Walt Disney World Park Update

Update for September 19 – 25, 2005

Go directly to: News & Views | Refurbishment/Attraction
Closures | Park Events | Discounts/Promotions
| Park Hours | Events/Entertainment Schedule

News and Views

“Magical Express” playing dirty tricks?

The Greater Orlando Livery Association (GOLA), has hired an attorney
to continue its fight against what former U.S. Attorney Larry Colleton
calls an unfair business practice, whereby the Orlando International Airport
(OIA) has given Disney “exclusive and uprecedented access to travelers.”
Colleton, whose firm has been retained by GOLA to fight the Disney’s Magical
Express (DME) service and its relationship with OIA, listed five separate
issues in a letter to OIA. The 200-member GOLA firms own a collective
600 vehicles, and claim that DME is costing its members approximately
$100,000 per month since it began in May.

Specifically, GOLA alleges that the airport has given DME staff additional
access to travelers in violation of OIA’s own solicitation policy. The
policy states that travelers cannot be solicited by car and bus services
inside the terminal, yet GOLA claims that DME staff allowed into the terminal
for the purposes of “directing” DME customers to the boarding area are
actually soliciting those who have not already signed up for the service,
giving DME an unfair advantage.

In addition, they claim that DME staff have access in and behind the
baggage claim area, which is otherwise restricted solely to airport and
airline staff, giving them another unfair advantage. Disney claims not
to have violated any of the terms of the agreement, noting that all resort
guests are entitled to use the service. The airport has not yet commented
on the allegations.

GOLA, which states that four of its members have already gone out of
business and others have had to reduce their workforce due to an extreme
drop in revenue since DME began service, wants OIA to terminate the contract
with DME. (Disney pays the airport 50 cents per passenger, or about $2,500
per day). Even the Orlando Sentinel newspaper, in an editorial,
has called for the DME “greeters” to be moved to the baggage
claim area. In addition, GOLA wants the airport to reschedule a meeting
between GOLA, OIA and Disney, originally scheduled for August, that the
airport cancelled.

While it’s hard to compete with “free,” it’s even harder to
compete with “free” that tries to grab passengers as they get
off the plane before you even get a shot at them. While Disney has the
right to provide free transportation for their on-property guests, and
to obtain guests’ bags from the secured area and transport them separately
from the guests to have them “magically” appear in their room
(as long as the access to the secured areas of the airport is within security
guidelines), they don’t have the right to sign up more travelers in the
airport.

One can only wonder if the DME service will continue and remain free
for as long as it takes to cause many of the car services to go out of
business, and if the service will then suddenly begin charging passengers.
Only time will tell, unless something is done to let the car services
compete on a playing field that’s at least slightly more even.

Disney to reroute traffic directly onto property from new Western Beltway

In an effort to reduce heavy traffic levels on Interstate 4, Florida’s
Turnpike Enterprise and the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority
are teaming to build the Western Beltway toll road (State Route 429),
which will run approximately 22 miles from the interchange of the Florida
Turnpike and State Road 50 in Winter Garden to I-4 south of U.S. 192 in
Kissimmee. This route will be particularly useful to those heading south
towards Walt Disney World via Interstate 75 and Florida’s Turnpike.

Walt Disney World is building a 3.5 mile road that will connect this
the new Western Beltway to Buena Vista Drive, between Blizzard Beach and
Disney-MGM Studios. The road construction, which we first reported in
January, 2004 (link),
was originally slated to run 2.5 miles and finish construction by early
this year. The new target date for completion of the road is next March
or April. The road will connect with the Beltway about three miles north
of U.S. 192.

The Expressway Authority is responsible for the section that runs from
the Florida Turnpike to just adjacent to the northern edge of Disney’s
property. The Turnpike Enterprise is overseeing the section from the Disney
property down to I-4. The financial commitment by each group is $230 by
the Expressway Authority, $310 million for the Turnpike Enterprise and
$50 million by Disney.

Since the Disney road, to be called Western Way, is a private road, it
did not require a review by transportation officials in Orange County.
And what road planning authorities and Orange County officials did not
know is that Disney is building the road to be capable of handling up
to 15,000 cars per day, with the possibility of expanding the original
four lanes to six lanes if the traffic demands it.

