Walt Disney World Park Update

Passholder discounts announced, Disney Dining Plan available

Annual Passholder and Florida Resident discounts have been announced for
March through May. From March 30 through May 21, room-only discount rates
are available, with Passholder rates being anywhere from $5 to $15 less than
Florida resident rates. Passholders should use code FJC or FJD for Sunday-Thursday
nights, while Florida residents should use FJK. The Passholder weekend rate
code during that period is FJG.

In addition, the Disney Dining Plan will now be available to Annual Passholders,
even on room-only reservations. To add the Dining Plan during the March 30
through May 21 AP discount period, Passholders should use code ANA, and the
Deluxe Dining Plan requires code ANC. For other dates that do not have an
effective Passholder discount, reservations for the Dining Plan should use
code ADS and for the Deluxe Dining Plan should use code ADU.

As reported before, Magic Your Way package reservations for stays most Sunday-Thursday
nights between March 30 and May 21 will get free upgrades on their base Magic
Your Way tickets to include Park Hopper and Water Park Fun & More options.
Codes are available for Magic Your Way packages with no dining (APV), basic
Dining Plan (APF) and Deluxe Dining Plan (APH).

Thanks to Sue Pisaturo of MousePlanet sponsor Small World Vacations for the
info.

Pirate & Princess added dates finally “official”

The extended run of the Pirate & Princess Parties (now called “Mickey’s
Pirate & Princess Party”) have now finally appeared on the Walt Disney
World Web site. The remainder of the run of the party is now scheduled for
February 26, March 1, 6, 11, 14, April 1, 4, 6, 11, 16, 23, May 2, 9, 16,
21, 26, 31, and June 4.

Pricing for events through March 14 are $45.95 (adults ages 10 and up) and
$39.95 (children ages 3-9). Parties for nights starting April 1 are $47.95
for adults and $41.95 for children. However, discounts are available. By purchasing
in advance, tickets are $43.95 for adults and $37.95 for children. Passholders
purchasing in advance can get tickets for $39.95 for adults and $33.95 for
children. All of the above prices do not include 6.5 percent tax.

Six-year-old Lily Boldman of Orlando, FL, gets her “glamour shot” at the conclusion
of her Disney’s Secret Star Makeover at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Downtown
Disney. The new Boutique package became available yesterday, and includes
everything a rock star wannabe would need, including a Hannah Montana wig,
microphone headset, Hannah Montana guitar purse, their choice of T-shirt,
a backstage pass/make-up kit and a commemorative photo. The package will set
you back $109.95. If you want to spend more, the full Hannah Montana costume
including jacket and pants is available. Reservations are available by calling
407/WDW-STYLE (939-7895). Photo © Disney, by Garth Vaughan.

Magical Express juggernaut keeps rolling

The Disney’s Magical Express bus service (DME) is growing so quickly that
it’s going to start causing Disney some financial headaches very soon, according
to an article in the Orlando
Sentinel last Thursday.

With 2.1 million passengers carried from the airport in 2007, DME is approaching
a contractual point where Orlando International Airport has the right to force
Disney to open a second customer check-in location. (That provision kicks
in when the service carries over 2.2 million passengers in any rolling 12-month
period.) When that happens later this year, Disney is likely to break up its
theme park and cruise line operations to opposite ends of the main terminal,
with separate counter and queue space at each location.

But the increase in the rental costs at the airport (currently $1.3 million)
isn’t the only issue. The service needs to get at least 65 percent of DME
passengers to use the remote check-in service at the resorts by June in order
to keep the per-passenger cost down. The cost, currently 75 cents per rider,
will be capped at no more than $1.25 per rider if Disney meets the check-in
goal. If they don’t, the cap goes away. The per capita fees cost Disney another
$1.6 million in 2007.

The big problem with remote check-in is that Disney has not yet been able
to strike an agreement with Southwest Airlines, which carries more than 20
percent of all passengers traveling through Orlando International. It was
hoped that the two sides would have a deal by early this year; however, the
airline is concerned that the remote check-in contractor, BAGS, Inc., would
be unable to handle the volume of baggage involved with Southwest’s passengers.
The two sides are working together and hope to have an agreement soon. Of
course, with all of the reported problems with remote check-in for US Airways
recently, it may be difficult to resolve the outstanding issues.

