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

It’s a girl! Disney’s Animal Kingdom welcomes another baby elephant

Tufani has a new playmate. Disney’s Animal Kingdom welcomed a new baby
African elephant last Tuesday evening. A 230-pound female elephant named,
Kianga—“Sunshine” in Swahili—was born to 18-year-old
Vasha after a 22-month gestation. Both baby and mother appear to be doing
well. Kianga is nursing successfully and is already feisty and active.

In the near future, guests will be able to see Kianga’s progress on camera
monitors at Rafiki’s Planet Watch at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It will
be several weeks before the calf and her mother will join other elephants
on the savannah.

Given the difficulty in achieving successful births of African elephants,
especially in captivity, it’s extraordinary that Disney has had two successful
births so close together. In addition, two other elephants at Disney’s
Animal Kingdom are pregnant, with one due to give birth next spring and
the other in late winter, giving further credibility to the Animal Kingdom
breeding program.

See the full birth announcement in our News and Announcements section
(link).

Kianga is nursing successfully from Vasha. Photo © Disney.

Disney Legend Sam McKim dies

MousePlanet has learned that Disney Legend Sam McKim, honored on a window
on Main Street, U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom (“Golden State Graphic
Arts Studio, Latest Artistic Principles Employed”), passed away late
last week. Details were not immediately available. McKim, who retired
in 1987, was named a Disney Legend in 1996. His story sketches included
“it’s a small world,” Hall of Presidents, Carousel of Progress,
and Haunted Mansion. He may be best known for the many souvenir park maps
that he created. MousePlanet will have more on this on Wednesday.

Magic Kingdom was full—but not too full—on July 4

A cast member wrote to us to clarify our information after reading last
week’s Walt Disney World Update, where
the photo captions referred to the crowds at the Magic Kingdom on the
Fourth of July.

The cast member writes:

“Magic Kingdom never really reached anywhere near capacity, or
even closing the park like we have in July 4 in the past. We were only
up to about 42,000 at the 3:00 parade, and by the time fireworks came
around at 9 p.m., we were only at about 52,000. Last year we were at
about 64,000. The article and pictures made it seem like this was the
first time we’ve had these crowds. The picture of Cosmic Ray’s shows
people eating on the floor—that’s because it’s indoors, and it
poured down rain that afternoon; we all know how guests get when
it rains here. They’re afraid to walk outside and get wet, so the majority
of them that were already there stayed, and then a crowd of people came
in to get out of the rain. Same thing, I believe, with the pictures
of Timekeeper (indoor attraction—look at the guy coming in with
the raincoat); and Hall of Presidents. The Mansion queue there, running
down through the old Keelboat queue, I think was the exception.”

Regarding the photos of guests being routed backstage due to the crush
of people on Main Street, U.S.A., the cast member adds, “[W]e do
that every weekend during busy seasons. [T]he article makes this sound
like it’s something we’ve done once or twice. I don’t think it’s bad show;
it’s just more convenient to run guests backstage rather than have crowds
coming down Main Street to exit compete with the crowds sitting
to watch the parades and fireworks. On the 4th, we had the fireworks before
the parades instead of in between. It’s nothing we haven’t done before.”

Thanks for the clarification. We did not intend to make it seem that
the crowds and the measures taken to handle them were out of the ordinary
for a holiday, though we don’t always have photos to show what it’s like
at such a peak time. As for the routing of guests backstage, it is indeed
more convenient and safe to do that, but sending guests backstage breaks
the fantasy, and would indeed be considered “bad show.” However,
safety comes before show, so there’s no problem with that.

New baby elephant Kianga flirts with the camera. Photo © Disney.

New window coming on Main Street, U.S.A.

Ralph Kent, Corporate Trainer for Artist Development at Disney Design
Group, will be honored with a window on Main Street, U.S.A., at the Magic
Kingdom Park, following his retirement after a decades-long career with
the Walt Disney Company.

Ralph worked on many influential Walt Disney Imagineering and Merchandise
projects during the 1960s, before moving to Florida to help open the Walt
Disney World Resort. Ralph was presented with a mock-up of his window
at a ceremony at Downtown Disney West Side on July 7 by Walt Disney World
President Al Weiss.

