Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation
THE DISNEY NEWS
November 14, 2007
Copyright © 1999 - 2007 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved.
=================================================
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Hi Everyone!
NOTE: 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.
Beth, our travel agent, writes about last minute bookings for this year's holidays: "Readers should start talking NOW about going NEXT Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years or Winter Break! Planning next year's trip while everyone is together this year is the perfect time, and there's a good chance that we can get them decent space at this point. Unless they're OK with staying off-site, it's a bit too late now to start working on it for this year. There is next to nothing left for the last week of the year."
Now on with the show...
In this blog...
* Deals and specials - Walt Disney World youth group discount, Caribbean resort special, and a Vegas resort & casino special
* The latest news from around the "World" - SeaWorld announces new ticket prices and ticket combos
* Walt Disney World is transforming Cinderella Castle into an ice palace for the holidays
* Art from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and "Toy Story" Zoetrope are now on display at the Disneyland Resort
* Beth, our travel agent, gives us a teen's reaction to his experiences on a Disney cruise
* This week's coupon - save 20% at Hooters
=================================================
NEW THIS WEEK
WALT DISNEY WORLD
Youth Group Discounts!
Youth groups receive significant savings off admission to Walt Disney World Theme Parks! Florida youth groups can save over 50% at two of the Disney parks!
--------------------------------
BAHAMAS SPECIAL
Enjoy your 7th Night Free and a Deluxe Marina Room at this Caribbean resort! 7 nights from $829 per person. Book by 12/11/08 for travel 04/28/08 - 12/18/08.
--------------------------------
VEGAS
Resort & Casino Special
Treat yourself to a fabulous getaway at this luxury resort with a special rate starting from just $159 per night on newly remodeled Luxury Suites! Plus, receive special savings on your purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue. Book by 11/21/07.
=================================================
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
>> Save up to 40% on a 2008 vacation with this promotion if you're at Walt Disney World right now!
>> Several ways to win a Walt Disney World/Florida vacation!
>> Book a winter vacation at Walt Disney World with our discount codes and get a room discount and FREE ticket upgrade!
>> Disney World promotion for Disney Rewards Visa cardholders for early 2008 with this discount code!
>> Value resorts from $49 and moderates from $99 for Annual Passholders in early 2008 with this discount code!
>> 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
>> 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!
>> 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!
>> Kids under 7 stay and play 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
--------------------------------
"Walt Disney World is giving its Cinderella Castle a new nighttime, ice-palace look for the holiday season, starting tonight... The ice-palace look will be the big special effect of a new evening show running through the holiday season, featuring the characters of Cinderella, including her fairy godmother." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 11/12/07)
--------------------------------
Orlando Sentinel's Theme Park Rangers interview Soap stars at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Click here for blogs on SeaWorld's Aquatica, Shamu's show "Believe," and holiday activities at Universal and Gaylord Palms.
--------------------------------
"Three disabled people who say they rely on two-wheeled Segways to move about sued Walt Disney World in federal court Friday, seeking to force the resort into letting disabled visitors like themselves ride the motorized, upright scooters in Disney theme parks." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 11/10/07)
=================================================
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
Universal 2 Park Fun, Food & Drink Combo
Universal Orlando has introduced a new 2-Park Fun, Food & Drink Combo Ticket. Includes:
* Unlimited Admission for up to 7 days to both Universal Studios Florida & Universal’s Islands of Adventure
* Unlimited access to participating Meal Deals locations at both theme parks
* Two Meal Deal Souvenir Cups for unlimited soft drinks at participating Meal Deal locations
* Access to the live entertainment at Universal CityWalk
Adults: (ages 18 and up): $149.95
Junior (ages 10-17) $149.95
Kids (ages 3-9): $125.95
--------------------------------
"SeaWorld Orlando and its sister parks are getting a new set of prices for ticket packages to encourage more multi-park visits, setting the way for the opening of the company's Aquatica water park in Orlando next spring... Bush Entertainment has changed the name of its theme park empire from 'Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks' to 'Worlds of Discovery.'" (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 11/09/07)
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DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
"Disneyland's 'Small World' attraction to get upgrade:
Disneyland insists fat tourists aren't to blame, but the park's upgrade of its 41-year-old attraction will include deepening the waterway and making its boats more buoyant." (Source: travel.latimes.com, 11/09/07)
--------------------------------
Disneyland Resort Calendar
=================================================
NOTE: Links to newspaper articles change quickly and without notice. If you receive a "File Not Found" error message, search the newspaper's archives for the story. Certain newspapers require a free registration to view their articles online. If web addresses are broken into more than one line, copy and paste all lines.
