Conference koolit::disney

	I just made reservations for next February ('97, I figure you can never
make them too early :-)) and asked what the special plans werefor the 25th
anniversary.  The reservation person didn't know but said that the timeframe for
the celebration was the calendar year, not the usual year from October to
October.  Thta didn't spound right at all so I figured I'd ask here.  IS teh
25th Anniversary Celebration from October 1996 to October 1997?

George

I have seen WDW publications refer the the 25th anniversary timeframe in
two different ways:

October 1996 - October 1997  (which is how the 10th, 15th and 20th were done)
and
October 1996 - December 1997 (which implies they may extend the celebration
                              a little bit.)

But...there have been no details as to what is in store.  I've been filling
out those cards to get 25th celbration details every year, and still
nothing...

Bill A.

    Officially it's supposed to October 1, 1996 to October 1, 1997. Bill's
    note suggests that all of 1997 may include the anniversary year.
    usually the Christmas season takes care of itself but since it's the
    25th Anniversary they may stretch it out.
    
    Mike

	Re. .0

	>> Hmmm, that could mean SpectroMagic will go away for a year.

	I don't think so, Special Events on the Official Disney World Pages
	says that there will be Spectromagic on Halloween.

	Looking forward to more info about the 25th Anniversary celebrations
	as we will be there at the end of October.

	Richard

    Richard,
    
    I'm thinking that any special parade will run during the day and
    SpectroMagic will continue to run at night.
    
    Mike

    While at Disney this past weekend, I inquired about the 25th
    celebration. The cast members still had not heard of any special
    events, but they did have a brochure (that I have in my office)
    that you can send down to Lake Buena Vista for your personal Invitation
    to the 25th Anniversary celebration beginning late 1996.
    
    I can make copies and send to those interested in receiveing an
    invitation "with all the details on our spectacular party".
    
    
    Mark

    
    Mark,
    
    I'd like to get a copy.  I tried to send you mail but NMAIL returned
    it.  Please send a copy to Jay Feeley at HLO2-2/B10.  Thanks.
    
    --Jay
    

    Try sending mail to Mark at MKOTS4::STEVENS_M.
    
    Mike

    Mark
    
    I would love a copy of this brochure if you don't mind.  My internal
    address is :  Meg Moreau  PKO3-2/P08.  I need an excuse to go down and
    see the "brick" that I got for Christmas, an anniversary sounds like a
    good reason!!!
    
    Thanks
    
    Meg

    Mark,
    
      I'd like to get a copy, too please.  My mailstop
    
    Dick Bator  MSO1/J7.
    
    (btw, I'm going to WDW in 5 weeks). Thanks,
    
    dick

    I would really appreciate a copy too ...
    
    Brian Clarke @ CGO
    
    Thanks
    

    I would love one too. But I am in a home office here is my fax and home
    office address. Thanks in advance.
    
    Paula Von Rosendahl
    55 So. Prospect St.
    Verona, NJ 07044
    FAX 201-239-8208
    
    Thanks,

    Any more info on the 25th ?
    I was there for the 20th and am debating going back on Oct 1.
    For the 20th Eisner and Roy Disney and Frank Wells et al were there
    (YES, I filed trip report)
    Am wond'ring if they'll rededicate the park, Air Force flyover etc again.
    

    http://www.magicnet.net/~mrich/25th.html

    In October Cinderella's Castle will be transformed into the world's
    largest birthday cake at 185 feet tall, complete with 25 glowing
    candles.
    
    Each day during the 25th Anniversary there will be a huge Anniversary
    Parade starring classic Disney film characters and nearly 1400 park
    guests, homecoming rallies to honor returning visitors, a special
    anniversary edition of IllimiNations at Epcot and "Disney's
    Hunchback of Notre Dame: A Musical Adventure" stage show at Disney-MGM
    Studios. Past guests will be saluted throughout the anniversary year with 
    special honors and surprises. 
    
