We've been informed that the Country Bear Jamboree is not getting its annual conversion to the Country Bear Christmas Special this year. Reportedly, the change was made by management for budgetary reasons. However, we are also hearing that the decision is not yet etched in stone, and that there could be a change of plans "if something big happens, like if the Guests speak out."
So it sounds as if you may have some say in the matter. If you're planning to go to Walt Disney World this holiday season and want to see the Country Bears doing their Christmas show instead of the regular Jamboree, write to Walt Disney World Guest Relations (link). We can't promise that a huge outcry will indeed save the show this year, but we have heard that the Guests may have a voice in this. (And if not, it may change their minds about next year.)
Refurbishment continues at the rear of Epcot's Japan pavilion. Photo by Cathy Sowa.
On October 1, Walt Disney World raised its shipping fees for merchandise shipped from the WDW resort. The fees are still based on the value of your purchase and how quickly you want it delivered, but they have raised shipping rates as much as 400 percent across all tiers and removed the shipping cap for orders over $1000. For orders up to $50, the shipping fee is $8.95 for 14-20 day ground shipping, $23.95 for 4-7 day air shipping, and $33.95 for 3-5 day air shipping. For larger orders, the price climbs to over $150 for orders up to $1000. Orders over $1000 now pay around 15 percent shipping. These fees apply to orders shipped home from the resort, or ordered through Walt Disney World Mail Order.
If your vacation souvenir shopping strategy includes shipping everything home instead of packing it into luggage, be prepared to pay a pretty penny for that convenience. To help reduce your shipping fees, try to make all of your purchases at one store location (the World of Disney in Downtown Disney is the best one-stop shop for many popular souvenir items). You can also wait until the end of your trip and combine smaller purchases into one shipment, rather than shipping each purchase separately. Finally, you can bring your purchases to a UPS, FedEx or Post Office and pack and ship them yourself. We've noted the closest full-service locations for each carrier below:
Locations closest to Downtown Disney:
There is also a cut-off in early November beyond which any orders placed after that date must be shipped via the Air methods, and are only guaranteed for delivery before Christmas. So it's possible that you would order something on, say, November 20, pay for 4-7 day air shipping, and not actually receive it until December 20th.
The dinner hours at Hollywood & Vine at the Disney-MGM Studios reportedly changing during the holiday peak next April. From April 9 through April 22, the dinner buffet runs from noon until 9:00 p.m. The dinner buffet does not have character appearances, which means that essentially the lunch character meal will not be served and lunch prices will rise to dinner levels during this time. No other full service restaurants at the Studios will change their hours during this time. Thanks to Matt Hochberg of MGMStudios.org (link) for the information.
A construction wall surrounds the outdoor vending location at the west side of the intersection of Main Street and the hub. Photo by Cathy Sowa.
One of the special things during MouseFest's Mega Mouse Meet event (Saturday, December 9 from 1:00-3:30 p.m.) is that we station representatives from participating communities outside the meeting room to greet newcomers. Disney Internet fans are sometimes shy and not sure about this whole "meeting face to face" thing, and having a friendly face greet them and welcome them makes a big difference!
Each participating community is being asked to provide at least three volunteers who are willing to act as greeters. They'll need to work just one hour each (or less, if we have enough), which will leave them free to enjoy the event the rest of the time. The one-hour time commitment worked well last year, so that's what we're planning for this year, too.
In general, greeters do the following: welcome folks to the MegaMouseMeet, make sure each person has a name tag (greeters will walk around with the same label sheets as on the reception table), assist folks finding the webmaster, author, community, or company they may be looking for, hand out Swag Bags and Pocket Guides, and offer general assistance.
If you're planning to attend the Mega Mouse Meet and would be willing to help out as a greeter, please let me know by sending me an e-mail with your name and e-mail address (so that you can be contacted with further information and they can check you against the list at the volunteer check-in. In order to assure that the volunteer coordinator has enough time to work the scheduling of all volunteers, please sign up by November 8 if you can help us out.
The construction area fills the entire corner, a much larger area than just the vending location. Photo by Cathy Sowa.
