Disney Vacation Club Members have a special opportunity to preview Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure at Epcot®, an immersive new experience designed to turn Guests into crime-fighting secret agents. This is a chance to experience the adventure before it opens officially to Guests.

First, here’s the scoop (or “the sitch,” as Kim would say) about the attraction:

Inspired by the hit Disney Channel animated television series “Kim Possible,” the attraction allows Guests of all ages to become secret agents by volunteering at recruitment centers throughout the Park (look for them in the Future World area and near the International Gateway), where they’ll receive their mission assignment. Upon reporting for duty, recruits will get their “way cool Kimmunicators” (interactive, handheld, cell-phone-like devices that will help maneuver agents through their mission) and head out on their adventure in one of seven participating World Showcase pavilions (China, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Norway and the United Kingdom).

The Kimmunicators will connect agents with a variety of “Kim Possible” characters who will provide clues to help stop villains from carrying out their plans. Each mission is designed with groups in mind (2-4 agents can share a Kimmunicator) and can last anywhere from 30-45 minutes. Kimmunicators even recognize when a team has broken away from the action (even secret agents need restroom breaks) and will alter the mission accordingly.

Now, here’s the scoop about the Disney Vacation Club Member preview:

Disney Vacation Club Members may embark on missions available Jan. 23-25 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (Missions begin every 15 minutes.) Missions are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Members and their Guests will begin their missions by reporting to the Team Possible Recruitment Center located on the bridge leading from Future World to World Showcase at Epcot. Members must present their Member ID card or their Key to the World card displaying a Member designation.

Good luck!

Here is a listing of some of the news articles I have found that might interest you.

From WFTV News in Orlando – Cadilia Juste, a housekeeper at Disney’s Pop Century resort claims that she was badly beaten by a co-worker while cleaning a room at the hotel last week.  The woman, recently released from 3 days in the hospital, is also claiming that Disney threatened to fire her if she didn’t show up for work.

Another Disney cast member – 26 year old Hasan Tashpulatov was arrested in connection with the attack, and has been suspended pending the outcome of the case.  Juste claims that Taspulatov beat her, tried to choke her and climb on top of her – but she was able to fight him off and run for help.

Disney told WFTV news in Orlando that there was a ‘language barrier’ in communicating with Juste (she spoke to reporters via an interpreter) and that they would do everything they could to help her through this ordeal.

You can view a video of this story on the WFTV web site

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Norwalk Virus – Two words that no traveler wants to hear.  The virus is characterized by “nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. General lethargy, weakness, muscle aches, headache, and low-grade fever may occur. Symptoms may persist for several days and may become life-threatening in the young, the elderly, and the immune-compromised if dehydration is ignored or not treated.”

While I am not a big eater by any means, I enjoy a good “All You Can Eat” / “Buffet” from time to time when I go away.  I have had the chance to visit quite a few locations in Disney World, and now I will put them in writing to help you plan your trip when you go.

Keep in mind that this list was compiled based on my last visit, so with the way Disney changes packages, some of these may have changed.
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The location is first, followed by the name.

A * noted before the location denotes no characters.

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The food at each of these locations was excellent.  Service was always good.  Value for the price was always just about right.  If you are on vacation, and operating casual, then eat your first meal a little later in the morning.  This can actually help you save money by not needing a full lunch.

When we go away we will snack in the morning, or eat a “All You Can Eat” / “Buffet” a little later than immediatelly upon waking up.  We take our time, and enjoy ourselves.  Latelly we have been using our DVC perks to their fullest.  We will shop at Super Wal-Mart when we get to Disney.  Then we will cook a meal in the room for breakfast.  We don’t really do lunch, or we will pack whatever each of us wants.  We almost always eat dinner in our DVC villa.  By staying on grounds in a DVC location we can hop back and forth from our accomodations to the park, or even shopping.

Back a few years ago my family took a short road trip from the Disney World Resort.  We went to Mousesurplus.  Mousesurplus is a facility that has gotten their hands on various Disney props, furniture, clothing, toys, etc…

When we went to the facility, which at that point was located near the Orlando International Airport, there was a lot of furniture from the Disney Hotels, various toys from the parks, and quite a few props from movies like: Toy Story, and Speed. 

If you are looking for Disney memorabilia, then I would recommend stopping by their new location.

You can also take a virtual look at some of the stuff they are selling by visiting:

Http://www.MouseSurplus.com

One of the most known items sold by MouseSurplus is one of the Disney World Mark IV monorail cars.

Armed Services personell is once again getting the benefit of FREE admission.

Here is the article.

Disney is reviving its “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” program, with free five-day passes to Walt Disney World now available to all active and retired U.S. military personnel.

The offer is good through Dec. 23, 2009. Personnel should show their military ID at a ticket window to get the free ticket, as well as to buy additional five-day passes for $99 each. (Note that these are not park-hoppers.)

I haven’t seen a specific announcement about Disneyland, but the last time Disney ran this promotion, free tickets at Disneyland also were available with a military ID.

Disney’s run this promotion in previous years, and Busch has had a long-standing policy of free admissions for U.S. military at its theme parks (Busch Gardens and SeaWorld). Busch’s offer does include family members, too, if I recall correctly.