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Magic Kingdom: Entertainment Changes This Week Due to some live taping happening at the Magic Kingdom Park, some of the usual parades and shows that take place around Main Street U.S.A. and the Cinderella Castle Hub will be delayed or cancelled both this coming Friday and Saturday. Magic Kingdom - Taping on November 30 and December 1, 2012 Taping will take place at Magic Kingdom Park on Friday, November 30 and Saturday, December 1, during regular park hours. Park Guests who wish to do so may observe or even participate in the taping throughout the Main Street, U.S.A. and Castle forecourt areas on these days. Due to the nature of television production, taping may include many run-throughs of the same songs or parade segments in order to capture just the right elements for the broadcast. Entertainment Changes for November 30 and December 1 : Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade at 5 p.m. (step-off in Frontierland) There will be no performances of Main Street Trolley Show, “Move

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is once again sold out for this evening, November 25, 2012. All remaining dates are available however, with this trend it is quite possible that those dates will sell out as well. Keep an eye out here and we will let you know.

Please be advised that  Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park  will remain closed for the entire day tomorrow (Sunday, November 25, 2012) due to forecasted low temperatures ( HIGH:70 ;  LOW:47 ). Typhoon Lagoon is currently closed for  refurbishment.

Holidays Around the World at Epcot begins November 23 and runs through to December 30 2012.   Here is the full entertainment line-up, along with all the times. Reflections of Earth with Peace on Earth finale 9:30pm. Candlelight Processional at the America Gardens Theatre 5:00pm, 6:45pm, 8:15pm. See our Candlelight Processional page for details on celebrity narrators and more info. JOYFUL! A Gospel Celebration of the Season featuring D'Vine Voices   Fountain Stage - November 25 to December 29, 2012. Showtimes are daily at 1:15pm, 2:15pm, 3:15pm and 4:15pm Holiday Storytellers Performances take place daily from November 23 to December 30, 2012. Mexico Celebrate with LosTres Reyes Magos, the Three Kings, as they tell of their journey to the Posada and traditions today.  1:30; 2:15; 3:15; 4:00; 4:45; 5:30; 6:30; 7:15pm Norway Meet the storyteller Sigrid who will tell you of the mischievous Christmas Gnome, Julenissen.  2:45, 3:30. 4:15, 5:15

Since our inception in August of this year, we have amassed over 11,000 readers and I would personally like to say thank you for your trust, interest and for sharing the love of all things Disney! From all of us here at MikeandTheMouse (and by that I mean myself - Mike) I'd like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and I look forward to sharing more great Disney news this upcoming holiday season! Enjoy the day with your friends, families and loved ones...

Downtown Disney is getting in on the Black Friday bonanza, and  thanks to  the Official Disney Parks Blog we have a full listing off all the offers. Lego Imagination Center – Downtown Disney Marketplace November 23 only – Lego Imagination Center will be offering pull cards that may reveal either 10%, 20% or 50% savings. Cards will be available while supplies last. November 23-26 – Guests who make a purchase over $99 will receive a special gift with purchase: a holiday Lego set. RIDEMAKERZ – Downtown Disney Marketplace November 23 only – Build one RIDE and build a second RIDE for free. The free RIDE must be of equal or lesser value. Free RIDE is stock and includes a free wheel street chassis, stock wheels and treads. R/C upgrade and additional accessories are not included. No exclusions on RIDE bodies*. littlemissmatched – Downtown Disney Marketplace November 22-23 – Receive a Free Knit Wit with every $50 purchase! Also, enjoy 30% off all full price merchandise! Apri

T­he bracket for the 2012 Old Spice Classic – held Thanksgiving weekend, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, Nov. 22, 23 & 25, at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla. – has been confirmed for the eight teams competing: Clemson, Davidson, Gonzaga, Marist, Oklahoma, UTEP, Vanderbilt and West Virginia. ESPN2 will carry seven of the tournament games, including all four first-round games. ESPNU will air three and ESPN and ESPN3 will each have one game. The Championship Game will air Sunday, Nov. 25, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The entire tournament will be available through WatchESPN, accessible online at WatchESPN.com and through smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider. The on-site games from the Old Spice Classic will air on ESPN3D. Tournament highlights: In an ESPN.com early men’s preseason top 25 poll , Gonzaga is ranked No. 20 and will face Clemson in first-round actio

Disney has put together a beautiful website to introduce the story of the New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom Park. It is narrated by David Ogden Stiers (Cogsworth from "Beauty and The Beast") and features some beautiful flyovers. Be sure to watch the whole presentation. Click below and enjoy! Finding Fantasyland

Cinderella's Holiday Wish and the Castle Dream Lights are a nightly holiday show and spectacle that lights up Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park with thousands of lights. Join us as we go behind-the-scenes with Creative Director Reed Jones to learn just what it takes to bring this show to life. 

