You’re getting two Christmas specials from Disney Parks, both will be on ABC, and the first arrives late this month.
What’s New for the Holidays at the Disneyland Resort, Returning November 10 Through January 7
At Disney California Adventure® Park, Festival of Holidays will bring a new take on delicious holiday comfort food. All-new cultural favorites are coming to the Festive Foods Marketplaces, including Beef Corn Tamale a la Plancha with Spicy Rojo Sauce, Braised Lamb Cheeks with Mediterranean Cauliflower, Sweet Potato Pie and Fruit and Nut Rugelach.
In Cars Land, Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters will transform into Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl, and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree will become Mater’s Jingle Jamboree, both featuring new holiday tunes for the season.
All of this is, of course, is in addition to the return of Disney ¡Viva Navidad! and “World of Color – Season of Light” at Disney California Adventure Park. At Disneyland Park, Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, “Believe…in Holiday Magic” fireworks, “A Christmas Fantasy” parade, “it’s a small world” Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday will delight guests throughout the season.
Meet Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, Darth Vader & More During Star Wars Day at Sea
When Star Wars Day at Sea returns on 15 special sailings aboard the Disney Fantasy this January through April, guests will have more opportunities than ever to meet your favorite Star Wars characters on a Disney cruise.
New in 2018, guests are guaranteed a time to meet and take photographs with C-3PO and R2-D2, Chewbacca and Darth Vader. Before they even step onboard, they’ll have the chance to reserve time with these character experiences online under the My Disney Cruise section of disneycruise.com.
These encounters are just some of the ways guests can celebrate the legendary adventures and iconic characters from the Star Wars galaxy. The event features a full day of fun, including Star Wars-themed family and youth activities, plus a deck party spectacular with an extraordinary fireworks display.
For a glimpse at the day’s epic fun and some of the other Star Wars characters you may encounter, take a look at this video.
Houston Astros Star Players “Going to Disney World!” For World Series Victory Parade Saturday at Magic Kingdom Park
After the city of Houston revels in the Astros’ first-ever World Series victory, the heroes of the club’s championship team will be “Going to Disney World’’ for a magical celebration Saturday, November 4 at the place where dreams come true, Walt Disney World Resort. World Series MVP George Springer and star players Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa will be honored with a historic victory parade down Main Street, U.S.A., at Magic Kingdom Park, providing yet another example of the power of magic at Disney Parks.
Thanks in part to the heroics of Springer, Altuve and Correa, the Astros took the best-of-seven-game series by winning the deciding Game 7 Wednesday night in Los Angeles. The 5-1 victory delivered the team its first World Series title in its 56-year history.
Springer came up big for the Astros throughout the World Series. He hit .379 with seven RBIs and five home runs, including a two-run blast to help the Astros win Game 2 in the 11th inning. He was also the driving force in the series-clinching Game 7, starting the game with a double and then adding a two-run home run that helped power Houston to a commanding 5-0 lead. His five home runs tied a World Series record and eight extra-base hits are the most in series history.
Altuve, who led the American League in hitting during the regular season and hit .310 in the postseason, delivered in the clutch for the Astros throughout the World Series, hitting two home runs and driving in six runs. His biggest contribution came in Game 5 when he belted a three-run homer and drove in another run that helped propel his team to an improbable 13-12 win in 10 innings.
Correa was one of the team’s most consistent hitters, blasting two home runs and driving in five runs in the World Series. And he stole the hearts of nearly everyone in Game 7, getting a hit in the 6th inning before getting engaged to his girlfriend minutes after the team captured the World Series championship.
In all, the Astros’ championship run was a storybook accomplishment with plenty of heart. For a few unforgettable weeks of postseason baseball capped by the World Series, the Astros gave the city of Houston something to cheer about and rally around. With the city and surrounding communities ravaged by the impact of Hurricane Harvey, the Astros proved that “Houston Strong’’ was more than just a patch on their uniforms.
Many Astros players personally pitched in with on-the-ground, roll-up-their-sleeves help for hurricane victims. And the team donated $4 million to hurricane relief efforts, joining others such as Disney, which raised nearly $16 million toward the cause and sent its beloved characters Mickey and Minnie Mouse to Houston to visit displaced residents in shelters.
The Astros’ celebratory parade Saturday at 12:45 p.m. at Walt Disney World Resort will continue a tradition at Disney Parks of honoring extraordinary sports champions. Star players from Major League Baseball’s last world championship team, the Chicago Cubs, were honored with a Walt Disney World Resort parade in 2016.
