Walt Disney World Park Update

Pirates of the Caribbean soft-opens, official opening this Friday

As we’ve been noting since April 10, Pirates of the Caribbean soft-opened on Saturday. Brian Bennett was there to get some photographs, which we’ll show you throughout this week’s Update. The attraction officially reopens on Friday.

The new marquee for Pirates of the Caribbean features a skeleton pirate in a crow’s nest atop a mast flying a black sail and a pirate flag. Photo by Brian Bennett.

The attraction features touch-ups to many existing scenes, as well as the insertion of an additional story line and new characters from the movies. The first blatant change is the addition of Davy Jones appearing on a waterfall effect before you head down the drop. Barbossa is now captaining the Wicked Wench in the battle scene.

A new shield above the outside queue area for Pirates of the Caribbean fixes the time period of the fortress building at 1643 A.D. Photo by Brian Bennett.

As Carlos, the magistrate, is dunked in the well, he is now being questioned regarding the whereabouts of Captain Jack Sparrow, who has apparently left he ship to try to find the town’s treasure on his own. The first of three Sparrow animatronics appears hiding at a dressmaker’s shop, watching the dunking from a safe distance.

A new wait time sign is themed to the attraction. Photo by Brian Bennett.

A second Sparrow appears in the gluttony “chase” scene, where he is now hiding in the barrel behind the drunken pirate. The pirate now has the treasure map and key that Sparrow is trying to get. The final new animatronic features Sparrow in the treasure room, enjoying the fruits of his piracy.

A new covered queue lines people up before then enter El Castillo. Photo by Brian Bennett.

The show building and entry have also received some enhancements, and much of the queue has been extended into a covered area at the entryway to the Castillo.

After all these years, the two pirates are still locked in eternal stalemate. Photo by Brian Bennett.

Very Merry scheduling issue really just a computer glitch

We have been reassured that the scheduling issue regarding Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party that we reported last week is the result of an ongoing conversion to a new computer system called OneSource.

Previously, all information on operating hours, show times, ticket prices and so on were updated manually on multiple platforms such as Disney.com, the internal cast member site, the online times guide and so forth. With the conversion to OneSource, the information gets updated in one central location and is then propagated out to the various systems (so there is therefore only “One Source” for the information).

Apparently, the true hours for December have not yet been fed into the system, so the system automagically takes its best guess or uses a default time as a space filler. Reportedly, under the new system, times become certain only about three months in advance. Disney is working to resolve that issue.

In the meantime, however, it does appear that the Magic Kingdom will indeed close at 6 p.m. on the nights of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and there will be no fireworks for day guests on those dates.

The skeleton pirate in the early part of the attraction has been touched up. Photo by Brian Bennett.

Lee Cockerell retires

On Friday, Walt Disney World executive vice president of operations Lee Cockerell announced his retirement, effective July 28. The number two man at Walt Disney World behind Al Weiss, he was a driving force behind teaching and professional development programs at the resort. Cockerell also was a strong presence in the parks and in written form among the cast members, writing in the weekly Main Street Diary publication and narrating a series of instructional and motivational CDs.

Thought to be a front-runner for the top spot to replace Al Weiss as he moves into his new global role, it appears that Cockerell, 60, either decided to take himself out of the running or was told that he would not be the top candidate.

Captain Barbossa is now aboard the Wicked Wench. Photo by Brian Bennett.

Full Eat to the Beat concert schedule released

The complete schedule of performances has been released for the Eat to the Beat concert series during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Gloria Gaynor’s concert dates have been changed from October 12-14 to October 26-28, with David Sanborn slipping in to take Gaynor’s October 12-14 dates. Here’s the full line-up.

• Survivor, September 29-30
• Family Stone Experience, October 1-3
• Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas, October 4-7
• Loverboy, October 8-11
• David Sanborn, October 12-14
• The Beach Boys, October 15-16
• Little Richard, October 17-18
• Three Dog Night, October 19-21
• The Four Tops, October 22-25
• Gloria Gaynor, October 26-28
• The S.O.S. Band, October 29-November 1
• The Contours, November 2-4
• Chubby Checker & The Wildcats, November 5-6
• Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, November 7-8
• Jon Secada, November 9-12

Captain Jack Sparrow’s first appearance is just past the dunking of the mayor. Photo by Brian Bennett.

