Walt Disney World Resort Update

Update for November 12 – November 18, 2012

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News and Views

Starbucks to enter the Magic Kingdom, Epcot next year | So what will Disney do with Lucasfilm in the parks? | Disney Cruise Line to visit Jamaica in 2013 | Test Track to let guests design their own vehicles | Captain Jack Sparrow coming to Studios next month | Disney Vacation Club running sweepstakes game for three years of points | Construction update | Quick takes | Crowd Update

Starbucks to enter the Magic Kingdom, Epcot next year

Ever since Disney announced that Starbucks would be opening an outlet in each U.S. theme park, here has been speculation on where the shops would appear at Walt Disney World. We've now got the first two locations. The Main Street Bakery at the Magic Kingdom, long in need of some TLC, gets a makeover starting in January, and is reopening as a Starbucks in early summer. The Fountain View Cafe at Epcot closes in March, and reopens mid-summer.

Both locations will carry a full line of Starbucks beverages, as well as breakfast sandwiches and baked goods. We're also hearing that many of the current specialty baked goods at the Main Street Bakery will continue to be available at that location. Cast member costumes and location decor will be designed to match their locations in the parks. There have been very positive reviews of the Starbucks location at Fiddler, Fifer, and Practical Café in Disney California Adventure park.

Locations are still to be announced for Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom, and Disneyland Parks.

The holiday season has begun at Walt Disney World. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

So what will Disney do with Lucasfilm in the parks?

Following the October 30 announcement that The Walt Disney Company was acquiring Lucasfilm Ltd., a great deal of speculation began as to how this would affect the many branches of the company, from studio entertainment and interactive games to merchandise and theme parks. Since we focus on the parks here, we'll limit our speculation to that.

Disney has used Lucasfilm properties in the parks for some time now. From Star Tours to Captain EO to the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular in Florida to Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye at Disneyland to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril – Backwards! at Disneyland Paris, the partnership has been longstanding. So what could Disney do now that they own the whole company?

It's easy to guess at an expansion of the Star Wars presence, as that is the crown jewel of Lucasfilm. My personal favorite idea is the Mos Eisley Cantina Dinner Show. But there's so much more that can be done, such as character interactions, expanded themed areas, attractions, stage shows, DisneyQuest games, and dining establishments—there is much that Disney could do in the theme parks with these properties.

In fact, it really isn't just limited to Star Wars or even Indiana Jones. How about a diner-type eating establishment at Disney's Hollywood Studios based on American Graffiti? An attraction based upon Labyrinth? Even Willow could make interesting fodder for Imagineers. And perhaps most importantly, unlike the Marvel characters, these characters and worlds are not licensed to any other theme parks and could be utilized at any time.

What's your favorite theme park idea for a Lucasfilm property?

Columbia Harbour House is under wraps for some facade work. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Across the walkway, Yankee Trader is also under cover. Word is that it work will not be completed until February. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Madame Leota's Cart sits in the area that will eventually become an extra walkway between Fantasyland and Liberty Square, between Yankee Trader and Haunted Mansion. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Disney Cruise Line to visit Jamaica in 2013

Disney Cruise Line is visiting Jamaica for the first time next fall, as the Disney Wonder sails from the Port of Galveston on a new seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary on seven dates in October and November 2013. The cruises are scheduled to visit Falmouth, Jamaica; Grand Cayman; and Cozumel. The new itinerary alternates with a seven-night Bahamas itinerary that stops at Key West and Castaway Cay.

Western Caribbean itineraries featuring Jamaica depart on October 5, 19, November 2, 16, and 30, 2013. Bahamian itineraries depart September 28, October 12, 26, November 9, 23, and December 7 and 14, 2013.

