Dateline Disney January/February 2008

Disney's Hollywood Studios: A new year brings a new name to the Disney theme park that celebrates "all things Hollywood"; Plans for ESPN The Weekend available online.

Disney's Animal Kingdom: Park serves up new dining experiences.

Disney's Wide World of Sports: Brazilian running for fifth Disney Marathon win; Health & Fitness Expo showcases experts in running, fitness, nutrition during free seminars; Atlanta Braves begin spring training workouts at Champion Stadium in February.

Epcot: Spaceship Earth relaunches in February following nine-month project of changes.

Magic Kingdom: Nine nights of Pirate & Princess Party merriment in store in January and February.

Disney's Dreamers Academy: 100 high school students to be treated to a look at interesting careers Jan. 17-20.

Downtown Disney: Surfer dudes have a place to shop for boards and more.

Disney Resorts: Disney's Coronado Springs Resort welcomes nightlife newcomer -- Rix Lounge.

Disney Cruise Line: Guests have special offerings in 2008, new itineraries in 2009.

As "Year of a Million Dreams" Continues, Disney Park Changes Name; New Supporting Cast of Attractions Set to Debut

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Change and constancy are both on the calendar at Walt Disney World Resort in the new year. While the popular "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration continues for another year, the Disney park that celebrates Hollywood and show business is keeping its theme but changing its name and one of the park's hit shows is keeping its name but otherwise changing:
# Happy 2008 and hello Disney's Hollywood Studios. Renamed from Disney-MGM Studios, the new moniker better reflects not only the Golden Age of Tinseltown but all that today's Hollywood has to offer -- in movies, music, theater and television.
# In February, "Playhouse Disney--Live on Stage!" one of the park's hit shows, will "re-debut" featuring a new cast of characters and whole new storyline. Hugely popular with young children -- who are on their feet singing, clapping and dancing during performances -- the show now will be based on stars from "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," "Little Einsteins," "Handy Manny" and more.

The new edition of "Playhouse Disney--Live on Stage!" is the first of several major entertainment offerings bowing at Disney's Hollywood Studios in 2008. In the spring, a whole new parade experience, "Block Party Bash," will make its Florida premier, and the greatly anticipated attraction Toy Story Mania! will follow in the summer.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Serves up Two New Dining Experiences

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- From a bamboo steamer basket of dim sum to crispy honey chicken and seared miso salmon, Asian favorites are on the menu at the new Yak & Yeti Restaurant in the land of Asia at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Across the park in Africa, Tusker House is reopened as an all-you-care-to-eat restaurant, with more than a dozen "cooking stations" with African-inspired cuisine.

Yak & Yeti Restaurant, operated by Landry's Restaurants (which also manages the Rainforest Cafés at Disney's Animal Kingdom and Downtown Disney), features a 250-seat dining room inspired by the cuisine and architecture of the western Himalayan foothills. There are eclectic antiques and artifacts including embellished doorways, elaborate statues of ancient gods and goddesses and an intricately carved wooden staircase that was made in India and reassembled at Walt Disney World Resort. Menu items range from $5 for appetizers to $23 for Shaoxing steak and shrimp.

A full-service bar includes five varieties of chilled sake; beers from India, Thailand, Singapore, China and Japan, and wines. The restaurant's specialty, the Yak Attack, is a blend of frozen mango, rum and berries.

Guests in a hurry can eat at the adjacent quick-service restaurant, with outdoor seating for 350. A limited menu includes sweet-and-sour pork, crispy honey chicken, fried rice, egg rolls and other Asian favorites.

At Tusker House, mornings feature Donald's Safari Breakfast with Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Mickey. For lunch and dinner, the diverse menus feature seafood; carved meats and pork loin, and an array of interesting tastes such as chutneys, hummus, spiced tandoori tofu, couscous salad and basmati rice. More than a dozen South African wines are featured, many by the glass.

The children's menu includes peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chicken drumsticks and mashed potatoes.

Disney's Pirate and Princess Party Offers Perfect Blend of Rowdy and Regal Merriment

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Enter a wonderland of enchanting princesses and swashbuckling adventurers during Disney's Pirate and Princess Party, which returns to Magic Kingdom on nine magical nights in January and February 2008. The fun begins at 7 p.m. (after regular theme park hours) and continues until midnight on Jan. 21, 26, 29 and Feb. 2, 5, 9, 14, 22, 26.

