Tidbits
November 2008





Dinner and a Show

11/20/08 Similar to the Fantasmic! Dinner Dining Package, Disney's Animal Kingdom is scheduled to introduce a Limited Lunch Dining Package for its popular Finding Nemo: The Musical later this year. Starting December 1, 2008, Guests who make a reservation at the Tusker House Restaurant between 1:00 pm and 1:40 pm will be eligible for reserved seating for the 3:15 pm showing of Finding Nemo: The Musical on the same day as the dining reservation. After enjoying their meal, participating Guests are given a reserved seating ticket and are asked to arrive at the theater by 2:45 pm in-order to be seated in the reserved area.

A Bit Smaller Buffet

11/20/08 Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort has again modified its Lunch buffet offerings at its Trails End dining location. Although the buffet has not been restored to its full former variety, most former selections have returned as of Early November. The buffet now includes assorted soups, assorted salad, fried chicken, pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, chili and a vegetable-of-the-day.

7/31/08Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort has modified its Lunch buffet offerings at its Trails End dining location. As of July 23, 2008, the buffet has introduced a buffet featuring assorted soups, salad and sandwiches only. The buffet previously included fried chicken, pulled pork and pizza in addition to the current offerings.

Going Goofy on Your Birthday

11/18/08 Presumably as a tie-in with the forthcoming “Celebration” promotional campaign for 2009, Goofy's Candy Company in the Downtown Disney Marketplace is launching birthday party program starting in December 2008. Guests can choose between the themed parties of Goofy's Scien-Terrific Birthday Bash or Perfectly Princess Party. Both parties are 90 minutes long and priced at $367.38 for a party of up to 12 guests, $392.38 for a party of 13 guests, $417.38 for a party of 14 guests and $442.38 for a party of 15 guests. Both parties include a themed glow souvenir, choice of Build-Your-Own Treat, themed autographed picture, party balloon, Goofy Glacier Build-a-Cup for each guest and themed games for all to play. The Birthday child receives either a Goofy gumball machine or crown, sash and boxed glass slipper (dependent on the party theme), a mylar balloon, party invitations and thank you cards. The parties provide 2 party hosts and held in a private party room. Parties are restricted to Guests ages 3 and older and can be reserved via 407-WDW-BDAY.

A Store Smoosh

11/18/08 The Mouse About Town, Once Upon a Time, and Sunset Club Couture stores at Disney’s Hollywood Studios reopened from a major refurbishment on November 8, 2008. Although the three stores have retained their individual facades, the interiors have been merged to provide a single open retail area. Guests have compared the new combined area similar to the Emporium at the Magic Kingdom; in that, although it is one large retail area it is still somewhat segmented. In addition to a refurbishment of the floors, sales displays, and fixtures, the merchandise has been restructured as well. Merchandise Cast have reported that the majority of the new retail entity’s merchandise is Women’s apparel; and although not eliminated, Men’s apparel and Watches has been significantly scaled back.

Meeting Like Cats and Dogs

11/18/08 Bolt and Mittens from the upcoming Disney release “Bolt” debuted as the newest in-park characters at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on November 9, 2008. The new Meet & Greet opened in the Magic of Disney Animation post-show area features the two characters and a backdrop with a lightning bolt pattern and the words “Walt Disney Pictures Bolt”. According to Character Cast, Rhino is scheduled to be joining the duo for regular appearances starting November 21, 2008. The Bolt Meet and Greet location has reportedly replaced the Wall-E photo opportunity.

Santa's Coming to (Down)Town

11/6/08 The Walt Disney World resort has announced that Santa Claus will be appearing at his Chalet in the Downtown Disney Marketplace November 15 through December 24, 2008. From November 15th through November 27th he will be appearing for sets between 5 pm and 10 pm. From November 28th through December 24th he will be appearing for sets between Noon and 10 pm. Guests should check with Downtown Disney Guest Services the day of to confirm his schedule for that day.

Mission: Possible

11/6/08 According to Epcot Cast, the official debut of the experience has been delayed till January 2009. Cast have reported that the believed reason for this delay is a current hiring/transfer freeze that has been inacted and is preventing Cast from being hired or transfered to work the attraction by the originally scheduled November 12th date. The current Limited Guest Test period is scheduled to continue till the official debut. Guests interested in participating in the Limited Guest Test, should check at the "headquarters" in Innovnetions or at one of the distribution kiosk around World Showcase to see if the testing is being conducted at that time.

10/27/08 Limited Guest Test Runs of the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure have begun. Based on reports of the Guest and Cast Test Runs, it appears that the operation of the permanent attraction will be quite different than the trial version in 2006. Rather than a continuous adventure, these test runs have been presented as a collection of individual adventures. According to the reports, Guests pick up a Kimunicator at the headquarters in Innoventions or at one of the carts around World Showcase and are placed in a virtual queue. When it is their turn, their Kimunicator becomes active and they are instructed which pavilion to go to. Once the mission in that pavilion is complete, they can end their adventure or request to be placed back into the queue for another adventure at one of the distribution areas. Unlike the test run in 2006 which was continuous, it appears that the permanent version will have Guests participating off and on for as long as they wish. According to Epcot Cast, the interactive experience is scheduled to officially debut November 12, 2008.

A Quite Restoration

11/4/08A handful of Walt Disney World Resort Hotel's Quiet Pools are planned to be going under extensive refurbishments in the near future. Construction permits have been filed to resurface the pool interior, install accessible handrails, and install chair-lift anchors for the Alligator Bayou West B and Alligator Bayou South C pools at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort; the Casitas pool at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort; and the Trinidad North and Jamaica pools at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. The three affected resorts each offer additional quite pools beyond the pools that are planned to be refurbished, so Guest inconvenience should be minimal. Dates for these planned refurbishments have yet to be reported.

A Fairyly New Meet & Greet

11/4/08The new Pixie Hollow Meet and Greet at the Magic Kingdom park is introducing two unusual aspects of a Meet and Greet experience –- high degree of interactivity and very long wait times. Unlike other meet and greet locations, three groups/families are allowed in the meet and greet room with the Fairies at one time. During this visit time the Fairies play a short game with the groups/families as a whole, then meet individually with each group/family for a few minutes. This more interactive experience coupled with the novelty and popularity of the Disney Fairies characters is yielding very long wait times. Character Cast have reported that the typical wait time is currently ~90 minutes and wait times have reached as long as 3 hours.