The Disney theme parks offer a wide range of sourvenirs to fit all tastes and budgets.  Trading pins...Vinylmations...t-shirts...animation cels...coffee mugs...jewelry...the options are seemingly endless.  

Topic: What are some of your favorite Disney souvenirs?

Last week Disney Vacation Club introduced a new Annual Pass promotional offer.  For only the second time in club history, owners can are eligible for deep discounts on Walt Disney World Premium Annual Passes, along with never-before-seen price reductions on Disneyland Annual Passes and the WDW/DL Premier Pass.  

Owners will have less than 3 months to buy the discounted passes and about a year to activate and begin using the passes.  Many owners will undoubtedly take advantage of these offers which can easily save families hundreds of dollars on their theme park admission.      

Topic: Have your travel plans changed for 2014 and 2015 due to the new Annual Pass offers?  If so, how?

On Thursday, January 23, 2014, Walt Disney World will permanently shutter the last of its paper ticket FASTPASS machines.  Going forward, all 4 parks will only support the FastPass+ product which features precise online scheduling of attraction return times while (presently) allowing only 3 FastPass entitlements per guest, per day.  

While the daily cap--and tiering of attractions at 2 theme parks--is restrictive, the new system does eliminate all guesswork involved in predicting attraction return times and the effort involved in both collecting and later redeeming the paper tickets.    

Topic: How do you feel about the new FastPass+ system?  (Excited?  Angry?  Ambivalent?  Confused?  Optimistic?  Disappointed?)

In the summer of 2012, Disney Vacation Club granted all members nightly access to Top of the World Lounge.  The lounge, located on the 16th floor of Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort, provides visitors with a picturesque elevated view of the nightly Magic Kingdom fireworks.  

However, lounge access comes with a few caveats.  Parking at the resort is (officially) limited to hotel guests only.  Members staying at other resorts are encouraged to use Disney transportation to reach the resort.  Seating in the lounge is limited, as is the menu.  And the lounge has unfortunately gained a reputation for mediocre food & beverage service.  

Topic: Is it worthwhile to make the trip to visit Top of the World Lounge when staying at another DVC resort?

As part of the roll-out of its My Magic Plus program, Disney has begun mailing new items to guests' homes prior to the start of their trip.  First came the MagicBands, monogrammed for each guest in the color of their choice.  More recently, planning materials with custom flash drives began to arrive.  These new mailings join elaborate planning materials which have long been sent for Disney Cruise Line voyages and stays at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa. 

At a time when Disney often seems focused on cutting corners and reducing costs, some feel these materials have injected a bit of excitement into planning of a Walt Disney World vacation.  Others have suggested they are a totally unnecessary expense.  

Topic: Trip planning materials:  Fun and helpful or needless and wasteful?