WHAT'S NEW AT WDW

IT'S TAPS FOR THE BAND AT DISNEY

It's not always happy in the Magic Kingdom. The following is an article published in our local paper, The Orlando Sentinel on April 26, 2000.

Richard Verrier
of The Sentinel Staff

The Walt Disney World Marching Band, a fixture of the Magic Kingdom for nearly 30 years, has played its last tune.

The band's 18 musicians, some of whom have been members since the park's opening, were abruptly dismissed Tuesday.

The band members -- brass musicians and drummers with signature red coats, white pants and hats with plumes -- played tunes from Disney movies.

Formed in 1971, the band performed daily in Town Square and throughout the Magic Kingdom.

The original band, a favorite of company co-founder Walt Disney, still performs at Disneyland in California.

The Walt Disney World Marching Band will be replaced by several smaller groups that will perform throughout the park, Walt Disney World spokeswoman Diane Ledder said.

"It's just a change to continue to offer something fresh, exciting and popular," Ledder said. "As much as we love old favorites, it seemed to be time to make a change to a different type of band."

Ledder would not say what type of music the new bands will perform or when they will start.

When they reported to work Tuesday morning, the Marching Band musicians were summoned to a meeting, where they were given their final paychecks, severance pay and told to clear out their lockers.

The news surprised some of the musicians.

"They really should have given a little more notice that they were intending to do this," said a musician who asked not to be identified because he feared it would hinder his chances for future work at Disney World. "We've got a couple of guys in the band expecting babies."

Ledder said she could not comment on why the workers were not given notice, saying "it was a business decision."

The musicians will be given the chance to apply for positions in the new bands, she said.

The terminations come during a period of belt-tightening throughout Walt Disney World.

More than 30 Imagineers -- engineers, designers and architects who dream up the latest ideas for theme parks, hotels and other projects -- have lost their jobs or taken early retirement at Walt Disney World since the beginning of the year, as the pace of new projects slows at the resort.

Ledder said the Walt Disney World Marching Band was not the victim of budget cuts.

"There will be several additional groups that will perform at Magic Kingdom, so the total entertainment picture at the Magic Kingdom is not being reduced," she said.



MISSION: SPACE WILL LIFT OFF IN 2003

The combined forces of Walt Disney Imagineering, Compaq Computer Corporation, NASA consultants, and WDW Cast Members will send Epcot guests into deep space in 2003.

Mission: SPACE the recently announced attraction that will replace Horizons in Future World at Epcot, will lauch guests into a one-of-a-kind space adventure. From a pulse-racing liftoff to weightlessness in outer space, guests will encounter challenges faced by real astronauts.

WDI created a new ride system for the attraction that will be the first ever created to take guests straight up in simulated flight. The attraction's storyline will be set decades into the future and will transport guests in time and place to an International Space Training Center.

The Horizons pavilion will be demolished to make room for the new state-of-the-art attraction. Many portions of the original pavilion, however, will be put to use in new locations.

Story Musgrave, a six-time NASA shuttle astronaut whose career in the NASA space program spanned more than 30 years, is serving as an ongoing consultant on the project. Musgrave called the attraction "a place where guests can imagine our future in space and their role in it, walking in the footsteps of heroes and building on the wealth of technology we've developed to date."

As the attraction's sponsor, Compaq Computer Corporation will provide both funding and its knowledge of computer systems to Mission: SPACE. The sponsorship is part of Compaq's new 10-year corporate alliance with The Walt Disney Company.

The input and expertise of WDW Cast Members will play a key role in moving the attraction from vision to reality. Guests will benefit, not only from the Cast Member-influenced design, but also from FastPass technology, which will be featured at the attraction. This is the first attraction to be designed with FastPass in mind.



ATTRACTION GETS NEW NAME TO CELEBRATE FILM

As part of the release of Walt Disney Pictures' Dinosaur this summer, Countdown to Extinction, the attraction in DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney's Animal Kingdom, will change its name to Dinosaur on May 1.

This is the third time in WDW history that an attraction that was inspired by a film made its debut before the film was released. Just as It's Tough to be a Bug showcases stars of the animated film A Bug's Life, Countdown to Extinction features a carnotaurus and an iguanodon from the animated Dinosaur film.

Similar to the many other theme park attractions that were inspired by Disney animated films, the Dinosaur attraction doesn't retell the story of the film. It contains elements that are similar to those in the film, such as the appearance of the carnotaurus, iguanodon, and the meteor showers.

