A Historic Occasion: Spending 24 Hours at Magic Kingdom Park
posted on February 28th, 2012 by Nate Rasmussen, Archivist, Marketing Resource Center
A presidential election. The Summer Olympics. Leap Day.
These three things are very different, but they all share one thing in
common: they happen in the same calendar year. And this Leap Day is
extra special at Disney Parks, as Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort will be open for 24 hours starting tomorrow, Feb. 29, at 6 a.m.
I’m known as the guy who brings you Vintage Walt Disney World every Thursday here on the Disney Parks Blog,
but tomorrow I’ll be on special assignment. I will be attempting to
make 24 memories in my 24 hours at the park while I film it to share
with you here on the blog later this week.
So while I head home and get a good night’s sleep, I have a question
for you. What would you do first with 24 hours of fun inside Magic
Kingdom Park?
Commemorate One More Disney Day with Disney Parks Merchandise
posted on February 28th, 2012 by Steven Miller, Merchandise Communications Manager
I’m looking forward to celebrating One More Disney Day on February 29. I plan to be in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort that morning for this unique celebration. My fellow Disney Parks Blog author Erin Glover recently told you about a special ear hat being distributed that day at Disneyland park. Disney Theme Park Merchandise has created a few additional retail items to commemorate Leap Day 2012.
I think Disney ear hats are the quintessential souvenir from Disney Parks
(everyone I know has one!). I still have my mouse ears from my first
visit in July 1983. We are offering special embroidery on a classic
black ear hat to celebrate One More Disney Day. These embroidered hats
will be offered for sale at The Chapeau, Curtain Call Collectibles, and
Sir Mickey’s at Magic Kingdom Park in Florida, and at the Mad Hatter
shop in Disneyland park.
Artist Jeff Granito designed a playful logo that will be used on
shirts for women, men and kids. The logo will also be found on a zipper
fleece jacket created only for Disneyland Resort. The nice part is that these apparel items will also be sold via the Disney Parks Online Store from February 29 through March 1. Some of you may recall that we did a similar thing for the 40th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort last October.
The Leap Day logo will also be found on an artisan watch that will be
offered at New Century Jewelry in Disneyland park and Uptown Jewelers
at Magic Kingdom Park in Florida.
Lastly (and probably my favorite), there will be delicious cupcakes,
caramel apples and cake pops with the Leap Day logo being offered at
both parks. You know what I will be eating on February 29.
I hope to see you there!
Adding a Touch of Magic for One More Disney Day at Disneyland Park
posted on February 27th, 2012 by Erin Glover, Manager, Social Media and Print
One More Disney Day is the chance for guests to enjoy an extra day of Disney fun, and at Disneyland park we’re adding in a few sprinkles of extra magic that day. In addition to commemorative ear hats for guests entering the park at 6 a.m. (limited to 2,000), special food items and regularly scheduled park entertainment that day, Disneyland park guests can look forward to:
- Dance party featuring KIIS DJs at Tomorrowland Terrace from 8:30 p.m. – 4 a.m.
- Second showing of Mickey’s Soundsational Parade at 10 p.m.
- Performances by Billy Hill & the Hillbillies at The Golden Horseshoe from 11:15 p.m. – 4:45 a.m.
- Special showing of “Fantasmic!” at 1 a.m.
- Character meet & greets throughout the night (subject to change):
- Mickey Mouse and friends in pajamas at Carnation Plaza Gardens
- Darth Vader and Stormtroopers in Tomorrowland
- Country Bears in Frontierland
Please remember that all show times and Disney character appearances are subject to change. Be sure to check the park Entertainment Guide for show times and character greeting times and availability.
One More Disney Day of Amazing Memories at Magic Kingdom Park
posted on February 27th, 2012 by Shawn Slater, Communications Manager, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Creative Entertainment
The entertainment team at Magic Kingdom Park has a few tricks up their sleeves to create memories for guests during One More Disney Day. In addition to regularly scheduled park entertainment, Magic Kingdom Park guests on One More Disney Day will be treated to:
- Two performances of the Main Street Electrical Parade, at 10 p.m. and midnight
- Four showings of “The Magic, The Memories and You!” at 7:45 p.m., 9 p.m., 11 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. (March 1)
- The Frontierland Hoedown near Country Bear Jamboree, at 2:45 a.m., 3:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m.
- Disney’s Dance the Night Away Party at Cinderella Castle, from 1 a.m. – 5:30 a.m.
- Character greetings throughout the night, including:
- Phineas and Ferb in Tomorrowland
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in Fantasyland
- Mickey and Minnie Mouse in Town Square, wearing their pajamas for the party in Florida before heading out west to visit guests at Disneyland park
Please remember that all show times and Disney character appearances
are subject to change. Be sure to check the park Times Guide on that day
for show times and character availability.
Moms Panel Monday: More Time, More Walt Disney World Resort!
posted on February 27th, 2012 by Laura Spencer, Social Media Manager, Walt Disney World Resort
As we gear up for a marathon of memory making during One More Disney Day on February 29, when Magic Kingdom Park and Disneyland
park will stay open for 24 hours straight, I thought it would be fun to
hear how master vacation planner and Walt Disney World Moms Panelist Erin Foster would make memories if she had a few more hours at Walt Disney World Resort.
