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INTERCOT > Interactive > INTERCOT Insider Archive > January  2007

Intercot.com

INTERCOT Insider
January 2007 - Edition Two 

Now Over 10,000 Subscribers!

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<< Introduction >>

While most places this time of year are chilly and often accompanied by a dash of snow flurries, there are three places that are still warm and sunny – Disneyland, Walt Disney World and aboard the Disney Cruiseline. As a cure for those January blues, we cover all three of these lighthearted locales. In this edition we take a look at some great deals at sunny Disneyland, take a tropical trip aboard the Disney Wonder with Ed, take a glimpse at the brand new Pirate and Princess Party at Walt Disney World, and more. So curl up in a cozy nook and sip your favorite hot beverage—it’s Insider Time!


<< Disneyland Deals   >>

-
Everyone Plays for the Kids’ Price -
Everyone’s a kid again at the Disneyland Resort! Just purchase a 3-day, 2-night Disneyland Resort vacation package for travel between January 3 and April 26, 2007, and every adult in your group receives a 3-day or longer Disneyland Resort Park Hopper souvenir ticket at the kids’ price!

Details Here

- FREE $150 Disney Gift Card -
Staying at one of the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort just got even more magical! Between January 3 through April 26, 2007, with every stay of 4 nights or longer at the Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier Hotel, or Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, you’ll receive a free Disney Gift Card worth $150.

Details Here

- Annual Passport Specials -
Keep the magic of the Theme Parks going all night long with a stay at one of Disneyland’s spectacular hotels! Spend a night for as low as $129* at Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel from January 28th through February 15th. Ask for rate plan "APD."

Details Here


<< Pirate & Princess Party Points >>


The Pirate & Princess Party has debuted at the Magic Kingdom. This all-new after hours hard ticket event transforms the Magic Kingdom into a plethora of Pirate Coves and Princess Courts. In addition to your favorite rides, this event offers a brand new event exclusive parade, a brand new event exclusive fireworks spectacular and other entertainment offerings not commonly found during normal operational hours.

A handful of INTERCOTees have been present during the first parties, so let’s take a look at what they’ve had to say:

“The velvet lined, smoky entry way was very cool. Got "Treasure Maps" and little velvet treasure baggies upon entry. We filled them up with "booty" (candy) and got lots of "jewels" (beads) at the "Treasure X's." Rode everything we wanted to ride with no line. Some rides we even just stayed on over and over again.”-- WheresWalt

“The Magic, Music & Mayhem Fireworks Spectacular was at 9:45 and we caught it in front of the castle. To me, it was the best fireworks show I've ever seen at Disney. Perimeter fireworks, Tinkerbell flying, the whole bit. An awesome sight!” We walked onto Dumbo, the Carousel, Pooh, and I noticed no waits for Philharmagic and a minimal wait early in the evening for Peter Pan. Overall we had a great time!! -- Piglet822

“I love all the characters that we have out for this party. Sebastian, Flounder, 3 fish from the Little Mermaid, Pocahontas, John Smith, Prince Ali & Abu, Lady Tremaine and the Stepsisters, Stitch as an alien, they're all so cute! All of the pirates are really cool and they even have Elizabeth sword fighting on the pirate ship float! The perimeter fireworks are fantastic!”-- *Liz*

“The parade and fireworks were just beyond anything I've ever seen - amazing! Although they were both more focused on princesses than pirates, but in my opinion, the pirate parts were the highlights of the parade and fireworks. And I met Captain Jack Sparrow. This was the best part of the whole entire evening. He was amazing!”-- limegreenmonorail

“The kingdom was transformed with lights showing pirate and princess themes on the buildings, streets and sidewalks!! The dance parties that are set up are great. I have awesome pictures of my kids dancing with Stitch and Lilo. This was the most magical experience. Well worth the money!!!!”
-- rebeccalancaster

Disney’s Pirate & Princess Party continues on select nights through Early March 2007.

Piglet822's Party Pictures
Pirate & Princess Party Schedule & Details


<< Checks with Character  >>

INTERCOT Affiliate Checks Unlimited has announced that the Mickey Mouse line of Checks and Accessories will be have a new look in April 2007. Four new Mickey Mouse themed designs will provide new fun ways to show your love of everyone’s favorite Mouse.

