Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation
THE DISNEY NEWS
September 26, 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 blog
content to My Yahoo! Add My Yahoo!
: You can also subscribe to our blog at MSN!
Add to My MSN!
=================================================
Hi Everyone!
NOTE: The deadline for booking the Disney Promotion for the General Public for check-ins October - December, 2007 is today, September 26!
Now on with the show...
In this blog...
* Deals and specials - Walt Disney World military discount, Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resorts discounts, Disney cruise discounts, SeaWorld's Discovery Cove discount, 4 discounted Caribbean cruises and 13 discounted European cruises with this popular cruise line
* The latest news from around the "World" - Captain Jack Sparrow is now appearing at the Magic Kingdom
* Fun, creative new restaurants take Epcot dining into the future
* Beth writes about changes to boarding procedures at Southwest
* 25 remarkable facts about Epcot
* TJ spent 8 days at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
* National Treasures comes to the American Adventure at Epcot
* This week's coupon - watch 'em feed the chickens to the alligators!
=================================================
NEW THIS WEEK
WALT DISNEY WORLD
New Disney discount program for the military!
Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resorts discount codes for select nights September 28 - December 23, 2007.
--------------------------------
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
27 discounted Disney cruises starting at $389!
--------------------------------
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
Save 15% at SeaWorld's Discovery Cove on select dates now through the first week in March, 2008 with this discount code.
--------------------------------
CARIBBEAN CRUISES
Rates as low as $399! Bring your kids along for FREE!
Western Caribbean - 7 Nights - Sailing Date: Jan. 6. From Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to: Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands.
Eastern Caribbean - 7 Nights - Sailing Dates: Dec. 2, 16. From Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to: San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Catalina Island and Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic; Nassau, Bahamas.
Southeastern Caribbean - 7 Nights - Sailing Date: Dec. 9. From Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to: San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Maarten, Leeward Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Nassau, Bahamas.
EUROPEAN CRUISES
10- and 11-night winter Mediterranean sailings from only $799!
Egypt/Turkey/Greece - 11 Nights - Sailing Dates: Jan. 5, 16, 27 and February 7, 18, 29 (Easter). From Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy to: Savona (Genoa), Italy; Katakolon and Piraeus (Athens), Greece; Izmir, Turkey; Rhodes, Greece
Canary Islands - 10 Nights - Sailing Date: Dec. 7. From Savona (Genoa), Italy to: Barcelona, Spain; Casablanca, Morocco; St. Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands; Funchal, Madeira; Malaga, Spain
Canary Islands - 11 Nights - Sailing Dates: Nov. 26, 2007 and Jan. 7, 18, 29, Feb. 9, 20, 2008. From Savona (Genoa), Italy to: Barcelona, Spain; Casablanca, Morocco; Arrecife and St. Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands; Funchal, Madeira; Malaga, Spain
=================================================
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
>> Several ways to win a Walt Disney World/Florida vacation!
>> Holiday specials at the Downtown Disney Resort Hotels!
>> Disney Visa Card Special for October-December, 2007!
>> Annual Pass and Florida Resident Specials for October-December, 2007!
>> Exclusively from one of our providers: UK visitors get their 6th Night FREE when they stay at the Walt Disney World Resorts!
>> FREE meals for Kids at these resorts on Disney property!
>> FREE Customized Park Maps for Walt Disney World!
>> 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
>> Save up to 30% at Universal's Portofino, Hard Rock and These teachers receive a FREE ticket to both Universal Orlando theme parks
>> Book your Tee Times at this site where rates start at $69
>> Florida residents save $80.00 on day visits to this Orlando venue
>> All you can eat at Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure for less than $20
>> 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
>> Three nights from $389!
>> Four nights from $449!
>> Seven nights Land & Sea from $799!
>> This group receives a $50 onboard credit!
>> Discounts for Florida residents and the military - rates too low to publish!
--------------------------------
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
>> Win a Disneyland/Southern California vacation!
>> Fourth Night Free at Disneyland Hotels!
>> Save up to $40.00 per ticket to Disneyland California!
--------------------------------
DISNEYLAND PARIS
>> Discover the secret to getting FREE admission!
>> Stay one night get one night FREE!
>> Kids under 7 stay FREE!
--------------------------------
VEGAS
>> Specials at the Bellagio, MGM Grand, New York-New York, Mirage, Treasure Island and Venetian. Low rates - sometimes as low as $79 per night - dining discounts, show tickets, FREE room upgrades, FREE spa admission, and FREE play money are not uncommon.
--------------------------------
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
>> Cruise discounts, FREE upgrades, kids travel FREE!
>> Inexpensive Shore Excursions and Tours!
--------------------------------
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
--------------------------------
"From Disney's fairy godmother to Florida trade officials to university recruiters, Americans are pitching Canadians on the price benefits of our currency at par with the U.S. dollar for the first time in 31 years." (Source: thestar.com, 09/25/07)
--------------------------------
"Jim Hill directs your attention to Lionsgate International LLC, a corporation that's now trying to insert itself in the negotiations that Disney typically holds with countries that are interested in sponsoring new Epcot pavilions." (Source: jimhillmedia.com, 09/25/07)
--------------------------------
"Walt Disney Co. and KB Home have signed an exclusive marketing agreement to feature Disney-branded home furnishing products in developments throughout the nation, including Orlando, it will be announced today." Stop by any KB home community in Central Florida during the next two months and enter to win a Disney decorated bedroom. (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 09/26/07)
--------------------------------
"If you've noticed extra vats of eyeliner being carried into Disney World's Magic Kingdom lately, it's because Captain Jack Sparrow from Disney's megapopular 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movie series has been appearing daily in Adventureland." (Source: blogs.orlandosentinel.com, 09/25/07)
--------------------------------
"Walt Disney Co.'s corporate training arm, the Disney Institute, is training airport employees to help the much-maligned Miami airport improve its customer service." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 09/22/07)
--------------------------------
"With the surprise announcement Wednesday of a $10 million gift from Walt Disney World, Florida Hospital made it clear that the competition to operate a world-class pediatric hospital in Orlando is now a three-way contest." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 09/20/07)
--------------------------------
Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
=================================================
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
"Cypress Gardens Adventure Park, the oldest theme park in Florida, was sold in Macon, Ga., for $16.8 million, Ward Stone, a bankruptcy lawyer for Valdosta-based Adventure Parks Group LLC told The Ledger newspaper in Lakeland." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 09/25/07)
--------------------------------
"Which credit card companies or debit cards give the best exchange rate (from dollars to euros) and/or the best transaction fee?... A handful of credit and debit cards don't ding you for using them. Check out bankrate.com." (Source: Orlando Sentinel
, 09/20/07)
--------------------------------
"British Airways will add three flights a week between Orlando and London's Gatwick Airport, the airline announced Wednesday, continuing a flurry of international expansion at Orlando International Airport." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 09/20/07)
=================================================
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
Disney's HalloweenTime is now in full swing. "Candy corn will sprout from a plaza at Disney's California Adventure. Villains, incuding Cruella De Vil and Captain Hook, will roam theme park lanes..." (Source: ocregister.com, 09/20/07)
--------------------------------
Disneyland Resort Calendar
=================================================
DISNEYLAND TOKYO
Click here for links to amateur videos of rides and attractions at Disney's park in Tokyo.
