Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation
THE DISNEY NEWS
Updates From Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation
April 1, 2009
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!
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, Walt Disney World on $58 per day, Disneyland California ticket sale, Disney cruise line special, Buck-a-night hotel promotion, and Vegas Resort & Casino discount
* News from around the "World" - Master sommelier John Blazon among those in Walt Disney World layoffs
* Beth, our travel agent, writes about paying for your Disney vacation by check
* Disney Cruise Line to Homeport Disney Wonder at the Port of Los Angeles
* Sanaa Brings Flavors of India, Africa To Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
=================================================
NEW THIS WEEK
WALT DISNEY WORLD
# A new sweeps added this week to win a Disney / Florida vacation! That makes 21 active sweepstakes and contests to win a Walt Disney World / Florida / Disneyland / Southern California vacation!
# Walt Disney World: 5 nights + room + tickets + meals: $1,390 for a family of four (2 adults, 1 junior and 1 child) or $58 per person, per day!
--------------------------------
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
Big sale on Disneyland Theme Park tickets!
-------------------------------
$1 ROOM PROMOTION AT HOTEL NEAR WALT DISNEY WORLD
Book 3 nights and get the 4th night for $1! Or stay 5 nights and get the 6th night for $1! Valid for stays now through December 24. MUST BOOK THIS DEAL ON APRIL 1!
Beth, our travel agent, writes: "I've seen this hotel and it's very close to Disney. You can't beat the price. Kids 12 and under always eat free. I'd give it a very solid 3 to 3.5 stars."
An Official Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotel. One of the closest hotels in Kissimmee to Walt Disney World and all the other Orlando and Kissimmee attractions - located just 3 short miles to the Main Gate. Pet friendly. Free shuttle to the parks. Full service restaurant and food court.
-------------------------------
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
This "Kids sail FREE" promotion is only for those who are members of Disney's exclusive Castaway Club. Beth writes: "My guess is that this will eventually be open for anyone."
-------------------------------
LAS VEGAS
Save up to 20% on Accommodations at Bellagio Resort & Casino!
=================================================
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
* Disney Cruise Line discounts for Floridians and the military
* FREE night at Disney Deluxe Resort
* CityPass discount for Affordable Disney members
* Non-Disney theme park/cruise vacation packages
* BIG room discount at the Las Vegas Mirage Casino & Resort
* Orlando theme park vacation package
* California theme park promotion
* Legoland San Diego special
* Caribbean cruise deals
* Disney Cruise Line sale
* Disneyland California package deal
* Disneyland Paris special
* 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
* Orlando Theme Park Package with hotel and tickets to 3 parks
* Luxury Cruise Special: Kids sail from $99 and $250 to spend
* Disney World: $1375 for a family of four for 7 nights
* 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
* 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 special 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
=================================================
NEWS FROM AROUND THE "WORLD"
WALT DISNEY WORLD
This Day in Disney History
Build your own fairy house (with help from Disney)
Disney’s Magic Your Way Empowers Guests to Create Their Own Personally Customized Vacation Tickets
Cirque du Soleil and today's economy
Trips, slips dominate theme-park lawsuits
Walt Disney World Jungle Cruise skippers wow fans at Tokyo Disney
Making Disney World Easy For Everyone Although an interesting article, they should have realized that Pleasure Island clubs are gone!
Should you stay at a Disney resort hotel?
Disney World's size awes and intimidates
Master sommelier John Blazon among those in Walt Disney World layoffs; v.p. Rosemary Rose gone too
Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
=================================================
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
Theme-park lawsuits leave questions of safety unsettled
SeaWorld Orlando exec wants to take us for a ride
A Room With A Who And Green Eggs And Ham For Breakfast!
Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando's 'Aloha Friday' to Feature Tropical Drinks, Food & Live Music!
How smaller attractions can beat slump Interesting article on how the other attractions in Florida are competing for your business.
Cypress Gardens is open again.
