Welcome to the Weekend Update for December 13, 2008!
For those of you reading this on Saturday, there are twelve days before Christmas. If I were really, really clever we would have some sort of "Twelve Days of Christmas" theme for this weekend's Update. Alas, I am not that clever, so you'll just have to hum the tune as you peruse the holiday photos from around the Disney world and beyond. All together now, 1...2...3..."On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me..."
We really do go around the world this week. We start out in Florida with a few sneak peeks of the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade thanks to SummerIn FL. BigPigletFan takes us down Main Street to Cinderella's Castle at the Magic Kingdom. Then it's off to the international destinations of Hong Kong and Tokyo thanks to TDLFAN. He also shares a little Christmas cheer from Universal Studios Florida. Then we journey to Disneyland with some more photos of the live entertainers from Marc ralfrick Ricketts. Finally, we have some more vintage postcard images from darkfairycthulu.
Without further ado...here's Miley!
Walt Disney World Christmas Parade
Walt Disney World
SummerInFL had the opportunity to attend a very early morning taping of the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade. Rumor has it that she had to be in place at 5:30 a.m.
Quote:
The Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade is an American television special that airs on Christmas Day on the ABC network. It is taped primarily inside the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, approximately one month prior to Christmas day. Past shows have included segments featuring other Disney theme parks in Orlando, Florida, Anaheim, California, and around the world. The program has aired annually since 1983, with the exception of 2000 when Disney aired a Christmas Eve "Tracking Santa" special instead. In 1999, a nighttime version of the parade was shown on Christmas Day. In the 1980s and '90s, the program was known as The Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade.
The parade down Main Street, U.S.A. features appearances of Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Pluto, and Chip 'n Dale, as well as floats featuring celebrities, musical performances, marching bands from various schools and community groups across the USA, and highlights of events and properties at Disney theme parks and other Disney productions. Despite its now-traditional viewing status, the program could be considered to just be a giant advertising vehicle for The Walt Disney Company, being televised on a Disney-owned outlet, making the parade tradition a textbook example of fakelore. Most of the program is taped in November and early December for broadcast on Christmas Day. However, until the early 1990s, the parade was broadcast live on Christmas Day, usually on CBS, with whom Disney had partnered for Thanksgiving and New Year celebrations as well, until Disney bought out ABC in 1996.
The parade down Main Street, U.S.A. features appearances of Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Pluto, and Chip 'n Dale, as well as floats featuring celebrities, musical performances, marching bands from various schools and community groups across the USA, and highlights of events and properties at Disney theme parks and other Disney productions. Despite its now-traditional viewing status, the program could be considered to just be a giant advertising vehicle for The Walt Disney Company, being televised on a Disney-owned outlet, making the parade tradition a textbook example of fakelore. Most of the program is taped in November and early December for broadcast on Christmas Day. However, until the early 1990s, the parade was broadcast live on Christmas Day, usually on CBS, with whom Disney had partnered for Thanksgiving and New Year celebrations as well, until Disney bought out ABC in 1996.
Wikipedia
Last Saturday, December 6th, Magic Kingdom was filming the WDW Christmas Day Parade for ABC.
Lots of celebrities were involved, including one Miss Miley Cyrus.
Even Broadway was in attendance, Mary Poppins anyone?
How about the Imagination Movers?
Ok, I know you all just want to see Miley. Here you go!
Even her dad, Billy Ray, played one song after she was finished.
Lots of celebrities were involved, including one Miss Miley Cyrus.
Even Broadway was in attendance, Mary Poppins anyone?
How about the Imagination Movers?
Ok, I know you all just want to see Miley. Here you go!
Even her dad, Billy Ray, played one song after she was finished.
BigPigletFan sent us some holiday photos from the Magic Kingdom this week.
Main Street Train Station
Display windows on Main Street
Holiday lights on Cinderella's Castle
TDLFAN's CHRISTMAS TOUR AROUND THE WORLD
TDLFAN has tamed the gremlins inhabiting his computer and brings us the remainder of his Christmas tour around the world. This week we'll visit Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Tokyo DisneySea and Universal Studios Florida.
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
Hong Kong, China
TDLFAN stopped by HKDL for a little Xmas jingle...
Arriving at HKDL's lovely promenade.
Holiday Character banners greet guests at the Promenade (seen here are the Cindy and Charming banners)
TDLFAN just loves that happy Pluto on the promenade fountain.
Poinsettas dot Mickey's face at HKDL's entrance.
Guests at HKDL can be so, well, Goofy.
HKDL Band plays holiday music by the Xmas tree.
Holiday teeshirts and other festive stuff is on sale at HKDL's Emporium.
Holiday Balloons on sale at HKDL this year.
HKDL's Fantasyland features very nicely themed gardens.
Tarzan's Treehouse and Jungle River Cruise boat in Adventureland.
Main Street USA is busy with both pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Holiday treats are being served at the Main Street Bakery.
Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel's lobby decorated for the holidays.
"It's A Small World" continues to delight guests since it's opening last April '07.
"It's a Small World" finale.
"Let it Snow" parade performs at dusk... and snow falls over Main Strett USA during the procession.
The Royal Ball entertain guests at the Castle Forecourt.
Royal Ball finale features Aurora's coronation and sparkling lights on the Castle and stage.
Main Street USA glitters with holiday magic at night.
Sleeping Beauty Castle sparkles in silvery ice and color as we bid "Goodnight" from HKDL.
Tokyo DisneySea
Tokyo, Japan
TDLFAN visits Tokyo DisneySea for some yuletide fun...
Arriving at Tokyo DisneySea, celebrating Harborside Christmas 2008.
New 25th anniversary holiday banners.
New 25th anniversary holiday decorations.
Cool sunny weather all over Tokyo DisneySea.
TDS' Xmas Tree in American Waterfront.
Holiday treats served in souvenir cups and saucers.
Tower of Holiday Terror.
NYC street.
Let's shop till we drop.
Cookies and Candy themed to this year's festivities.
A TDS icon: Duffy Bears galore.
New Year's Holiday merchandise on sale already.
2009 is the year of the Ox...or Cow (whatever) so Clarabelle Cow is featured prominently in this new year's merchandise lineup.
Night time at American Waterfront.
25th anniversary-themed Luminaria lights adorn the gardens in American Waterfront.
TDS' entrance at night.
"Candlelight Reflections" performance on Mediterranean Harbor.
Pinnochio, Geppeto, and Jiminy Cricket are part of over a dozen characters performing for guests during "Candlelight Reflections" show.
After a glorious TDS day, we look back at the entrance decor as we leave the park.
"Christmas Dreams in the Sky" fireworks perform over TDR, but seen here from Ikspiari's main central courtyard.
Universal Studios Florida
Orlando, Florida
TDLFAN stops by Universal Studios Florida to check out the Christmas decor and Macy*s Parade.
Arriving at Universal Studios Florida.
Universal's Christmas Tree in the NYC section of the park.
Under Construction, the new "Rip, Ride, Rock It! Coaster" opening in Spring 2009.
Cat in the Hat in NYC.
Garfield at The Mummy Ride.
Sesame Street's Grover in NYC.
NYC Street at Night.
Macy*s Parade gets underway on Hollywood Blvd. (Please note: this was the first parade performance of the season and the parade was performed at night. Due to low light levels in Hollywood Blvd, the following photos are a bit blurry or dark. Apologies.)
The Simpsons have arrived at USF.
More giant balloons in the Macy*s Parade.
Happy Holidays from Universal Studios FLA.
Disneyland
Anaheim, California
MiceChatter Marc ralfrick Ricketts shares some more of his photos of Disneyland's live entertainers.
The Miner 49ers
The Disneyland Band
Jump Jive Boogie Swing Party with Stompy Jones
Does anyone know the name of this great group?
O.K. everyone, put your hands together and give a hand to the great live entertainers of Disneyland!
darkfairycthulu shares some more vintage postcard images with us. View the blog at postcardjunkie.blogspot.com.
...and a partridge in a pear tree!
And that brings us to the end of another week. Our photographers have just enough time to reload their cameras before we see you all again next weekend. Thank you to all of our wonderful readers, and as always, a huge thank you to our amazing team of global photographers, spies, and gossips:
Jack Hollywood 1939 Wixom
TDLFAN
Denise nbodyhome Preskitt
SummerInFl
PhotoMatt
Fishbulb
sir clinksalot
MickeyMaxx
BigPigletFan
Abominable Snowman
A very special thank you to to our wonderful guest photographer Marc ralfrick Ricketts for sharing his vision with us and darkfairycthulu for sharing the postcard images with us.
