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JANUARY 2006

Walt Disney World Resorts: Extra Magic Hours fun is now making a real spash.

Disney-MGM Studios: Meredith Vieira, "Millionaire" return in January for three days of show tapings.

Epcot: Here's a cool way to cool off -- a pause that refreshes.

Disney's Wide World of Sports: Disney Marathon, Half Marathon going their separate days; with spring training just around the corner, Braves tickets on sale in January.

Anywhere in the world: A new weekly podcast features the fun of Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney Marathon, Half Marathon to Run on Separate Days -- Jan. 7 and Jan. 8

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend returns to Walt Disney World Resort in early January and, for the first time ever, participants in the prestigious 13th annual event will have a chance to get a little...well... "goofy."

A new, split-day format has the marathon and half-marathon taking place on separate days, allowing runners the opportunity to complete Goofy's Race-and-a-Half Challenge, running both events -- and all 39.3 miles -- in one weekend. Nearly 3,000 athletes have registered to participate in the Challenge and finishers will receive a new, specially designed Goofy Medal.

An event-record 30,000 athletes are registered for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend events, including 16,000 for the half-marathon on Jan. 7 and 14,000 for the marathon on Jan. 8, an increase of 6.25 percent from 2005. Registration closed in September.

The Walt Disney World Marathon has long been a favorite among distance runners. The popular 26.2-mile trek takes runners on a magical journey from the starting line at Epcot through Magic Kingdom, Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney-MGM Studios before returning to Epcot for an exhilarating finish.

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend also features Disney's Fun Run 5k and Kids Races on Jan. 7 and Disney's Health and Fitness Expo at The Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex on Jan. 5-7. A three-day celebration of health and fitness, Disney's Health and Fitness Expo involves celebrity runner appearances and seminars on training, racing and nutrition, along with the opportunity to experience the latest in running and fitness equipment.

Special Walt Disney World Marathon packages are available for registered runners, family members and friends through Disney Sports Travel by calling 407/939-7810 or a travel agent. Guests may also contact Disney Sports Travel via e-mail at wdw.disney.sports.travel@disney.com.

Note: Registration for the 2007 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (Jan. 5-7, 2007) begins Jan. 9, 2006, at disneyworldmarathon.com.

Disney Hotel Guests Now Enjoy Extra Magic Hours at Disney's Water Parks

LAKE BUENA, VISTA, Fla. -- Disney water parks join the roster of theme parks participating in the Extra Magic Hours feature at Walt Disney World Resort. Guests staying at any Disney hotel will be able to enjoy an additional hour of splashy fun at Disney's Blizzard Beach and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon. The water parks will open one hour before the regularly scheduled opening time, providing access to all attractions and preferred seating.

Extra Magic Hours also are available at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom -- on select days one hour prior to regularly scheduled park opening, and on other days up to three hours following the park's closing. Selected attractions are available for the exclusive use of Disney Resort hotel guests.

Guests are required to present their Disney Resort identification card along with a valid theme park admission ticket.

Walt Disney World Resort Launches Official Weekly Podcast
Filled With Exclusive Interviews, Behind-the-Scenes Content

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Walt Disney World Resort takes listeners inside the world's No. 1 vacation destination with "Walt Disney World Resort: Plugged In," a weekly podcast debuting as part of the "Happiest Celebration on Earth," a global commemoration of 50 years of Disney theme parks.

From a Christmas Day launch, the official Walt Disney World podcast is featuring a lively mix of exclusive content -- behind-the-scenes tours of Disney's four Florida theme parks, celebrity interviews, news about upcoming events, and conversations with Disney Imagineers, the men and women responsible for the design, creation and expansion of the company's theme parks and resorts.

Listeners can subscribe to the free audio program at disneyworld.com/podcast or through the iTunes Podcast Directory. The podcasts are being produced exclusively for the fast-growing medium and can be enjoyed at the listener's convenience with a computer or portable audio player such as the Apple iPod.

Upcoming podcasts will include interviews with celebrities such as Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa ("Live with Regis & Kelly"), Susan Lucci ("All My Children"), John Stamos ("Jake in Progress"), Raven ("That's So Raven"), the Cheetah Girls, Aly & AJ, Kelly Monaco and John O'Hurley ("Dancing with the Stars"), singer-actress Vanessa Williams, and the young stars of the Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media motion picture "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."

Listeners also will have unprecedented access to the thoughts of Imagineers as they discuss the design and construction of Expedition Everest, a thrilling new runaway train attraction debuting at Walt Disney World Resort in spring 2006.

"Walt Disney World Resort: Plugged In" joins several official podcasts from The Walt Disney Company, including free programs from Disney Online, Radio Disney, ABC, ESPN and Disneyland Resort.

Meredith Vieira Comes to Disney-MGM Studios For 'Millionaire' Tapings in January

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Walt Disney World guests can be part of the audience of the hit TV show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" with Meredith Vieira in January.

The syndicated show is coming to the Vacation Kingdom Thursday, Jan. 12, Friday, Jan.13 and Sunday, Jan. 15 to tape episodes at the "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire-Play It!" attraction at Disney-MGM Studios.

