Dateline Disney - October 2003

[imported_PolyGirl40]

They were late posting this this month. [img]graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

Dateline Disney Florida/National Edition -- October 2003



Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Oct. 18-Nov. 16 Rocks With Good Tastes, Good Times

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Reward your palate with a taste of melt-in-your-mouth honey-glazed salmon. Sip the latest merlot from Australia. Then catch a performance of Sister Sledge or other popular performers during an Eat to the Beat! concert at America Gardens Theatre. The eighth annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Oct. 18-Nov. 16 rocks from morning to night with a seemingly endless array of activities for guests of all ages. On the daily menu:


Eat to the Beat! concerts featuring top-name bands including Three Dog Night and Chubby Checker, plus scheduled World Showcase acts that include music, dance and acrobatics
Wine and beer seminars
Culinary demonstrations
More than 20 international marketplaces offering sips and samples from $1-$4.50
Children's activities including the Junior Chef Program "Making Nestle Toll House Cookies"
Ticketed events such as daily food and wine pairings and weekly Party for the Senses grand food and wine tastings
Entrance to the festival is included with regular Epcot admission; guests can call 407/WDW-FEST or visit disneyworld.com/foodandwine.


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Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Expands to 10 Family-Friendly Nights of Magic Kingdom Fun

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- There'll be more family-friendly frights than ever this October as Magic Kingdom plays host to 10 evenings of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, an after-hours celebration of special spooky entertainment and trick-or-treating for guests of all ages.

In 2003, the popular event has expanded by three dates with parties on Oct. 3, 5, 10, 14, 16, 19, 24, 26, 30 and 31. Each date includes themed trick-or-treat locations throughout the park, unique entertainment including fireworks and a Halloween-themed parade, a complimentary family photo, unlimited use of popular Magic Kingdom attractions, plus much more!

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party takes place from 7 p.m. to midnight and requires a special ticket. Advance tickets are $29.95 for ages 10 and over, $24.95 for ages 3-9. Same-day tickets are $32.95 for ages 10 and over, $27.95 for ages 3-9. Children under 3 are admitted at no additional charge.

For more information, call 407/934-7639 or visit disneyworld.com.


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2003 Funai Classic at Walt Disney World Resort Oct. 20-26

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- One hundred forty-four PGA TOUR professionals and 144 amateurs will take to the fairways at Disney's Palm and Magnolia golf courses on Oct. 20-26 for the Funai Classic at Walt Disney World Resort. The annual Disney Classic is celebrating its 33rd year with a new sponsor, Japanese electronics company Funai. This year's purse is the event's largest in the event's history at $4 million, with $720,000 going to the winner.

Tiger Woods, an annual participant since turning pro in 1996, is expected to highlight the player field along with notables Ernie Els, Charles Howell III and 2003 PGA Championship winner Shaun Micheel. Bob Burns, who won at Disney in 2002, will return to defend his title.

Ticket prices are: $10 (practice round daily ticket for Monday-Wednesday), $20 (Good Any One Day Ticket, Thursday-Sunday), $50 (Weekly Badge, Monday-Sunday) and $200 (Fairway Club individual package that includes: weeklong admission Thursday-Sunday, access to exclusive hospitality areas and prime location along the 3rd and 15th holes of the Magnolia course). Daily tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 877/803-7073 or at the gate on tournament days. Weekly Badges or group tickets can be purchased through the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce by calling 407/835-2525.

Note: Kids 17 and under receive free admission to the Classic when accompanied by a paying adult.


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Disney Cruise Line Stages Next Chapter of Entertainment As "The Golden Mickeys" Brings Timeless Classics to Life

PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Disney Cruise Line adds to its lineup of original Disney musicals by premiering "The Golden Mickeys," a lively amalgam of theatrical song and dance, animated film, video and special effects.

This quintessential musical creatively entwines many of Disney's most famous and infamous characters with a touch of pure romance and comedy in a salute to Walt Disney and his legacy of classic animated films. Vibrant animated backdrops whisk guests from high above Notre Dame Cathedral in one scene to inside a young boy's toy-filled bedroom in another. All along, dramatic sets create a three-dimensional illusion as films race across stage-size screens, and lighting and surround sound casually envelop the audience. Special effects also play an important role -- creating a playful jungle for Tarzan and his aerial-acrobatic friends, an under-the-sea setting from which an outstretched Ursula surprises unsuspecting guests, and star-lit skies and a pixie-dusted ballroom gown that are every bit fairytale.

