Christmas is in full swing at Walt Disney World with parades, snacks, Santa Claus and more. Join me as we take a look at what is new and exciting at Walt Disney World this week in ‘Around the Mouse’.
Walt Disney World Theme Parks
Magic Kingdom Park
New! Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Sold Out Dec 19: The very last Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party of the Season is now officially sold out. Tickets are still available for December: 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, and 18 2014.
New! “Frozen Christmas Celebration” Filming Underway at Disney Parks: On Christmas Day, millions of viewers tune into ABC for the annual Christmas Day Parade at Disney Parks. The first phase of production for this year’s show, entitled “Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration,” took place at Disneyland Resort earlier this month. Musical performances were shot on a custom stage built in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, featuring artists like Train, Trey Songz, Lucy Hale, and Trisha Yearwood. Along with these performances, ABC News Senior Meteorologist Rob Marciano from “GMA Weekend” joined the holiday celebration as the Disneyland Resort host. Over at the Walt Disney World Resort, the Creative Entertainment team is still in preparation for the taping on December 8 and 9 at Magic Kingdom Park. Artists will perform on the castle stage, the parade will take over Main Street U.S.A., and other dance and theatrical performances will fill the streets.
New! Adjusted Times for Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! Street Party: Due to concrete work on Main Street, U.S.A., Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! will be presented at 12:30 and 5 p.m. on Dec 3, 10 and 17.
New! Meet Santa at Magic Kingdom Park During Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: Santa is available to meet guests at Town Square Courtyard on Main Street, U.S.A., during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Epcot
New! United Kingdom Pavilion Receives New Entertainment Offering: Throughout Epcot, Disney presents world-class performers who immerse Guests in a unique cultural experience through a rich mix of live show atmosphere entertainment. The Paul McKenna Band debuted this week in the United Kingdom as one of the new World Showcase entertainment acts. The Paul McKenna Band is a traditional four-piece group from Glasgow, Scotland who will perform in the courtyard of the United Kingdom. The band’s contemporary approach to songs never strays too far from their Scottish, folk music roots. Show times for the Paul McKenna Band are 11, 11:50 a.m., 12:45, 1:40, 2:35, 3:35 and 4:50 p.m.
New! Holidays Around the World in Full Swing: Holidays Around the World has officially begun! From Nov. 28-Dec. 30, Epcot and the countries of World Showcase will feature exceptional entertainment, delicious food and beverage items and special merchandise that you don’t want to miss this holiday season! Some of the highlights include:
Candlelight Processional at America Gardens Theatre, with show times at 5, 6:45 and 8:15 p.m. Narrators include:
30-Dec. 2: Neil Patrick Harris
3-4: Jonathan Groff (NEW!)
5-6: Whoopi Goldberg
LeVar Burton – December 7 – 9, 2014
Edward James Olmos – December 10 – 12, 2014
Joe Morton (NEW!) – December 13 – 14, 2014
Candlelight Dining Packages are available for Guests. With these special dinner packages, Guests receive dinner at a restaurant of their choice, guaranteed seating at America Gardens Theatre for a booked Candlelight Processional show time and viewing of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. Note: Dinner packages do not include park admission.
JOYFUL! A Gospel Celebration of the Season will perform daily at the Innoventions Fountain Stage at 1:15, 2:25, 3:25 and 4:25 p.m. Joyful! A Gospel Celebration of the Season uniquely blends the soulful expressiveness of gospel and inspirational music with the sounds of Jazz, R&B and urban music.
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth presents it unique finale nightly at 9:30 p.m. on the World Showcase Lagoon. With the song, “Let There Be Peace On Earth” at its center, the special musical finale brings a message of peace and good will with the brilliance and splendor of music, lights, lasers, water fountains, and custom pyrotechnics
New! Meet Santa at Epcot: Santa is available to meet guests at The American Adventure, during Holidays Around the World.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
New! Disney Forms Relationship with Turner Classic Movies for The Great Movie Ride: Turner Classic Movies (TCM) has announced a new strategic relationship with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and The Walt Disney Studios to broaden its reach in family entertainment with joint efforts centered on classic film. The relationship features include new TCM integration into The Great Movie ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and on-air showcase of Disney Treasures. TCM branding will be integrated into the attraction’s marquee as well as banners, posters and display windows outside the attraction. In the queue line, families will enjoy new digital movie posters and will watch a new pre-ride video with TCM host Robert Osborne providing illuminating insights from the movies some of which Guests will experience during the ride. The finale will feature an all-new montage of classic movie moments. After Guests exit the attraction, they will have a photo opportunity with a classic movie theme. Changes are expected to be seen in The Great Movie Ride by Spring 2015.
New! New Holiday Cupcake Available through Jan 4: Guests can enjoy a delicious Holiday gingerbread cupcake at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. For just $5.19 each, the Holiday cupcake will be available at the following quick service locations: FairFax Fare, Pizza Planet, Starring Rolls, Backlot Express, ABC Commissary, Studio Catering Co., Rosie’s All American Café. The cupcake is included in Disney Dining Plan and available through Jan. 4.
