Jamie Nakagiri’s 12/31/10 NYE DLR Photo Report
Jamie Nakagiri was at Disneyland for New Years and has some photos to share of the festivities and the crowds.
Short lines for New Years
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DCA Rings In The New Year With a Bang!!
Happy New Year Everybody!! To celebrate the new year, DCA held a “Fountains and Fireworks” show utilizing the World of Color fountains AND fireworks launched from the lagoon and backstage to create quite a sight to see…
Walt Disney World’s July 4, 2010 Plans
If you’ll be spending the very busy July 4th holiday at Walt Disney World, you may want to take note of the following:
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Guests celebrating the Fourth of July at Walt Disney World Resort will have a choice of fireworks shows as Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios present special pyrotechnics, and Epcot adds a patriotic “tag” to its famous “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” spectacular. Here’s what’s in store (entertainment and park hours are subject to change without notice):
Magic Kingdom – “Celebrate America Fireworks” will fill the sky at 9 p.m. July 4 (guests who’d like to begin the celebratory weekend a day early can enjoy the special fireworks on July 3 at 9 p.m.). After the fireworks, guests can enjoy Disney’s “Main Street Electrical Parade” of lights, music and magic at 10 p.m. and midnight on July 4 (on July 3, the parade will be at 10:30 p.m.). Park hours on July 4 are 8 a.m.-1 a.m.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Special fireworks set to a rock ‘n’ roll soundtrack will be presented at 9:50 p.m. on July 4, providing guests with a bonus nighttime entertainment extravaganza to complement “Fantasmic!” (which will be at 9 and 10:30 p.m.). Park hours on July 4 are 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Epcot – “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” which features dazzling special effects, colorful lasers, brilliant fireworks, and fiery torches all choreographed to a musical score, becomes even more dynamic on July 4 as the normal show is supplemented with a patriotic finale. The performance begins at 10 p.m. Earlier in the day, guests will be treated to the Voices of Liberty 4th of July Concert – featuring an expanded cast of singers plus the Spirit of America Fife and Drum Corps and Disney characters – at 12:30, 1:45 and 3 p.m. on the America Gardens Theatre stage. Park hours on July 4 are 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Guests can enjoy all the regular attractions and shows on July 4 from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Summer Nightastic! Video Spectacular
We apologize for the lack of updates on the site lately, we’ve had a lot going on as we prepare for a number of new projects and continue to cover Summer Nightastic! at both the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts. In the meantime, here are some videos of the first performances of the Main Street Electrical Parade and the Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Spectacular from this weekend (embedded via the WDWNTube):
Passholder Not-So-Exclusive Summer Nightastic! Preview
Disney has confirmed that the Main Street Electrical Parade and Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Spectacular will debut on June 5th at the Magic Kingdom for what is being called a Passholder preview:
Clear your calendar for Saturday, June 5, 2010, and get over to theMagic Kingdom® Park for an advance viewing of the return of perhaps the most beloved and adored Disney parade in history! The Main Street Electrical Parade is back as part of Summer Nightastic! Check it out at 9 and 11 p.m., or both!
Plus! That same night, Passholders* can check out the new Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Spectacular at 10 p.m., with special light effect viewing glasses, provided free to who? Passholders, that’s who. Pick up your free glasses between 4 and 8 p.m. at the Rose Garden entrance near Tomorrowland® and enjoy the show.
To learn more about the special advance viewing of Summer Nightastic! for Passholders, go to disneyworld.com/passholder.
*Weekday Select and Epcot® After 4pm Passholders are welcome but will require admission to Magic Kingdom Park.
