Dateline Disney

Disney's Animal Kingdom Celebrates Five Years
Of Theme Park Fun and Real-Life Adventures

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park celebrates its fifth anniversary April 22 with one amazing adventure after another. At Walt Disney World’s fourth theme park, the worlds of wild and whimsical come together in lavish stage shows, thrilling attractions, an authentic African safari, an exotic journey through Asia and encounters with favorite Disney characters.

New since opening day: In DinoLand U.S.A., DINOSAUR thrill ride, Theater in the Wild featuring the “Tarzan Rocks!” stage show, and Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama! a mini-land featuring Primeval Whirl and TriceraTop Spin; and Asia, a “land” featuring the Kali River Rapids white-water raft adventure and Maharajah Jungle Trek with tigers, gibbons, Komodo dragons and other creatures. Future expansion will offer even more discoveries for Disney’s Animal Kingdom guests.

 

Epcot Blooms During 10th Annual
International Flower & Garden Festival

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Epcot will be abloom April 25-June 8 during the 10th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival with fantastic flower presentations, a groovy concert series, a landscape of topiaries and much more.

Guests can enjoy favorite topiaries showcased during the first nine years of the festival including a colorful 20-foot-tall floral peace sign, a larger-than-life double-decker bus and Lady and the Tramp.

Kids will not want to miss the all-new Disney’s DogGone Maze, an interactive activity featuring favorite Disney canines like Pluto, Goofy and some of the 101 Dalmatians.

Davy Jones of The Monkees kicks off a fantastic line-up for the popular Flower Power Concert Series that includes acts such as Arlo Guthrie, Paul Revere & The Raiders, and The Turtles featuring Flo and Eddie.

Nationally recognized experts such as Paul James from HGTV’s “Gardening by the Yard” and P. Allen Smith from “P. Allen Smith’s Gardens” on The Weather Channel cap off a list of gardening experts who will be on hand to offer tips to improve everyone’s green thumb. All this and more is included in regular Epcot admission.

 

Rewards Rack Up When Guests Use New Disney Visa Card
From Bank One

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla – With everyday purchases on Disney’s new Visa Card from Bank One, travelers earn Disney Dream Reward Dollars that can be applied to the cost of magical Disney vacations, cruise packages, hotel rooms, theme park tickets, merchandise and more. That means everyday purchases such as gas or groceries can be one step closer to seeing Cinderella at her very own castle in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Or it can mean taking in the splendor of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” bursting above Epcot or experiencing the pulse-racing ups and downs at the new, more “terror-fying” Tower of Terror at Disney-MGM Studios.

Disney Dream Reward Dollars can be redeemed at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland Resort, U.S. Disney Stores, Disney catalog and Disney Stores Online with no blackout dates and in combination with special offers, including those that will be sent to card members in their monthly statements. There is no annual fee on the card, it offers a competitive interest rate and zero percent APR for six months on most vacation packages booked through Walt Disney Travel Company and Disney Cruise Line. For more information on Disney’s Visa Card, guests can visit www.DisneyApplyNow.com or call Bank One at 888/878-7222.

 

Advance Tickets Now Available for Night of Joy 2003
in Magic Kingdom; Michael W. Smith, Jars of Clay,
Kirk Franklin, Point of Grace Top Lineup

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Advance tickets are now available for Night of Joy 2003 featuring performances in Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom by 16 contemporary Christian music acts -- including such often-honored performers as Michael W. Smith, Jars of Clay, Kirk Franklin and Point of Grace -- on Sept. 5 and Sept. 6.

Eight different acts will perform each night:

Friday, Sept. 5: Michael W. Smith, Jars of Clay, Petra, Nicole C. Mullen, Rebecca St. James, Daily Planet, Stacie Orrico, Switchfoot.

Saturday, Sept. 6: Kirk Franklin, Point of Grace, Mary Mary, ZOEgirl, Salvador, Rachel Lampa, Supertones, Freddie Colloca.
Single-night and two-night tickets are available by calling 407/934-7639. The 2002 event was an advance sellout.

 

Orlando Rays Begin Fourth and Final Season
At Walt Disney World Resort April 11

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The Orlando Rays, the Class AA affiliate of Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Devil Rays, are set to play their fourth and final season at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in 2003. The Rays will play 70 Southern League home games at the sports complex throughout the spring and summer (April 11-Sept. 1).

Under the direction of first-year manager Charlie Montoyo, the Rays will play two home series during the month of April. The squad opens the season with a four-game series against the Tennessee Smokies (April 11-13). The Huntsville Stars then come to town for another four-game series at Disney, April 14-17.

Rays games at Disney’s Wide World of Sports will give fans the chance to see pro baseball up close, and catch a glimpse of future major-league stars, including highly-touted outfielder Josh Hamilton, the top pick of the 1999 MLB Draft.