=================================================
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.
=================================================
Fun, Creative New Restaurants Take Epcot Dining Into the Future
When Epcot debuted in 1982, the World Showcase pavilions pioneered the idea of global cuisine as a theme park attraction in itself, and expanded fine dining in Central Florida.
Now for the park's 25th birthday, Epcot is unwrapping the biggest makeover in World Showcase history, with grand new dining experiences that truly raise the bar with exciting restaurants, diverse menus and redesigned settings to wow guests with something fresh and different.
Here's what's on the front burner:
# Patina Group's Tutto Italia Ristorante just opened in the Italy pavilion. Another new restaurant in the same space is planned for late 2008.
# In October, the Japan pavilion debuts Tokyo Dining and Teppan Edo, a dramatic redevelopment of their dining rooms.
# China's Nine Dragons Restaurant closes in early 2008 to create a new dining room with five cooking stations, reopening in late 2008.
# By summer 2008, a new tequila bar opens adjacent to San Angel Inn Restaurante in the Mexico pavilion, and the outdoor Cantina de San Angel expands, with more seating and a new menu.
Collaborating with chefs and restaurateurs from around the world, such as France's celebrated trio of Paul Bocuse, Roger Verger and Gaston Lenôtre at Chefs de France, and Joachim Splichal's just-opened Tutto Italia Ristorante, the Epcot restaurants are premiere attractions at Walt Disney World Resort. From a spirited mariachi band and mole poblano in Mexico to belly dancing and spicy bastilla in Morocco, World Showcase offers gustatory globe-trotting -- all in easy walking distance.
"There's not another theme park in the world with such diverse dining adventures," said Rilous Carter, general manager of Epcot Food & Beverage. "The idea is to immerse our guests in traditional cultures, but with contemporary experiences."
As Epcot celebrates its silver anniversary, the Walt Disney World culinary team is unwrapping all-new dining concepts, and expanding and renovating longtime favorites. And menus are being rewritten with lighter, fresher, more healthful cuisine.
"World Showcase is timeless, and continually evolving with more interactive experiences," said Dieter Hannig, vice president of Food & Beverage New Concepts. "As our world grows smaller, Epcot grows more exciting, more authentic. The dreams and ideas are endless."
Explore Italy's Cuisine at Tutto Italia Ristorante
In the Italy pavilion, Tutto Italia ("everything Italian") Ristorante is the newest restaurant for California-based Patina Group. Showcasing cuisine from different regions of Italy, the newly outfitted restaurant features a bustling open-kitchen kitchen and a menu with freshly made breads and pastries, handmade mozzarella and pasta and an array of Italian wines.
"My inspiration for Tutto Italia was the incredible variety of cuisines that I have enjoyed during my visits to Italy," said Chef Joachim Splichal. "I wanted to distill that experience and create a restaurant with some of my favorite dishes."
Meals start with a complimentary starter, or assaggini, that includes vegetables, bruschetta, crostini and olives served with bread. Special features include the "Abbondanza Family Table" with family-style platters for sharing at lunch and dinner. Tutto Italia also has an outdoor kiosk and a gelati cart.
Tutto Italia Ristorante is the latest addition to Patina Group's portfolio of nearly 30 restaurants and its first in Florida, with plans to open another restaurant in the same space at Epcot by late 2008.
All-New Dining at Japan
Just unveiled on the top floor of the Japan pavilion is the all-new Tokyo Dining, and beautifully redesigned teppanyaki dining rooms, renamed Teppan Edo.
"This is not a renovation, but a complete redevelopment," said Yutaro Iwamura, director of business for Mitsukoshi USA. With sleek interiors and stylish new costuming for chefs and servers, both restaurants infuse authentic Japanese hospitality with a dash of hipness.
The popular teppanyaki rooms feature show-style cooking and upscale cuisine such as Wagyu and Kobe beef, along with traditional teppan dishes. Tokyo Dining (formerly the tempura bar and adjoining lounge) is a 140-seat dining room with a centerpiece "show stage" where diners can watch the sushi chefs in action. Nearly 50 varieties of sushi and sashimi and six varieties of sake are on the menu, along with tempura and grilled steaks and seafood.
Japan is one of several operating partners at Epcot who make the dining experience magical.
"These operating participants bring expertise and authenticity to Walt Disney World," said Keith Bradford, vice president of Operating Participants. "Particularly in World Showcase, these professional restaurateurs bring a diverse perspective to the park experience."
China's New Exhibition Kitchen
In China, a new Joy of Tea outdoor cart features hot and cold teas, trendy frozen green tea concoctions and alcoholic drinks such as plum wine and wine green tea slush. The pavilion's Lotus Blossom Café has been renovated and features a new menu that includes Beijing barbecue chicken, sesame chicken salad and rou jia mo, a popular Chinese sandwich made with sliced beef stuffed in toasted wheat-flour flatbread.
China's Nine Dragons table-service restaurant will close in early 2008 to make way for an innovative dining room that will feature five cooking stations where guests can interact with chefs from China. Scheduled opening is fall 2008.
