Walt Disney World Park Update

Update for January 15 – 21, 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

Water management permit granted for “Disney’s Contemporary Suites” Vacation Club resort

On last Thursday’s MouseStation podcast, we reported that a permit application for Management and Storage of Surface Waters related to the construction of Disney’s Contemporary Suites was now available online at the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Web site, including plot diagrams showing the construction of a C-shaped building on the current site of the North Garden Wing. Since then, the SFWMD has posted the permit approval for Surface Water Management. All documents related to the application and permit are available at the SFWMD Web site.

The paperwork associated with the permits pretty much confirms that the drawings that we linked to back in the August 7 Park Update were accurate, and that the design created by Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects LLC (who also came up with the award-winning design for the Contemporary’s Convention Center back in 1992) is what will be built on the site.

We’ll keep an eye out for further permits to help track the process.

Tigger incident update

Further information regarding the “Tigger attacks boy” story from last week has called the incident into even more question. Close examination of the video shows Jerry Monaco, Jr., continued grinning after being hit by Tigger, and playfully smacking Tigger on the head. Closer examination shows that Tigger appears to be trying to get his hand on Monaco’s left shoulder to push him away.

Some reports indicate that Monaco had stuck his hand up inside Tigger’s head and was pulling on the cowl used to block the performer’s neck when Tigger’s head leans forward. The police report (PDF file) indicates that the cast member “had lost sight of his spotter” and that Monaco “put his arm over Tigger’s shoulder pulling his costume back and knocking him off balance. The head portion of the costume pulled back making it hard for him to breath [sic] so he left the area to get the costume adjusted.” That would make it sound as if the performer had tried to avoid implying that Monaco did it on purpose, which would seem at odds with the other evidence.

We have had an ongoing discussion, where member “dolphinkiss21” wrote:

“I know the CM that was ‘Tigger’ personally… He used to work as my coordinator for attractions in another location. There is absolutely NO WAY that Tigger did this maliciously. The personality of the gentleman in the costume is so far from being able to harm anyone it’s not funny. From the video and what I know of the costumes, the kid was reaching back to either try to push the head off, unzip the back of the costume, or both at the same time. Tigger locked his arm, which is a tactic used when a guest is doing something unkind behind the character’s back. When Tigger turned to try to dislodge his arm from the kid you can see that the kid hangs onto something for dear life ’cause the kid is almost pulled over when Tigger turns. All Tigger did was try to effectively shake the kid off him and in doing so accidentally, if at all, bumped the kid and as you can see from the video the kid retaliates immediately and wails him in the head.

What do you think? Send me an e-mail and let me know here.

An invitation to Pirates is located under the monorail track outside the bag check area at the Magic Kingdom. Photo by Brian Warneke.

Princesses are also invited to the Pirate and Princess parties on the other side of the entrance. Photo by Brian Warneke.

Resort room rack rates rise

On January 11, Walt Disney World officially posted the 2007 increases to the rack rates for resort rooms. These are the non-discounted rates that are charged per room. Note that these prices vary based on season, room type, room location and other factors. Ranges for Disney Vacation Club accommodations include everything from studios up through three bedroom grand villas.

Here are the changes, as posted on WDW’s public relations Web site:

In addition, Disney has finally updated the Magic Your Way dining package brochures on their tickets and reservation site for the standard, premium and platinum plans to reflect the return of the third-party restaurants at Epcot, Downtown Disney and the Coronado Springs Resort, as we first reported back on September 5.

In addition, valet parking at the Deluxe resorts has matched the price for parking in a theme park parking lot at $10 per day.

New Spring discount package announced

A new vacation package has been announced for stays most nights from April 15 through June 2, where you will receive free ticket upgrades and a room discount. When you book a regularly priced vacation package including accommodation and Magic Your Way base tickets, the tickets will automatically be upgraded to include the Park Hopper and Water Park Fun & More options. That’s a value of $95 plus tax per person. In addition, the room portion of the package is also discounted. The deal is also available with the Dining Plan.

As an example, a 6-night/7-day package at a value resort in regular season starts at $561 per adult, $225 per junior (ages 10-17) and $186 per child (ages 3-9), based on double adult occupancy. Other resorts, dates and lengths of stay qualify for the offer, as well, though the minimum stay is three nights.

To take advantage of this offer, you must book by February 18.

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

Disney vacation insurance adds new feature

Effective immediately, if you purchase Travel Guard vacation insurance though the Walt Disney Travel Company – Florida, it will provide coverage for your airfare, regardless of whether you buy your plane tickets through Disney, a travel agent, or on your own. The vacation insurance costs $59.95 per adult; children 17 and under are covered automatically when all of the adults in the group buy the insurance.

All existing reservations with insurance will receive the benefit without the need to rebook. As before, claims must be filed with Travel Guard, who will work with the Walt Disney Travel Company – Florida to resolve issues related to the portion of the trip booked through them, and work with the airline and/or third-party booking company to deal with any independently booked air reservation.

The new policy covers regularly scheduled airline or air charter flights.

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

Silhouettes of Disney characters, as in the Year of a Million Dreams decor, sits alongside the floral Mickey in front of the Magic Kingdom. Photo by Brian Warneke.

The white silhouettes are on both sides of the entrance. Photo by Brian Warneke.

First the Disney Welcome Center, now the brochures

Last week, Walt Disney World pulled its advertising brochures from thousands of locations throughout Florida. The racks of brochures, located in hotels, motels, restaurants and other locations, have been populated with color booklets and fliers advertising Gatorland, Cypress Gardens, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa and many other, smaller attractions for decades.

With the parks and resorts reaching higher and higher attendance and occupancy levels, Disney has apparently decided to try to change the mix of guests to boost those staying for multiple days over those who visit for one or two days, since multiple-day guests—especially those who are staying at a Disney resort—bring a much higher profit margin to the company, as they tend to spend much more per day.

The brochures must be removed from the racks by September 30 to avoid having outdated information on the racks. They will continue to be distributed in the Orlando/Kissimmee area, as well as AAA offices, Florida Turnpike service plazas and Florida Welcome Centers around the state.

Disney notes that more guests are planning their vacation in advance using the Internet and other tools, so the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on the brochures would be better spent elsewhere.

That doesn’t mean that the hotel, restaurant and business owners are thrilled with the change. Some note that guests are already deciding to visit other attractions because information about Disney is not available in the rack and they don’t want to wait for the front desk clerk to look up information for them. Bob Davis, president and chief executive officer of the Hotel Motel Association of Volusia County, which represents more than 100 hotels, has already written to WDW Resort President Meg Crofton protesting the removal of the brochures, and plans to write to Disney CEO Bob Iger.

Universal Orlando has stated that they have no plans to remove their brochures from any racks.

Star Wars Weekends maquettes announced

The dates for Star Wars Weekends at the Disney-MGM Studios have still not been announced (one rumor has them scheduled for May 18-June 10, while another has them pushed back to June 1-24 to avoid conflicting with Star Wars Celebration IV in Los Angeles over Memorial Day Weekend), but the first limited-edition merchandise pieces have been unveiled.

Following in the footsteps of last year’s Jedi Mickey, four new “big fig” character maquettes will be released this year, standing between 17 and 23 inches tall with illuminated bases. X-Wing Fighter Pilot Mickey, Princess Minnie, Stormtrooper Donald and Darth Goofy will be priced at $175 apiece, and each comes with a certificate of authenticity. There will be 600 of each figure, which are expected to disappear quickly.

Artists Costa Alavezos (X-wing Mickey, Princess Minnie, and Stormtrooper Donald) and Randy Noble (Darth Goofy) are expected to do a signing event at one of the resorts during the middle of June (possibly pointing to the all-June schedule). There is also the possibility of a single set of gold-finish pieces being created for auction, as well as a single set of bronze-finish pieces. However, those plans are not yet confirmed.

Information about the pieces is expected to appear on the Disney Gallery Web site at disneygallery.com some time in March.

Maintenance is being performed on the outrun for Splash Mountain. Photo by Brian Warneke.

Splash Mountain’s logs sit backed up outside the attraction. It is hoped that they will get some cleaning before the attraction reopens. Photo by Brian Warneke.

White rhino baby born at Animal Kingdom

The first birth of the year at Disney’s Animal Kingdom came on January 4, as an 8-year-old white rhino named Kendi gave birth to her second baby, a male named Tom. Kendi herself was the first white rhino born at the park, and Tom is the sixth. Kendi and Tom are expected to return to the park’s savannah soon. Congratulations to Kendi and to the rhino care team at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Two arrested for breaking into cars at Animal Kingdom parking lot

On Wednesday afternoon, two men were arrested for breaking into four cars in the parking lot at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. According to the Commander’s Report from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, two officers found four vehicles burglarized in the lot, while two other officers found the suspects elsewhere thanks to surveillance. Numerous items were recovered from the suspects’ vehicle and were eventually identified as items that were stolen from some of the victims. Shawn Atkinson, 18, and Marcus Denmark, 20, were taken into custody without incident.

