Walt Disney World Park Update

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News and Views

Cinderella’s Castle also going
gold

In yet another Disneyland 50th Anniversary celebration being recognized
by another Disney park, an internal memo went out to cast members over the weekend
that Cinderella’s Castle in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom park is getting
a gold gilding treatment similar to its California cousin.

Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland will receive a birthday overlay, complete
with “crowns” on each of the five turrets. Word from the Mouse is that Cinderella’s
Castle will also get a makeover. © 2004 Disney. All rights reserved. Used with
permission.

Counterfeit Disney Dollars

Walt Disney World has released
an internal security memo informing cast members that counterfeit Disney Dollars
have appeared in the resort. According to the memo, these fakes are realistic-looking
color copies of the real bills. However, while genuine Disney Dollars are printed
with shiny color-reflective dots near Tinkerbell, the counterfeits have glitter
glued around the area. The memo notes that this glitter can be felt by touch,
and we assume the fakes use inferior paper and lack the lightly raised ink of
real Mouse currency.

As counterfeiting becomes easier with technology, Disney
may be facing the same issues—albeit at a smaller level—as the U.S.
Secret Service in keeping one step ahead of counterfeiters.

WDW tops Zagat
survey

Zagat Survey has put together its first-ever U.S. Family Travel
Guide, and all four Walt Disney World theme parks appear in the Top 10 Family
Attractions. The Magic Kingdom park snagged the No. 1 spot in the “Most Popular
Attraction” and “Top Theme Park” categories. The “Most Popular
Attraction” list also included Epcot in the No. 2 spot, Disney-MGM Studios
at No. 6, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom at No. 9. Walt’s original park, Disneyland,
came in at No. 5, giving Disney five of the top 10 spots.

WDW also top
“RV-friendly” attraction in U.S.

Walt Disney World Resort recently
received the Welcome Mat Award as the No. 1 “RV Friendly” tourist attraction
for 2004 from the Good Sam Club, the world’s largest membership organization of
RV owners. Good Sam introduced the Welcome Mat Award three years ago to recognize
businesses that offer top service to RV enthusiasts. This is the third year Walt
Disney World Resort has received the Welcome Mat Award.

U.S. Olympic Team
Commemorative Pin Event, July 3 – Aug. 14

With the 2004 Olympic Games
right around the corner, Walt Disney World Resort is unveiling a collection of
commemorative Disney-inspired Olympic pins during an Olympic-themed pin event
at Downtown Disney Marketplace. A collection of pins and pin accessories featuring
the world-famous Disney characters supporting the U.S. Olympic Team will be released
during an eight-week-long event beginning Saturday, July 3, 2004.

On select
days throughout the event, current and former U.S. Olympians will be at Downtown
Disney Marketplace to meet with guests, sign autographs and pose for pictures.
Guests can also catch a glimpse of a real Olympic medal, as Olympians will bring
their medals with them to Disney’s Pin Traders. The Olympic-themed pin event will
culminate with a one-day pin extravaganza at Disney’s Wide World of Sport Complex
on Saturday, August 14.

Fourth of July festivities announced

Disney
has announced its schedule of events for the Fourth of July. Here’s what’s happening
around the World:

Magic Kingdom – Independence Day fireworks
launches over Cinderella Castle and from points throughout the theme park at 9
p.m., followed by two presentations of the SpectroMagic parade at 10:30
p.m. and midnight.

Epcot – The American Adventure pavilion in
World Showcase serves as the centerpiece of the theme park’s Independence Day
events, with the Voices of Liberty performing a cappella patriotic music throughout
the day. Disney characters will appear in patriotic garb, and “Betsy Ross”
will greet youngsters anxious to know about the origins of America’s flag. The
performance of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at 10 p.m. will include
a special patriotic finale.

Disney-MGM Studios – The Sorcery
in the Sky fireworks returns, firing over the top of Chinese Theater and the
Sorcerer’s Hat at 9:00 p.m., followed by a 10:30 p.m. performance of Fantasmic!

Disney’s
Animal Kingdom – Vocals Incorporated, a sextet of singers, honors America
with a variety of standards and contemporary tunes. Performances are scheduled
in the theme park’s Palm Courtyard from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Pleasure
Island – Guests will “party patriotic” at Downtown Disney Pleasure
Island July 2-4 with the Fourth of July Blast, featuring patriotic music by live
bands and the Pleasure Island DJ and a late-night fireworks show that can be viewed
throughout the nighttime entertainment district.

