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News and Views

MouseFest arrives at Walt Disney World this week; keep an eye out for
Mike Scopa

As seen in Mike Scopa’s column from November 21 (link),
MouseFest descends upon Walt Disney World this coming weekend. Scheduled
events are planned from Friday, December 5, through Monday, December 8.
The central event is Saturday’s Mega Mouse Meet, scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
at the CopaBanana at the Dolphin Resort. Many of your favorite unofficial
Disney Web site webmasters and discussion leaders and guide book authors
will be there, including AllEarsNet’s Deb Wills, PassPorter’s Dave Marx
and Jennifer Watson, The Unofficial Guide‘s Bob Sehlinger, and
of course our own Mike Scopa. Mike will be hosting a mini-MousePlanet
meet at the Aloha Isle snack bar at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday for Dole Whips.
(link)

Big Thunder back on track following release of California report

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in WDW’s Magic Kingdom returned to service
on Wednesday, November 26, after the release of Cal OSHA’s accident report
on California’s Big Thunder attraction. “We wanted to be sure our findings
agreed with the [California] report,” said Rena Langley, spokeswoman for
Walt Disney World in an Orlando Sentinel article (link).

The smokestacks are back on the trains, and the Fastpass and Standby
lines have switched places. We’re getting conflicting reports about the
rumored air conditioning in the queue, however.

Bullet train plan going nowhere fast

Now that the Florida High Speed Rail Authority (FHSRA) has barely met
its constitutionally mandated deadline to have a route and contractor
in place by November, what comes next could take a while. While negotiations
with the Orlando International Airport and the Orlando-Orange County Expressway
Authority (owners of the Florida Greeneway, which will be part of the
train route) might turn out to be relatively easy, negotiations with Walt
Disney World and Fluor-Bombardier may take longer.

Fluor-Bombardier (makers of the Acela Express train for Amtrak) plans
to use a diesel engine capable of 125 miles per hour, while the FHSRA
would prefer a 200 mph engine style that was part of a competing bid.
In addition, the FHSRA wants the train to have two one-way tracks, rather
than one track with sidings to let trains traveling in opposite directions
pass.

Just as sticky are the negotiations with Walt Disney World. While Disney
has promised 50 acres for a station and 2.2 million riders per year, the
FHSRA has expressed concern about peripheral income related to the station.
If a rental car company were to open a location adjacent to the station,
who would get the income? Who would see revenue from additional retail
and other space next to the station? So far, Disney is saying that it
is providing the location and the ridership as well as marketing power,
and that that should be enough.

With the only deadline mandated in the constitutional amendment already
past, progress doesn’t appear to be on the fast track any more. Even if
it does progress, Governor Jeb Bush is still actively against it. We will
see where this story goes in the next few months, if indeed it goes anywhere
at all.

New Epcot tree-lighting show this year, Cast in Bronze out in cold

There will be a new character-driven tree-lighting show at Epcot this
year. The 10-minute show is said to feature Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy,
Pluto, and Chip & Dale, as well as two members of American Vybe, along
with 12 international cast members. The show, to be presented at 6:00
each night, will take place in World Showcase Plaza, and end with the
lighting of the Epcot Christmas tree and the Lights of Christmas arch.
The show, which debuted on Friday night, runs through December 30.

The former show featured Cast in Bronze (link),
a popular carillon-centered musical performance that has not only been
removed from the tree-lighting, but is actually not performing at Walt
Disney World at all this year for the first time since 1997.

Tapings at Walt Disney World

Foot traffic may be slow throughout the park on Saturday, December 6—unofficial
word has it that this year’s telecast of the Walt Disney World Christmas
Parade will be taped on that day. Expect single floats to be riding through
the Magic Kingdom periodically with the occasional stops for performances.
These sequences may be repeated for additional footage. The parade airs
on ABC stations on Christmas Day from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (EST) and
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon (PST).

They are apparently casting for extras for a sequence for the WDW Christmas
Parade telecast to be filmed on Sunday, December 7, in the Magic Kingdom.
Also needed are male actors and a multi-generational family for a WDW
Christmas Special for the Travel Channel with Samantha Brown, and audience
members for tapings of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Saturday,
December 6 with Meredith Vieira at the Disney-MGM Studios on January 8
to 11. See the TV show Extra‘s Web site (link)
for more details.

