Last week in our Walt Disney World Park Update, we reported that the Share a Dream Come True parade was going to see some changes, including the removal of the "snow globes" on the floats. We've now been able to confirm that the globes will be removed and the top parts of each float will be redesigned. As an example, the Mickey Mouse float will remain the same from the platform down, but new mouse-ear decor will replace the top half (yes, Mickey himself will still be there).
The venerable castle float will go back into storage until it's needed again. In its place, the original pricness floats will return, but no longer as one long, three-part float. Each section will be a separate float with an independent drive system, which will hopefully avoid a repeat of the tragic accident that took the life of cast member Javier Cruz in 2004 (link).
Reportedly, there will be new music and new choreography, as well as a new name for the parade, which may debut as early as July.
A butterfly topiary sits outside the butterfly garden in Epcot's Future World. Photo by Leslie Meister.
Last week, I reported that drought conditions in Florida were endangering the fireworks shows at Walt Disney World, and that they had already caused Disney to stop firing the pyro at the end of Cinderellabration. I've since been assured that the Cinderellabration change was for an unrelated reason (which was not passed along to me), and that there are no current plans to limit any fireworks due to the drought. The Reedy Creek Fire Department is always on hand at each fireworks show, and they check the woods surrounding the Magic Kingdom every night following the performance of Wishes.
However, the brush fires outside of Walt Disney World have caused difficulty and rerouting for some folks heading to Walt Disney World along I-95 through Volusia and Brevard Counties, with closures of miles-long sections of the highway, either due to smoke from the fires or crews removing all of the dead or falling trees.
Topiaries of Lady and Tramp show effective use of various plant varieties. Photo by Leslie Meister.
I've gotten a report that, with a surge due to the opening of Expedition Everest, Disney's Animal Kingdom has surpassed the Disney-MGM Studios in daily attendance. I don't have hard numbers to back this up yet, but since the park was cited as a key driver of Walt Disney World's 3 percent attendance increase for the second fiscal quarter, it seems likely that Everest has succeeded in boosting the park as Disney had hoped it would. Of course, overall attendance numbers do not indicate the length of time spent in a park. We'll have to wait for solid numbers later this year to confirm just how much of an impact it has had.
Bambi and Thumper topiaries sit behind Spaceship Earth. Photo by Leslie Meister.
In a conference call releasing its second fiscal quarter (January – March) results last week, Disney announced that profits from the parks and resorts segment were up 17 percent for the quarter. While attendance at the Disneyland Resort was up 15 percent, the Walt Disney World Resort saw an attendance boost of 3 percent. However, since a large portion of the increase was from Florida residents, per-person profits at the resort was down.
However, thanks to the effects of Disney's Magical Express service and the new Magic Your Way ticket price structure, more guests are staying at Disney-owned hotels and staying longer. That trend is expected to continue, and advance bookings for the third fiscal quarter back that up.
Also, the Disney Vacation Club continues to grow, as Disney announced that it had sold out its 2,000th unit. The units are owned by nearly 90,000 Vacation Club members. There are shares of approximately 160 units left for sale.
The fragrance garden outside the France pavilion is beautifully manicured. Photo by Leslie Meister.
The Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex will be the site of a Thanksgiving weekend college basketball tournament. The facility, which seats 5,000 for basketball, will host an eight-team Division I tournament over three days. No teams have been announced as of yet. The tournament, staged in conjunction with ESPN Regional, would follow the Disney's Division II Women's and Men's Tip-Off Classics November 2-5 and November 9-12, respectively. An official announcement is expected this week.
A floral display surrounds a pillar at Epcot's Italy pavilion. Photo by Leslie Meister.
Last Tuesday, 100 finalists for the 23rd annual Disney Dreamers and Doers awards were feted at the World ShowPlace at Epcot. The finalists had been chosen from 500 elementary, middle and high school candidates. One student at each level was awarded the DisneyHand Shining Star Award for oustanding achievement in character, leadership and community involvement. The winners were Kristin Detroyer (elementary school), Julie Mahoney (middle school) and Hoang Le (high school). Winners received annual passes to the Disney theme parks.
