Jewelry designer Jane Pope Cooper shares her secrets to planning—and pulling off—a stress-free Disney family vacation.
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12 Ways to Celebrate the Holiday Season at the Disneyland Resort
The sparkle of the Diamond Celebration and the thrill of Star Wars Season of the Force make the holidays an ideal time to create magical memories with loved ones at the Disneyland Resort. From special holiday experiences and themed decorations to delicious treats and commemorative merchandise, guests will find lots of ways to celebrate at the Merriest Place on Earth.
- Experience the Dazzle of the Diamond Celebration: Each night at the Disneyland Resort, the all-new “Paint the Night” parade at Disneyland Park sparkles with more than 1.5 million twinkling lights and the “Disneyland Forever” fireworks spectacular illuminates the skies. During the show, animated sequences are projected onto the buildings of Main Street, U.S.A.; the façade of “it’s a small world”; the mist screens of Rivers of America; and the Matterhorn. Merchandise and food and beverage locations across the Disneyland Resort will continue to offer commemorative Diamond Celebration offerings during the holidays.
- Join the Worldwide Celebration at “it’s a small world” Holiday: From the brilliantly lit façade to the intricate details inside, “it’s a small world” Holiday is decked out in decorations that honor cultures across the globe and how they unite to celebrate the season.
- See Two Holidays Collide at Haunted Mansion Holiday: For the first time, the Hatbox Ghost joins Jack Skellington and his frightful friends from Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” as they host a “spirited” Halloween and Christmas celebration, filled with spooky surprises and eerily cheerful décor.
- Revel in the Merry Magic of “A Christmas Fantasy” Parade: Guests will witness the spirit of the season sweeping through Disneyland as Santa Claus and classic Disney characters merrily march down Main Street, U.S.A. in “A Christmas Fantasy” parade, a holiday tradition at the Disneyland Resort for more than 20 years.
- Snap a Photo with Santa: Between preparing for his famous flight on Christmas Eve and leading his reindeer in “A Christmas Fantasy” parade, Santa Claus visits Critter Country at Disneyland and Elias & Co. at Disney California Adventure Park to meet with guests and hear their holiday wishes.
- Delight in Special Holiday Dishes and Treats: Dining locations across the Disneyland Resort add even more merriment with delicious food, beverages and desserts guests may enjoy only during the holiday season. The classic peppermint bark and “snow-capped” dark chocolate peppermint gourmet apples may be found in the resort’s candy kitchens.
- Enjoy Two Different Shows at “World of Color”: This year, guests may enjoy two versions of the breathtaking nighttime spectacular “World of Color,” nightly at Disney California Adventure. The cast of 1,200 dancing fountains, lights and special effects honor the Diamond Celebration with the performance of “World of Color – Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Walt Disney” and the holidays with “World of Color – Winter Dreams.” Guests may check the park calendar for show times.
- Dance and Dine at Disney “¡Viva Navidad!”: José Carioca and Panchito of “The Three Caballeros” team up with Donald Duck to host a lively seasonal celebration at Disney California Adventure. Colorful “mojiganga” puppets, folklorico dancing, festive music and flavorful menu items at Paradise Pier honor Latino holiday traditions.
- Have a Flurry of Fun at “Olaf’s Snow Fest”: Stage 17 at Disney California Adventure transforms into an Arendellian winter wonderland with lively music, “Frozen”-inspired treats and an expansive play area with real snow. After zipping down the snow slide and building their own snowmen, guests may share a warm hug with Olaf.
- Take the Family to Downtown Disney Winter Village and “Olaf’s Frozen Ice Rink”: Just outside the parks in the Downtown Disney District, the entire family may enjoy a flurry of wintertime fun skating at “Olaf’s Frozen Ice Rink.” The charming chalets in the Downtown Disney Winter Village offer holiday shopping, each with its own selection of seasonal gifts or treats. Admission to “Olaf’s Frozen Ice Rink,” including skate rental and helmets, is $17 for adults and $15 for children ages nine and under.
- Race Through the Star Wars Galaxy on Hyperspace Mountain: A brand new experience during Season of the Force, the classic Space Mountain attraction in Tomorrowland is reimagined to transport guests right onto the front lines of an exciting X-Wing battle.