Watch this page for information about more dinosaur-related activities during May at Disney's Animal Kingdom and the release of Dinosaur on May 19.



RIVER COUNTRY HOSTS NEW EVENTS AND ATTRACTIONS

River Country, the water park at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, is open for the season with the return of the All-American Water Party, three new interactive areas, and birthday parties.

The All-American Water Party, featuring Disney characters, tug-o-war games, and other backyard activities for the kids, returned April 9 and continues through the summer.

River Country has added three new interactive areas:

- The Stump Jump challenges guests to cross a field of floating "log stumps" by holding on to overhead netting.
- The Floating Raft is a platform guests can stand on and shoot other guests with water.
- The Sinking Raft is similar to the floating raft, but designed for kids.

River Country now hosts birthday parties. Guests can call 407-824-2659 to have a complete party set up.



SEND KIDS ON A GRAND ADVENTURE

Where can kids navigate a pirate cruise, create a culinary masterpiece, and attend a tea party with a couple of real characters?

Grand Adventures for Kids is a children's activity program that invites young guests to enjoy these activities and more at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

The Department of Children's Activities, a new area of the resort, administers the programs and offers a variety of activities that don't require participants to be guests at the resort.

PIRATE CRUISE
Children participating in the program cruise across the Seven Seas Lagoon, obtaining portions of a treasure map at several resorts before discovering the treasure at River Country. The cruise, which takes place from 10:30 am-noon on Mondays and Thursdays, is open to any guest from 3-10 years of age. The cost is $20 per child.

GRAND ADVENTURES IN COOKING
As part of the cooking program, children can paint creative aprons and chef hats before preparing recipes inspired by a story that's read during the program. The cooking class takes place from 10 am-noon on Tuesdays and Fridays and is offered free of charge to guests from 3-10 years of age who are staying at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Polynesian Resort, or Disney's Contemporary Resort. The event is open to other WDW guests on a space-available basis.

WONDERLAND TEA PARTY
Alice and the Mad Hatter interact with children for more than 30 minutes during a tea party that features games, songs, and other activities. The tea party takes place from 1:15-2:30 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays and is open to any WDW guest from 3-10 years of age. Friday parties will be added in June. The cost is $22.95 per child. This event is extremely popular and typically books up to three months in advance.

Other programs are offered to children in a variety of age groups, including poolside arts and crafts, a kids' fishing trip, and more. Grand Adventures for Kids programs can be booked by calling 407-939-9439.



ORLANDO RAYS BECOME HOME TEAM AT DISNEY'S WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS

The Orlando Rays baseball team has a new home field - the state-of-the-art baseball stadium at Disney's Wide World of Sports.

The AA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and 1999 Southern League champions will play 70 home games at WDW this year. A variety of promotional nights, giveaways, and other special events will highlight the season from April 14 - August 31.

The team's move from Tinker Field in Orlando to the sports complex will double the seating capacity for fans and offer them more hospitality areas and concession stands. The SACO SmartVision display board in right field will play entertainment highlights, replays, statistics, and trivia.

Ticket packages offer guests the opportunity to buy tickets to five, 20, or all 70 home games. Individual tickets cost $5 for lawn seating, $7 for right-field bleachers and the upper-deck reserved, and $8 for lower deck reserved. Prices include admission to the baseball stadium only and parking is free. For season and group ticket purchases, fans can call 407-939-GAME. Individual game tickets are available at the sports complex box office or through Ticketmaster by calling 407-839-3900.



THERE'S A NEW LOOK TO THE DISNEY LOOK

Cast Members at WDW, Disneyland, Disney Regional Entertainment, DisneyQuest, and Operating Participants can now take advantantage of an updated Disney Look thanks to recent changes in the company's appearance guidelines.

The updates allow mustaches for men and longer skirts for women. They resulted from extensive guest and Cast Member input and continue to reflect the traditional look that contributes to the overall exceptional show that guests expect from Disney Cast Members.

The new guidelines are as follows:

- Skirt lengths for non-costumed women now may range from three inches above the knee to the bottom of the ankle.
- For all male Cast Members, mustaches are permitted, but must be trimmed neatly and not present a bushy or unkempt appearance.
- They must not extend onto or over the uper lip and should extend to the corners of the mouth, but not beyond or below the corners.
- Aside from mustaches, Cast Members ar expected to be clean shaven every day. Beards, goatees, and any extreme mustache styles are prohibited.
- Mustaches must be grown fully on the Cast Member's hire date or must be grown fully during vacation or other non-working periods.



