New Attractions, More Resorts at Disney World

In a month that saw the grand opening of two exciting new attractions, the debut of a nightly fireworks spectacular and the launch of a whole new style of Walt Disney World vacation, Disney officials just announced plans for still more magic with new attractions now underway in each of the four Florida theme parks.

New adventures will abound in every Walt Disney World theme park:

• at Magic Kingdom -- a wacky encounter with the lovable Stitch;
• at Epcot -- an exhilarating flight over California;
• at Disney-MGM Studios -- an action-packed stunt show;
• at Disney's Animal Kingdom -- a high-speed snowy train ride to the Himalayan Mountains.

In addition, two previously announced resorts are completing preparations to open during the next nine months: Disney's Pop Century Resort, a themed value resort, and Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, the largest Disney Vacation Club Resort yet.

Here is what's in store for Walt Disney World guests:

• The Academy Award-nominated film "Lilo & Stitch" inspires the new Magic Kingdom attraction Stitch's Great Escape! scheduled to open in late 2004.
  
  A "prequel" set shortly before the events of the hit Disney motion picture "Lilo & Stitch," the family-friendly adventure in Tomorrowland will showcase the mayhem caused by the mischievous "Experiment 626" -- a.k.a. Stitch -- when first discovered in the Galactic Federation.
  
  Entering Stitch's Great Escape! Magic Kingdom guests are recruited by the Galactic Federation Grand Councilwoman to provide additional security for a captured alien whose reputation for being extremely "difficult" has preceded him. Even so, authorities underestimate Stitch's capacity for playful disobedience, causing havoc to erupt with guests caught in the middle of the fun.
  
  Stitch's Great Escape! will feature some of the most sophisticated Audio- Animatronics technology ever developed by Walt Disney Imagineering. Stitch's Great Escape! replaces The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter, which will close later this month.



• The popular "Soarin' Over California" attraction at Disney's California Adventure will take Walt Disney World guests on an eye-filling journey when it opens at Epcot in 2005.
  
  The new attraction sends guests on a sweeping flyover above the wondrous Golden State for a bird's-eye view of the rich landscape and topography.
  
  "Soarin' Over California" will be the newest addition to The Land pavilion at Epcot, complementing the popular pavilion's agriculture and ecology theme.
  
  The unforgettable experience combines cinematic artistry and state-of-the- art motion base technology. Guests are literally lifted 40 feet inside a giant projection screen dome and completely surrounded with the beauty and wonder of the state of California as their elevated theater seats take them on a scenic tour over the Golden Gate Bridge, the Redwood forests, Napa Valley, Yosemite and more. The free-flight experience intensifies as guests feel the sweeping winds and smell fragrant orange blossoms and pine trees around them.



• Disney-MGM Studios guests will be on the edge of their seats as the secrets behind Hollywood's most astounding stunts unfold at the new Disney-MGM Studios stunt show.
  
  Inspired by the popular Stunt Show Spectacular at Disneyland Paris, the high-octane stunt show features specially designed cars, motorcycles and jet skis, plus special effects -- with audience members pulled into the fun. Insiders will reveal show secrets, detailing how stunts are created, designed and filmed for the movies. Filmed images are revealed on an oversized screen, illustrating how the use of different camera angles can add drama to filmed scenes.
  
  The new show will open in 2005 and is part of a larger redevelopment of the backlot area of Disney-MGM Studios that also includes new cityscapes, adding Chicago and San Francisco to our existing New York City skyline.



• Walt Disney World guests will discover for themselves the fearsome legend of the yeti when Expedition EVEREST -- a new high-speed train adventure that combines coaster-like thrills with the excitement of a close encounter of the hairy kind -- opens in 2006 at Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park.


The Expedition EVEREST adventure begins when guests board an old mountain railway destined for Mount Everest. The train rolls through thick bamboo forests, past thundering waterfalls, along shimmering glacier fields and climbs higher and higher through the snow-capped peaks.

Suddenly the thrills intensify as the train races both forward and backward through mountain caverns and icy canyons as guests head for an inevitable face-to-muzzle showdown with the mysterious yeti -- known to some as the abominable snowman.

Nearly 200 feet high, Expedition EVEREST will be located in the Asia section of the theme park.


• Nestled on a tranquil lakeside site, Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa recalls upstate New York country retreats of the late 1800s. The historical influence of health and horses inspired the art and architecture of the resort currently under construction at Walt Disney World Resort.
  
  Upon completion, the 65-acre resort will become the seventh and largest Disney Vacation Club resort to date with 552 total accommodations including studio, one- and two-bedroom villas and Grand Villa units housed in 12 distinct buildings.
  
  The resort also will feature a themed pool with a natural springs-inspired pool slide, plus a dining and retail district. Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is scheduled to open in phases beginning spring 2004.



• A new 2,880-room value resort will send Walt Disney World guests on a trip through American popular culture with whimsical, oversized icons representing decades of the 20th century.


The retro resort property, opening December 2003, is adorned with popular toys, fads, dance crazes and catch phrases that defined the last century. The entrance to each of the ten lodge buildings pays homage to cultural touchstones from each era -- a giant jukebox for the 1950s, larger-than-life yo-yos for the 1960s and 55-foot-tall cell phones for the 1990s. Fifty years of original memorabilia line the lobby's check-in area.

With rooms starting at $77 a night (based on season), this addition will bring the total number of Disney-owned-and-operated accommodations at Walt Disney World Resort to more than 21,000.

Earlier this month, Walt Disney World Resort launched Mission: SPACE, the newest thrill ride to blast off at Epcot; "Mickey's PhilharMagic," a family- friendly 3-D adventure starring favorite Disney characters at Magic Kingdom; "Wishes," an all-new fireworks spectacular at Magic Kingdom; and Magical Gatherings, an exciting new program catering to families and friends who vacation together at Walt Disney World Resort.

SOURCE Walt Disney World Resort