Checks Unlimited


<< Aboard the Wonder with TiggTigg5  >>

Happy You know it’s going to be a great day when you are driving east on Central Florida’s Beachline expressway and at the Port Canaveral piers you spot two red ship’s funnels festooned with that familiar logo of the Disney Cruise Line. Thus began our three-night/two day cruise aboard the Disney Wonder on January 4th.

- Embarkment–
We arrived at Port Canaveral entirely too early – I suppose we were just a little excited. Our checked bags were turned over to a very helpful porter at the terminal, and after going through the now-familiar security screening we made our way to the reception area on the second floor. We were pleasantly surprised to find the area nearly empty, unlike our last cruise when it resembled the queue for Splash Mountain on a summer afternoon. Having taken advantage of the relatively-new online check in process, and being members of the Castaway Club, we were quickly processed and issued our Key To The World cards.

- Bon Voyage–
Our staterooms, adjacent to each other, were soon ready and we anxiously checked out our homes for the next three nights. Our door was decked out with magnetic signs, one welcoming us as returning Castaway Club members and the second welcoming us “Home” as DVC members. Inside, we found goodie bags from both clubs containing lanyards, pins, cups and other memorabilia. Also enclosed were invitations to members-only receptions to be held aboard the ship.

Both of the Disney ships, Wonder and Magic, have recently undergone significant renovations, including complete replacement of all mattresses, installation of numerous flat-panel information screens along the corridors, new carpeting and marble flooring in some common areas, and a huge LCD monitor now overlooks the Goofy Pool on the ninth deck.

The departure party was well underway when we arrived on the ninth deck, and then came the part everyone loved. A countdown was conducted – 3, 2, 1 - and the ship’s horns blasted the familiar seven opening notes of “When You Wish Upon A Star”. The mooring lines were cast off, the ship moved slowly away from the dock, and we were on our way!

We had chosen to go to Palo’s for our first dinner, and what a treat it was! Our server was outstanding, the food was wonderful, and the atmosphere set the tone for the entire trip.

-Day One: Nassau, Bahamas-
Friday morning treated us to a beautiful sunrise and balmy temperatures. Shortly after we finished breakfast at the buffet, we could see Nassau a mile or so straight ahead.

We had opted for a snorkeling excursion, taking about an hour for the large catamaran to reach a fantastic coral reef, where we spent the next hour exploring the reef and checking out the hundreds of species of fish who called it home. Then it was back aboard the Wonder to prepare for dinner. We now found that the pier area was occupied by no less than seven cruise ships, several of them true behemoths, but none with more elegant, classical lines than the Disney Wonder.

What followed was our only real disappointment in the entire cruise. Taking our seats in our assigned restaurant for the evening (Triton’s), we were virtually ignored by the servers for the first ten or fifteen minutes. And when they finally did make their way to us, the experience continued a downhill slide. These particular servers were the complete opposite of the two we had on our earlier cruise on the Magic. They were totally disorganized, kept delivering the wrong items to the wrong people, and just totally lacked the kind of skills usually evident in Disney cast members. The service was so slow that we opted to skip dessert just so we could make it to the 9:45pm “Pirates In The Caribbean” party.

And what a party it was! Lots of music, dancing, characters (including Captain Jack Sparrow and our gracious host, Mickey Mouse, rappelling down from the smokestacks), followed by a DCL exclusive – fireworks fired out over the ocean from atop the funnels.

-Day Two: Castaway Cay, Private Disney Paradise -
Castaway Cay is now the home of a sight familiar to anyone who has seen the latest installment of “Pirates of the Caribbean”. Permanently anchored just inside the cove is the actual replica of Captain Davy Jones’ ship, The Flying Dutchman, used in filming the movie. It makes for an interesting backdrop for souvenir photos.

Again, we chose to spend most of the day swimming and snorkeling and just plain relaxing, soaking up the sunshine and admiring the beautiful crystal clear turquoise waters. A barbecue-style lunch was served on the island. But all too soon, it was time to reboard the ship for a 5 pm departure.

Again, we had a perfect dinner experience at Palo’s, serving as the appropriate ending of a wonderful day, but also reminding us that our all-too-short cruise was coming to an end.