A new hard-ticketed event called "Princesses and Pirates" is expected to debut in the Magic Kingdom in Spring 2007. It will be along the lines of the current Halloween and Christmas parties, with a special parade and possibly fireworks. It's a pretty good bet that there will be a lot of encouragement for young kids to dress up for the party, driving lots of new traffic to the new Princess Room/Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique and Adventure Room at World of Disney in Downtown Disney. Reportedly, Disney is already casting for the event, though it seems a bit early for something that's almost a year away.
A burro cart is the centerpiece of another floral display at Epcot's Italy pavilion. Photo by Leslie Meister.
…Furnishings at the Wilderness Lodge are being replaced. MouseSurplus is selling off the old furnishings from the rooms in complete sets (link).
…Bonnie Maree Piesse (young Beru) pulled out of her appearance at this year's Star Wars Weekends, and has been replaced during the third weekend (June 2-4) by Orli Shoshan (Shaak Ti).
…The old Lumiere's Kitchen restaurant in the Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland will soon reopen as the Village Fry Shoppe.
…Attendance fell 11 percent at the two Universal theme parks for the first three months of 2006 as compared to the same months last year. For the same January – March period, Disney theme parks saw attendance rise 3 percent. The first three months included the Easter holiday last year, while the holiday fell in April this year.
How many tons of steel were used in constructing the 180-foot-tall Cinderella Castle?
(Answer will be posted next week.)
Answer to last week's question: Thirty years ago, the furthest attraction that you could walk to in Frontierland was Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes. (Big Thunder Mountain Railroad wasn't built until 1980, and Splash Mountain wasn't there until 1992. The Canoes were taken out of the water for good in 1994.)
Perhaps the best-received package in recent Disney history, the "Stay, Play and Dine" free dining plan is back. Packages purchased by June 4 for stays from August 13 – September 30 will receive the Disney Dining Plan for free. Essentially, it's the Magic Your Way Plus Dining package for the price of a standard Magic Your Way package. That's a savings of $37.99 per night per adult (ages 10 and up) and $10.99 per night for children (ages 3-9). Add it up and a family of four with kids ages 3-9 will save $97.96 per night, and a family of four with kids over age 9 will save a whopping $151.96 per night.
Disney Visa cardholders can use request code YWL when booking, while the general public should use code YWX.
Passholders discounts are now available on the passholder web site for vacations from April 23 through June 3. When calling by phone, use booking code EZN or EZO. Florida resident discounts for the same dates are available on the resident web site, using booking code BOR. Passholder rates start at $74 per night for value resorts, resident rates start at $79 per night for the values.
Passholders and DVC members get 25 percent off Category 2 admission to performances of Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba through September 30, 2006. Each passholder or DVC member can buy up to four tickets. Tickets should be purchased by phone at 407-939-7604 up to 30 days in advance, and must be picked up at the box office with valid Passholder or DVC identification. The offer is not valid on Saturday shows during July, and the show will not be performed on Sundays and Mondays, as well as May 21 - June 5, July 30 August 1 and September 17?25.
The Radisson Resort Orlando - Celebration, a MousePlanet sponsor, has announced reduced rates for MousePlanet readers from now through July 8, plus a special 15 percent discount through September 30.
Rates start at $85 per night from now through June 1, and at $95 per night from June 2 through July 8. In addition, all rooms booked by May 15 for travel dates through the September 30 will receive a 15 percent discount beyond the low rates already published here.
Click here for more information, or here to make reservations now. These special rates and discounts are for MousePlanet readers, so remember to book through our links here.
The Radisson Resort Parkway is now the Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration! The resort, a MousePlanet sponsor, has announced their standard rates through the end of 2006. Note that the nightly rates do not include a $7 per night resort fee.
