There's so much activity at Walt Disney World, it's well-nigh impossible to keep track of it all. For my own sanity, I've long wanted to compile several things: the rumors from various trustworthy sources, the rumors one is never sure about (or that haven't yet been given the full green light), the upcoming changes Disney has been willing to announce, official news announcements from Disney, and the smaller, more mundane updates and enhancements. The five, put together, paint a fuller picture of the WDW kaleidoscope, which changes and shifts so often that a true snapshot is difficult to take. My method will be to divide scraps of news or rumor into pre-set categories:

"Confirmed Projects" lists the plans for major projects that Disney has publicly announced.

"Confirmed News" similarly lists things Disney has publicly announced, but deals with topics smaller than entire projects or new attractions.

"Unconfirmed Reports" lists projects and enhancements that are not acknowledged by Disney, but seem to be a reality. These are projects that could realistically have been labeled a 'rumor,' but the reporting source seems trustworthy by way of a solid track record. Please note that "Unconfirmed Reports," although likely to be the real thing, do not always materialize exactly as planned, and sometimes never get built at all. Disney changes its mind, budgets get slashed, unexpected setbacks occur, and so on. Some of these reports come from well-known authors, bloggers and folks who post on MiceChat who are either insiders themselves or well-connected. Information also comes at times from other sites.

A fourth category, "Rumors and Speculation," lists WDI ideas that haven't yet been approved. It's also possible this list might include wishful thinking by the source who provided it (and it's even more complicated when it becomes difficult to tell the difference). Clearly, there's some overlap between this section and the one previously mentioned because both deal with 'rumors,' but it helps to think of these categories as ends of a spectrum, where certainty rises on one end and falls on the other.

The fifth category, "Implemented Enhancements or Developments," lists changes to rides, shows, and facilities that otherwise would go unheralded. These are often very small details, but it's precisely this level of intricate detail that weaves the vaunted Disney magic. Think of these details as the opposite of the Decline by Degrees (or, to capture the complicated process a little better, realize that new enhancements add to the details all the time, but that doesn't stop other, older details from being Declined by Degrees... often, this schizophrenic result comes from two different divisions of the company rather than the same people doing opposite effects). Included in this category will also be updates that aren't necessarily improvements, but cost-cutting by the company. This latter type really will be Declines by Degrees.

I want to thank the readers who e-mailed suggestions for a list like this, and also give a bow to the posters on MiceChat, many of whom were rightfully critical of my last column that mixed together several of the above categories. (As a reminder, this listing is not meant to capture rehabs and special events.)

Major projects that Disney has announced publicly:

Toy Story Mania. Slated to open in early 2008 (possibly late April) in Disney-MGM Studios, this ride will be interactive, like Buzz Lightyear, and will use a technology to make it look like your weapon fires "through" the screen, an effect you can see in Innoventions' Where's the Fire exhibit.

Pixar Place. Though Disney admits Mickey Avenue will be renamed to Pixar Place once Toy Story Mania opens, they haven't publicly admitted that this region will expand even further into the Backlot Tour area.

Yak and Yeti restaurant. To be run by an external vendor, this new restaurant in DAK's Asia will have a table-service area and a counter-service area, and will inhabit two floors. It is scheduled to open in Spring 2008.

T-Rex Restaurant in Downtown Disney. Landry's, the external vendor who also runs Rainforest Café, will be building a T-Rex themed eatery, unofficially reported to be between Raglan Road and McDonald's.

DVC Suites at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Disney is adding an entire wing to DAK Lodge, and will fill the area formerly used for concierge level with suites as well. This new wing pushes out into the savannah, and recent construction has caused the closure of most of DAK Lodge for summer 2007.

Western Beltway Expansion. Opening in 2009, this new region off 429 will be like Downtown Disney, only cheaper. Expect dining, shopping, and lodging options. The idea is to harvest the dollars of budget-minded tourists that otherwise would turn to SR-192 near the property.

Waldorf-Astoria hotel. This posh hotel will be located in the Bonnet Creek section of the property, joining a non-Disney timeshare (Wyndham) already there, and another hotel erected from scratch, a Hilton.

Groundbreaking has begun on both resorts.

Wide World of Sports new facility. The Jostens Center, an enclosed arena more than twice the size of the existing Milk House, will open in fall 2008. It will have six basketball courts, twelve volleyball courts, and two hockey rinks.

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Smaller projects, and other news stories, that Disney has publicly announced.

Spaceship Earth new ending. Re-opening on November 15th, Spaceship Earth will sport a new second half of the ride. The assumption is that the sets as well as the music will change. The voiceover is probably also on the chopping block; remember that Jeremy Irons has now been the host longer than Walter Cronkite, who replaced original voice Vic Perrin! Sponsor Siemens has made mention of interactive touch screens in every ride vehicle where guests create their own vision of the future, which sounds a lot like the old ending to Horizons.

Spaceship Earth wand removal. As part of the summertime rehab, the wand and stars atop the globe will be removed completely.

Wave goodbye to the wand! The above is a file picture, but handy
webcams from the Swan hotel already show a crane in place.

