Author: Nate

Bob Iger Could Remain CEO in Disney and Fox Deal

The Disney-Fox deal is heating up once again with new details and this may put investors and the public more at ease. Bob Iger may extend his contract and remain CEO beyond 2019 if the deal goes through.

It was reported Tuesday that Fox-head James Murdoch could wind up succeeding Iger if the deal went through, but according to multiple sources it’s likely that if it does goes through, Disney CEO Bob Iger will likely remain with the company. He would stay at Disney to oversee any potential merging of Disney and Twenty-First Century Fox assets.

Iger is no stranger to bringing in new assets and integrating them into the Disney family. After taking over in 2005 he led the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilms giving him experience like no one else. He has the most experience and makes the most sense if the deal is to succeed. The deal is valued at more than $60 billion and a smooth transition is exactly what investors want.

It will take time to get the necessary federal approvals for the acquisition and even time to integrate the assets after that, which could leave Iger at the helm through 2020, maybe even later. It is still possible the deal would see James Murdoch as a replacement after the integration is complete and Iger steps down.

December 6, 2017
New Story Elements for the Pixar Play Parade When it Returns to Disneyland

Disney kicked off it’s 12 Days of Disney Parks Christmas today and as promised here is the daily update on exciting new offerings coming to Walt Disney Parks & Resorts in 2018 and beyond. Disney has announce some exciting details on some new story elements for Pixar Play Parade, which is returning to Disneyland Resort this spring.

Pixar Play Parade returns April 13 to the Disneyland Resort – this time, at Disneyland park! Part of the limited-time Pixar Fest celebration, this delightful parade will bring even more of your favorite Pixar stories to life with the addition of three new story elements.

The parade will begin as all Pixar films have, with an appearance by the iconic and adorable Pixar Lamp. Rolling ahead of the famous lamp will be the familiar yellow Pixar Ball, making a cameo in Pixar Play Parade, as it has in many Pixar films.

Also joining the parade are characters from the beloved film, “Up.” Wilderness Explorer Russell will appear astride the colorful flightless bird, Kevin, with Carl Fredricksen and Dug following behind amid green foliage and snipe chicks, with Carl’s tethered house floating above.

Another popular Pixar story coming to Pixar Play Parade is “Inside Out.” Perched atop colorful memory orbs, Joy and Sadness take flight aboard Bing Bong’s rocket wagon, with Bing Bong himself cheering them on!

Don’t miss these new story elements and the return of Pixar Play Parade, beginning April 13 at Disneyland park. And check out the rest of the fun to come during Pixar Fest here!

December 5, 2017
Fox Boss James Murdoch Could Be Next Disney CEO If Disney Fox Deal Goes Through

It’s no secret that Disney is actively seeking Bob Iger’s replacement in preparation of his pending 2019 departure. Now in the midst of Disney and Fox negotiations, 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch has been “suggested” as a candidate to succeed the Disney CEO, when the storied executive eventually retires, according to The Financial Times, which cited “people briefed on the talks” in a report published Tuesday.

This after recent reports have stated that Disney Parks Chief, Bob Chapek, Might Be next in line as Bob Iger’s Successor, but this deal is bigger than that as a deal of this nature would reshape the media landscape and if Disney pulls it off and it could land Murdoch at the helm of The Mouse House.

This news came the same day that a CNBC report said Disney was close to a deal to acquire parts of Fox’s studio and television production business, valued at more than $60 billion.

According to the report, Rupert Murdoch and his younger son, James, could take senior roles at a combined company if a deal is struck. Iger, 66, is due to retire in 2019 and James Murdoch, 44, currently chief executive of 21st Century Fox and chairman of the satellite broadcaster Sky, is a possible successor… (Read More)

December 5, 2017
Marvel Takes a Stab At Their First Scripted Podcast: ‘Wolverine: The Long Night’

Marvel has explored plenty of territory in it’s 78-year history, from comics to computer games and from movies to TV, they’ve done it all. Well almost all… Starting in the spring of 2018, they will be headed into a whole new territory.

