Disney Parks Blog Weekly Recap
posted on December 26th, 2010 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
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This week, the blog was chocked full of holiday surprises, including a few of from Disney photographer David Roark. David used a super-telephoto lens and a bucket truck to snap some amazing images of a full moon over Cinderella Castle. You can read more on how he did it in our original post.
Here are some of the other stories we worked on this week.
We Hope Yule Join Us! ‘Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade’ Airs Dec. 25 on ABC – Did you catch the ‘Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade’ yesterday? Here’s a look at the parade as it was being filmed.
Where at Disney Parks Can You Find… – This large foot may not be where you think it is. Do you know where to find it?
Guest Spotlight: Celebrating 45 Consecutive Christmas Eves at Disneyland Resort – Erin Manning of Newport Beach, Calif. has visited Disneyland park nearly every Christmas Eve of her life, and her parents, Brien and Mary, have been celebrating Christmas Eve at Disneyland park for 45 consecutive years.
Curtain Set to Rise on Spectacular Theaters Aboard the Disney Dream – Get an exclusive look at Walt Disney Theatre and Buena Vista Theatre, opening soon aboard the Disney Dream.
New Year’s Eve 2010 at Disneyland Resort – Celebrate New Year’s Eve with spectacular entertainment and holiday fireworks at Disneyland Resort.
Take 5 with Holidays at Disney Parks 2010
posted on December 25th, 2010 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
It’s Christmas Day, and right now thousands of Guests are celebrating at Disney Parks. With so many holiday festivities at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts, it’s difficult to choose a favorite. Here’s a look at our top 5 holiday posts from this year.
Are you celebrating the holidays at Disney Parks? Let us know in the comments.
Top 5: Holidays at Disney Parks 2010
- Behind the Scenes: Magic Kingdom Park Decorated For Christmas – Each November, Magic Kingdom Park transforms from Halloween to Christmas decorations in just days. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how it happens.
- Time-Lapse Video: Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle at Disneyland Park – This time-lapse video shows Sleeping Beauty Winter Castle as it transforms from day into night.
- What’s Your Favorite Part of ‘A Christmas Fantasy’ Parade – “A Christmas Fantasy” parade is always a favorite at the Disneyland Resort. We asked park Guests what they like best about the parade – see what they had to say.
- Walt Disney World Resort Creates ‘Cuddliest Christmas Tree’ for Toys for Tots – Disney VoluntEARS created the “Cuddliest Christmas Tree” at Epcot. The tree is 20 feet tall, 10 feet wide and made of 1,200 stuffed Duffy bears, all of which were donated to Central Florida Toys for Tots.
- Taking Holiday Magic from Disneyland Resort to the Jauregui Family – We teamed up with Sylvania and CHOC Children’s to take the magic of the holiday season from the Disneyland Resort to the home of one special little girl and her family.
Merry Christmas from Disney Parks
posted on December 25th, 2010 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
From Mickey, Minnie and all of us at Disney Parks, Merry Christmas. Enjoy your morning and if you get a chance, check back later today for a look at our top holiday posts from this year.
Moms Panel: ‘Twas The Night Before. . .
posted on December 24th, 2010 by Laura Spencer, Social Media Manager, Walt Disney World Resort
Disney Mom Amanda reads from her new “classic” storybook about the joys of visiting Walt Disney World Resort at the holidays.
What’s Best About Walt Disney World During the Holidays?
posted on December 24th, 2010 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
We’re smack dab in the middle of one of my favorite times of the year at the parks. Our holiday lights alone are amazing. We have 8.5 million of them strung throughout the Walt Disney World Resort and then there’s the decorations. But if you ask what’s best, that’s tough. So, we went into the parks and asked some guests to share what they most enjoy about this time of year.
Great gloves, huh? Now, it’s your turn. Let us know what you enjoy most about Walt Disney World this time of year in the comments.
Happy Holidays from the Dapper Dans
posted on December 24th, 2010 by Heather Hust Rivera, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, The Walt Disney Company
If you’re still not feeling the holiday spirit, or you need a little lift amidst all the cooking and wrapping and preparing, take a second to watch this video of the Dapper Dans performing with Deagan Organ Chimes on Main Street, U.S.A. Listening to some magical music from Disneyland park is sure to do the trick.
Happy Holidays!
Behind-The-Scenes Video: Imagineers Adding Finishing Touches to Disney Dream
posted on December 24th, 2010 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
Disney Cruise Line took delivery of the Disney Dream earlier this month but work is far from over. Now that the ship is officially ours, a new phase of construction has begun. With little more than a week remaining before the ship arrives in Florida, Imagineers and crew members are working around the clock to apply the finishing touches as the ship makes her transatlantic voyage from Germany to Port Canaveral.
