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Dateline Disney
March/April 2010
Epcot Landscape Dons Spring’s Vibrant Colors
For 17th Flower & Garden Festival Beginning March 3
While much of the country’s landscape hibernates to escape winter’s chill, spring arrives on butterfly wings for the 17th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival beginning March 3 at Walt Disney World Resort. Besides browsing the popular Fawn’s Butterfly House at Pixie Hollow, guests can flex their green thumbs and gather bouquets of ideas for their own spring and summer gardening projects.
This year’s festival, which continues for 75 days through May 16, promises to be “a gardener’s dream-come-true,” says festival horticulture manager Eric Darden, because the early opening features more brilliant color and greater opportunity to soak up gardening tips for successful home plantings. Here are some of the highlights:
*Guests can sit in on Disney Gardening at Home presentations, scheduled twice daily each Friday through Sunday, to learn valuable tips that Disney horticulturists employ to keep Epcot gardens thriving. There’s a bonus, too: guests will participate in a hands-on, take-home gardening project.
*Celebrity gardeners and authors get in on the fun each weekend when they make appearances and share their own gardening secrets during the Great American Gardeners series.
*Families won’t want to miss the festival’s first Community Garden, where carefully manicured topiaries of Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy oversee a thriving garden of tomatoes, beans, peppers, herbs and other vitamin-rich edibles.
*Guests who like to stop and smell the roses can stroll the Fragrance Garden at the France pavilion, where they can sniff the flowers and plants used to create popular Guerlain perfumes.
*Each year, expertly crafted topiaries debut across the park, and this year there are several, including the new American Gothic Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse topiaries at World Showcase Plaza based on the 1930 Grant Wood painting. More than 100 topiaries and lush floral beds decorate the park landscape and showcase the craftsmanship of Disney gardeners.
*Guests will find useful and decorative gardening merchandise at The Garden Town Festival Center.
More information about the 17th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is available by calling 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or by visiting disneyworld.com/flower. The festival, including all gardening programs and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission.
Great American Gardeners + Disney Gardening at Home = Spring Training
for ‘Green Thumbs’ during Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
“Green Thumbs” will have a chance to go to “spring training” during the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort. National, regional and Disney gardening experts will be featured in a series of enlightening presentations each Friday-Sunday of the festival, beginning March 5-7.
Topics such as “Easy-to-do Water Features,” “The Small-Budget Garden,” “The Truth about Garden Remedies,” “Creating Backyard Garden Retreats” and many more will be presented on designated weekends during the 17th annual festival, which runs March 3-May 16. Here’s the weekend-by-weekend lineup for March and April:
March 5-7 Disney Gardening at Home: Easy-To-Do Water Features
Great American Gardeners: Florida Fruit & Vegetable Gardening (Robert Bowden)
March 12-14 Disney Gardening at Home: Fun Family Gardening Projects
Great American Gardeners: The Truth about Garden Remedies (Jeff Gillman)
March 19-21 Disney Gardening at Home: What’s Old Is New
Great American Gardeners: Gardening with Heirloom Seeds (Lynn Coulter)
March 26-28 Disney Gardening at Home: Butterfly House-How To Create a Pollinator
Great American Gardeners: The Small-Budget Garden (Maureen Gilmer)
April 2-4 Disney Gardening at Home: Disney’s Horticulture Past-Festival Favorites
Great American Gardeners: Bringing Nature Home (Douglas Tallamy)
April 9-11 Disney Gardening at Home: Irrigation ‘How To’
Great American Gardeners: Stylish Sheds & Elegant Hideaways (Debra Prinzing)
April 16-18 Disney Gardening at Home: Creating Backyard Garden Retreats
Great American Gardeners: Sweet Herbal Recipes & the Creative Herbal Home (Susan Belsinger)
April 23-25 Disney Gardening at Home: Disney’s Top Picks for Mixed Containers
Great American Gardeners: His & Hers–What Makes a Great Garden (Tom & Joani MacCubbin)
The opening-weekend Great American Gardeners presenter, Robert Bowden, is executive director of Orlando’s Harry P. Leu Gardens, which features 50 acres of southern-styled gardens.
Disney Gardening at Home is presented at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. each Friday-Sunday, with Great American Gardeners at 12 noon and 3 p.m. on those days. All sessions take place at the festival’s Garden Town, located adjacent to Mission: SPACE at Epcot. The opportunity to attend sessions is included with Epcot admission.