Changes All Around World Showcase
In the Mexico pavilion, a 50- to 60-seat tequila bar, including a history of the beverage, replaces a retail shop adjacent to the restaurant, opening in summer 2008. Also in summer 2008, the pavilion's waterfront Cantina de San Angel is expanding with more seating with optimal views of World Showcase, and will offer a new menu.
Plans are under way to expand outdoor seating at the popular Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room, with covered waterfront dining that's optimal for viewing the nightly "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth" fireworks show.
The expanding roster of international chefs joining the Epcot culinary team includes Chef Damien Besson, who comes from Chef Paul Bocuse's L'abbaye de Collonge in Lyon, France. And Artur Bukalo, a native of Berlin, Germany, is the new chef at Germany's Biergarten Restaurant.
While restaurant menus are redesigned to reflect tastes and trends, there's special emphasis on fresh, seasonal creations, said Epcot Executive Chef Christine Weissman. And like the rest of Walt Disney World Resort, trans fats and partially hydrogenated oils are being phased out of all restaurants.
"Our guests know more than ever about food and wine," said Weissman. "They are health-conscious and looking for new taste sensations -- our fun challenge is to exceed their expectations."
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
Adding even more diversity to the mix for dining experiences is the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, in its 12th year. The six-week-long festival adds more than 25 international marketplaces with tapas-sized tastes of food from around the world, from the Dominican Republic to Turkey.
The Epcot festival has grown dramatically, attracting a diverse audience of more than 1 million guests each fall, from wine connoisseurs and epicures to neophytes primed to boost their wine IQs. Beer aficionados can raise their steins at several tasting locations.
"There's no other festival environment in the world like ours," said festival manager Nora Carey. "From the picturesque World Showcase Lagoon to the authentic architecture that showcases many cultures, it's an ideal backdrop for the exceptional culinary and wine-related talent of Walt Disney World Resort and for the great celebrity chefs and wine connoisseurs who join us each year." (Source: Press Release, 09/17/07)
=================================================
Southwest to change boarding procedures in November
Beth, our travel agent, writes:
"After months of experimenting with different seating strategies, Southwest Airlines today says it's sticking with its open seating policy - however, it is tweaking its boarding process to eliminate the need to line up before boarding. We'd like to know what Southwest fans - and non-fans - think about this.
Here's what you'll see starting in early November:
When you check in for your flight, Southwest will automatically give you a place in boarding group A, B or C and a numerical position within your group. The A and B groups will be expanded to 60 passengers each, which means they'll include most of the 137 passengers.
At the gate, a tall post will let you know when it's your turn to board, so you won't have to stand in line to secure your place. Expect to see a sign that says, 'B: 15-20' or 'A: 25-30.'"
=================================================
Epcot Fun Facts
October 2007 marks the 25th anniversary of the Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World Resort. Following are 25 remarkable facts about Epcot:
* It took nearly 3,000 designers and 4,000 construction workers to build the first phase of Epcot.
* 54 million cubic feet of dirt was excavated to build the park.
* Epcot had its soft opening Sept. 28, 1982, at 4 p.m.
* Spaceship Earth, the visual and thematic centerpiece of Epcot, weighs 16 million pounds, measures 165 feet in diameter and encompasses 2.2 million cubic feet of space. The outer "skin" of Spaceship Earth is made up of 11,324 aluminum and plastic-alloy triangles.
* At Spaceship Earth, Mickey Mouse is hidden in his own constellation just beyond the attraction's loading area.
* The fountain at Epcot Innoventions Plaza can shoot water 150 feet in the air -- within 30 feet of the top of Spaceship Earth. If all of the shooters were fired at once, there would be 2,000 gallons of water in the air.
* The ride technology for the Soarin' attraction was based on an erector set model created by Walt Disney Imagineer Mark Sumner. One million pounds of steel provides the ride structure and 37 tons are lifted during each ride cycle.
* It took more than 650 Walt Disney Imagineers more than 350,000 hours (the equivalent of 40 years of time) to develop Mission: SPACE. The Imagineers' efforts took place over a five-year period.
* At Mission: SPACE, there are 13 quotes by space explorers and visionaries on the attraction's wall of honor. The most recent was added in September 2007 by teacher-turned-astronaut Barbara Morgan, reading "Reach for your dreams . . . the sky is no limit."
* At nearly a mile long and reaching a top speed of 65 mph, Test Track is the longest and fastest ride at a Walt Disney World theme park.
* The body of water at The Seas with Nemo & Friends provides a home to 3,000 fish and other sea creatures and contains 5.7 million gallons of water, one of the largest man-made ocean environments in the world.
* More than 30 tons of fruits and vegetables grown at The Land pavilion each year are served in Walt Disney World restaurants.
* The Land has a "tomato tree" that is the only one of its kind in the United States. The massive plant has produced a world-record harvest of more than 32,000 tomatoes from a single vine.
* World Showcase promenade stretches 1.2 miles and World Showcase Lagoon spans 40 acres.
* The gardens of Epcot are among the most extensive at Walt Disney World Resort. The themed landscapes are maintained year-round by a horticulture staff of more than 50.
* At United Kingdom's Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room in World Showcase, a specially designed ale warmer can heat your Guinness to 55 degrees, the temperature favored by Brits.
* 26.2 miles of bratwurst are served every 60 days at the Biergarten restaurant in the Germany pavilion. That, by the way, is the length of a marathon.
* The Eiffel Tower replica in the France pavilion is 103 feet tall.
* The castle in Japan is a replica of the Shirasagi-Jo, a 17th century fortress overlooking the city of Himeji, known as one of the most well-preserved castles in Japan.
* A Disney crew carried a 300-pound camera up 4,500 steps of the Huangshan Mountain in the Annui Province to film the Circle-Vision 360 film seen in the China pavilion.
* From bonsai to roses, there's something for every gardening guru at the annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Disney horticulturists rotate the crops twice during the festival to keep the 30 million blossoms colorful and fresh.
* Each year at the annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, more than 33,000 bottles of wine and champagne are uncorked, 1.2 million hors d'oeuvre plates are served and 100,000 miniature desserts are dished up.
* More than 26,000 feet of lights outline the World Showcase pavilions for the "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth" nightly fireworks show -- a string long enough to stretch across the Golden Gate Bridge more than six times.
