Disney News

Guests at Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida can see a bit of the TRON universe zipping high above their heads. Renderings of yellow and blue light cycles have transformed one of the trains on the Walt Disney World’s legendary monorail line. A blue light cycle zips to the left along one side of Walt Disney World’s “highway in the sky” and the yellow light cycle zooms to the right. This particular monorail currently takes guests between Epcot® and the Walt Disney World ® Resort’s main Ticket and Transportation Center.

This is not just to remind you of the 1982 film, but to introduce you to a new classic.  The sequel, “TRON: Legacy”, to 1982’s “TRON,” starring Oscar-winner Jeff Bridges, will be released in both Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D and is currently scheduled to debut across the US on December 17.

Question:

I am taking my special needs child to the Walt Disney World® Resort.  Is there anything offered that will help with the challenges of this?

Answer:

Guest Assistance Cards are available to its visitors who need additional help because of various reasons. The Disney Destinations take pride in accommodating every guest with a disability the best that they can.  On the first day of your trip, go to any Guest Services at any of the theme parks and they will be happy to assist you.  Your child’s experience will be purely magical!

Traci Elswick, Navigator

Immerse yourself in the power of the Force during Star Wars™ Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™, select weekends this spring, 2010.  You’ll find an entire saga’s worth of characters and celebrities on hand for autographs, pictures, motorcades, Q&A sessions and more, including the Jedi Training Academy for your Padawans.

Event Tickets
Admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ required.

2010 Dates
May 21 – 23, May 28 – 30, June 4 – 6, June 11 – 13

Characters
Encounter over 50 Star Wars characters from the entire saga. From Darth Vader to Darth Maul and Anakin to Chewbacca, you’ll find heroes and villains from throughout the galaxy.

Celebrities* from Star Wars will attend each weekend and participate in:

• Autograph Sessions
• Legends of the Force – Celebrity motorcade
• Stars of the Saga – Talk Show and Q&A

May 21-23: Temuera Morrison, Daniel Logan, Dee Bradley Baker
May 28-30: Matthew Wood, Lorne Peterson, Tom Kane
June 4-6: Billy Dee Williams, Ray Park, Dave Filoni
June 11-13: Ray Park, Peter Mayhew, James Arnold Taylor

Celebrity Hosts*
The celebrity hosts for each weekend will be Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett from Empire and Return of the Jedi) and Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka fromThe Clone Wars).

Jedi Training Academy
Each young Padawan who is chosen will learn a lightsaber combination as they prepare to fact the dark side!

Behind the Force: Experience the Clone Wars
Explore the excitement of Star Wars: The Clone Wars with a fascinating look behind the scenes of the all-new animated adventure!

Star Tours Attraction
Blast your starspeeder through the ultimate Star Wars adventure.

Padawan Mind Challenge
Kids under 12 can test their wits before the Jedi Council!

Hyperspace Hoopla
Star Wars characters and Guests gather for an entertaining conclusion to each day’s events.

A Galaxy of Photo Opportunities

Click here to request your quote for a Walt Disney World Vacation and become one with the Force!

*Admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ required.
Appearances and entertainment subject to change without notice.
Availability is limited for some events. Events may be cancelled at any time.
© 2008 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM.
Star Wars © 2008 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM.
© Disney

By Magic Maker® Vicki Ohlerking

If you’ve ever thought about a vacation to the Walt Disney World® Resort, why not expand that thought and consider a trip for the WHOLE family or even a family reunion?  I have just returned from a third trip with grandparents, siblings and cousins and I can’t think of a better place to create great family memories than at Walt Disney World® Resort.  We literally start counting down the days until the next trip together on the day we get home.

Because so much is offered for every age group, along with exclusive experiences for larger groups, each trip is unique.  From the theme parks, dining and shopping, to fireworks cruises and behind the scenes tours, everyone has something to do.  And the great thing is that we can be together for some things and then go our own direction for others.  So everybody has an incredible time!

Here are a few tips and suggestions for making your family trip magical:

Agree on an itinerary ahead of time.
Park hours are available months ahead, so you can have a general idea of what parks you’ll go to on each day.  And by making advance dining reservations, meals won’t be a pressure point.  Just remember to be flexible and use the itinerary as a guideline to accommodate everyone’s expectations.

Breaking up is NOT hard to do.
Go into the trip with the mindset that it’s ok at times to go different directions.  For example, take a couple of hours where everyone goes to ride what they want to, and then meet back for lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon together doing things that everyone wants to do.

Take a fireworks cruise.
There are affordable private cruises that will take you out to watch Illuminations: Reflections of Earth at Epcot® or the Wishes fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom® Park.  It’s a very relaxing way to enjoy the fireworks with just your family.

Say “Cheese.”
Family photos are a great way to look back.  Take advantage of Disney’s Photopass® services.  Photographers are located throughout the parks and at most of the Character Meet-and-Greet locations.  Or bring a handheld video camera and tape Grandma screaming throughout the entire ride on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® Attraction!

With a great plan, a Walt Disney World® vacation for the entire family can be one of your greatest memories.  And the best way to make it all come together is to have an experienced agent work for you.  As Magic Makers™ with Off to Neverland Travel®, we have vast knowledge of what Disney offers and we plan each trip as if it were our own.  So let us take care of all the details to bring your entire family together for a dream vacation no one will ever forget!

This special is no longer applicable. Please click here to see current Disneyland Resort Specials.

New Disneyland® Resort Special!

Now through Sept. 1, 2010, you can get two additional days and nights free* when you buy a 3-day, 3-night Disneyland® Resort vacation package for arrivals May 1 – Sept. 26, 2010. And this year, “Summer Nightastic!” is back, with an even bigger, even more electrifying lineup of special entertainment. This special summertime event features favorite nighttime entertainment re-imagined with spectacular, state-of-the-art effects – plus an all-new fireworks show and entertainment!

Plus, don’t miss one last chance to catch the Genie’s pop-culture humor in one of the most popular shows at the Disneyland® Resort, as Disney’s Aladdin – A Music Spectacular heads into its final carpet call. The last performance of this Broadway-style musical is scheduled for Aug. 15, 2010, making way for new and exciting changes coming to Disney’s California Adventure® Park.

Offer Details:
When you buy a Walt Disney Travel Company 3-night Disneyland® Resort vacation package that includes a 3-Day Disneyland® Resort Park Hopper® souvenir ticket, you can get two more days and nights free*.

Booking Window:
March 16 – Sept. 1, 2010

Travel Window:
This offer is available for arrivals May 1 – Sept. 26, 2010. Travel on this offer must be completed by Oct. 1, 2010.

*Offer is valid for bookings from 3/16/10 through 9/1/10 and for arrivals from 5/1/10 through 9/26/10 with travel being completed by 10/1/10. Upon the purchase of a 3-night package, with 3-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper souvenir tickets at a participating hotel for a family of four (3 adults and 1 child (age 3-9)), two (2) consecutive free nights will be added to the hotel stay and two (2) days added to the tickets. Offer applied once per package/reservation and not valid for previously booked rooms. Check for offers associated with other lengths of stay. The Disneyland Resort Park Hopper souvenir tickets expire 13 days after first use or 10/13/10, whichever occurs first, and each day of use of a ticket constitutes one full day of use. Tickets may not be sold or transferred for commercial purposes. This offer is subject to availability; and advance reservations are required. Not valid with any other discount or promotion. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.