ORLANDO–Travel Agent was onsite for a press event in Walt Disney World on
Thursday, January 25, where Disney executives gave their own "state of the
union" address about the company's "Year of a Million Dreams"
promotions, and tour company, Adventures By Disney. Disney's "Year of a
Million Dreams" promotion is now in full swing, with Thursday's selection
of a vacationing family from Michigan to stay
in the Cinderella castle suite in the MagicKingdom.
Travel agents also soon are about to get their own reward from Disney, as
executives said the company is about six weeks away from launching a travel
agent promotion that would "allow agents to experience Disney in a unique
way." Requests for further details were declined. Meanwhile, Adventures By
Disney announced new itineraries for 2007, bringing the total tour offering to
12 packages to destinations in the U.S. and abroad. New trips include
"Cities of Knights and Lights," where guests spend eight days and
seven nights in London and Paris,
and "Quest for the West," a seven-day, six-night trip to Jackson
Hole, Grand Teton and YellowstoneNational Parks. Disney
executives on Thursday said the trip is already close to capacity, the mark of
a banner year for the company now entering its third year. Executives also said
new and expanded itineraries will be announced by Labor Day and that Adventures
By Disney is looking for ways to tie tours together with the itinerary of Disney
Cruise Lines and the benefits of Disney Club Vacation. Adventures By Disney
also hopes that 2007 will be the year travel agents make more than half of
their bookings. This summer, Disney will also unveil a new attraction, the
"Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage," at Disneyland
in CA. Opening June 11, the feature will enact a submarine expedition where
guests will see an animated Nemo and friends swimming alongside the submarine,
as well as sculpted audio animatronics characters. The submarines, formerly
part of the theme park's "Submarine Voyage" attraction, are being
revamped to include two extra seats and portal windows. Additionally, the
engines are being converted from diesel power to the more environmentally
friendly electric power.
