April 1, 2006 - Check Out the Orlando Marriott and Check In For Family Fun
At the Orlando World Center, there are more opportunities for fun and adventure than your family will have time to indulge in with just one visit. Start with the amenities on the property and you'll find more of a paradise than a resort. With more than 1,000,000 gallons of liquid refreshment in six pools and six hot tubs, right outside your door. Soothing waterfalls, a curvy water slide and, everywhere, tropical landscaping - the kids will love it.
But wait, there's more for your family to enjoy...much more…
- Hawk's Landing Championship Golf Course (18 holes; 6,810 yards; 72 par).
- Full-service spa: eucalyptus filled steam room, massage, facials, manicures, pedicures, spa treatments.
- 24-hour fitness center with elliptical machines, treadmills, free weights and more.
- 4 heated swimming pools (1 indoor).
- Poolside activities, i.e., hair braiding, poolside movies, face painting, etc. (seasonal).
- 2 sand volleyball courts.
Find more information and Best Family Beach Vacation rates for the Orlando Marriott
April 3, 2006 - New Ride Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom
Legend holds that high in the Himalayan Mountains lives an enormous creature that fiercely guard the route to Mount Everest.Now that legend comes dramatically to life at Disney's Animal Kingdom in a new high-speed train adventure that combines coaster-like thrills with the excitement of a close encounter of the hairy kind.
At nearly 200 feet high, Expedition Everest will be located in the Asia section of the theme park.
The Facts:
Mountain peak: At just under 200 feet, one of 18 mountains created by Disney Imagineers at Disney parks worldwide.
Chilling thrills: A careening adventure including an 80-foot drop, plus frightening encounters with the mystical yeti.
Length: Nearly a mile of track as riders encounter harrowing twists, tight turns and drops.
Ride vehicle: Modeled after an aging, steam-engine tea train; 34 passengers per train.
Yeti, Guardian of the Mountain: The mammoth-sized Audio-Animatronics yeti has a potential thrust, in all of its hydraulic cylinders combined, of slightly over 259,000 pounds force -- potentially more instantaneous power than a 747-400 airliner.
Bringing the Himalayan environment to Florida: More than 900 bamboo plants, 10 species of trees and 110 species of shrubs are being nurtured and planted to re-create the lowlands surrounding Mount Everest.
Steelwork: 1,800 tons of steel were used in the mountain structure. That is about six times the amount of steel used in a traditional office building of this size.
Mountain make-up: The mountain is crafted with more than 3,000 pre-fabricated "chips" created from 25,000 individually computer-molded pieces of steel.
Artisans at work: Artists from Imagineering used hammers, chainsaws and blowtorches to "age" wood and buildings in the village, giving them the appearance of being longstanding parts of the landscape.
Hillary step: The 1953 famous final ascent of Sir Edmund Hillary is represented in Disney's man-made mountain. The coloring of Mount Everest differs from the rest of the mountain range because at more than 29,000 feet elevation, hurricane-force winds often blow the snow off its peak, revealing a raw sheet of rock.
Authentic detail: Some 2,000 handcrafted items from Asia are evident in the props, cabinetry and architectural ornamentation.
Height restriction: 44 inches.
Seating: 17 rows of seating two abreast.
Restraint: Lap bar.
Disney's FASTPASS: Expedition Everest features Disney's FASTPASS, the innovative system which allows guests, at no additional charge, to avoid lengthy waiting in line.
Going to Disney World? Get insider money saving deals and tips
April 8, 2006 - Have A Family Adventure in Egypt
On the go tours has introduced two new family-friendly tours to Egypt, from Cairo to Aswan and on over to the Red Sea - expore Egypt in safety and in style. Mummies, pharaohs, pyramids, tombs, camel riding, boating on the ancient Nile river, and a visit to a local school. Combined with plenty of free time for swimming in the pool and relaxing as a family - this is a classic fun and educational tour of Egypt the entire family will enjoy. What you will see:
Cairo - Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza Citadel and Khan el Khalili bazaar, Egyptian museum Aswan - Nile felucca cruise to Sahal Island including a visit to a local school and dinner with an Egyptian family!
Luxor - East bank - Temple of Karnak by day, illuminated Temple of Karnak by night Luxor West bank - Valley of the Kings and Queens and Colossi of Memnon Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
What Is Included:
Breakfast daily and three dinners including one with an Egyptian family - 7 nights 5-star hotels - 2 nights sleeper train in a four-berth cabin Cairo-Aswan and Luxor - Camel right at Giza, Cairo Nile felucca cruise - Horse-drawn carriage ride to Luxor Airport meet and greet and departure transfer - English-speaking tour guide throughout - All transfers enroute
Price is £549 ($965)per adult; children from age 6-11 pay £489 ($858) each. This price excludes flights. Tours through 2006 are May through December with monthly departures of two to three times each month.
This classic Family Adventure Tour through Egypt from on the go tours, London, last 10 days and begins and ends in Cairo. This tour is suitable for children aged six on up. On the go tours will tailor-make a tour through Egypt for families with children under the age of six.
They also have 13-day family tour of Egypt that incorporates the above 10-day tour but then takes the entire family to the Red Sea resort of Hurghada for three days. Price is £629 ($1101) per adult; children are £569 ($999) each. Flights
excluded from this price.
