Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation

THE DISNEY NEWS
Updates From Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation
March 18, 2009
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 deals for everyone at Walt Disney World, FREE night at Disney Deluxe Resort, Disney Cruise Line discounts for Floridians and the military, CityPass discount for Affordable Disney members, new non-Disney theme park/cruise vacation packages, and BIG room discount at the Las Vegas Mirage Casino & Resort

* News from around the "World" - character dining returns to Liberty Tree Tavern in the Magic Kingdom

* Tren-D, New Downtown Disney Retail Offering, Blends Retro Style and Current Trends with a Touch of Disney

* Celebrity Chef Cat Cora To Open New Walt Disney World Restaurant
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NEW THIS WEEK

WALT DISNEY WORLD

4 new sweeps added this week to win a Disney / Florida vacation! That makes 23 active sweepstakes and contests to win a Walt Disney World / Florida / Disneyland / Southern California vacation!

New Walt Disney World room discounts and vacation package for the general public!

Book three nights during your birthday at this Walt Disney World deluxe resort and get one FREE night! Plus! Dine at their eateries on your birthday and receive a FREE birthday cake!

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DISNEY CRUISE LINE

Discounted cruises for Florida Residents and Military from $399!

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LAS VEGAS

The Mirage - Remodeled Deluxe Rooms from $88 per night!

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CITYPASS Discount FOR AFFORDABLE DISNEY MEMBERS

Beth, our travel agent, writes: "I'm now an authorized wholesaler of the awesome CityPass line of products. These are passes that give you discounted admission (nearly 50%) to major tourist attractions in 11 major North American cities: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago,  Hollywood, Houston, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Southern California and Toronto. Affordable Disney readers will receive 5% off the stated price EXCEPT for Southern California passes (Sorry... I don't get a discount or commission on those, so there's nothing there to pass on. They're still a great deal, though!)
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NEW THEME PARK-CRUISE PACKAGES

This popular Orlando theme park venue has coupled with a luxury cruise line to offer cruise/land vacation packages to compete with Disney's Land & Sea vacations! Packages include:

* three- or four-night stays at the parks
* three- or four-night Bahamian cruise
* seven-night Caribbean cruise
* hotel and shipboard accommodations
* multi-day passes to theme parks
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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:

* A week at Walt Disney World from $1375 for a family of four
* WDW / Florida / Disneyland / S. California sweepstakes
* New source for discounted Disney Villas
* Awesome deal on 3-Day luxury cruises in December
* FREE airfare to Disneyland
* SeaWorld San Diego ticket deal
* Disney Cruise Line sale
* Disneyland California package deal
* Universal hotel discounts
* Spring Training package
* Disneyland California hotel special
* Universal Orlando discounted vacation packages
* SeaWorld Discovery Cove discounts
* Luxury Cruise promotion
* WDW luxury resort deal for residents of this northeast state
* FREE nights AND tickets at these hotels near Disney
* Orlando Theme Park Package with hotel and tickets to 3 parks
* Luxury Cruise Special: Kids sail from $99 and $250 to spend
* Advance Purchase Rates at this Orlando Luxury Resort Hotel
* Free Disneyland Gift Card valued up to $150
* 100 free upgrades in hotels all over the world
* Massive cruise sale with FREE air
* AMTRAK special for Florida Residents
* Walt Disney World 3 nights FREE
* Room discounts, FREE tickets and Package for military
* Room discounts and Package with Dining for Annual Passholders
* 2 Days for the Price of 1 at Universal Hollywood
* Unlimited visits throughout 2009 for $65 at SeaWorld San Diego
* Annual Pass deal for Florida Residents at Busch Gardens
* BIG Amtrak sale
* Downtown Disney Resort Hotel discount
* SeaWorld Hotel suite sale
* Kids eat FREE at Universal hotels
* Universal Blue Man Group discount
* Disneyland Annual Passes on a monthly payment plan
* Disneyland 4th night FREE
* Walt Disney World vacation package that discounts everything
* Kids sail FREE on Disney cruise line
* Kids stay and play FREE at Disneyland Paris
* Disneyland California package with $150 Disney gift card
* Universal Hollywood All You Can Eat Pass
* Save 50% at these deluxe Walt Disney World resorts
* 2010 Disney cruises now booking
* Get a FREE ticket to the Walt Disney World theme parks in 2009
* Nickelodeon Family Cruise
* Kids eat FREE membership card
* Disney cruise early booking discounts
* Vegas Resort & Casino special
* Disney hotel room and cruise line specials for Floridians

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

African elephant dies at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Understanding Extra Magic Hours

