EPCOT'S 25th Birthday

As the 25th birthday of Epcot arrives Monday October 1, 2007, many people are discussing the vision that Walt Disney had for EPCOT. Walt was never able to see his EPCOT dreams come to life, as he died before the park opened in 1982. EPCOT has since become one of the most visited theme parks in the world. The article below details the vision for EPCOT and the future plans for the park.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flaepcot0930nbsep30,0,2148088.story

More Reviews of the Haunted Mansion Updates

More details of the Haunted Mansion updates and the new souvenir collector pins that are available in limited edition marking the ride updates.


http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=38607

Epcot to Expand Restaurants

Epcot is looking to expand their full service restaurant offerings. Epcot has already introduced a new restaurant in they Italy pavilion this year and will do the same in Japan. They will also change the restaurant in Mexico to offer a tequila bar. Unlike most theme parts restaurants play a big part in the overall appeal of Epcot. These restaurants not only attract tourist, but locals with season passes can also have a great dinner night as well.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/travel/20070923_Restaurants_rival_rides.html

Disney Going Healthy

Disney announced that it has partnered with King Parrot Foods, a UK company that sells smoothies. Disney is attempting to phase out foods and drinks that fail to meet new nutrition criteria. King Parrot Foods founder Noel Davis said he thinks the company will sell more than three million smoothies between now and Christmas.

I hope this doesn't mean that Disney will stop selling the Mickey Eskimo Pies.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/business-news/2007/09/19/parrot-do-disney-deal-100252-19813657/

Disney Plans 25th Birthday Party for Epcot

Disney announced that it will hold a public Epcot re-dedication party on October 1, 2007. This will be an observation of Epcot's 25th anniversary. Disney originally planned for an employees only celebration, that would focus on the 300 employees that opened the park 25 years ago and still work there. The celebration will include a special "IlluminNations" light show at the end of the day and retro souvenirs. The full article is linked below.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-epcot18sep18,0,2123580.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

More Information on the Haunted Mansion Updates

The article linked below is an interview with Kathy Rogers, Disney Show Producer, on the updates to the Haunted Mansion ride at Magic Kingdom. She reveals some of the new changes that will open just in time for the first night of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_orlando/2007/09/old-almost-new-.html

Disney needs Moms

Walt Disney World Resort is looking for 12 members for its new online Moms Panel, a group of veteran Disney vacationers who are willing to share their personal planning secrets with the rest of the world. Winners will receive a six-day vacation for four.

The Moms Panel, which goes live in January, will provide park insights and answer questions from online visitors. And no, you don't need to be a mom to apply (though most family vacation planners are women, according to research).

Interested applicants have until Oct. 5 to answer three questions explaining why they should be considered for the panel. For details: www.disneyworldmoms.com.

Disney to Test Toys

Disney announced that they will be taking a proactive approach to prevent toys with lead based paint. See the story linked below for further information.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5huYfLtwfbINENGxYMCYXvKG0iRUQ

Haunted Mansion Updates Revealed

A few days ago I reported the Haunted Mansion Ride at the Magic Kindom had reopened after several updates. If you can't wait until the next time you go to Disney to find out what changes have been made the read the story linked below.

http://www.disneygossip.com/2007/09/magic-kingdom-haunted-mansion-leaks.html

How to Plan a Great Walt Disney Vacation

Author: Miriam Boh

A Walt Disney vacation can be absolutely wonderful, but hard on your wallet if you do not do some research and planning early. In this article, I would like to share a little insight on how you can save hundreds of dollars on your next trip and at the same time have a great Walt Disney World vacation. First, book your trip in advance. You will no doubt have to pay more if all holiday preparations are made at the last minute. If you are planning to go during peak season such as between Christmas and New Year, booking one year in advance is never a problem. Otherwise, six to nine months will not deprive you of getting the best rooms that you desire at the best rates. If you are flexible on your vacation dates, you choose to go at a time when Disney offers Value Rates. These are the least expensive. Food can be very costly at Disney theme park. Do not overspend on meals. If you like table-service meals, try lunch since the menus tend to be less expensive than dinner. Whenever possible, eat outside the park for dinner. Staying at Disney World Resort can help to save you some time while on vacation and let you and your family enjoy more of the park. This is because you do not have to spend so much time traveling back and forth to your hotel which results in shortened park enjoyment time as most families with younger children especially have trouble getting everyone rounded up early in the morning. As a Disney resort guest, you can take advantage of the extra time to visit the attractions that are way too crowded during normal park hours. Planning your day inside the park is a strategic effort. The easiest way to plan your Walt Disney vacation is to select the appropriate days you plan to visit parks and shows. Study the theme park map before you get to it. Nothing wastes time like wandering around not sure where you are or where you want to go next. Of course, you do not want the whole family to rush around during the whole day just to get to all the rides either. Thus, plan with some buffer time in-between so movement from one attraction to another is not a stressful experience. Staying at Disney resorts not only helps to save you money and time, but your sanity as well. As a resort guest, you do not have to worry about the transportation which brings you to and back from parks. You need not feel stress that you have missed the shuttle and have to wait a half hour for the next. You will feel more relaxed and have more freedom to choose the time you want to leave. Pick appropriate days to visit the attractions in the parks. It will be a bonus if you have extra time. With some advanced planning and predetermined Disney park visitation strategies, you and your family can experience a great Walt Disney vacation with excellent deals, less stress and fatigue.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/how-to-plan-a-great-walt-disney-vacation-207750.html
About the Author:Miriam Boh is the owner of DiscountFamilyVacation4u.com. Want to know how to plan a memorable Walt Disney vacation with strategies that can literally save you hundreds? Get practical, Disney vacation money-saving tips and strategies at http://www.discountfamilyvacation4u.com .

