A rumor I heard is that the Backlout Tour at the soon-to-be-renamed Disney-MGM Studios will be coming down within the next couple of years, and that in fact there are some operational issues with Catastrophe Canyon.

Spaceship Earth may be father behind schedule than one would hope. Soft openings may not happen around the time when it was supposed to open, and I am now hearing rumblings that it may not be ready until around the holidays. Again, right now this is just rumor and that date can change very quickly.

Possibly verifying what many have been saying from the beginning, AND going against rumors to the contrary, looks like questions about the construction going on at the Contemporary Resort being for a Disney Vacation Club may have been answered. And the answer is - YES. It looks like it WILL be a DVC. A source of mine had given me information to back up that rumor a couple of weeks ago, and many listeners wrote to me and quoted the section about DVC in Birnbaum’s 2008 Walt Disney World (the Official Guide): "For a one-time purchase price and annual dues, members can enjoy vacation stays at Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas, Old Key West Resort, Contemporary, Beach Club Villas, BoardWalk Villas Resort, the Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World."

Late breaking news/rumors direct from the parks thanks to DisneyDame2004: the old VMK Central location at the Main Street Cinema has indeed shut its doors and will reopen in November as an art gallery much like the old King's Gallery from Cinderella Castle, but, according to a shop Cast Member, "with a twist.” Also, The Arribas Brothers Crystal shop, now located in the Market House, will be taking down the back wall and having a glass making oven and laser cube art station installed in the enlarged space. This is expected to open before the Christmas Holidays

Speaking of holidays, appears as though the rumors of the Country Bear Jamboree Christmas Special coming back this year are not true, as for the second consecutive year, the special show will not be returning. Last year's absence marked the first time in decades that the special show did not take place.

On the Star Tours update rumors: some folks on the Web have been going on about how the update will feature the simulator roofs opening up to an Omnimax screen, much like the Shuttle Experience ride over at Kennedy Space Center. Since Star Tours is at every Park, and an Omnimax upgrade like that would involve extensive, expensive modifications to show buildings, you can pretty much put that rumor to rest. The Star Tours update is expected to be primarily aimed at upgrades to animatronics, and improvements to in-cabin effects, sound, and visuals.

Over the weekend spoke to a number of my contacts, and while I hate to speak in generalities, I have stated for many months now that we are currently in what history will look at as a very important time for Walt Disney World, with new and exciting changes on the horizon.

If you have any rumors to share, email Lou at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or leave a voicemail at the WDW Radio Show voicemail box: 206-202-4WDW (4939).