Video: Grammy Award-winning band Los Lobos. They stopped by Epcot and jammed with the Seven Dwarfs

A Model Holiday- Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade Tilt-Shift Video!

During the taping of this year's Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade, we turned the Magic Kingdom into "Toyland" using Tilt-Shift photography. Watch the entire show, as well as some Tilt-Shift, in full HD resolution Christmas morning on ABC- 10am Eastern, 9am Central, Mountain, and Pacific. Happy Holidays!

Groundbreaking Ceremony Celebrates Hong Kong Disneyland Expansion

Hong Kong (December 13, 2009) – To celebrate a significant step in the expansion of Hong Kong Disneyland, a groundbreaking ceremony was held today at the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. John Tsang, Financial Secretary of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, and Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts officiated the ceremony with representatives from the Government, The Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong community in attendance.

The ceremony represents a major milestone in the Resort’s expansion plan. The expansion will bring the total number of attractions, entertainment and interactive experiences at the Park to more than 100, create 3,700 jobs during the construction phase and 600 new full-time jobs after expansion.

“Today marks the beginning of another exciting phase for Hong Kong Disneyland,” said Mr Rasulo. "The new themed areas will showcase the best in creativity, technology and story-telling. The planned attractions and rides will position our youngest Disney theme park for future growth and success.”

Mr. Tsang said that a larger park with more attractions will continue to draw the crowds and provide even more fun and excitement for visitors.

"Together with the magic of an expanded Hong Kong Disneyland, I am confident that Hong Kong will continue to be a premier destination for our friends of all ages from all corners of the globe," he added.

Expansion work will begin immediately on the primary infrastructure and road work that will support the construction of the three themed areas.

“Our entire team is excited to be part of expanding the magic at Hong Kong Disneyland,” said Andrew Kam, Managing Director of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. “This expansion will enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness in the international tourism sector and allow us to contribute further to the local economy and labor market.”

Two of the three themed areas, “Grizzly Gulch” and “Mystic Point,” will be exclusive to HKDL for the first five years after their respective openings. The third, “Toy Story Land,” will be exclusive within Asia for the first five years after opening.

Also officiating at the opening ceremony were Rita Lau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development; Yvonne Choi, Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Commerce, Industry and Tourism); Joey Lam, Acting Commissioner for Tourism; Jim Hunt, Executive Vice-President/CFO of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts; and Bill Ernest, President and Managing Director, Asia of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

About Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort offers immersive, unique Disney experiences for all families, generations and ages to enjoy. Hong Kong is one of only five locations in the world that is home to a Disney themed park and the many Disney characters that are beloved the world over, such as Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Stitch and Buzz Lightyear. Since the Resort was opened in September 2005, it has received over 19 million guests from around the globe. Through the unique product offering and the world-class service provided by the 5,000-strong Cast at the theme park and the two hotels, the Resort has received outstanding guest satisfaction ratings and a range of awards from the hospitality and entertainment sectors.

Hong Kong Disneyland is dedicated to serving Hong Kong people through a wide spectrum of community services programs from helping those in need to encouraging the protection of the environment in the region.

If you want to know more about us and want to enjoy a unique magical experience, visit us or click on to www.hongkongdisneyland.com for more information.

For the latest news and photos from Hong Kong Disneyland, please visit our media website at: www.hongkongdisneyland.com/news

Disney Costuming Sets New Record in Bears and Stockings Donations

Contributor: Jennifer Cramer, Costuming Communications Manager

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Dec. 7, 2009 – Costuming Cast Members at Walt Disney World Resort collected and dressed an all-time-high number of teddy bears this holiday season, donating 414 of the one-of-a-kind stuffed toys to the Salvation Army of Central Florida. The organization gives the bears to local children who are in need of Christmas gifts.

“I know it’s for the kids, and they are happy when they get them,” says Maryla Zielinska, a garment cutter coordinator in the Creative Costuming Workroom. “It’s Christmas – time to give something to other people.”

Maryla makes several costumes every year, and she makes lots of extra shoes, bows and hats for her co-workers’ bears. “It’s fun for me,” she says. “I remember my childhood, when I made things for my dolls.”

