Walt Disney World Park Update

Update for October 8 – October 14, 2007

Go directly to: News & Views | Coming

Soon | Trivia of the Week | Refurbishment/Attraction

Closures | Park Events | Discounts/Promotions

| Park Hours/Events/Entertainment Schedule

Note from the Editor: I just got back from a long weekend of research at

Walt Disney World. I’m exhausted, so I’m going to try to keep this week’s

Update short and link you to stories elsewhere; however, I am going to throw

in a heck of a lot of photos in this week’s Update, and I’ve got even more

to throw in next week.

News and Views

Second Year of a Million Dreams | Hawaiian

Resort | Stevens gets promoted | DCL

on-board check-ins | DCL port battle

| Here we go again | Getting the band back together | Quick Takes …

Second Year of a Million Dreams announced

For those who missed it, we provided extensive coverage of the announcement

of the second Year of a Million Dreams in last week’s the Disneyland

Park Update.

Disney’s new resort in Hawaii continues its westward expansion, building on

the trend started by the new annex at the Grand Californian Hotel. Image &copy

Disney.

Disney to open new resort in Hawaii

Disney has announced its plans to build an 800-room resort on the Hawaiian

island of O`ahu. The resort will be split between Disney Vacation Club villas

and standard hotel accommodations.

We’ll have more on this story next week, but MousePlanet reader Dave Welty

writes some interesting

speculation that the Disney Cruise Line could become involved with that

resort, as well, for a site called DVC News.

Stevens gets promotion

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Vice President Dr. Beth Stevens has been promoted

to Senior Vice President Environmental Affairs, Disney Worldwide Services,

Inc. There is no word yet on her replacement at the park.

Work progresses on the construction of the Kidani Village annex for the Animal

Kingdom Villas. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Workers work on the Kidani Village annex. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Disney Cruise Line begins on-board check-in service

The two ships of the Disney Cruise Line have announced that this fall they

will begin an on-board airline check-in service similar to that in effect

at Walt Disney World Resort hotels

Tower cranes rise above the “not-a-DVC” site adjacent to the Contemporary

Resort. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

The locations for footings to support a walkway from the new resort building

to the main Contemporary Resort are seen in this photo. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Heavy equipment works on the new “not-a-DVC-property” adjacent to

the Contemporary Resort. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Cruise Line being wooed by many ports

The Disney Cruise Line is adding two more ships in the next five years, and

many ports are looking to land those ships for themselves. Read about it in

the Orlando

Sentinel.

Work on preparing for the construction of Toy Story Mania continues apace.

Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Installation of the Osborne Lights is underway in anticipation of the opening

of the lighting spectacular in November. Photo by Mark Goldhaber

The Jedi stage has now opened, and hosts the Jedi Traiing Academy several

times per day. The stage is themed like the entry to the shield generator

on the forest moon of Endor. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

The temporary stage for the Playhouse Disney concert series sits behind the

entrance area of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Here we go again

Another Disney cast member has been arrested for allegedly trying to arrange

to have sex with an underage girl via the Internet. Check the story in the

Orlando

Sentinel for details.

Stephen Twining, of Twinings of London, chats with tea fans and autographs

tea canisters and other things for guests. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

The Original Family Stone performs some of their classic hits during the Eat

to the Beat concert series. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Voices of Liberty to have reunion concert

The Liberty Voices,

a group that performs at Epcot as the Voices

of Liberty, have announced a special

reunion concert celebrating the group’s 25 years. Everyone who has ever

performed with the group is invited to join the mass sing at Faithworld on

October 26. It promises to be a heck of a show. If you’re gonig to be in the

area, please go check it out.

The American Adventure has an impressive display of model work at the Epcot

25 tribute area in Innoventions West. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Spaceship Earth has a prominent display location as you walk into the room.

Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Those looking at the Horizons tribute who spot something interesting about

that photo at the bottom are correct. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

MousePlanet contributing writer George McGinnis works with Tom Fitzgerald

in this photo by Disney. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Quick takes …

…You can watch some videos of Epcot’s 25th anniversary rededication

ceremony at YouTube here.

…The new O Canada film had its official opening on Friday morning.

While most of the limited retro-Epcot gear sold out last week, there are still

a few items left. Photos by Mark Goldhaber.

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. 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. 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 Jeff Peterson. The attraction Soarin’ opened in Epcot’s The Land

pavilion in Future World in 2005. What World Showcase pavilion has featured

a “sorin” since the day Epcot opened on October 1, 1982? Stay tuned to

next week’s park update for the answer.

The answer to last week’s question: “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?”, which was submitted by MousePlanet reader Lloyd Lawrence,

is:

Both arrived on Concordes originating in their home countries that landed

simultaneously (side by side) at Orlando International Jetport. (Independent

verification here,

though this person was apparently unaware of the Disney connection.)

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

• 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.

• 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.