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INTERCOT Insider
November
2005
- Edition Two |
~ Over 10,0oo
Subscribers & Growing ~
<< Introduction >>
Hello, Everyone.
The holiday season is upon us and that hustle and bustle can sure get crazy.
Let's put that "to-list" down and clear our brains of stress and
responsibilities. We cannot do your shopping and decorating for you,
although we do offer a store online
(hint-hint), but we
can help take your mind elsewhere for a bit. Put your feet up and let's talk
Disney!
Ever wonder why Old Key West is the most coveted Disney Vacation Club
location? Are you pondering where to eat on your next trip to Magic
Kingdom? Or have you thought about how cool it would be to meet Marty Sklar?
If so, you’ve come to the right place! In this edition the Timeshare Store
addresses your questions regarding Old Key West and the Disney Vacation
Club, Jamie and Nigel visit the Liberty Tree Inn and WDWacky gives us
a sneak peek into his evening with Marty Sklar. And be sure to check out the
great specials being offered by two INTERCOT sponsors, the Radisson Resort
Parkway and Happy Limo.
Here we go!
<< Radisson Resort Parkway Rate Exclusive >>
The
Radisson Resort Parkway, a Disney Good Neighbor Hotel, is offering visitors
of INTERCOT an exclusive room rate of $59.95. The rate is available;
12/4-12/8, & 12/11-12/22.
The resort is located only 1.5 miles from Walt Disney World and provides
free complimentary scheduled shuttles to Disney, Sea World and Universal
Studios. 718 remodeled guest rooms (with free high speed Internet access), 3
sparkling pools with waterfalls, 2 whirlpools and a 40' water slide, 5 on
site food and beverage outlets (kids eat free!) and all situated on 20 acres
of beautiful, tropically landscaped grounds. The resort is the perfect
vacation within a vacation destination. Call today and save!
Resort Information
Book a Room
<< Happy Limo Offering Transportation Special >>
Happy Limo is offering a free upgrade to their 7-Passenger Excursion SUV
for guests booking a Van roundtrip. Reservations must be made by 12/31/05.
Restrictions apply. This is a special offer for INTERCOT visitors only. Make
reservations by calling 1-888-394-4277 or click the link below. Mention
discount code INT8573. Happy Limo is a member of the National Limousine
Association and provides timely transportation 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week.
Make Reservations & View Discounts
<< DVC Question of the Month >>
Our clients always ask us, "Why do so many people want their Home Resort to
be at Disney's Old Key West Resort?" Here's the #1 reason...you get more
bang for your buck!
The villas at Old Key West (OKW) are the largest on property and the point chart
is the lowest. The points needed nightly when staying at OKW are lower than
any other resort; on top of that the Annual Dues are only $3.86 per point.
Disney's Old Key West Resort is located on the beautifully landscaped
fairways of Disney's Lake Buena Vista Golf Course near the Downtown Disney
area. It is a tropical retreat! Take in the surrounding scenery with a
bicycle ride, curl up in a cozy corner of Papa's Den with a paperback, round
up your kids and Disney neighbors for a game of volleyball, stock up on
goods at Conch Flats General Store, or sit down to a scrumptious slice of
Key Lime Pie at Olivia's Cafe. The whole world is just outside your doorstep
at Disney's Old Key West Resort. Nearby features include food and beverages
at Good's Food to Go, The Gurgling Suitcase, Olivia's Cafe and Turtle Shack
Snack Bar. Members and guests can also have pizza delivered to their villas
by ordering from Disney's Port Orleans Resort.
Old Key West has 4 swimming pools, a Community Hall, the Electric Eel
Gameroom, a fitness center, Hank's Rent 'N Return, Papa's Den and Slappy
Joe's massages. There is also the Conch Flats General Store with all the
necessities as well as Disney Vacation Club (DVC) and Walt Disney World souvenirs. Activities for
young and old alike include arts and crafts, basketball, foosball, Goofy
bingo, landscaping tour, playgrounds, shuffleboard, table tennis, tennis,
Unbirthday Parties and volleyball. Disney's Old Key West Resort features 531
Vacation Homes, including studios, one- and two-bedroom homes and
three-bedroom Grand Villas. At OKW one of the nicest features is being able
to park directly in front of your building.
The Timeshare Store has close to 100 DVC listings on any given day including
ones at Old Key West, Boardwalk Villas, Villas at Wilderness Lodge, Beach
Club Villas, Saratoga Springs, Hilton Head Resort and Vero Beach Resort.
Check out our website below or call and talk to one of our
knowledgeable associates. We're never too busy to answer any of your
questions or assist you in the purchase of one of our listings. The
toll-free number is 800-550-6493 and the office is open 7 days a week.
