News & Rumors 10/12/09 - 10/18/09

News and Rumors are gathered from various different websites. One particular website is not favored over another. All rumors are rumors and are to be taken with a grain of salt.

News

• Areas currently under refurbishment at the Magic Kingdom include the Seven Dwarfs Mining Co. facade, The Friar's Nook's facade, and Mrs. Potts Cupboard's facade. Fantasyland has been seeing quite a few facade updates recently.
• The Sum of All Thrills has opened in Innoventions and has a height requirement of 48 inches if there are no inversions and 54 if there are any. (The Sum of All Thrills is a simulator which allows you to create ride designs and then test them out.)
• Monorail Pink and Purple, the two monorails that were involved in the tragic monorail accident in July are going to be combined as a single monorail and will be known as Monorail Teal. (The colors Pink and Purple will be retired now.) Also, Disney is planning on building another new monorail for 2010.
• With Crystal Palace going down for refurbishment in January and February of next year, Disney is going to add character dining to Liberty Tree Tavern again. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner will all be Character meals with Liberty Tree Tavern going character free again and back to it's regular seatings once Crystal Palace reopens.
• Disney has announced a new racing event for next year. The inaugural Wine and Dine Half Marathon will take place Oct. 1st and 2nd and will be a nighttime race which will culminate in an after hours party at Epcot's Food and Wine Festival. The half marathon registration will open Nov. 16th.
• The entire Animal Kingdom Lodge Main Pool area will be closed for refurbishment Jan. 4th - Jan. 29th. Guests may use the Kidani Village Pool area.
• Space Mountain has been testing the new track out recently.

Rumors

• If you have the Disney Visa, it's being rumored that it may be eligible to be used for discounts not just at the World of Disney store anymore. There are of course exclusions to what can be purchased, but it may be possible to get the discount at other places now, which if true, is fabulous!