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Following a gala dedication for its thrilling new
Expedition Everest attraction, Walt Disney World Resort
announced a wide-ranging lineup of new entertainment,
reinvigorated attractions, interactive shopping experiences
and stylishly redesigned hotel rooms coming soon or available
now.
Al Weiss, president of Walt Disney World Resort, unveiled
the new offerings during a presentation for journalists
gathered at Disney's Animal Kingdom for the grand opening of
Expedition Everest, a runaway train adventure through the
Himalayas that sends guests hurtling toward an encounter with
the fearsome yeti.
"We're always adding innovation, creativity and
entertainment value to our resort, and we've got some great
things on the horizon -- on our property and beyond,"
Weiss said.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Guests Will Find 'Nemo' in
Dazzling Musical Spectacular
The undersea world that charmed audiences around the world
in the Disney presentation of the Pixar Animation Studios film
"Finding Nemo" will come to life in an all-new
musical stage show debuting at Disney's Animal Kingdom in late
2006.
Featuring original songs by Tony Award-winning "Avenue
Q" composer Robert Lopez and a cappella musical
"Along the Way" composer Kristen Anderson-Lopez, "Finding
Nemo--The Musical" will immerse guests of all ages in
the story of Marlin and Nemo, an overprotective clownfish
father and his curious son, through a dazzling production that
combines puppets, dancers, acrobats and animated backdrops.
Produced by Disney Creative Entertainment, the 30-minute
show represents the first time Disney has taken a non-musical
animated feature and transformed it into an original musical
production.
The theme park's newly enclosed Theater in the Wild will
become a magical undersea environment through innovative
lighting, sound, special effects and the theatrical puppetry
of Michael Curry, who designed the richly detailed character
puppets seen in the Broadway version of Disney's "The
Lion King."
Principal characters such as Marlin, Nemo and Dory will be
represented by live performers operating larger-than-life
puppets. Peripheral characters will be realized by a diverse
array of puppetry styles, including rod, bunraku and shadow.
"Finding Nemo--The Musical" will be staged
several times daily.
The Seas with Nemo & Friends Brings Familiar
Characters to Life Inside Epcot Aquarium
The Seas with Nemo & Friends, a whimsical and
visually stunning attraction for guests of all ages, is
scheduled to open at Epcot in Fall 2006. Featuring technology
that for all appearances has the stars of "Finding Nemo"
swimming amid the live marine life of the huge aquarium in The
Living Seas pavilion, the attraction is an adventure that
picks up where the motion picture left off.
The undersea voyage begins aboard "clamobiles" in
a colorful coral reef setting. Guests first meet Mr. Ray and
his class on a field trip and soon learn that Nemo has
wandered off.
The journey to find Nemo continues as familiar characters
such as Dory, Bruce, Marlin, Squirt and Crush help with the
search along the way. These deep sea friends inhabit a variety
of vibrant vignettes, including the actual aquarium -- one of
the world's largest saltwater aquariums -- which contains more
than 65 species of marine life.
In the musical finale of the attraction, Nemo is happily
reunited with his class and friends.
Upon exiting the attraction, guests can explore the rest of
the pavilion, which is home to "Turtle Talk with
Crush," the smash-hit recent addition featuring the
movie's laid-back sea turtle, who interacts with guests in
real-time, unscripted conversations; Bruce's Shark World, an
interactive area with colorful graphics and fun facts about
sharks; and live marine life in both the large aquarium and
specialized exhibits.
Captain Jack Sparrow Joining Audio-Animatronics Crew
of Pirates of the Caribbean Attraction
First the theme park attraction inspired the movie. Now the
movie is inspiring the attraction.
Pirates of the Caribbean, the classic Disney theme
park adventure brought to the big screen in "Pirates of
the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," is adding
new characters and features from the blockbuster entertainment
franchise.
The Magic Kingdom attraction closed in March to complete
the updates in time for the opening of "Pirates of the
Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" on July 7.
The attraction will feature the addition of two of
Hollywood's most infamous buccaneers, Captain Jack Sparrow and
his nemesis Barbossa. Joining the wildest crew that ever
sacked the Spanish Main, the pair add an exciting new twist to
the attraction's original storyline as they race to be the
first to claim a cache of treasure.
A similar makeover to Pirates of the Caribbean is taking
place at Disneyland in California.
Be a Princess -- or a Pirate -- with Fun New World
of Disney Experiences at Downtown Disney
World of Disney in Downtown Disney Marketplace has unveiled
new interactive experiences to celebrate the 10th anniversary
of the largest Disney shopping destination on Earth.
In the new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, part of the
51,000-square-foot store's new Princess Room, youngsters can
be made up pretty as a princess. And in the new Adventure
Room, a world of pirates and heroes beckons.
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique -- "owned" by the Fairy
Godmother and "operated" by Fairy
Godmothers-in-Training -- offers a menu of fancy up-do's,
glitter makeup and dazzling nails designed to pamper
princesses ages 3 and up. The boutique operates from 9:30
a.m.-6 p.m. daily (the last appointment is at 5:30 p.m.),
seven days a week. Walk-ins are accepted but reservations
strongly are encouraged by calling (407) WDW-STYLE (939-7895).
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is part of the store's newly
refurbished Princess Room. Resembling a great hall from
medieval lore, the space is dedicated to the classic fairy
tale stories of Disney Princesses, Princes and their castles.
Other features include a life-size princess figure who sings
to guests and interactive stations where little girls can
create their own tiaras and wands, fill jewelry boxes and
purchase princess makeup kits.