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Thousands of Twinkly Crystal Lights Create Icy Cascade
A dazzling new lighting spectacle is transforming the iconic Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort into a glimmering, shimmering ice palace at holiday time.
Bathed in more than 200,000 tiny white lights, the castle glows and glistens as "Cinderella's Holiday Wish" delights Magic Kingdom guests nightly, starting Nov. 12.
"We are thrilled to be adding this brilliant new castle spectacle to the holiday festivities at Walt Disney World this season and for seasons to come," said Francois Leroux, vice president of Walt Disney World Entertainment. "This glistening holiday enchantment creates perfect fairytale magic for this festive time of year."
"For a park aglow in holiday magic, this becomes the new and eye-filling superstar," added Disney Entertainment show producer Rob Hamberg who supervised the weeks-long rigging of the turrets and towers for the light show. "Nothing will rival 'Cinderella's Holiday Wish' for sheer visual spectacle."
And what a spectacle.
As if suddenly dusted in a million ice crystals, Cinderella Castle shines like the galaxies, adding to the wintertime wonderment of the holidays at Florida's Vacation Kingdom.
Fun Facts
To transform Cinderella's fairytale castle into a magical ice palace it took...
# Five weeks and 65 elves
# Two cranes
# 15 miles of cables, cut and dyed castle colors, supporting...
# 32,000 square feet of fishing nets, supporting...
# 200,000 energy-efficient LEDs, interspersed with...
# 500 strobes
# One Fairy Godmother working some very special magic...
"Show Before the Glow" Stars Disney Characters
To mirthful holiday music, Mickey, Minnie and the gang appear onstage, admiring the festive lights illuminating Main Street, U.S.A. But what to do about the darkened, unadorned castle?
As they bandy about ideas, the Fairy Godmother suddenly appears. It is Cinderella who should rightfully decide, she insists.
Enter the princess herself, with her Prince Charming. All agree with Cinderella that her castle should sparkle the way her beloved glass slippers do -- like shimmering ice and snow.
With a wave of Fairy Godmother's wand -- and guests joining in to make the wish come true -- Cinderella Castle magically morphs into a glorious wintry confection, twinkling in the sky. "The castle suddenly shines like a glistening blanket of ice," explained Disney show writer/director Alan Bruun. "Guests won't believe their eyes at the spectacle as Cinderella's holiday wish comes true."
Show times will be nightly at 5:45 p.m. Cinderella Castle aglow will also play a supporting role in other Magic Kingdom entertainment such as live stage shows, the nighttime fireworks extravaganza "Holiday Wishes," and the after-hours Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, a specially-ticketed event featuring the new "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade."
Like a global necklace, dazzling castle lighting spectacles also adorn Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Resort. Disneyland Paris, now marking its 15th anniversary, started the castle lighting tradition in 2005 when Leroux conceived the concept. (Source: Press
Release)
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‘The Fairest One Of All’ Celebrates 70 Enchanting Years
Newly Recovered Priceless Art From ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’Joins Amazing Three-Dimensional ‘Toy Story’ Zoetrope at the Disneyland Resort
ANAHEIM, Calif. (November 7, 2007) - Unique celebrations of two motion picture icons will be on view beginning Saturday, Nov. 17, exclusively at the Disney Animation attraction in Disney’s California Adventure park at the Disneyland Resort.
The Walt Disney Animation Research Library has spent more than seven months creating "The Fairest One of All," a stunning and rare collection of more than 120 pieces of concept art, story sketches, animation drawings, backgrounds and cels created during the development and production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Disney recently acquired many of the pieces from a private collection including several that have never been publicly displayed. The exhibition, which provides an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look into the creation of this motion picture classic, will take over the Courtyard Gallery entrance hall of the Disney Animation pavilion at Disney’s California Adventure. Meanwhile, in an adjoining gallery, visitors can explore the principles of animation itself as they marvel at the new Toy Story Zoetrope, an amazing three-dimensional 21st century variation on the Victorian novelty device which presented early "moving pictures."
