Disney vacation packages

Reservations are now being accepted for arrivals June 30, 2008, and later at The Wave , located at Disney's Contemporary Resort. The restaurant, a casual dining table service restaurant that features American cooking blended with world flavors, will offer a classic American breakfast, a quick and casual lunch, and dinner. In addition, the stylish contemporary lounge will offer new world wines with a twist and trendy cocktails with natural flavors. The restaurant will accept one entitlement from the Disney Dining Plan and will honor the DVC, Passholder, Disney Dining Experience, and Cast Member discounts as currently accepted at Concourse Steakhouse.

Two animal babies were born recently at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, a female baby giraffe named Makena and a male baby zebra named Kidani. Born on March 8, Kidani is the first Hartmann's Mountain Zebra born at Walt Disney World Resort. The Hartmann's Mountain Zebra is an endangered species native to Angola, Namibia and South Africa. Kidani was named for the new expansion of Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas, Kidani Village. Hartmann's Mountain Zebra is a new species at Animal Kingdom Lodge. They are on a separate savannah from the Grants Zebra at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Makena, which means "Happy One" in Swahili, was born on Leap Day, February 29. At birth, she weighed 118 pounds and stood 5' 6" tall. Makena was standing just one-and-a-half hours after birth and started nursing shortly after.

Disney Cruise Line has extended its contract with Port Canaveral through 2023. In addition, DCL has signed an agreement to base its two new ships, scheduled to launch in 2011 and 2012, there. Under the 15-year agreement, the Canaveral Port Authority will extend the dock and enhance Disney's terminal building to allow for additional luggage and passenger capacity. The enhanced facility will feature several "Disney touches" for children. The authority has also agreed to build a multi-level parking structure by 2011.

Chief Magic Official Will Oversee Magic in Disney Parks During The Year of a Million Dreams-

Burbank, Ca., January 8, 2008 ? Do you wish your M.D. really stood for ?Magic Director?? Or perhaps that your Ph.D. had something to do with Pixie Dust? As millions of Americans resolve to search for a new job this New Year, Disney Parks may have just the position they?ve been waiting for!

To prove that making dreams come true is no longer reserved for fairy godmothers, CareerBuilder.com today launched the search for the first-ever Disney Parks Chief Magic Official (CMO) who will spread magic during The Year of a Million Dreams.

The search for the CMO is part of The Year of a Million Dreams, where this year more than one million more dreams will be granted to guests at Disney Parks. This celebration includes incredible new attractions, parades, interactive entertainment and much more!

?We?re looking for that perfect someone to serve alongside our talented Cast of dream makers,? said Craig Dezern, Vice President, Global Public Relations, Disney Parks. ?The CMO will serve as an ambassador of dreams to help create the magic that only Disney can bring to its guests.?

"Whatever you dreamed of being when you were growing up, chances are some of your plans hit a snag along the way," said Richard Castellini, a spokesperson for CareerBuilder.com. "In fact, in a recent survey of over 6,000 workers, only 15 percent said they were actually in their dream jobs. The Disney Parks CMO will have the unique opportunity to live out his or her dream and bring a little magic to the lives of others."

Do You have the Character to be the CMO? -- Beginning May 1, 2008, the part-time CMO will help create magical experiences for guests, participate in special events at Disney Parks and meet Disney?s real ?masters of magic? ? the Imagineers.

The ideal CMO candidate must be happy, never grumpy; able to easily befriend dwarfs, dogs, monsters and mice; have good manners ? but also be able to pillage and plunder with pirates when necessary. Also required: pockets full of pixie dust, an aversion to poisonous apples, an interest in oversized teacups and flying elephants and, most importantly, a belief in all things magical.

The position will require travel, including travel to Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts, during the week and some weekends and holidays. While traveling as the Disney Parks CMO, he/she will receive an hourly rate of compensation for hours spent performing the CMO role, as well as airfare, accommodations and a spending allowance.

?The CMO position is an opportunity of a lifetime for someone who has always wanted to be part of the Disney family,? said Dezern. ?We will look for the ideal candidate to be naturally outgoing and optimistic, and have a great sense of humor as well as a passion for spreading Disney magic to our guests.?

