[mickey]

Disney has announced their 2002 Christmas activities for Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line. Specifics for activities and the presenters for the Candlelight Processional will be announced later.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- What began as a family tradition in the mid-1980s in Little Rock, Ark., has blossomed into a new holiday tradition for many guests to the Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World Resort.

“I often meet people who say they don’t miss a year of seeing our lights at the Disney-MGM Studios,” says Jennings Osborne, the Arkansas businessman behind the theme park’s annual Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights. “My family and I consider ourselves fortunate to be able to help make people happy. The magic is still there.”

Osborne’s display features five million holiday lights that turn the entire studio backlot into a winter wonderland. Guests to the theme park may stroll through the sparkling scenery, soaking in the beauty of the multi-colored bulbs and intricate ornaments.

It’s all part of a sleighful of holiday activities across the Florida Vacation Kingdom.

Beginning in July, Disney’s technical “elves” will begin testing, replacing and stringing Osborne’s light displays on the theme park’s backlot area -- preparing the urban and residential facades with elaborate aerial creations like spinning carousels, giant globes, “chasing” lights and sparkling holiday trees.

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights was born at the Osborne home in Little Rock, Ark., in 1986. That year, Jennings Osborne strung a modest 1,000 red lights as a holiday gift to his 6-year-old daughter, Breezy. She had asked her father to make their house sparkle with holiday lights.

Thus, a new tradition was born.

“I added more lights each year,” says Osborne. “And I just kept adding. I’m always chasing a dream.”

In fact, Osborne’s dream kept growing until 1993, when he strung more than three million lights. His 22,000-square-foot home, bathed in bulbs, was the site of curious sightseers and long lines of traffic -- crowds too large for those who lived in the neighborhood. Calling his display a nuisance, Osborne’s neighbors took legal action -- all the way to the Arkansas Supreme Court.

Shortly after the court battle, Osborne packed his bulbs and took them to Walt Disney World Resort, where theme park guests -- surrounded on all sides by bright bulbs -- actually walk into his multi-colored display.

Now in its 8th year at the theme park, Osborne’s dream has kept growing. Thanks to a little Disney magic, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights even enjoys its very own Florida “snowfall.” And guests are able to view the lights through special holographic glasses provided to them.

Included in park admission to the Disney-MGM Studios, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights will be presented nightly Nov. 29, 2002-Jan. 5, 2003, as one of the many family-fun holiday activities planned for the Walt Disney World Resort in 2002.


Deck the Halls with Donald

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will celebrate the yule with a little help from Donald Duck, Santa Goofy and other ‘toon pals. From Nov. 29, 2002-Jan. 1, 2003, Donald will host a special holiday edition of “Donald’s Breakfastosaurus” in DinoLand U.S.A. For more information or priority seating arrangements for the special character dining experience, guests may call 407/WDW-DINE.


Tasty Treats, Artful Sweets Take Center Stage

Disney chefs have a season to remember on the 2002 menu, with elaborate confectionary creations and larger-than-life, edible displays planned for locations across Walt Disney World property:

* A life-size spinning carousel will glide in the lobby of Disney’s Beach Club Resort. Featuring ponies made of sugar, giant candy cane poles, hand-crafted poinsettias and portraits of famous Disney characters on a lighted roof of gingerbread, the carousel will greet guests next to the resort’s giant holiday tree. As Walt Disney World Resort continues the yearlong 100 Years of Magic celebration through the holidays, it’s fitting that the carousel will be 100 percent edible. In fact, Disney pastry chefs will work with more than 100 pints of eggs, 100 pounds of icing, 100 pounds of flour and 100 pounds of sugar to create the colossal confection.

* At Epcot, The American Adventure pavilion in the park’s World Showcase will be home to Santa’s Bakeshop, a life-size house made entirely of gingerbread, cookies and icing.

* A few miles away from Epcot, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will again feature its 16-foot-high house made from more than 16,000 pieces of gingerbread.

