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Savings Tip for Disneyland – Good Neighbor Hotel

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So you want to go to Disneyland but aren’t sure where to start or how to pay for it? Luckily we are here to help you with the best ways to Plan and Pay for Disneyland!

Let’s start at the beginning. Obviously, we need to plan before we can actually head to Disneyland, right? Let’s start with the biggest piece, where to stay, and how to stay at a clean comfortable but inexpensive hotel. Disneyland is fortunately surrounded by a plethora of “Good Neighbor Hotels”. These hotels range from 1 Star to 5 Star. In addition to the wide range of hotel choices, there are a number of studio, 1 bedroom and larger suites available at many of the hotels.

My favorite Good Neighbor Hotel recommendation for a basic, clean, comfortable hotel is the Howard Johnson Hotel. At approximately 3000 feet from Disneyland, it’s one of the closest. However, having personally grown up in the Midwest I had many memories of the “HoJo” from my childhood. Thank goodness those days are gone for this Anaheim hotel. It’s a great value resort for the family looking for a budget friendly hotel with a great water park too. Kid’s and Adult’s will love the close distance to Disneyland, the hotel’s water park and having a clean and comfortable room to return to at night.

Disney Junior Live On Tour – Pirate & Princess Adventure

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Do you have a little fan of Disney Junior at home? Well, you can now take them to see Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure.

Don’t forget to grab your tiaras and doubloons when you attend Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure. Mickey and Minnie will also be at this never-before-seen live show featuring your little one’s favorite characters from Disney Junior’s hit series. You just might see your friends from Sofia the First and Jake and the Never Land Pirates. You will get swept up in the excitement as Sofia and her family prepare for a royal celebration that helps you learn the true meaning of being a princess. Sofia will even receive a special appearance from Cinderella. Then you’ll be off to Never Land where Jake and his swashbuckling friends Izzy and Cubby, with a little help from Peter Pan, will battle Captain Hook in order to unlock treasure hidden inside a mysterious volcano. There will be danger and dueling on the high seas while Jake discovers what it takes to be a true hero.

This Disney Junior Live On Tour show will be filled with new music, amazing effects, thrilling action and endless surprises. Your whole family will sing, shout, and soar into the action when Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure sails into your hometown.

The Benefits of Disney’s PhotoPass+

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Are you familiar with Disney’s PhotoPass+?  On our last Walt Disney World trip my family stepped it up and tried out the new PhotoPass+ option.  What did we think?  PhotoPass+ is a great addition to our Disney trips and worth every penny!  There are a ton of benefits of adding PhotoPass+ to your upcoming Disney vacation.  Some of the benefits included in Disney’s PhotoPass+ are:

  • Preorder the PhotoPass+ package 14 days prior to your trip for $149 versus the $199.95 price tag in the parks!  (Plus tax where applicable.)
  • Disney PhotoPass+ card and lanyard

Disney Insider Shows Behind-the-scenes look at “The Lost Chords”

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Disney Insider is giving Disney fans a behind-the-scenes look (and listen) at the making of “The Lost Chords” through an exclusive video. “The Lost Chords” is the series that debuted never-before-heard songs that were created for classic Disney movies, but were never used in the films.  The video features legendary Walt Disney Records producer and Grammy-Award winner Randy Thornton along with clips of lost songs from The AristocatsCinderella, and Peter Pan!

Star Wars Weekends 2013 Park Map

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Feel the power of the Force an enjoy a weekend with Star Wars characters and your favorite Disney’s Hollywood Studios attractions from May 17 to June 9, 2013 only at Star Wars Weekends.

Join Star Wars celebrities and characters for special shows, Q&A sessions, autographs and more! From Friday to Sunday each and every weekend, you can surround yourself in a galaxy far, far away, right here at Walt Disney World Resort. Only a Sith would miss this celebration!

Weekend 1: May 17 to May 19, 2013

Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney’s World Best Kept Secrets

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Most people who have been to the Walt Disney World Resort have heard of the Hidden Mickeys you can find throughout the resort. However, do you know exactly how many Hidden Mickeys there really are? Steven M. Barrett has just published the sixth edition of his Hidden Mickeys books, “Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney’s World Best Kept Secrets.”

Barrett defines Hidden Mickeys as “partial or complete images of Mickey Mouse that Disney “Imagineers” have designed to blend into their surroundings in such a way that their presence is not immediately obvious.” He has documented more than 1,200 Hidden Mickeys at the Walt Disney World Resort. This latest edition also includes twenty-seven new Hidden Mickeys found in New Fantasyland, the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history.

