Walt Disney World Park Update

Update for February 20 – 26, 2006

Go directly to: News & Views | Refurbishment/Attraction

Closures | Park Events | Discounts/Promotions

| Park Hours | Events/Entertainment Schedule

News and Views

Timekeeper no longer open “From Time to Time”

The Timekeeper,

the poorly attended attraction in the Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland,

is no more. The attraction will officially switch from “seasonal” to “closed”

on Sunday, though it will remain seasonally closed until then. There are many

opinions on why the attraction (subtitled “From Time to Time”) did not find

a following. Probably, it was a combination of the most popular theories.

The first, and least likely, is that the attraction

was forever mired in the year 2000. While the “current” year of the attraction

was originally updated, the date became forever stuck after the terrorist

attacks of September 11, 2001, due to the appearance of the World Trade Center

in one segment of the Circlevision movie.

Another theory is that, after walking around the Magic Kingdom for hours,

people did not want to remain on their feet leaning on the “lean rails” for

the entire show.

Most likely are these most popular theories. It was hard for the attraction

to build much of a following because it was rarely open. Not only that, but

it was not always publicized during the times that it was open. Finally,

the theory is that the entrance to the attraction was not apparent to passersby,

making it hard for it to draw a crowd.

Regardless of the reason, however, The Timekeeper has joined the annals of

Yester World.

Thanks, Marty, and good luck!

It was announced last Wednesday that Imagineering legend Marty Sklar (named

a Disney Legend in 2001) would be leaving his position as Vice Chairman and

Principal Creative Executive at Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) to take on

a newly created role as Parks and Resorts Imagineering Ambassador. This new

position, which has yet to be defined, will take advantage of the 72-year-old

Sklar’s storytelling skills to bring the story of Imagineering to the public,

and to encourage future generations of Imagineers.

However, it will also remove him from the WDI complex in Glendale, California, and

move him over with the general Parks & Resorts team, so it looks like his

30-plus-year era of influence over Imagineering projects is at an end. It

is uncertain whether this move is related to the creation of the Principal

Creative Advisor position for Pixar’s John Lasseter or if it has been in the

works for a while.

In the meantime, the rest of the WDI creative leadership team is remaining

intact. Tom Fitzgerald, Anne Hamburger, Bruce Vaughn and Wing Chao were singled

out in a memo from Parks & Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo. Oddly, missing from

the memo was mention of WDI President Don Goodman. It is unknown whether

this was an unintentional slight, or just a reflection of Goodman’s role on

the business side, rather than the creative side.

In the meantime, Sklar will now start to define his new role, which he currently

describes as a “blank piece of paper.”

Sklar started at Disney in 1955, creating The Disneyland News, a 10-cent

newspaper sold on Main Street, U.S.A. during the park’s early days. After

his senior year at UCLA and a brief position at a trade journal,

he returned to Disney for good. Sklar worked on most of the park’s publicity

and marketing materials before jumping over to WED Enterprises (now known

as Walt Disney Imagineering) in 1961.

Aside from his work on many Imagineering projects and his development of

“Mickey’s Ten Commandments” for development of attractions, Sklar was known

for writing speeches and other public communications for Walt Disney, including

letters to shareholders for the company’s annual report and “Project Florida,”

also known as “The EPCOT Film” or “Walt’s Last Film.” It is this connection

to Walt Disney, where he grew to know the man well enough to put words in

his mouth, that earned Sklar his reputation to being “the closest thing to

Walt that we have left.”

Sklar, who has been honored many times by the themed entertainment industry,

now appears at the end of his hands-on involvement and is moving to the cheerleader

ranks. Here’s hoping that he finds happiness and success in his new role,

and thanks for all of the work that he’s done to date.

Disney railroad foreman to retire

George Britton, the only foreman that the Walt

Disney World steam train operations have ever had, will be retiring

on April 6. Britton’s work for Disney began in 1969, while he was a machinist

at the Tampa Ship Repair & Dry Dock Company. Disney Imagineers Roger Broggie

and Earl Vilmer convinced him to work on the refurbishment of four vintage

Baldwin steam engines that had been purchased from the United Railway of Yucatan,

Mexico.

