Your Very Merry Party begins upon entering under the new “Welcome” banner for 2013. Mickey is a festive red Christmas ornament in front of the Main Street Train Station! Once inside, enjoy the sights and sounds of the Christmas season. Meet characters such as Minnie Mouse in Fantasyland, Scrooge McDuck with Donald and Daisy in Storybook Circus, and the Seven Dwarfs all together in Fantasyland. Mary Poppins and Bert join the penguins near the Prince Charming Regal Carousel! Enjoy holiday treats and colorful lighting projections around the Magic Kingdom.
Cinderella’s Holiday Wish (Castle Lighting)
The Christmas Castle Dream Lights have been delighting audiences each Christmas season since 2007. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald gather together with the Fairy Godmother, trying to figure out how Cinderella Castle should be decorated. Cinderella and Prince Charming soon appear, and Cinderella’s wish of a castle that resembles her sparkling slipper is brought to life!
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” as you enjoy this holiday tradition from the best parade spots in the Magic Kingdom, at Christmas Tree Point and atop the Walt Disney World Railroad Station! The character-filled procession glides toward you, with Cinderella Castle shimmering in the background. A gentle snow heralds the start of the parade, as character favorites including Mickey & Minnie, Goofy, and Chip & Dale greet you! Newly designed prancing reindeer, along with marching soldiers, gingerbread men and the big man himself – Santa Claus – round out this holiday classic.
Celebrate The Magic! (Holiday Segment)
The holiday segment of the new “Celebrate The Magic!” projection show features Cinderella Castle as a large gift just waiting to be unwrapped! Once the gift opens, the castle is shown in various forms – including as a gingerbread house, the Walt Disney World 25th Anniversary castle cake, and you’ll even catch a glimpse of Santa and his reindeer!
Holiday Wishes Fireworks: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season
This fireworks spectacular lights up the sky over the Magic Kingdom and Cinderella Castle. The show is a combination of six “acts”: The Spirit of the Season, The Spirit of Holiday Wonder, The Spirit of Sharing Hearth and Family, The Spirit of Holiday Childhood Fantasies, The Holiday Spirit in Each of Us, and Christmas All Around Us! Experience the 180 degree fireworks finale in all it’s splendor, recorded from multiple angles.
Celebrate the Season Show
The Castle forecourt is never as festive as during this “joyous celebration”! Mickey presents a lovely gift to Minnie, and even appears as a Nutcracker soldier! Goofy, Pluto, Donald, Chip & Dale and other favorite characters are part of this lively show – including new reindeer! Sing along to jubilant Christmas carols in a segment which culminates in an explosive ending. Recorded from multiple angles.
Very Merry Party Scenes
Large projected snowflakes sparkle off of the rocks in Tomorrowland and on Space Mountain! Enjoy a final walk down Main Street U.S.A, where window displays and beautiful lighting envelop your senses. You’ll take a lingering look back through the Christmas trees in Town Square at the Cinderella Castle dream lights. Your Very Merry night concludes with a stop in front of the Main Street Station, which is lit up magnificently for the Party!
The Marvel Iron Man 3 monorail (below, left) took it’s first passengers yesterday, as it glided along the express monorail beam between the Magic Kingdom and the Ticket and Transportation Center. This is the third time that a monorail has been wrapped to promote a film, following in the footsteps of the Tron Legacy and Avengers themed monorails. Iron Man (below, right) is shown on the side, along with “Stark Industries”.
We finally had the chance to see the Magic Kingdom Christmas tree this year, which went up after the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade taping (below, left). It is pretty much the same as in previous years, with a train, toy soldiers, gifts and more under the tree including a reference to Walt Disney’s personal Carolwood Pacific “Fair Weather Route” railroad. (below, right).
Video #1 – Magic Kingdom Christmas Tree 2012, Walt Disney World – This is the Magic Kingdom Christmas Tree – including up-close detail, for 2012! The tree is pretty much the same as in previous years, with a train, toy soldiers, gifts and more under the tree including a reference to Walt Disney’s personal Carolwood Pacific “Fair Weather Route” railroad.
