Dateline Disney December 2006

-- Across Walt Disney World Resort: Guests to Walt Disney World Resort find their holidays even merrier with a bigger, brighter celebration this season; Pyrotechnics, music and live entertainment help ring in 2007 in true "Disney-style."

-- Cirque du Soleil: New Year's Eve means special La Nouba fun.

-- Direct from Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts: Emmy Award-winning Christmas Parade television special airs on ABC-TV Dec. 25.

-- Disney's Wide World of Sports: Football stars of tomorrow and today come to Walt Disney World Resort for Pop Warner Super Bowl and ESPN's 'Home Depot College Football Awards' show.

Bright Lights, Snowy Nights Highlight Property-Wide Holiday Celebration At Walt Disney World Resort

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Guests to Walt Disney World Resort will find the holidays even merrier this season with new choreographed "dancing" lights at Disney-MGM Studios, new celebrity narrators for Candlelight Processional at Epcot, and more nights of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party fun at Magic Kingdom.

The Streets of America backlot area at Disney-MGM Studios sparkles with millions of twinkling lights nightly through Jan. 7, 2007, during The Osborne Family's Spectacle of Dancing Lights presented by Sylvania. The spectacle has been enhanced to include choreographed "dancing" lights which swirl and soar to an exhilarating medley of holiday music every 15 minutes, thanks to electronic wizardry featuring more than 400 dimmers. Every building façade, all the trees, wreaths, bells and holiday figures dance to classic tunes among "Florida snow" flurries.

Broadway singer Maureen McGovern and actors Kirk Cameron and Cuba Gooding Jr. debut as part of the celebrity narrator lineup for Epcot's Candlelight Processional, which treats guests to a grand musical performance featuring a mass choir and a full orchestra accompanied by a retelling of the beloved story of Christmas. Presentations are at 5, 6:45 and 8:15 p.m. and are included with regular Epcot admission. Celebrity narrators scheduled to appear in December include (subject to change):

Dec. 1-2 -- Rita Moreno ("West Side Story")
Dec. 6-8 - Brian Dennehy ("Tommy Boy," TV's "The 4400")
Dec. 9-11 - Stephen Curtis Chapman (Christian music's most-decorated artist)
Dec. 12-14 - Maureen McGovern (Broadway singer and recording artist)
Dec. 15-17 - Kirk Cameron (TV's "Growing Pains")
Dec. 18-20 - Neil Patrick Harris (TV's "How I Met Your Mother")
Dec. 21-23 - Cuba Gooding Jr. ("Jerry Maguire" and "A Few Good Men")
Dec. 24-26 - Gary Sinise ("Forrest Gump" and TV's "CSI: NY")
Dec. 27-30 - Marlee Matlin (TV's "The West Wing")

As the calendar turns to December, there are still 13 party dates for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party in Magic Kingdom: Dec. 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22. Beginning at 7 p.m. (after regular park hours), guests can enjoy a holiday celebration featuring festive live stage shows, the famous "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parade," and the nighttime spectacular "Holiday Wishes-Celebrate the Spirit of the Season," a winter wonderland of dazzling fireworks set to classic holiday tunes. "Florida snow" flurries fall each night, with hot cocoa and cookies served to guests. In addition to the holiday fun, guests can enjoy many of the most popular Magic Kingdom attractions. Admission requires a separate ticket. Tickets are $45.95 plus tax for ages 10/up and $37.95 plus tax for ages 3-9 (but with advance purchase, guests can save $6 per ticket for select dates). To purchase tickets, guests can call 407/W-DISNEY or visit disneyworld.com.

Walt Disney World Rings in the New Year 2007 With Fun for All Ages

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Walt Disney World Resort offers many options for celebrating the official kickoff of 2007 -- from ringing in the New Year at a special party at Downtown Disney Pleasure Island to getting festive in the parks (theme park hours and entertainment times are subject to change):

Pleasure Island at Downtown Disney features live music and DJs, dancing, and an array of food such as lime marinated chicken, petite steak sandwiches, barbeque smoked pork and grilled mahi-mahi tacos, a champagne toast at midnight, and a special fireworks spectacular. The fun begins at 8 p.m. and continues till 2 a.m. Partygoers for the special-ticket event must be 21 or older to participate. For more information or to order tickets ($89 plus tax per person), guests may call 407/W-DISNEY.

