Whoopi Goldberg Reveals Disney Holiday Secrets in Freeform’s ‘Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic,’ Premiering Dec. 18 at 8 p.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 21st 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.

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REMINDER: LA NOUBA BY CIRQUE DU SOLEIL TAKES FINAL BOW AT DISNEY SPRINGS DECEMBER 31!

With over 8,500 performances to date, La Nouba™ by Cirque du Soleil® has been a Disney Springs™ staple for nearly twenty years. Since its inception in late 1998, the show has welcomed many new acts; the most recent additions include a duo of comedic clowns followed by a troupe of world-famous break dancers and a real-life couple skilled in the rarely-seen art of aerial bamboo. La Nouba has been seen by over 10 million Walt Disney World® Resort Guests and will continue to dazzle audiences with its breathtaking blend of daring acrobatics and dazzling choreography through 2017, with a final performance scheduled to take place on Dec. 31, 2017.

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Disney Vacation Club 2018 Moonlight Magic Dates

Members will enjoy more Moonlight Magic event dates than ever in 2018, with parties already confirmed for every month from January through November, with more dates still to come! To help you plan accordingly, Disney Vacation Club is pleased to share confirmed party and booking dates.

Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic 2018

The confirmed slate includes the first Moonlight Magic events at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where the highly anticipated Toy Story Land is scheduled to have made its playful debut by the time Members take over the park. Also confirmed is a return to Disney California AdventurePark, where Paradise Pier is scheduled to have become Pixar Pier – headlined by the highly anticipated transformation of California Screamin’ into The Incredibles-inspired Incredicoaster!

Introduced in 2017 as part of Membership Magic Ever After, complimentary Moonlight Magic events invite Disney Vacation ClubMembers and special guests to turn Disney Parks into their own personal playgrounds at the end of the parks’ operating days. While attendees may get a jump start on the fun by mixing in with the regular crowd earlier in the evening, the real magic happens after the park has closed to the public. It’s then that privileged partiers discover shorter-than-usual wait times on popular attractions, meet off-the-beaten-path Characters, enjoy complimentary refreshments, let loose at dance parties and more.

Here’s a look at the confirmed 2018 Moonlight Magic schedule, including the dates on which online reservations will open for each event:
• Jan. 11 and 28, and Feb. 6 at Magic Kingdom Park
(Booking begins for Members with Resort reservations on the event dates Dec 7. Pending availability, booking opens for all Members on Dec 21.)
• March 21, April 17 and May 16 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
(Booking begins for Members with Resort reservations on the event dates Feb 8. Pending availability, booking opens for all Members on Feb 22.)
• May 30 and June 11 at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
(Booking begins for Members with Resort reservations on the event dates April 19. Pending availability, booking opens for all Members on May 3.)
• July 16 and Aug. 13 at Epcot
(Booking begins for Members with Resort reservations on the event dates June 6. Pending availability, booking opens for all Members on June 20.)
• Sept. 19 and 26, and Oct. 3 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
(Booking begins for Members with Resort reservations on the event dates Aug 30. Pending availability, booking opens for all Members on Sept. 13.)
• Nov. 15 at Disney California Adventure Park
(Booking begins for all Members on Oct. 4.)
Please note that, in order to allow as many Members as possible to enjoy Moonlight Magic, only one event date for each participating park will be available per Membership. Watchdisneyvacationclub.com for additions to the Moonlight Magic event slate, as well as party hours and transportation information.
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A Dozen “Must-Do’s” You Must Do This Holiday Season at Walt Disney World Resort

The most wonderful time of the year is here, and it’s even more magical at Walt Disney World Resort! Delicious treats, joyous holiday spectaculars and all-around merriment bring the spirit of the season to life across all four theme parks, Disney resort hotels and Disney Springs.

Here’s a list of 12 “must-do’s” during your Christmas vacation at Walt Disney World Resort.

