Got plans for New Year’s Eve yet? This year, many locations at Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort are hosting special events that just might be the perfect way for you to ring in the New Year. Plus, enjoy outdoor live music and entertainment for the whole family throughout the Downtown Disney area!

Here’s a roundup of what’s happening – and just a reminder, there are no New Year’s Eve fireworks at Downtown Disney.

DisneyQuest – This interactive gaming location will host a special New Year’s Eve event December 31, beginning at 8 p.m., that will feature two DJ dance parties, a meal and beverage, access to all DisneyQuest attractions, meet-and-greets with Disney characters, and a New Year’s Eve countdown and confetti drop at midnight. Tickets cost $50 per person and are available online or by calling 407-934-7639. Day-of tickets can be purchased at DisneyQuest for $60.

Splitsville Luxury Lanes – This brand-new addition to Downtown Disney will host its first New Year’s Event Party, for ages 21 and up, on December 31, featuring great food and beverages, a DJ, dancing, pool tables and more. Special Bowling Packages cost $175 per person (minimum 4 people) and includes 3.5 hours of bowling and shoe rental, choice of one appetizer and one entrée per person, two drink tickets, one bottle of champagne or house wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. Table Packages cost $100 per person and include a 3.5-hour table reservation, choice of one appetizer/entree per person, two drink tickets, one bottle of champagne or house wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. For more information, email SocialDirectorsOrlando@SplitsvilleLanes.com or call 407-938-PINS.

Bongos Cuban Cafe – Head to Bongos for a New Year’s celebration that features a four-course dinner, champagne, party favors, live music and a midnight celebration. The party lasts from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. To reserve your table, contact GRodriguez@BongosCubanCafe.com.

Raglan Road – New Year’s fun begins at 6 p.m. with house band Creel and Irish dancing. In addition to great food, the pub will also offer complimentary champagne toasts at 7 p.m. and midnight.

House of Blues – The reggae band SOJA will take the stage at 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Tickets cost $37-$40, and the concert is open to guests of all ages. Visit the House of Blues website for tickets.

La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil – All guests attending the December 31 performances will receive a limited-edition Walt Disney World Resort/Cirque trading pin. Shows are at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. For tickets, contact 407-WDW-SEAT.

Babycakes – Ring in your New Year’s resolutions with healthy treats from Babycakes NYC. Schedule your pick-up orders at least 48-hours in advance for December 30-January 1, 2013, and receive a 20% discount.

Planet Hollywood – Now through December 31, you can buy two merchandise items and get the third free. (No other Promotions or Discounts, vouchers apply. Discount not good on jackets. Free item is the lesser priced item).


Read more news from Downtown Disney in the posts below:

• World’s Largest Splitsville Set to Open December 19 at Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort
• Phineas and Ferb & YOU: Free Fun at Downtown Disney West Side at Walt Disney World Resort Now Through December 1
• Living Statues Bring Guests Into the Show at Downtown Disney in Florida

Tagged: Downtown Disney, Holidays, WDW

Filed: Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World Resort

For the second year, we will be celebrating Three Kings Day here at Disneyland park! You may remember our first-ever Día de los Reyes Magos celebration last year which featured special décor, entertainment, food and activities showcasing Western and Mexican heritage. This year, the same celebration will move to a new space – Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree in Frontierland – and will run January 4-6 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Three Kings Day entertainment will include folklorico dancing and Mariachi musical performers, Disney characters in festive, colorful costumes and holiday photo opportunities. Younger guests can participate in crafts like face painting, crown making and coloring.

Here’s a look at the performers scheduled to appear at our Three Kings Day celebration:

January 4
10 a.m. – Baile Folklorico Teyacapan (Ballet Folklorico)
12:30 p.m. – Mariachi Tesoro de San Fernando (Youth Mariachi)
2 p.m. – Paramount Dance Company (Ballet Folklorico)
5:30 p.m. – Resurrreccion Mexican Folk (Ballet Folklorico)

January 5
10 a.m. – Garey High School Latin Jazz Ensemble (Latin Jazz Musicians)
12:30 p.m. – Sabor de Mexico (Ballet Folklorico)
2 p.m. – Ballet Folklorico Jalisciense (Ballet Folklorico)
5:30 p.m. – Ballet Folklorico Orgullo Mestizo (Ballet Folklorico)

January 6
10 a.m. – Grupo Folklorico Tierra del Sol (Ballet Folklorico)
12:30 p.m. – Ballet Folklorico Mixteco Juvenil (Ballet Folklorico)
2 p.m. – Ballet Folklorico Mixteco East Los Angeles (Ballet Folklorico)
5:30 p.m. – Ballet Folklorico de Riverside (Ballet Folklorico)

Tagged: DL, DLR, Holidays

Filed: Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort

I think my favorite decorative Christmas items are nutcrackers. These timeless decorations have been around for centuries and have come in a variety of shapes, styles and sizes. When I was a teenager, I recall my parents giving me one that looked like Mickey Mouse in a toy soldier outfit. I was happy to see new Mickey Mouse figures introduced this year for the holidays. I recently gave you a look at two of them when my fellow Disney Parks Blog author Jennifer Fickley-Baker visited “Santa’s Workshop.” I spoke with Disney Design Group artist Costa Alavezos to learn more about the nutcrackers.

