For all you duffers out there who enjoy a round or two during your Disney World Vacation here’s news you’ll need to know. Disney is making significant changes to the Magnolia golf course, one of the courses used during the PGA’s October Funai Classic. The course, which was previously ranked the 6th easiest on the… Read More »Disney Lengthening PGA courses
Disney themeparks around the world are now flooded with signage and merchandise (see the LaughingPlace Store for the best selection) to honor Disneyland’s 50th anniversary. But the one collectible publication everyone will need this year isn’t even produced by the Walt Disney Company. Nope. It’s issue two of the new magazine Tales from the Laughing… Read More »New Laughing Place Magazine
Just added a few trip reports to the list on the right. Three Kid Circus, a good parenting blog, is a hillarious recounting of one family’s Disneyland vacation. Start at this point and read the next three posts for all the juicy deets. Brandon, from my old stomping grounds of Portland Oregon, sent me a… Read More »Some Weekend Reading
Yeah, I know technically it’s not yet spring. But never the less I’m taking a vacation from blogging, email, and the like, until March 6th or 7th. Most of this time will be consumed with The Frost’s Great American Roadtrip ™ as we pick up from Las Vegas, NV (well Henderson really) and relocate to… Read More »Spring Break
Ever stay at the Disney owned Port Orleans hotel while vacationing at Walt Disney World? If so you might be getting a visit from the FBI. Seems like some excellent digital detective work by the Toronto Child Abuse Prevention police identified one crime scene as having occured at the Port Orleans French Quarter. Now US… Read More »Ever Stay at Port Orleans?
Despite improved attendance numbers, apples to apples profit numbers reveal that the parks are having their worst years since the 80s. I’m sure the number crunchers up in Burbank have better models than me, but since you asked… the company is now reaping what it has sowed. The 90s were supposed to be the Disney Decade at the Themeparks. Instead we saw cuts in attraction budgets, a reliance on the cheaper (sometimes! remember the expensive mistake that was Light Magic) entertainment, cuts in training, and an across the board slashing of maintenance budgets. Not only has this resulted in death and injury at the theme parks, but it affected Disney brand as the top quality family entertainment vacation destination.
While some headlines out there are screaming about Disney World’s $5 price increase for a one day ticket, the real story is the unique customization that is available now. With the new a la carte pricing structure they call "Magic Your Way" Disney World has made the extended stay much more affordable. LaughingPlace.com has an easy to follow chart with the new pricing options. Everything goes into effect on Jan. 2, 2005.
The new system isn’t really much more complicated than the old system. It will require more advanced planning on the vacationer’s part. So talking with a travel expert, visiting an online Disney fan site, or DisneyWorld.com becomes more important. It is possible that someone won’t understand the system fully and be suprised by the extra charges for park hopping, non-expiration date, etc. I’m sure Disney is counting on a little of this to pad their profit margin.
A Seattle area family is the most recent recipient of Disney’s Largess. Burned by a fire that leveled their house, then burned by their insurance agent, the Dore familly have been living in a storage shed without electricity or plumbing. Then the neighbors nominated the family to the ABC television show. A Walt Disney World… Read More »Extreme Makeover: House Edition Strikes again