Just a quick note aside from the usual news to thank everyone who attended MouseFest, especially those who came by to say "hi" at MouseFest 101, the Mega Mouse Meet or one of our MousePlanet meets. It was wonderful to meet everyone, and I hope that you all had a great time, as well. I hope to have a feature article up about the event by the end of the year, but kudos go out to MouseFest Chairman Dave Marx and the rest of the Executive Committee. We set the bar pretty high this year.
A big thanks also to those who provided the pieces of this year's MousePlanet door prize for the Mega Mouse Meet: Advantage Vacation Homes, who provided a one-week stay in a three-bedroom vacation home with a private pool; Owner's Locker, who provided a locker with one year of unlimited visits; and MousePlanet writer Jeff Kober, who provided a copy of his brand-new book, The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney. Congratulations to MousePlanet reader and MouseStation podcast listener Scott Morris, who won the prize!
MousePlanet's Jeff Kober (l.) and Mark Goldhaber congratulate MousePlanet reader
and MouseStation Podcast listener Scott Morris on winning the MousePlanet-sponsored
door prize at the Mega Mouse Meet during MouseFest 2008. Photo courtesy of Mark
Goldhaber.
With the economic recession putting pressure on all sectors of the leisure travel market, Disney Cruise Line is stepping up with a new "Kids Free" promotion in an attempt to get families to try out a Disney cruise when they might not otherwise be able to afford it.
The deal offers free passage (plus government taxes and fees) for children ages 12 and under on three-night voyages when traveling with two full-fare paying passengers in the same cabin. The offer is valid on most sailings from January 22 through May 28 in a variety of stateroom cabins.
"At Disney Cruise Line, we pride ourselves on offering a vacation that caters to the individual needs of every member of the family," said Disney Cruise Line President Tom McAlpin. "This special offer is a great value perfect for families that have never experienced the magic of Disney at sea, or those who want to come back to create new memories."
To book your "Kids Free" cruise, visit the Disney Cruise Line Web site (link), call 888-325-2500, or contact one of MousePlanet's Preferred Disney Travel Providers, MouseEarVacations.com (link) or Small World Vacations (link) and make sure to use booking code "FREE." For more information on other discounted cruises from MouseEarVacations.com, check out their list of cruise discounts for MousePlanet readers here on the MousePlanet site.
The Main Street Railroad Station is lit in seasonal colors at the Magic Kingdom
entrance. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
In Town Square, a giant nutcracker stands guard in front of the park's Christmas
tree. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Toy soldiers also stand in front of the tree. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Seen from the Hub, the blue lights along Main Street, U.S.A. complement the
falling "snow." Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Through the magic of YouTube, Disney experts have provided some tips to help you with your holiday preparations and festivities.
If you're really behind in putting up your holiday lights, get some tips from one of the people behind the Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights:
Planning to make gingerbread houses? Why not take some tips from an expert?
And if you can't wait to watch the Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade this Thursday, there are a few preview videos to whet your appetite. Here's a promotion for the parade telecast itself, including a look at some of the special features that will air as part of the show:
The stars of Mary Poppins on Broadway, including Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee, will be performing the stage version of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" on Main Street, U.S.A.:
Out at Disneyland in California, to help launch the "What Will You Celebrate" campaign, Corbin Bleu will launch his new single, "Celebrate You."
The parade broadcast – hosted by Regis Philbin, Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest – will also feature Miley Cyrus performing in the Magic Kingdom, plus Billy Ray Cyrus, Jose Feliciano, the Jonas Brothers, David Cook, David Archuleta, the Imagination Movers and Sarah Brightman.
And for a quick look at one of my favorite hidden holiday treasures at Walt Disney World, here's a look at the Gingerbread Carousel at the Beach Club Resort:
Finally, if you're looking to get a head start on planning a champagne toast for New Year's Eve next week, there's a video on Walt Disney World's media site where Walt Disney World Resort wine experts Mark and Cindy Hoevenaars, both sommeliers, provide tips on serving champagne.
Walt Disney World has settled a lawsuit filed by Mahala Ault, Stacie Rhea and Dan Wallace asking that personally-owned Segways be allowed for use inside the theme parks. Disney's policy had been to disallow their use due to concerns about their use in crowds and the fact that Segways without speed governors could pose a danger to guests on foot. After the suit had been dismissed earlier due to the fact that none of the plaintiffs had any planned trips to the resort, each plaintiff booked a trip and the suit was allowed to continue.
