Conference koolit::disney

    From what I have heard/read the Studio Tour is on schedule to open
    1-May-89, the Caribbean Beach Resort is opening about 100 rooms
    per month through October, and the movie theaters at Pleasure Island
    are open.
    
    Can anyone who has been there recently confirm or deny these rumors?
    
    Also what is the schedule for the opening of the rest of Pleasure
    Island and Typhoon Lagoon?

    
    I can say that the movie theaters are open at Pleasure Island. 
    They are NOT owned by WDW nor run by them.  There is no transportation
    to them.  One must take the bus to the shopping village and walk
    about a mile.
    
    There are ten theaters in the complex.  You pay your money to get
    into one movie.  The theaters are so designed that you can wonder
    into the next movie without exiting.  Planning enables you to see
    a good many movies for the $2.75 admission charge.
    
    If you buy the large popcorn, $3.75, its refillable FREE.  If your
    planning on seeing a few movies, you  might consider that.
    
    This is not the Jerry lewis type theater.  By that I mean in a JL
    theater you hear all ten movies while sitting in one seat.
    Each room [thou small] is sound proof and has serio sound.  
    Each seat is very comfortable and provides a drink holder.
    
    ed
    

    I talked with the WDW people a couple of weeks ago.  The studio
    is still scheduled for opening the first of May.  There are no
    rumors of the date changing.

    Scanner Frequencies for those scanner buffs who visit WDW:
    
    DW transportation	461.600
    DW Trams		462.625
    DW monorail		467.575
    DW maint		462.650
    DW maint		462.675
    
    There's gotta be more, anyone else got some to share?
    
    ed
    

    I was at WDW over Christmas/New Years vacation.  We go quite often
    as my parents live about 45 minutes away.  We stayed at the Disney
    Inn this time and absolutely loved it.  MGM as of yesterday is still
    scheduled to open May 1, and if you read the Boston Globe yesterday,
    they are looking for singers and dancers for the studio and will
    be auditioning people in Boston in early March.  Paradise Island
    will be all the way opened in June.  Typhoon Lagoon I believe my
    mom said is also June.  The Caribbean resort hotel is open $65.00
    a night and as previously said keeps opening more rooms every month.
    My parents are also Disney buffs so everytime my mother gives me
    a new thing opening or dates of anything I'll post them here.
    

    I was at WDW the week before Christmas and stayed at the Carribean
    Beach Resort for the last two days of my stay.  It was beautiful.
    We stayed in the Trinidad section.   There is a swimming pool for
    each island (section) and a theme pool at the central house (Port
    Royale).  There is a place to rent bicycles for the whole family
    and boardwalk type trails to ride.  There is also an extensive
    playground for children.  
    
    The week prior to staying at the Carribean we stayed at the WDW
    Resort Villas that are located near the shopping village and the
    golf courses.  They're great for big families but my personal 
    feeling is they're isolated enough to make you feel as if you're
    riding the bus all the time.
    

    I don't know where to ask this, so I'll just try here.  
    
    Someone just walked up to my desk, and said that he had heard that
    there was going to be a Disneyworld built in San Antonio, Texas
    sometime in the mid 1990's???  Can this be true??  That would be
    a dream come true, as I only live a few hours away from SA.  Can
    anyone confirm or deny this rumor???????????????????????????????

reply to < Note 3.7 by DPDMAI::MATTSON >
    
>    Someone just walked up to my desk, and said that he had heard that
>    there was going to be a Disneyworld built in San Antonio, Texas
>    sometime in the mid 1990's???  Can this be true??  That would be
>    a dream come true, as I only live a few hours away from SA.  Can
>    anyone confirm or deny this rumor???????????????????????????????

    I remember reading about the  new  Sea  World that opened there about a
    year ago.  In the article  it  was  mentioned  the  developor had 4,000
    acres across from Sea World, that he was  looking  to  put an amusement
    park, and was talking to Disney among others.  I haven't heard anything
    new since then.
    
    Claude

    ANY ONE KNOW ANY THING ABOUT OR STAYED AT THE VISCOUNT HOTEL, AS
    I'M PLANNING TO VISIT DISNEY WORLD NEXT YEAR AND QUITE LIKE THE
    SOUNDS OF THIS TRUST HOUSE FORTE HOTEL.
    
    ARE THERE ANY MORE HOTELS THAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND STAYING AT??????

    
     My wife and I stayed at the Viscount 2 years ago, the rooms were
    a nice size and comfortable. They have a good breakfast buffet.
    I think it is one of the lower priced Lake buena Vista hotels, when
    compared with Pickett Suite, Royal Plaza, or the Hilton. It is a
    very short walk over to Disney Village marketplace/Pleasure Island
    complex. Bus service was always pretty good....we never drove anywhere.
    I would recommend this hotel as a good place to stay, for not too
    bad a price.
    
                   -Rob
    

    many thanks for your info Rob,  i apologise for shouting, this was
    my first attempt at using notes, and i didn't realise that i was
    shouting.
    
    any way,  what do you think about not hiring a car whilst over at
    Disney??If i were to stay say at the Viscount Hotel there is a shuttle
    bus which runs, is this quite regular, would I have to pay everytime
    i used it??
    
            
    would you advise in hiring a car if i were to go for 2 weeks , ie
    would there be enough to keep myself occupied, within the Disney
    Complex for that period of time?? without a car
    
    
    victoria                          
    

    Rep to <<< Note 3.26 by SUBURB::SAREV >>>
    
    Victoria,
    
>    any way,  what do you think about not hiring a car whilst over at
>    Disney??If i were to stay say at the Viscount Hotel there is a shuttle
>    bus which runs, is this quite regular, would I have to pay everytime
>    i used it??

    There are WDW buses which run from the WDW Village area (which is where
    the Viscount Hotel  is  located) to the various theme parks/water parks
    etc.  every 20  minutes  or  so,  that a car is not needed.  However as
    others have pointed out in  this  conference, it all depends on how you
    value your time vs the budget your on as to wether you save the dollars
    of rental and porbably spend more time  waiting  for  a bus vs spending
    the money and being able to go as you please.    
            
>    would you advise in hiring a car if i were to go for 2 weeks , ie
>    would there be enough to keep myself occupied, within the Disney
>    Complex for that period of time?? without a car

    There is definitely enough in WDW to occupy  your time during a 2 weeks
    period which would allow for a nice  leisure  place  (all  three  theme
    parks,  water  parks,  golf,  tennins swiming, horseback riding  etc.).
    However not knowing where you live (although I gather  the  UK based on
    your writing style), how often you get to go to  Florida  etc.   that 2
    weeks  is usually enough time to see the majority of what  WDW  has  to
    offer  as  well as sample some of the other attractions in the  Orlando
    area  (not  all  probably would take about 3 weeks these days), such as
    Sea  World,  Universal Studios, Buch  Gardens,  Cypress  Gardens,  Cape
    Kennedy Space Center, Daytonna etc..   So  if you plan to visit outside
    of WDW during your stay I would  venture  to  say that renting a car is
    better then taken the shuttle buses to other  attractions,  since those
    buses  tend to be somewhat incovenient it their schedules  don't  match
    yours.
    
    CLaude
    
    victoria                          
    

    Victoria,
    
    	    I would agree with Claude, if you are a first-timer in 
    Florida, then a car is desirable. Once you get hooked on Disney, 
    the you will easily be able to spend 2-3 weeks per year just on 
    WDW, but for the first visit, it would be a shame not to see the 
    other attractions in the State. Universal Studios, Sea World and 
    Kennedy Space Centre are practically mandatory, Busch Gardens, 
    Church Street Station and International Drive in all it's 'glory' 
    are also interesting. An afternoon at one of the shopping malls is 
    also a cultural experience for us Brits. 
    
    	    There are no traumas involved with driving in Orlando, 
    it's more worrying driving through one of our cities. If you are 
    booking a package, you will be able to opt for inclusive car 
    rental at pretty good rates, one weeks rental costs about the same 
    as a shuttle to and from the airport. Watch out for the dreaded 
    CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) though. Some packages (Destination 
    Disney from National) include CDW in the rental, others do not. 
    This can cost you an extra $10 per day, and it is tempting fate to 
    refuse it.
    
    	    Get the car, and once you have become a Disneyholic, you 
    can book your next holiday staying 'on property', and use Disney 
    transport, since you wont want to leave!
    
    Mike in Warrington

    Rep to <<< Note 3.28 by WOTVAX::BATTY "The Seaweed is Always Greener..." >>>

    Mike

>    Watch out for the dreaded 
>    CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) though. Some packages (Destination 
>    Disney from National) include CDW in the rental, others do not. 
>    This can cost you an extra $10 per day, and it is tempting fate to 
>    refuse it.

    Since I  was  corrected  on  this  a  little  while ago, CDW is free on
    personal rental here in the US from National as long as you use the DEC
    contacted rate, DEC's corporate  ID  #  for National is 5202000.  So it
    may be better to take  a package without the car and do it on your own,
    National is the official Car Rental  company  of  WDW  with  their  own
    office at the Care Care Center.
    
    For further details on DEC's car rental  agreements with either Avis or
    National here in the US, see VTX TRAVEL.
    
    Claude

    
    
    	re .29  that's only half the story.....
    
    	With Avis, CDW is included when you use the corporate number on ANY
    rental.  So it can be an "$89 a week" special and you can still get the
    free coverage......Just tell them you want have the corporate ID on the
    rental agreement.
    
    	Watch out, they will usually try to stick the Digital rate on you
    unless you specifically ask for the LOWEST rate.....
    
    	Not to degenerate this note into a repeat discussion, just wanted
    the Avis half here too since it worked out well for us when we went. 
    We rented a Pontiac Sunbird for $124 (that's tax and all) for seven
    days and got the insurance by referencing the Digital Corporate ID.
    
    
    --BERT

Mike,
    
    my only problem with hiring a car is that i am not yet old enough
     to do so,  am i right in saying that the age for hiring a car is
    21??
    
    As i am just 17, i would have a problem unless i took someone who
    is 21.  as i am planning to go with my sister who is 19 then i would
    not be able to take a car.
    
    it sounds like i would have plently of things too keep me occupied
    for two weeks without a car, am i right??
    
    I would be able to visit places like typhoon lagoon wouldn't I,
    as i really am looking forward to seeing what its like as it sounds
    REALLY good fun, don't you think??
    
    has any one out there visited Typhoon Lagoon??what do you think???
    
    
    
    Victoria

    
     Victoria,
    
          As long as you stay on Disney property you will have unlimited
    use of all buses, monorails and trams. If you do need to get to
    an International drive attraction there are plenty of cabs around.
    If you are going to do all Disney, you will not miss a car. One
    night my girlfriend and I were at a bar in the polynesian village
    past closing time for the transportation system. We told the castmember
    at the front desk that we needed to get back to the Viscount and
    one of the castmembers drove us over to our hotel....
    
          -Rob
    
    
  

    You gotta be 25 to rent a car in Florida!
    
    Phil

    25 eh!! i thought it was 21, although does it vary on which company
    you go with e.t.c??.
    
    
    another thing, i'm planning to go next year, and i will be 18 then,
    I am a bit worried about transferring from the hotel to the airport.
    There are plenty of taxis about aren't there, would it be
    expensive??if i were to stay on the disney estate??
                                                  
    
    victoria

    
     RE:-1
    
        You will have no problem here. There are plenty of taxis and
    there are also many shuttle services that run constantly from the
    airport to Disney property. It is not going to be one of your major
    expenses !!!!
    
                            -Rob
    
    

Taken from a pamphlet in April 1990 from Epcot Center. 
    
    Steve
    
 
		WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT EXPANSION PROJECTS
 
			MAGIC KINGDOM PARK
 
Mouseketeer Music Blast: 
	Live stage show for summer 1990 will be presented in the Tomorrowland
	Theatre featuring the host music of "The New Mickey Mouse Club" seen
	on The Disney Channel.  It will complement the release of the New
	Mickey Mouse Club's first single record and album due out this fall.
 
The Disney Afternoon:
	Also slated for this summer is a new character show inspired by the
	smash hit show "Disney Afternoon" -- "Chip 'n' Dale's Rescue
	Rangers," "Ducktales," and "Talespin."  The show will be presented
	in Mickey's Starland (formerly Mickey's Birthdayland).  The stage
	show will capture the magic which entralls children around the
	world.
 
One Man's Dream:
	For summer 1991, a spectacular salute to 65 years of musical
	highlights from such favorite DISNEY films as "Peter Pan,"
	"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Lady and the Tramp,"
	"Jungle Book," and many more.  The extravaganza, to be
	presented at Tomorrowland Theatre throughout the day, has been
	a super hit at TOKYO DISNEYLAND Park for the past three years.
 
New Circle-Vision 360 Adventure:
	In 1992, a fascinating new Circle-Vision 360 attraction will
	quite literally surround visitors with the wonders and 
	cultures of Western civilization.  Sophisticated Audio-
	Animatronics characters will disappear into the film at
	key points, blurring the line between fantasy and reality.
 
Splash Mountain:
	The ultimate water thrill ride, Splash Mountain comes to the
	MAGIC KINGDOM Park in 1993.  The attraction has drenched
	visitors with excitement at DISNEYLAND Park since its
	opening last year.  Guests ride eight-passenger logs through
	marvelous musical scenes from the DISNEY classic "Song of 
	the South" on their way to a meeting with destiny: a drop
	off the side of a five-story mountain through Brer Rabbit's
	briar patch into a misty pool below.
 
The Little Mermaid:
	At Mickey's Starland, "The Little Mermaid" will carry guests
	around and down into the world of the mermaid Ariel, her
	guardian-crab Sebastian, and her father King Triton.
 
New Tomorrowland:
	Science fiction replaces reality, allowing Walt Disney
	Imagineers' imaginations to run wild.  For 1996, the area 
	will be redesigned as an intergalactic space port for
	arriving aliens.  It will feature two major new attractions.
	Alien Encounter will put visitors in the midst of a
	"teleporation" experiment gone wrong and materialize the most
	terrifying alien being in the universe into their midst.
	Plectu's Fantastic Galactic Revue will be an outer-space
	musical-variety revue featuring a troupe of Audio-
	Animatronics itinerant alien musicians whose spaceship
	has landed in Tomorrowland.
 
 
				EPCOT CENTER
 
Future World for the '90s:
	Enhancements moving Future World into the 21st century will
	begin within its major pavilions presented by outstanding
	American corporations in 1992 during the Tenth Anniversary
	of EPCOT Center.
 
New 3-D Musical Movie:
	Premiering by 1994 will be a thrilling 3-D musical movie from
	George Lucas and The Walt Disney Studios.  Plans call for a
	high-tech production to dazzle audiences as does "Captain
	EO," a smash hit presented at Journey into Imagination.
 
Soviet Union Showcase:
	A USSR showcase is the addition most requested by EPCOT
	Center visitors.  Its towering onion-domed spires and bold
	architecture will add a breathtaking new silhouette to the
	World Showcase skyline.
 
Matterhorn Mountain and Bobsled Ride:
	Inspired by Europe's tenth most famous mountain, this imposing
	landmark will be built on the shores of the World Showcase
	Lagoon beside a charming Swiss village.  Bobsleds will race
	up, down, around, and through a chilling ice-covered
	adventure.  It will be the centerpiece of a picturesque
	Switzerland showcase.
 
Journeys in Space:
	The long-planned Future World attraction will present visitors
	with the ultimate thrill-ride: space travel.  New systems and
	special effects will be used to give guests an outer-space
	experience without ever leaving terra firma.
 
 
			DISNEY-MGM STUDIOS THEME PARK
 
Here Come the Muppets:
	Scheduled to open in summer 1990, this musical extravaganza
	features MICKEY MOUSE and friends hosting KERMIT the Frog, 
	MISS PIGGY, and other Muppets in a stage and screen spectacular.
	The show promises to be a masterpiece of musical mayhem that
	will have the audience singing and swinging along with a cast of 
	outrageous characters.
 
Magnificient Muppets All-Star Parade:
	Beginning in May, the parade hits Hollywood Boulevard each day
	with curbside capers in a rolling parade of lovable lunacy which
	will feature Muppet characters, music provided by the Muppets'
	own Electric Mayhem Band, vintage cars, and the legendary
	Muppet Tour Bus.
 
Dick Tracy Musical Revue:
	Inspired by the forthcoming "Dick Tracy" film starring Warren
	Beatty, this arresting and unusual presentation will be staged
	five times daily in the Theater of the Stars on Hollywood
	Boulevard beginning this summer.  It will use makeup magic
	to introduce such overlords of the comic-book underworld as
	Brow, Pruneface, Mumbles, and the Blank in a face-off with
	Dick Tracy.  The show will feature the hit music from the
	movie score written by Broadway great Stephen Sondheim.
 
Let's Make a Deal: 
	Every day, guests will be able to take part in the fun of this
	new version of the television game show classic, being
	produced by Dick Clark productions for airing on NBC-TV.  Show
	contestants will be chosen from the studio audience, so visitors
	to the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park may find themselves choosing
	what's behind Door No. 1...2... or 3.
 
The Disney Channel Auditions:
	An entirely new kind of audience participation show where guests
	not only will watch auditions in progress but will have a chance
	to show their own talents.  The winning "screen test" each day
	will be shown on The Disney Channel.  Those with outstanding
	talents may even win professional roles in future productions.
	In the pre-show, the audience will review the varied schedule
	of shows like "Pooh Corner," "The New Mickey Mouse Club,"
	and others.  Guests then move directly onto a soundstage
	viewing area.  Young and old will compete with others selected
	from the audience for their shot at show business.  A TV director
	will oversee the tests to determine a winner for each of the
	30-minute shows.  Sets from popular Disney Channel shows will be
	built on Stage 2 at the Disney-MGM Studios in time for the
	beginning of the 1990 summer season.
 
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Adventure Zone:
	"Minaturized" guests scramble through a world filled with 20-foot
	-tall blades of grass, giant sprinklers, monstrous insects,
	and other towering dangers.  Planned for Christmas 1990.
 
Muppet Studios:
	Where the Muppet gang creates movie-making magic.  Located near
	the New York Street backlot, it will feature two themed
	restaurants and two all-new adventures.  "Kermit the Frog
	Presents MuppetVision 3-D," the first attraction to open in
	this new land in 1991, will be created by Jim Henson and the
	DISNEY Imagineers.  Already in production, the show combines
	incredible 3-D film technology, live special effects, and new
	DISNEY Audio-Animatronics figures to literally put Muppet-style
	mania right in the laps of visitors.  "The Muppets Movie Ride"
	premieres in 1993 and will take guests on a misguided tour
	through movie history, offering inimitable interpretations
	of the greatest scenes ever seen on the silver screen -- Muppet
	style.  Statler and Waldorf, the old balcony curmudgeons from
	the Muppet TV show, will offer their best heckling commentary
	along the way, and hosts KERMIT and friends will put unsuspecting
	guests into the middle of stunt-filled movie production.
 
Noah's Ark:
	1992 brings a show marking the DISNEY debut of the most-
	celebrated creative talent in the history of the stage, Andrew
	Lloyd Webber ("Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,"
	"Jesus Christ Superstar," "Evita," "Cats," "Starlight Express,"
	"Phantom of the Opera"), who will compose an original symphonic
	score and executive produce Noah's Ark, the most ambitious
	nighttime spectacle in DISNEY theme-park history.
 
Sunset Boulevard Area:
	A new Tinseltown street beginning at Hollywood Boulevard and
	extending the atmosphere of filmdom's past and present with landmarks
	along the way geared to memorable moments.  To be opened in the
	first half of the decade, the new attractions include:
 
	I. Roger Rabbit's Hollywood:
		An exciting group of attractions, shops, and restaurants
		are centered around the Toontown Depot including unique
		merchandise shops and the Terminal Bar and Grill.  Set to
		open in the mid-1990s.
 
		1. "Toontown Trolley":
			This madcap adventure uses flight simulators 
			surrounded by animated screens to take guests on
			a hare-raising trolley ride through a zany cartoon
			world with ROGER RABBIT at the helm.  Inspired by
			the Touchstone Pictures releaes, "Who Framed Roger
			Rabbit?," a joint collaboration with Steven
			Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment.
		2. Benny the Cab Ride
			Designed for the younger fans, autopiastyle cars
			take guests on a tour of BENNY's favorite hangouts.
			The little taxi talks to his passengers, winks, 
			blinks, and wiggles when they press his colorful
			buttons.
		3. Baby Herman's Runaway Baby Buggy Ride:
			Guests aboard oversize buggies will careen through
			the sets of Toontown Hospital, flying down stairs,
			crashing through doors, and flying over beds.  This
			ride was inspired by the recent hit DISNEY animated
			short subject, "Tummy Trouble."
 
	II. Dick Tracy's Crime Stoppers:
		Another landmark along Sunset Boulevard, this salute to the
		great cartoon detective includes a high-speed chase aboard
		vintage cars where guests operate Tommy guns and rifles
		to thwart the crooks and create surprising reactions on the 
		sets around them which depict Chicago's gangland streets
		where Tracy battles the mob.  Based on the new Walt Disney
		Pictures films starring Warren Beatty, it is the first
		DISNEY adventure to combine the excitement of a thrill ride
		with the challenge of a shooting gallery.
 
