Disney World Downtown Disney Resorts Extend Discounts to Hospitality Workers
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Downtown Disney® Resort Area Hotels will offer their lowest rates of the year to all hospitality workers who visit from August 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011 as a special salute to the front-line ranks who make vacation wishes come true for millions of travelers each year.
“Travel industry employees work hard year-round to ensure that visitors enjoy their travel experiences, and they certainly deserve recognition for their contributions to the traveling public,” said Marti Alexander, chairperson of the Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotel’s marketing committee. “There’s no better way to salute them than with special savings for their own travel.”
Travel Industry Appreciation Days at the seven official Walt Disney World® resorts is being offered in conjunction with the Second Summer destination-wide promotion by Visit Orlando that features the best deals of the year from August 15, 2011 through September 30, 2011. Travel industry employees who wish to take advantage of the Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotels’ hospitality workers’ discount must show proof of employment with either a photo identification card or a current paycheck stub. Employees from hotels, restaurants, airlines, airports, attractions, rental car companies, cruise lines, tour operators and other travel companies are eligible for the savings. The special hotel promotional rates are only good for travel during the promotion timeframe. Space is limited, and some black-out dates apply to the following offers:
Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort Hotel
Rates start at just $55 per night, plus complimentary continental breakfast for two people daily (a $9 value). Guests can upgrade to one of the hotel’s Disney View rooms for just $5 more per night (a savings of $15 per night) and enjoy the EPCOT® Center fireworks from the comfort of their own furnished private balcony. The towering 18-story, tri-arch hotel is surrounded by 12 acres of lush, tropical landscaping that showcases the area’s natural wildlife. To book a stay with the hospitality workers’ discount, click here.
Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa
Rates are from $79 per night to $89 per night based on availability. The award-winning hotel is a chic, sophisticated, decadently comfortable resort with a 10,000-square-foot spa, seven restaurants and lounges, and countless recreational activities. To book a stay with the hospitality workers’ discount, click here.
Doubletree Guest Suites
Rates are 25 percent off already-reduced summer rates. As the only all-suite resort hotel inside the Downtown Disney® resort area, the Doubletree features 229 spacious suites with one and two bedrooms as well as separate living rooms with queen sofa sleepers, movies, workspaces, wet bars and much more. To book a stay using the hospitality workers’ discount, visit DoubleTree Suites by Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort ~ Travel Industry Appreciation Days.
Hilton Orlando Resort
Travel industry employees receive 20 percent off the best available rate at the time that they book their reservations. The 814-room property is the only hotel to offer Disney’s EXTRA MAGIC HOURS benefit in which one of the Walt Disney World® Theme Parks opens each day an hour early or stays open up to an extra three hours for Hilton guests. To book a stay with the special hospitality workers’ discount, call (800) 782-4414 or click here.
Holiday Inn
Rates start at $79 per night and are subject to availability. Travel must be booked at least seven days in advance. Rates are non-refundable and do not qualify for Priority Club® points. The hotel’s elegant rooms feature modern Florida decor, granite-top vanity bathrooms, walk-in showers in king rooms, a work area and either one king with sleeper sofa or two queen beds. To book, click here and follow three easy steps.
Royal Plaza Resort
A special rate of $59 per night is being offered for the duration of the promotion. Each one of the hotel’s guest rooms and suites is furnished with the Royal Bed package and exceptional amenities. Hotel conveniences include wireless high-speed Internet, an on-site fitness center and several food and beverage outlets. To book, call (800) 248-7890 or click here.
Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort
The Wyndham also is offering a special promotional rate of $59 per night. The hotel features Disney Character Breakfasts at the hotel three times each week, scheduled transportation to Disney Theme Parks, an aquatic center with two outdoor pools and water sports, and tennis and basketball courts. To book, call (877) 999-3223 or click here.
Downtown Disney® Resort Area Hotels is a consortium of seven official Walt Disney World® Resort hotels that includes: Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort Hotel, Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa, Doubletree Guest Suites, Hilton Orlando Resort, Holiday Inn, Royal Plaza Resort, and the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort. With nearly 30 food and beverage outlets and restaurants, more than 3,600 rooms and scores of amenities, they offer a rate, space and menu to please every guest. Located in the heart of Downtown Disney, these properties are within walking distance of some of the area’s best shopping, dining and entertainment.