The Wonder and the Disney Magic swap home ports next fall, with the Wonder sailing from Galveston next fall and winter after sailing from Miami this year, and the Magic switching from Galveston to Miami. The Wonder heads through the Panama Canal from Miami to the West Coast in May, stopping in Los Angeles before heading to Vancouver for a summer of sailings to Alaska. Ths ship will stop in Los Angeles in September before heading back through the Canal on its way to Galveston. The Magic, which leaves Galveston in May for Europe, currently has no scheduled itineraries after it completes a cruise in Barcelona on September 7 until its October 20 departure from Miami. It's likely that the ship will have a visit to drydock for some upgrades during that time.

You can make your reservation through the Disney Cruise Line website or by calling 888-325-2500 or your favorite travel agent. MousePlanet’s preferred Disney travel providers are MouseEarVacations.com (link), Small World Vacations (link) and Get Away Today (link).

On the other side of the construction walls, work continues on the new restroom complex at the west side of Fantasyland. The brownish rocks to the left are adjacent to Madame Leota's Cart. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

The central part of the restroom complex continues to take shape. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

The right side of the restroom complex butts up against the “it's a small world” show building. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

The complex seems very large for simply containing restrooms, but no other functionality for the area has been announced yet, so we'll have to wait for that. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

A scrim covers the “it's a small world” exit facade. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Test Track to let guests design their own vehicles

When Test Track reopens on December 6, guests will no longer experience the garage-like testing lab pre-show. Instead, they will enter the sleek Chevrolet Design Center to create their own car, truck, or crossover vehicle design, which will be stored on a coded card that they will carry on the attraction with them. The design will be tested during the attraction for capability, efficiency, responsiveness, and power.

While designing their vehicle, guests can select shape, length, width, engine size, front grill, wheels, paint, and accessories before adding the Chevy logo to the vehicle. Once the design is complete and stored on their card, guests ride through a series of performance tests on the attraction while their design is scored on the various attributes.

After exiting the SimCar ride vehicle, guests can see how their vehicle performed against a base vehicle and their fellow riders. Guests will also be able to race their concept vehicles on a digital driving table. Using green screen technology, guests can even create commercials featuring them and their vehicles against various backgrounds, and share them on social media. New and concept Chevy vehicles will also be featured in a showroom environment in the post-show.

There may or may not be soft openings between now and December, but the official opening occurs at a press event on December 6. Watch for a report following the ceremony.

From the entrance to Storybook Circus, you may eventually be able to see three different themes of rockwork. To the left is the construction of the mountain for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, the grey rock in the center is Be Our Guest Restaurant and the base of Beast's Castle, and the red-brown rock to the right is Ariel's Grotto and Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Captain Jack Sparrow coming to Studios next month

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow is the official name of the walk-though attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios that has now been given an opening date of December 6 (there's that date again). The attraction takes guests through an eerie lost grotto. An interactive pirate skull will gauge guests' fitness to join the crew of Captain Jack Sparrow, presenting various moments from the film series, including a ship-to-ship battle. The attraction will hold dress rehearsals and previews in late November before its official opening.

From the new Enchanted Forest area, you can see part of the wall that will eventually separate the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train from the rest of the area. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Above the wall, workers continue to work on the rebar frame for the support structure for the attraction as a crane delivers more concrete. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Work continues on a stairway that may end up inside or outside the Mine Train structure. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Disney Vacation Club running sweepstakes game for three years of points

In a similar game to the Disney Cruise Line sweepstakes game, the Disney Vacation Club has created its own sweepstakes game. The “Disney Vacation Club Getaway Your Way Sweepstakes” gives you a chance to win three years of Disney Vacation Club points.

You may enter by playing the game up to 10 times between now and January 31, 2013, or by sending a postcard to DVC by December 31, 2012. The sole prize will be a “Sample Membership” of three years of points equivalent to the number of virtual points accumulated by playing the game (between 160 and 500). For reservation window purposes, the points will have Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas as their home resort. Check the sweepstakes rules for more information.