In fact, Disney was a major force in making sure that the roadway was
built. In addition to building their own connector road, Disney also donated
200 acres of land and $7.5 million toward the construction cost. Kevin
Hoeflich, the Turnpike Enterprise’s project manager for the roadway’s
design, told the Orlando Sentinel that “Without the [land] donation and
the funds to make up the shortfall, I don’t imagine this project would
have been built.”

So is Disney really that altruistic? Don’t bet on it. The more people
that take the Western Beltway and Western Way onto property will keep
people away from Sea World and Universal Orlando along the I-4 corridor,
and will prevent people from taking U.S. 27 down to U.S. 192, where they
might decide to get a hotel room or visit an attraction off-property instead
of spending all of their money at Disney. This is just another attempt
by Disney to keep tourists from spending their money anywhere but at Disney.

Back when Dick Nunis was running the Disney Parks & Resorts division,
he noted that there was plenty of tourist money to go around, and that
Disney should be a good partner to the local businesses, so there was
no need to do a major build-out of hotels on the Disney property. It seems
that, in addition to the nearly two-dozen resorts on property, the Disney
of Michael Eisner (and now, Bob Iger) is now trying any additional angle—including
Disney’s Magical Express and the Western Beltway – to grab every
dollar it can, rather than leaving a couple of dollars for any other business
in the area. Not quite the perfect corporate citizen.

Is now the time to say good-bye… to MGM?

The gateway arch leading to the Animation Courtyard at the Disney-MGM
Studios is covered with scaffolding, and all decoration of the arch, including
the MGM lion logo and the Disney-MGM Studios wording, has been removed.
Is this the beginning of the conversion to “Walt Disney Studios Florida?”
We’ll have to wait and see what appears at the top of the arch as work
continues.

Goodbye, Disney Tennis Center; hello Disney Vacation Club?

We’re hearing that the Disney Tennis Center at the Contemporary Resort
will be closing in July 2006. According to our source, a new DVC resort
will be built on the location, to the north of the North Garden Wing.
The latter information has not yet been confirmed, as the Contemporary/DVC
rumors seem to change on an almost weekly basis. Those wishing to take
tennis lessons will be accommodated at the Grand Floridian after the closure
of the site at the Contemporary. We’ll pass along more information as
we find out.

Candlelight Processional narrator schedule changed

Some small changes have been made to the list of narrators for the Candlelight
Processional. Gary Sinise dropped out shortly after the list of narrators
was announced. To replace him during Christmas week, Jim Caviezel has
been moved from the December 7-9 slot to December 22-24. To fill the rest
of Sinise’s slot, John Stamos has been recruited to handle the narrator
duties December 25-27. Jaci Velasquez will fill Caviezel’s original slot
at the beginning of the month.

Corrections and clarifications

Last week, we listed alternate supermarket locations for those who had
frequented the now-closed Winn-Dixie locations along the Greeneway between
Orlando International Airport and Walt Disney World. The information that
we gathered from the Gooding’s web site was apparently outdated. The Gooding’s
in Downtown Celebration closed some time ago, and the chain opened a new
store in Water Tower Plaza at the corner of Celebration Avenue and Irlo
Bronson Hwy (SR-192). You’d think that we would have noticed this, as
we reported on the store’s opening in our July 5 Update (link).
There’s also a Publix at Xentury City, off SR-192, just east of where
in intersects with the Greeneway. Thanks to MousePlanet reader Paul Martens
for helping with this correction.

In last week’s story about the outsourcing of third-shift custodial workers,
we noted that Disney had stated that the displaced cast members will be
offered positions that will carry the same base pay rate. What we hadn’t
noted (or realized at the time) was that, while the workers’ base pay
will be unaffected, they will be losing the $1 per hour shift differential
that they had been receiving. We’re also hearing that they will only be
guaranteed 32 hours per week, instead of the 40 that they has been accustomed
to. While we don’t know the compensation level of the workers, the loss
of the shift differential alone will probably result in a serious pay
hit even if they do manage to get 40 hours per week.

Ears to the ground

…Resorts are still distributing old Typhoon Lagoon “tourist”
maps. The maps—which will apparently continue to be distributed until
the stock is depleted—not only do not include information about the
new Crush ‘n’ Gusher attraction, but they do not include the location
of the Pop Century and still show the location of River Country.