A treasure map leads feisty buccaneers and pretty princesses on a trek through Magic Kingdom seeking chocolate treasures, colorful beads and encounters with favorite Disney characters. Youngsters can explore themed pirate coves and princess courts overflowing with special entertainment and dance parties, plus favorite attractions are open throughout the evening.

Centerpiece of the event is the "Enchanted Adventures Parade," a colorful cavalcade starring a 39-foot pirate ship with swinging and sword-fighting mates. And perched high on the gold-filled treasure chest is Tinker Bell herself guarding the goods from Captain Hook and the larger-than-life crocodile -- Tick Tock -- that angrily snaps and slithers along the route. Disney maidens and princes, knights on horseback, regal dancers and the Jolly Rogers flag corps make fairytales come alive in the nightly spectacle. The night is capped with the dazzling "Magic, Music, and Mayhem" fireworks spectacular orchestrated to an original musical score with memorable pirate and princess melodies.

Tickets are $45.95 plus tax for ages 10/up and $39.95 plus tax for ages 3-9. Call WDW-AHOY or visit disneyworld.com/pirateandprincess for special offers.

2008 Disney's Health & Fitness Expo Jan. 10-12 Features Running Legends, Fitness and Nutrition Experts at Speakers Series

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Running legends Bill Rodgers and Jim Ryun are among more than a dozen experts on running, fitness and nutrition who will step to the Speakers Series podium during Disney's Health & Fitness Expo Jan. 10-12 at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.

A total of 19 topical seminars -- each 30-45 minutes in duration -- will take place in The Milk House. Seminar times are 3:30-6:30 p.m. on Jan. 10, 12:30-5:15 p.m. on Jan. 11 and 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Jan. 12. The sessions include Q&A, with TV and radio commentator Creigh Kelley serving as host and moderator. There is no admission charge for either the seminars or the Health & Fitness Expo in general.

Coach/columnist/author Jenny Hadfield, who writes for Health Magazine and Runnersworld.com, will launch the Speakers Series Jan. 10 at 3:30 p.m. with a session entitled "Last Minute Tips for a Magical Race."

Bill Rodgers, the only American to win the Boston and New York marathons four times, will take part in seminars all three days -- Jan. 10 at 4:30 p.m., Jan. 11 at 4:15 p.m. and Jan. 12 at 2 p.m. Jim Ryun, the former world record holder in the mile and an Olympic silver medalist in the 1500-meter, will be part of the Jan. 11 and Jan. 12 sessions entitled "Return of the Legends."

The legends involved in the two seminars (Jan. 11 at 4:15 p.m.; Jan. 12 at 2 p.m.) are a "magnificent seven" from the world of running. Rodgers and Ryun will be joined by fellow former Olympians Jeff Galloway and Keith Brantly, former U.S. and world distance record holder Patti Dillon, sixth-ranked all-time U.S. women's marathoner Kim Jones, and Runner's World "king of the rankings" Jon Sinclair, whose long career as a road racer has produced more wins and placings than any other male runner in modern road racing history.

Disney's Health & Fitness Expo takes place in conjunction with Walt Disney World Marathon weekend. More details about the expo, including a complete schedule for the Speakers Series, are available online at www.disneyworldmarathon.com. On the landing page, click on the Health & Fitness Expo "Event Info" button.

Four-Time Champion Adriano Bastos Returns to Defend Title at Walt Disney World Marathon Jan. 13

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Brazilian Adriano Bastos returns to the Walt Disney World Marathon Jan. 13 wearing a familiar number: 1. The 29-year-old Sao Paolo athlete will be running for his fourth straight Disney title and fifth in six years, starting at the front of an entry field of 18,000 people in the 15th annual Walt Disney World Marathon that takes participants on a 26.2-mile tour of the Vacation Kingdom property, including all four theme parks.

Bastos has posted four of the 25 best times ever at Disney in winning the marathon four times -- including each of the last three years. In January 2007, his 2:19:24 performance (20th best in the event's history) earned him his biggest victory margin -- 12 minutes and 59 seconds.

The marathon caps a four-day "weekend" of activities that this year has attracted a record 40,000 participants for a variety of races -- from a diaper dash for crawling babies and a 5K ... to a half marathon (Jan. 12) and the full marathon. Entry is closed for all events except kids races (including the famous diaper dash) on Jan. 11 and Jan. 12. To register, guests can log on to www.disneyworldmarathon.com.

Magical Journey Begins for 100 High School Students Headed to Disney's Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Walt Disney World Resort will open the doors of the magic behind Disney to 100 creative and imaginative teens during the first-ever Disney's Dreamers Academy Jan. 17-20. High school students from New York to New Orleans, from Compton, Calif., to Wichita, Kan. -- that is, from all across the United States -- have been selected to participate in the enrichment program that will immerse the students in creative and non-conventional career opportunities during "The Year of a Million Dreams." Disney worked with nationally syndicated radio personality Steve Harvey to create this innovative program.

"The Steve Harvey Morning Show" conducted the Dreamer's Contest to identify the participants -- high school students who show promise but may need a little motivation. However, all of the selected students share a trait: the power to DREAM. Parents, teachers, school administrators, church groups and even the students themselves nominated more than 3,000 aspiring dreamers from across the nation for the program. The participants were selected by a distinguished panel of judges.

During Disney's Dreamers Academy, young dreamers will have unprecedented access to the magic behind Walt Disney World Resort. Students will participate in interactive workshops focusing on a variety of subjects including Walt Disney World Imagineering techniques, entertainment, the business of sports, culinary arts, and more. Disney cast members, executives and celebrities like actress Monique Coleman will share their blueprints for success. And the lucky participants will explore Disney's theme parks before a graduation ceremony where a special guest will deliver a motivational address.

February Relaunch of Spaceship Earth Follows Nine-Month Project of Changes and Refinements

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The nine-month countdown continues to the February 2008 relaunch of Spaceship Earth at Epcot.

Presented by Siemens, Spaceship Earth relaunches with much more than the facelift that has restored the exterior look of the Epcot icon to what greeted the park's first guests a quarter century ago. Spaceship Earth has been undergoing changes since May 2007 that, when complete, will treat Walt Disney World guests to an attraction with four new scenes, new costumes and set decorations, new lighting and special effects, a new musical score and narration, and a totally re-themed interactive post-show.

The schedule for the attraction's changes has permitted operation of various show and post-show elements during much of the nine-month project. Holiday guests got a sneak preview of most of the changes in the enhanced ride-through portion of the attraction.

Some star power has been helping to drive the project:
# The new narration is delivered by English actress Dame Judi Dench, who earned an Oscar as best supporting actress in 1999 for her role in the motion picture "Shakespeare in Love."
# The new musical score was composed by Bruce Broughton, who has won a record 10 Emmy Awards and has been nominated for an Oscar and a Grammy during a career writing in every medium -- from theatrical releases and TV feature films to the concert stage and computer games.

Disney Cruise Line Adds Two Eastern Caribbean Itineraries Amidst a Wave of New Choices for Guests in 2008 & 2009

CELEBRATION, Fla. -- Disney Cruise Line has announced two new eastern Caribbean itineraries for 2009 -- giving guests more choices than ever before to explore the beautiful islands of the Caribbean -- and special offerings for 2008.

Beginning in 2009, St. Croix will be a featured stop on one new seven-night itinerary, and Tortola will be featured on another seven-night itinerary. Both islands are new to Disney Cruise Line, increasing the seven-night Caribbean choices on the Disney Magic to four itineraries (Disney's traditional eastern and western Caribbean itineraries will continue). Here's the schedule for the new itineraries:
# The "St. Croix itinerary" (which also visits St. Thomas and Disney's private island, Castaway Cay) will depart Port Canaveral, Fla., on Jan. 3, Jan. 31, Feb. 28, March 28, Oct. 10, Nov. 11 and Dec. 5 in 2009.
# The "Tortola itinerary" (which also visits St. Thomas and Castaway Cay) will depart Port Canaveral on April 25, May 23, June 20, July 18, Aug. 15 and Sept. 12, 2009.

