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Hi Everyone! Beth, our travel agent, writes about Magical Express: "This little tidbit is VERY important! We're told that the first mailing of Magical Express baggage tags has been delayed. It is imperative that those who want to take this complimentary airport transportation service from the Orlando International airport to their Disney resort have their bags tagged with the correct tags. The Magical Express tags are **** NOT ***** the ones that come with your Magic Your Way package documents. Those tags (one per person) are just for you to use as you see fit. You should receive the Magical Express tags in a separate mailing. If you are leaving within 10 days and have not yet gotten your baggage tags, and you're certain that you gave Disney or your travel agent your flight information, then contact your travel agent right away, or if you didn't use one contact the company operating the Magical Express service toll free at 1-866-599-0951." Now lean back, prop up your feet, and take a Disney break!
Deals and Updates as of April 27, 2005 We continuously update our information and you can find these current specials in our Addenda:
WALT DISNEY WORLD
"Hi John, I just joined your affordable Disney group. My wife and I have been planning a trip to Disney World in December. When we ... saw the prices we were just awed." -------------------------------- Disney Cruise Line Special! Beth's Travel Agency has just announced the dates for their quarterly Disney Cruise Line promotion, scheduled for Sunday May 1 through Saturday May 7. It's for most 2005 and 2006 cruises. Anyone who makes a NEW cruise or land/sea booking during those dates will receive a cabin credit for $25 - $100 per cabin (depending on the length of trip and type of cabin booked), plus a copy of the "Passporter Guide to the Disney Cruise Line." Please note that this offer is not combinable with any other, nor is it good for existing bookings. Beth adds: "I can't reserve space for it in advance so you just have to hope the price doesn't increase before Sunday!" -------------------------------- THREE VACATION PACKAGES! Stay at this luxurious Florida Resort and enjoy four acres of themed experiences under glass, including innovative restaurants, fascinating shops and live entertainment.
1. Mother's Day Special! From $359 plus tax per room (Based on a one-night
stay). Package includes:
2. Kid's Memorial Day Getaway: From $259 plus tax per room per night
(Based on a 2-night minimum stay). This Memorial Day weekend, instead of
camping out under the stars, give your kids the opportunity to "camp in"
at a luxury resort complete with sleeping bags for the kids, which they can
take home, and a nice king sized bed for mom and dad! Imagine all the comforts
of home, plus room service! Why risk the weather, when everything for a great
in-room camping trip is provided! Package Includes:
3. Springtime Getaway: From $219 plus tax per room per night (Based
on a 2-night minimum night stay). Relax poolside or treat yourselves to a
deserving day at the Spa. Rekindle the romance and enjoy a first class experience
all under one roof! Offer valid on the following dates:
May 1, 2, 5-9, 11-13 and 28-31. Package
Includes:
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Stay at this newly-renovated Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotel and
enjoy:
Rates are valid most nights 05/05/05 - 09/05/05. Book by May 5, 2005. SEE BELOW FOR MORE DEALS! |
Resources
 Affordable Airfare
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DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
Disney Package for Spring-Summer 2005: This group can book a package for
Disneyland and receive the following extra perks at no charge:
-------------------------------- DISNEYLAND PARIS
New general admission prices! -------------------------------- LAS VEGAS This famous Resort & Casino is celebrating 100 years of Las Vegas with a special $100 deal. Book by May 7 for select midweek July, August, and September dates and you'll revel in the unparalleled splendor of this resort for only $100 per night! Or stay on select May and June dates from $149! -------------------------------- Affordable Disney Members should log in at our password-protected site (The Disney Reading Room) to access the particulars about the above mentioned specials. If you are not a member, you can join our Disney family here.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE "WORLD" Walt Disney World "a growing number of hotels, including locally the Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee and the Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort, are willing to accommodate the special needs of Jewish guests at Passover, which falls near Easter -- one of the slowest times of the year in the convention business." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 04/23/05) For the rest of the story, click here. --------------------------------
"Born in the labs of Walt Disney Imagineering, Lucky the Dinosaur
is loose in the streets of Disney's Animal Kingdom!... Lucky represents the
latest innovation in Audio-Animatronics design and is the first Disney character
of its type to walk freely and personally interact with children and families.
After a prototype test period in California, Lucky comes to Walt Disney World
Resort for a limited engagement to help launch the "Happiest Celebration
on Earth," a global salute to 50 years of Disney park magic.