This annual program is an opportunity for the dedicated Costuming Cast to demonstrate their skills, creativity and compassion as they make one-of-a-kind outfits for bears that warm hearts across Central Florida.

Costumer Janice Jones started the program in Costuming in 1996, when she heard about the call for community members to dress the teddy bears. She thought it sounded like a great fit for the Costuming team, a highly skilled group of seamstresses, tailors, costume assistants, cosmetologists and many others throughout the division.

“The program showcases the team’s creativity and caring,” Janice said. “Everything is stitched with love, and it’s from the Costuming family.” The team members serve as VoluntEARS, sewing the costumes on their own time.

Magic Kingdom Sewing Specialist Josefina Salas may be the most prolific producer of bear costumes. Each year she takes a full box of 18 bears and brings them all back dressed in unique outfits, plus a few spare outfits in case any bears don’t get dressed in time.

She saves up scrap material from her projects all year. This year, one of her finest creations was a George Washington bear, made with scraps of the fabric that was used for George Washington’s vest during the recent Hall of Presidents rehabilitation. But her personal favorite was a Princess Tiana bear, fashioned after the newest Disney princess.

The number of Costuming bears surpassed last year’s all-time high of 301, setting an impressive personal best in a year of community-wide need. The team also stuffed 225 stockings for the organization, a record number, too.

This year, for the first time, Costuming team members at the Disneyland Resort in California joined the effort, contributing a few bears of their own. Inspired by the efforts of her long-distance colleagues, Janice set a new goal: “I’d like to expand to Paris next year. I think that could be really cool.” She has already started planning with her Disneyland Paris counterpart.

To learn more about the Salvation Army, visit http://www.uss.salvationarmy.org/uss/www_uss_orlando.nsf.

Charitable Spirit Glows at Community Candlelight Event at EPCOT

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Dec. 8, 2009 – Warm holiday wishes filled the air at sunset on December 6 as more than 1,400 community leaders gathered to enjoy a performance of the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT’s America Gardens Theatre. A Walt Disney World Resort holiday tradition since 1971 (hosted at EPCOT since 1994), the illuminating event showcases the reason for the season through memorable music and the retelling of the Christmas story.

Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose, the voice of Princess Tiana in Disney’s new animated feature "The Princess and the Frog," provided heartfelt narration; joined by the Voices of Liberty, a mass choir comprised of local high school choruses and Walt Disney Cast Members and a 50-piece live orchestra.

In lieu of holding a reception after the performance, Walt Disney World Resort president Meg Crofton announced that donations would be made to the Health Care Center for the Homeless and Second Harvest of Central Florida’s Kids’ Café program. Both charities were pleasantly surprised by the announcement; each will receive $15,000 and can immediately put the funds to use.

“This is a great Christmas gift that a lot of our patients will benefit from,” said Health Care Center for the Homeless CEO Bakari Burns, who shared they plan to use the funds toward their mammography services and denture sponsorship program.

"Disney’s donation of $15,000 will go a long way in supporting our Kids’ Cafés," said Second Harvest of Central Florida executive director Dave Krepcho. "After-school programs for children are even more important these days because the current economy has put a strain on many families’ resources. The thousands of meals provided with these funds are much appreciated."

Health Care Center for the Homeless improves the lives of the homeless in Central Florida by providing quality health care services to medically indigent people; support that was once unavailable in our community prior to the charity's founding. To learn more, visit http://www.hcch.org/.

Second Harvest Florida Bank of Central Florida's Kids Café is an after-school program that provides nutritious meals to children from low-income families in a safe, secure environment. Find out more by visiting http://www.foodbankcentralflorida.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AboutUs_OurPrograms_KidsCafe.

Annual Holiday Toy Drive in Progress at Walt Disney World Resort

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Dec. 9, 2009 – With deserving local children in mind this holiday season, Disney Cast Members are moonlighting as Santa’s helpers by collecting new toys for the U.S. Marine Corps’ annual Toys for Tots campaign. The annual toy drive is meant to send a message of hope to youngsters by ensuring they have at least one new gift to open during the holidays.

In addition to contributing toys, Cast Members also volunteer to help the Marines with the charitable campaign by registering families, sorting and stocking shelves with collected toys and assisting with toy distribution to families in need.