While listed as a passholder preview, the park is open to the general public during these performances. The only real perks for Passholders are that they are being informed about these preview performances (it is still advertised as Spectromagic and Wishes! performing on the DisneyWorld.com calendar) and are provided the strange glasses usually distributed at the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Details on Summer Nightastic! “Tower of Terror” Enhancements & Fireworks
We finally have details on what guests can expect when the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios debuts a special ride experience for Summer Nightastic!, from the Mickey Monitor passholder publication:
As part of Summer Nightastic!, Walt Disney Imagineers came up with even more unexpected thrills in the Hollywood Tower Hotel! If you listen closely, you can hear the distant rumble of thunder, not to mention the giggles from the disembodied voice of a child. New lighting and sound effects will add to the new experience, bringing Guests into the eerie halls of the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Throughout the summer, you’ll find the eerie blue lights and lightning crashing around The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. It’s your chance to take your summer fun to a whole new dimension!
Details have also emerged on the “Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Spectacular”, also from the latest Mickey Monitor newsletter:
“Summer nights are so special there’s no better word for them than ‘Nightastic!,’” said Chris Oyen, Show Director, Walt Disney Entertainment.
“Nighttime adds mystery, romance and magic. That’s what we hear Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother tell us when the Summer Nightastic! fireworks
spectacular begins.”Drawn to the magic
“When they hear this, Aurora’s Godmothers— Flora, Fauna and Merryweather—are drawn to the magic,” Chris said. “They help the Magic Kingdom® skies burst with fireworks in perfect synch with great Disney songs.”
It all reaches the height of excitement when Captain Hook and his pirate crew try to capture Cinderella Castle and it may look as if they’ve blown off parts of the magical structure! Will Tinker Bell arrive in time to save the day, or should we say, the night?
Only for a limited time this summer!
“We’ve re-imagined new magic from something that only a select few were able to experience before,” said Chris, referring to the much-loved “Magic, Music and Mayhem.” From those sparkling roots, Chris is delighted that he and the Walt Disney Entertainment team are now able to bring Summer Nightastic! fireworks spectacular to a new level and to a larger audience, including Passholders like you.
“Night after night, there will be more opportunities to see our ‘perimeter fireworks,’ the ones that surround the Park. Those are usually limited to holidays and specially ticketed events. But they’ll all be there to see, hear and feel—especially for these special summer nights. Because like we said, they’re ‘Nightastic!’”
“Summer Nightastic!” Debuts Early!
According to park schedules released by Disney, “The Main Street Electrical Parade” and the “Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Spectacular” should be debuting early. The parade and fireworks are set to begin one night earlier than expected on Saturday, June 5th, with Electrical Parade at 9PM and the Fireworks Spectacular at 10PM. For those who wish to catch Spectromagic and Wishes! one more time before they “glow” away for the Summer, you can see them on June 4th at 9PM and 10PM respectively.
A strange note: the only night of “Summer Nightastic!” that is not scheduled to feature a Main Street Electrical Parade performance is Wednesday, June 9th. Other than that, the parade is set to perform every night through August 14th at 9PM (except 4th of July weekend where it will perform at 10:30PM).
For anyone who were afraid that Spectromagic or Wishes! might not return on time, fear not. Both are scheduled to return right on time August 15th. As usual, all of these dates and times are subject to change, but this is what Disney is saying at the moment.
D23 Annonces Summer Line-Up of Member-Only Special Events
Whether you’re in Orlando, Anaheim, Burbank, Las Vegas, New York, or Chicago, D23 members have some very special events coming their way this summer. Here is a press release about the events, as well as an upcoming D23 contest:
DISNEY’S D23 FAN COMMUNITY ANNOUNCES
SUMMER 2009 SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDARUnique Experiences Created Exclusively for Charter Members of
“The Official Community for Disney Fans”BURBANK, CALIF – May 14, 2009 – Disney’s D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans today announced its Summer 2009 Special Events Calendar. From very special screenings and stepping behind-the-scenes with Mary Poppins to visiting the legendary Walt Disney Studios and Archives to being among the first to experience the new Walt Disney Family Museum, D23’s inaugural slate of Members-only events promises outstanding, unforgettable opportunities that are exclusive to the fan community’s Charter Membership.