Moving toward the entrance to the Enchanted Forest, more terrain texture becomes apparent. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

The Mine Train will still allow views of Prince Eric's castle from the walkway entrance to the Enhanted Forest. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

A closeup look at the drop out of the show building for the Mine Train shows what appears to be either a stabilization bar or a brake zone mechanism. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Construction update

The following is a listing of interesting items from paperwork filed with Orange County in the last week:

• Magic Kingdom The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – Hunny Wall construction.
• Magic Kingdom merchandise cart – construction.
• Magic Kingdom Pirates of the Caribbean – construction.
• Magic Kingdom Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station – construction.
• Magic Kingdom Stroller Shop – construction.
• Magic Kingdom Emporium – construction.
• Magic Kingdom Haunted Mansion – construction.
• Magic Kingdom “it's a small world” – construction.
• Magic Kingdom Splash Mountain – construction.
• Magic Kingdom Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor – electrical.
• Magic Kingdom Enchanted Tiki Room – electrical.
• Magic Kingdom Crystal Palace Kitchen – electrical.
• Magic Kingdom utilidors – electrical.
• Magic Kingdom Adventureland – experience development PIRIM show control package.
• Magic Kingdom Pirates of the Caribbean – mechanical.
• Magic Kingdom Tomorrowland Speedway garage – mechanical.
• Magic Kingdom Sleepy Hollow Refreshments – construction.
• Magic Kingdom Columbia Harbour House – construction.
• Magic Kingdom Hall of Presidents – mechanical.
• Magic Kingdom Skyway area restrooms – AV.
• Epcot Innoventions – Stormstruck wall backdrop.
• Epcot Test Track – graphics.
• Disney's Hollywood Studios AFI Gallery – construction.
• Disney's Hollywood Studios Catastrophe Canyon – mechanical.
• Disney's Hollywood Studios AFI Gallery – marquee.
• Disney's Hollywood Studios main entrance – construction.
• Disney's Hollywood Studios Pizza Planet – construction.
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Expedition everest – construction.
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Dinosaur – construction.
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Primeval Whirl – construction.
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Beastly Bazaar – construction.
• Disney's Animal Kingdom animal program admin building – construction.
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Tusker House – electrical.
• Typhoon Lagoon Storm Slides – construction.
• Typhoon Lagoon Crush 'n' Gusher – rehab construction.
• Typhoon Lagoon wave chamber – construction.
• Typhoon Lagoon south boiler pad – repairs.
• Typhoon Lagoon body slide – construction.
• Downtown Disney West Side Splitsville – interior build out.
• Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Grand Floridian Spa – installation of spa marquee.
• Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Grand Floridian Spa – installation of pre-engineered aluminum cover on concrete slab.
• Disney's Contemporary Resort Convention Center fire suppression – mechanical.
• Disney's Wilderness Lodge – replacement of fire sprinklers.
• Disney's Boardwalk Resort main building – room rehab.
• Disney's Coronado Springs Resort Cabanas building 9B – mechanical.
• Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort Shutters Restaurant – point of sale system modifications.
• Disney's Pop Century Resort Classic Hall – mechanical.

What will be the front view of the Mine Train's hillside seems to have less textural terrain than the back. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

A construction worker welds two pieces of the support structure together. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Construction workers converse while assembling pieces of the mountain superstructure for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Quick takes …

…This year's Wine & Dine Half Marathon featured repeat winners on both the men's and the women's side, once again resulting in an all-Florida victory celebration. Anton Van Zyl, 39, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, won the men's division in 1:14:18, beating runner-up Rolando Cruz Castro by 8 seconds and repeating his wins the last two years. Van Zyl is the only men's winner the event's three-year history. Carrie Majeranowski, 35, of Satellite Beach, Florida, won the women's division in 1:27:16, more than a minute ahead of runner-up Meaghan Munroe. Both winners finished a little more than a minute over their times from last year. MousePlanet staff members Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix, Andrew Rich, and Jennifer Rich also successfully completed the event. Congratulations to everyone who finished!

