Tidbits October 2009

[Figment!]

Tidbits
October 2009

Cruising into Change?

10/21/09 Attraction Cast have received the new script for the Magic Kingdom's Jungle Cruise. Similar to the current script, there reportedly are multiple jokes & comments suggested for each scene that Skippers may choose from or ad lib based on. Comparing the new script to the current one, only one suggested joke has been reportedly removed from the script and several new suggested jokes have been reportedly added for most of the scenes. The removed joke is reportedly for the Inspiration Falls scene where the Skipper could comment, "this is called Inspiration Falls, because it inspires you to go ... {pause} ... deeper into the jungle". There have yet to be any detailed reports on the new suggested jokes that have been added.

10/18/09 Attraction Cast have reported that the Jungle Cruise at the Magic Kingdom is tentatively scheduled to adopt a new script starting November 15, 2009. It is currently expected, but not-yet-confirmed, that the script will be similar to the new script recently adopted at the Disneyland attraction. Relatedly, it is also rumoured among attraction Cast that the ride will debut some upgraded effects in a the same general time frame.

Pool Re-Tool

10/18/09 The Uzima Springs pool area at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is scheduled to be closed for refurbishment from January 4 to January 29, 2010. The affected amenities include the main pool, water slide, children's pool, and hot tubs. The Samawati Springs pool area will remain open and unaffected by this refurbishment.

10/12/09 The Aruba Village Pool at Disney’s Caribbean Beach resort is slated to soon be closed for a fairly extensive refurbishment. Although dates have yet be reported, construction permits have been filed for the location including the description of work as, “demolish concrete, installation, anchoring, and replacement of concrete for ADA accessibility, replacement of pool heater and gas piping, application of new interior pool finish.”

Animal Arrivals

10/12/09 The new Meet & Greet location in Dinoland USA at Disney's Animal Kingdom has opened. The new meet and greet is themed to a gasoline station re-purposed as a souvenir stand in the Chester & Hester Dino-Rama sub-section. The area is well themed; complete with gas pumps, various service department signs, and a “Gasoline Alley” sign re-painted to read “Souvenir Photos”. The back drop for the photos is a larger than life post card that reads "Greetings from Dinoland USA". Excavator Goofy and Pluto are currently meeting intermittently through-out the day at this new location.

9/28/09 Disney's Animal Kingdom is scheduled to debut two new Meet & Greet offerings Fall 2009. The park will be expanding its line-up of characters appearing daily in the Camp Minnie-Mickey area of the park early next month. Starting October 4, 2009, Thumper and Miss Bunny from Walt Disney’s Bambi will be appearing intermittently as a new Character offering at the Camp Minnie-Mickey Greeting Trails. A new meet and greet location is also being constructed in the Dinoland USA section of the park. Construction permits have been filed for “development modifications including landscape, hardscape, electrical and weather structure” and “marquee installation” for a new Meet & Greet area. Although neither an opening date nor character offering has been announced for the forthcoming Dinoland location, Character Cast have reported they expect the area to open sometime this Fall.

Back and Bader Than Ever

10/12/09 The Villains Room in the World of Disney Store at Downtown Disney Marketplace has recently completed a refurbishment. The room now features a more spacious floor plan with new displays around the perimeter. The new perimeter displays feature stained-glass panels of famous Disney Villains. The type of merchandise carried in the room remains mostly unchanged, although the pin selection has been significantly reduced.

Spectro Tune-Up

10/12/09 Entertainment Cast have reported a few recent enhancements to the SpectroMagic parade. The Fish Family Unit has reportedly returned from a multi-month refurbishment featuring new LED’s. The new LED’s reportedly allow the float to change colors in a vibrant fashion. The Sepctro-Men, who lead the parade, have also reportedly debuted more colorful costumes.

A Character Corral

10/8/09 Disney’s Hollywood Studios has recently been testing a new crowd control measure to make Meet & Greet locations with out a permanent area & queue go more smoothly. Prior to the meet & greet start Character Cast set up a perimeter for the meet & greet area with blue pylons and a large black box with the Character meet and greet logo all connected with a red chain. These items more or less provide a fence that prevents Guests from accessing the meet & greet with-out waiting in the formed queue. The test of this new procedure has been reported at the morning Meet & Greets around the Sorcerer Hat. Character Cast have reported that if the tests are deemed successful, this procedure is expected to be implemented at all non-permanent Meet & Greet locations resort-wide.

An Entry Fantasmic

10/8/09 Studios Cast have reported that the separate queue for Fantasmic! Dinner Package Guests is now in operation at the main entrance to the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater. Guests using the package are asked to enter the theater through this queue 30 – 45 minutes prior to the start of the show.

9/10/09 A dedicated queue for Fantasmic! Dinner Package Guests, beginning at the main entrance, is scheduled to start in the next few weeks. Studios Cast have reported that this change is to reduce confusion that the current policy of having Package Guests pass through the stand-by queue to the theater has caused.

Crystal Closure

9/28/09 It has been internally announced that the Crystal Palace restaurant at the Magic Kingdom will be closed for refurbishment January 3 through February 12, 2010. It has also been announced that the Liberty Tree Tavern is currently scheduled to offer Character Breakfasts, Character Lunches, and Character Dinners as a compensatory offering for Guests during the refurbishment. The temporary character meals are planned to offer appearances by Goofy, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Chip and Dale.

[vizsla]

Thanks for the updates.

[Dawn,DeniseandDiane]

Thanks for the updates! We appreciate it so much!

Dawn,Denise&Diane

[readytogo2]

thanks for updates

[beksy]

Will the character dining start at LTT on the 1/3 when CP closes?

[Figment!]

Will the character dining start at LTT on the 1/3 when CP closes?

Barring any changes in the current schedule, yes.

[BluewaterBrad]

Thanks Figment!

[pdrlkr]

Thanks Jason!

[beksy]

Thanks for the updates! Great info as always!

[Figment!]

**Update**

[KylesMom]

Thanks, Jason! I'm very pleased to see the confirmation of a special queue for the Fantasmic! dinner participants. I'm also excited to hear about the refurb of the Villain's Room at WoD.

[vizsla]

Thanks for the updates.

[DizneyDoug]

Great updates! I can't wait to see the improvements to SpectroMagic!

[Dsnygirl]

Thanks Jason!!

[Figment!]

**Update**

[Figment!]

**Update**

[BluewaterBrad]

Thanks for the latest update Figment!!

[vizsla]

Thanks for the updates

[brownie]

Thanks for all the updates!

[mudpuppysmom]

We were there on 10.19.09 and the Inspiration Falls joke was still in the speil.....but our skipper did say -- oh wait, thats not in the new script....and he did say that a few times, so I kinda knew something was going to change.

Thanks for the update!