Cara Goldsbury asked:


What better opportunity to spoil the grandchildren than a trip to “The Most Magical Place on Earth”. And spoil them you can with so many things to see and do that children as well as adults will absolutely love. It’s a vacation guaranteed to create lasting memories. Here are some suggestions that will make this very special trip one to remember for a lifetime:

Book a Resort with a Great Pool

Kids love swimming pools, and Disney resorts come with some of the best. Children’s favorites: the Volcano Pool at Disney’s Polynesian Resort featuring a smoking volcano slide, underwater music, and sparkling waterfall, all with a superb view of the Seven Seas Lagoon; the Wilderness Lodge’s boulder-lined pool featuring glistening waterfalls, rocky overlooks, a fun water slide, and nearby geyser; the eye-popping Stormalong Bay, a mini-water park complex that meanders between the Yacht and Beach Club, offering three acres of winding, watery delight including sandy bottom pools, a giant “shipwreck” waterslide, tidal whirlpool, bubbling hot tubs, a kiddie pool with its own slide next to the beach, and enough length to float lazily in inner tubes to your heart’s delight.

Have a Meal With Disney Characters

If you’re traveling with young children, at least one or two character meals are a must. These extremely popular dining spots, offered at both the theme parks and the Disney resort hotels, are a perfect way for the grandchildren to spend extra time with their favorite characters. Young ladies don their favorite Disney princess costumes at Restaurant Akershus in Epcot’s Norway pavilion to dine with Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Belle, while both boys and girls alike adore the Fantasyland breakfast and lunch offered at the Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella’s Royal Table. Just be sure to call 407-WDW-DINE exactly 180 days prior at 7 a.m. Eastern time to assure yourselves a spot at these coveted venues.

Head Over to Ft. Wilderness for a Campfire Sing-along

Gather ’round the campfire each evening at Disney’s Ft. Wilderness for a sing-along, marshmallow roast, and a Disney animated movie. It’s complimentary to all Walt Disney World resort guests.

Start Your Day Early at One of the Disney Parks

Most mornings one of Disney’s theme parks opens an hour early only for guests staying at a Disney resort. It’s a perfect opportunity to knock off the big name attractions, particularly in the Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland, where waits can sometimes be extremely lengthy during normal park hours.



HAL

Alan Cruz asked:


If you thought that a Disney World vacation is beyond your reach, particularly with those pricey and expensive hotels, you should read every alphabet that follows here. Walt Disney himself was a great visionary and invested enough thought to make his wonderful creation, a place which can be enjoyed by people from all walks of life. The Walt Disney world resort is an outstanding example of this philosophy.

The Walt Disney world resort has 5 different classes of accommodation, each with its own price structure. Therefore, vacation seekers can still enjoy the freedom of choice without sacrificing the advantages of proximity and location.  Brief details of these 5 classes are:-

1. The Disney Value Resorts

This category represents the cheapest of all and is symbolized by names such as All Star Movies Resort, All Sport’s Resort, All Star Music Resort etc.

2. Disney Moderate Resorts

If you are looking for that once in a life time dining experience at economical prices, then Disney Moderate Resorts should be your choice. Carribeans Beach Resort, Coronado, Spring Resort etc. belong to this class.

3. The Disney Deluxe Resorts

When Strategic location and super facilities rank high on your priority, the Disney Deluxe Resorts offer you just that. The best of “competitive hotel hospitality” is what this place offers.

4. Disney Vacation Club

You don’t take a vacation like this every alternate year and therefore want only the best that money can buy. Walt Disney has an option which can be just what you need in Disney Vacation Club. Animal Kingdom Villas, Beach Club Villas and Boardwalk Villas are truly a class apart to give you that enchanting experience.

5. Campgrounds

‘Disney’s Fort Wilderness resort’ is referred to as Campgrounds and stands as yet another option for you to explore.

You should now grab one of these options and get going.



NICHOLAS

A Nutt asked:


It’s very important to keep an eye on your children at all times whenever you are in an unfamiliar place. Knowing where your kids are at all times is crucial to their safety. Even in the safest of environments there can be some uncertainty when there are strangers around, that being said, people feel much more confident about their family’s safety when they are in a place that is very concerned with the safety of its patrons.