Jose Feliciano Lights Fires of Musical Nostalgia at Epcot,
Kicking Off Flower Power Concert Series March 5-7 at Flower & Garden Festival
Jose Feliciano kicks off a schedule of concerts certain to light the fires of musical nostalgia each weekend of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort.
With his March 5-7 concerts, Feliciano lifts the curtain on a Flower Power concert series lineup featuring 11 acts that produced 126 Top 40 hits from the 1960s through the 1990s. America’s music-loving public turned 16 of their releases into No. 1’s.
Jose Feliciano, whose 1968 recording of “Light My Fire” climbed the charts to No. 3, will be followed in March and April by
Paul Revere & The Raiders (March 12-14), David Cassidy (March 19-21),
Starship featuring Mickey Thomas (March 26-28), Tony Orlando (April 2-4),
Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone (April 9-11), Ricky Nelson Remembered Featuring the Nelsons (April 16-18) and
Atlanta Rhythm Section (April 23-25). (Entertainment is subject to change without notice.)
The groups’ shows are at America Gardens Theatre on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 p.m. Concerts are included with Epcot admission.
World Champion Yankees, National League Champion Phillies Among
Braves’ 16-Game Grapefruit League Slate at Walt Disney World Resort
Atlanta Braves Spring Training returns to Walt Disney World Resort for the 13th consecutive year, with a 16-game Grapefruit League home schedule in March featuring Major League Baseball’s top teams at the newly re-imagined ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Marquee opponents visiting Champion Stadium include the World Champion New York Yankees, World Series runner-up Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals.
Guests also will be treated to game-day entertainment and additional fan experiences in a way only Disney can do – from character appearances … to an exclusive On-Field Spectator Experience and the return of the fan-favorite All-You-Care-To-Eat offering.
Information on the Braves’ spring training season, group tickets and mini-packs is available by calling 407/939-GAME (4263) or online at disneysports.com. Individual game tickets are availablethrough Ticketmaster (800/745-3000 and /atlantabravesticketmaster.com) and at the sports complex box office.
Braves Spring
Training Home Schedule (ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex)
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Date
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Team
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Time
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Wednesday,
March 3
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New York
Mets
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1:05 p.m.
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Thursday,
March 4
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Pittsburgh
Pirates
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1:05 p.m.
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Friday,
March 5
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Washington
Nationals
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1:05 p.m.
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Sunday,
March 7
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Houston
Astros
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1:05 p.m.
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Tuesday,
March 9
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Philadelphia
Phillies
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7:05 p.m.
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Wednesday,
March 10
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New York
Mets
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1:05 p.m.
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Friday,
March 12
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Pittsburgh
Pirates
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1:05 p.m.
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Saturday,
March 13
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Toronto
Blue Jays
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1:05 p.m.
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Tuesday,
March 16
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Florida
Marlins
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1:05 p.m.
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Friday,
March 19
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Detroit
Tigers
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6:05 p.m.
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Sunday,
March 21
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St. Louis
Cardinals
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1:05 p.m.
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Wednesday,
March 24
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Philadelphia
Phillies
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1:05 p.m.
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Friday,
March 26
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Detroit
Tigers
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1:05 p.m.
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Saturday,
March 27
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Washington
Nationals
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1:05 p.m.
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Tuesday,
March 30
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New York
Yankees
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1:05 p.m.
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Wednesday,
March 31
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Houston
Astros
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1:05 p.m.
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Princess Half Marathon Weekend Returns to Disney World March 5-7
Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by Lady Footlocker returns to Walt Disney World Resort March 5-7, 2010, bringing together women of all ages to participate in an event designed just for them.
Now in its second year, the event includes the Disney’s Fit for a Princess Health and Fitness Expo plus a series of race opportunities – Disney’s Royal Family Kids’ Races, the Royal Family 5K and the 13.1-mile half marathon. The signature event takes runners on a course through multiple Walt Disney World theme parks, each themed around Disney’s beloved princess characters.
Due to popularity, this year’s half marathon race field has been expanded beyond last year’s capacity of 7,500. More than 13,000 runners are expected to participate in the half marathon – with more than 18,000 cumulatively for the weekend race activities, making it one of the country’s largest road-race events geared toward women … and the only race where runners can experience a storybook start and a fairytale ending.