DISNEY TWENTY-THREE EXPLORES THE WORLD OF DISNEY•PIXAR’S COCO
Disney twenty-three will take readers into the Land of the Dead with an exclusive sneak peek of Disney•Pixar’s new film, Coco. Rooted in the Mexican holiday Día de Los Muertos, Coco follows young Miguel (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez) on his quest to become a musician—despite his family’s wishes—which inadvertently leads him into the Land of the Dead. The creative team, including Oscar®-winning composer Michael Giacchino and Anthony Gonzalez, provide readers an inside look at the story behind this magical tale, which opens nationwide this Thanksgiving.
Accompanying Coco—both in theaters and in Disney twenty-three—is the next chapter in the Frozen story: Olaf’s Frozen Adventure. Members of the cast and production team take us back to Arendelle for this new holiday classic, which shines a spotlight on the importance of family and family traditions. “A movie like this taps into more than just the holiday spirit—it explores the meaning behind that spirit, the traditions that bring us all together as family,” Josh Gad (Olaf) says. “It’s very powerful.”
Star Wars: The Last Jedi also hits theaters this holiday season, and Disney twenty-three talks exclusively with director Rian Johnson about this highly anticipated chapter in the Skywalker saga. Joining the crew is newcomer Kelly Marie Tran, who reveals how much she loves the character she portrays and how she pulled off a great practical joke on the set of the epic film.
Step into San Fransokyo once more as Disney twenty-three explores Big Hero 6’s big move to the small screen on Disney XD, and get a peek at the Pixar magic coming to Disney theme parks around the world, including Toy Story Land at Walt Disney World Resort and Pixar Pier at Disneyland Resort. Plus, film critic and historian Leonard Maltin celebrates 80 years of the film that started it all, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. And remember Disney Legend Marty Sklar with a touching tribute from Disney twenty-three’s Editor-in-Chief.
Unwrap the Magic of the Holidays on a Special Tour at Walt Disney World Resort
With the holiday season just around the corner, the Walt Disney World®Resort is quickly becoming a winter wonderland. Are you interested in learning the secrets behind this magical, festive transformation? The Disney’s Yuletide Fantasy and Disney’s Holiday D-Lights tours offer the chance to go behind the scenes of the astonishing annual decorating efforts throughout the Theme Parks and Resorts.
Disney’s Yuletide Fantasy takes you backstage to learn just how Walt Disney World Resort gets dressed up for the holiday season and watch the “elves” themselves, the Cast Members of Holiday Services at work. From holiday celebrations around the world at Epcot to the traditional trimmings of Main Street U.S.A. you won’t want to miss this dazzling wonderland of holiday secrets.
Disney’s Holiday D-Lights is offered on 12 select nights throughout the season. Your Clients can meet with Event & Decorating Support Cast Members and discover how some of the most cherished holiday customs are brought to light at Epcot® and Magic Kingdom® Park. You will also learn how Cast Members decorate Cinderella Castle with thousands of twinkling lights and experience the iconic Candlelight Processional.
Be sure you don’t miss out on unwrapping the holiday magic! Disney’s Yuletide Fantasy and Disney’s Holiday D-Lights are only offered seasonally throughout November and December. Call 407-WDW-Tour for reservations.
PIXAR PIER TO BRING NEW INCREDICOASTER AND MORE TO DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE PARK SUMMER 2018
Summer 2018 will bring a transformed land for guests to experience at Disney California Adventure® Park when Pixar Pier opens along the southern shore of Paradise Bay, with newly themed attractions, entertainment, foods and merchandise throughout. This new, permanent land in the area that is now Paradise Pier will introduce four new neighborhoods representing beloved Disney·Pixar stories.
The popular Toy Story Mania! will anchor the “Toy Story”-inspired neighborhood. A neighborhood inspired by “Inside Out” will be found on the western side of the boardwalk and will welcome a new family-friendly attraction, scheduled to open at a later date.
The fourth neighborhood will be a celebration of many favorite Pixar stories. In this neighborhood, Mickey’s Fun Wheel will have a new look, with each of the 24 gondolas featuring different Pixar characters and the iconic face of Mickey Mouse remaining on the Paradise Bay side of the wheel. At the Games of the Boardwalk, which already includes the Bullseye Stallion Stampede game, all of the midway games will be inspired by Pixar characters. Mickey’s Fun Wheel, Games of the Boardwalk and Sideshow Shirts will close Jan. 8, 2018 to begin this transformation.
Ariel’s Grotto restaurant and the Cove Bar will be transformed into a new lounge and grill offering sparkling views of Paradise Bay and the new Pixar Pier. Both locations will close Jan. 8, 2018, with Cove Bar reopening briefly in April before closing again for its permanent transformation. Guests wishing to reserve “World of Color” dining packages after Jan. 7, 2018, may consider Carthay Circle Restaurant or Wine Country Trattoria.
The remaining areas of the land that is now Paradise Pier, including Paradise Gardens, Silly Symphony Swings, Jumpin’ Jellyfish, Goofy’s Sky School, Golden Zephyr and The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, will become a new land called Paradise Park.
Pixar Pier will open during the limited-time Pixar Fest celebration, which begins April 13, 2018. The celebration will include the new “Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular” fireworks spectacular as well as the return of Pixar Play Parade and “Paint the Night” parade, and much more throughout the entire Disneyland® Resort.
Oh, Boy! We’re Celebrating Mickey Mouse’s Birthday at Disney Parks November 18
The big cheese is at it again! Mickey Mouse is headed out on another intrepid adventure to celebrate his birthday with some of his biggest fans, and you can join in on the #HappyBirthdayMickey fun at all of the Disney Parks around the world. Let’s take a closer look at what’s in store.
Disneyland® Resort will host a celebration cavalcade for Mickey Mouse, featuring some of his special friends and the Disneyland Band, starting at “it’s a small world” and pausing for a special moment at Sleeping Beauty Castle before continuing down Main Street, U.S.A., to Town Square. There will be plenty of chances to sing “Happy Birthday” along the way, and of course, “Happy Birthday, Mickey!” buttons will be distributed to park Guests.
Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland Paris is also where the party’s at! Be prepared to celebrate Mickey’s birthday just before “Disney Magic on Parade,” as well as during the Lucky Nugget Saloon show at Disneyland park and in “Mickey and the Magician” at Walt Disney Studios park. And what’s a birthday without cake? Guests can find plenty to snack on at locations around the resort.
Guests at Hong Kong Disneyland can pick up a special Mickey Birthday pin and a special edition Times Guide in honor of everyone’s favorite mouse. At Shanghai Disney Resort and Tokyo Disney Resort, guests will have the chance to sing “Happy Birthday” and join in unique photo opportunities.
Leading up to the big day, Mickey Mouse will take off to exciting destinations such as Japan, Chile, Canada, China, England and the United States, sharing magical moments on Disney’s Mickey Mouse Facebook and Instagram pages. He will then bring a few more surprises when he visits the Good Morning America studios in New York City on Nov. 15, 2017. You can share their favorite moments using the hashtag #HappyBirthdayMickey and join us in celebrating the one and only Mickey Mouse!
Choza De Margarita Opens Soon at Mexico Pavilion in Epcot World Showcase at Walt Disney World
Construction walls will be coming down shortly at the Mexico Pavilion at Epcot® World Showcase as the new Choza de Margarita nears completion, a cool new walk-up window for authentic Mexican beverages and street fare.
“Choza” is the Spanish word for “hut,” and the outdoor bar sits in the shadow of the iconic Mexico pyramid. The menu offers three hand-crafted margaritas, three frozen margaritas, three Mexican beers and a non-alcoholic Mexican fruit punch with orange, pineapple and grapefruit juices and a splash of grenadine.
Small bites include Tacos al Pastor with grilled pork on fresh homemade corn tortillas with green tomatillo sauce, onion, pineapple and cilantro; Empanadas de Barbacoa with beef, topped with chipotle sauce, Mexican cream and queso fresco; and fresh guacamole with mango chutney, pumpkin and pomegranate seeds, served with fried flour chicharrones and salsa Valentina, an authentic Mexican hot sauce.
On a hot Florida day, guests can take their pick from one of the three frozen margaritas: Lime (tequila blanco, lime sweet & sour, orange liquor and agave nectar), Wild Strawberry (tequila blanco, strawberry and prickly pear puree, violet flower liquor and lime juice), or Passion Mango (tequila blanco, orange liqueur, wild passion fruit and mango puree).
The hand-crafted, on-the-rocks varieties include Acan Grapefruit (Casa Noble Blanco Tequila, grapefruit liqueur, elderflower cordial, lemon juice, cardamom bitters and ginger beer), Lime Cucumber (Avión Blanco Tequila, fresh cucumber, orange liqueur, lime juice and agave nectar), and Guava Pink Peppercorn (Zignum Mexcal Reposado, guava nectar, grapefruit liqueur, lime juice, Peychaud’s Bitters and pink peppercorns).
Beyonce Confirms Role as Nala in Disney’s Live-Action ‘The Lion King’
Beyonce confirmed the role on her Facebook account in a post that contained the rest of the voice cast, which also revealed that Keegan-Michael Key will be playing a hyena named Kamari.
