by Don Myers

It’s been a busy February to say the least, but it’s time once again for another edition of the WDW Radio Newswire…

For today’s Newswire, let’s start things off at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where the journey of “Simba 1″ is about to undergo some minor changes. Last week, an announcement was made pertaining to the finale scene of Kilimanjaro Safaris. It seems as if “Little Red,” the baby (audio-anamatronic) elephant that has been a staple of the attraction’s storyline since its opening on April 22, 1998, is going to be replaced in the next month or so. The finale scene (in which a rescued Little Red can be seen in the back of a truck) will be scrapped in favor of a savanna of live animals. Little Red was the only audio-anamatronic animal featured at Kilimanjaro Safaris, so his Springtime removal means that the attraction will now feature a full roster of live animals.

Now let’s move from Animal Kingdom over to EPCOT, where a new exhibit has recently made its debut at Innoventions. Habit Heroes opened for some testing on Wednesday February 1st, and made its “official” debut two days later on Friday February 3rd. The exhibit is sponsored by Florida Blue, and its basic premise is that good health and well-being can be achieved by forming healthy habits. This attraction is cut from the cloth of the original Epcot Center, and proceeds another new exhibit that will soon be opening at Innoventions: VISION House, which will be making its debut in April.

Time to shift gears for a quick bit of news out of Disney’s Beach Club Resort, where it’s been announced that Cape May Cafe will be closing down for about a month this Summer. The restaurant will be shutting down on Monday July 9th, with a re-opening date scheduled for Sunday August 5th.

Let’s head back into the Parks now, for some Magic Kingdom newsbits. First up is the Magic Carpets of Aladdin, where it was announced that the refurbishment scheduled for commencement on Sunday February 26th, has been scrapped. The refurb was only expected to last for a couple weeks, with a re-opening slated for Sunday March 11th. But plans for the closure have now been officially halted, so the skies over Agrabah will be “open for flight” until further notice…

For more news out of Magic Kingdom, let’s head from Frontierland to Adventureland, where the exterior refurbishment to the Frontier Trading Post and the Frontierland Mercantile has just about wrapped up. Nearly all of the construction scrims have been removed, and the shops are looking better than ever. Tarps had been in place since mid-November, so this will put the total refurb time at approximately three months.

Well, that’s gonna do it for today’s update, but I’ll be back again soon with another edition of the WDW Radio Newswire…

Don Myers covers news and recent events in Walt Disney World.  He has been enamored with the World of Disney since his first trip to WDW in 1986. As they say, the rest is history!  Don also has been a contributing writer for Celebrations magazine since 2009.

The post WDW Radio Newswire: “Little Red” Being Replaced in the Finale Scene of Kilimanjaro Safaris appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show – your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is show #60 for the week of March 30, 2008. I am your host Lou Mongello, and this week I am coming to you LIVE from Walt Disney World, as I am standing on the promenade of World Showcase in Epcot, enjoying the sights, sounds and scents of the 15th Annual Epcot Flower and Garden Festival.

Thank to the assistance of the Walt Disney World Company and so many wonderful Cast Members, I have a special show for you this week, as I not only have a review of the Festival from right here from the park, but an exclusive interview with someone whose job it is to really make dreams come true, as she is Carrie Schoen, the Manager of the Disney Dream Squad, and she will reveal what it’s like to truly make magic, a day in the life of a Dream Squad member, what’s in store for 2008 and more.

As we get ready for Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s 10th Anniversary next month, I will also take you along with me on a ride on the Kilimanjaro Safari unlike any that you have taken in the past, as John Lehnhardt, Director of Animal Operations for Disney’s Animal Kingdom gives us a fascinating tour of the Safari that you can’t get anywhere else. Ride along with us on this personal tour that is a fun, informative adventure.

There’s much more on this week’s show, so sit back, relax and enjoy this week’s episode of the WDW Radio Show.

You can email the show at lou@wdwradio.com or call the voicemail at 206-202-4WDW (4939). Visit the web site at wdwradio.com.

More information about the 15th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is available by calling 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or by visiting disneyworld.com/flower. The festival, including all gardening programs and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission.

Kilimanjaro Safari at  the Walt Disney World Resort

The post Show #60 – March 30, 2008 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.