New Dining Room at Victoria & Albert’s a ‘Must Do’
At Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
True Disney foodies know you haven’t arrived until you’ve dined at the crème de la crème of restaurants – Victoria & Albert’s in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World Resort. But now the top-rated dining room has a new “must do”: the gorgeous Queen Victoria’s Room.
Queen Victoria’s Room, behind closed doors just off the main dining room, features just four tables, and restaurant manager Israel Perez promises attention to your every whim. His staff has brought back French gueridon service, which involves a fancy rolling cart (a gueridon) that moves from table to table for customized service and “wow” factor – a flourish of Himalayan sea salt atop your filet, a decadent wine sauce or a lavish display of cheese, for instance.
Anyone who’s tasted Chef Scott Hunnel’s exquisite creations knows this is a memorable affair. How often do you savor perfectly seared Kurobuta pork tenderloin and belly, or butter-poached lobster with bisque and lobster roe foam? And vegans and vegetarians are Hunnel’s favorite challenge. The sommelier happily will pair something delicious with each of the 10 courses. Yes, 10 courses, but they’re small. Still, plan on three to four hours of leisurely dining.
It’s worth the price of a baby-sitter – no kids under 10 are allowed in the dining room, so you’re guaranteed an evening of blissful quiet. Be advised: men must wear jackets (tie optional) for this formal affair.
You’ll float out the door with a long-stemmed rose for women and personalized menus for everyone to carry home. Cost for Queen Victoria’s Room is $200 per person, plus $95 for wine pairings. The restaurant has its own reservation line, 407/939-3862. There is just one seating nightly.
Disney Cruise Line 2010 European and Mediterranean Itineraries Set Sail In April
In April, Disney Cruise Line will set sail to Europe for an unprecedented five-month season of Northern European and Mediterranean cruises.
On April 24, the Disney Magic will return to the Mediterranean for 10- and 11-night cruises with three new ports of call. In addition to ports in Italy, France and Spain, the Disney Magic will visit Tunis in Northern Africa, the island nation of Malta, and Corsica, an island oasis off the southern coast of France. Departing out of Barcelona, Spain, the Disney Magic will sail the Mediterranean in April, May, August and September.
During June and July 2010, Disney Cruise Line will offer a 12-night Northern European Capitals cruise for the first time. Guests can experience breathtaking fjords and Viking lore at the Scandinavian ports Oslo, Copenhagen and Stockholm. The ship will also sail to Warnemunde, Germany, and to St. Petersburg, Russia. The cruises will depart out of Dover, England, aboard the Disney Magic.
Throughout these itineraries, family-friendly Port Adventures will allow guests to best experience the culturally rich locales. All Port Adventures will offer impeccable Disney guest service and are designed to entertain and inspire both children and adults.
To see special offers on 2010 itineraries or to book a vacation, guests can visit disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888/DCL-2500 or contact their travel agent.
Children Customize Their Cruise Experience on Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line, the leader in family cruising, is once again reinventing onboard children’s experiences. Through an entirely new approach to youth activities, kids can let their imaginations set sail by customizing their cruise vacation. More youth activities than ever before are available and children choose experiences based on interest, not age.
On Disney Cruise Line, children can personalize their cruise vacation by selecting activities and events, regardless of age. The entire menu of youth activities offerings is now open to every child. Children and parents choose programs based on the specific interests of each child to create a customized and very personalized experience. Best of all, children of different ages – siblings, extended family and friends – can participate in youth activities together throughout their cruise.
The majority of children’s events and free-time activities occur within dedicated youth spaces on the ship and on Castaway Cay. As always, Disney Cruise Line youth activities are supervised by specially trained, experienced counselors.
With more than 100 activities, events and programs, and with all youth activities open to all ages, children have more choices than ever before on Disney Cruise Line.
To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can visit disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888/DCL-2500 or contact their travel agent.
More Moms for The Mouse: Online Panel Expands to 43
Due to the increasing popularity of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel Web site, 22 panelists from 2008 and 2009 are joining 21 new panelists for the largest-ever group of Disney-savvy vacation gurus in 2010.
“Walt Disney World is so much more than a theme park, and being on the Moms Panel allows me to help people discover all that Disney has to offer,” said 2010 panelist Amanda Allen of Raleigh, N.C. “I’ve been traveling to Walt Disney World for over 35 years, and even after making countless trips there, my family still finds something new to experience.”
