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Magic Kingdom has reopened to all guests after being closed most of day. Yeah. Like we need more people in here right now!! Happy New Year everyone!

Magic Kingdom remains at a Phase 3 close but the Ticket and Transportation lot is full so guests that do have park access are parking at Disney's Hollywood Studios and shuttling to the Magic Kingdom. It's going to be a looooooooong night!

HIgh levels of traffic are going to cause road closures and traffic pattern changes tonight around property, but in particular around Downtown Disney. After midnight, Hotel Plaza Blvd will be closed at the intersection with Buena Vista Drive. Traffic will be directed along N Buena Vista Drive towards CR 535. Please be patient. Please be careful. Have a safe and Happy New Year!

Magic Kingdom closed to some guests ( Phase 3 ) It's a BUSY New Year's Eve at Disney's Magic Kingdom Park. The theme park is currently in Phase 3 of closing. Please see below for phase closing explanations. (Hope it's not at Phase 4 when I arrive!) Phase 1 Guests with 'Magic Your Way' base tickets, or a '1-Day 1-Park Ticket', Guests without an admission ticket, and Cast Members using Main Gate & Silver Passes will be turned around at the parking lot booths. Phase 2 Admission is limited to: Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard hotels) Annual and Premium Annual Passholders Guests with Hopper tickets coming from another park Guests re-entering the park Guests with dining reservations Magic Kingdom Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League Guests using Walt Disney World Resort Transportation will be admitted. ...

After closing to capacity, the Transportation and Ticket Center (Magic Kingdom Parking Lot) has reopened to all guests. The park continues to remain VERY busy with wait times approaching 3.5 hours for some attractions.

Magic Kingdom parking lot is currently at capacity. Because of this, guests are parking at Epcot and taking the monorail over to the Magic Kingdom. However, please keep in mind that this is not a phase closing.

Magic Kingdom has now reopened to all guests after an earlier Phase 2 closing.

Magic Kingdom closed to some guests (Phase 2) It's another busy holiday at Disney's Magic Kingdom Park. The theme park is currently in Phase 2 of closing. Please see below for phase closing explanations. Phase 1 Guests with 'Magic Your Way' base tickets, or a '1-Day 1-Park Ticket', Guests without an admission ticket, and Cast Members using Main Gate & Silver Passes will be turned around at the parking lot booths. Phase 2 Admission is limited to: Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard hotels) Annual and Premium Annual Passholders Guests with Hopper tickets coming from another park Guests re-entering the park Guests with dining reservations Magic Kingdom Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League Guests using Walt Disney World Resort Transportation will be admitted. Phase 3 Admission is limited to: Disney Resort Guests ...

Due to another cold day in the Orlando area, Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park will be closed on Sunday, December 30, 2012. Typhoon Lagoon is currently closed for its annual refurbishment and will reopen early in January. At that time, Blizzard Beach will then close for its annual refurbishment. Keep your eyes right here for any future updates.

Even more magic is in store for Walt Disney World Resort guests in 2013. From the excitement of New Fantasyland to new tres francais additions to Epcot dining, from being grandly pampered at a new Grand Floridian spa to weekly guest surprises only Disney can do – all this and more welcomes guests in 2013. In the shadows of Cinderella Castle rises New Fantasyland, welcoming Magic Kingdom guests into classic storybook worlds where elephants fly and castles touch the sky, where a beauty meets a beast and a mermaid plays under the sea. Representing the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history, Fantasyland doubles in size with the addition of Enchanted Tales with Belle, Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid, Be Our Guest Restaurant, a re-themed Barnstormer Featuring the Great Goofini, two carousels of Dumbo, the Flying Elephant (complete with interactive queue), Gaston’s Tavern, Pete’s Silly Sideshow, a new family play area and much more. Here’s a look around what 201...

Magic Kingdom Park has reopened to all guests after an earlier Phase 3 closing. The park is still very busy as some attractions are posting wait times approaching three hours. If your schedule permits, you may want to wait until after the new year to enjoy the Magic Kingdom.

