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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.

September 2006

In This Edition:

Disney-MGM Studios: Special kid-friendly concert series continues as part of Magical Beginnings.
Epcot: Epcot International Food and Wine Festival begins, rock band Survivor kicks off Eat to the Beat! concert series.
Magic Kingdom: Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party kicks off; tickets on sale for new Pirate and Princess Party.
Labor Day Weekend Celebration: Tom Joyner Family Reunion is filled with theme park fun, concerts and special activities.
Night of Joy: 24th annual Night of Joy features top Christian musical acts plus stars of tomorrow.
Walt Disney World Triathlon and Expo: Athletes swim, bike and run across Walt Disney World Resort.
Disney Dream Vacation for Cubs Fans: Chicago Cubs fans trade in their baseball caps for mouse ears this December.

Kid-Friendly Concert Series Continues at Disney-MGM Studios in September

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Disney Channel favorite The Wiggles will keep the high-energy kid fun going strong Sept. 1 as "Playhouse Disney in Concert" continues a seven-week theatrical and musical extravaganza at Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. The award-winning Australian foursome sets the stage for special entertainment scheduled daily through Sept. 30.

The kid-friendly fun, presented by Huggies and Pull-Ups brands, is part of Magical Beginnings, the newly created program for families traveling to Walt Disney World Resort with toddlers and preschoolers. Magical Beginnings, presented by Hasbro, Inc.'s PLAYSKOOL brand, features planning tools, services, travel packages and amenities devoted to families with young children.

Performers scheduled in September:

* Sept. 1: The Wiggles - Epic Theater
* Sept. 2-10: Johnny & the Sprites - ABC Theater
* Sept. 11-16: Ralph's World - ABC Theater
* Sept. 17: Playhouse Disney Dance Party - Sorcerer Mickey Hat stage
* Sept. 18-24: Imagination Movers - ABC Theater
* Sept. 25-30: Dan Zanes and friends - ABC Theater

Performance times and acts are subject to change. The concerts are included in general park admission. For more information, contact 407/W-DISNEY, or disneyworld.com/littleones. For more information on Magical Beginnings, visit disneymagicalbeginnings.

Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin and R&B Chart-toppers Ne-Yo, Chris Brown
Slated to Perform During Tom Joyner Family Reunion

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The "Queen of Soul," Aretha Franklin, plus R&B sensations Ne-Yo, Chris Brown, LL Cool J and Keisha Cole will perform at the Tom Joyner Family Reunion, Labor Day weekend, Sept. 1-5, at Walt Disney World Resort. The star-studded lineup of entertainment also includes comedian/actor Sinbad and contemporary gospel greats Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary.

The annual event for all ages offers unforgettable days of concerts, parties, family fitness workouts, and theme park fun. For more information and to purchase specially priced packages, log onto www.blackamericaweb.com or call 1/888/TJ-FAMILY (888-2645) 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET Monday-Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday.

Sweet Sixteen Acts Set for Night of Joy 2006 on Sept. 8-9

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Multiple Dove Award nominee BarlowGirl will "play the Castle" to herald the start of Night of Joy 2006 on Sept. 8 and 9 as Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort hosts 15 of the most popular acts in Christian music and one soon-to-be-discovered star of tomorrow. BarlowGirl's 7:30 p.m. performance each evening on Cinderella Castle Stage will set the stage for such acclaimed acts as MercyMe, Casting Crowns, Kirk Franklin and tobyMac.

The lineup also includes Rebecca St. James, Jeremy Camp, Todd Agnew, David Crowder Band, Smokie Norful, ZOEgirl, Building 429, Matthew West, Hawk Nelson, The Afters, Vicky Beeching and a winner from the 32nd Annual "GMA Music in the Rockies" event. All acts will play either Friday or Saturday except for BarlowGirl.

Night of Joy, which is now in its 24th year, is a special-ticket event that begins following regular Magic Kingdom closing, with performances at stage locations throughout the theme park until 12:30 a.m. Advance tickets ($39.95 plus tax for one night, $67.95 plus tax for both nights) are available by calling 407/W-DISNEY or by visiting disneyworld.com/nightofjoy online. Tickets purchased on the date of the event will be $44.95 plus tax if available (Night of Joy is frequently sold out in advance).

