Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation

THE DISNEY NEWS
Updates From Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation
November 5, 2008
Copyright © 1999 - 2009 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.

Now on with the show...

In this blog...

* Deals and specials - new Disney sweepstakes, WDW Annual Passholder and Florida resident room discounts, $99 Disney cruise, Disney cruise/airfare deal, Disney cruise discounts for Floridians, 2 Luxury cruise line specials, Character Breakfast offer at Disneyland, Disneyland vacation package, hotel resort vacation package, and Ireland to US $13 airfare special

* News from around the "World" - Disney closes Hall of Presidents

* Beth, our travel agent, writes about an unusual NON-timeshare clearing house offer

* Celebrate Floral Fun and ‘Go Green’ At 16th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

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NEW THIS WEEK

WALT DISNEY WORLD

# 4 new sweeps added this week to win a Disney / Florida vacation! That makes 46 active sweepstakes and contests to win a Walt Disney World / Florida / Disneyland / Southern California vacation!

# 2009 Room discounts for Annual Passholders from $49!

# 2009 Walt Disney World room discounts for Florida residents. From $54!

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DISNEY CRUISE LINE

# Book one Disney cruise, get another one for $99!

# Disney Cruise/Airfare Special: Disney cruise + round-trip airfare from certain airports for $199 per person when you book certain cruises! You must book before 11/14/08.

# New cruise discounts for Florida residents

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NON-DISNEY CRUISES

Luxury Cruise Line 3-Day Post-Election Sale: 50% off second guest on sailings in January and February to Australia, South America, New Zealand, Hawaii, Panama Canal and Caribbean. Book November 5-7, 2008.

Kids 17 and under travel FREE this winter on 7-night Caribbean cruises with this popular cruise line.

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DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA

# Get a FREE Character Breakfast at the Disneyland Resort!

# Disneyland vacation package, room and tickets, from $139!

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OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD

This hotel chain in North America, Hawaii and the Caribbean (there's one next door to Walt Disney World) is offering a $100 resort credit and more with its Family vacation package. Book by December 31, 2008 for stays January 31, 2008 - March 31, 2009.

Fly from Ireland to US roundtrip for $13 each way + taxes and fees.

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Below are just some of the deals drawn from over 50 pages of current specials posted at our password-protected members-only site:

WALT DISNEY WORLD

>> Several ways to win a Walt Disney World/Florida vacation!

>> Save 50% at these deluxe Walt Disney World resorts!

>> Save up to 40% on a 2008 vacation with this promotion if you're at Walt Disney World right now!

>> 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!

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OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD

>> Book your Tee Times at this site where rates start at $69

>> All you can eat at Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure for less than $25

>> Discounts available on tickets to SeaWorld and Busch Gardens!

>> Florida Residents save up to $80.00 at this Florida park!

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DISNEY CRUISE LINE

>> Three nights from $299!

>> Onboard credits!

>> Discounts for Florida residents and the military - rates too low to publish!

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DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA

>> Local Newspaper promotions that apply to everyone in the USA!

>> Save up to $40.00 per ticket to Disneyland California!

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DISNEYLAND PARIS

>> Discover the secret to getting FREE admission!

>> Kids under 7 stay and play FREE!

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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.

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If you are not a member, you can join our Disney family here. Members can use the following URLs to log in:

Lifetime Deluxe Member
Lifetime Basic Member
Deluxe Member
Basic Member
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE "WORLD"

WALT DISNEY WORLD

This Day in Disney History
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Renovations to bring Disney World's Hall of Presidents into 21st century The attraction is now closed for eight months to allow for refurbishment and the creation of a robotic 44th president.

WDW's Galaxy Palace Theater to be replaced with Cast Member parking
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Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
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OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD

Shamu Supports Sustainable

CityWalk Calendar And Venue Entertainment November 2008

Airlines launch fare sale for holiday season
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DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA

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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Beth, our travel agent, writes:

"The NON-timeshare clearing house end of an organization that arranges timeshare swaps for owners is offering an interesting deal.

For those unaware of how timeshares work, timeshare owners can deposit their weeks (or points, as the case may be) that they don't want to use into their 'bank' with this company and then use their credit to go elsewhere. They have a window of up to three years to use that credit. The company frequently gets stuck, though, with deposited time slots that no one ever requests so they sell the space to the public. These are timeshare units ranging from hotel rooms to multi-bedroom condos and some are VERY nice. They are located all over the world, although the majority are in the US. (The ones elsewhere are popular and VERY hard to get.)

This company is currently offering a deal whereby anyone can purchase a voucher for a 7-night stay for just $299 ($200 off) if you buy before the end of the year. You can use the voucher yourself or give it as a gift. When you're ready to arrange your vacation you just go online and do a search for your time period and/or destination and see what's available. If you want a larger or better unit or one that gets a higher rating than what you're seeing, you can pay (anywhere from $50-$1000) for a better selection.

The good part is, obviously, you can get a 7-night condo stay for just $299 and that's a phenomenal deal by any standard. There are some downsides, too, though. First, not all timeshares are great places; some really need serious refurbishment so you have to do your homework. Second, there might not be anything available for the place and time you want it. And finally, if you're looking for a 3-bedroom, 4-star condo two miles from Disney you're probably going to be very disappointed... You have to manage your expectations.

