Tag: free

Disney Offers Free Tuition For 80,000 Hourly Workers

The Walt Disney Co. is offering to pay full tuition for hourly workers who want to earn a college degree, finish a high school diploma or learn a new skill, the entertainment giant said Wednesday.

As many as 80,000 hourly workers in the United States could be eligible for the program, which pays upfront tuition for employees taking online classes starting this fall.

Disney initially will invest $50 million into the “Disney Aspire” program and up to $25 million a year after that, the company said.

“We can’t wait to see what paths our cast members take with Disney Aspire,” the company said in a blog post.

Disney joins other large corporations that have begun paying tuition for workers in a job market with historically low unemployment. In May, Walmart said it will offer workers the chance to get a college degree at three universities with online programs.

Starbucks partnered with Arizona State University to offer tuition coverage for U.S. workers earning a bachelor’s degree.

Disney is rolling out its program in phases, with the first limited to online classes. In-classroom courses could be added if there’s demand for them, a spokeswoman said.

Disney’s program is being administered by Guild Education, the same Denver-based firm operating Walmart’s program.

August 23, 2018
It’s an Incredible Time to Enter to Win a Disney Vacation Club Vacation at Walt Disney World Resort
In “Incredibles 2,” which hits theaters on June 15, Helen (voice of Holly Hunter) is called on to help bring Supers back, while Bob (voice of Craig T. Nelson) navigates the day-to-day heroics of “normal” life at home when a new villain hatches a brilliant and dangerous plot that only the Incredibles can overcome together.

At Disney Vacation Club, they believe that coming together as a family (even if you don’t have superpowers) is a magical thing. That’s why today we’re launching the Incredible Family Vacation Sweepstakes!

Enter for a chance to win a 5-day, 4-night Disney Vacation Club getaway to the Walt Disney World Resort for the winner and up to 7 loved ones! This includes:
- Accommodations in a 2-bedroom Villa at the newest Disney Vacation Club property, Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Round-trip flights* for up to 8 people
- Walt Disney World Theme Park tickets to experience new attractions & entertainment, including the soon-to-open Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Enter now through July 19 at IncredibleVacationSweeps.com. There’s no better way to bring your incredible family together year after year than with Disney Vacation Club!
May 15, 2018
Free Dining for Kids with Disney World Packages Announced

Disney has released a new vacation package and you can get a FREE dining plan for kids ages 3 to 9 when you buy a non-discounted 3-night/3-day Magic Your Way package for you and the kid(s) that includes a room at a select Disney Resort hotel, theme park tickets and a dining plan.

The offer is valid for arrivals most nights from May 28 through August 30, 2018 when you book through August 1, 2018.

All 3 dining plans—Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan, Disney Dining Plan and Disney Deluxe Dining plan—are eligible with this offer, but everyone in your reservation must be on the same package. For instance, if you purchase a package with the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan, then your kid(s) (ages 3 to 9) will receive a Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan.

Have preschoolers in tow? Consider turning your getaway into a magical “Kindermoon.” It’s the perfect way to celebrate togetherness before your little ones spread their wings and head off to kindergarten. And this summer couldn’t be a better time to embrace this milestone as there’s new family-friendly entertainment debuting at all 4 parks—including Toy Story Land, which officially opens on June 30, 2018 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited so book it while you still can. Everyone in the same room must be on the same package. Tickets and options must be used within 14 days of first use. Some table-service restaurants may have limited or no availability at time of package purchase.

March 22, 2018
15 Freebies from Disney Parks

Who doesn’t want FREE stuff!? Disney World vacations aren’t cheap experience that’s for sure. When you factor in travel, hotels, tickets, etc., the cost of a family visiting Disney World it can add up quick. However, while there are many costs associated with a trip to visit Mickey, there are many things at Disney World that can be done for free. That’s right…FREEBIES from Disney Parks!

There are numerous free items and experiences offered at Disney World – you just have to know where to look and who to ask. Out of various freebies available at Disney World, here are what we feel are the 15 most amazing ones!

15 – MagicBands

We’ve been to Disney World time and time again, and have never once had the need to purchase a MagicBand. Save on the MagicBand expense by receiving complementary MagicBands as Disney Resort guests or as Annual Passholders. Plus, use the same MagicBand visit after visit!

14 – FastPasses

The FastPass+ system at Disney World is one of our favorite freebies! Saving us SO much time, we try to take full advantage of the three initial FastPasses available to each guest, followed by additional FastPasses after that.

