Hollyphone: Holidays Heard Round the World will be a 360 degree projection film replacing the Epcot Experience during Festival of the Holidays, and will take guests on an audiovisual journey of the senses through five holidays celebrated around the world in the winter months. These five holidays will be:
- Three Kings Day which is celebrated by Hispanics and Latinos around the world
- Kwanzaa which is celebrated by African Americans and Pan-Africans
- Chinese New Year which is celebrated by billions with Chinese heritage and culture - Hanukah which is celebrated by those of that follow Judaism
- Christmas which is celebrated around the world in many ways.
This seasonal offering will be similar to the Epcot Experience as it runs continually throughout the day, but sees an upgrade with new lasers and spotlights installed into the theater.
Outside of the theater will be various holiday displays featuring various holidays from around the world not already featured in the film. These displays will be made up Boxing Day (UK and associated countries), Diwali (India and Southeast Asia), Omisoka (Japan), Dongzhi (China), and Mawlid (The Middle East and other Islamic Countries). New holiday treats will be served up here as well in conjunction with Festival of the Holidays.
Hollyotreats Menu Eats
Creole Turkey - Kwanza
Carved turkey with a creole seasoning served over a bed of jollof rice. Rosca de Reyes - Three Kings Day
A circular sweet bread topped with powdered sugar and candied dried fruit. Rogeleach - Hanukkah
A flaky rolled dough pastry with a strawberry preserves filling.
Drinks
Deluxe Chocolate - Christmas
Hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, marshmallows and hot fudge. Assorted Bottled Beverages
Coca-Cola, Coke Zero, Sprite, Powerade Fruit Punch, DASANI
Acholic Beverages Toso - Omisoka
Cinnamon spiced sake Spiked Chocolate - Christmas
Hot chocolate with Bailey's Irish Cream topped with whipped cream, marshmallows and hot fudge.
Attraction Experience
As guests enter the show room they will notice that the Epcot model has been updated with whole new figures. In the empty spaces around the models there will be a menorah for Hanukkah, a kinara for Kwanza, three camels for Three Kings Day, a tree for Christmas, and lanterns for Chinese New Year. In between segments snowflakes are projected flying around the walls, and the model is dark as Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker plays. Each segment will be of equal length, and staged the same way. The Spirit of the Holidays is our omnipresent disembodied voice narrator.
Segment: Three Kings Day
The Spirit of The Holidays: Hola a todos y feliz Dia de los Reyes Magos. Welcome everyone and happy Three Kings Day.
The three camels on the Epcot model glow a vibrant gold and various jeweled tones. The first beginning strums of Vamos Pastores Vamos plays out, and with it the the gold and jeweled tone projections take over the model. The snowflakes disappear as the snow mounds turn into sand dunes. The town of Bethlehem pops up from the dunes as if this was a pop up book, and in fact the town is stylized as if it was a storybook illustration. Soon afterwards the Three Kings pop up with their camels in a similar manner to the town. As The Spirit of The Holidays gets ready to narrate an instrumental of Vamos Pastores Vamos plays lightly beneath the narration.
The Spirit of The Holidays: Three Kings Day is celebrated by millions around the world predominantly those with a Hispanic background, and each country has their own twist on the holiday.
The wind picks up carrying sand, and pushing open the pop up of Bethlehem. This allows for clips of real people celebrating the holiday to be shown matching the narration.
The Spirit of The Holidays: Three Kings Day is all about celebrating the Three Kings, and their gifts and journey to see the baby Jesus. Children leave their shoes and food for the camels out, and in the morning they see the Three Kings have brought them presents! In Spain whole parades welcome the Three Kings into towns and villages. Meanwhile in Cuba and Puerto Rico people go pastoreando, or caroling, throughout their towns and villages welcoming the Three Kings. Throughout Mexico and other Latin American countries they eat crown shaped bread called rosca to honor the Three Kings.
The Spirit finishes talking as Vamos Pastores Vamos plays louder and with lyrics. The portal showing people celebrating Three Kings Day remains open in Bethlehem, and is a montage of partying from around the world. Lasers and spotlights activate in the room and illuminate the floor and guests while keeping to the beat of the song turning this into an impromptu dance party. As Vamos Pastores Vamos ends it seamlessly transitions back into the snow flurry to Waltz of the Flowers from the Nutcracker. The Epcot models loses its color until only the camels remain and then nothing.
Segment: Kwanza
The Spirit of the Holidays: Salamu na heri za Kwanzaa. Welcome everyone and happy Kwanzaa.
The kinara on the Epcot model glows a earth brown, and its candles glow red, black and green with the flames being "ignited". The first beats of Kwanzaa-Umoja-Uhuru play out, and with it the the red, green, black and earthy brown hues take over the model. The snowflakes disappear as the snow mounds melt away into a very cozy home. A table springs up as if this was a pop up book, and on top of the table rests a cornucopia of fruits, vegetables ands corn all of which look they were pulled from a storybook. Soon afterwards three kinaras of various designs pop up, and all with unlit candles. As The Spirit of The Holidays gets ready to narrate an instrumental of Kwanzaa-Umoja-Uhuru plays lightly beneath the narration.
The Spirit of the Holidays: Kwanza was started by Maulana Karenga to celebrate African American and pan-African culture and heritage while honoring family and community.
The bounty on the table begins to shift, and a large squash splits open revealing a portal. This allows for clips of real people celebrating the holiday to be shown matching the narration. In addition translations of Swahili words are shown throughout the screens.
The Spirit of the Holidays: Kwanza lasts for seven days, and each day is represented by a candle in the kinara to celebrate a certain principle from the Nguzo Saba.
As the Spirit of the Holidays lists off principles the candles on the projected kinaras are lit.
The Spirit of the Holidays: Umoja or Unity ties the family and community together. Kujichagulia or Self Determination leads us on a journey to define our ownselves. Ujima or Collective Work and Responsibility builds and maintains our communities, and aiding in solving the problems of others. Ujamaa or Cooperative Economics seeks to share the wealth of the community. Nia or Purpose allows the community to come together and elevate those in need. Kuumba or Creativity puts on our journey to do as much as we can to make our communities more beautiful for the future. Finally there's Imani or Faith in our fellow community to seek out justice and overcoming our struggles.
The Spirit finishes talking as Kwanzaa-Umoja-Uhuru plays louder and with its lyrics. The portal shows people dancing and celebrating throughout the nights of Kwanzaa. Lasers and spotlights activate in the room and illuminate the floor and guests while keeping to the beat of the song turning this into an impromptu dance party. As Kwanzaa-Umoja-Uhuru ends it seamlessly transitions back into the snow flurry to Waltz of the Flowers from the Nutcracker. The Epcot models loses its color until only the kinara and its candles remain until nothing.
Segment: Chinese New Year
The Spirit of the Holidays: Ni hao, xinnian kuaile! Welcome everyone and happy Chinese New Year.
The lanterns on the Epcot model glows a bold red with lucky gold highlights. The beginning instrumental of Gong Xi Fa Cai plays out, and with it the red and gold colours take over the entire Epcot model. The snowflakes disappear as firecrackers go off, and from their smoke arises a Chinatown. Chinatown pops up as if this was a pop up book, throughout Chinatown are kids with sparklers, firecrackers, lanterns, and even a Chinese Lion performer all of which look like they were pulled straight from a storybook. As The Spirit of The Holidays gets ready to narrate an instrumental of Gong Xi Fa Cai plays lightly beneath the narration.
The Spirit of the Holidays: Chinese New Year is celebrated by those of Chinese heritage, and it brings an end to their year through an amazing and historied celebration
More firecrackers go off and with their smoke it creates a portal. This allows for clips of real people celebrating the holiday to be shown matching the narration.
The Spirit of the Holidays: Chinese New Year is a 15 day festival honoring the start of a new year through that year's first new moon. It is said that earliest celebrations used fireworks, lights, and red to scare away bad spirits, but now these very things represent the hope for luck and prosperity in the future. This 15 day celebration ends in a beautiful lantern festival, and is accompanied by an elaborate dragon to ward off any and all bad luck.
The Spirit finishes talking as Gong Xi Fa Cai plays louder and with its lyrics. The portal shows people dancing and celebrating throughout the entire festival that commemorates Chinese New Year. Lasers and spotlights activate in the room and illuminate the floor and guests while keeping to the beat of the song turning this into an impromptu dance party. As Gong Xi Fa Cai ends it seamlessly transitions back into the snow flurry to Waltz of the Flowers from the Nutcracker. The Epcot models loses its color until only the lanterns remain lit, and then nothing.
Segment: Hanukah
The Spirit of the Holidays: Shalom, Hanukkah Sameach! Welcome everyone and happy Hanukkah.
