Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando

Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando

It’s only a game show:Disney’s new attractions is based on TV’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire

Details will be unveiled at Pow Wow of a year-long series of special events to commemorate what would be the 100th birthday of entertainment industry pioneer Walt Disney on December 5 2001.

The celebrations will start in October this year and run until December next year, and follow on from the Walt Disney World’s millennium festivities.

Three new attractions are coming on line this year. Disney MGM Studios debuted a new show this month based on TVs’ Who Wants To Be a Millionaire. The half-hour show follows the same format but participants answer questions for points, instead of cash.

The hot-seat contestant is chosen from an audience of up to 600 people following a preliminary question.

At the Magic Kingdom, the Magic Carpets of Aladdin ride in the Adventureland area of the park begins operation in early summer. Sixteen four-passenger ‘carpets’ circle a giant genie’s bottle and are controlled by the passengers to avoid blasts from water-spewing camels. The new development includes an open-air market called Agrabah Bazaar.

Also arriving this summer is a spinning dinosaur ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Triceratop Spin takes its passengers on an elevated ride in four-person vehicles that move around a giant spinning top which opens to reveal a dinosaur.

The ride is part of Chester and Hester’s Dino Rama! mini-land at the park’s Dinoland USA area, where a family roller coaster ride is to be added in spring 2002.

This will be called Primeval Whirl, and will feature rider-controlled ‘time machine’ capsules that whisk participants through the bony jaws of a enormous dinosaur skeleton.

Disney has also strengthened its sales support for the trade. Now available for agents are the official travel industry reference guide, holiday planning video and guide, and Disney Cruise Line video.