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

Park pass prices jump, Disney now top price in town

Yesterday, Walt Disney World tickets took another leap upward, surpassing
Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando as the top ticket in town. Following
the price hike at the other main Orlando attractions to $53.95 within
days of each other at the beginning of the year, Disney waited almost
three months before topping those prices by 80 cents before tax. Prices
are rising for Park Hopper, Park Hopper Plus, Annual and Premium Annual
Passes, as well as tickets to Cirque du Soleil and Wide World of Sports.
Unchanged are Florida Resident, Pleasure Island, Water Park and Disney
Quest passes.

Advance purchase discounts are still in effect for Park Hopper and Park
Hopper Plus passes. Discounted prices have risen from $6 to $13, with
a savings of $14 to $26, depending on the pass. A chart showing discount
prices is below.

Park Hopper Plus passes rise $13 per adult pass and $10 per child pass.
Ordinary Park Hoppers, Annual Passes, and Premium Annual Passes go up
$10 to $11 per adult and $8 to $9 per child. Wide World of Sports tickets
rise 47 cents for adults, and 24 cents for children. Cirque ticket prices
only change $3 and $1 for Category 1 and 2 adult passes, but rise a whopping
$10 and $5 for Category 1 and 2 child passes. Category 3 passes remain
unchanged.

Sample prices include APs rising to $379 and PAPs to $499 for adults,
$322 and $424 for children. Five-day Park Hopper Plus passes rise to $282
for adults, $226 for children.

Note that all ticket prices listed in this article do not include the
6.5 percent Orange County sales tax.

The green of Hess has been replacing the blue of ExxonMobil at the gas
stations around the Walt Disney World resort. Photo by Brian Bennett.

Disney part-timers ratify contract

About 6,500 part-time cast members at Walt Disney World will be getting
raises after ratifying a new contract with the company. The minimum wage
increases from $6.35 per hour to $6.70 per hour immediately, and to $6.80
in October. This will be followed by further raises between 2.5 percent
and 3 percent per year. This marks the first contract for part-time staffers
at the resort.

The Orlando Sentinel quoted Margie Engels, secretary-treasurer
of the Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees Union Local 737, as saying,
“It sends a clear message to the company that just working for Disney
doesn’t cut it anymore … The pixie dust has faded … The workers want
guarantees. They want it spelled out how they should be treated at work.
They want guaranteed wage increases that they’ve never had before.”

Part-timers are defined as working full time for less than 70 percent
of the year, or less than 25 hours per week year round.

This isn’t the end of the labor negotiations for Disney, however. The
contract covering nearly half of the resort’s full-time cast members expires
in May.

Lawmaker pushes some more for review of Reedy Creek district

Last month, Florida Representative Andy Gardiner (R-Orlando) asked the
state Attorney General’s office to review the legislation that created
the Reedy Creek Improvement District to see if the status of the Disney-controlled
district would change if the company were sold, in light of the offer
made by Comcast. The Attorney General’s office responded last week in
a one-page letter that stated that the district’s status appeared to not
be affected by a possible purchase. Gardiner, not happy with the lack
of a definitive statement, has asked the state Legislature to review the
legislation. Gardiner has submitted a letter to the Joint Legislative
Auditing Committee, which is expected to prompt discussion of the nearly
40-year-old District.

Flying Fish gets new executive chef

Jens Dahlmann, currently executive chef at Café L’Europe in Palm Beach,
takes over the same position at the Flying Fish Cafe at the Boardwalk
Resort on April 16. The position has been vacant since the previous chef
to hold the position, Robert Curry, returned to California last month.
Curry had held the position since 2002. It is not yet known what, if any,
menu changes are on the way.

The Flying Fish Cafe gets a new executive chef in a couple of weeks. Photo
by Mark Goldhaber.

Wishes CD finally out

The long-awaited soundtrack CD for the Wishes fireworks spectacular
at the Magic Kingdom has finally landed in stores. The disc appeared in
the Emporium and World of Disney on Tuesday, and is now shipping from
Walt Disney World Mail Order. It is selling for $12, but beware of shipping
charges.

PhilharMagic’s success stops Sword in the Stone show on peak days

The Sword in the Stone show in Fantasyland appears to be a victim of
the success of Mickey’s PhilharMagic. Due to the long lines from the PhilharMagic
theater and the crowds making their way past them, there really isn’t
enough room to safely run the Sword show, especially at peak periods.
We’ve heard that Merlin will be cooling his heels between March 30 and
April 24, with only Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday shows the following
week. This situation will most likely be repeated at other peak times
of the year.

Lenox Classics Signing Event this week

The three good fairies from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty—Flora,
Fauna and Merryweather—are brand new Lenox Classics figurines
available at the Walt Disney World Resort in a limited release before
general public offering in July (link).
On April 2 and 3, Dory Menzel of the Lenox Classics Design Team will be
signing purchased figurines. The figurine preview sales and signing take
place at the Art of Disney in Downtown Disney on Friday from 3 p.m. to
5 p.m. and Art of Disney in Epcot on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Five
hundred of each figurine will be available. If you cannot attend, you
can call Walt Disney Event Services at 407-827-7600 to order your Lenox
figurines. Wish list orders will be taken through Friday. Flora, Fauna
and Merryweather are available while supplies last at $79 per figurine.

