Walt Disney World Resort Making Plans for a Magical Holiday Season in 2021

Jul 13, 2021 | Business

Beginning Nov. 12, festive entertainment, whimsical décor, seasonal food and drinks, special merchandise and more will all be a part of the 2021 holiday season across Walt Disney World Resort. Here is a first look at the merrymaking to come this year as part of “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” honoring the resort’s 50th anniversary.

Magic Kingdom Park

  • Main Street, U.S.A., will be decked for the holidays with seasonal décor.
  • In the evening, special holiday projections will appear most nights on Cinderella Castle, alternating periodically throughout the night with the castle’s transformation into a Beacon of Magic as part of the park’s 50thanniversary celebration.*
  • “Disney Very Merriest After Hours,” a new specially ticketed event, begins Nov. 8 and continues on select nights through the holiday season. The four-hour experience with feature “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks,” Disney characters throughout the park, holiday music and décor, treats included and much more. The event will be open to a limited number of guests after regular park operating hours, with lower wait times on more than 20 available attractions. Tickets will go on sale in August, with an early purchase window available to guests of select Disney Resort hotels.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

  • The Hollywood Holiday Tower will twinkle anew at the end of Sunset Boulevard during Sunset Seasons Greetings. Projection effects will magically transform the park icon into snowy Arendelle, a Muppets gingerbread masterpiece, a Toy Story toy hotel, and a Dickensian village inspired by “Mickey’s Christmas Carol.” This holiday show will also alternate with the tower’s nightly transformation into a Beacon of Magic.
  • “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” will feature a festive finale starring Olaf.
  • Santa Claus will bring some North Pole cheer to a motorcade down Hollywood Boulevard.
  • Minnie Mouse will host a meal at Hollywood & Vine, joined by her pals in their holiday finest – and Santa, too!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

  • The park’s centerpiece – The Tree of Life – becomes another Beacon of Magic most nights during the 50thanniversary celebration. During the holiday season, there will be even more magic inspired by nature as the holiday edition of Tree of Life Awakenings also takes place most nights.
  • Disney characters will set sail down Discovery River, accompanied by joyful songs of the season.

Disney Springs

  • The Walt Disney World shopping, dining and entertainment district will transform into a winter wonderland, full of sparkling lights, enchanting décor and holiday surprises.
  • The Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll will feature elaborately decorated, Disney-themed trees, including some inspired by “The World’s Most Magical Celebration.”
  • A magical snowfall will add a touch of wonder for holiday shoppers at surprise locations.
  • Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar will become Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar with delightful décor and a delicious limited-time menu filled with festive favorites.
  • Disney Springs is the perfect place for guests to make their holiday shopping lists and check them twice, with a wide array of Disney holiday merchandise, including ornaments, matching family pajamas, Spirit Jerseys and more.

Disney Resort Hotels

  • Iconic trees and other seasonal touches will turn Disney Resort hotels into holiday hideaways.
  • Select resorts will feature intricate gingerbread displays perfect for holiday photographs … and inspiration for holiday treats.
  • Select resorts will offer holiday menus at restaurants, as well as other specialty food and drinks.

EPCOT

  • The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will return Nov. 26 – Dec. 30 and will feature Holiday Kitchens around World Showcase, performances by Voices of Liberty, a Cookie Stroll and more.

Additional details about the 2021 holiday season will be announced in the future. For more on “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” and the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort, visit WDWNews.com.

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*Beacons of magic will be available nightly at select theme parks.

Lion King Event Launches on Clubhouse app to Spread Joy in the Digital Space

Jan 2, 2021 | Entertainment

Lion King: The Musical on Clubhouse is a free virtual live concert event taking place on December 26th 2020, exclusively on Clubhouse. This event was created by marketing executive and event producer Noelle Chesnut Whitmore after being in a room with Bomani X & Myles Grier where she recognized Chris “Boogie” Glover, another user on Clubhouse, had a distinct voice and would be perfect to play Mufasa. Myles then started performing Simba’s lines and the idea took flight from there and has scaled to a full cast and crew of over forty actors, narrators, imagery (PTR), musicians, and a choir.

Noelle Chesnut Whitmore is serving as the director and executive producer. Kam Dela and Bomani X, whose picture is the current icon for the Clubhouse app, are serving as the musical directors. Award-winning actor Myles Grier will voice Simba, and Mir Harris will voice Nala. Other featured entertainers include actress and producer Gina Belafonte, Dr. Victor, Minh Do, Brandon Rainey, Tunde Sho, Dai Thompson, Felicia Brathwaite, Aja Monet, Shannon Yang and many others.

With the event being audio-based, the cast and crew have gotten creative with telling this story on the app. They are not only using live instrumentation, but they are also incorporating imagery and scenes from the original movie as constantly updating profile pictures of the participants while the performance progresses.

The event founder stated, “What started as a random conversation on Clubhouse has scaled to something much greater. We have so many talented people contributing their time and energy to this performance. Our goal is just to spread some joy to people through these events. I never imagined this would get such a huge response.”

Although this is their first virtual music event as a collective, Noelle Chesnut Whitmore looks forward to expanding their digital footprint on Clubhouse and beyond.

The event takes place December 26, 2020 at 12pm PT/3pm EST and 5pm PT/8pm EST on the Clubhouse app.

For media inquiries, please email Indya “Icy” Wright at icy@artistehouse.com

Media Contact:
Indya “Icy” Wright
icy@artistehouse.com