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Hi Everyone! Lean back, prop up your feet, and take a Disney break!
Deals and Updates as of March 29, 2004 We continuously update our information and you can find the latest additions in our Addenda. Current specials include:
Walt Disney World:
New rides coming to Southern California:
Branson, Missouri:
Other Vacation Specials: Residents of these states can take a 10-Day Roundtrip Caribbean cruise starting at $799!
News From Around The "World" Is Disney's maintenance slipping? "...the Sentinel asked two local experts and one longtime fan to visit the Magic Kingdom with reporters to see if this 33-year-old Mouse House is beginning to look like an episode of This Old House... All three spotted signs of aging and less-than-perfect maintenance in the 70-acre kingdom. Disney executives would beg to differ." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/27/04) For the rest of the story, click here. "Walt Disney World announced its biggest ticket-price increase in at least 15 years on Friday, another signal that the region's flagging tourism-based economy is on the mend."
The new prices kicked in Sunday, March 28. Prices do not include 6% tax:
(Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/27/04) For the rest of the story, click here. "Hoping to boost its premium image, Celebrity Cruises has signed an exclusive deal with Cirque du Soleil that will bring elements of the group's New Age entertainment to some of Celebrity's 10 ships. The deal announced on Wednesday also makes Celebrity a sponsor of Cirque's traveling shows in North America and Europe." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/24/04) For the rest of the story, click here. KaTonga at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay: "Billed as a 35-minute 'journey to the heart of Africa,' the Busch Gardens show will feature live performers, puppets and African-inspired music and dance. It is scheduled to open April 8." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/22/04) To read Busch Gardens' Press Release, click here. NOTE: Links to newspaper articles change quickly and without notice. If you receive a "File Not Found" error message, search the newspaper's archives for the story.
4-Day Park Hopper Pass Special Purchase Get them for $9.00 less than Disney charges at their site! It comes with all the bells and whistles of a normal 4-Day Park Hopper, but it expires 14 days from its first use. However, for people who plan on going just 4 days, it's a great deal. This pass is only available for advance order purchasing. 4-Day Park Hopper Plus Pass Our ticket agent writes: "I have acquired the new Disney 4-Day Park Hopper Plus Pass. It is not sold at the gate or AAA. You get 1 "plus" day for the Water Parks or Pleasure Island. It has no expiration date." You must purchase this pass in advance. So order early! "I thought I knew all the tips for saving money at WDW, even being a member of the Magic Kingdom Club for over 15 years, but just learning about [your ticket agent] saved our family over $300!!! Thanks." Janet Handy, Bel Air, MD Details on how to purchase these special passes will be provided with your Disney access codes as soon as you join our Disney family.
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Karen writes: "I was the writer of the note sent to you last year regarding the driving skills of the wdw bus drivers. If you remember, we were very unhappy with the speed and general driving skills during our week's stay. Many guests were complaining around us, especially those standing with children. Some rides were downright scary! Well, I need to report that we just returned from a ten day stay and all I can say is someone got the memo!! The bus drivers drove completely different. Every ride was enjoyable. We felt safe. The drivers were very pleasant. Such a drastic change, I was amazed. Some even incorporated some humor. Since we are huge Disney fans (this was our tenth trip), I am very pleased that this issue has been taken care of. We had a great trip, February 27 to March 7 - fantastic weather. Beth Foss was very helpful and sweet to work with. Thank you for your very informative site!" Thank you, Karen, for the great feedback!
