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News and Views

Food & Wine Festival to grow next year

Walt Disney World has decided that the Food and Wine Festival is such
a huge success that it should be even bigger. Next year, the ninth annual
festival expands from 30 days to 45 days, running from October 1 through
November 14.

This year’s festival offers five special “Party for the Senses”
dinners, 26 “International Marketplaces,” four seminar and demonstration
areas, four featured exhibits, over a half-dozen “family” experiences,
and nearly 400 wine seminars and culinary demonstrations. In addition,
the nightly Eat to the Beat! concert series, with “nostalgia”
acts that that have included Sister Sledge, Three Dog Night, and Chubby
Checker have gotten even better response this year than last year’s debut
series.

“Each year, we host the largest, longest wine fest in the world,
and as demand for our food and wine events increased, we knew it was time
to grow even more for our guests,” said Epcot Vice President Brad
Rex.

Bullet train proposal faces uphill battle

While the Florida High Speed Rail Authority (FHSRA) voted to select a
route that passes through Walt Disney World as the preferred choice for
the planned statewide bullet train route from Orlando to Tampa, the deal
is far from done. Many people are mobilizing against what many have called
a “boondoggle.” The concern that billions of Florida taxpayer
dollars may go to pay for what will essentially amount to a shortcut to
Walt Disney World is turning many Floridians off of the idea of high-speed
train travel, despite the fact that they voted a constitutional amendment
to mandate it. Universal Studios has publicly come out against is, stating
that it would “turn taxpayer dollars into Disney dollars.”

Florida Governor Jeb Bush has been said to have pushed for the Disney
route specifically to highlight the “boondoggle” qualities of
the amendment. However it has come to pass, there is going to be a lot
of animosity throughout the process. We will continue to follow this story
as news becomes available.

Banquet cast member layoff averted (for now)

Walt Disney World Resort delayed expected layoffs of as many as 140 members
of the United Food and Commercial Workers union while talks between the
resort and the union continue talks. Disney said on October 31 that it
was talking with the UFCW about eliminating the jobs of 140 full- and
part-time banquet servers and bartenders. Apparently, Disney is looking
for more flexibility in employment to go with the seasonal variations
in the banquet business.

On November 3, Disney said that the pink slips were on hold while the
talks were extended. Disney and the UFCW met at the Royal Plaza Hotel
to try to work out an agreement. Workers with 18 years of service were
expecting lay-off notices.

Busch Gardens strikes back

After losing paying customers to Disney’s Animal Kingdom for the last
five years, Busch Gardens – The Dark Continent in Tampa has decided
to fight back with some familiar-sounding attractions. Among the new offerings
that Busch is planning include a character show starring seven Sesame
Street Muppet characters, photo opportunities and character breakfasts,
and a $5 million-plus show designed by some of the producers, engineers
and craftspeople who created The Lion King musical on Broadway.
Katonga, the 35-minute show, will feature acrobats, dancers and
singers acting out a play about animal fables featuring original music.
The star performers will be giant animal puppets. Apparently, fight-fire-with-fire
is the watch word of the day in Tampa. We’ll see how this turns out.

Ears to the ground

…Gertrude, a 31-year-old hippopotamus living at the Sanford Zoo,
has been transferred to Disney’s Animal Kingdom so that she can live out
her years with others of her kind.

…There’s a new rumor floating around that the Galaxy Palace Theater
in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom will be replaced by a fully-enclosed
theater. (Think Hyperion Theater at Disney’s California Adventure park.)

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

Big Thunder Mountain’s new paint job looks very good. The ride reopens in two weeks. MousePlanet photo by Mark Goldhaber.

• Big Thunder Mountain is closed for refurbishment through Saturday,
  November 22.


• The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter closed for good. 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 opens from park open to
  park close for the duration of the Stitch’s Great Escape! construction.


• Timekeeper opens from 10 a.m. -6 p.m. for the duration of the
  Stitch’s Great Escape! construction.


• Country Bear Jamboree closes November 17-21 to install the
  Christmas show, and closes again January 12-16 to return to its usual
  program.


• Adventureland now opens at 10 a.m. on non-peak days, but opens
  with the rest of the park (except for Jungle Cruise) on Sundays, Thursdays,
  and Saturdays through early December, plus every day of Thanksgiving
  week (November 23-29) including Jungle Cruise.

Epcot

• Food Rocks closes 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 demolished and construction has begun to turn the site into 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 and will be open through
  the end of the year.

The walkthru of the Haunted Mansion movie sets is proving popular at the Disney-MGM Studios. MousePlanet photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Animal Kingdom

• No known closures at this time.

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 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 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 MWR-run resort for 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. Reservations
  will be taken starting on January 5.

Water Parks

• Blizzard Beach is undergoing refurbishment through December
  13.


• Typhoon Lagoon undergoes refurbishment December 14 to February
  28.

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

November

• Pin Trading Cruise aboard the Disney Wonder. November
  16-20.


• Celebrate Mickey… 75 InspEARations showcases 75 very special
  interestingly decorated Mickey statues to celebrate Mickey’s 75th birthday
  throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. November 18, 2003 through
  April 2004.


• 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
  – 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% 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