…Congratulations to Charlie Beljan, who overcame being hospitalized after Friday's second round for a panic attack to win the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic at Walt Disney World Resort yesterday with a 16-under score of 272. The 28-year-old rookie took the lead during Friday's round and never looked back, notching his first career win by two strokes over Matt Every and Robert Garrigus. Brian Gay was three strokes back, and four others finished four strokes back at 276. With the $846,000 win, Beljan jumped from 139th to 63rd on the 2012 money list and earned a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour. This is the 42nd annual tournament at Walt Disney World, which has been held under a number of different sponsors over the years. We are hearing that the tournament is looking for yet another new sponsor for next year. The tournament is held on the resort's Palm and Magnolia golf courses.

…Registration opens for the 2013 Expedition Everest Challenge on Tuesday, December 11, 2012. Individual registration starts at $105 per person and team registration start at $210 per two-person team. On January 30, those prices go up to $115 and $225 respectively, and they go up again on March 21 to $125 and $240, respectively. The related runDisney Kids Races for kids ages 4 to 10 has a $20 registration cost. Post-race party tickets start at $49 for adults (ages 10 and up) and $25 for kids (ages 3-9). Those prices go up to $59 and $0 on March 21.

…The Mermaids of Whitecap Bay have been added to Pirates of the Caribbean at the Magic Kingdom. The characters from Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides appear in two sequences. After passing through the mist screen projection of Blackbeard, glowing mermaids appear to swim along either side of your boat. The mermaids appeared sort of blurry, but guests did recognize them as mermaids. In the next show scene, the first beach scene, a mermaid skeleton is now within a rowboat next to the standing pirate skeleton. You also hear a mermaid singing just before you go down the waterfall into the battle scene. Other than that, there don't appear to be any changes to the attraction. Let us know what you think of this in the comments below.

…The new Celebrate the Magic castle projection show will be previewed tonight during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. The show officially debut tomorrow night during regular park hours, and runs once nightly during the Christmas Parties at 9:15, and twice on standard days, just before and after the Wishes fireworks show.

The nighttime view from the approach to Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid makes apparent the current sightline issues from the area. It's uncertain how the infringing views of Space Mountain (top center), Storybook Circus (lower center), and the Contemporary Resort (rights) will be blocked, but the futuristic structures seem particularly jarring from the more rural area of the park. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

…The Voices of Liberty is not performing at Epcot's American Adventure pavilion this Thursday and Friday. Filling the rotunda instead will be the sounds of Cosmic Persuasion, a jazz quartet.

…Unsurprisingly, in the wake of the special Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom card given to attendees of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, there is another special Sorcerer card for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Instead of Halloween's Chip 'N' Dale's Bag of Tricks, Christmas sees Wayne and Lanny's Ornament Barrage. The card will be given out to guests during the party. Guests must show their party ticket and wristband at the Main Street Firehouse, and tickets will be punched to ensure that nobody receives more than one card.

…Changes to entertainment during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party include a retheming of the dance party at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café to Club Tinsel and new pre-parade entertainment on Main Street U.S.A. The Main Street celebration will be led by the “Kringle Crew,” who will teach guests dance moves including the “Candy Cane Twist,” “Hang the Tinsel,” the “Santa Shake,” and “Drive the Sleigh” while guests wait for the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade to arrive from Frontierland.

…The cost of valet parking at Disney-owned resorts has gone up from $12 to $15 per day. Of course, free self parking will still be available.

…The AMC Downtown Disney 24 now offers “Bring Your Baby” matinees on the first Tuesday of each month. During these movies, the volume is lowered, theater lights are not dimmed as much normal, and strollers and crying babies are welcome. Check with the theater for details.

…Popular Disney publicist Dave Herbst passed away at age 67 on November 2 of a stroke following surgery. Herbst had been with Walt Disney World since 1981. We extend our condolences to Dave's family and friends.

…Registration for the featured events of the January 10–13, 2013, Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend are full, including the Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge, the full Marathon, and the Half Marathon. The Runner's World Challenge is also sold out. The Disney Family Fun Run 5K has just a bit of room at 98 percent full, though the Stroller Walk Division of the 5K is sold out. The runDisney Kids' Races are 57 percent full (with more space available in the Mickey Mile than the dashes) and the Pasta in the Park Party is 54 percent full. Space for the featured races is still available through Team in Training and other groups with reserved spots.

