Environmentality Home PageAnimal Kingdom Theme parkEnvironmentality at Disney WorldEnvironmentality Around the GlobeRelated LinksLampwick's Home PageSoundtrack  

Opening Date Moved Forward

Erase that X on your May 6 calendar and move it to April 22.

That's the new opening date for Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney Co. officials are to announce today.

In September, Disney Chairman Michael Eisner said the opening date for the company's fourth Central Florida theme park would be May 6. But in announcing Disney's annual earnings last month, Eisner said the park would open in April.

The new date affords Disney two opportunities:

  • With construction ahead of schedule, it lets Disney open the park two weeks early and enjoy a few extra million dollars in ticket, food and merchandise sales.
  • The new opening date, just before the April 30 maiden voyage of the Disney Cruise Line, provides a perfect opportunity for a joint press event. Both ventures plan huge kick-off splashes, and combining them not only will save money but also will almost guarantee larger crowds of journalists -- and more stories in newspapers and magazines throughout the world.

(Thanks to Michael Scibetta for sharing this article)

Source:
Date: 		By Jill Jorden Spitz, The Orlando Sentinel
December 1997

Back to Top of Page

    You are visitor number since July 6, 1997.

If you like what you see or have any questions or comments, please Email me.

Thanks,
Lampwick
Augie Ray
lampwick@prodigy.com

   

Note that many of the images, logos, photographs, etc. on these pages are © Walt Disney Company. All such copyright material is acknowledged. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the Walt Disney Company, and no profit or other benefit is made from them. The information presented on this is presumed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed and is subject to change without notice.

The following images are © Walt Disney Company: aklog2.jpg, ak1.jpg, ak2.jpg, ak3.jpg, ak4.jpg, ak5.jpg, ak6.jpg, ak7.jpg. All other images are © Augie Ray.

"Can You Feel the Love Tonight," "Hakuna Matata," "The Circle of Life," and "I Just Can't Wait To Be King" are © Walt Disney Company. The MIDI arrangements of these songs, plus other music heard on this site, are © Augie Ray.