What's old is new as Florida's first tourist spot Cypress Gardens reopens
Cypress Gardens Announce Lower Prices, More Options
SeaWorld's Aquatica is brightened up for the splashers of spring
=================================================
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
Disneyland guests play starring role in ‘Celebrate!’ parade
‘People still vacation’ — Disney expects new time shares to sell out fast
Disneyland Resort Calendar
--------------------------------
DISNEYLAND PARIS
Disneyland Resort Paris gets tooned up for Mickey’s Magical Party
Mickey Macaroon This Month’S Must-Have
Celebrities create bespoke Mickey Ears in preparation of Mickey’s Magical Party at Disneyland Resort Paris
--------------------------------
BRANSON MISSOURI
The Branson Platinum Experience Makes a Branson Vacation Even More Affordable
--------------------------------
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:
PAYING BY CHECK
"The idea sounds good in theory, but Disney's new deposit terms have made that hard. You used to have 14 days from making a reservation before the deposit was due, leaving plenty of time to mail a check to the Disney lockbox in Atlanta (or Chicago, if you're doing a room-only reservation). Now, though, the deposit is due within 7 days and most of us have discovered the hard way that the US Postal Service isn't as speedy as it used to be. If you're going to pay by check, make sure that you send it by overnight mail (or at least Express mail) so that it's not only there on time, but with time to get it posted to the reservation as well.
Better yet, use your debit card. I know... with all the scary stories you hear about identity theft you're afraid to give your card number out to just anyone - and you should be! So make sure that you book through a reliable agent with plenty of references, AND make sure that the charge you see on your statement says WALT DISNEY PARKS & RESORTS (or something similar). I can't say that there's never a time when we don't process a charge in-house, but they are rare exceptions. Even for tours and cruises, the payments are run through the supplier, and that's what you see on your statement. At the very least, it should be the agency name (and that agency should also be verifiably legitimate). Under no circumstances should you ever see a charge for your vacation show up on your debit card/bank statement under an individual's name."
=================================================
Disney Cruise Line to Homeport Disney Wonder at the Port of Los Angeles
Disney Cruise Line announced today that it plans to reposition the Disney Wonder from its Florida base in Port Canaveral to the West Coast in 2011. The company is working with the Port of Los Angeles to finalize a two-year agreement with a three-year extension option. The contract will be considered by the Port of Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners on April 2, 2009.
If approved, the new Disney Wonder sailings could generate more than 250,000 guests passing through the Port of Los Angeles over a five-year period.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said he is pleased to welcome the renowned family cruise line back to the Port of Los Angeles at San Pedro.
"Having Disney Cruise Line operating out of the Port of Los Angeles will provide a great boost to the local economy by generating business and tourism revenue in San Pedro and throughout the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area," Mayor Villaraigosa said. "The return of Disney Cruise Line to our port speaks volumes about our ability to attract world-class cruise lines to the area."
The addition of a new homeport for Disney Cruise Line is part of the overall expansion plan for The Walt Disney Company. Two new ships, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, will arrive in Florida’s Port Canaveral in 2011 and 2012, respectively.
"We are looking forward to returning to the Port of Los Angeles and offering our special brand of family cruises on the West Coast,” said Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo. “Having a Disney Cruise Line ship based in this region is something families on the West Coast have wanted for a long time, and we’re pleased to bring the Disney Wonder to Southern California in 2011."
Disney Cruise Line has successfully tested the West Coast market with two summer seasons of Mexican Riviera itineraries from the Port of Los Angeles. The Disney Magic cruise ship first called on the West Coast during the summer of 2005 as part of Disneyland’s 50th anniversary and returned again during the summer of 2008. Disney Cruise Line has not yet announced the details of its itineraries for 2011.
"The return of Disney Cruise Line to the Port of Los Angeles is just one more reason visitors will come to Los Angeles to help our city thrive," added Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Geraldine Knatz, Ph.d. "The LA area is already home to Disneyland - it’s a natural fit."
The Port of Los Angeles continues to be one of the busiest cruise ports on the West Coast. Known for its proximity to area attractions, including Disneyland Resort, and ease of convenience for transportation and nearby airports, the Port of Los Angeles provides cruisers with a great experience.
Disney Cruise Line delivers a cruise experience that every member of the family feels was created for their own individual vacation wants and needs. Specifically designed areas and activities for each member of the family allows for both quality time together and wonderful individual experiences. The focus is to allow families to reconnect, adults to recharge their batteries and kids to immerse themselves in worlds of fantasy only Disney can create.