  1. Sunset Seasons Greetings at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Guests can enjoy all-new spectacular holiday projections displayed on the famous Hollywood Tower Hotel! This new holiday experience runs continuously throughout the night and features animated scenes of Mickey, Minnie and other beloved Disney characters sharing their favorite Christmas stories. Keep an eye out for the billboards that come to life and the falling snow on Sunset Boulevard. Talk about magical!
  2. New Holiday Kitchens at the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays: Experience the flavors of the holidays, as you meander through World Showcase stopping at each of the festival’s many Holiday Kitchens. These kiosks serve up food and drinks that take the words “warm and cozy” to a whole new level. There’s even a Holiday Kitchen that’s all about sweet treats like snowflake sugar cookies and warm apple fritters with cinnamon ice cream and caramel sauce.
  3. S’mores, Hot Cocoa and Christmas Carols at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground: Immerse yourself in the yuletide grandeur of the Pacific Northwest at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge where a majestic Christmas tree towers over the resort lobby. Cozy up to the fire and relax with a cup of hot cider or cocoa and holiday treats. For more frontier-style holiday happenings head over to Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground where carolers arrive by hay wagon spreading the sounds of the season.
  4. Winter Summerland Miniature Golf: Join Santa and his elves at their off-season retreat for two 18-hole adventuresavailable all year-round! The indecisive elves built two courses, one that showcases the warm Florida weather and another that represents the arctic North Pole. What better way to create a new holiday tradition than with family games, Christmas melodies and festive décor?
  5. Exciting New Holiday Merchandise: Unwrap another holiday tradition – shopping! Disney Springs has almost as many gift options as Santa’s bag. Shoppers will find everything from top-name brands to one-of-a-kind specialty stores. Popular new merchandise items include three new holiday-themed headbands that, much like the highly popular rose gold Minnie Mouse ears, promise to be a holiday hit!
  6. Jolly Décor: Take in the glistening holiday décor that brightens all four Theme Parks, the Disney resort hotels and Disney Springs! Wreaths, garlands and more surround you with holiday cheer. Giant floating ornaments, sky-high Christmas trees and magical snow flurries create a winter wonderland all around the vacation kingdom.
  7. Holiday Entertainment at Disney Springs: Every corner of Disney Springs is wrapped and ready for the season with festive holiday décor and seasonal entertainment. This year an expanded Christmas Tree Trail features ten new trees inspired by Disney classics such as Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, Snow White and Dumbo.
  8. Tasty Treats: Taste the newest Flurry of Fun confections at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. From red velvet whoopee pies decorated with icing garland, ornament pearls, and holiday sprinkles to Olaf Cake Pops and apple cranberry cobblers, these holiday sweets will have you smiling from ear-to-ear!
  9. Candlelight Processional at Epcot: One of the most beloved Epcot traditions returns with new celebrity narrators. Disney legend Kurt Russell is among the newcomers, along with Pat Sajak, Matt Bomer and CCH Pounder who will join returning favorites Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Jaci Velasquez and others. The Candlelight Processional is a retelling of the Christmas story as told by a celebrity narrator accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and mass choir. The show takes place at the America Gardens Theatre nightly at 5:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., Nov. 24-Dec. 30.
  10. Gingerbread Houses: Explore stunning edible creations at select Walt Disney World resort hotels, like the life-size holiday gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. A giant edible spinning carousel is a holiday tradition at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, while a holiday village with a miniature train takes center stage at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. New this year, Disney’s Contemporary Resort will be home to an 18-foot-tall Cinderella Castle, crafted with thousands of gingerbread blocks, rolled fondant and modeling chocolate.
  11. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: It’s a Christmas party like no other! Each special ticket, limited-attendance event features an exclusive performance of Holiday Wishes fireworks, and the very first performances of other spectaculars like Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, the Frozen Holiday Wish castle-lighting ceremony and Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration stage show. The special party, complete with cookies, cocoa and snow flurries, begins at 7 p.m., after regular park hours. Parties will be held on November 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 26 and 28, and December 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 22.
  12. Meet Santa Claus: A cozy conversation with Father Christmas, himself, makes the holiday season complete. Santa Clauswill park hop to greet guests at Disney Springs and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. He’ll even make an appearance during Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade at Magic Kingdom Park.
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11 Tips on How to Plan a Fun Disney World Vacation for the Whole Family

Disney World is one of the top destinations for a fun-filled family vacation, because it has something for everyone, from babies to great-grandparents! But planning a group vacation with kids of all ages can be quite stressful, both before and once you’re there.

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Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail Debuts Extended Weekend and Holiday Hours

The holiday season has arrived at Disney Springs®, and it’s not only here, but it’s bigger and better than ever. That goes for everything from holiday shopping to entertainment, and of course, to the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail!

Back for its second year, the Tree Trail now boasts 25 Disney-inspired trees, including ten additions featuring iconic characters. Wondering what’s new? Peter Pan, Robin Hood, Sleeping Beauty, Pinocchio, Snow White, Dumbo, Fantasia, and Lady and the Tramp now take center stage with trees themed to these beloved stories. There’s also a tree featuring an assortment of ornaments that are all available at the nearby Disney’s Days of Christmas store.

Based on the popularity of this new seasonal staple, hours have been extended an additional hour every Friday and Saturday and also on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The Tree Trail is offered through the holiday season, and will run through Jan. 7, 2018. The updated operating hours are as follows:

Monday – Thursday:   12-10 p.m.
Friday – Saturday:  10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Sunday:  10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Christmas Eve, 12/24:  10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Christmas Day, 12/25:  10 a.m.-11 p.m.

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Disney Races to Top of Disc Sales Charts with ‘Cars 3’

Disney’s “Cars 3” topped the NPD VideoScan First Alert sales chart, which tracks combined DVD and Blu-ray Disc unit sales, and the dedicated Blu-ray Disc sales chart for a second consecutive week, holding off a surge from Universal’s “Atomic Blonde” the week ended Nov. 18.

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10 EXPERIENCES FOR THE 2018 EPCOT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

As we’ve previously shared, the Epcot® International Festival of the Arts will return in 2018 to celebrate all things art – performing, visual and culinary.