…As of last Thursday, Restaurant Akershus has gone back to its old
menu. While the princess meals have been popular, apparently demand for
the food previously served at the restaurant has sparked a return to the
old Koldtbord buffet; however, the princesses will remain.

…It appears that the former “ticket” games at DisneyQuest no longer
dispense tickets. The upside of this is that you no longer have to pay
for any of the games at the indoor park. However, those that enjoyed paying
a lot of money to get enough tickets to “buy” a prize that should cost
much less than you just spent will no longer have that opportunity.

…The elephant-shaped sinks at the Affection Section of Rafiki’s
Planet Watch have been replaced by standard foot-pump sinks. The elephants
will be back, but only as statues.

…The curb in front of the Main Street Railroad Station is being
removed, either by lowering the curb level or raising the street level,
depending on the source, to allow easier transit to and from the relocated
stroller rental location. During the construction, the area between the
station and the center of Town Square will be walled off, and the daily
parades will go directly from Main Street out the gate next to the firehouse
instead of traveling around Town Square.

…We now hear that the Liberty Square Riverboat may not return from
refurbishment until next Spring. If anybody knows anything more about
this, please let us know.

…El Pirata y El Perico will run a two-week test as a buffet table
service restaurant between Thursday, September 22, and Wednesday, October
5, with the exception of Friday and Sunday, September 30 and October 2.
The location will be open for dinner from approximately 5:45 to 8:45 p.m.
(give or take 15 minutes each way) depending on crowd level.

…The tests of the new Happy HalloWishes fireworks show will be run
this Tuesday and Thursday nights at 2 a.m. On Tuesday, only system cues
will be tested; no shells will be fired. On Thursday, only a few show
pieces will be shot off, with no major shells.

…The new target date for the reopening of Epcot’s Living Seas pavilion
is November 23.

…The hidden tribute to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea at the Pooh’s
Playful Spot has been spotted. It’s a blue Nautilus shape just above the
door frame inside Pooh’s house.

…The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe movie set walk-through is
scheduled to open on December 9.

…We hear that Disney has contracted with the Orange County Sheriff’s
Office to increase the number of traffic patrols on Disney property in
order to help cut down on speeding along Disney roadways.

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

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

• Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress – refurbishment of
  seats and carpeting occurring on a rolling basis; the attraction remains
  open.
• Main Street Railroad Station – under refurbishment through
  December 20. Guests will still be able to board the train at the station,
  though the entrance and exit may be relocated during the work. The locker
  rental stand area is being converted to stroller rental, with the lockers
  moving elsewhere. In addition, the curb in front of the station will
  be disappearing to allow easier transit for newly-rented and about-to-be-returned
  strollers. The station is also slated to receive new glass, canopies,
  paint and so forth.
• Liberty Square Riverboat – will reportedly not be operating
  due to refurbishment September 11–19.
• Haunted Mansion – will be closed for minor mechanical
  refurbishment November 6–16.
• Tomorrowland Indy Speedway – will reportedly remain open
  during a short refurbishment, September 6–23.
• Timekeeper – open seasonally.
• Cinderella’s Surprise Celebration – reportedly returns
  after the 18-month “Happiest Celebration on Earth” festivities
  end.

Epcot

• The Living Seas pavilion, including the popular Turtle Talk
  with Crush attraction, is closed for refurbishment through November
  23. Rumors indicate that another new Finding Nemo-based attraction
  may be added.
• Ice Station Cool – closed through late this year for refurbishment.
  It will reopen as “Club Cool.”
• Norway’s Stave Church – closed 9/12/2005 – 11/14/2005
  for refurbishment.
• 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 is currently closed, and has been removed from park maps.
  Its future is uncertain.

Disney–MGM Studios

• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe movie sets – are
  scheduled to open on December 9.

Animal Kingdom

• Expedition Everest – is scheduled to open in Spring 2006.
  The likely official opening date is April 22, which is both Earth Day
  and the park’s birthday, but previews may start as early as February
  2006.

