Here’s the news from Walt Disney World over the last week:

• Merida officially became a Disney Princess in a coronation ceremony at the Magic Kingdom on May 11. This brings the official court to eleven Disney Princesses. (Have I mentioned that 11 is my favorite number? My husband and I were married on 11/11/00, after exactly 11 months of dating. We celebrated our 11th anniversary on 11/11/11!)
• Free dining and room discounts for fall dates were released to the general public, following a brief exclusive release for Disney Rewards Visa cardholders. You can check out the discounts on the “Offers” page on the WDW website.
• PIN codes for free dining–with a wider range of dates–also went out to a ton of previous Disney guests. I got mine! Did you get one?
• Constructions walls went up at the former Pleasure Island section of Downtown Disney, so that work can begin on the new Disney Springs area.
• The new castle projection show, “Celebrate the Magic,” was announced and will coincide with the May 24 “Monstrous Summer Event.”
• Wendy and Peter Pan are together again! The duo can be found near the queue to Peter Pan’s Flight for daily meet-n-greets. Peter Pan was formerly greeting guests alone in Adventureland.
• La Nouba (Cirque du Soleil) is closed until the end of the month for refurbishment.
• After just a few months in operation, Be Our Guest Restaurant menus are already being tweaked–and some prices are going up. Ouch.

That about covers what you might have missed while I was away!

And the discounts just keep coming! Disney has just released a room-only discount for Disney Rewards Visa card members, with travel dates August 15 through September 28. (Don’t worry; the discount will go public later this week.) You can add park tickets to this package and a slight discount will apply.  The offer must be booked by July 31, and the discounts are as follows:

• Save 30% at most Deluxe Resorts (excluding Polynesian, Grand Floridian, and Contemporary) and Villas.

• Save 25% at most Moderate Resorts (excluding Port Orleans French Quarter), including the cabins at Fort Wilderness.

• Save 20% at the Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Contemporary, All-Star Sports , All-Star Music and Pop Century.

• Save 15% at Art of Animation Resort family suites (excludes standard rooms).

• Save 5% at All-Star Movies, Port Orleans French Quarter, Animal Kingdom Lodge (Savanna view and club level), Contemporary (theme park view and club level rooms), Bay Lake Tower and Animal Kingdom Villas.

This discount cannot be combined with the Free Fall Dining discount.

If you’re a Disney Rewards Visa cardholder (and why wouldn’t you be?), you can book at WDW package and get the dining plan free! Of course, if you don’t have the DRV, you’ll need to wait a few days to get this same discount. (Check Disney’s online “offers” page May 9.) The details are similar to past years, although the travel dates seems to be getting more limited each year:

• Valid for travel dates September 2-25; that just means that you must check in during those date–your stay can extend beyond September 25.
• Must be booked by July 31.
• Suites, villas, and campsites are excluded.
• There is a 3-night minimum stay and a 14-night maximum.
• You must purchase at least a 2-day Magic Your Way ticket for every guest staying in your room.
• Guests staying at a Value Resort will receive the Quick Service Dining Plan free. Those staying at Moderate or Deluxe Resorts will receive the Disney Dining Plan free.
• You can upgrade to any of the other available plans for a charge.

That about sums it up. If you’re a DRV cardholder, I recommend booking BEFORE this is released to the general public to ensure that you get the resort of your choice.

I’ve shared this tip before, but in light of a sale going on at DisneyStore.com, I thought it was worth re-sharing. If you want to bring a little extra magic to a Walt Disney World vacation for your child, it’s fun to offer a small gift for each day of your trip. Sometimes I’ve found Disney-themed trinkets and toys at Dollar Tree, Target, or Walmart. But my favorite are from the Disney Store.

Right now, there are several great options for small toys and plush dolls on sale at DisneyStore.com. Click on this link to take you directly to the page of items eligible for coupon code BONUS, which will give you 40% off of prices listed. I actually ordered several of the adorable bear dolls for gift bags at my daughter’s Brave-inspired birthday party coming up in June. (I’ll be sure to post details after the party!) They were originally $9.50, but after sale and coupon code, they were just $2.39 each! They also have mini bean bag plush of several of the Sugar Rush characters from Wreck It Ralph for around $3.50. You’ll also find character silverware, plates, and water bottles all for under $5. The less expensive items seem to go quickly, so log on now to snag your bargains!

The summer room-only discount that was previously released to Disney Rewards Visa cardholders is now available to the general public. Click here to see details.

A room-only discount has just been released to Disney Rewards Visa Cardholders for summer travel dates June 13 through August 14. (It will be released to the general public on April 2.) The discount offers up to 30% off rack rate of various Resorts throughout Walt Disney World. Generally, it’s 30% off Deluxe and Villas, 20% off Moderates, and 15% off Values, but there are exclusions and restrictions. You must use your Disney Rewards Visa to pay the deposit, and the deal must be booked by June 14. For complete details, click here.