Disney's Expedition Everest takes thrill rides to new heights

Imagineer Joe Rohde gives us the lowdown on Disney's newest E-Ticket

You may have noticed something growing on the horizon lately. It’s kind of hard to miss. After all, how often do you
see a Himalayan peak plopped in the middle of Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park? The quick answer?
Never before now. Not until the best of Disney’s best set their sights extremely high for their most recent attraction.
Expedition Everest™, the latest addition to all the excitement of the Happiest Celebration On Earth.

So what’s the best way to describe the newest Disney thriller? We asked Imagineer Joe Rohde, the creative lead on the project to give us his review. “First of all, Expedition Everest is defi nitely a thrill ride,” Joe explained. “It has good speeds and forces, comparable to Rock ‘n' Roller Coaster®.”

DISNEY STORYTELLING IN PEAK FORM

The next thing you’re going to notice is how this ride is packed with incredible Disney storytelling. It transports you right into the middle of an adventure.

As Joe puts it: "The premise is that we, the Guests, are on an expedition. We've arrived on this particular day in this little Tibetan town in the foothills of the Himalayas. And the little trekking company that we've engaged is going to get us on this train, which they've just refurbished, to get us to Everest really, really fast.”

“But to do that, we have to go through the realm of the Yeti. And traditional Tibetan thought holds the Yeti to be the protector of the hidden and forbidden reaches of the Himalayas. So the Yeti is doing his job as defender of the mountains when we encounter him. And it ends up that we have to escape from his wrath and make our way back to town in this high-speed escape adventure." How’s that for a nail-biter?

MAKING A MOUNTAIN

Expedition Everest comes complete with some pretty amazing stats. How about 199 feet of absolute authentic Himalayan highland? One foot higher and it would have required a light on top so airplanes would know it’s there.

The whole thing is a “how’d they do that” mind-blower. First off, it’s now the tallest “mountain” in Florida, made from roughly 27,000 pieces of computer-bent rebar. It’s also home to about six times the amount of steel an office building of the same size would be made of. Of course, when you’re sending a runaway train rig that’s going way beyond the speed limit up and down and all through this thing, you need to make it sturdy. And, that they did. Using 3D, 4D and probably some secret kind of 87D tools, Disney Imagineers were able to create the most
impressive, multi-sensory, gravity coasters you’ll ever scream about.

The end result? More twists and turns than a pretzel. An 80-foot drop that we fi gure to have at least 50% more
screamonosity than the Splash Mountain® fi nale. And an encounter with the Yeti (a.k.a. Abominable Snowman)
that’s sure to make you regret ever doubting his existence.

MM Secret:
You're in for quite a ride. The twisting, turning track on this attraction is nearly a mile long.

Expedition Everest: A quest for absolute authenticity

To build a mountain you start with the Roof of the World... the Himalayas, where Earth's mightiest peaks are steeped in deep lore and legend. That quest is what inspired Walt Disney Imagineering. And as far as authenticity goes—let’s put it this way. You might want to take your passport.

Even the Tibetan- and Nepalese-inspired buildings in the village at the base of the mountain are the real McCoy. The Imagineers used a technique called “rammed earth.” Basically, they hammer moist dirt and straw until it becomes the consistency of brick. In fact, everything the adventuresome Guest sees will be authentic. Disney Imagineers brought back over 2,000 handcrafted items from Asia to re-create the village. "Many of the details we saw there can be seen all across the Himalayas,” Joe Rohde told us. “There's some architectural color, some props, and there's a little area in the standby queue where we're going to talk about the actual expedition —what we discovered, where we went, that kind of thing."

And what Himalayan experience would be complete without proper homage paid to the mythical Yeti? Throughout the village are statues and carvings of the beastly guardian of the mountain. Disney collaborated with actual Himalayan artisans to create them all.

"There are many, many portrayals of the Yeti spread through this village, refl ecting this idea of the Yeti as a kind of
protector of the environment,” Joe said. “Just looking for those alone, you could spend alone, you could spend hours."