The settlement, filed in U.S. District Court in Orlando earlier this month, stipulates that Disney will develop its own four-wheeled, electrically powered vehicle designed for operation while standing ("ESV") for use by guests to claim to have a mobility impairment or disability and need to use a stand-up mobility device. At least 15 of these devices will be provided at Disney Resorts. The ESVs will be permitted within the resorts and will be available for rental on the same terms as ECVs. The new ESVs are expected to be delivered starting around April 1.
In addition, Disney will pay each of the three plaintiffs $4,000, which may be applied toward a one-week stay for a family of four at Walt Disney World, plus Disney will provide each plaintiff with the use of one of the new ESVs on their next visit to the resort once the ESVs are available. Attorneys for two of the plaintiffs will receive $70,000 between them, though attorneys for the third plaintiff are still negotiating with Disney.
In return, Disney can continue to prohibit the use of Segways by guests other than those on Disney-guided Segway tours on closed courses following Disney-provided training, using Segways with operating speed governors.
Some MousePlanet readers had the opportunity to play-test the Kim Possible World
Showcase Adventure following our Soarin' meet at MouseFest. They received their
mission assignment from a "Field Station" themed as a woodworker's
cart near the Norway pavilion. Photo by Tina Delaney.
Their "Kimmunicator" guided them to their mission at the China pavilion.
Photo by Tina Delaney.
MousePad moderator Chris Salata (l.) and MouseStation Podcast co-host Mike Demopoulos
make a surprising discovery in one of the pavilion's windows. Photo by Tina
Delaney.
At the conclusion of the mission, the team's Kimmunicator must be returned to
the themed "Kimmunicator decommissioning drop." Photo by Tina Delaney.
While the Walt Disney World Marathon has sold out, there's a new endurance series event that you can sign up for. The ESPN The Weekend 5K race (link), sponsored by Dick's Sporting Goods and benefitting The V Foundation for Cancer Research, will be held on Saturday, February 28 at Disney's Hollywood Studios in conjunction with the annual synergitic event.
Everyone entered in the race will receive:
Registration is now open (link). Entry fees are $45 before February 2 and $50 on or after February 2. Guests can add one-day, one-park theme park tickets for $53 apiece, with a limit of themselves plus five. Online registration closes Sunday, February 22 or when the race reaches capacity. If the race has not sold out by February 22, on-site registration will be available at packet pickup on Friday, February 27. Day of race registration will not be available.
Runners must be 8 years or older to participate, and must be able to maintain a 16-minute per mile pace.
For more information on ESPN The Weekend, go to ESPNTheWeekend.com (link).
The Christmas tree at Disney's Hollywood Studios is surrounded by giant film
reels. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
The marquee sign for the new American Idol Experience attraction at Disney's
Hollywood Studios rises near Echo Lake. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Walt Disney World and local hotels continue to battle for the dwindling tourist dollars. With overall hotel room occupancy in Orlando (not including the Disney resorts) dropping to 57 percent in early December, it's obvious that fewer people are traveling right now. Disney's promotions have shrunk the predicted drop in hotel bookings at the resort, but they're still down 6 percent from last year.
Disney has extended the Buy-4, Get-3-Free promotion to allow guests to book through January 24, though the promotional dates now start on February 2. In addition, room-only rates as low as $49 per night (available through April 2) can be booked through January 4. The $49/night pricing at Value resorts matches the special rates available to Passholders, though Passholders can book for $5 less per night at Moderate resorts and $10 less per night at deluxes and DVC resorts.
To book your stay, visit the Walt Disney World Web site (link), call 407-939-7545, or contact one of MousePlanet's Preferred Disney Travel Providers, MouseEarVacations.com (link) or Small World Vacations (link).
The Viking ship at the Norway pavilion has been removed and replaced with landscaping..
Photo by Cathy Sowa.
MousePlanet sponsor Gaylord Palms Resort is offering a special ICE admission discount (link) for theme park passholders for the duration of the ICE season (through January 4). Those holding season passes any of the following are eligible: all Walt Disney World theme parks and water parks, all Universal Orlando theme parks, SeaWorld Adventure Park, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Aquatica, and Wet n Wild. Those passholders can receive 1 free child (ages 4-12) ICE admission OR half off a second adult admission when buying their own admission.
ICE! tickets range from $9.99 - $24.99, depending on the type of ticket, and day of the week. For more information or reservations, call 407-586-4-ICE (407-586-4423). To learn more about ICE, visit www.gaylordpalms.com/ice (link).
Construction work continues on the conversion of the Frontierland Fry Wagon
to the Golden Oak Outpost dining location. Photo by Bruce Danderline.