Visit the Timeshare Store
<< Member Memoirs with WDWacky
>>
One of the highlights of our
IAAPA experience
was the chance to hear Marty Sklar, Vice Chairman and Principal Creative
Executive Walt Disney Imagineering, give his presentation Mickey's 10 More
Commandments - The Leader's Bible.
If you want to know more about Marty before reading on, you can see his bio
here:
The presentation began with Marty providing some background on his original
Mickey's Ten Commandments, which is pretty much considered the foundation
for theme park design in the industry today. They are:
1. Know Your Audience
2. Wear Your Guests' Shoes
3. Organize the Flow of People and Ideas
4. Create a "Wienie" (Visual Magnet)
5. Communicate with Visual Literacy
6. Avoid Overload - Create Turn-Ons
7. Tell One Story at a Time
8. Avoid Contradictions - Maintain Identity
9. "Ounce of Treatment - Ton of Treat"
10. Keep It Up (Maintain It)!
He described briefly what each of these means and went into some detail on
how Walt had influenced his belief in these 10 concepts. There were quite a
few great stories mixed in here with some great "Walt moments", including a
discussion of how Marty and Walt had collaborated on the now-famous Florida
project videos.
It was interesting, because he showed us two versions ... the one made for
the general public and the one made for industry. He pointed out how Walt
closely tailored his message for each audience and how well he "sold" his
concepts based on to whom he was selling (this reinforced point #1).
After this introduction, he moved into Mickey's Ten More Commandments, which
he called a "Leader's Bible for Managing Creative People." These ten are:
1. Create and Maintain a Climate of TRUST
2. Be Responsive and Make Decisions - That's What Leaders Do!
3. Empower Your Teammate - It Takes Many Hands to Bake a Success
4. Create Opportunities for New Birds to Fly
5. Remember: Experience is NOT a Negative
6. Make Sure Yours Is Not the Only Voice You're Listening To
7. Celebrate Diversity and Different Points of View
8. Never Rest on Your Laurels - The Next at Bat Is Your Most Important
9. Take a Chance - Support Risk Taking
10. Provide Plenty of Blank Paper
The last point was supplanted with two additional slides that showed how you
can look at a blank piece of paper either as, " ... the most frightening
thing in the world." or "... the greatest opportunity in the world." His
point here was that a blank piece of paper can be scary if you're the one
expected to fill it in with something of value, but it's also an outstanding
chance to show what you can do.
Marty concluded this segment by talking about what he called Walt's Fabulous
Five, or the five Walt quotes or principles that most strongly speak to his
philosophy on leadership:
1. Be OPTIMISTIC! If YOU are not positive, who will be?
2. Quality is job one!
3. The 4 C's of Creativity: Curiosity, Confidence, Consistency, and Courage
4. If you can dream it, you can do it!
5. It's kind of fun to do the impossible.
This segment was followed by a brief question and answer session where Marty
talked a little bit about his past and his work with Walt.
To be honest, he mostly dodged any real substantive answers in this segment.
For example, when asked about his greatest accomplishment he said it was
marrying his wife (cop out!). When he was asked about his biggest mistake he
used also used a pretty weak example. During this part John and I turned to
each other and at the same time went, "Journey Into Imagination!"
After the speech segment was over, Marty was available in the Convention
Center book store for autographs, so John and I made a beeline over, quick
picked up some Disney Imagineering books, and got in line.
Now I have to preface this by saying that I am an admitted geek when it
comes to Disney history. I was turned into a gushing fool when I met Roy
Disney at the shareholder convention in 2004. Marty Sklar has always been a
pretty mythic figure in my life ... I have so much respect for him and I am
just fascinated by his career and his accomplishments. I mean this is a guy
that hung out with Walt Disney! So suffice it to say I was a tad awed being
in his presence ...
I was able to shake his hand, have him sign two books for me, and then he
posed for pictures with John and I. I had some conversation with him (mostly
me babbling like an idiot and him looking like he was about to call for
security ), but it was quite an experience! Definitely one I will remember
for a long, long time.
Here's hoping he's back again at IAPPA in 2006!!
<< Dining
with MickeysGirl and Dr_Nigel_C >>
Hello, and welcome to
an All-American version of Dining Out! Here in the states we just celebrated
Thanksgiving and with that comes a sense of patriotism as well as thanks. In
this issue we’re breaking out the red, white and blue – we’re dining at the
Liberty Tree Tavern, located in Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom. Liberty
Tree Tavern provides that sense of being in colonial America; complete with
Chip and Dale in their best dressed!