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, celebrating the 70th Anniversary of its original 1937 release, was Walt Disney’s first feature-length animated film and earned him a special Academy Award: one full-size Oscar and seven little ones. Toy Story, produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures in 1995, was the first feature-length computer-animated film and won an Academy Special Achievement Award for its director, John Lasseter, now Chief Creative Officer of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Separated by nearly 60 years of animation history, Snow White and Toy Story are the only two animated motion pictures on the most recent American Film Institute list of the top 100 films of all time, and they represent a continuing legacy of animation excellence at The Walt Disney Company.
"The Fairest One of All" exhibition includes a never-before-seen collection of priceless art used in the creation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs created by such Disney animation "legends" as Joe Grant, Eric Larson, Art Babbitt and Milt Kahl. Among the rare items presented in the exhibition are visualizations of such early concepts as a panther companion for the story’s Evil Queen, redheaded and blonde versions of Snow White, various story gags not used in the film, and depictions of the Queen based on actresses Joan Crawford and Katharine Hepburn.
The Toy Story Zoetrope is unique in its own way. Originally created for the "20 Years of Pixar Production Art Show" at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Zoetrope creates the illusion of movement by presenting a rapidly changing sequence of images - actual three-dimensional models - of characters from both Toy Story films: Woody, Buzz Lightyear, cowgirl Jessie, horse Bullseye and even the little green Aliens. The figures are mounted on a spinning disk and lit with a strobe which creates a sense of continuous motion, as if the characters have actually come to life before your eyes.
Both "The Fairest One of All" exhibition and the Toy Story Zoetrope can be found, beginning Nov. 17, in the Disney Animation pavilion, located in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot area of Disney’s California Adventure park. Admission to Disney Animation is free with general admission to Disney’s California Adventure. (Source: Press Release)
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Beth, our travel agent, gives us a teen's reaction to his experiences on a Disney cruise
"I just returned from a Disney trip that was booked at the last minute... one of the perks of not needing to buy airfare to get to the port! This was my third Disney cruise experience, but I was extra-excited about this one because I was doing it with a teenager for the first time. At a month shy of being 14 years old, Justin (not his real name) has several non-Disney cruises under his belt so he speaks as a kid with something to compare to. Here is a bit of his feedback...
* The ship and the food are OK.
I take that to mean that there is room for improvement in both areas, but neither one is bad enough to be a negative.
* The entertainment is awful.
Surprised? If you've taken a Disney cruise you shouldn't be. There aren't too many teenaged boys (or probably even girls, for that matter) that would truly enjoy sitting through an hour of G-rated animated movies brought to life. After Justin's harsh review of Hercules, the Muse-ical we didn't even bother trying to get him to see the other shows. Deemed equally lame are all the character appearances throughout the ship and at Castaway Cay. Justin declared the ship's entertainment to be geared solely towards young children, and my (adult) companion and I had to concede that he was 100% correct about that... at least with respect to the entertainment that he was old enough to observe. (He, obviously, didn't get a chance to experience the adult-only areas in the evening.)
* The teen hangout (Aloft, on this ship) is pretty cool.
The area is in the ship's bogus forward funnel on deck 11. Organized activities don't kick in until mid-morning or later in most cases, no doubt in recognition of the fact that they run into the wee hours of the morning so the teens aren't likely to be awake until nearly lunch time. There are all sorts of things to do up there, and if all else fails they can always watch a movie with their new-found friends. Justin quickly met a few guys to hang out with and seemed to be happy spending most of the day and evening in Aloft.
* A few squishies did get in.
If you don't know what a squishy is then you're probably a wrinkly. Squishies are kids that are too young to officially be there, but they manage to get in anyway. Justin said no one even checked. If you're the parent of a squishy, though, don't count on that happening when you go because Disney is usually pretty good about enforcing the age thing. (Now that you know what a squishy is, I probably don't have to explain what a wrinkly is... and it goes without saying that if you ARE a wrinkly then don't even think about being seen checking up on your teen unless you enjoy causing your offspring public humiliation and endless teasing.)
* Activities, in general, leave something to be desired.
