|
||||||||||||
Hi Everyone! Lean back, prop up your feet, and take a Disney break!
Deals and Updates as of December 2, 2004 We continuously update our information and you can find the latest additions in our Addenda:
WALT DISNEY WORLD:
DISNEYLAND, CALIFORNIA:
Includes a $10 ESPN Zone Arena Game Card, lanyard with pins, luggage tag, and preferred seating at shows in Disney's California Adventure. Prices start at $199 per adult, double occupancy, off property; $319 per adult, double occupancy, on property. Stay four or more nights on Disney property and receive $125-$200 Disney Dollars per package. OTHER VACATION SPECIALS: This cruise line is offering Community Appreciation Fares: Special savings on Caribbean cruises for Teachers, Firefighters, Hospital Volunteers, Police Officers and Active Military. Valid on select dates in December, 2004 to May, 2005. 7 to 14-day cruises from $599 per person! Log in today for more details. Not a member? Join our Disney family here.
4-Day Park Hopper Pass Special Purchase Get them for $10.00 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! Our agent also has great prices on tickets to other popular attractions in Florida. "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.
"Rule 240. Here's your secret weapon for fighting airline delays, cancellations, and missed connections... If your flight is delayed or cancelled, or if you've missed your flight connection, these policies may give you free meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, phone calls, and other amenities. You may be booked on a substitute flight -- even on another airline -- and you may be compensated or given a full refund if the flight problems persist."
Follow these simple rules:
(Source: Consumer Travel Rights Center Email, 11/29/04) Thanks to Beth, our travel agent, for bringing this article to our attention. |
Resources
 Affordable Airfare
|
|||||||||||
News From Around The "World" The Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade will air Christmas Day 1 - 3 PM EST. Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa will host the parade.
New Year's Eve Events at WDW:
(Source: Promotional e-mail from Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, 11/30/04) Cypress Gardens "Crews rushed to add the finishing touches on the park earlier this week for today's soft opening. Fresh sod and new landscaping greeted the park's first visitors since it suddenly closed its gates April 13, 2003, after 67 years of operation. Three dozen rides, including four roller coasters, await visitors. A craftsmen's village, water-skiing and ice-skating shows also were expected to be ready for the soft opening, but the nature area and midway will not be ready until the grand opening Dec. 9." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 11/26/04) For the rest of the story, 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.
Sheila writes: "One of my friends mentioned when they were down to Disney at one of the characters breakfast - maybe crystal palace? a lady had a pre paid voucher for her meal - Now is this something that is done through Disney, a travel agent or where? As it would be nice to have the prepaid vouchers and is that only for the Disney complexes or can this be done for any place in Florida? Thanks so much for Doing such a great job - I appreciate it. Thanks again." Disney includes character meals (and other meal options) only at the WDW hotels and parks in their package add-ons: Silver, Gold, Romance, Platinum, Romance and Princess and Prince. Disney does NOT discount package add-ons, so they can be budget busters. Beth, our travel agent, can add these packages for you. She also recently addressed the meal voucher issue and you can find her comments here and in issue #240 of The Disney News. Glad to be of help.
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. Send your email to: johngross@affordabledisney.com . Thanks!
Patrick writes: "John, I am a recent subscriber to your Affordable Guide, and I have found it very helpful in my early planning process. The one thing I cannot seem to find anywhere on the net (including your info) are precise attendance figures for the theme parks per day. I have found numerous sites that talk about the busier months, but no indication of what crowd sizes are for specific days. Have you ever come across such information?" Disney keeps those figures private. The best we can do is avoid the busier seasons and the days marked for Extra Magic Hour. Mondays are the busiest at the Magic Kingdom. Water parks are filled quickly on hot humid days. The water parks and Downtown Disney are busiest during weekends. Weekends are busiest for golfers. All bets are off when Disney runs deals and special events.
Disney's Visa® Credit Card from Bank One®
Disney's Visa Card -- a way to take your family on the vacation they've been wishing for sooner and even more affordably than you ever thought possible! For more details, click here.
Kurt writes: "I did some quick figuring and I might save $10-20 bucks if I went with 5-Day park hopper plus plan and would have to stand in line and buy the other entrance fees. It doesn't seem worth it. Any advice?" Since Disney passes never expire, I would buy the 7-day park hopper plus pass which has 4 plus days for the water parks, Wide World of Sports and Pleasure Island. (If you have any days left over, use them on your next trip.) Then buy your DisneyQuest tickets separately. Our ticket agent will mail your tickets to you in advance or leave them at your hotel for you. No waiting in line and you'll save $11 ($8 child) per DisneyQuest ticket; $19 ($14 child) per 7-day hopper. They are the best prices I've seen and they include tax. Saving $10-$20 per ticket is always worth it!
Lisa writes: "Hi John. I will be taking my second WDW trip w/all your tips in hand with my exchange student from Thailand. She is thrilled beyond words to be going to the most All-American place there is!!! I know last year our trip nearly coincided with Disney’s "Gay Days" - I definitely want to avoid that this trip as well. When does this week run thru? I won’t book my hotel until I hear back from you!!! Thanks a million -- again." Gay Days 2005 will take place May 31 - June 5, 2005.
Money Saving Tip Hard Rock Cafe at Universal's CityWalk: Receive a front of the line pass, preferred seats, and a free souvenir collectible with the purchase of a T-shirt with this coupon. Receive a complimentary souvenir with the purchase of $15 or more in their merchandise store with this coupon.
YOU CAN AFFORD DISNEY WORLD! If you THINK a Disney vacation costs too much ... WE AGREE! That's why we created the ULTIMATE Disney savings site. Save up to 40% on your total trip. Learn about discounts on tickets, food, Disney merchandise, hotels ON Disney property, travel, parking, and MUCH more. Too much to list here. See it all at here. "We just got back from a great trip ... and thanks to you and your great advice, [we] saved money and time! ... In total we saved about $3,000.00 for our group of 6. We are going back within a year to use our passes again, and think our per person cost will be in the $150-200 range, flights and all." Michael Barrett, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
All for the price of a fast food
Well, that's it for now. THE DISNEY NEWS is a free service provided by
AffordableDisney.Com. Please forward our newsletter to your friends and family.
See You Real Soon! John
http://www.affordabledisney.com
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.
|