Known for establishing family travel in the cruise market Disney Cruise Line continues to be a leader in the industry. The Disney Wonder was recently named the top large cruise ship experience by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine in the 9th annual "Reader’s Cruise Poll." The Disney Magic, which was also ranked in the top five cruise experiences in the poll, will embark on a season of limited itineraries exploring Northern Europe and the Mediterranean in 2010. Additionally, the line continues to move forward on the construction of its two new ocean liners at the Meyer Werft yard in Germany. (Source: Press Release, 03/30/09)
Beth, our travel agent, writes: "Rumor has it that the Wonder will do 3- and 4-night cruises from LA in order to pair up with 3- and 4-night Disneyland stays, making 7-night land/sea vacations just as it's been doing in Florida for so long. The Magic will remain local and change to short cruises when the new ship arrives to do 7-nighters. Then in 2012 when the second new ship arrives, the plan is to send the Magic to the West Coast as well so that they can also offer 7-night cruises. Of course, all this is subject to change over the next two years. They have also talked about doing Hawaiian and Alaskan itineraries from LA. Guess we'll have to wait and see!"
=================================================
Sanaa Brings Flavors of India, Africa To Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Fans of Jiko-The Cooking Place and Boma-Flavors of Africa have a new reason to dine at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge as Sanaa debuts May 1 in the resort’s new Kidani Village expansion.
The new Walt Disney World restaurant’s unusual name, pronounced "Sah-NAH," is the Swahili word for "artwork." With interiors inspired by African art and remarkable views of the resort’s Sunset Savannah through 9-foot windows, diners experience "the art of African cooking with Indian flavors" in the 150-seat, family-oriented restaurant located on the ground floor just below the lobby.
Sanaa’s cuisine is a melting pot of tastes from the islands of the Indian Ocean that all are part of Africa - Zanzibar, the Seychelles, Comoro Islands, Mauritius and Madagascar. “
"These islands were on important trade routes with influences from French, Portuguese, Dutch, British, Arab and Chinese traders," said Chef Bob Getchell. "The diverse spices and flavors give us an endless array of options for Sanaa."
The most indelible mark on the cuisine of the region was made by Indian traders who introduced curries, spice blends and breads. Central to African-Indian cuisine is the use of the tandoor oven, essentially a large clay pot similar to a pizza oven. The tandoor provides very high, dry heat that creates a crisp outer layer and moist interior. Along with meats, a favorite tandoor oven treat is the Indian bread naan, which is slapped directly onto the oven’s clay walls and allowed to bake until puffy and lightly browned. The Sanaa kitchen will have two custom tandoor ovens.
Specialties include tandoori chicken, lamb and shrimp, slow-cooked curries, and braised short ribs. "Don’t think of curry as spicy," said Chef Getchell, "but as a centuries-old cooking method that allows flavors to fully develop in the meats, vegetables, and sauces." The base blend of seasonings for Sanaa’s curries include cardamom, chiles, cinnamon, cloves, saffron, coriander, nutmeg, fennel seed, cumin, tamarind, turmeric and more. The turmeric is what gives many curry dishes their characteristic yellow color.
Appetizers such as lamb kefta with tamarind-dried papaya sauce, and unusual salads like okra, radishes and tomato, roasted beets, and carrot, orange and mint start the dining experience.
Entrées include the tandoori-roasted meats, curries, and sides such as dahl (stewed lentils), curried crushed potatoes, stir-fried green beans and slow-cooked spinach and paneer (a mild South Asian cheese). Indian style flatbreads including naan, roti, and paratha are paired with chutneys, Indian style pickles and raita (yogurt-based dip).
For guests who prefer more American flavors, there is a grilled pork chop and club sandwich at lunch, and grilled flank steak at dinner.
Sweets are the final adventure, including mango pudding, cardamom-butter cake, papaya with sea salt and lime and vanilla-coconut rice pudding.
The restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and from 5-9 p.m. An adjacent 24-seat lounge serves African wines, beer and spirits. For reservations, call 407/WDW-DINE.
Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is part of Disney Vacation Club. (Source: Press Release, 03/31/09)
=================================================
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.