	III. Mickey's Movieland:
		DISNEY history will come to life in the form of a replica of
		the original Hyperion Avenue Disney Studios.  Inside,
		children and adults will encounter whimsical hands-on
		movie-making equipment which will give them a chance to live
		out their own motion-picture-producing fantasies.
 
	IV. Three other attractions based on famous Hollywood motion-picture
		themes are currently in development and design.
 
	In the late 1990s, additions at the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park
	will include a whole new menu of unusual dining experiences,
	"streetmosphere" characters, and many other themed specialty shops
	that will line the new boulevards.
 
 
				RESORT DEVELOPMENTS
 
In addition to the four EPCOT Resort hotels opening this year, new resort
projects inlcude other major resort hotels plus Disney's Boardwalk, an
exciting new entertainment, dining, and shopping area.  Resort design and 
construction is under the direction of Disney Development Co.
 
Disney's Boardwalk:
	Scheduled to open fall 1991, Disney's Boardwalk is designed in the
	tradition of the great amusement areas of Atlantic City and Coney
	Island.  The 30-acre project is now under construction just west
	of EPCOT Center between the WALT DISNEY WORLD Swan and the new
	International Gateway to World Showcase.
 
Seven new hotels with "Entertainment" as their main architectural theme
are to be built as demand warrants with a total of more than 5,500 guest
rooms.  This is in addition to Disney's Port Orleans and Dixie Landings
resorts already under construction.  They will range from moderately 
priced to luxury facilities, but each range will be designed in elaborate
detail to extend the fantasy and imagination which created the MAGIC
KINGDOM Park to a new dimension in resort experiences.  Outstanding
architects have been chosen to assist the DISNEY design team.  All will
be operated by the Walt Disney World Co.
 
Master architects working closely with DISNEY on hotel projects include
Michael Graves of Princeton, New Jersey; Robert A. M. Stern of New York
City; Antoine Predock of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Gwathmey Siegel &
Associates of New York City.  Prize-winning Japanese architect Arata
Isozaki is designing a new WALT DISNEY WORLD Administration Building.
 
Mediterranean Resort:
	1,000 deluxe rooms on the southeast side of the Seven Seas Lagoon
	near the MAGIC KINGDOM Park plus 65,000 square feet of meeting and
	convention space.  Its architecture is inspired by glamorous resorts
	of the Greek Islands.  It will be located on the monorail system.
 
Wilderness Lodge:
	700 full-service rooms adjacent to Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort
	and Campground with the rustic appearance of a national park lodge.
 
Buffalo Junction:
	600-room hotel themed in the style of a Wild West town is set for 
	the second phase of Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort expansion.
 
Kingdom Suites Hotel:
	200 luxury suites in harmony with Disney's Contemporary Resort, 
	located beside the Seven Seas Lagoon between the MAGIC KINGDOM
	Park and Disney's Contemporary Resort.
 
Boardwalk Resort:
	An all-suite hotel of 530 units with a turn-of-the-century
	character compatible with the adjoining Boardwalk entertainment
	complex that links the EPCOT Resort area with the International
	Gateway entrance to World Showcase.
 
Two other hotel projects are part of an expansion for resort and convention
facilities that began in 1985.  Three new hotels have already been
completed.  Four others that are now under construction, plus the planned
projects, will bring the total to 25 separate resort hotel complexes with
more than 21,000 rooms on WALT DISNEY WORLD property by 1995, plus more than
1,000 campsites in Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground.  The
room total includes hotels in the WALT DISNEY WORLD Hotel Plaza and
Disney's Village Resort.
 
Resorts nearing completion are the WALT DISNEY WORLD Dolphin (1,509 rooms
opening July 1990), Disney's Yacht Club Resort, and Disney's Beach Club
Resort (with a total of 1,214 rooms opening fall 1990).  Construction is
well under way on two moderately priced resorts -- Disney's Port Orleans
(1,008 rooms opening 1991) and Disney's Dixie Landings (2,048 rooms
opening fall 1992).
 
Expanding the attractiveness of the WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort as a major
meeting site, more than 200,000 square feet of convention space is included
in the WALT DISNEY WORLD Swan and the WALT DISNEY WORLD Dolphin.  DISNEY-
operated hotels are adding another 134,000 square feet of meeting and
convention facilities, including 54,000 square feet at Disney's Contemporary
Resort and 29,000 square feet at Disney's Grand Floridian Beach Resort.
Another 51,000 square feet is included in Disney's Yacht and Beach Club
Resorts project.
 
Shared-ownership development:
	Currently in design development, 500 units will give vacationers a 
	chance for shared ownership of a residence in the world's most
	popular vacation resort.
 
From: EPCOT Outreach Resource Service, CommuniCore West, EPCOT Center
 

Article: 3902
From: [email protected] (Paul Joseph Mitchell)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: A new WDW park?
Date: 23 Sep 91 01:02:22 GMT
Organization: Freshman, CIT general, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
 
 
	When I last visited WDW this summer, I noticed a large area under
construction along the main entrance road on the left as one is entering
the property.  There was a large area bulldozed out, and some
construction equipment sitting around.  This area is visible from the
Epcot Monorail beam.  When I asked a Disney cast member about the
construction, he stated that Disney was building a new amusement park
there.  He hinted that it might be some sort of water park similar to
Sea World.
	Does anybody know anything about this?
 
				Thanks...
					Paul Mitchell

    
    	Actually, yes, this is supposed to be the site of Disney's
    fourth Florida theme park. However, it's not going to be just a
    creatures-of-the-deep water park like Sea World. This particular
    park is going to offer guests a chance to get " up-close-and-
    personal " with all sorts of critters. The tenative name for the
    place : Disney's Animal Kingdom.
    	However, this fourth theme park is still five years ( at least )
    from opening. What you saw from the monorail was strictly site
    preparation. Given the delicate natures of zoos ( First you have to
    construct the enclosures, then you have to collect the animals, then
    you have to get them used to their surroundings. Then -- and ONLY
    then -- can you let the public in for a peek .. ), Disney's won't
    even guess at a possible opening date for this place right now.
    	But -- from what I hear from my Imagineer friends -- what the
    San Diego Zoo was for the 1960s, Disney's Animal Kingdom will be for
    the 1990s. So it should be one snazzy place to visit.
    	
    				jrh 

Article: 3937
From: [email protected] (John Heiden UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Re: A new WDW park?
Date: 25 Sep 91 15:34:14 GMT
Organization: University of Toledo, Computer Services
 
In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] writes:
> 
> [email protected] (Paul Joseph Mitchell) writes:
> 
>>   When I last visited WDW this summer, I noticed a large area under
>>construction along the main entrance road on the left as one is entering
>>the property.  There was a large area bulldozed out, and some
>>construction equipment sitting around.  This area is visible from the
>>Epcot Monorail beam.  When I asked a Disney cast member about the
>>construction, he stated that Disney was building a new amusement park
>>there.  He hinted that it might be some sort of water park similar to
>>Sea World.
>>   Does anybody know anything about this?
> 
>    GEEZ!  You ask a lot of questions, Paul!
> 
>    The prevading RUMOR amoung cast is that it's a fourth park
> construction site.  The whole thing is hush-hush.  Eisner has
> announced that a fourth park WILL be built, but as to whether
> that's it, I can only say I don't know what ELSE it could be.
> 
>    I heard that the idea was more of a total animal park, I suppose
> to get Sea World AND Busch Gardens' business...
> 
>    If this guy told you he was sure about it being a new park he
> was lying (or VERY well connected).  No announcement has been made
> to cast members regarding the fourth park, (I've got friends at WDW
> that I talk to constantly).
> 
>                                       Monorail Green
> 
>                                        aka B-Man
> 
> --
>   The 23:00 News and Mail Service - +1 206 292 9048 - Seattle, WA USA
>                           PEP, V.32, V.42bis
>                   +++ A Waffle Iron, Model 1.64 +++
-- 
Well, let's see, I too was wondering about this construction project
you mention.  I asked my brother AND the monorail driver.
 
They both had the SAME answer. (Surprise, surprise.)
 
Anyway, they both told me that what you see is NOT a new park under
construction.  Instead it is a new water control system consisting of
locks and such to control water flow in a new portion of WDW.
 
I then asked why they would be controlling water in an as yet UNUSED area.
They both said this was for the FOURTH PARK, currently under construction
(or about to begin construction - they never made this clear).
 
Supposedly when the FIFTH PARK is built, it will be serviced by this
water system.  Also, long term planning said it will serve the SIXTH PARK
should it ever be decided upon.
 
Yes, BOTH were VERY clear about the FOURTH and FIFTH parks.  They said that
the FOURTH park is definite and DISNEY DOES indeed plan on a FIFTH park.
They said that plans are being studied for a POSSIBLE SIXTH park!
 
From what I've seen, I their stories hold water.  The construction site
near the road IS too small for a park itself.  It also DID appear that
a place for a gate might be in the process of being built.
 
More questions?  My brother calls tomorrow night.
 
John Heiden
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Heiden
 
[email protected]            The University of Toledo
[email protected]                 Toledo, Ohio     U.S.A.

    Last week I heard two rumors about what this construction project was
    all about.

    The first was that is was the site, (or access to the site), of the
    fourth theme park.

    The second rumor was it was a new interchange to allow access to a new
    very large resort complex that would feature hotel rooms in the $55
    range.

    There may be an announcement this weekend among all the other
    announcements scheduled for the 20th anniversary.

Article: 5481
From: [email protected] (sean alan squier)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: THE OFFICIAL WALT DISNEY WORLD FACT LIST
Date: 20 Dec 91 21:08:43 GMT
Sender: [email protected] (USENET News System)
Organization: Indiana University
 
 
Okay, here it is, What you've all been waiting for.....
(transcribed from the EYES & EARS EXTRA SUMMER '91)
(I'm done with finals and have way too much time on my hands..:-))
 
THE OFFICIAL WALT DISNEY WORLD FACT LIST 
----------------------------------------
 
o Disney property covers 29,070 acres (approximately twice the size of the 
  island of Manhattan).  The Walt Disney World Resort includes:
 
  Magic Kingdom Park . . . . . . . . . . . . .  107 acres
  Magic Kingdom Parking Lot. . . . . . . . . .   93 acres
    Accomodates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12,156 cars
  EPCOT Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  260 acres
  EPCOT Center Parking Lot . . . . . . . . . .  290 acres
    Accomodates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11,391 cars
  Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park. . . . . . . .  135 acres
  Disney-MGM Studios Parking Lot . . . . . . .   42 acres
    Accomodates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,534 cars
  Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground  750 acres
  Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. . . . . . .  200 acres
 
o Disney Village Marketplace/Pleasure Island .  155 acres
  Pleasure Island Parking Lot. . . . . . . . .    6 acres
    Accomodates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,800 cars
 
o Support Facilities
    (Waste Water Treatment, Tree Farm, etc.) .  295 acres
 
o Total currently developed area . . . . . . .6,700 acres
 
o Permanent Wildlife conservation area . . . .7,500 acres
 
o There are 125 miles of paved roads - 123 buses - 13.7 miles of monrail
  beamway - 14 monorails.
 
o The Reedy Creek Improvement District is a state-created governmental entity
  that oversees governmental functions for the Walt Disney World Resort.
 
