Walt Disney World Resort Debuts Mission: SPACE, Other New Attractions and Magical Gatherings; Unwraps Exciting Future Projects
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Oct 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Walt Disney World Resort has grand-opened new E-Ticket attractions, including the realistic astronaut experience Mission: SPACE at Epcot. At the same time, exciting new future projects have been announced for the Vacation Kingdom.
And anchoring it all: a whole new Disney vacation called Magical Gatherings, treating larger groups to special trip-planning and activities options. In addition, to celebrate the launch of Magical Gatherings comes a new offer from Visa, a "Kids Stay and Play Free" promotion.
Highlights of Disney's multi-faceted announcements:
* "Mickey's PhilharMagic," a new 3-D film spectacular presented by Kodak,
stars Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and other favorite Disney characters --
the first attraction ever to feature classic Disney characters in
computer-generated animation. Set in Fantasyland Concert Hall, the
musical experience unfolds on the largest seamless screen ever created
for a three-dimensional film, a 150-foot-wide canvas.
* "Wishes" is a new fireworks spectacle in the Magic Kingdom created
especially for the Magical Gatherings inaugural year. Narrated by
Jiminy Cricket, the show is several times the size of "Fantasy in the
Sky," the park's previous show which debuted in 1975. The story of
"Wishes" blends classic Disney songs and character voices with
pyrotechnic effects never before seen in a Disney theme park.
* Mission: SPACE presented by HP. The new attraction launches Epcot
guests into an out-of-this-world, pulse-racing adventure using a
custom-designed ride system based on actual NASA astronaut training
techniques. From an unforgettable liftoff, guests journey through the
planets on their mission, and each guest takes on the role of
commander, pilot, navigator or engineer.
* Magical Gatherings is an exciting program of new products, services and
special experiences at Walt Disney World Resort addressing the hot
travel trend of extending the family vacation beyond the immediate
family. Along with the program comes an offer from Visa -- a "Kids Stay
and Play Free" promotion. When guests use their Visa card to purchase a
non-discounted Disney Dream Maker Vacation Package of four nights or
more during this promotion, one child age 3 to 9 is free with each
paying adult. Packages are limited and other restrictions apply. For
more information, guests can visit disneyworld.com/kidsfree or contact
the Walt Disney Travel Co. at 407/939-7673. Ask for code ZXWI or --
for another offer using Disney's Visa Credit Card from Bank One -- ask
for code ZXFA.
As if all those announcements weren't enough, Walt Disney World Resort has
taken the wraps off spectacular future projects.
"Outside of a new theme park opening, never in the history of Walt Disney
World have we had this many blockbuster attractions under construction at the
same time," said Walt Disney World President Al Weiss. "With this stellar
lineup of new thrills and family adventures, we continue our commitment to
raise the bar and create exciting new ways to fulfill the vacation dreams of
our guests."
New adventures will abound in every Walt Disney World theme park:
* Magic Kingdom -- a wacky encounter with the lovable Stitch;
* Epcot -- an exhilarating flight over California;
* Disney-MGM Studios -- an action-packed stunt show;
* Disney's Animal Kingdom -- a high-speed snowy train ride to the
Himalayan Mountains.
In addition, two previously announced resorts are completing preparations
to open during the next nine months: Disney's Pop Century Resort, a themed
value resort, and Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, the largest Disney
Vacation Club Resort yet.
Here is what's in store for Walt Disney World guests:
Mischief Abounds in Stitch's Great Escape!
The Academy Award-nominated film "Lilo & Stitch" inspires the new Magic
Kingdom attraction Stitch's Great Escape! scheduled to open in late 2004.
A prequel set shortly before the events of the hit Disney motion picture
"Lilo & Stitch," the family-friendly adventure in Tomorrowland will showcase
the mayhem caused by the mischievous "Experiment 626" -- a.k.a. Stitch -- when
first discovered in the Galactic Federation.
Entering the Stitch attraction, Magic Kingdom guests are recruited by the
Galactic Federation Grand Councilwoman to provide additional security for a
captured alien whose reputation for being extremely "difficult" has preceded
him. Even so, authorities underestimate Stitch's capacity for playful
disobedience, causing havoc to erupt with guests caught in the middle of the
fun.
