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Dream-Come-True Experiences Fill Early 2007 At Walt Disney World Resort

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Did you ever dream of spending a night inside a castle? Or want to dress up as a junior pirate or young princess and go to a party where the fun's all about buccaneers and youthful royalty? Or have the urge to just laugh ... and then laugh some more?

Those whims, wishes and grand dreams may all come true in early 2007 as Walt Disney World Resort unveils a new attraction, a new special-ticket party, and a money-can't-buy experience -- all during "The Year of a Million Dreams," a first-of-its-kind event celebrating Disney Dreams and the role that Disney cast members play as dream makers.

Here's what's in store in early 2007 as the rollout of fresh experiences during "The Year of a Million Dreams" (under way in fall 2006) continues:

-- Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club, opening in mid-to-late January in Magic Kingdom, is an immersive and interactive attraction in which guests can laugh, joke, match wits and laugh some more with comedian wannabes recruited by Mike Wazowski, the one-eyed hero from the Disney-Pixar animated film "Monsters, Inc." Mike has opened the comedy club to collect laughs that will generate power for the future. The fun reigns at a 400-seat theater in Tomorrowland.

-- Disney's Pirate & Princess Party, taking place in Magic Kingdom on 13 select evenings between Jan. 22 and March 8, is a dream come true for any kid who's dreamt of becoming a pirate or a princess. It's a special-ticket party that begins following park closing and features a new fireworks spectacular, a new pirate-and-princess-themed parade, a quest for beads and chocolate treasures, and more. If they wish, guests can attend dressed in their favorite pirate or princess costume. Advance tickets are $36.95 plus tax for ages 10 and up, $29.95 plus tax for ages 3 to 9, by calling 407/934-7639 or online at disneyworld.com/pirateandprincess.

-- Cinderella Castle Suite, regal living quarters within the iconic Magic Kingdom park, will provide overnight accommodations for lucky guests selected randomly as part of the Disney Dreams Giveaway (visit disneyparks.com/rules for more information). The suite -- a bedchamber, salon and bathroom off a private marble-floored lobby some four stories above the surrounding Magic Kingdom -- has been designed and appointed to inspire immersion into the late 17th/early 18th century period of the Cinderella story ... but with surprise touches of "Disney magic."

Popular events return during January-April

The January to April 2007 season also will feature the return of four popular events to Walt Disney World Resort -- capped by the hugely popular Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.

Now in its 14th year, the festival bursts into bloom earlier than ever -- April 5 -- and keeps on blooming for a record 60 days -- through June 3. Whimsical character topiaries, brilliant beds of flowers, rose displays, water gardens and many more verdant exhibits set the scene around Epcot Future World and World Showcase for a garden party like no other. Guests can participate in daily seminars focused on gardening, crafts and other topics.

For youthful "green thumbs," there's plenty of fun, too, including a special children's garden, Growing Future Gardeners, which will feature family gardening projects. Minnie's Magnificent Butterfly Garden will return with hundreds of butterflies in a screened, walk-through enclosure that will include a live exhibit showing how caterpillars form a chrysalis and emerge as butterflies.

Themed festival weekends will celebrate art, bugs, and special events, including Mother's Day. Nightly Flower Power concerts will rock the landscape with live entertainment from top acts of the 1960s and '70s.

More information about the 14th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is available by calling 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or by visiting disneyworld.com/flower. The festival is included in regular Epcot admission.

The festival puts the bloom on a season that earlier is a showcase for a trio of popular events for sports lovers:

-- The 14th annual Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (Jan. 5-7) includes a pair of premier running events -- the 13.1-mile half marathon on Saturday, Jan. 6, and the 26.2-mile full marathon on Sunday, Jan. 7. With the races occurring on separate days, many registered participants will attempt Goofy's Race-and-a-Half Challenge -- that is, both races, or a total of 39.3 miles across Walt Disney World Resort during the two days. Competitors who complete this impressive physical challenge receive a special Goofy Medal in addition to the Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse medals awarded to half marathon and marathon finishers, respectively.

Nearly 2,400 athletes completed both events in 2006, and registration for Goofy's Race-and-a-Half Challenge in 2007 has reached its 3,000-participant cap. Overall, there are more than 30,000 registrations for the half marathon and marathon.

The weekend also features Disney's Health & Fitness Expo at The Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex on Jan. 5 and Jan 6.

-- The Atlanta Braves return for their 10th full season of spring training at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. Following the start of workouts in February, the team settles into The Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex to prepare for the 2007 season with a schedule of "Grapefruit League" games in March. Information on spring training tickets will be available in January.

Spring training also will mark the 10th anniversary of the 220-acre complex that has hosted more than one million athletes for competitive events in more than 30 different sports.

-- ESPN and Walt Disney World Resort will team up to offer fans the opportunity to see and hear ESPN personalities and legendary athletes during the fourth annual ESPN The Weekend, March 2-4, at Disney-MGM Studios. The weekend will feature on-site ESPN telecasts, star motorcades and Q&A sessions featuring athletes and ESPN personalities plus sports shows in the ESPN Theater with ESPN commentators and athletes and interactive sports activities. The fun is included with regular admission to the theme park.

In addition to special events and the opening of the "Monsters Inc." attraction, early 2007 also showcases a live theater spectacular and an attraction which premiered in late fall 2006 as "The Year of a Million Dreams" kicked off. At Epcot, an undersea adventure awaits in "The Seas with Nemo & Friends" starring the cast of the Disney-Pixar smash-hit film "Finding Nemo." At Disney's Animal Kingdom, the same hit film makes a splash as a live-theater musical in "Finding Nemo-The Musical."

For additional Walt Disney World information and reservations, guests can call 407/W-DISNEY, go online to disneyworld.com, or visit a local travel agent.