Walt Disney World Park Update

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News and Views

You need to be fast just to register – It took just 12 days
for 6,000 runners to register for next year’s Walt Disney World Half Marathon.
The event sold out in record time, less than two weeks after registration
opened on March 1. The full Marathon is also filling up fast, with 6000
of the 16,000 slots already registered. If you are considering entering
for this January 2004 event, don’t put it off another minute. Register
at the Disney
Sports Web site.

Registration also closed for WDW Inline Marathon – Thanks
to an overwhelming response from inline skaters across the United States
and around the world, Disney Sports Attractions has announced that registration
for the first-ever Disneys Inline Marathon has officially closed. With
more than three weeks until the event, more than 1,500 participants from
as far away as Hawaii and Denmark have registered to compete in the first
inline marathon and half marathon at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando,
Florida. Both inline races are scheduled for 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, March
30.

Registration is still available for the All Star Kids Classic scheduled
for March 29 at 1 p.m. The event will feature three inline races for kids
the 100-meter dash (ages 3-6), 400-meter dash (ages 7-9) and 1600-meter
dash (ages 10-12). Registration is available
online in advance of the event at (click on road races) or on
race day from 10 a.m. to noon. The $5 entry fee is non-refundable.

Sleep in Africa, sail to the Caribbean ­ Disney has just announced
that the Animal Kingdom Lodge will be added as an option to 7-night land
& sea vacation packages for guests sailing on the Disney Wonder. The
hotel will be available for arrivals beginning August 21,2003, and replaces
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge as a package option.

Spring is busting out all over Epcot! The 10th annual celebration
of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will be held April
25 – June 8. This spectacular event will dazzle guests with millions
of blooms, fantastic flowers, and favorite Disney character topiary.

Bring out your love beads for the Flower Power Concert Series.
Showtimes at 5:45, 7:00 and 8:00 pm (subject to change without notice):

• Davy Jones April 25-28


• Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas April 29 – 30 & May 1 –
  2


• Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals May 3 – 4


• Classic Rock All-Stars (Rare Earth, Iron Butterfly, Sugarloaf All-Stars)
  May 5 – 8


• Paul Revere & The Raiders May 9 – 12


• Gary Lewis & The Playboys May 13 – 15


• The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie May 16 – 19


• The Grass Roots starring Rob Grill May 20 – 22


• Herman’s Hermits featuring Peter Noone May 23 – 26


• Dave Mason May 27 – 29


• Gary Puckett May 30 – 31 & June 1


• The Buckinghams June 2 – 3


• The Lovin’ Spoonful June 4 – 5


• Arlo Guthrie June 6 – 8

The Festival’s favorite topiary couple — Mickey & Minnie —
will welcome guests in a display featuring Love, Art, and Music —
represented in a 30-foot artist’s palette topiary and a floral musical
staff. An all-new Disney’s “DogGone” Maze for kids makes its debut. All
this and more is included in regular Epcot admission. Don’t forget to
make your reservation for our scrumptious “Mother’s Day Weekend” brunch
on Saturday and Sunday, May 10 and 11. Space is limited. Call (407) WDW-DINE
for priority seating.

Weekend Themes

• Opening Weekend April 25, 26 & 27


• Art in the Garden May 2, 3 & 4


• Mother’s Day (Featuring Mother’s Day Brunch) May 9, 10 & 11


• Fun for the Family May 16, 17 & 18


• Memorial Day May 23, 24, 25 & 26


• I Dig Bugs May 30 & 31, June 1


• Closing Weekend June 6, 7 & 8

Take Mom to brunch at Epcot for her special day – The ever-popular
“Mother’s Day Weekend” Brunch is a highlight of the International Flower
and Garden Festival. A sumptuous brunch is held among the fragrance of
a million blooms.

• When: Saturday, May 10, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, May 11, 9 a.m.
  to 4 p.m.


• Cost: Adults: $29.99 (Gratuity included/plus tax) Children: $12.99

Space is limited. Call (407) WDW-DINE to make your reservation.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

The Blizzard Beach water park refurbishment, originally
scheduled to end on March 2, has been extended through Wednesday, April
9, 2003.

Main Street Plaza Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom will
be closed for refurbishment through Sunday, April 6, 2003.

The Shipwreck Slide, located at Stormalong Bay at Disney?s
Yacht & Beach Club Resort, is closed for refurbishment January 3 through
April 4, 2003. The pool areas at Stormalong Bay remains open while the
pool slide undergoes refurbishment.

The Theater in Epcot’s China Pavilion closes for refurbishment
March 26 ­ May 22. The Gallery, merchandise shop and restaurants will
continue to operate.

