Disney Park Ticket prices go up TOMORROW!

Not much notice, I agree.

Disney actually announced this officially yesterday, quietly. I missed it 'til today.

All tickets are going up. We mostly sell Walt Disney World, and their ticket prices are going up approx 5% (an increase of between $2 and $22 per ticket depending on duration). This is for travel in the remainder of 2010 and onwards. Tickets ALREADY PURCHASED (including tickets purchased as part of a package) will be honored at the price originally paid. (No supplements will be charged.)

So if you are in the market for a Disney trip in 2010 and have been sitting on the fence - you'd best buy today and save a few dollars!

As package prices for 2011 have not been announced yet, there is no sneaky way to avoid the price increase for 2011 that I can think of.

In the last month I had quoted a few clients "guesstimated prices", based on an estimated 5% increase in price, which turns out to have been pretty accurate. Though I am wondering why a 5% increase when inflation in the USA is only just above 1% right now, and hasn't been above 3% since the end of 2008...

Anyway...

Here's the official Disney Blog announcement

and here is a chart showing the new Walt Disney World prices

More about the "Give a Day - Get a Disney Day" initiative

Check out these two videos to learn more about this new initiative (mentioned on a previous post).



Launch highlights


I wonder if any of our clients would like to get involved? Please comment below if you might be interested...

Much more can be found at DisneyParks.ca website - by following this link

Disney Specials and Info - a nice mixed bag for you...

There are lots of things still ongoing... and quite a bit of new info for you...

• Walt Disney World Specials
• A reminder about passes
• New Online Check-in
• Pirates and Pals Fireworks Cruises
• Tuesday 27th October
• Disneyland
• Disney Cruise specials
• Extra options for cruise and stay
  

it may be worth your while to read on a bit - there's good stuff "after the jump".

Walt Disney World specials

• Last 5 days left on "Free dining" promotion - must book by 26th September.
  
• If you miss the free dining, there is also a room-only offer - for travel til October 3rd... - while not as good as free dining, it's still better than nothing.
  
• There is also another Fall room-only offer - travel most dates Oct 4th-Nov 24th and Nov 29th- Dec 24th - booking dates Jul 27th-Sep 26th - with a decent reduction...
  

A reminder about passes:
You can add the Park Hopper to a Magic Your Way Base ticket for a  flat rate of $45 US, no matter how long the stay. (In my opinion worth it for almost everyone, particularly if you are on the dining plan.)
Water Park Fun and more option is $50 also flat rate - and again, you get better value, the longer your stay...
FYI regular admission to a water park is $45 per adult and $39 per child and 1-day into Disney Quest is $41 adt, $35 chd - so if you are going to go to even one water park you should take this option. That way you can go multiple other times for free.

NEW: Online check-in available from 10-days prior to arrival. I wasn't sure about this, what it was and what the advantage would be and now I know a bit more about it...  This can actually save a bit of time at check-in, as instead of lining up, your welcome package will be ready for you already.

I can do it for you, or you can do is at www.mydisneyreservation.com/guest

Pirates and Pals Fireworks Cruise - now available for anyone, not just "Grand Gatherings".
Departing from Cntemporary resort. Pirate grub and grog. Sail with Captain Hook, and Mr Smee - Disney trivia quizzes, songs and sea-shanties, firework viewing, stories and prizes. Then a "very special guest" upon arrival at the dock.  - the cost is $54US per adult 31 per child

Tuesday October 27th - big day for meal and event pre-registration. Disney will be going back to 180 prior to arrival. In my opinion this is much fairer for those that have booked well in advance. Thing is, this will be one busy day, the computer system will inevitably crash, so you will need to be patient!

Disneyland, California
$400 saving - 4-day package - booking Aug 12th-Dec19th for travel Aug 23 - Dec 20
only 4-night stays offered

3rd night free at participating Disney Restort Good Neighbour hotels

Disney Cruise Line
Kids Sail Free - see previous posts

• Med
• Caribbean
  

Extra Disney World options for 2010 cruise and stay.
Can purchase pre or post-stays (post stays are new) for any duration (this is also new), at nearly all of the on-site hotels (which is sort of new).
You can only add the Park Hopper tickets (1-5 day duration) which is odd, and if you want to upgrade to include the Water Park Fun and More ticket, you will have to do this at check-in.
You cannot add the dining plan, either, (except for the "standard" 7 night land-sea packages).

So, for most people, I am not seeing this as a major advantage - you are still going to have more flexibility by breaking the booking into two parts, I suspect... (cruise with Disney Cruise Line, stay with Walt Disney Travel Co.

Adventures by Disney -
I still haven't had a moment to post all that I learned from my last webinar, but I have tons of stuff to tell you that I hope will get you interested in taking one of these fantastic family vacations...

Disney Unveils New Attractions, and Announces Expansion Plans

I am going to be uncharacteristically lazy today, and post a complete press release from Disney without my own comments - I am too far behind with all the necessary, boring paperwork (invoices etc.) that I just have to do... I also have another couple of posts of my own which are almost ready, and I'd rather work on them than re-invent this particular wheel. Anyhoo, some of this stuff looks pretty exciting!

So, over to you Jay Rasulo...

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chairman Jay Rasulo detailed plans for future lands, attractions and adventures at the first D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, including the confirmation of a new Star Tours attraction and the largest expansion in the history of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Rasulo announced that a new 3-D version of the popular “Star Tours” attraction will debut at the Disneyland Resort and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2011. Based on the iconic Star Wars films, the attraction will include immersive new elements that will take guests to many familiar places in the Star Wars galaxy.

For Walt Disney World in Florida, Rasulo outlined expansion plans of the Magic Kingdom, vastly increasing the size of Fantasyland by 2013. Guests will soon be able to visit their favourite Disney Princess in her castle, cottage, or chateau to share a dance with Cinderella; celebrate Sleeping Beauty’s birthday with the Good Fairies; or join Belle in an enchanting story performance in the Beast’s castle library; dine in one of three enchanted rooms inside the Beast’s castle; fly with Dumbo high above new circus grounds, twice the size of the existing attraction with a new interactive, three-ring circus tent; journey under the sea with Ariel, The Little Mermaid, in her very own attraction -- also opening at Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim in 2011; and meet Tinker Bell and her friends in the magical world of Pixie Hollow. Rasulo also provided updates on the multi-year expansion of Disney’s California Adventure, including the new “World of Color” attraction slated to open next spring and the addition of the five-hectare Cars Land scheduled to open in 2012 where guests will literally step into the town of Radiator Springs and its 2.4 hectares of hand-carved rockwork.

Rasulo noted the progress of several other recently announced projects, including the three new lands coming to Hong Kong Disneyland by 2014; the Disney Dream, the new ship being built by Disney Cruise Line; the many diverse itineraries being offered by Adventures by Disney that take guests on 19 unique, once-in-a-lifetime guided vacation experiences; and Disney’s first family destination resort on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.

(Source: TravelPress.com http://www.travelpress.com/PHP/news.php?sid=9014)

2010 Walt Disney World and Disneyland Packages are available!!

Approximately 3 weeks earlier than I expected, Disney announced yesterday that their 2010 package vacation packages are now available to book...

So, if you are looking to book your March Break vacation (or any other celebration planned for 2010) then please contact me and we'll get started on that!

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