The Walt Disney World Story – 2006

Image Courtesy of Walt Disney World

OPENINGS
In April, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique opened at Downtown Disney Marketplace, offering enchanting makeovers and pampering services for youngsters.
On April 7, Expedition Everestopened at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
In July, characters from “Little Einsteins,” a Disney Channel program, made their debut at Disney-MGM Studios.
In August, “Playhouse Disney in Concert” debuted at Disney-MGM Studios, featuring seven weeks of theatrical and musical performances for preschoolers as part of Magical Beginnings, created for families with toddlers and preschoolers.  Presented by Playskool, the program features planning tools, services, travel packages and amenities devoted to families with young children.

Also in August, Turf Club Bar and Grill opened at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, offering year-round outdoor dining.

In October, Magic Kingdom introduced the stage show “Dream Along With Mickey.”

Also in October, Magic Kingdom premiered new immersive experiences as part of “The Year of a Million Dreams” including “Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial,” “Woody’s Cowboy Camp,” “Let’s Have a Ball” and the “Main Street Family Fun Day Parade.”

Also in 2006, the All-Star Music Resort opened 214 value-priced family suites.

ANNUAL EVENTS

March 3-5, ESPN The Weekend returned to Disney-MGM Studios featuring headliners Jerry Rice and Brian Urlacher.

April 21-June 11, the13th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival took place.  Each festival weekend featured a different theme including Characters in Bloom Weekend & Art in the Garden Weekend.

May 19-June 11, Star Wars Weekends were held at Disney-MGM Studios and featured appearances by Star Wars producer Rick McCallum and Peter Mayhew, the 7’3” actor who portrayed Chewbacca.

Sept. 8-9, the 24th annual Night of Joy had a lineup of 16 contemporary Christian music acts including MercyMe, Casting Crowns, Kirk Franklin and tobyMac.

Sept. 29-Nov. 12, the 11th Epcot International Food and Wine Festivalfeatured wineries from around the world and more than 25 marketplaces.  The “Eat to the Beat!” concert series featured such performers as Survivor, Little Richard, Jon Secada and The Beach Boys.

In September and October, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party took place over 18 nights.

Nov. 11-12, the 11th annual ABC Super Soap Weekend,featured over 30 ABC Daytime stars from “All My Children,” “One Life To Live” and “General Hospital.”  Anthony Geary and Genie Francis made their first public appearance in decades during “The 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Wedding of Luke & Laura.”  Rosie O’Donnell appeared as a special guest and co-host.

Nov. 10-12, Downtown Disney held the 31st annual Festival of the Masters, featuring more than 200 artists from 29 states and Israel.  House of Blues also hosted the eighth annual Where the Art Meets the Soul Folk Art Festival, with 40 folk artists performing.

For the holiday season, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights returned to Disney-MGM Studios with new “dancing” lights, Magic Kingdom held 18 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties and Epcot hosted the annual Candlelight Processional.

SPECIAL EVENTS
Feb. 24, 25 & 28, Downtown Disney Pleasure Island hosted Parti Gras.

Feb. 10, 11 & 14, Pleasure Island became Sweetheart Island, celebrating Valentine’s Day.
March 17, Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant at Downtown Disney hosted an authentic Irish celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.  Live Irish music and dance, favorite Irish foods and Irish beers marked the first St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the venue.
Sept. 1-5, the Tom Joyner Family Reunion was held with a star-studded lineup of entertainment including Aretha Franklin, Chris Brown, LL Cool J and Sinbad.
On Oct. 4, “The Year of a Million Dreams” celebration began at Walt Disney World with one family – the Spanglers of Randolph, Ohio – getting the Magic Kingdom to themselves for the morning.

NOTABLE
In January, Disney water parks began participating in Extra Magic Hours; “Walt Disney World Resort: Plugged In” weekly podcasts debuted; Ice Station Cool received the new name “Club Cool.”

By February, more than 2 million guests had used Disney’s Magical Express since its launch in May 2005.

In February, a 233-pound female elephant calf named Nadirah was born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

In March, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort began offering two-hour private bass-fishing excursions on Barefoot Bay.

On April 5, World of Disney in Downtown Disney Marketplace unveiled its “re-imagined” retail playground with a new Adventure Room and Princess Room.

Also in April, readers and Golf Magazine experts rated Walt Disney World Resort as a Gold Medal winner in their survey of America’s Best Resorts; Night of Joy received the Gospel Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award.
June 9, Lightning McQueen and Mater from “Cars” joined the Disney-MGM Studios “Disney Stars and Motor Cars” parade.

June 25, Disney-MGM Studios began offering Play ‘N Dine at Hollywood & Vine featuring Playhouse Disney characters singing and dancing to favorite Playhouse Disney songs during breakfast and lunch.

