Last Wednesday, the Reedy Creek Improvement District's Board of Supervisors
approved a new three-year contract for the members of the Reedy Creek
Firefighters Association, bringing a close to the over two years of contentious
negotiations between the District and the union. The new contract includes
raises, a signing bonus, improved retirement health benefits, and increased
training.
Anti-Gay Days activists protest at state capitol
Last Thursday, the Christian Action Network staged a protest against
the popular Gay Days event at Walt Disney World. Armed with poster-sized
photos allegedly of gay men exposing themselves at last year's Gay Days
events, the protesters asked state legislators to put pressure on the
state attorney general to crack down on enforcing public indecency laws
at this year's event, scheduled for June 3 to 6.
Watch out alligators, the Croc is coming to town
Disney Sports Attractions—the arm of the Walt Disney Company that runs
Disney's Wide World of Sports, Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, and all
Walt Disney World hotel pools—has signed an agreement with Phillips-Van
Heusen Corp. to make the Izod line of clothing the official swimwear provider
of the water parks and resort pools, as well as the official sportswear
provider and preferred sportswear brand of Disney's Wide World of Sports
Complex.
Disney lifeguards and other water sports staff throughout the Resort
will begin wearing Izod crocodile-logo swimwear in July.
Unless the crocodile is themed to look like Tick-Tock, though, it's hard
to see how the brand fits the theme of the Resort.
Ears to the Ground
…Shortly after last week's update went to the production desk, Walt
Disney World moved up the rehab date for “it's a small world,”
pulling the start date from June 7 to May 2. By doing this, Disney hopes
that the attraction will be ready for next year's spring break season.
However, the Snow White's Scary Adventures will be reopening three weeks
ahead of schedule, on May 7 instead of May 28.
“it's a small world” – down for rehab through
Spring 2005. Originally scheduled for Jun 7 through March 18, the rehab
was moved up approximately 5 weeks to ensure readiness for next spring
break season. Expected work includes upgrades to the lighting, audio,
and electrical systems, rehabs to sets and audio-animatronic figures,
asbestos abatement, roof repair, regular water maintenance (draining
and refilling), replacement of boats, and the rumored swapping of the
entry and exit queues for better traffic flow.
20,000 League Under the Sea lagoon – walled off to “clear
the land as well as add landscape for future use.” The work is
expected to run through November.
Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress – expected to remain
open for the duration of the Stitch's Great Escape construction.
Timekeeper – returned to seasonal operation.
Adventureland – now opens at 10 a.m. on non-peak days,
but opens with the rest of the park (except for the Jungle Cruise
and the Enchanted Tiki Room – Under New Management) on Sundays,
Thursdays and Saturdays.
El Pirata y el Perico – closed through May 14 for a rehab.
Splash Mountain – opens at noon from May 10-14 for final
work related to the rehab that caused late openings earlier this year.
The Hall of Presidents and the Country Bear Jamboree
also open at 10 a.m. every day.
Snow White's Scary Adventures – closed for refurbishment
through May 7.
The Enchanted Grove – closed for rehab through May 23.
Mickey's Toontown Fair train station – rumored to be slated
for replacement between May 3 and June 11.
Epcot
The Universe of Energy – expected to close for a short
rehab shortly to remove the ExxonMobil signage now that its pavilion
sponsorship has ended.
Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room – the pub portion
will be closed until just before July 4. The rehab is rumored to include
a complete rebuild on the pub portion and the building of a divider
between the pub and the restaurant.
Food Rocks – closed permanently to make way for the entrance
to the new Soarin' Over California attraction.
The Behind the Seeds Walking Tour of the greenhouses at The
Land – discontinued during reconstruction of the Food Rocks area
into the queue for Soarin'. The tours are expected to resume upon completion
of the construction.
The Wonders of Life pavilion – open seasonally. The Pure
and Simple eatery and the Well and Goods Limited shop will
remain closed, while the Body Wars, Cranium Command, and
The Making of Me attractions will now be open when the pavilion
is open.
Restaurant Akershus – open for the Princess Character
Breakfast only through May 10, but not open for lunch and dinner during
this time.
Disney-MGM Studios
Residential Street at the Disney-MGM Studios – closed
and demolished and construction is well underway to turn the site into
Lights, Motors, Action!, an American version of the popular Moteurs…
Action! stunt show from the Walt Disney Studios at Disneyland Paris.
Star Tours – closed for rehab from July 16 - August 1.
The Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure –
closed for rehab May 3 to June 30.
New York Street – undergoing a great deal of construction
to change some facades to represent Chicago and San Francisco. The Chicago
facades appear to be complete, while San Francisco is underway. The
target completion date for the rest of the newly-titled Big City
Street is October 2.
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights – now confirmed
to be returning this year, from November 24 through January 2.
Animal Kingdom
Dinosaur – closed for refurbishment through June 4. Rumor
has it that the problematic Fastpass merge point will receive some attention
to improve crowd flow.
Resorts
Port Orleans Resort – A two-year extensive rehab of this
resort's rooms is ongoing. For Phase I, French Quarter closed May 4,
2003 and reopened March 21. Phase II involves Riverside going through
a phased rehab. The Magnolia Bend mansions will go down one by one,
followed by Alligator Bayou closing in sections.