Show Your DISNEY Magic -- Beginning January 8 and continuing through January 27, interested applicants can visit www.DreamCMO.com and take the ?Magic Aptitude Test? (M.A.T.) to see if they have what it takes to be the first-ever Disney Parks Chief Magic Official. Along with the results of the M.A.T., candidates will be asked to show their Disney magic by submitting a 60 second video resume ? online at www.DreamCMO.com ? which captures their personality and visually and verbally supports why they would make the ideal CMO.

Mickey?s Apprentice -- A magical panel of judges will select the top 10 video resumes, which will be posted to www.DreamCMO.com and voted on by America. The top three vote-getters will take part in a three-day event at Walt Disney World Resort that will test their creativity, enthusiasm, knowledge of the Parks and magic aptitude. Throughout the three-day event, candidates will be videotaped and the videos will be posted on www.DreamCMO.com to be voted on by America. The top vote-getter will be named the Disney Parks Chief Magic Official.

Several welcome announcements were made at the Disney Vacation Club's (DVC) annual member meeting:

-- Starting in 2008, all Disney Vacation Club members staying at DVC resorts on points will receive free internet access. (Cash guests will still be charged $9.95 per 24 hours.) This will be for the wired broadband already in the resorts and NOT for WiFi (although WiFI might be included where it already exists). As long as you have an ethernet port on your laptop you should be all set. Internet cables are provided in the rooms.

-- As of 12/30/07, Disney Vacation Club's Member Services will be open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. On February 3, 2008, Sunday hours will be added. This will be done at no additional cost to member dues.

-- In 2008, World Passport Collection will allow exchanges of less than seven days with fewer points.

-- DVC Members will be able to purchase Magic Your Way passes through Member Services in 2008. No additional discounts for DVC members except for the current AP discount.

Beginning in 2008, Disney Cruise Line guests will have the option to book an enhanced package for Disney's seven-night Land and Sea Vacation. The new vacation package, Disney's seven-night Land and Sea Package Plus Dining, includes all the perks of the existing seven-night Land and Sea package along with the added benefits of the Disney Dining Plan, which provides guests one sit-down meal, one counter-service meal and one snack per person for each night of their Walt Disney World stay. Disney's seven-night Land and Sea vacation package combines a three- or four-night cruise on the Disney Wonder with three or four nights of accommodations and theme park tickets at Walt Disney World Resort. The addition of the Disney Dining Plan creates a more inclusive vacation experience. Combined with Onboard-Airline Check-in and Disney's Magical Express, this enhanced package is yet another way that Disney helps provide a hassle-free vacation experience.

As a special treat during the summer of 2008, Disney Cruise Line has redesigned the four-night itinerary to offer two stops at Castaway Cay, Disney's private island in the tropical waters of the Bahamas. Castaway Cay continues to be one of the highlights of a Disney Cruise vacation, and with this new itinerary, guests will have twice as much time - two full days - to enjoy all the amenities and activities of the tropical oasis. With its crystal-clear turquoise waters, powdery white sand beaches, swaying palm trees and beautiful tropical flowers, Castaway Cay provides the ultimate escape, whether a guest is seeking adventure, relaxation or quality time with the family.

Altering the traditional four-night itinerary, these 16 special sailings will bookend a day in Nassau with two visits to Castaway Cay.

Four-Night Bahamian Cruise with Two Stops at Castaway Cay***

Sunday . . . . . . . .Port Canaveral (embarkation)

Monday . . . . . . . .Castaway Cay

Tuesday . . . . . . . Nassau

Wednesday . . . . . Castaway Cay

Thursday . . . . . . .Port Canaveral (debarkation)

***All four-night sailings from 5/11/08-8/24/08 will include two stops at Castaway Cay

CELEBRATION, FL, Dec. 4 -- Disney Cruise Line announced today two new eastern Caribbean itineraries for 2009 - giving guests more choices than ever before to explore the beautiful islands of the Caribbean - and special offerings for 2008. Beginning in 2009, St. Croix will be a featured stop on one new seven- night itinerary, and Tortola will be featured on another seven-night itinerary. Both islands are new to Disney Cruise Line, increasing the seven- night Caribbean choices on the Disney Magic to four itineraries (Disney's traditional eastern and western Caribbean itineraries will continue).

