Walt Disney World Resort Update

Update for July 30 – August 5, 2013

Go directly to: News & Views | Join our Networks | Resort Events | Refurbishments and Attraction Closures | Discounts and Promotions | Comments

News and Views

Get ready to make Food & Wine Festival reservations | Rumor roundup | Construction update | New Walt Disney World Official Album to be released | Quick takes | Crowd update

Get ready to make Food & Wine Festival reservations

A Parisian breakfast, a Scottish party, and a hibachi dinner in Japan are three of the Premium Experiences being offered during the 2013 Food and Wine Festival. Reservations for these events open at 7:00 a.m. (Eastern) on Tuesday, August 13. Though Disney still hasn't updated its official Festival website with a list of the 2013 offerings, the unofficial Disney Food Blog has posted a fantastic line-up of the special events, including dates and prices. Grab a calendar and set your alarms, because some of the events are likely to sell out fast.

Rumor roundup

Last week, the Disney Blog (an unofficial website) related speculation from “The Epcot Explorer’s Encyclopedia” Facebook page that the Imagination pavilion, including Journey into Imagination and Captain EO, would close on January 2, 2014 for an unspecified duration and for an unspecified reason. The Epcot Explorer’s Encyclopedia goes on to report that cast members in the Imagination Pavilion are currently being cross-trained to other locations in preparation for this closure.

What does this mean for Captain EO and Figment fans? We have no details from Disney, and the lack of a Parks and Resorts pavilion at the upcoming D23 Expo means there likely won't be any major announcements made anytime soon. There have been some rumblings that the Imagination Pavilion could receive a Phineas & Ferb overlay, but we have no specifics.

New rumors this last week in the blogosphere talk about a major rehab to the Imagination pavilion (to include the removal of Captain EO),which does not actively use its Fastpass facility. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Despite such rumors, however, Operations has moved forward by installing Fastpass+ on the Journey Into Imagination attraction itself. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Last week, a reader asked why I hadn't mentioned the Fall 2013 Free Dining Plan that some other websites were reporting would be announced July 29. When the rumors first surface, I checked with our MousePlanet travel agency partners, and none had any details they could share. The very detailed information published on some other sites has since proven to be incorrect, though we wouldn't be surprised if some form of free dining plan was announced as early as today. Disney historically releases such offers about this time, but official Disney travel agents are prohibited from sharing the details until officially released by Disney. Be sure to keep an eye on our MousePad discussion board's Good Eats forum, Facebook page, and Twitter account for news if a new offer is released before next week's park update.

Construction update

Jeff Kober caught up on construction around Walt Disney World this weekend:

The expanded charter bus lot at the Transportation and Ticket Center has opened. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Work continues on the facade of the new Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

A peek behind the construction walls of the new Seven Dwarf roller coaster shows one banked turn along the track. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Part of a faux-rock and -wood bridge near the exit to the attraction is painted and textured. The crane in the background sits where the dwarf cottage has yet to be built. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

The Mad Tea Party sports bright new signage, thanks to the addition of a Fastpass+ entrance. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Disney cast members are briefed on the new MyMagic+ service center now in the Box Office Gifts shop at Town Square Theater. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

The touch pads for the self-service center are placed inside a leather-style photo book, tying into the theming of Box Office Gifts. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Pillars capped with crowns help form the entrance to the Princess Fairytale Hall. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

During a recent refurbishment of the Columbia Harbor House, the painting of fishermen harpooning a whale was replaced with a more politically correct and Disney-themed painting featuring the Sailing Ship Columbia from Disneyland. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Construction continues on the new Starbucks at Epcot. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Part of the DisneyQuest renovation has been the removal of the large mural on the one side of the building that advertised the experiences therein. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

New Walt Disney World Official Album to be released

Disney announced Tuesday that a new two-CD set will be offered at Walt Disney World starting August 20, the first new Official Album since 2008. While this is welcome news for music lovers, the new albums offer little in the way of actual new music. Of the 36 songs in the collection, 27 were also included in the 2008 album. The nine new songs are:

• “Flitterin’”
• “The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room”
• “Be Our Guest”
• “The Little Mermaid Medley”
• “Circus Parade”
• “Casey Jr.”
• “The Throne Room”
• “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”
• “Hot Potato”

The new additions don't cover a lot of new ground, either—”Flitterin'” simply replaces “Main Street Music Medley” from the 2008 album, and “The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room” replaces “Friend Like Me” from the Under New Management edition of the attraction. There are four songs from New Fantasyland and two additions from Toy Story Midway Mania, but nothing from more recent attractions like Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, and no fireworks, show or parade tunes. The good news is that this leaves Disney plenty of room to release additional entertainment albums, but we hope they don't wait six more years to add to our MP3 players.

If you can't make it to Walt Disney World to purchase the album, you can buy a digital copy at the Disney Music Store.

The 2013 Walt Disney World Resort Official Album

*Denotes the song was included in the 2008 version.

Disc 1

1. “All Aboard!”*
2. “Flitterin’”
3. “The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room”
4. “Swisskapolka”*
5. “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life For Me)”*
6. “The Bear Band Serenade”*
7. “Splash Mountain Medley”*
8. “Grim Grinning Ghosts”*
9. “It’s a Small World”*
10. “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh”*
11. “Be Our Guest”
12. “The Little Mermaid Medley”
13. “Circus Parade”
14. “Casey Jr.”
15. “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow”*
16. “Galactic Anthem”*
17. “Spaceship Earth”*
18. “Energy Adventure Medley”*
19. “One Little Spark”*

Disc 2

1. “Destiny”*
2. “Test Track”*
3. “The Seas with Nemo and Friends Medley”*
4. “Soarin’”*
5. “Canada (You’re a Lifetime Journey)”*
6. “Impressions de France”*
7. “Golden Dream”*
8. “Reflections of China Suite”*
9. “The Three Caballeros”*
10. “The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Theme”*
11. “The Throne Room”
12. “Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular”*
13. “Lights, Motor, Action”*
14. “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”
15. “Hot Potato”
16. “It’s Tough To Be a Bug”*
17. “CTX Theme”*

Get ready for MouseAdventure World Explorers

Join us on November 16 and 17 for an exploration of Walt Disney World like no other. Our fifth MouseAdventure event takes players all around Walt Disney World in a two-day challenge that is sure to make you see WDW in a whole new light.

Mark your calendars, because registration for our two-day MouseAdventure World Explorers event in Walt Disney World opens Tuesday, August 6 at 9 a.m. Pacific (that's noon for your East Coast players) online at MouseAdventure.com.

Pricing for this two-day event is $175 for a team of at least two players up to a maximum of four players. Registration does not include park admission (park hopper admission is required; water park admission is not).

The Coast to Coast Challenge

Every team that participated in the Spring 2013 MouseAdventure event in Disneyland and plays in MouseAdventure World Explorers V in Florida, will receive a special recognition of their dedication.

And, for the true competitors, there will be a special prize awarded to the team with the highest combined score for the Spring 2013 MouseAdventure Musical event at Disneyland and MouseAdventure World Explorers V in Florida. This prize will be awarded at the resort results meet in Florida.

To participate in this challenge, teams must have a score from the Spring 2013 MouseAdventure Musical event at Disneyland (Basic or Advanced division) and complete the Fall 2013 event in Walt Disney World. The majority of players from the team must participate in both events.

Quick takes…

…Senses – A Disney Spa has reopened at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort. This is the second of the WDW Resort spas to be taken under Disney management. The prices shown on the Disney World Spas website seem comparable to other offerings at other resort destinations, with a 50-minute massage starting at $135, and 50-minute facials from $140. A partial menu of services is listed on the Disney website, but online booking is not yet available. Call 407-WDW-SPAS (407-939-7727) for reservations.

…As Fastpass+ rolls out across the Magic Kingdom, changes are being made to add a third line at several attractions. Last week we heard the standby line at Haunted Mansion uses the extended queue, with no option to bypass as before. The Fastpass+ line is now using the bypass route, with regular FastPass still using that designated entrance. The good news for those in the extended queue is that there are lots of interactive elements to enjoy while you're waiting.

