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News and Views

Unions finally agree to contract under pressure from Disney

One week after rejecting a contract offer from Disney, members of the
Service Trades Council approved a largely similar offer last Thursday
after Disney warned that they would not not extend the existing contract
past Thursday night, and would begin unilaterally enforcing the higher
health care costs in the proposal without the proposed raises.

Following intervention by a federal mediator, the only major difference
between the approved contract and last week’s defeated version was Disney’s
agreement that, if eligible employees elected to receive bonuses paid
on a weekly basis instead of in a lump sum, Disney would pay the balance
of the bonuses if the employee leaves the company.

Contract terms include:

• Full-time employees will be guaranteed a minimum of 32 hours of work
  per week, up from 30 hours.
• By the second year of the contract, employees will need to work 30
  hours per week in order to receive benefits, up from 25 hours.
• Workers who do not receive tips and currently earn the top pay rate
  (approximately $11.12 per hour) get an increase of 20 cents per hour
  and a lump-sum bonus of $1,500-$1,700 during the first year of the contract.
  The second year of the contract would provide a bonus of $1,000-$1,200
  with no pay increase. The third year would provide a raise of 25 cents
  per hour with no bonus.
• Workers receiving the lowest pay rate ($6.70 per hour) will get increases
  of 10 cents per hour in each year of the contract, ending at $7 per
  hour at the contract’s conclusion.
• Workers in between the base and top pay grades will receive a four
  percent annual increase.
• Pay increases are effective on various dates, with some retroactive
  to May or October and others taking effect upon ratification of the
  contract.
• Disney will not create a 401(k) retirement plan for new employees,
  but instead will continue to place them into the existing pension plan.
• Premiums for three of the available five health care plans will be
  set at 90 percent of non-unionized employees in 2006 and 90 percent
  in 2007. The other two health care plans will see set dollar value increases
  through 2007.
• We’ve also heard that the Teamsters local was able to negotiate a
  sidebar contract that provided for an additional salary increase.

The three-year deal, applauded by Wall Street, was approved by a 3,771-2,669
margin, as opposed to the prior week’s 3,686-2,827 margin of defeat. As
with the defeated contract, the four unions involved in the final negotiation
with Disney urged ratification, while the other two unions urged defeat.
The rancor between the unions is leading some observers to believe that
this may be the final contract to be negotiated together by all six unions.

The new Crush ‘n’ Gusher water coaster is expected to open when Typhoon
Lagoon reopens from its annual rehab next Spring. Photo © Disney.

Disney officially announces “Crush ‘n’ Gusher,” Typhoon Lagoon
water coaster

After much discussion and publication of construction photos on many
web sites, including this one, Disney finally announced the “water
coaster” that is under construction at Typhoon Lagoon. The “Crush
‘n’ Gusher” will be themed to a produce washing facility at a tropical
fruit plant. The water flow will take riders through the wash’s flumes
and spillways. There will be three different choices, ranging in length
from 410-430 feet – Banana Blaster, Coconut Crusher and Pineapple
Plunger. The ride is expected to open with the water park next Spring,
following its annual rehab.

Judge dismisses lawsuit claiming Disney stole Epcot idea

On Friday, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patricia C. Fawsett dismissed
a copyright case against Disney claiming that Disney stole the idea for
Epcot because the plaintiff “failed to carry its burden of proof.” The
suit, filed by an heir of Hawaiian artist Mark Waters, claimed that Robert
Jaffray, a friend of Waters, came up with an idea called “Miniature
Worlds” and had Waters illustrate the ideas. Jaffray allegedly brought
the paintings to Disney. Fawsett’s decision noted that “While the Epcot
renderings and Miniature Worlds paintings contain similar ideas, both
works express these ideas dissimilarly.”

Waters and Jaffray are both deceased, and filing of the suit by Waters’
heir followed the dismissal of a suit filed by an heir of Jaffray. The
families had agreed to split any proceeds. A decision has not yet been
made regarding the possibility of an appeal.

