AffordableDisney.Com Blog
Celebrating 15 Years of Disney Discounts!
Copyright © 1997 - 2012
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Subscribe to AffordableDisney.Com's blog!
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Hi Everyone!
Dread the hassle of booking your own vacation? Not sure you will get the best possible price?
Beth, our full service Florida travel agent, handles all of our members' reservations. She is familiar with all of our deals and she will continue to monitor your reservations to make sure you are getting the best possible deal. If she finds a better deal, she will switch your reservation to the new deal without any intervention from you! Now that's peace of mind!
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.
=========================
MEMBERS SHOULD LOG IN FOR DETAILS OF THE FOLLOWING DEALS.
Save up to 25% at Disneyland Hotels!
Enjoy an extra day and night FREE at Disneyland CA!
Disney's Aulani Hawaii Resort Special!
FREE Night! FREE Breakfast!
---------------------------
Universal Mardi Gras 2012 Special Offers!
Vacation package: Includes nearby accommodations, tickets, FREE transportation from resort and optional upgrade to Universal resort and FREE Universal Express access so you can skip the lines in both parks! (This perk saves you up to $87 per day!)
Plus! Florida residents save on passes and a vacation package that starts at only $109 per night/per adult!
Plus! Floridians can save on an after 5 p.m. ticket!
=========================
LAST MINUTE MONEY SAVING DEALS!
These are money saving offers I've uncovered in my searches for deals for members. Although they may not be travel related, we could all use the extra cash!
FREE gift cards from Musselman's Apple Sauce:
* $10 Darden Gift Card
* $10 Gift Card for Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic or Athleta
* $5 Best Buy Gift Card
* $25 AMC Theatres® Gift Card
* $10 Dunkin' Donuts Card
Plus! A FREE Musselman's Exercise Ball and T-shirt!
Click here for details.
---------------------------
$10 box of chocolate-dipped strawberries from Edible Arrangements
Save $15 per box! No limit!
=========================
ENJOY SPECIAL RATES AT SELECT HOTELS NEAR DISNEY!
We've uncovered a source that offers Special Rates at select hotels near Disney! These Special Rates are guaranteed to be the lowest rates. Save yourself the anguish of researching all the hotels in the area. Some include meals. Some provide shuttles to the theme parks. All have photos and descriptions posted online. Click here to check out the prices. Book three or more nights and receive up to a $100 rebate! Click here to access coupon.
Plus! Our source now includes Affordable Disney Vacation Packages!
=========================
Disney Fantasy (the Ship) Takes Disney Fantasy (the Fun)
New Disney cruiser launches March 31, 2012, with entertainment, activities and dining all purpose-planned for longer itineraries
PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. - The Disney Fantasy is about to be a cruise vacation reality.
And when the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet launches March 31, 2012, it will be a high-water mark for Disney fantasy afloat in more ways than the name on the bow. This ship, Disney’s fourth, offers entertainment, activities and dining experiences purpose-planned for seven-night cruises from her maiden voyage forward.
The creative team, aware this ship was bound for longer itineraries, had an opportunity to produce an extended portfolio of Disney fantasy offerings. Here are several highlights of experiences adding to the fantasy fun in store:
The launch of a new Disney ship includes the premiere of a new Broadway-style stage spectacular in the lavish Walt Disney Theatre. Aboard Disney Fantasy, two new shows are a highlight of the live-entertainment series guests enjoy each evening. The signature show "Wishes" is a 45-minute musical journey about three best friends who discover the secret to being a grown-up is staying connected to their inner child. Also new to Disney Cruise Line, "Disney’s Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular" is a fast-paced musical comedy during which Aladdin is back as the "street rat" of Agrabah meeting a Genie who grants him three wishes, battling the evil Jafar, and falling in love with Princess Jasmine.
The princess and pirate fantasies of young guests can be enlivened with the Disney Cruise Line debut of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and The Pirates League - popular landside retailers specializing in makeovers. Young princesses can "look the part" for dinner at Royal Court, an elegant restaurant inspired by the classic Disney films "Cinderella," "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Sleeping Beauty." When the hugely popular deck party "Mickey’s Pirates IN the Caribbean" is on the evening schedule, young sailors’ piratical side can really come through via a Pirates League treatment.
Nightlife for adult vacationers takes a Fantasy spin with Europa - an entertainment district of high-energy, sophisticated and trendy clubs and lounges. Inspired by the night spots of Italy, France, Ireland and London, Europa is a continent of adult nighttime fun without borders. La Piazza is a lounge that draws inspiration from stylish Italian plazas. Skyline is a chic bar that provides ever-changing birds-eye views of stunning European cityscapes. O’Gill’s Pub is a rollicking Irish bar and Ooh La La is an elegant French champagne bar. The Tube transports guests to a vibrant metropolitan club reminiscent of swinging London.
With special areas devoted to young children, tweens, teens, adults, families and recreation, an expanded schedule of activities is in development for Fantasy cruises.
