New Free Dining Plan Update

In the small print on the latest "Free Dining" offer, it states

Ask about other package offers with the Disney Dining Plan at select Disney Moderate Resorts, select Disney Deluxe Resorts and select Disney Deluxe Villa Resort Hotels.

There is a distinction to be made here that is not all that clear...

To clarify:
With the Moderate category of resorts, and up, the Free Dining that is offered is actually the regular "Disney Dining Plan". The "Quick Service Dining Plan" is offered as standard only at the "Value" resorts in this promotion (and even there could be upgraded by paying the difference).

This makes this promotion even better than it first appeared, particularly if your were interested in Moderate, Deluxe or Home-Away-from-Home accommodation at Walt Disney World.

Just thought you would want to know...

Free dining plan has expired. Long live the NEW FREE DINING PLAN!!!

One day after the much-vaunted "Free Dining" promotion ended, the Walt Disney Travel Company have announced another "Free Dining" promotion at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida!

The new promotion includes the less-expensive, "Quick Service Dining Plan" - not the regular dining plan - but you will be able to pay the difference to upgrade to the regular plan (which is significantly better value in our opinion) if you so desire.

• New travel dates are most nights Sept 29 - Nov 24th, and Nov 29th - Dec 17th 2009.
• The new "book-by" date is Sept 26th.
• Please check out this flyer for details.
• If you are not familiar with the Quick Service Dining Plan, you can find out more about it with this flyer; you can compare with the "regular" Disney Dining Plan by referring to this flyer.
  

Please note that the number of packages available at this rate is limited.

We will be swapping over all "Let's Take the Kids Travel" clients that already are booked in these dates and whose package qualifies...

Walt Disney World Ticket Prices to go up??

Speculation alert...!!

In previous years, the Disney company has raised theme park ticket prices (and Magic Your Way Passes) on the 1st of August. We have NOT received any information to indicate that prices will be going up again this year, but it is a reasonable assumption... If you know that you will be travelling and staying off-site some time in the future, then buying your tickets now could help you save a few bucks in the long run, as tickets only expire 13 days AFTER FIRST USE (i.e. you could hold on to them until you need them).

Shhh, don't tell anyone but...

Did you know that the Coronodo Springs Resort (at Walt Disney World, Florida) now has ALL QUEEN BEDS? No, nor did I! But it does... This upgrade has been quietly done, and as far as I have seen it has not been announced with much of a fanfare, if at all...

However, for some of you, this could be significant, as all of the other "moderate" resorts continue to only have double beds...

So if you

• have kids of different genders,
  
• are (shall we say) somewhat "large"!, or
  
• are just plain used to sleeping in a king or queen size bed, and don't like the idea of squeezing into a double on your vacation
  

the Coronado Springs should definitely be on your radar screen.

The only downside of these rooms is that, as has always been the case at the Coronado Springs Resort, there is only one sink in the room (all the other Moderates have two, which does speed things up a bit for you in the morning...)

Last few days on the "Free Dining" promotion for Walt Disney World

Hello dear reader,

Just another quick reminder - there's now LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LEFT TO BOOK the FREE DINING promotion at Walt Disney World - click for flier

It's a great deal, and well worth considering. Nobody knows how long these kind of specials will continue to be offered, but it surely won't be forever...

CALL ME & BOOK IT (613-594-5633 x103)!

What did I find out from the head of Disney Travel Co in Toronto yesterday?

Well, dear reader, 10 hours on the train later... I am back!

Was it worth the trip? Sure!

First up, Mr Garfield came over as a really nice guy, especially considering he runs a company that controlled over $10 billion of business last year... (I was half-expecting a Donald Trump) but was pleasantly surprised!

It was great to meet some of the other sales managers from the Disney company too, as I know have a better idea of who I am dealing with. I also met a number of other Disney specialist travel agents, and we bounced some ideas around.

So, did Mr Garfield give us any bombshell insider information?

Weeeell, no, not really! The Disney Travel company likes to keep things up their sleeves a little bit so that they can make their big announcements when they want to...!

But, without adding any detail, we were told a bit more about the two new Disney cruise ships that are coming on line in 2011 and 2012...

In a similar way that the first two Disney ships were very ground-breaking with the new things that they did first (some of which have been copied by other cruise lines in the meantime) - things like:

• "Broadway style" shows
• full-on kids programming
  
• split bathrooms with mini-tubs
• their own island with a real dock - no need to tender
• old-style ocean-liner retro look

the new ships, we were told, will offer design and programming that will be just as groundbreaking compared with what the other cruise lines are offering now. Tantalising - but don't ask for more details, cos they aren't forthcoming!!