* Earth Globe is a 28-foot-diameter sphere on World Showcase Lagoon and the centerpiece of "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth." The globe weighs 350,000 pounds and is wrapped in more than 180,000 Light Emitting Diodes arranged in the shape of Earth's continents.
* Some 2,800 firework shells are used during each "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth" show. (Source: Press Release, 09/21/07)
=================================================
TJ writes:
"Hi Beth,
We arrived back home last weekend and wanted to thank you for part you played in making it such a wonderful vacation. The entire 3-week trip was wonderful, but the 8 days we spent at the Animal Kingdom Lodge was the highlight especially for me.
Arriving at the AKL, our tickets from [your travel agent] were waiting at the front desk and the room was exactly what we had requested. Savanna view with bunkbeds. The kids were thrilled! We were overlooking the Uzima Savanna in a Zebra Trail room, which was separate from the large savanna at the rear of the hotel, called the Aresha Rock Savanna. Each has its own set of different animals, although both savannas have three giraffes. The Sunset Savanna, which is closest to the construction has been closed and the animals have been temporarily removed. We were on the opposite side and did not hear any construction noise at all. We could view the one savanna from our room and then walk across the hall to an observation deck and get a view of a different savanna with different animals, so we had the best of both worlds.
FYI, the room wasn't quite perfect for our needs. All across the country we stayed in inexpensive hotel chains, but there was always a fridge and microwave and free WI-Fi internet. Not at AKL, though. There was a fridge, but no microwave, which would have been handy for re-heating the restaurant leftovers, and the high-speed internet costs an extra $10 per day! If we were planning another long stay there, I would bring in a small microwave. Other than that, it started to feel like home. The staff was wonderful, from housekeeping to lobby to the interns from Africa. We met some very interesting people and learned a little about their countries and lives back home.
Anyway, thank you so much for the effort you put in on our behalf. This was a trip which we will long remember."
Beth writes:
"TJ, thanks so much for letting me know what a great time you had. I'm really happy to hear that you enjoyed it all so much. I agree that a small microwave would be a nice touch, but I think you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned that it's an amenity common in inexpensive hotels. Those places seem to recognize that travelers on a budget also have a dining budget and might choose a hotel based on little perks like a frig and microwave.
Disney also is catching onto that concept, and within the last few years has made a small refrigerator standard in all moderate and deluxe resort rooms as well as the DVC villas and the family suites at All Star Music (where you'll also find a microwave!).
Sadly, though, they caught on rather late to the idea that many travelers these days, even those on vacation, require internet access. Wi-Fi is still scarce on Disney properties, and even high-speed internet was VERY slow to spread down to the lower-priced resorts. All of the Disney resorts do, however, now have high-speed access - but as you mentioned, it's for a price. That's very common in luxury hotels, though. (Watch out if you take a cruise... Most ships these days do offer access, but the rates can set you back hundreds of dollars on a week-long cruise and the access is both intermittent at best and slower than molasses!)
Anyway, it was wonderful to work with you. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have future travel needs - to Disney or beyond! Thanks for your business!"
=================================================
Hats Off to America! National Treasures Comes to The American Adventure at Epcot
One of the most amazing collections of real-life Americana ever assembled -- National Treasures -- arrives Sept. 28. It's located inside the landmark Epcot attraction at the center of World Showcase, a place where Walt Disney World guests can become completely immersed in the astonishing authenticity and culture of eleven great nations.
"These are the jewels of museums and foundations all over the country, all gathered in one place," said Jim Clark, Walt Disney Imagineering Ambassador Representative and one of the team members designing National Treasures. "You'll see one of Abraham Lincoln's actual stovepipe hats, which has never been publicly exhibited outside of the Lincoln family home in Manchester, Vt. "We're also presenting many of Lincoln's personal items, like the book of Lord Byron poetry that inspired his second inaugural address and his dressing room mirror -- where he probably took his last glimpse of himself before he went off to Ford's Theatre."
The National Treasures collection will also be continually changed, so guests never know when they'll see something new. They'll see pieces of history that actually changed the world.
Some are well-known artifacts; others are the little things that played huge roles in making major breakthroughs. One of the most inspiring examples of this is one of the microscopes George Washington Carver used to help revolutionize American agriculture.
In addition to Dr. Carver, Americans from diverse backgrounds will be celebrated, including items from the lives of Rosa Parks and Jackie Robinson. An entire section devoted to the space program will feature the flight vest of Native American Commander John Herrington. The actual Purple Heart medal awarded to Japanese-American World War II hero Sen. Daniel Inouye can also be seen.
A number of Thomas Edison's original inventions will also be on display -- inventions that affect the way we live today. They include one of the last surviving original Tin Foil Cylinder Players that were created to demonstrate recorded sound to people who had never imagined it before. An innovation that leads all the way to today's MP3 players. The Edison portion is also one of the largest in the National Treasures exhibit because of the sheer size of some of the inventions. According to Clark, "The motion picture projector is so gigantic, it will barely fit it in the case."
The exhibition will feature more than 40 spectacular and unique artifacts on loan to Epcot from a variety of prestigious institutions and private lenders: Hildene (the Lincoln family home), The Mark Twain House & Museum, The Henry Ford, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Keeper of the Word Foundation, Gregory J. Reed Esq., Sen. Daniel K. Inouye and Commander John B. Herrington. To avoid risking damage to the originals, some documents are reproductions and labeled as such. (Source: Press Release, 09/18/07)
=================================================
MONEY SAVING COUPON
Gatorland
14501 South Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando, FL 32837
Phone: 407/855-5496
Toll Free: 800/393-JAWS
Save $5.00 on your next visit OR save 50% when you visit after 3 PM with this coupon.
=================================================
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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 Disney Movies and CD's
Save 40-70% on your favorite Disney Movie or CD! Cheap shipping, too! Click here.
--------------------------------
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 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.
=============================================
September 26, 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!
NOTE: The deadline for booking the Disney Promotion for the General Public for check-ins October - December, 2007 is today, September 26!
Now on with the show...
In this blog...
* Deals and specials - Walt Disney World military discount, Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resorts discounts, Disney cruise discounts, SeaWorld's Discovery Cove discount, 4 discounted Caribbean cruises and 13 discounted European cruises with this popular cruise line
* The latest news from around the "World" - Captain Jack Sparrow is now appearing at the Magic Kingdom
* Fun, creative new restaurants take Epcot dining into the future
* Beth writes about changes to boarding procedures at Southwest
* 25 remarkable facts about Epcot
* TJ spent 8 days at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
* National Treasures comes to the American Adventure at Epcot
* This week's coupon - watch 'em feed the chickens to the alligators!
=================================================
NEW THIS WEEK
WALT DISNEY WORLD
New Disney discount program for the military!
Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resorts discount codes for select nights September 28 - December 23, 2007.
--------------------------------
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
27 discounted Disney cruises starting at $389!
--------------------------------
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
Save 15% at SeaWorld's Discovery Cove on select dates now through the first week in March, 2008 with this discount code.
--------------------------------
CARIBBEAN CRUISES
Rates as low as $399! Bring your kids along for FREE!
Western Caribbean - 7 Nights - Sailing Date: Jan. 6. From Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to: Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands.
Eastern Caribbean - 7 Nights - Sailing Dates: Dec. 2, 16. From Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to: San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Catalina Island and Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic; Nassau, Bahamas.
Southeastern Caribbean - 7 Nights - Sailing Date: Dec. 9. From Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to: San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Maarten, Leeward Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Nassau, Bahamas.
EUROPEAN CRUISES
10- and 11-night winter Mediterranean sailings from only $799!
Egypt/Turkey/Greece - 11 Nights - Sailing Dates: Jan. 5, 16, 27 and February 7, 18, 29 (Easter). From Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy to: Savona (Genoa), Italy; Katakolon and Piraeus (Athens), Greece; Izmir, Turkey; Rhodes, Greece
Canary Islands - 10 Nights - Sailing Date: Dec. 7. From Savona (Genoa), Italy to: Barcelona, Spain; Casablanca, Morocco; St. Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands; Funchal, Madeira; Malaga, Spain
Canary Islands - 11 Nights - Sailing Dates: Nov. 26, 2007 and Jan. 7, 18, 29, Feb. 9, 20, 2008. From Savona (Genoa), Italy to: Barcelona, Spain; Casablanca, Morocco; Arrecife and St. Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands; Funchal, Madeira; Malaga, Spain
=================================================
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
>> Several ways to win a Walt Disney World/Florida vacation!
>> Holiday specials at the Downtown Disney Resort Hotels!
>> Disney Visa Card Special for October-December, 2007!
>> Annual Pass and Florida Resident Specials for October-December, 2007!
>> Exclusively from one of our providers: UK visitors get their 6th Night FREE when they stay at the Walt Disney World Resorts!
>> FREE meals for Kids at these resorts on Disney property!
>> FREE Customized Park Maps for Walt Disney World!
>> 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
>> Save up to 30% at Universal's Portofino, Hard Rock and These teachers receive a FREE ticket to both Universal Orlando theme parks
>> Book your Tee Times at this site where rates start at $69
>> Florida residents save $80.00 on day visits to this Orlando venue
>> All you can eat at Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure for less than $20
>> 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
>> Three nights from $389!
>> Four nights from $449!
>> Seven nights Land & Sea from $799!
>> This group receives a $50 onboard credit!
>> Discounts for Florida residents and the military - rates too low to publish!
--------------------------------
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
>> Win a Disneyland/Southern California vacation!
>> Fourth Night Free at Disneyland Hotels!
>> Save up to $40.00 per ticket to Disneyland California!
--------------------------------
DISNEYLAND PARIS
>> Discover the secret to getting FREE admission!
>> Stay one night get one night FREE!
>> Kids under 7 stay FREE!
--------------------------------
VEGAS
>> Specials at the Bellagio, MGM Grand, New York-New York, Mirage, Treasure Island and Venetian. Low rates - sometimes as low as $79 per night - dining discounts, show tickets, FREE room upgrades, FREE spa admission, and FREE play money are not uncommon.
--------------------------------
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
>> Cruise discounts, FREE upgrades, kids travel FREE!
>> Inexpensive Shore Excursions and Tours!
--------------------------------
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
--------------------------------
"From Disney's fairy godmother to Florida trade officials to university recruiters, Americans are pitching Canadians on the price benefits of our currency at par with the U.S. dollar for the first time in 31 years." (Source: thestar.com, 09/25/07)
--------------------------------
"Jim Hill directs your attention to Lionsgate International LLC, a corporation that's now trying to insert itself in the negotiations that Disney typically holds with countries that are interested in sponsoring new Epcot pavilions." (Source: jimhillmedia.com, 09/25/07)
--------------------------------
"Walt Disney Co. and KB Home have signed an exclusive marketing agreement to feature Disney-branded home furnishing products in developments throughout the nation, including Orlando, it will be announced today." Stop by any KB home community in Central Florida during the next two months and enter to win a Disney decorated bedroom. (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 09/26/07)
--------------------------------
"If you've noticed extra vats of eyeliner being carried into Disney World's Magic Kingdom lately, it's because Captain Jack Sparrow from Disney's megapopular 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movie series has been appearing daily in Adventureland." (Source: blogs.orlandosentinel.com, 09/25/07)
--------------------------------
"Walt Disney Co.'s corporate training arm, the Disney Institute, is training airport employees to help the much-maligned Miami airport improve its customer service." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 09/22/07)
--------------------------------
"With the surprise announcement Wednesday of a $10 million gift from Walt Disney World, Florida Hospital made it clear that the competition to operate a world-class pediatric hospital in Orlando is now a three-way contest." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 09/20/07)
--------------------------------
Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
=================================================
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
"Cypress Gardens Adventure Park, the oldest theme park in Florida, was sold in Macon, Ga., for $16.8 million, Ward Stone, a bankruptcy lawyer for Valdosta-based Adventure Parks Group LLC told The Ledger newspaper in Lakeland." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 09/25/07)
--------------------------------
"Which credit card companies or debit cards give the best exchange rate (from dollars to euros) and/or the best transaction fee?... A handful of credit and debit cards don't ding you for using them. Check out bankrate.com." (Source: Orlando Sentinel
, 09/20/07)
--------------------------------
"British Airways will add three flights a week between Orlando and London's Gatwick Airport, the airline announced Wednesday, continuing a flurry of international expansion at Orlando International Airport." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 09/20/07)
=================================================
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
Disney's HalloweenTime is now in full swing. "Candy corn will sprout from a plaza at Disney's California Adventure. Villains, incuding Cruella De Vil and Captain Hook, will roam theme park lanes..." (Source: ocregister.com, 09/20/07)
--------------------------------
Disneyland Resort Calendar
=================================================
DISNEYLAND TOKYO
Click here for links to amateur videos of rides and attractions at Disney's park in Tokyo.
