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Walt Disney World's Media Office publishes a bimonthly Press Release called Dateline Disney,
which highlights WDW activities for that particular month.

November/December 2009

In This Edition:

Magic Kingdom: Selected guests get a taste of showbiz as Disney Parks debuts Princess with 'Tiana's Showboat Jubilee!"; Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party returns with a rockin' new stage show

Epcot: Food & Wine Festival 'Goes Italian' on final weekend

Downtown Disney: Festival of the Masters returns with a familiar artist making a splash

Disney's Wide World of Sports (and recreation): Innovative Wine and Dine Walk brings upscale noshes to the Magnolia fairways during Children's Miracle Network Classic; ESPN serving up a basketball feast over Thanksgiving weekend

New Year's Eve: Parades, fireworks galore add to the merriment throughout Walt Disney World Resort

Disney Dining: Guests now can book reservations for most restaurants online – and booking window increasing from 90 to 180 days in advance

What Will You Celebrate? Guests withNovember and December birthdays can get a ticket for free admission to a Disney park on their birthday

'Tiana's Showboat Jubilee!' Gives Selected Guests Taste of Showbiz as Disney Parks Debuts Disney Princess with Musical Spectacular

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – For more than 6,000 Walt Disney World guests, a 10-week limited engagement of the entertainment spectacular "Tiana's Showboat Jubilee!" in Magic Kingdom will be an opportunity to get a taste of showbiz – or in Disney parlance, "be part of the magic."

The swinging musical show being presented in conjunction with the upcoming Disney animated feature, "The Princess and The Frog," will treat theme park guests to a rousing revue of song and dance from aboard the Liberty Belle riverboat. Three times daily, Oct. 26 through Jan. 3, 2010, the riverboat will pull away from the dock in Liberty Square with a live six-piece jazz band, 22 dancers and 30 theme park guests who have been randomly preselected earlier in the day by Magic Kingdom cast members.

But the park guests will not be "just along for the ride."  As the Liberty Belle glides along and the band plays "Down in New Orleans," the guests and dancers will be waving hankies along to the music.  And when the riverboat, festooned with green, purple and yellow bunting and sparkling beads, stops in Frontierland, the guests continue their role: Dressed in choir robes, they move large musical notes in time with the music, and then shake and rattle tambourines. When the show concludes and the Liberty Belle resumes its travels on the Rivers of America, the theme park guests are treated to a meet-and-greet with the newest Disney royalty, Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen – the stars of "The Princess and The Frog," which premieres in late November. Three performances of "Tiana's Showboat Jubilee!" are planned daily.  Viewing locations are in Liberty Square and Frontierland.

Epcot Food and Wine Festival 'Goes Italian' on Final Weekend

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The time has come to lift a final toast to the 14th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, which concludes a six-week run on Nov. 8 – but not before the celebration has focused on Italy. The fest's final Cheese Seminar and Party for the Senses on Saturday, Nov. 7, both will feature Italy:

• Max McCalman, America's first restaurant-based Maitre Fromager, will lead a Cheese Seminar, at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 7, during which the cheese of Italy is paired with selected wines.  Cost is $75 per person.  Theme park admission is required.

• Italian cuisine is the thematic focus of Party for the Senses at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7.  It's an evening of entertainment, fine food and tempting libations.  Cost is $135 per person.  Theme park admission is required.

Reservations for both events can be made by calling 407/WDW-FEST.

The festival's musical feast – Eat to the Beat! – will feature Taylor Hicks (Nov. 1-2), Billy Ocean (Nov. 3-5) and Los Lobos (Nov. 6-8) during the final week.  They'll serve up their sounds at America Gardens Theatre at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 p.m.  The concerts are included with Epcot theme park admission.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Introduces Rockin' Stage Show on 19 Select Evenings in November and December at Magic Kingdom

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Walt Disney World Resort unwraps a sleighful of entertainment offerings during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom on 19 select evenings beginning Nov. 10 – including a rockin' new stage show to welcome the winter wonderland season.

"A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas!" features Stitch, Buzz Lightyear, Mike Wazowski and a jubilant cast of party-goers who discover the true meaning of the season during their annual Christmas party.  The interactive musical revue features "songs of the season" in the style of today's hottest Radio Disney hits. This popular special-ticket event also includes "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade," "Holiday Wishes-Celebrate the Spirit of the Season" fireworks spectacular plus special shows featuring Disney characters (decked out in their holiday finest), carolers, festive tree lightings and more.

