Walt Disney World Park Update

Update for October 1 – October 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

Happy 25th Birthday, Epcot! (And Happy 36th, Walt Disney World!)

Epcot turns 25 today. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Epcot celebrates its 25th birthday this
morning at 10:01 a.m. The park opened as EPCOT Center following a promotional
campaign that proclaimed, “The Future Begins on October 1, 1982.”
While the park has chanced much over the years, it’s still a Disney theme
park like no other. We’ll have more about the celebration in next week’s Park
Update.

News and Views

Second Year of a Million Dreams | Old
Key West lease extension | Discounts extended | Pin
events | Feedback follow-up
| Professional Internships | Construction
update | Quick Takes …

Second Year of a Million Dreams to be announced this morning

Disney is officially announcing the details of the extended Year of a Million
Dreams program today on the Good Morning America TV program MousePlanet’s
Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix is at Disneyland
for the announcement, and will provide all of the details in a special column
tomorrow. We will also post the official press release from Disney as soon
as we receive it—check our MousePad
discussion boards for the latest.

Old Key West lease extension detailed

Disney Vacation Club members with ownership interests in the Old
Key West Resort have begun receiving their lease extension packets in
the mail. The packets spell out the terms of the deal, and the rumored discount
is included, for a limited time.

Members can extend their leases from January 2042 to January 2057 by paying
a special assessment of $25 per vacation point. If the assessment is paid
in full by February 29, 2008, Disney pays $10 per vacation point toward the
cost, making the net cost to the member $15 per vacation point. Those who
choose not to extend must deed back the extension to Disney, retaining their
original terms with a 2042 end date.

Those who choose to extend to 2057 will have the same expiration date as
those who purchase their ownership at the Animal Kingdom Villas. Saratoga
Springs ownership runs through 2054.

Still, many of the original questions surrounding the extension remain unanswered.
For example, can those who elect not to extend their ownership interest change
their mind and repurchase their extra 15 years from DVD later on? If they
don’t extend, what will that do to the resale value of the points? Why is
Old Key West the only one receiving this offer? What about the rest of the
2042-class resorts (Hilton Head, Vero Beach, BoardWalk,
Beach Club and Wilderness
Lodge)? Why are they forcing this decision on DVC members (who have about
five months to make up their minds, complete their financing and pay in full)
35 years in advance?

Magic Your Way package, room-only discounts extended
through end of the year

Apparently, the discounts released back
in August didn’t sell all of the rooms that Disney had hoped, so a new
round of room-only discounts for October 21 through December 23. The discounts
are available for Sunday through Thursday nights only; Friday and Saturday
nights will be at the prevailing seasonal rates. Disney is pushing the rates
at the Disney
Deluxe Villa and Value
Resorts, though some rates at other resorts may be available.

Value resort rates are $59, $69 or $89 per night, depending on the week.
Deluxe Villas go for $164, $180, or $210 per night.

Availability at all resorts is extremely limited, and you must book these
packages by October 20.

Pin events announced

A couple of pin events have been announced for next year, and pin trading
night information has been announced for the next couple of months.

Next May, Expedition: PINS takes place at Disney’s
Animal Kingdom. Special pins representing earth, wind, fire and water
will be your quest, taking you from the “ancient city of Tradeapin” to the
Forbidden Mountain, including an encounter
with the Yeti. The cost is $150 per person, and registration starting in November.
Watch the event
site for more details.

With this year’s pin celebration in the rear-view mirror, it must be time
to announce next year’s event. Disney’s Pin Celebration 2008 – PTU: School
of Trading is scheduled to take place September 5-7, 2008 at Epcot’s World
Showplace. Watch the event
site for cost and registration information.

Dates and locations have been set for the next two months of Mickey’s Pin
Trading Night. The October event takes place on October 19 from 5-9 p.m. at
the Contemporary Resort‘s Convention Center,
with attendees invited to wear their favorite Halloween costume. The featured
pin release will be five pins from the “Walt Disney Quotes” series. The November
event takes place on November 16 from noon until 8 p.m. at the Contemporary
Convention Center’s Ballroom of the Americas, and will follow the “Pirates
of Castaway Cay” pin trading cruise.

