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JUNE 2005

In This Edition:

News for the palate: Fresh new dining experience at Epcot's The Land ... and a new opportunity to dine with Disney royalty in Magic Kingdom.

More 'Happiest Celebration on Earth' enhancements: New version of Pal Mickey is loaded with tips and fun ... and Epcot guests get a sneak peek at a new enchanted land far away.

Classic Disney hotels getting an extreme makeover: Changes are in store at Disney's Contemporary Resort and Disney's Polynesian Resort.

The Force is with us: Star Wars Weekends return to Disney-MGM Studios.

And More!

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Princess Lunch Now Served at Cinderella's Royal Table
In Magic Kingdom

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The popular Disney character dining at Cinderella's Royal Table in Magic Kingdom expands June 10 with the debut of the Princess Lunch with Cinderella and friends. The lunch will offer a family-style salad and dessert along with a choice of entrees or children's favorites and non-alcoholic beverages.

Cost is $23.99 for ages 10 and older, $12.99 ages 3-9, plus theme park admission. Princess Lunch reservations, which can be made by calling 407/WDW-DINE, require a deposit of $10 per guest age 10 and older and $5 per guest age 3 to 9. Hours are noon-2 p.m. daily.

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Star Wars Weekends Continues in June at Disney-MGM Studios

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- As the long-anticipated Star Wars film -- Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith -- wows audiences following its May debut, Walt Disney World Resort continues its month-long celebration of the most famous saga in movie history during the annual Star Wars Weekends festival at Disney-MGM Studios.

The power of the Force and the magic of Disney combine for the family-friendly fan-fest, scheduled for two weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) in June -- June 3-5 and June 10-12. The annual event began in May at Disney's showbiz-inspired theme park.

Meet-and-greets with famous villains and heroes from all six Star Wars films -- Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith -- bring guests face-to-face with their favorite characters. The June lineup (subject to change) of Star Wars celebrities includes:

June 3-5, 2005
Warwick Davis (Wicket the Ewok)
Don Bies (Unit Supervisor/R2-D2 Operator -- Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith)

June 10-12, 2005
Jerome Blake (Rune Haako)
Brian Gernand (Practical Model Supervisor -- Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith)

Star Wars-inspired game shows, trivia contests, behind-the-scenes presentations and a "Jedi Training Academy" are among the event's featured activities.

Star Wars celebrities are special guests during each weekend, taking part in meet-and-greet sessions, star conversations and Hollywood-style motorcades. This year, fans will get to hear from actors and the creative forces behind the film saga.

Event activities are included in regular admission to the theme park. For the latest Star Wars Weekends updates, guests may visit starwars.com or disneyworld.com.

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National Kidney Foundation of Florida 5K Fun Run/Walk
Set for June 11

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The National Kidney Foundation of Florida will host the Gift of Life 5K Race for Organ & Tissue Donation Awareness at Epcot on Saturday, June 11. The race is designed to raise financial donations as well as awareness for organ donations, as more than 83,000 Americans are waiting for an organ transplant.

Starting outside Epcot at 7 a.m., racers will loop around the park as they discover Future World, run past Spaceship Earth and explore the 11 nations of World Showcase before exiting the park for the finish line. A special Kids Race starts immediately following the 5K.

Online registration is available at disneyworldsports.com. The entry fee for the 5K is $20 if received by June 5 ($25 if received between June 6-11). There is no charge for the Kids Race. On-site registration begins at 6 a.m. and the run/walk begins an hour later. A portion of registration fees and 100 percent of all pledges benefit the National Kidney Foundation of Florida. For more information about the National Kidney Foundation of Florida, visit kidneyfla.org.

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Rooms at Disney's Contemporary and Polynesian Resorts
To Get New Décor

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The guestrooms of two classic Walt Disney World resort hotels are getting an extreme makeover.

Rooms at Disney's Contemporary Resort and Disney's Polynesian Resort, which both opened along with Magic Kingdom in 1971, are being given a dramatic new look with new décor, furniture, carpeting, lighting and bathroom fixtures.

Disney's Contemporary Resort will receive the more dramatic changes. Décor of the rooms will be changed from its current style (taken from the bold, bright colors of Contemporary Art Masters of the '50s and '60s) to a more upscale, elegant design that incorporates muted color accents -- reds, greens and yellows -- with basic black and white.

Rooms at Disney's Polynesian Resort will also get a new look, but retain the "South Seas Islands" style that has been the Polynesian's hallmark since 1971. Dark, hand-carved wood furniture contrasts with tropical blues, greens and browns in bedspreads, paintings and wall coverings. Both resorts will receive upgraded furniture elements such as flat-screen televisions and designer bedding.