The menorah on the Epcot model glows an illustrious silver, and its candles blue and white. The beginning of Al Hanisim plays out words and all, and with it the silver, blue, and white hues take over the entire Epcot model. The snowflakes disappear as the snow mounds melt away into a very cozy home. A table springs up as if this was a pop up book, and on top of the table are dreidels, latkes, and sufganiyot all of which look like they were pulled straight from a storybook. Soon afterwards three menorahs of identical designs pop up, and all with unlit candles. As The Spirit of The Holidays gets ready to narrate an instrumental of Al Hanisim plays lightly beneath the narration.
The Spirit of the Holidays: Hanukah is celebrated by those that follow Judaism, and is celebrated for eight nights.
The dreidels on the table begin to spin away, and reveal a portal. This allows for clips of real people celebrating the holiday to be shown matching the narration. As the spirit speaks the candles on the menorah slowly get lit.
The Spirit of the Holidays: The menorah has 8 candles, each for a night representing how long their oil lasted while the Jewish people rebuilt their temple up after being destroyed by ruffians. During Hanukkah families gather around to play dreidel, and each side of the dreidel has the first letter of each word in neis gadol hayah sham, which means a great miracle happened there; that there refers to Israel. Families also eat latkes and sufganiyot symbolizing the oil that lasted for eight days.
The spirit finishes talking as Al Hanisim plays louder and is remixed with Hanukkah, O Hanukkah. The portal shows people dancing and celebrating throughout the nights of Hanukkah. Lasers and spotlights activate in the room and illuminate the floor and guests while keeping to the beat of the song turning this into an impromptu dance party. As the remix ends it seamlessly transitions back into the snow flurry to Waltz of the Flowers from the Nutcracker. The Epcot models loses its color until only the menorah and its candles remain.
Segment: Christmas
The Spirit of the Holidays: Salve ac felix dies festos! Welcome everyone and merry Christmas.
The Christmas tree on the Epcot model glows a vivid green with red, gold, blue and silver ornaments. The beginning instrumental of Happy Holiday / The Holiday Season plays out, and with it the green, red, gold, blue and silver colors take over the entire Epcot model. The winter flurry to clears up revealing the North Pole. Santa's Village pops up as if this was a pop up book, throughout Santa's Villages are elves sleighing, caroling, ice skating, and even carrying toys all of which look like they were pulled straight from a storybook. As The Spirit of The Holidays gets ready to narrate an instrumental of Happy Holiday / The Holiday Season plays lightly beneath the narration.
The Spirit of the Holidays: Christmas is celebrated by millions around the world, and every person celebrates it just a bit differently.
The flurry picks up again, and creates a portal. This allows for clips of real people celebrating the holiday to be shown matching the narration.
The Spirit of the Holidays: The original purpose of Christmas honoring the birth of Christ, and now families have intertwined their own twists and winter customs into their own unique Christmas. In Eastern Europe, St Nicholas has a helper named Krampus, and he gives the kids on the naughty list a lesson in order to make sure they are good next year. In Denmark the people call in nisse to protect their homes. In Brazil at midnight they exchange gifts while attending rooster mass, and in Venezuela they go in rollerskates! Regardless of your traditions or how you celebrate Christmas is a time of togetherness.
The spirit finishes talking as Happy Holiday / The Holiday Season plays louder. The portal shows people dancing and celebrating throughout the world in their own Christmas celebrations. Lasers and spotlights activate in the room and illuminate the floor and guests while keeping to the beat of the song turning this into an impromptu dance party. As the remix ends it seamlessly transitions back into the snow flurry to Waltz of the Flowers from the Nutcracker. The Epcot models loses its color until only the Christmas tree remains lit.
Rev your engines, and prepare yourself for jolliness that is tomorrow's gift in these 12 Days of Christmas
The Holly Jollywood Motorcade Showtime(s): 2:15 PM and 4:30 PM
Inspired by the motorcades used during the COVID-19 reopening of the parks and the Stars and Cars parade comes this exciting seasonal parade for Disney's Hollywood Studios. This parade will be small in scale when compared to the other Christmas parade, Once Upon a Christmastime Parade over at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. This parade will utilize a variety of different cars and other motor vehicles tapping into various aesthetics from around the world, and matching cars with the aesthetic of the characters. The Jollywood Motorcade can be reformatted into a regular day event if a demand so rises. The motorcade totals out to eight cars spread throughout four units loosely themed to holiday themes.
Each unit will have three unique songs playing as they travel down Disney's Hollywood Studios parade route. An edited version of Holidays by Meghan Trainor featuring Earth, Wind, Fire is used to connect each song and unit together as this song is very fun, bubbly, and overall a fast song that lends itself well to a high energy event like this one.
Unit 1: Mickey's Holly Jollywood Song(s): Sleigh Ride, Caroling Caroling, Deck the Hall
Mickey's Holly Jollywood represents togetherness and the festive joy that friends, family, and other loved ones bring this time of year. The songs chosen reflect having fun with friends, and singing Christmas carols with your family. This particular parade unit is actually in the middle of a moving Christmas sweater party, and the outfits that parade performers and characters reflect this.
Leading the parade are two performers holding a sign welcoming guests to The Holly Jollywood Calvacade. The performers are wearing matching Christmas sweaters. Following the sign is Pluto clad in adorable winter themed scarf with a blue, white, and purple argyle pattern. Six Christmas sweater clad dancers follow in his stead as they dance and sing along to the music playing. Their dancing will revolve around tap dancing, hand jives, and other popular dances from the 1950's.
Riding in style is Mickey and Minnie in a bright red 1950 Buick Roadmaster. Tinsel garland covered in adorable Mickey and Minnie inspired and shaped ornaments hang from the garland. Mickey and Minnie them selves are wearing adorable green Christmas snowflake patterned sweaters, and red bottoms.
Trailing the car is Goofy with Chip and Dale. The three of them are spreading Christmas mischeif while playing around and making faces at guests and Donald Duck. Goofy himself is dressed like a Christmas tree. His iconic hat and vest is seemingly made from pine with lights and ornaments covering both. His sweater is by far the tackiest using silly and oversized patterns and displace snowflakes that look, well for the lack of a term, goofy. Goofy accidentally stumbled into Max's gifts, and has just continued to wear those as his shoes as the tags bounce around his ankles. Chip wears a festive tie that is blue with snowflakes, and Dale wears reindeer antlers playing into his red nose.
Not to be upstaged my the mice the ducks too are riding in a 1950 Buick Reoadmaster, but this one is a soft green. Much like the rest of their friends Donald and Daisy are also wearing Christmas sweaters. Both cars and outfits are meant to play as complements to each other while still fueling the minor one sided rivalry that Donald has on Mickey.
Unit 2: A Frozone Wonderland Song(s): Winter Wonderland, Wonderful Christmastime, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
A Frozone Wonderland represents the fun that snowfall brings to the holiday season, and this is reflected in the mainly snow inspired songs. This parade unit features parade performers winter colored super suits, and Scandinavian inspired winter wear including hats with poms poms, scars, earmuffs, etc.
Elastigirl and Mr Incredible ride in reused super segways from the Pixar Play Parade. These segways been painted more neutral grays and blues to reflect Mr Incredible's original super suit and logo. Following them are a group of four superheroes clad in super suits that primarily use cooler colors, and show off their superpowers of dancing to onlookers.
Frozone rides in on a cool Chevrolet (repurposed from Edna Mode's Motorcade) which is painted to match his supersuit. He has surround the back half of the car in a mountain of snow. Ice slopes and spirals intertwine around this snow mound. Icicles and snowflakes dangle around a frosted garland that wraps around the car. Hidden within the mound a snoap machine pumps out fake snow along the parade route.
Following close behind Frozone are a series of Arrendellian ice skates (roller skaters w/ skates designed to look like ice skates) they skate, dance, and glide by guests as they celebrate the winter frost that both Frozone and Olaf brought to the parade route.
Olaf rides in a Chevrolet (repurposed from Vampirina's Motorcade) that has been completely snowed over, and the remaining parts of the car not covered in snow is an icy blue. Around the snow covered car snowgies sit and have slight movements smiling at guests. Olaf sits at the back of the car under a willow tree which leaves have frozen over forming icicles much like the trees that Anna and Kristoff stood under when they discovered Olaf. A snoap machine hides within the "tree", and is constantly blowing a mini winter flurry for Olaf and all the guests.
Unit 3: A Christmas Toy Story
Song(s): Toy Land, Happy Holiday / The Holiday Season, Jingle Bell Rock
A Christmas Toy Story represents the joy of receiving a new toy on Christmas Day. The songs reflect the toy theme present throughout the unit, but also just some plain old merry tunes that inspired play sessions. Parade performers don outfits inspired by marionettes, sock monkeys, dolls, and cowboys.