Exclusive Early Entry Transformers The Ride 3-D

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Beginning June 20,  Autobots and Decepticons will be going to war at Universal Studios Orlando on the new Transformers The Ride 3-D.  This will be the do not miss ride of the summer in Orlando, it’s a high speed, 3-d motion simulator ride.

For guests staying at one of the three on-site Universal Resorts there is a super special offer out for a very LIMITED time. When you book a vacation package at any of the three on-site Universal Resort hotels you will receive Early Park Admission to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter before the rest of the general public, 1 hour prior to park opening.  Plus, travel between 7/1 – 9/2/13 and receive Early Park Admission to TRANSFORMERS: The Ride 3-D.  This offer gives you exclusive early access to the biggest attractions at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure for a very limited time.

Florida Residents Enjoy Savings This Summer at Disney World Resort

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Florida residents looking for a quick getaway this summer can stay at Walt Disney World Resort with special nightly rates.

Ahead this summer is a monstrous lineup of attractions, shows and events including the first summer of enchantment and fun in New Fantasyland, plus non-stop thrills of the re-imagined Test Track Presented by Chevrolet at Epcot.

Floridians enjoy significant savings at select Disney resort hotels – from value to villa. This offer covers travel June 4-Aug. 15, 2013. It can be booked now until August 15.  If booked before June 19, guests can enjoy even lower rates!

Disney World Room Only Discount is still available

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You now have a choice for which promotion you would like to use for your Walt Disney World vacation- free dining or a room discount. It all depends which is a better deal for your family!

If free dining is not available or a good fit for your vacation to Disney World, you can also save with a Disney World room discount saving you up to 30% off your hotel.  This discount may be a better deal than the free dining, especially for those guests staying at a Disney Deluxe Resort.  Your Disney Specialist at Destinations in Florida will price both options to make sure you are saving the most money during your vacation.  This hotel discount is available for travel between 8/15/13 – 9/28/13.

Rich NYC Moms hire handicapped tour guides to cut lines at Disney World

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The New York Post has learned some wealthy NYC moms have figured out a way to cut the long lines at Walt Disney World by hiring disabled people to pose as family members so their kids can jump to the front of the line using a Guest Assistance Card or GAC. GAC’s allow you and your party to bypass the lines like a Fastpass, and since Disney can’t ask you why you need one they are pretty much wide open for abuse like this.

The “black-market Disney World guides” run around$130 an hour, or over $1,000 for an eight-hour day. Not only is their “black-market tour guides” more efficient than Disney World’s VIP Tours, it’s cheaper as well. Disney Tours offers a VIP guide and fast passes for $310 to $380 per hour.

Free Dining has been officially released to the general public

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Hey Chip and Co. fans! I have some really exciting news to share with you this morning! Everyone’s favorite promotion, FREE DINING has been officially released to the general public! You can now book your Walt Disney World vacation and get free dining!

You can now get a free Disney Dining Plan for travel dates between September 2, 2013 and September 25, 2013. In order to receive this promotion, you must purchase a package that includes a minimum of 3 nights accommodation at a Disney Resort and a minimum 2-day Base Ticket.  If you stay at a Disney Value Resort, the Quick Service Dining Plan is free.  If you stay at a Disney Moderate or Deluxe Resort, the Basic Dining Plan is free.

You can also upgrade from the Quick Service to the Basic Dining for an additional $19 per adult per night and $3 per night per child.  You can also upgrade from the Basic Dining to the Deluxe Dining for an additional $45 per adult per night and $20 per night per child.

Epcot Food & Wine Festival Updates and new booth info

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You can sip and savor fresh flavors from six continents during the 18th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 27-Nov. 11, 2013 at the Walt Disney World Resort.

This year, Disney chefs will debut the authentic tastes of Scotland at the festival, which is known for innovative food, wine, beer, cocktails, music and entertainment.  The sizzling aromas of more than 25 ethnic and specialized marketplaces including Africa, Brazil and Florida Local will tempt guests strolling the World Showcase Promenade.  Celebrity chefs like Warren Brown and Jamie Deen will bring culinary cachet to special festival events and demonstrations.

Festival planners will present a delectable menu of premium programming, plus daily wine tastings and mixology seminars.  Nightly Eat to the Beat concerts will keep the party rockin’, and five bands will make their festival debut this year.  In Future World, the iconic Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog will return for a third year to introduce families to the cranberry’s rich agricultural heritage.

Here is what will be new for 2013: