Walt Disney World Park Update

Update for April 2 – 8, 2007

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

[Editor’s Note: The MousePlanet reader feedback e-mail form has not been functioning correctly for the last couple of weeks or so, and any e-mail sent to me through the form was not delivered. We apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused. The form is working again and I hope that if you tried to send me any comments during that time you’ll try again.]

News and Views

Little Ones Travel Time dates set

The dates have been finalized for this year’s Little Ones Travel Time. The promotion targeting families with small chidren will run from August 26 through October 28. The period will again feature special concerts at the Disney-MGM Studios aimed at small children and extra, Fantasyland-only Extra Magic Hours at the Magic Kingdom.

Concert performers already confirmed include The Doodlebops, Johnny and the Sprites, Dan Zanes and Mickey’s Magic Show.

Marathon Update

MousePlanet Managing Editor Lani Teshima reports:

It looks like Walt Disney World has been busy coming up with ideas for new running events as well as tweaking existing ones. News comes from WDW Marathon participant and MousePlanet reader Daria, who heard some very exciting information from an official Disney marathon booth rep at the fitness expo for the recent Georgia ING 1/2 in Atlanta.

First off, Walt Disney World is apparently planning on having a brand new Halloween-themed fun run at Disney-MGM Studios this year. The event is a 13K (slightly shorter than 8.1 miles), and is tentatively scheduled to happen on Saturday, October 27 from 9:00 p.m. What separates this event from the rest of the Disney events, however, is that this run supposedly includes a ride on the Tower of Terror after participants cross the finish line. Traditionally, this is during the Magic Kingdom’s popular Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party but the 13K may take some of the crowds and distribute it to the Studios with its own event. Supposedly non-runners would be able to purchase tickets and be wrist-banded so they, too, could ride Tower on Saturday night.

The second piece of news is that beginning next year, there is a possibility of the Minnie Marathon turning into a real “mini marathon” and extending its distance from its current 15K (9.32-mile) distance to a 13.1-mile half-marathon. In addition, the Minnie medal may experience a metamorphosis and become larger than its cute “mini” size to match those that are already being given for WDW marathon weekend. If this happens, folks will want to flock to this event, to add a new character medal to their collection. For those keeping track, that will mean character medals for Mickey (full marathon), Donald (half marathon), Goofy (for the full and half together), and Sleeping Beauty Castle (Disneyland). If the Minnie medal is redesigned to look like part of the set, all we need is a new Pluto event and we’ll have a Fab Five set plus Castle. Oh organizers!

If you have been putting off registering for either of the WDW marathon events, the full marathon is currently 50 percent full, while the half-marathon is now 60 percent full.

College students work on Project Spaceship Earth

As we first reported on last week’s MousePlanetWatch news podcast, when you play the various arcade games in Spaceship Earth‘s postshow area later this year, you’ll have the folks at Carnegie-Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center to thank for it. The ETC has been collaborating with Siemens and Walt Disney Imagineering to create a collection of arcade games called Project Spaceship Earth for the Epcot location.

The exhibits, to be located in the 9,000-square-foot post-show area behind the attraction, will relate to health care, transportation and energy. The games, aimed at kids between the ages of 10 and 14, are being designed to teach gamers about Siemens.

Transportation cards a collector’s item

There’s been another type of collectible at Walt Disney World since last June, but you can’t buy them. An 18-card set of Disney Transportation Collector Cards is available only from transportation hosts. But don’t harass your bus driver, monorail pilot of boat captain to give you these cards. They only have a limited number of these to give out on any given day, and they try to reserve them for special moments. If you’re pushing for them, the transportaton host is less likely to give them to you. More than 11,000 sets of cards have been distributed in the 8 months since the program’s debut.

Gaylord Palms offers pirate event with $10,000 prize Memorial Day weekend

With Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End premiering on May 25, pirate-mania is sure to be running wild over Memorial Day weekend. If your travel plans don’t line up with the Pirates of the Caribbean: Adventures on the 7 Seas Lagoon event at Walt Disney World, or if you’re so pirate-crazed that you’re looking for another pirate-themed event to follow it up, the Gaylord Palms may have what you’re looking for. The Pirates Treasure Hunt Challenge will be offered May 25-28 at the resort, where guests staying on a special package will have the opportunity to act and think like pirates as they traverse the resort deciphering clues, solving puzzles and performing other ?piratey? tasks for a panel of judges. At the end of the holiday weekend, the family who accumulates the greatest number of points during their treasure hunt challenge will claim the $10,000 pirate?s prize.

For rates starting at $199 per room per night, the package entitles guests to participate in the treasure hunt while staying in deluxe accommodations at the resort. Those on the package will also have the option to purchase access to other pirate-themed events, such as Camp Pirate for kids ages 5-13 and a “Buccaneer’s Barbecue” dining event. Packages must be purchased for at least two nights, with arrival on May 25 or May 26.

For further information, including reservation forms and event rules, check out the event web site, or call 407-586-HUNT (407-586-4869).

