management, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, has been named the winner of the prestigious Information Security Executive (ISE) of the Year Southeast Award 2007.

Ms. Kuhns was selected by the judges for her collaborative, comprehensive and passionate approach to leading security efforts across a large and diverse employee base. She and eighteen other nominees from Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee were honored at a gala awards ceremony held during the Executive Alliance Leadership Summit Featuring the ISE Southeast Awards. The two-day event was held at the Sheraton Atlanta Downtown Hotel and drew information security executives from across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. (Source: Press Release, 03/26/07)

"Anne Kuhns may not know you personally, but your personal information is her business. As the senior manager of IT Risk Management at Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts, Kuhns helps protect the privacy of more than 59,000 Disney employees and millions of theme park visitors." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/27/07)
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MONEY SAVING COUPON

Get $2.00 off any 16" pizza at Papa John's in Kissimmee, Lake Buena Vista, Turkey Lake or Four Corners with this coupon.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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