Holiday preview; some Candlelight narrators announced

With Thanksgiving being almost as early as it possibly can be this year (it can only be one day earlier, which it will be next year), the Holidays Around the World at Epcot and other holiday celebrations at Walt Disney World will be in place for additional nights this year, from November 24 through December 30. The 37 nights of performances of the Candlelight Processional at the America Gardens Theater will mean plenty of openings for performers to narrate the Christmas story in front of a massed choir of cast members and local groups. A handful of performers have been announced thus far, though no dates for each performer have been set yet. Returning this year are Gary Sinese, Rita Moreno, Marlee Matlin and Stephen Curtis Chapman. New narrators this year are Cuba Gooding, Jr., Maureen McGovern and Kirk Cameron. We’ll report more names as they become available.

Of course, there will also be the international storytellers around the World Showcase, telling holiday stories from their native countries. Favorites include France‘s Père Noël and Italy‘s La Befana, Norway‘s Julenissen, and tales of The Monkey King in China. The American Adventure features three sets of performances, storytellers relating tales of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa in addition to appearances by Santa Claus. To enhance the ability of guests to experience all performances, we are hoping that the Hanukkah and Kwanzaa storytellers are not scheduled simultaneously, as they were last year.

As darkness falls, Mickey and friends will again host a nightly tree-lighting ceremony in World Showcase Plaza and the Lights of Winter canopy will return above the bridge from Future World to World Showcase. In addition, the phenomenal “Let There Be Peace On Earth” holiday tag returns to the end of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, with its closing barrage of hundreds of shells in the last half-minute.

Captain Jack appears again trying to get the treasure map and a key. Photo by Brian Bennett.

Over at the Disney-MGM Studios, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights will have another year of extended dates, running from November 13 through January 7, on the Streets of America Backlot. The Hollywood Holly-Day Parade will be back at the Studios, as well.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be celebrating the holidays from November 13 through January 7, as well. At Camp Minnie-Mickey, characters will be greeting guests in their holiday finest while live carolers perform at Santa Goofy’s Holiday Village. Donald’s Breakfastosaurus will also be decorated for the holidays. Of course, the popular Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade will return and run daily throughout the celebration.

Of course, the Magic Kingdom will have 18 nights of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, featuring special holiday performances, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parade and Holiday Wishes – Celebrate the Spirit of the Season fireworks (not to mention the free cookies and hot cocoa). The party will run on various nights (see the schedule in the Park Events section below) from November 13 through December 22. The special holiday entertainment and fireworks will be performed for regular park guests during the extended holiday hours from December 23 through the end of the year.

Finally, Downtown Disney will not be left out. Holiday-themed display windows, light displays and photo opportunities with Santa highlight the Festival of the Seasons.

The moving ramp at the end of the ride features one footprint and one peg leg print. Photo by Brian Bennett.

For New Year’s Eve, you’ll have various options, as well. Pleasure Island again will have a hard-ticketed event with big-name entertainment (to be announced later). You must be 21 or older to attend this party.

Epcot will again have two performances of Illuminations; Reflections of Earth, including the famous midnight showing with the finale-to-end-all-finales. Live entertainment and DJs will be located around World Showcase.

The Disney-MGM Studios will feature multiple presentations of Fantasmic, along with the special Lights! Camera! Happy New Year! fireworks that debuted last year. A DJ dance party will take place at the Sorcerer Hat Stage.

The Magic Kingdom will feature multiple presentations of SpectroMagic as well as multiple fireworks displays. Holiday Wishes will be performed early in the evening, and the special New Year’s edition of Fantasy in the Sky will lead up to the big finish.

Atlantic Dance Hall at the BoardWalk Resort and Cirque du Soleil will also feature special New Year’s shows.

Jack Sparrow merchandise is now available near Pirates of the Caribbean. Photo by Brian Bennett.

Quick takes …

…The next meeting of the World Chapter of the NFFC will be held on August 19 at Vista del Lago, 5 miles west of Walt Disney World. Guests will be Disney art director Lon Smart and Imagineer and author Jason Surrell. For complete details, see the announcement on our MousePad discussion forums (link).

…The Turf Club Bar & Grill at the Saratoga Springs Resort opened yesterday. The restaurant is newly-expanded from a quick-service lounge eatery to a full table-service eatery.

Due to high crowd levels last Friday, priority seating for all table service restaurants at the Magic Kingdom were booked and visitors were being steered to counter service locations. Photo by Brian Bennett.