Wolverine, the beloved X-Men character, will headline Marvel’s first-ever scripted podcast, Wolverine: The Long Night, a 10-episode serialized story that will debut exclusively on podcast network Stitcher Premium in Spring 2018 as part of a partnership between Marvel and Stitcher, before rolling out across all other podcast platforms in the fall.

The show’s cast includes notable actors Richard Armitage (“The Hobbit”), Scott Adsit (“30 Rock”), Bob Balaban (“Moonrise Kingdom”) and Brian Stokes Mitchell (“Mr. Robot”).

The “Wolverine: The Long Night” story is a captivating hybrid of mystery and the larger-scale fantasy of the Marvel Universe. It follows agents Sally Pierce (Celia Keenan-Bolger) and Tad Marshall (Ato Essandoh) as they arrive in the fictional town of Burns, Alaska, to investigate a series of murders and quickly discover the town lives in fear of a serial killer. The agents team up with deputy Bobby Reid (Andrew Keenan-Bolger) to investigate their main suspect, Logan (Richard Armitage). Their search leads them on a fox hunt through the mysterious and corrupt town.

The process behind the making of “Wolverine: The Long Night” brings Marvel’s storytelling expertise into the podcasting world, breaking new ground for the medium. To provide listeners a sense of immersion into the story, outdoor scenes will be recorded in realistic-sounding locations including forests and a cabin. In the studio, actors will be recorded in an ambisonic — or fully surround-sound — environment, allowing them to move, interact with one another and fully inhabit their characters.

“‘Wolverine: The Long Night’ brings our fans a whole new way to experience our iconic characters and the Marvel Universe,” said Dan Silver, vice president, head of platforms and content for Marvel New Media. “This tremendous cast will bring a thrilling level of intrigue and drama to our listeners. The character of Logan and this landscape make it the ideal premiere vehicle for us, and we’re excited to continue to explore the dynamic possibilities of the podcast medium.”

Also cast in the series are actors Zoe Chao, Chaske Spencer, Jordan Bridges, David Call, Michael J. Burg and Lannon Killia. Chris Gethard, host of the popular “Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People” podcast, also will make a cameo appearance.

“Podcasting is an incredible, intimate medium that’s perfect for telling stories, and I can’t think of a better partner with whom to push the boundaries of scripted podcasts than Marvel,” said Erik Diehn, CEO of Midroll Media, a podcast industry leader and the parent company of Stitcher. “They make every translation of their rich universe of characters into new media fresh and interesting while still retaining the feel and spirit of the original comics, and, as a Marvel fan, I’m proud that we’ve helped them do it again in podcasting. The arrival of Wolverine and his many fans to podcasts and Stitcher is truly a signal that this medium is a major part of the American media landscape.”

Stitcher and Marvel have assembled a writing and production team of veterans from both the comic book world and the podcasting industry. “Wolverine: The Long Night” is written by award-winning comic book author Ben Percy (“The Wilding,” “Red Moon”) and will be directed by Brendan Baker (formerly a producer for Radiotopia’s “Love & Radio”). Chloe Prasinos (formerly a producer for Gimlet’s “Reply All”) will oversee sound design. The series is produced by Daniel Fink of Marvel and Jenny Radelet of Stitcher.

December 5, 2017
Disney and Fox Deal Could Come As Soon As Next Week

Disney and Twenty-First Century Fox are closing in on a deal, and it could come as soon as next week, according to sources familiar with the matter. While this doesn’t confirm that the deal will go through and the Federal Trade Commission could try to block it, but it is very apparent the companies are interested in the acquisition.

While certain Fox properties may not be sold to Disney, including Fox Sports, there are a number of smaller properties where Disney could acquire stakes. Disney would get Fox’s 30 percent stake in Hulu. Disney already has a 30 percent stake in Hulu, so that arrangement would give it majority ownership of the streaming platform. Could this be the foundation for which to build the Disney streaming service?

