Earthbound
1 Sep 04, 01:01 PM
Olympic eight-time medalist Michael Phelps and his teammates, gold medalists Lenny Krayzelburg and Ian Crocker, have embarked on "Disney's Swim with the Stars" tour. The 12-city nationwide tour began today at Walt Disney World and ends at Disneyland Resort in California. The three swimming champions served as grand marshals in a celebratory parade in their honor at the Magic Kingdom and led a special swimming clinic at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon water park. When the swimmers leave Orlando, they will stop at cities across the United States in which they will visit one school and meet with local schoolchildren in a 30-minute personal appearance, including a surprise appearance by Mickey Mouse. Each city stop will also feature a two-hour swimming celebration show to showcase the accomplishments of each swimmer, with special insight into the stars' races and strokes, including demonstrations, rematches from Athens and a relay with the stars and special guests. "Disney's Swim with the Stars" tour will culminate at the Disneyland in Anaheim, California, bringing the three gold medal winners to the park as it prepares to celebrate its golden anniversary in 2005. The tentative schedule for the tour is as follows:
1. Orlando / Walt Disney World Resort (8/31 - 9/2)
2. Atlanta (9/3 - 9/5)
3. New York City (9/6 - 9/9)
4. Baltimore (9/10 - 9/12)
5. Chicago (9/13 - 9/15)
6. Dallas (9/16 - 9/18)
7. Denver (9/19 - 9/20)
8. Las Vegas (9/21 - 9/23)
9. Salt Lake City (9/24 - 9/25)
10. Seattle (9/26 - 9/27)
11. San Francisco (9/28 - 9/30)
12. Anaheim / Disneyland Resort (10/4 - 10/5)
Lots of rehab/closing/reopening news this week:
Ariel's Grotto will be closed September 13 through November 11, 2004.
Goofy's Country Dancin' Jamboree in Frontierland is changing. The current show will end September 4. The redesigned show is supposed to feature Toy Story 2's Jessie, Woody and Bullseye -- more details as soon as they are available.
Liberty Square Riverboat will be closed September 5 - 18, 2004.
Magic Carpets of Aladdin will not be operating September 13 - October 15, 2004.
Sword in the Stone shows have resumed in the Magic Kingdom.
Blizzard Beach will be closed for refurbishment October 24 - 31, 2004.
Gasparilla's Grill, the 24-hour counter service restaurant at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, is closed for renovations until November. In the meantime, visitors can eat at the Summerhouse, located on the resort grounds in between the two pools, open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m.
Sonny Eclipse, the Audio-Animatronics lounge lizard who performs daily at Cosmic Ray's in the Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland, is on vacation. (Did he go to Mars? or perhaps Saturn?) He's expected to return in a few weeks.
The Magic Kingdom's Baby Care Center, located adjacent to the Crystal Palace Restaurant, is undergoing refurbishment. A temporary Baby Care Center has been set up in the former Kiddie Concierge area, just to the left of and behind Space Mountain.
The smoking area located near the Liberty Square Riverboat landing has been moved to behind Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe.
The tour portion of the Magic of Disney Animation is currently closed. While it's being restructured, the movie portion featuring Mulan's Mushu is still operating. The entire attraction will close September 13 - 24, then will reopen with a new look and a different interactive experience.
Individual tickets for the Tom Joyner Family Reunion Party at Disney-MGM Studios this Saturday, September 4, are on sale now. The 9 p.m. show features top performers in urban, hip-hop and soul music, including: Alicia Keys, Anita Baker, Big Boi (from the award-winning group Outkast), Chingy, Monica, Hammer and many others. Tickets are $60 plus tax (up to age 3 admitted free) and are available by calling 407-WDISNEY.
"Weird Al" Yankovic will be performing at 7 p.m. this Sunday, September 5, at the House of Blues at Downtown Disney. Advance tickets are $27.50; tickets on the day of the show are $29.50.
1. Orlando / Walt Disney World Resort (8/31 - 9/2)
2. Atlanta (9/3 - 9/5)
3. New York City (9/6 - 9/9)
4. Baltimore (9/10 - 9/12)
5. Chicago (9/13 - 9/15)
6. Dallas (9/16 - 9/18)
7. Denver (9/19 - 9/20)
8. Las Vegas (9/21 - 9/23)
9. Salt Lake City (9/24 - 9/25)
10. Seattle (9/26 - 9/27)
11. San Francisco (9/28 - 9/30)
12. Anaheim / Disneyland Resort (10/4 - 10/5)
Lots of rehab/closing/reopening news this week:
Ariel's Grotto will be closed September 13 through November 11, 2004.
Goofy's Country Dancin' Jamboree in Frontierland is changing. The current show will end September 4. The redesigned show is supposed to feature Toy Story 2's Jessie, Woody and Bullseye -- more details as soon as they are available.
Liberty Square Riverboat will be closed September 5 - 18, 2004.
Magic Carpets of Aladdin will not be operating September 13 - October 15, 2004.
Sword in the Stone shows have resumed in the Magic Kingdom.
Blizzard Beach will be closed for refurbishment October 24 - 31, 2004.
Gasparilla's Grill, the 24-hour counter service restaurant at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, is closed for renovations until November. In the meantime, visitors can eat at the Summerhouse, located on the resort grounds in between the two pools, open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m.
Sonny Eclipse, the Audio-Animatronics lounge lizard who performs daily at Cosmic Ray's in the Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland, is on vacation. (Did he go to Mars? or perhaps Saturn?) He's expected to return in a few weeks.
The Magic Kingdom's Baby Care Center, located adjacent to the Crystal Palace Restaurant, is undergoing refurbishment. A temporary Baby Care Center has been set up in the former Kiddie Concierge area, just to the left of and behind Space Mountain.
The smoking area located near the Liberty Square Riverboat landing has been moved to behind Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe.
The tour portion of the Magic of Disney Animation is currently closed. While it's being restructured, the movie portion featuring Mulan's Mushu is still operating. The entire attraction will close September 13 - 24, then will reopen with a new look and a different interactive experience.
Individual tickets for the Tom Joyner Family Reunion Party at Disney-MGM Studios this Saturday, September 4, are on sale now. The 9 p.m. show features top performers in urban, hip-hop and soul music, including: Alicia Keys, Anita Baker, Big Boi (from the award-winning group Outkast), Chingy, Monica, Hammer and many others. Tickets are $60 plus tax (up to age 3 admitted free) and are available by calling 407-WDISNEY.
"Weird Al" Yankovic will be performing at 7 p.m. this Sunday, September 5, at the House of Blues at Downtown Disney. Advance tickets are $27.50; tickets on the day of the show are $29.50.