As if that weren’t enough, the National Limousine Association, which represents
the services hardest-hit by DME, is considering filing an anti-trust suit
against Disney. During September, DME transported nearly 15 percent of all
incoming passengers. The limousine group accuses Disney of advertising the
service as “free” when the actual costs are actually built into the costs
of each hotel room. While such a lawsuit would not have much of a chance of
succeeding, it could take up substantial effort and money to defend against.

Rental car costs to rise

Disney’s Magical Express will seem like even more of a bargain in the near
future, as the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority’s board voted last Wednesday
to pass along more costs to visitor through a “customer facility charge.”
In order to pay for upgrades to the rental car areas, including expanding
the existing “Quick Turn Around” (QTA) facilities and the construction of
more QTA facilities, the authority decided to pass the cost along in the form
of the new charge, at the rate of $2.50 per day with a maximum fee of $12.50.

While the authority claims that they will end the fee once the construction
costs have been covered, that will still take five to seven years, no real
comfort to those who will have to pay the fee starting in a few months. The
$102.6 million in costs will cover the fueling stations and car wash bays
in the QTAs, as well as relocating the existing bus and taxi hold areas in
order to make room for the additional QTA facilities, improving the Terminal
B exit ramp configuration and improving the rental car return ramps in both
terminals.

A personal appeal, for the third year

On April 27, I’ll be walking to raise money for the March
of Dimes again. The March of Dimes mission is to improve the health of
babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.
Last year, through the generosity of friends, family, co-workers and MousePlanet
readers, we managed to raise $4,025. This year, let’s beat that. Let’s see
if we can raise $5,000. I think we can. For more information, or to donate,
go here.

The Earffel Tower, the original icon of the Studios theme park, gets a new
paint job to transform from the old Disney-MGM Studios logo to the new Disney’s
Hollywood Studios logo. Photo © Disney, by Garth Vaughan.

Construction Update

This week’s listing of interesting items from paperwork filed with Orange
County in the last two weeks:

• Proving that some work has already taken place despite the permits being
  filed recently, a permit was filed to upgrade the smoke detection system,
  fire alarm, intrusion beams and mats at Snow White’s Scary Adventures, which
  returned from refurbishment on February 15.
• Handrails are being replaced in the Fastpass queue at The Many Adventures
  of Winnie the Pooh.
• Conduit and speakers are being installed in the ceiling of the Bibbidi
  Bobbidi Boutique location inside Cinderella Castle to pipe in background
  music.
• Cameras are being installed in the queues for Jungle Cruise and Buzz Lightyear’s
  Space Ranger Spin.
• Roof repairs will be done on the Tomorrowland Light & Power Company arcade
  at Space Mountain.
• An 8×10 beam will be replaced at the Liberty Square Riverboat Landing.
• New marquees will be installed at the Innoventions East and West secondary
  entrances.
• New cameras are being installed at the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
• $82,000 of new showset work will be done at the Magic of Disney Animation
  attraction, as well as the installation of power, battens & brackets for
  new lighting. It’s kind of unusual to see a dollar figure on one of these
  permits, especially when there’s no real description of what it’s for.
• A new fire alarm system is being installed at the Backlot Theater at the
  Studios.
• A new fence is being erected at one of the Fantasmic food pads.
• The Sweet Spells shop is getting a new cash register station and a new
  floor.
• Four fans, dampers and lights will be installed at the Lights, Motors,
  Action Stunt Show.
• Two existing grab & go coolers will be replaced by two full size coolers
  at Restaurantasaurus.
• The wood decking at Dino Bite Snacks will be replaced with something called
  Trex Decking.
• The roof of the Grand Floridian Convention Center will be replaced.
• Spa Treatment Room #3 at the Saratoga Springs Resort will get new lighting.
• The wood floor of the Yachtsman’s Steakhouse will be replaced and/or repaired,
  likely at the same time that the kitchen floor is being redone.
• A deck anchor for a chair lift and new dual handrails at the steps will
  be installed at the feature pool of the All-Star Sports Resort.
• Imagineering filed a new permit for a Fantasyland Circus Wagon. Since
  the other recent Imagineering paperwork has related to a DVC kiosk, we’re
  guessing that the circus wagon will be the theming of the DVC kiosk.
• Imagineering has also filed a permit for a new marquee at the Main Street
  Chapeau shop.
• Imagineering’s other permit this week is for a “WS Interactive Utility
  Package,” likely related to the Kim Possible interactive adventure still
  being installed around World Showcase.

