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News and Views

Disney’s Enviromentality pays
off in awards

Disney’s environmental initiatives at two Walt Disney World
resorts were recognized by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
with two of the first four Green Lodgings awards to be given out at ceremonies
last Wednesday at the Boardwalk resort.

The award is given to hotels with
“innovative and imaginative programs to conserve natural resources, reduce
waste, minimize pollution and reduce costs.”

The Boardwalk Resort
was recognized, in part, because of the addition of sensors on all outdoor lighting
and the bulk purchase of chemicals. The Coronado Springs Resort received the award
for irrigating the landscaping using reclaimed water and for installating carbon
dioxide sensors in the resort’s huge convention center.

Coronado
Springs was one of two WDW resorts to win recognition for environmentally friendly
practices. Photo by Alex Stroup.

The other two hotels receiving the award
on Wednesday were the Hilton University of Florida in Gainesville and the Hyatt
in Bonita Springs.

Disney appears to be trying to capitalize on this award,
as an Internet-based survey of a voluntary panel asked questions regarding a possible
environmentally-friendly hotel. The panel was asked to rank the importance of
various environmentally-friendly features such as:

• Soap pump instead
  of individual bars
• Frequent point program based on electricity/water
  usage
• Low wattage lights
• Low water flow toilets
• Environmentally
  friendly paper products
• Bins to separate recyclable waste
• Automated
  control of air conditioning
• Garden within hotel
• Electric vehicle
  rentals
• Descriptive signs indicating building’s environmental aspects
• 
  Environmentally non-damaging cleaning products
• Organic food offerings
  at hotel restaurant
• Environmentally educational play area
• Recyclable
  room pieces (tables, chairs, etc.)
• Certification as environmentally friendly
  building
• Rainwater collection for landscaping
• Solar power
• 
  Double-paned insulated windows

Of course, surveys do not mean that
anything is actually in the works, and this survey may not amount to anything.
However, with the increase in eco-tourism, Disney has another market to target.
And, as we know, Disney relentlessly seeks out any market that is out there that
they have not yet targeted. We’ll just have to wait and see if anything comes
of this.

Nights of Joy expands to three nights

Twenty-four acts
that have collectively received 165 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards and 21
Grammy Awards will perform at this year’s Nights of Joy event at Walt Disney World,
which has expanded to three nights this year. This marks the biggest lineup of
performers in the event’s 22-year history. In light of the early sellouts of the
contemporary Christian music event, a Thursday night has been added, as the event
will be held on September 9-11 this year.

Following an early Magic Kingdom
close each night, performances will take place at several stage locations between
7:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. Many attractions will also be open during the event.

Advance
tickets are $36.95 (plus tax) for one night, $59.95 (plus tax) for two nights
and $79.95 (plus tax) for three nights, and will be available beginning April
21 by calling 407-W-DISNEY or online (link).
Tickets will also be available at Florida locations of Family Christian Stores.
One-day tickets on event days—if available—are $41.95.

Performers
will include:

Thursday, September 9

• Michael W. Smith
• Avalon
• Jars
  of Clay
• Point of Grace
• 4HIM
• FFH
• Mark Schultz
• Across
  the Sky

Friday, September 10

• Steven Curtis Chapman
• Third
  Day
• Rebecca St. James
• Skillet
• Stryper
• SONICFLOOd
• downhere
• Warren
  Barfield

Saturday, September 11

• Kirk Franklin
• 
  Jaci Velasquez
• CeCe Winans
• 12 Stones
• Salvador
• 
  Jeremy Camp
• Joy Williams
• Jump 5

It is Time Racers,
thought not what it once was

Last week, we reported the closure of the
AT&T Global Neighborhood and speculated as to whether it was a straight rehab
or the installation of the rumored Time Racers post-show. Word is leaking out
of Imagineering that it is indeed Time Racers. Time Racers, originally planned
as a Spider-Man-type of attraction to run through what is now and will
continue to be Spaceship Earth, has been re-Imagineered as a simulator-based post-show.