=================================================
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.
=================================================
Fun, Creative New Restaurants Take Epcot Dining Into the Future
When Epcot debuted in 1982, the World Showcase pavilions pioneered the idea of global cuisine as a theme park attraction in itself, and expanded fine dining in Central Florida.
Now for the park's 25th birthday, Epcot is unwrapping the biggest makeover in World Showcase history, with grand new dining experiences that truly raise the bar with exciting restaurants, diverse menus and redesigned settings to wow guests with something fresh and different.
Here's what's on the front burner:
# Patina Group's Tutto Italia Ristorante just opened in the Italy pavilion. Another new restaurant in the same space is planned for late 2008.
# In October, the Japan pavilion debuts Tokyo Dining and Teppan Edo, a dramatic redevelopment of their dining rooms.
# China's Nine Dragons Restaurant closes in early 2008 to create a new dining room with five cooking stations, reopening in late 2008.
# By summer 2008, a new tequila bar opens adjacent to San Angel Inn Restaurante in the Mexico pavilion, and the outdoor Cantina de San Angel expands, with more seating and a new menu.
Collaborating with chefs and restaurateurs from around the world, such as France's celebrated trio of Paul Bocuse, Roger Verger and Gaston Lenôtre at Chefs de France, and Joachim Splichal's just-opened Tutto Italia Ristorante, the Epcot restaurants are premiere attractions at Walt Disney World Resort. From a spirited mariachi band and mole poblano in Mexico to belly dancing and spicy bastilla in Morocco, World Showcase offers gustatory globe-trotting -- all in easy walking distance.
"There's not another theme park in the world with such diverse dining adventures," said Rilous Carter, general manager of Epcot Food & Beverage. "The idea is to immerse our guests in traditional cultures, but with contemporary experiences."
As Epcot celebrates its silver anniversary, the Walt Disney World culinary team is unwrapping all-new dining concepts, and expanding and renovating longtime favorites. And menus are being rewritten with lighter, fresher, more healthful cuisine.
"World Showcase is timeless, and continually evolving with more interactive experiences," said Dieter Hannig, vice president of Food & Beverage New Concepts. "As our world grows smaller, Epcot grows more exciting, more authentic. The dreams and ideas are endless."
Explore Italy's Cuisine at Tutto Italia Ristorante
In the Italy pavilion, Tutto Italia ("everything Italian") Ristorante is the newest restaurant for California-based Patina Group. Showcasing cuisine from different regions of Italy, the newly outfitted restaurant features a bustling open-kitchen kitchen and a menu with freshly made breads and pastries, handmade mozzarella and pasta and an array of Italian wines.
"My inspiration for Tutto Italia was the incredible variety of cuisines that I have enjoyed during my visits to Italy," said Chef Joachim Splichal. "I wanted to distill that experience and create a restaurant with some of my favorite dishes."
Meals start with a complimentary starter, or assaggini, that includes vegetables, bruschetta, crostini and olives served with bread. Special features include the "Abbondanza Family Table" with family-style platters for sharing at lunch and dinner. Tutto Italia also has an outdoor kiosk and a gelati cart.
Tutto Italia Ristorante is the latest addition to Patina Group's portfolio of nearly 30 restaurants and its first in Florida, with plans to open another restaurant in the same space at Epcot by late 2008.
All-New Dining at Japan
Just unveiled on the top floor of the Japan pavilion is the all-new Tokyo Dining, and beautifully redesigned teppanyaki dining rooms, renamed Teppan Edo.
"This is not a renovation, but a complete redevelopment," said Yutaro Iwamura, director of business for Mitsukoshi USA. With sleek interiors and stylish new costuming for chefs and servers, both restaurants infuse authentic Japanese hospitality with a dash of hipness.
The popular teppanyaki rooms feature show-style cooking and upscale cuisine such as Wagyu and Kobe beef, along with traditional teppan dishes. Tokyo Dining (formerly the tempura bar and adjoining lounge) is a 140-seat dining room with a centerpiece "show stage" where diners can watch the sushi chefs in action. Nearly 50 varieties of sushi and sashimi and six varieties of sake are on the menu, along with tempura and grilled steaks and seafood.
Japan is one of several operating partners at Epcot who make the dining experience magical.
"These operating participants bring expertise and authenticity to Walt Disney World," said Keith Bradford, vice president of Operating Participants. "Particularly in World Showcase, these professional restaurateurs bring a diverse perspective to the park experience."
China's New Exhibition Kitchen
In China, a new Joy of Tea outdoor cart features hot and cold teas, trendy frozen green tea concoctions and alcoholic drinks such as plum wine and wine green tea slush. The pavilion's Lotus Blossom Café has been renovated and features a new menu that includes Beijing barbecue chicken, sesame chicken salad and rou jia mo, a popular Chinese sandwich made with sliced beef stuffed in toasted wheat-flour flatbread.
China's Nine Dragons table-service restaurant will close in early 2008 to make way for an innovative dining room that will feature five cooking stations where guests can interact with chefs from China. Scheduled opening is fall 2008.
Changes All Around World Showcase
In the Mexico pavilion, a 50- to 60-seat tequila bar, including a history of the beverage, replaces a retail shop adjacent to the restaurant, opening in summer 2008. Also in summer 2008, the pavilion's waterfront Cantina de San Angel is expanding with more seating with optimal views of World Showcase, and will offer a new menu.
Plans are under way to expand outdoor seating at the popular Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room, with covered waterfront dining that's optimal for viewing the nightly "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth" fireworks show.
The expanding roster of international chefs joining the Epcot culinary team includes Chef Damien Besson, who comes from Chef Paul Bocuse's L'abbaye de Collonge in Lyon, France. And Artur Bukalo, a native of Berlin, Germany, is the new chef at Germany's Biergarten Restaurant.