Feedback follow-up: Split decision

Following the third story in
three weeks about Walt Disney World
cast members being arrested for possession of child pornography, we asked
you whether or not we should continue to report these stories. Boy, did you
respond! With 60 responses in the first day, and 85 as of this writing, this
is easily the question that has inspired the most responses in the over four
years that this editor has been creating the Park Update.

54 percent of you said that we should keep reporting these stories as we
have been. Eight percent think that we should only report them if the incidents
happen on property or involve guests. Thirty-three percent want us to not
cover them at all. The other five percent either had no preference or wanted
us to continue coverage, but maybe outside of the Park Update.

Responses ranged from, “Not that they’re pleasant stories, but with
your absence of tabloid-style lead-ins implying a “Disney problem,” they’re
almost refreshing to read,” to “I do realize that these things happen
there too, but sometimes ignorance is bliss.” Some told us to leave reporting
of these stories to “the press” or the “news media.” Well,
we (and Walt Disney World) consider ourselves “press” and “news
media.” Others more properly identified their preferred source of this
news as “mainstream media” or “traditional media.”

Taking the responses into consideration, we will continue to report these
stories. We will try to find ways to cover them while minimizing the discomfort
for those who don’t wish to see it.

All e-mail have been forwarded for possible inclusion in an upcoming MousePlanet
Mailbag column. Thanks for your feedback. It’s always good to know what our
readers are thinking, and difficult to decide how to proceed when feelings
are strong and nearly evenly balanced among the contested viewpoints.

Professional Internship program accepting applications

Cast Place editor Shoshana Lewin has passed along the following information
received from Walt Disney World Casting:

As a part of the Disney Professional Internship experience, participants
will see first-hand the working business model of a world-renowned international
corporation and participate in its daily operation. In addition, professional
interns can experience a world of opportunity to enhance their education
by taking courses offered through the Disney University, as well as engage
in exclusive Cast Member events, make new friends, and become part of the
legacy, heritage and pride of thousands worldwide as a member of The Walt
Disney Company Cast Member team.

A professional internship can vary in length from two weeks to six months,
depending on the contracted assignment, site location and line of business.
Positions are continuously posted to fit the needs of the different sites
and projects.

The program is open to students who will have graduated from a four-year
college or university by December, 2007, within the prior 10 months (March,
2007 – December, 2007). Information on this program is also available
on the Disney Interns Web site.

The deadline to apply is October 5, 2007. For more information, visit DisneyInterns.com

Discuss
this program on our MousePad discussion forums.

Construction Update

This week’s listing of interesting items from paperwork filed with Orange
County last week:

• Work on Siemens Spaceship Earth is heading
  into the home stretch, as Walt Disney Imagineering has filed a permit application
  for installation of the flooring package.
• It looks like Sammy Duvall Watersports is opening up a location called
  “Curl” at Pleasure Island, as
  a permit has been filed for interior renovation and installation of a new
  storefront and canopy.

Quick takes …

…The Disney Cruise Line has announced a list of holiday goings-on. Check
out the press releases on the MousePad discussion forums for information about
holiday goings on aboard
the cruise ships and at
Walt Disney World.

…Tusker House is now taking reservations,
though Yak & Yeti Restaurant (which has a confirmed opening date of November
15) has not starting taking reservations yet.

…Disney’s 5K Family Safari (a.k.a. Disney’s Family Fun Run 5K) during
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, is currently at 86% of the registration
capacity. Time is running out to register
for the race.

…Cypress Gardens, the oldest theme park in the state of Florida, was
sold at a bankruptcy auction last week to Land South Holdings LLC of Mulberry,
Florida for $17 million. The park never recovered after being hit by three
major storms during the 2004 hurricane season and a resulting insurance coverage
dispute.