--------------------------------
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
April 1, 2009
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!
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, Walt Disney World on $58 per day, Disneyland California ticket sale, Disney cruise line special, Buck-a-night hotel promotion, and Vegas Resort & Casino discount
* News from around the "World" - Master sommelier John Blazon among those in Walt Disney World layoffs
* Beth, our travel agent, writes about paying for your Disney vacation by check
* Disney Cruise Line to Homeport Disney Wonder at the Port of Los Angeles
* Sanaa Brings Flavors of India, Africa To Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
=================================================
NEW THIS WEEK
WALT DISNEY WORLD
# A new sweeps added this week to win a Disney / Florida vacation! That makes 21 active sweepstakes and contests to win a Walt Disney World / Florida / Disneyland / Southern California vacation!
# Walt Disney World: 5 nights + room + tickets + meals: $1,390 for a family of four (2 adults, 1 junior and 1 child) or $58 per person, per day!
--------------------------------
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
Big sale on Disneyland Theme Park tickets!
-------------------------------
$1 ROOM PROMOTION AT HOTEL NEAR WALT DISNEY WORLD
Book 3 nights and get the 4th night for $1! Or stay 5 nights and get the 6th night for $1! Valid for stays now through December 24. MUST BOOK THIS DEAL ON APRIL 1!
Beth, our travel agent, writes: "I've seen this hotel and it's very close to Disney. You can't beat the price. Kids 12 and under always eat free. I'd give it a very solid 3 to 3.5 stars."
An Official Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotel. One of the closest hotels in Kissimmee to Walt Disney World and all the other Orlando and Kissimmee attractions - located just 3 short miles to the Main Gate. Pet friendly. Free shuttle to the parks. Full service restaurant and food court.
-------------------------------
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
This "Kids sail FREE" promotion is only for those who are members of Disney's exclusive Castaway Club. Beth writes: "My guess is that this will eventually be open for anyone."
-------------------------------
LAS VEGAS
Save up to 20% on Accommodations at Bellagio Resort & Casino!
=================================================
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
* Disney Cruise Line discounts for Floridians and the military
* FREE night at Disney Deluxe Resort
* CityPass discount for Affordable Disney members
* Non-Disney theme park/cruise vacation packages
* BIG room discount at the Las Vegas Mirage Casino & Resort
* Orlando theme park vacation package
* California theme park promotion
* Legoland San Diego special
* Caribbean cruise deals
* Disney Cruise Line sale
* Disneyland California package deal
* Disneyland Paris special
* 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
* Orlando Theme Park Package with hotel and tickets to 3 parks
* Luxury Cruise Special: Kids sail from $99 and $250 to spend
* Disney World: $1375 for a family of four for 7 nights
* 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
* 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 special 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
=================================================
NEWS FROM AROUND THE "WORLD"
WALT DISNEY WORLD
This Day in Disney History
Build your own fairy house (with help from Disney)
Disney’s Magic Your Way Empowers Guests to Create Their Own Personally Customized Vacation Tickets
Cirque du Soleil and today's economy
Trips, slips dominate theme-park lawsuits
Walt Disney World Jungle Cruise skippers wow fans at Tokyo Disney
Making Disney World Easy For Everyone Although an interesting article, they should have realized that Pleasure Island clubs are gone!
Should you stay at a Disney resort hotel?
Disney World's size awes and intimidates
Master sommelier John Blazon among those in Walt Disney World layoffs; v.p. Rosemary Rose gone too
Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
=================================================
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
Theme-park lawsuits leave questions of safety unsettled
SeaWorld Orlando exec wants to take us for a ride
A Room With A Who And Green Eggs And Ham For Breakfast!
Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando's 'Aloha Friday' to Feature Tropical Drinks, Food & Live Music!
How smaller attractions can beat slump Interesting article on how the other attractions in Florida are competing for your business.
Cypress Gardens is open again.
