Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort - Opens Soon

Nearly 38 years after Disney’s Contemporary Resort opened its doors, its modern Disney Vacation Club addition, Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, is scheduled to welcome guests on Aug. 4. This will be the seventh Disney Vacation Club (DVC) property at Walt Disney World Resort.

All 15 stories of the ultra-sleek design continue the original building’s iconic style, which opened with the Magic Kingdom theme park Oct. 1, 1971. Bay Lake Tower complements and pays homage to Disney’s Contemporary Resort while also offering a variety of new amenities and conveniences – kitchenettes or full kitchens complete with granite countertops and modern appliances, and other homelike amenities. In addition, most of the 295 two-bedroom equivalent villas in the crescent-shaped tower offer spectacular views of Bay Lake or Magic Kingdom.

Bay Lake Tower, like all DVC resorts, blends Disney magic with elegant design and premier accommodations. DVC members – and, based on availability, overnight Walt Disney World guests staying at Bay Lake Tower – can choose from a number of recreation activities and facilities, including a children’s interactive water play area, Bay Cove Pool, a barbeque pavilion, a Community Hall and two nearby tennis courts.

For easy access to Disney’s Contemporary Resort’s restaurants, merchandise shops and the monorail, the Sky Way Bridge takes members and guests from the fifth floor of Bay Lake Tower directly to the fourth floor Grand Canyon Concourse of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The opening of Bay Lake Tower is an exciting chapter in the history of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. “Our resort motto is ‘Where Tradition Touches Today,’ and the marriage of our iconic resort with this elegant new Disney Vacation Club offering is a perfect example,” said Thea Sargent, general manager of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. “Plus, with all of the enhancements we have made to the resort over the last few years – from costumes and landscaping to restaurants and merchandise locations – we offer our overnight guests and DVC members an unparalleled ‘contemporary’ resort experience. I think this kind of evolution is exactly what Walt Disney envisioned for our resort.”

Bay Lake Tower is the third Disney Vacation Club offering to open at Walt Disney World Resort this year, following the first phase of Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. What excites me most about this tremendous growth is that we’re not only creating new accommodations but new experiences for our Disney Vacation Club members as well as our resort guests,” said DVC President Jim Lewis. “Each of the projects we’ve undertaken at Disney Vacation Club is unlike anything previously available in our resort portfolio, and Bay Lake Tower proudly builds on that tradition.”

Extra Magic at the Disney World Resorts

The Disney World Resorts are surrounded by the Disney Magic 24 hours a day. One of our favorite bits of magic is provided by the Housekeeping Department. The Housekeeping Department at the Disney World Resorts do an excellent job of keeping your room clean and providing towels, bed rails, and even mini-refrigerators for your visit. Anything you may need and they are a quick phone call away. That is the typical customer service you expect when you stay at a hotel. What makes the Disney Magic are the extra touches you receive or sometimes called Magical Moments.

One of my favorite Disney Magic shines through as you walk a Disney Resort like Disney's All Star Music Resort. As you walk around the resort, you will see this magic in the form of stuffed animal displays in the guest room windows. You may even find a bunny that is made out of a washcloth or your child's stuffed animals displayed in the window looking outside. These special touches are the extras that you will see during your Disney World vacation. That extra magic that makes you and your family smile! Contact us at Destinations in Florida Travel for more info about planning a Disney World vacation.

Campfire Fun at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa recently added some new fun that is a sure to please activity for the whole family. Enjoy evening songs and smores at the Mickey Mouse shaped campfire on the beachy shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon. Sing a song or just relax by the fire as you hear the waves from the lake lap on the shore. After the campfire fun, stay to watch movies on the beach. For more information on Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, contact one of our Disney Specialists at Destinations in Florida Travel.

