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Ears the News with Richard


Quite a few attractions will be closing for refurbishment in the coming months:

The American Idol Experience is scheduled to close for refurbishment on 6/14/2012. It will reopen again on 6/16/2012.

The Country Bear Jamboree is scheduled to close for an extended refurbishment from 8/22/2012-10/17/2012.

The Liberty Square Riverboat is scheduled to close for a quick spit and polish starting 8/4/2012 to 8/10/2012.

Picture Courtesy of the Disney Parks Blog
The Hoop Dee Do Musical review will also be shutting the doors from 10/1/2012 to 12/31/2012




Epcot will be hosting "Brave - The Highland Games Tournament".  Located along the Rose Garden walkway from Future World to World Showcase It will feature a sand sculpture, a playground, and a sampling of Scottish culture. The area will be open from 6/1/2012 to 7/8/2012.



Disney's Animal Kingdom will be offering an enhanced line-up of entertainment and food for the early part of summer. From 6/3/2012 to 6/30/2012 the Sundowner Celebration will give guests in Africa, Asia and Discovery Island additional entertainment and some unique food and beverage items.



The 2011 Themed Entertainment Association attendance report has just been published and even though growth was minimal, Disney’s parks captured the top 8 spots.  Magic Kingdom, Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo Disney Sea, Disneyland Paris, Epcot, Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios made up the top 8. Universal’s Islands of Adventure cracked the top 10 this year with another impressive 29% jump in attendance.



Snow White’s Scary Adventures saw its last guests on 5/31/2012. The attraction will be closing and transforming into the Princess Fairytale Hall opening in late 2013.



Disney will be offering free in-park WiFi for the first time this summer at Epcot. Hotspots will be located in tents to add the benefit of shade as well.



On the furrier side of things….one of the many squirrels that call Walt Disney World their home decided to make a death defying run along the resort monorail line briefly holding up monorail traffic. Thanks to a video camera and YouTube, this event has been immortalized for all time.

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