If you are one of the more than 16,000 runners ‘dropping in’ to participate in The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend, October 3-4, at Walt Disney World Resort, then we have a little motivation to help you with your training.
From the youngest runners in the runDisney Kids Races to the most experienced runners in the Disney Happy Haunted 5K Trail Run at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and the 10-Miler, we often hear, “it’s all about the ‘bling’.” With that in mind, we are excited to share what waits for you at the finish lines of this year’s events.
There will be no tricks, just treats when kids receive the Halloween-inspired Donald Duck medallion for participating in the diaper dash, 100m, 200m 400m and 1-Mile races.
Be careful of hitchhiking ghosts if you are participating in the Disney Happy Haunted 5K Trail Run. New this year, the medallion glows in the dark!
And nothing can be more fitting than the 2014 The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler medal, featuring The Hollywood Tower Hotel. Not only does this medal glow in the dark, the elevator moves up and down.
Here are the merchandise events headed your way this July at the Walt Disney World Resort!
June 20 – July 3: Artist David E. Doss will be appearing daily at Art of Disney in Downtown Disney Marketplace. Stop in and find a new piece of art to add to your collection! Look for David again July 24 – 27
June 26 – July 7: Find the latest releases from Precious Moments doll designer and artist Linda Rick at Once Upon A Toy in Downtown Disney Marketplace. Look for special appearances by Linda each day, July 3 -6. Visiting later in the month? Stop by July 17 – 28.
July 1 – 4: Renowned international artist Larry Dotson will be appearing throughout the day at Art of Disney in Epcot, July 1- 4. Look for Larry again, July 17 – 20 at Art of Disney in the Downtown Disney Marketplace.
July 4 – 11: Meet artist Greg McCullough this month at the Walt Disney World Resort. Greg will appear at Art of Disney in Downtown Disney Marketplace, July 4 – 11 as well as July 30 – August 3. Look for additional appearances by Greg at Art of Disney in Epcot, July 16 – 20 and July 23 – 27.
July 25: Get an early jump on your holiday shopping and celebrate Christmas in July with us and Disney artists, Costa Alavezos, Cody Reynolds and Derrick Lirette from 6 – 8p.m. at Disney’s Days of Christmas in Downtown Disney Marketplace.
Have you signed up for Harambe Nights at Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Keep an eye out for specially themed merchandise and special appearances by artists Brian Blackmore, Larry Dotson, Greg McCullough and Darren Wilson.
Finally, a limited number of tickets to Disney Trade Celebration 2014 – Imagination Gala taking place at World ShowPlace in Epcot, September 5 – 7 are still available, so sign up for the Pin and Vinylmation Showcase Packages today!
Guests can celebrate America’s birthday with a red, white and blue extravaganza at Walt Disney World Resort. There will be no shortage of nighttime fun as fireworks will dance across the skies above the Florida vacation kingdom. This year marks a special milestone in America’s history, too: the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” observes its 200th anniversary in 2014.
Here’s a look a what’s in store:
Magic Kingdom
The celebration begins with “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky,” July 3 and 4 at Magic Kingdom. The 14-minute fireworks spectacular rockets into the sky above Cinderella Castle at 9 p.m. both nights.
The fireworks are set to an exciting musical score produced in a concert band style. This score was specifically created to stir a sense of pride in being American, show producers say, while at the same time, inviting guests from around the world to feel part of the celebration.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Guests also can enjoy a twist on traditional fireworks with the “Rockin’ 4th of July Celebration.” At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the party kicks off at the Sorcerer’s Hat stage at 6 p.m. and continues through 11 p.m. on July 4 with live entertainment from “The Hollywood Rockers” whose music will take guests on a rockin’ road trip across America.
Everything leads up to a special rock n’ roll fireworks presentation above the Sorcerer’s Hat starting at 10:15 p.m.
Epcot
Guests visiting Epcot on July 4 will have the opportunity to meet some of their favorite Disney characters dressed in patriotic attire throughout the afternoon at the American Adventure Pavilion. Voices of Liberty, the eight-part a capellagroup, will have special performances at American Gardens Theatre at 12:30, 1:45 and 3 p.m. They also will perform inside the American Adventure Rotunda at 4:15 and 5 p.m. that day. Guests also will have the opportunity to catch the Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corps outside at 1, 2:15, 3:30, 4 and 4:45 p.m.
