WDW Daily News

Classic Disney fairy tales light up Cinderella Castle as the projection show “Once Upon a Time” debuts at Magic Kingdom® Park at Walt Disney World® Resort on Nov. 4, 2016.

This new show uses projection-mapping technology to produce a dazzling three-dimensional effect that fits every nook and contour of the Castle, from its base to the tips of its towers and turrets.

The result: Cinderella Castle opens like a storybook and becomes living art, the canvas for a kaleidoscopic and eye-filling feast of fantasy.

Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the timeless animated classic, Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” the new projection show is narrated by Mrs. Potts who shares “once upon a time” bedtime stories with Chip.

Projected scenes let you relive some of your favorite Disney moments. They’ll fly with Peter Pan high above the rooftops of London to Never Land, drop in on a whimsical tea party hosted by the Mad Hatter and watch Winnie the Pooh rise to the top of the Castle while he hangs from a colorful balloon. And these are just some of the enchanting tales that come to life in “Once Upon a Time.”

The awe-inspiring show culminates with classic scenes from “Beauty and the Beast” – the Beast waltzing with his beloved Belle, his duel with Gaston, and finally his transformation back to the Prince. As Mrs. Potts and Chip conclude their bedtime story, the show moves to its grand finale including appearances by characters from some of Disney’s most beloved animated tales. Fireworks bursting above the Castle add to the magic.

“Once Upon a Time” takes its inspiration from a projection show that has thrilled guests at Tokyo Disney Resort since May 2014. The new show replaces the “Celebrate the Magic” Castle projection show that will end its four-year run on Nov. 3, 2016.

Happy haunts come out to socialize when Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party takes place at Magic Kingdom Park on 29 select nights now through October 31. Favorite Disney Characters join the fun, decked in costumes and ready for trick-or-treating. In between the treat trails and attractions, live entertainment stirs up mischief: the Sanderson Sisters return to the Cinderella Castle stage for the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular. Partygoers can also catch the eerie and whimsical procession of “Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade” before the “HalloWishes” fireworks spectacular lights up the sky.

For guests who prefer their treats during daylight hours, the Magic Kingdom is all decked out with festive fall decor. New park entertainment includes the new Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire that brings together Mickey Mouse and his pals for a musical celebration on the castle stage. The daily show features Disney’s contemporary characters and classic songs.

Today, we’re excited to share some exciting news about the newest member of Disney royalty, Princess Elena of Avalor.

Beginning Nov. 24, 2016 Princess Elena of Avalor – the first Disney princess inspired by diverse Latin cultures – will begin to greet Guests alongside other royal friends at Princess Fairytale Hall at Magic Kingdom® Park at Walt Disney World® Resort. At Princess Fairytale Hall, your Clients can choose between a meeting with Elena and Cinderella or a visit with Rapunzel and Tiana. FastPass+ reservations for dates that include Elena appearances will become available today, Oct. 14, 2016.

Princess Elena of Avalor first made her grand debut at Magic Kingdom Park back in August, with Cinderella officially welcoming her to the kingdom in “The Princess Elena Royal Welcome” show. You can continue to experience this show throughout the fall.

An enduring Disney Parks classic, the Main Street Electrical Parade, will take its shimmering farewell trip through Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World in Florida on Oct. 9, 2016.

Since making its Florida premiere in 1977, the parade has become one of the most beloved entertainment spectacles anywhere. Watching the Main Street Electrical Parade has to become a rite of passage with parents and grandparents eager to share the nostalgic experience with their children. Families will have one more chance to see the parade and share this special memory, on select nights, before it departs.

The vibrant parade, a perennial favorite with Disney guests, will next travel cross-country to Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif., for a limited engagement beginning early next year.

Brought to light in the early 1970s, the original Main Street Electrical Parade helped establish a Disney Parks reputation for innovative, trend-setting live entertainment. As lights go down along the parade route, the parade brings a variety of beloved Disney animated feature films to life through three-dimensional floats covered with approximately half a million colorful LED twinkling lights. The parade’s iconic musical theme, the electrically synthesized “Baroque Hoedown,” is interwoven with favorite Disney themes. It all adds to the unique upbeat excitement of the procession.

