Walt Disney World Park Update

Update for January 2 – 7, 2007

Go directly to: News & Views | Coming Soon | Trivia of the Week | Refurbishment/Attraction Closures | Park Events | Discounts/Promotions | Park Hours | Events/Entertainment Schedule

News and Views

While the parks were not quiet, it was another quiet news week this week. Enjoy the short update for a short week.

Crowds, closings the order of the day for busy week

Last week was extremely busy at all of the Walt Disney World parks, as the Magic Kingdom began phased closings on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. Disney’s Animal Kingdom also closed on Wednesday and Thursday, while the Disney-MGM Studios had parking lot overflows on Wednesday and Thursday, as well. Epcot, with its larger parking lots and much larger capacity, did not close at all. It’s uncertain when three parks last closed at the same time.

While Epcot did stay open, lines were extremely long, with waits for Soarin’ regularly around 3 hours and lines for many Future World attractions running all the way to the Innoventions breezeways. New Year’s Eve saw Soarin’ waits of up to 4 hours.

Just in time for the holiday season, the crane has been removed from behind Cinderella Castle, allowing easy guest passage toward the wishing well and Tomorrowland. Photo by Stuart Newsom.

Disney releases details for next year’s 15th anniversary Marathon

Details have been announced for the fifteenth annual Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. The event will run from January 10-13, 2008, and will include the Marathon, Half Marathon, Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge, Family Fun Run 5K, Family Fun Kids Races and the Health & Fitness Expo. There will also be the Post-Race Awards Ceremony and Celebration. Registration opens on January 8, the day after this year’s marathon.

Next year’s marathon finishers will receive a special finisher’s medal whose design will be kept secret (Disney hopes) until the end of the race. The medal “will never be produced again,” so this will be a unique keepsake. Disney has made no such statement about the finisher’s medal for the half marathon.

For more information, go to the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend XV Web site.

Comments from some guests note that the new “Year of a Million Dreams” livery on the monorails resemble the “tagging” of subway cars in New York City. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Safari changes coming soon

Kilimanjaro Safaris will see some changes to the ride vehicles and the attraction itself in the next few months. The load area will be modified to create a queuing space for a ninth seating row. After that is completed, in the spring the safari trucks will be taken out of service one at a time to add an additional row on the back, which will allow the attraction to carry about 320 more passengers per hour. Tests were conducted late last year on a modified vehicle to see if the truck could handle it. The actual truck modifications should only take a few weeks to complete work on the entire 44-vehicle fleet.

In the meantime, the attraction itself will see modifications to both the spiel and a show scene. The character of Miss Jobson will be eliminated from the radio conversation, and the “poacher scene” will be almost entirely removed. Safari drivers are undergoing training in the new spiel, and it should go live in late January or early February. The dates may slide in one direction or the other depending on various factors, but it looks like all of the changes are going forward at this time.

We’ll have more information as it becomes available.

You are allowed to fill your Dole Whips as high as you possibly can for one price at the new self-serve station at Captain Cook’s at the Polynesian Resort. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Disney plays part in AZA’s top 10 stories for 2006

Disney’s Animal Kingdom played a part in two of the top 10 Wildlife Conservation Success Stories for 2006, as designated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) last week. It’s also likely that the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund supported other efforts on the list, though that information was not readily available over the holiday weekend.

The top story for the year was the use of elephant vasectomies to help control the growth of the elephant population in confined areas of Africa, such as South Africa’s Kruger National Park. Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s head veterinarian, Mark Stetter, was part of a three-man team that developed the procedure. We reported on that project back in October.

At number 3 on the list was the resurgence in the population of the bongo in its native Kenya. Disney’s Animal Kingdom was one of 12 U.S. zoological parks and refuges, including six in Florida, that sent 18 mountain bongo antelopes back to Kenya in hopes of repopulating their original habitat. That story appeared here in April 2004.

Captain Cook’s is now using the same touch-screen kiosks that were rolled out at Taste Pilots’ Grill at Disney’s California Adventure park (though obviously, with different menus and theming). Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

The abandoned construction for Legendary Hall at Phase II of the Pop Century Resort waits for the green light to resume construction. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Quick takes …

…Atlanta Braves training camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex is just a month and a half away, as pitchers and catchers report on February 15 and position players report on February 20. The first full-squad workout is scheduled for February 21. The last spring training game at The Ballpark is on March 29, after which the team heads back to Atlanta for the final two spring training games.

…According to the web page for October’s Race for the Taste 10K, race-day resort transportation will only be available for those staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort and only if you book your travel through Anthony Travel. This means that most runners will need to provide their own transportation to the Wide World of Sports Complex (WWOS) in the morning. Post-race transportation from Epcot will be much easier, unless you need to get back to your car at WWOS.

…A new tip board has been installed at Epcot under the monorail track between the Innoventions East breezeway and Mission: Space.

A new tip board has been installed at Epcot. Don’t let those wait times fool you, though; other reports indicate that the line for Nemo actually extended all the way to the Innoventions West breezeway when the sign indicated a 5 minute wait. Photo by Stuart Newsom.

