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WDWNT on February 13, 2009

Short video clips have begun to surface of the new Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party that debuts tomorrow at the Magic Kingdom with the first performance at 11:00am. Here are the three only videos that have surfaced so far showing the first two floats in the parade as well as a couple of minutes of the show stop:

Judging from what you can see in these short videos, the “parade” looks like another Block Party Bash type parade. In fact, it looks almost the same as Block Party Bash in how the show is laid out. Stay tuned to WDW News Today tomorrow for coverage of the first performances of the Magic Kingdom’s new street party.

Walt Disney World Entertainment Updates

WDWNT on February 10, 2009

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:

  • The “Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party” at the Magic Kingdom will debut on Friday, February 13th and will perform three times daily at 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, & 5:15 PM
  • The times for Dream Along with Mickey will change on Friday to make way for the “Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party”. The new performance times will be 9:35 AM, 10:35 AM, 11:40 AM, 1:15 PM, 2:15 PM, and 4:00 PM
  • On Thursday February 12th, there will be an American Idol parade and press event. The motorcade featuring Ryan Seacrest and a number of former American Idol performers will take place t 4:30 PM and will be open to the public. Following that, there will be a special press event closed to the general public. (Don’t fret, WDWNT will be represented at the event)
  • As a result of the American Idol festivities, Block Party Bash will not be performing on Thursday, February 12th
  • Fantasmic! will perform 4 times this week with 7:00 and 8:15 PM shows on both Monday and Friday
  • The Schedules for the “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular”, “Voyage of of the Little Mermaid”, and “High School Musical: Right Here! Right Now!” will be altered on Thursday. Consult a times guide for exact times.

Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information on these entertainment changes become available.

Matt Paul’s 2/8/09 Magic Kingdom Video Update

WDWNT on February 9, 2009

WDWNT Videographer Matt Paul has provided us with a fantastic video update (opposed to a photo update) from his latest trip to the Magic Kingdom on Sunday. This update includes a look at:

  • Continuing construction inside the Grand Canyon Concourse and of the new Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
  • Construction of the stage for Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration in Tomorrowland
  • Continuing refurbishment of the Tomorrowland Restrooms between Merchant of Venus and Mickey’s Star Traders
  • Demolition of the Galaxy Palace Theater to become temporary character meet and greet area
  • the new Main Street Philharmonic pre-show for the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade (performing “Celebrate You” theme song)

The video is embedded from our WDWNTube Disney Parks Video Site and will require you to download Divx if you haven’t already. The download is quick and easy, and will allow you to watch High Definition videos from the WDWNTube, as well as any future videos we may embed on this site.

Buy 4, Get 3 Free Offer Continues Into the Summer

WDWNT on February 3, 2009

In brief, Walt Disney World will be continuing its buy 4 nights, get 3 nights free promotion through August 15th, 2009 beginning February 9th. If you would like to book or get more information on this fantastic offer, make sure to contact one of the fantastic agents at Magical Travel.

“What Will You Call This Promotion?”

WDWNT on February 3, 2009

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:

  • Limo Transportation to and from the Airport
  • Special Guided Tour of Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort
  • Disney’s Photopass PhotoBook and PhotoCD
  • $200 Disney Gift Card
  • and more!!!

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!!!

“I Went to Disney World!”

WDWNT on February 2, 2009

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)

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Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes at Walt Disney World

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Of course, this report would be incomplete without a certain commercial that will be airing this week:


News from the February 2009 Mickey Monitor

WDWNT on February 2, 2009

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.

“What Will You Celebrate?”: Winning the Super Bowl

WDWNT on February 2, 2009

It’s never too early to celebrate. I guess that’s why the Super Bowl champions will be appearing at the Magic Kingdom today:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – So how are Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger celebrating their heroic play in Super Bowl XLIII? In the frenzied moments just after their team claimed the National Football League championship Sunday night in Tampa in dramatic fashion, they stood in front of a TV camera and shouted five words that have become an almost iconic reaction to milestone achievements: “I’m going to Disney World!”

Their pronouncement, part of the production for one of TV’s most enduring and celebrated commercials, was captured after the Steelers’ 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals – a game during which Holmes earned the MVP honor, catching nine Roethlisberger passes for 131 yards, including a game-winning 6-yard TD reception with 35 seconds left. Roethlisberger finished with 21 completions in 30 attempts for 256 yards. During Pittsburgh’s decisive 78-yard drive in the final 2:37, the pair connected four times for 73 yards as the Steelers earned an unprecedented sixth Super Bowl victory.

On Monday (Feb. 2), Holmes and Roethlisberger will go to the place where millions of vacationers celebrate their personal milestone moments. They will be joined in the Magic Kingdom by NFL Youth Football players from Jacksonville, Fla., who will participate with the Steeler stars in a Super Bowl celebration parade down Main Street, U.S.A.

This latest commercial is the milestone 40th of a series that began in 1987 following Super Bowl XXI. The first “ I’m going to Disney World” commercial, featuring New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, was regarded as a groundbreaking concept – a produced national commercial involving a current event, airing on major networks within hours of its conclusion. Holmes and Roethlisberger join a lineup of people from sports and beyond who have celebrated milestone accomplishments in “I’m going to Disney World” commercials.

And this latest installment, airing just hours after the conclusion of the game, followed a similar script just ahead of Holmes’ and Roethlisberger’s visit.

Get Ready to Party…. Eventually

WDWNT on January 29, 2009

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.

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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.

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Images represent early concept art from Walt Disney World® Entertainment, and are not actual depictions

Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade Video Debut

WDWNT on January 25, 2009

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:



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