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

• Oct. 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31, Nov. 2.
  Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.

• Sep.28–Nov. 11. 12th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.
  [View our special Park Guide page.]
• Oct. 7. Race for the Taste 10K.
• Oct. 27. Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13K and 6.5K.
• Nov. 1–4. Disney Golf Classic.
• Nov. 9–11. Festival of the Masters.
• Nov. 10–11. ABC Super Soap Weekend.
• Nov. 11-15. Pirates of Castaway Cay pin cruise.
• Nov. 12 – Jan. 6, 2008. Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.
• Nov. 12 – Jan. 6, 2008. Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade.
• Nov. 12, 15, 16, 25, 27, 29, 30, Dec. 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18,
  20, 21. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
• Nov. 22, 23, 25. Old Spice Classic.
• Nov. 23 – Dec. 30. Holidays Around the World.
• Nov. 12 – Jan. 6, 2008. Festival of the Seasons.
• Nov. 19-25, 2007 and Dec. 16, 2007-Jan. 2, 2008. DVC members may not pool-hop
  on these dates.

Walt Disney World trivia question of the week

This week’s question: This week’s question was submitted by MousePlanet
reader Lloyd Lawrence. In October 1982, when the French and British pavilions
officially opened at EPCOT Center, the representatives of those countries
arrived in Orlando (on October 18, to be precise) in notable fashion. How?
Stay tuned to next week’s park update for the answer.

The answer to last week’s question: “The land of Africa
in the Animal Kingdom consists of one village:
Harambe. In Swahili, what does Harambe mean?”, which was submitted by MousePlanet
reader JillAnn, is:

“Working together.” This is supposed to be about wildlife and humans “working
together” as the theme of nearby Kilimanjaro Safari would suggest.

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

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad –
  closed for refurbishment October 1–24.
• Magic Carpets of Aladdin – closed
  for refurbishment December 2–8.
• Splash Mountain – closed for refurbishment
  January 1–February 15.
• Snow White’s Scary Adventures –
  closed for refurbishment January 28–February 15.

Epcot

• Spaceship Earth – closed for refurbishment
  July 9 – November 13. Removal of the wand is expected to be completed
  by late September.
• Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki – closed
  for refurbishment and renaming. While it is said to be reopening as Teppan
  Edo on October 14, no reservations are available until November 1.
• Tempura Kiku and Matsunoma
  Lounge – are being reconfigured into a new dining experience to
  be called Tokyo Dining,
  to open fall 2007.
• Tutto Italia Ristorante – is now open, but will close in the spring
  of 2008 to be completely remodeled, and will reopen in fall 2008 under yet
  another new name.
• The Wonders of Life pavilion – has again closed, perhaps forever
  and perhaps just until next Thanksgiving weekend. It appears that The
  Making of Me is being dismantled to clear the central area for use as
  the Festival Center for the 2007 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.
• Nine Dragons – closes in early
  2008 for renovations that include the creation of an exhibition kitchen.
  It is expected to reopen in fall 2008.

Disney-MGM Studios

• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster – closed
  for refurbishment September 4 – October 4.
• Mickey Avenue – closed through
  at least next spring for installation of the Toy Story Mania attraction
  and related theming.

Animal Kingdom

• Yak & Yeti Restaurant – the new combined full-service
  and quick-service restaurant opens November 15, 2007.
• Tusker House – closed August 20
  – November 17 for conversion to a buffet restaurant with a character
  breakfast. The restaurant is now taking reservations.
• Restaurantosaurus – Donald’s Breakfastosaurus
  will end November 5. The McDonald’s-based restaurant will remain open for
  lunch and dinner.