…Registration for the February 22–24, 2013, fifth annual Princess Half Marathon Weekend is open. The individual and team Half Marathons are 85 percent full. The Race Retreat is sold out and the Platinum Package is 98 percent full. The post-5K breakfast is 54 percent full, the runDisney Kids Races are 53 perdcent full, and the Pasta in the Park Party is 51 percent full.

…The MousePlanet Newsletter is here! The newsletter contains a recap of the week's articles (in case you miss a day), news that may have developed since the weekly Updates were published, and tips about what's happening at the Disney theme parks for the coming weekend. We'll also include a fun MouseAdventure bonus, such as an Eye Spy or a trivia question. To subscribe to our free newsletter, go to the MousePlanet main page and enter your email address in the top right box labeled “Join the MousePlanet Newsletter.” Click Join, then fill out the fields in the registration page, including your first and last name. The Newsletter is free, but you must complete this registration to receive it, even if you may have signed up for one with us in the past.

Crowd update

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Coming up

• Through November 12: Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.
• November 12, 15, 16, 25, 27, 29, and 30, December 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 21. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.
• November 9–January 6, 2013: Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.
• November 16–December 27: Festival of the Seasons at Downtown Disney.
• November 19: Little Mermaid– and Beauty and the Beast-themed sections of New Fantasyland open for previews at Magic Kingdom.
• November 22, 23, 25: Old Spice Classic.
• November 23–December 30: Holidays Around the World.
• November 30, December 1-2: Walt Disney World Christmas Parade taping.
• December 1–8: Pop Warner Super Bowl.
• December 6: Enchanted Forest section of New Fantasyland officially opens at Magic Kingdom.
• December 6: Test Track officially re-opens at Epcot.
• December 6: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow officially opens at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
• December 7: Splitsville opens at Downtown Disney.
• December 13: Disney Vacation Club Condominium Association annual meeting.
• January 10–13, 2013: Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend.
• February 22–24, 2013: Disney's Princess Half Marathon.
• March 6–May 19, 2013: Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.
• May 4, 2013: Expedition Everest Challenge.
• September 6-7, 2013: Night of Joy.

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

• Snow White's Scary Adventures – closed permanently for conversion to Princess Fairytale Hall.
• Be Our Guest Restaurant – now in Passholder previews. Soft-opens November 19, official opening December 6.
• Enchanted Tales with Belle – now in Passholder previews. Soft-opens November 19, official opening December 6.
• Gaston's Tavern – now in Passholder previews. Soft-opens November 19, official opening December 6.
• Bonjour Village Gifts – now in Passholder previews. Soft-opens November 19, official opening December 6.
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid – now in Passholder previews. Soft-opens November 19, official opening December 6.
• Ariel's Grotto – now in Passholder previews. Soft-opens November 19, official opening December 6.
• Splash Mountain – closed January 2 through March 19 for refurbishment.
• Main Street Bakery – closed January through early summer for conversion to Starbucks location.
• Liberty Square Riverboat – closed for refurbishment February 1-7, 2013.
• Princess Fairytale Hall – opens 2013.
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – opens 2014.

Epcot

• Test Track – closed through December 5 for “reimagining.”
• Bistro de Paris – closed through December 3 for refurbishment.
• Fountain View Cafe – closed March through mid-summer for conversion to Starbucks location.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

• American Film Institute Showcase – closed for refurbishment October 8 through November 16.
• Studio Backlot Tour – closed for refurbishment October 8 through November 16.
• Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show – closed for a brief refurbishment November 14.

Animal Kingdom

• No known refurbishments.

