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Category: Disneyland

RIP Disney Dollars

RIP Disney Dollars

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Face it, you are just like everyone else, and can admit to the following 2 things about Disney Dollars:

  1. You have a few at home, either sitting in a drawer or a scrap book
  2. You thought they had been stopped long, long ago

Disney Dollars

Disneyland introduced Disney Dollars in early 1987, while Walt Disney World introduced them later that year, Eventually, they could be used at Disneyland, Disney World, on a Disney Cruise at at all Disney Stores, plus probably a few more places. Face it, the idea was brilliant. You gave Disney a real dollar in exchange for a fake dollar that was only good at Disney. Many people purchased them for souvenirs or gifts, and many of those purchased pieces of paper never made their way back to Disney.

Recently, Disney has not advertised that Disney Dollars still existed, as they came up with a better replacement, Disney gift cards. Just as with Disney paper money, Disney Gift Cards are only good at Disney, and many of those gift cards or lost or never returned. You can even buy themed Disney gift cards throughout the year at such events as the Ecpot Flower and Garden Festival, Epcot Food and Wine Festival and other events. Even Aulani and the Disney Cruise have their very own cards.

Think about the physical Disney Dollars for a minute, there must be a significant cost to print new Disney Dollars, as they must contain many security features as to not be counterfeited. Disney Gift Cards on the other hand are much more secure, can be sold at thousands of places outside of Disney, and are much easier to spend, have you ever tried to pay for something online with a Disney Dollar? Disney abandoned Disney Dollars years ago, and I am sure they have just been selling remaining stock. The $1 Disney Dollar has not been updated since 2005!

Disney Dollars exist, and you can still buy them. To clarify, Disney Dollars are available today, but will no longer exist as of Saturday, May 14, 2016. If you want to grab some Disney Dollars as souvenirs, get yourself to a Disney park ASAP, you only have a few days. You can also order them by calling Disney at (407) 566-4985.  While I will be sad to see Disney Dollars go, everyone pretty much thought they were gone long ago.

Will you miss Disney Dollars?

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5 Disney Things You Should Know This Week – April 29, 2016

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Each Friday, I provide 5 Disney things all Disney fans should know from this past week, just in case you missed them. Here are the super important Disney news items for this week:

Disney Free Dining Released for Walt Disney World

disney free dining

For the 11th year, Walt Disney World has released their Free Dining discount for Fall dates. The current travel dates are August 23 – October 1, November 15 – 21, November 26 – 28 and December 10 – 21, 2016. You must check in on one of those travel dates in order to qualify. For 99% of Disney vacationers, this is the best deal of the year.

In addition, Walt Disney World also released a Free Dining discount for Disney VISA cardholders as well. It is the exact same discount, however, additional dates are available (August 14 – 22 were added) and there is typically better availability with the Disney VISA offer.

Act quickly, most dates are already sold out with the discount.

Walt Disney World Summer Savings Offer

In addition to the Free Dining discount, Walt Disney World released another discount, the Late Summer Savings offer. This covers dates from August 1 – November 5, 2016. If your dates are not covered by the Free Dining deal, or you happen to be staying in a deluxe resort, this offer may be a good deal for you. You can save as much as 30% off of your Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney After Hours Discounts

Several weeks ago, Walt Disney World announced a new night time event at the Magic Kingdom called Disney After Hours. The $150 event gives you three hours in a basically empty park, including free drinks and Mickey ice cream. For the remaining events, both Disney Vacation Club members and Walt Disney World annual passholders can receive 50% off of the ticket cost. Tickets can be purchased at any Walt Disney World ticket window.

Disney Beach Club Remodel

Beach Club Rooms

Walt Disney World has completed the remodel of the rooms at the Beach Club Resort, and they look fantastic. The Beach Club is my favorite resort, by far the best pool on property, fantastic rooms and a great location next to Epcot and the Boardwalk. This remodel now makes it even better Check it out!