Chris Gildea, a teacher from Boston, Mass., feels that planning a trip to Walt Disney World Resort can be a once-in-a-lifetime event, and he has been helping people plan those kinds of trips for years. “Being a part of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel allows me a greater platform to expand the magic to others!”
The panelists work from home, helping answer guests’ vacation planning questions. Many panelists feel that in some ways they are helping spread Disney pixie dust all over the world. Florida resident Maria Marquez says, “I love knowing I help other families relax and take in the Disney magic and joy on their trips. I get to share my own perspective and it brings me that much more happiness!”
For Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney trip planning advice, visit
www.DisneyWorldMoms.com.
Dateline Disney
January/February 2010
Disney
Encourages New Generation of Volunteers
with Launch of "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day"
January 1, 2010
The spirit of volunteerism gets into full swing Jan. 1,
2010, as Disney Parks kicks off “Give a Day, Get a Disney
Day,” a national program designed to boost philanthropic
outreach.
Whether it’s fulfilling a New Year’s resolution for
quality family time or embracing the spirit of “giving
back,” this first-of-its-kind Disney program is an easy and
fun way to meet that goal. “Give a Day, Get a Disney
Day” was created to inspire 1 million people to lend a
helping hand and give back to communities in need.
In return for their volunteer service, Disney will award
these 1 million people with a free one-day admission ticket to
a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park.
(Consumers must pre-register and starting Jan. 1 can
sign up for an eligible volunteer opportunity through
Disneyparks.com. Children must be six years of age and
accompanied by an adult to participate.)
Disney Parks partnered with HandsOn Network, the nation’s
largest volunteer network, to determine volunteer
opportunities across the U.S. and Canada. Some of
HandsOn Network’s family-friendly projects include planting
a garden, visiting a nursing home, painting a school and
assembling backpacks for needy schools.
HandsOn Network is part of Points of Light Institute and
has 250 volunteer action centers across the country,
connecting volunteers to more than 70,000 nonprofit agencies
that need assistance.
Disney Cruise
Line Introduces Family-Friendly Port Adventures for 2010
Mediterranean and Northern Europe Sailings
In 2010, Disney Cruise Line has created family-friendly
Port Adventures that allow guests to best experience the
culturally rich locales on the Mediterranean, and Northern
European itineraries.
All Port Adventures will offer impeccable Disney guest
service and are designed to entertain and inspire both
children and adults – in true Disney fashion. Added
touches such as more scheduled breaks, complimentary snacks
and beverages, and fun port journals for kids are provided on
all Disney Cruise Line Port Adventures.
For example, in St. Petersburg, Russia, the majestic
Catherine Palace provides the setting for an elaborate Royal
Ball. Disney princesses such as Cinderella, Snow White
and Belle arrive by horse-drawn carriages and entertain guests
at a grand gala.
During a tour of Florence, families experience city
highlights together, then divide into separate groups where
children spend time creating their own Italian fresco painting
and parents are free to explore the impressive Palazzo Vecchio.
The Sidi Bou Said Treasure Hunt in Tunis guides families
throughout focal points of the popular destination by
following clues. This quest brings to life the culture,
sites, sounds and flavors of the city as guests receive
hand-painted henna tattoos, sip freshly prepared mint tea and
get their name written in Arabic as a souvenir.
In Florence, the Tuscan Cooking School and Wine Tasting
takes guests on a northern Italian culinary journey. An
authentic Tuscan farmhouse is the venue where guests learn how
to create delectable Tuscan cuisine using fresh, local
ingredients.
To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to
book a vacation, guests can visit disneycruise.com,
call Disney Cruise Line at 888/DCL-2500 or contact their
travel agent.
Disney
Villains Cast a Comical Spell on New Stage Spectacular
Aboard Disney Cruise Line
The malevolent world of the Disney villains takes a comical
spin in “Villains Tonight!,” a musical spectacular
premiering this spring aboard Disney Cruise Line. The
revue-style show will debut March 20, 2010, on the Disney
Magic and delight guests aboard the new Disney Dream cruise
ship in early 2011.
"Villains Tonight!” is the first full-scale musical
production dedicated to the Disney villains. The show is
a family-friendly, fun-filled musical extravaganza that places
these famous characters in some irreverent funny moments.
