“Disney’s Magical Express has been a huge success with our guests,” said Meg Crofton, president, Walt Disney World Resort.  ”We’ve gotten a wealth of positive feedback from guests whose vacations have been greatly enhanced by using the service.”

With Disney’s Magical Express, guests of Disney hotels check their bags at their hometown airport, bypass baggage claim at Orlando International Airport (OIA) and board state-of-the-art motor coaches to Walt Disney World Resort – while their bags are delivered directly to their resort room after check-in.  The complimentary round-trip service between Orlando International Airport and Disney hotels is designed to give Disney hotel guests the stress-free vacation they want.

“We were very proud to include Disney’s Magical Express in the extensive list of ways we make Disney guests’ vacations easier and more enjoyable,” Crofton added.  ”This benefit provides a hassle-free experience for our guests from the airport to our hotel room door and back again.  Disney’s Magical Express has set new standards for convenience, value and comfort for guests traveling between the airport and Walt Disney World Resort.”

How Disney’s Magical Express service works:

• Disney’s Magical Express must be booked at least 10 days prior to arrival through disneyworld.com, Disney Reservation Center by calling 407/W-DISNEY, or a travel agent. 
• Guests check their specially tagged luggage at their departure airport.
• Upon arrival in Orlando, guests bypass airport baggage claim and go directly to the Disney Airport Welcome Center.
• Guests board state-of-the-art motor coaches that take them to their Disney hotel.
• Disney representatives at the airport pick up guests’ luggage and transport it to their hotel room.

Disney’s Magical Express service makes guests’ return to OIA hassle-free as well.  This convenient system lets guests flying with participating airlines on domestic flights avoid airport check-in lines by enabling passengers to check their luggage and receive a boarding pass before departing their Disney hotel.  Airline partners include AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways.

Guests with flight departures later in the day no longer have to worry about their luggage after they check out of their hotel.  They can simply check their luggage at the Resort Airline Check-in Desk and then enjoy the last day of their stay.

In addition to partners at Orlando International Airport, Walt Disney World developed this innovative service in conjunction with private and public sector leaders including: the Mears Transportation Group, the largest provider of ground transportation to Walt Disney World Resort; BAGS Inc., the provider and innovator in off-airport passenger check-in services for the hotel, convention, cruise and airline industries; ASIG, a global leader in aviation services; the Transportation Security Administration; and the partner airlines.

Booking Disney’s Magical Express

Walt Disney World guests can book Disney’s Magical Express while making arrangements for accommodations and Magic Your Way tickets and packages.  Guests can log onto www.disneyworld.com, call the Disney Reservations Center at 407/W-DISNEY, or contact their travel agent.

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[Editor's Note/Not For Publication:  For photographs and more information about Walt Disney World Resort, access the Walt Disney World Public Relations media only Web site at www.wdwnews.com; user name: disney; password: magic.]

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Tour: Gardens of the World
Location: Epcot
When: Seasonally during Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
Duration: 3 hours
Ages: 16 & up
Details: Theme park admission required; guests go behind the scenes to learn principles of Disney horticulture and the important role landscaping plays in Disney theme parks and resorts.

Tour: Backstage Magic
Location: throughout Walt Disney World Resort
When: M-F
Duration: 7 hours
Details: An “insider’s look” at the heritage, daily operation and cast member roles that create the “magic” at Walt Disney World Resort; lunch included; no theme park admission required.

Tour: Backstage Safari
Location: Animal Kingdom
When: M, W, Th, F
Duration: 3 hours
Ages: 16 & up
Details: Tour backstage animal facilities such as the veterinary hospital and animal nutrition center to see how wildlife specialists provide animal care; Disney’s Animal Kingdom admission required (extra).

Tour: Behind the Seeds
Location: Epcot/The Land
When: daily
Duration: 1 hour
Ages: all ages
Details: Get a behind-the-scenes look at the agricultural world and greenhouses of The Land pavilion with visits to the fish farm and the chance to taste some of the produce grown on-site. Epcot admission required (extra).

Tour: Disney’s Dolphins in Depth
Location: Epcot/The Seas with Nemo & Friends
When: T-Sat
Duration: 3 hours
Ages: 13 & up (*)
Details: (*) Minors must be accompanied by an adult; no theme park admission required; guests get up close and personal with the dolphins waist-deep in the water; swimsuit required.

Tour: Disney’s Family Magic Tour
Location: Magic Kingdom
When: daily
Duration: 2 hours
Ages: all ages
Details: Magic Kingdom admission required (extra); this is a primer for first-time visitors with children, a skip (literally) through the magical lands.

Tour: Disney’s Holiday D-Lights
Location: throughout Walt Disney World Resort
When: Seasonal, varies
Duration: 4½ hours
Ages: 16 & up
Details:  Discover how the twinkle of holiday magic is created for celebrations like The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights and Candlelight Processional; each guest will receive an exclusive limited-edition keepsake pin; no theme park admission required.