Disney ships don't have the high-energy activities onboard that you find on many other ships. No rock climbing walls, skating, surfing, golfing, etc. There is ping pong available, as well as shuffleboard and a small basketball area. An attempt at playing soccer resulted in setting a ball adrift in the sea due to the lack of adequate enclosure of the area. There is an arcade, but it's apparently something that we wrinklies are more likely to enjoy than the teens are. (I was pleased to see Ms Pacman and Galaga, if that tells you anything.) There are computer games in the teen area, but Justin says that some of the best ones actually have a newer version available in the Oceaneer's Lab (area for younger kids). In fact, the younger kids overall seem to have a better selection of "worthy" teen software... something that caused some irritation amongst the teens because the younger kids didn't even know what to do with the "good stuff."
* At least 13-year-olds count as "real" teens.
All parents understand that being a 'tween is rough... Too old to hang with the little kids, not old enough to be accepted by the high school crowd. Cruise lines don't deal well with that problem. They think they do, but they're missing the boat. (No pun intended.) Disney and Princess start their teen programs at age 13... something your 12-year-old will probably be very unhappy about. Royal Caribbean and Carnival offer young teen programs for ages 12-14. Your 14-year-old will be unhappy about that. The fact is, they all need to do some serious focus group work. By the time a youth hits the ripe old age of 12 they have that Jekyll-and-Hyde thing going on where they can carry on a conversation with the maturity of a full-blown adult one minute and then walk across the living room carpet with muddy sneakers the next.
Ideally, a youth program allows enough flexibility for your 'tween to roll with their mood of the moment. That means allowing them into the teen center if that's where they want to be and offering more guided activities for when they're feeling the need for that structure. On the next cruise ship I get to design I'll have TWO teen areas, one geared towards the older set and one geared towards the younger, but allowing ages 12-17 to go to either as they care to. In the meantime, be sure to check out the policy of the cruise line you're considering AND the facilities offered on the ship you're cruising on. Also, be aware that when a sailing has relatively few kids sailing, they'll often combine age groups. That could work for or against you, depending on your child. For the record, Disney Cruise Line has one area for all teens ages 13+ and they have one set of activities.
* Castaway Cay day can be super-boring.
Those who have been there are probably shocked at that one, but it's true. There's a teen-only beach, but there was no one there for a good chunk of the day so if you want a chance to experience Serenity Bay (the adults-only beach) make absolutely certain that you sign your teen up in advance for the shore excursion called The Wild Side. It's for teens only, takes 4 hours, costs a very reasonable $35, and the vast majority of teens seem to participate. At $15, the Banana Boat ride is also a good idea, and there's an afternoon "teen" time to do it, too. Skip arranging for these activities and you may find that your teen has no one other than you to hang with until mid-afternoon. (Not that that's necessarily a bad thing, but you can forget the cabana massage, catching up on your reading, the romantic stroll down the beach, or whatever other vision you have of making Serenity Bay your own personal grown-up paradise.) Maybe this situation wouldn't be the case over peak holidays or summer, but this was a fairly busy cruise (as most are for this line) and I have to think it often works out this way. (Side note - Be sure your youth is well-coated with sunblock because there is VERY little shade on the teen beach .)
So is a Disney cruise a good idea for a teen? Well, if all the children going are teens then no, probably not. If you've got some younger children in the group, too, though, then Disney might be a good choice. While other lines have good youth programming and many ships have nice youth facilities, Disney takes the prize hands-down for providing the best cruise vacation experience for the younger set... and when the little ones are happy then the adults are happy, despite the lack of some of the adult activities common on other ships (like a casino, adult-themed games, and plenty of shopping). Justin says a Disney cruise beats staying home, but wouldn't be his first choice. My nearly-10-year-old daughter has yet to do a cruise she didn't love, though, and while she would take a Disney cruise any day over all others, she'd be happy on nearly any ship that made even half an attempt at a youth program.
In summary, if providing the best vacation for kids under 10 is your focus, Disney Cruise Line is a great choice. If amusing the little ones AND the adults is equally important check out Princess or Celebrity, and if you want to make everyone happy, including your teens, check out Royal Caribbean's Voyager and Freedom-class ships. Do yourself the biggest favor of all by working with a travel agent who is a CLIA-certified cruise counselor. It won't cost you anything more than booking online (and may cost you less!), and you'll be able to pick the brain of someone that has first-hand knowledge of many different lines and their ships."