"The Golden Mickeys" opened Labor Day weekend (2003) aboard the Disney Wonder and is scheduled to debut aboard the Disney Magic in December.


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Haunting Pin-Trading Event Returns to Magic Kingdom Oct. 27-29

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The 999 Happy Haunts Event returns to Magic Kingdom with spooky goings-on and package offers Oct. 27-29. The frightful pin trading event features themed dining experiences, meet-and-greets with artists, seminars, live auction, special entertainment and in-park activities. Attendees also will have an opportunity to purchase limited edition 999 Happy Haunts merchandise.

For more information on the event and resort package offers, contact www.DisneyGallery.com.


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Disney's Coronado Springs Resort to Add 86,000-Square-Foot Exhibit Facility

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Disney's largest convention resort is about to get even bigger: Walt Disney World Resort will add an 86,000-square-foot exhibit hall to the convention center at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. The exhibit hall is the centerpiece of an addition that will effectively double the amount of function space at the 1,921-room resort.

When the expansion is completed in spring 2005, the convention center will boast more than 220,000 square feet of meeting, exhibit and function space. Equally important to meeting professionals, the convention center space will be contiguous on one level.

The new exhibition facility will boast the latest wireless technology, giving attendees and exhibitors easy computer access from virtually any location.

For more information, contact 321/939-7221or visit www.disneymeetings.com.


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Walt Disney World Sommelier Wins Award

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Brian Koziol, sommelier for Victoria & Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, was among the top five "Best New Sommeliers in the U.S.," according to a recent poll for Wine & Spirits magazine. The magazine surveyed 450 wine pros to pick the best of the best.

Koziol has been with Disney since 1994 and is an advanced-level sommelier, studying for his master certification.


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Orlando Magic Training Camp at The Milk House Sept. 30-Oct. 5

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The NBA's Orlando Magic become the third major professional sports team to conduct training camp at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex this year, joining baseball's Atlanta Braves and football's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Head Coach Doc Rivers, All-Star Tracy McGrady and company participate in pre-season workouts Sept. 30-Oct. 5 at The Milk House as the Magic return to Walt Disney World Resort for training camp for the first time since the 1997-98 season.

Players with three or fewer "years of service" begin practice on Sept. 30, while players with four or more "years of service" start on Oct. 3.

Note: Magic Training Camp will not be open to the public.


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Coca-Cola/Tiger Woods Foundation Junior Golf Clinic at Disney Golf Complex Oct. 16-18

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Tiger Woods Foundation hosts a national junior golf clinic and exhibition on Oct. 18 at Disney's Palm and Magnolia golf courses for the second consecutive year. More than 75 junior golfers, ages 7-17, from Central Florida and three other cities -- Indio, Calif.; Wilkinsburg, Pa.; and San Juan, Puerto Rico -- will participate in the three-day event at Walt Disney World Resort.

Participating junior golfers will receive one-on-one golf instruction and witness an exhibition from the world's best player. They will also take part in a Pitch, Putt, and Drive skills tournament at Disney's Oak Trail golf course on Oct. 17 and have the opportunity to visit the Walt Disney World theme parks throughout the weekend.

NOTE: The Tiger Woods Foundation Junior Golf Clinic weekend is not open to the public.


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Indy Racing League Championship Celebration Oct. 25

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The stars of the IRL IndyCar™ Series and Infiniti Pro Series travel to Walt Disney World Resort for the annual Indy Racing League Championship Celebration. Themed "Magical Moments of the Indy Racing League," the invitation-only event is set for World ShowPlace at Epcot on Oct. 25.

Drivers, teams and sponsors will attend the made-for-television event, which will air at a later date on ESPN. The show will include the presentation of the IndyCar Series Championship Cup and a $1 million bonus to the IndyCar Series championship-winning team and driver.

IRL drivers are expected to participate in autograph sessions, parades and other special activities across Walt Disney World Resort in the days leading up to the Championship Celebration.

[imported_Melanears]

Wow....Coronado Springs really is going to be the place for conventions!

Thanks for all the info, Carol! [img]smile.gif[/img]