Walt Disney World Park Update

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News and Views

Cypress Gardens fallout – The sudden closure of Cypress Gardens,
the first amusement park in central Florida, is shaking things up a bit.
The Orlando
Sentinel reported last week that Florida Governor Jeb Bush
is investigating whether a state fund for preserving environmental and
historical sites could be used to purchase at least part of Cypress Gardens.
The early response from environmental groups was to support a state purchase
of the park’s botanical gardens, but they aren’t so eager to see an environmental
fund used to purchase and maintain amusement park rides.

Several Orlando-area attractions are stepping up to claim the business
of former Cypress Gardens annual passholders. The most prominent is SeaWorld’s
offer of a Silver Passport at 50 percent off the regular price. Several
other local attractions (such as Spendid China in Kissimmee) have free
entry for various time periods.

They have lawyers in Florida, too – The Magic Kingdom’s Many
Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction closes for rehab on April 25
and remains shuttered until late June. Among other things, new gates will
be installed in the rides loading area.

For your safety… The permanent bag check stations recently completed
at the Magic Kingdom are now complete and in use at the other three parks.
The hope is that these new stations will minimize delays, but no word
on whether it will actually make anybody safer.

Might as well make it official – Even though Michael Eisner
“accidentally” spilled the beans at the Annual Meeting last
month, press has been invited to Animal Kingdom on Tuesday, April 22 for
an announcement about a future project. This will be the official announcement
of Forbidden Mountain, and is timed to highlight Animal Kingdom’s fifth
anniversary.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh closes for refurbishment
and safety installations on April 25 and is scheduled to reopen on June
27.

The Theater in Epcot’s China Pavilion closed for refurbishment

on March 26 until May 22. The gallery, merchandise shop and restaurants continue

to operate.

Great Movie Ride at Disney-MGM Studio closed for refurbishment

on February 24. The ride was scheduled to return on April 13, but the

closure has been extended through June 29.

Park Events

Upcoming events

April 25 through June 8 – 10th Epcot International Flower

& Garden Festival.

May 15 through 18 – 5th Annual Celebration

of Walt Disney Art Classics cruise and mini-convention aboard

the Disney Wonder

May 16 – June 15 – Star Wars Weekends. Get more information in

Brian

Bennett’s WDW Trip Planning Guide on Star Wars Weekends.

June 3 through June 9 – Gay Days 2003. This unofficial event is

not sponsored by Disney. Event information can be obtained from the event sponsor.

June 14, 2003 – Mickey’s Toon Town of Pins at the Magic Kingdom.

September 5-6, 2003 – 21st Annual Night of Joy at Magic Kingdom. Every year, this musical event brings together some of the biggest names in Christian music. This is a hard-ticket event held after park closure.

September 19-21, 2003 – Disney’s Pin Celebration at Epcot.

November 16-20, 2003 – Pin Trading Cruise aboard the Disney

Wonder.

Current Discounts & Promotions

The

great rates to MousePlanet readers through December, 2003. Sample

rates for selected dates and rooms are listed below. To take advantage

of these special rates, make your reservations using the link found on

this

page.

MouseSavers.com

reports some great rates for travel to Walt Disney World:

• New hotel discount codes are available for check-ins April

  27 through July 3. Sample rates range from at $74 at the All Stars,

  to $420 for a main lodge concierge room at the Grand Floridian. Travel

  must be booked by April 26. Use the discount

  codes found at MouseSavers.

• Florida

  residents can stay on property for as little as $59 at the All

  Stars, $74 at moderate resorts, and $124 at Wilderness Lodge and Animal

  Kingdom Lodge. These rates are valid for arrivals between April 27 and

  July 3, 2003.

• Disney’s Visa card holders can purchase specially priced Dream

  Maker packages for check-ins most nights from May 26 to August 3. You

  do not need to use your Disney Visa to book Disney

  Visa Summer packages, but you must provide your account number

  to qualify.

• Delta is offering rates as low as $138 roundtrip for travel

  to Orlando. Purchase by April 16 for travel April17 – October 1, 2003.

  Some blackout dates apply.

• Florida residents can buy a “Play 4 Days” Pass for

  just $116 per person. The park hopper pass is good for any four days

  between April 1 through September 30, 2003. (July 4 is the only day

  excluded)

• Cruise Deals – MouseSavers has a list of Disney Cruise

  Line Magical

  Rates, available for departures through January 2004, and early-booking

  discounts for Fall 2003 itineraries.

If you are itching to break in your new Disney Visa card, you can receive

a $50 onboard credit when you book a Disney Cruise Line vacation and

pay with your Disney Visa. The offer is good for sailings through the

end of this year. When you charge your cruise to your Disney Visa, you

pay no interest for six months.

Annual Passholders can receive 10% 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 Monday through Friday.

Call 407-WDW-DINE for locations and reservations.

Park Hours

Entertainment Schedule