Disney Cruise Line assembled an all-star creative team
headlined by the Tony-nominated Broadway writing team of
Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen (“[title of show]”), and
features a “Who’s Who” of the Disney villains, including
Disney’s newest scoundrel, Dr. Facilier from “The Princess
and the Frog.” The show
also features classic divas like Maleficent (“Sleeping
Beauty”)and the Evil Queen (“Snow White and the Seven
Dwarfs").
The
show’s scenery takes guests on a dazzling journey through
many villainous worlds, from the deck of Captain
Hook’s ship to Scar’s Elephant Graveyard to Ursula’s
Undersea Lounge. Never-before-seen interpretations of
classic Disney villains come to life through extravagant
costumes and artistic makeup.
Victoria
& Albert's Awarded Five Diamond Rating
For the 10th consecutive year, Victoria & Albert’s at
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has been awarded
the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award for 2010, one of only
52 restaurants in the United States (and just three in
Florida) to receive one of the most coveted symbols of
excellence in the hospitality industry.
Chef Scott Hunnel, Resort General Manager Israel Perez and
Master Pastry Chef Erich Herbitschek are the team behind the
winning dining experience. According to AAA’s ratings
guidelines, to achieve Five Diamond status, restaurants must
“consistently provide a
world-class experience. . . ‘haute cuisine’ at its best.
Menus are cutting edge, using only the finest
ingredients available. Food is prepared in a manner that
is highly imaginative and unique. . . A maître d’ leads an
expert service staff that exceeds guest expectations by
attending to every detail in an effortless and unobtrusive
manner.
New
Pastry Chef Joins Team at Disney's Contemporary Resort
Award-winning pastry chef Jeff Barnes has joined the
culinary team at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
With 30 years experience as a pastry chef, he most recently
was executive pastry chef at Amelia Island Plantation in
Amelia Island. He also has worked at other Florida
resorts including the Ritz-Carlton Palm Beachand Hyatt Regency
Tampa. Barnes has a
bachelor’s degree in business administration in management
from West Georgia College and completed culinary and pastry
apprenticeship training.
Disney's
Dreamers Academy 2010 Honors Black History Month
at Walt Disney World Resort
One hundred high school students from across the country
will celebrate Black History month as they convene at Walt
Disney World Resort Feb. 11-14 to participate in Disney’s
Dreamers Academy 2010. This annual program is in
partnership with nationally syndicated radio personality Steve
Harvey.
Some 100 high school students and a guardian will be given
unprecedented access to the magic behind Walt Disney World
Resort. As part of their experience, this group of
dreamers will participate in interactive workshops focusing on
a variety of subjects including Walt Disney Imagineering
techniques, entertainment, the business of sports, culinary
arts and more. Disney cast members, executives and
celebrities will share their blueprints for success. Participants
will also explore Disney’s theme parks and then end their
special weekend with a graduation ceremony where a special
guest will deliver a motivational address.
In conjunction with “TheSteve Harvey Morning Show,”Walt
Disney World Resort conducted the Dreamer’s Contest to
identify the participants, grades 9-12, in Disney’s Dreamers
Academy. This program was created for high school
students who show promise but may need additional motivational
support to excel. However, all of the selected students
share a trait: the power to dream.
Disney's Dreamers Academy With Steve Harvey was launched in
2007. For more information visit http://steveharvey.com/disneysdreamersacademy/.
It's easy to get caught up in the
excitement of a trip to Walt Disney World Resort, what with 40
square miles of attractions, entertainment and recreation at
guests' beck and call.
But what about the "bottom line"? What's all the
fun going to cost? With a little planning and a pinch of pixie
dust, a trip to the Vacation Kingdom can be awesome and even
more affordable.
Here are some money-saving -- and value-adding -- tips for
guests to consider as they think about when to go, how to get
there, where to stay, what kinds of tickets to buy, and how to
eat more economically.
Accommodations, Dining and Deals
Walt Disney World has 22 resorts that vary in price, allowing
guests to pay for only the amenities that are important to
them. Value resort guests are treated to larger-than-life
theming, swimming pools and playgrounds, arcade rooms, and
standard amenities -- at rates beginning at $82 per night.