Windows overlooking Main Street, U.S.A., in Walt Disney World’s Magic
Kingdom honor those whose contributions have made a lasting impact on
the creation and operation of the WDW theme parks.

PhotoPass update

A MousePlanet reader has passed the following along regarding the Disney’s
PhotoPass trademark that we reported on last week:

“Disney Photographic Imaging will be shooting the Disney PhotoPass,
as Kodak is being kicked out of Epcot. Initially, the program will start
at Epcot and Ft. Wilderness, with people on Advanced Internships working
as the photographers with Nikon D70 cameras. Disney is reclaiming this
from Kodak as part of an effort to sell people pictures back home and
so forth as described in the trademark paperwork. It should start in
mid-August or September.

“According to people at Kodak, Disney has a lot of work to do
before they’d be ready to start selling to the public.

“Kodak photographers are being asked if they want to be assigned
to another park/resort or go to Universal [Studios Orlando] as of September.”

ASIMO, a robot that was on display at Epcot through July 11, shakes hands
with its host. Photo by Brian Bennett.

College band performs at Magic Kingdom

Through August 7, the 2004 Disney Collegiate All-Star Band is performing
Saturday through Wednesday in the Magic Kingdom. The band, with representatives
from 16 colleges and universities, performs four times each day (five
times on Fridays).

Daily Performance Schedule:

• 4:00 p.m. Tomorrowland – Contemporary Disney & Current Top 40
  Special Performances on Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café Stage (Thursdays
  only)
• 5:00 p.m. Tomorrowland – Contemporary Disney & Current Top 40
• 6:00 p.m. Liberty Square Riverboat – Classic Songs of the South
  in a Dixieland Style
• 7:15 p.m. Castle Forecourt – Classic American Composers & Classic
  Disney
• 8:30 p.m. Pre-Parade – Marching Band Style

Bucs announce practice schedule

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have announced their schedule of practices for
this summer’s training camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex.
Admission to the training camp is free of charge and open to the public.

Complimentary admission tickets will be available at the tent to the
right of the main entrance upon entering Disney’s Wide World of Sports
Complex. You will then be directed to a special gate used only for training
camp guests. Admission to the other venues and events at Disney’s Wide
World of Sports Complex is not included with the complimentary training
camp admission.

General daily practices will be held each morning from 8:30 to 10:45am
and each afternoon from 2:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. from July 31 through August
16 with the exceptions noted below.

• Tuesday, August 3, Friday, August 6, Tuesday, August 10 – afternoon
  is special teams practice only, and runs until 3:55 p.m.
• Saturday, August 7, Wednesday, August 18 – no afternoon practice.
• Monday, August 9, Wednesday, August 11, Thursday, August 12. –
  afternoon practice ends at 4:30 p.m.
• Monday, August 16 – no morning practice; afternoon practice
  ends at 4:30 p.m.

The training camp schedule is subject to change without further notice.

ASIMO, a robot that was on display at Epcot through July 11, walks down
stairs. Photo by Brian Bennett.

Cosmic Ray’s adds ribs

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café in Tomorrowland is permanently adding
BBQ Ribs to their menu. This item will be available on the chicken side.

The enhanced Chicken Side menu now features:

• 1/2 Chicken and BBQ Rib Combo served with mashed potatoes and a seasonal
  vegetable ($13.89)
• BBQ Rib Meal served with mashed potatoes and a seasonal vegetable
  ($8.69)
• 1/2 Rotisserie Chicken served with mashed potatoes and a seasonal
  vegetable ($6.99)
• Grilled Chicken Sandwich served with French fries or carrots ($6.79)
• Fried Chicken Strips served with French fries or carrots ($6.49)
• Kosher Chicken Strips served with potato croquettes (Glatt Kosher,
  $8.99)

Reminder: Food & Wine special events reservations open next Tuesday

The 2004 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival runs from October 1
through November 14. Reservations open at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 20
for the Festival’s separate-admission events, including Party for the
Senses, Vertical Wine Tastings, Food and Wine Pairings, the Lunch and
Learn Series and the Signature Dinner Series. Call (407) WDW-FEST (939-3378).