New! Disney’s Star Wars Weekends Dates Announced and Dining Available for Booking: Attention fans of The Force – get ready to plan your trip to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in spring 2015! Star Wars Weekends will be held every weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) from May 15-June 14, 2015. Once again, the Star Wars Character Dining Experiences will be available and they are open for booking now. Choose from Star Wars Dine-In Galactic Breakfast at $49.99 per adult and $31.99 per child ages 3-9 or Jedi Mickey’s Star Wars Dine at Hollywood and Vine, Including Fantasmic! Dining Package at $57.99 per adult and $34.99 per child ages 3-9. Prices include tax, but not gratuity. Star Wars Weekends dates are as follows:
Weekend I: May 15-17, 2015
Weekend II: May 22-24, 2015
Weekend III: May 29-31, 2015
Weekend IV: June 5-7, 2015
Weekend V: June 12-14, 2015
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
New! Isle of Java Relocation: Isle of Java closed om Dec. 1 after park close in order to begin its relocation. Coffee and limited breakfast offerings will be sold at Beastly Kiosk on Discovery Island while Isle of Java equipment is moved to its new location. Isle of Java is expected to open by Flame Tree Barbecue in the near future. In addition to Beastly Kiosk, coffee is also sold at Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery, Royal Anandapur Tea Co. and at the Yak & Yeti Quality Beverage window.
Reminder! Flame Tree Barbecue to Close Temporarily Starting Jan. 5: Beginning Jan. 5, construction will start at Flame Tree Barbecue, which will result in an approximate three month closure. During the refurbishment, which is anticipated to last until early April, we will enhance the location by adding additional covered seating areas, covering choice Guest walkways to some pavilion seating areas and extending the roof over the main building to offer additional cover for Guests waiting to place their order. Since the food offerings at Flame Tree Barbecue are favorites amongst Guests, a selection of them will be offered at existing kiosks throughout the park during the downtime.
Reminder! Holiday offerings at Disney’s Animal Kingdom: The holidays are gearing up at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Guests will soon be able to experience the sights and sounds of the season.
Entertainment – Beginning Nov. 19, the DinoLand Dance-A-Palooza adds special holiday music and décor for the season. Throughout the park, Guests will be able to visit and take photos with favorite Disney friends, each donning their holiday best.
Food & Beverage – Thanksgiving and Christmas meal offerings will be available at Flame Tree Barbecue and Tusker House Restaurant. Thanksgiving dinner will be available at Flame Tree Barbecue from Nov. 23 – 29. Guests also can make reservations at Tusker House Restaurant during all three meal periods on Dec. 25. Additionally, beginning Nov. 23, holiday-themed desserts will be available throughout the park and give our Guests a sweet treat option while exploring during their visit.
Merchandise – Traditional holiday merchandise is now available throughout the park. New this year, Guests can get ornaments and stockings with animal print at Mombasa Marketplace and Island Merchantile, which is perfectly fitting to the park. Additional carts featuring holiday headwear will be set Thanksgiving week.
Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
New! Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Front Desk Reopened: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort has reopened the front desk of the Great Ceremonial House, and it’s beautiful!
Disney’s Contemporary Resort: The all-new “Frozen” gingerbread ice castle at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is adorned with sugar snowflakes, gingerbread shingles and chocolate-coated trees – Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff and Sven are decorated with sugar, chocolate and candy. In all, 423 pounds of chocolate and 311 pounds of honey went into the creation. While you can’t eat the house, there’s a special blue raspberry cake “Frozen” gelato, plus gingerbread and sugar cookies, snowflake ornaments, linzer and the popular chocolate-peppermint cookies. Take home a build-your-own snowman kit.
Disney’s BoardWalk Resort: Also all new is a life-size replica of a Jersey Shore Boardwalk concession stand serving holiday treats – ice cream cones, gingerbread houses and cookies and stollen bread. Sweet wreaths and Mickey- and Minnie-shaped gingerbreads decorate the stand that’s made of 674 gingerbread shingles, with a huge ice cream cone on top – and the marquee features 420 marshmallows! You can even make your own gingerbread house with kits for sale.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa: The life-size gingerbread house celebrates 16 years at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – the pastry chefs use the same building plans to re-create a fresh masterpiece each year, using a classic gingerbread recipe from Austria (they estimate 400 hours of baking). The house stands 16 feet high and features 40 window panes, made with a whopping 1,050 pounds of honey, 700 pounds of chocolate, 600 pounds of confectioner’s sugar, 35 pounds of spices, 800 pounds of flour, 140 pints of egg whites and 180 pounds of apricot glaze – more than 10,000 pieces of gingerbread make up the house. Gingerbread house decorating demos are featured daily except Sundays, and this is the place to buy gingerbread cookies, stollen, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate-peppermint bark (divine), gingerbread ornaments, mini-gingerbread houses and other goodies.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort: Check out the 14th annual Holiday Carousel, a life-size, spinning carousel with ponies made of chocolate and fondant, handcrafted poinsettia and gingerbread snowflakes – look for 14 hidden Mickeys, one for each year! The chefs used 36 pounds of honey, 96 pounds of bread flour, 100 pounds of icing and 50 pounds of dark chocolate to create the extravaganza that also features a miniature Magic Kingdom Park Castle made of gingerbread.
