Walt Disney World Park Update

Go directly to: News & Views | Refurbishment/Attraction

Closures | Park Events | Discounts/Promotions

| Park Hours | Events/Entertainment

Schedule

News and Views

Mission: Space ride designer & Disney spar over cost, ownership,

safety

The Walt Disney Company and Environmental Tectonics Corp. are suing each

other over their agreement for the construction and testing of the Mission:

Space attraction in Epcot, and the safety of the ride has been tossed

into the fray. Environmental Tectonics is the parent company of Entertainment

Technology Corp. (ETC), which designed the centrifuge ride vehicles for

the attraction. ETC also worked with Disney to design Cyber Space Mountain

for DisneyQuest, among other projects.

Disney’s many change orders caused the cost of the ride to continually
escalate during the attraction’s design and construction process, until
the terms of the contract were renegotiated to a time-and-materials basis
with a fixed profit. In its lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for
the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, ETC claims that its final bill for
Disney was $44.1 million. Disney claims that it only owed ETC the $35.1
million that it has already paid, because it took control of finishing
the attraction. ETC and Disney also disagree about ownership of the ride
system.

According to stories in the business journals in Orlando and Philadelphia,

ETC is concerned that Disney might switch to another vendor to build copies

of the ride at its other resorts around the world, stating that it has

information that leads its officials to believe that Disney is considering

doing just that in Tokyo. However, there is apparently a five-year exclusivity

agreement that would grant those rights solely to ETC. ETC claims that

Disney only owns the aspects of the ride that were specific for this implementation,

while ETC retains the rights to all it had done before contracting with

Disney for the ride’s construction, including the centrifuge ride technology.

ETC states that it has the right to sell a ride based on the same technology

to anyone located beyond 100 miles of a Disney theme park. ETC also states

that the contract prohibits Disney from building any ride based on the

multi-armed centrifuge technology.

In a new wrinkle, ETC this week has asked a judge to expedite the discovery

phase of the trial due to a risk to the public because Disney has refused

to allow it to be involved in the safety testing before the attraction’s

opening. ETC claims that it has not been allowed to review the ride’s

safety systems. Disney’s response is that this maneuver is a cover-up

for an attempt by ETC to get its hands on Disney trade secrets, and that

ETC acted unprofessionally in much of its work.

According to the Orlando Business Journal, ETC has said that

“the chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Co., Michael Eisner,

informed ETC that, rather than have the work done in-house at Disney by

its Imagineers, Disney specifically wanted ETC to buid the ride due to

its experience with centrifuge systems.” The article further quotes

ETC’s lawyer as saying, “If ETC is prevented from using its years

of experience with human centrifuge systems to participate in the safety

testing and analysis (of the ride)… then there are increased risks

of injury to the public at large.”

The Los Angeles Business Journal quotes Disney VP of Communications

John Spelich as saying that Mission: Space “successfully passed all

of Disney’s state-of-the-art safety procedures as well as reviews by leading

independent experts. ETC’s attempt to play the safety card as means of

trying to generate leverage for a simple, straightforward contract dispute

is both cynical and nonsensical.” According to Tampa Bay Online,

Epcot Vice President Brad Rex said, “I will tell you that we have

the highest safety standards in the world and certainly Mission: Space

meets all of our requirements.” In its response to the lawsuit, Disney

states that documentation was submitted to the state Bureau of Fair Rides

Inspection after it completed its own safety testing and hazard analysis.

“Given (Disney’s) stellar reputation for safety, ETC can add nothing

to the analysis already undertaken and completed.”

U.S. District Court Judge Herbert Hutton has not yet ruled on the motion for

expedited discovery.

In normal circumstances, this would only be of moderate interest to

theme park-goers. However, in light of the September 5 Big Thunder Mountain

Railroad accident at Disneyland, anything that questions theme park safety

must be taken at a slightly higher level of concern, and Disney’s claims

of state-of-the-art safety procedures bear additional scrutiny.

