Affordable Disney - Disney in the News

Mickey Mouse balloons brighten a grey day in Boston (http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2008/09/30/mickey-mouse-balloons- brighten-a-grey-day-in-boston.aspx) Disney intends to focus less on theme park growth and concentrate more on expanding its time-share business in Hawaii, building new cruise ships and promoting its Adventures by Disney program. (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-kassab0507oct05,0,1801588.column) "In the past 16 months, 10 Walt Disney World employees have been charged with sex offenses involving children or teens... the company is increasing its internal security measures that monitor employees' Internet usage and other activity." (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-kassab1007oct10,0,7573349.column) "This month, workers are busy converting three historic buildings in San Francisco's Presidio, a National Park, for the future Walt Disney Family Museum." (Source: nationaltrust.org, 09/25/07) "Journalist and author David Koenig, in his new book, Realityland: True-Life Adventures at Walt Disney World, offers the first in-depth, unauthorized look at the sometimes-troubled making of the multibillion-dollar resort, which turns 36 on Monday. He offers USA TODAY a glimpse of life in the Mouse House." (Source: usatoday.com, 09/28/07) "With the surprise announcement Wednesday of a $10 million gift from Walt Disney World, Florida Hospital made it clear that the competition to operate a world-class pediatric hospital in Orlando is now a three-way contest." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 09/20/07) Disney Parks Extends ‘Year of a Million Dreams’ Through 2008 With New Attractions, Entertainment on Both Coasts Private Island, In-Park Suites Add New Enchantment to 2008 Disney Dreams Disney Parks announced today that its "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration will extend throughout 2008 at Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, highlighted by the debut of blockbuster attractions and entertainment - and the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway in which Disney will award more than one million more dreams. "Our guests tell us they see Disney theme parks as the place where their dreams come true," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "That has never been more true than during ‘The Year of a Million Dreams.’ The 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway is a chance for us to award even more over-the-top experiences that can only come true at Disney." In a bi-coastal event that began in late 2006, guests have discovered that wishing upon a star isn’t the only way to make their dreams come true. By being in the right place at the right time at Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts, more than one million guests have been selected through a random process as winners in the Disney Dreams Giveaway. Dreams also were awarded to mail-in participants. When it was time to decide what to do for an encore in 2008, Disney Parks heard resoundingly from guests. They asked for: More dreams. Even bigger dreams. More dreams money can’t buy. More dreams that only Disney can make come true. Building on the incredible success of 2007, Disney’s magic-makers went back to their dream drawing board. They created over-the-top experiences for the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway that will be awarded to eligible lucky guests and mail-in participants, including: * A chance for guests to stay inside Disneyland Park; * A private day at Disney’s tropical island paradise, Castaway Cay; * A New Year’s Eve night stay inside Cinderella Castle Suite at Walt Disney World Resort; * A star-studded trip to the "High School Musical 3" film premiere; * A flight of fancy in a hot air balloon above a Disney theme park. These magical, money-can’t-buy Disney dreams and more are featured in a first-ever online catalog known as the Disney Dreams Catalog. Disney fans can flip through and browse the catalog at www.DisneyParks.com/DreamCatalog. But that’s not all. In 2008, Disney will award hundreds of thousands of dreams in all shapes and sizes, including Dream FASTPASS badges, gourmet dining packages, special viewing for parades, Disney shopping sprees, an additional hour - known as Dream Time - for chosen guests to enjoy a Disney park, or special Dream Mouse Ears or Pin and Lanyard sets. It all adds up to over one million more dreams that will be awarded in 2008. While full prize descriptions and a peek into the Disney Dreams Catalog can be found at www.DisneyParks.com/DreamCatalog, highlights of the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway include: * Reign at Disney’s Private Island for the Day: One winner will be awarded Disney’s private Bahamian paradise for the day. Castaway Cay, the Disney Cruise Line private island, will allow the winner and up to three guests to lounge in the lap of tropical luxury - all by themselves - with Disney amenities at their fingertips, including gourmet dining, recreation, beachfront cabana massages, entertainment and overnight accommodations on a private yacht. * Spend the Night Inside Disneyland in Walt’s Dream Suite: Using architectural renderings that Walt Disney himself commissioned for an in-park, family retreat that was never completed, Disneyland Resort is creating a lavish new guest suite in the park’s New Orleans Square. Beginning Jan. 31, 2008 - and continuing most nights throughout the year - a different winner will be chosen through a random process to bring up to five guests to live Walt’s dream and spend that night in the Disneyland Dream Suite inside Disneyland Park. * Be the Guest of Honor at the Largest Character Breakfast in Magic Kingdom History: On Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort, one winner and up to three guests will be treated to an unprecedented ultimate Disney character breakfast, with at least 25 Disney characters in attendance, including Mickey and Minnie. Served in the shadow of Cinderella Castle, it will be the largest Magic Kingdom character breakfast ever presented - and it will all be in honor of one lucky winner. * Celebrate New Year’s Eve Inside Cinderella Castle: One of the most magical nights of the year, New Year’s Eve, will be celebrated in royal style Dec. 31, 2008, by a winner and up to three guests inside the Cinderella Castle Suite, in the heart of Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort. * See the Stars at the "High School Musical 3" World Premiere: Two winners and up to three guests each will attend the star-studded film premiere of "High School Musical 3," the next installment of the record-setting Disney Channel movie series. One prize includes a VIP vacation to Disneyland Resort in California and the other features a VIP vacation to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida where the music and excitement of "High School Musical" comes to life in high-energy shows. * Become a "Sorcerer’s Apprentice" to a Disney Imagineer: Taking on the honorary role of a "Sorcerer’s Apprentice," one winner and a guest will get to peek behind the magic for a day and enter the secret labs of Walt Disney Imagineering. The prize includes a tour of the Walt Disney Imagineering campus and an Imagineer-guided tour of Disneyland Park. * Become Disney’s Grand Marshal Around the Globe: One winner and up to three guests will be sent on a 15-day whirlwind tour of four Disney destinations - Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Resort Paris. At each stop on the magical journey, the winner will serve as Honorary Grand Marshal of Disney’s daily parade. And, just as both vacation resorts did throughout 2007, Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort also will introduce new attractions, shows and immersive entertainment as "The Year of a Million Dreams" continues through 2008. The Toys are Back in Town in a New Disney/Pixar-inspired Attraction Beginning in summer 2008, the toysare back in town at Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts with Toy Story Mania! an attraction that combines the popular characters from the smash hit Disney/Pixar "Toy Story" films with whiz-bang technology to create an interactive ride-through video game - in three dimensions. Guests board fanciful ride vehicles and zip into a world of exciting midway-style games. Using spring-action "shooters," they launch darts at balloons, toss rings at aliens and throw eggs at whimsical barnyard targets to see who can score the most points. And it’s all presented in stunning 3-D technology designed by Walt Disney Imagineering. In California, guests will try their luck inside Disney’s California Adventure, while at Walt Disney World Resort, the ‘toon fun will be found inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Interactive Entertainment Brings Dreams to Life for Guests of All Ages Disney Parks’ unique brand of entertainment that makes guests the stars of the show - literally - will continue to share the spotlight at Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts during "The Year of a Million Dreams" 2008, with expanded offerings that feature be-bopping, lightsaber-wielding and pirate-plundering fun. It’s this type of interactivity that allows guests to live the fanciful dreams of their imagination. Some of the highlights for 2008: * Disney/Pixar Parades Debut on Both Coasts: The Disney/Pixar fun will continue to rock and roll throughout Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in 2008, as characters from smash-hit animated films like "Toy Story," "The Incredibles," "Monster’s, Inc." and "A Bug’s Life" take to the street in "Block Party Bash." Disneyland Resort will be the home to the new "Pixar Play! Parade," an all-new Disney/Pixar-inspired parade that invites guests to play and dance along with favorite characters from hit films like "Toy Story," "A Bug’s Life," "Monsters, Inc.," "Finding Nemo," "The Incredibles," "Cars" and "Ratatouille." * Wildcat Fever Pitch Spreads Across Disney Parks: "Wildcat fever" has guests dancing in the streets at Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts in the new "High School Musical 2: School’s Out!" interactive show. Inspired by the Disney Channel’s record-breaking, original film, "High School Musical 2," the high-energy cast invites guests to join the fun as they sing and dance along to the movie’s hit tunes. "High School Musical 2: School’s Out!" concludes with an all-out dance finale featuring one of the film’s soundtrack hits, "All for One," and a reprise of "We’re All in This Together," from the original "High School Musical" film. "High School Musical 2: School’s Out!" is presented multiple times daily at Disney’s California Adventure in California and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida. * ‘Obi-Wanna Bes’ Learn the Ways of the Force: Taking a cue from the popular Star WarsTM Saga, the power of the Force and the magic of Disney combine for "Jedi Training Academy," an original and intergalactic entertainment experience. Young Jedi hopefuls - known in ‘Star Wars-speak’ as "Padawans" - learn lightsaber moves from a Jedi Master before facing off in a final test against the evil Darth Vader. Created with Lucasfilm Ltd., "Jedi Training Academy" is presented multiple times daily, adjacent to the popular Star Tours attraction, at both the Disneyland Park in California and at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida. * Playhouse Disney Rocks the Mouse House: Debuting at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts in 2008 will be some of the most beloved characters from the Disney Channel lineup in "Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!" - a singing, clapping and be-bopping show. Designed for preschoolers, the show stars favorites from popular Disney Channel programs including "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," "Little Einsteins," "Handy Manny" and more. * A Pirate’s Life for Me!: Building on the worldwide popularity of Disney’s "Pirates of the Caribbean" films and attractions, Captain Jack Sparrow and his band of merry mates invite guests to their world of adventure at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts. At Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort, Captain Jack himself leads a series of pirate "skill tests" to find honorary crew members, while at Disneyland Park, young buccaneers can enjoy the new Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer Island, an island of interactive adventures and immersive entertainment for plundering pirates of all ages. * Have Some Hootin’ & Hollerin’ Fun with Woody, Jessie & Bullseye: There’s a rootin’ tootin’ good time in store as Woody, Jessie and Bullseye from the hit Disney/Pixar film "Toy Story 2" invite everyone to "Woody’s Cowboy Camp!" in the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom. Designed for younger cowpokes, the rollicking hoedown features an Old West obstacle course - maneuvering around parents donning hats shaped like cacti, mountains and mine shafts. It’s kick-up-the-spurs, hootin’ and hollerin’ fun as the cowboy spirit comes to life on the dusty streets of Frontierland in Florida. * A Magical Main Street, U.S.A. Parade: Guests are able to parade down Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom in Florida alongside favorite Disney characters in an interactive parade. For guests, it’s a pennant-waving, drum-beating rush as they join characters to march alongside parade floats, a marching band and an old-timey fire truck. To accommodate pint-size paraders and their parents, there’s even a "stroller drill team." For more information about "The Year of a Million Dreams" celebration, visit disneyparks.com. For more specific information about the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway, visit disneyparks.com/2008rules. To browse the new Disney Dreams Catalog, visit DisneyParks.com/DreamCatalog. (Source: Press Release, 10/01/07)