What are they working on? Here’s a behind-the-scenes look.
Local Traditions at Holidays Around the World
posted on December 24th, 2010 by Dara Trujillo, Manager, Merchandise Synergy, Events, and Communication
For those of you who have had the pleasure to stroll through Epcot this time of year, you know just how magical the Park can be. With Holidays Around the World in full swing and the sounds of the 50-piece orchestra filling the air nightly during Candlelight Processional, it’s nearly impossible not to get into the holiday spirit. Epcot does so much to bring international tidings of Yuletide cheer to the Park. With cultural storytellers throughout World Showcase telling the legends & lore of the holiday season and the pavilions are dressed in festive traditional holiday décor so that Guests can enjoy the sights and customs that are celebrated across the world.
With all the worldly traditions found all around World Showcase, the American Adventure Pavilion is celebrating with a local tradition found right here in Florida. Throughout the holiday season, The American Adventure has invited The Magnolia Company to showcase their magnolia leaf holiday wreaths, swags, and décor that have all been handcrafted leaf by leaf using techniques that have been passed down through for generations.
The Magnolia Company is rooted in Barberville, FL., and specializes in creating beautiful magnolia wreaths and decorations. The leaves that make up these lovely wreaths come from the same farm that has been owned and operated by the Underhill family since the 1800’s. For the past 10 years the family has been perfecting the Magnolia Trees on their farm which has provided them with the ornamental cuttings for the wreaths and swags that appear in homes across the country.
Throughout the year, The Magnolia Company gives their trees a lot of TLC in the way of proper water, nutrition and pest management to ensure that the tree and leaves are of the highest standards and quality. After 270 days of watching over the Magnolia Trees, the trained Magnolia Company staff sharps their tree pruners and hand selects only the most beautiful stems and leaves that are ready for use in The Magnolia Company wreaths and decorations.
The American Adventure is thrilled to showcase The Magnolia Company in Epcot this holiday season. Not only does this special showcase bring more festivities to Holidays Around the World in Epcot, but also a touch of a Florida tradition. The Magnolia Company will not only feature the Original Magnolia Wreaths, but is also featuring their new Clover Magnolia Wreaths which features a beautiful base of cooper and green Magnolia leaves with embellishments of red hydrangeas, yarrow, rose hips, wand moss covered lotus pods. Plus, my personal favorite, the Holiday Red Lacquer Wreaths made from a base of lush magnolia leaves that have been coated and sealed with a bright festive Holiday Red Color.
So if you’re strolling through Epcot over the next few weeks, take time out to enjoy The Magnolia Company at The American Adventure and the rest of the joyous sights and sounds of Holidays Around the World.
Voices of Liberty: ‘Deck the Halls’
posted on December 24th, 2010 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
This time of year, you’ll hear some great sounds around the Walt Disney World Resort. And here’s a favorite of mine – the Voices of Liberty singing “Deck the Halls.” Take a listen as our 8-part a capella group harmonizes under the acoustically pure dome in the rotunda of the American Adventure Pavilion at Epcot.
Eat (Early or Late), Drink and Be Merry at Disney Parks
posted on December 23rd, 2010 by Pam Brandon, Disney Parks Food Writer
Plenty of readers have been downloading the restaurant vouchers to save 30 percent at Disneyland Resort (between now and January 3) and Walt Disney World Resort (between now and January 1) with the purchase of any entrée at select restaurants. Have you?
Our holiday tip: Dine early! We hear that your best bet is to lunch before 11:30 a.m. or between 3 and 4:30 p.m. Some restaurants open for lunch as early as 10 a.m.
More Magic Kingdom Park crowd alleviators: The Diamond Horseshoe is offering quick-service lunch through the holiday season, featuring hand-carved sandwiches with fresh sweet potato chips as well as new salads topped with freshly sliced turkey or ham. Or guests can dine at Adventureland Oasis for lunch or dinner where they’re offering a delish sweet potato curry, a new vegetarian dish, with chunks of sweet potato and spinach in a mild curry and coconut milk sauce over basmati rice. Other menu highlights: beef stew over mashed potatoes; andouille sausage, shrimp and chicken jambalaya; and sloppy joe sandwiches.
Eat dessert first: Another seasonal treat is the gingerbread funnel cake with peppermint stick ice cream – ONLY at Sleepy Hollow near the Liberty Square Bridge in Magic Kingdom Park.
