So yah, Halloween and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Parties finished their run for 2014 this past Friday night. Since then, The Magic Kingdom Park has more than begun the transformation into Christmas. But more significantly than that (in my humble opinion), Main Street USA has NEW Christmas decorations this year. For as far back as I can remember, there was always Holiday garland strung overhead across Main Street USA. Well, with the debut of the new 3:00 PM parade earlier this year, it was announced that because of the height of the new floats in that parade, the Holiday garland would not be put up this year because of the aforementioned height factor. When I heard this, I’ll admit I thought to myself, “No! I love that old traditional garland!” BUT – take a look at the new wreaths and bells and mounts in the pictures I shot at Magic Kingdom earlier today. I must say I kinda like like it all. In fact not kinda, I DO like it. Not saying it’s better than the good old Holiday garland. But I’ll hand it to Disney – they did it right in replacing the old with the new!
So there I was yesterday about 6:00 PM at The Magic Kingdom Park shooting more stuff for upcoming projects. I step off the Steam Train, walk down the stairs of the Main Street Train Station to see this on the horizon. Little ominous looking but made a great shot 🙂
This picture doesn’t need a whole heck of a lot of explanative words – especially if you’ve ever seen The Dapper Dans on Main Street USA in The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Hmmm? Still can’t manage to just NOT say too much can I? Oh well 🙂
Do you remember that commercial they ran for years immediately after the Superbowl concluded: “Hey ‘John Smith’, now that you’ve won the Superbowl, what are you gonna’ do next? … I’m goin’ to Disney World!” Well, it wasn’t quite like that, but close. After The University Of Central Florida Knights won the Fiesta Bowl a short time ago, they all wanted to come to Walt Disney World … and Disney said ‘YES’! The players, head coach, UCF President, marching band and more all visited Sunday January 12th, 2014 at 2:00 PM. The contingent marched the entire length of the (traditional) Parade Route from Splash Mountain all the way down to Main Street USA. Click on the photo itself atop this bloggage and you’ll be taken to my online gallery containing about 2 dozen more shots of this monumentous event.
… I was trying to do the “right” thing and not post too much initially. I wanted to see how much Disney was gonna post about the taping of the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade at Walt Disney World. Well, I feel it’s certainly OK to post a few other key pictures I took over the two day event last weekend. Specifically, a few shots of the main host, Mr. Neil Patrick Harris. Also included in the pictures below are some Guest and Cast Member shots that pretty much depict what great fun and festive attitudes filled the day.
Please click on any image below to start slide show – then click to advance. All pictures in this post by me – Mike Thomas / Magic And Memories.
Well, the answer is Main Street U.S.A. in The Magic Kingdom Park (see more pictures like this one below). But this isn’t something new or permanent. This snowflake among – other snowflakes – were part of the festive and decorative set for the taping of The Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade. Yep – another one is in the can and ready for editing by those masters at ABC TV. It was taped over this last weekend (Friday & Saturday, December 6th & 7th) here at the Florida location.
Unlike many other bloggers, I’m not a paparazzi type blogger and therefore am not so much gonna’ get into any gossip, rumors or tell you who all the special Guests and host are this year. Besides, if I told you who the host was here at The Walt Disney World portion of this TV special, you’d probably need a doctor – a very young doctor who probably met your mother a long time ago, perhaps when you were a kid or something – I dunno ;). But I will tell you this, he did a great job singing (yes, for real singing, no faking it or voice over singer etc…) and dancing. Plus, he a had great personality as well. All in all, this year’s Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade is gonna’ be different – in a GOOD way. Don’t miss it. It airs on Christmas Day, December 25th an ABC (of course LOL). Check local listings for times etc…
Here are just a few “teaser” pics to give you a remote idea of what this year’s special might be about. Click on any of the images below to enlarge and begin slide show … then click to advance. All pictures by me – Mike Thomas)
So today, taping for the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade TV Special began in The Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World. It’s always a blast being here and in the middle of all the action. Here’s just one little sample of what it looked like just before the start.
picture by Mike Thomas / Magic And Memoriespicture by Mike Thomas / Magic And Memories
For certain reasons, I love taking this shot every year about this time from the upper level of The Main Street USA Train Station in The Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort. It’s the “Ice Castle” transformation via lights of Cinderella Castle, the garland strung across Main Street USA, the snow blowing off the roofs through the decorative blue Holiday lighting, the “snowflakes” projected on the buildings in Town Square, the Toy Soldiers in the hub in Town Square. But there’s one more thing that makes these pictures so rare and different. Can you tell me what it is? 🙂
I’m not sure if y’all know or not, but The Walt Disney World Resort offers these little pieces of magic they call, “Limited Time Magic.” Basically, they’re special, short lived events, shows, entertainment and similar that stay around usually for about a week. Disney has offered such things as certain Disney Characters that you don’t normally see in and around the Parks or have been semi-retired as Theme Park Characters, specific enhancements to shows etc… This week – November 11th through November 15th, 2013 – Disney is recognizing and honoring U.S. Military Veterans.