Stitch's Great Escape! will feature some of the most sophisticated Audio-
Animatronics(R) technology ever developed by Walt Disney Imagineering.
The attraction replaces The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter.
Soarin' Attraction Lands at Epcot
The popular "Soarin' Over California" attraction at Disney's California
Adventure will take Walt Disney World guests on an eye-filling journey when it
opens at Epcot in 2005.
The new attraction sends guests on a sweeping flyover above the wondrous
Golden State for a birds-eye view of the rich landscape and topography.
"Soarin' Over California" will be the newest addition to The Land pavilion at
Epcot, complementing the popular pavilion's agriculture and ecology theme.
The unforgettable experience combines cinematic artistry and state-of-the-
art motion base technology. Guests are literally lifted 40 feet inside a giant
projection screen dome and completely surrounded with the beauty and wonder of
the state of California as their elevated theater seats take them on a scenic
tour over the Golden Gate Bridge, the Redwood forests, Napa Valley, Yosemite
and more. The free-flight experience intensifies as guests feel the sweeping
winds and smell fragrant orange blossoms and pine trees around them.
Insiders Reveal Secrets Behind New Stunt Show Spectacular
Disney-MGM Studios guests will be on the edge of their seats as the
secrets behind Hollywood's most astounding stunts unfold at the new Disney-MGM
Studios stunt show.
Inspired by the popular "Stunt Show Spectacular" at Disneyland Paris, the
high-octane stunt show features specially designed cars, motorcycles and jet
skis, plus special effects -- with audience members pulled into the fun.
Insiders will reveal show secrets, detailing how stunts are created, designed
and filmed for the movies. Filmed images are revealed on an oversized screen,
illustrating how the use of different camera angles can add drama to filmed
scenes.
The new show will open in 2005 and is part of a larger redevelopment of
the backlot area of Disney-MGM Studios that also includes new cityscapes,
adding Chicago and San Francisco to the park's existing New York City skyline.
Fun Peaks With Expedition EVEREST
Walt Disney World guests will discover for themselves the fearsome legend
of the yeti when Expedition EVEREST -- a new high-speed train adventure that
combines coaster-like thrills with the excitement of a close encounter of the
hairy kind -- opens in 2006 at Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park.
The Expedition EVEREST adventure begins when guests board an old mountain
railway destined for Mount Everest. The train rolls through thick bamboo
forests, past thundering waterfalls, along shimmering glacier fields and
climbs higher and higher through the snow-capped peaks.
Suddenly the thrills intensify as the train races both forward and
backward through mountain caverns and icy canyons as guests head for an
inevitable face-to-muzzle showdown with the mysterious yeti -- known to some
as the abominable snowman.
Nearly 200 feet high, Expedition EVEREST will be located in the Asia
section of the theme park.
Nestled on a tranquil lakeside site, Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort &
Spa recalls upstate New York country retreats of the late 1800s. The
historical influence of health and horses inspired the art and architecture of
the resort currently under construction at Walt Disney World Resort.
Upon completion, the 65-acre resort will become the seventh and largest
Disney Vacation Club resort to date with 552 total accommodations including
studio, one- and two-bedroom villas and Grand Villa units housed in 12
buildings.
The resort also will feature a themed pool with a natural springs-inspired
pool slide, plus a dining and retail district. Disney's Saratoga Springs
Resort & Spa is scheduled to open in phases beginning spring 2004.
Disney's Pop Century Resort Recalls Yesteryear
A new 2,880-room value resort will send Walt Disney World guests on a trip
through American popular culture with whimsical, oversized icons representing
decades of the 20th century.
The retro resort property, opening December 2003, is adorned with popular
toys, fads, dance crazes and catch phrases that defined the last century. The
entrance to each of the ten lodge buildings pays homage to cultural
touchstones from each era -- a giant jukebox for the 1950s, larger-than-life
yo-yos for the 1960s and 55-foot-tall cell phones for the 1990s. Fifty years
of original memorabilia line the lobby's check-in area.
With rooms starting at $77 a night (based on season), this addition will
bring the total number of Disney-owned-and-operated accommodations at Walt
Disney World Resort to more than 21,000.