    - Maintains 70 lane-miles of public roads
    - Fire protection
    - Water Control
    - Environmental protection, planning and permit
    - Building and safety regulation
 
o Within the Walt Disney World Resort there are:
 
    - 67 Theme Park attractions
    - 146 Food & Beverage locations
    - 214 Merchandise locations
 
RESORT FACTS
------------
*Has facilities for Handicapped Guests
 
o Average Length of Stay - 3 days
  Average Number of Guests Per Room - 3.1 <-------????????!!
 
o Disney's Polynesian Resort
  Opened Oct. 1, 1971  *
  855 Rooms
  Rates effective 4/28 - 6/7/91
  $180-$240
 
o Disney's Contemporary Resort
  Opened Oct. 1, 1971
  1,056 Rooms
  Rates " " " " " " " " " " " "
  $170-$365
  Disney's Contemporary Resort Meeting Facility
  Opened October 1991
  83,709 Square Feet of Convention Space
  (with new ballroom openeing 10/91)
 
o Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
  Opened 1971
  785 Sites
  407 Trailer Homes
  Rates " " " " " " " " " " " " 
  Campsites $30,$37,$44
  Fleetwood Trailer Rental $160
 
o The Disney Inn
  Opened 1973  *
  288 Rooms
  Rates " " " " " " " " " " " "
  $165-$175
 
o Disney's Village Resort
  Opened 1974  *
  576 Rooms
  Rates " " " " " " " " " " " "
  1 - Bedroom Club Suites $155
  Deluxe Club Suites $240
  1 - Bedroom Vacation Villas $220, $240
  2 - Bedroom Vacation Villas $270
  2 - Bedroom Fairway Villas $315
  2 - Bedroom Treehouse Villas $295
  Grande Vista Suites $725, $800
  14,300 Square Feet of Convention Space
 
o Disney's Grand Floridian Beach Resort
  Opened 1988  *
  901 Rooms
  Rates " " " " " " " " " " " " 
  $225-$395
  Disney's Grand Floridian Beach Resort Meeting Facility - August 1991
  27,037 Square Feet of Convention Space
 
o Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
  Opened 1988  *
  2,112 Rooms
  Rates effective through 8/17/91
  $84,$85, and $99
 
o Disney's Yacht Club Resort
  Opened Nov. 5, 1990
  635 Rooms
  Rates effective 4/28-6/7/91
  $190-$325
 
  Disney's Beach Club Resort
  Opened Nov. 19, 1990  *
  584 Rooms
  Rates " " " " " " " " " " " 
  $190-$325
 
o Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Meeting Facility
  54,000 Square Feet of Convention Space
 
o Disney's Port Orleans Resort
  Opened May 17, 1991  *
  1,008 Rooms
  First Phase: 432 Rooms
  The remaining 576 rooms will be phased in during the following three months.
  Rates effective through 8/17/91
  $84,$95, and $99
 
o Disney's Dixie Landings Resort  
  Due to open Feb. 1992  *
  2,048 Rooms
  First Phase: 320 Rooms
  The remaining 1,728 rroms will be phased on line through July 1992.
 
o Walt Disney World Swan
  Westin Hotels and Resorts  *
  758 Rooms
  Rates effective through 12/31/91
  $220-$245
  50,000 Square Feet of Convention Space
 
o Walt Disney World Dolphin
  Sheraton Corporation  *
  758 Rooms
  Rates effective 4/28-6/7/91
  $159-$325
  202,000 Square Feet of Convention Space
 
o Disney Village Marketplace
  Opened 1975
  Features 18 shops and 11 restaurants
 
o As of July, 1991, there are 15,539 rooms/sites on property.  Of these, 9,213
  are Walt Disney Resort rooms
 
o As of February 1991, there are 76,700 rooms in the Central Florida area.
 
o 18% of all Central Florida rooms are on Disney property.
 
o 11% of all Central Florida rooms are Disney owned and operated.
 
 
THEME PARK FACTS
----------------
 
o The Magic Kingdom Park opened on October 1, 1971.  There are 36 attractions,
  36 food locations and 56 merchandise locations.
 
o EPCOT Center opened on October 1, 1982.  It features 21 attractions, 33 food
  locations and 66 merchandise locations.
 
o While the Disney-MGm Studios Them Park opened to the public on May 1, 1989,
  filming began at the Studios in June of 1988.  The Park has 10 attractions,
  11 food locations and 20 merchandise locations.
 
o Walt Disney World Ticket Prices
  Day Guest                     Ages 3-9  Ages 10+
  1-Day 1-Park Ticket             $26       $33
  4-Day All Three Parks Passport  $88       $111
  Annual Pass - New               $155      $180
  Annual Pass - Renewal           $135      $160
 
Note: Prices do not include tax.
 
 
BACKSTAGE FACTS
---------------
 
o On the environmental front, The Wakt Disney World Resort recycles over one
  million pounds of scrap metal, one million pounds of wooden pallets, and
  two million pounds of corrugated cardboard each year.
 
o The Walt Disney World Resort currently collects over 94,000 pounds of office
  paper and over 200,000 pounds of cardboard each month for recycling.
 
o There are 16 executive chefs on Walt Disney World property.  We have 8,000 
  recipes on file.
 
o The combined space available under all our warehouses is equal to 34
  football fields.
 
o We prepare:
  100,000 pounds of meet in a peak week
  80,000 pieces of bread in a peak week
  25,000 cookies on a peak day
  1,000,000 pounds of laundry a week
 
o Vista United Telecommunications is a fully operating local exchange telephone
  company.  It provides:
 
 - Telecommunications equipment and systems for the Walt Disney World Resort
   Complex.
 - Telephone sets, PBX systems, public telephones, cabling, paging/cellular,
   central office and long distance switching systems.
 - All hotel, administration and long distance operator services for the 
   Company.
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
I hope everyone can find this useful in some way or another.  If not, just
look at all useless facts you can now stump your friends with !!!!
 
 
 
Sean Squier
(Future CEO - The Walt Disney Company)
[email protected]

    
    	For those of you who just finished reading Claude's truly superior
    trip report, here's an up-date on his things-in-the-works-for-WDW coda :
    
    	PLECTU'S INTER-GALACTIC REVUE -- ain't gonna happen. This was the
    new show that was supposed to go into Tomorrowland's " Carousel of
    Progress " theater. Also known as " P.T. Quantum, " it was to have been
    several sequences featuring audio - animatronic performers similiar to
    the alien band in the cantina scene in the original " Star Wars. "
    	However -- after reading the finished script for the proposed 
    attraction ( As well as being shown the estimate of what it would have
    cost to over-haul the Carousel to get it ready for the new show ),
    Eisner balked. He just didn't think the attraction as planned was good
    enough to justify the cost.
    	Sooooo -- now -- the Carousel of Progress theater is slated to be
    gutted completely, whereupon the renovated building will serve as the
    setting for an all new version of that classic Disneyland attraction :
    The Flying Saucers !
    
    	GREEK ISLANDS HOTEL -- AKA The Mediterrean Resort Hotel. This was
    to have been built on that slip of land between the Ticket & Transportation 
    Center and the Contemporary Resort Hotel. But -- as site preparation
    got underway last year -- Disney construction crews found that the
    ground at the site was too soft to build ANYTHING on. Test construction
    footings -- concrete piling inserted in the soil to see if the land
    would be strong enough to hold up the vaste bulk of a new hotell --
    would actually sink out of sight.
    	Soooo -- though Disney won't come out and say so directly -- plans 
    for the Mediterrean Resort Hotel have been abandoned. The official
    party line is the project is just " on hold " 'til we're out of the 
    recession. But -- unless Disney's construction teams come up with a
    radical new way to build on terrifically mushy ground -- NOTHING's
    going to be built on this site.
    
    	And -- speaking of mushy ground -- don't plan on strolling down 
    SUNSET BOULEVARD anytime soon .. It seems that -- during the site 
    preparation phase of construction on this Disney / MGM expansion --
    Disney engineers discovered yet another sink hole right in the center
    of the area where they planned to build their " street. "
    	So -- ever as we speak ( Note .. whatever ) -- the Imagineers are
    reshuffling their plans for Sunset Boulevard, trying to work around
    this latest wrinkle. There's talk that Disney may move the studio theme
    park employee parking lot over to the other side of the resort's main
    entrance roadway -- leaving the parking lot free to serve as the new site
    of Sunset Boulevard ... but none of this carved in stone.
    	So, don't get your heart set on riding " Twilight Zone Tower of 
    Terror " in the summer of 1994 just yet. That sinkhole could throw off
    the studio theme park's expansion project by a year or more ..
    
    	SOVIET PAVILION -- The site's already been prepped ( Between
    Germany and Italy -- where the Swiss pavilion / EPCOT Matterhorn was
    supposed to get built ? What happened ? Don't ask ), the building's
    designed, but Eisner put the brakes on for this one too. Thought he 
    really is anxious to get this new piece of the World Showcase in place
    ( By the way, acknowledging the fall of the U.S.S.R, the pavilion's
    now known as the * Russian * pavilion ), this project's on hold 'til
    the political situation over there stabilizes a bit. However, Eisner 
    has extended an invitation to former Soviet premier M. Gorbachov to
    take part in the ground-breaking -- and Gorby has already that he'd
    be happy to take part in the ceremony ... Whenever it finally occurs.
    	By the way, the " ride " that'll be featured in the Russian
    pavilion will * NOT * be a thrill ride. It will be closer in look and feel
    to " It's a Small World " -- in which guests board colorful sleighs and
    fly by playful recreations of scenes out of Russian folklore. Look for
    lots of cute puppets and dolls in this one -- and remember to bring
    your insulin.
    
