August 26, 2004


Walt Disney World Resort Announces October-December Room Discounts

Disney has released resort specials for Annual Passholders and Room-only discounts. Room-only rates are available for travelers vacationing at Walt Disney World between 9/30/04-12/25/04 - excluding 11/10/04-11/13/04 and 11/23/04-11/27. Rates range from $55+ per night for Value Resorts, $85+ per night for Moderate Resorts and $149+ per night for Deluxe Resorts. Ask for code BAT. Reservations must be made by 10/10/04. Annual Passholder discounts are also available for the same travel dates at a slightly deeper discount. Rooms are subject to availability. For details on these and other vacation specials call INTERCOT's Official Travel Agency, Magical Journeys at 1-570-785-3283, or visit their web site and fill out a quote form.

Discussion Here

INTERCOT Partners with Official Ticket Center

INTERCOT is proud to announce a new affiliation with the Official Ticket Center.  This partnership allows INTERCOT guests to buy their Theme Park, Dinner Show and Attraction tickets in advance of their arrival in the Central Florida area at a discounted price.  The Official Ticket Center has been in business for 7 years and is Walt Disney World’s, Universal Studios and Sea World’s #1 guest service provider for the last 3 years.

Details & Discussion Here!
Buy & Price Tickets Now & Save $$$!

Animal Kingdom & Typhoon Lagoon Closed Today

Due to the impact of Hurricane Charley, Walt Disney World resort has adjusted operations on Saturday, August 14. Hours of operation are as follows:

Magic Kingdom® 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Epcot® 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Disney-MGM Studios 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Blizzard Beach 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Disney's Wide World of Sports open for events
Disney's Animal Kingdom® CLOSED until further notice
Typhoon Lagoon CLOSED
Downtown Disney® regular operating hours
Golf Courses CLOSED
All Walt Disney World® Resort hotels (except for Disney's Fort
Wilderness Resort and Campground) remain openfor our guests.

Guests calling 407-WDISNEY for reservations may experience longer wait times today. For families and friends wanting to communicate with guests staying at the Resort, please call 407-WDW-INFO.

Discussion & Details

UPDATE: 10:00 p.m. -- Hurricane Charley Moves Through Central Florida -Category 1 Storm

Hurricane Charley churned violently across Florida tonight, making landfall at Charlotte harbor with 145 mph winds, slowly losing a little steam as it whirled across Orlando with 90 mph sustained winds., but there was still enough punch to cause power outages, down trees and raise havoc across Central Florida.

Discussion & Details

On the Horizon - Another Possible Storm

Hurricane trackers have reported another depression that could soon be a tropical storm southeast of Cuba and about five days away from Florida.

Orlando Center Of The Bull's-Eye - Hurricane Charlie loses speed, down to Category 3

Orange County will likely be under a state of emergency by 10 p.m., County Chairman Richard Crotty said this afternoon."We are the center of the bull's-eye," Crotty said during an afternoon news briefing.  Crotty urged residents to stay off the roads and to use their cell phones only for emergencies. He said he spoke to Gov. Jeb Bush and was promised that Orange County will get the resources it needs to recover from Hurricane Charley.

Discussion & Details

Hurricane Winds Could Last Up To 12 Hours

The National Weather Service issued an inland hurricane wind warning Friday morning for Lake, Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Volusia counties. The warning means sustained wind speeds of over 74 mph are expected for the counties in the warning area.

At an afternoon press conference, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said the city is bracing for the approaching storm.  "We recommend all citizens take protective measures by staying in their homes and staying off the roads," he said.

Emergency Management Director Manuel Soto said the city could be buffeted by hurricane-force winds for as much as 12 hours, starting in the late afternoon and lasting into the early-morning hours Saturday.

Discussion & Details

Storm Update - 2:20pm

Statement from Disney: "All Walt Disney World theme parks, water parks and entertainment venues are now closed. All resort hotels will remain open and staffed to meet the immediate needs of our Guests.

As weather conditions continue to develop throughout the evening, safety and security teams will also be available to assist Guests and Cast Members.

We have more than five hundred engineering Cast Members positioned to survey the property once inclement weather has passed. We will review their findings and make operational adjustments if necessary early Saturday morning.

Currently, we anticipate opening our parks on Saturday at the regularly scheduled time of 9 a.m. Guests who have questions should call (407) WDW-INFO or (407) 939-4636."

Discussion & Details

Closings Due to Hurricane Charley Preparedness

According to the Walt Disney World Resort the following closings will be effective today, August 13:

• Typhoon Lagoon will be closed.
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom is closed.
• Downtown Disney is closed.
• The Magic Kingdom, Disney-MGM Studios & Epcot
  will close at 1 p.m.
• Blizzard Beach will close at 1 p.m.
• E-Ride Night has been cancelled.
• WDW-DINE telephone number is not operational;
  no dining reservations will be accepted today.
• Spirit of Aloha dinner show at the Polynesian resort
  has been cancelled.

Statement from Disney:

"All Walt Disney World Resort hotels will remain open throughout the storm. Guests staying at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground are being relocated to other hotels on property.

We have an extensive hurricane preparedness plan and are staffed and prepared for a realm of possible impacts this type weather could have on our property.

All Walt Disney World Resort Cast Members scheduled to work this morning should report to work whether or not their work area is open. Cast Member questions will be answered upon arrival."

The Walt Disney World Weather line is (407)824-4104.

Please stay tuned for further updates. We’ll pass them along as soon as we have them. For the latest news and information please be sure to check the boards frequently.

Orlando News Sources on the Hurricane
   
INTERCOT Discussion Board
The Orlando Sentinal
Florida Division Of Emergency Management

National News Sources on the Hurricane
  
National Hurricane Center
The Weather Channel's Weather.com
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency

August 12, 2004

Storms Bonnie & Charley Bear Down On Florida

A disorganized Tropical Storm Bonnie came ashore near the central Florida Panhandle this afternoon, bringing with it lighter-than-expected wind and rain.  However Public schools in Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk and Seminole counties will be closed Friday for students and most employees because Hurricane Charley is threatening the region. 

E-Ride Night at the Magic Kingdom not "officially" cancelled for tomorrow as of yet. However, no more tickets are being sold due to the pending forecast. If weather permits Disney will start selling them again in the morning . 

All 4 Parks will be open tomorrow morning for Extra Magic Hour! World Showcase will open at 10AM.  Guests are being advised to visit the parks early - as the weather looks increasingly worse by midday and beyond.

UPDATE: Walt Disney World continues to monitor Hurricane Charley, taking proactive measures for potential impact to guests and cast. These measures include communication on an on-going basis, the clean up and tie down of any loose materials and the consideration of adjusting operating hours. There are also protected areas for animals, if determined necessary.  As of now, Walt Disney World theme parks are scheduled to open on Friday, August 13.

Discussion & Details
Weather.com Tropical Update

"Echoes Of Africa" Opens At Epcot

Art lovers will have a new reason to visit Epcot beginning in September when the Walt Disney World theme park opens its sixth gallery, American Heritage Gallery, with an inaugural exhibition exploring the connection between historical African art objects and their influence and significance as interpreted by contemporary African-American artists. The new gallery will be located in the American Adventure pavilion in World Showcase.

Details & Discussion Here