Your Editor - Rixter
Where have YOU been recently? We invite you to share your photos of theme parks or any other destination that may be of interest to our readers. Please feel free to contact me via MiceChat Private Message (screen name Rixter)
or send me an email: oceansiderick@gmail.com.
or send me an email: oceansiderick@gmail.com.
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*Some factual information sourced from wikipedia.com.
Total Comments 15
Comments
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That was fun!! The Little America post card was neat. The owners of Little America hotels live here in Utah, and they have a 5-diamond hotel across the street from the Little America here. It's called the Grand America. REALLY nice! I used to be a pastry chef there. They don't really know how to treat their employees though. Typical big corporate stiffs. They got their money for the hotels because the wife's family owns the Sinclair gas company. No.....don't go there....I already know what you are going to say, and I agree!Posted 12-13-2008 at 02:32 AM by disney-fan-reborn
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Could the name you are looking for be "Firehouse Five plus One"?Posted 12-13-2008 at 08:32 AM by keith1phx -
Great pictures everyone!Posted 12-13-2008 at 08:46 AM by WheresMickey -
Where do the Miner 49er's perform? I think I recognize one of the guys from the Billy Hill group.Posted 12-13-2008 at 10:01 AM by Wendygirl -
AW the JUMP JIVE BOOGIE AND SWING PARTY pictures remind me of Disneyland After Dark where Annette and Bobby Rydell entertained while Disneyland guests danced and had a good time. Everytime I see that show I wish they still did stuff like that.....looked like everyone was having so much fun.....Posted 12-13-2008 at 11:05 AM by a-net-fan -
Great photos again, everyone! It's great to see some shots of the 49ers. Ironically, I just took a couple shots of them yesterday. We used to hire the bass player as part of our rhythm section when I directed a vocal jazz ensemble in Long Beach. He plays great in the 49ers, but you should hear him play jazz. And who knew he could sing?Posted 12-13-2008 at 11:07 AM by Mac Daddy 
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I found out that the group in front of the firehouse are called the Main St. Strawhatters from a reply in my trip report, weren't on the printed schedule that we had. Until then, I'd been calling them the Firehouse 5+2-1. The Miner 49ers were near the entrance to GRR, and are listed on the schedule. The boy made me move on before they were finished, unfortunately. Sounded good, playing "Ghost Riders in the Sky" if memory is correct. It would be interesting to hear him play jazz. Many of my favorite Jazz players are bassists, Mingus, Christian McBride and Avashai Coen especially. They always seem to photograph well, too; no worries about a face blocked by a mic or horn.Posted 12-13-2008 at 01:10 PM by ralfrick -
awesome update as usual! Love the pictures of Hong Kong Disneyland and of the other parks since I can't get to them!
Can't wait til next week!Posted 12-13-2008 at 03:42 PM by Kritter - That band is called the Strawhatters. They perform at various places around the park. In the afternoons they sometimes perform on the Mark Twain Riverboat. Either on the bow or on the bandstand on the promenade deck. They are great!Posted 12-13-2008 at 05:32 PM by RiverRat
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Does anyone know if that cutie Minnie and Mickey Christmas plush, etc. is at Disneyland (obviously minus the 25th Anniversary logos)? I saw some gift wrap merchandise back in October, but that was it. I need to get my hands on some of thosePosted 12-14-2008 at 12:57 AM by disneymademoiselle -
Fantastic pictures! The Christmas Decor looks positively beautiful!Posted 12-14-2008 at 08:15 AM by Lady Stardust -
What caught my eye most was the cost of the gingerbread man muffins. $16HKD = $2.06USD
I'd be interested to see prices of other items at HKDisneyland.Posted 12-15-2008 at 06:19 AM by craig -
All the parks look great during Christmas. Thanks for the update!!Posted 12-15-2008 at 08:07 AM by xalesa -
happy holidays!!!!!!
Posted 12-15-2008 at 12:21 PM by wdwnut4life -
Awesome Pics! Happy Holidays!Posted 12-18-2008 at 10:58 AM by saphron37
