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Following a festive kick-off to the holidays that began Thanksgiving Day with two new broadcast specials, Disney Parks will close out 2016 with its most cherished seasonal tradition of all – the annual Christmas Day spectacular. “The Disney Parks’ Magical Christmas Celebration” airs Sunday, December 25, 2016, on the ABC Television Network (10a.m. – 12 p.m. ET; airtimes vary; check local listings) and on the ABC and the Disney Channel apps. Ushering in its 33rd year are the dynamic brother-sister duo from “Dancing with the Stars,” Julianne Hough and Derek Hough, who will present the two-hour ABC special from the Walt Disney World Resort. The season’s most eagerly awaited celebration culminates with the fan-favorite Christmas parade delivered by Disneyland correspondent, Good Morning America’s Jesse Palmer from the action-packed parade lines alongside other exciting celebrity guests. Beyond offering an all-star performance lineup featuring the biggest names in music and ente...

Disney has recently updated its iOS "My Disney Experience" application to include some neat PhotoPass editing features that have only been available online. You can now add stickers, filters, borders and crop to purchased images, which can then be saved to your device camera roll for printing or social media sharing. Another part of the app update is enhanced attraction wait time information, which uses your phone's location services and Bluetooth to improve performance. Note that these edits and saves can only be done if you have purchased the Memory Maker or have an Annual Pass that has PhotoPass entitlements. They have also fixed bugs and improved overall app performance as well as reducing the number of times you have to log-in. The update is available now for iOS devices. 

The unveiling of a magical, mythical world of floating mountains, bioluminescent rainforests and soaring Banshees anchors an exciting 2017 at Walt Disney World Resort – a year filled with new water park fun, a new festival for Epcot, more openings at Disney Springs, an awe-inspiring nighttime experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and much more. Here’s a roundup at what the new year has in store: Pandora – The World of Avatar – A transformational experience unlike any other, Pandora – The World of Avatar, opens in summer 2017. In collaboration with filmmaker James Cameron and Lightstorm Entertainment, Disney is bringing to life the fantasy world of Pandora, inspired by Cameron’s epic film AVATAR, in a breathtaking new land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Avatar Flight of Passage will send guests flying above the jungles of Pandora on a Mountain Banshee. Bioluminescent rainforests dramatically wrap around Na’vi River Journey, a family-friendly boat ride. Hungry adventurers ...

To celebrate the upcoming release of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” the iconic Spaceship Earth at Walt Disney World Resort transforms into the dreaded Death Star from Star Wars. The spectacular moment took place Dec. 5, 2016, and included the announcement of new Star Wars experiences coming to Walt Disney World this month and throughout 2017. Mads Mikkelsen, who plays Galen Erso in “Rogue One,” made a jump to hyperspace, arriving just in time for the special event. Video of the amazing moment is below.  Take a look at this fully operational battle station!

A galaxy of new Star Wars experiences is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios beginning mid-December. The announcement – made today at Walt Disney World Resort – noted that some of the coming-soon additions are inspired by “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” that opens in theaters worldwide on Dec. 16. Guests, including fans of the epic space saga, will find new entertainment, special displays inside Star Wars Launch Bay, a first-ever themed tour and more at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Premiering this Month Star Wars Launch Bay – a multi-sensory space celebrating all things Star Wars – is now updated with authentic replicas from “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” joining other Star Wars memorabilia in the preview gallery. Making-of footage from “Rogue One” has been added to the “Meet the Makers” film featured in Star Wars Launch Bay. In the popular daytime stage show “Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away,” guests will get a first look at AWR Troopers from “Rogue One: A Star Wars ...

Celebrating 24 years when it kicks off March 1, 2017, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will jump-start spring with gardens of earthly delights plus new character topiaries, entertainers and food and drink offerings. The festival, which expanded to 90 days in 2016, will open with an irresistible array of fresh surprises and new treats: Fresh, farm-market food and beverage flavors will debut at two new Outdoor Kitchens that will join 13 returning Outdoor Kitchens. Guest can sip and savor their way around Epcot, enjoying chef-inspired noshes and refreshing libations with or without a kick. The new generation of princess topiaries (Snow White, Anna and Elsa – the first to be designed and created with topiary facial features) will welcome a brand-new Belle topiary as fans remember her from the Oscar-winning Disney film, “Beauty and the Beast.” Located outside the France pavilion with the Beast topiary, Belle will come to life with sculpted facial features a...