Contemporary shell game continues

Work continues on the fourth floor of the Contemporary Resort with construction underway on the new Contemporary Games arcade. The Fantasia gift shop and the storeroom used for both that shop and the Sundries store are involved in this conversion, and part of the Sundries shop will become a new storeroom for that shop. It appears that the gift shop will become a series of free-standing kiosks in the middle of the north side of the concourse. Unconfirmed rumors indicate that the Concourse Steakhouse will move to the Food ‘n’ Fun Center on the first floor (getting a new name in the process), and then Chef Mickey’s will expand into the site of the Steakhouse.

Main Street shuffle

Large crowds of people looking to have a seat after getting through the long queue at the Main Street Bakery can cause a severe shortage of tables and chairs. The seating area that has been carved out of the back of the Arribas Brothers store next door is experiencing two problems. The rear part of the store is frequently overwhelmed with those trying to sit, especially during the colder or hotter months, when people are looking for either warm or cool places to sit. At the same time, the overflow causes many people to try to eat in the glass shop, dropping crumbs everywhere.

To alleviate this problem, Disney is moving the Arribas Brothers store to another location, which will free up its entire current location for seating for the bakery. However, the space that Disney has chosen to relocate the shop to is the venerable Market House. This shop, with its turn-of-the-century theme, kitchen-centric merchandise and hidden treasures (such as the party-line phones), has been a favorite of many over the years. There are concerns in the fan community that the theming of the store will be removed., leaving them without their treasures. It is unknown at this time what the new store will look like, or what will be lost or preserved.

Work on the Market House, which began January 3, will continue through spring, at which point work will begin on expanding the seating area. We’ll let you know as we receive any further information on the changes.

The Market House is closed for conversion to a new Arribas Brothers location. Photo by Brian Warneke.

GM gives Test Track visitors “Fuel for Thought”

The post-show area at the Test Track pavilion now features an exhibit called “Fuel for Thought”, which promotes alternative fuels for vehicles. Fuel cell, E85 and hybrid technology are all on display. Through interactive kiosks and games, visitors learn about how hydrogen atoms are used in fuel cells, how hybrid technology works and how E85 is made, among other topics and special effects.

The display includes an actual FlexFuel E85 compatible vehicle for guests to hop into, as well as a Chevy Tahoe chassis that demonstrates how a two-mode hybrid works through the use of various lighting effects.

Beyond that display is another one called AUTOnomy, which is an attempt to design a new vehicle from the ground up around a fuel cell propulsion unit. A live narrator discusses the initiative every 15 minutes.

Quick takes …

…Just a reminder that the MouseStation Podcast launched last Thursday. In other podcast news, I stopped by to chat on this week’s episode of the Mouse Guest Weekly podcast.

…The refurbishment of the Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki restaurant at Epcot’s Japan pavilion has been pushed back from its original January 15 through May 25 dates. The new dates are March 11 through July 14.

…It seems that work is indeed being done on the pyramid scene in conjunction with the Three Caballeros makeover of the El Rio del Tiempo attraction at Epcot’s Mexico pavilion. During the work, diners at the San Angel Inn Restaurante will have a view of a construction wall.

…Turtle Talk with Crush closes down from January 29 through February 16, most likely for its expected move into the remaining pre-show theater from the original Living Seas pavilion. When it opens back up, the Finding Nemo area of the pavilion should return, and the old Turtle Talk theater will be repurposed.

…George Aguel, senior vice president for Disney Destinations, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, was named one of the “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing” for 2006 by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI).

…Pleasure Island at Downtown Disney will again transform itself twice during February. On February 9, 10 and 14, it will become Sweetheart Island, with red and silver decorations and romance-themed entertainment. February 16, 17 and 20 will bring Mardi Gras to the island, with banners, swags and masks and purple and green garland trimming the island and special live performances for the occasion. Outdoor entertainment will still be free and available to all.

…Walt Disney World Resort and its cast members contributed a combined $22 million in cash and support to Central Florida organizations last year. In addition, almost 200,000 hours were put in by Disney VoluntEARS.

Splash Mountain’s drop looks lonely with no water running down it. Photo by Brian Warneke.

The “pond” in front of Splash Mountain also remains dry for additional work during the refurbishment. The attraction is scheduled to reopen on January 28. Photo by Brian Warneke.

…Long-time off-property favorite Jungle Jim’s has apparently closed. The restaurant at the Crossroads shopping center near Disney’s Hotel Plaza Boulevard was popular with tourists and cast members alike.