Disney has just announced details  of the very first "Limited Time Magic" event running from December 30 to January 5, 2013. "First, we’re beginning the New Year at Walt Disney World Resort in Magic Kingdom Park with  Tomorrowland’s first ever “Bling in the New Year” dance party . For an entire week, children of all ages can celebrate the start of 2013. You’ll be able to watch live entertainment on Rockettower Plaza Stage, dance to great music and celebrate with some of your favorite Disney characters – all dressed in their New Year’s best. And if you can’t stay up until midnight, there will be a New Year’s countdown every hour leading up to midnight. The celebration begins on December 30 and runs through January 5." Disney also announced that 2013 will be the “Year of the Ear” at Disney Parks. Every month, Disney Parks will release new ear hats to add to your collection as part of “Limited Time Magic.” January will start with the limited release of ...

It's another busy holiday at Disney's Magic Kingdom Park. The theme park is currently in Phase 3 of closing. Please see below for phase closing explanations. Phase 1 Guests with 'Magic Your Way' base tickets, or a '1-Day 1-Park Ticket', Guests without an admission ticket, and Cast Members using Main Gate & Silver Passes will be turned around at the parking lot booths. Phase 2 Admission is limited to: Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard hotels) Annual and Premium Annual Passholders Guests with Hopper tickets coming from another park Guests re-entering the park Guests with dining reservations Magic Kingdom Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League Guests using Walt Disney World Resort Transportation will be admitted. Phase 3 Admission is limited to: Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and guests ...

Due to the busy holiday season, please note that the following resorts will have some parking restrictions: Disney's Contemporary Resort   (NOW – January 13) Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa   (NOW – January 1) Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground   (NOW – January 1) Disney's Polynesian Resort   (December 30 – 31) Disney's BoardWalk Resort   (December 31) Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts   (December 31) These parking lots will be restricted to only those staying at the resort, attending a convention event at the resort, or with dining or recreation reservations.

The Christmas gifts just keep on coming as Disney has announced the dates for Star Wars Weekends 2013 at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Final details are still to come but fans can expect to see favorites James Arnold Taylor and Ashley Eckstein as they return as celebrity hosts for the annual special event. Star Wars Weekends will be held every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 17 through June 9, 2013.

As of 2:00 PM, Magic Kingdom has moved out of Phase 3 closing and is now open to all guests, though the park remains very busy with some attractions approaching a three hour wait time. If you are here for another week or so, you may want to venture to another Disney Park for the day. We'll keep on top of the crowds so check back often. UPDATED: The parking lot at Disney's Hollywood Studios is full, so guests are being re-routed to park at Epcot and use Disney transportation over to the Studios.

Magic Kingdom in Phase 3 Closing For the first time this week the Magic Kingdom is currently in Phase 3 of closing due to Christmas week crowds. Please see the guide below for phase closing explanations: Walt Disney World closing phases Phase 1 Guests with 'Magic Your Way' base tickets, or a '1-Day 1-Park Ticket', Guests without an admission ticket, and Cast Members using Main Gate & Silver Passes will be turned around at the parking lot booths. Phase 2 Admission is limited to: Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard hotels) Annual and Premium Annual Passholders Guests with Hopper tickets coming from another park Guests re-entering the park Guests with dining reservations Magic Kingdom Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League Guests using Walt Disney World Resort Transportation will be admitted. Phase 3 Admission is limi...

Christmas may have come and gone but there are still plenty of holiday offerings going on at Walt Disney World that you can enjoy over the next few days: Festival of the Seasons at Downtown Disney & Santa Goofy appearance - Ends December 27, 2012 Holidays Around the World & Candlelight Choir at Epcot - Ends December 30, 2012 Christmas Parade at Magic Kingdom Park - now through December 31, 2012 Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade at Disney's Animal Kingdom - Ends January 2, 2013 The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney's Hollywood Studios - Ends January 6, 2013 Castle Dream Lights at Magic Kingdom Park - Ends January 8, 2013

Due to the forecasted low temperatures in the area tomorrow (12/27) Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park will be closed. Typhoon Lagoon is currently closed for its annual refurbishment and will re-open early in January.

