MI News Desk

Disney Cruise Line was names number one cruise line in the Large Ship category in the Conde Nast Traveler, 2012 Readers Choice Awards. Starting in 2013, guests will be able to choose from four-night Caribbean getaway cruises, six-night Western Caribbean sailings and eight-night itineraries that travel to Walt Disney World Resort and Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay. In December, the Disney Wonder will begin sailing from Miami, Florida to the Bahamas and the Western Caribbean.

In 2013, the Disney Magic returns to Europe with four-, seven- and 12-night sailings from Barcelona with first-ever stops in Venice, Italy, Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, Ephesus, Turkey and the Greek Isles. The Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream will continue to sail a variety of Caribbean and Bahamian itineraries departing from Port Canaveral, Florida.

Goldstar is currently offering 25% off tickets to see WRECK IT RALPH at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood.

As we previously mentioned, every showing of the movie will start with both Ralph and Vanellope live on stage! They will amp everyone up with the help of the El Capitan's very own DJ. After the movie, El Capitan guests will get a special behind-the-scenes look at the film with an exclusive Art of Wreck-It-Ralph Exhibit.

Click for more information on this awesome El Capitan Theater ticket discount.

Starting tomorrow at Walt Disney World in the Downtown Disney District, Festival of the Masters returns for its 37th year. The open-air fine arts festival features more than 150 artists including Disney Artist Village tent located at Pleasure Island. The event takes place from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

Disney released two teaser images for the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow attraction that is coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Dress rehearsals and previews begin in late November before the grand opening on December 6.

In it, guests will journey deep into an eerie lost grotto, where a mysterious pirate skull puts them to the test to see if they have what it takes to set sail with the legendary Captain Jack Sparrow. Along the way, they must face all the perils of a pirate’s life as their favorite moments from the films come to life before their eyes.

Although nothing is officially confirmed as yet, we're hearing that part of the holiday layover of the Mad T Party will include snow during some of the band's performances. It will be a true winter Wonderland in Disney California Adventure this year.

Disney has yet to officially announce any specific plans for the layover, saying only that "new wintertime fun rocks the night at “Mad T Party” as Alice and the Mad Hatter add their own brand of off-kilter holiday spirit to the nighttime celebration in Hollywood Land."

It is expected that the holiday version of Mad T Party could open as early as tomorrow, November 9th. Phineas and Ferb has been rocking out its holiday layover since it was converted for last weekend's Christmas Day Parade taping. Small World Holiday is also expected to soft open tomorrow along with Believe... There's Holiday Magic in the Stars.

As always, all of this is subject to change!

“The Happiest Balloon on Earth” is going to Leon, Guanajuato, to participate in the 11th annual International Balloon Festival, Nov. 16-19 in Metropolitan Ecological Park.

Mickey Mouse will appear in person during the festival’s Opening Ceremony on Friday, Nov. 16, and “The Happiest Balloon

Wreck-It Ralph presented our animators and technology team with a number of challenges when it came to creating the movie’s multi-dimensional – and very different – worlds. There’s the 8-bit-style gameplay of Fix-It Felix Jr. and the sophisticated first-person-shooter look of Hero’s Duty, as well as the cart racing game, Sugar Rush, set in a world made entirely of candy.

Disney recently recapped some of the technological innovations that were developed exclusively for WRECK IT RALPH.

Today Disneyland was transported back to the 1960's for the taping of "Saving Mr. Banks." Scenes were filmed yesterday in Fantasyland and today right inside the main gates. The extras were dressed in 1960 attire and retro props were used, including balloons and vending carts.

Also, over at Disney California Adventure Christmas has popped up at Buena Vista Street and Cars Land. The newly expanded areas feature custom decorations for the Holidays.

Disney Interactive announced yesterday that a demo of the highly-anticipated “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two” video game is now available for download on the PlayStation®Network and Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft in North America.

The demo includes an extensive tutorial how to play the game plus introduces Oswald. The demo concludes with a preview sizzle reel that showcases some of the exciting and action-packed elements of the game.

“Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two” will be available for all major console systems in North American retail stores on November 18th which is Mickey's 84th birthday!

Guests loving the music while they eat or lounge at Carthay Circle are now in luck! "The Cricle Sessions: The Music of Carthay Circle" is now available to take home at Off the Page, Elias &Company, and at the restaurant itself.

The newest CD from Disney California Adventure features jazz versions of great Disney songs selected from the soundtrack at Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge.

Mario Lopez helped host the Disneyland portion of this year's Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade which will air on December 25 on ABC. As usual, the parade in the taping is a much grander affair than what actually gets shown in the parks.

This year, a combination of floats from Mickey's Soundsational Parade were used as well as most of the floats from A Christmas Fantasy Parade. The special on-route performance this year was by Disney Channel's Ross Lynch from "Austin And Ali."

We've just received confirmation on filming locations for the taping of SAVING MR. BANKS which will be occurring November 5th and 6th at Disneyland. As we assumed last month, filming will occur at the main entrance to Disneyland Park, on Main Street, at Sleeping Beauty Castle, and on King Arthur Carrousel.

Day 2 of the 2012 Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade taping at Disneyland consisted primarily of two big performances. The first was the Backstreet Boys and the second was Toby Mac. They took to the stage in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle to perform their new holiday singles.