It would appear that the two studios are nearing a deal that might have some in Hollywood a little nervous but it would be super exciting for fans that have long waited to see both the Fantastic Four and X-Men within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

It’s the film rights have kept the X-Men from joining the MCU as of yet, but one X-Men producer would love to see the crossover happen. A recent Vanity Fair article explained how X-Men producer Lauren Shuler Donner threw in her support to have the mutant icons team up with the Avengers in theaters. “Well, I wish. I would love it, I would love it. But it’s not for me to say,” she said. Too bad it’s not up to her.

If the deal goes through, the Murdoch family will continue to maintain ownership over the sports and news divisions while Disney would get the studio rights to everything on the film side according to the report.

There is so much more at stake here for Disney than the obvious rights to the X-Men and Fantastic Four brands. They also want distribution rights for the original Star Wars trilogy and prequel trilogy. Most of those rights revert back to Disney in 2020, but the original 1977 film’s rights will remain at Fox.

Another bonus is the Avatar franchise. Earlier this week director James Cameron commented on how any sale of Fox’s TV and film operations would impact the Avatar sequels. He noted it probably wouldn’t affect the Avatar series and explained that “at this point in time Disney has a bigger investment” in the franchise than Fox, referring in part to Disney World’s Pandora: The World of Avatar attraction.

Disney would love to get its hands on the FX channel. And of course they want the vast, impressive, lucrative library of Fox movies and TV series from past and present, to add to their upcoming streaming service and, probably, to deny those movies and series to Netflix, along with the Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Lucasfilm properties.

While in the midst of negotiations Disney is really hoping that Sony doesn’t out fox them on the deal. It was recently noted that Sony Entertainment had shown interest in purchasing 21st Century Fox along with a few other companies, including Comcast and Verizon. However, if rumors are true those talks have since reverted to Disney.

Much of this is speculative, but the talk of Disney purchasing Fox is much more than a big rumor. Deadline’s new report makes a good point that, if this deal does happen, we’ll probably find out about it in a pretty out of the blue way. We may not know when that announcement could come, but don’t be too surprised to hear that Disney has officially purchased Fox in the near future.

December 5, 2017
Disney Receives 35 Nominations for 45th Annie Awards

Nominations for the 2018 Annie Awards were announced Monday and Disney has recieved 35 Nominations for 45th Annie Awards.

Coco has topped the 45th annual list of nominees with 13, including Best Animated Feature, followed closely by The Breadwinner with 10, including Best Animated Feature – Independent.

The Annie Awards will be held Feb. 3, 2018, at UCLA’s Royce Hall. Tickets are on sale now.

Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Disney Television Animation, Walt Disney Imagineering, Lucasfilm, and Marvel Studios were all nominated for awards. The complete list of Disney nominations are below

Best Animated Feature

CARS 3
COCO

Best Animated Special Production

OLAF’S FROZEN ADVENTURE
TANGLED BEFORE EVER AFTER

Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children

MICKEY AND THE ROADSTER RACERS
Episode: Goofy Gas!

Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Children

TANGLED THE SERIRES
Episode: Queen for a Day

Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Production

AVATAR FLIGHT OF PASSAGE
Production Company: Walt Disney Imagineering, Weta Digital, Lightstorm Entertainment
Sr. VFX Supervisor: Richard Baneham
VFX Supervisor: Thrain Shadbolt
Compositing Supervisor: Sam Cole
CG Supervisor: Pavani Rao Boddapati
CG Supervisor: Daniele Tosti

CARS 3
Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
Development & Effects Artist: Amit Baadkar
Effects Lead: Greg Gladstone
Effects Lead: Stephen Marshall
Effects Supervisor: Jon Reisch
Effects Lead: Tim Speltz

COCO
Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
Effects Artist: Shaun Galinak
Effects Lead: Dave Hale
Effects Artist: Jason Johnston
Effects Artist: Carl Kaphan
Effects Lead: Keith Daniel Klohn