Coming soon

• Sounds Like Summer Concert Series at Epcot’s America Gardens Theater, concerts by “tribute” bands
  • 52nd Street (Billy Joel), July 2 – 14
  • Draw The Line (Aerosmith), July 15 – 21
  • Bjorn Again (ABBA), July 22 – August 6
  • [or Parrots of the Caribbean (Jimmy Buffet), July 31 – August 6]
  • Transit Authority (Chicago), August 7 – 13
• June 27, reservations open for Christmas Eve dinner (note: those staying at a Disney-owned hotel may make reservations up to 10 days earlier, depending on their date of arrival)
• July 1 – 8, DVC members may not pool-hop on these dates
• July 28 – August 16, Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex
• July 31, reservations open for special events at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

Trivia question of the week

Due to the fact that Walt Disney World was already near the Caribbean and New Orleans, there were no original plans to build Pirates of the Caribbean in the Magic Kingdom. Instead, a new attraction called Western River Expedition was to be built. Demand for Pirates swayed Mouse House managers, and construction for Pirates quickly began. When did Pirates of the Caribbean open at Walt Disney World?

(Answer will be posted next week.)

Answer to last week’s question: When it opened in December, 1991, Disney’s Old Key West Resort was called Disney’s Vacation Club Resort. It was renamed “Old Key West” in January, 1996, after the opening of Disney’s Vero Beach Resort that fall, and as Disney prepared to open Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort in spring 1996 and Disney’s BoardWalk Villas Resort in summer 1996.

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

Talk about these stories and more on our Walt Disney World discussion forum here.

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

• Pirates of the Caribbean – soft opened on July 1 for the addition of characters from the movie that was inspired by the ride; the ride officially reopens on Friday.
• Liberty Square Riverboat – is not operating due to refurbishment, and will return to service on September 22.
• Mad Tea Party – is closed for refurbishment August 21 – 22.
• Timekeeper – is closed for good.
• Cinderella’s Surprise Celebration – reportedly returns at the beginning of November, following the final performance of Cinderellabration.

Epcot

• The Seas with Nemo & Friends – opens this fall in The Living Seas.
• The Wonders of Life pavilion – is closed for good.

Disney-MGM Studios

• Fantasmic – will not be performed November 1 – 8 while work is done on the island stage.
• Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show – will not be performed for one week in mid-November (dates uncertain at this time) while the set is touched up and the stunt crew practices and gets recertified.

Animal Kingdom

• Finding Nemo – The Musical – opens in the Theater in the Wild late this year.

Resorts

• All-Star Music Resort – Conversion of the Jazz Inn buildings to Family Suites continues, followed by rooms in the Calypso section. All work is expected to be completed by October 13.
• 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 this summer.
• Contemporary Resort – Work on the tower building is now complete, while the complete refurbishment and upgrading of rooms and hallways in the South Garden Wing continues, and is now expected to be completed this summer. Rumors now appear to indicate that the North Garden Wing could be completely rebuilt as Disney Vacation Club lodgings.
• Wilderness Lodge – Work is now underway on the replacement of furniture in all rooms, which is expected to be completed this summer.
• 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 be completed in 2007.

Water Parks

• Blizzard Beach – closes for annual refurbishment October 29, and will reopen on January 7.
• Typhoon Lagoon – closes for annual refurbishment on January 7, and will reopen some time in March 2007.

Elsewhere

• Cirque du Soleil – La Nouba – performs Tuesdays – Saturdays. Also, no performances July 30 – August 1 and September 17 – 25.

Park Events

July 2006

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex (link). July 28 – August 16. 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. Sept. 8 – 9. 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).
• Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Sept. 15, 22, 29, Oct. 2, 5, 6, 10, 12, 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30, 31. Get your costumes ready. The Disney characters will certainly be wearing theirs. (link).
• Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Sept. 29 – Nov. 12. The 11th 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).
• Disney Pin Cruise. Oct. 29 – Nov. 2. This year’s cruise is themed as “Cruisin’ Through Time” (link).

November-December 2006

• Festival of the Masters. Nov. 10 – 12. Disney’s annual arts festival at Downtown Disney’s West Side, now sponsored by Sharpie! (link).
• ABC Super Soap Weekend. Nov. 11 – 12. Your favorite ABC soap opera stars converge on the Disney-MGM Studios (link).
• Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights. Nov. 13 – Jan. 7, 2007. Jennings Osborne’s amazing display returns to the Studios (link).
• Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade. Dates TBA. The Animal Kingdom Parade trades its Jammin’ for Jingle in this holiday makeover (link).
• Holidays Around the World. Nov. 24 – Dec. 30. Epcot’s World Showcase gets storytellers, special entertainment and crafts for kids, the Lights of Winter and a spectacular Christmas tree (link).
• Festival of the Seasons. Dates TBA. Downtown Disney gets a holiday makeover (link).
• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Nov. 13, 17, 27, 28, 30, Dec. 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22. Snow on Main Street, free hot cocoa and cookies. What’s not to like? (link).

