February 2016 Walt Disney World Bits and Bites
Feature Article
This article appeared in the January 26, 2016 Issue #853 of ALL EARS® (ISSN: 1533-0753)
Editor's Note: This story/information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all current rates, information and other details before planning your trip.
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STEP BACK IN TIME
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by Debra Martin Koma
AllEars® Editor
Each month, we rummage around in our archives for this featurette, which indulges in a bit of nostalgia, taking you back in history for a glimpse of Walt Disney World and The Walt Disney Company through the ages. This month, we take a look at February 1999 around the World.
What's new? People ask me that all the time, and they aren't always asking about Walt Disney World. But lately, when they ARE asking about WDW, I have a lot to tell them.
Walt Disney World is in a constant state of flux — anyone who has been visiting the resort for any length of time knows that. But I have been marveling at just how MUCH construction is going on around the World right now, and how much new "stuff" we have to look forward to. All the new dining and shopping at the reimagined Disney Springs… an expanded Soarin'… the World of AVATAR at Animal Kingdom… and of course entire new lands dedicated to Toy Story and Star Wars at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
It's not usually this busy around here, is it?
Well, I pulled out some old park guide maps from my way-too-big collection to see what was happening in February from a random year gone by — I chose 1999 — and it seems that "change" is really business as usual at Walt Disney World.
Let's start with a look at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Back in February 1999, the park was still a baby, really. In fact, the Maharajah Jungle Trek in Asia hadn't even officially opened yet, though I remember being able to walk through a sneak preview of the "Royal Forest of Anandapur" during my February 1999 trip. This attraction was slated for its grand opening in mid-March, along with the new Kali River Rapids. I thought those additions would finish that park off nicely. I would never have imagined that 17 years later it would be undergoing such a huge transformation.
Other parks weren't seeing such extreme growth at the time, but still there was plenty of change. Over in Epcot, Test Track was only in "soft opening" mode, having famously delayed its debut from May 1997. It officially opened the following month, in March 1999. And Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin could still be considered "new," as it had opened in the Magic Kingdom only a few months before, in November 1998.
The site of so much attention and activity recently, Disney's Hollywood Studios (then named Disney-MGM Studios) was sporting the "new" tag, too. The nighttime spectacular "Fantasmic!", housed in the specially constructed Hollywood Hills Amphitheater, had just premiered in October 1998, while a thrilling new coaster, the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Featuring Aerosmith, was under construction and due to open that summer. Granted these new attractions aren't on the scale of what's to come at the Studios over the next few years, but it just shows me how these theme parks never stay exactly the same for long. They are constantly changing, growing, adding — and alas, sometimes subtracting.
So while I have to shake off some construction dust after my visits to these ever-changing places right now, I'll just pretend it's pixie dust and dream about all the new and exciting prospects on the horizon!
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Would you like to be an AllEars® Guest Columnist? Check out our Writers' Guidelines and send your idea for a feature to AllEars® Editor Deb Koma HERE.
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HIDDEN MICKEYS ALERT
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Steve Barrett, author of the Hidden Mickeys books and webmaster of HiddenMickeyGuy.com, reviews a few Disney Hidden Images with you. Whenever you're on Disney property anywhere, stay alert for Hidden Mickeys!
1. Epcot, Future World Central. Outside the Epcot Character Spot, on an outside wall of Innoventions West, a Mickey Mouse hat appears in a mural of silhouettes. The wall faces The Land pavilion and borders the walkway from Innoventions Plaza to Future World West. This image has survived recent refurbishments of this area. (Thanks to the Luckner family, and the Hade family.)
2. Disney's Animal Kingdom, Discovery Island, Pizzafari Restaurant. In the last seating area room to the far left (as you face the food order counters), a classic Mickey formed by black spots is directly behind the middle of the leopard's front leg. Many of the leopard's spots come close to forming three-circle Mickeys, but this particular image is the most convincing.
