[mickey]

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (April 7, 2006) -- Following a gala dedication for its thrilling new Expedition Everest attraction, Walt Disney World Resort today announced a wide-ranging lineup of new entertainment, reinvigorated attractions, interactive shopping experiences and stylishly redesigned hotel rooms coming soon or available now.

Al Weiss, president of Walt Disney World Resort, unveiled the new offerings during a presentation for journalists gathered at Disney's Animal Kingdom for the grand opening of Expedition Everest, a runaway train adventure through the Himalayas that sends guests hurtling toward an encounter with the fearsome yeti.

"We're always adding innovation, creativity and entertainment value to our resort, and we've got some great things on the horizon -- on our property and beyond," Weiss said.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Guests Will Find 'Nemo' in Dazzling Musical Spectacular

The undersea world that charmed audiences around the world in the Disney presentation of the Pixar Animation Studios film "Finding Nemo" will come to life in an all-new musical stage show debuting at Disney's Animal Kingdom in late 2006.

Featuring original songs by Tony Award-winning "Avenue Q" composer Robert Lopez and a cappella musical "Along the Way" composer Kristen Anderson-Lopez, "Finding Nemo--The Musical" will immerse guests of all ages in the story of Marlin and Nemo, an overprotective clownfish father and his curious son, through a dazzling production that combines puppets, dancers, acrobats and animated backdrops.

Produced by Disney Creative Entertainment, the 30-minute show represents the first time Disney has taken a non-musical animated feature and transformed it into an original musical production.

The theme park's newly enclosed Theater in the Wild will become a magical undersea environment through innovative lighting, sound, special effects and the theatrical puppetry of Michael Curry, who designed the richly detailed character puppets seen in the Broadway version of Disney's "The Lion King."

Principal characters such as Marlin, Nemo and Dory will be represented by live performers operating larger-than-life puppets. Peripheral characters will be realized by a diverse array of puppetry styles, including rod, bunraku and shadow.

"Finding Nemo--The Musical" will be staged several times daily.

The Seas with Nemo & Friends Brings Familiar Characters to Life Inside Epcot Aquarium

The Seas with Nemo & Friends, a whimsical and visually stunning attraction for guests of all ages, is scheduled to open at Epcot in Fall 2006. Featuring technology that for all appearances has the stars of "Finding Nemo" swimming amid the live marine life of the huge aquarium in The Living Seas pavilion, the attraction is an adventure that picks up where the motion picture left off.

The undersea voyage begins aboard "clamobiles" in a colorful coral reef setting. Guests first meet Mr. Ray and his class on a field trip and soon learn that Nemo has wandered off.

The journey to find Nemo continues as familiar characters such as Dory, Bruce, Marlin, Squirt and Crush help with the search along the way. These deep sea friends inhabit a variety of vibrant vignettes, including the actual aquarium -- one of the world's largest saltwater aquariums -- which contains more than 65 species of marine life.

In the musical finale of the attraction, Nemo is happily reunited with his class and friends.

Upon exiting the attraction, guests can explore the rest of the pavilion, which is home to "Turtle Talk with Crush," the smash-hit recent addition featuring the movie's laid-back sea turtle, who interacts with guests in real-time, unscripted conversations; Bruce's Shark World, an interactive area with colorful graphics and fun facts about sharks; and live marine life in both the large aquarium and specialized exhibits.

Captain Jack Sparrow Joining Audio-Animatronics Crew of Pirates of the Caribbean Attraction

First the theme park attraction inspired the movie. Now the movie is inspiring the attraction.

Pirates of the Caribbean, the classic Disney theme park adventure brought to the big screen in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," is adding new characters and features from the blockbuster entertainment franchise.

The Magic Kingdom attraction closed in March to complete the updates in time for the opening of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" on July 7.

The attraction will feature the addition of two of Hollywood's most infamous buccaneers, Captain Jack Sparrow and his nemesis Barbossa. Joining the wildest crew that ever sacked the Spanish Main, the pair add an exciting new twist to the attraction's original storyline as they race to be the first to claim a cache of treasure.

A similar makeover to Pirates of the Caribbean is taking place at Disneyland in California.

[Dana]

Awesome! I have 4 new things to check out in OCtober it seems!

[WishUponAStar]

Wooohooo, I hope that Nemo ride will the open when I go in November for Food & Wine!

[PrincessJill]

woohoo!!!! All of this is going to be so great!! I keep laughing whenever I read "clamobiles"...

I just thought of something... I assume Jack & Barbosa will talk a little in the ride. Will they use Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush for the voices?

[bali]

So this means they're finally bring back the ride in the Living Seas? That'd be great.

[alicefan]

ooooooo! I am so excited!!!!!! .......Clam-mobiles!

[Erin]

All the more reason to go to WDW! Awesome!

[Amelia's Man]

"clamobiles"!

I LOVE IT!!!!!

[chastmastr]

I do wish they'd keep the DL POTC the same. One thing I like is that they have, for instance, kept the Mr. Toad ride at DL and kept the Tiki Room the same, so one can get to see the old Tiki Room and the new one.

David

[JEANY031]

what is the clamobiles?

[Cavey]

Originally Posted by JEANY031

what is the clamobiles?

Jeany, I imagine it will be like the Doombuggies at HM, the cars at Buzz Lightyear SRS, or Journey into Imagination. It's just more fun to call them clamobiles.

Looks like I need to go back to WDW in January '07!

[JEANY031]

thanks cavey for this info.

[MaineMouse]

as if i needed any more reason to be excited to go to WDW. december 2nd can not come quick enough!!!

[Boss Mouse]

We were commenting in other threads about WDW changing and whether we liked it..... Call it 'marketing', but I dig it.

[Princess Tessa]

wow thanks for the info! I can't wait