=================================================
MONEY SAVING COUPON
Hooters
9101 International Dr
Orlando, FL 32819
Phone: 407-355-7711
Fax: 407-355-7712
Entertainment: jukebox music and sports TV
Menu: sandwiches, salads, seafood and chicken wings
Get 20% off a check of $15.00 or more at the Orlando location with the purchase of food and merchandise and 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.
=============================================
November 14, 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: 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.
Beth, our travel agent, writes about last minute bookings for this year's holidays: "Readers should start talking NOW about going NEXT Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years or Winter Break! Planning next year's trip while everyone is together this year is the perfect time, and there's a good chance that we can get them decent space at this point. Unless they're OK with staying off-site, it's a bit too late now to start working on it for this year. There is next to nothing left for the last week of the year."
Now on with the show...
In this blog...
* Deals and specials - Walt Disney World youth group discount, Caribbean resort special, and a Vegas resort & casino special
* The latest news from around the "World" - SeaWorld announces new ticket prices and ticket combos
* Walt Disney World is transforming Cinderella Castle into an ice palace for the holidays
* Art from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and "Toy Story" Zoetrope are now on display at the Disneyland Resort
* Beth, our travel agent, gives us a teen's reaction to his experiences on a Disney cruise
* This week's coupon - save 20% at Hooters
=================================================
NEW THIS WEEK
WALT DISNEY WORLD
Youth Group Discounts!
Youth groups receive significant savings off admission to Walt Disney World Theme Parks! Florida youth groups can save over 50% at two of the Disney parks!
--------------------------------
BAHAMAS SPECIAL
Enjoy your 7th Night Free and a Deluxe Marina Room at this Caribbean resort! 7 nights from $829 per person. Book by 12/11/08 for travel 04/28/08 - 12/18/08.
--------------------------------
VEGAS
Resort & Casino Special
Treat yourself to a fabulous getaway at this luxury resort with a special rate starting from just $159 per night on newly remodeled Luxury Suites! Plus, receive special savings on your purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue. Book by 11/21/07.
=================================================
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
>> Save up to 40% on a 2008 vacation with this promotion if you're at Walt Disney World right now!
>> Several ways to win a Walt Disney World/Florida vacation!
>> Book a winter vacation at Walt Disney World with our discount codes and get a room discount and FREE ticket upgrade!
>> Disney World promotion for Disney Rewards Visa cardholders for early 2008 with this discount code!
>> Value resorts from $49 and moderates from $99 for Annual Passholders in early 2008 with this discount code!
>> 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
>> 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!
>> 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!
>> Kids under 7 stay and play 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
--------------------------------
"Walt Disney World is giving its Cinderella Castle a new nighttime, ice-palace look for the holiday season, starting tonight... The ice-palace look will be the big special effect of a new evening show running through the holiday season, featuring the characters of Cinderella, including her fairy godmother." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 11/12/07)
--------------------------------
Orlando Sentinel's Theme Park Rangers interview Soap stars at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Click here for blogs on SeaWorld's Aquatica, Shamu's show "Believe," and holiday activities at Universal and Gaylord Palms.
--------------------------------
"Three disabled people who say they rely on two-wheeled Segways to move about sued Walt Disney World in federal court Friday, seeking to force the resort into letting disabled visitors like themselves ride the motorized, upright scooters in Disney theme parks." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 11/10/07)
=================================================
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
Universal 2 Park Fun, Food & Drink Combo
Universal Orlando has introduced a new 2-Park Fun, Food & Drink Combo Ticket. Includes:
* Unlimited Admission for up to 7 days to both Universal Studios Florida & Universal’s Islands of Adventure
* Unlimited access to participating Meal Deals locations at both theme parks
* Two Meal Deal Souvenir Cups for unlimited soft drinks at participating Meal Deal locations
* Access to the live entertainment at Universal CityWalk
Adults: (ages 18 and up): $149.95
Junior (ages 10-17) $149.95
Kids (ages 3-9): $125.95
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"SeaWorld Orlando and its sister parks are getting a new set of prices for ticket packages to encourage more multi-park visits, setting the way for the opening of the company's Aquatica water park in Orlando next spring... Bush Entertainment has changed the name of its theme park empire from 'Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks' to 'Worlds of Discovery.'" (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 11/09/07)
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DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
"Disneyland's 'Small World' attraction to get upgrade:
Disneyland insists fat tourists aren't to blame, but the park's upgrade of its 41-year-old attraction will include deepening the waterway and making its boats more buoyant." (Source: travel.latimes.com, 11/09/07)
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Disneyland Resort Calendar
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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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Thousands of Twinkly Crystal Lights Create Icy Cascade
A dazzling new lighting spectacle is transforming the iconic Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort into a glimmering, shimmering ice palace at holiday time.