Quick takes …

…With the departure of former Studios VP Michael O’Grattan for the post
of VP of Operations for the Disneyland Resort, Rilous Carter has been apopinted
as the new Vice President for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Carter was most
recently General Manager of Food & Beverage at Epcot. O’Grattan started his
Disney career at Disneyland in 1972, while Carter started at Disney in 1997.

…Walt Disney World is testing the use of room keys as verification for
Evening Extra Magic Hours rather than wristbands, as some enterprising souls
were finding ways to cheat the system.

…For the sixth year in a row, Aquascape, Inc. will create water gardens
of the future as part of the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival.
This year Aquascape and its subcontractors will construct six water features.
Displays will include a rainwater harvesting system, an 11′ x 16′ ecosystem
pond, decorative fountains, and an indoor feature located in the Garden Festival
Center at the Wonders of Life pavilion. The planned water displays are aligned
with Disney’s mission of sustainability and environmentally friendly initiatives.

…The numbers are in, and the various organizations running the 2008
Walt Disney World Marathon and Half Marathon for charity raised an estimated
combined total of more than $7.6 million, a new record. The biggest total,
$5.6 million, was raised by Team in Training for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
The AT Children?s Project raised $900,000 to cure a rare childhood disease,
and another $1 million was raised for 17 other charities.

…Hoping to avoid additional attention regarding the steroid use charges
lodged against him (as well as probing questions from guests in attendance),
Roger Clemens has stepped down as co-host of next weekend’s ESPN The Weekend
festivities at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Co-host Donovan McNabb will now
be the sole host for the weekend. In a statement, Clemens said, “I had been
looking forward to ESPN The Weekend. Given some strong feelings in some circles
today, I believe my current participation could be a distraction. The event
should be an occasion for fun by all and I want that to be the case for everyone
involved. So I will not be coming at this point in time, but I look forward
to participating in some future event.”

…The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will hold their training camp at Disney’s
Wide World of Sports Complex for seventh year in a row. While dates have not
yet been announced, it’s likely that they Bucs will be in town for practices
July 25 through August 14, arriving the day before practices start. Expect
the Celebration Hotel to be booked up for those dates, as the team takes over
the hotel as their headquarters and fills every room during those three weeks.

…The Velcro & Waste Management exhiibits at Innoventions are both now
open.

…While Spaceship Earth is now officially reopened, don’t be surprised
to see Imagineers continuing to tweak and fine-tune the attraction now that
it’s under a regular, heavy load.

…The Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station is once again open, and is
expected to continue operation through August before closing down again after
the seasonal rush.

…One side of the Jaguar slide at the Coronado Springs Resort’s main
feature pool will be closed for rehab March 31 ? April 30. The pool will remain
open during the work.

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

Talk about these stories and more on our Walt Disney World
discussion forum here.

Coming soon

• February 26, March 1, 6, 11, 14. Disney’s Pirate & Princess Party.
• February 29-March 2. Cheer & Dance National Championships.
• February 29 – March 2. ESPN ? The Weekend.
• February 27 – March 29. Atlanta Braves Training Camp at Disney’s Wide
  World of Sports complex.
• March 1-2. NDA National Dance Team Championship.
• March 7-9. UCA National All Star Cheerleading Championship.
• March 8. National Kidney Foundation 5K.
• March 9. Last performance of the Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade.
• March 14. First performance of the Block Party Bash parade.
• March 14, 15 and 17. Pleasure Island goes green for St. Patrick’s Day.
• March 15. Off to Never Land cel release.
• March 19 ? June 1. Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. [See
  our Park Guide Page.]

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

• Liberty Square Riverboat – closed for refurbishment February
  24–March 1.
• Peter Pan’s Flight – closed for
  refurbishment February 28–March 11.
• Minnie’s Country House – closed
  for refurbishment April 1–23.