OLAF’S FROZEN ADVENTURE
Production Company: Walt Disney Animation Studios
Head of Effects: Christopher Hendryx
Effects Animator: Dan Lund
Effects Animator: Mike Navarro
Effects Animator: Hiroaki Narita
Effects Animator: Steven Chitwood

Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in an Animated Feature Production

COCO
Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
Animator: John Chun Chiu Lee
Character:All characters

COCO
Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
Animator: Allison Rutland
Character: All characters

Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Live Action Production

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2
Production Company: Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Pictures.
Animation Supervisor: Arslan Elver
Lead Animator: Liam Russell
Lead Animator: Alvise Avati
Lead Animator: Alessandro Cuicci

Outstanding Achievement for Character Design in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

TANGLED: THE SERIES
Episode: Tangled Before Ever After
Production Company: Walt Disney Television Animation
Co-Executive Producer: Shane Prigmore
Character: Rapunzel, Eugene, Maximus, Cassandra
Character Designer: Bobby Pontillas
Character: King Frederick, Queen Arianna, Landy Caine, Fidella
Character Designer: Taylor Krahenbuhl
Character: Pub Thugs
Character Designer: Mayumi Nose
Character: Pascal

Outstanding Achievement for Character Design in an Animated Feature Production

COCO
Character Art Director: Daniel Arriaga
Character: All characters
Additional Character Art Direction: Daniela Strijleva
Character: All characters
Character Design/ Sculptor Greg Dykstra
Character:All characters
Character Modeller: Alonso Martinez
Character: All characters
Character Designer: Zaruhi Galstyan
Character: All characters

Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE
Episode: The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular!
Production Company: Walt Disney Television Animation
Director: Dave Wasson
Director: Eddie Trigueros
Director: Alonso Ramirez-Ramo

TANGLED: THE SERIES
Episode: Tangled Before Ever After
Production Company: Walt Disney Television Animation
Director: Tom Caulfield
Director: Stephen Sandoval

Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production

COCO
Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Lee Unkrich
Co-Director: Adrian Molina

Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE
Episode: The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular!
Production Company: Walt Disney Television Animation
Composer: Christopher Willis

LEGO STAR WARS: THE FREEMAKER ADVENTURES
Episode: Trouble on Tibalt
Production Company: The LEGO Group, Lucasfilm, Wil Film
Composer: Michael Kramer

Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature Production

COCO
Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
Composer: Michael Giacchino
Composer/Lyricist: Kristin Anderson-Lopez
Composer/Lyricist: Robert Lopez
Composer: Germaine Franco
Lyricist: Adrian Molina

OLAF’S FROZEN ADVENTURE
Production Company: Walt Disney Animation Studios
Composer/Lyricist: Elyssa Samsel
Composer/Lyricist: Kate Anderson
Composer: Christophe Beck

Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

BIG HERO 6 THE SERIES
Episode: Baymax Returns
Production Company: Walt Disney Television Animation
Production Design: Mark Taihei
Production Design: Ben Plouffe
Production Design: Chris Whittier
Production Design: Sylvia Filcak
Production Design: Amy Chen

DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE
Episode: The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular!
Production Company: Walt Disney Television Animation
Production Design: Jenny Gase-Baker
Production Design: Justin Martin

Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Feature Production

COCO
Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
Production Design: Harley Jessup
Production Design: Danielle Feinberg
Production Design: Bryn Imagire
Production Design: Nathaniel McLaughlin
Production Design: Ernesto Nemesio

Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE
Episode: Bee Inspired
Production Company: Walt Disney Television Animation
Storyboard Artist: Eddie Trigueros

Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production

COCO
Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
Storyboard Artist: Dean Kelly

COCO
Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
Storyboard Artist: Madeline Sharafian

Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE
Episode: The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular!
Production Company: Walt Disney Television Animation
Voice Actor: Chris Diamantopoulos
Character: Mickey Mouse

Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production

COCO
Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
Cast: Anthony Gonzalez
Character: Miguel

Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE
Episode: Locked in Love
Production Company: Walt Disney Television Animation
Writer: Darrick Bachman