While he had never worked with steam locomotives before, he was assured by

the Imagineers that he would be taught everything that he needed to know.

Making the switch from repairing huge oil tankers to narrow-gauge steam engines,

Britton was part of a crew of five that rebuilt and restored the engines on

time for the park opening, as well as building 20 passenger observation cars

from scratch. (And they did it all under budget, too.)

As the Magic Kingdom neared its opening, Vilmer—superintendent of

the railroad for Disneyland and Walt Disney World—recommended Britton

for the foreman’s position. The recommendation was approved by Broggie, and

Britton took on the role that he still holds.

MousePlanet staff writer Brian Bennett’s wrote a story last November about

his experience with Britton (link).

George Britton, WDW Railroad roundhouse foremen, and Michael Broggie, son

of the late Imagineer Roger Broggie, discuss the railroad in front of the

roundhouse. Photo by Steve Burns.

When asked what message he would like to leave with his successors at the

Magic Kingdom, Britton said, “When people look at those beautiful trains,

they should see the pride of your work. If you take care of your work today,

you will always have a job tomorrow.”

A celebration of Britton’s career will be held at the Central Largo Railroad

Winter Meet on March 25, 2006. For information, please contact Jerry Smithson,

the club’s vice president, at (727) 841-9600, (727) 243-3692 or via e-mail

(link), or visit the club’s

Web site (link).

Man injured while boarding Peter Pan attraction

At around 6:40 p.m. last Tuesday evening, a 70-year-old man was injured while

boarding the Peter

Pan’s Flight attraction at the Magic Kingdom. The man, who was attempting

to get into a pirate ship ride vehicle with his wife and granddaughter, apparently

fell into the path of the next vehicle and was pinned there next to the conveyor

belt. A ride operator immediately saw what happened and triggered an emergency

stop of the attraction.

A view of the conveyor belt loading area where the accident occurred. Photo by Brian Bennett.

The man was taken out by an ambulance, then flown to the Orlando Regional

Medical Center by helicopter. His injuries were originally thought to be life-threatening,

spurring an investigation by the Orlando County Sheriff’s Office. However, the

Sheriff’s Office called off the investigation when it quickly became apparent that the man’s life was in no danger. By the next day, the man’s condition had been upgraded to good.

Due to the need to get emergency personnel safely in and out of the area,

Fantasyland

was evacuated for about an hour following the accident. The Peter Pan’s Flight

attraction remained closed for the rest of the night. Following a complete

inspection by mechanics, the ride was deemed safe, and it opened with the

rest of the park on Wednesday morning.

“Everest in the City” event flies high over Times Square

Last Wednesday, Disney magic came to New York’s Times Square in the form of “Everest

in the City,” an aerial performance by Project Bandaloop on two huge billboards

at Broadway and 47th Street. The acrobatic ballet hanging from ropes hundreds

of feet in the air attracted a large crowd of onlookers. The event was another

promotion for the new Expedition

Everest attraction at Disney’s

Animal Kingdom.

Project Bandaloop acrobats perform on the Everest billboards. Photo by Brad

Kaplan.

A rock wall was available for amateur climbers. Photo by Brad Kaplan.

Imagineer Joe Rohde was in attendance for the event. Photo by Brad Kaplan.

Crowds were also able to meet Mountain Climber Mickey and Sherpa Goofy and

try a small rock-climbing wall. Mickey and friends later headed over to the

World of Disney store on Fifth Avenue.

Mountain Climber Mickey poses for a photo with a baby Yeti doll at the World

of Disney store. Photo by Brad Kaplan.

Sherpa Goofy poses at the World of Disney store. Photo by Brad Kaplan.

You can see the complete aerial performance by downloading the video podcast

from the official Walt Disney World podcast site (link).