New Fantasy twists on "Dreamy" fun
The Disney Fantasy also puts some new twists on fun familiar to guests who have cruised on the Disney Cruise Line sister ship, Disney Dream:
The Muppets are coming to the Disney Fantasy in the context of an interactive adventure quest designed for guests nine and older. While playing "The Case of the Stolen Show," guests move around the ship, uncovering clues to figure out the culprit behind the disappearance of Kermit’s banjo, Fozzie’s squirting flower, Gonzo’s crash helmet, Animal’s drum sticks and the Swedish Chef’s cleaver!. It’s a new spin on a self-paced game concept introduced on Disney Dream that "hides" the clues in pieces of Enchanted Art - wall hangings that are activated like magic when guests approach. "The Case of the Stolen Show" is just one of a trio of adventure detective games that may be played on the ship’s Enchanted Art.
While dinner may be served twice at popular Animator’s Palate, the show accompanying the meal is as different on the two evenings. All new aboard Disney Fantasy, guests’ cartoon creativity comes alive during dinner in a show called "Animation Magic." On another evening, the room is immersed in a vivid undersea environment and Crush makes a special appearance, swimming around the restaurant and engaging in live impromptu interactions with guests.
A "sister ship," but …..
The Disney Fantasy is a "fraternal twin" to the Disney Dream which launched in early 2011. Both cruise ships are 1,115-feet in length, with 1,250 staterooms and suites and 4,000-passenger capacity. And both are warm and welcoming, elegant and richly detailed - harkening to the golden age of ocean-liner travel of the 1930s.
But veteran Disney cruise vacationers will start recognizing differences the moment they enter the Disney Fantasy’s atrium lobby. Its three-deck expanse is graced with sophisticated Art Nouveau-inspired details and patterns in hues of vibrant blue, green, pink and gold. Glamorous and graceful design elements include a sweeping grand staircase, towering fluted columns, grand piano and an exquisite marble and stone inlay floor.
From the ceiling hangs a cascading chandelier, grand-yet-delicate, that flows downward from a massive stained-glass flourish on the ceiling in peacock hues of greens and blues. The chandelier itself is more than 10 feet in diameter, a one-of-a-kind work of art evoking a peacock in stained glass and crystal beads. The whole effect is continued in the rich carpeting underfoot.
As with each Disney Cruise Line ship that launched before it, the Disney Fantasy has an atrium lobby statue celebrating a classic Disney character. Mickey at the helm, Ariel sitting pretty and Admiral Donald striking a pose have been previously featured. The pièce de résistance of the Fantasy lobby is Mademoiselle Minnie Mouse. Inspired by travel of the 1920s and 1930s, Minnie is cast in bronze and dressed in vintage fashion with a parasol and steamer luggage at her side - posed for keepsake pictures with guests.
Beyond the lobby ...
There are places and experiences, services, dining and entertainment concepts that are hallmarks of the Disney Cruise Line experience. Here’s more of what’s in store during a Disney Fantasy cruise:
H2Ohhh! - When the Disney Dream launched, it boasted the first water coaster at sea, called Aqua Duck. A 765-foot long, twisting-and-turning scream machine, the get-wet attraction has been a huge hit with guests. So Disney Fantasy has Aqua Duck, too! Plus something new: AquaLab, a water play area where families can frolic among pop jets, geysers and bubblers. There also are separate pools for children, families and adults - plus a special splash-and-play area for little ones.
Outside the wet zone - Disney Fantasy continues the Disney Cruise Line tradition of special, fun-filled clubs, labs and cafes for guests of all ages - Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab for young children (ages 3-10), Edge for tweens (ages 11-13), Vibe for teens (ages 14-17) and Cove Café for adults - plus the family club D Lounge and It’s a Small World Nursery. In all the youth and family areas, there are activities and games supervised by crew members. In addition, Edge and Vibe are rendezvous spots for age-group games, quests and tours that take youth on adventures throughout the ship.
Exercise and fitness - Fitness has its places, too. Both inside at the Fitness Center and outside on Goofy’s Sports Deck, guests can "work out." Among the facilities on the sports deck are a basketball court that can be configured into mini-soccer or volleyball court… and a walking track encircling the deck, perfect for those looking for a light - and scenic - workout. The Fitness Center is well-appointed with state-of-the-art cardio equipment and weight machines, and offers personal training sessions and instructional classes (yoga, Pilates, aerobics).
Fun and games - The nine-hole, Disney-themed miniature golf course isn’t "just plain Goofy." It also stars Goofy’s son, Max. The interactive holes emphasize various golfing lessons - but, of course, with goofy twists. There are simulators that provide a variety of state-of-the-art virtual sports-gaming experiences, ping pong and foosball tables, and an arcade offering a variety of the latest interactive video games plus gaming classics such as pinball and air hockey.
Pampering and relaxation - Senses Spa & Salon offers therapeutic and beautifying personal care services for men and women in a retreat spanning two decks. It offers spa treatments, massages, body wraps, facials, aromatherapy, manicures, pedicures, hairstyling and blowouts, traditional men’s grooming services and more. There’s a "Relax Room" as well as a rainforest-themed aromatherapy steam room and sauna. While most of Senses Spa & Salon is for adult guests 18 and older, it includes Chill Spa - a separate spa for teens offering a wide variety of spa services and treatments, including facials, massages and manicures.