…Those planning to get married at Walt Disney World now have some new options to choose from with Disney’s Couture Wedding Collection by David Tutera, a line of celebrity-style weddings. Tutera, a party planner who has his own series on The Discovery Home Channel, has created four special events – Whimsical Garden, Cocktail Soiree, Classic Elegance and Simply Chic – specifically for Disney Fairy Tale Weddings. More information is available on these new options by calling 321-939-4623 or at disneyweddings.com.

…On February 14, Disney Fairy Tale Weddings will begin offering a wedding gift registry for elements to make up a Disney honeymoon at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, the Disney Cruise Line or any Disney Vacation Club resort. Available choices include dining, park passes and resort accommodations, as well as special events such as a personal safari, an after-hours visit to the Magic Kingdom or a Disney Vacation Club membership. (Deep pockets are required for some of these gifts.) For more information, call 407-939-7776 or visit disneyhoneymoonregistry.com.

…Orlando Sentinel sports columnist Mike Bianchi is reporting that one of the water stops at the Walt Disney World Marathon ran out of water during the late stages of the race. No word yet on what happened to cause that logistics issue.

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

• 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: Where at Walt Disney World can you find a wooden leg named “Smith”? Stay tuned to next week’s park update for the answer.

The answer to last week’s question: “Which was the first attraction to open in EPCOT Center’s Future World after the October 1, 1982?” is:

Journey Into Imagination. While Horizons was the first pavilion to open after the park’s opening, the Imagination pavilion only had the Image Works and the Magic Journeys 3-D movie on opening day. The ride, featuring Figment and the Dreamfinder, did not open until March 5, 1983. Horizons opened on October 1, 1983.

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

• Ariel’s Grotto – is closed for the replacement of drains and SafDek surfacing January 3–16.
• Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club – is 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 – is closed for refurbishment through January 27.
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – closes for refurbishment, including the installation of paddle fans in the queue area, January 28 – February 11.
• Tomorrowland Indy Speedway – closes for refurbishment January 31 – February 15.
• Liberty Square Riverboat – will not operate due to refurbishment February 27 – March 1.

Epcot

• The Seas with Nemo and Friends – is now open, and will have its official grand opening during a press event January 24–26.
• Coral Reef Restaurant – is not serving dinner on January 24 due to a special party for the press event.
• Turtle Talk with Crush – is not operating January 29 – February 16.
• El Rio del Tiempo – closes for refurbishment through April 1.
• Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki – closes for refurbishment from March 11 through July 14.
• Rose & Crown Dining Room – closes for refurbishment from February 21 through March 14.
• Le Cellier Restaurant – closes for refurbishment May 14–18.
• The Wonders of Life pavilion – has again closed, perhaps forever and perhaps just until next Thanksgiving weekend.

Disney-MGM Studios

• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster – is closed for refurbishment through January 21.

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.
• All-Star Sports Resort – All buildings will be renovated between June and November.
• Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – Building 6 (Concierge) closes in September for a full refurbishment.
• Polynesian Resort – The Nanea Volcano pool closes for the installation of safety equipment from January 13 – February 28.
• Port Orleans Riverside Resort – The Riverside Mill food court closes for refurbishment 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 will comprise 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 – The Silver Springs feature pool and hot tub closes from January 29 through March 2. The children’s pool closes on February 12 and also reopens on March 2.

Water Parks

• Typhoon Lagoon – Closed for annual refurbishment , and reopens on March 18.

Elsewhere

• Cirque du Soleil – La Nouba – performs Tuesdays – Saturdays. No performances January 14–22, March 18–20, May 20-June 4, July 29–31, September 23–October 1, November 25–27.

Park Events

January 2007

• 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 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

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.

Florida resident and AP room rates through March 31

Disney has announced room-only discounts for Annual Passholders and Florida Residents for mid-February through the end of March. Room-only discounts are available for Annual Passholders and Florida residents for most night from February 15 through March 31. Discounts are up to $40 off per night at Value resorts, $61 off per night at Moderate resorts and $131 off 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 FCR (Passholders) or FCT (Florida residents).

Passholders and Florida Residents get six months’ admission to Pleasure Island for the cost of one night

From January 1 through March 31 of this year, Annual Passholders and Florida residents can purchase a multi-club Pleasure Island ticket for the regular price of $21.95 (plus tax) and get unlimited visits through June 30. Guests must be over 21 years of age to purchase the tickets, and proof of age, proof of an annual pass or Florida residency, and a valid photo ID are required at the Pleasure Island box office when purchasing a ticket or redeeming a certificate from an online purchase. The offer cannot be combined with other discounts or offers, and is not valid for single-club tickets. Guests must be 21 years of age to enter any of the dance clubs (basically anything other than the Adventurer’s Club and the Comedy Warehouse), and must show proof of age at the time of entry.

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.