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.

Coming soon

• Nov. 13 – Jan. 7, 2007. Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade.
• Nov. 13 – Jan. 7, 2007. Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights.
• January 7. Blizzard Beach reopens as Typhoon Lagoon goes down for its annual refurbishment.
• Jan. 5-7. Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend.
• Jan. 12-14. College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship.
• Jan. 22, 26, 29, Feb. 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 23, 26, Mar. 2, 5, 8. Disney’s Pirate & Princess Party.
• Feb. 2-4. National Dance Team Championship.
• Feb. 9-11. National High School Cheerleading Championship.
• Feb. 16–19. Twirlmania.
• Feb. 15 – Mar. 29. Atlanta Braves Training Camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex.
• Feb. 24–25. Cheer & Dance National Championships.

Trivia question of the week

This week’s question: What are the names of the three surviving elephant calfs born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Stay tuned to next week’s park update for the answer.

The answer to last week’s question: “Which of the following has not been awarded a Thea Award by the Themed Entertainment Association: It’s Tough To Be A BugExpedition EverestDisney’s Animal KingdomAnimal Kingdom LodgeDisney’s FASTPASSKilimanjaro Safaris?” is:

Kilimanjaro Safaris. The other attractions won: It’s Tough To Be A Bug (Attraction, 1999); Expedition Everest (Attraction, 2006); Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Theme Park, 1999); Animal Kingdom Lodge (Themed Hotel, 2002); Disney’s FASTPASS (Breakthrough Innovation, 2001); and Lucky the Dinosaur (Technology, 2004).

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

• Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club – is currently holding occasional test shows and will have its official grand opening this spring. There will be sneak previews during a press event January 24–26.
• Splash Mountain – closes for refurbishment January 2–27.
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – closes for refurbishment January 28 – February 11.
• Tomorrowland Indy Speedway – closes for refurbishment January 31 – February 15.

Epcot

• The Seas with Nemo and Friends – is now open, and will have its official grand opening during a press event January 24–26.
• The Wonders of Life pavilion – has again closed, perhaps forever and perhaps just until next Thanksgiving weekend.
• El Rio del Tiempo – closes for refurbishment January 2 – April 1, 2007.
• Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki – closes for refurbishment January 15 – May 25, 2007.
• Rose & Crown Dining Room – closes for refurbishment from February 21 through March 14.
• Le Cellier Restaurant – closes for refurbishment May 14–18.
• Coral Reef Restaurant – will not serve dinner on January 24.

Disney-MGM Studios

• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster – closes for refurbishment January 2–21, 2007.

Animal Kingdom

• Finding Nemo – The Musical – is now open, and will have its official grand opening during a press event January 24–26.
• Kali River Rapids – closes for refurbishment February 5–9.

Resorts

• All-Star Movies Resort – the Fantasia pool is closed for an extensive rehab through February 18. All-Star Movies guests can use the “quiet” pools as well as the main pools at the other All-Star resorts.
• All-Star Music Resort – Conversion of Calypso buildings to Family Suites continues. All work had been expected to be completed by October 13, but that date has not been met. All buildings not containing Family Suites will be renovated between January and June, 2007.
• All-Star Sports Resort – All buildings will be renovated between June and November, 2007.
• Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – Building 6 (Concierge) closes in September, 2007 for a full refurbishment.
• Port Orleans Riverside Resort – The Riverside Mill food court closes for refurbishment from January 2 through mid-April.
• Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa – Phase I’s four buildings and Phase II’s eight units are complete, Construction on the six buildings of Phase III is underway, with all six units expected to be completed in mid-2007. The new buildings consist of two additional sections, to be called The Carousel and The Grandstand. The two buildings in The Carousel have been completed, and the four in The Grandstand are well underway.
• Wilderness Lodge – We’ve gotten further information that all of the scaffolding is not yet down, though there is much less than there had been. The previous information from staff at the front desk was inaccurate.

Water Parks

• Blizzard Beach – Closed for annual refurbishment October 29, and reopens on January 7, 2007.
• Typhoon Lagoon – Will close for annual refurbishment on January 7, 2007, and reopens on March 18, 2007.

Elsewhere

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

Park Events

Ongoing

• Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade. Nov. 13 – Jan. 7, 2007. The Animal Kingdom parade trades its Jammin’ for Jingle in this holiday makeover (link).
• Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights. Nov. 13 – Jan. 7, 2007. Jennings Osborne’s amazing display returns to the Studios (link).

January 2007

• Walt Disney World Half-Marathon. Jan. 6. Registration is full. [Read our WDW Marathon Guide.]
• Walt Disney World Marathon. Jan. 7. Registration is full(link).
• College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship. Jan. 12-14. Teams descend on the Wide World of Sports (link).
• Disney’s Pirate & Princess Party. Jan. 22, 26, 29, Feb. 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 23, 26, Mar. 2, 5, 8. A new hard-ticketed event celebrates the pirates and princesses in all of us (link).