Family dining - With "rotational dining" serving up a changing menu of thematically magical restaurants, cuisines and mealtime experiences throughout the cruise, dinnertime is an adventure until itself. Royal Court, an exquisite dining room fit for a princess, and Animator’s Palate with it two different shows are just two of the venues that guests experience. But along with the ever-changing fun comes a constant: Guests’ wait staff rotates with them, sharing familiar smiles and knowing likes and needs on a first-name basis.
Adult dining - Adult couples and groups can reserve a dinnertime at two adult-exclusive restaurants - Palo, specializing in Northern Italian cuisine with a contemporary twist, and Remy, the most upscale and romantic dining experience about Disney Fantasy and serving French-inspired cuisine. Both restaurants come with stunning ocean views, an upscale dress code befitting the ambiance, the need for advance reservations and an upcharge.
Shows and deck parties - Disney Fantasy-exclusive "Wishes" and "Disney’s Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular" are just part of the entertainment offerings in the lavish Walt Disney Theatre - and at other locations as well. A high point is the evening the ship is transformed for piratical family fun including the deck party "Mickey’s Pirates IN the Caribbean" and the fireworks spectacular "Buccaneer Blast," featuring pyrotechnics choreographed to a dramatic musical score based on songs from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies. There are other deck parties for sure … and movies galore, both on deck and in the Buena Vista Theatre, a chic cinema with plush stadium-style seats that screens first-run movies and digital 3-D films.
Techno-wizardry -On Disney Fantasy, reality includes jaw-dropping experiences resulting from 21st-century technology - whether it’s the young kids at Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab participating in fun and games on a huge, dynamic interactive floor alive with sights and sounds … or the family sitting together at a live performance during which great acting of a great story is enhanced by over-the-top effects … or the family settling down in an inside stateroom with a real-time view of the sea passing by outside via a "magical porthole."
Private island - It wouldn’t be an East Coast Disney cruise experience if each Disney Fantasy itinerary didn’t include a day at Castaway Cay - a port of call that guest comments suggest is the "best stop" of the cruise! It’s a day that can be filled with water fun, beach play or just plain relaxation plus cookout eating.
The Disney Fantasy will sail out of Port Canaveral on seven-night Caribbean itineraries - alternating eastern (St. Maarten and St. Thomas) and western (Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Cozumel). Special Eastern Caribbean sailings in November and December 2012 stop at St. Thomas and San Juan, Puerto Rico. All Disney Fantasy itineraries include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. (Source: Press Release)
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Wookiees, Jedi and Droids, Oh My! Star Wars Weekends Returns to the Walt Disney World Galaxy in May 2012
Star Wars Weekends returns to the Walt Disney World Resort during May and June 2012, as Disney’s Hollywood Studios celebrates the Star Wars film saga and the hit animated television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
The annual special event, included in regular theme park admission, will be held every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 18-June 10, 2012.
The power of the Force and magic of Disney combine as plenty of out-of-this-world characters - including Wookiees, droids, Ewoks, bounty hunters and Jedi - roam the streets of Disney’s Hollywood Studios for meet-and-greet opportunities with guests.
The centerpiece of the celebration is the spectacular 3-D attraction, "Star Tours - The Adventures Continue." The attraction, which opened last spring at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, uses eye-popping 3-D, a dramatic musical score and motion simulator-based technology to immerse guests in the Star Wars galaxy like never before.
"Jedi Training Academy," one of the interactive entertainment experiences at the theme park, allows young guests to learn from a Jedi Master before testing their newly acquired skills in a battle with Darth Vader.
Also featured at Star Wars Weekends: the chance for fans to purchase one-of-a-kind Star Wars memorabilia, Star Wars games, plus there’s special Star Wars parades and motorcades, star conversations and autograph sessions with Star Wars actors and creative talent (celebrity lineup will be announced at a later date). The ever-popular "Hyperspace Hoopla" ends each Star Wars Weekends day with a show filled with comedy, dancing, high-energy music and many of the famed Star Wars characters.
For more information and future updates, guests may go online to disneyworld.com/starwarsweekends or starwars.com. (Source: Press Release)
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AffordableDisney.Com Members and their families enjoy 24/7/365 access to a veritable Treasure Trove 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!
* Florida Travel agent specializing in Disney travel who is familiar with all our deals and can book affordable vacations for you at Walt Disney World and any where else in the world!
* 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 in Florida!
In addition to the DEALS, DISCOUNTS AND SPECIALS posted at our password-protected members-only site, we also publish many inside tips:
* How can you get a FREE Disney Cruise?
* What dining program should Floridians choose at Disney World?
* Which theme park offers All You Can Eat and Drink?
* How to locate cheap rental homes and condos all over the world?
* How to get FREE 411 service on your cell phone?
* What's the secret of timeshare deals?
* Where can you eat cheap in Hawaii?
* What's the story with FREE companion air tickets?
* How to get Minnie and Mickey Mouse Voicemails at Disney World?
* How do you find out where the toilets are any where in the USA?
* How do you find hotels that accommodate 6-8 people?
* How much does a plane ticket really cost?
* How do I order flowers at Walt Disney World?
* Where are the cheapest gas stations?
* How do I buy gifts for someone visiting Disneyland or WDW?