Everyday in Town Square since October 1, 1971 (and since opening day at Disneyland Resort in California in 1955), “Old Glory” is retired with a ceremony consisting of The Main Street Philharmonic Marching Band, Walt Disney World Security Honor Guard, The Dapper Dans Barbershop Quartet and a Day Guest who has served (or sometimes is currently serving) in our U.S. Armed Forces. All this week, starting on Veteran’s Day, Disney has enhanced this ceremony. A Master Of Ceremonies / Narrator helps guide everyone through the event. The Voices Of Liberty are in attendance singing some of their famous acappella Patriotic songs. On top of all this, A Military Color Guard comes out from one of our local Military Bases and participates in the ceremony as well.
The event is moving enough as it is – especially if you’re a flag waivin’, patriotic kinda’ person (like myself). But with all these other additions and enhancements, well … I couldn’t let this one go by without doing some little special thing of my own in honor of those that gave me the freedom to do what I’m privileged enough to do.
Please enjoy this slide show video I had the honor to shoot and produce for this blog. Feel free to make it go viral. After all, it is in honor of and thanking our troops!
Over at my friend, Dean Gaschler’s house – or as it’s known today (the day of his new book release) , “Productions Central.” Dean and His wife Linda are fillin’ the orders as fast as they come in. And the are a-comin’ in kids. So happy for Dean. Many years went into this project. If you’re a Disney lover, you need this book. Go to www.DeanGaschler.com to order.
As I mentioned yesterday, my good friend Dean Gaschler has a brand new book out TODAY! WOO HOO! (please click the play button on the book trailer video above). Dean was the Grand Marshall Coordinator for the daily parade at The Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World for the last 14 of his 21 years career with Disney. The book is a collection of emotional slices of life revolving around all the everyday, down to earth people Dean had the privilege of meeting and selecting as Parade Grand Marshalls on a daily basis – over 7,000 people as a matter of fact. The video embedded herein tells more about the story of the book. To order your copy of this creation, you can go to Dean’s website at www.DeanGaschler.com or go direct to his online store to purchase by clicking HERE.
Bottom line, this book is great. And in the words of Lee Cockerell, (retired) Executive Vice President of Walt Disney World, “If you love Disney, you’re gonna love this book.” Lee is spot on. If you love Disney and the heritage and emotional attachments thereto, then hyou NEED this book. You will NOT be sorry – trust me!
My good friend, Dean Gaschler, has his first book coming out tomorrow – Monday September 16th, 2013. Dean was the Grand Marshall Coordinator for the daily parade at The Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World for 14 of his 21 years with Disney. I’ve been honored and privileged to have a small part in the production of this book. Lemme tell ya, it is one GREAT book of inspirational and insightful true stories all about the over 7,000 everyday people Dean had the good fortune of meeting and selecting as Disney’s Parade Grand Marshalls. Check back here, or better still, go to Dean’s web site www.DeanGaschler.com to purchase his book tomorrow anytime after 6:00 AM.
For those that may not know what “Night Of Joy” is, The Magic Kingdom Park has hosted a Christian Music Event the weekend after Labor Day since 1983. The event (hosted in part by local Christian Rock Radio Station, “Z-88” – broadcasted live both nights throughout the entire events) features big name Christian Music performers like Michael W. Smith, Stephen Curtis Chapman to name just a few. And by the way, Jodi Benson (the speaking and singing voice of Aerial as The Little Mermaid) made a special appearance singing, “Part Of Your World,” on Cinderella Castle Stage just before The Newsboys performed.
picture by Mike Thomas / Magic And Memories
Ms. Benson looked and sounded great for a little kid mermaid of 50 something years old now. The performances take place on 3 (sometimes four) stages in and around the Magic Kingdom Park. Usually a sellout, the festivities attract tens of thousand of Christians and the like. It isn’t all about selling merchandise and other profit making entities. It’s really one of the few salt of the earth “for the people / for God” type celebrations. I was able to make my way over for only one of the two Nights Of Joy last evening (Saturday, September 7th, 2013). But I managed to grab some pretty cool shots of some of the performers, celebrities, decor and more. Check out the slide show pics below. Click on any one of the images to open up the slide viewer, then click to advance (all pictures by Mike Thomas / Magic And Memories).