Both Lunch and Dinner are served at the Liberty Tree Tavern. The
lunch menu
features down-home goodies: Appetizers include clam chowder and salad, and
dinner choices include traditional roast turkey, rotisserie chicken, salmon,
turkey sandwiches and even a burger. For children, macaroni and cheese, corn
dog nuggets, and turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy are available. This
meal is traditional table service, in other words you order from the menu.
Also, the Characters do not appear at this meal. But from what we’ve read,
the food makes up for the lack of entertainment. Adult meals at lunch range
an average $10-15, with children’s meals around $5 each.
Starting at 4 p.m., Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Chip N Dale visit the Liberty
Tree for
dinner. Service become family-style, and includes salad, roasted turkey
breast, carved beef, ham, mashed potatoes, vegetables and macaroni and
cheese. Cherry cobbler with vanilla ice cream is included, but other items
are available for an extra fee. As with any other Family style
establishment, if you want any more of any particular item, all you have to
do is ask your server. Never know, Goofy may start to serve you if you’re
not watching! The dinner costs $24.99 for adults, $10.99 for children ages 3
– 9.
For those looking to save a few pennies, Liberty Tree Tavern participates in
both the Disney Dining
Experience program as well as the Magic Your Way with
Dining Package.
Advanced Dining Reservations are accepted for this location and are highly
recommended as it is not only a Character meal, but one of only a few sit
down restaurants in the Magic Kingdom. As an added bonus, this is one of the
featured restaurants available for dining during Mickey’s Not So Scary
Halloween Parties and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties! The characters
come dressed for the occasion while the rest of the park gets transformed
for the special celebration. Please note that if you are interested in this
establishment for either party, you should mention it to the Cast Member as
an “add on” to your Party Ticket purchase.
But as if the characters weren’t enough, Liberty Tree Tavern offers even
more uniqueness to share! You never know who you will end up sitting next
to… well sort of. Each room is themed to a historical American figure, so
you might find yourself rubbing elbows with Benjamin Franklin (or his
picture at least) or even have Susan B. Anthony looking over your shoulder
(but don’t worry her eyes won’t move, this isn’t the Haunted Mansion!).
You’ll find detailed information about each person all around the room.
Also, when you get called to your table, the Host or Hostess will also call
out where you are from. So that all can celebrate your hometown!
As Sam Eagle would say, not dining at Liberty Tree Tavern is very
un-American, so be sure to display your patriotism with pride! Happy Dining
and Happy Holidays!
<< Conclusion >>
That concludes this edition of the Insider! Thanks to all of our
contributors and readers.
All of your favorite regulars will be back in your inbox in just a few
weeks. Until then, happy planning!
<< INTERCOT Would Like To Thank >> The INTERCOT Insider and INTERCOT.com
are supported by the following sponsors who in turn, help us bring the Magic
to you!
All Star
Vacation Homes
When you need a home away from home, look no further. From comfort to
luxury, All Star Vacation Homes has it all in four series of homes to fit
any taste and any budget just moments from the magic of Walt Disney World!
Website:
http://www.allstarvacationhomes.com?ovchn=OTHER&ovcpn=Listing+Sites&ovcrn=intercot&ovtac=AD
Happy Limo
Providing ground transportation to the entire state of Florida.
Website: http://www.quicksilver-tours.com
Magical Journeys
Magical Journeys is your Disney Vacation specialist. Start planning your
Vacation Discount Dreams today!
Website:
http://www.yourmagicaljourneys.com/
Official Ticket
Center
Walt Disney
World’s, Universal Studios and Sea World’s #1 guest service provider for the
last 3 years. The Official Ticket Center has been servicing vacationers for
more than 7 years now and sells tickets only, at a discount price.
Website:
http://www.officialticketcenter.com/default.aspx?affid=TC21LBC
Radisson Resort
Parkway
Right in the heart of action! Only 1.5 miles from Walt Disney World is an
oasis of ponds, beautiful landscaping, serene waterfalls and relaxing
options hiding in every corner.
Website:
http://orlando.guestselectresorts.com?pid=INTERCOTN
The Timeshare Store
The #1 Disney Vacation Club Reseller in the World. See how easy and
affordable it is to purchase your very own piece of the MAGIC!
Website: http://www.dvc-resales.com/
The INSIDER is Brought to you by
INTERCOT's network of sites:
INTERCOT - Walt Disney World
Inside & Out
INTERCOT West - Disneyland Inside
& Out
INTERCOT's WebDisney - Guide to
Disney on the Internet
INTERCOT's MousehutMail - Free Web
Based Email
INTERCOT's Thrillride
Experience - Thrill Ride Parks & Attractions
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© 1997-2005 Levelbest
Communications - All Rights Reserved
Comments or questions may be sent to
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