Walt Disney World Park Update

Update for October 29 – November 4, 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

Spaceship Earth refurbishment extended | Disney’s
Hollywood Studios logo | DVC Member Cruise 2008 info
| Swan/Dolphin server arrested on pipe bomb charges |
Construction update | Quick
Takes …

Spaceship Earth refurbishment extended

Those who have been looking forward to riding the newly-refurbished Spaceship
Earth during their Walt Disney World visit this holiday season will be sorely
disappointed. The target date for the completion of the reworking of Epcot’s
icon and signature attraction has been pushed back to Presidents’ Week.

So how did a refurbishment suddently get extended by more than three months
on the official Walt Disney World calendar less than three weeks before its
scheduled November 14 opening? Good question. There are a number of theories
about the reason floating about the Internet, but we have not yet gotten confirmation
of any of them – official or otherwise. We will say, though, that the
original press release for the modifications to the attraction noted that
“With planned renovations occurring through the year, Spaceship Earth’s makeover
is scheduled to be fully completed in early 2008.” It’s quite possible that
the Imagineers decided that there was no way to take a clean break between
those phases, and that it was better to just work straight through.

But the disappointment of many Disney fans is not the biggest impact of this
delay, by far. When the holiday season hits, Jim MacPhee’s Epcot park operations
team will be really missing this people-eating attraction with its huge 2400-person
theoretical hourly ride capacity (THRC).

Instead, the rest of Epcot will have to absorb those extra 2400 people on
the walkways. If they’re serviceable, look for the Wonders of Life attractions
to open up by the weekend following Thanksgiving. Also, look for anything
additional MacPhee’s team can devise to soak up the folks that would otherwise
be riding calmly through the Geosphere.

The entrance to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is inspired
by the film “Ratatouille.” Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios gets new logo

We finally know what the new logo will look like when the Disney-MGM Studios
magically transforms into Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Monday, January 7.
Black lettering with gold trim and Mickey Mouse holding a clapboard replace
the old blue, black and red logo featuring the MGM lion, as well as Mickey
with the clapboard. The logo was released last Thursday. “Mickey still plays
a prominent role for us,” said Studios vice-president Michael O’Grattan, “and
Hollywood now truly is our middle name.”

The old Disney-MGM Studios logo and the new Disney’s Hollywood Studios logo.
Images © Disney.

DVC Member Cruise 2008 sail, booking dates announced

The Disney Vacation Club has announced the dates for the 2008 S.S. Member
Cruise 2008. The four-night cruise will take place September 21–25, 2008.
It will again feature two stops at Castaway Cay. You can book your trip starting
at 9 a.m. EST on Saturday, November 17, 2007 at either the regular DVC Guest
Services line (800-800-9800) or at 407-566-3800. DVC advises to stay on the
line if you experience extended hold times, as they expect to sell out quickly.
The reservation points chart and detailed booking information is available
at the DVC Member web site.

The map at the entrance to the Wonders of Life pavilion has been overlaid
with the Food & Wine Festival Center layout. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

The marquee in front of the Cranium Command theater has become the backdrop
for wine seminars. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Meanwhile, the “sprucing up” of the pavilion has resulted in the
removal of the wonderful Body Wars mural, which contained one of this editor’s
favorite Hidden Mickeys. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Swan/Dolphin server arrested on pipe bomb charges

The
in a remote Downtown Disney parking lot back on July 2 has been linked to
another that shut down traffic on the Central Florida Greeneway last Wednesday.
Tips to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office CrimeLine led to the latest bomb
and a 21-year-old server at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort.

The CrimeLine tip three weeks ago led investigators to 21-year-old Brandon
Ryan Woll of St. Cloud, who was arrested on Wednesady after his father and
girlfriend led investigators to the explosive device in the westbound lanes
of the highway. Traffic was closed for hours while the device was located
and rendered safe by the hazardous device unit.

It is believed that the device found last week was discarded following the
publicity surrounding the Downtown Disney blast.

Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary stated at a press conference that “we would
like to reiterate the fact that this was not a terrorist-related act, and
also let the public know that all suspects have been identified.” Beary stated
that further arrests are likely.

All suspects have reportedly been questioned, resulting in confessions, and
they have been advised to report to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

While Woll has been arrested on state charges so far, Beary said that federal
indictments are forthcoming. Woll, who had been held on $1,000 bail, bonded
out Thursday morning.