MouseFest is coming!Just a reminder that MouseFest is scheduled for December 3?7 (sea) and December 7?11 (land). MouseFest Sponsor MousePlanet is organizing three events and officially participating in a fourth during the land portion, with a fifth being organized by David Koenig, MousePlanet staff writer and author of the "Mouse Tales" series of books. For more information and to find out how to let us know that you're coming, visit our MouseFest events page. For more information on MouseFest, visit the MouseFest event site (link). |
For those looking for something different to do outside the parks while the Super Soap Weekend is holding fort at the Disney-MGM Studios next weekend, the 31st annual Festival of the Masters at Downtown Disney provides a chance to see art in all sorts of media. Awards totaling $40,000 will be presented in 10 categories: clay; drawing, printmaking, and digital art; glass; jewelry; leather, wood, fiber and paper; mixed media and collage; painting; photography; sculpture; and watercolor.
In conjunction with Festival of the Masters, the House of Blues is hosting 40 folk artists for its ninth annual "Where the Art Meets the Soul" Folk Art Festival.
The weekend also features live musical entertainment, chalk art and children's activities. The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. November 10-12.
A decorative scrim covers the construction area over the restrooms adjacent to Peter Pan's Flight in the Magic Kingdom. The work currently involves remodeling of the restroom stalls and facade maintenance, but no changes to existing structures are being made right now (though that could change in the future). Photo by Cathy Sowa.
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights is set to turn on just two weeks from tonight. When it does, it will feature choreographed "dancing" lights that perform in synchronization with a medley of holiday music every 15 minutes. Over 400 dimmers will control the special effects, which are expected to work in a similar fashion to the Lights of Winter at Epcot.
The entire display, from building facades to trees, wreaths to bells, and holiday figures will all "dance" as the "snow" falls. The Spectacle runs nightly from November 13 through January 7.
Construction walls at the Disney-MGM Studios protect the installation work on the Osborne Lights. Photo by Cathy Sowa.
Special holiday entertainment, decorations and events are on tap for Disney cruises starting late this month and running through the New Year.
Cruisers aboard the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder will enjoy Thanksgiving dinners with all of the trimmings, along with craft activities focusing on pilgrim hats and turkeys. Mickey and Minnie will also make appearances in Thanksgiving costumes. The Magic sails a special Western Caribbean itinerary over the holiday, featuring two visits to Castaway Cay. The second visit occurs the day after Thanksgiving, and features the debut of the island's holiday decorations. Some of the decor may be up for the visit of the Wonder on its four-night cruise that stops at the island on Thanksgiving Day.
Castaway Cay will be transformed into a "Magical Wonderland" featuring Christmas trees, carolers, "snow" flurries and more. Mr. and Mrs. Snowman, properly attired for the tropical weather, will tend to a sleigh full of presents, and the island's tram will be rethemed as a reindeer, complete with antlers and a tail. Kids' crafts on the island will include candy cane reindeer, paper plate angels and snowflake-mobiles.
Back on board, the ships will be decked out in holiday splendor, complete with a nearly three-deck-tall Christmas tree in the ship's atrium, "snow flurries" and a tree-lighting ceremony.
Holiday entertainment will include a reading of "The Night Before Christmas" by Mrs. Claus, gingerbread house decorating family crafts, and characters in holiday garb.
For the Christmas cruises, even more special events are planned. The Wonder's four-night Christmas cruise departs on December 24, while the Magic's special 10-night Eastern and Southern Caribbean itinerary departs on December 16. During the cruises, there will be International holiday caroling by crew members from around the globe, traditional holiday feasts and a Christmas Day visit from Santa Goofy.
Multiple faith and interdenominational holiday services will be celebrated on Christmas and Hanukkah cruises.
The ships will also throw special on-board New Year's Eve parties, with the Magic's seven-night cruise departing on December 30, while the Wonder heads out on a four-night voyage on New Year's Eve.
Minnie and Mickey have special new outfits for the Year of a Million Dreams. Photo by Cathy Sowa.
Goofy also has a new outfit, while Pluto has a new dog tag. Photo by Cathy Sowa.