Tour: Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom Tour
Location: Magic Kingdom
When: daily
Duration: 4½-5 hours
Ages: 16 & up
Details: Magic Kingdom admission required (extra); a look at history and philosophies behind the park; visit themed lands and backstage; lunch included.

Tour: Disney’s The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour
Location: Magic Kingdom
When: M-Sat
Duration: 3 hours
Ages: 10 & up
Details: Magic Kingdom admission required (extra); no cameras; it’s an inside look at the Walt Disney World Railroad and an opportunity to learn about Walt Disney’s love of steam trains; see how the trains are prepared for their daily operation.

Tour: Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour
Location: Magic Kingdom
When:  M-W-F
Duration: 3 hours
Ages: 12 & up
Details: Magic Kingdom admission required (extra); no cameras; the fascinating life story of Walt Disney unfolds during this walking tour with an inside look at Magic Kingdom park.

Tour: Disney’s Yuletide Fantasy
Location: throughout Walt Disney World Resort
When: Seasonal daily
Duration: 3½ hours
Ages: 16 & up
Details: No theme park admission required; visits resorts and theme parks to see how holiday traditions are woven into decorations that turn Walt Disney World Resort into a winter wonderland.

Tour: Epcot DiveQuest
Location: Epcot/The Seas with Nemo & Friends
When: T-Sat
Duration: 3 hours
Ages: 10 & up (*)
Details: (*) Scuba certification card required; parent/legal guardian must sign waiver for minors ages 10-17 and must dive with minors ages 10-16; bring swimsuit (locker room provided); diving gear provided; no theme park admission required.

Tour: Epcot Seas Aqua Tour
Location: Epcot/The Seas with Nemo & Friends
When: T-Sat
Duration: 2½ hours
Ages: 8 & up (*)
Details: (*) Parent/legal guardian must sign waiver for minors aged 8-17 and must participate with minors ages 8-12; no theme park admission required; non-scuba-certified guests have an in-the-water experience with the animals using scuba-assisted snorkeling equipment (provided); swimsuit required; no observers permitted backstage.

Tour: The unDISCOVERed Future World
Location: Epcot
When: M, W, F
Duration: 4 hours
Ages: 16 & up
Details: Epcot admission required (extra); hear stories about Walt Disney’s ultimate dream; get rare glimpses at backstage areas.

Tour: Wild Africa Trek
Location: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
When: Multiple times daily
Duration: 3 hours
Ages: 8 & up
Cost : Varies seasonally; call for pricing
Details:  Theme park admission required; guests embark on a guided expedition featuring close encounters with exotic wildlife species.  Guests wear a fitted harness for riverbank and rope-bridge experiences during the hiking segment of the tour.  Private safari ride and photo CD included.

Tour: Wild by Design
Location: Animal Kingdom
When: M, W, Th, F
Duration: 3 hours
Ages: 14 & up
Details: Disney’s Animal Kingdom admission required (extra); stories behind the making of the park – how art, architecture, artifacts and story-telling combine to transport guests to exotic lands; insight into the care of wild animals and their habitats; light continental breakfast provided. Guests aged 14-15 must be accompanied by an adult.

Tour: Wilderness Back Trail Adventure
Location: Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
When: T-S
Duration: 2 hours
Ages: 16 & up
Details: Guests experience nature the high-tech way on a Segway through Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort.

Tour: Custom Guided Tours
Location: custom itinerary
When: by arrangement
Duration: minimum 6 hours
Ages: all ages
Details: Disney’s VIP Tour Services phone number is 407/560-4033.

The one-of-a-kind pet resort offers 17,000 square feet of air-conditioned indoor space, 10,000 square feet of covered outdoor runs and play areas, and a 25,000-square-foot dog park exclusively for the use of Best Friends clients and their pets.

The facility is able to accommodate as many as 300 pets for both daytime and overnight boarding. Dog owners can choose from a variety of accommodations, ranging from a standard 32-square-foot all-indoor suite, to an expansive 226-square-foot VIP (Very Important Pet) suite with television, raised bedding and private outdoor yard. Feline guests will spend their visit in the separate “Kitty City” pavilion – away from the dogs – in two- and four-room condos. There also is a special area for the boarding of pocket pets, small mammals and birds.

“At Walt Disney World Resort, we are focused on providing the highest quality entertainment experiences for all guests. Working with Best Friends Pet Care, we are pleased to be able to extend that commitment to pets traveling with their owners,” said Bernard. ”Our mutual appreciation for even the slightest detail is reflected in this one-of-a-kind facility and its unique services and amenities.”

The facility offers a private dog park exclusively for the use of Best Friends guests. It comprises a walking trail overlooking natural wetlands and several large areas of varying terrain for running and playing, including a 1,300-square-foot “canines only” splash-and-play water feature. There also are sitting areas where owners can relax and watch their dogs play. The entire park is secure from outsiders and is available for use after dark.

Other features of the resort include: a grooming salon, which will provide go-home-fresh baths and haircuts for pets, and two 1,100-square-foot camp rooms for play group and doggy day-camp, each opening onto an outdoor play-yard.

Pet parents can choose from a wide range of a la carte activities for pet guests from one-on-one playtimes and social playgroup with other doggy guests, to cuddle time and bedtime stories with staff. Additional amenities and upgrades include ice cream treats, bottled water and premium orthopedic bedding.  Feline guests can also enjoy private playtimes, activity toys in their suites, and treats such as “Cookies and Milk” or “Tuna on a Ritz.”

Best Friends Pet Care resort is located across from Disney’s Port Orleans Resort-Riverside at 2510 Bonnet Creek Parkway in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 32830. Pricing and other details are available at wdw.bestfriendspetcare.com or by calling 877/4-WDW-PETS.

Best Friends Pet Care resort at Walt Disney World Resort was designed by Mateu Architecture of Palmetto Bay, Fla. General contractor for the project was Synergy Group of Bloomfield, Mich., and Orlando, Fla.

About Best Friends Pet Care

Best Friends Pet Care Inc. (www.bestfriendspetcare.com) is privately held by Brynwood Partners of Greenwich, CT. Founded in 1991, Best Friends is a long-time leader in the U.S. pet hospitality industry, providing high-quality boarding for dogs and cats as well as day care, grooming, training and related services. The Company redefined pet boarding in 1996 with the opening of its first full-service pet resort in Norwalk, Conn. Since that time, Best Friends has expanded to more than 40 pet care centers in 18 states, always innovating and providing new offerings based upon the needs of pets and feedback from clients.  

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• Magic Your Way Package Plus Quick-Service Dining - includes two quick-service meals and two snacks per person for each night of guest’s vacation package stay, plus a resort refillable drink mug for each person which can be refilled as often as they like at any quick-service location at their Disney resort hotel.  Meals and snacks can be chosen at more than 50 selected restaurants throughout Walt Disney World Resort.  And guests can save up to 15 percent per adult on Disney dining needs.
• Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining  - offers one table-service meal, one quick-service meal and one snack per person, per night of guest’s package stay, with over 100 select restaurants to choose from.  The package helps guests save up to 25 percent per adult on Disney dining needs.
• Magic Your Way Package Plus Deluxe Dining - includes three meals and two snacks per person, per night of guest’s package stay, plus a resort refillable drink mug for each guest on the package which can be refilled as often as they like at any quick-service location at their Disney resort hotel.  This package allows guests the flexibility to choose any combination of table-service and quick-service restaurants from more than 100 participating restaurant locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort.  With this package, guests can save up to 35 percent per adult on Disney dining needs.

The package cost varies based on which package a guest chooses, guests’ ages, and the number of nights in the package stay. To book, guests have three options: go to www.disneyworld.com; call 407/W-DISNEY to book arrangements; or visit a local travel agent. 

Here are some additional facts regarding the Disney dining plans:

Guests can redeem their meals in any order throughout their package stay until each person on the package has depleted his/her allotted meals and snacks.  For instance, a guest who has purchased a Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining for three nights would have entitlements of three table-service meals, three quick-service meals and three snacks during their stay. The guest could use all three table service entitlements on the same day if they choose.

Guests’ Key to the World card, which is a room key and much more, electronically tracks the use of dining entitlements included in a package.  It should be presented at dining locations, and the server or cashier will provide guests with a receipt showing the meals and snacks remaining on their Disney dining plan.

The press release contains complete information about current Walt Disney World Resort ticket prices, resort hotel rates, special savings for Florida residents and more.

Magic Your Way: Facts On Walt Disney World Prices (PDF)

Disney’s Escape Wedding Collection is ideal for lovebirds looking to stage a simple but memorable wedding or vow renewal.  The special getaway includes: onsite wedding coordination, flowers for the bride and groom, solo musician during the ceremony and cake cutting, Disney wedding certificate, four-hour limousine service, wedding cake and champagne toast.

Escape Wedding Collection packages offer a variety of settings including the charm of a Mid-Atlantic seashore at Disney’s BoardWalk, the turn-of-the-century splendor of the New England oceanfront at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, the rustic feel of a Northwestern lodge at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, or a tropical flair with Cinderella Castle on the horizon at Disney’s Polynesian Resort.  Couples can choose any Walt Disney World owned-and-operated hotel for their four-night stay.  Escape Wedding Collection packages begin at $4,750 per couple (not including the required four-night stay).

Disney’s Wedding Pavilion, a glass-enclosed enclave fashioned after a grand Victorian summer house with a picturesque backdrop of Cinderella Castle, is the signature location for couples tying the knot.  Escape Wedding Collection events at Disney’s Wedding Pavilion begin at $5,750 per couple.

Couples can make their fairy tale wedding complete with unique Disney touches including a ride in Cinderella’s glass coach, Disney characters at the reception or a rose petal exit.

For more information and reservations, visit disneyweddings.com or call 321/939-4623.

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