Disney4me

On Writing: Kelly Marcel, who wrote the script for 'Saving Mr. Banks,' says she became protective of P.L. Travers, 'so viscerally so that it was difficult for me to let her go.' Every writer who sits down and begins a screenplay thinks they know why they're doing it. Knowing why is essential to the process. But sometimes — maybe all of the time— we're fooling ourselves. We don't truly understand why we've written something until long after we're done. View the full article

If you can't make it to Disney Parks this holiday season, you can enjoy some of the festivities from the comfort of your own home. The 30th Annual "Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade" returns to ABC-TV on Christmas morning with a star-studded line-up of performers and many of your favorite Disney characters. View the full article

Disney World has announced its complete lineup for the 2014 edition of Night of Joy, a two-night Christian-music event at Magic Kingdom next fall. View the full article

The new “World of Color - Winter Dreams” at Disney California Adventure park is a holiday version of the popular “World of Color” nighttime spectacular. It has new special effects and new music, and is making new holiday memories for our guests. It opens with the “World of Color” Honor Choir, a collection of beautiful voices submitted by Disney Parks fans from all 50 states. So, what’s the story behind how this choir was created online? The “World of Color” Honor Choir is directed by Grammy®-winning composer Eric Whitacre. He’s created many virtual choirs and we’re glad he helped create this one with us. A few months ago, participants submitted their voices through a special “World of Color” Honor Choir website, singing “Glow,” a song composed by Whitacre himself. Actually, I’ll let him explain how it all came together. Disney Parks Blog interviewed him online via live link from London. Enjoy! View the full article

I know it’s still 2013, but I wanted to give you a heads up on the exciting plans we have for Disney’s Night of Joy 2014. View the full article

This year was a memorable one at our parks, with new attractions opening, favorite restaurants being reimagined, and new entertainment debuting to guests. Of course, one of our favorite ways to share what’s new at Disney Parks is through our Disney Parks Blog Meet-Ups. Here’s a look back at the meet-up events we held in 2013. View the full article

This week, we continued our holiday celebration on the Disney Parks Blog with a wonderful behind-the-scenes look at how we decorate at the Disneyland Resort. View the full article

This week on the Disney Parks Blog, we shared a several dining updates that are here for the season - or will be coming soon - to Disney theme parks. View the full article

Our colleagues at Walt Disney Imagineering just completed the final effort of their “60 for 60” initiative - a pledge during WDI’s 60th anniversary year to sponsor or take part in at least 60 outreach efforts in the communities where Imagineering operates. View the full article

I first became acquainted with the music of R5 and their continually growing popularity from my two kids. R5 is made of up Disney Channel star Ross Lynch, his sister Rydell, brothers Riker and Rocky, and their close friend Ratliff. I then had the special privilege to hang out with the Lynch family for a couple of days here at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, as the group took to the beach to perform their song “Pass Me By.” I shared a bit of Hawaiian culture with their 'ohana, and they returned the favor by playing bit of their mele – music – for all of us. View the full article

Chances are you haven’t seen a majority of our beautiful Christmas trees at Disney Parks - they’re in every park this time of year. So, as we begin the weekend and head into Christmas week, we’re sharing some favorites. View the full article

As part of our commitment to be a good corporate citizen, and to give back to the communities we serve, Disney supports efforts around the world that make a positive impact on children and their families. Every year, tens of thousands of Cast Members make volunteering a priority, building on a tradition Walt Disney himself started when he – along with Disney animators – would visit local hospitals to draw characters for children. View the full article

Fifty-five years ago today, on December 20, 1958, a tradition began at Disneyland park that continues to this day, both here at the Disneyland Resort and at Epcot in the Walt Disney World Resort. The Candlelight Ceremony and Processional is a Disney Parks holiday mainstay, in which celebrity narrators join choirs comprised of local choral groups and Disney cast members to celebrate the Christmas story. Over the years, celebrity narrators have included stars like Cary Grant, John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart and James Earl Jones. View the full article

Christmas is just a few days away. Still have no idea what to give this holiday season? For most of my friends and me, a little something from Basin is always appreciated. I love the scent of practically everything in the store and whenever I stop in, I have to try out their latest sugar scrub. (I mean it. Every. Time.) I often buy Basin products as gifts for others, but I rarely treat myself. Want to put a smile on my face? I’ll take a few bath bombs or a custom soap, please! View the full article

On one level, the new historical dramedy "Saving Mr. Banks" chronicles the efforts of studio head Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) to persuade the cantankerous British author P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) to allow her "Mary Poppins" children's books to be made into a movie. View the full article

Gather your favorite droids, nerf herders, walking carpets and scoundrels and make plans to attend Star Wars Weekends 2014. We’re pleased today to announce the dates for next year’s Force-filled special event. View the full article

As part of Limited Time Magic this week, I’m happy to share that merchandise featuring artwork selected by Disney fans earlier this year will be arriving at Disney Parks starting December 22, 2013. View the full article

There are so many wonderful places to photograph during the Holidays at the Disneyland Resort. One of my favorites is Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, which is commonly photographed from the front. In some of my past Disney Parks Blog posts, I have talked about walking around a subject, looking at all the sides to see whether there may be angles that are more interesting. The photo below is one example; I took it from the left side of the castle, next to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. View the full article

Last week ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World played host to the 2013 Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer & Dance Championships. Sixty-four football teams and more than 400 cheer and dance teams from across the country, including Hawaii, battled their way through regional competitions to experience their “I’m going to Disney World” moment and play for national titles. View the full article

Our latest Disney Parks Blog downloadable wallpaper celebrates a fun tradition of the holiday season - decorating a Christmas tree. In this one, Mickey Mouse and Goofy struggle to get the job done when Pluto has some fun with the lights. View the full article

Disney’s highly anticipated “Saving Mr. Banks” hits theaters across the nation tomorrow, and the excitement only gets bigger with the “practically perfect” Southern California: Disney Backstage itinerary from Adventures by Disney. This trip allows you to walk through and experience some of the locations where the movie was filmed. View the full article

There are dozens of holiday entertainment options here at the Walt Disney World Resort, from choirs to characters in costume, we have just about everything you could imagine! View the full article

On Wednesday night, we celebrated the 15th anniversary of ‘La Nouba’ by Cirque du Soleil with a special pre-show moment and balloon drop finale. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse were joined Neil Boyd, Company Manager of La Nouba, Keith Bradford, Vice President of Downtown Disney, and 'Les Cons' to kick off the 7,124th performance of the show. The cast received a standing ovation and 15th anniversary balloons rained down on the crowd. Guests in attendance received a special-edition 15th anniversary print to commemorate the milestone. View the full article

LOS ANGELES Jason Schwartzman didn't realize until he was cast as songwriter Richard M. Sherman in "Saving Mr. Banks" how familiar he was with his work. View the full article

With new contract talks looming, two of Walt Disney World's largest unions said Thursday more than 7,000 of their members have voted in favor of a new contract proposal that they intend to offer to the giant resort. View the full article