Walt Disney World Resort Update

Update for April 22 – 28, 2014

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News and Views

runDisney reveals anniversary medals | 2015 WDW Marathon registration opens April 22 | Win a night in Cinderella Castle with “Best Moment Ever”Sweepstakes | The Seas with Nemo & Friends earns national accreditation | Large crowds follow Frozen's Anna and Else to new home in Magic Kingdom | Disney's Hollywood Studios 25th Anniversary Merchandise arriving May 1 | This week at the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival | Quick takes | Crowd update

New runDisney anniversary medals revealed

runDisney revealed two new medals for two races celebrating milestones in 2014: the Wine and Dine Half Marathon's 5th anniversary and the Goofy Race and a Half Challenge's 10th anniversary.

The new Wine and Dine Half Marathon medal features a Spaceship Earth inspired design on one side and the reverse shows a Mickey on the run. Photo © Disney Parks Blog.

Disney Yellow Shoes Art Director David Brotherton designed the medals, which is given to all racers who cross the finish line.

The 2015 Goofy Race and a Half Medal prominently highlights both the race's 10th anniversary in addition to honoring the race's Goofy namesake on the spinner. Photo © Disney Parks Blog.

2015 Walt Disney World Marathon registration opens April 22

Registration for the 2015 Walt Disney World marathon opens at noon (EDT) on Tuesday, April 22. Runners can complete their reservations online by visiting the runDisney official Walt Disney World Marathon website.

The Walt Disney World Marathon weekend offers runners of all ages and abilities to lace up their running shoes, hit the road and celebrate their accomplishments. Races and events throughout the weekend include:

• Marathon (Sunday, January 11) – this 26.2-mile race goes throughout all four Walt Disney World theme parks starting at Epcot, continuing to the Magic Kingdom, Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios with its conclusion back at Epcot
• Half Marathon (Saturday, January 10) – this 13.1-mile race travels through the Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
• Walt Disney World 10K (Friday, January 9) – this 6.2-mile race runs through Epcot. This is the second year for this event.
• Family Fun Run 5K (Thursday, January 8) – this 3.1-mile fun walk/run starts and finishes at Epcot.
• Family Reunion Breakfast (January 8–9) – light fair offered in a sheltered tent after the 5K and 10K events.
• Race Retreat – allows you to upgrade your half marathon and/or marathon experience with concierge-level amenities, including access to a temperature-controlled tent lounge, private porta-potties, pre-face food, as well as breakfast/brunch after the race.
• ChEAR Squad – four levels of packages, with the Platinum package offering access to the Race Retreat tent.
• Pasta in the Park Party (January 8–10) – enjoy a carb-filled buffet pasta dinner at Epcot then stay to watch Illuminations.
• runDisney Kids Races (January 8–10) –  includes both the Kids Dashes and Mickey Mile.
• Disney Heath and Fitness Expo (January 7–10) – pick up your race bibs and participant shirts, and visit vendor booths.

In addition to the standalone events, runDisney also offers a couple of challenges:

• Goofy Race and a Half Challenge (January 10–11) – complete both the half and full marathons for a special Goofy medal. Note: This event is likely to sell out earlier than normal since it is the 10th anniversary.
• Dopey Challenge – essentially the Goofy on steroids, also includes the 5K and 10K along with the half and full marathons for four races across four days. This is the second year for the Dopey.

If you want to upgrade your Dopey to a concierge-level experience that's a few notches above just access to the Race Retreat tent, consider registering for the Runner's World Challenge – Dopey Challenge. Registration for this has been open for over a week and was at 99 percent full as of Monday afternoon, and may be sold out by the time you read this.

Entry fees (non-refundable), deadlines, eligibility requirements and other race policies can be found on the official runDisney Walt Disney World Marathon website. Runners can also look for special pricing packages, travel assistance and charity group information on the site.

Walt Disney World Marathon weekend races and events often sell out. Interested runners can go to the website to monitor a race's registration capacity. The website updates percentages regularly, but events may still sell out before the numbers change.

Win a night in Cinderella Castle with “Best Moment Ever” Sweepstakes

One memorable picture could win someone a four-day, three-night trip for up to four people to Walt Disney World and the chance to spend the night in the Magic Kingdom's Cinderella Castle Suite.

Disney's latest contest, “Best Moment Ever,” invites people to submit one photo depicting a moment of achievement or accomplishment in their lives and caption that photo in a memorable way. The sweepstakes hopes to capture the magic experienced by every Disney princess as she had her best moment ever.  

The sweepstake's grand prize includes:

• Round-trip airfare to Orlando International Airport (if winner lives more than 250 miles from Walt Disney World)
• A 2-night stay in one of Walt Disney World hotels (standard room/quad occupancy)
• A one-night stat at the Cinderella Castle Suite in the Magic Kingdom
• Up to four 4-day Magic Your Way tickets with park hopper option
• Entry and registration for the “Royal Family 5k” during the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend

You can submit your entry online through 11:59 p.m. on May 14, 2014 by visiting the official Best Moment Ever Sweepstakes website. Entrants should read all submission guidelines and eligibility requirements before entering.