Beth, our travel agent, writes about booking WDW at Thanksgiving which takes place during the value season: "I thought I'd toss in my comments for what it's worth because so many families head to WDW for Thanksgiving. I agree with you that it's fun to go when the decorations are all up, but they aren't ALL up until the day after Thanksgiving, at which point the Candlelight Processional and other holiday activities begin. It's like getting two holidays for the price of one! When it comes to room rates, though, you have to be careful... There will almost certainly be some sort of offer out for November and early December, but the days right around Thanksgiving are usually considered "soft blackout" dates. That means that if you're arriving at the resort prior to those dates the discounted rate can carry through, but you can't arrive ON one of the blackout dates and get the discount. Last year the blackout dates were Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of Thanksgiving week so that's a good bet for this year. Also, while the discounts may technically apply to the dates if you arrive before the blackout, they have very few rooms at the discounted rates. Many people don't understand that only a certain number of rooms per night at each resort are set aside as "discounted inventory" and the number of rooms given to that inventory varies based on many factors. Thanksgiving is a really popular time, so those nights will only have a fraction of the inventory available - and if even one night out of the dates you ask for isn't available Disney reservationists will just say that your dates aren't available. You have to push them to tell you what night or nights are messing up your request. Then you can either try another resort for the whole time, or split your stay amongst two or more resorts so that you're getting a discount the whole time. And as always, the key is to BOOK EARLY if you have your heart set on it. I always keep a list of people already booked that are waiting for discounts so that I can try to convert the rates within the first few hours of an offer, but if you've booked directly you'll need to be watching and jump right on it. And that's my two cents!"
Are You Suffering Withdrawal From WDW? You know ... that empty feeling you get when you arrive back home from your vacation at WDW and realize it may be a while before you experience that Disney magic again? We have had that feeling ourselves many times. Yet, we always seem to feel better when we read about the experiences of others who share their trip reports with us. It's almost like being there again. We invite you, our readers, to send us some feedback about your experiences during your latest vacation at WDW. Reports on Disney weddings, honeymoons, cruises, and resort vacations on and off Disney property are all welcome. Email us at johngross@affordabledisney.com . Thanks!
Sandy writes: "I'm just pouring over your tips and organizing last minute details for our trip to Disney. We leave in just over a week. Its sooooooooo exciting. Anyway, I know I read somewhere that we can leave the park and then return later in the day but I can't put my hand on the detail and just wanted to check to be sure. We are only at Disney for 2 days and will be buying the Bounce Back tickets. We are going to spend our first day at Magic Kingdom but really like your suggestion about leaving mid-day for a break at our hotel. What do we need to do in order to be able to return to the park later in the afternoon? Also, do your happen to know the March dates for E-Ticket nights?" There will be a castmember at the exit who will stamp your hand. Be sure you all get stamped before exiting. There are no E-Ride nights scheduled for March so far. Have a safe and fun vacation. Send me a trip report when you get back!
Spring special starting April 1: all Entertainment books only $10! Using just one of the book's coupons can pay for the price of the book itself! The 2004 Orlando Entertainment Book includes discounts on Restaurants and Hotels near WDW; Movie Tickets; Swan and Dolphin hotels; Universal Orlando Hotels and Tickets; and Car Rental Agencies! For details, click here.
Millie writes: "My family of 11 went to Disney the end of Jan for 1 week. We stayed at Pop Century. We have stayed at other value resorts before and it works out fine. We spend very little time at the hotel. We arranged to be a grand gathering group. We did the fireworks voyage with Capt. Hook, Peter Pan and Mr. Smee. They meet and greet. Kids loved it. The pirate on the actual cruise was wonderful. Our breakfast at Donald's Brontasaurus was great after we got in. We waited over an hour even tho we had reservations. They promised us one table for 11 and they couldn't seem to manage that. Our waiter was incredibly attentive to the kids - ages 4,5,6, and 7. All of them loved him and his magic tricks. We had a noisy air conditioner/heating unit so the hotel changed our rooms. When we got back to the hotel there were balloons and signed pictures from the characters for the kids. As far as Disney being clean: at the Pop Century the staff was washing the sidewalk every morning. I never saw any trash on the ground at the hotel. In the parks themselves we saw people cleaning all the time. There may have been a little more "stuff" on the ground than years ago, but it wasn't because Disney wasn't cleaning. People in general don't seem to be able to take an extra two seconds to take their trash to a trash can. Can't fault Disney on this one."
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Well, that's it for now. The Disney News is only available to current customers of Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation. See You Real Soon!
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Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee the accuracy of information contained in The Disney News. Always check to be sure. The views and opinions expressed by others in The Disney News do not necessarily reflect the views of AffordableDisney.Com. Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and other companies mentioned on our site and in our newsletter are registered trademarks of their respective companies. The use of these trademarks is for editorial reasons only. No endorsement by the Walt Disney Company or any other company is implied. |