WDW also announces holiday
events

While everyone is thinking about summer vacations, what better time
to announce the festivities for this year’s Christmas celebration? Well, let’s
pull the facts out of the press releases to see what Walt Disney World has in
store for this December:

Disney-MGM Studios – Arguable the most
popular holiday event at Walt Disney World, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights
returns to the Studios this fall. Evicted last year from Residential Street by
the street’s demolition and the ensuing construction for the Lights! Motors!
Actions! Extreme Stunt Show, the over 5 million light bulbs will brighten
up the newly renamed Streets of America (formerly New York Street, briefly Big
City Street) from November 24 through January 2.

Magic Kingdom –
This year, there are—count ’em—12 nights of Mickey’s Very Merry
Christmas Party between November 30 and December 17. The Party includes Mickey’s
Very Merry Christmas Parade, exclusive merchandise and character shows, as well
as a special fireworks performance, free cookies and hot cocoa, a complimentary
family photo, and snow on Main Street, U.S.A.

For those not attending the
party, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parade runs during the day in the holiday
season, with holiday decorations displayed up and down Main Street, U.S.A.

Epcot
– The famed Candlelight Processional will be presented three times a
night, at 5:00, 6:45, and 8:15 p.m. at the America Gardens theater from November
28 through December 30. Dinner packages are once again available by calling 407-WDW-DINE
(407-939-3463). Celebrity narrators have not yet been announced.

The Holidays
Around the World presentations also return this year, running from November 28
through December 30. The celebration includes nightly tree lighting ceremony in
World Showcase Plaza at 6 p.m., Kwanzaa and Hanukkah observances, various incarnations
of Santa Claus (from Saint Nicholas to La Befana), and the holiday light display
on the main walkway between Future World and World Showcase.

Disney’s
Animal Kingdom – Carolers perform by a 65-foot tree at the park’s entrance.
Santa Goofy’s Holiday Village at Camp Minnie-Mickey features holiday trees, live
entertainers, photo opportunities, and carolers. A special holiday version of
Donald’s Breakfastosaurus features Donald Duck and Santa Goofy.

Downtown
Disney Marketplace – The Festival of the Seasons add holiday cheer to
holiday shopping at the Marketplace. Holiday window displays and décor,
the Dickens Carolers, nightly tree lightings, concerts at the Dock Stage, a strolling
brass quintet, and toy soldier stilt walkers round out the entertainment, while
Santa Claus takes a break from the North Pole to conduct special photo opportunities
at Santa’s Village in front of the World of Disney from noon to 10 p.m. daily.
from November 20 through December 24.

Resorts – Disney pastry
chefs are at it again. Keep your hands off of the edible décor as you view
such amazing fare as a life-size carousel, a boardwalk area replica, a miniature
chocolate African village, and a giant gingerbread house boasting more than 1,000
pounds of honey.

Return of Hyatt Orlando under new owner

New York
hotelier Morris Moinian apparently has a contract to buy the former Hyatt Orlando
near the Disney main gate on U.S. Route 192 near I-4. The 919-room hotel closed
in September with one day’s notice to employees after attempting to reorganize
under bankruptcy protection.

The Four Points Sheraton in Downtown Orlando,
which closed a month after the Hyatt, is being converted into condominiums. After
completing the purchase, Moinian plans to invest in renovating the 80-acre resort
to have a village theme, and it will include a time-share section and a state-of-the-art
gym and spa. Rooms are expected to go for $200 per night or more, depending on
season. Moinian also owns the Wyndham Sugar Bay in St. Thomas and the upscale
Dylan Hotel in New York, site of Nyla, a failed restaurant partly owned by Britney
Spears.

Discovery River Boats return, but not for riding

The Discovery River Boats, an original attraction at Disney’s Animal
Kingdom (and designed by MousePlanet contributor George McGinnis), returns
to action in a new capacity. They will serve as the stage for a musical
atmosphere group called Wasabi, which will perform seven days a week during
the summer at 10:15 and 11:30 a.m., and at 12:30, 2:15, and 4:00 p.m.
The boats will carry the performers (and a Disney character or two on
each cruise except the 4:00) on Discovery Lake, between Asia and DinoLand
USA. Two of the former Discovery River Boats have already been pressed
into service elsewhere, to host Magical Gatherings cruises at the Seven
Seas Lagoon.

Ears to the ground

…The Rose &
Crown refurbishment at Epcot’s United Kingdom pavilion has been quietly extended
until late July.

…The water parks move to their summer schedule on
Sunday, June 27. They will be open from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

…The resort
tax in Osceola County rises to 6 percent on Thursday, July 1, making the total
hotel tax at the Al-Star Resorts (the only resorts in Osceola) increase to 13
percent.

…The New York Street area, previously believed to be receiving
the name “Big City Street,” has now officially been declared the “Streets
of America Backlot.”

…“Dining with a Walt Disney Imagineer”
is apparently still running, and has been extended through Friday, July 30.

