Stu
23 Dec 05, 05:59 PM
Dateline Disney Florida/National Edition - January 2006
In This Edition:
Walt Disney World Resorts: Extra Magic Hours fun is now making a real spash.
Disney-MGM Studios: Meredith Vieira, "Millionaire" return in January for three days of show tapings.
Epcot: Here's a cool way to cool off -- a pause that refreshes.
Disney's Wide World of Sports: Disney Marathon, Half Marathon going their separate days; with spring training just around the corner, Braves tickets on sale in January.
Anywhere in the world: A new weekly podcast features the fun of Walt Disney World Resort.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disney Marathon, Half Marathon to Run on Separate Days -- Jan. 7 and Jan. 8
The 13th annual Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Jan. 5-8 includes a new split-day format, with the 13.1-mile half marathon on Saturday, Jan. 7 and the 26.2-mile full marathon on Sunday, Jan. 8.
With the races occurring on separate days for the first time, a new competition, Goofy's Race-and-a-Half Challenge, is offered for registered participants who complete both races -- a total of 39.3 miles -- across Walt Disney World Resort during the two days. Competitors who accomplish this impressive physical challenge will receive a special Goofy Medal in addition to the Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse medals, which are awarded to half marathon and marathon finishers, respectively.
With the deadline passed, some 30,000 participants are signed up to compete in the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (16,000 in the half marathon, 14,000 in the full marathon). More than 3,000 participants have registered to compete in both races. Also featured during the weekend: Disney's Health & Fitness Expo at The Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex on Jan. 5-7.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disney Hotel Guests Now Enjoy Extra Magic Hours at Disney's Water Parks
LAKE BUENA, VISTA, Fla. -- Disney water parks join the roster of theme parks participating in the Extra Magic Hours feature at Walt Disney World Resort. Guests staying at any Disney hotel will be able to enjoy an additional hour of splashy fun at Disney's Blizzard Beach and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon. The water parks will open one hour before the regularly scheduled opening time, providing access to all attractions and preferred seating.
Extra Magic Hours also are available at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom -- on select days one hour prior to regularly scheduled park opening, and on other days up to three hours following the park's closing. Selected attractions are available for the exclusive use of Disney Resort hotel guests.
Guests are required to present their Disney Resort identification card along with a valid theme park admission ticket.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Walt Disney World Resort Launches Official Weekly Podcast Filled With Exclusive Interviews, Behind-the-Scenes Content
Walt Disney World Resort takes listeners inside the world's No. 1 vacation destination with "Walt Disney World Resort: Plugged In," a weekly podcast debuting as part of the "Happiest Celebration on Earth," a global commemoration of 50 years of Disney theme parks.
From a Christmas Day launch, the official Walt Disney World podcast is featuring a lively mix of exclusive content -- behind-the-scenes tours of Disney's four Florida theme parks, celebrity interviews, news about upcoming events, and conversations with Disney Imagineers, the men and women responsible for the design, creation and expansion of the company's theme parks and resorts.
Listeners can subscribe to the free audio program at disneyworld.com/podcast or through the iTunes Podcast Directory. The podcasts are being produced exclusively for the fast-growing medium and can be enjoyed at the listener's convenience with a computer or portable audio player such as the Apple iPod.
Upcoming podcasts will include interviews with celebrities such as Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa ("Live with Regis & Kelly"), Susan Lucci ("All My Children"), John Stamos ("Jake in Progress"), Raven ("That's So Raven"), the Cheetah Girls, Aly & AJ, Kelly Monaco and John O'Hurley ("Dancing with the Stars"), singer-actress Vanessa Williams, and the young stars of the Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media motion picture "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."
Listeners also will have unprecedented access to the thoughts of Imagineers as they discuss the design and construction of Expedition Everest, a thrilling new runaway train attraction debuting at Walt Disney World Resort in spring 2006.
"Walt Disney World Resort: Plugged In" joins several official podcasts from The Walt Disney Company, including free programs from Disney Online, Radio Disney, ABC, ESPN and Disneyland Resort.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meredith Vieira Comes to Disney-MGM Studios For 'Millionaire' Tapings in January
Walt Disney World guests can be part of the audience of the hit TV show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" with Meredith Vieira in January.
The syndicated show is coming to the Vacation Kingdom Thursday, Jan. 12, Friday, Jan.13 and Sunday, Jan. 15 to tape episodes at the "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire-Play It!" attraction at Disney-MGM Studios.
Guests can request tickets for the tapings by visiting millionairetv.com. Tickets include complimentary parking plus entry to Disney-MGM Studios. Everyone in the party must have a ticket.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlanta Braves Spring Training Single-Game Tickets on Sale, Jan. 7
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Atlanta Braves are returning to Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex for Major League Baseball Spring Training in February and March 2006. The Braves will conduct two weeks of workouts before playing a 16-game home schedule against 10 major league teams during their ninth year of spring training at the 220-acre sports complex at Walt Disney World Resort.
The defending National League East division champion Braves open their 2006 spring schedule with an exhibition game against the University of Georgia on March 1. The team faces its first major league opponent, the Los Angeles Dodgers, on March 3 before a special exhibition game against Venezuela of the World Baseball Classic on March 5.
The Braves continue their tradition of hosting the St. Louis Cardinals in back-to-back games March 12-13, marking the fourth consecutive year the teams have faced off in a two-game spring series. The National League champion Houston Astros travel to Disney on two occasions, March 14 and March 17, while the division rival New York Mets also make two appearances at the complex, on March 11 and March 29. The Braves host three American League teams -- the Detroit Tigers (March 6), Cleveland Indians (March 23 and March 25) and New York Yankees (March 27).
Individual game tickets for the Braves' home spring training season go on sale Saturday, Jan. 7 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster (407/839-3900 and ticketmaster.com), and at the Disney's Wide World of Sports box office. Prices range from $13 (general admission lawn seats) to $21 (lower reserved).
Information on spring training season and group tickets and mini-packs is available by calling 407/939-GAME (4263) and online at disneyworldsports.com. The popular mini-packs include both three- and five-game options in 2006 and are currently on-sale, giving fans their first opportunity to purchase specific games on the Braves' 2006 spring training schedule.
Fans also may purchase Atlanta Braves Spring Training travel packages offered through Sports Marketing USA. Travel packages include Braves game tickets, accommodations at Walt Disney World Resort and other benefits. Information is available online at sportsmarketingusa.com/braves_dwws.html.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Epcot's Place to Pause for Refreshment Gets Refreshed
For years, Epcot guests "in the know" have headed to Ice Station Cool in Future World to cool off and get refreshed with samples of Coca-Cola products from around the world. Now the area itself has been refreshed with bright colors and a new name: Club Cool. There's no age limit for this club, and the samples of an interesting array of Coca-Cola products are still offered on a complimentary basis. Club Cool is located near the central fountain in Future World.
In This Edition:
Walt Disney World Resorts: Extra Magic Hours fun is now making a real spash.
Disney-MGM Studios: Meredith Vieira, "Millionaire" return in January for three days of show tapings.
Epcot: Here's a cool way to cool off -- a pause that refreshes.
Disney's Wide World of Sports: Disney Marathon, Half Marathon going their separate days; with spring training just around the corner, Braves tickets on sale in January.
Anywhere in the world: A new weekly podcast features the fun of Walt Disney World Resort.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disney Marathon, Half Marathon to Run on Separate Days -- Jan. 7 and Jan. 8
The 13th annual Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Jan. 5-8 includes a new split-day format, with the 13.1-mile half marathon on Saturday, Jan. 7 and the 26.2-mile full marathon on Sunday, Jan. 8.
With the races occurring on separate days for the first time, a new competition, Goofy's Race-and-a-Half Challenge, is offered for registered participants who complete both races -- a total of 39.3 miles -- across Walt Disney World Resort during the two days. Competitors who accomplish this impressive physical challenge will receive a special Goofy Medal in addition to the Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse medals, which are awarded to half marathon and marathon finishers, respectively.
With the deadline passed, some 30,000 participants are signed up to compete in the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (16,000 in the half marathon, 14,000 in the full marathon). More than 3,000 participants have registered to compete in both races. Also featured during the weekend: Disney's Health & Fitness Expo at The Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex on Jan. 5-7.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disney Hotel Guests Now Enjoy Extra Magic Hours at Disney's Water Parks
LAKE BUENA, VISTA, Fla. -- Disney water parks join the roster of theme parks participating in the Extra Magic Hours feature at Walt Disney World Resort. Guests staying at any Disney hotel will be able to enjoy an additional hour of splashy fun at Disney's Blizzard Beach and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon. The water parks will open one hour before the regularly scheduled opening time, providing access to all attractions and preferred seating.
Extra Magic Hours also are available at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom -- on select days one hour prior to regularly scheduled park opening, and on other days up to three hours following the park's closing. Selected attractions are available for the exclusive use of Disney Resort hotel guests.
Guests are required to present their Disney Resort identification card along with a valid theme park admission ticket.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Walt Disney World Resort Launches Official Weekly Podcast Filled With Exclusive Interviews, Behind-the-Scenes Content
Walt Disney World Resort takes listeners inside the world's No. 1 vacation destination with "Walt Disney World Resort: Plugged In," a weekly podcast debuting as part of the "Happiest Celebration on Earth," a global commemoration of 50 years of Disney theme parks.
From a Christmas Day launch, the official Walt Disney World podcast is featuring a lively mix of exclusive content -- behind-the-scenes tours of Disney's four Florida theme parks, celebrity interviews, news about upcoming events, and conversations with Disney Imagineers, the men and women responsible for the design, creation and expansion of the company's theme parks and resorts.
Listeners can subscribe to the free audio program at disneyworld.com/podcast or through the iTunes Podcast Directory. The podcasts are being produced exclusively for the fast-growing medium and can be enjoyed at the listener's convenience with a computer or portable audio player such as the Apple iPod.
Upcoming podcasts will include interviews with celebrities such as Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa ("Live with Regis & Kelly"), Susan Lucci ("All My Children"), John Stamos ("Jake in Progress"), Raven ("That's So Raven"), the Cheetah Girls, Aly & AJ, Kelly Monaco and John O'Hurley ("Dancing with the Stars"), singer-actress Vanessa Williams, and the young stars of the Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media motion picture "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."
Listeners also will have unprecedented access to the thoughts of Imagineers as they discuss the design and construction of Expedition Everest, a thrilling new runaway train attraction debuting at Walt Disney World Resort in spring 2006.
"Walt Disney World Resort: Plugged In" joins several official podcasts from The Walt Disney Company, including free programs from Disney Online, Radio Disney, ABC, ESPN and Disneyland Resort.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meredith Vieira Comes to Disney-MGM Studios For 'Millionaire' Tapings in January
Walt Disney World guests can be part of the audience of the hit TV show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" with Meredith Vieira in January.
The syndicated show is coming to the Vacation Kingdom Thursday, Jan. 12, Friday, Jan.13 and Sunday, Jan. 15 to tape episodes at the "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire-Play It!" attraction at Disney-MGM Studios.
Guests can request tickets for the tapings by visiting millionairetv.com. Tickets include complimentary parking plus entry to Disney-MGM Studios. Everyone in the party must have a ticket.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlanta Braves Spring Training Single-Game Tickets on Sale, Jan. 7
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Atlanta Braves are returning to Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex for Major League Baseball Spring Training in February and March 2006. The Braves will conduct two weeks of workouts before playing a 16-game home schedule against 10 major league teams during their ninth year of spring training at the 220-acre sports complex at Walt Disney World Resort.
The defending National League East division champion Braves open their 2006 spring schedule with an exhibition game against the University of Georgia on March 1. The team faces its first major league opponent, the Los Angeles Dodgers, on March 3 before a special exhibition game against Venezuela of the World Baseball Classic on March 5.
The Braves continue their tradition of hosting the St. Louis Cardinals in back-to-back games March 12-13, marking the fourth consecutive year the teams have faced off in a two-game spring series. The National League champion Houston Astros travel to Disney on two occasions, March 14 and March 17, while the division rival New York Mets also make two appearances at the complex, on March 11 and March 29. The Braves host three American League teams -- the Detroit Tigers (March 6), Cleveland Indians (March 23 and March 25) and New York Yankees (March 27).
Individual game tickets for the Braves' home spring training season go on sale Saturday, Jan. 7 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster (407/839-3900 and ticketmaster.com), and at the Disney's Wide World of Sports box office. Prices range from $13 (general admission lawn seats) to $21 (lower reserved).
Information on spring training season and group tickets and mini-packs is available by calling 407/939-GAME (4263) and online at disneyworldsports.com. The popular mini-packs include both three- and five-game options in 2006 and are currently on-sale, giving fans their first opportunity to purchase specific games on the Braves' 2006 spring training schedule.
Fans also may purchase Atlanta Braves Spring Training travel packages offered through Sports Marketing USA. Travel packages include Braves game tickets, accommodations at Walt Disney World Resort and other benefits. Information is available online at sportsmarketingusa.com/braves_dwws.html.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Epcot's Place to Pause for Refreshment Gets Refreshed
For years, Epcot guests "in the know" have headed to Ice Station Cool in Future World to cool off and get refreshed with samples of Coca-Cola products from around the world. Now the area itself has been refreshed with bright colors and a new name: Club Cool. There's no age limit for this club, and the samples of an interesting array of Coca-Cola products are still offered on a complimentary basis. Club Cool is located near the central fountain in Future World.