Category — p. News and Changes

WALT DISNEY WORLD PROMOTION CAN SAVE FAMILIES $200-$600

Update April 29: this deal now covers dates through October 2!

Disney has released a new deal that covers stays from May 2, 2010 to June 3 2010, that can save many families from $200 to $600.

The deal is a “stay and play for free” promotion for kids between 3 and 9, staying in a value resort with at least one adult. 

See this for the official Disney material on the promotion.

The way the deal works is that you get free five-day admission tickets for each kid aged 3-9 in your room.

[Read more →]

Sometime in the past few months this site turned two years old. Soon I expect to be unfolding a stroller and taking it off the bus and into the Magic Kingdom!

You’d think I’d know how old the site is.  But I am easily confused.  One early test version began in late January 2008 (posted from the Polynesian).  I “went public” to this website in late March 2008.  And in April 2008 I started tracking data.  So I declare a recent, somewhat vague birthday!

Your response, dear reader, has been overwhelming.  More than 120,000 of you have visited…twice as many in the last six months as in the six months prior, and twice as many then as the six months before that, etc…
[Read more →]

HOW SOFT A SOFT OPENING FOR HARRY POTTER?

Universal recently announced a June 18 grand opening for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but did not confirm a “soft opening”* date.

This has caused some consternation, as Universal has sold packages including access to Harry Potter for dates as early as May 28.

It now looks as though, as predicted,  May 28—or earlier—will in fact be the soft openingof the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Travel Weekly quotes Universal publicity manager Carly Reed herethat, regarding certain packages for May 28 and later, that “We are confident in our ability to provide those who have already purchased travel packages [to] … the Wizarding World of Harry Potter the great benefits they expect and we will make special arrangements to accommodate them.”

Note that it may be that only those who purchase these packages (which are reported to be sold out for dates between May 28 and June 18) will be allowed into the soft opening.

Personally, I doubt this…as it would create a real PR problem for Universal…but all remains to be seen!

Soft opening does not mean that everything promoted as being part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter—or even anything—will be available at any given moment…just that something may be!

*“Soft Opening” means some or all of the rides would be open as possible to guests. It is a way of working out kinks in the rides.  These kinks range from technical problems with the rides themselves (which often open and close without notice over the course of the day) to unanticipated issues with lines. etc.
 

LINKS FOR THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER

• Grand Opening Datefor the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Summary of Instructions for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

When to Go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

How Long to Stay at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

How Old/Tall Your Kids Should be for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Where to Stay During Your Visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

How Much to Budget for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

When Your Plans for Visiting the Wizarding World Should Be Firm

How to Spend Your Time at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

What to Do When to Get Ready for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Home Donate Sitemap

WALT DISNEY WORLD DEALS AND DISCOUNTS

At the moment, there’s one major deal  available to the general public, a room rate deal.

A deal that applies only to the value resorts is here.

Click the links for more details!

Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Google+ or Twitter or Pinterest!!

HARRY POTTER OPENING DATE SET

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting here that the opening date of Universal Orlando’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be June 18.

This is a tad sooner than this site’s prediction of June 20.

This grand opening of the new section of Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure will be later than implied by some package deals.

Universal has been selling Harry Potter packages with dates beginning May 28.

What this almost certainly means is that certain elements of the Wizarding World will be accessible by May 28–or even earlier–but that some of the rides will be in “soft opening.” Soft opening means that they may unpredictably open and close over the course of the day.

[Read more →]

CURRENT WALT DISNEY WORLD DEALS, DISCOUNTS AND PROMOTIONS EXPIRING SOON

Hey–for the latest on Disney World deals, promotions, and discounts, see this page.

The current slate of Walt Disney World deals, discounts and promotions are all listed on the Disney World website (see this and this) as needing to be booked by March 27.

These deals include room rate discounts or gift cards for most dates until mid-August. (See this page for more details on them.)

There’s a reasonable chance Disney World will extend the booking windows for these deals–but if you want to be sure, book them now!

LINKS TO DISNEY WORLD DEALS AND DISCOUNTS

[Read more →]