Affordable Walt Disney World® Vacation


Walt Disney World® A-Z

Updates for August 20, 2008

Brought to you by...

Disney World travel writers John and Donna Gross at WDW!

John and Donna Gross
Authors of "Secrets To An Affordable Walt Disney World® Vacation."

"The Full Mickey - At a Discount!" The Wall Street Journal

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Here you will find our money saving tips to make your visit to Walt Disney World more affordable! We will post your comments, answer your questions and announce the latest changes at the Walt Disney World Resorts and Theme Parks. We will also post updates to our book, Secrets To An Affordable Walt Disney World® Vacation, and bring you the latest news regarding the Disney Company and other attractions in Florida. To add your own message, contact us at DisneyBBS@affordabledisney.com .

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And now ... take small children by the hand and enjoy the ride!

WALT DISNEY WORLD

This Day in Disney History

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"The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort said Monday it will randomly pick a guest for a gas rebate of $1 for every mile driven roundtrip." The promotion is only available to Florida residents and is good through Labor Day. Those with hybrid cars will receive complimentary valet parking. (Source: biz.yahoo.com, 08/18/08)

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Thanks to an internship program at Oregon Coast Community College, aquarium science students are working at The Sea with Nemo and Friends. (Source: newportnewstimes.com, 08/15/08)

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A recent visitor to Walt Disney World complained that her SUV had been taken for a joyride. Fortunately, she complained and Disney sent her park tickets and a gift card. Moral of the story? It pays to complain! (Source: cnn.com, 08/14/08)

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Readers of Theme Park Rangers Blog voted for their favorite desserts at the Walt Disney World Theme Parks

Chocolate-covered bananas are sold everywhere and are very popular.

Magic Kingdom

  • Ice-cream/Toll House Cookie sandwich - Main Street Bakery

  • Dole Whip Pineapple Float - Aloha Isle in Adventureland

  • Orange-and-vanilla swirl - Sunshine Tree Terrace in Adventureland (behind the Magic Carpets of Aladdin)

Epcot

  • Kaki-gori treat - East of Japan Pavilion - resembles American snow cones

  • School bread and rice cream - Norway's Kringla bakery

  • Green tea slush - China Pavilion

  • Pastries - France Pavilion

Hollywood Studios

  • Peanut butter and jelly milkshake and the Writer's Stop carrot cake cookie - '50s Prime Time Cafe

(Source: Orlando Sentinel, 08/15/08)

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"Walt Disney World has limited its ban on employee guns at work to the giant resort's main property only -- and with that move Friday received the blessing of Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 08/16/08)

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Click here for the recipe for Chianti Risotto with Radicchio served at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts.

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Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar

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DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA

"Cinderella, Snow White, Tinkerbell and other fictional fixtures of modern-day childhood were handcuffed, frisked and loaded into police vans Thursday at the culmination of a labor protest that brought a touch of reality to the Happiest Place on Earth." (Source: news.yahoo.com, 08/15/08)

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Disneyland Resort Calendar

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OUTSIDE DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA

[Valerie Orleans] "has fond childhood memories of stagecoach robberies at Knott's Berry Farm." (Source: ocregister.com, 08/13/08)

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CRUISES

"A new Web site called ThemeCruiseFinder.com can help you locate a theme cruise." Sample themes include: art, astronomy, Christianity, Christmas, dance, history, and motorcycles. (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 08/17/08)

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NOTE: News sources remove their articles rather quickly. If you receive a "File Not Found" error message, search the source's archives for the story. Certain news organizations require a free registration to view their articles online.

Resources

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Beth, our travel agent, writes about Adventures by Disney:

"When Disney first announced they were venturing into the world of escorted tours I had a hard time imagining how Mickey was going to fit down the aisle of a bus! Turns out that isn't a problem because there is nary a character to be seen on these tours. And yes, that's a GOOD thing!

Disney has proven over the last few years that they CAN compete with the best when it comes to doing guided tours all over the world. They use the very best hotels and restaurants, their guides are fabulously trained, and each itinerary makes sure that all participants will do not only the usual 'tourist' things, but also some things you'd otherwise not be able to do. (When the name Disney is attached to your company you can really work some magic!) And don't be surprised to see little gifts unexpected appearing in your room from time to time.

As you'd imagine, these tours are great for families with children, and especially so for multi-generational families. There are opportunities for the adults to have a nice dinner alone while the kids are expertly entertained for the evening, and there are activities specially planned for the kids so they don't get bored while Grandma and Grandpa tour the Louvre or attend a wine tasting. They even keep the kids happy on the bus rides!

Amazingly, though, the tours are equally good for adults traveling without children, but if you're still worried about that then you can sign up for one of the many "adults only" departures offered on many itineraries.

You all know how much I love Disney World and Disney Cruise Line, but let's face it... Sometimes even the biggest Mouse fans need to do a character-free vacation. What's great about Adventures by Disney is that you get all the attention to detail that Disney is known for, and they somehow manage to make their mark on every aspect of the trip despite the lack of large furry beasts and pretty girls in big dresses. I am so supportive of this new endeavor that I've told my sales rep that I'm aiming to be their top agent for 2009.

To that end, I've acquired a domain name for a new website and am currently working on a site that will be JUST for Adventures by Disney. In the meantime, we're trying to develop a number of promotions to run starting this fall that will be geared towards Affordable Disney readers and their friends and families. This is the PERFECT time to be planning your 2009 vacation, so if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to drop me a note!"

Note from John: Affordable Disney members can find Beth's contact info on the welcome page - that's the page you're on when you log in.

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William writes:

"John if I buy tickets with no expiration with say 10 days, and use 5 this year. If I go back next year can I add back those 5 days without having to pay the no expiration rate again, or do you have to pay for it again? This would be a wonderful way to avoid the first 3 days price again. Thank you."

Sorry. Next year you would have to buy new 5-day tickets with no expiration option. Partially used tickets must be upgraded within 14 days of first use.

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Beth, our travel agent, shares her thoughts on some of the comments made in last week's newsletter:

Dining at Boma in Animal Kingdom Lodge...

"I had the pleasure of staying in a concierge level room at this resort once. While I loved very American breakfast offered in the lounge, I wasn't crazy about the hors d'oeuvres around dinner time. It turns out that (as you suspected, John) African spices are an acquired taste that I - apparently - haven't yet acquired the taste for. Not surprisingly, I found dinner at Boma to be equally disappointing. Even the desserts that I'd heard so much about fell short. A friend of mine that lived in Africa for a time tells me that this is one of her favorite places to eat, so if you want 'real' African food this is the place to go. Otherwise, skip it unless you have adventuresome taste buds. There are TONS of great places to eat where you can be nearly certain you'll like the food."

Viewing Illuminations....

"Check to see which way the wind is blowing and be sure to NOT be where the wind will blow the smoke from the fireworks into your face. I learned that lesson the hard way! You cannot imagine how much smoke there is coming off the lake during those fireworks."

Adult evening entertainment...

"Don't forget about the Boardwalk area. There are several things going on over there in the evening that are a lot of fun and very much geared towards the adult crowd. The only down side is that there isn't any way to get back to your hotel late at night if you're not staying right in that area. You'd have to call a cab if you don't have a car with you. (It would be a cheap taxi ride, though.) And as John suggests, the deluxe resorts as well as Coronado Springs have lounges that get fun in the evenings. (Actually, all the moderate resorts have lounges, but Coronado's is a lot more interesting thanks to recent renovations as well as the fact that they have a convention center there that draws more of an adult crowd to that resort.)"

Note from John: I think that might be a fun way to spend several evenings - visiting a different lounge every night! I just might have to write the "Walt Disney World Lounge Tour!"

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Diana writes about the closings at Pleasure Island:

"I read somewhere the Disney will be closing the clubs and entertainment venues (with the exception of a few specialty stores) on Paradise Island? Is this correct? If that is true are they planning on replacing any of those clubs? My husband and I were very excited to learn that there was adult entertainment at night to balance out the kid entertainment during the day."

They will close all the clubs at Pleasure Island September 27, 2008. They plan to open more restaurants. Adult entertainment will be limited to lounges, like RIX at Coronado Springs.

"Do you know why they are closing down those clubs?"

Rumor has it that Disney was not happy that Pleasure Island didn't fit in with the family-friendly Marketplace and Westside on either side of it. Disney says that people wanted more restaurants and shops.

"Thanks John for the info! This definitely helps us on our planning of hotel choice."

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Cynthia, Lifetime Deluxe Member, writes:

"John,

I’m a long time subscriber, and always look forward to getting your newsletter and taking a Disney break!

I’m taking my mother to WDW in Sept, 08 and we’re taking advantage of the dining plan. We’re booked at Narcoosee’s, Cinderella’s Royal Table, the California Grill, and Ohana’s but have one day with no ADR. I thought about taking her to Boma’s at Animal Kingdom Lodge to try something a little different, but I’ve never been. Do you like Boma’s or is there another place in the 'World' that we should try?"