…Disney announced that the Festival of the Lion King show will be relocated to a new theater now under construction in the Africa section of the park. While Disney won't confirm details, the Camp Minnie–Mickey area, currently home to the Festival of the Lion King theater, is generally believed to be the site of the still-under-development Avatar Land. The new theater opens sometime in 2014, and you can expect a brief hiatus of the show while the floats are relocated and the performers get used to the new venue.

…A reminder to those planning a stay at the All-Star Sports Resort in the coming months: The hotel's arcade is now closed for conversion into a temporary grab-and-go food location, which will open on August 4. The food court closes August 5 for refurbishment. During this time, snacks and drinks will be available from a grab-and-go location in the former arcade. Hot food will be available from the All-Star Music Food Court, with Disney offering bus service between the resorts. Both the new food court and the restored arcade are expected to reopen in December.

Crowd Forecast

Join our networks
Facebook MousePlanet MouseAdventure	Twitter @MousePlanet @MouseAdventure @MPMark (Mark Goldhaber) @MousePlanetAVP (Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix) @MPSteven (Steven Ng) @MPStephanie (Stephanie Wien) @MousePlanetJeff (Jeff Kober) @MPMox (Jeffry Moxley) @MPAdrienneK (Adrienne Krock) @MPDocKrock (Kevin Krock) @MPLaniT (Lani Teshima) @MousePlanetJen (Jennifer Rich)

Don't keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments. Email Adrienne here.

Talk about these stories and more on our Walt Disney World discussion forum here.

Resort Events

2013

• Night of Joy – September 6–7
• Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party – September 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27, 29; October 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 14, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31; and November 1.
• Epcot International Food & Wine Festival – September 27 to November 11
• Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend – October 4–5
• EasyWDW.com reports that Disney Hollywood Studios will close at 6 p.m. on October 26 due to a private event for the American Academy of Pediatrics.
• Holiday Time at Walt Disney World – begins November 8
• Opening night for Osbourn Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights – November 8
• Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party – November 8, 11, 14, 15, 17, 21, 22; and December 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20.
• Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – November 8–9
• MouseAdventure World Explorers V – November 16–17. Keep an eye on our MouseAdventure Facebook page, and register for our MouseAdventure Newsletters for more details as they are announced.
• Candlelight Processional – November 29 through December 30. Dining packages go on sale July 9.

2014

• Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 9–12
• Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 21–23

runDisney events and capacity updates

2013

• Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend – October 4–5.
  • October 5 (a.m.): Happy Haunted 5K Trail Run – 90%
  • October 5 (a.m.): runDisney Kids' Races – 57%
  • October 5 (p.m.): The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler – Sold out
  • October 5 (p.m.) – October 6 (a.m.) – Disney Villains Hollywood Bash – 51%
     
• Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – November 8–9.
  • November 8 (p.m.): Wine & Dine Pre-race Taste – 87%
  • November 9 (a.m.): runDisney Kids' Races – 54%
  • November 9 (a.m.): Mickey's Jingle Jungle 5K – 87%
  • November 9 (p.m.): Wine & Dine Half Marathon – Sold Out
  • November 9 (p.m.): Finish Line Party – 54%

2014

• Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 9–12. Final cost increase August 14, 2013
  • January 9: Family Fun Run 5K – Sold Out
  • January 10: 10K – Sold Out
  • January 11: Half Marathon – Sold Out
  • January 12: Marathon – Sold Out
  • January 11-12: Goofy Challenge (half and full) – 85%
  • January 9 – 11: runDisney Kids' Races – 51%
  • January 9 – 11: Pasta Party in the Park – 51%
  • January 9-12: Dopey Challenge (5K, 10K, half and full) – Sold Out
     
• Disney's Princess Half-Marathon Weekend – February 21–23.
  • February 21: Disney Royal Family 5k
  • February 21 – 22: runDisney Kids' Races
  • February 22: Enchanted 10k – Sold out
  • February 23: Disney's Princess Half Marathon – Sold out
  • February 22 – 23: Glass Slipper Challenge (Enchanted 10k and Disney's Princess Half Marathon) – Sold out

Do you participate in (or are considering signing up for) runDisney events? Visit our Team MousePlanet forum on the MousePad discussion board, where you can join our community of health-minded readers and staff.

