Walt Disney World Park Update

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News and Views

Some Time Off

Mark Goldhaber is enjoying a much deserved vacation. Updated schedule information is provided this week; the WDW Park Update will return to normal next week.

Have any interesting news or rumors? Let us know.

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

• “it’s a small world” – closed for rehab through March 18, 2005. The work is expected to be for upgrades to the lighting, audio, and electrical systems, rehabs to sets and Audio-Animatronic figures, asbestos abatement, roof repair, regular water maintenance (draining and refilling), replacement of boats, and the rumored swapping of the entry and exit queues for better traffic flow and more stroller parking. The audio upgrade will include a return to a cleaned-up copy of the stereo soundtrack heard at the 1964 World’s Fair, which has been very well received since it returned to Disneyland a couple of years ago.
• 20,000 League Under the Sea lagoon – has been walled off to “clear the land as well as add landscape for future use.” The work is expected to run through November 19, with the walls tentatively coming down on November 11.
• The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter – closed for good. It is now undergoing a major rehab and reopens in fall 2004 as Stitch’s Great Escape. The official opening of the new attraction is scheduled for October 1.
• Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress – expected to remain open for the duration of the Stitch’s Great Escape construction.
• Timekeeper – seasonal operation. The attraction will be open for the summer season from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. through August 14.
• Adventureland – now opens again with the rest of the park daily with the exception of the Jungle Cruise and the Enchanted Tiki Room – Under New Management, which still open at 10 a.m. However, Jungle Cruise will open with the rest of the park for the summer, from mid-June through mid-August.
• The Hall of Presidents and the Country Bear Jamboree also open at 10 a.m. every day.
• Tomorrowland Indy Speedway – remains open during its rehab. Work on the grandstand and other support areas will run through mid-August, and track work will continue through late September.
• Fantasyland Skyway building area – will go under rehab from July 11 – September 30. While the building itself will not be worked on, the grounds in front will be completely redone. The waterfall, bridge and pond will be removed and replaced with a meet-and-greet for Snow White and a new stroller parking area for “it’s a small world.”
• Donald’s Boat – will be down for rehab from July 12 – August 12.
• Tom Sawyer Island – will be closed from July 25 – September 25 for a major refurbishment, though the Rivers of America will be unaffected.
• Jungle Cruise – will be down for rehab from August 22 – September 5.
• Magic Carpets of Aladdin – down for rehab September 13 – October 15.
• Ariel’s Grotto – down for rehab September 22 – November 19 for theme-matching with the 20,000 Leagues Lagoon reclamation.
• The Hub area in front of the castle – will undergo more refurbishing in January, 2005.
• Astro Orbiter – down for rehab January 2 – February 16, 2005.
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant – down for rehab January 10 – February 12, 2005.

Epcot

• The Universe of Energy – may close for a short rehab at any time to remove the ExxonMobil signage now that its pavilion sponsorship has ended.
• Food Rocks – closed permanently to make way for the entrance to the new Soarin’ Over California attraction.
• The Behind the Seeds Walking Tour of the greenhouses at The Land – discontinued during reconstruction of the Food Rocks area into the queue for Soarin’. The tours are expected to resume upon completion of the construction.
• The Wonders of Life pavilion – open seasonally. The Pure and Simple eatery and the Well and Goods Limited shop have been removed, while the Body Wars, Cranium Command, and The Making of Me attractions will now be open when the pavilion is open. It appears that the pavilion will not open this summer, which does not bode well for the future.

Disney-MGM Studios

• Residential Street at the Disney-MGM Studios – closed and demolished and construction is well underway to turn the site into the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show, an American version of the popular Moteurs… Action! stunt show from the Walt Disney Studios at Disneyland Paris.
• New York Street – undergoing a great deal of construction to change some facades to represent Chicago and San Francisco. Previously believed to be renamed Big City Street, the newly-confirmed name of the area will be the Streets of America Backlot. The target completion date is October 2.
• The Magic of Disney Animation will be closed September 13 – September 24, 2004.
• Sounds Dangerous – Staring Drew Carey will close July 27 – August 1, 2004.
• The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights – will return this year on the Streets of America backlot, from November 24 through January 2.

Animal Kingdom

• No currently reported rehabs.

Resorts

• Port Orleans Resort – A two-year extensive rehab of this resort’s rooms is ongoing. For Phase I, French Quarter has reopened. Phase II is underway, and involves Riverside going through a phased rehab. The Magnolia Bend mansions will go down one by one, followed by Alligator Bayou closing in sections.
• Polynesian Resort – nearing completion of the refurbishment of longhouses. Each longhouse under rehab is walled off and isolated during its rehab. Room refurbishments at the Polynesian Resort are resuming. Rapa Nui is scheduled for January 3 through April 1, 2005, and Tahiti will get its makeover from April 24 through August 17, 2005. Tokelau has not yet been refurbished, but has not yet been scheduled, either.
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort – The main pool will be closed from September through the end of the year for construction of a new water slide.
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa (a new Disney Vacation Club resort) – now open. Construction continues on the rest of the resort; the other three buildings of Phase I are due by the end of the year, the eight units of Phase II are due in 2005, and the six units of the newly-announced Phase III are due in 2007. Phase III will involve the razing of the old Fairway Villas.

Water Parks

• No current water park rehabs underway.