Epcot celebrates the New Year "around the world" with DJs and evening dance parties plus two presentations of the "Illuminations: Reflections of Earth" lights, lasers and fireworks display -- at 7:30 and 11:40 p.m. New Year's Eve hours are 8 a.m.-1 a.m.

Disney-MGM Studios celebrates New Year's Eve not only with multiple presentations of the "Fantasmic!" spectacular of Disney movies and music (6:30, 8:30 and 10 p.m.), but also with a special "Lights! Camera! Happy New Year!" fireworks spectacular at midnight, as well as a DJ dance party around the Sorcerer Hat Stage. Park hours on New Year's Eve are 8 a.m.-midnight.

Magic Kingdom features special presentations of the "SpectroMagic" parade (at 7 and 10:30 p.m.) and multiple nighttime fireworks displays. "Holiday Wishes" lights up the sky at 8:30 p.m., and guests who make it to midnight can see "Fantasy in the Sky" fireworks. New Year's Eve hours are 8 a.m.-1 a.m.

Cirque du Soleil Plans Special Fun on New Year's Eve

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- La Nouba, the Cirque du Soleil production at Walt Disney World Resort, means "to party; to live it up." And on New Year's Eve, the critically acclaimed show presents two extra-special performances befitting the occasion.

Whether it's the bubbles popping from glasses of champagne or the special finale that surrounds guests, a La Nouba New Year is a happy one, indeed.

The fun begins when guests arrive at Cirque du Soleil Theater at Downtown Disney West Side. In the tradition of New Year's Eve, ushers will be wearing tuxedos. And guests will be presented a souvenir program with a limited-edition insert which features the autographs of the entire cast.

During the special finale of the show, guests are invited to join in the celebration of New Year's Eve by lighting a glow stick that they will receive on their way into the theater.

Tickets for both the 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. shows begin at $87 plus tax for guests ages 10/up and $74 plus tax for ages 3-9. Tickets may be reserved by calling 407/939-7600 or by visiting the Cirque du Soleil Theater box office. Tickets may also be purchased online at cirquedusoleil.com or disneyworld.com/cirque.

Emmy Award-Winning Christmas Special Broadcast From Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Regis Philbin, Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest host this year's "Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade" on ABC-TV.

The annual, two-hour Emmy Award-winning parade spectacular features a star-studded celebrity guest list with appearances and musical performances including: actor Johnny Depp, singer Daniel Powter, acclaimed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, pop group RBD, 'tween singing sensation Bianca Ryan, Playhouse Disney's Doodlebops, Disney Channel star Hannah Montana, stars Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman and Ashley Tisdale from the Disney Channel smash "High School Musical," pop duo Aly & AJ, Travel Channel Host Samantha Brown and "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" designers extraordinaire Paige Hemmis and Eduardo Xol. More artists scheduled to appear will be announced at a later date.

The holiday special broadcast from Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts will air Dec. 25, 2006. Viewers are advised to check their local ABC-TV listings for the broadcast schedule in their area.

Pop Warner Super Bowl, National Cheer & Dance Championships at Disney's Wide World of Sports

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex will host the Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer & Dance Championships, Dec. 3-9.

The Pop Warner Super Bowl kicks off the week on the Hess Sports Fields as 64 teams from across the country compete for championship trophies in eight divisions. Meanwhile, more than 300 cheer and dance squads will compete for the 2006 National Cheer & Dance Championships in The Milk House.

Tickets may be purchased at the Disney's Wide World of Sports box office. Single-day general admission ticket prices are $11.25, and $8.50 for guests ages 3-9. Guests may visit popwarnersuperbowl.com for more information.

'Home Depot College Football Awards' Show Broadcast on ESPN Live from Walt Disney World Resort, Dec. 7

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- College football's elite athletes will be honored during the 2006 "Home Depot College Football Awards," broadcast live on ESPN from Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney BoardWalk, Dec. 7, from 7-9 p.m. ET. ESPN College GameDay host Chris Fowler serves as emcee along with GameDay co-anchors Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso.

Among the prestigious awards to be presented are the Davey O'Brien Award (Top Quarterback), Doak Walker Award (Top Running Back), Chuck Bednarik Award (Best Defensive Player), Jim Thorpe Award (Top Defensive Back) and the Maxwell Award (Best All-Around Player). Highlighting the magical evening will be the presentation of the 11th annual Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award, an award presented annually to the nation's most inspirational football figure.

For additional information about Walt Disney World Resort or to make reservations, guests can visit disneyworld.com. Reservations are also available by calling 407/W-DISNEY or through local travel agents.

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