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imported_PolyGirl40
08-20-2003, 06:06 PM
Dateline Disney - National Edition - September 2003



Christian Artists of the Year Michael W. Smith, Kirk Franklin Head Night of Joy Lineup

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Dove Awards artist of the year Michael W. Smith and Stellar Awards artist of the year Kirk Franklin lead an often-honored lineup of 16 contemporary Christian music acts onto the stages of Magic Kingdom Sept. 5 and Sept. 6 for the 21st annual Walt Disney World Night of Joy concerts.

On Friday (Sept. 5) Smith will be joined by Jars of Clay, Petra, Nicole C. Mullen, Rebecca St. James, Daily Planet, Stacie Orrico, and Switchfoot.

The Saturday (Sept. 6) lineup features Franklin atop a bill that includes Point of Grace, Yolanda Adams, ZOEgirl, Salvador, Rachael Lampa, The O.C. Supertones, and Freddie Colloca.

Among them, the 16 acts have amassed more than 120 music awards.

In addition to some 12 hours of musical performances each evening, Night of Joy features an opportunity to experience popular Magic Kingdom attractions during event hours (7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. -- after regular theme park hours).

Advance tickets are available by calling 407/934-7639. Single-night tickets are $35.95 (plus tax) in advance and $40.95 the day of the show. Special two-night tickets are offered for $57.95. Tickets for groups of 10 or more people are available by calling 1-877/648-3569. The 2002 event was an advance sellout.


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Disney's Pin Celebration 2003 at Epcot Sept. 19-21

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The biggest pin trading event of the year at Walt Disney World Resort will bring together fans of the hobby Sept. 19-21 at Epcot World ShowPlace for an event featuring trading, a live auction, informative seminars, artist signings, and an opportunity to purchase event-exclusive low-edition themed pins.

Tickets for Disney's Pin Celebration 2003 are $53 (Epcot admission is extra). Information is available at http://psc.disney.go.com/eventservices/event_wdw1643.html or by calling 407/827-7600.


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Reservations Getting 'Gobbled Up'
For Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Events

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- How popular are the special events at the 2003 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Oct. 18-Nov. 16? Tickets are selling fast for the Party for the Senses while other popular food and wine ticketed events are already sold out.

Party for the Senses is a hip food and wine event with a dozen featured chefs and international wineries plus music and special entertainment. It includes VIP seating for the popular Eat to the Beat! concert series and viewing for "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth."

Tickets can be booked at 407/WDW-FEST. Festival information is online at disneyworld.com/foodandwine.

The eighth annual food and wine festival is one of the world's largest food and wine experiences with more than 100 wineries represented. During the month-long culinary celebration Epcot guests can enjoy tasty samplings from exotic regions around the globe, culinary demonstrations, complimentary wine seminars and the Eat to the Beat! concert series.

Entrance to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival is included with regular Epcot admission. Special events require additional tickets and have limited availability.


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Automated Ticket Vending Machines Wipe Out Waiting At Disney Water Parks

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Faster than a trip down Summit Plummet. Easier than floating in a tube down Castaway Creek. Able to leap long lines in a single bound. It's a bird. It's a plane. It's the new automated ticket vending machines at Disney water parks!

Available now at Disney's Blizzard Beach and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, ticket vending machines give Walt Disney World guests an alternative to standing in line at a ticket window. Guests can purchase a one-day ticket to the water park by using a credit card or on-property room key at one of the ticket vending machines located near the entrance of each park.

The ticket vending machines utilize touch screen technology that allow guests to select the ticket type -- either an adult or child one-day ticket -- and quantity of each type. The ticket vending machines at Blizzard Beach also permit guests to purchase a round of golf at nearby Disney's Winter Summerland miniature golf course.

After making their ticket selection on the touch screen, guests use an electronic signature pad to authorize the transaction. The machine prints the tickets and receipt and the guests are off to enjoy a day of fun in the sun.

The machine accepts all major credit cards and offers menu screens in English plus five other languages -- Spanish, German, French, Portuguese and Japanese.

