Wednesday, July 28, 2010

AffordableDisney.Com Newsletter

July 28, 2010 Issue #539
Celebrating Our 11th Year Online!
All rights reserved.
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Hi Everyone!

I have published today my latest book, "Rosary Poetry: Poems on the Life of Jesus Christ," which contains twenty poems relating to the the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The book is FREE to read online or download to your computer. You can access it here. Enjoy!

Beth, our travel agent, is looking for photos from recent Disney trips by Affordable Disney members. If you are one of the first 12 people to send her some pics, she'll send you a set of four Disney World theme park prints suitable for framing and complete with certificate of authenticity. Members should log in for details. Not a member? You can join our Disney family here.

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 - Great Disneyland Paris deals and Las Vegas Resort & Casino special

News from around the "World":

* This day in Disney history
* New Disney Resort in Hawaii Begins Taking Reservations for 2011
* WDW Resort Offers Sleighful of Merriment with Holiday Favorites
* Troubled economy casts shadow over Disney union talks
* Open house at Walt Disney World to discuss Disney weddings
* Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar
* Islands of Adventure: More Harry Potter souvenirs, changes
* Guests stuck on Universal's Harry Potter ride
* Hot tips: How to keep (kind of) cool at theme parks
* Florida travel guide for aviation enthusiasts
* Don't Miss: Moonlight Zipline Safaris
* Florida Travel Calendar for August
* Pictures: Scenes from hot-as-Harry Islands of Adventure
* A long way to go to ensure passengers' safety on cruise ships
* Senior Travel: How much should we tip these days?
* New crepes stand opens in Downtown Disney
* Disney Family Museum celebrates Disneyland's 55th anniversary
* Disneyland Resort Calendar
* Photos of the Earl of Sandwich construction at Disneyland Paris
* This week at Disneyland Paris
* What's new at Disneyland Tokyo
* What's new at Disneyland Hong Kong
* This week in Las Vegas
* Branson Calendar of Events
* Beau Rivage Biloxi, Mississippi Entertainment Schedule
* Beth, our travel agent, recently stayed at Walt Disney World. Here is part one of her trip report.
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NEW THIS WEEK

WALT DISNEY WORLD

News for Affordable Disney Members:

* Inside scoop on Adventures by Disney to Egypt!
* 5 Tips for Romance at Walt Disney World
* Disney's annual Cast Canoe Races
* Disney secrets to creating gourmet meals for 500 guests
* Where to find Key Lime Pie at Disney World
* Epcot: Prepare for Neapolitan pizza
* Scene-by-scene preview of Little Mermaid dark ride
* Crepes & Funnel Cake Menu at the Downtown Disneyland
* Video Shows Changes to Rivers of America at Disneyland
* Behind the Scenes of the Disney Dream Mock-Up Room
* Haunted Mansion Inspires New Movie
* Star Wars Party Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
* Construction photo and excursion at Disney's Aulani in Hawaii
* Meatball Bar at Downtown Disney
* Passholders special event at Tower of Terror
* What some parents do so their kids fit on Disney rides
* Video of Walt opening New Orleans Square at Disneyland
* Profile of Pink cocktail bar on the Disney Dream
* The official Disney Store Blog

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DISNEYLAND PARIS

* Book this 2011 vacation package at off season rates! Plus! Beth can get your young kids in for FREE!

* Get 1 Extra Day and Night Free + Breakfast when you book this package!

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LAS VEGAS RESORT & CASINO SPECIAL

Rooms From $24! Valid for travel now - June 30, 2011. Includes:

* FREE Admission to Nightclub
* Up to 20% Off Spa
* $10 restaurant discount
* and more!

Offer expires August 4, 2010.
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AffordableDisney.Com Members and their families enjoy 24/7/365 access to a veritable Treasure House of Disney inside information, including:

* Our online 196-page travel guide, Secrets To An Affordable Walt Disney World® Vacation
* Over 1,000 pages of Disney information including coupons, deals, discounts and specials at Walt Disney World, Florida, Disneyland, California, Disneyland Paris, cruises, and other venues in Florida and around the world!
* Customized tours for adults, children and romantic couples!
* Travel agent specializing in Disney travel who is familiar with all our deals and will book all of your vacations for you!
* Authorized Disney Discount Ticket Agent with the best deals on all your Florida vacation needs with an exclusive discount for Affordable Disney Members! Over 25 years in business!

The following promotions are just a sample of the DEALS, DISCOUNTS, SPECIALS AND COUPONS posted at our password-protected members-only site:

