The Cheap Cruise

For many people, planning a Disneyland Vacation
is part of the fun of the vacation itself! For others,
however, it can be a headache. Before you start
planning your vacation, determine whether or not you
are really up to planning the trip yourself or not.

If you dont want to plan your own trip, you have
several options. Of course, you can have a travel
agent make all of the arrangements for you, but for
the best Disneyland experience, you might be better
off using the Disney Vacation Planning Services.
Either way, you can have every single aspect of your
trip planned for you. Once you get there, all you will
need to do is follow your Itinerary.

If you prefer the fun involved in planning your
Disneyland vacation yourself, there are some things
that you absolutely must not leave out of the planning
stage. Before you can decide what you will be doing at
Disneyland, you must determine which dates you will
be there. The parks offer different things at different
types of the year, with many different themes and
entertainment to choose from.

Once you know when you will be at Disneyland, the
next step is to figure out what you will be doing each
day that you are there. Once youve set up your travel
arrangements and your hotel reservations, there are a
few more things you must consider.

Food is one thing you might want to arrange in
advance. Disneyland is a very popular place, and
having reservations at some of the more popular
restaurants is recommended. These reservations can
be made well in advance before you ever leave home.

When planning which attractions at Disneyland you
want to visit, use a map of Disneyland as a guide.
This will make it easier to schedule time for
attractions that are near each other. You want to see
and do as much as possible, so as much walking or
travel time as you can.

Keep your budget in mind. Often, by making
arrangements through travel agents or through the
Disneyland Vacation Planning Services, you will be
able to get better deals which can save you money.
Look for these deals, and save as much money as
you can on your hotel and food. If you have small
children with you, keep their priorities in mind they
have less interest in where they will sleep and the
food that they will eat, and more interest in what they
will see and do!

For the ultimate Disneyland vacation, you should
definitely stay at the Disneyland Resort Hotel. With
990 rooms in three high rise towers, this is the
original Disney Hotel, located in Downtown Disney.
If you want to truly experience all that Disneyland
has to offer, you must stay at the Disneyland Resort
Hotel.

The guest rooms in the Disneyland Hotel are
astounding. Offering standard rooms and suites,
each room has either a king size bed or two queen
size beds, room service, phones with voicemail, irons,
ironing boards, refrigerators, hairdryers, make up
mirrors, and safes. Cribs and roll away beds are
available, as well as smoking and non-smoking rooms.
The rooms are even sprinkled with Pixie Dust! For
families, the suites are highly recommended. Suites
contain one, two, or three bedrooms, and have all
of the amenities of a standard room as well.

The Concierge service at the Disneyland Hotel
cannot be topped. Concierge service entitles you to
priority check-in, admission to an exclusive lounge,
a continental breakfast, an evening wine and cheese
reception. Nightly turn-down service is included, as
well as DVD players and complimentary movies.
You will also have an unlimited supply of bottled
water and soft drinks. The Concierge serves to
make your vacation as enjoyable and trouble-free
as possible.

Disney touches are everywhere, and this is the
closest you can actually come to living in Never Land.
The swimming pool even has a Never Land theme,
and there are several cove pools and a sandy beach.
The hotel also features a childrens playground, a
volleyball court, and Koi fish ponds. The recreational
area encompasses a 5000 square foot area inspired
by Peter Pan. There are many scenic waterfalls,
tropical foliage, and mysterious caves on the property.
There is even a Team Mickey work out room full of
state-of-the-art gym equipment.

At the Disneyland Hotel, you will feel like your
Disney experience has truly already started as soon
as you walk in the door. This is where the famous
Goofys Kitchen is located, as well as The Captains
Galley, The Coffee House, Crocs Bits n Bites,
Granvilles Steak House, Hooks Pointe, The Wine
Cellar, and The Lost Bar.

When you stay at the Disneyland Hotel, your
vacation continues even after a day of sight seeing
and attractions in the park. In fact, your Disneyland
vacation begins each and every morning when you
wake up in the Magic Kingdom that the Disneyland
Hotel represents.

Even though Walt Disney has produced myriad movies, it is more popular for its animated ones. After starting the animated journey with ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ in the winter of 1937, Disney movies have not looked back. One can obtain a list of more than 150 animated movies that have been produced and distributed to add to the joy of children across the world.

