Disney has given Mickey a new Instagram account, on which he'll be documenting his travels leading up to his official birthday — the anniversary of the 1928 premiere of Steamboat Willie at the Colony Theatre in New York City. The hashtag for posts across all social media is #HappyBirthdayMickey.
Walt Disney World and Disneyland will be giving out "Happy Birthday Mickey!" buttons on the 18th, and Disney will run a special pre-parade unit honoring Mickey on that day at Disneyland. At Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, the party will be a specially-themed Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! street party.
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Also next month, Disney will be taping its annual Christmas television special across the four Disney World theme parks, from Nov. 9 through 13. In a change from previous years, there will be no taping of the Magic Kingdom Christmas parade, as it will not appear in the show. Disney is said to be taping parade footage at Disneyland for the show this year, but Disney hasn't confirmed a taping date for that yet. Once the centerpiece of the annual Christmas morning telecast, the Disney Christmas parade's role in the show has shrunk in recent years, as Disney has used the show on its ABC television network to promote more of its movie, television and recording properties instead of just the theme parks.
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