-------------------------------- "Disney Cruise Line will introduce its special brand of cruising to a new market and new customers when the Disney Magic sets sail for California on May 14 as part of the 50th-anniversary celebration of Disneyland...While Disney is considering adding a third ship to its fleet, no deals have been worked out with shipbuilders, largely because of an unfavorable exchange rate between the dollar and the euro. Most large cruise ships are built by European companies." (floridatoday.com, 04/23/05) For the rest of the story, click here. --------------------------------
"Irish hospitality and a bit of blarney will be coming to Downtown Disney
at Walt Disney World Resort in the form of Raglan Road, an authentic
Irish pub and restaurant. Scheduled to open in summer 2005, Raglan Road will
feature the very best of Irish food, flair, heritage and entertainment."
The Pub will feature:
"Raglan Road will occupy the building that formerly housed The Jazz Company. Pleasure Island club admission will not be required for entrance to the pub." (Source: WDW Press Release, 04/25/05) -------------------------------- Star Wars Weekend will run from May 20 to June 12, 2005 at the Disney-MGM Studios. Activities will include autograph sessions, a Star Wars Motorcade, Talk Show and Q&A session. Star Wars Schedule:
Daniel Logan (Young Boba Fett) May 20 - 22
Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) May 27 - 29
Warwick Davis (Wicket the Ewok) June 3 - 5
Jerome Blake (Rune Haako) June 10 - 12 (Source: disneyworld.com) -------------------------------- Essays on Walt Disney with Photos In Walt Disney's Missouri... "Marceline, in north central Missouri, is a town of around twenty-five hundred people, its population today about the same as it was when Elias Disney moved his family there ninety-nine years ago... Marceline... still feels much like the town that Walt Disney enjoyed as a boy, almost a century ago. Were he to come back today, he would have no trouble finding his way around." (Source: michaelbarrier.com, 04/04/05) For the rest of the story, click here. "Walt Disney spent the better part of a dozen years in Kansas City, living there most of the time from 1911 to 1923... The point of visiting places like the Disney sites in Kansas City is to step back in time and connect with the lives of people long dead. Although Kansas City as a whole is prosperous and attractive, Walt Disney's old neighborhood is so badly blighted - and so radically different from what he knew - that making that imaginative leap back to 1922 is, I'm afraid, very difficult." (Source: michaelbarrier.com, 04/04/05) For the rest of the story, click here. -------------------------------- Closed for Refurbishment
Magic Kingdom Epcot
Living with the Land: 01/02/05-04/30/05
Disney's Polynesian Resort
Disney's Boardwalk Resort
Disney's Contemporary Resort
Disneyland California
The new "Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams" will take place during the 18-month
celebration of Disneyland's 50th anniversary and will include:
(Source: LaughingPlace.com, 04/25/05) --------------------------------
Here are some fun stats to mark Disneyland's 50th anniversary:
(Source: latimes.com, 04/22/05) For the rest of the story, click here. -------------------------------- Closed for rehab: Disneyland Park
Space Mountain: April 10,2003 - July 14, 2005
Disneyland Hong Kong Disney has designed the park with respect to the local culture: "When building the new entrance to Hong Kong Disneyland, Walt Disney executives decided to shift the angle of the front gate by 12 degrees. They did so after consulting a feng shui specialist, who said the change would ensure prosperity for the park. Disney also put a bend in the walkway from the train station to the gate, to make sure the flow of positive energy, or chi, did not slip past the entrance and out to the China Sea." (Source: New York Times, 04/25/05) For the rest of the story, click here. -------------------------------- "Inside the Lin home and many others in China, there is a distinct generational, cultural and economic divide - and it figures to be a major challenge for Walt Disney Co. and other Western companies trying to sell entertainment in the world's fastest-growing emerging consumer market. If Huanbin [their son] receives too much Western culture, in the future he may not cherish family relations, forget his ancestors and not go back to our hometown," Lin Zhengguang says." (Source: latimes.com, 04/21/05) For the rest of the story, click here. -------------------------------- "The Disneyland theme park due to open in Hong Kong in September will "suffer from constant haze" because of worsening air pollution over Hong Kong and southern China, according to a report released yesterday by CLSA, the investment bank." (Source: ft.com, 04/20/05) -------------------------------- NOTE: Links to newspaper articles change quickly and without notice. If you receive a "File Not Found" error message, search the newspaper's archives for the story. Certain newspapers require a free registration to view their articles online.
"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 $300.00! Thanks." Janet Handy, Bel Air, MD "Plenty of roadside outfits in Orlando promise discounted tickets, but most of them really want to rope you into a time-share sales pitch in exchange for vouchers - accept at your own risk. [Affordable Disney's ticket agent], though, is legit." The New York Post, November 16, 2004. NEVER overpay again! Join our Disney family today and keep that extra money in YOUR pocket!
