October 2005

In This Edition:

Magic Kingdom: Little princesses receive royal treatment
Special fireworks light the night during Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

Disney Sports: Golf, martial arts on the October agenda.
Downtown Disney: Irish hospitality arrives with opening of Raglan Road.

**********

A Little Girl's Dream to Come True Daily in October as Magic Kingdom
Salutes Cinderella Honorary Princess of the Day

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- What little girl hasn't dreamt of waving to an adoring audience from a seat within Cinderella's crystal coach?

For 31 little girls -- one each day in October -- it will be more than a dream as Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom recognizes the first-time DVD release of the motion picture "Cinderella" with Cinderella Honorary Princess of the Day.

Each day, an honorary princess will be chosen and will receive a Cinderella gown and tiara for the special occasion -- a ride in Cinderella's horse-drawn coach ahead of the 3 p.m. parade in an honorary princess procession. She will be accompanied by banner carriers, coachmen and Cinderella's adorable mice, Suzy and Perla.

The honorary princess will also be invited to a private meeting with Cinderella herself. And, of course, she will receive a copy of "Cinderella" on DVD.

"Cinderella" goes on sale Oct. 4 as a Buena Vista Home Entertainment two-disc Platinum Edition digitally restored DVD with bonus features and enhanced picture and sound. Unavailable in any form for almost 10 years, "Cinderella" is the sixth release in Disney's celebrated "Platinum Edition" line. Among the bonuses: an all-new DVD-ROM feature, "The Royal Life," which allows participants to scan their picture and become part of a fairy tale world that they can create.

**********

Magic Kingdom Skies Burst with Colorful New Fireworks Fun
During Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties in 2005

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Ghostly (if not ghastly) Disney villains haunt the sky above Magic Kingdom with "trick-or-treat!" exclamations during performances of an all-new fireworks show being presented exclusively during Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties in 2005 at Walt Disney World Resort.

"Happy HalloWishes" turns the nighttime sky into an overhead canvas for blasts of color and stunning visual effects set to spooky music from family-friendly Disney attractions and movies -- such as Haunted Mansion and "The Nightmare Before Christmas" -- plus the voices of memorable Disney characters such as Madame Leota, Ursula, Jafar, Maleficent and Oogie Boogie. It all builds to an explosive "Halloween Scream-along" finale.

The new aerial spectacle is being presented on 15 Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party dates -- Sept. 30, Oct. 2, 6, 7, 11, 13, 16, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30 and 31. The fun begins at 7 p.m. (after regular park operating hours) and continues until midnight. Separate admission is required.

Each date features the new fireworks display plus "Mickey's Boo-to-You Halloween Parade," Mickey's Mouse-Ka-Rade costume parties, Halloween storytelling, live entertainment, unique merchandise and opportunities for trick-or-treating throughout the theme park, including special "treat trails." Plus, all guests are welcome to wear Halloween costumes -- just like the Disney characters!

Tickets are $39.95 plus tax for ages 10 and above, $32.95 plus tax for ages 3-9. Children under three are admitted at no charge. Guests can save $5 per ticket on all dates except Oct. 31 by purchasing tickets in advance by calling 407/W-DISNEY or visiting disneyworld.com.

**********

Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant Opens at Downtown Disney

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Irish hospitality and a bit of blarney come to Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort when Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant officially opens Oct. 21. Raglan Road delivers an experience immersed in genuine Irish atmosphere -- from food and drink to live music and entertainment.

Traditional and contemporary Irish music, storytelling and dance help create a spirited social ambience and the friendly pub staff brings Emerald Isle charm to Downtown Disney. Irish musicians entertain nightly and guests are encouraged to sing, clap and dance along to the lively performances.

The Raglan Road menu blends traditional Irish fare and fresh ingredients, all with a modern flair. Natural tastes, flavor and quality prevail in dishes such as Raglan Rack (rack of lamb on a delicate Irish stew consommé), Sea Leek (oven-baked fillet of sea bass served on a fondue of leeks) and Kevin's Kudos (oven-roasted loin of bacon served with braised cabbage and creamed potato).

With capacity for 600 guests, Raglan Road is warm and welcoming with custom furnishings, lighting and wall coverings -- all designed and built in Ireland by Irish craftspeople. Irish antiques, ornamentation and bric-a-brac complete the authentic décor.

Raglan Road is owned and operated by Great Irish Pubs Florida, Inc., the Irish-owned company that previously created Nine Fine Irishmen at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Pleasure Island club admission will not be required for entrance to Raglan Road.