Also in June, Jiko-The Cooking Place was honored for “Best Independent Operator Menu” in the 2006 Nation’s Restaurant News MenuMasters Awards, and the “2005 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade” was honored by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with an Emmy Award for “Outstanding Special Class Special.”

In July, Pirates of the Caribbean added Captain Jack Sparrow and Barbossa Audio-Animatronics to the attraction, as well as a Davy Jones hologram and refurbished lights and sound.

Also in July, The Flying Dutchman, the 175-foot ghost ship used in “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” docked at Castaway Cay, the Disney Cruise Line private island, to provide photo ops and a sneak peek into movie-making magic.

In October, Jiko-The Cooking Place was named one of “America’s 50 Most Amazing Wine Experiences” by Food & Wine magazine.  Jiko was one of two honored in Florida.

FILM & TV PRODUCTION AT DISNEY-MGM STUDIOS AND RESORT LOCATIONS
In January, “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” taped episodes at Disney-MGM Studios.

In November, ESPN2 and ESPNU broadcast games from the Old Spice Classic held at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex.

March 3-5, during ESPN The Weekend, ESPN broadcast “Cold Pizza,” “SportsCenter,” “Baseball Tonight” and “College Game Day” from Disney-MGM Studios.

In December the annual nationwide telecast of the “Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade” aired on ABC-TV with Regis Philbin, Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest as hosts.  Beyonce headlined an impressive lineup of stars that included Andrea Bocelli, the cast of “High School Musical” and Bianca Ryan.

Also in December, the 2006 Home Depot College Football Awards were broadcast live on ESPN from Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney’s BoardWalk.  “ESPN College GameDay” host Chris Fowler emceed along with co-anchors Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso.

SPORTS
In January, Walt Disney World Resort hosted the 13th annual Walt Disney World Marathon, which featured a new split-day format, and Goofy’s Race-and-a-Half Challenge, offered for participants who complete both races.  The Health and Fitness Expo was hosted at The Milk House Jan. 5-7.

In February, the Atlanta Braves returned for their ninth year of spring training at Disney’s Wide World of Sports.

March 7-10, Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex hosted the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

April 2, the fourth annual Walt Disney World Inline Marathon and Half Marathon took place at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex.  An Inline Marathon Expo took place at The Milk House.

In May, Walt Disney World Resort held the first-ever Disney Minnie Marathon Weekend, aiming to promote women’s wellness with three races and an expo.

In June, the 2006 NBA Pre-Draft Camp moved to Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex.

In July and August, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers held their training camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports.

Sept. 24, The Walt Disney World Triathlon capped a weekend of fitness and fun with a 1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run.

Oct. 19-22, the Funai Golf Classic took place on Disney’s Palm and Magnolia courses, with Tour veteran Joe Durant emerging as winner.

Nov. 17, Disney-MGM Studios hosted the Florida Classic Fan Day featuring recording artists Danity Kane.

Nov. 23-26, Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex hosted the Inaugural Old Spice Classic.

Dec. 3-9, Disney’s Wide World of Sports hosted the Pop Warner Super Bowl.
Dec. 7, the 2006 Home Depot College Football Awards took place at Atlantic Dance Hall.

CELEBRATED GUESTS
Isabella Rossellini, A.J. Pierzynski, Kristi Yamaguchi, Rudy Galindo, Elvis Stojko, “What’s Next” guest Hines Ward, Tony Danza, Aly & AJ, John Stamos, Jon Bon Jovi, Joey Fatone, Everlife, cast of “High School Musical” (Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Zac Efron, Ashley Tisdale, Monique Coleman, Corbin Bleu, Lucas Grabeel), Helena Christensen, Josh Gracin, Gretchen Wilson, Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies lead singer), Vincent D’Onofrio, David Copperfield, Scott Hamilton, Serena Williams, Michael Irvin, Kurt Warner, Miley Cyrus, Jason Kidd, Dwayne Wade, Molly Ringwald, Christie Brinkley, Colin Mochrie, Aretha Franklin, Ne-Yo, Keyshia Cole, Chris Brown, Tom Joyner, Sinbad, Doug E. Fresh, Jo Frost (Supernanny), Noah Gray-Cabey, Mira Sorvino, Rob Thomas, Beyonce, Bianca Ryan, RBD, Regis Philbin, Kelly Ripa, Emmitt Smith.
Candlelight Narrators: Rita Moreno, Brian Dennehy, Stephen Curtis Chapman, Maureen McGovern, Kirk Cameron, Neil Patrick Harris, Gary Sinise, Marlee Matlin and Edward James Olmos.