MOUSEGEAR HONORED WITH DESIGN AWARDS

MouseGear, the merchandise shop that replaced Centorium in Future World at Epcot, was honored recently with five industry design awards.

Chain Store Age magazine recognized MouseGear for having the best cash wrap design (the design and layout of the cash register area), while Visual Merchandising and Store Design magazine, in conjunction with the Institute of Store Planners, honored the store with a merit award in the category of specialty store of greater than 10,000 square feet.

MouseGear also earned the following awards from the National Association of Store Fixture Manufacturers, which were presented on March 25 at the GlobalShop Fixture and Visual Show in Chicago:

- Special Merit, outstanding store fixtures - gear vitrine fixtures (the large fixture that displays watches and other items in the jewelry room)
- Special Merit, outstanding store fixtures - interactive point-of-sale (the touch-screen monitors and other design elements surrounding the cash register area)
- Special Merit, new or remodeled - hardline specialty store from 10,000-25,000 square feet



NEW RADIO DISNEY JAMS 2 HITS THE STREETS

Walt Disney Record has released a second Radio Disney album called Radio Disney Jams 2, with more of the most-requested kid-friendly songs played on the air.

The album includes hits from best-selling teen sensations Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Youngstown, Christina Aguilera, 98 Degrees, and Aaron Carter, as well as older favorites such as Boogie Shoes from KC and the Sunshine Family, We Are Family by Sistere Sledge, and Just the Two of Us by Will Smith. The album also includes a special Disney version of Lou Bega's worldwide hit Mambo No. 5.

Radio Disney is a 24-hour music-oriented network that caters to children 2-11 years old. The radio studios at the Disney MGM Studios broadcasts Mickey and Minnie's Tune Time live with B.B. Good, Monday through Friday from noon-4 pm on the Radio Disney Network. The studios are located next to Sounds Dangerous.



NEW WEB SITE UNITES ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATIONS

The GO Network has launched Studios.go.com, a new Internet destination that links a collection of Disney-related entertaiment brands under one site.

Studio.go.com, located on the Internet at http://www.studio.go.com, provides guests with access to multiple on-line sites including Touchstone Television, Buena Vista Television, Hollywood Pictures, Hollywood Records, SoapNet, Hyperion books, and Buena Vista Home Entertainment.

Each day, the main homepage exposes guests to the events on a new site by highlighting a different show, movie, or property.

Guests can use keywords to locate specific destinations within the overall site. This site also centralizes all chats and live on-line events. Guests can attend chats or locate schedule information and transcripts for various events hosted across the different sites.

A collection of interactive Web cards, featuring themes and characters that span Studio.go.com's multiple brands, is available to guests at a single on-line destination. Refreshed regularly, these free electronic cards offer guests a unique and colorful way to keep in touch with family, friends, and fellow fans.



MARC DAVIS LEFT HIS MARK THROUGHOUT COMPANY

Marc Davis, legendary Disney animator and Imagineer, died on January 12, but his work will continue to be enjoyed by guests and Cast Members for years to come.

Marc's work with The Walt Disney Company spanned 43 years, bringing to life countless classic characters and stories that can be seen in Disney films and theme parks around the world.

Marc joined the company in 1935 as an apprentice animator. He was promoted to assistant animator for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and then he served as a character animator for Bambi. Marc became known as Disney's "ladies' man" for bringing such memorable female characters as Cinderella, Alice, Tinker Bell, Maleficent, and Cruella De Vil to life. His knack for bringing out the personalities of his characters eventually earned Marc a place as one of Walt's "Nine Old Men," the group of supervising animators that oversaw the creation of nearly every Disney animated film from the 1940's - 1970's.

In 1961, Marc took his storytelling skills to Walt Disney Imagineering where he developed story and character concepts for classic attractions such as Jungle Cruise, The Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, It's a Small World, and Country Bear Jamboree. At WDI, Marc blended humor into everday action with people and animals. For Jungle Cruise, he created famous scenes such as the safari members trapped on a pole by an angry rhinoceros. In The Haunted Mansion, his touches include the dueling portraits in the ballroom and the hitch-hiking ghosts. Marc helped develop the entire story for Pirates of the Caribbean, turning what could have been a scary attraction featuring a murderous crew of cutthroats into a wild, humorous adventure of overindulgent brutes.

Marc shared his talent by teaching art classes for 17 years at Choulinard Art Institute in California. His own work has been displayed in art galleries around the world.

Marc received a Disney Legend Award from The Walt Disney Company in 1989. He is survived by his wife, Alice.