Bathed in more than 200,000 tiny white lights, the castle glows and glistens as "Cinderella's Holiday Wish" delights Magic Kingdom guests nightly, starting Nov. 12.
"We are thrilled to be adding this brilliant new castle spectacle to the holiday festivities at Walt Disney World this season and for seasons to come," said Francois Leroux, vice president of Walt Disney World Entertainment. "This glistening holiday enchantment creates perfect fairytale magic for this festive time of year."
"For a park aglow in holiday magic, this becomes the new and eye-filling superstar," added Disney Entertainment show producer Rob Hamberg who supervised the weeks-long rigging of the turrets and towers for the light show. "Nothing will rival 'Cinderella's Holiday Wish' for sheer visual spectacle."
And what a spectacle.
As if suddenly dusted in a million ice crystals, Cinderella Castle shines like the galaxies, adding to the wintertime wonderment of the holidays at Florida's Vacation Kingdom.
Fun Facts
To transform Cinderella's fairytale castle into a magical ice palace it took...
# Five weeks and 65 elves
# Two cranes
# 15 miles of cables, cut and dyed castle colors, supporting...
# 32,000 square feet of fishing nets, supporting...
# 200,000 energy-efficient LEDs, interspersed with...
# 500 strobes
# One Fairy Godmother working some very special magic...
"Show Before the Glow" Stars Disney Characters
To mirthful holiday music, Mickey, Minnie and the gang appear onstage, admiring the festive lights illuminating Main Street, U.S.A. But what to do about the darkened, unadorned castle?
As they bandy about ideas, the Fairy Godmother suddenly appears. It is Cinderella who should rightfully decide, she insists.
Enter the princess herself, with her Prince Charming. All agree with Cinderella that her castle should sparkle the way her beloved glass slippers do -- like shimmering ice and snow.
With a wave of Fairy Godmother's wand -- and guests joining in to make the wish come true -- Cinderella Castle magically morphs into a glorious wintry confection, twinkling in the sky. "The castle suddenly shines like a glistening blanket of ice," explained Disney show writer/director Alan Bruun. "Guests won't believe their eyes at the spectacle as Cinderella's holiday wish comes true."
Show times will be nightly at 5:45 p.m. Cinderella Castle aglow will also play a supporting role in other Magic Kingdom entertainment such as live stage shows, the nighttime fireworks extravaganza "Holiday Wishes," and the after-hours Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, a specially-ticketed event featuring the new "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade."
Like a global necklace, dazzling castle lighting spectacles also adorn Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Resort. Disneyland Paris, now marking its 15th anniversary, started the castle lighting tradition in 2005 when Leroux conceived the concept. (Source: Press
Release)
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‘The Fairest One Of All’ Celebrates 70 Enchanting Years
Newly Recovered Priceless Art From ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’Joins Amazing Three-Dimensional ‘Toy Story’ Zoetrope at the Disneyland Resort
ANAHEIM, Calif. (November 7, 2007) - Unique celebrations of two motion picture icons will be on view beginning Saturday, Nov. 17, exclusively at the Disney Animation attraction in Disney’s California Adventure park at the Disneyland Resort.
The Walt Disney Animation Research Library has spent more than seven months creating "The Fairest One of All," a stunning and rare collection of more than 120 pieces of concept art, story sketches, animation drawings, backgrounds and cels created during the development and production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Disney recently acquired many of the pieces from a private collection including several that have never been publicly displayed. The exhibition, which provides an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look into the creation of this motion picture classic, will take over the Courtyard Gallery entrance hall of the Disney Animation pavilion at Disney’s California Adventure. Meanwhile, in an adjoining gallery, visitors can explore the principles of animation itself as they marvel at the new Toy Story Zoetrope, an amazing three-dimensional 21st century variation on the Victorian novelty device which presented early "moving pictures."
