Celebrate New Year's Eve at Walt Disney World; Disney Donates $2 Million for #ShareYourEars Campaign

Celebrate New Year's Eve at Walt Disney World:

2018 is fast approaching with New Year's Eve this coming Sunday. Of course there will be many fireworks displays to ring in the new year and here is the schedule:

Magic Kingdom:

• Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks ­– Guests will ring in the New Year in front of Cinderella Castle with the cherished fireworks show on both Dec. 30 and 31, beginning at 11:50 p.m. (An additional showing – perfect for young kiddos – will light up the sky both nights earlier in the evening at 6:30 p.m.).
• New Year’s Celebration Dance Parties in Frontierland & Tomorrowland – Put on your dancing shoes and boot-scoot with a hoppin’ beat ‘til midnight in Frontierland. Or jump start the New Year with an upbeat get-together in Tomorrowland, blasting into 2018 with futuristic tunes.

Magic Kingdom Park hours on Dec. 30 and 31, 2017 are 8 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Epcot

• New Year’s Countdown Fireworks – Say “au revoir” to 2017 around World Showcase as dazzling fireworks light up the sky to welcome 2018 in a booming big way. This spectacular is held only on December 31, beginning at 11:40 p.m.
• New Year’s Eve Parties – A DJ dance party will have guests dancing and grooving “around the world” with special entertainment at the America Garden Stage, Future World Fountain Stage and other areas throughout the park. Just for New Year’s Eve, you can move to your own beat with music playing in your headphones at the “Silent Groove” dance party that will take place at Future World Center.
• New Year’s Eve Buffet Dinner – Celebrate with a lavish buffet of savory foods and decadent desserts at this ticketed buffet dinner in World Showplace. For reservations, visit disneyworld.com/holidays or call (407) WDW-DINE (3463).

Epcot park hours on Dec. 31, 2017 are 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Disney's Hollywood Studios:

• New Year’s Eve Dance Party – Starting at 7 p.m., guests can join in on a DJ dance party in front of the Chinese Theatre, which will come alive with special projections. The nighttime holiday show Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! will take place at 8 p.m., and finally, guests can ring in the new year at midnight with a showing of Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios park hours on Dec. 31, 2017 are 9 a.m. to midnight.

Will you be ringing in 2018 at Walt Disney World?

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Disney Donates $2 Million to Make-A-Wish for #ShareYourEars Campaign:

Disney Parks will double its donation to Make-A-Wish from $1 million to $2 million thanks to millions of fans who took part in the #ShareYourEars campaign this holiday season. This will help grant wishes for children with critical illnesses and their families around the world.

There were many fun, silly, wacky, creative, and festive Mickey Mouse ear photos that were sent in from all corners of the world to help make this possible. Every year more than 9,000 Disney-related wishes are granted worldwide with the Make-A-Wish foundation. 

Source: Disney Parks Blog 

Rivers of Light Soundtrack to be Released; New Year's Eve at Walt Disney World

Rivers of Light Soundtrack to be Released:

Rivers of Light has yet to debut at Disney's Animal Kingdom, but soon you will be able to enjoy the music from the nighttime spectacular at home. Sometime in early 2017, Disney will be releasing a soundtrack for the music of Rivers of Light and the Tree of Life Awakenings show at Walt Disney World. 

It seems though that the soundtrack will be released once Rivers of Light does eventually debut. Several test showings for the long-awaited nighttime spectacular have been shown but no official debut of the show has been announced. Disney has said that it will debut sometime in 2017, we are holding our breath as we await the debut of Rivers of Light.

New Year's Eve at Walt Disney World:

Will you be ringing in 2017 at Walt Disney World? We already know if you aren't the Disney Parks Blog will be hosting a Disney Parks live stream of the "Fantasy in the Sky" fireworks at Magic Kingdom on New Year's Eve. What else is happening at the Walt Disney World Resort on December 31? Check out this video to find out:

The live stream of the "Fantasy in the Sky" fireworks will begin at 11:45 on the Disney Parks Blog hosted by Mark Daniel.

Ring in the New Year with #DisneyParksLIVE; Walt Disney Studios Makes History at Box Office

Ring in the New Year with #DisneyParksLIVE:

Disney fans will once again ring in the New Year with #DisneyParksLIVE and the Disney Parks Blog. Fans will be treated to the live stream of the "Fantasy in the Sky" fireworks this New Year's Eve, December 31. The live stream will be live from the Magic Kingdom at 11:45 PM EST.

A new blog post on the Disney Parks Blog will appear at the top of the page before the live stream begins. I can't wait to ring in 2017 by watching fireworks from my favorite place in the world.

Walt Disney Studios Breaks Makes History at the Box Office in 2016:

"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" helped Walt Disney Studios make history at the box office. After Rogue One's opening weekend debut, Walt Disney Studios made history by being the very first studios to top $7 billion at the box office in a calendar year. 