    	NEW 3D MOVIE -- * WAS * supposed to ready for this coming October 1st,
    where it would have premiered as part of EPCOT's 10th anniversary celebra-
    tion. However -- due to script problems -- production has been postponed
    indefinitely. ( You see, the object of this film is that it has to work
    when it's shown in Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland's Tomorrowland, 
    EPCOT Center's Journey into Imagination as well as Euro Disneyland's
    Discoveryland. It's pretty tough to come up with a story that works in
    all those settings -- but George Lucas and the folks at WDI are still
    hammering away, trying to come with a script that does just that ! )
    	When this film / show / attraction does finally open, look for
    " 4D " ( That's the tenative title, so don't hold me to it ) to feature
    much of the same in-theater, in-your-face type effects that make 
    " Muppetvision 3D " so much fun. And -- this time around -- the film 
    will * NOT * be an extended music video. " Captain EO " -- as popular
    as it once was ( And -- in spite of six years of continuous
    performances, this film still manages to draw a crowd. Not the numbers
    it once did, of course. But it still draws a crowd ) -- has not aged
    well. Disney and Lucas are looking to create a piece of timeless
    entertainment this time around. 
    
    	Beyond that -- everything that Claude said is in the pipeline still
    appears to be on track. Any questions ?
    	
    						jrh
                                              

    Rep to <<< Note 3.47 by AKOCOA::HILL >>>

    Jim,
    
>    	GREEK ISLANDS HOTEL -- AKA The Mediterrean Resort Hotel. This was
>    to have been built on that slip of land between the Ticket & Transportation 
>    Center and the Contemporary Resort Hotel. But -- as site preparation
>    got underway last year -- Disney construction crews found that the
>    ground at the site was too soft to build ANYTHING on. Test construction
>    footings -- concrete piling inserted in the soil to see if the land
>    would be strong enough to hold up the vaste bulk of a new hotell --
>    would actually sink out of sight.

    The way  the  wrote it up, even though it sounded like the Mediterrean,
    they didn't mention it being on the Monorail Run, Oh well.
    
>    	And -- speaking of mushy ground -- don't plan on strolling down 
>    SUNSET BOULEVARD anytime soon .. It seems that -- during the site 
>    preparation phase of construction on this Disney / MGM expansion --
>    Disney engineers discovered yet another sink hole right in the center
>    of the area where they planned to build their " street. "
>    	So -- ever as we speak ( Note .. whatever ) -- the Imagineers are
>    reshuffling their plans for Sunset Boulevard, trying to work around
>    this latest wrinkle. There's talk that Disney may move the studio theme
>    park employee parking lot over to the other side of the resort's main
>    entrance roadway -- leaving the parking lot free to serve as the new site
>    of Sunset Boulevard ... but none of this carved in stone.

    Well, there is now a chain link fence that's connected to the plywood wall
    that now takes over  about  1/3rd of the first level parking lot at the
    Studios,  where  they  did  have  some  piles  of sand in there.   When
    entering  the Studios from the entrance off of Buena Vista Drive, there
    is now  what  appears  to be a rather large Cast Member Parking Lot for
    both Epcot and  Disney/MGM  (which is also accessible from Bonnet Creek
    Parkway), and I did  see the VIP CAST MEMBER buses droping off folks at
    the Studios.  
    
    They have also moved the Bus Stop  out  in the parking lot, where there
    is currently no roofs (the old bus stop  canopies  are  visible  as you
    walk to the entrance behind the plywood wall) to cover you in inclement
    weather, so you will get wet in rain waiting for  the Buses.  They also
    resealed/painted  the  middle  section  of  the  first level parking to
    accomadate the  new bus stops.  (gee I guess I should of put this in my
    report eh? ;^)

    BTW, you upcoming WDW visitors, ask for  the  WDW Resort Map that opens
    up to a 1 1/2' by 2' map.    It's  a  new  map that just came out, that
    appears to be the best map yet in detail  of  the  grounds (much better
    than what's in the various guides), makes for a nice  souvenir, plus it
    has the transportation network bus/water shuttle/monorail routes on it.
    On the opposite  side  there  are there are the layout's for MK, Epcot,
    Disney/MGM plus a Orlando Area highway map to orientate you as well.
    
>    	SOVIET PAVILION -- The site's already been prepped ( Between
>    Germany and Italy -- where the Swiss pavilion / EPCOT Matterhorn was
>    supposed to get built ? What happened ? Don't ask ), the building's
>    designed, but Eisner put the brakes on for this one too. Thought he 
>    really is anxious to get this new piece of the World Showcase in place
>    	By the way, the " ride " that'll be featured in the Russian
>    pavilion will * NOT * be a thrill ride. It will be closer in look and feel
>    to " It's a Small World " -- in which guests board colorful sleighs and
>    fly by playful recreations of scenes out of Russian folklore. Look for
>    lots of cute puppets and dolls in this one -- and remember to bring
>    your insulin.

    Damm Epcot could really use an honest  to  goodness  thrill ride!  This
    last trip really Disneyed me out, I can't  take sit through attractions
    anymore, I need a thrill fix like a really good rattle your bones Steel
    Roller Coaster, or a suspended one like Big Bad Wolf  at  Busch  Garden
    Williamsburg would do also.

    Now don't get me wrong I love Disney, but if I was to  go  next  week I
    wouldn't even venture into the 3 main parks (well if Splash was to open
    OK I'd do 1 day). I'd just  rather  spends the day at the resort around
    the pool soaking up the sun or spend my afternoon at Typhoon (Heh I'm a
    water freak what can I say, anyone up for  duel  tubing  at Winnie this
    summer?  My Boating buddy and I are always looking  for  Game people to
    swing from side to side behind his 21' Liberator) Ok back  to Disney, I
    love  those  resorts  and  could spend my whole vacation there, and not
    even enter a main park and still be satisfied.

    This is one of the reason I wait to go ever 4-5 yrs, because I couldn't
    be an annual visitor of the Parks, even though Disney is best  at  what
    they  do,  I'm  also a thrill ride lover, and need to get my  adrenalin
    going from time to time.
            
>    	NEW 3D MOVIE -- * WAS * supposed to ready for this coming October 1st,
>    where it would have premiered as part of EPCOT's 10th anniversary celebra-
>    tion. However -- due to script problems -- production has been postponed
>    indefinitely. ( You see, the object of this film is that it has to work
>    when it's shown in Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland's Tomorrowland, 
>    EPCOT Center's Journey into Imagination as well as Euro Disneyland's
>    Discoveryland. It's pretty tough to come up with a story that works in
>    all those settings -- but George Lucas and the folks at WDI are still
>    hammering away, trying to come with a script that does just that ! )
>    	When this film / show / attraction does finally open, look for
>    " 4D " ( That's the tenative title, so don't hold me to it ) to feature
>    much of the same in-theater, in-your-face type effects that make 
>    " Muppetvision 3D " so much fun. And -- this time around -- the film 
>    will * NOT * be an extended music video. " Captain EO " -- as popular
>    as it once was ( And -- in spite of six years of continuous
>    performances, this film still manages to draw a crowd. Not the numbers
>    it once did, of course. But it still draws a crowd ) -- has not aged
>    well. Disney and Lucas are looking to create a piece of timeless
>    entertainment this time around. 

    All right, I'd love  to  see  a Disney/Lucus colaboration with the Back
    theater effects they do in  Muppet  3D,  Gee could you imagine what the
    theater would look like after all those laser blast from star wars when
    the alliance battle the empire?  Opps I'm giving  some of Muppet Vision
    away to those of you who have been yet.
        
    Claude
        
    PS  the preceeding was brought to you without my new Moderator hat one,
    Yes I  finaly  got around to replacing my ears I had lost a decade ago.
    I tried to have 'Disney Mod' sewed on, but Disney doesn't allow phrases
    on the hat, must be first names (nicknames ok) or initials only.

    rep to:             <<< Note 3.47 by AKOCOA::HILL >>>
                -< Update on future WDW projects / attractions >-
    
>    	And -- speaking of mushy ground -- don't plan on strolling down 
>    SUNSET BOULEVARD anytime soon .. It seems that -- during the site 
>    preparation phase of construction on this Disney / MGM expansion --
>    Disney engineers discovered yet another sink hole right in the center
>    of the area where they planned to build their " street. "
    
    I've got an idea:  why don't they just dye the water in the sinkhole
    black and call it:
    
    The La Brea Tar Pits!
    
    tom
    

	LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (UPI) -- Amid the clang of bells and a shower
of confetti, 10-year-old Brandon Adams of Baltimore was honored
Wednesday as the 400 millionth visitor to the Walt Disney World resort
complex near Orlando.
	The sixth-grade student danced joyously with Mickey Mouse after
stepping through the turnstiles at Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park, one of
three parks at the complex, just after 10 a.m. Accompanying Brandon were
his parents, John and Daisy Adams, and his 8-year-old niece, Quiana
Wickham.
	To help celebrate Brandon's arrival as the 400 millionth guest, which
comes more than 20 years after the Magic Kingdom opened its gates on
Oct. 1, 1971, veteran television and film actor David Ogden Stiers
greeted the Adams family.
	``I want you to know, pal, that I came in just ahead of you,'' joked
Stiers, who asked Brandon if he would share the 400 millionth guest
plaque that was among the gifts presented to the youth. Brandon
cheerfully declined.
	To honor Brandon and his family, Bob Matheison, executive vice
president of parks for Walt Disney World, presented them with a lifetime
pass to all Disney theme parks worldwide. They also received a special
plaque, Disney watches and were treated to a VIP tour of the park and
lunch at the Hollywood Brown Derby.
	``I'm in shock,'' said Brandon, who was visiting Walt Disney World
for the second time in his life. ``I'm really happy!''
	Added his dad, John, a chef with Classic Catering Service of
Baltimore: ``We will come back again and again and again and again. We
just were the lucky ones -- we just walked in at the right time.''
	It has been a little more than three years since Matt Gleason of
Baton Rouge, La., was the 300 millionth guest.

    Hmmm,
    
    I couldn't  think  of  a  place to stick this, but this is probably the
    most logical place.
    
    Anyway I'd be  curious  to hear Len's report on how it was to be in WDW
    during hurricane Andrew.  Even though the brundt of it was in the Miami
    area, based on the weather photo's I saw this morning  on  the  Weather
    Channel  looks like the Orlando Area was just on the northern  edge  of
    hurricane Andrew.
    
    According  to NBC news this morning all the hotel rooms within a  10-15
    mile radius of Orlando was sold out due to Andrew.
    
    Wonder  what  was  up and running yesterday/today due to the winds etc.
    sure the  Fireworks,  Fantasy in the Skies (EPCOT) etc weren't.  Anyway
    looking to hear from  Len  when he comes back later next week, probably
    be before the B'day Bash boy put his report in topic 290 ;^).
    
    Claude

    Did anyone  catch  the new WDW comercial on the Emmy's last night? they
    showed  a rather  neat  zoom  in  shot  of  a  Pink  Castle,  when  did
    Cinderella's castle get the make over?
    
    Or did the editor simply put in Euro's Disney Castle instead?
    
    Claude

    In response to .51...we were down there last week and there were no
    signs of Andrew to be felt...especially Monday.  The weather was very
    nice all that week.
    