…American
Vybe fans should be pleased to hear that the group is performing at Epcot’s America
Gardens theater from June 19 through August 29.

…Last Monday, a new
check-in procedure was instituted for diners at the California Grill. Check-in
for the restaurant now takes place at a podium on the second floor of the Contemporary
Resort. Diners are then escorted by a cast member to an elevator reserved for
California Grill patrons only.

Have any
interesting news or rumors? Let
us know.

Refurbishments and Attraction
Closures

Magic Kingdom

• “it’s a small world”
  – closed for rehab through March 18, 2005. The work is expected to be 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), replacement of boats, and the rumored swapping of the entry and
  exit queues for better traffic flow and more stroller parking. The audio upgrade
  will include a return to a cleaned-up copy of the stereo soundtrack heard at the
  1964 World’s Fair, which has been very well received since it returned to Disneyland
  a couple of years ago.
• 20,000 League Under the Sea lagoon –
  has been walled off to “clear the land as well as add landscape for future
  use.” The work is expected to run through November 21.
• The ExtraTERRORestrial
  Alien Encounter – closed for good. It is now undergoing a major rehab
  and reopens in fall 2004 as Stitch’s Great Escape. The official opening
  of the new attraction now appears targeted to October 1.
• Walt Disney’s
  Carousel of Progress – expected to remain open for the duration of the
  Stitch’s Great Escape construction.
• Timekeeper – returned
  to seasonal operation. The attraction will be open for the summer season from
  10 a.m. to 9 p.m. through August 14.
• Adventureland – now opens
  again with the rest of the park daily with the exception of the Jungle Cruise
  and the Enchanted Tiki Room – Under New Management, which still open
  at 10 a.m. There is a rumor that the Jungle Cruise will open with the rest of
  the park for the summer, from mid-June through mid-August.
• The Hall
  of Presidents and the Country Bear Jamboree also open at 10 a.m. every
  day.
• Tomorrowland Indy Speedway – remains open during its rehab,
  which will continue through August 8.
• Tom Sawyer Island –
  closes from July 25 – September 25.
• The Enchanted Grove –
  has returned from rehab.
• Mickey’s Toontown Fair train station –
  will be torn down and rebuilt between May 10 and June 18. The only stops made
  by the Walt Disney World Railroad during that time will be Main Street, USA and
  Frontierland, though the train will stop to take on water in Toontown once every
  three trips around the park. Guests will not be allowed to board or exit the train
  during that time.
• Magic Carpets of Aladdin – down for rehab
  September 13 – October 15.
• Ariel’s Grotto – down for
  rehab Sept. 22 – Nov. 19 for theme-matching with the 20,000 Leagues Lagoon reclamation.
• 
  Astro Orbiter – down for rehab January 2 – February 16, 2005.
• 
  Dumbo the Flying Elephant – down for rehab January 10 – February 10,
  2005.

Epcot

• The Universe of Energy – may
  close for a short rehab at any time to remove the ExxonMobil signage now that
  its pavilion sponsorship has ended.
• Rose & Crown Pub & Dining
  Room – the pub portion is closed until late July. The rehab is rumored
  to include a complete rebuild on the pub portion and the building of a divider
  between the pub and the restaurant.
• Food Rocks – 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 – 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 – open seasonally. The Pure and Simple eatery
  and the Well and Goods Limited shop have been removed, 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 – closed and demolished
  and construction is well underway to turn the site into the Lights, Motors,
  Action! Extreme Stunt Show, an American version of the popular Moteurs…
  Action! stunt show from the Walt Disney Studios at Disneyland Paris.
• Star
  Tours will be closed for rehab from July 16 – August 1.
• The
  Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure – rehab has been
  extended through July 12.
• New York Street – undergoing a great
  deal of construction to change some facades to represent Chicago and San Francisco.
  The Chicago facades appear to be complete, while San Francisco is underway. Previously
  believed to be renamed Big City Street, the newly-confirmed name of the area will
  be the Streets of America Backlot. The target completion date is October
  2.
• The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights – will return this
  year on the Streets of America backlot, from November 24 through January 2.

Animal
Kingdom

• No currently reported rehabs.

Resorts

• Port Orleans Resort – A two-year extensive rehab of this resort’s
  rooms is ongoing. For Phase I, French Quarter has reopened. Phase II is underway,
  and involves 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 – nearing completion of the refurbishment of longhouses. Each
  longhouse under rehab is walled off and isolated during its rehab. Rarotonga has
  reopened after its rehab. Tokelau, Tahiti, and Rapa Nui have not yet been refurbished,
  but they have not yet been scheduled, either.
• The Never Land Club
  at Disney’s Polynesian Resort – will be refurbished through June 30, 2004. Operations
  have been moved to the Tangaroa Terrace during this time.
• Disney’s
  Old Key West Resort – The main pool will be closed from September through
  the end of the year for construction of a new water slide.
• Disney’s
  Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa (a new Disney Vacation Club resort) –
  now open. Construction continues on the rest of the resort; the other three buildings
  of Phase I are due by the end of the year, the eight units of Phase II are due
  in 2005, and the six units of the newly-announced Phase III are due in 2007. Phase
  III will involve the razing of the old Fairway Villas.