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

• Enchanted Tiki Room – closed July 31 through August 28 for refurbishment.
• Prince Charming Regal Carousel – closed August 1–21 for refurbishment.
• Liberty Belle – closed August 5–9 for refurbishment.
• Jungle Cruise – closed August 19 through September 30 for refurbishment.
• Cinderella's Royal Table – closed September 10–13 for refurbishment. [No longer showing on the official refurbishment list; check to confirm before your visit]
• Peter Pan – closed September 30 through November 13 for refurbishment.
• Walt Disney World Railroad – closed September 30 through November 20 for refurbishment.
• Princess Fairytale Hall – opens 2013.

Epcot

• Fountain View Ice Cream – closed through early September for conversion to Starbucks location.
• Spaceship Earth – closed August 18–24 for refurbishment.
• New rest room between America and Japan pavilions – scheduled to open Fall 2013.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

• Muppet*Vision 3D – closed August 6 through September 2 for refurbishment.
• Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Playground – closed September 3 through November 19 for refurbishment.
• Both parades (Disney Channel Rocks and Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun Parade) have ended their run. No new parades have been announced.

Animal Kingdom

• No known refurbishments.
  • Festival of the Lion King scheduled to move to a new theater, currently under construction, sometime in 2014. No dates have been announced.q1

Resorts

As reported in July, some refrigerators in non-Disney Vacation Club rooms at Walt Disney World are being replaced due to a product defect. All Walt Disney World Resort rooms with the exception of DVC Villas, the family suites at the Art of Animation and All-Star Movie resorts, and the cabins at Fort Wilderness are impacted. Disney says “the schedule for replacing the refrigerators at these Resorts is expected to last several months.”

In the interim, if you have a reservation at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel and need a refrigerator for medical reasons,we recommend contacting your resort directly to inquire about availability during your trip. The hotel should be able to arrange for one if your room does not yet have a new refrigerator, but supplies may be limited while they work to replace all of the malfunctioning units. Remember, Value resorts do not include in-room refrigerators.

• All-Star Movies – feature icons refurbishment through September 20.
• All-Star Music
  • Feature icons refurbishment through September.
  • Melody Hall guest check in parking renovation – June 13 through August 7
• All-Star Sports
  • Feature icons refurbishment through September 20.
  • Arcade closed for conversion into a temporary grab-and-go food location. Expected to reopen in December.
  • Food court closed August 5 – mid-December for refurbishment. During this time, snacks and drinks will be available from a grab-and-go location in the former arcade. Hot food will be available from the All-Star Music Food Court, and Disney will offer bus service between the resorts.
• Contemporary Resort
  • California Grill closed through late summer for refurbishment.
  • Guest elevator renovations – through December 8
• Grand Floridian – Convention center parking lot refurbishment August 5–7
• Polynesian
  • Soft goods replacement in guest rooms through October 4
  • Volcano pool closed September 9–20 for refurbishment.
• Pop Century
  • Feature icons refurbishment through October 2
• Port Orleans French Quarter
  • Lodge building window frame and shutter painting through August 20
• Port Orleans Riverside
  • Bridge and bus stop vine removal and painting through August 30
• Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
  • Grandstand pook closed August 25 through September 14
• Yacht and Beach Club
  • Beach Club Villas sidewalk will be repaired through August 6
• Wilderness Lodge
  • Main building exterior repairs through August 5

Water Parks

• Typhoon Lagoon – closed October 27, 2013 through January 4, 2014 for refurbishment.

Elsewhere

• Disney Palm Golf Course – closed through mid-November for refurbishment.
• Cirque du Soleil La Nouba – performs Tuesdays through Saturdays. Will not be performed on the following dates in 2013:
  • July 23
  • September 17–21
  • November 5–6

Current Discounts & Promotions

Don't keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments. Email Adrienne here.