New at Disney: A Night in Cinderella’s Castle: A Night in Cinderella’s Castle, Offered As a Prize in a Walt Disney World Promotion, is Just One of the New Attractions at Central Florida Theme Parks This
By Jane Wooldridge, The Miami Herald
Feb. 4–hed: kicker+6,42,1
Ever wondered what’s in Cinderella’s castle at the Magic Kingdom? As of late January, the castle houses an elegant guest suite. And it’s not for sale; to spend the night there, you have to be the lucky winner of Walt Disney World’s daily random drawing.
And we do mean random. Each day a computer picks how the winner will be chosen. The first winner, for instance, was the person sitting in a specific seat on the Disney-MGM Studios Star Tours ride at 9:50 a.m. That turned out to be Brad Fouch, 16, of Dewitt, Ill., who was visiting Disney with his parents Jim and Lisa, and sister Hannah, who was celebrating her eighth birthday.
Daily winners check into the castle in the late afternoon. Inside an unassuming wooden door in the walkway that runs through the castle, they find a tall foyer with concierge desk. They are whisked up an elevator to their suite: a 650-square-foot space elegantly appointed with two queen beds decked in royal yellow-and-blue coverings, a fireplace with “magic” (think: simulated) fire, small sitting/TV room with pull-out couch and a luxurious bath with double sinks, hot-tub bath and shower. The overall theme is 17th century castle, but with all the modern comforts.
Naturally, the suite features plenty of Disney touches, including a magic (Steuben) slipper in the upstairs foyer and in a mosaic floor, stained-glass windows with Disney scenes and a portrait of Cinderella above the mantle that magically morphs into a working television. Designers have added just enough to remind you that you’re at Disney, without detracting from the elegance. The overnight experience comes with breakfast with Cinderella, free wireless access and a 24-hour concierge.
Though the rooms were originally designated as a suite for the Disney family, the space has been used as offices until this year.
The overnight stays will continue through 2007 as part of Disney’s Year of a Million Dreams promotion. And while this might sound like just a clever marketing gimmick, there are some pretty neat prizes involved, including a Disney cruise and trip with the new tour company, Disney Adventures. ( Hint: You can also enter by mail-in entry; see www.disneyparks.com/rules.)
As for the Cinderella Suite, no word yet on what will happen to it once the Dream Year is finished.
ALSO AT DISNEY: Nemo is the main man — eh, fish — this season at Walt Disney World.
At Epcot’s Living Seas, the pavilion’s interior has been transformed into The Seas with Nemo & Friends, a relaxing, easy-going glide through the undersea world. Passengers step into a clam shell that is part of a train of cars on a conveyer belt and slip through Disney-made coral and animation scenes. The ride ends just outside Turtle Talk, the interactive chat with Crush that has proven a hit with the toddler set.
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, that classic childhood struggle between independence and parental protectiveness is the theme behind Finding Nemo — The Musical. Like the park’s Lion King Show, the high-energy theater production features fabulous costumes, Broadway-quality singing and top-notch production values — and may make you feel that those whopping ticket prices are worth it, after all. Shows are presented several times daily; times are posted on park maps.
At Disney-MGM Studios, the preteen TV movie sensation, High School Musical, has given rise to High School Musical Pep Rally, an interactive show that pops up all over the Disney-MGM Studios park. You may be walking along, minding your own business, when suddenly you’re immersed in a singalong or basketball game.
On select dates, families can scour The Magic Kingdom in search of treasure and special entertainment (including a tutorial with Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean) at after-hours Pirate and Princess Parties ($36.95 adults, $29.95 ages 3-9, with advance purchase). Opening later this spring at Magic Kingdom is the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club, where one-eyed “monster of ceremonies” Mike Wazowski invites fellow monsters to the stage to trade jokes with human audience members.
INFO: Walt Disney World Resort, 407-939-6244, www.disneyworld.com. One-day ticket prices from $67 for adults, $56 ages 3-9, but the best deals are multi-day Park Hopper passes. Florida residents get 10 percent off the one-day, one-park price or can buy a Play 3 Days pass for $120 for adults, $99.99 ages 3-9, plus tax, allowing them to visit one park per day for any three days. Park-hopper option costs another $22.50.
Deborah Geering of Cox Newspapers contributed to this report.
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Copyright (c) 2007, The Miami Herald
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
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