While restaurant menus are redesigned to reflect tastes and trends, there's special emphasis on fresh, seasonal creations, said Epcot Executive Chef Christine Weissman. And like the rest of Walt Disney World Resort, trans fats and partially hydrogenated oils are being phased out of all restaurants.
"Our guests know more than ever about food and wine," said Weissman. "They are health-conscious and looking for new taste sensations -- our fun challenge is to exceed their expectations."
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
Adding even more diversity to the mix for dining experiences is the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, in its 12th year. The six-week-long festival adds more than 25 international marketplaces with tapas-sized tastes of food from around the world, from the Dominican Republic to Turkey.
The Epcot festival has grown dramatically, attracting a diverse audience of more than 1 million guests each fall, from wine connoisseurs and epicures to neophytes primed to boost their wine IQs. Beer aficionados can raise their steins at several tasting locations.
"There's no other festival environment in the world like ours," said festival manager Nora Carey. "From the picturesque World Showcase Lagoon to the authentic architecture that showcases many cultures, it's an ideal backdrop for the exceptional culinary and wine-related talent of Walt Disney World Resort and for the great celebrity chefs and wine connoisseurs who join us each year." (Source: Press Release, 09/17/07)
=================================================
Southwest to change boarding procedures in November
Beth, our travel agent, writes:
"After months of experimenting with different seating strategies, Southwest Airlines today says it's sticking with its open seating policy - however, it is tweaking its boarding process to eliminate the need to line up before boarding. We'd like to know what Southwest fans - and non-fans - think about this.
Here's what you'll see starting in early November:
When you check in for your flight, Southwest will automatically give you a place in boarding group A, B or C and a numerical position within your group. The A and B groups will be expanded to 60 passengers each, which means they'll include most of the 137 passengers.
At the gate, a tall post will let you know when it's your turn to board, so you won't have to stand in line to secure your place. Expect to see a sign that says, 'B: 15-20' or 'A: 25-30.'"
=================================================
Epcot Fun Facts
October 2007 marks the 25th anniversary of the Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World Resort. Following are 25 remarkable facts about Epcot:
* It took nearly 3,000 designers and 4,000 construction workers to build the first phase of Epcot.
* 54 million cubic feet of dirt was excavated to build the park.
* Epcot had its soft opening Sept. 28, 1982, at 4 p.m.
* Spaceship Earth, the visual and thematic centerpiece of Epcot, weighs 16 million pounds, measures 165 feet in diameter and encompasses 2.2 million cubic feet of space. The outer "skin" of Spaceship Earth is made up of 11,324 aluminum and plastic-alloy triangles.
* At Spaceship Earth, Mickey Mouse is hidden in his own constellation just beyond the attraction's loading area.
* The fountain at Epcot Innoventions Plaza can shoot water 150 feet in the air -- within 30 feet of the top of Spaceship Earth. If all of the shooters were fired at once, there would be 2,000 gallons of water in the air.
* The ride technology for the Soarin' attraction was based on an erector set model created by Walt Disney Imagineer Mark Sumner. One million pounds of steel provides the ride structure and 37 tons are lifted during each ride cycle.
* It took more than 650 Walt Disney Imagineers more than 350,000 hours (the equivalent of 40 years of time) to develop Mission: SPACE. The Imagineers' efforts took place over a five-year period.
* At Mission: SPACE, there are 13 quotes by space explorers and visionaries on the attraction's wall of honor. The most recent was added in September 2007 by teacher-turned-astronaut Barbara Morgan, reading "Reach for your dreams . . . the sky is no limit."
* At nearly a mile long and reaching a top speed of 65 mph, Test Track is the longest and fastest ride at a Walt Disney World theme park.
* The body of water at The Seas with Nemo & Friends provides a home to 3,000 fish and other sea creatures and contains 5.7 million gallons of water, one of the largest man-made ocean environments in the world.
* More than 30 tons of fruits and vegetables grown at The Land pavilion each year are served in Walt Disney World restaurants.
* The Land has a "tomato tree" that is the only one of its kind in the United States. The massive plant has produced a world-record harvest of more than 32,000 tomatoes from a single vine.
* World Showcase promenade stretches 1.2 miles and World Showcase Lagoon spans 40 acres.
* The gardens of Epcot are among the most extensive at Walt Disney World Resort. The themed landscapes are maintained year-round by a horticulture staff of more than 50.
* At United Kingdom's Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room in World Showcase, a specially designed ale warmer can heat your Guinness to 55 degrees, the temperature favored by Brits.
* 26.2 miles of bratwurst are served every 60 days at the Biergarten restaurant in the Germany pavilion. That, by the way, is the length of a marathon.
* The Eiffel Tower replica in the France pavilion is 103 feet tall.
* The castle in Japan is a replica of the Shirasagi-Jo, a 17th century fortress overlooking the city of Himeji, known as one of the most well-preserved castles in Japan.
* A Disney crew carried a 300-pound camera up 4,500 steps of the Huangshan Mountain in the Annui Province to film the Circle-Vision 360 film seen in the China pavilion.
* From bonsai to roses, there's something for every gardening guru at the annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Disney horticulturists rotate the crops twice during the festival to keep the 30 million blossoms colorful and fresh.
* Each year at the annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, more than 33,000 bottles of wine and champagne are uncorked, 1.2 million hors d'oeuvre plates are served and 100,000 miniature desserts are dished up.
* More than 26,000 feet of lights outline the World Showcase pavilions for the "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth" nightly fireworks show -- a string long enough to stretch across the Golden Gate Bridge more than six times.
* Earth Globe is a 28-foot-diameter sphere on World Showcase Lagoon and the centerpiece of "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth." The globe weighs 350,000 pounds and is wrapped in more than 180,000 Light Emitting Diodes arranged in the shape of Earth's continents.
* Some 2,800 firework shells are used during each "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth" show. (Source: Press Release, 09/21/07)
=================================================
TJ writes:
"Hi Beth,
We arrived back home last weekend and wanted to thank you for part you played in making it such a wonderful vacation. The entire 3-week trip was wonderful, but the 8 days we spent at the Animal Kingdom Lodge was the highlight especially for me.
