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News and Views

Kitchen Kabaret character displays at Food & Wine Festival

The Kitchen Karnivale at Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival provides entertainment

for children. MousePlanet photo by Mark Goldhaber.

For those who miss the old Kitchen Kabaret Players from the former attraction

at The Land, they are making a return appearance at a special area of

the Food & Wine Festival aimed at kids.

The stars of the old Kitchen Kabaret show return to play host to the Kitchen Karnivale. MousePlanet photo by Mark Goldhaber.

The players appear as flats throughout the Kitchen Karnivale area, with

some of the show music on the background loop in the area.

Find out “The Buzz” About Honey and sample fresh honey and make your own bee at this pavilion at Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival. MousePlanet photo by Mark Goldhaber.

There’s a swing-the-mallet-and-ring-the-bell carnival-type attraction,

a veggie-veggie-fruit-fruit hopscotch court, and even free (that’s right,

free) fruit cups at the area on the rose walk between Future World

and World Showcase—that’s the pathway to the west of the main pathway,

on the Imagination/Canada side.

It’s eleven-thirty in the morning, but for some it’s never too early for

a beer. MousePlanet photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Just down the rose walk from the Kitchen Karnivale is an area featuring

“The Buzz” About Honey. At this pavilion, you can find out about

how honey is made, taste some fresh honey straight from the hive, and

even make your own bee with colored cotton balls, colored pipe cleaners,

and a little concentration.

Kids (and kids at hear) can play hopscotch over the Kitchen Kabaret Players at Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival. MousePlanet photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Agony of Da Feet: Marathon update

Registration for next January’s Walt Disney World Half-Marathon (link)

filled up in record time this past March—so quickly, in fact, that

Disney increased the event size by another 1,000 registrants for a total

of 6,000. Registration for the Walt Disney World Marathon (link)

took a bit longer to fill (it’s easier to decide to run “only ”

13.1 miles instead of 26.2), but that event has now also filled up, with

18,000 registrants. However, you can still register by running on behalf

of one of many charitable organizations. A list of participating organizations

can be found on the Marathon page.

Their course—26.2 miles for the full and 13.1 for the half—takes

them on the highways and byways of the Vacation Kingdom, including such

fabled avenues as Main Street, U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom, World Showcase

Promenade at Epcot and Hollywood Boulevard in Disney-MGM Studios.

The two running events, on Sunday, January 11, serve as centerpieces

for the 2004 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, which also features the

FamilyFun Magazine 5K (3.1 miles) and Kids’ Races on Saturday, January

10, and the two-day Disney’s Health and Fitness Expo presented by Tylenol

8 Hour in the Milk House at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex on January

9 and 10.

If you have friends or family that you’d like to be able to see you while

you’re running, the Marathon and Half Marathon pages contain a list of

viewing locations and directions on how to get there in the wee hours

of the morning. Remember, the runners go around the course once, so spectators

will not be able to see their favorite runner pass by more than once.

Depending on timing, however, you could travel from one viewing spot to

a later viewing spot before the runners get there.

Princess Tea Party Event test run adds limited edition pins

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort has been testing a tea party designed

for girls ages 4 to 12. Called “My Disney Girl’s Perfectly Princess

Tea Party,” the tea is 90 minutes long, and is held at the resort’s

Garden View Tea Lounge.

The five-part party is led by a professional actress/singer named “Miss

Rose Petal,” and culminates with each child getting to meet Princess

Aurora, Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, in person. The tea also includes tea

and brunch for two, a Princess dream dessert for all guests, a My Disney

Girl doll, a princess bracelet, special gift for adults, and a “Best

Friend” certificate so girls can name their My Disney Girl doll.

In addition, the following (last) days of the tea include special artist

proof princess cameo pins (one per group with a child attending the tea

party):

• October 29 – Cameo Tinkerbell

• October 30 – Cameo Aurora

• November 1 – Cameo Snow White

• November 2 – Cameo Cinderella

The tea costs $200 plus tax for one child and one adult. Each additional

child is $135, and each additional adult is $65. There is a limited seating

of 42 per day. To reserve a space, call Walt Disney Event Services at

(407) 566-5880.

Singh wins Funai Classic golf tournament

Congratulations to Vijay Singh for winning the Funai Classic at Walt

Disney World.

The 40-year-old from Fiji finished at 23 under par 265, and was four

strokes ahead of Tiger Woods, Scott Verplank, and Stewart Cink.

The tournament was played over the weekend on the Palm and Magnolia courses

near the Magic Kingdom.

Festival of the Masters info

Approximately 150 award-winning visual artists will show their works

at Downtown Disney the weekend of November 7-9 at the 28th annual Festival

of the Masters. The Festival will also include special performances, including

Cirque du Soleil acts performing on Friday and Saturday at 2pm and 4pm.

The Festival also includes such diverse elements as the House of Blues

Folk Art Festival, performance artists, Madonnari Masters Chalk Artists,

Disney Magic Music Days Jazz Jam, and children’s activities.

Lunch (or dinner) with a Disney Imagineer now official

You can now have a nice pleasant meal with an Imagineer at the Hollywood

Brown Derby at the Disney-MGM Studios. The four-course lunch costs $60.99

per person, while the four-course dinner with included wine pairing costs

$99.99 per person. You can make reservations by calling 407-WDW-DINE,

which is the same number as for the Lunch with a Disney Artist program.

