Filed in Christmas, Disney news, Orlando News | 29 October, 2007
Do you wonder what's so magical about a visit to Orlando during the holidays?
For a sneak peek, users of a Disney fan site have posted their favorite theme park holiday photos. You'll find them here.
Of course, you'll find the latest information about Christmas at Orlando's theme parks, including Christmas at Disney, at www.ChristmasInOrlando.com.
Filed in Christmas, Event Update, Orlando News, Thanksgiving | 25 October, 2007
According to its official website, it appears that the Orlando Christmas Parade is moving from its Thanksgiving weekend home, to a new spot on the calendar – Saturday, Dec. 15.
The parade will air nationally on SUPERSTATION WGN from 9-10pm on Dec. 23.
For further updates, watch www.ChristmasInOrlando.com.
Filed in Christmas, Disney news, Event Update, Orlando News | 24 October, 2007
The Orlando Sentinel reported today that the Harlem Gospel Choir will be performing daily at Disney-MGM Studios, Nov. 30-Dec. 25 at the Theater of the Stars.
You can expect that the world-famous Harlem Gospel Choir will give audiences an extraordinary show. From the heart of Harlem in New York City, the Choir travels the world as the ambassadors for African-American culture, and is loved for its joyous music. The Harlem Gospel Choir has performed for Nelson Mandela and Pope John Paul II, and with U2 in their movie Rattle and Hum, Lyle Lovett, The Chieftains, and Diana Ross.
In addition to Harlem Gospel Choir performances, the studio theme park will feature the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, Nov. 12 through Jan. 6.
For more details about Christmas at Disney theme parks, or holiday entertainment in Orlando, visit www.ChristmasInOrlando.com.
Filed in Behind-The-Scenes, Best of Florida Christmas, Carving, Christmas, Cool Stuff, ICE! at Gaylord Palms, Media | 24 October, 2007
The Orlando Sentinel ran a great story in today's paper, featuring a "behind-the-scenes" look at the Chinese ice carvers and artisans who are responsible for the ICE! attraction at Gaylord Palms Resort.
The story can be found here.
A video of the construction can be found here.
A photo gallery, including photos of construction from 2006 and 2007, can be found here.
For more information, and for the latest updates on Christmas events in Orlando, visit ChristmasInOrlando.com.
Filed in Christmas, Event Update, Nutcracker, Orlando News | 23 October, 2007
The second of many Orlando-area "Nutcracker" updates has arrived. Since our last update, two new Nuts have been added to the mix, and one venue has been cancelled:
The first new performance is The Chocolate Nutcracker, held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre. Set in early 1950s Harlem, the show features a cast of theater professionals and more than 500 children from throughout Central Florida. This version tells the story of young Claire and the Chocolate Nutcracker as the two journey around the world in a dream, visiting many exotic destinations, both real and imaginary.
Also, The Central Florida Ballet has announced that they will perform "Nutcracker" again at the Orange County Convention Center, an encore to their 2006 debut at the Linda Chapin Theater. The group will host two performances on Dec. 22 only.
Finally, the grandaddy of all local Nutcrackers, Orlando Ballet, is moving its Nut back to the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre in Orlando. To be precise: Dec. 14-16 and 20-23, 2007.
You may remember that Orlando's most popular "Nutcracker" was booted from that very stage in 2006 to make room for an extended run of "Disney's The Lion King." Hmmm… talk about the Mouse King. Consequently, Orlando Ballet moved its holiday extravaganza to Osceola's Performing Arts Centre. Although the group originally announced two additional performances to be held in 2007 at the Osceola venue, those performances have since been cancelled.
And "nut" to be forgotten is Lakeland's Youkey Theater, which will host the Moscow Ballet's "Great Russian Nutcracker" on Dec. 28, 2007. The show, direct from the former Soviet Union, features a new setting: the Land of Peace and Harmony.
Finally, To learn more, visit our event postings here.
If there's more Nutcracker gossip to crack, you'll find the latest at www.ChristmasInOrlando.com.
Filed in Christmas, Disney news, Event Update | 23 October, 2007
For some time, we've had an updated list of celebrity narrators posted for Disney's Candlelight Processional at Epcot. The two latest additions include Monique Coleman from Disney's "High School Musical" franchise, and actress Isabella Rossellini, whom you'll recognize from various movie and television roles, including "Death Becomes Her."
We've also posted our exclusive historical list of celebrity narrators who have inspired audiences since the first Walt Disney World Candlelight Processional performance in 1971.
For more information about Christmas at Walt Disney World, or Orlando Christmas events, visit www.ChristmasInOrlando.com.
Filed in Behind-The-Scenes, Event Update, Orlando News, Sports | 21 October, 2007
Forget the bowl games, can their namesake parades be in competition, too?
If so, Orlando's biggest parade competitor is the Pasadena Tournament of Roses parade. Both parades feature floats decorated with vegetation — citrus in Orlando's case and rose petals in California.
Orlando clearly has the easier task… it is said to take 60 volunteers working 10 hours a day for 10 days to decorate one single Rose Bowl float with teeny-tiny rose petals.
In Orlando, a total 500 decorators (over 3 days) are needed to affix the larger oranges, grapefruits and tangerines that are used to adorn the floats, more than 100,000 total!
The decorating happens December 26-28 at the Orange County Convention Center. According to organizers, no experience is necessary. It sounds like a fun (and perhaps sticky) way to play a part in this year's Capital One Bowl festivities.
For more information, visit the lisiting on ChristmasInOrlando.com.
Filed in Event Update, Orlando News, Sports | 21 October, 2007
Florida Citrus Sports announced that Chris Harrison, best known for hosting ABC-TV's "The Bachelor," will once again serve as this year's Orlando Citrus Parade host, held Dec. 29 in Downtown Orlando.
The nationally-syndicated broadcast reaches 150 markets nationwide and features a play-by-play of the parade.
Throughout the past 28 years, the Orlando Citrus Parade presented by Delta Air Lines has 
grown from a local event to an annual extravaganza, drawing crowds up to 85,000 and television viewers in millions via internationally-syndicated broadcast. Distinguished by floats decorated with more than 100,000 pieces of citrus, the parade is recognized as one of the nation’s largest sports-affiliated parades.
The parade is held to celebrate the Capital One Bowl and the Champs Sports Bowl, both held at Orlando's Citrus Bowl stadium.
For more updates on Christmas activities in Orlando, including Christmas at Walt Disney World theme parks, visit www.christmasinorlando.com
Filed in Behind-The-Scenes, Christmas, Disney news, Event Update, Orlando News | 21 October, 2007
Clark Griswold would be thrilled to visit Walt Disney World. The resort is already home to the most obnoxiously amazing display of lights anywhere — Disney-MGM Studio's Osbourne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. This year, Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom will get a holiday makeover of its own.
Cinderella Castle is currently being adorned with more than 200,000 shimmering white LED lights, covering the turrets and towers and adding a new level of holiday splendor. When done, the lights will come alive during a special stage show featuring Cinderella's Fairy Godmother. The first to witness the magical transformation will be those attending Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.
But will hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights spoil the view of daytime visitors? According to Allen Bruun, show director, all of the cables have been specifically painted to match the underlaying stonework, giving them a daytime camouflage of sorts.
The installation has begun and Disney's biggest fans are eagerly awaiting the finished product. Some have already posted pictures, like the photo below from Safetymom on the DIS discussion board.
For more information about Christmas events at Walt Disney World or holiday activities at Orlando theme parks, visit www.christmasinorlando.com
