Walt Disney World Park Update

Update for December 12 – 18, 2005

Go directly to: News & Views | Refurbishment/Attraction

Closures | Park Events | Discounts/Promotions

| Park Hours | Events/Entertainment Schedule

News and Views

More photos

We’ve received a number of requests for more photos of the holiday decorations

around the resort, and there are plenty of other photos taken during the week

leading up to MouseFest, so we’ll be spreading them out over the next three

or four weeks to enhance your viewing pleasure.

It was moved back to Town Square late last week, but the Magic Kingdom’s Christmas

tree was located in the upper Rose Garden for a couple of weeks, which made

for an interesting shot with Cinderella Castle in the background. Photo by

Mark Goldhaber.

With the Christmas tree out of the way and the flagpole moved in front of

City Hall, and before the stage for Regis and Kelly was erected, there was

a great unobstructed view up Main Street from upstairs and the railroad station

all the way to Cinderella Castle. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

You don’t get this view very often. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

New Year’s Eve event details

Those brave enough to face the crowds at Walt Disney World on New Year’s

Eve have several options again this year. Three parks will be open past midnight,

and other events will be held at Pleasure Island, Atlantic Dance Hall and

Cirque du Soleil, as well as aboard the ships of the Disney Cruise Line.

The big event, of course, is the hard-ticketed event at Pleasure Island.

The party, for those ages 21 and up only, will feature Smash Mouth on the

West End Stage. S.O.S. Band will be appearing at Motion, Jazz guitarist Paul

Jackson, Jr. will appear at the BET SoundStage Club, and Pleasure Island stalwarts

Stormbringer and The Leonard Brothers will perform at the Hub Stage. The event

runs from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Walt Disney World Annual Passholders may buy tickets

for themselves and one guest for $79 plus tax, each – a $10 discount

from the regular $89 price. Tickets are still available online (link)

or at 407-W-DISNEY (407-934-7639).

Cirque du Soleil is also hosting New Year’s Eve celebrations at 6 and 9 p.m.

Guests receive a glass of champagne and a souvenir program including a limited

edition insert featuring the entire cast’s signatures. Ticket prices are $22

over regular La Nouba prices, but it appears that both shows are already sold

out.

Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort will also be holding a New

Year’s Eve bash (link)

for those ages 21 and up. Entertainment will be provided by Herb Williams.

There will be a champagne toast at midnight, and the club will remain open

until 2 a.m. Tickets are limited, and will go on sale at the Atlantic Dance

Hall box office at noon on the day of the event.

At the Magic Kingdom, two sets of celebrations will be held. There will be

a 7:00 p.m. presentation of SpectroMagic and a fireworks show at 8:30 p.m.

for those with younger children needing to get to bed, while another round

of shows will present SpectroMagic at 10:30 p.m. and the fireworks at 11:50

p.m. for those able to stay awake. The park opens at 8 a.m. and will remain

open until 1 a.m. (Morning Extra Magic Hours will have the park opening at

7 a.m. for Disney resort guests.)

Epcot will also feature two big blasts, with Illuminations being show at

7:30 p.m. and 11:40 p.m. The later show will feature an explosive “Auld Lang

Syne” finale. In addition, The Tom Butler Orchestra will play big band and

swing music in the World Showplace’s Grand Ballroom, DJs will be playing music

at the China pavilion and the Future World Fountain Stage, there will be Latin

dancing at the America Gardens Theatre and there will be Euro music at the

Italy pavilion. The park’s Future World area opens at 8 a.m., with World Showcase

opening at 10 a.m. Both areas will close at 1 a.m.

The Disney-MGM Studios will feature the “Lights, Camera, Happy New Year!”

fireworks show at midnight, along with three Fantasmic! performances at 6:30,

8:30 and 10:00 p.m. Mulch, Sweat & Shears will provide the music at the Sorcerer

Hat Stage, spelled by DJ Charles Miles to keep the music going. Complimentary

hats and horns will be distributed at Soundstage 1 on Mickey Avenue while

supplies last. The park opens at 8 a.m. and closes at midnight. (Evening Extra

Magic Hours will keep the park open until 3 a.m. for Disney resort guests.)

