Walt Disney World Park Update

Update for October 17 – 23, 2005

Go directly to: News & Views | Refurbishment/Attraction Closures | Park Events | Discounts/Promotions | Park Hours | Events/Entertainment Schedule

News and Views

Not a lot of new news this week, but a number of updates.

MousePlanet events at MouseFest

Just a reminder that MouseFest is scheduled for November 30 - December 5 (land) and December 4-8 (sea). MouseFest Gold Sponsor MousePlanet is organizing three events and officially participating in a fourth during the land portion. For more information and how to let us know that you're coming, visit our MouseFest events page (link). For more information on MouseFest, visit the MouseFest event site (link).

Update: Theater in the Wild

Last week, we ran a new rumor from one of our intrepid reporters, who heard that the Theater in the Wild would be completely demolished after the Tarzan Rocks show closes in March. We have since confirmed that the theater will not be demolished. The stage, lighting and sound system will all be gutted and the theater will be completely enclosed, as with the Lion King theater in Camp Minnie-Mickey. When the theater is completed, a new Finding Nemo-based show will debut in late 2006 or early 2007.

Update: Family suites at All-Star Music

Last week we reported on the status of the test of family suites being created from two smaller rooms at the All-Star Music Resort. We've since learned that there are only two of the suites created so far, and not a whole heck of a lot was done to create them. The inside doors from connecting rooms have been removed to make an open walkway from one room to the other, and the windows have been replaced. The kids will have beds in one room and the parents will have another. The information regarding the possible completion of Phase 2 of the Pop Century Resort as all-suites is still valid, though.

Update: Disney-MGM Studios renaming

Still nothing confirmed, but I'm going to modify the prediction that I made last week. Due to a change in several of the indicators that I based it on, plus a tip from a little birdie, I'm going to predict that the change in the name of the Disney-MGM Studios to Walt Disney Studios Florida will take place on January 1, rather than December 1. Oh, and disregard the fact that Fantasmic does not appear on the park schedule on the Walt Disney World Web site. It will be taking place. We haven't heard anything about any closure for refurbishment.

Update: Timekeeper

Last week, in a short note regarding the Carousel of Progress' return to “seasonal” status, we also noted that the seasonal Timekeeper attraction had not even opened for July 4 this year. Reader Michael Patalano has pointed out that we did indeed miss the fact that Timekeeper was in fact open on July 3 and 4. We stand corrected.

Merchandise news

The next couple of weeks are filled with merchandise events at Walt Disney World. On Friday, October 21, author Ridley Pearson signs copies of his book and Audio CD, Kingdom Keepers, on the Contemporary Resort's fourth floor Concourse near BVG Gifts, from 9-11 a.m. and 5-8 p.m. (link). Meanwhile, that same day over at the Days of Christmas shop in Downtown Disney Marketplace, Christopher Radko holds a signing event for his new “Cinderella Castle – Golden Edition” Christmas ornament from 5-8 p.m.\ (link).

The next Tuesday, October 25, Imagineer Jason Surrell signs his latest book Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies at the Pirates Bazaar in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom from 1-3 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. (link). Next Friday, there is a release of the newest Walt Disney Classics Collection, “To The Head of The Team, Zero!” at Art of Disney at Downtown Disney Marketplace, Art of Disney at Epcot and The Animation Gallery at Disney-MGM Studios (link). The piece will also be available by phone. Be warned, however, that the piece goes on sale at the Disneyland Resort one week earlier, so there's no guarantee of how many of the 500 numbered pieces will be left by the time they go on sale at Walt Disney World.

Update: Disney's Magical Express

Disney has begun some new changes on the departure end of Disney's Magical Express. Airline check-in hours have been changed to 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Hours were formerly 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.) This helps those with early morning flights, but for those with late flights, you've got to check your luggage and get your boarding passes before you leave for the airport.

Meanwhile, the layoffs continue with car and shuttle services in competition with Disney's Magical Express, while protests continue to escalate. Taxi drivers staged a job action a couple of weeks ago, filling slots but refusing to pick up passengers. In addition, several Mears cars and vans got flat tires when a load a nails was spread in their parking lanes.

Disney has avoided getting involved in the fray, complying with the changes imposed by Orlando International Airport. Starting November 1, greeters meet DME customers at baggage claim on Level 2 instead of in the terminal on Level 3. Also as of November 1, Disney will stop allowing guests without reservations to use the DME service. All Disney literature will be updated to reflect the new process.

Ears to the ground

…It appears that another water pipe burst in the Contemporary Resort on Thursday night, leaving the hotel temporarily without hot water and shorting out the escalator between the monorail station and the fourth floor concourse. Hopefully the ongoing plumbing problems will be addressed as part of the ongoing refurbishment of guest rooms.

…The Mandara Spa in the Walt Disney World Dolphin resort is now open. With 13 treatment rooms, a steam room, a tea garden, meditation garden and nail and hair salon in its Bali-themed 12,000 square feet, it sounds like a great new option for those looking for a spa treatment at Walt Disney World.