Timekeeper
open—for now

Timekeeper reopened yesterday, March 14, for the spring
break season. It appears that it will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. No word on
how long it will be open, but don’t plan on it lasting beyond Spring Break/Easter
season.

Epcot Friendship service increased

For at least part of
the day, it appears that the Epcot Friendship boats will be running more frequently.
From 2 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., two Friendships will run, one between Canada and
Morocco, and one between Mexico and Germany. While still less than the old days
when two boats ran each route for a total of four in the water concurrently, it
will still be quicker transportation than the current one-boat, Canada-Morocco-Germany
service, which will continue from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Main Street shuffle

Merchandise
is being moved around between the stores on Main Street U.S.A., as the Disney
merchandising machine tries to find a way to get you to part with even more of
your dollars. Housewares from the Market House have already been moved to the
Emporium during the last week. With that completed, the Market House will be closing
to become a toy store. The Emporium mini-mall on the west side of Main Street
will be reorganized. Men’s clothing will join the athletic merchandise at the
Main Street Athletic Club. Women’s fashions are being moved to Clothiers. A new
children’s section has been targeted for the Center Street area. Rumors also continue
to fly that Uptown Jewelers, the Exposition Hall the Main Street Gallery, the
Gallery, and The Chapeau may also be seeing changes.

Buh-bye Tomorrowland
Stage

In early June, the Tomorrowland Stage is tentatively scheduled for
demolition. It is expected that a temporary stage will be constructed in the same
general area to help accommodate the Magic Music Days performers. The temporary
venue, smaller than the current one, is expected to be closer to Carousel of Progress
and angled more towards the Speedway.

The Galaxy Palace Theatre continues
to receive refurbishments and cleaning. It is still expected that a new, large-capacity
indoor theater will be built by 2007, either over a filled-in 20,000 Leagues lagoon
or in place of the Galaxy Palace Theater.

Ears to the Ground

…FutureWorld
East will be closing early tomorrow night for a special event. Universe of
Energy will start its last show at 6:00, allowing a 6:45 close. Innoventions
East, Test Track and Mission: Space will close at 7:00.

…A
Jungle Cruise boat (reportedly the Mongala Minnie) started to take
on water last Wednesday just past the hippo pool. According to some reports, the
female skipper did not have a radio and borrowed a guest’s cell phone to call
911 and get connected with WDW response teams. Nobody was hurt, but they closed
the ride for inspection for the rest of the day. This is apparently the first
incident of this kind in Walt Disney World history.

…Latest word to
leak out is that Stitch’s Great Escape is well ahead of schedule and may
soft open early to-mid summer. On another note, new reports seem to confirm the
original rumor that there will be no minimum height requirement in the attraction.

…It
looks possible that Epcot’s Wonders of Life pavilion will be open for the
spring break season, with the Pure and Simple food location being open,
as well.

…It is rumored that a Mickey’s Three Musketeers pre-parade
will start running in the Magic Kingdom on Saturday, August 7, supposedly the
day that the direct-to-video feature hits the stores.

…Aunt Polly’s
will be reopening on Saturday, March 14.

…The Haunted Mansion
merchandise cart will be returning next week after a lengthy rehab. The merchandise
will be moved back from the Yankee Trader, where it was temporarily located
during the rehab.

…Look for a Fastpass installation at the Tomorrowland
Indy Speedway late this year or early next year.