In fact, both gingerbread homes are so large that merchandise locations -- selling fresh cookies and seasonal beverages -- will be inside each structure!


‘Tis the Season to Shop

It’s “Christmastime in the City” -- Downtown Disney, that is -- and the entertainment, shopping and dining center is celebrating with seasonal songs and Santa. Two new retail outlets at Downtown Disney Marketplace -- Once Upon A Toy and Disney’s Pin Traders -- highlight holiday shopping. From Nov. 29 through Christmas Eve, Santa Claus will make appearances at his very own chalet, right outside World of Disney, the world’s largest Disney character store. In all, there are more than 25 one-of-a-kind stores and merchandise locations across the 120-acre Downtown Disney area.


Celebrate International Holidays at Epcot

Epcot will celebrate “Holidays Around the World” from Nov. 29-Dec. 30, 2002, as World Showcase comes alive with the lore and legends of an international celebration. The evening fun begins every day with the traditional tree lighting ceremony and extends throughout the 11 World Showcase nations.

The highlight of each evening is the Candlelight Processional, one of the most beloved holiday traditions at the Vacation Kingdom. Three times each evening, a celebrity narrator retells the Christmas story, accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and a live mass choir. Candlelight dinner packages are available which include dinner at a World Showcase restaurant and VIP seating for the performance.


Holiday Magic Hits the High Seas

On sailings between Nov. 24, 2002, and Jan. 1, 2003, Disney Cruise Line is planning a magical holiday season on board the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. Guests will find both ships decked with boughs of holly and filled with entertainment.

The Disney Cruise Line culinary team will prepare holiday meals in each of the ships’ three themed dining rooms, and families can make their own gingerbread houses on-board. And despite the tropical weather on the high seas, “snow” will magically fall around the three-deck-tall tree in the ships’ atrium lobby areas.

Ship-wide New Year’s Eve parties will be held to ring in 2003, and for those who want to enjoy the college football bowl games on New Year’s Day, Disney Cruise Line is planning a special Tailgate Party at its ESPN Skybox.

To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a Disney Cruise Line vacation, guests can contact their travel agent, visit www.disneycruise.com or call Disney Cruise Line at 888/DCL-2500.


‘12 Nights of Christmas’ Light Up the Magic Kingdom

“Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party” in the Magic Kingdom returns in 2002 as the first Walt Disney World theme park celebrates more than 30 years of holidays with fireworks, parades, sweet holiday treats, special stage shows and plenty of fun for the whole family.

For 12 nights -- December 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20 -- the Magic Kingdom will “re-open” from 7 p.m.-midnight for this special event. Advance tickets are $33.95 plus tax ($23.95 plus tax for children ages 3-9). Tickets on the day of the event (if available) are $38.95 plus tax ($28.95 plus tax for children ages 3-9). Children under 3 are admitted free.

Highlights of the jolly frolic include: greetings by Santa Goofy on Main Street, U.S.A.; two showings of “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parade”; a special edition of “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks; holiday cookies and cocoa; a souvenir family photo and button; strolling carolers; and two holiday stage shows featuring many of the favorite Disney characters. And it’s even been known to “snow” on Main Street, U.S.A.!

In addition to all the festive fun, guests to “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party” are able to enjoy unlimited use of the most popular Magic Kingdom attractions.

For tickets or more information about “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party,” guests may call 407/W-DISNEY.

As part of “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party,” the Liberty Tree Tavern in the Magic Kingdom will offer a family-style holiday meal featuring Disney characters. For more information about the dining experience, guests may call 407/WDW-DINE.

[quartz7]

HI,

How far in advanced may we purchase MVMCP tickets. We heard it was april. Like I said, we are trying to figure most costs before we go. Type-A people have a tendancy to do this. Ha Ha.

Thanks for any information.

Janelle

[mickey]

Quartz7, you can buy them online right now. If you purchase them right now, they will mail them to you.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets