Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation
THE DISNEY NEWS
Updates From Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation
December 23, 2008
Copyright © 1999 - 2009 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!
Donna and I would like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!
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 - Downtown Disney Resort Hotel discount, SeaWorld Hotel suite sale, kids eat FREE at Universal hotels, and Universal Blue man Group discount
* News from around the "World" - Disney Christmas parade
* Beth, our travel agent, writes about her Christmas visit to Walt Disney World
* Jennifer writes about her daughter's birthday experience at Epcot
=================================================
NEW THIS WEEK
WALT DISNEY WORLD
Save 30% at this Downtown Disney Resort Hotel through 2009! Includes:
* Disney Character Breakfasts
* Scheduled shuttle to all Walt Disney World Parks
* Heated Pool, Lap Pool, and Therapeutic Thermal Spa
* Walk to downtown Disney
* Guaranteed admission to Walt Disney World Parks
-------------------------------
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
Winter SUITE Rates From $99: Voted #1 "Best for Families." Studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens. Includes:
* FREE hot buffet breakfast daily
* FREE parking and High-speed Internet access
* FREE shuttle to select theme parks
* Heated pool and whirlpool
* Sports Court and Exercise room
* Video Arcade
* Guest Laundry
* Pets welcome
Packages are also available from $89.
-------------------------------
UNIVERSAL ORLANDO
Kids get FREE lunch and dinner at Universal's Portofino Bay Hotel (Trattoria del Porto, Sal's Market Deli and Splendido Pizzeria) Hard Rock Hotel (The Kitchen and Beach Club) and Royal Pacific Resort (Islands Dining Room, Jake's American Bar and Bula Bar & Grill)!
Child (3-9) tickets for Universal's Blue Man Group for $25 through 12/31/08.
=================================================
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 30% on a 2009 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!
--------------------------------
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!
--------------------------------
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
>> Three nights from $299!
>> Onboard credits!
>> Discounts for Florida residents and the military - rates too low to publish!
--------------------------------
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
>> Local Newspaper promotions that apply to everyone in the USA!
>> Save up to $40.00 per ticket to Disneyland California!
--------------------------------
DISNEYLAND PARIS
>> Discover the secret to getting FREE admission!
>> Kids under 12 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.
--------------------------------
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 steps into the fashion arena with its Mickeys hidden
Gingerbread House recipe from The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort
Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
=================================================
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
Water parks scramble to comply with new pool-safety law
=================================================
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
Celebrating 25 Years Of Holiday Magic, The Star-Studded Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade Airs On ABC December 25th
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.
=================================================
Beth, our travel agent, writes:
"I'm recently back from my annual trek to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and thought I'd pass on a few comments and observations...
CONTEMPORARY RESORT
I haven't stayed here for several years so it was nice to go back and try out the renovated rooms for myself. They really are very nice, and you sure can't beat the location. We were in a tower room with a lagoon view, though, and unfortunately assigned a spot as close to the construction of the new DVC building as we could get. The noise starts early in the morning and makes enjoying time on the balcony nearly impossible. It was even distracting out by the pool. You can forget sleeping in. Not good. Plus, the new building blocks about a third of your lake view from that end of the building. At least for the time being, either do a garden wing room with a standard (parking lot view) so you're not paying much and are not facing the construction, or splurge on the tower rooms with theme park view.
I never noticed this before, but even when you're staying on the 5th floor (which we were) you can't get to the monorail without going down a floor and then back up! Speaking of the monorail, don't assume that you can leave the Magic Kingdom and hop right on a train back to your monorail hotel. We left one night after a parade (along with a large herd of other people) and had over a half hour wait before we could board! The crowd was really absurd, but after that I started watching more closely and it seems that happens nearly every night after fireworks or a parade. Guess that's a popular time to leave! Won't make that mistake again.
DINING
We did lunch at the Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney. This is one of the few places you can eat without breaking the bank. Try to get there before 11:30, though, to avoid a long line and increase odds of getting a table easily. Warning: The children's grilled cheese sandwich is on ciabatta bread and did not pass the visual test of my 6-year-old niece. It was delicious, but it didn't 'look' right so she refused to eat it. Skip dessert and instead head around the corner to the Ghirardelli store where they are always giving out free chocolate samples. One square is a perfect morsel for me, but if your sweet tooth is bigger consider going to the other side to share a big sundae with someone. :)
The Crystal Palace at 5:20 PM on Mickey's party night is a tradition. The buffet is all-you-can-eat and offers something for pretty much everyone. It's not gourmet, but it's more than edible... and the kids love the kid-sized buffet area with all their favorites (pizza, spaghetti, mac n' cheese, etc.) It's expensive for what you get, BUT it only takes one table service credit if you're on the dining plan. All four Pooh characters stopped by the table at least once in the 70 minutes or so that we were there. The service was pretty slow, but fortunately we only needed the server for beverages. Bonus: we were early - by about a half hour - and had no trouble getting in after just a five minute wait.