"The Caribbean continues to be an extremely popular destination for our guests," said Tom McAlpin, president of Disney Cruise Line. "Expanding our offerings in the eastern Caribbean provides our first-time cruisers an array of popular destinations to choose from, while also providing seasoned Disney cruisers new destinations to visit and explore with Disney."

McAlpin noted that there are also special offerings during 2008 including a summer season of sailings to the Mexican Riviera, select cruises with multiple stops at Disney's private island paradise, Castaway Cay, and an enhanced seven-night Land and Sea package that combines the adventure of a Disney cruise with the fun and excitement of a stay at Walt Disney World Resort.

2009 ... New Eastern Caribbean Routes
Disney Cruise Line guests have always enjoyed the beautiful turquoise waters and sugar sand beaches of the eastern Caribbean and, on select voyages throughout the 2009 season, guests will be able to explore either St. Croix or Tortola. The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix offers a wonderful mix of colonial-style architecture, natural wonders, quaint shops and spectacular marine habitats. Tortola, part of the British Virgin Islands, features centuries-old ruins, botanical gardens, sugar mills, sensational bays and beaches. The new eastern Caribbean itineraries will stop at St. Croix or Tortola, St. Thomas and Disney's private island, Castaway Cay.

*Eastern Caribbean itineraries with St. Croix sail 1/3, 1/31, 2/28, 3/28, 10/10, 11/7 and 12/5/2009

**Eastern Caribbean itineraries with Tortola sail 4/25, 5/23, 6/20, 7/18, 8/15 and 9/12/2009

Disney Cruise Line will continue to offer its current version of the eastern Caribbean cruise with stops at St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Castaway Cay. The traditional eastern Caribbean voyages will sail in-between the special sailings to St. Croix or Tortola.

Since Disney's "Year of a Million Dreams" has been extended into next year, new "money-can't-buy" Disney dream prizes have been announced for the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway. In addition to continuing to hand out such "dreams" as Dream FASTPASS badges, special viewing for parades, Disney shopping sprees, and Dream Mouse Ears or Pin and Lanyard sets, the prizes include:

-- A chance for guests to spend the night inside Disneyland in Walt's Dream Suite. Using architectural renderings that Walt Disney himself commissioned for an in-park, family retreat that was never completed, Disneyland Resort is creating a lavish new guest suite in the park's New Orleans Square. Beginning Jan. 31, 2008 -- and continuing most nights throughout the year - a different winner will be chosen through a random process to bring up to five guests to live Walt's dream and spend that night in the Disneyland Dream Suite inside Disneyland Park.

-- A private day at Disney's tropical island paradise, Castaway Cay.

-- A New Year's Eve night stay inside Cinderella Castle Suite at Walt Disney World Resort.

-- A trip to the "High School Musical 3" film premiere for two winners and up to three guests each. One prize includes a VIP vacation to Disneyland Resort in California and the other features a VIP vacation to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida where the music and excitement of "High School Musical" comes to life in high-energy shows.

-- Become Disney's Grand Marshal Around the Globe. One winner and up to three guests will be sent on a 15-day whirlwind tour of four Disney destinations -- Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Resort Paris. At each stop on the magical journey, the winner will serve as Honorary Grand Marshal of Disney's daily parade

Castle Dream Lights -- an all-new Castle Light Show. Cinderella Castle is adorned with thousands of shimmering white lights, covering the turrets and towers like a glistening blanket of ice. The twinkling lights create an elegant wintry effect perfect for the seasonal celebration.

Mickey's Once upon a Christmastime Parade celebrates the many festive moods of the holiday season, showcasing a series of holiday themes including a Friends and Family Christmastime Party, a sleigh ride through a Winter Wonderland, a romantic Fairy Tale Christmastime, a scrumptious display of Christmastime sweets, and of course Santa and Mrs. Claus in a grand finale. And for longtime Disney Christmas parade fans: Soldiers, Snowflakes and dancing deer are all still in the parade. The parade features original music as well as both classic and current holiday tunes.

The Castle currently is partially obscured as lights for the new holiday program are being installed.

A recently approved three-year contract between the Service Trades Council and Walt Disney World ensures that approximately 8,000 part-time Walt Disney World employees have the same pay scales as full-timers. The part-timers, whose jobs range from driving buses and preparing food to operating theme-park attractions, will also now receive extra pay for working some holidays.