Three Disney execs honored

Three Walt Disney World executives were recently selected to be honored for their work. Walt Disney World Resort President Meg Crofton was named the Executive of the Year by the Orlando Business Journal last Thursday during the ninth annual Women Who Mean Business awards ceremony. Safety and Health director Frank Yiannas was selected to receive the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in food safety by the National Restaurant Association, which will be presented later this year at the organization’s annual conference. Senior manager of IT Risk Management for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Anne Kuhns was presented with the Information Security Executive of the Year Southeast Award by the Executive Alliance. Congratulations to them all!

Quick takes …

…The Riverside Mill Food Court at the Port Orleans Riverside Resort reopened on March 23, well ahead of schedule and in time to handle the bulk of spring break travelers.

…The days of people baking in the sun while waiting in the queue for the Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show appear to be at an end, as a canopy will be constructed to shield those on line.

…Disney has announced the first details about this year’s pin cruise. The pirate-themed entertainment aboard the November 11-15 sailing will also feature all sorts of pin events.

…The long-awaited renaming of the Fairfield Orlando at Bonnet Creek Resort has finally occurred. The timeshare resort is now known as Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort. The resort is about 18 percent of the way to its eventual size of 1,596 units.

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

• Mar. 31-Apr. 8, May 25-28, Jun. 30-Jul. 7, Aug. 31-Sept. 3 and Nov. 19-25, 2007; and Dec. 16, 2007-Jan. 2, 2008. No pool-hopping for DVC members.
• Apr. 2. Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros and Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club both open.
• Apr. 5 – June 3. Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival [park guide page].
  • Flower Power Concert Series
    • April 5?9: Paul Revere and the Raiders
    • April 10?14: Tony Orlando
    • April 15?18: The Buckinghams
    • April 19?21: The Turtles featuring Flo and Eddie
    • April 22?24: The Box Tops
    • April 25?28: The Tokens
    • April 29?May 1: Peter & Gordon
    • May 2?3: Jose Feliciano
    • May 4?5: Petula Clark
    • May 6?10: Nelson
    • May 11?15: Davy Jones
    • May 16?19: B.J. Thomas
    • May 20?22: Grass Roots featuring Rob Grill
    • May 23?25: The Guess Who
    • May 26: The SOS Band
    • May 27?30: Gary Puckett
    • May 31?June 3: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
  • Themed Weekends
    • April 5?8: Premiere Weekend
    • April 13?15: Garden Parties Weekend
    • April 20?22: Art in the Garden Weekend
    • April 27?29: I Dig Bugs Weekend
    • May 4?6: Cinco de Mayo Weekend
    • May 11?13: Mother’s Day Weekend
    • May 18?20: Characters in Bloom Weekend
    • May 25?28: Memorial Day Weekend
    • June 1?3: Festival Farewell Weekend
• Apr. 20, 21, 27, 28. Disney Grad Nite.
• Apr. 21–22. USASF Cheerleading & Dance Worlds.
• Apr. 27. Mickey’s Pin Trading Night at Contemporary Resort.

Trivia question of the week

This week’s question: Who plays Ellen DeGeneres’ neighbor in Ellen’s Energy Adventure? Stay tuned to next week’s park update for the answer.

The answer to last week’s question: “Where can each of the following water slides be found: Sand Castle Slide, Shipwreck Slide, Rudder Buster, Runoff Rapids, Keister Coaster?” is:

Old Key West Resort (Sand Castle Slide), Stormalong Bay at Yacht and Beach Club Resort (Shipwreck Slide), Typhoon Lagoon (Rudder Buster), Blizzard Beach (Runoff Rapids), Boardwalk Resort (Keister Coaster).

Do you have a trivia question that you’d like to share? If we choose to use your question, we’ll give you credit in the Update. Email us here.

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

• Haunted Mansion – closed for refurbishment from June 6 through September 12.
• Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse – closed for refurbishment from April 30 through May 18.
• Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor – holds its official grand opening today.

Epcot

• Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros – holds its official grand opening today.
• Maelstrom – closed for refurbishment from April 30 through May 24.
• Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki – closed for refurbishment from April 15 through August 25.
• Le Cellier Restaurant – closed for refurbishment May 14–18.
• Lotus Blossom Cafe – closed for major refurbishment. End date for the work is TBA.
• The Wonders of Life pavilion – has again closed, perhaps forever and perhaps just until next Thanksgiving weekend.

Disney-MGM Studios

• No known refurbishments at this time.

Animal Kingdom

• No known refurbishments at this time.

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.
• Caribbean Beach Resort – The feature pool will be closed for renovation January – June, 2008. Exact dates have yet to be announced.
• Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – Building 6 (Concierge) will be closed in September for a full refurbishment.
• 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 late 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.

Water Parks

• No known refurbishments at this time.

Elsewhere

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

Park Events

April 2007

• Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (link). Apr. 5 – June 3. Epcot comes alive with topiaries, other floral displays, gardening demonstrations and the ?Flower Power? concert series at the 14th annual event.
• Disney Grad Nite (link). Apr. 20, 21, 27, 28. Graduating high school seniors have a huge party in the Magic Kingdom.
• USASF Cheerleading & Dance Worlds (link). Apr. 21–22. Teams descend on the Wide World of Sports.
• Mickey’s Pin Trading Night at Contemporary Resort (link). Apr. 27. The popular 3-hour event returns to Fantasia Ballroom G.