The Seas with Nemo & Friends earns national accreditation

Epcot's The Seas with Nemo & Friends recently earned accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for its quality programming and services. Photo by Disney Parks Blog.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) awarded Epcot's The Seas with Nemo & Friends with national accreditation in recognition of the attraction's excellence in programming and customer service.

Every five years, officials from AZA observe zoos and aquariums to see how well they meet the association's standards in animal care, veterinary programs, conservation, research and education, safety, guest services and staff quality. Some of this year's accreditation review highlights for The Seas with Nemo & Friends included:

• The Seas conservation programs, including its partnership with the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund and conservation efforts in Florida and beyond
• Education programs that address both local and global conservation
• Excellence in animal care, including enrichment, veterinary care and nutrition, and research projects that foster animal health and knowledge
• A dedicated and knowledgeable staff who exhibits a spirit of teamwork

“The Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredits only those aquariums and zoos that meet the highest standards,” said AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy. “As a leader in wildlife conservation and animal care, inspiring millions of visitors each year, The Seas is ranked among the best aquariums in the world.”

Large crowds follow Frozen's Anna and Else to new home in Magic Kingdom

On April 20, royal sisters Anna and Elsa from the movie Frozen arrived at their new meet-and-greet home in the Magic Kingdom's Fairytale Princess Hall in New Fantasyland. Their overwhelming popularity inspired the move from their original home in Epcot's Norway pavilion in the World Showcase which had a hard time accommodating the large crowds.

Anna and Elsa, the royal sisters from the movie “Frozen,” now meet and greet visitors at the Magic Kingdom's Fairytale Princess Hall in New Fantasyland. Photo by Disney Parks Blog.

Anna and Elsa's first day at Fairytale Princess Hall attracted long lines of visitors throughout the day. Reports from our sponsor TouringPlans.com as well as other online observations showed standby wait times reaching well beyond two hours. Anyone wanting to visit Anna and Elsa should take advantage of the Fastpass+ reservation system to book their time before heading to the park to avoid long waits. For more information on Fastpass+, visit the official Walt Disney World Fastpass+ website.

Disney's Hollywood Studios 25th Anniversary Merchandise arriving May 1

Disney's Hollywood Studios is offering a new line of merchandise to celebrate its 25th anniversary on May 1, 2014.

Guests can purchase the items beginning May 1 at Soundstage 1, a temporary merchandise shop located between the Studio Backlot Tour and Toy Story Midway Mania. All items are available while supplies last.

New T-shirt designs showcase Disney's Hollywood Studios 25th anniversary on May 1, 2014.

In addition to T-shirts, Disney designers also created exclusive pins, accessories, bags and a 12-inch Duffy the Disney Bear dressed in a commemorative outfit.

Duffy the Disney Bear gets all dressed up for Disney's Hollywood Studios 25th anniversary. Visitors can purchase Duffy and other anniversary items beginning May 1, 2014.

The Disney Parks online store will carry the four shirts pictured above from May 1 through May 5 only. Once visitors complete their orders, the shirts will ship in 6 to 8 weeks.

Visit the Disney Store website beginning May 1 to order your exclusive Disney's Hollywood Studios anniversary apparel. 

This week at the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival

Epcot's Flower & Garden Festival is in full bloom and there are still many demonstrations, concerts and food booths to enjoy through mid-May. Our guide can help you find the everything the festival has to offer!

Tour information:

• The Gardens of the World Tour –  is a three-hour tour led by a Disney Horticulturist. Theme park admission required and not included. Tickets are $64 per person, plus tax, and guests must be age 16 and up. Call 407-WDW-TOUR to make reservations, or check at Epcot Guest Relations for availability.
• The English Tea Garden Tour  – is a no-cost 20-minute tour presented by Twinings of London. Sign up at the Tea Caddy. Space is limited.

Quick takes…

…Disney art fans can stop by the Art of Disney store in Downtown Disney on April 26 and 27 for a special Disney Design Group Artist Showcase. Visitors can purchase Disney masterpieces and have a chance to meet Disney artists Costa Alavezos, Brian Blackmore, Alex Maher, Randy Noble and Darren Wilson. The artist will take turns appearing and signing art from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 26 and again from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 27.  For full appearance schedule, visit the Artist Showcase event website. 

…You can enter to win a trip to the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resorts by entering the Express Your Peepsonality Sweepstakes. The grand prize is a trip for four to the Swan and Dolphin including airfare, accommodations, round-trip transportation to and from Orlando International Airport, four 4-day park hopper tickets, and a $200 gift certificate to cover food and other expenses. Visit the Express Your Peepsonality Sweepstakes website for full details on the entry process. Entry deadline is April 30, 2014.

