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Grad Nite '08 Celebration Set

High school seniors will enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity this spring when the lands of Magic Kingdom Park are transformed into a colossal private party for Disney Grad Nite 2008, which takes place April 18-19 and April 25-26.

This spectacular event provides chart-topping entertainment, unlimited use of select attractions, and much more. "The Magic Kingdom team spends the entire year planning the event and works hard to turn the Theme Park into a seniors-only club," explains Tim Hill, director of Special Programs for Disney Destinations, LLC. "The celebration includes a DJ-dance party, free-play arcade games all night in Tomorrowland, and an event highlight—the Class of 2008 lights-out fireworks display."

Grads can also check out starstudded concert performances right in front of Cinderella Castle. On the bill for '08: R&B artist Ne-Yo, pop-punk sensation The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, rising stars The Last Goodnight, and Reggaeton artist Cheskob.

The party starts at 10 p.m., and continues until 4 a.m. It's a night designed for fun, with grads able to enjoy Disney attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, and the newly enhanced Haunted Mansion. Visit disneygradnite.com for more.

Disney Music Albums Dominate the Pop Charts

Last year marked the release of two colossal Disney Music Group albums, both of which took the charts by storm: The soundtrack to "High School Musical 2" spent four consecutive weeks atop The Billboard 200 album chart and to date has sold more than 2 million copies. Meanwhile, the double-disc "Hannah Montana 2/Meet Miley Cyrus" (Walt Disney Records/Hollywood Records) spent a whopping 11 weeks in the chart's Top 5. It has also achieved double-platinum status.

"High School Musical 2" (Walt Disney Records) also hit No. 1 on two other Billboard charts—Top Soundtrack Albums and Top Kid Audio—for the same four-week period. Last year, the soundtrack to the first "High School Musical" Disney Channel Original Movie became the first television movie soundtrack to reach the top spot. The quadruple-platinum release was the best-selling album of 2006, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It has sold an incredible 7 million copies worldwide.

"Hannah Montana 2/Meet Miley Cyrus" marked the recording debut of 14-year-old Miley Cyrus, star of Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana." To learn more about these releases, visit waltdisneyrecords.com.

Year of a Million Dreams Extended

You might say the members of the Hatley family of Lebanon, Tennessee, were royally surprised last fall upon being randomly selected by the Disney Dreams Squad to spend an unforgettable night in the Cinderella Castle Suite during the "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration at Walt Disney World Resort.

"We went to breakfast with the characters at Restaurantosaurus at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and when we walked out Conner was selected on his way to the Triceretops spin ride," recalls Kuma Hatley, who was visiting the park with husband Travis and children Conner, 7, and Kaitlynn, 11. "We were at the right place at the right time."

The Cinderella Castle Suite includes a salon, bedchamber and bathroom off a private, marblefloored foyer, all replete with rich details.

Disney Parks' "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration will extend throughout 2008 at Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

A New Spaceship Earth at Epcot

One of the most iconic attractions at Walt Disney World Resort has undergone changes making it even greater. Spaceship Earth at Epcot, a world-renowned 180-foot-tall geosphere that transports visitors through time, saw remarkable changes over the winter.

A re-imagined Spaceship Earth—presented by Siemens—now combines the magic of the attraction's time-travel adventure with a new finale that lets guests imagine their futures. Enhancements include changes to each of the ride scenes, with new ones added to the attraction's story. There are also new lighting effects, costumes, set decoration and narration. A new musical score features instruments to match each scene's respective time period.

The adventure leads to the top of the geodesic dome, where guests arrive at the present. The journey is enhanced through new, interactive touch screens on each "time machine" that let guests create their own visions of the future—and actually see that future! Learn more at disneyworld.com.

Disney Pep Band Challenge

Pep bands are all about entertainment, fun and spirit, and the Disney Pep Band Challenge is where those exciting qualities come together. The Old Spice classic is scheduled for Nov. 27-30, a pre-season college basketball tournament at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort.

Competing bands are judged by a select panel of celebrities for the "Best of the Classic" title, with the winning band receiving their Disney Pep Band Challenge award on ESPN2 during halftime of the tournament final. Bands are judged on enthusiasm, performance, originality, crowd response, and overall team spirit, and all bands receive a special Disney participation award.

Harlem for the Holidays

The 12-member Harlem Gospel Choir brought soulful spirit to Disney's Hollywood Studios during the holidays, delivering its "Sounds of the Seasons" performances at Theatre of the Stars.

"This group brings a new flavor and a diverse holiday offering to the Studios, as guests get a taste of African heritage," said Jack Feivou, general manager, entertainment operations, Disney's Hollywood Studios. "As a company, we certainly want to provide experiences that touch all our guests, and the Harlem Gospel Choir has done just that during its first year performing here."

Founded in 1986, the choir travels globally to share music and help raise funds for children's charities.