Reedy Creek offers new bonds

The Reedy Creek Improvement District, the quasi-governmental agency responsible
for public services through the entire Walt Disney World Resort and some
of the surrounding area, has announced that it will issue $68.7 million
in tax bonds. The bonds have received an A- rating from Fitch Ratings
with a Negative Outlook based on the District’s falling financial position
and the fact that its primary taxpayer/landowner, the Walt Disney Company,
has a BBB+ rating. $59.2 million will be used to assume debt from Osceola
County on the Osceola Parkway, which has not met revenue projections that
were guaranteed by Reedy Creek when the parkway was built. The remaining
$9.5 million are to subsidize operations and debt service.

Assessed valuation at Disney resorts has been falling due to declining
occupancy and hotel revenues. Sixty-nine percent of the land in the district
is owned by Disney, who pays 85 percent of the property taxes. With the
Pop Century and Saratoga Springs Resorts due to open within the next six
months, assessed valuation should again rise, helping to stabilize the
district’s cash flow.

Ears to the ground

…Tickets for the December 19 edition of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas
Party have sold out.

…It seems that several clownfish animatronics (think Nemo and Marlin)
have arrived at Central Shops behind the Magic Kingdom and are being actively
worked on by Animatronics specialists. Whether this could be for the rumored
rehab of The Living Seas or for another, unnamed attraction remains to
be seen.

…The trees around the hub have been removed to make viewing of the
Wishes fireworks easier. Poinsettias have been planted in those
beds and will remain through the holiday season before being replaced
by magnolia trees.

…It has been reported and debated widely on Internet message boards,
and it appears to be true that the Haunted Mansion’s Madame Leota is in
danger of being replaced by Jennifer Tilly’s image and voice. A well-placed
source has stated that there is a plan to add her as Madame Leota, along
with a few other small changes, and that it appears “probable”
right now. One can only hope that reason prevails. In a Thanksgiving weekend
appearance on Good Morning America, Tilly said that she has clause
in her contract from the Haunted Mansion movie stipulating that
if the movie is successful, she would be inserted in the ride. It is unclear
whether she was serious or not.

…Those 75 painted Mickey sculptures are currently displayed around
the main entrance plaza for the Magic Kingdom, from the docks, bus station,
and monorail station through the bag check area, past the turnstiles,
to the edge of the berm. No word on whether they will be dispersed to
more distant locations at a later date through their April departure.

…Once again, Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian
Resort is the only restaurant in Central Florida to receive AAA’s Five
Diamond designation.

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad returned to service on Wednesday,
  November 26, after the release of the accident report on California’s
  Big Thunder attraction.
• The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter closed for good. It

  is now undergoing a major rehab and will reopen in fall 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 is currently running its Christmas show.
  It will close January 12 to 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 to 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 Behind the Seeds Walking Tour of the greenhouses at The

  Land will be discontinued on January 3 during reconstruction of the

  Food Rocks area into the queue for Soarin’. The tours are expected to

  resume upon completion of the construction.

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

  return from rehab in December.

Disney-MGM Studios

• 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.


• New York Street is undergoing a great deal of construction
  to change some facades to represent Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington,
  DC. We do not yet have a target completion date for the newly-titled
  Big City Street yet.


• Sets from the Haunted Mansion movie are now open in
  the old Backstage Pass soundstage and will be open through the
  end of the year.

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 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 to 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 17, 2004. Reservations
  will be taken starting on January 5. DVC members can reserve using points
  on January 5 (home resort) or February 4 (other resorts).

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

• 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 to 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.
• Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer and Dance Championships
  (link)
  December 7 to 13.
• 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.
• National College Cheerleading and Dance Team Championship (link)

  January 16-18.

• Annual Passholders’ Cruise (4 nights) on Disney Magic.

  January 25.

• National Dance Team Championship (link)
  January 31 & February 1.

February 2004

• National High School Cheerleading Championship (link)

  February 7 & 8.

• Atlanta Braves training camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports
  complex (link)
  February 15 to April 2.

March 2004

• National Cheerleading and Dance Championship (link)

  March 13 & 14.

April 2004

• Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. April 16
  to May 30.

May 2004

• Walt Disney World Inline Marathon (link).

  May 2.

October 2004

• Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. October 1
  to November 14.

Current Discounts & Promotions

New vacation packages offered by Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines has announced Orlando vacation packages linked with
the Disney Dream Maker packages. (link)
The offering includes round-trip airfare, lodging, and Ultimate Park Hopper
passes. The package is valid from all Southwest markets, and must be booked
no later than three business days prior to departure. Travel must be booked
this week by December 4, 2003 for travel between December 7, 2003 and
February 10, 2004.

Mousesavers announces special Celebration Hotel rates

MouseSavers has announced special rates at the Celebration Hotel

for readers of its web site. (If you haven’t visited the site yet, please

check it out!)

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

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 Disney’s Kids Free Web page (link)

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 now 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