Resorts

• Polynesian Resort – Work is now underway on the complete
  refurbishment and upgrading of rooms and hallways in all buildings,
  which is expected to be completed by June, 2006.
• Contemporary Resort – The South Garden Wing is closed
  for refurbishment through September, 2006. Rumors indicate that the
  buildings may be completely gutted and rebuilt as Disney Vacation Club
  villas. However, another rumor states that new DVC lodgings will be
  built on the current site of the Disney Tennis Center at the resort,
  and there is no confirmation of the either rumor yet. Renovations on
  the rest of the resort are also underway, with the tower building being
  done one floor at a time, and are expected to run through November,
  2007.
• BoardWalk Resort – Major pipe replacement project underway
  in corridors outside guest rooms daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. through
  summer 2005. No work scheduled inside guest rooms. Meanwhile, the Keister
  Coaster pool is scheduled to close for refurbishment September 6–26.
• Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa – Phase I’s construction
  of four buildings complete; Phase II’s eight units are opening one each
  month, through October 2005; Phase III’s six units due in 2007, involves
  razing the old Fairway Villas.
• Yacht Club Resort – Siding renovation project to continue
  through mid-2005.
• Port Orleans Riverside Resort – The Ol’ Man Island spa
  is scheduled to close for refurbishment September 6–23, while the
  Magnolia Bend quiet pool is scheduled to close for refurbishment September
  15–24.
• Disney’s Vero Beach Resort (DVC Resort) – Roof repairs
  due to hurricane rehabilitation are ongoing and scheduled to run through
  late November.
• Walt Disney World Swan Hotel – Repainting of the building’s
  exterior is underway. Regular hotel operations are not affected.

Water Parks

• Blizzard Beach – Will close for its annual refurbishment
  on October 23, and is expected to reopen mid-December.
• Typhoon Lagoon – Is expected to close for its annual refurbishment
  mid-December, and to reopen in late February or early March.

Elsewhere

• Cirque du Soleil – La Nouba – performs Tuesdays –
  Saturdays.

Park Events

September 2005

• Walt Disney World Triathlon. Sept. 23–25. Competitors
  race around the resort on water, bike and foot (link).
• Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Sept. 30 –
  Nov. 13. The annual celebration of things gustatory, plus the Eat to
  the Beat concert series (link).
• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Sept. 30, Oct. 2, 6,
  7, 11, 13, 16, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31. The big celebration of
  the boo-tiful season (link).

October 2005

• Komen Central Florida Race for the Cure 5K. Oct. 8. The annual
  fund-raising run for breast cancer research (link).
• Disney’s Race for the Taste 10K. Oct. 9. The annual Disney
  10K race gets a new name and a theme (link).
• Funai Classic at Walt Disney World. Oct. 20–23. The 35th
  annual fall golf classic is played on the Palm and Magnolia courses
  (link).

November 2005

• Festival of the Masters. Nov. 11–13. Artists display their
  works at Downtown Disney (link).
• Super Soap Weekend. Nov. 12–13. Daytime stars descend
  upon the Disney-MGM Studios (link).
• Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights. Nov. 14 – Jan. 8,
  2006. Millions of lights bombard the eyes at the Disney-MGM Studios
  (link).
• Holidays Around the World. Nov. 25 – Dec. 30. Epcot celebrates
  the season, including the popular Candlelight Processional (link).
• Festival of the Seasons. Nov. 25 – Dec. 25. Downtown Disney
  celebrates the season (link).
• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Nov. 27, 29, Dec. 1, 2,
  4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20. Snow on Main Street, free hot cocoa
  and cookies. What’s not to like? (link).
• MouseFest 2005. November 30 – December 3. Meet your favorite
  Disney Internet and guidebook authors (including some of us!) at a gathering
  of the Disney Internet community around the World (link).

December 2005

• MousePlanet presents a mini-MouseAdventure
  at MouseFest. Dec. 1. Meet at the outdoor seating area by Casey’s
  Corner in the Magic Kingdom at 10:00 a.m. for this event. This is a
  shortened version of MousePlanet’s signature event (link), and marks the first time that the event has been held
  in Florida.
• MousePlanet presents the second annual
  Mike Scopa Dole Whip Meet at MouseFest. Dec. 1. Meet at the Aloha
  Isle take-out window in Adventureland at noon.
• MousePlanet presents the first annual
  Shocolate Mousssse Meet at MouseFest. Dec 3. Meet at Boulangerie
  Patisserie at Epcot’s France pavilion at 5:00 p.m. following the Mega
  Mouse Meet for this event. For more on the origin of the Shocolate Mousssse
  phenomenon among MousePlanet readers, please see this thread on our MousePad discussion forums.
• Pop Warner Super Bowl. Dec. 4–10. Football players and
  cheerleaders descend on the resort for the annual championships (link).
• Pleasure Island New Year’s Eve. Dec. 31. Pleasure Island celebrates
  the actual New Year (link).
• New Year’s Eve at Cirque du Soleil. Dec. 31. Cirque puts on
  special New Year’s performances (link).
• Atlantic Dance Hall New Year’s Eve. Dec. 31. Ring in the New
  Year at the BoardWalk’s own dance club (link).

