DISNEY WORLD LAYOFFS

Seems no one is immume from the World credit issue. Disney, which is Central Florida's largest employer with about 62,000 "cast members," refused to say Thursday how many jobs it has eliminated.

Jason Garcia | Sentinel Staff Writer
5:55 PM EDT, March 26, 2009 - At the Orlando Sential

Walt Disney World has stepped up layoffs this week, as the company moves ahead with a broad, recession-forced restructuring of its management ranks.

Disney, which is Central Florida's largest employer, with about 62,000 "cast members," refused to say Thursday how many jobs it has eliminated. But one person familiar with some details of the cuts said he was given an estimate of 450.

The cuts have predominantly targeted salaried workers, rather than the hourly employees who make up the vast majority of the resort's work force. Employees say layoffs have occurred across Disney World's back-office functions, including entertainment, merchandise, finance, transportation, training, emergency management and theme-park operations.

Some workers who deal directly with guests have also been let go, including guest-service managers and managers in Disney Vacation Club's sales-preview center.

More info -

Sales begin for The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa

With construction of The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa on schedule for a late 2009 opening at the Disneyland® Resort in Anaheim, sales have officially begun for this West Coast Disney Vacation Club Resort.

Check out the DVC Website for more details

MORE VERO BEACH INFORMATION

Here is more information on Disney's Vero Beach

What is availiable for rental at the resort?

There are a number of items availible for rental.

Prices are as follows (DVC Member/Non-Member)

2 Chairs and Umbrella: 24.00/30.00
Umbrella: 10.00/12.00
Beach Chair: 7.00/9.00
Cushioned Lounge Chair: 9.00/12.00
2 Lounges and Umbrella: 28.00/36.00
Body Board: 9.00/12.00
Cabanas: 12.00/15.00

Bikes (hourly): 5.00/7.00

Bikes: 14.00/17.00
Tennis Racket: Complimentary/5.00
Miniature Golf Rental Equipment
Hourly: 1.00/2.00
Entire Stay: 5.00/7.00
Kayak (30 minutes): 20.00/25.00
Jet Ski (30 minutes): 55.00/60.00

What dining options exist at the resort?

Disney's Vero Beach offers more dining options than most Disney resorts:

Shutters is a casual table service restaurant featuring American cuisine, fresh seafood, and a wood-brick oven. Character dining is offered Saturday morning, reservations are suggested. The Green Cabin Room offers specialty drinks, a light lunch and appetizer menu, and both indoor and outdoor dining areas. There is nightly entertainment.

Sonya's is open select evening and features signature dining with steaks and seafood. Brunch is availiable on Sunday.

Bleacher's offers pool-side counter service with hot dogs, hamburgers, subs, and salads. Alcoholic speciality beverages are also offered.

There is also the option of Inn Room Private Dining, including the option to pre-order breakfast with a selected delivery time.
Prices seem to be on par with all Disney resorts in terms of CS,TS and Signature Dining experiences. The Disney Dining Experience card (DDE) is accepted at Disney's Vero Beach
.
Please Note: The DDP is NOT accepted at VB.

Is there a supervised kid's club?

There is a 3-hour 3DC Discovery Club for kids age 4-12 on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Price is 35.00 per child for non-members and 30.00 for DVC members. Dinner and supervised activities are included and advance reservations are required.

LINK TO OUR OTHER VERO POST

http://ourdisneytime.blogspot.com/2009/03/disneys-vero-beach.html

Disney Crusie Line - Another first

Disney Crusie Line have pulled off another first with Disney Digitial 3-D on both the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic.

Vero Beach - New Soft Goods

Disney's Vero Beach has been going through a mini refit :) with new soft goods throughout the resort.
Have a look in the shower curtain's to see if you can find any hidden Nemo's - Giving a certain Mouse a little competition

DVC - ONLINE RESERVATIONS

Rumour has it that DVC online reservations maybe coming - while no dates have been announced or time table set - DVC hope that it will be launched early next year.

Downtown Disney - T-Rex

Disney Vacation club - Announce a nice little perk for guests wishing to eat at the fabulously themed T-Rex restaurant.