About one-third of the Disney hotel accommodations -- a total
of 8,426 rooms -- are at the four Value resorts. Families who
prefer the great outdoors can rent a campsite at Disney's Fort
Wilderness Resort and Campground (there are 784 available) and
either pitch a tent or bring along an RV. Sites with full
hookups start at $46 per night, and sites with partial hookups
can be had for $41 per night. (Of course, moderate and deluxe
resorts are available for guests who prefer additional
amenities during their stay. By contrast, rooms at moderate
resorts start at $145, while rooms at deluxe resorts start at
$215.) Guestroom rates at Walt Disney World Resort vary
based on the time of year that a guest visits. Value
Season, which takes place over select weeks throughout the
year, offers lower room rates than peak or holiday seasons
(value prices are available for 130 days in 2007 as compared
to 59 days of peak-season pricing). Often, Value Seasons
coincide with smaller theme park crowds, meaning less time in
line and more time having fun! Compared to Peak or Holiday
Seasons, Value Season pricing can save a guest anywhere from
$30 (at a value resort) to $120 (at select deluxe resorts) per
night. Within each hotel, guestroom rates vary based on the
view from the balcony or terrace. For example, at Disney's
Polynesian Resort, guests can choose from a garden, lagoon or
Magic Kingdom view. During value season, lagoon-view rooms run
$96 more and Magic Kingdom-view rooms run $126 more than
those with a garden view (the good news is that garden-view
rooms make up 616 of the 847 rooms at the resort). At a Value
resort, the difference between a standard and preferred room
(5,740 of 8,426 rooms are standard) is $12 per night -- which
can nearly pay for two days of the Disney Dining Plan over a
six-night vacation. Guests of Walt Disney World resorts who
purchase "Magic Your Way" tickets along with their
hotel accommodations are eligible to add the Disney Dining
Plan to create a more inclusive "cruise-style"
vacation package. For each night of their resort stay, guests
can enjoy two meals and a snack (tax and gratuity included) at
more than 100 select restaurants throughout Walt Disney World
parks and hotels -- at savings of up to 40% off the average
non-dining plan price. The Disney Dining Plan costs $38.99 per
person age 10/up per night and $10.99 per child age 3-9 per
night. Guests add the dining option when they book a
"Magic Your Way" package (accommodations and park
tickets). The Walt Disney World Web site's "Special
Offers" section features deals throughout the year,
so guests should check the page often or speak with their
travel agent about promotions. The Web site is disneyworld.com.
Walt Disney World Resort offers several all-you-care-to-eat
restaurants including Boma-Flavors of Africa at Disney's
Animal Kingdom Lodge ($25.99 per adult, $16.99 per child for
dinner) and Cape May Café at Disney's Beach Club Resort
($25.99 per adult, $11.99 per child for dinner) where guests
can pay one price for an unlimited selection of appetizers,
entrees and desserts. Thirsty guests at Walt Disney World
resorts can save by purchasing length-of-stay refillable
drinking mugs for $11.99, good for unlimited free refills
on any fountain drink at the resort's cafeteria.
Admission Media
- The more you play the less you pay per day! That's one
of the charms of Disney's "Magic Your Way"
ticketing system that allows guests to customize their
vacations to the specific needs of their travel party.
Guests decide the number of days and whether optional
features such as park hopping, visits to attractions
outside the theme parks and "non-expiration" of
tickets are important. The per-day ticket cost decreases
the longer a guest stays, so where a one-day base ticket
costs $67 per day, a seven-day base ticket costs just $30
per day. Not to mention the total price difference between
four- and 10-day tickets is just $14.
- Guests looking to experience some of Disney's non-theme
park entertainment options can add the Water Park Fun
& More feature to their "Magic Your Way"
base ticket. For $50, guests are entitled to three to six
visits (depending on the number of days on the base
ticket) to their choice of Disney's Blizzard Beach,
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, DisneyQuest, Downtown Disney
Pleasure Island or Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.
One-day tickets to these recreational venues range from
$10.28 at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex to $39 at
one of Disney's water parks. Thus, even the three-visit
add-on (offered with one-, two- and three-day base
tickets) could be worth more than twice the $50 cost.
- Save on multi-day theme park tickets through Advance
Purchase Savings available for guests who purchase
through The Disney Store locations outside Florida, disneyworld.com,
or a Disney reservation specialist (407/934-7639) before
leaving home. Guests can save $2 to $17 per ticket on
"Magic Your Way" tickets for four to 10 days
with the Park Hopper and/or Water Park Fun & More
option. Guests not only save money but also time as they
can skip past the lines of guests purchasing individual
theme park tickets at the box offices or concierge desks.
