High School Musical Keeps Rocking

Two years ago today, Disney Channel Original Movies released the sequel to High School Musical. The TV movie’s first installment, which premiered January 20th of 2006 took off like never before. It became the most successful Disney TV movie ever. Ratings were through the roof and Ashley Tisdale, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens became overnight sensations and household names. The merchandising behind the franchise has brought in millions of dollars and everyone from kids to adults has been enjoying the High School Musical franchise ever since. The musical was even parodied on the hit series South Park—and you know you’ve made it big when South Park makes fun of you.

High School Musical 2 was an instant hit back in 2007. The sequel’s premiere brought in a total of 17.3 million viewers in the United States and made it the highest-rated Disney Channel Movie to date! Even the soundtracks have sold millions. The sound track to High School Musical was the best selling album in 2006! The story of High School Musical has, in some ways, been told before. Troy (Zac Efron) is the captain of the varsity basketball team and Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) is the quiet genius. Both want to try out for the East High School’s musical, an action that causes a rift between the two kids’ friends. Everyone sings out their frustrations as Troy and Gabriella begin to fall in love. It’s really a modern day high-school take on Romeo and Juliet.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year was released in theatres last October and grossed mega millions as the HSM franchise always does. While it marked the end of the franchise movie wise, Disney theme parks aren’t giving up on High School Musical anytime soon! On your next visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, East High School wannabes can enjoy High School Musical 3: Senior Year – Right Here! Right Now! “Wildcat Fever!” spreads over the Disney theme park as this 15-minute stage show kicks off right under the Sorcerer’s Hat! This full-on concert experience features concert lighting, crowd interaction and all of your favorite songs from the High School Musical movie soundtracks. Sing and dance right along as you enjoy the show. Don’t forget, with Halloween right around the corner you can also dress up as your favorite High School Musical star or a Wildcat cheerleader to support your favorite movie. If you’re looking to celebrate Halloween Disney style, don’t forget about Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party! You’re sure to find fellow Wildcats and Troy/Gabriella wannabes all over the Magic Kingdom.

La Nouba & Cirque Will Attempt World Record

Throughout the year, fans and entertainment seekers come from all over the world to Downtown Disney for one reason – to see Cirque du Soleil and its fantastic spectacle of dream and reality, La Nouba. However, this summer, Cirque du Soleil hopes that fans will return to Downtown Disney for a different reason: to show support and maybe even join in as the cast of La Nouba attempts to break a Guinness World Record in conjunction with other Cirque productions all over the world.

Five years after setting the first Guinness World Record for the most people simultaneously walking on stilts, Cirque du Soleil is attempting once again to reclaim the record (it has since been broken by the Japanese) in honor of its 25th anniversary. On Tuesday, June 16, the cast and crew of La Nouba, along with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, invite fans from all over the city to join them as they hold their stilt walk from 4 pm to 4:30 pm outside the La Nouba theatre at Downtown Disney.

Anyone can watch or even participate at the La Nouba crew and performers parade on stilts. CirqueduSoleil.com offers a stilt-making guide for those who want to march, along with a demo video demonstrating the process.

The June 16 event is actually one of several Cirque du Soleil stilt gatherings that will be taking place all over the world. The cast and crew of La Nouba will also be joined in other cities, simultaneously, by the teams of Kooza in New York, Varekai in Lisboa (Portugal), Zed in Tokyo, Zaia in Macau, Corteo in Nagoya (Japan), Quidam in Fortaleza (Brazil), and by the cast and crews of all six resident shows in Las Vegas. Cirque du Soleil employees will also gather in the Red Square in Moscow and at the international headquarters in Montreal.

To correspond with what will hopefully be a new Guinness World Record, La Nouba will hold a special event at the opening of the 6 pm performance that evening. All audience members will also be given a clown nose, which they’ll be asked to wear at some point during the show as a nod to Cirque’s 25-year history.

“Twenty-five years later, the dream continues, and these celebrations will kick off the next 25 years,” said Guy Laliberté, founder of Cirque du Soleil. “Our journey over the last 25 years was scattered with opportunities, some of which we decided to take, and others we found better to pass on. These choices sealed our success.”

To join in on Cirque and La Nouba’s anniversary celebrations, be sure to stop by Downtown Disney and try out your stilt-walk or make plans to see the 6 pm performance that night. Whichever activity you choose to participate in, you’re sure to experience a magical evening marked with Cirque’s signature style of spectacle and wonder. Get your La Nouba tickets right here on DWTickets.com to witness the 25th anniversary show.

Stitch’s SuperSonic Celebration Blasts off in Tomorrowland

Only one Disney character can bring musical madness, wacky wizardry, and futuristic fun to Walt Disney World, and that’s a fuzzy alien named Experiment 626. Also known as the “Guru of Gross-Out,” “the Maker of Mischief,” or just plain “Stitch,” this fuzzy extraterrestrial is now starring in his own live show at Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland. A new, high-energy, retro-futuristic music video dance party, this galactic spectacle debuted on May 6 with dazzling dance moves and comedic quips. And Stitch is inviting everyone to come party and celebrate along.