Watch the story of Expedition Everest come to life on Discovery Networks

To learn more about the Disney's quest for authenticity in creating Expedition Everest keep your eye on your TV listings. Discovery Networks will be airing original Everest-related programming across a number of its channels including Discovery Channel, Travel Channel and the Science Channel this April.
For the broadcast schedules of these special Everest programs, visit disneyeverest.com

MM Secret:
More than 900 bamboo plants, 10 species of trees and 110 species of shrubs were planted around the attraction to evoke the lowland landscape that surrounds Mount Everest.

The First Time
Go on a test run with Imagineer Joe Rohde

After virtually experiencing Expedition Everest™ hundreds of times in models and computer programs, Joe Rohde
couldn’t wait to ride it for real. We asked him to share his thoughts about that first ride. My first thought as I climbed on was basically what a great feeling it was to be on it and take in all the story details around me. Even though I’d been working on it for four years I felt as nervous about what was to come as anyone else would. It’s a
big coaster. But the huge thing was I couldn’t help but think how beautiful it was.

Then the train left the station and as we made our way up the bridge I got that kind of helpless feeling. There is nothing around you but an intense feeling of being really, really high up. I loved the way the ride built in intensity as we went forward– that was a big surprise to me – the level of intensity. And then it starts to pick up speed. And when you start moving you really start moving and then—whoa! – it goes even faster. At this point, it’s almost an overload for the senses and I’m already thinking I’m gonna have to ride it a bunch of times just to take everything in.

This ride had a different sensation, a different buzz than anything I’ve ever been on. Individually the drops are great, they’re unexpected and scare the heck out of you. But when itfinally comes to a stop, the biggest success of the ride is how all these thrills are wed with the storytelling and art direction. It really puts you in an incredible place. By the end of it all I just wanted to ride it again.

MM Secret:
Repeat riders liek Joe will be happy to hear that each ride is different depending on where you sit. "They're all good," Joe told us. "But each has it's own unique sensation."

disneyeverest.com
Join Expedition Everest from the comfort of your computer

Need a little dose of Disney’s newest thrill between visits to the Park? Just let your mouse lead you to disneyeverest.com — your online source to all the stories behind this exciting ride. Enter “Yeti Vision” and take a tour of the attraction through the eyes of the Abominable Snowman in an in-your-face interactive adventure quest. Go behind the scenes for an insider’s look at what went into the making the attraction. Check out “Mission Himalayas,” a look at a real-life expedition to these remote mountain lands. It shows the lengths to which Disney traveled to make the attraction absolutely authentic.

Get up to speed on the legend of the Yeti then fi nd out what other Guests think in our“Guestimonials.” So what are you waiting for? Fire up your internet connection and join the expedition.

Click here for more information on Expedition Everest

ESPN The Weekend
The ultimate sports fan weekend - Boo-Yah!

On Friday, March 3rd thru Sunday March 5th, it’s a whole new ball game at Disney's Hollywood Studios. That’s because we’re sporting the 3rd Annual ESPN The Weekend.

It’s an entire weekend dedicated to true sports fans. The game plan boasts celebrity sportscasters including Stuart Scott and Chris Berman. Check out Q&A sessions with star athletes like Chicago Bear great Brian Urlacher and basketball legend Julius “Dr. J” Erving. Go behind the scenes and be a part of the studio audience at live telecasts of Sports Center. You’ll also enjoy specially themed sports shows, an interactive sports zone and a sports edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire—Play It! Not to mention, all the fun of Disney's Hollywood Studios itself!

For the full play-by-play of this event, checkout espntheweekend.com.

How to make your Annual Pass into "The Love Pass"

Celebrate Valentine’s Day by re-enacting these famous romantic scenes throughout the Walt Disney World® Resort:

And what’s more romantic than Cinderellabration and Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage? You can even re-enact Sleeping Beauty with a Disney Resort stay.

* Lady and the Tramp – Hum “Bella Notte” as you share spaghetti at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant. Guys,
be sure to nose that last meatball towards your lady.
* The Lion King – At Festival of the Lion King, watch the performers fly through “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” and imagine it’s just the two of you gliding up there.
* 101 Dalmatians – Recreate Roger and Anita’s nuptials by renewing your vows at Disney’s Wedding Pavilion.
* The Love Bug – On Tomorrowland® Indy Speedway, your love muffin can operate the gas pedal while you try to steer, feigning surprise that “this car has a mind of its own!” Then, hop over to Disney's Hollywood Studios to see Herbie at Lights, Motors, Action!™ Extreme Stunt Show.

the BUZZ

Podcasters put on Mickey ears

Hooked on Podcasting yet? Well, you will be when you download the new “Walt Disney World ® Resort: Plugged In” Podcast series. Listen to behind-the-scenes interviews with Imagineers, chats with visiting celebrities, special event news, and more. Just visit disneyworld.com/podcast to plug into the fun.