In addition to the room renovation, décor in the hallways and public areas of the two resorts will also be updated.

The renovation of the rooms at Disney's Polynesian Resort will take about one year, with the rooms at the Contemporary Resort taking about six months longer. Each resort will be renovated in phases, with a small number of rooms being renovated during each phase.

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Amateur Athletic Union Summer National Championships
Come to Disney June 13-Aug. 13

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Beginning with the 32nd Annual AAU Junior National Volleyball Championship in mid-June, the Amateur Athletic Union will bring thousands of boys and girls' youth teams from across the country to Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex for three months this summer. Athletes ages 9 to 17 will compete in 20 national championship events in volleyball, baseball, basketball and wrestling as part of the busy three-month AAU summer schedule.

During this busy season, Disney's Wide World of Sports is expected to celebrate a special milestone -- its 1 millionth athlete. The sports complex opened in March 1997 and has welcomed more than 100,000 competitors each year in a variety of sports from youth championships to professional training events.

General admission for all events is $10.75 for adults and $8 for children (ages 3-9). Tickets are also available for the length of championships at varying rates by calling 407/939-GAME. Information on team and spectator travel packages is available through Disney Sports Travel at 407/828-FANS and online at aausports.org.

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Enhanced Interactive Mickey Mouse Makes Debut
During 'Happiest Celebration on Earth' at Walt Disney World Resort

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- As the ultimate insider, Pal Mickey, a 10½-inch huggable plush doll, assists guests in each of the four theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort by sharing entertaining information. Now, with Disney launching the biggest celebration in theme park history, Pal Mickey is all set to join the fun, too!

A special "Happiest Celebration on Earth" edition of the popular talking Mickey Mouse has debuted as part of the 18-month-long festivities taking place worldwide to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Disneyland.

Nattily dressed in a removable tuxedo jacket, Pal Mickey has been updated with fun facts about new attractions, shows, character greetings and short wait times across Walt Disney World Resort. Plus, he includes more than 30 trivia questions, seven sing-a-longs and six games, as well as a brand-new carrying lanyard and a louder speaking voice.

The new version of Pal Mickey is available for $65 plus tax and can be found at select sites in Disney's four Florida theme parks and merchandise locations in each of the Walt Disney World resort hotels.

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The Land Reopens With New Cuisine Choices, Fantastic Fruits
Growing Inside Experimental Greenhouses

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Land pavilion at Epcot has reopened its doors with new dining options, a new look and an ever-growing (literally!) collection of fanciful fruits and produce showcased in the greenhouse boat tour, Living with the Land:

Sunshine Seasons features five "seasonal shop" dining options in one location, including wood-fired grills, sandwiches, soup and salads and an assortment of Asian cuisine. Also featured: a bakery that offers baked goods throughout the day as well as hand-dipped ice cream during lunch and dinner. There is seating for approximately 600 guests with each shop open for lunch and dinner.

Epcot guests can take a ride through The Land experimental greenhouses and see one-of-a-kind produce and plants growing inside. From Mickey Mouse-shaped cucumbers and Cinderella pumpkins to lemons the size of bowling balls, the groundbreaking work of the Epcot Science team is showcased throughout the narrated, 14-minute Living with the Land boat tour. New on the tour this year: a "tomato tree" that yields thousands of tomatoes from a single plant.
Discovered in Beijing, China, by Yong Huang, Epcot's manager of agricultural science at The Land, the towering tomato plant is the only one of its kind in the United States. In fact, Huang and his team are currently attempting to break the world record for the most pounds of fruit grown on a single vine.

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Downtown Disney Heats Up With the 'Future of Cool' Event

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The year's hottest season just got a little cooler! Disney Adventures magazine returns with the Future of Cool event, June 24-26, at Downtown Disney Marketplace. Guests can learn the newest dance steps, swing by the speed cage, sing karaoke, check out the latest must-have video games, see exciting bike and blade shows performed twice daily, and win great prizes at this high-energy event. Hours are 4 to 10 p.m. each day. Admission is free.

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Hong Kong Preview Center Gives Guests Inside Peek
At Disney's Newest Theme Park

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Epcot guests can get a sneak peek at the next 50 years of Disney parks when they visit the Hong Kong Disneyland Preview Center located in the China pavilion. Guests pass among showcases filled with plans and photos, costumes and models, maps and artwork of Disney's 11th theme park, opening Sept. 12, 2005.