* How do you book Disney rooms for sold-out nights?
* Where can I rent wheelchairs, ECVs and strollers?
And many more!
If you are not a member, you can join our Disney family here.
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE "WORLD"
Disney Parks Blog
Walt Disney World News
Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar
Universal Orlando Resort News
LEGOLAND Orlando News
Disney Cruise Line News
Disneyland CA News
Disneyland CA Resort Calendar
SeaWorld Parks Blog
Busch Gardens Tampa News
This week at Disneyland Paris
What's new at Tokyo Disneyland
What's new at Disneyland Hong Kong
This Week in Las Vegas
Branson
Calendar of Events
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Our AffordableDisney.Com Blog contains deal alerts, the latest news about Disney and other Florida attractions, and comments from Beth, our travel agent, and members. Click here to read our blog online or to subscribe.
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Looking Ahead in 2012 at Disneyland Resort: Cars Land and Buena Vista Street Will Complete the 5-year Expansion of Disney California Adventure Park
Guests Will Enjoy ‘One More Disney Day,’ Mad T Party,New Magic at Disneyland Hotel and Seasonal Fun at Halloween and Holidays
ANAHEIM, Calif. - The year 2012 promises even more fun and adventure across the Disneyland Resort, with new experiences highlighted by the unveiling this summer of Cars Land, Carthay Circle Theatre and the Buena Vista Street entry into Disney California Adventure park. With these and other recent additions at both theme parks, guests of all ages will enjoy more magic than ever at Disneyland Resort, a premier, multi-day vacation destination in Southern California.
The summer debuts of Cars Land and Buena Vista Street will mark the completion of the five-year expansion of Disney California Adventure. Additions to the park since 2007 have included the 4D fun of Toy Story Mania; the spectacular after-dark "World of Color" show; a classic dark ride, The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure; Mickey’s Fun Wheel, Silly Symphony Swings, Goofy’s Sky School and two restaurants, Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta and Paradise Garden Grill.
Mad T Party also opens this summer at Disney California Adventure, with nighttime, family fun inspired by the whimsical world of Tim Burton’s "Alice in Wonderland."
Throughout 2012, Disney Parks is encouraging guests to "Let the Memories Begin." A visit to Disneyland Resort could include a memory-making, 24-hour Leap Year adventure in Disneyland park, which will remain open "One More Disney Day" from 6 a.m. Feb. 29 to 6 a.m. March 1* (entry valid with regular admission ticket). Guests may also choose to make memories with seasonal celebrations in the parks, a meal at the new Jolly Holiday Bakery Café on Main Street, U.S.A., or a stay in the newly renovated Disneyland Hotel.
COMING TO DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE - HIT THE ROAD WITH MATER AND LIGHTNING MCQUEEN!: Crowning the multi-year expansion project at Disney California Adventure will be the opening of Cars Land, inspired by the Disney/Pixar blockbuster "Cars ."
Cars Land features three immersive family attractions showcasing characters and settings from the movie, including one of the largest and most elaborate attractions ever created for a Disney park: Radiator Springs Racers, a twisting turning, high-speed adventure through Ornament Valley and the town of Radiator Springs. Other Cars Land attractions will include Luigi’s Flying Tires (striking a chord with anyone who remembers the former Flying Saucers in Tomorrowland) and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, where guests ride baby tractors as they whip to the left and right in rhythm to the music. Guests in this land also will enjoy new, "Cars"-themed dining and shopping locations such as Flo’s V8 Café, Radiator Springs Curios, Sarge’s Surplus Hut and Ramone’s House of Body Art.
BUENA VISTA STREET WILL WELCOME GUESTS INTO DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE: Guests will be welcomed through a new entry and onto Buena Vista Street when the expansion of Disney California Adventure is completed this summer. The transformation will immerse guests in the atmosphere Walt Disney experienced upon first arriving in Los Angeles in the 1920s. Buena Vista Street will feature Red Car Trolleys, inspired by the transportation system that once served Southern California, and the Carthay Circle Theatre, modeled after the site of the 1937 world premiere of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Carthay Circle Theatre will become home to a new lounge and an elegant restaurant, designed to be the premier dining location in Disney California Adventure.
INTO THE RABBIT HOLE AT MAD T PARTY: Beginning summer 2012, guests at Disney California Adventure may fall into the rabbit hole and land in the wild, whimsical world of Mad T Party. Inspired by the world of Tim Burton’s "Alice in Wonderland," the all-new nighttime family celebration will feature a live band, unique entertainment, fun-filled games and plenty of dancing. Familiar faces from the story will be re-imagined in new ways to immerse guests in a captivating world that’s also filled with signature foods, beverages and merchandise offerings. (Source: Press Release)
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LET US PRAY...
As many of you know, I am an author of Catholic prayer books. One of the best ways to know Jesus more intimately and show our love for Him is through prayer. Prayer keeps us focused on the spiritual life and opens a channel for grace so He can make His presence known to us. For further help in forming your prayer life, see my prayer books below that I've written and compiled and posted on the 'Net for FREE. God bless.+
"Praying the Psalms for the Unborn Child." We can interpret the Psalms from a Christocentric point of view. Let us pray with Jesus to the Father for the unborn. Click here to read the book for FREE.
