Over this Thanksgiving weekend, many of you have likely started the transformation of your homes to make them “merry and bright” for the holiday season. While decorating can seem like quite the undertaking, it is nothing compared to the conversion Walt Disney World® Resort Cast Members complete on the Magic Kingdom® Park. After months of planning, an autumn Main Street, U.S.A.® turns into a Christmas wonderland in just hours!
Over this Thanksgiving weekend, many of you have likely started the transformation of your homes to make them “merry and bright” for the holiday season. While decorating can seem like quite the undertaking, it is nothing compared to the conversion Walt Disney World® Resort Cast Members complete on the Magic Kingdom® Park. After months of planning, an autumn Main Street, U.S.A.® turns into a Christmas wonderland in just hours!
While the day after Thanksgiving is a day of shopping to many in the United States, at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida it is the official kickoff to the Holiday Season! Today was the beginning of Epcot’s® Holidays Around the World and tonight they will hold their first Candlelight Processional.
During Holidays Around the World, special storytellers from the respective World Showcase pavilions share traditions and lore from their homeland along with other live entertainment. But no Yuletide tradition would be complete without a meet and greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Guests will end their night with a special seasonal finale to IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.
Epcot’s® Candlelight Processional is a timeless holiday offering that pairs the reading of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator with seasonal music performed by a mass choir and 50-piece live orchestra. Performed three times daily (5p, 6:45p, and 8:15p), the show is a guest favorite that is difficult to get seats for. Guests wanting to attend can purchase a Candlelight Dining Package which includes lunch or dinner at a select Epcot® restaurant, guaranteed seating for the Candlelight Processional, and VIP viewing of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.
This year’s list of celebrity narrators include:
11/23-11/25 — Geena Davis
11/26-11/29 — Neil Patrick Harris
11/30-12/1 — Whoopi Goldberg
12/2-12/4 — Andy Garcia
12/5-12/7 — Blair Underwood
12/8-12/9 — James Denton
12/10-12/13 — Jodi Benson
12/14-12/16 — Lea Salonga
12/17-12/19 — Alfre Woodard
12/20-12/22 — Trace Adkins
12/23-12/25 — Gary Sinise
12/26-12/28 — Amy Grant
12/29-12/30 — Marlee Matlin / Jack Jason
Narrators are subject to change without notice.
While the day after Thanksgiving is a day of shopping to many in the United States, at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida it is the official kickoff to the Holiday Season! Today was the beginning of Epcot’s® Holidays Around the World and tonight they will hold their first Candlelight Processional.
During Holidays Around the World, special storytellers from the respective World Showcase pavilions share traditions and lore from their homeland along with other live entertainment. But no Yuletide tradition would be complete without a meet and greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Guests will end their night with a special seasonal finale to IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.
Epcot’s® Candlelight Processional is a timeless holiday offering that pairs the reading of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator with seasonal music performed by a mass choir and 50-piece live orchestra. Performed three times daily (5p, 6:45p, and 8:15p), the show is a guest favorite that is difficult to get seats for. Guests wanting to attend can purchase a Candlelight Dining Package which includes lunch or dinner at a select Epcot® restaurant, guaranteed seating for the Candlelight Processional, and VIP viewing of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.
This year’s list of celebrity narrators include:
11/23-11/25 — Geena Davis
11/26-11/29 — Neil Patrick Harris
11/30-12/1 — Whoopi Goldberg
12/2-12/4 — Andy Garcia
12/5-12/7 — Blair Underwood
12/8-12/9 — James Denton
12/10-12/13 — Jodi Benson
12/14-12/16 — Lea Salonga
12/17-12/19 — Alfre Woodard
12/20-12/22 — Trace Adkins
12/23-12/25 — Gary Sinise
12/26-12/28 — Amy Grant
12/29-12/30 — Marlee Matlin / Jack Jason
Narrators are subject to change without notice.
For 86 years, Thanksgiving morning in US households has included the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®. Several generations have made it a tradition to tune in and see the floats, performances, and of course the giant balloons!
Disney’s roots in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® begin back in 1934 when Walt Disney helped design the first Mickey Mouse balloon. Measuring in a 40 feet tall, the hand-painted Mickey Mouse balloon debuted in what was then called the Macy’s Santa Claus Parade. 25 handlers dressed in Mickey and Minnie costumes escorted Mickey down the parade route. Also in that parade were four smaller balloons that Walt Disney created with the help of Tony Sarg – Pluto, a 34-foot-tall Big Bad Wolf, a 31-foot-tall Little Pig, and a 12 ½-foot-tall Horace Horsecollar.
Since then, many of our favorite Disney characters have appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®. This years parade, which starts this morning at 9am, will be no exception. Watch closely and let us know how many Disney balloons and floats you see!
A paradise awaits you at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai’i. Embedded into every detail at the resort is the Hawaiians’ cherished connection between nature and humanity. Enjoy the many inclusive features of the resort – from entertainment to amazing water features to special activities just for kids and more! This 21 acre resort is the perfect place to experience Hawai’i, and now is your chance to save!