Visit the site dedicated to Marc Davis and read the tributes left by his many fans and leave one of your own!



FANTASMIC! DINNER PACKAGE

Guests can sign up for the Fantasmic! Dinner Package offered at The Hollywood Brown Derby for lunch or dinner, or at Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano for dinner. Guests must buy the package at their restaurant of choice on the day they are in the park, and they'll get a card that allows them to enter a reserved area 30 minutes before show time.



SMOKING POLICY

Beginning in January 2000, Walt Disney World will allow smoking in its theme parks in designated areas only. Disneyland announced a similar policy on November 2. The new policy expands on the company's long-standing practice of designating all attractions, queue lines, restaurants, merchandise locations, and resort transportation areas as non-smoking. The change will allow options for all guests.



HONG KONG DISNEYLAND OPENS 2005

The Walt Disney Company has reached an overall agreement in principle with the Hong Kong SAR Government to build a new Disney theme park, Hong Kong Disneyland, on north Lantau Island. The agreement was confirmed on November 2 by Michael Eisner. The park is scheduled to open in China in 2005.

The park is expected to open with two to three resorts featuring about 1,400 rooms. When the property's initial phase is completed, it will include three to four Disney-themed resorts with up to 2,100 rooms adjacent to the park, as well as a retail, dining, and entertainment complex that will encompass more than 300,000 square feet.

The 311-acre theme park will include Main Street, U.S.A., which will feature shops, restaurants, and parades. At the end of the street, guests will see the park's signature icon, Sleeping Beauty Castle.

The park's other themed areas will include Fantasyland, Toontown, Adventureland, Frontierland, and Tomorrowland.

The park will combine the best of rides, shows, and attractions, as well as cutting-edge technology from Disney parks around the world, to create a mix of both new and traditional Disney experiences.

The project is expected to create about 36,000 jobs and will have the potential for additional development. The property will be accessible to guests by rail, highway, and ferry.

The definitive agreement requires approval of the Executive Council and Legislative Council in Hong Kong and The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors.



NEW PARK STATUE HONORS ROY O. DISNEY

A statue honoring Roy O. Disney, Walt's older brother, was unveiled at Magic Kingdom on October 1. The life-size rendition is a tribute to the "business side" of the Disney brothers' partnership.

Through the years, friends and family called Roy a voice of reason, protector, and close friend of his little brother. He helped support Walt when he came to California in the 1920's, handled the company's finances for more than forty years, and oversaw the creation of the Walt Disney World Resort when Walt died in 1966.

Blaine Gibson, who created the "Partners" statue of Walt and Mickey at Cinderella Castle, also sculpted the statue of Roy and Minnie sitting on a bench in Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A.

Roy died in December 1971, shortly after the resort opened. His legacy, much like his brother Walt's, lives on.

Click here for dedication and pictures



NEW PRICES FOR STROLLERS, WHEELCHAIRS, AND PARKING

On October 31, WDW increased stroller and wheelchair rental prices by $1. ECV prices did not change. Guest parking also increased by $1. The current prices are now $7 for stroller/wheelchair rental ($1 Disney Dollar upon return), $13 for double stroller rental ($1 Disney Dollar upon return), ECV $30 ($10 cash upon return), and $6 for car parking.



BUY AND TRADE MILLENNIUM PINS THIS FALL

During the 15-month Walt Disney World Millennnium Celebration, guests will enjoy a whole new form of entertainment - pin trading.

To help celebrate the new millennium, millions of Disney collectible pins will be sold and traded at locations inside the theme parks and resorts.

For each day of the 459-day millennium celebration, a limited number of unique pins will be available as a gift-with-purchase at designated Epcot retail locations. Each pin will feature many images of Disney characters. When all the pins for one month are put together, they'll form a pictorial mosaic of an Epcot image.

Artist Robert Silvers created these one-of-a-kind photomosaics. He's a pioneer of photomosaic artwork and the author of several books, including a book of Disney images.

Guests who have trouble locating all the pins they want will be able to trade pins with Cast Members and other guests at special "pin stations" throughout the four theme parks, Disney's Wide World of Sports, the Downtown Disney area, and Disney's BoardWalk. Designated Cast Members will wear special lanyards, or neck cords, featuring 12 Disney pins, which guests can offer to trade for another of their own Disney pins, until they collect them all.

Guests also will be able to join the Walt Disney World Millennium Pin Celebration, which is available to the first 2,000 guests who join, beginning this month. Members will have a different photomosaic pin set depicting images of Epcot sent to their homes each month during the 15-month celebration. Each set will be framed, and members will get a gift and a certificate signed by Silvers when they join. The membership costs $3,000.



