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Walt Disney World's Media Office publishes a monthly Press Release called Dateline Disney,
which highlights WDW activities for that particular month.

July 2006

In This Edition:

Walt Disney World theme parks: On the Fourth of July, Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Disney-MGM Studios will light the sky.

Downtown Disney: Fourth of July fun in store with a DJ dance party and fireworks.

Magic Kingdom: Captain Jack Sparrow plays a theme park role beginning July 7 in Pirates of the Caribbean.

Disney Cruise Line: Ghostly pirate ship putting in at Castaway Cay.

Disney Sports & Recreation: Tampa Bay Buccaneers begin NFL preparations July 28 at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex; there's slam-dunk action for basketball aficionados during AAU Super Showcases, National Championships in The Milk House.

Epcot: Tickets for extremely popular Food and Wine Festival events go on sale July 31.

Disney-MGM Studios: Characters from "Little Einsteins," "Cars" add to the fun.

Walt Disney World Theme Parks Fill the Sky With Fireworks Spectaculars on the Fourth of July

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- When almost every evening is remindful of the Fourth of July with colorful fireworks bursting in the nighttime sky, what do you do when it's really the Fourth of July? That's the case at Walt Disney World Resort, where Epcot presents the fireworks spectacular "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth" nightly, and Magic Kingdom regularly presents its "Wishes" fireworks extravaganza.

So for the Fourth of July, Disney will add a fireworks show at a third park, present a different show at Magic Kingdom, and enhance the Epcot show.

Disney-MGM Studios will join in the pyrotechnics fun with a special Fourth of July fireworks show prior to its regular nighttime spectacular, "Fantasmic!" Meanwhile, Magic Kingdom will treat guests to the famous "Fantasy in the Sky" fireworks show with patriotic music and "bombs bursting in air," a presentation that thrilled millions of guests during a 28-year run. And Epcot will present its acclaimed "IllumiNations" show with a special holiday finale.

Here's the schedule of the Fourth of July nighttime fun (theme park hours for July 4 are in parentheses):

* Disney-MGM Studios (9 a.m.-10 p.m.) -- Fourth of July fireworks, 9 p.m.; "Fantasmic!" 10 p.m.
* Epcot (9 a.m.-10 p.m.) -- "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth," 10 p.m.
* Magic Kingdom (8 a.m.-1 a.m.) -- "Fantasy in the Sky" fireworks, 9 p.m.; "SpectroMagic," 10:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.

The special nighttime shows are included with theme park admission.

Downtown Disney Plans Fireworks and Fun on July 4

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- An evening of special July 4 family fun is in store at Downtown Disney featuring a DJ dance party and fireworks.

In addition to the dance party at the Dock Stage in the Marketplace, there will be special atmosphere entertainment leading up to a new fireworks show that touches on the patriotic spirit of the Fourth. The pyrotechnics above Village Lake begin at 12 midnight.

Captain Jack Sparrow Newest Pirate to Join Crew of
Pirates of the Caribbean Attraction in July at Magic Kingdom

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- First the theme park attraction inspired the movie. Now the movie has inspired the attraction.

Pirates of the Caribbean, the classic Disney theme park adventure brought to the big screen in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," reopens July 7 following a four-month closure to add characters and features from the blockbuster motion picture franchise. The Magic Kingdom attraction's reopening coincides with the opening of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."

The attraction will feature the addition of two of Hollywood's most infamous buccaneers, Captain Jack Sparrow and his nemesis Barbossa. Joining the wildest crew that ever sacked the Spanish Main, the pair add an exciting new twist to the attraction's original storyline as they race to be the first to claim a cache of treasure.

A similar makeover to Pirates of the Caribbean has taken place at Disneyland in California.

Pirate Ghost Ship to Land at Disney's Castaway Cay

CELEBRATION, Fla. -- A mysterious pirate ship is landing at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, in time to provide July's Disney Cruise Line guests with a swashbuckling photo opportunity and a sneak peek into movie-making magic. The ship is The Flying Dutchman, a 175-foot ghost ship which makes its silver-screen debut on July 7 in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."

The Flying Dutchman's commander is the legendary Davy Jones, who serves as nemesis to the infamous pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow, in the upcoming film.

The intricate film prop is unlike any other pirate ship -- with ragged sails and a barnacle-encrusted bow, the ship looks like it was raised off the ocean floor to haunt the open seas for eternity. The Flying Dutchman will provide a scenic photo backdrop, and guests renting boats on the island will be able to get an up-close look at the ghost ship.