Water Parks

• No current water park rehabs underway.

Elsewhere

• Cirque
  du Soleil – La Nouba – performs 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 – now closed Monday-Wednesday. It is open Thursday–Sunday,
  from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Park Events

June
2004

• E-Ride Nights at the Magic Kingdom. June 21, 23, 25,
  28, 30.

July 2004

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp
  at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex (link).
  July 31 through August 19.
• E-Ride Nights at the Magic Kingdom.
  July 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 30.
• “ESPN The
  Weekend” (link).
  July 31 and Aug. 1.

August 2004

• E-Ride Nights at the Magic Kingdom. August 2, 4, 6, 9, 11,
  13.

September 2004

• Tom
  Joyner Family Reunion Weekend (link).
  September 2–5.
• Nights of Joy (link).
  September 9 – 11.
• A Family Pin Gathering – Disney’s Pin Celebration
  2004 (link).
  September 10 – 12.
• 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 and 31.
• 2004 Komen
  Central Florida Race For The Cure 5K (link).
  October 9.
• Disney’s 10K Classic (link).
  October 10.
• Funai Classic at Walt Disney World (link).
  October 21–24.
• 999 Happy Haunts event (link).
  October 25-27.

November 2004

• Festival of the Masters
  at Downtown Disney (link).
  November 12–14.
• Super Soap Weekend (link).
  November 13-14.
• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (link).
  November 28 and 30, December 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 17.
• 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.

February 2005

• Atlanta Braves Training
  Camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex (link).
  Dates in February through April TBA.

April 2005

• Epcot
  International Flower & Garden Festival (link).
  Dates in February through April TBA.

June 2005

• Gay
  and Lesbian Day at Walt Disney World (link).
  June 2–5.

Current
Discounts & Promotions

Florida Resident Cirque du Soleil La Nouba
special

Florida residents can receive 20 percent off Category Two tickets
at Cirque du Soleil in Downtown Disney’s West Side from June 1 – September
30, 2004. Blackout dates are June 20 – July 5 and August 22–25. Proof
of residency and advance purchase are required. The discount is not available
at the ticket window, and there is a limit of four tickets per transaction. To
order call 407-939-1282.

June discounts for Georgia residents

Disney
has announced a discount for Georgia residents for the month of June. Discounts
are for room-only reservations. Visit MouseSavers
for more details.

7-for-5 package now available

While not
as deep a discount as last year’s 7-for-4 package, this year’s buy-five-get-two-free
package is still a good deal. The package—officially called “Disney’s
Five Plus Two Dream Maker Package”—is available for stays from July
5 through November 18, but must be booked by June 28. A Disney Visa version of
the package that also includes 25 Disney Dollars is available. Visit MouseSavers
for more details.

Gaylord Palms to pay for gas

Guests of the Gaylord
Palms Resort will receive a $75 credit to cover the higher cost of gasoline for
stays of at least three nights from June 15 through Sept. 6. The Orlando-area
resort will provide the room credit to guests who make a reservation using the
promotion code FREEGAS. It is not a requirement that guests drive to the resort
in order to get the discount.

Disney’s Summer Price Slice returns

Summer
Price Slice is back with special-value greens fees on tee times after 10 a.m.
daily from May 17 through Sept. 30 on Disney’s five championship courses.

Golfers can test the premier Osprey Ridge course after 10 a.m. for $65 (compared
to a normal seasonal greens fee of $119) or Eagle Pines for $50 (compared to a
normal seasonal fee of $109). Post-10 a.m. rounds on the Magnolia, Palm or Lake
Buena Vista courses are $45 (compared to a normal seasonal fee of $99). Cart is
included.

Disney’s Summer Price Slice also gives golfers the opportunity
to play afternoon rounds late into the day. Golfers can take on Osprey Ridge after
3 p.m. for $35 ($30 after 5 p.m.). Eagle Pines, Magnolia, Palm and Lake Buena
Vista start at $30 after 3 p.m. ($25 after 5 p.m.).

For tee times, guests
may call 407/WDW-GOLF (407-939-4653). For information on the Walt Disney World
golf courses Web site (link).

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 percent 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 August 2004.

Entertainment Schedule

Hours and
entertainment schedules are currently
available through August 2004.

Theme Park Events

Downtown Disney Entertainment

(Separate admission required)