New Year’s Eve events

Disney has announced details of the New Year’s Eve celebrations around
the resort:

• Downtown Disney Pleasure Island will once again hold its annual hard-ticketed
  ($84 plus tax) New Year’s Eve party. Performers include Cheap Trick,
  Tone Loc, Kurtis Blow and Kim Waters. There will of course be a midnight
  fireworks spectacular, desserts and a champagne toast. The special-ticket
  event is for revelers 21 and older and takes place from 8 p.m.-2 a.m.
• Cirque du Soleil is hosting an alternative to New Year’s Eve with
  special presentations of La Nouba at 6 and 9 p.m. Guests will receive
  champagne and a program including a limited edition insert with the
  performers’ signatures. The cost is $20 in addition to regular La Nouba
  admission.
• The Magic Kingdom will feature the “SpectroMagic” parade at 7 and
  10:15 p.m., “Wishes” fireworks at 8:30 p.m. and a special New Year’s
  Eve “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks show just before midnight. The park
  is open from 8 a.m.-1 a.m.
• Epcot’s New Year’s Eve Countdown Spectacular offers live music and
  deejays throughout World Showcase and two special showings of “Illuminations:
  Reflections of Earth” (7:30 and 11:40 p.m.) with a New Year’s countdown
  and an “Auld Lang Syne” finale to the late performance.
• The Disney-MGM Studios will feature live performances at “Sorcerer
  Hat Stage.” Lisa Z & Funhouse play high-energy dance beats at 10
  and 11 p.m. and 12:15 a.m. In between sets DJ Charles Miles will play
  a variety of music spanning the decades. “Lights, Camera, Fireworks!”
  a fireworks show created just for the New Year, illuminates the sky
  just before midnight. Complimentary hats and horns will be distributed
  to guests on Mickey Avenue (while supplies last).
• The Disney Cruise Line rings in the New Year with ship-wide festivities
  for the entire family aboard Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. Children
  get special programming in the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab. The teen
  areas, Aloft (Disney Wonder) and The Stack (Disney Magic), offer DJ-hosted,
  teen-only dance parties. Adults enjoy champagne toasts and New Year’s
  Eve entertainment in the adults-only entertainment districts.

After a soft opening on November 11, Turtle Talk with Crush officially
opened last Tuesday, giving lucky guests a chance to chat with the Finding
Nemo character. Photo © Disney.

New tennis program announced

The Disney Racquet Club at Disney’s Contemporary Resort has a new program
of tennis lessons, clinics and private instruction that includes a chance
to test skills in a match with a professional. Guests of intermediate/advanced
level can take on the pros and have their performances critiqued by a
professional player. “Play the professional” is $40 per hour. Private
lessons are structured around guests’ ability levels and cost $50 per
hour.

Disney Cruise Line announces new pirate-themed deck party

Pirates IN the Caribbean is a new entertainment offering on both the
Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. The feast and deck party are currently
running aboard the Magic, and are scheduled to appear on the Wonder early
next year. The event adds a pirate flair to the night’s dinner and deck
party.

Photos with Santa at Downtown Disney for you and your pet

In addition to all of the holiday decorations and entertainment in Downtown
Disney, you can also get your photo taken with Santa Claus at Santa’s
Village in front of World of Disney from 5 pm. to 10 p.m. today through
Thursday and noon to 10 p.m. from Friday thorugh December 24. And if your
cat or dog wants to visit with the old guy in the red suit, they are welcome
to visit between noon and 10 p.m. December 4-12 only.

Bruce’s Shark World opened at the same time as Turtle Talk with Crush.
Guests get a chance to learn about sharks with the Great White who’s still
trying to remember that “fish are friends, not food.” Photo
© Disney.

Flower Power concert schedule

The list of artists performing at the Flower Power concert series for
next spring’s Flower and Garden Festival is now available. The following
list is subject to change:

• Davy Jones: April 15-18
• Gary U.S. Bonds: April 19-21
• Paul Revere & The Raiders: April 22-25
• The Buckinghams: April 26-28
• The Grass Roots starring Rob Grill: April 29-May 1
• The Lovin’ Spoonful: May 9-11
• The Nelsons: May 12-14
• Gary Puckett: May 15-17
• Orleans: May 18-20
• B.J. Thomas: May 24-25
• Arlo Guthrie: June 2-5

PhotoPass site up, waiting for Thursday debut

With a scheduled introduction on Thanksgiving Day, Disney has put up
a placeholder page to introduce its Disney’s PhotoPass site (link).
After its introduction, visitors will be able to review, share and order
photos taken at Walt Disney World from any computer after they return
home. Photos will still be available for purchase in the parks, but deciding
that you probably should have bought that photo of you and Mickey in front
of SpaceShip Earth after you get home will no longer be a tragedy. All
you’ll need is the code from the slip of paper that the Disney photographer
will give you when the photo is taken, and you can retrieve the image
and purchase prints of it online.