Book by Feb. 15, 2013 and receive your 6th night free* when booking a 6-night or longer stay at Aulani. Plus, receive a one-time Resort credit of $150 for you to use during your stay.
Book now – Feb. 15, 2013
Offer available for most stays between Jan. 8 – Feb. 15 and Feb. 19 – Mar. 10, 2013.
*6 Nights for the Price of 5 Nights with $150 One Time Resort Credit promotion for guests who stay five consecutive nights all between January 08, 2013 through March 10, 2013. Blackout Dates: February 16th, 2013 – February 18th, 2013. Book from November 15, 2012 – January 15, 2013. The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited and room availability may vary by dates of stay. Resort credit is non-transferable, has no cash value and any unapplied portion expires upon check-out. Excludes Resort fees and taxes. Not valid in combination with any other discounts or offers. Offer excludes suites and 3-Bedroom Grand Villas. Additional per adult charges may apply if more than 2 adults per room. Offer applied once per reservation. Ask your Magic Maker about offers for other lengths of stay. Advance reservations required. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. Limit 2 rooms per reservation.
A paradise awaits you at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai’i. Embedded into every detail at the resort is the Hawaiians’ cherished connection between nature and humanity. Enjoy the many inclusive features of the resort – from entertainment to amazing water features to special activities just for kids and more! This 21 acre resort is the perfect place to experience Hawai’i, and now is your chance to save!
Book by Feb. 15, 2013 and receive your 6th night free* when booking a 6-night or longer stay at Aulani. Plus, receive a one-time Resort credit of $150 for you to use during your stay.
Book now – Feb. 15, 2013
Offer available for most stays between Jan. 8 – Feb. 15 and Feb. 19 – Mar. 10, 2013.
*6 Nights for the Price of 5 Nights with $150 One Time Resort Credit promotion for guests who stay five consecutive nights all between January 08, 2013 through March 10, 2013. Blackout Dates: February 16th, 2013 – February 18th, 2013. Book from November 15, 2012 – January 15, 2013. The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited and room availability may vary by dates of stay. Resort credit is non-transferable, has no cash value and any unapplied portion expires upon check-out. Excludes Resort fees and taxes. Not valid in combination with any other discounts or offers. Offer excludes suites and 3-Bedroom Grand Villas. Additional per adult charges may apply if more than 2 adults per room. Offer applied once per reservation. Ask your Magic Maker about offers for other lengths of stay. Advance reservations required. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. Limit 2 rooms per reservation.
While many of us are trying to focus our attention on the Thanksgiving holiday just a couple days away, Mickey and his pals have already started celebrating Christmas! Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is held on select nights through Dec. 21 inside the Magic Kingdom® Park.
The party features several exclusive entertainment options like Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, the Celebrate the Season show at Cinderella Castle, and the Holiday Wishes – Celebrate the Spirit of the Season nighttime fireworks show. Guests attending this year’s party will experience two new entertainment options. Club Tinsel will give the existing Disney character dance party over in Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe a new look. Also, the Kringle Crew will be entertaining the crowd on Main Street, U.S.A.® just before both parade times by teaching dance moves like the Candy Cane Twist and the Santa Shake.
Remaining party dates include Nov. 25, 27, 29, 30, Dec. 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18 20, and 21. The first three parties of the year sold out, so if you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, be sure to contact your Magic Maker® right away.
Click the links below for a copy of this year’s party map.
While many of us are trying to focus our attention on the Thanksgiving holiday just a couple days away, Mickey and his pals have already started celebrating Christmas! Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is held on select nights through Dec. 21 inside the Magic Kingdom® Park.
The party features several exclusive entertainment options like Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, the Celebrate the Season show at Cinderella Castle, and the Holiday Wishes – Celebrate the Spirit of the Season nighttime fireworks show. Guests attending this year’s party will experience two new entertainment options. Club Tinsel will give the existing Disney character dance party over in Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe a new look. Also, the Kringle Crew will be entertaining the crowd on Main Street, U.S.A.® just before both parade times by teaching dance moves like the Candy Cane Twist and the Santa Shake.
Remaining party dates include Nov. 25, 27, 29, 30, Dec. 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18 20, and 21. The first three parties of the year sold out, so if you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, be sure to contact your Magic Maker® right away.
Click the links below for a copy of this year’s party map.
Earlier this month, more than 75 Walt Disney World® Resort Cast Member VoluntEARS gave of their time by helping with ABC’s national “Day of Giving.” The cast members manned phones at the Disney Reservation Center in Orlando answering calls from donors all over the country wanting to help the American Red Cross aide those affected by Hurricane Sandy. With a large volume of incoming calls, the event raised more than $16.8 million dollars.
During those calls, the VoluntEARS heard many touching stories, including the 100 year old man who donated $100 in honor of his age and a 10-year old girl who called in to donate her weekly allowance!
The fundraising event was in addition to the relief and rebuilding efforts announced by The Walt Disney Company previously.