Treehouses in the Sky at Disney World

If you are a regular Disney World guest you probably remember the cool treehouses that were near the Disney Institute near Downtown Disney. These treehouses were a popular tradition from 1975-2002. We are excited to say the treehouses are coming back! The treehouses are currently getting renovated to open this summer as an additional room category for Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort. There will be 60 units that will be 3-Bedroom Villas. These treehouses will be elevated 10 feet off the ground on pedestals and beams designed to blend into the forest. Check back for more details about the new treehouses in the sky at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort.

Pirate Rooms at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

The Walt Disney World Resort has been making lots of renovations and updates to the Disney Moderate Resort, called Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. This past year, the main pool received an incredible update with a new pirate ship and splash park for kids. Most of the Standard, Water View, and Preferred Rooms at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort also got a new Finding Nemo theme with unique accessories and bedding. One of the newest updates for 2009, are the Pirate Rooms. If you have any pirates in your family, this is the ultimate room for your Disney World vacation. The entire room is themed after pirates! The beds are two huge pirate ship with the headboards that look like a mast and sail. The two pirate ships are double beds. Besides the pirate beds; the artwork, curtain, and even tables and chairs are all themed for the pirate room. This Pirate Room is the ultimate themed room for your pirate fan.

You can choose from two views for this room, including the regular Standard View or a Water View that may overlook the pool or lake. The rates for the Pirate Room are very reasonable for a Disney Moderate Resort. The price runs from $174 for Value Season to $249 for Holiday Season for a Standard View Pirate Room and $199 for Value Season to $274 for Holiday Season for a Water View Pirate Room. You can book these rooms as a Room Only Reservation or include it on a Magic Your Way Package with tickets and dining. Contact our Disney Specialists at Destinations in Florida Travel for more information on booking the new Pirate Rooms at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort.

Sparkling Seasons at Disney World

Festivities and fun fill the 2008 Holiday Season at the Walt Disney World® Resort. The spectacular celebrations will unwrap with not-to-miss merriment, as the Walt Disney World Resort is transformed into a winter wonderland. This spirited season, you can experience time-honored favorites mixed with some new features!

Cinderella's Castle in Magic Kingdom® Park sparkles with 200,000 twinkling lights as part of the return of our newest holiday tradition—Castle Dreamlights! Donning their holiday finest, Cinderella and friends take to the Cinderella Castle stage daily for a dream-come-true, light-the-night moment. This glistening spectacle will signal the start of Disney’s holiday season.

By late November, festivities will cover the Walt Disney World Resort, as Epcot®, Disney’s Hollywood Studios™, Disney’s Animal Kingdom® and Downtown Disney unwrap merry, magical moments for Guests.There is sure to be a galore of astounding spectacles in store for you!

Here are the holiday highlights:

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
From 7 p.m. to midnight on select evenings during November and December, Guests can experience special holiday entertainment at a special after-hours party inside the Magic Kingdom Park. The event features “Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade,” Mickey's "Twas the Night Before Christmas" Show, the festive fireworks spectacular of Holiday Wishes—Celebrate the Spirit of the Season, Disney character greetings, and cookies, cocoa and “snow” on Main Street U.S.A.® Plus, you can use some of the most popular Magic Kingdom attractions! Admission to this event requires a separately priced ticket.

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
As "snow" falls overhead, the Streets of America backlot cityscape at Disney's Hollywood Studios comes alive Nov. 28, 2008-Jan. 4, 2009. With millions of holiday lights that “dance” to a high-energy holiday symphony, Guest will see animated sparkling displays that create twirling carousels, marching toy soldiers and even Santa and his reindeer taking flight. The “dancing lights” musical moments occur every 10 minutes and are included with Disney's Hollywood Studios admission.

Holidays Around the World and Candlelight Processional
An Epcot tradition continues Nov. 28-Dec. 30, 2008, with holiday customs from around the globe, international storytellers, a nightly tree-lighting ceremony featuring Disney characters, a stunning display of snow-white and colored lights, and Candlelight Processional. One of the most beloved holiday traditions at Epcot is the Candlelight Processional – a joyous retelling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and a glorious mass choir. It takes place nightly at World Showcase, America Gardens Theatre at 5:00, 6:45 and 8:15 p.m.

