“Celebrate the Magic” Set to Replace “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” in November

WDWNT on December 21, 2012

Say goodbye to “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” on September 3rd as Disney prepares for a new nighttime projection show called “Celebrate the Magic”, debuting in November. As the “Let The Memories Begin” campaign draws to a close, the show is expected to be shedding the guest photos in turn of a “storytelling” show like Wishes! or Illuminations: Reflections of Earth.

“‘Celebrate the Magic’ takes us on a journey to the heart of the most beloved Disney stories and characters,” said Show Director Katy Harris. “This amazing show will magically transform Cinderella Castle with spectacular projection effects, choreographed to a new music soundtrack. The show will be full of emotion and storytelling, proving that, with imagination and magic in our hearts, anything is possible.”

Some of the more popular elements from “The Magic, the Memories, and You!” will remain in the show, meaning this is simply a re-packaged version of the spectacle meant to hold over guests for a while. I suspect that the original plan was for there to be no replacement show, but the current program just proved to be too popular at the Magic Kingdom. At Disneyland, they are not replacing “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” after it ends on September 3rd based on the lighter crowds it usually has there. However, I expect this show to go away at Walt Disney World once a new nighttime spectacular is designed to replace Wishes!; one that will combine the projection technology of “Celebrate the Magic” with the pyrotechnic displays of a nighttime foreworkls extravaganza.

So, what do you think of this?

It’s the “Summer of Love” for “The Magic, The Memories, and You!”

WDWNT on October 30, 2012

So, about that romance segment in “The Magic, the Memories, and You” that was ending later this month… it’s not. The romance segment which was added in February will be staying through the entire summer and will be joined by a new unique summer segment. The new summer segment features characters from Phineas and Ferb, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid, as well as Cinderella Castle’s transformation into a giant sand castle.

Concept art for the Cinderella sand castle

The following concept art shows what the show might look like on both Cinderella Castle and on the facade of “it’s a small world”, where it plays at Disneyland

The new version of “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” debuts on May 25th, 2012 at the Magic Kingdom and at Disneyland Park. If you want to check out the romance segment that is already running, here is our video:

Romance Blooms in “The Magic, The Memories, and You!”, Summer Overlay Teased

WDWNT on July 27, 2012

From Shawn Slater on the Disney Parks Blog:

One of the true delights of the recent holiday season at Disney Parks was a special segment during our evening projection show, “The Magic, The Memories and You!” The faces of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park and “it’s a small world” at Disneyland park were transformed into gingerbread masterpieces, brightly colored packages and palaces of ice.

Well if you enjoyed that, our Creative Entertainment team has another treat in store, just in time for Valentine’s Day! A new show segment is set to debut Feb. 1, inspired by some of the most romantic moments in Disney animation. Cinderella Castle and “it’s a small world” will be covered in red roses for one sequence and turned into a beautiful, star-filled sky for another. During part of the show, spectacular stained glass windows will grace the façades, depicting the stories of Cinderella, Snow White and Belle.

One of my favorite moments comes when the king and queen from “Tangled” appear on a balcony, lifting a single lantern to the sky for their missing daughter. It’s soon joined by hundreds of others, creating a magical sight sure to draw “oohs” and “ahhs” from the crowd. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it! Of course, the most heart-warming part of any segment of “The Magic, The Memories and You!” is the images of our guests, captured by Disney PhotoPass photographers during the day and incorporated into the show each night.

The romance segment is planned to run as part of “The Magic, The Memories and You!” through mid-April but we’re not stopping there. Wait until you see “it’s a small world” as a sand castle in a segment we’re working on for summer. It’s chock full of detail… right up to the point where Goofy rides a wave across the façade, washing it all away to reveal… well, I don’t want to spoil all the surprises!

Adam Roth’s 12/26/11 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on December 28, 2011

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth recently visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom and took a TON of newsworthy photos to share with us, so strap in for a lengthy look around Walt Disney World:

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Adam caught the Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special inside the ABC Sound Studio, former home of Sounds Dangerous

In case you don’t know, Comedy Warehouse was a club at Pleasure Island

Just a sticker, but shows effort for a very temporary attraction

Control booth

The show is improv, comedy’s ugly cousin…

OK…

I’ve been running this site for five years, and this is easily the lowest moment…

Adam enjoyed it and so did guests, so we’ll see what the future holds…

Booths from the Food & Wine festival being used to meet dining demands

The Magic of Disney animation added a campus map a while ago… it’s trying to look like a real animation studio

Nothing says Italian like fast food meatballs…

The Premiere Theater is showing holiday cartoons

“Curse you Perry the Platypus!”