We haven't eaten at Boma's. I'm not sure I'd like African seasonings. I believe a dominant African seasoning is cinnamon!

Also, am I making a mistake by taking her to Cinderella's Royal Dinner? I read a terrible review last night, and as that was supposed to be the highlight of the trip, I'm now concerned. We'd love to have any suggestions or advice you can send our way. This trip is for my mom's 65th birthday and I want it to be a great memory for her."

Cinderella's dinner has a lot of fans, but the food is not a strong point. You'll find this site's reviews helpful.

"This dining thing is a first for us. When we go as a family our idea of Disney dining is to grab 'a mighty Casey's' (hot dog) or a turkey leg and get our spot for the parade.

This time, it's just us girls and we decided to eat at the Disney restaurants we're always hearing about; although dinner in the Castle is more about the experience. The food at the restaurants I listed seems pretty straight forward, but I do wonder about the African spices at Boma's."

Cynthia wrote me back:

"I've just made reservations for my mom, sister, and me at Tokyo Dining in Epcot, as we've decided to stay in the park and try to see Illuminations that night. In all our trips to WDW, I've always missed Illuminations. Where do you recommend getting a good view of the fireworks? As we're eating dinner in Japan, is there a good spot over there? Thanks again for your great information and advice."

There's a great view right on the outside steps of the restaurant or anywhere along the lagoon. You're in for a real treat at Iluminations! A must see!

"Thanks for your quick reply. We love your online book, and the great updates you send us. We've used many of your tips and info you provide on our Disney vacations since 2001. You've saved us time and money. Thanks again and keep it coming!"

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Beth, our travel agent, writes about the rumored Disney ticket price increase:

"My sales rep will neither confirm nor deny rumors that ticket prices will increase Sunday, but there is lots of buzz around the reservations offices that 'stuff' is going to happen very soon. I'm assuming this means not only the annual ticket price increase, but also the 2009 package and rate details (which should be out within the next two weeks or so). I'm guessing the Oct-Dec promotional offers will be not far behind.

If you're already booked you will not be affected by the ticket price increase unless you make a change to your reservation - at which point the updated total will reflect the new ticket pricing.

Remember that if you don't need tickets then you don't need a package - and packages are the ONLY way (short of an annual pass) to get a dining plan. Packages are also the most likely way to get a discount. You could save yourself $50 or more by buying tickets before the price increase for a future stay - but then you'd either have to skip the package form of reservation (and a dining plan and any associated promotional discounts, either of which COULD save you considerably more) or shell out for a 1-day base ticket per person in order to book a package which will run you another $80 or so per person, probably eliminating whatever savings you might otherwise have had (or at least taking a big chunk out of it).

In other words, if you are CERTAIN that you do not want a dining plan and will save more on buying tickets now than you cold possibly hope to save with a promotion then go for it. Otherwise, just accept that your vacation is about to cost a little more than you thought it would. (Nothing new there, huh?) All the more reason to put your Affordable Disney Membership to good use!"

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Beth, our travel agent, writes about booking airfare:

"Not a day goes by that someone doesn't ask me if I can do their flights for them. The truth is, I pretty much stopped doing air years ago. You can't imagine the amount of time I used to spend helping people find the right flights, booking them, ticketing them, and then staying on top of the frequent flight changes that followed. It was an easy hour or more of time for each and every trip. And about 20% of those trips would have additional issues... the need to cancel or make a change, a drop in price requiring a ticket reissue and fare refund, you name it. I can't tell you how much I hated doing air.

It did, however, pay well sometimes. The commission was 10% on the base fare (price before taxes and fees). That meant I could make $15-30 per ticket on average, so for a family of 4 or more it was still worth the effort most of the time. Then the commission dropped to 8% - and then to 5%. Finally, commission disappeared completely.

The airlines are no longer willing to pay travel agents for the headaches involved in putting people onto their planes. As such, I'm no longer willing to endure the headaches. I do, however, try to help clients as much as I can in booking air they will be happy with.

Here are my top tips:

1) Check Southwest.com to see if they service your area. If so, see what their flight schedules and prices look like. Even if they aren't currently booking for your dates, you can still get a good idea of what Southwest offers.

2) Compare that to what you find on Kayak.com. Kayak doesn't sell airfare; they just help you compare fares from those that do sell it. They cover nearly every major airline except Southwest. The results filter allows you to easily adjust your arrival and departure times, dates, alternate airports, and more so that you can tweak the results to exactly fit your needs.

3) Once you've found flights that you like, GO TO THE AIRLINE'S OWN WEBSITE to book the flights. You'll avoid booking fees and, if you find yourself in need of a real person to help with a problem down the road, you're going to have a much better shot at a good result when dealing with an airline rather than with Expedia, Travelocity, etc. That's especially true if your flight gets canceled or there is a significant delay.

4) Once you've booked, don't look back. You'll just drive yourself nuts. There's no way to know if the flights will go up or down in price, and these days the change fees are so high that there probably isn't anything you can do about a lower price anyway. Just tuck your confirmation away with your travel documents, check "air" off your list, and move on.

Yes, I can book (domestic) air through Disney as an add-on to your package - and I'll admit that every once in awhile they have a good deal, especially for groups of 10 or more, but it's rare. In the vast majority of cases, I find that Disney air is priced the same or higher (sometimes significantly higher) than what you'd pay online for the same flights. What's more, if you cancel your Disney reservation, nonrefundable air on the reservation is canceled as well and you lose that money. If you booked separately, you'd still have those air tickets to do with as you please. You might be able to pay a change fee and use them for a different trip. I'd be happy to get a price on Disney air for you, but unless they come in significantly lower than what you're finding online, book it separately. Disney will still provide Magical Express airport transfers (from MCO only!).

Speaking of Magical Express, you can get that service regardless of what airline you fly, what time of day you arrive or depart, or how you booked the air. They will even provide transfers for international flights. (You just have to claim your bags and get through customs first.) Disney's optional insurance coverage also covers most air - even if you booked the air yourself! Affordable Disney members can contact me if they'd like to see a PDF copy of their insurance policy.

Finally, be sure to stay on top of the current rules and regulations regarding luggage and other details:

Current list of baggage fees for most airlines.
Current TSA list of what you can pack.

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Beth, our travel agent, writes about booking hotels off Disney property:

"There was a time when I booked a LOT of Disney World vacations for people using non-Disney hotels. That was before Disney offered free airport transfers, Extra Magic Hours, dining options, and packages that made sense. Those perks cannot be overlooked. At least one of them (probably several) can go a very long way towards providing you with a vacation more comfortable and convenient than any non-Disney hotel could. And if you plan ahead then you've got an excellent shot at a promotional discount for most times of the year.

There are, however, times when you can't plan ahead. There are other times that there isn't a promotional offer for your dates, or nothing affordable is available under the promotional offer. For those times, it makes plenty of sense to look at hotels that aren't owned and operated by Disney - particularly true if you don't need airport transfers and aren't interested in a dining plan.

What you need to keep in mind, though, is that a wide-angle camera lens and a creative hotel staff can make a real dump look like pure luxury online. I read an article recently posted in MSNBC.com's family travel section. They were suggesting six hotels in the Kissimmee area as non-Disney alternatives. Two of them I've never seen and two of them I often send people to myself. The other two, though, I was shocked to see listed. In fact, I list one of them among the worst hotels I've ever checked out! It's true that online it looks nice enough. The location is pretty good, it has a separate check-in desk for kids, and it has a name that makes it sound like Mickey himself probably vacations there. I was shown two rooms there, though, that I wouldn't have sent clients on the tightest budgets to. The carpets were so dirty they were sticky. The small refrigerators had mildew in them, and I'm pretty sure the microwaves has never been cleaned. I'd have been afraid to take a shower without flip-flops on my feet. Ick!

I actually stayed at a different hotel once (not on the MSNBC list) that looked fabulous online... bedroom, living room, 'full' kitchen, manager's reception with beer, wine and hors d'oeuvres - nice! The pictures online were lovely. The actual units didn't look anything like the photos online. Well, they sort of did in that the layout was the same. The furniture we had, though, was stained and worn and falling apart. The bedding was dirty as were the towels. The little electric burner in our kitchen didn't work, and it was colder in the room than in the frig. There was no beer at the manager's reception; only a big jug of cheap red wine... which went well with the basket full of popcorn, the only food offered. The pool wasn't heated, but it was so dirty my daughter didn't want to go in anyway. BIG disappointment. Great location and a nice price, but I won't be going back.

My point is that you need to do some homework if you're going to stay offsite - or at least talk with someone that's stayed in the place you're considering. Forget the online photos. Check out TripAdvisor.com or WeJustGotBack.com to see if there are recent reviews. Keep in mind that people tend to complain more than say nice things so you can't assume no nice comments means everything is bad. Do, however, consider the types of things being said. Are they things that you'd never notice, or things that would drive you nuts?