The World Showcase Promenade comes alive nightly at 9:30 p.m. with the brilliance and splendor of music, lights, lasers, water fountains and custom pyrotechnics in our signature nighttime spectacular: llumiNations: Reflections of Earth. Every night presents a unique, holiday finale. All of the Epcot holiday fun is included with regular theme park admission.

Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade
Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade blends the spirit of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park with the spirit of the season for a Holiday offering full of jump, joy and jive!Mickey has invited a special group of friends to join him on a Holiday adventure! The parade is filled with the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feelings of the Holiday Season. They’ve added Holiday accessories to their safari costumes with seasonal music for a combination that celebrates the Holidays as only Disney’s Animal Kingdom can.

Festivals of the Seasons at Downtown Disney Area
Holiday shopping is easier than ever at Downtown Disney! From Nov. 28-Dec. 24, 2008, it features shopping adventures for every age, interest and budget, including Once Upon a Toy, filled with exclusive playthings from Disney and Hasbro; World of Disney, the world’s largest character emporium, plus Virgin™ Megastore, LEGO Imagination Center and Disney’s Days of Christmas holiday shop. Holiday-themed décor, colorful light displays and photo opportunities with old St. Nick himself offer yuletide cheer. Also, little princesses can get decked out for the holiday’s finest at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

For more information, click here to visit Destinations in Florida Travel.

Disney World Deal - Stay 4 Nights Get 3 Nights FREE

It is true, for 2009 Disney is offering free nights and free tickets to Disney World. If you book a Disney Resort and a 4 Day Pass, you will get 3 extra nights and 3 extra days worth of tickets for FREE! For guests staying at a Disney Moderate or Disney Deluxe Resort, this is the best deal that Disney has ever offered. For those guests who always wanted to stay at a Disney Deluxe Resort, now is your chance. Or, you can just save some money and stay at one of the favorites like Disney's All Star Resorts. This promotion is good for vacation dates from January 4-April 4 or April 19-June 27.

To make this promotion even better, book your trip between the dates of January 4-March 29 and get an additional $200 Disney Gift Card to use during your vacation on merchandise, recreation, meals and more. Talk about savings! Hurry - this discount promotion ends on December 20. You do have to have a package booked with a deposit before this date. For more information, click here.

Disney World Offers a Discount Package with Free Dining

As an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, we do have to follow guidelines set by Disney. We had to keep it a secret about this popular discount package, even though everyone really knew what was coming. The most popular Disney World discount was released today. This discount includes the Basic Dining Plan for free and the Deluxe Dining Plan for a 50% off discount price. This promotion is for guests visiting Disney World from August 24-September 20.

To make this an even better discount, we are offering an extra discount on the package. If you stay at a Disney Value Resort, get $20 off. If you stay at a Disney Moderate Resort, get $30 off. If you stay at a Disney Deluxe Resort, get $40 off. Just a little extra discount when you book with Destinations in Florida Travel. Click here to request a quote for Disney’s Magic Your Way Package plus Free Dining or discount Deluxe Dining.

Internet Access at the Disney Resorts

You can have access to the outside world, even on your vacation to the most magical place on Earth. Disney Resort Hotels do have access to the Internet. This fast access internet access is available at all of the Disney Resorts and Campground. The cost is $9.95 for 24 hours. To take advantage of the Internet access, you will have to leave a credit card at check in for incidentials. This credit card will be required to use the Internet. You can use your current laptop or you can also rent a laptop at select Disney Resort Business Centers.

If you are staying at a Disney Convention Resort Hotel, you may have access to the Internet in the lobby, convention center or even by the pool. Some of the Disney Resort that have additional WIFI access are Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The prices for WI-FI are also $9.95 for 24 hours. In addition to these resorts, you can also get WIFI at the Sand Trap Bar & Grill and Wide World of Sports.