**********

Tiger Woods Foundation Junior Golf Clinic Oct. 13-16

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Nearly 100 junior golfers from several cities in North America will converge on Disney's Palm and Magnolia golf courses for the Tiger Woods Foundation Junior Golf Clinic, Oct. 13-16. Inner-city golf programs representing Syracuse, N.Y., Calcasieu Parish, La., Leon, Mexico, and Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, will participate in the three-day event at Walt Disney World Resort.

The youth golf programs were selected to participate through a formal bid process. The foundation's Junior Golf Committee reviewed all bids and ultimately selected the participating groups through detailed criteria that measured inner-city youth golf initiatives, community support and participation in local junior golf programs.

The experience will include tickets to Disney theme parks, a pitch, putt and drive skills competition, a junior golf clinic and an exhibition by Tiger Woods at Disney's Magnolia driving range on Saturday, Oct. 15. (The golf competition, clinic and exhibition are private events not open to the general public.) The trip culminates with the young golfers experiencing Disney's latest, most thrilling attraction, Soarin', at Epcot, followed by a special nighttime party.

The event marks the 39th clinic held by the Tiger Woods Foundation since its inception in 1996, and the fourth clinic held at Walt Disney World Resort. The Foundation seeks to empower young people to reach their highest potential by initiating and supporting community-based programs that promote the health, education and welfare of all America's children. More information can be found at tigerwoodsfoundation.org.

**********

PGA Tour Players Must Go to Greater Lengths to Claim Record Prize in 2005 FUNAI Classic as Disney Stretches Course to Over 7,500 Yards

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- While some lucky golfer is going to claim a FUNAI Classic record first prize of $792,000 when the PGA TOUR returns to Walt Disney World Resort Oct. 20-23, he is going to have to go a little further to win it.

That's because Disney's venerable Magnolia course has been stretched to more than 7,500 yards -- a distance more than 300 yards longer than the course played in 2004 when rookie Ryan Palmer earned a three-stroke victory over Vijay Singh and Briny Baird ... and nearly 600 yards longer than the course played in 1971 when Jack Nicklaus won the first "Disney."

More than half of the holes have been lengthened, either by building new tee boxes or by lengthening existing tee boxes. Measured by shear distance, the Magnolia course now will be among the 10 longest tracts that the PGA TOUR players face in 2005. Topping that list is Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colo., which hosts The International. It is 7,619 yards.

Tickets for FUNAI Classic championship rounds (Thursday-Sunday) are $30 per day. Tickets for practice rounds (Monday-Wednesday) are $10 per day. A weekly badge providing admission to practice days and the championship rounds is $50. Advance tickets are available by calling the Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce at 407/835-2525 or by visiting Orlando.org .

**********

Disney's Martial Arts Festival Features World of Disciplines
Oct. 28-30

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The sixth annual Disney's Martial Arts Festival will combine the positive atmosphere of competition with the magic of Walt Disney World Resort when it returns to Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex Oct. 25-30 with competitions in American Kenpo, Japanese and Okinawan classical karate, Chinese martial arts, continuous point sparring, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, karate and self-defense. Clinics, such as the American Kenpo Camp and the Tae Kwon do Clinic of Champions, will also be available for participants.

The event is open to children and adults at skill levels ranging from White Belt/White Sash to the Black Belt/Black Sash. Registration is available online at disneyworldsports.com. For a registration form via mail, call 407/832-7710.

Spectator admission for ages 10-older is $18 for one day and $28 for a three-day pass. Admission for ages 3-9 is $12 for one day and $22 for a three-day pass. The event is free for children under age three.

**********

Epcot Food and Wine Festival in Full Swing in October
Festival Features Events and Activities for Virtually Every Taste

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The 10th annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, perhaps the largest food and wine event in the United States with activities daily in October and continuing through Nov. 13, is a veritable feast for virtually every taste -- in food, drink and entertainment.

