Mobile Magic: Disney Park’s new app for wait times

by Alison Brick on

Disneyland all to yourself — a kid’s dream. (A parent’s dream, too, I think.)

Disney is making the inevitable crowds a bit more manageable. They’ve just announced Mobile Magic, the mobile app that announces wait times for rides and the nearest location for a character hug. It can be used at Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme parks.

No, it’s not the first app for wait times at Disneyland, but it’s the first official one from Disney Parks.

And likewise, it’s not exactly flawless — it only works on Verizon Wireless phones. It’s not available on BlackBerrys or the new Motorola Droid.

You can give it a spin for $9.99 for a 180-day subscription.

[Thanks, NYTimes.com]

Disney offers free park admission to volunteers

by Katie Hammel on

Volunteer one day of your time next year, and you could receive a free day of admission at a Walt Disney theme park in return. The Disney company has announced that one million people who volunteer with the HandsOn Network can get into any Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, or into Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida, for free in 2010 through the “Give a Day, Get a Disney” promotion.

The HandsOn Network works with 70,000 agencies across the country, including Habitat for Humanity and local food banks and churches. After volunteers gets their service verified with the agency, they get a voucher for free admission. The work must be done in 2010 and the voucher needs to be used by December 15 of that year. Volunteers must be 18 or older to sign up, but kids ages 6-17 who complete volunteer work with their parents can also get into the park free.

Those who have multi-day annual passes can use their free-day voucher for up to six FASTPASS tickets that will get them to the front of the line for certain rides. Only residents of the US, Canada and Puerto Rico are eligible to redeem the free admission vouchers.

This isn’t the only deal Disney has offered recently. All of the US Disney parks offered visitors free admission on their birthday this year, and many Disney resorts offered “stay two nights, get a third free” promotions as well.

$452 million to be invested in Disneyland Hong Kong

by Stephen Greenwood on

The Walt Disney Co. said on Tuesday that it will be investing US$452 million in park expansions, seen as necessary to compete with a planned rival park in Shanghai.

The expansion will include three new “lands,” and thirty new attractions. A source familiar with the plan stated that two of the new lands will be exclusive to Hong Kong Disneyland for five years after opening. The park will have exclusive rights in Asia to the third new land for five years, the source said.

The first area will take three years to complete and the next two will begin over the following two years with the entire expansion set for completion in 2014.The much larger Disneyland rival in Shanghai is also expected to be complete in 2014, assuming that it receives approval from the Chinese government.

So Disney fans, start making plans – and for the ultra-dedicated you might have to reschedule that ultimate park-hopper pass.

Daily travel deals – 6 nights Disney World, $79 Marriott rooms and $429 Caribbean packages

by Scott Carmichael on

Welcome to our new format for daily travel deals. Starting today, we’ll let you in on the hottest trips from our network.

As with all travel deals, these trips can sell out at any moment, and the price we publish may not always be based off a departure from your home town.

Disney vacation package

Starting at just $1360, a family of 4 can spend 5 nights/6 days in a Disney hotel, receive a 6 day park pass and eat for free (one snack, one quick service meal and one table meal per person, per day). The price is based on accommodations in a Disney Value resort.

Click here to book this deal, or to learn more about the package.

$79 Marriott sale + 20% extra off

On Thursday through Sunday nights, till September 7th, Marriott is offering a variety of their hotels starting at just $79/night, plus an additional 20% off.

Click here to book a room or to learn more about this Marriott hotel deal.

Caribbean package deals 50% off + $50 bonus

With packages starting at just $429 (after $50 bonus discount) for a trip to Jamaica, this is the best time ever to book a Caribbean vacation. That low price includes air, all meals, drinks and entertainment.

Click here for an overview of all the Caribbean destinations included in this sale.

Disney stops looking for breasts after a decade of trying

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Why do I always miss the good stuff?

Disney has announced that it’s no longer going to scan riders on Splash Mountain, Tower of Terror, Space Mountain and California Screamin … for unfettered chests. Apparently, women are known on these rides from time to time to flash for the camera. Though I’ve looked for it on each ride, I’ve never witnessed these public displays of exuberance.

I’m not sure why this warrants an announcement, as Disney does say that such acts are rare. But, every now and then, a bare pair winds up in a souvenir photo. The parks will no longer be looking for this – which means everyone else will be.

The company began looking 10 years ago, unlike the rest of us, who started when we were around 12.