“D23 Members are Disney’s biggest fans, and they’re always looking for distinctive, memorable ways to celebrate the things they love most about Disney,” said Steven Clark, Head of D23. “For our inaugural season of events and contests, we’ve created an experientially and geographically diverse calendar that we know our Members will enjoy and remember fondly for years.”
SUMMER 2009 CHARTER MEMBER-ONLY SPECIAL EVENTS:
May 28 D23 “Up All Night” at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre (FREE)
(Los Angeles, CA) — Theatergoers across the country will soon meet the unlikely duo of 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen and 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer Russell in Disney•Pixar’s latest adventure, Up. D23 Members will be among the first to see the film at this free event at the historic El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on May 28, 2009. The fun begins with a special pin trading event, followed by an all new Disney stage show and a screening of the new Disney-Pixar short Partly Cloudy and the highly anticipated and critically acclaimed Up! And it wouldn’t be a D23 event without a few other special surprises and guests!May 31 D23’s Flowers & Fireworks Celebration at Epcot (FREE with park admission)
(Orlando, FL) – Join D23 at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort to celebrate its members in all 50 states and more than 25 countries worldwide! Start the evening at the American Gardens Theatre with reserved seating for the Flower Power Concert Series Finale, starring the legendary Tony Orlando, to close the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Next, head to a VIP location to mix and mingle with your fellow D23 members over desserts and coffee, and then enjoy the spectacular nighttime extravaganza IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth from a private viewing area.June 24 D23’s Supercalifragilistic Night on Broadway
(New York, NY) — Disney’s award-winning musical Mary Poppins recently celebrated its 1,000th performance on Broadway and on June 24, 2009, D23 Members are being offered the opportunity to meet one another and share in the magic with premium seats, merchandise discounts and an opportunity to stay after the show for a special “behind-the-scenes” experience at the historic New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City. D23 Members also will receive the recently released 2-Disc Mary Poppins 45th Anniversary Special Edition DVD, courtesy of our friends at Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.June 24 D23 and Poppins Breeze into The Windy City
(Chicago, IL) — Mary Poppins blew into the Windy City on March 25, 2009 and original Broadway stars Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee have been delighting audiences at the Cadillac Palace Theatre ever since. On June 24, 2009, D23 Members will have the chance to experience the “practically perfect” Mary Poppins like never before, with premium seats, merchandise discounts, complimentary souvenir program and a once-in-a-lifetime “behind-the-scenes” experience. D23 Members also will receive the recently released 2-Disc Mary Poppins 45th Anniversary Special Edition DVD, courtesy of our friends at Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.June 27 D23 and The Lion King Roar in Vegas
(Las Vegas, NV) — After entertaining more than 45 million guests in theatres around the world, Simba and Nala have roared their way onto the world famous Las Vegas Strip. On June 27, 2009, D23 will host a special night at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, with premium seating for The Lion King, a “behind-the-scenes” experience and more, available exclusively to D23 Members.June 27 & Aug. 15 D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives (FREE)
(Burbank, CA) — A rare opportunity for D23 Members to enjoy a 2-hour tour of The Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Archives, hosted by D23 and Disney Archives staff. Only two dates are available for the Summer 2009 Calendar and space is limited.July 17 D23 presents Disneyland, U.S.A. (FREE)
(Anaheim, CA) — Celebrate Disneyland’s 54th Anniversary with a special screening of Walt Disney’s recently restored 1956 “People and Places” featurette Disneyland, U.S.A., as well as a panel discussion including Imagineer Tony Baxter, Disney Legend and Chief Archivist Dave Smith, and Disney Studios Film Archivist Ed Hobelman. The event will take place at Disneyland’s Team Disney Anaheim Theater and will be followed by a D23 Member reception.Sept TBD The Walt Disney Family Museum Preview (FREE)
(San Francisco, CA) – Prior to its October 2009 Grand Opening, D23 members will have the opportunity to experience The Walt Disney Family Museum, celebrating the life and achievements of the man who raised animation to an art, transformed the film industry, tirelessly pursued innovation, and created a global and distinctly American legacy. This special preview will be hosted by the Museum’s Executive Director Richard Benefield. Dates and details will be available soon.To find out more about D23’s Summer 2009 Special Events Calendar, including admissions and how to register for events, visit www.disney.com/D23 and click on the “Expo & Events” tab. All D23 Special Events are subject to change without notice, have varying admission fees and registration processes, and may require advance reservations due to space limitations.