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, celebrating the 70th Anniversary of its original 1937 release, was Walt Disney’s first feature-length animated film and earned him a special Academy Award: one full-size Oscar and seven little ones. Toy Story, produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures in 1995, was the first feature-length computer-animated film and won an Academy Special Achievement Award for its director, John Lasseter, now Chief Creative Officer of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Separated by nearly 60 years of animation history, Snow White and Toy Story are the only two animated motion pictures on the most recent American Film Institute list of the top 100 films of all time, and they represent a continuing legacy of animation excellence at The Walt Disney Company.
"The Fairest One of All" exhibition includes a never-before-seen collection of priceless art used in the creation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs created by such Disney animation "legends" as Joe Grant, Eric Larson, Art Babbitt and Milt Kahl. Among the rare items presented in the exhibition are visualizations of such early concepts as a panther companion for the story’s Evil Queen, redheaded and blonde versions of Snow White, various story gags not used in the film, and depictions of the Queen based on actresses Joan Crawford and Katharine Hepburn.
The Toy Story Zoetrope is unique in its own way. Originally created for the "20 Years of Pixar Production Art Show" at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Zoetrope creates the illusion of movement by presenting a rapidly changing sequence of images - actual three-dimensional models - of characters from both Toy Story films: Woody, Buzz Lightyear, cowgirl Jessie, horse Bullseye and even the little green Aliens. The figures are mounted on a spinning disk and lit with a strobe which creates a sense of continuous motion, as if the characters have actually come to life before your eyes.
Both "The Fairest One of All" exhibition and the Toy Story Zoetrope can be found, beginning Nov. 17, in the Disney Animation pavilion, located in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot area of Disney’s California Adventure park. Admission to Disney Animation is free with general admission to Disney’s California Adventure. (Source: Press Release)
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Beth, our travel agent, gives us a teen's reaction to his experiences on a Disney cruise
"I just returned from a Disney trip that was booked at the last minute... one of the perks of not needing to buy airfare to get to the port! This was my third Disney cruise experience, but I was extra-excited about this one because I was doing it with a teenager for the first time. At a month shy of being 14 years old, Justin (not his real name) has several non-Disney cruises under his belt so he speaks as a kid with something to compare to. Here is a bit of his feedback...
* The ship and the food are OK.
I take that to mean that there is room for improvement in both areas, but neither one is bad enough to be a negative.
* The entertainment is awful.
Surprised? If you've taken a Disney cruise you shouldn't be. There aren't too many teenaged boys (or probably even girls, for that matter) that would truly enjoy sitting through an hour of G-rated animated movies brought to life. After Justin's harsh review of Hercules, the Muse-ical we didn't even bother trying to get him to see the other shows. Deemed equally lame are all the character appearances throughout the ship and at Castaway Cay. Justin declared the ship's entertainment to be geared solely towards young children, and my (adult) companion and I had to concede that he was 100% correct about that... at least with respect to the entertainment that he was old enough to observe. (He, obviously, didn't get a chance to experience the adult-only areas in the evening.)
* The teen hangout (Aloft, on this ship) is pretty cool.
The area is in the ship's bogus forward funnel on deck 11. Organized activities don't kick in until mid-morning or later in most cases, no doubt in recognition of the fact that they run into the wee hours of the morning so the teens aren't likely to be awake until nearly lunch time. There are all sorts of things to do up there, and if all else fails they can always watch a movie with their new-found friends. Justin quickly met a few guys to hang out with and seemed to be happy spending most of the day and evening in Aloft.
* A few squishies did get in.
If you don't know what a squishy is then you're probably a wrinkly. Squishies are kids that are too young to officially be there, but they manage to get in anyway. Justin said no one even checked. If you're the parent of a squishy, though, don't count on that happening when you go because Disney is usually pretty good about enforcing the age thing. (Now that you know what a squishy is, I probably don't have to explain what a wrinkly is... and it goes without saying that if you ARE a wrinkly then don't even think about being seen checking up on your teen unless you enjoy causing your offspring public humiliation and endless teasing.)
* Activities, in general, leave something to be desired.