    
    Mike

    An article in a recent edition of the Orlando Sentinel nix's housing
    guests in the castle during the 25th.  Too many other projects.  The
    article stated that rooms were built for the Disney family to stay in,
    but were never furnished and are now used for storage.  Anybody have
    more info about these rooms?
    
    Mark

    I just found out that they have started to paint Cinderella Castle
    Pepto Bismol pink. That's right, the entire castle will be painted
    pink and turned into a birthday cake. Giant lollipops will be painted
    on the castle exterior and the tops will be made to look like candles.
    
    The castle will remain like this for 15 months. Total cost: $9 million.
    
    I also heard that because of this many people who had planned to get
    married at TMK during the same 15 months have begun cancelling their
    plans...after all who would want that in the background?
    
    I think banners and special flags and stuff like they did for the 20th
    Anniversary would have been a better choice.
    
    Mike
    

    
    
    Disney World Planning 25th Anniversary Celebrations for Oct. 1
    
    
    
     By Christine Shenot, The Orlando Sentinel, Fla.
    
     Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News
    
    
    
    Aug. 8--Picture a 185-foot-tall birthday cake painted Pepto-Bismol
    pink and topped with white icing, gum drops, candles -- the works.
    
    In a matter of weeks, that's what Cinderella Castle, Walt Disney
    World's most famous icon, will look like.
    
    With the Oct. 1 kickoff of Disney's 25th anniversary fast approaching,
    the company's entertainment and marketing teams are winding up two and
    a half years worth of preparations.
    
    Though it will be a few more weeks before the company launches a
    massive marketing campaign that will ultimately involve McDonald's,
    the ABC network and other big-name partners, employees already have started
    redecorating the Magic Kingdom, the focal point of the event.
    
    With thousands of curious visitors looking on every day, workers are
    painting the walls and spires of Cinderella Castle the pinkest of
    pinks, in the first stage of the castle's multimillion dollar
    transformation into a birthday cake. Next will come banners and other 
    decorations on Main Street U.S.A.
    
    "We really are completely dressing up for the occasion," said Alice
    Spurgeon, director of creative development and a point person on the
    event for more than two years.
    
    Elsewhere on Disney property, workers are building new archways on
    the roads leading into Disney World. And projects such as the new
    50,000-square-foot World of Disney store under construction at the
    Disney Village Marketplace have been put on the fast track, racing to open
    in time for the start of the 15-month anniversary celebration.
    
    It all begins with a rededication of the Magic Kingdom on Oct. 1, led by
    a 1,076-piece marching band. Disney Chairman Michael Eisner will be
    joined at the podium by Roy Disney who, as Walt Disney's nephew, attended
    the park's opening on the same day 25 years ago.
    
    Through the end of next year, Disney's theme parks will feature new
    entertainment tied to the anniversary, much of it designed to include
    past visitors. Disney hopes to reach those visitors, of which there are an
    estimated 100 million, through a special show that will travel the nation
    this fall and with the help of McDonald's and other partners.
    
    At the Magic Kingdom, there will be a homecoming-theme parade with
    floats designed around the company's most popular animated movies, from
    Cinderella to The Lion King. The parade will make regular stops throughout
    the park, bringing spectators into the show for dancing and games with
    Disney characters.
    
    "It's different from anything we've ever done," said Douglas May, who
    oversaw the development of entertainment for the 25th anniversary.
    
    Outside the castle, a new show will include families chosen to represent
    every year Disney World has been open, beginning with those who first
    visited the park in 1971. On Main Street U.S.A., there will be a 25th
    anniversary welcome center where past visitors can get a commemorative 
    lithograph and watch an historic film.
    
    There will be anniversary-related shows and decorations at Disney's
    other theme parks and resorts, including a new version of Epcot's
    IllumiNations, a nightly fireworks and laser show.
    
    Few new attractions are set to debut during the 15-month event, the
    most notable exception being Epcot's Test Track thrill ride, which opens
    next spring in the former World of Motion pavilion. But the new
    entertainment alone represents a major investment.
    