For more information visit On The Go Tours
April 12, 2006 - Disney Cruise Line Is Adding European Flair
For the first time, Disney Cruise Line is adding European flair to its itinerary offerings, repositioning the Disney Magic for the summer of 2007 to the Port of Barcelona in Spain and offering alternating 10-night and 11-night Mediterranean cruise vacations to Europe. "Our guests have told us they would love to take a European vacation, but all of the planning and logistics can be daunting. These special sailings will offer a hassle-free way to experience the beauty and culture of Europe combined with the fun of a Disney cruise," said Disney Cruise Line President Tom McAlpin.
With eight European ports of call, which provide gateways to familiar cities such as Florence, Rome, Pisa and Cannes, these new Mediterranean itineraries present the family vacation of a lifetime.
"The flexibility and mobility of Disney Cruise Line allow us to offer guests a new way to explore other parts of the world while enjoying a world-class cruise experience," said Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo. "Disney Cruise Line is a model for the way we are expanding our family vacation business worldwide by offering new experiences the whole family can enjoy."
The four 11-night itineraries depart on Saturdays: May 26, June 16, July 7 and July 28; while the four 10-night itineraries depart on Wednesdays: June 6, June 27, July 18 and Aug. 8. Both itineraries will depart from Barcelona for the summer.
In addition to the Mediterranean cruises, two 14-night trans-Atlantic sailings bookend the 10- and 11-night adventures with the eastbound itinerary departing from Port Canaveral, Fla., May 12, and the westbound starting from the Port of Barcelona, Aug. 18.
The 877 family-friendly staterooms aboard each Disney ship were designed to offer maximum comfort. Bookings for these special and very limited itineraries are scheduled to open on April 4, giving interested guests time to plan with their families and friends. Starting rates for the Mediterranean 10- and 11-night itineraries range from $2,399 to $3,499 and are based on double occupancy.
Disney Cruise Line specifically designed its ships with areas and activities that appeal to the unique vacation needs of every member of the family. As a result, its vacations offer guests an unbelievable cruise experience not found anywhere else.
The ship features nearly an entire deck that is dedicated just to kids where they can enjoy fun, supervised activities designed for especially for different age groups. Additionally, an experienced staff cares for infants and toddlers at Flounder's Reef Nursery, allowing parents the opportunity to explore ports of call or adult areas on the ship, such as a special pool, the spa, a nighttime entertainment district and a romantic dining experience.
The Walt Disney Theatre provides a magnificent showplace of state-of-the-art sound, lighting, staging and set design. The curtain is lifted after the sun drops and original Disney musicals, family-friendly variety acts and first-run films entertain all ages.
While sailing on a Disney cruise, guests also get to enjoy three different themed restaurants through the voyage. Guests travel from the casual elegance of Lumiere's to the colorful, island-inspired Parrot Cay and Animator's Palate, where Disney animation springs to life throughout their meal. Along the way, they enjoy the familiarity of having the same wait staff with them at each restaurant they visit. Adults may also opt to dine at Palo, an exquisite restaurant featuring sweeping views and northern Italian cuisine.
April 16, 2006 - Kids stay, eat and play for free at all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and Dominican Republic
Families can have extra fun in the sun in Mexico and the Dominican Republic while saving money with Dreams and Sunscape Resorts & Spas’ Kids Stay Free promotion. From September 1 through December 16, 2006, two kids can stay free, eat free and play free at these all-inclusive resorts. The promotion represents an average savings of $150 per family, per night, for a family of four with two adults and two children.The offer is valid at Dreams Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, Dreams Cancun Resort & Spa, Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa, Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa and Sunscape Puerto Aventuras Riviera Maya, all in Mexico, as well as Sunscape Casa del Mar La Romana and Sunscape The Beach Punta Cana, both in the Dominican Republic.
In addition to sparkling pools and sugary white beaches, both Dreams and Sunscape resorts offer a wide variety of beach, land and water activities to keep families entertained throughout the day. Evening entertainment includes big-screen movies on the beach and nightly theme parties.
Kids can also enjoy their own exciting activities at the Explorer’s Club for kids, a fully supervised children’s program for 3-12 year olds that will entertain and capture their attention with a different program each day based on science, nature and exploration. Activities include sandcastle competitions, ocean trampoline, arts and crafts, game room, playground, evening movies on the beach and a weekly camp-out adventure.
The Kids Stay Free promotion at Dreams and Sunscape Resorts & Spas is valid for two children 11 years old and younger when staying in the same guest room with an adult. The promotion is valid from September 1 through December 16, 2006, for new bookings only, can't be combined with any other discount or offer, and based on space availability. Blackout dates may apply. Advance reservations are required and can be made through leading travel professionals in North America, Mexico and Europe.
For information about Dreams Resorts & Spas call 1-866-2-DREAMS and for Sunscape Resorts & Spas call 1-866-SUNSCAPE.
April 23, 2006 - There Are New Monsters At Disneyland
The most recent attraction at Disney's California Adventure park is a true scream. Based on the Disney movie Monsters, Inc, this new attraction will give you thrills and chills while keeping you smiling."They scare because they care" That is the slogan from the Disney/Pixar film "Monsters, Inc." The movie gave us an insiders view on the other side of the closet door, where monsters generate scream power from the scariest creatures
on the planet: human children.
For those who've always wanted to take an even closer look, Disney's California Adventure park has opened a transit station that will dart Guests straight to Monstropolis. It's a one of a kind opportunity to play voyager in the monster capitol - see the sights! Pick up handy tips for visitors! Catch a cab! And best of all, you'll get a guided excursion of the Monsters, Inc. factory itself.
It's all behind the colorful facade of Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue!, inspired by the movie "Monsters, Inc." - a new attraction that's more fun than a buckfull of monsters. For more information on Mike and Sully to the Rescue visit the Disneyland Monster Attraction page.
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