Guests staying at these “Official Walt Disney World” hotels receive special privileges not available at hotels outside of the Disney Resort, such as:
- Complimentary transportation to all four Disney theme parks, two of Disney’s water parks and Downtown Disney every 30 minutes
- Advanced tee times and discounts at all four Disney championship golf courses
- Disney’s Extra Magic Hours (at select hotels)
- Delivery of souvenirs purchased at the parks directly to their hotel room at no cost
To make a reservation, visit www.downtowndisneyhotels.com
Categories: Downtown Disney, Resorts, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Discount, DTD
‘Downtown Disney Bridal Stroll’ to Take Place November 6 at Walt Disney World Resort
Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotels will host the Downtown Disney Bridal Stroll on Sunday, November 6 from 11 am to 3 pm, featuring consultations with wedding specialists, bridal vendors, sample appetizers, and prizes.
Brides-to-be will have an opportunity to consult with experienced wedding specialists at each of the seven Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotels as well as sample cuisine and meet the chefs from each hotel. They also can do some one-stop-shopping at wedding vendors who will present distinctive possibilities for wedding cakes, linens, floral arrangements and other bridal-related products and services.
In addition, event attendees will have the chance to register to win prizes that include hotel getaway trips, spa packages, and restaurant gift certificates. The Downtown Disney Resort Area hotels are partnering with premier Downtown Disney restaurants – Planet Hollywood, Portobello, Fulton’s Crab House, Wolfgang Puck, T-Rex Cafe, House of Blues, Raglan Road, Bongos and Rainforest Cafe – to introduce unique banquet and catering opportunities for weddings at Downtown Disney. Restaurant representatives will be on hand at the event.
Admission to the Downtown Disney Bridal Stroll is free, but attendees must register to attend the four-hour bridal showcase by visiting the event website at www.downtowndisneyhotels.com/weddings.
Categories: Downtown Disney, Resorts, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: DTD, Events, Weddings
AMC Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort to Debut Dine-In Option May 16
AMC Theatres® (AMC), a leading theatrical exhibition and entertainment company, announced today that guests will be able to watch the latest movies while enjoying their favorite food and beverages at AMC Downtown Disney 24 located in Downtown Disney® at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando, Fla. AMC Dine-In Theatres, the only theatre of its kind in the Orlando area, debuts at this location May 16 and combines restaurant cuisine and cocktails with AMC’s noted immersive movie theatre experience and hit movies.
“We are excited to present AMC Downtown Disney as another one of our flagship AMC Dine-In Theatres,” said Gerry Lopez, chief executive officer and president, AMC. “Since the launch of this concept, we’ve received tremendous feedback from our guests about the enhanced experience and variety of food and beverage options. More than 90 percent of our surveyed guests who attended a Dine-In location said it met or exceeded their expectations.”
AMC Dine-In Theatres offers a meal-and-a-movie option and a bar and lounge. Six auditoriums will offer:
- Casual, in-theatre dining
- Upgraded, comfortable reserved seating
- Table-top dining
- Seat-side service and a personal call button that discreetly alerts a server
- An extensive menu including a wide array of entrees such as an enticing selection of quesadillas, burgers, flatbread pizzas, grilled sandwiches, house specialties, as well as appetizers and deserts
- A wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic specialty drinks, beer and wine
- Fork & Screen guests must be at least 18 years old unless accompanied by a parent or guardian
MacGuffins® Bar & Lounge is a full-service bar and lounge area inside AMC Downtown Disney 24 that’s the perfect place to hang out with friends before the show or discuss the movie after it ends. Named after a term coined by famed filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, it features a variety of beer, wine, cocktails and the full Dine-In Theatre menu, including appetizers and desserts. MacGuffins Bar & Lounge guests must be at least 18 years old; minors accompanied by a parent or guardian (at least 21) are welcome
Ticket prices range from $6-13, depending on day of week and showtime, for the Dine-In Theatre experience. Menu items start at $6.59-8.99 for appetizers and adult entrees range from $8.59-11.99. Specific pricing information, including value pricing and senior/student pricing, for the Dine-In Theatres at AMC Downtown Disney 24 can be found at www.amctheatres.com/dinein (click on the Downtown Disney 24 link).