This was my first trip to the Main Street Bakery - for breakfast or anything else. Yum! I'm on a perpetual diet so I passed on the pastries, but they looked wonderful. I opted for the hot croissant, ham, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich. (OK, so that's not dietetic, either, but it's better than a giant cinnamon roll!) It was really good. Also available and equally tasty were a yogurt-fruit parfait, hot oatmeal, and a fruit and cheese bowl. (No, they weren't all for me!) It's a much nicer place to grab breakfast than a food court, although the line was long and getting a table can be hard..
We also hit the early (5:15) performance of the Spirit of Aloha luau dinner show at the Polynesian Resort. I can't tell you how long it's been since I've been to that! The food was served family-style, all you can eat, and was fabulous. Even my picky eater niece loved it. I washed it down with an adequate red wine (included) while my mother opted for white wine and the girls chose iced tea. The show progresses at a good pace and holds the children's attention well. My niece is 6 and my daughter is 11; they were equally fascinated. Two thumbs up all around.
I'm convinced that calling at 7AM exactly 180 days prior to the show date to request a category 1 table is what got us front and center. Great location, and probably worth the extra money. The category 2 seats are fine, although a bit removed from the action. The category 3 seats are in the back. You can see, but I'm sure it's not the same as being right up close. One last note: We were told to be there 30 minutes early and I'm a stickler for details so we arrived at 4:45 on the nose... only to be told that we could wait in the garden until seating started at 5:15. There are a total of THREE benches available! They did start letting us in a few minutes early, but I have a theory that the '30 minutes early' thing is a ploy to get you standing there next to the cash bar while you wait. Since you can't even sit down, might as well buy a drink, right? Forget it. Arrive 20 minutes early and you'll still be there in plenty of time.
And finally, we tried out the new Contempo Cafe on the 4th floor of the Contemporary resort for breakfast. It was certainly convenient, but given that it's in the same (very open) location as the old Concourse Steakhouse, the noise from Chef Mickey's is more than a little distracting. As mentioned in a recent Affordable Disney newsletter, you can check out the menu board before proceeding to touch screen ordering kiosks where the pricing of the items is revealed.
Pricing is changed by what you add (or subtract) from your items. For instance, adding cheese to a burger. When you're done ordering you take your receipt to the self-service area where you can grab additional items, and then onto the cashier to check out. This is a sample of the new trend where you pay, get a beeper, and go sit to wait for your food instead of hanging out at the counter. It's a good system once you get used to it. As with most counter service locations, it's a good (and fast) place to eat - but especially so if you avoid peak meal times.
MICKEY'S VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS PARTY
I've gone to this event roughly 12 of the last 14 years. I love that it's usually cool at night and with all the holiday decorations, snow on Main Street, festive shows, etc. it's about the best way I've found to get in the spirit of the season. The event starts at 7PM, but we always make our Crystal palace reservations for 5:20 so that we can get in the park using just our party tickets (no drain on the regular park admission tickets), we can get party wristbands on the way in (they start giving them out around 4 PM), and when we finish dinner we can hit the park running with VERY few people around. Cast members will ask to see your wristbands, but as long as you have them you can go where you want with very short (if any) wait times.
This is a nice change from a few years ago when everyone was forced into Tomorrowland until 7PM. Gone are the free holiday photos, but you do get a discount off all PhotoPass shots you order from that night. (40%, I think.) While the incredible Christmas cookies they had 10+ years ago have been replaced with run-of-the-mill sugar cookies, they're still pretty tasty, as is the hot chocolate - both complimentary at many stations around the park. I was happy to see that they have added the healthier option of apple juice and apple slices as well.
As usual, the extra-special fireworks are worth the price of admission if you ask me... I'm a big pyro fan! The parade (done twice) is the same as it's been for years, and you still have to grab a spot at least 30 minutes (or more) beforehand if you don't want to stand. A night at Mickey's VMCP cannot replace a full day at the Magic Kingdom if you've never been there (or if it's been awhile), but you can sure see a lot in very little time. If you go often, consider doing the party in lieu of a park that day and instead go hotel hopping to see all the gorgeous decorations.
