Disney Good News/Bad News: New Prices and A New Princess

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

11 Aug 2007 09:40 AM

Let's start with the bad news first: You'll have to dig a bit deeper into your pockets if you want to hang out with Mickey and Minnie in Florida. Last weekend, Walt Disney World hiked the cost of a one-day adult pass to its four Orlando theme parks by 6%, to a record breaking $71. This is not good news for those of you who patronize Disney's rivals Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando either. While those parks haven't raised their prices yet, in the past they have quickly matched Disney's increases.

Now for the good news: Help is on the way for your wallet. In order to offset Disney's rate increase, more than two-dozen Orlando-area hotels are offering, "stay three nights, get the fourth free" deals this fall. The promotion targets travelers looking to take long weekends. In addition, another 19 hotels in the Orlando area are offering a third free night after two paid nights. The discounts are effective through November 15th.

And one more bit of good news--Disney style: Rumor has it that a major Hispanic heroine character is headed for Walt Disney Word's lineup. According to Disney insiders, a Latina fairy was recently added to the cartoon movie "Tinker Bell" that Disney is reworking for a 2008 release.

While no formal announcement has been made, a Disney executive speaking at the Hispanic Summit held in Orlando a few weeks ago told the crowd that next year Disney plans to unveil a new animated fairy named Fawn voiced by America Ferrara, the young Latina actress who plays Betty Suarez on ABC's "Ugly Betty."

On the Disney Fairies website Fawn is described as "a rough-and-tumble tomboy jokester who can communicate with animals." According to some reports, Disney has been facing a number of problems with the production of "Tinker Bell" and as a result, it looks as though the movie will be launched direct-to-DVD in the fall of 2008.

Michele blogs full time in Travel, Pop Culture and Photography. You can read her blogs here.

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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