Resorts

• All-Star Sports Resort – All buildings
  will be renovated between June 2007 and February 2008. The Surfboard Bay
  pool will be closed August 27 – October 4 for refurbishment. Guests
  can use the Grand Slam pool at All-Star Sports or the feature pools at the
  other All-Star resorts.
• Animal Kingdom Lodge – Construction
  of the Kidani Village annex building for the Disney Vacation Club’s Animal
  Kingdom Villas is expected to take until spring 2009.
• Caribbean Beach Resort – The feature
  pool will be closed for renovation January 7–mid-September, 2008. Temporary
  “child-sized” slides will be added to the quiet pools in the Jamaica and
  Barbados Villages while the main pool is closed.
• Fort Wilderness Resort – Hoop-Dee-Doo
  Musical Revue will not be performed on Tuesday or Wednesday between
  September 4 and October 24.
• T-Rex Cafe – reportedly opens in Downtown
  Disney in early 2008.

Water Parks

• Typhoon Lagoon – closed for annual refurbishment October 28
  – January 5.
• Blizzard Beach – closed for annual refurbishment January 6
  – March 8.

Elsewhere

• Cirque du Soleil – La Nouba – performs Tuesdays –
  Saturdays. No performances November 25–27.
• Official All-Star Cafe at Disney’s
  Wide World of Sports Complex – closed on September 23, and is expected
  to reopen on November 20 as a quick-service eatery.

Park Events

October 2007

• Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (link).
  Sep. 14, 21, 28, 30, Oct. 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28,
  30, 31, Nov. 2. 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.
• 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).
• Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13K and 6.5K (link).
  Oct. 27. Disney’s first night-time endurance event is Halloween-themed,
  and concludes witha big after-party. Registration is closed.

November 2007

• 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.
• Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (link).
  Sep. 14, 21, 28, 30, Oct. 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28,
  30, 31, Nov. 2. Get your costumes ready. The Disney characters will certainly
  be wearing theirs.
• 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.
• Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade (link)
  .Nov. 12 – Jan. 6, 2008. The Animal Kingdom Parade trades its Jammin’ for
  Jingle in this holiday makeover.
• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (link).
  Nov. 12, 15, 16, 25, 27, 29, 30, Dec. 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18,
  20, 21. Snow on Main Street, free hot cocoa and cookies. What’s not to like?
• 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.
• 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).
  Nov. 12 – Jan. 6, 2008. Downtown Disney gets a holiday makeover.

December 2007

• Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights (link).
  Nov. 12 – Jan. 6, 2008. Jennings Osborne’s amazing display returns to the
  Studios.
• Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade (link)
  .Nov. 12 – Jan. 6, 2008. 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).
  Nov. 12 – Jan. 6, 2008. Downtown Disney gets a holiday makeover.
• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (link).
  Nov. 12, 15, 16, 25, 27, 29, 30, Dec. 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18,
  20, 21. Snow on Main Street, free hot cocoa and cookies. What’s not to like?
• Filming for the Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade.
  Dec. 1, 2. The parade is run slowly, one float at a time, so that they can
  film each float for broadcast “live” on Christmas Day.
• Pop Warner Super Bowl (link).
  Dec. 2–8. Football players and cheerleaders invade the resort for the pigskin
  championships.
• MouseFest 2007 (unofficial event) (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

• Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights (link).
  Nov. 12 – Jan. 6, 2008. Jennings Osborne’s amazing display returns to the
  Studios.
• Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade (link)
  .Nov. 12 – Jan. 6, 2008. The Animal Kingdom Parade trades its Jammin’ for
  Jingle in this holiday makeover.
• Festival of the Seasons (link).
  Nov. 12 – Jan. 6, 2008. Downtown Disney gets a holiday makeover.
• Walt Disney World Half-Marathon (link). Jan. 12. Registration is closed.
• Walt Disney World Marathon (link). Jan. 13. Registration is closed. [Read our WDW
  Marathon Guide.]

February 2008

• ESPN – The Weekend (link).
  Feb. 29 – March 2. Synergy strikes again as Disney’s flagship cable network
  returns to the Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

March 2008

• ESPN – The Weekend (link).
  Feb. 29 – March 2. Synergy strikes again as Disney’s flagship cable network
  returns to the Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
• Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (link).
  March 19 – June 1. Epcot comes alive with topiaries, other floral displays,
  gardening demonstrations and the “Flower Power” concert series at the 14th
  annual event.