    Jean

   We were also down there last week and part of the week before.  The
   primary impact of Hurricane Andrew at WDW was to take all the afternoon 
   t-storms along with it.  Prior to Monday, we pretty much had t-storms 
   every afternoon/early evening as expected.  After Monday, the only rain we 
   had was a brief shower Friday while we were waiting at the airport to fly 
   home.  

   Monday itself was somewhat breezier than days before or after but that 
   was the only noticeable weather change from Andrew in Orlando.

    Wayne

re:  attached

Note 3.53                   Walt Disney World Resort                    53 of 54
ASABET::YEE_WONG                                      5 lines  31-AUG-1992 12:23
                       -< There were no signs of Andrew >-
>    In response to .51...we were down there last week and there were no
>   signs of Andrew to be felt...especially Monday.  The weather was very
>   nice all that week.

>   Jean

    Lets see now Jean!!!  You wrote this on the 31st, you were there the week 
    before. I don't know if anybody else feels this way but I think your

    trip report is LATE!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Bill ;-) ;-)

    Rep to <<< Note 3.55 by ASABET::KUMPEL "When in doubt...Delete it!!!" >>>

>    I don't know if anybody else feels this way but I think your
>    trip report is LATE!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Bill,
    
    We'll Let  Jean  get off for now, since the MODERATORS who attended the
    BIRTHDAY BASH at  the  HOOP  back  in  Mid  July  have  yet to enter an
    official report.
    
    Sure Mr.  Scopa it's now Thursday at 6:20pm and you have 'till Midnight
    to enter.....
    
    Claude ;^)

Reply to:  SALEM::BERUBE_C "Where do you think you are? WDW!!

>    We'll Let  Jean  get off for now, since the MODERATORS who attended the
>    BIRTHDAY BASH at  the  HOOP  back  in  Mid  July  have  yet to enter an
>    official report.



     Well, its this way Claude. I can honestly state that Jean's report 
  will not have to be in bookreader format. I know that she has been busy 
  (since she is my boss) and I don't her to forget.

>    Sure Mr.  Scopa it's now Thursday at 6:20pm and you have 'till Midnight
>    to enter.....


   It is now 7:24 on Friday but I'll save the abusing to the rest of you
since it is not nice to harrass a moderator. Your notes could disappear

Bill
     

    I know my report isn't in. It's almost done. I'm checking to make sure
    I've crossed every t, dotted every i, and have not violated any Digital
    Notes Conference rules....plus I'm swamped and have a deadline today.
    
    Remember...good things come to those who wait.
    
    Mike

Article 8680 of rec.arts.disney:
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From: [email protected] (Rich Koster)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Wilderness Lodge at WDW
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 8 Sep 92 23:21:03 CST
Organization: The Amiga GateWay BBS * New Orleans, La.
Lines: 51

First of all, thanks to all of you who sent me all the great WDW info via
private mail.  I really appreciate it!
 
Now here's something good in return.  I downloaded this from the Disney
echo
on Fidonet today.  It is a public message sent by Ed Sterrett (1:3633/2).
 
From Sept 3rd Eyes & Ears..
 
 
  Groundbreaking for the 725 room Wilderness Lodge began in August,
opening planned for mid-summer 1994..
 
  Guests traveling to our newest hotel will follow a gently winding
route from World Drive thru cool pine forests to Disney's Wilderness
Lodge, which is comfortably nestled into natural surroundings on the
southwestern shore of Bay Lake. The resort is designed to embody the
essence of the National Park Service lodges created under the
direction of Stephen Mather during the early part of the century.
Reminiscent of the Old Faithful Inn, the resort building features
extensive use of quarried stone and authentic lodgepole pine.
  Upon entering the soaring, log-structured main lobby, guests will be
awestruck by the massive bundled log columns that rise six stories and
support a series of log trusses. Natural lighting illuminates the
lobby thru a variety of dormers on the steeply pitched roof. Four
large chandeliers with torch cut iron bands featuring silhouettes of
Indians and buffalo, topped with glowing teepees, grace the center.
Two authentic NW coast totem poles, the eagle pole and the raven pole,
soar to 55 feet on each side of the lobby. The lobby also boasts a
majestic three sided stone fireplace and intricately detailed,
multicolored flooring that recalls NW Indian designs. Six levels of
corridors surround the lobby, providing access to guest rooms and
sitting areas, porches, and reading areas that will entice the guest
to explore.
  The feature pool area reinforces the notion that the Lodge's guest
wings were designed to "embrace" a naturally occurring rock, water,
and geothermal area. Beginning as a hot spring/color pool in the main
lobby, the water flows under the window wall to become "Silver Creek"-
a quiet, contemplative setting in the upper courtyard. The creek
widens as it develops into a rushing, roaring waterfall adjacent to
"Overlook Point", and widens again into a swimming area that appears
to be carved out of rockscape. A kiddie pool and hot and cold spas
complement the swimming area, which then seems to flow into Bay Lake.
A geothermal area replete with steaming color pools and an "old
Faithful" geyser offers excitement nearby.
 

-- Via DLG Pro v0.992

Internet: [email protected]
    UUCP: rex!agwbbs!rich_koster

Article 9208 of rec.arts.disney:
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From: [email protected] (Rich Koster)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: New WDW Resorts Announced
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 8 Oct 92 21:41:57 CST
Organization: The Amiga GateWay BBS * New Orleans, La.
Lines: 68

A short blurb from the Money Section of today's (10/8/92) New Orleans
Times-Picayune, from wire and staff reports, quoting in entirety:
 
"Disney has big plans"
 
"ORLANDO, Fla. -- Walt Disney World plans to build three resorts with
more than 4,500 rooms and a third water theme park during the 1990s.
The themed resorts will be the All-Star Sports Resort, All-Star Music
Resort and Wilderness Lodge.  The water development is expected to be
much like the current River Country and Typhoon Lagoon."
 
From what we saw while at the Disneyana convention, the construction
on Wilderness Lodge is underway full steam, not far from the
Contemporary Resort on the monorail line, as a Magic Kingdom area
resort.  Lots of digging for the sewer system and underground
utilities right now, and there's a huge crane on site.  It will be
like a U. S. National Parks hotel, our personal speculation wonders
whether it will bear similarities to the Sequoia Lodge at EuroDisney.
Wilderness Lodge will connect to the Fort Wilderness Campground
Resort.  Four-laning of the road between the Contemporary Resort and
the public entrance to the Magic Kingdom parking gate is presently
under construction.  From what we saw, it looks like at least part of
that area will be boulevard-style with a median strip in between the
two directions of traffic.  We were also told on the Innovations in
Action tour that in that area, they were laying down underground pipe
to irrigate the landscaping with WDW's processed waste water.
 
Dick Nunis, Chairman of Walt Disney Attractions, told us at the
Disneyana Convention that plans were underway for some very
"inexpensive" hotel resorts to be built, at the $60/night level.  The
two All-Star Resorts are what he was referring to, I think, because
he said they would have a sports and entertainment theme.  Dixie
Landings/Port Orleans/Caribbean Beach are in the $85-104/night range.
The room sizes are smaller than at the Polynesian and Contemporary,
the only other WDW hotels we've stayed at other than the Grosvenor.
There were two pedestal sinks in our Dixie Landings room, nice
wallpaper, an entertainment armoire that doubled as a chest of drawers
and a curtain treatment consisting of a nice but simply-made swag and
plantation blinds, a table and two chairs, and the king size bed,
facing the river, for $104 per night.  Because we requested a king
size bed but reserved the cheaper $85/night rate as part of a Magic
Kingdom Club pre-paid package, they gave us the $104/night room at
the $85/night rate.  A double, facing the parking lot, would be $85
per night but have the same look.  Overall the room was Disney-nice,
but simpler than the Polynesian and Contemporary.  So, sports and
music themed starting at $60, what do you suppose the rooms would be
like?
 
Nunis also said they've found that European visitors have especially
expressed a desire for lodging in this price range, and that they are
used to smaller rooms in European hotels.  He said one thing they'll
find different from many European lodgings is that these Disney
lodgings will have bathrooms in every room!
 
Somewhere we recall reading that there were plans for a resort
themed around haunted houses, but there was no mention of it at the
Disneyana Convention, and no word of it on the two electronic networks
we frequent.  But what an idea, what potential, and what a blast :-D!
But maybe too intense for young children :-( .
 
Dick Nunis also dropped hints about fourth and fifth gated attractions
at WDW coming up, but he couldn't divulge the details.  We all went
"Awwwwwwwwwwww!"  And he said, "I know.  I know."

-- Via DLG Pro v0.992

Internet: [email protected]
    UUCP: rex!agwbbs!rich_koster

Article 9312 of rec.arts.disney:
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From: [email protected] (Rich Koster)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: State of the World
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 13 Oct 92 21:23:15 CST
Organization: The Amiga GateWay BBS * New Orleans, La.
Lines: 55

The following was posted by Ed Sterrett (1:3633/2) on Fidonet's Disney
echo on 10 Oct 92 at  00:25:00.
 
  To: All
Subj: State of the World
 
  Here are a few highlights from the Annual "State of Our World"
address to Orlando area community leaders, given by Dick Nunis and
Judson Green..
 
* Announced decision of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to
make the Disney-MGM Studios the East Coast home of its Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame Plaza, opening in 1993, will feature a golden Emmy
surrounded by life-sized statues of TV legends.
  In a ceremony held at the Yacht and Beach Club Convention Center on
October 3rd, the six newest members of the Hall of Fame were inducted-
Bill Cosby, Andy Griffith, Ted Koppel, Sheldon Leonard, Dinah Shore
and Ted Turner.  This was the first time this ceremony had been
conducted outside Los Angeles.
 
* Aladdin's Royal Caravan, a daily parade based on the movie, will
premier at the Disney-MGM Studios this December.
 
* Next on the horizon for the Magic Kingdom, according to Dick Nunis,
"is our promised transformation of Tomorrowland into a whole new
world, sometime in the mid-decade.  At the center of it will be 'Alien
Encounter', a show using new audio and projection technology that will
put an alien behind every seat... and fear in every heart."
 
* Wilderness Lodge and All-Star Resort slated for openings in 1994.
 
* "We're moving ahead with plans for the 'Disney Institute', a
completely new type of vacation resort.", according to Judson Green.
The first phase will debut in late 1994, and will give our guests a
chance to build their vacation around a catalog of cultural, sports
and entertainment programs.
 
* Groundbreaking for Celebration, pending final regulatory agreements,
is anticipated for Spring of '93.  The project will include
residences, offices, a health center (which will focus on wellness
and education), schools, shopping and services for residents. It will
also include two new golf courses, with the first-ever American
collaboration of two golf-course design legends: Robert Trent Jones Jr
and Sr.
  The first residential villages should be open in 1995, and,
eventually, Celebration will be home to 20,000 residents, living in
both single and multi-family homes, which will be offered for sale or
rent.
 