"Divine Intimacy Rosary." Pray the rosary while reflecting on the meditations of the masterpiece of Carmelite spirituality, "Divine Intimacy: Meditations on the Interior Life for Every Day of the Liturgical Year." Click here to read the book for FREE.
"The Divine Word + Sacred Art Rosary: Praying the Rosary with Sacred Scripture and Art." Bible-based meditations for each bead of the rosary. Each Mystery is illustrated with beautiful art masterpieces inspired by God. Click here to read the book for FREE.
"Beads of Salvation: Praying the Rosary to Reach Heaven." Rosary prayers drawn from the writings of Saint Alphonsus de Liguori. Click here to read the book for FREE.
"Rosary Poetry: Poems on the Life of Jesus Christ." Twenty poems relating to the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Click here to read the book for FREE.
"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.
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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.
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.
Let us choose life!: Priests for Life Choose-Life.org
=========================
See You Real Soon!
John
AffordableDisney.Com.
johngross@affordabledisney.com
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Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee the accuracy of information contained in our newsletter. Always check to be sure. The views and opinions expressed by others in our newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views of AffordableDisney.Com.
=========================
Copyright © 1999 - 2012 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1997 - 2012
=========================
Subscribe to AffordableDisney.Com's blog! =========================
Hi Everyone!
Dread the hassle of booking your own vacation? Not sure you will get the best possible price?
Beth, our full service Florida travel agent, handles all of our members' reservations. She is familiar with all of our deals and she will continue to monitor your reservations to make sure you are getting the best possible deal. If she finds a better deal, she will switch your reservation to the new deal without any intervention from you! Now that's peace of mind!
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.
=========================
MEMBERS SHOULD LOG IN FOR DETAILS OF THE FOLLOWING DEALS.
Save up to 25% at Disneyland Hotels!
Enjoy an extra day and night FREE at Disneyland CA!
Disney's Aulani Hawaii Resort Special!
FREE Night! FREE Breakfast!
---------------------------
Universal Mardi Gras 2012 Special Offers!
Vacation package: Includes nearby accommodations, tickets, FREE transportation from resort and optional upgrade to Universal resort and FREE Universal Express access so you can skip the lines in both parks! (This perk saves you up to $87 per day!)
Plus! Florida residents save on passes and a vacation package that starts at only $109 per night/per adult!
Plus! Floridians can save on an after 5 p.m. ticket!
=========================
LAST MINUTE MONEY SAVING DEALS!
These are money saving offers I've uncovered in my searches for deals for members. Although they may not be travel related, we could all use the extra cash!
FREE gift cards from Musselman's Apple Sauce:
* $10 Darden Gift Card
* $10 Gift Card for Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic or Athleta
* $5 Best Buy Gift Card
* $25 AMC Theatres® Gift Card
* $10 Dunkin' Donuts Card
Plus! A FREE Musselman's Exercise Ball and T-shirt!
Click here for details.
---------------------------
$10 box of chocolate-dipped strawberries from Edible Arrangements
Save $15 per box! No limit!
=========================
ENJOY SPECIAL RATES AT SELECT HOTELS NEAR DISNEY!
We've uncovered a source that offers Special Rates at select hotels near Disney! These Special Rates are guaranteed to be the lowest rates. Save yourself the anguish of researching all the hotels in the area. Some include meals. Some provide shuttles to the theme parks. All have photos and descriptions posted online. Click here to check out the prices. Book three or more nights and receive up to a $100 rebate! Click here to access coupon.
Plus! Our source now includes Affordable Disney Vacation Packages!
=========================
Disney Fantasy (the Ship) Takes Disney Fantasy (the Fun)
New Disney cruiser launches March 31, 2012, with entertainment, activities and dining all purpose-planned for longer itineraries
PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. - The Disney Fantasy is about to be a cruise vacation reality.
And when the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet launches March 31, 2012, it will be a high-water mark for Disney fantasy afloat in more ways than the name on the bow. This ship, Disney’s fourth, offers entertainment, activities and dining experiences purpose-planned for seven-night cruises from her maiden voyage forward.
The creative team, aware this ship was bound for longer itineraries, had an opportunity to produce an extended portfolio of Disney fantasy offerings. Here are several highlights of experiences adding to the fantasy fun in store:
The launch of a new Disney ship includes the premiere of a new Broadway-style stage spectacular in the lavish Walt Disney Theatre. Aboard Disney Fantasy, two new shows are a highlight of the live-entertainment series guests enjoy each evening. The signature show "Wishes" is a 45-minute musical journey about three best friends who discover the secret to being a grown-up is staying connected to their inner child. Also new to Disney Cruise Line, "Disney’s Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular" is a fast-paced musical comedy during which Aladdin is back as the "street rat" of Agrabah meeting a Genie who grants him three wishes, battling the evil Jafar, and falling in love with Princess Jasmine.
The princess and pirate fantasies of young guests can be enlivened with the Disney Cruise Line debut of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and The Pirates League - popular landside retailers specializing in makeovers. Young princesses can "look the part" for dinner at Royal Court, an elegant restaurant inspired by the classic Disney films "Cinderella," "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Sleeping Beauty." When the hugely popular deck party "Mickey’s Pirates IN the Caribbean" is on the evening schedule, young sailors’ piratical side can really come through via a Pirates League treatment.