-Disembarkment -
Sunday morning we awoke to find ourselves back at Port Canaveral, the ship having docked at about 5 am. After breakfast and a quick check by Customs and Border Protection officers, we were on our way back home.


<< Timeshare Tips  >>

Maybe it has been in the back of your mind to make that first inquiry into becoming a member of the Disney Vacation Club. There is no better time than now. Visit The Timeshare Store’s website to see all of our current listings for Disney Vacation Club resales. You will notice that there are many different size memberships from all DVC resorts to choose from.
How do you know what size membership to purchase? You must decide what time of year you will travel, how many in your party, what size accommodation you want, which resort you wish to stay at and how many nights you will be staying. Visit our website and review the Disney Vacation Club point charts. Membership is flexible enough to give you those choices each and every time you vacation.
Membership in DVC is customized for you and your family. We would be more than happy to help you with all your questions at The Timeshare Store.

Timeshare Store


<< INTERCOTee Top 5 … Coffee Spots  >>

Now Despite the warm Florida temperatures many Guests still enjoy starting off their morning or relaxing during the day with a cup of coffee. As can be expected, there are a wide variety of locations to grab a cup-of-joe at the gigantic Walt Disney World Resort. The Insider has reviewed recent discussions and put together a countdown of the Top 5 Places for Coffee.

Coming in at number 5 … Fountain View Espresso and Bakery

Many Guest start their morning off right with a quick stop at Epcot’s Fountain View Espresso and Bakery. This Future World pit-stop offers Cappuccinos, Cafe Lattes, Espressos, Mochas, and Flavored Coffees.

Coming in at number 4 … Kringla Bakeri og Cafe

The Spirit of Norway meets the aroma of coffee at the Kringla Bakeri og Café in Epcot’s Norway pavilion. The café offers Lattes, Cappuccinos and their signature Viking Coffee. Fit for true explorers, Viking Coffee is Columbian coffee blended with Kamora Coffee Liqueur and Bailey's Original Irish Cream.

Coming in at number 3 … Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop

Ghirardelli may be best known for their Chocolate, but their coffee selection is equally noteworthy. Enjoy such decedent choices like a Caramel Latte or White Chocolate Mocha in addition to a variety of top-notch coffee varieties.

Coming in at number 2 … Grand Floridian Café

The Grand Floridian Café at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa offers a coffee selection that lives up to its “Grand” name. Enjoy elegant choices like Chocolate, Caramel or Vanilla flavored Espressos, Cappuccinos, and Lattes.

And coming in at number 1 … Kona Island Coffee Bar

Disney’s Polynesian Resort offers a taste of the tropics at the Kona Island Coffee Bar. This Kiosk offers Espressos, Cappuccinos, Lattes, Mochas, Au Laits and their signature Kona Press Pot Coffee. Grown in Kona, Hawaii, Kona Press Pot Coffee provides on out-of-this-civilization taste that will keep you coming back to the Islands.

That’s it for this countdown. Hope it has given you some great ideas of where to get a great brew the next time you are at “the world”.

<< The Insider & YOU  >>

The INTERCOT Insider would like to start a recurring column of reader input—and YOU can help.

Have a Walt Disney World or Disneyland restaurant, attraction or hotel review? Have part of a trip report you think is particularly interesting or helpful? Want to share your experiences with other Insider readers?

Then send your brief review or trip report passage to [email protected] and it can be part of the forthcoming “Reader Review” column in an upcoming issue.

Submissions should be received by the 20th of the month to be published in that month’s issue.

Many our readers already share their opinions on the INTERCOT Discussion boards, now’s your chance to let your knowledge and experiences shine!


<< Conclusion >>

Whew! What a jam-packed issue that was, we just barley crammed it all in. Hopefully these articles about sunny Vacation Kingdoms, Cruises to Paradise and great warm coffee blends have added a little warmth to your wintry day. We’ll be back in a few weeks with our monthly columns, until then stay warm!

 
<< 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

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/

Garden Grocer
GardenGrocer.com allows you to spend more time doing the things you want to do on your vacation and less time at the supermarket.
Website: http://www.gardengrocer.com/

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The INTERCOT Insider

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Comments or questions may be sent to [email protected]

 

 
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