New D23 Member Only Events

WDWNT on October 8, 2009

Today, D23 announced 3 new member events, 2 of which are taking place in California. The first event is D23’s Candlelight Spectacular at Disneyland:

For more than 50 years, Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional and Ceremony has heralded in the Christmas season at “The Merriest Place on Earth.” This year, Candlelight serves as the centerpiece of D23’s first holiday season celebration during a magical day of festivities created exclusively for our members and their guests.

The day begins at 10 a.m. when guests can begin checking in. Theme park admission is included so you can enjoy all the holiday splendor and merriment of Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure at your own pace. You’ll enjoy reserved seating at Disneyland’s perennial favorite, A Christmas Fantasy Parade, and expect a few more surprises as well!

As night falls, you’ll gather inside Stage 17 at Disney’s California Adventure where a winter wonderland awaits. Make sure you don’t eat too many holiday treats during the day, because Disneyland’s Executive Chef has prepared a dazzling, sumptuous holiday feast for you to enjoy with your fellow D23 members. As you dine, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Pluto and their pals — all decked out in their holiday finery — will keep you in the highest of holiday spirits with special entertainment that will have you humming and singing along!

Following dinner, you’ll be escorted to your reserved seats for the Candlelight Processional and Ceremony, where you’ll experience the breathtaking majesty of this retelling of the Christmas story. Hosted by a celebrity narrator and performed by the Disneyland Orchestra, the Disney Employee Choir (which makes up the ceremony’s iconic living Christmas tree), bell choirs, trumpeters and a chorus of hundreds, the ceremony’s powerful music, traditional carols and poignant words will leave you with an even greater appreciation for the true meaning of Christmas.

At the conclusion of Candlelight, the evening continues as you are escorted back at Stage 17 for more holiday merriment. As you enjoy a sweet treat and some warm cocoa, the magic-makers at Disneyland will offer our guests a very special “behind-the-candles” look at the history of holiday traditions at Disneyland, as well as the special care and work that goes into making the parks look their best for the season. The team responsible for producing the Candlelight Ceremony will also join us to share their experiences and a surprise or two, and the Disney Employee Choir will entertain you with a rousing sing-along of your favorite carols in a toe-tapping medley that will close the evening on the right note. As you depart from this truly wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime experience, remember that D23 members never go home empty-handed, especially during the holidays! ‘Tis better to give!

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Sunday, December 6, 2009
Time: Check in begins at 10 a.m.
Location: Disneyland, Anaheim, Calif.
Tickets: Tickets will be available Thursday, October 15 at 10 a.m. PST. Members may bring up to three guests.
Cost: $275 per person

Included with the cost of your ticket:

  • A one-day Disneyland park hopper ticket. (Ticket is good only for use on December 6, 2009 and must be used by ticket purchaser.)
  • Private dinner and dessert inside Stage 17
  • Exclusive holiday show featuring your favorite Disney characters
  • Reserved seating for Candlelight Processional and Ceremony
  • Behind-the-scenes presentation about Candlelight and Disneyland at the holidays — with a “sweet treat”
  • Special gift for all guests from your friends at D23!

The second event, Disney and Dickens, will be held at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood:

Join Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and your fellow D23 members for an evening of Dickensian delights as you meet at the historic El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood to experience the new Robert Zemeckis film Disney’s A Christmas Carol, starring Jim Carey, Bob Hoskins and an all-star cast in this new retelling of Charles Dickens’ timeless holiday favorite. As you settle into your reserved VIP seat, enjoying tunes from the mighty Wurlitzer, the festive holiday pre-show and the film itself, make sure you don’t get too full from the complimentary popcorn and soda because following the movie, you’ll re-join the group for a holiday feast at the classic Los Angeles eatery, the Tam O’Shanter in the city’s Los Feliz area.

The Tam O’Shanter was a favorite restaurant for Walt Disney and his animators, and was often referred to as the Studio Commissary when Walt’s fledgling company was located in the neighborhood. From the moment you pull up to this quaint, cottage-like Scottish establishment, you will be transported to another time and place. Decked out in its holiday finest, the Tam is a cozy, traditional Scottish restaurant where Christmas goose and succulent prime rib await. As you dine with your fellow D23 members and their guests, you’ll have the opportunity to see Walt’s table, take a look at the wonderful artwork created by Disney animators for the Tam, and be entertained by Dickens Carolers, as well as an ensemble from the Disney Employee Choir, who will sing their favorite Disney Christmas songs.

So come with your appetite and warm up your vocal chords, because this will be anything but a silent night. Oh, and don’t forget that Christmas is a time of giving and your friends at D23 would never let you leave without a special holiday gift to commemorate the evening!

EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Thursday, December 10, 2009
Location: El Capitan Theatre and Tam O’Shanter Restaurant
Time: Check-in begins at the El Capitan at 6 p.m.; Screening begins at 7 p.m.
Tickets: Tickets will be available Thursday, October 15 at 10 a.m. PST. Members may bring up to three guests.
Cost: $95 per person

Included with the cost of your ticket:

  • VIP seating for the 7 p.m. showing of Disney’s A Christmas Carol
  • Popcorn bucket and soda
  • Three-course dinner at the Tam O’Shanter (includes soft drinks, coffee, and tea)
  • Valet parking at the Tam O’Shanter
  • Special presentation including a performance by the restaurant’s Dickens Carolers
  • Surprise gift for all guests from your friends at D23!

The final new event announced isn’t for California, so I’m not going to put it up here, but here’s the link to it just in case you’re interested. Be sure to keep an eye on the D23 Expo and Events page for when tickets go on sale October 15th.

“Holidays Around The World” by Chuck Mirarchi

WDWNT on October 8, 2009

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Visiting the Walt Disney World Resort can be daunting for even for the most seasoned Disney travelers, but visiting during the holidays can be truly overwhelming.  There are four theme parks, two water parks, the Downtown Disney district, twenty-one resort hotels, and not to mention the numerous water and sports activities available.  All of that alone is enough to keep someone busy on a vacation, but there are numerous special offerings that go under the radar of most visitors… and they shouldn’t.

Special events, backstage tours, and special dining events happen throughout various areas of the resort, but with one major difference: special events are offered for a limited time during the year and backstage tours and special dining events are typically offered year around.

First, we’ll take a look at special events.  These events typically happen around the same time of the year, every year. They are highly anticipated by those who know about them, but casual WDW visitor may not be aware.  Whether they are sporting events or holiday celebrations, many people build their Walt Disney World vacations around these happenings.

Both Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parade are popular events that take place at The Magic Kingdom. Because of the limited amount of tickets sold on select dates— 24 party days for Halloween and 19 party days for Christmas in 2009—these events tend to sell out quickly.  The general estimate is 20,000 tickets, but Disney does not release exactly how many they sell for each evening’s party.  It is best to purchase tickets in advance of course, but tickets can be purchased on the day-of the party if available.

Advance ticket purchase is the same for both parties.  After calling Disney (or purchasing online) and giving a credit card, tickets can be mailed or picked up upon your arrival.  If you’re already in the park on the day of the party, proceed to the Rose Garden near Cinderella’s Castle after 4:00 PM and Cast Members will swipe your party ticket and put a wristband on you.  Those holding party passes, but not planning on being in the park earlier, can typically head to the main gate at 4pm and look for specially designated Cast Members who will assist in getting you set up.  Although the Halloween and Christmas parties officially start at 7pm, guests will be admitted as early as 4pm.  When the park closes at 7pm to regular guests, only those guests with wristbands may stay.  Cast Members do check and will kindly escort out anyone not wearing a wristband.

Both events have similar set-ups: holiday-specific themed fireworks and parades, character meet-and-greets, access to some regular Magic Kingdom attractions, themed food and beverages, dance parties, and other specialty events and shows.

Read More about “Holidays Around The World” by Chuck Mirarchi

Magic Returning to the Main Street Magic Shop

WDWNT on October 7, 2009

According to the OC Register’s Around Disney blog:

The tricks and magicians are set to return to the classic Main Street Magic Shop at Disneyland next month.

Houdini’s Magic Shop is slated to take over as a private operator of the retail outlet when it re-opens in about a month, but it will keep the same Main Street Magic Shop name, Disney announced this week.

The shop closed Sunday so the store could be remodeled for Houdini’s takeover.

But even before it closed, the shop had lost its magic. Only generic Disney merchandise sat on the shelves in recent months, blogger Sally French reported.

Magic shops have a long tradition in Disneyland.

The first one — Merlin’s Magic Shop — opened near the Sleeping Beauty Castle on the park’s first day in 1955. The Main Street Magic Shop opened two years later. After Merlin’s closed in 1983, the Main Street location remained.

Actor Steve Martin got his start at Merlin’s and briefly worked at the Main Street shop.

While Disneyland has run the Main Street shop since 1965, it was previously run by an outside operator.

Houdini’s was selected because of its strong reputation and the fact that it holds rights to key magic tricks, said David Gill, a Disneyland spokesman. Plus, Houdini’s will employ certified magicians to do tricks for guests inside the shop.

Houdini’s has run shops since 1983 and has locations in 10 spots, including a kiosk at Downtown Disney.

“I’ve had a passion for magic since I was a young boy. I am thrilled to be able to share my enthusiasm with Disney guests from around the globe,” said founder Geno Munari in a prepared statement.

The magic shop employees were moved to other stores during the remodeling.