“I created the artwork for the Mickey Mouse nutcrackers,” said Costa. “This isn’t the first time I’ve drawn nutcrackers. I made a few designs a couple of years ago but they were never made. In 2011, the seasonal merchandise team wanted to revisit nutcrackers, so I drew some new concepts. We released the first one last year that had Mickey Mouse dressed as Santa Claus. There are six additional designs for this season.”

In addition to the return of Santa Mickey, the remaining nutcrackers include Sorcerer Mickey (which originally started as a magician with a magic top hat); Pirate Mickey, inspired by the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction; two traditional nutcrackers with crowns in green and purple; a guard dressed in white and gold; and a toy soldier Mickey, inspired by the toy soldiers seen in Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party parade. You may recall seeing artwork for some of these nutcrackers last year when they were released as pins.

Costa shared with me the original pencil sketch and full color artwork of his favorite nutcracker, the toy soldier. You may notice a few missing details from the final produced version.

“For the toy soldier, we didn’t include the gingerbread man, Christmas tree and snowman as they were too small to accurately capture the details,” explained Costa. “The toy soldier nutcracker is my favorite as it’s inspired by something so many guests love seeing at Disney Parks during the holidays.”

 
Take a look at more holiday-inspired Disney Parks merchandise in the posts below:

• Finish Your Holiday Shopping with Unique Merchandise Deals at Disney Parks
• Top Toys at Disney Parks for the Holidays
• Merchandise at Disney California Adventure Park is Definitely One For the Road

Tagged: DLR, Holidays, WDW

Filed: Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort

Disney Cruise Line crew members who donated their time as Disney VoluntEARS put smiles on the faces of more than 2,600 people in less than a week in nine of the port communities that our ships call home.

That’s a lot of cheer!

From helping deliver toys to deserving children to creating holiday crafts with senior citizens, these Disney VoluntEARS made a difference in communities throughout The Bahamas, The Caribbean, Mexico and Port Canaveral.

Officers and crew on all four ships collected toys to benefit the US Marines Toys For Tots Foundation, while crew members living on Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, delivered 1,200 storybooks to children in the surrounding Abaco Islands.

Throughout 2012, Disney Cruise Line cast and crew members contributed more than 4,500 community service hours, supporting a number of causes benefitting children and families, as well as the environment.

How does your family give back during the holiday season?


For more of how Disney VoluntEARS and Disney Cruise Line gave back this year, see the posts below:

• Disney Cruise Line Builds a Nautical Playground in One Day!
• Disney Cruise Line Contributes $100,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of New York
• 400 Children in Germany Attend Disney Cruise Line Community Event

Tagged: DCL, Holidays, VoluntEARS

Filed: Community Outreach, Disney Cruise Line

Have you seen the Voices of Liberty perform at the American Adventure Pavilion in World Showcase at Epcot?

Known as “United States Vocal Ambassadors to the World,” the eight-part harmony, a cappella group Voices of Liberty performs daily at Epcot and is known for American classics as “Oh! Susanna,” “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” and “Skip to My Lou.” I personally love seeing them perform during this time of year when the group gets out their holiday songbook.

Here’s a video of Voices of Liberty performing a mash-up of the holiday carols, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” with “Angels We Have Heard on High.”

 
Keep your eye on the Disney Parks Blog over the next few days for looks at other holiday entertainment performances. If you’re a Twitter user, don’t forget to join the Disney Parks holiday conversation with the hashtag #DisneyHolidays.

Tagged: Epcot, Holidays, Video, WDW

Filed: Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort

I love to visit the Disneyland Resort during the holidays – where it snows, the Christmas trees glow and icicles hang in rows. You wouldn’t think I’d be describing a magical place in sunny Southern California, but that’s the power of Disney magic! Our talented teams transform the Disneyland Resort into a winter wonderland during the holidays. This video captures highlights of the holiday décor at night. It includes Disney California Adventure park, where you can find snowflakes made of wrenches at the new Cars Land. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas! Enjoy!

Keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog for more updates on the holiday season at Disney Parks, and join the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #DisneyHolidays.

Tagged: DCA, DL, DLR, Holidays, Video

Filed: Disney California Adventure Park, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort

It’s hard to believe that we’re only one week away from Christmas Day, isn’t it?

The anticipation is building here at Walt Disney World Resort, with our seasonal entertainment ramping up to spread holiday cheer at our parks.

One group that can be found performing at Epcot is Joyful! A Gospel Celebration of the Season.

Check out this video, which shows them performing a mash-up of “What Child Is This?” and “Carol of the Bells.”

Joyful! A Gospel Celebration of the Season will perform at the park through Dec. 29. If you’re heading to the park and hope to catch a live performance from this group, be sure to pick up the Times Guide for the day’s show times.

See more of this year’s holiday entertainment at Disney Parks in the posts below:

• Holidays at Disneyland Resort: The Magic Looks and Feels Different
• Sights & Sounds at Disney Parks: Jodi Benson Adds Glow to Candlelight Processional
• Y’All Come on Down to the Jingle Jangle Jamboree at Disneyland Park

Tagged: Epcot, Holidays, Video, WDW

Filed: Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort