Get your Disney deals and resources from AOL Travel

by Scott Carmichael on

When it comes to Disney, I’m rather weird – I can recite almost all of Finding Nemo, but I’ve only ever managed to visit their theme parks once. Thankfully my daughter is now at the age where a trip to Disney is going to have to be on the agenda pretty soon, or I suspect there will be rioting.

Our friends at AOL Travel have compiled a fantastic collection of Disney resources. Their articles can help with everything from where to find the best deals, to picking the best time of year to visit Disney World.

The main information hub also offers a great gallery of images from some of the lesser known attractions. Take for example the Richard Petty Driving Experience or the Disney Wide World of Sports – two attractions I had never heard of.

So, next time you start researching Disney, head on over to the Disney pages at AOL Travel. From the main Disney hub, you can also research Disney Cruise Lines, Disney Adventures or the Disney Vacation Club. The pages are easy to navigate and thanks to the daily updated deals, you’ll be able to research and book all from the same site.

InterContinental opens new hotel at Walt Disney World

by Melanie Nayer on

Families, couples, school groups and friends of all ages will have another hotel option for the next Walt Disney World vacation in Orlando, Florida. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) opened a new 14-storey, 323-room Holiday Inn in Orlando.

The hotel is located on Hotel Plaza Boulevard in the Walt Disney World Resort grounds and offers free transportation to theme parks, access to area golf courses and advance reservations at restaurants. All rooms are equipped with 32-inch televisions, complimentary wireless Internet access and an electronic safe.

This new Disney hotel is part of IHG’s global $1 billion rebranding of its hotels. More than 1,800 hotels have been relaunched around the world during IHG’s revamp of the Holiday Inn brand.

Giving back feels good: 600,000 signed up for Disney volunteer days

by Melanie Nayer on

Maybe it’s a sign of the times or maybe it’s a sign of things to come, but either way it feels good to give back — just ask the 600,000 people who have already signed up for Disney’s volunteer days.

Disney Parks kicked off 2010 with a new promotion: volunteer and get one-day free admission to Walt Disney World. During a press conference today in Orlando, Disney announced that just six weeks into the promotion it already had 600,000 volunteers signed up to give back. Disney is aiming for 1 million volunteers and at this rate, it’s possible their dream just might come true.

The concept is simple:

  • Sign-up for an approved, one-day community program at the HandsOn Network via the Disney Parks homepage
  • Once you’ve completed your day of volunteering, you’ll get a voucher for a free day at Disney

Disney started this campaign after a revenue decline of 2% last quarter. Looking for a way to bring more families back to the Magic Kingdom, Disney cooked up this promotion, which benefits both the park and those less fortunate. It’s no secret the parks are pricey, so offering free admission to Main Street USA is a draw for any family looking to save a few dollars.

[via WalletPop.com]

New Disney Dream cruise ship to feature “Goofy Sports Deck” and “Nemo’s Reef”

by Scott Carmichael on

The newest cruise ship in the Disney Cruise Lines fleet won’t sail till 2011. As we get closer to that Date, Disney has started to release images of the amazing amenities guests will be able to enjoy on the Disney Dream.

Today, Disney announced the details of several new amenities on the ship”

Goofy’s Sports Deck – a miniature golf course with Goofy and his son Max leading you through nine wacky holes. The sports area also features two mini sports courts with soccer, basketball, volleyball and a walking track.

Nemo’s reef – a 1500 square feet infant and toddler play area with slides, an “inking” octopus, and of course a chance to swim in the EAC (the east Australian current).

Quiet Cove pool and bar – adults can escape all the kid friendly attractions at the cove. The area features several pools, hot tubs and of course, poolside cocktails.

AquaDuck – one of the highlights of the new ship will be the world’s first shipboard water coaster. Forget water slides – Disney is adding a high speed flume ride with twists and turns.

To learn more about this amazing new ship, or to see where it will sail, check out the promo page over at the Disney Cruise Line site.

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Disney names new resort in O’ahu: Aulani

by Melanie Nayer on

Looks like Mickey and the gang will start vacationing in Hawaii starting in 2011. Disney finally announced the name of its new O’ahu resort, “Aulani”. The folks at Disney say the name ‘Aulani’ translates to “the place that speaks for great ones,” and “expresses a connection to tradition and deep story-telling,” and we have no reason not to believe them… Disney is, after all, where story-land dreams come true.

The Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawaii, is scheduled to open in fall 2011 and sits on 21 acres of oceanfront property near historical sites on the western side of O’ahu. The resort plans show 360 hotel rooms and 481 two-bedroom suites, comparable to the Disney Vacation Club villas.

On the resort guests will enjoy pools and sunset facing hot tubs, a snorkeling lagoon, a variety of kids’ club and other play programs for children, and a lazy river, and an 18,000-square-foot spa that caters to adults and kids. There are two restaurants planned, a 14,545-square-foot conference center and 48,685 square feet of outdoor venues. If you need a break from all the make-believe, there’s a nearby 18-hole golf course designed by Ted Robinson, who helped create over 170 golf courses worldwide.

You can check out the new Disney digs at the resort’s new Web site, www.DisneyAulani.com.

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