Perhaps it's time to mention once again that I don't live in Orlando. I live in Naples, about 3+ hours southwest, so I don't get to Disney World nearly as often as I'd like - a few times a year if I'm lucky. When I do go, I spend lots of time scouting out area hotels, trying new restaurants, and doing other 'travel agent' things; but I consider the December trips true vacations - short, but all mine. It's my favorite time of year to go, so I focus on fun instead of agent education. Don't hesitate to write if you have questions about holiday trips - or any other time of year for that matter! This weekend I'm off on another cruise, so watch for that report soon!"
=================================================
Jennifer writes:
"Greetings,
I wanted to share our experience at Disney world: Epcot from last week. It was my daughter and my husbands birthday. We were quite excited to spend the day in the park and were staying in Coronado Springs. The accommodations were clean and quite nice, but we had the opportunity to have the best customer service while in the Epcot park.
My daughter, celebrating her 6th birthday had gotten a new lanyard for pin trading as her old one was quite filled up. We also purchased a few new pins and transferred over some new ones. Well unfortunately, when we checked in for our reservations at the Rose and Crown Pub, she realized that she had left her pins in a bathroom stall about 20 minutes prior.
Needless to say she was quite upset and started crying. After about thirty minutes we knew they wouldn't be there, so we sat down to dinner. She had quite the face on her at the table when our server, Lauren came up and asked what was the matter. We informed her of what happened and she frowned for a moment and said, 'Give me a moment to see if I can help.'
We ate what was an incredible dinner and after words she disappeared for about 15 minutes. We were kind of wondering what had happened to her when she came around and stood on a chair. She got the attention of the entire area and informed them of a very special birthday for Sarah and would they all please join in for a rounding rendition of Happy Birthday, which brought quite the smile on her face.
The server, Lauren, then came down and offered Sarah with a special Year of a Million Dreams trading pin to help replace the ones she lost, a special dreams come true Certificate that she had ever server sign for her and birthday card from Mickey and Minnie themselves.
This experience almost made me cry. She was so unhappy and upset and they really brought her back to life with just the simple gesture. They didn't need to, it was nothing they had done, but they saw an unhappy child and tried to help and lift her spirits. I will forever remember this birthday for her even if when she grows up she won't... It truly was a year of dreams for my little girl...
One Happy Guest."
Proof again that castmembers can turn frowns into smiles with a little help of the Disney magic!
=================================================
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Affordable Disney Books
Disney and other new books 50-90% off the list price. 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.
=============================================
Updates From Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation
December 23, 2008
Copyright © 1999 - 2009 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!
Donna and I would like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!
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 - Downtown Disney Resort Hotel discount, SeaWorld Hotel suite sale, kids eat FREE at Universal hotels, and Universal Blue man Group discount
* News from around the "World" - Disney Christmas parade
* Beth, our travel agent, writes about her Christmas visit to Walt Disney World
* Jennifer writes about her daughter's birthday experience at Epcot
=================================================
NEW THIS WEEK
WALT DISNEY WORLD
Save 30% at this Downtown Disney Resort Hotel through 2009! Includes:
* Disney Character Breakfasts
* Scheduled shuttle to all Walt Disney World Parks
* Heated Pool, Lap Pool, and Therapeutic Thermal Spa
* Walk to downtown Disney
* Guaranteed admission to Walt Disney World Parks
-------------------------------
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
Winter SUITE Rates From $99: Voted #1 "Best for Families." Studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens. Includes:
* FREE hot buffet breakfast daily
* FREE parking and High-speed Internet access
* FREE shuttle to select theme parks
* Heated pool and whirlpool
* Sports Court and Exercise room
* Video Arcade
* Guest Laundry
* Pets welcome
Packages are also available from $89.
-------------------------------
UNIVERSAL ORLANDO
Kids get FREE lunch and dinner at Universal's Portofino Bay Hotel (Trattoria del Porto, Sal's Market Deli and Splendido Pizzeria) Hard Rock Hotel (The Kitchen and Beach Club) and Royal Pacific Resort (Islands Dining Room, Jake's American Bar and Bula Bar & Grill)!
Child (3-9) tickets for Universal's Blue Man Group for $25 through 12/31/08.
=================================================
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 30% on a 2009 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!
--------------------------------
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!
--------------------------------
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
>> Three nights from $299!
>> Onboard credits!
>> Discounts for Florida residents and the military - rates too low to publish!
--------------------------------
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
>> Local Newspaper promotions that apply to everyone in the USA!
>> Save up to $40.00 per ticket to Disneyland California!
--------------------------------
DISNEYLAND PARIS
>> Discover the secret to getting FREE admission!
>> Kids under 12 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.