Parties are slated for Nov. 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 29 and Dec. 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, with the merriment beginning at 7 p.m. and continuing until midnight.  Select attractions also are open throughout the evening. And while forecasters predict the first snowfall of the season will swirl a winter-like effect down Main Street, U.S.A., guests can take heart: there's hot cocoa and cookies to add a warm spirit, plus apple slices and apple juice as the perfect trimmings for a not-to-miss outing for the entire family. To purchase advance tickets for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, guests can visit disneyworld.com/christmasparty or call 407/W-DISNEY.  Advance tickets are suggested as some nights are expected to sell out.

Walt Disney World Dining Reservations Now Online, with Booking Window Expanding to 180 Days on Oct. 27

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – With a new online dining reservations system, guests can now book most Walt Disney World table-service restaurants at www.disneyworld.com.  And beginning Oct. 27, the booking window increases to 180 days in advance (up from 90 days). Reservations can be made for up to 10 guests (more than 10 requires a call to Disney Dining Reservations).  The only restaurant that cannot be booked online is Victoria & Albert's (special dining currently is not included – such as Fantasmic! Dinner Package, My Perfectly Princess Tea Party, Jiko Dinner Series, Wanyama Safari Resort Tour and the Sweetheart Dinner for Two). Guests also can cancel reservations online if no payment has been made.  For booking by phone, call 407/WDW-DINE.

Longtime Festival of the Masters Artist Jeannie Maddox
Bridges Spectrum between Photo-Realistic and Abstract Painting

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – If you think photo-realistic art is across the spectrum from abstract art and "ne'er the twain shall meet," then you haven't seen the works of Jeannie Maddox, an artist from Dothan, Ala., who has been making Disney's Festival of the Masters at Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort a kind of home-away-from-home virtually every fall since 1975. When the 2009 Festival of the Masters presented by Sharpie takes place Nov. 13-15, Maddox will be among the nearly 150 award-winning artists who will be participating.  Some work in clay.  Others wood, metal or mixed media.  Others watercolors. Maddox's specialty is oils on canvas.  And while she depicts her style as "photo realistic," her husband, Sam, isn't quite sure that's an accurate description.  "She's an abstract painter who paints realistically," he says. To explain: Maddox's topical passion is swimmers – in the water.  Thus, reality is a visually distorted view of the body beneath the surface, with ripples and bubbles adding to the abstract quality of the painting. As she has done 32 previous years – including the very first Festival of the Masters in 1975 –Maddox will be showing off her works at Downtown Disney. Five of those previous festivals, she claimed a first-place award in painting.  Her dream?  "Best in show, of course," Maddox says.  For a preview glance at her work, visit www.jeanniemaddox.com. Festival hours are 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.  Admission and parking are complimentary.  For more information about Festival of the Masters, guests can contact 407/824-4321 or visit disneyworld.com/artfestival.

Got a Birthday in November or December? Get a Ticket to Visit a Disney Park

If your birthday is in November or December, it's finally your chance to get in free to a Walt Disney World Resort (or Disneyland Resort) theme park!  As Disney Parks embraces the trend of families hitting the road to mark special occasions – a phenomenon called "celebration vacations" – each person has had the opportunity to receive a free ticket to a Disney theme park on his or her birthday in 2009. "Birthdays are the one occasion that we all share every year," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "We thought a free birthday ticket would be the icing on the cake as we extend this new 'celebration vacation' trend to Disney parks." To find out more, go to www.DisneyParks.com, click on either the Disneyland or Walt Disney World icon, and in the search box at your destination type in the keyword Birthday.