If you need to stay offsite I can get you into rooms from about $32 a night including tax - but I wouldn't recommend those places. You really don't start getting into the moderately acceptable ones below $50-60 a night. Most times of the year $75 + tax will get you into something not too bad at all, and $100-120 will get you something pretty decent. There are exceptions, of course, but that's sort of a good scale to follow. Beware of places that are selling super-cheap. There's probably a reason for it, and you need to figure out what that reason is before you book."

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Beth, our travel agent, writes about tipping on the Disney Dining Plan:

Everyone that's ever asked me about the basic dining plan knows how much I love it. While it's not the least expensive way to eat at Disney, it's a real bargain if you are planning to do a character meal or full-service meal once a day for most of your stay - especially if you have children ages 3-9. You never have that little voice in your head telling you to order chicken or pasta when you really want prime rib (because it's all covered by the plan) and you're prepaying most of your food costs so you know in advance exactly what you're spending on food... or do you?

I had a very interesting discussion with a man yesterday who told me of a family group that just returned from Disney World. They had a great time, and for the most part they loved the dining plan. What they didn't count on, though, was the gratuities. They were totally aware that gratuities were no longer included in the plan, and they understood that for parties of 6 or more 18% would automatically be added on, but in their minds they were budgeting 18% of the cost of the dining plan rather than 18% of the retail value of the food they ordered.

This is a little detail that cannot be stressed enough: the gratuity is figured on the total of the bill as if you were paying out of pocket for everything you ordered. Now, if you're NOT a group of six or more, you can choose to leave less than 18% just like you can when you dine out anywhere else. If, however, you are dining with six or more that gratuity is going to be charged directly to your room.

So, let's say your family of two adults and two teens heads out to Le Cellier for a nice steak dinner, a meal that takes one table-service credit each. To keep things simple, we'll say you all skip the appetizers since they aren't included, and you all decide to order the same entree and dessert: the filet mignon ($34.99) and the crème brulee ($6.99). You also each order Diet Coke (to cancel out the calories of the dessert) for $2.95 each. That's a total of $44.93 per person plus tax (another $2.92) and you're thrilled with your decision to spend $37.95 per person per night on your basic dining plan because you've spent more than that on just one meal! And then you realize you still have to pay a tip. A 15% gratuity is $26.96 - ouch! Of course, no one is going to MAKE you leave 15%, but you know that (or more) is what's customary for good service these days.

Now, let's say that your family is dining with your sister's family of four. You're now a party of 8 so the gratuity is going to be billed to your room automatically, and it's billed at 18%. You're going to see a charge of $32.35 on your room bill at the end of the trip. If you ate like this every day for 7 days, the bill for gratuities at the end of the stay would be over $226!!! Didn't see THAT coming, did you?

I'm not trying to say you should avoid the dining plan OR that you should eat pasta for every meal. I'm just saying that you need to understand in advance what to expect with these gratuities so you're not blind-sided. Those gratuities apply even if you're on the FREE dining offer, so plan for them. And if you've upgraded to deluxe dining then you REALLY need to think ahead because there's more of a tendency to eat 2-3 meals a day in the priciest places.

By the way, if the gratuity thing is really an issue for you, you CAN find places that offer entrees for under $15. Also, gratuities are included when you use your credits for Grand Gathering events, dinner shows, room service, or pizza delivery (all of which take 2 table-service credits).

Drop me a note if you need links to menus and/or tips for getting the most from your dining plan.

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Beth, our travel agent, shares her thoughts on cruising:

"All of a sudden I'm being bombarded by requests for 'great deals on a summer cruise.' I've written many, many times about what a great vacation value cruising is. It seems that more people are finally willing to give it a chance. Bravo! The thing is, they're waiting too long to book.

Gone are the days when you can call up the cruise line a week before sailing and snag a cabin for your family at bargain basement prices. OK, maybe not completely gone, but certainly very rare. The fact is, the cruise lines can't build ships fast enough to keep up with demand. That's especially true of the super liners. They're huge, but the demand far exceeds capacity.

Think about it... There are currently only three of those ships that feature surfing onboard. Of their 1,817 cabins, about 20 of them sleep 6 or more. Those tend to book more than a year in advance, right when the sailings are first released. Well over half of the cabins hold only two passengers. Given that these are the coolest ships at sea, how long do you suppose those triple and quad cabins for June and July itineraries last? Not long!

My point is that while the ships are really big and have lots of cabins, there aren't as many as you'd think that can accommodate a family. Those that can sell early, especially over times when schools tend to be on break. The tropical itineraries sell earlier than the Alaskan, European or other options as well. So while there are some amazing short-notice cruise deals to be had this summer, they tend to be on non-Caribbean itineraries, for cruises of 7 nights or longer, and on cabins that only sleep two people.

NOW is the time to be booking your family cruise for next summer as well as for Thanksgiving and Christmas '09. For Disney cruises, which book up even earlier, I have a waiting list for 2010 sailings. Yes, seriously! You'll get the best pricing, the best choice of cabins, the best shot at free upgrades, and more if you book early. Your deposit will be refundable, so you really have nothing to risk. If you can't do it now, then watch for the World's Largest Cruise Night in October. It only lasts one day, though, so you have to know exactly what you want and have that deposit ready because we'll have to put it in at the time of booking to secure the promotional offers for that day.

If you've got flexibility and there are just two of you, then by all means check with me about 90 days before you want to travel and I'll set you up with a bargain. If there are three or more of you, though, and you want just one cabin don't wait or you may miss out entirely."

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Beth, our travel agent, writes about the travel agent business:

"About once a month someone tells me they've been thinking about becoming a travel agent. My response is always the same: Why?

Don't get me wrong. I love my job, and the fact that I specialize in cruising, Disney, and luxury properties - products that rarely produce unhappy customers - makes it even better. I've been in the industry for 23 years now (with just brief breaks from time to time), and I wouldn't still be doing it if I didn't find it both enjoyable AND profitable enough to put food on the table. As a divorced mom, I also find that being self-employed allows me the flexibility I need to get everything done. I'm a lucky woman!

Being a travel agent does not, however, provide one with the glamorous and exciting life that many people seem to envision. At least 75% of the people that tell me they are considering being a travel agent do so after hearing about YTB. They are enticed by the prospect of not only earning money by selling friends and family travel, but also getting very low priced - or even free - travel opportunities for themselves. They all seem to have visions of putting in a few hours a week and, in return, earning some extra pocket money AND taking their family on a super-cheap cruise vacation next summer. What's not to love??!!

But lets look at YTB a little more closely. According to their website, 99.65% of their representatives earned an average of less than $1900 per year. 80.92% earned nothing at all. The average annual income of all reps was $299.95, and the median income was $97. Now, you need to earn at least $5000 a year and work a verifiable 20 hours a week to get an IATAN card, considered the industry's leading type of identification identification and the ONLY way to qualify for many of the low-cost agent trips (called 'fam' trips, short for 'familiarization'). Under half a percent of all YTB reps earned that card - and every single one of them worked an average of 40 hours a week or more. Hmmmm.... Not exactly the picture that your neighbor was painting for you when trying to sign you up, huh?

I'm only using YTB because it's the organization I hear the most about from clients, but there are several of them out there and the story is always the same. Folks, it's a great job to have, but it's a job like any other. To be successful it takes years to build the business, and a LOT of hard work. I usually put in seven days a week and average about 60-70 hours. It's commissioned sales and you don't get paid until the clients travel and the agency receives the check (and takes their cut off the top) so I never know from one month to the next how much I'm going to make until I submit a commission request. About 25% of every check is immediately set aside for the IRS. (You get to be VERY good at money management!)

And as for all those great travel opportunities, the last discount on airfare I got was in 1992. I do get plenty of hotel discounts, but the rate is typically half off the full rack rate. Sometimes the AAA or promotional rate is better. I had a shot at a free week for two in Tuscany last summer with Adventures by Disney... but it didn't include the airfare (over $3000), and gratuities and spending money were also additional. Just as well since I couldn't take a week off anyway. In fact, I pretty much never go anywhere that doesn't have internet access, and my laptop is the first piece of luggage I pack. Walking away from email access for a week or more is the kiss of death in this business!

Like I said, please don't misunderstand. I have dabbled in other industries and I always come back to travel. It's what I love, and I'm going to keep doing it. I'm good at it, I know my products, and I'm confident that I can help people plan great vacations. Maybe you can be good at it, too.

Being a home-based travel agent might be the answer to your prayers. You need to approach it as a real job, though. Set aside a dedicated part of your home as office space. Be prepared to put in 20+ hours a week if you're serious about it, and don't expect to make more than a few hundred dollars the first six months. Sign up for every industry publication and read them cover to cover religiously. Take every online training course you can, and then choose just a few things to specialize in. (No travel agent can be really good at selling the whole world.) Join industry organizations that give you lots of support and the chance to meet and learn from others in the business. Avoid joining groups that want you to recruit others as agents. (Read this article.) And then go for it. I, for one, think there's always room for another awesome travel agent!"

