Update on our Disneyland Paris Trip - April 2012

At the request of several DFC members who will be out of town to attend the 40th anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World, registration for the Disneyland Paris event is being deferred to October 10, 2011.

This will also allow our Disneyland Paris Business Solutions team a few more days to finalize pricing for meals.

It is somewhat challenging to price this event on a required breakeven basis given the current economic problems in Europe which impact the currency exchange rate between our dollar and the euro. It takes about $1.36 to buy a euro today and we won't be paying Disney for a while. We will probably add a modest buffer to our typical slightly-above-cost margin to err on the safe side and provide attendees with a Disneyland Paris gift card at the time of the event to the extent that excess funds are left over.

The basic event package will cover group activities in the parks on Wednesday, April 11 through Friday, April 13, 2012. This will primarily be a daily gathering for lunch, possibly including a group tour, reception, and similar activities whose details will be finalized and announced in the coming weeks. Anita and Gary Schaengold will be flying to Paris on October 26 to meet with our cast team, discuss additional details, and walk the event. Your having an amazing experience is very important and the cast at Disneyland Paris has been excitedly using their imagination to help plan things.

We do have some additional information to share:

Although there wil not be any a la carte single day participation in the basic meals/event package, you will be able to add a 3 day park hopper ticket at 112 euros per adult (plus VAT - value added tax) rather than the public rate of 180 euros plus VAT.

As mentioned previously, we will be able to centralize our participants' hotel reservations on property. The Business Solutions team will provide a dedicated website link for our members to make their own on-line hotel reservations. A written confirmation will be provided to each member. Please note there will be a 10 euros registration fee per reservation. Rates include continental breakfast served in one of the restaurants of each of the hotels. Rates do not include hotel tax calculated per person and per night. Most rooms have 2 double beds. The hotels are positioned as a rectangle, connected by pedestrian paths. A free transport service links the hotels and the train station at the entrance to the parks.

You can visit the Disneyland Paris website to view each of the hotels on property to help you decide where you may wish to stay. www.disneylandparis.co.uk. Keeping in mind that things may be subject to change, we are being offered the following 4 choices:

Hotel New York at 201.00 euros per night plus VAT of about 11 euros. Regular price is 398.00 euros per night plus VAT.
Newport Bay Club at 179.00 euros per night plus VAT of about 10 euros. Regular price is 334.00 euros per night plus VAT.
Sequoia Lodge at 163 euros per night plus VAT of about 9 euros. Regular price is 306.00 euros per night plus VAT.
Disneyland Paris Hotel at 426 euros per night plus VAT. Regular price is 779.00 euros per night plus VAT.

Because some pricing is only available six months in advance, we are also still waiting on choices and cost options for the side trip into Paris on Saturday, April 14 for those who may be interested.

Watch for an additional update and the registration form in the next few weeks. If you have any questions, please contact Anita, our Special Events Coordinator, at anita@disneyanafanclub.org or Gary Schaengold, at gary@disneyanafanclub.org.

Dates Announced for Disneyana Fan Club's July 2012 DisneyanaMania Convention

The dates for Disneyana Fan Club's July 2012 DisneyanaMania Convention have been announced. The Convention will be at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Garden Grove, California.

Dates are as follows:

Thursday 7/19 Welcome: Dream Dinner for Ryman Arts
Friday 7/20 Seminars and Disneyana Fan Club Lunch with a Disney Legend
Saturday 7/21 Seminars and Celebration Banquet
Sunday 7/22 All Disneyana Show and Sale

All dates, times, and events subject to change.

New Shopping Opportunity in October at Mickey's of Glendale for Golden Ticket Winners

Participants of our Show and Sale in July who won "Golden Tickets" for a shopping date at Mickey's of Glendale for September 24th will be given another opportunity to shop there in October. Due to a power outage at Mickey's of Glendale during the shopping event, Mickey's of Glendale has announced that all folks who had a Golden Ticket and came on September 24th (or if you had a ticket and did not show up) will have a date in October (to be announced) to shop again, and be able to see all the merchandise available for purchase! We will post the date here on the announcements page and on the Disneyana Dispatch when it is announced!

Attend "An Affair of the Art" Tonight in Los Angeles and Bid on a Disney Cruise - You Can Also Bid From Home!

