Sams Disney Diary: The Podcast

The Epcot Festival of the Arts 2022, the 39-day log festival features, chefs, showcase dishes inspired by art movements, visual masterpieces come to life and Broadway stars sing beloved show tunes in a celebration of performance art that’s sure to captivate festivalgoers as only Disney can. https://youtu.be/4MBPbDDnwGI

What do The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, and Muppet Babies all have in common? Jim Henson, of course! And before his passing, "A Muppet Family Christmas" united all of the muppets across franchises into a single Muppet Christmas special. This HD Version includes just about all of the original broadcast. Due to the complexity and distribution of rights, some segments may be missing and aired only during the original December 16, 1987 telecast. With a special cameo appearance by Jim Henson himself, this is a must for fans of every muppet franchise and a reminder of a much simpler time. https://youtu.be/3zi68pvazxI

Since 1997, Disneyland has featured "It's a small world Holiday" during the holiday season. The attraction is the same boat voyage through many regions of the world, though the main theme song is not played fully. Instead, the children sing "Jingle Bells" and a bridge of "Deck the Halls" in addition to the main theme. It's a Small World Holiday is a wonderful addition and fan favorite. https://youtu.be/bweUahvgDdg

The spirited performers of the Bluer13 Dance Company turn up the fun with traditional dances that celebrate Diwali and build to a Bollywood party for all. Blue13 Dance Company is an American dance ensemble based in Los Angeles, California. For over 15 years, Blue13 has connected audiences through the power of live, aesthetically and culturally daring dance, performing in the U.S. and abroad in its highly energetic and theatrical modern dance style that is inspired in part by the classical and cultural art forms of the Indian subcontinent. A first-generation South Asian American, Blue13’s Artistic Director, Achinta S. McDaniel pulls precision, humor, and deep emotion from her ensemble to create work as rebellious and unconventional as its architect. Storytelling through dance is central to the company, as is a continued inquisitiveness and exploration of techniques with its diverse cast of dancers. Their work is moody, rhythmic, and charged, presenting the audience with an intelligent experience of performance

Festival Entertainment at the 2021 Disney California Adventure Festival of the Holidays includes the Holiday Toy Drummers. The Mischievous Holiday Toy Drummers march to their own merry beat as they perform precision drills with holiday cheer! https://youtu.be/1qbEy4v5Lqw

During the holidays, the Dapper Dans take on a whole new level of entertainment and charm. There is something magical about Disneyland itself during the holidays. Disneyland Town Square is in the center of that charm. A horse-drawn trolley approaching via Main Street USA, the lighting of the Christmas tree, or maybe knowing that you’re standing in the shadow of Walt’s apartment just above the Disneyland Fire Station. This Performance is from December 29th, 2021, part of the Disneyland Holiday Celebration. https://youtu.be/Rh-qicotvIQ

Disneyland Fireworks Believe in Holiday Magic, 2021 | 2022. Split view, It's a small world and Main Street USA https://youtu.be/PjJ_uU8ZFIM

Muppet Christmas Highlights with John Denver Muppet Christmas Music https://youtu.be/4-CMTeKmndo

This AI-enhanced video first aired on the Travel Channel in 2002. Samantha Brown takes us on a tour of Holiday-themed activities at Walt Disney World. She also takes us behind the scenes, showing us where some of the magic is made, including how the popular poinsettia balls and topiaries are created. https://youtu.be/pWUW6VtT31M

The 90-minute program aired on ABC on November 28, 2013, with guest stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elton John, and RuPaul and an appearance by Kristen Bell. The special featured songs from Gaga's third studio album, Artpop, and duets with the guest stars. https://vimeo.com/657280733

Promoting the upcoming release of "A Muppet Family Christmas" Entertainment Tonight interviewed both Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog. With over 150 muppet friends participating in the production, a Muppet Family Christmas combines The Muppets, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, and Muppet Babies. https://youtu.be/CDCnQhlTOso

Samantha Brown explores the holiday celebrations at Walt Disney World in Florida. Includes The Osbourne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, Epcot's Candlelight Processional, Epcot’s Lights of Winter, Epcot’s Holiday’s Around the World, Animal Kingdom along with imaginer Joe Rhode, and peeks at several different Disney-owned hotels, including the Disney's Boardwalk Hotel, Disney's Grand Floridian Hotel, and Disney's Wilderness Lodge. Samantha also visits Disneyland and It’s a Small World Holiday.

Guy Fieri explores the amazing holiday destination that is Disneyland -- the fun, the experience, the added holiday excitement and charm, all wrapped around his focus on the park's holiday-themed meals and treats. Guy, along with various members of his family, will highlight (and participate in the making of) a variety of food including baked goods (such as a gingerbread house and Yule log), candy (such as candy canes), and Christmas Eve dinner (featuring items served at the Napa Rose restaurant).

"Disney Kitetails" debuted as part of the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Celebration. The new daytime entertainment takes place multiple times at Animal Kingdom's Discovery River Theater; check your Disney experience app for times. Kite tails consist of two separate 10-minute shows, each unique theme: Jungle Book or Lion King. This performance is the Lion King. Thanks for watching, be sure to hit that subscribe button for the Jungle Book Kite Tails performance.

Since Walt Disney World's Opening on October 1, 1971, the Walt Disney World Flag Retreat ceremony has taken place in the Magic Kingdom's Town Square, a tradition that started at Disneyland with ties directly to Walt Disney. The ceremony takes place daily at 5:00 pm, a tribute and a thank you to veterans for their service, sacrifice, and dedication to protecting our country. The Philharmonic Marching Band and the Dapper Dans typically join in the 15-minute ceremony. It's a touching tribute and a must-see if you're in the area, this video was recorded on October 1, 2021 – Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary.

The 2021 Epcot Festival of the Holidays sees the return of holiday Entertainment all around the World Showcase. Don't miss the Canadian Holiday Voyageurs. Explore holiday customs from the various regions of Canada on a musical tour of the Great White North with the Canadian Holiday Voyageurs.

The Candlelight Processional is a Walt Disney original. The holiday tradition started with Walt's vision of Dickens Carolers as part of the first Disneyland Christmas Celebration in 1955. The processional has evolved into the elaborate holiday tradition today, celebrated at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. At Disneyland. Each processional includes a celebrity guest narrator. This recording from December 1, 2021, was hosted by Chita Rivera.

The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays 2021 is here, including festival exclusive merchandise only available at Epcot during the festival. The new merchandise can be found at the Port of Entry, Creations Shop, and Festival Stores around the world showcase. Here is a look at some of the newest merchandise.

The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays 2021 runs from November 26, till December 30. As always at the center of every Epcot festival is new limited-time Food and Beverage offerings. I talked to Chef Kevin who had a preview of this years Holiday Festival

Epcot's World Nature is dedicated to understanding and preserving the natural world's beauty, awe, and balance. The Land pavilion focuses on the human interaction with the Earth, focusing on travel with attractions like Soarin and agriculture through Living with the Land. Guests See firsthand how Walt Disney World uses innovative growing techniques and cross-breeding high-yield crops to help feed a growing planet. Living with the Land is a narrated boat tour about ecology and agriculture that takes guests through an indoor dark ride portion and an outdoor greenhouse and hydroponics lab. Guests will discover a cornucopia of fruits and veggies from around the world. The tropical greenhouse and temperature greenhouse feature edible food crops from around the world. The Aquacell features hybrid striped bass, tilapia, catfish, and freshwater shrimp. The string greenhouse focuses on high-density farming, while the innovative greenhouse features some unusual ideas about the future of agriculture. Living with the Lan