The daily schedule

The “italian” restaurant

It looks awful…

The stage is set for New Year’s Eve

Adam is a good colorer…

I’m so proud…

The Monsters University logo now up inside the Magic of Disney Animation

Moving to the Magic Kingdom, we arrive at Sleepy Hollow

What could we be here for?

Of course!

Here is the chicken sandwich without the usual spread

The ham, prosciutto, and swiss sandwich

The Diamond Horseshoe was open

Somewhere, a child cries…

“MICKEY!”

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is performing daily now

“Yay! We didn’t have to buy a party ticket! But this place is packed…”

Christopher Robin was added to the parade this year, but the Pooh tree float is gone

Duffy joins the fun

The skiers were new for this year

Awwwww…

Bo Creep… I mean, Bo Peep

A personal favorite

Another personal favorite

However long that is, it’s too long…

Too long!

Could we cut out this step thing!

Storybook Circus construction as seen from the TTA

The lower level rock-work taking shape at Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

The back of the Dumbo queue building was painted green

Three digits…

A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas is performing daily

Spot the Captain EO reference?

Eye did! Get it? Eye did!

Instead of having him on screen, Stitch appears on stage now

Some new props had to be made for the changes

The new tower at Barnstormer is rising up around the track

There is a lot of color on the Dumbo queue

They are pretty much rebuilding the old tents

Oooooo, I spot a dirty word…

Scaffolding up over the Dumbo queue building

The roof over the two covered queue areas is coming along

You can see the new Dumbo spinner through the queue

The train station is almost done

Another look at Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

The caverns are now visible

Belle’s Village is starting to look good

Another look at the Storybook Circus train station

Back to Under the Sea

Prince Eric’s castle

Notice Mr. Stork at the top of the new Dumbo spinner

Back to Belle’s village

Maurice’s cottage

Be Our Guest restuarant

A panoramic view of construction

Some of the Storybook Circus pavement has been revealed

wagon wheel marks and horse footprints litter the path, a beautiful detail

The mountain range looks great

The sun sets on the old Dumbo…

Some work has been done on the Castle Wall

A stone wall has popped up next to it

The edge of the rock-work

A chimney through the trees

Holy Nana!

You’d have to have a hook for a brain to wait in that

“it’s a long line”

Nice sign

The new path near the Haunted Mansion is being worked on

Non-alcoholic sangria from Tortuga Tavern

YUM!

Time to light the Castle

Purty…

New details were unveiled in the Town Square Theater queue for Mickey

Notes for advertisements made by Mickey sit on a bulletin board

Gotta love these details

Mailboxes

A reference to the first attraction in this space, the Walt Disney Story

The Bill Justice character mural that used to stand in this space lives on with these rolled up pictures of it in one of the mailboxes

A great addition to a pretty bland room of the queue

A new Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom window in Fantasyland

Hidden camera

Another window in Fantasyland

This appears to be Merlin’s house as you can see Archimedes’ bird house in the back

Another Fantasyland window

Not so hidden

The last reference to Tinker Bell’s Treasures has been turned into a Sorcerers window

The Main Street Electrical Parade is supposedly leaving before Summer 2012, so get in your last views while you can

The holiday edition of “The Magic, the Memories, and You!” is still performing

Some Holiday Wishes! photos

Yowza…

Quick, let’s take the secret exit out of this photo report!

More Info On “The Magic, The Memories, & You!” Holiday Show

WDWNT on November 1, 2011

Disneyland already has put out a press release about the changes to “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” projection show:

Those holiday memories might even appear in the nightly “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” show on the façade of “it’s a small world” in Disneyland park. A new segment of the show, specially added for the season, features a musical score filled with favorite holiday tunes and images of resort guests celebrating their holiday visits. As the presentation unfolds, the façade of “it’s a small world” Holiday is frozen in ice, decorated with wreaths and candy canes, wrapped in Christmas paper, and even turned into a giant snow globe. This new segment appears in “The Magic, The Memories and You!” beginning Friday, Nov. 18.

