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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.

APRIL 2006

In This Edition:

Downtown Disney: World of Disney grows with Adventure Room and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.
Magic Kingdom: Tickets on sale for 24th annual Night of Joy Christian music event.
Disney Dining: Two new eateries announced.
Disney Sports & Recreation: Inline Marathon skates into Walt Disney World; Disney's golf courses ranked among best in U.S.
Disney Cruise Line: New stingray adventure now offered at Disney's private island.

Pretend to Be a Pirate -- or Be Pretty as a Princess -- at World of Disney as Store Celebrates 10th Anniversary Year with New Experiences

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Beginning April 5, World of Disney in Downtown Disney Marketplace at Walt Disney World Resort offers new and interactive experiences to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the largest Disney shopping destination on earth.

The newly "re-imagined," 51,000-square-foot retail playground features a world of pirates and heroes in a new, interactive Adventure Room. Across the store, youngsters can be made up as pretty as a princess with the help of a "Fairy Godmother-in-Training" in the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, part of the store's new Princess Room.

Young adventurers can pretend to sail the high seas and hoist the Jolly Roger in the Adventure Room. Young heroes and heroines can fill treasure chests and skulls with pirate plunder, create their own seafaring hat and interact with a new Audio-Animatronics pirate named Rusty Blade and his talking parrot pal, Pollyanna. The latest Disney video games also fuel the imaginations of young adventurers.

"Owned" by the Fairy Godmother and "operated" by Fairy Godmothers-in-Training, the new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique offers a menu of salon services designed to pamper princesses ages three and up. Package options and prices include:

Coach Package: Includes hair style and shimmering makeup -- $35 plus tax.
Crown Package: Includes hair style, shimmering makeup and nails -- $45 plus tax.
Castle Package: Includes the Crown Package plus an imaging package (one 6x8-inch photo and four 4x6-inch photos in a Princess-themed photo holder). Also includes a complete child-size costume with accessories -- starting at $175 plus tax.
Each package comes with a sash, and there are three different hair style options from which to choose: the Fairytale Princess, the Disney Diva and the Pop Princess.

Hours of operation for the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will be 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. daily (last appointment will be at 5:30 p.m.), seven days a week. Walk-ins are accepted; however, reservations are strongly encouraged by calling 407/WDW-STYLE (939-7895).

The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is part of the store's new Princess Room. Resembling a great hall from castle lore, the room is dedicated to the classic fairy tale stories of Disney Princesses, Princes and their castles. Other features include an Audio-Animatronics princess who sings to guests, and interactive stations where little girls can create their own tiaras and wands, fill jewelry boxes and purchase princess make-up kits.

For more information, call Downtown Disney Guest Information at 407/WDW-2NITE (939-2648) or visit disneyworld.com.

Tickets for Disney's 24th Annual Night of Joy Now Available; MercyMe, Casting Crowns, Kirk Franklin, tobyMac
in Spotlight Sept. 8-9

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Walt Disney World Resort has put together a 16-act lineup of top contemporary Christian music artists for its 24th annual Night of Joy, with marquee names MercyMe, Casting Crowns, Kirk Franklin and tobyMac heading the list.

They'll be joined in Magic Kingdom during the two-night music extravaganza, Sept. 8-9, by BarlowGirl, Rebecca St. James, Jeremy Camp, Todd Agnew, David Crowder Band, Smokie Norful, ZOEgirl, Building 429, Matthew West, Hawk Nelson, Tonex and Vicky Beeching. All acts will play either Friday or Saturday except for BarlowGirl, which will perform both days.

Night of Joy hours are 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. each day (after regular park closing) and require a special ticket. 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 on the day of the event will be $44.95 plus tax if available (Night of Joy is frequently sold out in advance).

Since its inception in 1983, Night of Joy has featured more than 100 of Christian music's top artists, whose performances in Magic Kingdom have been experienced by more than 900,000 guests. In addition to shows on stages throughout the park, Night of Joy offers guests a chance to experience popular Magic Kingdom attractions during event hours.

Two New Restaurants Announced for Walt Disney World Resort

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Walt Disney World guests will have two new restaurants on their menu of choices when they visit Disney's Animal Kingdom starting in late summer 2007 and Downtown Disney in early 2008 (dates subject to change).