For those of you that didn't know that Disney even had more ships in production - you can go here for more details (including all the details that Disney HAS seen fit to announce at the time!)

We also found out that there will, of course, be some type of special celebration in 2011 to commemorate Walt Disney World's 40th birthday, but there will also be a new twist on the "What Will You Celebrate?" theme for 2010... you're just going to have to keep reading, and waiting...!

Disney have also bought property in Hawaii - and in Washington DC - so there are bound to be some interesting developments in the years to come.

So, a long day, but a good one.

Oh, and another quick reminder - there's only TWO WEEKS LEFT TO BOOK the FREE DINING promotion at Walt Disney World - click for flier - so CALL ME & BOOK IT (613-594-5633 x103)! And then once you realise what great value the promotion tell all your friends and get them all to call me and book it too...

I am meeting with the CEO of the Disney Travel Company tomorrow

Tomorrow will see me on a whistle-stop trip to Toronto at the invitation of the Walt Disney Travel company, to meet with Randy Garfield, the CEO of the Walt Disney Travel Company and Executive VP of Worldwide Sales and Travel Operations for Disney Destinations...

Our agency and a handful of other travel agencies (mostly from the Toronto area) were invited, based on our sales numbers. Despite the fairly small size of our agency, our Disney sales are among the highest in Canada, apparently (perhaps understandably, due to our family travel target market)...

Although Mr Garfield has visited the Toronto Disney travel sales office before, usually to meet with Disney staff and travel wholesalers, this is the first time that he has asked to meet the "front-line" travel agents, to get our take on selling Disney, so we feel suitably honoured to be invited.

We have some questions to ask, and hopefully will learn some good things from this meeting. Any good stuff I will report here on my blog (as well as probably on our regular website - www.letstakethekidstravel.com)

I am traveling by train tomorrow, and will get a chance to try out the wi-fi internet service on the Via train on my way, so if any of my clients have any questions or comments that you would like to see if I could put to Mr Garfield, please add your comments below!

Ongoing Disney Specials - Part 3 - Walt Disney World

The super-popular "Free-Dining" Promotion is back fro 2009. This has arguably been Disney World's most popular promotion over the last few years, and always gets lots of attention. As I mentioned earlier, many dates are now sold out, so if you are hoping to have Disney pay for you to eat, then you need to contact us as soon as possible, and you may need to flexible with your dates.

Here's the full info:

Note, that although they mention a 5 night package below, you are not limited to 5 nights, and you simply get even more value if you stay for longer (right up to the maximum 10 night stays...)

Free Dining Offer - (MYW + FREE DINE)

Buy this Walt Disney World Resort vacation package with hotel and Theme Park tickets and get the Disney Dining Plan FREE!
Are you hungry for some fun? At this affordable price, you can celebrate any magical milestone – with meals and a snack included for every night of your visit! What a delicious way to enjoy their Walt Disney World Resort vacation!
Offer Details:
A family of four can save US $654 when you purchase this 5-night, 6-day Walt Disney Travel Company package for the Walt Disney World Resort, with accommodations for five nights at a select Disney Value Resort and a 6-day Magic Your Way Base Ticket, you’ll get the Disney Dining Plan FREE!
Booking and Travel Window:

• Booking Window: Now – July 26, 2009
• Travel Window: Offer available for stays most nights Aug. 22 – Oct. 3, 2009. (Block out dates for Disney Value Resorts: Aug. 22-26, 2009 and Sept. 21-27, 2009; Disney Moderate Resorts: Sept. 21-26, 2009)

Pricing:
US $1,390* for a family of four, staying in a standard room at a select Disney Value Resort. That’s like paying US $58 per person, per day!
Ask about packages for other lengths of stay and accommodations at other select Walt Disney World Resort Hotels.
Download this flier (Adobe PDF - 921kb)

Click here for new Passport requirements for Canadians travelling to the USA.
*Price based on 2 adults, 1 junior and 1 child. The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same package. Tickets are for one Theme Park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use. No group rates or other discounts apply.

Ongoing Disney Specials - Part 2 - Disney Cruise

Disney Cruise lines has two specials at this time...

1. Kids sail for 50% off, and
   
2. up to $700 onboard credit when you book a verandah cabin

Details are as follows:

Offer 1

Lucky Ducks... Kids Sail For 50% Off

It's a ducky time for you to sail on Disney Cruise Line®! Kids 12 and under get 50% off prevailing cruise fares at time of booking when traveling with two full-fare Guests in the same stateroom.