Leading the next unit is Fancy Nancy and Mira as they dance around with various toy inspired performers. They lead Doc McStuffins and her Chevrolet car from the current Disney Juniors Motorcade. Following the Disney Junior trio are the green toy soldiers drumming away to the music and beat. They will occasionally talk to guests along the parade route making each viewing personal. Buzz Lightyear rolls in his Chevrolet reused from the current Pixar Pals Motorcade.
After the Space Ranger rolls away its time for toy hoedown as toy cowboy performers, Jessie and Bullseye dance down the parade route to the music. In a Chevrolet (repurposed from Mira's Motorcade) rides Woody and Bo Peep. This Chevrolet is painted in cow and plaid patterns along with working in the iconic Toy Story cloud print and Pixar ball.
Unit 4: Holiday Magic Song(s): Up on the Rooftop, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, We Need a Little Christmas
Holiday Magic represents the pure magic and belief that Christmas inspires into the hearts of all. The songs reflect that this is Santa's unit, and as such the songs mainly focus on him along with a dose of a little Christmas cheer that we can all use. This unit revives Santa's Merry Motorcade from the 2020 Holiday season, and combines it with the new soundtrack and additional units. The unit features various elves ribbon twirling, tossing presents to each other, and bouncing balls around each other too. Santa rides on top a very festive Chevrolet that is filled to the brim with Christmas presents and toys for all the good girls and boys.
Come back and open another Imagineering gift to discover the meaning of a particular first Christmas.
The Holly Jollywood Motorcade Showtime(s): 2:15 PM and 4:30 PM
Inspired by the motorcades used during the COVID-19 reopening of the parks and the Stars and Cars parade comes this exciting seasonal parade for Disney's Hollywood Studios. This parade will be small in scale when compared to the other Christmas parade, Once Upon a Christmastime Parade over at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. This parade will utilize a variety of different cars and other motor vehicles tapping into various aesthetics from around the world, and matching cars with the aesthetic of the characters. The Jollywood Motorcade can be reformatted into a regular day event if a demand so rises. The motorcade totals out to eight cars spread throughout four units loosely themed to holiday themes.
Each unit will have three unique songs playing as they travel down Disney's Hollywood Studios parade route. An edited version of Holidays by Meghan Trainor featuring Earth, Wind, Fire is used to connect each song and unit together as this song is very fun, bubbly, and overall a fast song that lends itself well to a high energy event like this one.
Unit 1: Mickey's Holly Jollywood Song(s): Sleigh Ride, Caroling Caroling, Deck the Hall
Mickey's Holly Jollywood represents togetherness and the festive joy that friends, family, and other loved ones bring this time of year. The songs chosen reflect having fun with friends, and singing Christmas carols with your family. This particular parade unit is actually in the middle of a moving Christmas sweater party, and the outfits that parade performers and characters reflect this.
Leading the parade are two performers holding a sign welcoming guests to The Holly Jollywood Calvacade. The performers are wearing matching Christmas sweaters. Following the sign is Pluto clad in adorable winter themed scarf with a blue, white, and purple argyle pattern. Six Christmas sweater clad dancers follow in his stead as they dance and sing along to the music playing. Their dancing will revolve around tap dancing, hand jives, and other popular dances from the 1950's.
Riding in style is Mickey and Minnie in a bright red 1950 Buick Roadmaster. Tinsel garland covered in adorable Mickey and Minnie inspired and shaped ornaments hang from the garland. Mickey and Minnie them selves are wearing adorable green Christmas snowflake patterned sweaters, and red bottoms.
Trailing the car is Goofy with Chip and Dale. The three of them are spreading Christmas mischeif while playing around and making faces at guests and Donald Duck. Goofy himself is dressed like a Christmas tree. His iconic hat and vest is seemingly made from pine with lights and ornaments covering both. His sweater is by far the tackiest using silly and oversized patterns and displace snowflakes that look, well for the lack of a term, goofy. Goofy accidentally stumbled into Max's gifts, and has just continued to wear those as his shoes as the tags bounce around his ankles. Chip wears a festive tie that is blue with snowflakes, and Dale wears reindeer antlers playing into his red nose.
Not to be upstaged my the mice the ducks too are riding in a 1950 Buick Reoadmaster, but this one is a soft green. Much like the rest of their friends Donald and Daisy are also wearing Christmas sweaters. Both cars and outfits are meant to play as complements to each other while still fueling the minor one sided rivalry that Donald has on Mickey.
Unit 2: A Frozone Wonderland Song(s): Winter Wonderland, Wonderful Christmastime, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
A Frozone Wonderland represents the fun that snowfall brings to the holiday season, and this is reflected in the mainly snow inspired songs. This parade unit features parade performers winter colored super suits, and Scandinavian inspired winter wear including hats with poms poms, scars, earmuffs, etc.
Elastigirl and Mr Incredible ride in reused super segways from the Pixar Play Parade. These segways been painted more neutral grays and blues to reflect Mr Incredible's original super suit and logo. Following them are a group of four superheroes clad in super suits that primarily use cooler colors, and show off their superpowers of dancing to onlookers.
Frozone rides in on a cool Chevrolet (repurposed from Edna Mode's Motorcade) which is painted to match his supersuit. He has surround the back half of the car in a mountain of snow. Ice slopes and spirals intertwine around this snow mound. Icicles and snowflakes dangle around a frosted garland that wraps around the car. Hidden within the mound a snoap machine pumps out fake snow along the parade route.
Following close behind Frozone are a series of Arrendellian ice skates (roller skaters w/ skates designed to look like ice skates) they skate, dance, and glide by guests as they celebrate the winter frost that both Frozone and Olaf brought to the parade route.
Olaf rides in a Chevrolet (repurposed from Vampirina's Motorcade) that has been completely snowed over, and the remaining parts of the car not covered in snow is an icy blue. Around the snow covered car snowgies sit and have slight movements smiling at guests. Olaf sits at the back of the car under a willow tree which leaves have frozen over forming icicles much like the trees that Anna and Kristoff stood under when they discovered Olaf. A snoap machine hides within the "tree", and is constantly blowing a mini winter flurry for Olaf and all the guests.
Unit 3: A Christmas Toy Story
Song(s): Toy Land, Happy Holiday / The Holiday Season, Jingle Bell Rock
A Christmas Toy Story represents the joy of receiving a new toy on Christmas Day. The songs reflect the toy theme present throughout the unit, but also just some plain old merry tunes that inspired play sessions. Parade performers don outfits inspired by marionettes, sock monkeys, dolls, and cowboys.
Leading the next unit is Fancy Nancy and Mira as they dance around with various toy inspired performers. They lead Doc McStuffins and her Chevrolet car from the current Disney Juniors Motorcade. Following the Disney Junior trio are the green toy soldiers drumming away to the music and beat. They will occasionally talk to guests along the parade route making each viewing personal. Buzz Lightyear rolls in his Chevrolet reused from the current Pixar Pals Motorcade.
After the Space Ranger rolls away its time for toy hoedown as toy cowboy performers, Jessie and Bullseye dance down the parade route to the music. In a Chevrolet (repurposed from Mira's Motorcade) rides Woody and Bo Peep. This Chevrolet is painted in cow and plaid patterns along with working in the iconic Toy Story cloud print and Pixar ball.
Unit 4: Holiday Magic Song(s): Up on the Rooftop, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, We Need a Little Christmas
Holiday Magic represents the pure magic and belief that Christmas inspires into the hearts of all. The songs reflect that this is Santa's unit, and as such the songs mainly focus on him along with a dose of a little Christmas cheer that we can all use. This unit revives Santa's Merry Motorcade from the 2020 Holiday season, and combines it with the new soundtrack and additional units. The unit features various elves ribbon twirling, tossing presents to each other, and bouncing balls around each other too. Santa rides on top a very festive Chevrolet that is filled to the brim with Christmas presents and toys for all the good girls and boys.
Come back and open another Imagineering gift to discover the meaning of a particular first Christmas.
Bravo for getting everything about Christmas, except the culinary and religious elements, (not to mention non-snow christmases) which could be hard to translate. I really liked the selection of cars overall, not to mention the performers.
Culinary element: Pooh would represent this well, using a Chevrolet with roasted vegetables on it, as well as Christmas cakes, and peanut butter cups.
I had an idea for finding a way to represent video games in the toyline sequence. Wreck it Ralph would work fine, but if only they could find a way to incorporate Kingdom Hearts into it...
Playing into the current holiday package that comes every year to Belle's Village, An Enchanted Holiday with Belle sees a reframing of the current character experience to be filled with holiday cheer as it retells the story of Belle and Beast's first Christmas together in a unique way. Along with this holiday version of the experience comes an expanded holiday decoration package for the queue and show area.