Nightlife for adult vacationers takes a Fantasy spin with Europa - an entertainment district of high-energy, sophisticated and trendy clubs and lounges. Inspired by the night spots of Italy, France, Ireland and London, Europa is a continent of adult nighttime fun without borders. La Piazza is a lounge that draws inspiration from stylish Italian plazas. Skyline is a chic bar that provides ever-changing birds-eye views of stunning European cityscapes. O’Gill’s Pub is a rollicking Irish bar and Ooh La La is an elegant French champagne bar. The Tube transports guests to a vibrant metropolitan club reminiscent of swinging London.
With special areas devoted to young children, tweens, teens, adults, families and recreation, an expanded schedule of activities is in development for Fantasy cruises.
New Fantasy twists on "Dreamy" fun
The Disney Fantasy also puts some new twists on fun familiar to guests who have cruised on the Disney Cruise Line sister ship, Disney Dream:
The Muppets are coming to the Disney Fantasy in the context of an interactive adventure quest designed for guests nine and older. While playing "The Case of the Stolen Show," guests move around the ship, uncovering clues to figure out the culprit behind the disappearance of Kermit’s banjo, Fozzie’s squirting flower, Gonzo’s crash helmet, Animal’s drum sticks and the Swedish Chef’s cleaver!. It’s a new spin on a self-paced game concept introduced on Disney Dream that "hides" the clues in pieces of Enchanted Art - wall hangings that are activated like magic when guests approach. "The Case of the Stolen Show" is just one of a trio of adventure detective games that may be played on the ship’s Enchanted Art.
While dinner may be served twice at popular Animator’s Palate, the show accompanying the meal is as different on the two evenings. All new aboard Disney Fantasy, guests’ cartoon creativity comes alive during dinner in a show called "Animation Magic." On another evening, the room is immersed in a vivid undersea environment and Crush makes a special appearance, swimming around the restaurant and engaging in live impromptu interactions with guests.
A "sister ship," but …..
The Disney Fantasy is a "fraternal twin" to the Disney Dream which launched in early 2011. Both cruise ships are 1,115-feet in length, with 1,250 staterooms and suites and 4,000-passenger capacity. And both are warm and welcoming, elegant and richly detailed - harkening to the golden age of ocean-liner travel of the 1930s.
But veteran Disney cruise vacationers will start recognizing differences the moment they enter the Disney Fantasy’s atrium lobby. Its three-deck expanse is graced with sophisticated Art Nouveau-inspired details and patterns in hues of vibrant blue, green, pink and gold. Glamorous and graceful design elements include a sweeping grand staircase, towering fluted columns, grand piano and an exquisite marble and stone inlay floor.
From the ceiling hangs a cascading chandelier, grand-yet-delicate, that flows downward from a massive stained-glass flourish on the ceiling in peacock hues of greens and blues. The chandelier itself is more than 10 feet in diameter, a one-of-a-kind work of art evoking a peacock in stained glass and crystal beads. The whole effect is continued in the rich carpeting underfoot.
As with each Disney Cruise Line ship that launched before it, the Disney Fantasy has an atrium lobby statue celebrating a classic Disney character. Mickey at the helm, Ariel sitting pretty and Admiral Donald striking a pose have been previously featured. The pièce de résistance of the Fantasy lobby is Mademoiselle Minnie Mouse. Inspired by travel of the 1920s and 1930s, Minnie is cast in bronze and dressed in vintage fashion with a parasol and steamer luggage at her side - posed for keepsake pictures with guests.
Beyond the lobby ...
There are places and experiences, services, dining and entertainment concepts that are hallmarks of the Disney Cruise Line experience. Here’s more of what’s in store during a Disney Fantasy cruise:
H2Ohhh! - When the Disney Dream launched, it boasted the first water coaster at sea, called Aqua Duck. A 765-foot long, twisting-and-turning scream machine, the get-wet attraction has been a huge hit with guests. So Disney Fantasy has Aqua Duck, too! Plus something new: AquaLab, a water play area where families can frolic among pop jets, geysers and bubblers. There also are separate pools for children, families and adults - plus a special splash-and-play area for little ones.
Outside the wet zone - Disney Fantasy continues the Disney Cruise Line tradition of special, fun-filled clubs, labs and cafes for guests of all ages - Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab for young children (ages 3-10), Edge for tweens (ages 11-13), Vibe for teens (ages 14-17) and Cove Café for adults - plus the family club D Lounge and It’s a Small World Nursery. In all the youth and family areas, there are activities and games supervised by crew members. In addition, Edge and Vibe are rendezvous spots for age-group games, quests and tours that take youth on adventures throughout the ship.
Exercise and fitness - Fitness has its places, too. Both inside at the Fitness Center and outside on Goofy’s Sports Deck, guests can "work out." Among the facilities on the sports deck are a basketball court that can be configured into mini-soccer or volleyball court… and a walking track encircling the deck, perfect for those looking for a light - and scenic - workout. The Fitness Center is well-appointed with state-of-the-art cardio equipment and weight machines, and offers personal training sessions and instructional classes (yoga, Pilates, aerobics).
