Disney World tries
a little marketing magic:
Disney World expects about 2,000 people for this week's media tour to talk up a guidebook's worth of fresh attractions and resorts -- from the just-opened Mission: Space to a host of rides and shows slated to open over the next couple years.
It's a list that ranges from the Dec. 14 opening of Disney's Pop Century Resort to Expedition Everest, a roller coaster built around a 200-foot man-made mountain that's on track to open at Disney's Animal Kingdom as early as 2005.
Disney also may confirm plans for a version of Soarin' Over California at Epcot.
Based on one of the most popular rides at the company's California Adventure theme park in Anaheim, it would take guests on a pretend hang-glider flight over redwood forests and citrus groves.
People familiar with the project say it's scheduled to open alongside Epcot's Land pavilion in 2005.
But Disney's media tour won't be simply a series of briefings on new projects. Disney, after all, is the company that taught the world that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.
So, it's bringing in Julie Andrews, who dispensed that wisdom in Disney's 1964 musical, Mary Poppins, to help celebrate the grand opening of Mickey's PhilharMagic, a new 3-D movie musical that opened to visitors last Tuesday.
Sugar Ray, the B-52s, the Brian Setzer Orchestra and Jim Belushi & the Sacred Hearts Band will perform at various VIP parties. Orlando's Wayne Brady will do his syndicated talk show from Epcot.
Oh, and Mickey's expected to drop by.
But one project that won't be announced during the media tour is a Spanish pavilion at Epcot.
A year after Disney met with Spanish officials to discuss the possibilities of the country sponsoring a pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase, the project is still on the drawing board, spokeswoman Jacquee Polak said.
"There's nothing really more to talk about," Polak said. "It's one of those situations that takes a long time."
Todd Pack can be reached at 407-420-5407 or tpack@orlandosentinel.com.
a little marketing magic:
Disney World expects about 2,000 people for this week's media tour to talk up a guidebook's worth of fresh attractions and resorts -- from the just-opened Mission: Space to a host of rides and shows slated to open over the next couple years.
It's a list that ranges from the Dec. 14 opening of Disney's Pop Century Resort to Expedition Everest, a roller coaster built around a 200-foot man-made mountain that's on track to open at Disney's Animal Kingdom as early as 2005.
Disney also may confirm plans for a version of Soarin' Over California at Epcot.
Based on one of the most popular rides at the company's California Adventure theme park in Anaheim, it would take guests on a pretend hang-glider flight over redwood forests and citrus groves.
People familiar with the project say it's scheduled to open alongside Epcot's Land pavilion in 2005.
But Disney's media tour won't be simply a series of briefings on new projects. Disney, after all, is the company that taught the world that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.
So, it's bringing in Julie Andrews, who dispensed that wisdom in Disney's 1964 musical, Mary Poppins, to help celebrate the grand opening of Mickey's PhilharMagic, a new 3-D movie musical that opened to visitors last Tuesday.
Sugar Ray, the B-52s, the Brian Setzer Orchestra and Jim Belushi & the Sacred Hearts Band will perform at various VIP parties. Orlando's Wayne Brady will do his syndicated talk show from Epcot.
Oh, and Mickey's expected to drop by.
But one project that won't be announced during the media tour is a Spanish pavilion at Epcot.
A year after Disney met with Spanish officials to discuss the possibilities of the country sponsoring a pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase, the project is still on the drawing board, spokeswoman Jacquee Polak said.
"There's nothing really more to talk about," Polak said. "It's one of those situations that takes a long time."
Todd Pack can be reached at 407-420-5407 or tpack@orlandosentinel.com.