The new restaurants were announced by Landry's Restaurants, which currently operates the Rainforest Café locations at Disney's Animal Kingdom and Downtown Disney.

At Downtown Disney, guests will be able to dine face-to-face with a dinosaur at a new restaurant called T-Rex. The venue will combine table-service dining and retail in an interactive prehistoric environment built around water, fire and ice. Guests visiting the restaurant will be greeted by life-size dinosaurs amidst cascading waterfalls, bubbling geysers and a fossil dig site.

At Disney's Animal Kingdom, guests will be able to experience a new Asian-themed eatery. The restaurant, which also will include retail space, will be set in the mythical kingdom of Anandapur, an area of the park which is reminiscent of rural villages in India and Nepal. The restaurant will feature table-service dining and quick-service food.

The Asian-fusion concept will feature Asian décor and antiques, as well as a retail component that will offer goods including sushi plates, chopsticks and fine teapots.

Walt Disney World Inline Marathon Rolls Across Vacation Kingdom April 2

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Inline skaters from across the country will have the chance to experience Walt Disney World Resort "on wheels" as part of the fourth annual Walt Disney World Inline Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday, April 2. Skaters as young as 13 years old will participate in the races, which start at 6:15 a.m. at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.

From the sports complex, the loop course whisks skaters to Disney-MGM Studios theme park. After barreling down Hollywood Boulevard, skaters roll along a charming coastal village at Disney's Yacht Club and Beach Club resorts, then continue on to Epcot and the many nations of the spectacular World Showcase. Half-marathoners experience an exhilarating finish at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, while those daring enough to complete the full 26.2 miles circle around for a second loop through the scenic course.

Disney's Inline Marathon weekend gets underway on Saturday, April 1, with the Inline Marathon Expo from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, and the All-Star Kids Classic races.

Skaters can register for the 2006 Walt Disney World Inline Marathon and Half Marathon online at disneyworldsports.com or print an application to be completed and mailed. Entries received on or before April 1 are $80 for the Inline Marathon and $65 for the Half Marathon. Entry fees are non-refundable/non-transferable. Registration will not be available on race day.

Walt Disney World Resort Earns 6th Gold Medal in Golf Magazine Survey

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Readers and Golf Magazine experts have rated Walt Disney World Resort as a Gold Medal winner in the magazine's latest biennial survey of America's Best Resorts, putting the Vacation Kingdom among the top 25 golf meccas in the country.

Walt Disney World Resort is the only Florida resort -- and one of just seven resorts in the Eastern U.S -- to be recognized with a Gold Medal in the survey, which was announced in the March issue of Golf Magazine. This marks the eighth consecutive biennial rating period since 1992 that Golf Magazine has recognized the Vacation Kingdom. During that period, Disney has been honored with six Gold Medals and two Silver Medals.

Thousands of readers who have taken golf vacations were asked to rate the places they have been during the past two years on a variety of criteria -- from tees and greens to soups and nuts -- in a quest to determine "the finest retreats in the U.S. based on the golf, the service, the amenities and the overall luxury of the experience."

Golf Magazine's summation of Walt Disney World Resort: "There are 99 holes here, plus more thrills for the family than you can shake a wand at. Three courses by Joe Lee (the best of which is the Magnolia track) and contributions from Tom Fazio and Pete Dye round out this magical kingdom for golfers."

Guests can call 407/WDW-GOLF or visit disneygolf.com for tee times. Private lessons also are available.

New Stingray Adventure Adds to the Fun of Disney Cruise Line

CELEBRATION, Fla. -- A new shore excursion at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, provides Disney Cruise Line guests with an exciting opportunity to swim and interact with Southern Stingrays in a private lagoon. This up-close encounter with the rays is part of a one-hour experience, Castaway Ray's Stingray Adventure, and is open to all guests 5 years of age or older.

The program opens with an informational session about stingrays, covering topics such as history, interesting facts and the biology of the animals. Once in the water, a marine specialist leads the group in an interaction experience, allowing guests to feed, touch and interact with the rays. Following the guided interaction, guests who want more time with the rays can snorkel in the 40,000-square-foot area.

To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can contact their travel agent, visit disneycruise.com or call Disney Cruise Line at 888/DCL-2500.