We will continue to follow this story for any further developments.

Effect of Disneyland accident on WDW’s Big Thunder still unknown

Walt Disney World’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad attraction has been

down for rehab since August 24, and is currently scheduled to return to

service on November 23. The rehab includes painting the mountain and adding

much-needed air conditioning to the queue building.

The Orlando Sentinel quotes WDW spokeswoman Rena Callahan as saying

that it’s too soon to say whether Florida’s version of the ride will be

closed or modified due to the accident at Disneyland. “The focus

is on determining why this happened, and we’ll move forward from there,”

she said.

The Centre Daily Times reports that the accident in California

hasn’t changed the approach to ride safety in Florida, according the WDW

Vice President for Engineering Services Jeff Vahle. “You take care

of the attraction like your family goes on every ride.”

The Centre Daily Times story also describes the daily ride inspection

process. It includes inspectors walking the tracks and checking equipment,

engineers and maintenance workers examining ride vehicles and parts for

wear and checking wheels with torque wrenches, and reviewing everything

on the powered-up ride two to three hours before the ride opens for the

day. How that process compares with the current level of maintenance in

California is uncertain.

Hotel market saturated?

In an early sign that the metro Orlando hotel market may be reaching

capacity, at least for the post-9/11 tourism market, two venerable properties

are closing their doors. Recently, the Four Points Sheraton in Downtown

Orlando told employees that it would close at the end of October. Now,

employees at the Orlando Hyatt on Route 192 were given one day’s notice

of that hotel’s closing due to a collapsed financing deal while operating

under bankruptcy protection. Hotel guests were told to vacate the premises

by the hotel’s closing at noon last Friday. A call placed to the hotel

early Saturday morning went unanswered.

This loss of 1,200 hotel rooms (not to mention 450 jobs), in the face

of the gain of 4,000 more rooms by the end of the year, calls into question

whether or not these new hotel rooms come at the expense of the old, and

whether they will increase capacity or merely force the closure of other

properties.

There are conflicting signs. While hotel occupancy for the first half

of the year was down by 3.6 percent versus last year and 9.5 percent from

2001, occupancy for July was up 3 percent over last year to 72.2 percent.

However, the average daily room rate was down 4 percent at the same time.

A one million square foot expansion of the Orange County Convention Center

is expected to be finished in a few weeks, and is projected to increase

attendance there by a quarter next year.

In the meantime, it wouldn’t hurt to double-check those reservations

before you leave home.

Jury awards $668,000 to guest scalded at Ohana

A guest who was scalded by a pot of hot coffee spilled in his lap at

the Ohana restaurant at Disney’s Polynesian Resort was awarded $668,000

by a jury in Orange County, Florida.

On October 7, 2001, a waitress was carrying a 28-ounce coffee pot with

180-degree coffee at shoulder height when it spilled into the lap of then

31-year-old Anthony Alloco. Testimony showed Allocco suffered extensive

blistering as well as pigmentation changes to his genitals and groin as

a result of the spill. Allocco’s attorney, John Elliott Leighton showed

that the coffee pot should not have been carried at shoulder height, according

to the Orlando Sentinel.

Allocco, a former police officer, holds FAA airplane and helicopter licenses. However,

because a prescribed drug he takes for nerve pain is prohibited for pilots, he has been

unable to fly since being injured.

The $668,000 included $50,000 for future medical care and $100,000 to

Allocco’s wife for “loss of consortium.”

Break bread with an Imagineer

Following the success of the Lunch with a Disney Animator program, Walt

Disney World launches a new program of lunch or dinner with a Walt Disney

Imagineer on Monday, September 22. The program will include a private

four-course meal in the private Bamboo Room at the Hollywood Brown Derby

at the Disney-MGM Studios with an Imagineer, and a special souvenir. Dinner

also includes a wine pairing with each course. The cost is $60.99 per

person for lunch, and $99.99 per person for dinner. The meals will be

available on select weekdays. Reservations may be made via 407-WDW-DINE

(407-939-3463) up to 30 days in advance.