Queue
Starting off with the entrance, a new sign hangs incorporating carved in holly berries and leaves as the sign reads An Enchanted Holiday with Belle. The miniature Lumiere now dons a miniature Santa hat that hides his top flame. A pine garland decorated with various colored rose petals is wrapped down the sign's vertical post. As guests wander through the cottage's gardens Maurice's latest invention: The Snow Conceptor! This amazing contraption utilizes gears, an oversized cheese grater, a large fireplace bellow, and a huge block of ice on an even larger spring. Throughout the day the machine comes to life as the spring bounces, causing the ice to go up and down the giant grater. Little flakes collect into a funnel that's connected into the bellow, and thus snoap is blown onto guests in the queue for the attraction.
The Snow Conceptor has unfortunately run amok, and seemingly overnight Maurice's cottage has been covered in snow. Dangling from the roof are icicles which at night magically glow with the reflection of the lights from within the cottage. Frosted pine garland hangs from the roof, playing with the concept of snow disaster while still maintaining traditional holiday decorations. Entering Maurice's cottage, guests will encounter virtually the same indoor queue with a few touches here and there.
Inside Maurice's cottage he has hanged q couple of tattered stockings on the fireplace that belong to Belle and himself. Belle's stocking has a book, scrolls, and a baguette sticking out of it. Meanwhile Maurice's has a screw sticking out of the bottom, and various tools crowding the top opening of the stocking. Wrapped Christmas gifts now sit on the staircase within the cottage replacing the buckets and toolboxes that had crowded it before. Throughout Maurice's cottage and the proceeding workshop room new holiday invention blueprints and drawings are scattered on every surface imaginable. The workshop AKA mirror room remains mostly unchanged save for a small potted spruce sapling on a shelf carrying a large red ornament causing it to bend.
Cast Member: Take me back to the day when Belle and the Beast celebrated their first Christmas together!
Madame Wardrobe's Foyer
The mirror magically grows, and opens into a castle passageway. Pine garland line the walls of this magic corridor, and replacing the shields are welcoming wreaths. Leading into Madame Wardrobe's foyer the pine garland continue to encircle the entire room. Madame Wardrobe herself is wrapped in a giant knitted Christmas coloured scarf featuring various winter patterns. With new dialogue Madame Wardrobe welcomes guests, and with the help of a cast member, she will hand out various roles. New roles have been added such as Angelique, Fife, Axel (the Axe), and for the extras Christmas ornaments, pastries, and even a Yule log. Upon assigning all the roles guests are ushered into the library where Lumiere is now ready for everyone. Throughout guest's time in the room an extended version of Fife's Yuletide Theme plays.
The Library
The Library has been decked out with holiday decorations. Pine garland constricted in blue and yellow ribbon wraps around the entire room. Stockings line the fireplace with the character's names embroidered on, and little designs inspired by each character decorate the bottom half of the stocking. On both sides of the mantle large boughs of holly intertwined with multicolored poinsettias and amaryllises decorate the area around Lumiere. Lumiere himself is wearing a Christmas hat on his central candle which has now been put out due to the hat.
As guests walk in and take their seats in the library the song Belle's Magical Gift plays faintly in the background. Eventually Lumiere calls in Belle, and everyone surprises her for the holidays. In preparation for the Yule Tide Ball, Lumiere suggests to tell the crazy of the castle's first Christmas with Belle. This leads to the guests, Lumiere, and Belle recreating a brief synopsis of Beauty & the Beast: An Enchanted Christmas. The show ends with a practice run on the dance to As Long As There's Christmas with the Beast that was chosen from the audience. Guests can then take their picture with Belle, and on their way out they hear the track from the film The Enchanted Christmas Finale.
Come back and discover rather wild take on the holidays.
Bravo for getting everything about Christmas, except the culinary and religious elements, (not to mention non-snow christmases) which could be hard to translate. I really liked the selection of cars overall, not to mention the performers.
Culinary element: Pooh would represent this well, using a Chevrolet with roasted vegetables on it, as well as Christmas cakes, and peanut butter cups.
I had an idea for finding a way to represent video games in the toyline sequence. Wreck it Ralph would work fine, but if only they could find a way to incorporate Kingdom Hearts into it...
My main thing for the motorcade was to try to keep it to properties represented at Studios hence the selections reflecting this
Mickey and Co (Runaway Railway & Vacation Fun)
Incredibles (Municiberg Subarea)
Olaf (Frozen Sing-a-long)
Doc McStuffins (Disney Junior Dance Party)
Toy Story (Toy Story Land)
To continue that trend I think if Christmas cooking was to be included then it would a Muppets unit with a sloppily decorated gingerbread car with Swedish Chef riding and "cooking" in the back.
My main thing for the motorcade was to try to keep it to properties represented at Studios hence the selections reflecting this
Mickey and Co (Runaway Railway & Vacation Fun)
Incredibles (Municiberg Subarea)
Olaf (Frozen Sing-a-long)
Doc McStuffins (Disney Junior Dance Party)
Toy Story (Toy Story Land)
To continue that trend I think if Christmas cooking was to be included then it would a Muppets unit with a sloppily decorated gingerbread car with Swedish Chef riding and "cooking" in the back.
Playing into the current holiday package that comes every year to Belle's Village, An Enchanted Holiday with Belle sees a reframing of the current character experience to be filled with holiday cheer as it retells the story of Belle and Beast's first Christmas together in a unique way. Along with this holiday version of the experience comes an expanded holiday decoration package for the queue and show area.
Queue
Starting off with the entrance, a new sign hangs incorporating carved in holly berries and leaves as the sign reads An Enchanted Holiday with Belle. The miniature Lumiere now dons a miniature Santa hat that hides his top flame. A pine garland decorated with various colored rose petals is wrapped down the sign's vertical post. As guests wander through the cottage's gardens Maurice's latest invention: The Snow Conceptor! This amazing contraption utilizes gears, an oversized cheese grater, a large fireplace bellow, and a huge block of ice on an even larger spring. Throughout the day the machine comes to life as the spring bounces, causing the ice to go up and down the giant grater. Little flakes collect into a funnel that's connected into the bellow, and thus snoap is blown onto guests in the queue for the attraction.
The Snow Conceptor has unfortunately run amok, and seemingly overnight Maurice's cottage has been covered in snow. Dangling from the roof are icicles which at night magically glow with the reflection of the lights from within the cottage. Frosted pine garland hangs from the roof, playing with the concept of snow disaster while still maintaining traditional holiday decorations. Entering Maurice's cottage, guests will encounter virtually the same indoor queue with a few touches here and there.
Inside Maurice's cottage he has hanged q couple of tattered stockings on the fireplace that belong to Belle and himself. Belle's stocking has a book, scrolls, and a baguette sticking out of it. Meanwhile Maurice's has a screw sticking out of the bottom, and various tools crowding the top opening of the stocking. Wrapped Christmas gifts now sit on the staircase within the cottage replacing the buckets and toolboxes that had crowded it before. Throughout Maurice's cottage and the proceeding workshop room new holiday invention blueprints and drawings are scattered on every surface imaginable. The workshop AKA mirror room remains mostly unchanged save for a small potted spruce sapling on a shelf carrying a large red ornament causing it to bend.
Cast Member: Take me back to the day when Belle and the Beast celebrated their first Christmas together!
Madame Wardrobe's Foyer
The mirror magically grows, and opens into a castle passageway. Pine garland line the walls of this magic corridor, and replacing the shields are welcoming wreaths. Leading into Madame Wardrobe's foyer the pine garland continue to encircle the entire room. Madame Wardrobe herself is wrapped in a giant knitted Christmas coloured scarf featuring various winter patterns. With new dialogue Madame Wardrobe welcomes guests, and with the help of a cast member, she will hand out various roles. New roles have been added such as Angelique, Fife, Axel (the Axe), and for the extras Christmas ornaments, pastries, and even a Yule log. Upon assigning all the roles guests are ushered into the library where Lumiere is now ready for everyone. Throughout guest's time in the room an extended version of Fife's Yuletide Theme plays.
The Library
The Library has been decked out with holiday decorations. Pine garland constricted in blue and yellow ribbon wraps around the entire room. Stockings line the fireplace with the character's names embroidered on, and little designs inspired by each character decorate the bottom half of the stocking. On both sides of the mantle large boughs of holly intertwined with multicolored poinsettias and amaryllises decorate the area around Lumiere. Lumiere himself is wearing a Christmas hat on his central candle which has now been put out due to the hat.
As guests walk in and take their seats in the library the song Belle's Magical Gift plays faintly in the background. Eventually Lumiere calls in Belle, and everyone surprises her for the holidays. In preparation for the Yule Tide Ball, Lumiere suggests to tell the crazy of the castle's first Christmas with Belle. This leads to the guests, Lumiere, and Belle recreating a brief synopsis of Beauty & the Beast: An Enchanted Christmas. The show ends with a practice run on the dance to As Long As There's Christmas with the Beast that was chosen from the audience. Guests can then take their picture with Belle, and on their way out they hear the track from the film The Enchanted Christmas Finale.
