WDW Daily News

There’s a special treat in store for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts fans this holiday season: a dozen announcements over 12 days about exciting new offerings coming to Walt Disney Parks & Resorts in 2018 and beyond.

Starting Dec. 5 and continuing daily through Dec. 16, the Disney Parks Blog will unveil exclusive new details about events, entertainment, attractions and more at the Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, as well as new offerings aboard Disney Cruise Line.

This magical “12 Days of Disney Parks Christmas” news will give fans a first look at the stellar line-up of projects and updates coming to Disney Parks & Resorts, including:

• Never-before-seen images and video
• New resort hotel experiences
• Delectable new dining options
• Special events
• Updates about new attractions announced at the 2017 D23 Expo

Stay tuned in to all of the exciting announcements by visiting DisneyParksBlog.com starting Dec. 5, 2017 at 11 a.m. EST.

Freeform, Disney’s young adult television and streaming network, announced today that Academy Award-winning actress and “The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg will host its upcoming holiday special “Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic.” Premiering DEC. 18 at 8:00 p.m. EST, with special co-hosts Disney Channel’s “Descendants” star and Hollywood Records/Republic Records recording artist Sofia Carson and “Dancing with the Stars” winner and Hollywood Records recording artist Jordan Fisher, the festive one-hour event will reveal how the holiday magic and spirit come to life as the Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme parks and resort hotels are transformed into winter wonderlands filled with seasonal attractions, joyful entertainment, festive décor and special treats that make every day feel like a holiday. The spirit of the season shines even brighter in these magical places where families share traditions and make memories together.

“As a longtime friend of Mickey, there’s no place I’d rather spend the holidays than at the Happiest Place on Earth,” said Whoopi Goldberg. “To see the incredible work that goes into turning the parks into a winter wonderland is truly magical, and I’m so happy to be a part of it.”

From the executive producers of the “Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings” series, Ann Lewis Roberts, Simon Lythgoe and Jenny Daly, viewers will meet the dedicated team of Disney cast members and Santa’s helpers, who meticulously plan, design, build and bring to life wondrous Christmas trees, life-size gingerbread houses and much more!

“Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic,” hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, will air during Freeform’s annual “25 Days of Christmas” programming event. Now in its 21^st year of bringing holiday cheer to viewers, Freeform’s 25 continuous days of holiday-themed entertainment for the whole family runs from DEC. 1–25, and viewers can ring in the season with festive specials, classic holiday movies and returning favorites.

These Thanksgiving buffets, dining events and special menus at Walt Disney World, in Florida, and Disneyland Resorts, in California, have the perfect makings for a new annual tradition, whether or not you dine with Mickey Mouse in tow.

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A full day trip at a theme park is often where the average person pushes their phone to its limits. We use it to take pictures and videos, find location-based apps to look up wait times, play games while waiting in line, and more.

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Prepare your appetite for the world’s most delicious advent calendar, because there are hundreds of festive flavors descending upon Disney’s parks on both coasts.

Disneyland and Walt Disney World resort have added 200 festive foods to ring in the holiday season, and with favorites like praline cheesecake, spiced-rum punch, sticky toffee pudding, white chocolate hot cocoa, and pumpkin spice bread pudding among them, you’ll need a holiday miracle to make it through them all.

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Disney Parks are known for their over-the-top Christmas celebrations, but this year it’s not the sky-high trees or snow on Sunset Boulevard that has everyone talking.

It’s the reusable plastic popcorn bucket.

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You’re getting two Christmas specials from Disney Parks, both will be on ABC, and the first arrives late this month.

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This season, you can spread holiday magic by truly giving the best gift of the season: a Disney vacation.

With the Holidays right around the corner, you can give a gift filled with extraordinary moments that create memories to last a lifetime. Embrace the power of magic at Walt Disney World_® Resort and discover the wonder and joy at Disneyland_®Resort. Escape to an unforgettable Hawaiian paradise with Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa. Set sail on an adventure-filled ocean voyage with Disney Cruise Line. Explore a world of unique cultures with Adventures by Disney_®. When you purchase any of these Disney experiences for family and friends and they’ll create the most magical holiday gift ever! Because no matter what Disney experience is given, there’s sure to be magic around every corner.

Disney Pixar CARS 3 is now available on Blu-Ray, DVD, and as a digital copy. The set comes with the feature film and tons of bonus features. Of course we all love watching Lightening McQueen, Cruz Ramirez, and the whole gang in the feature film, but I especially enjoy all of the extras that are a part of the CARS 3 Blu-Ray. In the Behind the Scenes extras Let’s.Get.Crazy., you will learn about the hilarious demolition derby scene and how that came to be. The production crew goes into great detail in Generations: The Story of Cars 3 explaining how the story was developed and how it went from a racing movie to a mentor movie.  We all know what it feels like when that young person comes into the work place and seems to be better than us because they know the latest technology or techniques.  This is exactly what McQueen is feeling as the Next Gen High Tech Racers take over the track.  I am so entertained by the details that go into Pixar animation, so I was blown away by the bonus called World’s Fastest Billboard. That is my dream job now…to be part of the Pixar graphic design team.  Yes, most people don’t even notice all of their incredible work at first glance, but come on, where else can you design a car logo for Leakless Adult Drip Pans? I also love that they came up with a car dating service, they use the same insurance company that Bob Parr works at in The Incredibles, and there is even an ad on the porta-potty at the racetrack.  One of the graphic designers says you truly need to pause the movie to catch all of the amazing advertising in the Cars world. Don’t miss this bonus! I also was a big fan of Cars to Die(Cast) For. Did you know there are around 1000 diecast Cars toys? These cars are designed at a 1/55th scale so there is room for every detail from the movie version. Did you also know that some of these toys are named after people that worked on the Cars movies? Yet another reason why I want to work for Pixar!  In Legendary, the crew met with NASCAR historians to learn about those that paved the way for the modern drivers we all cheer for today.  I had no idea that NASCAR racing dates all the way back to moonshine runners in the South. I also had never heard of the struggles of Wendell Scott during segregation.  I loved learning how Louise Smith raced with the men and wasn’t afraid of racing hard. Talk about a trailblazer!  It is so cool how they worked this history into the movie. The CARS 3 Blu-Ray, DVD, and digital copy also comes with Deleted Scenes, Trailers, Promos and other surprises. As the weather gets cooler, watching CARS 3 is the perfect way to spend blustery fall day. Race on out to get yourself a copy.  Just don’t get caught by the sheriff!

Out there, beyond the anthropomorphic mice and never-ending queues is a man who is quietly trying to disrupt your next vacation to Disney’s Magic Kingdom. His name is Len Testa and his annual subscription-based service, Touring Plans, will predict how long you’ll wait at any ride, any time of day, any day of the year for $14.95—less than the price of a giant turkey leg and a Dole Whip.

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