"After three years in development, we're really excited to have these automated ticket vending machines available at Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon," said Michael Jungen, senior manager for Walt Disney World Ticketing. "Now guests will spend less time waiting in line and more time enjoying their water park experience."

A one-day ticket to Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon is $31 plus tax ($25 plus tax for ages 3-9).


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Nine Dragons Restaurant at Epcot Rolls out Dim Sum

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Tasty dim sum is the newest addition at Nine Dragons restaurant in the China pavilion in Epcot World Showcase.

More than a dozen creations -- savory and sweet choices, some warm, others cold -- are offered from a traditional trolley cart that moves throughout the dining room. Diners select the appetizer-sized dishes, and a small card is stamped each time they choose a basket or plate of dim sum. Each dish is $3.95.

Many guests make a meal of the tasty little dumplings and pastries filled with meats or vegetables, while others start the dining experience with dim sum, then move on to traditional Chinese entrées.

"Dim sum is a more health-conscious, light way to dine," said Stephen Fan, general manager of Nine Dragons.


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Disney Standardizes Booking Window for Priority Seating At Dining Locations

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Walt Disney World Resort has standardized the booking window to 90 days out for priority seating arrangements at Walt Disney World restaurant locations. The standardization replaces a variety of booking windows that sometimes even existed from mealtime to mealtime at a restaurant.

Exceptions to the 90-day standardization still exist. The window to book Bistro de Paris at Epcot and "Lunch with a Disney Artist" at Disney-MGM Studios is 30 days out. Victoria & Albert's Chef's Table can be booked 180 days out, and the two Disney dinner shows -- "Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue" at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, and "Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show" at Disney's Polynesian Resort -- can be booked up to two years out.

The phone number to arrange dining is 407/WDW-DINE (407/939-3463).


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National Kidney Foundation 5K
For Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Sept. 6

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Florida chapter of the National Kidney Foundation will present a 5K Fun Run and Walk Race for Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness on Saturday, Sept. 6, at Walt Disney World Resort. Kids' races start at 6:30 p.m. at Disney-MGM Studios, while the Fun Run 5K will start at 7:30 p.m.

Money raised from the event will help support the National Kidney Foundation of Florida, a leader in organ donation programs. The top three male and female finishers will receive awards.

Entry fees are $20 (received by Sept. 2), $22 (received between Sept. 2-5), or $25 on race day. The entry fee includes a commemorative race T-shirt. Individuals may register to compete at disneyworldsports.com (click on Marathon & Road Races). To form a team of six or more, call 800/927-9659 and request a Team Kit. (Note: Walkers must complete the course in 60 minutes.)


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Tri-America Triathlon Series Finale
Set for Sept. 27-28 at Walt Disney World Resort

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Tri-America Triathlon Series returns to Walt Disney World Resort for its eighth and final stop in 2003 on Sept. 27-28. The Tri-America Triathlon Series is a national triathlon tour that includes an international distance triathlon, a kids' triathlon, and the two-day interactive Tri-America Festival of Fitness and Sports.

The international-distance triathlon consists of a .93-mile (1.5 kilometers) swim, 24.8-mile (40 kilometers) bike race and a 6.2-mile (10 kilometers) run. (Note: Distances are worldwide standards used in the ITU World Championships and in the Olympic Games.) The 2003 race course utilizes a point-to-point format with the race starting at Disney's Contemporary Resort and finishing at Epcot.

The swim will take place at North Beach, just outside the gates of Magic Kingdom. The triathlon finish will be at Epcot, as the run takes athletes around World Showcase Lagoon and past Spaceship Earth near the park's main entrance.

The Tri-America Kids' Triathlon will be a scaled-down triathlon at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon water park on Sept. 27 for youth ages 7-14.

To register for the Tri-America Triathlon Series or the Tri-America Kids' Triathlon, visit www.triamerica.com. (http://www.triamerica.com.)

MauiMouse
08-20-2003, 06:39 PM
Thanks for all the great info Carol. I been really thinking about going to the Pin Celebration at Epcot! :D