Ears to the ground

…See it while you can. Wonders of Life will be open Dec 18–31.
No word yet confirming or denying the rumor that it will be open during
The Land’s rehab.

…Evening Extra Magic Hours (for 3 hours after park close) will tentatively
begin on a regular basis on January 9th, with the Disney-MGM Studios having
their night on Sundays. More info on this as we get it.

The opening ceremonies for Stitch’s Great Escape featured Stitch and Elvis
impersonators in front of a vandalized Cinderella Castle. Photo © Disney.

…Stitch’s Great Escape made its official debut last Tuesday, complete
with toilet paper strewn over Cinderella Castle, “Stitch is King”
painted in graffiti on one of the castle’s turrets, and Stitch and a group
of Elvis impersonators interrupting a performance of Cinderella’s Surprise
Celebration. Reportedly, reaction to the attraction is still very mixed
despite the festivities.

…Free refrigerators have now been placed in all deluxe resorts,
and the moderates should be done shortly. We’ve heard that installation
at Port Orleans French Quarter is expected to be complete by Thanksgiving.

…Updating an earlier news item, Disney has reversed itself, and
now has scheduled Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parade during park hours
for December 18 through January 1.

…The December 17 date for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party has
sold out.

…The Home Depot College Football Awards will be broadcast live from
Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney’s BoardWalk from 7-9 p.m. EST Dec. 9 on
ESPN.

Have any interesting news or rumors? Let
us know.

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

• “it’s a small world” – closed through March
  18, 2005 for rehab (info).


• 20,000 League Under the Sea lagoon – walled off to “clear
  the land as well as add landscape for future use.” Reopens soon.


• Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress – expected to remain
  open for the holiday season, then will go down for major rehab.


• Timekeeper – opens seasonally. It is open November 21-27
  from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and will likely be open for the last two
  weeks of December, as well.


• Adventureland – opens with the rest of the park daily
  with the exception of the Jungle Cruise and the Enchanted
  Tiki Room – Under New Management, which open at 10 a.m.


• The Hall of Presidents and the Country Bear Jamboree
  – open at 10 a.m. every day.


• The Hub area in front of the castle – undergoes more refurbishing
  in January 2005 in preparation for the Cinderellabration show coming
  later in the year.


• Cinderella’s Royal Table – will be closed for rehab January
  17–27, 2005. Lunch and dinner will resume on January 28, while
  character breakfasts will return on January 29.


• Astro Orbiter – closed January 2 – February 16,
  2005.


• Dumbo the Flying Elephant – closed January 10 –
  February 12, 2005.
• Cinderella’s Surprise Celebration – last performance on
  February 26, 2005. Expected to return after the 18-month “Happiest
  Homecoming on Earth” celebration ends.
• Cinderellabration – begins preview performances in March
  2005. Expected to run until the end of the 18-month “Happiest Homecoming
  on Earth” celebration.

Epcot

• Soarin’ – is officially scheduled to open in May 2005,
  but may have an earlier soft opening.


• The Behind the Seeds Walking Tour of the greenhouses at The
  Land – discontinued construction of the queue area for Soarin’.
  Expected to resume upon completion of the construction.


• The Land pavilion – will close January 2 – March
  31, 2005 for completion of the Soarin’ attraction.


• 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 now open when the pavilion is open.
  The pavilion will be open December 18–31, and it is rumored but
  not confirmed that it will be open next January – March during
  the closure of The Land pavilion.


• El Rio del Tiempo – will not be operating December 6–8.

Disney-MGM Studios

• Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show, an American version
  of the popular Moteurs… Action! stunt show from the Walt
  Disney Studios at Disneyland Paris – is officially scheduled to
  debut in May 2005.


• Streets of America Backlot – undergoing construction
  to change facades to represent Chicago and San Francisco. Formerly known
  as New York Street.


• The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights – returns this
  year on the Streets of America backlot, November 24 – January 2.