What's old is new as Florida's first tourist spot Cypress Gardens reopens
Cypress Gardens Announce Lower Prices, More Options
SeaWorld's Aquatica is brightened up for the splashers of spring
=================================================
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
Disneyland guests play starring role in ‘Celebrate!’ parade
‘People still vacation’ — Disney expects new time shares to sell out fast
Disneyland Resort Calendar
--------------------------------
DISNEYLAND PARIS
Disneyland Resort Paris gets tooned up for Mickey’s Magical Party
Mickey Macaroon This Month’S Must-Have
Celebrities create bespoke Mickey Ears in preparation of Mickey’s Magical Party at Disneyland Resort Paris
--------------------------------
BRANSON MISSOURI
The Branson Platinum Experience Makes a Branson Vacation Even More Affordable
--------------------------------
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:
PAYING BY CHECK
"The idea sounds good in theory, but Disney's new deposit terms have made that hard. You used to have 14 days from making a reservation before the deposit was due, leaving plenty of time to mail a check to the Disney lockbox in Atlanta (or Chicago, if you're doing a room-only reservation). Now, though, the deposit is due within 7 days and most of us have discovered the hard way that the US Postal Service isn't as speedy as it used to be. If you're going to pay by check, make sure that you send it by overnight mail (or at least Express mail) so that it's not only there on time, but with time to get it posted to the reservation as well.
Better yet, use your debit card. I know... with all the scary stories you hear about identity theft you're afraid to give your card number out to just anyone - and you should be! So make sure that you book through a reliable agent with plenty of references, AND make sure that the charge you see on your statement says WALT DISNEY PARKS & RESORTS (or something similar). I can't say that there's never a time when we don't process a charge in-house, but they are rare exceptions. Even for tours and cruises, the payments are run through the supplier, and that's what you see on your statement. At the very least, it should be the agency name (and that agency should also be verifiably legitimate). Under no circumstances should you ever see a charge for your vacation show up on your debit card/bank statement under an individual's name."
=================================================
Disney Cruise Line to Homeport Disney Wonder at the Port of Los Angeles
Disney Cruise Line announced today that it plans to reposition the Disney Wonder from its Florida base in Port Canaveral to the West Coast in 2011. The company is working with the Port of Los Angeles to finalize a two-year agreement with a three-year extension option. The contract will be considered by the Port of Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners on April 2, 2009.
If approved, the new Disney Wonder sailings could generate more than 250,000 guests passing through the Port of Los Angeles over a five-year period.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said he is pleased to welcome the renowned family cruise line back to the Port of Los Angeles at San Pedro.
"Having Disney Cruise Line operating out of the Port of Los Angeles will provide a great boost to the local economy by generating business and tourism revenue in San Pedro and throughout the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area," Mayor Villaraigosa said. "The return of Disney Cruise Line to our port speaks volumes about our ability to attract world-class cruise lines to the area."
The addition of a new homeport for Disney Cruise Line is part of the overall expansion plan for The Walt Disney Company. Two new ships, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, will arrive in Florida’s Port Canaveral in 2011 and 2012, respectively.
"We are looking forward to returning to the Port of Los Angeles and offering our special brand of family cruises on the West Coast,” said Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo. “Having a Disney Cruise Line ship based in this region is something families on the West Coast have wanted for a long time, and we’re pleased to bring the Disney Wonder to Southern California in 2011."
Disney Cruise Line has successfully tested the West Coast market with two summer seasons of Mexican Riviera itineraries from the Port of Los Angeles. The Disney Magic cruise ship first called on the West Coast during the summer of 2005 as part of Disneyland’s 50th anniversary and returned again during the summer of 2008. Disney Cruise Line has not yet announced the details of its itineraries for 2011.
"The return of Disney Cruise Line to the Port of Los Angeles is just one more reason visitors will come to Los Angeles to help our city thrive," added Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Geraldine Knatz, Ph.d. "The LA area is already home to Disneyland - it’s a natural fit."
The Port of Los Angeles continues to be one of the busiest cruise ports on the West Coast. Known for its proximity to area attractions, including Disneyland Resort, and ease of convenience for transportation and nearby airports, the Port of Los Angeles provides cruisers with a great experience.
Disney Cruise Line delivers a cruise experience that every member of the family feels was created for their own individual vacation wants and needs. Specifically designed areas and activities for each member of the family allows for both quality time together and wonderful individual experiences. The focus is to allow families to reconnect, adults to recharge their batteries and kids to immerse themselves in worlds of fantasy only Disney can create.