Denise and I were invited by our friend Derek to try out the Cast Member FastPass+ test (below, left). We were all issued green FastPass+ cards with our name and ride information stored (below, right). Our first ride was to have been Space Mountain, but due to Disney transportation issues, we were late. Derek was able to change our Space Mountain ride to a different time (he rode it himself), and we soon met Derek at the Haunted Mansion for our first attraction.
Yesterday we were finally back in the Storybook Circus part of new Fantasyland (below, left) to check out the new Pete’s Silly Sideshow tent (below, right). With all the activities at Epcot over the past couple of weeks, it’s left us little time for the Magic Kingdom. Pete’s Silly Sideshow is the final attraction at open in Storybook Circus and we were told that the area in now considered complete (with the exception of a few finishing tweaks)
The eery sound of wind beckons you to enter through the turnstiles. Flames flicker in the windows of the Main Street Train Station, which is fully bathed in green and blue lights. It’s time to start our Not-So-Scary night – don’t forget your costume!
Trick-or-Treat Trails
New for 2012, there are two treat trails! Br’er Rabbit’s Laughing Place Candy Patch invites you to gather sweets at multiple stations, surrounded by pumpkin carvings that include Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Fox, and Br’er Bear! Delight in the Seven Dwarfs as Happy shows off his dance moves. Next to the new Casey Jr. Candy Junction in Storybook Circus, you’ll find Curious Candy Way, themed to the story of Alice in Wonderland. We’ll stop briefly to visit Phineas and Ferb next to City Hall, as well as Mickey and Minnie dressed in their Halloween finest.
Headless Horseman
Hooves slap against the pavement as you await the arrival of the Horseman from Sleepy Hollow. Sparks shoot from the ground as the horse gallops by, with it’s famed rider holding an illuminated Jack-O-Lantern in his gloved hand. This video footage is taken from four different angles!
Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade
“It’s not so very scary” as many of your favorite Disney characters, from Mickey & Minnie to the Hitchhiking Ghosts, mix with Halloween themed floats that include a pirate ship, Haunted Mansion gravestones and more! The crowd-favorite grave diggers are back, dragging their shovels along the pavement as sparks fly! There is a new element for 2012 to the Pirates segment, and a costume change from previous years for the lead float performers. You’ll enjoy this unique parade for years to come!
Happy HalloWishes Fireworks
Your “Ghost Host” guides you through this feast of sights and sounds, as vibrant bursts of color combine with dazzling projections to light up the night.View the 180 degree fireworks finale in all it’s splendor, recorded from multiple angles. These Party exclusive fireworks are not a trick, but a spooktacular Halloween treat!
Villains Dance Mix and Mingle
This villainous dance show features bright costumes and energetic dance sequences! Dr. Facilier takes center stage for this show, with many of your favorite villains including Malificent, Cruella DeVil and the Queen of Hearts joining in the proceedings!
Haunted Mansion at Midnight
This “ghostly retreat” never feels quite as spooky as it does during the midnight hour. Mist envelopes you as you walk alone, past the gravestones that are bathed in fog. All 999 Happy Haunts are awaiting your presence – there’s no turning back now…
Haunted Exit Scenes
Your Not-So-Scary night closes with a look at projections and lights around the Magic Kingdom, including a skull and crossbones on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Cobwebs and spiders seem to have taken over Tomorrowland, so watch your step! Stroll down a nearly-empty Main Street, stopping to admire the themed scarecrows in Town Square and the spooky window displays decorated for Halloween. Take one last look back at the fog-enveloped train station before exiting for the evening.
We are always asked for Fantasyland updates, so we went to the Magic Kingdom today to find something new to bring you! We were toward the end of our day when we noticed that the statue of Gaston is in place, along with LeFou (below, right). This is to be a fountain, and it appears that Gaston is holding barrels in both hands. In the previously released concept art, it looked like he was holding a gun in one hand and a barrel in the other (Disney concept art: below, left).
We spent a few hours yesterday at the Magic Kingdom (below, left) – it’s hard to believe it’s been a month since we’ve visited! The last visit we made was when the Casey Jr. Splash ‘N Soak area was opened. The Main Street Bakery had been under a facade for quite some time including the last time we were here, and it looks very nice and bright now (below, right).