For those staying at the resort who want to start their day elsewhere, there

will also be Morning Extra Magic Hours at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (opening

at 7 instead of 8 for resort guests) and Blizzard Beach (opening at 9 instead

of 10 for resort guests).

Those at sea aboard the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder will

not be left out, either. Children will have their own celebration in the Oceaneer

Club and Oceaneer Lab. The teen areas (Aloft and The Stack) will offer teen-only

dance parties. Adults will get champagne toasts and special entertainment

in the adults-only entertainment districts.

The Mickey’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas show is probably the

only time that you can ever see Mickey and Minnie in bed together. Photo by

Mark Goldhaber.

Radisson Resort Parkway announces new discount, name, features

Radisson Resort Parkway, a MousePlanet sponsor, has announced a new discount

for MousePlanet readers. If you book your 2006 room reservation prior to December

31, 2005, you will receive a 20% discount off the lowest available room rates.

In order to receive the special discount, you must type the code 20%2006

in the comments section of your reservation. Without the code, the discount

will not be applied.

When you arrive for your stay, the resort will have already begun operating

under a new name. Effective January 1, 2006, the resort will be known as the

Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration, to better inform people where they are

located.

Also effective January 1, the resort will be charging a Resort Services Fee

of $7 per room per night, including taxes. The fee will help to pay for several

enhancements to the resort experience, including:

• A new Entertainment Director and two assistants to develop a daily activities

  program

• “Dive-in Movies” around the pool area
• Special themed holiday activities, enhanced shuttle service to Walt Disney

  World, Universal Studios and Sea World

• Mini-refrigerators are soon to be installed in all guest rooms, replacing

  the current mini-bars

It will also cover some existing services, such as:

• Use of the Business Center – computers, LAN ports and printer
• Complimentary in-room high-speed Internet access and usage
• Local phone calls and toll-free calls, fax delivery to guest rooms
• 24-hour access to the Fitness Center
• Gated & patrolled parking facilities
• USA Today newspaper delivered to the room Monday – Friday
• Use of lighted tennis courts, rackets and tennis balls
• Bottled water in guest rooms

The resort also now features rooms with the new Sleep Number Bed. Guests

can choose their own individual comfort level of firmness. The Radisson has

received great responses from guests who have reserved these. This room type

is an option, for a $10 upgrade fee, for guests to choose when they book their

rooms.

The Main Street Trolley show, with the dancers now in holiday attire, occasionally

uses the Omnibus instead of the trolley. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

The Dapper Dans performs with Mickey’s Toontown Tuners on Main Street. Photo

by Mark Goldhaber.

Christmas Parade broadcast entertainment listing

Disney has announced the list of performers and other entertainment for the

22nd annual broadcast of the Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade. The two-hour

broadcast, hosted by Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa in Florida and Ryan Seacrest

in California, will air at 10 a.m. EST, 9 a.m. CST, 8 a.m. MST and 2:30 p.m.

PST.

Appearing from Walt Disney World will be:

• The Christmas Tree float with Mickey and Minnie
• A Villains Car with Yzma, Kronk and Cruella
• Cinderellabration at Cinderella Castle
• The traditional Ice Pond float, this year featuring Donald and Daisy
• Princess Carriages carrying Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora with their

  princes

• A performance of Beauty and the Beast, starring John O’Hurley singing

  “Be Our Guest” at Cinderella Castle

• A Power Rangers Car, featuring various Power Rangers
• A U.S. Military processional, with remarks from President George W. Bush
• A Toy Factory float featuring Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, Bullseye,

  toy soldiers and green army men

• The Bakeshop Factory float carrying Mrs. Claus, the gingerbread men, elves

  and maids

• Herbie, from Disney-MGM Studios’ Lights! Motors! Action! Extreme Stunt

  Show attraction

• The Candy House float
• Sister act Aly & AJ, performing a song from the Jingle Jams CD
• The Cheetah Girls, performing a song from their Cheetah-licious Christmas

  CD

• Greetings from Tiger Woods and others
• Cirque du Soleil, performing a living Christmas card spectacular

Disneyland appearances will include:

• Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams
• The Christmas Fantasy Parade featuring Goofy, Chip n’ Dale, the Seven

  Dwarfs, Rudolph and reindeer friends plus Stitch as Santa in fun-filled

  Yuletide vignettes on Main Street, U.S.A.