Come back and discover rather wild take on the holidays.
They actually used to do this! Before Enchanted Tales with belle got its fancy home when it was just a tiny thing outside where the Merida M&G is now. I don't know if it was every year, but I remember seeing it one year at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party. Shocked they don't have a suped up Christmas version like this for the new theater. Like most of your suggestions it is such a slam dunk that I can't believe they aren't doing it!
Welcome all to Sanatafiki's Planet Watch, a place where conservation meets the holidays in a package tied with a bow. This low frills, but effective overlay will put on a festive and winter twist on Planet Watch and it's offerings. The train station in Africa will remain the same. The trains themselves have been decked out with garland and wreaths that have been made from lightweight recycled materials that gives the trains a new festive look. On the train's path the typical Disney Nature posters are replaced with oversized Christmas cards featuring characters from The Lion King, Brother Bear, Bambi, Pocahontas, and The Jungle Book. Upon reaching the Planet Watch station more holiday changes begin to appear.
At the Planet Watch station new images from National Geographic showing winter biomes and environments are displayed along with small descriptions about them. In the center of the structure will be a Christmas tree made completely from recycled plastic bottles, and this reuse of materials is just the begging of the trend of recycled decorations in the land.
Walking along the path to Planet Watch Santafiki will be there to point guests in the right direction in all his Christmas glory. The Wilderness Explorers get new winter themed patches to be obtained on this path. This includes:
- A patch centered around learning about winter hibernation in animals like bears, rabbits, goldfish and frogs.
- A patch centered around migration that animals like geese and monarch butterflies participate in.
- A patch centered around adaptations in animals to better suit them for life in the tundra.
Eventually guests reach Santafiki's Planet Watch, and new sculptures dot the courtyard. These sculptures are made from marine debris and other rubbish, and all represent various animals associated with the tundra biomes of the world. This art gallery will contain sculptures depicting polar bears, caribou, canadian geese, walruses, and penguins. Each sculpture will have information on the animal, environmental threats that are facing said animal, and fixes to that threat.
Inside Santafiki's Planet Watch decorations made from bottles and other recycled material hang from the ceiling. The sunlight pouring in from outside will play with the colours in these decorations, and illuminate them in wonderful natural ways. A small exhibit about conversation during the holidays is present showing guests various ways to conserve during this very wasteful time. This exhibit includes eco-friendly paper and cloth for wrapping gifts, energy efficient lighting techniques, plantable Christmas cards, and even Christmas tree alternatives such as palm trees. The Animation Experience includes a new lineup of Disney animals to draw that tie into the tundra biomes, holiday traditions, and wintertime. Guests will expect to draw one of these five characters:
- Sven from Disney's Frozen; learn about reindeer and their natural environment.
- Wheezy from Pixar's Toy Story 2; learn about penguins and their natural environment.
- Thumper from Disney's Bambi; learn about animal hibernation.
- Heimlich from Pixar's a bug's life; learn about animal migration.
- Manny from Blue Sky's Ice Age; learn about animal adaptation.
The final holiday touch that Santafiki's Planet Watch gets is a meet and greet with the whole star of the show, Santafiki! Much like his depictions on the trail leading up to the Conservation Center, Santafiki wears a large Santa hat and carries around a peppermint stick with jingle bells and ornaments tried around the tip.
While all these gifts have been merry and bright, tomorrow's may just give you a fright.
I really like RPW getting attention. It seems like a neglected attraction. I like the variety of decorations featured. And I do agree that Blue Sky is best represented as temporary content and Easter eggs as opposed to full attractions. They feel a little out of place normally.
While not the traditional idea of Christmas, Halloweentown sees a blend of the two holidays in one subarea much like The Nightmare Before Christmas and Haunted Mansion Holiday. This new subarea is devoid of rides but contains a shop, a counter service, character experiences, and countless of photo opportunities. Halloweentown will be replacing the subarea of Municiberg, and unlike its predecessor this subarea will see major changes to the surrounding buildings. This subarea will be open from July to Early January to add capacity to Hollywood Studios during peak times, and to allow ample time for guests to experience both this Halloween and Christmas experience.
The gates of Halloweentown stand proud and warped at the entrance of Halloweentown. Large wooden gates with wrought iron embellishments guard the entrance of the town, and are only open when the land is open. Snow covers the top of the gate posts as this version of Halloweentown is set during their Christmas time after Santa brought snow to this Halloween world. After passing through these gates flanking both sides is a miniature recreation of the Halloweentown graveyard. This recreation sees a multilevel graveyard as it is stacked levels of cobblestone walls, plots of dirt, and various tombstones with humorous puns and deaths displayed.
A forced perspective recreation of Dr. Finklestein's Lab is the first iconic structure from the film, and it towers of the gate and graveyard beckoning in guests from outside the gates. Outside of his tower Dr. Finklestein has turned his grounds into an outdoor workspace of sorts. The walls of some random building he has taken over has been taken over by large blueprints for his various experiments such as the skeleton reindeers, Jack's sleigh, Sally, Jewel, and more! Speaking of his creations some of the skeleton reindeer are out in this workspace, and are ready for guests to take photos with them. The flowers that Sally is famous for holding are growing all around this area.
Across the street from Finklestein's Lab is the Making Christmas Workshop. Various workbenches are laid around the workshop floor, and various pieces of merchandise inspired by the film are stacked on top of these tables. On the worktable available for purchase are toy ducks, scary teddies, pumpkin in the boxes, man-eating wreaths, miniature skeletal reindeers. In the backwalls are shelves with merchandise such as ornaments, apparel, stationery, plushies, toys, and other goodies featuring characters from the film. A large snake has slithered around the shelves, backwalls, airduct, and is now hanging down from the ceiling moving its head side to side occasionally hissing at guests.
Next door is The Witches' Cauldron, a themed counter service with a rather small menu. Guests enter the line for the counter service next to a cauldron. This cauldron is constantly bubbling, and throughout the day mist comes out of the cauldron along with various lights illuminating the mist. A self stirring wooden ladle magically is constantly swirling throughout the cauldron. The food spot itself is a rather rundown looking place with half hazard looking support columns propping up the roof that seemingly looks like its about cave in any second.
Snacks
Bat Pretzel
A bat shaped pretzel covered in salt and poppy seeds, and is served with a side of dipping cheese sauce. Holiday Mix-up Parfait
A layered pudding parfait with a red, a green and a purple layer. Each layer is a different flavor with strawberry, French vanilla, and chocolate respectively. It's topped with whipped cream and black sprinkles. Peppermint & Pumpkin Popcorn
A mixture of peppermint and pumpkin spiced popcorn.
Beverages
The Claws Freeze
Frozen Cherry Fanta topped with whipped cream and sour apple Pop Rocks. Frozen Slushes
Fanta Cherry or Coca-Cola Assorted Fountain Beverages
Coca-Cola, Diet Coca-Cola, Sprite, Orange Fanta, Minute Maid Pink Lemonade DASANI Bottled Water
Across the way from the Witches' Cauldron are various facades with designs pulled from Nightmare Before Christmas. These facades allow for more photo spots for guests to sit on doorsteps and pose with the doors in the background. The Ghoulish Stage sits in between a row of residential facades. Throughout the day The Vampires come out to perform spooky covers of holiday standards. While walking around the land to the stage, and while performing they will be equipped with their umbrellas and use their sleeves to block the sun from hitting them.
Across from the stage is the entrance to City Hall. Parked adjacent to City Hall is the Mayor's Cart, and guests can get in to create memorable photo moments. On the speaker on top of the cart occasional announcements are made about the progress of this year's Halloween and Christmas celebrations, upcoming performances in the area, and random topics that add humor to the area. Behind the roof and spires of City Hall a skeleton reindeer that has flown up there occasionally pops its head out, and makes noises to onlookers below. A sign dangling down from the City Hall announces that The Pumpkin King - Jack Skellington, is here today for meet and greets.
Heading into the City Hall guests will begin to queue that weaves around Jack's designs and Christmas experiments. No matter where one looks there will always be a small entertaining detail brought from the film to entertain guests at the expense of Jack's lack of knowledge on Christmas. Eventually after weaving around and back, guests will enter the Mayor's office which Jack has temporarily taken over. He will be meeting guests in his Sandy Claws outfit, and next to a rather scrawny looking tree filled with some horrifying ornaments.
Exiting the meet and greet guests are met with the iconic fountain from the film. During the day this will be a regular fountain, but at night through the use of hidden LEDs the fountain water glows an eerie green just like in the film. Following a few more Halloweentown facades lies the Hanging Tree, but instead of hanging skeletons on nooses it's Christmas lights holding up Santa hat wearing shrunken heads.