FastPass Changes

It appears Disney is looking at making some really cool changes to their FASTPASS system. According to the article by Jim Hill, Disney guests' will be able to book a FASTPASS 24 hours in advance from their hotel room. Also, the FASTPASS tickets will be paperless, they will appear as a virtual ticket on your cell phone. Guests will also receive a reminder about 15 minutes before their FASTPASS time so, they can make their way to the line. The down side to the FASTPASS changes are that Disney is also looking at making FASTPASSES available to guests that spend more money (i.e. stay at a more expensive resort). Check out the article by Jim Hill below and comment on your thoughts about the new FASTPASS systems.

http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2007/09/05/new-disney-patent-application-reveals-that-fastpass-for-pay-is-not-far-away.aspx

Disney Parking Rates Increase

Walt Disney World has announced that effective September 1, 2007 prices would be increasing for parking at the resort. Each vehicle category price has been increased by $1.00. The prices, which are per vehicle, per day, are as follows:
Automobiles, Taxis, Limousines, Shuttles, and Motorcycles: $11.00

Campers and Trailers: $12.00

Buses and Tractor Trailers: $15.00
For more information guests can visit the Walt Disney World Transportation and Directions page

Purchasing your Park Tickets

Just like everything else Disney, you have many options for purchasing your park tickets. Purchasing the right tickets will depend on the length of your stay, what parks you intend of visiting, and if you plan on returning to Disney multiple times in a year.

Let me first start with the length of stay. The more nights you purchase, the better deal you will receive. You can purchase tickets with a no expiration option (additional fee) and the unused days of your tickets can be used the next time you visit. My husband and I take of advantage of this option every time we buy a ticket. The price for the "no expiration" option varies based on the number of days you purchase. The more days you have with the "no expiration" option the higher the price per day.

Which parks do you plan on visiting? This is definitely an important question. Disney has more to offer than just the four main theme parks. There is also two water parks Disney's Blizzard Beach and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon. In addition, there is Downtown Disney/Pleasure Island, and Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. If you plan on visiting any of these places, you will need to add these to your park tickets.

One of the best tickets you can buy is the park hopper option. This ticket will allow you to visit different parks in the same day. The Park Hopper ticket will help you plan your time at the Disney parks efficiently, allowing you to do more with the time you have. For example, if the Magic Kingdom Park offers extra magic hours from in the evening, you can visit another park at the beginning of the day, and then go to the Magic Kingdom later that day since you have up to three extra hours. The price park hopper option is based on the length of your ticket, the longer the cheaper the park hopper option.

Disney park tickets can be purchased online at http://www.disneyworld.com/ , at a Disney store, or at the parks. Disney's website has a helpful chart that will be beneficial in helping you make your ticket decisions.

Haunted Mansion Reopened

According to the article linked below, the Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom has been refurbished and should reopen September 13, 2007. "When it reopens, the humor-based ghost house will feature a new ghost bride with five groomsmen, a new Madame Leota sighting and a few other changes"(Scott Powers Christopher Boyd and Jason Garcia, Sentinel Staff Writers). Also, it looks like Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney Studios will be closed for a month for maintenance and will tentatively reopen October 4, 2007. Thought you might want this information if you are planning to be at Disney during this time.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-tourism0307sep03,0,517395.story?coll=orl-magic

Choosing the right Disney Resort

Disney has a resort to fit in every ones budget and taste! Are you on a budget? Do you require the best luxury that money can buy? Are you looking for something in between? Disney Resorts are broken into to three categories. Value Resorts, Moderate Resorts and Deluxe Resorts.