Flavor of the month?

There are a couple of new flavors in town at Ice Station Cool, the Epcot

location that allows you to try Coca-Cola products from various countries.

Lift Apple (from Mexico) and Diet Tai Guarana (from Brazil) have left

the building. Taking their place are Fanta Kolita (from Costa Rica) and

Lychee Mellow (from Thailand). Not to worry; all of the rest are still

there: Smart Watermelon (China), Kinley Lemon (Israel), VegitaBeta (Japan),

Mezza Mix (Germany), Krest Ginger Ale (Mozambique), and—of course—Beverly

(Italy).

Patience, please

It seems that the reservations system portion of the Destination Disney

project has been rolled out. Mousesavers.com is reporting that the new

system “is frustrating for the agents and requires them to ask you

a lot of questions including demographic information. It’s not their choice,

but they are stuck with it, so please be patient.” And, of course,

once you’re in the system, they can track all of your contact with the

company. Hotel reservations, priority seatings, admission media purchases,

complaints and compliments, birthdays, anniversaries, and whatever else

you give them. Some see it as Big Brother, while others see it as a way

to help Disney make vacations more magical. Of course, it could be both.

Training camp

The NBA’s Orlando Magic basketball team will conduct its 2003 training

camp at the Milk House at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex starting

September 30. In addition to the Magic, the Wide World of Sports Complex

serves as the training camp home to the NFL’s 2003 Superbowl winners Tampa

Bay Buccaneers and Major League Baseball’s Atlanta Braves.

Studios Kennel walkway temporarily closed

For the next several weeks, the Kennel walkway at Disney-MGM Studios

that leads from the Television parking lot to the kennel entrance door

will be closed for construction to all cast and guests for construction

of a permanent security checkpoint in front of the kennel.

For your safety, please do not walk in the tram lane to get to the main

entrance of the park. All guests who wish to check their animal in to

the Studio kennel must do so by going through the Main Entrance Security

checkpoint, and walking past the Guest Relations Window, to enter the

kennel.

There will be a construction wall backstage behind the Kennel, which

will allow guests to walk their animals during this construction phase.

New Dolphin restaurant construction delays

The conversion of the Dolphin’s Coral Cafe into Boston chef Todd English’s

new 300-seat restaurant Bluezoo has hit some delays in construction. They

still expect to be open before Christmas.

Ears to the ground

The construction walls around Mickey’s PhilharMagic are down, and the

Fantasy Fare gift shop will open shortly.

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

• Big Thunder Mountain is closed for refurbishment through Saturday,

  November 22. Of course, in light of the accident at Disneyland, this

  date may change.

• The Swiss Family Treehouse will be closed for refurbishment

  through Friday, October 24.

• Mickey’s PhilharMagic is slated to open on Wednesday, October

  8. Cast Member previews are planned for September 18 and 19; Annual

  Passholder previews on September 20-21, and a soft opening is expected

  on September 30.

• Wishes: a Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams, the new fireworks

  show for the Magic Kingdom, debuts on Thursday, October 9 at 9:00 p.m.

  The final showing of Fantasy in the Sky is Monday, October 6

  at 7:30 p.m.

• The Fantasyland Character Festival Meet and Greet location

  has been temporarily closed. It is scheduled to re-open September 21.

• Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress and TimeKeeper are

  closed for the season, and will most likely next open for the holiday

  rush.

• Due to refurbishment of the Castle Forecourt Stage, there will be

  no performances of Cinderella’s Surprise Celebration nor will

  there be Castle Forecourt Meet and Greet opportunities from September

  2 to 20, 2003.

• The Liberty Belle Riverboat will be closed for refurbishment

  from Sunday, September 21 through Saturday, September 27.

