Disneyland Celebrates Holidays With New Fireworks Show

Anaheim, CA -- The Disneyland Resort in Southern California will become 'The Merriest Place on Earth' beginning Friday, November 3, when Disneyland Park celebrates the season with a festive array of Yuletide entertainment, including a new fireworks spectacular, and dazzling decorations throughout its magical theme lands.

The Park's traditional "A Christmas Fantasy" parade, will be presented daily from Thanksgiving Day, November 23, through January 1, 2001. The Disneyland Hotel and The Disneyland Pacific Hotel will also join in the fun starting Thanksgiving Day, offering their own holiday activities and cheery decor. All the Christmastime features throughout the entire Disneyland Resort will then continue every day through New Year's Day, January 1, 2001.

As a new Disneyland feature, "Believe· In Holiday Magic," a special version of the Park's popular 45th anniversary fireworks spectacular, will be presented nightly from November 3 through January 1. Three times larger than past fireworks shows at Disneyland, this colorful aerial production will combine an enchanting Yuletide storyline, holiday music and a shimmering array of pyrotechnics launched from 13 backstage locations.

The classic "it's a small world" attraction will again be transformed into "it's a small world holiday" with an enchanting Yuletide atmosphere that creates a different way to experience this favorite. Guests will discover scenes that feature the holiday decorations of each international region, special effects and more than 300 animated "Children of the World" happily singing "Jingle Bells" and "Deck the Halls" in counterpoint to the "it's a small world" theme.

The mall and facade of "it's a small world holiday" will be dressed with over 300,000 glittery lights, international decorations and topiaries to create a twinkling nighttime wonderland.

A perennial holiday highlight is the Park's Yuletide pageant, "A Christmas Fantasy," which will be performed daily from Thanksgiving Day, November 23 through Monday, January 1, 2001 along Main Street, U.S.A. The magical holiday procession depicts a wondrous collection of colorful floats, music and a cast of Disney characters. Toy soldiers from the Disney film "Babes in Toyland" march in step, Santa Claus waves from his airborne sleigh, Disney characters cavort in Dickens-inspired scenes and friendly snowmen dance along the parade route, among many other sights.

Returning for its second season at Disneyland will be a Southern-style Christmas celebration in the Park's New Orleans Square theme land. The charming district will come alive with festive displays of special New Orleans decorations and lights that will be draped from balconies and stretched across the narrow streets. Upbeat Dixieland versions of traditional holiday melodies will fill the air, provided by talented street performers.

On Main Street, U.S.A., a 60-foot-tall Christmas tree decked with 8,000 lights and ornaments will form a fanciful centerpiece in Town Square, and all the area's shops will be adorned with colorful decorations and offer Yuletide merchandise. Friendly Main Street "townspeople" will stroll about, singing carols and heartily welcoming guests to their old-fashioned neighborhood.

Frontierland will be decked with rustic decor pieces including cornhusk garland; wood wreaths with berries, nuts and pinecones; and natural leaf garland. Sleeping Beauty Castle will take on an especially magical look with elaborate ornaments and old-style lanterns that glow with candlelight. The holiday cheer will also spread to Mickey's Toontown, where the characters' domain will be decorated with crazy "toon" garland, lights and Christmas trees.

In every corner of the resort, a wealth of holiday foods, snacks and beverages will be available at Disneyland restaurants, counter locations and street carts.

The Disneyland Hotel and The Disneyland Pacific Hotel will be festooned for the season with thousands of lights, decor and entertainment, Thanksgiving Day, November 23 through New Year's Day, January 1, 2001.

On the Great Lawn at The Disneyland Hotel, Goofy and other Disney pals will host a fun-filled Christmas tree-lighting ceremony each evening. Another hotel feature, the Holiday Fantasy Waters Show, will showcase nightly performances of dancing fountains of water synchronized to a mix of Disney and Yuletide tunes. Both hotels will host visits from a variety of Disney princesses such as Snow White and Cinderella who will lead storytelling, and Santa Claus will listen to children's wishes daily through December 24.

For a tasteful experience, guests can dine at "Goofy's Holiday Feast," a Yuletide dinner buffet presented in Goofy's Kitchen at The Disneyland Hotel. Santa Goofy and other characters will greet guests at their tables, the restaurant will be brightly decorated and a special holiday menu will be served.

Another restaurant with character, "Minnie's Mistletoe Magic," will offer a breakfast buffet every morning at The Disneyland Pacific Hotel. Children can join Minnie Mouse and her friends for interactive fun during their mealtime visit.

In addition, the "Twelve Days of Christmas Tea" in the Victorian-style tearoom at The Disneyland Pacific Hotel will offer special teas and baked goods throughout much of the holiday season. A surprise visit from a certain English nanny, famous for "A Spoonful of Sugar" and her magical abilities, will highlight each tea.

On New Year's Eve, December 31, Disneyland Park will extend its operating hours from 8 a.m. to 3 a.m. and will present a special midnight fireworks spectacular above Sleeping Beauty Castle to ring in the New Year in dazzling fashion.