Florida Homes & Travel

Behind the scenes: The Chronicles of Narnia

In the great tradition of Disney attractions which put guests in the middle of movies and stories, Disney-MGM Studios will host an exciting walk-through experience based on the upcoming Disney Pictures and Walden Media motion picture release, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe."

For fans of C.S. Lewis’ timeless adventure, and for the worldwide audience who will be entranced by the new movie, Disney-MGM Studios transforms a soundstage into the frozen world of Narnia and takes guests behind the scenes of the movie-making magic of the epic film. The attraction, "Journey Into Narnia: Creating The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe," is scheduled to open Dec. 9, the same day the film premieres around the world.

Guests will enter the frozen world of Narnia through a giant wardrobe and be surrounded by a wintry landscape, enormous trees, and a replica of the lamppost as seen in the movie. In the distance, they will see the house of Mr. Tumnus, one of the central characters, beneath a rock bluff outcropping and the White Witch’s Castle. All in all, Walt Disney World guests will feel as though they have really entered the magical world of C.S. Lewis’ story.

Guests will exit through a gallery that showcases elaborate creatures, costumes, armor, maquettes, storyboards, props and set pieces used in the making of the film.

"We are very excited to showcase this spectacular film in such a grand fashion," said Michael O’Grattan, vice president for Disney-MGM Studios. "Immersing guests in the magic of show business is what the Disney-MGM Studios is all about. This experience is the perfect addition to our lineup of thrilling movie, TV and music-themed attractions."

Oren Aviv, president of Buena Vista Pictures Marketing, added, "The land of Narnia is such a magical place in the C.S. Lewis books and in Disney’s exciting motion picture adaptation. This walk-through experience is a great way for fans of the story to climb through the wardrobe, let their imaginations run wild, and enter this world for themselves. Director Andrew Adamson has done a brilliant job visualizing this fantasy world on film in ’The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe,’ and this very special experience adds an exciting and unique new dimension."

"Journey Into Narnia: Creating The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" is included with regular admission to Disney-MGM Studios. Disney-MGM Studios immerses guests in the glamour of show business 365 days a year with thrilling attractions, incredible Broadway-style shows, world-class atmosphere entertainment and interactive film, television and radio production facilities. The theme park is part of the 30,500-acre Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.

Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights

The holiday season at Walt Disney World Resort will have even more sparkle as the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights is extended to 56 glittering nights -- Nov. 14 through Jan. 8, 2006.

Each evening will feature two presentations of "Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parade," holiday storytelling, live music, unique merchandise, exclusive Disney character shows and appearances by Santa Goofy. Plus, a special new addition to the event -- "Holiday Wishes - Celebrate the Spirit of the Season" -- a holiday-themed fireworks display. The fireworks spectacular is set to classic holiday music and paints a winter wonderland in the sky.

And that’s not all: word has it that the weather forecast calls for a 100 percent chance of snow falling on Main Street, U.S.A. (but guests need not lace their snow boots and don wool mittens for Disney’s "Florida snow"). Complimentary cookies and hot cocoa will keep guests nice n’ toasty. Plus, families can enjoy unlimited admission to popular Magic Kingdom attractions.

Tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party are $43.95 plus tax for guests ages 10 and above, $34.95 plus tax for guests ages 3-9. (Guests can save $5 for select dates by purchasing in advance.)

More nights of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and a special holiday fireworks show aren’t the only things that are new this holiday season. The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights at Disney-MGM Studios starts earlier than ever, growing to 56 nights. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is set to unwrap more days of "Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade." Plus, Epcot’s Candlelight Processional will feature several new celebrity narrators.

Rita Moreno Narrates Candlelight Processional at Epcot Nov. 25-27

As part of the Holidays Around the World celebration, Epcot presents a longtime Disney holiday tradition -- Candlelight Processional -- from Nov. 25 through Dec. 30, 2005. Candlelight Processional treats guests to a grand musical performance by a mass choir and 50-piece orchestra who are joined by celebrity narrators retelling the Christmas story.

The 2005 processional is even more special with seven new narrators added to the mix. The celebrity lineup includes actor Haley Joel Osment, who starred in such films as "Artificial Intelligence: AI" and "The Sixth Sense."

The renowned show is staged each evening at 5, 6:45 and 8:15 p.m. at America Gardens Theatre.

The celebrity lineup (subject to change):

Nov. 25-27 - Rita Moreno (from "West Side Story")
Nov. 28-30 - *New* Phil Donahue (former talk-show host)
Dec. 1-3 - *New* Haley Joel Osment (from "Artificial Intelligence: AI" and "The Sixth Sense")
Dec. 4-6 - *New* Cicely Tyson (Emmy Award-winning actress)
Dec. 7-9 - *New* Jaci Velasquez (Christian music artist)
Dec. 10-12 - Eartha Kitt (from TV’s "Batman")
Dec. 13-15 - *New* Lou Diamond Phillips (from "Young Guns" and "La Bamba")
Dec. 16-18 - *New* Harry Hamlin (from TV’s "L.A. Law")
Dec. 19-21 - Marlee Matlin (from TV’s "The West Wing")
Dec. 22-24 - Jim Caviezel (from "The Passion of the Christ")
Dec. 25-27 - *New* John Stamos (from TV’s "Full House")
Dec. 28-30 - Stephen Curtis Chapman (Christian music’s most-decorated artist)
Special Candlelight Processional dinner packages are available, which include dinner at an Epcot restaurant plus preferred seating for the nightly choral performance. For more information and reservations, guests may call 407/WDW-DINE.

’Happiest Celebration on Earth’ Salutes 50 Years of Disney Magic

Spectacular attractions have been imported to Walt Disney World Resort from Disney destinations all over the globe as the Florida Vacation Kingdom stages the biggest celebration in its history.

But the 18-month jubilee beginning May 5, 2005 -- "Happiest Celebration on Earth" -- is part of something bigger yet: a worldwide Disney theme park commemoration of the 50th anniversary of California’s Disneyland, the original Disney park.

’Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade’ Scheduled Daily at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Nov. 13-Jan. 8

Featuring whimsical floats, larger-than-life puppetry, Disney characters and a joyous world-beat soundtrack, "Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade" takes place daily at Disney’s Animal Kingdom from Nov. 13, 2005, to Jan. 8, 2006.

Hidden Mickeys

As millions of guests scurry throughout Walt Disney World Resort to see Mickey Mouse, little do they realize they may be passing him right by.

And though the Mickeys they miss are not the life-sized, two-legged and three-fingered variety, they are "Hidden Mickeys" -- silhouettes and abstract images of Mickey Mouse cleverly hidden by Disney Imagineers across the 47-square-mile Vacation Kingdom.

Hidden Mickeys began as an inside joke among Walt Disney Imagineers, the artists and engineers who design Disney parks and attractions. As word spread of these subtle tributes to Walt’s famous mouse, guests sought to find them all.

That search continues today.

Like Easter eggs, Hidden Mickeys have been placed secretly (and not so secretly) by Imagineers at locations across Walt Disney World Resort. Imagineers include Hidden Mickeys when designing, building or putting the finishing touches on a new attraction or hotel, hiding silhouettes, profiles and other images of Mickey Mouse in murals, queue areas and even golf course sand traps.

"The popularity of Hidden Mickeys has just snowballed with guests," says Dave Smith, founder and main archivist for Walt Disney Archives, and author of Disney: A to Z. "Many will almost use a magnifying glass through the parks to find as many as they can."

No one knows how many Hidden Mickeys exist throughout Walt Disney World Resort, since Imagineers have never kept an official roster documenting their existence.

In fact, no one knows when the first Hidden Mickey even appeared. And, since attractions are renovated and updated periodically, many have appeared and disappeared through the years.

Where the next Hidden Mickey will appear is anyone’s guess.

Here are some hints to start your quest for Hidden Mickeys at Walt Disney World Resort:

Magic Kingdom

While the Haunted Mansion boasts "999 Happy Haunts," it also has one "mouse" -- a Hidden Mickey formed by an arrangement of dishes on the table in the attraction’s banquet scene.
A Hidden Mickey enjoys a lazy day on the river in the final scene in Frontierland’s Splash Mountain. A pink cloud floating high above the "Zip-A-Dee Lady" paddlewheeler bears a striking resemblance to a profile of Mickey lying on his back.
Epcot

Mickey goes around the world in Norway, Gateway to Scandinavia. A burly Viking sports a pair of Mickey Mouse ears on the mural above the queue line for Maelstrom, the pavilion’s boatride attraction.
Mickey Mouse has always been the brightest of stars. And at Spaceship Earth in Epcot Future World, Mickey is actually hidden in his own constellation just beyond the attraction’s loading area.
Disney-MGM Studios

A subtle Hidden Mickey can be found in the supernatural realm of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. The young child actress who vanishes from the Hollywood Tower Hotel one stormy night is clutching a Mickey Mouse doll in the attraction’s pre-show.
Mickey rocks his way into Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. Two Hidden Mickeys were placed in the tile floor in the attraction’s rotunda area.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Mickey can be "spotted" in the Pizzafari restaurant in the park’s Discovery Island. His silhouette can be found on a wall mural, cleverly hidden among leopard spots.
Mickey really digs The Boneyard in DinoLand U.S.A. In the woolly mammoth dig site, Mickey has been formed with a fan and two hard hats.
There are more than 25 Hidden Mickeys at Rafiki’s Planet Watch, with Mickey found hidden in murals, tree trunks and paintings of animals.
Resorts

Mickey is remembered by golfers around the world for his contribution to the sixth hole of Disney’s Magnolia golf course. A Hidden Mickey forms a giant sand trap that looms ominously next to the green. (Many golfers have not been too happy to find this Hidden Mickey, however, especially when they discover their golf ball has found it, as well.)
Golfers at Disney’s Eagle Pines and Osprey Ridge golf courses may hone their skills on another giant Hidden Mickey. Mickey’s head is used as a putting green at the courses’ clubhouse area.
Mickey always knows the right direction at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, where a Hidden Mickey is found on the weather vane atop the convention center.
At Downtown Disney Marketplace, a Hidden Mickey provides its share of splash-tastic fun. Interactive fountains at the entrance of the shopping, dining and entertainment district form Mickey’s familiar silhouette -- providing a waterful time for children (and a surprising number of adults) who frolic in the leaping waters.