(End of text)

-- Via DLG Pro v0.995

Internet: [email protected]
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Article 9325 of rec.arts.disney:
Path: sousa.ltn.dec.com!pa.dec.com!decwrl!ames!tulane!agwbbs!Rich_Koster
From: [email protected] (Rich Koster)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Disneyana - Dick Nunis
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 25 Oct 92 23:37:58 GMT
Organization: The Amiga GateWay BBS * New Orleans, La.
Lines: 147

Friday, September 25, 1992 was the first day we had a special audio-
visual presentation in the Contemporary's Fantasia Ballroom H-Q.
First featured speaker was Dick Nunis, Chairman of Walt Disney
Attractions.  Here are highlights from his talk to the Disneyana
conventioneers.
 
This year's 1st Disneyana convention is such a success that it will
be an annual event.  In 1993 it will be held at the Disneyland Hotel
on September 16 - 19.  It will alternate each year between Walt
Disney World and Disneyland, so in 1994 it will be back at WDW.
 
He told a story about the frenzied construction of Disneyland and how
a plumbers strike put park construction behind schedule.  When Disney
got an agreement with the union there wasn't enough time to finish
installing all the water fountains as well as the restrooms.  Walt was
told there was only time to do all the fountains or all the restrooms,
but not everything together.  Walt told them to finish the restrooms
instead of the drinking fountains because, "They can drink Coke and
Pepsi, but they can't pee in the street!"
 
Opening day at Disneyland had its problems.  More people attended than
were expected, making the park very crowded.  One of the reasons was
due to the way the opening day ticket was designed.  It was for
admission of the ticket holder "and party", so more people were able
to enter than the number of tickets that had been made.  The Disney
people were aghast on opening day when a bus rolled up to the gate
filled with people -- all on it were in the party of the one ticket
holder on the bus, so they all were admitted!  Tickets have not had
that phrase on them since!!
 
Dick Nunis talked about C. D. Wood, who Walt said was the one man who
made sure Disneyland opened on time.  Later, Wood and Disney had a
falling out and Wood then opened competing parks in the U.S., drawing
on his experience from Disneyland.  All of Wood's parks failed, such
as Freedomland in New York and Magic Mountain in Denver.
 
While Nunis was doing research for Disney's involvement in the '64-'65
New York World's Fair, he asked a Freedomland representative where
they found suitable employees for that park.  He was told that
Freedomland's policy was to hire converted winos and turn them over
every 30 days. Dick didn't think that Walt would go for that!
 
St. Louis was a location considered for Disney World.  In a meeting
with St. Louis business leaders, which included the head of Anheuser
Busch, Disney heard the Budweiser guy say that anyone who opened an
amusement park which didn't serve beer was a fool.  Disney abruptly
ended the meeting, telling the St. Louis group that he no longer had
any plans for St. Louis.
 
Early plans for Disney World showed an airport on Disney property.
Actually, the airport was only on the plans to force local airports
to expand -- Walt didn't want to get into the airport business.
 
Billy Dial of Sun Bank owned a key piece of property which Disney
needed for WDW.  Dial had a herd of 38 cows on it and was reluctant
to sell his land because he wouldn't have any place to put the cows.
After Nunis had come up on the offered price to $2000 an acre, a very
good price back then, Dial was still worried about what to do with his
cows.  Nunis told him "for $2000 an acre you could hold a barbeque!"
Dial made the deal.
 
WDW's World Drive used to be called "North-South Road".
 
Nunis said that over the years some people have criticized some things
that the Disney company has done concerning the environment at WDW.
His response to that is, "maybe we're not perfect, but show me 43
square miles that have been better developed."
 
He only touched on the time of Walt's death.  He showed an editorial
cartoon appearing at the time, showing a Mickey Mouse bent over in
deep grief, and showed a video clip of a news report about Walt's
death.  Nunis described the years following Walt's death, when the
Disney company tried to find direction, as "The Grey Years".  He
would not go into detail over the Company's actions in that time,
nor did he discuss the attempts by outsiders to take over the Disney
Company in the 80's. Nunis said he just likes to forget about that
period of his life, found it difficult to criticize the CEO of Disney
in those years because Nunis and he were college fraternity brothers.
 
Nunis described Michael Eisner and Frank Wells as saviors of the
company in that the two of them shared Walt's vision for the direction
of the companies' parts and carried them farther.  Nunis said Eisner
was a "long-term player" and "wasn't going anywhere" from the Disney
company.  Nunis compared Eisner's outlook on life and the Disney
company to Walt's and Well's business sense as being similar to Roy
Disney, Walt's brother who dealt with the practical business and
finances.
 
He talked about the new sports and entertainment themed resort, the
"Disney All-Star Resorts".  He said the per room charge would be $60
a night in today's dollars.  There has been interest in more
moderately-priced rooms not only from people in this country hurt by
the economy, but also from Europeans who are used to smaller hotel
rooms.  He said the All-Star rooms would be a little smaller than at
Dixie Landings, Port Orleans, or the Caribbean Beach resorts, but that
many Europeans would be pleasantly surprised to find that each room
would have its own bathroom, because many European hotels only have
communal bathrooms on each floor!
 
Nunis said that Fantasmic would be coming to the Disney-MGM Studios.
 
He said attendance is picking up at EuroDisney.  There were 92,000
there on the previous Saturday (September 19th).  Attendance at the
park has already reached 6 million guests, and it is the #1 theme
park in Europe now.  At first the majority of guests were from other
European countries, but now the French are beginning to attend the
park in greater numbers.
 
Celebration is a new city to be built starting next year on 4,000
acres of Walt Disney World property.  It will be located south of
Highway 192. (That is in the area where there previously has been no
development, which was to have remained a wildlife refuge -- but now
that the Walker Ranch deal has been finalized they are able to swap
out land for preservation.)  He said World Drive will be extended
south of Hwy 192 for Celebration and that the interchange there will
be expanded and improved.
 
He spoke of the Walker Ranch deal and how it will expand useable land
for Disney and give them one permit to work with.  It is "a future way
to mitigate".
 
Nunis called Westcot a "blue sky dream right now" but that they're
working on it.
 
He said that Tokyo Disneyland would have a second gated attraction
(theme park) but didn't announce what it would be.
 
He announced that EuroDisney would get a Studio theme park (I don't
think he used the term Disney-MGM Studios, but this was before that
lawsuit was settled in Disney's favor).  He said EuroDisney would be
getting more hotels.
 
Nunis confirmed that a 4th theme park was coming to WDW and also a
5th one further in the future, but he said "I can't tell you what it
will be." All in attendance groaned "Awwwwwwwww...."  He said that
the plans were complete for these two new parks.
 
He was pleased that the Disney Stores continue to do well, which
received a loud ovation from both the Disneyana conventioneers and
representatives of the Disney Stores.
 
End of the Dick Nunis speech.  Next: Bill Evans, Disney Landscaping

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Internet: [email protected]
    UUCP: rex!agwbbs!rich_koster

    
    what is "Celebration" the new city to be built south of US 192???

    	I believe that that is the tract of land that Disney had set aside
    for a sanctuary.  For some reason they have decided to use this land
    for Celebration.  If you've seen a map of the land the own you would
    see that actually only a portion of the northernmost area is currently
    being used.
    
    Tom

    
    
       The last few times I was at WDW for periods of more than one week 
    I gave all the available activities a good look see and there is one
    thing that I think Disney could add and do a fantastic job with it too.
    
    What you say?
    
    
    
    
     Miniature golf.  Orlando has several minigolf courses that are a lot
    of fun but Disney does not and to my knowledge has never had a course.
    I think minigolf at some of the resorts could be a nice diversion.  It
    seems strange to me that Disney has not put in something like this.
    The past decade they seem to have made great efforts in trying to keep 
    the guests on Disney property, maybe they agreed not to bulid a
    minigolf course, I don't know.
    
    
     Just a thought.
    
           -Rob
    
    
     

    and they could call it Minnie-Golf :-) or Goofy-Golf!

    From Carol and Rich Koster off of rec.arts.disney...  Part 1 of 2...
    
Article 22567 of rec.arts.disney:
Path: ryn.mro4.dec.com!nntpd.lkg.dec.com!crl.dec.com!pa.dec.com!decwrl!wupost!tulane!agwbbs!Rich_Koster
From: [email protected] (Rich Koster)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Pt.12-WDW 1of2
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 2 Oct 93 21:06:27 CST
Organization: The Amiga GateWay BBS * New Orleans, La.
Lines: 106

(This is from Carol:)

Cross-posted to Fidonet's Disney Echo and Usenet's rec.arts.disney
newsgroup:

Summary of remarks by Judson Green, President, Walt Disney
Attractions, during the 2nd Official Disneyana Convention, Friday,
September 14, 1993, Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim CA:

Green devoted the bulk of his announcements about WDW, and had some
surprises for the Disneyana collectors in the audience.  For some
of his remarks, he had special one-of-a-kind give-a-ways for
pre-selected attendees of the convention.  As he described a certain
new project, he would announce what the special goodie was and the
name of the person who won it, aided by Mickey Mouse and other
Disney characters.

Green reminded people of some new attractions from WDW's recent
past:  The new manatee born at Living Seas at EPCOT, MuppetVision
3-D Theatre and The Little Mermaid show at D-MGM, three new golf
courses totalling 36 holes near Fort Wilderness, new resorts
Port Orleans, Caribbean Beach and Dixie Landings, Splash Mountain
at MK.

New stuff on the drawing boards:

At MK:  A new Tomorrowland ("1970's style airport concourse
long overdue for a beauty makeover"), to become .... New
Tomorrowland [!] featuring aliens and science fiction from
yesterday and today.  COP facelift (discussed elsewhere).  Space
Mountain will undergo a facelift and get new sponsorship from
Federal Express.  (A new unconditional guarantee, a play upon
Federal Express's slogan, according to Green, paraphrasing:  "No
matter how long the distance to the front of the queue at the
attraction, they promise to get you on by 10 am the next morning,
or your money back!"  Applause and laughter.) Star Jets will be
transformed to the Galactic Orbiters, as at EuroDisney.  The
centerpiece will be "Alien Encounter".  Green: "....a chilling
experiment in interplanetary teleportation gone awry.  Instead of
transporting a friendly extra-terrestrial to earth, this high-tech
facility accidently lures a hideous slimy creature into its
teleportation field.  Suddenly the room is plunged into darkness as
the creature smashes its way out of the tube and into the audience.
I don't want to reveal the heart-stopping ending...."  and Judson
Green went on to award an Alien Encounter hat to an attendee from
California.

