Travel Dates: August 9 – October 3, 2009

Disney World has release room discounts for the travel dates listed above, as well as Magic Your Way package discounts, based on the room only rates. Park passes and dining plans included in the packages are not discounted. Availability is extremely limited for many dates. Disney is also offering the free Disney Dining during many of these dates as well. Under most circumstances, the free dining will be better for you, unless you are staying at a deluxe resort, then it may be worth comparing the two.

Some Sample Nightly Rates:

• Pop Century, standard room: $69 per night
• Caribbean Beach, standard view room: $96 per night
• Wilderness Lodge, woods view room: $174 per night
• Animal Kingdom Lodge, savanna view room: $214 per night
• Polynesian, garden view room: $264 per night

These prices are nightly rates, and do not include the 12.5% room tax. Disney has also released a club level discount for the same dates, also available as part of a Magic Your Way package:

Some Sample Nightly Rates:

• Beach Club, standard view club level room: $299 per night
• Polynesian, garden view club level room: $322 per night
• Grand Floridian, standard club level room: $449 per night

Again, nightly rates, and they do not include the 12.5% room tax. You must book these discounts by August 8, 2009.

For more information on these discounts, please contact our great sponsor Mouseketrips.

Travel Dates: August 9 – October 3, 2009

Walt Disney World has released special room only discounts for Annual Passholders. You must check in during the travel dates, however, you can extend your stay pass the ending date. Only the nights included in the travel dates listed above will be discounts. Availability is limited, though all resorts and room types are available.

Some Sample Nightly Rates:

• Pop Century, standard room: $64 per night
• Caribbean Beach, standard view room: $89 per night
• Wilderness Lodge, woods view room: $164 per night
• Animal Kingdom Lodge, savanna view room: $204 per night
• Beach Club, standard view room: $234 per night
• Polynesian, garden view room: $254 per night
• Grand Floridian, garden view room: $298 per night
• Saratoga Springs, 2 bedroom villa: $409 per night
• Bay Lake Tower, 2 bedroom Magic Kingdom view villa: $599 per night

These prices are per night, and do not include the 12.5% room tax. All nights, weekend and weekday nights, are the same price. Annual Passholders can also book a package that include these special nightly rates, and a Disney Dining plan, which is not discounted.

For more information, please contact our great sponsor Mouseketrips.

These discounts are no longer necessary, as they have been released to the general public, along with further discounts.

Travel Dates: August 9 – October 3, 2009

Walt Disney World has released room only and Magic Your Way package discounts for Walt Disney World stays for the travel dates above. Not all resorts for all dates will be available. Nights are based on a nightly rate, and weekend nights may be more expensive than weekday nights.

Sample Nightly Rates:

• Value Resorts: $69 per night
• Moderate Resorts: $96 per night
• Saratoga Springs, studio: $169 per night

Package rates are based on these same nightly rates, park passes and dining plans would be included at full price in the packages. These special rates expire August 8, 2009. These rates will be released to the general public June 25, 2009.

For more information, or to book these special Disney VISA discounts, please contact our sponsor Mouseketrips, and ask for code EQT.

Travel Dates: June 25 – August 20, 2009

Kids 12 and under can sail for 50% off on most 3, 4 and 7 night Disney Cruises during the travel dates listed above. Two full fare guests must accompany the children in the same stateroom. Government taxes and fees are not included, and not discounted. Limited to category 8 – 12 staterooms, veranda staterooms and suites not included.

Please note this offer applies to new bookings only, and cannot be added to existing bookings, or combined with other discounts. Please note that the veranda onboard credit is running for veranda rooms during the same time period:

2009 Disney Cruise Vernda Onboard Credit

For more information, or to book this special Disney Cruise discount, please contact our sponsor Mouseketrips, and ask for code KHO.

Travel Dates: June 25 – August 9, 2009

Disney Cruise, in a continued effort to fill staterooms during the down economy, has issued a new onboard credit offer for this summer, if you book a verandah stateroom.

Book a verandah stateroom during a 4-night sailing and receive up to a $400* onboard credit on most sailings June 28 to Aug. 9, 2009, or a 3-night sailing to receive up to a $300* onboard credit on most sailings June 25 – Aug. 6, 2009. You can also receive a $700 onboard credit for most sailings between June 20 and August 8, 2009 on 7 night Disney Cruises.

Onboard credits can be used to pay for gratuities, shore excursions or anything you may charge to your room during your Disney Cruise.

More Details:

• This offer is for new bookings only in Categories 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
• Not combinable with other offers
• Onboard credit is per stateroom and is non-refundable and non-transferable.

*Offer is subject to availability. Changes to the vacation date or category may result in a loss of any offer.

To book this special Disney Cruise offer, or to get more information, please contact our sponsor Mouseketrips, and ask for code RAMA

Walt Disney World launched the long awaited online reservation system for dining reservations. Originally due in 2008, it was launched late last night, currently for Travel Agents only. No indication was given when the tool will be made available to the general public, but my guess is 2 weeks of testing should do. Currently, only reservations May 26, 2009 and after are available in the system, so the logical launch date would be May 26, 2009. I guess we will have to wait and see.