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Beth, our travel agent, explains the basics of Disney tickets:

"This may seem like very basic information to nearly everyone that reads it, and yet there still seem to be a few people around that aren't completely familiar with how Disney tickets work. I thought maybe it's time to do a simple review...

Adult tickets are needed for ages 10 and up, child tickets for ages 3-9 and NO TICKETS for children under the age of 3. They go by the age you are when you arrive.

All Disney tickets start as 'base' tickets. That is, they are good for admission to one - and only one - of the four theme parks* for each of those days. You can go to Magic Kingdom one day and Animal Kingdom the next, but not both in the same day. That's called 'park hopping' and you have to add on the 'hopper' option to be able to do that. The cost for adding hopping is $47.93 per ticket, regardless of ticket length or age of the ticket holder.

If you want to be able to enter Disney 'non-theme park' places (water parks, etc.) then you can consider adding the Water Parks Fun n' More (WPF&M) option. The cost is $53.25 per person, regardless of age or ticket length. You get one admission for each day of theme park entry in your main ticket. For instance, a 7-day ticket (base or hopper) would get you 7 days of WPF&M admissions; a 10-day park ticket would get you 10 WPF&M admissions. The admissions are good for the water parks, Pleasure Island, Disney Quest, and Wide World of Sports. You cannot hop between those places, even if you have added the park hopping option. (Hopping privileges apply only to the four theme parks.) You can come and go into the same place more than once in a day, but entering a different place will use another WPF&M admission.

All tickets expire 14 days from first use unless you pay for the No Expiration option. The price for that depends on how many days you had to START with, not how many you have left over that you want to save. It gets expensive to make longer tickets non-expiring.

Do you NEED hopping, WPF&M and/or No Expiration? Well, that depends on your situation and to get into it is a whole different topic. You can email if you have questions about your personal needs, though.

Keep in mind that tickets now have your finger scan encoded into them after first use so you cannot share your ticket with anyone else. Tickets are nonrefundable, but most can be upgraded to more high-powered tickets as long as you do so while the original ticket is still valid.

One note about ticket discounts... Yes, they exist. Florida residents, annual pass holders, and military personnel can get discounts and have (in the case of FL residents) access to some special tickets that aren't available to anyone else. If you're part of a group or convention you can also get discounted tickets. Many AAA clubs sell tickets at a small discount. Some wholesalers also sell at a discount - but be sure to use a reputable wholesaler like Affordable Disney's ticket agent.

And remember that your best shot at a promotional offer is when booking a package and they all come with tickets, so if you run out and buy discounted tickets you may have to forego a promotional package offer (or shell out to buy very expensive 1-day base tickets for everyone in order to get it). My advice is always to NOT purchase discounted tickets until you are 100% certain that there won't be a package deal out that will work for you."

* The theme parks are Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney's Hollywood Studios. The water parks, miniature and regular golf, DisneyQuest, Pleasure Island, etc. are NOT considered theme parks and require separate admission for entry.

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Beth, our travel agent, writes about buying discounted theme park tickets:

"I am frequently asked about purchasing theme park (and other) tickets at a discount. My advice is always the same: don't purchase until you're absolutely certain that a package deal isn't your better option.

Disney typically releases discounts about 8-10 weeks before the applicable period starts. In other words, if you want a January discount the applicable promotion will probably be announced in late October or early November. There are exceptions, of course, but if you're booking your January vacation in July then you probably haven't seen the best deal yet. That doesn't mean you should wait to book, but it does mean that the price is likely to drop so you'll need to watch carefully for the discounts and try to get your price changed if and when they are announced. (We save you the hassle and track reservations automatically, trying to get you those deals on the first day they are released, but we can only track reservations we make in the first place.)

These days, Disney shows a definite preference for discounting packages as opposed to room-only reservations, and ALL packages come with tickets. Also, given that you can normally only get the ever-popular dining plans with a package, even people that already have tickets will often shell out the extra cash ($64-$75 per person!) for 1-day base tickets in order to book a package with dining and/or the room discount. Annual pass discounts aren't what they used to be, so for the vast majority of people a package with room and tickets (and optional dining) is going to be the best way to go so you don't want to saddle yourself with nonrefundable park tickets until you know what the bottom line deal on a package is going to be.

Recently, though, we've seen a wave of people trying to book their vacations just weeks before they want to go. This is a bad idea for many reasons, as these folks are finding out, but sometimes it's unavoidable. If you find that the promotions have expired for your dates (or all the promotional space is gone) you could be facing the prospect of paying full rack rate on your resort room. If you can live without a dining plan it makes sense to look at non-Disney properties as well as the idea of purchasing the room and tickets separately.

Which brings us back to those discounted tickets… You cannot tell by looking at most theme park tickets how many days are left on them. Also, park tickets are not transferable; many Disney tickets even have names on them. If your finger scan doesn't match what's on the ticket you'll be asked to produce ID that matches the name on the ticket. (So no, you can't use the leftover days on your friend's ticket.) It is, therefore, critical that you purchase tickets from a reliable source. Affordable Disney's ticket agent has been around for a long time and they are great to work with. Their pricing is wonderful and I highly recommend them. (Affordable Disney members can log in and see the Walt Disney World Addendum for another tip for buying tickets at a discount from Beth.)

And when comparing prices, don't forget to compare apples to apples by ensuring tax and shipping are included in all the prices you're looking at. (That's the #1 mistake that people make when shopping around!)"

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Lisa writes about Disney dining changes:

"Hi John,

We have been lifetime members for almost 10 years and always enjoy your newsletters. For our 10th wedding anniversary the 2 of us and our 5 year old son are planning a 10 day trip to WDW in Jan 09. I made our Dinning reservations last night and wanted to update you on the following if you were not already aware. As of October 08 the Garden Grill in Epcot will no longer serve lunch (we were able to reserve for Dinner) and as of Jan 09 the Liberty Tree Tavern [in the Magic Kingdom] will no longer have character dining. Have a great Day."

Thanks, Lisa, for the update. I'm happy to hear that you are enjoying the newsletters!

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Kathy writes:

"John,

First of all, let me say just how impressed we are with your company. Second, Beth is out of this world!!! Our Disney plans are coming along. I was so overwhelmed at first, I don't know what I would have done without you guys!!"

Thank you again, Kathy, for your kind comments.

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Judy writes about her recent Walt Disney World vacation:

"Hello John,

I just wanted to take the time to thank you for your affordable website, and especially for Beth Foss' wonderful help. We returned from our family vacation at WDW last Thursday evening, and in spite of a couple of us getting sick, we had a wonderful time there.

Beth was so great about answering my questions - no matter what I asked, and always tried to get what we wanted. She really helped me feel less overwhelmed about everything and was great to work with. She is a real gem!

Thank you, too, since I had to ask you a few things awhile back, and you were very prompt about getting back with me.

I will recommend your site to all of my friends. Thank you."

Thank you, Judy, for your generous feedback. Your comments make all the work so worthwhile.

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Alain writes:

"Hi John,

I am traveling to DisneyWorld in December with my 11 year old daughter (first trip) and would like to know how many sit down restaurants I should consider making reservations at. It appears some people say reservations break up a day, while others say its nice to sit down and have a meal... What would you recommend?"

Donna and I don't eat at the full service restaurants because it forces us to build our vacation around meals. We have our car, so we can always eat off property or at our resort. Coronado Springs has the best resort food. Others love to eat at the Disney restaurants so much that they don't mind the inconvenience. You'll have to decide this one. You may just want to book a meal or two at restaurants that really appeal to you. See our Dining chapter in the book for more dining info.

"Hmm, is booking full service during the Candlelight Processional worthwhile, or should I book elsewhere if only doing one or two full service restaurants?"

If you're referring to the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package, that's one way of getting a seat. Lines are really long to see that show. We have actually waited through the performance of a whole show so we could see the next one. Not pleasant. But it is beautifully done and your daughter will really enjoy it.

"So having a seat will guarantee that we see the show and not have to wait? Is this the event about which you once wrote that a person had reserved a seat but they couldn't see because people were standing in front of their table? If I am going to reserve the combo, I want to make sure we'll both be able to see!"

The people who were blocked from seeing the fireworks were at the Rose & Crown during Epcot's Illuminations.

Here's what you need to know about the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package: Those who purchase a dinner package sit in a reserved seating area in the front of the theater in the center (behind vip's). It doesn't matter what dinner package you buy. Seating in the reserved area is first-come, first-served. So don't dawdle after your meal!

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Vickie writes:

"Hi John, just a quick question about Disney stock. My husband heard that if you own stock in Disney, you get discounts on rooms. Is there any truth to that, and if so, what are the rules? Thanks."

