MI News Desk

The Voices of Liberty are going to be remaining at the Happiest Place on Earth just a little bit longer. The popular a capella singing group was brought on as summer entertainment and were not expected to remain on Main Street USA into the fall season.

It has been confirmed for us today officially by Disney that the popular musical group will be extending its engagement through the holiday season. No official word yet on a holiday musical set but it is very likely that their setlist will change similar to the group in EPCOT.

The holiday season will be a touch bit more trendy and fashionable for a select group of Disney characters this year. Barney's department store is collaborating this year with the mouse to take some well known characters, Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, Goofy, Cruella DeVil, Snow White, and Tiana and giving them the runway treatment in real-world fashions by designers such as Balenciaga, Dolce & Gabana, and Lanvin.

The collaboration is part of Barney's Disney Electric Holiday campaign which is set to debut at the Madison Avenue flagship store on November 14.

Dipping into the world of high fashion no unfamiliar territory for Disney. Just last month Disney revealed a Cinderella-inspired shoe by Christian Louboutin and last year to promote The Muppets, there was a Miss Piggy fashion spread for InStyle magazine.

This Sunday will be the 7th Annual Disneyland Half Marathon and that means the Disneyland Resort area will be VERY CROWDED for the Labor Day Weekend. In addition, expected road closures on Sunday will only help to add to frustrations of getting around the Resort.

If you are participating in the run, showing up for support, or even just going to the parks you'll definitely want to Be in the Know Before You Go; check out our Complete Guide to the 2012 Disneyland Half Marathon.

Disney Parks Blog posted a unique oppurtunities for Annual Passholders to preview the Art of Frankenweenie exhibit coming to Disney California Adventure. On September 14th Annual Passholders will have two options to preview the new exhibit. The first is a $290 ticket includes champagne reception inside exhibition, special 4D extended sneak peek of the film, a unique dining experience in front of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and a special experience from 11:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.

The second free preview is for Annual Passholders between 8 p.m. – 12 a.m. And includes, extended, 8-minute 4D sneak peek of Tim Burton’s animated feature film, “Frankenweenie”
First chance to purchase “Frankenweenie” merchandise and food & beverage offerings and access to select attractions, shops and restaurants in Hollywood Land

The free preview will open for registration on September 5th.

Plans for Disney’s Haunted Halloween 2012 have officially been unveiled and once again the tiny sister park is unleashing offerings unmatched by domestic Disney Parks. The big theme this year is Vampires vs. Werewolves and a new app will be available that allows you to choose your side and then unlock various augmented reality moments throughout the park.

Special AR T-shirts that unlock special moments will also be available plus a mini ElecTRONica celebration will also be happening in Tomorrowland which includes DJs, dancers, and Laserman.

All of this is in addition to returning favorites including “Glow in the Park Parade,” Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and popular haunted trails such as “Adventureland – Cursed Jungle,” or the travelling experience “Revenge of the Headless Horseman.” You can also partake in a special Halloween Tour or if you're staying in one of the Disney Hotels, pay for haunted room take-over which decorates the room in spirit of the season.

Disneyland and Walt Disney World recently announced special discounts to those who have served in the military. Discounts include special pricing for accommodations and ticket prices.

This discount is August 17, 2012 through September 25, 2013, active and retired U.S. military personnel (including active and retired members of the United States Coast Guard, National Guard and Reservists.)

This weeks update is a little early this week so we can bring you coverage of the Annual Passholder Fantasmic Glow with the Show Event. But before the event, we went around the Resort to check on some ongoing refurbishments and construction.

Earl of Sandwich is making some progress on construction, Fantasy Faire's construction is picking up the pace, and the princess are almost completely gone from the Fantasyland Theater.

Last night, Disneyland played host to a special AP-only event featuring the GLOW WITH THE SHOW ear hat technology in the classic night-time spectacular FANTASMIC!. You may have seen Fantasmic a hundred times but not like this, check out our quirky perspective of Fantasmic to see all the ears in action.

Special moments during the show included fun choreography of the ears during the Pinocchio "No Strings On Me" segment, the ears glowing in sync with the princess barges from blue to red as they came to life, the glowing firey inferndo from Maleficent's firebreath and the colorful use of color in the finale.

The technology was first unveiled in a special World of Color performance during media preview in June and has since been expanded to other areas around the Resort including Mad T Party.

Some imagination, huh?

Bouncing onto Blu-ray for the first time, Disney's The Tigger Movie, finds Tigger out to prove he's not the only one. The film has all of the fun and humor one would expect from the lovable Tigger and the Blu-ray and DVD Bounce-A-RRRific Combo Pack is packed full of fun for the entire family. It's available now to own!

Special eats are in store for those visiting Disneyland Park tomorrow! In celebration of the AP-exclusive Fantasmic! Glow with the Show event occurring tomorrow evening at Disneyland, special food offerings will be made available to guests in the park.

At the Blue Bayou Restaurant, you can enjoy a Pan Seared Hazelnut Crusted Sea Bass with King Crab Legs and finish it off with a slice of Key Lime Pie. In the Café Orleans you can enjoy Fantasia Shrimp and Pineapple Pasta with a rich Royal Dreams Dessert. Both restaurants will offer the special menu items during their regular operating hours. Blue Bayou will close at 10pm, Cafe Orleans will close at 9pm.

More goodies after the jump.

I had the amazing opportunity to be invited to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts preview of their 2012-2013 Broadway and Curtain Call series. This upcoming season is one to thrill some of the most hardcore theater fans. It definitely includes something for everyone with some unique theater experience as The Addams Family, and of course the all time biggest Broadway show Wicked coming back to the center. The evening started with a video of all shows introduced by Broadway America's Bob Bucci, who seemed just as excited to see these previews as the audience was!

I'm back with something that has nothing to do with theme parks or internet memes - Disney has released The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under on Blu-ray for the first time in a 2 Movie Collection Combo Pack. And guess what? You're stuck with me reviewing it!

The Disneyland Half Marathon is back again on Sunday, September 2nd bringing with it the expected crowds who ascend not just for the runDisney events but also for Labor Day weekend which brings the traditional final weekend of summer before school starts for many Anaheim area schools.

It will be VERY BUSY in and around the Disneyland Resort so make sure you're prepared and informed!

For the past several months Disney has been quietly testing a mobile app DISNEY FILMPULSE. Still in its trial/beta launch it only works for select screenings at the El Capitan Theater but the handy little app utilizes GPS on your mobile device to check-in to the theater for a specific showtime.

Checking in with the app unlocks a few interactive elements including "bonus content" such as movie clips and trailers as well as a few interactive games that allows you to play trivia against other users in the theater who have also checked into the app. You can also unlock special prizes including free popcorn.

The app is available for Android devices in Google Play and the Amazon AppStore as well as for Apple devices in the App Store.

Screenshots of the app after the jump!