That evening, the spectacular fireworks and laser show “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” lights the night at 10 p.m. with a heart-pounding grand finale in a salute to America.
Additional Patriotic Entertainment
Pride in America is a daily celebration at Walt Disney World Resort, not just on July 4. Other patriotic offerings that guests can enjoy year-round in the parks include indoor attractions that offer shows about the history of America, dining options and entertainment.
Guests at Epcot’s American Adventure Pavilion will find various ways to explore America’s past and present with “We, The People,” a journey through pivotal moments in America’s history narrated by Audio-Animatronic figures of Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain, and “The Kinsey Collection,” an exhibit that showcases 400 years of African-American achievement through rare art, documents, books and artifacts.
At Magic Kingdom, The Hall of Presidents: A Celebration of Liberty’s Leaders gives guests an entertaining lesson in American history. Guests also can get a taste of traditional New England-inspired foods at Liberty Tree Tavern, a restaurant situated in a colonial-style inn that serves lunch and dinner daily. After nightfall, dancing patriots, a stately bald eagle, glittering lights and the patriotic music of the Main Street Electrical Parade all honor America as the parade’s stunning final float lights Main Street, U.S.A. nightly.
Even the waters of Seven Seas Lagoon glitter with patriotic pride when the Electrical Water Pageantsets sail. The pageant features the American flag and red, white and blue stars set to patriotic tunes, along with favorite sea creatures. Guests can view the water pageant nightly from various resorts surrounding the lagoon.
Disneyland Resort guests are invited to show their patriotic Disney Side this summer to celebrate America’s birthday.
Guests will celebrate the holiday with a special fireworks show, “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky.” This stunning pyrotechnic production salutes the pioneering spirit and enduring beauty of America. On July 1-4 at 9:25 p.m., the skies above Sleeping Beauty Castle will light up with a colorful display of fireworks, choreographed to a striking musical score that celebrates the best of America.
In addition to “Celebrate America!” the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band is returning to Disneyland Park and will perform several times throughout the day on Friday, July 4. The band will perform along the parade route at 3:30 p.m., just before the “Frozen” pre-parade and the first performance of Mickey’s Soundsational Parade. The band also will appear in Town Square at 5:30 p.m. during the Disneyland Park flag retreat ceremony, as well as along the parade route back to “it’s a small world” at 5:45 p.m. Finally, guests can see the full band in concert at Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree on stage, starting at 7:15 p.m.
Also on July 4, the water spectacular “World of Color” features a special, patriotic pre-show, prior to the 9 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. performances. Guests can “Glow with the Show” with special interactive Ear Hats that become part of “World of Color” at Disney California Adventure, and part of the “Celebrate America!” fireworks spectacular at Disneyland.
Guests may also explore their patriotic Disney Side by visiting the inspirational Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction on Main Street, U.S.A., or by attending the flag retreat ceremony, held in the early evening each day at Town Square in Disneyland. Additionally, the patriotic super hero Captain America greets guests daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Innoventions.
Do you want to receive the full VIP treatment on your next visit to Walt Disney World Resort? You’re in luck, because two new tours, The Ultimate Day of Thrills – A VIP Tour Experience and The Ultimate Day for Young Families – A VIP Tour Experience, are now available at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Both tours last six to seven hours and include experiencing a certain number of attractions at Magic Kingdom Park,Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom – such as Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Toy Story Midway Mania! and Expedition Everest. (The Ultimate Day for Young Families – A VIP Tour Experience offers attractions that are specifically accessible to young children, as well). Both tours also include a meal at a Disney table-service restaurant. These tours will be offered Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, and cost $299 per person. Disney Vacation Club Members, Disney VISA Cardholders and Annual Passholders receive a 15% discount.
Like Olaf, have you ever closed your eyes and imagined yourself in another place? In summer, maybe? At Walt Disney World Resort? Or perhaps in the snow-covered kingdom of Arendelle, from Disney’s instant classic, “Frozen.” Why not all three?! After all, the hot and the cold are both so intense, if you put them together it just makes sense! And that’s just what we’re doing as part of an incredible new experience.