Ears to the ground

…The Magic Kingdom has recently opened a second bus turnaround for

guests to help handle the upcoming addition of the Pop Century and Saratoga

Springs resorts. The Animal Kingdom Lodge, Old Key West Resort, and Port

Orleans buses pull up to the original bus turnaround (pavilion “A”),

while all other Disney Resorts use the new turnaround (pavilion “B”).

…A quick unscientific survey on the opening day of the Food and

Wine Festival showed that many people didn’t care what time it was, they

wanted their beer. Lines at the Specialty Beer Garden were growing rapidly

at 11:30 am.

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

• Big Thunder Mountain is scheduled to be closed for refurbishment

  through Saturday, November 22.

• Mickey’s PhilharMagic is now officially open.
• Wishes: a Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams, the new fireworks

  spectacular for the Magic Kingdom, has now replaced the venerable Fantasy

  in the Sky show.

• The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter closed for good on October

  12. It is now undergoing a major rehab and will reopen in mid- to late-2004

  as Stitch’s Great Escape!

• Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress will be open from park open

  to park close for the duration of the Stitch’s Great Escape! construction.

• Timekeeper will be open from 10am-6pm for the duration of the

  Stitch’s Great Escape! construction.

• Adventureland now opens at 10am on non-peak days.

Epcot

• Food Rocks may close on January 3 to make way for the

  entrance to the new Soarin’ over California attraction.

• The Eiffel Tower structure at the France pavilion is due to

  return from rehab in December.

Disney-MGM Studios

• Magic of Disney Animation is closed for refurbishment through

  November 23.

• Residential Street at the Disney-MGM Studios has been closed

  and is undergoing demolition to prepare the site for 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.

• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is continuing to receive

  a lot of rehab work through November, reportedly on the ride control

  system and cable replacements. The Tower will be running one side only

  through Monday, November 17. Capacity will be decreased during the rehab,

  but should be offset by smaller off-season crowds.

• Sets from the upcoming Haunted Mansion movie are now

  open in the old Backstage Pass soundstage.

Animal Kingdom

• No known closures at this time.

Resorts

• Boardwalk Resort – The Keister Coaster slide is closed through

  October 29 for refurbishment. During this time, the 190,000 gallon Luna

  Park pool will remain open, and Boardwalk Resort guests will also have

  the option of using the Stormalong Bay pool complex at the Yacht &

  Beach Club Resorts (ID may be required).

• Pop Century Resort – This 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 will involve Riverside going down in sections. We have not yet heard

  a date for completion of Phase I.

• Polynesian Resort – This resort is seeing the 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. Tuvalu is scheduled

  for rehab October 20, 2003, through January, 2004. Niue and Rarotonga are the only other longhouses

  currently scheduled to undergo rehab, and are tentatively scheduled for

  January 18 – May 2, 2004.

• Shades of Green – Major construction and rehab is ongoing at

  this military-run resort. 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 is undergoing refurbishment through December

  13.

• Typhoon Lagoon will undergo refurbishment beginning on December

  14.

Elsewhere

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

  is now closed Monday-Wednesday. It is open Thursday-Sunday, from 11:30

  a.m. to 9 p.m.

Park Events

October

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

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

• Epcot International Food & Wine Festival – Included

  with park admission, sample wine and food from 25 countries (link).

  October 18 to November 16.

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

  28, and 29.

November

• Festival of the Masters – 150 artists and their creations on

  display at Downtown Disney’s West Side. November 7 to 9.

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

  8 and 9.

• Pin Trading Cruise aboard the Disney Wonder. November

  16-20.

• Festival of the Seasons at Epcot featuring lighting displays,

  fun window displays, and more. November 28 to December 24.

• Holidays Around the World at Epcot lets you celebrate holidays

  in the style of the World Showcase countries. November 28 to December

  30.

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

  Order by phone at (407) W-DISNEY (934-7639). November 30, December

  2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 19.

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.

April 2004

• Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. April 16

  to May 30.

May 2004

• Walt Disney World Inline Marathon (link).

  May 2.

Current Discounts & Promotions

New Disney Visa Dream Maker Package – Kids Stay Free!

That there is a new Disney’s Visa “Kids Stay and Play Free”

Package, available most nights January 4 through June 12, 2004, where

when you buy a full-price Walt Disney World Dream Maker Package with your

Disney?s Visa card, for each adult on the package, one child (3-9) gets

a free Ultimate Park Hopper pass for the length of stay. 4-night

minimum. Plus you receive $100 in Disney Dollars per package at

check-in! Go to www.disney.com/kidsfree

for more information, or call your travel agent and book using package

code ZXFA. You must book your package by January 2.

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.

Military Salute hotel and cruise discounts available

Active U.S. Military personnel or spouses are also eligible for a 40

percent savings per night (based on the non-discounted price of the same

room) at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, and special rates on

Disney Cruise Line sailings. This offer is available most nights through

December 19, 2003 at Walt Disney World, and for most sailings through

December 18 on the Disney Cruise Line. Hotel rooms and staterooms are

limited at this special rate.

For more information, call (407) 939-7424 for Walt Disney World, and

(800) 951-2659 for the Disney Cruise Line. You must be 18 or older to

call these numbers.

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.

Annual Passholder and Florida resident rates available

WDW Annual Passholder and Florida resident rates are available at select

Walt Disney World resorts for check-ins October 2 through November 24,

and November 28 through December 26. Discounts range from approximately

30 to 45 percent off regular rack rates.

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 percent 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