At the end of Halloweentown is the site of Oogie Boogie's Bash, a dance party that occurs throughout the day and into the night in Halloweentown. Reformed from his evil ways a reborn Oogie just wants to boogie! Oogie has brought out all of his lair's decorations to liven up the area. Chains stretch all over the area intertwined with orange and purple Christmas lights, and hanging from the chains are various bats that have their wings either opened or closed.
Perched on a nearby Halloweentown's building balcony is the bathtub that Lock, Shock and Barrel are famous for riding around in. In fact, during the dance parties, one of the three mischievous little children will pop out from below, and interact with Oogie and guests alike. This will be down as the bottom of the tub connects to the façade below, and this allows for a puppet of one of the trio to pop out. On the stage itself the robot slot machines are set up against the wall on the back of the stage, and throughout the dance party will spin and reward winning spins with confetti. Oogie Boogie's Bash is sure to entertain and bring fun to guests of all ages.
Throughout the entire span of Halloweentown the buildings are coated with a layer of snow due to the infrequent snow storms that Santa Claus has gifted the Halloween world. In fact sporadically throughout the day, as an instrumental version of What's This begins to play, snoap will fall down in the entire subarea. At night keep an eye peeled out as Zero (projection) flies around the buildings barking down at residents of the town.
Our next gift will show us all that no matter what we celebrate we all come together in a rather small way.
Would there be a tribute to the Munciberg area? Or for that matter, the area Munciberg replaced? Maybe a nod to the Disney Channel Halloweentown movies (a headstone for Kalabar, perhaps), given how neglected the DCOMs are at the parks.
Overall, I really like this area concept.
Would there be a tribute to the Munciberg area? Or for that matter, the area Munciberg replaced? Maybe a nod to the Disney Channel Halloweentown movies (a headstone for Kalabar, perhaps), given how neglected the DCOMs are at the parks.
Overall, I really like this area concept.
Due to the rather genericness that was Municiberg/Pixar Place I opted out of containing Easter eggs for the former areas in order to focus on keeping the environment authentic to the film, and this ties into the DCOM films as well. For a fleeting second during planning it crossed my mind, but given the this iteration of Halloweentown is in a permanent Christmas mode for the holidays I opted to not reference the DCOM in its entirety.
For the first time ever the classic Magic Kingdom staple is getting its very own holiday package like its counterparts from around the world. Magic Kingdom's take on this holiday offering will be completely unique to this location, but still faithful to the original message that Walt Disney intended when creating it's a small world. Overall there will be less of filling scenes with too many decorations, and more of adding a few things here and there in the countries to keep a more subtle yet apparent holiday message. So join us as we embark on the merriest cruise that ever set sail.
The changes begin prior to boarding the ride as the queue has the façade in the queue has been been completely outlined by LED color changing string lights. The lights will be in bright and offer the entire rainbow to illuminate the facades, and since the façade is all white the glow from the lights will actually bathe them in whole new colors without needing paint. Accompanying this new holiday lighting package will be a whole new instrumental holiday queue music loop consisting of: Toyland and March of the Toys from Babes in Toyland, Chinese Dance, Russian Dance and March of the Toy Soldiers from The Nutcracker Ballet, My Favorite Things from The Sound of Music, and of course it's a small world. These songs are synced to the lights on the facades within the queue, and as such the lights will put on a constant light show for all those in the queue.
As guests depart from the loading docks of it's a small world they sail pass the windows looking in from Pinocchio's Village Haus, and sail into the welcome room is now the happy holidays room. Countless signs now wish guests a Happy Holidays in over 20 languages, and sets up guests for what is to come.
Europe
As the boats sail into Europe guests are welcome into Scandinavia which is decorated as if it was the North Pole. The various mountains have now garnered snow tops, and all of the reindeer in the scene have string lights tangled in their antlers. A yule goat recreation sits at he base of the first platform where Scandinavian carolers now reside. A doll of young girl in a white robe with a red sash and a crown of lingonberry branches and red candles replaces the band. A Santa Claus doll is added, and replaces the house on the uppermost platform. He waves at all those bellow happily as he occasionally ho ho hos below. Sailing into Denmark guests will see the Tivoli garden with drumming toy soldiers and on every step boxes of gifts and toys for all good boys and girls.
In France children fly around the Eiffel Tower on balloons while holding their stockings. Large air balloons drift in the air bobbing up and down, and piloting these air balloons are snowmen mimes donning berets. The can can girls are donning new red and green dresses and matching feathers while covering their faces in golden masquerade masks. A ballerina spins behind the Eiffel tower as she is elegantly dressed for a Christmas ballet.
In the UK on the Welsh Moon are a trio of Victorian Christmas carolers. A small world doll version of Ebenezer Scrooge scowls at guests, and will occasionally let out a bah humbug. Scrooge sits where the Buckingham Palace guard one sat. A large Christmas tree covered in candles, garland, and ornaments sits on the chessboard which formerly houses spinning chess pieces. The beefeater soldiers at the base of Tower Bridge are seen spears in one hand, and a candle in the other illuminating the way for carolers. A large banner hangs down the bridge wishing everyone a Seasons Greetings. In Scotland a man plays bagpipes on a tartan castle turret as a goat happily shakes their head on a tartan hill.
In Ireland Leprechauns are playing around their rainbow and pot of gold. Two dolls are river dancing in front of their home. Small toy wrens with wind up keys are seen chirping perched across the four leave clovers that make up the hills of Ireland. A leprechaun plays the harp, and another one happily waves from above a cottage. Replacing the sleeping leprechaun is a strawboy small world doll who dons the fanciest of straw hats.
Sailing past Benelux a large Dutch windmill swirls as its panels have been decorated with lights. Three geese squawk as they are each wearing either a green, red or gold tie, and they are being led by shepherdess who has a candy cane crook. Piles of gifts now surround the tulips which have been given new coats of paint to look like ornaments as the two kids continue to jump in an out of them. On top of a pile of presents sits a small world doll of Zwarte Piet waving at guests.
Journeying into La Mancha large Spanish windmills spin around in delight as Don Quixote and Sancho Panzo have taken a holiday break. In their place are Los Reyes Magos, or Three Kings, each of them are nodding in approval of the guests and are holding gifts. Passing los reyes one doll plays the guitar and another twirls around as she flamencos.
Across from Spain lies a garland covered gazebo, and in a German glockenspiel band playing away. Stepping to the side of the gazebo is a rather cutefied Krampus small world style doll. He occasionally snickers and waves to the guests sailing on the water.
Boats should be careful navigating this area as packages of Italian Fruitcake have infected the waterways around Italy. A doll on his gondola tries to boat around the fruit cakes, but unfortunately is seemingly stuck in place due to water traffic. A cute elderly witch doll holds her broom in one hand, and has a sack of toys next to her. This witch is actually Befana, and she has taken over the balcony above the gondolier. Stretching in the skies are various Italian landmarks, and in front of these landmarks are a group of young carolers clad in shepherd robes and sandals holding a shepherd's pipe.
Throughout the Swiss landscape new pine tree cutouts have been added, and have candles painted onto them. A mountaineer stands proud above the water mountains and trees, and yodels in the new year as cuckoo clocks chime it in. Goats scattered on the hills enthusiastically shake their groove thangs in celebration. As boats go under the bridge a sign reads "Buon Natale", or Merry Christmas.
Asia
In Israel the dancing couple have been replaced by an oversized spinning dreidel. Don't fret for they have been simply been relocated. In Greece the fallen temple roof has been replaced by a gazebo, and beneath are the Israeli couple. An unlit menorah replaces the pipe playing shepherd who temporarily joined the Italians. Curious sheep continue to stare down the menorah, and nod towards it. Each day of Hanukah a new light bulb is lit in the menorah, and it spins around and around rapidly. In the background of Greece the Parthenon remains standing tall on top the mountains of Greece.
In Russia a trio of children are playing their instruments while singing music down to travelers. While in Red Square countless children dance around in circles as above them lies the St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. In front of the cathedral the Russian Ballet has set up for a demonstration of The Nutcracker, and Clara and a Nutcrakcer spin around in performance; the Mouse King looks on from below.
Across the seas lies Indonesia in the midst of their celebration of Mawlid, the birth of the Prophet Mohammad. Indonesia is known for throwing the largest festivals in the Islamic world commemorating the very important day. The elephant shaking his head has been painted in an elaborate golden pattern, and various dolls below the elephant play music commemorating the day. The snake charmer has been moved to the far right pedestal. On the leftmost pedestal a doll dressed in a Kraton royal guard uniform carries a gunungan model made from sweets symbolizing good luck, wealth, and prosperity.