• A look at the recently re-imagineered Space Mountain
• A Float Fit for a Princess featuring special performances in the shadows

  of Sleeping Beauty Castle

The telecast will close with both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts

giving performances of “Joy to the World” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

In honor of the Happiest Celebration on Earth, the final number will include

all of the parks around the world, with an international choir with Disney

theme park Cast Members from Paris, Tokyo, and Hong Kong joining in for Disney’s

final Christmas wish.

Remember the high-backed chairs that you used to sit in at Pecos Bill’s? They’ve

been shipped off to MouseSurplus. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Now you get to sit on these lovely stools at Pecos Bill’s. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Disney Cruise Line skipping Cozumel, for now

Due to the devastation of Cozumel by Hurricane Wilma, the Disney Cruise Line

has been alternating between Costa Maya, Mexico and Nassau, Bahamas as substitutions

for that port on the Disney Magic‘s Western Caribbean itinerary since

the beginning of November. The rerouting will continue through the January

28 sailing. (December 17 and January 14 will be Costa Maya, December 31 and

January 28 will be Nassau.) If further rerouting is necessary, announcements

will be made at a later date. For further information, check the Disney Cruise

Line web site (link).

Tufani and Kianga to get playmate

Looks like the elephant herd at Disney’s Animal Kingdom—the largest

African elephant herd in North America—will soon be growing again.

Donna, will be a first-time mother when she gives birth later this month.

There is still a great risk, though. Since 1994, only half of the 24 African

elephant calves born in captivity have survived, partly because many of the

elephants were first-time mothers.

A male elephant named Tufani was born in May 2003 and a female named Kianga

was born in July 2004. Another calf died during the birth process in April.

We wish good health and lots of luck to Donna, her calf, and the elephant

program team.

The Wonders of Life pavilion is preparing for what may be its last hurrah.

Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

But for now, they’re serious about making sure that you can’t get in there,

with a veritable wall of planters blocking the way. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Narnia walk-through opens

Last Friday, Florida First Lady Columba Bush and Florida Department of Education

Chancellor Cheri Pierson Yecke helped open the “Journey Into Narnia:

Creating The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” walk-through attraction

at the Disney-MGM Studios. Also on hand were the three winners of the “Florida’s

Journey into the Land of Narnia” contest, which was created as a part of Just

Read, Florida!, a statewide literacy initiative.

No more smoking at Swan

The Westin chain of hotels going smoke-free effective in January. That means

that the Walt Disney World Swan, which is operated by Westin, will also be

going smoke-free at that time. There will be a designated outdoor smoking

area for those who must light up. Otherwise, all guest rooms, meeting space

and other public areas will be no-smoking areas. Those rooms that currently

permit smoking will likely be undergoing major cleanings to remove any remaining

smoke contaminants.

The Club Cool sign stands out at night. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

The soda fountains for Krest Ginger Ale from Mozambique were still empty a

couple of weeks after Club Cool opened. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Quick takes: Walt Disney World and staffers win awards

…Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Animal Programs Vice President Beth Stevens

assumed the presidency of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA)

during the group’s national conference in Chicago.

…The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced

that The Walt Disney Company received three gold awards for helping to reduce

waste, in the areas of community involvement, organic reduction and reducing

carbon monoxide emissions. In 2004, the Walt Disney Company was named the

Program Champion in the “Very Large Business” category.

…The WateReuse Association, a national organization involved in advocacy,

public health education and research, named the Walt Disney World Resort as

“Reuse Customer of the Year.” The resort was praised for using an average

of more than five million gallons per day of reclaimed water and for promoting

reclaimed water practices since the early 1990’s.