13 – Free App and Wi-Fi

Disney’s MyDisneyExperience App is completely free and incredibly helpful when visiting the parks. Maps, dining reservations, FastPasses – all managed right from your phone. Plus, the free Disney World Wi-Fi makes saving data a breeze.

12 – Free Vacation Planning

You can either request a Vacation Planning video directly from Disney, or better yet, have someone plan the vacation for you (with your specific requests of course)! This opportunity seems too good to be true, just like having a Fairy Godmother, but it’s not. Contact travel time with Vikki for your free quote today.

11 – Transportation

For Disney World Resort guests and for park guests, Disney’s transportation is a freebie essential! Park hoping is made easy with the bus system. Or maybe you want to catch the monorail from Magic Kingdom to dine at a resort restaurant. Wherever your plans take you on Disney property, chances are there is an easy way to get there for free.

10 – Celebration Buttons

You’ll see them throughout Disney World parks as people wear the bright buttons to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, first visits, and more! We still have people ask us how much they cost. They are FREE – just ask a Cast Member where you can snag one (usually Guest Services or a merchandise shop).

9 – Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom

This is a fun activity for young and old alike! Disney provides each guests 5 free Sorcerer cards per admittance. Trek your way around Disney’s Magic Kingdom, defeating the evil Villains that are trying to take over! Each visit equals 5 new cards.

8 – Soda Tasting

Check out Club Cool while visiting Disney’s Epcot. It’s the perfect place for a middle of the day refreshment – for free. Little sample cups are available to park guests. Taste all the different Coke products from around the world!

7 – Jedi Training Academy

We absolutely love that Disney World has included Jedi Training in park admission to Hollywood Studios. Your young Jedi (4 to 12-years-old) can fight against Darth Vader or Seventh Sister after some Jedi training practice.

6 – Scavenger Hunts

Disney World knows how to keep us (and kids) entertained. Check out Kidcot at Epcot where children can color a Duffy souvenir and have it stamped at each of the 11 countries. Animal Kingdom’s Wilderness Explorers is another fun scavenger hunt throughout the park as you collect “badges” (stickers) in your Wilderness Explorer booklet.

5 – Pin Trading

Purchase a few Disney trading pins online before arriving at Disney World to save some money, then begin trading at Disney for free! Anytime you see a Cast Member with a pin, they are happy to trade. It doesn’t matter what pins you trade for what. Before you know it, you’ll have so super awesome pins.

4 – Pirate Contract

Located just outside of Disney’s Magic Kingdom’s Pirates of the Caribbean, you may time it right to watch Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial. This fun stage show is great for all ages. Watch out as Cpt. Jack recruits your young ones to join his scurvy crew as he provides them with a rolled scroll stating they are now one of his!

3 – Pixie Dust

Visit one of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique locations at either Magic Kingdom or Disney Springs. Ask one of the Fairy Godmothers in Training if they will sprinkle you with pixie dust and they will for no cost! You can also get some sparkly dust from the Barber Shop on Main Street USA.

2 – Driver’s License

Dine at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater located in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and have your young one sit in the driver’s seat location in your vehicle. A Cast Member may just provide him or her with a Sci-Fi Driver’s License! Transportation Cards are also available from bus driving Cast Members. We’ve caught on that these Transportation Cards aren’t available as often as they used to be.

1 – Sundry Items

When staying at a Disney World Resort you’ll spot Disney’s shampoo, condition, soap, and shower gel available for purchase in the gift shop. Folks love it so much they purchase the full bottles. But, keep in mind that you can get free sundry items like this from Mousekeeping. Save your money and ask for a couple of extra bottles in your room for free!

November 27, 2017
SECRET FASTPASS DISTRIBUTION IN DISNEY’S MAGIC KINGDOM REVEALED

On select very busy evenings at the Magic Kingdom between November and December 2017, some guests will receive a bonus “surprise” FastPass to use on select attractions. We imagine this is not on nights where Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is taking place.

The secret fastpass distribution is on Tom Sawyer Island and it is extremely limited! In fact, it is so limited that you might want to think about being the first one over to the island the minute that they open. Heaven forbid, but if you don’t know where Tom Sawyer Island is… It is located between Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and The Haunted Mansion. The only way to get there is to travel by raft across the Rivers of America in Frontierland.

According to an inside source from the folks at Disney Every Day Here’s the secret… Cast Members will hide up to five whitewash paintbrushes in various places throughout the island. If you are lucky enough to find a brush and present it to a cast member, you will receive a Special Fastpass. What a great idea! You know where you can find me the next morning I open up the Magic Kingdom. Catch me if you can!

November 18, 2017