Special offerings during 2008 include a summer season of sailings to the Mexican Riviera, select cruises with multiple stops at Castaway Cay, and an enhanced Land and Sea package. Disney's seven-night Land and Sea Package Plus Dining includes all the perks of the existing seven-night Land and Sea package that combines a Disney cruise with a stay at Walt Disney World Resort along with the added benefits of the Disney Dining Plan, which provides guests one sit-down meal, one counter-service meal and one snack per person for each night of their Walt Disney World stay.

To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can contact their travel agent, visit disneycruise.com or call Disney Cruise Line at 888/DCL-2500.

Updated Information about 2008 Edition of ESPN The Weekend Available Online at www.ESPNTheWeekend.com

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Sports fans who want to leap into planning for the fifth edition of ESPN The Weekend presented by Dick's Sporting Goods -- Feb. 29-March 2, 2008, at Disney's Hollywood Studios --can visit www.espntheweekend.com for the latest information about the upcoming event.

The weekend will feature a lineup of athletes and ESPN personalities as the studios theme park hosts ESPN and ESPN Radio shows, motorcades and star conversations, behind-the-scenes looks at ESPN shows, and an interactive sports area. The sports celebrity list will grow as the weekend draws nearer. All the fun is included with regular theme park admission.

Atlanta Braves Set Dates for Start of Second Decade of Spring Training at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Atlanta Braves will return to Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in February for their 11th spring training season at Walt Disney World Resort. Pitchers and catchers report Feb. 14 and begin workouts Feb. 15, with position players arriving Feb. 19 and hitting the practice facilities Feb. 20.

During March, the Braves will play a schedule of Grapefruit League spring training games against other Major League Baseball teams at 9,500-seat Champion Stadium. Details about the schedule and tickets will be announced at a later date.

Water Ski Champion Sammy Duvall Opens Surf Shop at Downtown Disney

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Surfer dudes will want to ride the waves with the newly opened Curl by Sammy Duvall surf shop at Downtown Disney Pleasure Island. The high-end shop offers a selection of trendy surf-wear clothing and accessories, plus skate boards, surf boards and other water-related sports gear. Situated near 8Trax, Curl by Sammy Duvall is open daily from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m.

During his competitive career, Sammy Duvall was one of the most accomplished water skiers in the world. He won more than 80 professional championships and was ranked #1 in the world for either ski jump or overall competition for 17 straight seasons. He was inducted into the International Water Ski Hall of Fame and the prestigious USA Water Ski Hall of Fame.

Today, Sammy's legacy continues with his multi-faceted Watersports Centre located at Disney's Contemporary Resort marina. His staff introduces Disney guests into his world of wakeboarding, waterskiing and tubing at the facility on Bay Lake.

Upscale Lounge Opens at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Rix Lounge, offering an upscale nighttime experience with house music, specialty drinks, tapas-style appetizers and rotating entertainment, has opened at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World Resort.

The 300-seat, 5,000 sq. ft. venue with a Mediterranean-inspired atmosphere is "a unique, sophisticated lounge for the conference guests that visit Disney each year," said Richard Debler, president of Springs Foods Service, which operates the location.

Debler, whose 25-year association with Walt Disney World Resort began with the opening of the San Angel Inn at Epcot in 1982, scoured the world to combine the right elements for the perfect lounge to open at Disney's Coronado Springs, a 1,921-room resort that specializes in hosting meetings and conventions. "Over the years, there has been an increased demand for an evening experience at convention locations," he said.

The bar serves as a focal point with its multi-colored backlit display and glowing onyx countertop. More than a dozen specialty cocktails such as the Rix Royale and the Rix Bouquet (champagne with rose petals and limes mulled up) may be paired with tapas-style appetizers such as the chorizo flat bread and the seafood cappuccino. State-of-the-art lighting and sound systems combined with high-backed banquettes, stylish couches and other furnishings create a first-class, fresh, contemporary and sophisticated ambience. There is also a private room -- accommodating up to 80 persons -- ideal for meetings, private receptions and other special events.

"We've created an atmosphere where guests can go unwind after work or a day at the park, celebrate a special event or party all night," said General Manager Lee Viersen. "It's truly a VIP experience."

Rix Lounge is open daily from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. A nightly DJ plays a variety of Top 40 music and on select evenings a percussion band will perform. This versatile venue is available for special events with creative entertainment. VIP table service and private events also are available. For more information, call 407/939-3806 or visit www.rix-lounge.com.

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