WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee spent Thursday at the fabulous Walt Disney World Resort, starting his day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and then spending the evening at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party:
A new audition video plays on the big screen outside the American Idol Experience periodically. The sign underneath points to the new audition entrance
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
WDWNT Reporter Brandon Struve made a quick trip to the Magic Kingdom earlier today and has plenty of news and photos to share, so let’s get started:
Tonight was the first Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Read More about Brandon Struve’s 9/4/09 Magic Kingdom Photo Report
WDWNT Reporter Matt Paul spent a long Saturday at the Walt Disney World Resort and has a number of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:
Matt started off at the Transportation and Ticket Center, on his way to the Magic Kingdom
WDWNT Reporter Brandon Struve took a trip around the World on Friday and has a ton of newsworthy pictures to share with us, so let’s take a look at what’s new and notable:
Welcome to the Magic Kingdom, where Halloween is in full swing
WDWinfo.com is reporting the following as the dates for the two Magic Kingdom Park after hours parties in 2009:
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
September: 4, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29, 2009
October: 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 2009Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
November: 10, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 29, 2009
December: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 2009
Tickets go on sale May 1, 2009 for both parties. These dates are not official yet, but are highly likely. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we get more information on this breaking story.
Walt Disney World has launched a new interactive website just to distribute details to guests on the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties at the Magic Kingdom, currently taking place on select evenings until the end of October. The website features the popular “Boo-To-You” theme song from the party’s parade as well as narration from a ghostly voice that actually moves between the left and right audio channels, mimicking the voice-over effects from the stretching room scene of the Haunted Mansion. You can also view a special performance of the Cadaver Dans (otherwise known as Main Street U.S.A.’s Dapper Dans) singing “Grim Grinning Ghosts” while visiting the purple and black website. To get more information on the fireworks, candy, characters, and parade that make up this spirited nighttime after-hours event, be sure to go HERE.
Staff member Jason Diffendal of WDWCelebrations.com has provided us with some very interesting pictures from around WDW during his latest trip. Let’s take a look at a few newsworthy items:
Starting at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the new Night of Joy event logo has taken over the entrance billboard. I really like the new logo, something about those colors…
The stage in front of the Sorcerer’s Hat is almost ready for the Night(s) of Joy.
While the temporary stage is set, High School Musical 2: School’s Out will be performing on the Streets of America. This shows final performance is going to be September 13th, with the updated High School Musical 3: Right Here! Right Now! show to debut on October 24th.
Work on something continues at the end of Sunset Blvd.
Mouse About Town, Once Upon a Time, and Sunset Club Couture (Sunset Blvd. Shops) have all closed to be refurbished and change over to selling just clothing. This is a horrible decision, which moves the watchmaker into the Art of Disney over in the Animation Courtyard and leaves the park with more limited options when it comes to collectibles and home goods. It appears the restrooms next door are also closed at this time.
Moving over to Epcot, wait times make the off-season seem a little more off this year.
“These wait times look so good, I want one!”
Food and Wine Festival preparation outside the American Adventure
The Morocco gallery is closed while a new exhibit is added. The new exhibit will open on September 25.
Epcot rushing together the International Food & Wine Festival, which begins September 26.
Exterior work continues on the United Kingdom pavilion.
Moving over to the Magic Kingdom, work continues on the Liberty Bell in Liberty Square
Work on the Fantasyland facades continues, now expanded onto Tinker Bell’s Treasures
Even though the new Liberty Square bridge is complete, work continues in the waters below it.
More columns around Main Street U.S.A. are being painted. Wonder how many average guests even noticed this one…
Even the napkins are getting into the Halloween spirit this year.
We end this special report with a Halloween cup you could get next time you buy a Coke at WDW. Thanks for the report Jason!
Here’s a quick look at the new costumes that Disney’s most famous couples will be sporting this halloween during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party:
Mickey and Minnie Mouse
Donald and Daisy Duck
WDWNT is back from the not-so-crowded Walt Disney World theme parks with another fantastic photo report. Let’s take a look at all the newsworthy happenings from around the world:
Starting at Disney’s hollywood Studios, this special stage has been set up for the Night of Joy events
Construction on the American Idol Experience
They are painting the entire building in a new blue color-scheme
This is where the old poster that featured a few ABC shows such as Good Morning America used to be.
A few color changes on the tower.
Not sure what this is, signage perhaps?
A few more of the statues have been removed.
We expect this exhibit to make a move to somewhere else in the studios soon…
A Bolt billboard up in Animation Courtyard.
As previously reported, Single Rider has been removed from Toy Story Midway Mania.
The current Cars character meet-and-greet by Pixar Place…
The new meet-and-greet being constructed where Al’s Toy Barn was. Looks like it will have some pretty cool, recognizable, movie inspired theming.
A nice looking Tapestry Woven Throw.
And here’s a new Disney’s Hollywood Studios Tapestry Woven Throw.
You can’t see it all that well in this picture, but the Osbourne lights are starting to be put up.
You can get a better look at the lights in this picture.
The Muppet Vision 3-D balloon is still down on the Streets of America.
More painting on the opposite side of the American Idol Experience building.
The limo is back up on the Rock ‘n Roller Coaster sign.
The attraction was closed for 4 hours due to technical difficulties… A rare sight indeed!
Moving over to Epcot… Innoventions might as well be called Construction Land, as there have been so many new projects going on there lately.
This is where the IBM exhibit used to be.
The IBM logo is still there.
We’re less than a month away from this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival!
Another rare sight, the Sheriff of Nottingham from Robin Hood outside the American Adventure!
This sign at Soarin’ could use some fixing up.
Halloween Decorations are now up at the Magic Kingdom
New statues around the hub on Main Street U.S.A.
They even light up in certain places at night
Banners up at the majestic train station.
Banners on the side of the Exposition Hall.
The Exposition Hall.
City Hall.
Work is still being done on these columns outside the Emporium.
Halloween decorations inside the Emporium.
Very, very short wait times for the Magic Kingdom
The off-season is here
The Liberty Square bridge is one again open to guest flow & parades. It looks pretty good.
However work is still going on in the water beneath the bridge.
New concrete in Liberty Square
The Liberty Bell is behind walls.
They’re working on wiring by & beneath the McDonalds Fry Cart in Frontierland. It’s been going on for 7 months now.
They have repainted the castle stone wall above Snow White’s Scary Adventures (the light tone wall). It looks much better in my opinion.
Same work being done on the Mickey’s PhilharMagic facade.
A funky new Mickey Mouse shirt.
A cool new shirt for the 15th anniversary of Nightmare Before Christmas.
Construction on the new north wing of the Contemporary Resort.
And to cap off this photo report, a billboard advertising T-Rex (and new employees) on the way to Walt Disney World.
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