April 2008

• Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (link).
  March 19 – June 1. 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. 18, 19, 25, 26. Graduating high school seniors have a huge party in
  the Magic Kingdom.

May 2008

• Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (link).
  March 19 – June 1. Epcot comes alive with topiaries, other floral displays,
  gardening demonstrations and the “Flower Power” concert series at the 14th
  annual event.

June 2008

• Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (link).
  March 19 – June 1. Epcot comes alive with topiaries, other floral displays,
  gardening demonstrations and the “Flower Power” concert series at the 14th
  annual event.
• Gay Days 2008 (unofficial event) (link1
  | link 2).
  June 6–9. The 18th annual gathering of the GLBT community at Walt Disney
  World.

September 2007

• Night of Joy (link).
  Sept. 5–6. Disney’s annual Christian music festival moves to Disney’s Hollywood
  Studios for its 26th year.
• Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Dates Sept.–Oct. TBA. Get
  your costumes ready. The Disney characters will certainly be wearing theirs.
• Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Dates Sept.–Nov. TBA.
  The 13th annual celebration of things gustatory, plus the Eat to the Beat
  concert series.

Current Discounts & Promotions

Hotel Royal Plaza offers discounts to MousePlanet readers

MousePlanet sponsor Hotel Royal Plaza, in the Downtown Disney resort area,
has enhanced its deal for MousePlanet readers. From now through the end of
the year, anyone booking
their stay through the MousePlanet Web site has been able to receive discounted
rates up to 20 percent off on all room types. Now, for a limited time, you
can get even more! The discounted rates now include free breakfast for two
in the Giraffe Café!. Plus children 10 and under always eat breakfast for
free! (Two children 10 and under eat free from the kids menu when accompanied
by an adult dining from the regular menu.)

The completely-remodeled 394-room resort is located on Hotel Plaza Boulevard,
just a few minutes’ walk from Downtown Disney. Bus service to all Walt Disney
World theme parks is included with your stay. Their Giraffe Café restaurant,
Giraffe Tavern sports bar, Marketessen deli-style café and Sips Pool Bar are
ready to serve you.

We’d like to invite you to try
their hospitality!

Passholder, Florida resident discounts announced through end of the year

Disney has released discounted room rates for passholders and Florida residents
for the end of September through md-December. Discounts are available for
select resorts for most nights from September 30 through December 23. (The
nights of November 21-24 and November 30-December 7 are excluded at non-DVC
resorts, most likely due to Thanksgiving weekend and the Pop Warner Super
Bowl invasion, while only the Thanksgiving dates are blocked at the DVC resorts.)
There are two effective rate periods for this discount, with September 30-October
3, November 25-29, and December 8-19 carrying passholder rates of $59 per
night in value resorts and $164 per night in a DVC studio. The remaining dates
in the promotion period (except for the nights of November 21-24, which have
no discounts due to Thanksgiving weekend) have nightly passholder rates starting
at $79 for values and $194 for DVC studios. Florida resident rates are $5
higher than passholder rates.

Minimum stay requirements apply for Friday and Saturday arrivals. All rates
can be booked up until the date of arrival. Passholders and Florida residents
can book via your respective Web sites, by calling your travel agent (Small
World Vacations is MousePlanet’s preferred Disney travel provider) or
by calling 407-560-7277 for passholders or 407-560-7722 for Florida residents.

An interesting twist on this deal is that, for certain check-in dates, you
can get a Disney Dining Card with $20-$100 per room with your minimum 2-night
reservation. This perk is available for stays with check-in dates between
October 21-November 3, November 11-17 and December 9-15. The card can be used
toward food & beverage only, and not toward merchandise.

Rooms available at these rates are very limited, and they’re going quickly!

For ticket prices, park hours, and entertainment schedules, please go here.

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