December 2006

• Pop Warner Super Bowl. Dec. 3 – 9. Football players and cheerleaders invade the resort for the pigskin championships (link).
• MouseFest 2006. Dec. 3 – 11. The annual gathering of the Disney Internet community takes place at sea from Dec. 3 – 7 and on land from Dec. 7 – 11 (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 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 and Florida resident discounts extended through late summer

New Passholder and Florida resident discounts were announced for the month of August. In addition, the very limited discounts released earlier for July have been extended on the front side to begin on June 30, rather than July 5. Rather than the all-resorts rates that we’ve seen in the past, the earlier rates are very specifically targeted to five resorts – two Disney Vacation Club resorts and three deluxe resorts, indicating that bookings property-wide are up, with only these five resorts selling below the expected point, necessitating the issuing of discounts. The new rates are available at all resorts.

From August 6-26, the discounts are $25 per night off Value resorts, $50 per night off Moderate resorts and $75 per night off Deluxe and Disney Vacation Club resorts. Passholders should use promotional code EZX or EZY, while Florida residents should reference code FAA or FAC.

The earlier discounts are now for June 30 through August 5 at the Old Key West Resort, Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, Yacht Club Resort, Beach Club Resort and BoardWalk Inn Resort. (The Beach Club Villas and BoardWalk Villas are not included in the discount.) Discount rates at the DVC resorts begin at $159 per night for a studio room, and rates at the deluxes start at $189 per night in a standard room. Other levels of accommodations at those resorts are also available at higher rates. A limited number of rooms are available at the discounted rates. Passholders should reference promotional code EZT or EZU, while Florida residents should reference promotional code EZW.

To receive the discount, you can either make your reservations through the Passholder or Florida resident Web sites, through travel agents or by calling the special Passholder or Florida resident phone numbers (available at the respective Web sites).

At check-in, Passholders will be required to show an annual pass or exchange voucher, and Florida residents will be required to show proof of Florida residency.

Cirque discounts for Passholders and DVC members

Passholders and DVC members get 25 percent off Category 2 admission to performances of Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba through September 30, 2006. Each passholder or DVC member can buy up to four tickets. Tickets should be purchased by phone at 407-939-7604 up to 30 days in advance, and must be picked up at the box office with valid Passholder or DVC identification. The offer is not valid on Saturday shows during July, and the show will not be performed on Sundays and Mondays, as well as July 30 – August 1 and September 17 – 25.

Golf Price Slice returns

A round of golf at Walt Disney World will be less expensive after 10 a.m. again this summer as the resort is bringing back the Disney’s Price Slice promotion. From May 22 through September 30, greens fees will be “sliced” to $55 for the Magnolia and Eagle Pines courses, $49 for the Palm course and $45 for the Lake Buena Vista course. The rates include the use of an electric cart and are discounted from the before-10 a.m. prices of $89 (Magnolia and Eagle Pines), $79 (Palm) and $69 (Lake Buena Vista). The Osprey Ridge course is not involved in the promotion, as it is closed from May 15 through September 23 for refurbishment. The Tifdwarf grass on the greens is being replaced by TifEagle turf, tee boxes are being laser leveled and other work will also be done. The annual makeover of a selected course has been extremely well-received, with the Palm course going first in 2004 and the Magnolia getting upgraded last year. It is unknown at this time whether the Eagle Pines or Lake Buena Vista course is scheduled for next year. To reserve a tee time, call 407-WDW-GOLF (407-939-4653) or go to the Disney Golf Web site (link). Note that the site appears to have difficulty with browsers other than Internet Explorer.

Special offer for Super Soap Weekend travel from Small World Vacations

New Radisson offer

The Radisson Resort Orlando – Celebration, a MousePlanet sponsor, has announced reduced rates for MousePlanet readers from now through September 30. Rates start at $89 per night from June 30 through September 30.

Click here for more information, or here to make reservations now. These special rates and discounts are for MousePlanet readers, so remember to book through our links here.

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 December 2006.

Entertainment Schedule

Hours and entertainment schedules are currently available through December 2006.

Theme Park Events

Fort Wilderness movie schedule for June 2006

Movies begin at 8:40, except on July 3 and 4, when movies will start at 9:30. Movies are preceded by a campfire at 7:30 and a singalong at 8:00.

Downtown Disney Entertainment

(Separate admission required)