Let me first start with the Value Resorts. There are four Value Resorts to choose from. They are Disney's Pop Century, Disney's All Star Movies, Disney's All Star Music and Disney's All Star Sports. These resorts give you all the benefits is staying at a Disney Resort without the high price tag. You can still take advantage of the Magical Express, Extra Magic Hours etc. A family of four can stay 6 nights including park tickets at a Value Resort for less than $1600.00. (based on availability and time of year. Check http://www.disneyworld.com/ for rates and availability of this package) This is a great price considering all you get. These resorts offer food courts and themed swimming pools.

Secondly, you have the Moderate Resorts. There are also four Moderate Resorts to choose from. They are Disney's Caribbean Beach, Disney's Coronado Springs, Disney's Port Orleans-French quarter and Disney's Port Orleans-Riverside. They have a few extra benefits such as room service (limited menu), Casual dining, food courts, gift shops, pool bar and more. There are also recreational activities available like boating, sailing, white sandy beaches and playground equipment. These resort start at $145.00 per night based on availability.

Finally, if expect luxury and amenities beyond your wildest dreams, a Deluxe Resort is for you. There are eight Deluxe Resorts to choose from. They are Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney's Beach club, Disney's Boardwalk Inn, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Polynesian, Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Disney's Yacht Club and the grandmother of them all Disney's Grand Floridian. These resorts are priced between $215.00 - $375.00 per night. Deluxe Resorts include signature dining, Character dining, casual dining, 24 hour room service and some also offer food courts. These resorts offer themes that will amaze even the most well traveled individual. You really must see to believe!

You can check and compare services of all these resorts at http://www.disneyworld.com/. A little research can make you a well informed vacationer and ensure you find the resort that meets your needs. Keep in mind you can use all the amenities of each hotel such as Spas, Restaurants and activities no matter which Disney Resort you choose to stay at.

Now that you have chosen a hotel, it's time to choose your park tickets. Stay tuned for more.

Benefits of staying at a Walt Disney World Resort

There are many choices when it comes to choosing where to stay for your Disney vacation. But first, you need to decide if you want to stay at a Disney Resort or another name brand hotel on Disney property. This answer to this question is actually quite simple. If you want to have the ultimate Disney experience, you need to stay at a Disney Resort. Why is that you may ask? Well, there is no question that staying at a Disney Resort will save you time and money. How is that you might ask? It seems like staying at a Disney Resort would be too expensive. On the contrary, staying at a Disney Resort is one of the most economical decisions you can make! Here are some of the benefits of staying at a Disney Resort .

One of the biggest benefits is the Magical Express. The Magical Express is free transportation from the airport to your resort. But wait, there's more! Not only is the transportation free, (paying a taxi or another type of bus can cost you $15.00 - $20.00 per person) you don't have to wait at the baggage claim area for your luggage. Your luggage will "magically" appear in your hotel room. Another benefit is the free transportation to all the Disney Theme Parks. Disney buses run every 15 minutes for up to two hours past park closing. While other hotels also offer free transportation, they only run once or twice a day. Also, while staying at a Disney Resort you can take advantage of Extra Magic hours. Extra Magic hours offers additional operating hours at selected theme parks during your stay. Theme parks will either open one hour earlier or close up to three hours later for Resort guests only. This give you an opportunity to enjoy the park before the rest of the guests arrive, or you have extra time to get in all the fun as the regular guests leave. Bring your room key with you for this extra as you will be given a wrist band before the park closes to the general public!

I hope you can see why staying at a Disney Resort will give you the best bang for your buck! Staying at a Disney Resort will undoubtedly save you time and money; not to mention stress!

Now that you can see why staying at a Disney Resort is beneficial, tomorrow we will discuss which type of Disney Resort will best meet your needs.

Welcome to Disney World Adventures!!

Disney World is the most magical family vacation spot in the world. It has something for everyone. Kids rides, thrill rides, shows and more. Don't have kids? It doesn't matter. Disney brings out the kid in everyone. If you have never been to Disney before or if you been 100 times, there is a new adventure in every vacation! As much fun as Disney is, it's even better if you plan it right. In this blog, I hope to help you make the most of your Disney vacation. So were do I start. Picking the right hotel will help you make the most of your Disney vacation. Why is picking the right hotel so important? Tomorrow, I will discuss where to stay while in Disney. Stay tuned!