After a few days of delay, Jose Castillo has finally provided us with pictures from the last day of his latest trip to the Walt Disney World Resort. Let’s take a look at some of his pics from Monday:
The balloon window-clings have now reached the Walt Disney World buses
“Follow that bus to the best kept Disney secret!!!”
There are a ton of entertainment changes that will be taking place at the Walt Disney World theme parks this week, so I thought it would be useful to provide a list for those of you visiting in the next few days:
Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information on these entertainment changes become available.
Just when you thought the name problems plaguing the Toy Story Midway Mania attraction were as confusing as it gets, Disney has outdone themselves. Many of you probably remember when we first reported in May 2008 about the marketing campaign for Disney Parks that would revolve around celebrating special milestones in life and would be titled “Magical Celebrations”. Since that report 8 months ago, the campaign has begun at the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts under the already conflicting titles “What Will You Celebrate?”, “Celebrate Today!” and “Celebrate Everyday!”. Now, one month into this “celebration”, we have Disney actually using the “Magical Celebrations” title for a new sweepstakes. Despite all this brand confusion, there is a bright spot. Those who enter daily throughout the month of February in this “Magical Celebrations Sweepstakes” have a chance to win one of five dream vacations to the Disney Parks, including:
To enter the sweepstakes, just visit disney.com/celebrate daily, and remember, you can also enter by texting MAGIC to DISNEY (347639). Along with daily entry, those who enter online will be granted a different virtual prize everyday throughout the month of February. Good luck!!!
Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes, wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, rides Feb. 2, 2009 in a celebratory parade with Mickey Mouse in the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Holmes’ visit came only hours after his “I’m Going to Disney World!” pronouncement in Tampa, Fla., following the Steelers’ last-minute, 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. Holmes’ visit to Walt Disney World was part of Disney Parks’ new “What Will You Celebrate?” initiative. The wide receiver, who caught the game-winning pass in the Super Bowl, co-starred with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the famous “I’m Going to Disney World!” commercial which aired after the game. (Kent Phillips, photographer)
Of course, this report would be incomplete without a certain commercial that will be airing this week:
The latest edition of the Mickey Monitor annual passholder publication is now available for viewing and offers a number of newsworthy announcements on some upcoming Walt Disney World attractions and special events. Here are some highlights:
-Passholders are being informed that Space Mountain will be closed for a “Space-Lift” beginning in April 2009. The article confirms that the track layout and the exterior look of the Mountain will not be touched during the refurbishment. While no reopening date is given, an opportunity to own a piece of the classic Magic Kingdom attraction is. For all the details on how to win a piece of Space Mountain, consult the Mickey Monitor and WDW Annual Passholder website.
-The article with top billing in this issue has a lot of information on the 2009 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, including a complete list of performers for the Flower Power concert series.
-Another article has more details on the upcoming “Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party”. The parade/show will feature contemporary Radio Disney music, as well as some classic Disney tunes as characters emerge from large party boxes around the hub to party with guests in front of Cinderella Castle. The parade/show will perform multiple times daily at the Magic Kingdom beginning February 12th.
-Star Wars Weekends 2009 will be held at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between May 22 and June 14, 2009.
More information on all of these special events and attractions, plus much more, can be found in this month’s issue of the Mickey Monitor which can be found HERE.
Disney has published some details (and larger concept art) on two upcoming entertainment offerings for the Magic Kingdom as part of the “Celebrate Today!” promotion. Be sure to take note of the date change on the second show:
Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party
At the Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party, you’ll join in on interactive fun in front of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom® Park. Multicolored “party box” floats roll out as favorite Disney Characters kick your celebration off with music and dancing. Scheduled to open February 12, 2009.
Stitch’s SuperSonic Celebration
Stitch’s SuperSonic Celebration is for true party animals& and party aliens! Interact with Stitch as he celebrates “Galaxy Day” at his very own electric, intergalactic event in Magic Kingdom® Park. A dazzling jumbo screen and Stitch’s wild antics are all part of a party that’s out-of-this-world! Scheduled to open late Spring 2009.
Images represent early concept art from Walt Disney World® Entertainment, and are not actual depictions
With the launch of our new WDWNTube video site just a few days ago, we are still testing a variety of features, including the ability to embed videos from that site right here on WDW News Today. While our amazing technical department is working on that, we will direct you over to that site to watch our newest video in high quality (scratch that, we got it to work, look below). Without any further delay, here is the debut video of the “Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade” at the Magic Kingdom taken by Robert Ashburn:
Robert Ashburn of Figment’s Media and FTN has provided us with another fantastic photo report, this time from the Magic Kingdom area with a full report on the park’s latest parade and some other smaller happenings. Let’s take a look:
We’ll start this report with photos from the debut performance of the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade at the Magic Kingdom. Since the pre-parade vehicle is now in the actual parade, a high school band acted in it’s place
Disney was filming the first performance for some promotional footage
The parade banner leads along with what was the pre-parade Grand Marshal vehicle
Avid WDWNT Network follower Jon Pleszewski has provided us with a fantastic photo update from around the Magic Kingdom park, so let’s take a look at some news items:
The “Celebrate Today!” banner covers the famous train station plaque that the Year of a Million Dreams banner covered for many months
The castle forecourt stage has been returned to it’s usual look, slightly freshened and ready for Dream Along with Mickey
The walls are finally down around the Golden Oak Outpost in Frontierland, which is ready to open any day now
The new seating area which will shrink the designated smoking area adjacent to it
Construction of Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration continues in Tomorrowland
Is it just me, or does it look like this isn’t going to make a February opening?
We end this great report with the arrival of more “Celebrate Today!” banners outside the Magic Kingdom. A special thanks to Jon for this update!
It appears that the new/updated parade debuting at the Magic Kingdom park on January 23, 2009 has had a name change from what we have previously reported. According to upcoming entertainment schedules for the month of February, the parade will be titled the “Celebrate a Dream Come True” Parade. This slightly different name is shorter than the previously reported “Celebrate Disney Dreams Come True” moniker and actually sounds a whole lot better. Stay tuned to WDW News Today for more information on this updated Magic Kingdom parade as it becomes available.
