Walt Disney World Park Update

…Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin returned from refurbishment last Thursday,
almost a week earlier than scheduled. Unfortunately, it appears that the ride
vehicle replacement has not been done, and the same old vehicles are still
there, still needing a good paint job.

…The Inferno Barge has returned to Illuminations.

…Adventures by Disney (link)
has announced their summer touring schedules, which include Hawaii, Yellowstone,
Costa Rica, London, Paris and Italy. Thanks to MousePlanet sponsor Small World
Vacations (link)
for the tip-off.

…Last Wednesday night, the American Federation of Musicians Local 389
approved a new six-year labor contract with Walt Disney World. The local 100 full-time and 400 part-time musicians in and out of the parks.

…Disney Vacation Club members will see their discounts on tours at the
Magic Kingdom drop from 20 percent to 15 percent effective April 1.

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and comments. Email Mark here.
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Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

• Walt Disney’s
  Carousel of Progress – has been returned to the list of “seasonal”
  attractions, so its open status may change at any time.
• Liberty Square
  Riverboat – is not operating due to refurbishment through April
  1.
• Buzz Lightyear’s
  Space Ranger Spin – has reopened early from refurbishment.
• Pirates of
  the Caribbean – will close from early March through July 6
  for the addition of characters from the movie that was inspired by the ride,
  as well as a Siren Cove effect in the caverns section of the attraction.
• Timekeeper
  – open seasonally.
• Cinderella’s Surprise Celebration – reportedly returns after
  the 18-month “Happiest Celebration on Earth” festivities end.

Epcot

• Test Track
  – will be closed for refurbishment through February 14.
• The Wonders of Life pavilion – has closed again following
  its holiday 2005 season run, and is thought to be closed for good.

Disney–MGM
Studios

• No current refurbishments.

Animal Kingdom

• Expedition
  Everest – is scheduled to officially open in Spring 2006. The
  official opening press event is scheduled for April 7, just before the peak
  season of the two weeks surrounding Easter. Soft openings for the general
  public are now underway.

Resorts

• All–Star
  Movies Resort – The Fantasia pool will be closed through 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 will be closed through March 8
  for refurbishment. Whispering Canyon Cafe and Artist Point will remain open,
  and grab-and-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.
• Contemporary
  Resort – The South Garden Wing is partially-open during refurbishment
  through September, 2006. 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 October, 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

• Typhoon Lagoon – Closed for its annual refurbishment through
  February 25.

Elsewhere

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

Park Events

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).
  February 17 ? March 29.
• 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).
• Grad Nite. April 28-29, May 5-6. High school seniors take over
  the Magic Kingdom after an early closing and party all night (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.
• Epcot Teddy Bear and Doll Weekend. May 18–21. Collectible
  bears and dolls at Epcot (link).
• Star Wars Weekends. May 19-21 and 26-28, and June 2-4 and 9-11.
  The popular event is slated to return to the Studios in 2006 (link).

July 2006

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports
  complex (link).
  July 29 – August 17. The NFC South champions prepare for the 2006 campaign,
  with practices open to the public.

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

• Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Dates TBA. Get your costumes
  ready. The Disney characters will certainly be wearing theirs. (link).
• Disney’s Race for the Taste 10K. Oct. 8. The annual Disney 10K
  race continues its association with the Epcot Food & Wine Festival (link).
• ABC Super Soap Weekend. Dates TBA. Your favorite ABC soap opera
  starts converge on the Disney-MGM Studios (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).

November-December 2006

• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Dates TBA. Snow on Main Street,
  free hot cocoa and cookies. What’s not to like? (link).

December 2006

• 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 2007

• Walt Disney World Half-Marathon. Jan. 6. Registration now open
  (link). [Read our
  WDW Marathon Guide.]
• Walt Disney World Marathon. Jan. 7. Registration now open (link).

Current Discounts & Promotions

Passholder Best Rate Program gone, regular passholder discounts return

The Passholder Best Rate program apparently received a cold reception from
annual passholders that like to plan their trips on the spur of the moment.
The program has been discontinued and been replaced by straight discounts
available up until the last minute. Passholders can see discounts for multiple
months in advance on the passholder web site (link).
Currently, discounts are available through April 8.

Radisson announces exclusive Disney Fan Rate specials

The Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration (formerly the Radisson Resort Parkway),
a MousePlanet sponsor, has announced special exclusive rates for MousePlanet
readers through the end of February. These rates are lower than those that
you’ll receive through Hotels.com, Expedia.com, Orbitz.com, Radisson.com,
or anywhere else on the Internet.

The rates are as follows:

Now through February 2 – $85.00 weekdays / $95.00 weekends
February 3-9 – $95.00
February 10-26 – $105.00 weekdays / $115.00 weekends (EXCEPTION: 2/16 – 2/21
at $135.00 due to Daytona 500 Race)

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

Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration releases rates through the end of 2006

The Radisson Resort Parkway is now the Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration!
The resort, a MousePlanet sponsor, has announced their standard rates through
the end of 2006. Note that the nightly rates do not include a $7 per night
resort fee.

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

Magic Your Way ticket price guide

Walt Disney World’s entire ticket price structure changed as of January 2,
2005, to the new “Magic Your Way” passes, and prices increased on
January 1, 2006.. Advance purchase discounts are only available on tickets
above the base ticket of at least 4 days, with higher discounts on those tickets
with both options.

Park Hours

Hours and entertainment schedules are currently available through August 2006.

Entertainment Schedule

Hours and entertainment schedules are currently available through August 2006.

Theme Park Events

Downtown Disney Entertainment

(Separate admission required)