In Bali, a predominately Hindu island in Indonesia, is in the midst of their Diwali celebrations. In the sky above Bali and spreading into India large firework displays are going off all around the air space in between the kids with their magic carpets. Strings of marigold garland decorate the buildings in Bali, and wrap the various platforms that the various dolls are on giving Bali a pop of color. Meanwhile in India the reflecting pool now has diya lamps that are opposite to the dancers, and a new rangoli inspired pattern on the tile.
In China the New Year is in full swing as large red lanterns hang from the ceiling with elaborate golden tassels made of wishes hanging from within the lanterns. Firework crates are strewn about. A small world doll has set off one of the fireworks, and it is displayed mid flight with the smoke going all the way to the ground swirling upwards to the firework. These fireworks replace the Chinese acrobats, but the panda with bamboo remains in place.
In Japan they are celebrating Omisoka. Large kites fly overhead, and they are now joined by hanging Omisoka paper lanterns with Happy New Year written down in Japanese. The background of Japan is now made up of various large oversized nengajos, or Japanese greeting cards. Various mini kadamatsus are placed throughout the various levels of the farms in Japan. Finally as guests leave Asia they are bowed to.
Africa
When entering into Africa guests riding will notice that throughout the jungle new string light vines are sweeping across the room. Various animals are wearing winter hats or winter sweaters featuring various Mary Blair winter inspired patterns. A kinara sits lit in front of three singers from Pan African countries. Various giant leaves from behind the elephant wishes people a Happy Kwanza on one lead and Happy Holidays on the other leaf.
The Americas
Sailing into the Americas guests are greeted with a large banner stretching across the room wishing everyone a "Feliz Navidad". In Argentina, Christmas trees made of ice have been installed around the dancing penguins in their gaucho hats. In the fields the gaucho and his farm animals are all celebrating by launching globitos, paper lanterns, into the sky around them. Paper lanterns will actually be "floating" above the scene and into the Andes beyond interacting with the border nations of Chile, Peru, Bolivia, and more along with the dolls representing those nations as well. The llamas along the mountains are all now wearing Santa hats.
In Brazil the upper tier of Copacabana is turned into a presépio, nativity, with small world dolls showing the Virgin Mary and Joseph awaiting their soon to be born son. Topping Copacabana will be a rooster in reference to Misa de Gallo, Rooster Mass, which is popular throughout Latin America to attend on Noche Buena, Christmas Eve. In the bottom tier of Copacabana the dolls now dance around with baskets of toys on their head, or holding gifts and stockings full of candies and other treats.
Opposite South America is a generic Central America town. The entire town is decorated with varying tropical flowers including poinsettias. On some of the facades lanterns are hanged to ward off bad spirits, and some facades now have wreaths made of cypress branches and decorated with red coffee beans and ribbon. Various dolls are in the streets celebrating La Griteria yelling Feliz Navidad y quién causa tanta alegría? A blue ox carries a cart full of apples for the people of the town, and in the marketplace various vendors have set up stalls selling latine pastries from all over the world and gifts for the children. Misplaced dolls from other scenes are placed here, with traditional Mexican clothing, in the Marketplace as children taking their journey for Las Posadas.
In Mexico a trio of Calavera horseman are crossing the bridge into Central America. A mariachi band made up of a cactus, a rooster and a dog play music for all the children who are celebrating down below with candles in their lit up for Candlemas. Giant Christmas piñatas are stung throughout the area, and rise up and down before guests continue their journey into the rain forest which remains unchanged save for the jaguar and alligator wearing winter wear.
South Pacific
Sailing into the South Pacific guests will sail under a large banner that wishes them a Mele Kalikamaka. Joining the Hawaiian hula dancers are various palm trees that are now decorated as it they were a Christmas tree. Opposite the hula dancers are flowers topped with birds with harp shaped tails, and in between the flowers around the birds new decorations from The Philippines are set up. These decorations are known as paroles and are bamboo framed colorful star shaped lanterns. These decorations dot the right hand side of the room going all the way down until they reach the lone Filipina queen waggling around with her fan.
Throughout the generic Polynesian section of the South Pacific a Christmas celebration is taking place. Fire dancers are spinning in circles as flames engulf them, and hula girls continue to dance below the waves. Joining Kamehameha is Santa, but not in the traditional way. Santa is now riding in an outrigger canoe pulled by dolphins out of all things! He bellows a ho ho ho to all the good boys and girls of Polynesia along to the travelers. In Papua New Guinea drummers wearing masks continue the celebration as a nearby child surfs a winter wave.
In the center of the room lies Australia and Easter Island. The various Australian animals have all been given holiday makeovers. Platypuses are now holding egg shaped ornaments, the kangaroo and her joey now don scarves and hats, the koalas wear mittens and earmuffs, and the Moai statues wear Santa hats and beards. A boy and his dingo play with his boomerang. Throughout Australia and New Zealand pohutukawa plants, the Christmas bush, have been added to give the area some more festive looks. In New Zealand a Maori boy and some kiwis wave to guests as they sail away from the South Pacific.
Winter Wonderland
The finale room has been turned into a winter wonderland as snow and ice covers all the surfaces throughout the room. This adds new glittery and shimmering blues to the scene for an extra splash of color. Above guests large LED snowflakes hand from the ceiling. Replacing the abandoned tightrope will be a large sign much like the one above wishing for Peace on Earth.
Exiting the finale room guests are now in the goodbye room, and through the use of the installed screens are told various holiday messages to celebrate all of the holidays that are occurring throughout the ride. These screens will be in sync with the calendar so it will only say a holiday specific message during that time frame.
Holiday Traditions Outlined
Finland: Santa Claus & North Pole in Scandinavia
Sweden: St. Lucia and the Yule Goat in Scandinavia
Britain: Scrooge from A Christmas Carol in the UK
Ireland: Wrens and Strawboy from Wren Day
The Netherlands: Zwarte Piet in Benelux
Spain: Los Reyes Magos
Austria: Krampus in Germany
Italy: Befana and Shepherd Carolers
Hanukah: Dreidels in Israel and Menorah in Greece
Russia: The Nutcracker
Yogyakarta: Sekaten and the Gunungan in Indonesia
Diwali: Marigold Garland in Bali and Diya Lamps and Rangoli in India
China: Chinese New Year
Japan: Omisoka
Kwanza: Panafrica
Argentina: Globitos
Brazil: Presépio
Costa Rica: Apple Giving and Coffee Bean Wreaths in Central America
Guetemala: Lanterns in Central America
Nicaragua: La Griteria in Central America
Mexico: La Posada in Central America and Candlemas
Latin America: Misa de Gallo in Brazil
Hawaii: Mele Kelikamaka in South Pacific, Palm Trees, Santa's Canoe in Ocean
The Phillipines: Parol
Polynesia: Santa's Canoe and Dolphins
Australia and New Zealand: Pohutukawa
Tomorrow's gift brings us to an expanded project to those of you familiar with the One Sentence Competition
Las Posadas River Journey starring The Three Caballeros
Las Posadas is a holiday tradition in Mexico in which groups of children travel throughout their neighborhood seeking shelter, posada, much like Mary and Joseph did in Bethlehem. The children go door to door, and are refused posada over and over again. Eventually the children reach the house that gives them posada, and within that house is a party waiting for them to celebrate their arrival. This includes decorations, festive tunes, food, and of course the Christmas piñata. In Las Posadas River Journey starring The Three Caballeros, the three caballeros are leading children and guests on their journey to find posada for this holiday season.
Ride Stats & Info
Attraction Type: Boat Ride
Theme: Las Posadas and The Three Caballeros
Riders per Hour: 1,656
Duration: 7 Minutes
Riders per Day : 9,936 - 21,528
Height Restriction : None
Fastpass+: No
Queue
A large holiday themed banner hangs on the archway announcing Las Posadas River Journey starring The Three Caballeros set against a poinsettia patterned background. Continuing under the arch the rather small queue has been decorated for those whose to go on their journey for posada. Strings of Christmas lights crisscross above the guests, and Christmas paper lanterns dispersed throughout the queue as well filling in empty space in the ceiling. Posters in the queue highlight various Christmas celebrations in different regions of Mexico. Exiting the queue into the loading area guests are able to walk and sit in their boats beginning their adventure.
Ride Experience Scene One: El Camino de Posada
As the boats leave the loading docks they sail through a tranquil Mexican jungle. Boats will pass on looking diners enjoying holiday meals with their families, and of course the large Mayan temple that dominates the area. Tranquil jungle noises are heard as the boats float on by in this gentle river and pass rising bubbles and a statue's head of a time long forgotten. Entering into the temple guests encounter the leaders of their voyage, The Three Caballeros.