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Crowd Forecast

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Resort Events

2014

• Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival – March 5 through May 18
• Epcot After-Hours Wind Down – April 17–September 15. Epcot, World Showcase. (reservations required)
• Earth Day 2014 Celebrations – Tuesday, April 22. Disney's Animal Kingdom and Epcot.
• Disney Trading Night – Tuesday, April 22. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. ESPN Wide World of Sports.
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train media event – April 30 through May 2. This may indicate the ride will open to the public May 1 or 2.
• Expedition Everest Challenge – May 3
• Perfect Petals Brunch featuring the Disney Collection by Vera Bradley– May 4
• Star Wars Weekends Rebel Rendezvous – May 15, 2014
• Star Wars Weekends
  • Weekend I: May 16–18, 2014
  • Weekend II: May 23–25, 2014
  • Weekend III: May 30 to June 1, 2014
  • Weekend IV: June 6–8, 2014
  • Weekend V: June 13–15, 2014
• Car Masters Weekend – June 14–15 in Downtown Disney.
• Disney Trade Celebration Imagination Gala September 5–7 at Epcot
• Epcot International Food and Wine Festival – September 19 through November 10
• Disney's Night of Joy 2014 – Friday, September 5 and Saturday, September 6.
• Disney Fit Challenge – September 26-28. Registration opens Tuesday, March 18. More information on the Disney Sports website.
• Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend – October 3–4
• Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic – October 31 and November 1. Tickets and packages now on sale.
• Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – November 7–8
• Destination D: Attraction Rewind – November 22-23. Additional details expected to be released this spring. The event was originally announced for July 26-27, but was rescheduled.
• Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party – 2014 event dates not yet announced.
• Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party – 2014 event dates not yet announced.

2015

• Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 7–11, 2015.
• Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 19–22, 2015.

runDisney events

If you participate in (or are considering signing up for) runDisney events, visit our Team MousePlanet forum on the MousePad discussion board, where you can join our community of health-minded readers and staff.

2014

• Expedition Everest Challenge – May 3
• Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend – October 3–4
• Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – November 7–8

2015

• Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 7–11, 2015. Registration opens April 22, 2014. No additional details available at this time.
• Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 19–22, 2015. Registration opens July 15, 2014. No additional details available at this time.

For current information on registration dates and capacity, see Lorree Tachell's runDisney Race Capacity Updates in the Team MousePlanet forum.

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

• Pinocchio Village Haus – closed through March 30 for refurbishment.
• Swiss Family Treehouse – closed March 17 through 28 for refurbishment.
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – closed April 7–9 for refurbishment.
• Pirates of the Caribbean – closed April 28 through May 1 for refurbishment.
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover – closed May 3 through June 30 for refurbishment.
• Astro Orbiter – closed May 3 through August 20 for refurbishment.

Epcot

• No known refurbishments at this time.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

• No known refurbishments at this time.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

• Festival of the Lion King – closed for move to its new theater, currently under construction. Estimated to be closed until July/August 2014.

Resorts

As reported in July, some refrigerators in non-Disney Vacation Club rooms at Walt Disney World are being replaced due to a product defect. All Walt Disney World Resort rooms with the exception of DVC Villas, the family suites at the Art of Animation and All-Star Movie resorts, and the cabins at Fort Wilderness are impacted. Disney says “the schedule for replacing the refrigerators at these Resorts is expected to last several months.”

In the interim, if you have a reservation at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel and need a refrigerator for medical reasons, we recommend contacting your resort directly to inquire about availability during your trip. The hotel should be able to arrange for one if your room does not yet have a new refrigerator, but supplies may be limited while they work to replace all of the malfunctioning units.

• Polynesian – Never Land Club Children's Activity Center closed for refurbishment through January 1, 2015.
• Polynesian – Refurbishment of the lobby is slated to begin March 14.
• Polynesian – Captain Cook's closed for refurbishment March 14 through June 14.

Water Parks

• No known refurbishments at this time.

Elsewhere

• The Resort and Express monorail beam closes between 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday – Friday starting on January 21 due to construction work at the Polynesian Hotel. The construction site is near the Monorail beam.
• Disney Osprey Ridge Golf Course – permanently closed to play.
• Downtown Disney Lots H, I, J, and K (in Westside area) closed until further notice for Disney Springs construction.
• Downtown Disney Bridge 4 and restrooms on Pleasure Island are temporarily closed for ongoing construction work.
• Cirque du Soleil La Nouba – performs Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Current Discounts & Promotions

Note: MousePlanet does not edit past Updates to reflect price increases; for up-to-date prices, check the most recent Walt Disney World Resort Update. For your convenience, we have grouped the discount offers based on the intended audience. Check out the category that best matches you, and pick the offer that works best for you. And keep those tips coming—let us know if you find a better or different offer, so we can share it with other readers!

Don't keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments. Email Stephanie here.