New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest fireworks evenings of the year at Walt Disney World Resort, a place where fireworks are both spectacular and an every-night occurrence. Fireworks and nighttime shows will light up the skies and create a mood of celebration at the parks on Dec. 31, 2012, while revelry of other sorts takes place elsewhere throughout the Vacation Kingdom. Here’s a snapshot of what’s in store: At  Epcot , guests can dance away 2012 to the beat of the DJs stationed at select pavilions throughout the evening and watch “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” salute the new year at 7 p.m. and 11:42 p.m. A buffet dining experience inspired by Disney’s classic animated films Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 will take place at World ShowPlace facility, with reservations available from 4:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Priced at $68.67 for adults and $44.37 for children. Park admission is required. At  Disney’s Hollywood Studios  rock in the New Year with resident famil...

Epcot is a GREAT place to be for New Year's Eve entertainment and today we have a full run-down of what you can expect. Park hours:   Future World 8am to 1am, World Showcase 9:30am to 1am. Exit bypass gates will be open during the evenings at the World Showplace and next to China. Temporary Bars will be available on the promenade at Mexico, China, Italy, Germany, American Adventure, Japan, Morocco, France and Canada World ShowPlace Fantasia Dinner Buffet: 4:30pm to 10:30pm, $64.99 adults, $41.99 kids (plus tax) - for reservations call 407-WDW-DINE Live DJs:  Future World Fountain Stage - DJ Scooter 7pm to11:35pm, 12:10am to 1am. American Gardens Theatre - DJ Steve Dunlap 2pm to 6pm American Gardens Theatre - DJ Eric Rung 7pm to 7:20pm, 8pm to 8:50pm, 9:30pm to 10:05pm, 10:45pm to 11:35pm, 12:40am to 1am. American Gardens Theatre - Latin Wave 7:20pm to 8pm, 8:50pm to 9:30pm, 10:05pm to 10:45pm, 12:05am to 12:40am. China - DJ Dominic ...

Magic Kingdom Park has reopened to all guests after an earlier Phase 2 closing.

For the second day in a row the Magic Kingdom is currently in  Phase 2  of closing due to Christmas Day crowds. Please see the guide below for phase closing  explanations: Walt Disney World closing phases Phase 1 Guests with 'Magic Your Way' base tickets, or a '1-Day 1-Park Ticket', Guests without an admission ticket, and Cast Members using Main Gate & Silver Passes will be turned around at the parking lot booths. Phase 2 Admission is limited to: Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard hotels) Annual and Premium Annual Passholders Guests with Hopper tickets coming from another park Guests re-entering the park Guests with dining reservations Magic Kingdom Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League Guests using Walt Disney World Resort Transportation will be admitted. Phase 3 Admission is limited to: Disney Resort...

Wishing everyone a safe and joyous Merry Christmas!

Magic Kingdom Park has reopened to all guests after an earlier Phase 2 closing. Wait times for most attractions continue to be very lengthy.

Magic Kingdom is currently in Phase 2 of closing due to holiday crowds. Please see the guide below for phase closing  explanations: Walt Disney World closing phases Phase 1 Guests with 'Magic Your Way' base tickets, or a '1-Day 1-Park Ticket', Guests without an admission ticket, and Cast Members using Main Gate & Silver Passes will be turned around at the parking lot booths. Phase 2 Admission is limited to: Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard hotels) Annual and Premium Annual Passholders Guests with Hopper tickets coming from another park Guests re-entering the park Guests with dining reservations Magic Kingdom Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League Guests using Walt Disney World Resort Transportation will be admitted. Phase 3 Admission is limited to: Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swa...

A Christmas Greeting to all readers of MikeandTheMouse: "Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in yet another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two  hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself... While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – His coat. When He was dead, He was laid ...

If you are like me, one of the biggest things you probably miss about Pleasure Island is the Comedy Warehouse. Well, if this is the case then you are in luck this Christmas season. The Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special runs now through January 5, 2013 at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Showtimes are daily at 12:45 PM, 2:45 PM, 5 PM, 6 PM and 7 PM in the Premier Theater on the Streets of America. Check it out and let us know what you think!

