Special Events happening at Disney World in November

OrlandoVacations October 28, 2011
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What special events are going on in November at Disney World?

Signalling the start of the festive season, there are a number of exciting November events at Disney World held at various locations.

Magic Kingdom Theme Park

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

November 8- December 18

On select nights, the Magic Kingdome theme park is filled with spectacular fireworks, live entertainment, visits from Santa Klaus, magical snowfall and a jolly holiday parade. This is an evening sure to make the whole family get into the holiday spirit.

Epcot Theme Park

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

September 30 to November 13

The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is paradise for any food and wine lover, where you can dine your way around the world with tempting tapas, chef demonstrations, refreshing beverages and live performances. There is something to suit and delight every tastebud.  Online reservations are available for certain festival events.

Candlelight Processional

November 25 – December 30

Epcot Theme Park becomes an international celebration of all that is Christmas over the holiday period. The park is festively decorated and live entertainment allows visitors to delight in the sights and sounds of the festive season. The Candlelight Processional tells the story of Christmas, along with an orchestra, mass choir and celebrity narrator. The event is held on select nights and booking in advance is advised.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Theme Park

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

November 10 – January 3

Held on the Streets of America, this show is a spectacular seasonal display of synchronised lighting and music. Entire buildings are glittering with lights, and about every 10 minutes, the lights are choreographed to holiday music.

Downtown Disney

The Festival of the Masters

November 11 – November 13

This open-air art festival is held in Downtown Disney features over 150 award-winning artists and showcases all kinds of artwork, from sculpture, to painting, to jewellery and photography. This is one of the most well known outdoor art events, which also features live demonstrations as well as sidewalk chalk art; you do not to miss the special event.

The Festival of the Seasons

November 9 – January 8

Christmas cheer is to be found all over Downtown Disney, with light trimmings, carollers, live performances and visits form Santa to incite the holiday spirit in the whole family. Down the corridor of novelty shops, you can also pick out the perfect Christmas gift for someone special.

November is a great time to come to Disney World and book one of the many Disney Vacation packages. Since the crowds are a little less during November, it is a great time for Disney to hold many of their Christmas parades. This way they are able to really iron out all the details so when the large crowds start rolling in during the later part of December the parades and other Christmas themed events go off without a hitch.

In addition, if you visit during November you should find the hotel rates greatly reduced as compared to what they are going to be in December. Not to mention there is many vacaincies at the rental homes near Disney World, and you should find the price for these homes being much less as well. Come visit us this month at Disney World, we know you will have a great time!

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Outlook for Orlando vacation home industry in 2012

OrlandoVacations October 28, 2011
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Ever since Walt Disney decided to build Disney World in Orlando, Florida, tourism has been at the center of the city’s economy. Today, Orlando has more entertainment attractions and theme parks than any other city in the world.  With such a buzzing tourism industry and so many places to see and things to do, there are a large number of vacation homes in the city. There are hundreds of vacation home rentals just minutes from the major attractions.

The figures

Although these figures are representative of the hotel industry, we can still recognise general tourism trends that are likely to impact the vacation home industry. Hotel Horizons magazine published a variety of predictions for the 2012 year. These figures and estimate are courtesy of PKF Consulting USA, a real estate firm and advisory that specializes in the hospitality industry.

  • All markets will exceed the previous peak level of demand in 2012.
  • Demand for vacation accommodation will rise an estimated 3.1%, with a 0.7% increase in room inventory. This shows that although new accommodations are still being developed, the demand for them is rising by a much higher margin.
  • Occupancy in hotels in America is expected to rise to 61.2% in 2012, as the demand for growth surpasses that supply.

These figures indicate that the amount of tourist is growing much quicker than the amount of room space available. This means that there is scope for a more extensive hospitality industry in Orlando, including that of vacation homes.

In the midst of a recession, the rental of vacation homes in Orlando may become even more popular as people shy away from expensive hotels and expensive meals and choose self-catering options.

 

The benefits of renting a vacation home

  • Many have amenities such as pools, spas, and more so you don’t miss out on hotel facilities.
  • Cooking your own meals means saving money.
  • Orlando Vacation rentals are often cheaper over a longer stay.
  • Parking is usually free and accessible.
  • You have your own private space.

In these times of real estate crash, one could even consider buying a rental home in Orlando, as real estate prices are far less than they were three or more years ago.

Considering all these benefits, the outlook of the vacation rental industry in Orlando is a positive one, as people continue to seek some Disney magic in an economic downturn.

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Staying Fit In Disney And With Disney

JMarsden92 October 20, 2011
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Each year we go to Disney World my wife and I discuss going down to the exercise rooms.  Well… That never actually happens.  (Getting there.)  Recently my wife started her dieting, and exercising again.  She tries hard.  I told her that when we go to Disney World this Christmas we can both go to the fitness room and workout.