    The Magic Kingdom, for example, will have extended hours throughout the
    anniversary, staying open for a fireworks show every night. Normally, the
    park only has fireworks during holiday periods and summer.
    
    "This is going to be a big deal," said Lee Cockerell, Disney's senior
    vice president in charge of operations. "We're putting a lot of power
    behind this one."
    
    The same could be said for the publicity effort. To reach the widest
    possible audience -- and ensure strong attendance throughout the
    anniversary -- Disney plans to host a multiday media gathering that is
    expected to be the largest in its history. It begins on Sept. 30 with a
    party at the Orlando Arena and continues with visits to the Disney
    Institute, Celebration and all three theme parks.
    
    The media audience will include both news reporters and others involved
    in advertising and promotions from newspapers, television and radio.
    
    Nearly 10,000 people, including their guests, will be invited to the event,
    all on Disney's dime.
    
    Among some of the early ideas that have been dropped, Disney has decided
    not to hold a special parade downtown for Orlando residents. Instead, the
    company plans to tie its annual fall celebration at Lake Eola to the
    anniversary.
    
    
    (c) 1996, The Orlando Sentinel. Distributed by
    
    Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News.
    
    Copyright (c) 1996 Knight-Ridder / Tribune Business News
    
    8/8/96 3:47 AM
    
    

    Other 25th Anniversary stuff:
    
      - "Remember the Magic" Parade will feature guests on floats from
        TLK, B&TB, TLM, Aladdin, Cinderella, and Snow White.
    
      - 25th Anniversary Welcome Center will be located on Main Street
        U.S.A.
    
      - "IllumiNations 25" will be the new fireworks display at EC with a
        "Circle of Life" finale.
    
      - Mickey's ToonTown Fair in TMK will include Goofy's barnstorming
        roller coaster, new house for Mickey, Donald's boat, and big-top tents
        in a whimsical country fair setting (featuring Disney characters).
    
      - "Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame:  A Musical Adventure" will 
        be shown I guess in MGM. It will include 21 actors and a cast of
        Medieval puppets.
    
      - SpectroMagic and Fantasy in The Sky will be performed EVERY NIGHT
        from Oct. 1, 1996 to Dec. 31, 1997.
    
      - Ariel's Grotto at The Magic Kingdom will have a lgoon setting in
        FL and let guests meet Ariel and cool off in the interactive
        leap-frog fountains.
    
    Mike
      
    

    The Hunchback of Notre Dame: A Musical Adventure show is already in
    MGM; we saw it on 04JUL.  It was very entertaining.
    
    /jeff

    Jeff,
    
    I thought so....but they will use this as part of their marketing
    blitz for the 25th Anniversary. Most of us in here will be nodding
    when they show all this stuff while others will be saying, "Wow!"
    
    Of course they'll also be in shock when they hear about the castle.
    
    Mike 

The castle painting was in progress when we were there 2 weeks ago.  I think
"Pepto-Bismol pink" is overstating it.  I don't care much for pink, but I
didn't think it was obnoxious.  They were doing about one spire each
night, and it looked like they were using different shades of pink for
each (though maybe that's just the effect of shading or something).  I didn't
even notice until about the 4th day when my husband said "Isn't the castle
getting more pink each day?"  I thought it was supposed to be
multi-colored.  :)

			cheryl

    the live camera shot is looking alot pinker!
    
    Mark

    It's official! The blitz is ON!!!
    
    Last night Disney released the first of many commercials hyping the
    25th Anniversary Celebration.
    
    Also, today there is a NEW! 25th Anniversary Web site.
    
    It's at http://www.disney.com/DisneyWorld/25th/25thHom.html
    
    Mike

Cool!!  I just accessed it and registered!  It comes back with a guest of honor
registration card to bring to Disney to receive a complimentary commemorative 
25th Anniversary lithograph poster!