The complete Night of Joy performance schedule (Subject to Change):

FRIDAY, SEPT. 8

Artist - Stage - Show Times
# BarlowGirl - Cinderella Castle Stage - 7:30 p.m.
# Rebecca St. James - Galaxy Palace Theater - 7:30 p.m. & 9 p.m.
# Todd Agnew - stage location TBA - 7:30 p.m. & 8:45 p.m.
# Vicky Beeching - Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café - 8:30 p.m.
# Casting Crowns - Cinderella Castle Stage - 9:10 p.m.
# Matthew West - Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café - 9:45 p.m. & 11 p.m.
# Building 429 - stage location TBA - 10:20 p.m. & 11:35 p.m.
# David Crowder Band - Galaxy Palace Theater - 10:30 p.m. & 11:45 p.m.
# MercyMe - Cinderella Castle Stage - 11:20 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 9

Artist - Stage - Show Times
# BarlowGirl - Cinderella Castle Stage - 7:30 p.m.
# Smokie Norful - Galaxy Palace Theater - 7:30 p.m. & 9 p.m.
# ZOEgirl -stage location TBA - 7:30 p.m. & 8:45 p.m.
# GMA Comp Winner - Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café - 8:30 p.m.
# tobyMac - Cinderella Castle Stage - 9:10 p.m.
# The Afters - Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café - 9:45 p.m. & 11 p.m.
# Hawk Nelson - stage location TBA - 10:20 p.m. & 11:35 p.m.
# Jeremy Camp - Galaxy Palace Theater - 10:30 p.m. & 11:45 p.m.
# Kirk Franklin - Cinderella Castle Stage - 11:20 p.m.

11th Annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival
Showcases a Triumph of Great Tastes Beginning Sept. 29

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- A world of discovery is on the menu when the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival celebrates its 11th year of great tastes Sept. 29 through Nov. 12.

Walt Disney World guests can explore the nuances of wine made from the Cabernet varietal in several countries or compare flavors of cheddar originating in the pastures of Vermont or the mountains of France. Each day during the six-week-long festival, the park's Future World and World Showcase overflow with first-rate food, wine and beer spotlighting regional experiences from New Zealand to Mexico.

More than 25 international marketplaces -- including festival newcomers Argentina, India, Thailand and Turkey -- serve tapas-sized portions of regional specialties. Daily seminars offer tastes of wine and beer from around the world. In addition, a series of special culinary programs features renowned winemakers and guest chefs participating in elegant dinners, wine schools, cooking schools and pairings.

The Epcot festival has grown dramatically, attracting a diverse audience of more than one million guests each fall -- from wine connoisseurs and epicures to droves of wine neophytes eager to boost their wine IQs. Beer aficionados can raise their steins to the Biergarten in the Germany showcase and other festival venues that specialize in brews from light to dark. And tea drinkers can celebrate the leaves of their own favorite "cuppa" as Twinings Tea marks its 300th anniversary with daily festival tastings.

More than 100 wineries offer complimentary tastings, and guests can sample the marketplace cuisine in tasting portions ranging from $1.50 to $4.50. Other highlights include:
# The Festival Welcome Center, with a Champagne and Sparkling Wine Bar, commemorative posters and other festival keepsakes.
# Some 250 Disney chefs and guest chefs conducting culinary demonstrations and hosting elegant dinners and tasting events (past guest chefs have included John Ash, Allen Susser, Paula Deen, Dominique Macquet, Melissa Kelly and many others).
# Hundreds of wine and beer seminars providing complimentary samplings.
# The weekly Party for the Senses grand tasting, featuring live entertainment.

Wine and beer seminars, cooking demonstrations, Eat to the Beat! concerts, culinary exhibits and all attractions and park entertainment are included with regular Epcot admission. The weekly Party for the Senses grand tasting, Food and Wine Pairings at Epcot restaurants, Exquisite Evenings at Epcot dinners, The Odyssey Cooking School, half-day Wine Schools, Lunch and Learn series, and other specialty events require reservations and separate admission.

Guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) or visit disneyworld.com/foodandwine for information.

Survivor Launches Eat to the Beat! Concert Series Sept. 29-30

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Rock band Survivor helps get the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival off to a sizzling start Sept. 29-30 as the kickoff act of the 2006 Eat to the Beat! concert series. Showtimes are 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. on the America Gardens Theatre stage.

Survivor, perhaps best known for the 1982 megahit "Eye of The Tiger," is the first of 15 acts -- a blend of classic rock, oldies, jazz and funk -- scheduled to pump up the entertainment factor during the festival daily through Nov. 12. Upcoming acts in October and November will include David Sanborn, The Four Tops, Chubby Checker & The Wildcats, Jon Secada, The Beach Boys, Little Richard and more.

There's additional entertainment throughout Epcot World Showcase, where performers from many countries weave music, dance, acrobatics and other acts into the festivities. The laser and musical fireworks extravaganza "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth" caps each festival evening. The special entertainment is included with regular Epcot admission.

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Kicks Off 18 Nights
Of Magic Kingdom Fun on Sept. 15

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize -- along with Mickey Mouse and his Disney pals -- on 18 evenings of Halloween fun for the whole family beginning Sept.15 in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.