What exactly does it take to be a Toy Soldier in the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade? I think this fella has what it takes...do you? Watch as Dreams Come True for your favorite Disney Toy Soldier! Performing during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on select nights from Nov. 9th - Dec. 21 at the Magic Kingdom.

Walt Disney Imagineering is currently in the process of adding new interactive queue elements to the Magic Kingdom's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. In support of this, Disney has today revealed a newly expanded backstory to the attraction, featuring a new character - Barnabas T. Bullion, the gold magnate who rules the Big Thunder Mining Company. Here's the skinny from the Official Disney Parks Blog “Barnabas T. Bullion is the founder and president of the Big Thunder Mining Company. The longtime mining magnate comes from a powerful East Coast family and considers gold to be his very birthright by virtue of his oddly appropriate name; in fact, he considers the ultimate gold strike to be his destiny. And that is why he is having so much trouble with Big Thunder Mountain. According to superstitious locals, Big Thunder Mountain is very protective of the gold it holds within, and the unfortunate soul who attempts to mine its riches is destined to fail. And so far that p

From Jennifer Fickley-Baker at the Disney Parks Blog - Calling all princes, princesses, beasts, villains, knaves, kids and those of you who are simply kids at heart – New Fantasyland has reached a new milestone today with the official start of the area’s Preview Period. ©Walt Disney Company During the Preview Period, New Fantasyland will be open and accessible to all Magic Kingdom Park guests. Please keep in mind that this is still a preview phase, so some locations may offer limited operating hours compared to the rest of the park. The area will be in regular operation beginning with the grand opening on December 6 . That said, here are some of the new areas you can expect to experience beginning today: Be Our Guest Restaurant – This magical dining location was taken straight out of the film “Beauty and The Beast,” and features three amazingly themed dining rooms – the Ballroom, the spooky West Wing, and the Rose Gallery. While lunch is first-come, first-served, rese

Please be advised that Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park will be closed tomorrow (Monday, November 19, 2012) due to forecasted low temperatures. Typhoon Lagoon is currently closed for refurbishment.

Walt Disney World has recently released a new interactive website to mark the upcoming December 6th grand opening of the New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park. Click the link below to experience this for yourself and we will see you on December 6th! Take me to the New Fantasyland!

From Michelle Baumann on the Disney Parks Blog : A soothing escape into a world of pampering and relaxation is just steps away from Disney theme park fun at the newly re-imagined Senses – A Disney Spa at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. The fully remodeled spa, now owned and operated by Disney, is set to open December 17. I recently had a chance to duck in for a sneak peek and our Imagineers did a splendid job of blending Grand Floridian turn-of-the-century elegance with modern touches – plus a dash of Disney whimsy. Here are some of the highlights: Spa-goers first walk through the new Victorian style entryway and indulge in a relax, renew, or imagine journey that’s determined by your treatment choice. The centerpiece of the spa’s lobby is an original mural reflecting old Florida landscape and nature. Glass mosaic tiles in the Jacuzzi rooms further enhance the elegance and sophistication of the spa. All the senses are engaged in an ultimate relaxation experience – flavo

©Walt Disney Company The Fab Five are having a party, and everyone’s invited to join the fun during the 20th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 6-May 19, 2013 at Walt Disney World Resort.  Colorful, whimsical topiaries of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto and Donald Duck will welcome topiary Daisy to their Epcot front-entrance celebratory barbecue.  The 14-foot-tall topiary Goofy will bobble an anniversary cake while Donald and Daisy play badminton, Mickey fires up the grill, Pluto swipes a link of hot dogs and Minnie chills out on a colorful blanket of blossoms. And that’s just the festival opener.  New topiaries, gardens, children’s play areas and interactive gardening seminars will set the stage for 75 days of festival fun as Disney’s horticulture team revs up for its 20th year of beautiful blooms and creative whimsy. For the first year ever, Mike and Sully from Disney/Pixar “Monsters Inc.” will join the festivities with their Disney/Pixar “Monst

©Walt Disney Company Heading into the holiday season at Walt Disney World is always a special time, with the parks and resorts decorated, along with special shows, parades and fireworks throughout the four parks. It also marks the start of the ticketed event - " Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party ." Taking place on 20 nights this year from November 9 to December 21, see why Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is well worth fitting into your Walt Disney World vacation plans.  Before we look at what you can expected, let's talk about how much it will cost you. " Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party " costs $64.95 + tax for adults, and $59.95 for kids. This is where our first tip comes in, there are some significant discounts to be had. Passholders can save $10 on that price, and non pass holders can also save $6 by purchasing tickets in advance. There are blackout dates for both discounts, so check those before booking. Some nights do sell ou