10% Discount to a member and up to 3 guests on entree's at Lunch or Dinner.

15% Discount on non sale merchandise in the Dino store - not including Build a Dino - by Build a bear workshop.

DVC - Hawaiian Resort details revealed

In October 2007 The Wait Disney Comapny announced the purchase of 21 Acres on beach front on the west side of O'ahu.

Well things are moving a pace now with the blessing of the ground ceremony, marking the official start of the development, with a slated opening of 2011.

Plans call for the resort to feature approx 350 Hotel style room with a further 480 Disney Vacation club villas, along with a 18,000ft Spa, a childrens club, a wedding lawn, two restaurants and what promises to be a very elabrote pool, with family friendly tube and body slides.

The main building seems to be designed around a Hawaiian canoe house.

More pictures as they come out

MNSSHP - Dates Announced

MNSSHP - Mickey's Not so scary Halloween Party

September: 4, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29, 2009

October: 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 31, 2009


Tickets go on sale May 1, 2009

Hours: 7:00 p.m. – midnight, Parade at 8:15 and 10:30, Fireworks at 9:30

Tickets cost should be:TICKETS:

Event participation is not included with regular Theme Park admission. A separate ticket is required. Tickets are valid for entry only during the event time (listed above) for the date purchased. As event nights often sell out in advance, purchasing tickets at the earliest possible date is highly recommended.

• Advance Purchase Savings
  $55.38 including tax (Ages 10 & up) and $48.99 including tax (Ages 3 to 9)
• Day-of Tickets
  $62.84 including tax (Ages 10 & up) and $56.45 including tax (Ages 3 to 9)
• Advance sales pricing is available for the follow dates: September 4, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29; October 1, 6

We would advise everyone to check at the time of purchase and also Purchase in advance because dates can be sell outs.

Having been to 2 Halloween parties we can recommend this event to everyone....So what are you waiting for get that outfit on and start spookin!!

D23 - Membership Costs

With the newly released community now up and running it would seem that Disney may have over stepped the mark with the current cost versus benefits $74.99 seems a high price for the benefits offered?....Or do you think different? Please do tell us your option.

We love Disney but IMHO it's a little steep

D23 - EXPO Announced

The first Expo for D23 will take place in September in Anahiem.

The following comes direct from D23 website:

03.10.09 - Imagine a place where every step you take immerses you further into the Disney movies, magic and memories that live so deeply in your heart.

That place will become a reality from September 10–13, 2009, when the D23 Expo comes to life at the Anaheim Convention Center. The Expo is the single largest gathering of all things Disney — so huge, in fact, it couldn't fit at the Disneyland Resort just across the street!

The incredible experiences, exhibits and presentations at the Expo are another way D23 will connect fans to the timeless stories, characters and amazing worlds that we create here at Disney. Guests entering the main showroom floor of the recently renovated Convention Center will discover exciting pavilions from every part of The Walt Disney Company. Each will offer unique immersive experiences the whole family can enjoy. Parks and Resorts, Walt Disney Records, Disney Consumer Products, ABC, ESPN and Walt Disney Imagineering — to name a few — will all be featured. There will be surprising gallery events, author appearances and signings and even a beautiful Disney Home to walk through. Radio Disney will rock the Expo every day, and you can expect favorite Disney talent to make appearances throughout the event. (We hear there may even be a wedding!) And please stay tuned!... the D23 Expo micro site, coming soon, will give up-to-the-second breaking news about the Expo, including ticket information and online ordering, the latest event information and everything you need to know about the ultimate Disney fan experience!

One complete hall will be devoted to the eye-popping Disney Dream Store, an unbelievable shopping experience bursting with products from every corner of the Company. The Dream Store will also house merchandise that's exclusive to the Expo, including magnificent pieces created just for D23 members from the Walt Disney Archives Collection.

Also nearby is the expansive Collectors Forum, where fans can buy, sell and trade from their Disney collectibles. The Forum will feature a massive Pin Trading headquarters — perfect for both casual collectors and ardent enthusiasts.