Across the store, young adventurers can pretend to sail the
high seas and hoist the Jolly Roger in the Adventure Room.
Heroes and heroines can fill treasure chests and skulls with
pirate plunder, create their own seafaring hat and interact
with a new pirate figure named Rusty Blade and his talking
parrot pal, Pollyanna.
Dramatic New Interiors Coming to Guest Rooms at Two
Classic Disney Resort Hotels
Guestrooms at Disney's Contemporary Resort and Disney's
Polynesian Resort are receiving a dramatic new look including
new décor, furniture, state-of-the-art entertainment
technology, carpeting, lighting and bathroom fixtures.
At Disney's Contemporary Resort, room décor is being
changed from the current style -- taken from the bold, bright
colors of contemporary art masters of the 1950s and '60s -- to
a more upscale, elegant design that incorporates muted color
accents such as reds, greens and yellows with basic black and
white.
Rooms at Disney's Polynesian Resort also are getting a new,
more sophisticated look but will retain the classic South Seas
style that has been the hotel's hallmark since 1971.
Both resorts will receive upgraded furniture elements such
as flat-screen televisions and designer bedding. In addition
to the room renovations, décor in the hallways and public
areas also is being updated.
The renovation of both resorts, which began in May 2005, is
scheduled to continue through the summer of 2006.
Select Guestrooms at Disney's All-Star Music Resort
to be Remade into All-Star Family Suites
Families, friends or anyone just needing more "room to
roam" will find it at Disney's All-Star Music Resort with
the launch of new family suites beginning June 4. Nearly 400
guestrooms are being converted to 192 family suites at the
value-priced resort.
Featuring two bathrooms and sleeping up to six people, each
suite also will include a generously sized kitchenette with
counter space, sink, microwave, coffee maker and under-counter
refrigerator. Other amenities include a private
"master" bedroom with its own flat-screen
television, desk and lounge chair.
Construction of the new suites begins April 23; the first
guests will be welcomed June 4. Completion of the
rooms-to-suites makeover is set for Oct. 13.
Innovative Airport Shuttle, Luggage Delivery Service
to Remain Complimentary
Since May 2005, guests of most hotels at Walt Disney World
Resort have enjoyed an innovative amenity that helps take the
hassle out of traveling between Orlando International Airport
(OIA) and the Vacation Kingdom.
Disney's Magical Express offers complimentary airport
shuttle and luggage delivery and -- on participating airlines
-- check-in at guests' hotel for domestic return flights.
Launched as part of the "Happiest Celebration on
Earth," which will conclude later this year, Disney's
Magical Express will remain operating as a complimentary
service, Disney announced today. The company recently reached
an agreement with OIA to continue the program.
Participating guests check their bags at their hometown
airport, bypass baggage claim at OIA and board
state-of-the-art motor coaches to Walt Disney World Resort --
while their bags are transferred to their room.
While guests flying any airline in or out of OIA may take
advantage of the motor coach transportation between the
airport and their Walt Disney World hotel, guests departing on
participating airlines (currently American, Continental,
Delta, Song, United, Ted, Northwest and JetBlue) have yet
another benefit through Disney's Magical Express: On domestic
flights, they can avoid airport check-in lines by checking
their luggage and receiving a boarding pass before departing
their select Walt Disney World hotel.
Disney Cruise Line Offers First-Ever Mediterranean
Cruises During Summer 2007
For the first time, Disney Cruise Line is adding a
European flair to its itineraries, repositioning the Disney
Magic for the summer of 2007 to the Port of Barcelona in
Spain and offering 10- and 11-night Mediterranean cruise
vacations to Europe.
With eight European ports of call that provide gateways to
familiar cities such as Florence, Rome, Pisa and Cannes, the
Mediterranean itineraries will deliver the family vacation of
a lifetime with all the benefits Disney Cruise Line offers.
The four 11-night cruises will depart on Saturdays: May 26,
June 16, July 7 and July 28; the four 10-night cruises will
depart on Wednesdays: June 6, June 27, July 18 and Aug. 8.
Both itineraries will depart from Barcelona.
In addition to the Mediterranean cruises, two 14-night
trans-Atlantic sailings will bookend the 10- and 11-night
adventures with the eastbound itinerary departing from Port
Canaveral, Fla., May 12, 2007, and the westbound voyage
starting from the Port of Barcelona on Aug. 18, 2007.
Starting rates for the Mediterranean itineraries range from
$2,399 to $3,499 and are based on double occupancy. Guests
interested in booking a Mediterranean cruise with Disney
Cruise Line should call (888) DCL-2500 (325-2500), visit disneycruise.com
or contact their travel agent.
Source: Walt Disney World
Public Relations
Little
princesses can get a royal transformation at the Bibbidi
Bobbidi Boutique inside the World of Disney at Downtown Disney
Marketplace.
Contemporary
Resort's room makeover is now ready to regale guests with even
nicer digs!
Disney’s
All-Star Music Resort has added family-style suites with
exciting new amenities and spacious surroundings that can
accommodate families of six or more. Disney’s All-Star Music
Suites includes generously sized kitchenette, 27” flat
screen TV, two full baths, microwave, coffee maker and
refrigerator.
Disney's
Polynesian Resort joins two sister resorts in a
makeover.
In
July, the entrance to Pirates of the Caribbean will sport a
new look.
Concept
art for The Seas with Nemo and Friends. The Living Seas has
been in the midst of a refurbishment for a number of months
now. Disney has announced a completely new experience when the
Epcot attraction opens in the Fall of 2006.
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