Refurbishments
and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

• it’s a small
  world is rumored to be going down for rehab from June 7 of this year through
  March 18, 2005 for upgrades to the lighting, audio, and electrical systems, rehabs
  to sets and Audio-Animatronic figures, asbestos abatement, roof repair, regular
  water maintenance (draining and refilling), and the possible addition of a new
  scene.
• The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter has closed for good.
  It is now undergoing a major rehab and reopens in fall 2004 as Stitch’s Great
  Escape.
• Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is expected to remain
  open for the duration of the Stitch’s Great Escape construction.
• Timekeeper
  has returned to seasonal operation.
• Mickey’s Star Traders is closed
  for refurbishment through early April as part of the Stitch rehab.
• Adventureland
  now opens at 10 a.m. on non-peak days, but opens with the rest of the park
  (except for the Jungle Cruise and the Enchanted Tiki Room – Under
  New Management) on Sundays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The upcoming schedule
  of peak days shows that the land will open at 9 a.m. every day from now through
  March 25.
• The Hall of Presidents and the Country Bear Jamboree
  also open at 10 a.m. every day.
• Snow White’s Scary Adventures will
  be closed for refurbishment from April 19 through May 21.
• The Sword
  In the Stone show is not performing on March 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24,
  27, and 29.

Epcot

• It is expected that the Universe
  of Energy will close for a short rehab in March to remove the ExxonMobil signage
  after its pavilion sponsorship ends.
• It appears that the Living Seas
  pavilion will closing for a rehab in the April time frame. Rumors are strong that
  Audio-Animatronic characters from Finding Nemo will be added to the pavilion
  for Phase II of the Nemo rehab.
• Food Rocks has closed permanently
  to make way for the entrance to the new Soarin’ Over California attraction.


Construction
of Soarin’ Over California at Epcot. Photo by Brian Bennett.

• The Behind
  the Seeds Walking Tour of the greenhouses at The Land has been discontinued
  during reconstruction of the Food Rocks area into the queue for Soarin’. The tours
  are expected to resume upon completion of the construction.
• The Wonders
  of Life pavilion is open seasonally. The Pure and Simple eatery and
  the Well and Goods Limited shop will remain closed, while the Body Wars,
  Cranium Command, and The Making of Me attractions will now be open
  when the pavilion is open.

Disney-MGM Studios

• Residential
  Street at the Disney-MGM Studios has been closed and demolished and construction
  is well underway to turn the site into Lights, Motors, Action!, an American
  version of the popular Moteurs… Action! stunt show from the Walt Disney
  Studios at Disneyland Paris.
• The Backlot Tour is closed through
  April 1 to allow construction vehicles free access to the stunt show construction
  site. Once the stunt show opens, the tour will run two routes. The first route,
  when the stunt show is not running, will go through the stunt show set. The second
  route, during the stunt show, will bypass the stunt show set.
• Sets
  from the Haunted Mansion movie are now open in the old Backstage Pass
  soundstage and is open through April 2004.
• The “Honey, I Shrunk the
  Kids” Movie Set Adventure will be closed for rehab May 3 – June 30.
• New
  York Street is undergoing a great deal of construction to change some facades
  to represent Chicago and San Francisco. The Chicago facades appear to be complete,
  but we do not yet have a target completion date for the rest of the newly titled
  Big City Street.
• The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights
  is reported to be returning on New York Street/Big City Street for this
  year.

Animal Kingdom

• TriceraTop Spin is scheduled
  to return from refurbishment on Wednesday, March 17.
• Dinosaur will
  be closed for refurbishment from April 19 through June 1.

Resorts

• Port Orleans Resort – A two-year extensive rehab of this resort’s
  rooms is ongoing. For Phase I, French Quarter closed May 4, 2003 and reopens on
  Sunday, March 21. Phase II will involve Riverside going through a phased rehab.
  The Magnolia Bend mansions will go down one by one, followed by Alligator Bayou
  closing in sections.
• Polynesian Resort is nearing completion of
  the refurbishment of longhouses. Each longhouse under rehab is walled off and
  isolated during its rehab. Niue and Rarotonga are the last remaining longhouses
  currently scheduled to undergo rehab, and are tentatively scheduled through May
  2.
• Shades of Green has now reopened.
• Disney’s Saratoga
  Springs Resort and Spa (a Disney Vacation Club resort) has an announced grand
  opening ceremony date of May 27, however guests may stay at the Resort beginning
  May 17. Reservations are now available.

Water Parks

• There
  are no current water park rehabs underway.