Club Cool pops open

All you Epcot® fans who missed Ice Station Cool while it was being “refreshed”, take heart. It’s open again with a new name and vibrant red and white design. “Club Cool” still features an eclectic assortment of Coca-Cola® merchandise and (Yum!) complimentary beverage samples from around the world.

World of Disney Additions to come

Perhaps you’ve noticed all the activity around the World of Disney® store at the Downtown Disney® Marketplace? Insiders tell us to expect cool princess ‘makeover’ experiences at a new “Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique” and a “tech bar” where kids can sharpen their gaming skills. It’s all due this April. Look for details in our next issue.

Romance puts it's special stamp on Flower and Garden Festival

When the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival blossoms April 21-June 11, you won’t find any wallflowers. You’ll see topiaries of Daisy and Donald Duck riding the Tunnel of Love, Cinderella waltzing with her prince, and other Disney character couples amid the sweet scent of love in bloom (actually, millions of blooms).

The theme is in the mail

This year’s Festival theme was inspired by the historic release of “Romance,” (part of “The Art of Disney” stamp series produced by the U.S. Postal service). You’ll be able to purchase the four stamps, featuring Mickey and Minnie, Belle and Beast, Lady and the Tramp, and Cinderella and Prince Charming, in multi-stamp sheets, special merchandise and collectible first day issues (see below).

You can learn a lot of things from the flowers

Of course, there’ll be a lot for everyone at the Festival. Among the many kids’ treats is Minnie’s Magnifcent Butterfly Garden, where they’ll journey among hundreds butterflies and see how caterpillars undergo miraculous transformations. Informative horticulture sessions feature renowned experts including Paul James of HGTV’s “Gardening By the Yard”. Brand-new is The Garden Party, three separate themed experiences presented by The Home Depot, each alive with outdoor party ideas for weddings, luaus and childrens’ birthdays.

Sculpting a floral masterpiece

Before the new, 10-foot Daisy Duck topiary takes her place next to Donald at this year’s Festival, she starts out as a 7-1⁄2 inch “maquette,” sculpted by Walt Disney Imagineering Art Director Joni van Buren.

Maquettes are 6- to 18-inch “blueprints” for topiaries and other posed Character figures. “In maquette size, I can play with arm movements, head tilts, and shifts of direction in a few minutes,” Joni explains. “With a full size fi gure, it would take weeks.” Under Joni’s guidance, the topiary is shaped, grown and trimmed to match the sculpture.

Maquettes allowed Disney topiaries to evolve beyond the silhouettes and basic shapes of days past. “Guest feedback is fabulous.” Joni says. “They really notice the difference. We never underestimate our Guests, what they see and what they expect.”

Be a part of Disney stamp history

On April 21, the U.S. Postal service officially releases “Romance,” the third and final set in the “The Art of Disney” stamp series. This is a big day for stamp collectors, because this is the day you can purchase a “first day cover,” which is a commemorative envelope with the stamp canceled on the actual day it’s issued.

The two earlier U.S. stamp sets featuring Disney characters, “Friendship” and“Celebration,” were issued at Disneyland® Park, but this time Epcot® is the official issue site. And as an Annual Passholder, you can be there for this magical moment in Disney and U.S. history!

Something to Sing About

What would a romantic, flower-filled interlude be without music? The Flower Power Concert Series at America Garden Stage will welcome newcomers Tony Orlando and The Tokens as well as popular favorites.