Some of the parade’s most impressive scenes are the 23-foot-tall Clock Tower over Cinderella’s Ball, complete with elegant ballroom dancers in light-covered costumes; the smoke-breathing, tail-wagging Pete’s Dragon; and the 108-foot-long red, white and blue flag finale. Other characters who make appearances include Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and, of course, Mickey Mouse.

The Main Street Electrical parade at Walt Disney World Resort will not appear during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party nights. Walt Disney World guests interested in seeing the parade before it departs on Oct. 9 can check for the latest parade dates and times on WaltDisneyWorld.com or in the My Disney Experience app.

Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and The Great Gonzo arrive at Magic Kingdom® Park on October 2 for the opening of their all-new, live show “The Muppets Present … Great Moments in American History.” Hosted by James “J.J.” Jefferson, town crier of Liberty Square, and Sam Eagle, the fiercely patriotic American eagle who is forever trying to set a high moral standard for the Muppets, this wacky new show is set to take place several times daily, just outside The Hall of Presidents.

Throughout the day, J.J. and the Muppets share their own unique take on the founding fathers as they recount the tale of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, complete with an original song and plenty of humor. You may even catch the Muppets’ version of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, presented in hysterical fashion as only they can.

Here are five reasons why the only thing scary about Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom is…missing out!

The Disney Princesses are one of the most popular groups of Disney characters, but it’s pretty rare to see princesses from different source material having a direct interaction with one anther, even in theme park shows where they share the same stage.

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When you visit Walt Disney World® Resort, you can now enjoy the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade at Magic Kingdom® Park in a whole new way. Beginning Oct. 10, 2016, the new Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade Dining Package allows you to indulge in lunch at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant before enjoying VIP viewing of this popular parade.

You can take a mid-day break as they enjoy a delicious three-course lunch, including their choice of appetizer, entrée, dessert and a non-alcoholic beverage from the standard lunch menu at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant, which includes hearty Italian favorites such as spaghetti with meatballs, chicken parmigiana and artisanal pizza.

During the meal, you’ll receive a voucher for your reserved viewing of the popular Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade – a magical mix of floats, costumes, music and Characters that celebrates the spirit of Disney.

The Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade Dining package is $45 for adults and $17 for children (9 and under) plus tax and gratuity. It is one table-service entitlement on the Disney Dining Plan. Book today by calling 407-WDW-DINE or visiting Disneyworld.com/dine!

Admission to the Magic Kingdom Park is required and is not included in the price of the dining package. The Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade is subject to change or cancellation without notice. Dining packages will not be refunded due to cancellation or modification. In the event of a parade cancellation due to weather, VIP viewing will be made available for an alternative parade within 5 days of the date the Guest was original scheduled to attend. The dining experience will take place, even in the event that the parade is cancelled.

With fall just around the corner, “Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire” at Magic Kingdom® Park is preparing to mark the season with enhancements to the show’s grand finale.

Beginning Sept. 2, 2016 at Walt Disney World® Resort, the finale scene in “Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire” will feature new costumes, décor and choreography. Youwill also hear an original song celebrating autumn, from the songwriting duo of Valerie Vigoda and Brendan Milburn who composed the show’s catchy tune “On This Day.”

Presented on the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage, “Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire” brings to life beloved Disney stories both classic and contemporary in a spectacular performance featuring memorable music, lively dancing, delightful costumes and special effects magic. Mickey and his troupe of Merry Makers have invited friends from other lands to join them in a grand celebration. In addition to favorites like Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and Goofy, the show also brings together a wonderful cast of characters including Anna, Elsa and Olaf from “Frozen;” Rapunzel, Flynn Rider and the gang from the Snuggly Duckling in “Tangled;” and Tiana, Naveen and Louis from “The Princess and the Frog.”

Also starting this weekend is the special fall edition of the popular Main Street Trolley Show, greeting everyone along the avenue with a joyous song all about “the magic that can happen when it’s autumn.”