SUMMER 2009 CHARTER MEMBER-ONLY CONTEST:
In addition to D23’s inaugural slate of special events, the fan community is also pleased to announce its first Member-only contest. This summer, one lucky D23 Member and a guest will have the chance to win an incredible getaway package to join the pack at Pride Rock and see The Lion King in Las Vegas including 2-nights accommodation at the Mandalay Bay Resort and much more. To enter, D23 Members are being asked to tell us what they love most about The Lion King in 300 words or less. To enter, D23 Members are being asked to tell us what they love most about The Lion King in 300 words or less. A complete list of rules/ regulations and more information will be available www.disney.com/D23 in early June.
D23’s Flowers and Fireworks
D23 members visiting Walt Disney World at the end of the month will be happy to hear about a FREE special event at Epcot that’s just for them:
05.14.09 – Join D23 at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort to celebrate its Members in all 50 states and more than 25 countries worldwide! Start the evening at the American Gardens Theatre with reserved seating for the Flower Power Concert Series Finale, starring the legendary Tony Orlando, to close the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Next, head to a VIP location to mix and mingle with your fellow D23 Members over desserts and coffee, and then enjoy the spectacular nighttime extravaganza IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth from the pavilion’s private viewing area.
Date: Sunday, May 31, 2009
Location: Epcot, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida
Time: 7:15 p.m.
Tickets Available: May, TBD
Cost: FREE! (Theme park admission separate and required.)
Ticket reservation information will be available soon. Please check back here for updates.
* Available only to D23 Members in good standing. Members may reserve a ticket for themselves and one (1) guest. There are a limited number of tickets available. D23 Members will be required to give their membership number when reserving tickets. Tickets may be picked up only with a valid photo ID and their D23 membership card. D23 Members who do not bring their membership card, may not be admitted to the event. All D23 Special Events are subject to change without notice.
D23 also announced a plethora of member only events taking place through-out the summer at the Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, and in New York City, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Burbank. You can see a complete list of upcoming D23 events by going HERE.
New Year’s Eve 2009 Line-Up
Here is the current line-up for New Year’s Eve entertainment at the Walt Disney World Resort:
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — A kaleidoscope of colors and elaborate light displays will decorate the skies on the final night of 2008 at Walt Disney World Resort.
Dazzling fireworks showers, live entertainment and extended park hours throughout the Vacation Kingdom on Dec. 31 make it a popular spot to ring in the new year.
- At Epcot, a special version of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” the laser-light spectacular featuring dancing flames and cascading fountains orchestrated to an original musical score, will be presented at 7:30 p.m. and 11:40 p.m. The park’s Dec. 31 operating hours are 8 a.m. to 1 a.m.
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios will host “Fantasmic!,” the lavish spectacular of water animation, lasers and fireworks, at 6:30 p.m. and 8 and 10 p.m. Revelers can “rock on” with live performances by in-park band “Mulch, Sweat and Shears,” plus a DJ spinning tunes at Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat. A special “Lights, Camera, Happy New Year” fireworks show brings in the new year at 11:50 p.m. The park is open from 8 a.m. until midnight on Dec. 31.
- Late-nighters can party at Magic Kingdom until the wee hours with parades and fireworks galore. The park is aglow with “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade” at 12 noon and 3:30 p.m., followed by the wondrous “SpectroMagic” parade at 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. “Holiday Wishes” fireworks, the boldest and brightest pyrotechnics show at Disney, takes place at 8:30 p.m. capped with the grand finale “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks at 11:50 p.m. On Dec. 31, the park is open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 31. Guests can enjoy one of the final presentations of the romping character cavalcade “Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade” at 3:45 p.m.