FAIRY TALE GARDEN IN THE MAGIC KINGDOM

Story time is a cherished memory by many who remember, in their youth, being read fantastic tales set in faraway lands and times.

Walt Disney Imagineering and Entertainment has created a story-time experience for children at the Magic Kingdom Park, when Belle from Beauty and the Beast reads just those kinds of fairy tales at Fairy Tale Gardens.

The new show area, which opened July 2, is nestled between the trees next to the Enchanted Grove refreshment stand in Fantasyland across from Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe.

Crumbling stone walls that appear centruies old encircle the show area in an amphitheater-type setting. There's seating for about 120.

Belle tells short fairy tale stories throughout the day. The area also serves as a meet-and-greet character location.

Click here for pictures



TARZAN ROCKS! AT DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM

With a live band, aerial stunts, and a set that's literally right out of the animated film, Tarzan Rocks! will bring the excitement and emotions of the animated feature Tarzan to audiences at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

The show will have a soft opening on July 2, and then it will open officially on July 9.

Guests will see the show at the 1,500-seat Theater in the Wild in DinoLand U.S.A. The theater has been refurbished to include bridges and ramps that allow performers to move around the stage and into the audience.

The show will feature Tarzan, Jane, and Terk; musicians; singers; dancers; and stunt performers, some of whom will be performing above the stage.

Most of the action will take place in, around, and above the audience, as in-line skaters will enter from all sides and appear to swing from tree to tree along the sides of the theater. Tarzan will slide on a vine nearly 100 feet from the rear of the stage to the middle of the audience during his grand entrance.

Throughout the show, the band will perform songs from the film's soundtrack, and guests will hear the music on a new surround sound system.

The 30-minute show will be performed five times daily.



DISNEY'S FASTPASS ENHANCES GUEST SERVICE

When guests approach an attraction offering Disney's FASTPASS, they will see signs for three lines: Disney's FASTPASS distribution, Disney's FASTPASS entrance, and the stand-by entrance. Guests will decide whether to use Disney's FASTPASS or to wait in the stand-by line.

To help the guest make this decision, there will be a clock noting the window of time during which they can return to the attraction with no further wait if they choose the FASTPASS option, and another clock showing the current wait time for the stand-by line. If a guest chooses Disney's FASTPASS, each member of the party will approach the Disney's FASTPASS turnstiles and insert their theme park ticket to get a Disney's FASTPASS. The system automatically saves the guest a space in line. Guests then are free to enjoy the park until their designated return time. To give the guests flexibility in their schedule, they will always have a one hour window of time during which to return.

In general, the return time should be about the same or slightly longer than the typical wait time for that attraction. When they return, they will go to the Disney's FASTPASS entrance and go directly to the attraction pre-show or boarding area with no further wait.



PERKALEIDOSCOPE ADDS COLOR TO DOWNTOWN DISNEY MARKETPLACE

Do you remember when, as a kid, you would hold a kaleidoscope up to the light and turn it to see the colorful images it would make?

Walt Disney Imagineering has taken that concept a step further and built a 34-foot PeriKaleidoscope (a cross between a periscope and a kaleidoscope) at the Downtown Disney Marketplace that many guests can enjoy at once.

Images will appear on the pyramid mirror at the base of the structure. Each color wheel will contain partial silhouette images of Mickey Mouse that will come together randomly to create ever-changing shapes and colors and occasionally a full Mickey silhouette.

The new Marketplace icon will be installed this summer at the World of Disney plaza in front of the Dock Stage.



DISNEY & NINTENDO TO DEBUT MICKEY MOUSE IN 3D

Mickey Mouse will make his first 3D appearance in new games for the N64 platform thanks to an agreement between Disney Interactive, Inc. and Nintendo of America Inc.

The Mickey products, a Mickey racing title (Game Boy Color), a Disney racing title (N64 and Game Boy Color), and a Mickey adventure title (home console and Game Boy Color), will be created by award winning developer Rare Ltd. and are scheduled for release during the holiday seasons of 1999, 2000, and 2001, respectively.

As part of the agreement, Disney Interactive will develop multiple titles for the Nintendo Game Boy Color platform, including "Beauty and the Beast" and "Alice in Wonderland."



WDW WILL HOST A GLOBAL PARTY FOR THE MILLENNIUM

From October 1, 1999 - January 1, 2001, guests can commemorate the millennium at a celebration centered at Epcot.