“It’s just amazing the big hearts the Disney Cast Members have,” said First Sgt. Michael Diaz, who heads up the 2009 Central Florida Toys for Tots campaign. “As we head into the second holiday season of this difficult economy, there are even more people in need; these donations will make a big difference in the lives of thousands of kids.”

Walt Disney World Resort will give its 2009 total toy contribution to Toys for Tots on December 15. This year, Central Florida Toys for Tots expects to assist thousands of families from Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties in celebrating the holiday season with gifts for their children.

The Walt Disney Company’s involvement with the Toys for Tots began more than 60 years ago when Walt Disney and his animators designed the original Toys for Tots logo that is still used today.

To find out more about how you can contribute, visit http://www.toysfortotscentralflorida.org/.

Parades, Fireworks Galore Head Entertainment Lineup on New Year’s Eve at WDW Resort

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The New Year’s Eve fun at Walt Disney World Resort will include nine parade performances – including one on water – topped off with five fireworks extravaganzas. Here’s a look at what’s in store at the Vacation Kingdom (show times and entertainment are subject to change without notice) …

DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

• "Fantasmic!" nighttime musical special effects extravaganza (6:30 p.m.)
• Live performances by in-park band “Mulch, Sweat and Shears,” back-to-back with a DJ at Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat. (Mulch, Sweat and Shears sets are 8, 9, 10 and 11 p.m.; DJ starts at 6:30 p.m.)
• A special “Lights, Camera, Happy New Year” fireworks show starring Mulch, Sweat and Shears (11:55 p.m.)
• Park hours on New Year’s Eve: 9 a.m.-midnight

MAGIC KINGDOM

• “Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It!” parade and street party (11 a.m., 12:30 and 5:40 p.m.)
• “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade” (12 noon and 3:30 p.m.)
• “SpectroMagic” parade of lights and music (7 and 10:30 p.m.)
• “Holiday Wishes” fireworks (8:30 p.m.)
• “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks (11:50 p.m.)
• Park hours on New Year’s Eve: 9 a.m.-1 a.m.

EPCOT

• Special version of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” (7:30 and 11:40 p.m.)
• Park hours on New Year’s Eve: 9 a.m.-1 a.m.

DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM

• “Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade” (3:45 p.m.)
• Park hours on New Year’s Eve: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

BAY LAKE AND SEVEN SEAS LAGOON

• The Electrical Water Pageant (9 p.m.; plays to Magic Kingdom entrance area at 10:25 p.m.)

Video: The Muppets: Ringing of the Bells

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Category: Music

Video: Behind the Scenes: The Making of 'Villains Tonight!' For DCL

The malevolent world of the Disney villains takes a comical spin in Villains Tonight!, a musical spectacular premiering in March 2010 aboard the Disney Magic. Take a look behind the scenes and get a sneak peak at the new stage show.

Video: The Holidays Are Sweet at the Disneyland Resort

The holidays are here and sweeter than ever at the Disneyland Resort! The Christmas tree, the lights on Sleeping Beauty Castle and its a small world holiday are among some of the familiar favorites and if you take a closer look on Main St. U.S.A. youll find a Disneyland holiday tradition dating back to 1968. At the Candy Palace, candy canes are made by hand throughout the holiday season. Guests are welcome to watch all of the candy making magic from pulling to striping to shaping. Check the Candy Palace hotline for more information at 714-781-0112.

Video: A Day at Epcot

A stop-motion video, from sunrise to sunset, day at Epcot at Walt Disney World in Florida. It looks like the footage is being taken from a miniature model of the park, but actually it is fast slides of photos taken live. A form of stop-motion.

This video is from the Disney Parks blog @ http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/

Video: The Hidden Magic Of Toy Story Midway Mania

Some of the hidden magic from Walt Disney World's Toy Story Midway Way Magic and Pixar Place.

Video: Disney Parks, disny4you.

Video: Holiday Fun with Mary Poppins

The hit Broadway musical visited Disney World last holiday season. Check out the parade featuring the cast of MARY POPPINS plus hundreds of dancers performing Supercal Find out more about the live productions in New York & Los Angeles