Tidbits
December 2008





Rexervations

12/21/08 The T-Rex Cafe at the Downtown Disney Marketplace has announced it will begin accepting Dining Reservations January 5, 2009 via 407-828-8739. These reservations are not part of the Disney Advanced Dining Reservation System and are handled by the restaurant itself.

Epicurean Expansion

12/21/08 The Magic Kingdom park will be expanding its dinner dining options December 24-31, 2008 by offering a family style meal at the Diamond Horseshoe Saloon. During this period Guests can enjoy a family-style dinner that includes carved beef, pork loin, roasted turkey breast, and mashed potatoes from 5 pm - 9 pm daily. The meal will be priced at $22.99 per Guests Ages 10 & Up and $15.99 for Guests Ages 3-9.

A Ship Pillaging

12/13/08The Viking Ship removal has been completed. The landscaping that was infront of the Ship has been expanded to replace the former foot print of Ship location.

12/9/08 Epcot’s Norway pavilion will soon be experiencing a fairly noticeable cosmetic change. Construction Permits have been filed to demolish the Viking Ship that is somewhat prominently displayed at the pavilion. The structure, formerly of play structure use, has recently been used mostly as a photo back-drop. The construction permits have been filed with the Description of Property of, “Epcot Norway Viking Ship” and the Description of Improvements as, “Demo Viking ship, salvage props, safety deck material, back fill included electrical.” The schedule for this project is not clear at this time.

A Fairyly New Meet & Greet

12/9/08Character Cast have reported that the Pixie Hollow Meet and Greet will has suspended the game portion of the Meet and Greet experience. This change in the experience is reportedly aimed at reducing the queue time. It has not been reported if this change is temporary or permanent.

11/4/08 The new Pixie Hollow Meet and Greet at the Magic Kingdom park is introducing two unusual aspects of a Meet and Greet experience –- high degree of interactivity and very long wait times. Unlike other meet and greet locations, three groups/families are allowed in the meet and greet room with the Fairies at one time. During this visit time the Fairies play a short game with the groups/families as a whole, then meet individually with each group/family for a few minutes. This more interactive experience coupled with the novelty and popularity of the Disney Fairies characters is yielding very long wait times. Character Cast have reported that the typical wait time is currently ~90 minutes and wait times have reached as long as 3 hours.

Dinner and a Show

12/9/08 The first Guests to use the package have reported that the reserved seating is in the front section, on the right side of the theater (facing the stage). Guests have also reported that, much like the Famtasmic! package, Guests using the reserved seating must enter the theater through a separate entrance. As of the first several showings, this special entrance was reportedly not clearly marked. Guests reported that the special entrance is to the right of the main queue entrance.

11/20/08 Similar to the Fantasmic! Dinner Dining Package, Disney's Animal Kingdom is scheduled to introduce a Limited Lunch Dining Package for its popular Finding Nemo: The Musical later this year. Starting December 1, 2008, Guests who make a reservation at the Tusker House Restaurant between 1:00 pm and 1:40 pm will be eligible for reserved seating for the 3:15 pm showing of Finding Nemo: The Musical on the same day as the dining reservation. After enjoying their meal, participating Guests are given a reserved seating ticket and are asked to arrive at the theater by 2:45 pm in-order to be seated in the reserved area.

Third Tweak a Charm?

12/9/08 Entertainment Cast have reported that the, still tentatively titled, Celebrate Dreams Come True Parade will debut at the Magic Kingdom park on January 23, 2009. This parade will be presented as the park’s daily afternoon parade. The changes from the first and second iterations were handled in a rolling manner with one float being removed at a time for modifications, it has not yet been reported if the transition from the second to third iterations will be handled in a similar method matter or not.

10/27/08 Entertainment Cast are reporting that a third iteration of the "Dream Come True" parade will be debuting at the Magic Kingdom in Early 2009. Cast Rehearsals for a new parade tentatively title "Celebrate Dreams Come True" have been reportedly scheduled for January 2009. Beyond some minor troupe changes the biggest changes from the second iteration will reportedly be made to the "It Was All Started with a Mouse" and the "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes" floats.

Sounds Seasonal

12/9/08It has been internally announced that Disney’s Hollywood Studios park is removing the Sounds Dangerous attraction from Regular Operation and placing it on Seasonal Operation. While it is never certain when seasonally operational attraction will be open, it is likely the attraction may now only be open during the Peak Christmas/New Years, Peak Spring Break, and Peak Summer periods.

A Whirlwind of Change

12/9/08 Primeval Whirl re-opened from its refurbishment over Thanksgiving weekend. Although the refurbishment was drastic, it is now evident that it did not change the attraction experience nor thematically alter the ride. The “retro-fit” wording in the construction permits appears to have referred to the new track pieces retro-fitted into the remaining structure. Although many sections of the track were replaced (and in some areas new supports added) the design of the track was not altered. In addition to the replacement of track, Cast have reported that the rides breaking system and controls systems have all been replaced.

10/12/08 As the refurbishment of Primeval Whirl progresses, the extensiveness of the work is becoming more apparent. With much of the attraction’s track above the construction walls, it has been visible that cranes are removing large sections of the track. There have still been no details released in regard to the aim of the refurbishment.