Resorts

• Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa:
  • Grand Floridian Spa closed through mid-2013 for refurbishment.
  • Sandy Cove shop closed through December.
  • Courtyard Pool closed through early December for addition of zero-entry area.
  • Mouseketeer Club closed through November 2012.
  • Gasparilla Grill & Games closed through December 17.
  • Ivy Trellis Beauty and Barber Shop closed October 20 through December 3 for refurbishment.
• Disney's Contemporary Resort – California Grill closed February 2, 2013, through late summer 2013 for refurbishment.
• Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts:
  • Ship Shape Health Club closed through November 16 for refurbishment. A temporary health club has been set up in the Solarium at the Beach Club Villas.
  • Periwig Beauty & Barber Shop closed through November 16 for refurbishment.

Water Parks

• Typhoon Lagoon – closed October 28 through January 5, 2013 for annual refurbishment.
• Blizzard Beach – January 6, 2013 through March 16, 2013 closed for annual refurbishment.

Elsewhere

• Osprey Ridge Golf Course – closed for refurbishment November 12–18.
• Magnolia Golf Course – closed for refurbishment November 26 through December 2.
• Palm Golf Course – closed for refurbishment December 3–9.
• Oak Trail Golf Course – closed for refurbishment December 10–14.
• Cirque du Soleil La Nouba – performs Tuesdays through Saturdays. For 2012, the show will not be performed on November 27.

Current Discounts & Promotions

Passholder room discounts through end of year

A Passholder discount is available for most dates through December 24. Passholders can book this discount through the day of arrival if rooms are still available. As with all discounts, rooms available at these rates is limited, and minimum length-of-stay requirements may apply for Friday or Saturday arrivals. No group rates or other discounts apply. Campsites, 3-bedroom Grand Villas, and standard rooms at Disney's Art of Animation Resort are not included. Discounts range from 20-35 percent and availability varies by date.

You can make your reservation through the Walt Disney World Passholder website or by calling (407) 939-7859 or your favorite travel agent and mentioning discount code Q5M. MousePlanet's preferred Disney travel providers are MouseEarVacations.com (link), Small World Vacations (link) and Get Away Today (link).

2013 Free dining package for United Kingdom citizens

A free dining package for 2013 is now available for citizens of the United Kingdom. The package is valid for arrivals in 2013 between January 13 and March 19, as well as April 7, through December 8. The package includes not only a free Disney Dining Plan, but also a $100 gift card and a 14-day ticket for the price of a 14-day ticket. The deal is valid for a free Quick-Service Dining Plan at Moderate resorts and a free standard Dining Plan at Deluxe resorts. You must book by November 15, 2012 to get this deal.

Room-only discount for January through early March

You can now can book a room-only reservation at select Walt Disney World resorts for 15-35 percent off of standard rates most nights from January 2 through March 7, except January 18-20. Reservations must be booked by December 31.

Guests can receive 35 percent off at all Deluxe and Deluxe Villas Resorts, except for Disney's Wilderness Lodge and the Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, which both offer 25 percent off..

30 percent discounts are available at most Moderate Resorts, including Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort, and Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort Cabins.

Guests can also get a 25 percent discount at Disney's All-Star Sports Resort, Disney's All-Star Movies Resort, and Disney's Pop Century Resort

Fifteen percent discounts can be had at Disney's Art of Animation Resort, family suites only. Standard rooms in the Little Mermaid-themed section are excluded. Also excluded are Port Orleans French Quarter Resort, All-Star Music Resort, 3-bedroom Grand Villas, and Fort Wilderness campsites.

The number of rooms available at these rates is limited. Minimum length-of-stay requirements may apply for Friday or Saturday arrivals.

You can make your reservation through the Walt Disney World website or by calling (407) 939-7661 or your favorite travel agent. MousePlanet's preferred Disney travel providers are MouseEarVacations.com (link), Small World Vacations (link) and Get Away Today (link).

Magic Your Way package discount for January through early March

You can now book a room-only reservation at select Walt Disney World resorts for discounts on room, ticket, and dining packages most nights from January 2 through March 7. Value Resort package discounts apply to Quick-Service Dining Plans, while Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villas Resorts all offer discounts on the standard Disney Dining Plan. Reservations must be booked by December 31.

