WDWPlanner.com Newsletter

WDWPlanner.com Newsletter
December 17, 2008

A WDWPlanner.com publication, Issue #50
Library of Congress ISSN 1939-781X

Visit us at www.wdwplanner.com

In This Issue:

Flower Power Concerts Cut Back for 2009

Southwest Airlines Drops Some Flights

Miley in the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade

Get Reserved Seating at Finding Nemo - The Musical

Creating Magic Giveaway Winners & New Giveaway

Food at the Touch of a Screen At New Contempo Cafe

Buy 4, Get 3 FREE at Disney Value Resorts - Booking Date Extended

Dateline Disney - January - February 2009

Flower Power Concerts Cut Back for 2009

The Flower Power concerts are part of Epcot's International Flower and Garden Festival. The festival dates for 2009 are March 18 - May 31, 2009.

In the past, these concerts were held daily for the Flower and Garden Festival at the American Gardens Theatre. The current schedule, below, indicates that they will only be taking place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for 2009.

3/20 - 3/22: Davy Jones

3/25 - 3/29: Paul Revere and the Raiders

4/03 - 4/05: The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie

4/10 - 4/12: Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone

4/17 - 4/19: The Ventures

4/24 - 4/26: Harold Melvin's Blue Notes (NEW)

5/01 - 5/03: Chubby Checker & The Wildcats

5/08 - 5/10: Ricky Nelson Remembered featuring The Nelsons

5/15 - 5/17: Jose Feliciano

5/22 - 5/24: The 5th Dimension

5/29 - 5/31: Tony Orlando

More info on Epcot's International Flower and Garden Festival: www.wdwplanner.com/flowergarden.thm

Barnes and Noble Discount Code:

Save 25% on one item with Coupon Code: P7P7Y9N

Southwest Airlines Drops Some Flights

Southwest Airlines will end flights between Orlando International Airport and Detroit next May, as the low-cost giant continues to tweak its nationwide schedule.

The busiest carrier at Orlando International Airport will also trim one daily flight each between Orlando and eight other markets: Reno, Nev.; Albany, N.Y.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Fort Lauderdale; Long Island, N.Y.; Manchester, N.H.; Philadelphia; and Providence, R.I. Southwest will still offer some daily service between OIA and each of those cities, though.

Miley in the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade

MILEY MANIA!: Miley Cyrus performs Dec. 6, 2008 in the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. while taping a segment of the "Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade," to be aired nationwide Dec. 25 on ABC-TV. The annual holiday TV special, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, also features Billy Ray Cyrus, Jose Feliciano, Corbin Bleu, the Jonas Brothers, David Cook, David Archuleta, the Imagination Movers and Sarah Brightman. The telecast is hosted by Regis Philbin, Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)

Get Reserved Seating at Finding Nemo The Musical

Guests who have an Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR) at Animal Kingdom's Tusker House restaurant for dining between 1:00 and 1:40pm will receive a ticket for reserved seating at the 3:15 performance of "Finding Nemo the Musical." It is asked that you arrive 30 minutes prior to the performance. This policy is ONLY available for ADR's from 1:00 - 1:40pm.

More info on the Finding Nemo The Musical attraction: www.wdwplanner.com/findingnemomusical.htm

Creating Magic Giveaway

Congratulations to the following previous winners of Creating Magic by Lee Cockerell:

Steve S. of FL, Anne S. of NY, Cynthia M. of NJ, and Annette B. of MI

Their free books are on the way.

Congratulations to this month's winners:

Angela A. of AL and Fred T. of MS.

Another Giveaway - You still have a chance to win.

To enter the drawing, send an email to diane@wdwplanner.com. Put "Creating Magic" in the subject line. Entries must be received by January 15, 2009.

Winners will be selected at random on January 16, 2009 and notified via email.

Can't Wait? Buy the book: Creating Magic

Food at the Touch of a Screen At New Contempo Cafe

At Disney’s Contemporary Resort: Food at the Touch of a Screen At New Contempo Cafe

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Quick-service eats go high tech at the new Contempo Cafe in the Grand Canyon Concourse at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Walt Disney World guests peruse the menu on electronic boards with color photos, then place orders at touch screens and head directly to a cashier. Seating is in a casual 147-seat dining area with red and blue accents and views of the Disney monorail passing through the famous hotel, and a 9-story mural with 18,000 hand-painted tiles by artist and Disney Legend Mary Blair.

