EPCOT HOLIDAY TRADITION: Neil Patrick Harris, the Emmy Award-nominated star of the hit television series “How I Met Your Mother” and former star of the hit series “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” will be the guest narrator for the Candlelight Processional at Epcot Nov. 29-Dec. 1, 2007. Presented in the World Showcase America Gardens Theatre at 5, 6:45 & 8:15 p.m., the event is one of the most beloved holiday traditions at Walt Disney World, featuring a joyous retelling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator — accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and a glorious mass choir. (Garth Vaughan, photographer)
MOUSE CALLS: Families that book a trip to Walt Disney World Resort between November 26th and December 23rd can arrange for a special call from Mickey Mouse on Christmas Day to deliver the news.
HAPPY HOLLY-DAYS: The “Fairest of them All” — Snow White — stars in the “Hollywood Holly-Days Parade,” the popular seasonal parade at the Disney-MGM Studios. Snow White and dozens of Disney characters join the fun each day in the Christmas-time cavalcade. (Kent Phillips, photographer)
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A GOOFY SLEIGH RIDE: Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Rob Thomas poses with Santa Goofy Nov. 24, 2007 in Santa’s Sleigh at the Magic Kingdom theme park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Thomas, a solo artist and lead singer of the multi-platinum-selling rock/pop group “matchbox twenty,” was on vacation with friends and family at Walt Disney World Resort during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Thomas and “matchbox twenty” kick off their 33-city concert tour on Jan. 25, 2008. The band’s current single, “How Far We’ve Come,” is #15 this week on “Billboard” magazine’s “Hot 100″ chart and peaked at #3 on the “Hot Digital Tracks” chart. (Todd Anderson, photographer)
(NOV 22, 2007): “May,” the 2007 National Thanksgiving Turkey pardoned by President George W. Bush on Nov. 20, makes his grand entrance Nov. 22, 2007 in the Walt Disney World Thanksgiving Day Parade in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. as the Grand Marshal of the Magic Kingdom parade. “May” is accompanied by Disney’s “Mayor of Main Street, U.S.A” (left), Pilgrim Mickey Mouse (right) and a group of local children. President Bush pardoned “May” and another turkey, named “Flower,” on Tuesday. The pair of tom turkeys will reside in the backyard of Mickey Mouse’s house in the Magic Kingdom before moving to their new home at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. Disney Parks brought the Presidential Turkeys to Walt Disney World as part of Disney’s “Year of a Million Dreams,” a celebration where dreams are awarded to people — and now turkeys — throughout the year. Organized each year by the National Turkey Federation, this is the 60th anniversary of the tradition of Thanksgiving turkeys receiving Presidential pardons. (Gene Duncan, photographer)
TRADITION AT DISNEY WORLD – For 27 years, celebrants of the traditional Thanksgiving have gathered at Walt Disney World’s Ft. Wilderness Resort and Campground. More than one dozen tepees dot the grounds again this year and families bond around such activities as crafts, storytelling, scavenger hunts and – at suppertime on Thanksgiving – smoking turkeys over a large open pit. Enthusiasm for Native American culture and tepee dwellings first brought the campers together and inspired their Thanksgiving week tradition. (Garth Vaughan, photographer)
ENCHANTED: Disney’s newest star, Princess Giselle, has made her royal debut at Walt Disney World. She now makes special appearances as a prelude to the Hollywood Holly-Day Parade at the Disney-MGM Studios. Princess Giselle is the star of Enchanted, the new Walt Disney Pictures motion picture. The film, released nationwide Nov. 21, 2007, is a twist on the classic Disney fairytales which blends live-action, computer effects and hand-drawn animation. The film stars Academy Award-nominated actress Amy Adams, Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon and “Grey’s Anatomy” star Patrick Dempsey. (Kent Phillips, photographer)
HAPPY HOLLY-DAYS: ‘Tis the season for Happy Holly-Days at Walt Disney World. Mickey and Minnie Mouse celebrate in the “Hollywood Holly-Days Parade,” the popular seasonal parade at the Disney-MGM Studios. Mickey and Minnie, along with dozens of their ‘toon pals, join the fun each day in the Christmas-time cavalcade. (Kent Phillips, photographer)
THEY’RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!: In a photograph taken Friday, Nov, 16, 2007 at Ten Star Ranch in Dubois, Indiana, Pilgrim Mickey Mouse unveils the two turkeys that will receive presidential pardons from President George W. Bush at The White House on Tuesday, Nov. 20 in the 60th annual National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation.
Following their presidential pardons, the two turkeys will join Super Bowl stars and other celebrities by “Going to Disney World” for a celebratory parade in their honor on Nov. 22. The pair will be flown first-class to Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. to star in the Thanksgiving Day parade on Nov. 22 in the Magic Kingdom park.
On Nov. 16, Mickey Mouse joined National Turkey Federation chairman Ted Seger in the ceremony to introduce the 2007 National Thanksgiving Turkey and its alternate. Both of the tom turkeys were raised at Ten Star Ranch. They are 21-weeks old and weigh approximately 45 pounds each. U.S. President Harry S. Truman was the first Commander-in-Chief to be presented with a Thanksgiving turkey (in 1947) by the National Turkey Federation. This year’s presentation marks the 60th anniversary of a tradition that has continued through 10 successive presidential administrations. (Diana Zalucky, photographer)
