Holiday Wishes” fireworks, the boldest and brightest pyrotechnics show at Disney, takes place at 8:30 p.m. capped with the grand finale “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks at 11:50 p.m. On Dec. 31, the park is open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME: Spring training fans at Champion Stadium at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex take in the action at the Atlanta Braves’ home-away-from-home, Disney’s Wide World of Sports. Braves pitchers and catchers report Feb. 14, marking the beginning of the 12th year the Braves have

MORE DREAMING IN 2009: Famed television and radio entertainer Steve Harvey will return to Walt Disney World for “Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey” — a motivational event for teens which will take place at Walt Disney World in Florida Feb. 12-15, 2009. (Clifton Henri, photographer)

A MARATHON WITH ‘CHARACTER’: Masanari Kamada, of Higashi-Osaka, Japan, dressed as Winnie the Pooh, high-fives Disney character “Chip” as he finishes the 2008 Walt Disney World Marathon in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Dressed as the famous bear, Kamada completed the 26.2-mile trek in 6:00:41. The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

Princess for a Day — Dallas resident Amy Hankins was Cinderella for a day as she wed her beloved Dan Hood in a Cinderella-style wedding at Walt Disney World Resort on Dec. 14. The wedding was an upscale “Couture Collection” wedding designed by David Tutera, party planner for the stars.

Dec. 11, 2008): Pictured: Florida quarterback Tim Tebow holds the two awards — the Disney Spirit Award (left) and the Maxwell Award (right) he took home from the The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards, which took place Dec. 11, 2008 at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort. ———————————— University of Florida quarterback

MILEY MANIA!: Miley Cyrus performs Dec. 6, 2008 in the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. while taping a segment of the “Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade,” to be aired nationwide Dec. 25 on ABC-TV. The annual holiday TV special, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, also

FREE ON YOUR BIRTHDAY: It’s party time at Disney Parks during 2009. As part of a special park-wide celebration, everyone who visits a Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort theme park in 2009 gets in free on their birthday. Disney Parks have embraced a new travel trend called “celebration vacations.”

HOLIDAY CHEER: Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Rob Thomas takes a ride Nov. 29, 2008 aboard the Magic Kingdom holiday trolley, with his wife Marisol (left) and son Maison (age 10).  Thomas, known for his solo hits as well as being the lead vocalist for the group “matchbox twenty,” vacations at Walt

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT:  Actor Dylan McDermott (“The Practice,” “In the Line of Fire”) plays the drums Nov. 29, 2008 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park with daughters Collette (left, age 12) and Charlotte (center, age 3).  McDermott was vacationing at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.  (Todd Anderson,

NAUGHTY OR NICE? — Jack, a pug from Orlando, shares his Christmas wish list with Santa Claus recently in Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Disney’s new “Santa Paws” invites dog owners to bring their canine friends for a photo opportunity and meet and

IT’S SHOWTIME!: Disney’s Hollywood Studios raises the curtain on the newest showbiz-themed attraction, “The American Idol Experience.” Opening in 2009, all the excitement of the popular “American Idol” TV show comes to life in a first-of-its-kind attraction. Walt Disney World guests can vote on their favorite performance, or audition with

SUPER SOAP: Susan Lucci, Emmy Award-winning star of the ABC Daytime drama “All My Children,” strikes a pose with her “Dancing with the Stars” professional dance partner, Tony Dovolani, Nov. 15, 2008 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.  Lucci and Dovolani, who were eliminated from “Dancing with

ROYAL RIDE: Actress/singer Selena Gomez poses aboard Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel Nov. 16, 2008 at the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Gomez, star of the Disney Channel series “Wizards of Waverly Place,” visited the Walt Disney World theme park Sunday. (Todd Anderson, photographer)

ICE CASTLE – Shimmering lights illuminate Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom during the holidays at  Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Magic Kingdom icon is bathed in more than 200,000 tiny white lights that add a special sparkle to the season. (Gene Duncan, photographer)