Beth, our travel agent, writes about passports: "You may have heard rumors about upcoming changes to the rules about who needs a passport and when. Nothing is written in stone yet, but you can bet that there WILL be more strict rules enacted, and eventually you will need a passport each and every time you leave the country. So I am strongly advising that anyone who knows they will be traveling out of the country in 2006 and beyond, or who thinks it's a definite possibility, go ahead and get a passport NOW if you don't have one. It's really not a difficult thing to do, and I predict that the wait time to get one will steadily increase as the year goes on. If you wait until you need one you may be out of luck! Please read the following short article I received from Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) for additional information, and please pass it on to friends and family who may be interested.
What are the new passport requirements? On Tuesday, April 5, 2005, the U.S.
State Department announced details of the proposed "Western Hemisphere Travel
Initiative." If the proposed rules are enacted, U.S. and Canadian citizens
will be required to carry a passport for travel to or from certain
countries/areas that were previously exempt. The proposed implementation
is as follows:
Once the proposed rules are finalized - either in their current form or a modified form - the cruise industry will communicate that information to our travel agent partners and guests. In the meantime, individuals with future travel plans that would be affected by the proposed new rules are strongly encouraged to obtain a passport now. You may print a passport application or get additional information from the government on this subject by visiting: http://travel.state.gov/passport . Please check back on our web site for future updates."
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.
Patti writes: "Hi John! I don't know if you know about this or not, but the Disney Magazine has ceased publication as of last week. I read that a mass mailing is going out to all subscribers and offering them two options: 1) they get a refund for any unread issues, or 2) they can get a subscription to a "family" magazine instead." Yes, it looks like ezines like ours, The Disney News, are providing Disney fans with the latest Disney information faster and for free.
Have Dinner On Us! For every person you send to our site who becomes a member of our Disney family, we'll send you a $10.00 electronic gift certificate from Restaurant.com! Use your certificate to purchase dining certificates online that are redeemable at thousands of restaurants across the USA, including those in Florida! Have your referral include your NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS in the comment box when she joins so we know where to send your gift certificate via email. Note: Gift Certificates are redeemable only by residents of the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Cynthia writes: "Dear John, My parents are going to be at WDW tonight (April 25) and tomorrow in celebration of their 45th anniversary. I heard that Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian was a good place to get dessert and view the fireworks so they have seating there for 9:30 pm tonight. However, they have asked if you know of a better place to view them, perhaps even a location within the park where they could have a seat, but not necessarily a restaurant. Any info you have is appreciated. Just trying to give them a magical time on this mini-honeymoon trip. Thanks!" Have them go to Toontown in the Magic Kingdom and watch them from there. If they're early enough they can grab one of the benches! Cynthia wrote back: "Thanks John for the reply. I spoke with them last night and they had decided to go on to Narcoosee's in hopes of seeing the fireworks from there. I called the restaurant before hand and told them that my parents had priority seating and that it was their 45th anniversary, and honeymoon. I asked if they could acknowledge the occasion to make it special for them. From the account I received from my folks, the staff came through. When my parents arrived, the gentleman at the podium greeted them with congratulations and said that they were holding for them the best table in the house. That of course thrilled my father. The server then brought them a menu and printed right on the menu was "Happy Anniversary Alton and Gayle!" After Dad ate his flavorful clam chowder and Mom her fresh greens, the server brought a delicious key lime dessert with a candle and more congratulations. The dessert was on the house! Soon after, the lights went down and the music from the Magic Kingdom began. My parents sat at their "best table in the house," and enjoyed the much anticipated fireworks; after which the restaurant erupted in applause. When I spoke to them later, they were strolling back to their room at the French Quarter and could not say enough about their fabulous day and evening at Walt Disney World. They have one more day and are planning to attend the flower and garden festival at Epcot. I'm sure today will be magical as well. Thanks again for the great book and information you give. We have been to WDW three times since buying the book and learning from the many tips you provide. We have saved money and time, and you have enriched our Disney experiences. God bless you and yours." I love a happy ending! Thanks again, Cynthia, for your kind comments!
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!
Money Saving Tip Timacuan Golf & Country Club: 550 Timacuan Boulevard, Lake Mary, FL 32766. 407/321-0014. Voted "Best Golf Course in Seminole County" (Seminole Herald's Reader's Choice Award 2003). Non-residents save $10.00 off the Visitor's Rate! Click here and scroll down for coupon. Offer Expires December 31, 2005.
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. |
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