Disney only offers deals at Disneyland Paris to stockholders. Those who own 20 or more shares get in free, while those who hold 5-20 shares must pay a modest 30 Euro fee. (See our book for more information.)

As of 06/04/08 cost is $34 per share plus brokerage fees.

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Kim writes:

"John,

I am trying to make dining reservations that don't interfere with SpectroMagic, if possible. There is only availability at Liberty Tree at 8:50pm. Magic Kingdom is scheduled to close on this day at 11pm, so I assume that it will run twice, but I don't know. I'm not exactly sure of the parade route and I can't really place the location of Liberty Tree in Liberty Square. (We've never eaten there.) Any chance of seeing the parade from there? What about from the Crystal Palace, if that's available? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. We are traveling with friends who will be experiencing Disney for the first time. Thanks so much!"

The SpectroMagic Parade usually runs at 8 and 10 PM when the park stays open later. You'll need a window seat at the Crystal Palace to see it as it runs along Main Street; and a window seat at Liberty Tree Tavern to see it as it makes its way through Frontierland. Unfortunately, you'll only be able to see it in the distance. The best view is from the outside tables at Tony's Town Square restaurant at Town Square Exposition Hall.

Kim wrote back:

"Thanks for the quick response. I had thought about Tony's, but I was afraid that people would crowd and stand in front of the tables. Does anyone guard against that? I also have a couple other questions. I know that everything is subject to change, but do you have any idea of Fantasmic showtimes the first week of September (the park closes at 8pm most days and closes at 10pm one day and also has extra magic hours that day).

Again, I'm trying to make the best dining arrangements. So far, we have 50's Prime Time at 8:55pm on the day that the park closes at 10pm (potentially 1am with the extra magic hours) and reservations at Sci-Fi at 8:30pm on the day the park closes at 8pm ). I just want to make sure that we see Fantasmic once, even if it means changing or canceling one of the reservations. Also, we've never been to the Prime Time; is it worth it? (I mean the hassle of scheduling your day around dining reservations.) Again, thank you so much for all your input."

Here's the Disney Hollywood Studios calendar. Fantasmic runs 8:30 and 10 PM on longer nights.

Tony's outside eating area is elevated and inaccessible to those without reservations. You should be able to see the parade from the tables just fine.

We haven't personally eaten at 50's Prime Time, but many love the waitresses pretending to be mom.

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Amanda writes:

"I liked the parent swapping idea on your page for Disney parks. Are there any options or ideas for the water parks. We have a 3, 4 and 1 year old? What kind of options do we have for our 1 year old? My husband and I are not worried about the other two. They could ride some of the family rides with us. What do you recommend for that and do you even recommend water parks? We enjoy our local water park here so I know they would love that one. I am just concerned about the infant and not being able to do anything. Thanks."

My wife, Donna, and my daughter, Julie, like to visit the water parks. Donna writes:

"They do have kiddie pools at the water parks. All the raft rides, etc, will be off limits for the infant. The big pools, low end will be okay. WDW water parks are the same as others, except they are themed. The good thing about Typhoon Lagoon is that they have lots of shade for your beach blanket. I actually took a nap in the shade there when Julie and I went when I had a migraine headache. Arrive early to snag a shady spot. Florida sun DEMANDS extra strength sunscreen for the baby and kids. Take the stroller so the baby can nap there (especially in a shady spot)."

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David writes:

"Hi John,

Thanks for the news. it has been an invaluable help in preparing for our last trip.

Speaking of which, having just returned from a terrific holiday, a tip for other readers.

Beware maitre d' with forked tongue:

Having so enjoyed the fireworks at Epcot before and this being a special celebration trip (double silver wedding anniversaries) we decided to save this show until the last evening and if possible book a dinner table.

Understandably in a busy week only an early reservation was available at the Rose & Crown; but as guests we were promised would be able to stay and enjoy the show from a special area. Hmmm, after repeated requests we were allowed onto the lower deck - because it was closed for service due to the rain.

Making the best of it, we dried off the seats and all seven of us huddled under the umbrella. Five minutes later to be told the umbrella had to be folded because it was obstructing the view from the upper deck. So there we sat, too late to find anywhere else, wet and to be honest a little disappointed at such lack of sympathy - especially for 'guests' who just paid over $200 for dinner!

Keep up the good work."

Happy Anniversary! You received very poor treatment after having spent so much. If I were you, I'd contact Disney about this and see how they respond. Here's the form:

http://disney.go.com/Mail/DisneyWorld/index.html

Let me know what they say. Thanks for writing and for your encouragement.

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Carole writes:

"Hi, John,

Just returned from Disneyland Paris (will write more when jet lag is over!) but quickly wanted to update you that Tower of Terror was open when we were there, March 14-17. Actually, we were stunned how long the fastpass lines were, people were queuing up long before their fastpasses came time, and were pretty hostile about moving to make way if yours came up before theirs--now I know why!

Like I said, I'll write a bit of a review when I can. We had a fabulous time....it was quite a unique experience."

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Gary writes:

"Good day from Ottawa Canada. Our last trip to Disneyworld in Dec was a last minute couldn't refuse the deal thing with another family. Had a great time as usual but an odd thing happened at the end. One of the people who normally try to sell you tickets had bought back our remaining 2 days of magic your way base for our family of four. I was under the impression that the tickets were non transferable and did not quite understand why she wanted them but since we were boarding in 5 hours and the $80 cash was in my hand I said thanks and left. I am assuming that they being dealers had some kind of arrangement with Disney but I don't really know but am a bit curious."

I can only assume the Dealer is going to resell your tickets. Selling partly used tickets in Florida is illegal.

Pity the poor buyer of a used ticket...

Disney scans your finger to make sure your ticket matches your fingerprint each time you use your ticket. If the scan doesn't match, Disney will confiscate your ticket.

There is no way you can tell how many unused days remain on a ticket. Only Disney can verify that. If your ticket has no days left, you will have to get out of line and buy new tickets.

So only buy new tickets from reputable dealers like the ones we recommend in our book.

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A college professor writes:

"John,

A student here at our university left me with an ad for a job at the Epcot Center under the heading of Internship in Science. I have a surface mail address on the form, but am unable to render a letter of reference by e-mail. The due date is this Friday. Can you aid us in getting a letter to Epcot via e-mail? Please advise."

Here is the email address which I found under a science job posting: wdw.epcot.science.internship@disney.com.
The job was posted at http://www.fljobnetwork.com/jobs.asp?pagemode=15&jid=1190753

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Kim writes:

"John,

My husband and I just returned a few days ago from our 6th trip to Disney. This time, however, was the first time without children. Because we were there without children, we decided to take advantage of one of the tours. We did The Keys to the Kingdom tour. It was absolutely amazing.

Anyway, I thought I might give a response about 'how to get picked' by a cast member. For simple things, a cast member asking for volunteers, wearing matching shirts and being enthusiastic really helps.

As far as being picked for one of the 'dreams' (Cinderella Suite), that's really just luck, at least how it was explained to us. They use a program called a randomizer to determine winners. The dream patrol will get very specific directions to follow, for example, go to Downtown Disney and pick the person sitting on the right side of the bench in front of Once upon a Toy or go to the Nemo show in Animal Kingdom and pick the person in the 8th row, third from the left. Thought that was pretty interesting.

Anyway, thanks for the great info. We are already planning our next trip later this month (with the kids)."

Thanks, Kim. Looks like those who are chosen to stay overnight at the Castle are REALLY lucky to be at the right place at the right time!

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In issue #407 I posted an article about Disney's new Magic Connection electronic device that allows you to determine actual wait times for attractions, availability of FastPasses, etc.. The device will be able in 2009 if testing goes well, but you'll have to give Disney a refundable credit card deposit of $300 to do so.

Stephanie writes:

"This sounds interesting! I'd like to know a little more about how it works! $300 is pretty steep, even if it is refundable! I don't use credit cards, just an ATM card, and putting a $300 charge on there could cause problems. My credit union will usually put a freeze on the account if an unusually high charge comes up. That could lead to a disastrous vacation."

Thanks for writing, Stephanie. We're still waiting for Disney to release more details.

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A member writes:

"John,

I am a life member of Affordable Disney. I would like my daughter, husband and new granddaughter to be Grand Marshals in one of the WDW parades. Or better yet sleep in Cinderella’s Castle. We have reservations in September 2008. It is a surprise. Do you have any contacts or people I can get in touch with. I would appreciate any suggestions?"

Looks like it depends on the whim of castmembers who are looking for visitors who fit a certain profile. The best tip we can give you is to wear Disney shirts and mouseears and show a lot of enthusiasm when you enter and make your way through the park.

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A subscriber writes:

"My husband and I are coming to Disney over thanksgiving for 10 days. We will be doing a lot of the Christmas things while we are there. My question is would we be able to wear our Santa & Mrs. Santa outfits, while we visit the Osborne Light Show, or something like that?