Disney’s Yacht Club: Find an adorable holiday village with miniature train adorns the lobby, surrounded with sugar rock mountains.
Walt Disney World Resort – General
New! New Path Open from the Marketplace to the West Side at Downtown Disney / Disney Springs: As Downtown Disney transforms into Disney Springs, progress is being made on its first phase known as The Landing. A new walkway is now open from the Marketplace to the West Side. Because this new walkway is available, the temporary pedestrian boardwalk along the waterway near Paradiso 37 will close in the near future. Set along the waterfront, The Landing will be home to unique boutique shops and memorable dining experiences including Morimoto Asia and The BOATHOUSE, opening in spring/summer 2015, along with many more experiences that will be shared in the coming months.
Update! Parking and Access at Downtown Disney / Disney Springs: As Downtown Disney continues to transform into Disney Springs, parking access will continue to fluctuate and change to make way for future expansion. As of Dec 1, parking lots A-G in the Marketplace and Pleasure Island areas will be closed. Guest parking will remain available in other locations including: Parking lots O, P, Q, New parking garage on the West Side, Team Disney, Casting and SunTrust (as needed during peak times), and Hess Station lot (as needed during peak times). As a result of the parking lot closures, Entrance 1 (across from Casting/SunTrust into the Marketplace) and Entrance 2 (across from the Hess Station) into Downtown Disney are closed. Hotel Plaza Boulevard, Entrance 1 (across from Casting/SunTrust) and Entrance 3 (across from Team Disney) are the only crosswalks available for pedestrian traffic at this time.
Reminder! Meet Santa at Downtown Disney / Disney Springs: Santa is available to meet guests at Santa’s Chalet near World of Disney, during Festival of the Seasons.
New! Atlanta Braves Spring Training Tickets Available Now: Enjoy America’s most magical pastime at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex March 4-April 4. The Atlanta Braves return for their 18th Spring Training Season at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Individual Game Tickets will go on sale December 1. Get the best seats at the best prices when you purchase early. Tickets available here.
Merchandise Events
December is bustling with holiday events at Walt Disney World Resort, take a look!
December 1 – 4: Artist Greg McCullough will be on hand for special appearances and signings this month at Walt Disney World Resort. Find Greg, December 1 – 4 at Art of Disney, Downtown Disney Marketplace; December 10 – 14 at Animation Gallery at Disney’s Hollywood Studios; December 17 – 21 at Art of Disney, Epcot and again December 26 – 31 at Art of Disney, Downtown Disney Marketplace.
December 5 – 6: Artist Larry Dotson will be on hand for special appearances and signings throughout the month at Walt Disney World Resort. Find Larry, December 5 – 6 at Puffins Roost in the Norway Pavilion, Epcot, featuring his “Frozen” and Norway-inspired art; December 8 – 13 at Art of Disney, Downtown Disney Marketplace; and December 19 – 23 at Main Street Cinema at Magic Kingdom Park.
December 5 – 6: Disney artists Costa Alavezos, Brian Blackmore, Jason Grandt, and Tim McCloskey will be on hand for special appearances and signings, December 5 from 6 – 8 p.m. and December 6 from 4 – 6 p.m. at Art of Disney in Downtown Disney Marketplace.
December 6: Add the limited-edition 650 hand-painted Ink & Paint cel “Silver Screen Journey” featuring Mickey Mouse to your holiday list this year! Ink & Paint artists will be available for a special signing from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 2 – 5 p.m. at Animation Gallery in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Note: The cel will be available in a variety of formats: Unframed; Framed; Framed Cel with Postcard; and Framed Cel with Postcard and Pin. Learn More.
New! New Holiday Gift Card Designs Now Available: Celebrate the season with our new holiday Disney Gift Card designs! Find your holiday-themed Disney Gift Card throughout Walt Disney World Resort, the Disneyland Resort, or online at DisneyGiftCard.com. It’s the gift that is simple for you, and perfect for everyone on your shopping list. Select your favorite design and activate your Disney Gift Card with as little as $15!
New! ALEX AND ANI Bangles New Designs Available: It All Started With A Mouse and Hakuna Matata are the first pieces in a new collection, Words Are Powerful, inspired by Disney sayings. These bangles will be available in Shiny Silver and Yellow Gold finishes beginning December 15. Also debuting is the 2015 Dated bangle featuring Mickey Mouse, a perfect way to commemorate your visit to the parks next year! This bangle will be available beginning December 15 in Rafaelian Gold and Rafaelian Silver finishes.
Written by Lori Wall: Lori is a lifelong fan and visitor of Walt Disney World! Her love of Disney World has grown through visits with her own family as well as through planning magical vacations for others! Lori is an expert in maximizing vacations while sticking to a travel budget. Contact her about saving an extra 5% off your Disney vacation with an insider tip! Book your vacation with Lori at (845) 698- 0102 or request a price online.
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