While the release is for the Disneyland Resort version, it finally gives us more information on the show. It is not an entirely new show, but rather just a segment, probably somewhere in the middle of the existing show. We expect the current opening and finale segments will remain, but that is still unclear. The effects described in this release should be the same for the Cinderella Castle version as the existing show is almost identical at both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom.

The Walt Disney World version of the show debuts at the first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on November 8th.

11/2/11 UPDATE: Walt Disney World has released information on their version of the show today:

The Magic, The Memories and You! – The nightly light show on Cinderella Castle gets in “the spirit” throughout the holidays with a special segment that wraps the Magic Kingdom landmark in colorful bows and boughs, gift paper and ribbons, ornaments, candy stripes and multi-colored strands of lights … and gingerbread.

“The Magic, The Memories, and You!” Holiday?

WDWNT on October 21, 2011

“The Magic, The Memories, and You!” is already getting a makeover after just 11 months, a holiday makeover. Available both during regular park evenings and those where Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is offered, the new show will be holiday themed. Disney currently has the show scheduled to begin performances on November 8th. No other details are available at this time. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

Full Schedule: Walt Disney World Celebrates July 4th, 2011!

WDWNT on July 1, 2011

In case you were wondering what Walt Disney World will be doing to celebrate the 4th of July…

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Walt Disney World Resort will pixie dust the night skies July 4 with special pyrotechnic shows, including a patriotic display at Magic Kingdom, a rock’n’roll spectacular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and a classic sky show at Epcot infused with an Independence Day finale. Here’s what’s in store:

  • Magic Kingdom will present “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky.” This patriotic fireworks spectacular, paying homage to the hopes and dreams of America’s forefathers, will light the skies at 9 p.m. July 4 – and for guests who would like to begin the Independence Day celebration early, the show also will be presented July 3 at 9 p.m.
  • At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, traditional Fourth of July fireworks take on a different spin when Mulch, Sweat, and Shears perform for the all-new “Rockin’ 4th of July Celebration“! These resident landscapers – with serious rock and roll ambitions – take Disney guests on a musical road trip across America that will highlight each region’s contribution to rock and roll. Fireworks, lighting and special effects – backed by the driving live rock and roll of Mulch, Sweat, and Shears – combine to bring a new twist to celebrating Independence Day. Showtime July 4 is 9:45 p.m. Before or after the show, Disney’s Hollywood Studios guests can thrill to Disney’s Fantasmic!, performing July 4 at 9 and 10:30 p.m.
  • At Epcot, sky-watchers can check out ”IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” bursting high above World Showcase Lagoon. IllumiNations is a 14-minute spectacular during which pyrotechnics, lasers, water and music are all used to tell a story about the past, present and future of our planet. On the Fourth of July, the show will be enhanced with “The Heartbeat of Freedom,” an overture of traditional Americana themes displayed in a pyrotechnic and laser light event. The show is at 10 p.m.

In addition, Epcot guests may lend their ears to “Voices of Liberty 4th of July Concert” and participate in meet-and-greets with Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross and Disney characters adorned in patriotic dress at American Adventure.
Theme park hours on July 4 (subject to change without notice): Magic Kingdom, 9 a.m.-11 p.m.; Epcot, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.; Disney’s Hollywood Studios, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Some additional information:

-The Magic Kingdom will be open from 8:00AM to 1:00AM (The park will only be closed for 5 hours prior to opening on the 4th with EMH running until 3AM). Main Street Electrical Parade will perform at 10PM & 12AM and “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” will perform at 10:45 & 11:30PM. You can also catch the Celebrate A Dream Come True parade at 12 & 3PM.

-Disney’s Hollywood Studios is open from 9AM-10PM, with Extra Magic Hours from 10PM-1AM. This combination may make this small park even more unbearable, so beware.

-Animal Kingdom is running Extra Magic Hours in the morning from 8AM-9AM. They close at 8PM that evening.

Robert Ashburn’s 3/30/11 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on March 31, 2011

WDWNT Reporter Robert Ashburn visited the Magic Kingdom yesterday to attend the soft-opening of Town Square Theater, but believe it or not, there is other stuff going on at the park! Who would have though? Anyway, here are some other newsworthy photos from the Magic Kingdom

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The covers for “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” projectors still look out of place…

Read More about Robert Ashburn’s 3/30/11 Magic Kingdom Photo Report