--------------------------------
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 steps into the fashion arena with its Mickeys hidden
Gingerbread House recipe from The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort
Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
=================================================
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
Water parks scramble to comply with new pool-safety law
=================================================
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
Celebrating 25 Years Of Holiday Magic, The Star-Studded Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade Airs On ABC December 25th
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.
=================================================
Beth, our travel agent, writes:
"I'm recently back from my annual trek to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and thought I'd pass on a few comments and observations...
CONTEMPORARY RESORT
I haven't stayed here for several years so it was nice to go back and try out the renovated rooms for myself. They really are very nice, and you sure can't beat the location. We were in a tower room with a lagoon view, though, and unfortunately assigned a spot as close to the construction of the new DVC building as we could get. The noise starts early in the morning and makes enjoying time on the balcony nearly impossible. It was even distracting out by the pool. You can forget sleeping in. Not good. Plus, the new building blocks about a third of your lake view from that end of the building. At least for the time being, either do a garden wing room with a standard (parking lot view) so you're not paying much and are not facing the construction, or splurge on the tower rooms with theme park view.
I never noticed this before, but even when you're staying on the 5th floor (which we were) you can't get to the monorail without going down a floor and then back up! Speaking of the monorail, don't assume that you can leave the Magic Kingdom and hop right on a train back to your monorail hotel. We left one night after a parade (along with a large herd of other people) and had over a half hour wait before we could board! The crowd was really absurd, but after that I started watching more closely and it seems that happens nearly every night after fireworks or a parade. Guess that's a popular time to leave! Won't make that mistake again.
DINING
We did lunch at the Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney. This is one of the few places you can eat without breaking the bank. Try to get there before 11:30, though, to avoid a long line and increase odds of getting a table easily. Warning: The children's grilled cheese sandwich is on ciabatta bread and did not pass the visual test of my 6-year-old niece. It was delicious, but it didn't 'look' right so she refused to eat it. Skip dessert and instead head around the corner to the Ghirardelli store where they are always giving out free chocolate samples. One square is a perfect morsel for me, but if your sweet tooth is bigger consider going to the other side to share a big sundae with someone. :)
The Crystal Palace at 5:20 PM on Mickey's party night is a tradition. The buffet is all-you-can-eat and offers something for pretty much everyone. It's not gourmet, but it's more than edible... and the kids love the kid-sized buffet area with all their favorites (pizza, spaghetti, mac n' cheese, etc.) It's expensive for what you get, BUT it only takes one table service credit if you're on the dining plan. All four Pooh characters stopped by the table at least once in the 70 minutes or so that we were there. The service was pretty slow, but fortunately we only needed the server for beverages. Bonus: we were early - by about a half hour - and had no trouble getting in after just a five minute wait.
This was my first trip to the Main Street Bakery - for breakfast or anything else. Yum! I'm on a perpetual diet so I passed on the pastries, but they looked wonderful. I opted for the hot croissant, ham, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich. (OK, so that's not dietetic, either, but it's better than a giant cinnamon roll!) It was really good. Also available and equally tasty were a yogurt-fruit parfait, hot oatmeal, and a fruit and cheese bowl. (No, they weren't all for me!) It's a much nicer place to grab breakfast than a food court, although the line was long and getting a table can be hard..
We also hit the early (5:15) performance of the Spirit of Aloha luau dinner show at the Polynesian Resort. I can't tell you how long it's been since I've been to that! The food was served family-style, all you can eat, and was fabulous. Even my picky eater niece loved it. I washed it down with an adequate red wine (included) while my mother opted for white wine and the girls chose iced tea. The show progresses at a good pace and holds the children's attention well. My niece is 6 and my daughter is 11; they were equally fascinated. Two thumbs up all around.
I'm convinced that calling at 7AM exactly 180 days prior to the show date to request a category 1 table is what got us front and center. Great location, and probably worth the extra money. The category 2 seats are fine, although a bit removed from the action. The category 3 seats are in the back. You can see, but I'm sure it's not the same as being right up close. One last note: We were told to be there 30 minutes early and I'm a stickler for details so we arrived at 4:45 on the nose... only to be told that we could wait in the garden until seating started at 5:15. There are a total of THREE benches available! They did start letting us in a few minutes early, but I have a theory that the '30 minutes early' thing is a ploy to get you standing there next to the cash bar while you wait. Since you can't even sit down, might as well buy a drink, right? Forget it. Arrive 20 minutes early and you'll still be there in plenty of time.
And finally, we tried out the new Contempo Cafe on the 4th floor of the Contemporary resort for breakfast. It was certainly convenient, but given that it's in the same (very open) location as the old Concourse Steakhouse, the noise from Chef Mickey's is more than a little distracting. As mentioned in a recent Affordable Disney newsletter, you can check out the menu board before proceeding to touch screen ordering kiosks where the pricing of the items is revealed.