Tutto Italia. The replacement for the Alfredo's restaurant in Italy will be run by the Patina Group (who runs Tortilla Jo's, Catal, and Naples at Anaheim's Downtown Disney), and will open in 2008.

Tusker House conversion to buffet dining. Starting on November 18, Tusker House will be buffet dining, with the morning being character dining (specifically, Donald, leading to the closure of Donald's Breakfastosaurus).

Cinderella's Royal Table price increase. Effective November 11, the prices will increase. Breakfast now costs $32.99 (adult) or $22.99 (child). Lunch costs $35.99 (adult) or $23.99 (child), and Dinner costs $40.99 (adult) or $25.99 (child). During peak holiday periods, an even higher rate ("holiday premium") will be charged.

Room reservations now date specific. Previously at Disney hotels, the start of your visit would determine the amount you paid per night, but under the rules now in effect, each night is assessed its own rate. Weekends will now be more expensive.

DAK Lodge closure. Most of DAK Lodge will be closed for summer of 2007, due to construction from the DVC Suites. It should resume normal operations in early September.

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Projects that seem to be occurring (barring unforeseen circumstances), but Disney hasn't yet made a public announcement

Magic Kingdom

Haunted Mansion enhancements. In addition to fixing broken and worn-out effects throughout the attraction, the summer 2007 rehab will also introduce the crystal ball "floating Leota" effect from Disneyland.

Cinderella Castle lighting makeover. Hundreds of lights (presumably, Christmas lights) may be added to the castle. It is not certain if this is something for every visitor, or only to be turned on during the hard-ticketed event Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. A crane is expected on property to install the lights from September 12 to November 14.

Diamond Horseshoe Saloon re-opening. To handle the crush of crowds on the Disney Dining Plan, the Magic Kingdom always has had to struggle. Last year, the Noodle Station was temporarily converted to an all you can eat buffet. This year, it will remain counter service. But the unused Diamond Horseshoe will be opened as an all you can eat buffet during the fall days when the Dining Plan is most popular (i.e., the period when people who booked Disney hotels received the Dining Plan for free). An alternate report calls for the Diamond Horseshoe to reopen only as a counter-service location, to be operated only during peak periods.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique to open inside Cinderella Castle. The salon currently at Downtown Disney will remain, but a second one will be opened in the shop on the bottom floor, called the King's Gallery (its contents may move to Main Street).

Main Street Stores shuffle. The VMK Central shop may be moving to Mickey's Toontown Fair, creating a gap for the artist watches and Uptown Jewelers store. Their former home could be occupied by the Kings Gallery merchandise.

Epcot

Even the mural is now gone.

Wonders of Life demolition. Most exhibits at the Wonders of Life have been ripped out and removed, creating room in the facility. Cranium Command and Body Wars have been left intact but boarded over, the idea being to create a facility that is ready to be used for special events and corporate parties at will, without a need to staff the attractions.

Canada changes. Martin Short will headline the new show, to open on August 25th. The conversion will require only a few days. At least one report claims the song "Canada (You're a Lifetime Journey)" will remain, though newly recorded (possibly by a winner of the Canadian version of "American Idol").

Fantastic Plastics Works closing. In the not too distant future, the exhibit in Innoventions East that features a running simulator and the chance to build your very own plastic robot keepsake (for free, no less!) may be closing.

Teppan Edo and Tokyo Dining. The replacement restaurants for the currently-closed Teppanyaki Dining, Tempura Kiku, and Matsu No Ma Sushi Lounge (in the Japan pavilion) will re-open in October 2007. The teppan location will still have teppan chefs, and the other two closed locations are being fused into Tokyo Dining, which will re-arrange its kitchen to provide more seating than the combined two locations previously did.

Snack food kiosks in World Showcase. The meeting point of Future World and World Showcase currently lacks food, but a snack kiosk may be under construction here by late summer 2007. The American Gardens Theater may also receive its own kiosk for quick-service snack items.

Disney-MGM Studios

Will the Ewok theming go away to make room for the stage?

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Kilimanjaro Safari vehicle alteration. A ninth row has been added for loading into the jeeps, and a ninth will be added to safari jeeps themselves too.

Hotels and Other

DVC Suites at the Contemporary Resort. Still unannounced, a new building will be replacing the now-razed North Wing of the Contemporary, to house only DVC Suites. It will connect via breezeway to the 4th floor "grand canyon concourse" and thus has easy access to the restaurants.

The ground adjacent to the Contemporary is now entirely flat.

Contemporary Resort restaurant shuffle. The Food and Fun Center on the first floor will be converted a table service location called The Wave, to open in Spring 2008. The Concourse Steakhouse will close, and a counter service restaurant will replace it (starting with a temporary one this summer, called Tempo Grab and Go). All of this is being done to increase the amount of quick-service available on the fourth floor, which will be even busier once the breezeway to the DVC building opens a few years later.

Superstar Studios store at Downtown Disney replaced. Sammy Duval Watersports will open in the spot formerly occupied by Superstar Studios in Pleasure Island, which has already closed.

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© 2007 Kevin Yee