Disney Parks 'Dream' Up Star-Studded Spectacular for 24th Annual Christmas Day Parade Holiday Special on ABC-TV December 25th

Disney Parks 'Dream' Up Star-Studded Spectacular for 24th Annual Christmas Day Parade Holiday Special on ABC-TV December 25th

Stars scheduled to appear in Emmy Award-winning special include Jessica Simpson, Miley Cyrus, Patti LaBelle, Josh Groban, cast from "High School Musical 2," favorites from "Dancing with the Stars," The Jonas Bros., Menudo, Katharine McPhee, Harlem Gospel Choir, and more!

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- This winter, cozy up and get ready for the holidays - Disney style - as Disney Parks prepares to shine brighter than ever when many of today's biggest stars gather on both coasts for the 24th annual "Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade." On December 25, hosts Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa once again will lead the Emmy Award-winning holiday special from Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., and Ryan Seacrest will again host from Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif.

The special will air December 25, 10 a.m. Eastern and 9 a.m. Central, Mountain and Pacific times on ABC-TV, and will be broadcast in HD for the first time.

The "Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade" is sure to sparkle as it glides down Main Street U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom park in Florida and Disneyland park in California to a brand-new musical score.

In addition to the celebrity performances and appearances, this year, viewers will celebrate Christmas morning with "Enchanting" new Disney characters, plundering pirates, some of Disney's favorite holiday traditions and awe-inspiring floats - all sprinkled with pixie dust.

Stars Shine on Christmas Morning

Stars from stage, screen and song will shine throughout the two-hour special, with a Christmas morning entertainment lineup for the entire family. Featured performances include (talent subject to change):

   -- Kicking off the special will be a blockbuster performance from the hit      show "Dancing With The Stars." Newly crowned champion Helio      Castroneves, Sabrina Bryan, Joey Fatone and Drew Lachey with their      professional dance partners Julianne Hough, Mark Ballas, Kym Johnson,      and Cheryl Burke will perform an original holiday dance number      choreographed by "Dancing With The Stars" dancer Tony Dovolani and sung      by Grammy Award-winning Latin singer Jon Secada.   -- America's hottest entertainment sensation, Miley Cyrus, the multi-      talented performer and star of Disney Channel's popular series "Hannah      Montana," will sing the energetic, seasonal favorite "All I Want for      Christmas is You."   -- Stars from Disney Channel's blockbusters "High School Musical" and      "High School Musical 2" - Vanessa Hudgens, Corbin Bleu, Monique      Coleman, and Ashley Tisdale - will give a holiday twist to one of the      popular tunes from "High School Musical 2."  The group performs a      customized version of the hit song "What Time Is It?" and answers the      song title's question with a new musical answer, "It's Christmas Time!"   -- Internationally renowned vocalist Josh Groban will perform the melodic      holiday classic "Silent Night" from his new Christmas CD, "Noel."   -- Songstress and R&B legend Patti LaBelle, who recently released her      newest CD, "Miss Patti's Christmas," will perform "It's the Most      Wonderful Time of the Year."   -- Multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter Jessica Simpson will bring the      curtain down on this year's special with a moving rendition of the      Christmas classic, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." Joining Simpson will      be the world-famous, New York-based Harlem Gospel Choir that has      performed for Nelson Mandela and the late Pope John Paul II.   -- One of the hottest musical trios performing today, sibling pop-rockers      the Jonas Brothers, sing one of their latest tunes, a seasonal pop-rock      song titled "Girl of My Dreams."   -- Latin superstar sensation Menudo will debut their version of the      holiday favorite "This Christmas."   -- "American Idol" sweetheart Katharine McPhee will perform a Disney      Princess-inspired number, singing a medley of some of Disney's classic      tunes.    Power Rangers, Potato Heads & Princesses, Oh My!  The Parade Rolls On  

Disney's newest princess, lovely lady Giselle from the new Walt Disney Pictures smash-hit film, "Enchanted," will make her first small-screen appearance during the special as she takes center stage along with Disney's most treasured characters including: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pinocchio, Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Ariel and Jasmine. Disney's characters will be decked out in their holiday best and joined by gingerbread men, snowmen, toy soldiers and reindeer throughout the show.

Traveling down Main Street U.S.A. at both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, the parade will introduce several new floats this year, including:

   -- The "Rat Pack" is back at Disneyland Resort, with a "Ratatouille" float      spicing up the day.  The float, inspired by this summer's Disney*Pixar      hit animated film, features wanna-be chef Remy and his Parisian pals.   -- A "Toy Story" float featuring Disney*Pixar pals Woody, Buzz Lightyear,      Jesse, and their 'toon pals having a joyful - and toyful - holiday      celebration.   

Some of the other highlighted parade floats featured during the bi-coastal holiday celebration:

   -- A Christmas Tree float with holiday hosts Mickey Mouse and Minnie      Mouse.   -- Disney Parks' famous Toy Soldiers will march in the Toyland March.   -- Disney*Pixar's "Cars" will be featured, with gear-jamming good times      from the film's car stars, Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater.   -- Aladdin and Jasmine make their way in the procession on horseback.   -- Popular stars from Playhouse Disney, "Monster's Inc." and the Power      Rangers make special holiday appearances.   -- A Royal Candlelight Ball is featured, including Snow White, Prince      Charming, Sleeping Beauty, Prince Phillip, Mulan and Shang.   -- The Seven Dwarfs trade in their usual diamond mine duties for a very      special, jeweled holiday tree float.   -- Closing the parade portion of the program is the big guy himself, Santa      Claus, and his trusty reindeer.    See More in HD - for the First Time!  

Broadcast in HD and Surround Sound for the first time, the 24th annual "Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade" airs on ABC Christmas Day. The show will also be broadcast in English and Spanish (SAP).

Editor's Note: High-resolution news photographs of this year's "Walt
Disney World Christmas Day Parade" can be downloaded for news/editorial
purposes at the following URL: www.wdwpress.com/christmasparade.
For additional information about Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort
or Disney Parks' "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration, news media may visit
Disney Parks' media-only sites - www.wdwnews.com or www.disneylandnews.com

Source: Disney Parks

CONTACT: Lauren Mackiel, LMackiel@coynepr.com, or Joanna DiNizio,
JDiNizio@coynepr.com, both of Coyne PR, for Disney Parks, +1-973-316-1665;
Gary Buchanan of Disney Parks PR, +1-407-566-5326, Gary.Buchanan@disney.com

Web site: http://www.wdwnews.com/
http://www.disneylandnews.com/
http://www.wdwpress.com/christmasparade

---

Profile: International Entertainment