November 2000 WDW Bits and Bites

FEATURE ARTICLE

This article appeared in the November 7, 2000, Issue #58 of ALL EARS® (ISSN: 1533-0753)

Fall is in the air here in the Northeast, but the weather is beautiful this time of year at Walt Disney World. There are lots of happenings at WDW this month, including the continuation of Epcot's Food and Wine Festival, Super Soap Weekend at the Disney-MGM Studios, Downtown Disney's Festival of the Masters and Pleasure Island Jazz Festival, the opening of the Wilderness Lodge Villas, Thanksgiving, and the beginning of all the holiday festivities.

A full listing of all the Special Events and Rehabs can be found at: http://allears.net/pl/events.htm

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Over the years, the Candlelight Processional has become a very popular event and this year is no exception. The Candlelight Processional tradition began back in 1958 at Disneyland in California. When the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, and up through 1993, the Candlelight Processional was held one weekend each year. Hundreds of singers would gather on Main Street in front of the Railroad Station. In 1994 the processional was moved to Epcot. Rock Hudson was the first WDW Candlelight Processional narrator.

Full details on the Candlelight Processional, including the optional dinner package, can be found at: http://allears.net/tp/h_cpfaq.htm

Deb's Candlelight Processional Dinner Tip – whether you are using the Candlelight dinner package, or just want to have dinner at Epcot BEFORE the show — make a very EARLY priority seating, or even better, save money by having a very late lunch! The Epcot restaurants are more crowded this time of year and your wait time for a table at the popular restaurants will be longer than usual.

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Mark McIntyre, Walt Disney World artist, will be signing logo merchandise, including a limited edition poster, during the Festival of the Masters at The Art of Disney in the Downtown Disney Marketplace. Mark will be available: Friday, November 10, from 3:30-5 p.m., Saturday, November 11, from 10:30 a.m. – noon, and Sunday, November 12, from 1-2:30 p.m.

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The Wilderness Lodge Villas open on November 15. This new Disney Vacation Club resort theming will incorporate Walt Disney's love of trains!

The Iron Spike Room, located next to the lobby, will contain a collection of railroad memorabilia and artwork.

In a special case, there will be two of Walt's original Carolwood Pacific Railroad cars (a gondola and a cattle car), as well as a piece of the original train track.

The Iron Spike Room will have a fireplace, photos of Walt with his backyard railroad train, game tables and a seating area. The room was designed by a team of Walt Disney Imagineers.

Look for a special report on the Wilderness Lodge Villas coming to ALL EARS later this month!

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BOOK SIGNINGS

Disney Photographers will be available to sign the book titled "One Day at Disney." This is a wonderful and colorful book featuring photos of Disney theme parks around the world. Photographers will be available at Mickey's Groove next to the AMC theatre at Downtown Disney Westside for signing and answering any questions November 10-12 from 1-5 p.m. daily.

Susan Shumaker and Than Saffel, authors of Vegetarian Walt Disney World and Greater Orlando, will be signing their book at Epcot's Food and Wine Festival on Saturday and Sunday, November 17-18. The signings are from noon – 2 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. each day.

Jennifer Watson and Dave Marx will be signing copies of their book, Passporter WDW 2000 as follows: November 24, from 2-4 p.m., at Waldenbooks, Briarwood Mall, Ann Arbor, Michigan. November 25, 12-1p.m., at Books Connection, 19043 Middlebelt Road , Livonia, Michigan December 2, 1-3p.m., at Nicola's Books, Traver Village, 2607 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Send your Disney-related book-signing announcement to [email protected]

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The menu at Citrico's in the Grand Floridian has changed. The signature dishes of veal shank and a chocolate ravioli with licorice ice cream dessert remain on the menu. Changes include new soups and salads, the addition of Black Angus Sirloin, lobster and new desserts.

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Fulton's Crab House hosts the 5th Annual Stone Crab Festival during the month of November. Every Wednesday and Saturday at 8 p.m. there will be ice carving demonstrations. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, there will be chef demonstrations, also at 8 p.m.

Special events include:

November 10-12 – Sidewalk Seafood Fest (during the Festival of the Masters). Fresh seafood, live entertainment by Tropical Steel.

November 29 – Coastal Treasures Wine Dinner, 6:30 p.m. $49.95/person, plus tax and gratuity.

Stone Crab Festival events benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank's Kids Café, a program dedicated to alleviating childhood hunger.

Call 407-934-8424 for tickets.

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On November 11, 1965, Walt Disney announced the Florida Project – which is now the Walt Disney World Resort!

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Downtown Disney Tonight Information Line.

Put this one on your Disney phone list! 407-939-2648 (or an easy way to remember it is 407-WDW-2NITE ).

Press 1 for Special Events and Concerts

Press 2 for Downtown Disney General Merchandise (World of Disney, EuroSpain, etc.) (Your next selection will connect you with the store you choose)

Press 3 Dining Options (Rainforest Cafe, Planet Hollywood, etc.) (your next selection will connect you with the restaurant you choose)

Press 4 Entertainment Options (Pleasure Island, Disney Quest, etc.) (your next selection will connect you to the area you choose)

Press # anytime for the main menu.

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Rick and Gayle Perlmutter, authors of WDW for Couples With or Without Kids now have a website. You can visit Rick and Gayle online at: http://www.geocities.com/rickperlmutter/

Read the Meet the Authors Interview with Rick and Gayle in Issue #42 of ALL EARS®, published August 8, 2000.

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Undiscovered Future World Tour Update!

This summer a new tour in Epcot began, during which you can learn how each pavilion in Future World celebrates human accomplishment and presents the challenges of the future.

Attendance for the tours has picked up and it is once again being offered on Fridays!

The 4.5 hour tours are offered Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 9:00 a.m.

The cost is $45 a person, and you must be at least 16 years old. American Express card users, Disney Vacation Club members, and annual pass holders get a 15 percent discount on the cost of the tour. Admission to the park is required for the tour, and that fee isn't included in the cost of the tour. (407) WDW-TOUR.

You can read a full report of the Undiscovered Future World Tour at: http://allears.net/btp/tour_fw1.htm

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The Results Are In!

The October WDWIG reader poll question was:

What Epcot Sit Down Restaurant Do You Recommend for Dinner?

The winner, with 19 percent of the 1500 votes tallied, is Le Cellier in Canada. The steakhouse barely eked out a win over second-place finisher San Angel of Mexico, which received 18 percent of the votes.

In last place is China's Nine Dragons, with only 2 percent of the votes. 1,500 persons voted.

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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.