Disney Cruise Line will also hold a PremEAR at Sea of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" in the Walt Disney Theatre of both Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. On Friday, July 7, guests aboard Disney Cruise Line will receive commemorative buttons and pirate-themed temporary tattoos, and will be invited to view the premiere of the film at 12:01 a.m.

To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can contact their travel agent, visit disneycruise.com or call Disney Cruise Line at 888/DCL-2500. Travel agents can call Disney Cruise Line at 888/325-2500 or visit disneytravelagents.com.

Bucs Stop Here for 2006-2007 NFL Training Camp July 28-Aug. 16

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers return to Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex for their 2006 NFL training camp, July 28-Aug. 16. The Buccaneers, who have trained at Disney's 220-acre sports complex for the past four years, are the first NFL team to conduct a pre-season training camp at Walt Disney World Resort.

Fans will have the opportunity to catch Bucs head coach Jon Gruden and their favorite Bucs players in action when the team takes the practice fields for two-a-day workouts -- daily morning and afternoon sessions -- on the Hess Sports Fields at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. Training camp practices are free and open to the public.

For more information, guests may call 407/939-GAME (939-4263), or visit disneyworldsports.com or buccaneers.com.

Amateur Athletic Union National Championships Held at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in July

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- A lineup of Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) championships and events will be contested in July at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, including five marquee basketball tournaments topped by the 16:U and the 17:U AAU Boys Basketball Super Showcases (July 20-27).

The high-profile tournament action opens with the 18:U and the 19:U AAU Girls Basketball National Championships (July 5-12) and finishes with the AAU Jr. Boys National Championship (July 26-Aug. 1).

Top high school prospects expected to compete in the Boys Basketball Super Showcases include: North College Hill's O.J. Mayo and Bill Walker, ranked by several national scouting services as two of the best high school basketball players in the nation; Lake Howell's Nick Calathes; and hip hop star Lil' Romeo. Also expected to play are sons of former NBA stars Michael Jordan and Tim Hardaway.

The Amateur Athletic Union, headquartered at Walt Disney World Resort since 1996, is the largest amateur sports organization in the United States. The AAU annually hosts athletic competitions across the country for more than 400,000 athletes of varying ages in some 32 sports. This summer marks the 11th consecutive year the AAU has given young athletes from all 50 states the opportunity to travel to Walt Disney World Resort for athletic competitions.

For more information on Amateur Athletic Union championship events, guests may visit the AAU Web site -- aausports.org.

Reservations Open July 31 for Epcot Food and Wine Festival Events

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The 11th annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, which kicks off Sept. 29 for an event-packed six-week run, will begin taking reservations at 7 a.m. July 31 for popular ticketed events such as the gala Party for the Senses weekly grand tasting. The festival's special events, which also include Food and Wine Pairings, prestigious wine schools, elegant multi-course dinners with wine pairings and other ticketed events, are extremely popular with Food and Wine Festival guests, and availability is limited.

Several hundred Disney and celebrity chefs collaborate with renowned winemakers to create a wide variety of tasting experiences at Epcot and at signature Walt Disney World restaurants. Past guest celebrity chefs have included Cat Cora, John Ash, Melissa Kelly, Allen Susser, Ming Tsai, Paula Deen, Dominique Macquet and many others.

Entrance to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, plus wine and beer seminars, cooking demonstrations, Eat to the Beat! concerts, culinary exhibits and all park attractions and entertainment, is included with regular Epcot admission.

Festival details will be available this summer at disneyworld.com, and guests can make reservations for ticketed events by calling 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378).

New Character Stars Debut at Disney-MGM Studios

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Disney-MGM Studios family of stars has grown with the addition of popular Disney Channel stars and the newest "car stars" of the silver screen.

Characters from "Little Einsteins," a Disney Channel program, are the latest to make their debut at the theme park. The show, geared for preschoolers, is an interactive program that encourages young viewers to develop a love of music, art and discovery. The "Little Einsteins" characters sign autographs and pose for photographs with guests on Mickey Avenue inside the showbiz-themed park.

The stars of Disney/Pixar's newest computer-animated feature film, "Cars," made their theme park debut recently. Two of the stars hit the road -- Hollywood Boulevard in the Disney-MGM Studios theme park -- to lead the theme park's "Disney Stars and Motor Cars" parade. Lightning McQueen, the hotshot rookie racecar, and Mater, the good ol' boy tow truck, lead the daily parade in the theme park. The piston-powered pair also make meet-and-greet appearances inside the theme park. "Cars" debuted in theaters nationwide June 9, 2006.