Epcot

• Mission: Space is now in soft opening status, with the official

  Grand Opening slated for Thursday, October 9. Epcot will close to the

  public at 3:00 p.m. on that day.

Disney-MGM Studios

• Magic of Disney Animation closes for refurbishment September

  30 to November 23.

• 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.

• Due to the loss of Residential Street, the Osborne Family Spectacle

  of Lights will not be presented this holiday season. It is expected

  to return in some form for 2004.

• Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster closed for refurbishment through September

  14 for brake replacements and other rehab work.

• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror will receive a lot of rehab

  work from September to November—reportedly on the ride control

  system and cable replacements—but will only be closed from October

  13 to 18. One side of the tower will be closed from September 18 to

  October 12. Both sides will be down from October 13 to 18, and the Tower

  opens again running one side only from October 19 to November 17. Capacity

  will be decreased during the rehab, but should be offset by smaller

  off-season crowds smaller crowds.

• Sets from the upcoming Haunted Mansion movie are scheduled

  to open in the old Backstage Pass soundstage on October 6.

• The Brown Derby Restaurant is closed September 14 to 20 for

  rehab.

Animal Kingdom

• Festival of the Lion King – Disney has now confirmed that,

  as first reported here on July 21, this popular show at Animal Kingdom

  will be down through September 19 for work on enclosing the open-air

  theater and adding air conditioning.

Resorts

• Pop Century Resort – officially opens on December 14.
• Port Orleans Resort – a two-year extensive rehab of this

  resort’s rooms is ongoing. For Phase I, French Quarter closed May 4,

  2003. Phase II involves Riverside going down in sections. We have not

  yet heard a date for completion of Phase I.

• Polynesian Resort – sees its longhouses refurbished one

  by one. Each longhouse under rehab is walled off and isolated during

  its rehab. There are only a couple of longhouses remaining. Hawaii is

  currently in rehab thru October 17, and Concierge has been moved to

  Tahiti during this period. Tonga is scheduled for rehab through December

  20. Niue is the only other longhouse currently scheduled to undergo

  rehab, and is tentatively scheduled for January 18 to May 2, 2004. Rarotonga

  has not received a rehab yet, but is not on the current schedule.

• Shades of Green – Major construction and rehab is ongoing

  at this resort run by Morale, Welfare and Recreation for members of

  the military. It is currently expected to reopen in March 2004.

• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa (a Disney Vacation

  Club resort) has a tentative grand opening date of May 1, 2004.

Water Parks

• Blizzard Beach – undergoes refurbishment beginning November

  1.

• Typhoon Lagoon – undergoes refurbishment beginning in

  late December.

Elsewhere

• The All Star Cafe at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex

  is now closed Mondays through Wednesdays. It is open Thursdays through

  Sunday, from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Park Events

September

• Disney’s Pin Celebration at Epcot [September 19-21]
• 22nd Annual World Airline Road Races (link)

  [September 24 – 27]

• Tri-America Triathlon Series Finale (link)

  [September 27 & 28]

October

• Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom

  [October 3, 5, 10, 14, 16, 19, 24, 26, 30 and 31]

• Disney’s 10K Classic (link)[October

  12]

• Epcot International Food & Wine Festival [October 18-November

  16] – Included with park admission, sample wine and food from 25

  countries (link)

• 999 Happy Haunts Ball at the Magic Kingdom [October 27, 28,

  and 29]

November

• Festival of the Masters [November 7-9] – 150 artists and

  their creations on display at Downtown Disney’s West Side

• ABC Super Soap Weekend at the Disney-MGM Studios [November

  8-9]

• Pin Trading Cruise aboard the Disney Wonder [November

  16-20]

• Festival of the Seasons at Epcot [November 28 to December 24]