Epcot

• Tutto Italia Ristorante – is now open, but will close in the
  spring to be completely remodeled, and will reopen in the fall under yet
  another new name.
• The Wonders of Life pavilion – has again closed as such, and
  most likely will only be used as a Festival Center until a new sponsor is
  found.
• Nine Dragons – closes April 30
  – November 30 for renovations that include the creation of an exhibition
  kitchen.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Journey Into Narnia: Creating The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
  – closed for refurbishment and likely conversion to a Prince Caspian
  theme, January 2 – May 23.
• Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade –
  ends March 9.
• Block Party Bash Parade – begins March 14.
• Mickey Avenue – closed through
  spring for installation of the Toy Story Mania attraction and related theming.
• “American Idol” – under construction in the soundstage
  that formerly hosted Superstar Television and Doug Live!. Scheduled to open
  in late 2008.

Animal Kingdom

No known current refurbishments.

Resorts

• Animal Kingdom Lodge – Construction
  of the Kidani Village annex building for the Disney Vacation Club’s Animal
  Kingdom Villas is expected to take until spring 2009. Jambo House construction
  is now complete.
• Caribbean Beach Resort – Feature
  pool closed for renovation January 7–mid-September. Temporary “child-sized”
  slides will be added to the quiet pools in the Jamaica and Barbados Villages
  while the main pool is closed.
• Coronado Springs Resort – One side
  of the Jaguar slide at the main feature pool will be closed for rehab March
  31 ? April 30. The pool will remain open during the work.
• Grand Floridian Resort & Spa –
  Work continues on the refurbishment of the main building.
• Port Orleans French Quarter Resort –
  Doubloon Lagoon feature pool closed for renovations January 28 through mid-March.
  Resort guests can take a shuttle to Port Orleans Riverside Resort to use
  the Ole’ Man Island pool at during this time, as well as using the quiet
  pools.

Water Parks

• Blizzard Beach – closed for annual refurbishment January 6
  – March 8.

Elsewhere

• Cirque du Soleil – La Nouba – performs Tuesdays –
  Saturdays.
• T-Rex Cafe – reportedly opens in Downtown
  Disney in late 2008.

Current Discounts & Promotions

Orlando Fun Tickets offering 5 days for the price of 3

For a limited time, MousePlanet discount ticket partner Orlando
Fun Tickets is currently offering a free
upgrade to a 5-day Park Hopper pass when you purchase a 3-day Park Hopper.
Check out the special offer or any of the other great prices on tickets at
OrlandoFunTickets.com!

Passholder, Florida Resident discounts available through March 6

Annual Passholders and Florida residents can take advantage of discounted
room rates from now through March 6. From now through February 13, with the
exception of Martin Luther King weekend, passholders and Florida residents
can stay at value resorts for as low as $49 per night, moderate resorts for
as little as $99 per night, or a deluxe villa resort starting at $149 per
night. (All rates in this article do not include tax.) Deluxe resorts are
also available. Passholders should use booking code FHJ, while Florida residents
should use code FHN.

Rates are a bit higher for stays most Sunday through Thursday nights from
February 18 through March 6. Value resorts run $79 per nights, moderates are
$139 per night and deluxe villas are $249 per night. Passholders use booking
code FIE, Florida residents use code FIU.

Note that the number of rooms available at these rates is limited. Minimum
length of stay requirements may apply for Friday or Saturday arrivals at Disney’s
Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. No group rates or other discounts apply. Adult
Annual Passes or proof of Florida residency must be shown at check-in.

In addition, from now through February 29 Florida residents can get a Disney
Play 4 Days Pass for $34 off the normal price. The pass gives you four admissions
to any of the four Walt Disney World theme parks, one park per day, for $125
plus tax. The pass is valid for six months from first use.

The Disney Play 4 Days Pass is available for purchase by phone at 407-WDW-4DAYS
(407-939-4329). They’re also available at Walt Disney World theme park ticket
windows and Resort hotel locations, Florida AAA offices and Florida Disney
Stores. Proof of Florida residency is required.

For ticket prices, park hours, and entertainment schedules, please go here.

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