At D-MGM:  In 1994 the second major street, Sunset Boulevard, will
open.  Stores and restaurants will re-create Hollywood in its
heyday.  The little red trolley cars which used to clatter down the
streets of Los Angeles will be brought back.  Green warned the
audience not to take the trolley to the end of the line, because
that destination is ....The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, a
crumbling old Hollywood hotel "...a repository of supernatural
surprises for anyone who enters its abandoned hallways.  The
adventure ends with a white-knuckle climax:  A 13-story drop in a
runaway elevator car.  The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is not
an attraction for the faint of heart, and neither is our next
souvenir...."  The push button control panel from the ill-fated
elevator "Y'know, too many passengers punch the emergency stop
button in sheer panic, what a shame, we really ought to have it
repaired someday...." An attendee from Florida won it.

At EPCOT:  On October 1st EPCOT (celebrated) its 11th anniversary.
In Future World, Nestle is new participant sponsor at "The Land".
By this time next year, the pavillion will boast an entirely new
boat ride through the bayous and high-tech growing areas.  The
whole attraction will take on a fresh new look, and the "popular"
Audio-Animatronic show "Kitchen Kabaret" will become "Food Rocks".
Spaceship Earth presented by AT&T will also undergo changes.  New
special effects and technologies will make the travel-through-time
theme more realistic.  Each Future World pavillion will be
"reImagineered" throughout the '90s.  This November, the fountain
in the center of Future World (an original computer-controlled
feature of the park which never got programmed until now) will
feature music, pyrotechnics, computer-programmed effects, and
performers in a new daytime show called "Mickey's Magical Fountain
Spectacular."  In World Showcase, a new thrill-ride called Mount
Fuji will open at the Japan pavillion, an attraction Green called
"fastest, screamingest, most bone-rattling, white-knuckle, a
mountain of fire rising at Japan in World Showcase" at EPCOT, in
counter-point to the traditional Japanese serenity presented up
until now.  "Riders will plunge down a lava tube straight down into
the heart of the mountain, where they will be hurled into a
twisting volcanic inferno."  The souvenir given away was a Mt. Fuji
1996 Winter Olympics Bobsled Team Shirt, to an attendee from
Pennsylvania.

Resorts:  First phases of All-Star Sports and Music Resorts will
open next year.  Budget priced.  Distinctive larger-than-life
themed icons and props.  At the sports resort, guests will climb
stairs inside a three-story tall tennis ball can, and the swimming
pool will resemble a baseball in-field.  The giveaway from this
area of the talk was a giant ceramic catcher's mitt, described by
Green as one of the "lovely" ashtrays from one of the rooms at the
All-Star Sports Resort, presented to an attendee from Ohio.

(Continued next message.)

--Carol Koster

 * "A very lovely thought, but not at all practical." -Jiminy Cricket

 * Q-Blue v0.7 *

-- Via DlgQWK v0.71a

    From Carol and Rich Koster off of rec.arts.disney...  Part 2 of 2...
    
Article 22568 of rec.arts.disney:
Path: ryn.mro4.dec.com!nntpd.lkg.dec.com!crl.dec.com!pa.dec.com!decwrl!wupost!tulane!agwbbs!Rich_Koster
From: [email protected] (Rich Koster)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Pt.12-WDW 2of2
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 2 Oct 93 21:06:30 CST
Organization: The Amiga GateWay BBS * New Orleans, La.
Lines: 65

(This is from Carol:)

Cross-posted to Fidonet's Disney Echo and Usenet's rec.arts.disney
newsgroup:

Continuing with summaries of WDW new attraction announcements made
by Judson Green, President, Walt Disney Attractions, during
opening remarks Friday, September 17, 1993 at the 2nd Official
Disneyana Convention, Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim CA:

Blizzard Beach Water Theme Park:  Construction will begin soon
on WDW's third themed water park, located not far from the
All-Star Resorts.  "A bona-fide geologic and climatic miracle",
Blizzard Beach is an Alpine ski resort in Central Florida.  A
freak snowstorm hits the only mountain in Central Florida, and
an enterprising developer took advantage of the situation and
opened a ski resort, but to his dismay, the weather changed and
melted the show and ice.  Instead, park residents slide where
there had been ski runs, and visitors will be able to slide,
toboggan and schuss down the mountain.  The ski lifts remain in
place to assist you up the mountain.  [The concept drawings show
a lot of white and dripping ice everywhere. The concept of swimming
and sliding amid "melting snow" looks fantastic!]  The award of a
Blizzard Beach bodyboard went to an attendee from Florida.

Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort:  Now under construction on the
south shore of Bay Lake, set to open next year.  Based on the
old-fashioned Yosemite or Yellowstone-style grand hotel.  Now
being built from natural timbers, quarried stone and massive
pine columns.  "One of the most beautiful resorts we have ever
built."  The interior "will reflect the majesty of traditional
Native American design".  Outside guests will find cool pine
forests, geothermal springs, waterfalls, and a New Faithful
geyser.

Disney parks' ten-year plans "may" include:  A second theme park
for EuroDisney.  A second theme park for Tokyo Disneyland.  A
second theme park, WESTCOT Center, at Disneyland.  At WDW, there's
talk of a fourth theme park before the end of this decade.

Judson Green concluded his remarks with the fact that no matter
what Disney's theme park plans are, "There's a Great Big Beautiful
Tomorrow".  The closing prize awarded to a lucky attendee:  An
audio tape of the original theme song of COP recorded by Rex Allen
in 1963 "a rare and special collectible", given to someone from
California.

Judson Green's parting words:  "You are the people we work for, who
we create for, and who make our jobs worthwhile.  And speaking on
behalf of everyone at Walt Disney Attractions, I thank you."

--Carol Koster

 * "I think by this time my staff, my young group of executives, and
 * "everyone else are convinced that Walt is right.  The quality will out.
 * "And so I think they're going to stay with that policy because it's
 * "proved that it's a good business policy.  Give the people everything
 * "you can give them.  Keep the place as clean as you can keep it.
 * "Keep it friendly, you know.  Make it a real fun place to be.
 * "I think they're convinced and I think they'll hang on...
 * "if as you say...well, after Disney."  -Walt Disney, 1966

 * Q-Blue v0.7 *

-- Via DlgQWK v0.71a

    FROM REC.ARTS.DISNEY:
    =============================================================
    
    SUBJECT: WDW REHAB SCHEDULE
    FROM: [email protected] (C. GRANT SIMMONS)
    DATE: 10 MAY 1994 16:58:40 -0400
    MESSAGE-ID: <[email protected]>
    
    I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE ASK ABOUT WHAT RIDES ARE CLOSED AT WDW, SO I
    THOUGHT I'D POST THIS LIST OF THE CURRENT REHAB SCHEDULE.
    
    THE FOLLOWING AREAS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED:
    
    MAGIC KINGDOM
      JUNGLE CRUISE............REOPENS MAY 21
      MAGIC JOURNEYS...........REOPENS JULY 15 AS LEGEND OF THE LION KING
      MISSION TO MARS..........REOPENS FEB 1995 AS ALIEN ENCOUNTER
      WEDWAY PEOPLE MOVER......REOPENS IN JUNE AS TOMORROWLAND TRANSIT
    AUTHORITY
      CIRCLE-VISION 360........REOPENS FEB 1995 AS METROPOLIS THEATER
      SPACE BAR................REOPENS IN JUNE
      TURKEY LEG WAGON.........REOPENS MAY 20
      THE OASIS................REOPENS MAY 21
      COLUMBIA HARBOR HOUSE....REOPENS MAY 28
      ADVENTURELAND VERANDA....REOPENS MAY 28
    
    EPCOT '94
      COMMUNICORE EAST/WEST....REOPENS THIS SUMMER AS INNOVENTIONS
      STARGATE RESTAURANT......REOPENS MAY 27
    
    DISNEY/MGM STUDIOS
      SUNSET BOULEVARD.........OPENS THIS SUMMER (DATE TBA)
      TZ TOWER OF TERROR.......OPENS THIS SUMMER (DATE TBA)
    
    
    
    THE FOLLOWING ATTRACTIONS WILL CLOSE FOR REHAB AS INDICATED:
      
    EPCOT '94
      SPACESHIP EARTH..........................CLOSING THIS SUMMER
      WORLD OF 
    
    
    
    THE FOLLOWING ATTRACTIONS HAVE RECENTLY OPENED FROM REHAB:
    
    MAGIC KINGDOM
      LIBERTY SQUARE RIVERBOAT
      ASTRO ORBITER (FORMERLY STARJETS)
      WALT DISNEY'S CAROUSEL OF PROGRESS (FORMERLY CAROUSEL OF PROGRESS)
    
    EPCOT '94
      FOOD ROCKS (FORMERLY KITCHEN KABARET)
    
    
    RESORTS
      DISNEY'S WILDERNESS LODGE
      DISNEY'S ALL-STAR SPORTS RESORT
    
    
    WHEW!  THATZA LOTTA REHAB WORK!  I HOPE THIS HAS ANSWERED A FEW
    QUESTIONS!
    
    - C. GRANT SIMMONS ([email protected])
    - WDW CAST MEMBER
    
    

    
    Me and my wife had been toying with the idea of going to WDW on the
    turn of the century.  I guess procrastination was a bad idea...  we've
    heard from others that they are sold out for New Years Eve 1999.  Only
    hope is hitting a reservation for a new hotel they build between now
    and then.
    
    This is not first-hand info, btw.  I should probably check it out. 
    Anybody else make reservations for then?
    
    - Sean

    so, is that Dec. 31, 1999 or the Jeopardy-correct Dec. 31, 2000?  
    I can imagine that marketeers everywhere will declare all dates
    inclusive to be "turn of the century".  Imagine, a party that lasts a
    whole year!
    
    Mark

    Booked over 2 years ago.
    
    5 nights at Dixie Landings, including 31-Dec-1999.
    
    Spreading the gospel has resulted in another 43 people, friends, collegues
    etc. doing the same.
    
    Ask to be put on the cancellation list... (the world is full of strange
    people, someone may)
           
    Alan
                     
                                          

Just returned from DisneyWorld and would like to share some changes.  First 
the prices have gone up to $40.+ for a one day pass. They have done away with 
the three day pass and now only offer 4 and 5 day passes (with park hopping 
restrictions for the 4 day pass). 4 day passes now have your finger print for 
identification and the 5 day pass has your picture. Passes now are similar to 
a credit card which allows the purchaser to add money to the pass and tour the 
park without cash and only use the pass credits.  Mickey is no longer mobile. 
If you would like your picture taken, there is a specific area to do so.  As 
always the park was emaculate.  MGM studio is fair (awesome dead drop ride) 
but Universal is much better..