February 2007

• National Dance Team Championship. Feb. 2-4. Teams descend on the Wide World of Sports (link).
• National High School Cheerleading Championship. Feb. 9-11. Teams descend on the Wide World of Sports (link).
• Twirlmania.February 16–19. Twirlers, auxiliary guard, pom, and dancers descend on the Wide World of Sports (link).
• Atlanta Braves Training Camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex. February 15 – March 29 (link).
• Cheer & Dance National Championships. February 24–25. School & Youth Rec Cheer February 24, All-Star Cheer & Dance February 25 (link).

March 2007

• Cheer & Dance National Championships. March 2–4. All Star/Studio March 2, School Dance March 2–4 (link).
• ESPN – The Weekend. March 2–4. Synergy strikes again as Disney’s flagship cable network returns to the Disney-MGM Studios (link).
• National Kidney Foundation 5K for Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness. March 3. Another race for a great cause (link).
• National All Star Cheerleading Championship. March 9-11. Teams descend on the Wide World of Sports (link).

April 2007

• Walt Disney World Inline Marathon and Half Marathon (link). April 1. Strap your skates on to race from the Wide World of Sports Complex to the Disney-MGM Studios and Epcot, and back again.
• Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. April 5 – June 3. Epcot comes alive with topiaries, other floral displays, gardening demonstrations and the “Flower Power” concert series at the 14th annual event (link).
• USASF Cheerleading & Dance Worlds. April 21–22. Teams descend on the Wide World of Sports (link).

May 2007

• Disney’s Minnie Marathon Weekend 5K and 1 Mile (link). May 5. The short runs of the ladies-only running weekend take place at and near Downtown Disney. Registration is now open (link).
• Women Run the World 15 K (link). May 6. The course starts at Animal Kingdom, goes through the Studios and ends at Epcot. Registration is now open (link).
• Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Devil Rays (link). May 15-17. Regular-season Major League Baseball comes to The Ballpark at Disney’s Wide World of Sports for the first time.
• Teddy Bear and Doll Weekend (link). May 18-20. The annual event features over 30 artists displaying their wares.
• Pirates of the Caribbean Adventures on the Seven Seas Lagoon (link). May 21-24. Disneyland may get the movie premiere, but Walt Disney World gets a three-day, multi-tiered event on open water. Details to be announced on December 20.

July 2007

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp (link). Late July – Mid-August. The Bucs return to Disney for another year’s training camp.

September 2007

• Walt Disney World Triathlon (link). Sept. 23. Athletes compete in a 1.5K swim, a 40K bike ride, and a 10K run. Registration opens soon (link).

October 2007

• Race for the Taste 10K (link). Oct. 7. The annual October classic steers runners through the Disney-MGM Studios and Epcot. Registration is now open (link).

November 2007

• Disney Golf Classic (link). Nov. 1–4. Joe Durant returns to defend his 2006 title (link).
• Old Spice Classic (link). Nov. 22, 23, 25. ESPN Regional presents the second annual 8-team, 12-game tournament, featuring George Mason, Kansas State, North Carolina State, Penn State, Rider, South Carolina and Villanova.

January 2008

• Walt Disney World Half-Marathon (link). Jan. 12. Registration opens January 8, 2007.
• Walt Disney World Marathon (link). Jan. 13. Registration opens January 8, 2007. [Read our WDW Marathon Guide.]

Current Discounts & Promotions

Magic Your Way package discounts through March 8, FL resident and AP room rates through February 14

Disney has announced room-only discounts for Annual Passholders and Florida Residents for January through mid-February.

Room-only discounts are available for Annual Passholders and Florida residents from January 1 through February 14. Discounts are $23 off per night at Value resorts, $46 per night at Moderate resorts and $80 per night at Deluxe and Disney Vacation Club resorts. These rates can be booked up to the night of arrival, depending on availability. Discounts are priced off of rack rate. To book the rates, call Disney directly or your travel agent (Small World Vacations is MousePlanet’s preferred travel agency) and request booking code FCC (Passholders) or BRL (Florida residents).

Thanks to MousePlanet sponsors Small World Vacations and MouseSavers for this information.

Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration rates through the end of 2007

The Radisson Resort Parkway is now the Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration! The resort, a MousePlanet sponsor, has released their standard rates through the end of 2007. There are also special rates in effect most nights through February 14, with nightly rates up to $28 off of the rates listed below. Note that the nightly rates do not include a $8.85 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, and again on August 6, 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. Prices do not include 6.5% Florida sales tax.

Park Hours

Hours and entertainment schedules are currently available through July 2007.

Entertainment Schedule

Hours and entertainment schedules are currently available through July 2007.

Theme Park Events

Fort Wilderness movie schedule for January 2007

Movies begin at 7:40 and (on Friday and Saturday only) 9:15. Movies are preceded by a campfire at 6:30 and a singalong at 7:00.

Downtown Disney Entertainment

(Separate admission required)

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