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Guests can ring in the New Year with not one, but two nights of celebration at the Magic Kingdom Park! On both December 30 and 31, the park will host an extended line-up of nighttime fun: 7:00 PM - Main Street Electrical Parade 8:15 PM - Celebrate the Magic 8:30 PM - Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season 11:35 PM - Celebrate the Magic 11:50 PM - Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks There will also be DJ's at Cinderella Castle and in Frontierland throughout the night to keep the party going. December 31 only, party hats and horns will be available for Guests while supplies last: Splash Mountain Gate - 4:00 PM Near Rockettower Plaza stage - 4:00 PM Rose Garden - 4:00 PM Some helpful tips: Arrive early and STAY PUT . Magic Kingdom Park will likely experience "phased closings" throughout the course of the day. CLICK HERE for additional information about phased closings at the theme parks. To cut down on long lines, appoint one ...

Downtown Disney has dance parties and live entertainment throughout the three districts scheduled for New Year's Eve, but there will be no fireworks. Below you will find the full entertainment schedule: Bus Schedules Marketplace stop operates from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm Pleasure Island stop operates from 11:00 am to 2:00 am Entertainment The West End Party with DJ Lon Simmons by Cirque du Soleil - 11:00 pm-3:00 am  DJ Kids Dance Party with DJ Tony Messina at Fountain Stage - 6:30 pm-12:30 am Living Statues by DisneyQuest - 6:00 pm-10:00 pm DisneyQuest New Year's Eve Party hard ticket event - 8:00 pm-1:00 am (SOLD OUT) Live Music Marketplace Cap’n Jack’s Margarita Bar - 2:15 pm, 3:15 pm, 4:15 pm, 5:15 pm, 6:15 pm Drey-C at Waterside Stage - 7:30 pm-12:30 am DJ Lon Simons at Waterside Stage - 7:00 pm-10:45 pm Pleasure Island Live Music in front of Fulton’s Crab House Nova Era - 12:30 pm - 5:30 pm  La Calle - 7:30 pm–12:30 am Ragl...

Disney's Hollywood Studios has a full line-up of entertainment planned for New Years Eve. Get there early and avoid a possible " phased closing. " The park will open at 8:00 am, and close at 12 midnight, with evening Extra Magic Hours (Disney Resort Guests only) from 12:00 am to 2:00 am. Lights! Camera, Happy New Year! Fireworks show will take place at 12 Midnight. Fantasmic! at 6:30 pm, 8:00 pm, 10:00 pm. (don't forget your "Glow With The Show" Ears!) The Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special - shows at 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm, 5: 00 pm, 7:00 pm, 8:00 pm, 9:00 pm, 10:00 pm and 11:00 pm. Located at the Premier Theatre. Mulch, Sweat and Shears and live DJ dance party at the Icon stage from 6:00 pm throughout the evening. Hats and horns will be available beginning at 6:00 pm at Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show.  The Great Movie Ride, Toy Story Mania and the Pixar Pals meet and greets will close at 10:30pm until a...

In less than one week, we'll celebrate the arrival of 2014 and it looks like Epcot will be alive with a variety of entertainment to help ring in the new year!  Here is a quick synopsis of what to expect: Park Hours Future World 8:00 am to 1:00 am World Showcase 9:30 am to 1:00 am. There will be EXIT bypass gates available during the evenings at the World Showplace, Mexico and next to China from 5:30 pm to 12:30 am. This should help (a little) with crowd flow and control. Temporary Bars will be available on the promenade at Mexico, China, Italy, Germany, American Adventure, Japan, Morocco, France and Canada. Hat and Horn distribution will be from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm in Future World West, Future World East and The American Adventure Pavilion in World Showcase. To help cut down on long lines, appoint one member of your group to pick these up for you. Everyone will appreciate it. Live DJs Future World Fountain Stage - DJ Scooter 7: 00 pm to11:35 pm,...

Merry Christmas from Mike and The Mouse! Enjoy the holiday everyone!

It's another busy holiday season at the Walt Disney World Resort and you can likely expect "phased closings" at some of the parks over the next two weeks.  Below is a handy reference for your convenience: 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 limite...

Due to the cool temperatures forecast for today, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon will be closed. Disney's Blizzard Beach is currently closed for its annual refurbishment.

Walt Disney World® Resort Ends Soon!  Play Stay and Dine…and Save up to $600 at the Walt Disney World® Resorts:  Here is a great offer for your next family vacation.  For most stays from January 5th through March 5th, 2014 when booked by December 31st, 2013 you can save $600.00 (based on a family of four) on a five night stay at selected Disney Resort hotels with the Play Stay and Dine promotion.  Take advantage of some huge saving by booking now. Ends Soon!  Save Up To 35% on Stays at Select Walt Disney World® Resort Hotels:  If you are planning a Winter-Spring vacation in 2014, now is the time to book. You can save up to 35% off select Disney Resorts from January 5-April 12, 2014.  These savings are based on availability.  This sale ends December 31, so book today!  Florida Resident Rates:  Florida Residents can take advantage of great rates on rooms at select Disney Resorts hotels for stays through April 8, 2014.  For e...

Probably one of the best things about being an Orlando resident, and living so close to the Walt Disney World Resort, is the access that we fans have to the great special event's that are often hosted by the fine folks over at the Disney Parks Blog. This past Friday evening was certainly no exception, as I was very honored to be able to attend a special sneak preview of what is sure to be Walt Disney Pictures latest hit, "Saving Mr. Banks." WARNING - Slight Spoiler Alert! The film centers on the creator of Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson). The story shifts back and forth between 1961 and 1907, framing Travers by her childhood in rural Queensland and her experience negotiating with Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) and his team for the film of Mary Poppins. Travers father (Colin Farrell) was a banker who slowly slid into alcoholism as the family fell into financial hardship. Travers looked up to her father, and the breaking of his spirit had an effect on her writ...

Pre-post note: I apologize for this being so late and after the fact; having a full-time job during the week and a part-time job on the weekends really cuts into my writing and posting time. I have two obsessions in life; Walt Disney World Resort and run Disney . Thank God I'm not married because I think I'd have a very hard time explaining to my wife why I'm always out running or park hopping!  Last month, I was very fortunate to be able to take part in the first ever run Disney meet up that didn't take place on Disney property or during a race weekend.  First stop... Atlanta, Georgia. For the past couple of years, I have tried desperately to get into the run Disney meet ups whenever they were announced. I was never fast enough with my response. However, leave it to the Magic of Disney and watch me get picked to take part in and event that's happening over 400 miles away from my home in Orlando! The funny thing is, I never hesitate...

A few weekends ago, on a rare Sunday off, I ventured on over to Magic Kingdom Park armed with my Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and my Apple iPad - odd bedfellows, I know. I don't own a fancy DSLR or point and shoot camera, so I have to make do with what I have.  Let me preface this by saying I am not a photographer. Never been one and probably never will be. I take photos for fun and then see what kind of effects I can add to make them "pop" and perhaps look a little less ordinary. I will usually post my photos on Twitter -  @MikeAndTheMouse   or on Facebook . Needless to say, I gained a few followers that day after posting some of my photos. One lady even insisted on buying one of my Splash Mountain photos to display on her wall! Very flattering, indeed. I sent her a copy. Gratis. Now, as I said, these photos will never win any major awards or make their way to a magazine cover any time soon, but if you are like me, and you utilize what you have available to you...