Elsewhere

• Magic
  Kingdom gas station has reopened as Hess Express.
• BoardWalk gas
  station is scheduled to reopen today as Hess Express.
• Pleasure
  Island gas station closed March 10 and reopens March 30 as Hess Express.
• Cirque
  du Soleil – La Nouba is performing Tuesday through Saturday, but is closed
  March 14 – 17, June 20 – July 5, August 22 – 25, October 17 –
  20, and December 5 – 13.
• 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. – 9 p.m.

Park
Events

Ongoing

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

March 2004

• Lights! Camera!
  Pins! pin trading event (link).
  March 27.

April 2004

• Epcot International
  Flower and Garden Festival (link).
  April 16 – June 6.
• Grad Nights (link).
  April 23, 24, 30, and May 1.

May 2004

• Walt
  Disney World Inline Marathon (link).
  May 2.
• Florida Half Ironman Triathlon (link).
  May 23.
• Disney Vacation Club Member Homecoming event/Saratoga
  Springs opening. May 25 – 27.
• Star Wars Weekends
  (link).
  Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, May 14 to June 13.

June 2004

• Gay Days (link).
  June 3–6.[Not official WDW events.]
• Family Pride Coalition
  Weekend (link).
  June 17 – 20.[Not official WDW events.]

July 2004

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports
  complex (link).
  Dates in July and August TBA.

September
2004

• Nights of Joy (link).
  September 9 – 11.

October 2004

• Epcot
  International Food & Wine Festival (link).
  October 1 – November 14.
• Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween
  Party (link).
  Dates in October TBA.
• Disney’s 10K Classic (link).
  October 10.
• Funai Classic at Walt Disney World (link).
  October 21 – 24.

November 2004

• Super
  Soap Weekend (link).
  Dates in early November TBA.
• Festival of the Masters at
  Downtown Disney (link).
  November 12 – 14.
• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
  (link).
  Dates in November and December TBA.
• Festival of the Seasons
  at Downtown Disney (link).
  November 26 – December 24.
• Holidays Around the World
  (link).
  November 26 – December 30.

December 2004

• New
  Year’s Eve celebrations at Pleasure Island (link)
  and Atlantic Dance (link).
  December 31.

January 2005

• Disney’s
  Health and Fitness Expo (link).
  January 7 & 8.
• FamilyFun Magazine Family Fun Run (link).
  January 8.
• Disney Marathon (link)
  and Half-Marathon (link).
  January 9.

Current Discounts
& Promotions

All-guests discounts for hotel-only and Dream Maker
packages now available

Discount rates for Annual Passholders, Florida
Residents, and general guests for stay from April 18 through July 4 are now available.
Visit MouseSavers
for more details.

Disney Visa hotel-only and Summer Dream Maker discounts
announced

MouseSavers has posted prices and rate codes for hotel-only reservations
and Dream Maker packages. The rates are now available for booking. Vacations must
be taken between April 18 and July 4. Reservations must be made by April 17. Visit
MouseSavers for
more details.

April-June discount codes for Fort Wilderness

MouseSavers
is reporting new discount codes for stays at the Fort Wilderness campground for
check-ins April 18 through June 5. Reservations must be made by March 31, and
rates are subject to availability. Visit MouseSavers
for more details.

Florida resident Play Four Days pass returns

Disney’s
Play 4 Days pass for Florida residents is again on sale. The special pass is essentially
a four-day park hopper pass for Florida residents that is available for $109 plus
tax. The pass is good for theme park visits from January 4 through June 4, with
blockout dates April 3-15 for the peak Easter week season. Passes are available
at Walt Disney World theme parks, Florida Disney Stores, AAA offices. The cost
of a Play 4 Days pass may be applied to a Florida resident Annual or Seasonal
pass. For more information, either visit the Play 4 Days Web page (link)
or call 407-WDW-4DAYS (407-939-4329).

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

Hours and entertainment schedules are currently
available through May 2004.

Entertainment Schedule

Hours and
entertainment schedules are currently
available through May 2004.

Theme Park Events

Downtown Disney Entertainment

(Separate
admission required)