Guess what??? There are rumors that Disney engineers have been assigned to the Spaceship Earth wand in order to assess the best way of removing it in 2007. Ooooh, I hope this rumor is true! I much prefer the naked golfball to the wanded golfball 
ORLANDO (AP) - A man riding a transportation tram at Walt Disney World was taken to the hospital Monday after receiving what officials are saying is a head injury.
Disney spokesman Jacob DiPietre says a stroller fell off the vehicle and the man injured his head while getting off the tram to retrieve it.
Authorities say rescuers found the man on the ground, bleeding from the head but said he was conscious and answering questions.
He was airlifted to the hospital as a precaution.
I’ve heard from a WDW Cast Member that the word on the street is that there isn’t going to be a Country Bear Christmas Special this year. The regular Country Bear Jamboree show will run throughout the holidays in place of the Christmas show.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The undersea world that charmed audiences around the world in the Disney-Pixar smash-hit film “Finding Nemo” will come to life in an all-new musical stage show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Preview performances begin in November with the premiere set for January 2007.
Featuring original songs by Tony Award-winning “Avenue Q” co-composer-creator Robert Lopez and a cappella musical “Along the Way” co-creator Kristen Anderson-Lopez, “Finding Nemo-The Musical” will immerse Walt Disney World guests in the story of Marlin and Nemo — an overprotective clownfish father and his curious son — through a dazzling production that combines puppets, dancers, aerialists and animated backdrops.
The visually inventive show represents the first time Disney has taken a non-musical animated feature, as well as the first Pixar film, and transformed it into an original musical production. It will be presented in the newly enclosed 1,500-seat Theater in the Wild, completely redone to accommodate first-class theatrical productions.
“In ‘Finding Nemo,’ directors Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich and the talented team at Pixar created a film filled with unforgettable characters and a story rich with honest emotions that resonated with audiences everywhere,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “The movie was a worldwide box-office success and an Academy Award winner.
“We are truly excited to bring this beloved story to life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in this live musical spectacular.”
During “Finding Nemo-The Musical,” Theater in the Wild will become a magical undersea environment through innovative lighting, sound, special effects, animated projections, and the theatrical puppetry of Michael Curry, who co-designed the richly detailed character puppets seen in the Broadway version of Disney’s “The Lion King.”
Principal characters such as Marlin, Nemo and Dory will be represented by live performers operating animated puppets. Some puppets are larger-than-life — such as Crush, the cool sea turtle, who is nearly the size of a Volkswagen, and Nigel the pelican, who stands 22 feet tall.
Other characters will be portrayed by a diverse array of puppetry styles, including rod, Bunraku and shadow. Tap dancing sharks, puppets riding bicycles, and a punk rock routine by Bruce the shark create theatrical magic and fun throughout the big blue world.
“It is our goal to bring the undersea ‘Nemo’ characters to Disney’s Animal Kingdom in a live setting in a way that captures what is truly special about the film,” Rasulo continued. “This production will meet that challenge in a dynamic and wholly original way to bring us into the fantastic ocean world.”
The director for the new show, Peter Brosius, is artistic director of The Children’s Theatre Company of Minneapolis, winner of the 2003 Regional Theatre Tony Award. The Broadway show “A Year with Frog and Toad,” nominated for the Best Musical Tony Award, originated at The Children’s Theatre Company.
“Finding Nemo-The Musical” is the first major musical produced for Walt Disney World Resort by Disney Creative Entertainment, which has received acclaim for its productions around the world, including “Disney’s Aladdin” (at Disneyland Resort in California), “Festival of the Lion King” (at Hong Kong Disneyland), “Twice Charmed” (on the Disney Cruise Line) and “The Golden Mickeys” (at Hong Kong Disneyland and on the Disney Cruise Line).
“It’s exciting to be involved in projects that introduce a new generation of future theatergoers to the work of internationally recognized creative talent through Broadway-caliber short-form shows that all audiences can appreciate,” said Anne Hamburger, executive vice president of Disney Creative Entertainment. “Millions of children experience live theater for the first time during a visit to a Disney park.”