January 2006

• Disney’s Health and Fitness Expo. Jan. 5–7. Check in for
  the weekend’s races and check out the vendors (link).
• FamilyFun Magazine Family Fun Run. Jan. 7. The shortest run
  of the weekend (link).
• Walt Disney World Half-Marathon. Jan. 7. Registration now open
  (link). [Note: The
  full- and half-marathons are now held on separate days. Read our WDW
  Marathon Guide.]
• Walt Disney World Marathon. Jan. 8. Registration now open
  (link).
• College Cheerleading and Dance Team Championship. January 13–16.

February 2006

• National Dance Team Championship. February 3–6.
• National High School Cheerleading Championship. February 10–13.
• Atlanta Braves Training Camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex
  (link).
  Dates in February ? March TBA.
• Twirlmania. February 17–20. Twirlers, auxiliary guard,
  pom, and dancers descend on the Wide World of Sports (link).

March 2006

• ESPN The Weekend. March 3–5. Corporate synergy brings
  the cable channel back to the Studios for its third go-round (link).
• National All Star Cheerleading Championship. March 10–13.

April 2006

• Disney’s All-Star Kids Classic. April 1. Registration is now
  open for the kids’ inline race (link).
• Walt Disney World Inline Marathon. April 2. Registration is
  now open (link).
• Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. April 21
  – June 11. Epcot comes alive with topiaries, other floral displays,
  gardening demonstrations and the “Flower Power” concert series
  (link).

May 2006

• Star Wars Weekends. Dates TBA. The popular event is slated
  to return in 2006 (link).
• Epcot Teddy Bear and Doll Weekend. May 19–21. Collectible
  bears and dolls at Epcot (link).

Current Discounts & Promotions

Passholder rates are out

Annual Passholder and Florida Resident discounts have been released for
August 28 through October 4, with rates starting at $59 per night for
value resorts and $89 per night for moderate resorts. The discount code
to use is EXI. See the Passholder web site (link) or MouseSavers
(link) for more
information. The Passholder Best Rate program has reduced the advance
reservation requirement from 120 days to 60 days. The program is now accepting
reservations, online only, through February 15, 2006.

Radisson Resort Parkway offers reduced special rate this month only

The Radisson Resort Parkway, a MousePlanet sponsor, is offering a $59.95
reduced special rate valid through September 30. Please note that this
special does not include a free upgrade to deluxe pool view accommodations.

Radisson Resort Parkway releases rates through the end of 2006

Radisson Resort Parkway, a MousePlanet sponsor, has announced their rates
through the end of 2006.

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

Disney’s Summer Price Slice discount returns to golf courses

Summer Price Slice is back with reduced-price greens fees on tee times
after 10 a.m. daily from May 2 through Sept. 29 on Disney’s five 18-hole
golf courses.

Golfers can play the premier Osprey Ridge course after 10 a.m. for $60
(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 $89-$94). Prices include golf cart rental.

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 and Palm start
at $30 after 3 p.m. ($25 after 5 p.m.). Rounds at Lake Buena Vista start
at $25 after 3 p.m. ($20 after 5 p.m.).

For tee times, call 407-WDW-GOLF (407-939-4653) or go to the Walt Disney
World Golf web site (link).

Plan ahead and save a few bucks

The entire ticket price structure changed as of January 2, 2005, to the
new “Magic Your Way” passes. Advance purchase discounts are
only available on tickets above the base ticket of at least 5 days.

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 October 2005.

Entertainment Schedule

Hours and entertainment schedules are currently available through October 2005.

Theme Park Events

Downtown Disney Entertainment

(Separate admission required)