…Greg Hale, chief safety officer and vice president of Safety, Accessibility

and Advanced Technology for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, was among seven

recipients nationally of the Distinguished Service to Safety Award from the

National Safety Council (NSC), in recognition of initiatives that support

and promote a corporate culture of safety.

…Rachel Hutter, currently working on the Expedition Everest attraction,

was selected from 18,000 engineers nationwide to receive top honors from the

National Society of Women Engineers for her work in the field of engineering.

The number of shrink-wrap designs for the “Wrap Your Coke” stations

at Club Cool have themselves shrunk down to two, as many of the old designs

did not provide sufficient brand identity. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Important safety tip: When wrapping your Coke, make sure to read the instructions

carefully. Pay special attention to number 1, which states “Do not repeat

the operation with the same bottle. The bottle may explode.” Photo by

Mark Goldhaber.

Ears to the ground

…The Disney Dining Plan may be available for purchase by Disney Vacation

Club members staying on points beginning in April. We’ll report more information

on this story as we get it.

…Reportedly, Christmas trees cut from the Walt Disney World forests

are now available through the Walt Disney World Florist for your hotel room

and/or shipping to your home.

…There’s apparently a line developing behind the Narnia sets

for Soundstage 4 at the Disney-MGM Studios. After the sets from the blockbuster-to-be

vacate the space sometime this spring, preparation will begin for the appearance

of sets from next summer’s anticipated blockbuster, Pirates of the Caribbean

2: Dead Man’s Chest. Word that we’ve received indicates that the attraction

will be a walkthrough of movie villain Davy Jones’ ship.

…We are hearing that waterproof water park gift certificates are now

available. You can buy a gift mini-card – which comes with a strap to

go around your wrist and is tracked with a bar code that will not wear off

in the chlorinated water – and use that for your refreshment and souvenir

purchases. This way, you can leave your wallet in your locker and just use

the waterproof card for all of your purchases.

Don’t keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors,

and comments. Email Mark here.

Talk about Walt Disney World on our discussion forums 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. However, the Carousel has been returned

  to the list of “seasonal” attractions, so its open status may

  change at any time.

• Main Street Railroad Station – under refurbishment through

  December 20. Guests can still 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 – is not operating due to refurbishment

  through April 1, 2006.

• Country Bear Jamboree – closed January 3–7 for

  its return from the Christmas Special to its regular Jamboree show.

• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin – will be closed January

  4 – February 8 for refurbishment.

• Splash Mountain – closed January 23 – 27 for

  refurbishment.

• Timekeeper – open seasonally.
• Cinderella’s Surprise Celebration – reportedly returns after

  the 18-month “Happiest Celebration on Earth” festivities end.

Epcot

• Norway’s Stave Church – has now reopened.
• Test Track – closed for refurbishment January 9 –

  February 14, 2006.

• 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. It is now expected

  to open one final time from December 18 through the end of the year, then

  close for good.

Disney–MGM Studios

• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe movie sets – officially

  opened 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.

• Tarzan Rocks – scheduled to close on January 21, 2006. Its

  rumored replacement is a show based upon Finding Nemo, which would

  debut in November 2006 after the Theater in the Wild gets a complete makeover.

  The stage, lighting and sound system will all be gutted and the theater

  will be completely enclosed, as with the Lion King theater in Camp Minnie-Mickey.

Resorts

• All–Star Movies Resort – The Fantasia pool closed

  January 3 – early February for refurbishment. Guests can use the Mighty

  Ducks pool or take a complimentary shuttle service (10 a.m. – 10 p.m.)

  to the other All–Star resorts to use the pools there.

• Wilderness Lodge – Roaring Forks Snacks closed January

  9 – late March for refurbishment. Whispering Canyon Cafe and Artist

  Point will remain open, and grab-n-go items will be made available elsewhere

  during the refurbishment.

• 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 partially-open

  during 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 the

  North Garden Wing to follow, and are expected to run through November, 2007.

• Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa – Phase I’s four buildings

  and Phase II’s eight units are complete, Construction on Phase III is underway,

  with the six units expected to open between June and December, 2006.

Water Parks

• Blizzard Beach – Closed for its annual refurbishment through

  December 24.

• Typhoon Lagoon – Closes for its annual refurbishment on

  December 25 and reopen on February 26, 2006.

Elsewhere

• Cirque du Soleil – La Nouba – performs Tuesdays –

  Saturdays. No performances December 4–13. Additional performance December

  18.

Park Events

Ongoing

• Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights. Thru Jan. 8, 2006. Millions

  of lights bombard the eyes at the Disney-MGM Studios (link).

• Festival of the Seasons. Thru Dec. 24. Downtown Disney celebrates

  the season (link).

• Holidays Around the World. Thru Dec. 30. Epcot celebrates the season,

  including the popular Candlelight Processional (link).

• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Dec. 13, 15, 16, 18, 20. Snow

  on Main Street, free hot cocoa and cookies. What’s not to like? (link).

December 2005

• 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 closed

  (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 closed (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).

• Cheer & Dance National Championships. February 25–26.

  School & Youth Rec Cheer February 25, All-Star Cheer & Dance February

  26 (link).

March 2006

• Cheer & Dance National Championships. March 3–5. All Star/Studio

  March 3, School Dance March 3–5 (link).

• ESPN The Weekend. March 3–5. Corporate synergy brings the

  cable channel back to the Studios for its third go-round (link).

• World Baseball Classic. March 3-11. Baseball’s best players from

  Australia, Domincan Republic, Italy and Venezuela square off in the first

  round of the international tournament (link).

• National All Star Cheerleading Championship. March 10–13.
• National Kidney Foundation of Florida Gift of Life 5K Run/Walk.

  March 19. The seventh annual event to raise money and promote organ and

  tissue donation awareness (link).

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

• Disney’s Minnie Marathon Weekend 5K and 1 Mile (link).

  May 6. The short runs of the ladies-only running weekend take place at and

  near Downtown Disney.

• Women Run the World 15 K (link).

  May 7. The ladies-only run starts at Animal Kingdom, goes through the Studios

  and ends at Epcot.

• Star Wars Weekends. Dates TBA. The popular event is slated to return

  to the Studios in 2006 (link).

• Epcot Teddy Bear and Doll Weekend. May 18–21. Collectible

  bears and dolls at Epcot (link).

September 2006

• Tom Joyner Family Reunion. Sept. 1–4. The radio host’s annual

  gathering returns for another year (link).

• Night of Joy. Dates TBA. Disney’s annual Christian music festival

  (link).

• Walt Disney World Triathlon. Sept. 24. Athletes compete in a 1.5K

  swim, a 40K bike ride, and a 10K run (link).

• Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Sept. 29 – Nov.

  12. The annual celebration of things gustatory, plus the Eat to the Beat

  concert series (link).

October 2006

• Disney’s Race for the Taste 10K. Oct. 8. The annual Disney 10K

  race continues its association with the Epcot Food & Wine Festival (link).

• Funai Classic at Walt Disney World. Oct. 16–22. Lucas Glover

  will try to defend his title at the 36th annual fall golf classic on the

  Palm and Magnolia courses (link).

January 2007

• Walt Disney World Half-Marathon. Jan. 6. 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. 5. Registration now open (link).

Current Discounts & Promotions

Passholder Best Rate Program extended through April 13

The Passholder Best Rate program is now accepting reservations, online only,

through April 13, 2006. In addition, some rates have dropped even lower, with

value resorts going for $49 most nights from January 16 – February 4, 2006.

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. Note that the resort has allocated some rooms as

low as $59.95 most days now through December 22.

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

Plan ahead and save a few bucks

Walt Disney World’s 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 April 2006.

Entertainment Schedule

Hours and entertainment schedules are currently available through April 2006.

Theme Park Events

Downtown Disney Entertainment

(Separate admission required)