Guests can request tickets for the tapings by visiting millionairetv.com. Tickets include complimentary parking plus entry to Disney-MGM Studios. Everyone in the party must have a ticket.

Atlanta Braves Spring Training Single-Game Tickets on Sale, Jan. 7

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Atlanta Braves are returning to Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex for Major League Baseball Spring Training in February and March 2006. The Braves will conduct two weeks of workouts before playing a 16-game home schedule against 10 major league teams during their ninth year of spring training at the 220-acre sports complex at Walt Disney World Resort.

The defending National League East division champion Braves open their 2006 spring schedule with an exhibition game against the University of Georgia on March 1. The team faces its first major league opponent, the Los Angeles Dodgers, on March 3 before a special exhibition game against Venezuela of the World Baseball Classic on March 5.

The Braves continue their tradition of hosting the St. Louis Cardinals in back-to-back games March 12-13, marking the fourth consecutive year the teams have faced off in a two-game spring series. The National League champion Houston Astros travel to Disney on two occasions, March 14 and March 17, while the division rival New York Mets also make two appearances at the complex, on March 11 and March 29. The Braves host three American League teams -- the Detroit Tigers (March 6), Cleveland Indians (March 23 and March 25) and New York Yankees (March 27).

Individual game tickets for the Braves' home spring training season go on sale Saturday, Jan. 7 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster (407/839-3900 and ticketmaster.com), and at the Disney's Wide World of Sports box office. Prices range from $13 (general admission lawn seats) to $21 (lower reserved).

Information on spring training season and group tickets and mini-packs is available by calling 407/939-GAME (4263) and online at disneyworldsports.com. The popular mini-packs include both three- and five-game options in 2006 and are currently on-sale, giving fans their first opportunity to purchase specific games on the Braves' 2006 spring training schedule.

Fans also may purchase Atlanta Braves Spring Training travel packages offered through Sports Marketing USA. Travel packages include Braves game tickets, accommodations at Walt Disney World Resort and other benefits. Information is available online at sportsmarketingusa.com/braves_dwws.html.

Epcot's Place to Pause for Refreshment Gets Refreshed

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- For years, Epcot guests "in the know" have headed to Ice Station Cool in Future World to cool off and get refreshed with samples of Coca-Cola products from around the world. Now the area itself has been refreshed with bright colors and a new name: Club Cool. There's no age limit for this club, and the samples of an interesting array of Coca-Cola products are still offered on a complimentary basis. Club Cool is located near the central fountain in Future World.

Kick-It 3v3 Soccer Shootout World Championships, Jan. 14-16

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex hosts the 2006 Kick-It Soccer Shootout World Championships for three days of intense soccer action, Jan. 14-16.

Open to players ages five and above, the Soccer Shootout features athletes of all skill levels and hosts over 60 local and regional events across the country. The top teams in each division are invited to play in the World Championships where more than 4,000 players are expected to compete at Disney.

Soccer Shootout play is not your ordinary soccer match. Teams consist of three players with two substitutes and no goalkeepers. The game is played on a 30x40-yard playing field (20x30 for ages 6-8) with small goals (4x8 feet) and consists of two 12-minute halves. Sponsor areas and Skill Zone contests are open to all competitors and spectators throughout the event.

Additional information on the Kick-It 3v3 Soccer Shootout World Championships can be found online at disneyworldsports.com or kickit3v3.com.

General admission tickets are $10.75 for guests ages 10 and over and $8 for guests ages 3-9 and may be purchased at the Disney's Wide World of Sports box office.

Disney's Wide World of Sports -- January Events Calendar

Date - Event
Dec. 27-Jan. 2 - Disney's Soccer Showcase presented by adidas
Dec. 28-Jan. 1 - Disney's New Years Baseball Classic
Dec. 30-Jan. 1 - USA Competitions Gymnastics Meet
Jan. 5-8 - Walt Disney World Soccer Classic XIII
Jan. 5-8 - Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend +
Jan. 5-7: Disney's Health and Fitness Expo
Jan. 7: Disney's Marathon Weekend Family Fun Run 5k
Jan. 7: Disney's Marathon Weekend Family Fun Run Kids Races
Jan. 7: Walt Disney World Half Marathon
Jan. 8: Walt Disney World Marathon Jan. 7-15 - Varsity National College Cheer & Dance Championships
Jan. 12-16 - Men's Senior Baseball League Holiday Classic
Jan. 13-16 - USSSA Hoop It Up Basketball National Championship
Jan. 14-16 - Kick-It 3v3 Soccer Shootout World Championships
Jan. 18-23 - Sand Dollar Whitlow Invitationals (Gymnastics)
Jan. 19-22 - AAU International Men's Fastpitch Tournament
Jan. 27-29 - AAU Volleyball Classic

*All events are tentative and subject to change.
+ Marathon and Half Marathon start/finish line at Epcot.

The Sports Experience is open on event days at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. This interactive, multi-sport play area is available to all sports complex guests and participating athletes as part of the general admission to the facility.

General admission to Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex is $10.75 for guests ages 10 and over and $8 for guests ages 3-9.

For more information on events at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, visit us on the World Wide Web at disneyworldsports.com.