AMC Downtown Disney 24 also offers 18 traditional auditoriums featuring stadium seating, the innovative Marketplace concession area and an ETX auditorium. ETX includes a 20-percent larger screen, 3D technology, digital projection and an upgraded sound system. Specifically, the digital projection system produces images at a higher resolution than HD and there are nearly twice as many audio channels compared to typical auditoriums.
Categories: Downtown Disney, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: AMC, DTD, West Side
Details Announced for ‘Car Masters Weekend’ at Walt Disney World’s Downtown Disney
Walt Disney World has released additional details for what they are calling ‘Car Masters Weekend’ at Downtown Disney West Side at the Walt Disney World Resort from May 13-15, 2011 as part of the Disney/Pixar Weekend. The event, which we first announced in early April coincides with the Walt Disney World stop of the State Farm ‘Agents on a Mission’ Tour.
Activities at Downtown Disney are scheduled to run all three days from 10:30 am through 6:00 pm and will include the following:
- Muscle cars will line the Downtown Disney promenade alongside the largest life-sized, radio-controlled replica cars ever built — which bring their big-screen “car-acter” counterparts to life for fans to meet face to face.
- Pixar Animation Studios’ “Cars” Franchise Guardian and resident car expert, Jay Ward, has been tapped to judge the Classic Car show which takes place on Saturday and Sunday.
- NASCAR fans can get a peek at Richard Petty’s racecar on display inside RIDEMAKERZ at Downtown Disney.
- The family-friendly weekend will feature special Disney-Pixar “Cars 2″ merchandise –including new RIDEMAKERZ models — and bonus entertainment.
- The 2006 Disney-Pixar Cars film returns to the big screen with a limited engagement viewing at AMC Pleasure Island 24 Theatres throughout the weekend. Moviegoers can even catch a glimpse of the new movie trailer from Cars 2, which gets the “green flag” on June 24, 2011, presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX 3D® in select theaters.
- State Farm brings Disney-Pixar’s Cars 2 adventure directly to fans with the “Agents on a Mission” tour, showcasing cars modeled after their big-screen likenesses. Guests can check out the cars and take part in a variety of “Cars 2″-themed activities, including a video kiosk, e-photo opportunities, games and giveaways. They can also enter the “Agents on a Mission” sweepstakes, which features 18,000 prizes, including a new car.
Categories: Downtown Disney, Epcot, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Cars, CARS2, DTD, Events, RIDEMAKERZ, West Side
Apricot Lane to Open in Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort in June
Disneyland Resort today announced that fashion boutique Apricot Lane will join Downtown Disney in early June 2011.
“We always look to add unique locations that provide our guests a shopping experience unlike anywhere else – Apricot Lane certainly fits that mold,” said Tony Bruno, vice president of Disneyland Resort hotels and Downtown Disney. “Our guests are going to love the fashion collection Apricot Lane has to offer.”
Apricot Lane, an International Council of Shopping Centers “Hot Concept” award winner, carries an impressive collection of branded fashion apparel, jewelry, handbags, and accessories to create the most current looks at an affordable price. Brands carried include trend-setting lines such as Miss Me, Free People, Vintage Havana, Chaser and Good Works Make a Difference.
“Many of the designer labels found in Apricot Lane are worn by celebrities and seen in the pages of current fashion magazines,” said Founder and CEO Ken Petersen. “We are excited to give Disneyland Resort guests a place where they can replicate those looks.”
Since opening in 2007, Apricot Lane has grown to include nearly 75 franchises in 25 states across the country. The company doubled its size in 2010 alone and continuously appears in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top Franchise List. With new items arriving almost daily, Apricot Lane is the perfect place to find one-of-a-kind outfits and unique gift items for women of all ages. The store carries a limited number of each item to ensure customers have a sense of individuality when making a purchase.
Apricot Lane joins approximately 50 retail, dining and entertainment venues that comprise Downtown Disney. Also coming to Downtown Disney in June is Sanuk, a footwear shop offering flip flops, surf sandals and other beach footwear, such as their signature yoga mat flip-flops. Earlier this month Blink, a denim-focused pop-up concept, owned by Wet Seal, opened to guests.