Help us out!Want to help MousePlanet upgrade our park guides? We're looking to add menu information for all restaurants to our Walt Disney World Park Guide. Send photos or scans of menus (no fair copying from other web sites) to menus@mouseplanet.com. Please note that there is a 5MB limit on total attachments in a single email. |
?Blizzard Beach closed yesterday for its annual refurbishment and opens on January 7, when Typhoon Lagoon will go down for its refurbishment.
?The Stars & Motor Cars Parade at the Disney-MGM Studios will not be performed on November 11 and 12 for conversion to the Hollywood Holly-Day Parade, which begins on November 13. Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade at Disney's Animal Kingdom also debuts on November 13, but will not experience any down time due to the changeover.
?The price for the Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues in Downtown Disney has just gone up. Adult prices are now $32.50, up from $31, while children's cost has risen a quarter from $16 to $16.25.
?We've received a little more information on the work going on behind the scrim on East Center Street that we ran a photo of last week. Apparently, they're just replacing rotten wood on the facades back there. The street is safe, for now.
?We're hearing that the scaffolding at the Wilderness Lodge is now covering the entire courtyard area, making the view somewhat less enjoyable. Combined with the loss of direct bus service to the Magic Kingdom, we're hearing numerous complaints about the resort at this time. If you're staying there in the near future, you'll want to bear this in mind so that you're not surprised when you arrive.
?Disney's Animal Kingdom has another new baby to welcome. Aibuni, a 9-year-old giraffe, gave birth to a healthy daughter on October 7. The calf, Aibuni's first, was named Imara ("strong" in Swahili). They are both expected to rejoin the herd on the savannah in the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for them if you're going soon.
Work continues on the bus stops at the Magic Kingdom's entrance. Photo by Cathy Sowa.
This week's question: How many Audio-Animatronic characters appear in the Country Bear Jamboree? Stay tuned to next week's park update for the answer.
The answer to last week's question: "Who won the first major golf tournament at Walt Disney World?" is:
Jack Nicklaus won the inaugural Walt Disney World Open Invitational in 1971. He would win the next two events, the second of which featured the new name of the Walt Disney World Golf Classic (1973). The tournament has seen several name changes, changing to the Walt Disney World National Team Championship in 1974, the Walt Disney World Golf Classic in 1982, the Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic in 1985, the National Car Rental Golf Classic/Disney in 1998, the Disney Golf Classic in 2002, and finally the Funai Classic at the Walt Disney World Resort in 2003. This year's tournament, currently played on the Palm and Magnolia Golf Courses, was won last week by Joe Durant.
The Lake Buena Vista Golf Course was used as one of three courses in the annual tournament at Walt Disney World until golfers complained about the inequity of cutting golfers after two rounds, when some did not play the toughest course. In recent years, the tournament has now been played exclusively on the Palm and Magnolia courses, with the final two rounds being played on the Magnolia. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Annual passholder rates have been announced for October 1 through December 23. Of course, there will be no AP rates during peak Christmas Week dates of December 24-31. The rates very by season (the period covered spans regular, value and holiday seasons), but they'll give you approximately $20 off per night at Value resorts, $40 off per night at Moderates, and $71-$80 per night at Deluxe resorts. The booking code for these rates is FBZ. (The passholder Web site says FCB, so I would guess that both would work.)
Florida Residents have their own discounts, using booking code FBY. Availability dates are October 5 through December 23, and rates are $5 more than the AP rates.
Both of these rates can be booked up until December 23.
Walt Disney World has announced a new discounted offer for residents of Canada. The deal, available most nights from January 1?11 and January 15 ? February 14, offers free Park Hopper and Water Park Fun & More options with purchase of a package. Prices start at US$377 per adult, double occupancy, at Disney value resorts. No other discounts apply. Use booking code ZCV for this offer. Reservations prior to November 2 require a Canadian address, which seems to point to this offer being expanded to U.S. visitors after that date. Packages must be booked by December 16.
Small World Vacations, a MousePlanet sponsor, has announced a special offer for those traveling during this year's Super Soap Weekend event. The travel agency will give one free One Life, Many Voices CD with each qualifying Disney Magic Your Way Vacation package that falls during 2006 Super Soap Weekend (November 11 and 12) booked with Small World Vacations (link).
The One Life, Many Voices CD is an independent fundraising effort with 100% of net proceeds going directly to aid 2005 Hurricane Disaster Relief, created by the stars of the ABC soap One Life to Live.