The Disney Resorts are among the most widely visited and popular family vacation destinations in the world. Year after year families from just about every corner of North America and beyond put their sites on a Disney Vacation, and this didn’t happen by accident. It’s Disney’s focus to be the top rated and most popular group of resorts on the planet and they certainly wouldn’t hold that title for long by not considering safety to be one of their biggest priorities.

People can’t totally cut loose and have fun if they are worried for any reason on their vacation. That’s why Disney is so concerned about the safety and security of all of the visitors to their theme parks. Disney has a number of security personnel patrolling the park and they offer extra amenities for the safety of their guests’ possessions, like the inclusion of in room safes in hotel rooms.

How They Keep You Safe

Disney has security personnel at varying locations all throughout their parks and if an emergency should arise, such as losing track of a child, any cast member (Disney theme park employee) can and will provide assistance.

Disney has a very serious training program that their employees take part in that educates on all aspects of safety. The program more than meets the standards of training in the industry and has specific focuses on dealing with injuries that have occurred as well as injury prevention to ensure that all guests and coworkers are taken care of as well as can be expected regardless of the situation.

There are also several small first aid stations located at various points throughout all of Disney’s amusement parks where guest can get treatment for minor injuries and ailments free of charge and where guests can have a place to escape the heat and re-hydrate if necessary.

Ride Safety

Disney has safety precautions in place for their amusements in order to keep park patrons safe. There are minimum height requirements of some amusements to keep children safe and more detailed precautions on other rides that may be dangerous to those with pre-exiting conditions, like heart trouble or high blood pressure.

Car Problems

Many visitors to the Disney theme parks make the long trek to get there in their cars. If you are at the park and having car trouble all you have to do is raise your hood and leave it open and park security will be by to provide assistance.

Beyond the Park

Disney is so concerned with the safety of it’s patrons that their efforts aren’t limited to the inside of the park. Disney has implemented several programs in an effort to keep children safe, the latest of which is a partnership with the Underwriters Laboratories to educate kids on safety in there own homes when it comes to things like fire, electricity and surfing the internet.

Even with Disney’s employee training programs and constant focus on the safety of it’s patrons in and outside of the theme park walls some unfortunate instances can still occur, but if part of your decision on booking a vacation stems on how concerned a company is with you and your families safety, Disney should easily be at the top of your list.



MICHEAL

Jamie Jefferson asked:


It is hard to imagine a more exciting, magical, and eagerly anticipated vacation than a Disney theme park adventure.

And because the prospect of the trip is so exciting, the planning process can be half the fun. Here is how to get started planning the trip of a lifetime, for a lot less than you might think.

Order Your Free Disney DVD

One of the first things you will want to do is take advantage of the free Disney Parks Vacation Planning DVD. This official Disney DVD takes you on a complete tour of both resorts. Go inside the parks and get an overview of the Disney complexes in both Florida and Southern California. Preview the water and roller coaster rides and get tips on where to go and what to do. The DVD also features planning guides, information on affordable places to stay, things to do, and upcoming special events. You can order it on the official Disney Parks website. (Simply do a Google search for “Free Disney Vacation Planning DVD.”)

Hotel Deals

The second thing on your list will be to find the best Disneyland and Disneyworld hotel deals.

Keep in mind that you will pay lower prices on both lodging and park tickets if you book your trip during the off season, which runs from October through April.

Disney resorts have a number of on site hotels, which bring lots of advantages, including discounted ticket prices and, of course, convenience. But the experience of staying in a resort hotel comes with a price: as much as triple the cost of other hotels.

If cost is the foremost consideration in planning your Disney vacation, begin an online search for hotels near the resort instead. Many of these neighboring hotels offer comfortable, clean lodging and may provide a complimentary shuttle service to the resort.

Accommodations range from value priced to deluxe, with amenities to match. Make a list of the features that are most important to you and refer to them when deciding on a hotel. If you do not mind parking your car and walking instead of using the valet, or if you do not mind limited room service, then you do not need to pay more for a deluxe hotel stay.

The distances to and from the park can differ, so be sure to ask about the location of the hotel in relation to the park, as well as whether the hotel offers complimentary transportation, such as shuttle bus or monorail service. There are lots of choices and you can find many different package deals depending on your budget and preferences. The Internet has made it so easy to compare Disney area hotels (and their amenities) at a glance.