The theme will be Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand and will be represented by a new look for Spaceship Earth.

Here are some facts about the millennium-themed Spaceship Earth:

-The icon will be 240 feet at its highest point.
-Mickey's arm and hand will be 80 feet high and his wand will be 100 feet high.
-The large starburst on top will be 20 feet high.
-Each zero in 2000 will be 48 feet across.
-Sixty-five stars will make up the "starfetti" on the icon.



15 MONTHS OF FUN ARE AHEAD

The WDW Millennium Celebration will span 15 months and will have a line-up of daily entertainment that will delight guests of all ages.

Here's a look at what's ahead:

Tapestry of Nations - More than 120 figures that soar 20 feet above performers will represent regions of the world in this street festival performed twice daily in World Showcase.

IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth - An all-new nightly spectacular with a soundtrack by the London Symphony Orchestra, as well as torches, lasers, and fireworks, has been created from scratch, with 30% more fireworks than any prior Epcot show.

Millennium Village - Dozens of nations will take part in the multicultural festivities at Millennium Village, an all-new World Showcase pavilion.

Future World - A theme of science and technology will thread throughout Future World with exhibits that celebrate today, the greatest technological age the world has known.

Innoventions - Imagineers are reinventing Innoventions, where guests will be able to preview the future of technology in a showcase of the latest products for home, work, and play.

Leave A Legacy - Guests will be able to leave their mark at Leave a Legacy. Etched on a limited-edition metallic tile, a guest's photo will be mounted on one of 30 sculptured granite monoliths near Spaceship Earth.

Pin Trading - Reminiscent of other world-class celebrations, such as the Olympics, guests will be able to interact with other guests and Disney Cast Members through pin trading. Guests will be able to buy pins at on-property locations, including each of the parks and the Downtown Disney area, or trade pins they've brought from home.



TATOOINE TRADERS SETS UP NEW SHOP FOR STAR WARS FANS AT DISNEY MGM STUDIOS

The Endor Vendor merchandise shop at Star Tours has closed to make way for Tatooine Traders, a new merchandise shop themed after the film Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.

The shop's sandy-colored, adobe-like architecture will be similar to the desert dwellings seen in the movie's city of Mos Espa on the planet Tatooine, where Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi discover Anakin Skywalker.

On the inside, architectural details along with props and simulated movie backdrops will give guests the feeling that they're walking onto the Tatooine set from the actual film.

There will be more merchandise from all the Star Wars films and the shop is expected to open in early September.



EPCOT CONTINUES TO MAKE MILLENNIUM PREPARATIONS

Preparations are underway at Epcot as the theme park gears up for the 15-month WDW Millennium Celebration. The event will begin on October 1, 1999 and last until January 1, 2001.

Construction is taking place where many millennium-themed shows and attractions will be featured, including the main entrance, the Innoventions Plaza, and World Showcase Lagoon.

Innoventions is undergoing a major refurbishment to tie in with the celebration.

WDI is in the process of completely redoing more than 90 percent of Innoventions. It is to have a new concept, new story overlay, and new ways for guests to participate.

Attraction closings in the two pavilions are scheduled this summer to complete construction of the redesign.

Innoventions East is closed and expected to reopen in September. This side will feature experiences such as Forests For Our Future and The Internet Zone. Some of what guests will see includes a forest in which they can learn about efforts made to help with global warming and sustainable forestry. Other experiences will feature cars that don't pollute and the future of the Internet.

Innoventions West will be partially closed until August 15, then fully closed in September. This side recently has opened The Ultimate Home Theater Experience, which showcases the latest technology available to create a personal home theater. Other experiences will allow guests to see advancements in knowledge-sharing technology, such as software that breaks down language barriers or an experience called Medicine's New Vision, which will feature break-throughs in medical technology.

The Centorium also is in the middle of a major refurbishment and will reopen as Mouse Gear, the largest character-themed shop in the Disney theme parks.



GUESTS WILL SEE AND HEAR AEROSMITH AT ATTRACTION

The legendary rock band Aerosmith will provide the soundtrack for Rock 'n' Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith (the attraction's new name), the new high-speed, indoor thrill attraction at the Disney-MGM Studios.

Guests will enter a recording studio to experience an Aerosmith rehearsal in the attraction's pre-show area and then hear a specially created Aerosmith soundtrack blasting from onboard speakers in each ride vehicle.