Perfomers.............. Dates
The Nelsons ..................................... April 21-24
The Buckinghams ............................. April 25-27
Gary Puckett .............................. April 28-May 1
The Grass Roots .................................. May 2-4
Paul Revere & The Raiders ................... May 5-8
The Association ................................. May 9-11
Davy Jones ...................................... May 12-15
The Tokens ...................................... May 16-18
B. J. Thomas ................................... May 19-22
Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals ................... May 23-25
The Guess Who ............................... May 26-29
Tony Orlando ............................. May 30 -June 1
Arlo Guthrie ......................................... June 2-5
The Turtles ........................................... June 6-7
Herman’s Hermits .............................. June 8-11

More Events withing the Event

Art in the Garden Weekend
May 5-7
A celebration of “living art” with experts showing you how to make your own creations.

Mother’s Day Weekend
May 12-14
All the Mom’s are VIPs on these days, with special presentations and a complimentary rose for every Mom.

Mother’s Day Brunch
May 14
A sumptuous unlimited gourmet feast with live entertainment and a mimosa for Mom. Call 407-WDW-DINE (939-3463) for information & reservations.

Characters In Bloom Weekend
May 19-21
Dozens of your favorite characters from Disney classics join you to celebrate Spring!

I Dig Bugs Weekend
June 2-4
Fun-filled encounters of the crawly kind, with hands-on demonstrations, games and crafts for kids.

New Irish Pub is absolutely O'thentic
Raglan Road features the best in Irish food, flair, and fun

A true slice of Ireland has arrived with the opening of Raglan Road™ Irish Pub and Restaurant at Downtown Disney Pleasure Island.

There’s no better place to belly up to the bar and raise a pint to toast good times. You’ll find a full selection of
Irish stouts, lagers, and creamy ales. Add nightly live music by a band direct from Ireland and the ambiance is complete.

The new restaurant is immersed in genuine Irish fun. It’s warm and welcoming with custom furnishings all
designed and built in Ireland by Irish craftspeople.

Celebrated Irish chef Kevin Dundon is behind the superb cuisine, and calls the concept “fi ne dining standards in a casual context — with Celtic creativity.”

According to Paul Nolan, Raglan Road co-owner, who hails from Dublin, “It’s like lifting a pub from Ireland and dropping it here.” Stop by for dinner on Saint Patrick’s Day or any old day. Pleasure Island club admission is not required for entrance.

Disney musis fans rejoice!

There’s a treasure trove waiting for you at Main Street Cinema at Magic Kingdom® Park and Once Upon a Toy at Downtown Disney® Marketplace. The new Wonderland CD system creates new compact discs from over 60 classic full-length Disney albums. Over 20 albums are on CD for the first time and virtually all are unavailable in stores.

This is big news for those of us who wore out our old Disney discs when we were kids—or those who never realized how many great Disney albums existed—from Mickey Mouse Club in the last century to House of Mouse in this one. The special kiosks allow you to hear samples from Grammy® nominees The Parent Trap and Babes in Toyland, character showcases Mickey Mouse and His Friends and The Disney Afternoon, pop hits Mouse House Dance Mixes and TiggerMania, plus albums featuring Park attractions, movie /TV favorites, and Disney stars. Just select the albums you’d like and less than two minutes later, you have a brand-new CD in its own “jewel case” featuring original cover art by some of Disney’s greatest illustrators. And they sound fantastic—it’s magic to your ears!

MM Secret:
The Enchanted Tiki Room CD contains a secret audio track. Put it in your player, start at track 1 then scan backwards to hear an extra bonus feature.

Passholder Kids do the funniest things!

It’s always great to discover new things for your kid to enjoy in the Parks, particularly with Spring vacation approaching. They’re complimentary, too!

Jr. Chef, presented by Nestlé Toll House Cookies

With the help of a “magic oven,” kids 4-12 are invited to mix, bake and taste a fresh batch of cookies from scratch. Nearby, all ages can take the Cookie Personality Quiz on computer screens. This is all especially nice if your kids are too little for Soarin’™ or you’re looking for fun before your FASTPASS® time arrives. Jr. Chef presented daily at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30 and 4:30 pm at the new Sunshine Season Food Fair in The Land at Epcot ®.

In Park Virtual Magic Kingdom Quests

This is part of the excitement of Disney’s Virtual Magic Kingdom™ online multi-Player game (vmk.com), where you can create your own character, play action-packed games and interact with players worldwide. The in-Park Quest is a scavenger hunt that extends the game into the real-life Magic Kingdom® Park.

