Get in FREE on your birthday!
Disney has launched its first-ever Celebration Vacation offer — in 2009, everyone who visits a Disney theme park at Walt Disney World Resort on their birthday can get in FREE.
Disney's Armed Forces Salute!
Active and retired U.S. military personnel can enjoy complimentary, multi-day admission into Disney World's theme parks, special rates at select Disney World Resort hotels and additional special ticket offers for family members and friends.The offer, good through December 23, 2009, allows each active or retired member of the U.S. military one 5-day "Disney's Armed Forces Salute" ticket with Park Hopper and Water Park Fun & More options. This ticket is valid for five days of admission into the four theme parks, plus five visits to a choice of Disney water parks, DisneyQuest and certain other attractions. During the offer period, one-time purchases of up to a maximum of five 5-day "Disney's Armed Forces Salute Companion" tickets are available for family members and friends, for just $99 per ticket, plus tax. These tickets do not include the Park Hopper or Water Park Fun & More options, but those can be purchased for an additional $25, plus tax per option. For more information visit www.disneyworld.com/military
Before you Go Information
In case you missed it, Disney World quietly raised their ticket prices in August, 2009. The bad news is a one day ticket now costs $79 for one park. The good news is the more days you buy, the less it costs you per day — stay 10 days and get in the parks for only $24.30 per day (park hopper and no expiration fees are additional).
This January, Disney World Resorts also raised their prices slightly:
Online Check-In Service
This new complimentary service is designed to simplify the arrival and check-in process. Within 10 days of arrival guests are able to provide check-in information, advise the resort of their arrival times and request room preferences (although those cannot be guaranteed). The service also allows guests to register the names of all the people in their party and provide a credit card to cover charges at the resort hotel.Upon arrival at their resort, guest that are pre-checked will visit a special welcome location where their room keys and other registration material are waiting.
Disney's Magic Kingdom
The Hall of Presidents reopened July 4 with an audio-animatronic version of President Barack Obama joining representations of the previous 43 presidents of the United States.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
In case you missed it, in 2008 a new name adorns the Hollywood-themed park — Disney's Hollywood Studios. Renamed from Disney-MGM Studios, the new title better represents all that today's Hollywood has to offer... in movies, music, theater and television.While the 2008 opening of "Toy Story Mania!" has been a big hit, another blockbuster attraction opened early in 2009 — American Idol!
Downtown Disney's Pleasure Island
In a move to make Downtown Disney's Pleasure Island more family-friendly, this fall Disney closed the doors of six nightclubs on Disney's Wild Side... err, West Side and unleashing a giant tethered balloon — Characters in Flight, a dinosaur-themed eatery and more.Paradiso 37, a high energy restaurant and bar will open at Pleasure Island in Downtown Disney in May, 2009. The new restaurant will feature cuisine from North, South and Central America — 37 countries in all. The eatery will be open daily from 11:00 a.m. until late night and feature nightly entertainment. | Downtown Disney |
It's a Wide World of Sports... after all!
After several years at Wide World of Sports, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will move their pre-season preparations to their own training facility in Tampa.
Contemporary Resort
I admit to being a technology junkie, so when Disney announced that quick-service eats are going high tech at the new Contempo Cafe in the Grand Canyon Concourse at Disney's Contemporary Resort, I suddenly had a craving to see it in action.It couldn't be simpler... decide what you want to eat (that's the hardest part), place your order on the touch screen, head to the cashier, pick a table in the 147-seat dining area and a pager blinks when your food is ready for pickup at the counter. Enjoy pizza, deli sandwiches, soups, grilled sandwiches and much more while enjoying the view of the Disney monorail passing through the famous hotel.
New 2009 & 2010 Dates Announced
New dates for some of Disney World's most popular events have been announced. Why not make plans now to attend?- Epcot International Food & Wine Festival - Sept. 25 to Nov. 8, 2009
- Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party - Sept. 4, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29, Oct. 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31 and Nov. 1, 2009
- Night of Joy - Sept. 11 & 12
- 34th Annual Festival of the Masters - Nov. 13-15
- Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party - Nov. 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 29, Dec. 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17 & 18, 2009
- Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival - March 3 to May 16, 2010.
Coming In 2009
- New "Quick Service" dining plan that can save up to 20% on dining for those arriving after January 11, 2009. The plan will offer two quick service meals and two snacks for each night of stay, plus a resort refillable drink mug for unlimited refills of non-alcoholic beverages at the guest's Disney resort hotel.
- Got a passion for pirates? Get a real swashbuckling experience at the Caribbean Beach Resort beginning in 2009 with pirate-themed accommodations. Each of 384 pirate rooms will feature ship-themed beds, buccaneer accessories and swashbuckling decor.
- Just in time for summer, the Disney Vacation Club will revive "treehouse living" at the Treehouse Villas as part of Disney's Saratoga Spring Resort & Spa. Sixty three-bedroom elevated villas will immerse guests in the African experience.
- Celebrity Chef Cat Cora will open a new family dining restuarant at Disney's BoardWalk Resort in the fall of 2009.