Fun and games - The nine-hole, Disney-themed miniature golf course isn’t "just plain Goofy." It also stars Goofy’s son, Max. The interactive holes emphasize various golfing lessons - but, of course, with goofy twists. There are simulators that provide a variety of state-of-the-art virtual sports-gaming experiences, ping pong and foosball tables, and an arcade offering a variety of the latest interactive video games plus gaming classics such as pinball and air hockey.
Pampering and relaxation - Senses Spa & Salon offers therapeutic and beautifying personal care services for men and women in a retreat spanning two decks. It offers spa treatments, massages, body wraps, facials, aromatherapy, manicures, pedicures, hairstyling and blowouts, traditional men’s grooming services and more. There’s a "Relax Room" as well as a rainforest-themed aromatherapy steam room and sauna. While most of Senses Spa & Salon is for adult guests 18 and older, it includes Chill Spa - a separate spa for teens offering a wide variety of spa services and treatments, including facials, massages and manicures.
Family dining - With "rotational dining" serving up a changing menu of thematically magical restaurants, cuisines and mealtime experiences throughout the cruise, dinnertime is an adventure until itself. Royal Court, an exquisite dining room fit for a princess, and Animator’s Palate with it two different shows are just two of the venues that guests experience. But along with the ever-changing fun comes a constant: Guests’ wait staff rotates with them, sharing familiar smiles and knowing likes and needs on a first-name basis.
Adult dining - Adult couples and groups can reserve a dinnertime at two adult-exclusive restaurants - Palo, specializing in Northern Italian cuisine with a contemporary twist, and Remy, the most upscale and romantic dining experience about Disney Fantasy and serving French-inspired cuisine. Both restaurants come with stunning ocean views, an upscale dress code befitting the ambiance, the need for advance reservations and an upcharge.
Shows and deck parties - Disney Fantasy-exclusive "Wishes" and "Disney’s Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular" are just part of the entertainment offerings in the lavish Walt Disney Theatre - and at other locations as well. A high point is the evening the ship is transformed for piratical family fun including the deck party "Mickey’s Pirates IN the Caribbean" and the fireworks spectacular "Buccaneer Blast," featuring pyrotechnics choreographed to a dramatic musical score based on songs from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies. There are other deck parties for sure … and movies galore, both on deck and in the Buena Vista Theatre, a chic cinema with plush stadium-style seats that screens first-run movies and digital 3-D films.
Techno-wizardry -On Disney Fantasy, reality includes jaw-dropping experiences resulting from 21st-century technology - whether it’s the young kids at Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab participating in fun and games on a huge, dynamic interactive floor alive with sights and sounds … or the family sitting together at a live performance during which great acting of a great story is enhanced by over-the-top effects … or the family settling down in an inside stateroom with a real-time view of the sea passing by outside via a "magical porthole."
Private island - It wouldn’t be an East Coast Disney cruise experience if each Disney Fantasy itinerary didn’t include a day at Castaway Cay - a port of call that guest comments suggest is the "best stop" of the cruise! It’s a day that can be filled with water fun, beach play or just plain relaxation plus cookout eating.
The Disney Fantasy will sail out of Port Canaveral on seven-night Caribbean itineraries - alternating eastern (St. Maarten and St. Thomas) and western (Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Cozumel). Special Eastern Caribbean sailings in November and December 2012 stop at St. Thomas and San Juan, Puerto Rico. All Disney Fantasy itineraries include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. (Source: Press Release)
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Wookiees, Jedi and Droids, Oh My! Star Wars Weekends Returns to the Walt Disney World Galaxy in May 2012
Star Wars Weekends returns to the Walt Disney World Resort during May and June 2012, as Disney’s Hollywood Studios celebrates the Star Wars film saga and the hit animated television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
The annual special event, included in regular theme park admission, will be held every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 18-June 10, 2012.
The power of the Force and magic of Disney combine as plenty of out-of-this-world characters - including Wookiees, droids, Ewoks, bounty hunters and Jedi - roam the streets of Disney’s Hollywood Studios for meet-and-greet opportunities with guests.
The centerpiece of the celebration is the spectacular 3-D attraction, "Star Tours - The Adventures Continue." The attraction, which opened last spring at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, uses eye-popping 3-D, a dramatic musical score and motion simulator-based technology to immerse guests in the Star Wars galaxy like never before.
"Jedi Training Academy," one of the interactive entertainment experiences at the theme park, allows young guests to learn from a Jedi Master before testing their newly acquired skills in a battle with Darth Vader.
Also featured at Star Wars Weekends: the chance for fans to purchase one-of-a-kind Star Wars memorabilia, Star Wars games, plus there’s special Star Wars parades and motorcades, star conversations and autograph sessions with Star Wars actors and creative talent (celebrity lineup will be announced at a later date). The ever-popular "Hyperspace Hoopla" ends each Star Wars Weekends day with a show filled with comedy, dancing, high-energy music and many of the famed Star Wars characters.