Step 1

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Once accessed, you will see a front page, with a search box, along with options to see all Disney Restaurants, Dinner Shows and Dining Events. The search box is active, as you type, options come up below that you can click on. It is fairly easy to find a restaurant. A search for “Epcot” brings up all Epcot restaurants, including others in the general area. You can also search for character dining, or princess or whatever, it should bring up options for you. Once you find the restaurant you are looking for, just click on the link.

Step 2

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Once you click on the link for your restaurant, you will be taken to a page with information about the restaurant, including location, cuisine type, special dining events at that restaurant, etc.

At this point, you will be able to retrieve your WDW reservation, and attach it to any dining reservations you make. It pulls in the information about dates, resort, names and dining plan. It does not keep track of dining plan credits, number of people in your party, etc. Associating your reservation does not limit how you many reservations you can make, or for how many people, it just links all the information together.

Below, there is a window with dining options. There is a date box, where you input your dining date. You can also search up to 5 days in a row, which is very convenient if your dining wishes are flexible. You then input your dining party and preferred time. Once all your information in there is correct, just push the “Check Availability” button and away you go.

Step 3

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They system will now search for availability for your preferred restaurant, day and time. You will be presented with the closest option available for your party size at your restaurant. You may also be presented with different restaurant or time options, if your first option is not available. When searching for 1900 Park Fare, nothing was available, but I was presented with both the Princess Storybook Dinner in Epcot and Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom as options for my reservation. When you are able to find the restaurant with the date and time you feel comfortable with, you add them to the cart, just like you were shopping on Amazon.

Step 4

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Once your restaurant is added to the cart, you are given the option to add any dietary requests you have, including allergies, etc. Once completed, you can then search for more restaurants. You can make up to 10 reservations at one time. Once you have added all your times to the cart, you check out. If no credit card is required, the check out takes about 10 seconds, just put in your name and email address, all the information will be emailed directly to you. Some restaurants require a credit card guarantee, or in the case of Dinner shows, full payment is required at time of booking, so you will have to go through another step of inputing your billing information, but again, that process is fairly quick.

The entire process is very simple to use, though a bit slow at the moment. I made 2 dining reservations for June, it took about 15 minutes total of finding exactly what I wanted. I am hoping that before this is launched to the public that some changes will be made to make the process a bit quicker and easier to use. Overall, it works really well, I was pleasantly surprised with version 1.

Disney Cruise announced special Disney cruises with Disney Channel stars today to run during the summer season, 2009. These special 3 and 4 night cruises will feature Disney channel stars available in photo and autograph sessions, on deck parties and Q&A sessions with sneak peaks of upcoming shows and specials.

It’s a kids and teen’s dream to party with the stars from popular Disney Channel shows and original movies. The first-ever Disney Channel Summer At Sea Cruises launch, makes this dream come true!

Stars from Sonny with a Chance, Hannah Montana, JONAS, Wizards of Waverly Place, The Suite Life on Deck, Hatching Pete and Camp Rock will be setting sail. Plus, more are scheduled to appear—so check back often as additional stars come onboard.

For a limited time from July 9 until August 2, soak up the star power with more than 20 Disney Channel stars for eight special cruises on the Disney Wonder.

• Star Autograph & Photo Sessions: Capture some incredible memories! Grab your opportunity to have your photo taken with top stars from popular Disney Channel shows and original movies.
• Onboard Party With The Stars: For one night on each cruise the stars come out for a fabulous party. Join them for a high-energy evening with shows and a special musical performance!
• Star Q&A Sessions and Special Disney Channel Sneak Peeks: Get the inside scoop during question & answer sessions and find out first hand what’s happening with your favorite Disney Channel stars. Also, be among the first to know what’s new, what’s hot and start making your list of what you can’t wait to see on Disney Channel!

Here’s your chance to see and meet sensational stars from big shows and original movies on Disney Channel!

Sail Dates and Appearance Schedule*

3-Night Disney Channel Summer At Sea Cruise

• July 9 to 12, 2009—Tiffany Thornton, Brandon Smith and Doug Brochu (Sonny with a Chance) and Roshon Fegan (Camp Rock)
• July 16 to 19, 2009—Jason Earles (Hannah Montana) and Olesya Rulin (High School Musical)
• July 23 to 26, 2009—Jason Dolley (Hatching Pete), Chelsea Staub (JONAS) and Nicole Anderson (JONAS)
• July 30 to August 2, 2009—Debby Ryan (The Suite Life on Deck), Jennifer Stone (Wizards of Waverly Place) and Musical Act KSM

4-Night Disney Channel Summer At Sea Cruise

• July 12 to 16, 2009—Tiffany Thornton, Brandon Smith and Doug Brochu (Sonny with a Chance) and Roshon Fegan (Camp Rock)
• July 19 to 23, 2009—Musical Act Mitchel Musso and Jason Earles (Hannah Montana) and Olesya Rulin (High School Musical)
• July 26 to 30, 2009—Jason Dolley (Hatching Pete), Chelsea Staub (JONAS) and Nicole Anderson (JONAS)
• August 2 to 6, 2009—Alyson Stoner (Camp Rock), Meaghan Martin (Camp Rock) and Allisyn Arm (Sonny with a Chance)

*Schedule and talent subject to change. Not all stars available for each sailing. More stars are scheduled to appear, so check back soon to find out who!

