Who wouldn't want to ride in a hot air balloon over Walt Disney World on a beautiful day?
That's just what the Birkett family of Scottsdale, Arizona got to do on Wednesday.
According to the Associated Press, the family won the prize as a part of the 2008 Disney Dream Giveaway.
While the rest of us won't be able to take a balloon ride over Disney like this one, there will be a balloon ride coming to Downtown Disney.
Characters in Flight is what Disney is calling it's tethered balloon ride that will take guests 300 feet in the air. Construction is now underway in Downtown Disney for this attraction and is expected to open in Spring.

Disney's Buy 4 get 3 Free promotion that was set to expire today has been extended till March 29th. This is the third time Disney has extended the promotion for those who are looking to book a Disney trip in the first half of 2009.
The deal is a good one if you're planning to go. You get 7 nights at a Disney resort for the price of 4. And you get an 8-day park pass for the price of 5.
The deal is good for most nights from March 1-9, March 17 - April 4th and April 19th - June 27th.
You can get details about the promotion on Disney's website at www.waltdisneyworld.com.
It will be interesting to see if Disney extends the deal into the usually busy summer months.

Disney offered buyouts to more than 600 executives this week as the economic downturn hits even the Happiest Place On Earth. It's not surprising as most major companies are making some sort of cutbacks.
But Disney gets a pat on the back for this move because instead of reducing the workers who directly provide the service Disney is so famous for giving, this company decided to cut the fat at the top. Some changes have been made in the parks such as the Fantasmic show in Disney Studios being changed to 2 days a week rather than every night however, you won't be waiting in extra long lines to check into your hotel, enter the park or get something to eat because of the cuts. This company knows the value of what they provide for their guests and they don't want to compromise it.
Last year it appeared Disney was immune to the recession because they reported an overall increase in revenue early in the year, but it appears they began feeling the pinch in the fourth quarter.
In an effort to get bookings up for the first half of 2009, Disney launched it's buy four nights get three free promotion. Though it's been somewhat of a success, I don't think they hit the numbers they wanted to. The deadline to book was originally Dec. 20th and has been extended to Jan. 24th. Though it's not confirmed, I've heard rumors they may extend it again.
The Disey executives have until Feb. 6th to decide to take the buyout and if not enough do, Disney will have layoffs.

Since Disney implemented a Dining Plan that allows visitors to make their trips more all-inclusive, their restaurant reservation system has been overloaded.
Recent changes to the system now allow for reservations to be made 90 days prior to your arrival date rather than 180 days. Either way, if you want some of the more popular restaurant during your stay, you'll be on the phone with Disney at 7:01 a.m. the morning you can begin making those reservations.
The problem is that there are so many great restaurants in Disney that it's hard to choose which ones to go to. Over the years, Disney has had a problem with people making Advance Dining Reservations (ADR's) and not showing up.
Rumor has it that Disney will soon require a credit card to hold the reservation and there is a cancellation policy so you may get charged if you don't cancel within the time frame given.
If they do implement this, I would agree 100 percent.
Restaurants like LeCellier in Epcot are very difficult to get a reservation for. Only once did we get a reservation and after eating there, I can see why it's so popular.
This new system would be more efficient and make people more accountable to their reservation. When someone pulls a no-show for their dinner reservation, Disney loses money and someone else who wanted to dine there loses the opportunity.

For most of our Disney trips we fly. We drove only once when flights to Orlando were cancelled for days due to Hurricane Charley. In that case we either drove or cancelled the trip - so we drove.
I don't mind driving trips but it is much easier hopping on a plane in Philadelphia and landing in Orlando less than 2 hours later.
For our May trip, we're planning to drive for several reasons. One is that I think the prices to fly right now are too high. I also don't like the extra bag charge most airlines charge. That limits what I can buy there and bring back. I remember I wanted to bring back a plant the last time I was in Disney during the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, but I decided it was too difficult because we were flying.
If we're driving, I can pretty much fill the trunk and the back seat (not that I would, but I can!). Since this trip is without our teenage daughters, it will be a quieter drive! And driving gives us the ability to explore some of the areas around Disney such as the Disney-created community of Celebration.
Gas prices are still pretty low and with a new car that has better fuel efficiency, the cost of driving currently outweighs the cost of flying. But if airlines prices plummet in the next couple of months and gas prices rise, I may be changing my plans.

Visiting Disney early in the year may mean less crowds and better deals on packages and flights, but there is a downside.
During the early part of the year there are more ride closings for rehabs and refurbishments. In addition, some of the resorts use this down time to spruce up their pools.
It's always a good idea to check for rehabs and closings when planning your trip so you can see how it will affect you.(for the most up-to-date rehab listings for parks and resorts, visit: www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/rehab.htm)
While specific rides might not matter if they are not operational while you're there, specific resort pools might.
Stormalong Bay at the Yacht and Beach Club will be closed for rehab from now through April 15th. Since this is known as one of the best pools and is even referred to as a mini water park, I would probably adjust my dates or change resorts.
I don't think there's ever a time you can visit Disney where nothing is closed because they're always working on something, but usually in the summer months all the resort pools are open and few rides are undergoing refurbishment.

Space Mountain will close April 19th for a much-needed and long anticipated refurbishment. Disney announced Wednesday that they will close the ride to make some changes that include replacing the track, adding a new enclosure to the waiting area of the ride and replacing the ceiling inside the dome.
Unlike most refurbishments in Disney, they didn't set a date for the completion but they did say it could re-open in late 2009.
Space Mountain has been a must-ride attraction in the Magic Kingdom for many years and rumors of a long refurbishment have been going on for several years.
Although I'm disappointed that the ride won't be open when I visit Disney in May, I look forward to a refurbished Space Mountain. I love this ride but with it's outdated roller coaster track it does jerk you around a lot. My guess is the new track will allow for a much smoother ride.
The only downside that I see is that the ride-which is now so popular that you either need to ride it as soon as the park opens or get a fast pass-will be even more popular when the refurbishment is complete!

If you've always wondered what goes on behind the scenes in the Magic Kingdom then you'll definitely want to take Disney's Keys To The Kingdom Tour. A family member who just returned from her Disney trip took the tour and raved about it.
The tour lasts about 4 1/2 to 5 hours and the cost is $60 per person but that also includes lunch. Most of Disney's behind-the-scenes tours offer discounts to AAA members. Guests must be at least 16 years old to participate in the Keys to the Kingdom Tour.
I don't want to give too much away but you will definitely learn about the park's history and it's operation.
Did you ever notice how cast members get to the land they work in without traveling through the other lands? You don't see them walking through the front gates of the Magic Kingdom.
The Magic Kingdom is actually built 14 feet above ground level to accommodate what Disney calls utilidors - the underground level that allows cast members, food and trash to be taken to and from the park without guests ever noticing.
The one thing you'll have to leave behind on these tours is your camera and video camera. For obvious reasons Disney doesn't want all kinds of photos and video of their behind-the-scenes areas.
For more information on this tour and many others that Disney offers, go to:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tours.htm