3. Disney Magic Cruise Ship, Deck 5 Hallway. Pictures grace the wall between the midship and forward elevators, port side. These images have changed over time, but at least one has stayed in place: a picture with Donald Duck at one end of a fork. (Thanks to AllEars.Net's Deb Wills for confirming this hidden character.)
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You can find a selection of past Hidden Mickey Alerts HERE.
And check out our latest Searching Disney with Steve blog.
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MONTHLY REMIND-EARS
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FEBRUARY EVENTS
VALENTINE'S DAY — February 14. Special meals and menu items will be featured around the parks to celebrate this romantic holiday.
EDITOR'S NOTE: For ideas on how to spend Valentine's Day at the Disney Parks:
— Romantic Things to Do at WDW
— Romance in the Air
— Sweet Time with Your Sweetie
And don't forget to send in your tips for a romantic evening (or day) at the parks for our Tips Database to: [email protected].
Princess Half Marathon Weekend is February 18-21. The weekend features a three-day health and fitness expo geared toward women, a family fun run 5K and kids' races, the Disney Enchanted 10K, the Princess Half Marathon and the Glass Slipper Challenge, in which participants run the 10K and half marathon over the course of two days. For more details on the weekend, visit the runDisney site.
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Check our Events page for a full schedule of upcoming events.
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Disney's Animal Kingdom
Kali River Rapids in Asia will be closed for refurbishment through February 11, 2016.
Flights of Wonder in Asia is closed through March 17, 2016.
The Boneyard in Dinoland USA will be closed for refurbishment February 22 through March 17, 2016.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Toy Story Midway Mania – More midway track is being added; work is expected to be completed in 2016.
Pizza Planet is closed for refurbishment until late 2016.
Epcot
Innoventions in Future World West is closed except for the Visa Character Photo Location.
Soarin' closed January 4, 2016, and will remain closed throughout the summer, as another theater is being added, as well as new screens and a projection system.
The Maelstrom attraction and Spirit of Norway movie have closed to make way for "Frozen Ever After," based on the animated film, "Frozen." The new attraction will take guests to the film's land of Arendelle and is expected to open in early 2016. The Norway pavilion will also again host a royal greeting location where the characters Anna and Elsa can meet guests.
Magic Kingdom
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland is closed for refurbishment through February 11, 2016.
Magic Carpets of Aladdin in Adventureland is closed through February 3, 2016 for refurbisment.
Mad Tea Party in Fantasyland will close for refurbishment February 22 – 26, 2016.
Typhoon Lagoon Water Park is closed for its annual refurbishment through March 12, 2016.
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Jambo House Villas are undergoing a soft goods refurbishment from now through May 20, 2016. (Soft goods typically consist of design materials including bedding, wall, window and floor coverings and upholstery.)
Art of Animation Resort
Schoolyard Sprayground is closed for refurbishment through March 11, 2016.
BoardWalk Inn and Villas
BoardWalk Villas rooms are currently undergoing renovations.
BoardWalk Inn is also undergoing exterior repairs and painting now through May 5, 2016.
Flying Fish Cafe will close February 1 through September 30, 2016, for an extensive refurbishment.
The Luna Park Pool will be closed February 1 – 4, 2016.
Seashore Sweets' will close permanently on February 1, 2016, to make way for a new experience.
Caribbean Beach Resort
Trinidad South Quiet Pool will be closed February 3 – 5, 2016.
Barbados Quiet Pool will be closed February 17 – 19, 2016.
Aruba Pool will be closed for refurbishment February 22 through April 15, 2016.
Contemporary
Bay Lake Tower's Bay Cove Pool will be closed for refurbishment February 1 – March 18, 2016.
Polynesian Resort
Polynesian East Pool is closed for enhancement through early 2016. Expect noise and construction; some pathways may be blocked.
Pop Century Resort
Bowling Pin Pool is closed for refurbishment February 16 – March 1, 2016.
Port Orleans Riverside
Ol' Man Island Pool is closed for refurbishment through February 29, 2016.
Saratoga Springs
Treehouse Villas — A soft goods rehab starts February 7 and runs through June 22, 2016.
