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Big news first: I know the filming dates for the 2012 Disney-ABC Christmas Day Parade. This is an elusive event where the tickets go on sale and sell out almost immediately. This year I have an inside line on the taping; the daughter of a friend of mine is going to dance in the parade. They’re taping the last week of November/the first weekend in December. The big day should be Saturday, December 1.
I couldn’t verify this information online, because Disney hasn’t posted anything official about it yet. They probably won’t until November. But I can guarantee that the taping will take place that day, because those are the dates provided to my friend; she’s got to fly down to Orlando that week, after all. If you’re interested in tickets for the taping, keep a sharp eye on this website. It’s where links to buy tickets have been posted in the past.
While we wait for more details about the Christmas parade filming, let’s take a look at the other holiday events happening at the park. Tickets are currently on sale for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which lasts select nights between November 9 and December 21. It’s held from 7 pm until midnight on those nights, and tickets are between $54-$58 (depending on the age range) if purchased in advance, and $59-$64 if purchased at the gate.
Other events that don’t require a ticket are the Candlelight Processional, where celebrities narrate the story of Christmas (narrators this year include Neil Patrick Harris, Jodi Benson, Amy Grant, Geena Davis, and Whoopi Goldberg), the Spectacle of Dancing Lights (this one’s rather self-explanatory), the Jingle Jungle Parade in the Animal Kingdom, and the Festival of the Seasons. That last one is held in Downtown Disney, where guests can meet Santa Claus, listen to carolers, enjoy a holiday festival, and more.
Over on the other side of the country, Disneyland’s got a number of special events going on for the season. Most of the events relate to usual Disneyland celebrations adorned specially for the holidays. It’s A Small World, The Haunted Mansion, Phineas & Ferb’s Rockin’ Rollin’ Dance Party, Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, Cars Land, World of Color, and more, will all be decked out/themed for the holidays.
One special event Disneyland is hosting is Three Kings Day, or Dia de los Reyes Magos. It’ll be hosted from January 4-6, with special food, music, entertainment, and more. For the season Santa and Mrs. Claus will be greeting guests at Big Thunder Ranch’s Jingle Jangle Jamboree. They’ll also be joining Mickey and Minnie Mouse and others for the Christmas Fantasy parade.
I know it seems early to be talking about Christmas. I’m not a fan of thinking about the holiday before Halloween. But tickets to many of Disney’s holiday events sell out fast, so if you’re planning on visiting either domestic Disney park sometime in November and December, you need to know about ticketed events now. Be sure to check out the special events pages for either park, as they’ll have all the details about holiday celebrations in Orlando and Anaheim.
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Christmas at Disney World: The Magic Kingdom
“Prep & Landing” Latest Christmas Classic
Disney Park Secrets: Disneyland’s Feral Cats
*(The above image by Jamesongravity is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.)