slide show

November 28, 2010

Christmas at The Happiest Place on Earth ~ Part I of II ~ Magic Kingdom & DHS

I received an email from a from a friend this morning asking for some Disney advice... This is the family's first trip to Disney... they have only alloted 4 of their vacation days to Disney... AND they plan to arrive on Christmas Eve......... Yikes.... not only is that RIGHT around the corner, it is also one of the busiest times to visit Disney.  There is SO much to do in SO little time, especially since it's Christmas.

What a wonderful SURPRISE to give your family for Christmas... It may be a little hectic, but can definately be the experience of a lifetime!  The Disney World Resort is the perfect venue for your Holiday Celebration.  Beginning as early as November 3, the 40-square-mile resort is transformed into a Winter Wonderland and most of the festivities continue through January 3.


"From a sparkling ice castle and symphony of dazzling lights … to legendary international customs and wondrous displays … to magical entertainment and musical delights, Walt Disney World Resort unwraps an enchanting celebration of the holiday season in 2010." -WDWNews.com

This series will be broken into 2 parts: Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, and Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Downtown Disney.

**Holiday info gained from WDWNews.com press release**

Magic Kingdom:

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – On 19 magical nights between Nov. 8 and
Dec. 19, holiday revelers can sip cocoa, catch a “snowflake” on a fingertip and catch the spirit of the season through enchanting entertainment that includes live shows, fireworks, carolers and special character meet and greets.


Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort
Dancing gingerbread, marching soldiers and Santa’s sleigh parade down Main Street, U.S.A. to seasonal melodies during the twice-nightly “Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade” … Cinderella Castle is draped radiantly with 200,000 glistening white lights … and “Holiday Wishes, Celebrate the Spirit of the Season” fireworks lights the night sky during a pyrotechnics show orchestrated to holiday melodies.

The night wouldn’t be complete without the forecasted flurry of snowflakes along Main Street, U.S.A. and a warming cup of cocoa in hand.  Party-goers also enjoy complimentary cookies and apple slices and enjoy unlimited admission to favorite attractions. 
For more information Guests can visit Disneyworld.com/christmasparty or call 407/W-DISNEY.

Photo Courtesy Of Disney Parks
Castle Dream Lights – When daylight has passed during the holiday season, Magic Kingdom guests can behold a breathtaking transformation during the Castle Dream Lights ceremony.  Each evening Nov. 8, 2010, through Jan. 3, 2011, Cinderella and favorite characters decked out in holiday garb take to the stage and magically transform Cinderella Castle into an ice palace aglow with 200,000 white lights – a perfect centerpiece to a park all decked out with wreaths, bows, garland and towering Christmas trees.


Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Spectacle of Dancing Lights – Millions of brilliant bulbs blanket the backlot with dancing lights and animated displays synchronized to high-energy holiday tunes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Nov. 8, 2010, through Jan. 3, 2011.

Colorful wreaths, twirling carousels, flying angels and Santa and his reindeer bedazzle park-goers amid swirling snow flurries during The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, a megawatt, multi-colored spectacle that Show Director John Phelan calls “the ultimate Americana Holiday lights display.”
Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks

“Imagine it,” Phelan said.  “One private citizen (Jennings Osborne), overwhelmed by the spirit of the season, created his own ‘Holiday Wonderland,’ complete with a giant rotating globe with ‘Peace on Earth’ above it and a massive canopy of red lights that people could walk under.  He said he wanted the people to feel like they were inside the lights, looking out.  Only in America!”

In fact, originally it was only in Little Rock, at the home of Arkansas businessman Jennings Osborne.  The rich tradition began some 20 years ago when he strung 1,000 lights as a Christmas gift to his daughter.  After the exhibit grew larger and brighter – into millions of lights – it was transported to Walt Disney World Resort in 1995, where the light display now delights guests from all over the world each year.

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