Standard View
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Pool View
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Bed & Breakfast Package
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Sleep Number - Standard View
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Sleep Number - Pool View
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| 2006 | |||||
Through May 24
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$95 (M-F)
$105 (S,S) |
$105 (M-F)
$115 (S,S) |
$114 (M-F)
$124 (S,S) |
$105 (M-F)
$115 (S,S) |
$115 (M-F)
$125 (S,S) |
May 25 – 29
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$125
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$135
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$144
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$135
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$145
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May 30 – June 8
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$95 (M-F)
$105 (S,S) |
$105 (M-F)
$115 (S,S) |
$114 (M-F)
$124 (S,S) |
$105 (M-F)
$115 (S,S) |
$115 (M-F)
$125 (S,S) |
June 9 – 29
|
$105 (M-F)
$115 (S,S) |
$115 (M-F)
$125 (S,S) |
$124 (M-F)
$134 (S,S) |
$115 (M-F)
$125 (S,S) |
$125 (M-F)
$135 (S,S) |
June 30 – July 8
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$125
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$135
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$144
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$135
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$145
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July 9 – Aug 19
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$105 (M-F)
$115 (S,S) |
$115 (M-F)
$125 (S,S) |
$124 (M-F)
$134 (S,S) |
$115 (M-F)
$125 (S,S) |
$125 (M-F)
$135 (S,S) |
Aug 20 – Oct 5
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$95 (M-F)
$105 (S,S) |
$105 (M-F)
$115 (S,S) |
$114 (M-F)
$124 (S,S) |
$105 (M-F)
$115 (S,S) |
$115 (M-F)
$125 (S,S) |
| Oct 6 – Nov 4 | $115 (M-F)
$125 (S,S) |
$125 (M-F)
$135 (S,S) |
$134 (M-F)
$144 (S,S) |
$125 (M-F)
$135 (S,S) |
$135 (M-F)
$145 (S,S) |
Nov 5 – 25
|
$105 (M-F)
$115 (S,S) |
$115 (M-F)
$125 (S,S) |
$124 (M-F)
$134 (S,S) |
$115 (M-F)
$125 (S,S) |
$125 (M-F)
$135 (S,S) |
Nov 26 – Dec 19
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$95
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$105
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$114
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$105
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$115
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Dec 20 – 25
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$115
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$125
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$134
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$125
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$135
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Dec 26 – 31
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$175
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$185
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$194
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$185
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$195
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Click here for more information, or here to make reservations now.
Walt Disney World's entire ticket price structure changed as of January 2, 2005, to the new “Magic Your Way” passes, and prices increased on January 1, 2006.. Advance purchase discounts are only available on tickets above the base ticket of at least 4 days, with higher discounts on those tickets with both options.
| Adult/Child Total Cost | 1-day | 2-day | 3-day | 4-day | 5-day | 6-day | 7-day | 8-day | 9-day | 10-day |
| Base Ticket | $63 / $52 | $125 / $103 | $181 / $149 | $195 / $160 | $199 / $162 | $202 / $164 | $204 / $165 | $206 / $167 | $208 / $169 | $210 / $171 |
| w/ Park Hopper option | $103 / $92 | $165 / $143 | $221 / $189 | $235 / $200 | $239 / $202 | $242 / $204 | $244 / $205 | $246 / $207 | $248 / $209 | $250 / $211 |
| w/ Water Park Fun & More option | $113 / $102 | $175 / $153 | $231 / $199 | $245 / $210 | $249 / $212 | $252 / $214 | $254 / $215 | $256 / $217 | $258 / $219 | $260 / $221 |
| (plus 3) | (plus 3) | (plus 3) | (plus 4) | (plus 4) | (plus 5) | (plus 6) | (plus 6) | (plus 6) | (plus 6) | |
| w/ both options | $153 / $142 | $215 / $193 | $271 / $239 | $285 / $250 | $289 / $252 | $292 / $254 | $294 / $255 | $296 / $257 | $298 / $259 | $300 / $261 |
| w/ both options, no Expiration | N/A | $225 / $203 | $281 / $249 | $305 / $270 | $329 / $292 | $342 / $304 | $359 / $320 | $406 / $367 | $428 / $389 | $435 / $396 |
| Advance Purchase Discount - 1 option | N/A | N/A | N/A | $2/$2 | $5/$3 | $7/$4 | $8/$4 | $8/$4 | $8/$4 | $8/$4 |
| Advance Purchase Discount - 2 options | N/A | N/A | N/A | $12/$10 | $15/$11 | $17/$12 | $18/$12 | $18/$12 | $18/$12 | $18/$12 |
Hours and entertainment schedules are currently available through November 2006.
MK 9a-10p |
MK 9a-9p |
MK 9a-9p |
MK 9a-10p |
MK 9a-9p |
MK 9a-11p |
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MK 9a-10p |
MK 9a-10p |
MK 9a-10p |
MK 9a-10p |
MK 9a-11p |
MK 9a-12a |
MK 9a-12a |
MK 9a-12a |
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Hours and entertainment schedules are currently available through November 2006.
| Monday 5/15 | |||
Share a Dream Come True Parade 3p SpectroMagic Parade 9p Wishes Fireworks 10p |
Flower Power Concert Series: Davy Jones 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 5:30p Fantasmic 9p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
Tuesday 5/16
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Share a Dream Come True Parade 3p Wishes Fireworks 9p |
Flower Power Concert Series: The Tokens 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 5:30p Fantasmic 8:45p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
Wednesday 5/17
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Share a Dream Come True Parade 3p Wishes Fireworks 9p |
Flower Power Concert Series: The Tokens 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 5:30p Fantasmic 9p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
Thursday 5/18
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Share a Dream Come True Parade 3p SpectroMagic Parade 9p Wishes Fireworks 10p |
Flower Power Concert Series: The Tokens 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 5:30p Fantasmic 9p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
Friday 5/19
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Share a Dream Come True Parade 3p Wishes Fireworks 9p |
Flower & Garden Festival Characters in Bloom Weekend Great American Gardener Series: Jaret Daniels 11a, 2p Flower Power Concert Series: B.J. Thomas 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Star Wars Weekends Celebrity Guests: Warwick Davis (host), Peter Mayhew, Rick McCallum Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 5:30p Fantasmic 9p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
Saturday 5/20
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Share a Dream Come True Parade 3p SpectroMagic Parade 9p Wishes Fireworks 10p |
Flower & Garden Festival Characters in Bloom Weekend Great American Gardener Series: Jaret Daniels 11a, 2p Flower Power Concert Series: B.J. Thomas 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Star Wars Weekends Celebrity Guests: Warwick Davis (host), Peter Mayhew, Rick McCallum Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 5:30p Fantasmic 9p, 10:30p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
Sunday 5/21
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Share a Dream Come True Parade 3p SpectroMagic Parade 9p Wishes Fireworks 10p |
Flower & Garden Festival Characters in Bloom Weekend Great American Gardener Series: Jaret Daniels 11a, 2p Flower Power Concert Series: B.J. Thomas 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Star Wars Weekends Celebrity Guests: Warwick Davis (host), Peter Mayhew, Rick McCallum Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 5:30p Fantasmic 9p, 10:30p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
| Monday 5/22 | |||
Share a Dream Come True Parade 3p SpectroMagic Parade 9p Wishes Fireworks 10p |
Flower Power Concert Series: B.J. Thomas 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 5:30p Fantasmic 9p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
Tuesday 5/23
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Share a Dream Come True Parade 3p SpectroMagic Parade 9p Wishes Fireworks 10p |
Flower Power Concert Series: Felix Cavaliere's Rascals 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 5:30p Fantasmic 9p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
Wednesday 5/24
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|||
Share a Dream Come True Parade 3p SpectroMagic Parade 9p Wishes Fireworks 10p |
Flower Power Concert Series: Felix Cavaliere's Rascals 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 5:30p Fantasmic 9p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
Thursday 5/25
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|||
Share a Dream Come True Parade 3p SpectroMagic Parade 9p Wishes Fireworks 10p |
Flower Power Concert Series: Felix Cavaliere's Rascals 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 5:30p Fantasmic 9p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
Friday 5/26
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|||
Share a Dream Come True Parade 3p SpectroMagic Parade 9p, 11p Wishes Fireworks 10p |
Flower & Garden Festival Memorial Day Weekend Great American Gardener Series: Pat Lanza 11a, 2p Flower Power Concert Series: The Guess Who 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Star Wars Weekends Celebrity Guests: Warwick Davis (host), Jake Lloyd, Matt Wood Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 5:30p Fantasmic 9p, 10:30p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
Saturday 5/27
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|||
Share a Dream Come True Parade 3p SpectroMagic Parade 9p, 11p Wishes Fireworks 10p |
Flower & Garden Festival Memorial Day Weekend Great American Gardener Series: Pat Lanza 11a, 2p Flower Power Concert Series: The Guess Who 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Star Wars Weekends Celebrity Guests: Warwick Davis (host), Jake Lloyd, Matt Wood Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 5:30p Fantasmic 9p, 10:30p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
Sunday 5/28
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|||
Share a Dream Come True Parade 3p SpectroMagic Parade 9p, 11p Wishes Fireworks 10p |
Flower & Garden Festival Memorial Day Weekend Great American Gardener Series: Pat Lanza 11a, 2p Flower Power Concert Series:The Guess Who 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Star Wars Weekends Celebrity Guests: Warwick Davis (host), Jake Lloyd, Matt Wood Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 5:30p Fantasmic 9p, 10:30p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
Movies begin at 8:40. Movies are preceded by a campfire at 7:30 and a singalong at 8:00.
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20
The Pacifier |
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| 21 Peter Pan |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe |
| 28 National Treasure |
29 |
30 |
31 |
(Separate admission required)
| Monday 5/15 | |
Stormbringer |
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Tuesday 5/16
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Stormbringer |
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Wednesday 5/17
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Randy Brock Band |
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Thursday 5/18
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Randy Brock Band |
Midnight Rambler (Blues Kitchen), free; 11 p.m. |
Friday 5/19
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Randy Brock Band |
Raw Productions Presents Dark New Day with Special Guests TBA (main room), $24 advance/$27 day of show; 8 p.m. Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams (Blues Kitchen), free; 11 p.m. |
Saturday 5/20
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Randy Brock Band |
The Roots featuring Special Guest COMMON with Jean Grae (main room), $22 advance/$25 day of show; 10 p.m. Eric Culberson Band (Blues Kitchen), free; 11 p.m. |
Sunday 5/21
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Randy Brock Band |
The Brothers of Harmony (gospel brunch), $31 adult, $16 child (3-9); 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. An Evening With Medeski Martin & Wood (main room), $17.50 advance/$19.50; 8 p.m. |
| Monday 5/22 | |
Stormbringer |
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Tuesday 5/23
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Stormbringer |
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Wednesday 5/24
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Leonard Brothers |
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Thursday 5/25
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Leonard Brothers |
Damon Fowler (Blues Kitchen), free; 11 p.m. |
Friday 5/26
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Leonard Brothers |
Skindred with Special Guest Burn Season (main room), $15 advance/$17.50 day of show; 8 p.m. Beautiful Bobby Blackmon (Blues Kitchen), free; 11 p.m. |
Saturday 5/27
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TBA |
Day of Infamy Music Presents Through You CD/DVD Release Party Memorial Day Concert with special guests Irrational, Between the Trees, Aristocracy, and Indegent Focus (main room), $12.50; 7:30 p.m. Sandy Atkinson and The Modeans (Blues Kitchen), free; 11 p.m. |
Sunday 5/28
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TBA |
The Brothers of Harmony (gospel brunch), $31 adult, $16 child (3-9); 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. |
(Send an email to Mark Goldhaber)
Mark (@MPMark) is a veteran of dozens of trips to Walt Disney World starting in 1972, with a few Disneyland trips thrown in for good measure. As a Disney stockholder and a Disney Vacation Club member, Mark is always in touch with what's going on with The Mouse. Mark serves as MousePlanet's Walt Disney World content coordinator. Mark is a senior information technology manager working for the State of New York. He lives in the suburbs outside Albany, New York, with his wife and son.
