Walt Disney World Park Update

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| Refurbishment/Attraction Closures | Park
Events | Discounts/Promotions | Park Hours | Events/Entertainment
Schedule

News and Views

New destinations for the Disney Cruise Line – Disney Cruise
Line has recently announced new ports of call of seven-night itineraries
aboard the Disney Magic, planned for select sailings in 2004. From
August through early October, the Eastern Caribbean itinerary will bypass
St. Maarten and stop instead at either San Juan or Antigua. In addition,
a special 10-night Christmas cruise departs on December 18, 2004 and stops
at Key West, St. Martin, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Thomas, and Castaway
Cay.

What happened to Yensid? With all of the attention focused on
Mission: Space, Mickey’s PhilharMagic has been overlooked by many. This
attraction, scheduled to open on Wednesday, October 8 in the Magic Kingdom,
completes the addition of 3-D movies to all of the Florida theme parks.
Apparently, the storyline has Donald Duck stealing Mickey’s sorcerer hat
(no word on how Mickey came into permanent posession of it from the sorcerer
Yensid), and stirs up much trouble, as he usually does.

The show includes musical scenes from Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin,
The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and Peter Pan,
and features the world’s largest seamless projection screen, at 150-feet
wide. Word on the street is that this is going to be an amazing show.
We hope to have some reports after the Fantasyland Concert Hall has its
soft opening in late September.

Get your dialing fingers ready – WDW starts taking reservations
for special dining events at this year’s Food and Wine Festival starting
at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time this Thursday, July 24.

Disney’s Old Key West Resort – now sports new landscaping
displays, new furnishings in Community Hall, and new non-stick frying
pans and cooking utensils in one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom
accommodations.

Harbor Club’s permanent temporary closure – The “temporary”
closure of the Harbor Club at the Boardwalk Resort appears to be permanent.
Disney is consolidating operations with the Sandcastle Club at the Yacht
and Beach Clubs, which is open from 4:30 p.m. to midnight.

Re-energizing the universe – The Universe of Energy is undergoing
an exterior refurbishment, apparently focusing on the fountain area out
front. The attraction will not go down during the rehab. In addition,
there’s an unconfirmed rumor that Exxon/Mobil may be terminating their
sponsorship next spring.

Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress – is now open for summer
hours, most likely through mid-August.

Ears to the ground

…Latest word is that “previews” of Mission: Space are
now taking place daily starting at 4 p.m. (including weekends). They now
have three ride bays running, with one more left to be completed. While
many people are reporting dizziness from riding, it’s reported that a
large number of these people have ignored the warnings to keep looking
straight ahead. Supposedly, removing your head from the headrest or turning
your head increases the feeling of vertigo tremendously.

…Work continues on construction of the store for on-ride photo purchase
and other merchandise at the exit to Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.

…Work continues on turning the former Geiger’s Counter location
in Tomorrowland into another Disney Vacation Club sales booth. Have timeshare
sales replaced merchandise as the top priority?

…There’s a new Reedy Creek Improvement District fire station going
up across from the new Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort location on Buena
Vista Drive.

…An unconfirmed rumor has it that Festival of the Lion King at Animal
Kingdom will be down from August 24 through September 19 for work on enclosing
the open-air theater.

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures/Openings

Magic Kingdom

• Mickey’s Philharmagic is reportedly slated to open on October 8, 2003
  with a soft opening in late September.


• Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is now open for summer hours, most
  likely through mid-August.

Epcot

• Mission:Space will have its soft opening on August 15, 2003, with
  the official opening slated for October, 2003 (reportedly October 9).


• The Universe of Energy is undergoing an exterior refurbishment, apparently
  focusing on the fountain area out front. The attraction will not go
  down during the rehab. In addition, there’s an unconfirmed rumor that
  Exxon/Mobil may be terminating their sponsorship next spring.

Disney Studios

• Residential Street at the Disney-MGM Studios has been closed and is
  undergoing demolition to prepare the site for a new “E-ticket stunt-show
  attraction” believed to be an American version of the popular Moteurs…
  Action! stunt show from the Walt Disney Studios at Disneyland Paris.
  

Animal Kingdom

An unconfirmed rumor has it that Festival of the Lion King at Animal
Kingdom will be down from August 24 through September 19 for work on
enclosing the open-air theater.

Resorts

• The construction at the Boardwalk Resort is expected to be completed
  by the end of July.

Water Parks

• Blizzard Beach will undergo refurbishment beginning November 1, 2003.


• Typhoon Lagoon will undergo refurbishment beginning in late December
  2003.

Park Events

Upcoming 2003 events

Through August 15, 2003 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp at
Disney’s Wide World of Sports. There will be no practices July 29 – August
3 while the Bucs are playing in the American Bowl in Tokyo against the
New York Jets, and on August 8-9 for a game at Miami and a players’ off
day.

Through September 1, 2003 – World
Music Concert Series. This summer, the rhythms of the world ring
out from the America Gardens Theatre stage at Epcot.

August 1 – 3, 2003 – Annual Passholder preview of Mission: Space.

August 23, 2003 – Walt
Disney World Captain ‘n Mate Golf Tournament. Two-person scramble
format, shotgun start. Open to all players and skill levels (Men, Women,
Juniors & Seniors). Entry deadline August 16.