The Home on the Range preparade continues to run in the Magic Kingdom
through April 16. Photo by Brian Bennett.

Ears to the Ground

…Stitch’s Great Escape now appears to be heading for a July
date for early sneak previews. Cast previews would take place in late
July, with soft openings in August. The official dedication and grand
opening would be in the October 1 time frame. Remember that these are
still unconfirmed rumors, and should not be the basis for vacation planning.

…Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is expanding again
this year. The event has expanded from five nights in 2001 to seven nights
in 2002, 10 nights in 2003, and now 13 nights in 2004! The dates that
we’ve heard are October 1, 3, 8, 12, 14, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 30
and 31. We do not yet have a date for the tickets to go on sale yet.

…It appears that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will
remain at 12 nights this year, but dates are not yet available.

…Schedule changes: On April 22 and May 2, the Magic Kingdom will
close at 6:30 p.m. for a private event. On Thursday, April 8, the Disney-MGM
Studios will host the Extra Magic Hour instead of the Magic Kingdom.

…Timekeeper will be running for the Easter season, from now
through April 17. Hours of operation will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through
Friday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Saturday through April 17.

…Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café will be serving breakfast on
April 3 to 17 from park opening until 10:30 a.m. Breakfast meals run from
$3.59 to $5.59.

…When Mickey’s Star Traders reopens on Friday, it will sport
a total remodel with new lighting fixtures, floor, ceiling, and much more.
There are even special appearances of Stitch in the murals.

…On Easter Sunday, April 11, Catholic Mass services will be held
at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Ballroom at 8 and 10:15 a.m.

…As special added attractions for the peak Easter season, from April
5 to 11 guests will be able to meet and greet the Easter Bunny. There
will also be trolley shows on Main Street, U.S.A. on those dates.

…Magic Kingdom park hours have been extended for most of
the month of April. The longer hours include 8 a.m. openings most days,
and added parades on selected days as well.

…World Drive will be undergoing a repaving project from late
April through the end of May. Watch for delays and lane closures along
this main route into the resort.

…There are no E-Ride nights scheduled at least through May.

…With the return of guests to the Port Orleans French Quarter Resort,
the river cruise between Port Orleans and Downtown Disney has added two
new boats to handle the increased demand. The river cruise service will
run from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

Have any interesting news or rumors? Let
us know.

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 reopens Friday.


• 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 May 1. In addition,
  the Jungle Cruise and the Tiki Room will open at 9 a.m. from April 4
  through April 17.


• El Pirata y el Perico will be open for the holiday season,
  from April 1 through April 24. The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m.
  to 9 p.m. from April 4 – 10, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. the other days. It
  will then close from April 25 through May 14 for a rehab.


• 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 Enchanted Grove will be closed for rehab from April 19
  through May 31.


• The Sword In the Stone show will not be performed on March
  22, 23, 24, 27, and 29.

Epcot

• The Universe of Energy is expected to close for a short rehab
  in March to remove the ExxonMobil signage after its pavilion sponsorship
  ends.


• The Living Seas pavilion appears to be 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.


• 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 are now open when the pavilion is
  open. Note: New information indicates that Pure and Simple will be open
  with the pavilion during the Spring Break 2004 season.


• Restaurant Akershus opens for the Princess Character Breakfast
  only from April 18 through May 10. It will not be open for lunch and
  dinner during that time.

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. The target completion date for the rest
  of the newly-titled Big City Street is October 2.


• The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights is reported to be returning
  on New York Street/Big City Street for this year.

Animal Kingdom

• Pocahontas and her Forest Friends will be closed for a minor
  rehab to the stage and theater from March 23-29.


• 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 reopened yesterday. 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. Tokelau, Tahiti, and Rapa Nui have not yet been refurbished,
  but they have not yet been scheduled, either.


• Shades of Green – has now reopened, though construction
  is ongoing.


• 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

• World Drive will be undergoing a repaving project from late
  April through the end of May. Watch for delays and lane closures along
  this main route into the resort.
• Magic Kingdom & BoardWalk gas stations: Have reopened as
  Hess Express
• Pleasure Island gas station: Closed March 10 and reopens March
  30 as Hess Express
• Cirque du Soleil – La Nouba is performing Tuesdays through
  Saturdays, but will be closed 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.

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.


• Danskin Women’s Triathlon (link).
  May 16.


• 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.


• Disney’s International Distance Triathlon (link).
  September 26.

October 2004

• Epcot International Food & Wine Festival (link).
  October 1 – November 14.


• Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (link).
  October 1, 3, 8, 12, 14, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 30 and 31.


• 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

Students get “Spring Price Break” at Pleasure Island

College or university students 18 years of age or older with a valid
student ID can take advantage of a 25 percent discount on admission tickets
to Pleasure Island. Students must ask for the special discount at the
Downtown Disney Pleasure Island box office. The offer is valid until April
16, 2004.

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 to 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 $26 per adult, per ticket
with the “Advance Purchase Savings” program. These prices are
before the 6.5% Orange County sales tax.

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)