T. Rowe partners with Disney for Epcot financial exhibit

Attention Passholders: Enter to win a piece of Walt Disney World

That's Just Dumb, Disney - a commentary on Disney's new fan club D23

Food for Thought: Universal's BK WHOPPER Bar opens, "Ratatouille" animatronic arrives at Epcot and Character Dining returns to the Liberty Tree Tavern

Bucs pulling out of Orlando and their Walt Disney World training camp

Tuna Carpaccio Recipe From the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort

Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
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DISNEYLAND HONG KONG

Disney puts Hong Kong expansion on hold
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OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD

Let parents say what's safe, theme parks urge

Disney World’s knee high sites: The stroller debate

Disney World’s knee high sites: Epcot Theme Park

Disney Resort Collection Expands With All New Bedding By Wamsutta

Theme park etiquette: Reserving parade viewing spots at Disney and Universal

Universal CityWalk Welcomes Burger King Whopper Bar, Panda Express And Moe’S Southwest Grill

SeaWorld steps up hiring for the spring

Church Street's Cheyenne Saloon to close again
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DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA

Disneyland Resort Restaurants Win 15 Awards At Southern California Restaurant Writers Banquet

"Re-Imagineering" Disney's California Adventure

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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Tren-D, New Downtown Disney Retail Offering, Blends Retro Style and Current Trends with a Touch of Disney

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - A stylish boutique with designer flair and eclectic offerings becomes a premier shopping spot at Downtown Disney Marketplace with the March opening of Tren-D. The urban-inspired Walt Disney World specialty store is a one-of-a-kind, hip destination for fashion-conscious shoppers seeking trendy apparel and novel accessories.

"This unique environment, filled with textured fabrics, new silhouettes, and whimsical art and design allows us the opportunity to push the creative envelope as it relates to fashion and our characters," said Mark Perrotta, director of Product Development and Design. "Our guests continue to respond to trend merchandise and novel products that they can’t purchase at home. Tren-D speaks to what is happening today with a blend of vintage and hip with stylized Disney influences."

Offerings include organic loungewear, embroidered handbags, jeweled sunglasses and trendy accessories set among stylish art and unique furnishings. The eclectic environment offers a raw and unfinished feel with jeweled chandeliers, distinct fixtures and mod furnishings.

Much of the merchandise will not be available anywhere else at Downtown Disney. Designers such as Kidada Jones, Tarina Tarantino and Roxy will showcase their artistry - blending it with Disney-inspired creations.

"With its exclusive product lines and new environment, we think Tren-D will complement the existing merchandise offerings at Downtown Disney," said Perrotta.

Tren-D is in a 2,500-square-foot venue near Pin Traders and Once Upon A Toy. The space previously was used by Summer Sands. (Source: Press Release, 03/13/09)
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Celebrity Chef Cat Cora To Open New Walt Disney World Restaurant

Chef Cat Cora and Disney are joining together to open an exciting new family dining restaurant at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort. Kouzzina by Cat Cora will feature a menu of Mediterranean-style cuisine that pays tribute to the chef’s Greek roots.

The restaurant, to be owned and operated by Disney, is scheduled to open by fall 2009 in the space currently occupied by Spoodles.

"I am pleased to welcome Cat Cora and her engaging new concept for Kouzzina to the Walt Disney World Resort," said Jay Rasulo, chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "This collaboration between Cat and Disney represents a significant step in our ongoing commitment to offer unique culinary experiences and choices for our guests."

As a Mississippi native born to a family of Greek restaurateurs, Cora grew up immersed in two different and flavorful cultures , and has taken from that unique background the kitchen “know-how” handed down through generations. The cuisine at Kouzzina (Greek for "kitchen" and pronounced "koo-zee-nah") will showcase Mediterranean cuisine and Chef Cora’s philosophy to create simple yet sensational meals.

Cora said that the new restaurant will feature "time-honored recipes passed down from my ancestors, as well as my favorite Greek and Mediterranean dishes that my family loves."

She began working with Disney in 2008 by creating a Disney Video on Demand series to showcase ways to help families develop more healthy eating habits. "I’m extremely excited about this latest extension of my relationship with Disney," she said. "Together, we’re going to develop a truly amazing contemporary Mediterranean restaurant."

The first and only female Iron Chef on Food Network's hit show "Iron Chef America," Cora is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York. She also is Executive Chef for Bon Appétit magazine. In addition to hosting the instructional cooking demonstrations for Disney Video on Demand, Cora has been a featured chef at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival and at Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival at Disneyland Resort. (Source: Press Release, 03/17/09)
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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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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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