“Finding Nemo-The Musical” tells the story of a father clownfish, Marlin, and his son, Nemo, each on a separate journey that ultimately teaches them how to love and understand each other. The two have been separated — and Marlin will stop at nothing to get his son back, facing undersea challenges with his new friend Dory, who swim with the sharks, take on the jellyfish, and ride the current with Crush the turtle. Meanwhile, Nemo, relocated to a fish tank in Sydney, makes new friends who teach him that he’s stronger than he thinks. When news of his father’s heroic journey reaches the tank, Nemo is inspired to do whatever is necessary to escape the tank and see his father again.
“Finding Nemo-The Musical” is a 30-minute show, performed several times daily. Admission to Theater in the Wild is included with regular Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park admission. Guest information is available by calling 407/824-4321 or by visiting disneyworld.com.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park celebrates one amazing adventure after another with wild animals, exciting attractions, lavish stage shows and lovable characters. Highlights include a runaway train adventure, an authentic African safari and a thrilling race back in time to prehistoric worlds.
“The Year of a Million Dreams” is a first-of-its-kind celebration with more than one million very special dreams to be granted to guests visiting Walt Disney World and Disneyland resorts. Guests will find Disney cast members delivering an unprecedented level of guest service. The celebration will also be highlighted by the debut of innovative Disney attractions and entertainment spectaculars at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts.
All pictures are Copyright Disney.
Holiday sleigh rides are back at the Wilderness Lodge! They will be offered from December 1, 2006 - December 30, 2006. The sleigh ride is 25 minutes in length and it departs every half hour from 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm. The cost is $35 and the sleigh can accomodate 4 adults (or 2 adult and 3 kiddies, ages 9 and under). You can make your sleigh ride reservation by called 1-407-WDW-PLAY.
The special Halloween-themed fireworks show, HalloWishes, is normally only shown during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, but for the rest of October, the Magic Kingdom will be showing HalloWishes in place of Wishes on non-party nights as well! However, the super-cool perimeter fireworks (the ones that explode ALL around you) will still only be shown at the party. This is a WDW first, so be sure to check out HalloWishes even if you aren’t going to the Halloween party.
I just found out from a WDW Cast Member that the Wonders of Life pavilion at Epcot will be open from November 26, 2007 - January 1, 2007! So, if you’ve been dying to see Cranium Command or ride Body Wars again, this is your chance!
Magic Kingdom
Epcot
Disney MGM Studios
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
All Star Movies Resort
Blizzard Beach
Typhoon Lagoon
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL — Disney Vacation Club announced Oct. 11 that it is building a new timeshare resort on Walt Disney World property to meet ongoing strong demand for its unique vacation-ownership program.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas will be part of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, which readers of Travel & Leisure Family magazine recently honored with the No. 4 spot on their list of the 50 greatest family resorts in the United States and Canada. The Disney Vacation Club accommodations will feature intricate African-inspired details and home-like amenities, and most will offer sweeping views of an expanded savannah inhabited by a variety of African animals. These new accommodations are scheduled for development in phases with an anticipated opening beginning Fall 2007 and a completion date planned for Spring 2009. The project’s first phase will include 134 remodeled accommodations on the fifth and sixth floors of the existing Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge building, and subsequent phases will include the construction of 324 vacation homes in a new building on the resort property, for a total of 458 Disney Vacation Club homes.
The project also calls for construction of a new table-service restaurant, themed pool and water-play island, fitness center, merchandise shop, sports and recreation facilities and more.
“We continue to see strong demand from families who want to build a lifetime of unforgettable memories by vacationing in ways they never dreamed possible,” said Jim Lewis, President of Disney Vacation Club. “I am delighted to announce that our members will have yet another place to call home with Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas. This begins another exciting new era for Disney Vacation Club as we continue to explore future destination possibilities both domestically and internationally.”
Disney Vacation Club, now celebrating its milestone 15th anniversary, is an innovative timeshare program that lets families enjoy flexibility and savings on future vacations at Disney destinations and more than 500 other popular vacation sites around the world. Since 2000, Disney Vacation Club membership has doubled to include more than 300,000 individuals from over 100 countries and every U.S. state.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas will be the eighth Disney Vacation Club Resort, joining five others at the Walt Disney World Resort, one in Vero Beach, Fla., and one in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Disney Vacation Club has sold out of memberships at its first six resorts, and sales remain ahead of schedule at its seventh property, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, which opened in May 2004 near the Downtown Disney area at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Source: Disney Vacation Club
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