Saving on Meals

Disney does not allow you to bring food into the park. But you can save money by having breakfast before entering the park and eating dinner after you leave. Lunch prices tend to be quite a bit lower than dinner prices at the restaurants inside the park, so you can experience the magic of a meal in the park for less.

You will be permitted to bring in bottled water, which is much less expensive than buying sodas and bottled water inside the park.

More Disney Travel Tips

1. Some hotels and travel agents offer discounts to nurses, teachers and government workers, as well as AAA, AARP and Entertainment Book members.

2. Make sure to purchase your tickets before you get to the park, so you do not have to stand in line when you get there.

3. Read your tickets and passes and make sure you understand what you are paying for. Remember, too, that some rides have certain height requirements for children.

4. Walking the parks may be fine for the adults, but you may want to either bring your own stroller or rent one for your child.

5. If you have a child who is too small for a particular ride, take advantage of the Disney “Baby Swap” option. All you need to do is tell the attendant. When you reach the front of the line, one parent will be able to ride while the other parent holds the child. When the ride is over, you switch. That way, neither parent has to sit out.

6. The weather can be unpredictable so do not be caught off guard. Make sure to bring an umbrella, ponchos and some cool weather clothing. Plan ahead for rainy days by having a list of indoor activities you want to do in the area, as well, just in case of an extended downpour.

Though a Disney vacation may seem overwhelming during the planning stage, rest assured that a little bit of planning now will make for a more relaxed, memorable (even magical) vacation that you and your children will remember for a long time to come.



ELBERT

Ken Snow asked:


Even though Disney has produced myriad movies, it is more popular for its animated ones. After starting the animated journey with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in the winter of 1937, Disney movies have not looked back. One can obtain a list of more than 150 animated Disney movies that have been produced and distributed to add to the joy of children across the world.

After a certain age, kids grow out of Sesame Street, Tellytubbies and BooBaahs. At this time the next level of entertainment that attracts them generally are the Disney movies that appeal to a slightly older age group. The great thing about these movies, which has probably led to the huge popularity of the Disney movies, is the fact that they appeal to adults and children alike. A mother does not mind sitting through a Disney movie with her child but an episode of Tellytubbies can be wearisome.

To the uninitiated, it may be a surprise that each Disney movie comes accompanied with a Disney movie book. These books are published under the Mouse Works banner and contain a simple version of the story. This can help in encouraging children to not only see the Disney movies but also to read books, which hopefully will extend to other forms of reading at some time.

Though the company is proud of all its Disney movie productions, some of them have attained the stature of classics based on their popularity. Abound with simple, yet meaningful songs these Disney movies can expose the child to emotions, morals and ways of the world while telling a story. Toddlers seem to enjoy the light evilness of some of the characters like the witch in Snow White and Cruella De Vil in the 101 Dalmations. Alternately, some of the most endearing characters that Disney movies have created are Tramp in The Lady and the Tramp and the Beast in Beauty and the Beast. But most of the leading characters in Disney movies inspire awe and amazement aided by the color, grandeur and dazzle.

Some of the Disney movies that have become all time favorites of most kids are The Lion King, Toy Story, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Jungle Book, The little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Lady and the Tramp, Cinderella and of course Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Some of the less known but equally enticing Disney movies are the sequels to the Lion King, Dumbo, Lilo and Stitch, Pooh and Kim Possible series.

In spite of the high levels of endearment that the Disney movies enjoy among most people, there are rumors galore about how there are countless hidden references to ********* things in the animated movies. The most known references are made to the tower on the cover of The Little Mermaid that resembles the male genitalia, the apparent ******** of the priest in the wedding scene of the same movie and the dust taking the form of the word ’sex’ in The Lion King. Hearsay has it that Donald Duck has used vulgar words umpteen times during angry outbreaks.

Some opine that these subtle references have become a tradition at the Disney studios. This tradition started due to the fact that Walt Disney did not assign relevant credits to the creative animators. These animators, then, took to including hidden codes in the animation scenes to get back. One such example is that of the shorts that Goofy wears. If you look close enough, you will probably see names of artists written on these shorts. Though the given instance seems possible, the inclusion of debauchery in the animated Disney movies is debatable and it remains a question as to whether it is a fact or the Rorschach effect.