The free CD will be mailed with final travel documents. If the guest cancels their Super Soap vacation reservation, the offer is null and void. Small World Vacations' minimum night stay policy applies. Small World Vacations has donated to the One Life, Many Voices Hurricane Relief Fund on behalf of their guests.
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 |
Pool View |
Bed & Breakfast Package |
Sleep Number - Standard View |
Sleep Number - Pool View |
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| 2006 | |||||
| Through 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 |
$95 |
$105 |
$114 |
$105 |
$115 |
| Dec 20 ? 25 |
$115 |
$125 |
$134 |
$125 |
$135 |
| Dec 26 ? 31 |
$175 |
$185 |
$194 |
$185 |
$195 |
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, and again on August 6, 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. Prices do not include 6.5% Florida sales tax.
| 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 | $67 / $56 | $132 / $110 | $192 / $160 | $202 / $168 | $206 / $169 | $208 / $171 | $210 / $173 | $212 / $175 | $214 / $176 | $216 / $177 |
| w/ Park Hopper option | $112 / $101 | $177 / $155 | $237 / $205 | $247 / $213 | $251 / $214 | $253 / $216 | $255 / $218 | $257 / $220 | $259 / $221 | $261 / $222 |
| w/ Water Park Fun & More option | $117 / $106 | $182 / $160 | $242 / $210 | $252 / $218 | $256 / $219 | $258 / $221 | $260 / $223 | $262 / $225 | $264 / $226 | $266 / $227 |
| (plus 3) | (plus 3) | (plus 3) | (plus 4) | (plus 4) | (plus 5) | (plus 6) | (plus 6) | (plus 6) | (plus 6) | |
| w/ both options | $162 / $151 | $227 / $205 | $287 / $255 | $297 / $263 | $301 / $264 | $303 / $266 | $305 / $268 | $307 / $270 | $309 / $271 | $311 / $272 |
| w/ both options, no Expiration | N/A | $237 / $215 | $302 / $270 | $337 / $303 | $356 / $319 | $363 / $326 | $395 / $363 | $432 / $395 | $459 / $421 | $466 / $427 |
| Advance Purchase Discount - 1 option | N/A | N/A | N/A | $2/$2 | $5/$2 | $6/$2 | $7/$2 | $7/$3 | $7/$3 | $7/$3 |
| Advance Purchase Discount - 2 options | N/A | N/A | N/A | $12/$10 | $15/$10 | $16/$10 | $17/$10 | $17/$11 | $17/$11 | $17/$11 |
Hours and entertainment schedules are currently available through March 2007.
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Hours and entertainment schedules are currently available through March 2007.
| Monday 10/30 | |||
Disney Dreams Come True Parade 3p Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 7p-12a |
Eat to the Beat Concert Series: The S.O.S. Band 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 3p Fantasmic 7p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
| Tuesday 10/31 |
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Disney Dreams Come True Parade 3p Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 7p-12a |
Eat to the Beat Concert Series: The S.O.S. Band 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 3p Fantasmic 7p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
| Wednesday 11/1 |
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Disney Dreams Come True Parade 3p Wishes Fireworks 8p |
Eat to the Beat Concert Series: The S.O.S. Band 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 3p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
| Thursday 11/2 |
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Disney Dreams Come True Parade 3p SpectroMagic Parade 7p Wishes Fireworks 8p |
Eat to the Beat Concert Series: The Contours 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 3p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
| Friday 11/3 |
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Disney Dreams Come True Parade 3p Wishes Fireworks 8p |
Eat to the Beat Concert Series: The Contours 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 3p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
| Saturday 11/4 |
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Disney Dreams Come True Parade 3p SpectroMagic Parade 8p Wishes Fireworks 9p |
Eat to the Beat Concert Series: The Contours 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 3p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
| Sunday 11/5 |
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Disney Dreams Come True Parade 3p SpectroMagic Parade 8p Wishes Fireworks 9p |
Eat to the Beat Concert Series: Chubby Checker & The Wildcats 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 3p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
| Monday 11/6 | |||
Disney Dreams Come True Parade 3p Wishes Fireworks 8p |
Eat to the Beat Concert Series: Chubby Checker & The Wildcats 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 3p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
| Tuesday 11/7 |
