Guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will find that the pre-school favorite “Playhouse Disney - Live on Stage” is no more. Instead it is being replaced by “Disney Junior - Live on Stage” to coincide with the new Disney Junior Channel on television.
This is a great show for the younger Disney fans. As the show is inside, it can also be a welcome break from the summer heat.
The full Disney press release is below.
Ahoy, Mateys! Jake and the Never Land Pirates Landing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as Part of Show Debuting March 4
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Jake and the Never Land Pirates are landing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios March 4, 2011, less than a month after they cast off on their first adventure on Disney Channel as part of the launch of Disney Junior programming designed for 2-to-7-year-old children.
At the Walt Disney World theme park, they are playing a role in “Disney Junior–Live on Stage!”, a theme park show created for young guests. Co-starring roles in the show are played by the cast of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny and Little Einsteins — other shows that are part of the Disney Junior schedule.
“Ever since ‘Playhouse Disney–Live on Stage!’ premiered in 2001, it has been a chance for our younger guests to experience their Disney Channel friends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios,” said Dan Fields of Walt Disney Imagineering, the creative director for “Disney Junior–Live on Stage!” “As their circle of TV friends has grown and changed during the years, we’ve endeavored to make sure those new friends are part of their vacation fun, too.”
Like the previous show (”Playhouse Disney–Live on Stage”), “Disney Junior–Live on Stage!” will be presented several times during the theme park day. Guests should check their Times Guide for show times
FASTPASS TO THE BIG CHEESE: For the first time in Disney Parks history, Magic Kingdom guests will be able to reserve meet-up time with Mickey Mouse.
Magic Kingdom Guests Will Be Able To Determine a Time To Meet with Mickey Mouse Beginning Later This Spring
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Magic Kingdom officials have a hunch a really “hot ticket” in their realm this summer is going to be something other than a ride, a snack or a show. Rather, it’s a first-ever opportunity to nail down a time to meet with Mickey Mouse.
When meet-and-greets with Mickey move into a permanent new location in Town Square later this spring, Magic Kingdom guests will be able to obtain a Disney’s FASTPASS ticket specifying a one-hour window when they can return to see the popular character for hugs, photos and autographs — without waiting in the standby queue. It will mark the first time the complimentary, computerized service has been available for a character meet-and-greet at any Disney Park.
Since spending time with Disney characters is at the top of the “must-do list” of many guests, the FASTPASS ticket will allow them to experience their Mickey Mouse meet-and-greets more conveniently. As a result, guests will be able to devote more time enjoying other Magic Kingdom experiences with family and friends.
The new meet-and-greet location, Town Square Theater, will be located inside the current Exposition Hall area just inside the park entrance. Imagineers already are working to completely transform the space for the new experience. “This isn’t just remodeling Expo Hall; it is completely re-imagining this entire venue as a beautiful Victorian-era theater and the new home for Mickey Mouse,” Jon Georges, WDI Director, Senior Show Producer, said.
Image: Walt Disney Company
“Mickey and Main Street, U.S.A. are great examples of pure Americana that complement each other very well,” Concept Designer Jason Grandt said. “We drew a lot of inspiration from classic Mickey animated shorts such as The Nifty Nineties and Mickey’s Grand Opera. Many of the scenes in these shorts look like they take place right on Main Street.”
Guests arrive at a building befitting Mickey Mouse’s stardom — with a grand-Victorian-theater elevation, including a marquee that glistens with gold-leaf trim and sparkles with lights. Inside, there’s a mosaic floor, lush curtains with gold rope tie-backs and polished-brass chandeliers. Imagineers are creating new elements and surprises for Magic Kingdom guests, including an interactive queue — with an extra touch of Disney magic — and highly themed retail shops.
The queue takes guests “backstage,” where Mickey is waiting to greet them in a rehearsal-room environment amid posters, steamer trunks and stage props.
In addition, during the New Fantasyland construction, royalty will be visiting as the Disney Princesses will be in Town Square Theater to meet and greet their loyal subjects.
Currently, guests can visit with Mickey Mouse in Tomorrowland, in a location to the right of Space Mountain. Meet-and-greet experiences with the Disney Princesses are currently at Adventureland Verandah.
Although Tinkerbell has been flying over Disneyland in California since the summer of 1961 as part of the park’s Fantasy in the Sky fireworks show, Tinkerbell only started flying at the Magic Kingdom in 1985. Her inaugural flight was on July 3rd, 1985 when more than 60,000 guest showed up to watch. The spectacle, originally planned as a seasonal show, was such a success that the flight was turned into a nightly event which continues to this day.
Tinkerbell’s current nightly appearance is at the end of the seasonal “Summer Nightastic” fireworks show. She flies from the top of Cinderella’s Castle 850ft into Tomorrowland. The whole flight takes under 30 seconds.
–Kay
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Early June 2010 sees the return of Disney’s Main Street Electrical Parade to the Magic Kingdom. Since 2001, this amazing parade has been seasonally wowing guests at Disneyland in Anaheim. Part of the 2010 ‘Summer Nightastic’, Disney’s Main Street Electrical Parade is sure to be a big hit. Tinkerbell will lead the parade in a magical balloon float. Pinocchio and Snow White also join the parade this year in new floats.
If you have not seen this parade before, make the time to do so. It is well worth it, certainly a magical parade to watch.
–Kay
- Providing special vacation home rentals and advice for over 5 years to families and friends wanting to make the most of their time and money while visiting Walt Disney World.
- Windsor Palms Resort Vacation Rental http://www.windsorpalmsorlando.com
- Emerald Island Resort Vacation Rental http://www.emeraldislandorlando.com