Disney is also giving away several 3 and 4 night Disney Cruises via a sweepstakes:

Disney Channel Summer at Sea Sweepstakes

For more information on these special Disney Channel Stars cruises, including booking information, please contact our great sponsor Mouseketrips.

Travel Dates: June 20 – August 8, 2009

Walt Disney World has released a new Magic Your Way package discount for the travel dates listed above. You must check in during the travel dates listed above to receive the discount, and it appears as though as long as you check in during the travel dates, you will receive the discount for your entire stay. This discount overlaps with the previously released buy 4 get 3 free promotion. For almost everyone who booked the buy four get three free deal, you are better off with what you have. However, if your reservations falls under one of the items below, you might be better of looking at this new discounts:

• Your are staying more or less than 7 nights.

The discounts of this package will correspond with the room only discounts released for the same travel dates. The Magic Your Way package allows you to add park passes and the Disney Dining Plans to your reservation. Availability is extremely limited, and you must book this package by June 21, 2009.

One thing to note is that Disney World is also including a special “club level” discount, available only at resorts with concierge rooms, so Coronado Springs, Animal Kingdom Villas (Jambo) and the deluxe resorts. Historically, concierge rooms are rarely discounted. The discount seems to be substantial as well, over $200 per night at the deluxe resorts I checked. In fact, many of the concierge rooms will be very close in price to the non-concierge rooms in price. Typically the upgrade to concierge runs about $100 per night, with this discount, it appears to be closer to $40 per night.

To book this or any Disney package, please contact our great sponsor Mouseketrips, and ask for one of the following codes:

• Magic Your Way Package: RAP
• Magic Your Way Package with Quick Service dining: KFV
• Magic Your Way Package with Disney Dining: OBR
• Magic Your Way Package with Deluxe Dining: JVZ
• Magic Your Way Club Level Package: ELQ
• Magic Your Way Club Level Package with Quick Service dining: IXR
• Magic Your Way Club Level Package with Disney Dining: JWF
• Magic Your Way Club Level Package with Deluxe Dining: UHR

Travel Dates: June 20 – August 8, 2009

Walt Disney World has released room only discounts for the general public, anyone can use these discounts. You must check in during the Travel Dates listed above, and only night during the travel dates will be discounted.

Prices will vary depending on season (this discount covers both regular and value season at the deluxe and villa resorts), and weekend nights may be more expensive than weekday nights.

Some sample nightly rates:

• Value resorts, standard room: $89 – $99
• Value resorts, preferred location room: $104 – $114
• Moderate resorts, standard view room: $119 – $129
• Moderate resorts, king bed room: $144 – $154
• Animal Kingdom Lodge, standard view room: $159 – $189
• Beach Club, standard view room: $254 – $279
• Polynesian, garden view room: $274 – $314
• Grand Floridian, garden view room: $318 – $348
• Saratoga Springs, studio: $179 – $209
• Disney’s Fort Wilderness, wilderness cabin: $184 – $229

Travel Dates: June 7 – August 8, 2009

Walt Disney World has released room only discount rates for Walt Disney World Annual Passholders for the travel dates listed above. You must check in during the travel dates listed above, and you must present a valid annual pass at check in order to get the discount. Only the nights during the travel dates above are discounted, any other dates will be at full price. Prices will vary depending on season, and weekend nights may be more expensive than weekday nights.

Some sample nightly rates:

• Value resort, standard room: $74/$84
• Value resorts, preferred location room: $89/$99
• Moderate resorts, standard view room: $109/$119
• Moderate resorts, water view/king bed room: $134/$144
• Wilderness Lodge, woods view room: $174/$174
• Beach Club, standard view room: $264/$264
• Polynesian, garden view room: $299/$299
• Grand Floridian, garden view room: $333/$333

For value and moderate resorts, Friday and Saturday nights are a bit more expensive than weekday nights. For all deluxe and villa resorts, starting on July 19, they become value season, and the prices drop about $40 per night. Availability is very limited. These prices are the nightly price, and do not include the 12.5% room tax. Also, you are able to add the Disney Dining plan onto these discounted rates by using the special Annual Passholder Dining Plan package.

To book your Walt Disney World vacation with the Annual Passholder discount, please contact our wonderful sponsor Mouseketrips, who specializes in making your Disney vacation special. Make sure you ask for code QZZ!