MILO MURPHY’S LAW
Episode: The Island of the Lost Dakotas
Production Company: Disney Television Animation
Writer: Joshua Pruett

Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production

COCO
Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
Writer: Adrian Molina
Writer: Matthew Aldrich

Outstanding Achievement for Editorial in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

PICKLE AND PEANUT
Episode: Bear-I-cade
Production Company: Disney Television Animation
Nominee: John Roye

Outstanding Achievement for Editorial in an Animated Feature Production

COCO
Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
Nominee: Steve Bloom
Nominee: Lee Unkrich
Nominee: Greg Snyder
Nominee: Tim Fox

December 5, 2017
You Can Now Give a Disney Vacation as a Gift

Want to put some ‘real’ magic in someone’s stocking this year? Give the gift of Disney! That’s right, you now actually give a Disney vacation as a gift through their new website.

Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Disney has made it easier than ever to give magical Disney vacations, theme park tickets or special Disney experiences as gifts for those lucky friends and family on your gift list. The new GiveDisneyVacations.com website is the way to unwrap Disney memories that will last a lifetime. It takes the guesswork out of what to give. And there’s no worry about size, color or some assembly required.

It’s Easy to Gift an Entire Disney Vacation

For the first time ever, guests can select from a full portfolio of Disney destinations and experiences to gift — all in one, easy-to-navigate place. Guests can explore GiveDisneyVacations.com and open a dedicated feature page profiling each Disney destination available. From an unforgettable escape on an Adventures by Disney trip or a voyage aboard Disney Cruise Line, or a vacation at the sun-drenched beaches of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina Hawai’i to exciting Disney Vacation Club properties, the vacation gifting options are endless. Or gift them the experience of a lifetime with a visit to the enchanting world of magic and make-believe at the Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney Park Tickets and Gift Cards Offer More Gifting Options

The gift of Disney is the most magical gift of all. Big things – magical things – can come in small packages. GiveDisneyVacations.com offers guests a quick and easy option to gift just about any Disney experience with the purchase of Disney Gift Cards¹. Imagine the joy on Christmas morning, birthday, anniversary, graduation, new baby or any occasion gifting a Disney experience. Disney Gift Cards can be redeemed for practically all-things Disney including merchandise, theme park tickets, dining experiences, entertainment, resort stays and experiences onboard Disney Cruise Line ships. And with the convenience of email, it makes for a great last-minute gift idea, too.

Guests can simply choose a Card design, activate and give the gift of Disney magic. Cards themselves are like a Disney vacation in your pocket, colorfully designed in Disney themes from Mickey at Christmas to Minnie and Mickey for Valentine’s Day, Goofy to Donald, Pirates to Princesses.

Cards may be purchased in set amounts of $25 up to $150, plus denominations of $200, $300 and $500. The activated Card with amount specified can even be e-delivered to the gift recipient or for a memorable unwrapping moment sent via traditional mail, enclosed in a themed gift card holder. The Card ships free to any U.S. address, when standard shipping is selected.

Regardless if mailed or shared as an eGift, senders can pair the Card with a personalized message. And because the Disney Gift Card charges no fees and never expires, senders can gift friends and family worry-free and let the magic begin.

For a Limited Time Only:

At Walt Disney World Resort, it easier than ever this holiday season to unwrap the magic of a Disney vacation with a gift beyond belief. Through Nov. 15, guests may purchase a Walt Disney World Resort vacation – a 6-night/7-day room and ticket package for a family of four for travel throughout 2018 — with rates as low as $96 per person, per day at a select Disney’s All-Star Resort². And you’ll get a specially designed gold-trimmed gift box that includes limited-edition Magic Bands for your group to mark the special occasion³. What an exciting time to make it a Walt Disney World vacation, too, with the much acclaimed Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and exciting openings on deck, including Toy Story Land coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in summer 2018.

At the Disneyland Resort, guests continue to enjoy the thrilling, new Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! at Disney California Adventure Park, and the beloved nighttime spectacular “Fantasmic!” at Disneyland Park, now more brilliant than ever. This holiday season, anyone can give the gift of a Disneyland experience to family or friends with a special offer to visit early in the new year. A package priced from $144 per person, per day, for a family of four includes a 3-day/2-night hotel stay, along with park tickets and hotel dining certificates⁴. Guests also receive a fun surprise prior to arrival. Booking is available from Nov. 16 to Nov. 27, 2017 for travel on select nights from Jan. 7 to Feb. 1, 2018. And even more magic is on the way in 2018!

Beyond the theme parks, there are even more magical offerings to make your family’s holiday wishes come true. Enjoy winter in paradise at Aulani Resort with savings up to 30 percent on 5-night stays in select ocean view rooms, plus receive $50 resort credit per night when you book your stay before Oct. 25, 2017. Or, why not give your family something they can enjoy for years to come – the gift of Disney Vacation Club Membership. Now through Oct. 31, 2017, you can save $2,600 or more on membership at select Disney Vacation Club Resorts.

December 5, 2017
Spread Holiday Cheer and #ShareYourEars to Support Make-A-Wish

It’s time for some holiday cheer in the Disney Parks, but first… Let me take a selfie. It’s for a good cause though and you get to show off your favorite Mickey ears. This holiday season, Disney Parks is donating $5 to Make-A-Wish, up to $1 million, for each photo you take and share on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram wearing “Mickey Ears” – or any fun, creative ears – with the hashtag #ShareYourEars.

If you remember, last year they held the same event and millions of fans who shared all types of “ear photos” on social channels making #ShareYourEars a huge success. That enthusiastic sharing led to doubling the original donation pledge to $2 million.

Now it’s time to take your “ear photos” to a new creative level. From now until Christmas Day – December 25, 2017 – Disney Parks is hoping you’ll post fun and unique “ear photos” with the hashtag #ShareYourEars. You can post right now.

And keep checking the Disney Parks Blog all month long as they feature some great #ShareYourEars photos shared on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. they’re looking for “ears” in the following categories: (1) groups and animals, (2) fun and creative, and (3) and holiday spirit.

With nearly 9,000 Disney-related wishes granted worldwide each year – including experiences at Disney theme parks and voyages on Disney Cruise Line – this campaign is close to our hearts. For more information about Make-A-Wish America, visit wish.org.

December 4, 2017
A Dozen “Must-Do’s” This Holiday Season at Walt Disney World Resort
The most wonderful time of the year is here, and it’s even more magical at Walt Disney World Resort! Delicious treats, joyous holiday spectaculars and all-around merriment bring the spirit of the season to life across all four theme parks, Disney resort hotels and Disney Springs.