Magic Kingdom Park The Magic Kingdom's Diamond Horseshoe will be opening for the busy Thanksgiving period on select days as a quick service lunch and table service dinner location. Starting for quick service lunch (11am to 3pm) tomorrow, November 17 through November 21, and then November 23 to November 24, 2012.  The restaurant will then be open as a table service dinner location on November 22 from 11am to 9:30pm. Disney's Hollywood Studios The "Taste of Hollywood" To Go dining that was introduced at Disney's Hollywood Studios last year is back again for the holidays. Starting December 22, 2012 through January 5, 2013, the boxed to go meals cost $15.99 (including 20oz drink) for adults, and $5.49 for kids. The meal includes reserved seating for Fantasmic! You will be able to make reservations up to 24 hours before at 407-WDW-DINE . Menu items include: Cold-cut roast beef with creamy horseradish, potato salad, grilled asparagu

Downtown Disney's Marketplace becomes host to Santa Claus beginning today. You can meet Santa Claus at his chalet in the Marketplace, near to World of Disney beginning today, November 16 until December 24, 2012. From December 25 to December 27, 2012 you will be able to enjoy meet and greets with Santa Goofy. Times are as follows: Friday/Saturday: 12pm to 10pm Sunday - Thursday: 5pm to 10pm

I'm not sure how many of you have seen the previews for Walt Disney Studios' film "Oz The Great and Powerful," but I have to tell you, this is definitely a motion picture that I'm looking forward to seeing in 2013. It looks absolutely amazing and features some pretty great actors as well. ©Walt Disney Pictures From the Disney Parks Blog - In case you aren’t yet familiar, the film tells the back story of Oz The Great and Powerful. Here’s the synopsis: When Oscar Diggs, a small-time magician, is hurled away from Kansas to the Land of Oz, he thinks fame and fortune are his for the taking, until he meets three witches who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Drawn into the epic problems facing the inhabitants of Oz, Oscar must use his magical arts to save them and transform himself into the great and powerful wizard—and into a better man as well. Disney is happy to announce today that guests visiting the 2013 Epcot Inte

©Walt Disney Company Our friends over at the Disney Parks Blog have just posted some new information regarding new atmosphere entertainment at the New Fantasyland. Here is the news in full: The Royal Majesty Makers engage boys and girls in random acts of “royaldom,” endowing them with the skills to become princes and princesses. These royal consultants, official ambassadors of Cinderella’s court, inspire and delight visiting villagers with magical moments throughout the land.  Led by retired knight Sir Sterling and royal etiquette expert Lady Llewellyn, the Royal Majesty Makers also include squire extraordinaire Tobias and flirtatious lady-in-waiting Bridget. They may be found in the Castle Courtyard, conducting Knight School, delivering invitations to a royal ball, leading royal dances or even playing a game of “Sir Sterling Says.”  “With the opening of New Fantasyland, we’re excited to introduce several new atmosphere groups that will become part of the storytel

Complimentary guest Wi-Fi Internet access is now available at Disney's Animal Kingdom, completing the roll out of Wi-Fi to all the four main parks at Walt Disney World. Downtown Disney's Wi-Fi service is also expected to come online by the end of the year.

©Walt Disney Company Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party has now sold out for the third night in a row!  Thursday, November 15 is now sold out, although all other dates remain... for now.

It seems that some very odd things are afoot at the Magic Kingdom and the New Fantasyland. Today the folks at Walt Disney World have launched a viral campaign that may just point to flying dragons coming to the New Fantasyland. Disney's social media managing editor Gary Buchanan has a fondness for dragons, and on the Disney Parks Blog and a new Tumbler Blog , he talks of "strange sightings" coming from the New Fantasyland. Could this be what we are looking at in the video above? Disney asks curious fans to follow along on the Tumblr blog at  disneydragons.tumblr.com  and use the hashtag #BelieveInFantasy on Twitter to report any dragon sightings. The New Fantasyland debuts on December 6, 2012 - something tells me that we will be experiencing an awful lot of dragon sightings! Stay tuned.

The great crew with RIDEMAKERZ® at Downtown Disney will be running a special offer this Friday, November 16, 2012 - Build one RIDE and build a second RIDE for FREE . The offer is open to all Disney Annual Passholders, Disney Cast Members, Disney Visa Card Members, and Disney Vacation Club Members. Read more here. RIDEMAKERZ® is located within Team Mickey at the Downtown Disney Marketplace

In response to urgent need among many local military veterans, The Walt Disney Company Foundation and Dr. Phillips Charities have contributed to Heart of Florida United Way’s (HFUW) Veterans Assistance Program. The program is designed to assist veterans and surviving spouses in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties who are struggling to pay for food, rent, utilities and other life necessities. “We know that military veterans and their families face many challenges as they transition back to civilian life,” said Robert H. (Bob) Brown, HFUW president and CEO. “While veterans represent just 9% of the overall population, they represent 17% of those who are homeless across our nation. Here in our own community, Heart of Florida United Way is grateful for the support of The Walt Disney Company Foundation and Dr. Phillips Charities to help local veterans survive difficult times, get back on their feet and lead healthier, more financially stable lives.” The Walt Disney Company Founda