Update for April 23 – 29, 2007
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News and Views
Registration opens for Tower of Terror 13K
Registration has now opened for Disney-MGM Studio’s inaugural Twilight
Zone Tower of Terror 13K and 6.5K races on Saturday, October 27. It is
expected that this race will sell out quickly, so you might want to register
as soon as possible if you plan to run. Extra tickets for the after-party
are also available now.
Italy pavilion to host Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria?
Last Thursday, Disney announced that the Patina Restaurant Group had been
selected as the operating participant for the restaurant at Epcot‘s
Italy pavilion. Aside from operating several
high profile restaurants in New York City and Southern California, Patina
is probably best-known to Disney aficionados as the operator of Naples
Ristorante e Pizzeria, Napolini, Catal,
Jo’s Dining Room, Cantina and Taqueria at Downtown
Disney at the Disneyland Resort. With
that decision, it appears that the decision has been made to go with a domestic
operator with a history of working with Disney instead of an actual Italian
eatery as with Alfredo’s.
“We are proud of our long-term relationship with The Walt Disney Company
and are gratified to see it grow,” said Nick Valenti, president and CEO, Patina
Restaurant Group. “Disney is a name synonymous with quality and creativity
– two characteristics that we strive to emulate,” added Joachim Splichal,
Chef and Founder of the Patina Group. “We look forward to developing a truly
outstanding restaurant for the visitors to Epcot.”
At this point, it is unknown whether the new eatery will be a retread of
Naples or if it will be an authentic Italian experience. The name and menu
for the location has not been determined yet. Regardless of which way it turns
out, the new Patina Group restaurant will open on September 1.
A screen capture from the Disney Vacation Club members-only site shows the
Samawati Springs pool area at the Kidani Village annex for the Animal Kingdom
Villas. Image © Disney.
Animal Kingdom Villas information begins to emerge
While we’re hearing of guests unhappy with construction sounds near their
rooms, work on the conversion of the first phase of the Animal Kingdom Villas
continues apace. Meanwhile, more information is becoming available about the
new features to be added as part of the new Animal Kingdom Villas, the DVC
conversion and expansion of the Animal Kingdom
Lodge. The existing Lodge building will be called Jambo House, while the
new annex will be called Kidani Village.
New dining at Kidani Village includes Sanaa (meaning “work of art”), which
will serve breakfast and dinner in a large dining room. A 24-seat adjacent
lounge will give you a place to sit and wait for your table. The Maji (meaning
“water”) pool bar will give you a place to grab a cool beverage near the Samawati
Springs pool.
The Samawati Springs feature pool will feature zero-entry access, as well
as a 128-foot-long water slide. Two whirlpool spas will round out the wet
entertainment. Nearby, the Survival of the Fittest Fitness Center provides
a chance to work out while you’re on vacation.
The Uwanja (meaning “play area”) Camp provides just that – a three-zone
play area with elevated rope bridges, geyser jets, a waterfal lagoon and camp
cabanan. The three zones include the base camp, the departure zone and the
observation station, each themed to its own character and has activities for
age-specific groups.
Other Kidani Village features include the Safari So Good Arcade, the Johari
Treasures gift shop, DVC Community Hall, tennis, basketball and shuffleboard
courts, and a barbeque pavilion. Kidani Village is currently scheduled to
open in early 2009.
Topiary flowers decorate the America Gardens Theater, site of the Flower Power
concert series. Photo by Cathy Sowa.
Disney Channel Games arrive at Wide World of Sports this week; spectators
needed
The Disney Channel Games are being filmed at Disney’s
Wide World of Sports Complex this week, from Tuesday through Thursday,
and it appears that Disney desperately needs audience members to fill out
the crowd. Annual Passholders are being encourage on the Passholders site
to sign up for one of two 4.5-hours shifts (10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.
– 6:30 p.m.) each day to watch Disney stars such as Corbin Bleu, Miley Cyrus,
Cole and Dylan Sprouse, and Adrienne Bailon. Events will include Double Obstacle
Course, Dunk Booth, Extreme Rock-Paper-Scissors, Hamster Ball Bowling, Simon
Says, Extreme Egg Toss and Super-Sized Soccer. The Games will be broadcast
on the Disney Channel all summer, with the opening ceremonies premiering on
June 15 and the closing ceremonies running on August 25.
The Games will benefit Make-A-Wish
Foundation, Starlight
Starbright Children’s Foundation, UNICEF
and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Those who sign up will receive tickets to a special concert featuring some
of the aforementioned folks, as well as the Jonas Brothers and the Cheetah
Girls. The closing concert is scheduled on Thursday from 3-11 p.m.
To sign up for a shift, send your name, address, phone number and the number
of people in your party to dcgames2007@yahoo.com.
Since these stars are the darlings of the tween set special attention should
be paid to the note that children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Get your MousePlanet swag!The MousePlanet.com store is now open for business (link)! You can get shirts, mugs, hats and even a Teddy Bear! Check it out and show your MousePlanet pride! Now you can show everybody in the parks what site you read! |
A personal appeal, for the second year – the final week
I’m spending my birthday on Sunday participating in the March of Dimes WalkAmerica
to prevent birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. Last year,
through your generosity we raised $2,525 in just four weeks. This year, we’ve
already beaten that. We’re shooting to raise $4,000. This is the last week
before the event, so I’ve moved this plea out of its blue box and into the
main Update for one last time. We’re less than a week away, and we’ve still
got a ways to go. If you were looking to find the perfect birthday gift for
me, this would be it! Please visit my fundraising
page for more information on why I’m walking and how to donate.
Personnel shifts see Montgomery take global position, two others promoted
Jerry Montgomery, a Disney Cast Member for 28 years, has been selected to
fill the newly created position of Senior Vice President of Conservation &
Environmental Sustainability for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. In that position,
he will be responsible for developing of global strategies for parks and resorts
in the areas of environmental stewardship and wildlife conservation. The announcement
was made just before Earth Day.
In his previous role as Walt Disney World’s Senior Vice President for Public
Affairs, Montgomery was responsible for eight departments including Media
Relations, Government Relations, Community Relations, Internal Communications,
Minority Business Development, Conservation Initiatives and the Walt Disney
World Ambassador program. He had recently assumed responsibilities for Disney
Cruise Line Public Affairs and Disney Vacation Club Public Affairs.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this very important work for
our segment,” said Montgomery. “I look forward to working full time inspiring
our businesses, Cast Members and Guests to be champions of the wise use of
resources and to protect wildlife and wild places.”
Montgomery will continue to report to Leslie Goodman, Senior Vice President
of Public Affairs for Disney Parks & Resorts, as well as to Kerry Chandler,
Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility for The Walt Disney Company.
He will remain based in Florida.
While a search is conducted to replace Montgomery, Walt Disney World Vice
President of Public Affairs Shannon McAleavey will handle his duties.
Last Tuesday, before leaving his previous position, Montgomery announced
two promotions in the Public Affairs group. Eugene Campbell was named director
of Community Relations. 33-year Disney Cast Member Nancy Gidusko, previously
head of the internal communications team, was named to replace Campbell as
director of Minority Business Development.
Lion King topiaries decorate the Outpost area this year during the Flower
& Garden Festival. Photo by Cathy Sowa.
Sounds Like Summer, again
The Sounds Like Summer concert series is returning to Epcot’s America
Gardens Theater this year, with cover bands playing the music of popular
acts from mid-June through mid-August. According to Steve Soares’ Walt
Disney World Live Entertainment web site, here is the current lineup:
