ABC and Disney Parks Announce a Flurry of Stars and Magical Surprises for Holiday Specials

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Disney+

It’s the most wonderful time of the year as ABC and Disney Parks bring the magic of the holidays into our homes with holiday specials hosted from Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California!

Derek Hough, Julianne Hough and Ariana DeBose host “The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration,” airing this Sunday, Nov. 28, 7-9 p.m. ET/PT. Then, Derek and Julianne return to host the “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade,” from Walt Disney World Resort, alongside Freeform’s Trevor Jackson (“grown-ish”) and Sherry Cola (“Good Trouble”) from the Disneyland Resort, Saturday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET/PT. Be sure to mark your calendars to watch on ABC and stream the next day on Hulu.

Both holiday specials will sparkle with holiday cheer, offering heartwarming moments and exclusive sneak peeks at what’s new around The Walt Disney Company. Viewers can look forward to a sneak peek at Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, opening March 1, 2022, at Walt Disney World Resort; a trip on board the all-new Disney Wish from Disney Cruise Line; and special looks at Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto” and Steven Spielberg’s new film “West Side Story.” As part of The World’s Most Magical Celebration, commemorating 50 years of Walt Disney World Resort, every touch of holiday magic will be an extra special, EARidescent treat.

Musical performances for “The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration” include:

  • Julianne Hough and Ariana DeBose – “We Need a Little Christmas,” “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” and “Holiday” medley
  • AFTR PRTY – “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” and “Winter Wonderland” medley
  • Jimmie Allen – “Silent Night”
  • Kristin Chenoweth – “(Everyone’s Waitin’ For) The Man with the Bag” and “Jingle Bell Rock” mash-up
  • Darren Criss – “Happy Holidays / The Holiday Season” medley
  • Brett Eldredge – “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
  • NEEDTOBREATHE and Switchfoot – “Hometown Christmas”
  • Norah Jones – “Christmas Calling (Jolly Jones)” and “Blue Christmas” medley
  • Gwen Stefani – “You Make It Feel Like Christmas” and “Jingle Bells”
  • Sebastián Yatra – “Dos Oruguitas” from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” medley

In addition to the parade, musical performances for “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade” include the following:

  • Derek Hough and Julianne Hough – “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town”
  • Jimmie Allen – “White Christmas”
  • Kristin Chenoweth – “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” 
  • Darren Criss – “Christmas Dance”
  • Meg Donnelly – “Jingle Bell Rock”
  • Brett Eldredge – “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
  • Norah Jones – “Run Rudolph Run”
  • Pentatonix – “I Saw Three Ships”
  • Gwen Stefani – “Cheer for the Elves”

Disney’s Josh D’Amaro Gives Sneak Peek of Lightsaber Training in Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Resorts, Hollywood Studios, Uncategorized

Amid all the excitement and curiosity surrounding the forthcoming Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser at Walt Disney World Resort, there’s one thing we’re looking forward to: lightsaber training. 

When this first-of-its-kind vacation experience begins welcoming Guests aboard the Halcyon starcruiser on March 1, 2022, they’ll finally know what it’s like to feel the Force and wield a lightsaber as they square off against a training remote, similar to Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: A New Hope. It’s one of the many immersive activities that comprise this two-night adventure where Guests will see, feel and live Star Wars.

This morning at Destination D23, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro gave a sneak peek at this much-anticipated moment aboard the starcruiser. Let’s take our first step into a larger world and watch as Josh tests his skills with a lightsaber.

Josh also stopped by the starcruiser’s bridge, where Disney Imagineer Sara Thacher taught him how to defend the ship using some trusty blaster cannons. Guests will learn these skills, too, during their adventure … which may come in handy should anything unexpected happen. Because everything always goes according to plan in that galaxy far, far away, right?

This is just a taste of what’s to come for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, so stay tuned as we hurtle toward March 1 like we’re jumping to lightspeed. Earlier this week, for instance, we revealed a few of the new characters Guests may meet onboard.

So until next time, just remember … the Force will be with you, always.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Set to Open Summer 2022 at EPCOT

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

At Destination D23, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro revealed Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will open summer 2022 at EPCOT as part of the Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary celebration. This thrilling new family-friendly coaster matches the “grandosity” and fun of the blockbuster “Guardians of the Galaxy” films in what will be one of the longest fully enclosed coasters in the world. 

Josh made this exciting announcement with a little help from a friend … check out the video below to hear from Academy Award® nominee Glenn Close, who for our attraction will reprise her role from “Guardians of the Galaxy” as Nova Prime, the leader of Xandar and commander of the Nova Corps.

Guests will see Nova Prime in the new Wonders of Xandar “other-world” pavilion at EPCOT, which the Xandarians are currently constructing in the park’s newly renamed World Discovery neighborhood. It’s here Guests will learn more about Xandarians and their advanced technologies, which they’re bringing to us here on Earth – or Terra, as they call our planet.

In these new renderings Josh shared this morning, Guests can see the Xandar Gallery, home to Xandarian models, artifacts and other treasures from their culture, including their heroes like … the Guardians of the Galaxy! It’s all well and good until they show up, though, and adventure ensues in an intergalactic chase through time and space.

Here’s a teaser image for the attraction, also unveiled this morning by Josh. There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s take a closer look:

  • First off, we have those lovable cosmic misfits bursting right out at us – Rocket (look at that mischievous smirk on his face … he always has a plan, right?), Groot, Gamora, Drax and Star-Lord brandishing his beloved cassette player.
  • Swooping past the Guardians are Guests aboard the innovative new ride vehicles for this coaster, which are unlike anything else in the galaxy.
  • Just below Gamora is Star-Lord’s ship. If the Guardians are around, it’s a good bet they’re aboard.
  • And speaking of ships, let’s take a look at the Starblasters in the upper left. These Nova Corps vessels are emerging from a jump point, the Xandarian method for crossing vast distances of space in mere moments. Who knows what’s on the other side?
  • I am Groot.

The newest Disney technology, MagicBand+, comes to Disneyland in 2022

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

We first brought you news about the newest member of the MagicBand family just before the kick-off to the Most Magical Celebration on Earth on October 1 at Walt Disney World.

The next-generation MagicBand+ will feature the latest in ways to access the Magic at Disney Parks, and we’ve just learned that the magic of the new bands will be available to Guests at the Disneyland Resort beginning in 2022 as well!

More details will be revealed soon about all that Guests can do with the next-gen technology of the MagicBand+. Features will differ some between the two U. S. parks, and we’ll learn more about that in the coming months.

ALSO, the most fun technology from Disney ever–the “Hey, Disney!” voice assistant powered by Alexa on Amazon Echo devices will also become available to Guests at Disneyland who book a stay at one of Disneyland’s exciting and themed Resort Hotels.

Get Ready for the return of the Festival of Fantasy Parade!

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

It was one exciting announcement after another from the Destination D23 celebration taking place at the Walt Disney World Resort last weekend!

We don’t know which announcement to be most excited about: the return of Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios or the reimagining of the Nemo-themed stage show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, called Finding Nemo: The Big Blue . . . and Beyond!

Or maybe we’re more excited about the new MagicBand+ technology headed to Disneyland in California next year. And then again, we also learned that a brand-new quick-service restaurant is opening at EPCOT in the World Discovery neighborhood in 2022. There’s so much going on next year in the parks!

Disney's Festival of Fantasy Parade' REVISITED – Photo Galleries | Disney Parks Blog

AND NOW, it has also been announced that Magic Kingdom’s beloved Festival of Fantasy parade will return to the park in early 2022! The parade was shelved when the parks closed in March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, and it did not return when Magic Kingdom reopened in July 2020, especially since social distancing is an impossibility at a Disney Parks parade.

It debuted in 2014 as part of the excitement surrounding the New Fantasyland expansion at Magic Kingdom.

So while we understood the need to hold off on the Festival of Fantasy parade, we were worried that it might not return, but now we know for a fact from Disney Parks that the parade will indeed make its comeback in only a few short months!