Elsewhere

• Cirque du Soleil – La Nouba – performs Tuesdays through Saturdays, but will be closed August 22–25, October 17–20, and December 5–13.
• The All Star Cafe at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex – now closed Monday-Wednesday. It is open Thursday–Sunday, from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Park Events

July 2004

• E-Ride Nights at the Magic Kingdom. July 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 30.
• “ESPN The Weekend” (link). July 31 and Aug. 1.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex (link). July 31 through August 19.

August 2004

• E-Ride Nights at the Magic Kingdom. August 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13.

September 2004

• Tom Joyner Family Reunion Weekend (link). September 2–5.
• Nights of Joy (link). September 9 – 11.
• A Family Pin Gathering – Disney’s Pin Celebration 2004 (link). September 10 – 12.
• Disney’s International Distance Triathlon (link). September 26.

October 2004

• Epcot International Food & Wine Festival (link). October 1 – November 14.
• Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (link). October 1, 3, 8, 12, 14, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29 and 31.
• 2004 Komen Central Florida Race For The Cure 5K (link). October 9.
• Disney’s 10K Classic (link). October 10.
• Funai Classic golf tournament at Walt Disney World (link). October 21–24.
• 999 Happy Haunts event (link). October 25-27.

November 2004

• Festival of the Masters at Downtown Disney (link). November 12–14.
• Super Soap Weekend (link). November 13-14.
• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (link). November 28 and 30, December 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 17.
• Festival of the Seasons at Downtown Disney (link). November 26 – December 24.
• Holidays Around the World (link). November 26 – December 30.

December 2004

• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (link). November 28 and 30, December 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 17.
• New Year’s Eve celebrations at Pleasure Island (link) and Atlantic Dance (link). December 31.

January 2005

• Disney’s Health and Fitness Expo (link). January 7 & 8.
• FamilyFun Magazine Family Fun Run (link). January 8.
• Disney Marathon (link) and Half-Marathon (link). January 9.

February 2005

• Atlanta Braves Training Camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex (link). Dates in February through April TBA.

April 2005

• Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (link). Dates in February through April TBA.

May 2005

• Star Wars Weekends (link). Weekends in May and June.

June 2005

• Gay and Lesbian Day at Walt Disney World (link). June 2-5.

Current Discounts & Promotions

New August Dream Maker package discount

A new specially-priced Dream Maker package is available for most nights from August 1-28. The discount is on the room portion of the package only. Reservations must be made by July 31. See the Walt Disney World web site (link) or MouseSavers (link) for more information.

Room discounts through August

Discounts are available on rooms at Walt Disney World for stays from now through August 28. Deeper Annual Passholder and Florida Resident discounts are also available. See the Walt Disney World web site (link) or MouseSavers (link) for more information.

Rate reductions at Radisson Resort Parkway

Radission Resort Parkway, a MousePlanet sponsor, has advised us of the newest discount rates for the remainder of 2004. In addition to these reduced rates, guests can receive a complimentary upgrade to deluxe pool view accommodations for the remainder of 2004 simply by typing in the code of ?UPGR? in the promotional field of the reservation.

Click here for more information, or here to make reservations now.

2005 rates will be available by the end of July.

Florida Resident Cirque du Soleil La Nouba special

Florida residents can receive 20 percent off Category Two tickets at Cirque du Soleil in Downtown Disney’s West Side from June 1 – September 30, 2004. Blackout dates are June 20 – July5 and August 22–25. Proof of residency and advance purchase are required. The discount is not available at the ticket window, and there is a limit of four tickets per transaction. To order call 407-939-1282.

Gaylord Palms to pay for gas

Guests of the Gaylord Palms Resort will receive a $75 credit to cover the higher cost of gasoline for stays of at least three nights from June 15 through Sept. 6. The Orlando-area resort will provide the room credit to guests who make a reservation using the promotion code FREEGAS. It is not a requirement that guests drive to the resort in order to get the discount.

Disney’s Summer Price Slice returns

Summer Price Slice is back with special-value greens fees on tee times after 10 a.m. daily from May 17 through Sept. 30 on Disney’s five championship courses.

Golfers can test the premier Osprey Ridge course after 10 a.m. for $65 (compared to a normal seasonal greens fee of $119) or Eagle Pines for $50 (compared to a normal seasonal fee of $109). Post-10 a.m. rounds on the Magnolia, Palm or Lake Buena Vista courses are $45 (compared to a normal seasonal fee of $99). Cart is included.

Disney’s Summer Price Slice also gives golfers the opportunity to play afternoon rounds late into the day. Golfers can take on Osprey Ridge after 3 p.m. for $35 ($30 after 5 p.m.). Eagle Pines, Magnolia, Palm and Lake Buena Vista start at $30 after 3 p.m. ($25 after 5 p.m.).

For tee times, guests may call 407/WDW-GOLF (407-939-4653). For information on the Walt Disney World golf courses Web site (link).

Plan ahead and save a few bucks

The Walt Disney World Resort is encouraging visitors to buy their theme park tickets before they even leave home, by offering a slight discount on advance purchases. You can save as much as $26 per adult, per ticket with the “Advance Purchase Savings” program. These prices are before the 6.5 percent Orange County sales tax.

You can also receive these Advance Purchase Savings with packages purchased through AAA.

Annual Passholders

Receive 10 percent off the price of their lunch meal at selected Walt Disney World Resort hotel restaurants, and the discount is good for up to three guests. The offer is valid Mondays through Fridays. Call 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463) for locations and reservations.

Park Hours

Hours and entertainment schedules are currently available through September 2004.

Entertainment Schedule

Hours and entertainment schedules are currently available through September 2004.

Theme Park Events

Downtown Disney Entertainment

(Separate admission required)