The lightly frightful fun begins at 7 p.m. (after regular park operating hours) and continues until midnight. Separate admission is required.

Each date features trick-or-treating throughout the park and the Halloween-themed fireworks spectacular "Happy HalloWishes" -- featuring spooky music from family-friendly Disney attractions and movies including "Haunted Mansion" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas" as well as the voices of memorable Disney characters such as Madame Leota, Ursula, Jafar, Maleficent and Oogie Boogie. The event also showcases the newly expanded "Mickey's Boo-to-You Halloween Parade."

Guests, who are welcome to attend wearing Halloween costumes, can also experience some of the most popular Magic Kingdom attractions.

The popular party has grown to 18 dates -- the most ever -- and often sells out in advance. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will take place on Sept. 15, 22 and 29, Oct. 2, 5, 6, 10 , 12, 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30 and 31. Tickets for all dates are on sale now.

Guests can save $6 per ticket for all event nights except Oct. 27, 30 and 31 by purchasing tickets in advance by calling 407/W-DISNEY or visiting disneyworld.com/halloween. Advance tickets are $36.95 plus tax for ages 10 and above, $29.95 plus tax for ages 3-9. Children under 3 are admitted at no charge. Day-of tickets and tickets for the Oct. 27, 30 and 31 event nights are $42.95 plus tax for ages 10 and above, and $35.95 plus tax for ages 3 to 9. Entertainment is subject to change without notice.

Walt Disney World Triathlon Weekend Runs Its Course Sept. 22-24

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Walt Disney World Triathlon on Sept. 24 will cap a whole weekend of fitness fun with a 1.5K swim (1 mile), a 40K bike (23.9 miles) and a 10K run (6.2 miles) around Walt Disney World Resort.

The international distance triathlon begins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground with the swim. The bike segment takes competitors off of Disney property, then returns them to the campground where the transition to the run is to be staged. The final portion of the run is through Epcot, with the finish just outside the main Epcot entrance.

Entry fees are $115 per individual and $190 per relay team. All participants must be 15 years of age or older on the day of the event and they must have a USA Triathlon card to compete. USA Triathlon memberships can be purchased during the Triathlon Expo on Sept. 22-23 at Disney's Contemporary Resort where athletes can see the latest state-of-the-art products and talk to triathlon experts.

New to the weekend is the Walt Disney World Aquathlon on Sept. 23 at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. The Aquathlon will consist of a 2-mile run, 400-yard swim, and a 2-mile run -- the perfect event for a first triathlon or as a warm-up for the full triathlon on Sunday. Entry fees for the Aquathlon are $40 per individual and $60 per relay team.

During the Walt Disney World Kids' Triathlon on Sept. 23, children ages 7-10 swim 100 yards, bike three miles and run a half-mile, while 11-14-year-olds swim 200 yards, bike six miles and run a mile. Kids can form relay teams of up to three participants. Entry fees for the Kids' Triathalon are $30 per individual and $45 per relay team.

Event information and registration materials are available online at disneyworldsports.com.

New Pirate and Princess Party to Unwrap Treasures in Magic Kingdom

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Young buccaneers and Cinderella wannabes can become pirates and princesses in a place where dreams come true thanks to the new Disney's Pirate and Princess Party, an after-hours event coming to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort. Tickets are now on sale for 13 select nights from Jan. 22 through March 8, 2007. Youngsters can embark on a quest for beads, chocolate treasures and fun. Nights are magical with new parades and fireworks, Pirate's Coves and Princess Courts, specially-themed entertainment, character meet-and-greets and some of the most popular Magic Kingdom attractions.

Day-of tickets are priced at $42.95 plus tax (ages 10 & up), $35.95 plus tax ages 3-9. Phone 407/W-DISNEY or visit disneyworld.com. Advance tickets for all nights are $36.95 plus tax (ages 10 & up) and $29.95 plus tax (ages 3-9).

AAA Chicago Offers Cubs Fans Disney Dream Vacation

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- AAA Chicago is betting that a host of loyal Chicago Cubs fans will trade in their team baseball caps for a set of mouse ears Dec. 8-12 during the Walt Disney World Dream Vacation for Cubs Players and Fans.

Participants experience five days and four nights filled with private events and receptions featuring several past and present Cubs team members including Michael Barrett, Aramis Ramirez, Ryan Dempster, Billy Williams and many more. The 2006 Disney-Cubs Dream Vacation experience includes theme park admission and accommodation.

Admission to the sporting events and dining receptions, where fans can meet past and present Cub team members, is exclusive to this package and must be secured in advance through AAA Chicago. For reservations, contact AAA Travel at 866/4AAA-CUBS (422-2282).