Glistening Castle, Swirling Snow and Tree-Lightings Add Dazzle During 2007 Holidays at Walt Disney World Resort
Disney elves weave yuletide traditions and Christmas cheer to create a wintry wonderland throughout Walt Disney World Resort during the holiday season.
Walt Disney World - December 17, 2007
(PRNewsChannel) / Lake Buena Vista, Fla. - Disney elves weave yuletide traditions and Christmas cheer to create a wintry wonderland throughout Walt Disney World Resort during the holiday season. There are special events and sparkling sights, and Cinderella Castle is aglow with a glimmering cascade of twinkling white lights in an all-new light show spectacular. The spirit of the season is alive in all four Disney parks.
Here's a preview of what's in store ...
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Returns -- For a quarter century Walt Disney World guests have been entertained and mesmerized by this time-honored tradition. This season, Magic Kingdom has added an extra night to the celebrated custom -- meaning there will be 19 evenings of holiday fun: Nov. 12, 15, 16, 25, 27, 29, 30 and Dec. 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21. Beginning at 7 p.m. (after regular park hours), guests with tickets to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party can enjoy the holiday splendor with lively stage shows and favorite holiday traditions.
Guests can enjoy festive surprises including “Cinderella’s Holiday Wish,” the dazzling new Castle light show nightly at 5:45 p.m. Cinderella Castle is adorned with 200,000 shimmering white lights, covering the turrets and towers like a glistening blanket of ice. The twinkling lights create an elegant wintry effect perfect for the seasonal celebration.
Lighting up the castle becomes a Dream Come True moment as Cinderella joins Fairy Godmother, Mickey, Minnie and the gang on stage for a special ceremony. Guests can also see Disney characters in holiday garb for meet-and-greets, and enjoy the dazzling “Holiday Wishes–Celebrate the Spirit of the Season,” a memorable fireworks spectacle orchestrated to classic holiday melodies.
“Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade” celebrates the many festive moods of the holiday season, showcasing a series of holiday themes including a Friends and Family Christmastime Party, a sleigh ride through a Winter Wonderland, a romantic Fairy Tale Christmastime, a scrumptious display of Christmastime sweets, and of course Santa and Mrs. Claus in a grand finale. And for longtime Disney Christmas parade fans: soldiers, snowflakes and dancing deer are all still in the parade. The parade features original music as well as both classic and current holiday tunes.
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party comes with a winter-weather forecast guests can count on -- a 100 percent chance of snow flurries on Main Street, U.S.A every night. And just in case the sight causes a chill: complimentary hot cocoa and cookies are served. Many popular Magic Kingdom attractions are open to guests.
Admission to the party requires a separate ticket. Tickets are $47.95 plus tax for ages 10/up and $40.95 plus tax for ages 3-9 (but with advance purchase, guests can save $7 per ticket for select dates). Note: Many party nights are sold out in advance. To purchase tickets, guests can call 407/W-DISNEY or visit disneyworld.com/holidays.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Epcot Presents Holidays Around the World -- With one extra event date this year, World Showcase transforms into a splendor of international holiday traditions and storytelling from Nov. 23 through Dec. 30. Holiday icons who delight children around the globe -- such as France's Père Noël and Italy's La Befana -- make special appearances in their respective countries, while Santa Claus himself pays visits to The American Adventure. Guests can see holiday traditions and legends as they are observed around the world, with Hanukah and Kwanzaa customs also showcased.