Here are the security measures Florida attractions are taking to make sure your vacation is safe:

• Walt Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld are searching every bag, backpack and package and removing batteries from video cameras to be sure they are not disguised weapons. (Guards are just looking, not touching personal items.)

• Guards at each of Disney's resorts require a photo ID before admitting visitors to the property.

• Hourly workers who recently had their hours cut are working as part time security after undergoing some type of security training.

• Three to four armed off-duty deputy sheriffs and police officers are located at the gates to the Disney and Universal parks. They observe the parks' private security checking bags. They don't patrol the parks from the inside. The parks have their own security guards roaming their property.

• Employees must show photo ID and their bags can be searched as they enter and leave.

• Bomb-sniffing dogs scour the parks after hours.

• A security expert says that the fenced landscaped areas at the rear of the parks where maintenance crews and vendors enter are vulnerable. Disney, however, now has off-duty deputies checking deliveries of supplies and equipment. Disney also believes the fences surrounded by swamp land will act as good deterrents to anyone wishing to crash a vehicle through their rear gates.

• Planes are not allowed to fly within three miles of a park, but the skies aren't patrolled regularly by authorities.

• Disney and Universal staff have evacuation practice several times during the year where they empty the monorails and rides.

• Rides have emergency backup generators in case of power failure.

• Troopers say it would only take two hours to place themselves on I-4 and get a evacuation plan into effect to quickly empty the parks.

Ann Marie and David were at WDW when the terrorists attacked on September 11:

"Hi John, Wanted to write and thank you for all your money saving tips as well as share with you our experience in WDW on Sept 11th and the days following.

We were on our way to a great breakfast at the Maya Grill at the CSR before we headed off to the Kennedy Space Center. A huge gathering of people were around the TV at the lounge as we walked by. It was so quiet there. Usually it is noisy because the food court is there too! We looked up at the TV to see smoke coming from a large office building on the screen. My friend asked "What's going on?" A woman turned to us, her eyes filled with tears and said, "The WTC and Pentagon have been hit by planes."

We watched as the news reports were calling it a terrorist attack. I will never forget the woman's face or her voice as she told us about this tragedy. We ate breakfast watched TV and listened to nurses from DC who were there for a nursing management conference say that they couldn't get through to their hospitals.

The resort was quiet. We went back to our room and found out that Disney closed its operations in its parks and KSC was closed to the public due to security reasons. It did not matter. Our hearts were heavy...we watched...we cried...we wondered what was next.

On Friday, we attended a prayer service at Cirque Du Soleil in the pouring rain..well suited for a day of national morning. The prayer service gave us a sense of community..of sharing. even though we did not know anyone there, we felt a common understanding, inner peace and a hope for the future.

Draped on stage was a huge American Flag. I thought a lot of the people there would be older adults. (We are in our early thirties.) I was surprised that mostly young people and young families attended. It made me proud. I was grateful for Disney for hosting and planning such a great outlet and place to heal. It truly is a magical place.

We were supposed to attend the Emergency Nurses Association Convention on Thursday and Friday but it was canceled. Every nurse was needed in their communities. We wanted to be home too...in our hospitals to be of help. Our hospital was on disaster alert. All we could do was sit and watch and listen.

Throughout the week Disney cast members left us messages on our room voice mail about the park being reopened, the prayer service and about the heightened security at the parks. All bags were checked at the entrances by security. It reminded us how vulnerable we were.

You could not buy an American Flag Mouse Ear pin anywhere. They were all being worn. The unspoken dress code was red, white and blue. We, like others, put American flags and notations in our hotel room windows. People stopped and looked and remembered.

There were no lines at the parks...we literally walked onto the rides, walked into Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge three times without reservations or a wait. The same was true when we went to Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian and Japan and Mexico at EPCOT. WDW was empty. You could walk with at least a 50-foot gap until the next person in front of you. Half of the parking lots at the CSR outside the rooms were barren. It gave me this eerie feeling of things to come.

By the end of our trip the parks started to fill up more and people started to smile and laugh more. People were more polite to each other and made an extra effort to be nice. It seemed that people were enjoying the time they had. Families and friends together..forever changed.

It was definitely a different Disney vacation experience. Disney will always be a special place for us...for different reasons.

We did our best to help the economy by using the money you helped us save on our rooms by enjoying great meals at places like Boma at AKL and Narcoossee's at GFR and Japan and Mexico at Epcot, as well as buying some Disney collectibles.

Here is how your tips saved us at least $1000.00 on our (2) trips within 2 months of each other:

In August we used your Wyndham Resort information and saved at least $400.00 and used the $75.00 resort credit towards our room cost. Originally you couldn't use the resort credit towards the room but all I had to do on check out was ask and they did it! We even had our own hot tub in our room on our balcony! A nice unexpected treat!

We then took another trip in Sept (11 nights) and used the $89.00 special code for the Coronado Springs Resort. We saved at least $500.00 on our room compared to last trip September 2000.

Thanks again! We are planning to go back to Disney in February and hope to use more of your money saving tips! This tragedy shall not break us!

"There can only be peace and freedom without terrorism." Words I wore on a tee shirt while in Disney!"

We thank Ann Marie and David for letting us know what happened at WDW on September 11. They are right. We must get back to business as usual. If not, the terrorists win. We pray that the men and women who now go off to defend America will return home safely.

Disneyland Tokyo News

Disneyland Tokyo Website

Click here for links to amateur videos of rides and attractions at Disneyland Tokyo.

"On October 1, 2008, ZED will premier at the brand new Cirque du Soleil Theatre Tokyo at the Tokyo Disney Resort."
(http://www.gadling.com/2008/09/05/big-in-japan-cirque-du-soleil-set-to-
open-at-tokyo-disney/print/)

"Cirque du Soleil, the Canadian-based circus and entertainment troupe, on Tuesday unveiled part of a tarot-inspired permanent show at Tokyo Disney Resort as it tries to expand in Asia."
(http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gnPTmATZcOiC8dKRsduyiA3P62YA)

Tokyo Disneyland Breaks Ground On New Cirque Du Soleil Theater Set To Open In 2008

Tokyo Disneyland has broken ground on a new theater for the performance group Cirque du Soleil.

Representatives from the Oriental Land Co., Ltd., which manages Tokyo Disneyland, and the Takenaka Corporation held a traditional ceremony to ensure safe building construction.

A Shinto priest from the Seiryu Shrine carried out the groundbreaking ritual per ceremonial protocol in front of an audience of close to 50 executives, managers, and cast members.

The theater, located near the Disney Ambassador Hotel, will open in fiscal year 2008 (coinciding with Tokyo Disneyland Park’s 25th anniversary and the opening of the new Tokyo Disneyland Hotel) and will seat about 2,000 guests.

With concept art showing a large theater with a metallic silver exterior with strong edges and angles, the theater is yet unnamed.

The Cirque du Soleil troupe will perform a new show exclusively created for this new location at the Tokyo Disneyland Resort.

The Cirque du Soleil theater at the Tokyo Disneyland Resort will be the first permanent theater dedicated to the performance group outside of North America.

The popular group, which originated in Canada, has teamed with Disney in the past to present the show La Nouba in a permanent theater at Walt Disney World’s Downtown Disney district. Cirque du Soleil shows usually feature dramatic music, extravagant costumes, and fancy acrobatics and gymnastics. (Source: Press Release, 06/03/08)

As the park celebrates its 25th anniversary, Disney needs to find ways to make the park more attractive to seniors and men and more understandable to non-Japanese speakers.
(http://www.reuters.com/article/inDepthNews/idUST8304420080415?pageNumber=1&virtual
BrandChannel=0)

"Tokyo Disneyland canceled its popular parades for the first time in its 25-year history Wednesday after a 660-pound steel pillar adorned with colorful planets tumbled from a Buzz Lightyear float."
(http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j1fNhLD3pHZ6efqab7uaJLPhv1Sw
D8U2A9581)

"Tokyo Disneyland operator Oriental Land Co said Tuesday it will open an indoor Disney entertainment facility in alliance with its partner Walt Disney Co of the United States in a major Japanese city other than Tokyo in or after 2010." (Source: japantoday.com, 10/09/07)

Tokyo DisneySea Spring Carnival March 21 to May 31, 2007

Tokyo DisneySea Park will cap its 5th Anniversary celebrations with a special event entitled "Tokyo DisneySea Spring Carnival," beginning March 21. This vibrant festival will celebrate the coming of spring and will feature light-hearted music, a bounteous profusion of beautiful spring flowers, and the Disney characters.

Flowers will be used to decorate many areas of the Park, and attractions such as Venetian Gondolas and the DisneySea Transit Steamer Line will be adorned with blossoms as well. There will even be a flower wagon located at the piazza in Mediterranean Harbor, and Disney character topiaries all around the themed port will be garlanded with the lovely blooms of spring, allowing guests to enjoy the festival mood to its fullest.

During the event period, the entertainment program "Primavera" will be performed twice daily in Mediterranean Harbor. In the show, the Disney characters will appear in vividly colored costumes and invite the guests to a lively carnival. The exciting program will feature many opportunities for guest participation through hand clapping and waving handkerchiefs.

A total of 17 restaurants in the Park will offer flower-themed special menus for the event, and there will also be approximately 60 kinds of event-themed merchandise available at Park shops.

Tokyo DisneySea Park’s 5th Anniversary celebrations began on July 14, 2006. The Park’s official anniversary is on September 4. (Source: Press Release, 02/28/07)