Category — w. Most Recent Stuff

In a hard-hitting article in this morning’s Wall Street Journal, writer Eric Hague probes the hitherto unreported role of Walt Disney World in one dimension of the economy’s recent financial travails. 

Click here for the article.

For more in this genre of fact-filled, deeply-researched, made-up stuff about Disney World, see this.

THE HOLIDAY STORYTELLERS AT EPCOT’S HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD

The Holiday Storytellers are one of the major components of Epcot’s holiday season celebrations–the others are the Holiday Kitchens, the Candlelight Processional and a holiday adaptation of Illuminations.

The overall celebration is called The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays and runs from the Friday after Thanksgiving (Thanksgiving itself in 2018, for the first time) until December 30.

During the season, characters depicting a traditional figure from each of the nations of the World Showcase relates how a holiday (Christmas mostly, but also Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or New Years) is traditionally celebrated in their country.

These characters are the Holiday Storytellers.

REVIEW: THE HOLIDAY STORYTELLERS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD [Read more →]

MVMCP: A REVIEW

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (“MVMCP”) is a special event that takes place during the Christmas season at Walt Disney World.

It requires its own ticket, which is entirely separate from regular Disney World tickets, and is only shown on certain nights from early November through mid-December. (For more on MVMCP tickets and show nights, see this.)

Even though it is expensive (tickets for a family of four will cost over $200) it’s been part of this site’s Basic December Itinerary since the site opened, for a couple of reasons:

• Going to it lets people sleep in an extra morning.  Disney limits the amount of tickets it sells to each show of MVMCP.  As a result, the rides aren’t very crowded.  Going to it and getting some popular rides in saves a morning in the Basic Itinerary for sleeping in that would otherwise have to be used getting up and going to the Magic Kingdom
• Going to it guarantees seeing an evening parade and fireworks.  At the time of year the Basic Itinerary covers, the evening parade and fireworks at the Magic Kingdom may happen just a couple of times a week on non-MVMCP nights.  Sending people to MVMCP guarantees your family will have the opportunity to see an evening parade and fireworks.
• I recommend people go to Walt Disney World in the early part of the Christmas season…so how can I not send them to this show?
• It’s silly and fun!

In December 2011 I had a chance to see it again, and as a result have updated the Basic Itinerary.  The rest of this entry is the review of that visit. [Read more →]

More is out on Disney World’s 2012 winter ride closures. 

• The much rumored extension of the Big Thunder Mountain closure into late May is now a fact.  It is now posted as closed through May 27.
• And Kali River Rapids has been added to the list–closed from January 23rd through February 9.

For more, see this.

FREE CHRISTMAS AT DISNEY GUIDE FOR READERS OF YOURFIRSTVISIT.NET

My friends at Destinations in Florida are making available a free guide to Christmas at Walt Disney World to readers of yourfirstvisit.net.

To sign up for this free guide to Christmas at Disney World, click here.

Thanks to Allison and the rest of the crew at Destinations in Florida!

For more on the holiday season at Disney World, see this.

DISCOUNT ON TOURINGPLANS.COM FOR YOURFIRSTVISIT.NET READERS

My friends at TouringPlans.com are making a special gift available to readers of their affiliate sites: a holiday discount on their wares.

To get 10% off, go to TouringPlans.com, sign up for either their Disney World or Disneyland products, and use the following offer codes:

• Use offer code: MERRYCHRISTMAS2011 for 10% off a Walt Disney World TouringPlans.com subscription
• Use offer code: DISNEYLANDHOLIDAY for 10% off a Disneyland Resort TouringPlans.com subscription

Check it out, and thanks to the crew at Touringplans.com for making this discount available!