Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation
THE DISNEY NEWS
Updates From Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation
May 27, 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 - FREE night for military, FREE travel insurance, BIG Disney cruise onboard credit and Florida Island Resort promotion
* News from around the "World" - Disney theme park merchandise offered online
* A subscriber writes about last week's article on the Treehouse Villas at Disney's Saratoga Springs
* Wendy writes about Beth's comments last week in reference to vacation complaints
* Beth writes about Disney's Fun Card Option
* Beth writes about Disney's summer dining plan price increase
=================================================
NEW THIS WEEK
WALT DISNEY WORLD
FREE Night Promotion for the Military at this Downtown Disney Resort Hotel! Hurry! You must book by May 29, 2009.
--------------------------------
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
Free Travel Insurance from this Orlando Resort!
--------------------------------
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
Receive Up to $700 Onboard Credit!
--------------------------------
FLORIDA ISLAND RESORT PROMOTION
* Pay for 3 Consecutive Nights, Receive 1 Night Free
* Kid's Eat Breakfast Free
* $45 per person for golf, lunch, and cart
* 20% off Food & Beverage
Book by July 15, 2009 and receive a FREE night certificate for a future stay!
=================================================
Below are just some of the deals drawn from over 70 pages of current specials posted at our password-protected members-only site:
* Walt Disney World on $58 per day per person
* Walt Disney World room discount
* Universal Orlando Resorts half off strategy
* Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
* Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
* Adventures by Disney London and Paris vacation
* Orlando resort vacation package for dog owners
* Disneyland ticket deal for locals
* Disneyland Paris vacation package discount
* Alaska cruise special
* Ireland on a budget
* Cruise with cash back
* Disneyland Paris vacation package discount
* Luxury cruise discount exclusively for police and firefighters
* Bahamas vacation packages
* New parties for Walt Disney World Resort guests
* Disney Caribbean Cruise sale
* Kids fly FREE to this California Theme Park
* SeaWorld Partner Hotel Special
* Bahamas Resort Special
* Antigua, Cancun, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Punta Cana packages
* Disneyland California ticket sale
* 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
* Universal hotel discounts
* 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
* 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
* 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
ESPN to open new research facility at Disney's Wide World of Sports
Disney to build Burnham Institute display at Innoventions
Hall of Presidents to Reopen in July
Disney Theme Parks Merchandise Offered Online
Is something new coming to Pixar Place at Disney's Hollywood Studios?
Wayne Allwine, voice of Mickey Mouse, dies at 62
Disney cruise terminal evacuated after brief bomb scare
Get down and Wookiee at Disney's Star Wars Weekends
Recession? Not at Epcot's Innoventions
Disney Vacation Club Bay Lake Tower offers the most magical view in the kingdom of Walt Disney World
Chocolate Caramel Tart Recipe From the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort
Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
=================================================
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
Mantastic! SeaWorld's Manta roller coaster officially open
=================================================
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
Club 33: the best place to enjoy a mint julep at Disneyland
Disneyland is a magical kingdom, even for grownups
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.
=================================================
A subscriber writes about last week's article on the Treehouse Villas at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa:
"I saw the information on the Tree Houses, they look like a lot of fun. However there was nothing regarding being handicapped accessible. Will any of the tree houses have elevators or other accommodations for people that can't handle the steps?"
Four of the 60 Treehouse Villas will have an entrance ramp.
=================================================
Wendy writes about Beth's comments last week in reference to vacation complaints:
"Hi John,
I’ve been a member for a really long time and Beth has made our vacations magical for 7 years. I have to say that her response is right on the money. There is nothing worse than people who complain about everything, even the most minor things that should not be a bother. The thing I love best about Disney is that it is the 'Happiest Place on Earth' but it is only like that if you embrace the Magic. If you let every minor issue become a huge problem then you will guarantee that not only will you have a terrible time but you will not feel any magic!
We have been traveling to Disney with a group of 8 every year and many times more than once a year from Canada. We have experienced our share of troubles, the most recent being a December trip where our 6 year old had a terrible flu bug and was sick every day for 6 days of our vacation. We also had some extra family members with us on that trip who had to complain just like in the article that their room was 4 doors down instead of right next to us. We tried not to let it bother us but it was a damper. You have to find the positive in everything and that is definitely the lesson we try and teach our kids. We had 50 degree weather when we were there in late January/early February 2009 – so what! Bundle up and get going. You will see all the fun and magic if you open your eyes to the great things Disney has to offer instead of only a pessimistic Eeyore kind of attitude.
I’m proud of Beth for pointing out that attitude is everything! We haven’t had a poor vacation yet."
