Disney Parks Kick Off a 'Monstrous Summer' With 24 Hours of Magic on Both Coasts

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. and ANAHEIM, Calif., May 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts kicked off a Monstrous Summer by giving guests the chance to spend 24 magical hours inside three Disney theme parks.

From 6 a.m. May 24 to 6 a.m., May 25, 2013, on each coast, guests experienced unprecedented monster madness inside Magic Kingdom park at Walt Disney World Resort, as well as Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park at the Disneyland Resort – heading into Memorial Day Weekend, the traditional start of the family travel season.

The event featured special entertainment, Monsters-themed merchandise and frightening food and boo-verages – one scary good time!

In Florida, the festivities at the Magic Kingdom started at 6 a.m. ET with characters Mike Wazowski and best pal James P. Sullivan ("Sulley") from the upcoming Disney•Pixar comedy adventure Monsters University joining other beloved Disney characters to help open the park with a Monstrous moment. Mike and Sulley also took their turn as Grand Marshals of the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade.

In California, Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure park guests were treated to fireworks and live entertainment signaling the 6 a.m. PT opening. Fans hit up the dance floor at Disneyland Park. Disney California Adventure weighed in with the freshly-built Monsters University "dorms" in Hollywoodland and a new Monsters University-themed float leading the Pixar Play Parade.

JUST THE BEGINNING
The All-Nighter is just the beginning of the summer fun. In California, vacationers at "The Happiest Place on Earth" will see how Disneyland Resort "Just Got Happier" with great new attractions such as the "Mickey and the Magical Map" stage show. It also is the first summer for guests to experience the new Fantasy Faire with Disney Princesses at Disneyland, and guests continue to enjoy the exciting new offerings of Cars Land and Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure.

Walt Disney World Monstrous Summer includes new offerings and popular favorites in all four parks. This is the first summer for New Fantasyland, which has received rave reviews from guests since its December grand opening as the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history. Guests also will find new, engaging offerings for the entire family throughout the Walt Disney World Resort this summer such as an interactive "Pirates Adventure" game at Magic Kingdom, the newly re-imagined Test Track at Epcot, the new Disney Junior show, featuring Sofia The First and Doc McStuffins, as new additions at Disney's Hollywood Studios, plus Wilderness Explorers at Disney's Animal Kingdom that will bring families together in exciting new ways. As part of Limited Time Magic – a year of surprise and delight moments – Cinderella Castle will be the canvas for a new, summer-long projection show celebrating the joys of the season. Hit the beach with Lilo and Stitch, head "Under the Sea" with Ariel and get Goofy during scenes that pay homage to summer fun.

ABOUT "MONSTERS UNIVERSITY"
Ever since college-bound Mike Wazowski (voice of Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a Scarer—and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU, Mike's plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, "Sulley" (voice of John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer. The pair's out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University's elite Scare Program. To make matters worse, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right. Screaming with laughter and oozing with heart, Disney•Pixar's "Monsters University" is directed by Dan Scanlon ("Cars," "Mater and the Ghostlight," "Tracy"), produced by Kori Rae ("Up," "The Incredibles," "Monsters, Inc.") and features music from future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and award-winning composer Randy Newman ("Monsters, Inc.," "Toy Story 3″). For more information, like us at facebook.com/PixarMonstersUniversity, and follow us on twitter.com/disneypixar. The film opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2013, and will be shown in 3D in select theaters. For more information, check out disney.com/MonstersU.

For more information on Monstrous Summer, check out http://www.disneyparks.com/MonstrousSummer

SOURCE Disney Parks