The Center's spectacular 5,000-seat arena, one of its most visually striking and iconic features, will feature top Disney executives delivering keynote addresses, as well as fantastic fashion shows and live performances. Upstairs from the main halls, Walt Disney Studios are also combining the Center's five enormous ballrooms into the giant Studio Theater, where they will offer continuous presentations and screenings of thrilling upcoming fare from animation, live action, Disneynature, Muppets and more. Expect filmmakers and talent to drop in for sneak peeks at movies from A Christmas Carol and Prince of Persia to The Princess and the Frog and Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure.

While Expo show floor hours will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, there will be a number of screenings in the evening. D23 members will receive a discount on Expo tickets, as well as special early entry to the event starting at 8 a.m. Tickets for the Expo will go on sale this spring, so stay tuned for details. The event is open to both D23 members and the general public. For more information, visit D23Expo.com.

Expo Highlights!
Here are just a few of the happenings you won't want to miss at the D23 Expo. Check out D23Expo.com for more details!

• Keynote addresses from Bob Iger, president and CEO, The Walt Disney Company; Dick Cook, chairman, Walt Disney Studios; John Lasseter, chief creative officer, Disney and Pixar Animation Studios; Rich Ross, president, Disney Channel Worldwide; Jay Rasulo, chairman, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts; Bruce Vaughn, chief creative executive, Walt Disney Imagineering — and many more!
  
  
• Stunning fashion shows celebrating new Disney Couture and Disney bridal gowns.
  
  
• Watch your favorite Disney classic films on the big screen once again at The 50 and Fabulous Film Festival. A panel of special guests will discuss their memories and the significance of these beloved films. At the first D23 Expo, we will celebrate those that reach the half-century mark this year. On the roster: Sleeping Beauty, Darby O'Gill and the Little People and The Shaggy Dog!

D23 campaign IS HERE!!

After all the waitinng Disney have finally announced D23... Here is the link to the website here

It's going to be the first Official community for Disney fans for a full run down and the reasons behind what could turn out to be a great community have a look here
D23.COM

Here' s a brief break down on some info

A joining fee of $74.99 for one year gives some of the following benefits:
* Disney twenty-three quarterly publication: A one-year subscription (four issues) to D23's new collectible magazine filled with stunning photography, dazzling illustrations and the ultimate Disney insider perspective. This advertising-free keepsake is the all-access pass to discovering the magic of Disney's past, present and future.

* Membership Certificate and Card: The D23 membership card and suitable-for-framing member certificate — both specially created for D23's Charter Year — feature many of Disney's most beloved characters.

* Surprise Collectible Gift and Member Merchandise: Each member who joins D23 will receive an exclusive collectible gift from the new Walt Disney Archives Collection. This merchandise line was created specifically with D23 members in mind, and each piece is authorized by the Walt Disney Archives. D23 members will have exclusive or early access to a wide assortment of Walt Disney Archives Collection pieces.

* D23 Expo and Member Special Events: The D23 Expo — to be held at the Anaheim Convention Center from September 10-13, 2009 — will be "The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience," featuring incredible speakers, celebrity appearances, breathtaking exhibitions, interactive experiences, sneak peeks, film screenings, one-of-a-kind merchandise, and much more. All Disney fans are welcome, but D23 members will receive a discount on Expo admissions and early access to the show daily. D23 also offers unique members-only special event opportunities throughout the year.

Membership Card

Membership Certificate

WILL YOU JOIN LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS

ESTA - Don't forget to register - AND DO NOT PAY ANYONE TO DO IT!!

With the introduction of the online application for the visa waiver, you have to have permission to fly to USA in advance..DO NOT GET TAKEN IN but websites offering to do this for you for a fee it's a FREE service...Just click
HERE ESTA WEBSITE

Have your first nights address and passport to hand so you can enter your details.
Oh and have a great trip

Disney Park Maps

DISNEY PARK MAPS

Here are the Disney park maps

Magic Kingdom

EPCOT

ANIMAL KINGDOM

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS