disney resorts

Back in 2010, Disney World became a part of Clean the World, a central Florida organization which collects, sanitizes and repackages unused, discarded hotel soaps and shampoos before distributing them to poverty-stricken nations across the globe.

In the two years since, some 53 tons (or 565,509 bars) of soap have been collected by Disney resorts. In addition, Disney has collected over 33 tons of shampoo, conditioner and lotion for distribution.

The cleanliness items have been distrubted locally in homeless and domestic abuse shelters in the Orlando area as well as worldwide.

Expanded cable for guests and a testing a new bus are a couple of interesting tidbits of news this week regarding the happiest place on earth.

First off, Walt Disney World Resort began offering expanded cable channels on their hotels' in-room televisions last week. A sampling of the new channels available to guests include: Fox News, Bravo, AMC, National Geographic, TBS, TNT, Travel Channel, WE tv, Syfy, Discovery, Bio, HGTV, TLC, History, Food Network and TV Land. A complete list of channels available to guests can be found on Channel 17.

If you're looking into a WDW vacation and want a discounted room at a Disney resort, then consider these recently-released discounts from Disney.

For the fall, Disney is offering discounts on rooms for most nights starting October 30 through December 23 with the exception of the week of Thanksgiving. Here are how the savings break down:

• 15 percent at All-Star Movies Resort and Port Orleans French Quarter Resort
• 20 percent at other value and moderate resorts, as well as Fort Wilderness Cabins

It was one of their most popular offerings last year, and now Disney Floral & Gifts has announced its return. We're talking about, of course, their Mickey's "Spooktacular" In-Room Celebration.

This particular celebration brings some of the Halloween magic back from the Disney parks to a guest's resort room. After returning to the room, guests are greeted with cobwebs, a sash, and other various Halloween decorations on their room's door. Inside, the room is designed to look like Mickey himself has stopped by and personalized a fun, spooky celebration.