Children's Miracle Network Classic Creates Innovative Wine & Dine Walk along Walt Disney World Fairways

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The 2009 Classic, taking place Nov. 12-15, will feature a culinary twist distinctive among PGA TOUR events. In addition to watching exciting golf action, spectators can sip, sample and savor elaborate dishes, unique wines and select beers along the fairways of Disney's Magnolia golf course. Lobster rolls, for example – paired with a Fess Parker Chardonnay.  Or crab cakes – paired with a Samuel Adams draft.  Anyone for an avocado and citrus salad … paired with a Trimbach Gewurztraminer or Wolover's Organic Pale Ale? India. Cuisine from some of Disney's newest and most popular restaurants will be featured, including The Wave (Disney's Contemporary Resort), Sanaa (Kidani Village at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge) and The Turf Club Bar & Grill (Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa). The wine, beer and cuisine offerings will range from $3.25 to $7.50. For more information, visit www.childrensmiraclenetworkclassic.com. The 2009 Children's Miracle Network Classic, the season finale of the PGA Tour Fall Series, will mark the 39th year of the PGA TOUR at Walt Disney World Resort. Davis Love III is expected to battle a marquee Fall Series field in an effort to defend his title from 2008 when he joined the likes of Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Jack Nicklaus, Payne Stewart and Raymond Floyd as winners of the prestigious Disney tournament. Pre-event ticket sales are available exclusively through www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket booths will be located onsite during the tournament where weekly badges ($20) or daily tickets ($10) can be purchased. Golf Channel will provide its signature wrap-around news coverage of the Children's Miracle Network Classic live and in high definition from Nov. 12-15.  Coverage kicks off Thursday, from 1-4 p.m. ET.

ESPN Serving up a Thanksgiving Basketball Feast at Walt Disney World Resort

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – ESPN has cooked up a Thanksgiving weekend basketball feast so big that even if a match-up or two turns out to be a proverbial "turkey" the event still will provide roundball junkies with a memorable holiday treat. The fourth annual Old Spice Classic at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex will feature eight teams – six of which reached the postseason last spring – in 12 games over three days, Nov. 26-27 and Nov. 29.  Alabama, Baylor, Creighton, Florida State, Iona, Marquette, Michigan and Xavier will compete, each playing a game per day through a bracket-tournament format at Walt Disney World Resort. First-round games on Nov. 26 (all times are ET): Creighton vs. Michigan, 12 noon (ESPN2), Marquette vs. Xavier, 2 p.m. (ESPN2), Alabama vs. Baylor, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN2) and Florida State vs. Iona, 9 p.m. (ESPNU).  The two teams that remain undefeated through the first two days of play will face off in a championship match on Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2). Each of the three previous years, the Old Spice Classic has produced a champion from a different conference, including Gonzaga (West Coast Conference) last year with a championship game win over Tennessee (Southeastern Conference).  Arkansas claimed the inaugural title in 2006 and North Carolina State won the Classic in 2007. Tickets for the 2009 Old Spice Classic are on sale at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 407/839-3900.  Fans also can purchase travel packages to the tournament.  Information is available at AnthonyTravel.com or by calling 800/736-6377.

Epcot Showcases New Celebrity Narrators for Candlelight Processional Nov. 27-Dec. 30

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Whoopi Goldberg, Vanessa Williams, Anika Noni Rose and Isabella Rossellini join a lineup of 12 celebrity narrators who retell the joyous Christmas story during the Candlelight Processional Nov. 27-Dec. 3 at Epcot. Accompanied by a mass choir and 50-piece live orchestra, this heartfelt holiday tradition takes place at America Gardens Theatre nightly at 5, 6:45 and 8:15 p.m. Scheduled celebrity narrators include (subject to change):

Nov. 27-29                   Isabella Rossellini

Nov. 30 & Dec. 1-2       John O'Hurley

Dec. 3-5                      Steven Curtis Chapman

Dec. 6-8                      Anika Noni Rose

Dec. 9-11                    Andy Garcia

Dec. 12-14                  Vanessa Williams

Dec. 15-17                  Abigail Breslin

Dec. 18-20                  Whoopi Goldberg

Dec. 21-23                  Brian Dennehy

Dec. 24-26                  Edward James Olmos

Dec. 27-30                  Angela Bassett / Courtney B. Vance  

Performances are included with Epcot admission, and guests are advised to arrive early.  Dining packages that include guaranteed seating for Candlelight Processional and a special viewing location for "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth" can be booked by calling 407/WDW-DINE.  More information is available at www.disneyworld.com/holidays.

Parades, Fireworks Galore Head Entertainment Lineup on New Year's Eve at Walt Disney World 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" (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.)