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”

ABC’s Christmas programming line-up

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

ABC Television recently announced its programming schedule in celebration of the upcoming holiday season, and there’s something for everyone! So grab your hot beverage of choice and your comfiest blankets, jump in your jammies, sit back and relax as you take in some great holiday entertainment!

The programming line-up is extensive and includes a variety of holiday classics, ABC holiday originals and of course, Disney shorts and the Disney Parks Christmas Parades on Christmas Day. The line-up begins with The Magic Maker on Thanksgiving night and ends with the 50th anniversary edition of Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve with Ryan Seacrest on December 31.

Holiday Programming from 11/25/21 to 12/31/21 (does not include sitcoms and soap operas):

Thursday, November 25 (Thanksgiving)

8:00-9:00 p.m. The Magic Maker (NEW)

Friday, November 26

8:00-9:01 p.m. Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town

Sunday, November 28

7:00-9:00 p.m. The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration (NEW)

9:00-11:00 p.m. The Great Christmas Light Fight (Season Premiere)

Monday, November 29

8:00-9:00 p.m. CMA Country Christmas (NEW)

9:00-11:00 p.m. The Great Christmas Light Fight

Thursday, December 2

8:00-8:30 p.m. Olaf’s Frozen Adventure

8:30-9:00 p.m. Toy Story That Time Forgot

9:00-11:00 p.m​​. The Great Christmas Light Fight (Season Finale)

Sunday, December 5

7:00-8:00 p.m. Something’s Coming: West Side Story – A Special Edition of 20/20 (NEW)

Monday, December 6

8:00-9:00 p.m. A Very Boy Band Holiday (NEW)

Sunday, December 19

7:00-11:00 p.m. The Sound of Music

Thursday, December 23

8:00-9:00 p.m. Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town

9:00-10:00 p.m. A Very Boy Band Holiday

10:00-11:00 p.m. CMA Country Christmas

Friday, December 24

8:00-8:30 p.m. Olaf’s Frozen Adventure

8:30-9:00 p.m. Shrek the Halls

9:00-9:30 p.m. Disney’s Prep & Landing

9:30-10:00 p.m. Disney’s Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice

Saturday, December 25 (Christmas)

10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. noon Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade

Monday, December 27

8:00-10:00 p.m. The Wonderful World of Disney: Frozen

Friday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve)

8:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m. Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2022

Tune-In This Friday To “The Most Magical Story on Earth: 50 Years of Walt Disney World” on ABC

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Via DisneyDestinations

Get ready for a special unlike anything you’ve ever seen from Disney Parks! This Friday “The Most Magical Story on Earth: 50 Years of Walt Disney World” airs on ABC and you won’t want to miss it. The primetime special takes viewers on a fascinating journey of Walt Disney World Resort from its origins to its development over time to the impact the Resort has had on pop culture to a special look into the future of the Resort. This riveting story is told through incredible interviews with celebrities, athletes, Disney Imagineers, and Disney executives and cast members past and present. We asked the interviewees to describe Walt Disney World in one word; check out what they had to say:

Hosted by Disney Legend and moderator of ABC’s “The View,” Whoopi Goldberg, the two-hour program will also feature spectacular visuals and musical performances from Christina Aguilera and Halle Bailey in front of the legendary Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park, accompanied by the renowned Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. We are excited to share a behind the scenes look at the making of these iconic performances:

This special is produced by ABC News and Disney Parks. Tune in this Friday October 1 at 8/7c on ABC, stream on Hulu starting October 2, or watch on Disney+ starting October 8.

ABC Shares a Sneak Peek at “The Most Magical Story on Earth” Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Special

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

ABC is spreading some pixie dust “The Most Magical Story on Earth,” in celebration of Walt Disney World‘s 50th anniversary, and they just shared a teaser video of the upcoming special on Instagram!

Most Magical Celebration on Earth

The special is set to celebrate the legacy of the past 50 years of the Walt Disney World Resort. Hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, the special will include a variety of celebrity guests including Julie Andrews, Tom Brady, Candace Cameron Bure, John Stamos, Melissa Joan Hart, George Lucas, with musical performances by Christina Aguilera and Halle Bailey.

Footage that has not previously been aired on TV on the history of the Walt Disney World Resort will also be shown, on top of new behind the scenes looks at what is coming soon to the parks and resorts.

Check out the teaser video:

The ABC “Most Magical Story on Earth” special is just one of the ways the Walt Disney World Resort is sharing some of the magic of the resort’s 50th anniversary for Guests at home. McDonalds has also joined the company in a promotion for Fab 50 Happy Meal toys, featuring figurines of 50 iconic Disney characters just for the occasion.

In the parks, October 1, 2021 marks the debut of Harmonious, the new nighttime fireworks spectacular in EPCOT, and Disney Enchantment, the Magic Kingdom’s new fireworks show which is set to include projecting mapping effects along Main Street U.S.A.

Also in EPCOT, the park is undergoing an extensive reimagining, and as part of that initiative Guests can visit the recently opened Creations Shop (which replaced Mouse Gear as the park’s flagship merchandise location), and Club Cool, which just reopened as the park’s staple Coke sampling station.

Disney Fab 50 character statues are coming to every Walt Disney World theme park for the 50th anniversary, and the celebration statues of Mickey and Minnie in the Magic Kingdom were recently dedicated to all of the Cast Members who work hard to create happiness all over the resort.

The ABC 50th anniversary Disney special is just the most recent update on the celebration, with more announcements are sure to come, so we’ll fill you in on more festivities soon. In the meantime, we can’t wait for the “Most Magical Story on Earth” special!

Disney Corporate Officers Zenia Mucha and Alan Braverman Stepping Down

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Disney’s senior executive VP and chief communications officer Zenia Mucha and senior executive VP, general counsel, and secretary Alan Braverman will be stepping down from their positions at the end of 2021.

Mucha joined The Walt Disney Company in 2001 as the head of communications for ABC. She became Disney’s chief spokesperson in 2002.

Braverman joined ABC in 1993 and became general counsel at Disney a decade later.

In a joint statement, Chapek and Iger wrote, “Alan and Zenia have made an indelible impact on the Company, playing integral roles in Disney’s expansion and transformation into the digital age while cementing its reputation as one of the world’s most highly regarded companies. Alan, from a legal and regulatory perspective, and Zenia, from a strategic communications perspective, have played a pivotal role in many of the Company’s most transformative business deals, projects, and strategic initiatives, including the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox, the establishment of the Company’s first theme park in Mainland China, Shanghai Disney Resort, the launch of our direct-to-consumer business with Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, and Star, as well as various environmental and philanthropic endeavors.”

Mucha and Braverman’s exits will coincide with Bob Iger’s, who will exit from his current position as executive chairman. He was CEO until February 2020, at which time Bob Chapek took over the position, though Iger took some responsibilities back during the COVID-19 pandemic.