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).
• Muddy Buddy (link). May 12. Athletes get down and dirty in this competition. Registration is now open (link).
• Danskin Women’s Triathlon (link). May 12-13. Athletes compete in a 400 yard swim, a 9 mile bike ride and a 2 mile run. 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.
• Walt Disney World 70.3 Ironman Triathlon (link). May 20. Athletes compete in a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike ride, and a 13.1 mile run. Registration opens soon (link).
• 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.
• Gay Days 2007. May 31 – June 3. The 17th annual gathering of the GLBT community at Walt Disney World (link1 | link 2).

June 2007

• Star Wars Weekends (link). June 1–24. The popular event returns to the Studios in 2007 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original Star Wars film.

July 2007

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

August 2007

• Disney’s Pirate & Princess Party (link). Aug. 11, 15, 18, 21, 24, 28, 31 and Sept. 3. A rerun of this past winter’s new hard-ticketed event celebrates the pirates and princesses in all of us.
• Tom Joyner Family Reunion (link). Aug. 31 ? Sept. 3. The radio host’s annual gathering returns for another year.

September 2007

• Night of Joy (link). Sept. 7?8. Disney’s annual Christian music festival.
• Disney’s Pin Celebration (link). Sept. 7?9. This year, the event’s theme is “Where Dreams HapPin”. Registration opens May 9.
• 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).
• Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (link). Sep. 14, 21, 28, Oct. 1, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 18, 22, 23, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31 (dates tentative). Get your costumes ready. The Disney characters will certainly be wearing theirs..
• Epcot International Food & Wine Festival (link). Sep.28 ?Nov. 11. The 12th annual celebration of things gustatory, plus the Eat to the Beat concert series.

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.
• Festival of the Masters (link). Nov. 9–11. Disney’s annual arts festival at Downtown Disney’s West Side.
• ABC Super Soap Weekend (link). Nov. 10?11. Your favorite ABC soap opera stars converge on the Disney-MGM Studios.
• Pirates of Castaway Cay pin cruise (link). Nov. 11-15. Pirates, pins and a Disney cruise, all rolled into one.
• Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights (link). Nov. 12 ? Jan. 6, 2008. Jennings Osborne’s amazing display returns to the Studios.
• 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.
• Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade (link). Dates TBA. The Animal Kingdom Parade trades its Jammin’ for Jingle in this holiday makeover.
• Holidays Around the World (link). Nov. 23 ? Dec. 30. Epcot’s World Showcase gets storytellers, special entertainment and crafts for kids, the Lights of Winter and a spectacular Christmas tree.
• Festival of the Seasons (link). Dates TBA. Downtown Disney gets a holiday makeover.
• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (link). Nov. 13, 15, 16, 26, 27, 29, 30, Dec. 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20, 21 (dates tentative). Snow on Main Street, free hot cocoa and cookies. What’s not to like?.

December 2007

• Pop Warner Super Bowl (link). Dates TBA, expected to be Dec. 2?8. Football players and cheerleaders invade the resort for the pigskin championships.
• MouseFest 2007 (link). Dec. 2?10. The annual gathering of the Disney Internet community takes place at sea from Dec. 2?6 and on land from Dec. 6?10.
• Pleasure Island New Year’s Eve (link). Dec. 31. Pleasure Island celebrates the actual New Year.
• New Year’s Eve at Cirque du Soleil. Dec. 31. Cirque puts on special New Year’s performances.
• Atlantic Dance Hall New Year’s Eve (link). Dec. 31. Ring in the New Year at the BoardWalk’s own dance club.

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

New discounts for everyone, plus passholder and Florida resident rates

Disney has announced new discount codes for room-only and package stays for mid-April through late May. It appears that the discounts are approximately 15 percent off of value and moderate resorts and 25 percent off of deluxes. (Values start at $84 per night.) The rates are valid April 15-19, April 22-26 and April 29-May 23. Use rate code BUC, for room-only reservations. For Magic Your Way packages, use ZHD, and use ZHE to add dining to your package. You’ll have to book these rates by April 14.

Annual passholders and Florida residents have longer to book their discounted rates, as their rates are available through the end of the promotional period, subject to availability. Passholder and resident discount dates are for most nights from April 15-19 and April 22-May 24. Passholder rates start at $10 less per night than the regular discounts (as low as $74 per night for value resorts), while Florida resident rates are $5 less than the regular discounts (as low as $79 per night for values). Full hook-up campsites for RVs start at $55 per night for passholders, $60 per night for Florida residents.

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 September 2007.

Entertainment Schedule

Hours and entertainment schedules are currently available through September 2007.

Theme Park Events

Fort Wilderness movie schedule for April 2007

Movies begin at 8:40 and will be preceded by a campfire at 7:30 and a singalong at 8:00.

Downtown Disney Entertainment

(Separate admission required)

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