I think that Disney could do a lot of good if they started offering things like workout classes, and other things like the ever growing zumba work out.  I know nothing about Zumba, and don’t think that I want to, but I will support my wife 100% if she decides that she wants to do something like that back at home.  Disney could make some money at this if they thought about the idea. It surprises me that they don’t even have things like zumba on the cruise.  I have read many peoples posts on some sites about how they wish the cruise had zumba.

If you want to get in a little bit of sweating and exercise just look around whatever Disney resort you are staying in.  There is almost guaranteed to be a fitness room.  Some properties even have bicycle rentals.

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African Cats Come To Blu-Ray And DVD

JMarsden92 October 20, 2011
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AN AWE-INSPIRING ADVENTURE PROFILING TWO INCREDIBLE FAMILIES AS THEY TRY TO SURVIVE IN THE WILDEST PLACE ON EARTH

 Makes Its Roaring High Definition Debut On Blu-ray™ Combo Pack,

DVD,Movie Download & On-Demand, October 4th

 

For Every Movie Purchased Through October 10, Disneynature Will Make A Donation To The
African Wildlife Foundation’s “Save The Savanna” Efforts

 

BURBANK, CA, JUNE 15, 2011 – This coming October, don’t miss Disneynature’s latest home entertainment release, AFRICAN CATS, an epic film profiling two incredible families as they strive to make a home in the wilds of Africa.  Disneynature AFRICAN CATS will debut as a 2-Disc Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack, a High Definition Movie Download and/or On-Demand viewing on Tuesday, October 4, and is the perfect family-friendly film that provides an exciting journey into the wild while also raising consumer awareness for these incredible animals. For every movie purchased through October 10, 2011, Disneynature will be contributing a portion* of its home entertainment sales through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund to the “See AFRICAN CATS, Save the Savanna” effort – an initiative developed between Disneynature and the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) toprotect lions, cheetah, elephants, zebra, giraffe and a host other species in Africa. For more information on this release, please visit www.DisneyNature.com/AfricanCats.

AFRICAN CATS takes viewers deep into the breathtaking African savanna to witness the heart-stopping rivalry between two lion prides and the epic journey of one brave cheetah family.  Shot over the course of two and a half years using state-of-the-art camera equipment, AFRICAN CATS captures the awe-inspiring beauty of one of the wildest places on Earth as it tells the dramatic and often intimate stories of Mara, an endearing lion cub who strives to grow up with her mother’s strength, spirit and wisdom; Sita, a fearless cheetah and single mother of five mischievous newborns; and Fang, a proud leader of thepride who must defend his family from a rival lion clan.

An awe-inspiring adventure blending family bonds with the power and cunning of the wild, AFRICAN CATS captures the real-life love, humor and determination of these majestic kings of the savanna in an exciting, heartwarming and visually stunning tale that is sure to engage children and adults alike.  The film is narrated by Oscar®-nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson and directed by Alastair Fothergill (Disneynature EARTH) and Keith Scholey.

In addition to the film, the discs include an incredible array of bonus features that take viewers deeper into the savanna through extensive interactive behind-the-scenes footage including filmmaker and conservationist interviews, an incredibly touching music video featuring Jordin Sparks singing “The World I Knew,” plus a look at the global efforts to which The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund contributes.

Bonus Features:

DVD:

Disney & Nature – Viewers get a deeper look into the conservation efforts around the world being sponsored by The Walt Disney Company.

Save The Savanna – A comprehensive look at Disney’s “See AFRICAN CATS,Save the Savanna” program and its impact on the region.

BLU-RAY:

Everything on the DVD, plus…

Filmmaker Annotations – This interactive in-movie feature is a viewing mode with 12 different segments that allows consumers to watch behind-the-scenes footage of the production process and hear stories from the filmmakers and conservationists who spent several years making the film.

Jordin Sparks “The World I Knew” Music Video

MOVIE DOWNLOAD:

Everything on the DVD, plus…

Introduction To Masai Mara – a segment from the Filmmakers Annotations Blu-ray feature

Filming The Cats – a segment from the Filmmakers Annotations Blu-ray feature

Sophie’s Elephants – a  segment from the Filmmakers Annotations Blu-ray feature

Disc Specifications:

Street Date:October 4, 2011

Direct Prebook:August 9, 2011

Distributor Prebook:August 23, 2011     

Release Formats:Blu-ray Combo Pack (BD + DVD), DVD Combo Pack (DVD + BD) & Movie Download

Suggested Retail Price:2-Disc Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack =$39.99 U.S./$46.99 Canada

High Definition Movie Download = $39.99 U.S./ $46.99 Canada
On-Demand = For additional information and pricing, please contact your television provider or favorite digital retailer. Bonus features are not offered with On-Demand.

Feature Run Time:Approx 89 minutes

Rated:G (US and Canada)

Aspect Ratio:                1:78:1

Audio:Blu-ray = English 5.1 DTS-HD MA; French/Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

DVD = English/French/Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

Languages:English/French/Spanish

Subtitles:English SDH/French/Spanish

Social Media:

Those who want to stay connected with the latest information on AFRICAN CATS are encouraged to:

“Like” the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DisneyNature

Follow on Twitter www.twitter.com/DisneyNature

View exciting trailers, video clips and more at www.youtube.com/DisneyMovies

About “See AFRICAN CATS, Save the Savanna”:

By purchasing a Combo Pack or Movie Download version of Disneynature AFRICAN CATS through October 10, viewers can help protect the future of lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, giraffes and a host of other animals in the vibrant African savanna. In honor of each home entertainment release purchased during that period, Disneynature, through the Disney Worldwide ConservationFund, will donate critical funds to help conserve the land that the magnificent species featured in AFRICAN CATS call home.  This program will help to protect the vital Amboseli Wildlife Corridor, a passage between the Amboseli, Tsavo West and Chyulu Hills National Parks, with hopes to have a positive long term and sustainable impact on the animals and people of Africa. Visit: www.disney.com/conservation

The “See AFRICAN CATS, Save the Savanna” campaign was initiated during the theatrical release of Disneynature AFRICAN CATS and has already helped to protect more than 50,000 acres of land in Kenya’s Amboseli Wildlife Corridor on behalf of the moviegoers who came out to see the film during its opening week. Disneynature will continue to contribute to this cause with its home entertainment sales as well.

About African Wildlife Foundation:

Founded in 1961, the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is a conservation organization focused solely on the African continent. AWF’s programs and conservation strategies are based on sound science and designed to protect both the wild lands and wildlife of Africa and ensure a more sustainable future for Africa’s people. Since its inception AWF has protected endangered species and land, promoted partnerships with the private sector for conservation tourism to benefit local African communities as a means to improve livelihoods, and trained hundreds of African nationals in conservation—all to ensure the survival of Africa’s unparalleled wildlife heritage. AWF is a non-profit organization currently operating in 14 countries across the continent. AWF is a registered 501(c)(3) in the United States. Visit www.awf.org.

About Disneynature:

Disneynature, the first new Disney-branded film label from The Walt Disney Studios in more than 60 years, was launched in April 2008 to bring the world’s top nature filmmakers together to share a wide variety of wildlife subjects and stories with theatrical audiences. “Earth” (opening Earth Day 2009) was the first film to premiere domestically under the new label, and garnered a record-breaking opening weekend for a nature documentary. Its “Buy a Ticket, Plant a Tree” initiative led to the planting of three million trees in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. Hitting theaters on April 22, 2010, “Oceans” was the third highest grossing feature-length nature film in history. Its “See ‘Oceans,’ Save Oceans” initiative helped establish 40,000 acres of marine protected area in The Bahamas, preserving essential coral reefs. Walt Disney was a pioneer in wildlife documentary filmmaking, producing 13 True-Life Adventure motion pictures between 1949 and 1960, which earned eight AcademyAwards®. For more information about Disneynature, check out www.DisneyNature.com like us onFacebook: www.facebook.com/DisneyNature and follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DisneyNature.com.

About The Walt Disney Studios:

For more than 85 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under four banners: Walt Disney Pictures,which includes Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios, Disneynature, Touchstone Pictures and Marvel. Through the Home Entertainment division, innovative distribution methods provide access to creative content across multiple platforms. Original music and motion picture soundtracks are produced under Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records, while Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses liveevents, including Broadway theatrical productions, Disney on Ice and DisneyLIVE!.

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Is A Disney Timeshare Worth The Money?

JMarsden92 October 20, 2011
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YES!!!

Many years ago I asked this very question.  I had gone to many timeshare tours in Florida, and also Atlantic City.  I knew what kind of money I was spending by going to Disney World 1-2 times per year.  This was calculations based on 2 adults + 1 child in a “Value” resort.  We were spending on average $600-$700 in accomodations.  My mother and father came home one year and told us about the Disney Vacation Club.  Being we had done many timeshare tours in the past we basically tried to tell them what we didn’t want.

My parents showed me where the savings would be, and asked if we would just meet with the guide and see what she could offer.  We agreed to this as long as noone tried to pressure me.  We got there and met with Kelly.  She went over everything and at the end told us to call if we were interested.  My wife was very hesitant at first.  She said that we should just look into houses for rent when we go to Florida.

WAIT… She didn’t try to keep us at the table and sell us on the spot?  No.

After we got home and evaluated everything we called Kelly and told her that we were ready.  She said she would send us all the paperwork to finalize through the mail.  We were very pleasantly surprised at how easy everything went in comparison to the other timeshares that we saw.  Disney financing went through quick, and easy.

Disney Vacation Club accomodations have Studios, 1 Bedroom, 2 Bedroom, and Grand Villas.  Each accomodates a maximum amount.  Each also has a specific set of ammenities included.  The best part is that I get points, and those points can be used at any of the DVC resorts.  I am automatically part of an exchange program so I can go to other places that aren’t part of Disney.

Looking back at our decision I realize that it was one of the wisest things we could do.  We have already made our money back.

Would I do it again…?  Yes.  I would hope to get my hands on any of the original properties only because of the cost.  The cost of the DVC properties has gone up quite considerable since we bought.

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