After a certain age, kids grow out of Sesame Street, Tellytubbies and BooBaahs. At this time the next level of entertainment that attracts them generally are the Walt Disney movies that appeal to a slightly older age group. The great thing about these movies, which has probably led to the huge popularity of the animated movies, is the fact that they appeal to adults and children alike. A mother does not mind sitting through a Disney movie with her child but an episode of Tellytubbies can be wearisome.

To the uninitiated, it may be a surprise that each Disney movie comes accompanied with a movie book. These books are published under the Mouse Works banner and contain a simple version of the story. This can help in encouraging children to not only see the movie but also to read books, which hopefully will extend to other forms of reading at some time.

Though the company is proud of all its movie productions, some of them have attained the stature of classics based on their popularity. Abound with simple, yet meaningful songs these movies can expose the child to emotions, morals and ways of the world while telling a story. Toddlers seem to enjoy the light evilness of some of the characters like the witch in Snow White and Cruella De Vil in the 101 Dalmatians. Alternately, some of the most endearing characters that Walt Disney movies have created are Tramp in The Lady and the Beast in Beauty and the Beast. But most of the leading characters in inspire awe and amazement aided by the color, grandeur and dazzle.

Some of the Walt Disney films that have become all time favorites of most kids are The Lion King, Toy Story, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Jungle Book, The little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Lady and the Tramp, Cinderella and of course Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Some of the less known but equally enticing movies are the sequels to the Lion King, Dumbo, Lilo and Stitch, Pooh Bear and the Kim Possible series.

In spite of the high levels of endearment that the movies enjoy among most people, there are rumors galore about how there are countless hidden references to perverted things in the animated movies. The most known references are made to the tower on the cover of The Little Mermaid that resembles the male genitalia, the apparent erection of the priest in the wedding scene of the same movie and the dust taking the form of the word sex in The Lion King. Hearsay has it that Donald Duck has used vulgar words umpteen times during angry outbreaks.

Some opine that these subtle references have become a tradition at the film studios. This tradition started due to the fact that Walt Disney did not assign relevant credits to the creative animators. These animators, then, took to including hidden codes in the animation scenes to get back. One such example is that of the shorts that Goofy wears. If you look close enough, you will probably see names of artists written on these shorts. Though the given instance seems possible, the inclusion of debauchery in the animated Disney movies is debatable and it remains a question as to whether it is a fact or the Rorschach effect.

Today, even disabled people can enjoy the wonder of Disneyland! If you are on crutches, you should ponder renting a Disneyland Scooter to get about the estate. The lease fee is $35 per day, with a $20 deposit. A valid driver’s license is important, and you should be eighteen years old or older.

You can also choose to lease a wheelchair, which is not electronic. The rental fee for a wheelchair is $8 per day, with a $20 deposit. You do not need to lease your wheelchair or Scooter from Disneyland. You can choose to rent the apparatus from a undisclosed company, and have the wheelchair or scooter delivered to your hotel room. You may discover that it is cheaper to rent from a private company, as contrary to renting from Disneyland.

Cast members and assistance personnel will be happy to help with Visitor wheelchair transfers, and if you should part with a wheelchair or scooter that you’ve rented from Disneyland, wholly demonstrate the ticket for the wheelchair or scooter, and Disneyland will happily supply you with another one. Even so, if you lose a wheelchair or scooter that was rented from an outsidecompany, Disneyland will not be capable to help you replace it, and you may have to pay the rental company the full price of the chair. This is something to consider when you are attempting to decide whether to rent from Disneyland or a private company.

All of the restaurants and shops are wheelchair reachable, as are the entertainment areas. When it comes to wheelchairs, your problem will be accessing some of the rides. Various rides are not suitable for individuals who are in wheelchairs, while others are perfectly apt. For example, you will not be able to appreciate Donald’s Boat, Sailing Ship, or Tarzan’s Tree house.

However, there are innumerable attractions that you can appreciate, such as The Disney Gallery, Disneyland Monorail, the Disneyland Railroad, the Tiki Room, The Gold Horseshoe, It’s A Small World, Mark Twain Riverboat, and Tom Sawyer Island. Some attractions will require you to be transferred from your wheelchair, such as Alice in Wonderland, Indiana Jones, and the King Arthur Carrousel.

Whether or not you can enjoy a ride in your wheelchair, or you must be transferred from your wheelchair to the ride, you can in actuality enjoy most of the rides at Disneyland. Do not allow the fact that you can’t walk about the park keep you from planning a Disneyland Vacation. Now there is no more excuse not to go have fun at Disneyland!