Offer available for 3-, 4-, and 7-Night cruises on most sail dates from now through September 5, 2009 in select stateroom categories. Government Taxes and Fees not included.

Offer good on inside and oceanview category 8 through category 12 staterooms only, except for the following dates when offer is also good on inside, oceanview and verandah category 3 through category 12.

7-Night sailing on August 15, 2009 and September 5, 2009
4-Night sailing on August 16, 2009
3-Night sailing on August 13 and August 20, 2009

Offer applies to new bookings only. The number of staterooms allocated for this offer is limited. Other offers, discounts or onboard credits do not apply. See Disney Cruise Line brochure for details and applicable terms and conditions.

Offer 2:

Book a Verandah Stateroom, Receive Up to US $700 Onboard Credit

This summer, you can escape on an exciting 7-night Caribbean Cruise and receive up to a US $700* onboard credit from Disney Cruise Line! Offer available on most sailings June 20 – Aug. 8, 2009.

Book a verandah stateroom during a 4-night sailing and receive up to a US $400* onboard credit on most sailings June 28 to Aug. 9, 2009 – or a 3-night sailing to receive up to a US $300* onboard credit on most sailings June 25 – Aug. 6, 2009.

With this special offer, you can explore a wide range of activities and experiences. For example, you can use onboard credits for shore excursions, souvenirs and more – including rejuvenating spa treatments!

More Details:

• This offer is for new bookings only in Categories 3-7.
• Not combinable with other offers
• Onboard credit is per stateroom and is non-refundable and non-transferable.

Flier (Adobe PDF)

*Offer is subject to availability. Changes to the vacation date or category may result in a loss of any offer. See Disney Cruise Line brochure for cruise details and applicable terms and conditions.

Ongoing Disney Specials - Part 1 - Disneyland

While we don't book many people to Disneyland (California), at least from this part of Canada, there are deals to be had right now...

Get 2 more nights FREE, when you buy 3!

It’s a Disneyland Resort offer as exciting as the summer itself!

Your next Disney vacation could be the summer of a lifetime! With this incredible offer of extra nights, you can celebrate the magic of summer with a Disneyland Resort vacation you’ll never forget.

Offer Details:

Now through Sept. 26, 2009, you get 2 extra hotel nights—plus 2 extra days of Theme Park admission—FREE* with the purchase of a 3-night or longer Walt Disney Travel Company Disneyland Resort vacation package.

Booking and Travel Window:

For Clients staying at one of the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort

• Booking Window: Mar. 24, 2009 – Aug. 11, 2009
• Travel Window: Apr. 1, 2009 – Sep. 26, 2009

For Clients staying at a Disneyland Resort Good Neighbor Hotel

• Booking Window: Mar. 24, 2009 – Aug. 11, 2009
• Travel Window: May 1, 2009 – Sep. 26, 2009

Each Package Includes:

• 5-Nights accommodations at one of the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort or at a conveniently located Disneyland Resort Good Neighbor Hotel
• 5-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper souvenir ticket

Plus, These Special Benefits:

• Mickey’s Toontown Morning Madness** - You can enjoy fun and games with Mickey and his friends one hour before Toontown opens to the public
• Downtown Disney District Fun Card – Add more fun to your shopping, dining, and entertainment experiences with special offers (one per person)
• Preferred Seating – Available at select attractions in Disney’s California Adventure Park
• Disney Character Calls – Get a complimentary phone call from Mickey Minnie, or Goofy (This is an extra benefit for online bookings only).
• Plus More!

View a sample flier (Adobe PDF - 655kb)

Offer is valid for bookings from 3/24/09 through 8/11/09 and for arrivals from 5/1/09 though 9/26/09 with travel being completed by 10/1/09. Upon the purchase of a 3-night package, with 3-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper souvenir tickets, at a participating hotel, two (2) consecutive free nights will be added to the hotel stay and two (2) days added to the tickets. Limited to two (2) free nights per package/reservation and not valid for previously booked rooms. Check for offers associated with longer night stays. The Disneyland Resort Park Hopper souvenir tickets expire 13 days after first day of use or 10/13/09, whichever occurs first, and each day of use constitutes one full day of use. Tickets may not be sold or transferred for commercial purposes. Offers subject to availability and blockout dates; advance reservations required. Not valid with any other discount or promotion. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. **Entitlement available for one morning throughout the length of your ticket on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday, and days and times are subject to change without notice. Restrictions apply. ©Disney