THE DISNEY NEWS Updates From Affordable WDW Vacation January 20, 2005 - Issue #251 Copyright © 1999 - 2005 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. ================================================= H O W TO U N S U B S C R I B E If you would like us to remove you from our subscription list, send an email to: remove-956607225@ezinedirector.net ================================================= Hi Everyone! Lean back, prop up your feet, and take a Disney break! ================================================= We continuously update our information and you can find the latest additions in our Addenda: WALT DISNEY WORLD: * All Affordable Disney members who book a NEW Disney cruise or cruise vacation the week of January 30 will get a copy of the Passporter Guide to the Disney Cruise Line and up to a $100.00 stateroom credit to be used as they see fit. * Affordable Disney has group space blocked on the 3-night Disney Wonder cruise sailing DECEMBER 8, 2005. Regardless of the cabin category booked, participants will get $50.00 off the normal cabin price and a Passporter Guide to the Disney Cruise Line. Space is limited. Book today! * Magic Your Way at this Downtown Disney Resort Hotel from $205 per night. Includes two adult three-day park hopper tickets, a standard room, and shuttle to all WDW parks. Valid until March 31, 2005. * Airline Vacation Special! Book your vacation by January 27, 2005 for great savings to Las Vegas, Orlando, and Tampa! Save up to $100 Per Person when you book a complete air/hotel package. Valid for travel January 18-June 6, 2005! * Get FREE tickets to Universal Orlando with this package that starts at $129 per adult, per night: >> 4 Nights Onsite hotel accommodations >> 2 FREE Length of Stay Passes to Universal Studios and IOA >> CityWalk Party Pass >> Universal Express ride access - bypass the regular lines >> Free shuttle to and from the theme parks and CityWalk >> Priority seating at select Universal Orlando restaurants >> Package delivery to your hotel room >> Use of hotel room key card to charge purchases >> Free shuttle to SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Wet n' Wild Log in today. Not a member? Join our Disney family at: http://www.affordabledisney.com/ ================================================= DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THEM! Disney offers special deals to Disney's Visa cardholders. Plus, you'll get 25 Disney Dream Reward Dollars FREE after your first purchase! For more details, see: http://www.ncsreporting.com/LinkTrack/Redirect.asp?LinkID= B1D10862 (If the address is broken into more than one line, copy and paste all lines.) Universal offers special deals to Universal Entertainment MasterCard cardholders. Apply now and receive a movie ticket with your first purchase! For more details, see: http://www.ncsreporting.com/LinkTrack/Redirect.asp?LinkID= CHU10862 (If the address is broken into more than one line, copy and paste all lines.) ================================================= NEWS FROM AROUND THE "WORLD" Opportunity City at Epcot's Innoventions: "Opportunity City [is] an 'experiential learning exhibit' - a way to expose guests, especially those in the tween years, to the ideals of business and entrepreurship in concrete, hands-on ways." (Source: Disney Insider, 01/18/05) For the rest of the story, see: http://disney.go.com/inside/issues/stories/v050118.html -------------------------------- "Steiner Leisure Limited today announced that its Mandara Spa division has entered into an agreement to build out and operate a luxury spa facility at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel in Orlando, Florida... The main spa facility will comprise treatment rooms and couples suites accented with Balinese inspired art and textiles. Additional features of the spa include a relaxation Tea Garden and Meditation Garden with lakefront views and balconies, men's and women's changing lounges, steam rooms, a sophisticated nail salon and a "hair spa" offering a complete array of beauty services in a single setting. A full compliment of spa services custom tailored for the unique Orlando setting and spa environment will be featured... Mandara estimates that the spa will open in Summer 2005." (Source: Steiner Leisure, 01/18/05) -------------------------------- Here's an article on Spa treatments at Disney World: http://theedge.bostonherald.com/travelNews/view.bg?articleid=63899 Disney has posted links to several videos describing the fun available at WDW: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/myVacation/online/index ?id=VPKOFFEGrownUpFunPage Here are links to video on Disney World resorts: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/myVacation/online/index ?id=VPKOResortDisneyHomeAFHMenuSaratogaSpringsPage&x=30&y=8 Saratoga Springs Spa Services: http://www.relaxedyet.com/saratoga_services.shtml Grand Floridian Spa Services http://www.relaxedyet.com/services.shtml -------------------------------- DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA Guests at the Disneyland Resort Hotels can now enjoy high speed Internet access in their rooms. Bring your own Ethernet cable since Disney doesn't provide one. You can still access the 'Net at the Business