…In the category of “you knew it was going to happen,” the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party on October 31 has sold out.

…Raglan Road Irish Pub has started a soft opening leading to its official grand opening later this week.

…Tiger Woods has finally committed to play in the FUNAI/Walt Disney World Classic this week.

…The Auto Show in Motion is returning to Epcot November 3-6.

…Magic Kingdom's late-December fireworks schedule will have Holiday Wishes showing from December 22-29 and the special New Year's edition of Fantasy in the Sky December 30-31.

…We're hearing that Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba has been struggling to fill seats recently.

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

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

• Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress – refurbishment of seats and carpeting occurring on a rolling basis; the attraction remains open. However, the Carousel has been returned to the list of "seasonal" attractions, so its open status may change at any time.
• Main Street Railroad Station – under refurbishment through December 20. Guests will still be able to board the train at the station, though the entrance and exit may be relocated during the work. The locker rental stand area is being converted to stroller rental, with the lockers moving elsewhere. In addition, the curb in front of the station will be disappearing to allow easier transit for newly-rented and about-to-be-returned strollers. The station is also slated to receive new glass, canopies, paint and so forth.
• Liberty Square Riverboat – will reportedly not be operating due to refurbishment through next spring.
• Haunted Mansion – will be closed for minor mechanical refurbishment November 6–15.
• Donald's Boat – will be closed for refurbishment November 1–18.
• Timekeeper – open seasonally.
• Cinderella's Surprise Celebration – reportedly returns after the 18-month “Happiest Celebration on Earth” festivities end.

Epcot

• The Living Seas pavilion, including the popular Turtle Talk with Crush attraction, is closed for refurbishment through November 23. Rumors indicate that another new Finding Nemo-based attraction may be added.
• Ice Station Cool – closed through late this year for refurbishment. It will reopen as “Club Cool.”
• Norway's Stave Church – closed through November 14 for refurbishment.
• Test Track – will be closed for refurbishment January 9 – February 14, 2006.
• 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 now open when the pavilion is open. The pavilion is currently closed, and has been removed from park maps. Its future is uncertain.

Disney–MGM Studios

• Rock 'n' Roller Coaster – will be closed for a brief refurbishment November 2–4.
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe movie sets – are scheduled to open on December 9.

Animal Kingdom

• Expedition Everest – is scheduled to open in Spring 2006. The likely official opening date is April 22, which is both Earth Day and the park's birthday, but previews may start as early as February 2006.

Resorts

• Polynesian Resort – Work is now underway on the complete refurbishment and upgrading of rooms and hallways in all buildings, which is expected to be completed by June, 2006.
• Contemporary Resort – The South Garden Wing is closed for refurbishment through September, 2006. Rumors indicate that the buildings may be completely gutted and rebuilt as Disney Vacation Club villas. However, another rumor states that new DVC lodgings will be built on the current site of the Disney Tennis Center at the resort, and there is no confirmation of the either rumor yet. Renovations on the rest of the resort are also underway, with the tower building being done one floor at a time, and are expected to run through November, 2007.
• Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa – Phase I's construction of four buildings complete; Phase II's eight units are opening one each month, through October 2005; Phase III's six units due in 2007, involves razing the old Fairway Villas.
• Disney's Vero Beach Resort (DVC Resort) – Roof repairs due to hurricane rehabilitation are ongoing and scheduled to run through late November.

Water Parks

• Blizzard Beach – Will close for its annual refurbishment on October 23, and will reopen on December 24.
• Typhoon Lagoon – Will close for its annual refurbishment on December 25, and is expected to reopen in late February or early March.

Elsewhere

• Cirque du Soleil – La Nouba – performs Tuesdays – Saturdays.

Park Events

Ongoing

• Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Through Nov. 13. The annual celebration of things gustatory, plus the Eat to the Beat concert series (link).
• Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Oct. 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31. The big celebration of the boo-tiful season (link). Oct. 31 is SOLD OUT.

October 2005

• Funai Classic at Walt Disney World. Oct. 20–23. The 35th annual fall golf classic is played on the Palm and Magnolia courses (link).

November 2005

• Festival of the Masters. Nov. 11–13. Artists display their works at Downtown Disney (link).
• Super Soap Weekend. Nov. 12–13. Daytime stars descend upon the Disney-MGM Studios (link).
• Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights. Nov. 14 – Jan. 8, 2006. Millions of lights bombard the eyes at the Disney-MGM Studios (link).
• Holidays Around the World. Nov. 25 – Dec. 30. Epcot celebrates the season, including the popular Candlelight Processional (link).
• Festival of the Seasons. Nov. 19 – Dec. 24. Downtown Disney celebrates the season (link).
• Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Nov. 27, 29, Dec. 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20. Snow on Main Street, free hot cocoa and cookies. What's not to like? (link).
• MouseFest 2005. November 30 – December 3. Meet your favorite Disney Internet and guidebook authors (including some of us!) at a gathering of the Disney Internet community around the World (link).