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Disney Dreams Come True Parade 3p Wishes Fireworks 8p |
Eat to the Beat Concert Series: Southside Johnny 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 3p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
| Wednesday 11/8 |
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Disney Dreams Come True Parade 3p Wishes Fireworks 8p |
Eat to the Beat Concert Series: Southside Johnny 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 3p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
| Thursday 11/9 |
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Disney Dreams Come True Parade 3p SpectroMagic Parade 8p Wishes Fireworks 9p |
Eat to the Beat Concert Series: John Secada 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 3p Fantasmic 7p, 8:30p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
| Friday 11/10 |
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Disney Dreams Come True Parade 3p SpectroMagic Parade 8p, 10p Wishes Fireworks 9p |
Eat to the Beat Concert Series: John Secada 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 3p Fantasmic 7p, 8:30p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
| Saturday 11/11 |
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Disney Dreams Come True Parade 3p SpectroMagic Parade 8p, 10p Wishes Fireworks 9p |
Eat to the Beat Concert Series: John Secada 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Fantasmic 7p, 8:30p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
| Sunday 11/12 |
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Disney Dreams Come True Parade 3p SpectroMagic Parade 7p Wishes Fireworks 8p |
Eat to the Beat Concert Series: John Secada 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p 5:45p, 7p, 8:15p Illuminations 9p |
Fantasmic 7p, 8:30p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 3:45p |
Movies begin at 8:40. Movies are preceded by a campfire at 7:30 and a singalong at 8:00. The November movie schedule was not yet available at press time..
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30 7:40 ? Winnie the Pooh: Spookable 9:15 ? The Black Cauldron |
31 |
(Separate admission required)
| Monday 10/30 | |
Hip Kitty |
Soilwork with Special Guest Threat Signal (main room), $17 in advance/$20 day of show; 8 p.m. |
| Tuesday 10/31 |
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Hip Kitty (Stormbringer at Waterfront Stage) |
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| Wednesday 11/1 |
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TBA |
Pete Yorn (main room), $23 in advance/$25 day of show; 8 p.m. |
| Thursday 11/2 |
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TBA |
Scholar's Word (Blues Kitchen), free; 10:30 p.m |
| Friday 11/3 |
|
Leonard Brothers |
New Found Glory with The Early November, Cartel + Hit The Lights (main room), $17.50 in advance/$21 day of show; 8 p.m. Karmic Tricycle (Blues Kitchen), free; 10:30 p.m |
| Saturday 11/4 |
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Leonard Brothers |
Albert Castiglia Band (Blues Kitchen), free; 10:30 p.m |
| Sunday 11/5 |
|
Harrydash |
Apostle JL Cash and Praise (gospel brunch), $32.50 adult, $16.25 child (3-9); 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. |
| Monday 11/6 | |
Harrydash |
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| Tuesday 11/7 |
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Harrydash |
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| Wednesday 11/8 |
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Tom Sartori |
Gov't Mule with Donavon Frankenreiter (main room), $25 in advance/$27.50 day of show; 8 p.m. |
| Thursday 11/9 |
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Tom Sartori |
+44 with special guest The Matches (main room), $20 in advance/$22 day of show; 8 p.m. Jony James Band (Blues Kitchen), free; 10:30 p.m |
| Friday 11/10 |
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Tom Sartori |
Hellogoodbye with Reggie & The Full Effect, Cute Is What We Aim For and David Melillo (main room), $13.99 in advance/$16 day of show; 7:30 p.m. Pocket Change (Blues Kitchen), free; 10:30 p.m |
| Saturday 11/11 |
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Tom Sartori |
An Evening with Col. Bruce Hampton and The Aquarium Rescue Unit (main room), $20 in advance/$23 day of show; 9 p.m. Sandy Atkinson and The Modeans (Blues Kitchen), free; 10:30 p.m |
| Sunday 11/12 |
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TBA |
TBA (gospel brunch), $31 adult, $16 child (3-9); 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. House of Blues & Fantasma presents Keller Williams with Intermission with Radio Active (main room), $18 in advance/$22 day of show; 7:30 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.
