Walt Disney World Park Update

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News and Views

Calling all Cypress Gardens annual passholders – Holders
of Cypress Gardens annual passes can get free one-day admission to the
Flower & Garden Show at Epcot.

Vivendi cutting losses? It was widely reported this week that
Vivendi Universal is in serious talks to sell its theme park division
(which includes five parks in Orlando, Hollywood, Spain, and Japan) to
Blackstone Partners, a New York investment firm.

Blackstone already owns 50 percent of the Florida resort, and analysts
expect the purchase would be an investment, not an expectation of long-term
ownership. Meaning it would resell the theme park division when the economy
and amusement-park industry improve.

Although no short-term changes to the parks would be expected, some interesting
questions would arise. For example, there would no longer be any inherent
connection between the theme parks and the studio for which they are named,
and yet, the Hollywood park would still be in a working Universal Studios
backlot.

In addition to full ownership of the Hollywood and Orlando parks, Blackstone
would be purchasing minority interests in Universal’s Japanese theme park,
and Universal Mediterranea near Barcelona.

Disney Half Marathon: We told you it wouldn’t last long –
This is probably your last chance to register for the Walt Disney World
Half Marathon. Due to popular demand, capacity for the Half Marathon was
increased from 5500 to 8500 participants. As of May 1, 8000 athletes have
registered for the Half Marathon, so leaves just a few hundred spots left
for this popular event.

Currently, 9200 athletes have registered for the Marathon, which has
a capacity of 16,000 participants. If you have friends of family who wish
to participate, encourage them to register as soon as possible at disneyworldsports.com.

Maybe you just wanna watch—and help—instead – Make
sure to register early if you want to be a volunteer. All the great
jobs (such as giving out finisher’s medals and Mylar space blankets) fill
fast. Charles Wait, who has been both a volunteer and participant in the
Disney Marathon, says:

I volunteered for the 2003 marathon and had a blast. I was stationed
at the entrance to Epcot. The entrance area was a mess. WDW security
less than helpful. I am glad that I had worked a few other big races
in the past and we eventually sorted everything out. I think it went
well except that the entrance to Epcot will be a pinch point for the
mid- packers as long as the race is as large as it is.

For the full marathon runners, I was the gray-headed, cherubic guy
standing on the corner of a planter to mark the unprotected corner just
in front of the entrance turnstiles. I was high-fiving runners and yelling
good morning.

The best way to get a jump on the good volunteer jobs is to sign up as
a Disney
Sports Enthusiast. Select the various sports activities you are
interested in, and Disney will notify you as soon as they start taking
sign-ups for specific events.

Maybe you can try a much shorter distance – Disney Sports
has opened
up registration for its fifth annual Disney’s 10K Classic, to
be held Sunday, October 12, 2003.

Open to runners 11 years and older, participants must be able to maintain
15-minute per mile pace. Those who cannot maintain that pace are escorted
to the finish line.

The 10K starts in the Epcot parking lot at 7:00 a.m., then proceeds into
Epcot through Future World, then the World Showcase, exiting at the International
gateway, around the Boardwalk then out onto the highway, and finishing
at the Wide World of Sports Complex. (Kind of like the last 10K of the
Marathon without Disney Studios.)

Entry fees:

• $25 received by October 4


• $30 received October 5-12

There are two ways to register:

• Register on-line at the Disney
  World Sports Web site.


• Email: wdw.sports.marathon.road.races@disney.com
  to have a registration form mailed to you.

All 10K runners will receive a commemorative race T-Shirt.

For a VERY short period – Last week we reported that beginning April 27, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon would be starting a new split operating schedule that would only have both water parks open on Wednesdays. We also reported that it was unknown how long this new schedule would last. Not very long, as it turned out. At the last second, Disney management sent out notification to cast members that these plans were cancelled and that both parks would be keeping normal operating hours. This wasn’t soon enough to prevent some cast members from sending guests to Blizzard Beach, under the belief that Typhoon Lagoon was closed.

Golf architect for WDW courses dies – Noted golf architect
Joe Lee died last week at age 81 after a long career designing some of
the nation’s top courses, including the Magnolia, Palm, and Lake Buena
Vista courses at Walt Disney World.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

The Theater in Epcot’s China Pavilion closes for refurbishment
March 26 to 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 – Fifth 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 19-21, 2003 – Disney’s Pin Celebration at Epcot.

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

Current Discounts & Promotions

The
Radisson Resort Parkway, a MousePlanet sponsor hotel, is offering
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