Walt Disney World Park Update

Update for December 5 – 11, 2005

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News and Views

Thanks to all MouseFest attendees!

We had a wonderful time again this year at MouseFest. This year's events were a smashing success! Thanks to all of you who came out to meet us. Mike Scopa and I will both be recapping the events in the next week or so, so keep an eye out for the stories. I'm exhausted from all of the festivities, though, so the Update will be a bit short this week. I've got plenty of photos, However, so I'll be spreading them out over the next couple of weeks.

All of the MouseFest exhibitors and sponsors send holiday greetings to you. Photo by Lisa K. Berton.

Pleasure Island rumor update

It appears that the plan to demolish and rebuild and/or refurbish the entire north side of Pleasure Island is indeed true. The lake side of the island will become a series of third-party themed restaurants. We haven't yet confirmed the timetable for this process, aside from the fact that demolition of the West End Stage and Hub Stage will begin shortly after January 1. The outlook of the Adventurer's Club is less certain, however. sources indicate that there are three possible futures for the club, and its final fate has yet to be determined. The club may be spared and remain in its current location, may actually be moved across the street, possibly to the current location of 8-Trax, or may disappear along with the rest of the north side establishments. As we find out further information, we will pass it along.

Main Street work underway

Work to repair and replace the rotted portions of the 34-year-old Main Street Railroad Station is nearing completion. The work, which included replacing plaster and the rotted wood beneath it, is targeted to be completed before Christmas. The construction walls and tarps are nearly gone from the north side of the station, though the $40,000 custom screen remains on the south side for now. With the flagpole moved to a location in front of City Hall and the Christmas tree currently in the upper Rose Garden near the castle, station-goers were treated to a view up Main Street all the way to Cinderella Castle blocked only by the garland strung across Main Street.

Removal of the curb from one entry tunnel to the other was complete, though some construction walls for Main Street Station remained on Tuesday. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Workers scramble to finish the work on the left half of the station on Tuesday. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

The view up Main Street is unblocked by vertical distractions.. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Work upstairs had been nearly completed by Thursday. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

The clock on the custom scrim shows the Main Street Railroad Station's clock at 2:02 p.m., the time that Roy O. Disney dedicated Walt Disney World over 34 years ago. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

The station has been cleared, but what is that in Town Square? Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

This sign gives a hint as to what's afoot. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Regis and Kelly are doing their broadcast of the Christmas Parade from Town Square this year, rather than the Tomorrowland Terrace area. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Holiday decorations at the Magic Kingdom

The Magic Kingdom's Christmas tree is currently installed in the upper Rose Garden, so that the stage for Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa to host the taping of the Christmas Parade this past weekend could be in Town Square, with a clear view up Main Street. Later this week, after the stage is removed, the tree will disappear for one day while it is removed, taken around the outside of the park, then installed back in Town Square, along with the flagpole.

The hub is awash in poinsettias. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Viewed from the right angle, it looks as if Walt himself is trimming the Christmas tree. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Shuttle, limos and Disney's Magical Express fight off proposal

Last week, we reported that shuttle and limo drivers joined with Disney and Mears to fight an airport proposal to ban all limo drivers and shuttle services from the baggage claim ariea on the airport's second level. It appears that those efforts were successful. At a public hearing of the airport's Ground Transportation Committee, that proposal was not among the draft recommendations presented.

Ears to the ground

…Following the Contemporary and Polynesian Resorts, the next Disney hotel to receive an upgrade to its furnishings will be the Caribbean Beach Resort. Work is expected to begin early next year.

Don't keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments. Email Mark here.
Talk about Walt Disney World on our discussion forums 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 – is not operating due to refurbishment through April 1, 2006.
• Country Bear Jamboree – will be closed January 3–7 for its return from the Christmas Special to its regular Jamboree show.
• Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin – will be closed January 4 – February 8 for refurbishment.
• Splash Mountain – will be closed January 23 – 27 for refurbishment.
• Timekeeper – open seasonally.
• Cinderella's Surprise Celebration – reportedly returns after the 18-month “Happiest Celebration on Earth” festivities end.

Epcot

• Norway's Stave Church – has now reopened.
• 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. It is now expected to open one final time from December 18 through the end of the year, then close for good.

Disney–MGM Studios

• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe movie sets – are officially 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.
• Tarzan Rocks – scheduled to close on January 21, 2006. Its rumored replacement is a show based upon Finding Nemo, which would debut in November 2006 after the Theater in the Wild gets a complete makeover. 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.

Resorts

• All–Star Movies Resort – The Fantasia pool will be closed January 3 – early February for refurbishment. Guests can use the Mighty Ducks pool or take a complimentary shuttle service (10 a.m. – 10 p.m.) to the other All–Star resorts to use the pools there.
• Wilderness Lodge – Roaring Forks Snacks will be closed January 9 – late March for refurbishment. Whispering Canyon Cafe and Artist Point will remain open, and grab-n-go items will be made available elsewhere during the refurbishment.
• 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 four buildings and Phase II's eight units are complete, Vertical construction for Phase III's six units is underway, with the six units expected to open between June and December, 2006.

Water Parks

• Blizzard Beach – Closed for its annual refurbishment through December 24.
• Typhoon Lagoon – Will close for its annual refurbishment on December 25, and is expected to reopen on February 26, 2006.

Elsewhere

• Cirque du Soleil – La Nouba – performs Tuesdays – Saturdays. No performances December 4–13.

Park Events

November 2005

• Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights. Thru Jan. 8, 2006. Millions of lights bombard the eyes at the Disney-MGM Studios (link).
• Festival of the Seasons. Thru Dec. 24. Downtown Disney celebrates the season (link).
• Holidays Around the World. Thru Dec. 30. Epcot celebrates the season, including the popular Candlelight Processional (link).
• Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Dec. 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20. Snow on Main Street, free hot cocoa and cookies. What's not to like? (link).

December 2005

• 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).
• Cheer & Dance National Championships. February 25–26. School & Youth Rec Cheer February 25, All-Star Cheer & Dance February 26 (link).

March 2006

• Cheer & Dance National Championships. March 3–5. All Star/Studio March 3, School Dance March 3–5 (link).
• ESPN The Weekend. March 3–5. Corporate synergy brings the cable channel back to the Studios for its third go-round (link).
• World Baseball Classic. March 3-11. Baseball's best players from Australia, Domincan Republic, Italy and Venezuela square off in the first round of the international tournament (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).

October 2006

• Disney's Race for the Taste 10K. Oct. 8. The annual Disney 10K race continues its association with the Epcot Food & Wine Festival (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 extended through April 13

The Passholder Best Rate program is now accepting reservations, online only, through April 13, 2006. In addition, some rates have dropped even lower, with value resorts going for $49 most nights from January 16 - February 4, 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 $59.95 most days 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 April 2006.

Entertainment Schedule

Hours and entertainment schedules are currently available through April 2006.

Theme Park Events

Downtown Disney Entertainment

(Separate admission required)