Here's an abridged guide to experiences that guests can take advantage of with regular Epcot admission:

**********

Festival Evenings at Epcot Are Filled with the Sound of Music

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- A blend of classic rock, R&B, oldies, jazz and funk creates the perfect musical complement during the 10th annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Sept. 30-Nov. 13, 2005, at Walt Disney World Resort. Evenings sizzle with the Eat to the Beat! concerts scheduled daily at 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. on the America Gardens Theatre stage. Here's the tentative lineup:

Sept. 30-Oct. 2 - Kansas
Oct. 3-6 - Commodores
Oct. 7-9 - The Edgar Winter Band
Oct. 10-13 - Kool & The Gang
Oct. 14-16 - The Gap Band
Oct. 17-19 - Arturo Sandoval Featuring Nestor Torres
Oct. 20-23 - Starship featuring Mickey Thomas
Oct. 24-25 - The Beach Boys
Oct. 26-28 - FamilyStoneExperience - Founding Members of Sly & The Family Stone
Oct. 29-31 - The Miracles Review Featuring Sydney Justin
Nov. 1-4 - Chubby Checker & The Wildcats
Nov. 5-7 - The Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman
Nov. 8-10 - Loverboy
Nov. 11-13 - Three Dog Night
Guests planning to attend the concerts should keep in mind that, while there is no additional charge for the concerts beyond Epcot admission, seating at the theater is limited.

**********

Decadent Desserts Take Center Stage During New Pastry Competition

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Student chefs from across the country are going to sweeten things up during the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival in a first-ever pastry competition called Walt Disney World's Sweetest Pastry Competition on Earth on Oct. 11 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. in World Showplace. The competition will be featured on the popular Food Network show Food Network Challenge in Spring 2006.

Six three-person pastry teams from top culinary schools will demonstrate their creativity and skills under pressure as Food Network cameras capture their every move preparing sweet sensations in three distinct categories -- room amenities, signature desserts themed to Disney's "Happiest Celebration on Earth," and a pastry showpiece featuring a Disney character. Each category will be judged by master pastry chefs from Walt Disney World Resort.

The invitation-only culinary competition was created to encourage students to enter the pasty chef field. The teams will compete for a scholarship and a coveted externship with Walt Disney World pastry chefs.

Food Network Challenge takes viewers to the biggest and best food battles around the world -- from cake and pastry interpretations to campus cook-offs to pizza battles to world-class bartending -- every Sunday at 10 p.m. E/PT. Food Network Challenge pits masters against each other for big prizes.

Epcot guests are invited to watch the competition, which will air on the Food Network next spring. For more information on being in the viewing audience, contact 407/566-6248. For more information on the 10th annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival contact 407/WDW-FEST or visit disneyworld.com/food.

**********

Tastes, Sights and Sounds Combine During 'Party for the Senses'

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- A tribute to the sensory arts unfolds each Saturday evening from Oct. 1 through Nov. 12 as the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival presents Party for the Senses -- an extravaganza that combines fine food and wine with an array of dazzling entertainment.

Guests begin their evening with a reserved seat at the Eat to the Beat! concert series performance at America Gardens Theatre. Artists performing on various dates in October include Commodores, Kansas, Starship featuring Mickey Thomas, Arturo Sandoval Featuring Nestor Torres, The Beach Boys and more.

Following the show, World ShowPlace is the setting for an event showcasing the talents of more than 25 eminent chefs and more than 70 wines and beers. While guests move among the tasting stations, they are wowed by awe-inspiring acts from Cirque du Soleil La Nouba. The party continues from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Afterward, guests can step out onto World Showcase Promenade to enjoy a performance of "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth," which combines lights, lasers, fire, fireworks and music in a memorable show that has drawn worldwide acclaim.

Reservations for Party for the Senses are available by calling 407/WDW-FEST. The cost is $95 plus tax, gratuity included. Epcot park admission is extra and required.

**********

Registration Available for Disney's Race for the Taste 10K Oct. 9

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- On your mark...get set...eat! In a unique twist, distance runners will combine their sport with international cuisine in Disney's Race for the Taste 10K on Oct. 9 at Walt Disney World Resort. Formerly known as Disney's 10K Classic, the race will take place in conjunction with the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, which runs Sept. 30-Nov. 13.

The Race for the Taste 10K will begin at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, then move on to Disney-MGM Studios' new attraction, "Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show." Runners will continue along Disney's BoardWalk before finishing in World Showcase at Epcot, the center of the Food and Wine Festival.

In addition to the race will be Disney's Go the Distance Expo at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex on Oct. 7-8, where representatives from the running industry will be available to answer questions, lend advice and offer the latest products and services.

Participants can register online for Disney's Race for the Taste 10K by visiting disneyworldsports.com or by calling 407/938-3398 to have a registration form mailed. All runners must be at least 12 years old and must maintain a 15-minute mile pace. Registration is $30 if received by Sept. 30 and $35 thereafter. Kid's races are free and registration will take place race morning only.