WDWNT Reporter Zach Larson visited the Magic Kingdom last night to see the first public performance of “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” with the added holiday sequence and took plenty of newsworthy photos to share with us:
If you look closely, you can see the construction wall surrounding the future site of the Grand Floridian DVC wing
Read More about Zach Larson’s 11/10/11 Magic Kingdom Photo Report
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.
WDWNT Reporter Josh Siegel visited the Magic Kingdom yesterday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us:
Ticket prices are going up… but we only report on real news, so let’s move on 🙂
Read More about Josh Siegel’s 8/4/10 Magic Kingdom Photo Report
Not surprising, but I’m sure many of you will be excited to hear this news from the Disney Parks Blog:
Just as scores of you had hoped – we’re leaving the lights on and extending Disney’s “Main Street Electrical Parade” at Walt Disney World. By popular demand, the parade at Magic Kingdom Park will continue an open-ended run when “Summer Nightastic!” ends on August 14.
It’s probably no surprise to hear that the parade has been one of our highest rated entertainment experiences at Magic Kingdom Park since returning in early June. It’s been an “overwhelming success,” according to Park Vice President Phil Holmes. And now, you’ll be able to continue cheering and humming “Baroque Hoedown.”
Of course, new elements of Disney’s “Main Street Electrical Parade” will continue during the encore phase of the run. Those include:
- Tinker Bell leads the eye-filling procession, waving from the basket of a balloon floating gracefully above a magical garden shimmering in fairy light.
- Pinocchio and the boys from the classic film’s Pleasure Island sequence join the parade, and Snow White joins the Seven Dwarfs on a diamond mine float.
- There are new lighting effects, and the parade’s highly recognizable musical theme is brightened by new technology.
Will you take advantage of the extended run?
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.
While Tom is off on his Summer Nightastic “research” trip, we thought we would bring you a short preview of Summer Nightastic with photos from our good friend Robert Asburn of FloridaThrills.net:
Robert visited with some of the WDWNT Crew at our WDWNT Fan Meet held at the Magic Kingdom on June 6th for the offical start of Summer Nightastic
Tinker Bell Starts off the Main Street Electrical Parade and Summer Nightastic!
It’s been a while since Main Street USA has seen these sights
The Chesire Cat has been updated since he last visited WDW.
Is it time for Spectromagic?
SNFS is based on the great fireworks show Magic, Music and Mayhem held during the Pirate and Pricess Parties.
We will end this short taste of summer nightastic with a salute to all nations but mostly America. Tom will be back soon with full coverage of all the Summer Nightastic offerings from both coasts soon including Disney’s Electrical Parade, the Summer Nightastic Fireworks Spectacular and World of Color from the Disneyland Resort as well. Stay Tuned here and to Disneyland News Today as well for full coverage!
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):
WDWNT Reporter Josh Siegel was lucky enough to be able to attend the cast member preview of the Main Street Electrical Parade at the Magic Kingdom last night, but lucky for us, he took a few photos to share:
The name change at Cinderella’s Golden Carousel is official
Read More about Josh Siegel’s 6/3/10 Magic Kingdom Photo Report (Electrical Parade Preview)
Disney has released a video of the Main Street Electrical Parade being packed up at the Disneyland Resort to be sent to Walt Disney World for Summer Nightastic. This great behind-the-scenes video has been embedded via the WDWNTube:
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.