Autopia Reopens at Disneyland

Autopia has been closed for nearly a year, and finally opened this week, now powered by Honda. The Autopia cars have been completely redone and are ready to take you on a journey around Tomorrowland.

Did I miss any Disney news this week that should have been included?

Disney Things Friday

5 Disney Things You Should Know This Week – April 22, 2016

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Each Friday, I provide 5 Disney things all Disney fans should know from this past week, just in case you missed them. Here are the super important Disney news items for this week:

 Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Night

Expedition Everest

This week, after a few weeks of announcements, cancellations and rumors, Walt Disney World finally announced their new Animal Kingdom at Night. For 18+ years since Animal Kingdom opened, it has closed around 6:00 PM every night, or earlier, before it got too dark. It is really hard to see animals in the dark. Last year, Disney announced they would be adding night time shows, attractions and a special water show called Rivers of Light to the park which would allow it to stay open later. Well, Rivers of Light is not ready, but as of this Memorial Day Weekend, Animal Kingdom at Night will launch with a replacement show (Jungle Book Magic) along with all the other nigh time events.

Have you ever been on Expedition Everest at night? I have, a lot. SO MUCH BETTER!

For more information: Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Night

2017 Adventures by Disney announced, plus a discount!

adventures by disney

This week, Adventures by Disney announced their 2017 itineraries, which now include a new Rhine River cruise as well as additions to the China Adventure (Shanghai Disneyland) and the Australian Adventure (Gold Coast). These are in addition to the returning Adventures offered in 2016.

Adventures by Disney is a first class, world class, tour company. No, Mickey will not be showing you around the Great Wall of China, but the quality that you come to expect with Disney is on display 1,000% with Adventures by Disney. You will stay in first class hotels, skip all the lines, be guided by the best tour guides ever and have the time of your life. I have personally done a few Adventures, and cannot wait to go on my next one (it will be in 2018, just need to decide where).

Plus, if you book early, you can also save up to $500 per person on an Adventure with this Early Booking Adventure by Disney Discount.

For more information: 2017 Adventures by Disney

Soarin’ Around the World

soarin around the world

Everyone loves Soarin’. It is one of those rides that everyone can ride over and over. Who could ever get sick of that orange scent? As we have known for sometime, Disney has been working on a new movie, and it is almost here! On June 17, guests in both Disney California Adventure and Epcot will get to experience Soarin’ Around the World, a brand new film shot all around the world. Unfortunately, it looks like the orange scent is gone, replaced by a new generation of sights, sounds and scents.

FastPass+ reservations are now available for Walt Disney World resort guests.

Frozen Ever After

Frozen Sommerhus

I nearly cried the day Maelstrom closed in Epcot. Several of my family members did cry, teenagers at that. It was one of our family’s favorite rides, there was rarely a line and it was just plain fun. Back, Back, Over the Falls!!! Well, the replacement, Frozen Ever After is set to launch in June. While I don’t think the line on this attraction will ever be short again, it should be great fun. In addition to the attraction, Disney will debut the Royal Sommerhus greeting location. Inspired by a Norwegian countryside cabin, Anna and Elsa have opened their summer home for visitors. I hope they have 9 different versions of Anna and Elsa so the line can keep up with the attraction line.

No exact opening date has been announced for Frozen Ever After. With most new attractions, an opening date will be announced soon, and then the ride will have a soft opening for a few weeks before that where it is mostly open, but may close from time to time for tweaks.

Elena of Avalor

princess Elena

Who is Elana of Avalor you might ask? I surely did. Disney’s newest princess, and first Latin princess, will star in her own show this Summer on the Disney channel, appropriately entitled “Elena of Avalor”. And of course, this August you will be able to meet Elena in the Magic Kingdom, surely replacing Anna and Elsa as they move over to their summer house (or Sommerhus as the Norwegians call it).

Did I miss any Disney news this week that should have been included?