DECEMBER'S MOST POPULAR ATTRACTIONS AND EVENTS

Now Snowing in Downtown Celebration

On November 29th, Celebration Town Center kicks off the 10th Annual World Famous 'Now Snowing' event with a special Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Now Snowing, Central Florida's original and premier Snowing event, introduces all new snow machines, new decorations and a variety of live entertainment for 2008. Now Snowing is a month long Winter Wonderland Spectacular featuring strolling Charles Dickens Carolers, photos with Santa, the Celebration Express, horse drawn carriage rides, and nightly snowfall at 6:00, 7:00, 8:00 and 9:00 PM.

The Now Snowing event ends with a one-of-a-kind New Years Eve Celebration featuring the Reflections Band Live and a fireworks spectacular and final snowfall of the year at midnight. Come enjoy the distinctive shopping and fine dining that Celebration is known for the world over.

Brought to you by Lexin Capital, Now Snowing Nightly parking and admission are free. Celebration is conveniently located between Highway 192 and Interstate 4 near Walt Disney World.

Radio Disney Holiday Concert

The snow starts falling at 6:00 PM and the music begins immediately after with performances by some of your favorite Radio Disney artists including Drew Seeley and a surprise guest to be announced.  Ring in the holidays with AM 990 Radio Disney in Celebration Town Center.  The event is free and everyone is welcome.

Radio Disney is a 24/7 radio network devoted to kids, tweens and families. Kids help pick the music that is played and are encouraged to interact via a toll-free line to the Radio Disney studio. The network s current playlist, driven by listener requests and representing major record labels, includes recording artists Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers, Corbin Bleu, Ashley Tisdale, Aly & AJ, Rihanna, B% and Jesse McCartney.

Radio Disney is the No. 1 destination for kids, tweens and families on the radio. It is available to 97% of the U.S. on over 50 terrestrial radio stations and through most of South America. In the U.S., it is also available on RadioDisney.com, XM, and Sirius satellite radio, iTunes Radio Tuner, XM/DirectV and mobile phones. Kids, tweens, and families can also download Radio Disney programming via the iTunes Music Store. Radio Disney brand extensions include multiple Radio Disney Jams CD's from Walt Disney Records.

 

New Year's Eve Bash

Come Visit Central Florida Premier Free Family-Friendly New Years Eve Bash

Tired of playing inflated prices for some Ho-Hum New Years Eve Celebration? THE place to be this New Years Eve will be the exciting new family friendly FREE New Years Eve Bash in Celebration Town Center.  On Wednesday December 31st, Celebration Town Center will bring the New Year in with a bang at an all new fun, family friendly celebration like none other.

The event will kick off with the sensational sounds of multi-talented The Reflections Band and live music throughout the streets. Then stick around till the clock strikes midnight and catch the fireworks spectacular while standing in the final snowfall of the year as Celebration Town Center brings its 10th Anniversary Now Snowing event to a conclusion.

The event is free to the public and features bounce houses and interactive games for youth, Horse drawn carriage rides, snowfall at 6:00, 7:00, 8:00 and 9:00 PM and a final snowfall at midnight during the fireworks spectacular.

Brought to you by Lexin Capital, and sponsored in part by Schenck, The Celebration Town Tavern, and The Celebration Hotel. Now Snowing Nightly parking and admission are free. Celebration is conveniently located between Highway 192 and interstate 4 near Walt Disney World.

ICE! at Gaylord Palms Resort

Nov. 17, 2008 Through Jan. 4, 2009

How about an entire attraction hand-carved from ice and chilled to 9 degrees? Gaylord Palms presents this amazing holiday spectacle, created from nearly TWO MILLION pounds of ice!

In its sixth season, ICE! will reflect the theme 'Santa's Arctic Blast,' featuring several scenes that star 'Jolly Cold Saint Nicholas' himself. One such scene is a colossal Santa Claus photo opportunity.   The scene is carved in an oversized scale, allowing adults to be dwarfed by Santa when they sit on his knee.  The resulting photo is sure to be a guest favorite!  

Another popular element, the ICE! castle and slides, have been re-designed to celebrate Santa's Christmas Eve flight... reindeer and all.  The Nativity, carved in painstaking detail from crystal-clear ice, has been called one of the most stirring depictions of the birth of Christ.  A revised design, and a dramatic narrative, has made the scene even more immersive. 

 Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Nov. 10 through Dec. 19, 2008

This popular party, which takes place following regular Magic Kingdom park hours and requires a separate admission, brings a whole new level of Christmas to the most 'Christmasy' park in Orlando. Specifically: Nov. 10, 11, 14, 16, 20, 21, 30; Dec. 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19.

Beginning at 7 p.m., guests with tickets to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party can enjoy a holiday celebration featuring festive live stage shows, the famous 'Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parade,' Disney characters in their holiday best for meet-and-greets and the nighttime spectacular 'Holiday Wishes--Celebrate the Spirit of the Season,' a winter wonderland of dazzling fireworks set to classic holiday tunes.

No holiday celebration would be complete without snow -- even in Florida, where the weather outside is hardly frightful. At Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party there is a 100 percent chance of flurries on Main Street, U.S.A each party night. And just in case the sight causes a chill: complimentary hot cocoa and cookies are served. In addition to the holiday fun, guests can enjoy many of the most popular Magic Kingdom attractions.

Christmas at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Nov. 28, 2008 through Jan. 4, 2009

The Streets of America backlot area sparkles with millions of twinkling lights during the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. The Disney holiday tradition brightens the park, illuminating everything from trees to porches with millions of sparkling bulbs. The spectacle was originally the creation of Arkansas businessman and philanthropist Jennings Osborne.  It began 19 years ago when Jennings strung 1,000 red lights as a Christmas gift to his daughter Breezy. Soon, their 22,000-square-foot home was covered in millions of lights ... and the display continued to grow and glow. After the home exhibit grew larger over several years, the Arkansas Supreme Court ordered the display to be turned off.  The million-light display was transported to Disney-MGM Studios in 1995, where the spectacle continues to grow larger and brighter each year. Some of Osborne's original creations still sparkling brightly at the park today are a giant Mickey Mouse light, dozens of flying angels and Santa Claus light designs.  In 2006, the lights took a high-tech turn... with a light-show synchronized to holiday music (hence the addition of the word 'Dancing' to its official title!).

 

Holidays Around the World at Epcot.
Nov. 28 through Dec. 30, 2008

Epcot s. World Showcase is home to international holiday lore and legends during the Holidays Around the World celebration. Guests can not only meet Santa Claus in the American Adventure showcase, but they also have the opportunity to hear storytellers detail the adventures of Phre Nokl in France, La Befana in Italy and other legends from around the world. Kwanzaa and Hanukkah holidays are also observed.

At nightfall, Disney characters host a giant tree-lighting ceremony, complete with music and storytelling, in World Showcase Plaza. A dazzling synchronized light show -- 'The Lights of Winter' -- illuminates a canopy adorning the World Showcase breezeway bridge. The Epcot evening spectacular of lights, lasers and fireworks, 'Illuminations: Reflections of Earth,' completes the celebration with a magical holiday finale. As an added bonus, guests with a long holiday shopping list will discover one-of-a-kind gifts with international flair throughout World Showcase.

 

Candlelight Processional at Epcot.
Nov. 28 through Dec. 30, 2008

As part of Holidays Around the World, Epcot. presents a longtime Disney holiday tradition -- Candlelight Processional. The extremely popular nightly spectacle treats guests to a grand musical performance by a mass choir and 50-piece orchestra who are joined by celebrity narrators in retelling of the beloved story of Christmas.The 2008 run include 12 celebrity narrators, including Neil Patrick Harris ('How I Met Your Mother' and 'Doogie Howser MD') and Angela Bassett ('How Stella Got Her Groove Back') . Presentations of Candlelight Processional are included with regular Epcot admission.

 

Christmas at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Nov. 28, 2008 through Jan. 4, 2009

Jolly jingle will fill the jungle as Disney's Animal Kingdom. is spiritedly transformed for the holiday season. A luminous 65-foot tree sparkling at the park's entrance sets the stage as the holiday season goes on safari with 'Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade' daily.

At Camp Minnie-Mickey, guests can meet Disney characters dressed in their holiday best while carolers fill the air with renditions of favorite seasonal classics at Santa Goofy's Holiday Village. The ornamentally decorated village features Christmas and character trees, live entertainers and holiday photo opportunities.

 

MACY*S Holiday Parade at Universal Studios Dec. 6 through Jan. 1 The world's most famous parade has become a holiday experience for park guests at Universal Studios., featuring some of the most popular balloons and floats from the famous MACY'S Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.  The excitement and pageantry of the parade, complete with a festive tree-lighting ceremony by Santa Claus himself, is exhibited each day of the holiday season through the New Year.  And in late December, marvel at the cinematic spectacular of the Universal 360SM nighttime show.

 

Grinchmas at Islands of Adventure
Dec. 6 through Jan. 1

Join in the fun at Islands of Adventure as Seuss Landing is once again transformed into the wintry wonderland of Grinchmas featuring our incredibly popular live musical performance of How The Grinch Stole Christmas. This hilarious and heart-warming live show stars The Grinch himself and features music recorded by Mannheim Steamroller, along with a whole town full of singing and dancing Whos. Then stroll around the Whoville Wonky Tree Lot and take in the whimsical Wholiday decorations

 

The Polar Express Experience
Nov. 14, 2008 through Jan. 4, 2009

This holiday season, jump aboard The Polar Express Experience at SeaWorld for a magical trip to the North Pole.   SeaWorld's Wild Arctic similator has been transformed into a thrilling, never-before-experienced expedition to the fabled Santa Town.