If you are a Disney Rewards Visa card member, you may have received an email alerting you to a new “Kids Play Free” deal for much of 2011. Similar to deals in the past, it’s essentially means that kids will get free park tickets when adults purchase tickets and book a resort stay. Of course, there are minimum stay requirements as well as blocked out dates and a few other restrictions. (Add-ons, such as Park Hopper and Water Parks & More are not included in the free children’s tickets.)

Here is the basic info directly from the email:

Dear Cardmembers, Take advantage of this advance booking offer today to purchase a 4-night/4-day Magic Your Way Vacation Package that includes room and Theme Park tickets, and children age 3-9 can stay and get a 4-day Theme Park admission ticket, FREE. So hurry and book today! Your offer is available for stays most nights February 17–April 16, April 28–June 14, and August 14–October 1, 2011. And when you stay at a Disney Resort Hotel, not only will you be in the middle of the magic, you’ll also experience special magic, like:
	Extra time in a Theme Park each day so you can enjoy more rides on select attractions with your family…and more Disney time together! (Valid Theme Park admission required.)
	Complimentary transportation to and from Orlando International Airport AND throughout Walt Disney World® Resort. It makes getting around as hassle free as can be!
	Fun for everyone whether you’re splashing down Resort pool slides, watching movies under the stars or hitting the links with a complimentary golf club rental (at select Disney Golf Courses).

If you’re not a Disney Rewards Visa cardholder, I highly recommend it for anyone who is able to use a credit card responsibly. Check out my previous DRV posts (under categories at the right) or drop me an email or comment if you’d like a referral code to receive bonus Disney Dream Dollars at signing.

If you have a little race fan in your family, you might want to “like” the Ridemakerz Facebook page for a coupon worth $10 off a $30 purchase (expires 12/31/10). The coupon can be used in the store at Downtown Disney (and other locations nationwide) or online at www.Ridemakerz.com. To get your coupon, follow this link:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=120273829473

I’m not sure if it’s temporary or permanent, but Via Napoli (in the Italy section of Epcot) has begun offering pizza by the slice at a kiosk just outside the restaurant. It’s not cheap–a pricey $6.50 for a large slice–but it’s a nice alternative if you don’t have the time or a group large enough to share a whole pie inside the restaurant.

We ate at Via Napoli during our last visit to WDW, and we really enjoyed it. The food was yummy (see photo above), and we actually walked right in without any wait. The staff was friendly, and the pizza ovens were fun and festive. Overall, a good experience. But, by far, the best part was the traditional Italian pizza–definitely a step above what you would expect from “theme park” pizza.

A 69-year-old man is dead after stepping in front of a WDW bus at the Port Orleans Resort on Sunday, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Initial investigation concludes that the bus driver was not at fault in the incident, and no other injuries were reported. You can read the full story here.

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2: 1-20, NIV

One of my favorite vocal ensembles…enjoy this Christmas greeting in song!