The reason why I ask is because I thought I had read somewhere that a man had been wearing a Santa hat and he had a white beard, he was approached by Disney people and asked to take the hat off and not represent himself as Santa. We like to have our photo taken in as many places as we can for our scrapbook, but we don't want to go against any rules either. thank you."

We understand that Disney does NOT allow Santa outfits in the parks. I assume the same rule applies to Downtown Disney and the resort hotels as well. Disney is probably afraid of some predator using the outfit to attract children. It also confuses the children who may see 15 different santas in one day! And - perhaps the real reason - Disney wants to have absolute control over anyone wearing a costume on their property.

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A member writes:

"We purchased your online book some time ago and now we are going to put it to good use. My family is planning on going to Disney in August. We are staying on the Disney resort. I know that the rates are cheaper during this time and just wanted to inquire about the parks and how crowded they are around this time. We are thinking of leaving around the first of the month and coming back on the 8th. Do you know if this is good time to go? Five years ago we visited Disney in May and it was ideal, but unfortunately that is not going to work for us this time. Mainly I am curious about the heat and the crowds. Any advice you could give us would be greatly appreciated. Thank you."

This year Disney's value season starts August 3. So adjust your arrival date accordingly if you can.

Crowds are pretty thick in August until the kids return to school. Days in the 90's are common. It can feel like an oven some days. We used to go in July, but the heat can at times be too much. If you can hit the parks early and return to your room by noon and then return to the parks in the evening, you will be OK. Happy planning!

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Rich writes about Disney's plans to build a Russia pavilion at Epcot:

"Russia’s continued stone walling and back door support for terrorist nations and disregard for anything but a black market buck does not make this a good fit while we have troops in areas the Russian government has helped prop up."

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Fran writes:

"Hi John,

I love your newsletter. I've used so many of your tips to help keep the cost down on the 2-3 trips I take to DisneyWorld each year. Thanks for all the great information... by the way....Beth is GREAT."

Thanks again, Fran, for your encouragement. The newsletter is a labor of love.

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Alain writes:

"Hi John,

In your ebook I read that check-in times at most Disney resorts are 3pm....I will be flying in from Canada and was wondering if it would be better for me to plan my arrival for late evening and to start my Disney vacation the next morning, or to arrive early morning at my Resort and head off to the theme parks right away (in which case, what would I do with my luggage since I am not yet checked in, and probably wouldn't until late evening????) What do you recommend? thanks."

Those checking in first get first dibs on rooms. Disney accommmodates special requests on a first come first served basis. In other words, they give out the rooms closest to the food court or the connecting rooms or the rooms on the first floor while supplies last. If you don't have any of these concerns, then don't worry about it. You can store your luggage at Guest Services for free and visit the parks if your room is not ready. Don't leave valuables or medications. Get there early and start having fun as soon as possible!

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Laurie writes:

"I just had to tell you about a small, but amazing, incident that happened during our December trip to Walt Disney World. My husband and I were just approaching the 'Walt Disney World' sign around 10 p.m. (coming in from AL) when suddenly a bright shooting star flew across the sky above the sign. I thought it was maybe my imagination but my husband immediately turned to me and asked if I had seen it. It was just the perfect beginning to our dream vacation.

My brother (a weekly WDW visitor from Tampa) said upon my telling him the story, 'See, there's no limit to Disney magic.'

Thanks for the insightful and informative newsletter."

Thank you, Laurie, for the pat on the back! Seeing a shooting star is very rare. That truly was a magical start to a Disney dream vacation!

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Carolyn writes:

"Here is a story that I wanted to share with you. My 17 year-old daughter is a senior in high school and had requested to spend her 'spring break' vacation at Walt Disney World during the holidays. We were there from December 16 - 21.

Prior to leaving home her 10-year-old dog began acting ill. This wasn't too much of a surprise since every time her dog, Bailey, saw a suitcase she would become sad and not eat for a couple days. On December 17 my daughter and I were standing in front of the Christmas tree at EPCOT waiting for the tree lighting. My husband called and said that he had taken Bailey to the vet and she was very sick. They had to put her to sleep.

Of course, this was emotionally overwhelming. We stepped back away from the crowd while my daughter cried. At that time a Disney Cast Member came and asked what was wrong and if there was anything she could do to help. Once I explained what happened she shared a story of her dog and said she understood. A few moments later the same Disney Cast Member returned with a stuffed Pluto dressed for the holidays and gave it to my daughter. I was preoccupied at the time and did not get the cast members name which I regret. I would love to let her know what a difference she made in helping to heal my daughters heart. My daughter's only comment was, 'this is why I love Disney World.'"

Thank you, Carolyn, for sharing your story with us. Many of us know how hard it is to lose a pet. Disney can be proud of the way the castmember went out of her way to make your daughter feel better.

To email WDW's Guest Services, write: wdw.guest.communications@disney.com

You can also use their online form.

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Don writes about his Christmas vacation at WDW:

"Good morning, Beth,

I just wanted to let you know that we had an absolutely delightful time with our Disney vacation! Thank you very much for all of your help in making the arrangements. Everything went as smooth as silk! Only change I would make next time would be the time of year that we visit. December 25 and 26 were difficult days in the parks for someone like me with a little discomfort in large crowds.

We recommend you and the Affordable Disney service often.

Once again, many thanks!"

Thanks again, Don, for your generous comments!

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Stacie, a lifetime member since 2005, writes:

"John,

I just wanted to thank you for all of your helpful tips on your Affordable Disney website. As you state throughout your website Beth [your travel agent] is wonderfully helpful. She has us booked for 8 days over Thanksgiving. Below are the savings we got by utilizing Beth. Originally we had booked our vacation and in the meantime Beth was watching the promotions for us. When one became available she jumped on it for us. We changed our reservation from All Star Movies to All Star Sports, but saved over $452 per room by doing so. This is the first time our families are going as a grand gathering. We are really looking forward to the wonderful memories we'll share as an extended family. Thanks to all of you."

Parties

Disney's Website Estimate

Original Booked Price

Beth's Deal

Savings from Beth's Deal

Savings from Beth vs Disney's site

2 adults
1 (11)

$1,831.49

$1,690.85

$1,238.69

$452.16

$592.80

2 adults
1 (13)
1 (9) +
dining

$3,133.24

$2,945.72

$2,493.56

$452.16

$639.68

2 adults
2 (17)+
dining

$3,391.32

$3,203.80

$2,751.64

$452.16

$639.68

* * * *

$1,356.48

$1,872.16

Thanks so much, Stacie, for your wonderful comments! As a lifetime member you're sure to get more great deals in the future!

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Marsha writes:

"Hey John

Just got back but while there we found a cocoa called Mickey's Cocoa in the Belgian White Chocolate. It was $10.95 there. Now we would like to get some more and all we can find is for $19.95 + shipping. Is there a place we can get this at close to what we payed for it there? Thanks."

I found it for $14 + shipping at mouseshoppe.com.

For Theme Park merchandise, call 407/363-6200 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM EDT.

You can email them at: wdw.mail.order@disneyworld.com

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Renea, an Affordable Disney Lifetime Member since 2001, writes:

"Hello John:

I have a dilemma maybe you can advise me on. I had a reservation at the Grand Floridian [in December] with my pass holder rate. I needed to switch weeks and lost the G.F. with the discount.

Disney was able to get the Poly with the discount for the week. I really want the G.F. though. I have been calling at least 3 times a day to see if can get the G.F. with my discount; even if it was at the beginning of our stay.

Some of the reservation people tell me the discount may go back in the system while others tell me it probably won’t go back in as a discount if someone cancels.

Do you know what the truth is? What do you think my chances are of obtaining the discount as my check in gets closer?

Thanks for your help."

My advice... Keep trying up until the last minute. Disney has been known to hold back rooms.

Renea wrote back with good news:

"I called Disney last week and their system was being upgraded so they asked me to call back in two hours. I called back within the hour and their system was up. I asked if the G.F. was available during my stay in December with my pass holder rate and to my surprise they said YES! They had the discount for the entire 9 days! I am so happy, I am spending $364.00 more, but I love the G.F. Just wanted to let you know."

I've seen it happen many times. Just keep calling and often something opens up. Have a great time, Renea!

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Alain writes:

"Hi John,

I will be purchasing my Disney admission tickets this week. I was reading the latest edition of Affordable Disney book and it says that a Hopper pass with no expiry can be used for entry at the Disney parks in California too (but not the other way around). However, [your ticket agent] cannot guarantee this to be factual. Would you be able to get me an 'official' answer because if its possible to use them at both parks, then I would most likely get the 10-day ones. Thanks"

I wrote Disneyland about this. Below is Disney's response.

"10/02/2007

Dear John,

Thank you for your e-mail to the DISNEYLAND® Resort.

WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort single and multi-day tickets with remaining uses should be accepted at the DISNEYLAND® Resort. Please note that complimentary tickets or Annual Passes to the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort are not valid for admission. Regrettably, we are unable to guarantee the validity of tickets in advance by e-mail or telephone, as our Cast Members must physically see the tickets in question. Please present the tickets to a Cast Member at any Main Entrance turnstile for verification.

Again, thank you for taking the time to write. We hope you will have the opportunity to visit the DISNEYLAND® Resort soon and trust your visit will be pleasant in all regards.

Sincerely,

Linda Trump
DISNEYLAND® Resort
Guest Communications"


Alain continues:

"I am trying to decide if the price of the Water Park & Fun option is worth it...I am guessing I would spend 1 day doing [Typhoon and Blizzard] combined....and another day doing DisneyQuest, DowntownDisney, and a tour of the resorts. I will probably skip Pleasure Island as I will be with my pre-teen daughter. Are you able to tell me what the separate adult admissions are for these 'minor' parks?"

Admission to each water park, tax excluded:

1-Day = $35 (adults); $29 (children 3-9)
DisneyQuest: Adults: $38.34; $31.95 (3-9).

"Also, one thing I don't get about the WaterPark & Fun is how it works for the days. Apparently if I get a 10-day hopper with that, I get 10 [Plus Visits] for admissions to the [water parks, DisneyQuest, Pleasure Island and Wide World of Sports]. For example, lets say my itinerary is as follows:

Day 1 - Magic Kingdom
Day 2 - Epcot
Day 3 - Typhoon + Blizzard
Day 4 - MGM
Day 5 - Animal Kingdom
|Day 6 - DisneyQuest, Downtown Disney, Tour of the Resorts

What would be left on my pass, and does this itinerary make sense?"

You would use 2 days of Plus Visits on day 3 and 1 on day 6, leaving you 7 days to use later. Sure, that works.

"Because there are more major parks than minor [like Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon], I would finish using up my major park admissions faster than my [Plus Visit] days (at a ratio of 2:1). So at some point I would have used up my 10 days [at the theme parks], I would still have 5 days of [Plus Visits] remaining (but no major parks left so I would have to buy those again?). How do they keep track?"

You can make a note for yourself each time you use your tickets, but Disney can scan your tickets at any time to let you know what tickets you have left. Yes, you would have to buy more tickets to enter the major theme parks.

"So indeed, its quite a deal if someone will be going to the minor parks!"

You would pay $50 + tax to add 10 Plus Visits to the cost of your 10-day park hopper, which comes out to $5 per day to visit the water parks, DisneyQuest, Pleasure Island or Wide World of Sports for 10 days. You can also use as many Plus Visits as you wish on any day. If you can use them at least twice or you can use them on a return trip to Disney World, that is a good investment.

"How does it all tie in with staying at a resort. To use this for admission to any of the major or minor parks, the person has to show proof that they are staying at a Disney resort for at least one night? (ie., someone renting a Condo in the area wouldn't be able to use their ticket for admission?)"

Visitors to Disney's parks may stay anywhere they like, on- or off-property. However, Disney has a rule that non-Disney resort guests must have Magic Your Way tickets with the Park Hopper or Water Parks & More options to use their bus transportation, although I can't imagine a bus driver asking you for proof, at least during the busy seasons!

Alain wrote back: "Hi John, I just purchased my Disney tickets from [your ticket agent] but I was wondering if you would recommend I also buy at this time my Universal passes? I have decided to delay my vacation with my daughter to late 2009 in order to see the new Harry Potter section. Would I gain anything from buying Universal passes so much ahead of time, the way that I do with Disney?"

Universal raises their ticket prices every year to match Disney's prices. So the same savings apply.

Red Line

TJ writes about spending 8 days at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge:

"Hi Beth,

We arrived back home last weekend and wanted to thank you for part you played in making it such a wonderful vacation. The entire 3-week trip was wonderful, but the 8 days we spent at the Animal Kingdom Lodge was the highlight especially for me.

Arriving at the AKL, our tickets from Omar were waiting at the front desk and the room was exactly what we had requested. Savanna view with bunkbeds. The kids were thrilled! We were overlooking the Uzima Savanna in a Zebra Trail room, which was separate from the large savanna at the rear of the hotel, called the Aresha Rock Savanna. Each has its own set of different animals, although both savannas have three giraffes. The Sunset Savanna, which is closest to the construction has been closed and the animals have been temporarily removed. We were on the opposite side and did not hear any construction noise at all. We could view the one savanna from our room and then walk across the hall to an observation deck and get a view of a different savanna with different animals, so we had the best of both worlds.

FYI, the room wasn't quite perfect for our needs. All across the country we stayed in inexpensive hotel chains, but there was always a fridge and microwave and free WI-Fi internet. Not at AKL, though. There was a fridge, but no microwave, which would have been handy for re-heating the restaurant leftovers, and the high-speed internet costs an extra $10 per day! If we were planning another long stay there, I would bring in a small microwave. Other than that, it started to feel like home. The staff was wonderful, from housekeeping to lobby to the interns from Africa. We met some very interesting people and learned a little about their countries and lives back home.

Anyway, thank you so much for the effort you put in on our behalf. This was a trip which we will long remember."


Beth writes:

"TJ, thanks so much for letting me know what a great time you had. I'm really happy to hear that you enjoyed it all so much. I agree that a small microwave would be a nice touch, but I think you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned that it's an amenity common in inexpensive hotels. Those places seem to recognize that travelers on a budget also have a dining budget and might choose a hotel based on little perks like a frig and microwave.

Disney also is catching onto that concept, and within the last few years has made a small refrigerator standard in all moderate and deluxe resort rooms as well as the DVC villas and the family suites at All Star Music (where you'll also find a microwave!).

Sadly, though, they caught on rather late to the idea that many travelers these days, even those on vacation, require internet access. Wi-Fi is still scarce on Disney properties, and even high-speed internet was VERY slow to spread down to the lower-priced resorts. All of the Disney resorts do, however, now have high-speed access - but as you mentioned, it's for a price. That's very common in luxury hotels, though. (Watch out if you take a cruise... Most ships these days do offer access, but the rates can set you back hundreds of dollars on a week-long cruise and the access is both intermittent at best and slower than molasses!)

Anyway, it was wonderful to work with you. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have future travel needs - to Disney or beyond! Thanks for your business!"

Red Line

Renea, an Affordable Disney Lifetime Member since 2001, writes:

"We are going down December 9-16, 2007. I used the codes you have on the addendum and received a pass holder rate of $275 at the Yacht Club and received the $75 dining card! Thanks so much for the tips; I love your book!"

Thanks again, Renea, for your kind comments. We are happy to have been a part of your Disney vacations for the past six years!

Red Line

Julie writes:

"do you have any advice for people visiting Disney with Epilepsy, my sister will be coming with us next year and I am bit worried which rides to avoid etc. Thank you"

For a guide which describes access for the disabled to specific theme park rides and attractions, pick up a copy of the Walt Disney World Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities at all wheelchair rental locations. You can also order the book by mail by writing to:

Walt Disney World Guest Communications
Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Jennette writes:

"Hi John and Julie!

The first I would do is let the paramedic station closest to you know of your condition. We always stay at Boardwalk and Beach Club because the Fire Station is right down the street. We fill out a medical report form that the paramedics at the fire station give to us. On it we list medical conditions, current medications and amounts, and anything else we feel is important. We then put our hotel name, room number and our check out date on the top right hand corner.

The paramedics look at these reports every time they change shifts, so if they ever get a call about either of our children, they put it in the handheld computers, and the paramedic that is on the way can look over their chart. We had to call the paramedics twice while we were in WDW this past June, and they were great.

Make sure you know how to get to Celebration Hospital from your hotel. My husband had to take my son in the car to meet us at the hospital because we were in the ambulance, and he got lost because he got directions at the last minute, and he wasn't listening because he was so concerned.

Bring medical papers, and meds with you at all times. We were sometimes out late at night, and we would miss their scheduled med time. We made an extra bottle of meds for both of our kids, and we carry them at all times. It's just an evening dose of meds, but then you don't have to leave to go back to the hotel, because you forgot them.

The first day that you get to a park, go to guest relations and let them know that you need a special guest assistance pass (you may have to prove this, that's where the last blood tests, EEG's reports and meds come in handy), and they will give you a pass to help you while you are in the parks for your entire stay. We were able to go in the fastpass lines, and then my epileptic daughter and I could wait for my husband and son to go on the rides.

Try to think about each individual ride. Rides for younger kids are usually fine. More intense rides usually have some sort of strobe lighting. Ask your neurologist if strobe lighting will cause seizures. My daughter has 2 kinds of Epilepsy, so these can sometimes bother her. The Dinosaur ride, Star Tours, and Tower of Terror are 3 that I know have strobe lights, but we still go on them, because we know when it's going to happen and we both cover her eyes.