Known for establishing family travel in the cruise market Disney Cruise Line continues to be a leader in the industry. The Disney Wonder was recently named the top large cruise ship experience by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine in the 9th annual "Reader’s Cruise Poll." The Disney Magic, which was also ranked in the top five cruise experiences in the poll, will embark on a season of limited itineraries exploring Northern Europe and the Mediterranean in 2010. Additionally, the line continues to move forward on the construction of its two new ocean liners at the Meyer Werft yard in Germany. (Source: Press Release, 03/30/09)
Beth, our travel agent, writes: "Rumor has it that the Wonder will do 3- and 4-night cruises from LA in order to pair up with 3- and 4-night Disneyland stays, making 7-night land/sea vacations just as it's been doing in Florida for so long. The Magic will remain local and change to short cruises when the new ship arrives to do 7-nighters. Then in 2012 when the second new ship arrives, the plan is to send the Magic to the West Coast as well so that they can also offer 7-night cruises. Of course, all this is subject to change over the next two years. They have also talked about doing Hawaiian and Alaskan itineraries from LA. Guess we'll have to wait and see!"
=================================================
Sanaa Brings Flavors of India, Africa To Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Fans of Jiko-The Cooking Place and Boma-Flavors of Africa have a new reason to dine at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge as Sanaa debuts May 1 in the resort’s new Kidani Village expansion.
The new Walt Disney World restaurant’s unusual name, pronounced "Sah-NAH," is the Swahili word for "artwork." With interiors inspired by African art and remarkable views of the resort’s Sunset Savannah through 9-foot windows, diners experience "the art of African cooking with Indian flavors" in the 150-seat, family-oriented restaurant located on the ground floor just below the lobby.
Sanaa’s cuisine is a melting pot of tastes from the islands of the Indian Ocean that all are part of Africa - Zanzibar, the Seychelles, Comoro Islands, Mauritius and Madagascar. “
"These islands were on important trade routes with influences from French, Portuguese, Dutch, British, Arab and Chinese traders," said Chef Bob Getchell. "The diverse spices and flavors give us an endless array of options for Sanaa."
The most indelible mark on the cuisine of the region was made by Indian traders who introduced curries, spice blends and breads. Central to African-Indian cuisine is the use of the tandoor oven, essentially a large clay pot similar to a pizza oven. The tandoor provides very high, dry heat that creates a crisp outer layer and moist interior. Along with meats, a favorite tandoor oven treat is the Indian bread naan, which is slapped directly onto the oven’s clay walls and allowed to bake until puffy and lightly browned. The Sanaa kitchen will have two custom tandoor ovens.
Specialties include tandoori chicken, lamb and shrimp, slow-cooked curries, and braised short ribs. "Don’t think of curry as spicy," said Chef Getchell, "but as a centuries-old cooking method that allows flavors to fully develop in the meats, vegetables, and sauces." The base blend of seasonings for Sanaa’s curries include cardamom, chiles, cinnamon, cloves, saffron, coriander, nutmeg, fennel seed, cumin, tamarind, turmeric and more. The turmeric is what gives many curry dishes their characteristic yellow color.
Appetizers such as lamb kefta with tamarind-dried papaya sauce, and unusual salads like okra, radishes and tomato, roasted beets, and carrot, orange and mint start the dining experience.
Entrées include the tandoori-roasted meats, curries, and sides such as dahl (stewed lentils), curried crushed potatoes, stir-fried green beans and slow-cooked spinach and paneer (a mild South Asian cheese). Indian style flatbreads including naan, roti, and paratha are paired with chutneys, Indian style pickles and raita (yogurt-based dip).
For guests who prefer more American flavors, there is a grilled pork chop and club sandwich at lunch, and grilled flank steak at dinner.
Sweets are the final adventure, including mango pudding, cardamom-butter cake, papaya with sea salt and lime and vanilla-coconut rice pudding.
The restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and from 5-9 p.m. An adjacent 24-seat lounge serves African wines, beer and spirits. For reservations, call 407/WDW-DINE.
Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is part of Disney Vacation Club. (Source: Press Release, 03/31/09)
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