At nightfall, Mickey Mouse and his friends host a gala tree-lighting ceremony -- Mickey's Tree Lighting Treat -- complete with music and storytelling, in World Showcase Plaza. A dazzling synchronized light show -- "The Lights of Winter" -- illuminates a canopy adorning the World Showcase breezeway bridge. The laser, lights and fireworks spectacular, "Illuminations: Reflections of Earth," complete with a holiday finale, caps the celebration. Guests with a long holiday shopping list will discover one-of-a-kind gifts with international flair throughout World Showcase boutiques. The special holiday fun takes place daily, Nov. 23-Dec. 30, and is included with regular Epcot admission.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sparkling Candlelight Processional at Epcot -- A highlight of Holidays Around the World -- Candlelight Processional at Epcot -- treats guests to a grand musical performance featuring a mass choir and a full orchestra accompanied by a celebrity narrator who retells the beloved story of Christmas. As a new highlight, actor Edward James Olmos (just one of the celebrity narrators scheduled to appear) will speak portions of the beloved story in Spanish. Presentations of Candlelight Processional are daily, Nov. 23-Dec. 30, and are included with regular Epcot admission (seating is limited). Candlelight Processional dinner packages, available for an additional charge, include preferred seating for a performance of Candlelight Processional, as well as dinner at an Epcot restaurant. To make reservations for these packages, guests can call 407/WDW-DINE.
Scheduled celebrity narrators include (subject to change):
Nov. 23-25: David Robinson
Nov. 26-28: John O’Hurley
Nov. 29-Dec. 1: Neil Patrick Harris
Dec. 2-4: Dennis Franz
Dec. 5-7: Monique Coleman
Dec. 8-10: Steven Curtis Chapman
Dec. 11-13: Chita Rivera
Dec. 14-16: Andie MacDowell
Dec. 17-19: Kirk Cameron
Dec. 20-22: Edward James Olmos
Dec. 23-25: Gary Sinise
Dec. 26-28: Rita Moreno
Dec. 29-30: Marlee Matlin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spectacle of Dancing Lights Brightens Disney-MGM Studios -- The Streets of America backlot again will sparkle brightly as millions of twinkling lights dancing to music illuminate the area Nov. 12 through Jan. 6, 2008, during the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights presented by SYLVANIA. Amid "Florida snow" flurries, the building facades, trees and streets of the Disney-MGM Studios backlot dazzle with three-dimensional and motion-based displays -- some originally created at the Osborne home in Arkansas by businessman Jennings Osborne as a holiday display for the delight of his daughter.
After the Arkansas home exhibit grew larger and brighter over the years, the million-light display was transported to Disney-MGM Studios in 1995, where the spectacle continues to grow larger and brighter each year. Some of Osborne's original creations still sparkling brightly at the park today include dozens of flying angels and Santa Claus light designs.
From the heart of Harlem, the world-famous Harlem Gospel Choir brings some soulful spirit to Disney-MGM Studios this holiday season with performances Nov. 30-Dec. 25. The inspirational choir presents the finest singers and musicians from Harlem’s Black Churches with songs of joy and peace. The 12-member group will perform at Theater of the Stars at Disney-MGM Studios at 5, 6 and 7:30 p.m. nightly.
Holiday cheer continues with the daily "Hollywood Holly-Day Parade" decked with favorite Disney characters in their holiday best, parading down Hollywood Boulevard.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disney's Animal Kingdom Decked for the Holidays -- Celebrate safari style as Disney's Animal Kingdom is wilder than ever this winter season. Mickey and his pals rejoice in traditional holiday music with a world beat twist during the daily "Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade," from Nov. 12-Jan. 6, 2008. At Camp Minnie-Mickey, guests can meet Disney characters dressed in their holiday best or enjoy carolers performing seasonal classics at Santa Goofy's Holiday Village. The village is decorated with Christmas trees and features live entertainers and holiday photo opportunities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Festival of the Seasons Transforms Downtown Disney into Holiday Shopper's Delight -- Holiday gift buying is easier than ever at Downtown Disney with a menu of offerings throughout this retail playground. Downtown Disney features shopping adventures for every age and budget, including Once Upon a Toy, filled with exclusive playthings from Disney and Hasbro, and World of Disney, the world's largest character emporium that is also home to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for little princess makeovers. Other favorites include Virgin Megastore, LEGO Imagination Center and Disney's Days of Christmas holiday shop. Holiday-themed décor, colorful light displays, plus photo opportunities with old St. Nick himself offer yuletide cheer.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For additional information about Walt Disney World Resort or to make reservations, guests can visit disneyworld.com. Reservations are also available by calling 407/W-DISNEY or through local travel agents. Event dates are subject to change.
Source: Walt Disney World