September 5 – 6, 2003 – Night
of Joy. An evening of Contemporary Christian Music at Magic Kingdom.
$35.95 for one night (all ages) or $57.95 for both nights. Buy tickets
online
or call (407) W-DISNEY (934-7639).

September 6, 2003 – National
Kidney Foundation of Florida 5K Fun Run/Walk Race.

September 19 – 21, 2003 – Disney’s
Pin Celebration “Journey Through Time” at Epcot.

September 24 – 27, 2003 – 22nd Annual World
Airline Road Races

September 27 – 28, 2003 – Tri-America
Triathlon Series Finale.

October 3, 5, 10, 14, 16, 19, 24, 26, 30 and 31, 2003 – Mickey’s
Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom.

October 10 – 11, 2003 – Walt
Disney World Cross Country Classic.

October 12, 2003 – Disney’s
10K Classic

October 18 – November 16, 2003 – Epcot International Food
& Wine Festival. Included with park admission, sample wine and
food from 25 countries. Reservations for special dining events may be
made starting Thursday, July 24.

October 23 – 26, 2003 – FUNAI
Classic at Walt Disney World Resort. See the pros play the only
PGA Tour event to be played at WDW.

October 23 – 26, 2003 – Disney’s
Martial Arts Festival.

October 27, 28, and 29, 2003 – Magic Kingdom’s “999 Happy
Haunts Ball.”

November 7 – 9, 2003 – Festival of the Masters at Downtown Disney.

November 8 – 9, 2003 – ABC Super Soap Weekend at Disney-MGM Studios.

November 16 – 20, 2003 – Pin Trading Cruise aboard the
Disney Wonder.

November 28 – December 24, 2003 – Christmastime in the City at Downtown
Disney.

November 28 – December 30, 2003 – Holidays Around the World at Epcot

November 30, December 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 19, 2003
– Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom.
Order by phone at (407) W-DISNEY (934-7639).

December 7, 2003 – Doll & Teddy Bear Weekend.

Upcoming 2004 events

January 9 – 10, 2004 – Disney’s
Health and Fitness Expo.

January 10, 2004 – FamilyFun Magazine Family
Fun Run.

January 11, 2004 – Disney Marathon and Half-Marathon.

April 16 – May 30, 2004 – 2004 Epcot International Flower
and Garden Festival.

May 2, 2004 – Walt
Disney World Inline Marathon.

Current Discounts & Promotions

Free
5-day Park Hopper for Active Military, as well as discounted companion
tickets. Offer valid through December 19, 2003 and includes all active
military personnel, including Coast Guard, as well as activated National
Guard and Reservists.

Play 4 Days pass – Florida residents can purchase a new four-day
ticket for just $109, plus tax. (That’s almost 1/2 the price of a regular
four-day park-hopper ticket) The ticket is valid for four admissions from
now until September 30, 2003. These tickets are park-hoppers.

Residents can purchase just one ticket per person, per day, so your out-of-town
relatives must buy their own, regular-priced admission. Tickets are non-transferable,
and you must show a valid ID each time. These tickets can be applied towards
the cost of any Annual Passport, as long as you upgrade by October 31,
2003. (Your annual pass expires one year from the date you first used
your Play 4 Days Pass).

The Play 4 Days pass can be purchased at any WDW park ticket window,
local AAA offices, Florida Disney Stores, by phone at (407) 939-4329 or
on the WDW Web site (link).

Plan ahead and save a few bucks – The Walt Disney World Resort
is encouraging visitors to buy their theme park tickets before they even
leave home, by offering a slight discount on advance purchases. You can
save as much as $22 per adult, per ticket with the ‘Advance Purchase Savings’
program.

You can also receive these Advance Purchase Savings with packages purchased
through AAA.

The
Radisson Resort Parkway, a MousePlanet sponsor hotel, is offering
great rates to MousePlanet readers through December, 2003. Sample
rates for selected dates and rooms are listed below. To take advantage
of these special rates, make your reservations using the link found on
this
page.

MouseSavers.com
reports some great rates for travel to Walt Disney World:

• Disney’s Visa card holders can purchase specially priced Dream
  Maker packages for check-ins most nights from May 26 to August 3. You
  do not need to use your Disney Visa to book Disney
  Visa Summer packages, but you must provide your account number
  to qualify. There is also a special Disney
  Visa “Dream Maker” package available most nights 8/24/03
  – 10/1/03, which includes just a resort room plus Ultimate Park Hopper
  passes, as opposed to the standard Dream Maker package.


• Florida residents can buy a “Play 4 Days” Pass for
  just $109 per person. The park hopper pass is good for any four days
  between April 1 through September 30, 2003. (July 4 is the only day
  excluded)


• Cruise Deals – MouseSavers has a list of Disney Cruise
  Line Magical
  Rates, available for departures through January 2004, and early-booking
  discounts for Fall 2003 itineraries.


• Annual
  Passholder rates are valid for stays from now through August
  23.

If you are itching to break in your new Disney Visa card, you can receive
a $50 onboard credit when you book a Disney Cruise Line vacation and
pay with your Disney Visa. The offer is good for sailings through the
end of this year. When you charge your cruise to your Disney Visa, you
pay no interest for six months.

Annual Passholders can receive 10% off the price of their lunch meal
at selected Walt Disney World Resort hotel restaurants, and the discount
is good for up to three guests. The offer is valid Monday through Friday.
Call 407-WDW-DINE for locations and reservations.

Park Hours

Entertainment Schedule