What if you could turn your daily purchases into some hands-on Disney magic? Well now you can! Bank One is now offering a new Visa Disney credit card that provides you and your family with Disney rewards each time you use the card. You could turn your credit card debt into a fun-filled vacation for you and your family. The credit card company, Bank One, has partnered with the Walt Disney Company to offer this family-fun card to everyone who qualifies. You will be asked to pass a standard credit check with a major credit bureau before qualifying for the Disney Visa card.

How does it work?

When you make a purchase with your Disney credit card at your local grocery store, mall, or online store, you automatically earn points, or Disney rewards. These reward points accumulate with each purchase. As you earn points, you can shop the Disney Store, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Cruise Line, the Disney catalog, or DisneyStore.com for merchandise like DVD or Disney toys, vacation packages to your favorite Disney theme park, and other featured rewards, including travel and special passes.

Pros

• The Disney credit card is a great way to put your credit card debt to good use. The credit card company is essentially giving you back some of what you spend.
• There are no blackout dates for vacation packages earned with your Disney reward dollars.
• Platinum card benefits
• No annual fee
• Reasonable interest rate
• No interest for six months on several travel packages
• Opportunities to save on Disney merchandise and travel packages

Cons

• As you accumulate Disney rewards, you also accumulate credit card debt. Unless you are skilled at managing your finances, this type of incentive program could cause you more trouble than its worth.
• The more you buy, the more rewards you get. But dont forget that the more you buy, the more interest you pay as well. The credit card company isnt offering this deal out of charity for their customers. They want to make some money.

Special features

The Disney credit card has a unique card design that will delight families: Mickey Mouse on a sparkling red background. The card can be used as a family card by any member to help contribute to future vacation plans or holiday gift times. Consider giving the card to younger members of the family as a starter card that can be used for expenses away from home. The rewards can be enjoyed by the student or by the whole family.

The reward points are much more flexible that with other reward cards. You can use the points to gain entrance to a Disney theme park, access parking privileges, purchase merchandise online or at store locations or from the catalog. You can even use the points to purchase items inside the parks. With Disney Cruise Line, your options are limitless as you use your reward points to buy cruise tickets, entertainment, and the ultimate Disney experience.

To apply for a Disney Visa card, call 1-888-878-7222.

On September 12, 2005, the newest member of the Disneyland family of theme parks and resorts opened to the public. Hong Kong Disneyland is located on the island of Lantau, positioned to look out over Penny’s Bay and the Chinese Sea. Started as a joint operation between The Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong SAR government, Hong Kong Disneyland brings the magic of Disney to a whole new environment, respecting the aspects of the culture of the country where it makes its home. The park boasts 2 glamorous hotels, the Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Hollywood Hotel.

Hong Kong Disneyland has some of the attractions that will be familiar to visitors of Disney’s other parks. Main Street looks like a piece of Americana transplanted, with the Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad for a trip around the park. There’s also Adventureland, with the exciting Jungle River Cruise and all of the animal sights and sounds. Tarzan has made his home in Adventureland, where guests can take a ride on a raft to cross to Tarzan Island where they can visit Tarzan’s Tree House. For those who love the movie The Lion King, there is a musical performance based on the story as well The Festival of the Lion King.

In the original Disneyland, Fantasyland is well known for the symbol that people think of when speaking of Disney – Cinderella’s Castle. Hong Kong Disneyland’s version is the castle of Sleeping Beauty, where children can explore the fairy tale and their own imagination. They can also visit the grotto of another Disney princess, Snow White. Cinderella is there too, represented by a beautiful carousel ride. There’s everyone’s favorite bear at The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride. More popular Disney rides include the Mad Hatter Tea Cups and Dumbo the Flying Elephant. Children and grown-ups can watch a 3-D movie with all the favorite Disney characters at Mickey’s PhilharMagic or The Golden Mickeys at Disney’s Storybook Theater.

The fourth area, Tommorrowland, gives visitors a Disney vision of the future. The three main attractions include 2 of the fastest most exciting rides in the park. Space Mountain is a literally rocketing rollercoaster. Orbitron lets you pilot your own jet through the sky of whirling planets. You can also play a cosmic game of Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters with the whole family. In 2006 guests will have a new adventure to enjoy. Autopia will have visitors driving futuristic electric cars around a track meant to envision the roads of tomorrow.