Here’s a look at some of the can’t-miss experiences that you can enjoy at this year’s event:

Art of Topiaries – Our Disney horticulture team will be showing guests how we create some of the amazing signature Walt Disney World®topiaries.

Watermelon Carving –  A watermelon will be artfully carved while guests receive great tips and tricks to use at their next party.

Magic with Water – The Disney Photo Imaging team will discuss tips and tricks for taking great photos around water; including swimming pools, play fountains, waterfalls, and even in the rain. Guests will also learn about using camera settings, lenses, and locations to get the best results.

Animated Flip Books – This session is animation 101 where guests will have the opportunity to create their own animated Flip Book while going over the fundamental principles of animation with one of our Disney animators.

Food Styling 101 – If guests love taking photos of amazing dishes, this is your experience. The session will look at the basics of what goes into making food photo- and video-ready. Lessons include going from ingredients to a beautiful hero shot, talking tricks and tools of the trade and sharing tips to make their own food photography shine.

Inspiring Floral –  This workshop will share floral design principles along with Disney-inspired creations to help guests bring the magic of Disney home at any time of the year.

Handcrafted Calligraphy – It’ll be difficult not to have fun learning the basics of pointed pen calligraphy. This workshop will cover topics such as mastering faux calligraphy, how to hold an oblique pen, letter formation, common issues guests may run into, and which paths they can take with their new skill.

Phone Cam Photography – This photography session from Disney Photo Imaging is for everyone! Guests will learn how to maximize the capabilities of their phone’s camera to improve your photos. Lighting adjustment, color adjustment, taking High Dynamic Range photos, time lapse, and how to edit photos are just a few of the topics on the agenda.

Handwritten Typography – Nothing is more personal than typography created by hand and at this workshop, a Walt Disney World Resort creative service manager will teach guests how to draw their own hand drawn typography to create personalized gifts and cards.

Storytelling Drawings – A single drawing can tell a story – and this workshop will show guests how to do it. A Disney animator will share the art of quick sketching from life. Gesture drawing of people covered in this session is a foundational practice for animators, storyboard artists, and directors.

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2016 NCAA National Champion Villanova Wildcats Headline 2018 AdvoCare Invitational Tournament Field at Walt Disney World

The Villanova Wildcats – the 2016 NCAA men’s basketball national champions – headline the field of teams set to participate in the 2018 AdvoCare Invitational tournament at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort.

The Wildcats will be joined by Alabama-Birmingham, the College of Charleston, Florida State, Louisiana State, Memphis and Oklahoma State. The eighth and final team will be announced at a later date.

The 2018 tournament will showcase the Wildcats, led by head coach Jay Wright, as well as mark the return of two other teams who are former AdvoCare Invitational champions.  The Florida State Seminoles were crowned tournament champions in 2009 after defeating Marquette 57-56 while the Memphis Tigers left town with the 2013 championship trophy in hand following a 73-68 win over Oklahoma State.

Villanova – currently ranked No. 4 in this week’s Associated Press poll – claimed its second national championship in 2016 (won its first in 1985) in thrilling fashion over No. 1 seed North Carolina, 77-74, at NRG Stadium in Houston when junior forward Kris Jenkins sank a buzzer-beating three-point shot as time expired to knock off the Tar Heels.

The shot was the first buzzer-beater on a three-pointer in national championship history.

The AdvoCare Invitational tournament’s previous winners include West Virginia (2017), Gonzaga (2016, 2012, 2008), Xavier (2015), Kansas (2014), Memphis (2013), Dayton (2011), Notre Dame (2010), Florida State (2009), NC State (2007) and Arkansas (2006).

The three-day tournament – which tips off Thanksgiving Weekend (Nov. 22-25, 2018) — is regarded by basketball experts as one of the best early season tune-ups for college hoops.

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Epcot Celebrates the Disney-Pixar Film ‘Coco’ with New Entertainment, Interactive Exhibits

At Epcot® This holiday season, guests will get a taste of the magic and music of Disney•Pixar’s blockbuster film “Coco,” which is now playing in theaters.

From now until Jan. 6, 2018, El Mariachi Coco de Santa Cecilia, a new musical group inspired by the film, will entertain guests at the Mexico Pavilion. Named for the town of Santa Cecilia seen in the film, El Mariachi Coco de Santa Cecilia perform songs from the movie including the beautiful “Remember Me” and the heartwarming “The World Es Mi Familia.”

The film “Coco” revolves around Miguel, who dreams of becoming an accomplished musician – despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events during the celebration of the Dia de Muertos. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.

Later this season, Mexico Folk Art Gallery, which currently houses a spectacular collection of “Dia De Muertos” artwork, also will feature an interactive exhibit and festive dioramas showcasing scenes from the film.

In addition to this new musical experience, guests can enjoy “Las Posadas,” featuring colorful dancers and performers from Mariachi Cobre celebrating the holiday customs of Mexico during the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays.

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