March 2000 WDW News Bits and Bites

Feature Article

This article appeared in the March 8, 2000, Issue #21 of ALL EARS® (ISSN: 1533-0753)

There are lots of activities this spring at WDW. In addition to the annual Flower and Garden Festival, which begins April 28, here are some upcoming bits and bites of interest…..

Special Pleasure Island Dine and Dance Offer — Guests who dine at a full-service resort restaurant at any of the WDW Resort Hotels, DOWNTOWN DISNEY Marketplace, or Pleasure Island may present their receipt at a Pleasure Island Ticket Booth for a 20% discount off that night's admission. This offer has run before from the Downtown Disney restaurants, but I have never heard of it being offered at the Resort Hotels. PLEASE CHECK before using this offer. It was reported to me but has not been confirmed.

Are you a Pleasure Island Annual Passholder? In addition to admission to Pleasure Island you get the following benefits: Bring a guest for FREE every Friday night before 9p(Guests under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.), $2 off evening shows at the AMC/Pleasure Island 24 theaters (Passholders only), and 10% off entire bill at Portobello Yacht Club. This month, free valet parking is being offered (subject to availability) so be sure to check with Pleasure Island regarding specials for the time you are visiting!

Disney-MGM Studios Star Motorcade: Sunday, March 26th Rick Moranis and Wednesday, March 29th. Jason Alexander. Line up on Hollywood Blvd to see the stars! Check the park guidemap for details and times.

2nd Annual Celebration of Walt Disney Art Classics! A Pirate's Life For Me! Date: March 23-25, 2000 at the Contemporary Resort. I keep hearing that special Limited Edition Pirate Pins will be available for convention goers. The Animation Gallery at Disney-MGM Studios will be hosting the following people on March 25, 2000: From 2-4 PM – Alice Davis, Disney Imagineer & Costume Designer and Bruce Lau, Walt Disney Art Classics Artist & Sculptor. From 4-6 PM – X. Atencio Legendary Disney Animator & Imagineer; Gil DiCicco, Disney Art Director & Illustrator; and Peter Ellenshaw Legendary Disney Artist.

Mark McIntyre, Walt Disney World Artist, will be signing the Millennium items including the poster titled, "Celebrate the Future" at Animation Gallery at Disney-MGM Studios on Tuesday, April 4, 2000 from 2-6 PM.

In February's News Bits and Bites I told you about the Rainforest Cafe Safari Club. Not only does it give you a chance to save some money, but also gets you special priority seating. Several subscribers wrote in to tell me that they have joined the Safari Club and find it very worthwhile! Details available at: http://www.rainforestcafe.com/RFC/Clubhouse.asp Enrollment forms are found at Rainforest Cafe locations. The Rainforest Cafe website also has an email list; I just subscribed and will let you know how it is!

Passporter WDW Book Signing – Do you live in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area? If so, Dave Marx and Jennifer Watson will be signing at Nicola's Books on Saturday, March 25 from 1-3 pm! They will be answering questions, handing out demo PassPockets, signing books, and having fun!

Star Wars Weekends in May! For four consecutive weekends beginning May 5, Walt Disney World guests will be transported to a "galaxy far, far away" as the Disney-MGM Studios presents Star Wars Weekends. Actors and voice performers from the films are scheduled to appear in daily star conversations and Hollywood-style motorcades. 16 characters from the George Lucas films will roam the Disney-MGM Studios greeting guests and posing for photographs As the sun gives way to the stars each evening, the excitement rises with a Cantina Street Party from 5 p.m. to park closing.

Did you know that Rehabs are included in the Special Events pages on WDWIG? Visit http://allears.net/pl/events.htm for full details.

Rehabs of Note:

Polynesian — All the outside portions of the Great Ceremonial House are being stripped and re-painted. Some of the wood is being replaced as well. There is not going to be any major changes to the overall appearance. Rehab will last until early June. Also slated for rehab but not scheduled yet are the Volcano Pool and Luau Cove areas.

The Keister Coaster Slide at Luna Park Pool at the Boardwalk is closed for rehab during March.

Indiana Jones at the Disney-MGM Studios is closed for rehab January 10 – June 17, 2000.

Pirates of the Caribbean at the Magic Kingdom is closed until early April.

Have you voted in the WDWIG March Reader Poll? The question this month asks for your Character Breakfast Recommendation! Results of the poll will be used to highlight restaurants in the menus section of WDWIG as Reader Recommends.

ALL events subject to change by WDW. For exact dates and times be sure to check with Walt Disney World directly.

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Editor's Note: This story/information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all current rates, information and other details before planning your trip.