Categories: Disneyland Resort, Theme Parks Tags: Apricot Lane, DTD, Merchandise
RIDEMAKERZ Walt Disney World Location Awarded ‘Pop-Up Store of the Year’
RIDEMAKERZ announced today its Downtown Disney shop at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida won worldwide “Pop-Up Store of the Year.” This is the second year in a row that RIDEMAKERZ has claimed the award presented by Chain Store Age magazine. The award recognizes RIDEMAKERZ for its creativity in transforming a 16,000 plus square foot retail venue into an auto-garage where kids and kids at heart can customize their own 1:18 scale toy vehicles, or RIDEZ.
“It’s an incredible acknowledgement for RIDEMAKERZ to win Pop-Up Store of the Year two years in a row, especially given the momentum and creativity in this rapidly expanding category,” said Larry Andreini, ZEO (CEO), RIDEMAKERZ. “Disney offered us an incredible space, and we were able to deliver a one-of-a-kind RIDEMAKERZ experience for the ages.”
Much like its fully-customizable RIDEZ, the RIDEMAKERZ pop-up at Downtown Disney – Lake Buena Vista was completely tricked out. The shop immersed customizers in a real world auto salon with show-quality cars, including rides from the personal collection of legendary car customizer Chip Foose. Additionally, a specially designed radio-control track lets customizers play with their creations on-site.
The RIDEMAKERZ pop-up at Downtown Disney – Lake Buena Vista will remain open through April 30, 2011.
Categories: Downtown Disney, Merchandise, Walt Disney World Tags: DTD, Merchandise, RIDEMAKERZ
Sanuk, BLINK Coming to Disneyland Resort’s Downtown Disney Area
Disneyland Resort today announced two new retail stores coming to Downtown Disney this spring – Sanuk, a footwear shop and BLINK, a denim apparel store.
“We look forward to welcoming both Sanuk and BLINK to Downtown Disney,” said Tony Bruno, vice president, Disneyland Resort hotels and Downtown Disney. “Both locations will provide our guests with distinctive product and are a great fit with our unique blend of retail, dining and entertainment offerings.”
Sanuk’s new flagship location will offer the largest selection of product available outside of the company’s online store, including flip flops, surf sandals and other beach footwear, such as their signature yoga mat flip-flops.
“Taking its name from the Thai word for fun, Sanuk strives to make innovative products that are as much about funk as they are about function,” said Jeff Kelley, Sanuk founder. “We are happy to be back at Downtown Disney.”
Sanuk first joined Downtown Disney in 2010 – that pop-up was the company’s first retail store. Its success paved the way for the new, larger space.
Also coming to Downtown Disney this spring is BLINK, a denim-focused pop-up concept, owned by Wet Seal. BLINK features the latest trends in denim, while also offering a variety of fashion and casual tops, as well as accessories to complete a desired look. The BLINK concept was developed out of Wet Seal’s strong denim focus and serves as an extension of the brand.
“Opening Wet Seal’s concept shop BLINK in Downtown Disney, a major Southern California tourist destination, will be a great opportunity for the brand,” said Steve Benrubi, chief financial officer of The Wet Seal, Inc. “We’re eager to feature our new location in the vibrant entertainment area of the resort, and expect that visitors will enjoy shopping a wide assortment of merchandise.”
At BLINK, “Denim Experts” will be available to offer a high level of service and product knowledge about dozens of styles from various fashion brands.
Categories: Disneyland Resort, Downtown Disney, Theme Parks Tags: BLINK, Clothing, DTD, Fashion, Merchandise, Sanuk, Wet Seal
Disney Stars Bridgit Mendler and Adam Hicks to Host SchoolJam USA Finals at Disneyland’s Downtown Disney, January 15
The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) today announced that up-and-coming Disney stars Bridgit Mendler and Adam Hicks will participate in the second annual SchoolJam USA, where the nation’s top 10 teen bands will perform for the title of the nation’s best teen band on Saturday, January 15. SchoolJam USA is a national program that rewards aspiring teen music makers, between the ages of 13 and 19, and their respective school music programs with music funding and prizes, as well as the opportunity to perform live before the public and a panel of music industry professionals. This year’s event will take place at the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., during the weekend of the popular NAMM Show, the largest musical instruments and products trade show in the world.