- Become Immersed in the Star Wars Saga at Star Wars Launch Bay: At the new Tomorrowland Expo Center at Disneyland, guests at Star Wars Launch Bay will celebrate the Star Wars saga with fun interactive experiences, including encounters with Star Wars characters, all part of the new Season of the Force.
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CODE.ORG AND DISNEY LAUNCH ‘STAR WARS: BUILDING A GALAXY WITH CODE’
Soon, students can take their first steps into the larger world of Star Wars game design.
Today, Code.org unveiled a Star Wars-themed computer science tutorial,“Star Wars: Building a Galaxy with Code,” featuring Princess Leia, C-3PO, and R2-D2, as well as Rey and BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The online lesson kicks off the third-annual global Hour of Code campaign, in honor of Computer Science Education Week, December 7-13, 2015.
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Why new SeaWorld-themed hotels would be better than acquiring existing inns
SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. wants hotels near its theme parks, yet there are still many details to determine before dirt is turned.
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Souther California Runners Assemble! Second Annual Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend at Disneyland – New Captain America 10K
Thousands of Southern California runners are among the approximately 28,000 entrants from across the United States and beyond assembling for the second annual Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend at Disneyland Resort this weekend. The super hero-themed race weekend involves kid races, a 5K, a half marathon and new this year, the Captain America 10K and the Infinity Gauntlet Challenge. Runners who complete both the half marathon and the 10K will earn the new and coveted Infinity Gauntlet Challenge medal, in addition to the half marathon and 10K medals.
The races take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 13-15 at Disneyland Resort. The half marathon starting line is on Disneyland Drive.
* Media interested in covering the 5K or half marathon must contact Disney Sports PR by 5 pm Thursday for credentials and directions.
Media must be on location no later than 4 am for live coverage of the start and finish lines for both races. Please exit I-5 on Katella Avenue and proceed to Disneyland Drive. The start line is located on Disneyland Drive, just south of Magic Way. Disney PR will escort television live trucks from Disneyland Drive and Paradise Way (the entrance of the Grand Californian) to the start line location. All other media may park in the parking garage.
EVENT SCHEDULE for Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend:
Avengers Super Heroes 5K • Start/Finish: Outside Disneyland Resort; half marathon start line on Disneyland Drive. • Friday, November 13 – 5:30 a.m.
Captain America 10K • Start/Finish: Outside Disneyland Resort; half marathon start line on Disneyland Drive. • Saturday, November 14 – 5:30 a.m.
Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon • Start/Finish: Outside Disneyland Resort; half marathon start line on Disneyland Drive. • Sunday, November 15 – 5:30 a.m.
runDisney Kids’ Races • Downtown Disney District • Saturday, November 14 – 9 a.m.
runDisney Heath and Fitness Expo • Disneyland Hotel Exhibit Hall • 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 12; 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Friday, November 13; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 14
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HARRY POTTER FILM STARS RUPERT GRINT, MATTHEW LEWIS, KATIE LEUNG, BONNIE WRIGHT AND EVANNA LYNCH TO APPEAR AT “A CELEBRATION OF HARRY POTTER” AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT
Harry Potter film stars Rupert Grint, Bonnie Wright, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch and Katie Leung will appear at “A Celebration of Harry Potter” – a special event hosted by Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. Consumer Products. Creative talent also set to appear includes Pierre Bohanna, head prop maker for the Harry Potter film franchise, Paul Harris, the world’s only Wand Combat choreographer, and designers Eduardo Lima and Miraphora Mina of MinaLima, who established the visual graphic style of the Harry Potter films.
“A Celebration of Harry Potter” will take place from January 29 – 31, 2016 at Universal Orlando, allowing fans to celebrate all of Harry’s adventures, from the beloved books to the feature films and more. Guests will enjoy three days of incredible experiences, including Q&A sessions with Harry Potter film talent, special panels and demonstrations with creative talent, and access to the Harry Potter Expo – where fans can enjoy the Sorting Hat experience, an interactive mini tour from Warner Bros. Studio Tour London and more.
Guests can also experience Harry Potter’s world for themselves by visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal’s Islands of Adventure and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. Vacation Package guests and those with a park-to-park ticket will also be able to board the iconic Hogwarts Express and enjoy a unique journey as they travel between King’s Cross Station and Hogsmeade Station.