For more information and future updates, guests may go online to disneyworld.com/starwarsweekends or starwars.com. (Source: Press Release)
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Looking Ahead in 2012 at Disneyland Resort: Cars Land and Buena Vista Street Will Complete the 5-year Expansion of Disney California Adventure Park
Guests Will Enjoy ‘One More Disney Day,’ Mad T Party,New Magic at Disneyland Hotel and Seasonal Fun at Halloween and Holidays
ANAHEIM, Calif. - The year 2012 promises even more fun and adventure across the Disneyland Resort, with new experiences highlighted by the unveiling this summer of Cars Land, Carthay Circle Theatre and the Buena Vista Street entry into Disney California Adventure park. With these and other recent additions at both theme parks, guests of all ages will enjoy more magic than ever at Disneyland Resort, a premier, multi-day vacation destination in Southern California.
The summer debuts of Cars Land and Buena Vista Street will mark the completion of the five-year expansion of Disney California Adventure. Additions to the park since 2007 have included the 4D fun of Toy Story Mania; the spectacular after-dark "World of Color" show; a classic dark ride, The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure; Mickey’s Fun Wheel, Silly Symphony Swings, Goofy’s Sky School and two restaurants, Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta and Paradise Garden Grill.
Mad T Party also opens this summer at Disney California Adventure, with nighttime, family fun inspired by the whimsical world of Tim Burton’s "Alice in Wonderland."
Throughout 2012, Disney Parks is encouraging guests to "Let the Memories Begin." A visit to Disneyland Resort could include a memory-making, 24-hour Leap Year adventure in Disneyland park, which will remain open "One More Disney Day" from 6 a.m. Feb. 29 to 6 a.m. March 1* (entry valid with regular admission ticket). Guests may also choose to make memories with seasonal celebrations in the parks, a meal at the new Jolly Holiday Bakery Café on Main Street, U.S.A., or a stay in the newly renovated Disneyland Hotel.
COMING TO DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE - HIT THE ROAD WITH MATER AND LIGHTNING MCQUEEN!: Crowning the multi-year expansion project at Disney California Adventure will be the opening of Cars Land, inspired by the Disney/Pixar blockbuster "Cars ."
Cars Land features three immersive family attractions showcasing characters and settings from the movie, including one of the largest and most elaborate attractions ever created for a Disney park: Radiator Springs Racers, a twisting turning, high-speed adventure through Ornament Valley and the town of Radiator Springs. Other Cars Land attractions will include Luigi’s Flying Tires (striking a chord with anyone who remembers the former Flying Saucers in Tomorrowland) and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, where guests ride baby tractors as they whip to the left and right in rhythm to the music. Guests in this land also will enjoy new, "Cars"-themed dining and shopping locations such as Flo’s V8 Café, Radiator Springs Curios, Sarge’s Surplus Hut and Ramone’s House of Body Art.
BUENA VISTA STREET WILL WELCOME GUESTS INTO DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE: Guests will be welcomed through a new entry and onto Buena Vista Street when the expansion of Disney California Adventure is completed this summer. The transformation will immerse guests in the atmosphere Walt Disney experienced upon first arriving in Los Angeles in the 1920s. Buena Vista Street will feature Red Car Trolleys, inspired by the transportation system that once served Southern California, and the Carthay Circle Theatre, modeled after the site of the 1937 world premiere of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Carthay Circle Theatre will become home to a new lounge and an elegant restaurant, designed to be the premier dining location in Disney California Adventure.
INTO THE RABBIT HOLE AT MAD T PARTY: Beginning summer 2012, guests at Disney California Adventure may fall into the rabbit hole and land in the wild, whimsical world of Mad T Party. Inspired by the world of Tim Burton’s "Alice in Wonderland," the all-new nighttime family celebration will feature a live band, unique entertainment, fun-filled games and plenty of dancing. Familiar faces from the story will be re-imagined in new ways to immerse guests in a captivating world that’s also filled with signature foods, beverages and merchandise offerings. (Source: Press Release)
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LET US PRAY...
As many of you know, I am an author of Catholic prayer books. One of the best ways to know Jesus more intimately and show our love for Him is through prayer. Prayer keeps us focused on the spiritual life and opens a channel for grace so He can make His presence known to us. For further help in forming your prayer life, see my prayer books below that I've written and compiled and posted on the 'Net for FREE. God bless.+
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"Divine Intimacy Rosary." Pray the rosary while reflecting on the meditations of the masterpiece of Carmelite spirituality, "Divine Intimacy: Meditations on the Interior Life for Every Day of the Liturgical Year." Click here to read the book for FREE.
"The Divine Word + Sacred Art Rosary: Praying the Rosary with Sacred Scripture and Art." Bible-based meditations for each bead of the rosary. Each Mystery is illustrated with beautiful art masterpieces inspired by God. Click here to read the book for FREE.
"Beads of Salvation: Praying the Rosary to Reach Heaven." Rosary prayers drawn from the writings of Saint Alphonsus de Liguori. Click here to read the book for FREE.
"Rosary Poetry: Poems on the Life of Jesus Christ." Twenty poems relating to the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Click here to read the book for FREE.
"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.
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See You Real Soon!
John
AffordableDisney.Com.
johngross@affordabledisney.com
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posted by AffordableDisney.Com at 7:23 AM
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