Nevertheless, if you're on a tight budget, have some flexibility with where and when you travel, and can see this as an adventure then it just might be your answer to getting an affordable vacation (to Disney or elsewhere) for your family in 2009. (Please contact me if you want more information.)"

Affordable Disney members should log in for Beth's contact information.
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Celebrate Floral Fun and ‘Go Green’ At 16th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, March 18-May 31, 2009

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - An elaborate "Cinderellabration" topiary and an environmentally friendly Green Garden will bring fresh springtime flair to the 16th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 18-May 31, 2009. Amid a colorful tableau of flowers, plants and topiaries, guests of all ages can explore myriad exhibits and activities geared toward gardening and outdoor fun. Weekend Flower Power concerts will pump up the volume and spread a groovy vibe at America Gardens Theatre in World Showcase.

Each year, Disney gardeners channel their creative energy into presenting an intricate topiary display against the backdrop of Spaceship Earth. This year, Cinderella and Prince Charming, Snow White and the seven dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty and Prince Phillip, and Belle and Beast from "Beauty and the Beast" will debut in all their "blooming finery" as the grand front-entrance topiary during the 75-day festival.

New gardens, events and children’s play areas offer more reasons to visit the 16th annual festival:

Green Garden - Anyone can create an environmentally friendly garden; here’s where guests will learn about low-water-use gardens, incorporating native plants into their garden and recycling.

Pixie Hollow - Colorful topiaries of Tinker Bell and her friends from Walt Disney Pictures’ "Tinker Bell" will sprinkle pixie dust over this playful garden designed just for kids.

Pirates Adventure Zone - Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Croc topiaries will lure young
swashbucklers to this interactive space designed for exploration and adventure.

Special Environmentality Celebration (April 24-26) - This special event will showcase how to keep the planet green through solutions like reducing waste and using friendly bugs.

Throughout the festival, more than 70 topiaries will decorate the park landscape and showcase the extraordinary craftsmanship of Disney gardeners. Sweeping floral beds and exhibits will feature 30 million blooms. A Fragrance Garden at the France pavilion will tell the "love story" of plants and perfume, and the English Tea Garden at the United Kingdom pavilion will explore the art and history of blending tea plants. The art of bonsai will "wow" guests at the Japan showcase.

Other festival highlights will include:

Flower Power concerts -- Popular bands will rock the open-air America Gardens Theatre every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 p.m. The concert lineup is slated to include new acts like Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, plus pop favorites like Davy Jones, Chubby Checker & The Wildcats, Tony Orlando, Jose Feliciano, Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone and other top acts.

Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden -- Hundreds of butterflies will flit inside a walk-through screened enclosure that includes a live exhibit showing how caterpillars form a chrysalis and emerge as butterflies.

Disney Gardening at Home presentations -- Disney horticulturists will share gardening tips and lead guests in a hands-on, take-home activity.

The Great American Gardeners series -- Gardening celebrities and authors from across the country will reveal their gardening secrets.

The Garden Town Festival Center -- Guests can shop for festival merchandise, attend speaker presentations and demonstrations and ask gardening questions of the experts.

Simba’s Birthday Celebration -- A lineup of topiary characters straight from Walt Disney Pictures’ "The Lion King" will greet guests at World Showcase Plaza.

Poster Signings -- Artist Heather French will sign festival posters each Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. at Canada Garden Retreat.

More Festival Celebrations -- An Art in the Garden celebration of plein air artists and a Kids Paint Out will occur March 27-29; a Florida Farmer’s Market celebration will take place May 8-10. More celebrations will bloom throughout the festival.

More information about the 16th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is available by calling 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or by visiting disneyworld.com/flower. The festival, including all gardening programs and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission. (Source: Press Release, 11/03/08.)
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Affordable Disney Books

Disney and other new books 50-90% off the list price. To check out the bargains, click here.
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Got Coupons?

With the Orlando Entertainment Book, you can save big on travel, groceries, shopping, movie tickets, and more! Save at hotels and restaurants near Walt Disney World, on car rental, airfare, admission to Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa! For details, click here.
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Affordable Disney Movies and CD's

Save 40-70% on your favorite Disney Movie or CD! Cheap shipping, too! Click here.
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Affordable Accommodations

Enjoy Special Rates at select hotels, condos and vacation rentals near Disney. Plus! Receive up to a $100.00 rebate! For hotels, click here.
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Affordable Luggage

Save up to 60% on Luggage, Backpacks, and more! Donna and I bought a beautiful 5-piece set of Samsonite luggage for our daughter for Christmas for $144! Click here.
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Own a piece of the Magic Kingdom

Disney framed stock certificates are works of art. They feature Walt Disney and the Disney characters. Unlike stock brokers that require you to purchase several shares of stock, OneShare sells one share of stock and mails you the certificate. You can frame the stock certificate yourself or OneShare will frame if for you at a nominal cost. Click here.
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See You Real Soon!

John

AffordableDisney.Com.
johngross@affordabledisney.com
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Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee the accuracy of information contained in THE DISNEY NEWS. Always check to be sure. The views and opinions expressed by others in THE DISNEY NEWS do not necessarily reflect the views of AffordableDisney.Com.
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