Turkish dancers (and one guest) perform in front of a wonderful photo-realistic
backdrop. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

The Dominican Republic is one of the featured countries at the Food &
Wine Festival. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Construction update

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

• Walt Disney Imagineering is getting a bit cryptic in their applications.
  They’ve filed multiple permit applications for “WS interactive SCAV,” which
  would seem to indicate the likelihood of being multiple locations for the
  interactive Kim Possible-themed scavenger hunt activity.
• Over 6 acres backstage at the Disney-MGM Studios, from the Star Tours parade
  gate around the side of the park all the way around to just short of the main
  entrance will have an elevation change. A new costuming building expansion
  will be built in the middle of that stretch, behind the Indiana Jones amphitheater.
  New speakers will be installed onstage in the area between Indy, Star Tours
  and the Sorcerer’s Hat plaza.
• The cedar shake shingles will be replaced above the Frontierland Prairie
  Outpost merchandise shop.
• Epcot’s taxi and bus lot willbe repaved and restriped and will have handrails
  and bollards replaced.
• The Holiday Inn on Hotel Plaza Boulevard has just signed a revised lease
  with Walt Disney World to reflect a $51,642,000 construction loan related
  to its current refurbishment.

The Pearville Fair is a kid-focused area that’s part of this year’s Food &
Wine Festival. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

American Vines: Tastes of Regional Wines is bi-coastal, featuring wines from
New York and the Napa Valley. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Quick takes …

…If you’re a fan of the Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade at the Disney-MGM
Studios (soon to be Disney’s Hollywood Studios), make sure to see it one last
time by mid-March. The parade’s last showing on the official Walt Disney World
web site calendar is Sunday, March 9. The park will have no official daytime
parade for the following few days while the changeover is made (though “sneak
previews” may be possible) and then the Block Party Bash parade starts its
official run on Friday, March 14, just in time for the start of the spring
peak during the weekend before Easter.

…Disney has produced a
new video for the U.S. State Department to show at Customs for all arriving
international tourists. “Welcome: Portraits of America” features a remixed/rearranged
version of the Illuminations soundtrack. The presentation also includes still
images to be used as posters, banners, etc. The video and images do not feature
or promote Disney or any other commercial entities. It will first appear at
Washington Dulles International Airport and Bush Intercontinental Airport
in Houston, and then later in the nation’s other international airports.

…If you’re going to be flying into or out of Orlando International Airport
between November 13-15, keep your eyes out for the world’s largest passenger
airplane. The Airbus A380 will be visiting the airport to test compatibility
for the plane. The visiting super-jumbo jet is configured to carry up to 525
passengers in three classes, but in an all-economy class arrangement it can
hold more than 800 passengers. If the test is successful the A380 could one
day start flying into the airport, as three airlines service Orlando International
already have the jet on order.

…If any of our readers was lucky enough to attend the “An Evening with
The VOICES: Celebrating Twenty-Five Years of the Music of Derric Johnson”
event on Saturday night, featuring more than three-quarters of all of those
who have ever sung with the Voices of Liberty, please write in and let us
know about it!

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. 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.]
• 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: As the Disney-MGM Studios prepares to become
Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we take a look back and ask if you can name the
park’s seven original attractions? Stay tuned to next week’s park update
for the answer.

The answer to last week’s question: “The counterpart of what
Audio-Animatronics character located in Epcot became famous in Europe for
wearing coonskin caps?”, which was submitted by MousePlanet reader Brian Seed,
is:

Benjamin Franklin. He became the talk of every gathering for showing up
at parties wearing one and even had many of them sent over to him to give
away during his tenure in Europe, even though he never trapped one and really
didn’t like the backwoods life! [Note: Brian claims to be a direct decendant
of “Grandpa Ben”.]

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

• Mickey’s Country House – closed
  for refurbishment November 5–16.
• Magic Carpets of Aladdin – closed
  for refurbishment December 2–8.
• Minnie’s Country House – closed
  for refurbishment January 1–February 1.
• 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 – February 18.
• Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki – has reopened
  as Teppan Edo.
• Tempura Kiku and Matsunoma
  Lounge – have been reconfigured into a new dining experience called
  Tokyo Dining.
• 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 as such, perhaps
  forever and perhaps just until Thanksgiving weekend. In the meantime, the
  central area is being used 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

• Backlot Tour – closed for refurbishment
  November 9–11.
• 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 full-service restaurant
  opens November 15, 2007.
• Yak & Yeti Market – the new 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 – Feature
  pool 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.
• Coronado Springs Resort – Jaguar water slide closed for refurbishment
  from November 26 – December 14. The Dig Site feature pool and all quiet
  pools will remain open during the refurbishment.
• T-Rex Cafe – reportedly opens in Downtown
  Disney in late 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. Will hold special performances
  on New Year’s Eve.
• 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.