=================================================
Beth, our travel agent, writes about Disney's summer dining plan price increase:
"If you do not have a dining plan and are visiting Disney World soon, it's important to remember that some dining locations increase their prices for early summer. Seasonal pricing applies May 24 - July 12. In most cases, the increase is $4 for ages 10+, $2 ages 3-9. The locations this price increase applies to are: Akershus, Biergarten, Boma, Cape May Café, Chef Mickey’s, Cinderella’s Royal Table, Crystal Palace, Garden Grill, Hollywood and Vine, Liberty Tree Tavern (dinner), ‘Ohana, Trails End, Tusker House, and 1900 Park Fare."
=================================================
Beth, our travel agent, writes about Disney's Fun Card Option:
EVERYONE who enters a park on their birthday is entitled to free admission. If, for whatever reason, you don't want free admission (say, for instance, because it's already paid for as part of your package, or because you have an annual pass), you can opt for one of three other choices: a 1-day base ticket for the birthday person good for a year from date of issue, a group FastPass button, or a gift card. The FastPass works only for that day, only in one park, and for up to 6 people. You can use it once on each attraction using the Fastpass system that day; flash your badge and your gang is in, without having to go through the hassle of getting the usual paper FastPasses and without coming back during the return time window. My feeling is that everyone is entitled to use the FastPass system anyway, and while this offer may be handy under certain conditions, I'm not sure I'd set a very high dolor value on it.
The free 'come back later' ticket is great - if you'll be back within a year, and if you don't usually get some sort of multi-day pass. Most people that go two or more times a year DO have multi-day passes of some sort, so the dollar value of this option could be as little as $3. On the other hand, you can apply the value of it to the purchase of any other ticket *if done at the time of pick-up* so if you were going to purchase an annual pass that day (or whatever) that's a nice little down payment.
Still, the best deal in my book is the 'fun card' (like a gift card) which has a value of $63 or $75, depending on your age. That gift card can be used to purchase a variety of things on Disney property. It was originally thought that these cards would be good ONLY on your birthday. Then they said they'd be good for your length of stay. They ended up issuing them without expiration date. So you could, in theory, bring it back five years from now and use it on something. My concern, though, would be that after this promotion is over and Disney has moved on to other things, you'll find that card accepted for fewer and fewer things. I'd be inclined NOT to sit on the card until later, but rather use it on the visit you got it. As pointed out, though, you can buy admission to water parks with it, making the cost for a family of four much more in line with the average budget for such things.
Anyway, my whole point is that ANYONE can get the fun card as their birthday option, and ANYONE can use the card towards water park admission."
=================================================
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 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
May 27, 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 - FREE night for military, FREE travel insurance, BIG Disney cruise onboard credit and Florida Island Resort promotion
* News from around the "World" - Disney theme park merchandise offered online
* A subscriber writes about last week's article on the Treehouse Villas at Disney's Saratoga Springs
* Wendy writes about Beth's comments last week in reference to vacation complaints
* Beth writes about Disney's Fun Card Option
* Beth writes about Disney's summer dining plan price increase
=================================================
NEW THIS WEEK
WALT DISNEY WORLD
FREE Night Promotion for the Military at this Downtown Disney Resort Hotel! Hurry! You must book by May 29, 2009.
--------------------------------
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
Free Travel Insurance from this Orlando Resort!
--------------------------------
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
Receive Up to $700 Onboard Credit!
--------------------------------
FLORIDA ISLAND RESORT PROMOTION
* Pay for 3 Consecutive Nights, Receive 1 Night Free
* Kid's Eat Breakfast Free
* $45 per person for golf, lunch, and cart
* 20% off Food & Beverage
Book by July 15, 2009 and receive a FREE night certificate for a future stay!
=================================================
Below are just some of the deals drawn from over 70 pages of current specials posted at our password-protected members-only site:
* Walt Disney World on $58 per day per person
* Walt Disney World room discount
* Universal Orlando Resorts half off strategy
* Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
* Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
* Adventures by Disney London and Paris vacation
* Orlando resort vacation package for dog owners
* Disneyland ticket deal for locals
* Disneyland Paris vacation package discount
* Alaska cruise special
* Ireland on a budget
* Cruise with cash back
* Disneyland Paris vacation package discount
* Luxury cruise discount exclusively for police and firefighters
* Bahamas vacation packages
* New parties for Walt Disney World Resort guests
* Disney Caribbean Cruise sale
* Kids fly FREE to this California Theme Park
* SeaWorld Partner Hotel Special
* Bahamas Resort Special
* Antigua, Cancun, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Punta Cana packages
* Disneyland California ticket sale
* 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
* Universal hotel discounts
* 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
* 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
* 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
ESPN to open new research facility at Disney's Wide World of Sports
Disney to build Burnham Institute display at Innoventions
Hall of Presidents to Reopen in July
Disney Theme Parks Merchandise Offered Online
Is something new coming to Pixar Place at Disney's Hollywood Studios?