Disney ships don't have the high-energy activities onboard that you find on many other ships. No rock climbing walls, skating, surfing, golfing, etc. There is ping pong available, as well as shuffleboard and a small basketball area. An attempt at playing soccer resulted in setting a ball adrift in the sea due to the lack of adequate enclosure of the area. There is an arcade, but it's apparently something that we wrinklies are more likely to enjoy than the teens are. (I was pleased to see Ms Pacman and Galaga, if that tells you anything.) There are computer games in the teen area, but Justin says that some of the best ones actually have a newer version available in the Oceaneer's Lab (area for younger kids). In fact, the younger kids overall seem to have a better selection of "worthy" teen software... something that caused some irritation amongst the teens because the younger kids didn't even know what to do with the "good stuff."
* At least 13-year-olds count as "real" teens.
All parents understand that being a 'tween is rough... Too old to hang with the little kids, not old enough to be accepted by the high school crowd. Cruise lines don't deal well with that problem. They think they do, but they're missing the boat. (No pun intended.) Disney and Princess start their teen programs at age 13... something your 12-year-old will probably be very unhappy about. Royal Caribbean and Carnival offer young teen programs for ages 12-14. Your 14-year-old will be unhappy about that. The fact is, they all need to do some serious focus group work. By the time a youth hits the ripe old age of 12 they have that Jekyll-and-Hyde thing going on where they can carry on a conversation with the maturity of a full-blown adult one minute and then walk across the living room carpet with muddy sneakers the next.
Ideally, a youth program allows enough flexibility for your 'tween to roll with their mood of the moment. That means allowing them into the teen center if that's where they want to be and offering more guided activities for when they're feeling the need for that structure. On the next cruise ship I get to design I'll have TWO teen areas, one geared towards the older set and one geared towards the younger, but allowing ages 12-17 to go to either as they care to. In the meantime, be sure to check out the policy of the cruise line you're considering AND the facilities offered on the ship you're cruising on. Also, be aware that when a sailing has relatively few kids sailing, they'll often combine age groups. That could work for or against you, depending on your child. For the record, Disney Cruise Line has one area for all teens ages 13+ and they have one set of activities.
* Castaway Cay day can be super-boring.
Those who have been there are probably shocked at that one, but it's true. There's a teen-only beach, but there was no one there for a good chunk of the day so if you want a chance to experience Serenity Bay (the adults-only beach) make absolutely certain that you sign your teen up in advance for the shore excursion called The Wild Side. It's for teens only, takes 4 hours, costs a very reasonable $35, and the vast majority of teens seem to participate. At $15, the Banana Boat ride is also a good idea, and there's an afternoon "teen" time to do it, too. Skip arranging for these activities and you may find that your teen has no one other than you to hang with until mid-afternoon. (Not that that's necessarily a bad thing, but you can forget the cabana massage, catching up on your reading, the romantic stroll down the beach, or whatever other vision you have of making Serenity Bay your own personal grown-up paradise.) Maybe this situation wouldn't be the case over peak holidays or summer, but this was a fairly busy cruise (as most are for this line) and I have to think it often works out this way. (Side note - Be sure your youth is well-coated with sunblock because there is VERY little shade on the teen beach .)
So is a Disney cruise a good idea for a teen? Well, if all the children going are teens then no, probably not. If you've got some younger children in the group, too, though, then Disney might be a good choice. While other lines have good youth programming and many ships have nice youth facilities, Disney takes the prize hands-down for providing the best cruise vacation experience for the younger set... and when the little ones are happy then the adults are happy, despite the lack of some of the adult activities common on other ships (like a casino, adult-themed games, and plenty of shopping). Justin says a Disney cruise beats staying home, but wouldn't be his first choice. My nearly-10-year-old daughter has yet to do a cruise she didn't love, though, and while she would take a Disney cruise any day over all others, she'd be happy on nearly any ship that made even half an attempt at a youth program.
In summary, if providing the best vacation for kids under 10 is your focus, Disney Cruise Line is a great choice. If amusing the little ones AND the adults is equally important check out Princess or Celebrity, and if you want to make everyone happy, including your teens, check out Royal Caribbean's Voyager and Freedom-class ships. Do yourself the biggest favor of all by working with a travel agent who is a CLIA-certified cruise counselor. It won't cost you anything more than booking online (and may cost you less!), and you'll be able to pick the brain of someone that has first-hand knowledge of many different lines and their ships."
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See You Real Soon!
John
AffordableDisney.Com.
johngross@affordabledisney.com
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posted by AffordableDisney.Com at 8:39 AM
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