Mendler (Disney Channel’s “Good Luck Charlie”) and Hicks (Disney XD’s “Zeke and Luther”), co-stars of Disney Channel’s forthcoming original movie, “Lemonade Mouth,” will emcee the live battle of the teen bands. The highly-anticipated Disney film “Lemonade Mouth” is based on the book by Mark Peter Hughes and tells the story of five high school students who meet in detention and realize that they are destined to make music. They ultimately form a band that becomes a champion for students sidelined by the high school elite.
An expert judges panel, including five leading music industry veterans, Michael Blakeslee (MENC); Steve Dobo (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum); Stan Freese (Disney); Kevin Lyman (Vans Warped Tour); and Menzie Pittman (Contemporary Music Center) will preside over the competition and select one band as the “Best Teen Band in the USA.” In addition to the championship title, the winning band will receive a grand-prize trip to perform at the original SchoolJam festival in Frankfurt, Germany, a private music video recording session on the John Lennon Educational Bus, $1,000 towards the purchase of new music gear, and an additional $5,000 in funding for their school music program. The remaining finalists will receive money to purchase new gear as well as funding for their respective school music programs.
The SchoolJam USA top 10 band finalists, including two wild card* picks, are (in alphabetical order):
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The top 10 finalist bands in the 2010-2011 SchoolJam USA competition have contributed one of their favorite original songs to create a compilation CD. All proceeds from the album will be used to support and promote music education programs through NAMM. To download the album and support national music education programs, visit https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/schooljamusa.
This year, NAMM hosted the first-ever national Student Field Reporter contest for SchoolJam USA, aiming to engage non-musician students and highlight the various career options within the music industry. Winners Evan Deitzler (Lebanon, Pa.) and Brittany Schreiber (St. James, N.Y.) will attend the finals event and interview the top 10 finalist bands, judges and celebrity guests as official SchoolJam USA Field Reporters.
NAMM-supported research shows that music education is vital for children and teens to reach their full academic and social potential, and benefits children and teens in a variety of ways, including:
- Teens see music as their “social glue” and as a bridge for building acceptance and tolerance for people of different ages and cultural backgrounds
- Music-making helps teens release or control emotions, cope with difficult situations, and teaches self discipline
- Making music provides teens with freedom to be themselves; to be different
- Teens associate playing music with music literacy, listening skills, motor ability, eye-hand coordination and heightened intellectual capabilities
- Music provides opportunities in school for engagement as performers, composers and intelligent listeners
Categories: Bridgit Mendler, Disney Stars, Disneyland Resort, Theme Parks Tags: DTD, Events
DisneyQuest Adds Hard-Ticketed Event to Walt Disney World’s New Years Eve Line-up
The official Disney Parks blog recently offered up details on New Year’s Eve events taking place around Walt Disney World this year, but it turns out there is one (incredibly) late entry this year that didn’t make the list: DisneyQuest. Seemingly a last minute entry, the resort recently registered domain names for websites that still don’t go anywhere including DisneyQuestNewYearsEve.com and DisneyQuestNYE.com.
The party will be held at DisneyQuest located at the West Side in the Downtown Disney District at the Walt Disney World Resort from 8pm – 1am. The family-friendly event for those wishing to avoid large crowds in the parks includes all games, a DJ dance party, party favors, one individual pizza and one large drink. Tickets, including sales tax, are $39 per person in advance (call 407-WDISNEY, visit the DisneyQuest Box Office or purchase online at Disneyworld.com/DisneyQuestParty) or $45 day of the event.
DisneyQuest will be closing to day-guests at 7 pm on December 31 in order to prepare for the event.
Categories: Downtown Disney, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: DisneyQuest, DQ, DTD, Events, Holidays, New Year's Eve, NYE, West Side
Video: Downtown Disney President Keith Bradford Discusses ‘Hyperion Wharf’
In this video provided to us by Walt Disney World, Downtown Disney President Keith Bradford talks about some of the recent additions and changes to the Downtown Disney District at Walt Disney World as well as shares his plans and visions for transforming the former Pleasure Island section into Hyperion Wharf and how he plans to incorporate both the Marketplace and the West Side zones into the project.
Also making an appearance in the video is Walt Disney Imagineer Alex Wright who is a Senior Show Designer for the company. Alex briefly talks about the use and the importance of the lighting in the Hyperion Wharf area and how it will transition throughout the night.
Categories: Downtown Disney, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: DTD, Hyperion Wharf, Pleasure Island
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