And you thought “Into the Woods” was Disney’s most highly anticipated event of the season. The first teaser trailer for “Descendants” hit the web on Friday, giving fans a glimpse at the wicked new TV movie hitting the Disney Channel in 2015.
The 31st Annual Disney Parks Christmas Day Special Gets a Frozen Makeover! Tune in for the Star-Studded Spectacular December 25 on ABC-TV
This holiday season, Disney will put a “Frozen” twist on its 31st annual Christmas Day telecast, appropriately renamed the “Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration” airing Dec. 25, 2014 on ABC-TV.
Robin Roberts of ABC’s “Good Morning America” will host the reimagined television special inspired by the blockbuster hit’s message of uniting family and loved ones. Roberts will lead the telecast from Walt Disney World Resort in Florida with support from GMA Contributor and ESPN and SEC Network analyst Tim Tebow.
They will be joined by Rob Marciano, senior meteorologist of ABC’s “Good Morning America” from the “The Happiest Place on Earth” at Disneyland Resort. Sarah Hyland, star of ABC’s Emmy award-winning show “Modern Family,” joins the fun from Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai‛i. The festivities will also feature a special appearance by Miss America 2015, Kira Kazantsev, making this year’s Christmas special a magical “Frozen” celebration not to be missed.
Disney Parks will celebrate this Christmas with more than a parade, but with a heartfelt wish for the holiday season, the coming together of loved ones and family. In keeping with the spirit of “Frozen” where two sisters are united through the power of true love, Disney will bring together three groups of families and friends who have been apart or separated for the holidays, providing the ultimate Christmas gift. The reunions will take place at three magical Disney destinations – Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, and Aulani – making these reunions bigger, brighter and merrier.
The joyous occasion will fittingly include a special rendition of the “Frozen” hit single, “Let It Go,” as performed by 12-year-old YouTube sensation, Lexi Walker.
There will also be festive performances from some of today’s top musical talents at each of the various Disney locations:
- Ariana Grande will regale Walt Disney World Resort guests with her new Christmas single “Santa Tell Me” and the Christmas tradition “Last Christmas”
- Prince Royce adds to the merriment with “I Want to Wish You a Merry Christmas/Feliz Navidad”
- The spotlight also will shine on special performances from the X Factor USA third and final season winners Alex and Sierra singing “Love is an Open Door” from “Frozen”
- Yuletide cheer will be brought to the Hawaiian Islands by Gavin DeGraw, performing his latest single “Fire” and the holiday standard “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”
- Laura Marano, of Disney Channel’s “Austin & Ally,” entertains viewers with her version of “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” as posed by Princess Anna in “Frozen”
- Trey Songz, Lucy Hale and Train will serenade audiences at Disneyland Resort in California with holiday favorites such as “All I Want for Christmas is You,” “Mistletoe,” and “Shake Up Christmas”
- Country music superstar Trisha Yearwood will perform her hit single, “Prizefighter,” and the holiday classic, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
Holiday Spirit Brought to Life
Celebrate the most wonderful time of year with familiar Disney friends and holiday characters as they spread Christmas joy and cheer at Disneyland Park in California and along parade routes at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida:
*characters/floats subject to change
- The “Frozen” stars of the parade, Elsa and Anna, return from Arendelle to join the royal court and ring in the holidays on Main Street, U.S.A. at Walt Disney World Resort
- Olaf, the summer-loving snowman from “Frozen,” joins hundreds of Dance the Magic youth performers in front of Cinderella Castle for a musical number to “In Summer”
- Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty makes her holiday debut as the steampunk-inspired fire-breathing dragon, as featured in the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade
- A new Club Penguin float joins the procession highlighting the holiday special, “We Wish You a Merry Walrus”
- The superheroes of Big Hero 6 take a break from saving the world to wish onlookers happy holidays
- The National Cheerleaders Association and National Dance Alliance Performance Cheer Team, featuring 800 members from 41 states, entertain park guests lining Main Street, U.S.A.
- Boys and Girls Club National Youth of the Year winner, Maryah Sullivan, appears in the regal coach from the upcoming live action film, Cinderella
- Traditional Christmas favorites such as Toy Soldiers and Gingerbread Men get their time in the spotlight to make the season merry and bright
- After a long night of delivering presents, the jolly man in the red suit, Santa Claus, finishes his route on Main Street, U.S.A.
Tune in for the “Frozen” Magic and Merriment
The “Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration” airs December 25, 2014 on ABC-TV at 10 a.m. EST. Other airtimes vary; check local listings in your market.
Guests are encouraged to visit disney.com/disneyparkschristmas for details on the telecast, local broadcast times and talent updates. Guests can also join the conversation online using the hashtag #DisneyParade.
Captain Jack Sparrow on Castaway Cay
WDW Daily News’ Morgan Turner was on Castaway Cay and has a video of Captain Jack Sparrow on the island.
Post by WDW Daily News.