- When deciding what "Magic Your Way" tickets to
purchase, guests should consider how much time they want
to devote to non-theme park activities offered on
property such as the themed pools at Walt Disney World
resorts and recreational activities such as tennis,
jogging or water sports. In addition, Downtown Disney
Marketplace and the boardwalk at Disney's Boardwalk never
charge an admission fee, so guests can wander amidst the
unique shops and restaurants, and on select nights, view
outdoor entertainment without spending a dime.
Travel and Transportation
- Guests who travel by plane and stay at a Walt Disney
World owned-and-operated resort can take advantage of Disney's
Magical Express, a service that allows guests to check
their bags at their hometown airport, bypass baggage claim
at Orlando International Airport and board
state-of-the-art motor coaches to the Vacation Kingdom,
where their bags magically appear in their room after they
check in. The complimentary service not only saves time at
the airport, but also relieves guests of transfer costs
between the airport and resort.
- All it takes is a Walt Disney World Resort hotel ID to
secure a complimentary space aboard one of the Walt
Disney World Transportation System's buses, monorails
or boats. Resort guests can travel throughout the Vacation
Kingdom with door-to-door service directly from the resort
to theme park entrances and other recreational venues like
Downtown Disney. Several Walt Disney World resort hotels,
such as Disney's Yacht Club, Disney's Beach Club and
Disney's Boardwalk located in the Epcot Resort Area, are
even within walking distance to the theme parks!
- Annual passholders and guests of Walt Disney World
resort hotels are exempt from parking fees at the theme
parks. Guests who present a resort ID, resort parking
pass or annual pass enter the lot for free no matter how
many parks they visit during their stay.
- Animal lovers can avoid paying a pet sitter by bringing
their furry friends on vacation too! Walt Disney World
Resort offers kennel services for just $13 a day, where
pets can lounge in style. Dogs are provided with free
Purina pet food during daily feedings (owners can opt to
bring their own food if they'd like), plus plenty of love
from the staff. Pet owners are welcome to visit their
animals 24 hours a day, and a certified veterinarian is on
call at all times in case of emergencies.
- Families with small children can save by bringing
their own stroller instead of renting one daily at the
theme parks. Or, if they choose to rent, length-of-stay
strollers can be purchased at a reduced rate. A single
stroller costs $10 to rent for a single day or $8 per day
if rented for length of stay (length-of-stay wheelchairs
and ECV's are also available for handicapped guests).
- Families should weigh the pros and cons of driving
versus flying to Walt Disney World Resort when planning a
vacation. Although driving may initially seem more
affordable, when guests consider gas, tolls and the costs
of adding mileage to a vehicle, it may be less
expensive to fly. Guests who'd prefer to drive might
also consider renting a vehicle to use during their
trip instead of adding mileage to their personal
automobile.
Don't forget these tidbits!
- Children under the age of three are admitted for
free to any of the Walt Disney World four theme
parks.
- Guests under the age of eighteen stay for free in
their parent's hotel room at any of the Walt
Disney World resorts.
- Book dinner packages with preferred seating for
"Fantasmic!" at Disney-MGM Studios or the
holiday Epcot special show Candlelight Processional
for no extra charge.
- Create a budget for souvenirs and use it as a
teaching tool for young guests. Disney Dollars can
be purchased in any amount and distributed to children
to spend throughout their vacation. While they learn
about the value of a dollar, guests create a budget!
- Annual passholders receive a plethora of
discounts including reduced rates at Walt Disney World
resorts, 10% off merchandise purchases at Downtown
Disney's World of Disney store and up to 15% off at
select restaurants on property.
- Guests who hold a Disney Rewards Visa card earn
1% back in the form of Disney Dollars that can be used
to purchase Walt Disney World theme park tickets,
resort stays or Disney merchandise. Cardholders also
receive a 10% discount on merchandise at Downtown
Disney's World of Disney store and 20% off the
non-discounted price on select tours at Walt Disney
World Resort. Plus, when guests book a Walt Disney
World vacation using their card, they receive 0%
financing for the first six months.
- The new affordability Web site (disneyworld.com/affordable)
makes it even easier for guests to plan their Walt
Disney World vacation using money-saving tips, an
online booking engine that highlights affordable
prices and a personalized take-away that guests can
print and share with family when discussing vacation
options.
For more information about Walt Disney World Resort,
guests can visit disneyworld.com
or phone 407/824-4321.
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