Wayne Allwine, voice of Mickey Mouse, dies at 62
Disney cruise terminal evacuated after brief bomb scare
Get down and Wookiee at Disney's Star Wars Weekends
Recession? Not at Epcot's Innoventions
Disney Vacation Club Bay Lake Tower offers the most magical view in the kingdom of Walt Disney World
Chocolate Caramel Tart Recipe From the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort
Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
=================================================
OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD
Mantastic! SeaWorld's Manta roller coaster officially open
=================================================
DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
Club 33: the best place to enjoy a mint julep at Disneyland
Disneyland is a magical kingdom, even for grownups
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.
=================================================
A subscriber writes about last week's article on the Treehouse Villas at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa:
"I saw the information on the Tree Houses, they look like a lot of fun. However there was nothing regarding being handicapped accessible. Will any of the tree houses have elevators or other accommodations for people that can't handle the steps?"
Four of the 60 Treehouse Villas will have an entrance ramp.
=================================================
Wendy writes about Beth's comments last week in reference to vacation complaints:
"Hi John,
I’ve been a member for a really long time and Beth has made our vacations magical for 7 years. I have to say that her response is right on the money. There is nothing worse than people who complain about everything, even the most minor things that should not be a bother. The thing I love best about Disney is that it is the 'Happiest Place on Earth' but it is only like that if you embrace the Magic. If you let every minor issue become a huge problem then you will guarantee that not only will you have a terrible time but you will not feel any magic!
We have been traveling to Disney with a group of 8 every year and many times more than once a year from Canada. We have experienced our share of troubles, the most recent being a December trip where our 6 year old had a terrible flu bug and was sick every day for 6 days of our vacation. We also had some extra family members with us on that trip who had to complain just like in the article that their room was 4 doors down instead of right next to us. We tried not to let it bother us but it was a damper. You have to find the positive in everything and that is definitely the lesson we try and teach our kids. We had 50 degree weather when we were there in late January/early February 2009 – so what! Bundle up and get going. You will see all the fun and magic if you open your eyes to the great things Disney has to offer instead of only a pessimistic Eeyore kind of attitude.
I’m proud of Beth for pointing out that attitude is everything! We haven’t had a poor vacation yet."
=================================================
Beth, our travel agent, writes about Disney's summer dining plan price increase:
"If you do not have a dining plan and are visiting Disney World soon, it's important to remember that some dining locations increase their prices for early summer. Seasonal pricing applies May 24 - July 12. In most cases, the increase is $4 for ages 10+, $2 ages 3-9. The locations this price increase applies to are: Akershus, Biergarten, Boma, Cape May Café, Chef Mickey’s, Cinderella’s Royal Table, Crystal Palace, Garden Grill, Hollywood and Vine, Liberty Tree Tavern (dinner), ‘Ohana, Trails End, Tusker House, and 1900 Park Fare."
=================================================
Beth, our travel agent, writes about Disney's Fun Card Option:
EVERYONE who enters a park on their birthday is entitled to free admission. If, for whatever reason, you don't want free admission (say, for instance, because it's already paid for as part of your package, or because you have an annual pass), you can opt for one of three other choices: a 1-day base ticket for the birthday person good for a year from date of issue, a group FastPass button, or a gift card. The FastPass works only for that day, only in one park, and for up to 6 people. You can use it once on each attraction using the Fastpass system that day; flash your badge and your gang is in, without having to go through the hassle of getting the usual paper FastPasses and without coming back during the return time window. My feeling is that everyone is entitled to use the FastPass system anyway, and while this offer may be handy under certain conditions, I'm not sure I'd set a very high dolor value on it.
The free 'come back later' ticket is great - if you'll be back within a year, and if you don't usually get some sort of multi-day pass. Most people that go two or more times a year DO have multi-day passes of some sort, so the dollar value of this option could be as little as $3. On the other hand, you can apply the value of it to the purchase of any other ticket *if done at the time of pick-up* so if you were going to purchase an annual pass that day (or whatever) that's a nice little down payment.
Still, the best deal in my book is the 'fun card' (like a gift card) which has a value of $63 or $75, depending on your age. That gift card can be used to purchase a variety of things on Disney property. It was originally thought that these cards would be good ONLY on your birthday. Then they said they'd be good for your length of stay. They ended up issuing them without expiration date. So you could, in theory, bring it back five years from now and use it on something. My concern, though, would be that after this promotion is over and Disney has moved on to other things, you'll find that card accepted for fewer and fewer things. I'd be inclined NOT to sit on the card until later, but rather use it on the visit you got it. As pointed out, though, you can buy admission to water parks with it, making the cost for a family of four much more in line with the average budget for such things.
Anyway, my whole point is that ANYONE can get the fun card as their birthday option, and ANYONE can use the card towards water park admission."
=================================================
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 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.
=============================================
posted by AffordableDisney.Com at 7:14 AM
<< Home