Big News! An added bonus for this year’s An Affair of the Art…… Set sail on your dream vacation while supporting the students of Ryman Arts! Bid for your chance to win A Disney Cruise Line Vacation! 7-Night Mexican Riviera Cruise aboard the Disney Wonder The Mexican Riviera Cruise sails from the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro. Sail onDisney Wonder along the Baja Peninsula to discover famous and fabulous ports of call on a fun-filled cruise complete with incredible Disney enchantment. You choose the date of departure, based on availability, between January and April, 2012. Your fabulous package, which is for up to four (4) guests, includes: 1. One (1) deluxe ocean view stateroom – maximum occupancy 4 guests 2. All meals onboard the ship 3. Government taxes and fees (as defined in the Disney Cruise Line Brochure) 4. Dining room & stateroom onboard gratuities Two Ways to Bid: 1. Bidding begins at An Affair of the Art on Saturday, September 24 as a silent auction. Bidding will conclude with a fun-filled, last chance, live auction that evening. Bidding starts at $2,500. 2. If you are not able to attend An Affair of the Art on September 24, 2011, but would like to be represented by a proxy at the event to bid on your behalf following your instructions, please contact the Ryman Arts office at (213) 629-2787 by Wednesday, September 21, 2011. We will make arrangements for an agent to represent you at the auction. We will announce our winner at the conclusion of the live auction at An Affair of the Art! You do not need to be present to win. Remember, the winning bid supports the students of Ryman Arts! Full details and Vacation Rules are posted on our website HERE. There's Still TIme to RSVP for An Affair of the Art! RSVP Online Now Here! Saturday, September 24, 2011, supporting Ryman Arts Art for sale at Event - Click here to view the works for sale Enjoy a fabulous and fun evening in an art-filled setting. Click here to learn more and make your reservation online today! Feel good knowing that you are helping Ryman Arts create more life-changing opportunities for talented young artists in Southern California.

Attention Winners of Mickey's of Glendale's Golden Ticket

If you won a Golden Ticket at our July 2011 DisneyanaMania Convention to shop at Mickey's of Glendale (Walt Disney Imagineering's Store) on Saturday, September 24, 2011, please be aware that this date is less than 2 weeks away. The hours to shop will be 8AM til 12 Noon, and remember, this is only for the folks who received a Golden Ticket!

Disneyland Paris Trip in April 2012 Details Announced

The intent is to open registration on October 1, 2012. It has not yet been decided whether registration will work as a lottery or a first come, first served basis.

The tentative schedule is to have an informal meet and greet to welcome everyone on Tuesday evening, April 10, 2012, probably in the lobby of one of the hotels on Disney property. We plan to spend Wednesday, April 11 through Friday, April 13, 2012 in the Disney parks. As was the case with our visit to Tokyo Disneyland in 2008, we are planning to have one meal event each day, affording us the opportunity to be together for a few hours as a group and to have the rest of each day to explore the parks and have fun on our own. There will probably be an added option to ride the RER commuter rail train into Paris on Saturday, April, 14 for a guided bus tour of the city (in English of course), concluding with a dinner cruise on the Seine River before riding the train back in the evening.

Airfare, hotel accommodations, and park entry will not be included in the price of this event. We realize that some of you are Disney Castmembers and/or Disney Vacation Club Members and will prefer to make your own hotel and park admission arrangements.

Nevertheless, we hope to be able to offer a group rate discounted price for rooms at two or three of the Disney hotels which would include a centralized on-line reservation website for your personal use. And we are also working to obtain discounted pricing for a 3 day park hopper pass.

You may find it helpful to visit the English language version of the Disneyland Paris website to update yourself on park operations: http://www.disneylandparis.co.uk/index.xhtml

If you own or wish to purchase a minimum of 5 shares in Euro Disney S.C.A., then you may find it helpful to join the Shareholders Club which offers, among other benefits, a 15% discount at table service and buffet restaurants at Disneyland Paris.

http://corporate.disneylandparis.com/shareholders/shareholders-club/index.xhtml

We are waiting for the Business Solutions team at Disneyland Paris to finalize available restaurant space, pricing and menu choices for our meals, and provide group rates for the hotels and park admission. The cap for attendance will most likely be controlled by how many people each meeting space will accommodate. We anticipate that the number will be no less than 50 persons.

Anita and the rest of the Special Events team are working hard to create another magical experience for our members. If you have any questions or concerns, you are welcome to contact her at anita@disneyanafanclub.org. Ted Bradpiece, a DFC member, of Two Bears Travel, has been helping us coordinate the event and will be glad to help you book airfare or assist with other travel needs during your visit to Paris. tgbradpiece@twobearstravel.com

Rendez-vous très bientôt.