“I’m an avid Vinylmation
collector – I lost count when I got to about 600 different ones – but
I’ve never had the opportunity to meet the artists who design them. I
would love to take my daughters and spend two hours meeting one of the
artists at The Art of Disney at Downtown Disney while they make them come to life.
I really like how they have to think inside the box and
continue to make creative designs with one little mouse figure. That
process would be really cool to watch and learn about, and I think it
would be something my family would remember each time we look to collect
a new one.
These collectibles have become small reminders of our different
Disney trips, and it would be nice to let the artists know they’ve
rocked my world!”
Late-Night and Early Morning Snacking at the Disneyland Resort During One More Disney Day
posted on February 24th, 2012 by Pam Brandon, Disney Parks Food Writer
We know Disney fans are mapping out their 24 hours for the One More Disney Day fun at Disneyland park – when the park will be open a full 24 hours (starting Wednesday, Feb. 29 at 6 a.m.).
Of course, food is part of our equation, and the Disneyland Resort
chefs have lots of goodies around the clock. To make it more fun to
nosh, special items have been added especially for the celebration.
From 11 a.m. to midnight, French Market Restaurant
will be offering shrimp pasta and red beans and rice. From midnight to
3:30 a.m., the menu changes to chicken gumbo, corn chowder, French dip
sandwich with N’Orleans chips, shrimp salad sandwich with carrot-citrus
slaw and bananas Foster cheesecake.
For a more serious dining adventure, at Blue Bayou
from 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. you can order a fancy roasted bourbon shrimp
stuffed with Dungeness crab mousse served with angel hair pasta and
spinach in a smoked tomato-habanero-artichoke sauce. Or prime eye of
round with two quail eggs, roasted cauliflower and potatoes, Brussels
sprouts and a cabernet sauce.
If you remember when Café Orleans
used to serve breakfast (three-cheese Monte Cristo French toast,
anyone?) you’ll want to be sure to head over any time between 11 p.m.
and 5 a.m. for specials from their former breakfast menu: scrambled
eggs, Creole eggs benedict, three-cheese Monte Cristo French toast, lump
crab quiche, bananas Foster French toast and fresh fruit with yogurt
and granola.
Other spots to find late-night snacks from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.:
- Cherry pie at The Golden Horseshoe
- Chili cheese corn dog, fries and cherry pie at Stage Door Café
- Brownie and krispy skewers at Bengal Barbecue
- Green chili cheese blue corn tamales at Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante
- All-beef mac ‘n cheese hot dog with bacon bits at Refreshment Corner
- Creamy lobster bisque at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe
- Pot roast and chicken sampler at Plaza Inn
- Chorizo and egg breakfast pizza at Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port
- Spicy chipotle chile turkey burger and onion rings at Tomorrowland Terrace
You should also know about the chili cheeseburger with fries that will be available at Village Haus Restaurant – an homage to a longtime guest favorite known as “The Woodcarver,” which has been off the menu for many years.
Also, guests visiting Disneyland park in the wee hours of the
mornings of February 29 and March 1 for One More Disney Day will be able
to enjoy a cup of coffee or some breakfast at select Downtown Disney District locations which will be opening early on those special days. Click here for a list of Downtown Disney District restaurants that will be opening their doors early on February 29 and March 1.
Guests Celebrating One More Disney Day at Disneyland Park Could Receive Limited-Edition Commemorative Ear Hats
posted on February 17th, 2012 by Erin Glover, Manager, Social Media and Print
Big news for those planning to spend One More Disney Day at Disneyland
park on February 29! Guests entering the park when it opens at 6 a.m.
will receive a limited-edition ear hat commemorating the event, while
supplies last. Ear hats are limited to a supply of 2,000 for guests who
enter through the designated turnstiles when Disneyland park opens at 6
a.m. on February 29.
I got a sneak peek at the One More Disney Day limited-edition ear hat myself today – check it out!
Here are some things you should know if you are planning to join us when Disneyland park opens at 6 a.m. on February 29:
- Guests may begin lining up no earlier than 10 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28.
- Guests planning to line up before Disneyland park opens must park in the Pumbaa Parking Lot on Disney Way between 10 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28 and 6 a.m. on February 29. Please note that the Pumbaa Lot will not begin to offer shuttle service to the East Esplanade until 6 a.m. on February 29. Click here for a map of Disneyland Resort parking areas.
- Restrooms will be available for guests who line up before Disneyland park opens.
- A special ticket booth will be available prior to Disneyland park opening for guests needing to purchase park admission for February 29. Valid park admission is required in order to enter Disneyland park and to receive the commemorative ear hat.
- Commemorative ear hats will be distributed, while supplies last, to guests who enter through the designated turnstiles beginning at 6 a.m. on February 29, when Disneyland park officially opens. Limit one ear hat per person, and you must be present at the time of distribution.
- Please remember that being in line and entering the park does not guarantee that you will receive a commemorative ear hat. Ear hats are limited to a supply of 2,000 for guests who enter through the designated turnstiles when Disneyland park opens at 6 a.m. on February 29.
- Be sure to check the list of items that are not permitted inside Disneyland park as you plan what you will bring with you that day. Admission to the park is subject to capacity restrictions.
See you at One More Disney Day – February 29!