Arriving at the AKL, our tickets from [your travel agent] were waiting at the front desk and the room was exactly what we had requested. Savanna view with bunkbeds. The kids were thrilled! We were overlooking the Uzima Savanna in a Zebra Trail room, which was separate from the large savanna at the rear of the hotel, called the Aresha Rock Savanna. Each has its own set of different animals, although both savannas have three giraffes. The Sunset Savanna, which is closest to the construction has been closed and the animals have been temporarily removed. We were on the opposite side and did not hear any construction noise at all. We could view the one savanna from our room and then walk across the hall to an observation deck and get a view of a different savanna with different animals, so we had the best of both worlds.
FYI, the room wasn't quite perfect for our needs. All across the country we stayed in inexpensive hotel chains, but there was always a fridge and microwave and free WI-Fi internet. Not at AKL, though. There was a fridge, but no microwave, which would have been handy for re-heating the restaurant leftovers, and the high-speed internet costs an extra $10 per day! If we were planning another long stay there, I would bring in a small microwave. Other than that, it started to feel like home. The staff was wonderful, from housekeeping to lobby to the interns from Africa. We met some very interesting people and learned a little about their countries and lives back home.
Anyway, thank you so much for the effort you put in on our behalf. This was a trip which we will long remember."
Beth writes:
"TJ, thanks so much for letting me know what a great time you had. I'm really happy to hear that you enjoyed it all so much. I agree that a small microwave would be a nice touch, but I think you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned that it's an amenity common in inexpensive hotels. Those places seem to recognize that travelers on a budget also have a dining budget and might choose a hotel based on little perks like a frig and microwave.
Disney also is catching onto that concept, and within the last few years has made a small refrigerator standard in all moderate and deluxe resort rooms as well as the DVC villas and the family suites at All Star Music (where you'll also find a microwave!).
Sadly, though, they caught on rather late to the idea that many travelers these days, even those on vacation, require internet access. Wi-Fi is still scarce on Disney properties, and even high-speed internet was VERY slow to spread down to the lower-priced resorts. All of the Disney resorts do, however, now have high-speed access - but as you mentioned, it's for a price. That's very common in luxury hotels, though. (Watch out if you take a cruise... Most ships these days do offer access, but the rates can set you back hundreds of dollars on a week-long cruise and the access is both intermittent at best and slower than molasses!)
Anyway, it was wonderful to work with you. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have future travel needs - to Disney or beyond! Thanks for your business!"
=================================================
Hats Off to America! National Treasures Comes to The American Adventure at Epcot
One of the most amazing collections of real-life Americana ever assembled -- National Treasures -- arrives Sept. 28. It's located inside the landmark Epcot attraction at the center of World Showcase, a place where Walt Disney World guests can become completely immersed in the astonishing authenticity and culture of eleven great nations.
"These are the jewels of museums and foundations all over the country, all gathered in one place," said Jim Clark, Walt Disney Imagineering Ambassador Representative and one of the team members designing National Treasures. "You'll see one of Abraham Lincoln's actual stovepipe hats, which has never been publicly exhibited outside of the Lincoln family home in Manchester, Vt. "We're also presenting many of Lincoln's personal items, like the book of Lord Byron poetry that inspired his second inaugural address and his dressing room mirror -- where he probably took his last glimpse of himself before he went off to Ford's Theatre."
The National Treasures collection will also be continually changed, so guests never know when they'll see something new. They'll see pieces of history that actually changed the world.
Some are well-known artifacts; others are the little things that played huge roles in making major breakthroughs. One of the most inspiring examples of this is one of the microscopes George Washington Carver used to help revolutionize American agriculture.
In addition to Dr. Carver, Americans from diverse backgrounds will be celebrated, including items from the lives of Rosa Parks and Jackie Robinson. An entire section devoted to the space program will feature the flight vest of Native American Commander John Herrington. The actual Purple Heart medal awarded to Japanese-American World War II hero Sen. Daniel Inouye can also be seen.
A number of Thomas Edison's original inventions will also be on display -- inventions that affect the way we live today. They include one of the last surviving original Tin Foil Cylinder Players that were created to demonstrate recorded sound to people who had never imagined it before. An innovation that leads all the way to today's MP3 players. The Edison portion is also one of the largest in the National Treasures exhibit because of the sheer size of some of the inventions. According to Clark, "The motion picture projector is so gigantic, it will barely fit it in the case."
The exhibition will feature more than 40 spectacular and unique artifacts on loan to Epcot from a variety of prestigious institutions and private lenders: Hildene (the Lincoln family home), The Mark Twain House & Museum, The Henry Ford, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Keeper of the Word Foundation, Gregory J. Reed Esq., Sen. Daniel K. Inouye and Commander John B. Herrington. To avoid risking damage to the originals, some documents are reproductions and labeled as such. (Source: Press Release, 09/18/07)
=================================================
MONEY SAVING COUPON
Gatorland
14501 South Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando, FL 32837
Phone: 407/855-5496
Toll Free: 800/393-JAWS
Save $5.00 on your next visit OR save 50% when you visit after 3 PM with this coupon.
=================================================
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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 Disney Movies and CD's
Save 40-70% on your favorite Disney Movie or CD! Cheap shipping, too! Click here.
--------------------------------
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 Luggage
Save up to 60% on Luggage, Backpacks, and more! Donna and I bought a beautiful 5-piece set of Samsonite luggage for our daughter for Christmas for $144! Click here.
--------------------------------
Own a piece of the Magic Kingdom
Disney framed stock certificates are works of art. They feature Walt Disney and the Disney characters. Unlike stock brokers that require you to purchase several shares of stock, OneShare sells one share of stock and mails you the certificate. You can frame the stock certificate yourself or OneShare will frame if for you at a nominal cost. Click here.
=============================================
See You Real Soon!
John
AffordableDisney.Com.
johngross@affordabledisney.com
=============================================
Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee the accuracy of information contained in THE DISNEY NEWS. Always check to be sure. The views and opinions expressed by others in THE DISNEY NEWS do not necessarily reflect the views of AffordableDisney.Com.
=============================================
posted by AffordableDisney.Com at 7:35 AM
<< Home