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Disney Special Events

Sparkling Decorations and Seasonal Sensations

Festivities and fun fill the 2008 Holiday Season at the Walt Disney World® Resort. The spectacular celebrations will unwrap with not-to-miss merriment, as the Walt Disney World Resort is transformed into a winter wonderland. This spirited season, you can experience time-honored favorites mixed with some new features!

Beginning Nov. 10, 2008, the iconic Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom® Park will sparkle with 200,000 twinkling lights as part of the return of our newest holiday tradition—Castle Dreamlights! Donning their holiday finest, Cinderella and friends take to the Cinderella Castle stage daily for a dream-come-true, light-the-night moment. This glistening spectacle will signal the start of Disney’s holiday season.

By late November, festivities will cover the Walt Disney World Resort, as Epcot®, Disney’s Hollywood Studios™, Disney’s Animal Kingdom®  and Downtown Disney unwrap merry, magical moments for Guests.

There is sure to be a galore of astounding spectacles in store for you! Here are the holiday highlights:

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

From 7 p.m. to midnight on select evenings during November and December, Guests can experience special holiday entertainment at a special after-hours party inside the Magic Kingdom Park. The event features “Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade,” Mickey's "Twas the Night Before Christmas" Show, the festive fireworks spectacular of Holiday Wishes—Celebrate the Spirit of the Season, Disney character greetings, and cookies, cocoa and “snow” on Main Street U.S.A.® Plus, you can use some of the most popular Magic Kingdom attractions! Admission to this event requires a separately priced ticket.

 The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

As "snow" falls overhead, the Streets of America backlot cityscape at Disney's Hollywood Studios comes alive Nov. 28, 2008-Jan. 4, 2009. With millions of holiday lights that “dance” to a high-energy holiday symphony, Guest will see animated sparkling displays that create twirling carousels, marching toy soldiers and even Santa and his reindeer taking flight. The “dancing lights” musical moments occur every 10 minutes and are included with Disney's Hollywood Studios admission.

 Holidays Around the World and Candlelight Processional

An Epcot tradition continues Nov. 28-Dec. 30, 2008, with holiday customs from around the globe, international storytellers, a nightly tree-lighting ceremony featuring Disney characters, a stunning display of snow-white and colored lights, and Candlelight Processional. One of the most beloved holiday traditions at Epcot is the Candlelight Processional – a joyous retelling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and a glorious mass choir. It takes place nightly at World Showcase, America Gardens Theatre at 5:00, 6:45 and 8:15 p.m.

 The World Showcase Promenade comes alive nightly at 9:30 p.m. with the brilliance and splendor of music, lights, lasers, water fountains and custom pyrotechnics in our signature nighttime spectacular: llumiNations: Reflections of Earth. Every night presents a unique, holiday finale.

 All of the Epcot holiday fun is included with regular theme park admission.

 Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade

Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade blends the spirit of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park with the spirit of the season for a Holiday offering full of jump, joy and jive!

 Mickey has invited a special group of friends to join him on a Holiday adventure! The parade is filled with the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feelings of the Holiday Season. They’ve added Holiday accessories to their safari costumes with seasonal music for a combination that celebrates the Holidays as only Disney’s Animal Kingdom can.

 Festivals of the Seasons at Downtown Disney Area

Holiday shopping is easier than ever at Downtown Disney! From Nov. 28-Dec. 24, 2008, it features shopping adventures for every age, interest and budget, including Once Upon a Toy, filled with exclusive playthings from Disney and Hasbro; World of Disney, the world’s largest character emporium, plus Virgin™ Megastore, LEGO Imagination Center and Disney’s Days of Christmas holiday shop. Holiday-themed décor, colorful light displays and photo opportunities with old St. Nick himself offer yuletide cheer. Also, little princesses can get decked out for the holiday’s finest at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

Think of all the people who make you the happiest and imagine being with them right now.  What would it be like? In no time, you’ll be telling old stories.  Making up new ones.  Laughing until it hurts. And feeling like everything is right.

But in the real world, how often can any of us make these moments actually come to life?

This year, the Walt Disney World® Resort is celebrating the special magic that happens when friends and family gather together – Magical Gatherings™.

There’s no better place for everyone of every age to find something just for them. Whether it’s blasting off into outer space, teeing off onto a rolling fairway, dancing the night away or stepping into a fairy tale, there’s special magic for everyone.

This is your chance to make memories, rekindle relationships, and remind each other what being a family is all about.  When you gather in this magical place, the real world is left behind. Here, busy schedules are banished. And everything anyone could wish for is right at hand. So you have all the time in the world to concentrate on the people who are here with you.

And now we’re making it easier than ever for you to plan a vacation with the people closest to you here in the most magical place on earth.  When you want to make it all happen, we’re with you every step of the way.  Need help with pre-arrival planning?   Want to arrange dining and lodging for larger parties? It’s done.

This year, we’ve even arranged special magic just for parties of 8 or more (ages 3 and up) staying at a selected Walt Disney World® Resort hotel – called Grand Gatherings. Imagine a dinner at Epcot® with storytelling for the kids and VIP viewing of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.  Or a rambling sunset safari on the African savanna of Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park.   Everything is dedicated to make the very most of your time together.

Walt Disney World magic.  Come enjoy it now, but don’t do it alone.  Just think of the people who make you happiest.  And imagine the magic multiplied.

From intimate weddings to lavish ceremonies surrounded by family and friends, the Walt Disney World® Resort can bring your dream of the perfect wedding to life. Disney's Intimate Weddings offer the perfect backdrop for any couple looking to host a simple or spectacularly memorable affair at the Walt Disney World® Resort. For couples looking to exchange vows in personalized, fairy tale fashion, Disney's Custom Weddings offer brides-to-be the option to reflect their individual style and wishes in their dream wedding.

Romance... Elegance... Fantasy... Disney's Fairy Tale
Weddings & Honeymoons create magical memories
for years to come at the Walt Disney World® Resort.

Disney's Intimate Weddings, for the bride and groom and up to 8 guests, provide a magical selection of wedding options. Brides and grooms can choose from deluxe or premium intimate wedding packages, featuring various wedding locations throughout the Walt Disney World® Resort.

For couples wanting to share their wedding with an unlimited number of family and friends, Disney Custom Weddings are the perfect option. Whether theming the wedding to a favorite Disney movie, or creating the classic, elegant wedding the couple has always dreamed of, Disney's Custom Weddings will turn dreams into reality.

Couples looking to exchange vows in the ultimate fairy tale setting will find just that at Disney's Wedding Pavilion. Located near Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the non-denominational wedding pavilion offers a picturesque backdrop of Cinderella Castle.

Recognized by wedding industry experts as the most popular honeymoon destination in the United States, the Walt Disney World® Resort offers an unlimited amount of fun in the sun and nighttime retreats for couples. Whether it's exploring Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park by day or dancing at Downtown Disney® Pleasure Island by night, newlyweds discover a world of enchantment and romance.

And for guests looking to celebrate lasting love, Vow Renewals are a popular tradition at the Walt Disney World® Resort. A Disney vacation provides a perfect backdrop for couples to renew their vows, whether celebrating a milestone anniversary or just reliving your special day.