(photo slide show at the bottom of this blog post)
Uh-Huh – it’s time for the Great Pumpkin to rise out of the pumpkin patch, fly through the air and bring gifts to all the children of the world (thank you Charles Schulz). It’s also time for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Parties (heretofore abbreviated as MNSSHP – it’s just too long to write every time :)). This year, the parties begin on Tuesday September 10th, 2013 and run sporadically (see schedule below) until November 1st, 2013.
MNSSHP Dates:
September 10, 13 (Friday the 13th by the way), 17, 20, 24, 27, 29
For those that perhaps are not familiar with what I’m talking about, MNSSHP’s began about 15 years ago in The Magic Kingdom park at Walt Disney World. The creators and planners wanted to something special for Halloween but for families and the like. They literally wanted it to be ‘not so scary’. As the (true) story goes, that’s how the actual name for the event was decided upon at the board meeting. Hence, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party came to be. The event(s) center obviously around Halloween theming. A separate ticket is needed to attend the event as these parties are NOT included in a regular Day Guest Pass. The parties run from 7:00 PM to 12 Midnight. Guests will experience different theming, lighting, background music, shows, fireworks plus Trick Or Treating throughout the park. Attendees receive a Trick Or Treat bag upon entering, of which they can hit as many Treat Locations as desired all through the park and all through the event. And yes, this candy is FREE! Guests will also see the, “Boo To You Parade” – an all Halloween themed parade, the likes of which one will never see at any other time except while attending a MNSSHP.
New additions this year include Jack Skellington and Sally. The gruesome two-some will be in the Town Square area of the Magic Kingdom Park to meet, greet an scare Guests :). Phineas and Ferb will be part of the pre-parade warm up group getting Guests ready for the parade. At Rocketeer Stage in Tomorrowlnd, your hosts will Mike & Sully from Monsters-U (and Monster, Inc.). And here’s a little Disney trivia factoid for you: 220 TONS of candy have been ordered for the 22 events. YUM! 🙂
My favorite part of the whole night is when the (real) Headless Horseman gallops along the entire parade route just prior to the start of the Boo To You Parade. Yes, it’s a real horse with a real headless horseman – no Disney Audio Animatronics here, lemme tell ya’ (see pic below).
picture by Mike Thomas / Magic And Memories
In my humble opinion, this event is most definitely worth the extra cost for the separate ticket. You’ll see and receive so much more than you’d ever see as a regular Day Guest.
The Halloween decor is up on Main Street USA in readiness for the parties to begin (see below slide show). But as soon as the parties begin, I’ll be doing an additional blog post of imagery taken directly from the event. Check back and stay tuned. You can follow us here on the blog, book mark the blog, follow us on Twitter, FaceBook and Tumblr (see all links on the right side of this page).
So anyway – the reason I’ve been a little absent (no, I didn’t say absent MINDED LOL) of late is that (A) I’ve been working like crazy and (B) I’ve been helping my good friend Dean Gaschler with the
final phases of his new upcoming book. Dean was the Grand Marshall Coordinator for the daily parade at The Magic Kingdom Park at The Walt Disney World for the last 14 of his 21 year career with Disney.
“I Led The Parade: Main Street Memories”
This book I speak of, “I Led The Parade: Main Street Memories,” is a collection of just some of the heartwarming, emotional slices of life experiences Dean got to be a part of as he selected over 7,000 participants for the prestigious role of Parade Grand Marshall. I’ve been assisting with the technical end of the project. Dean is “the man” on this one. These stories are GREAT! Check out the book trailer video below:
The book should be out within a VERY short time. Stay tuned to this blog (or my FaceBook page, Twitter, Tumblr or Dean’s blog / web site – http://www.Dean Gaschler.com) for more updates as well as how to purchase one of these babies. In the words of (retired) Walt Disney World Executive Vice President, Lee Cockerell, “If you love Disney, you’re gonna’ LOVE this book.”
Magic And Memories 