DEMETRIUS

Denise Corcoran asked:


Try to imagine a world without Walt Disney. A world without his magic, optimism and childlike fantasy. Walt Disney pioneered the fields of animation, and transformed the entertainment world. He did more to touch the hearts, minds, and emotions of millions of Americans than any other person in the past century.

The Walt Disney Company – now a mega-empire whose profits (yes, profits!) are $1.3 billion – was the creation of a high school drop out who suffered bankruptcy, risked it all 4 times and suffered repeated financial and business disasters. How did one man overcome the greatest of challenges to become a legend … a folk hero … a master of enterprise?

Walt Disney’s creative and business magic can be summarized in one word: Imagineering. The term, trademarked by Disney in 1967, combines the words “imagination” and “engineering.”

Today, Walt Disney’s Imagineering is the master planning, creative development, design, engineering, production, project management and research and development arm of The Walt Disney Company. A powerful insight into the Imagineering process is provided by one of Walt Disney’s co-workers who pointed out “… there were actually three different Walts: the dreamer, the realist and the spoiler (or critic). You never knew which one was coming to a meeting.”

Through the modeling technologies of NeuroLinguistic Programming (NLP), you too can cultivate the same business genius of Walt Disney. You too can learn Disney’s Imagineering process to make your boldest visions into reality.

Applying the Disney Difference in Your Business:

The Benefits of the Imagineering Process

Whether you are a soloist business owner or the CEO of a multi-billion dollar corporation, Imagineering is a simple yet powerful process that can help you:

• Be successful at the “inner game” of reaching future goals

• Build powerful teams, strategic partnerships and alliances

• Maximize the return and minimize the risk in new “virgin” situations - such as launching a new product, expanding to new markets or acquiring a business

• Lead and manage change throughout your organization

• Develop clear compelling plans that inspire you/your team to action

• Communicate and work more effectively with diverse groups of people

• Ignite your creativity and problem solving capabilities

The Imagineering Process: An Overview

Whether you are an individual or a team, Imagineering involves the coordination of three “hats” or roles. According to Robert Dilts, NLP pioneer who modeled the Imagineering process, all three roles are critical to effective problem solving and transforming visions into reality.

The Dreamer

The dreamer’s role is to provide the visionary big picture … with no boundaries, limitations or restraints.

The Realist

The realist’s role is to evaluate what is realistic, think constructively and organize action plans.

The Critic

The critic’s role is to test the plan, look for potential problems, difficulties and consequences. That is, what could go wrong, what is missing.

Very few individuals, teams or organizations are strong in all three roles or capabilities. What happens when one or two of these roles are missing? Do any of these sound like you or your organization?

• A Dreamer without a Realist gets stuck in fantasy, a “some day” mentality.

• A Realist without a Dreamer or Critic is like a robot. They are task masters. They are driven by “to do” lists.

• A Critic and a Dreamer without a Realist get caught up in perpetual conflict.

• A Dreamer and Realist without a Critic are an R&D department - lots of prototypes but lack quality standards for success.

• A Critic without a Dreamer or Realist is a Spoiler. They stop themselves even before they get started.

• A Realist and Critic without a Dreamer are a Bureaucracy.

To make your dreams come true … with ease, precision and passion, it is critical to master and synthesize all three Imagineering roles. Below is a peek how I work with individuals, teams and organizations in modeling Disney’s Imagineering to create extraordinary business results.

Imagineering Your Business Success:

The Process for Transforming Your Dreams into Reality

Your ability to transform your business goals into reality requires mastery of the following phases of the Imagineering process.

The Dreamer: Envisioning Your Future

Walt Disney’s genius always started with a dream. He would see clearly in his own mind the vision of what he wanted - whether it was a theme park, a cartoon character, a movie or any of his other creative endeavors.

As the Dreamer, you want to think about your long term future, address the big picture and generate many alternatives for reaching your goal. The primary focus is on the “what” of your idea or vision.

To model the Dreamer in Walt Disney, you must ask yourself such questions as:

• What do I want in an ideal world?