Why Marvel Doesn’t Need Spider-Man to Make ‘Captain America: Civil War’
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Marvel reveals plot details for Ant-Man movie
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Disney’s Pirate Adventure Cruises Offer Little Buccaneers a Swashbuckling Good Time by Kate Melody
Ahoy Matey! If you are looking for a new vacation adventure for your kids, or a treat to mark a special occasion, you may want to consider one of Disney’s Pirate Adventure Cruises. Cruises are available for children ages 4 to 12 years old, and depart from four different locations. Each cruise is manned by skilled Disney Cast Members, and is a 2 hour kids only experience!
Young pirates set sail aboard their trusty vessel wearing pirate bandanas and life vests, but not until they have given their pirate oath! While sailing, kids enjoy pirate stories, visit ports of call, and follow clues to locate the hidden treasure chest. A small snack is included, and at the end of their cruise, if they are lucky enough to find the hidden treasure they are rewarded with a small goody bag of pirate “loot”.
We sent our three boys on “Disney’s Pirate Adventure” which departed from Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. All three had a good time, especially the younger two who were 6 and 8 at the time. Our oldest, who was turning 11 thought perhaps he was a bit too old for the experience. This may or may not be true, however, and could simply be due to the fact that his younger brothers figured out the “clues” faster that he did! We stayed to watch their pirate orientation and departure, but then we enjoyed a few hours of time without the kids. After their cruise the kids couldn’t wait to fill us in on all the stories!
Cruises depart daily at 9:30 and are currently priced at $37. Discounts can sometimes be available, and we were able to receive 10% off for being a Disney Vacation Club Member. You can choose from:
Disney’s Pirate Adventure – Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Islands of the Caribbean Pirate Cruise – Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Albatross Treasure Cruise – Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts
Bayou Pirate Adventure – Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
If you are interested in one of the cruises, I highly recommend me hearty, that you make a reservation. Call 1-407-WDW-Play to avoid any last minute disappointment, or you might have to walk the plank!
TEEN SUPERSTAR ZENDAYA STARS IN “K.C. UNDERCOVER,” A SPY-COMEDY SERIES FOR KIDS, TWEENS AND FAMILIES, PREMIERING SUNDAY, JANUARY 18 ON DISNEY CHANNEL
Multi-talented actress and recording artist Zendaya (ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” Disney Channel’s long-running hit “Shake It Up”) stars in and also co-produces “K.C. Undercover,” a live-action spy-comedy series for kids, tweens and families, premiering SUNDAY, JANUARY 18 (8:30 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel. The premiere episode will be available on WATCH Disney Channel at midnight THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, allowing both verified and new WATCH Disney platform users to watch via their desktop, mobile and connected TV devices that day. The series was created by Corinne Marshall (“Surviving Jack,” “Suburgatory”) and is executive-produced by Rob Lotterstein (“Shake It Up”).
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Pixar is widely heralded as the gold standard for what animation should be: Adult themes told in kids movies set to gorgeous backdrops.
Entering into the World of Fantasy by Jenn Romano
How many times have you seen this sign? If you are a casual park visitor, then you probably have passed by this sign many times. You can find it as you walk into the Magic Kingdom, past the Mickey floral, and under the train station. I took the picture above as we entered Disneyland in California for the first time. Of course, a similar sign can be found in Disneyland’s Florida counterpart. This sign is your welcome into the Magic Kingdom, the place where dreams can come true. Sure, pixie dust and magic can’t make you fly in real life, but maybe it can brighten your day for just a little while. This plaque is more than just a sign; it is an instruction manual to enjoying Disney Parks.
As you enter the Magic Kingdom, you need to leave behind all that bothers you, and then you can enter into a world of fantasy where life doesn’t have to be so difficult, even if only just for a few days, even just a few hours. You can explore the world of the future as well as the past with a visit to the Magic Kingdom’s many lands and attractions. Of course, you can delve into your imagination when you visit the land of fantasy. How you experience a Disney Park is a conscious choice that you make when you step foot onto the grounds.
Many people are constantly critical of the choices that Disney makes for rides and additions to the parks. I am not going to say that I agree with all of the choices that Disney management makes, but I am not going to dwell on each thing that I dislike about the minutia of the park. I try to follow the instructions on this sign; I want to enjoy what is present in the parks and get lost in the escapism that the parks can provide. If you just let yourself go and focus on all that is positive in the parks, perhaps you can truly do what this sign suggests. You need to enter the land of fantasy and step into a carefully constructed version of reality.
When you walk into a Magic Kingdom park, take a look at this sign and try to put yourself into the right mindset for enjoying the parks. Try to silence your phone, disconnect from the real world, and enjoy all that the Disney Parks offer. They are as much fun as you make them; if you truly commit to the show that is being put on, you can really give yourself a mental vacation. Sure, you can complain about the heat or the lines or the one light bulb that is burnt out, but wouldn’t it be more fun to be a part of the magic and just sit back and be a part of the show? Give these tips a try, and I guarantee that your Disney experience will be worthwhile! Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!