Platinum Edition Cinderella DVD

Although various release schedules show Cinderella as not being
available until 2007, work seems to be well underway on the project. MousePlanet
reader Ryan O. found himself staring at five potential DVD covers during
a recent online Disney survey. Either Disney works on product covers three
years in advance, or the DVD is being released sooner than 2007. Could
it be possible that Disney has moved the release date forward by a bit
so that the DVD could be released during Disneyland’s 18-month 50th anniversary
window? If so, Walt Disney World could have some extra synergy, what with
its recent announcement that the Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom
will get a special treatment for the celebration.

One of these five different covers may eventually grace the cover of
the Platinum Edition DVD. All images ©Disney.

Ears to the ground

…We hear that ground clearing is underway for the long-rumored Master
Blaster-style water coaster at Typhoon Lagoon. Major earthmoving will
not begin until the park’s scheduled two-month rehab closure over the
winter. The coaster will be installed at the current location of Out of
the Way Cay, and is expected to open following the park’s winter rehab
in either 2005 or 2006.

…The Fantasyland Skyway building area goes under rehab from July
11 to September 30. While the building itself will not be worked on, the
grounds in front will be completely redone. The waterfall, bridge and
pond will be removed and replaced with a meet-and-greet for Snow White
and a new stroller parking area for “it’s a small world.”

…We’ve heard a rumour that there may be Star Wars characters
out in the Disney/MGM Studios on a regular basis. No time frame has been
given, other than “this summer.”

…As reported earlier, the Liberty Square Portrait Gallery has completed
relocating its operation next to two existing merchandise locations. One
is on the porch area outside the Christmas Shoppe and the other is on
Main Street, U.S.A. between Uptown Jewelers and the Market House. The
Produce Market has relocated to the facility that was previously occupied
by the portrait artist.

…We’ve now got confirmation that the grand opening of Stitch’s Great
Escape is targeted for a press event on October 1-3. Cast previews take
place in early September, with unadvertised openings mid-September and
an official soft opening in late September.

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 19, with the walls tentatively
  coming down on November 11.
• 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 is scheduled
  for October 1.
• Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress – expected to remain
  open for the duration of the Stitch’s Great Escape construction.
• Timekeeper – seasonal operation. The attraction will be
  open for the summer season from 9 a.m. to 10 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.
  However, 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.
  Work on the grandstand and other support areas will run through mid-August,
  and track work will continue through late September.
• Fantasyland Skyway building area – will go under rehab from
  July 11 – September 30. While the building itself will not be worked
  on, the grounds in front will be completely redone. The waterfall, bridge
  and pond will be removed and replaced with a meet-and-greet for Snow
  White and a new stroller parking area for “it’s a small world.”
• Donald’s Boat – will be down for rehab from July 12 –
  August 12.
• Tom Sawyer Island – will be closed from July 25 – September
  25 for a major refurbishment, though the Rivers of America will be unaffected.
• Jungle Cruise – will be down for rehab from August 22 –
  September 5.
• Magic Carpets of Aladdin – down for rehab September 13
  – October 15.
• Ariel’s Grotto – down for rehab September 22 – November
  19 for theme-matching with the 20,000 Leagues Lagoon reclamation.
• The Hub area in front of the castle – will undergo more refurbishing
  in January, 2005.
• Astro Orbiter – down for rehab January 2 – February
  16, 2005.
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant – down for rehab January 10
  – February 12, 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. It appears that the pavilion will not open this summer, which
  does not bode well for the future.

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.
• 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. 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. Room refurbishments at the Polynesian Resort are resuming.
  Rapa Nui is scheduled for January 3 through April 1, 2005, and Tahiti
  will get its makeover from April 24 through August 17, 2005. Tokelau
  has not yet been refurbished, but has 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 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

July 2004

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

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

New August Dream Maker package discount

A new specially priced Dream Maker package is available for most nights
from August 1–28. The discount is on the room portion of the package
only. Reservations must be made by July 31. See the Walt Disney World
web site (link)
or MouseSavers (link)
for more information.

Room discounts through August

Discounts are available on rooms at Walt Disney World for stays from
now through August 28. Deeper Annual Passholder and Florida Resident discounts
are also available. See the Walt Disney World web site (link)
or MouseSavers (link)
for more information.

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 through September 30,
2004. Blackout dates are 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.

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 through
September 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 September 2004.

Entertainment Schedule

Hours and entertainment schedules are currently
available through September 2004.

Theme Park Events

Downtown Disney Entertainment

(Separate admission required)