Visit “VMK Central” at Main Street Cinema for your Adventureland®, Frontierland® and Fantasyland® Quest cards. Explore Magic Kingdom Park to answer the multiple-choice questions about attractions, shops and little details.

Return the cards to Main Street Cinema and if your answers are correct, you’ll win a glow-in-the-dark wristband and virtual prizes you can use in the online game.

New benefit!
Enjoy extra Disney Water Park fun!

Planning a Disney Resort getaway? Now Disney Resort Guests can head for the Disney Water Parks and take advantage of a splashy new Extra Magic Hours Benefit.

The Deal: Enjoy admission into Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park an hour earlier than park operating hours, secure preferred seating for the day and start to enjoy the many attractions at either Park.The Ins & Outs: This extra fun is included with your valid Resort I.D. and valid Water Park admission.

Parks may close due to inclement weather or refurbishment. Admission media is nonrefundable.

Artist brings a little bit of Africa to Disney Resort

For one weekend every month, the Zawadi Gift Shop at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge becomes a makeshift studio for Timothy Babatunde Adebule. That’s when the artist known as Bushman #1 (“araoko akoko” in his native
tongue) takes the stage to create his African-inspired art in front of Disney Guests.

“I love for people to ask me about my art and life,” Timothy told us. “They can see the creative process while asking me questions about my technique.”

Timothy grew up in Nigeria, where his passion for art developed at an early age.

“I draw and create from life experiences in Africa,” said Timothy. “But, being at the Lodge inspired quite a few pieces of mine. And sometimes a Guest will suggest something I have not drawn — that’s how many of my animal pieces came to be.” For Timothy’s schedule of appearances, call the Zawadi Gift Shop at 407-938-4787.

New Resort Benefit for Passholders

Being a Passholder gets better and better! Now you can enjoy a new benefit to Passholders that offers great Resort rates and lets you book your stays months in advance or at the last minute.
Replacing the Passholder Best Rate program, this new program gives you more flexibility. If you’re someone who
likes to plan ahead, you can choose from future Resort offers. Or if you tend to make last minute plans, this new
Resort benefi t allows you to book a room right up to your travel period (subject to availability). In addition, for this new Resort benefi t, normal deposit/cancellation fees apply.
Booking couldn’t be easier. You can access great offers online any time of the day or night for the ultimate convenience. And you can also book by calling 407-560-PASS or your Travel Agent.

The Ins and Outs: For more information, go to disneyworld.com/passholder and get all the details on the great
rates that are now available through this benefit.
Please note: Reservations that have already been booked through the Passholder Best Rate Program will not be affected by this change.

Get a "suite" seat at an Atlanta Braves Spring Training Game
Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 1:05 p.m.

The Deal: The Passholder Suite is back! So hurry and reserve your spot to catch the Atlanta Braves take on the
New York Mets at Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Complex, Saturday, March 11. The deal includes admission to the game, a game program, and an all-you-can-eat buffet from noon to 1:30 p.m. There’s also a cash bar. Tickets are $57 for Guests ages 10 and up, and $45 for Guests ages 3-9. To reserve yours, call 407-938-3223.
(Tickets go on sale February 1 — but hurry, we sell out every year.)

The Ins & Outs: Gates open at 11:05 a.m. Valid Passholder I.D. required. Tickets are limited. Game date, time and opponent are subject to change without notice.

What's hap-PIN-in'!

Tinker Bell’s taking a Limited Edition flight!

Our latest Limited Edition Passholder exclusive pin is the most magical yet! Our favorite pixie flies in front of Cinderella Castle for a Magic Kingdom salute. In addition to sporting a fun spinning effect, this pin fits together with three future Passholder pins like a puzzle. You can purchase it starting February 15, 2006 for $12.95 (plus tax). There will only be 7,000 issued and there is a limit of two pins per Passholder per day.

PICK UP YOUR PINS AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:
Disney's Hollywood Studios – Sorcerer Hat Shop
Magic Kingdom® Park – Uptown Jewelers on Main Street, U.S.A. ®
Epcot® – Pin Central
Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park – Island Mercantile
Downtown Disney® Marketplace – Disney’s Pin Traders

REMEMBER:
Valid Passholder I.D. required at time of purchase. For more information about Disney Pin Trading and collecting, visit www.DisneyPins.com.

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