The Rays’ promotional schedule includes various season ticket packages and special themed game nights featuring giveaways and post-game fireworks. Information on ticket packages and group tickets is available by calling 407/939-GAME. Individual tickets -- $8 (lower reserved) and $5 (bleacher and general admission lawn) -- may be purchased at the Disney’s Wide World of Sports box office and through Ticketmaster at 407/839-3900.

Note: Most game times are at 7:05 p.m. Exceptions: April 13 at 1:35 p.m. and April 17 at 11:05 a.m.

 

New Interactive Toy Keeps Walt Disney World Guests
Entertained and Informed During Theme Park Trips

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- He’s the ultimate insider at Walt Disney World Resort, a cheerful friend who helps enhance a theme park visit with timesaving tips and fun facts. Who is he? Pal Mickey!

Available for rental or purchase beginning in April, Pal Mickey is a talking Mickey Mouse toy that will keep guests entertained and informed by recommending theme park attractions, offering reminders about parades and show times, sharing stories, playing games and helping locate Disney characters in the parks.

The interactive toy will be available to all guests as a daily rental for $8 per day plus tax and a refundable deposit, or as a $46.94 purchase plus tax at merchandise locations in each of the Walt Disney World resort hotels starting in April.

Pal Mickey will be offered at select locations in Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom beginning in May.

 

Pin Trading Expert Gives Magic Kingdom Guests Inside ‘Scoop’

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Pin trading beginners and enthusiasts who want the “inside scoop” have the opportunity to speak with an expert to hear the latest pin news as well as learn pin trading basics, like etiquette and tips on “how to trade.”

Scoop Sanderson, the latest “streetmosphere” character to roam through the Magic Kingdom theme park, now offers his insider tips on the popular activity Sunday through Thursday at 1 p.m. at Exposition Hall located on Main Street, U.S.A.

In addition to offering trading tips, Sanderson hosts games and activities for his “pin pals.” Park admission is required, and guests are advised to check with the Exposition Hall cast members for the latest schedule updates.

Innoventions at Epcot Invites Guests to ‘Test the Limits’ with UL

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – New at Epcot, the latest exhibit at Innoventions invites guests to “Test the Limits” of different products just like the professionals at Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the independent, not-for-profit, product-safety testing and certification organization.

The UL-sponsored exhibit features a 3,000-square-foot safety laboratory with interactive safety testing experiences. Guests will be able to slam doors to test structural properties and blow up safes to see how the contents inside fare.

Battle of the Bands Makes its Fourth Appearance at Downtown Disney

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The increasingly popular Battle of the Bands competition will be held for the fourth time on April 24, 8 p.m., at Rock 'n Roll Beach Club at Downtown Disney Pleasure Island. Each band performs a 30-minute set of original and cover material prior to midnight. Judges critique each band on musicianship, showmanship and audience reaction. The winners play another set after midnight, plus a one-night contract to play at Pleasure Island at a later date. Participating bands include Green Goblyn, Sandra Carlucci and Fifth Year Crush. Admission is included in the regular ticket price of $19.95 plus tax.

 

Disney’s Spring Training, Feb. 16-April 25

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Hundreds of college and high school softball, lacrosse and track and field teams from across the country will make Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex their training camp headquarters beginning Feb. 16. Disney’s spring training schedule consists of 10 week-long sessions, through April 25. Teams will train and compete, while finding free time to visit Walt Disney World Resort’s four theme parks during their stay.

 

Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex
April Events Calendar

April 1-June 14 - Atlanta Braves Extended Spring Training
April 4-6 - AAU Girls Basketball Spring Fling
April 5-11 - Disney’s Track & Field Spring Training (Week 8)
April 5-11 - Disney's Softball Spring Training (Week 8)
April 5-11 - Disney’s Lacrosse Spring Training (Week 8)
April 10 - KSA Softball Tournament
April 10-12 - KSA Baseball Tournament
April 10-13 - State of Florida PAL Basketball
April 11-Sept. 1 - Orlando Rays Minor League Baseball (70 games)
April 11-13 - Orlando Rays vs. Tennessee Smokies (three games)
April 12-18 - Disney’s Track & Field Spring Training (Week 9)
April 12-18 - Disney’s Softball Spring Training (Week 9)
April 14-17 - Orlando Rays vs. Huntsville Stars (four games)
April 18-20 - AAU Boys Basketball Spring Classic #1
April 18-20 - Disney’s Spring Holiday Soccer Festival V
April 18-27 - Baseball Canada National Team Training
April 19-25 - Disney’s Track & Field Spring Training (Week 10)
April 19-25 - Disney’s Softball Spring Training (Week 10)
April 20-26 - Ann Arbor High School Soccer Training
April 21-24 - Small Fry Basketball
April 24-27 - MAAC Golf Championships
April 25-27 - AAU Florida State Gymnastics Championships

*All events are tentative and subject to change

The Multi-Sports Experience is open on event days at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. This interactive play area is available to all sports complex guests and participating athletes as part of the general admission to the facility.

General admission to Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex is $10 - adults / $7.50 - children (ages 3-9).

For more information on events at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex, visit us on the World Wide Web at www.disneyworldsports.com.