December 2005

• MousePlanet presents a mini-MouseAdventure at MouseFest. Dec. 1. Meet at the outdoor seating area by Casey's Corner in the Magic Kingdom at 10:00 a.m. for this event. This is a shortened version of MousePlanet's signature event (link), and marks the first time that the event has been held in Florida.
• MousePlanet presents the second annual Mike Scopa Dole Whip Meet at MouseFest. Dec. 1. Meet at the Aloha Isle take-out window in Adventureland at noon.
• MousePlanet presents the first annual Shocolate Mousssse Meet at MouseFest. Dec 3. Meet at Boulangerie Patisserie at Epcot's France pavilion at 5:00 p.m. following the Mega Mouse Meet for this event. For more on the origin of the Shocolate Mousssse phenomenon among MousePlanet readers, please see this thread on our MousePad discussion forums.
• Pop Warner Super Bowl. Dec. 4–10. Football players and cheerleaders descend on the resort for the annual championships (link).
• Pleasure Island New Year's Eve. Dec. 31. Pleasure Island celebrates the actual New Year (link).
• New Year's Eve at Cirque du Soleil. Dec. 31. Cirque puts on special New Year's performances (link).
• Atlantic Dance Hall New Year's Eve. Dec. 31. Ring in the New Year at the BoardWalk's own dance club (link).

January 2006

• Disney's Health and Fitness Expo. Jan. 5–7. Check in for the weekend's races and check out the vendors (link).
• FamilyFun Magazine Family Fun Run. Jan. 7. The shortest run of the weekend (link).
• Walt Disney World Half-Marathon. Jan. 7. Registration closed (link). [Note: The full- and half-marathons are now held on separate days. Read our WDW Marathon Guide.]
• Walt Disney World Marathon. Jan. 8. Registration closed (link).
• College Cheerleading and Dance Team Championship. January 13–16.

February 2006

• National Dance Team Championship. February 3–6.
• National High School Cheerleading Championship. February 10–13.
• Atlanta Braves Training Camp at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex (link). Dates in February ? March TBA.
• Twirlmania. February 17–20. Twirlers, auxiliary guard, pom, and dancers descend on the Wide World of Sports (link).

March 2006

• ESPN The Weekend. March 3–5. Corporate synergy brings the cable channel back to the Studios for its third go-round (link).
• National All Star Cheerleading Championship. March 10–13.

April 2006

• Disney's All-Star Kids Classic. April 1. Registration is now open for the kids' inline race (link).
• Walt Disney World Inline Marathon. April 2. Registration is now open (link).
• Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. April 21 – June 11. Epcot comes alive with topiaries, other floral displays, gardening demonstrations and the “Flower Power” concert series (link).

May 2006

• Disney's Minnie Marathon Weekend 5K and 1 Mile (link). May 6. The short runs of the ladies-only running weekend take place at and near Downtown Disney.
• Women Run the World 15 K (link). May 7. The ladies-only run starts at Animal Kingdom, goes through the Studios and ends at Epcot.
• Star Wars Weekends. Dates TBA. The popular event is slated to return to the Studios in 2006 (link).
• Epcot Teddy Bear and Doll Weekend. May 18–21. Collectible bears and dolls at Epcot (link).

September 2006

• Tom Joyner Family Reunion. Dates TBA. The annual gathering hopes not to be cancelled by hurricane again this year (link).
• Night of Joy. Dates TBA. Disney's annual Christian music festival (link).
• Walt Disney World Triathlon. Sept. 24. Athletes compete in a 1.5K swim, a 40K bike ride, and a 10K run (link).
• Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Sept. 29 – Nov. 12. The annual celebration of things gustatory, plus the Eat to the Beat concert series (link).

January 2007

• Walt Disney World Half-Marathon. Jan. 6. Registration now open (link). [Note: The full- and half-marathons are now held on separate days. Read our WDW Marathon Guide.]
• Walt Disney World Marathon. Jan. 5. Registration now open (link).

Current Discounts & Promotions

Passholder Best Rate Program through February 15

The Passholder Best Rate program has reduced the advance reservation requirement from 120 days to 60 days. The program is now accepting reservations, online only, through February 15, 2006.

Radisson Resort Parkway releases rates through the end of 2006

Radisson Resort Parkway, a MousePlanet sponsor, has announced their rates through the end of 2006. Note that the resort has allocated some rooms as low as $77.00 weekdays and $87.00 weekends now through December 22.

Click here for more information, or here to make reservations now.

Plan ahead and save a few bucks

Walt Disney World's entire ticket price structure changed as of January 2, 2005, to the new “Magic Your Way” passes. Advance purchase discounts are only available on tickets above the base ticket of at least 5 days.

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 October 2005.

Entertainment Schedule

Hours and entertainment schedules are currently available through October 2005.

Theme Park Events

Downtown Disney Entertainment

(Separate admission required)