Laura

    You can see how the castle will look as a birthday cake at:
    
    http://www.disney.com/DisneyWorld/25th/photos/CastleCake.html
    
    It's about as tacky as you would expect.
    
    Mike

    .26
    
    	Mike nice job by the disney artists on the web picture as the castle is
    only about 1/3rd transformed into the worlds biggest birthday cake.  
    
    	BTW - It appeared to be in two shades of pink - hot pink, and 
    fluorescent pink.
    
    Tony

    Tony,
    
    That's gotta be Sleeping Beauty Castle from Anaheim. We all know from
    the live shot that they aren't finished. Maybde it's a photo from the
    DL 25th anniversary celebration with some artistry thrown in.
    
    Mike

    Looks like media will be down in Orlando for the soft opening of the
    25th Anniversary......looks to be around September 23rd or so.
    
    Mike

    	Mike I thought it was just an artist rendering, a very good one at
    that, that had the people overlayed on it to make a realistic looking
    shot.  With these imagineers anything's possible...
    
    Tony

I was there two weeks ago and it was pretty far along.  It does look 
like they are using two shades of pink.  I'll have to check out the 
www site to see if it looks like it did when I was there.  The crane
was a bit of a distraction when looking at it....

Dave V

    Quick note between meetings!  I was there last week, and it is pretty 
    far along.  Two shades of pink, as reported.  The crane is still there 
    and distracting.  I have pictures, for those in ZKO.  I'll bring them 
    in one day next week.
    
    
    Susan

    Has anyone seen the new color of Cinderella's castle? I looked at it on
    the Disney Web page on Friday. I don't like it and hope it's only for
    the 25th celebration. I think the paint job was a little overboard.
    
    Oh, and in case anyone is wondering what color......PINK. I heard it was
    to make the castle look like a birthday cake, and they plan to add 25
    candles.
    
        Matt

uhh, yea - see the many other notes on this, including...
493.0     WREATH::SCOPA         15-JAN-1996    32  WDW 25th Anniversary Note

    Yeah Matt....where ya been?
    
    

    This past weekend I received a brochure that had my "Guest of Honor"
    card in it. Now all I have to do is figure out how to get to the
    Welcome Center on Main St. USA by Dec 31, 1997...
    
    I especially liked the line "...and wait until you see Cinderella
    Castle- it's been magically transformed into the world's largest cake!"
    I think they should have painted it silver...8^)
    
    I've sent back my registration form to be in the Guest Book.
    
    They do mention that their will be exhibits at WDW showing the past 25
    years and a "sneak preview" of exciting future projects at WDW. 
    
    Now if I can just arrange to get there! 
    
    Mark 

    don't forget to get your 25th anniversary glasses at McDonalds.
    set of 4 nice glasses, a different one each week.
    This week is the EPCOT glass.
    

    Got mine too Mark.
    
    I'm glad I made my '97 reservations in '95.
    
    Mike

    Id the Epcot glass the first one in the series...or have I missed a
    week already!
    
    
    michele

    just started.
    ed
    

    
    we've already got two of the four, here in Colorado.....
    
    
    had to try 3 different MCd's, on different days of course.
    
    "Excuse me, do you have any other WDW glass beside the epcot one?"
    "No, well...I don't want to order anything then." [footsteps walking
    							out the door]
    
    you know they must hate that. 
                                                                     

    Has anyone noticed a crane popping up in the live camera shot?
    
    Apparently the inflatables are in need of "fixing".
    
    Mike

    
    Would anyone happen to know when the castle is expected to be
    back to "normal"?   I've been thinking of starting to plan our
    return trip and would like to visit after the cake is gone
    (our one and only visit was 11/96).
    
    Thanks,
    Carol

I've seen reports that the Castle would remain a "Cake-stle" until 
the end of January.

    It will take all of a month to get it back to normal. It will take at
    least one week to remove all the inflatables. Once they are gone the
    painting begins.
    
    I'm thinking that they plan to have it restored to it's normalcy by the 
    middle of February...for those mid-Winter crowds.
    
    Mike