Polynesian Resort – nearing completion of the refurbishment
of longhouses. Each longhouse under rehab is walled off and isolated
during its rehab. Niue and Rarotonga are the last remaining longhouses
currently scheduled to undergo rehab, and are tentatively scheduled
through May 2. Tokelau, Tahiti, and Rapa Nui have not yet been refurbished,
but they have not yet been scheduled, either.
Disney's Old Key West Resort – The main pool will be closed
from September through the end of the year for construction of a new
water slide.
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa (a Disney Vacation
Club resort) – has an announced grand opening ceremony date of
May 27, however guests may stay at the Resort beginning May 17. Reservations
are now available.
Water Parks
No current water park rehabs underway.
Elsewhere
World Drive – undergoing a repaving project through the
end of May. Watch for delays and lane closures along this main route
into the resort.
Cirque du Soleil – La Nouba – performing Tuesdays
through Saturdays, but will be closed June 20-July 5, August 22-25,
October 17-20, and December 5-13.
The All Star Cafe at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex
– now closed Monday-Wednesday. It is open Thursday-Sunday, from
11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Discounts for hotel-only and Dream Maker packages now available
Discount rates for Annual Passholders, Florida Residents, and general
guests for stay from April 18 through July 4 are now available. Visit
MouseSavers
for more details.
Florida resident Play Four Days pass returns
Disney's Play 4 Days pass for Florida residents is again on sale. The
special pass is essentially a four-day park hopper pass for Florida residents
that is available for $109 plus tax. The pass is good for theme park visits
from January 4 through June 4, with blockout dates April 3-15 for the
peak Easter week season. Passes are available at Walt Disney World theme
parks, Florida Disney Stores, AAA offices. The cost of a Play 4 Days pass
may be applied to a Florida resident Annual or Seasonal pass. For more
information, either visit the Play 4 Days Web page (link)
or call 407-WDW-4DAYS (407-939-4329).
Free commemorative coins for APs at Studios
Annual Passholders can receive a free commemorative coin, celebrating
Disney-MGM Studios 15th Anniversary by showing their valid Passholder
I.D. at the Sorcerer Hat Shop between May 1 and May 13, 2004. Created
by celebrated Disney artist Don "Ducky" Williams, the coin features Director
Mickey filming Minnie Mouse.
Gaylord Palms to pay for gas
Guests of the Gaylord Palms Resort will receive a $75 credit to cover
the higher cost of gasoline for stays of at least three nights from June
15 through Sept. 6. The Orlando-area resort will provide the room credit
to guests who make a reservation using the promotion code FREEGAS. It
is not a requirement that guests drive to the resort in order to get the
discount.
Disney's Summer Price Slice returns
Summer Price Slice is back with special-value greens fees on tee times
after 10 a.m. daily from May 17 through Sept. 30 on Disney's five championship
courses.
Golfers can test the premier Osprey Ridge course after 10 a.m. for $65
(compared to a normal seasonal greens fee of $119) or Eagle Pines for
$50 (compared to a normal seasonal fee of $109). Post-10 a.m. rounds on
the Magnolia, Palm or Lake Buena Vista courses are $45 (compared to a
normal seasonal fee of $99). Cart is included.
Disney's Summer Price Slice also gives golfers the opportunity to play
afternoon rounds late into the day. Golfers can take on Osprey Ridge after
3 p.m. for $35 ($30 after 5 p.m.). Eagle Pines, Magnolia, Palm and Lake
Buena Vista start at $30 after 3 p.m. ($25 after 5 p.m.).
For tee times, guests may call 407/WDW-GOLF. For information on the
Walt Disney World golf courses, visit: www.disneyworldgolf.com.
Plan ahead and save a few bucks
The Walt Disney World Resort is encouraging visitors to buy their theme
park tickets before they even leave home, by offering a slight discount
on advance purchases. You can save as much as $26 per adult, per ticket
with the “Advance Purchase Savings” program. These prices are
before the 6.5 percent Orange County sales tax.
You can also receive these Advance Purchase Savings with packages purchased
through AAA.
Multi-Day Tickets
Gate Prices
Advance Purchase Price
Savings
4-Day Park Hopper: Adults
$219
$202
$17
Children ages 3 - 9
$176
$162
$14
5-Day Park Hopper: Adults
$249
$230
$19
Children ages 3 - 9
$200
$184
$16
5-Day Park Hopper Plus: Adults
$282
$259
$23
Children ages 3 - 9
$226
$208
$18
6-Day Park Hopper Plus: Adults
$312
$288
$24
Children ages 3 - 9
$250
$231
$21
7-Day Park Hopper Plus: Adults
$342
$316
$26
Children ages 3 - 9
$274
$253
$21
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.
Did you recently notice something new or different in the park? Are you a CM with something intriguing to share? Heard any good rumors lately, or know of something our readers will wanna know? Send them in to Mark Goldhaber so we can follow up on them!
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is not associated in any official way with the Walt Disney Company, its
subsidiaries, or its affiliates. The official Disney site is available
at www.disney.com.
This MousePlanet Web site provides independent news articles, commentary,
editorials, reviews, and guides primarily about the theme park resorts
of the Walt Disney Co. All information on this site is subject to change.
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