Here’s a list of 12 “must-do’s” during your Christmas vacation at Walt Disney World Resort.
1. Sunset Seasons Greetings at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Guests can enjoy all-new spectacular holiday projections displayed on the famous Hollywood Tower Hotel! This new holiday experience runs continuously throughout the night and features animated scenes of Mickey, Minnie and other beloved Disney characters sharing their favorite Christmas stories. Keep an eye out for the billboards that come to life and the falling snow on Sunset Boulevard. Talk about magical!
2. New Holiday Kitchens at the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays: Experience the flavors of the holidays, as you meander through World Showcase stopping at each of the festival’s many Holiday Kitchens. These kiosks serve up food and drinks that take the words “warm and cozy” to a whole new level. There’s even a Holiday Kitchen that’s all about sweet treats like snowflake sugar cookies and warm apple fritters with cinnamon ice cream and caramel sauce.
3. S’mores, Hot Cocoa and Christmas Carols at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground: Immerse yourself in the yuletide grandeur of the Pacific Northwest at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge where a majestic Christmas tree towers over the resort lobby. Cozy up to the fire and relax with a cup of hot cider or cocoa and holiday treats. For more frontier-style holiday happenings head over to Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground where carolers arrive by hay wagon spreading the sounds of the season.
4. Winter Summerland Miniature Golf: Join Santa and his elves at their off-season retreat for two 18-hole adventures available all year-round! The indecisive elves built two courses, one that showcases the warm Florida weather and another that represents the arctic North Pole. What better way to create a new holiday tradition than with family games, Christmas melodies and festive décor?
5. Exciting New Holiday Merchandise: Unwrap another holiday tradition – shopping! Disney Springs has almost as many gift options as Santa’s bag. Shoppers will find everything from top-name brands to one-of-a-kind specialty stores. Popular new merchandise items include three new holiday-themed headbands that, much like the highly popular rose gold Minnie Mouse ears, promise to be a holiday hit!
6. Jolly Décor: Take in the glistening holiday décor that brightens all four Theme Parks, the Disney resort hotels and Disney Springs! Wreaths, garlands and more surround you with holiday cheer. Giant floating ornaments, sky-high Christmas trees and magical snow flurries create a winter wonderland all around the vacation kingdom.
7. Holiday Entertainment at Disney Springs: Every corner of Disney Springs is wrapped and ready for the season with festive holiday décor and seasonal entertainment. This year an expanded Christmas Tree Trail features ten new trees inspired by Disney classics such as Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, Snow White and Dumbo.
8. Tasty Treats: Taste the newest Flurry of Fun confections at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. From red velvet whoopee pies decorated with icing garland, ornament pearls, and holiday sprinkles to Olaf Cake Pops and apple cranberry cobblers, these holiday sweets will have you smiling from ear-to-ear!
9. Candlelight Processional at Epcot: One of the most beloved Epcot traditions returns with new celebrity narrators. Disney legend Kurt Russell is among the newcomers, along with Pat Sajak, Matt Bomer and CCH Pounder who will join returning favorites Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Jaci Velasquez and others. The Candlelight Processional is a retelling of the Christmas story as told by a celebrity narrator accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and mass choir. The show takes place at the America Gardens Theatre nightly at 5:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., Nov. 24-Dec. 30.
10. Gingerbread Houses: Explore stunning edible creations at select Walt Disney World resort hotels, like the life-size holiday gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. A giant edible spinning carousel is a holiday tradition at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, while a holiday village with a miniature train takes center stage at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. New this year, Disney’s Contemporary Resort will be home to an 18-foot-tall Cinderella Castle, crafted with thousands of gingerbread blocks, rolled fondant and modeling chocolate.
11. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: It’s a Christmas party like no other! Each special ticket, limited-attendance event features an exclusive performance of Holiday Wishes fireworks, and the very first performances of other spectaculars like Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, the Frozen Holiday Wish castle-lighting ceremony and Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration stage show. The special party, complete with cookies, cocoa and snow flurries, begins at 7 p.m., after regular park hours. Parties will be held on November 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 26 and 28, and December 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 22.
12. Meet Santa Claus: A cozy conversation with Father Christmas, himself, makes the holiday season complete. Santa Claus will park hop to greet guests at Disney Springs and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. He’ll even make an appearance during Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade at Magic Kingdom Park.
December 4, 2017
12 Days of Disney Parks Christmas
Over the next 12 days you can expect an exciting new announcement from Disney each day. That’s right! It’s like a new Christmas gift everyday! A dozen announcements over 12 days about exciting new offerings coming to Walt Disney Parks & Resorts in 2018 and beyond.

Starting Dec. 5 and continuing daily through Dec. 16, the Disney will unveil exclusive new details about events, entertainment, attractions and more at the Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, as well as new offerings aboard Disney Cruise Line.

This magical “12 Days of Disney Parks Christmas” news will give fans a first look at the stellar line-up of projects and updates coming to Disney Parks & Resorts, including:
- Never-before-seen images and video
- New resort hotel experiences
- Delectable new dining options
- Special events
- Updates about new attractions announced at the 2017 D23 Expo
We’re so excited for the first announcement! Stay tuned to Disney Dorks for the announcements and you can expect the first one tomorrow.
December 4, 2017