POLYNESIAN LUAU DINNER SHOW UNDERGOES TIME & DAY CHANGES

The Polynesian Luau Dinner Show now is performed twice nightly Tuesday - Saturday. Shows no loner will be offered on Sunday and Monday evenings. The seating times have changed to 5:15 and 8 pm.

As a result of these changes, Disney's Polynesian Resort no longer will offer the 4:30 pm character dinner show, Mickey's Tropical Luau.

The Polynesian Luau Dinner Show is the longest-running dinner show at WDW. The first luau took place at the dedication ceremony for Disney's Polynesian Resort on October 24, 1971.



ROCK 'N' ROLLER COASTER WILL TAKE GUESTS ON A WILD RIDE

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster will begin taking guests on a high-speed adventure through the streets of Hollywood later this summer.

But this adventure has one major twist - actually it has three, and they're complete inversions. This new attraction will be the first at either WDW or Disneyland to take guests upside down.

It begins like any backstage-tour attraction at the Disney MGM Studios - as a guest, you're invited to take a behind-the-scenes look at the recording-making process at G-Force Records.

During the tour, you get to see a famous band rehearsing for tonight's concert. The members are really excited about their upcoming gig, and also really late, so they rush out of the studio and invite you to join them at the show.

You're directed to a "stretch limo," you buckle up, and all of a sudden you're on a wild, high-speed ride through Hollywood.

In addition to the multiple inversions, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster includes a high-speed launch at the beginning of the ride.

As if racing through cork screw turns and zooming through an O in the famous Hollywood sign isn't enough, a synchronized rock soundtrack blasts from audio systems on each ride vehicle. The music is performed by a famous band that will be named soon.



POOH FRIENDSHIP DAY

Beginning on June 15, you can visit the Pooh Friendship Day website. Friends can send each other electronic postcards and play Pooh-themed games. Pooh Friendship Day, in conjunction with National Friendship Day, is August 1.



ALL AMERICAN WATER PARTY

At River Country, guests can experience down-home fun at the All American Water Party now through September 4.

The party features games such as a water-balloon toss, tug-of-war, sand castle contests, and potato-sack races; live music; and daily character greetings with Goofy, Chip 'n' Dale, and more.

The party is included in admission to River Country.



CLUB TYPHOON

From June 11-August 13, Typhoon Lagoon will host Club Typhoon, an event geared toward teens, every Friday from 7-11 pm.

In addition to the regular water park attractions, Club Typhoon will feature a disc jockey, dance areas, and games such as beach volleyball, tug-of-war, and water-balloon tosses.

Club Typhoon is included in all multi-day ticket media or any other form of admission that includes Typhoon Lagoon. After 7 pm on Fridays, entry to Club Typhoon will cost $13.50 plus tax.



DISNEY/PIXAR ANNOUNCE NEW FEATURE

Production began in May on a new computer-animated feature tentatively called Monster, Inc.

The film, set to be released in 2001, will be produced by Pixar Animation Studios under its arrangement with Walt Disney Studios.

Monster, Inc. is a comedy set in the realm of things that go bump in the night, where chaos breaks loose after a hapless monster accidentally lets a human child into its secret world. Other Pixar films include Toy Story, A Bug's Life, and the upcoming Toy Story 2.



WONDERLAND TEA PARTY

Children (ages 3-10) can attend the new Wonderland Tea Party, hosted by characters from Alice in Wonderland, at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The party costs $20 per child and is held on Wednesdays from 1:30-2:30 pm at 1900 Park Fare. Children eat lunch, make and eat cupcakes, have tea and hear a story.



GUESTS CAN RIDE THROUGH THE HUNDRED ACRE WOOD WITH POOH AND HIS FRIENDS

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh will bring more storybook enchantment to the Magic Kingdom Park when the attraction opens to guests on June 5.

The attraction replaces Mr. Toad's Wild Ride in Fantasyland. It features Pooh and his friends in adventures from the three original Pooh films.

In the pre-boarding area, guests will stroll through giant pages that appear to have blown out of a storybook. The storybook pages are an idea borrowed from the films, where the pages served as a bridge between story segments.

Guests will board giant honey pots for their journey through famous spots from the Hunded Acre Wood, such as Rabbit's vegetable garden, Owl's storm-rocked treehouse, Pooh's bedroom where he dreams of honey-stealing heffalumps, and the "floody place."

There will be several surprises at the attraction. In the scene where guests meet Tigger, he invites them to bounce along with him - and they do. In the floody place, the honey pots seem to float along through the rain and rising water.

The attraction exits into Pooh's Thotful Shop, which will sell merchandise featuring Pooh and friends.