If something should happen during a ride most of them have cameras to watch you. In SpaceShip earth, I was told by a cast member to jump out of the ride if she seized, and that the alarms would go off and the ride would stop. They would then come to me, and they can walkie talkie to the paramedics. Let a cast member know at every ride about the condition. They will tell you what to do in every situation.

Make sure that you get plenty of rest, and always bring extra food, Gatorade and stuff to keep her cool. Know her triggers. Try to anticipate that she will seize, and how you are going to react, and then she probably won't. My daughter has hundreds of seizures a day, is on lots of meds, and my son is a severe asthmatic. They both have had brain surgery, and we were in WDW within 6 weeks of surgery. Just be prepared for any and all situations.

Let your hotel front desk know that you may have to call 911. We always stay on WDW property, and we have NEVER had a problem with getting paramedics quickly. All 4 parks have paramedics at the park, so if you need one, call one. They don't charge you, and they will do a quick neuro exam to determine if you need to go to the hospital. Also, any WDW hotel can get a DR. to your room within about 4 hours for a $200.00 charge. You need to pay for this up front, and can charge it, but not room charge it, and they carry some prescriptions on them--this can really save a vacation if you're not feeling well, and don't want to go to the hospital. They will even fill out the paperwork to help you submit it to your insurance.

I hope that some of this info helps. I can think of some other stuff to help, but it may be too much for you. If you need it, please e-mail me and I will be more than happy to help you with any medical questions you may have for the WDW trip. Have fun, and don't panic. You are not alone!"

Thank you so much, Jennette, for all of your helpful information! I have received other requests over the years specifically about Epilepsy and never could find any useful information. God bless you and your family for all the care you provide for your children.

Red Line

Alain writes:

"What if I purchased a [child] ticket [for] my daughter, but the trip was postponed and on the FIRST visit she is too old for the child pass? What will they do? Thanks."

We have 2 scenarios:

A partially used ticket purchased for a child who is now a teen - Disney will upgrade the remaining days on the ticket to adult status at no extra charge. Be sure to bring your child to Guest Relations when you upgrade.

A new unused ticket purchased for a child who is now a teen - Disney will subtract what you paid for the older ticket from the price of a new adult ticket and charge you the difference.

Red Line

Cindy, a member since 2001, writes:

Hi John,

"We are going to Disney the week before Christmas! I called this morning, and was able to make a reservation for Cinderella's Table on 12-15-07; they had about 6 different times open! I asked twice to make sure that the characters were really going to be there, since we have never been able to get in on this before!

Thanks for all you do!"

Those dates fill up fast! If you plan to visit Disney over the holidays, call ASAP to reserve Cinderella's Table before they're booked out!

I'm glad you are enjoying your membership, Cindy!

Red Line

Beth, a member, writes:

"I was wondering if you do complete itinerary's for clients. Would you set up a daily schedule and eating reservations or is that up to the individuals? Do you think 7 days is enough or is 10 better. Thanks for your help."

You will need to make your own dining reservations. Use our customized tours of the theme parks to help you set up an itinerary around meals.

Longer stays allow for more days away from the parks. Remember, it's a vacation. Take time to visit the pools, shop, etc. We try to build a day off every third day into our schedule so we can recharge our batteries! Here's a sample schedule:

-- (7 days) Monday and Tuesday in the parks, Wednesday off, Thursday and Friday in the parks, Saturday off, and Sunday back in the parks for the last time.

-- (10 days) Monday and Tuesday in the parks, Wednesday off, Thursday and Friday in the parks, Saturday off, Sunday and Monday in the parks, Tuesday off, and Wednesday back in the parks for the last time.

Red Line

Doris writes:

"Hi John,

I'm planning to purchase a 10 day ticket with no expiration option. My kids are 3 yrs old and 7 yrs old. If I buy the ticket this time, does it lock in my children's age as well? We're going to WDW this June and probably use 2-3 days out of our 10 day ticket. Thanks.

P.S.

I'm a new subscriber and i find your website very informative and helpful. Again, thanks."

If your child has gotten old enough to need an adult ticket upon returning to WDW, but still has leftover days on the "child" pass you purchased for her during your last visit, she will need an "adult" ticket to enter the theme parks. Present your child's pass at any Guest Relations location, in person only, and Disney will exchange it for the required "adult" ticket at no additional charge.

Glad you are enjoying your membership!

Red Line

Stephanie writes:

"Would you happen to have a mailing or email address for Mr. Jay Rasulo, Chairman Disney Parks and Resorts office? We have recently returned from our second trip to Disney and had a rather stressful vacation that I would like to bring to his attention (I would like to go to the top to ensure that it is not just shoved to the side and ignored).

Long story short, we had booked at All Star Sports and when we arrived we were told that they had overbooked us and asked if we would we like to stay at the Polynesian instead. Of course we were happy and thought it would be wonderful, but it led to all sorts of problems for us with Magical Express Reservations, dining, room location etc.

I would like to make Disney aware of our experience so that they can make improvements for the next family that gets an 'upgrade.' Any information you could provide would be helpful."

For Disney contact information, click here.

Disney's principal executive offices are located at the following address:

The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, California 91521

Their telephone number is 818/560-1000.

Red Line

Cindi writes:

"Hi John

I have been subscribing to the Newsletter since the very beginning. I only got the subscription to be able to live all things Disney vicariously. I live in Idaho & although I've wanted to go to Disney World for a long time, I've never really thought I'd be able to with airfare so high. Guess What?? I may just be able to go in September & I'm so excited I can just barely stand myself! I've found a couple of good deals on my own, but I've also contacted Beth to see what kind of magic she can work also...one can never be toooo prepared??

I have a couple of questions for you! First of all, a couple of the deals I've found do not include dining packages, and 1 does. If we opt for not getting the dining plan (I believe you have to book thru Disney to get it), what should I budget for as far as food goes? I was thinking $50 per person per day, but have been told that would be in a fairy tale! There will be 10 of us....6 adults & 4 children ages 5, 9 & two 12 yr old twin girls. It's always been my dream to be able to take my grandchildren to Disney World...boy am I excited. Another question...is it generally cheaper to fly on a Sunday or Monday? Thus far I have scheduled for Mon-Sat (Sept 17 - 22 2007) I have to turn in my vacation request pretty soon, so I can only be flexible till then!

Gosh, I'm soo excited. I know I have more questions, but I'll be going thru the info online with a fine tooth comb....so I'll probably be able to find most of my other questions there. Thank you so much for letting me live vicariously thru you and all the other members who have written in. Perhaps I'll be able to send my own travelogue in!!"

Beth can book your Disney vacation with or without dining. I see on your reservation form that you are going in September so you get free dining. Without free dining, we spend about $25 per adult. Our children are now adults, but figure $10 per child under 10. How do we spend so little? On most days we bring our own snacks (that we purchased at home) and bottles of water in our backpacks into the parks. For lunch we buy a soda and have our snacks; we eat breakfast and dinner at the food courts. This strategy allows us to dine now and then in a full service restaurant and not break the bank. It all depends on where you eat and what you buy. (See our "Affordable Dining" chapter in the book for recommendations.)

Flying Mon-Thurs may be cheaper since weekends are busier.

I can feel your excitement! We would love to publish your trip report. Thanks for being with us since the beginning. We're rapidly approaching our 400th newsletter. That's a lot of news, deals and stories over the years!

Have a safe and fun vacation!

Red Line

Sue writes:

"We’ve just returned from Orlando and visited most of the Disney attractions there. I bought my granddaughter some Mickey Crocs and they had some little charms that you could purchase and stick on the top of the shoes. We bought four or five and she lost them on our long flight home. She is crushed and wants to have me buy some new ones now that we’ve returned from Orlando. Can you please tell me where I can find these to purchase on the web site because I simply cannot even find that you have Mickey crocs available on line. Help, this is a major issue in our house!!"

For Disney Theme Park merchandise, call 407/363-6200 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM EDT.

Red Line

Coleen writes:

"John:

Here's a quick overview of what happened to me after my recent DisneyWorld visit. I'm not sure how it can help prevent this from happening to other guests. Pop Century has a security person investigating this.

Stayed at Pop Century 3/21-3/24. We used the in room laptop computer connection, costing $9.95 per day. I checked email on that connection and also logged into my ebay account to check an item I was bidding on.

I used my Chase Bank Disney Visa to pay for the room, and also on 2 purchases at the World of Disney store at Downtown Disney.

On Monday 3/26, I got an email from ebay stating I had changed my ebay password and email address, and that the changes were made from IP address 83.229.122.28. I made NO changes to my ebay account, therefore someone had stolen my password and login info and changed it. That IP address is in Nigeria. They changed my address for my ebay account to an address in the UK. Fortunately, I entered "live help" with ebay, corresponded with an ebay account representative, gave him enough information that only I knew, and he changed everything on my account to my own preferences.

While I was on the computer with ebay, C