Help us keep our menu listings up to date!Did you know that MousePlanet now has menu listings (link) for all theme park restaurants at Walt Disney World and many resort restaurants? You can help us keep them up to date! Send your photos, scans or other copies of restaurant menus (no fair copying from other Web sites) to menus@mouseplanet.com (link). |
Here is the listing of interesting items from paperwork filed with Orange County in the last week:
Former Adventurers Club cast member Karl Anthony is a man of many characters
with the World Showcase Players at Epcot's United Kingdom pavilion, here portraying
(Bob) Marley's Ghost as part of the retelling of A Christmas Carol. Photo
by Mark Goldhaber.
…The American Idol Experience will officially premiere on February 12 at Disney's Hollywood Studios, though it's expected to have soft openings or sneak previews some time in January.
…The new Disney's Design a Tee Presented by Hanes shop has soft-opened at Downtown Disney Marketplace.
…Budget cuts have forced the cancellation of department Christmas parties at Walt Disney World, though cast member holiday perks have been enhanced. Those discounts, of course, will still add to the corporation's bottom line, instead of being an actual expense.
…Walt Disney World is using a viral email campaign to promote the "What Will You Celebrate" promotion. For those who haven't seen it yet, it's actually very cool (link).
…The second Walt Disney World Moms Panel (link) will start its tenure in January with 16 members – one-third more than the 12 members of the 2008 panel. The panel includes members from Canada and the United Kingdom.
…A new Magical Moment at the Caribbean Beach Resort has two guests recruited each day at the pool's opening to rid the newly-renovated feature pool of a pirate, who is later locked away in the pirate dungeon.
…MousePlanet has recently joined the Facebook nation. We're just getting started, but you can join the MousePlanet and MouseStation Podcast groups, or become a fan of MousePlanet or the MouseStation. If there's something that you'd like to see us do on Facebook, let us know!
From now until January 24, if you book a four-night, four-day non-discounted Magic Your Way package, you'll get three additional nights (including tickets) for free.
The offer is good for stays on most nights February 2-April 4 and April 19-June 27, 2009.
As a bonus, if you travel between January 4 and March 29, you'll get a $200 Disney Gift Card that you can use to pay some of the costs during your stay. It's also valid at Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Store and disneyshopping.com.
Packages start at net prices of $46 per person per day for a family of four in a standard room at a Value Resort from January 4-February 12 (total package price $1,271). For February 13-April 4, the package price is $1,466 for a per day, per person cost of $53 at a Value resort. Those prices are based on families of two adults, one junior and one child.
Packages for other resorts and lengths of stay are also available.
Here's Disney's rundown on pricing and savings:
| Disney Value Resorts | Disney Moderate Resorts | Select Disney Deluxe Resorts | Select Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts |
| $1,271 ($316 savings) Jan. 4-Feb. 12, 2009 |
$1,571 ($541 savings) Jan. 4-Jan. 12, 2009 Jan. 19-Feb. 12, 2009 |
$1,981 ($848 savings) Jan. 4-Feb. 12, 2009 |
$2,228 ($1,034 savings) Jan.12-Feb. 9, 2009 |
| $1,466 ($484 savings) Feb. 13-April 4, 2009 |
$1,778 ($718 savings) Feb. 13-April 4, 2009 |
$2,498 ($1,281 savings) Feb. 13-April 4, 2009 |
$2,611 ($1,320 savings) Feb. 16- April 4, 2009 |
| $1,375 ($416 savings) April 19-May 21, 2009 |
$1,666 ($634 savings) April 19-May 21, 2009 |
$2,206 ($1,017 savings) April 19-May 21, 2009 |
$2,363 ($1,135 savings) April 19- May 21, 2009 |
| $1,421 ($450 savings) May 22 –June 27, 2009 |
$1,733 ($685 savings) May 22-June 27, 2009 |
$2,206 ($1,017 savings) May 22-May 25, 2009 June 2-June 27, 2009 |
$2,363 ($1,135 savings) May 22 –June 27, 2009 |
Prices are based on two adults, one junior (ages 10 to 17) and one child (ages 3 to 9) in a standard room at a Value Resort, Moderate Resort, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (Deluxe Resort) or a studio at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (Deluxe Villa Resort). Savings are based on the non-discounted price of a 7-night/7-day Magic Your Way package. The discount code for this offer is IUZ.
To book these packages, go to the Walt Disney World Web site (link), call 407-939-7928 or contact one of MousePlanet's Preferred Disney Travel Providers, Small World Vacations (link) and MouseEarVacations.com (link). Just remember to book by December 20!
From now until January 4, everyone can book a deep-discounted rate for reservations most Sunday through Thursday nights through April 2. Lowest rates are through mid-February, with discounted but not quite as low rates from then through early April.
Room rates start at prices of $49 per night for a standard room at a Value Resort from January 4-February 12. For February 16-April 4, the Value Resort rate is $74 per day. Rates at other resorts are also available.