Great Movie Ride at Disney-MGM Studio is closed for
refurbishment February 24 ­ April 13.

Park Events

Upcoming events

Feb. 27 through March 28 ­ Atlanta Braves Spring Training exhibition
games at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex. Tickets go on sale January
4. Buy tickets in person at the Disney Wide World of Sports box office,
or call Ticketmaster at 407-839-3900.

March 17 ­ St. Patrick’s Day at Pleasure Island. ‘Sham-rock’
and roll at Pleasure Island , as the nighttime entertainment district
celebrates St. Patrick’s Day. The island turns green with live music and
videos by Irish artists, as well as leprechauns, green specialty beverages,
and access to Pleasure Island’s eight fun-filled clubs.

The St. Patrick’s Party at Pleasure Island is included in regular Pleasure
Island admission. For more information, contact the Downtown Disney Information
Hotline at (407) 939-2648.

March 29 – All Star Kids Classic, a series of races for youths
that takes place as part of Disney’s inline skating weekend. Both the
marathon as well as Kids Classic are sanctioned by USA Roller Sports,
an organization that governs and sanctions skating events around the country.

March 30 ­ First-ever Walt Disney World Inline Marathon. Get more
information at the Disney Wide World of Sports Web site.

April 25 through June 8 ­ 10th Epcot International Flower & Garden
Festival.

May 15 through 18 ­ 5th Annual Celebration of Walt Disney Art Classics cruise and
mini-convention aboard the Disney Wonder

May 16 – June 15 ­Star Wars Weekends. Get more information in
Brian
Bennett’s WDW Trip Planning Guide on Star Wars Weekends.

June 3 through June 9 ­ Gay Days 2003. This unofficial event is
not sponsored by Disney. Event information can be obtained from the event sponsor.

June 14, 2003 ­ Mickey?s Toon Town of Pins at the Magic Kingdom

September 19-21, 2003 ­ Disney?s Pin Celebration at Epcot

November 16-20, 2003 ­ Pin Trading Cruise aboard the Disney
Wonder

Current Discounts & Promotions

The
Radisson Resort Parkway, a MousePlanet sponsor hotel, is offering
great rates to MousePlanet readers through December, 2003. Sample
rates for selected dates and rooms are listed below. To take advantage
of these special rates, make your reservations using the link found on
this
page.

MouseSavers.com
is reporting some great rates for travel to Walt Disney World:

• New hotel discount codes are available for check-ins April
  27 through July 3. Sample rates range from at $74 at the All Stars,
  to $420 for a main lodge concierge room at the Grand Floridian. Travel
  must be booked by April 26, using the discount
  codes found at MouseSavers. Note: This is a new discount code
  that is an even better deal than the one offered just a week ago.

• Whatcha doing in April? Take advantage of fabulous rates for last-minute travel on the Disney
  Cruise Line. If you can sail on April 12, you can try out the hot new
  7-day Western Caribbean itinerary for just $799.

Prices are per adult, based on double occupancy, and the usual taxes
apply. Only 50 cabins are available at this rate. If April 12 is a little
too soon to travel, MouseSavers has a list of Disney Cruise Line Magical
Rates, available for departures through January 2004.

• Disney Club Spring Dream Maker Packages – Disney Club members
  can receive an additional a $100 discount on Dream Maker packages, for
  check-in March 1 through 31.
  

  Prices start at $428 for adults, $223 for juniors and $178 for kids
  staying in the same room. Book by March 28, using this special discount
  code.

  
  


• The Disney’s Atlanta Braves Spring Training Vacation package
  is now available. A two-night package starts as low as $273 per person
  based on double adult occupancy at a select Disney value resort and
  is valid for travel most nights from Feb. 20 through March 27, 2003.
  Junior rate for this package is $184 per guest ages 10-17 and child
  rate is $151 per guest ages 3 to 9. Packages must be booked by March
  25, 2003. Additional game tickets are available, as well as additional
  nights and other resorts at varying rates.
  

  Included with the Atlanta Braves Spring Training package, you can
  also attend team workouts (earlier that same day) and any other general
  admission events taking place at the Disney’s Wide World of Sports
  complex that day.

  
  


• Going camping? Enjoy these special rates at Fort Wilderness.
  
  
  
  • Partial hook-up campsites $35
  
  
  • Full hook-up campsites $45
  
  
  • Cabins from $169
  
  
  
  

  These rates are available for campsites April 27 – June 7, and for
  cabins April 27 – July 3. You must book by March 8, using this special
  discount
  code.

  
  

Annual Passholders can receive 10% 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 Monday – Friday. Call
407-WDW-Dine for locations and reservations.

Park Hours

Entertainment Schedule