  – featuring lighting displays, fun window displays, and more

• Holidays Around the World at Epcot [November 28 to December

  30] – lets you celebrate holidays in the style of the World Showcase

  countries

• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom [November

  30, December 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 19] – Order

  by phone at (407) W-DISNEY (934-7639)

December

• Doll & Teddy Bear Weekend [December 7]
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort opens [December 14]

January 2004

• Disney’s Health and Fitness Expo (link)

  [January 9 & 10]

• FamilyFun Magazine Family Fun Run (link)

  [January 10]

• Disney Marathon and Half-Marathon [January 11]
• Annual Passholders’ Cruise (4 nights) on Disney Magic

  [January 25, 2004]

April 2004

• Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival [April 16 –

  May 30]

May 2004

• Walt Disney World Inline Marathon (link)

  [May 2]

Current Discounts & Promotions

Special Lion King offer for Walt Disney World Annual Passholders

Pre-order The Lion King Platinum Edition DVD or VHS at the Walt Disney

World Resort through September 20, and receive free shipping and two free

gifts: a limited edition plush Simba, and a limited edition pin. The Lion

King Platinum Edition DVD will include new scenes and a new song by Elton

John, and can be pre-ordered at Town Square Expo Hall (Magic Kingdom),

Pin Central (Epcot), the Sorcerer’s Hat (Disney-MGM Studios), Island Mercantile

(Animal Kingdom), or Disney’s Pin Traders (Downtown Disney Marketplace).

Winter Dream Maker Package

Walt Disney World is offering the “Winter Dream Maker” package starting

at $99 per adult per night. The package includes a room at a Disney Value

resort and an Ultimate Park Hopper ticket. For example, you can save about

$230 on a three-night stay for two adults at the All-Star Movies resort,

specially priced at $661 (including taxes). The package is good Monday,

November 10 through Wednesday, February 11. Blackout dates are November

25 to 27 and December 27 through January 1. Call 407-939-7843 and ask

for code ZXMJ, or book at the Disney World Web site (link).

You must book by September 22.

Mousesavers.com is also reporting that there is a special Disney

Visa Winter Dream Maker package that is basically identical to the Winter

Dream Maker package above, but covers different dates and includes a $50

bonus in Disney Dollars. Dates are November 2 through December 25, with

blackout dates of November 25 to 27, and you must book by October 14.

To book this package, contact a Disney Specialist travel agent and ask

for booking code ZXBL for a Value resort or ZXBM for Moderate, Deluxe

or Home-Away-From-Home resorts.

Great rates at the Swan and Dolphin

Are you planning a trip this fall? Check out this offer from the Swan

and Dolphin:

• WDW Annual Passholders can book rooms as low as $139 per night, plus

  tax and resort fee, through the end of 2003, including a FREE upgrade!

  Rates include a free upgrade, and are subject to availability.

Get more details and the discount codes at MouseSavers.com.

Cruise discounts

MouseSavers maintains a Magical

Rates list, updated with the lowest fares each week. Current specials

on three-night cruises start at just $379 per person.

Disney Cruise Line is offering special savings for Florida residents

on select cruise vacations for late summer and early fall dates. Florida

resident rates start at $349 for three-night cruises, $399 for four-night

cruises and $599 for seven-night cruises.

Special rates for Florida residents apply to most three-night itineraries

departing between August 28 and October 2, most four-night itineraries

departing between August 31 and September 28 and seven-night eastern and

western Caribbean itineraries departing between August 30 and September

20.

Rates are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to availability.

Government taxes and fees are not included. At least one adult guest per

stateroom must be a Florida resident. Proof of residency is required.

Free 5-day Park Hopper for Active Military

Disney is offering a special for active duty military — a free five-day

park hopper ticket, 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.

See their official

Web site for more information.

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. 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 nontransferable,

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

(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.

Annual Passholders

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 Mondays through Fridays. Call 407-WDW-DINE

(407-939-3463) for locations and reservations.

Park Hours

Entertainment Schedule