Visitors can choose to stay inside the park at one of the two beautiful new hotels. The Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel is designed to take you back in time to the grandness of the Victorian era. The European influence is obvious in the 400 luxuriously appointed rooms. Guests can enjoy spa services at the hotel as well. At Disney’s Hollywood Hotel, the 600 guest rooms are decorated in an art deco style, meant to bring back the allure of the golden age of Hollywood.

Although the park exposes local visitors to traditions and exhibits from the Western world, local culture is honored as well. At the opening ceremonies children sang in English, Cantonese and Putonghua. The Hong Kong Children’s Choir was followed by other local traditional performances such as Chinese acrobats and dancers performing a Lion Dance. The ceremonies were attended by members of the local government as well as representatives from Disneyland theme parks in other countries. The culture of the Hong Kong region is also reflected in the cuisine served throughout the park. Yes, guests can find food that is more often served in the West, but also local dishes that they’ll enjoy as well.

No Disneyland Vacation can be complete without a
Disneyland tour especially if it is your first trip to
Disneyland. There are currently four different tours
to choose from, and Disneyland park admission is
required for all tours. It is strongly advised that you
make a reservation for the tours that you wish to go
on.

Disneylands Discover the Magic Tour may be the
most popular of the four. This tour will have you and
your family working with Disneyland characters to
find clues and hunt for treasure. You can literally live
out a Disneyland fantasy with your family and loveable
characters, outsmarting the Disney bad guys! This
tour includes lunch and an exclusive gift that can only
be obtained on this tour.

The Discover the Magic Tour lasts for about three
hours. There is a two ticket minimum, and the cost
is $49 each of the first two tickets, with additional
tickets costing $39. The tour is appropriate for the
5 9 year old age group, and adults. The tour is
not really suitable for children under the age of five,
or for children who need strollers.

The VIP Tour lasts for about four hours, and costs
$75 per hour for a party of up to ten people. You
must book this tour well in advance, or there will be
an additional twenty dollar fee. The tour is not
recommended for children, but is designed more for
people who have a true love and interest in Disney
and Disneyland history.

The Welcome to Disneyland Tour is absolutely
perfect for first timers. There are many benefits to
this tour, including priority seating at one of the stage
shows, tips and suggestions for getting the most out
of your Disneyland vacation, a brief history of the
park, priority seating at one of the many restaurants,
instruction in using FastPass, two bonus FastPass
tickets, and much more. This tour lasts about two
and a half hours, and costs $25 per person.

A Walk in Walts Footsteps focuses on the vision of
Walt Whitman, and is not really suitable for small
children. Filled with history and trivia about the park,
this tour lasts for more than three hours, and costs
$49 per person. The main feature of this tour is your
peek at the exclusive Club 33.

Again, you should definitely consider making one of
these tours part of your Disneyland experience
especially if this will be your first trip to Disneyland.
You may see things and learn things that you would
not see or learn without the benefit of the tour!

Any guidebook you read will tell you that you should
begin your day at Disneyland enjoying the attractions
found in Fantasyland. There are several important
reasons as to why this advice is given, and it is
advice that you should strongly consider following.

Fantasyland is one of the most popular areas at
Disneyland because there are no age or size
requirements. The only height restriction is a 35
inch requirement for the Matterhorn. As the day
progresses, Fantasyland will fill up. Getting there
first thing in the morning will help you avoid the long
lines that others will encounter later in the afternoon.

None of the attractions in Fantasyland have
FastPass. This is another reason as to why you
should go there first. FastPass allows you to more
or less set an appointment to ride certain rides
but none of the attractions in Fantasyland have this
option. Cover Fantasyland first, then go get
FastPasses for the other attractions that you want
to ride.

The crowds and the lines will start growing within a
few hours of Disneyland opening each day. Make
sure that you arrive before the park opens so that
you can be one of the first ones through the gate
and head straight to Fantasyland before going
anywhere else.

Since all of the guidebooks suggest this, many
other early risers will also be headed for Fantasyland.
Even so, the lines wont get really long for two or
three hours, and by then, you will have already ridden
all of the rides there.

From Fantasyland, you should start collecting
FastPass tickets for the other attractions that have
FastPass throughout the park. It is best to collect
these early in the day the longer you wait, the l
onger it will be before your appointed time comes
around, depending on how many FastPasses have
been issued for each ride.

While you are waiting for the appointed time for your
first FastPass, you should enjoy other attractions,
visit the shops, or get a snack. Times between
FastPass appointments are great for visiting the
restrooms or sitting down to rest with a cool
beverage.