Disney Gallery returns to World of Disney with “Grand Gala” event

Visitors to the World of Disney store in New York City have bemoaned the

loss of the Disney Gallery space in the renovation from the former Disney

Store floor plan. Well, the Gallery is returning! The Disney Gallery is hosting “Grand

Gala Celebration and Auction” this Friday at 8:00 p.m., featuring Michael

J. Fox, performance artists Trevor Carlton and Stephen Reis, and silent and

live auctions of Disney artwork from Eric Robison, Carl Barks and others.

Admission to this semi-formal attired event is $50. Make your reservations

at the Disney Gallery Web site (link).

The Disney Gallery at New York City’s World of Disney store is having a gala

grand reopening. Image © Disney.

The next morning at 9:30 a.m., American Idol runner-up Diana DeGarmo is

appearing at the formal ribbon-cutting event for the gallery, which will feature

another live performance art piece created by Carlton and Reis. Robison, Carlton

and Reis will also be signing autographs and artwork on Saturday. Saturday’s

events are free and open to the public.

Mickey’s got a new favorite marker

Another sponsor has signed on at Walt Disney World, with Sharpie inking

a five-year deal with the resort. Sharpie takes on the title sponsorship

of Epcot‘s

Kidcot Fun Stops, where kids use markers to decorate masks, among other activities.

The markers will also be the title sponsor for the annual “Festival of the

Masters” art event at Downtown Disney.

In addition, Sharpie will be one of many sponsors for events such as the

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, ESPN The Weekend, ABC Super Soap Weekend,

the Funai Golf Classic, Grad Nite and Disney’s Magic Music Days. The markers

will also get special displays at the Wide World of Sports Complex.

There will be other promotions appearing in the future, including a Sharpie-sponsored

contest to win a vacation to Walt Disney World.

Quick takes

…Disney Event Services is quietly beginning to hype something called

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Legend of the Golden Pins” (link)

to take place this summer. It will apparently be a pin quest, most likely

linked to the opening of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

and the reopening of the Pirates

of the Caribbean attraction.

…This week’s MouseSurplus auctions (link)

include not only the mailbox from Mickey’s

House at Toontown

Fair and a Snow

White ride vehicle (which sells just before noon today), but also

one of the sea cabs from The

Living Seas.

…Last weekend was busy politically at Walt Disney World, as President

Bush spoke at a $500-a-plate Republican fundraiser at the Contemporary

Resort on Friday, while on Saturday Florida Democrats held a large strategy meeting.

…Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure have announced that

they are officially discontinuing the free Universal Express ride reservations

system, but continuing the Express Plus pay system, where guests who pay ($15-$50,

depending on season) can go to the front of the line every time.

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 – 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, and will

  return to service on July 1.

• Pirates of

  the Caribbean – will close from March 1 through July 6 for

  the addition of characters from the movie that was inspired by the ride.

  The attraction will reportedly reopen briefly for the peak Easter crowds

  before closing again to complete the refurbishment.

• Timekeeper – closed for good.
• Cinderella’s Surprise Celebration – reportedly returns after

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

Epcot

• 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

• 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

• Atlanta Braves Training Camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex

  (link).

  February 17 ? March 30.

• Twirlmania. February 17–20. Twirlers, auxiliary guard, pom,

  and dancers descend on the Wide World of Sports (link).

• Parti Gras. February 24, 25, 28. Pleasure Island’s annual celebration

  of Mardi Gras includes special decor and live entertainment.

• 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 10–12

  (link).

• Pleasure Island St. Patrick’s Day Celebration. March 16–18.

  Raglan Road leads the festivities as the Island turns green to celebrate

  the holiday.

• 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 course starts at Animal Kingdom, goes through the Studios and

  ends at Epcot.

• Danskin Women’s Triathlon. May 13-14. Athletes compete in a 400

  yard swim, a 9 mile bike ride, and a 2 mile run (link).

• 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).

• Gay Days 2006. May 31 – June 4. The 16th annual gathering of the

  GLBT community at Walt Disney World (link1

  | link2).

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).

• Disney’s Pin Celebration. Sept. 8 – 10. This year’s event

  is themed as “It All Started With … Walt” (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).

• Disney Pin Cruise. Oct. 29 – Nov. 2. This year’s cruise is

  themed as “Cruisin’ Through Time” (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 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)