In 2016, Disney had 3 films top the $1 billion mark in the box office in Zootopia, Captain America: Civil War, and Finding Dory. Other major contributors to the history making year were: The Jungle Book, Doctor Strange, and most recently Moana. "The Jungle Book" also came close to topping the $1 billion mark bringing in $966.6 million. 

Chairman of Walt Disney Studios Alan Horn said, "This historic achievement is possible because all our film studios are bringing their absolute best to the table, telling great stories of all kinds that resonate with audiences across borders, gender, and generations.”

Here is to another successful year at the box office for Walt Disney Studios in 2017 and Congratulations to them on making history in 2016. 

New Typhoon Lagoon Attraction to be Called 'Miss Fortune Falls'; World of Color and More Returning to Disneyland, and More

New Typhoon Lagoon Attraction to be Called 'Miss Fortune Falls':

Last month it was discovered through a permit that Disney would be building a new family water attraction at Typhoon Lagoon. We now know that it will be called, ' Miss Fortune Falls.' The ride will be completed by Spring 2017.

A description of the ride was released on the Disney Parks Blog:

Miss Fortune Falls will be a family-style raft attraction that takes guests on a splashing journey through the fabled Captain Mary Oceanear’s past. Legend has it that Captain Oceanear, a treasure-hunting heroine, travelled across the sea collecting unique artifacts before she became stranded at Typhoon Lagoon many years ago by a rogue storm. Onboard treasure rafts, guests will ascend to the top of the attraction before plunging into a white-water adventure where they will be able to spot some of the treasures Captain Oceanear gathered from around the world.
With a ride time of two minutes, Miss Fortune Falls will be among the lengthiest attractions at both Disney Water Parks.

Miss Fortune Falls is sure to be an amazing attraction for all families to enjoy. 2017 is sure to be an exciting year at Disney World.

World of Color, Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks Returning to Disneyland Resort:

The set date for Disneyland's Diamond Celebration to end has been known for awhile in September 5. Rumors have long been swirling that also ending would be the World of Color: Celebrate and the Disneyland Forever fireworks would be ending as well due to budget cuts. Today, all of that was confirmed as the original World of Color will be returning to Disney California Adventure. This will begin September 6.

The Disneyland Forever fireworks have long been rumored to be cut. With today's announcement, Disneyland will see the return of the Fantasy in the Sky fireworks. These will be shown Friday through Sunday beginning September 9. 

The most heartbreaking of the news however as it was just confirmed by @DisneylandToday on Twitter is that Paint the Night will also be ending on September 5. We however don't know the details of what will take its place or if it will be moved to another Disney Park. Paint the Night was a lot of guests favorite parade when it debuted last year at the kickoff of the Diamond Celebration. 

Stay tuned for more details on the fate of Paint the Night as we learn more.

First 'Rogue One' TV Spot Airs:

The first "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" TV Spot has aired, it is called "Rebellion." We see multiple clips that we have seen previously in the first trailer but has the message of, "Hope begins with rebellion." Check it out:

"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" hits theaters December 16, 2016.

Disney Releases Room Only Offer for Spring 2016; Details on New Year's Eve Fireworks Live Stream on Disney Parks Blog

Disney Releases Room Only for Spring 2016:

Disney released a Room Only discount of up to 30% for Spring 2016 when you book your next stay at the Walt Disney World Resort. The discount is valid on most stays March 15, 2016 through June 11, 2016, trip must be booked by February 28, 2016. Here is a breakdown of the savings:

• Select Disney World Deluxe Villas & Deluxe Resorts save up to 30%
• Select Disney World Moderate Resorts save up to 25%
• Select Disney World Value Resorts save up to 20%

Added discount, is when you upgrade your room and ticket package with minimum 4-day Theme Park tickets, you will get one more ticket day for free. Saving based on the non-discounted price for the same room. The number of rooms for the offer are limited and length of stay requirements may apply. All guests in the same room must be on the same package. Some Moderate and Deluxe Resorts may be available at a lesser discount.

Offer Restrictions:

• Room Only Discount cannot be combined with any other offer
• Advance Reservations Required
• Offer excludes campsites, 3-bedroom villas, Disney's Art of Animation Resort - The Little Mermaid Standard rooms, and Bungalows at Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows. Length of stay requirements may apply.

Details on New Year's Eve Fireworks Live Stream on the Disney Parks Blog:

Yesterday, I mentioned that the Disney Parks Blog would release details this week on their live stream of the New Year's Eve "Fantasy in the Sky" fireworks at Magic Kingdom. Today, those details were released. The live stream will begin at 11:50 p.m. EST on the Disney Parks Blog. A fresh new blog will appear on the blog's website around 11:45 p.m. EST.