Just remember that in order to enjoy the most
attractions at Disneyland you should start with
Fantasyland, followed by gathering FastPass tickets.
Enjoy other attractions between FastPass attractions,
but make sure that you dont put yourself on such a
tight schedule or such a rigid itinerary that you forget
to have fun! Some people simply like to spend some t
ime wandering around the park.

You are about to take voyage aboard one of the most beautiful and celebrated Cruise Lines in the world, the Disney Cruise Line. Disney is known for their legendary service, stunning decor and wonderful activities suited for the whole family. That is why the Disney Cruise line is considered to be the best for families. As a result, many first time Cruisers are drawn to the Disney Line.

Some first time Cruisers worry that they wont fit in with the wealthy cruisers. Well there is no need to worry, Disney is known for their casual family atmosphere. Disney has taken all the needs of the first timer in mind, so relax, and have fun!

What is included in your Disney Cruise?
Cruise fares, onboard accommodations, meals, entertainment, and activities are all included. There are a number of expenses that are not covered however. Airfare to your port of embarkation and debarkation is usually not covered. As well as, hotel stays before and after your Cruise. Gratuities, taxes, and trip insurance are extra as well. Dont forget to plan for your shore excursions, alcohol, laundry, telephone calls, beauty and spa services and babysitting. They are all going to cost you more money, so be prepared. At one time, Cruising was reserved for the affluent. However, today Cruising has become much more affordable.

Here are some of the ways to save money on a Disney Cruise:

Book your Cruise early
Booking up to 18 months in advance could save you anywhere from $30 to $890 per stateroom.

Promotions and Discount
Disney has offered off-season discounts in the past. (From February-May and September to December). These discounts have been up to 40%. To learn more about Disney promotions and discounts visit MouseSavers and TheMouseforless.

Call a Travel Agent
Travel Agents are good at finding the best deal. Some Travel agents are able to book blocks of staterooms in advance, locking in discounts for you for you to grab later on.

Save with Onboard Booking
When you book your next Cruise onboard your Cruise ship, you can receive special pricing.

Florida Residents
Florida residents may qualify for 50% off discounts on selected Cruises. Call the official Disney Cruise Line phone number or visit disneycruise.com.

There are also special rates for special people
Infants and kids under 12, AAA and Costco members, the Disney vacations club, annual Passholders, Canadian residents, Military personnel and repeat Cruisers all may receive special discounts.
For more information, and to receive the free booklet and video/DVD, contact the Disney Cruise Line.

Enjoy your Dream Disney Cruise!

You may think that Disneyland is only about fun,
excitement, and activity but you would be wrong.
Disneyland is also about relaxation and pampering.
The pampering you receive at Disneyland may not
be the same that you would receive at a world class
spa, but it is relaxing and makes you feel special
just the same.

The easiest way to get pampered on your Disneyland
vacation is to book your room at one of the
Disneyland resorts, and upgrading your room to one
that includes Concierge services. The difference in
the price may startle you a bit, with rooms costing
up to $300 per night, but the service you receive will
be out of this world.

First, your room will be much nicer if you have the
Concierge service. You will have free bottles of water,
soft drinks, coffee, and tea at all times. You will be
able to check in and out faster at the Concierge
check in counter, and a nightly turndown service is
included.

Access to the Concierge lounge is where the
pampering really starts! You will enjoy a continental
breakfast in the lounge each morning. You can also
opt to take your breakfast back to your room. In the
afternoon, while the kids watch Disney Videos, you
will enjoy a wine tasting in the lounge as well.

There are many more perks available with the
Concierge service, differing at each resort. To
determine whether the Concierge service will benefit
you and your family, call the resort that you are
considering, and simply ask what perks are included
with this service. Ask to be connected with the
concierge desk to ensure that you are getting
accurate information.

Again, the cost of this upgrade is a bit high, but
when you close your eyes and dream of all of the
pampering and special treatment that you and your
family will enjoy, and you tally up the cost of the free
breakfast and drinks, you may find that the cost is
well worth it. In fact, depending on the size of your
family, you may even discover that the value of the
free breakfast and the free drinks even makes the
entire Disneyland trip a little less expensive for you!

Once youve experienced the Concierge Service on
a trip to Disneyland, you may not be satisfied with
anything less on future Disneyland trips. The
service is out of this world, and can only serve to
make your trip more relaxing and enjoyable.