Pricing is changed by what you add (or subtract) from your items. For instance, adding cheese to a burger. When you're done ordering you take your receipt to the self-service area where you can grab additional items, and then onto the cashier to check out. This is a sample of the new trend where you pay, get a beeper, and go sit to wait for your food instead of hanging out at the counter. It's a good system once you get used to it. As with most counter service locations, it's a good (and fast) place to eat - but especially so if you avoid peak meal times.
MICKEY'S VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS PARTY
I've gone to this event roughly 12 of the last 14 years. I love that it's usually cool at night and with all the holiday decorations, snow on Main Street, festive shows, etc. it's about the best way I've found to get in the spirit of the season. The event starts at 7PM, but we always make our Crystal palace reservations for 5:20 so that we can get in the park using just our party tickets (no drain on the regular park admission tickets), we can get party wristbands on the way in (they start giving them out around 4 PM), and when we finish dinner we can hit the park running with VERY few people around. Cast members will ask to see your wristbands, but as long as you have them you can go where you want with very short (if any) wait times.
This is a nice change from a few years ago when everyone was forced into Tomorrowland until 7PM. Gone are the free holiday photos, but you do get a discount off all PhotoPass shots you order from that night. (40%, I think.) While the incredible Christmas cookies they had 10+ years ago have been replaced with run-of-the-mill sugar cookies, they're still pretty tasty, as is the hot chocolate - both complimentary at many stations around the park. I was happy to see that they have added the healthier option of apple juice and apple slices as well.
As usual, the extra-special fireworks are worth the price of admission if you ask me... I'm a big pyro fan! The parade (done twice) is the same as it's been for years, and you still have to grab a spot at least 30 minutes (or more) beforehand if you don't want to stand. A night at Mickey's VMCP cannot replace a full day at the Magic Kingdom if you've never been there (or if it's been awhile), but you can sure see a lot in very little time. If you go often, consider doing the party in lieu of a park that day and instead go hotel hopping to see all the gorgeous decorations.
Perhaps it's time to mention once again that I don't live in Orlando. I live in Naples, about 3+ hours southwest, so I don't get to Disney World nearly as often as I'd like - a few times a year if I'm lucky. When I do go, I spend lots of time scouting out area hotels, trying new restaurants, and doing other 'travel agent' things; but I consider the December trips true vacations - short, but all mine. It's my favorite time of year to go, so I focus on fun instead of agent education. Don't hesitate to write if you have questions about holiday trips - or any other time of year for that matter! This weekend I'm off on another cruise, so watch for that report soon!"
=================================================
Jennifer writes:
"Greetings,
I wanted to share our experience at Disney world: Epcot from last week. It was my daughter and my husbands birthday. We were quite excited to spend the day in the park and were staying in Coronado Springs. The accommodations were clean and quite nice, but we had the opportunity to have the best customer service while in the Epcot park.
My daughter, celebrating her 6th birthday had gotten a new lanyard for pin trading as her old one was quite filled up. We also purchased a few new pins and transferred over some new ones. Well unfortunately, when we checked in for our reservations at the Rose and Crown Pub, she realized that she had left her pins in a bathroom stall about 20 minutes prior.
Needless to say she was quite upset and started crying. After about thirty minutes we knew they wouldn't be there, so we sat down to dinner. She had quite the face on her at the table when our server, Lauren came up and asked what was the matter. We informed her of what happened and she frowned for a moment and said, 'Give me a moment to see if I can help.'
We ate what was an incredible dinner and after words she disappeared for about 15 minutes. We were kind of wondering what had happened to her when she came around and stood on a chair. She got the attention of the entire area and informed them of a very special birthday for Sarah and would they all please join in for a rounding rendition of Happy Birthday, which brought quite the smile on her face.
The server, Lauren, then came down and offered Sarah with a special Year of a Million Dreams trading pin to help replace the ones she lost, a special dreams come true Certificate that she had ever server sign for her and birthday card from Mickey and Minnie themselves.
This experience almost made me cry. She was so unhappy and upset and they really brought her back to life with just the simple gesture. They didn't need to, it was nothing they had done, but they saw an unhappy child and tried to help and lift her spirits. I will forever remember this birthday for her even if when she grows up she won't... It truly was a year of dreams for my little girl...
One Happy Guest."
Proof again that castmembers can turn frowns into smiles with a little help of the Disney magic!
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See You Real Soon!
John
AffordableDisney.Com.
johngross@affordabledisney.com
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posted by AffordableDisney.Com at 6:42 AM
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