Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation

THE DISNEY NEWS
Updates From Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation
February 3, 2010
Copyright © 1999 - 2010 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved.
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Hi Everyone!

REMEMBER: 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 - Cirque du Soleil deal, Discounts at restaurants near Disney, Disney cruise specials to Europe and Mediterranean, Disneyland Annual Pass discounts, Alaska cruise vacation special (50% off!), Las Vegas Valentine package (FREE upgrade), and Bahamas vacation special (FREE airfare!)

News from around the "World":

* This day in Disney history
* Disney adds JetBlue to packages
* Table is Set for Exciting Dining Additions Coming to Epcot
* La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil Adds ‘Happy Hour’ to the Party
* IBM, Disney Open Data Center Demo at Epcot
* Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse Voicemails at Walt Disney World
* 10 questions most frequently asked by travelers
* Ollivanders Wand Shop at The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter
* Wekiva Island is Orlando's close-by getaway
* Eye on Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket: Floor moves, concerts groove
* 10 must-see places to visit in Florida
* Recipe for White Bean Soup from the WDW Swan and Dolphin Resort
* Norwegian Epic's studio cabins go after single cruisers
* Pictures: Wizarding World of Harry Potter update, Jan. 27, 2010
* Orlando's theme parks ending sluggish year on bright note
* Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar
* Princess Tiana sings in New Orleans Square at Disneyland
* Disneyland Resort Calendar
* This week at Disneyland Paris
* Bye-Bye BraviSEAmo! - Hello Fantasmic!
* What's new at Disneyland Tokyo
* This week in Las Vegas
* Branson Calendar of Events
* Beth writes about paying for your Disney vacation
* Christina writes about cheap rooms for Disney castmembers
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NEW THIS WEEK

WALT DISNEY WORLD

Cirque du Soleil Discount for Florida Residents!

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DISCOUNTS AT RESTAURANTS NEAR DISNEY

This resource offers money saving dining certificates to restaurants in Orlando, near Walt Disney World, in Anaheim, near Disneyland California, and all across the US. Now save 60%! Get $25 certificates for only $4! Plus a FREE $15 FTD reward with every order!

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DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA

Discounts extended for Annual Passholders!

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DISNEY CRUISE LINE

Visit Europe aboard the Disney Cruise Line starting from $699 for 14 nights! 10- and 11-night Mediterranean cruises from $999 per person are also available!

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ALASKA CRUISES

Now get up to 50% off Alaska vacations! Choose between 2010 Europe, Canada & New England, Summer Caribbean and Alaska cruises and cruisetours!

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LAS VEGAS LAST MINUTE VALENTINE'S SPECIAL

Valid at this Luxury Resort & Casino the entire month of February. Package includes:

* chocolate truffles, scented massage oils, and more
* 6 Chocolate Covered Strawberries
* show tickets

Plus! Book your stay on the following dates and get a FREE suite upgrade: Feb 1-5; 7-12; 18; 22-24.

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BAHAMAS VACATION SPECIAL

Book a 3 night air-inclusive vacation stay from Florida or a 4 night air-inclusive stay from all other US gateways (except Hawaii and Alaska) at one of their participating hotels by March 3, 2010 and receive a FREE COMPANION AIRFARE. Plus! Valid for travel until June 23, 2010. Blackout dates: March 19 through April 18, 2010.
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Below are just some of the deals drawn from over 70 pages of current specials posted at our password-protected members-only site:

* Save up to $750.00 on this Walt Disney World vacation package
* FREE Disney Cruise with purchase of this package
* FREE nights and FREE tickets at Walt Disney World
* FREE night at a Walt Disney World luxury resort
* Two Nights FREE at Disneyland California
* All kids go FREE at Disneyland Paris
* Kids eat FREE membership card
* Kids fly FREE to Disneyland California
* Get a FREE ticket to the Walt Disney World theme parks in 2009
* Room discounts and FREE tickets for the military
* Buy a day, get a FREE day at Universal Hollywood
* Save 50% at these deluxe Walt Disney World resorts
* Give a Day, Get a Disney Day promotion
* BIG Downtown Disney Resort Hotel discount
* Florida Resident Discounts Galore! Too many to list here!
* Universal Orlando Resorts half off strategy
* Disneyland ticket deal for locals
* Luxury cruise discount exclusively for police and firefighters
* New parties for Walt Disney World Resort guests
* CityPass discount for Affordable Disney members
* Disney Cruise Line discounts for Floridians and the military
* Non-Disney theme park/cruise vacation packages
* New source for discounted Disney Villas
* SeaWorld San Diego ticket deal
* Disney World discounts for annual passholders
* Universal hotel discounts
* Disneyland California hotel special
* Universal Orlando discounted vacation packages
* SeaWorld Discovery Cove discounts
* Orlando Theme Park Package
* Universal Blue Man Group discount
* Disneyland Annual Passes on a monthly payment plan
* Universal Hollywood All You Can Eat Pass
* 2011 Disney cruises now booking
* Nickelodeon Family Cruise
* Disney cruise early booking discounts
* Vegas Resort & Casino discounts
* Super Branson Promotion

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
Basic Member
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE "WORLD"

WALT DISNEY WORLD

This Day in Disney History

"Beginning on Feb. 3, 2010, you can add flights on JetBlue Airways® when booking AAA Vacations® packages to the Walt Disney World® and Disneyland® Resorts." (Source: Disney Email Blast, 02/02/10)

Table is Set for Exciting Dining Additions Coming to Epcot

La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil Adds ‘Happy Hour’ to the Party

IBM, Disney Open Data Center Demo at Epcot

Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse Voicemails at Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
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OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD

10 questions most frequently asked by travelers

Ollivanders Wand Shop To Deliver An Interactive, Magical Experience At The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter

Wekiva Island is Orlando's close-by getaway

Eye on Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket: Floor moves, concerts groove

10 must-see places to visit in Florida

Recipe for White Bean Soup from the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort

Norwegian Epic's studio cabins seriously go after single cruisers

Pictures: Wizarding World of Harry Potter update, Jan. 27, 2010

Orlando's theme parks ending sluggish year on bright note
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DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA

Princess Tiana sings in New Orleans Square, joins royal court at Disneyland

Disneyland Resort Calendar
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DISNEYLAND PARIS

This week at Disneyland Paris
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DISNEYLAND TOKYO

Bye-Bye BraviSEAmo! - Hello Fantasmic!

What's new at Tokyo Disneyland
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BRANSON, MO

Branson Calendar of Events
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LAS VEGAS

This Week in Las Vegas
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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 addres
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Beth, our travel agent, writes about paying for your Disney vacation:

How much and when do I need to pay?

For room-only reservations, you pay the first night plus tax within seven days of reserving the room. The balance is due on arrival and you can cancel without penalty through six days prior to arrival. You cannot add tickets or dining to this type of reservation.

For package reservations (room and tickets with optional dining) you put $200 down within seven days of reserving the space, and that’s fully refundable through 45 days prior to arrival when the balance is due - after which time there are penalties for canceling as well as change and/or document re-issue fees.

What forms of payment are accepted?

All major credit cards, debit cards, money orders, cashier’s checks, personal checks, Disney rewards points. Checks have to be mailed to Disney. All others can be done by phone.

How do I make a payment?

If you are paying by check or money order you need to mail it to the Disney lock box in Atlanta for packages or to Chicago for room-only reservations. (Be sure to note the reservation number and name and mail it to arrive at least 2-3 days prior to the due date so it’s processed in time.) You’ll see the addresses on your original confirmation. If you booked online, you can do all other forms of payment through the Disney website - or you can call Disney and do it by phone. If you booked with a travel agent you’ll need to go through your agent.

Notes…

* If using a debit card, be sure that you clear the amount with your bank first. Regardless of how much you have in your account, your bank imposes a daily limit for your protection, and you’ll need to get a special override for larger amounts.

* Payment by credit card is always most preferable. Confirmation is immediate, and you have protection from your card company if there’s a problem down the road. A debit card would be second best, followed by Disney rewards points, since the confirmation is still immediate - but you lose the protection of a credit card company. Checks and money orders would be the least preferable form of payment, but you can use them in a pinch.

* Your reservation will auto-cancel if you don’t have the deposit processed prior to the due date. A postmark prior to the due date isn’t good enough.

* Do not allow a reservation made under a promotional offer to auto-cancel for nonpayment of deposit if there’s any possibility that you might use it… There’s no guarantee that reservation can be recreated, much less at the same cost. Reservations made under full rate have a better chance at being re-done, but you still risk not being able to get the location you wanted. When in doubt, ALWAYS make the deposit. That will buy you some time and hold the dates and location that you want. You can always cancel (per the terms of your type of reservation) if you change your mind.

* Your reservation will probably NOT automatically cancel on the final payment date as long as there is at least a deposit on it; however, you cannot add insurance after the final payment due date, and cancellation and change fees will be incurred starting 44 days prior to arrival whether you’ve paid the vacation off or not. Disney has the right to cancel a reservation that isn’t paid off on time, but in my experience they will usually give you up to two more weeks beyond that date. If you’ve still not paid by 30 days prior to arrival a $100 cancellation penalty will be deducted from the amount you HAVE paid, the balance will be returned to you, and the reservation canceled."
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Christina writes:

"I am looking to move to Orlando. Me and my friend Amy are from England and were currently working as singer/dancers in Macau. We have made the decision we would like our next step to be disney. We were just wondering if you could help us at all by giving us some accommodation areas to live in. We have checked out some websites already but wondered if you could give us any advice on the cheapest places and as to where the cast members of disney are staying. Thank you"

You can start your search here.
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

A World on Its Knees: Click here for a FREE book of prayers for the people of Haiti and those who are caring for them.

By the same author:

"100 Prayers of Purity for the Mission of Our Lady of America."
The Virgin Mary, Our Lady of America, encourages us to seek Her as our model of purity. The prayers in this book petition God the Father, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the great Saints for the grace we need to lead pure and holy lives. Click here to read the book for FREE.

"Achieving Weight Loss through the Prayers of the Divine Office of the Virgin Mary." True peace with food can only come from establishing a close relationship with God. Click here to read the book for FREE.

"Rosary Meditations: A Bouquet of Roses for Our Lady." Shows the beginner and the highly experienced how to meditate while praying the rosary. Click here to read the book for FREE.

Be sure to check out Father Ron Camarda's "Tear in the Desert." It's one of the most spiritual books I have ever read!

"To me, today at age 61, all prayer by the humble or highly placed has one thing in common: supplication for strength and inspiration to carry on the best impulses which should bind us together for a better world. Without such inspiration we would rapidly deteriorate and finally perish." Walt Disney (Source: startedbyamouse.com)
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Secrets to an Affordable WDW Vacation: "Save up to 40% on your Walt Disney World vacation. Save on Disney hotels, dining, tickets, cruises, honeymoons and souvenirs!" Click here for details.
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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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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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