A pager blinks when food is ready for pickup at the counter. Thin-crust pizzas, hearty deli sandwiches on ciabatta and house-made soups of the day are among selections, as well as a healthful grilled mahi sandwich with citrus-apple slaw or vegetable bake with feta cheese. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, there also is a “grab ‘n go” area with drinks, salads and fresh fruit.

Prices are not on menu boards but on the touch screens, where guests can order in Spanish or English. Diners can choose a salad with dressing on the side, for instance, different kinds of cheeses for burgers, or salad or chips with sandwiches.

Contempo Cafe is open from 7 a.m.-10 p.m., serving breakfast until 11 a.m. The “grab ‘n go” is open 6 a.m.-midnight. The restaurant is part of Disney’s Contemporary Resort revitalization that includes the new Wave restaurant on the first floor and a new game arcade and refurbishment of the Outer Rim lounge on the fourth floor concourse.

Holiday Shopping Online Links

While you are doing your holiday shopping online, help support this website and newsletter by using the following links:

iPhone Applications now available at iTunes.com! Shop Now!

20% off at Franklin Mint! Use Code: LSNP1

Enter Coupon Code: YG05 and Take 5% Off Your Order at TheBabyOutlet.com

Amazon.com

Restaurant.com 80% off Savings on $25 Gift Certificates. $2 when you use code SANTA. 12/16/08 thru 12/21/08.

Buy 4, Get 3 FREE at Disney Value Resorts - Booking Date Extended

Buy a 4-night/4-day package and get 3 nights FREE including Theme Park tickets.

Package for most nights between 1/4 - 4/4 and 4/19 - 6/27.

The date to book this package has been extended from December 20, 2008 to January 24, 2009.

More info: www.wdwplanner.com/discounts.htm

Best of Florida Christmas

November 17 – January 4

As the Orlando host to the Christmas holiday season, Gaylord Palms Resort offers a slate of activities sure to make you "merry and bright." Elegant and sometimes whimsical décor, a majestic 54-foot Christmas tree, live stage entertainment, visits with Santa, hidden gnomes, our frozen family attraction, ICE! and more! Come for the day, or stay overnight with a rate of $109 through 12/25/08 if booked through this link—and create family memories that will last a lifetime!

Old Hickory Steakhouse at the Gaylord Palms Resort

As you venture past the tin roofs and mosquito netting, don’t let the scenery fool you. At Old Hickory Steakhouse, you’ll find a serious menu in the tradition of the nation’s finest upscale steakhouses. Inside, guests are treated to retro cocktails and the highest quality premium Black Angus aged cuts. Old Hickory Steakhouse restaurant is located in the Everglades Atrium.

View the Dinner Menu. More info on this resort.

Click here to book this resort at a discounted rate.

Join us on our discussion boards at

http://www.wdwplanner.com/ubbcgi/Ultimate.cgi

Previous issues of the newsletter available at www.wdwplanner.com/newsletters.htm

Dateline Disney - January & February, 2009

In This Edition:

Disney’s Hollywood Studios: “American Idol” phenomenon coming to life at Studios; Plans for ESPN The Weekend available online.

Disney’s Wide World of Sports: Brazilian running for sixth Disney Marathon win; Experts in running, fitness, nutrition share tips, perspectives during free seminars; Atlanta Braves spring training tickets go on sale in January, workouts begin in February; Disney’s Endurance Series introduces two running events.

Disney’s Dreamers Academy: 100 high school students to be treated to a look at interesting careers Feb. 12-15.

Walt Disney World Resort: New 16-parent Moms Panel to answer vacation questions in online forum during 2009.

Disney Cruise Line: Kids sail free on 3-night Disney Wonder sailings this spring.

More

This newsletter and the associated web site of www.wdwplanner.com is not associated in any way with The Disney Company, whose official web site can be found at www.disney.com.

If you have a friend that would like to subscribe to this newsletter, they should send an email to disneyworld-subscribe@topica.com

Diane Kelley
http://www.wdwplanner.com

Discussion Boards
http://www.wdwplanner.com/ubbcgi/Ultimate.cgi