Panchito: Hola a todos, we're the Three Caballeros! Jose: Yes, yes I'm Jose! Donald: Donald Duck! Panchito: And I'm Panchito, we're looking for posada for our friends here!
The children from the movie run in waving at guests.
Donald: Serapie! Jose: No no Donal, serape!
Serapes fly in carrying off the Caballeros and the children as guests follow along in their boats down the river.
Entering the outskirts of the city the first scene shows the kids flying around a farmhouse.
Children: Posada por favor? Shelter, please?
To which a vaquero says no, and lassos the kids away.
The next screen shows the Caballeros at Chichen-Itza, and Panchito slowly climbing the stairs.
Panchito: Perdoname, but can we have posada?
The temple responds by turning its stairs into a slide causing Panchito to go down to the ground.
Panchito: Caramba! I guess not then!
The next screen shows Donald and Jose in Xochimilco, home to the iconic Mexican floating gardens. They are onboard a rather flimsy looking vessel, and are chasing down another boat in which a mariachi band is playing an instrumental snippet of La Rama. Cartoonish musical notes come out of their instruments.
Donald: Excussse meee! Jose: Gentlemen, do you have shelter for me and my many many friends? Guitarast: No senor, no posada.
The music notes sharpen and sink the Caballeros' boat. Jose Carioca opens his umbrella, and uses it as a boat. Donald on the other hand, well....
He jumps around the boat as he slowly sinks into the water. When his bubbles come to the surface his yelling pops out.
The boats continue on reaching the last screen of this scene. The children are flying around the rooftops of Mexico City, and encounter the Angel of Independence. The Angel of Independence is a golden statue of Nike that towers over Mexico City on top of its large column, and symbolizes the centennial of Mexico's War of Independence.
Children: Sabes andode hay Posada? Can you help us?
The angel uses its wing to point downwards into Mexico City.
Children: Gracias! Thank you!
As guests sail under this screen, and into the next scene they can hear the Caballeros.
Panchito: Haci es! They found posada! Donald: Look a party! Jose: Yes, a party to celebrate their arrival!
Scene Two: La Fiesta de Posada
This scene sees a complete decoration overhaul as it becomes for a holiday party. Throughout the scene the dolls are wearing new costumes of reds, greens, golds and whites. They are wearing their fanciest clothes to honor the arrival of Mary and Joseph (the children) to their posada. Throughout the room bushels of poinsettias of various natural colors including red, pink, purple, white, salmon, and even orange! Some of the flowers have marbled or edged patterns made up of two of those colors creating a beautiful natural kaleidoscope. In fact a cart selling poinsettias has been set up with an established sign dating back to 0 as a nod to the fact that poinsettias are from Mexico.
The skeleton band have been upgraded to be sugar skulls that have various color patterns on them, and even some winter snowflakes dotting their designs. Their sombreros have received colorful Christmas etchings and netting adding depth to their look. Below them the archway now reads Feliz Navidad! A small banquet has been set up featuring Mexican food and dishes like tamales, rosca, ponche and bunuelos. In fact the bunuelos fill the air around it with a sweet fried pastry smell. The whole scene also now plays La Rama with the skeleton band providing the music, and the children the singing.
Scene Three: Adonde estas el Posada de Panchito?
As the boats sail away from the party, Donald and Jose are seen walking out of the town without Panchito.
Jose: Oh no! Where has Panchito gone too! Donald: Serapeee! Let's find Panchito!
The two jump aboard their serapes, and fly off in search of Panchito. In the following screen Panchito is seen by his lonesome self flying on his own serape over the sunset lit beaches of Mexico.
Panchito: I must find my own posada!
The next scene takes guests as well as Donald and Jose into a fancy restaurant in Mexico. A chef has his back turned handling something cooking.
Jose: Excuse me, have you seen a rooster?
The chef turns around, and unveils a roasted chicken or knives being sharpened. Donald goes into a nervous fit at the sight of this. Jose's eyes comically pop out upon seeing the cooked bird or knives.
The next screen shows Panchito hopelessly flying on his serape over the ocean.
Panchito: It's no use nobody will offer me posada.
The serape quickly unravels until Panchito is only holding a thread, and is facing the guests.
Panchito: Ay no! Buh-bye!
Panchito crashes down into the ocean cause a large wave to cover the screen, and the boats to move along. The next screen depicts the other two caballeros flying around at dusk calling out Panchito's name. Right under them will be a screen below the sea. A baby octopus will appear followed by Panchito; when he speaks his voice is all gargled up due to the fact he is underwater.
Panchito: Pousawdaaw?
The baby octopus shakes its head no, and a giant tentacle grabs Panchito pulling him out of there. As the boats go under an archway they overhear the Caballeros.
Jose: Panchito we've found you! Panchito: Yes but I haven't my posada yet!
Scene Four: Lo Que Tenemos es Posada
The boats will sail back into Mexico City, and pass an ongoing party scene where tons of people are dancing around in their best Christmas outfits. After passing a screen with a party, the guests will see a second in the middle of three. Here Donald and Jose surprise Panchito with a party welcoming him to his posada.
Panchito: A party for who? Donald: For you! Jose: Where ever we are, we'll be your posada Panchito! Panchito: Eeeepppppaaaa! My posada! Donald: Oh no the Nacho Beena concert! Panchito: Jajaja no Donal, it's Noche Buena. Jose: We're gonna be late, hurry!
The boats float along past another screen depicting more of Panchito's posada party, and soon depart into the waterways of Mexico City's premier amphitheater. Poinsettias line the steps of various houses near and far, and buenuelos (along with their smell) are placed in a boat floating along. Up above in the city sky fireworks are blasting off celebrating Christmas Eve, or as it is known in Latin America as Noche Buena.
The amphitheater that the Three Caballeros play on has seen plenty of changes in honor of their Noche Buena Concierto. Arches of garland decorated with small ornaments, poinsettias, and Christmas lights are set up on each tier of the amphitheater's bowl. The same garland wraps around the entire stage. Donald is wearing a Christmas patterned poncho overtop his sailor uniform, and is shaking jingle bell sticks instead of maracas. Jose's straw hat has been adorned with a red ribbon and holly leaves with berries still attached. Jose also wears a new red tie with golden snowflake accents to tie into the rest of his outfit. Panchito has seen the biggest cosmetic change out of the trio. He now dons a green mariachi uniform with red and and white embellishments tying into both the colors of Christmas and his country, Mexico. His sombrero has been replaced by a sombrero of a similar green color, but now with an elaborate poinsettia design on the brim. The Three Caballeros will sing their titular song, but instead of maracas there will now be jingle bells to make it Christmassy.
As the boats sail away from Mexico City and back into the docks guests will be able to get a glimpse of a mural depicting Mexico and the Three Caballeros flying away on their serape.
Donald: Happy holidays everyone! Jose: Thank you all for coming along! Panchito: Eeeepppppaaaa! Feliz Navidad a todos!
Ready those warp drives the last gift in the advent calendar will give a whole new life to an attraction who would appreciate some love these days.
The DIY Holiday Challenge: An Imagineering 12 Days of Christmas Holiday Special
Calling all holly and jolly imagineers! Due to unforeseen circumstances Imagineering 12 Days of Christmas will not be concluded on schedule as I will not be able to post the twelfth gift in the advent calendar on time. So what does this mean? I still would like to aim for some holiday cheer everyday, and what better way than to open it up to the community with a fun little challenge!
The challenge is for you to create a new holiday offering of your choosing.
This can be for any theme park in the world or if you would like a new classic holiday film/tv special! It can be as lengthy or as concise as you would like. With images, videos, or any form of media you would like to accompany your post. At the end of the day I just want everyone to have fun with it
Due on December 22nd at 11:59 PM. Hopefully by the 23rd I will be available to not only post the twelfth project, but also review any projects that you guys post here
While I never have celebrated, growing up as a Latino myself, I have heard of it countless of times. I even had friends who participated in it when they were little. From what they would tell em it was a very fun and wholesome celebration, perfect for the holidays
Winter Spells and Magic Smells: Christmas in Primp Town (TV special)
A Christmas special based on the Puyo Puyo/Madou Monogatari franchise, done in AniMagic style. Somewhat similar to what SpongeBob did, but a little more authentic looking.
Ally is the (supporting) protagonist of Chronicle, and will likely serve in a role akin to the Rankin Bass narrators, also having a part in the story herself.
The plot would be moderately serious, as it’s going to involve a land developing group trying to buy the Magic School and alter it, similar to “Grift of the Magi” from the Simpsons. Accord is quick to find this sinister plot, but they kidnap her. Now it’s up to Amitie and her friends to rescue their beloved teacher and save their school from disaster in time for a merry Christmas. But beware, a terrible storm is brewing...
/Kwanzaa-5a01907d9e9427003ce291a5.jpg)