Access to “A Celebration of Harry Potter” is included with regular theme park admission or with an annual pass, with admission to certain activities being granted on a first-come, first-served basis. While most of the activities for “A Celebration of Harry Potter” will be open to all Universal Orlando park guests and will take place at both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida theme parks, guests who purchase the exclusive event vacation package will enjoy certain special benefits and reserved sections for the panels and demonstrations.
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Disney World vs. Disneyland. Where You Should Go Right Now?
This week, Yahoo Travel is having a Disney winter standoff: Florida’s Walt Disney World vs. California’s Disneyland. Which park do you need to visit right now?
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DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS TO DEBUT NEW STAR WARS EXPERIENCES IN DECEMBER
Very soon, guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios® will have the opportunity to experience Star Wars in the park in an all-new way – every day! New experiences will open starting Dec. 1, 2015 bringing that galaxy far, far away, a little bit closer.
Star Tours – The Adventures Continue will be home to a brand new adventure inspired by the upcoming film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. During the opening months, Disney will make sure that everyone who rides Star Tours will experience the new adventure. After that, it will be up to the will of the Force.
Disney also has new information about “Star Wars: Path of the Jedi.” It will feature scenes from the complete Star Wars saga, also giving anyone new to the Star Wars galaxy an opportunity to get acquainted with the films.
Last, but certainly not least, is Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple, which will open in early December. This reimagined Jedi Training experience will take younglings to the secret site of an ancient Jedi temple where they will face Darth Vader along with the Seventh Sister – a new villain from the Disney XD series “Star Wars Rebels.”
And work begins next year on the 14-acre Star Wars-themed land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. With construction underway, unfortunately, Disney won’t be able to offer Star Wars Weekends. While Star Wars Weekends has been a great way to enjoy the saga for a few days every year, now the Force will be with Disney’s Hollywood Studios every day.
With Star Wars Launch Bay, the new Jedi Training experience, “Star Wars: Path of the Jedi,” and a new destination in the Star Tours attraction opening in December, you’ll be able to step into the Star Wars saga every time you visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
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Disney Donates $1.5 Million To Feeding America To Help Inspire Healthier Generations
Feeding America, the nation’s leading hunger-relief organization, salutes The Walt Disney Company for its $1.5 million donation, the vast majority of which will provide grants to 60 food banks across the nation to expand their local fresh produce sourcing and distribution programs. The donation will be announced on ABC’s “The Chew” today at1:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. CT/PT.
The ABC daytime series will also feature a segment about teenager Katie Stagliano, who founded Katie’s Krops, a youth-based garden initiative. During the segment, Katie will talk about how her childhood dream of helping the hungry has grown into 83 vegetable gardens tended by youth across the country, producing food for underserved children and families.
Disney’s support will help strengthen local produce sourcing programs in Feeding America member food banks across the country, ensure that food banks can handle larger amounts of fresh produce, and galvanize support from the produce industry and the public.
Increasing access to nutritious foods and engaging audiences to take action is a part of Disney Magic of Healthy Living’s long-standing commitment to creating healthier generations and promoting healthy lifestyles. Disney’s support of Feeding America helps the organization serve more than 12 million children each year.
In addition, Disney | ABC developed special TV spots to inspire communities to envision a future where kids and families have access to nutritious food. The spots—set to air throughout November and December on Disney Channel, Disney XD, ABC and ABC Family—encourage supporters to share the joy through single acts of kindness that can change the world.
“We are delighted that Disney is deepening its commitment to support Feeding America by helping to bring much-needed fresh fruits and vegetables to people facing hunger throughout our nation,” said Diana Aviv, CEO of Feeding America. “Together, along with the public’s support, our food bank network will be able to supply additional healthy fresh produce to help nourish kids and families in need.”
To find out more information and about volunteer opportunities at your local Feeding America food bank, visitFeedingAmerica.org/BeInspired. For more information about Disney’s commitment to helping to create healthier generations by increasing access to nutritious food, click here.
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Watch: ‘Finding Dory’ Trailer
Everyone’s favorite forgetful fish is back! Check out this exclusive first look at the much-anticipated film.
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