* 7-night Caribbean Luxury Cruise from $86 per person per day
* Save $50 pp with discount code at SeaWorld's Discovery Cove
* FREE dining at WDW with this credit card and discount code
* Floridians save 25%-35% at WDW resorts with discount code
* These international visitors save up to 25% on WDW rooms
* FREE stay and tickets for kids at WDW with discount code
* Popular theme park is offering a FREE pass to Florida kids
* Disney World/Florida by Train: Kids travel for only $19
* 30% off + Chararacter Breakfast at this Downtown Disney resort
* Get a child's ticket for only $5 with this SeaWorld promotion
* Kids Stay, Play And Eat Free Credit Card Offer
* Hawaii: 20 Big Island meals for less than $20
* Save $50 on Disney's PhotoPass CD
* WDW package with FREE dining for residents of this country
* Dominican Republic Resorts 2 For 1 Summer Special
* Official WDW Good Neighbor Hotel: $35/night in May
* FREE Disney Cruise? Beth, our travel agent, reveals the secret.
* FREE 411 service on your cell phone
* Just added to our book: the secret of timeshare deals
* Save up to 42% at Universal's onsite hotels
* Just added to our book: analysis of FREE companion air tickets
* Florida Gulf Coast Condo Special
* After 2 PM Pass at this popular Orlando Water Park: $49.99
* Package deal at Branson MO/Dolly Parton Dixie Stampede
* Las Vegas Resort & Casino rates from $26.95
* Kids sail FREE on these Disney Cruises with this discount code
* Save up to 40% on hotel accommodations at Disneyland CA
* Save on kids' accommodations and tickets at Disneyland Paris
* Florida Preschoolers get in FREE for rest of 2010 at theme park
* Save up to 55% at 50+ attractions near Disneyland CA
* Save up to 40% on Disney World rooms with this discount codes
* Hawaii from $149 per night
* Luxury Cruise Deal from $599
* Receive Minnie and Mickey Mouse Voicemails at Disney World
* Tables in Wonderland eateries for FL residents and AP holders
* 5 nights for the price of 4 at Hotel & Suites near Disney World
* Disney Cruise discounts for Florida residents and the military
* Military ticket deal for Disney World: NOT sold online or gate
* U. S. military save 20% at Branson MO with this coupon

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

New Disney Resort in Hawaii Begins Taking Reservations for 2011 Stays - Opening Date Set

Walt Disney World Resort Offers Sleighful of Merriment with Festive Holiday Favorites Galore

Troubled economy casts shadow over Disney union talks

Open house at Walt Disney World to discuss Disney weddings

Guests at Walt Disney World Resorts, Disney’s Vero Beach and Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resorts can now receive wake-up calls in English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese or Japanese. (Disney Parks Blog, 07/22/10)

Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar.
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OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD

Islands of Adventure: More Harry Potter souvenirs, changes

Guests stuck on Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter ride

Hot tips: How to keep (kind of) cool at theme parks

Florida travel guide for aviation enthusiasts

Don't Miss: Moonlight Zipline Safaris

Florida Travel Calendar for August

Pictures: Scenes from hot-as-Harry Islands of Adventure

A long way to go to ensure passengers' safety on cruise ships

Senior Travel: How much should we tip these days?
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DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA

Walt Disney Family Museum celebrates Disneyland's 55th anniversary - Part I

New crepes stand opens in Downtown Disney

Disneyland Resort Calendar
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DISNEYLAND PARIS

Photos of the Earl of Sandwich construction at Disneyland Paris

This week at Disneyland Paris
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DISNEYLAND TOKYO

What's new at Tokyo Disneyland
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DISNEYLAND HONG KONG

What's new at Disneyland Hong Kong
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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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BEAU RIVAGE RESORT & CASINO BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI

Beau Rivage Entertainment Schedule
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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.
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Beth, our travel agent, recently stayed at Walt Disney World. Here is part one of her trip report:

"Those who know me realize that I am ALWAYS looking for an excuse to visit Mickey. My daughter spends her summers up north and I found a killer airfare out of Orlando, so I was more than happy to drive her up there a few weeks ago to catch her flight.

We left Naples early and made the 3+ hour drive up I-75 and across the state on I-4, arriving shortly after noon. I'd used the online check-in process (available to everyone staying in a Disney-owned resort) so Port Orleans Riverside knew we'd be early and they had the room ready.

This was my first stay in several years at this resort and came just a few weeks after a stay at Coronado Springs. (Readers will remember that Coronado rooms were totally refurbished and upgraded last year and now cost just a little more than other moderate resort rooms.) I quickly came to the conclusion that Disney needs to start upgrading the Riverside rooms as well. There wasn't a specific problem; just an overall tired look. Oh, and a really noisy a/c unit. Note to self: take earplugs next time – just in case! Nevertheless, it’s a lovely resort and we all enjoyed it.

While we didn't have a chance this time to swim or dine there, we did take the boat to Downtown Disney. We worked our way in and out of the shops, from Rainforest Café towards Ghirardelli’s for the mandatory stop to get a free sample (Yum!) and on towards T-Rex where we spent a little time in the merchandising area. Food prices are high, but you're welcome to go into the store part and you can easily see some of the animatronic dinos and cool effects in the dining area from there. The wait for a bus back to Riverside from the Pleasure Island Depot was about 15 minutes. It was hot and we were tired, though, so it seemed longer.

After washing up a bit we jumped in the car and drove the short distance to Chevy’s, our new favorite Mexican spot just off property, for a yummy meal. (Join their club online and get a certificate for a free appetizer.) We then took a few minutes to wander the plaza that is home to, among other things, Goodings grocery store. Famous for its baked goods and its delivery service to Disney hotels, I hear the last location left in this one-time chain is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy at this point in an effort to avoid eviction. The bakery looks as good as ever, but the rest of the place looks awful and one whiff of the ladies’ room is enough to make me stop recommending this location for all but the most dire grocery emergencies.

We also checked out an Indian restaurant’s menu and have added it to the locations to try on a future visit. There were a number of people who appeared to be of Indian descent dining there, so in my book that’s a good clue that the food is authentic and probably tasty.

Back to Riverside we went, thoroughly exhausted and ready for sleep. Our Magical Express information said to meet the bus at 7:00 AM. My daughter’s flight wasn't until 10:20 and we had both a car and a SunPass (pre-paid toll sticker) so we opted to sleep in a bit and drive ourselves to the airport. We settled into bed before 11:00 and quickly drifted off, disturbed only a few times by the noisy a/c unit. When you're truly tired you can sleep through almost anything."

To be continued…
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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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