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin is currently undergoing the largest renovation in its 25-year history. The Swan rooms have been completed; the first phase of the Dolphin Hotel room renovations have just begun, with the entire room project currently scheduled to be completed by the end of 2017.
Wilderness Lodge and Villas at Wilderness Lodge
General resort refurbishments and construction work in multiple areas will continue until 2017. Some pathways and the nature trail will be unavailable at certain times.
Hidden Springs leisure pool, resort beach, playground and recreation fire pit are unavailable.
Cub's Den Children's Activity Center is closed now through 2017.
Disney Springs
Roadwork on Buena Vista Drive – Through March 2016. Due to heavy roadwork, expect delays on Buena Vista Drive. It is recommended that guests use complimentary Walt Disney World Resort transportation from Parks and Resorts to Downtown Disney and plan to arrive early for reserved dining and entertainment experiences.
Parking Lots – Entrance 2 – Lots A-G – closed through August 2016, in preparation for the construction of Town Center and the East Garage.
Read HERE for more on Disney Springs.
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A complete list of known rehabs can be found HERE.
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MAGICAL MOMENTS
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Heart-warming Magical Moments brought to us by the amazing Disney cast members!
Rita B.: My favorite things to collect on vacations — especially Disney trips — are Christmas tree ornaments. I had 20+ years' worth of ornament memories stored in the basement that were destroyed in a fire on Thanksgiving night 2014. I was so sad to lose them all, but thankful that no one was hurt in the fire. During our trip this October, I visited the Olde Christmas Shoppe at Magic Kingdom to see if they might have some overstock from recent years so that I could replace ornaments I'd lost. After checking in the back, they said no and suggested Downtown Disney. I finished my shopping and had the other ornaments sent back to my resort. I picked them up on the last night of our trip and packed them in our suitcase, not thinking about it. When I got home and unpacked, I saw a note on the second box in the package that said Merry Christmas from the Olde Christmas Shoppe. It contained a hand-painted ornament with each of the years from our previous trips that I had been looking for! I was showing the ornaments to my mom at the time and several tears were shed! I wish I knew the gentlemen's names who were assisting me so I could thank them and let them know how much joy that has brought to us, and I share every chance I get about my special Disney magic!
Cynthia M. : I've had my share of magical moments over the years but this one was quite memorable. It was just about sunset one afternoon this October, and we headed on over to Mission Space for our final FastPass of the day. We approached two young female cast members cautiously, since we were about 15 minutes early for our appointed time. One of the CMs asked to scan my band to see how many more minutes we had to go. When my name popped up on the screen, she screamed with delight, "My name is Cynthia, too! AND her name is Cindy!" as she pointed to both of their name tags! Just then, the mom of the British family behind us in line stepped up to the MagicBand scanner and said, "You're never going to believe this, but my name is Cynthia, too! As she scanned her band Mickey to Mickey, the two Cast Members jumped up and down in amazement and high-fived us! Talk about a small world!
Jane: A number of years ago, I visited Disney World with my daughter and three grandchildren, ages 3, 4, and 7. Our Magical Moment happened in front of Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. This was before Fastpass+ and MagicBands, so my daughter was standing in line at the FastPass machines with all three children. One of the cast members sweetly smiled and came up behind the machine to face her. As my daughter was about to have her turn, the cast member told her to wait. Then she asked each child, in turn, what their favorite number was, with the youngest going first. As the numbers were spoken, the cast member opened the back of the machine and brought out that many FastPasses. The youngest said 3 and the next child said 4, both of them choosing their age. The oldest child had caught on by this time and she said 15. We were gifted with 22 FastPasses for Buzz, some of which we used and the rest we passed on to a large family in the stand-by line. I do believe the children enjoyed sharing their passes as much as using them!
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We just bet you have a story to tell about an unforgettable moment during your Disney vacation! Please send your favorite memory for inclusion in a future AllEars® to: [email protected] Thank you all for sharing!
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Editor's Note: This story/information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all current rates, information and other details before planning your trip.