• What is the purpose of this project or goal?

• What are the benefits?

• What will be the impact once my goal is achieved?

• What alternative strategies will help me get there?

Key Points: Always state the goal in positive terms and establish the purpose and payoffs of reaching your goal. Think big … very big.

The Realist: Defining the Plan

The purpose of the Realist is to turn the dream into a workable plan. While wearing the Realist hat, you want to “act as if” the dream is possible and identify steps, time frames and milestones for getting there.

Your focus needs to be more action-oriented, on the “how”—ie., procedures and operations—for implementing your plan or idea.

To model the Realist in Walt Disney, you must ask yourself such questions as:

• How specifically will the idea be implemented? What will be the first step? second step? third step? By when?

• How will I know when the goal has been achieved?

• How will I get the resources (people, money, skills, etc.) I need to reach my goal?

Key Points: Create a “storyboard” of your plan by finding simple images to represent the steps required for reaching your goal or dream. Disney developed the very powerful process of “storyboarding” in 1928 and is now used by many successful businesses, such as GE.

The Critic:: Identifying Potential Problems

The purpose of the Critic is to evaluate the proposed plan and look for potential problems and ‘missing links.” The Critic role must follow the Dreamer and the Realist in this process.

The Critic identifies external factors or individuals that may influence the outcome of the plan (either positively or negatively). The primary purpose of the Critic is to focus on “what if” concerns, along with solutions to avoid them.

To model the Critic in Walt Disney, you must ask yourself such questions as:

• What if I can’t find the necessary resources or funds to implement my plan?

• What if my competitors _____ ?

• What if I don’t meet the plan’s milestones? How will that effect costs? Time and resource requirements?

• What if certain people object to my plan or can negatively impact its success? How will I handle that?

Key Points: While most people and organizations look at critics as negative people, their role is essential to your future success. You want them on your team. For the Critic role to be most effective, allow the critic to present their concerns only in the last step, after the dream and plans have been formulated.

Summary:

One man - Walt Disney - not only built one of the most successful US businesses of all time, this one man also left a magical legacy spanning almost a century and will continue for many generations to come.

How has one man accomplished so much? The answer is his Imagineering process - his secret for transforming ambitious, creative visions into extraordinary realities. By following Walt Disney’s cycle of Dreamer, Realist and Critic, you too will realize a compelling business future and a clear path that will take you there.



RAYMOND

Miriam Boh asked:


Planning a Disney vacation is relatively easy with all the online tools available, but finding good Disney vacation deals requires a little more research. There are, however, some simple strategies to getting the best discounts on your Disney World trip.

Do comprehensive research before booking your vacation as many reservations require a deposit. Failing to investigate all available options can result in unnecessary expenses as you may not be getting the best deal. Furthermore, you risk getting locked in to a bad deal too early.

Work out your budget. Know how much you can spend on your Disney vacation as you do not want to rack up a huge debt from the trip. Estimate the costs associated with all aspects of your vacation. This includes lodging and travel, park admission, rental cars, dining, souvenirs, and play money. Remember that all these expenses must be at factored into your overall budget.

Once you have a budget, you may consider using a Disney vacation package as you look into Disney vacation deals. Disney offers a number of different options. Each option offers different levels of inclusive costs, such as lodging, park tickets, and meals. However, if you choose to invest in a vacation package, be sure you are able to use all the package benefits during your visit to Disney. Many people waste their money by upgrading to packages with features they will never use, wasting hundreds of unused dollars.

The area surrounding Disney World is filled with great attractions. Explore the area and see if you can find free or cheap entertainment and food. Often, you may find activities that don’t require spending any money. There are also numerous lodging options off-site. Consider spending two or three days directly on-site at the park and then transferring to a cheaper off-site hotel after your visit to the Disney resort area. This will not only save you money on lodging and dining, but it will also add excitement and joy to your vacation.

Planning in advance for Disney vacation is important if you want to secure an affordable and yet enjoyable vacation. Looking into various Disney vacation deals helps you to cut a few dollars here and there so that you can have money for extra attractions or to buy a special souvenir in remembrance of your trip. Don’t underestimate the savings you receive from more research. A few dollars here and there adds up to a lot when you bring the whole family along.



WALTER