For the third consecutive day, Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park is closed due to cold temperatures in the Orlando area. The water park  should resume its regular schedule on December 24, 2012. Disney's Typhoon Lagoon is already closed for it annual refurbishment.

The busy holiday period is just about to get into full swing at Walt Disney World, and starting today, day guests at the Magic Kingdom can now see the special holiday parades, shows and fireworks  through December 31, 2012. Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime Parade will be performed daily at 12:30pm and 3:30pm. Holiday Wishes (no perimeter fireworks). A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas at the Rockettower Place in Tomorrowland. Celebrate the Season on the castle stage.

Please be aware that Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park will continue to remain closed through Saturday, December 22, due to forecasted low temperatures. Also, the 8 p.m. Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show scheduled to take place on Saturday, December 22 has also been cancelled due to weather (the dinner show is held in an outdoor venue). For this reason, Guests with reservations will have to book alternate dining arrangements and will not be sold or issued tickets to the show. Guests requesting a refund will be provided a refund.

Disney's Contemporary Resort will be hosting religious services for Christmas Day in the Fantasia Ballroom. Catholic Mass at 8:00 am and 10:15am Protestant Service at 9:00 am Parking at the Contemporary Resort is going to be restricted, so if you are staying at a monorail resort, take the monorail or resort boat service. If you are staying at another resort you can take normal transportation to the Magic Kingdom and then take a bus, monorail, boat or walkway to the Contemporary Resort.

Due to the approaching cold front and expected temperatures in the 30s, Disney's Blizzard Beach will be closed on Friday, December 21, 2012. The closure is expected to last through Saturday, as well. MikeandTheMouse.com will have an update here if anything changes. Disney's Typhoon Lagoon is currently closed for its annual refurbishment.

The   Disney Junior - Live On Stage!   show is very popular among pre-school children visiting Disney's Hollywood Studios. Parents will be happy to know that the show is being refreshed once again to include a few new characters that debuted recently on television (on the Disney Junior channel, of course!). Here is some additional information on this, directly from the official   Disney Parks Blog : As a father of twin boys, the Disney Junior – Live on Stage! show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney California Adventure park is a favorite stop whenever we visit those parks. One of the best things about the show is that it’s regularly updated to feature new characters and stories from the Disney Junior line-up on TV. Well, I’m excited to tell you (and them), that Disney Junior – Live on Stage! is primed to get another update in early 2013, when new hits “Doc McStuffins” and “Sofia the First” join “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” and “Jake and the Never Lan...

Disney's Marathon Weekend More than 55,000 runners from throughout the United States and beyond will lace up their running shoes and head to Walt Disney World Resort for the sold-out Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna, Jan. 10-13.  Several celebrities including Drew Cary (‘The Price is Right,’) Sean Astin (‘Goonies’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings,’) and Alison Sweeney (‘The Biggest Loser,’) will join the celebration as runDisney marks the 20th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Marathon. To mark two decades of the Walt Disney World Marathon, runners will enjoy several unique features, including a special 20th anniversary medal, course enhancements taking runners onto the track at Walt Disney World Speedway and through ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, a Mile 20 spectacular featuring special entertainment and a new post-race party at Downtown Disney. Marathon weekend features runDisney Kids’ Races, a Family Fun Run 5K on Friday, the Half Marat...

New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest fireworks evenings of the year at Walt Disney World Resort, a place where fireworks are both spectacular and an every-night occurrence. Fireworks and nighttime shows will light up the skies and create a mood of celebration at the parks on Dec. 31, 2012, while revelry of other sorts takes place elsewhere throughout the Vacation Kingdom. Here’s a snapshot of what’s in store: At  Epcot , guests can dance away 2012 to the beat of the DJs stationed at select pavilions throughout the evening and watch “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” salute the new year at 7 p.m. and 11:42 p.m. A buffet dining experience inspired by Disney’s classic animated films Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 will take place at World ShowPlace facility, with reservations available from 4:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Priced at $68.67 for adults and $44.37 for children. Park admission is required. At  Disney’s Hollywood Studios  rock in the New Year with resident famil...