Packages are available at all resorts except for the standard rooms in the Little Mermaid-themed section of Disney's Art of Animation Resort, 3-bedroom Grand Villas, and Fort Wilderness campsites.

The discount codes offer are Q8J (for Disney Visa cardmembers) and T64 (for Disney Visa cardmembers) for Value resorts and Q83 (for all guests) Q85 (for Disney Visa cardmembers) for all other resorts. We do not have word on the general-availability codes yet.

The number of rooms available at these rates is limited. Minimum length-of-stay requirements may apply for Friday or Saturday arrivals.

You can make your reservation through the Walt Disney World website or by calling 407-939-7661 or your favorite travel agent. MousePlanet's preferred Disney travel providers are MouseEarVacations.com (link), Small World Vacations (link) and Get Away Today (link).

Special PhotoPass+ deal

Disney's PhotoPass service has announced a new summer discount on Disney PhotoPass+ pre-arrival packages. For $169.95 plus tax, Walt Disney World guests receive a voucher to exchange for a PhotoPass+ card upon arrival at the resort, a Photo Gallery CD with over 400 stock photos ($39.95 value), a unique code to create and order a photo CD upon return from their trip ($169.95 value), print packages at select dining locations ($29.95 value each), and digital photos from select attractions ($14.95 value each). Applicable taxes will be charged to all orders.

This special offer is only available from this link or by calling the Guest Support line at 407-560-4300 before you arrive at Walt Disney World Resort. All sales are final, and not eligible for an exchange or refund.

The package may take as long as 14 days to arrive, and you must bring your voucher from the package to redeem it, so make sure that you order far enough in advance to allow your materials to arrive.

Attractions currently participating in the program are Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Expedition Everest, and Dinosaur. Current participating restaurants are 1900 Park Fare, 'Ohana, Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show, Chef Mickey's, Cinderella's Royal Table, Tusker House Restaurant, Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue, and Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall.

2013 Military Salute offers

From now through September 28, 2013, active and retired U.S. military personnel can purchase 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with either the Park Hopper or Water Parks Fun and More option for $156 per ticket, plus tax (up from $138 last year), or with both the Park Hopper and Water Parks Fun and More options for $184 per ticket, plus tax (up from $165). No Base ticket is available with this offer.

You cannot use these tickets before October 1, 2012, and they expire after September 28, 2013. Blockout dates are December 24 to 31, 2012 and March 24 through April 4, 2013 at all ticketed locations, and July 4, 2013 at Magic Kingdom park only.

Eligible service members include active or retired members of the U.S. military including the U.S. Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reservists. Disney Military Promotional Tickets can be purchased at Shades of Green or at a participating military base (MWR/ITT) office. There is no tax charged for these tickets but they must be activated at a theme park ticket window. Tickets may also be purchased at Walt Disney World Park Ticket Offices and Guest Relations Offices where tax will be charged. Tickets may be purchased by active and retired military personnel for themselves and up to five additional family members or friends. One of the Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets purchased on each occasion must be for use by the Eligible Service Member or spouse. This offer is for active or retired members of the U.S. military, including the National Guard, Reservists and the U.S. Coast Guard. Valid military identification is required. The tickets are non-transferable and may not be resold.

You may upgrade the tickets to Seasonal Passes or Florida Resident Weekday Select Passes (for Florida Residents), or Annual Passes, Premium Annual Passes, or Disney Premier Pass with credit toward the upgrade based on the actual price paid. The no-expiration option and other upgrades, such as additional days, are not available.

In addition, specially priced rooms are available to active and retired U.S. military personnel at select Walt Disney World resorts for stays most nights from October 1, 2012 through September 28, 2013, except for November 24, 2012, December 23-31, 2012, and March 25 through April 4, 2013.

For complete information regarding Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets and discounted resort rates, military personnel may call (407) 939-7830, visit the Walt Disney World website, or participating U.S. military base ticket offices.

Don't keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments. Email Mark here.