• Fantasmic – will not be performed January 24-26.

Animal Kingdom

• Lucky the Dinosaur – is scheduled to debut in Spring
  2005.


• Expedition Everest – is scheduled to open in Spring 2006.

Resorts

• Port Orleans Resort – Ongoing two-year extensive rehab
  of its rooms. Phase I’s French Quarter has reopened. Phase II is underway,
  and involves Riverside going through a phased rehab. The Magnolia Bend
  mansions are being worked on one by one, and will be 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 are resuming. Scheduled: Rapa
  Nui January 3 – April 1, 2005, Tahiti April 24 – August 17,
  2005. Tokelau, not yet refurbished, is not yet scheduled.


• Old Key West Resort – The main pool is closed through
  mid-December to construct a new themed water slide.


• BoardWalk Resort – portions of the resort will see work
  on the piping system take place in corridors outside guest rooms daily
  between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. through summer 2005. No work is scheduled
  inside guest rooms.


• Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa – 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.
• Yacht and Beach Club Resorts – An overall refurbishment
  of the Stormalong Bay pool area at the Beach Club is running through
  early 2005. Certain sections of the pool will be unavailable at various
  times during the project. Those parts of the main pool not immediately
  being worked on will remain available for use. The first portion of
  the work should be completed by December 23. The main Shipwreck Slide
  will be closed only from January 3 to February 25, 2005, due to a painting
  project in that area.
• Coronado Springs Resort – Construction continues on the
  86,000 square foot exhibit hall that is scheduled to open in the Spring
  of 2005. Construction noises may be audible throughout the Casitas section
  of the resort during the daytime construction.

Water Parks

• Blizzard Beach – undergoes its annual refurbishment from
  October 24 – December 11.


• Typhoon Lagoon – will close for its annual refurbishment
  from December 12, 2004– March 12, 2005. It will reopen with a new
  water coaster, called the Crush ‘N’ Gusher.

Elsewhere

• Cirque du Soleil – La Nouba – performs Tuesdays through
  Saturdays, but closes December 5–13.


• The All Star Cafe at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex
  – now closed Monday–Wednesday. Open Thursday–Sunday,
  from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Park Events

November 2004

• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (link).
  November 28 & 30, December 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, &
  17.


• Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights (link).
  November 24 – January 2.


• Festival of the Seasons at Downtown Disney (link).
  November 26 – December 24.


• Holidays Around the World (link).
  November 26 – December 30.

December 2004

• Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer and Dance Championships
  (link).
  December 5-11.


• Join MousePlanet at MouseFest (link).
  December 9-13.


• Disney’s Soccer Showcase (link).
  December 27-January 2, 2005.


• 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

• Twirl Mania – The Twirler’s Championships (link).
  February 18 – 21.


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

April 2005

• Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (link).
  April 15 – June 5.


• Walt Disney World® Inline Marathon (link).
  April 30 – May 1.

May 2005

• Star Wars Weekends (link).
  Weekends in May – June TBA.

June 2005

• Gay and Lesbian Day at Walt Disney World (link1)(link2).
  June 2–5.

October 2005

• Funai Classic at Walt Disney World (link).
  October 20?23.

Current Discounts & Promotions

Discounts for early 2005 are out

Resort discounts for the first part of 2005 have been announced. Annual
Passholder & Florida Resident discounts are valid for January 2 through
February 16, while general & Canada Resident discounts are good for January
2 through April 16. Room-only and Dream Maker packages are available.
See the Walt Disney World web site (link)
or MouseSavers (link)
for more information.

Play 4 Days is back

The Florida Resident Play 4 Days Ticket allows Florida residents four
days of play in Disney’s four theme parks through November 21, 2004 for
$119 per person ($126.74 including tax). Park-hopping is permitted on
the days used. The ticket is available at Disney theme parks, Florida
Disney Stores, and other locations such as Florida AAA offices. Proof
of Florida residency is required.

Radisson Resort Parkway announces rates through 2005

Radisson Resort Parkway, a MousePlanet sponsor, has announced their rates
through the end of 2005, and has reduced their rates for much of the rest
of this year. 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.

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 January 2005.

Entertainment Schedule

Hours and entertainment schedules are currently
available through January 2005.

Theme Park Events

Downtown Disney Entertainment

(Separate admission required)