Center if you prefer. Those with Wi-Fi wireless can access the 'Net at the following locations: Disneyland Hotel Top Brass Bar Lost Bar Captain's Galley - pool area Concierge Lounge Business Center Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel Surfside Lounge Good Libations - pool area Business Center Concierge Lounge Disney's Grand Californian Hotel Hotel lobby The Hearthstone Lounge Whitewater Snacks - pool area Concierge Lounge You'll need a wireless interface card which is for sale at each Disneyland hotel's Business Center. The cost of in-room access and wireless access is included in your resort fee. For more information, call the WDW Travel Company-Calif at 1-800-854-3104. "To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Disneyland, a special paving stone has been created featuring a bronze medallion of "The Happiest Homecoming On Earth" logo. Below the logo, Guests may personalize their stone with up to three lines of script and a maximum of 16 characters per line. Guests can include their name, birthday or other special date." These commemorative stones will be located in a special Esplanade area. For more details, call Disneyland at 1-800-760-3566. You can also order them at City Hall or Guest Services at the Disneyland Resort. Cost: $150. You can buy a replica for $35 plus tax. They may also be purchased as gifts. (Source: Promotional email from Disneyland® Resort, 01/18/05) -------------------------------- EXTRA MAGIC HOURS allow Resort guests (those staying at the Disney-owned resorts, the Swan and Dolphin, Shades of Green, and Downtown Disney's Hilton) to visit select parks before or after they open to the general public. ATTRACTIONS AVAILABLE FOR MORNING EXTRA MAGIC HOUR Magic Kingdom: * Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin * Cinderella's Golden Carrousel * Dumbo the Flying Elephant * Mad Tea Party * Main Street vehicles * The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh * Peter Pan's Flight * Snow White's Scary Adventures * Space Mountain * Tomorrowland Indy Speedway * Tomorrowland Transit Authority Epcot: * Mission: SPACE * Spaceship Earth * Test Track * Universe of Energy Disney-MGM Studios: * Jim Henson's Muppet Vision 3-D * Rock 'n' Roller Coaster * Star Tours * The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Animal Kingdom: * Discovery Island Trails * It's Tough to be a Bug! * Kilimanjaro Safaris * Pangani Forest Exploration Trail * The Tree of Life ================================================= 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. If web addresses are broken into more than one line, copy and paste all lines. Certain newspapers require a free registration to view their articles online. ================================================= Beth, our travel agent, writes: "Everyone is excited about the new Disney Magical Express providing free transportation between the Orlando airport and Disney resorts, but those who were really looking forward to doing a grocery stop on the way in might be wondering how to accomplish BOTH the free ride and the groceries. http://www.wegoshop.com/location/wgs-location15.htm WE GO SHOP will buy the brands you want at the store you want and you pay the store prices. They just charge a shopping and delivery fee of $15. The branch owners of WeGoShop.com in the Disney area allow for a 50% off discount for first time users if they are local residents. http://www.goodings.com GOODINGS is a local grocery with several locations in the Orlando area. They carry a very high quality of meats, bakery items, etc., but their prices reflect the fact that this isn't a huge chain. While the delivery fee is only $10, they have a $50 minimum order and they do the shopping in their own store so you'll pay more for most items than you would at, say, Publix or WinnDixie. (You can also order online.) http://www.netgrocer.com NET GROCER has been around for several years and there are many people posting on the Disney fan boards that have used it with great success. The only objection I have with them is that they aren't local. They ship from the northeast, so you can't get anything perishable, and you're delivery comes by FedEx to the resort so your at the mercy of the shipping process. Shipping rates are based on the grocery total and start at $5.99." You can order frozen, pre-packaged meals from A La Zing delivered to your hotel. Just heat and serve! They offer a wide variety of dinners ranging from hearty home-cooked fare to elegant, gourmet dining. See: http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id= PSEiizziCy8&offerid=31219&type=3&subid=0 (If the address is broken into more than one line, copy and paste all lines.) ================================================= WANT YOUR NEWS FASTER? JOIN AFFORDABLE DISNEY'S BLOG! We publish important time-sensitive notices right away to our blog, so you don't have to wait until the newsletter arrives! To join Affordable Disney's Blog at Bloglines, see: http://www.bloglines.com/sub/http://affordabledisney.blogspo t.com/atom.xml (If the address is broken into more than one line, copy and paste all lines.) Or copy and paste the following URL into your RSS Reader: http://affordabledisney.blogspot.com/atom.xml ================================================= Lyn writes: "Is there any way to tell far enough in advance if it's going to be Pop Warner week in Disney World? We recently went December 3-11 and the crowds were insane! You couldn't move in the parks - or the stores in Downtown Disney. It was like going in July only the weather was better. We definitely do not want to repeat that. We like going during the holidays because the crowds are usually lighter and the decorations are fabulous! Thanks so much for all your work." From what I can find, it looks like the championship games take place around December 11. So you would have to stay clear of WDW that week to avoid the largest crowds. You can find their calendar here: http://www.popwarner.com/articles/calender.asp?lable= calendar (If the address is broken into more than one line, copy and paste all lines.) Glad to be of service. ================================================= Shellie writes: "Hi John, we would appreciate your advice. Would it be better to buy annual passes [now] or next year? We live in Connecticut and are going to Disney four times next year. Can’t wait." Disney raised their annual passes March, 2004. I expect them to raise them again before March, 2005. Buy soon. Get the voucher kind so you can activate them when you get to WDW. See book for details. ================================================= Angela writes: "Thanks for everything. I have printed out a ton of coupons. I was wondering if you could give me some tips on how to find coupons. I have been searching for restaurant coupons for the 2nd portion of my trip. I have been looking in the Seminole area, Madeira Beach, Clearwater, Treasure Island, Indian Rocks, pretty much down that stretch. I can't believe Restaurants.com has no coupons for those areas." I am constantly on the hunt for coupons for my customers. If we don't have it on our site, it may only be available for pick up in person. When you get there, check out stores like Seven Eleven for coupon books with coupons for the local area. ================================================= MONEY SAVING TIP Hard Rock Cafe: Universal's CityWalk. NEW COUPON! Expires 12-30-05. Get $5.00 off merchandise or food and beverage purchase of $25 or more and get First Available Seating with this coupon: http://www.destinationcoupons.com/Florida/Orlando/dine_hardr ock/coupons.asp (If the address is broken into more than one line, copy and paste all lines.) ================================================= 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: http://www.affordabledisney.com ================================================= ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Affordable Disney Books Disney and other new books 50-90% off the list price. Hundreds of books under $1.00! Shop now for an additional 50% off their already low prices on over 2500 titles. Items will sell out fast. Don't miss out. Plus! Over 700 videos have been marked down to $1.99. To check out the bargains, see: http://www.bookcloseouts.com/default.asp?rid=disney -------------------------------- Got Coupons? With the 2005 Edition of the Orlando Entertainment Book, you can save big on travel, groceries, shopping, movie tickets, and more! For a limited time, get $10.00 off! For details, see: http://service.bfast.com/bfast/click?bfmid=30719175&siteid= 38605757&bfpage=free_04_book (If the address is broken into more than one line, copy and paste all lines.) -------------------------------- Affordable Accommodations Get the guaranteed lowest prices at the Downtown Disney Resorts as well as at hotels, condos and vacation rentals outside Disney property. Plus! Receive up to a $100.00 rebate! For hotels, see: http://www.180096hotel.com/cgi-bin/pickcity?SID=ADI&LKF=ADI -------------------------------- Affordable Car Rental Just enter in your travel dates, select the kind of car you want, and receive a list of car rental prices at over 12 companies starting with the cheapest price! See: http://partner.onetravel.com/go/go.cfm?GoID=1786 Cheryl writes: "I saved over $200.00 on my mini van rental!!!" -------------------------------- Affordable Airfare This service delivers as many as 230 flight options in a single search - more options than any other travel site. It's possible to save as much as 80%! To compare prices, see: http://partner.onetravel.com/go/go.cfm?GoID=15263 ============================================= To read this newsletter in HTML format - as a web page - send a blank email to: disneynews@affordabledisney.com ============================================= To subscribe, send an email to: subscribe-956607225@ezinedirector.net ============================================= To read current and past issues of THE DISNEY NEWS, see: http://www.affordabledisney.com/archive.html ============================================= To read excerpts from our book online, go to: http://www.affordabledisney.com/excerpts.html ============================================= 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. To subscribe, send an email to: subscribe-956607225@ezinedirector.net See You Real Soon! John AffordableDisney.Com johngross@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. =============================================