This summer, the world of “Frozen” takes center stage at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We’re opening up the gates July 5 for a summer-long happening, featuring a full day of all-new, immersive “Frozen” experiences you won’t want to miss, every day through September 1!
Here are some of the highlights:
Anna’s & Elsa’s Royal Welcome: Each day at 11 a.m., Anna and Elsa, riding in a horse-drawn sleigh, will travel in a royal procession down Hollywood Boulevard. Rugged mountain man Kristoff is along for the fun joined by a flurry of skaters, skiers and ice cutters, all dressed in their Arendelle best.
For The First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration: Inside the park’s Premiere Theater, Princess Anna and Queen Elsa join the Royal Historians of Arendelle for a fun and comedic retelling of the history of their kingdom amidst projections, lighting and special effects. Guests will be invited to join in special sing-along moments from the film’s chart-topping soundtrack. At the end of the performance, guests might find themselves becoming “Honorary Citizens of Arendelle.” The 20-minute show will be presented multiple times each day.
Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post & Frozen Funland: There’s a “big summer blowout” happening inside the park’s Soundstage One, where Oaken – the film’s trading post owner – and his cousins have created the “Frozen Funland” amidst a winter wonderland. Living up to its name, there will be plenty of frozen festivities inside the makeshift adventure park Oaken and his cousins built to make the most of the sudden snowstorm. Part of the Oaken’s Frozen Funland will be an ice skating rink with demonstrations by some of Oaken’s talented cousins on the Arendelle ice.
In addition, icy artisans will put their talents on display, creating carvings of favorite “Frozen” characters from giant frozen blocks. Kids can enjoy frozen wintertime activities in the “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” area. For all of his Frozen Funland friends, Oaken has plenty of merchandise at his Trading Post, along with hot cocoa and sweet treats available for purchase.
Guests can take pictures with the film’s animated characters in a virtual setting, and then email them or share on their social media channels.
When guests want to escape the icy atmosphere of Oaken’s outpost, all they have to do is look for the door marked “Sauna,” where they once again will exit to the warm Florida sun.
Coolest Summer Ever Dance Party: From 5:30-9:30 p.m. each evening, a live band will take the stage to celebrate the Frozen summer fun with contemporary songs and a few familiar tunes from the film.
Take-Along Olaf: As a special feature before the fireworks, guests will have a chance to be a part of a pre-show celebration by hashtagging photos of themselves in the park with a “Take-Along Olaf.” Throughout the day, Take-Along Olafs will be distributed at various locations in the park. Guests are then invited to take Olaf along with them on their Disney’s Hollywood Studios adventures. By sharing their photos with the unique hashtag #OlafSummerVacation, their photos may appear on the big screen in this special pre-show feature.
Frozen Fireworks: At 9:45pm each evening, the giant Sorcerer Mickey Hat on Hollywood Blvd. gets the full Frozen treatment with special projections of snow and ice images, in an eye-popping spectacular above Hollywood Blvd. Set to the film’s soundtrack, the fireworks show will feature some special guests – including a very magical appearance from Elsa in which she will show how her powers flurry “through the air and to the ground” to produce magically icy blue and white gleaming fireworks.
If you’re somewhere in that zone, like me, you’re already bursting with anticipation for “Frozen Summer Fun – Live at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.” Starting July 5, the sky will be blue, and you guys will be there, too! It’s going to be a great summer for snowmen, royalty, and anyone who’s a fan of “Frozen!”
The park operating hours and Extra Magic Hours schedule for Walt Disney World has been significantly changed in a recent calendar update.
Most of the evening Extra Magic Hours at the Magic Kingdom have been moved to different days from mid-July until the end of the year, along with morning Extra Magic Hours at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Both parks have seen significant extensions to park hour. The Magic Kingdom has seen an increase in the number of Main Street Electrical Parade performances.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has also seen changes to EMH days, and a lot of extensions to regular operating hours and additional Fantasmic! shows.
Epcot appears to have escaped any changes so far.
If you are planning, or already have a trip planned, you should double check the calendar for any changes that may impact your trip.
Disney News Today 