THE DISNEY WONDER BOASTS LATE NIGHT FUN

For adults-only entertainment on the high seas, guests aboard Disney Magic have Beat Street, an entertainment district featuring three different clubs, and soon guests aboard Disney Wonder will have Route 66, a similiar area of night life.

The Disney Magic offers Rockin' Bar "D", a club with a roadhouse feel that features a live rock band nightly. The Disney Wonder will offer Wave Bands, with music from the 1950s through the '90s. Vintage radios and memorabilia will line the walls, and the club will feature a live band and a house DJ.

Another option for Disney Magic guests is Off-Beat, an improvisational comedy club with audience participation. Barrel of Laughs on the Disney Wonder will be similar but will include a brew pub-themed atmosphere.

For a quieter change of pace, Disney Magic guests have Sessions, a jazz club with overstuffed armchairs and champagnes, wines, and specialty coffees. Aboard Disney Wonder, guests will be surrounded by the imaginative decor of the Cadillac Lounge. The lounge is intended to make guests believe they're sitting in a 1958 Cadillac DeVille convertible under the stars listening to the radio.

The Disney Wonder will sail on its maiden voyage on Aug. 15.



MAIN STREET ELECTRICAL PARADE COMING MAY 28

From 1971-1991, the Main Street Electrical Parade captivated millions of WDW guests with more than half a million sparkling lights and the bubbly electronic tune "Baroque Hoedown."

Fans of that parade will rejoice as the Disneyland version comes to the Magic Kingdom Park on May 28.

In preparation for the WDW debut of the original Disneyland parade, floats have been dressed up in more shimmering fabrics to add sparkle to the multicolor light show. An enhanced sound system will provide 30 percent more audio presence for the musical score performed on synthesizer.

Several of the floats from Disneyland will be seen here in Florida for the first time. In a Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs sequence, Dopey drives a train full of sparkling gems. Peter Pan and Captain Hook duel on the deck of a pirate ship, and Dumbo the flying elephant makes an appearance. New butterflies and dragonflies fliter about in a sequence from Alice In Wonderland.

More than 100 parade entertainers, technicians and other support personnel - plus batteries capable of lighting a street of 32 homes - will bring the parade to life for each performance here.

The original MSEP played almost 3,600 performances at Disneyland between 1972 and 1996. The WDW version debuted in 1977 and left after 15 seasons to begin an engagement at DLP.

Click here for Fun Facts about MSEP.



TELEVISION'S "BEAR IN THE BIG BLUE HOUSE" IS COMING TO DISNEY-MGM STUDIOS

The curious and friendly Bear of the critically acclaimed Bear in the Big Blue House television series will take up residence at the Disney-MGM Studios starting June 7.

The 15-minute stage show, designed for children ages 2-6 and their parents, will take place in Bear's Big Blue House, located inside Soundstage 5 (formerly the Soundstage Restaurant).

During the show, Bear will introduce his friends Tutter the mouse; the otter twins Pip and Pop; Ojo, a younger bear; and Treelo the lemur.

The show is scheduled to run at the Disney-MGM Studios until August. A merchandise cart featuring Bear and his friends will be just outside Soundstage 5.

The Emmy-nominated "Bear in the Big Blue House" series encourages children to engage in creative play through music, exploration and problem-solving. Throughout the program, Bear frequently addresses the camera, speaking directly to young viewers.

The television show is produced by Jim Henson Television and airs daily on the Disney Channel.



ROY O. DISNEY WILL BE HONORED IN NEW STATUE

A statue honoring Roy O. Disney, Walt Disney's brother and champion of the WDW Resort, will be placed on Main Street, U.S.A., in the Magic Kingdom Park this October.

The bronze statue will be a life-size rendition of Roy sitting on a park bench facing Cinderella Castle, gazing at the theme park that Walt envisioned and that Roy brought to life.

Roy was considered the financial genius behind the Walt Disney Studios ever since he and Walt started the Disney Brothers Studio in 1923. As administrative leader, Roy guided the company through decades of growth while his brother created memorable cartoons, films and the Disneyland Park for millions around the world.

When Walt died in 1966, many thought that his recently announced Disney World would never be built. Roy came out of retirement and assumed personal supervision in the planning and construction of the Florida project. He also changed the name from Disney World to the Walt Disney World Resort as a tribute to his brother.

Roy passed away in December 1971, shortly after the resort opened. Watch What's New At WDW this fall for the unveiling of the statue honoring Roy and his lifelong dedication to his brother.



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