At the Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland, guests will join in an interactive experience where the outdoor stage comes alive with music, dancing, and real-time animation. The 25-minute show begins when a live broadcast of the Tomorrowland News Network, with your host Tip Trendo and the Galactic Girls, is interrupted by a mysterious video transmission. To everyone’s surprise, the cut up from Lilo & Stitch appears on screen via a giant LED screen and kicks off a Galaxy Day celebration of fun and surprises.

Audiences will laugh along as Tip and the Galactic Girls get to know Stitch, who’s “borrowed” a space cruiser. But this show isn’t a passive experience for the audience – they’ll talk and interact with Stitch too, who appears live on screen using the same real-time technology that appears in “Turtle Talk with Crush” and the “Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor.” Stitch’s SuperSonic Celebration will offer a different show every time as Stitch picks out members of the audiences, snaps their photograph, and leads the crowd in a playful dialogue.

Whether Stitch is commenting on the clothes audience members are wearing or asking them questions, guests will feel like part of the show during Stitch’s SuperSonic Celebration. And while Stitch cracks up the crowd, Tip and the girls will entertain with some space-age dance moves to original songs and classic grooves. They’ll even have some company on stage in the form of two malfunctioning, breakdancing robots, sent courtesy of one Mr. Stitch.

“Stitch’s SuperSonic Celebration’ immerses Tomorrowland guests into Stitch’s whimsical world using real-time animation technology,” said Kristine Bunnell, show producer for Walt Disney World Entertainment. “And during this year’s ‘What Will You Celebrate?’ our show gives guests another reason to party."

Stitch’s SuperSonic Celebration will take place six times daily at Magic Kingdom. And if you’re hankering for more Stitch-flavored fun, be sure to check out the Stitch’s Great Escape attraction at Magic Kingdom, where the mischievous blue alien attempts to escape from the outer space authorities.

Start your celebration with Stitch by getting Walt Disney World tickets from DWTickets.com.

Show hopping at Walt Disney World

As the weather gets cooler here in Orlando, it might be time to think twice before you brave the waters of Splash Mountain. Luckily when you purchase a Disney World ticket from DW Tickets there is a lot of world class entertainment that is included with it!

At the Magic Kingdom, don’t let the chilly weather get you down, head over to Fantasyland and experience Mickey’s Philharmagic Orchestra where you will be taken on a magical 4-D journey with Donald Duck as he enters Academy Award winning Disney films as you have never seen them before while he searches for Mickey’s Magic Hat!

Then dash over to Tomorrowland where you can meet the family of the future in the Carousel of Progress which is the longest running stage show with music from the Sherman Brothers (famous for writing the music to Mary Poppins) and was created by Walt Disney himself. Once you experience this rotating theatre with memorable songs you will want to see it again so you can sing-along!

After the Magic Kingdom make your way to Disney’s Hollywood Studios where they take their showbiz seriously! There you can see some of the best shows at the Walt Disney World Resort! Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage – takes the only animated film ever nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards and brings to life your favorite musical numbers!

Then close by is the Voyage of the Little Mermaid a high tech musical employing actors, projections, puppets, lasers, water, bubbles and so much more as they retell the touching tale of Ariel the Little Mermaid and Prince Eric! If you have kids you will want to make sure that they are able to catch a showing of High School the Musical – LIVE! This high energy recreation of the surprise Disney Channel hit is sure to get the blood pumping, and keep the spirits high on one of Orlando’s cool autumn days! If you need a little bit of excitement make sure you see one of the two (or both) stun shows! Indian Jones EPIC Stunt Show Spectacular and Lights Actions Motors Stunt Show are high energy, high tech, white knuckle stunt shows that will keep you on the edge of your seat and warm with all of the amazing and breath taking stunts and pyro techniques.

Now it is time to slow down and experience the Broadway caliber shows at Walt Disney World and you will only find those at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! When Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened its gates in 1998 people were not ready for the Festival of the Lion King! It quickly became the best, and most popular stage show on Walt Disney World property (and it remains that way to this day)! Employing cirque like show effects and a unique theatre in the round setting Festival of the Lion King is a touchstone of any family vacation to Orlando! Seriously, you cannot visit Orlando without seeing this show! Giving Festival of the Lion King a run for its money is Finding Nemo the Musical located in Dino Land USA where Tarzan Rocks once was. This once open air theatre has been enclosed and upgraded with state of the art equipment and a Broadway written story and score, and is fast becoming as popular as Festival of the Lion King!

Even though it cools down in Orlando during the fall, there is no reason why you can’t have a family vacation that is full of action, adventure, nostalgia and laughs! All you need is a Magic Your Way Ticket to the Walt Disney World Resort!