Here's Disney's rundown on pricing:
| Disney Value Resorts | Disney Moderate Resorts | Select Disney Deluxe Resorts | Select Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts |
| $49 Jan. 4-Feb. 12, 2009 |
$94 |
$154 |
$189 |
| $74 Feb. 16-April 2, 2009 |
$124 Feb. 16-April 2, 2009 |
$229 Feb. 16-April 2, 2009 |
$244 Feb. 16- April 2, 2009 |
Prices do not include tax and are based on a standard room at a Value Resort, Moderate Resort, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge (Deluxe Resort) or a studio at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa or Disney's Old Key West Resort (Deluxe Villa Resort). The discount code for this offer is OZ.
To book these packages, go to the Walt Disney World Web site (link), call 407-939-7545 or contact one of MousePlanet's Preferred Disney Travel Providers, Small World Vacations (link) and MouseEarVacations.com (link). Just remember to book by December 20!
Disney Cruise Line now offering a "Kids Free" promotion. The deal offers free passage (plus government taxes and fees) for children ages 12 and under on three-night voyages when traveling with two full-fare paying passengers in the same cabin. The offer is valid on most sailings from January 22 through May 28 in a variety of stateroom cabins.
To book your "Kids Free" cruise, visit the Disney Cruise Line Web site (link), call 888-325-2500, or contact one of MousePlanet's Preferred Disney Travel Providers, MouseEarVacations.com (link) or Small World Vacations (link) and make sure to use booking code "FREE." For more information on other discounted cruises from MouseEarVacations.com, check out their list of cruise discounts for MousePlanet readers here on the MousePlanet site.
MousePlanet sponsor Gaylord Palms Resort and Spa is offering MousePlanet readers great discounts for rooms combined with two admissions to ICE (a $40 value) are just $30 more! You can get the special Just Chillin' ICE deals by clicking here.
Discounted ECV rentals for MousePlanet readers through Scooter Vacations
Scooter Vacations, MousePlanet's mobility scooter rental partner, is offering MousePlanet readers a 10 percent discount on their scooter rentals by using code MP10 when making your reservation for any of their five scooter models.
For a limited time, MousePlanet discount ticket partner Orlando Fun Tickets is currently offering a free upgrade to a 5-day Park Hopper pass when you purchase a 3-day Park Hopper. Check out the special offer or any of the other great prices on tickets at OrlandoFunTickets.com!
Walt Disney World Annual Passholder discounts on rooms and dining plans are now available. Discounts are valid for travel dates between September 28 and December 23.
Passholders should use the following Booking Codes when making your reservation (standard passholder discount rules apply):
MousePlanet's preferred Disney travel providers are Small World Vacations (link) and MouseEarVacations.com (link).
Passholder rates for January 1 – February 12, 2009 have been released, with value resorts starting at just $49 per night, moderate resorts starting at $89 per night. Select deluxe resorts (Wilderness and Animal Kingdom Lodges) starting at $144 per night and studio accommodations at Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa starting at $179 per night. The rates at value and deluxe resorts are valid January 2–15 and January 19 – February 12. Moderate resorts are available January 4–17 and January 21 – February 12. Saratoga Springs is available January 1 – February 12.
The number of rooms available is limited and minimum length of stay requirements may apply for Friday and Saturday arrivals. Reservations may be booked through the Passholder web site or by using code DYS if booking via the Passholder phone line (407-939-7722) or through a travel agent. MousePlanet's preferred Disney travel providers are MouseEarVacations.com (link) and Small World Vacations (link).
The Disney Cruise Line has announced a special deal where any bookings through the Disney Cruise web site (link) will only require payment of half of the usual deposit, with the other half due with the rest of the final payment. The offer is only good on new bookings, and for category 4-12 cabins only. The offer is available to those booking online or through their travel agents (though the travel agent would have to book the cruise through disneycruise.com for the offer). Bookings are also eligible for the standard $25 onboard credit offer for all online bookings. The deal is available "for a limited time," but there's no word on when the limited time expires. MousePlanet's preferred Disney travel providers are MouseEarVacations.com (link) and Small World Vacations (link).
(Send an email to Mark Goldhaber)
Mark (@MPMark) is a veteran of dozens of trips to Walt Disney World starting in 1972, with a few Disneyland trips thrown in for good measure. As a Disney stockholder and a Disney Vacation Club member, Mark is always in touch with what's going on with The Mouse. Mark serves as MousePlanet's Walt Disney World content coordinator. Mark is a senior information technology manager working for the State of New York. He lives in the suburbs outside Albany, New York, with his wife and son.
